Gig Life

FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY | METRO OKC’S INDEPENDENT WEEKLY | JANUARY 3, 2018

How your neighbors are taking part in the sharing economy

BY LAURA EASTES, BEN LUSCHEN AND JACOB THREADGILL P.4

2

j a n u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

inside COVER P.4 With more app-based gig employment going online, Oklahoma Gazette looks at how OKC residents are faring in the sharing economy.

By Laura Eastes, Ben Luschen and Jacob Threadgill Cover Illustration by Christopher Street

NEWS 4 Cover sharing economy

7 State Annette Jacobi joins

Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth

8 Education project-based

learning in OKC schools

9 City parking changes 10 Chicken-Fried News

EAT & DRINK 12 Review Fassler Hall

13 Feature Fusion Charcoal Grill

14 Feature Higher Grounds Coffee

Shoppe & Bakery

16 Gazedibles healthy food

ARTS & CULTURE 18 OKG Shop new year, new you

19 Shopping local blogger opens

JAN 19 w 8PM SPECIAL GUEST: STEVE AUGERI JOURNEY FORMER LEAD SINGER

TICKETS STARTING AT $35

Spruced Cooperative

21 Art IAO Gallery then and now

22 Theater Béla Fleck & Brooklyn

Rider at Armstrong Auditorium

24 Active Winter Olympics Expo at

Myriad Botanical Gardens

25 Calendar

MUSIC 27 Event Lomelda at Opolis

28 Event Helen Kelter Skelter at

Opolis and The Main Street Event Center

29 Live music

FUN

FEB 10 w 7PM TICKETS STARTING AT $30

30 Puzzles sudoku | crossword 31 Astrology OKG Classifieds 31

GRANDBOXOFFICE.COM I-40 EXIT 178 | SHAWNEE, OK | 405-964-7263 O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j a n u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 8

3

COV E R

NEWS

The gig is up

OKC residents are taking a ride on the app-based sharing economy.

By Laura Eastes, Ben Luschen and Jacob Threadgill

Following the financial crash of 2008 and the ensuing Great Recession, sharing economy applications like Airbnb (2008) and Uber (2009) were founded just in time to benefit from an increased unemployment, which rose to a national high of 9.6 percent in 2010.

Nearly a decade after their introduction, have sharing economy apps created new career opportunities, or are they merely a way to supplement income?

Users work for companies like Uber, Postmates or TaskRabbit as independent contractors. Between 2005 and 2015, the percentage of the workforce relying on non-standard employment rose from 10.1 percent to 15.8 percent, or 23 million people nationwide, according to a Princeton University study.

Introduced to Oklahoma City in September, GreenPal connects landscape contractors and users. | Photo provided

In theory, the ability to receive work through a smart phone app should be a great equalizer across socioeconomic levels. In actuality, according to a study completed by Juliet B. Schor, a sociology professor at Boston College, work traditionally done by people of low educational status is disproportionately being done by white-collar and highly educated people.

For example, Airbnb ($924 average a month) users receive the highest monthly income between sharing economy apps, nearly tripling the average and median incomes of the next highest application, TaskRabbit ($380), according to Priceonomics.

The easiest entryway into Airbnb is property ownership. Depending on a 4

J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

leasing contract with a landlord, renters using the service for personal profit could face eviction. As A irbnb increases in popularity, it reduces the demand for hotel services that employ low-wage workers as maids and food service employees, and Schor’s study finds income will shift to higher-income platform providers.

Cyber hospitality

Since summer 2016, Aimee and Jeff Struble have rented out a two-story artist loft apartment they own as a highdemand, short-term lodging option in the 16th Street Plaza District. They have no regrets.

The couple, who also own Aurora Breakfast, Bar & Backyard next door, use the online marketplace Airbnb to market their space to travelers for brief stays. The apartment, found between the NW 16th Street intersections of N. Gatewood and Blackwelder avenues, is reserved for Airbnb use only and is available to renters any time of the year.

The apartment is almost always booked with new guests.

Aimee Struble said when she travels with her husband, they like to stay in community art and culture districts like Plaza District.

“We love the walkability because that’s really where you find the essence of an area, in their local districts,” she said.

The Strubles are big proponents of the Plaza District and noticed lodging options were one thing missing from the area. After a former long-term renter moved out of the space, they converted the apartment for Airbnb rentals and haven’t looked back since.

There are not too many hurdles to keep someone from renting out their space as an Airbnb or, for that matter, to prevent anyone from renting a room.

Struble said the site revolves around reviews on both sides of the service.

Users typically stay at places that are reviewed well, and renters can be reluctant to let a low-reviewed user into their space. Renters can also choose to require that guests present certain forms of identification for their own comfort and convenience.

Struble said Airbnb is a user-friend-

ly service from the host perspective.

“It’s so easy,” she said.

“They’ve got it figured out. I think they have to be that way to get people to offer their house and rooms because it can get kind of complicated.”

Bad guest experiences happen everywhere from Airbnb to the finest hotels in the world. Still, Struble said there has only ever been one guest she accepted that she would call a mistake. Even then, they did not leave any significant damage to the apartment; they just had a wild party and moved around a lot of furniture.

“The only issue I’ve had was one of those quick, ‘Hey, we need a place tonight,’” she said. “And I know better than that.”

The rental experience will vary from place to place. Some Airbnb hosts will meet their lodgers at the door. The Strubles are more hands-off. Their apartment is keyless entry. Sheets and towels are provided. The rental comes with a complimentary Aurora gift card for coffee in the morning. Guests must be out of the apartment by 11 a.m.

Struble said the primary key to maintaining a popular Airbnb rental space of this size is outside cleaning help.

Often, there is a turnaround of only a few hours between guest departures and arrivals. The Strubles could not possibly keep up with that demand themselves.

“I have my house to clean,” she said.

“That’s plenty.”

The Airbnb experience has worked so well for the Strubles that the couple has talked about opening up a few more lodging options nearby, including a place that would potentially allow small groups to stay in the Plaza. No future plans are certain yet, but with a service as easy to use as Airbnb, there is not much out of the realm of possibility.

“It’s pretty darn simple,” Struble said.

Market introduction

Some applications interface well with the existing workforce.

GreenPal, referred to by founder Gene Caballero as the “Uber of lawn care,” connects local landscape contractors with users looking to have lawns mowed, hedges trimmed, leaves raked and other services.

Driver Sergio Duenez said Uber passengers engage when he asks how their day is going. | Photo Laura Eastes

Nashville-based GreenPal launched in Oklahoma City in September and is available in 17 markets nationwide, totaling nearly $5 million in sales in 2017.

GreenPal receives 5 percent in addition to a 3 percent credit card processing fee from bid prices, which are submitted by competing contractors.

Users request lawn services by task and date and then choose a contractor based on bid price and overall rating.

Edmond-based C Custom Lawn Care and Home Services owner David Carothers said that even though GreenPal moved into Oklahoma City at the beginning of the slow part of the season, it has been a lifeline for his three-year-old company. C Custom Lawn has received 391 contracts through GreenPal since September.

“The proof is in the pudding that I just got done mowing a lawn in late December,” Carothers said. “The fact that I’ve gotten new work in November and December is almost 100 percent more than I would’ve gotten without it.”

Carothers said GreenPal has a benefit for contractors and users because it streamlines payment processes and increases marketing for contractors and users, who can more effectively compare rates.

Gone are the days of relying on a client to remember to leave a check under a doormat for payment.

“A lot of people don’t want to write a check, and cash, what’s that in 2018?

GreenPal allows me to do what I do best: getting behind a mower or leaf blower,” Carothers said.

Where to?

Four months ago, Robert Mathias got behind the wheel of his 2016 Volkswagen Jetta and clicked on his smartphone’s Lyft app. The Edmond resident had hailed rides before on both Uber and Lyft, which are sharing platforms that connect drivers offering rides and passengers seeking them. Passenger fares flow into driver pockets with a cut taken by either Uber or Lyft.

Seeing an opportunity to add to his income, Mathias decided to give it a try.

“You can work on your own hours and whenever you want to,” Mathias said.

“When you want to drive, you turn it on. continued on page 6

UNI_17-RP-267_Boxing_Gazette.indd 1

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | J A N U A R12/22/17 Y 3 , 2 0 1 811:55 5

AM

ALL YOUR

WANTSAATBLE AFFORCDES! PRI ld Items House Ho amIng Fr m Custo duC ts tIon Pro l ProteC Persona ds & VIdeo games reCor eCor olIday d Coats & H Ck s Clo

arket Karen’s Flea M 4700 S Bryant ave | 405.550.2689 2 mileS Se of old PariS flea market

tueS-fri 10am-7Pm | Sat-Sun 9am-6Pm

NEWS

ANTI-AGING SERvICES

MICRODERMABRASION

$30 First Treatment $200 Package of 5

MICRODERMABRASION ADD-ONS

$10 Glycolic Peel $20 Jessner’s Peel

BOTOX

JUVEDERM • RADIESSE

Always $10 Per Unit

Schelly’s Aesthetics

Schelly Hill, R.N.

Shoppes at Northpark, 12028 May Ave. 405-751-8930 Open Mon-Fri www.skincareokc.com Gift Certificates Available

The owners of 16th Street Plaza District’s Aurora

COV E R

continued from page 4

Hand-Fabricated Multi-color GeMstone r inGs in 22kt by

Valerie naiFeH

available exclusively at

405.607.4323 | Casady Square | N. Penn & Britton Rd | NaifehFineJewelry.com Moday-Friday 10am - 5:30pm | Saturday 10am - 5pm

Financing available WAC

6

J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

When you don’t want to drive anymore, you turn it off. You don’t have to worry about getting up at a certain time for going to work.

You don’t have to report to a boss.

You just do what you want.”

Mathias, who is medically retired from the military, wants to work Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Wednesday mornings as a driver for Lyft. Sometimes, he wants to work weekends. So he does.

The people who drive for ride sharing apps share that its greatest benefit is the flexibility and freedom it affords them.

“It is so flexible,” said Scott Taylor from inside his Ford Edge SUV. Taylor described himself as a part-time Uber and Lyft driver in Oklahoma City.

“There is nothing else you can do and earn a little bit of money but be so free at the same time.”

Can you really make money driving for a ride sharing service? That’s a question Uber and Lyft drivers hear regularly. The drivers Oklahoma Gazette spoke to said the ride services were not a way to “get rich” but can lead to some relatively quick cash. To be a successful driver, one must carefully track their expenses, like gasoline, insurance and the wear and tear on their vehicle, said one driver.

To make money, drivers need to do their research to know best times and places to drives, said another driver.

Driver Randy Sharp, who mostly drives in northern Oklahoma City, stressed setting a schedule to avoid chasing and waiting for the next ping.

“If I don’t watch what I am doing, I can be in the car for 12 to 15 hours a day,” Sharp said. “I don’t want to do that, but you can find yourself chasing the dollar.

You think, ‘If I just get one more ride.’”

Besides payment and setting their own schedule, what do drivers like?

Passengers.

Each driver has their own favorite passenger story to tell.

Mathias’ favorite passenger story begins at Will Rogers World Airport,

Breakfast, Bar & Backyard have been renting out their two-story loft apartment as a per-night Airbnb rental since last summer. | Photo provided

where he picked up a woman who identified herself as an employee of a major airline and put in Newcastle as her destination. On the way to Newcastle, Mathias learned the final destination was a liquor store that sold a specialty liquor that she couldn’t find in her home state of Ohio. The liquor was a gift for her adult son.

“Her whole reason [to be] here was to buy some bottles of liquor and fly back to Ohio,” Mathias said. “I thought that was pretty funny.”

It’s pretty darn simple.

Aimee Struble Each passenger is unique in personality, their reason for the ride and their final destination, explained Sergio Duenez, an Uber driver who mostly drives weekends. On a few occasions, Duenez has grown uncomfortable as passengers are so far under the influence of alcohol or drugs, he fears they might require medical attention. A few times, he has had trips where passengers requested driving by a residential home. The worst possible thoughts would come to his mind: Is this passenger a stalker? Is this passenger violating a restraining order?

Most passengers who climb into Duenez’ Kia are pleasant and rides end with waves goodbye and fistbumps.

“You have to be a people person and like music,” Duenez said before explaining he makes instant connections with his passengers on the subject of music.

After a conversation on Mexican rock music with Duenez flipping to a few bands on his iPod for a listen, a passenger handed him a $20 tip.

“I think music is the most important part,” Duenez said. “You can’t be a bore or be quiet and awkward. You’ve got to ask people how their day is going. And have the iPod ready.”

beR JeNAkNo3 - 6 J

bt

Spec iAl

-14 mlk dAy !

JAN S10 R H o w fo

Su N dAy

tu R e

f eA b R ow N SpAN kty lyoN & ey N A g R c c o NA u g H m A H S Ne -2 0 tRiple

JAN 17

cHmidt leNNyANS24 -27

S TAT E

J

Youth focused

The new director of Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth sees unique opportunities for the agency that serves as a watchdog group for child welfare. By Laura Eastes

Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, a state agency whose mission is to improve services to children, has largely gone unnoticed by the general public in recent years. That’s not to say that the agency hasn’t continued to serve as a watchdog group monitoring the state’s various welfare programs, but its new director Annette Jacobi wants to bring visibility to the agency and the issues facing children and youth in the years to come.

The commission, which is often known by its acronym, OCCY, was once front-andcenter in Oklahoma as a government agency tackling unacceptable conditions that plagued the state’s children’s institutions in the late 1970s and ’80s. Following the 1978 Terry D. v. Rader & Oklahoma federal court case that exposed abuse and neglect of children in the state’s care, state lawmakers created OCCY to provide oversight to the Office of Juvenile System Oversight, the Child Death Review Board, the state’s working group for Children of Incarcerated Parents and the Post Adjudication Review Board for the state juvenile court system. The lawsuit even spurred the creation of Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA), a nonprofit organization that advocates for policies that benefit the state’s children and families.

Since OCCY began nearly 35 years ago, its leaders’ focus has been on serving children and their best interests. The work has remained steady in a state that always ranks toward the bottom of the nation when it comes to issues surrounding child welfare.

“This organization has a rich history in looking out for systems,” said Jacobi, the former chief of Family Support and Prevention Service at the state’s Health Department, who was named the director of OCCY in December. “We are a wonderful safety net.”

One of OCCY’s greatest strengths is

its 19 commissioners, a group that includes State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister, Department of Human Services (DHS) director Ed Lake, Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) director Steve Buck and Terri White, the state’s mental health and substance abuse commissioner. Proposals are considered with the commission’s recommendations submitted to the Legislature, governor’s office and child welfare agencies.

“It is a great place to elevate issues, have tough conversations and really look at crossing-cutting issues that affect all agencies,” Jacobi said. “We know that if Terri White’s agency has fewer services for kids, that is going to impact Ed Lake at DHS, Steve Buck at OJA and the nonprofits.

Together, they have the potential to bond together and support one another.”

Great opportunity

Jacobi enters OCCY at a time in the state’s history when funding cuts are threatening to slow the pace of child welfare agencies. She is painfully aware that not only is OCCY operating with fewer staff members, but so is DHS, OJA, the Oklahoma Health Department and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

In Jacobi’s final months at the state’s health department, funding was cut entirely for child abuse community prevention programs, which she oversaw.

“It really slows down the idea of collaboration and partnerships,” Jacobi said of funding cuts to state agencies addressing children’s issues. “What I am seeing is that people are retreating and what systems we’ve worked to build are being dismantled. It is not intentional. Nobody wants it to happen. It is just the reality. I hope, here in this role, I will have opportunities to bring people together.”

Annette Jacobi was recently named the director

evy cASH1-lfeb 3

of Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, which oversees the state’s Child Death Review

JAN 3

Board. | Photo Laura Eastes

An area of great opportunity for impacting the state’s children and youth is in the prevention or mitigation of the effects of trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), Jacobi said. The ACE test, which asks about childhood exposure to violence, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, divorce, incarceration and more, connects multiple yes answers to the increasing odds of later-life struggles in areas of chronic disease, mental illness and violence.

In a nationwide study released in 2014, Oklahoma had the highest percentage of people in eight ACE indicators, according to Child Trends, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center. Also in the study, Oklahoma ranked No. 1 in the categories of children witnessing domestic violence and experiencing parental divorce.

Oklahoma came in No. 2 in the areas of parents who have abused drugs and children who are victims of violence or had witnessed neighborhood violence.

