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2 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE UNI_14-CGR-101_Oct_Combo_.indd 1
9/18/14 10:30 AM
CONTENTS 54
6
59
23
ON THE COVER
NEWS
LIFE
LIFE
From earthquakes to hiring booms, Oklahoma’s energy sector is a vital component of our state’s economy, for better and worse. It impacts everything from our landscapes to our laws. Read Ben Felder’s story on P. 6.
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Education: diverse district
16
OKG picks
46
6
Cover: energy state
20
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Community: Canadian County Children’s Justice Center
Food & Drink: Sheesh Mahal, Zoo Brew, rums, sommeliers, food briefs, OKG eat: bread
Books: Thunder Reading Challenge, Power, Politics, and the Decline of the Civil Rights Movement: A Fragile Coalition, 1967-1973
12
Chicken-Fried News
28
Culture: unusual hobbies
49
Sports: SportForward
14
Commentary
33
Culture: ZeroLandfill
50
Sudoku / Crossword
14
Letters
34
Culture: Plaza District Festival
52
36
Community: adoption
Music: Interpol, Gov’t Mule, Poliça, event listings, Beetyman
38
Performing Arts: Miss Gay Oklahoma America, The Music Man in Concert, The Grapes of Wrath
59
Film: Tusk, T-Rex, DVD reviews
61
Astrology
61
Classifieds
— Jennifer Chancellor, editor-in-chief
MISSION STATEMENT Oklahoma Gazette’s mission is to stimulate, examine and inform the public on local quality of life issues and social needs, to recognize community accomplishments, and to provide a forum for inspiration, participation and interaction across all media.
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OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 3
NEWS EDUCATION
Student of diversity A district’s diverse communities welcome a new superintendent.
Robert Neu hopes to learn Spanish. It’s not just a good career move for the new superintendents of a school system in which nearly half of all students are Hispanic. But it would also be Neu taking his own advice to the students of the Oklahoma City Public School District. “Our kids have got to understand diversity, and they have to be able to speak multiple languages,” Neu said. “That will be the key to them becoming a higher level thinker and that problem-solver that we need in our next generation.” Neu was invited to a diversity festival this month featuring several local organizations that work with parents and students of the district who have a background from another country. The event was a chance for the district’s minority communities to welcome Neu to the district, but OKC’s new superintendent also took it as an opportunity to announce his commitment to embracing the different cultures that call the school district home. Over the past 20 years, OKC’s Hispanic student population has grown from around 3,000 to 18,000, with students coming from 14 different Spanish-speaking nations. Eighteen of the district’s 54 elementary schools have Hispanic enrollments of at least 70 percent, and that number is expected to grow in the coming years. Growing Latino enrollment in public schools is a trend taking place across the country, as the number of Latino students in public schools across the country has increased 58 percent since 2000, reaching a total of 13 million students, according to Pew Research Center. Latinos currently make up 25 percent of the U.S. public school system and are projected to be the largest school-age population in America by 2050. While Neu says a culturally diverse district presents opportunity, there are also challenges. Even though many of the district’s Hispanic students speak English, some parents do not. “We teach them how to engage their children and be more involved and be more open to asking questions of the teachers,” said Deisy Escalera, a volunteer with a group that works
B EN FELD ER
BY BEN FELDER
Oklahoma City Superintendent Robert Neu poses for a picture with a group of traditional Spanish folk dancers at an event earlier this month that highlighted the school district’s diverse cultures. with Spanish-speaking parents in the OKC Public Schools district. “We do [the meetings] in demographics Spanish where we teach them about the educational system. We teach them how Source: OKCPS they can be involved and how they can help their children grow in Oklahoma 5% 3% City Public Schools.” Native Asian Escalera was at last month’s American diversity event and said Neu’s presence meant a lot to many of the parents and volunteers. “It helps that [Neu] understands that we are from different backgrounds and that he values us being bilingual,” Escalera said. “People think we are just from Mexico, and 20% that’s not the case. We have White different countries, and it’s 45% beautiful for them to come Hispanic together like this.” With a Spanish interpreter by his side, Neu 27% addressed the crowd and said African he was committed to making American the district a more inclusive place and wanted to see students of all backgrounds learning about other cultures and languages.
4 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
“Our cultural diversity, if embraced, if celebrated, if utilized, it will help us, it will enrich us, it will bind us together,” Neu said. “But also it will help us solve problems in unique ways that we’ve never thought of before.” Oklahoma City’s school system isn’t just home to a growing Hispanic population, as there are sizable AfricanAmerican, Native American and Asian populations in many schools. Vasithy Sengdara with the Asia Society of Oklahoma said Oklahoma City is home to nearly 30,000 AsianAmericans, including 3 percent of the district. “The [Asian community] has people who are second and third generation living in OKC,” Sengdara said. “It’s also a growing community in the school district.” Despite the large increase in Hispanic students in the country, the Asian community has the fastest growth rate of students in America, a statistic also reported by Pew Research Center.
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OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 5 9/2/14 3:29 PM
P HOTOS BY M A R K HA N COC K
NEWS COVER
Power up From earthquakes to the state budget, the energy sector is as much a part of our state as natural gas and oil is to the ground under our feet. BY BEN FELDER
Sitting on a platform at the top of Boone Pickens Stadium, minutes after Oklahoma State University’s back-andforth game with Kansas State ended in a 52-45 win, ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit’s eyes grew wide as another television anchor was asking a question about the big game. Herbstreit waited until the end of the question and then admitted he hadn’t heard a word. Instead, he had been distracted by the intense vibration of the stadium. “As I’ve been talking to you, we just had, I think, an earthquake,” Herbstreit said into the camera. “I literally thought the stadium was rocking like people were stepping down off this platform I was on.” It was Nov. 5, 2011, and the state’s largest ever recorded earthquake had just taken place 40 miles away in Sparks as a 5.6 magnitude quake could be felt beyond Oklahoma’s borders into Kansas and Texas. Herbstreit’s reaction was similar to thousands across Oklahoma, many of whom had never before felt the ground shake like that. Fast forward three years and the experience has become commonplace as Oklahoma has quickly become home to more earthquakes than any state besides California, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The increase in seismic activity originally drew theories that the state’s increase in underground injection well drilling was to blame, and this year, a study by Cornell University and the University of Colorado published in the journal Science backed up that claim.
Jason Roberts, driller on a Devon natural gas drilling rig in the Cana Field near Calumet, looks down through the drilling deck, preparing to guide a tool through.
Energy sector officials responded with their own rebuttals that the study was not inclusive of all facts, and the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association said more research was needed. Since then, more earthquakes have hit the state and suspicion over the link between drilling and quakes has grown. This month, Gov. Mary Fallin announced the creation of the Coordinating Council on Seismic Activity, which she said would be charged with further exploring the cause of earthquakes
in Oklahoma, which has seen more earthquakes of a 3.0 magnitude or higher this year than all previous years combined. “We want to be able to know what the facts are, what the science is, and bring the experts together,” Fallin said. The council Fallin will rely on to offer further insight into the matter is made up of state officials working with the energy sector, along with representatives from the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association and the Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association, organizations that advocate for the growth of oil and gas drilling. “We need to hear from some people who don’t depend on the oil and gas industry for their livelihood,” said Sen. Jerry Ellis, D-Valliant, about the council’s inclusion of oil and gas professionals who might not want to find a link between drilling and earthquakes. If the inclusion of oil and
Energy education
Devon Energy Cana Field natural gas drilling rig.
6 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
gas professionals in the discussion of policy that could impact their bottom line sounds a bit like a conflict of interest to people like Ellis, it isn’t anything new in state in which a quarter of all jobs across the state are tied to the energy sector and the growth rate of new oil wells is second only to Texas. A sophisticated and highly funded lobbying effort from the state’s energy sector has helped oil and gas companies sway policy decisions on everything from regulations to taxes. “We have been unwilling to tax the energy industry properly in Oklahoma,” said David Blatt, executive director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute. “And this year, we failed to fix it.” The left-leaning think tank pushed lawmakers this year to raise the horizontal drilling tax of 1 percent closer to the 7 percent tax that is typically levied on oil and gas production. It had support from dozens of lawmakers early in the 2014 legislative session, and Blatt’s organization commissioned a poll that showed 64 percent of Oklahomans were against tax breaks for oil and gas companies. However, oil companies pushed for a 2 percent tax that the Legislature eventually approved, despite the fact that the state’s budget continues to underperform based on needs in transportation, corrections and education. “We talk about how the energy sector is growing and how well the economy is doing ... but we continue to be confronted by sluggish [tax] revenue growth and budget shortfalls,” Blatt said. In North Dakota, another state experiencing a boom in oil and gas production, the state budget has seen double-digit percentage increases thanks to a taxing rate that is more than twice as high as Oklahoma’s. While Oklahoma has made some of the biggest cuts to education in the nation since 2008, North Dakota made the biggest increase, according to Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
“Magnificent!” —The Wall Street Journal
SEPT. 27 - MAY 6 CHICKASAW CULTURAL CENTER
Explore the world exposed when 101 ancient canoes were found in a dry lake bed. The acclaimed exhibit, with videos and interactive play. And canoes, old and new. canoes2014.com Sulphur, OK 580-622-7130
Produced by the Florida Museum of Natural History with support from the AEC Trust, Lastinger Family Foundation, State of Florida and VisitGainesville.
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OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 7 9/11/14 9:48 AM
NEWS COVER Oklahoma made some of the largest cuts to education Percent change in spending per student, inflation-adjusted, FY08 to FY13
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Lower taxes might mean a higher return for Oklahoma energy company shareholders, but its impact on education spending could create challenges for those same companies looking to hire local workers in the future. “Science and technology education are paramount for us in looking for [new workers],” Lance Robertson, vice president of Marathon Oil, told an audience at last month’s Governor’s Energy Conference in Oklahoma City. “We would like ... those to come from the state.” Workers with high levels of education in science and math are viewed as important to the energy industry, especially as new technology is implemented. However, those are two academic subjects Oklahoma has ranked below average in, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The education of the local workforce becomes more important as energy companies look to move to the region.
General Electric (GE) plans to open an oil and natural gas technology research center in Oklahoma City, a one-of-a-kind facility that is expected to add 130 highpaying jobs to the local workforce. “We picked Oklahoma City because it is in the heart of the oil and gas space,” Mark Little, GE’s director of global research, said last year when OKC was selected. The facility represents the region’s role as an energy hub, but it also highlights the evolution of an industry that is becoming more tech-based. “The next wave of [oil and gas] innovation is going to be open innovation and technology,” said Eric Gebhardt, chief technology officer for GE. “But one of the challenges is that the skills of the team we have developed [at the new facility] is based on the model of today. Having that culture of continuous learning and continuous change [is a challenge].” Oklahoma is underperforming in the Wind generators across a farmer’s field west of Weatherford. Oklahoma ranks seventh in the U.S. for windgenerated electricity.
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8 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
academic subjects that the energy sector needs, and the state is also struggling to produce workers with the specific skills that are required. “The skills gap in Oklahoma is one of the things we spend a lot of time talking about,” said Greg Winters, superintendent of Canadian Valley Technology Center in Canadian County. “People talk about the process of education all the time ... but quite frankly, I don’t think we spend enough time talking about the product of education.” Canadian Valley features several programs related to the energy sector, including classes in becoming a wind energy technician, which is a growing field in the state. Other schools have launched energy-related degree programs, like the Master of Business Administration in Energy program at the University of Oklahoma City. “[Students] are petroleum engineers or geologists or geophysicists, but they don’t know about business,” Meinders School of Business Dean Steve Agee told The Oklahoman this year. “They don’t know how to read financial statements, and they don’t know about balance sheets or energy economics.”
Private economy
While lawmakers have been criticized for not helping the tax base benefit more from the state’s large energy sector, the economic gains in the private sector are hard to ignore. Oklahoma’s 4.7 percent unemployment rate, which is 11th best in the nation, has been credited as a product of the energy industry’s growth over the past decade. The growth of drilling in western Oklahoma has sparked new life in rural communities, as 2,600 wells were completed in 2013, according to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Towns like Woodward and Weatherford have seen dramatic increases in residents and development in recent years. “Mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction industries were the most rapidly growing part of our nation’s economy over the last several years,” said U.S. Census Bureau Director John H. Thompson in a report that named the two western Oklahoma towns as part of the top-10 fastest growing small towns in America. “A major reason was the energy boom on the Plains.” Oklahoma City’s population gains in recent years are related to energy, but also other sectors like retail, technology and construction, which are also performing well. However, the fingerprints of energy companies located in the metro are all over developments, cultural institutions and sports teams that are new to the city. “The impact that the Devon CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Family Free Friday until 5pm
St. George Greek Orthodox Church 2101 NW 145th Street 751.1885
Visitors will have a chance to taste Greek food favorites, including a full dinner menu featuring a choice of a Greek-style roasted chicken or pastichio (Greek lasagna) or our newest addition — GRECIANSTYLE ROASTED LAMB! There will be many a la carte choices as well, including always-popular Greek sweets in the Festival bakery. Artists, vendors and a Greek-style grocery are on hand. The Greek band, “To Kefi,” will be performing live music all weekend and Greek folk dancing groups will perform traditional dances. Festival goers will be able to tour the beautiful Byzantine church and learn about the Greek Orthodox faith.
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headquarters has had on Oklahoma City and our overall perception of ourselves is huge,” Cathy O’Connor, president of the Alliance for Economic Development in Oklahoma City, said about the construction of Devon Tower. O’Connor said she believed energy companies that have recently constructed new headquarters, such as Devon Energy, Chesapeake Energy and SandRidge Energy, have raised the standards for development in OKC. Those new facilities have also sparked economic develop in downtown and the Classen Curve area. But O’Connor doesn’t credit the energy industry for all of OKC’s recent economic growth. “The average wage in Oklahoma City have risen, and a lot of that is due to the energy sector, but I think we have a more diversified economy than we were 10 or 20 years ago,” O’Connor said. Also, the city’s energy companies, two of which are on the Forbes 500 list, are also regular contributors to nonprofit organizations like the Oklahoma City Ballet, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
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Future of energy
For good or bad, earthquakes or economic development, the energy sector is a force in Oklahoma, and the region’s future might be closely tied to the rise or fall of an industry that employs thousands, spends millions and earns billions. Traditional oil and natural gas production continues to dominate the landscape, but the state is also experiencing the growth of alternative forms of energy, and that has created clashes between residents and big business in some places across the state. Oklahoma ranks seventh in the nation for electricity produced by wind generators, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), and the wind energy industry is expanding across the state each year. “The electricity generated by American wind power has more than tripled since 2008 not only due to
significant growth in new wind projects but also technology innovation leading to more productive wind turbines,” said Elizabeth Salerno, vice president of industry data and analysis for the AWEA. Massive wind farms have been constructed in western Oklahoma, but new farms built closer to the metro have raised ire from residents of more suburban communities who are concerned that 400-foot tall wind turbines pose a safety risk and are a nuisance. Residents in Canadian and Kingfisher counties formed an opposition group two years ago against a proposed wind farm near Piedmont, and the group successfully delayed construction and won an agreement from a major wind energy company to put proposed turbines farther away from some residential areas. The debate has also drawn the attention of state lawmakers who have said the growth of wind farms in populated areas needs to be monitored. “I am a supporter of wind energy, but they don’t have very much regulation in [Oklahoma], and they are moving in towards the metro area very fast,” said Rep. Rob Johnson, R-Yukon. The grassroots organization calling itself the Central Oklahoma Property Rights Association was successful in altering construction plans for a wind farm near Piedmont and showed an organized group of citizens can win in a fight against the energy sector. Another grassroots effort against energy is a petition seeking to overturn a bill that allows electricity companies to impose fees on property owners that choose to generate their own electricity. “From the moment I heard about this, I thought, ‘This is a bad deal,’” said Bob Waldrop, a volunteer with the No Sun Tax group that is collecting signatures. The group is trying to collect 51,000 signatures by Oct. 9 in order to allow voters in November to overturn Senate Bill 1456. Passed by the Legislature earlier this year, the “solar surcharge” bill permits utility companies to charge customers with solar panels or wind turbines a special fee. “Someone who invests in their own solar cells is making a capital investment that the electrical utilities have nothing to do with,” Waldrop said. Some of the region’s biggest successes are tied directly to the energy industry, and the future economic growth of Oklahoma City will rely heavily on future production of oil, natural gas and wind energy. At the same time, some of the biggest challenges facing Oklahoma, such as budget shortfalls, environmental protection and earthquakes and a shortage of skilled workers are directly tied to the energy sector.
NEWS COMMUNITY
Youth in reform Canadian County Children’s Justice Center offers a lot of help under one roof.
BY BEN FELDER
Bill Alexander believes the teenagers who spend time locked up at the Gary E. Miller Canadian County Children’s Justice Center are lucky. Luck isn’t an obvious description when you see teenagers in bright yellow jumpsuits spending hours in a stuffy classroom, having to ask permission to scratch their head or being confined to a jail cell at night. “I tell them, ‘You are lucky because you got to see is what it’s like to lose your freedom,’” said Alexander, the facility director. “They get a chance to realize being on the outside offers lots of freedoms you didn’t even realize you had.” Built in 1999, the justice center in El Reno is a unique facility that offers every conceivable resource the justice system has in helping children struggling with behavior issues and crime straighten out their lives before it’s too late. Besides a juvenile jail, the center houses a district attorney’s office, a juvenile court, an office of juvenile affairs and probation officers. There is also a free drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for residents of Canadian County and an alternative school for students kicked out of their home district. Built and operated from a 35-cent voter-approved county sales tax, the only county sales tax in Canadian County, the facility is one of the only in Oklahoma to offer such a comprehensive center for children and their families. Fifteen years after opening the center, Canadian County has seen its misdemeanors cut in half, despite being one of the fastest growing counties in the nation over the past decade. The number of adult felonies has also remained virtually unchanged, a fact Alexander believes is tied to the success of the center. One of the unique advantages the center has is its ability to work with kids before they are already stuck in the justice system. “We have parents who come in and say, ‘Can you help me with my kid? He is out of control,’” Alexander said. “In many counties in the state, they can’t do anything about it.” That’s because the justice system only gets involved following an arrest, which might be too late for many teens. However, in Canadian County, parents can request that their child be placed on probation before there is an arrest.
clockwise from left Bob Hughey, juvenile inmates dance to a workout video at Canadian County Children’s Justice Center, facility director Bill Alexander, inmate holding cell in El Reno. “Once they do that, the court has some teeth,” Alexander said. Obeying the rules of parents and school officials is criteria for the probation, a violation of which allows the county judge to step in and order the child into a three- to five-day sanctions program. “You can’t lock a kid up in a juvenile detention center unless they commit a felony,” Alexander said. “However, our sanctions program allows us to detain kids for disobeying their parents when they are on probation, and the judge can lock up the kid for three, four or five days. It’s a great program that lets kids know that
they have to do what people in authority tell them.” One wing of the justice center houses juveniles who have been arrested and are awaiting sentencing. Another wing is for those in the sanctions program, which functions like a jail facility. However, locking up kids isn’t the only function of the center. There is an outpatient and residential behavioral health service program, a 24-bed residential substance abuse program and a drug screening program parents can confidentially use at any time. “One of the advantages that I see here
is having so many different services under one roof,” said Eva Massey-Hottle, a councilor at the justice center. Massey-Hottle has worked at the center for 10 years, but before that, she had been with other juvenile programs. In her experience, the Canadian County facility is like none other across the state. “I can tell you in this agency, everyone seems to be going in the same direction,” Massey-Hottle said. “You get so much better results because we have all the services here and we are not running into that conflict between agencies.” The justice center offers a holistic approach that families can turn to when hope is on short supply. Christine Ethridge was a single mother, and her son, Matt, was running into problems. “He started hanging out with the wrong crowd,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do, but the center was a huge help.” Matt had gotten in trouble at school after being found with a gun and was sanctioned several times at the center. Ethridge figured the best thing she could do was allow the center to help her son. “When you have a troubled teen and you are a single parent, you feel all alone,” Ethridge said. Matt began to turn his life around, thanks in part to the center, and Ethridge said she began to see a bright future for her son. Matt died in a car accident at the age of 16, but Ethridge said it was a blessing to see her son on the right track before he passed away. “I used to joke that if your kid ever got in trouble, you want it to be in Canadian County,” Ethridge said. “They gave me hope.” As Alexander walked through the detention center, he stepped inside a classroom where a dozen teenagers in the sanctions program were in the middle of a daylong class. He instructed them to look up from their textbooks and asked what the most important lesson to learn at the center was. Various answers were offered, including respecting adults, taking responsibility for one’s actions and following the rules. “All those things are good. I hope you do learn them,” Alexander said. “But what I want you to learn more than anything is this is what it’s like to lose your freedom.”
OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 11
CHiCKEN CKEN Racketeering
The word often conjures images of coif-haired, heavy bottom-lipped gangsters strongarming balding bespectacled men, potbellied Gambino mobsters judiciously — yet succinctly and remorselessly — breaking bones and bleeding omega males for all the dimes in their puny pockets. At least that is what we see in our collective imagination. OKC-based Chesapeake Energy isn’t on par with those bloodless felons, but, you know, it was fun imagery. The company is, however, facing a felony racketeering charge in Michigan. It also was slapped with 20 counts of allegedly using false pretenses to lease land, Reuters reported. The company allegedly misrepresented facts in order to get what it wanted, including forming contracts that locked out competition and canceling deals after competition slackened. More than 1.4 million violent crimes are reported in the U.S. every
FR FRiED NEWS year — 12,658 are murders, and there are more than 9.9 million crimes involving property, including racketeering. Racketeering is defined by MerriamWebster as “one who obtains money by an illegal enterprise usually involving intimidation,” i.e., blackmail and extortion. Way to make us proud, Chesapeake.
Love the Boz! And the campus.
Online men’s entertainment website Thrillist recently announced its “25 most beautiful college campuses in America,” and guess what. Of the estimated 3,000 schools in our great nation, the University of Oklahoma made the grade. “Red brick Gothic buildings and an impeccably manicured quad adorned with flowers in the school’s colors (crimson and cream) highlight OU’s campus,” Chloe Pantazi wrote.
While not ranked by number, it’s still an honor. What shot the school to the top, in particular, is Bizzell Memorial Library, built in 1929. Not sure what decade writers for the site are living in, though. The piece ends with the exclamation (or is it a demand?) “Love the Boz!”
Ladylike?
Country superstar and Pink Pistol shop owner Miranda Lambert has delved into yet another new business venture. The Ladysmith bed and breakfast opened early this month in Tishomingo, where Lambert and husband Blake Shelton live. It’s very … pink country chic — think 18th-century French brothel meets the modern-day Wild West. Somewhat terrifying, actually. Lambert herself described it as “shabby chic meets rock ’n’ roll.” The establishment boasts eight guest rooms with colorful names: The
Judge, The Knaughty Pine, Laci Jill and Working Man Blues among them. Room descriptions on its website, theladysmith.us, include the phrases “for a secret night of fun” and “plenty of room to play.” The Ladysmith can also help you throw your next party. It has four party rooms — named 4:02 Tea Time, The French Quarter, Losa Lounge and 2nds Please — plus the Platinum Ballroom, which can accommodate 60-80 guests, is opening in October. So, basically, if you’re throwing a country-western Marie Antoinette wedding, The Ladysmith has everything you need.
Put down the beer
Toby Keith loves beer. In fact, he loves beer so much that, like, all of his songs are about beer: “Beers Ago,” “I Like Girls that Drink Beer,” “Beer for My Horses” and, our own personal favorite,
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If you are interested in this opportunity, please visit our website to complete an online application. AA/EOE M/F/D/V 12 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
“Get Drunk and be Somebody.” reported savingcountrymusic.com. Before a recent concert in The media reached out to Keith’s Noblesville, Indiana, it publicist, who said she has appeared that Keith never seen Keith too drunk YEAH DRUNK DY BO ME SO GET H took his own advice to work. OHHHH BE YEAH HHH DR GET D UN SOMEBO a little too literally, “She told me she’s R K U N K AN DY BE D D SOM RUNK EBOD getting drunk … and seen hundreds of DY O B Y E H SOM HHH DRUNK AND becoming a drunk his shows and that YEA UNK LE Y R D O D B E T T’ M S..GET S O GE OMEBOD S LETS person. he’s never had too Y AND B E DRUN K Because much to drink,” CBS H H H H SOME YEA BODY everything on the WISH-TV reporter Internet is true, here’s Jeff Wagner said. “But “proof” from several of she admitted she didn’t Keith’s fans on Twitter: attend this “#tobykeith is too drunk specific concert.” and keeps singing the same verse That’s a shame. It sounds like she repeatedly #gohometobyyouredrunk,” missed out on a doozy. @emilyelizabeths said. @Harpertown expressed displeasure Bad news by saying, “Toby Keith is more drunk Starting next year, Oklahoma driver’s than the crowd right now.” licenses can’t be used as valid ID when Ouch. you’re trying to get through security The remarkable coincidence, checkpoints in federal buildings. That’s though, is that Keith’s insistence that bad. the crowd shut up and hold on came in What’s worse is that as of 2016, the midst of his “Shut up & Hold on” they won’t be valid at Transportation tour. Security Administration checkpoints, Of course, Live Nation, the Klipsch including airports, either. Music Center and the Keith camp Why? Because our state leadership have fielded many requests for refunds,
has refused to comply with federal requirements that would make driver’s licenses more secure.
Ding-dong musicians
Next time, we’re thinking flowers. Or perhaps a polite hello. According to koco.com, a young woman was doing some routine carcleaning at a Circle K in Edmond when a young man appeared to be waiting to use the vacuum. But what happened next truly sucked. He proceeded to make light, weird small talk, including personal questions. The police report even says the Don Juan said, “You are the kind of girl for me.” He then began to serenade her with a guitar he had with him, explaining he was a recent college graduate. His performance ended with a show-stopper as he dropped his pants and paid tribute to her with his
manhood. The finale included a — ahem — manual demonstration. Surprisingly, the brief but memorable rendezvous ended with the woman quickly getting into her car and driving away. Koco.com cited a police report saying the young man followed her for several miles. Perhaps he thought she was playing hard to get? You might have gone the more traditional route, dude. Like dinner and a movie? Maybe meet for cocktails? Wait, not that kind of cocktail. We gave him points for originality, but only in the category of possible sexual harassment and a full-on assault on common sense. But wait; there’s more: The woman had the presence of mind (and of smartphone) to take pictures, which helped lead police to the suspect and an ID. Talk about cool under pressure. Hope you learned your lesson, man.
Ar t Culture Mu sic Food Fun
Honor • Tradition • Courage
OUR PEOPLE
YOU ARE INVITED TO EXPERIENCE THE CHICKASAW NATION ANNUAL MEETING & FESTIVAL – A WEEK OF CELEBRATION HONORING CHICKASAW CULTURE AND TRADITION. FOR A FULL LIST OF EVENTS, PLEASE VISIT: WWW.CHICKASAW.NET/ ANNUALMEETING OR CALL 580-371-2040
September 26 - October 4, 2014 BILL ANOATUBBY, GOVERNOR THE CHICKASAW NATION OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 13
COMMENTARY
Policing for profit meets Big Brother BY BRADY HENDERSON
Black Asphalt isn’t just used to pave roads. It is also the name of a hidden law enforcement database created by a private company in Guthrie whose role in American law enforcement’s growing practice of policing for profit was exposed in a recent three-part report in The Washington Post. This exposé and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Oklahoma’s recent open records lawsuit against the Logan County Sheriff for Black Asphalt records have produced many questions about what Black Asphalt is and what it means for you and me. In simple terms, Black Asphalt is a web-based networking and data tool that allows police officers across America to communicate about suspects, searches and suspicions without having to use their departments’ normal record-keeping
systems. Up to 25,000 officers have used it since its creation in 2004 while policing our nation’s highways. Such a tool might not sound like a bad idea. But what frees individual police from the restrictions of their departments’ communication systems also frees these records from any real accountability or oversight. Black Asphalt is not any law enforcement database but a secret law enforcement database hidden from the eyes of our courts and invisible to the people whose activities and information are tracked within it. Much like National Security Agency domestic spying programs that amass huge amounts of personal data daily, Black Asphalt is as opaque as its road-paving namesake. More concerning its use in a growing practice of policing for profit, in which lax asset forfeiture laws
allow cash-strapped or unscrupulous departments to seize cash or property without ever convicting or even charging the owner with a crime. Black Asphalt is designed not just for posting of information on criminal activity but for dealing with data on anyone whom any officer considers suspicious at any time, for any reason, so that seizures, not just safety, can be maximized. If you have been pulled over or questioned by a law enforcement officer in the last 10 years, it is possible that information about who you are and what you were doing was posted there without your knowledge or consent. Whether your information was taken and what has happened to it since then is anybody’s guess. That is why the ACLU of Oklahoma filed suit to get access to records of and about the Black Asphalt
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.
system. The Logan County Sheriff took control of Black Asphalt in 2012 but has yet to share more than minimal information about it. No amount of “trust us” will suffice in place of true transparency and accountability. In many Oklahoma communities, trust of law enforcement is at a dangerous low. Recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, show what can happen when people cannot trust those who are there to protect them. Thousands of officers in Oklahoma and across the U.S. put their lives on the line every day to honorably keep us safe and free. But when the actions of even a small number of officers blur the line between cops and robbers, it erodes the public’s trust in all. Brady Henderson is Legal Director of the ACLU of Oklahoma, our state’s affiliate of America’s largest civil rights organization.
LETTERS Oklahoma Gazette provides an open forum for the discussion of all points of view in its Letters to the Editor section. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Letters can be mailed, faxed, emailed to jchancellor@okgazette.com or sent online at okgazette.com. Include a city of residence and contact number for verification.
Just say no to war
Bombing and sending U.S. advisors is proposed in response to ISIS in Iraq. I’m telling Congress and the White House, “Not another war in the Middle East.” We tried that, and it backfired. The two wars of that era brought only destruction in Iraq and Afghanistan and resentments against the US around the world. When the Iraq War was launched, taxes were cut instead of raised to pay for it. No surprise that debts in the trillions resulted. Now, Dick Cheney wants to do it again. Before the Iraq invasion, Cheney told Tim Russert on Meet the Press that American troops would be welcomed as liberators and the war would be over in weeks. Why the national media still seek
Cheney’s opinion is mysterious. President Obama is dead wrong on this issue and must hear from the people, “Just say no to war.” — Nathaniel Batchelder Oklahoma City You’ve got to be kidding
Under “Who’s the best?” (Chicken-Fried News, Sept. 10, Oklahoma Gazette) there is a grammatical error in the first sentence: “University of Oklahoma: They’re football team is the best!” It should be their, the possessive form. It’s quite ironic since this article is referring to a grammatical error (almost the identical one). I write because, as a person with extensive proofreading experience, I see and hear errors like this every day in all forms of media. So please solve this mystery: Is it an error, a joke or a test? — Karen Litsey Oklahoma City Editor’s note: It was definitely a joke. Grammar jokes are our specialty. They’re tattoos, made by artists
I am an avid follower of this publication. I have been reading the articles, the
14 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
editorials, silly interviews, all of it, for years. The one thing that is fun for local business owners such as myself to be involved with is the Best of OKC campaign. It’s really fun and quite rewarding as a business owner to get a certificate even for runner-up in any category. It helps let you know you are on the right track, so to speak. I couldn’t afford advertising the first few years owning my own tattoo business, so the recognition spoke volumes about the product I was providing my community. The “short” version of this rant is this: Why isn’t there a separate category for tattooing anymore? And
you included “best place to get a nonsurgical update.” How cool does that even sound? Just say it out loud to yourself: “Hey man, check out this sweet non-surgical update I got last night at blah blah blah tattoos.” Any city I travel to treats tattooing and the studios as fun destination spots to be proud of. After all, tattooists are local artists! So next year, I’m going to get everyone in the state to vote my tattoo studio into the best local sandwich place. Seems legit. Right? — Joshua Crain Norman
OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 15
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OKG picks are events
recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.
BOOKS VALID ON DINNERS UP TO $1099 ONLY. DISCOUNT TAKEN OFF EQUAL OR LESSER PURCHASE. LIMIT 2 COUPONS PER PERSON. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS. EXPIRES 10/1/14.
Michael Hightower Book Signing, author of Banking in Oklahoma 1907-2000, 5:30-7 p.m., Sept. 25. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. THU Sharon Srock Book Signing, author of Pam, 3-4:30 p.m., Sept. 27. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT Dan Fagin Book Signing, Oklahoma native and author of the Pulitzer Prize winning book Tom’s River, 5-7 p.m., Sept. 27. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT Joe Harris Signing, comic writer signs copies of his work, 1-5 p.m., Sept. 28. New World Comics, 6219 N. Meridian Ave., 721-7634, newworldcomics.net. SUN The Boor Reading, one of Anton Chekhov’s greatest comedies read by Dr. Robert McGill and Kathryn McGill, noon-1 p.m., Oct. 1. Room 226, Max Chambers Library, University of Central Oklahoma, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, 974-2000, uco.edu. WED
11AM-9PM | MON-SAT • 11AM-4PM | SUN
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FILM Jane Goodall’s Wild Chimpanzees, (Canada, 2002, dir. David Lickley) the story of zoologist Dr. Jane Goodall and the bond she built with the chimpanzees she studied. Oklahoma Science Museum, 2100 NE 52nd St., 6023760, sciencemuseum.org. WED-WED Pandas: The Journey Home, (U.S., 2014, dir. Nicolas Brown) a look into one of the most incredible conservation efforts in human history. Oklahoma Science Museum, 2100 Northeast 52nd St., 602-3760, sciencemuseum.org. WED-WED A Spell to Ward Off the Darkness, (U.S., 2013, dir. Ben Rivers & Ben Russell) events in musician Robert A.A. Lowe’s life propose the possibility of a present-day utopia, 7 p.m., Sept. 25. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 236-3100, okcmoa.com. THU
Frankly, my dear, we do give a damn about Gone with the Wind. Often considered a landmark of Hollywood cinema, Victor Fleming’s adaptation of the highly regarded novel has been sweeping viewers off their feet since its 1939 release. Now, you can experience its magic on the big screen in its original 1:37 aspect ratio at 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday. Participating theaters include AMC Quail Springs 24, 2501 W. Memorial Road, and Cinemark Tinseltown USA, 6001 N. Martin Luther King Ave. Tickets are $3.75-$12.50. Visit fathomevents.com.
Sunday, Wednesday
Groovefest, human rights awareness festival featuring live music, vendors, speakers and fun activities, Sept. 28. Andrews Park, 201 W. Daws St., Norman, 366-5472, ci.norman.ok.us. SUN
OCTOBER 5
THE HEAD & THE HEART
FOOD
OCTOBER 6
ZooBrew, beer-tasting event featuring beer by local breweries and distributors, live music, appetizers and a silent auction, 6:30-9 p.m., Sept. 26. Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Pl., 424-3344, okczoo.com. FRI
AFI
OCTOBER 16
OLD 97S
OCTOBER 18
CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD TULSA, OK ★ 423 NORTH MAIN ST. TICKETS: cainsballroom.com or 877.4.FLY.TIX
Heritage Hills Historic Home Tour, home and garden tour of the historic neighborhood, noon-5 p.m., Sept. 27-28. Overholser Mansion, 405 NW 15th St., 525-5325, overholsermansion.org. SAT-SUN Derby Day “Off to the Races”, hosted by motivational speaker and professional coach Aprille Franks-Hunt, the evening will consist of dinner, dancing and live entertainment, 2-6 p.m., Sept. 28. Remington Park, 1 Remington Place, 424-9000, remingtonpark.com. SUN
OCTOBER 4
#CHASEDREAMSTOUR
Wine, Women & Shoes, wine tasting, shopping, live and silent auctions and raffles; all proceeds go to Impact Oklahoma, 5-9 p.m., Sept. 26. Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, 7000 NW Grand Blvd., 848-5611, okcgcc. com. FRI
Brown Bag Lunch Speaker Series, join Daniel Meunier from Laurel Leaf Landscape for a fall potting demonstration, noon-1 p.m., Sept. 25. Myriad Botanical
KILL THE NOISE (16+)
OCTOBER 7
Red Silo Productions at Reding Farm, experience Oklahoma’s largest corn maize along with hayrides, 6-10 p.m., Sept. 26; 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Sept. 27; 1-6 p.m., Sept. 28. Reding Farm, 614 Reding Road, Chickasha, 222-0624, redsiloproductions.com. FRI-SUN
HAPPENINGS
GASLIGHT ANTHEM
KALIN & MYLES
Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 445-7080, myriadgardens. org. THU
Like Father, Like Son, (Japan, 2012, dir. Hirokazu Koreeda) after learning that his son was switched at birth, a man is faced with the decision of whether to choose his biological son or the son he raised as his own, 2 p.m., Sept. 28. Meinders School of Business, NW 27th St. & McKinley Ave. SUN
PROVID ED
SEPTEMBER 26 JOSH ABBOTT BAND SEPTEMBER 30 INTERPOL OCTOBER 3
Manhattan Short Film Festival, view and vote on this year’s winning short film, 5:30-8:30 p.m., Sept. 26-27; 2 p.m., Sept. 28. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 236-3100, okcmoa.com. FRI-SUN
Gone with the Wind
Make Guthrie Weird You know that truly awful phrase, “Keep Norman normal”? Yeah, well, we like Guthrie’s take on the Austin catchphrase better. This month’s Make Guthrie Weird block party series features food trucks, street activities and a stacked musical lineup featuring Parker Millsap, Kierston White, John Calvin Abney and Massey. Weirdness commences 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the corner of Second Street and Harrison Avenue in Guthrie. Admission is free. Visit facebook.com/MakeGuthrieWeird.
Saturday
16 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
H&8th Night Market, street festival built around a lineup of the city’s top gourmet food trucks, 7-11 p.m., Sept. 26. H&8th Night Market, 900 N. Hudson Ave., h8thokc.com. FRI Saturday Cooking Class, learn to make the classic Philly cheesesteak, 10-11 a.m., Sept. 27. Uptown Grocery Co., 1230 W. Covell Rd., Edmond, 509-2700, uptowngroceryco.com. SAT Evening Cooking Class, learn the art of making sushi, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Sept. 30. Francis Tuttle Technology Center-Rockwell Campus, 12777 N. Rockwell Ave., 7174900, francistuttle.edu. TUE
An Invitation to Catholics to Come Home Begins Tuesday, Sept. 30th• 6 pm
We welcome Catholics who no longer attend Mass regularly. Do you have issues with the Church you would like to discuss? Do you want to come home to the Church?
YOUTH Day Out with Thomas, take a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine along with arts and crafts, stories and more, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sept. 26-28. Oklahoma Railway Museum, 3400 NE Grand Blvd., 4248222, oklahomarailwaymuseum.org. FRI-SUN
Please join us for five informal group discussions on Tuesdays, Sept. 30th, to Oct. 28th from 6-7 pm at 5024 N. Grove, in the Kastner Room.
