The OG Food Issue

FOODISSUE

BY GAZETTE STAFF

INSIDE

P. 11 Oklahoma Gazette ’s Food Issue is back! This issue includes information about 50 local restaurants. Read about the new iteration of Mary Eddy’s, learn about The Jones Assembly’s limited-run après-ski lodge, live vicariously through our food reviewer’s trip to Nonesuch and more!

By Gazette contributors

Cover by Kimberly Walker

4 S TATE Oklahoma GOP

5

6

8

8

9

Celebrate Black Owned Restaurants

Kendra Horn

11 F EATURE Mary Eddy’s Italian Grill

13 F EATURE OKC favorites

14 F EATURE Vecina

16 F EATURE TJ Après

18 R EVIEW Nonesuch

20 GAZEDIBLES Dinner for two

& CULTURE

22 D EVELOPMENT Innovation Hall

24 THEATER OKC Ballet’s Swan Lake

26 F ILM Offbeat romance

28

35

38

Big O’s Pork & Dreams 515 S 101 Santa Fe Ave, Edmond (405) 657-2235 bandbcateringokc.com

Big Lows Burgers 12309 N Council Rd (405) 367-7299 www.biglowsburgers.com

B & B Catering 8612 S Walker Ave (405) 427-7675 bandbcateringokc.com

Bistro 46 1029 NE 6th St (405) 595-3904 bistro46okc.com

Bobo’s Chicken 1433 NE 23rd St (405) 474-5776

Black Walnut 99999 N OK-Ave & Ne 4th St (405) 684-0851 http://www.blackwalnutok.com

Cafe 420 The Alkaline Plant-Based Shop 405 N Walker Ave (405) 768-3470

Cajun King 5816 NW 63rd St (405) 603-3714 cajunkingok.com

Callahan’s Chicago Dog 1800 N Rockwell Ave, Bethany (405) 834-9345

Carican Flavors

2701 N Martin Luther King Jr Ave (405) 424-0456 www.caricanflavors.com

Chef Curry To Go 2525 Northwest Expy (405) 842-8646 www.chefcurrytogo.com

Chef Dee’s Creations 2739 NW 36th St (405) 501-9322 www.chefdeescreations.com

Cornish Jerkhouse 12600 N Pennsylvania Ave (405) 930-5375

Culture Coffee 1029 NE 6th St (405) 724-7243 www.culturecoffeeokc.com

Elmer’s Uptown 516 NE 38th St (405) 525-5367

Florence’s Restaurant 1437 NE 23rd St (405) 427-3663 theflorencesrestaurant.com

Freezing Cow Rolling Ice Cream 6401 NW 100 Expressway St (405) 506-0377 www.freezingcowokc.com

George’s Happy Hog Bar-B-Q LLC 712 Culbertson Dr (405) 525-8111

Grey Sweater 429 N Walnut Ave (405) 684-0851 www.greysweaterokc.com

Hank’s 1226 NE 63rd St (405) 286-1835 hanksokc.com

King’s Barbecue 2412 N Portland Ave (405) 294-2160 kingsbbqokc.com

Leo’s Barbeque 3631 N Kelley Ave (405) 424-5367 leos-bbq.square.site

Mama Z’s African Supermarket and Restaurant 4548 NW 16th St (405) 430-8556 www.mamazsokc.com

Naija Wife Kitchen 119 N. Robinson Ave (469) 315-8211 naijawifekitchenfusion.com

Not Cho Cheesecake 6700 NW 39th Expy, Bethany (405) 782-0880 notchocheesecake.com

Perle Mesta 2 Park Ave (405) 702-8547 www.perlemesta.com

Plus254 - A Taste of Africa 119 N 160 Robinson Ave, (405) 276-3177 http://plus254food.com

Polk’s House 1236 NE 23rd St (405) 455-7933

Scrambl’d 1736 NE 23rd St (405) 900-5972 www.scrambld23rd.com

Texlahoma BBQ 121 E Waterloo Rd, Edmond (405) 513-7631 www.texlahomabbq.com

The BeetBox 7101 Northwest Expy #300 (580) 748-3223 beetboxokc.com

The Gilded Acorn 146 E Park Ave (405) 900-6860 gildedacornokc.com

The Hive Eatery 1141 E 2nd St, Edmond (405) 906-2902 thehiveok.net

Wing Supreme

3925 N A Lincoln Blvd (405) 702-5464 www.wingsupreme.com

NEWS GOP draft

It’s not always such a grand old time with Oklahoma’s grand old party.

By Henry Nam Hardwick

While the new year brings new changes and new challenges, it would seem that there is nothing new under the sun in Oklahoma. As the 2024 election cycle showed, Oklahoma remains deeply entrenched as quite possibly the reddest state in the union. Yet throughout January, straight out of the gate, Oklahoma made multiple national headlines regarding controversial proposals such as limiting homeless and domestic violence assistance to Oklahoma City and Tulsa, requesting more funds for the Bible mandate, a U.S. Supreme Court case regarding the first publicly funded religious online charter school and a willingness to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that would especially target Oklahoma’s significant Latino immigrant population. With the new presidential administration already approving extreme proposals from Project 2025, the nation’s right-wing shift is made most evident in Oklahoma, where the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus (OKFC) established itself at the end of last year as the bastion of conservative politics in the local Oklahoma Legislature. Straying from the politics of yesteryear, vocal opponents criticize this far-right development as “White Christian Nationalism” and “conservative extremism” that actively targets and persecutes religious, ethnic and sexual minorities. Currently, the Oklahoma Republican Party, or GOP (“Grand Old Party”), controls all 12 statewide offices, including the governorship, all five U.S. House of Representative seats and both U.S. Senate seats. Furthermore, the state legislature has Republican supermajorities in both the House (81-21) and Senate (40-8). However, this development is relatively recent, as the Republicans did not hold both the House and Senate until 2008; Republicans did not have control of the House between 1921 and 2004. In 2008,

the Republicans gained control of the Senate and have developed into a supermajority in both houses of the state legislature. Registered Republican voters became the majority in Oklahoma in 2015. Oklahoma was flaunted as the “perfect state,” “all-red” and “the most Republican state in the union” in the most recent presidential election, and the Republican Party has consecutively won every single one of Oklahoma’s 77 counties since the 2004 presidential election. Furthermore, Oklahoma has voted red in every presidential election since President Richard Nixon in 1968. Despite this, Oklahoma was considered a swing state in the 1976, 1980, 1992 and 1996 presidential elections. Such trends have not gone unnoticed, as a recent viral meme during the 2024 election season placed Oklahoma up against Massachusetts. Comparing education, health care, quality of life, test scores and poverty, the Sooner State consistently ranked in the bottom five while the Bay State held the top rankings. Despite this, Governor Kevin Stitt maintains that Oklahoma will be a “Top Ten” state and recently explained, “If we make Oklahoma the best state for business … It makes Oklahoma the best state for education, the best state for infrastructure and the best state to raise our families.”

Culture war

Yet standing in the way of Oklahoma’s corporate ambitions is its own culture war. According to Senator Mark Mann (D-46), one of the greatest issues for Oklahoma’s future is an “economic development problem” in which “companies do not want to relocate staff to where they find legislation that is hostile to them, whether because of race or sexual orientation, which makes it much harder to recruit businesses to relocate here.” This was confirmed by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber perception surveys that say the state is undesirable and actually blacklisted by most businesses on a list of large-scale site locations. While Oklahoma’s right to work legislation in 2001 made it attractive as the 22nd state to adopt such policies, it has since fallen to the wayside. Adding to this, the Chamber cited that Oklahoma’s health care policies also drive businesses away, with the state rated as 48th worst in the nation for women’s health and reproductive care as of 2024. Amongst such legislation has been House Bill 1449, or the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” which “preserves biological sex” at birth and clarifies interpretation of gender under state law. Despite claiming to champion women’s rights, the recent passing of this bill has been criticized as targeting Oklahoma’s

LGBTQ+ population. Despite this, Oklahoma continues to try appealing to big businesses by passing Senate Bill 473, which would create a task force for the implementation of business courts in Oklahoma by 2026. Having already cut business tax down to a 4% corporate income tax rate and a half a percent personal income tax cut to 4.25%, the government budget shortfall only continues to increase after eliminating the state grocery tax on certain items last year.

As for hostile legislation, some of the most prominent national controversies are arising from the Oklahoma Department of Education.

“Some of Ryan Walters’ new proposed rules are frightening. His social study standards are a little frightening, the fact he wants police to be able to go into schools and perform raids, which I might add violates at least two federal laws,” Sen. Mann said. “All of that is concerning and gets us on the front page and the top of the evening news, and not in a good way. All the while, we are 49th in education and have some of the lowest health rates in the country.”

The senator also said that “another bill that [he is] very concerned about is moving school board elections from the Spring to the November ballot because it will unnecessarily politicize public education.” Unfortunately, Oklahoma public education has already become heavily politicized. At the forefront of the new presidential administration’s focus on illegal immigration, the Oklahoma Board of Education unanimously voted in favor of requiring parents to report their child’s citizenship and immigration status. The proposal is now moving to the state legislature and governor. The purpose was explained by State Superintendent Walters in a CNN interview: “We’re going to work with the Trump administration to enforce their anti-illegal immigration policy… That includes giving them information about students in our schools, families enrolled in our schools so they can make the decisions on how to deport families together and how to identify criminals in our school system.”

Religious freedom

Oklahoma is also at the forefront regarding interpretations of “freedom of religion,” the very fabric of the nation itself. In the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights (1791), there is the “Establishment Clause,” which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Thomas Jefferson described this in 1802 as a “wall of separation between church and state.” In the Oklahoma Constitution, Section I-2 on Religious Liberty states, “Perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured … and no religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.” Furthermore, Section II-5 states, “No public money

or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directed or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion.”

Making headlines across the nation, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear two cases concerning the opening of the first publicly funded religious charter school: Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond and St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond . While the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approved the St. Isidore of Seville Virtual Charter School by a 3-2 vote, it was denied by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in a 7-1 vote against using state funding for a religious public school, which was in violation of the Oklahoma Constitution. Siding with the school, Gov. Stitt called the upcoming ruling “one of the most significant religious and education freedom decisions in our lifetime” while TIME headlined an article “How Oklahoma Became Ground Zero in the War Over Church-State Separation” back in 2023.

In addition, the public school classroom itself is currently being targeted by multiple upcoming bills. After not passing last year, Rep. Jim Olsen (R-Roland) has refiled House Bill 1006 that requires a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments to be made evident in every public school classroom throughout Oklahoma. Louisiana passed a similar bill that went into effect Jan. 1, and it has already been blocked in multiple school districts after a U.S. federal judge deemed it “overtly religious” and unconstitutional. Furthermore, the controversial “Bible mandate” continues to face bipartisan opposition with questions of federal interpretation and legality. Originally setting aside $3 million to buy 55,000 Bibles and recently requesting another $3 million, Walters faced criticism in November of last year for buying over 500 copies of the Trump-endorsed Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA Bible, spending slightly under $25,000. Among the opposition, Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader (R-Oklahoma City) did not receive a proper response from Walters during a House Appropriations and Budget Committee hearing about the possibility of receiving donated Bibles when “there’s lots of organizations that would be happy to supply those and save the taxpayers $3 million.”

Sen. Mark Mann | Photo provided

This viral meme shows that Oklahoma consistently ranks in the bottom five. | Image provided.

Among the supporters of the Bibles in Classroom Initiative is the newly formed Oklahoma Freedom Caucus. Oklahoma is the 12th state to join the State Freedom Caucus Network. The far-right conservative group seeks to replace what it calls “liberal Republicans” with a “freedom-centered” focus advancing “conservative principles … the Constitution, limited government, personal responsibility, family responsibility, lower taxation, low regulation, traditional marriage and family.”

While some members of the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus remain anonymous, membership includes chair Sen. Shane Jett (R-Shawnee) and vice chair Sen. Dusty Deevers (R-Elgin). Defending the Bible mandate, Sen. Deevers claimed that those who oppose it align with the 1918 Constitution of the Soviet Union, citing “the church is separated from the state” and “the school is separated from the church” (a dissolution of the relationship once held by the Russian Empire and the Russian Orthodox Church).

Meaningful legislation

Ultimately, Sen. Mann remains hopeful for the direction of the state through the 60th Oklahoma Legislature in session between Jan. 7 and May 30. He emphasized the importance of focusing on local bills that would benefit constituents.

“I’m encouraged. I believe there are people on the other side of the aisle who want to be collaborative when it comes to pass meaningful legislation,” he said.

While holding onto his “non-negotiables,” which include school vouchers and LGBTQ+ and human rights, Sen. Mann is optimistic of unity on nonpartisan issues.

“We’ve got a lot of challenges that we could work together on and improve lives,” he said. “Access to health care, better public schools, better infrastructure.”

At the same time, he’s adamant about his concerns regarding some upcoming bills.

“Some of these bills that are being filed, some of the focus of our state leaders, doesn’t help us move the needle forward for anybody,” he said.

One of the most controversial proposals is Senate Bill 484, which would prevent municipalities with a population below 300,000 residents from providing services to the homeless. Only Oklahoma City and Tulsa meet this threshold, and the senator pointed out that the definition of homeless includes victims of domestic violence who are unhoused and, thus, the bill targets facilities such as battered women’s shelters.

There are over 3000 bills filed between the House and the Senate.

“Several other bills are almost comical,” Sen. Mann lightheartedly acknowledged. “Bear wrestling, electronic game cock fighting — whatever that means.”

OKLAHOMA TRAILBLAZERS Kendra Horn

By Ben Felder

Kendra Horn served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she represented Oklahoma’s Fifth District from 2019 to 2021. The Oklahoma native recently took on a new job as president and CEO of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, a nonprofit that helps support one of the state’s largest school systems.

She recently spoke with Oklahoma Gazette about her former work in Congress and her new job advocating for local schools.

Oklahoma Gazette: During your time in Congress, what was your favorite part about working in Washington, D.C.?

Kendra Horn: I loved being able to walk around. When I was in Congress, some evenings, when it wasn’t crazy and when we finished with late votes, I could walk back to the place that I stayed, and I really enjoyed that. There are so many beautiful places. I always loved just exploring the city.

What were you most proud of from your work in Congress?

Constituent work. I think that’s one of the things that I’m the most proud of. My office was centered around serving constituents, serving people in the Fifth District. That meant making sure that we could do as much as possible to help seniors with Medicare or Social Security. We helped so many veterans who were having trouble navigating the system get the benefits that they were entitled to, that they had earned. We also helped people with IRS problems, and then with the pandemic, (helping) small businesses navigate that.

The ability to help people, the thousands of people we were able to help, is probably something I will most take away from that time.

Although you were a Democrat in the House, you seemed to work well with many of your Republican colleagues. Why was bipartisanship an intentional effort for you?

I worked so hard to reach across the aisle to get back to the actual issues that mattered, not the flame-throwing issues. [In Congress,] we’ve got workhorses and show horses, and we’re paying way too much attention to the show horses, and when we’re paying attention to those most outrageous things or governing in that way, whichever side of the political aisle you’re on, it leads to poor outcomes.

The bottom line is, if you’re just

trying to legislate in social media posts and short slogans, it doesn’t create good results because the things that we’re dealing with are complex. I want to be a part of the solution.

What drew you to work for the OKCPS Foundation?

Education was always something that was important to me, and I firmly believe that ensuring that every single child in our community has access to a quality public education is one of the best investments we can make in our future. It’s easy for someone to think that public education doesn’t affect them if they don’t have kids (in school), but if we don’t invest in our schools now, we’re going to pay for it later.

When this position came open, I had been trying to figure out what the right next thing was. I knew I wanted to stay (in Oklahoma City) because this is home, and I love this place. [Education] was something that I deeply cared about in a place where the work needs to be done.

But education in Oklahoma can be just as political as Congress, especially right now. How do you react to that?

Right now, there’s a lot of arguments over policies, and we’re talking about things that aren’t actually getting to the heart of student outcomes, such as ensuring that our schools have the resources they need. But the reality is we can’t improve student outcomes if we don’t address adult behaviors. Those two things are tied together. Kids can’t do it on their own. Teachers and schools can’t do it on their own.

But if our educators have to face threats of funding being pulled out from under them, if they’re constantly having to worry about policies changing in mid-path, they’re not able to focus on student outcomes.

Disagreements over politicized issues don’t help us improve student outcomes and address the issues that our schools are facing. We have to reframe the conversation about what matters and understand why this upfront investment is not an issue that’s Democrat, Republican, Independent, whatever side it is. Are we making smart investments in our future, or are we doing things that will cost us down the road?

What role does the OKCPS Foundation specifically have in addressing those challenges?

We support programs that help teachers and students directly, like Coat-A-Kid.

Coat-A-Kid is where we raise money and we make sure that every child in OKCPS that needs a coat has one. If it’s freezing outside and they’ve got to walk blocks or longer to to school, they need a coat. Those are basic needs.

We also work with Donors Choose to get supplies to the classroom. [In Donors Choose, teachers can identify things that will help help them ... with project-based learning and fill some of those other gaps in need.

Read OKC is another program. Literacy is something that we have to address. So we have our reading buddies and book club programs, so we’re supporting children’s learning and adult engagement. The more reliable adults there are, the more examples kids have in their lives, the more likely they are to succeed.

Our teacher pipeline program is also actively addressing some of the workforce shortages in qualified certified teachers. We’ve graduated 28 new teachers, and they give back to OKCPS. They are working as paraprofessionals while they’re in school part-time. We’re paying for their tuition, books and fees, and they get to keep their jobs as paraprofessionals and classroom aides.

We are also about building advocates and bringing more people on board. It’s all about support, workforce (development) and advocacy if you want to boil it down. We work hand in hand with the the district to identify needs, because they can’t do everything by themselves. None of us can. That’s why nonprofits and and public-private partnerships, we all have to work together.

NEWS

Same boss

The most likely candidates for Oklahoma governor in 2026 are no surprise, but the question of an underdog emerging remains.

By Henry Nam Hardwick

The nation may still be reeling from the last election cycle but the gubernatorial race for the highest office in Oklahoma is already out of the gate. On Jan. 13, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced he’s running for the governorship. Although the first to gain prominence, Drummond is the second candidate to announce their bid, as Leisa Mitchell Haynes announced her own in July 2024. However, the race has only begun, and the Republican Party’s nomination is up in the air due to term limits that prevent current Governor Kevin Stitt from running for a third term. Thus, all eyes are on Nov. 3, 2026, when the next four years of Oklahoma leadership will be decided. Of course, a weakened Democratic platform in Oklahoma’s state government means that it will certainly be a Republican-dominated election. In the meantime, here is an early list of potential candidates for the 2026 gubernatorial election: Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, State Superintendent Ryan Walters, Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Charles McCall, former Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat and self-described “Oklahoma’s next Republican Governor” Leisa Mitchell Haynes.

Gentner Drummond (R)

The first of many strong candidates is Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Confidently standing by his statement, “I want you to know I will always do the right thing,” and “I am running for governor to serve the people of Oklahoma, not the political elite.” At the same time, Drummond would appear to be such an elite, or at least a man of many hats. He comes from a well-established family in Tulsa, and his background includes serving in the U.S. Air Force, 30 years of law experience, including founding Drummond Law firm, serving as assistant district attorney in Pawnee and

Osage counties, working as a rancher and owning several businesses, including Blue Sky Bank.