“It is a call to action,” Jacobi said about the data and research on ACEs in Oklahoma. “What can we do to mitigate those circumstances? We know that the earlier we can intervene and create protective factors, children fare much better.

If we don’t, we can typically guess the pitfalls they will encounter whether it is not doing well in school or turning to substance abuse or crime. Those things don’t have to happen if we intervene.”

Over the past year, a number of the state’s child welfare agencies, health organizations and nonprofits have initiated discussions on policies and practices to combat childhood trauma. Last fall, Rep. Pat Ownbey, R-Ardmore, hosted an interim study on ACEs and their impacts on Oklahomans. In November, at the annual OICA OK KIDS COUNT Conference, the keynote speech was devoted to ACEs. “What we know in Oklahoma is that the field knows about ACEs; the general community does not,” Jacobi said. “We know that people want to work on this.

How do we pool all the resources?”

That’s one of the many questions Jacobi and OCCY will work to answer in 2018.

eN mic &

S H ow

op AYS - N by 5 :30 N eS d tio

fre e eSeRvA $ 2 w/ R - lAdieS get iN N ce ) mA S peRfoR S dAY Th u r foR SpeciAl ($ 2 Wed

!

8503 N. Rockwell 239-HAHA(4242)

www.looNybiNcomedy.com

We fight for those whooice. need a v 1 in 4

Oklahoma children lives in

POVERTY.

We surround our community’s most critical problems, and find every dollar we can to address them. Help Central Oklahoma win this fight for Central Oklahoma. Give today at

StandUnitedOKC.com

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8

7

NEWS often, the students don’t really seem to notice the algebraic equations buried in their research and discussions on real-life scenarios, Norfar said.

It’s a far shift from traditional learning, in which a teacher provides direct instruction while students listen, take notes and are later tested.

“I think that is the element we’ve gotten away from in education,” Norfar said when describing how she uses PBL to teach practical applications of algebra. “We are preparing students for the world they are going in. … It is about being able to do life and do life well and comfortably. So many times, we get wrapped up in only school and forget what we can do in the real world.”

Under the framework, high-quality project-based learning has to meet six benchmarks: authenticity, public product, reflection, collaboration, intellectual challenge and project management, Norfar said.

E D U C AT I O N

Proponent

Reaching students

An OKC teacher adopts a progressive teaching method that’s capturing students’ attention.

By Laura Eastes

A few years ago, a 16-year-old ninthgrader on the fringes of dropping out of high school walked into Telannia Norfar’s math classroom in Northwest Classen High School, an urban high school in Oklahoma City. Missing from the classroom was the school’s laptop cart, which the student was expecting to see after Norfar earlier shared her plans to reserve it for classroom use in a long-term project. Working in teams, students were tasked with redesigning their school’s cafeteria, from its menu to its layout. The winning team’s proposal would be presented to the principal for consideration in a cafeteria redesign.

Instantly, Norfar saw the student’s demeanor change. Seeing the anger on the student’s face, she pulled the student aside and asked what was wrong. The student said, “The only reason I came to school today was to work on that project.”

In that moment, Norfar made a promise to herself to become an advocate for the teaching method called project-based learning, to which she was first introduced as a teacher at ASTEC Charter Schools in 2005.

“It showed me how impactful this was to the least of my students,” Norfar said using the word “least” from the phrase “least among us” that describes those in a variety of needy situations.

“To reach a kid who normally wouldn’t 8

J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

be reached, that’s what education is all about. It is about reaching everybody.

For students, it really does connect them. It can inspire them.”

Project-based learning

Over the last year, Norfar has served as one of 90 educators working to develop the High Quality Project Based Learning framework, a national document designed as a tool for teachers, schools and districts committing to PBL, as it is often called in education circles. The teaching style flourished in recent years with proponents arguing that it encourages deep learning in students and prepares them for work in the 21st century.

Opponents to PBL, who favor direct instruction, question whether it is truly effective in teaching students and building content knowledge.

There is no universal description of PBL or a national guide to help administrators, teachers, schools and districts in adopting and implementing it, so California’s Buck Institute of Education convened national and international educators to answer questions with support from Project Management Institute Educational Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The framework is due out in March.

Buck Institute of Education describes PBL as “a teaching method in

Telannia Norfar has worked closely with educators to develop a framework to help them implement high-quality project-based learning programs. | Photo Laura Eastes

which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging and complex question, problem or challenge.”

Norfar, who is also a Buck Institute for Education National Faculty member, described PBL as an effective way to connect what students are learning to the real world, thus preparing them for the workforce and solving problems.

It forces you to do the right thing for all kids.

Telannia Norfar “Project-based learning brings the elements of the workforce into learning,” said Norfar, the only Oklahoma educator contributing to the framework. “Students immediately understand why something is important, and they are challenged to try to understand something or solve a problem that doesn’t have a readily available answer.”

Her own description is not far from PBL inventor John Dewey. The educational theorist called the approach “learning by doing.”

In Norfar’s Northwest Classen classroom, students are challenged to answer the questions, How you choose the best cell phone plan? How do you redesign popcorn containers to hold fewer popcorn kernels but resemble the same size? How do you construct a home?

Students are solving for X, but most

A former journalist with a background in finance, Norfar entered the profession fueled by of her desire to work with preteens and teens. During teacher orientation, a video on PBL introduced the style as “learning by doing.” It demonstrated a classroom environment that mirrored Norfar’s workforce experience. She sought out more information on PBL but struggled to find resources.

“I called it the school of hard knocks,” Norfar said. “I kept trying and tinkering, finding resources along the way. It was during my second year of teaching that I found out how transformational it was for my students. I had students enjoy learning. I remember parents filled my classroom for open house.

They said they loved the fact that their students were loving math again.”

PBL requires hours of prep work by teachers, Norfar explained. It is a shift from traditional teacher-centered instruction, but Norfar encourages teachers to adapt at least one of the framework’s criteria into their instruction.

She emphasized that even asking students to reflect on their work can be key for students in grasping why, what and how they learned.

“I think that is one of the reasons why I am such a proponent of it,” Norfar said. “It forces you to do the right thing for all kids.”

them as surplus property through a government auction service online. Hubert warns that those who want a meter will likely be bidding against smaller cities that seek the used meters for parts.

Mechanical parking meters are hard to come by, even used, he said.

Although the digital parking kiosks are very different from the original mechanical coin-operated meters, they do share one thing in common: coins. The city has no plans to do away with accepting coins for payment. Parkers can still insert a coin, just like in 1935.

CIT Y

Other revisions

Modernized parking

Goodbye mechanical, coin-operated meters and hello pay-by-plate technology. OKC implements a new parking system to meet the growing needs of downtown parkers. By Laura Eastes

Time is expiring for Oklahoma City’s aging mechanical parking meters as the city pursues a plan to modernize street parking, part of a national curbsideparking trend, as coin-operated meters become a thing of the past.

In December, Embark — the city’s transit and parking department — began installing hardware and software for a hightech meter system on existing kiosks. The new system, referred to as “pay by plate,” requires on-street parkers to enter their license plate numbers at a nearby kiosk and then pay with a credit card or coins.

“It was all a matter of convenience,” said Cory Hubert, the city’s parking services manager, during a Dec. 20 interview with Oklahoma Gazette along Park Avenue, where the city first upgraded parking kiosks with the new technology.

“With the pay-by-plate technology, one will be able to park their vehicle, walk towards their ultimate destination, interact with the machine and continue walking towards their destination,” he said.

The system replaces the “park, pay and display” system that was introduced to downtown parkers about five years ago.

Parkers paid for their parking at the kiosk and then returned to their vehicles to display the printed receipt. The city’s digital parking upgrades only went so far, and hundreds of coin-only meters remained along Bricktown streets and in Midtown near St. Anthony Hospital.

Under the pay-by-plate system, the extra walk back from the kiosk to the car

is eliminated, one of the many additional perks for parkers, Hubert said. During a second phase of the upgrade, the city will pursue a parking app that will allow parkers to make payments using their smartphone. It could also send reminders of when the time is expiring, allow parkers to pay for additional time or receive directions to where their vehicle is parked.

What we are doing today sets the groundwork for that expandability.

Michael Scroggins Oklahoma City is far from alone when it comes to U.S. cities retiring coin-operating meters and replacing them with digital kiosks. In 2006, New York City withdrew its final mechanical parking meter. In cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas, it is common to see high-tech meters and systems similar to Oklahoma City’s new endeavor.

“Five years ago, when the decision was made to go with pay and display, pay by plate had just started to come out,” Hubert said. “Now, the parking industry feels comfortable with the technology. It is an appropriate time for implementation.”

Oklahoma City’s on-street parking advancements come at a time when the city is a year away from operating a downtown

Cory Hubert stands next to a pay-by-plate parking kiosk along Park Avenue downtown. | Photo Laura Eastes

streetcar and at a time when an increased number of individuals are living in and moving to downtown, Bricktown, Deep Deuce, Automobile Alley and Midtown.

The kiosks could end up selling more than just curbside parking.

“It is expandable and lets us do so much more,” said Michael Scroggins, Embark’s public information officer. “It gives us the foundation so that down the road — because we are going to be using a very similar ticket vending machine for the streetcar — you could also purchase a ticket for the streetcar. What we are doing today sets the groundwork for that expandability, even into multi-modal options.”

First of firsts

Modernization has its drawbacks.

In Oklahoma City, where Carl C. Magee and a group of Oklahoma State University professors and alumni invented and introduced the first parking meter in 1935, the demise of the mechanical meters comes with pangs of nostalgia for some residents. The meter was introduced following downtown parking congestion where spots were occupied for long periods of time and prevented others from parking close to stores and offices for quick trips, according to Oklahoma Historical Society.

Following the initial success of the Oklahoma City parking meter, cities across the county began to install similar meter models.

“We’ve had a lot of people ask,” Hubert said of the public’s interest in what will happen to the last of the mechanical coin meters. “Myself, I’ve been asked by 10 to 20 individuals who want one.”

The remaining mechanical coin meters only go as far back as the 1960s and ’70s, Hubert said. The city plans to place the meters in storage and eventually sell

The modernization of the city’s parking systems also includes new equipment on enforcement vehicles. The vehicles are now equipped with cameras to scan license plates of parked vehicles to determine whether a parker has paid to park or if time has expired.

If a parking session is expiring or a license plate is not in the system, a parking enforcement officer will stop and write a ticket.

“Right now, what they are doing is driving by and looking at each windshield, trying to read the little posted sticker or trying to read single-space meters if they are red or not,” Hubert said. “There are no staffing changes. It is just better enforcement and utilization. The folks will be able to cover so much more territory during their shifts.”

The city anticipates increased parking revenues through the new system, which eliminates the opportunity for parkers to pull up to a coin-meter with excess time or share sticker receipts. Now, a parking purchase is only valid for one vehicle.

Another cause of increased parking revenues is the new standardized on-street parking rates at $2 per hour. When city leaders endorsed the plan for pay by plate, they also agreed to a standard of two hours at each parking meter and the increased parking fee. The city spent $485,000 on the new system and estimates an additional $640,000 in parking revenue annually.

The rising cost of curbside parking is intended to drive parkers towards parking garages, cutting down on downtown traffic as parkers look for available onstreet parking and curbside spots are left open to those making small in-and-out trips to offices, restaurants and shops.

“What we are trying to do is put people in a garage when they need to be,” Scroggins said.

The old and the new systems have another thing in common: freeing up more on-street parking.

This parking meter and other coinoperated models will be removed from city streets as part of an effort to modernize parking. | Photo Laura Eastes

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8

9

chicken

friedNEWS

Remember the mall?

A Lawton woman claims that she was kicked out of a local mall for breastfeeding, despite a 2004 Oklahoma law that allows women to breastfeed in public locations.

Jacquelyn Daugherty told KSWO that she was shopping for new clothes at Central Mall in Lawton in late November when her 9-month-old son got hungry. She found the nearest table and began feeding him. A security guard approached her and told her that it was indecent exposure.

Daugherty handed the guard an Oklahoma breastfeeding law card, according to KSWO, but the guard escorted her off the premises.

Lawton Central Mall released a statement to KSWO that was vague and contradictory, saying that is has private nursing areas but also that breastfeeding is allowed in the common area of the mall.The incident has rallied support for Daugherty with the breastfeeding rights group La Leche League, who organized a nurse-in at the mall late last year.

Officials might really be against breastfeeding, violating state law, or perhaps it’s all a new type of guerilla marketing ploy to get people to come back to the mall. It’s no secret that mall attendance has fallen precipitously in the last few decades. Maybe getting groups to rally at the mall is a new way to increase attendance. Last week, it was angry breastfeeders; next week, it will be slighted power walkers.

No joke

Federal official: Knock, knock.

Oklahoma County jail official: Who’s there?

Federal official: The U.S. Justice Department.

Oklahoma County jail official: The U.S. Justice Department who?

Federal official: The U.S. Justice Department for an inspection as part of the 2009 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the county government and the federal government. We know this jail has been overcrowded, dangerous and deteriorating. We know that this jail should be working through a reform process initiated by us. Open the door and let us in for an inspection. If this inspection is bad, you can bet that we will be in court arguing federal government takeover of this jail.

This is no joke.

According to NewsOK, the feds want to inspect the Oklahoma County jail. An attorney for the Justice Department’s civil rights division wrote, “We anticipate being on-site in the early part of next year.”

The new year marks four years since the department conducted a “compliance monitoring” tour of the jail facility. Last November, the Oklahoma County Commission denied the department’s

five-day inspection request. In correspondence with the department, District Attorney David Prater suggested the federal officials wait and come back later to really see new reforms taking hold.

While the Justice Department is glad to hear reforms are underway, attorney Cathleen Trainor responded justice officials would come anyways.

“We appreciate your assurances that the county has made progress towards compliance and understand that both the county and the state of Oklahoma are invested in reforming your justice system,” wrote Trainor in correspondence to Prater. “We anticipate seeing results from these efforts in your next Compliance Report. … We will review the report and target our on-site monitoring tour with experts, which the MOU explicitly authorizes.”

Sheriff P.D. Taylor told NewsOK, “We will be as ready … as we can be.”

Taylor was elected sheriff in September by county voters. While Taylor has ushered in “fixes” to jail operations during his time as interim sheriff, an inmate was murdered and two former jailers were accused of repeatedly firing pepper ball guns at a mentally troubled inmate who later died,

A Spot of Tea with Your Ph.D. Earn a British Ph.D. right here in Oklahoma in just 3-4 years through Swansea University, a top university in the world and a UCO partner.

A British Ph.D. requires a quality research thesis with no classes or other requirements.

Enjoy quality research advisement with supervisors in Wales and at UCO. Plus, two short trips to Wales are included in the affordable tuition.

Learn more at our Open House 5:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Nigh University Center, Room 404

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA TM

10

J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Edmond, Oklahoma

405-974-3494

uco.edu/swansea

according to NewsOK. How does the other joke go?

The feds walk behind the bars, see the absurdity and violations and immediately take control.

Knocking back in

Don’t call it a comeback. Because, technically, Rep. Scott Inman never left.

In a surprising, late-December announcement, the Del City Democratic representative announced he would be returning to the state Capitol in 2018 to fulfill the final year of his elected term.

This news represents a reversal for Inman, who, in October, announced his sudden withdrawal from the governor’s race and intent to resign his seat in the House of Representatives.

But Inman never submitted an official form of resignation, and Nondoc reports that the lack of a formal gesture led to wide speculation that the former House Minority Leader could return.

Rep. Emily Virgin, D-Norman, has said Inman will not return to his former leadership role with the House’s minority party. Rep. Steve Kouplen, D-Beggs,

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

who filled in for Inman after his departure, will reportedly retain the role.

It is hard to say whether Inman’s decision to serve out the final year of his term is a wise one. The full reasoning behind his withdrawal from the state House and governor’s race, in which he was arguably the Democratic favorite, has never been made public.

In an October statement, Inman said his decision to resign was born from “the stresses and strains of my career, the time away from my family, and the choice to wrongly prioritize my life’s decisions…

I can no longer ask my wife and children to sacrifice for me.”

Inman’s motivation for returning is more obvious. The state continues to face a seemingly endless budget crisis, and the Democratic Caucus needs every vote in a battle with the Republican Majority.

