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10/28/16 12:24 PM

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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.

Election State Question 779

6

Election State Question 777

8

Election OKCPS bond vote

10

Chicken-Fried News

12

Commentary state questions

12

Letters

13

a&c

4

Cover Capitol Hill taco tour

29

Visual Arts Melvin Edwards: In Oklahoma

30

Visual Arts OAI Holiday Art Show and Benefit

31

Culture OETA turns 60

32

Film Trolls

33

Youth scouts workshops

34

Calendar

15

Feature The Wedge birthday

16

Briefs

37

Event Josh Abbott Band

17

Review Aja Bleu Café

38

Event Kent Fauss

18

Gazedibles new restaurants

39

Review Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road

40

Live Music

41

Astrology

42

Puzzles Sudoku | Crossword

Music

eat & dRinK aRts & cultuRe

with a line of diced meat placed down the center. Diced onions and chopped cilantro are sprinkled on top. This is a taqueria-style taco, and on Oklahoma City’s southside in Historic Capitol Hill, it’s easy to find a good one.

By Greg Elwell. Cover by Erin DeMoss

20 Shop Local

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20 OKG Shop holiday decorating 22

Performing Arts Lewis Black

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Performing Arts Annie

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coVeR

P.13 It’s so simple yet so enticing: a pair of warm corn tortillas stacked together,

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24 Performing Arts Uncanny County 25

Health & Beauty

classifieds 43

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To claim your tickets, call 528-6000 or come by our offices by 11/9/16!

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NEWS

E d u c at i o N

home and I felt relieved. I was for it, and I wanted to help.”

Like many Oklahoma teachers, Flores became involved in the campaign. As a former Putnam City School District Teacher of the Year and finalist for the state title, Flores was centered on sharing his teacher’s tale to voters at community meetings.

Despite offers from out-of-state districts — some offering Flores upward of $20,000 more in salary, the millennial teacher chose to stay in Oklahoma.

Flores doesn’t regret the decision; however, he thinks back to those offers at times, like when he gets a notice that his rent is increasing or the district has slashed classroom budgets or frozen salary step increases because fewer dollars are flowing from the state to the northwest Oklahoma City district.

“It’s difficult, and sometimes it is hard to stay optimistic,” said Flores, who teaches at a school with a large low-income student population.

Funding decision

With a majority of the state in favor of teacher pay raises, the question becomes which route to go with to fund them. By Laura Eastes

In a place like Oklahoma, where public schools serve as the lifeblood of their communities and teachers play a critical role in the academic and social growth of children, its hard to find many opposed to a teacher pay raise.

After a mass exodus of teachers from the profession and to neighboring states, support for hiking teacher wages intensified as a public discussion. Many assert higher salaries are the key for keeping quality educators in the classroom and attracting more skilled people to the applicant pool in the future.

In Oklahoma, where teachers are nearly the lowest paid in the United States, desires for teachers to be paid more have little to do with hotly debated State Question 779, a proposal to bring about $5,000 teacher pay raises through a sales and use tax increase.

This was a glimpse of hope that the tide might turn for the better.

Tony Flores

If there is one thing that both sides can agree on, it’s that they simply want to see teachers get paid more.

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Elementary music teacher Tony Flores advocates for the passage of State Question 779, a measure to raise the state sales and use tax for education spending. | Photo Laura Eastes

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The disagreement arises in how to pay for it.

“I think we are getting to the point where there is going to be some type of mandated teacher pay raise in the not too distant future,” said Dave Bond, chief executive officer of OCPA Impact. “It will either be paid with a big tax increase at a time when our state’s economy really can’t afford it or it is going to come from moving resources from areas of low priority to an area Oklahomans consider to be the highest priority. We prefer the latter option.”

Proponents of SQ 779 say the state Legislature had its chance to push the teacher pay issue and reroute funds.

Efforts have gone nowhere, said Tony Flores, a music teacher at Wiley Post Elementary School in northwest Oklahoma City.

“We can’t wait for them,” Flores said in reference to the Legislature. “We can’t.

They had the opportunity and failed. …

Our children and public schools are in crisis. We have to do something now.”

The only course of action is SQ 779, argues Flores and other supporters.

About SQ 779

Tuesday, Oklahoma voters will decide whether to add a new article to the state constitution to create the Oklahoma Education Improvement Fund, which calls for increasing the state sales and use taxes by 1 percent.

If approved, the law takes effect July 1. The fund is expected to collect $615 million annually, which will be distributed to school districts at 69.5 percent, followed by Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education at 19.25 percent, Oklahoma State Department of Education at 8 percent and Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education at 3.25 percent.

The measure calls for teacher salaries to increase by at least $5,000.

Oklahoma’s Children, Our Future, a coalition of education, community and business leaders, pushed the measure by an initiative petition earlier this year.

After two months, the group delivered more than 300,000 signatures to the Capitol to place the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot.

Teacher perspective

When Flores first heard about the proposal, he didn’t give it much thought.

The Houston native began his teaching career in the Putnam City School District in fall 2011.

Over the past half-decade, Flores heard plans for a teachers’ pay increase.

Those plans never amounted to anything.

When Oklahoma’s Children, Our Future’s Amber England presented the proposal at an Oklahoma Education Association conference, Flores heard not just talk, but a plan with revenue tied in.

“This was a glimpse of hope that the tide might turn for the better for [teachers], and not just for us, but future teachers and students,” Flores said. “I went

additional resources Tuesday, Oklahoma voters go to the polls to decide on a host of federal and local races and seven state issues, which range from agriculture to the death penalty.

Polling stations will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Voters can find their station at ok.gov/elections. >> Oklahoma Gazette election preview coverage: okgazette.com and okgazette.com/category/news/election-news >> 2016 oklahoma Voter Guide: okvoterguide.com >> oklahoma State Election Board: ok.gov/elections >> Vote411.org, nonpartisan information of federal and local elections, supported by the League of Women Voters: vote411.org >> american civil Liberties union oklahoma state question voter guide: acluok.org >> council on american-islamic Relations caiR-oK 2016 Voter Guide: cairoklahoma.com >> oklahoma Policy institute (nonpartisan, independent economy and government think tank based in tulsa) 2016 oklahoma state question guide: okpolicy.org

and it’s all been provided for by their district.”

Over the past year, Flores has worked to initiate conversations on SQ 779.

Among talks with parents, community members and fellow teachers, Flores said he hears support.

“It gave me faith in my state when I had lost so much,” Flores said. “This isn’t just teachers, but parents, community leaders and business owners. There is a coalition in this state ready to step up and say, ‘We’ve got to take care of our kids.’”

Another side

OCPA Impact’s Dave Bond advocates for a teacher pay raise and believes it can be achieved by lawmakers eliminating windfall or nonessential state government spending. | Photo Garret Fisbeck

“My classroom is well stocked musically, but that’s because of my own money and donations,” Flores added. “My friends in other states have everything they need,

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As supporters of Oklahoma’s Children, Our Future collected signatures for a ballot question, OCPA Impact lobbied for lawmakers to eliminate a number of wasteful or nonessential state spending and redirect those dollars to a plan to increase teacher pay.

OCPA Impact’s plan of action failed to gain traction during a session in which lawmakers were tasked with closing a $1.3 billion revenue shortage.

The alternative plan remains viable, and Bond said the organization plans to continue pushing it next session despite the outcome of Tuesday’s vote.

Opponents like Bond hold concerns beyond where the funding comes from.

In recent months, Bond has debated the faults he sees in SQ 779.

“This is a whole lot more than a penny

for your child’s teacher,” said Bond, sharing a misconception that the sales tax increase would be limited to an extra penny at the register.

The proposal calls for increasing the state’s sales and use tax rate by one penny on the dollar.

“This is not the penny you find in the parking lot or under the couch cushions,” Bond said. “This is a statewide $615 million tax increase.”

Pennies add up.

If the proposal passes, OCPA Impact contends working Oklahoma families would contribute an additional $420 per year in sales and use tax.

Absent from the ballot title and the proposed amendment is language on how the three state agencies will use funding from Oklahoma Education Improvement Fund. A seeming lack of accountability doesn’t sit right with opponents, Bond said.

“There is nothing in the fine print that tells higher education bureaucrats how to spend that money,” Bond said. “They can do whatever they want with the money.”

Tax and school realities

At the center of the SQ 779 debate is the tax burden. Cities like Oklahoma City and Tulsa already have some of the highest combined state and local sales tax rates in the nation.

If voters approve the proposal, the state sales tax will rise from 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent.

In Oklahoma City, the combined sales tax rate is 8.375 percent with funding going to Oklahoma City’s general fund, public safety, zoo and MAPS 3 projects.

Oklahomans also enjoy low property taxes.

Over the past two decades, income and severance tax have steadily declined. Last January, the personal income tax rate dropped from 5.25 percent to 5 percent from a plan pushed by lawmakers.

It is estimated $147 million is depleted for the next budget cycle.

As Oklahoma’s tax collections continue to fall, Bond argues now is the wrong time to consider a tax increase.

“There is more than enough money to provide a pay raise for each classroom teacher at $5,000 or better without raising taxes on anyone and without hurting the core services,” Bond said, referring to the alternative plan drafted by OCPA Impact.

As Flores sees it, the tax increase is an investment in the future of Oklahoma.

“I would recommend anyone on the fence to enter our public schools for a few hours to observe the massive amount of children in one room, the condition of the curriculum and the morale of teachers,” Flores said. “Ask a teacher, ‘Do you feel appreciated?’”

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NEWS

THIS SATURDAY!

ELEctioN

Campaign signs for and against State Question 777 have popped up around the metro area. | Photo Laura Eastes

Sowing debate

Law language of hotly debated State Question 777 is a major issue for opponents, as supporters preach its protections. By Laura Eastes

Bud Scott has put miles on his vehicle, driving on interstates, state highways and main streets into Oklahoma communities.

He passes crops and cattle, courthouses and community centers.

Over the past few months, Scott has spoken in Ardmore, Enid, Lawton, Norman, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Vinita, Woodward and everywhere in between on State Question 777, a proposed amendment to provide constitutional protections to farmers and ranchers. His message never alters as he encourages people to vote no.

Scott represents Oklahomans for Food, Farm & Family, a group formed to oppose the measure dubbed “Right to Farm” by supporters. At forums and community meetings, Scott begins by reading the language that would be added to the Oklahoma Constitutional Bill of Rights, which enumerates the rights of all state residents, if voters passed the question.

The proposed law begins, “To protect agriculture as a vital sector of Oklahoma’s economy, which provides food, energy, health benefits, and security and is the foundation and stabilizing force of Oklahoma’s economy, the rights of citizens and lawful residents of Oklahoma to engage in farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state.”

“I think everyone agrees with that,” said Scott, who grew up on a farm in Enid and, as an attorney, advocates for Oklahoma’s family farms. “It’s a good premise, but the real devil is in the details with the second sentence.”

That next sentences reads, “The Legislature shall pass no law which abridges the right of citizens and lawful residents of Oklahoma to employ agricultural technology and livestock production and ranching practices without a compelling state interest.”

Typically, that’s where the back-and6

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forth dialogue between proponents and opponents begins. Opponents like Scott say the last part of the proposal is vaguely written. He points out no definitions of agriculture technology, livestock procedures and ranching practices are listed.

More importantly, he said, the first six words remove core constitutional value of democracy: the right for people to legislate.

“It takes the power out of the hands of those duly-elected representatives and turns it over to the courts,” Scott said. “I don’t think anyone supports that.”

Preserving future

Charlie Swanson, a third-generation cattle producer in southwest Oklahoma, backs SQ 777. The measure earned his support when Rep. Scott Biggs, R-Chickasha, filed legislation to create a constitutional amendment protecting farming and ranching practices. The legislation sat for two years before finding success in 2015, rolling through with only 13 lawmakers voting against it. Ten months after Missouri voters approved similar constitutional farming protections, Gov. Mary Fallin signed off on the ballot title to put the legislation before Oklahoma voters on Tuesday.

As president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Swanson has heard praise from Missouri cattlemen and believes the Oklahoma measure would secure the legacy of farming and ranching.

“It ensures that farmers and ranchers will continue to have the right to farm in a scientific and animal husbandrylike manners for generations to come,” Swanson said. “No outside sources would come in and tell us how to farm and ranch based on emotions rather than research.”

Stewardship is a duty upheld by agriculture professionals as they work daily to be servants to animals, land, plants and water. Swanson said decisions about free-

range livestock and organic livestock production are up to and should remain with the farmer and should not be determined by government or by out-of-state special interests groups like The Humane Society of the United States.

“To say all cattle should be free-range, well, that’s an opinion,” Swanson said.

Strips democracy

Long before Drew Edmondson launched Oklahoma Stewardship Council to gain support for a “no” vote on SQ 777, he was the state attorney general for 16 years.

Had the constitutional protections been in place during Edmondson’s tenure as the chief legal advisor to state government, at least one attorney general’s opinion might have failed to come to fruition.

In 1996, during the hog farm industry boom, he handed down an opinion that brought due process to neighbors with concerns over corporate hog farms development. Neighbors were guaranteed the right to voice concerns about things like odor and water quality in a hearing in front of the state agriculture board.

“I don’t think we could have gotten away with that if SQ 777 had been on the books,” he said.

Oklahoma Stewardship Council, a campaign with support from The Humane Society of the United States and other animal groups, warns the measure harms citizen health and the environment.

“This constitutional amendment is absolutely and totally unnecessary,” Edmondson said after pointing out the right to farm and ranch was established at statehood. “It carries inherit dangers and inherit harms that threaten our water, our health and our safety.”

Edmondson believes those three areas are in jeopardy because the measure prohibits state and local lawmakers from setting agriculture standards in areas such as sludge use, pesticide or owning female chickens within city limits unless there’s a compelling state interest.

Oklahoma lawmakers included the wording “compelling state interest,” which is the toughest standard known to law and is absent from the Missouri law.

“This sets a bar so high, it is almost accurate to say that there would be no more regulations,” he said. “It is equivalent to ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ in criminal law. It’s a burden that is used to protect personal rights under the Constitution, like your freedom of religion.”

A frequent question Edmondson hears is how the law impacts federal regulations and laws, specifically agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“When I hear farms complaining about the bureaucracy and the agencies bothering them, they are talking about the federal government, not the state,” he said. “This will not protect from federal intervention.”

For or against

Oklahoma Farm Bureau, American Farmers & Ranchers, Oklahoma Pork Council, Oklahoma Wheat Growers Association, federal lawmaker U.S. Sen.

BaLLot titLE foR StatE QuEStioN 777 This measure adds Section 38 to Article II of the Oklahoma Constitution.

The new Section creates state constitutional rights. It creates the following guaranteed rights to engage in farming and ranching: >> The right to make use of agricultural technology >> The right to make use of livestock procedures, and >> The right to make use of ranching practices.

These constitutional rights receive extra protection under this measure that not all constitutional rights receive. This extra protection is a limit on lawmakers’ ability to interfere with the exercise of these rights. Under this extra protection, no law can interfere with these rights, unless the law is justified by a compelling state interesta clearly identified state interest of the highest order. Additionally, the law must be necessary to serve that compelling state interest.

The measure — and the protections identified above — do not apply to and do not impact state laws related to: >> Trespass, >> Eminent domain, >> Dominance of mineral interests, >> Easements >> Right of way or other property rights, and >> Any state statutes and political subdivision ordinances enacted before December 31, 2014.

Visit okgazette.com for full ballot language.

Jim Inhofe and others join Oklahoma Cattleman’s Association in support of SQ 777. Supporters say the measure protects future agriculture.

“It really bothers me that so many people have come out against it,” Swanson said.

Swanson believes opponents obscure the issues with dialogue about water quality and campaign pitches claiming corporate agriculture endorses the measure. He said Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Water Resources Board and federal EPA regulate water. He said he doesn’t believe those agencies would face any barriers if the state question passes.

“SQ 777 will be good for all agriculture, large or small, organic to cage-free,” Swanson said. “SQ 777 will benefit the consumer more than anybody.”

Those against the measure include the Oklahoma Farm & Food Alliance, Sierra Club, Save the Illinois River, Oklahoma Municipal League, Oklahoma Conference of Churches and many cities and tribes.

Oklahoma’s agricultural future comes from its citizens’ ability to lobby elected officials — state or local — on matters like agriculture technology, livestock procedures and ranching practices, Scott said.

That’s why he encourages voters to review the exact language, which is not part of the ballot title.

“The very idea that we want to restrict our freedom of speech is down right unAmerican and unconstitutional,” Scott said.

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10/14/16 5:05 PM

NEWS

VOTE “NO” ON STATE QUESTION 790

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled (7-2), that a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the State Capitol violated Article II, section 5 of the Oklahoma State Constitution (1907).

Question 790 seeks to repeal “Article II, Section 5” “No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such.”

WHAT REPEAL of “Article II, Section 5” WILL DO:

› Permit appropriation of public money and property FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. › Invite conflict over which SECTS AND RELIGIONS GET STATE SUPPORT. › Guarantee litigation in Federal Court FOR VIOLATING THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

A computer lab at Capitol Hill High School. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Faith Expressions in Oklahoma ELEctioN

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School bond

Voters weigh $180 million bond package for OKC schools. By Laura Eastes

As Maintain OKC Schools coalition sees it, the $180 million proposed bond package calling for major facility improvements to the state’s largest school district is a straightforward decision.

“It is about taking care of what we already have,” said Roy Williams, a member of the steering committee of the Maintain OKC Schools coalition, a collection of 30 businesses and community organizations that supports passage of the three propositions on Tuesday.