Elected to the office in 2022, Drummond’s focus as attorney general has been “focused on fighting crime, ensuring transparency and openness in government, improving tribal relations, and putting an end to a culture of corruption and scandal.” Furthermore, oklahoma.gov describes Drummond as “a steadfast opponent of federal overreach that routinely threatened state sovereignty under the Biden Administration.”

During his announcement of his candidacy for governor, Drummond vocalized his support for President Trump to “secure the border, deport illegal immigrants, and stop the flow of drugs and crime into Oklahoma” which is at the forefront of his official website, Gentner Drummond Republican for Governor. Furthermore, he spoke of lowering taxes and cost of living while bringing in jobs “to make Oklahoma the most businessfriendly state in the nation.” He wants to “support public education, empower parents and protect local control.”

Already, the Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) has endorsed Drummond’s gubernatorial run. The president of the FOP said that Drummond will “protect public safety, defend our values, and uphold the rule of law,” and said his collaboration with law enforcement was having “stood shoulder to shoulder.”

Gentner often serves as a vocal opposition against Gov. Stitt, which culminated in Stitt filing a lawsuit over tribal gaming compacts against Drummond in 2024 that was brought before the Supreme Court of Oklahoma with both “claiming victory” in who has authority over the state’s legal disputes. Drummond’s intentions regarding the state of public education has already been seen in his opposition with Superintendent Walters and Gov. Stitt concerning the opening of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, filing St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond and Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond in opposition to violations of the Oklahoma Constitution. With the Supreme Court of Oklahoma siding with Drummond, the case has now moved on to the Supreme Court of the United States. If anything, Drummond will be an interesting candidate due to his support for President Trump while opposing certain other major Republican members of Oklahoma government.

Ryan Walters (R)

Of course, Oklahoma politics is never complete without State Superintendent Ryan Walters. Beginning as a social studies teacher in McAlester, Walters was appointed Secretary of Public Education by Gov. Stitt in 2020 and later won the election for State Superintendent in 2022. While Walters has not yet formally announced his run for the governorship, there is already a website, ryanwaltersforgovernor.com.

Walters is the recent face of Oklahoma, thanks to multiple headlines in the national news, and criticism has only served to fan the flames of his potential gubernatorial run. Amongst such controversies are two investigations by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission concerning alleged violations of his 2022 campaign for state superintendent and his usage of social media to support presidential candidates during an election. Furthermore, Walters’ handling of Oklahoma’s education has even reached the Supreme Court because of concerns that he has potentially violated state and federal law through the dismantling of the separation of the church and state (i.e., the Bible mandate, Ten Commandments in every classroom and the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School debacle). Among the most recent controversies is his vehement support for President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policies and admitting on national news that he and the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) plan to mandatorily report the citizenship and immigration status of all Oklahoma students to the federal government and authorities while allowing entities such as ICE to enter Oklahoma schools.

With a focus on identity politics, Walters has been especially vocal against the “radical left,” critical race theory, LGBTQ+ rights and “woke teachers unions.” Furthermore, Walters’ push for educational reform by forcibly implementing religion in the classroom has faced controversy from all sides. From his proposal for $6 million dollars for Trump-endorsed Bibles to his desire to have the Bible taught by “every teacher, every classroom in the state,” Walters’ culture war has placed him at the forefront of Oklahoma’s far right. At the same time, the transition toward events like the Oklahoma Freedom Caucus’ establishment in 2024 may indicate that Walters will have greater support and popularity through his opposition against the left.

Another reasonable candidate for the 2026 governorship is Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell. Described on oklahoma.gov as “the chief marketer of Oklahoma,” he “champions small business growth” and has used his role to focus on economic development. Through his own social media and official website, Pinnell describes himself as “extremely pro-Oklahoma” with the slogan “Conservative leadership. Proven results.” Elected in 2018, Lt. Gov. Pinnell serves a variety of roles, including president of the Oklahoma State Senate and chairman of the Oklahoma Tourism Commission and Route 66 Centennial Commission. Previously, Pinnell was selected in 2019 by Gov. Stitt to be the first Oklahoma Secretary of Tourism and Branding, which he was until 2024.

Also opposing the “radical left,” he seeks to establish “real, lasting conservative solutions for Oklahoma’s communities, businesses and economy” through what he calls The Pinnell Plan. The five steps of such are 1) improving education, empowering students; 2) stronger local and small businesses; 3) expanding business recruitment and tourism; 4) increasing government accountability; 5) protecting our families, defending our values.

Charles McCall (R)

As the longest-serving Oklahoma House Speaker, Charles McCall appears to be one of the most likely candidates for the Oklahoma governorship. With a focus on education reform and tax cuts, McCall emphasizes “Oklahoma values,” which include “service, honor and kindness.” In his vision, he described “Government’s role — what it can do the most for the people of the state of Oklahoma — is to create the right environment for families to flourish and business to flourish.” As

Matt Pinnell (R)

chairman and CEO of AmeriState Bank, McCall became a city councilman in Atoka before becoming mayor and entering the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2012, representing District 22 in Southeastern Oklahoma. Gaining leadership in 2016, McCall led the 56th-59th Legislatures until 2024.

Upon his departure from the House of Representatives, McCall described to News 9 how his time of ”service” and “sacrifice” has been “an honor of a lifetime,” and said, “Now it’s time for the next chapter to begin.” Whether or not this next chapter will include a run for the highest office of the State of Oklahoma is yet to be determined.

Greg Treat (R)

Similarly, the timing may just be right for former member President Pro Tempore Greg Treat of the Oklahoma State Senate.

Treat has served District 47, which represents north Oklahoma City, for 13 years, from 2011 to 2024, and has been in his leadership role for eight. Treat previously worked as a campaign director for several GOP campaigns throughout Oklahoma. While he’s the longest-serving leader of the Senate, some of the greater controversies during his tenure have been conflicts with former Speaker of the House McCall, in which they continuously would “throw jabs at each other’s education plans.”

Speaking with News 9, Treat said, “The whole reason I got involved in politics … is because I believe in the sanctity of life.” Treat’s legislative focus has been on the Second Amendment and taxes, including private school tax credits and eliminating the state grocery tax. However, he left his position in the Senate with the statement, “Whether or not I run for another office, that’s a decision that will be made further down the road. Right now, I’m just trying to take care of my family.” Yet on social media, Treat maintains that he “is a conservative champion at the Oklahoma Capitol.”

Leisa Mitchell Haynes (R)

According to the official Leisa Mitchell Haynes For Governor website, Haynes “embodies a vision of transformation and empowerment for Oklahoma.” Having previously served as assistant state director at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce from 1989 to 2001, Haynes also

owned Gas-n-Snak in Choctaw. She has also worked as a city manager in Mangum, Tuttle and New Mexico, according to the McCurtain Gazette. While her website states that she “ensures the protection of vulnerable communities, including special needs adults and indigenous tribes,” the McCurtain Gazette noted that Haynes’ key issues are education reform that will see prayer and Bibles in every school and ensuring “no cross dressers, sex acts or witches would be tolerated.” Other policies include fighting government corruption, recruiting businesses to Oklahoma, and assisting Native American tribes. Haynes does not see herself as part of

Oklahoma, where every citizen’s voice is heard, valued and empowered.”

Constant struggle

Thus, the strongest potential candidates for the governorship seemingly share the same characteristics: social conservatives, business owners and professional politicians who attempt to project downto-earth Okie vibes. They speak of their faith, their virtues and their values. They speak of tax cuts, means of living and business incentives. Yet Oklahoma continuously ranking amongst the lowest in the nation shows another side that extends beyond identity politics and promises of growth. For many Okies, there is a lack of representation and support in the areas where it is needed the most. Nearly 100 years after we were put on the map thanks to John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, there is still an ever-growing struggle against instability, powerlessness and dehumanization that threatens everybody — not just the most marginalized. While the people of Oklahoma are cut from the same cloth of “how the West was won,” that pioneer spirit has made way for a willingness to submit to politicians who become more important than their

Under investigation

State Superintendent Ryan Walters is in hot water once again and is being investigated by Oklahoma Ethics Commission. By Henry

Nam Hardwick

While Oklahoma tends to drift toward the very bottom ranking in national education, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters is currently at the top of news headlines regarding two recent investigations launched against him by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. The commission is often regarded as an organization lacking in resources, but the State Ethics Commission launching two investigations while also proclaiming that it is in the “public’s interest” to know of Walters’ identity when most investigations are confidential points toward its intent. Initially, an ethics probe was launched in October regarding the Walters for State Superintendent 2022 campaign, “alleging violations of Campaign Finance Rules” and a subpoena was filed. This was followed in December by a second investigation regarding violations of social media usage in support of political candidates during an election while possibly having used state money, property and time to do so. Specifically, these violations concern Rule 2.12 “Posting of Material by

Elected State Officers Indicating Positions on Issues” and Rule 2.16 “Use of Social Media Account by State Officer,” which both disallow one to “advocate the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate for any elective office.”

Using the “Oklahoma State Superintendent’s personal account,” Superintendent Ryan Walters (@ RyanWaltersSupt) made multiple posts during the election season in support of Donald Trump. Such posts include “Time to shut the border down: elect @realdonaldtrump and @jdvance” and “I just cast my ballot for President Trump.” Among the posts flagged by the Ethics Commission is a video Walters posted during an interview with Fox News Network in which he claimed “The biggest threat out there to our U.S. economy, our parents, our kids — is Kamala Harris.” In addition, a video was posted from the official account of the OK State Department of Education (@OKSDE) stating “The Oklahoma Department of Education sends notice to the office of the

COMMENTARY

It’s

Vice President, charged with addressing the border crisis…” Furthermore, a press release in October titled “Walters Condemns Hamas War Against Israel” used official OSDE letterhead and placed blame on the Biden Administration for how the “US arms Israel’s enemies” while stating “Oklahoma schools do not teach terrorism as a legitimate means to political ends.”

Of course, this investigation into Walters’ conduct stands amidst a plethora of national headlines and controversies regarding Oklahoman education. These include proposals for implementing religious materials in public classrooms and his adamant support for President Trump’s anti-immigration policies and their enforcement in Oklahoma schools.

With religious neutrality rooted in the national ethos through the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the breaching of the separation of church and state has resulted in great controversy. With Walters claiming that “Every teacher, every classroom in the state will have a Bible in the classroom and will be teaching from the Bible in the classroom,” the Bible mandate has only served to face criticism from all sides. With false piety melting away, even Republicans criticized Walters’ request for a total of $6 million when organizations would be willing to donate Bibles. Furthermore, the enforcement infringes on individuals no matter their religious background. Even amongst

about education, stupid…

By Drew Williamson

Listening to our State of the State address this week and reading about just some of the literally thousands of bills being proposed for the now in session 2025 legislative buffet, I somehow feel Oklahoma lawmakers are missing the point about leading our state forward.

We have to get our public schools on a path to success. Otherwise, not much else matters.

Governor Stitt mentioned his focus on making Oklahoma an easier place to do business as a key to our continued success. Oklahoma was ranked 26th in CNBC’s Best States for Business in 2024. However, we ranked No. 1 by CNBC for Cost of Doing Business and 19th overall for Business Friendliness. Oklahoma City was ranked the 2nd best place for small business by Forbes Advisor in 2024, and a recent study by Arizona State University found OKC to be the easiest place in the country to do business. However, the CNBC rankings ranked Oklahoma 36th in Workforce, 47th Quality of Life and 40th in Education. If one were to aim to improve upon our overall rank of 26th, would it not make sense to focus on areas where we are underperforming?

Quality of life, workforce and obvi-

ously education are where we need to focus, and our public schools matter most. Largescale employee populations don’t send kids to private schools, so being a top state for school choice is not going far toward making Oklahoma a better state to do business. Yes, the “school choice credit” provides a nice benefit for wealthy Oklahomans, and it also allows our private schools to raise tuition in step with the newfound money in parents’ wallets. This is not attracting business to Oklahoma. Business leaders want basic things for their employees. Good public schools and a high quality of life matter a great deal. They also need a good workforce to employ, which is a simple byproduct of better schools and vocational/technology training, etc.

To be fair, Oklahoma has improved in these rankings in recent years, but we are not Top 10. We aren’t even Top 25. To move into the upper half for business, we have to focus on where we are clearly struggling. I see no plan in place to improve our public schools, only talk around turning them into Sunday schools, banning the very few potentially inappropriate books on our school library shelves, not being inclusive, making certain undocumented immigrants don’t attend schools in our state and

Christians, the requirement of a specific translation of the Holy Bible would alienate certain faith traditions and denominations in favor of others.

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed in January to hear two cases regarding the opening of the first religious charter school in the nation, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. Struck down by a 7-1 vote in the Oklahoma Supreme Court, St. Isidore’s status as a charter school would qualify it as a public school able to receive state funding. In direct violation of the Oklahoma Constitution, the school would violate both Section I-2 and Section II-5, stating, “Perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured,” and “No public money or property shall ever be … for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion.”

Finally, Walters has appeared on national news supporting what he called “the most aggressive deportation policy in our history.” With the Oklahoma State Board of Education unanimously voting for “Enhancing Enrollment Transparency,” every school district would need to provide students’ proof of citizenship or immigration status if passed by the state Legislature and governor. While many have voiced concerns about the legality and trauma of ICE raids against school children, even resulting in protests at the State Capitol, Walters remains adamant that this is what “the American people clearly support.”

other stuff Ryan Walters likes to discuss on Fox News. We do not properly fund our schools, full stop. It’s not even up for discussion. The lottery was going to fix this problem 20 years ago, but we have been in steady decline from having a Top 20 school system in 2012 to nearly dead last today. We can make no better investment than in our kids and public schools today. Which leads to our governor’s renewed call for tax cuts. Oklahoma City has done great things over a 30-year period by investing in our city and funding the investment with sales tax increases. I’m not promoting raising any taxes. However, if there is room to cut taxes, that means there is room to properly fund our public schools in Oklahoma. Last year’s “School Choice” credit was a tax cut for wealthier Oklahomans, most of which already had kids in private schools. Discussion of removing the cap on this program is just opening the voucher flood gates to shift public dollars to private schools and benefit the wealthy, who aren’t in need. Ninety percent of Oklahoma’s kids attend public schools. Not focusing on funding and fixing our public schools is simply ignoring the real problem and focusing on the wrong things.

Lawmakers should also preemptively act to create oversight and accountability at Oklahoma State Department of Education in the event the Trump administration follows through on promises to close the Department of Education. If this happens, Ryan Walters will likely have unfettered access and control of well over $1 billion of previously federally administered funds. Since Walters has proven himself capable of screwing up, this is a very predictable mess. Just look at the $35 million GEERS funds debacle that occurred on Right-Wing Ryan’s watch. OSDE has virtually no internal controls, experienced staff or oversight in place. This is a disaster waiting to happen, and the potential for fraud and foul play is beyond measure.

Oklahoma lawmakers should do the right thing with a long-term view, not the politically expedient and overused strategy from the tax cut playbook. I’m heartened by a bill to raise minimum teacher pay to $50,000 and also by Senator Dusty Deevers pulling his crazy and ill-advised bill to ransack special ed. Maybe our legislators will figure out where the real problems lie and take action in 2025. Oklahoma kids deserve a better education and leadership from this year’s legislative session.

Drew Williamson is managing partner of Red Center Media, LLC, holding company of Oklahoma Gazette. Drew has been a registered Republican since the age of 18.

chicken friedNEWS

New jail?

Oklahoma County is really good at arresting people and locking them up. What the county hasn’t been good at is managing a safe and secure jail.

Advocates have long argued that the county needs to invest more in its jail and enact meaningful criminal justice reforms to decrease the jail population. Now that downtown development is spilling west toward the Oklahoma County Jail, the city’s power brokers are finally in agreement — at least with the new jail.

County officials are still trying to figure out how to pay for it, which could cost around $700 million. There’s been talk of a countywide election for a new sales tax to help fund it. No doubt the current jail is unacceptable, but it shouldn’t be a surprise if voters don’t trust current county leaders with more money.

The jail is a black eye for the county, but even a new stateof-the-art facility won’t fix the root problems that lead to high in carceration rates in Oklahoma County and across the state.

Plain fun

I SWEAR I WON’T SHAVE MY BEARD UNTIL I’M OUT OF THE DOG HOUSE! RON DESANTIS MEANT NOTHING TO ME, BABY!

NOTHING AT ALL!

The Oklahoma City Thunder seem determined to mummify Nick Gallo, the team’s television reporter, who players drape in towels during the postgame interview. The new “tradition” highlights a level of camaraderie and immaturity that has made this team so easy to root for.

However, after a game in January, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander chastised his teammates for messing with Gallo, who was just trying to do his job. “Sorry, Nick. They are children,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.

The Thunder have planted themselves at the top of the NBA standings and appear poised for a deep playoff run.

But beyond the wins, this team has a unique culture that puts joy into the game of basketball. From the towel draping of Nick to the dog barks after a Jalen Williams score, the Thunder are downright fun. Here’s to a magical season!

Lightened workload

State Supt. Ryan Walters has a pretty busy life. State Sen. Mark Mann wants to help.

Mann, an Oklahoma City Democrat, recently filed Senate Bill 374, which moves oversight of the Accreditation Standards Division away from the state Department of Education. It would also take teacher certificate duties away from the agency.

“Ryan Walters has caused uncer tainty and chaos in our schools by using accreditation and certification as weapons to advance his personal political agenda,” Mann said. “We cannot and will not sit idly by and allow him to continue to target schools and educators in order to grab the media spotlight.”

Walters will undoubtedly see this bill as an attack, but he needs to consider the bright side. Not having to worry about teacher certification and school accreditation will free him up for even more trips to conservative political conferences, more appearances on right-wing podcasts and more time to focus on the multiple state investigations and lawsuits targeting his misuse of agency funds.

Traffic stop

State Sen. Regina Goodwin, a Tulsa Democrat, drew attention last month after a traffic stop in which she accused the officer of “making things up.”

A Tulsa County sheriff’s deputy said Goodwin had failed to completely stop at two stop signs.

Goodwin initially refused to provide her driver’s license and was handcuffed. When the deputy decided to write her a ticket for just one of the failed stops, she said he was changing his story, according to the offi cer’s camera. Goodwin’s re sponse in this particular case didn’t seem warranted.

Then again, Goodwin’s en counter was tame compared to the trouble some of her fellow lawmakers have gotten into in recent years. It could be that she was just ready for the start of the new legislative session, where she will have plenty of op portunities to yell at her Republican colleagues.

“I Thought I’d Never

Escape

the

Pain of Trigeminal Neuralgia—Until I Found Help”

Breaking FREE from Peripheral Neuropathy!

ETrigeminal neuralgia is often called the “suicide disease” for a reason. The searing, stabbing facial pain can feel unbearable, unpredictable, and completely life-changing. For Sarah M., a local resident, it felt like she was living a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.

dmond resident Dawn R. endured the painful effects of Peripheral Neuropathy for years. “My feet and legs had extreme pain, and my doctor told me there was nothing they could do. He said I would have to take gabapentin for the rest of my life.”