Don’t expect Republicans to be sympathetic to Inman’s sense of duty. If there was a problem serious e n o u g h to merit an abrupt withdrawal from the governor’s race and public service, has that problem really been adequately addressed in the last two months?

Restaurants, food service professionals and home cooks.

Come see us!

Largest showroom in Oklahoma!

COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL WHOLESALE PRICES HUGE SELECTION

THANKS FOR A GREAT 2017 WE WISH YOU A HAPPY 2018

SHOWROOM SPECIAL

AT T E N T I O N : FO O D S E RV I CE O PE R ATO R S

Spend $200 GeT $25 off

MUST PRESENT COUPON TO OUR FRIENDLY SALES STAFF ExP: 1/31/18 | INSIDE OFFER ONLY

4525 N. Cooper Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73118 (405) 524-1111 marketsourceonline.com

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8

11

EAT & DRINK A new entree version of pork schnitzel is topped with mushroom gravy and joined by spaetzle and Brussels sprouts. | Photo Jacob Threadgill

bination of venison, buffalo and pork, is the second most popular sausage. The most recent sausage addition to the menu is the Italian, which combines thyme and rosemary with onions and peppers.

The menu additions also include new entrees that come with two sides. I was surprised at the selection. It’s pretty clear that it’s not normal bar food. A concept as successful as Fassler Hall could probably get by with complementing its large beer and alcohol menu with a no-frills selection of sausages and duck fries, especially when it’s warm outside and the patio is full.

What happens when it’s below freezing and the only thing that can warm your soul is a warm plate of comfort food? The new menu is here to help with honey-braised pork shank topped with crispy onions ($16).

REVIEW

It’s pretty clear that it’s not normal bar food.

German comfort

New additions to Fassler Hall’s menu elevate the food from beer hall to full-fledged German restaurant. By Jacob Threadgill

Fassler Hall 421 NW 10th St. Fasslerhall.com | 405-609-3300 What works: The merlot-based cream gravy is luxurious.

What needs work: Brussels sprouts would be better served warm.

Tip: Food can also be ordered from Dust Bowl Lanes’ menu.

Tulsa developer Elliot Nelson was one of the first restaurateurs to see the potential in Oklahoma City’s Midtown district. Nelson brought James E. McNellie’s Public House to the neighborhood in 2009, before it became trendy to do so.

Nelson’s McNellie’s restaurant group followed the success of its first Oklahoma City restaurant by bringing the German beer garden concept Fassler Hall, modeled after its Tulsa location, to Midtown in 2014.

Combined with Dust Bowl Lanes, a vintage bowling alley, the 30,000 square-foot building at 421 NW 10th St. is a hub for activity in the trendy neighborhood. Fassler Hall’s concept of house-made sausages, German pretzels and a beer list that is more than twice 12

J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

as long as its food menu has become so successful that the McNellie’s group will open a Little Rock location later this year.

Fassler Hall’s copious beer selection, music and trivia nights, complete with a patio that includes ping pong tables and cornhole boards, make it a prime target for the city’s young (and young at heart) professional scene.

However, it’s much more than a place to drink and be merry, especially after a September menu addition overseen

by McNellie’s Group operations manager Brian Fontaine.

Making sausage

Fassler Hall made its name with a variety of German-inspired sausage ground on-site using Oklahoma City suppliers and stuffed into casings by staff. Manager JT Bennett said the most popular sausage is the classic bratwurst, which is boiled in Spaten Optimator beer and topped with house sauerkraut.

It’s as good of a representation of German sausage as you’ll find in Oklahoma.

Bennett said Hunter, which is a comFassler Hall opened in Midtown in 2014.

Photo Gazette / file

Fassler Hall has served versions of pork and chicken schnitzel since its opening, but only on a sandwich.

Schnitzel originated in Austria but is popular all over the world. Similar to Oklahoma’s ubiquitous chicken-fried steak, schnitzel is also pounded thin before being coated in flour and egg, but it differs as it gets a final coating of breadcrumbs.

Sitting down for lunch at Fassler Hall on a chilly afternoon, the German classic pork schnitzel ($14) topped with mushroom gravy called my name. I love a good white pepper gravy as much as the next guy, particularly Cheever’s Cafe’s jalapeño version on its chickenfried steak, but the merlot-based cream gravy topping the pork schnitzel was even better.

The gravy is finished with caramelized onions and fresh, thick-cut cremini

mushrooms that made a perfect complement to the schnitzel and one of my side items, spaetzle. Conspicuously absent from Fassler Hall’s initial menu, the soft egg noodle is the dish, along with schnitzel, that I most associate with German cuisine.

Over the last few months, I’ve considered making my own spaetzle at home, but I’ve been deterred because it required a special “hopper,” a grate-like device that cuts the egg, flour and salt mixture into perfect little sections.

I’m happy to find it on Fassler’s new menu because it saves me from ordering the tool and adding to kitchen clutter.

I found myself mixing the spaetzle with the gravy, a combination so good that it left me with the energy to solve Oklahoma’s ongoing budget crises.

My meal was finished with a side of Brussels sprouts, which I would term a salad because it’s served cold. The sprouts are flash-fried and mixed with red onion, garlic and balsamic vinegar before being cooled. The dish was tasty and the sprouts were cooked well, but I would prefer it served warm.

Food from Dust Bowl is also available at Fassler Hall and includes a variety of intriguing tater tots, including mac and cheese and Mexican versions, burgers and chili dogs.

“Our staff does a good job accommodating both menus,” Bennett said.

“It can be a challenge for servers because Dust Bowl is far away from the kitchen, but we make sure everything comes out hot. Our staff does a really good job jumping back and forth between German and American food.”

If you’ve only thought of Fassler Hall as an after-work refuge or weekend warrior playground with its extensive German beer menu, I’d suggest stopping by for lunch. The new entrees provide a hearty and well-rounded meal, and you won’t have to deal with the loud and boisterous crowd the beer list brings with it. If you are there during peak service, the menu provides a high-quality meal in a beer hall setting.

F E AT U R E

Open flame

Turkish and Pakistani food combine at Fusion Charcoal Grill. By Jacob Threadgill

First-time restaurant owner Azim Akhtar thinks about the online reviews for his Fusion Charcoal Grill with enough frequency that there are times it wakes him up at night.

This was the case the first time a reviewer on Facebook gave the restaurant less than the maximum five stars. Much to his chagrin, the 3-star review was not an indictment of the food.

“I had just woken up and noticed our average dropped to 4.9,” Akhtar said.

“When I saw that they said it was because of the ambiance, I was like ‘Seriously?’”

For Akhtar, the idea that someone would enjoy the food but lower a rating based on atmosphere is hard to comprehend.

“We try as hard as possible to make this a personal experience for every customer,” Akhtar said. “You go to a restaurant to eat, so if the food is good, that should be the primary focus.”

Maiden restaurant voyage

The restaurant at 3604 N. May Ave. has been a variety of Middle Eastern-inspired eateries over the years. It was originally Shish Kabob and then Taste of Egypt before it became Istanbul Turkish Cuisine.

Akhtar, 31, got his start as an entrepreneur with a car dealership business in Dallas. He left that industry and bought a few commercial properties in Oklahoma City, where he has visited family frequently over the last 20 years.

Eight months ago, he saw that Istanbul was for sale, and he began to think about the growth he had seen in Oklahoma City over the decades while visiting family.

“The idea of buying the property and serving good Pakistani food pulled at me,” he said. “We have come quite often to visit my family, but we never go out to eat Rodrigo Garcia watches over rice pudding in

because our food at home is way better.”

Akhtar pulled the trigger on the restaurant and moved to Oklahoma City from Dallas in April 2017. For the first two months of restaurant ownership, he kept the name and menu unchanged, not wanting to drive away loyal customers.

This is an entertainment business. If I can’t entertain somebody’s palate, then there is no reason to have a restaurant.

Azim Akhtar

After the end of the school year, his wife Huma and children moved up, and the two went to work in the kitchen. They had to perfect family recipes for Pakistani dishes but also learn the restaurant’s Turkish menu.

“It was a fun experience,” Akhtar said.

“We saw what we could do better from a production standpoint. We make everything fresh every day. We only prep

enough to serve, rather than throwing stuff away at the end of the day.”

Flame-grilled

Entrees at Fusion are cooked either on a charcoal grill that is enhanced with mesquite wood or in a brick oven. Marinated kebabs, both Turkish and Pakistani variety, cook on the grill while personal pizzas made out of two layers of pita bread dough cook in the oven.

Akhtar said he’s proud of the fact he is the only restaurant in the city to offer halal beef pepperoni and sausage.

Akhtar kept the Turkish menu from Istanbul and supplemented it with an array of Pakistani items. He said the most popular is lahori chargha, a yogurt-based marinade that gets a spicy kick from a variety of chili and masala powders.

It cooks on a skewer, which allows extra fat to drip off, making it healthier than if it was cooked in its own juices. “[We offer] a different experience, and it’s a more natural way of cooking,” Akhtar said. “You can’t grill at home every day, can you? I guess you could,

Azim and Huma Akhtar run Fusion Charcoal Grill. | Photo Jacob Threadgill

but it could be a hazard.”

Commitment to authenticity

Other Pakistani recipes include seekh kebab, minced chicken or beef given a kick with ginger, lemon, coriander, cumin and garam masala powders. Malai boti, chicken korma and beef and chicken tikka are a few of the other Pakistani additions.

Akhtar said he felt compelled to add Indian classic butter chicken to the menu because he felt he had yet to have an authentic version in the city. He said he made butter chicken over 100 times before he got it the way he wanted, noting that an authentic recipe should have ground cashews in the curry paste.

“It’s gotten to the point that food business is not about soul food. … There are shortcuts and ways to make people think you’re having authentic dishes, like putting ketchup [in curry],” he said.

Akhtar said that business has increased each of the last three months and it’s a trend he hopes continues into 2018. He and his wife prepare food and serve tables with help of one full-time staff member in the kitchen.

He hopes increased business will help lead to aesthetic upgrades to placate the one review below five stars. He has also toyed with adding a buffet or a weekend brunch menu, but he said he will only do so without sacrificing quality.

“People go out to eat to enjoy food.

This is an entertainment business,” he said. “If I can’t entertain somebody’s palate, then there is no reason to have a restaurant.”

Fusion’s brick oven. | Photo Jacob Threadgill

WRAPS|SOUP|SALAD & MORE YummyMummyOK.com DOwNtOwN

Mon–Fri•10:30–2 405-225-8750

PeNN

Mon-Sat•11:30-9 405-752-6055

3 friends spend minimum of $20 you get $10 off food/drink with coupon Downtown – Expires 1/31/2018 Now Open in Leadership Square 119 N Robinson O kg a z e t t e . c o m | J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8

13

Nic’s Place

’S

EAT & DRINK

Come join us in our basement lounge!

CE

F E AT U R E

1116 N Robinson Ave. OKC | 405.601.9234 @nicsplacedinerandlounge

529 Buchanan Ave. Campus Corner Norman

WINGS, BAR, LIVE MUSIC All day Thursdays: small order of wings, fries, pint of beer

$10

Rotating COOP, Anthem, Roughtail, and new beers every month Check Facebook for live music schedules 14

J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Keep learning

Higher Grounds Coffee Shoppe & Bakery shepherds Ken Murphy’s outreach from the oil industry to coffee. By Jacob Threadgill

For more than three decades, Oklahoma City entrepreneur Ken Murphy’s career couldn’t have been more antithetical to itself. Murphy first founded the successful oil-drilling firm Murphy Production Company and then later founded the environmental company Enviro Clean.

The one constant throughout Murphy’s career has been his faith.

Murphy and his wife Linda founded the nonprofit Mission OKC 25 years ago, but its efforts went on the backburner as Enviro Clean grew from bedroom operation into the Southwest’s largest oil remediation company.

After the 2013 sale of Enviro Clean, Murphy transitioned into something completely different: coffee.

Higher Grounds Coffee Shoppe & Bakery opened at 5814 NW 63rd St. in Warr Acres November 2015. The coffee shop represents the local public outreach for Mission OKC, which also raises funds for charitable organizations across the globe.

“Coffee is the unifying thing,” Murphy said seated in the warm retail space surrounded by wood and a roaring fireplace. “I’ve attended church in the community for 30-plus years, and as a church, you’re always trying to reach out into the community, but it rarely happens that way. There are a lot of reasons in a person’s life that they will not respond to a church, but our goal as a business is to show the love of Christ to the community. We’re not trying to be a church or push people to a church.”

Higher Grounds orders coffee beans from all over the world, and they arrive green to Hoboken Coffee Roasters in Guthrie, where they are roasted every Wednesday and packaged for delivery.

Higher Grounds’ blends are available in the store and distributed to businesses and churches on the for-profit side of the business.

Higher Grounds Coffee Shoppe is the headquarters of Mission OKC’s local projects, which in the past few years have included building a basketball court and numerous fundraisers for Rollingwood Elementary.

The shop’s event space and reading room are free to rent, and serve as a meeting place for Bible study groups, games of Bunco and even a group that dances to traditional Jewish music every few weeks.

Murphy attends Cherokee Hills Christian Church, and Higher Grounds also receives encouragement from Cherokee Hills Baptist, Council Road Baptist and Life.Church’s Oklahoma City location. Murphy said the coffee shop will partner with those churches to donate a percentage of its sales to neighborhood churches’ fundraising efforts.

“We want to be a place where people are comfortable,” Murphy said. “Some people feel so much so that they come in and try to turn the fireplace on by themselves.”

The food service at Higher Grounds Coffee Shoppe has taken different iterations since opening. Originally, it

After founding two successful companies in the oil industry, Ken Murphy opened nonprofit Higher Grounds Coffee Shoppe & Bakery in 2014. | Photo Jacob Threadgill

served full breakfast and lunch menus and worked with a program to employ women out of prison in the kitchen, to teach them a trade.

“The recidivism rate for women in Oklahoma to return to prison is something like 85 percent, but we had seven ladies who did a great job for us, and not a single woman has gone back [to prison],” Murphy said.

Some people feel so [comfortable] that they come in and try to turn the fireplace on by themselves.

Ken Murphy The program that sponsored the women ran out of money following a downturn in the oil market, Murphy said, and in the meantime, the coffee shop has ended full breakfast and lunch menus.

Head baker Dawn Kellogg and the Baker Dawn Kellogg oversees a variety of sweet

staff churn out a variety of pies, turnovers, cookies and other sweet treats, all of which can be topped with Roxy’s Ice Cream.

Mission OKC uses proceeds generated from Higher Grounds to fund missionary efforts in Haiti, Peru and Nepal, in addition to its local projects.

When it was founded, Mission OKC established an outreach for Section 8 housing, opening a church inside Lakeside Village Apartments, which ran for 10 years.

“Rather than being a church that sent a bus to the apartments, we started a church in the apartments,” Murphy said.

“The idea is not just being a church to draw people to you, but to be the church and go to the people. It’s what we’re trying to do here [at Higher Ground Coffee Shoppe] and what the church is supposed to be. It’s not just a building.”

Murphy said that the staff doesn’t go out of its way to discuss their Christian faith with customers unless they feel compelled to do so. He was reminded of a time when head barista Tori Goben was working the drive-thru window when a woman asked to pay for the order of the person behind her.

Goben told the lady that she sensed it was more than an altruistic expression and asked the woman if she was O.K. “The woman said that she was on her way to her first chemotherapy treatment and that if she couldn’t have a good day, then the next person should.

The next thing you know, Tori is leaning out the window, praying with the lady,” Murphy said. “Little things are happening like that all time.”

After decades working with geologists, lawyers and rig workers, Murphy said he is enjoying working and listening to the staff at the Higher Grounds.

“I have found myself sitting at tables I wouldn’t have been sitting with in the past. I’ve met some really good people,” he said. “We might view life from different sides, but our desire to love life is the same.”

Visit highergroundsokc.com.

treats at Higher Grounds. | Photo Jacob Threadgill

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8

15

g a z e di b l e s

eat & DRINK

Healthy resolutions

Welcome to 2018, when, for at least the first few weeks of the year, we’ll dutifully try to keep the New Year’s resolution to shed the weight from all of those holiday treats. Whether you’re looking to keep a resolution or just a meal that will keep you refreshed, check out these seven restaurants.

By Jacob Threadgill | Photos Gazette / file and provided

16

J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

The Fit Pig

Provision Kitchen

The Red Cup

Operated by Nick and Carly Faulkner, The Fit Pig is a grab-and-go restaurant that can be heated up and eaten at home or at the restaurant. Healthy meals are available breakfast through lunch, and options include sweet potato hash, spaghetti and meatballs, veggie tacos and much more. There are gluten-free, paleo and vegetarian options. No meal is over 600 calories.

A combination of freshly tossed salads, pre-prepared takeout meals and hot bar entrees, Provision Kitchen is aimed at providing local, high-quality ingredients that treat you right. At the hot bar, choose a base protein like mole-baked chicken and add sides like harissa carrots or chili-roasted broccoli. All of the kitchen’s ready-made meals are under 500 calories.

Chef Patrick Clark has gradually overseen The Red Cup’s transition to a fully vegan restaurant, aside from an occasional egg sighting. Plant-based chorizo tops a variety of standouts, including the Mt. Saint Chorizo and vegan mac and cheese. The Red Cup’s bibimbap features brown rice, raw broccoli and plenty of pickled vegetables and sauerkraut, which is chock-full of good probiotics.

722 N. Broadway Ave., Suite 100 thefitpig.com | 405-290-7080

6443 Avondale Drive provision-kitchen.com | 405-843-2310

3122 N. Classen Blvd. theredcupokc.com | 405-525-3430

Picasso Cafe

Bistro 38

Green & Grilled

Coolgreens

The neighborhood Paseo eatery is the perfect place for a large family. With half vegetarian and half meat-based options, there is sure to be something for everyone. If you’re looking to the plant-based side this time of year, try the newly unveiled tikka masala made with jackfruit to mimic chicken or the quinoa tacos.

What separates Bistro 38 from other Thai restaurants in the city is owner Tom Pakin’s commitment to “green cuisine.” Pakin and staff execute traditional recipes but add extra vegetables.

For instance, pad thai isn’t just served with bean sprouts and a few carrots; it comes with broccoli and snap peas. Its volcano tofu is covered in a tantalizing four-flavor sauce.

The former food truck has found success at its brick-and-mortar location with a commitment to meals low in calories and high in fiber. Watch as your entrée is built in front of you as you choose from grilled steak, chicken, pork or tofu. Complement your entree with white rice that gets a nutrient boost from spinach and carrots or steamed brown rice.

If you’re in a hurry, stop in at one of Coolgreens’ seven metro locations rather than going to the drive-thru lane of a fast food establishment. Choose between house-made quinoa bowls, salads and sandwiches. Most of its menu is less than 600 calories as long as you avoid turning your salad into a wrap.

3009 Paseo St. picassosonpaseo.com | 405-602-2002

2903 NW 36th St. bistro38.com | 405-948-2788

6220 Northwest Expressway greenandgrilled.com | 405-563-2605

6475 Avondale Drive coolgreens.com | 405-841-2665

Classic deli food,

QU

ION

made froM scratch

I

• CR

SS

AL

TY

AFTSMANSHIP

•P

A

427 NW 23rd St. OKC 73107 405-604-8940

www.scottiesdeliokc.com

monday sauced singo@8Pm tuesday oPen mic night@8Pm wednesday red dirt Poetry night@8Pm thursday sketti night & three act thursday Friday & saturday LiVe music

Gift Cards available!

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8

17

SHOP

All of us at

wish all of you

SHOPPING

Apple Tree Antiques

Getting current The new year is an excellent time to bring some other newness into your life. Sometimes we need to cut ties with the same tired things and start fresh. There are several areas in life people could typically use an upgrade — a new ride, a new phone, a new wardrobe.

Several metro businesses can help shoppers start 2018 on the right foot. By Ben Luschen | Photos Ben Luschen

Apple Tree AnTique GAllery

6740 NW 39th Expressway | Bethany, OK 405.495.0602

Whether a customer is just looking for stylish frames or something that can help bring that blurry computer screen into focus, the Bona Vision experts are there to assist. In addition to her work at Bona Vision, optometrist Dr. Irene Lam can often be spotted doing vision screenings at local schools, businesses and other organizations.

• CDR Electronics

5939 Northwest Expressway cdrokc.com 405-972-5210

If Santa Claus was not able to check off the fancy new electronic item on your list, it might be time to treat yourself.

Anyone who wants to keep themselves on the cutting edge of the ever-changing gadget world needs to be aware of CDR Electronics, a locally owned business that equips its customers with the latest and greatest smartphones, tablets and gaming consoles (or at least an upgrade over their current version).

But the new year is often as much about purging the old as it is bringing in the new. CDR buys many used phones and other gadgets so they can be a strong ally for anyone looking to declutter.

Come on in!

3901 N. COLLEGE | BETHANY MON-SAT 10AM-5PM | 603.8878 Like us on FB!

Explore OKC’s #p1 Vintage Sho

sories Clothing • Acces les Curious Collectab & More!

•Rosegold

7302 N. Western Ave. rosegold-boutique.myshopify.com 405-775-0105

Grandma’s Christmas sweaters are not going to be enough to save the drabbest wardrobes. If gifted holiday clothing items weren’t sufficient to take you into 2018, consider picking out a few of your own favorites at Rosegold. The local boutique carries elegant everyday wear for women including tops, bottoms, dresses, accessories and more. Those who take advantage of the year-opening storewide sale in mid-January can fill their closet for a fraction of the price.

6601 N. May Ave. bedmanokc.com 405-879-2337

• Jackie Cooper BMW in the Plaza 1759 NW 16th • Oklahoma City • 405-528-4585 Open Tues-Sat 12-7 • Like us on Facebook

CBD products for your PETS!

Orthodontic Arts

10% discount on Paseo First Fridays!

5% discount on all cash purchases!

607 NW 28th St. Suite A | OKC, OK 73107 Paseo | 405.509.3183 herbanmotherllc.com 18

14145 N. Broadway Ave., Edmond cooperbmw.com 405-755-3600

How many times have you looked out into the street and winced at the sight of your own parked car? How many times have you hoped against all hope that this won’t be the time your old jalopy dies in the middle of Northwest Expressway? If the answer to either of those questions is “a lot,” it might be time to get a reliable vehicle.

The fine sales staff at Jackie Cooper BMW can pair shoppers with the perfect new or used car to fit their lifestyle needs.

421 NW 10th St. orthodonticarts.com 405-604-3745

Cannabis Dispensary

j a n u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

The best way to enter any new year is with a smile. Dr. David Birdwell and Orthodontic Arts use state-of-the-art

• Bed Man

equipment and techniques to treat every patient, and flexible payment plans make visits more affordable. Check in to the Midtown office for a free complimentary screening where you can get a custom treatment plan for 2018. Be it braces, retainers or Invisalign, Orthodontic Arts will have you beaming in no time.

• Bona Vision Eye Center 2421 N. Classen Blvd. bonavisioneyecenter.com 405-528-8200

Can you read this without pressing your glasses back up on your nose? For those wearing a pair of spectacles beyond the scope of minor household repair, it might be a good idea to upgrade at Bona Vision Eye Center.

What’s that up in the sky? Is it a bird? A plane? No, it’s that thinly padded sack of rocks you’ve been calling a mattress, angrily tossed from your second-floor window after one too many nights of restless halfsleep. Bed Man can be anyone’s personal superhero, thanks to a wide selection of mattress sets, box springs and frames set at reasonable prices. Feel free to come by the shop and take any of the display mattresses for a test drive. Just try not to get too comfortable.

shopping

ARTS & CULTURE

Spruced up

A local blogger teamed up with other local storeowners to open Spruced Cooperative.

By Jessica Williams

Opening one store is hard, but prolific blogger and interior design expert Allison Griffith and several likeminded women have opened three under one roof.

Spruced Cooperative in Edmond houses a salon, a clothing boutique and a home goods store. More than a retail space, Spruced also offers visitors a creative outlet with The Makery, where local artists teach painting classes, handcraft decor, design floral arrangements, learn calligraphy, make macramé and more.

Griffith’s venture into interior design started with a blog and a risky resignation from her corporate job. She spoke to Oklahoma Gazette about her new business, her blog and the audacity required to follow a passion.

“While I had my banking job in 2009, I started a blog called Refunk My Junk following my interest in interior design,” said Griffith. “It started as a hobby outside of work. I wrote about DIY projects, being a new mom and redecorating my house.

This was really a blog just for me.”

What was originally a personal blog grew over time to an interior design and furniture painting resource for a substantial audience. Griffith decided to use Refunk My Junk as a teaching tool for those with creative aspirations.

“People I knew and those reading the blog were always asking me how I did these DIY projects at home, where I got certain supplies and how I found time to actually complete these projects,” she said. “I certainly didn’t think the blog would become what it is today.”

When her blog audience grew to national levels, the former bank vice president made a life-changing decision.

“I wasn’t feeling energized in my cor-

porate job,” Griffith said. “Changing career paths was not an easy decision, but it was a necessary one. I went from having financial security in my corporate job to relying on my blog as a full-time job. It was an slow, upward climb to get to where I am now.”

Griffith’s blog grew from a pet project to a national blog over several years and currently reaches 1 million readers monthly.

Griffith is a working mom with a full plate, and her blog hits close to home for many readers. Beyond painting tutorials and interior design, Refunk My Junk celebrates the everyday.

“There are so many highly curated fashion and style blogs out there today, but that’s just not my style,” Griffith said. “I show the kind of down and dirty aspects

Spruced Cooperative contains a hair salon and interior designs under one roof. | Photo Spruced Cooperative / provided

15% off ENTIRE puRchasE duRINg pasEo’s fIRsT fRIday!

Allison Griffith left partnered with Ali Jackson right and two others to open Spruced Cooperative. | Photo Splendiferous Photography / Spruced Collective / provided

to my life, and people can relate. I’m honest with my audience about the good and the bad, and that’s helped build a kind of community.”

Griffith’s blog features resources like Griffith’s book The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Furniture Painting, e-courses on design projects and an array of how-to videos. The rest of the interior design community has taken note — her room and furniture makeovers have been featured on sites like Apartment Therapy, Today.com, Huffington Post and HGTV Magazine.

National acclaim never deters Griffith from her passion for the OKC metro community. In spreading her love of interior design, Griffith’s focus switched from online to a physical location.

“Spruced Cooperative started as a vision to serve Oklahomans with accessible, affordable interior design products and workshops,” she said. “I originally started with a small office space and a larger warehouse to teach classes but quickly needed to expand to a more functional space.”

Collecting brands

In expanding beyond her workshop warehouse, Griffith sought to create a brand that reflects her personal style, teaching methods and grounded attitude toward interior design and décor.

“Customers were wanting more handson experiences with interior DIY projects, and I wanted to create a location that allowed people to create their own work,” Griffith said.

After finding an available storefront in

Edmond, Griffith connected with Profile Concierge Hair Service’s Ali Jackson and Soulful Charm’s Jenn and Kari Lawson in a series of collaborative meetings, outlining their goals as individual business owners and as a collective group. As of Dec. 31, Soulful Charm has left Spruced but continues to operate as an online store.

“It’s not easy to open a business, especially if you’re just one person,” said Griffith. “All four of us were ready to showcase our talents in collaboration with one another.”

Now functioning as a full-fledged location for home goods, beauty and handmade items, Spruced serves Edmond as a destination for creative individuals seeking a unique shopping experience and a connection to the community.

Besides its beauty and home goods, Spruced is unique for its variety of workshops and classes.

“We offer workshops for individuals, groups, parties and businesses,” said Griffith. “Our classes are great for team building and bonding, and everyone leaves with a finished product to enjoy.”

In the future, expect partnerships between the space and a plethora of local businesses. Whether you’re seeking a new hobby or finishing a large home project, Spruced welcomes craft and design experts and novices alike.

“This is a no-pressure environment to shop, create and connect to others,” she said. “Above anything, we just want customers to have fun while they try something new.”

Visit sprucedcooperative.com.

Just because you have a large bust doesn’t mean your bra has to be ugly!

Discover Elomi’s Anushka babydoll, stylish and supportive!

Jewelry, Gifts & whimsy on the Paseo

607 NW 28th Suite F, OkC • (405) 628-7621 • WWW.SmaShbaNgleS.COm Wed-Sat 11am tO 6pm & SuN NOON tO 5pm FeaturiNg Semi-preCiOuS StONeS • turquOiSe • SterliNg Silver • haNdmade jeWelry

Shoppes at Northpark | 122nd & N. May 405.936.0030 | Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat 10-4 O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j a n u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 8

19

This issue is all about getting right with your body, mind and spirit as we explore the best places in

okc

to eat healthy, put in your steps and get in the right frame of mind for an active and positive 2018.

PUBLISHING JANUARY 31 Deadline January 24 Call your account executive at 528-6000 or email advertising@okgazette.com today to reserve your space!

01/19

Don’t miss this event!

Celebrate and support Oklahoma’s diverse art scene at the party with a purpose on Jan. 19.

Tickets sold out in 2016 and 2017: Get yours today!

bit.ly/ArtNowOKC oklahomacontemporary.org | @okcontemporary | 3000 General Pershing Blvd. | Oklahoma City

20

J a n u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

ARTS & CULTURE from left David Smith and Suzanne Thomas continue IAO’s mission to

art

support local art. | Photo Gazette / file

Artistic mission

For decades, Individual Artists of Oklahoma has been cultivating artists in OKC. By Lisa Hicks Snell

David Smith sits at the folding table placed in the room’s center. The sound of his rubber-capped chair legs scudding over the stained concrete floor echoes hollowly in the industrial-style space with exposed brick walls and overhead pipe.

“I’m going to fold paper while we do this. I hope that’s OK. You’ll have a pretty flower by the time we’re done,” Smith said.

He slides a cellophane sleeve of roughly 6-by-6-inch brightly colored paper squares within easy reach, selects a sheet of cobalt blue and begins to fold.

Suzanne Thomas, a Rose State College art professor and IAO visual arts committee chairwoman, sits next to him. She nods and laughs with a shrug that says, “Whatever makes you happy.”

Smith, known as spontaneous bob since his college days, is merely doing what spontaneous bob does. He creates things, and he got his artistic start with Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO).

He is also its current board president.

IAO supports and creates opportunities for Oklahoma’s creative minds, according to its mission statement, but the organization is much more. It’s a place for mentorship, encouragement and fostering new and emerging forms

of artistic expression.

“We do experimental, outside-ofthe-box stuff. That’s where we want to be,” Smith said.

He is inspired by the late James “Frank” Parman, a poet and playwright who was one of three people who founded IAO in 1979. Parman published books, produced plays, edited anthologies, conducted workshops, was a visual artist and co-founded two other arts organizations.

“Frank was a poet, architect, mad genius,” Smith said. “A lot of it was literary related, and playwrights came in.”

IAO’s first space was a shared one in The Paseo Arts District, and that space lent itself to an inclusion of the visual arts to complement the spoken.

Smith became involved with IAO at age 14. He wrote and enjoyed poetry, so he and a friend would attend IAOhosted readings. Within three years, he had a show there — sort of.

“My first pseudo show … I had a big station wagon, and I put every piece of art I ever made in it, and I drove around and I went to IAO,” he said. “Kevin Stark was having an opening, and his band (Blue Room) was playing in the back.

This was before he went to California and made Ninja Turtles,” he said.

Stark is known for designing toys,

being the curator of the Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley and running his gallery and studio, where he mentors up-and-coming artists.

Dana McBride, IAO director at the time, encouraged Smith to lean his paintings in the hall outside Stark’s exhibit.

“Actually, when we think about that, if I may, that’s a pop-up show,” Thomas said excitedly. “You had the first pop-up show.”

“Yes. In about 1987, 1988, I had an IAO pop-up show,” Smith said, seeming a little amazed.

Thomas said that is what IAO is about — getting back to the spontaneity of artistic expression.

“That’s kind of a cool thing for a high school guy. He’s actually with Kevin Stark, who’s now Kevin Stark before he was Kevin Stark,” Thomas said.

Smith demurred.

“He’s still Kevin Stark, and he still has no idea who I am,” Smith said.

They laughed, but a later phone call confirmed that Stark remembers that opening and said IAO was one of the first places to give him a show.

“They supported me by saying, ‘Your stuff is valuable,’ and gave me a place to show it,” Stark said.

He also remembers the high school kid’s work leaning up against the hallway walls.

“I was fine with it,” he said. “I’m always trying to support people in their art.”

Nowadays, Stark sticks to his Pauls Valley gallery, but his mission shows parallels to that of IAO. He mentors artists through their first shows, which he calls a “stepping stone to doing a real show.” He helps them with developing, hanging, pricing and selling — all without taking a commission.

“I know how poor artists are and how hard it can be,” he said. “I think that IAO has an important role to play in the local art scene, supporting artists that normally may not get a show.”

Growing artists

That’s IAO’s mission — supporting artists and art that don’t necessarily fit the conventional or mainstream concept of what art is supposed to be.

“There’s always going to be a need

for some people no matter what they are trying to express. There’s always going to be a need for them to find a space to be able to express that,” Thomas said.

This philosophy doesn’t just apply to working artists. IAO volunteers to introduce art to underserved children in the community.

“One of the things that we do here is Positive Tomorrows, a local elementary school that serves only homeless children,” Smith said.

We do experimental, outside-of-the-box stuff.

David Smith “They have after-school programs where they go to the ballet one day, they go here and there, and on Tuesdays, they come hang out with Mr. Bob and we do art projects here in the gallery — anything from painting to printmaking to origami. They come here once a week, and we just make art with these amazing, amazing kids. And that is probably my favorite thing we do here.”

Another one of Smith’s favorites is the poetry readings IAO hosts at the gallery and sponsors at Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway.

“At the end of the day, when I’ve gotten up here at the butt crack of dawn and set up chairs and the sound system and a bar and turned on the lights and done 20 Facebook posts to announce the poetry reading and people are here … sometimes it can be something simple,” he said. “Just to see a young artist grow, to see an emerging artist realize, ‘Hey, I’m an artist,’ is amazing.”

In Smith’s hand is a small, bright-red origami Star Wars X-Wing fighter. He sets it down alongside three neatly folded bright paper flowers.

IAO curates an average of six shows a year, hosts group shows and holds two fundraisers to support the programs it offers for free to the public.

Visit individualartists.org.

Origami flowers made by David Smith | Photo provided

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j a n u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 8

21

We supply the modern woodsman with adventure gear!

Begin your adventure ...

9705 N May Ave Ste.120 | The Village, OK 73120 woodsmantrading.com | 405-286-0614

Check us out

Mon-Thurs 9AM-6PM | Fri-Sat 9AM-7PM

Dapper Never Dies Manscape - Massage - Barber & Beard - Spa Book On-Line: ManscapeMassageClinic.com 714 N Broadway. Ave Suite 201

Manscape & Massage Clinic revolutionary GroominG CliniC proudly uSinG veGan & orGaniC GroominG produCtS made in oklahoma.

By appointment only

monday-Saturday 11am-7pm

@ManscapeMassage

Oklahoma Gazette is now available at all metro OnCue locations! okgazette.com

22

J a n u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

ARTS & CULTURE p er f o r m i n g arts

Find name brands you can’t find anywhere in Oklahoma!

Welcomed companion

Béla Fleck and string quartet Brooklyn Rider demonstrate how the banjo can shine in a classical realm. By Ben Luschen

Those who know world-renowned banjoist Béla Fleck from his rollicking progressive bluegrass band the Flecktones might be surprised to hear that the 14-time Grammy Award winner will be performing in Oklahoma with a chamber string quartet.

Fleck, a native New Yorker sometimes called the world’s premier banjo player, is set to appear with the Brooklyn Rider quartet Jan. 16 at Armstrong Auditorium, 14400 S. Bryant Road, in Edmond. Tickets are $23-$48.

But those who have closely followed Fleck’s decades-long career know the musician has a long history of working and thriving outside the settings in which banjo is most commonly heard.

His show with Brooklyn Rider might feel like less of a rock show than what he has done with the Flecktones, but the performance is no less energetic.

“It’s the difference between hearing a modern jazz-oriented group and a modern string quartet,” Fleck said in a recent Oklahoma Gazette interview.

“Flecktones are louder and feature a lot more improvisation. Brooklyn Rider brings a completely different dynamic and skill set. I love both and hope that the audience will too.”

Merging the banjo with a quartet of classic stringed instruments including two violins, a viola and a cello could be a tough marriage. But Fleck said any challenges in bringing the two worlds together have been mostly negligible.

“We have sorted out the dynamic issues and put together an intriguing set of music,” he said. “We have a wonderful time performing together. I’m looking forward to it; I’ve missed the guys.”

Forming bonds

Fleck first united with Brooklyn Rider — a New York-based group that currently includes violinists Johnny Gandelsman and Colin Jacobsen, violist Nicholas Cords and cellist Michael Nicolas — on his 2013 solo album The Impostor. The quartet is featured on a concerto titled “Night Flight Over Water,” and instrumentation from the group can be found elsewhere on the project.

The banjoist said he first encountered Brooklyn Rider’s music just by asking musicians he knew if they had any string quartets they could recommend.

“Over and over, Brooklyn Rider’s name came up,” he said, “so I listened to their recordings and found them to have a lot of creativity and a lot of integrity and a deep commitment to performing new music.”

After he acquainted himself with Brooklyn Rider’s music, he called the group and began recording with them.

They also performed together on several road dates — the start of a longlasting friendship.

“We went on tour and got along, well, famously,” he said.

Impressions of classical string instruments like violin are typically of soft and elegant music, whereas banjo can be seen as a more abrasive sound.

But Fleck said his banjo is never overpowering when the two collaborate.

“Actually, they are louder than I am, so we have to work hard for the banjo to come through at times,” he said.

Fleck’s work with Brooklyn Rider is not his first foray into the world of clasBrooklyn Rider | Photo Erin Baiano / provided

Béla Fleck | Photo Alan Messer / provided

sical music. His parents were both European-born composers. In 2001, he won a Grammy for Best Classical Crossover Album for Perpetual Motion, a project with bassist and composer Edgar Meyer. He paired with Meyer again on 2009’s The Melody of Rhythm, which also added tabla percussion from Indian virtuoso Zakir Hussain.

Fleck regularly works with a wide range of artists, including as a duo with famed jazz pianist Chick Corea, Nickel Creek mandolin player and Live from Here (formerly A Prairie Home Companion) host Chris Thile and Fleck’s superbly talented banjoist wife Abigail Washburn.

I try to make music that I can personally love and hope that people will eventually share my enthusiasm.

Béla Fleck “I love collaborating and would even venture that I’m pretty good at making banjo fit into music that it’s not expected to fit into,” Fleck said.

Collaborative projects don’t just turn into the Béla Fleck show either.

With Brooklyn Rider, Fleck said their work represents a true partnership.

“At first, I came to them with various sketches, hoping to find out what direction worked the best,” he said. “I discovered that they could make any of my ideas work and maybe sound better than they actually were. That was good to know. After that, I wrote whatever the heck I wanted with the confidence that they would make it happen.”

Love, naturally

Fleck recently came off a string of road dates with Washburn in promotion of their second collaborative album Echo in the Valley. The album strictly fea-

tures only banjo instrumentation, a fact many listeners are surprised to learn given the record’s sonic variety.

Washburn’s warm and diverse vocals add further depth to the project.

The couple’s last joint venture, 2014’s Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, won a 2016 Grammy for Best Folk Album.

Fleck seems to take his greatest thrills as an artist from seeing how inventive he can be with the banjo. His passion shines through on each of his many projects, which is one of the reasons he has been nominated in more Grammy categories than any other artist in the award’s history.

The banjoist said the primary driver behind each of his projects is to simply make the kind of music to which he would like to listen.

“I try to make music that I can personally love and hope that people will eventually share my enthusiasm,” he said. “Sometimes it takes a while for them to catch on, but I feel pretty good about the music that I’ve put out, in that I actually like it. That’s about all I can do.”

Reputed carolers

In a few past visits to Oklahoma City, Fleck has taken the time to visit Bricktown’s American Banjo Museum.

“It’s a mouthwatering collection for someone like me,” he said.

In the times he has had a chance to stop by, Fleck said he has looked upon the museum’s vast collection of gems with a true enthusiast’s curiosity.

“I wish I could try five-string necks on a bunch of them to see what they would sound like as bluegrass banjos,” he said. “Lots of the beautiful banjos there are four-string ones, made for New Orleans and Dixieland or Plectrum styles.”

Fleck said he is eager to rejoin Brooklyn Rider on the road but, at the time of the interview, was enjoying his time off for the holidays. He has a tradition with Washburn and several of their friends where they go around and give surprise caroling performances on people’s doorsteps.

“We — and several great musician friends of ours — pick out a neighborhood and walk through it with bass, banjo, trumpet, guitars, drums, et cetera and lots of singers,” he said. “We knock on strange doors and celebrate year’s end. It’s way fun.”

Always be kind to the carolers that come knocking during the holidays.

One never knows when that rendition of “Jingle Bells” might be coming from one of the most diverse artists in Grammy history.

Béla Fleck & Brooklyn Rider 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 Armstrong Auditorium 14400 S. Bryant Road, Edmond armstrongauditorium.org | 405-285-1010 $23-$48

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j a n u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 8

23

ARTS & CULTURE Curling, figure skating and hockey athletes will be on-hand to teach the basics at the 2018 Winter Olympics Expo at Myriad Botanical Gardens Jan 13. | Photo provided

tHe cottage

Booth Vendors in 2018!

Happy New year!

Mon-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5

3921 N. College, Bethany | 603-7493

green masala rice and green masala chicken 4621 N. May | OKC | 778-8469

PRIVATE LABEL Brand your company or corporate event on a practical product the customers appreciate.

WATER & COFFEE SERVICE Schedule your Norman or Metro business water and coffee delivery service today.

Beverage Equipment Total Beverage Services where customer service comes first!

2451 Van Buren Street | Norman, Ok TotalBeverageService.com 24

j a n u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

ac t i v e

is looking for

Cold gold

Successful Oklahoma curling clubs teach the basics at Winter Olympics Expo. By Jacob Threadgill

Perhaps no Winter Olympics sport more than curling engenders a response of “I can do that” from the average view on the couch.

Since its introduction to the Olympics in 1998, curling — the sport that features teams of four furiously sweeping in front of large granite stones across ice, aiming for a target, like an interactive game of horseshoes — has gained popularity.

TapWerks Ale House owner Jeremy Witzke watched the event during the 2010 Winter Olympics and remembers thinking that it looked fun. A few years later, when he and his wife Kristy were looking for a date night after the birth of the first child, they wanted to give an Olympic sport a try.

After first attempting fencing and deciding it wasn’t for them, the couple attended a Learn to Curl event at Devon Ice Rink. The owner of a successful Bricktown bar, Witzke was drawn to curling when he noticed his instructor holding a beer.

“He said the best thing about curling is that you never have to worry about your beer being hot and he set his beer down on the ice,” Witzke, who is now president of Oklahoma Curling Club, said. “I then figured it was for me.”

Witzke remembers his reaction the

first time he heard that an elite-level sweeper can burn as much as 1,500 calories during a full-length curling event.

“I didn’t believe it, but after I got out there, I was like, ‘Oh, never mind; you’re right,’” Witzke said. “You’re using a lot of core strength that you don’t realize [from watching]. You have to stay balanced on the ice while you’re moving.”

What started as a weeknight getaway for the Witzkes has turned into a fulltime hobby as they travel across the country to compete in tournaments for men’s, women’s and mixed doubles, which is making its Olympic debut in 2018.

Kristy Witzke is a member of a women’s division team based out of Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Edmond that took home the 2017 Arena National Championship.

Arena level games consist of eight ends, like an inning in baseball; each team gets a turn to throw the 44-pound granite stone to the circular target, which is called the house. Olympic level curling consists of 10 ends.

Teams of four are comprised of three sweepers and one skip, who stands near the house to provide instructions to the sweepers on their way to target the stone. Members switch positions throughout the game.

Members of the Oklahoma Curling Club celebrate a first place finish at the 2017 Arena Curling National Championship. | Photo provided

Oklahoma Curling Club’s women’s team isn’t the only sooner curling team to find success in 2017. The University of Oklahoma Curling Club is currently ranked No. 1 in the country in the college club division.

Members from both organizations will be at the Winter Olympic Expo Jan. 13 at Devon Ice Rink at Myriad Botanical Gardens and Park House to provide instructions and hands-on training for curling.

In addition to curling, expo athletes will provide training for hockey and figure skating. Tickets to the 4-8 p.m. event are $8-$15.

“We’ve never done anything like this before,” Ashley Elkins, director of events at Myriad Gardens Foundation, said. “We are always looking for way to draw a crowd to Devon Ice Rink after the holiday season, so we thought this might be a great way to do that.”

Devon Ice Rink has hosted six other Learn to Curl events this winter season, all of which sold out quickly, said director of marketing and public relations Leslie Spears.

It’s a chance to try it out without jumping all the way in.

Jeremy Witzke For those interested in curling, Arctic Edge will also host a novice league 4-6 p.m. Sunday. The Witzkes, usually on the same mixed double team, will split up as new members are paired with those with experience to learn the basics of the game.

“It’s a chance to try it out without jumping all the way in,” Witzke said, noting that all equipment will be provided. “It’s not like one of the other sports were you have to drop a hundred dollars just to get your feet wet.”

The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang County, South Korea runs from Feb. 9 to Feb. 25. Oklahoma Curling Club has about 75 total members, Witzke said, but the number always increases following the broadcast of the winter games.

Events like the Winter Olympic Expo will provide an extra boost.

“We’re really excited about the opportunity to showcase,” Witzke said.

“Hopefully we get people sweeping and throwing as quickly as possible so they can try it and want to come back and join the club.”

Winter Olympics Expo 4-8 p.m. Jan 13 Myriad Botanical Gardens | 301 W. Reno Ave myriadgardens.com | 405-445-7080 $8-$15

CALENDAR Red Earth Tree Fest, features 25 Christmas Trees decorated with handmade ornaments and art objects created by Oklahoma Native Tribes, 10-3 p.m. weekdays, through Jan. 5. Red Earth Art Center, 6 Santa Fe Plaza, 405-427-5228, redearth.org.

are events recommended

by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

ReLiveIt’s Museum of Augmented Reality, download the ReLiveIt app and head to SMO’s second floor to explore 3-D images, animations and time lapses, through Jan. 14. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org.

BOOKS Red Earth MFA Reading with Visiting Faculty, a literary reading with Allison Amend, Timothy Bradford, Brandon Hobson and Beth Ann Mock, 7 p.m. Jan. 4.

Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. THU

Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Health and Illness, explores the interconnectedness of wellness, illness and cultural life for Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Jan. 17. Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405-325-4712, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu.

Storytime with Miss Julie, Bring the kids for storytime with books Miss Julie picked herself. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-8422900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT Oklahoma Voices First Sunday Poetry, join IAO every month for a featured poet and read your own poetry at open mic with free admission, 2-3:30 p.m. Jan. 7. Individual Artists of Oklahoma - IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan Ave, 405-232-6060, individualartists.org. SUN A Reading with Elizabeth McKenzie, a literary reading with Elizabeth McKenzie, Author of Stop That Girl and The Portable Veblen. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. TUE Read for Adventure, the OKC Zoo and Metropolitan Library Systems have partnered to publish the children’s book, ‘Our Day at the Zoo’ and to create a community Read for Adventure program enabling readers to check out the new book from any of the 19 Metro Library locations, through March 31. Metropolitan Library System, 300 Park Ave., 405-231-8650, metrolibrary.org. MON

FILM Lady Bird, follows the title character’s senior year in high school, including her first romance, her participation in the school play, and, most importantly, her applying for college, 7 p.m. Jan. 1-5. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-708-6937, towertheatreokc.com. MON The Secret Child: The Autobiographical Cinema of Philippe Garrel, (1979, France, Philippe Garrel) follows generational upheavals of the May ‘68 protests; his tumultuous, decade-long relationship with singer Nico; years of drug abuse; and even shock-therapy treatment, 8 p.m. Jan. 4. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive , 405-2363100, okcmoa.com. THU Scarface, (1983, USA, Brian De Palma), Tony Montana (Al Pacino), a Cuban immigrant known as “Scarface” becomes leader of a drug cartel, 7 p.m. Jan. 9. Harkins Theatres Bricktown, 150 E. Reno Ave., 405-231-4747, harkinstheatres.com. TUE The Room, (2003, USA, Tommy Wiseau), an independent drama film about Johnny (Tommy Wiseau) and the love triangle he finds himself in, 8 p.m. Jan. 10. Warren Theatre, 1000 S Telephone

The Brew Sessions Sample beers from Anthem Brewing Company, Prairie Artisan Ales, Lazy Circles Brewing and more paired with music by Americana group Annie Oakley, DJ Jon Mooneyham, Helen Kelter Skelter and Gum. The event starts 4 p.m. Jan. 13 at Opolis, 113 N. Crawford Ave., in Norman.

Tickets are $20-$40. Visit normanmusicfestival.com. JAN. 13 Photo bigstock.com Road, Moore, 405-735-9676, warrentheatres.com/ moore. WED

HAPPENINGS Sidewalk Astronomy, the public is invited to look at the night sky through the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club’s telescopes, 6 p.m.

Jan. 5. Paseo Arts District, 3022 Paseo St., 405-525-2688, thepaseo.org. FRI

Devon Ice Rink, bundle up, grab your friends and family and enjoy a great day of fresh air and skating in the prettiest spot in town, through Jan. 28. MondayThursday 3pm-9pm, Friday 3pm-11pm, Saturday 11am11pm Sunday 11am-7pm. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-200-1547, myriadgardens.com.

FOOD Beginner’s Cookie Decorating Class, a winterthemed class with step by step instructions to complete 8-10 cookies and recipes you get to take home, 9 a.m.-noon, 1-4 p.m. Jan. 6. Urban Teahouse, 519 NW 23rd St, Ste 107, 405-606-7005, urbanteahouse.com. SAT Gluten & Dairy-Free Tasting Expo and Health Fair, try gluten-free and dairy-free food, vitamins, body care and more as well as a cooking demo, samples and prizes, 1-5 p.m. Jan. 7. Natural Grocers, 7013 N. May Ave., 405-840-0300, naturalgrocers.com. SUN People’s Network Dinner, open to the community and for the whole family, a networking dinner with a chance to hear from other locals, 6-7:30 p.m. Jan. 8. Sunnyside Diner, 916 NW 6th St., 405-778-8861, eatsunnyside.com. MON

YOUTH

Paseo First Friday, visit Paseo’s art galleries with street cuisine, special themed exhibits, refreshments, guest artists and entertainment, 6-10 p.m. Jan. 5.

Paseo Arts District, 3022 Paseo St., 405-525-2688, thepaseo.org. FRI

Kid Inventor, design, test and build unique creations using a variety of materials and technologies such as Legoes, string, paper and more, through March.

Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place , 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. WED

Red, White & Bruised, Primal Fight League honors military families and veterans with a mixed martial arts family event, Jan 6. OKC Farmers Public Market, 311 S. Klein Ave., 405-232-6506, okcfarmersmarket.com. SAT

YES, a radically inclusive LGBTQ+ youth group for ages 13-21 featuring movies, music, dinner, monthly fandom nights with positive, knowledgeable staff and peers, 7 p.m. Thursdays. Expressions Community Center, 2245 NW 39th St., 405-570-1638, bethechange.org. THU

Ukulele Open Jam Session, play with other Ukulele players with free admission if you bring an instrument and if not, you are welcome to sit and enjoy the music, 1-4 p.m. Jan. 6.

American Banjo Museum, 9 E. Sheridan Ave., 405-604-2793, americanbanjomuseum.com. SAT Oklahoma High Performance Racing Auction, Trade Show & Swap Meet, shop the selection on display during the show like dirt track and drag race cars, tracks, trailers, parts, tools, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Jan. 6.

Oklahoma State Fairgrounds; Oklahoma Expo Hall, 3213 Wichita Walk, 405-948-6700, okstatefair.com. SAT OkBride OKC Winter Bridal Show, receive discounts and attend fashion shows, floral runway shows and meet Oklahoma’s best wedding professionals, Jan. 7.

Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, 405-6028500, coxconventioncenter.com. SUN AKS Oklahoma Winter Bead & Jewelry Show, features fine jewelry, fashion jewelry, beading supplies, gem stones and more at wholesale, Jan.57. Oklahoma State Fair Arena, 333 Gordon Cooper Blvd., aksshow.com.

Saturdays for Kids: Beadwork, explore the art of beadwork, investigate design themes, and make your very own beadwork samples to take home, 10:00 a.m.-noon Jan. 6. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT Coding Club, in this after-school program, tweens can practice coding, program design, problem solving and robotics, 4:30-6 p.m.

Jan. 8. Mustang Public Library, 1201 N. Mustang Road, Mustang, 405-376-2226, cityofmustang.org. MON

PERFORMING ARTS The Color Purple, the musical follows the journey of Celie, an African-American woman in the American South from the early to mid-20th century, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 2-4, 8 p.m. Jan. 5., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Jan. 6, 2 p.m.

and 7 p.m. Jan. 7. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. , 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. TUE Dust Bowl Dolls Burlesque, enjoy an evening of ostrich feathers, high heels, corsets and more with the Dust Bowl Dolls, 9 p.m. Jan. 5. The Root, 3012 N. Walker Ave., 405-655-5889, therootokc.com. FRI Jen Kober, enjoy Jen Kober’s original blend of stand-up, story telling, and improvised rock-n-roll comedy, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Jan. 6. Loony Bin Comedy Club, 8503 N. Rockwell Ave., 405-239-4242, loonybincomedy.com. SAT Haiga Duo, Chicago-based musicians, Jason Chen, piano and accordion, and Eric Hollander, viola and poetry, perform text and music pieces about memoir, 7-8:30 p.m. Jan. 8. Current Studio, 1218 N. Pennsylvania Ave., 405-673-1218, currentstudio.org. MON

ACTIVE New Year’s Challenge, pick your own challenge from 30, 60 to 90 days of yoga to experience the mindfulness regular yoga practice brings, 6 a.m. Jan. 3. Hidden Dragon Yoga, 26 NE 10th St., 405-215-9642, hiddendragonyoga.com. WED Essentials of Raja Yoga Meditation, a day course to take a break and learn about the practice of meditation and look at the practical application of spirituality in daily life, noon-3:30 p.m. Jan. 6. Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center, 2500 S. Broadway, Suite 10, Edmond, 405-227-9618, brahmakumaris.org. SAT Beer and Yoga with Fusion Fitness, bring your own mat; Lazy Circles Brewing will supply the beer! Classes are taught by Lindsey from Fusion Fitness, 2 p.m. Jan. 6. Lazy Circles Brewing, 422 E. Main St., Norman, 405310-5364, lazycirclesbrewing.com. SAT Yoga in the Gardens, an all-levels class led by Lisa Woodward from This Land Yoga; class participants should bring a yoga mat and water, 5:45 p.m.

Tuesdays. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. TUE OKC Thunder vs. Portland Trailblazers, cheer on Oklahoma City’s Thunder as they host the Portland Trailblazers, 7 p.m. Jan. 9. Chesapeake Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave., 405-602-8700, chesapeakearena.com. TUE Red Coyote Springs Marathon Training Program, fulfill your New Year’s resolution by training for OKC Memorial Marathon with experienced coaches, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 9. Red Coyote Running/Classen Curve, 5720 N. Classen Blvd., 405-840-0033, redcoyoterunning.com. TUE Learn-to-Swim Program, giving residents of all ages and financial situations the opportunity to learn to swim with proper technique and basic water safety at their own pace offered by the King Marlin Swim Club, ongoing, Lighthouse Sports, Fitness and Health, 3333 W. Hefner Road, 405-845-5672, marlinswimamerica.com.

Line Dancing Lessons, perfect your dancing skills with some country music, Wednesdays. Chisholm’s Saloon, 401 S. Meridian Ave., 405-949-0423, facebook.com/ chisholmssaloon. WED

VISUAL ARTS 24 Works on Paper, features printmaking, drawing, painting and photography with subjects of land, place and survival as well as history, dreams and desires, through Jan. 13. Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum, 1400 Classen Drive, 405-2354458, 24works.org.

continued on page 26

Single Space, reflect, prioritize and renew your perspective for 2018 with women like you, 3 p.m.

Jan. 7. Studio 7, 520 NW 23rd St., 405-409-2878, studio7okc.com. SUN OKC Thrive, focus your goals for 2018 with a community of entrepreneurs to help each other have the best year yet, 5:15-6:45 p.m. Jan. 9. OKC Entrepreneurial Leadership Center, 4917 N. Portland Ave., 405-212-6200, facebook.com/trepcenter. TUE

Taste of Ethiopia Indulge in delicious Ethiopian food such as a mildly spicy red lentil sauce seasoned and simmered with caramelized onions and berbere (Ethiopian chili powder) rolled in 100 percent teff flour injera. The event is 7-10 p.m. Friday at 1501 NW 23rd St. Tickets are $30-$75. Visit tasteofethiopiaokc.com.

FRIDAY Photo Taste of Ethiopia/provided

Indigenous Healthcare: A History of Healing in Native Americans, Dr. Daniel Molina, chief medical officer for the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, speaks on the important factors affecting the health of Native Americans, 6-7 p.m. Jan. 9. Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405-325-4712, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu. TUE Meet the Candidates: Kevin Stitt, a Republican from Tulsa speaks on his politics and policies with a question-and-answer session with the audience, 7-8:30 p.m. Jan. 9. USAO Ballroom in the Student Center, 1727 West Alabama Ave., Chickasha, 405-2243140, usao.edu. TUE

Resilience Children First hosts a screening of Resilience, a documentary about how abuse and neglect during childhood can cause serious problems for the brains and bodies of children, putting them at greater risk for disease and other issues. The screening is 1-2:30 p.m. Monday at Oklahoma City-County Health Department, 2600 63rd St. MONDAY Photo provided

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8

25

CALENDAR art created by or about Oklahomans and the cities and landscapes they call home. Enjoy works by John Steuart Curry, Oscar Brousse Jacobson, Nellie Shepherd, David Fitzgerald and Woody Big Bow, through Sept. 2. 2018. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.

The Bright Side, native Oklahoman Sarah Clough brings her immersive, solo exhibition with a gallerywide mural and a series of paintings, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Tue-Sat through Jan. 12. Mainsite Contemporary Art, 122 E. Main St., Norman, 405-360-1162, mainsite-art. com.

The New Art: A Controversial Collection Fifty Years Later, the 150-piece permanent collection purchased from the Washington Gallery of Modern Art is dedicated to the collection of contemporary art and features abstract expressionism, post-painterly abstraction, color field painting and pop art, through May 13. 2018. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.

Lunch Combo Special Happy Hour Mon-Fri 3- 5pm

405-285-2396

3209 s Broadway in Edmond

Loving Vincent This fully painted film about Vincent Van Gogh begins shortly after his death with the son of Vincent’s postman developing an obsession with him. It screens 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Sunday and 5:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive. Tickets are $5-$9.

Visit okcmoa.com. FRIDAY-JAN. 11 Photo Oklahoma City Museum of Art/provided continued from page 25

calendar

Mon-Fri 11- 2:30pm

ArtNow 2018, features 25 artists artwork with tours, artist talks and a chance for guests to learn about the artists’ creative process, through Jan. 19. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org.

Ceramic + Embroidery + Encaustics, features ceramics, embroidery and encaustic painting with artists Liz Boudreaux, Cecilia Otero, Erin Merryweather and more, 11 a.m.-8 p,m, through Jan. 7. DNA Galleries, 1709 NW 16th St., 405-525-3499, dnagalleries.com.

Christmas at the Elms, free to the public, features artists Denise Duong and Karam along with Marilyn Artus, Douglas Elder, Richard McKown and more, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tue- 1-5 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 15. JRB

Cowboy Crossings, showcases the best of saddlemaking, bit and spur making, silversmithing as well as Western paintings, drawings and sculptures, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Jan. 7. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org.

Eclectic Eye, a diverse showcase of different mediums, such as oil pastels, acrylics and photography with Margaret Hoge, Jane Morgan, Stephanie Halley and more, Jan. 5-28. In Your Eye Gallery, 3005 Paseo St. #A , 405-525-2161, inyoureyegallery.com.

Heterogeneity, Salvador Jasso presents his collection of art focusing on being diverse in character and content: people are allowed to have multiplicity, Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Jan. 15. Individual Artists of Oklahoma – IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-232-6060, individualartists.org.

More Than Human: A Celebration of David Bowie, visit a Bowie-inspired art show, a screening of Labyrinth and music with local band Kali Ka, 7 p.m. Jan. 6.

Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-708-6937, towertheatreokc.com. SAT Nihilostalgia, Steve Breerwood focuses his art on compromise between the perception of objective reality and the inner processing of its meaning, MonFri 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through Jan. 15. IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-232-6060, iaogallery.org.

OFF-SPRING: New Generations, explore the development of both personal and group identity, childhood, family, history, and gender politics through sculptures, paintings, photographs, and videos, through Apr. 2018. 21c Museum Hotel, 900 W. Main St., 405-982-6900, 21cmuseumhotels.com. THU

Photo Women Lead OK/provided

Turn the Page 2018, artists Holly Bjorkstrom, Kafie Gibson Carman, Annalisa Campbell and more express what turning the page means through their art, noon5 p.m. Tue-Sat Jan.6-27. Paseo Art Space, 3022 Paseo St., 405-525-2688, thepaseo.com.

Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave., 405-528-6336, jrbartgallery.com.

Master Strokes: Dutch and Flemish Drawings from the Golden Age, showcasing 93 works from the 16th-20th centuries including masterpieces by Rubens, Rembrandt and Sir Anthony van Dyck. Works by lesser-known artists are also included as well as designs of architecture and the applied arts, through Jan. 21. 2018. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.

The Yellow Wallpaper Art Show This art show showcases the art of women dealing with mental illness and learning to trust their inner voice of healing despite louder voices of authority. The show is based on the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman that explores the way women were mistreated by their husbands and not taken seriously by doctors. The Yellow Wallpaper Art Show is 6-11 p.m. Friday at The Paseo Plunge, 3010 Paseo St. Call 405-315-6224 or visit facebook.com/literatipress. FRIDAY

The Question of Beauty, presents modern and contemporary art from the permanent collection that employs beauty as a mode of expression, together with work that either rejects or ignores beauty, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. through Feb. 11. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.

Open Impressionism: The Works of Erin Hanson, a large selection of paintings by Erin Hanson showing works from the past decade and her evolution into one of the most sought after artists of her generation, Jan. 9-Feb. 22. The Goddard Center, 401 1st Ave SW, Ardmore, 580-226-0909, goddardcenter.org.

Paseo Paint & Palette, a time to socialize while learning painting skills and creating your own masterpiece with artist Cindy Mason, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Jan. 9. Paseo Art Space, 3022 Paseo St., 405-5252688, thepaseo.com. MON Past, Present & Future, represents contemporary artists from well-established artists to emerging artists and the artists of right now, Jan.5-28. JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave., 405-528-6336, jrbartgallery.com.

OKC Women Lead Network Event: Civics 101 Gather together to examine the big picture of government, why you should care and how you can make a difference. Women Lead Network has a program each month focusing on a different civics topic. This month’s discussion is 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 10 at James E. McNellie’s Public House, 1100 Classen Drive. Call 405-757-3223 or visit womenleadok.org. JAN. 10 Photo Women Lead OK/provided

Submissions must be received

by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date.

Late submissions will not be included in the listings.

Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail them to listings@okgazette.com.

Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

SHIFT, Factory Obscura presents a fully-immersive, experiential art installation that challenges the participant to physically explore the full-sensory environment, Thu-Sun noon-6 p.m. through Feb. 25.

Current Studio, 1218 N. Pennsylvania Ave. , 405-6731218, currentstudio.org.

The Art of Oklahoma, celebrate the 110th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood with a diverse collection of

For okg live music

see page 29 26

J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

MUSIC Lomelda’s Hannah Read | Photo Laura Lee Blackburn / provided

EVENT

OKG: Oh, really?

Read: I’m actually a vegetarian, so I just eat the sides, which are great: ’slaw, potato salad.

Gracious traveler

Lomelda’s Hannah Read brings her highwaywandering album Thx to Norman. By Ben Luschen

With a backstory rooted in remote Texas many miles away from all of the state’s biggest metropolises and an album deeply tied to the unique sense of simultaneous freedom and confinement felt on the highways that stretch across the central United States, Lomelda’s Hannah Read and her reflective 2017 release Thx are things with which many Oklahomans can likely relate.

The indie rock and folk act plays Jan. 14 at Opolis, 113 N. Crawford Ave., in Norman. The all-ages show also features Norman-based band Costello.

Admission is $8-$10.