Since the millennium, the community has plugged millions into school sites across the city for capitol improvement projects.

The $700 million MAPS for Kids sales tax initiative, which benefited OKCPS and suburban districts, brought new school buildings like John Rex Charter and Martin Luther King Jr. elementary schools.

OKCPS purchased 65 new buses and made investments in technology with MAPS funding. A 2007 bond measure — the last significant OKCPS bond measure — lead the way for 54 classroom additions and 47 new gyms to be built throughout the sprawling district.

Now the district is asking voters to consider three proposals geared toward school building maintenance, technology and

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transportation. Supporters, like Williams and the coalition, believe the bond package serves as a plan to preserve investments made during the MAPS for Kids and 2007 bond initiative.

“Now is the time to maintain that construction and those improvements, whether it is air conditioning, heating, roofing or plumbing,” Williams, CEO/president of the Greater OKC Chamber, said. “It’s like anything else. It takes its wear and tear and needs to be maintained.”

The proposal also looks to maintain another key aspect of any school bond proposal: the mill levy. If voters approve the bond package on Nov. 8, the district’s mill levy — a property tax based on a property’s assessed value — will remain at 18.61 mills.

Residents in the Oklahoma City school district will see no increase in property taxes under the proposal.

Bond impact

One of the district’s oldest school sites, Capitol Hill High School, stands to benefit greatly from the $180 million bond package.

Under the district’s proposal, the 88-year-old school building would see $3.79 million put into installation of new

network infrastructure, purchases of computers and tablet devices and maintenance of heating and air, plumbing and electrical systems. The proposal calls for front entrance renovations to create a secured entryway, eliminating the possibility of unwanted persons entering the ninth-12th-grade school.

If voters approve, Capitol Hill students would see their school’s visual and performing arts programs get a boost, as $316,030 would be plugged into fine arts. In total, $2.8 million would be designated for fine arts programs distributed among the district’s middle and high schools.

Capitol Hill is one of 77 building sites, including charter schools and two former school buildings eyed for district offices, to benefit under the three bond propositions proposal.

The first proposition asks voters to consider a $106.3 million bond toward school building maintenance, like repairing HVAC units and replacing old plumbing. Since August, district leaders have stressed the need for major facility improvements across the district, citing extreme heat in classrooms at older school buildings disrupting student learning and repeated plumbing problems impacting hot meals.

The second bond proposition calls for $54.5 million distributed to schools for technology purchases, such as updating network infrastructure and placing 11,010 new electronic devices into the hands of teachers and students.

When the 2015-16 school year began, the district reported students were using 13,693 desktops and laptops, 4,457 Google Chromebooks and 3,068 iPads.

The district would purchase 5,460 iPads or similar devices for student use and invest in 3,000 computers for labs in more than 70 school sites.

Lastly, the district calls for $19.2 million toward the purchase of 100 new buses and other transportation equipment. The average age of an OKCPS bus is more than 10 years.

Under Oklahoma law, school bond issues require a supermajority vote at 60 percent to pass. If voters approve the measures, the district would kick off a round of projects during the first quarter of 2017 and conduct the projects over a five-year period.

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Yellow ballot

Yes the Yellow Ballot is the campaign slogan of Maintain OKC Schools. At the polls, voters will find the bond proposals listed on a yellow ballot separate from other races.

Williams contends the three proposals are vital for the future of the school district and play a large role in the district achieving its mission to educate its 41,000 students, pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

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8503 n. Rockwell Drummers rehearse at Capitol Hill High School.

About $2.8 million of the $180 million proposed bond package would bring additional fine arts funding to OKC middle and high schools. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

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chicken

friedNEWS

Procrastination pain

Imagine you are the sheriff and the bill for inmate health care lands on your desk. You notice a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach because the balance is large — more than double the cost of your own home. Thankfully, you have time before the payment comes due, but you’re busy, so you deal with it later, even though funds are readily available.

A little procrastination never hurt anybody, right?

There is a lot of harm when you are an elected official who is responsible for managing taxpayer dollars, according to an investigative audit report into the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office issued by the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector’s Office.

The audit, released Oct. 18, found Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel had the funds to pay Armor Correctional Health Services, Inc. when payment was due. The audit suggests Whetsel chose not to pay for months — and then those invoices became the county’s debt. In a county Budget Board meeting, the sheriff told fellow county leadership that the county was short on funds to pay inmate medical bills. As of June 30, 2015, $3.05 million was owed to Armor, according to the audit.

As Inspector Gadget sagely put it, “Wowsers!”

The 32-page audit report details other findings regarding questionable decisions in the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office under Whetsel’s leadership.

The audit was released 21 days before the Nov. 8 general election. State Rep. Mike Christian, R-Oklahoma City, challenges Whetsel, a Choctaw Democrat, for the seat.

Whetsel responded to the audit by pointing out there were no allegations of misappropriated money. He also pledged to work to improve every area of operations, The Associated Press reported.

Probate problems

We all hear stories about money issues surrounding people dying. If the deceased was broke when they died, the stories are of family members trying to give them a decent memorial service and burial.

If the dearly departed had money, longlost cousins, business associates and nu numerous “friends” often come out of the woodwork.

KGOU recently reported that Oklahoma-born natural gas and oi l m a g n at e A u br e y McClendon’s lawyers are now dealing with over $1 billion worth of probate claims — people and companies claiming McClendon owed them money.

McClendon died March 2 in a car accident near Turner Turnpike.

T he C he s a p e a k e Energ y Corporation founder and former CEO was once part of Forbes’ list of wealthi wealthiest Americans but was removed in 2012, after his net worth dropped to $500 million.

Claims to his estate include $445 million in damages to Chesapeake Energy Corporation,

$464.3 million to Wilmington Trust and “$22 million for an aircraft purchase plus millions in real estate loans,” according to a KGOU report that quoted The Journal Record reporter Dale Denwalt.

The Journal Record also cited a $5.3 million loan to “McClendon’s Singapore Dunes real estate development in Michigan” and a $500,000 loan Thomas Quinn gave McClendon in 2016.

“According to documents submitted along with Quinn’s claim, no payments were made on the loan for 14 years and the promissory note did not include a payment schedule,” Denwalt wrote.

Lawyers have to go through each claim and determine whether or not it is legitimate. Once that’s done, payments must be made. If McClendon’s estate can’t cover the costs, people or businesses owed will receive partial payments.

Someone get those lawyers some coffee.

Fraudulent fix

There are few things more frustrating than a fast-talking swindler.

Police are warning Oklahoma City residents about possible scammers aggressively targeting female drivers by demanding payment for bogus car maintenance.

In late October, one woman told police she was driving near the intersection of N. May Avenue and NW 59th Street when a man pulled alongside to her and said her front right tire was wobbly.

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Both pulled over in a nearby parking lot. She alleged the man offered to fix her tire for about $200.

According to KOCO.com, the woman became suspicious after the man finished the repair in about five minutes.

Two days later, another woman said she was boxed in by a two men in a van as she attempted to back out of a parking space outside Belle Isle Wal-Mart. They offered to fix dents on her car.

One man attached suction cups to her car and started waxing the vehicle without her permission. Then, the men told her she owed them $140.

She paid them, KOCO.com reported, and then they gave her a phone number to call if she needed future work done. When she returned home and removed the wax, she discovered the dents were still there.

She attempted to call the men, but a woman who answered said they were not available.

In both instances, the women alleged the scammers were aggressive and insisted immediate cash payments.

Police advise anyone who thinks they are being scammed to call 911.

Mall, News9.com reported.

One alleged victim said she was shocked to discover Christ was out of jail after the initial arrest.

“It’s just really confusing,” she wrote in a social media post. “They said that he was going to serve time and have to regis register as a sex offender. What else is he going to do before this happens?”

As of Friday, Oklahoma County jail booking records showed Christ was jailed on a $1,452,000 bond. It’s not a guarantee he won’t get out, but at least it’s a solid hurdle.

Oh, Christ

Jordan Lee Christ, 33 — no relation to Jesus — was arrested Oct. 23 in the Plaza District on suspicion of indecent exposure after a woman called Oklahoma City police to report that she saw a man take his genitals out of his pants and touch himself while following her, according to News9.com.

The TV news outlet reported that police arrested Christ after a short foot chase near NW 16th Street and N. Blackwelder Avenue.

Christ was already out on bond after being charged early last month on 17 counts of taking clandestine photographs and videos and three counts of indecent exposure after he was arrested on suspicion of taking videos of women changing inside a Forever 21 store at Penn Square

Over it

Kevin Durant dumped Oklahoma City this summer to join the Golden State Warriors. So why does he still talk about it?

Like an ex who just won’t get over it, the former Oklahoma City Thunder basketball star couldn’t help but talk smack to Rolling Stone in the magazine’s Oct. 19 cover story.

“It felt like that whole thing was set up for me to leave, especially after they blew a lead in the finals, because I damn sure wasn’t going there if they’d won,” he told the magazine. “But after Game Seven, I called up my agent and said, ‘Damn, dude, Golden State — what if?’”

This summer, his mother Wanda Durant said Durant simply couldn’t go on being the beloved star of Oklahoma

City’s professional franchise.

She said her son told her, “Mama, I can’t do it anymore. They’re not in this thing with me, we’re not together like we were — I feel like I need something different,” the magazine reported.

And he got it. He signed a two-year, $54.3 million deal with the Oakland, California-based Warriors.

It’s early, but Durant’s Oct. 25 Warriors debut didn’t go so well. Though he scored 27 points, the team fell 129-100 to the San Antonio Spurs.

But we won’t gloat. After all, Oklahoma City is totally over KD. Yeah, right.

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co m m E N ta ry

NEWS

State questions require voter diligence

Oklahoma suffers from a bloated constitution created at statehood in a populist environment, addressing a multitude of issues that don’t belong in a state constitution.

Five of the seven state questions on Tuesday’s Election Day ballot seek to amend the state constitution, and care should be taken to avoid unnecessarily expanding its provisions. Voters need to take extra time to study these measures and be prepared to cast informed votes on each of the seven issues. Don’t be rushed or pressured to remember how you’re going to vote; it’s perfectly legal and appropriate to take with you into the voting booth your personal list of votes to be cast.

Here are some thoughts I’d like to offer: Your feelings about the death penalty will probably guide your decision on State Question 776. Its passage might make it easier, but not necessary, to continue enforcement of the death penalty in Oklahoma as the state struggles with a legal method of execution.

Recent polling shows State Question 777 is receiving little voter support, and for good reason. It is an attempt by industrial agriculture to shield itself from regulation. The scale of industrial agriculture, particularly

lEttErS

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.

in regard to concentrated animal feeding operations and processing plants, presents a multitude of issues that need oversight and regulation by municipal, state and federal governments.

These issues include water and air quality, domination of animal production, public health, animal welfare and a growing concern over whether there will be sufficient fresh water for all Oklahomans in the future. SQ 777 would amend the state constitution to provide special protections to agriculture that are not available to other economic sectors and greatly impair state and local governments’ ability to address these serious issues.

Passage of State Question 779 would add a provision to the state constitution requiring an additional 1 percent state sales tax to be distributed by a formula to common, higher, career and technology, and early childhood education. A portion would provide teachers a $5,000 raise, which proponents believe would boost teacher retention and curb hiring shortages.

SQ 779 opponents point out that passage would make Tulsa and OKC sales taxes some of the highest in the country, adversely affecting those in lower income brackets the

most. It would become yet another earmarked revenue source removed from the state’s general appropriation process and another impediment to achieving responsible state budgeting.

Some of the state’s municipalities have officially objected to the measure, arguing it would encroach upon their traditional source of funding and impair their ability provide city services such as police and fire protection.

State Questions 780 and 781 provide in tandem for laws to reclassify certain offenses as misdemeanors instead of felonies and to take the savings from the reduced incarceration rate to fund mental health and drug rehabilitation services at the county level.

Oklahoma cannot sustain its current levels of incarceration and its failure to provide insufficient rehabilitation and treatment services to curb recidivism.

Recent polling shows these two important reforms are receiving much needed support.

Proponents of State Question 790 are those still trying to get the Ten Commandments on public property, but they must be careful what they wish for because, if federally constitutional, it would

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.

Rigged system

“The Donald” has a comfortable 30-point lead in Oklahoma. On many levels, this defies logic since most of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s base in this state are workers who feel that the system has been rigged against them. The irony here is that the system is rigged against them by billionaire plutocrats and oligarchs like Trump. Big business tycoons and their Republican political shills stacked all the marbles in their favor and reduced workers in this country to living paycheck-to-paycheck, just like all the jobs they transferred overseas in their lust for bigger profits.

Maybe for just one day (How about Election Day?), these workers can just think for a moment about exactly who is responsible for their plight.

Jay Hanas Edmond 12

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‘Right to Harm’

With State Question 777 being relevant and Election Day looming, Oklahoma voters need to make up their minds about it, if they have not already. In my opinion, it is imperative that this proposal is not approved.

The “Right to Farm” bill (SQ 777) should more aptly be named “Right to Harm.”

It will devastate family farms, diminish voting rights and prohibit Oklahoma from establishing reasonable food production standards. Moreover, SQ 777 will destroy our drinking water and block anyone trying to protect it. Most of all, the assault on animal welfare should be more than enough reason to say no.

If it passes, it would be nearly impossible to ever overturn and repeal once the consequences of this constitutional amendment begin to surface. Even Farm Bureau president Tom Buchanan admitted that it is flawed. Vote no on 777.

Ezekiel O’Connor Oklahoma City

In the game

State Question 788: This being the question legalizing medical marijuana in Oklahoma.

I wasn’t a front-row supporter or even a sideline spectator on this issue until it hit close to home. Seeing people in need of relief from chemo treatments, not to mention a

apply to all religions, not just theirs. Passage would enable the more relaxed standards under the federal “establishment clause” of the First Amendment to apply to state collaborative efforts with sectarian schools, hospitals and other social services.

Revising state constitution provisions relating to the sale of alcohol beverages are certainly overdue. Passage of State Question 792 provides for greater accessibility to the purchase of beer and wine, allowing sales in grocery and convenience stores. Polls indicate a substantial majority of voters support the changes.

Concerns also have been raised about the fairness of these changes to liquor store owners, who maintain their spirits monopoly, but are denied access granted to grocery stores. There is concern is that the provisions of SQ 792 would enable consolidation of the distribution of alcoholic beverages in Oklahoma, potentially decreasing competition and increasing retail prices.

Complicated as these state questions are, they need to be considered by each voter because they potentially impact our lives for better or worse.

Bill Bleakley is Oklahoma Gazette’s owner and publisher.

host of other conditions, this could have made a real difference upon.

But after obtaining the required number of signatures needed to be placed on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, Attorney General Scott Pruitt decided to rename and restructure the wording of the question.

Because of this tactic, the question wasn’t submitted to Gov. Mary Fallin in time to be placed on the Nov. 8 ballot. This delay means a vote might not go before the people until 2018.

I would bet few knew the excess tax moneys from this question would have been split 75-25 percent between Oklahoma education and health departments. If you read the reworded question, it clearly was an attempt to scare state conservatives into thinking Oklahoma was legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

I urge everyone to remember these B.S. tactics when either the attorney general or governor decide on future political endeavors. Shame on you both. I am officially in the arena, off the sidelines and in the game.

Monte K. Choate Oklahoma City

Correction

The “Open praises” Chicken-Fried News story in the Oct. 19 Oklahoma Gazette included an incorrect address. First United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City is located at 131 NW Fourth St.

eAT & DrINK

Deshebrada taco at Durango Taqueria Y Restaurant | Photo Garett Fisbeck

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Taqueria Cardenas owner Alex Trejo explains the menu. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Capitol adventure

Take a trip through Historic Capitol Hill, where you’ll discover some of the best tacos available just about anywhere. By Greg Elwell

It’s so simple yet so enticing: a pair of warm corn tortillas stacked together, with a line of diced meat placed down the center. Diced onions and chopped cilantro are sprinkled on top. This is a taqueriastyle taco, and on Oklahoma City’s southside in Historic Capitol Hill, it’s easy to find a good one.

That wasn’t always the case. When the Capitol Hill area, located just south of downtown Oklahoma City, was purchased

by B.R. Harrington in 1900, it was meant to be the home of our state Capitol. Ten years later, it was annexed by the city.

It never developed into a political hub, but it did become southside OKC’s main street, said Donna Cervantes, Historic Capitol Hill director.

But by the late 1970s, with the rise of the suburban shopping mall, the population shifted, Cervantes said. Those who remained and businesses that moved into the area formed a strong bond.

Today, the area is returning to prominence and showcases its culture, which Cervantes said includes food. “[Food] can be the bond that might be missing in language or shared experiences for people looking for commonality,” she said.

If tacos are what it takes to bring people into Historic Capitol Hill to ask questions, learn something new and bond with their south Oklahoma City neighbors, Cervantes

said she’s absolutely fine with that.

“That’s part of the authenticity,” she said. “Food is comfortable.”

Authentic fare

“The first step to bringing people together happens over a dinner table,” Jake Fisher said.

A passionate immigration reform advocate, Fisher and his Bridges Strategies business partner Ashley Quintana work a lot within the Latino community. He has discovered that, often, cultural and language differences can be easily overcome with food.

Fisher doesn’t claim to be a taco expert — he just loves them. So he created The OKC Taco Map, a croudsourced map on which people can pinpoint favorite metro taco shops and share why. (Try it out at bridgesstrategies.com.)

His favorite is Taqueria Los Desvelados, 1516 SW 29th St. “It’s not health food. It’s not high cuisine,” he explained. “It’s comfort food.”