Peripheral Neuropathy causes pain, discomfort, and numbness from nerve damage within the nervous system. Daily tasks like opening doors or using the restroom became very painful for Dawn. “How can you face the next 30 years when you don’t even want to get out of bed to do simple things?” she questioned.

“It started as occasional jolts of pain in my face, almost like an electric shock,” Sarah recalls. “But over time, it got worse. Simple things like brushing my teeth, eating, or even talking would trigger waves of unbearable pain. It was terrifying.”

Dawn experienced burning, numbness, tingling, and sharp pains commonly associated with neuropathy. “It felt like walking on glass,” she said. For five years, she hadn’t worn socks and resorted to wearing shoes two sizes too big to minimize contact with her sensitive feet.

Sarah spent years searching for answers. She was prescribed medications, underwent nerve block injections, and even considered surgery, but nothing provided lasting relief.

Dawn’s story is familiar to over 3 million Americans dealing with Peripheral Neuropathy. Our patients arrive at the clinic with similar challenges: sleepless nights due to burning foot pain, difficulty walking, shopping, or enjoying activities for longer than 30 minutes, and struggles with balance that lead to a fear of falling. Many are told by their doctors to “just live with the pain” and are prescribed medications that either don’t work or come with unpleasant side effects.

“I felt like a prisoner to my pain,” she explains. “I became isolated because I was too scared to do anything that might trigger an attack. It wasn’t just my physical health—it took a toll on my mental health, my work, and my relationships.”

Desperate for a solution, Sarah started researching alternative therapies and came across acupuncture. That’s when she found **Be Well Acupuncture in Edmond** and **Dr. Toni Twitty**, a specialist in treating chronic pain conditions like trigeminal neuralgia.

Thankfully, four months ago, Dawn discovered our clinic, Be Well Acupuncture, where licensed acupuncturist Toni Twitty offers treatment for Peripheral Neuropathy without invasive procedures or medications. Toni and her team use the science of acupuncture and NASA-developed technology to enhance blood flow and accelerate healing, offering a breakthrough treatment for this challenging condition.

“I wasn’t sure if acupuncture would work for me, but I was willing to try anything,” Sarah admits. “From the moment I met Dr. Toni, I felt hopeful for the first time in years. She understood my pain and reassured me that relief was possible.”

Sarah noticed improvements after just a few sessions. The attacks became less frequent and less severe. Over time, the pain that had once controlled her life began to fade.

“Now when I go to bed at night, I don’t have shooting pains, burning, or the feeling of pain crawling up my legs,” Dawn said. After a series of treatments, she was delighted to wear socks and shoes again. Dawn and her sister now enjoy walking up to five miles a day while playing golf. “It’s life-changing. As far as I’m concerned, she saved my life.”

“I can’t believe how far I’ve come,” Sarah says. “For the first time in years, I can eat without fear, laugh with my friends, and enjoy the little things again. My husband keeps saying, ‘I finally have my wife back.’ It’s been life-changing.”

For over a decade, Toni and her team have helped the senior community with innovative integrative medicine, specializing in chronic pain cases deemed “hopeless” or “untreatable.” What was once missing in senior healthcare is now available to Edmond and OKC residents.

She’s also quick to praise the team at Be Well Acupuncture.

If you’re missing out on life due to pain or fear of falling, it’s time to call Be Well Acupuncture. Don’t let pain hold you back from the adventures and activities you love.

“Dr. Toni and her staff are amazing. They really care about their patients and make you feel supported every step of the way. I wish I had found them sooner.”

Are you ready to start your journey toward a pain-free, vibrant life?

If trigeminal neuralgia is controlling your life, there’s hope.

Call **(405) 697-5121** to schedule an appointment with Dr. Toni at Be Well Acupuncture in Edmond.

Mention this ad for a complimentary consultation, where our doctor will provide personalized recommendations tailored to your condition.

Relief is possible, and you deserve to live pain-free.

EAT & DRINK

Mary Eddy’s: Redux

With a stunning reimagining, this local icon finally lives up to its legendary namesake.

By Julie Porter Scott

You’d be forgiven if you’ve lost track of how many times Mary Eddy’s has gone through a reimagining. It sometimes seemed like she might never hit her stride, such a far cry from her namesake, a dilettante named for the doyenne of the debutantes. But when the new (old) girl debuted last month, it seemed like maybe, just maybe, this is the version deserving of the mantle.

Like most people I talked to, I was happy to learn the name would remain the same even after this latest overhaul. For those familiar with the legacy of the Jones and Hall families and their investment in not just the hotel and restaurant, but the overall revitalization of the entire West Village District, a restaurant by any other name would not be as sweet. And while I wasn’t exactly skeptical of the new concept, it was simply hard to picture exactly what could be so different in this familiar spot.

I knew I stood corrected the moment we were seated — truly, the very moment. As someone who almost always wears all black, it’s not uncommon for me to end up covered in tiny bits of linen from a white napkin. (I once went clubbing after dinner only to realize under the unforgiving blacklight that I looked as though I’d rolled in lint.) So rare is it for local restaurants to even have a black napkin available, I’ve stopped asking for the most part. You can imagine my delight as the host ab-

solutely disappeared the white cloth from my place setting and replaced it with a black cloth napkin. So quick was his movement, it was almost unseen, a sleight of hand. It was the forethought displayed in this gesture — he had to have taken in the homage to Johnny Cash that was my outfit and decided at the host stand to bring the napkin, though I never saw it until it was being placed in my lap. It felt like being seated by Richie at The Bear.

The prestige television comparisons don’t stop there. As I sipped my martini and took in the sumptuous space filled with rich textures in jewel tones as the dim lighting made everyone look better than we should, I could let my imagination take me to the Sicilian coast, White Lotus style. The daydream was enhanced by drinks from head mixologist Nathan Cover, with whom locals were already familiar thanks to his stint leading the cocktail program at the adjacent Pool Bar. If it’s Italian cocktails you’re after, you won’t be disappointed. Though sbagliato in Italian roughly translates to “mistake,” you can’t go wrong with the Strawberry Spagliatto: Italian red bitter, sweet vermouth, Prosecco and strawberry. I also enjoyed the limoncello, but let’s be honest: I never met a limoncello I didn’t like.

Mary Eddy’s is a perfect happy hour joint for locals, a stopover on your way to a Thunder game or work dinner, a pregame ahead of another gala or fundraiser. The “Not-So-Italian” and the

“Classic-ish” cocktail menus absolutely run the gamut and provide a preview of a dinner menu that boasts, truly and refreshingly, something for everyone. Wines were presented, and the selfconscious prairie girl in me felt weird sending my glass of Hall Sauvignon Blanc back for being tepid, but they found a colder bottle and brought out a new glass quickly.

We started with the smashed burrata toast, which featured prosciutto de San Daniele, greens and an apricot mostarda atop small toast rounds. Served on a cutting board, the versatile starter was fun to share between the two of us but would also have been good for a group — a perfect amuse-bouche. Resolutions be damned, we also split an order of the sweet corn arancinis, made even more indulgent thanks to a lemon anchovy aioli.

And while the mains have several standouts, it’s worth pointing out you could absolutely put together a champion meal from only the roster of starters. I’m picturing a perfect galentine’s, all my best friends snuggled into a cozy booth, sipping everything on a spectrum that ranges from zero proof to Ubering home. As the drinks start to

warm us, we order the poached shrimp, Nonna’s meatballs, and the prime beef filet tartare alongside the signature Mary Eddy’s martini — one of the only items on the menu from the previous iteration. But again, I’ll save ordering only from the starters and cocktail menus for a night out with a big group. It’s in this scene in the beginning of the second act that we get to fully explore the character that is Chef De Cuisine Damien McCullough, he of the hand-rolled pastas, perfectly grilled steaks, the spicy blue crab campanelle with vodka sauce. It’s clear that this young man soaked up absolutely everything he could from his year as sous chef at Gordon Ramsay’s Oklahoma outpost. Some combination of experience and temperament led McCullough to execute a menu that is simultaneously adventurous yet safe, inventive yet familiar, with something for every palate, food sensitivity and proclivity.

For us, the homemade pasta section of the menu was an exercise in making tough decisions. We waffled, from the rigatoni with veal ragout and ricotta to the aforementioned spicy blue crab campanelle with vodka sauce, garlic and spiced breadcrumbs. We landed on the rock shrimp scampi: housemade spaghetti, Calabrian chili butter, white wine and lemon. For me, this was elevated comfort food. It was somehow both flavorful and understated, something you might have eaten in someone’s home, if that someone made their own pasta and knew to not overcook rock shrimp.

However, all of these delightful starters and pasta dishes were just supporting characters to the showstopper: the filet. Eight ounces of melt-in-your-mouth prime beef would already be delicious, but after they place it on your table, they dramatically top the steak with a red wine au jus. Every single bite was perfect — think The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro — and you can be sure I ate every last morsel. The enhancements (fancy for sides) we ordered were also excellent: crispy Brussels sprouts tossed in agave, balsamic vinaigrette and chives, grilled zucchini with another hit of that drug

Mary Eddy’s revamp includes a full renovation. | Photo provided

This new iteration of Mary Eddy’s is focused on elevated Italian home cooking. | Photo provided

EAT & DRINK

we call burrata, white balsamic and macadamia nuts. Again, this joint really begs for a big group so you can try a little more of everything. I wanted to try the Parmesan frites and the grilled broccolini, but I know I’ll go back very soon and try many of the things I missed in my first pass.

For dessert, we had the tiramisu parfait, which exchanges a Biscoff cookie for the standard ladyfinger, an especially welcome change for those who find the texture of espresso-soaked cookies off-putting. I’ve never had an issue with ladyfingers, but I have to admit, the Biscoff was a nice touch. We also had the carrot cake ice cream sandwich — you had me at cream cheese Semifreddo. You’ll be shocked to learn I found myself wishing for a bigger group, because I also thought the chocolate cake, made with strawberry jam and a toasted meringue, sounded amazing.

Success story

McCollough’s success story represents one of my favorite things about the hospitality industry: If you’re willing to work hard and not give up, you could one day find yourself at the helm of an absolute gem of a restaurant, helping an entire city tell its story to travelers and locals alike. McCollough is also

committed to helping the next generation of chefs find their footing. File under you love to see it.

Mary Eddy’s also seems uniquely poised to work, as it operates alongside the wildly different concept that is Pool Bar and Bodega. The moodily sexy interiors of Mary Eddy’s are somehow both opposite and equal to the absolute vibe that is Pool Bar and Bodega, all light wood and protein bowls, poblano hummus and ceviche. Pool Bar sees Mary Eddy’s Wagyu Tomahawk Ribeye and signature martini and raises a Turkey Sando and fruit-forward craft cocktails. The juxtaposition means guests and locals alike will be able to find a suitable menu and comparable environs, no matter the mood of the day or the mission of the meeting. Together, the whole thing just feels right in a way previous equations simply did not. It’s all a big mood; you just have to decide what mood you’re in.

In addition to McCollough’s story, there’s another cool storyline at play here. Just as Mary Eddy was the matriarch of her influential family, so is Melanie Briley to the Fordson Hotel. Briley is the hotel’s general manager well-known to local hospitality folks for her particular brand of servant leadership. As she worked her way up, she had a front-row seat to the changing landscape that was downtown Oklahoma City over the last decade.

When 21C opened in 2016, Melanie Briley served first as catering sales manager and was quickly promoted to director of sales and marketing, charming guests and staff alike. Briley was with the boutique hotel through its initial heyday and stayed with the concept even as COVID-19 wreaked havoc on every aspect of the travel industry. She was promoted to oversee operations before being named general manager of 21C in December 2022 and kept her title through the transition of the property from the 21C brand to Fordson Hotel.

That transition is a story in itself: The hotel did not close for even one day during the rebrand. They changed concepts one floor at a time until the day they flipped the switch to officially become part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt. As we talked ahead of the restaurant’s re-opening, Briley told me some of the war stories.

“That day would have already been a lot to handle, with the changeover. But the real drama came when our internet went down for most of our first day as a Hyatt,” she laughingly recalled. “We were hand-writing tickets and taking down guests’ credit card numbers. I knew if we could get through that first day, we’d be able to handle anything that came next.”

Unflappable, indefatigable — words often attributed to Mary Eddy are also

befitting of Melanie Briley. She recently revealed to me there was a period of time when she was the only GM of any hotel within the Hyatt system. She’s quick to point out it wasn’t a long time. Rather than dwell on that fact and pontificate on larger meanings, she is quick to give credit to her team.

“We are so fortunate to have such an incredible team here. Every single person is focused on providing an unprecedented level of service. They show visitors what Oklahoma hospitality is all about.”

It’s not surprising to learn Briley has been an important part of development in the area, serving as a board member on the West Village board in partnership with Downtown OKC, Inc.

Although Mary Eddy Jones passed away in 2000, it is easy to imagine the two women would have regarded each other with mutual respect and admiration. The commitment to warm hospitality, to making everyone feel welcome, comfortable and generally well-cared for transcends the knowledge that the two never had the opportunity to know each other. In this new incarnation, it seems the past and present have combined beautifully to give Mary Eddy’s a bright future.

Visit maryeddysokc.com.

OKC in 5 meals

It was difficult, but out of Oklahoma City’s excellent culinary delights, we chose five favorites — for today, at least.

By Kaile Hultner

Oklahoma City is home to some of the most delicious food in the world. The metro’s food scene has steadily developed over the last 20 or so years into something spectacular: a smorgasbord of cuisines, cultures and culinary excellence. But what does Oklahoma City taste like? If a friend from out of town came to visit, where would you take them if you wanted them to understand what eating in OKC is? There are hundreds of restaurants across the city to choose from, but we hope this selection is a good start.

1000 N. Hudson Ave. barriosmexicanokc.com 405-702-6922

Barrios has a fine dining menu of Mexican cuisine that promises to add an Oklahoma twist to classic dishes like enchiladas, fajitas and tacos. With fresh, local ingredients and creative recipes, the team at Barrios has come up with menu items that are at once surprising and familiar. The fish tacos, for example, deviate quite a bit from typical Baja California-style fare — Barrios uses Topo Chico to batter its fresh cod instead of beer, and instead of cabbage, it has an apple-jicama root slaw. But rather than jarring the senses, everything comes together so naturally that you wonder why it hasn’t always been done like this. Likewise, the prominent

sweetness of the braised beef short rib enchiladas veers substantially from common conceptions of what an enchilada is supposed to be, but every note of the toasted pasilla sauce and pickled onions goes so well with the tender short rib that you quickly stop worrying about culinary orthodoxy.

4621 N. May Ave. sheeshmahalrestaurant.us 4055-778-8469

There’s little to be said about Sheesh Mahal that hasn’t been said elsewhere: If you’re looking for fresh, delicious halal Pakistani food, there are few places better than Sheesh Mahal. It’s an institution, one of the best places in the city to get a lot of food very quickly and relatively cheaply. Nothing is overstated; the chicken biryani is super savory, a whole meal by itself. The chicken tikka masala packs a decent amount of heat that never overpowers the dish and goes well with a plate of rice or by itself. The chicken, beef and lamb seekh kabobs are served on a bed of grilled vegetables and paired with a delicious and bright cilantrobased chutney. The garlic and cheese naan is so rich and flavorful that it will finish the job of putting you into a food coma if the rest of the meal hasn’t accomplished that yet.

1610 N. Gatewood Ave. thepressokc.com 405-208-7739

A fun conversation you can have with your out-of-town guest is to see if they can figure out whether Oklahoma belongs to the South or if it’s part of the Southwest. While they’re occupied with that riddle, take them to The Press, a spot nestled in the Plaza District devoted to new takes on comforting classics from all over. The menu promises waffle fries doused in queso, salads piled high with meat and seafood, sandwiches designed to laser-target your nostalgia center and bonafide classics, like meatloaf, chickenfried ribeye steaks, pot roast and even fry bread tacos (with many vegetarian or gluten-free options available for just about everything). The chefs have also seemingly done the impossible and combined a classic Oklahoma onion burger with the college-fare favorite Theta burger, and the results are spectacular.

3009 Paseo picassoonpaseo.com 405-602-2002

If you’re looking for lighter fare, Picasso Cafe has you covered. With its focus on fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients; a rotating menu; and portions

that favor quality over sheer quantity, it’s a great place for brunch, lunch or dinner that won’t make you regret your life choices afterward. A really delicious choice for dinner right now is the blackened shrimp risotto served with wild mushrooms, fried carrots and a rotating cast of seasonal vegetables. The risotto is creamy and plays really well with the mushrooms, while the carrots provide just enough sweetness to cut through the rich flavors. If you’re looking for something you can grab and go, the pressed Cuban is incredible.

901 NW 23rd St. pholienhoa.net 405-521-8087

It’s not hard to make the claim that Oklahoma City has the best Vietnamese food in the country. All you have to do to verify this is trek down to NW 23rd Street and Classen Boulevard and partake in any of a number of excellent Vietnamese restaurants. Of particular note is Pho Lien Hoa, an unpretentious restaurant that specializes in different kinds of soup, from classic rice noodles (pho) to glass noodles, egg noodles and even udon in pork or beef broth, served with all sorts of seafood and cuts of meat. It also has a wide selection of Vietnamese teas, smoothies and sodas to enjoy. And you would be remiss not to try a banh mi sandwich — pickled veggies and succulent barbecued pork on a fresh French baguette — while you’re there.

Barrios

Sheesh Mahal

The Press

Pho Lien Hoa

Picasso Café

What’s

FEATURE

EAT & DRINK New neighbors

Provision Concepts’ newest collaboration with Chef James Fox offers home-cooked dishes with a Modern Latin American twist.

By Lauren Thomas-Martin

Growing up in Ashland, Kansas, a small town about three hours north of Oklahoma City, Chef James Fox said visits to Oklahoma during summer breaks in middle and high school made the neighboring state feel almost like home. Fox’s visits to OKC as an adult have inspired him to be part of its evolution.

“I feel like Oklahoma City is really up and coming,” Fox said. “There’s a lot of cool stuff happening, and I’m excited to be on the forefront of that.”

Fox, a James Beard Award nominee based in Phoenix, has partnered with Oklahoma-based restaurant group Provision Concepts to bring Fox’s modern American Latin-inspired Vecina to Oklahoma City. The recently opened restaurant is Fox’s third collaboration with Provision Concepts and a twin to his Vecina restaurant in Phoenix.

Medallion Group owner Dan Ward scouted Fox after Fox’s original Vecina opened in Phoenix. The Medallion Group is the land developer for the spaces where Provision Concepts restaurants are located, and Ward had a home near the Vecina location in Phoenix. Fox said Ward visited his restaurant soon after it opened.

“In our very, very early heyday, he would come in and loved everything we were doing there,” Fox said. “I was in the back, cooking. My wife was the front-of-house person, manager, expo, all the things.”

Fox said Ward then introduced the couple to Jeff Dixon, founder and CEO of Provision Concepts. The group includes Hatch, Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse, Bibi’s Craft Ice Cream, Sidecar Barley & Wine Bar, Birra Birra Craft Pizzeria, Chicken Foot and two other restaurants helmed by Chef Fox: Culprits and Riserva.