Read is the creative mastermind behind Lomelda, but Thx is also a product of producer Tommy Read (Hannah’s brother) and drummer Zach Daniel.

On the album’s standout opener “Interstate Vision,” Read sings of the open road’s simultaneous beauty and terror: “Interstates are not what I want.

Headlights scare me into visions. I saw an angel fly on bright white wings, guiding me home.”

Thx is full of the kind of existential ponderings

and reflections that come to mind on a road trip, zipping past cows at 80 miles per hour. On the song “Out There,” Read alludes to a tall tale her brother told her when she was a young child about meeting Texas-raised singer-songwriter and former Kill Rock Stars record label signee Elliott Smith at a club. Read said in a later interview with NPR that her brother claimed that Smith taught him how to smoke.

Oklahoma Gazette recently spoke with road warrior Read via phone, discussing everything from the new album to her current state of technical homelessness.

Oklahoma Gazette: Remind me, what is the name of the town you are from?

Hannah Read: It’s called Silsbee. It’s in southeast Texas — population like 6,000 or so.

OKG: Six thousand? That’s not too terribly small.

Read: It’s not. There are definitely smaller towns.

OKG: If I were to come eat there or something, is there a place in town you would point me to?

Read: Yeah, we have like three different Tex-Mex restaurants that you can go to.

There’s some good barbecue if you’re a meat eater. But I’d probably just take you to my parents’ house and let them make something or me make something. My dad is an expert meat smoker.

Thx | Image provided

OKG: The album Thx is great for the open road and traveling across endless rural highway miles. Where did you get the inspiration or idea for this sort of theme?

Read: A lot of it came from real life, from traveling a lot. Some of the most important, formative experiences for me being young happened while going to new places. Even as a kid, my parents really set me up for this touring musician life that I have now. When I was a kid, they were very spontaneous about our vacations. It would really be like, “Oh, we have time? Alright, kids, let’s pack up the cooler in the car; everybody get in.” And then we would drive. We would just drive until it was nighttime, then we would find a place to stay or sleep in the car or something. Often, we didn’t get farther than Oklahoma or Arkansas. And then we would just camp out in the mountains, find a river and stay for a few days.

OKG: Did you even have a plan for where you were going?

Read: Not really; not usually. That was kind of how that went. And now I just do that for a job.

Music is such a strangely powerful thing.

Hannah Read

OKG: Has your impression of traveling or touring changed at all? Have you seen that evolve over time as you’ve gotten more experience doing it?

Read: Yeah, it definitely changes with time. It changes the way that I think.

Every day is like a new world, a new life.

Just everything is new. I’m still learning about a lot of that. This year is really the first year I’ve been touring this much and this often. It’s interesting; I don’t really live anywhere at the moment. I’m hoping to change that. That’s my goal for 2018, to live somewhere.

OKG: When did you write most of the material on this album? Was there a specific timeframe?

Read: Yeah, I was living in a town in Texas called Waco. I was going to school there and lived there for about five years.

OKG: Did you go to Baylor Univer­ sity?

Read: Yeah, I did. And I wrote most of these songs toward the end of my time there. I was about to be moving, but not

really moving anywhere, just moving out. And that ended up lasting a few years. But for some reason, that has kept the songs pretty fresh for me because it all still feels pretty relevant.

OKG: To a certain degree, it’s probably even more relevant now than it was then.

Read: Yeah; true. Definitely.

OKG: You have that song on the album where you allude to this time in your life when your brother told you he had met with Elliott Smith. At any point did you actually believe what he was telling you, or did you know right away that it couldn’t be true?

Read: I knew it wasn’t real from the get-go. I was a little concerned for his sanity at first. I kind of took it out on Elliott Smith in my mind, like, “Who is this person who has sent my brother over the edge?” But it’s funny; I recounted that story to my brother after it got printed in an article or something, and he was like, “Oh yeah, I vaguely remember that.” It’s funny to think what an impression that made.

OKG: I’ve heard you say it’s interest­ ing how Elliott Smith was a guy who interjected himself and his life into the life or someone who hasn’t met him but clearly feels like he has.

Read: Yeah, totally. Music is such a strangely powerful thing.

OKG: I think sometimes, when you’re an older sibling, you just try to see what you can make your younger sibling believe. Was that what your brother was trying to do?

Read: The thing with Elliott Smith was not a prank. He meant it. But yeah, we’re very close. We were especially close in the process of making this record.

OKG: Like, creatively?

Read: Yeah. He and I recorded the whole thing ourselves. He and the drummer on this record were like the two collaborators that I had in making it.

OKG: 2018 is coming up. Do you have any plans for the coming year that we need to know about?

Read: Hopefully traveling more, getting it started early with a January tour.

Taking time when I can to write and do more. But really, I think I already confessed my main goal for 2018: to get an address that I can give to people.

Lomelda w/ Costello 9 p.m. Jan. 14 Opolis | 113 N. Crawford Ave., Norman opolis.org | 405-673-4931 $8-$10

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8

27

MUSIC

wed - Ladies Night & daNce LessoNs @7 thurs - siN Night driNk speciaLs jam sessioNs w/ BreNt kruger & joN murchisoN (No cover)

Fri & Sat - $10 bucketS during gameS jan 19 - jackSon tillman jan 26 - jimmy blytHe

Home oF tHe true country weStern Now bookiNg Live Music 401 s. MeridiaN

H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H

chishoLMssaLooN

H H H H H H H H H H H HH Headquarters for winter H H family ClotHing Family snow ski wear - casual-security H oilField workwear - military-HuntinG clotHinG cHildrens beautiFul jackets - super warm H canvas coveralls - bibs - jackets - siZes to kinG H all tHe best gear for military, Camping, seCurity, spy, knives & more! H BEAUTIFUL SKI WEAR - REAL DEALS H H tHis is a famous men's big & tall store up to 10xl we Help fit you & treat you like a neigHbor tremendous H seleCtion, latest styles H Hivis & Frc clothing - lots to see H ESTABLISHED 1945 - LIkE uS onM H SAMSBESTBuyS.coM-youTuBE H sam’s best buys 2409 S. Agnew • 636-1486 • M-SAt 9-5:45 H SUnDAY 1:00 PM tO 4:45 PM • CALL AHeAD H H H H H H H H H H H H HH

January 6 DAviD BOWiE TRiBuTE January 7 BOnE THugs-n-HARMOny January 11 unCLE LuCius January 21 MARTy sTuART January 25 DK THE DRuMMER January 26 KELLER WiLLiAMs January 27 RECKLEss KELLy January 30 PROPAgAnDA February 18 LALAH HATHAWAy Tickets and Info TOWERTHEATREOKC.COM @towertheaterokc 405-70-TOWER | 425 NW 23rd St. OKC 28

Photo Dylan Johnson / provided

J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

EVENT

Like us

Helen Kelter Skelter |

New heat

Norman-based Helen Kelter Skelter gives fans hot new tunes on sophomore album Melter.

By Ben Luschen

For Tim Gregory, a founding member of Norman garage rockers Helen Kelter Skelter (HKS), synesthesia was in the foreground of his mind as he wrote for Melter, the follow-up to the band’s selftitled 2016 release available for digital purchase Jan. 19. In that naturally occurring neurological phenomenon, color represents sound and vice versa in a kaleidoscopic album experience.

“It’s where something is not necessarily off, but your brain is just different from everybody else’s,” Gregory said.

Gregory, a guitarist, founded HKS with vocalist, guitarist and longtime friend Eli Wimmer. The rest of the band’s current lineup includes bassist Cody Clifton, keyboardist Jay Jamison and drummer Scott Twitchell.

The band performs a free Melter release show Jan. 12 at Opolis, 113 N. Crawford Ave., in Norman. Vinyl copies of the album will be for sale at the show.

Another Norman release party takes place Jan. 13, this time for paid entry as part of the Norman Music Festivalsponsored Brew Sessions event at The Main Street Event Center, 300 E. Main St. More than five local breweries will be on hand with additional musical performances provided by Annie Oakley, DJ Jon Mooneyham and Gum. Admission is $35.

Gregory wants fans to take from Melter what they will. An album’s meaning, he said, is in the mind of the listener.

Still, Gregory said he wrote a lot of the material on the album thinking about how the brain responds to certain things when it is tired or stressed.

“For me, I was super into that whole brain malfunction, brain disease,” he said, “things that make your brain kind of like, ‘What?’”

HKS more clearly defines their lo-fi, guitar-grooved psychedelia on Melter. The technical execution sounds improved over their solid self-titled debut, and the band stands with a firmer identity.

“We wanted to make our own sound,” he said. “We felt like the first album was pretty much us, but we feel like this one

is definitely the sound we were going for all along.”

Burning passion

Gregory smelled gasoline when he pulled out of the driveway in his 1977 Volkswagen Microbus, the same vehicle his father had owned and driven before him. The guitarist figured he would check on the smell when he got to work, but as it turned out, he would never get the opportunity.

He was near the Norman intersection of E. Main Street and N. Peters Avenue when his vintage Volkswagen burst into flames. He quickly turned the vehicle into a side alley.

We wanted to make our own sound.

Tim Gregory “I was like, ‘Oh shit! Damn it!’” he said. “I tried to put it out, and then after that, I think I grabbed some stuff maybe; I don’t know. I was just in shock because it’s like losing a best friend. I went to work and I couldn’t even do that. I was just like, ‘I got to go home.’”

The incident occurred near the Norman Transcript offices, and a large photo of his burning van was featured in the newspaper the next day.

“I made the paper,” he said. “I thought it was a good way for that van to go out.”

Naturally, Gregory has several personal belongings in the van at the time.

One of them was a recently developed set of photos from a trip to New Mexico in 2009.

He saved the photos from the fire, but the top three or four had melted. Gregory was left with several images that, while no longer depicting what he originally shot, were still unique and cool-looking bursts of tie-dye-esque color.

HKS already had a planned album cover for its sophomore release, but as Gregory began to show the pictures to friends and see their reactions to them,

he decided it would be a better idea to use one of the photos as the primary art.

“It was like, ‘Well, let’s just use this,’” he said. “It was kind of the universe giving one back. That’s how I felt about it, anyway.”

The fire was not the end to Gregory’s VW van days. Against what were surely long odds, the guitarist found a van of the same year, model and custom job from a place in Santa Cruz, California, somewhere online, which he quickly purchased.

He also still owns what’s left of his burned-up van, using the old parts to piece together another vehicle he is rebuilding.

Nostalgia fuels Gregory’s unending dedication to the VW Microbus.

“I’ve had one since I was born,” he said. “It just seemed like fate.”

‘Graduate degree’

Melter was recorded partially in Gregory’s home studio and partially in Trent Bell’s Norman-based Bell Labs Recording Studio, where the album was also mixed. Though HKS’s first album featured pre-recorded drum triggers, all the drums on Melter were recorded live and in the moment.

Like the band’s debut release, Melter will be released on Shaking Shanghai Records, the record label owned by Bell’s Chainsaw Kittens bandmate Tyson Meade.

Gregory said over time, the band has become good friends with Meade, who is sometimes called the “godfather of alt-rock.”

“Just to be on his team is a good idea,” Gregory said. “And he’ll come over and hang out and stuff. Eli (Wimmer) helped him out with some music he’s doing for a documentary.”

HKS had intended to release Melter before the end of 2017, but Gregory said a few delays meant it made more sense to put out the album at the front end of 2018. The band began working on the follow-up album almost immediately after it wrapped up its self-titled debut, and Gregory said he is eager to get a new project out into the world.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever worked on, even more than school,” he said. “I’ve always thought of this stuff as like a graduate degree for me. I might not have a piece of paper, but I’ve definitely worked hard enough for that.”

Visit helenkelterskelter.bandcamp. com.

Melter release show 9 p.m. Jan. 12 Opolis 113 N. Crawford Ave., Norman opolis.org | 405-673-4931 Free

The Brew Sessions 4-10 p.m. Jan. 13 The Main Street Event Center 300 E. Main St., Norman themainstreeteventcenter.com | 405-420-9912 $35

LIVE MUSIC These are events recommended

by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

WEDNESDAY, 1.3 Community Theatre/The Cavves, Warehouse B. INDIE Elizabeth Speegle Band, The Root. JAZZ Salsa, The Deli, Norman. ROCK

THURSDAY, 1.4 Brent Kruger & Jon Murchison, Chisholm’s Saloon. ROCK Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, The Criterion.

ROCK Stephen Baker, Blue Bonnet Bar, Norman.

VARIOUS Weed/Bugg, Warehouse B. INDIE

FRIDAY, 1.5

Kali Masi Punk / rock / emo band Kali Masi travels from Chicago to Oklahoma City to perform 9 p.m. Thursday at Blue Note Lounge, 2408 N. Robinson Ave. Its debut album Wind Instrument is a mix of pop-punk, Midwestern emo and ’90s altrock. Tickets are $5. Call 405-600-1166 or visit bluenoteokc.com.

courses. in e b o e t oesn’t havbites instead. d l a e m A try a few

THURSDAY Photo Kali Masi/provided

Black Pussy, The Drunken Fry. HIP-HOP Brian Lee Dunning, McClintock Saloon & Chop House. ROCK Camille Harp/John Calvin, Blue Bonnet Bar, Norman. FOLK Colt Ford, Graham’s Central Station. COUNTRY Danny Trashville, JJ’s Alley.

SINGER/SONGWRITER Davisson Brothers Band, Graham’s Central Station. COUNTRY Goldie Lahr, Full Circle Bookstore.

SINGER/SONGWRITER Kyle Rainer and Running Hot, Remington Park.

COUNTRY Life of the Party OKC, The Landing Zone, Midwest City. VARIOUS Mike Rae, Native Spirits Winery, Norman.

SINGER/SONGWRITER P!nk, BOK Center, Tulsa. POP Ragland, Red Brick Bar, Norman. FOLK Raina Cobb, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewery.

SINGER/SONGWRITER

The Captain Ledge Band, Red Brick Bar, Norman.

BLUEGRASS Travis LeDoyt, Riverwind Casino, Norman. COVER Zero2sixty, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewery. ROCK Zin Babys, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK

SUNDAY, 1.7 15 and Change/Happy Tuesday, The Boom. ROCK Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Tower Theatre. RAP Cody Wood, Lost Highway Bar. COUNTRY

Hosty, The Deli, Norman.

BLUES Joe Savage, Red Brick Bar, Norman. COUNTRY Michael Kleid, Flint. INSTRUMENTAL The Old Bulldog Band, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. ROCK Touch of Sax, Flint. POP

TUESDAY, 1.9

The Flannels, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK

Infernal Coil, 89th Street - OKC. METAL

Tony Foster Jr, Saints. R&B

Jeff Ruby, Red Brick Bar, Norman.

SINGER/SONGWRITER Soul Time, Blue Note Lounge. R&B

Adam Miller, Anthem Brewing Company.

SINGER/SONGWRITER

WEDNESDAY, 1.10

Andy Adams, Blue Bonnet Bar, Norman.

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley. COUNTRY

Bad Influence, Okie Tonk Café, Moore. ROCK Born in November, Kat’s Tavern. R&B CAEZAR, JJ’s Alley. INDIE Dirty Red and the SoulShakers, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar. BLUES

Publishing February 7

Call your accountexecutive at 528.6000 or email advertising@okgazette.com today to reserve your space!

Dan Martin, Lost Highway Bar. FOLK

Shortt Dogg, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. BLUES

SATURDAY, 1.6

This issue features some of OKC’s best restaurants and gourmet shops to eat your light meal in public or pick up something to take home.

Black Water Mountain, The Blue Door. ROCK Felipita & Kelly Studwell, Blue Bonnet Bar, Norman. VARIOUS NAMAZU/Turbo Wizard/Crobone, Red Brick Bar, Norman. ROCK

EverFade, Bison Witches Bar & Deli, Norman.

ROCK Gene Watson, Sugar Creek Casino, Hinton.

COUNTRY Johnny Polygon, Blue Note Lounge.

HIP-HOP Labrinth/Kali Ra, Tower Theatre. ROCK Layken Urie, Classics Bar & Grill. COUNTRY Midas 13, Remington Park. POP Miss Brown To You, Full Circle Bookstore. FOLK RPM Band, Newcastle Casino. COVER SAYMYNAME, 89th Street - OKC. DJ

Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date.

Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible.

Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail to listings@okgazette.com.

Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

Smilin’ Vic, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. BLUES

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | J A N U A R Y 3 , 2 0 1 8

29

puzzles New York Times Magazine Crossword Puzzle MAKING A FAST BUCK

By Mary Lou Guizzo and Jeff Chen | Puzzles Edited by Will Shortz | 1224

ACROSS 1 Speedway brand 4 West Indies native 9 Bounds along 14 “Just a ____!”

17 Drain opening 19 Chip away at 20 Symbol of the National

Audubon Society 21 Colorado tributary 22 Plot device in The Shining

that has significance when

spelled backward 23 Restaurant chain founded

by the Raffel brothers (hence

the name) 24 Elevator choice 25 Turns briefly?

26 Some Carnaval performances 28 Called from the cote 30 Telephotos, e.g.

32 Ancient Greek 34 Male that might be in a rut?

35 Stymies 37 Relative of a birch 38 College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa 39 Country singer Crystal 40 Screwy 43 Pitch 46 One of the Wayans brothers 50 Wine: Prefix 51 Christmas ____ 52 Prince, e.g.

54 A, in Austria 55 Base supporting a statue 57 Branded baby carriers 61 Symbols on 10 state flags 63 They might be thrown around

in a rodeo 65 Digitally endorse 66 Sleigh-bell sounds 67 Terminate 68 “____ God” (psalm words) 69 Chemistry exam?

70 Skin art, informally 71 Descartes’s conclusion 72 Clear 73 Yule sound?

75 ____ guerre 77 Range grp.

78 & 80 One of TV’s Property Brothers 82 “Really!”

83 Spotted 84 Nicholas, e.g.

86 Give a ring?

88 Hallmark.com suggestion 90 Divan 92 “____ welcome!”

93 Cow poke?

94 Avoid a bogey, barely 97 Neighbor of a bishop: Abbr.

98 Souped-up cars 102 Mahershala ____, Oscar winner for

Moonlight 103 One of the record

industry’s former Big Four 104 Carpenter’s aid 106 Hypotheticals 107 “Just kidding!”

108 Airer of Christmas in

Rockefeller Center 109 Sanctuary 111 “Hey ____” (1963 #1 hit) 113 Mobile home: Abbr.

114 Actress Audrey of Amélie 117 Animal on Scotland’s coat of arms 119 Kind of cabinet 122 Written history 123 Who’s depicted in this puzzle when the

circled letters are connected from A to Z

and back to A 124 Games of chance 125 Prison part 126 Sorts, as chicks 127 Downsize?

DOWN 1 Tears to smithereens 2 It’s read from a scroll 3 Large column of smoke 4 Terminated 5 Opposite of dep.

6 Heists 7 Description of rustic life 8 Importune 9 It moves a cursor back 10

Body check?

11 Whiz kids 12 Want-ad abbr.

13 Having streaks 14 WWII ordeal at Leningrad 15 Notably nonunionized workers 16 Mama of song 18 Decorates brilliantly

VOL. XL No. 1 1

2

3

17

4 18

22 26

5

6

7

28

29 34

35

38

39

44

56

57 64

73

78

79 84

66

69

70

81 86 91

115

110

116

111

117

122

Marketing Manager Kelsey Lowe

89

Accounts receivable Karen Holmes 99

106

107

112

100

101

119

120

121

Account EXECUTIVES Stephanie Van Horn Saundra Rinearson Godwin Christy Duane Kurtis DeLozier

124 127

51 & 53 123-Across, in song 56 One of many in a Swiss Army knife 58 Letters on some Navy carriers 59 Infantry members, briefly 60 Alternative to JFK 62 1990s tennis great Huber 64 Align 66 First name at Woodstock 74 Political org. since 1854 76 Shout of approval 79 Three ____ Men 81 Didn’t hedge one’s bets 82 Starting point for an annual flight 83 ____ City (Baghdad suburb) 85 “In your dreams!”

87 Result of a sack on third and

long, maybe 89 Bunks in barracks

91 “Brava!” elicitor 93 Punxsutawney prognosticator 94 Deliverer of Christmas packages 95 Capital whose name ends in its

state’s postal code 96 Cousin of an alpaca 99 Functioning robotically 100 Repetitive bit of computer code 101 A-listers 104 Boy in A Charlie Brown Christmas 105 Tombstone marshals 110 California’s Big ____ 112 Durham sch.

115 Roofing material 116 ____ Father Christmas 118 Crew member 120 Games org.

121 Fiscal-year part: Abbr.

H E M I

A N K A

L E A R

A D U L T S W I M

D E S T R O Y A M O R A L

H E R O D E L I S

R E S L O E C A H K S H E S E A R S E L O V E I L O O K A C O W M T I P T O P

30

j a n u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

A M I D R E V E S T I F H E Y P I D A N V R K M E S I R A R A L B A L I N G G A U G I L T U R F A L R P I C R E A S O N S I N T T M E A I D

A L A L E R F A S A E L R O N I A N I T Z Z O E E S D B E T U T I N T H N T T F O G E S I R E S C O L O E K S S D H E A R O N G U W E E B

Assistant EDITOR Brittany Pickering Staff reporters Laura Eastes Ben Luschen Jacob Threadgill Contributors Sean Isabella, Lisa Snell, Jessica Williams Circulation Manager Chad Bleakley Art Director Chris Street Production coordinator Aubrey Jernigan

contributing Graphic Designer Sarah Leis

New York Times Crossword Puzzle answers Puzzle No. 1217, which appeared in the December 27 issue.

C L E F

EDITOR-in-chief George Lang glang@okgazette.com

Graphic Designers Jim Massara

Stumped? Call 1-900-285-5656 to get the answers to any three clues by phone ($1.20 a minute).

Sudoku hard | n°500329926 Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3-by-3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9. www.printmysudoku.com

Digital Media & Calendar Coordinator Hannah Meeske Advertising advertising@okgazette.com 405-528-6000

113

126

21 One of a dozen good things?

27 Friend 29 Oodles 31 Vulcan mind ____ 33 Beginning to do well?

36 Kind of skirt 40 “Fanfare for the Common Man” composer 41 Hair straighteners 42 Licorice-flavored brew 44 Singer with a No. 1 hit about 123-Across 45 Feature depicted in the upper

left of this puzzle 47 Hatmaker 48 Like van Gogh, in later life 49 Les ____, WKRP in Cincinnati

news director

VP, CORPORATE AFFAIRS Linda Meoli

Accounting/HR Manager Marian Harrison

98

118

First-class mail subscriptions are $119 for one year, and most issues at this rate will arrive 1-2 days after publication.

Associate Publisher James Bengfort

77

123 125

62

93

105

Oklahoma Gazette is circulated at its designated distribution points free of charge to readers for their individual use and by mail to subscribers.

The cash value of this copy is $1. Persons taking copies of the Oklahoma Gazette from its distribution points for any reason other than their or others’ individual use for reading purposes are subject to prosecution.

publisher Bill Bleakley

71

88

104 109

49

83

97

108

48

54

82

92

103

47

76

87

96

102

114

65

80 85

53 61

75

31

46

60

74

90 95

59

16

Please address all unsolicited news items (non-returnable) to the editor.

45

58

15

36

52

63

94

30

51

72

14

25

43

68

13

24

42

67

12

23

37

55

11

21

33

50

10

20

27

41

9

19

32

40

8

A L B A N Y P E T E B E S T F E R A L

B O O P

C U R S

S I D E B P H A E A R R Y F G I S D E P Y R O S T O M Y Q N E U I N I V T O W R D E S

S E D E R

Order mounted or ready-to-frame prints of Oklahoma Gazette covers, articles and photos at okgazette.yourheadline.com

A B S N Y E A U X R A R E B I T

M A L O N E P H U E T R T O E M R O E N D E

M O D E L T

S H A K E

P A S O

E T O N

P L O W

T E S S

3701 N. Shartel Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73118-7102 Phone (405) 528-6000 Fax (405) 528-4600 www.okgazette.com Copyright © 2018 Tierra Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

free will astrology Homework: I’d love to see your top five New Year’s resolutions. Share by going to RealAstrology.com and clicking on “Email Rob.” ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 2018, your past will

undergo transformation. Your memories will revise and rearrange themselves. Bygone events that seemed complete and definitive will shimmy and shift, requiring new interpretations. The stories you have always told about how you became who you are will have to be edited, perhaps even rewritten. While these overhauls may sometimes be disconcerting, they will ultimately be liberating.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In 2018, people will

be drawn to you even more than usual. Some will want you to be their rock -- their steady, stable source of practical truth. Some will ask you to be their tonic -- their regular, restorative dose of no-nonsense. And others will find in you a creative catalyst that helps them get out of their ruts and into their grooves. And what will you receive in return for providing such a stellar service? First, there’ll be many opportunities to deepen and refine your integrity. To wield that much influence means you’ll have to consistently act with high-minded motivations. And secondly, Taurus, you’ll get a steady supply of appreciation that will prove to be useful as well as gratifying.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Influences that oppose

you will fade as 2018 unfolds. People who have been resistant and uncooperative will at least partially disengage. To expedite the diminishing effects of these influences and people, avoid struggling with them.

Loosen the grip they have on your imagination. Any time they leak into your field of awareness, turn your attention instead to an influence or person that helps and supports you. Here’s another idea about how to collaborate with the cosmic rhythms to reduce the conflict in your life: Eliminate any unconscious need you might have for the perversely invigorating energy provided by adversaries and bugaboos. Find positive new ways to motivate yourself.

cLASSIFIEDS

Health

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I predict that in 2018

you will figure out how to get your obsessions to consistently work for your greatest good. You will come to understand what you must do to ensure they never drag you down into manic self-sabotage. The resolute ingenuity you summon to accomplish this heroic feat will change you forever. You will be reborn into a more vibrant version of your life. Passions that in the past have drained and confused you will become efficient sources of fuel for your worthiest dreams.

make the caravel your symbol of power for 2018, Libra.

According to my reading of the astrological omens, you will find or create a resource that enables you to do the metaphorical equivalent of effectively sailing into the wind.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Aztecs were

become accustomed to a certain trouble doesn’t mean you should stop searching for relief from that trouble.

Just because a certain pain no longer knocks you into a demoralized daze for days at a time doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Now here’s the good news: In 2018, you can finally track down the practical magic necessary to accomplish a thorough healing of that trouble and pain. Make this the year you find a more ultimate cure.

originally wanderers. They kept moving from place to place, settling temporarily in areas throughout the land we now call Mexico. An old prophecy told them that they would eventually find a permanent home at a site where they saw an eagle roosting on a cactus as it clutched a snake in its talons. There came a day in the fourteenth century when members of the tribe spied this very scene on an island in the middle of a lake. That’s where they began to build the city that in time was the center of their empire. I bring this to your attention, Scorpio, so it can serve as a metaphor to guide you in 2018. I suspect that you, too, will discover your future power spot -- the heart of your domain for years to come.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Have you ever nursed

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Not every minute

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Just because you have

a yearning to speak Swahili or Chinese or Russian?

The coming months will be an excellent time to get that project underway. Do you fantasize about trying exotic cuisines and finding new favorite foods? I invite you to act on that fantasy in 2018. Is there a form of manual labor that would be tonic for your mental and physical health? Life is giving you a go-ahead to do more of it. Is there a handicraft or ball game you’d like to become more skilled at? Get started. Is there a new trick you’d like to learn to do with your mouth or hands? Now’s the time.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Before the fifteenth

century, European nations confined their sailing to the Mediterranean Sea. The ocean was too rough for their fragile, unadaptable ships. But around 1450, the Portuguese developed a new kind of vessel, the caravel.

It employed a triangular sail that enabled it to travel against the wind. Soon, exploratory missions ventured into the open sea and down along the coast of West Africa. Eventually, this new technology enabled long westward trips across the Atlantic. I propose that we

Beautiful Move-in Ready West Norman Home

of every day, but when you have had the time, you’ve been searching for a certain treasure. With patience and persistence, you have narrowed down its whereabouts by collecting clues and following your intuition. Now, at last, you know its exact location. As you arrive, ready to claim it, you tremble with anticipation. But when you peel away the secrets in which it has been wrapped, you see that it’s not exactly what you expected. Your first response is disappointment. Nevertheless, you decide to abide in the presence of the confusing blessing and see what happens. Slowly, incrementally, you become aware of a new possibility: that you’re not quite ready to understand and use the treasure; that you’ll have to grow new capacities before you’ll be ready for it in its fullness.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Soulful beauty

will be a major theme for you in 2018. Or at least it should be. But I suppose it’s possible you’re not very interested in soulful beauty, perhaps even bored by it. Maybe you prefer skin-deep beauty or expensive beauty or glamorous beauty. If you choose to follow predilections like those, you’ll lose out on tremendous

DAVE’S APPLIANCE REPAIR All makes washers, dryers, ranges, dishwashers, refrigerators, disposals.

opportunities to grow wilder and wiser. But let’s hope you make yourself available for a deeper, more provocative kind of beauty -- a beauty that you could become more skilled at detecting as the year unfolds.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Let your freak flag

fly” was an expression that arose from the hippie culture of the 1960s and 1970s. It was a colorful way to say, “Be your most unique and eccentric self; show off your idiosyncrasies with uninhibited pride.” I propose that we revive it for your use in 2018. I suspect the coming months will be a favorable time for you to cultivate your quirks and trust your unusual impulses.

You should give yourself maximum freedom to explore pioneering ideas and maverick inclinations.

Paradoxically, doing so will lead to stabilizing and enduring improvements in your life.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In accordance with

the astrological omens, I suggest you start compiling a list entitled, “People, Places, Ideas, and Things I Didn’t Realize Until Now That I Could Fall in Love With.” And then keep adding more and more items to this tally during the next ten months. To get the project underway in the proper spirit, you should wander freely and explore jauntily, giving yourself permission to instigate interesting mischief and brush up against deluxe temptations. For best results, open your heart and your eyes as wide as you can. One further clue: Act on the assumption that in 2018 you will be receptive to inspirational influences and lifetransforming teachings that you have never before been aware of.

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes /daily text message horoscopes.

The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.

cLASSIFIEDS

music

24 years experience

314-3191

$25 service calls

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

s on instagram FoLlowtoUsee all our #selfies!

OKG

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin or an intention to make any such preference or discrimination.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of this law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings in our newspaper are available on an equal housing opportunity basis.

AffordAble & PrivAte >> Outpatient medication assisted detox >> Long term medication management for addiction >> Pain management

cLASSIFIEDS

ETC.

@okgazeTte

Guitar repair and set up ? call for rates DOWNTOWN MUSIC BOX | 405-232-2099 DOWNTOWNMUSICBOX.COM

Now acceptiNg Soonercare

405.230.1180

3033 N. Walnut Ave. West Building 73105

cLASSIFIEDS

Homes Windemere Court Apartments

Studio Apartments $550.00 One Bedroom, one bath $600.00-$700.00 Tenant Pay Electric Utilities ONLY Steve Haynes (405) 819-2120 Loren Capron (405) 409-9816

3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2 car garage $269,900 Next to playground.

Neighborhood with pools, ball fields and ponds in desirable Norman school district.

Call or text Kyle to schedule a showing. 918-605-4083 O kg a z e t t e . c o m | j a n u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 8

31

2017 230i Coupe | $309/month*

2017 320i Sedan | $279/month*

2017 X6 sDrive35i | $609/month*

2017 650i Gran Coupe | $1,159/month*

2017 X5 xDrive35i | $599/month*

2017 740i Sedan | $999/month*

IMPORTS 2017 X6 sDrive35i, 36-month lease, $3,500 down, MSRP $65,595, Standard Terms 2017 320i Sedan, 36-month lease, $2,750 down, MSRP $36,095, Standard Terms 2017 740i, 36-month lease, $5,500 down, MSRP $84,395, Standard Terms

BMW

14145 North Broadway Extension Edmond, OK 73013 | 866.925.9885

2017 230i Coupe, 36-month lease, $2,750 down, MSRP $35,795, Standard Terms 2017 650i Gran Coupe, 36-month lease, $5,500 down, MSRP $93,895, Standard Terms 2017 X5 xDrive35i, 36-month lease, $3,500 down, MSRP $61,995, Standard Term

Web: www.cooperbmw.com Email: rkeitz@cooperautogroup.com

Standard terms & Tag, Tax. 1st Payment, Aquisition fee, processing fee WAC *See dealership for details — offers subject to change without prior notice. *December prices subject to change. European models shown.