Desvelados is a long restaurant located in a shopping center, the product of a few walls coming down over the years. At its east end is a counter covered in handwritten menu additions, but the main draw is a long-standing sign offering diners plenty of taco options.

Once you place your order (and if the restaurant isn’t too busy), stroll around

Carne asada taco at Taqueria Mr Dollar #5 | Photo Garett Fisbeck

the rooms to look at murals painted on each wall.

What should you order? Barbacoa tacos are supple and fall apart on the tongue.

Asada is just sturdy enough make it through a couple of chews before dissolving.

Taqueria Los Desvelados also offers deep-fried tacos dorados, which are corn tortillas wrapped around mashed potatoes.

The crunch of the shell is intoxicating. The freshly cooked, creamy potatoes inside pour out steam, so diners should probably cut them open to let them cool off a bit before taking a bite.

Capital delight

The easiest way to find Durango Taqueria y Restaurant, 3401 SW 29th St., is to look for the giant scorpion on its sign.

Durango is often called the scorpion capital of Mexico, hence the venue’s logo.

For those looking to dine on carne deshebrada tacos, this scorpion points the way to some of the best in the city.

Deshebrada has a texture similar to cabeza, but with a fresh green chile sauce, the depth of flavor is quite different.

Like many taco shops along SW 29th Street, Durango makes its own tortillas.

Fresh corn tortillas are tender with a mild, hearty sweetness and a pliability that makes them perfect for diners to tear apart bite by bite.

Hours for all appetites

Taqueria La Tropicana tacos are at once a joy and a frustration. The taqueria,

located at 1028 SW 29th St., serves some of the best in the city, but the restaurant opens late and stays open later.

For night owls, it’s the perfect place to find carnitas tacos. Tropicana’s pulled pork is alarmingly tender and has a somewhat more pronounced taste than what you might find at a few other eateries.

Those in search of an excellent lengua also will be pleased. The tongue is firm without being chewy, an important textural distinction that gives these tacos a pleasant mouthfeel.

While they can stymie those looking for an early dinner, Tropicana’s late-night hours are a nice respite from taco trucks, meaning diners can enjoy the comfort of the indoors while demolishing a plate of tip-top tacos.

Pastor pioneer

Alex Trejo went to court to protect the right to serve great al pastor.

Eleven years ago, the owner of Taquería Cárdenas SLP, 1233 SW 29th St., made an impassioned plea to a judge to let him continue to slow-cook his al pastor on a vertical grill.

“They said I couldn’t serve it because the meat in the middle wasn’t cooked,” Trejo said. “But with al pastor, we only shave off the outside, which is cooked.”

Finally, he asked the judge if it was acceptable to serve a rare steak. That argucontinued on page 14

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eAT & DrINK

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On the eastern edge of SW 29th Street, Taqueria Mr. Dollar #5 sells fresh tacos for $1. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

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continued from page 13

ment swayed the court and he was allowed to continue cooking his way, which other Capitol Hill area restaurants have since adopted.

One cue he won’t take from nearby restaurants and taco trucks is lowering his prices. He looks for value to keep things priced fairly, but he won’t skimp on quality.

As a traveling musician, he gets to visit Mexico often, allowing him to bring back authentic Ranchero cheese regularly at a fraction of the price.

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Dollar tacos are hard to pass up, especially when colorful food trucks are parked so prominently on the roadside.

Taqueria Mr. Dollar food trucks dot the Historic Capitol Hill district. One mobile eatery is parked near SE 29th Street and S. High Avenue.

There is something delightful about handing over a single dollar bill and getting a fresh, warm asada taco a few minutes later.

The steak has plenty of flavor, and the fine dice makes it easy to chew. Generally, the cut of the meat determines the quality of the steak — a larger cut means it is higher quality. For taco trucks with ultrathin profit margins, chopping a steak finely indicates value. The meat retains the flavor of the marinade and the griddle without becoming too tough.

Mr. Dollar tacos don’t necessarily need the accompanying salsa and are best with a squeeze of lime.

Walk in

Like Desvelados, La Oaxaqueña Bakery & Restaurant, 741 SW 29th St., is beautifully decorated. And inside, the chefs do plenty of decorating, as the restaurant is also a tasty Mexican bakery — save room for churros, or sweet fried-dough pastries.

The asada is delightful, but the real find is La Oaxaqueña’s mole taco. Dark, rich sauce permeates the chicken to give it a slightly sweet, bitter taste. Mole takes a lot of time to prepare, but one bite of these tacos and they’ll disappear off your plate in no time.

Know your fillings Most of us are familiar with fast food variety tacos: fried corn tortillas filled with ground beef, lettuce and tomato.

What really makes a taqueriastyle taco a taqueria-style taco is what’s inside of those soft corn tortillas. Before ordering, here are some common fillings you might find:

>> Al pastor: Spit-roasted pork prepared in a similar way to gyro meat or shawarma. Pieces of pork are stacked on a vertical grill, roasting as they rotate.

>> Asada: Seasoned, marinated steak that is grilled and then cut into strips or cubes.

>> Pollo: Seasoned, marinated chicken usually served shredded. It’s one of the mildest meats available at taquerias.

>> Carnitas: Meat from the pork shoulder that is often braised, pulled apart and then quickly roasted to crisp up the meat tips.

>> Chorizo: Spicy, flavor-

ful and sometimes greasy pork sausage usually cooked without its casing.

>> Carne deshebrada: Marinated, slow-braised beef that is shredded, similar to carnitas, and served in a green sauce.

>> Barbacoa/cabeza: Meat from the cow’s head, usually beef cheek, is seasoned and slowly braised to give it a moist, tender texture.

>> Buche: Diced pork stomach, which is more tender than tripas, or beef stomach, but can be more pungent.

>> Lengua: Cooked beef tongue that’s usually diced fairly small to make it more tender.

Many restaurants remove the taste buds, but it’s not uncommon to find one.

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eveNT

The Wedge Pizzeria’s longtime chef Jesus Cortez cuts into a hot, fresh pie. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Constant comment

focused on local, which we still are, but now we’ve added a few other things that are specialty options,” Ortega said. “You could always build your own, but now it’s on the menu and we’ve added cashew cheese and a gluten-free crust.”

It also built up a great patio crowd. The overflow from the dining room at its Western Avenue location naturally found its way to the inviting backyard.

“It really is an excellent, healthy local alternative to the fast food restaurants with places for kids to play,” she said. “Our playground isn’t as expensive, but they have just as much fun, and the kids get to eat real food.”

It also has a natural flair to it.

“Our patio is more like a backyard,” Ortega said.

As a mother, she knows customers appreciate having space for their kids to work up an appetite before dinner is served.

There’s no set timetable, but Ortega said The Wedge wants to cover the rest of the patio to create a year-round dining area. She said the importance of patio dining is a reason there hasn’t been a third location of the eatery. (Its second location is in Deep Deuce, at 230 NE First St.) “We’re always looking for the right property for a third store, but we have to have that patio,” she said. “One thing about Oklahoma weather is that it’s nice to have a significant amount of patio time.”

Food first

From day one through day 3,653, Ortega said, the heart of the business is great food.

The Wedge Pizzeria plans a beer-and-pizza bash “Our dressings, sauces, meatballs, to celebrate its 10th anniversary. sausage — we still make it fresh,” she said.

If anything, The Wedge looks for more

By Greg Elwell ways to put those ingredients to use.

The staff is creating a new brunch menu and recently added pasta to its KC Ortega has been general manager of “I’m hoping the party will be a kind of The Wedge Pizzeria, 4709 N. Western catalyst to refresh people’s memory about roster.

Both locations have an $8 lunch that Ave., for five years. us,” she said.

During that time, she’s received When it opened in 2006, The Wedge includes a salad and a choice of pizza, “stacks and stacks of comment cards” was touted as the metro’s pasta or a calzone. from guests telling her how much they first wood-fired brick oven “It’s funny that people love the place. pizza eatery. Diners would are still surprised we do 10th calzones,” Ortega said.

The local restaurant’s 10th anniversometimes wait an hour or Anniversary “We’ve done it for years, sary is quickly approaching, and she’s more to be seated or pull up Party ready to celebrate. a seat at the bar. Though but now that we put it on The birthday bash is 6-10 p.m. Nov. 15 crowds have slowed, Ortega the menu, people are order6-10 p.m. Nov. 15 at the restaurant. A $20 ticket gets guests said the restaurant has reing them like crazy.”

The Wedge Pizzeria all-you-can-eat pizza, beer from several mained consistent.

She credits the restau4709 N. Western Ave. local breweries and wines that soon will “We’re the same Wedge rant’s excellent dough, thewedgeokc.com be added to the menu. which has always been that opened 10 years ago,” 405-602-3477 she said. popular. $20 Local love “Someone told me the Working at the same venue for so long can Little changes other day it’s the only place be challenging, but Ortega said The Wedge In some ways, it is exactly the same. In where people actually eat all the crust,” she said. makes it easy. addition to using the recipes that made “I really strongly believe in what we’re customers fall in love with the pizza place, Freshness and consistent quality doing and what we continue to do,” she The Wedge still employs servers who have extends all the way down to the croutons, said. She added that she often hears from worked there since it opened. which are made from Tulsa-based Farrell guests who say, “I used to go to The Wedge “You don’t last very long at The Wedge Family Bread.

“Any manager could come in and say, all the time. Why did we stop?” if you’re not a thoughtful server,” she said.

‘Why not buy croutons?’” she said. “But She tells people that there are lots of Staff improvement includes ongoing new businesses out there and she undertraining, like making sure everyone we keep making them, and I think they’re stands everybody wants to try new things. knows about vegan and gluten-free menu the best in the city.

When they remember how much they love options.

“I think that’s why we’re still here.

The Wedge, they always will be welcome.

“When we first opened, we were really Guests notice the small stuff.”

WANT A CREATIVE OUTLET FOR YOUR FOODIE INTERESTS? We’re looking for folks with professional writing experience to expand our food coverage as contributing writers in areas such as sustainable farming, farmers markets, ready-to- eat dining, home delivery trends and sourcing ingredients for home cooking.

PLEASE SEND A COVER LETTER SHARING YOUR FOOD INTERESTS AND RESUME TO MARIAN HARRISON MHARRISON@OKGAZETTE.COM

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eAT & DrINK b r I e f s By Greg Elwell

Patrons at last year’s Oklahoma Wine Walk try samples from StableRidge Vineyards. | Photo Frontier Country Marketing Association / provided

•Wine Walk Norman’s Oklahoma Wine Walk returns for its fourth year 1-6 p.m. Sunday at Brookhaven Village, 3700 W. Robinson St. New this year is a Bloody Mary Brunch 10:30 a.m.-noon with early access to wineries and breweries noon-1 p.m. Tickets are $25-$30 and include 15 tasting tickets and a commemorative glass.

VIP tickets are $50-$55 and include 15 tasting tickets, a ticket for a large taste of wine, a commemorative glass and entry to the VIP tent with reserved seating and hors d’oeuvres. Bloody Mary Brunch tickets are $30 and may only be purchased along with Wine Walk tickets.

The event features Oklahoma wineries and breweries Brio Cellars, Deep Branch Winery, Land Run Vineyards and Winery, Legends Vineyard & Winery, Native Spirits Winery, Pecan Creek Winery, Put a Cork In It Winery, StableRidge Vineyards, Summerside Vineyards Winery & Meadery, Tidewater Winery, Turner Me On Wines, Vernost Wine Co., Wakefield Winery, Waters Edge Winery, Wildhorse Canyon Farms, Woods & Waters Winery & Vineyard and Yippee Ay-O-K Winery as well as beermakers 405 Brewing Co. and Black Mesa Brewing Company.

Visit oklahomawinewalk.com or call 405-232-6552.

Life-saving libations

AAA Oklahoma helps keep car wrecks from happening with its annual Great Pretenders Mocktail Mix-Off event.

AAA offers serious money for original, alcohol-free mocktail recipes. They must also have a name, have clear preparation directions and be made of readily available ingredients.

First prize is $1,000, second prize is $700 and third prize is $300.

Area bartenders will recreate the con-

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coctions during a hands-on competition 1-2 p.m. Tuesday at Oklahoma CityCounty Health Department, 2600 NE 63rd St. Contestant recipes and the names of their bars or restaurants will be included in the brochure, which is distributed throughout the state and online in time for holiday parties.

Contact AAA Oklahoma Vice President Chuck Mai at 405-760-6007 or chuck. mai@aaaok.org for more information.

Sumo style

Tulsa-based McNellie’s Group recently opened Yokozuna in Chisholm Creek, its first Oklahoma City location of the popular Green Country pan-Asian restaurant.

It marks the fifth McNellie’s Group concept in the metro, including James E. McNellie’s Public House, McNellie’s The Abner Ale House, Fassler Hall and Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge.

Yokozuna, 13230 Pawnee Drive, Suite 100, joins Republic Gastropub, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Sidecar Barley & Wine Bar and Topgolf in the Chisholm Creek mixed-use business development.

Though mostly known for sushi, Yokozuna’s menu also features cooked entrees like ramen, pad thai, pork belly tacos and a strip steak with wasabi butter.

In addition to a main dining room, sushi bar and patio that seats 200, the restaurant has a private room for up to 45 guests and is adding a rooftop deck.

Visit yokozunasushi.com or call 405500-1020.

Awarding excellence

The Asia Society of Oklahoma, Inc. hosts its 28th annual Awards for Excellence banquet 6 p.m. Nov. 12 at Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel, 1 N. Broadway Ave., to give scholarships to deserving students and recognize outstanding members of the community.

The scholarship program is funded by proceeds from its Taste of Asia event, which was held in August.

“The money we make at Taste of Asia goes straight to high school and college students who win the essay competition,” said Ira Burrough, Asia Society vice president.

Tickets are $45 each or $360 for a table of eight and include a 6 p.m. reception and 7 p.m. dinner.

During the banquet event, society members present awards for civic leadership, corporate support, member organizations and Outstanding Individual Member.

For tickets, call Hossein Sarjeh-Payma at 918-853-1929. Visit aso-okc.org.

•Steep fall

After seven years in business, Urban Teahouse closed its original location, 7518 N. May Ave., on Oct. 29.

“It was a very hard decision, but I really believe it’s the right move and will free us up to do more growth in different areas of Oklahoma City,” said owner Kristy Jennings.

A year after opening her second store at 519 NW 23rd St., Jennings said the company’s future actually looks quite promising as she looks to expand her business to include online sales and create a monthly subscription service in time for holiday gift buying.

Owner Kristy Jennings closed the original location of Urban Teahouse, 7518 N. May Ave., on Oct. 29. | Photo Garett Fisbeck / file

revIew

Pork chop dinner with home fries and squash and the zucchini medley | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Super good

Get up offa that thing, because Aja Bleu Café has soul (food) and it’s delicious. By Greg Elwell

Some restaurants prepare smaller pieces of fish or get caught “Doing It to Death” by over-frying the filet, but not here. Each cornmeal-crusted piece arrives at your table with enough crispy coating to give the catfish body without becoming too hard.

The moist interior softens the crunch of the salty, peppery exterior. Add a dash of hot sauce if you must, but this was already just about perfect.

The fried okra is good, but not too different from what you’d find elsewhere.

Better are the less-fried vegetable sides.

Clearly some work goes into the grilled squash and zucchini medley, which is gently seasoned and bears a touch of caramelization that adds sweetness to the usually bland gourd.

And the home fries taste like “Good, Good Lovin’.” The buttery potatoes are cooked long enough that they’re tender with a nice crust, and they hold their shape well enough to be speared by a fork.

Take a beat and taste your dishes before adding additional seasoning, because this restaurant isn’t shy about using flavorful salt and spice in its recipes.

Wings and waffles ($10, including a side) make for a tasty, filling lunch.

Why do chicken and waffles go so well together? Maybe it’s the way the savory fried chicken skin balances against the mild sweetness of the waffle. Texturally, the crunchy covering and the moist, but solid meat pair perfectly with the gentle chew of the bread. And those divots in the waffle are excellent at catching any stray chicken, especially when given a steady pour of syrup.

Those a little less inclined to eat meat off the bone might try the chicken chunk basket or the slightly lighter grilled chicken breast dinner ($10.50 each and include two sides). Looking around the restaurant, the only serious faces I saw were the people who were seriously trying to figure out if they could squeeze in one more bite.

The menu is filled with dishes to make diners “Shout and Shimmy,” and the service is also wonderful. Everyone who came in received a big smile and a welcoming greeting. Ask all the questions you want, too, because everyone there seems happy to help — even the other customers.

Aja Bleu Café might not be as flamboyant as the King of Soul, but it serves soul food that is definitely “My Thang.”

meat makes me want to break Aja bleu café into a “Cold Sweat.”

To the embarrassment of my 2222 W. Hefner Road, Suite A guest, I gnawed the last of the pork 405-607-0553 chop off the bone. It’s that good. whAT worKs: Pork chops, catfish and Choosing the right side dishes macaroni and cheese are head-spinningly good. doesn’t require much “Mind Power,” because the tender, chewy whAT NeeDs worK: A few tables greens and macaroni and cheese needed a wipe-down after someone had wings and waffles. are obvious choices. Greens have a touch of bitterness that helps cut TIP: Hold off on adding salt, as the cooks through the richness of the macaaren’t afraid to properly season dishes. roni, which is loaded with cheese.

This dish is Sunday dinner goodness every day of the week.

A solo side of macaroni and cheese is How many James Brown songs apply to $3.50 and itself might be worth making the food at Aja Bleu Café? It’s an almost embarrassing number. the trip to visit Aja Bleu Café. I encourage There’s nothing particularly funky people to try a little bit of everything and about the restaurant, 2222 W. Hefner share with friends, but here, everyone Road, Suite A, stashed way up in northwest deserves their own serving of macaroni.

Oklahoma City in a fairly nondescript Aja Bleu at least deserves considershopping center. But one look at the menu ation for the title of best catfish in the city. will have anybody feeling like a “Prisoner As a catfish dinner ($11.50, including two of Love.” How can anybody be expected to sides) came closer to the table, I couldn’t help but whisper, “I Want You So Bad.” choose among catfish, pork chops and chicken wings? The key, it turns out, is not choosing at all and just getting all three.

Catfish dinner with macaroni and cheese, fried okra and green beans | Photo Garett Fisbeck First, though, drink a glass of Aja Bleu lemonade ($1.99). The strong, sugary lemonade is infused with strawberry, striking the perfect balance between tart and sweet that makes taste buds want to shout “I Feel Good!”

I was besotted with the pork chop dinner ($11.50, including two sides), which was “Out of Sight.” Cooking pork correctly can be a real chore. Harder still is the feat successfully achieved by Aja Bleu, which batters and fries a pair of them in a perfectly seasoned coating that is crisp and flavorful on the outside and juicy inside.

Just thinking about the knife gliding effortlessly through the firm, but tender

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17

gazeDIbles

eat & DRINK

Fresh meat

Given the wide variety of game animals indigenous to Oklahoma, it’s odd how many metro diners are obsessed with finding the best gnu restaurants. Why not focus on deer or buffalo, both of which are easy to find locally? But, fine; if the darkred meat of the African plains gnu (aka wildebeast) is what people are craving, then…

Oh. New restaurants. Got it. Yeah, forget that stuff about importing meat from the Serengeti and just try these recently opened gems.

By Greg Elwell Photos Garett Fisbeck and Gazette file

Naylamp Peruvian Restaurant

5805 NW 50th St. facebook.com/naylamprestaurant 405-603-3997 A new location of an old favorite is always a reason to celebrate, and Naylamp Peruvian Restaurant is a party waiting to happen. Peruvian food is a sensory delight with bright colors and bold flavors. From light and fresh seafood dishes like the spicy ceviche de pescado to hearty and filling entrees like steak-and-egg masterpiece tacu tacu, there’s a meal for every palate.

Legacy Grill

224 Johnny Bench Drive legacygrill.com | 405-701-3535 Oklahoma’s legacy decorates the walls of Legacy Grill, the new restaurant that took over Kd’s Southern Cuisine after the former Thunder star took off for the coast. The restaurant features sports legends and famous Oklahomans who contributed to the state’s history. The food is a legacy, too, bringing back some beloved dishes from the previous menu, including the succulent fried chicken and waffles and decadent shrimp and grits.

Brent’s Cajun Seafood & Oyster Bar

3005 S. Broadway, Edmond brentscajunseafood.com | 405-285-0911 Some like it hot, and those folks ought to find their way to Brent’s Cajun Seafood & Oyster Bar in Edmond for the metro’s newest home for spice. Classic Cajun seafood gumbo and fried frog legs are joined by a brunch menu with some tasty new combinations, including The Red River: fried catfish and crawfish étouffée over dirty rice topped with a pair of poached eggs and hollandaise sauce.

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Hank’s Coffee & Wine

1227 N. Walker Ave. Suite 300 hankscoffee.com | 405-778-6294 Which came first, the coffee or the wine?

Depending on how your day is going, it could be either. Start the morning off right with Hank’s Coffee & Wine’s caffeinated selection of coffee beverages and a sweet pastry, and then come back for lunch and snag a sandwich and a pick-me-up shot of espresso. After a day of intense productivity, make a return trip to Hank’s to relax with a glass of wine, a plate of fruit and cheese and a view of scenic Midtown.

Mutt’s Amazing Hot Dogs & Burgers

285 S. Santa Fe Ave., Edmond mutts-hot-dogs.com | 405-285-2855 Ladies and gentlemen, gather around for a truly mystifying and stupefying sight as the sausage sorcerers at Mutt’s Amazing Hot Dogs & Burgers do the impossible! Say the magic words, “I’ll have The Pitbull” and watch your order disappear into the kitchen only to reappear minutes later as a delicious hot dog covered in melted cheese, grilled onions and jalapeño, habanero, poblano and serrano peppers. Watch it disappear again as you wolf it down.

The Screen Door

Kings Catering & Cuisine

Norman’s new eatery The Screen Door serves a guilt-free menu full of vegan and gluten- and dairy-free items alongside humanely treated, locally sourced meats and organic vegetables. Basically, it’s food that’s treated just as well as the customers, from good morning pizza (full of natural ham, scrambled eggs, cheese, home fries and pickled jalapeños) to vegan banana and maple grits made with organic cinnamon and cashew milk.

Chef Dwayne “Don’t Call Me The Rock” Johnson treats customers like royalty at his new restaurant, Kings Catering & Cuisine. A recent graduate of Platt College in Oklahoma City, Johnson is adept at barbecue — check out the slab of ribs — as he is with Creole meatloaf and charbroiled burgers. Kings isn’t a one-man show, but everything prepared in the kitchen passes Johnson’s exacting standards.

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19

SHOP

r e ta i l

Seasonal shopping

This year is entering its final act. For many, that means it is almost time to climb into the attic to drag out those dusty old boxes of holiday decorations only to discover too many bulbs on your favorite string of lights are burned out. There are myriad local options for those looking to update or retool their stockpiles of Christmas and holiday decor.

Some even allow shoppers opportunities at charity and seasonal cheer while they shop. By Gazette staff | Photos Garett Fisbeck

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607 N. Broadway Ave. christmasdirectokc.com | 405-601-8471 If waiting till after Thanksgiving to submerse yourself in the Christmas season sounds like a torturous waste, try spending some time inside Christmas Direct, a place second only to Santa’s workshop in Yuletide cheer. This store has shoppers’ residential and commercial holiday lighting needs covered, including a wide selection of wreaths, garlands and other decorations. Christmas Direct has 30 years of experience selling top-of-the-line holiday décor.

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• Wash and Wares Vintage Treasures

3006 NW 23rd St. washandwaresestateliquidations.com 405-702-5010 Vintage treasures abound in multi-faceted Wash and Wares, which will have your home fall- and holiday-ready in no time. The shop is known for its everchanging selection of estate sale and household-liquidation items, adding an exciting wild-card element to your hunt for seasonal wares. Wash and Wares also caters to those more into do-it-yourself projects. Its workshop’s retail booth comes equipped with paint and supplies ready for homemade festive decorations.

Many metro locations okgoodwill.org | 405-236-4451 Don’t underestimate the quality, walletfriendly treasures that can be mined from inside Goodwill walls. It is a economical way to tie-up loose ends in your holiday planning, and with more than 20 retail locations in the metro, Goodwill can also be counted as one of the most convenient local shopping options. Mama always said the holidays are more about giving than receiving, so make Mom happy knowing 85 cents of every dollar spent helps fund Goodwill’s charitable programs and services.

• On the Edge with Skulls and Stones

5924 NW 38th St. skullsandstonesjewelry.com 405-652-9992 Not everyone is into the season’s sweet elfin cheer. That’s why Tim Burton made The Nightmare Before Christmas.. Similarly, On the Edge offers alternatives to traditradi

s U w o ll o F n o

tional holiday decor.

Skull imagery can be seen throughout the shop, and several jewelry products on sale are made from real bone. Halloween might be over, but macabre beauty does not disappear after October.

• The Mill Shop & Co-Op 1117 Exchange Ave. facebook.com/themillshopandcoop 405-602-6086 The Mill Shop boasts itself as a “bearer of all things ordinary,” but the freshly opened retail outlet offers shoppers more than big-box holiday wares. A charming selection of ornaments, wire-brush Christmas trees, wrapping paper and cards greets all who enter. The Mill opened in midOctober and is a welcome presence in up-and-coming OKC Farmers Market District.

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#selfies! @okgazette

Oklahoma Gazette

Mistletoe Market

1 Myriad Gardens mistletoemarket.org 405-843-5668 It’s a magical time that comes only once a year. Christmas? We were talking about Mistletoe Market, the annual three-day, pop-up shopping event enjoying its 22nd year. Junior League of Oklahoma-sponsored shop features holiday goods from more than 100 local and national retailers, and all proceeds benefit the organization’s health and community efforts. More than $1.5 million has been raised through Mistletoe Market since 1994. Catch this year’s event 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 10-11 and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 12.

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21

arts & CUL CULt CULtUre Ure

Lewis Black 8 p.m. Nov. 19 Global Event Center WinStar World Casino and Resort 777 Casino Ave., Thackerville winstarworldcasino.com 1-800-745-3000 $35-$75

performing arts

18+

Dark humor

The famously grumpy Lewis Black brings his stand-up tour to WinStar World Casino and Resort.

By Ben Luschen

It would have been hard to predict that hotheaded Lewis Black would catch a second wind in his career doing entertainment for children, but that’s how the last few years played out.

Pixar Animation Studios chose well when Black was cast as the voice of Anger, the personification of rage, in its hit 2015 feature Inside Out. Before that, Black was perhaps most known for his frequently obscene 2004 HBO special Lewis Black: Black on Broadway.

Black’s latest stand-up show The Emperor’s New Clothes: The Naked Truth Tour stops Nov. 19 at WinStar World Casino and Resort, 777 Casino Ave., in Thackerville.

The comedian is known for his surly-tothe-point-of-hilarity rants, often about politics or society. He makes occasional appearances on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show for a funny, cathartic segment called “Back in Black.” Earlier this month, he spent the segment railing on disillu22

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sioned millennials who say they plan to not vote.

He blamed laziness as much as apathy.

“You want me to go somewhere and pull a lever?” he mocked. “Why can’t I vote the same way I date — by swiping right on the toilet?’”

Black also is not afraid of dismantling seemingly innocuous cultural conventions.

One of his most famous stand-up bits derides the existence of candy corn and adults who dress up for Halloween.

The Maryland native couldn’t help but spin a few fresh rants while speaking with Oklahoma Gazette ahead of his Nov. 19 show.

Oklahoma Gazette: Your recent 5-minute “Back in Black” segment about millennials and voting is very funny. How long do those take to create?

Lewis Black: They make the decision on what the topic will be and then they run through a couple of drafts and I come in and I work with them on it. We read it over again with a whole bunch of people in the room. Then we rehearse it, I might improv some stuff and if it works, we’ll throw it in.

We do one last draft, and then we go to show.

OKG: What’s one reason millennials haven’t yet shown up to the polls?

LB: Apparently, they’ve never felt disappointment. I mean, seriously. The thing that really got me was when there was one millennial who was saying, “Well, Bernie [Sanders] lost, so that really crushed me.”

I don’t know how they were brought up.

Some of them — and I don’t think it’s all of them by any stretch of the imagination — seem to have been brought up inside of an

incubator. … What did you do when your best friend lost the presidency in high school for student council, or did everyone at your school get to be a president? … People lose, and that’s how you decide you either want to get out of something or pursue something and get better at it.

OKG: You’re probably doing a lot of political stuff on this tour, right?

LB: Yeah, but I try to focus on how this shit affects us. A lot of what I’ve talked about over the last several years is, “Can we do something?” I don’t care what it is; just let’s do one thing. … This is madness, what we’re doing now. We’re acting like the world has ended. Part of the problem is we’re at 50-50, 52-48 or however the hell you want to put it. But it’s still a matter of compromise. We have all these problems to deal with, and we don’t deal with any of them, none of them.

OKG: You’re known for your bit on Halloween and candy corn. Have you softened your stance on Halloween over the years?

LB: No; I hold firm: It’s absurd. Candy corn is a piece of shit. Now they’re selling it in a variety of colors. There’s July Fourth candy corn, which is red, white and blue. Now they’ve made it into an industry of shit.

There’s candy corn granola, candy corn Oreos. I mean, come on.

It’s a kids’ holiday, and adults wander around in costumes. What’s the matter with you? Any day they want, an adult can dress up in a costume. That’s what it’s like to be an adult. Kids don’t get that option; that’s why you give them the day.

Comedian Lewis Black | Photo National Comedy Center / provided

OKG: Is it weird having a really young base of children who know who you are?

LB: I mean, they kind of do and they kind of don’t. But I’m hoping that will suck them into my comedy eventually. I can destroy the minds of another generation.

OKG: It’s a great long-term investment for you.

LB: Yes. It was a lot of fun. I actually have dinner tonight with [Inside Out director] Pete Docter, which is nice. He’s really a brilliant son of a bitch.

OKG: Probably a lot of people, especially children, recognize you just by hearing your voice.

LB: Well, yeah. I was on Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, so it’s kind of funny to be in there. It’s also funny to me that I’m not doing any mature, adult cartoons. I’m doing all this kid stuff, which I think is just hysterical.

OKG: Is there anything you want to say to Oklahomans going to your show?

LB: They’ll have a lot of fun. ... I just hope there’s no earthquakes when I get there.

This is now the earthquake capitol of the world, and they completely deny it has to do with fracking. It’s unbelievable. What do they think it is? Is something coming out from the Earth at them?

OKG: Hopefully you don’t experience anything like that while you’re here.

LB: Good. I’d like not to.

performing arts

Antidote Annie

Issie Swickle played Annie in the 2014-15 touring production. | Photo Joan Marcus / provided

The Annie stage production still brings hope to audiences no matter the decade. By Jessica Williams

Autumn usually signals grayer days, but set for this tour that both refreshes and the sun will come out for the national tour maintains Annie’s classic aesthetic. of Annie. OKC gets an insider look at the “This is a set that’s never been anywhere beloved musical with a preview weekend before,” he said. “I always reimagine every before the show’s third national tour year. space in the musical, and that’s the fun of Original Annie lyricist and director directing Annie. We change the scenery but Martin Charnin spoke to Oklahoma never alter the play’s historical period, its humor or its fundamental truths.”

Gazette about watching his musical take many forms over the years, the production’s Charnin acknowledges various TV and new cast and the universal appeal of unmovie versions change the setting and time wavering optimism.

— he’s not a fan.

“Annie’s like a wardrobe,” Charnin said.

“Hollywood is of the opinion that “We try on different actors, sets and because the medium changes from stage staging, but the primary story never to screen, the story needs to be improved,” changes. People always recognize Annie.” he said. “Shows live or die in terms of how In his 20th time as director, Charnin you approach them, and Annie is a show could stage the musical with his eyes closed. based in the Great Depression. If you change that context, you But he doesn’t.

“My job is to keep my disturb what we originally eyes open wider than most sat down to write.”

Annie so each production can live Some might say modernon its own,” Charnin said. izing Annie undermines the 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday From its 1977 Broadway original setting’s dingy Visual and Performing inception, Charnin has incharm, but Charnin said he Arts Center Theater troduced multiple generasees parallels between the Oklahoma City tions to the Tony AwardDepression-era narrative Community College winning musical. The and 2016 audiences.

7777 S. May Ave. variations generate Annie’s “The 1930s signaled a tickets.occc.edu real low point in the newer fandom while rein405-682-7579 forcing its general appeal. economy and in individual $45-$75 This year, the cast generates morale,” Charnin said.

“Annie represents optimuch of the buzz. mism despite the Depression. She’s all “We held a ‘blind race’ casting, and our lead actress (Tori Bates) happens to be bispunk, and that’s what energizes people racial,” Charnin said. “I’m very excited the most, regardless of the time period.”

Annie can’t change curmudgeon Miss about that kind of diversity. She’s wildly talented, and I know she’ll have many more Hannigan but presses onward toward hapopportunities in the future.” piness.

Young talent is at the heart of Annie, but Charnin said Annie is an antidote to adult actors maintain the production’s contemporary gloom and doom. backbone.

“Out of all the songs in Annie, ‘Tomorrow’ is the most memorable,” “One thing I look for in my actors is consistency, and my current Oliver Warbucks Charnin said. “The lyrics give us something (Gilgamesh Taggett) performs all his lines to hold onto. Life gets hard, but it also gets and songs seamlessly each time,” he said. better, and that’s a very necessary message Behind the scenes, Annie’s crew innofor people in 2016.” vated the production’s atmosphere while Visit tickets.occc.edu or anniethemusistaying true to its Depression-era setting. cal.com.

Set designer Beowulf Boritt created a new O kg a z e t t e . c O m | N ov e m b e r 2 , 2 0 1 6

23

arts & CULtUre

performing arts

Alison Crane | Photo Shirin Tinati / provided

Sammy SampSon, FOH Manager | Scott cole, gM | chef Ryan muRphy

Strange tales

Podcast takes listeners on off-kilter radio show adventures.

By Lisa K. Broad

Created by Oklahoma City natives Alison Crane and Todd Faulkner, Uncanny County is a podcast that marries the aesthetic of old-time radio plays with an off-kilter Southwestern sensibility, presenting chilling, funny and thought-provoking tales of humanoid robots, creepy clowns and magic kittens.

What if?

Uncanny County recently won the award for Best Speculative Fiction Audio Drama (Long Form) at the 2016 Parsec Awards, where Crane and Faulkner also received the award for Best New Speculative Fiction Podcaster/Team.

The podcast deftly reinvents familiar sci-fi and horror tropes while telling relatable, character-centered stories driven by the power of “What if?” Faulkner said. “[Speculative fiction is] a very welcoming genre,” he said. “And because we cover so much ground — horror-comedy, magical realism, supernatural thriller, golden agesci-fi — it’s certainly a good umbrella for our show. … One of the descriptors I like to throw around is Twilight Zone by way of the Coen Brothers, and I think that’s pretty apt.”

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Crane, an actress and playwright, saw her first two full-length plays premiere at the prestigious New York International Fringe Festival in 2012 and 2014.

Faulkner has secured recurring roles in a number of popular television series. He currently appears as Agent Loeb on the Emmy Award-winning drama The

Americans. Having found success in visual storytelling media, Crane and Faulkner — who share writing, acting and producing duties with a stable of talented collaborators — have embraced the virtues and limitations of the audio podcast format.

“My stage plays tend to include very pivotal visual moments,” Crane said.

“Writing for audio, I’ve had to learn to ‘see’ with sound. And when you’re not relying on complicated visual effects, the sky’s the limit with the stories you can tell.”

Each episode is supplemented with sound effects that help immerse listeners in the world of Uncanny County.

“I had to build a sound effect of a giant octopus coming out of a lake and eating a guy. I won’t say which episode it’s in, but I’m pretty proud of that one,” Crane said.

For the “Coulrophobia” episode, Faulkner “had to create from scratch an army of tiny clowns … one tiny, yet oversized pair of shoes at a time.”

Uncanny coincidence

Crane and Faulkner were both active in local theater, albeit some years apart, and shared a number of mutual friends. But it was only after they had each relocated to New York that Crane’s search for the perfect ring tone finally brought them together.

“So, about eight years ago, I did a show with our mutual friend William Franke, who is also one of our Uncanny County producers,” Crane said. “I was looking for a Doctor Who ringtone, and Bill said, ‘My buddy Todd has one. I’ll put you in touch.’

We decided pretty much then and there that we needed to work together, although it took a few years before we made good on it. And I got a sweet Doctor Who ringtone.”

This kind of unlikely, world-shrinking coincidence would not be out of place in Uncanny County, a quintessential American anyplace that, from certain angles, looks a lot like Oklahoma.

“We decided that while the episodes would stand on their own, they would take place in the same universe, with the occasional recurring character, locale or reference,” Crane said.

Faulkner said the name is part of the

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mystery.

“We went with the name Uncanny County because we wanted to have a world that didn’t belong to one specific state, a place that is kind of everywhere and nowhere all at the same time,” he said.

Oklahoma roots

Crane and Faulkner discovered that their artistic approaches are deeply influenced by their Sooner State upbringings. In particular, Faulkner hopes the podcast’s resourceful, down-to-earth characters resonate with Oklahoma listeners.

“In this show, I’m trying to create real people like the ones I knew growing up, good-hearted people who are always doing the best they can,” he said. “It’s very important to all of us that all of the fantastic creatures and paranormal adventures experienced by our characters are grounded in reality. That reality is very much the world of the good people of the heartland.”

Subscribe to Uncanny County via iTunes, Google Play, audioBoom or Stitcher.

Individual episodes are available to stream at uncannycounty.com/episodes.

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arts & CulturE

v i s ua l a r t s

Metal mettle Acclaimed sculptor Melvin Edwards welds history and social impetus into his acclaimed creations, on display now at Oklahoma Contemporary.

By Jessica Williams

Sculpture artist Melvin Edwards welds intricate, abstract historical narratives with barbed wire, steel and scrap iron.

“Steel is like cloth,” Edwards said. “If you separate it from its original source, you can make anything out of it.”

His sculptures utilize industrial materials that have often been recycled to relay complex sociopolitical messages.

The internationally acclaimed artist spoke to Oklahoma Gazette about his Melvin Edwards: In Oklahoma solo exhibition at Oklahoma Contemporary and how nothing is exactly what it seems.

“I couldn’t have anything but a good time in Oklahoma,” Edwards said. “It reminds me of my home in [Houston,] Texas, and has a unique, rich history.”

Oklahoma Contemporary connected with Edwards in Dallas through Nasher Sculpture Center’s exhibit Melvin Edwards: Five Decades. Curatorial and Exhibitions director Jennifer Scanlan said that rather than closing a chapter to a book, this retrospective created new ideas and aspirations.

“Our staff was so blown away that they asked him to collaborate with us,” Scanlan said. “His retrospective gave him the opportunity to revisit some old ideas and revive them for OK Contemporary.”

The fruits of Edwards’ three-week residency in OKC are evident on the gallery walls. In Oklahoma features nine new installations, one large sculpture and some of his famous pieces.

Sharing stories

Before describing his art, Edwards fluidly articulates the complex machinery underlying his sculptures.

Speaking with him serves as a comprehensive philosophy, culture and history course.

“Information of any kind is useful for my sculptures,” he said. “The world is getting smaller; there’s a mall on every corner. If I’m going to add something new to the world, I need to keep learning.”

Edwards contributes to a larger social impetus; African diaspora and civil rights inform his works. His work is celebrated

Artist Melvin Edwards works in his studio. | Photo provided

“Looking at me now, you wouldn’t guess I had a propensity for violence,” Edwards said. “I played football growing up, which is fundamentally a violent game.

Welding also requires a certain tolerance for violence or physicality.”

‘History of struggle’

Melvin Edwards creates abstract sculptures with political and historical merit. | Photo Jeffrey Sturges / provided

for its formidable themes of race relations and antiwar activism, and he introduced the world to it in the early 1960s with his Lynch Fragments series.

Language and poetry also give weight to each creation, as his wife, late American poet Jayne Cortez profoundly influenced his work. Words take such precedence, in fact, that Edwards said a sculpture cannot be named until it’s complete.

“I have to wait until after the baby is born before I name it,” he said. “Every name has a story behind it.”

Edwards holds enough stories for multiple lifetimes. For example, one untitled sculpture will be dedicated to the Oba of Benin in Nigeria, with whom Edwards has close ties.

Even if not explicitly stated or shown, Edwards said his relationships and experiences are the backbone of his sculptures.

“People may not know the cultural or historical references in my pieces,” Edwards said, “but the materials I use are familiar, and those create subjective stories for everyone.”

Intellect and brute physicality generate each sculpture’s quiet strength.

Edwards bends and manipulates seemingly impermeable materials metaphorically with his stories but tangibly through welding.

Sharp industrial materials hanging stoically from walls and ceilings conjure endless associations and meanings.

Edwards’ works resist strict interpretation.

“I don’t really worry too much about what the audience will think,” he said. “I focus subjectively on the history of struggle, and people respond collectively.”

His sculptures invite audiences to find comfort in instability and embrace ideological fluidity.

Edwards has shown works in galleries across the U.S. and has been commissioned to create public monuments in major cities.

“A man in Ohio dedicated a plaque to his mother in front of one of my sculptures,” Edwards said. “Once you create something for the public, it becomes theirs to incorporate into their lives, regardless of the artist’s intention.”

Acceptance of uncertainty is key to Edwards’ art. Without an ounce of the anxiety so often expressed by young artists, Edwards said he’s at peace with incomplete artworks.

“It’s done when it’s done,” Edwards said. “But there’s always something to add or change. If I need to discard a sculpture, I’m OK with that too. There’s always something new to create.”

Moving response

On Thursday, Oklahoma Contemporary will add more to Edwards’ show with an event paying homage to the artist’s love for the humanities.

Oklahoma Contemporary and the Ralph Ellison Foundation celebrate the exhibit with Freedom Visible: Voices and Music in Motion 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday

at the arts center. Spoken-word and dance artist Candace Liger will perform with West African percussionist Aboubacar Camara as they relate stories of history, bondage and deliverance.

Admission is free.

“We want to bring dance, music and poetry into the gallery to respond to Melvin’s work,” said Oklahoma Contemporary art director Jeremiah Matthew Davis. “It brings more conversations into the mix and showcases Melvin’s diverse range of influences.”

The old and new combine to create a socially constructive experience in Edwards’ installations. As an artist, teacher and grandfather, he always looks forward.

“Nothing is ever going to be perfect,” Edwards said, “but what we create today can significantly improve the future.”

Melvin Edwards: In Oklahoma runs through Dec. 27 at Ok lahoma Contemporary, 3000 General Pershing Blvd. Visit oklahomacontemporary.org for more information.

Freedom visible: voices and Music in Motion 5:30-7:30 p.m. thursday Oklahoma contemporary 3000 general Pershing Blvd. oklahomacontemporary.org 405-951-0000 Free

Melvin Edwards: In Oklahoma through Dec. 27 Oklahoma contemporary 3000 general Pershing Blvd. oklahomacontemporary.org 405-951-0000 Free

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v i s ua l a r t s

arts & CulturE

Visual aid

Oklahoma Artists Invitational builds a strong reputation on quality art and charitable contributions.

By Ben Luschen

Join us for multiple art-making activities, gallery experiences, and more! All ages welcome. No advance registration required.

FEATUR I N G: F R EE ADM ISSION including the exhibition: Sacred Words: The Saint John’s Bible and the Art of Illumination FAM ILY F I L M: TH E SE CRE T O F KE LLS H AN DS -O N ART- M AKING ACTI VITIES S KE TC HING IN THE G ALLERIES FAM ILY GA LLERY EXPERIENCES PH OTOS with Mr. Cherry Limeade and Mr. Coney A ND MO R E !

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Six years ago, a group of artist friends Olivia by Jan Smith | Photo provided decided it would be a fun idea to put on their own art show. They never imagined looking for a speaker the first year, it did it would grow into one of the city’s best not take them long to find one. It helps regular showcases. when one of the organizers’ husbands is Jan Smith is included among the an esteemed practitioner and stroke friends who passed time together by expert. painting. In 2010, they organized a public “We started talking about who we art show that was more than a vanity could get to give a health talk, and I once project. They decided to make a again prevailed on my husband,” Jan difference. Oklahoma Artists Invitational Smith said. “He’s given it ever since.”

(OAI) was born.

Richard Smith speaks 2 p.m. Saturday “When we really got to talking about and Sunday about stroke education at this it, we decided we should be more than just year’s event. a show,” Smith said. “‘Let’s do something Jan Smith’s work will be among the for charity and for health education.’” roster of showcased artists. Most of the There are usually two OAI events each works are oil or acrylic paintings, in year, one in the spring and one in the fall. addition to pieces by three jewelers and one sculptor.

Friday-Sunday’s OAI benefit is at the far north end of Northpark Mall by Shogun The original paintings are all available Steak House of Japan at 12100 N. May Ave. for sale, as are prints. Giclée prints are A portion of weekend art sales benefits made from professional scans onto paper Mercy’s stroke programs. The biannual or canvas. shows have raised more than $10,000 in “The ones on canvases look just like six years. an oil painting,” she said.

The shows are always free to attend, Scale notecard prints are also available and all art is for sale. OAI is a juried for less than $10. exhibition featuring 26 local artists. The “We want to offer a huge variety of show’s Friday opening reception features prices for people at the show,” Smith said. appetizers from Rococo. Water, coffee, “When they come, maybe they can’t wine and other refreshments also will be afford the $2,000 oil painting but they available throughout the weekend. want to go home with something they Guests may enter a raffle with prizes really liked about it. If there’s a notecard from Rococo, BC Clark Jewelers, Geno’s scanned from that original oil painting, Furs, The Lime Leopard, Silks Etc., The they can take that home and feel really Greens Country Club and others to be pleased about it.” drawn Sunday. Attendance is not OAI has become a popular show for necessary to win. local artists. Space is usually limited to Every art show needs a venue. Smith’s around 25 applicants. husband Richard V. Smith said they Smith is medical would like to open the director at Mercy show to more artists, Oklahoma artists Neuroscience Institute, but the space they’re in invitational so the first OAI benefit limits how many works Holiday art show was housed inside the they can exhibit. She and Benefit also likes keeping up institute’s glass atrium. the show’s selective Later, the group was Opening reception invited to move its reputation.

4-8 p.m. Friday show inside Northpark “That’s what keeps Show and sale Mall. the quality of the art so 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday The OAI showcases wonderful,” she said, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday have also become “and I think that’s part Northpark Mall known for their free, of the reason people 12100 N. May Ave. standing-room-only who come to the show northparkokc.com stroke prevention and say, ‘Oh my gosh; this is 405-751-1453 care seminars. When the best art show in Free the friends were Oklahoma City.’”

C u lt u r E

KETA started broadcasting from a University of Oklahoma Classroom | Photo OETA / provided

Diamond days

Oklahoma’s statewide public television network celebrates its history and addresses its challenges.

By George Lang

When Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) went on the air in 1956, it was only the 20th public television station in the United States.

It broadcast 20 hours of programming daily during its first 14 years of existence.

In the years before satellite and cable television, when commercial signals did not reach many of the rural areas of Oklahoma, OETA did.

“For those viewers, it was literally their window to the world,” said Bob Allen, who served as OETA executive director from 1972 to 1998.

Last week, the state network celebrated its 60th anniversary as Oklahomans’ window to not only the world, but to the state in which they live.

After Gov. Johnston Murray signed the bill that created OETA in 1953, it took three years for the first station, Oklahoma City’s KETA, to start broadcasting from a University of Oklahoma (OU) classroom.

Allen said the delay was due to the fact that OETA was an unfunded mandate: The Legislature failed to appropriate operating funds.

“In fact, it was E.K. Gaylord who made it possible for OETA to begin broadcasting,” he said.

The publisher of The Oklahoman donated $150,000 so it could begin operating. Prior to the establishment of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in 1967, much of OETA’s programming was comprised of what Allen described as “talking heads,” or professors offering video lectures from their classrooms.

Through cooperation with the Oklahoma Department of Education, OETA provided college credit classes on

the air for people who otherwise were unable to attend in person.

It became one of the first networks to sign on with PBS, expanding its weekly programming and providing Oklahomans with Sesame Street, The Electric Company, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and Masterpiece Theatre.

Growing up

OETA steadily built throughout the 1970s, moving its studios from OU to Oklahoma City in 1974 and began producing original programming.

In the 1980s, Allen and his new station manager and program director Bill Thrash launched several ambitious programming initiatives, beginning with the 1987 acquisition of The Lawrence Welk Show, which OETA syndicated to other PBS affiliates and has earned a reported $45 million in donations for those stations.

But a miniseries about Oklahoma’s history ushered in OETA’s most fertile era of in-house production. Allen characterized Oklahoma Passage, a five-part saga that followed a fictional family from its roots in 1840s Georgia through the 1980s, as a “watershed moment for OETA.” “Bob Allen had this idea about Oklahoma Passage,” said theater director and University of Central Oklahoma professor Billie Thrash, Bill Thrash’s widow.

“He needed somebody to produce it, and of course Bill had this long resume of producing, so Bob asked him to come onboard and do it.”

When the series debuted in 1989, it garnered the largest audience in the state television network’s history, and Thrash greenlit OETA Movie Club, Stateline, Gallery, The Oklahoma I Remember,

OETA’s early control room | Photo OETA / provided

Oklahoma Forum and Oklahoma News Report (ONR), a nightly comprehensive news program focused on state issues, events and legislative actions. OETA also undertook an ambitious digital conversion in the 2000s, providing viewers with four digital channels, including OETA Oklahoma and OETA Kids.

Unfortunately, OETA suffered dramatic budget cuts in the 2010s. In 2009, it received $5,194,383 in state funds, but following a 9 percent cut in 2011, the network was forced to reduce its production budget. It converted ONR to a weekly program and reduced the episode frequency for shows like Gallery. Today, it operates with 45 percent fewer state funds than it did in 2009, receiving only $2,838,163 for fiscal year 2017.

“I don’t think people always understand that not everyone lives in a major metropolitan area where they can get hundreds of channels,” Billie Thrash said.

“That’s why the Oklahoma News Report was so important.”

However, OETA interim executive director Mark Norman said the network is pushing forward under challenging circumstances and its digital initiatives are keeping pace with current trends.

Digital age

“The conversion to digital was expensive, but it was worth the effort,” Norman said.

“Channels like OETA Kids reach a large audience, and I know a lot of people who

constantly watch the documentaries and programming on OETA Oklahoma.

Everyone talks about viewing on phones and digital devices, but we are also seeing a lot of cord-cutters discovering our overthe-air channels. Some viewers are even discovering that they get more of OETA when they cut the cord than they did before.”

Other projects take advantage of how younger viewers consume media. Jessi Crino, host of OETA’s online science series What’s the Deal, said that middle school students are far more likely to watch online video series’ than television shows, so she suggested an easily digestible science series for the YouTube consumer.

“That was literally the pitch,” Crino said.

“PBS’ education programming for preschool and elementary school age children is extensive, but it drops off a little with middle school kids. … It just made sense.”

Despite the cuts, Billie Thrash still believes in OETA’s future. She said the state should recognize that cable stations often do not offer high-quality educational programming. With formerly education-minded networks like History filled with Pawn Stars, American Pickers and Ozzy and Jack’s World Detour, Thrash said OETA’s mission is just as important as it was 60 years ago.

“Is there a market for educational programming? You bet,” she said. “Whenever Ken Burns does something, it’s a huge hit.

People are hungry for it, and it means something.”

Gerry Bonds and Dick Pryor hold down the anchor desk on OETA’s Oklahoma News Report. | Photo OETA / provided

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ARTS & CULTURE

fiLm

from left Poppy’s best friends Guy Diamond, Smidge, Mr. Dinkles, Biggie, Cooper, DJ Suki and The Fashion Twins, Satin and Chenille, in Trolls. | Photo DreamWorks Animation / provided

Trolled

DreamWorks Animation’s latest project is a psychedelic trip through an anthropomorphic wonderland. By Jacob Oller

Trolls, giving life to its odd, fluffy-haired Danish dolls, puts its subjects into the heart of a fairy tale somewhere between Shrek, The Witches and The Boxtrolls.

Trolls are tiny bundles of irrepressible joy — so joyous that other species (including the more traditionally trollish Bergens) found that eating them transfers some of that happiness.

Though this weird equation of Trolls to happy pills is a bit unsettling — What is the chemical makeup of this happy community? Maybe it’s something in the water — the opening chase finds the community escaping from their Bergen captors and into a town of their own.

There, looking a bit like the New York City club scene with more glitter, they sing, dance and hug until someone remembers that films typically have plots.

The plot eventually arises because the trolls party a little too hard, altering their natural predators. Some are captured, and the heroine (and her reluctant friend) must venture after them to save the day.

It’s not an unusual story device, but it’s an unusual story.

There’s an absurd Roald Dahl-like weirdness wandering through the writing along with the warped Disney-like ethic of a rave-based Three Little Pigs.

The songs, while they won’t dethrone any Disney classics, are enjoyable bubblegum pop, especially when the characters and voice actors break the fourth wall.

Anna Kendrick’s Princess Poppy has a delightful road song to start her adventure that’s made even more endearing by the musical toll the journey’s dangers wreak on her.

By the end of the tune, she’s huffing and puffing out verses while maintaining the effervescent positivity that bursts from most of the empowered ladies of animation.

Characterization is where Trolls faces most of its struggles, attempting the same

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blank excitement generated by The Lego Movie’s Emmet. What the Lego man had going for him, though, was a satirical everyman position. He was blank for a reason. DreamWorks Animation’s trolls, with their candy-vomit hair and bizarre designs, scream originality.

They look interesting and different, but their personalities are more cookiecutter than those in a movie about factory-created blocks.

While the story meanders into a Bergen love story, a troll betrayal and one of the strangest backstories in a children’s movie I’ve ever seen — Justin Timberlake’s character, Branch, has what passes for a dark past in this rainbow and Top 40 world — it’s easy to forgive the familiar story structure when so much is idiosyncratic and new.

The animation style features the smooth, bulbous f ig ures that DreamWorks adores, but with a felt-like fuzz over clothing and environment, delighting in the details.

The hair physics make up for the more hyperkinetic bits of zipping and hopping, and creatures that look like they leapt from a video game provide throwaway montages with plenty of visual interest.

On top of all this, a scrapbooking, faux two-dimensional aesthetic is applied whenever the trolls discuss a plan or hypothetical situation, which is as cute and refreshing as you’d imagine.

An anarchic scene in a dining hall dance sequence that feels part disco and part fantasy battle, the finale pushes a superficial moral of general happiness while slyly wagging its finger at those who would find it by taking it from others.

Roller-skating, bib shopping and bunker invading are a few of the other off-the-wall activities the film hosts, along with an easygoing anthropomorphic cloud that just wants a high five.

yo U T h

Sam Noble Museum workshops help scouts reach sciencerelated milestones. | Photo Sam Noble Museum / provided

Scientific feats

Sam Noble Museum joins local scout troops to help children earn badges and loops. By Adam Holt

Scouts workshops 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov. 19 and 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Dec. 10 Sam Noble museum 2401 chautauqua ave., Norman samnoblemuseum.ou.edu 405-325-1008 $12

Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts, along with Norman’s Sam Noble Museum, share a respect for nature. The trio comes together this fall to educate scouts about Earth while earning badges.

“Our mission here at the museum, and particularly in the education department, is to inspire curiosity and help people understand the natural world,” said Carrie McKenzie, the museum’s public programs coordinator.

Each spring, summer and autumn, Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., in Norman partners with Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts to create workshops that teach concepts of different branches of science and end in reward.

“We know that these Girl Scouts and these Cub Scouts need to acquire these badges and the adventure loops,” McKenzie said. “We also know that’s really hard for them to do because they may not have the resources to do so. What we are doing is helping them with some of these amazing resources we have here at the museum.”

The museum, home to many prehistoric relics and interactive exhibits, works hand-in-hand with many of the awards scouts receive for science education.

McKenzie created workshops for specific badges and adventure loops, which are Cub Scout awards worn on a belt.

“One of the Cub Scout badges, it is actually a Tiger Cub Scout badge called Digging into the Past. It’s all about dinosaurs,” McKenzie said. To earn it, students “get an

up-close look at real fossils, and that’s really hard for them to come by at any other place.”

The path to badges and loops include the experts of the Sam Noble Museum.

“There’s also quite a few badges where they are supposed to talk to different professionals in the field, whether that is animalogists or some type of forestry professional,” she said. “We are actually able to connect them to professionals, most of which we have here at the museum, working here full-time.”

Another available workshop is a Junior Girl Scout Detective class. The scouts explore the science behind detective work to determine the culprit behind a missing, priceless museum object. Completion is rewarded with a Detective badge.

The Wolf Scouts Air of the Wolf workshop researches the air around us. Scouts investigate phenomena such as sound and flight. Completion earns the Air of the Wolf adventure loop.

Workshops cover a range of scout levels, including Tiger, Wolf, Bear and Webelos (first to fifth grades). Girl Scouts enjoy a larger range, including Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors, corresponding to girls ages 7-15. Each workshop averages 20 participants.

Boy Scout workshops are 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Nov. 19, and registration deadline is Nov. 11. Girl Scout workshops are 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Dec. 10, and registration deadline is Dec. 2. Workshops are $12, which includes museum general admission.

McKenzie said the partnership with the scouts is cherished by the museum because the results appear in front of your eyes.

“I think what the scouts are doing is really important component of outreach for kids in the community. We love to help support that any way that we can,” she said.

“It’s really neat to see groups of kids learning together, and that helps keep them passionate about science since they are with kids their own age, their peers, their friends.”

Visit samnoblemuseum.ou.edu.

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calendar These are events recommended

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

Kind Hearts and Coronets, (UK, 1949, dir. Robert Hamer) black comedy that chronicles the exploits of Louis D’Ascoyne Mazzini, the 10th Duke of Chalfont, 2 p.m. Nov. 6. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SUN Western Movie Matinees: The Bronze Buckaroo, (US, 1939, dir. Richard C. Kahn) Herb Jeffries rode onto the silver screen to provide the flourishing all-black movie houses their own cowboy movie star. Filmed on a blacks-only dude ranch in Victorville, California, Buell’s production provided a classic B Western in a West without whites, 1 p.m. Nov. 9. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. WED

HaPPenings Symposium for Picturing Indian Territory, explore the rich and often complicated history of the Indian and Oklahoma Territories, from the tragedy of Indian removal to the calls for the settlement of Oklahoma, 10 a.m.

Nov. 3. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., Norman, 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. THU

Cheers!

A special issue that focuses on celebrations, parties, entertaining and entertainment, just in time for the holidays.

Publishes November 16 Deadlines November 9 Call your account executive today at 405.528.6000 or email advertising@okgazette.com!

Oklahoma Festival Ballet University Theatre and the University of Oklahoma School of Dance present Oklahoma Festival Ballet in honor of the late dancer Yvonne Chouteau. The event’s program features several classic pieces from the Ballet Russes, of which School of Dance cofounder Chouteau was a company member. The production opens 8 p.m. Friday at the University of Oklahoma’s Elsie C. Brackett Theatre, 563 Elm Ave., in Norman.

Additional performances are 8 p.m.

Saturday and Nov. 10-11 or 3 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 13. Tickets at the door are $15-$35, cash or check only. Advance tickets are $10$25. Visit theatre.ou.edu or call 405-3254101 for tickets. FRIDAy-SUNDAy, ONGOING Photo University of Oklahoma School of Dance / provided

PAMBE Ghana’s Global Market, seasonal fair trade shop that provides destination shopping for unusual and unique gifts, including folk art from around the world; all proceeds benefit PAMBE Ghana’s La’Angum Learning Center in norther Ghana, noon6 p.m. Nov. 3-5, 8-12, 15-19, 22-26, 29-Dec. 3, 6-10, 13-17, 20-24. PAMBE Ghana’s Global Market, 6516 N. Olie Ave., pambeghana.org. THU Tree Walk: Trees with The Best Fall Interest, join Mark Bays, Oklahoma Forestry Services, urban forester and tree guru as he discusses the best tress for fall color, noon-1 p.m. Nov. 4. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/events. FRI Paseo First Friday Gallery Walk, see what the historic Paseo Art District has to offer; galleries and shops host receptions for new shows and featured artists along with live music, food trucks and local restaurant options, 6-10 p.m. Nov. 4. Paseo Arts District, 3022 Paseo St., 405-525-2688, thepaseo. org. FRI Pumpkin Harvest Craft Festival, many crafters featuring candles, wood crafts, needlework, home decor and more, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 5. Dale Robertson Center, 1200 Lakeshore Drive, Yukon, 405-350-7680. SAT Vintage Treasures’ Backyard Market and 23rd Street Block Party, one-day open-air market and block party for all things vintage; onsite entertainment and food trucks, plenty of shopping on the lawn, as well as vintage antiques and art, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 5. Wash and Wares Vintage Treasures, 3006 NW 23rd St., 405-702-5010, washandwaresestateliquidations.com. SAT

Books An Afternoon with Oklahoma Book Award Authors, event featuring local authors including Oklahoma Book Award winner Alton Carter along with Jim Priest, Bob Burke and others, noon-2 p.m. Nov. 5. Best of Books, 1313 E. Danforth Road, Edmond, 405-340-9202, bestofbooksok.com. SAT Connie Cronley book signing, author signs Poke a Stick at It, 3-5 p.m. Nov. 5. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT Tracy Zeeck book signing, author signs The Not in Here Story, a heartwarming adoption story, 2-4 p.m. Nov. 6. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SUN

film Laughter Without Borders: Swedish Clowns in Greece Helping Syrian Refugee Children, a documentary film by Andrew Horton followed by a panel discussion, 7 p.m. Nov. 2. University of Oklahoma, 660 Parrington Oval, Norman, 405-3250311, ou.edu. WED Django, (IT, 1966, dir. Sergio Corbucci) a gunslinger becomes involved in a feud between a group of Southern racists and Mexican revolutionaries, 8 p.m.

Nov. 3. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. THU Gimme Danger, (US, 2016, dir. Jim Jarmusch) documentary-style film about the punk band The Stooges, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Nov. 4, 8 p.m. Nov. 5, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 6.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. FRI-SUN Alphaville, (IT, 1965, dir. Jean-Luc Godard) a secret agent is sent to Alphaville to find a missing person, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 5. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SAT

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Screenwriting Seminar If you think to yourself, “I could write better than this,” after struggling halfway through a B-movie on Netflix, maybe it is time to prove yourself. The people at deadCenter Film Festival and Oklahoma Film & Music Office present a seminar for anyone who wants to learn more about screenwriting. Former network TV writer Matt Payne and Rudderless writers Casey Twenter and Jeff Robison will speak at the event. The seminar runs 9 a.m.noon Nov. 19 at StarSpace46, 1141 W. Sheridan Ave., near Film Row. The event is free and open to the public. Visit deadcenterfilm.org. NOV. 19 Photo bigstock.com

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

2 tickets to

diamond

SWITCHFOOT ballroom & RELIENT K

enter to win okgazette.com/gWW

friday november

11 2016

Go to okGazette.com/GWW to enter to Win a pair of tickets gazette’s weekly winner will be announced each week in the table of contents.

Printed winners have 7 days to claim tickets. must Provide email, full name & Phone number.

Reading Wednesdays Myriad Botanical Gardens’ Reading Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m. every Wednesday in the south lobby of Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, 301 W. Reno Ave., is technically for children ages 2-5, but parents and grandparents can come along and be read to, as well. Books are nature-themed and selected to match the season.

The free event also includes a small craft for kids after storytime. Visit myriadgardens. com or call 405-445-7080. WEDNESDAy, ONGOING Photo Myriad Botanical Gardens / provided Preserving Family Treasures, bring in a family keepsake and learn more about the proper care and preservation techniques for your unique treasure; proper methods for storing textiles, documents, photographs, silver and other historic objects are demonstrated, 10 a.m.-noon, Nov. 5. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405-325-4712, snomnh. ou.edu. SAT

Performing arts

Repticon Oklahoma City Reptile & Exotic Animal Show, a reptile event featuring vendors offering reptile pets, supplies, feeders, cages, and merchandise as well as live animal seminars and giveaways, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 5. Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, 3001 General Pershing Blvd., 405948-6700, okstatefair.com. SAT-SUN

Vince Morris, comedian Vince Morris delivers passionate views on topics including ignorance, hiphop, self-respect and being raised by a single father, 8 p.m. Nov. 2-3, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Nov. 4-5. Loony Bin Comedy Club, 8503 N. Rockwell Ave., 405-2394242, loonybincomedy.com. WED -SAT

food Evening of Art and Cocktails, view new works

by Behnaz Sohrabian, 5-7 p.m. Nov. 3. Fine Arts Institute of Edmond, 27 E. Edwards St., Edmond, 405-340-4481, edmondfinearts.com. THU Weekly Farmers Market, shop goods from local producers, bakers and artisans, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. every Saturday. OKC Farmers Public Market, 311 S. Klein Ave., 405-232-6506, okcfarmersmarket.com. SAT

YoutH Homeschool Family Workshop: Sacred Words: The Saint John’s Bible and the Art of Illumination, learn more about the exhibition Sacred Words: The St. John’s Bible and the Art of Illumination and create your own illuminations back in the classroom, 10 a.m.-noon, Nov. 4 and 11. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa. com. FRI Night at the Museum, Picturing Indian Territory comes to life in this fun, family-friendly event with crafts, rope-twirling and historic re-enactors, 6-8 p.m. Nov. 4. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., Norman, 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. FRI Saturdays for Kids: Native Expressions, make construction paper friendship blanket and learn about people and traditions in the American West, 10 a.m.-noon Nov. 5. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT Red Dirt Dinos, following a journey around the state and across the world, the dinosaurs that once roamed over Oklahoma’s red dirt landscape return to Science Museum Oklahoma; three interactive, lifelike robotic dinosaurs and a variety of hands-on components help visitors explore Oklahoma’s dinosaurs. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St., 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org.

Mystery of the Mayan Medallion, immersive exhibit where visitors are transported to Palenque, Mexico, where an archaeological team has mysteriously disappeared from a dig site; translate glyphs, discover which rainforest animals are poisonous, learn how the Maya recorded dates, take rubbings from a sarcophagus and interpret a battle mural to solve the mystery, runs through Jan. 8. Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405-3254712, snomnh.ou.edu.

The Rocky Horror Show, one of Lyric’s biggest hits is back by popular demand; get weird and rock all night, whether it’s your first time or this musical is part of your soul, join us for a night you will remember for a very long time, through Nov. 5. Lyric Theatre, 1727 NW 16th St., 405-524-9312, lyrictheatreokc.com. THU

Whodunit Dinner Theater: Victim of Retirement, dinner and a comedic murder mystery play involving the audience, 6 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3.

Waters Edge Winery, 712 N. Broadway Ave., 405420-3222, whodunit.net. THU The Sweetest Swing in Baseball, an artist lands in a mental hospital, learns that insurance will only pay for a 10-day stay and concocts a plan to fool authorities into allowing her to stay in which she takes on the persona of Darryl Strawberry, 8 p.m. Nov. 4-5, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3. Carpenter Square Theatre, 806 W. Main St., 405-232-6500, carpentersquare.com. THU Killer Joe, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and native Oklahoman Tracy Letts; set in a trailer park, the story pits a struggling family against a detective who moonlights as a hit man, 8 p.m. Nov. 3-5. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. THU -SAT Around the Globe, University of Central Oklahoma’s Kaleidoscope Dance Company’s fall concert, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4-5, 2 p.m. Nov. 6. UCO Mitchell Hall Theatre, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, 405-9742000, uco.edu. FRI-SAT OKC Improv presents Fall Shows, improvisational music and comedy from local performers, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Nov. 4-5, 11-12, 18-19. The Paramount Theatre, 11 N. Lee Ave., 405-637-9389, theparamountokc.com. FRI-SUN Russell’s Comedy Night, Tristan Newell and Nathan Eubanks with Spencer Hicks, Heath Huffman, Trey Baker and Lindsey Carter hosted by James Curtis, Nov. 4. Russell’s Bar, 3233 NW Expressway, 405-842-6633. FRI The Comedy Get Down, comedy show featuring Cedric The Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, D.L. Hughley, George Lopez and Charlie Murphy, 8 p.m. Nov. 4.

Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave., 405602-8700, chesapeakearena.com. FRI The Music of the Rolling Stones, join the OKC Philharmonic and pay tribute to the Rolling Stones, the band that has toured for over 50 years, ranked in the top five of Billboard Magazine’s Greatest Artists of All Time and sold over 200 million albums, 8 p.m. Nov. 4-5. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter. com. FRI-SAT Floyd Collins, while exploring a cave he dreams of promoting to tourists, Floyd Collins becomes the attraction when he is trapped 200 feet underground; this haunting, intense musical

continued on page 36

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

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calendar c a l e n da r

continued from page 35 features folk and bluegrass ballads colored by echoes of Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein, Nov. 4-6. Oklahoma City University, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., 405-208-5000, okcu.edu. FRI-SUN Oklahoma Hip Hop Festival, all-day event featuring performances, a master class, a film screening and a panel discussion, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Nov. 5. The Criterion, 500 E. Sheridan Ave., 405-308-1803, criterionokc.com. SAT

Christie Owen: Surroundings, a diverse collection of abstract 2-D and 3-D works inspired by everyday environments; materials and compositions in Owen’s body of work perpetually change in relation to time and her life experiences. Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum, 1400 Classen Drive, 405-2354458, oklahomaheritage.com.

Color, Connections, Constellations, Caroline Cohenour’s debut collection of original watercolor works, through Nov. 26. In Your Eye Gallery, 3005 Paseo St. #A, 405-525-2161, inyoureyegallery.com.

Conversation, new artwork by Jan Jeffrey inspired by conversations; loud voices result in stronger bold colors while soft create layers of mild tints, through Nov. 26. Paseo Art Space, 3022 Paseo St., 405-5252688, thepaseo.com.

Crossroads of Commerce, Oklahoma history buffs won’t want to miss this exhibit showcasing the growth and development of Oklahoma’s economy from 1716 to statehood, the Dust Bowl and the Depression all the way to present day. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org/historycenter.

Curiosities, dual exhibition featuring works from AK Westerman and Bombs Away Art, on display through Nov. 19. Mainsite Contemporary Art, 122 E. Main St., Norman, 405-360-1162, mainsite-art.com.

Drop-in Art, join guest artists each Saturday as they interact with families to create extraordinary works of art inspired by the museum’s collection, exhibitions and special occasions, 1-4 p.m. every Saturday.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405236-3100, okcmoa.com. SAT Gayle Curry, showcase of new works and an installation by artist Gayle Curry. Mainsite Contemporary Art, 122 E. Main St., Norman, 405-3601162, mainsite-art.com.

Kim Richey When seeing Kim Richey perform, it’s a good idea to keep a few tissues handy, just in case. Richey’s genredefying hits include “Those Words We Said” from her self-titled 1995 debut and “Come Around” from 1999’s Glimmer. The Nashville-based artist released her most recent album, Thorn in My Heart, in 2013.

Check out Richey 7 p.m. Sunday at The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., in Norman.

Admission is $20. Visit normandepot.org or call 405-307-9320. SUNDAy Photo CJ Hicks / provided

actiVe Walk For Wishes, walk celebrating the thousands of wishes that have been granted, while raising funds for future wishes; family carnival with complimentary food, fun, camaraderie, prizes and giveaways, great music and a family-friendly atmosphere, 8-10 a.m.

Nov. 5. Oklahoma City Zoo Botanical Garden + Aquarium, 2000 Remington Place, 405-424-3344, okczoo.org. SAT Central DASH, 5K, 1-mile fun run and craft fair supporting Yukon Central Elementary School’s PTA, 9 a.m. Nov. 5. Yukon Middle School, 801 Garth Brooks Blvd., Yukon, 405-354-5274, yukonps.com. SAT OK Ale Trail, Edmond’s first pub run hosted by The Patriarch and Edmond Fine Arts, this 3-mile run features complimentary craft beers brewed especially for the event, food trucks, live music and more; breweries include Coop Ale, Anthem Brewery and Rough Tail, 3 p.m. Nov. 5. The Patriarch, 9 E. Edwards St., Edmond, 405-285-6670, thepatriarchedmond.com. SAT Bomber Band Blitz, 5K run/walk and 2K fun run/ walk hosted by the Midwest City Band Booster Parents Association in support of Midwest City band students, 3-6 p.m. Nov. 5. Joe B. Barnes Regional Park, 8700 E. Reno Ave., Midwest City, 405-739-1293, midwestcityok.org. SAT OKC Thunder vs Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA game, 5 p.m. Nov. 5. Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave., 405-602-8700, chesapeakearena.com. SAT OKC Thunder vs Miami Heat, NBA game, 7 p.m. Nov. 7. Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave., 405602-8700, chesapeakearena.com. MON

Visual arts

3127 S. 4th St. Chickasha, OK 405.825.3529 36

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Child Labor in Oklahoma: Photographs by Lewis Hine, 1916-1917, exhibit highlighting a collection of 25 powerful photographs taken by Lewis Hine while he was in Oklahoma 100 years ago. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org/historycenter.

joke. the art of political cartoons, featuring new work from Clint Stone, Brent Learned, Kristen Grace, John Loghry, Marty Peercy and Jack Fowler, 7 p.m. Nov. 4. The Paseo Plunge, 3010 Paseo, 405-315-6224, paseoplunge.com. FRI

Learn How to Homebrew Day Learn How to Homebrew Day is 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at The Brew Shop, 2916 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Making beer is a pastime practiced by Chinese and Mesopotamians thousands of years ago, but it’s also a possible career. Several local homebrewers founded COOP Ale Works and Anthem Brewing Company, to name a few. The free event includes demonstrations of various brewing methods and beer tasting. Visit thebrewshopokc.com or call 405-528-5139.

SATURDAy Photo Garett Fisbeck / file

Nature’s Touch, artwork by Dana Helms. Prairie Arts Collective, 3018 Paseo, 405-533-5883, facebook. com/prairieartsokc. FRI

Skull Themed Group Art exhibition, exhibit in celebration of DNA Galleries eighth anniversary, through Nov. 6. DNA Galleries, 1709 NW 16th St., 405-525-3499, dnagalleries.com.

Nicki Albright, showcase of contemporary fused glass; a kaleidoscope of kiln-fused glass with subtle nuances ultimately defining the final design, through Nov. 30. The Purple Loft Art Gallery, 514 NW 28th St., Suite 400, 405-412-7066.

Sky Lines and Sea Scales, Vikki McGuire captures how the elements of nature play upon each other, showing their gift, through Nov. 27. Contemporary Art Gallery, 2928 Paseo St., 405-601-7474, contemporaryartgalleryokc.com.

Off the Beaten Path, a photo-documented joint art exhibit by Scott and Katie Henderson; tour many of the state’s unusual, intriguing and lesserknown areas, through May 4. Science Musuem Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org.

The Modernist Spectrum: Color and Abstraction, explore the invigorating ways in which postwar American artists, especially those associated with the Washington Color School, made it new, producing novel work that sought to reinvent abstract art through an alternatively rigorous and playful manipulation of color, line and shape. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.

Oklahoma Skyscapes opening reception, opening of Catherine Freshley’s show showcasing paintings of skyscapes, 7-9 p.m. Nov. 4. The Collective, 239 N. Broadway, Edmond, 405-455-8853. FRI Photo Stencil Silkscreen: Adults, learn the basics of silkscreen printmaking, including the history of the medium, photo stencil preparation, exposing a screen and basic two-color registration, 1-5 p.m. Nov. 5. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SAT Picturing Indian Territory, surveys how the people, land and history of Oklahoma were constructed visually by artists, illustrators and journalists from the early decades of the 19th century before and after the creation of Indian Territory in 1834, to the inception of Oklahoma Territory in 1890 and finally to the unification of Indian and Oklahoma Territories to create the state of Oklahoma in 1907, through Dec. 30. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., Norman, 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma.

Power and Prestige: Headdresses of the American Plains, original exhibition includes nine headdresses from Northern and Southern American Great Plains along with historical photographs and other supporting artifacts including ledger art depicting Native warriors and bonnets from the museum’s permanent collection. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org.

Refreshing the Palette, sample a variety of wines while enjoying art by Oklahoma artists who created original works of art based on a re-imagination of wine labels, 4-6 p.m. Nov. 6. Metro Wine Bar & Bistro, 6418 N. Western Ave., 405-840-9463, metrowinebar. com. SUN

When Less Becomes More, two solo exhibitions featuring pop realism portrait artist Robert Peterson and impressionistic artist KARAM, through Nov. 27.

JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave., 405-5286336, jrbartgallery.com.

Women at War, works of three renowned artists: Ebony Iman Dallas, Gay Pasley, and Edward Grady.

Owen’s Arts Place Museum, 1202 E. Harrison Ave., Guthrie, 405-260-0204, owensmuseum.com.

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.

Remembering When, showcase of Linda Guenther’s presentation of nature in a nostalgic way, through Nov. 27. Contemporary Art Gallery, 2928 Paseo St., 405-601-7474, contemporaryartgalleryokc.com.

Sacred Words: The Saint John’s Bible and the Art of Illumination, includes 70 selected folios from The Saint John’s Bible as well as other historical illuminated manuscripts, such as a Book of Hours, Quran pages and Torah scrolls, though Jan. 8.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405236-3100, okcmoa.com.

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

for okg live music

see page 40

event

MUSIC

Closer look

The Josh Abbott Band shares a prime view of the pain of failed relationships.

By Ben Luschen

Josh Abbott Like kids at Christmas, the studio with the Band fans often circle album intent of telling Abbott’s release dates on their story.

8 p.m. Nov. 11 calendars weeks and It came together orTumbleweed Dancehall months ahead in anticiganically. & Concert Venue pation.

“You always record Intersection of N. Country However, the feeling more, just so you can see Club and W. Lakeview roads, is sometimes different what they sound like toStillwater for recording artists. gether,” Hertless said. “It tumbleweedok.com Josh Abbott Band just started turning into 405-308-1803 released Front Row Seat, this puzzle where it was $15 its fourth full-length like, ‘OK, wait; this fits 18+ studio album, last right here.’”

November.

T he ba nd d id , It’s a personal, tender and even dark however, have a pre-existing concept that look at the namesake frontman’s romance guided Small Town Family Dream, its prewith, and eventual split from, his former ceding 2012 release. wife.

That’s not how Josh Abbott Band Band guitarist Caleb Keeter said he usually operates, though. usually tries to distance himself from an Keeter said an album’s early creative album’s initial reception. stages start with recording as many good After Front Row Seat ’s release, songs as possible. If a theme emerges, however, he welcomed every bit of feedgreat. back.

Knowing that makes the album’s keen “On this particular album, I was totally biographical connection to Abbott’s relathat guy,” Keeter said. “We went a little tionship even more interesting. out there with this one. This time around, “A lot of those songs weren’t even necI was definitely anxious to see what was going to happen.”

Keeter and bassist James Hertless spoke with Oklahoma Gazette ahead of the Texas Red Dirt country band’s Nov. 11 show at Stillwater’s Tumbleweed Dancehall & Concert Venue.

Both said they are proud of the band’s most recent album and where it has taken them in the last year.

essarily written by us,” Hertless said. “We did some outside cuts on that, so it’s cool how it all just came together.”

Getting dark

The latter half of Front Row Seat gets darker and moodier than fans are likely used to hearing.

That is perhaps most evident on “Amnesia,” which made its music video debut last month.

The song captures the hopelessness some people feel as they attempt to move on with their lives.

“Amnesia” was written in part by Abbott. Keeter said artists write differently depending on where they find themselves in life.

“If some of the dark stuff comes out, it’s going to be just as relatable as a happy song about college,” he said. “It just depends on where they’re at in their life.”

Hertless said the album is darker, in part, because the band uses more sombersounding keys than it has before. He also complimented Keeter’s guitar work.

“It has that low, chunky kind of feel, and I think that adds to it and makes it more dark than some of our past stuff,” Hertless explained, “which is really heavy banjo, really heavy fiddle.”

Front Row Seat is one of countless country albums that examine love and its painful wake.

Many regard Willie Nelson’s 1974 release Phases and Stages as one of the

best takes on divorce ever recorded.

Front Row Seat’s effectiveness is not blunted by its well-trodden theme.

The story, presented in five acts, feels freshly specific to Abbott while remaining universal and relatable.

“Everybody, in some form or fashion, has had a relationship,” Hertless said. “It’s really the best story for everyone to understand.”

The tracks are laid out so listeners can almost pick out where they are in their own relationship.

“You may not be in a breakup, but you may be really into someone, like ‘Crazy Things,’ and you relate to that because you love someone so much,” Keeter said.

“Or maybe you’re out and you’re hooking up with somebody, like ‘While I’m Young.’”

Strapping in

Front Row Seat is about a romantic relationship, with the idea being that a spouse has a “front-row seat” to their significant other’s life.

It also is a concept that can be applied to the relationships between bandmates.

“We’ve got a front-row seat on a rollercoaster,” Hertless said of Josh Abbott Band members. “It’s like being strapped on to the front of a fast-moving car. Have you seen Mad Max?” Around 12 people squeeze onto a tour bus, and with hours spent on the road between cities, Hertless said there is little room or time for secrets.

Josh Abbott Band performs Nov. 11 in Stillwater. | Photo C. Taylor Crowthers / provided

It’s like being strapped on to the front of a fast-moving car.

James Hertless

Finding a story

Front Row Seat might be the act’s most visionary release to date, but dozens of the project’s songs were recorded before bandmates had a clear idea of what the album would come to mean to them.

Hertless said they chose a tracklist from around 25 tunes recorded during sessions leading up to Front Row Seat. The final album is a 16-track offering that takes listeners from the young and innocent stages of Abbott’s romance to his eventual marriage, divorce and return to bachelorhood.

Though the album feels jointed, Hertless said band members did not enter O kg a z e t t e . c O m | n ov e m b e r 2 , 2 0 1 6

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event

MUSIC

Trail top

Kent Fauss has spent his life splitting time between Red Dirt music and his work as a legal investigator. By Ben Luschen

Kent Fauss might have gotten Kent Fauss over the years. He has played serihis musical start in outlaw ously for the last seven years, a country, but for most of his life, period that also includes a move 7 p.m. Nov. 17 to Fort Worth, Texas, for a shorthe has been making sure people Hillbilly’s lived marriage. were on the right side of the law.

1 NW Ninth St. The Red Dirt country artist Fauss lived in Texas from 2010 fullhillbilly.com has created music in and out of to 2014, the longest time he has 405-702-9805 the state since 1990. Many might spent outside Oklahoma City. He Free recognize him on stage with his loved being in what felt like the guitar at venues like The Jungle epicenter of Red Dirt music, but in Guthrie, but many more came to know it frustrated him to watch his hometown Fauss through decades of work as a legal blossom through a cultural renaissance investigator, often looking into worker’s while he was away.

He returned to Oklahoma two years ago compensation, fraud and other white-collar after his divorce. civil cases.

“I wasn’t a cop, per se,” he said. “I did do “I was so glad to be back here in Oklahoma work on some criminal cases, but mostly it City,” he said. “I just embraced it so much, sort of like a prodigal son thing. I’m sort of was just sort of an investigative and law and the prodigal musician.” order kind of pursuit.”

Fauss began playing guitar at a young age.

Fauss released Guns & Guitars in 2015, He played his first professional gig in his late an album that draws heavily from his state 20s and often covered songs from artists like pride and short stint in Texas. The fun Fauss Jerry Jeff Walker and Buck Owens. has playing and writing music is clear in this He said he is on the third leg of a music acoustic project. Printed inside the CD case career that has been on and off several times is a note reading, “No electric guitars were

Musician and investigator Kent Fauss at his Oklahoma City home | Photo Garett Fisbeck

harmed in the recording of this EP.” He also enjoyed his day job, something he mostly stepped away from in recent years as he focused more on his music. Fauss said he developed a reputation as a leading workers’ comp investigator in the state.

“I had the perfect background for it,” he said. “All my work experience combined, and it just ended up taking off like that.”

Fauss said his work affected his music, but it had less to do with what he did and more with where his job took him.

“The great majority of my work time, I was in rural Oklahoma, every nook and cranny,” he said. “You’d cross over into north-central Texas and the Texas pan-

handle and southwest Kansas. I identified with those cultures more than most of my suburban existence in Oklahoma City.”

Fauss said he became especially skilled at research and as an interviewer, calming down witnesses and finding ways to relate to them.

A lot of times, witnesses don’t want to talk to investigators. But they often didn’t mind talking to Fauss.

“I think that probably helped a lot with me doing stage work with my music,” he said.

“I like connecting with the audience; I like talking to them.”

Visit Kent Fauss Music on Facebook for more information.

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revIew

Fear not

Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road puts doubt aside for a strong and bright new release.

By Ben Luschen

Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road take strong steps forward with an album that can truly be called fearless.

The Enid-born violinist has proven himself as one of the state’s most talented and celebrated musicians with a long list of accolades, including a 2009 Oklahoma Governor’s Arts Award and the distinction of Ok la homa Creativ it y A mbassador. His band Horseshoe Road is no less accomplished, winning an International Acoustic Music Award in the bluegrass category in 2011.

Fear or Faith, released last month, is a testament to that talent.

A verse from Deuteronomy 31:6 inspires the title track, reading, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Dillingham encourages listeners to drop their fears and anxieties and, at last, breathe easy. The song, like much of the rest of the album, carries strong spiritual tones, but Fear or Faith never comes across as preachy, and its messages are universal.

Dillingham’s violin is as lively and emotive as ever, but take a moment to appreciate the musician’s voice and lyrics. He is a true charmer, and “Jealous Wind,” the album’s third track, is incredibly infectious.

Make no mistake; this album is a team effort, as Dillingham admits himself in “You’re the Same as Me,” written and performed by Horseshoe Road guitarist Peter Markes. It rivals “Fear or Faith” for the album’s best track. Markes’ message of shared humanity is especially comforting in a time when so much attention is given to our differences.

The harmony between bandmates is apparent on instrumental collages like album-opening “Lady Grey.” It’s a frolicking toe-tapper that’s tailor-made for barnyard dancehalls. Dillingham’s fiddle is prominent, but Brent Saulsbury also makes his presence felt on double bass.

Another track of note is “You’re My Reason,” which stands out because it is

Image provided

intertwined with what feels like some kind of recitation or spoken word verse.

It’s a method that works well in the song; the fast, dense verbiage captures the feeling of captivated infatuation the band is trying to express.

If there is one drawback on the album, it’s that it could have benefitted from a leaner tracklist. Fear or Faith starts with great momentum but loses some of it around the halfway point. Time-honored staples like “Amazing Grace” are well performed but not necessary, especially as the project runtime eclipses one hour.

That being said, Horseshoe Road likely delivers to many fans exactly what they want. The band is fantastic live, and there’s an energy on the album that makes it feel like a live stage performance. In this context, covers and traditional hymns feel less like filler. When a fan is moved by Dillingham’s live show and leaves it with a new copy of Fear or Faith, that fan leaves with a project that captures the true essence of the band.

There are folk, Americana and bluegrass projects that could be considered niche, but the talent and spirited playing from Dillingham & Horseshoe Road create music pleasant to many tastes.

Fear or Faith could easily be plugged into any wedding party, road trip or misty Sunday morning.

Buy the album at Inner-City Violin Studios, 1414 NW 30th St., or Route 66 at 50 Penn Place, 5000 N. Pennsylvania Ave. A digital release will be available later this fall.

Fear or Faith never comes across as preachy, and its messages are universal.

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lIve MUSIC These are events recommended

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

weDneSDAY, 11.2 Beach Slang/Bleached, 89th Street Collective. ROCK Get Dead/Caught Stealing, The Drunken Fry. ROCK Grant Wells, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO Judah & the Lion, ACM@UCO Performance Lab. FOLK

September Mourning, Thunder Alley Grill and Sports Bar. ROCK Yeasayer/Lydia Ainsworth, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa.

POP

tHUrSDAY, 11.3 Adam Hood, The Blue Door. COUNTRY David Morris, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO Garage Band Jam, Bourbon Street Bar. BLUES Green River Ordinance, Wormy Dog Saloon.

COUNTRY

Jimmy Dale & The Beltline Band, Friends Restaurant & Club. VARIOUS Olivia Newton-John, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Catoosa. SINGER/SONGWRITER Planes Mistaken For Stars/Drug Church, 89th Street Collective. ROCK Space Jesus/Yheti, OKC Farmers Public Market. ELECTRONIC Steve Crossley Solo, Margarita Island. VARIOUS The Smooth Soulful Sax & Axe, Jazmo’z Bourbon St. Cafe. JAZZ

FrIDAY, 11.4 Autopilot, Your Mom’s Place. ROCK Boss County, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK Brian Lynn Jones and the Misfit Cowboys, Remington Park. COUNTRY Bully/Car Seat Headrest/Sex Snobs, Opolis, Norman. ROCK Christian Pearson/Gary Johnson, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO Cover Me Bad, Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse. ROCK Eric Dunkin, Sheraton Hotel. ROCK

Otis Watkins, Bourbon Street Bar. ROCK Pope Pau & the Illegals, Blue Note Lounge.

ROCK

Shortt Dogg, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. BLUES

• Snow Tubing, Gingerbread Decorating Corner and more!

PRESENTED BY

Smilin’ Vic, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. BLUES Stereo Deck, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK The Stir, Jazmo’z Bourbon St. Cafe. ROCK Toni Braxton, WinStar World Casino, Thackerville.

R&B

SUnDAY, 11.6 Blues Jam/Fred Rice, Bourbon Street Bar. BLUES Jam Session, Ghost Riders Saloon.

VARIOUS

Scott Lowber/Will Galbraith/Rick Toops, Friends Restaurant & Club. COVER

tUeSDAY, 11.8 Black Sabbath, BOK Center, Tulsa. ROCK Hopsin/Joyner Lucas/Token, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa.

HIP-HOP

Made Violent, 89th Street Collective.

ROCK

Zane Williams/Jared Deck, Wormy Dog Saloon.

Soul Time Tuesday with DJ Tom Hudson, Blue Note Lounge. VARIOUS

100 Bones Band, Tapwerks Ale House & Cafe. ROCK Brian Lynn Jones and the Misfit Cowboys, Remington Park. COUNTRY ROCK

Grant Stevens, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO

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Nathan Kress, Wormy Dog Saloon. VARIOUS

Shaun Suttle, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO

Fairweather/The Nationaries, Blue Note Lounge.

ChristmasAtGaylordTexan.com

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Miss Brown To You, Full Circle Bookstore. JAZZ

SAtUrDAY, 11.5 GRAPEVINE, TX

Tickets and Packages on Sale Now!

PEPSI, PEPSI-COLA and the Pepsi Globe are registered trademarks of PepsiCo, Inc. The Elf on the Shelf® and © CCA and B, LLC. All rights reserved. Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town © Classic Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and all related elements © & TM under license to Character Arts, LLC. All rights reserved. FUJIFILM and INSTAX are trademarks of FUJIFILM Corporation and its affiliates. © 2016 FUJIFILM North America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Miss Blues, Bourbon Street Bar. BLUES

The Stir, Jazmo’z Bourbon St. Cafe. ROCK COUNTRY

• Rudolph’s Holly Jolly™ Breakfast • The Elf on the Shelf® Scavenger Hunt

Midas 13, Newcastle Casino, Newcastle. ROCK

The Temptations, WinStar World Casino, Thackerville. R&B

Max Ridgeway Trio, Full Circle Bookstore. JAZZ

• NEW – Glacier Glide Ice Skating

Matt Cox, Grady’s 66 Pub, Yukon. COUNTRY

Jim the Elephant, Baker Street Pub & Grill. ROCK VARIOUS

• NEW ICE! theme - 2 million pounds of colorful, hand-carved ice sculptures and slides featuring Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town

Mary Chapin Carpenter/Wesley, Hudson Performance Hall. SINGER/SONGWRITER

The Decline/Merlin Mason/Klamz/Trap Queen, Blue Note Lounge. ROCK

Martha Stallings, Lottinvilles Restaurant, Edmond.

• 2 million twinkling lights along with lavish holiday displays

MONDAY Photo Nicnõs / provide

Horse Thief/Paper Planes, 51st Street Speakeasy.

ROCK

November 10, 2016 – January 1, 2017

Music to Your Peers concert and Nicnõs show Oklahoma City rock and blues band Nicnõs launched its Music to Your Peers program to bolster school music programs as state education funding falters. The act joins Harding Fine Arts Academy to put on a student-assisted concert event for the community at 7:30 p.m. Monday inside the school auditorium, 3333 N. Shartel Ave. Tickets are $10, and proceeds benefit both Harding’s music program and Music to Your Peers’ continued efforts. Visit musictoyourpeers.com or facebook.com/musictoyourpeers.

Helen Kelter Skelter/Space 4 Lease, Opolis, Norman. ROCK ICE! PRESENTED BY

Jason Eady, The Blue Door. COUNTRY Kristen Stehr, Riverwind Casino, Norman. VARIOUS

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

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

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

Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

go to oKgAzette.CoM For FUll lIStIngS!

free will astrology

By Rob Brezsny

Homework: Compare the person you are now with who you were two years ago. Make a list of three important differences.

Testify at Freewillastrology.com.

referring to? If not, meditate on the three people or influences that might best help you stay grounded.

Then make sure you snuggle up close to those people and influences during the next two weeks.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Now and then you display

CANCER (June 21-July 22) The coming weeks will

an excessive egotism that pushes people away. But during the next six weeks you will have an excellent chance to shed some of that tendency, even as you build more of the healthy pride that attracts help and support.

So be alert for a steady flow of intuitions that will instruct you on how to elude overconfidence and instead cultivate more of the warm, radiant charisma that is your birthright. You came here to planet Earth not just to show off your bright beauty, but also to wield it as a source of inspiration and motivation for those whose lives you touch.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) “How often I found

where I should be going only by setting out for somewhere else,” said inventor Buckminster Fuller. I don’t fully endorse that perspective. For example, when I said goodbye to North Carolina with the intention to make Northern California my new home, Northern California is exactly where I ended up and stayed.

Having said that, however, I suspect that the coming months could be one of those times when Fuller’s formula applies to you. Your ultimate destination may turn out to be different from your original plan. But here’s the tricky part: If you do want to eventually be led to the situation that’s right for you, you have to be specific about setting a goal that seems right for now.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) If you were an obscenely

rich plutocrat, you might have a pool table on your super yacht. And to ensure that you and your buddies could play pool even in a storm that rocked your boat, you would have a special gyroscopic instrument installed to keep your pool table steady and stable. But I doubt you have such luxury at your disposal. You’re just not that wealthy or decadent. You could have something even better, however: metaphorical gyroscopes that will keep you steady and stable as you navigate your way through unusual weather. Do you know what I’m

be a good time to fill your bed with rose petals and sleep with their aroma caressing your dreams. You should also consider the following acts of intimate revolution: listening to sexy spiritual flute music while carrying on scintillating conversations with interesting allies . . . sharing gourmet meals in which you and your sensual companions use your fingers to slowly devour your delectable food . . . dancing naked in semi-darkness as you imagine your happiest possible future. Do you catch my drift, Cancerian? You’re due for a series of appointments with savvy bliss and wild splendor.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) “I have always wanted . . . my

mouth full of strange sunlight,” writes Leo poet Michael Dickman in his poem “My Honeybee.” In another piece, while describing an outdoor scene from childhood, he innocently asks, “What kind of light is that?” Elsewhere he confesses, “What I want more than anything is to get down on paper what the shining looks like.” In accordance with the astrological omens, Leo, I suggest you follow Dickman’s lead in the coming weeks. You will receive soulful teachings if you pay special attention to both the qualities of the light you see with your eyes and the inner light that wells up in your heart.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) The Passage du Gois is a

2.8-mile causeway that runs between the western French town of Beauvoir-sur-Mer and the island of Noirmoutier in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s only usable twice a day when the tide goes out, and even then for just an hour or two. The rest of the time it’s under water.

If you hope to walk or bike or drive across, you must accommodate yourself to nature’s rhythms. I suspect there’s a metaphorically similar phenomenon in your life, Virgo. To get to where you want to go next, you can’t necessarily travel exactly when you feel like it. The path will be open and available for brief periods. But it *will* be open and available.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Modern toilet paper

appeared in 1901, when a company in Green Bay, Wisconsin began to market “sanitary tissue” to the public. The product had a small problem, however.

Since the manufacturing process wasn’t perfect, wood chips sometimes remained embedded in the paper. It was not until 1934 that the product was offered as officially “splinter-free.” I mention this, Libra, because I suspect that you are not yet in the splinter-free phase of the promising possibility you’re working on. Keep at it. Hold steady. Eventually you’ll purge the glitches.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) “Don’t be someone that

searches, finds, and then runs away,” advises novelist Paulo Coelho. I’m tempted to add this caveat: “Don’t be someone that searches, finds, and then runs away -- unless you really do need to run away for a while to get better prepared for the reward you have summoned . . . and then return to fully embrace it.” After studying the astrological omens, Scorpio, I’m guessing you can benefit from hearing this information.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Go ahead and

howl a celebratory “goodbye!” to any triviality that has distracted you from your worthy goals, to any mean little ghost that has shadowed your good intentions, and to any faded fantasy that has clogged up the flow of your psychic energy. I also recommend that you whisper “welcome!” to open secrets that have somehow remained hidden from you, to simple lessons you haven’t been simple enough to learn before now, and to breathtaking escapes you have only recently earned.

P.S.: You are authorized to refer to the coming weeks as a watershed.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Musician and visual

artist Brian Eno loves to dream up innovative products.

In 2006, he published a DVD called *77 Million Paintings,* which uses technological trickery to generate 77 million different series of images. To watch the entire thing would take 9,000 years. In my opinion, it’s an interesting but gimmicky novelty -- not particularly deep or meaningful. During the next nine months, Capricorn, I suggest that you attempt a far

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Do you know about

the Lords of Shouting? According to Christian and Jewish mythology, they’re a gang of 15.5 million angels that greet each day with vigorous songs of praise and blessing. Most people are too preoccupied with their own mind chatter to pay attention to them, let alone hear their melodious offerings. But I suspect you may be an exception to that rule in the coming weeks.

According to my reading of the astrological omens, you’ll be exceptionally alert for and receptive to glad tidings. You may be able to spot opportunities that others are blind to, including the chants of the Lords of Shouting and many other potential blessings. Take advantage of your aptitude!

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Greenland sharks live

a long time -- up to 400 years, according to researchers at the University of Copenhagen. The females of the species don’t reach sexual maturity until they’re 150.

I wouldn’t normally compare you Pisceans to these creatures, but my reading of the astrological omens suggests that the coming months will be a time when at long last you will reach your full sexual ripeness. It’s true that you’ve been capable of generating new human beings for quite some time. But your erotic wisdom has lagged behind. Now that’s going to change. Your ability to harness your libidinous power will soon start to increase. As it does, you’ll gain new access to primal creativity.

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.

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PuzzleS

VOl. XXXViii NO. 44

New York Times MAgAziNe CROSSWORD Puzzle Over/Under

By Ellen Leuschner and Jeff Chen | Edited by Will Shortz | 1030 ACROSS 1 Take on 6 Some subjects in Scheherazade’s stories 11 Humbled 17 Playful leap 18 Mother-of-pearl source 20 Words preceding “We stand on guard for thee” 21 “Skyfall” singer 22 Over the 27-Across 24 In low spirits 26 Guarantee that one will 27 Rise 28 Sighed line 29 Rev 30 Obsessed with fantasy roleplaying games, say 32 “What have we here?!”

34 Under the 29-Across 38 Certain swinger, informally 42 Spanish bear 43 Castor ____ (“Popeye” guy) 44 Balance-sheet abbr.

45 Friday, on old TV: Abbr.

47 Olympics venue between London and Tokyo 48 Many a Jazz fan 50 Preserver of bugs 52 Caffè ____ 54 “Thinking …”

57 Over the 62-Across 59 Prestigious mil. award 60 International observance in 20Down, informally 62 Dreidel, e.g.

63 Cataract 64 Parisian sibling 65 Exerted 67 Put on the back burner 70 Verizon subsidiary 72 Old line in Russia 73 ____ Victory (tourist attraction in Portsmouth, England) 76 Under the 67-Across 79 Single-masted pleasure craft 82 Keeps up 83 Neck and neck 85 Luminous 86 Abbr. in many Québec city names 87 Potus No. 34 88 Conditionals 89 Melodramatic response

91 92 94 100 102 103 104 105 108 110 112 116 118 119 120 121 122 123

Reagan has one named for him Competitor of Sapporo and Kirin Over the 104-Across Commercial prefix with Pen With 109-Down, cochlea’s place [snort] Sky light Sculpture medium for Calder Print tint University of Washington logo Under the 105-Across John Paul’s successor Increasing in pitch Me Talk Pretty One Day humorist One who can pick his work?

Impersonate Places for studs ____ dish

DOWN 1 Signature Obama legislation, for short 2 Gosh-darn 3 Floor-length formalwear 4 House member from the Bay Area beginning in 1987 5 Quite the hike 6 Be plentiful 7 Louis Armstrong vocal feature 8 High point of a European vacation?

9 NYC div.

10 Cry annoyingly 11 Cause for a blessing 12 Political columnist Matt 13 Debate moderator’s day job, typically 14 H. H. Munro’s pen name 15 Leon ____, Henry James biographer 16 Twain’s “celebrated jumping frog” 18 Crabgrass, e.g.

19 Mushroom variety 20 Start of the fourth qtr.

23 Early British actress Nell 25 Like quiche 28 In conflict 30 Title fictional character who “sprang from his Platonic conception of himself” 31 Clothier Bauer 33 Fired bullets, informally

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receptionist/cAlendAr Arden Biard, Coordinator AdVertising director Christy Duane, cduane@okgazette.com

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66 Man’s name that’s the reverse of 117-Down 67 Woodworking fasteners 68 Clueless 69 Food preservative abbr.

71 Letters ending a business name 72 Buy-one-get-one-free deal 73 Selfish sort 74 Villainous 75 Target customer of Yelp 76 Mount of Greek myth 77 REM’s “The ____ Love” 78 Kind of branch 80 Sweets 81 Lynn in the Pro Football Hall of Fame 84 Application datum: Abbr.

89 Fashions 90 “Um … fancy meeting you here”

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Account executiVe / AdVertising AssistAnt Leah Roberts Account executiVes Stephanie Van Horn, Saundra Rinearson Godwin, Elizabeth Riddle, Nathan Ward

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Accounting/hr MAnAger Marian Harrison Accounts receiVAble Karen Holmes

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Gerrymanders, say Big Apple paper, for short Situated Badly Informal acknowledgment of responsibility 56 Portland-to-Spokane dir.

58 “That was dumb of me” 61 ____ Flux (Charlize Theron film) 64 Debugger

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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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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.

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Small swigs Huffs Coat for a dentist What “i.e.” means Charlotte ____, VI British ____ Female W.W. II enlistee Stick ____ Some P.O. plans See 102-Across Antidote Bank-clock info Clean-energy grp.

Ringing words?

Catch Man’s name that’s the reverse of 66-Down

editor-in-chieF Jennifer Palmer Chancellor jchancellor@okgazette.com AssistAnt editor Brittany Pickering stAFF reporters Greg Elwell, Laura Eastes, Ben Luschen contributors Lisa K. Broad, Adam Holt, George Lang Jacob Oller, Jessica Williams photogrApher Garett Fisbeck circulAtion MAnAger Chad Bleakley AssistAnt circulAtion MAnAger Duke Fleischer Art director Chris Street

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

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NeW YORk TiMeS CROSSWORD Puzzle ANSWeRS A C T S

L O R E

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S H I E R

M A O L S I I T S B A D 42

N ov e m b e r 2 , 2 0 1 6 | O kg a z e t t e . c O m

www.okgazette.com

Puzzle No. 1023, which appeared in the October 26 issue.

C H E E R Y

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

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

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R E E N A D L C E U S E S S T A A L L S O W W E M E S E D N E O C R O A R

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

I N C O D E

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A D R O I T

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