“Jeff and I started talking, and I did a wine dinner at Broadway 10 that was kind of an interviewy, see-how-itworks situation,” Fox said. “That went super well. It was with Titus Vineyards, and then the rest is kind of history.”

Another collaboration with Fox, Culprits, located in the Renaissance Oklahoma City Downtown Bricktown Hotel, is open 6 a.m.-11 p.m. with offerings such as a kitchen sink omelette with cheddar, ham, hash browns, peppers, onions and choice of side (breakfast, $14); sushi rolls ranging from $17 to $23 available at lunch and dinner; and steak frites, an 8-ounce hanger steak with a creamy peppery miso sauce, citrus aioli and French fries (dinner, $37). Fox said that Dixon was almost ready to open Culprits when the two met.

“He was already in the process of working on Culprits, so that venue was pretty much done,” he said, “but I added a little bit of my own flair to it.”

Fox and Provision Concepts collaborated to open Riserva in Chisholm Creek just one year later. Riserva offers Mediterranean-inspired Spanish dishes, such as a poblano pepper stuffed with lamb sausage, feta, scrambled eggs, avocado cream and Anaheim pepper salsa (brunch, $15) and the grilled Spanish octopus with roasted red pepper dip, fingerling potatoes and a parsley-lemon zest-garlic sauce (dinner, $23). Riserva’s 10-page beverage menu covers a wide range of beers, wines, cocktails and alcohol-free options and includes a handy “Wine By Characteristic” chart to help you choose your perfect drink.

Modern American

Many of Chef Fox’s menus offer fusion recipes inspired by cuisine from around the world. He presents Vecina as Modern American Latin-inspired dishes, but you won’t find meatloaf or hot dogs on Vecina’s table. For the definition of Modern American, Fox invites patrons to rethink their idea of American food.

“There isn’t any stipulation on Modern American,” Fox said. “Modern American is anything under the sun, because America is a melting pot of every culture and cuisine that there is.” Vecina’s fare is Latin-inspired, but that doesn’t mean enchiladas and refried beans. Exploring various Latin regions for culinary influence allows Fox to create his menus so they aren’t pigeonholed into one simple description.

“We’re not Southwest, we’re not Mexican, we’re not Peruvian, we’re not Spanish,” Fox said. “Any part of Latin America that there is, we can pull from that and utilize that in our cuisine. We’re just trying to make cool, fun, interesting, different food.”

Unfamiliar-sounding ingredients such as aji amarillo, karaage and togarashi might scare some less adventurous eaters away from the Modern American experience, so Fox said the key to helping restaurant-goers tap into their bold side is to educate his staff.

“We want to make sure our staff is very knowledgeable,” Fox said, “so that they can answer those questions and tamper back those fears from ordering something and be like, ‘Trust me. You want to order this. I’ll explain every single pepper and everything that’s in it. Nothing has too much heat. It’s all

pretty balanced.’ Just having those types of conversations with people is why I think Vecina will be successful.”

To save the staff some time, aji amarillo is a sweet Peruvian yellow pepper with medium heat, and togarashi is a Japanese mix of spices that includes ginger, chili powder and white sesame. These come together in the shareable karaage appetizer. Similar to tempura in that items are battered and fried, karaage involves tossing items in dry coatings before frying as opposed to the wetter batter of tempura. The appetizer plate of aji amarillo peppers are karaage fried and served with a sweet and sour citrus-based sauce and lime ($20).

Home-cooked meal

As its name implies, Fox wants a visit to Vecina to feel like you’re at a neighbor’s place for a home-cooked meal.

“Vecina means neighbor, and we want it to feel like you’re going over to your neighbor’s house,” Fox said. “You’re sitting down, and they’re cooking something interesting, and you’re like, ‘Cool. Let’s see what this is,’ and they’re using the highest quality ingredients, and it’s always going to be the same and always going to be delicious.”

The neighborly atmosphere extends to the dishes themselves. At both Vecina and Riserva, Fox presents dishes in a family-style shareable format. Clean side plates are provided with each course, and dishes are sliced or portioned for sharing. Fox said the shareable format is a movement he wants to encourage at his restaurants.

“That’s one thing that we’re really trying to concentrate on because I think it makes that much more exciting and fun,” he said.

Chef Fox strives for the highest quality and freshest ingredients for all of his dishes. Vecina uses Capitol Hillbased tortilla factory Taqueria Y Tortilleria Lupita’s corn, blue corn and flour tortillas. The family-owned torti-

lla factory has been operating in Oklahoma City since 1997, and its tortillas are available for order online and curbside pickup. Vecina also serves ice cream from Provision Concepts sister restaurant Bibi’s alongside its conchas.

Working with local sources helps ensure that a Vecina experience will be consistent from one trip to the next and even between locations. There is one important menu ingredient, however, that Fox said is harder to procure in Oklahoma City than in Phoenix.

“There currently isn’t, or I haven’t found, a fish purveyor that provides hiramasa, so we’re actually using our fish purveyor in Phoenix that gets it in, cuts it up, gets it to our spec and then we’ll fly it same day out to us in Oklahoma City.”

Hiramasa is the Japanese name for high-quality Yellowtail Kingfish. You may have also heard it called Amberjack or Yellowtail Jack.

Bright atmosphere

Fox also focused on creating a unique atmosphere at Vecina. He said that he believes ambiance is a large factor in a

restaurant experience.

“I think it’s huge,” Fox said. “That’s one thing that we wanted to strive for at the Vecina in Phoenix, was we wanted to hit it from every single angle. And I think we’re able to do that at the Vecina in Oklahoma City as well, from the moment you step in to sitting down, ordering one of our awesome cocktails or a cool bottle of wine to ordering.”

Yukon-based muralist Carlos Barboza collaborated with Fox on an original piece for the restaurant. Barboza’s bright and portrait-forward murals can be seen across Oklahoma on the side of museums, marketplaces and community centers as well as enriching school decor in Yukon and Banner. After meeting a few times with Barboza and coming to an understanding of what he was wanting for Vecina, Fox said he was pleased with the final mural.

“The job that he did there, I think, is out of his normal comfort zone, but it is absolutely spectacular what he did with that,” he said.

Adventurous challenge

If Vecina’s menu seems a little over-

whelming, Chef Fox provides a guided tour for a first visit. He suggests starting with the roasted tomato, cruda (fresh chunky-style) and habanero salsa trio ($13) and guacamole ($17) with chips for the table. He also recommends the carnitas empanada made with slow-cooked pork, onion marmalade, Manchego cheese, salsa verde and chile ($22); the hiramasa ceviche with grilled pineapple, coconut-citrus marinade and crispy tortillas ($26); and the romaine salad with buttermilk dressing, Mexican Sriracha, Parmesan and sourdough bread crumbs ($19). Fox also recommends the mesquitegrilled prime carne asada ribeye served with habanero potato puree, chimichurri sauce and charred onion ($78) and the skirt steak tacos served with red salsa, avocado relish, Cotija cheese and corn tortillas ($26).

Fox urges guests to be adventurous and try everything on the menu, but one entree rises to the top of his recommendation list.

“If the Hiramasa Collar is available, get it,” Fox said. “Because we get the hiramasa in, we cut the collars off, so we have a really finite amount of those. So if that’s available, that’s a really really fun, delicious dish as well.”

The hiramasa collar comes with smoked tomatillo salsa and corn tortillas ($32).

In striving for the highest quality and consistent experiences, Fox hopes Vecina can become a go-to for diners in Oklahoma City. He recognizes the stiff competition in the Quail Springs area and issued a friendly challenge to W. Memorial Road neighbor Mahogany Prime Steakhouse.

“I guess Mahogany is the end-all be-all of steakhouses in Oklahoma City,” Fox said, “and I would love to go toe-to-toe with whatever ribeye they have and know that ours is gonna potentially blow it out of the water.”

Adobo Duroc Pork Chop | Photo Danny Vo

The hiramasa collar comes with smoked tomatillo salsa and corn tortillas. | Photo Danny Vo

EAT & DRINK

Après-mium experience

TJ Après returns to the Jones Assembly for a month of alpine bliss.

By Daniel Bokemper

Skiing, snowboarding and bobsledding might be the last activities you would ever associate with Oklahoma. But who said you need a specific geographical elevation to enjoy some post-slope vibes?

Whoever wants to be that downer definitely isn’t employed by The Jones Assembly, 901 W. Sheridan Ave., one of OKC’s most versatile music venues and restaurants. While The Jones offers exceptional concert and dining experiences year-round, its team refuses to accept February’s historically slow business. Instead, they take a note from Inception and build an entire restaurant in their restaurant: TJ Après.

Named to evoke the feeling of a warm and welcoming lodge after a long day on a mountain, TJ Après transforms The Jones’ patio into a snowy, festive and even nostalgic spectacle.

Heartland Alps

This year marks the extended pop-up’s third trip down the gondola. For Scott Marsh, a partner and the director of operations at The Jones, the avalanche that is TJ Après shows no signs of slowing down.

“It’s an intensive, awesome pop-up that’s great for us in February,” Marsh said. “This is usually a quiet month in the restaurant industry. Yet we get to drive traffic in a fun way and give people a place to go. It’s just good, clean fun.”

Of course, Oklahoma isn’t exactly known for snow-covered mountains and ample ski resorts. We’re no strangers to the occasional blizzard, but we’ll probably never see Chloe Kim train here.

So how did Marsh and his team settle on an idea that seems so far removed from the city that hosts it? From his perspective, it hits closer to home than you might think.

“One of the big inspirations for TJ Après was the fond times Oklahomans share,” Marsh said. “A lot of people who grew up here went to Colorado, New Mexico or Utah for a family vacation or winter break.

Brian Bogert, one of the owners, had just come back from a ski trip in Europe. He thought we could recreate a traditional mountain lodge here in The Jones.”

And they definitely could. In 2018, a year after The Jones opened, Marsh’s team started to build what would set the venue apart from any other in the city. Its fully enclosed heated patio allows them to comfortably expand the space for live music, more restaurant and everything in between.

Quickly, the stand-out accommodation went from a cool perk to a sandbox — or a “snowbox,” rather — for the Jones crew to explore and experiment.

“There’s a lot of places that just couldn’t do this,” Marsh said. “Our patio sparked a lot of creativity and let us really imagine how to utilize our space. We’ve got fold-out walls that we can close and curtain, so you can’t even see into the patio. And that’s what lets us bring people into an entirely different experience. It’s a fully immersive event that’s more than just being at a restaurant.”

With the stage set and the general idea established courtesy of Bogert’s unintentional working vacation, all The Jones had to do was bring it to life. That’s no easy task, sure. Though it helped that the team didn’t have to reach terribly far either.

“The world already exists, so we’re not creating anything new per se,” Marsh said. “We’re just bringing that world to a place with a much lower elevation. We took a lot of inspiration from our favorite ’90s and 2000s ski movies like Ski School, Aspen Extreme and Out Cold. We got to be a little tongue in cheek with drink names, our ‘lift tickets’ and basically everything. It was just really fun to do.”

Perhaps most importantly, Marsh gave the idea time to breathe. He knew it couldn’t — and shouldn’t — be rushed. Instead, they spent nearly a year building upon the idea after Bogert introduced it. What emerged was a concept that struck gold basically out the gate.

Fresh snow

A thick veil separates TJ Après from The Jones proper. What you’ll find once you

step through is nearly unrecognizable to even the venue’s most faithful. In one corner, you’ll find a collection of deer and moose heads illuminated by a blue neon glow. To the left of those you can catch a photo op inside a yellow, enclosed gondola. Look across the dining area, and you’ll likely catch four friends downing a shotski or couple sharing a 44 oz espresso martini.

Pelts and ornate rugs cover the ground and bring authenticity to the pop-up. Looping on nearly every wall is a montage of classic skiing footage that feels cozy and familiar. Look up, and you’ll catch one of several mannequins taking the lift. And inevitably, you’ll notice the artificial snow adding a sublime touch to the entire experience.

Return guests will notice some familiar installations, but TJ Après doesn’t stagnate. Every year, Marsh looks for opportunities to change and refine what makes the concept so special.

“At The Jones, we always aim to hone in on things and recreate them,” Marsh said. “It’d be really easy to just rinse and repeat every year. But that’s not who we are. We love giving things a little twist. We’ll add different items and play with the environment to ultimately try and make it better. That commitment in and of itself keeps us and TJ Après fresh.”

Even so, it’s not just the Jones crew that keeps the heart of TJ Après pumping. After all, what would a ski-themed pop-up look like if no one ever dressed the part? Goggles, insulated overalls and puffy down jackets aren’t required, but the excitement from those who do dress the part is undeniably infectious.

“That’s the best part of it,” Marsh said. “People decked out in ski outfits. It just makes it so much more fun. Every night our team is asking, ‘Who has the best ski gear?’ And when our team is having fun with our guests, it makes our already great hospitality and service even better.”

Slurping slopes

TJ Après offers no shortage of exclusive cocktails. In fact, every $15 “lift ticket” to enter comes with a complimentary aprèstif, or basically a hot toddy that leans toward the flavor of a warm apple pie.

While Marsh and his team push to get “super experimental” with their drinks, some TJ Après are too compelling to leave off. Their Hot Tub Time Machine is a perfect example. The fruity and smooth cocktail made with El

Jimador Blanco Tequila is a great starter that practically encourages you to make new friends, which is softly alluded to by the goofy plastic drinking buddies that serve as the drink’s garnish.

For another cool and refreshing cocktail, give the Hugo Spritz a try. The tasty mix of St-Germain, Hendrick’s Gin, mint and Topo Chico is the perfect follow-up to a mouthful of pita and fondue or truffle fries. The Mogul Mule is also an intriguing twist on its cousin from Moscow, introducing a bit of spiced cranberry to the classic concoction.

Of course, when the snow machine starts cranking, you might want something a bit warmer. The aprèstif might do the trick, but don’t you really deserve something even a little more substantial? If you fall in love with that flavor, the Mangy Moose is effectively the same drink in larger glass. For a delicious, hot drink from a different corner of the sweet spectrum, try the TJ Après take on the Bombardino. Chocolate, cinnamon and cream make the brandy-based drink easy to sip throughout the night, especially next to a fire.

And if you’re just looking to send it ahead of a high-energy DJ set, well, get the Send It! It’s a frozen vodka, peach and triple sec shot dropped into a Red Bull. You might be up for a while, but if you plan on dancing yourself clean decked out in gear made for sub-zero temperatures, it might be exactly what you need.

Fondue-licious

Yes, the cocktails are very compelling. But they might not be the sole star of the menu.

“I’m especially excited about the food,” Marsh said. “We’ve got a play on French dishes, like a steak frites sandwich that’s absolutely bonkers. We’ve also got this incredible fondue plate that we keep honing in on. This year, we’re using a new cheese from Murray’s that’s out of this world.”

Marsh isn’t just hyperbolizing. That “bonkers” sandwich is the Relais Baguette. It comes loaded with steak cutlets and TJ Après signature truffle fries, all atop a warm baguette from Lee’s Sandwiches. Top it all off with the house beefonnaise sauce, and this heavy dish is high on flavor.

The Black Truffle Fonduta is great for diving into the iconic cheese dip that also pairs well with the Bavarian pretzel. Even so, the Fonduta comes loaded with

This is the third year The Jones has transformed into TJ Après. | Photo provided

The TJ Après menu includes Black Truffle Fonduta and Bavarian pretzels. | Photo provided

sourdough cubes, shishitos, fire-roasted dough and sweet apple slices. The fondue pairs great with almost everything, but you can be sure that the pitaesque bread will likely be the first to go.

While the Haute Dog and the Bordelaise Burger are exceptional main courses, the Croque Monsieur Toastie — a ham and Dijon melt on sourdough — emerges as the dark horse of the comfort food. This tangy and hearty sandwich might technically be one of the relatively lighter options on the menu, but it’s nonetheless flavorful and satisfying.

To cap off your meal, don’t forget to try a Bomboloni. The filled Italian doughnut with banana and chocolate ganache brings dinner full circle and pairs especially well with the Bombardino. For larger groups, consider some good ol’ fashioned cookies and eggnog to ensure everyone walks away with something sweet.

DJ Après

On Friday and Saturday nights, TJ Après transforms into a high-energy dance party. On Fridays, DJ LiTEBRiTE brings hardhitting and electric mashups perfect for the fun-loving environment. On Saturdays, the DJ trio B U M P lights up the lodge with new twists on familiar favorites.

“We love creating a unique and awesome experience that’s different for the DJs, too,” Marsh said. “TJ Après isn’t a club or just another venue. It’s a really structured atmosphere that gets so fluid

as the crowd spills in, decked out in bright neon and white fur. There are really all walks of life here, enjoying themselves and appreciating our city. It’s beautiful.”

With incredible DJ sets amplifying TJ Après’ already captivating aura, the weekends offer a powerful reason to keep coming back.

Great shotski

Though this installment of TJ Après has nearly a full month left in the tank, Marsh is already looking toward next year. As far as he can tell, he feels strongly that this pop-up will continue to snowball and possibly even outgrow The Jones.

“We’re always down to get outlandish and push the envelope,” Marsh said. “That’s a testament to what we do. We always want to be fresh. We owe it to our guests.”

From potentially bringing in a bobsled for more immersion or trying to break the record for the longest shotski, no idea is too crazy for TJ Après. Seriously. It’s a ski-themed lodge in the middle of Oklahoma City. The glass ceiling was shattered at inception. As long as people continue to enjoy it, we’ll likely always have a mountainside paradise to look forward to.

“I just love how well the community has responded to this,” said Marsh. “We get to have a blast with it and show people what creative stuff we can do in our city. We’ve been incredibly lucky to have people who are willing to do that with us.”

TJ Après is open until March 1.

Tickets are $15 and available at thejonesassembly.com/tjapres.

The Little Black Chapel

Transform your dream wedding into an intimate masterpiece at The Little Black Chapel. Our curated one-hour ceremonies include venue, officiant, photography, and champagne toast for up to 50 guests. Experience the perfect blend of elegance and simplicity during our special 2025 wedding weekends: Independence Day, New Year's Eve and Day. To book your micro wedding or Vow Renewal Visit

Many TJ Après patrons don their après-ski accoutrements to visit. | Photo provided

EAT & DRINK

Proudly Okie

The newest iteration of Nonesuch preserves the original’s attention to detail while highlighting Southern specialties.

By Sarah Neese

Nonesuch

803 N. Hudson Ave. nonesuchokc.com 405-601-9131

WHAT WORKS: If you can get your hands on the cornbread with curry butter, eat all you can. You won’t regret having another bite.

WHAT NEEDS WORK: While there’s a chance you’ll learn some fun things about wine, the beverage pairing isn’t necessary.

TIP: Make friends with the staff. They’ve got a lot of fun tidbits and may even teach you a thing or two about the wonderful world of food and beverages.

When I heard that Nonesuch was making a comeback to the Oklahoma City food scene, I was intrigued to see what it had to offer. I’d loosely followed its story of new ownership, new branding and a new take on the restaurant’s identity but hadn’t yet made my way to see what they’d done with the place.

As someone who was desperate for even a taste of elevated culinary offerings in what was once a “what’s new in food” wasteland, I was giddy when Nonesuch first opened its doors. I grabbed one of its exclusive reservations within its first year. And while it’s not a singular effort, I can’t help but think Nonesuch trying something new back then helped pave the way for the more exciting and notable culinary arts being celebrated in the city today.

Having experienced its early days,

Ihad a unique opportunity to see how it had evolved and what it was now bringing to the table — pun intended.

Nonesuch still holds that tinge of exclusivity. For one, the entrance is quite understated, making it feel, especially in the dark, like you’re searching for the door to a speakeasy. However, the more intimate setting as you step inside offers the promise of something special.

One of the things that first interested me about Nonesuch’s original concept was the locally sourced ingredients. While Nonesuch today doesn’t solely feature Oklahoma offerings, it’s clear the team still takes great care when selecting what goes into every dish and can tell you nearly every detail about it.

The menu

Technically, a la carte is an option, but we went with the recommended prix fixe menu and added on the beverage pairing, with thought-out bar offerings for each of our five courses.

The meal began with a grilled turnip salad paired with a green apple gimlet. If you’re not a fan of earthy flavors, this salad isn’t for you. The turnip and edible flowers make this a pretty salad-y salad, but the finely diced apples create a dish that writes a love letter to nature. Though I wouldn’t say I’d order this regularly, I always appreciate the opportunity to experience something

Notably, two of the five options for a main protein dish are an extra charge, with an option to add caviar to the fish dish for another extra charge. This might be a good time to touch on the fact that a full night out at Nonesuch isn’t cheap. The prix fixe menu rings up to $95 per person, with the beverage pairing adding $80 per person. Choose the beef or chicken-fried steak and you’ve got another $20 on your bill. But I’m not saying it’s not worth a try.

I decided to go with the beef, a rib eye to be more specific. Why? You won’t be surprised to discover it was marginally mushroom-related. A menu says the word “truffle” and there’s a pretty good chance I’m going to order it. Cooked perfectly, the rib eye was buttery with every bite. If I wasn’t so well-versed in steak cuts, I could have been fooled that it was a filet. The sauce (here’s where the truffle comes in) was robust without outshining the steak’s star power.

pulled from the ground that I wouldn’t otherwise reach for.

I do have to take a beat to highlight the gimlet. Normally made with citrus, the green apple substitute added a tart sweetness that turned this classic into something I wanted more of. I can safely say I would have sipped on more of these all night if there weren’t four other beverages already in the queue.

Up next was a mushroom onion soup. Just to be transparent, I love both mushrooms and onions. And I mean, I really love mushrooms. But this soup was on another level. This was mushroom I could only dream of experiencing. Did I say a love letter to the earth before? That was a note passed between first-graders compared to this ode to mushroom’s beauty. Even the pieces of tofu couldn’t help but play a supporting role in this masterpiece.

Reluctantly moving on, my path and the table’s diverged. While I’d love to tell you how the very appetizinglooking oyster tasted, my shellfish allergy dictated I get an alternative. The grilled vegetable that mimicked an oyster’s texture was forgettable, but the bed of creamy greens it rested on still calls to me. I try not to make a habit of oversimplifying elevated food, but it was akin to the world’s best spinach dip, and I can imagine it would taste even more divine on top of a piece of sourdough.

Admittedly, choosing a main was difficult.

While I didn’t order it, I had the privilege of trying Nonesuch’s take on an Okie favorite: chicken-fried steak. Having lived in this state my entire life, I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t expecting much of a surprise when it comes to chicken-fried steak. Some places are better than others, but there’s very little reinventing the wheel.

But this dish is doing something different. The portion is diner-sized with a light crispiness that isn’t heavy. However, where you’d expect to find a classic hometown gravy, this chickenfried steak is smothered in a bonito gravy complete with trout roe. It sounds odd, but it was anything but off-putting. The salty roe offers a mouth texture that’s unexpected in combination with

The chicken-fried steak smothered in a bonito gravy with trout roe comes diner-sized. | Photo provided

Nonesuch offers a thought-out bar pairing with its prix-fixe menu for an additional charge. | Photo provided

the creamy gravy and crisp flour coating. In fact, on another visit, I’d order it again without hesitation.

Accompanying the mains were a variety of sides, wild rice, cabbage and I could go on, but I cannot pretend I don’t have clear favoritism for the cornbread dish. Cornbread made from fermented corn slathered with curry butter sat unassuming on a plate, but it really made an impression: beautiful, salty, umami, fluffy. But all of that pales in comparison to the way the first bite felt like a warm hug and made me grateful for every Southern food influence that’s infiltrated American living over the years.

Rounding out the night was a complex dessert. A huitlacoche (it’s from corn) ice cream paired with a sweet potato sauce, a drizzle of butterscotch and coffee oil offered up a unique exploration in flavor combinations. Delicate and refreshing, it was a surprisingly light final note.

Delightful staff

Every food review should obviously focus on the food, but I would be remiss in this case to not mention the people. Each person at Nonesuch made the experience special, and it felt like no task was too small for any member of the staff.

There’s a concept that permeates the culinary space called “surprise and

delight.” It touches on making even small gestures meaningful during a guest’s short amount of time in the restaurant. Nonesuch seems to subscribe to this mentality.

Whether it was the geographical history of the date fruit in our dessert or the art of finely milling wheat into flour, it was clear every detail was intentional. Everyone I talked to radiated passion for their craft. No matter who came to our table, explained a dish or filled up our waters, it was clear they respected the process and took great care in highlighting just how well-crafted even one meal can be.

As someone who loves food wholeheartedly, I felt a kinship with the staff at Nonesuch. And that’s coming from someone whose social anxiety can top the charts at the best of times. When you see the care and love that goes into every movement, it makes it easy to root for a restaurant’s success.

I’m not in the business of telling anyone they have to like every dish that comes out of a kitchen. But whether I fell head over heels in love with each bite wasn’t what I took away most from my evening there.

I was grateful to taste what the earth’s produce could do when com-

bined in a salad. I was honored to experience the greater heights a mushroom could reach. I was thankful my dietary restrictions weren’t restrictive at all and that they treated a non-oyster course just as seriously as an oyster one. I was excited to see a classic dish like chicken-fried steak get a makeover the likes of which I never would have thought of. And I can’t stress enough how lucky I was to even get one bite of that cornbread-and-curry butter combination.

A meal at Nonesuch wasn’t just a series of plates. It was an education, a labor of love and a special occasion —

even when there wasn’t one. Oddly enough, and maybe a bit sentimental about one evening’s dining, it made me proud to be an Oklahoma City native, proud that all my pining for an almostobsessive attention to food detail could be found in my own backyard.

If you’re in the mood for something elevated or even just want to see how local proprietors are keeping the Oklahoma City food scene alive and well, I’d recommend stopping by.

Marking Tree Design 5 Year Anniversary Open includes the 5 year anniversary open house of Marking drinks and the opportunity to see some of their beau-

Red Forever: Roller Derby Returns to Roller Derby returns to the

The beef rib eye features a truffle sauce. | Photo provided

& DRINK

please!

Whether this Valentine’s Day finds you as half of a happy couple, one-third of a thrilling throuple or presently on sabbatical from the search for a soulmate, February has something for everyone. Grab your bestie for a beautiful brunch, call an old friend for a night on the town or check in on a friend who’s recently gone through the big D (and we don’t mean Dallas). In any case, we’ve put together a roster of some of our favorite places to cuddle up with someone you care about.

By Julie Porter Scott with photos by Dave Cathey/The Food Dude Feed.

The

Hamilton Supperette & Lounge 12232 N. May Ave. thehamiltonokc.com 405-849-5115

Nestled in Northpark Mall, The Hamilton is really fun for a first date. Tuck into a cozy corner, order a cocktail and see what the evening brings. Share excellent starters like the spinach artichoke dip before moving on to the wedge salad and halibut. Dessert may be your most difficult decision; good luck choosing between the vanilla bean crème brûlée, 11-layer strawberry cake, cookie skillet and bananas foster crêpe.

Riserva Bar + Tapas

1332 W. Memorial Rd., Suite 108 riservatapas.com 405-286-2476

Chisholm Creek may not be your first thought for a romantic meal or intimate dinner with a close friend, but what Riserva lacks in ambience, it more than makes up for in a wonderful menu, wherein every dish is absolutely packed with flavor. We recommend the mezze dip trio, short rib hummus, grilled cauliflower and Persian cucumber with whipped feta. If your date enjoys Riserva, you can be pretty sure they’d make an excellent travel partner.

Birdies By Chef Kevin Lee

2201 NW 150th St., Edmond birdiesokc.com 405-849-5180

With a menu almost as charming as Kevin Lee himself, maybe a bit of that charm will rub off on you. Start with the hamachi crudo before moving on to sweet potato burrata and spicy sticky ribs. Once you get to the kimchi pancake and the crowning achievement that is the American wagyu, if your date isn’t already pining for the next culinary adventure, you have our permission. Maybe you can meet someone more your speed over a Basil Baller Smash or a Seoul Elixir at Birdie’s bar.

Sparrow Modern Italian

507 S. Boulevard, Edmond sparrowitalian.com 405-815-3463

Tucked away in the sleepy hamlet of old Edmond, Sparrow is the perfect date spot if you’re trying to convince your significant other a move to the ’burbs wouldn’t be so bad. Order a perfectly crafted cocktail while you mull over a menu full of delightful twists on Italian classics. The only mistake would be getting too full on the insane bolognese or short rib pappardelle to tackle dessert. We vote for the DIY cannoli or baked Italian meringue with lemon curd.

Tellers

120 N. Robinson Ave. tellersokc.com 405-900-6789

If you’re feeling fancy, you and your Valentine should head over to Tellers in the First National Bank building downtown. Tellers’ regional Italian menu features housemade pasta, wood ovenbaked Neapolitan pizza and grilled steaks and veggies and is focused on seasonal ingredients. The wine lover in your life will also be impressed by its extensive wine offerings.

The Chalkboard Kitchen + Bar

1200 N. Walker Ave. thechalkboardkitchen.com

405-898-8120

The Chalkboard has a vibe we’ve been missing: a new restaurant that feels like a

a sort of discerning chef’s kiss that encapsulates the beauty mark we aim to leave behind with every client project.

Stock & Bond

138 Park Ave. stockandbond.com 405-900-6850

Normally the domain of important business dinners and McKinesian expense accounts, for V-Day the big tables at Stock & Bond move out to maximize real estate for two-tops. If you’re skint, consider splitting a starter, a salad, a steak and a side. That leaves room for all manner of dessert options (hint: cinnamon-vanilla bread pudding) and an espresso martini or two. If it turns out this was the date that started it all, we wouldn’t be surprised.

TIMES proudly representing 84 Hospitality Group & The Social Order

konjoconcepts.com

ARTS & CULTURE

Innovating OKC

With Innovation Hall and the surrounding Innovation District, the city and its partners hope to provide infrastructure to expand STEM research and work.

By Greg Horton

The Field of Dreams analogy is inevitable when people talk economic development, and while more than one person mentioned it when referencing Convergence and Innovation Hall, the more apt metaphor is Matryoshka dolls, those nested dolls you might have found in a curio cabinet at your grandma’s house. “If you build it, they will come” works as an aspirational motivator for many things, but it’s less grounded in economic realities when the real estate is not adjacent to an Iowa cornfield and is instead on the I-235 corridor.

The nested dolls approach better describes the way to understand what’s happening in the Innovation District. The surrounding neighborhood would be the largest doll, followed by the Innovation District, and then

Convergence, followed by Innovation Hall and, for the sake of this overview, BioTC. The Tower at Convergence, other amenities in Innovation Hall and Stiles Park are all part of the 5.5 acres that comprise Convergence. And in roughly 2026, they will be joined by a 104-room hotel.

Mark Beffort is the CEO of Newmark Robinson Park, and along with Gardner Tanenbaum CEO Richard Tanenbaum, matched MAPS IV funds in the amount of $10 million to make Innovation Hall a reality, and the two were integral to the development of Convergence.

“The 5.5 acres are home to a 230,000-square-foot research facility, 700 subterranean parking spaces, the 22,500-square-foot Innovation Hall, Stiles Park anchored by the Beacon of Hope, the planned 104-key hotel and another 230,000-square-foot facility on the way,” Beffort said. “We’ll have to add above-ground parking once that final facility is built.”

The hotel will be a soft brand from a major hotelier, and Beffort said they’re hoping for a Curio Collection by Hilton. Groundbreaking is expected to be in the second quarter of this year. Increased costs and interest rates — as much as a 30 percent increase on construction materials since the start of Convergence — slowed the start of construction on the hotel.

The gateway

Convergence sits within the larger Innovation District, which is currently composed of an impressive mix of different STEM-related businesses and organizations, including the Hamm Institute for American Energy, University of

Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) and Cytovance Biologics, as well as less STEM-specific entities like the State Chamber of Commerce.

In terms of Convergence’s purpose, Innovation District President and CEO Jeff Seymour likes to draw on his Chamber of Commerce experience to explain the main focus: “At the Chamber, I entertained a lot of clients and companies who were considering Oklahoma City as a place to relocate a business, and you can’t just point to a green field and say, ‘We’ll build you something there,’ but with this dedicated real estate, you can walk them around Convergence, and it makes the decision-making process easier.”

Beffort talks about the district as a place where ideas can become as concrete as the infrastructure. “You can’t just have an idea,” he said. “You need a physical place, a space where an idea can germinate and grow.”

Mayor David Holt talked about the Innovation District as “a physical gateway project.”

“The district was driven by a vision for a new district that would help us stop punching below our weight in areas like bio manufacturing and tech,” Holt said. “MAPS 4 is really a set of initiatives that built things, and we needed more infrastructure to expand the work we had already started at places like OU Health Sciences Center. I like to say that Convergence is to the Innovation District as the canal is to Bricktown; it’s central focus that attracts people to a place.”

The partnership

Convergence is an idea, a strategy, a cluster of places and a partnership. The name is a finger pointing to the collaborative relationships behind the infrastructure: the public via MAPS, academia, and the public and private sectors — a convergence of all four quadrants built Convergence and will contribute and benefit from it moving forward.

Beffort expands the scope of the partnership by noting the contributions from the four main sectors but also adding county and federal contributions.

“The TIF (tax increment financing

district) from Oklahoma County is important to our success, and the training lab was built with a Build Back Better grant from the federal government. Anyone who has purchased goods and services in Oklahoma County has contributed to this project, too. We won’t be successful here without contributions from the public, city, county, state, federal and private sectors.”

Innovation Hall, where the training lab is housed, opened in January, and within the ecosystem that is Convergence, it’s the clearest example of the publicprivate partnership, and not just because of the matching funds from Beffort and Tanenbaum. The matching funds were critical to Innovation Hall’s creation, but the amenities within the building also offer opportunities to the public at large, beginning with Le Bon Café, a French-inspired eatery in the hall that’s open to the public for breakfast and lunch six days a week and until 7 p.m. on weeknights.

The space also includes two conference rooms available for business or organization meetings, but the Event Hall with a standing capacity of 350 people is the physical focal point of the facility. The Event Hall is a publicly available venue that can seat 200 people for a dinner service or 275 for a theater-quality presentation on the massive screen that dominates the south end of the space.

Convergence is located in OKC’s Innovation District | Photo provided

Innovation Hall is home to a cafe, two conference rooms, an event space and BioTC. | Photo provided

Innovation Hall includes BioTC, a biotech training lab | Photo provided

Overcoming fears

Tucked away almost out of sight inside Innovation Hall is BioTC, the aforementioned training lab. It’s a short-term biomanufacturing training facility with state-of-the-art equipment that works well as a way to talk about some of the cognitive and psychological hurdles the Innovation District is facing. It’s probably not an exaggeration to say that Oklahoma lags in STEM education.

“Oklahoma ranks 49th in STEM and STEM-related degrees or credentials held by working age adults,” the State Chamber Research Foundation reports. “The state also scores poorly in other educational attainment metrics, at 43rd in bachelor’s degree attainment and 37th in attainment of high school diploma or equivalent.”

That makes a science lab scary to most of us. Seymour echoed the sentiment.

“I’m not a scientist either, so I go into BioTC, and my brain is saying, ‘Don’t touch anything!’” he said. “It’s a daunting space for anyone unfamiliar with biomanufacturing.”

But that’s the point of an educational facility: to help us overcome our fear of things.

“When I was a kid, I thought I wanted to be a pilot,” Seymour said. “I didn’t know what that looked like, not really, so my uncle took me up in his Cessna 150. I loved it, and I was hooked from that point on.”

Kelley Dowd, a University of Pennsylvania (B.S. biochemistry) and OUHSC (Ph.D. Microbiology and immunology) educated scientist from Oklahoma City, is the director of operations for BioTC. Finding an Ivy League-educated scientist in the city isn’t a daily occurrence, and Dowd is unintentionally — and perhaps intentionally, given her role —another component of the Innovation District’s mission: An Ivy League-educated kid returned to Oklahoma and found a career in a STEM field. She’s basically an ad for the Chamber of Commerce.

“I came back to Oklahoma to regroup after a brief stint in Colorado Springs after Penn,” David said, “and I was thinking about pharmacy school, but I missed the application deadline, so I applied at OUHSC and then took a job at Cytovance while I finished up my dissertation and ended up working there for 12 years.”

It’s important to note that Dowd came back with a plan to leave again, but along the way, via community groups like Rotary and friendships, she found reasons to stay. This is another aspect of the partnership that gets overlooked, and it fits nicely with Mayor Holt’s “gateway” metaphor: We can build all the best, highest tech, most amenity-loaded infrastructure in the country, but it’s the culture of the place that will keep people here, not just the jobs or opportunities.

Dowd oversees the operations at BioTC, and the simplest way to explain the task is that it offers students a hands-on training program of up to

three weeks that will prepare them for a biomanufacturing (or other STEM) career without a college degree.

“Essentially, we do a biomanufacturing bootcamp,” Dowd said. “There are two pathways. In the first, an entity like Cytovance contracts us to train a cohort of six to 10 people, so we’d act as outsourced training. In the second, we would work with open cohorts, sourcing students from around the city, with a focus on the historically underserved communities like northeast OKC, veterans, underfunded schools, etc. The training prepares them for a STEM job that pays well above minimum wage with no college required.”

The outreach

That nod to northeast OKC isn’t an offthe-cuff reference. Beffort and Seymour mentioned it, too.

“We want to be part of a team that helps steer a built environment in Central Oklahoma that provides spaces and places for innovation to occur, with a specific focus that ensures as much of that happens in northeast OKC as possible, but in a way that is engaging and thoughtful with the community that is already here, respecting their history and culture,” Seymour, speaking of the district’s overall role, s aid. “We want to make sure we don’t push people out.”

To extend the mission, both Dowd

and Seymour talked about programmatic solutions to help potential students lead over the hurdles of fear and unfamiliarity. That includes programs in schools, tours of the facility and summer campstyle encounters with the space and technology of the district at BioTC.

Madison Jackson is a consultant for the OKC Chamber of Commerce, and she acted as project manager on the Build Back Better grant process.

“When we were looking at what to do with the funds, we knew we wanted a space operated by an independent third party where other parties could convene under one roof to have these conversations, but we also looked at what successful model cities had done, and the missing piece from our plans was workforce. We needed talent development because we were getting many inquiries from companies asking if we could supply a workforce if they relocated here.”

BioTC is tasked with a portion of that workforce training, and they, like Convergence and the wider district, are still developing outreach strategies.

The industry

The Tower at Convergence, one of Beffort’s large projects in the district, is next to Innovation Hall. The eightstory building has an average floor size of 29,000 square feet in a 230,000-squarefoot facility. The second floor will be home to Venture Studio, a business accelerator and collaborative space that will also be home to the Innovation District’s offices. The unencumbered, panoramic view of downtown across I-235 will make the studio popular real estate, and the mix of businesses already reflect the core industry clusters the district is seeking to attract, develop and expand: aerospace, defense, academia, biotech, biomanufacturing, IT and financing, the latter represented by CrossFirst Bank.

“We have the OU vice president for research and partnerships on the top floor, along with Boeing,” Beffort said. “CrossFirst, on the ground floor, has been with us from the beginning, and they want to be a resource for some of the entities and entrepreneurs moving into the district. Wheeler Bio is on the first and third floors. Tinker’s 76th Software Engineering Group has a space, too.”

For Seymour, one of the district’s tasks is to foster economic mobility, and building a cooperative, collaborative ecosystem of specific STEM clusters is important to that task.

“As a city, we’ve out-kicked our coverage on civic innovation, but we lag being in important innovation metrics,” he said. “As I see it, part of my job is to hold up a torch and say, ‘These are the kinds of investments we need and these are the kinds of programs we ought to use, and Convergence provides venues for entities to do those things.’”

Event space in Innovation Hall | Photo provided

BioTC’s hands-on training is aimed to prepare students for working biomanufacturing or other STEM fields.

Photo provided

ARTS & CULTURE Remaking Swan Lake

Oklahoma City Ballet reinterprets the classic love story in an authentic restaging.

By Emily Graham

It’s only fitting that Oklahoma City Ballet will present Swan Lake around Valentine’s Day. The popular classic ballet is also one of the most romantic, with star-crossed lovers who must break a sorcerer’s spell to be together.

The story inspired by old fairy tales has enough magic and shapeshifting that, were it a novel, it could be considered romantasy. But Swan Lake is much more than a ballet for loved-up couples.

“It is a tale of love and betrayal and redemption, and that resonates universally. It’s also about the struggle between good and evil,” said Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye, Oklahoma City Ballet’s artistic director.

Oklahoma City Philharmonic will perform Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s wellknown symphony to accompany the ballet. Swan Lake is one of the first ballets

with a symphonic score. Jolicoeur-Nye described the music as “powerful, emotional and instantly recognizable.”

Parts of the symphony have been used in movies, cartoons, video games and more. Remember when Beyoncé sang about “Becky with the good hair” in the song “Sorry”? The music box intro

to that song is from Swan Lake

Because of the ballet’s technically challenging choreography, performing it is a rite of passage for ballet dancers. In the movie Black Swan , Natalie Portman’s character has a breakdown while struggling to master choreography for both Odette (the white swan) and Odile (Mila Kunis’s black swan).

Even the costumes may seem familiar to attendees — if they’re Taylor Swift fans. Swift and her backup dancers wore the same costumes in the video for the pop breakthrough hit “Shake It Off.” Oklahoma City Ballet has borrowed the costumes and sets for this production from Ballet West in Salt Lake City.

But while Swan Lake ’s practically a pop culture phenomenon, it flopped when the Bolshoi Ballet debuted it in 1877 in Moscow.

“It was completely unsuccessful, partially because the storyline was very convoluted and complicated and it had a tragic ending that at the time was not well received,” said Racheal Nye, who choreographed this restaging. Nye is the director of Oklahoma City Ballet’s Yvonne Chouteau School and Studio Company, named for the late Shawnee and Cherokee ballerina from Oklahoma who achieved international acclaim in the last century Swan Lake as we know it today debuted in 1895, after 18 long years of revisions to the story, symphony and choreography.

Behind the production

It takes a lot of work to make ballet look graceful and easy. Because of the demands Swan Lake puts on dancers, Oklahoma

This year’s production of Swan Lake features four casts. | Photo Jana Carson

City Ballet selected four casts of dancers to perform its seven shows, which include six shows and one sensory-friendly staging. In each cast, a prima ballerina will perform the dual roles of Odette and Odile, her devious doppelganger.

Those two roles are often performed by one dancer who performs in each act. But because dancing both can be so grueling, some companies cast different dancers as the white and black swans.

The fact that four prima ballerinas will dance the dual roles is a mark of the company’s skill level, according to Jolicoeur-Nye. He compares dancing in the ballet to running a marathon, then going back to start it over again.

Each cast has 24 Swan Corps dancers (other women the sorcerer has cast spells upon) and male corps de ballet dancers, who inject energy into the show with leaps and turns.

Mayu Odaka performed as a little swan in Oklahoma City Ballet’s 2017 production and hoped she’d be able to perform as Odette and Odile one day. Now she is. She said Swan Lake is a ballet every dancer wants to perform in their career.

“It’s a one-of-a-kind beast,” Odaka said. “It’s so hard physically, emotionally, mentally, everything. But in the end, it’s all worth it.”

In the choreography, Odette and Odile share similar dance moves. “It’s how you interpret the movement, which creates the audience understanding of the difference of it,” choreographer Nye said. “It’s really nuanced.”

Odaka conveys the good in Odette and the evil in Odile through facial expressions and slight changes to her head and hand. As Odette, who Odaka describes as gentle and almost fragile, every step has softness to it. Odile’s style is completely different.

“She’s the complete opposite,” Odaka said. “Very explosive, a lot of charisma and just a lot of attack.”

Nye, a self-described bunhead, is the type of teacher and choreographer who collects detailed information about classic ballet, like which dancer or company did something first in what theater and in which year.

She choreographed this production based on the work of 19th-century choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov and by studying versions developed since, deciding which parts to keep and which to adjust. Ballet companies may make adjustments to work better for a company’s dancers or more fully flesh out parts of the story that haven’t been explored before.

“For me, it’s such a wonderful thing to understand where we came from in order to understand where we can take it,” Nye said.

This detailed look at previous versions results in a more authentic restaging than could be achieved by a choreographer who watches a single performance on video, Jolicouer-Nye said. Although the video version may be technically correct, it wouldn’t feel authentic.

“If a young choreographer learns the

choreography by watching YouTube, the dancing lacks the essence of authenticity it has when the choreographer’s trained by people who were trained by people who were trained by the people who made it,” he said.

Love story

In Swan Lake, Prince Siegfried and Princess Odette fall in love but face huge obstacles to being together. The main problem is that because of the sorcerer’s spell, Odette is a swan during the day, returning to her human form only at night.

This love story almost ended before it started. When Siegfried goes hunting in the first act, he almost shoots an arrow at Odette in swan form. Just before he can send the arrow flying, the swan transforms into a beautiful maiden princess. For Siegfried at least, it’s love at first sight.

Odette’s initially unsure of her suitor. After all, she’s been through a lot and is only human half the day. She knows she’ll stay under the spell the rest of her life unless strict conditions involving a true love can be met.

It doesn’t help that Odile, who looks like Odette in every way except the color of her costume, schemes to get a marriage proposal from Siegfried, who believes she’s the woman he loves. The truth eventually comes out, and Siegfried seeks out Odette, who has fallen in love with him.

Just as Shakespeare plays are often reinterpreted, Swan Lake has undergone changes to the story and to the choreography, in part due to changing ballet techniques.

Several companies have changed the story to have a happy ending or to emphasize different themes. One version took inspiration from the modern royal love triangle between Princess Diana, Prince Charles and Camilla ParkerBowles. (That one didn’t end happily!)

So does the ending of Oklahoma City Ballet’s production take a tragic turn or turn into a happily ever after like those so loved by romantasy readers?

In her ending, Nye revisited the original choreography by Julius Reisinger, in which Odette wore a tiara that protected her from death. She includes the tiara but leaves Odette’s fate open to each audience member’s interpretation.

Nye sees it as a happy ending in which no one dies.

“I feel really strongly that right now in the world, we need a win,” Nye said. “I want a win. I need good to win and triumph.”

Swan Lake runs through Feb. 16 at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. Single tickets are $29-$128. A sensory-friendly performance is 2 p.m. Feb. 15. Visit okcballet.org.

Swan Lake through Feb. 16

Civic Center Music Hall

201 N. Walker Ave.

okcciviccenter.com | 405-594-8300

$29-$128

ARTS & CULTURE

Isn’t it romantic?

Here are nine films celebrating love in some of its more offbeat forms.

By Phil Bacharach

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner,. It’s when we remember the 1929 Chicago slaying of seven gangsters orchestrated by Al Capone. Just kidding. Of course, I am referring to the annual celebration of love and its accompanying obligation to ply one’s beloved with flowers, fancy chocolates, battery-operated sex toys, what have you. Hey, I don’t judge.

But you also can’t go wrong immersing yourself in movie romance. Catching a film in 2025 is certainly more economical than splurging on a bouquet of roses or an overpriced restaurant. Moreover, streaming a movie in the comfort of your home even works for individuals who are not in a relationship and perhaps eager to get past a special day that was invented to enrich florists and greeting-card manufacturers.

But let’s not settle for the blockbuster romantic comedies we all know. Here are nine recommendations for more off-the-beaten-path romance:

City Lights (1931)

City Lights might be the first great romcom of the talking-film era, although it’s not a talkie. Even though silent movies were nearly dead by 1931, Charlie Chaplin took advantage of the new technology only for a synchronized music score and a smattering of sound effects. Dialogue was an indulgence Chaplin didn’t need in this story of his Little Tramp character smitten by a blind flower girl (Virginia Cherrill) who mistakes him for a millionaire. Chaplin’s penchant for sentimentality can be mawkish by contemporary standards, but City Lights deftly navigates that tightrope. His perfectionism as a director forced the movie shoot to drag on for more than a year. Chaplin subjected his actors to hundreds of takes, replaced one of the main players halfway through filming and came close to firing Cherrill. In the end, the ordeal was worth it. City Lights is arguably Chaplin’s greatest picture, a brilliant blend of slapstick and sentimentality — and its heart-wrenching closing shot is one for the ages. (Streaming on Amazon Prime, Max, Criterion Channel, Tubi and YouTube)

Brief Encounter (1945)

Extramarital affairs can be a tough draw for a movie audience, especially during World War II, when a fair number of young men fighting to save democracy were receiving “Dear John” letters from the gal back home. It’s all the more remarkable, then, that director David Lean’s Brief Encounter remains a cherished British classic. The star-crossed couple are played by Trevor Howard as an idealistic doctor and father of two, and Celia Johnson as a guilt-ridden wife and mother. Both rightly earned Oscar nominations. Based on a one-act play by Noël Coward, it resonates because its lovers are so unassuming: average folks with nice spouses and who aren’t looking to stray. “I’m an ordinary woman,” Johnson’s character says in voiceover. “I didn’t think such violent things could happen to ordinary people.” Aside from a surfeit of Rachmaninoff music gumming up the score, Brief Encounter is a masterpiece of understatement. (Streaming on Amazon Prime, Max, Criterion Channel, Pluto and Plex)

In the Mood for Love (2000)

Achingly poignant and visually sumptuous, this film established Wong Kar-wai as one of world cinema’s great directors; one need only check out Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk (see right) to understand how Wong’s command of tone continues to influence others. Set in Hong Kong circa the early 1960s, In the Mood

for Love stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Maggie Cheung as, respectively, Mr. Chow and Mrs. Chan, neighbors in a bustling apartment building who slowly realize their spouses are having an affair with each other. Chow and Chan enact how they believe the affair might have started and, in the course of connecting through shared hurt, themselves fall in love. In the Mood for Love is enveloped in a mystery and lyricism that eludes most filmmakers. It also happens to be gorgeous, from vibrant period fashions to Mark Lee Pingbing’s lush cinematography and Michael Galasso’s lovely score. Sure, there are some contrivances one must accept. The way our lovers learn of their spouses’ infidelity hinges on people being absurdly careless, and you’ve gotta wonder who would cheat on the supernaturally beautiful Cheung and Leung Chiu-wai. But why quibble when the results are this intoxicating? ( Streaming on Max, Criterion Channel and YouTube)

Wristcutters:

A Love Story (2006)

Few moviemakers, particularly those out to make a love story, are so ballsy — or possibly recklessly tone-deaf — as to broach the topic of suicide. But writerdirector Goran Dukić goes there in Wristcutters: A Love Story. Specifically, he imagines a sort of drab purgatory where suicides wind up after death, a place that, as one character observes, looks a lot like the land of the living, only a little shittier. Patrick Fugit portrays a young man who committed suicide in the wake of a breakup. In the afterlife, he finds a new love interest, played by Shannyn Sossamon, who insists her death was accidental and wants to speak to someone in charge. The premise is certain to offend some viewers, but Dukić’s earnestness and light touch go a long way toward infusing this low-budget indie with charm. (Streaming on Plex and YouTube)

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

Barry Jenkins’ follow-up to 2016’s Oscarwinning Moonlight again demonstrates

the writer-director’s mastery at setting a mood. If Beale Street Could Talk is deeply romantic, its stunning color scheme and jazzy score reminiscent of In the Mood for Love (see left) without being derivative. The camera loves, and wisely lingers in closeup, on the faces of KiKi Layne and Stephan James as a young Black couple in 1970s Harlem ripped apart when the man is falsely accused of rape. “I hope that nobody has ever had to look at anybody they love … through glass,” Layne’s Tish tells us in voiceover during a prison visitation. Based on James Baldwin’s 1974 novel, the film luxuriates in its romanticism without fully obscuring the author’s stark critique of American institutional racism. Layne and James are superb, but the entire cast is tremendous, particularly Regina King, whose gut-wrenching portrayal as Tish’s mother earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. (Streaming on Hulu, Plex and YouTube)

Palm Springs (2020)

If you’ve seen 1993’s Groundhog Day (and if you haven’t, shame on you!), the premise is familiar: A hapless protagonist is condemned to repeat the same day over and over, or as Andy Samberg’s Nyles puts it, “one of those infinite time-loop continuums you’ve heard about.” While Palm Springs is obviously inspired by Groundhog Day, it is no knockoff. Nyles is spending a literal eternity as the plus-one at a Palm Springs, California, wedding where his girlfriend (Meredith Hagner) is a bridesmaid. Lo and behold, he inadvertently ensnares the bride’s cynical sister, played by Cristin Milioti, into that pesky timeloop continuum. Andy Siara’s screenplay is clever and endearingly silly, and firsttime feature director Max Barbakow keeps things snappy. The picture’s secret weapons are Samberg and Milioti, their rapport making Palm Springs downright lovable. (Streaming on Hulu)

The Worst Person in the World (2021)

The sly joke of the film’s title is that its protagonist, 30-year-old Julie (a sensational Renate Reinsve), is pretty much prone to the same kindnesses and cruelties in all of us. She falls in love, but commitment freaks her out. She is self-confident but insecure, ambitious but indecisive, selfless and selfish in equal measure. And all of that comes into play as she veers back and forth between the affections of an older cartoonist (Anders Danielsen Lie)

and an affable lunkhead (Herbert Nordrum) she meets at a party. What makes The Worst Person in the World such a joy, however, is the everything-and-thekitchen-sink aesthetic that director Joachim Trier and writer Eskil Vogt bring to this bold, shambling dramedy of love and life among Oslo’s creative class. At the very least, The Worst Person in the World will forever be memorable for one of the strangest (and most bathroom-centric) meet-cutes in movie history. (Streaming on Hulu, YouTube and Kanopy)

The Taste of Things (2023)

Here’s a cinematic delicacy for your Valentine’s Day feast. In the French period drama The Taste of Things, Benoît Magimel is Dodin, a chef and devoted epicure whose

passion for food is rivaled only by his love for his longtime cook and companion, Eugénie, played by Juliette Binoche. Their relationship is warm, their chemistry palpable — it probably helps that Magimel and Binoche used to be a couple — and stuffed with food preparation. The movie revels in sensual pleasures. Foodporn aficionados in particular will be drooling at the culinary overload. Its opening scene, detailing the painstaking creation of a meal in Dodin’s well-equipped 19th-century kitchen, clocks in at more than 30 minutes. Famously, France goofed by submitting The Taste of Things as its Best International Feature entry to the 2024 Oscars instead of what proved be much more popular Anatomy of a Fall; that latter film racked up a handful of nomina-

tions while The Taste of Things didn’t even make the final cut of nominations. But that doesn’t diminish this luminous work from writer-director Tr ầ n Anh Hùng. (Streaming on Hulu and YouTube)

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2024)

It’s easy to sink one’s fangs into the sexually tinged pathos of vampire stories. It’s all right there on the surface, from necking that literally draws blood to the built-in tensions between an immortal suitor and their mortal object of desire. The cheekily titled Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person makes clear that first-time filmmaker Ariane LouisSeize is having fun tweaking tropes of the

genre. In this French-language import from Canada (pre-tariff, no less!), a family of bloodsuckers is understandably frustrated with daughter Sasha (Sara Montpetit), a brooding Goth who cannot bring herself to hunt humans — even if it means her likely demise from starvation. There is only so much bagged blood they’re willing to indulge the girl. Things look up, however, when Sasha finds herself drawn to a bullied teenager, Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard, blessed with the hangdog expression of a modern-day Buster Keaton). This wry, funny and deceptively touching movie is a surefire crowd-pleaser. (Streaming on MUBI and YouTube)

Book Bingo Winter Reading

Jan. 1 - Feb. 28

Slide into winter fun with hot reads and cool prizes!

Turn up the heat this winter by playing Book Bingo! Read five books to win an exclusive mug and a chance to win a prize pack with Apple AirPods, library swag and a YMCA pass. Read 25 books to enter the grand prize drawing for an iPad, VIP tickets for Literary Voices with author Jodi Picoult, and a YMCA membership. Prizes for adults only and while supplies last. Drawing winners must have a valid adult Metropolitan Library card in good standing on file in Beanstack.

BOOKS

ARTS & CULTURE Crafting romance

Local author Allison Ashley crafts her novels with a lot of romance and a little bit of home.

By Jo Light

There’s nothing like good drama, real or imaginary. It’s the reason many have been following the titillating It Ends With Us behind-the-scenes escapades and why Hallmark holiday movies are playing at my house throughout December. It’s also why romance is such a tried-and-true genre in fiction.

Imagine this scenario: A young woman is about to undergo a stem-cell transplant. The night before her procedure, she meets a handsome man, and they have a whirlwind date. Months later, after the treatment, she decides to meet her donor only to learn the woman who saved her life is now dating that man she fell for months before!

It’s a juicy narrative nugget, the perfect starting point for romantic intrigue, and it happens to be the plot of author Allison Ashley’s new novel If Tomorrow Never Comes

Ashley is an Oklahoma writer who has found success writing romance, usually with some kind of medical twist — appropriate because her day job as a clinical oncology pharmacist provides her the ideas and research needed to tell these stories.

Ashley (writing under a pen name so her research papers don’t get mixed into search results) said she started as a reader and turned to romance when she was in medical school. It provided a break from the heavier, more sciencefocused texts she had to study.

She went on to prosper in the medical field and start a family, but the pull to the world of books was always there.

“It was after I’d had both my kids and when I was working as an oncology pharmacist at the Stephenson Cancer Center at OU,” she said. “I just started thinking, ‘I always loved English and literature and things in school. And I’m very much using the science part of my brain right now, but I wanted to go back and explore a little bit some of the artistic side of me.’”

Not to mention, days in oncology can be tough on the mind.

“I thought to myself, ‘What is an escape or almost a self-care modality I could use that will help me get back to my creative self and give me a happy, joyful thing to focus on after some hard days at work?’” she said. “And so I started slowly exploring writing romance, and that’s where it started. I was trying to take care of myself in that way.”

Writing community

She dove in, writing a few books she said “will never see the light of day” because she was still perfecting her craft.

“I had a local mentor who used to write Harlequin romances, and she

really helped hone my skill and my craft,” she said. “We would meet at coffee shops, and she would mark up my manuscripts in red pen and just very bluntly say, ‘This needs work. You need to do this differently.’”

That mentor is Darlene Graham, a prolific romance author. It took a bit of trial and error for Ashley to sell her first book, Perfect Distraction

“It wasn’t until I wrote my fourth fulllength book that I was able to sign with an agent for that one, and that was my first book published,” Ashley said. “That took about three years from the time I started writing to signing with an agent and then finding a home for that first book.”

Any creative person knows that sometimes, it’s just a grind. Thankfully, the fact Ashley was using writing as a therapy of sorts helped her keep going. She also credits her support network.

“Having other authors that are in the same part of the journey as you — so maybe they don’t have an agent and they don’t have a published book, but they’re working on getting better and writing these stories and really still doing it for the love and joy of it — they can really help bolster you and keep you going,” she said.

In addition to Graham, Ashley found a community on X (formerly Twitter), where she met fellow author Denise Williams, who paralleled her journey in many ways, signing with an agent and selling a manuscript around the same time.

“We really were able to bounce off some of the frustrations and the joys together,” she said. “We critiqued each other’s work, which is critical. Having another person who writes in your genre who can give you both the constructive criticism, but also those moments of, ‘You do this so well’ — you need a little bit of both.”

Ashley has also gotten to know Oklahoma writers, naming Ally Carter, Scarlett St. Clair and Ava Wilder as connections.

Close to home

Being an Okie works itself into her writing, just as her health care background does. Many of her stories take place in the Midwest or Southern states. “Write what you know” is an adage she keeps in mind, within reason.

“I do think there’s an aspect to that, that you don’t have to completely pigeonhole yourself, because nobody can write exactly only everything that they know,” she said. “But I do think there is a benefit to that in that you can give a certain perspective, but also you don’t totally misrepresent something.”

She joked that she would probably write a New Yorker as constantly driving themselves everywhere if she tried that setting — wrong for the Five Boroughs, “but in Oklahoma, that’s how we roll.”

“My next book that comes out takes place in Omaha, where I lived for a year,” she said. “And then actually the one after that, that will come out later this year, is in Oklahoma City.”

Sharp-eyed readers will sometimes be able to catch names of local restaurants and neighborhoods in her works as little call-outs to her home.

Writing about medical issues is also obviously close to home. It’s practical, in a sense, because the world is familiar and doesn’t require the time for a lot of research. Additionally, the unique perspective helps her stand out in a sea of romance authors. But weaving in those threads is almost a call-out to the profession and its employees, too.

“I think in some ways it’s me writing love letters to folks who work in health care and saying, ‘I see you and I know what it takes to dedicate your life to healing and caring for [others] and how personally hard it can be,’” she said.

Her next book, If Tomorrow Never Comes, will be released April 1. Ashley called it one of the most difficult books she’s worked on. Elliott, the protagonist,

any other book

I’ve ever written just because it was very complex. But I love it, and I hope readers do too.”

Happily ever afters

I brought up the fact that Ashley promises on her website to always give the reader a happy ending. The challenge, as a writer wanting to keep the audience on tenterhooks, is in finding all that dramatic tension in the middle.

faces a bombshell revelation when she meets her stem cell donor.

“I remember thinking to myself many years ago, ‘What would happen if somebody who needed a stem cell transplant fell for the partner of the person who saved their life?’” she said. “That was just this random thought of, ‘What an ethical conundrum.’ If you truly thought that person was your soulmate and your person, but you can’t be with them, and not only can you not be with them, but they’re with the person who saved you, what would you do?”

As a health care professional, Ashley was challenged by the ethical questions posed by the book. It’s not a tidy story because of the nuance and messiness of the choices her characters face. She initially put off the idea because she thought it was too complicated.

“But it just kept sticking there, and I just had to get it out,” she said. “And it just explores the complexities of life, sometimes, that aren’t always easy-tomake choices. How do you do the right thing while also being true to yourself?”

It’s a great setup for a story.

“I’m really happy with the way it turned out,” she said. “I had to work on it and rewrite it and tweak it more than

We turned to a discussion of the genre itself. Love stories can obviously be a subgenre of anything — you can have a sci-fi love story or a general literature work with romantic elements. But if you are writing straightforward genre romance, there are certain rules you need to follow as an author.

“If it is a true romance novel that is in the romance section, it has to end with a happily ever after,” Ashley said. “And a lot of folks will say, ‘Well, if you know how it’s going to end, why do you want to keep reading those books? What makes you go back to them?’”

The messiness between the meetcute and the happy ending is where the story can get interesting and is the place where readers can find all that drama.

A writer like Ashley has to find an obstacle so challenging that the happy ending might be in question. She actually wants the reader to wonder, “How on earth are they going to overcome these [challenges] and end up together?”

“That is what makes romance worth reading and picking up a new book every time,” she said, “wanting to read new stories of people overcoming challenges and getting to that happy ever after.”

Ashley said it’s one of the more challenging aspects of writing novels.

“That is something that I really lean on editors and my critique partners [for],” she said. “Denise is actually really great at conflict, and so she and I will have brainstorming sessions where I

If Tommorrow Never Comes came out Jan. 28. | Image provided

say, ‘I’m not sure that this is tough enough for them. What other obstacle could they realistically face that would maybe up the tension and up that challenge?’”

As someone who has found success with multiple books while working a full-time job, Ashley is living many people’s creative dream. What advice does she have for other aspiring authors?

“I think one is just take the time that you have,” she said.

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. There have been phases, and there are going to be peaks and valleys in your writing.”

Sometimes, she said, life gets busy and you don’t have time to sit down and write.

“There have been other times where I feel like I am failing at everything and I don’t have time for anything,” she said.

While some would advise that you should be writing every day, it’s not something that holds true for her. If the creative juices aren’t flowing, she suggested “reading in your genre or watching a movie in your genre or listening to music.” Sometimes scribbling down thoughts in your Notes app is all you can do.

She also emphasized the importance of finding a writing group or community, online or in person, because the field can be so frustrating.

“You want to have your safe place and your safe group of people that you can just say, ‘Man, this is hard. This sucks.’ And they can say, ‘Yeah, it does, but you know what? We’re going to keep trying and we’re going to keep doing it, and one day that’s going to be us on the bookshelf or on the Amazon chart.’”

Ashley is preparing for upcoming book signings for If Tomorrow Never Comes

One is 6 p.m. April 1 at Best of Books, 1313 E. Danforth Road, in Edmond. The second is 6 p.m. April 3 at Love Stories, 3812 N. MacArthur Blvd., in Warr Acres, a romance-only bookstore. Learn more at authorallisonashley. com.

If Tomorrow Never Comes book signings

6 p.m. April 1 Best of Books 1313 E. Danforth Road, Edmond bestofbooksok.com | 405-340-9202

6 p.m. April 3

Love Stories

3812 N. MacArthur Blvd., Warr Acres @lovestoriesokc | 405-577-2202

Local author Allison Ashley is an oncology pharmacist by day. | Photo provided

EXPERIENCE

CALENDAR

BOOKS

1921 Race Massacre: Survivor Stories with Dr. Karlos Hill join Dr. Karlos Hill, Regents’ Professor at OU and author of The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre: A Photographic History, for a presentation on survivor stories and a book signing. Books will be available for purchase. Located in the 4th Floor auditorium. FREE, Sat., Feb. 15, 2-3:30 p.m. Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave., (405) 231-8650, metrolibrary. org/event/draft-1921-race-massacre-survivor-storiesdr-karlos-hill-456194. FEB 15

“Galentine’s Day” at Full Circle Bookstore celebrate Galentine’s Day (or Valentine’s Day) at Full Circle! Enjoy deals on champagne in the Garden Café and discounts for all romance books. A professional caricature artist will also be on site. Free. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-8422900, fullcirclebooks.com. FEB 14

Book Launch at Full Circle Bookstore: Low April Sun by Constance Squires enjoy the award-winning author of Live from Medicine Park and Along the Watchtower for the launch of her new novel, Low April Sun.The book explores how the emotional fallout of the Oklahoma City Bombing haunts its characters in the present day. Squires will do a reading and converse with the audience. Free, Wed., Feb. 12, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com/event/constance-squires-signs-low-aprilsun/. FEB 12

Let’s Talk About It: The Worst Hard Time Revisited join the the Metropolitan Library System, in partnership with Oklahoma Humanities, is hosting The Worst Hard Time Revisited: Forgotten Voices of the Dust Bowl, a special book club series under the “Let’s Talk About It” program. Featuring discussions led by female scholars, the series explores the Oklahoma Dust Bowl of the 1930s through five books, shedding light on the extraordinary resilience of ordinary people. Emphasizing overlooked perspectives, including those of people of color and various professions in Oklahoma City, the program reexamines historical narratives and their relevance to future climate crises. FREE, Tue., March 11, 6-7 p.m. Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave., (405) 231-8650, metrolibrary.org/event/lets-talk-about-itworst-hard-time-revisited-449374. MAR 11

FILM

2025 Oscar-Nominated Short Films attend the 20th consecutive year, ShortsTV and Magnolia Pictures present the Oscar-Nominated Short Films! See this year’s nominees for Best Live Action Short, Best Animated Short, and Best Documentary Short Feb. 14-March 9. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, OKCMOA’s Noble Theater, 405-236-3100, okcmoa. com/films. FEB 14-MAR 9

Carl Sagan’s Lost Lecture view Carl Sagan’s 1994 Lost Lecture: The Age of Exploration in honor of his 60th birthday. Anne Druyan referred to the lecture as her late husband’s “finest talk” during Cornell’s 2017 celebration of the Voyager mission’s 40th anniversary, Doors Open: 6pm, Screening: 6:30pm free, Wed., Feb. 19, 6:30 p.m. Church of the Open Arms, 3131 N. Pennsylvania Ave., 4055259555, openarms. org. FEB 19

HAPPENINGS

Adult Night at Mix-Tape participate in a Wicked-themed trivia night, where fans compete for glory, prizes, and the title of Wicked Trivia Champion! Test your knowledge of the story, songs, and characters, then unleash your inner witch or wizard in our Battlecry contest. Dress as your favorite Wicked character for a chance to win our costume contest! Whether it’s a friend hang, date night, or solo adventure, come explore, relax, and soak in the experience. Make a night of it with dinner and shopping on 9th Street in Automobile Alley!, Thu., Feb. 20, 7-9 p.m. Factory Obscura, 25 NW 9th St., factoryobscura.com/events/2025/february. FEB 20

Alice In Wonderland: Fairy Tale Ball 2025 take in a whimsical evening where two extraordinary celebrations await — one for adults and one for children! The kid’s ball, designed for guests aged 5 to 17, promises a delicious dinner, enchanting games, and endless fun. Meanwhile, the adults will delight in their own magical gathering, complete with an elegant dinner, a captivating silent auction, and delightful live entertainment. As the night draws to a close, the children will join the adult ball for a lively family dance party, ensuring a memorable celebration for all! $75 each for children; $150 each for adults., Sat., March 8, 6-10 p.m. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-208-6200, oklahomachildrenstheatre.org/ ftb25/. MAR 8

Andy Woodhull laugh along with comedian Andy Woodhull! Seen on The Late Late Show with James Corden Conan Live at Gotham, and The Half Hour on Comedy Central, he made history in 2014 as the first comedian to debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. His Dry Bar comedy special has racked up over 9 million views on YouTube! Feb. 13-15, 7 & 9:45 p.m. Bricktown Comedy Club, 409 E. California Ave., 405-594-0505, bricktowncomedy.com/ events/101399. THU-SAT

LOVE! On the Plaza fall in love with the Plaza District at the Valentine’s Day Block Party! Whether you’re planning the perfect date night, celebrating with friends, or indulging in some well-deserved selflove, romance is in the air for everyone.This evening has something for everyone. Come experience the magic of the Plaza District, where love is in the air and local businesses are ready to make your night unforgettable! The Plaza District is the perfect place to celebrate love 0, Fri., Feb. 14, 6-10 p.m. Plaza District, 1618 N. Gatewood Ave., 405-426-7812, plazadistrict. org/event-calendar. FEB 14 Black History Walking and Driving Tour App Launch hear broadcaster Bob Dotson speak during Mobile App Launch Showcasing Oklahoma City’s Black History~, Emmy-winning storyteller Bob Dotson will be keynote speaker for the February launch of a mobile app designed to better familiarize people with Oklahoma

Gift Registry, and will answer all of your questions about their

afterward. They are also auctioning off the films’ props, and

The show starts 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at

City’s African American history., Dotson, who began his broadcasting career at WKY in Oklahoma City, won his first National Emmy Award for Through the Looking Glass Darkly, which chronicled African Americans in territorial Oklahoma and their contributions following statehood. The mobile app tour is the development of Oklahoma Black Living Legacy (OBLL), a nonprofit founded to bring awareness to Oklahoma’s Black History. Free, Sat., Feb. 15, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org. FEB 15

BrickFest Live bring the family to Brick Fest Live®, a fun event filled with hands-on attractions and activities engineered to inspire, educate, and entertain with LEGO® brick, Feb. 15-16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oklahoma City Convention Center, 100 Mick Cornett Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73109, (405) 768-4037, brickfestlive.com/oklahoma-ok-2025773296#customcode-7xzm3flX-Gw. FEB 15-16

Darci Lynne enjoy a night with Darci Lynne Farmer, the singing ventriloquist who won America’s Got Talent season 12 at just 11 years old! Credited with reviving ventriloquism, she dazzles audiences with her pink rabbit puppet, Petunia. Darci has performed at the Grand Ole Opry, opened for Fergie, and starred in her own NBC Christmas special—all after starting with puppets to overcome shyness. Don’t miss this incredible talent!, Thu., Feb. 20, 7 p.m. Bricktown Comedy Club, 409 E. California Ave. (405) 594-0505, bricktowncomedy. com/shows/293630. FEB 20

Farmers Market 2025 Symposium: Bridging the Rural and Urban Agricultural Gap REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Our one day symposium “Bridging the Rural and Urban Agriculture Gap” is designed to highlight farmers markets and Oklahoma agriculture of all sizes featuring keynote speaker, New York Times bestselling author Forrest Pritchard from Smith Meadows Sustainable Farm., Registration includes breakfast, lunch, sessions, and a complimentary copy of “Gaining Ground” by Forrest Pritchard. Register online at the link. $60, Wed., Feb. 12, 9 a.m.4 p.m. OMNI Hotel, 100 Oklahoma City Blvd, (405) 438-6500, scissortailpark.org. FEB 12

Galentine’s Day Self-Defense Class celebrate Galentine’s Day at Dick’s House of Sport by empowering yourself with our self-defense class for women hosted by the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City and Operation Halo! Join us for an evening of practical self-defense techniques and confidence-building, designed to help you feel stronger and safer. All women in the community are welcome to attend and bond with fellow Galentines! $15, Sat., Feb. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dick’s House of Sport, 13145 North Pennsylvania Avenue, (405) 254-2380, dickssportinggoods. com/s/scheduling/f/a552e05b-1770-400e-abbe97412400ce60?s=1592. FEB 15

Galentine’s Wine & Chocolate Happy Hour attend the Chicks in Charge, a celebration of girlfriends and women in business. Guests will receive a swag bag with Galentine cards and treats as they visit the boss Chick sponsored booths. Learn more at chicksincharge.club. Tickets start at $25. $25, Thu., Feb. 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Yay on Broadway, 501 North Broadway, (405) 306-3497, eventbrite.com/e/okcgalentines-2025-tickets-1116689982799?aff=oddtdtc reator. FEB 13

Girls Changing the Game Luncheon: Benefitting Oklahoma City Police Athletic League come to this exciting event that will spotlight the importance of athletic and sports programming for girls and celebrate the transformative benefits of sports participation in their lives. $100 individual; sponsorships available, Thu., Feb. 13, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. St. Luke’s Methodist Church, 222 NW 15th St, (918) 8100961, okcpal.org/gcg-luncheon. FEB 13

GIRLS DAY OUT SPRING participate in the Girls Day Out shopping day at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in the Centennial Building! Lots of great vendors with everything from handmade jewelry, decor, gifts, childrens and boutiques!, ADMISSION is FREE. Enjoy the Mimosa bar. Sat., Feb. 22, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oklahoma State Fairgrounds: Centennial Building, 609 Kiamichi Pl, 405-948-6700, facebook.com/ events/1520963255140653. SAT

Josh Blue laugh with the winner of NBC’s Last Comic Standing season 4. Known for his sharp, self-deprecating humor, Josh fearlessly incorporates his experience with cerebral palsy into his act., Feb. 27-March 1, 7 & 9:45 p.m. Bricktown Comedy Club, 409 E. California Ave., (405) 594-0505, bricktowncomedy.com/events. FEB 27-MAR 1 Monkey Business Kids Consignment Monkey Business is a semi-annual sales event featuring everything that relates to children, teens, and moms-to-be. This sale is designed to help you not only find great bargains but also help you sell your previously loved items at a great price!, Thu., Feb. 27, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri., Feb. 28, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sat., March 1, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Heart of OK Expo Center, 1700 W Independence St, (405) 275-9780, events.visitshawnee.com/event/ monkey_business_kids_consignment. FEB 27

Monster Jam experience Monster Jam® live and become a fan for life. With awesome trucks, amazing stunts and action-packed excitement, it’s the definition of fun for everyone! You’ll be close to the action watching the world’s best drivers tear up the dirt and show off crazy skills and all-out racing in fierce head-to-head battles of speed and skill. Plus, you get

to score the drivers in real time based on their skills, stunts and saves. Feb. 15-16, 1 & 7 p.m. Paycom Center, 100 W. Reno Ave., (405) 602-8700, paycomcenter. com/events/detail/monsterjam2025. FEB 15-16

OKC Thunder vs. Miami Heat The OKC Thunder takes on the Miami heat!, Wed., Feb. 12, 7-9 p.m. Paycom Center, 100 W. Reno Ave., (405) 602-8700, nba.com/thunder/schedule. FEB 12

OKC Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves your OKC Thunder takes on the Minnesota Timberwolves, Mon., Feb. 24, 7-9 p.m. Paycom Center, 100 W. Reno Ave., (405) 602-8700, nba.com/thunder/ schedule. FEB 24

Oklahoma Gardening School: Gardening Through the Seasons come to the annual Oklahoma Gardening School, the state’s premier annual horticultural symposium designed for home gardeners and professional horticulturists, garden designers, and landscape architects. The Oklahoma Gardening School showcases local and national experts in gardening, plant selection, and garden design. Their illustrated talks and Q&A discussions help participants learn how to create and maintain more beautiful, sustainable, and successful gardens in Oklahoma. Devon Auditorium, $45-$75, Sat. March 8, 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Myriad Botanical Gardens, (405) 445-7080, myriadgardens.org/garden-gardening/ okgardeningschool/. MAR 8

Oklahoma Women’s History Conference 2025 hear a panel speak on early Oklahoma women’s activism. Dr. Autumn Brown from the Clara Luper Civil Rights and Freedom Center will deliver a keynote during the lunch break. The afternoon panel highlights members of the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women and the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame, moderated by Saidy Herrera. A social hour offers networking opportunities, and a pop-up area will feature local women’s organizations sharing resources. While the event is free, attendees must pay a separate fee to explore museum galleries. Organized by the Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue staff 0-$15, Sat., March 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, (580) 765-6108, eventbrite.com/e/oklahoma-womens-history-conference-tickets-1217009912409?aff=erelexpmlt. MAR 1

On The Street: OKC stop by this streetwear pop-up market featuring the hottest trends from top clothing vendors in the city and beyond. Dive into the latest styles while enjoying live DJ sets and dynamic entertainment throughout the event. Sat., March 8, 12-6 p.m. Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, 3220 Great Plains Walk, (405) 948-6700, etix.com/

CALENDAR

equality., Feb. 21-22, 7 & 9:45 p.m. Bricktown Comedy Club, 409 E. California Ave., (405) 594-0505, bricktowncomedy.com/ events. FEB 21-22

Spelling Bee(r) join the OKC Midtown Rotary for a delightful evening of spelling fun, a silent auction and local brews. Participate in the bee, or spectate while enjoying delicious heavy hors d’oeuvres and beer from Oklahoma breweries. Spellers will be entered for a chance to win a cash prize, so challenge yourself and your friends to be the best speller in the room. The funds raised in this special, one-of-a-kind event enable the club to fulfill grants to education and arts initiatives in the Oklahoma City metro., Please note: This event is for guests 21+, $65-$75, Fri., Feb. 28, 6-9 p.m. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., (405) 951-0000, simpletix. com/e/2025-okc-midtown-rotary-spelling-bee-rtickets-198141. FEB 28

The Spring Pop Up Shop shop this in-person event, The Spring Pop Up Shop, hosted by ICE Event Center. Get ready to shop till you drop at this fun event located at 1148 NE 36th St. Discover unique finds from local vendors, enjoy delicious food from the Grill, and soak up the spring vibes with drinks from the bar. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support small businesses and find one-of-a-kind treasures. See you there! FREE, Sat., March 8, 12-4 p.m. Ice Event Center & Grill, 1148 NE 36th St., (405) 208-4240, iceeventcentergrill.eat24hour.com. MAR 8

Symphonies East & West hear Alexander Mickelthwate, conductor, with Arjun Verma, sitar, SHANKAR: Symphony, COPLAND: Symphony No. 3 Tickets start at $24, Sat., Feb. 22, 8 p.m. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., (405) 842-5387, okcphil.org/concerts/ symphonies-east-west/. FEB 22

V-Day Bash & Art Show 2025 enjoy tunes by sweetest pot, fortune telling with Hugh Meade, and performances by olympe! The Mix-Tape experience will also be open for exploring during the event. Ages 18+. Admission is free with a Mix-Tape ticket!, Fri., Feb. 14, 8-10 p.m. Factory Obscura, 25 NW 9th St., factoryobscura.com/events/2025/vdaybash. FEB 14

The White Diamond Gala Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma returns to Sparrow Beginnings for their annual fundraising gala. THE NEXT BIG THING IN STILLWATER: The White Diamond Gala, unites community leaders around their mission to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of local youth. Chaired by Jason and Aimee Rowland, presented by Territory Resources. Fri., March 7, 6-10 p.m. Sparrow Beginnings, 5317 S Hartford Street, (405) 624-9922, stillwatergala. org. MAR 7

FOOD

Making You Happy for Happy Hour log off work to enjoy these awesome specials to unwind, relax, and become happy. Thursdays-Sundays, 4-6 p.m. Twenty6 Lounge, 9622 N. May ave, (405) 687-8739, twenty6lounge.net. THU-SUN

Taco Tuesday’s at El Coyote join the most festive day of the week - Taco Tuesday! Enjoy $2 off our delicious tacos and $5 margaritas, cervezas, and sangrias., Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. El Coyote Bar & Cantina, 925 W. Britton Rd., (405) 849-5218, elcoyoteokc.com/. TUE

Thursday Date Nights make date night a breeze with complimentary bubbly & chocolate covered strawberries every Thursday night! Thursdays, 12-9 p.m. Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails, 132 W. Main St., (405) 801-2900, eatatscratch.com/reservations. THU Valentines Day Beer Dinner celebrate love, flavor, and giving back at the Valentine’s beer dinner on Friday, February 14th at Core4 Brewing in the vibrant West Village of Downtown OKC! Starting at 6:00pm, this exclusive 3-course beer dinner, crafted by the talented Chef Jeremy Sublett, promises an unforgettable culinary experience paired with Core4’s finest brews. Not only will you indulge in exquisite food and drink, but your participation will also help support the Oklahoma Food Bank—spreading the love to those in need. The evening will be made even more special with live music from Shawna Springer. 50, Fri., Feb. 14, 6-9 p.m. $50 each. Core4 Brewing, 7 N. Lee Ave, (405) 620-4513, facebook.com/ share/1B1gipP67K/. FEB 14

Wine Wednesday’s! Half-Priced Pizza and Wine at Osteria indulge in the perfect midweek treat at Osteria with our Wine Wednesdays. Every Wednesday savor the harmony of flavors as they offer half-priced pizza and select wines throughout the day. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or a pizza lover, this is your chance to unwind and relish the finest of both worlds., Wednesdays. Osteria, 6430 Avondale Drive, (405) 254-5058, osteriaokc.com. WED

YOUTH

Rap Workshop with Jabee explore creativity through rap for kids and teens with Emmy-winning artist and activist Jabee leads as he leads a free workshop. FREE, Sat.,

Feb. 22, 11-midnight. Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave., (405) 231-8650, metrolibrary.org/event/ draft-rap-workshop-jabee-440114. FEB 22

PERFORMING ARTS

“The Scarlet Pimpernel” enjoy a swashbuckling adventure telling the tale of a daring Englishman rescuing Parisian aristocrats from the Guillotine during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 3pm from Feb. 7-23. General admission $25; Students under 26 with ID $20., Through Feb. 23, 8-10 p.m. Jewel Box Theatre, 321 NW 36th St., (405) 521-1786, jewelboxokc.com.

FRI-SUN THROUGH FEB 23

“The Barker” A Cabaret step into a fierce and unapologetic cabaret experience in Oklahoma’s vibrant West Village, just minutes from downtown! Feel the heat rise as a cozy evening unfolds with tantalizing burlesque performances, jaw-dropping sideshow acts, and mesmerizing circus feats, igniting the night with excitement and warmth. Online tickets start $25, third Friday of every month, 7:30 p.m. through June 20. Sailor and The Dock, 617 W Sheridan Ave, (405) 8164250, springproductions.net. FEB 21

BRIGHT STAR presented by OU Musical Theatre inspired by a true story and featuring the Tonynominated score by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, BRIGHT STAR tells a tale of love and redemption set against the backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ’40s. When Alice meets a soldier just home from World War II, he awakens her longing for the child she once lost. Alice sets out on a journey to understand her past—and what she finds has the power to transform their lives. With beautiful melodies and moving characters, BRIGHT STAR is as genuine as it is daringly hopeful. $15-$25, Fri., Feb. 21, 8-10:30 p.m., Sat., Feb. 22, 8-10:30 p.m. and Sun., Feb. 23, 3-5:30 p.m. Studio of The Sooner Theatre, 110 E. Main Street, (405) 325-0538, facebook.com/share/18tun4PzCV/. FEB 21-FEB 23

Czech Philharmonic see, direct from Prague, the Czech National Philharmonic—which made its debut in 1896 under Antonin Dvorak—and is known internationally for its definitive performances of Czech composers Dvorak, Janacek, Martinu, and Smetana. The all-Czech orchestra makes its home in Prague at the Rudolfinum and proudly represents their homeland throughout the world as an esteemed and cherished cultural ambassador. The orchestra will perform a program featuring great Czech composers Dvorak and Smetana. From $55, Wed., Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m. Armstrong Auditorium, 14400 S. Bryant Ave., (405) 285-1010, armstrongauditorium.org. FEB 19

Dope Poetry Night listen to Dope Poetry Night every Wednesday night, hosted by PraVurb, J. Wiggins, and DJ D. Chappell. Come experience a place where you can be unapologetically you, a place where your voice and presence matter, a place where you’re accepted and loved, where smiles, laughter, thoughts, and feelings are shared, and it’s all free. Show starts at 7:30 pm; Sign-ups begin at 7 pm, and the show begins at 8 pm. First 20 poets., Wednesdays, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Ice Event Center & Grill, 1148 NE 36th St., (405) 2084240, instagram.com/dopepoetrynight. WED

Dragons & Mythical Beasts calling all brave heroes! Enter into a magical world of myths and legends in this fantastical new interactive show for all the family., Unveil a myriad of dark secrets and come face to face with some of the most magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts ever to walk the earth., From the creators of the West End smash hit Dinosaur World Live, who bring spectacular puppets to life, don’t miss this brand new spell-binding adventure, live on stage! $31-45, Wed., Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. Visual and Performing Arts Center at Oklahoma City Community College, 7777 S May Ave, (405) 682-7595, app.ticketsage.net/Page/ ViewEvent?permalink=occc-tickets&PerformanceId=34 1984&ClientId=225. FEB 26

ERA: A Queer Exhibition - Celebration of Black Love & Art celebrate Black love and art through ERA: A Queer Exhibition returns on Friday, February 14 to honor of Black History Month. ERA will be hosting a drag and burlesque showcase spotlighting incredible Black performers in OKC., Fri., Feb. 14, 9:30 p.m. Ponyboy, 423 NW 23rd St., (405) 602-5985, ponyboyokc.com. FRI

Eric Whitacre’s The Sacred Veil enjoy a 12-movement collaboration between Eric Whitacre and poet/ lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri, telling a story of life, love and loss. The intimate, compelling score tells a story of courtship, love, loss, and the search for solace. Featuring piano, cello, and four soloists. Tickets start at $19, Sat., March 1, 7:30-9 p.m. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., (405) 232-7464, canterburyokc.com. MAR 1 It’s Poppin’ With Paprika Cherry don’t miss this sizzling sensation every 4th Saturday at Frankie’s OKC. As one of America’s few remaining lesbian-owned bars, Frankie’s holds a special place in Oklahoma’s nightlife. Enjoy a night of sweet and spicy fun, featuring drag shows, drinks, and laughter. Whether you’re a newcomer to Oklahoma City or a seasoned local, Frankie’s welcomes everyone to experience this hidden gem where if you don’t have a home - you do at Frankie’s. Never a Cover! Just be sure to tip the bar staff and performers!, fourth Saturday of every month, 10 p.m.-midnight. Frankie’s, 2807 NW 36th St., (405) 602-2030, instagram.com/qweenpaprika/. FEB 22

Annual Friends of the Library Book Sale If you like books and love to support your local library, you will be happy that it’s time for Metropolitan Library System’s 45th Annual Friends of the Library Book Sale! This annual book event features over 500,000 books, DVDs, vinyl records and magazines. Paperbacks are $1, hardbacks are $2 and children’s books are half price. This event also features a Better Books section. Proceeds support vital library programs. The sale is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 22-23 at Oklahoma Expo Hall at the Oklaholma State Fairgrounds, 3213 Wichita Walk. Visit supportmls.org/fol/ booksale or call 405-948-6700. FEBRUARY 22-23 Photo provided

Live Blues Music enjoy live music at Mojo’s has every single night of the week. Rotating headliners are featured on Fridays and Saturdays. Twice a month this venue is the host of the Oklahoma Blues Society jam session where all ages and instruments are welcome to come play! Located right off the canal, it’s the oldest bar in Bricktown! Mondays-Sundays, 8-10 p.m. Mojo’s Blues Club, 1 E. California st., (405) 232-2629, facebook.com/Mojobluesow/. SUN-SAT

Live With Jake Shane ejoy an unforgettable evening Live with Jake Shane! Door times subject to change, Mon., March 10, 7 p.m. The Criterion, 500 E. Sheridan Ave., (405) 308-1803, facebook.com/ share/1FU2mx8Rum/. MON

Penelope presented by Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park see this musical re-telling of the Odyssey for one actor and a five-piece chamber orchestra. Composer Alex Bechtel tells the story of the Odyssey’s Penelope, yearning for the return of her husband, Odysseus, following the events of the Trojan War. One actor and a 5-piece chamber orchestra perform a haunting score - by turns hilarious, explosive, and sensual. Bechtel, Grace McLean and Eva Steinmetz, have delivered a fresh take on this timeless love story., Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m., Sundays, 2 p.m. Oklahoma Shakespeare, 2920 Paseo St., (405) 235-3700, okshakes.org/penelope. FEB 20-MAR 2

Put A Cork In It! Comedy Showcase enjoy a night of laughter, wine, and top-tier comedy! Featuring Chicago’s Nick Emeka—one of the standout acts from the Blue Whale Comedy Festival. He’s joined by fellow Chicago comedian Louis Michael, plus Oklahoma comedy legends Julie Drake and Michael Patton. Hosted by Nick Campbell, this show promises nonstop laughs in a cozy, intimate setting. Grab your tickets now and use promo code “iwannalaugh” for $5 off! $20 Door/ $15 Online, Fri., Feb. 14, 6:30-8 p.m. Put A Cork In It Winery, 115 E. California Ave., (405) 605-6656, eventbrite. com/e/1146081333119?aff=oddtdtcreator. FEB 14

Roughtail Comedy Night hear a great home grown comedy show alongside some great homegrown brews! $15, third Saturday of every month, 8-10 p.m. Roughtail Brewing Company, 320 W Memorial Rd, (405) 771–6517, roughtailbeer.com/events/comedynight. FEB 15

Shen Yun see fairies emerge from a sea of billowing clouds. Mongolians ride on horseback across grasslands as vast as the sky. Classic stories of love and loss, of humor and heroic deeds, come to life. You will be amazed by how vibrant, exciting, and profound classical Chinese culture can be. Shen Yun is a brilliant artistic revival and celebration of China’s rich cultural heritage. $110-180, Sat., Feb. 22, 2 & 7 p.m. and Sun., Feb. 23, 2 p.m. Visual and Performing Arts Center at Oklahoma City Community College, 7777 S May Ave, (405) 682-7595, app.ticketsage.net/occc-tickets. FEB 22-23

Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson hear the true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt explores a woman’s place in society during a time of immense scientific discoveries when women’s ideas were

dismissed until men claimed credit for them. “Lauren Gunderson’s luminously beautiful play Silent Sky is an intellectual epic told on an intimate scale. Bottom line: Heavenly.” —Atlanta Journal-Constitution. $30, Fridays, Saturdays, 8-10 p.m., Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m. and Sundays, 2-4 p.m. Carpenter Square Theatre, 1009 W. Reno, (405) 232-6500, carpentersquare.com/ silent-sky. FRI-SUN THROUGH MARCH 16

Spamilton created by Gerard Alessandrini, the comic mastermind behind the long-running hit Forbidden Broadway and performed by a versatile cast of eight, Spamilton: An American Parody is a side-splitting new musical parody. A crash course of everyone’s favorite Broadway blockbusters, including celebrity satires, pop culture zings accompanied with hip-hop on the piano! After tearing it up in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and London, Spamilton: An American Parody will stage a singing, dancing, comedy revolution in Oklahoma City! $48-60, Fri., March 7, 7:30 a.m. Visual and Performing Arts Center at Oklahoma City Community College, 7777 S May Ave, (405) 682-7595, app. ticketsage.net/Page/ViewEvent?permalink=occc-ticke ts&PerformanceId=341983&ClientId=225. MAR 7

STRANGER SINGS! The Parody Musical take a trip back to Hawkins, Indiana: 1983… when times were simpler, hair was bigger, and unsupervised children were getting snatched by inter-dimensional creatures. This is a hilarious ‘upside down’ take on the hit Netflix series - and all its campy 1980s glory., Join Mike, Eleven, Lucas, Dustin, and the whole Hawkins gang for a night of adventure, thrills, pubescent angst, heavy synth, poor parenting, convoluted love triangles, cheap effects, dancing monsters, and maybe, just maybe... justice for everyone’s favorite missing ginger, Barb Holland. $30, Fridays-Sundays, 7-9 p.m. The Boom, 2218 NW 39th St., (405) 601-7200, theboomokc.com. FRI-SUN

Teddy White Tee Comedy enjoy the comedy of Teddy White Tee with special guest Matt Ferrell and Bradley McPherson as the host. Quick witted, off the cuff humor filled with stories of ups and downs, trials, and tribulations, successes and failures, White Tee comedy is a must see, musical outburst and don’t forget The Country Boy counselor. A country boys take on fixing relationships or ruining them. $15 - $25, Sat., Feb. 15, 8-10 p.m. The Ritz Theater, 10 West Main Street, (405) 275-9780, events.visitshawnee.com/ event/teddy-white-tee-comedy. FEB 15

Waitress enjoy a playful and soulful score by 6-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles inspires boundless joy in this Broadway smash hit. Where Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker, is stuck in a small town and an abusive marriage. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, Jenna fears she may have to abandon the dream of opening her own pie shop…until a baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s handsome new doctor offer her a tempting recipe for happiness. With a quirky crew of best friends and coworkers by her side, Jenna bakes a new life, one pound of butter, sugar, and flour at a time. Experience this pop musical phenomenon, presented in promotional collaboration with The Plaza District’s award-winning sweet eatery, Pie Junkie, Wednesdays-Sundays, 2 & 7:30 p.m. through March 2.

Lyric at the Plaza, 1725 NW 16th St., (405) 524-9312, lyrictheatreokc.com/shows/waitress/. WED-SUN THROUGH MARCH 2

Wizard of Oz on Ice experience the magic of this breathtaking new production from the visionary team behind Peter Pan On Ice, Cinderella On Ice, and Beauty & The Beast On Ice. This fresh reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s classic tale dazzles with stunning choreography, state-of-the-art special effects, and vibrant costumes that bring the Land of Oz to life like never before—captivating audiences of all ages. Visual and Performing Arts Center at Oklahoma City Community College, 7777 S May Ave, (405) 682-7579, app.ticketsage.net/Page/ViewEvent?permalink=occctickets&PerformanceId=342393&ClientId=225. FEB 15

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Valentine’s Date Night Cardio Dance Class enjoy an energetic Valentine’s Date Night Cardio Dance Class hosted by the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City! Bring a partner or come solo and enjoy a heart-pumping dance workout. It’s the perfect way to celebrate love while getting fit and having fun! There will be a photobooth, giveaways, and more. $10, