Court of King Russ by Oklahoma Gazette

OKC’S NUMBER

FRIDAYS IN AUGUST • 7 PM-MIDNIGHT CELEBRATE OUR 12TH ANNIVERSARY BY PLAYING FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A CADILLAC XT5 OR A SHARE OF $120,000 IN CASH & BONUS PLAY!

12X ENTRIES SATURDAY-MONDAY

COMING SOON: CAMEO – OCTOBER 13 JAMEY JOHNSON – OCTOBER 19 DWIGHT YOAKAM – NOVEMBER 2 MICHAEL MCDONALD – DECEMBER 21

AIR SUPPLY

SEPT

JOHN CONLEE & THE BELLAMY BROTHERS

SEPT

405.322.6000 • WWW.RIVERWIND.COM I-35 AT HIGHWAY 9 WEST, NORMAN, OK GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY 1.800.522.4700

2 a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m UNI_18-CGR-085_Aug_Combo_NP_9.25x12.25.indd 1

8/7/18 3:13 PM

inside COVER P. 23 A decade ago, the Seattle SuperSonics relocated and became the Oklahoma City Thunder, altering the trajectory of Oklahoma City’s culture and economy. By Jacob Threadgill Cover by Kimberly Lynch

NEWS 4 Election DFB Consulting helps

candidates with science-based strategies

biological parents of foster children for visits

6 State DHS helps transport

8 Metro City of Nichols Hills weighs

the costs of recycling

9 Commentary fighting intolerance 10 Chicken-Fried News

EAT & DRINK

LEE GREENWOOD AUG

8PM

Starting at $35

13 Review Little Mike’s

14 Feature Vegfest at Myriad

Botanical Gardens

16 Feature Café Cuvée

20 Gazedibles places to watch the big

game

ARTS & CULTURE 23 Cover 10 years of Oklahoma City

Thunder

25 Best of OKC Winners

28 Art Debby Kaspari, Don Halladay

and Christopher Ryan Mackie at Mainsite Contemporary Art

30 Theater The Gorges Motel at

Carpenter Square Theatre

35 Books Let’s Talk About It,

Oklahoma at Oklahoma City University

36 Comedy Hannibal Buress at Tower

Theater

38 Community OKCPS and OKPD’s

Handle With Care program

40 Comedy The Alligator Farm

43 Culture Ever After wedding studio 44 Technology ThatWay rideshare

service

for Movement Disorders

45 Health Herman Meinders Center 46 Calendar

MUSIC 51 Event Banjo Fest at Rose State

College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center

52 Event Bad Bad Hats at 89th Street –

OKC

53 Live music

FUN 54 Puzzles sudoku | crossword 55 Astrology OKG Classifieds 55

GRANDBOXOFFICE.COM I-40 EXIT 178 | SHAWNEE, OK | 405-964-7263 O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

Election

NEWS

Operation politician

A former OU professor uses linguistics to launch progressive women candidates into office. By Nazarene Harris

This past spring, applied linguistic scientist Daniela Busciglio was offered a tenured teaching position at University of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island. She was a non-tenured linguistics professor at University of Oklahoma at the time. A true academic who had spent the past decade immersed in the trenches of research while earning her master’s degree and Ph.D., Busciglio finally hit the mother lode of academia: a position and salary guaranteed for life. Then Busciglio did something that shocked even herself. She turned the position down. “Every move in my life had been calculated,” she said. “I’m a great planner, I’m a logical person and I like making my parents and mentors proud. Accepting the offer would have been the next smart thing to do.” A shift in values, sparked by the 2016 presidential election, she said, caused her to think twice. Like many Americans, Busciglio, 36, watched the presidential debates on TV with interest and amusement. Her academically trained mind, however, noted the key words and phrases that Republican candidates used to connect with their voter base. Also, she became aware of the unorganized and unintentional way in which Democrats typically conveyed their viewpoints. “Most Republican issues are yes or no issues,” she said. “Are they for abortion? No. Are they for gun rights? Yes. With Democrats, there’s a lot of gray. There are many Democrats who are for abortion in the instance that a woman has been raped, for instance, and they are for gun rights so long as there are gun restrictions as well. Democrats often have long-winded explanations that, quite frankly, people get bored listening to.” While Busciglio doesn’t consider herself a political expert, she does consider herself a language expert, and in 2016, she saw a desperate need for Democratic candidates to better express themselves verbally. “The Republican Party is very smart,” Busciglio said. “They have put a lot of money behind research to discover the key phrases, terms, body language and actions that appeal to their voter base. To win elections, Republican candidates use that information to their advantage. This is where democratic candidates fall short. They may have political consultants, but they don’t have science-based political consultants.” 4

A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Strong messaging

Busciglio is one of only handful of recognized cognitive campaign consultants in the nation. For more reasons than one, the East Coast native decided that Oklahoma was where she wanted to set up shop. DFB Consulting was the result, she said, of a personal and professional awakening. “I felt a strong desire to contribute to the community in a way that my research couldn’t,” she said.

I want today’s candidates to know who they are and why they are running and then to speak from the heart ... strategically. Daniela Busciglio She left her teaching position at OU and began offering her services pro bono to female progressive candidates. “People today view progressiveness as a bad word,” she said. “But the establishment of the United States of America was a progressive move. Candidates today talk about holding true to our values when, in fact, all they are doing is helping us lose sight of our values. Somehow, in the past few years, we have become a nation that is a scary place to live, where most of us believe the government is not for us and where equal rights don’t exist and kindness is forgotten. These are our roots and our values, and they are being left behind.” Busciglio said progressive women, regardless of their political affiliation, tend to enact policies that have a direct positive impact on their communities. That belief is held by the Oklahoma nonpartisan organization Sally’s List. The organization’s mission is to recruit, train and help elect progressive women to public office in Oklahoma. Devyn Denton, who is running for House District 39, said the support she has received from both Sally’s List and DFB Consulting has made all the difference. “I am her biggest fan,” Denton said of Busciglio. “If you asked me to speak in front of a room of nurses, I would have no problem — I’ve done that almost all of my life. But to speak as a politician in front of hundreds of people? I had no idea where to start.”

Busciglio told Denton to start by forgetting the notion that she had to become a politician to be elected. “I think Americans have had enough of politicians,” Busciglio said. “I want today’s candidates to know who they are and why they are running and then to speak from the heart … strategically.” Denton, who has been a teacher, nurse and volunteer firefighter, said she realized through her time spent with Busciglio that what she really wants to do is what she has done all her life: take care of Oklahomans. She has already made history by being the first AfricanAmerican woman to run for House District 39. Fellow Sally’s List-endorsed candidate and Busciglio client Katelyn Dockery, who is running for House District 54, said Busciglio helped her better express herself verbally. “She asked me why I was running and what my values are,” Dockery said. “We then focused on strong ways I could express those values.”

Positively political One method of powerful campaigning, Busciglio said, is to speak positively. “When Nixon said, ‘I am not a crook,’ for example, all that people took away from that was that this guy was a crook,” she said. “Don’t tell people what you’re not; tell them what you are.

Use positive, active voice.” The human brain is biologically wired to picture the very things that we hear, even if what we hear is said in a negative context, Busciglio said. “If I tell you not to think of an elephant, the first thing you do is picture an elephant,” Busciglio said. When candidates express their hopes and values sufficiently and with confidence, she said, the message packs a powerful punch. Busciglio continues to offer progressive women candidates free consultations and will offer workshops on cognitive-based communication in October and November. She hopes her efforts and the support that Sally’s List offers will eventually yield equal representation, both nationally and in Oklahoma, where women comprise 51 percent of the population but only 12.8 percent of the Legislature. Visit dfbconsulting.co and sallyslist. org. Daniela Busciglio is the owner of DFB Consulting, a science based political consulting firm in Oklahoma City | Photo provided

Now Hiring

Multimedia Account Executive Join Oklahoma Gazette and OKCTalk as our team dives into online video content, grows our digital presence while publishing a weekly paper. In this role, you will help businesses with an array of print and digital services and strategies designed to increase presence, generate leads to expand their customer base, and deliver significant ROI & increased revenues. Applicants should be motivated, smart on their feet, outgoing, personable, competitive, able to thrive in a fast-paced environment and posses a strong work ethic. We Provide: A portfolio of solutions for every clients’ needs A fun and exciting work environment • Unlimited earning potential Ongoing sales training • A career path in sales and management Medical, dental, vision, life, and 401(k) are available.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and résumé to klowe@okgazette.com

UNI_18-RP-178_LaborDay_BigGreen_9.25x6.05.indd 1

5 8/23/18 10:58 AM

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

S TAT E

NEWS

Riding home

Arnall Family Foundation commits to donating $1 million to help parents visit their children in foster care. By Nazarene Harris

It’s hard for Sheena Grayson to recount the night her children were taken away from her. Grayson’s boyfriend was drinking and driving while she sat in the passenger’s side of the car that moments later collided with traffic. Grayson’s 2-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter were in the backseat. Both adults were arrested. Grayson’s daughter was placed in the care of the Department of Human Services while her son was taken to the hospital for a broken arm. “It was torture,” Grayson said. “I didn’t care that I was in jail, I didn’t care if I was hurt; all I could think of was that my son was in pain and I couldn’t be there for him. I laid on the floor and just wept. I don’t think I’ve ever been in that much pain in my life.” The following week, Grayson’s mother took her to see her children who had been placed in foster care in Oklahoma City. Grayson lived in Elk City, she said, 120 miles away. “Getting to see them was a struggle,” she said. “The car was totaled in the accident, and everything else I had was lost while I was in jail. I would just go around calling everyone I knew and beg, essentially, for a ride to see my kids.” While tragic, Grayson’s predicament is one known all too well by biological 6

A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

parents whose children are in DHS custody. According to United Way of Central Oklahoma, securing reliable transportation is one of the three main challenges faced by agencies serving vulnerable populations. On Aug. 9, Arnall Family Foundation rose to meet that challenge by announcing a $1 million grant that will go toward improving the transportation needs of parents who struggle to visit their children in DHS custody. Arnall Family Foundation is a private funding foundation that focuses on improving the lives of children and animals across the state.

Every second of every minute of every day — that’s how often I would have been with my kids if I could. Sheena Grayson “We had the money, and we heard about this need,” program manager Lindsay Laird said. “We don’t have all the details finalized yet, but we didn’t see that as a reason to sit on this grant.” Laird said that while Arnall Family Foundation doesn’t have a solution to

the transportation problem, it does have the money to help fund a solution. “This is basically a call to action,” Laird said. The foundation has committed to donating $1 million to the organization that demonstrates the most innovative pilot program for improving the transportation challenges faced by parents in Oklahoma County who have had their children removed and are working toward reunification, Laird said. It’s a service, Grayson said, she would have utilized daily. “Every second of every minute of every day,” she said. “That’s how often I would have been with my kids if I could.” Time alone forced Grayson to confront her inner demons of drug addiction and depression, sparked, she said, by being raped when she was 9 years old. “I needed a ride to see my kids,” she said. “But I also could have used someone to talk to. Just someone to say, ‘Hey, by the way, I’m on your side; I’m rooting for you.’” Sheree Powell, a spokeswoman for Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services, said that DHS strives to reunite children in foster care with their biological parents within 12 months after being separated but the system requires a lot from parents before that can happen. “Our first priority are the children,” Powell said. “We need to ensure that they are going to be safe and cared for. We require a lot from parents. The courts require a lot from parents.” One of those requirements, Powell said, is that parents visit their children while they are in foster care.

Sue Ann Arnall of the Arnall Family Foundation | Photo provided

“If parents don’t visit their children, then they wont know what to prepare for upon reunification,” Powell said. “At the same time, we understand that in many cases, it’s extremely difficult for parents to find the means to visit their children.” While many parents use public transportation to visit their children in foster care, Powell said doing so is not always practical. “When you don’t own your own car, visitation becomes a project of its own. You have instances when you can only visit them when public transportation doesn’t run or when children are placed in rural areas public transportation doesn’t serve,” she said. “It takes a lot of planning.” The grant, she hopes, will serve as a bridge for reunification. In 2017, after time spent in rehab, Grayson regained full custody of her children. She now works as a peer recovery support specialist and hopes she can use her past hardships to help others. “I think this grant will help so many parents who were suffering like I was,” she said. “With some help, you can fight your demons and still see your children.” If she were to design the transportation service, she said, she’d make sure drivers are beacons of sunshine who always ask how passengers are doing. Letters of intent are due to Arnall Family Foundation by Dec. 1, and applications are due Feb. 1. A winner will be announced March 11. Visit arnallfamilyfoundation.org.

Revered Chickasaw traditions include hand-painted drums, woven belts, handmade jewelry and pottery.

SCULPTING CULTURES

Native Pottery Exhibit FINAL DAYS! Ends Sept. 2

L A B O R D A Y W E E K E N D C E L E B R A T I O N • S E P T. 1 - 2 Our tools and traditions are gifts of Chickasaw culture. Discover our history and legacy in interactive exhibits, activities and demonstrations all around campus. Join us! C h i c k a s a w C u l t u r a l C e n t e r. c o m • S u l p h u r, O K • 5 8 0 - 6 2 2 -7 1 3 0

TE ATA EXHIBIT C L O S E D L A B O R D AY M O N D A Y, S E P T. 3

UNI_18-CNC-068 Labor Day Cele_FP4C.indd 1

Extended through Nov. 11 In the Aapisa' Art Gallery

7 8/20/18 9:53 AM

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

Metro

NEWS

Recycling woes

Nichols Hills residents cite cost as the main reason a recycling program has never been successfully established within the city. By Nazarene Harris

The empty recycling bins that are on display in the fitness center at the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club in Nichols Hills are indicative, residents said, of the city’s past reluctance to establish a recycling program due to cost concerns and the national pause placed on recycling due to China’s recent ban on recyclable imports. “They’ve always been there,” Nichols Hills resident and personal trainer Alyssa Lutz said of the recycling bins at the country club. “I assume they use them, but you never know.”

It doesn’t reflect well on Nichols Hills to be a modern city with affluent residents who choose not to recycle. Alyssa Lutz Since the city’s establishment in 1929, Nichols Hills has never maintained a long-term recycling program, city manager Shane Pate said. The city attempted to introduce recycling to the community in 2013 and again in 2017, but both trials were a bust. “We’ve gone to great lengths to try to establish a recycling program in Nichols Hills,” Pate said. “We took a community poll to determine how residents felt about the idea, and the results we received showed that they are overwhelming opposed to it.” Residents currently pay a monthly fee between $40 and $44 for biweekly houseside trash pickup. Houseside pickup differs from curbside pickup in that trash containers must be stored and placed for pickup along a side of the house that is shielded from the view of neighbors and traffic. Nichols Hills uses manual trash pickup as opposed to an automated pickup system in which a truck’s mechanical arms lift and empty containers. A manual trash pickup system requires sanitation employees to get out of their cars and manually pick up and empty containers, being sure to collect any debris that falls on the wayside. The system is great for curbside appeal, Pate said, but costs more. To maintain the recycling program that was introduced to residents in 2017, Pate said, they would have had to pay an additional monthly fee of $27.50. Had residents chosen to opt for curbside pickup, that fee would have been reduced to about $5.

“It’s a mentality,” Lutz said. “Picking up and sorting trash is not fun, but neither is picking up after your dog when he goes to the bathroom in the park. It’s not fun, it’s not pretty, but it’s the responsible thing to do.” To ensure that she is able to recycle while living in a city without a recycling program, Lutz said she saves her recyclables each week and drops them off at a friend’s house in Oklahoma City. OKC launched its new curbside recycling program in July. According to city websites, OKC residents pay about $22 once a month for recyclable and trash pickup. Edmond residents pay a base rate of $14.23 per month, and Midwest City residents pay a base rate of $14.45. “It doesn’t reflect well on Nichols Hills to be a modern city with affluent residents who choose not to recycle,” Lutz said. Fellow Nichols Hills resident Shelly Reynolds grew up in OKC but moved to Nichols Hills two years ago. Recycling, she said, is a hard habit to quit. “If you’re raised to be environmentally aware and conscious, not doing so all of a sudden becomes somewhat painful,” Reynolds said. Like Lutz, Reynolds takes her recyclables to friends and family in OKC. She said her teenage daughter is part of a group of Nichols Hills youth members who are organizing a team to reinstate recycling. Even if residents were to approve of the change, Pate said, there would be no place for recyclables to go. “Communities across the nation may soon be in the same situation we are in,” Pate said, referring to an embargo that China placed on imported recyclables in January. The U.S. is one of several firstworld nations that exported recyclables to China for processing. In an effort to minimize pollution, China placed the ban on over twodozen materials that make exporting recyclables to the country nearly impossible. While recycling efforts have been put on hold in Nichols Hills, Lutz said there are things that residents can still do to minimize the amount of trash that eventually piles up in landfills across the state. “Reduce and reuse,” she said. “Those two are just as important as recycling, and really, that’s how recycling begins. First, minimize the amount of trash that you produce.” One way to do that, Lutz said, is to Photos Bigstock.com

A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

follow the example of major national companies that are paving the way to a greener future. According to Earth Day Network, this year’s Earth Day was dedicated to ending plastic pollution. A study launched by the organization revealed that if our plastic consumption habits remain consistent, by the year 2050, there will be more plastic in the world’s oceans than there are fish. In response, companies like Starbucks and McDonald’s have publicly announced efforts to minimize their plastic waste products. “Why can’t we mimic these national efforts here?” Lutz said. “Why not in Oklahoma? Why not in Nichols Hills? It starts in our kitchens.” To demonstrate how recycling can be done cleanly and with minimal effort, Reynolds said she agreed to host a home tour for her daughter’s high school class. “I think it’s important for me, as her parent, to show her that even the smallest amount of consciousness makes a difference,” Reynolds said. “If she starts making these efforts now, I know they’ll become lifelong habits.” Lutz said her daughter, who is in her 20s, is on point with the average millennial who, according to a report released by marketing agency The Shelton Group, heavily values environmental conservation efforts. The Shelton Group’s latest research revealed that 70 percent of millennials said a company’s environmental focus impacts their purchasing decision. “She bought me a reusable straw, put it in my car and reminds me every time I go through a drive-thru that I have no excuse not to decline a straw,” Lutz said. “At first, it just seemed funny,

but when I really thought about how many straws in a lifetime I won’t be using, I was kind of taken aback.” Lutz and Reynolds said if small steps toward recycling can be taken now, they won’t seem like drastic, imposable chores once a recycling program is eventually established in Nichols Hills and residents might not be so resistant to change. Eventually, they said, the change will be in the trash.

co m m en ta ry

NEWS

Opinions expressed on the commentary page, in letters to the editor and elsewhere in this newspaper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ownership or management.

Raising voices

Tolerance and love will beat intolerance and hate every time. By Veronica Laizure

On Aug. 11, 2017, hundreds of protestors representing various neo-Nazi, white nationalist, neo-Confederate and altright groups descended on the city of Charlottesville, Virginia. Carrying torches and shouting slogans like “Jews will not replace us!” and “Our blood, our soil,” they clashed with student activists and counterprotesters in a series of violent skirmishes that culminated in the death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer in a vehicular homicide. On Aug. 12, 2018, the two-dozen Unite the Right 2 rallygoers had dispersed from their Washington, D.C., starting point before their march was even scheduled to start. What changed in a year? For starters, the organizers of the 2017 Unite the Right rally have been struggling with legal issues. Richard Spencer, advocate for the return of the Third Reich, lost his Patreon fundraiser. Christopher Cantwell, dubbed “the crying Nazi” for the tearful video filmed days before his

UNI_18-CGW-182_Christina_Aguilera_9.25x6.05.indd 1

arrest for the illegal use of tear gas during the protests, was banned from entering the state of Virginia.

Silence and complicity are no longer options if we want to resist the tide of hate and fear. But the biggest difference in Washington, D.C., this year were the thousands of anti-racist counterprotesters who flooded the streets to disavow the white supremacist, homophobic, anti-Semitic messages that dominated in 2017. Here in Oklahoma, we’ve seen what the power of love can accomplish. Just ask regular attendees of CAIR-OK’s annual Muslim Day at the state Capitol, an event intended to increase civic en-

gagement among the 40,000 members of Oklahoma’s Muslim community. The first Muslim Day at the Capitol was met with around 30 anti-Muslim protestors who shouted at — and even spat on — the Muslims who entered the Capitol building to spend a day learning about the legislative process. In 2018, the two anti-Muslim protestors who showed up were easily dwarfed by the dozens of members of the interfaith community, who carried signs that read “We <3 Our Muslim Neighbors” and “You are Welcome and loved!” and greeted attendees with smiles, hugs and handshakes. For months, our nation watched violent neo-Nazis in the form of the “altright” grow in prominence and strength. Now, for many of us, the time has come to fight back — not necessarily to meet violence with violence, but to stand up against the hateful bigotry that can dominate public discourse, to demonstrate that love and acceptance and

tolerance are the values of our community and that hate has no place in our hearts, our homes or our communities. Silence and complicity are no longer options if we want to resist the tide of hate and fear. Action takes many forms. We resist from the streets, in the courtroom, at our capitols, around our dinner tables. Whatever you can do, understand that remaining silent in the face of evil is no longer an option. Veronica Laizure is the civil rights director at the Oklahoma Chapter of Council on AmericanIslamic Relations (CAIR). | Photo provided

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 27/31/18 9 , 2 0 1 8 1:08 9

chicken

friedNEWS Lucky No. 7

Oklahoma City Council is rich in diversity and proudly mirrors the community it represents, more or less. James Greiner, representing Ward 1, is a conservative voice on the council whose appreciation for the arts is evident by his time spent as a graphic designer for Hobby Lobby. ArabAmerican doctor Ed Shadid represents Ward 2, while Larry McAtee represents Ward 3. To outsiders it might seem that McAtee is your average old white guy politician, but the grandfather of nine is much more than that. McAtee brings his advocacy for primary education to the council like Santa Claus brings cookies to his hard-working network of elves on Christmas Eve. Todd Stone is a former Oklahoma National Guardsman who owns a small business in south OKC and represents Ward 4 on the city council. With degrees in accounting and business, David Greenwell, representing Ward Vote for Us Gazette Finalist.pdf 5, might seem like the nerd of the

Milking it

`A company based out of Luther is selling raw milk and products made from donkeys after the company’s owners said that it helped treat their daughter’s rare autoimmune disease. A feature promoting Dulce de Donke arrived in email inboxes from the taxpayer-supported Made in Oklahoma program in early August, according to The Oklahoman. The feature includes anecdotes from Dulce de Donke coowner Saundra Traywick saying that donkey milk helped treat her daughter for the rare PANDAS syndrome (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus infections). The Made in Oklahoma profile includes Traywick’s unverified and isolated statement that donkey milk “has been prescribed to help everything from asthma to cancer.” There is plenty of evidence to show that donkey milk is a good substitute for people that are allergic to cow’s milk, but there are only two studies from the National Library of Medicine connected to immune conditions and donkey lactations, and neither shows a correlation to helping remedy any human diseases, according to The Oklahoman. The Made in Oklahoma coordinator told the newspaper that its feature only meant to highlight Dulce de Donke’s line of products like soaps and shampoos, not its unverified claims. As medical marijuana begins its rollout in Oklahoma, it should be noted that natural medicines certainly have their benefits, especially in comparison to some of the nasty opioids on the market, but that comes with plenty of scientific research. We at Chicken-Fried News recommended a balance of natural and pharma-based treatments, cautioning with the old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

CMY

Not aN actual patieNt

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

council, but with his retro glasses, he makes being a nerd look pretty cool. Meg Salyer lends a woman’s voice to the council, representing Ward 6, while attorney Mark Stonecipher represents Ward 8. The council works under the leadership of Mayor David Holt, the first Native American mayor of Oklahoma City. In May, John Pettis Jr., who represented Ward 7 on the city council, resigned after he was charged for allegedly embezzling at least $165,000. In what can only be described as a unified plea for divine intervention, the council unanimously voted to temporarily replaced Pettis with Rev. Lee Cooper Jr. until the public elects a new and permanent Ward 7 representative. Cooper has served as senior pastor for Prospect Missionary Baptist Church for more than 30 years. Running to permanently replace Pettis Jr. on the council are eight locals we presume are wacky just by the fact that they are running. John Albert Pettis’ dad, John Albert Pettis Sr., is running but has remained somewhat under the radar since announcing his run for the position. Ed Alexander is a retired manager of General Motors who hopes to reduce utility bills for Ward 7 residents while 1 8/18/18 8:23 AM Kirk Pankratz is the founder and

In all seriousness, there is something incredibly lovable about a city council diverse in age, gender, race and ethnicity but who come together (we imagine) as friends for the sake of bettering their community. To whoever wins the seat for Ward 7, we ask that you keep your business kosher, free from any possible criminal charges or political scandals. Be as nerdy, jolly, different and allaround weird as you’d like to be though, and you’ll fit right in.

Ables’ commission former pastor of Church of the Harvest. Leslie Johnson III is an art teacher who hopes to advocate for job creation if voted in as councilwoman while Nikki Nice, 37, is a radio co-host who wants to strengthen Ward 7’s neighborhood and schools. One of Chris Harrison’s top three priorities is strengthening health care options for Ward 7 residents while Lisa Butler said her focus is on the economy. Margaret Walsh pulled a move that most of us make while driving through Starbucks for the fifth time in one week. She attempted to withdraw her name from the ballot but missed the deadline, she said. Girl, we’ve been there.

If any Chicken-Fried News team members imbibe on a few hard drinks of brown liquor and we’re not at our respective manors or in the bunkroom at CFN World Headquarters, then we call a cab or a rideshare or get one of the sobriety enthusiasts on our team to take us home. It’s not just about seeing blue-and-red flashing lights in the rearview mirror — it’s about public and personal safety, and the fact that CFN’s legal defense fund doesn’t cover driving under the influence (DUI). What confounds and flummoxes CFN is when a police officer gets arrested for a DUI. On Aug. 17, Oklahoma City police responded to a reported car crash with injury near S.

thAnK you for the nominAtion!

Thanks for nominating us

Kids meals starting at $5.99 plus 1/2 price apps for teachers in August!

Meridian Avenue and Newcastle Road. On a curb near the scene, they found Sgt. Michael Ables, a 27-year veteran of the Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD). In body cam footage released by OKCPD, Ables told arresting officers that he “had some drinks” at Whiskey Barrel Saloon, 4120 Newcastle Road, a place perhaps best known as the location for the annual CFN SpeedSnarking Invitational and Chili Cheese Fries Challenge. If you’ve been on the force for nearly three decades, you don’t need to watch body cam footage to know how this is going to play out, especially if, as was the case with Ables, the suspect refuses a sobriety test. Chances are Ables has been on the other side of the handcuffs in these situations a few times. Here’s the thing: Whiskey Barrel is really close to Will Rogers World Airport — so close you can smell the jet fuel. And if you’re close to an airport, you’re also close to taxi cabs

and a virtual land flotilla of Lyft and Uber drivers who are circling the area, waiting for a fare. It’s really simple: Are you past the shoulder line on a fresh bottle of Elijah Craig? There’s an app for that. And if you’re a cop, try to learn on the job.

Shop Game Day apparel! Mens, Womens and Littles

BEST SANDWICH

Celebrating over 42 years of business! Stop in today to grab any of our party subs, chef salads, cookie trays, lean meats or pastries!

Patio iS oPEn! BourBon St. Cafe

M-F 7am-6:30pm • Sat 9:30am-4pm 2310 N Western 524-0887

Riverwalk | Bricktown

100 E California | 232.6666 | BourbonStCafe.com

Thanks for the Nomination Best Women’s Boutique 14101 N May Ave Suite 114 Oklahoma City, OK 73134 Mon-Sat 10:00am-7:00pm | Sunday Closed | 405.936.0680 www.shop.lushfashionlounge.com DQEA O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

LUNCH

DINNER

CATERING

THANKS FOR THE NOMINATIONS

BEST NEW RESTAURANT BEST SANDWICH SHOP 427 NW 23rd St | (405) 604-8940 www.scottiesdeliokc.com D Q E

Best Sushi Best Japanese Best Western Avenue District Restaurant

Best Japanese Best Western Avenue District Restaurant

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

re v ie w

EAT & DRINK

GOP burger

At Little Mike’s, onion burgers are served with a side of conservative political humor By Jacob Threadgill

Little Mike’s 6724 Northwest Expressway littlemikeshamburgers.com | 405-773-9997 What works: Fresh, hand-cut french fries and battered onion rings rival some of the best in the city. What needs work: The burger is lacking onion flavor. Tip: The political cartoons lining the walls change quite frequently.

With endorsements from U.S. Rep. Steve Russell (R-Oklahoma City), Tulsa businessman and Republican runoff candidate for governor Kevin Stitt and U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-Oklahoma City), Mike Laham could potentially run for office. The GOP politician’s endorsements of Laham have nothing to do with policy, but for his venerable onion burger establishment Little Mike’s, 6724 Northwest Expressway, which Laham said Lankford referred to as the most conservative restaurant in Oklahoma. A “made in the USA” sign hangs below a yellow-and-red Little Mike’s Hamburger sign and can be seen clear as day from across busy Northwest Expressway. Laham said he added the sign not long after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016.

Laham wanted potential customers to know where the beef in his hamburgers came from. “I know a lot of places use beef from Mexico, and that’s not regulated very well,” Laham said. “When you see two double cheeseburgers for $3, I wouldn’t trust it.” Laham added an eight-foot U.S. flag not long after 9/11. He began printing out and posting conservative cartoons and memes during the Obama administration. Hillary Clinton, Rachel Maddow and Colin Kaepernick are satirized in prominent space by the grill, Harvey Weinstein jokes line the wall leading to bathrooms, and the western corner of the restaurant’s wall features jabs at mainstream media and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. Each tabletop has three of the same chain emails printed and placed within view. One laments the rising tide of “political correctness,” another mocks House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and a third details a veteran’s fight with a homeowner’s association to fly a giant U.S. flag. “The people that don’t like it still come in and eat,” Laham said. “We joke about it and have good banter, but 99 percent of the people that eat here love

Little Mike’s is located at 6724 Northwest Expressway. | Photo Jacob Threadgill

A bacon cheeseburger hot off the grill at Little Mike’s | Photo Jacob Threadgill

it. People bring friends from out of town to see the pictures.” I’ve always wondered what it would be like to eat lunch inside the email inbox of my Rush Limbaugh-listening, NFLboycotting grandparents. In addition to adding the slogan “made in the USA,” Laham should consider “Little Mike’s — Our memes are as fresh as our beef.” “I don’t know [how it started]; Hillary did something or Obama did something. I put one up and then two,” Laham said. I used to have a lot more, but we remodeled and I put up some Norman Rockwell pictures. We still put up stuff, but there is so much material that you can’t keep up.” Laham opened the original Little Mike’s at 50th Street and Portland Avenue in 1979 after toiling with a fish-and-chips restaurant called Arry’s for five years. He opened another location in Quail Springs Mall in 1981, sold the original two locations and opened at the current location on Northwest Expressway in 2001. “I did it for five years, but it wasn’t doing too well,” Laham said. “A friend of mine suggested hamburgers, so I put a little grill in there and I had hamburgers and fish and chips. The hamburgers took off, and I switched over.” Little Mike’s menu features El Renostyle onion burgers as well as some of the requisite Oklahoma City burgers like the Caesar burger made with the same Little Mike’s dressing that is sold in select area grocery stores and a hickory burger, which is a take on the classic Theta burger. Little Mike’s has thrived even located across the street from a Johnnie’s Charcoal Broiler that was recently demolished and will reopen next year. It also has a good selection of hotdogs and salads. Laham credited his success with good customer service and the ability of customers to see directly to the grill as cooks aim to get food out to the table in seven minutes or less. In recent years, Little Mike’s has added a mushroom, bacon and Swiss burger, a fire burger with ghost pepper cheese and a chicken-fried steak sand-

wich to the menu. Laham’s wife makes fresh hummus that tops a black bean burger called the Garden Burger along with lettuce, tomato and cucumber. I had no prior knowledge of Little Mike’s overt politically messaging before entering the restaurant around lunchtime. I’m so used to restaurants keeping politics out of food that it was almost refreshing. I have fun skewering both the Democratic and Republican National Committees, so I could laugh at jokes roasting Pelosi but felt the impending guilt associated with the idea that America was only great when we ignored the opinions of anyone other than white men.

The people that don’t like it still come in and eat. Mike Laham

Little Mike’s food delivers a decent onion burger and fantastic french fries and onion rings. The method of slamming raw onions into one side of the burger as it cooks on the flattop misses the much-needed caramelization that comes from the onion spending some time on the grill. I didn’t notice the onion flavor on my bacon cheeseburger. I liked that the restaurant kept toppings like pickles, lettuce and onions in a separate condiment bar so they didn’t get soggy sitting in the burger for too long. The fresh-cut fries were excellent. I definitely know where I’ll be bringing my grandparents the next time they come to visit. There are much better burgers in Oklahoma City, but I know they’ll get a kick out of the décor, and the fresh fries and onion rings are worth the trip—even for the most delicate snowflakes.

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

EAT & DRINK

Thank YOU

FOr the nomination Come see why we’re one of the bEst!

f eat u re

7408 N. May Ave OKC | 405-840-3047 www.labaguettebistro.com

529 Buchanan Ave. Campus Corner Norman

A WING TAVERN

MON: Closed TUE: $2 Domestic Pints Open Mic 8 pm WED: Poker Night! $5 Pitchers/Free Pool Get Delivery using OrderUp or Postmates!

THU: Live Music! Wings, Fries & Pint $10 All Day FRI/SAT: Weekday Happy Hour 3p-7p Live Music SUN: Closed Sundays for the Summer

FREE PARKING | All ages until 10 pm Like us on Facebook! normanchickenwings.com 405-310-3728

Thanks for the nomination!

See why we’re one of the best for steak & fine dining.

Lunch, Dinner, Live Music 2227 ExchangE avE StockyardS city, (405) 232-0151

www.mcclintockSaloon.com 14

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Veg out Oklahoma’s first VegFest celebrates the benefits of plant-based lifestyle. By Jacob Threadgill

Signs of the increasing support of vegan and vegetarian lifestyles were highlighted in a report from market research firm Mintel earlier this year that showed non-dairy milk sales in the United States increased by 61 percent between 2012 and 2017. The U.S.’s dairy milk consumption dropped 22 percent between 2000 and 2016, according to the national Department of Agriculture, and the numbers back up anecdotal stories like the one from Oklahoma City resident Donna Brogan, who went vegan with her husband in 2008. “[In 2008,] I felt like I was the only Oklahoman who was vegan,” Brogan said. “My coworkers laughed, my friends laughed, but I led by example.” Over the last decade, Brogan watched as restaurants added veganfriendly menu items and grocery stores carried more lifestyle-amiable products and she said that about 15 of her friends have followed her lead by embracing a vegan diet over the past decade. “I believe in leading by

Myriad Botanical Gardens, seen here hosting an event in May, will host the inaugural OKC VegFest Sept. 8. | Photo provided

example, not by preaching. There are enough vegans out there that will preach at you and tell you the awful things about what you’re doing,” Brogan said. “[My friends] made the change not because I preached at them, but because I lived and showed them what it could be like. It’s all about baby steps.” The drop in dairy milk consumption shows that diet trends in the U.S. are embracing the benefits of veganism, even if it is limited for most. Brogan recommended embracing “meatless Monday” or planning meals to be vegan to get started and looking for non-dairy alternatives. “Humans stop producing lactase at 18 months, so if you think about it, we’re all lactose intolerant,” she said. “It all counts; if you’re vegan or vegetarian for o n e

10% discount for Military • ID Required 5% discount on all cash purchases! noW oPEn

the village 10717 N May ave suite D oKC, oK 73120 405.242.2047

CHeese NaN 4621 N. May | OKC | 778-8469

day, it’s better than none. Any time you can eat vegan, you will feel better and it will be better for the environment and the animals.” Brogan’s decade of veganism is highlighted with Oklahoma’s first VegFest, an extension of a national festival that has supported events in 30 states to celebrate and promote plant-based foods, animal rights and environmental sustainability.

Planting seeds

The festival will be held 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sept. 8 on the Devon Lawn of Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave. Entry is free, but the first 500 people in attendance to make a $5 donation will receive a gift bag filled with food items, coupons, product samples, free yoga classes and more. Local wellness coach Emma Ryan contacted the national organization about bringing VegFest to Oklahoma City about six months ago, applied for and received a grant and organized a programing team that also includes Addie Ryan, Tracy Rosencrans, Hannah Lynn, Dylan Dunlap, Daenesa Carmichael, Stacey Johnson, Allie Williams and Brogan. “We’ve had a lot of fun putting this event together,” Brogan said, noting that the VegFest OKC Instagram account has more than 1,000 followers and they expect at least 2,000 people to attend the inaugural festival. “We are really happy about the outpouring of support. We had a volunteer meeting at Stone Sister Pizza and more than 70 people turned out. We expect it to grow next year.” Food trucks along Sheridan Avenue for the event include Holey Rollers, Junction Coffee, Just Desserts, Plantvibesokc, Plato’s Provisions Co., Taza Fresh Peel and The Loaded Bowl. More than 42 vendors will be in attendance selling a variety of products including food, clothing and natural medicines. Underdog Rescue and Edmond Animal Services will hold live pet adoptions while Oliver and Friends Animal Sanctuary will have piglets on hand — not for adoption, but for playtime with the kids and social media pictures. Completing the steps of a selfie scavPhoto Bigstock.com

Vendor map of the OKC VegFest event | Image provided

enger hunt enters participants into a raffle for 18 items including free yoga classes, a week’s supply of vegan food delivery and a monthlong consultation with a health coach. VegFest will include guest speakers and a pair of fitness classes. Shannon Stephens of Soul Yoga will lead a yoga class at 9 a.m. on the Myriad Garden stage and Audrey Price of Higher Ground Running will lead an exercise class at 11 a.m. Jimmy Conway, a local orthopedic surgeon who founded the group Plantbased OKC, will showcase the health benefits of a vegan diet at 10 a.m. Local horticulturist and founder of the successful home gardening mobile app From Seed to Spoon Dale Spoonemore will speak at 12 p.m. Zak Shelton, who was a third-generation Texas cattle farmer, will detail his life story into becoming a vegan business consultant at 2 p.m. Dr. Amit Gumman of Harmony Healing Center will close out the event with a 4 p.m. discussion. The festival’s organizing committee will begin efforts for next year’s festival while hoping more people reach out to groups like Plant-Based OKC, which hosts vegan dinners at Rococo every few weeks. “When I was standing in Stone Sisters last week with 70 vegans, I was blown away at the difference 10 years has made in Oklahoma. There is definitely a vegan and vegetarian community in this town,” Brogan said. “It is very supportive and the restaurants have caught on. You can go from the smallest family owned coffee shop to the nicest restaurant. The vegan lifestyle isn’t laughed at as much as it was 10 years ago. I still have some people that say, ‘What do you eat, grass and sticks?’ Then they see our food and say ‘I want some of that.’” Visit vegfestokc.com.

Cannabis Dispensary

Paseo 607 NW 28th st. suite a oKC, oK 73107 405.594.2328 10% FiRst FRidAY discount www.herbanmotherllc.com

twi Twitter

at we are to see wh bout!

a tweeting

OKG

thank you

for voting us Best Oklahoma Winery!

Reserve your seat today Bricktown Winery - OKC www.putacorkinitwinery.com

@okgazette

VegFest OKC 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 8 Myriad Botanical Gardens 301 W. Reno Ave. vegfestokc.com Free

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

k Than or yo u f s ! te o v e th

THANKS FOR VOTING

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT!

Come See Why We’re one of the best for seafood! Monday - Thursday: 11:00am to 10:00pm Friday: 11:00am to 11:00pm Saturday: 10:00 am - 11:00 pm Sunday: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm Saturday & Sunday Brunch 10:00am - 3:00pm

(4 0 5 ) 2 8 5 - 0 9 1 1 3 0 0 5 S B r oa dway, E d m o n d, O K 7 3 0 1 3 w w w. b r e n t s c a j u n s e a fo o d.co m ONLINE ORDERING NOW AVAILABLE WWW.ORDER.ABUELOS.COM WITH CURBSIDE DELIVERY!

Thank you for voTing us one of The besT new bars in okC! Come See Why We’re one of The Best!

• Non-smoking swanky dive bar with an at home atmosphere! • Karaoke Every Thursday and Friday Beginning at 9:30 pm • Happy Hour Everyday From 12:00-7:00pm $2.00 Domestics • Seven TVs for all your sports viewing needs • Patio Seating & Pet-Friendly

3001 W. MEMORIAL RD. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73134 (405) 755-2680

17 E. SHERIDAN IN BRICKTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73104 (405) 235-1422 ABUELOS.COM

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Open Mon. through Sun. 12pm - 2am In the Old ByGeorges location 901 NW 64th St. OKC, 73116 (405) 753-4287 Check us out on Facebook!

EAT & DRINK

Thanks for voting

eyeS Rickyp R5 - 8 Se

illiAN cHRieSp k12 - 15 S

Best thai restaurant

illipS joSHpp19H - 22 Se

500 NW 23rd St.|524.0503

l mAck e A H c i m 26 - 29

f eat u re

Se p

Bistro comfort

Café Cuvée at Ambassador Oklahoma City offers French bistro classics in a modern setting. By Jacob Threadgill

As the restaurant space at the Ambassador hotel went through a sixmonth renovation to convert Viceroy Grille into Café Cuvée — which opened its seven-day breakfast, lunch and dinner service last week — the space was deliberately brightened with new paint and the introduction of natural light. The hotel’s new chef de cuisine Taylor Desjarlais was cognizant of the stereotypes of a classic French restaurant as a dark, candlelit affair with white tablecloths and high menu prices. Desjarlais enters the role of designing the menu for both Café Cuvée and O Bar as well as handling the hotel’s catering and banquets. He is a graduate of Kurt Fleischfresser’s classic French-based Coach House apprenticeship program and helped open Chae Modern Korean and Ur/bun in addition to serving as sous chef under Kevin Lee at Vast before getting the call from Fleischfresser in January to run the Ambassador. “This is the food that I like and I’m passionate about,” Desjarlais said. “It needs better representation. A lot of has gotten lost, considered old or people think of a French restaurant to be a stuffy, overpriced white tablecloth kind of deal. I want to turn that on its head. I want to make fine dining and having a good dining experience approachable to everyone.” The lunch and dinner menus are what Desjarlais calls a “greatest hits of French bistro classics,” where items such as entrecôte au poivre (pepper steak), pork tenderloin in a forestiere sauce and beef bourguignon dot the menu but won’t break the bank. The most expensive fixed item on the menu is the pepper steak at $40, but other items such as moules-frites

Moules-frites are mussels and french fries in a white wine garlic broth | Photo Jacob Threadgill

(mussels and fries) and the classic tuna nicoise salad are on the menu for $16. “Just because you’re having wine and multiple courses, this doesn’t have to be a week’s pay to have a good time,” Desjarlais said, noting that they are offering an extensive wine list that features more than 120 French wines and plenty of other options from beverage director Jeffrey Cole. Desjarlais is excited to bring several classic tableside services such as traditional absinthe preparation, which calls for a sugar cube to be melted into the liquor in front of the guest, and deboning of Dover sole meunière. Dover sole was a popular service offered at The Coach House but has been missing in the Oklahoma City market since it closed.

This is the food that I like and I’m passionate about. Taylor Desjarlais

“Sole is a unique fish because it is really nutty and not fishy,” Desjarlais said. “It is a special dish and why it has lasted for so long. It is a simple preparation: dusted in flour and pan-seared. You have to cook it perfectly though because if it is over- or undercooked, they’ll have

continued on page 19

S H ow eN mic & ! W e d N / ReSeRvAtio et iN fr e e g S $2 w ie ) S - lAd eRfoRmAN c e p S dAY Th u r foR SpeciAl ($ 2 p YS - o by 5 :30 N eS dA

Thank you for the nomination!

Best Barbecue Live Music Every Saturday Patio Bingo Every Tuesday

8503 N. Rockwell 239-HAHA(4242)

610 NE 50 (50th & Lincoln) 528-7427

www.looNybiNcomedy.com

M-T 10:30am-9pm • F-S 10:30am-10pm • S 11am-3pm

REEMAN’ LIQUOR MART okc

Thank You For the NomiNAtioNs !

Place to Buy Beer Place to Buy Wine Place to Buy Liquor 4401 N Western Ave | 405-524-8031 E O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

GAMEDAY

Exclusives CRAFT OR IMPORT TALLS

Starting at

ANGRY ORCHARD CRISP APPLE CIDER BLUE MOON BELGIAN WHITE DOS EQUIS BEER LAGUNITAS IPA MODELO ESPECIAL SAMUEL ADAMS BOSTON LAGER

PAY-WHATYOU-WISH! 1ST MOndAY Of eAcH MOnTH 11A -6 P

GAMEDAY PITCHER 38OZ AVAILABLE MID-SEPTEMBER BUD LIGHT MILLER LIGHT COORS LIGHT SPECIALTY COCKTAILS BLOODY MARY BLUE-MOSA BUFFALO ZOO LONG ISLAND ICE TEA MIMOSA

Here’s how it works:

Order whatever food and/or soda fountain item(s) you would like…then pay the amount you wish to pay plus sales tax.

FOOD BRAT W/ FRIES CHEESEBURGER W/ FRIES

Simple. Good. Community-Minded.

Why? To give back to the community, to show our appreciation, to serve guests who ordinarily eat out as well as guests who ordinarily do not eat out, and to say thank you.

Thanks for voTing us besT chicken wings resTauranT!

LIve MUSIc bY SeTH cLArk 11AM -1P

NOW OPEN: 9600 S. I-44 Service Rd, OKC 405-759-2200

Del City 405.677.9464 Edmond 405.340.9647 Moore 405.794.9647 Norman 405.701.8254 East Edmond 405.285.0667 OKC I-40 & Rockwell 405.603.4688 Yukon 405.265.1944

THURSD NIGHTAY REGUL AR BUF

FET $19 .95

ADD

$12.95 PE R POUN

Lunch Mon - Sat: 11am – 3pm Dinner Mon-Tues-Wed: 5pm – 9pm Thursday: 5pm – 10pm Friday: 5pm – 10pm Saturday Night: 5pm – 9pm Sunday Open All Day: 11am – 9pm

PRIME RIB and STEAK NIGHT

GRANDRESORTOK.COM

I-40 EXIT 178 | SHAWNEE, OK | 405-964-7263 18

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

OTHER DELICIOUS MEATS ALSO AVAILABLE

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT

$24.95

Kaiser’s Grateful Bean Café 10th & N Walker • 236-3503 Mon – Thurs 11am - 6pm • Fri – Sat 11am – 8pm Follow us

Like Us

LuNch • Soda FouNTaiN

EAT & DRINK when you buy 1 at regular price

405.603.1992 | okpasta2go.com 7755 W. Hefner Suite B, OKC, OK 73162 pasta2go@outlook.com | E pasta2go

continued from page 17

f eat u re

a lot of trouble fileting it tableside.” He said that services like absinthe and Dover sole and delivering charcuterie plates allows kitchen staff to be on the floor of the restaurant to answer questions from guests and perhaps convince them to try items they might not attempt to order without some provocation. “We want to show them that beef bourguignon is just a French style of your grandmother’s pot roast,” Desjarlais said. “There are no frills about it. We’re trying to keep everything really simple, which is difficult to do. When you have three things on a plate, they all have to be perfect. There is nothing to hide behind.” Other items, like escargot (brined snails), which is on the appetizer menu and served in parsley garlic butter with grilled bread, might take some time to get used to. “Escargot has the texture almost of a big, meaty clam,” Desjarlais said. “I jokingly call them earth shellfish because you have a mushroom or foresty taste with the brininess of shellfish. That’s why they pair so well with lemon and parsley and tons of fresh garlic really brings out the Café Cuvée is at 1200 N. Walker Ave. on the first floor of the Ambassador hotel. | Photo Jacob Threadgill

Escargot is served in garlic and parsley butter with grilled bread. | Photo Jacob Threadgill

flavors. Escargot was something I was excited to get right because a lot of people do it and it is easy for them to come out bad; they have a tendency to be dry. It is a cool dish to bring out to the table because it is bubbling away.” Over the coming weeks, Café Cuvée’s fixed menu will be bolstered by specials, including lots of wild game like boar and venison, and Desjarlais said that for the first six months, specials will continue a theme of classic dishes in order to refine techniques with staff before unveiling high-concept dishes. “[Learning French cooking] is the best way to get a culinary base as far as technique,” Desjarlais said, using the crème anglaise as an example, which is made by mixing sugar, egg yolks and hot milk over heat. “If you put it in ramekins in a water bath, then you have crème brûlée. If you chill it and run it through a machine, you have ice cream. This one application can be used several different ways. Once you learned that technique, it can be applied 100 different ways.” Café Cuvée is open 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. every day and includes brunch service on Saturday and Sundays. Desjarlais is also in the process of reworking O Bar’s menu, which will be rolled out in the coming months. It will feature a steak filet and classic fried chicken in addition to snack foods like boiled peanuts and spreads such as hummus and baba ghanoush. Café Cuvée’s selection of charcuterie and cheeses will be available at O Bar. Visit cafecuvee.com.

COME DINE WITH AN OKLAHOMA LEGEND HISTORIC STOCKYARDS CITY

1309 South Agnew • 1st Light South of I-40

405.236.0416

CattlemensRestaurant.com OPEN 6AM EVERY DAY

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

g a z e di b l e s

eat & DRINK

Big gamewatching

Let’s face it: finding a true sports bar where it’s possible to get good food and watch your game of choice this fall can be difficult in Oklahoma City. The upcoming Chalk luxury sports bar near Memorial and Western avenues strives to be the answer we’re looking for, but it won’t be ready for this football season. Here are seven options better than the nearest chain wing shop. by Jacob Threadgill with photos by Jacob Threadgill and provided

Republic Gastropub

5830 N. Classen Blvd. republicgastropub.com | 405-286-4577

Even if you aren’t nestled up to the bar lined with televisions, there are ample viewing opportunities from selected booth and table seating throughout the restaurant. What better than enjoying the game from the comfort of a booth? Well, if your team is losing, maybe Republic’s good beer selection, its corned beef Reuben or the Belle Isle Burger with mushrooms and beer-cheese fondue can make you forget the score.

Eatery & Cocktail Office @ The Union

Hopscotch

616 NW Fifth St. theunionokc.com | 405-601-2857

10909 N. May Ave. facebook.com/hopscotchokc 405-286-4246

The newest addition to the list gets the nod for its backyard setting in the shadow of a steel retro Airstream trailer turned into a bar, which is one of three bars on the premises. Its patio has a large television perfect for watching the one game you are most interested in. It offers heating and cooling depending on the season and a quaint green space perfect for cornhole.

You might’ve spent time watching a game in the old Dugout. Hopscotch has taken the former Dugout location and updated the concept with fresh sandwiches, good burgers and french fries. The beer and liquor list is smaller compared to others on the list, but it adds a few arcade games for extra fun and something to distract you when your fantasy football team lays an egg on a Sunday.

BESt NEIGhBORhOOD BAR haPPY hour 4PM-6PM kiTchen oPen TiLL MiDnighT Brunch saT-sun 11aM-4PM MonDaY: karaoke 8PM ThursDaY: Trivia PUMP BAR - 2425 N WALKER AVE 20

A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

20 LocaL & crafT DrafT Beers coneY Dogs & firTo chiLi Pies Wine & Prosecco on TaP iMaginaTive cockTaiLs

Thank You for The voTes okc!

TuesDaY: Tiki TuesDaY & karaoke 9PM ThursDaY: roTaTing DJs 9PM sunDaY: DroWn nighT 9PM BUNKER CLUB - 433 NW 23RD - NON SMOKING

Urban Johnnie Bar & Grille

James E. McNellie’s Public House

Prairie Artisan Ales Taproom

The hip version of Johnnie’s Charcoal Broiler might not always perfectly execute its menu when it strays from its excellent modern interpretation of its classic burgers, but it offers plenty of viewing options as natural light pours in from its large windows overlooking Deep Deuce. Stick with the burgers, find your game and enjoy.

McNellie’s does not have as many television options as some of the others on the list, but it delivers a large, consistent food and cocktail menu. You might need to make sure your contact or glasses prescription is up-to-date before trying to watch a game from across the bar, but it’s hard to complain if you’re indulging in McNellie’s good beer selection or enjoying one of its excellent burgers.

Prairie Artisan Ales has gained a reputation for being Oklahoma’s most globetrotting beer. It has gained a foothold for its flavorful hops in Europe, and you can taste new and special flavors at its Automobile Alley taproom, which opened last year. They bring down a huge projection screen for game days. While it does not offer food, it provides a fresh environment, especially when the weather is nice.

121 NE Second St. urbanjohnnie.com | 405-208-4477

1100 Classen Drive mcnellies.com | 405-601-7468

Pub W

3121 W. Memorial Road pubdub.com | 405-608-2200

3 NE Eighth St. prairieales.com | 405-602-0894

If you haven’t been to Pub W since last football season, you’ll find a new menu at the three locations of the Hal Smith Restaurants group establishment. The new menu has hints of Southern dishes like squashpuppies and chipotle meatloaf alongside fresh concepts like the coconut-ginger ahi tuna salad and a grilled chicken quinoa bowl.

134,070 HUNGRY

t s e B National Mexican

GAZETTE READERS just saw this ad!

CALL 528-6000 FOR ADVERTISING INFO

Restaurant

OK u o y k n a h T

es t I b s u g n i t o fo r v

talian

Capice?

OFF

your purchase of $20 or more!

Dine-in or To Go. Valid at OKC area locations. Not valid with any other discounts or promotions. Limit one per check. Non-transferable. Excludes tax & gratuity. Expires 9/15/2018. ALOHA: 5OFF20_GAZETT

WWW.ONTHEBORDER.COM

We make Italian because we are Italian 64 Craft Beers • 38 Premium Wines • Signature Cocktails

Our lasagna, meatballs, ravioli and Italian sausage are prepared in house, house made mozzarella. Sauces are made from scratch. • We dry age and hand cut our beef. • We feature an amazing selection of seafood. • Also get your deli meats and cheeses here to take home! • Weekly Lunch Feature.

Lunch Tues - Sat from 11:30 to Close Dinner Tues - Sat from 4:00 to Close Phone 405.478.4955

1226 NE 63rd St., OKC, OK 73111

www.gabriellasokc.com O kg a z e t t e . c o m | A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

Thanks for The

nominaTions

THESE ARE THE TRUE STORIES FROM FIVE STRANGERS PICKED TO GIVE AT THE MOTH. THE MOTH RADIO HOUR AT CAINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BALLROOM THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15 TICKETS AT CAINSBALLROOM.COM

1221 NW 50th, OKC | 843-1722 www.hilookc.com D Q E

LET US KEEP YOU IN THE GAME THIS SEASON!

ORTHOPAEDICS | SPORTS REHAB | EXERCISE & WELLNESS | PTCentral.org | 866.866.3893

A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Cov er

ARTS & CULTURE

Thunderous decade How the Thunder grew from inauspicious beginnings to becoming one of the NBA’s most successful franchises. By Jacob Threadgill

By April of 2008, Oklahoma City’s fully fledged dreams for a National Basketball Association (NBA) team became a reality as the league’s board of governors approved the relocation of the Seattle SuperSonics to Oklahoma, but its exact arrival time was unclear, as Key Arena’s lease called for the NBA to remain in Seattle through 2010. The ownership group led by Clay Bennett agreed to pay the city a total of $75 million in July after a federal trial litigated Seattle’s Key Arena lease, and the team arrived in Oklahoma earlier than expected. The organization began to slowly move into the offices of what was formerly known as Ford Center, which hosted the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets for two seasons (2005-2006, 20062007) following Hurricane Katrina. On July 2, 2008, the team began a telemarketing drive that resulted in 30,000 people interested in ticket information within days. A relatively small crew ran the operation. A handful of employees moved from Seattle to OKC while others were hired in the months leading up to the season. Oklahoma Gazette spoke with four Thunder executives who, like the team, are in their 10th year in OKC. Brian Byrnes, current vice president of sales and marketing, worked for the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns before going to Seattle and jumped at the opportunity that came with moving to OKC. “The move was chaotic in an exhilarating way,” Byrnes said. “Anyone that was going to be here at that time came with the expectation that we are going to build something from scratch. When you have a blank canvas and you have experience to bring with that, there is an exhilaration of op-

timism that encapsulated the culture in 2008. As employees were joining the organization, there was a sense you were building something, and as chaotic as it was, it was really rewarding to see a straight line between ideation to the execution.” John Leach is the organization’s director of events and entertainment and worked in similar capacity with the Houston Rockets and the Charlotte Bobcats before going to Seattle. Leach said he was encouraged to move to OKC after hearing from people around the league how the city supported the Hornets. “When I got into town, I walked to Leadership Square and there was nobody on the sidewalk,” Leach said. “Having come from Seattle, where there is so much pedestrian traffic, to come here and it was like, ‘Where is everybody?’ that was the first shock. The people here are awesome and we’ve had nothing short of a great experience. The fan base was already here and were knowledgeable fans.” On September 3, 2008, team officials unveiled a poorly kept secret: Thunder was chosen for the team name. In mid-July, KOCO reported Thunder would be the team name, and registered website addresses tipped the team’s

Russell Westbrook won the 2017 Most Valuable Player Award. | Photo provided

hand, according to The New York Times. The team also applied for the trademarks for six names: Wind, Barons, Marshals, Energy and Bison. At the same announcement, the Thunder logo and color scheme were unveiled, which were designed to represent the state. “I can remember Clay [Bennett’s] influence in that being the beautiful sunsets he’s seen for a lifetime in Oklahoma has always resonated as something unique about where we are in the topography and the location in Oklahoma,” Byrnes said. “The red dirt is in the air and creates these beautiful sunsets, something he has often referred to as unique and special with this part of the country. When people ask us about the color schematic, there really is a purpose being the sunset blend, the yellow for the sun and wheat and indigenous things to Oklahoma, and of course the blue is the state color and was

The crowd during Oklahoma City Thunder’s first regular season game | Photo provided

intentional to try and unite the state behind this thing called the NBA in Oklahoma City.” It didn’t take long for the Oklahoma City crowd to make an impression on Leach. In the first exhibition game played at the Ford Center, Leach prompted the public address announcer to get the crowd on its feet entering the fourth quarter. “I got about my business,” he said. “Three or four minutes go by, and everyone is still standing. ‘What is going on?’ With my time with the Rockets in game seven of the [1995 NBA] Finals against the Knicks, that might’ve been hard to do, and it was just a preseason game in Oklahoma City.” The loyalty of the crowd was tested with the team’s rough start. In the midst of 1-11 start (head coach PJ Carlesimo would be fired after starting 1-13 and replaced by Scott Brooks, who would go onto to coach the team through 2015), the first boos rang down from the crowd and elicited a column from John Rohde in The Oklahoman. The young corps of second-year player Kevin Durant and rookie Russell Westbrook was still in its infancy. Westbrook came off the bench behind veteran Earl Watson the first 18 games of the season. The Thunder entered a New Year’s Eve game against the Golden State Warriors with the worst record in the league at 3-28. “There was all kinds of commentary on the national level about , ‘Could this be the worst team in NBA history?’ and ‘Would they win 10 games, much less 20 games?’” Byrnes said. “You’re walking into New Year’s Eve and thinking about the variety of things you can do on New Year’s Eve, all of the parities, social events dinners, and in a cold and frigid night in downtown Oklahoma City, to have your team at 3-28 playing basketball that night, and yet we walk in and the building is sold out. The team won the game, which was icing on the cake. Being downtown in OKC in 2008 on that night really felt like a tipping point for the organization, a sense of real significance. That was our moment when everything came together.” continued on page 24

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

ARTS & CULTURE Cov er

continued from page 23

The Thunder defeated the Warriors 107-100 that evening and played better basketball in the New Year, winning 19 of its final 50 games. So far, it is the only losing season in OKC, and it set the tone for an arrival on the national stage the next season.

Growing up

Durant made his first all-star team in the Thunder’s second season, and the team won 50 games as Durant, Westbrook, Jeff Green and Thabo Sefolosha started all 82 regular season games and James Harden pitched in nearly 10 points per game off the bench. The Thunder’s first playoff appearance resulted in a matchup against the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers. In game six of the series, the Thunder led 94-93 in the final seconds. Kobe Bryant missed a jump shot, but Pau Gasol put back the offensive rebound with half a second remaining and the Thunder were eliminated in shocking fashion.

We’ve built something of real value beyond the outcome of a game or a player playing for us. Brian Byrnes “We were just excited to be there, but then the game and season ended so abruptly,” Leach said. “Instead of being angry, upset or mad, the fans all of a sudden stood up and began giving the team a standing ovation. That was a coming-of-age moment where you saw the fans react like proud parents. I get teary-eyed just thinking about it. The next year at media day, I saw heard Russell talking to a rookie about how much that moment meant to him.” Steady attendance has become a hallmark for Chesapeake Energy Arena, which surpassed 300 consecutive sellouts in the 2017-2018 season, and the Thunder fanbase was ranked second overall in the league by Forbes in 2015. Thunder fans have been there through the highs (2012’s Western Conference championship) and the lows (Russell Westbrook’s injury in the 2013 playoffs that derailed the team when they had the regular season’s best record). Durant left Oklahoma City for Golden State after nearly defeating the 73-win Warriors in the previous Western Conference finals. The fans stayed committed as Westbrook won the league’s most valuable player award in Durant’s absence. After signing All-Star Paul George to a contract extension this offseason, the Thunder once again enter the season as one of the NBA’s top teams. “The transition of Kevin Durant leaving this organization in many re24

A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

spects would be one of the signature periods of time for this organization, our brand and this community,” Byrnes said. “We instilled a sense of understanding within our organization that at some point, Durant will not play for us, but the lens we were looking at was that he’d play forever, retire here. We had a to build a foundation that will last for generations. That meant working through fan connection, whether that is through game experience or a youth clinic or court unveiling. Between 2008 and 2016, you pay attention to all of those things, but you don’t know how well it’s working because the team is playing so well. “We’re two years removed from [Durant leaving], and the business is healthier today in every category — television ratings are up, season tickets, attendance metrics, local sponsorship revenue and merchandise sales is top six in the NBA, social media following is top six,” he said. “It is a reflection on the market and the values we stand for and the face we’ve been remarkably consistent in how we approach our business day to day in that we’ve built something of real value beyond the outcome of a game or a player playing for us.”

Thunder outreach

The Thunder Cares Foundation is the team’s philanthropic arm, which works with players to make public appearances with a focus on youth outreach for fitness and literacy. The Rolling Thunder Book Bus has given away over 155,000 books to children across the state since it debuted in 2009, according to Community Relations vice president Christine Berney, who was based in OKC when she started with the team in 2008. The Thunder Reading Challenge reaches 55,000 kinder-

garten through third-grade students across the state. Thunder Cares has helped build 20 public basketball courts across the state, including courts at the three schools affected by the 2013 Moore tornado. “As soon as players, staff and everyone knew what was happening in Moore, we had players coming back to town because they wanted to help,” Berney said. “Russell was out there, Kevin [Durant] was out there, Nick [Collison] was out there, Serge [Ibaka] was out there. We worked with the Red Cross and United Way and did things staffwide with Habitat for Humanity and clean-up efforts in the aftermath. We also wanted to make sure we helped rebuild. We funneled those efforts through the three basketball courts at the three schools that were hit in addition to some bigger monetary gifts to United Way of Central Oklahoma, Red Cross and Salvation Army.” Thunder Cares works with sponsors for programs like a food giveaway from Homeland during the holidays and works in conjunction with player’s personal foundations to hold events. Berney still remembers the impact of Kyle Weaver, who only played for the Thunder for its first two seasons, at the Memorial Park Boys & Girls Club following a team-sponsored event there. “About halfway through the season, Kyle had been stopping there after practice just for fun because he grew up in the Boys & Girls Club and that was comfort for him and he was new to town,” Berney said. “He would just stop by and hang out with the kids, shoot some hoops. By the end of the year, there was a group of kids that rallied around Weaver’s Achievers, and we didn’t tell him to do that. It is one of my favorite stories because it is so serendipitous.

Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka hold the 2012 Western Conference Championship trophy in 2012 | Photo provided

With our guys, it happens quite a bit.” Abby Morgan is a native Oklahoman who is partnership activation director in the business development office. She worked for the Dallas Mavericks and followed the Hornets from Oklahoma City back to New Orleans. She jumped at the opportunity to return to her home state and joined the Thunder in 2008. Morgan is responsible for developing corporate sponsor relationships locally and nationally and watched as the Thunder brand has reached international markets, selling a few deals to Chinese companies. Morgan felt the growth of the brand firsthand during a trip to the Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, where the group’s tour guide was an overeager Thunder fan, likely because of former team center Enes Kanter. “I told him I worked for the team, and the entire tour group thought it was awful because that’s all he wanted to talk about as we were going through the mosque,” Morgan said. “As an Oklahoman, that’s something I take a lot of pride in because the first thing a lot of people think of was either the bombing or [Oklahoma State] Cowboys or just [Oklahoma] Sooners. Over the past 10 years, you’ve seen more of a shift to the Thunder. Obviously, the Sooner and Cowboys are very popular still, but it’s interesting to being [Oklahomans] together and that they aren’t divided. The pride I feel from watching the state grow and the construction around us is something you watch daily and say, ‘That is amazing.’ I think we had a part in spurring economic growth.”

best of okc winners FOOD & DRINK

Best pizza place

Best tea or coffeehouse

Favorites: Hideaway Pizza, The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen, Pizzeria Gusto, Eagle One Pizza

All About Cha

Empire Slice House

Favorites: Elemental Coffee Roasters, The Red Cup, Coffee Slingers Roasters, Urban Teahouse

Best soul food

Best Oklahoma winery

Favorites: Cajun King, Mama E’s Soul Food, Taste of Soul, Florence’s Restaurant

Put a Cork In It Winery

Favorites: Waters Edge Winery, Canadian River Vineyards & Winery, Clauren Ridge Vineyard and Winery, Strebel Creek Vineyards

Best local craft beer

COOP Ale Works

Favorites: Anthem Brewing Company, Stonecloud Brewing Co., Prairie Artisan Ales, Roughtail Brewing Co.

Best beer selection

James E. McNellie’s Public House

Favorites: TapWerks Ale House, Oak & Ore, The Jones Assembly, The Pump Bar

Best cocktail

Lunchbox at Edna’s

Off the Hook Seafood & More

Best chicken-fried steak

Cheever’s Cafe

Favorites: Del Rancho, Ann’s Chicken Fry House, The Press, Jimmy’s Round-Up Cafe & Fried Pies

Best steakhouse

Cattlemen’s Steakhouse

Favorites: Ranch Steakhouse, Mahogany Prime Steakhouse, Red PrimeSteak, McClintock Saloon & Chop House

Best sushi

Sushi Neko

Favorites: Tokyo Japanese Restaurant, GoGo Sushi Express and Grill, Yokozuna, Grand House Asian Bistro

Favorites: Frosé at The Jones Assembly, The Black Betty at The Pump Bar, Pain Killer at Bunker Club, JFK at Bunker Club

Best vegan, vegetarian, glutenfree or healthy menu options

Best margarita

Favorites: Coolgreens, Picasso Cafe, The Red Cup, The Jones Assembly

Barrios Fine Mexican Dishes

Favorites: Chelino’s Mexican Restaurant, ¡Revolución!, The Jones Assembly, Cultivar Mexican Kitchen

Best happy hour

Sonic Drive-In

Favorites: The Pump Bar, Ponyboy, Henry Hudson’s Pub, Cafe 501

Best breakfast

Hatch

Favorites: Sunnyside Diner, Jimmy’s Egg, Neighborhood JA.M., Jimmy’s Round-Up Cafe & Fried Pies

Best brunch

Cafe Kacao

Favorites: Hatch, The Jones Assembly, Jimmy’s Round-Up Cafe & Fried Pies, The Pump Bar

Best patio brunch

Picasso Cafe

Favorites: The Jones Assembly, Hatch, The Pump Bar, Pearl’s Oyster Bar

Best meal for a deal

Empire Slice House

Favorites: Big Truck Tacos, S&B’s Burger Joint, Jimmy’s Round-Up Cafe & Fried Pies, The Jones Assembly

Best late-night eats

Empire Slice House

Favorites: Beverly’s Pancake House, Waffle Champion, The Pump Bar, Guyutes

Best burger

The Loaded Bowl

Best gyro

Zorba’s Mediterranean Cuisine

Favorites: Basil Mediterranean Cafe, Greek House, Sweis’ Greek Cafe, Cous Cous Cafe

Best seafood

The Drake Seafood and Oysterette

Favorites: Pearl’s Oyster Bar, The Shack Seafood & Oyster Bar, Off the Hook Seafood & More, Brent’s Cajun Seafood & Oyster Bar

Best dessert

Pie Junkie

Favorites: La Baguette Bakery, Cheever’s Cafe, The Jones Assembly, Jimmy’s Round-Up Cafe & Fried Pies

Best wine dinner

Flip’s Wine Bar & Trattoria Favorites: Mahogany Prime Steakhouse, The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro, Vast, The Pritchard

Best food truck or food cart

The Saucee Sicilian

Favorites: Taqueria Sanchez, The Fried Taco, Phill Me Up Cheesesteaks, Rockin Rotollo Fresco Italian Cuisine

Best Mexican restaurant

Ted’s Café Escondido

Favorites: Barrios Fine Mexican Dishes, Chelino’s Mexican Restaurant, Abel’s Mexican Restaurant, Alfredo’s Mexican Cafe

Best Latin restaurant

Café do Brasil

Favorites: Tucker’s Onion Burgers, Nic’s Grill, S&B’s Burger Joint, Patty Wagon Burgers

Favorites: Cafe Kacao, 1492 New World Latin Cuisine, Cafe Antigua, La Brasa International Cuisine

Best sandwich shop

Best Italian restaurant

The Garage Burgers & Beer

The Mule

Favorites: City Bites, Someplace Else A Deli & Bakery, Scottie’s Deli, Neptune Sub Sandwiches

Best barbecue

Iron Star Urban Barbeque

Favorites: Swadley’s Bar-B-Q, Earl’s Rib Palace, Back Door Barbecue, Bedlam BAR-B-Q

Gabriella’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria

Favorites: Stella Modern Italian Cuisine, Flip’s Wine Bar & Trattoria, Vito’s Ristorante, Patrono Italian Restaurant

Best Western European restaurant

Ingrid’s Kitchen

Favorites: La Baguette Bistro, Fassler Hall, Old Germany Restaurant, Royal Bavaria

Best Mediterranean restaurant

Zorba’s Mediterranean Cuisine

Favorites: Basil Mediterranean Cafe, Cous Cous Cafe, Nunu’s Mediterranean Cafe, Mediterranean Imports & Deli

Best Indian restaurant

Taj Cuisine of India

Favorites: Gopuram Taste of India, Sheesh Mahal, Fusion Kitchen, Himalayas Aroma of India

Best Japanese restaurant

Gorō Ramen

Favorites: Sushi Neko, Shōgun Steak House of Japan, Musashi’s, Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

Best Chinese restaurant

Grand House Asian Bistro Favorites: Golden Phoenix, Chow’s Chinese Restaurant, Szechuan Bistro, Fung’s Kitchen

Best Thai restaurant

Thai House Restaurant

Favorites: Panang Thai Restaurant, Sala Thai, Tana Thai Bistro, Charm Thai Cuisine

Best Vietnamese restaurant

Pho Lien Hoa

Best patio dining

The Bleu Garten

Favorites: Barrios Fine Mexican Dishes, The Jones Assembly, The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen, The Pump Bar

Best diner

Sunnyside Diner

Favorites: Classen Grill, Beverly’s Pancake House, Jimmy’s Round-Up Cafe & Fried Pies, The Diner

Best bakery

La Baguette Bakery

Favorites: Brown’s Bakery, Holey Rollers, ButterSweet Cupcakes, Ganache Patisserie

Best Uptown 23rd district restaurant

Cheever’s Cafe

Favorites: Pizzeria Gusto, The Pump Bar, The Drake Seafood and Oysterette, Guyutes

Favorites: Golden Phoenix, Lido Restaurant, Pho Cuong, VII Asian Bistro

Best Plaza district restaurant

Best pho restaurant

Favorites: The Mule, Gorō Ramen, The Press, The Pritchard

Pho Lien Hoa

Favorites: Pho 54, Pho Cuong, Pho Lan Asian Bistro, VII Asian Bistro

Best new restaurant

The Jones Assembly

Favorites: The Press, Neighborhood JA.M., HunnyBunny Biscuit Co., Scottie’s Deli

Best fine dining restaurant

Empire Slice House

Best Paseo Arts district restaurant

Picasso Cafe

Favorites: Paseo Grill, Sauced on Paseo, Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails, Buttermilk

Best Automobile Alley district restaurant

Mahogany Prime Steakhouse

Hideaway Pizza

Best place to dine before an event

Best Bricktown district restaurant

Favorites: Ranch Steakhouse, Vast, Red PrimeSteak, McClintock Saloon & Chop House

The Jones Assembly

Favorites: The Bleu Garten, Museum Cafe, The Pump Bar, Jimmy’s Round-Up Cafe & Fried Pies

Best neighborhood bar

The Pump Bar

Favorites: Edna’s, The Jones Assembly, HiLo Club, Bunker Club

Best rooftop bar

O Bar

at Ambassador Hotel Oklahoma City Favorites: Museum Cafe, Guyutes, Packard’s New American Kitchen, Bossa Nova Caipirinha Lounge

Favorites: Hatch, Cultivar Mexican Kitchen, Red PrimeSteak, Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse

Bricktown Brewery

Favorites: Charleston’s, Chelino’s Mexican Restaurant, Bourbon St. Cafe, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill

Best Midtown district restaurant

Barrios Fine Mexican Dishes

Favorites: The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen, Stella Modern Italian Cuisine, James E. McNellie’s Public House, GoGo Sushi Express and Grill

Best Western Avenue district restaurant

Best upscale bar

The Wedge Pizzeria

Favorites: O Bar at Ambassador Hotel Oklahoma City, Sidecar Barley & Wine Bar, Bar Arbolada, Vast

Best downtown restaurant

The Jones Assembly

Best nonsmoking bar

The Jones Assembly

Favorites: Bunker Club, Ponyboy, Bar Arbolada, The Liszt Nightclub + Lounge

Best new bar

The Jones Assembly

Favorites: Ponyboy, Kat’s Tavern, Bar Arbolada, The Liszt Nightclub + Lounge

Favorites: Sushi Neko, Flip’s Wine Bar & Trattoria, Musashi’s, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar

The Jones Assembly

Favorites: The Loaded Bowl, Vast, Joey’s Pizzeria, Flint

Best restaurant

Cheever’s Cafe

Favorites: The Jones Assembly, Ranch Steakhouse, Jimmy’s Round-Up Cafe & Fried Pies, The Pump Bar

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

best of okc winners Best caterer

Best dance club

Best place to buy beer

Favorites: Rococo, Alfredo’s Mexican Cafe, Abbey Road Catering, Ned’s Catering

Favorites: Cowboys OKC, Dollhouse Lounge & Burlesque, Greystone Lounge, The Liszt Nightclub + Lounge

Favorites: Freeman’s Liquor Mart, Moore Liquor, Grand Cru Wine & Spirits, Sean’s Wine and Spirits

Ted’s Café Escondido

Best chef

Groovy’s

Byron’s Liquor Warehouse

Best concert venue

Best place to buy liquor

Favorites: Kurt Fleischfresser — Vast, Jeff Chanchaleune — Gorō Ramen, Bruce Rinehart — Rococo, James Vu — La Brasa

Favorites: The Jones Assembly, The Zoo Ampitheatre, Tower Theatre, The Criterion

Favorites: Freeman’s Liquor Mart, Moore Liquor, Sam’s Wholesale Priced Liquor, Modern Liquors

Best server

The Loony Bin

Andrew Eskridge The Jones Assembly

Gwynevere Langer The Jones Assembly

Favorites: Erin Roy — The Pump Bar, Kelsey Thurman — Ranch Steakhouse, Billy Noble — Barrios Fine Mexican Dishes, Katura Nelson — Jimmy’s Round-Up Cafe & Fried Pies

Best bartender

Jason Nguyen The Jones Assembly

Favorites: Rebecca Gin — The Pump Bar, Jolie Foster — HiLo Club, Amber Taylor — The Pump Bar, Rainier Crespo — Bunker Club

Chesapeake Energy Arena

Best open mic/comedy night Favorites: 51st Street Speakeasy, Sauced on Paseo, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar, Elecktra’s Open Mic at The Root

Best public art/mural

Plaza Walls project in 16th Street Plaza District

Favorites: New Zealand OKC Thunder player Steven Adams by Graham Hoete on The Paramount building in Film Row, Welcome to Uptown murual on The Pump Bar building in Uptown 23rd District, Western Avenue murals, 21c fence mural by Denise Duong on W. Main Street and N. Classen Blvd.

Byron’s Liquor Warehouse

Best pest control company

Mosquito Joe

Favorites: A+ Pest Control, King Pest Control, Inc., Kurt’s Pest Control, Acenitec Pest & Lawn Services

Best law firm

McAfee & Taft

Favorites: Dunlap Codding, Phillips Murrah, Rubenstein and Pitts, Fellers Snider

Best plumbing company

Brandon’s Plumbing

Favorites: Plumb Crazy Plumbing, Anderson Plumbing, Cherokee Plumbing, Stone Creek Plumbing Service

ARTS, culture & ENTERTAINMENT

Best place to buy local art

The Paseo Arts District

Best local homebuilder company

Best outdoor furniture

Best local living author

Best art gallery

Favorites: Ideal Homes, Richardson Homes, Bill Roberts Custom Homes, Kent Hoffman Construction

Favorites: Mathis Brothers Furniture, Hemispheres, Seasonal Living, Amini’s

S.E. Hinton

Favorites: Lauren Zuniga, Bob Burke, Carolyn Hart, Lou Berney

Best local band/artist

My So Called Band

Favorites: SuperFreak , Hosty , Weekend All Stars , Violent Affair

Best radio personality or team

Joey and Heather KYIS 98.9

Favorites: Festival of the Arts, DNA Galleries, Mind Bender Tattoo, JRB Art at the Elms

Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center

Favorites: DNA Galleries, Little D Gallery, JRB Art at the Elms, Howell Gallery

Best museum

Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Favorites: Science Museum Oklahoma, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Sam Noble Museum

Homes by Taber

Best electrical company

Best new home furniture

Favorites: Metroplex Electric, Integrated Electric, Ross Electirc, Ritchie Electric, Inc.

Favorites: Bob Mills Furniture, Ashley HomeStore, Suburban Contemporary Furniture, Hemispheres

Dane Electric

Best landscape / lawn service company

Manuel Garcia Garden Service

Favorites: Nelson Landscaping, Squared Away Lawns, LLC, Echelawn Complete Lawn & Landscape, Swift Lawns

Favorites: TJ, Janet and J Rod — KJ103, Rick and Brad — KATT-FM, The Morning Animals — WWLS-FM, Jack and Ron — KQOB-FM

Best local district

Best performing arts group

Favorites: 16th Street Plaza District, The Paseo Arts District, Uptown 23rd District, Automobile Alley

Salazar Roofing

Favorites: Oklahoma City Ballet, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Dust Bowl Dolls, Adèle Wolf Productions

Best casino for gaming

Best shooting range

Best visual artist

Favorites: WinStar World Casino and Resort, Remington Park Racing & Casino, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Newcastle Casino

Favorites: Wilshire Gun, Big Boys Guns, Ammo & Range, Henry’s, Silverleaf Shotgun Sports

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma

Jay Roberts

Mind Bender Tattoo and Fine Art Gallery

Favorites: Jason Pawley, Kris Kanaly, Denise Duong, D.G. Smalling

Best local annual event or festival

Festival of the Arts

Favorites: Paseo Arts Festival, deadCenter Film Festival, H&8th Night Market, Norman Music Festival

Best charity event

Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon

Favorites: Hero Awards — Central Oklahoma Humane Society, Boots & Ball Gowns — Infant Crisis Services, Red Tie Night, Gumdrops and Lollipops Ball — The Anna’s House Foundation

Midtown

Riverwind Casino

Best roofing company Favorites: Elliott Roofing, Land Roofing Enterprises, Statewide Roofing, Bohon Roofing

H&H Shooting Sports

Best casino for live entertainment

Best dry cleaner

Favorites: WinStar World Casino and Resort, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Remington Park Racing & Casino, Newcastle Casino

Favorites: Nichols Hills Cleaners, Scott Cleaners, American Cleaners, Swiss Cleaners & Laundry

Riverwind Casino

Best LGBTQ+ bar or club

The Boom!

Favorites: HiLo Club, The Copa, Tramps, Partners

Best pre- or post- event spot

The Bleu Garten

Favorites: The Jones Assembly, The Pump Bar, Edna’s, Bunker Club

Best bowling alley

Statuary World Patio & Fireside

Legacy Cleaners & Laundry

Best garden center

TLC Garden Centers

Favorites: Marcum’s Nursery, Calvert’s Plant Interiors, Tony’s Tree Plantation, Precure Nursery & Garden Center

Best cigar shop

The Cigar Box

Favorites: ZT Cigars, Tobacco Exchange, Party Moore, Omerta Cigar Co.

Mathis Brothers Furniture

Best bank

MidFirst Bank

Favorites: Bank of Oklahoma, BancFirst, First Fidelity Bank, Great Plains Bank

LIFE & WELLNESS Best place to volunteer

Central Oklahoma Humane Society

Favorites: Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, Infant Crisis Services, Habitat for Humanity, Sunbeam Family Services

Best charitable company

Central Oklahoma Humane Society

Favorites: Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, Sunbeam Family Services, Salvation Army Central Oklahoma, Homes by Taber

Best nonprofit

Central Oklahoma Humane Society

Favorites: Infant Crisis Services, Positive Tomorrows, Mutt Misfits Animal Rescue Society, The Anna’s House Foundation

Best doctor

Jeffrey Hirsch, MD SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital

Favorites: Heritage Lanes, HeyDay, Meridan Lanes, Sooner Bowling Center

OKC Vapes

Favorites: Paseo Arts Festival, Sonic Summer Movies — Myriad Botanical Gardens, Heard on Hurd, Sunday Twilight Concert Series — Arts Council Oklahoma City

GOODS & SERVICES

Favorites: The Vape Bar, Vapor World, Liquid Vapor Lounge, Prodigy Vapor Co.

Favorites: Kori Marie Lewis, MD — Mercy, TiTi (Fitzsimmons) Nguyen, MD — SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital, William Laban Bondurant, MD — Mercy, Robert Stepp, MD — Deaconess Hospital

Best car wash/detail center

Best plastic surgeon

Best bar for live music

Best place to buy wine

Best free entertainment

Festival of the Arts

The Blue Note

Favorites: VZD’s Restaurant & Bar, JJ’s Alley Bricktown Pub, The Deli, Lost Highway

A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge

Byron’s Liquor Warehouse Favorites: Freeman’s Liquor Mart, Broadway Wine Merchants, Moore Liquor, Beau’s Wine Bin & Spirit Shoppe

Best vapor shop

Red Carpet Car Wash & Detail Center

Favorites: Okie Express Auto Wash, Classen Clean & Green Car Wash, Fast Lanes Super Center, SWASH

Tim R. Love, MD FACS

Favorites: James Lowe, MD — Lowe Plastic Surgery, Anureet Bajaj, MD — Bajaj Plastic Surgery, Juan A. Brou, MD — Premier Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics, Ivan Wayne, MD — W Facial Aesthetics

Best apartment community

The Garage Loft Apartments

Favorites: Deep Deuce at Bricktown, Midtown Renassiance, Level, The Breighton

Best independent living community

Best women’s boutique

Best new retail establishment

Favorites: St Luke’s United Methodist Church, Crossings Community Church, Frontline Church, Victory Family Church

Favorites: Lush Fashion Lounge, The Black Scintilla, Balliets, Mode

Favorites: OKcollective Candle Co., Edmond Unplugged, Smash Bangles, Ambary Health

Best pilates

Blue Seven

Best yoga

405 Yoga

Orthodontic Associates

Favorites: Dental Depot, Orthodontic Arts, Kierl Orthodontics, Heim Orthodontics

Best eye clinic

Dean McGee Eye Institute Favorites: Midtown Optical, Cornerstone Eyecare, EyeCare Oklahoma, Inc., Omni Eye Center LaserVision

Best optical shop

Midtown Optical

Favorites: Hidden Dragon Yoga, Yoga at Tiffany’s, This Land Yoga, Balance. Yoga. Bar.

Best place to get fit

YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City

Favorites: 405 Yoga, Four Star Fitness, Oklahoma School of Burlesque, This Land Yoga

Best men’s grooming lounge

Lakeside Barbershop

Favorites: Weldon Jack, Capital City Barbershop, Revel Eight Salon and Spa, Carwin’s Shave Shop

Best golf course

Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club

Favorites: Sam’s Optical, Black Optical, Dick Story Optical, Cornerstone Eyecare

Favorites: Lake Hefner Golf Club, Earlywine Golf Club, KickingBird Golf Club, Belmar Golf Club

Best women’s healthcare clinic

Best weekend in-state getaway

Favorites: Mercy, Integris Women’s Care, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital, Women’s Healthcare of Norman

Favorites: Mount Scott / Medicine Park, Broken Bow, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Tulsa

Lakeside Women’s Hospital

Best physical therapy center

Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Integris

Favorites: Physical Therapy Central, Therapy in Motion, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital, Human Performance Centers

Best hospital

Mercy

Favorites: Integris Baptist Medical Center, OU Medicine, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital, Norman Regional Health System

Beavers Bend State Park

Best health food store

Uptown Grocery Co.

Best spa

Udånder

Favorites: Bella Strada Salon and Spa Suites, Eden Salon and Spa, Farmhouse Spa, Willow Wellness & Massage

Best bicycle shop

Al’s Bicycles

Favorites: Schlegel Bicycles, Wheeler Dealer Bicycle Shop, Celestial Cycles, Melonbike

Best place to buy a vehicle

Bob Moore Auto Group

Favorites: Bob Howard Auto Group, Fowler Auto Group, Hudiburg Auto Group, Joe Cooper

Best motorcycle dealer

Maxey’s Motorsports

Favorites: Sooner Cycles & Power Sports, Ajax Kawasaki-KTM, EuroTek Premium European Motorcycles, Colvin Motorcycle Company

Best veterinarian clinic

Midtown Vets

Favorites: Neel Veterinary Hospital, Britton Road Veterinary Clinic, Nichols Hills Veterinary Clinic, Wedgewood Pet Clinic

Best pet-friendly patio

The Bleu Garten

Favorites: The Pump Bar, Louie’s Grill & Bar Lakeside, Fassler Hall, The Jones Assembly

Best pet store

A1 Pet Emporium

Favorites: Barking Dog Bakery Boutique, Britton Feed & Seed, Four Paws Grooming & Boarding, Pet Supply Animal Clinic & Grooming Salon

Favorites: Groomer A Go-Go Pet Market & Salon, Diamond Dog Pet Salon & Spa, Pet Supply Animal Clinic & Grooming Salon, Soi’s Pet Salon

Tinker Federal Credit Union

Favorites: Weokie Federal Credit Union, Oklahoma’s Credit Union, Communication Federal Credit Union, Allegiance Credit Union

Favorites: Wheeler’s Meat Market, The Meat House, Rhett’s Meat Market, Cossey’s Custom Cuts Meat

Favorites: Laser Light Skin Clinic, Advanced Aesthetics, Tim R. Love, MD FACS, Lowe Plastic Surgery

Favorites: Mr. Ooley’s, Gil’s Clothing & Denim Bar, Steven Giles, Sam’s Best Buy

Best credit union

Favorites: Organics OKC Garden Supply, Herban Mother, Friendly Market, Ziggyz Cannabis Co.

Mariposa Aesthetics & Laser Center

Best men’s clothing

Best pet groomer

Best meat market/butcher shop

Best medical spa

Blue Seven

Favorites: Akin’s Natural Foods, Native Roots Market, Dodson’s Health Food & Vitamins, Omega Health Foods

Best place to buy CBD products

CBD Plus USA

Bad Granny’s Bazaar

University of Oklahoma

Best church

Favorites: Pilates on Western, Four Graces Pilates Studio, The Pilates Nook, Absolute Balance Pilates

Best orthodontic office

Best resale or consignment furniture

Favorites: University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University—Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College, Francis Tuttle Technology Center

Favorites: Daisy Exchange, Nearly New, Consigning Sisters, The Bottom Drawer

Favorites: Commons on Classen, Concordia Life Care Community, Southern Plaza, Lionwood

Balance. Yoga. Barre.

Favorites: OKC Smiles, Crown Heights Dental, J. Ashley Hancock, DDS, Dental 32

Best place for continuing education

Best public bathroom

Life.Church

Dental Depot

Bad Granny’s Bazaar

Favorites: Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma, K&N Interior Consignment, Mockingbird Manor Antiques & More, Old Plantation Antiques

Epworth Villa

Best dental office

Best clothing consignment

Bill Kamp’s Meat Market

Best fine jewelry

BC Clark Jewelers

Favorites: Lewis Jewelers, Mitchener Farrand Fine Jewelers, Naifeh Fine Jewelry, Huntington Fine Jewelers

Best thrift store

Bad Granny’s Bazaar

Favorites: Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma, Uptown Thrift, The Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Area Command, Community Thrift Store

Four Paws Grooming & Boarding

OnCue

Favorites: The Jones Assembly, The Pump Bar, City Bites, Bunker Club

Tin Lizzie’s

NATIONAL Best retail store

Target

Favorites: Nordstrom Rack, Dillard’s, Kohl’s, Walmart

Best condo or apartment community

The Edge at Midtown NE Property Management

Favorites: Brookwood Village — Weidner Apartment Homes, Avana on Second Apartment Homes — Greystar, Steelyard — NE Property Management, Argon — NE Property Management

Best national or regional hotel

21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City

Favorites: The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City, Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown - Bricktown, Courtyard by Marriott, Holiday Inn

Best restaurant

Chick-fil-A

Favorites: Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar, Texas Roadhouse, Chili’s, El Chico

Best hotel restaurant

Mary Eddy’s Kitchen x Lounge

at 21c Museum Hotel Oklahoma City

Favorites: Red Piano Lounge at The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City, Park Avenue Grill at The Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City, Cafe Cuvée formally Viceroy Grille at Ambassador Hotel Oklahoma City, Autograph Collection Hotelier, E.S. Founders at Embassy Suites by Hilton Oklahoma City Downtown Medical Center

Best chicken wings restaurant

Buffalo Wild Wings

Favorites: Wingstop, Hooters, Twin Peaks, WingStreet - Pizza Hut

Best farmers market or farm stand

Best Mexican restaurant

Favorites: Edmond Farmer’s market, Farmers Public Market, Paseo’s Farmers Market, Norman Farm Market

Favorites: Abuelo’s, Chuy’s, On the Border, El Chico

OSU-OKC Farmers Market

Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food

Best naughty business

Best steakhouse

Favorites: Dollhouse Lounge & Burlesque, Adèle Wolf Productions, Patricia’s, Red Dog Saloon

Favorites: Mickey Mantel’s Steakhouse, Saltgrass Steak House, Outback Steakhouse, LongHorn Steakhouse

Christy’s Toy Box

Texas Roadhouse

Best florist

New Leaf Florist

Favorites: Capitol Hill Florist and Gifts, Tony Foss Flowers, Floral and Hardy, Krisjohna Kane Floral Design

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

ARTS & CULTURE

Best Latin Restaraunt Muito Obrigado, OKC!

Best Rooftop Bar

BOSSA NOVA

caipirin

ha loun

405-525-9779 440 NW 11th & Walker cafedobrazilokc.com

Nic’s Place

Visit Nic’s Place! FuN. Food. cocktails.

tHaNk you For tHe NomiNatioN For oNe oF tHe Best Burgers iN okc!

1116 N Robinson Ave. OKC @nicsplacedinerandlounge

Complete program schedule at www.kgou.org 28

A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

ART

DQE

Aesthetic passion Mainsite Contemporary Art’s latest exhibitors share a passion for art but veer in different directions artistically. By Joshua Blanco

Mainsite Contemporary Art is currently showcasing the work of Debby Kaspari, Don Holladay and Christopher Ryan Mackie, three local artists who differ significantly in their creative approaches. The exhibit acts as a tribute to aesthetic contrast, blending the work of three individuals whose only commonality seems to be their passion for the arts. The gallery is located at 122 E. Main St. in Norman and the exhibits run through Sept. 14.

Debby Kaspari

An artist since she was “able to sit up and hold a pencil,” Kaspari is a painter and California College of the Arts alumnus and Harvard fellow who has worked commercially as a designer and illustrator. She moved to Norman in 1995. Rather than studying ornithology to pursue her passion for birds, she leveraged her interest in nature to become an artist, painting the landscapes often inspired by her travels. In this exhibition, Kaspari decided to offer up samples of the landscape paintings she had been working on over the course of the past three years. The images are those of a true realistic impressionist, giving an appearance that is more interpretive than photographic. The natural beauty evident in her art stems from her preference to paint en plein air (French for painting outdoors). It’s a style that emphasizes natural lighting and color, allowing her to bring the beauty of the outdoors straight to the canvas. “It’s a nice old tradition, and it’s one that I practice,” Kaspari said. “It’s liter-

ally taking the easel outside and setting it down and painting the scene around you and painting directly from life rather than working in the studio.” When working outdoors, she uses pastel, which she describes as “a very fresh and immediate medium” that allows her to “jab color onto the paper.” Working with pastel also provides Kaspari with the advantage of being able to rework some undesired aspects of her paintings. Although most of the work — somewhere between 80 and 95 percent — is done en plein air, she’ll head to the studio to add finishing touches. Each painting typically takes her around two to five hours to complete, and she takes care to avoid spending too much time on her pieces, as they can easily end up overworked. Maintaining the scene’s original qualities is another challenge she’s faced with when painting in the field. “The fight is trying to capture that first impression,” Kaspari said. “You’re out there and the light is changing, the sun goes down, clouds come up, things like that. You’re capturing just a few moments of time.” The ability to discern when the painting is complete is another aspect critical to her artistic process. “When there are things that sort of jump out at you and you just cringe, then you know you have a little more to do,” Kaspari said. “But when that stops happening, that’s generally when I say, ‘I think this is okay. I think this one is ready. It’s cooked.’”

Don Holladay

Holladay is an adjunct professor at

“Platte River Cottonwood” by Debby Kaspari | Image Mainsite Contemporary Art / provided

University of Oklahoma’s College of Law who has been an artist since 1973. Holladay reflected on his initial thoughts on becoming an artist. “It wasn’t like I had this burning desire to be an artist,” he said. “Once I started taking those lessons, I just kind of fell in love with it. I can’t imagine not doing it now.” Stylistically, he alternates between figurative and abstract painting. In his figurative works, he often uses subjects in isolation that “certainly aren’t photographic” yet still maintain some degree of realism. He describes his other paintings as abstract expressionist or non-objective abstract “where you just go with the flow and try to create something that will make the viewer stop and look.” Viewers can expect a variety of pieces including housepaint, collages, lithographs, etchings, acrylics and oils. “It’s got some funky stuff in it,” Holladay said. “I think most people would say it’s a strange exhibit because it doesn’t have any theme, per se. It is a very eclectic body of work that showcases different mediums.”

I like to give a painting time to kind of tell me how it’s gonna be finished. Don Holladay Due to his initial approach, Holladay’s method comes with a unique hint of self-expression. Unlike Kaspari, who interprets the scene before her, Holladay will sometimes add color arbitrarily just to get a start. “Debby and I could probably have a strange conversation about our different approaches,” Holladay said. “She’s a good friend.” The artists’ travels, however, are one aspect of the creative process the two have in common. “Whenever I travel … the next several paintings, they always almost have the colors of the place that you just came from,” Holladay said. “I’ve never quite figured that out. It’s kind of like your subconscious is just directing your self in scary ways, really.” He avoids overworking his paintings by using what he calls “purposeful carelessness,” and by doing so, he hopes to bring feeling to the freshly made creation. Texture and spontaneity are additional aspects essential to his process. After finishing his paintings, he’ll wait to be sure the piece is truly complete. “I like to give a painting time to kind of tell me how it’s gonna be finished,” Holladay said. Sometimes he’ll sit on a painting for 30 days just to end up deconstructing it the way he sees fit, occasionally taking it in an entirely new direction altogether.

“The last thing an artist wants to be called is a deconstructionist, but that’s what I do,” Holladay said. “That’s just kind of my deal.”

Christopher Mackie

Mackie is a self-described “longtime patron of the arts” whose artistic background was initially in the realm of audio and video production. He transitioned to sculpture 10 years ago and will be displaying six of those works in the Mainsite exhibit. Mackie grew up in Wichita, Kansas, and eventually moved to the East Coast. He moved back to Norman in 2011 and finished school in 2017. Shortly after graduating, he landed a job with the University of Oklahoma. His works consist of resin, thread and dye and have been described as bearing a close resemblance to floating jellyfish, a description he agrees is adequate. And that’s just the feeling he’s hoping to evoke in his audience. Though he found Mainsite’s space to be a challenging place to display his work, he was pleased with the way the sculptures were finally organized. “I kind of wanted to go for that kind of feel in the space, like these little weird creatures out of their element hovering above us,” Mackie said. “I felt like I was really able to capture that feeling of weightlessness. I was really happy with the way they came out.” Though creating the sculpture is no easy task, a great deal of his time is devoted to pondering his ideas and jotting down notes and sketches. The result is at times nothing short of a pleasant surprise. “A lot of times, the making will inform the ideas,” Mackie said. “I might have an idea of it one way, but then it changes. … That’s what’s so cool about it. You don’t know what you might come up with. It might be 10 times better than what you started with.” This process has allowed him to cope with his initial fear of failure, a notion he didn’t wrestle with too much working with sound and audio installations. He describes fear as “a double-edged sword” because it “helps you find new things and go in new directions and push yourself.” His work is a clear representation of an artist who has pushed himself to refine his work through his creative process, standing as an earnest demonstration of his attempt “to capture strength in the delicate.” Visit mainsitecontemporaryart. com.

Debby Kaspari, Don Holladay and Christopher Ryan Mackie

Shop with us! 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 NOMINEE

BEST VAPE SHOP!

Known for the best Selection of Authentic & Repro Mods, RDAs & Tanks World Class Customer Service Device Knowledge Build Expertise Selection of Premium & House eLiquids Selection of + Wicks + Wires + Accessories

We Proudly Support

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday through Sept. 14 Mainsite Contemporary Art 122 E. Main St., Norman

Vape Advocacy

mainsitecontemporaryart.com | 405-360-1162 Free

6608 N MAY AVE | OKC, OK 73116 | 405.418.4996 O kg a z e t t e . c o m | A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

ARTS & CULTURE

T heater

Guests at The Gorges Motel, along with the proprietor, Virginia, gather at twilight to watch the nightly laser light show on the rock face of the magnificent gorge across the road. | Photo Carpenter Square Theatre / provided

Motel tales

Carpenter Square Theatre’s latest production is made up of seven short plays set in a motel. By Daniel Bokemper

Seven tales unfold at Carpenter Square Theatre this September in The Gorges Motel. A comedy and drama written by six playwrights, the work follows several members of a wedding and the challenges and resolve they experience during their stay at the titular locale. The nature of each short act ranges from the severe to the lighthearted and downright bizarre, compelling each character to actualize themselves in a meaningful way. Previously, Carpenter Square’s staff considered trying to orchestrate an evening of one-acts. However, they found no combination of one-acts they considered would engage their audience without severely truncating the experience. Prior to pursuing The Gorges Motel, artistic director Rhonda Clark recalled some of the logistic challenges that come with producing several brief plays in one sitting. “We considered running multiple one-act plays, like two in an evening, but we wondered if they were really con-

nected,” Clark said. “You also run into trouble having to maintain two completely different sets. But with The Gorges Motel, everything linked inside or just outside of a motel room. Also, people readily refer to other characters from another play. It’s definitely connected.” The contributions of so many different writers, in turn, yield a myriad of different personalities and people. Yet Clark admitted Carpenter Square’s cast is only composed of six performers. As a result, many of the actors embody two or three different roles, with only one exception. “Another joiner for these plays is the owner of the motel, Virginia,” Clark said. “The only role of the actor portraying her is her. She appears three different times throughout. Even so, the different characters and contexts is a lot of fun and still challenging to the actors.” Likewise, Clark feels the sheer variety of The Gorges Motel will engage and broaden Carpenter Square’s audience in a compelling way. Both recurring tethers

and the varying themes and action provide a full-course, theatrical meal. While no single play is distant enough from the others to come off as jarring, they can tonally serve as a bit of a palate cleanser from one experience to the next. This, Clark finds, directly addresses the issues they encountered when trying to orchestrate multiple, subsequent works before. “It’s important if patrons are going to come spend $25 to $50 to give them a full evening of theater,” Clark said. “Not long, necessarily — people aren’t that interested in three-hour plays and more — but something that feels like a full and ultimately satisfying evening without there being too much of one thing. That’s what I think is great about this. There’s so many different styles with different stories. If you don’t care for the farcical style driven by action, you might really get into an intense relationship drama a bit later.”

Diverse scenery

The diversity of the production likewise requires an equally diverse cast. Ranging from burgeoning talent to established veterans within Oklahoma’s theatrical scene, The Gorges Motel has proven to be a crossroads for different ideas throughout almost every facet of the production. Clark quickly found the nature of her cast provided a bit of gravity to the production. Just as the work involves different characters with their own unique perspective and challenges regarding a greater event, it too can encourage the cast to find common ground. “It’s great to work with brand-new and returning people,” Clark said. “Everyone’s in the mix. Most of our cast is in their 20s or 30s, but we have two actors in their 50s and 60s. It’s so generational in that way, bringing together different nerves and energy.” For instance, the aforementioned motel owner, Virginia, is portrayed by longtime Carpenter Square contributor

Vikki Simer. Despite her rich performance background, The Gorges Motel marks Simer’s return to Carpenter Square’s stage after a decadelong hiatus. The production gives the other actors an opportunity to flesh out their dramatic chops as they bound between different roles in rapid succession. The Gorges Motel, while seemingly eclectic, still maintains a thematic thread throughout all its stories. This might come as little surprise, of course, as the production itself is centered upon a significant life event. “Most of the characters in the play are in the process of making a big decision or recognizing that they need to make amends so they can move on without shame or guilt,” Clark said. “Almost all the plays have the through line of people approaching crossroads in their life. Regardless of how long each play is, you get to experience someone go through a significant change.” However, the production’s setting, Watkins Glen, New York, in the Finger Lakes region, carries a significant weight for Clark personally. Nestled away from the urban epicenter the state is known for, the real-life approximation of The Gorges, Watkins Motel, neighbors one of the Northeast’s most compelling natural formations. Bustling with waterfalls and thick forests, Clark felt the transcendental beauty of the gorge and its effect on the playwrights and, by extension, their characters, causes The Gorges Motel to resonate. “The setting makes it all so intimate and inspiring,” Clark said. “All of the people at the motel are caught up in something or with someone, yet the aura of the gorge gives this bigger impression that we should recognize what’s good in our lives and what needs to change. There’s more out there for anyone than what’s happening right now.” Visit carpentersquare.com.

The Gorges Motel Sept 7-29 Carpenter Square Theatre 806 W. Main St. carpentersquare.com | 405-232-6500 $5-$25

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, OKC!

A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

OVER LOCATIONS OVER 30 LOCATIONS OVER 3030 LOCATIONS STATEWIDE TO SERVE YOU STATEWIDE TOTO SERVE YOU STATEWIDE SERVE YOU

500 MG BOTTLE 500 MG BOTTLE 500 MG BOTTLE FOR $19.99 FOR $19.99 FOR $19.99 CBDPLUSUSA.COM CBDPLUSUSA.COM CBDPLUSUSA.COM

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

Join 107.7 The Franchise live in the parking lot at White & Asp on Campus Corner. Make The Franchise All-Day Tailgate Party your OU pre and post-game destination!

Join us this fall! presents

Official Beer Sponsor

Celebrating creativity between the buns! Participating Restaurants BlueJ’s Rollin’Grill

La Baguette Bistro

Patty Wagon

Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge

Lip Smackers

Rococo

Flatire Burgers

Little Mike’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers

S & B Burger Joint

McClintock Saloon & Chop House

Tuker’s Onion Burgers

The Garage Burgers & Beer Hudsons Public House James E. McNellie’s Public House Kasier’s Grateful Bean Cafe

Metro Diner Nic’s Place

The Fixx Twisted Oak Tavern at The Green Country Club

Call 405-528-6000 or email advertising@okgazette.com for more information on how your restaurant can participate.

A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

ARTS & CULTURE

BOOK S

from left When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, Jump and Other Stories by Nadine Gordimer, The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead | Photos provided

Limited lives

The fall edition of Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma at OKCU explores Living with Limits. By Joshua Blanco

Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma (LTAIO) is a statewide reading program sponsored by Oklahoma Humanities that invites scholars to deliver a presentation over a book centered on a certain theme. Beginning Tuesday, LTAIO at Oklahoma City University’s Center for Interpersonal Studies Through Film & Literature will introduce Living with Limits, a new theme developed by Dr. Harbour Winn, Montessori teacher and professor emeritus of English at Oklahoma City University (OKCU), that emphasizes the many ways individuals handle the limitations imposed upon their lives. The event will once again be hosted at the university by Dr. Tracy Floreani, director of the Center for Interpersonal Studies Through Film & Literature, and will focus on life’s limitations, ranging from slavery to death. “We’ve done almost all the other themes available, and this one was brand-new, so we get to pilot it,” Floreani said. Five lecturers will be showcased, and each will present a book and describe its relevance to the chosen theme. Typically, the presentations do not exceed 45 minutes. After the lecture, participants form small groups in which they discuss the book and how it relates to the topic assessed in the presentation. Floreani said the people who lead the discussions are those who “feel comfortable making sure that everybody gets to talk who wants to talk.” The last installation in the fall series is expected to run Nov. 6; however, the event might be moved to a later date due to potential Election Day conflicts. Attendees should report to room 151 in Walker Center, Petree College of Arts and Sciences located at NW 26th Street and N. Florida Ave. at 7 p.m. for each presentation.

When Breath Becomes Air

Dr. Lisa Wolfe, professor and endowed chair of Hebrew Bible at Oklahoma City

University’s Wimberly School of Religion, will open the series with a posthumously published memoir by Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. In the book, the author wrestles with a personal realization of his own impermanence, an understanding with which he is forced to cope. “This book grapples with the limit of mortality, which is really the big one for all of us,” Wolfe admitted. Floreani recruited Wolfe as the speaker for this particular piece due to her pastoral experiences and biblical knowledge. Wolfe is an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ and also served as a children’s hospital chaplain in Dayton, Ohio. After finishing a lengthy commentary over the book of Ecclesiastes, she feels Kalathini’s personal struggles parallel those faced by the author of the ancient text, allowing her to better understand the role of death in human trepidation. “By and large, most of us live our days holding our mortality at arms’ length — or further, if possible,” Wolfe said. “Most of us cannot endure full exposure to the constant possibility of death without being paralyzed with anxiety. … Kalanithi personalizes his own untimely death, such that we can realistically consider our own mortality.” She hopes that in addition to finding common ground with Kalanithi, readers who join the discussion groups will also be able to relate to one another over a facet of life that haunts each and every one of us. “Rarely will you be moved so deeply and feel such joy through reading,” Winn said.

Slaughterhouse-Five

Sept. 18, Winn will offer up his analysis of the 1969 classic by Kurt Vonnegut. Dark and comedic, the story is a semiautobiographical account of the author’s experience in the historic bombing of Dresden during World War II.

In the LTAIO theme description, Winn wrote, “Actually, it took him 25 years to come to terms with the disorienting effect of his presence at the firebombing of Dresden and be able to write this novel.” At times, the novel’s protagonist, Billy Pilgrim, finds himself with the Tralfamadorians, an alien race with no past and no future. Only the present exists, and all that has been and all that ever will be exists in that time and at that moment. “So it goes,” the narrator says repeatedly. Perhaps this is his way of conceding to the inescapable series of unwanted circumstances that continually surround us. “The satiric barbs and humor echo for Vonnegut his view of the glorified rendition of violence in war,” Winn wrote, “an aberration that subjects people to enormous forces limiting the possibility to be an individual in the blind acceptance of socially acceptable violence.”

Gilead

Dr. Karen Youmans, honors program director and associate professor of English at OKCU, will present Marilynne Robinson’s second book Oct. 9. Robinson’s Pulitzer Prize and National Critics Book Circle Award winner is an epistolary novel set in 1956. Aware of his terminal illness, a father writes to his son with the intention that he will one day read the memoirs as a grown man. “In a sense, he is doing what Kalanithi may also be trying to do for his young daughter in the closing months of his life,” Winn wrote. “Each father … searches for a way to communicate with his child who will one day mature to be able to read what each father has left.” Throughout his writing, the father reflects upon his own life and the lessons he hopes to instill in his son after his passing. Youmans identifies “the limits of memory, of strength, of faith and ultimately of love and forgiveness” as the main themes the father explores throughout the narrative. “Anyone who has wrestled with questions of faith and doubt will find here deep and reverent reflections on human spirituality,” Youmans explained. “We are reminded repeatedly through the story that the things that limit our existence are the very things that define it and give it meaning.”

Jump and Other Stories

Nadine Gordimer’s 1991 publication is unique to the series in that the title is a collection of short stories rather than a novel of its own. Gordimer was a South African writer active in the anti-apartheid movement. As might be expected, the stories take a creative approach in her assess-

ment of the implications of racial limitations prevalent in a prejudiced world. However, her focus extends beyond that of one particular race to elucidate the consequences for all people, regardless of color or creed. “The cost engulfs black Africans, the white ruling minority, Africaners, white liberals — all,” Winn wrote. “All are brutalized in a system that dehumanizes and diminishes the possibilities for human freedom. The rich variety of stories provides a myriad of ways to render the cycle’s themes.” The book will be presented Oct. 23 by Dr. Brandon Katzir, associate professor of English. Small group discussions that follow will have the luxury of discussing any number of the short stories included in the compilation.

The Underground Railroad

Colson Whitehead’s latest novel is yet another literary piece that considers the inherent limitations of race. Set in 1800s America, the story tells the tale of two escaped slaves following the Underground Railroad in search of freedom. “The book helps us understand how relevant history is even now,” Floreani said. “Living with limits is built in to American ethnic literature.” And this isn’t her first time teaching it. In the past, she has used the book in her classroom to challenge her students to “reflect on our history and what’s led to current racial relations as they are now.” Apparently, her lectures have been well-received. “[The students] really liked it,” she said. “It’s a very engaging story that feels easy to read, but once you sit with it, you realize how complex it is under the surface.” Floreani believes it offers “a new perspective” in the way of historical fiction and the slave narrative. She intends to do a “broad overview” of the book, using it as an example of one of the many ways social structures can limit the many ways individuals carry out their livelihood on a daily basis. Though the date is subject to change, Floreani plans to deliver the presentation Nov. 6. Visit okcufilmlit.org.

Let’s Talk About It, Oklahoma When Breath Becomes Air 7 p.m. Tuesday Slaughterhouse-Five 7 p.m. Sept. 18 Gilead 7 p.m. Oct. 9 Jump and Other Stories 7 p.m. Oct. 23 The Underground Railroad 7 p.m. Nov. 6 Walker Center, Room 151 Petree College of Arts and Sciences Oklahoma City University NW 26th Street and N. Florida Ave. okcufilmlit.org | 405-208-5446 Free

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | A u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

co m e dy

ARTS & CULTURE

Four Paws Pet Grooming, Boarding, and Boutique

Thanks for voting us best pet groomers!

Make an appointment for your special pup today!

Find us on Facebook

2308 N Robinson Ave. OKC, 73103 405-525-7297 Open Mon. thru Sat. 8am - 3pm

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Laugh hard

In his podcasting, standup, television shows and hip-hop, Hannibal Buress takes comedy to the point of stress fracture. By Jeremy Martin

To preview his Sept. 12 appearance at Tower Theatre, we conducted a phone interview with Hannibal Buress — we think. In addition to his work on 30 Rock, Broad City and The Eric Andre Show, the stand-up comic, actor and podcast host is known for playful goofs such as hiring an impersonator to take his place in interviews at the premiere for Spiderman: Homecoming, in which he played the role of Coach Wilson. (Well that and his 2014 joke that went viral and brought widespread awareness to rape accusations against Bill Cosby, but Buress isn’t talking about that anymore.) Attempts to verify the comic’s identity proved unsatisfactory. “How can you check, though?” Buress replied when asked if he was who he said he was. “It could be an impression, voice-changing software, but if, especially just on the phone, if they get the job done, they get the job done. If you get the quotes you need for your story, and it works to promote the show and you get something that works for a headline, then what’s the harm?” Buress, or someone who sounded just like him, said the last time he was in Oklahoma City was in 2016 when he saw the Thunder lose game six of the

NBA Western Conference Finals to the Golden State Warriors. “The city was really sad afterwards. The nightlife was terrible,” he said. “You’d have thought that was game seven the way the city felt. It was really depressing man; shit sucked.” Though Buress didn’t do any standup on that trip, he said he would have been happy to. “I think it would have been an easy gig because people would have wanted a laugh,” Buress said. “People would probably be like, ‘Oof. We need somebody to help us process this, because we’re absolutely going to lose in game seven, and we don’t know how to articulate it yet.’” While emceeing an NBA 2K tournament last year that pitted gamers against pro athletes, Buress had a question for Thunder-turned Golden State Warrior Kevin Durant, his co-star in a popular Nike commercial in which Buress gives him the nickname “Kevin.” “Durant,” Buress said to the basketball player mid-video game, “if you all lose this game, will you join their team next season?” Buress just couldn’t resist. “I couldn’t not make that quick joke,” he recalled.

After the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Miami Heat in the 2014 NBA Finals, Buress conducted interviews for ESPN in Miami while wearing a Spurs jersey. Buress said he just thinks that kind of thing is funny and includes it in standup shows when he can. “In San Francisco, the Cubs had just eliminated the Giants from the playoffs, so we played highlights from that during the intro,” Buress said. “Some people probably didn’t like it. Some people probably thought it was hilarious and appreciated it. Even the people that didn’t like it probably enjoyed it to some extent. Ultimately, it’s just sports, man.” The ideal atmosphere for standup comedy isn’t necessarily completely comfortable, the comic explained. “You want to create a unique energy at the show,” Buress said. “Sometimes a kind of hostility is what you want. You want people to be a bit unsettled and do it in a fun way.” On his podcast Handsome Rambler Buress disrupts the standard interview format by having DJ Tony Trimm remix snippets of dialogue into beats for Buress and his guests to freestyle or play a Theremin over. Buress — who also rapped as a feature on Quelle Chris and Jean Grae’s album Everything’s Fine, released earlier this year — said he has been planning on releasing a hip-hop album of his own for a long time. “I’ve been talking about that for years, and the answer is yes,” Buress Stand-up comic Hannibal Buress will perform Sept. 12 at Tower Theatre. | Photo Kellen Nordstrom / provided

said. “I don’t know when. To really do it, I think I have to focus up and put myself in a certain mind-state and really work on it for a couple of weeks. But it’s definitely something I want to do. Even before I did any stand-up comedy, I would hang out with my friends. I remember my first friend that had a beat machine at his crib, and he would just make some beats and we would freestyle over his beats and make tapes and make goofy songs, so that’s always been my interest pre-standup. It’s fun, man, to be able to mix it up, and it’s another way to execute ideas because you can just kind of have a goofy concept.” As a creative performer, Buress said he is always looking for different ways to use ideas.

List your event in

Sometimes a kind of hostility is what you want. You want people to be a bit unsettled and do it in a fun way.

Best

FOR VOTING FOR US

2 YEARS IN A ROW!

For All Lifes Celebrations

Hannibal Buress “There’s a lot of jokes that you try once or twice, and because of it not getting a good initial reaction or just plain poor organizational and recordkeeping skills, you don’t try the joke again,” Buress said. “I do write a lot of stuff down, and so what’s fun sometimes is to go look at a notebook from three or four years ago and see what my state of mind was then and see some ideas that I didn’t do anything with or I tried once and then it didn’t work but just with more experience and more perspective being able to figure out how to fit it into the show or even the podcast or it could be in a script down the line.” If they’re good enough and well-executed, the ideas can come from anywhere. While Buress said “a Holocaust joke, or any sensitive subject” can be appropriate fodder for comedy “if it’s done right and it’s nuanced and it’s funny,” bad standup will always be offensive. “It’s not even subject matter; a lot of times, it’s just, Are you skilled enough, is the crowd into it, are you that person that has the charisma and likeability, and is the joke good enough?” he said. “Because somebody could do a joke about going to the grocery store, and if they’re terrible, that joke would be upsetting.”

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.

Allow us to be a part of your love story

10 p.m. Sept. 12

Submit your listings online at okgazette.com or e-mail them to listings@okgazette.com.

Tower Theatre 425 NW 23rd St.

Sorry, but phone submissions

Hannibal Buress

towertheatreokc.com

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

cannot be accepted.

$35

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

co m m u n i t y

ARTS & CULTURE

Holistic approach

A new program launched by Oklahoma City Public Schools and the Oklahoma City Police Department offers hope to children suffering from trauma. By Nazarene Harris

PRESENTS

7: 3 0 PM , S E P T E M B E R 4 , 2 018 MITCHELL HALL THEATRE

C A LL 4 0 5 - 974 - 3 375 FO R T I C K E T S U N I V E R S I T Y O F C E N T R A L O K L A H O M A C O L L E G E O F F I N E A R T S A N D D E S I G N

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

“Handle with care” is a three-letter phrase that could change the life of a child going to school in Oklahoma City. At the beginning of the 2018 school year, Oklahoma City Police Department (OKPD) partnered with Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) to launch the Handle With Care program, one that is simple by design but has the ability to impact a child significantly. “It’s really an easy process,” OKC police spokesman Paco Balderrama said. Balderrama explained how the Handle With Care program begins when a police officer is called to a home or a situation where a minor is present. The officer then asks for the child’s name. Once in their patrol car, the police officer sends an email to Terry Bell, executive director of Student Support Services at Oklahoma City Public Schools. The email says simply, “Handle [name of child] with care.” “That’s all we really need to know. We don’t need to know the details of what happened to that child,” Bell said. “We trust our police officers and if they think we need to handle that student with care than that’s what we do.” Once Bell receives the email, she locates the OKC public school the child attends. She then forwards the email

to the school’s principal, counselor and social worker. The principal, Bell said, notifies the student’s teacher. “Once the student’s teacher gets that notice, I believe it can make a world of difference,” nonprofit coordinator Adrienne Elder said. A devout community health advocate, Elder said she was combing through community newsletters when she learned about a program that was being used in a public school district in West Virginia, where children experience high instances of trauma. The idea of acknowledging childhood traumatic events, also known as adverse childhood experiences (ACE), when they occur in childhood instead of later in life strongly appealed to her. “ACEs have been known to have long-lasting detrimental effects on a person’s life. They affect health by increasing the likelihood of developing illnesses like depression, anxiety, cancer or inflammation, and they affect employment and educational opportunities as well,” Elder said. “It’s usually not until a person suffers exponentially that they even discover that their childhood trauma impacted them so much. The notion of addressing a child’s trauma when it’s experi-

Family owned and operated since 2014

Drs. Eric Friedman, Cherian Karunapuzha and Richard Smith are part of the Herman Meinders Center for Movement Disorders. | Photo Mercy / provided

r s fo ! k n s t h a vot ewe’re e y h h w t st! e Be e se he com e of t n o

thanKs fOr yOur vOtes!

LocaLLy OKC’s first and Only traditiOnal

Philly Cheesesteak Food truCk

enced is not just game-changing; it’s life-saving.” Elder met with Balderrama, Bell and OKC police chief Bill Citty to discuss implementing West Virginia’s Handle With Care program in OKC schools. “This is a community that experiences trauma,” Balderrama said. “Sixty percent of children who attend Oklahoma City public schools experience trauma. This program is an ideal fit.” Once a teacher is given notice to handle a student with care, Bell said, a variety of care methods and tactics can be used. “The notice lets a teacher know that if that student is sleeping through class, it’s because they likely were up all night long dealing with a traumatic experience,” Bell said. “It’s a heads-up for the teacher to go easy on that student.” A teacher can react to a tired student by sending them to the counselor’s office, where they can continue to rest or talk about their feelings. The same method can be used if the student is acting out or fighting in class. Either way, Bell said, the child will not be reprimanded. “The last thing they need,” she said, “is to go through another round of hostility.” The care is extended and expanded upon if a child displays symptoms of distress. “If a school counselor determines that a child needs help, our social worker is called in and we take a handson approach to addressing the problem,” she said. That approach, Bell explained, has developed over the years to become one that involves not just the student, but his or her family as well. Depending on the student’s unique situation, a school district-employed

owned Gourmet

(nw 35th and may avenue)

restaurant

thepattywaGonok.com

BurGer

3600 n. may ave

405-917-1711

Handle With Care teams police with public schools to help students during home crises. | Photo Oklahoma City Police Department / provided

social worker can talk with the student, visit the student’s home and meet with his or her parents while assessing the family’s emotional, physical and financial wellbeing. Once the social worker assesses the family’s needs, they can begin to provide them with resources they need to heal or improve. Those resources, Bell said, could include family counseling, further educational opportunities or nutritional assistance. It’s a holistic approach that Elder is proud to watch unfold. “We have learned that ACEs are cyclical. An adult who suffered from trauma as a child is more likely to create a similar environment for his or her own children, and until wounds are addressed, the cycle continues. To just treat a child’s symptoms is ineffective,” she said. “When the whole family is treated, everything changes and the cycle can be broken.” So far, Bell said, about a half a dozen Handle With Care emails have been sent. She hopes that other school districts in the state will replicate the program. “There is no community in the world that is exempt from experiencing trauma,” she said. “This should be used everywhere.” It’s not every day, Elder said, that a program comes along that costs nothing, takes very little time and creates a positive rippling effect throughout the community. A lot can be accomplished with three little words.

Western Front #7. Frank Big Bear, Jr. (Anishinabe), 1993, Colored Pencil/Acrylic. The Arthur and Shifra Silberman Collection, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. 1996.27.0223.

ON EXHIBIT NOW

AMERICAN INDIAN ARTISTS: 20TH CENTURY MASTERS N AT I O N A L C O W B O Y M U S E U M . O R G

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

ARTS & CULTURE

culture

Davy Wells, Mike Waugh and Darren Dunn host The Alligator Farm radio show on Taos, New Mexico’s KNCE 93.5. | Photo provided

Croc pot

Oklahoma City improv masters cultivate The Alligator Farm on late-night New Mexican radio. By Jeremy Martin

It’s 1 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. You’re in Taos, New Mexico. Ethereal music drifts from the radio speakers until an electronically altered bass voice says this: “Did you hear that change in tempo? You must’ve heard it. It slid right in there. What’s going on around here? You probably fell asleep with your radio on again, and now there’s no controlling what’ll happen. Now just relax. You might have an alligator climbing right up inside your mind. Or you might just have tuned in to The Alligator Farm radio show.” Alligator Farm proprietors Davy Wells, Mike Waugh, Pete Young and Darren Dunn are all from Oklahoma City, but until they began posting old episodes on their Facebook page recently, the only way to visit the farm was to tune in live at 1 a.m. Tuesdays, Mountain Standard Time, to KNCE 93.5 FM “True Taos Radio.” “It’s a really great group of people that are up at that hour in Taos,” Young said. “All 13 of them,” Waugh added. Wells contradicted Waugh’s figures, calling Alligator Farm the “No. 1-rated radio show of all time, worldwide,” then adding, “in our minds.” “Our demographic, how does it skew?” Wells said. “It’s boys 15 to 17 who smoke a lot of dope.” “I think you have to have some experience with psychedelics and computer programming to really be a fan,” 40

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Dunn said.

Birthing alligators

The show began two years ago when an old mutual friend and bandmate began working at KNCE, which had recently begun broadcasting. “They were just getting started,” Dunn said, “and so we said, ‘Hey, we’ll fill a couple of hours,’ and they said, ‘Great. Do it.’ And that’s it. I don’t have a better story.” Wells, Waugh and Dunn became friends while attending Putnam City High School in the late 1970s. Interested in theater and inspired by Monty Python, George Carlin and Firesign Theatre, they began recording comedy tapes together, which Wells said were “strictly for [their] own amusement.” Waugh and Wells studied the improv comedy methods of Del Close and started the troupe Baloney Rodeo, which performed locally for 20 years and still reunites sporadically. Dunn, Waugh and Wells began making videos in the 1990s, and Dunn wrote and directed the short film Birdhead, which debuted at deadCenter in 2012 and featured Wells and Waugh in memorable roles. Young, who graduated from Midwest City High School in 1992, met the rest of the Farm crew through the local theater scene in the late 1990s. With more than 150 episodes released, The Alligator Farm is prere-

corded at Waugh’s house and extensively edited together by Dunn, who takes cues from culture jammers Negativland. It was originally broadcast early on Fridays before a listener complaint prompted the move to Tuesdays. “There’s nothing offensive about the show,” Young said. “We just take care of alligators.” The listener might have meant The Alligator Farm offended their sense of normalcy. “A lot of people get confused by our show,” Wells said. “I’m confused,” Waugh added. The currently show has no sponsors. “I guess the ones [of us] in AA do,” Dunn said, “but the other ones don’t.”

Metaphysical graffiti

Surreal, improvised sketches pop in unexpectedly between lengthy musical interludes featuring artists ranging from Throbbing Gristle to Big Freedia. Wells, Waugh, Young, Dunn and a variety of guests including Rebecca McCauley (who voices a human-alligator hybrid), Lance Farley (sent to the farm by a temp agency), Beth Swales, Doug Brown and many others from OKC and beyond explore metaphysics, religion and ideas that defy summarization. “We’re sitting there with the microphones on, the tape rolling, and Darren’s got the headphones on,” Wells said. “Mike and I will start talking, he’ll interject, Pete will come in, and pretty soon, we’ve just gone off into some place that we’ve never expected to, and the truth is, an hour after we’ve done it, I couldn’t tell you what we’ve done.” “But we know it must be important,” Waugh added. Though many are schooled in theater and improv, the show’s guest stars sometimes have a difficult time becom-

ing acclimated to its format. “It’s kind of hard to get used to,” Waugh said, “because it’s all about giveand-take, and if you feel like it’s going in a direction, you need to get onboard and go with it. There are some people that are better at that than others.” “It’s kind of that improv idea that it is usually a ‘yes, and,’” Wells said. “You usually don’t block what the other person is saying. No matter how outrageous it is, you go with it. You go, ‘Of course you’ve got three arms,’ and all of a sudden you start talking about how they look with three arms and you add to it. Pretty soon, it becomes bizarre, but we’ve done it long enough that we kind of have a sense of when to reel it in.” Dunn said recording the show is therapeutic. “We used to have this janitor at our high school named Floyd, and he was in charge of picking up the cigarette butts in the parking lot,” Dunn said. “Every time you’d walk by, he’d go, ‘Get some laughs out, boys.’ And it really is that. If I can sit and laugh uncontrollably once a week or whatever, I feel a whole lot better for the next few days. I don’t get to laugh as much as I used to, for some reason.”

Lizard brain

When alligators actually are involved, they’re being read bedtime stories, led in prayer or listening to self-help audiotapes. “Remember, humans don’t hate you,” a soothing voice reassures an alligator through its headphones. “They hate each other. … Relax in knowing that just because they’ve evolved from one species to another with such mind-blowing effectiveness to where they now rule over you doesn’t mean they’re better than you. Relax in knowing that you can kill them and there’s not an alligator in the world that’s on death row.” The Alligator Farm only has 11 rules. “Seven and four are the same, I think,” Dunn said, “and one of them is unwritten, so we don’t really know what that is. ‘Keep your arms and hands inside the car at all times,’ is one of them. I’ve forgotten most of them. ‘Don’t ever cut a part off an alligator,’ was one of them.” “Brush your damn teeth,” Wells added. No one remembers how the idea to set the show on an alligator farm came about, only that they knew they needed to set it somewhere. “The weird part is just north of Taos, there’s a real alligator farm in Alamosa, Colorado, so people often confuse us for those guys,” Dunn said. “I don’t know what they think, but occasionally we’ll get a question about, ‘Why do you keep alligators in the mountains?’ … But there’s going to be a lot of jealousy and bitterness when we do meet them because we’ve got a radio show and they’ve just got alligators.” Visit facebook.com/alligatorfarmknce.

thank you

for voting

tedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

best mexican &

best catering tedscafe.com â&#x2014;? @tedsmexican #bettermexican

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

Pet

Reach this group of animal lovers by advertising in Pet

Gazette!

A special advertisting section inside Oklahoma Gazette featuring animal-related editorial.

Publishing SEPTEMBER 5 Call your account executive today at 528.6000 or email advertising@okgazette.com

u o k n ha s u g n i t o for V the est!

4214 N Classen • Oklahoma City • 73118 405.759.7546 • MariposaOKC.com 42

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

culture

ARTS & CULTURE

Love inception

An all-inclusive, stress-free wedding salon opens in OKC. By Krystal Yoseph

Ever After is the brainchild of Cyndy Hoenig and Dave Dumay, two industry admirers and lovers of love who opened their doors in February of this year. At Oklahoma City’s only micro wedding studio, couples get the opportunity to customize the first day of the rest of their lives together with only a fraction of the usual heartache on their pocketbooks. Though inspired by the ease of a venture to Vegas for an à la carte, intimate wedding venue, the northwest OKC boutique experience provides a hometown ZIP code for couples to gather loved ones for a custom day or evening to remember. A choice of seven packages and add-on services and a preferred vendor guide curate a menu of services aimed at making “ever after” a little easier to obtain after all. With the 30-minute Short & Sweet package starting at $295, the duo provides every couple with access to the space, an officiant (Dave) and a candlelit room for up to 10 guests. “[We are] all-inclusive, and we wanted to make it available for everyone,” Hoenig said. “We offer three lounges, a dining room and a chapel room that we can flip to a cocktail party in 10 minutes if you want to. What you’re paying for elsewhere is the place. Then you have to pay for flowers, food, booze, soft drinks and catering on top of that.” Her appreciation for love is apparent in her voice, and Hoenig and Dumay are already listening to their customers. Over the past five months, they have taken a cue from local lovebirds and lowered the highest end of their opening

service offerings from $6,500 to $5,000, with a cost savings of $500 to $1,000 per applicable package. Hoenig’s hope is that from the Short & Sweet price point and up, families can go out to dinner afterward or “have a reception at their mama’s house” if they prefer. Think of Ever After as an elevated, more thoughtful approach to the allure of a courthouse wedding, but with the servicedriven appeal of a destination nuptial curated for Oklahomans by an OKC native who has done her research. Hoenig speaks from experience as a mother of girls and also a former bride-to-be. “I have four daughters,” Hoenig said. “[For one daughter,] her wedding was supposedly all-inclusive, and it was lovely for a base of $8,000, but it ended up being around $25,000. There are so many beautiful places to get married. But for $5,000, I can do a beautiful wedding for 50 people, and for an extra $500, you can host an [additional] 50 people at $10 per person.” Twenty years ago, Hoenig was married at the MGM Grand in Vegas, and she loved it. She recalls selecting between the romantic and religious options, which came with flowers and recorded music, and that it was very simple, without the option of food or a reception … to the tune of $3,500 for 15 minutes for a walk-in service that required the bride and groom to come dressed for the sake of efficiency. “I’ve been married twice [in Las Vegas], once in ’67 and then once in ’96,” Hoenig said. “And I thought both of those times, ‘You know what, wouldn’t it be cool if we had something like this

in [my] hometown?’ Although Vegas is awfully fun, [couples] get the benefit here because the costs of packages are so much lower.” Before opening Ever After, Hoenig visited a similar concept in Palm Springs but recalls the room being small and tight, without the capacity for a reception. Then and there, she placed a high value on Ever After being a venue of respect and elegance with a casual appeal for those seeking it. “I remember planning one of my weddings,” Hoenig said. “His mother was fighting with my mother, and if it had just been like, ‘This is the package and this is what we’re going with,’ you just don’t have that stress.” With all of this Vegas talk, you might be wondering, “But do they even have Elvis?” The answer is yes, of course! For a separate charge, the man himself will conduct the ceremony and perform a show during the reception.

Love business

It would be highly remiss to not mention the most inception-like point of this concept. After spending 20 years in the

Ever After offers both ceremonies and receptions. | Photo Colt Liles / Ever After / provided

Los Angeles area as a publicist, Hoenig moved back home to OKC where she and Dumay, a wedding photographer and art gallery owner in Kansas City, connected after some resourcefulness on his part. After a time of online communication, the two connected in person and Dumay soon found himself moving to OKC where they now live together. “There are so many untraditional things in the world right now,” Hoenig said. “And Oklahoma often gets everything last, but I did think that OKC was ready for something like this. If someone wants to bring in [their] own officiant, or pastor, or rabbi, or minister, we will work with them on the price. We will serve rehearsal dinners, weddings for two grooms or two brides, vow renewals, and we do have an altar even though it’s not a church.” So far, Ever After has been the home of about 20 weddings, and they look forward to the point of hosting three to four events per week by expanding to parties of all types, starting with a political cocktail party in the space in the coming weeks. Ultimately, Hoenig and Dumay envision other locations and possibly even devising a plan for licensing or franchising the concept. The luxury of convenience is a priority at Ever After. Hoenig said that while advance notice is definitely preferred, with Dave serving as the officiant, they once married a couple at 8 p.m. after a 5:30 p.m. inquiry that same day. So while the punch outlined as part of the beverage service in a package might not be ready on such short notice, OKC couples are welcome to call and try their luck. “We could do a walk-in,” Hoenig said, “especially during the work week or in the afternoon, but of course calls ahead are preferred. Even a week out is plenty.” Ever After plans to host open houses and similar events every few months with the next one tentatively set for early November. Visit everafterok.com.

Cyndy Hoenig opened Ever After in February. | Photo Colt Liles / Ever After / provided

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

ARTS & CULTURE

tech n o l o gy

from left Ashané Woody and Sammiyah Abdullah created ThatWay as a rideshare program exclusively for college students. | Photo provided

Ride along

Oklahoma State University graduates create a new rideshare program for college students. By Joshua Blanco

A new rideshare program is taking to the streets of Oklahoma City. ThatWay is a startup created by two Oklahoma State University graduates, Sammiyah Abdullah and Ashané Woody, and aims to provide students with a safer and more cost-efficient means of transportation. The idea originated as a social media platform designed for students to interact with one another and expand their social horizons; however, it wasn’t long before an entirely new market was realized. Abdullah recounted the inconvenience that often accompanied her when traveling home to St. Louis, Missouri, over her regular breaks from school. “I just wondered, ‘Why isn’t there a service out there where students can meet up with other students and commute these long distances back home during the school year and over break?’” Abdullah said. Instead of nixing the social aspect, they decided to add a ridesharing component. “We were pretty proud that we could keep them both and kind of intertwine them,” Woody said. “It’s not just a ridesharing website.”

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

School trip

According to National Center for Education Statistics, an estimated 19.9 million individuals are expected to enroll in degree-granting institutions for the 2018 school year. Of these students, those with vehicles of their own remain fewer still. “Sometimes your car might mess up or you don’t have a car and you might want to go somewhere or meet new people,” Woody said. Even if students don’t use the rideshare to travel home, Abdullah and Woody hope the social media aspect will allow users to meet others willing to carpool over breaks. If nothing else, the founders believe they’ve come up with an effective tool in getting people out and about in social settings, labeling the site as a “platform for college students to create their own community.” “We want to create a community for students to find other students to make these trips with a fee that isn’t as expensive as your traditional travel that we have today,” Abdullah said. For a small booking fee, riders can

purchase a seat in one of the vehicles. Drivers are compensated based on the mileage reimbursement fees dictated by the Internal Revenue Service. Both riders and drivers alike are verified as students as a safety precaution. Though the rides will be cheaper than the rates charged by Uber or Lyft, the founders of ThatWay do not see themselves as competitors due to the fact that their service is restricted to college students. On the other hand, other sites like eRideShare.com might not offer the same advantages. Aside from safety concerns, the founders of ThatWay believe they have a more secure means of finalizing transactions thanks to their system, which is secured by PayPal.

We’re just trying to get big enough to where we can kind of work with different companies. Ashané Woody

App for that

To make the platform more user-friendly, Abdullah and Woody plan to develop an app this semester. In the interim, they intend to ensure the service is running smoothly and expect to gain a better understanding of their user base. “We actually tried to create the app ourselves,” Woody said. “We got kind of far, but there were certain things we needed help with.” Accessing the service will be temporarily limited to the website until the app is fully developed. “We’re going to put different topics and things on [the site] so people can just go on their ride and hopefully start to get to know new people,” Woody said. She recalls a time when she would have been grateful to access such a service.

“I could’ve had people ride with me or made friends along the way, and then I probably wouldn’t have went home as much,” Woody said. They also hope to introduce a subscription service so people don’t have to pay for individual rides, making the service even cheaper than is currently advertised. As of now, the only income they anticipate is through booking fees, which shouldn’t be an issue, provided more people sign up to use their service. In the future, Woody and Abdullah hope to reach out to bigger businesses to offer promotions via partnerships. For example, they thought to reach out to the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team to offer a select number of free tickets in exchange for providing transportation. “We’re just trying to get big enough to where we can kind of work with different companies,” Woody said. “If we can, that’d be great because I feel like it would help out the arena by bringing in more people and just showing how fun the ride was and how much fun they had at the game … things of that nature.” So far, they’ve managed to offer their first promotion giving new riders a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card. They’ve also been in contact with student housing property managers as a means of spreading the word to incoming residents. Abdullah, who also acts as the company’s chief of marketing, has been hard at work trying to get more people on board. Still, she wants it to be clear that even though they “provide a platform for travel,” they are not “a travel service” and have much more to offer in the way of student transport and socialization. “We have a lot of ideas. It’s just kind of fitting them together,” Woody said. “We’re trying to start off small and see how that works and then grow from there.” Visit thatwayrides.com.

Licensed • Bonded • insured Drs. Eric Friedman, Cherian Karunapuzha and Richard Smith are part of the Herman Meinders Center for Movement Disorders. | Photo Mercy / provided

health

diagnosed with the disease in 2014. A longtime patient of Karunapuzha, Meinders felt it was necessary to everything in his power to ensure Oklahoma retained the physician. With a $1.7 million donation, the philanthropist provided the foundation needed for opening the center.

Moving forward

Mercy opens its Herman Meinders Center for Movement Disorders. By Daniel Bokemper

With the May opening of Herman Meinders Center for Movement Disorders at Mercy NeuroScience Institute, thousands of patients across the state and region have access to one of the most comprehensive facilities of its kind. Treating a myriad of diseases ranging from common tremors to Parkinson’s disease and dystonia, the center promises to be a beacon of hope for many afflicted individuals. Spearheaded by Dr. Cherian Karunapuzha, the center features care and technology that was previously difficult to find in Oklahoma. It is also home to neurosurgeon Dr. Eric Friedman and offers such treatment as deep brain stimulation (DBS), a procedure offering patients living with movement disorders a healthy and effective alternative to prescription medication. “I remember seeing my uncle afflicted with polio when I was a child,” Karunapuzha said. “He could barely talk. He lived with his arms and legs curled up until his 80s. He was completely devastated. I wondered why we could not do anything more.” Though several institutions attempted to offer similar programs, Karunapuzha said Mercy had the means to make it happen. “Out of all of the other institutions in Oklahoma, Mercy was the only one build strategically and structurally for a comprehensive center,” he said. “Our neuroscience institute is set up in such a way so that we have neurosurgeons, rehabilitation and pain doctors as well as therapists all under one roof. This, in of itself, makes things easier for staff and patients alike.” With the new center, the time and

distance it might take for a patient to receive treatment is critically reduced. Before the center, many patients found themselves referred out of state or were forced to bide their time waiting for an elusive opening. Despite Oklahoma’s geographical centrality, a facility of this size was never effectively established and movement disorder treatment was a balancing act, often cascading into a logistical nightmare for patients. This was further compounded by the availability and cost of the technology needed for DBS and other procedures. “The problem we previously faced is the same problem with any brain surgery,” Friedman said. “It’s all of the moving parts. It’s not like you just have your brain operated on and then move on. For example, if I’m going to be removing a brain tumor, I have to rely on oncologists, cancer doctors, radiation specialists and neurologists.”

Flowering technology

A center as comprehensive as Mercy requires a group of patients large enough to supplement those “moving parts.” Karunapuzha’s involvement also brought a significant migration of patients, a group large enough to sustain the center from the beginning. The creation of a comprehensive program would take years without the donation of the center’s namesake, Herman Meinders. The founder of American Floral Services Inc. in 1970 and the chairman emeritus of Teleflora, one of the world’s largest floral wire services, Meinders and his wife LaDonna supported Parkinson’s disease research throughout their careers. This support became fatefully relevant when Meinders himself was

Our neuroscience institute is set up in such a way so that we have neurosurgeons, rehabilitation and pain doctors as well as therapists all under one roof.

We understand your groWing “to do” List ProfessionaL eLectricaL exPertise commerciaL, industriaL & residentiaL

Thanks for The voTes! 405.250.2889 | ritchieeLectric.com

Lucy Says Thanks For Voting Us Best New Retail!

Cherian Karunapuzha In the same motion, Meinders exponentially grew Oklahoma’s medical status. Herman Meinders Center is not just a tremendous boon for Oklahomans, but also the patient communities in surrounding states. “We do not want to be a flyover state when it comes to advanced medical care, especially in the field of neurology,” Karunapuzha said. “We want to be a center that can provide access to all healthcare systems, not just Mercy.” “It’s a big population,” Friedman said, “a population that can be helped.” Even in the opening months of the center, its prominence has already grown. In the first few days of operation, Karunapuzha and his team scheduled the number of DBS procedures many facilities take an entire year to orchestrate. Additionally, the center’s comprehensive nature allows Friedman to quickly determine the next steps for patient leading up to an operation, reducing deliberation by months. “We are not looking to defer patients three to four months out, and as we get cranking along, I’m confident our ability to provide prompt treatment will continue to grow,” Dr. Friedman said. The institution’s potential longevity is tethered to its stability and volume. “Our mission requires a holistic and mu lt id i s c ipl i n a r y appr oac h ,” Karunapuzha said. Even in the center’s infancy, its future is bright. “As we attract more patients and retain them with our comprehensive program, it becomes easier for us to enroll more complicated cases and take par t in cutting-edge tria ls,” Karunapuzha said. “This ultimately helps the community as a whole.” Call 405-302-2661.

Tin Lizzie’s

@TinLizziesokc

228-1014 • 905 N. Broadway Ave, OKC in Automobile Alley, next to Hideaway Pizza

Best resale or consignment furniture Best clothing consignment Best thrift store

Thanks OKC!

sories Clothing • Acces les Curious Collectab & More!

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

FLEA MASTER PEST ConTRoL SoLuTionS www.fleamasterok.com

ROACHES, SPIDERS, MOSQUITOES, ANTS, TICKS AND FLEAS! Free Consultation 1 Year Guarantee Oklahoma Owned and Operated

ALL PESTS! Sam Folmar

236-FLEA(3532) O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

CALENDAR

Thanks for The nominaTions!

best resale or consignment furniture! K&N UrbaN oN may

9460 N May | 405.748.8595 KaNdNdesIgNs.Com |

K&N INterIor FabrICs

9470 N May | 405.749.1081

K&N INterIor CoNsIgNmeNt 3704 N WesterN |405.521.0012

| moN-sat 10am-6pm | sUN 12pm-5pm | LoCaLLy owNed aNd operated

Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Contrary to an email that might have been forwarded to you in the early 2000s, beloved children’s TV show host Fred McFeely Rogers was never a tattooed sniper in Vietnam. That Rogers, using a tiger puppet instead of a high-powered rifle, managed to become a hero to so many people makes him a lousy subject for an action film but an excellent role model for real life. This documentary chronicling his decadeslong crusade for public television and basic human decency couldn’t come at a better time. The film screens Saturday at Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St. Tickets are $4-$8. Call 405-708-6937 or visit towertheatreokc.com. SATURDAY | Photo provided

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

Books Brunching with Books a book club meeting every other week, with reading selections chosen by group preference, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Buttermilk Paseo, 605 NW 28th St., 405-605-6660, buttermilkokc.com. SAT The Eye of a Soldier Army Master Sergeant Troy Hil presentes poetry and artwork focusing on preventing suicide amongst soldiers, 5-8 p.m. Sept. 1. The Paramount Room, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., 405887-3327, theparamountroom.com. SAT Mid-Oklahoma Writers a meetup for local writers featuring guest speakers and literary discussions, 7-9 p.m. Eastside Church of Christ, 916 S. Douglas Blvd., 405-732-0393. WED

Film Eighth Grade (2018, USA, Bo Burnham) a shy teen tries to navigate the complicated social interactions of middle school in standup comic Burnham’s directorial debut, 2 p.m. Sept. 2 and 3. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-708-6937, towertheatreokc. com. SUN-MON Floating Films: Jaws (1975, USA, Steven Spielberg) a great white shark terrorizes beach-goers and a local sheriff tries to stop it; watch the film on the banks of the river or rent a raft or inner tube and watch it from the water, 8:30-10 p.m. Sept. 1. RIVERSPORT Rapids, 800 Riversport drive, 405552-4040, riversportokc.org. SAT

Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper features the life-size, trompe l’œil paper costumes of Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave.

Memories of Underdevelopment (1968, Cuba, Tomás Gutiérrez Alea) after his family flees Havana in the aftermath of the Bay of Pigs, a man is left wandering the streets becoming increasingly alienated, 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Aug. 30. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.

THU

Skate Kitchen (2018, USA, Crystal Moselle) a teenage skateboarder joins an all-girl skate crew in the narrative debut from the director of The Wolfpack, Aug. 31-Sept. 2. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa. com. FRI-SUN

This exhibition is organized by Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Society of the Four Arts, Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Frick Art and Historical Center, and Artis—Naples, the Baker Museum. Isabelle de Borchgrave, Marie de’ Medici, 2006, based on a 1595 portrait by Pietro Facchetti in the collection of the Palazzo Lancellotti, Rome. Photo: Andreas von Einsiedel.

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

VHS & Chill Presents Fantasy Rewind watch a selection of vintage sci-fi, fantasy, and animation TV shows, with onsite concessions and beverages, 8-10:30 p.m. The Paramount Room, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-887-3327, theparamountroom.com. WED Wagon Master two men guide a wagon train of settlers on a perilous journey west, meeting a medicine show, a band of robbers and misadventures along the way, 1 p.m. Sept. 5. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SEPT. 5

The Westerner (1940, USA, William Wyler) Gary Cooper plays an accused horse-thief who runs afoul of the infamous Judge Roy Bean during a Texas range war, 1 p.m. Aug. 29. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. WED You People (2017, USA, Laron Chapman) a satrical comedy examining racial stereotypes; won Best Oklahoma Feature at 2018’s deadCenter Film Festival, 7 p.m. Aug. 29. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-708-6937, towertheatreokc.com. WED

Happenings 39th St. District Community Mixer a meetup for people interested in the district’s news and planned projects, 5:30-8 p.m. Aug. 30. The Diversity Center, 2242 N.W. 39th Street, 405-252-0372. THU Back to School Student Party get ready for the school year with a stickball demo and the Visual Voices exhibition, 7-9 p.m. August 30. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. THU Beef Up The Blood Supply! donate blood and receive a free beef hot dog and T-shirt, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 31. Oklahoma Blood Institute, 901 N. Lincoln Ave. FRI Conversational Spanish Group Meetup an opportunity for all experience levels to practice speaking Spanish, 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. TUE #FlashbackFriday Trivia Night a silent trivia competition with a different theme each time, 7-10 p.m. Aug. 31. The Other Room, 3009 Paseo St., 405602-2002, picassosonpaseo.com. FRI Friday Evening Glow take in the OKC skyline at sunset from the bank of the Oklahoma river with live music, food and drinks at this weekly patio concert series, 6-11 p.m. Fridays. RIVERSPORT Rapids, 800 Riversport drive, 405-552-4040, riversportokc. org. FRI Fuzzy Friday a monthly happy hour meet-andgreet hosted by the Bears of Central Oklahoma, 5:30 p.m. Fridays. Apothecary 39, 2125 NW 39th St., 405-605-4100. FRI Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night compete for prizes in a battle of the wits, 7 p.m. Aug. 22 & 29. Anthem Brewing Company, 908 SW Fourth St., 405-604-0446, anthembrewing.com. WED Hotdogs for the Homeless Volunteer Day pack lunches to distribute to the homeless population in Downtown OKC, 10:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Old School Bagel Cafe, 10948 N. May Ave., 405286-2233. SUN An Introduction to Understanding White Privilege learn about the influences and signifiers of white privilege and what can be done about it, 6:30-8 p.m. Aug. 30. First Christian Church Norman, 220 S. Webster Ave., (405) 329-2192. THU Mid-South Wrestling Alliance a two-part wrestling tournament beginning with a match between Double D and Paul Puertorico, 7:30 p.m. Friday. Farmers Public Market, 311 S. Klein Ave., 405-232-

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

6506, okcfarmersmarket.com. FRI

visit local gems in this newly revitalized area with stops at local bars for cocktails, 6-8 p.m. every other Friday, through Nov. 23. Uptown 23rd Street, Northwest 23rd St., 405-831-0177, foodiefoottours. com. FRI

405-810-6528, okbv.org. FRI

Foodie Foot Tours Walking Food Tour explore African-American history on a food-focused tour in this district with deep jazz roots, 4-7 p.m. Saturdays. Deep Deuce District, 100 NE Third St., 405-235-3500, foodiefoottours.com. SAT

These are events recommended Mindful Yoga Happy Hour practice mindful by Oklahoma Gazette editorialfollowed by meditation with Bhante Santhapiya, coffee, tea and conversation, 5-7 p.m. Fridays. staff members. For full calendar listings, Oklahoma Buddhist Vihara, 4820 N Portland Ave., go to okgazette.com. Music Industry Networking Night local musicians, promoters and fans are invited to socialize at this community meet-and-greet, 6-11 p.m. Aug. 29. The Root, 3012 N. Walker Ave., 405-655-5889, therootokc.com. WED OKC Vintage Flea Market get your shopping done at the flea market with antiques, collectibles, vintage, crafts and more, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Dec. 9. Crossroads Event Center, 7000 Crossroads Blvd. SAT Oklahoma City Drag Queen Story Hour for Adults! an adults-only version of the popular children’s program pairing progressive literature with drag performances; hosted by Ms. Chantel, 8 p.m. Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. The Boom, 2218 NW 39th St., 405-601-7200, theboomokc.com. FRI-SAT Train Rides Take a ride in a historic passenger coach pulled by a diesel engine. Tickets: 13 years and up, $12.00, 3 years to 12 years is $5.00, Under 3 FREE, first Saturday of every month, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through Sept. 1. Oklahoma Railway Museum, 3400 NE Grand Blvd., 405-424-8222, oklahomarailwaymuseum.org/events/train-rides/. SAT

Foodie Fridays Farm to Table Dinner eat a specially prepared four-course meal made with fresh ingredients prepared by chefs Kamala Gamble and Barbara Mock, 8-10 p.m. Aug. 31. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. FRI Labor Day Gospel Brunch eat from a brunch buffet and watch a live performance by the West Village Shakers, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 3. The Jones Assembly, 901 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-212-2378, thejonesassembly.com/. MON Live Trivia bring your friends for an evening of trivia, fun and food, 8 p.m. Tuesdays. Hudson’s Public House, 1000 NW 192nd St., 405-657-1103, henryhudsonspub.com. TUE The Lost Ogle Trivia for ages 21 and up, test your knowledge with free trivia play and half-priced sausages, 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays. Fassler Hall, 421 NW 10th St., 405-609-3300, fasslerhall.com. TUE

Wednesday Night Trivia test your knowledge on various subjects for the chance to win prizes, 8 p.m. Wednesdays. The Garage Burgers and Beer, 1117 N. Robinson Ave., 405-602-6880, http:www. eatatthegarage.com. WED

Moore Farmers Market shop for fresh produce and gardening products from a variety of local vendors, 8 a.m.-noon Aug. 4. Moore Central Park, 700 S. Broadway St., 405-793-5090, centralpark. cityofmoore.com. SAT

Weekly Trivia put your knowledge to the test and let your intellectual superiority shine, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Thursdays. HeyDay, 3201 Market Place, 405-3103500, heydayfun.com. THU

Paseo Farmers Market shop for fresh food from local vendors at this weekly outdoor event, 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays. SixTwelve, 612 NW 29th St., 405-208-8291, sixtwelve.org. SAT

Weekly Trivia put your knowledge to the test and let your intellectual superiority shine, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Free. HeyDay, 200 S. Oklahoma Ave., Suite HD, 405-349-5946, heydayfun.com. WED

Surf and Turf this weekly all-you-can-eat feast in the Bricktown Brewery features prime rib, snow crab legs, shrimp and more, 4-10 p.m. Thursdays. Remington Park, 1 Remington Place, 405-424-9000, remingtonpark.com. THU

Writer’s Workshop: Characterization Within Your Story local author Jeff Provine leads a writing class on character development, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 30. Loot&XP, 2228 W Main St., (405) 310-3230, lootandxp.com. THU

Vices Smoke Off 2018 kickoff college football season with a barbecue rib cooking competition, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 1. Vices, 1701 E Highway 66, 405295-6426, facebook.com/vicesbar. SAT

Food

Youth

Automobile Alley Walking Food Tour take a guided food-centric tour through a district that was once home to early pioneers and evolved into an auto-dealership hub, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Every other Saturday, through Nov. 24. Automobile Alley, 1015 N. Broadway Ave., 405-488-2555, foodiefoottours. com. SAT

Drop-In Art learn to create works of art inspired by the museum’s collections, special exhibits, holidays and more, 1-4 p.m. Saturdays. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SAT

Edmond Farmers Market buy fresh food from local vendors, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Edmond Farmers Market, 24 W. First St., Edmond, 405-3594630, edmondparks.com. SAT

A SeASonAl Guide to CentrAl oklAhomA

Early Explorers toddlers and preschoolers can participate in fun scientific activities they can repeat later at home, Thursdays, 10-11 a.m. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St., 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. THU

Food Truck Fridays eat lunch at a variety of food trucks on Friday afternoons and hear live music, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays. Moore Central Park, 700 S. Broadway St., Moore, 405-793-5090, centralpark. cityofmoore.com. FRI

Explore It! get your questions answered of what, why and how about the natural world we live in, 11:30 a.m -noon Saturdays., Saturdays, 11:30 a.m.noon through Dec. 29. Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., 405-325-4712, samnoblemuseum. ou.edu. SAT

Foodie Foot Tours Happiest Hour Cocktail Tour take a guided tour of historic Route 66 and

PBS Play & Learn Science Family Engagement Program an interactive, STEM-based

There is a lot to see and do throughout Autumn, and Gazette gives its readers direction on where to find the best festivals, shows, foods and more! FeAturinG A 3 month CAlendAr inCludinG: labor day events Fall theater Season Fairs, Festivals Special events Concerts, music and Clubs

Art exhibits and Shows day trips museums Sports Schedules

Along with expanded editorial content PubliShinG SePtember 19, 2018 Ad deAdline tueSdAy, SePt. 11, 2018

Attention publicity seekers!

• Submit calendar events at okgazette.com or email to listings@okgazette.com • Please be sure to indicate ‘Fall Guide’ in the subject line. We do not accept calendar items via phone. • Deadline to submit items for our Fall Guide calendar is Wednesday, August 29, 2018 by 5pm.

Intro to Making Sushi Class Learn to make sushi with your own two hands the way Oklahoma’s Sooner settlers might’ve if they’d had any idea what a California roll is. Beginners will learn how to prepare not only California rolls but sushi rice and sliced salmon for rolls and nigiri in this two-hour hands-on lesson with equipment and ingredients provided. The class starts noon Sunday at Full Moon Sushi Bar and Bistro, 326 E. Main St., in Norman. Tickets are $48.12. Call 405-701-1800 or visit facebook.com/ fullmoonsushibarandbistro. SUNDAY | Photo provided

CAll or emAil to reServe Ad SPACe or For AdditionAl inFormAtion. advertising@okgazette.com 405.528.6000

continued on page 48

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

CALENDAR

Licensed Insurance Agent

Cell (405)774-1520 Personal Assistant (918)281-5159 adam.bunch@healthmarkets.com www.adambunchinsurance.com Facebook @ Adam Bunch Health and Life Insurance Broker

Choosing your plan just got easier! Health Insurance Final Expenses Life Insurance Medicare Vision & Dental Aliera Health Sharing

Hospital Indemnity Accidental Critical Illness Cancer Long Term Care Native American Plans

YUKON (Main Office) 710 S Mustang Road Yukon, OK 73099

NW OKC 7015 W. Hefner Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73162

Join Us For Our Three Year Anniversary Celebration featuring Aging Room Cigars & COOP Ale Works

Thank You For Voting Us Best Cigar Shop!

Hours Mon-Thu: 11am-11pm | Fri - Sat: 11am-12am Sun: 12pm-10pm | 405.458.7879

www.cigarboxokc.com

continued from page 47

c a l e n da r

Adam T. Bunch

Helping to protect your health, income and family

learning experience for children age 3-5 in the 73111 zip code, 4-5:30 p.m. Aug. 30. Ice Event Center & Grill, 1148 NE 36th St., 405208-4240, iceeventcentergrill.eat24hour. com. THU Storytime Science the museum invites children age 6 and younger to hear a story and participate in a related scientific activity, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St., 405-6026664, sciencemuseumok.org. TUE

Summer Thursdays presented by the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, this free family event features movie screenings, story times and crafting projects, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. through Aug. 30. Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum, 1400 Classen Drive, 405-235-4458, oklahomaheritage. com. THU

Performing Arts An Act of God God (Brenda Williams) and her angels (James Hughes and Dakota Muckelwrath) offer answers to some frequently asked questions in this play by Daily Show writer David Javerbaum, Thursdays-Sundays, through Sept. 8. The Pollard Theatre, 120 W. Harrison Ave., Guthrie, 405-2822800, thepollard.org. FRI-SAT

Open Mic a weekly comedy show followed by karaoke, 7:30-9 p.m. Fridays. Don Quixote Club, 3030 N Portland Ave., 405-947-0011. FRI Open Mic hosted by Elecktra, this open mic has an open-stage, almost-anything-goes policy and a booked feature act, 6-11:30 p.m. The Root, 3012 N. Walker Ave., 405-655-5889, therootokc.com. MON Open Mic Monday a music and comedy open mic hosted by Amanda Howle, 7:30 p.m. Mondays. Triple’s, 8023 NW 23rd St., 405-789-3031. MON Open Mic Night with HuckWheat local musicians, comics and other performing artists take the open stage to practice their arts, 9-11:30 p.m. first Mondays. Hubbly Bubbly Hookah & Café, 2900 N Classen Blvd. Ste K, 405-609-2930. MON Poetry and Chill Open Mic poets and spokenword artists the stage to share their latest verses at this bi-weekly event, 9 p.m.-midnight Fridays. The Queen Lounge, 2306 N. MacArthur, 405-606-8616. FRI

Random Jam Tuesdays a weekly music open mic for solo artists and full bands followed by a late-night jam session, 8 p.m.-1 a.m. Tuesdays, through Dec. 12. Bison Witches Bar & Deli, 211 E Main St. Norman, 405-364-7555, bisonwitchesok. com. TUE

The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Theater eat a four-course dinner while attempting to solve an interactive murder mystery, 6-9 p.m. Saturdays. Skirvin Hilton Hotel, 1 Park Ave., 405-272-3040, skirvinhilton.com. SAT

Red Dirt Open Mic a weekly open mic for comedy and poetry, hosted by Red Dirt Poetry, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Sauced on Paseo, 2912 Paseo St., 405-521-9800, saucedonpaseo. com. WED Ukulele Open Jam Session ukulele players are invited to participate in this musical meetup, 1-4 p.m. Sept. 1. American Banjo Museum, 9 E. Sheridan Ave., 405-604-2793, americanbanjomuseum.com. SAT

Active Gusto! Family Fun Ride a social group ride for all levels; with pizza, 6:30-8 p.m. Aug. 13. Celestial Cycles, 2929 W Hefner Rd., 405-751-8809, celestialcycles.com. MON

Friday, 9.14.18 2839 S Douglas Blvd, Suite 105 Midwest City, OK 73130

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, Through Dec. 31. Lighthouse Fitness (Front), 3333 W. Hefner Road, 405-845-5672, marlinswimamerica.com. SAT-FRI

What’s Growing On? The Gardens at Science Museum Oklahoma are home to a koi pond, a bunny hutch and native and Oklahoma-proven trees, vegetables and other plants. Museum visitors will get the opportunity to follow staff members as they plant squash, carrots, cabbages, lima beans and other vegetables to prepare for a harvest later this fall. The tour begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place. Museum admission is free-$15.95. Call 405-602-6664 or visit sciencemuseumok.org.

Divine Comedy a weekly local showcase featuring a variety of comedians from OKC and elsewhere, 9 p.m. Wednesdays. 51st Street Speakeasy, 1114 NW 51st St., 405-463-0470, 51stspeakeasy.com. WED An Evening of David Bowie hear selections from the glam rocker’s discography performed by Portal Immortal featuring Kali Ra, 9:30 p.mmidnight, Fri., Aug. 31, 9:30 p.m.-midnight. Belle Isle Brewery, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-840-1911, belleislerestaurant.com. FRI First Wednesday Open Mic a monthly music open mic hosted by John Ashton Randolph, 7-9:30 p.m. Wednesdays. The Paramount Room, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-887-3327, theparamountroom. com. WED

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Kendall Irvin the musical comedian will film a one-hour special in front of a live audience, 8-9 p.m. Sept. 1. The Root, 3012 N. Walker Ave., 405-6555889, therootokc.com. SAT

Arab After Hours a weekly belly-dancing performance featuring dancers from the Aalim Belly Dance Academy, 8:30-10:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Hubbly Bubbly Hookah & Café, 2900 N Classen Blvd. Ste K, 405-609-2930. TUE

SATURDAY Photo provided

this weekly comedy showcase features a nationally touring headliner and local standups, 9 p.m. Fridays. Ice Event Center & Grill, 1148 NE 36th St., 405-2084240, iceeventcentergrill.eat24hour.com. FRI

Monday Night Group Ride meet up for a weekly 25-30 minute bicycle ride at about 18 miles-per-hour through East Oklahoma City, 6 p.m. Mondays. The Bike Lab OKC, 2200 W. Hefner Rd., 405-603-7655. MON OKC Wednesday Worlds a fast-paced 30-35 mile ride heading east out of OKC at 20-25 milesper-hour, 6 p.m. Wednesdays. The Bike Lab OKC, 2200 W. Hefner Road, 405-603-7655. WED OKCX Sunday Holey Rollers Ride a weekly group bicycle ride departing from Holey Rollers Doughnuts in the Paseo at an average pace of about 18 miles-per-hour, Sundays, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. through Oct. 21. Holey Rollers, 3010 Paseo Dr., 405212-2383, holeyrollersdonuts.com. SUN Oklahoma City Lady Force Football Tryouts women 18 and older of all body types are invited to try out for OKC’s Women’s Xtreme Football League; cleats recommended, 11 a.m. Sept. 1. Moore High School, 300 N Eastern Ave. SAT Saturday Top 30 Group Ride a a 33-mile bicycle ride at a pace of 15-17 miles per hour with music, 7:15-9:45 a.m. Sept. 1. The Bike Lab OKC, 2200 W. Hefner Rd., 405-603-7655. SAT Thursday Night Dirt Crits weekly criterium trials for all ability levels meeting at the Mountain Bike Trailhead and hosted by Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship, 7-9 p.m. Thursdays. Lake Stanley Draper Trails, 8898 S. Post Road. FRI Wheeler Criterium a weekly nighttime cycling event with criterium races, food trucks and family activities, 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays. Wheeler Park, 1120 S. Western Ave., 405-297-2211, okc.gov. TUE Yoga in the Gardens bring your mat for an alllevels class with Lisa Woodard from This Land Yoga, 5:45 p.m. Tuesdays. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. TUE

Visual Arts

The Foreigner directed by Chuck Tweed, this play is a two-act comedy by American playwright Larry Shue, August 23-Sept. 16., Through Sept. 16. Jewel Box Theatre, 3700 N. Walker Ave. THU-SUN

American Indian Artists: 20th Century Masters an exhibition of Native art from the Kiowa Six, Harrison Begay, Tonita Peña and more, through Sept. 1, Sept. 1-May 12. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT-FRI

Funny AF Fridays hosted by Dope Astronauts,

The Art of Oklahoma celebrate the 110th an-

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

home health agency

noW hIRIng

NURSING

POSITIONS AVAILABLE (405) 752-5222 ASK FOR DEBRA OR SUSAN

Grassland Advertised as an evening of “creativity, culture and community,” Grassland invites musical artists Layer, Castor & Pollux and Lost Highway to provide a live soundtrack for live art creation by Headchange, Sean Vali, Cori Crawford and Alejandra Dunn. If cultural enrichment isn’t enough of a prize, bring extra cash for a raffle drawing with proceeds going to provide Andrew Johnson Elementary School with supplies. The show starts 9 p.m. Tuesday at Sauced on Paseo, 2912 Paseo Ave. Call 405-521-9800 or visit facebook.com/ grasslandart. TUESDAY | Photo provided

niversary of Oklahoma statehood with a diverse collection of 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. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa. com. THU-SUN Back Roads and Dirt Roads photographs and collages by Stillwater artist Linda Guenther feature barns, windmills, livestock and other rural iconography, Thursdays-Sundays, through Sept. 2. Contemporary Art Gallery, 2928 Paseo St., 405-6017474, contemporaryartgalleryokc.com. FRI-SUN Beginners Calligraphy Lettering Class learn the basics of artful hand-lettering in this hands-on class, 6-8 p.m. Aug. 29. Bill’s Steakhouse & Saloon, 1013 SW 89th St., 405-225-1211, http:www.billssteakhousesaloon.com. WED A Burst of Color artist Tim Kinney’s latest exhibition features brightly colored and thickly textured paintings, Mondays-Fridays. through Sept. 1. Norman Santa Fe Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., 405307-9320, pasnorman.org. FRI Creative Visions Botanical Watercolor Class learn to paint flowers and other botanicals with artist Kiana Daneshmand, 4:30-6 p.m. Wednesdays. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. WED A Few of Our Favorite Things view a selection of artwork from the center’s collection, including contemporary and traditional works by Native American artists, through Oct. 31. Red Earth Art Center, 6 Santa Fe Plaza, 405-427-5228, redearth. org. WED HBart Show hosted by Sativa Prophets’ HuckWheat, this biweekly show gives local artists a chance to show-off their talents, 9-11:30 p.m. Sundays. Hubbly Bubbly Hookah & Café, 2900 N Classen Blvd. Ste K, 405-609-2930. SUN In the Principles Office: Tom Ryan the Art Student Learn the principles of art as Tom Ryan did with his instruction on “general illustration” with famed teacher Frank Reilly, Through Nov. 11. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT-SUN Ink & Draw a weekly meet-up for illustrators, artists and comic book creators, 4-6 p.m. Sundays. The Paseo Plunge, 3010 Paseo Plunge, 405-315-6224, paseoplunge.org. SUN Into the Fold: The Art and Science of Origami features origami artists from around the world and displays the techniques of artful paper folding and other unique applications of origami, Through Jan. 13, 2019. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St., 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. FRI Isabelle de Borchgrave: Fashioning Art from Paper features l’œil paper works by Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave showcasing four collections her work together for the first time, Through Sept. 9. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SAT-SUN

AUTHOR

BOB BURKE THANKS YOU FOR

YOUR SUPPORT

the university’s Native American Art & Museum Studies Seminar, this exhibition examines the impact of art in indigenous communities, through Dec. 30 Free, Through Dec. 30. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave. Norman, 405-325-3272, ou.edu/ fjjma. TUE-FRI Space Burial an exhibit using satellite dishes as a burial object for a space-faring culture and facilitates the dead’s afterlife journey, through Sept. 2., Through Sept. 2. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. TUE-SUN Still Looking: The Photography Collection of Carol Beesley Hennagin an exhibition of selections from Hennagin’s extensive collection, including works by Edward Weston, Frederick Sommer and more, through Dec. 30, Through Dec. 30. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., Norman, 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. TUE-FRI Studio Gallery’s Featured Show an exhibition featuring paintings, photography and handmade jewelry created by a variety of artists, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, through Oct. 31. The Studio Gallery, 2642 W. Britton Road, 405-752-2642, thestudiogallery.org. THU-WED

Thank you okC For The 59 years oF CusTomer loyalTy

TESS Mission an interactive art installation inspired by NASA’s search for habitable alien planets, Mondays-Sundays. through Sept. 7. The Lightwell Gallery, 520 Parrington Oval, Norman. 405-3252691, art.ou.edu. MON-FRI Visual Voices: Contemporary Chickasaw Art an exhibition featuring more than 65 works in oil, watercolor, textiles, metals and more by 15 contemporary artists, June 8- Sept. 9, Through Sept. 9. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. FRI-SUN Welcome Home: Oklahomans and the War in Vietnam explores the impact of the war on Oklahoma families as well as the stories of Vietnamese families relocated to Oklahoma, Through Nov. 6, 2019. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org. MON-FRI What Legacy Had Wrought conceptual artist Summer Zah’s collage art examines misconceptions about Native culture, through Sept. 14. IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-232-6060, iaogallery.org. FRI

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.

Seeds of Being curated by students enrolled in

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

We are truly humbled and proud to have served OKC for 59 years and counting. As a family owned & operated store we have a true understanding of what it means to be an Oklahoman. We know how hard you work for your dollar and we will continue to offer the lowest prices in town. We believe in customer satisfaction, this is why we train our valued employees extensively over our products, to make sure you find what you want! We have the largest selection in town and can even special order and have it for you in one business day. 2322 N Broadway, OKC (405) 525-2158 • byronsliquor.com

EQD O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

No cover for ladies smoke-free karaoke | wedNesdays | 7pm

LIVE MUSIC THURSDAYS

8/30 - Replay 9/6 - Dave and the Mighty Dance Band

9/13 - Replay 9/20 - Superfreak 9/27 - The Weekend All Stars

happy hour moNday-friday 4pm-8pm THANKS FOR THE NOMINATIONS BEST DANCE CLUB | BEST NEW BAR | BEST NON-SMOKING BAR

th e l i sz to k c . c o m

12000 North May Ave. OKC, OK The Shoppes at Northpark â&#x20AC;¢ 405-205-0807

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

event

MUSIC

Sensational strings

Béla Fleck is among the headliners at the third annual Banjo Fest. By Eric Miller

The sounds of the banjo reverberate through centuries of musical history, but the instrument is no mere artifact. Presented by American Banjo Museum, Banjo Fest 2018 celebrates the joyful immediacy of live performance. “If you’re on the fence about the banjo, seeing a program like this should make you a big fan,” said Johnny Baier, executive director of the museum, 9 E. Sheridan Ave. “You will hear music being performed on the banjo that you didn’t think possible.” The event kicks off Sept. 6 at the museum with live performances by artists including Philadelphia Mummers, participants in a colorful, costume-heavy yearly parade in that city and the subject of a new exhibit, and Taylor Pfeiffer, a youthful Australian banjo player, country singer and pop star in the making. The action moves to the top of Devon Tower on Friday evening for this year’s American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame gala. For those who dwell in mainly nonbanjo-centric circles, one of the more recognizable names among the honorees is surely that of Muppet maestro Jim Henson. His induction coincides with the opening of an exhibit focusing on Henson’s love of the banjo and incorporation of the instrument into his work. (Think Kermit the Frog singing “Rainbow Connection.”) Next up will be more live music within the museum space on Saturday afternoon — not full-on concerts so much as informal performances with people coming and going, Baier said. Besides the reappearance of Pfeiffer and the Mummers, visitors can expect to see and hear banjoist/puppeteer Eddie Collins and — if time allows — a four-string set by Baier himself. But perhaps the crown jewel of the event is Saturday night’s concert at Rose State College’s Hudiburg Chevrolet Center, 6000 S. Trosper Place in Midwest

Tony Trischka performs at this year’s Banjo Fest concert. | Photo American Banjo Museum / provided

City in which four nationally and internationally recognized artists will take the stage: Béla Fleck, John McEuen, Tony Trischka and Tim Allan. Each will play without accompaniment, Baier said, though it is possible that two or three of the musicians will join one another onstage. “It’s banjo in its purest form and their music in its purest form,” he said, “and the interesting thing about it is all of them are very comfortable in that setting. Most musicians — particularly five-string banjo players — they are dependent upon being surrounded by other musicians. The five-string banjo in a general sense, especially in a folk or a bluegrass setting, is usually part of an ensemble.”

Illustrious lineup

When the average person thinks of modern banjo players, they are likely to think first and foremost of Béla Fleck, whose career defies confinement to a single genre. Spanning straight bluegrass, jazz-fusion with his Flecktones band, acoustic duets with jazz pianist Chick Corea, forays into the traditional sounds of Africa and beyond, his playing has consistently drawn upon a distinctive sense of technical discipline derived in part from his classical training.

The artists were chosen specifically to present the musicality and diversity possible with the banjo. Johnny Baier And he is no stranger to the state. “My first experiences with Oklahoma were when I joined New Grass Revival in 1981,” Fleck said in an email. “New Grass had a serious Oklahoma connection with Leon Russell, who the band toured with often. It felt like one of the band’s homes, honestly, and my music has always been well received in that state.” But as big a name as Fleck might be, the experience and esteem of the other headliners should not be overlooked. John McEuen co-founded Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and served as a guiding creative light behind its groundbreaking 1972 album Will the Circle Be Unbroken?, which simultaneously marked a milestone in the revival of old-time music and influenced decades of subsequent Americana and alterna-

tive country. Tenor banjoist and two-time Hall of Fame inductee Tim Allan plays a variety of genres in crowd-pleasing fashion. He will also be among those performing on Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon. Tony Trischka, who will also play during Friday’s Hall of Fame ceremony, has been performing for more than 45 years. Like Fleck, his reputation precedes him, at least within the banjo world, where he seems to have attained the status of a master. In fact, Baier said he was something of a mentor to Fleck. “If it wasn’t for Tony Trischka, there wouldn’t be a Béla Fleck,” Baier said. Yet each artist is different enough from the next that the presence of all four on one program represents a onetime opportunity for audiences as well as a demonstration of the tonal and stylistic breadth of the instrument in action. “The artists were chosen specifically to present the musicality and diversity possible with the banjo,” he said. “We won’t be able to duplicate this program.” Through events like Banjo Fest and museum exhibits like the one devoted to Henson, it’s clear that Baier cares deeply about cultivating an environment in which the banjo will remain a relevant cultural force, not to mention a source of civic pride. “If the banjo world has a spotlight, it

John McEuen performs at this year’s Banjo Fest concert. | Photo American Banjo Museum / provided

shines on Oklahoma City,” Baier said. Fleck is optimistic about the instrument’s future. “I just completed running my first banjo camp, which is called the Blue Ridge Banjo Camp,” Fleck said. “It was an amazing experience, and every available slot was filled with passionate people from 12 to 70 years of age, from many different lands, who all know, as I do, that banjo is the most important thing in the world. But seriously, there were some young monster players who attended that made me feel very confident about the future of banjo playing. The best is yet to come.” Visit americanbanjomuseum.com.

Banjo Fest 7 p.m. Sept. 8 Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center 6000 S. Trosper Place, Midwest City okcciviccenter.com | 405-297-2264 $20-$35

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

MUSIC Rolling Stone said Lightning Round’s “richly-produced synth-pop sound echoes Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk.” Alexander said she couldn’t wait to hear how the audience feels about it. “We still think it’s pretty good,” Alexander said. “We’re really excited to perform it on this tour and get really comfortable at performing the songs and hearing how the crowd responds to certain songs.” On tour, Davison will be stepping out from behind the kit to fill in on bass, and Reese Kling will take his place as drummer. The lineup changes will give the songs from Lightning Round a different feel in concert, Alexander said, but the way the album was recorded wouldn’t be possible to recreate on stage anyway.

To be able to feed off your band mates is really cool.

event

Kerry Alexander

Lids off Bad Bad Hats tips toward elegant synth-pop that recalls top-shelf Fleetwood Mac. By Jeremy Martin

If Kerry Alexander had gotten her first choice, there might not be any Bad Bad Hats. The band, which plays Sept. 9 at 89th Street — OKC, 8911 N. Western Ave., began after Alexander met multi-instrumentalist Chris Hoge at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. They started playing music together and dating at about the same time. “It’s kind of hard to distinguish what really came first,” Alexander said. “I guess the relationship, honestly, but the relationship did start because I really wanted to do a duet with a male voice, and my first choice wasn’t available, so then I asked Chris if he would do it. That’s where it began.” Bad Bad Hats, named for a character in the Madeline children’s book series, officially took off in 2012 after Alexander and Hoge teamed up with bassist Noah Boswell, who recently left the band to 52

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Bad Bad Hats plays Sept. 12 at 89th Street — OKC. | Photo provided

attend grad school. Hoge played nearly all the instruments on their debut EP It Hurts and follow-up full-length Psychic Reader, but the band recruited Connor Davison to play drums on sophomore LP Lightning Round, released in early August. Alexander said having more people in the studio made for a better recording experience. “I think actually Chris was very happy to have other people playing instruments, because I think it sort of frees him up to be a little more creative on different instruments since playing alongside people is a lot more inspiring than just doing everything track-bytrack,” Alexander said. “That can be a little exhausting. So I think he was happy to be freed up a little bit. To be able to feed off your band mates is really cool.”

“We don’t limit ourselves in the studio,” Alexander said. “We’re like, ‘Hmm. What would sound good here?’ ‘Oh, a brush on a box.’ ‘Yeah put that in.’ ‘Oh this part, that sounds good; might as well do another synth on top of that.’ ‘Oh, bring in a modular synthesizer.’ So that all sounds good on the record, and I’m very happy with all that, but then, yeah, when it comes time to play it live, you say to yourself, ‘This is not going to be exactly that,’ but we like to think that we have captured the essence of each song. It will be a different experience for the live audience.” The band had three songs left over from the Lightning Round recording sessions that didn’t quite fit the album’s aesthetic. Alexander, who plans to release them later on an EP, called the songs “garage-y, nervy rock music” and said they’re closer to the band’s sound in concert. “Those are kind of our favorite live rockers,” Alexander said, “so I’m excited for that to come out so people can hear those songs, ’cause we’ve played them live for a few tours now, so people are fairly familiar with them. … That is a part of the band, but I had to agree that Lightning Round, what it became was just sort of a different vein that is still true to Bad Bad Hats, but I feel like we have a few different sides.”

brought for me one year, but the classical is a really small guitar, and with the nylon strings, I’ve always really loved the way that it sounds and it’s easy to play, so it’s a nice guitar to spend a few hours with. … I played my acoustic guitar and my classical guitar all through high school when I was first writing songs, and I owned an electric guitar, but it was like really, really shitty and I never played it.” Alexander said she didn’t really begin playing electric guitar until after the band formed, opening up an “entirely new world” of musical possibilities. “I will never forget the first time I played guitar along with someone playing drums,” Alexander said. “It was just the coolest feeling in the world. It feels like it’s all happening. It’s like karaoke or something. It’s like, ’I’m doing it! It’s so fun! It sounds awesome!’ I’m sure it didn’t sound that great, honestly, but in the moment, I got chills. It was like, ‘OK, this is all I want to do. I want to be playing in a band.’” During the recording of Lightning Round, Alexander and Hoge got married, but she said she’d rather listeners focus on the music than the relationship. “We like to keep it fairly ambiguous, but we don’t mind if people know,” Alexander said. “We aren’t trying to keep it a secret, but we figure we’ll focus on the songs for the most part. People like to ask us after the shows, but now we’ve got rings so it’s a little more obvious.” But their marriage does complicate things for at least one of her bandmates. “Our one-year anniversary will be on this tour,” Alexander said, “so the pressure is on Chris to do something really special.” Hoge and Alexander returned from their honeymoon with two songs to record for Lightning Round, “Nothing Gets Me High” and “Absolute Worst.” Alexander said the song titles should not be taken as an indication of how their trip went. “I hadn’t really thought of that, but it is pretty funny,” Alexander said. “That was not on purpose.” Their relationship, which has inspired many multi-faceted and emotionally intelligent love songs in the Bad Bad Hats catalog, is a good one, at least for the time being. “Right now, we feel pretty solid; it feels pretty strong,” Alexander said, laughing. “At the very least, we’ll get some good songs out of it if it doesn’t go well. But I think we’re in it for the long haul.” Visit 89thstreetokc.com.

Exchanging vows

Whatever form they take later, most of Bad Bad Hats’ songs are written on a nylon-string classical guitar that Alexander’s father bought from a coworker for $20. “At 13 is when I remember really starting to learn guitar and play guitar,” Alexander said. “I had another guitar. I have an acoustic guitar that Santa

Bad Bad Hats 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 89th Street — OKC 8911 N. Western Ave. 89thstreetokc.com $10

LIVE MUSIC These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

Wednesday, Aug. 29 Adam Aguilar Band, Sidecar Barley & Wine Bar. ROCK

Katie & Kelly, The Porthole. COUNTRY Upsetting/Planet What/LCG & the X, 89th Street-OKC. ROCK

Thursday, Aug. 30 BRD Trio, Saints. JAZZ Koolie High & the Tap Band, Ice Event Center & Grill. JAZZ Steelwind, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. BLUEGRASS Vonna Pearl/Swim Fan/Jose Hernandez, Tower Theatre. ROCK A War Within/LUCY/Lights Of Alora, Your Mom’s Place. METAL/HARDCORE

Friday, Aug. 31 Electric Okie Test, 51st Street Speakeasy. COVER

Kasey Dillon, PhotoArt Studios. Weezing/Marilyn Hanson, Tower Theatre. COVER

Sunday, SepT. 2 Destroyer of Light/Redwitch Johnny/Turbo Wizard, Blue Note Lounge. ROCK Grace Pettis & Calloway Ritch, The Blue Door. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Hieronymus Bogs, Sauced on Paseo. EXPERIMENTAL NBA YoungBoy, Bricktown Events Center. HIP-HOP Picturesque, 89th Street-OKC. ROCK

Monday, SepT. 3 Jason Hunt, Sean Cumming’s Irish Restaurant. FOLK

Tuesday, SepT. 4 Country Clique, Friends Restaurant & Club. COUNTRY Kyle Reid, Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Tennessee Stiffs, Anthem Brewing Company. FOLK/

Thanks for the nomination! Best Bar For Live Music

ROCK

Wednesday, SepT. 5

Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road, CHK/Central Boathouse. BLUEGRASS/FOLK

Dawson Hollow, Classen Coffee Company. FOLK

COUNTRY

ALL ACCESS CLUB

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Flock of Pigs/Puddin Taine, Opolis. POP

Kyle Rainer & Runnin’ Hot, The Weekend Saloon.

JOIN THE CLUB

Kali Masi/Your Mom/Ben Quadinaros, Blue Note Lounge. PUNK

FInd Us At 1613 N May Ave okla. City, OK 405.601.5605

Jimmy Davis, The Blue Door. SINGER/SONGWRITER Paperback/Seasonal, The Root. ROCK

The Mavericks, Tower Theatre. COUNTRY

Tejon Street Corner Thieves, Lost Highway. BLUES/COUNTRY

August 30 COOP SHOWCASE August 31 THE MAvERiCKS Space4Lease Released in February, Space4Lease’s Bosky Hill Sessions features live, mostly unplugged versions of three songs from 2017’s Drifting. The wellappointed farmhouse where the band was filmed recording the songs is a perfect visual metaphor for the music: pastoral in only the most elegant and modern way. A Campus Corner bar will offer a different atmosphere for S4L’s low-key psych pop, but the headspace it occupies will still boast some beautiful interior decorating. Tulsa’s Roots of Thought will plant mind-altering seeds of its own. Doors open 9 p.m. Friday at The Deli, 309 White St., in Norman. Admission is $5. Call 405-329-3534 or visit facebook.com/thedelimusic. FRIDAY Photo provided

Paxton Pennington/Blake Pettigrove VZD’s Restaurant & Bar. SINGER/SONGWRITER The Scutches, Blue Note Lounge. PUNK Sissy Brown, Anthem Brewing Company. COUNTRY Spinster Classen Coffee Company. POP Welcome Little Stranger/Elecktra, The Root. FOLK

Saturday, SepT. 1 (Hed) p.e., 89th Street-OKC. ROCK Irrational Consumers/The Nobodys, Resonator.

September 1 WEEZiNG (WEEZER TRiBUTE) September 10 GARY NUMAN September 12 HANNiBAL BURESS September 15 PUNCH BROTHERS

PUNK/SKA

SEpTEmbER 18 JJ GREY & MOFRO SEpTEmbER 25 GET THE LEd OUT (THE AMERiCAN LEd ZEPPELiN) Tickets and Info TOWERTHEATREOKC.COM @towertheaterokc

405-70-TOWER | 425 NW 23rd St. OKC

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

# lost h ighwaybar

RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE

08.21.18

RANDY ROGERS BAND

09.21.18

LAKE STREET DIVE

09.27.18

FALL 2018 MAT KEARNEY

10.02.18

FATHER JOHN MISTY

10.11.18

COLONY HOUSE

10.19.18

ST. LUCIA

10.25.18

ANDY GRAMMER

10.28.18

HIPPO CAMPUS

11.05.18

DAWES

11.06.18

GREENSKY BLUEGRASS

11.14.18

KURT VILE

12.05.18

ROBERT EARL KEEN

12.18.18

TICKETS & INFORMATION AT

THEJONESASSEMBLY.COM 901 W. SHERIDAN, OKC

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

puzzles 1

New York Times Magazine Crossword Puzzle Let’s change the subject By Jacob Stulberg | Puzzles Edited by Will Shortz | 0826

85 Measure of econ. health ACROSS 87 Top hat go-with 89 Fail to hold 1 Autumn bloom 90 Clock setting east of Eastern: 6 Ticked off Abbr. 11 Cast 91 Non-apology associated with 16 Madam Secretary airer several U.S. presidents 19 Really stood out 98 Impoverished 20 Bluesman Willie 99 The Temptations’ “Since ____ 21 Where the owl and the My Baby” pussycat went, in poetry 100 Drake or Future 22 ____ provençale 104 City known for its cheese 23 Classic film narrated by 105 Up-to-the-minute Spencer Tracy 107 It’s often brown or blue 26 Position 27 “Thanks in old age — thanks 109 Great ____ 110 Zip ____ I go”: Whitman 111 Protest tactic … as suggested 28 Lead-in to bad news by 23-, 36-, 54-, 77- and 29 Searched without sight 91-Across? 30 Show what’s inside 115 Continuing education subj., 32 Underscore often 34 Early morning setting? 116 Operatic baritone Pasquale 35 The Bears of the Big 12 ____ Conference 36 Remark commonly attributed 117 Give up 118 Panegyrize to Queen Victoria 119 Obituary word 41 Digs 120 Wyoming’s ____ Range 43 Shaggy grazer 121 Corporate department 44 Actor O’Shea 122 Takes a breather 45 Third-person form of “être” 46 “Birds in an Aquarium” artist DOWN 47 Like some details 49 Handful 1 Remains in the ground, often 52 Fresh 2 Not having quite enough cash 54 Statement at the end of some 3 Jenga construction trailers 4 Tolkien creature 61 C neighbors 5 Debate again [sigh] 62 Tool that it takes two to 6 Soviet author Ehrenburg operate 7 Kerfuffles 63 Old nuclear agcy. 8 “Te ____” (Rihanna gold 64 Brewery sight single) 65 Obeys a sentry, say 9 Snarl 66 Skating embarrassment 10 Crowd on a set 67 CDs, LPs, etc. 11 Carol Brady, to three of her kids 69 Mexican marinade 12 Founder of a major appliance 71 Musician/singer whose name chain might be shouted in mock horror? 13 Kind of bookstore 72 Prefix with -pod 14 Bygone game console, in brief 74 Frederick III, for one 15 Bistro dessert 76 Newspaper section 16 Wheedles 77 Toy manufacturer’s disclaimer 17 Cover from view 81 Kurosawa who directed Ran 18 Old-fashioned weaponry 82 Hankering 24 “Let It Go” singer, in film 83 Mouse lookalike 25 “Game over” signal 84 Tikkanen who won five Stanley 31 What might follow me? Cups 33 Ticket info, briefly

100

106

107

112

101

108

102

103

111

113

115

116

117

118

119

120

121

122

114

58 Some keys, informally 59 Doctor’s order 60 Peak NW of Athens 66 When middle watch ends 68 Fancy neckwear 70 Cannes’s Palme ____ 73 Like some bologna and golf shots 75 Like Vivaldi’s “Spring” 76 Where the Blues play: Abbr. 78 Was out for a bit 79 Fox News commentator Perino 80 I, Claudius attire 85 Like Columbus 86 Word hitting two Triple Word Scores in Scrabble 88 First Folio, e.g. 89 Cross-Atlantic flier, once, in brief 90 Egyptian symbol of royalty

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

91 Peanuts character 92 Pursue eagerly 93 Climber’s concern: Abbr. 94 Goes at a leisurely pace 95 Peninsula shared by Croatia and Slovenia 96 Humphries of the NBA 97 Egg time 101 Article of apparel never worn by Winnie-the-Pooh 102 Attraction that dropped the word “Center” from its name in 1994 103 Scottish dances 105 Trial for a future atty. 106 Regarding 107 Scotland’s Fair ____ 108 Empties (of) 112 Black church inits. 113 Jellied British delicacy 114 Hack

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

Sudoku Medium | n° 52677077 Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3-by-3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9. www.printmysudoku.com

New York Times Crossword Puzzle answers Puzzle No. 0819, which appeared in the August 22 issue.

S I B S

T N U T

A L C O A

M O U R N

C U R E T R A L A 54

a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

A F T E R W A R D S

R E T R E A D S

A J O D A N I X U M P I L N O R U C I T A G I T O V E R E

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

I M A R A S A L S E A R K I E L A L L E D G O P A L A L L U P S S A E D D S E S M T I O E R P A S U T O P E D

D J A R N N G A O

A B E T D O Z E N S P A

G U S H

U P L I T

S M I T H

P A S T E

H I T

W H E F O L L A M E O W S P B A W O R I A N T

Advertising advertising@okgazette.com 405-528-6000 Account EXECUTIVES Saundra Rinearson Godwin Christy Duane Kurtis DeLozier Philip Rodriguez

109

110

34 Peachy 35 Cinephile’s guilty pleasure, perhaps 37 Model Banks 38 Place to treat yourself 39 Colorist’s concern 40 Hilo his 41 Like “@#$!” 42 Ill-fated NASA mission of 1967 46 “You said it!” 47 Catch something 48 Surprised exclamations 49 One singing at the end? 50 Vulcans or Jawas, in brief 51 Becomes grating to 53 The one that got away? 55 Turner who led a slave rebellion 56 “Sonnets to Orpheus” poet 57 Uncool sort

Digital Media & Calendar Coordinator Jeremy Martin

99 105

Accounts receivable Karen Holmes

operations & Marketing Manager Kelsey Lowe

Accounting/HR Manager Marian Harrison

89 93

publisher Peter J. Brzycki

marketing Assistant Kendall Bleakley

104

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

81 85

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

63 67

VOL. XL No. 35 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.

26 30

43 47

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

Assistant EDITOR Brittany Pickering Staff reporters Jacob Threadgill Jeremy Martin Nazarene Harris contributors Joshua Blanco, Daniel Bokemper Krystal Yoseph Circulation Manager Chad Bleakley creative director Kimberly Lynch Graphic Designers Ingvard Ashby Tiffany McKnight

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

H A I K U

S N A I L

M I L K

S E E S

A L L I E

S E L L S

A N T E

P T S D

free will astrology Homework: What pose would it be a relief for you to drop? How are you faking, and what could you do to stop? Freewillastrology.com.

nondescript. I bring this to your attention, Gemini, because I suspect that a key plot twist in this story will soon unfold.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Potential new allies are seeking entrance to your domain. Existing allies aspire to be closer to you. I’m worried you may be a bit overwhelmed; that you might not exercise sufficient discrimination. I therefore urge you to ask yourself these questions about each candidate. 1. Does this person understand what it means to respect your boundaries? 2. What are his or her motivations for wanting contact with you? 3. Do you truly value and need the gifts each person has to give you? 4. Everyone in the world has a dark side. Can you intuit the nature of each person’s dark side? Is it tolerable? Is it interesting?

In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, our heroine encounters a talking caterpillar as he smokes a hookah on top of a tall mushroom. “Who are you?” he asks her. Alice is honest: “I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.” She says this with uneasiness. In the last few hours, she has twice been shrunken down to a tiny size and twice grown as big as a giant. All these transformations have unnerved her. In contrast to Alice, I’m hoping you’ll have a positive attitude about your upcoming shifts and mutations, Aries. From what I can tell, your journey through the Season of Metamorphosis should be mostly fun and educational.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Juan Villarino has hitchhiked over 2,350 times in 90 countries. His free rides have carried him over 100,000 miles. He has kept detailed records, so he’s able to say with confidence that Iraq is the best place to catch a lift. Average wait time there is seven minutes. Jordan and Romania are good, too, with nine- and twelve-minute waits, respectively. In telling you about his success, I don’t mean to suggest that now is a favorable time to hitchhike. But I do want you to know that the coming weeks will be prime time to solicit favors, garner gifts, and make yourself available for metaphorical equivalents of free rides. You’re extra magnetic and attractive. How could anyone could resist providing you with the blessings you need and deserve?

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

One of the big stories of 2018 concerns your effort to escape from a star-crossed trick of fate—to fix a longrunning tweak that has subtly undermined your lust for life. How successful will you be in this heroic quest? That will hinge in part on your faith in the new power you’ve been developing. Another factor that will determine the outcome is your ability to identify and gain access to a resource that is virtually magical even though it appears

cLASSIFIEDS

MUSIC

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

While a young man, the future Roman leader Julius Caesar was kidnapped by Sicilian pirates. They proposed a ransom of 620 kilograms of silver. Caesar was incensed at the small size of the ransom—he believed he was worth more—and demanded that his captors raise the sum to 1,550 kilograms. I’d love to see you unleash that kind of bravado in the coming weeks, Leo—preferably without getting yourself kidnapped. In my opinion, it’s crucial that you know how valuable you are, and make sure everyone else knows, as well.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Romanian philosopher Emil Cioran loved the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. “Without Bach, God would be a complete second-rate figure,” he testified, adding, “Bach’s music is the only argument proving the creation of the Universe cannot be regarded as a complete failure.” I invite you to emulate Cioran’s passionate clarity, Virgo. From an astrological perspective, now is an excellent time to identify people and things that consistently invigorate your excitement about your destiny. Maybe you have just one shining exemplar, like Cioran, or maybe you have more. Home in on the phenomena that in your mind embody the glory of creation.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Historic Home

Deluxe 2bd/2ba, laundry room, library, patio room, private. Large picture windows, yard svs paid, fireplace, dead-end street. No pets. $1,299 601.446.5354

I foresee the withering of a hope or the disappearance of a prop or the loss of leverage. This ending may initially make you feel melancholy, but I bet it will ultimately prove beneficent—and maybe lead you to resources that were previously unavailable. Here are rituals you could perform that may help you catalyze the specific kind of relief and release you need: 1. Wander around a graveyard and sing songs you love. 2. Tie one end of a string around your ankle and the other end around an object that symbolizes an influence you want to banish from your life. Then cut the string and bury the object. 3. Say this ten times: “The end makes the beginning possible.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

“If a man treats a life artistically, his brain is his heart,” wrote Oscar Wilde. I’ll translate that into a more complete version: “If a person of any gender treats life artistically, their brain is their heart.” This truth will be especially applicable for you in the coming weeks. You’ll be wise to treat your life artistically. You’ll thrive by using your heart as your brain. So I advise you to wield your intelligence with love. Understand that your most incisive insights will come when you’re feeling empathy and seeking intimacy. As you crystallize clear visions about the future, make sure they are generously suffused with ideas about how you and your people can enhance your joie de vivre.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

“My tastes are simple,” testified Sagittarian politician Winston Churchill. “I am easily satisfied with the best.” I propose that we make that your motto for now. While it may not be a sound idea to demand only the finest of everything all the time, I think it will be wise for you to do so during the next three weeks. You will have a mandate to resist trifles and insist on excellence. Luckily, this should motivate you to raise your own standards and expect the very best from yourself.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Russian playwright Anton Chekhov articulated a principle he felt was essential to telling a good story: If you say early in your tale that there’s a rifle hanging on the wall, that rifle must eventually be used. “If it’s not

going to be fired, it shouldn’t be hanging there,” declared Chekhov. We might wish that real life unfolded with such clear dramatic purpose. To have our future so wellforeshadowed would make it easier to plan our actions. But that’s not often the case. Many elements pop up in our personal stories that ultimately serve no purpose. Except now, that is, for you Capricorns. I suspect that in the next six weeks, plot twists will be telegraphed in advance.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Would it be fun to roast marshmallows on long sticks over scorching volcanic vents? I suppose. Would it be safe? No! Aside from the possibility that you could get burned, the sulfuric acid in the vapors would make the cooked marshmallows taste terrible, and might cause them to explode. So I advise you to refrain from adventures like that. On the other hand, I will love it if you cultivate a playful spirit as you contemplate serious decisions. I’m in favor of you keeping a blithe attitude as you navigate your way through tricky maneuvers. I hope you’ll be jaunty in the midst of rumbling commotions.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

People will be thinking about you more than usual, and with greater intensity. Allies and acquaintances will be revising their opinions and understandings about you, mostly in favorable ways, although not always. Loved ones and not-so-loved ones will also be reworking their images of you, coming to altered conclusions about what you mean to them and what your purpose is. Given these developments, I suggest that you be proactive about expressing your best intentions and displaying your finest attributes.

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

Health

Jobs

l r Specia Summeup , em st your sy

We will fire flow valve, check the back d s an adjust the head x. bo l ro nt co e set th

*Prices may vary depending on zones

DOC SPRINKLER

IRRIGATION • INSTALLATION • REPAIR

Call to set up appt.

405.408.5181

Email:TommyKeith1964@hotmail.com “The Doctor is Making House Calls”

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

24 years experience

314-3191

$25 service calls

cLASSIFIEDS

Homes

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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.

OpiOid prOblems? Call us! >> Outpatient medication assisted treatment >> Long term medication management for addiction Payment OPtiOns available

405.230.1180

3033 N. Walnut Ave. West Building 73105

facebOok

doing it! ...all the COOL KIDS are

OKG

facebOok.com/okgazeTte O kg a z e t t e . c o m | a u g u s t 2 9 , 2 0 1 8

2018 230i Coupe | $499/month*

2018 320i Sedan | $419/month*

2018 X2 xDrive 28i | $459/month*

VISIT [DEALER NAME] NOW FOR SPECIAL LEASE AND FINANCE OFFERS THROUGH BMW FINANCIAL SERVICES.

Jackie Cooper Imports 14145 BROADWAY EXT Edmond, OK 73013-4120 866-925-8896

2018 650i Gran Coupe | $1,189/month*

Imports 2018 X2 xDrive 28i, 36-month lease, $3,000 down, MSRP $41,295, Standard Terms 2018 320i Sedan, 36-month lease, $2,750 down, MSRP $38,695, Standard Terms 2018 740i, 36-month lease, $5,500 down, MSRP $85,795, Standard Terms

2018 X5 xDrive35i | $699/month*

BmW

2018 740i Sedan | $1,069/month*

14145 North Broadway Extension Edmond, OK 73013 | 866.925.9885

2018 230i Coupe, 36-month lease, $2,750 down, MSRP $38,695, Standard Terms 2018 650i Gran Coupe, 36-month lease, $5,500 down, MSRP $95,695, Standard Terms 2018 X5 xDrive, 36-month lease, $3,500 down, MSRP $62,195, 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 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; offers subject to change without prior notice. *August prices subject to change. European models shown.