Professor Spillsby Hunts for Treasure, interactive plays for children ages 3-10 based on classics by William Shakespeare, 11 a.m., Sept. 27. Reduxion Theatre Company, 1613 N. Broadway Ave., 6513191, reduxiontheatre.com. SAT
For more information call St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church at 789-2595
Walk on the Wild Side, discover and learn to identify Oklahoma animals by their tracks, 9 a.m.noon, Sept. 27. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 325-4712, snomnh.ou.edu. SAT
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Science in Action & Object I.D. Day, bring your unidentified natural history objects to this science-packed day of discovery, 1-5 p.m., Sept. 28. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 3254712, snomnh.ou.edu. SUN Little Big Chef, learn to make meat pies at this cooking class for parents and kids, 2-4:30 p.m., Sept. 28. Uptown Grocery Co., 1230 W. Covell Rd., Edmond, 509-2700, uptowngroceryco.com. SUN
PERFORMING ARTS Tim Kidd, stand-up comedy, 8 p.m. Sept. 24-25; 8, 10:30 p.m., Sept. 26-27. Loony Bin Comedy Club, 8503 N. Rockwell Ave., 239-4242, loonybincomedy.com. WED-SAT OKC Improv Fall Run, musicals improvised on the spot, 7:30, 9, 10:30 p.m., Sept. 26. Reduxion Theatre Company, 1613 N. Broadway Ave., 6513191, reduxiontheatre.com. FRI
SHANNON CORNMAN/FILE
The Grapes of Wrath, adaption of John Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, 8 p.m., Sept. 26; 2 & 8 p.m., Sept. 27; 2 p.m., Sept. 28. Burg Auditorium, 2501 N. Blackwelder. FRI-SUN
Dine Out OKC Around 25 percent of Oklahoma children struggle with hunger. But as part of National Hunger Awareness month, you can do your part to help end childhood hunger by filling your belly at a host of restaurants around the city, with special offers benefitting Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. The specials run through Sunday. For a list of participating restaurants, call 463-7308 or visit dineoutokc.com.
Wednesday–Sunday
OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 17
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continued
P R E S E N T S
The Music Man in Concert BITES+BREWS+BANDS FARMERS MARKET PAVILION
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elderly and disabled persons who are unable to prepare meals for themselves.
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Marian, Madam Librarian, Shirley — no matter what you call her, Shirley Jones is a legend. And you can see one of the stars of the classic 1962 musical film The Music Man narrate and sing along with the film in a live, onstage performance. The Music Man in Concert comes through town (much like Harold Hill, but with better intentions) for a one-night only event beginning at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. Tickets are $25-$75. Call 297-2584 or visit okcciviccenter.com. See our story on page 40.
Monday Carrie the Musical, adapted from the novel by Stephen King, a teenage outcast discovers she has a special power, 8 p.m., Sept. 26; 3, 8 p.m., Sept. 27; 3 p.m., Sept. 28. Weitzenhoffer Theatre, 563 Elm Ave., Norman, 325-7370, ou.edu/finearts. FRI-SUN Tommy Emmanuel in Concert, Australian guitarist and two-time Grammy nominee, 7 p.m., Sept. 28. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. SUN
ACTIVE Yoga at DNA, group yoga at the gallery during closed hours, 10 a.m., Sept. 28; 8 p.m., Sept. 29, Oct. 1. DNA Galleries, 1709 N.W. 16th, 525-3499, dnagalleries.com. SUN-MON, WED ICF Canoe Marathon World Championship, athletes from around the world will compete for the title, Sept. 25-28. Boathouse District, 725 S. Lincoln Blvd., 5524040, boathousedistrict.org. THU-SUN The Air National Guard Mobile Experience, simulated challenges that replicate real-life experiences of those in the National Guard during basic training, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sept. 26; 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sept. 27; 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Sept. 28. Boathouse District, 725 S. Lincoln Blvd., 5524040, boathousedistrict.org. FRI-SUN Fitness and Wellness Sampler, fitness speed dating featuring 30-minute workshops to sample different activities ranging from yoga and tai chi to Cross Fit and personal training, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Sept. 27. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 445-7080, myriadgardens.org. SAT PaddleFest Dragon Boat Festival, teams of 10-20 paddle to the beat of a drummer in an ornate dragon head canoe, 5 p.m., Sept. 27. Boathouse District, 725 S. Lincoln Blvd., 552-4040, boathousedistrict.org. SAT
Rulewicz
Rulewicz Foundation Bracken Operating, LLC www.chadrogezdesign.com
18 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
Connection, a collaborative exhibit of thoughtprovoking artwork by Nathan Lee, Samia Allaw Dempsey, Behnaz Sohrabian and Paul Medina. Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum, 1400 Classen Blvd., 235-4458, oklahomaheritage.com. Dale Martin Southwest Artwork Exhibit, awardwinning and nationally renowned artist. The Summer Wine Art Gallery, 2928 B Paseo St., 831-3279, summerwinegallery.com. Eclectic Landscapes, exhibit showcasing watercolors by Rita Bush, Scott Ogee and Marcio White. Owens Arts Place Museum, 1202 E. Harrison Ave., Guthrie, 260-0204, owensmuseum.com. Fettered-Unfettered Exhibition, contemporary works and installations by Heather Clark Hilliard. Nona Jean Hulsey Gallery, NW 27th and Blackwelder Ave, okcu. edu/visualart/exhibits. Figure Drawing, learn to render the human figure quickly and accurately, 7-9 p.m., Oct. 1. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org. WED Finding Meaning: The Art of Recovery, recoverythemed art show recognizing courageous individuals who face the challenge of recovery. Dreamer Concepts Studio & Foundation, 324 E. Main St., Norman, 7010048, dreamerconcepts.org. Istvan Gallery Fall Art Show, art installation featuring internationally recognized artist E.K. Jeong and Tulsa artist Jesse Whittle. Verbode, 415 N. Broadway Ave., #101, 850-0362, istvangallery.com.
VISUAL ARTS
Lifetiles: The Optically Animated Art of Rufus Butler Seder, exhibit of wall art that seems to move and come to life as the viewer passes by. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St., 602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org.
Autocatalysis, exhibit showcasing OU students’ works of art that incorporate nontraditional media and emerging technologies. The Lightwell Gallery, 520 Parrington Oval, Rm. 202, Norman, 325-2691, ou.edu.
Mike Larsen, Chickasaw painter and sculptor whose work reflects historic events. Exhibit C, 1 E. Sheridan Ave., Ste. 100, 767-8900, chickasawcountry.com/ explore/view/exhibit-c.
Foundation
Community Parters
Concepts & Models, a variety of experiential pieces being created for future exhibits which will evolve with each showing. Firehouse Art Center, 444 S. Flood Ave., Norman, 329-4523, normanfirehouse.com.
COURTE SY OKL A HOM A HI STOR I A L S OC I E T Y
Music of the Dust Bowl As damaging and horrifying as it was, the Dust Bowl inspired some truly great art, and the Oklahoma Historical Society seeks to capture the spirit of the times with Music of the Dust Bowl. The concert — presented in conjunction with CityRep’s performance of The Grapes of Wrath — features Monica Taylor, Harold Aldridge and Shelby Eicher playing some of the music that defined an era. The show begins 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive. Admission is free for OHS members. Call 522-5202.
WOMEN’S HEALTH FORUM SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 10
Saturday–Sunday Nathan Guidry, ink cut-out illustrations of mythical creatures inspired by Oklahoma wildlife. DNA Galleries, 1709 NW 16th St., 525-3499, dnagalleries. com. RARE: Portraits of America’s Endangered Species, well-known endangered species like bald eagles and sea turtles are showcased alongside more unfamiliar species. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua, Norman, 325-4712, snomnh.ou.edu.
Shane Cox, realist oil painter from Oklahoma. Red Dirt Gallery, 13100 N. Colony Pointe Blvd., Piedmont, 657-6207, reddirtartists.com.
There’s nothing as powerful and healing as a good laugh, and that’s the theme of this year’s INTEGRIS Women’s Health Forum: Laughter is the Best Medicine, with 20+ events at some of the metro’s hippest venues – and many are free. Good health is no joke, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun talking about it.
Trent Lawson, exhibit featuring the kitsch velvet painter. DNA Galleries, 1709 NW 16th St., 525-3499, dnagalleries.com.
PREPARING FOR CHILDBIRTH AND BEYOND Wednesday, Oct. 1 – 6:30 p.m. · Hensley’s Top Shelf Grill, Yukon · Whether you’re just starting to think about having children or already have one on the way, Dr. Mitro has answers to your questions. CHOICES FOR BIRTH CONTROL AND A HEALTHY HEART Friday, Oct. 3 – 11:30 a.m. · Café do Brasil, OKC · INTEGRIS cardiologist Dr. Mack discusses keeping your heart healthy and gynecologist Dr. Stone brings the facts on birth control. PART OF THE FAMILY Wednesday, Oct. 8 – 11:30 a.m. · Bellini’s Ristorante, OKC · Choosing a pediatrician is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your child. Hear from pediatrician Dr. Burget and pediatric neurologist Dr. Stocco on how to make the right choices for your family.
PROVIDED
That’s just a small sample of what’s to come. See the full lineup and register at integrisok.com/whf.
Art Awakening Mental illness is an often debilitating disease. But NorthCare’s second annual Art Awakening show offers a chance to reduce the stigma of mental illness and benefit its victims through artistic expression. A wide range of paintings, sketches, sculpture, photography and other mediums will be on display 6-9 p.m. Thursday at NorthCare, 1140 N. Hudson Ave. Admission is free, and proceeds from the works on sale will go directly to the artists themselves. Call 858-2964 or visit northcare.com.
Thursday
For OKG music picks
integrisok.com/whf | 405-951-2277
see page 57
OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 19 UNI_14-IN-167_WHF_.indd 3
9/5/14 3:01 PM
LIFE FOOD & DRINK
Sheesh!
MARK HANCOCK
Sheesh Mahal is a little-known palace of unbelievably satisfying Indian and Pakistani fare. Why aren’t you there?
BY GREG ELWELL
Sheesh Mahal 4621 N. MAY AVE. 778-8469 WHAT WORKS: CHICKEN TIKKA, BUTTER CHICKEN, DAAL AND SO MUCH MORE. WHAT NEEDS WORK: THEY COULD DEFINITELY REHAB THE BOOTHS A BIT. TIP: ORDER RICE. IT DOESN’T COME WITH EVERYTHING.
I worry about Sheesh Mahal. Not the way I worry about my kids or my job or global warming, because those things don’t really matter. But when I go into that little building at 4621 N. May Ave. and I don’t see every table full, I worry. Restaurants need customers to stay open. I’ve tried imagining my life without Sheesh ... and it’s not pretty. Serving a mix of Indian and Pakistani cuisine, Sheesh Mahal is making some truly tremendous food. My first bite of its chicken kabob ($4.99) had me reeling. Is it legal to make chicken taste this good? This tender and flavorful? And, if so, why isn’t anybody else doing it? Similar, but a little different, the malai tikka ($4.99), in which the
chicken is marinated in a thick yogurt and spices, is phenomenal. The firesinged meat has a satisfying crunch and chew before melting away. Want less meat? I don’t understand what those words mean. But, whatever. Get the daal ($4.99). So much flavor is packed into this spicy stew. This food will stick to your ribs and set your mouth ablaze. Eat it alone, over rice or dip your naan ($1.50) or roti ($1.99) in it. However you choose, it’s deeply satisfying. How does Pakistani food differ from Indian food? Well, the thing I notice most is the addition of beef. And if you get the aloo keema ($6.99), be prepared to fight your dining companions and possible the people in the next booth. They will want a bite, and you should not give it to them. Medium-diced beef is stewed with potatoes, onions and spices to form a starchy, lip-smacking dish you will love. The chicken biryani ($5.99) surprised me, not because it was good (it was) but because the chicken was still on the bone. As long as that doesn’t bother you, I highly recommend this spiced, fried rice. It’s good hot and pretty tasty after a day in the fridge.
20 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
Did I forget the samosa ($1.50)? I can never forget the samosa. A fried dumpling full of potatoes and spice and oh my god I want one right now. Careful, though — these things pack a kick. You won’t stop eating it, of course, but your mouth will feel the burn. The palak paneer ($5.99) is wonderful, though it can be a little bitter. But you can soothe that with a mouthful of the incredibly decadent butter chicken ($6.99). Look, I love that orange chicken tikka masala as much as anyone, but Sheesh Mahal’s butter chicken puts them all to shame. So rich. The chicken is meltingly tender. The spices are tempered by that deep, luscious, buttery flavor. A musttry. Truth be told, there are only two things I don’t love at Sheesh: 1. The falafel sandwich ($5.99) was a little too dry and the falafels were lacking in flavor. 2. The fact that it’s not packed full of customers every time I go in. Oklahoma City, this is a great restaurant. Living in the bones of the old Zorba’s, this restaurant is not trying to be fancy. There’s no artifice. All
from left An assortment of Sheesh Mahal food includes garlic naan, daal, butter chicken, malai tikka chicken and a plate of rice biryani.
All Sheesh Mahal does is serve up some excellent Indian and Pakistani cuisine, and not nearly enough people are enjoying it.
Sheesh Mahal does is serve up some excellent Indian and Pakistani cuisine, and not nearly enough people are enjoying it. So I worry, yes. Because if Sheesh Mahal goes, all that will be left in that old building on May is my broken heart/stomach. They’re basically the same thing.
OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 21
Foam party The sixth annual Zoo Brew promises to be a bubbly good time.
BY DEVON GREEN
Zoo Brew VI 6:30-9 P.M. FRIDAY OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO 2000 REMINGTON PLACE OKCZOO.COM
The Oklahoma History Presents
425-0618 $35-$45 (ADULTS ONLY)
Visit the new History of Oil and Gas in Oklahoma exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center! See the first natural gas powered motorcycle limited time only!
800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, OKC (405) 522-0765 okhistory.org Monday - Saturday, 10 - 5 Research Library
Museum Store
22 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
Cafe
Zoo Brew is one of the only adultsonly events that the Oklahoma City Zoo hosts, and it is a favorite for staff and guests alike. On Friday, guests can spend an evening on the unique grounds of the OKC Zoo with seasonal and local beers and bites from Contemporary Catering and OKC Zoo Catering. “This is the most fun event we have,” special event planner Brianne Hinojosa said. “We start planning right around July.” Local band Banana Seat will perform, and the party benefits the Patricia and Byron J. Gambulos ZooZeum. The ZooZeum was created in part due to Amy Dee Stephens’ two books about the history of the zoo. Her second book, Oklahoma City Zoo, 1960-2013, arrived on bookshelves last month. Proceeds from Zoo Brew VI will help ensure that the ZooZeum is a place of continuing education about the history and future of the zoo, which is over 110 years old. “The beers we like to bring to showcase are beers that are new to the state,” said Byron Blake, general manager of Byron’s Liquor Warehouse, an event sponsor. “We also love to do seasonal releases, the
More than 30 beers will be featured at this year’s Zoo Brew. Oktoberfests, the pumpkin ales, so that people know what they have to look forward to.” The event is in Roughneck Pavilion, near the carousel. The beer comes from a dozen distributors and includes mostly seasonal brews new on the scene this year. Blake elaborated on the beers, particularly local ones, he’s looking forward to bringing to the party. “I would say this year, COOP … is definitely on my list. Another is Santa Fe Brewing Company’s Oktoberfest and, even thought it’s not technically a beer, Ace Pumpkin Cider.” Local breweries set for the party include Roughtail Brewing Company, Mustang Brewing Company and Belle Isle Brewery. Local brew club Yeastie Boys will also be on hand, helping spread the word of home brewing and offering samples. The event is open to both members and nonmembers of ZooFriends, but keep in mind that the event sells out every year. It’s best to get your tickets as soon as possible to avoid missing out on the fun. Pre-purchased tickets are available the night of the event at the global pavilion inside the entrance. Attendees receive a commemorative tasting beer mug to sip to their heart’s content. The event will happen rain or shine. On the off chance there is drizzle, bring your umbrellas and dance in the puddles, especially after a pint or four.
PROVIDED
LIFE FOOD & DRINK
LIFE FOOD & DRINK
Rehearsal dinner, bridal showers & wedding needs!
SHANNON CORNMAN
Rum it in
Count on us for your
Belly Dancing Saturdays • 8:30
with cookie trays, party trays & party subs, breads & pastries
6014 N. May • 947-7788 www.zorbasokc.com
Locals awash in the surging trend of naturally sweetened rums. BY GREG HORTON
When Rick Naifeh, owner of Premium Brands, a local wine and spirits brokerage, asked the Oklahoma Bartenders Guild what the state was lacking in terms of spirits, the answer was nearly a consensus: aged Demerara rum. Oklahoma has had a selection of excellent aged rums for many years, but El Dorado from Guyana, South America, is the first line of Demerara rum in the state. Jeff Cole, secretary of the Oklahoma Bartenders Guild, said the difference is one of style and character, and much of that has to do with the process by which sugar is made. Rum is distilled from sugar cane juice, crystalized sugar cane juice or molasses, which is a byproduct of the process of converting sugar cane to processed sugar. Most rums are made with molasses, and because of that, the character of the rum suffers because the uniqueness of the cane is removed in processing. Demerara sugar is crystallized sugar cane juice, and because it does not go through the bleaching and other processing stages, the unique characteristics of the South American region from which it draws its name are preserved. “The Demerara sugar gives the rum rich, earthy flavors that would be removed in processing. It’s not just a matter of style; the character and flavor are affected as well,” Cole said. El Dorado Rum is distilled exclusively from Demerara sugar and then aged in oak barrels. The line is divided into fine cask aged and luxury cask aged, and Oklahoma has nearly every rum in both categories. The former includes 3-, 5-, and 8-year rums, and the latter 12-, 15-, 18-, 21-, and 25-year rums. The younger rums are considered quality enough for sipping, but they are commonly mixed into cocktails as well. “Rum hasn’t been in style in Oklahoma in a while,” Cole said. “But these rums will enable bartenders to play around with classic rum cocktails because the Demerara will create different flavor versions of the classics.”
Jeff Cole of the O Bar at The Ambasssdor Hotel pours, smells and samples a glass of El Dorado Rum. The luxury rums are not supposed to be mixed in cocktails; they are for sipping. The rums are made using several different kinds of stills, and Cole said that means different ages will appeal to different kinds of drinkers. In other words, just as a Scotch drinker likes aged whiskey with a cigar, they will likely find that they enjoy the same cigar with a 21or 25-year El Dorado Rum. The O Bar at the Ambassador Hotel, 1200 N. Walker Ave., and Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse, 7 Mickey Mantle Drive, have a few selections of the El Dorado Rums, so you can try it before you buy it at your favorite liquor store or wine shop. Freeman’s Liquor Mart, 4401 N. Western Ave., and Spirit Shop, 1117 Garver St. in Norman, both have El Dorado Rum on the shelf. Aged rums don’t just come in the Demerara style, though. Flor de Caña Centenario Gold 18 Year is made by distilling molasses, and it has been in the state for some time. The Nicaraguan distillery has been in business for more than 100 years, and its rums have won Best in Class and Gold Medal awards at international competitions five times in the past 15 years. Everything you expect from an aged rum is present in the Flor de Caña, including cocoa, spices, dried fruit and earth. Like the El Dorado rums, this one is made for sipping, either neat or on the rocks. Cole did recommend that ice not be added to any rums over 20 years old though. Premium rum is not sweet, contrary to what people expect, and some is downright earthy and smoky. Mount Gay is one of the finest distillers on the island of Barbados, and its Extra Old is a complex blend of rums that have been aged a minimum of 8 years to a maximum of 15. The Mount Gay is smoky and layered with complex floral and fruit flavors.
M-F 7am-6:30pm • Sat 9:30am-4pm 2310 N Western 524-0887
OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 23
LIFE FOOD & DRINK
Amie Hendrickson is one of a small but growing number of Oklahoma women to earn sommelier certification.
Wine and women There are few female wine experts in Oklahoma, but the culture is changing.
BY GREG HORTON
Many New York restaurants found that their wine sales increased when they hired female sommeliers. — Kasi Shelton
Also, there are four tiers of certification for sommeliers: introductory, certified, advanced and master. The levels increase in difficulty
and the amount of time required to earn each level. Training is overseen by the Court of Master Sommeliers, an international organization founded in 1977 to strengthen standards of beverage service in dining establishments and hotels, chiefly in regard to wine and food pairing.
The only woman in the room
Amie Hendrickson, a level two certified sommelier at Edmond Wine Shop, 1520 S. Boulevard, in Edmond, began her career 16 years ago, when she took a job as a holiday salesperson at the shop. She has never left. Hendrickson said she was the only woman in the room when she sat for the test to become a certified sommelier in 2012. “At that time, there were just over 1,000 certified female sommeliers in the U.S.,” Hendrickson said. Today, she estimates there are around 3,600. “More and more ladies are finding their way into the industry, and I’ve seen the numbers grow over the years,” she said. Still, the numbers are not even close to parity, and that is partly because the industry has a long tradition of male dominance. Overall certification numbers, both locally and internationally, are harder to come by, Hendrickson said.
Changing attitudes
Kasi Shelton, former sommelier at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, moved to Manhattan, New York, to continue her wine education. Recently, she moved back to the OKC metro and is working with a restaurant group on their plans to open a restaurant in the downtown area next year. She added insight into the foothold women have made in this industry. “In New York City, I found restaurants that would only hire male servers, but the industry is changing,” Shelton said. “Many New York restaurants found that their wine sales increased when they hired female sommeliers.” Shelton is a certified sommelier
24 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
Mindy Magers heads the beverage program for The George Prime Steakhouse while studying to become a certified sommelier.
and has passed two of the three tests required to earn level three advanced certification. She said it isn’t an easy process. An applicant must pass all three tests in the same cycle to earn the advanced sommelier certification, so Shelton will retake all three exams. However, Hendrickson said she also has noticed a lack of women in the industry at the higher professional levels, both in retail and restaurant businesses, and that she doesn’t get to work with many on a regular basis. “I think at this level, it’s more about motivating yourself and staying disciplined,” she said. “I’ve never experienced discrimination from other professionals as a woman, but I have from customers.”
Building camaraderie
When Kevin George recently opened The George Prime Steakhouse, 5900
Mosteller Drive, he hired Mindy Magers, a Ponca City native, to head his beverage program. Magers has extensive restaurant experience and recently began the certification program. “When I worked for Wolfgang Puck’s in L.A., they didn’t care about certifications,” Magers said. “They cared about knowledge.” Magers sat for the certified sommelier exams this month in Tulsa and could know her results as soon as late October. She said the process has been fairly slow because the wine culture in Oklahoma is different than other places she has worked, including Dallas and Austin. “We don’t have the camaraderie here we did in those places,” she said. “There is a shortage of women in the profession here, and I do think it is a bit harder for people to take you seriously as a woman.”
PHOTOS BY MARK HANCOCK
In an industry dominated by men, Oklahoma women are committing to the arduous task of becoming sommeliers, both in retail and restaurant professions. The numbers can be a little surprising to people outside the industry, but women have been grossly underrepresented in wine professions. Our state, which has an unusually high number of restaurants per capita, has only one master sommelier: Randa Warren of Tulsa. Warren said that the path to certification is open to everyone and gender, although a complicating factor, is not a limitation. “I tell students they have to be willing to study like all day, to read note cards all day, to spend vacations on education and to spend your income on cases of wine to taste. If you do that, you can achieve any certification,” she said. She owns a liquor store in Tulsa and spends a good part of her time writing about and educating consumers about wine. She is one of less than two dozen women in the world to achieve the title of master sommelier, a task that required a decade of learning, studying, traveling and tasting. There are 214 master sommeliers worldwide, and women account for only about 10 percent of that number, according to the Court of Master Sommeliers.
FOOD BRIEFS
10% OFF ENTIRE TICKET
Tin Can alley
E X P I R E S 9/ 29/ 14
?????
The best chicken biscuit on wheels might come from this startup food truck. BY DEVON GREEN
When in doubt, add a bar
Whenever you think The Paramount OKC couldn’t possibly be a cooler place to hang out, you’re wrong. Melodie Garneau and her partners have carved out a haven for film and culture junkies at 7 N. Lee Ave. Garneau recently purchased the building, ensuring that
HIGHWAY 77 & MAIN ST., MULHALL, OK
649-2229 WWW.LUCILLESOK.COM
from left Chefs Beth Ann Lyon and Jill Woods outside The Tin Can. it will be an enduring part of our state’s rich film heritage and history. Now, Garneau is also adding a bar. It will be on the second floor and will feature booze and projector screens. Basically, it’s the alternative to hanging out downstairs with all those pie-and-coffee people. But with booze. (Did we mention booze?) Garneau said the new bar area, designed and built with help from local artist Hugh Meade of Oddfab Design Lab, will be up and running in a few weeks. While you’re waiting, grab a slice of The Paramount, an indescribably delicious custom-made pie that Pie Junkie created for the movie house.
Covell Park
Show & Share Your
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Join at www.kgou.org
MARK HANCOCK
It was only a matter of time until serving food out of a tin can became popular. Well, now you can be the first on your block to eat from one. What eating from The Tin Can food truck means is that you’re also eating fresh menu creations made with local ingredients provided by Urban Agrarian. They are lovingly combined by Beth Ann Lyon, formerly of Kitchen 324, and her fellow cooks. Brent Van Meter, who works at Urban Agrarian, purchased Tin Can’s gorgeous Airstream trailer (hence the name). You can find The Tin Can every weekend from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Farmers Market district at SW Second Street and S. Klein Avenue. The truck will set up outside Ludivine, 805 N. Hudson Ave., Friday for the monthly H&8th Night Market festival. Their plan is to gradually expand to seven days a week at locations throughout the metro. “And we’ve decided if all else fails, we’ll just pack up and live in it,” Van Meter said. From the look of the food and the lines on weekends, we don’t think he’s on his way to the poor house anytime soon. A recent weekend menu featured pink donuts, chicken biscuit, biscuits and gravy and cinnamon rolls. Like all self-respecting food nuts, they’ll put an egg on just about anything. To reserve the truck for private events, call Van Meter at 535-9744. Follow The Tin Can on Twitter @TheTinCanOKC, on Facebook at facebook.com/thetincanokc and on Instagram at @thetincanokc.
THURS 11AM-8PM | FRI-SAT 11AM-9PM | SUN 7AM-7PM
Edmond, get your Park
Edmond diners will have a chance to experience what the Uptown crowd already knows when Covell Park restaurant opens mid-fall in Edmond. It will be at 1200 W. Covell Road, Suite 100, between Santa Fe and Kelly avenues. The concept is the brainchild of the owners of Guernsey Park here in Oklahoma City. Co-owner Truong Le said construction should be done mid-October. “Foodwise, the concept will be very similar to Guernsey Park,” he said. “Inside will be a very different yet very similar format.” Le explained that he wants the restaurant to remain true to what Guernsey Park is all about but also wants to expand on his concept.
thanks for voting us
Best Chinese
TO CELEBRATE OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY WE WILL GIVE 15% OFF EVERY TICKET DURING DIM SUM EVERY SAT. IN SEPT 9AM-3PM HAPPY HOUR 1/2 OFF ALL SUSHI M-F 4-6PM • DINE IN ONLY 2701 N. Classen • Okc • 524-733 | www.GrandHouseOKC.com OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 25
No carb left behind It was once said that man cannot live on bread alone, and while we have no disrespect to the man himself, we relish the chance to try. There is nothing on earth quite like the smell and feel of a bakery. The transformation that occurs when a few simple ingredients are combined is almost magic. — by Devon Green, photos by Mark Hancock
Prairie Thunder Baking Company 1114 Classen Drive prairiethunderbaking.com 602-2922
This lovely storefront in Midtown offers, among other things, artisanal loaves of wheat berry and sourdough. The hardworking bakers get to the shop a little before 5 a.m. to turn out perfect breads, baguettes and pastries. Our favorite? This week, it’s the chocolatefilled croissants.
COMING THIS FALL TO MIDTOWN OKC
HOUSEMADE SAUSAGE GERMAN BEERS BAVARIAN PRETZELS BEER GARDEN HAND CUT FRIES LIVE MUSIC
421 NW 10TH STREET 26 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
Waving Wheat Bakery
Big Sky Bakery
125 N. Porter Ave., Norman wavingwheatbakery.com 822-8978
6606 N. Western Ave. bigskybakery.com 879-0330
Whether you crave a crusty focaccia infused with rosemary, a sweet challah (which makes incredible French toast, by the way) or a simple, no-bones white loaf, you won’t be disappointed. Even those with a sweet tooth might be overwhelmed by these choices. The shop also takes custom orders.
Transform an ordinary PB&J into a masterpiece by grabbing a loaf of the traditional honey whole wheat. Make it with local peanut butter and jelly or jam and toast it in a skillet until golden brown. Big Sky bread is substantial — but not dense — and a far cry from that lighter-than-air store-bought brand. You most likely won’t be going back to your name-brand bread after you try Big Sky.
Quoc Bao Bakery
Sweis Pita Bakery
La Oaxaqueña Bakery
Ingrid’s Kitchen
2501 N. Classen Blvd. 760-6322
2115 N. May Ave. 943-8923
741 SW 29th St. 635-0442
3701 N. Youngs Blvd. ingridskitchen.com 946-8444
If you have not tried a banh mi sandwich, you are missing out on two of the simple pleasures in life. A perfect baguette is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside and coupled with magical relish (do chua) that is both spicy and sweet. Quoc Bao is one of the many bakeries in the Asian District that does baguettes perfectly. If you’re not in the mood for banh mi, simply pick up one of the crunchy French loaves to accompany dinner.
The Sweis family has been serving up some of the finest Greek food in Oklahoma City for decades, and we often take for granted that it all starts with the humble pita. This unleavened bread is the foundation of a good gyro, the heart of a bowl of hummus and perfect as a sandwich pocket. Get them as fresh as possible at the N. May location, or visit Sweis’ Greek Cafe, 201 S. Walker Ave., to try the freshest pita in town.
A world of possibility lives behind this simple storefront in southwest OKC. The question is not what you should sample but what you should sample first. Well, how much time do you have? With so many breads, rolls and sweets to choose from, you might start planning your second visit after your first few bites. We recommend you start with what looks good and move clockwise from there.
Never underestimate Ingrid’s. Not only is it one of the best-known purveyors of fine baked sweet goods, the breads made in the kitchen daily are some of the finest you’ll taste. Whether it’s bread for a special occasion, soya and fegosa, for instance, or loaves for everyday use, you’ll find it here. The difference is the ingredients and 35 years of experience. That’s a lot of time to perfect a recipe.
LIKE US! OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 27
P HOTOS BY M A RK HA N COC K A N D S HA N N ON CON R M A N
LIFE CULTURE
Kiteboarding at Lake Hefner
Oklahoma Sport Fencing
Norman Music Institute
The Brew Shop
Lessons learned The Oklahoma City metro area offers many classes off the beaten path. Here are a few to explore. BY ANGELA BOTZER
For every hobby that one has, there are a handful of intended hobbies that never get started. Whether you want to catch air from the water like a porpoise or start a closet brewery, you are in luck. We have complied a list of where to find classes for those unusual activities that have almost certainly piqued your curiosity at some point.
Fencing
Those fencing scenes in Shakespearean theater are exciting to watch. Why not try your hand at it? Oklahoma Sport Fencing, 24 NW 144th Circle, Edmond, has adult classes starting with a three-hour basics class the first Wednesday of each month and advancing to recreational and competitive levels. Equipment is provided, and instruction is by coaches Bob Fiegel and Carolyn Gresham-Fiegel. For more information, visit oksportfencing.com or call 359-8487.
Kiteboarding
Starting at $50 for an introductory class, you too can be kiteboarding with 405Kite. Owner Dave VanNostrand teaches safety and skill for this winddependent, thrilling sport at the Lake Hefner instruction area. For more information, visit 405kite.com or call 596-5873.
Voice
Belting out a rockin’ road trip song is fun, but have you ever caught yourself saying, “Gosh. I wish I could really sing”? Learn breathing, control, tone and more at Norman Music Institute, 2795-B Broce Drive, in Norman. After the first free lesson, $95 per month for weekly 30-minute lessons will have you crooning in no time. For more information, visit normanmusicinstitute.com or call 292-8400.
Improv
“We get people from all walks of life — doctors, attorneys, media people and teachers wanting to improve their communication skills by taking improv classes,” said Sue Ellen Reiman, managing director at OKC Improv. It’s $95 per eight-week, two-hour class, but hilarious fun is included for free. For more information, visit okcimprov.com or call 456-9858.
Beer brewing
Learn the art of making beer with free classes at The Brew Shop, 3624 N. Pennsylvania Ave. “The first 3-hour class is a mini-mash brewing process, and the second class is an advanced, all-grain five-hour class,” said owner Gail White. Classes begin in September, and yes, there’s brew tasting at the end of the classes. For more information, visit thebrewshopokc.com or call 528-5193.
Iaido
Instruction for the little-known Japanese martial art iaido can be found at Windsong Dojo, 2201 NW Interstate 44 Service Road. Classes are $60 a month and are held on Saturdays from 1:30 to 3 p.m. One of the traditional sword drawing arts, iaido is performed in a series of detailed, choreographed patterns called kata. For more information, visit windsongdojo.com or call 943-6246.
Wine making
Raise your glass to Chapel Creek Winery, 5005 Darlington Road NW, El Reno. Located on the site of a 100-year-old Spanish chapel, this picturesque winery offers monthly, four-hour Saturday classes ($21.95), culminating with wine tasting. For more information, visit chapelcreek.samsbiz.com or call 343-2463.
28 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
Aerial dance
Dance through the air with modern aerial dance techniques at Perpetual Motion Dance. Using fabric and ropes, dancers learn modern dance style and choreography at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information, visit perpetualmotiondance.org or call 206-2843.
Grocery Co., 1230 W. Covell Road, in Edmond. Free cooking classes are offered Saturdays at 10 a.m. in the cafe. Classes have included making pecan pie, homemade ravioli, chicken breast with Marsala sauce and a rack of lamb. For more information, visit uptowngroceryco.com or call 509-2700.
Jewelry making
Scottish country dance
Can’t find the perfect jewelry you want? Make it yourself at Jan’s Jewelry Supplies, 3623 NW 10th St. Classes and times vary at $15 plus class supplies and include introduction to jewelry making, necklaces, pendants, bracelets and metal stamping. For more information, visit jansjewels.com or call 600-3043.
Archery
While watching Game of Thrones, you hear yourself saying, “I want to learn archery,” and you can at Arrowhead Archery Pro Shop, 3108 Epperly Drive, in Del City. Five half-hour lessons at $60 and state-of-the-art equipment instruction will get you started. For more information, visit arrowheadarcheryproshop.com or call 670-2697.
Dragon boating
Join a dragon boat league at OKC Riversport Adventures in the Boathouse District, 725 S. Lincoln Blvd. Each ornate dragon-shaped boat has a 10-person rowing team, a coach and a drummer beating the rowing strokes in the front. A team of 10 costs $1,500 ($150 a person) for 10 weeks of training, culminating in a festive colorful dragon boat regatta and fireworks. For more information, visit boathousedistrict.org or call 552-4040.
Gourmet cooking
Fine-tune your chef skills at Uptown
Step into Scottish Highland Dance at the Ladymon School of Scottish Dance in Yukon. Dance students can choose Mondays or Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. ($35.00 per) month for this cardio-heavy, light-on-the-feet style of dance. For more information, visit ladymonschoolofscottishdance.blogspot.com or call 640-9036.
Old-style skills
The Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, offers a variety of lessons, old-fashioned style, such as colonial-era weaving ($30) and yummy outdoor Dutch-oven cooking ($15). Classes vary. For more information, visit okhistory.org or call 521-2491.
Salsa dancing
Learn the lively, sensual style of salsa dancing — no partner required — at Salsa Maritza in Norman. At $50 for four classes, you can get your salsa on. For more information, visit salsamaritza.com or call 956-457-4270.
Diving
Classes for diver certification are each week during the fall at Bluewater Divers, 718 N. Broadway Ave. The open water certification class teach diving safety at Lake Tenkiller in eastern Oklahoma. Scuba equipment and lessons cost $350, a sweet deal. For more information, visit bluewaterokc.com or call 631-4433.
SPONSORE D PROG RAM 29 | APRIL 23, 2014 | OKLAHOMA GAZETTE
SPONSORE D PROG RAM
VISUAL ARTIST BOOTHS
1,000 Beautiful Things Amelies Anomolaies Ashley Smith Bison Alley Boho Gypsy Brad Humphreys Chloe Moon Darci Lenker Dellarella Soapworks LLC Go Ape by Sue Harold Neal
James Rogers Glassworks Jason Pawley Jasworx Justin Lauffer Keaton Draper Louise Dean Design Love Well Handmade Mireille Damicone Nick Geist On the Edge Pete and Paul
Pink Acorn Designs Promise Art Rob Smith Sam Douglas Art Shop Good Sylva Pagana Tara Tipton Teal Deer Thrift Foot Ty Kelly WriteOutDaBox X-Mas Orange
OKLAHOMA GAZETTE | APRIL 23, 2014 | 30
12:30 P.M.
1:45 P.M. 3:00 P.M. 4:15 P.M.
by Calverts Plant Interiors, Inc. Stories by Oklahoma Children’s Theatre Wacky Witty Way-Out Songs by Monty Harper Storytelling with Al Bostic Yoga for Kiddos
ONGOING ACTIVITIES 12-6 P.M. Outdoor Kids’ Mural Painting Art-in-Action : 4 Art Education Activities from Norman Firehouse Art Center Inflatable Obstacle Course Face Painting, Puppet Making, Beading, Sidewalk Chalk, Games and More!
Crepe Brewers Big Truck Tacos Bricktown Brewery Truckburger Jamaican Me Hungry Jerky.com Klemm’s Smokehouse Taste of Soul Chicken and Waffles Roxy’s Ice Cream Social 31 | APRIL 23, 2014 | OKLAHOMA GAZETTE
PLAZA DISTRICT RESTAURANTS Chiltepe’s Latin Cuisine & Bar District House Empire Slice House The Mule Pie Junkie Saints Urban Wineworks
SPONSORE D PROG RAM
12:00 P.M. Potting Succulents provided
SPONSORE D PROG RAM
MAIN STAGE 12:00 P.M. 1:00 P.M. 2:00 P.M. 3:00 P.M. 4:00 P.M. 5:00 P.M.
Allie Lauren Okie Stompers Bowlsey Everything Goes Dance Studio The Trading Co Em + The Mother Superiors
6:00 P.M. 7:00 P.M. 7:15 P.M. 8:00 P.M. 9:00 P.M.
Aaron Pierce Lyric Theatre Bored Wax Sherree Chamberlain Josh Sallee
ACOUSTIC STAGE 12:00 P.M 12:30 P.M 1:00 P.M 1:30 P.M 2:00 P.M
Tanner Fields Duane Brownen Nathan Kress Chris Neal Jerrod Beck
2:30 P.M 3:00 P.M 3:30 P.M 4:30 P.M
Sierra Rose Ravens Three Erik the Viking Celadon City
PR E S E NTI N G
MEDIA
P L ATI N U M
A D D ITI O N A L S P O N S O R S
GOLD
BACKPACKS WITH A PURPOSE | OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY | DUNKIN DONUTS | K12, INC. | FACTOR 110 THE MULE | SWEET SIXTEENTH, LLC | WELK RESORTS | WHEELER DISTRICT | YELP! DENTAL DEPOT | FIRST NATIONAL | BANK OF OKLAHOMA | HENSLEE’S PLUMBING, HEATING & AIR LLC | THE KERR FOUNDATION, INC. | LYRIC THEATRE OF OKLAHOMA | MARKET 16 | OG&E | PIE JUNKIE | TREE & LEAF CLOTHING, INC. COLLECTED THREAD | DNA GALLERIES | DIG IT! | GATEWOOD HISTORIC DISTRICT | ISTVAN GALLERY | KEEP IT LOCAL, OK | RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, INC. | RANDY & SANDRA CASSIMUS | ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH OKLAHOMA GAZETTE | APRIL 23, 2014 | 32
LIFE CULTURE
Artful reinterpretation P ROVI DE D
ZeroLandfill helps reduce local waste while supporting local artists and educators. BY ALISSA LINDSEY
ZeroLandfill 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. to noon Saturday ISC Surfaces Warehouse 5600 SW 36th St. Free
Oklahoma City’s first ZeroLandfill program to promote the upcycling — repurposing waste material into new products — of leftover interior design materials is hitting the metro this weekend. ZeroLandfill is a nationwide program that supports the needs of local artists, educators and crafters while simultaneously promoting a sustainable Earth by diverting these materials from landfills. Through donations from 18 interior
design and architecture firms, 7,300 pounds of materials will be offered free to attendees and will be redirected from landfills. Wilsonart with ISC Surfaces gathered together a committee of about seven volunteers to launch the event. Malia Tate, a certified interior designer at 3 Level Design, is one of these volunteers. ZeroLandfill is a project of BeeDance LLC, a company based in Ohio that develops interactive biometric technology. “So the concept originated from watching bees, and if you speed up a film when we’re actually doing our workshops, we just look like busy bees,” Tate said. “Pollination is where we bring all of our materials together … and then harvest.” About 20 designers, architects and fabric and lighting representatives
throughout the community have gotten involved in the project. These volunteers collected and organized the many types of available materials, including carpet samples, paint decks and chips, fabric and wall covering swatches, vinyl and rubber flooring samples, tile samples, wood samples and design magazines, among others. “For the artists, they could do anything from mosaics to multi-media art. We have wood veneers [and] fabrics. You could do quilting,” Tate said. “It’s pretty much endless as far as the artistic point of view.” Tate also suggested that educators could use the carpet samples for indoor recess for the children, or she said art teachers could use fabric samples for tactile sensory activities.
Approximately 7,300 pounds of waste will be redirected from landfills during the ZeroLandfill program. Every educator or artist who upcycles materials is contributing to the process of keeping 8.65 tons of materials from being piled into Oklahoma City’s landfills. Because the U.S. is the No. 1 trashproducing country in the world at 1,609 pounds per person per year, according to recycleok.org, all efforts to reduce those numbers are helping the environment. Landfills are the second highest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S, according to the Recycling Toolkit for Oklahoma Communities.
OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 33
bill hader
kristen wiig
LIFE CULTURE
CRITICS’ PICK
“smart really funny. kristen wiig and bill hader are fantastic. their chemistry is infectious.” “bill hader and kristen wiig are effing uproarious! the comic and dramatic range of their performances will blow you away!” and
P ROVI DE D
“a wonderful delight!”
License to party The Plaza District Festival celebrates its sweet 16 with a party of epic propotions.
exclusive engagement starts friday, september 26
OKLAHOMA CITY AMC Quail Springs Mall 24 (888) AMC-4FUN
BY DEVON GREEN CHECK DIRECTORIES FOR SHOWTIMES NO PASSES ACCEPTED
Plaza District Festival 2014 Noon-10 p.m. Saturday
Fans gather around a flash mob at last year’s festival.
1700 Block of NW 16th Street plazadistrictfestival.com
Oklahoma Gazette WED 09/24 4.55" X 6.05" 1/4PG ALL.SLT.0924.OGEMAIL
JL
#2
presented by: American Fence Co.
FREE Family Fun Night! Friday, Oct 3rd 6PM-9PM
Rock Climbing Sling Shots Mona Lisa Face Painting Inflatable Obstacle Course Hotdog & S’mores Cook Out Outdoor Movie & More!
(405) 254-2080 3309 East Hefner Road | OKC, OK 73131 campfirehok.org | facebook.com/campfirehok 34 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
The 16th Street Plaza District is now old enough to operate a motor vehicle and, in most states, get married with the consent of an adult. All kidding aside, this is a big deal, and the Plaza District has every reason to celebrate. Just ten years ago, the area was a spotty business district with a few key businesses keeping it from falling into neglect. Sixteen years ago, it wasn’t necessarily somewhere you wanted to walk alone at night. “We’ve been a nonprofit since 1997,” Kristin Vails, executive director of the Plaza District Association, said. “It [Plaza Fest] was just kind of a block party, and it was a lot of fun, but over the past three years, as the district has grown, the festival has taken off.” These days, the Plaza is one of the most exciting districts around, and it’s still growing. It also has some of the city’s most popular restaurants and shops — we even did the research. The neighborhood boasts a total of 15 mentions in the 2014 Best of OKC by Oklahoma Gazette. Gazette readers could not get enough of The Mule, 1630 N. Blackwelder Ave., and Pie Junkie, 1711 NW 16th St. Gazette readers are also rather fond of Bad Granny’s Bazaar, 1759 NW 16th St. And Empire Slice House, 1734
NW 16th St., has become the official late-night spot of pizza and tight jeans aficionados in OKC. And where would we be if we didn’t mention the anchor that has kept the district from going to waste: Lyric Theatre at the Plaza? The theater has brought some of the most incredible shows to Oklahoma City and boasts an impressive cast of alumni, including Megan Mullally and Kristin Chenoweth. The theater group will have a performance on the main stage across from the theater at 7 p.m. “They normally preview an upcoming production, but this year, there might be some changes. We’ll have to see what’s in store,” Vails said. There will be lots of other all-ages activities, including mural painting, an inflatable obstacle course and craft and art-education games. The familyfriendly interactive section will be a free-for-all from noon until 6 p.m. When the sun starts to set, the festival becomes more adultoriented, with live entertainment and specials at area bars and restaurants. From noon to 9 p.m., there will be live entertainment from local acts culminating in back-to-back performances by headliners Sherree Chamberlain and Josh Sallee. As always, the festival is pedestrianoriented, with 16th Street blocked off to car traffic. Attendance has grown
Oct. 2-4O• Guthrie, OK IBF.COM
Featuring
steadily every year, and Vails expects around 15,000 people to show up. Parking can be a challenge because the Plaza District is surrounded by a residential neighborhood. However, the neighbors remain tolerant. It is celebrating their neighborhood, and it’s not every day that the city descends on the Plaza in these numbers. “It [the festival] happens once a year. They’re pretty cool about it,” Vails said. The best tip is to get there early in the day and, of course, be respectful. Most parking is on the residential
[Plaza Fest] was just kind of a block party, and it was a lot of fun, but over the past three years, as the district has grown, the festival has taken off. — Kristin Vails
streets around the district, and you might have to hike a little. It’ll be a beautiful day, and it’s worth it. “The main thing that we want to stress is that it’s a completely local festival. We really keep the focus on the vendors and the musicians, and we only allow Oklahoma artists,” Vails said.
Local music and vendors take over the night during Plaza Fest. The art on display (and for sale) is curated by a committee of local artists and musicians from various backgrounds, from the artists themselves to those who work in galleries and sales. The work of the festival itself, including leaving the Plaza shiny and clean for next year, is all done by volunteers. Vails stressed that they are still grateful for any volunteer labor. Anyone interested in donating time can find out more at plazadistrictfestival.com.
There are plenty of kid friendly-events at Plaza Fest.
Dailey & Vincent
The Cleverlys Jeff Scroggins & Colorado Byron Berline Band April Verch (Canada) Blue Side of Lonesome (Japan) Steve Spurgin Bret Graham Red Dirt Rangers Hunt Family Bluegrass Sam Parks & The Fretliners Cherokee Maidens Mountain Smoke Brigade Barry Patton Cowboy Jim Garling Hankerin’ 4 Bluegrass
New!
FRIDAY NIGHT LATE SHOW! 10pm-? Turnpike Troubadours (OK) The Amigos (NY)
• Free Children’s Activities • Music Workshops • Random Band Jam • Youth Band & Instrument Competitions • Free Admission - Children Under 12 • Campground Facilities w/RV Hookups
ORDER DISCOUNT TICKETS TODAY
www.oibf.com or call 1-877-203-1206 toll free
TICKETS:
Thurs., Oct. 2 $30 • Fri., Oct. 3 $40 Fri. 9 p.m. Entry $20 • Sat., Oct. 4 $40 All 3 Days $80
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WITH ASSISTANCE OF THE OKLAHOMA ARTS COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 35
LIFE COMMUNITY
Full house
P ROVI DED
After an extended search, an Oklahoma family adopts five siblings.
BY ANGELA CHAMBERS
If Jeremy and Michelle Taylor one day had a daughter, the Oklahoma couple wanted to honor the husband’s grandmother Fay. That daughter did come, and her middle name is Fay. But that choice was made before she met the adoptive parents. “I just couldn’t believe it,” said Jeremy about the name. “My grandmother passed away at 64 of a heart attack, and it always upset me. But this is a big thing, and you just can’t plan that.” This special connection wasn’t simply for the name, and it wasn’t only one child. The Taylors, who originally thought they’d consider adopting one — or maybe two or three — children, felt drawn toward five siblings. Since beginning their search two years ago, the parents finalized their adoption of five siblings (ranging in age from 2 to 11) in June. On any given day, at least 300 children are legally free and ready to be adopted from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, where the Taylors found their new family. “We need people who can have an open mind and open heart to consider siblings, which are often the last to get adopted,” said Katelynn Burns, Oklahoma DHS spokesperson. “If it wasn’t for Jeremy and Michelle, those five children would most likely still be part of that group.”
First steps
While Michelle lived in Wichita, Kansas, and Jeremy in Oklahoma, they met through friends and started a longdistance relationship. In 2008, after less than a year of dating, Michelle moved to Oklahoma and married Jeremy. After five frustrating years spent trying to conceive naturally, the Taylors decided to consider adoption. “We felt like God closed that door because our children were already out there,” Jeremy said.
As a working family, the Taylors chose DHS because there are few adoption-related expenses involved when compared to private agencies, which often cost several thousand dollars. Plus, DHS provides other resources, including medical care for adopted children through 18 years old. “It takes a big burden off parents, and we would have done it either way, but by them eliminating the medical costs, that really helps,” Jeremy said. From summer 2012, they started the process by taking DHS-provided courses on childcare. Once they received preapproval, DHS sent them listings with potential children available for adoption. While some choose to foster with the possibility of adoption, the Taylors opted for the DHS “swift adoption.” These are the children currently ready for adoption because their biological parents and family are no longer in the picture. “More people I’ve talked with know you can foster and then adopt through DHS, and that’s wonderful they really need that, but if you want to outright adopt, they do that as well,” Jeremy said.
Meet-and-greet
Rather than sticking with names and information on paper, the Taylors received personal interaction with children ready for adoption at multiple DHS “adoption parties.” These gatherings, which Jeremy said included between 60 to 100 children, provide a fun environment with games for children and a chance to see whether potential parents have a connection with one (or more) children. “The first time we went to the adoption fair, we left in tears because it was so overwhelming how cute and adorable these kids were,” Michelle said. “We saw a boy that you could tell he combed his hair just right because the older ones understand, ‘This is my shot. This is my way to try to make it’ — a real tearjerker. We overheard him talking
36 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
to another lady and ask, ‘Would you be my adoptive mom?’” added Jeremy. While feeling moved by the children, the Taylors didn’t have the connection needed to take the next steps. It was more than a year later that they met their children.
Getting the call
Even though the Taylors said they’d be willing to take two or three children, the DHS adoption worker took a chance and asked whether they’d consider five. “These children were getting separated, and I was frantic,” said adoption specialist Donna Hendrix. “The oldest kid kept thinking it was his fault that no one wanted to adopt them, and he told me it was OK if his brothers and sister could get a home without him. We told him, ‘We’re not going to do that.’” Hendrix contacted Jeremy, who felt particularly drawn to the five children, even after one phone call. “I can’t explain it, but my heart jumped,” Jeremy said about the call. He could empathize with the children, as his biological father, who he doesn’t have a relationship with, had a problem with addictions like these siblings’ parents. While Jeremy was enthusiastic from the beginning, Michelle said it took some time to process the idea. “I was a little shocked by the five, but the more you found out, the more we fell in love with them,” Michelle said. “It was just right.”
Coming home
After multiple in-person meetings with the children, they were placed in the Taylor home last December. By June, the adoption was finalized. “We had to be OK with the kids as well as the kids being OK with us,” Jeremy said. “If there ever becomes a problem in the process, then it can be slowed down or canceled. But with these kids, we clicked so well.”
The Taylor household grew by five when Jeremy and Michelle decided to adopt a group of siblings. John and Denise Mills, Michelle’s parents, live close to the new family and provide them with support along with other close family and friends. “They’ve gone through a long time of disappointment and sadness to not be parents, but once the process started and the five kids came into the picture, then everything changed,” John said. “I knew it wouldn’t be a cake walk, but Jeremy and Michelle slid into the role so well.”
BY THE NUMBERS In 2013, the average time children were in Oklahoma DHS custody before adoption was 32 months, which is down from the previous two years (37 in 2011 and 35 in 2012). The longer children stay in custody, the less likely they’ll be adopted. Also in 2013, there were 851 siblings adopted and 469 single children adopted. The nubmer of children in the state’s custody has increased since 2011: 2013 — 10,233 2012 — 9,132 2011 — 8,502 More households are available to foster: 2013 — 4,410 2012 — 3,695 2011 — 3,616 Couples, single females or males and previously divorced people of various income levels are eligible to adopt through DHS. Source: Oklahoma Department of Human Services
OPEN LETTER TO GOV. MARY FALLIN AND STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS OF BOTH PARTIES: Political grandstanding is expected in an election year. Such blatant pandering, however, should stop short of inciting violence against followers of a particular faith. That’s why we are so disappointed with the tepid response of state leaders to the anti-Muslim comments of a few of their fellow politicians. The words of our elected officials carry great significance. Their responsibility is to represent all Oklahomans, not just those they favor politically. That responsibility includes standing up for the rights of Oklahoma Muslims, who are routinely subject to threats and abuse. As directors and staff of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, we strive to eliminate bias, bigotry and racism in our state by promoting respect and understanding among all races, religions and cultures. We urge our state’s elected officials to demonstrate strength in leadership. We invite them to join us in our mission by rejecting the outright hate speech of a small number of their colleagues. By doing so, they can serve to uphold the constitutional rights of all Oklahoma citizens. Sincerely, Sr. Barbara Austin, O.S.B. Sharon J. Bell Dr. Mouzon Biggs, Jr. David Charney Lisa Zaidle Clark Amber Howard Cornelius Jayme Cox Barry M. Davis Duminda DeSilva Emily Dukes Yusuf G. Dundar Moises Echeverria Linda Edmondson Ruth Ann Fate
Shane H. Fernandez Rabbi Marc Boone Fitzerman Russ Florence Robert Franden Rev. Msgr. Patrick Gaalaas John Gaberino Sherri Goodall Kevin Gore Risha Grant Kirt Hartzler Steve Higgins Matthew Horten Oliver Howard Michael Johnson
Jim Langdon Rev. Tamara Lebak Bill Major Steve Malcolm Rebecca Marks-Jimerson Nancy McDonald Sanjay Meshri Allison Moore Dennis Neill Brady Nguyen Bill O’Connor Dr. Gary Peluso-Verdend David Peterson Sarah Rana
J. Harvie Roe John Rudolph M. Susan Savage Bob Schaefer Greg Shaw Sheryl Siddiqui Terry Spencer Michael F. Smith Steve Turnbo Adrienne Watt Clark Wiens Rev. David Wiggs
To join our pledge against bigotry and racism, go to occjok.org.
OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 37
LIFE PERFORMING ARTS
Birthright Ryan Wood — aka Miss Renee Hilton — was destined for drag stardom.
BY DEVON GREEN
Ryan Wood as Miss Renee Hilton
Miss Gay Oklahoma Benefit for America 6:30 p.m. Saturday The Boom 2218 NW 39th St. theboomokc.com 601-7200
— Ryan Wood
MARK H ANCOCK
As Miss Renee Hilton and the reigning Miss Gay Oklahoma America, Ryan Wood takes drag to high art. He has been performing publicly since he was 18 — first at the Wreck Room, 2127 NW 39th St., and then The Boom Boom Room (The Boom) at its previous location, a tiny hole-inthe-wall on NW 36th Street east of Pennsylvania Avenue in a nearly unmarked building. Even from his early drag performances, it was clear that Wood was star material. For starters, Wood — who transforms himself into Renee Hilton at night — is beautiful. The man is a head-turner wearing jeans and a T-shirt. But to win Miss Gay Oklahoma, you need to be more than a pretty face. Renee Hilton is warm, ebullient and quick on her feet, even in nosebleed heels, which you can witness Thursdays through Saturdays at The Boom and Sunday morning for its Gospel Brunch. For one night only, Wood is putting on a special show to help raise funds for the next step in his journey: the National Miss Gay America Pageant in Nashville this October. “I chose The Boom to host my benefit for one simple reason: The Boom is my home bar, the home of past and present Miss Gay Oklahoma Americas,” Wood said. “Kitty Bob Aimes (co-owner of The Boom) has been a huge factor in my success as MGOA 2014.” The event, which includes dinner service at 6:30 p.m., has a special menu prepared by chef Curtis Staggs. There will be performances from an illusionist and several other drag stars, including Maria Isabel, Kitty Bob Aimes and Ginger Lamar. For fundraising, there will be a raffle, silent auctions with enviable prizes (we promised not to give them away) and drawings.
Although we are raising funds, the time that is spent together as a family and community will be cherished for years.
Wood hopes more than anything that it will be an evening of community. “One thing that will definitely be there is love,” he said. “Although we are raising funds, the time that is spent together as a family and community will be cherished for years.” Wood’s candor is the one thing about him that can be a little disarming. Few people sound as warm and sincere as he does. In his soft voice, with just a hint of his Chandler upbringing, the statements he makes are without a hint of guile. It might be part of what made Renee Hilton a shoe-in for the title and the representation of the gay
38 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
community that accompanies it. It’s certainly what makes her a favorite at The Boom, with her handmade costumes that are a sight to behold. Wood’s passion and devotion to the craft of drag are obvious, and he is an ambassador as much as he is an entertainer. “I was chosen from a group of eight entertainers to represent Oklahoma, not only in the gay community but for all of Oklahoma,” he said. “I worked hard and prepared for months. My reign has been filled with joy and love. Every day, I receive texts and emails from so many people congratulating me and wishing me luck.”
OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 39
THE NEW
LIFE PERFORMING ARTS
THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY
CLASSIC ROCK & ROLL 9PM SWING DANCE 7PM
DANCE LESSONS 7PM
FREE PIZZA
The music woman
As the art form’s reigning queen, Shirley Jones returns to Oklahoma for a one-night musical performance based on one of her most famous roles. BY DEVON GREEN
The Music Man in Concert
$45 for Museum Members | $50 for Non-Members
Roof Terrace Beer Garden Live music by Born in November DJ Brian Smith of Chameleon Entertainment Over 80 varieties of beer Delicious fare from local restaurants Access to the entire Museum!
VISIT WWW.OKCMOA.COM FOR TICKETS! 40 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
7:30 p.m. Monday Civic Center Music Hall 201 N. Walker Ave. okcciviccenter.com 297-2264 $25-$75
Shirley Jones made her film debut singing “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” as Laurey in Oklahoma! By then, she was already a Broadway star, having auditioned for John Fearnley, who immediately cast her in South Pacific. Fearnley was the casting director for Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. She was cast as Laurey for her next role. Jones filmed adaptations of Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals in the 1950s and ’60s, starring in major hits such as Carousel and April Love. Her voice and looks made Jones a darling of the stage and screen, and when the title role for the film version of Oklahoma! came calling, she was the obvious choice.
Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy “[Rogers and Hammerstein] signed me to a contract. They were fabulous,” she said. “Hammerstein was a particularly wonderful human being.” Then came the film adaptation of Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. In the movie, Jones played Marian Paroo, the town librarian and music teacher. Professor Harold Hill, played by Robert Preston, is a traveling salesman and con man convinced he can swindle the town of River City, Iowa, into paying him to create a marching band. His plan includes riling up the residents about the recently added pool hall and convincing them a marching band would be a wholesome activity that will keep the boys out of the den of iniquity. Hill, of course, plans to skip town the moment he has convinced them to pay up, leaving them high and dry, still in a tizzy about what’s to come of the trouble with the pool hall. As the show progresses, Paroo falls for Hill, and with a gradual change of heart, River City gets its marching band. One of the show’s most unforgettable characters is the shy,
P ROVI DED
401 S. MERIDIAN
P ROVI DE D
lisping brother to Marian, Winthrop, played by a young Ron Howard in the film. “We had plans to pick up a different Winthrop in each city that we visited (on this tour),” Jones said, “but [Actor’s] Equity said, ‘Are you crazy?’” Jones is working with her son, Patrick Cassidy, on this tour, which is not an unusual situation. She played Maria alongside Cassidy’s Rolf in a 1977 production of The Sound of Music, with a very young Sarah Jessica Parker as Brigitta. They also played opposite each other as Dorothy and Julian in a 2004 Broadway production of 42nd Street. For this particular production of The Music Man, Jones will be on stage as both a cast member and an emcee. “I literally get to hold a book and tell real-life stories about the filming. People love to hear what went on in the background,” she said. “We’ve worked with this director, and Patrick and I have done the show. We still have singers and dancers. It was really just a great idea.” Jones was just recently in Oklahoma City for a screening of the remastered Oklahoma! with a Q&A afterward. The event was inviteonly at Oklahoma City Community College’s Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater. “I always enjoy visiting Oklahoma. I just love it,” she said. “It was an incredible evening, and the new movie they’ve redone, it’s just fantastic. I’ve been here many times, and it’s a wonderful city. You’ve grown up incredibly, especially in the past 10 years.” Jones’ only regret is that she’s never here long enough to take in the sights and things to do. As visitors are apt to do, she did mention how nice Oklahomans are. “You know, I’m from a small town, Smithton, Pennsylvania, and I like the people [in OKC],” she said. “I am accustomed to places where people are genuine and fun; you don’t get that in Los Angeles or New York.”
Incredible true facts about The Music Man and the life and career of Shirley Jones: Jones never had any desire to pursue a career in theater. In fact, she went to college to be a veterinarian, as her first love has always been animals. She never even made it through the front door. Her voice teacher convinced her to stop by an open casting by John Fearnley, who was so impressed with her vocal talent that he immediately brought Richard Rodgers from across the street. Rodgers then called Oscar Hammerstein at home for him to join them. She was the first and only singer to ever sign a contract with Rodgers and Hammerstein. After signing the contract, she moved to New York with $100 in her pocket and gave herself a year to succeed as a Broadway performer. She adores animals and is a staunch activist for animal rights. She has golden retriever rescue dogs.
THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
UNIVERSITY THEATRE LA FINTA GIARDINIERA
MOZART’S
8 pm Oct. 2, 3, 4 3 pm Oct. 5
Reynolds Performing Arts Center, Norman
THEATRE.OU.EDU (405) 325-4101 The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo
In 2007, to celebrate the 100th birthday of Oklahoma, she appeared at the Ford Center (now Chesapeake Energy Arena) to perform “People Will Say We’re in Love” and the title song from Oklahoma! In the film version of Oklahoma!, the role of Winthrop Paroo was played by none other than actor-director Ron Howard, then 8 years old. Meredith Willson based the musical on his hometown — Mason City, Iowa — and based Marian Paroo on his mother, the town librarian. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards and won Best Musical Score. It also won a Grammy for Best Original Cast Recording.
OKL AHOMA GAZ ETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 41
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42 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
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44 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
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Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre stages the state’s first professional production of The Grapes of Wrath this weekend at the Burg Theatre on the Oklahoma City University campus, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave. The performances are part of the National Steinbeck Center’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the publication of John Steinbeck’s 1939 Pulitzer Prizewinning novel. CityRep’s production of Frank Galati’s Tony Award-winning adaptation of Wrath is being produced in association with the Oklahoma History Center and the Oklahoma City University School of Theatre, whose students will appear onstage alongside veteran actors. Director Harry Parker said that it has been an educational experience for the OKCU students. “They have learned a lot about the [Great] Depression and the Dust Bowl,” Parker said, “but they have also learned a lot about the theater from working with a seasoned, professional cast of excellent actors.” For CityRep Artistic Director Don
The cast of CityRep’s The Grapes of Wrath. Jordan, it’s no surprise that Wrath has endured for so long and in so many forms — as a novel, film and play. “It’s a work of genius whose universal resonance is shown through the very real and specific story of one Oklahoma family’s endurance, persistence and decency in the face of overwhelming hardship and is profoundly moving,” Jordan said. “While some people may be reluctant to embrace the Joads and the Okie portrait they present, I find that they exemplify the best of the Oklahoma spirit, the American spirit and the human spirit.” Parker said that the reality of Wrath was bolstered by Steinbeck’s own experience. “He had been in the trenches and had lived and worked with the sort of Americans he wrote about,” he said. “His fictional story of the Joads is filled with a truth that is deeper than history.” Jordan said there has been a good deal of national interest in the production, and representatives from Actors Equity’s regional headquarters in Chicago and the national executive director for Theatre Communications Group in New York City are coming to see the show. “I feel like this story is in the cultural DNA of our state,” Parker said. “And we bring to it a kind of understanding and authenticity that helps to illuminate the truth.”
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P ROVI DE D
LIFE PERFORMING ARTS
Thunder reads Oklahoma City Thunder players donate time and enthusiasm to help Oklahoma children develop a love of reading. BY KORY B. OSWALD
Monday, Sept. 29, 7:30 pm | USAO Te Ata Memorial Auditorium
7th Annual Ray & Mary Giles Symposium
on Citizenship and Public Service
Interpreters for attendees who are deaf and/or hard of hearing are available upon request. Call 574-1318.
46 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
Can you hear that? Stop what you are doing and listen. It’s not thunder in the distance but a burgeoning silence in the homes of many Oklahoma elementary school students. The induced silence is a result of an urge to read thanks in part to the Thunder Reading Challenge, a program designed to encourage reading. The Oklahoma City Thunder has again invited teachers of kindergarten through third grade statewide to participate in the program that hopes to foster good reading habits as well as a love of reading. “We have to do whatever we can to get our parents involved and reading with their children,” Tiffany Olvera said. Olvera teaches first grade at Heronville Elementary School and has participated in the Thunder challenge for about four years. The Thunder Reading Challenge incentivizes reading by providing students with Thunder merchandise and a certificate. Each month, participating teachers tally the number of minutes a student reads, which is signed off by the students’ parents, and then they turn in the winners. Representatives with the Thunder then turn in gifts to the monthly winners. At the end of the school year, the Thunder awards the top readers for each grade level with a Thunderautographed item and a plaque. The top overall winner also receives a Rumble assembly for the school, according to a Thunder press release. Brian Muller teaches second grade at Parkview Elementary in the MidDel district and started the Thunder challenge last year and was so impressed with the results that he got the entire grade level at Parkview involved this year. “The program really sparked the fire of reading in most of my kids. Their
Students at Putnam Heights Elementary receive free books from the Rolling Thunder Book Bus. parents were coming in and calling me, telling me how excited their child was about reading and how they couldn’t wait to see if they would win the challenge for that month. Last year, my class alone had over 30,000 minutes read from November to April,” he said. The Thunder Reading Challenge is in its sixth year, and during last year’s challenge, approximately 20,000 Oklahoma students logged more than 200,000 hours of reading — the equivalent of more than 9,000 days of reading, according to the Thunder. More than 80,000 students have participated in the program since its inception. Last year, the challenge saw just shy of 900 teachers participating, and this year, there are already more than 1,000 signed up. There are teachers now participating from more than 90 school districts that have never taken part in the reading challenge. “The best part is that we’re able to take the excitement kids have for the Thunder and channel it into a love for reading,” Christine Berney, director of community relations for the Thunder, said in a statement to Oklahoma Gazette. Sept. 8 was International Literacy Day, the official start date of this year’s Thunder Reading Challenge. Thirtytwo million (14 percent) adults in the United States cannot read, according to the Department of Education and the National Institute for Literacy. In Oklahoma, 12 percent of the population lacks basic prose literacy skills, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
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LIFE BOOKS
HISTORY, FOOD AND FUN Saturday, October 25, 2014
20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MISS SORGHUM PAGEANT - 20 PAST WINNERS IN THE PARADE
The age-old art of sorghum making is celebrated each fall in Wewoka at the community’s annual Sorghum Festival.
• Tractor Show • Parade • Car Show • Live Music and Entertainment • Historic Re-enactors • Native American Foods • Children’s Crafts • Art and Photography Show MEET GUEST ARTISTS AND CRAFTSMEN
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OKL AHOMA GA Z ET TE | SE PTE M B E R 24 , 2014 | 47
LIFE BOOKS
Civil study Oklahoma native Christopher P. Lehman has released a book about the last years of the civil rights movement.
Dr. Christopher P. Lehman is full of knowledge and is sharing it with the world through his newest book, Power, Politics, and the Decline of the Civil Rights Movement: A Fragile Coalition, 19671973. A social historian, professor and avid author of multiple books, Lehman grew up in Edmond, Oklahoma, and wrote about how factionalism and government sabotage reduced the efforts of the major African-American organizations in the late ’60s and ’70s in his newest endeavor. Lehman has an impressive resume. He graduated with honors and earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Oklahoma State University in 1995. He attended the University of Massachusetts and earned a master’s degree in history in 1997 and a Ph. D. in Afro-American studies in 2002. In addition, he spent the summer of 2011 at Harvard University as a visiting fellow of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research. “I started as a doctoral student in African-American studies at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst,” Lehman said. “During that time, I served as an assistant for the course A History of the Civil Rights Movement. The instructor was a veteran of that movement, and my interest in the movement’s history deepened as I listened to him alternate between textbook information and his personal anecdotes about the events.” One story that stuck out to Lehman in particular was about Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) students drinking Maalox during Freedom Summer in Mississippi in 1964. These students were under such great strain from resistance to their efforts at desegregation that it gave them ulcers even though they were only in their 20s. Lehman was motivated to write the book after his summer of researching the movement at Harvard. “I wanted to provide a different perspective on the study of the civil rights movement, and that perspective has to do with determining why the old national civil rights groups still exist but rarely work together,” Lehman said. “My goal was to make a convincing argument that the civil rights movement did not immediately die with Martin
PROVIDED
BY EMILY ANDERSON
Christopher Lehman, an Edmond native, is a social historian with a new book on the civil rights movement. Luther King but remained active after the 1960s.” In the book, Lehman discusses five major civil rights groups of the time period: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), The Congress of Racial Equality, The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee renamed the Student National Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the National Urban League. “The groups have rarely worked together since 1974,” Lehman said. “They were not that cohesive before then, but they put up a public united front for a long time. The fissures became more public when the groups disagreed about the ‘Black Power’ phrase in 1966, and the following year they further split on whether to oppose President Lyndon Johnson’s handling of the Vietnam War. The groups eventually came to a consensus on both issues, but infighting in the movement and sabotage from the federal government permanently split the movement by late 1973.” Lehman said ending segregation was a goal the groups had in common. After that legally happened through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting
48 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
Rights Act of 1965, unifying issues were harder to come by. The time period between 1967 and 1973 was something Lehman wanted to specifically cover. Most books he has read on the movement stop at the late 1960s, especially with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death in 1968. He wanted to write a book that showed how the movement continued in a slow decline into the 1970s. Lehman was able to complete the book in two years, and Praeger published it the following year. “I try to complete one page of work each day after starting a project, whether I write a page or edit a page,” Lehman said. That steady dedication has led to multiple published books in past years. Power, Politics, and the Decline of the Civil Rights Movement: A Fragile Coalition, 1967-1973 is obviously not Lehman’s only book. “The Colored Cartoon is special to me because it came from my dissertation and allowed me to research my childhood passion: animation,” Lehman said. “My latest book allowed me to research my favorite subject as an adult: the civil rights movement.” The Colored Cartoon was honored by the Association of College and Research
Libraries as an outstanding academic title in 2008. Lehman grew up in Edmond but relocated to Minnesota, where he teaches at St. Cloud State University. Lehman is a professor of ethnic studies and coordinates the African-American studies minor and is the former faculty adviser for the campus’ Council of African American Students. According to Lehman, Minnesota and Oklahoma are actually very similar. Of course, Minnesota is colder in temperature and more politically to the left, with more Scandinavian and German influences, but otherwise, Lehman said the two states are comparable in look and industry type. “As one of very few AfricanAmericans and even fewer AfricanAmerican children in Edmond between 1976 and 1991, I knew even in my childhood that I was educating people about African-Americans just by how I conducted myself,” Lehman said. “I made several acquaintances and some friends across the color line, but my ethnic difference was in the back of my mind.” Lehman’s father is also a professor at the University of Central Oklahoma and inspired him to pursue his academic career path. “I saw how my father worked in the classroom and had plenty of time to spend with the family each day,” Lehman said. “I wanted to be able to do the same for my own family.” When not writing books, Lehman continues to enjoy learning about the antebellum era and the 1970s. When he isn’t deep in the world of academia, he enjoys watching old television sitcoms, reading books and fishing in the Mississippi River. Lehman is thankful for his experiences and ready for the next chapter, whatever that might contain. “I have had a great academic journey up to where I am now, and I look forward to challenging myself with more academic projects in the future,” he said. His book Power, Politics, and the Decline of the Civil Rights Movement: A Fragile Coalition, 1967-1973 is available at amazon.com and bn.com.
LIFE SPORTS
Moving forward Norman nonprofit SportForward launches an adaptive sports camp for disabled youth.
BY BRENDAN HOOVER
Trey Rudat is a 5-year-old boy who recently played baseball for the first time. “They handed him a bat, and he grabbed it like he was supposed to,” said his mother, Edmond resident Sheila Rudat. “He did pretty well. He likes to throw things.” Trey has a chromosome disorder. Developmentally, he’s on the same level as a typical 1-year-old. He can walk with help but mostly uses a wheelchair. He doesn’t speak, but he gets his point across. Trey and other youth ages 4 to 16 who have physical and cognitive impairments will participate in a new adaptive sports camp at Norman Optimist Club on Saturday. Hosted by Norman nonprofit SportForward, the camp will introduce participants to adaptive sports like wheelchair basketball; sitting volleyball; and goalball, a form of soccer for the blind. Adaptive sports are tailored to work around a person’s particular disability. Players in goalball, for example, attempt to score by throwing a ball with bells embedded inside into the opponents’ goal. “We are thrilled to introduce SportForward to the Norman community and provide a fun day for kids that may not have many opportunities to participate in sports and recreation,” said Stephanie DeVoss, SportForward’s director of strategic partnerships and adaptive sports coordinator. For 22 years, SportForward worked in more than 60 countries to elevate, empower, educate and build lasting peace in communities that are
SportForward works in communities all over the world through sports development. marginalized, oppressed and without hope. The organization is the nonprofit arm of a consulting company called Global Sports Partners, which works with countries around the world to develop Olympic-level sports programs. Started in Hong Kong in 1992 by Steve DeVoss, a former youth pastor at Norman’s First Baptist Church, the company uses its influence to create grassroots sports programs for people who often are discouraged or outright banned from playing sports. Whether it’s holding youth baseball clinics for Arab Muslims and Israeli Jews to promote peace or teaching women’s basketball in the Arabian Peninsula, SportForward uses sports as an indirect tool to affect cultural change, empowering young people to do what others say they should not or cannot. This will be the organization’s first camp in the United States. After years of focusing its attention overseas, Wyatt Worden, SportForward’s director of operations, said his staff discovered there is a need locally for adaptive sports programming. In 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 4.7 percent of Oklahoma City children ages 5 to 17 had a disability, and 3.6 percent of the city’s school-age children had cognitive difficulty. “We want these other organizations to really be featured and highlighted,” Worden said. “We just want them all together and get them plugged into each other.”
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SUDOKU/CROSSWORD SUDOKU PUZZLE MEDIUM
WWW.S UDOKU-P UZZLES .N ET
Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3-by-3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9.
NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS Puzzle No. 914, which appeared in the September 17 issue.
Friday, Sep 26, 10pm
Sat, Sep 27, 9:30pm
Tues, Sep 30, 12:30pm
R E N A U L T
J A F A R
C U P O L A
A R T S Y
S P E A N W E E S E A I N
S A B E R
C L O V E S
R E L A T E S
I C H E L L A R K E T S A H A N L WS E A T A H Z S O N S U E D S O A R E N D N S C A P O R D E M M A A M S R O A N W E L S E V E L A I N A L T S T O T E E N
Friday, Oct 3, 10pm
S H E S
T A U N I S WS E A K E A R E R N O V U I N N E D D
P E W E S E A L M A S U N P E D I L S N L G I A D B E
P A L E O D I E T
B S E F U D E D R L N W E E S T S
E R A
T V S O P R S O E L T D O R S E T R W H I E M I S O R N R L E E S D A O N T A T S I K R Y E
E A T E N C H I C T E A S S O R E N
A M S C A T E O R E U P R L G A N W E L L E S S Q U A N T U S S E S A H S O T O H E V E R N Y A WS E D L E T O E O E R R S H T A S I S I V A N A N W E A T I T S P I D A A T E L Y C I T E E M Y
Sunday, Oct 5, 9:30pm
Oktoberfest
Sep 20th—Oct 4th
Storyville Scoundrels
Simo
Tickets available at ticketstorm.com
50 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
Son of Stan
with Oil Boom
24th Street Wailers The Had Matters LIVE from Toronto & the Devangelists with John Wells
ACROSS 1 Sissy who’s not a sissy 7 Benefits 13 Blade in the back? 20 Lost lady in “The Raven” 21 Refresher 22 Cleaning aid 23 Bid 24 Something given when someone has been taken 25 Tranquil 26 Actor Michael’s means of support? 28 Comic Tina recovered from her wound? 30 Early Project Runway sponsor 31 No-see-ums 32 Obama caricature feature 33 Ocho ___ (Jamaican resort) 35 Blood products 37 Big name in ice cream 38 Positive signs of life in outer space? 42 Heir of martial artist Bruce? 46 Tennis champ Monica 48 Square 49 Hip-hop record mogul Gotti 50 Civil rights leader Roy 52 Annoyance for actor Colin? 55 Org. that takes donations for the strapped? 56 Caroler’s quaff 58 2007 3x platinum Alicia Keys album 59 2012 gold-medal gymnast Raisman 60 Person whose number is up 62 Ins 65 Sag 67 Flamenco cries 68 Thunderstruck critic’s review for actor Richard? 72 Studies: Abbr. 75 Ball-club position 77 Word in a Yale fight song 78 Popular airfare comparison site 79 Trojan’s home, for short 81 Sirs’ counterparts 84 Thriller writer DeMille 87 The Judds, e.g. 88 What actor Martin calls his athletic footwear? 92 “His wife could ___ lean”
93 94 95 97
Q.&A. part: Abbr. Branch of Islam Dental unit Urban legend about rapper Kanye? 99 The Great White Hope director Martin 100 It came down in 2001 102 Out of the wind 104 Bring down, in England 105 “Me, me, me” sort 108 Cleaning aid since 1889 110 Aquatic organism 114 Musician David’s equestrian accouterments? 117 Tart cocktail named for comic Amy? 119 Components for wireless networks 120 Philippine province with a repetitive name 122 “Good riddance!” 123 Suspected cause of Napoleon’s death 124 Subject of a Scottish mystery, informally 125 Not totally against 126 Aces the test 127 Some mounts 128 Oil giant based in Memphis DOWN 1 Piece of cake 2 Kind of code 3 Rural block 4 Creative word people 5 Folies-Bergère costume designer 6 “Don’t stop!” 7 Speedy Northeast conveyance 8 Leaps 9 They go around the world 10 “___ out?” (question to a pet) 11 Fail to keep up 12 Ian Fleming genre 13 Influenced 14 Polo grounds? 15 In accordance with 16 Partridge family member 17 Russia’s ___ Airlines 18 Teddy material 19 Kept underground, maybe
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One way to break out Casts out Eat, Pray, Love setting More slick, in a way Call “Praise the Lord!” German city on the Baltic Surprisingly agile Jargon The Fog of War director Morris Ephemeral San Francisco gridder Time piece Man, in Milan Foot-long part Stay out of sight Set on a cellphone Bandmate Barry, Maurice or Robin Get-out-of-full-screen
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button 63 As well 64 Dr. ___ Spengler (Ghostbusters role) 66 ___ pro nobis 68 Some chip dip, informally 69 List abbr. 70 Elation 71 Old NBC drama 73 Heckle 74 Little bit 76 Bygone Dodge 78 Clove hitch and sheepshank 79 Boycotter of the ’84 L.A. Olympics 80 Feng ___ 82 Not in pounds, say 83 ___ Paulo 85 Organic compound 86 Tempting words for shopaholics 89 Accords 90 Impeccably
0921
NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE CROSSWORD PUZZLE CELEBRITY SPOONERISMS Tony Orbach / Edited by Will Shortz
91 Home to the Blues and once the Browns: Abbr. 96 Noted hint giver 98 German ___ 100 Advil competitor 101 Lake that’s the source of the Mississippi 103 Lens cover 106 Davis of Commander in Chief 107 One side in a pickup basketball game 109 Department store section 111 Nut jobs 112 Verve 113 Burning desire? 114 What 105-Acrosses do 115 Days gone by 116 “Too much rest is ___”: Sir Walter Scott 117 Sit to be shot 118 Tug-of-war need 121 Call from the sidelines
Stumped? Call 1-900-285-5656 to get the answers to any three clues by phone ($1.20 a minute). The answers to the New York Times Magazine Crossword Puzzle that appeared in the September 17 issue of Oklahoma Gazette are shown at left.
Oklahoma Gazette 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. Please address all unsolicited news items (non-returnable) to the editor. First-class mail subscriptions are $119 for one year, and most issues at this rate will arrive 1-2 days after publication.
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52 • SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 • OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
ELI OT LEE HA ZEL
LIFE MUSIC
Rebirth certificate
After more than a decade living in the shadow of its own masterpiece, Interpol has rediscovered its creative spirit with its new album. BY JOSHUA BOYDSTON
Interpol with Rey Pila 7 p.m. Tuesday Cain’s Ballroom 423 N. Main St., Tulsa cainsballroom.com 918-584-2306 $28-$43
El Pintor is an anagram, a clever rearrangement of Interpol that just so happens to translate to “the painter” in Spanish. But there’s just as much meaning to the very jumble of those letters than the shrewd, titular phrase for Interpol’s fifth studio album in and of itself, a nod to an internal reorganization the now-trio has endured between present day and the release of their self-titled record back in 2010. That album was the second straight outing by the alt-rock heavyweight that was met with mixed reception (following 2007’s Our Love to Admire), and burntout founding bassist Carlos Dengler ushered himself to the exit almost as soon as it was finished. “There’s a clue on that record as to what was going on,” drummer Sam
Fogarino said. “It had that sort of temperament — our relationship was kind of smeared all over that record.” Four years later, things couldn’t be much better. The 10th anniversary of their seminal Turn on the Bright Lights — the album that jump-started a post-punk revival in the mid-2000s and partially defined indie rock of that era — came and went. Meanwhile, the celebration and rerelease of the album seemed to shrink the imposing shadow of that monumental moment in the band’s catalog into something more manageable, for Interpol and its fans alike. It was also a reminder of what this music means to the fans and what the opportunity to make it for them means to its three remaining members. The current lineup — Fogarino, frontman Paul Banks and guitarist Daniel Kessler — wants to be here dearly, and with a yearlong break to pursue outside projects and solo endeavors, Interpol stepped into El Pintor with a clear head and renewed creative potency. “There was a sigh of relief, you know? We just wanted to continue on, and it makes a big difference when there’s
someone there who has lost their affinity for it,” Fogarino said. “[We were] ready to get back to it without any obstacles. Things feel different; the light is shining on us in a different way.” There’s an ease to El Pintor that has been missing for some time, and Fogarino doesn’t dismiss the notion that the album represents something of a rebirth. It’s a sentiment that has followed much of the reception to the new album, greeted with some of the best reviews of Interpol’s career since 2004’s Antics. “It’s the honesty, the way it was written, that shines through,” Fogarino said. “No one was afraid to just get on and do it and not over-intellectualize what was happening. It has a lot more
feel and is a lot more immediate and visceral for it. It was more of the air being breathable, and that’s kind of what it was centered around.” There’s no rush or expectations for the years ahead. Touring in support of El Pintor will take up much of 2015, and there’s another break in store after that. But even without the specifics plotted out, Interpol’s prospects have never been so clear. Out of the dark, the lights are back on, shining bright as ever. “It’s good to take it from here. People are on our side right now, and in that sense, it’s been a nice pat on the back — or even a shove, like, ‘Keep moving. You won’t fall,’” Fogarino said. “The future is wide open. It’s a good feeling.”
Things feel different; the light is shining on us in a different way. — Sam Fogarino
OKL AHOMA GAZETTE • SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 • 53
ANNA WEBBER
LIFE MUSIC
Kicking ass Whether with The Allman Brothers Band or his current squeeze, Gov’t Mule, Warren Haynes has blazed trails with his guitar for decades. BY JOSHUA BOYDSTON
Gov’t Mule 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 Diamond Ballroom 8001 S. Eastern Ave. diamondballroom.net 677-9169 $24-$29
It’s a tough choice to make, to compete with the greatest rock music ever made. — Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes is a competitive guy. You need to be, he said, to make it in this business. Haynes has done so for the past 30 years, first as a guitarist for the likes of The Allman Brothers Band and David Allan Coe and for the past 20 leading Southern-fried jam rockers Gov’t Mule. His respect for Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd (all artists he and bandmates have covered for their annual Mule-O-Ween show with Neil Young, planned for this October) is matched only by his desire to beat them — even if it’s Mission: Impossible. “It’s a tough choice to make, to compete with the greatest rock music ever made. But if you are going to be a rock ’n’ roll band, you have to do that,” Haynes said. “Otherwise, you can plan on a short life span.” In all honesty, the band is more concerned with preserving that legacy of American blues and rock than actually lording over it, those lofty ambitions designed to let them land somewhere in between. Haynes is proud the Mule has carved out a niche for itself in that world and happy to have found enough likeminded fans to keep the train rolling full steam ahead for a full two decades now, a testament to the steady evolution the band has willfully allowed since day one. “It has to start with making ourselves happy; that’s why we do a different set list every night or why we never look back at what we were doing two years ago and do that again,” Haynes said. “Once we explore something, we feel the need to never subtract from it, only add to [it].”
54 • SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 • OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
Shout! — Gov’t Mule’s 10th studio album — is the collision of all that, a full amalgamation of a lifetime’s worth of influences and creative vapor trails from previous, more narrowly focused efforts. It’s a big album — both in scope and presentation — with the record getting a second disc dedicated to new spins of the songs on the first by a who’s who of modern music royalty: Elvis Costello, Dr. John, Steve Winwood, Dave Matthews, Ben Harper, Jim James, Grace Potter and more. “It added a whole new dimension to the album, and I was knocked out by what they did,” Haynes said, noting that the idea spiraled from a few guest verses to a full album’s worth of work. “It seemed like a shame to have them come all that way to just sing a verse or two. Once that decision was made, it became, ‘Why not do this for the entire record?’” With some of their best friends along for the ride, Shout! feels like a career statement of an album, a disc’s worth of material that operates much as the band does in the midst of its 20th anniversary: Looking back at the trails they have blazed with the intention of blazing plenty more. “Shout! is a pretty good representation of the musical paths we’ve ventured down over the past 20 years,” Haynes said. “It gives a little bit of a glimpse into each era. For us, with each record, it was very important to venture into some new territory, always a little different than the one before. Two decades later, we’ve definitely covered a lot of ground.”
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OKL AHOMA GAZETTE • SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 • 55
ANNA WEBBER
LIFE MUSIC
Polysynthesis As synthpop songwriting duo Poliça, Channy Leaneagh and Ryan Olson operate on the same expressive plane. BY NATHAN WINFREY
Poliça with Web of Sunsets 6:30 p.m. Tuesday Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art 555 Elm Ave., Norman ou.edu/fjjma 325-3272 Free
Minneapolis-based synthpop superheroes Poliça will kick off their nationwide tour with a night in Norman, treating the city to Channy Leaneagh’s ethereal vocals and producer Ryan Olson’s bewitching beats. Poliça sprang from collaboration between Leaneagh and Olson while she was lending backing vocals to Olson’s retro soft-rock supergroup Gayngs. “It started as a quiet exchange,” Leaneagh said of their early musical experimentation. “It reminded me of working with someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you, and you have to be very intuitive and focused on their body language. He played a beat and I sang over it, and we communicated through what we made. I never had to say if a beat was working or not; he could read me right away. “It’s that struggle to communicate and to express yourself within someone else’s own expression that is at the heart of the creative passion for me. That’s how love works, and that’s how good teamwork operates best as well.” Leaneagh and Olson started recording in 2011 with Chris Bierden bringing bass and additional vocals and a pair of drummers, Drew Christopherson and Ben Ivascu, punctuating the percussive soundscape with their dueling drums. Olson decided not to join the touring ranks, so the foursome became Poliça’s onstage lineup. Poliça returned from a European tour in August, playing a batch of shows that were Leaneagh’s favorite so far. They have ventured across the Atlantic numerous times since the release of their debut album, Give You the Ghost, in 2012. Leaneagh said touring outside of America had a strong influence on the band. “We were pushed outside our
56 • SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 • OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
We communicated through what we made. — Channy Leaneagh comforts, far from home,” she said. “We made new friends and saw the world unromanticized by realizing how small and similar we all are. [It] brought us much closer together as a band and also gave us a bounty of new perspectives that I think we are all grateful for.” Give You the Ghost was a selffinanced effort, and Leaneagh has always recognized the importance of those who believe in what she does. “People’s support from the beginning was paramount to us surviving out here. We have gotten where we are from a lot of hard work by lots of good people,” she said. “Someone told me our second record, Shulamith, was darker than Give You the Ghost, and that surprised me.” Released in 2013, the record is named after feminist activist and author Shulamith Firestone. “Shulamith, to me, was our pop record,” Leaneagh said. “It felt upbeat to me, so that reminded me of how differently we all feel the world.” Poliça’s richly creative offerings are perfect for diverse interpretation, and Leaneagh is excited to continue writing songs that are true to the band’s soul. “We will just make the music we want to make and do it because it feels good,” she said. “[Olson and I] know each other back and forth and sideways now but still work much the same. I am still inspired by him, and that motivates me to inspire him.”
LIVE MUSIC
E L I OT L E E HA ZE L
LIFE MUSIC Christian Pearson/Gary Johnson, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO DJ Blake O the DJ, Colcord Hotel. DANCE
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24
DJ Evan C, Aloft Downtown Oklahoma City. DANCE Jenny Richelle/Red Elvises, Grandad’s Bar. ROCK
DJ Jason Clark, Tapwerks Ale House & Cafe. DANCE
Jim the Elephant, Baker St. Pub & Grill. ROCK
Grant Wells, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO
Josef Glaude, The Paramount OKC. JAZZ
Machine Gun Kelly, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. HIP-HOP
John Randolph, Jazmo’z Bourbon St. Cafe. ACOUSTIC
Mark Vollersten, Red Rock Canyon Grill. ACOUSTIC
Josh Abbott Band/William Clark Green, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. COUNTRY
North Meets South/Deli All-Star Jam, The Deli, Norman. ROCK Replay/80’z Enuf, Baker St. Pub & Grill. COVER
Juicy J/Trinidad James, Tumbleweed Dancehall, Stillwater. HIP-HOP
Shakers of Salt, Farmers Public Market. COVER
Karen Khoury, Legend’s Restaurant, Norman. PIANO
The Friends No BS Jam, Friends Restaurant & Club. VARIOUS
My So Called Band, The Deli, Norman. COVER Phillip Phillips, University of Oklahoma, Norman. SINGER/SONGWRITER
THURSDAY, SEPT. 25
Randy Cassimus, JJ’s Blues Saloon. ACOUSTIC Rocky Kanaga, Oak Tree Golf & Country Club, Edmond. ACOUSTIC
Aaron Pierce Band, Lower Bricktown Fountain. ROCK
Sara Evans, Sugar Creek Casino, Hinton. COUNTRY
BAT, Nonna’s Purple Bar. ROCK Brent Saulsbury/Will Galbraith/Wayne Duncan, Friends Restaurant & Club. ROCK Brian McKnight, First Council Casino, Newkirk. R&B David Morris, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO
Scott Keeton, Remington Park. ROCK Skating Polly/Tyson Meade/Ford Chastain/Ronnie Harris, H&8th Night Market. VARIOUS
Interpol with Rey Pila
Souled Out, Old Surety Life Insurance Co. ROCK
Tuesday
Stars, Riverwind Casino, Norman. COVER
Dohse/Levi Parham, Red Brick Bar, Norman. ROCK
Stat Band, Russell’s, Tower Hotel. R&B
Doug Hurt, Coffee Commission, Edmond. ACOUSTIC Josh Abbott, Wes Welker’s. COUNTRY
Stephen Speaks, Red Rock Canyon Grill. SINGER/ SONGWRITER
Kacey Musgraves/John & Jacob, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. COUNTRY
T.Z. Wright, The Blue Door. BLUES The Chad Todd Band, Fort Thunder Harley Davidson, Moore. COUNTRY
Kierston White/Elizabee, The Deli, Norman. SINGER/ SONGWRITER
The Clique, Friends Restaurant & Club. VARIOUS
Kyle Offidani, Jazmo’z Bourbon St. Cafe. SINGER/ SONGWRITER
Interpol
The Wurly Birds/Foxburrows, Opolis, Norman. ROCK
When it comes to damp and menacing post-punk, few have done it better over the last 12 years than Interpol. Beginning with OKG its legendary debut album, Turn on the Bright Lights, and its music most recent effort, El Pintor, the New York-based trio has steadily amassed a discography chock full of piercing guitars, pulsating percussion and forceful songwriting. See them along with Rey Pila 8 p.m. Tuesday at Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St., in Tulsa. Tickets are $28-$43. Call 918-584-2306 or visit cainsballroom.com.
pick
Thompson Square, 7 Clans Paradise Casino, Red Rock. COUNTRY Trent Tiger, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill. ACOUSTIC
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27 Tyson Meade, Opolis, Norman, Saturday, Sept. 27
CARY ANNE
Aaron Newman Band, Tapwerks Ale House & Cafe. ACOUSTIC
Radiator Hospital/Weak Knees/Dream Bend, Blue Note Lounge. POP Randy Cassimus, Bricktown Brewery. ACOUSTIC Replay, Baker St. Pub & Grill. COVER
BAT, Nonna’s Purple Bar. ROCK Borderline, Sliders. COUNTRY Chad Sullins and the Last Call Coalition/JC Hopkins Band/Cole Porter, Riverwind Casino, Norman. ROCK DJ Blake O the DJ/DJ RnR, Colcord Hotel. DANCE Don and Melodee Johnson, Twelve Oaks, Edmond. JAZZ Howard Brady, Full Circle Bookstore. COVER Jason Young Band, Riverwind Casino, Norman. COUNTRY
Stevie Wonder Tribute Band, Oklahoma City Limits. COVER Sulley & Sisson, Hafer Park, Edmind. Chrisitian Terry Dearmore/Keith Brewer, The Blue Door. COUNTRY The Infidels, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewery. ROCK The Piano Guys, Brady Theater, Tulsa. POP The Surrogate Band Presents: A Tribute to David Bowie, Blue Note Lounge. COVER Turbogeist, The Conservatory. ROCK Tyson Meade/Ford Chastain/Helen Kelter Skelter, Opolis, Norman. ROCK
MONDAY, SEPT. 29 Alan Orebaugh and Friends/Handsome Devils, The Deli, Norman. ROCK
TUESDAY, SEPT. 30 Arum Rae, The Conservatory. POP IndianGiver/Caleb McGee, The Deli, Norman. FOLK Christian Pearson, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO Interpol/Rey Pila, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. ROCK
Willow Way, The Paramount OKC. SINGER/ SONGWRITER
Poliça/Web of Sunsets, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman. POP
SUNDAY, SEPT. 28
Karen Khoury, Legend’s Restaurant, Norman. PIANO
Bread and Butter, Remington Park. BLUEGRASS
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1
Stars, Red Rock Canyon Grill. COVER
Kyle Reid & the Low Swingin’ Chariots, Grandad’s Bar. JAZZ
Edgar Cruz, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. ACOUSTIC
Attica State, Baker St. Pub & Grill. ROCK
The Avett Brothers, Pioneer Cellular Event Center, Weatherford. FOLK
Matt Stell, Wormy Dog Saloon. COUNTRY
Gregory Jerome, Myriad Botanical Gardens. HIP-HOP
Gov’t Mule, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK
Gretchen Peters, The Depot, Norman. SINGER/ SONGWRITER
The Friends No BS Jam, Friends Restaurant & Club. VARIOUS
FRIDAY, SEPT. 26
Mitch Casen, Friends Restaurant & Club. COUNTRY
Scott Shelby, Wormy Dog Saloon. SINGER/SONGWRITER Sean Lucy, Grandad’s Bar. COUNTRY Southern Rift, O Asian Fusion, Norman. COUNTRY
Junebug Spade/Gum/Steve Pony, HiLo Club. ROCK
Maurice Johnson, Avanti Bar & Grill. JAZZ
Pidgin, The Deli, Norman. VARIOUS
Aaron Newman Band, Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse. ACOUSTIC
Plaza District Festival featuring Josh Sallee, Sherree Chamberlain, Bored Wax and more, Plaza District. VARIOUS
Avenue, Tapwerks Ale House & Cafe. COVER
SIMO, VZD’s Restaurant & Club. ROCK
BAT, Nonna’s Purple Bar. ROCK
Smilin Vic, Remington Park. BLUES
Borderline, Sliders. COUNTRY
Stars, Baker St. Pub & Grill. COVER
Catch 23, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK
Stat Band, Russell’s, Tower Hotel. R&B
Groovefest featuring Tequila Songbirds, Nowhere Band, Culture Cinematic and more, Andrews Park, Norman. VARIOUS Joe Baxter & the Lost Cause, Uptown Grocery Co., Edmond. COUNTRY Karen Khoury, Legend’s Restaurant, Norman. PIANO Mike Hosty, The Deli, Norman. BLUES Raven’s Three, Full Circle Bookstore. VARIOUS TJ Chesshire, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill. COUNTRY
Submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail them to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.
OKL AHOMA GA ZET TE • SE P TE M B E R 24 , 2014 • 57
LIFE MUSIC REVIEWS
Beet boxing
BY RYAN QUERBACH
Compared to his early days as a rapper, Beetyman’s growth and overall development of his craft are readily apparent. Though the Puzzle People emcee’s last effort, Underdog, was a strong release, his newest effort, Controlled Substance, more adequately showcases his skills as a wordsmith. He flows extremely well over each beat, exhibits keen rhyming ability and spits intelligent and wellconstructed lyrics throughout the tape. While he certainly had these abilities before, they have sharpened from project to project. It has been nearly three years since Beety dropped Underdog, and it’s clear that his slow-and-steady approach to the new tape has paid off. The tape features 12 mostly short tracks and one bonus track. Though the tape is relatively short in duration, Beety is still able to deliver a sizable amount of quality content. Parts of the tape feature Beety showing his teeth, downplaying the competition and displaying his capabilities. But he also regularly touches on social issues like poverty, police brutality, street violence and drugs. While approaching overarching themes like these, he is able to mix in modern examples, including some that he has experienced or been close to in his own life. The production for Controlled Substance is a mix of original production from Tony Tone Beats, DJ Chips and borrowed beats from the likes of Outkast, Curren$y, Pusha T and Big K.R.I.T. Overall, the tape holds a good mix of quality production. Each song on the tape is solid, but a few stand out. “Serial Spittas,” produced by Tony Tone Beats and featuring local rapper Willis, is one of
those songs. Beety and Willis rhyme over a smooth, Beethoven-sampled beat, showing their skills as lyrical serial killers. Willis contributes a somewhat eerie hook that perfectly fits the song’s concept. Another strong track is “Cool Shit,” which features Tom Tucker and is produced by Chips. On this one, Beety and Tucker rap about how far they have come since they were high school classmates. Each brings a strong verse that rides well over the chill beat from Chips, and listeners will be able to feel the camaraderie the two rappers have that seems to go beyond music. Probably the most interesting and unique song is “Prodigy,” in which Beety describes how his parents met. He speaks on his parents’ intelligence, talking about how they met in college. To Beety, this intelligence helped feed his own intellectual approach to rhyming, making him a prodigy or, as he describes it, “Albert Einstein of your time.” This song features not only great lyrics but also a heartfelt story and some clear emotion from Beety. A lot of mixtapes these days feature a bunch of songs compiled together that don’t really flow with any kind of cohesiveness, but Beety’s tape is different. While there are a number of themes and diverse production, all the songs come together really well. His lyrics are smart and thought-provoking. It seems that controlled substance in this case is not referencing to narcotics but to the substance that Beety’s words carry from track to track.
Beetyman Album: Controlled Substance | Available now | beetyman.bandcamp.com
58 • SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 • OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
LIFE FILM
PROVIDEDT
Primal screams Kevin Smith’s new horror-comedy, Tusk, finds the writer-director in strange and uncharted waters. BY DANIEL BOKEMPER
At the heart of all cinema lies a bodyhorror film about a human walrus. With Tusk, now playing exclusively at AMC Quail Springs Mall 24, Kevin Smith continues a tangent seemingly spurred by 2011’s Red State, a traumatic yet oddly amusing film about a violent extremist cult herded by veteran star Michael Parks. The path Smith takes with Tusk, however, distantly echoes the comedic futility Dante experiences in the director’s first reputable feature, Clerks. Wallace (Justin Long, Movie 43) is a blossoming comedian and journalist at the height of his career, which thrives on the exploitation of obscure and tragic viral Internet personalities. In an autobiographical allusion to Smith himself, Wallace shares his findings with best friend and co-host Teddy (Haley Joel Osment, The Sixth Sense) on the “Not-see Party,” a weekly podcast emitting lowbrow humor akin to Long’s early roles like Dodgeball and Idiocracy. Meanwhile, Wallace’s girlfriend, Ally (Genesis Rodriguez, Identity Thief), is placed on the afterburner, falling short of an implosion of confidence caused by Wallace’s grotesque profession. After presumably wasting a trip to Canada
due to the “unanticipated” suicide of his next teenaged subject, Wallace learns of an ancient mariner (the literary references in the film itself are abundant) willing to share his life of mystery and adventure, provided the listener stay for a few nights. At this point, the film breaks its overt comedic mold as a tale of amputated limbs and dehumanization begins to unravel. Howard Howe’s (Michael Parks, Django Unchained) bipolarity begins to wane on Wallace, as he bounds gracefully between the roles of caretaker and tormentor. Much like he did in Red State, Parks provides a hysterical edge to a character that would otherwise be a Doctor Moreau look-alike. Howe easily matches Wallace’s distress with precise melodrama, reaffirming that he does, in fact, reside far below the threshold of humanity. To Tusk’s benefit, Smith chooses to divert attention from Wallace’s physical transformation, opting instead to focus on his psychological plunge into animalism. Doing so allows for the figurative (and sometimes literal) fleshing out of Howe and the redesigned Wallace’s relationship — loving, yet terribly one-sided. To Long’s
Tusk conjures one of the most bilateral interpretations of “dark comedy” the genre has to offer.
credit, Wallace’s post-op emotions are easily deciphered through the actor’s rubberized face, perhaps more so than in his natural form. On that note, Smith places particular attention upon the cast’s visages, often filming symmetrical shots of a single character spanning several minutes at a time, which many of the players handle exceptionally. General goofiness is reinstated in the film’s final act via a nearly
unrecognizable Johnny Depp as Inspector LaPointe, a belligerent man-hunter and soon-to-be mainstay of Smith’s True North Trilogy. Unfortunately, the way in which Tusk’s humor appears to function in retrospect leaves many of the film’s obvious gags below sea level. For instance, though LaPointe’s frequent body humor may extract a light guffaw, considering the actual logistics of walrus-man on walrus-man combat is far more entertaining after the fact. Thus, Tusk conjures one of the most bilateral interpretations of “dark comedy” the genre has to offer. Ultimately, the film emerges distinct amongst an ocean of comparable horror, setting an above-average, yet realistic precedent for Smith’s next film to follow.
OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 59
LIFE FILM
Dream weaver P ROVI DE D
With a special Saturday night screening of T-Rex, OKC filmmaker Mickey Reece ponders what dreams may come.
BY PHIL BACHARACH
If Oklahoma ever becomes a hub for moviemaking, it will be due, in no small measure, to Mickey Reece. The 32-year-old Newcastle native has been astonishingly proliferative since he began directing in 2008, tackling a litany of genres with his stock company of actors. Even after cranking out close to 20 features, however, Reece and the homegrown production collective Fall Films have not turned out anything quite like the ambitious and challenging T-Rex, which screens 8 p.m. Saturday at Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd. Rather than delving into a specific genre, Reece and T-Rex co-writer John Selvidge explore the darker — and decidedly more ambivalent — obsessions of avant-garde cinema. The narrative
snakes through an array of characters linked by way of family or happenstance. The first vignette features Selvidge as Marty Dickens, an affable, good-ol’boy widower hoping to connect with an ex-flame. When Marty’s raucous children scare off the woman, he turns to his brood and flashes a toothy smile belying a well of despair. What happens next makes it clear that T-Rex has no interest in playing to audience expectations. It’s worth noting that the film begins with a passage from Sigmund Freud’s The Interpretation of Dreams in which the author cautioned that decoding dreams is complicated “by the same psychical forces which are responsible for their distortions.” In other words: Proceed at your own risk. Don’t look for easy answers.
Shot in black-and-white, T-Rex recalls the works of David Lynch and Harmony Korine. The film is not so much a collection of stories as it is a fever dream. The episodes, oscillating between black comedy and comic existentialism, are punctuated by flashes of brutality and lust. In voiceover, characters confide thoughts they dare not say out loud. At other times, Reece ups the creepy quotient by interspersing grainy archival footage of women spanking one another. The cast, many of whom have appeared in other Reece films, is mostly up to the task. There are some standouts, however. Sheridan McMichael plays a sleazy attorney steeped in rage and guilt. His performance, emotionally raw and informed by the possibility of violence, is remarkable. Rebecca Cox shines briefly as
a torch singer with Betty Boop-sized eyes, doing a slow-burn cover of The Animals’ “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.” R. Dustin Sanchez is memorable as a recovering alcoholic whose hangdog face nicely welds melancholy and mania. These assorted misfits are isolated by a host of factors — age, grieving, sexual desire, past wrongs — but share a desperate need to connect. Relief comes in modest and unexpected ways, whether in the person of a door-to-door vacuum salesman or even a liquor store robbery. Different strokes, as they say. What resonates most in T-Rex however, is its imagery, by turns grotesque and starkly beautiful. These vivid dreams are haunting regardless of their interpretation. Freud would be proud.
LIFE DVD REVIEWS Of all the mega-franchises, Godzilla’s has been the most secure despite the myriad potholes it has faced. From its humble, message-movie beginnings in 1954 to its colossally low, corporatesponsored nadir in 1998, it has endured countless trips to the big screen with somewhat varied results. With a public hungry Godzilla for giant spectacles projected in 3D on massive IMAX (2014) screens, it was a cinch that Godzilla was rife for a reboot. What wasn’t a cinch was that the task was given to Gareth Edwards, a director whose sole feature credit was 2010’s micro-budget Monsters. What comes of this union, newly released on Blu-ray, is definitely a mixed bag. The filmmakers overestimate how much human element the public wants in any Godzilla movie outside of the original, piling on contrivances, an indefensible number of coincidences and a central character (Aaron TaylorJohnson, Kick Ass 2) about whom we couldn’t care less. But on the other hand, Godzilla remains an amazing achievement of spectacle and technology. If one’s sole purpose is to watch Godzilla mix it up with other giant creatures, there’s plenty to love here. — Patrick Crain
60 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
Aside from Orson Welles and Jean Rollin, no filmmaker cut such a strong visual image right out of the gate like David Lynch. Almost 40 years later, The Criterion Collection’s Bluray release of Eraserhead, Lynch’s feature debut, shows just how lasting and timeless Lynch’s vision has proven to be. Eraserhead Eraserhead is an almost inscrutable and darkly (1977) comic tale of domestic madness that befalls factory worker Henry (John Nance, Twin Peaks) when he learns that girlfriend Mary (Charlotte Stewart, Little House on the Prairie) has given birth to a premature, mewling monster of a child that slowly seems to destroy everything in Henry’s life. Criterion’s release gives the film the vaunted respect it deserves by allowing Lynch the majority of control. The accompanying booklet jettisons any critical analysis of the film in lieu of excerpts from interviews with Lynch, and it ports over all of the extras from his self-released Eraserhead DVD in 2000 and the short films that were available in a similar fashion that same year. On the whole, the set aims to reflect an artist in his nascent days who needed little time to develop his genius. Mission accomplished. — PC
With both Halloween and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre receiving newfangled releases, Synapse lobs another title into the release schedule: 1980’s Canadian tax-shelter slasher Prom Night. A whodunit surrounding a batch of high school kids who are stalked by a hooded killer Prom Night determined to make them pay for a prank gone wrong (1980) many years ago, Prom Night is lots of fun but by no means a good movie. It’s full of ridiculous red herrings, obvious horror tropes and an unfortunate, stern performance by Leslie Nielsen, which isn’t dissimilar enough to his Sgt. Drebbin role to evoke anything but bad laughs. Jamie Lee Curtis, however, shines in a role that exemplifies how she keenly used the horror genre to spotlight her strong emotional range, revealing true distinction and genuine talent. Prom Night’s reputation is mostly kept alive due to the nostalgia of it being one of the first of the slasher films to make it to network television. This release boasts a beautiful transfer and a mountain of extras, including the footage included in the network cut, serving as fine a monument to the film that both it and its fans deserve. — PC
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY Homework: What’s your favorite excuse? Try not to say it or think it during the coming week. Report results to Truthrooster@gmail.com.
ARIES March 21-April 19 These horoscopes I write for you aren’t primarily meant to predict the future. They are more about uncovering hidden potentials and desirable possibilities that are stirring below the surface right now. When I’m doing my job well, I help you identify those seeds so you can cultivate them proactively. Bearing that in mind, I’ll pose three pertinent questions. 1. What experiments might stir up more intimacy in the relationships you want to deepen? 2. What could you change about yourself to attract more of the love and care you want? 3. Is there anything you can do to diminish the sting of bad memories about past romantic encounters, thereby freeing you to love with more abandon? TAURUS April 20-May 20 The old Latin motto Gardu diverso, una via can be translated as either “Continuing on the same road, but with a different stride” or “Going the same way, but changing your pace.” I think this is excellent advice for you, Taurus. By my reckoning, you are on the correct path. You are headed in the right direction. But you need to shift your approach a bit -- not a lot, just a little. You’ve got to make some minor adjustments in the way you flow. GEMINI May 21-June 20 For years, Donna and George Lewis used a 33-pound, oval-shaped rock as a doorstop in their Tennessee home. Later they moved it to their garden. Then one day George analyzed it with his metal detector and realized it had unusual properties. He took it to scientists who informed him it was a rare and valuable four-and-a-halfbillion-year-old meteorite. With this as our subtext, Gemini, I’m asking you if there might be some aspect of your life that is more precious than you imagine. Now is a favorable time to find out, and make appropriate adjustments in your behavior. CANCER June 21-July 22 I’ve got a radical proposal, Cancerian. It might offend you. You may think I’m so far off the mark
that you will stop reading my horoscopes. But I’m willing to take that risk, and I’m prepared to admit that I could be wrong. But I don’t think I am wrong. So here’s what I have to say: There is a sense in which the source of your wound is potentially also the source of the “medicine” that will heal the wound. What hurt you could fix you. But you must be careful not to interpret this masochistically. You can’t afford to be too literal. I’m not saying that the source of your pain is trustworthy or has good intentions. Be cagey as you learn how to get the cure you need. LEO July 23-Aug. 22 The prestigious New England Journal of Medicine published a study with a conclusion we might expect to see in a tabloid newspaper or satirical website. It reported that there is a correlation between chocolate consumption and Nobel Prizes. Those countries whose citizens eat more chocolate have also produced an inordinate number of Nobel laureates. So does this mean that chocolate makes you smarter, as some other studies have also suggested? Maybe, the report concluded. Since it is especially important for you to be at the height of your mental powers in the coming weeks, Leo, why not experiment with this possibility? VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22 I rarely waste my time trying to convert the “skeptics” who attack astrology with a hostile zeal that belies their supposed scientific objectivity. They’re often as dogmatic and closed-minded as any fundamentalist religious nut. When I’m in a tricky mood, though, I might tell them about the “Crawford Perspectives,” a highly-rated Wall Street investment publication that relies extensively on astrological analysis. Or I might quote the wealthy financier J. P. Morgan, who testified that “Millionaires don’t use astrology; billionaires do.” That brings us to my main point, Virgo: The astrological omens suggest that the coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to put in motion plans to get richer quicker. Take advantage! LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22 When Libra-born Mohandas Gandhi was 19, he
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moved to London from his native India to study law. Soon he got caught up in the effort to become an English gentleman. He took elocution lessons and learned to dance. He bought fine clothes and a gold watch-chain. Each morning he stood before a giant mirror and fussed with his hair and necktie until they were perfect. In retrospect, this phase of his life seems irrelevant. Years later he was a barefoot rebel leader using nonviolent civil disobedience to help end the British rule of India, often wearing a loincloth and shawl made of fabric he wove himself. With this as your inspiration, Libra, identify aspects of your current life that contribute little to the soul you must eventually become. SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21 This might be controversial, but I suspect that for now your emphasis shouldn’t be on sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Instead, your specialties should be hard-earned intimacy, altered states that are solely the result of deep introspection, and music that arouses reverence and other sacred emotions. You are entering a phase when crafty power is less important than vigorous receptivity; when success is not nearly as interesting as meaningfulness; when what you already understand is less valuable than what you can imagine and create. SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21 You are entering a phase when you will reap rich rewards by nurturing the health of your favorite posse, ensemble, or organization. How is the group’s collective mental health? Are there any festering rifts? Any apathetic attitudes or weakening resolves? I choose you to be the leader who builds solidarity and cultivates consensus. I ask you to think creatively about how to make sure everyone’s individual goals synergize with the greater good. Are you familiar with the Arabic word taarradhin? It means a compromise that allows everyone to win -- a reconciliation in which no one loses face. CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19 The good news is that America has more trees than it did a hundred years ago. Aggressive efforts to replace the decimated old-growth forests have
paid off. The bad news is that the new forests have a far less diverse selection of tree species than the originals. The fresh batches are often crowded into smaller spaces, so wildfires are more massive and devastating. And because so many of the forests are young, they host a reduced diversity of plant and animal life. All in all, the increased quantity is wonderful; the lower quality not so wonderful. Is there a lesson here for you? I think so. In your upcoming decisions, favor established quality over novel quantity. AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18 If Pope Francis isn’t traveling, he comes out to meet the public in St. Peter’s Square every Wednesday. During one such event last January, he took a few moments to bestow tender attention on a talking parrot that belonged to a male stripper. I foresee a comparable anomaly happening for you in the coming days. A part of you that is wild or outré will be blessed by contact with what’s holy or sublime. Or maybe a beastly aspect of your nature that doesn’t normally get much respect will receive a divine favor. PISCES Feb. 19-March 20 “My definition of a devil is a god who has not been recognized,” said mythologist Joseph Campbell. “It is a power in you to which you have not given expression, and you push it back. And then, like all repressed energy, it builds up and becomes dangerous to the position you’re trying to hold.” Do you agree, Pisces? I hope so, because you will soon be entering the Get Better Acquainted with Your Devil Phase of your astrological cycle, to be immediately followed by the Transform Your Devil into a God Phase. To get the party started, ask yourself this question: What is the power in you to which you have not given expression? 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.
HELP WANTED
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ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR Performs various accounting functions to include posting entries, verifying and reconciling source documents to financial reporting system output, processing payments, and/or assisting in preparation of billings and other financial reports. Responds to inquiries and contacts other departments and/or vendors to resolve a variety of problems. Troubleshoot day to day work related issues with other Accountants, and provide feedback to Director. 2 years of Great Plains Dynamics experience required. Visit www.varietycare.org/careers to apply. EOE
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MidFirst Bank is seeking a highly experienced Facilities Maintenance Mechanic to oversee and perform both general and preventative maintenance on two corporate buildings. Responsibilities can include routine maintenance projects, performing building inspections as well as addressing plumbing, HVAC and electrical issues. Therefore, a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a facilities management roll is required. An Oklahoma State Mechanical Journeyman license is preferred, but is not required. Candidates who possess this level of experience as well as strong communication and service skills are encouraged to apply.
www.midfirst.jobs If you are interested in this opportunity, please visit our website to complete an online application. AA/Equal Opportunity Employer-M/F/Disability/Vets 62 | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | OKL AHOMA GAZETTE
WE OFFER: • BASE PAY $11/hour + attainable BONUS structure • Part-Time positions(mostly weekends) • Flexible Hours • Paid Training • Fun Environment • Integrity Based Company • Advancement Opportunity REQUIREMENTS: • Aggresive, enthusiastic, & Self-motivated • Must have reliable transportation • Able to work evening, weekend, and occasional weekday events • Able to pass a criminal background check
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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, limitation, 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.
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OKL AHOMA GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 24, 2014 | 63
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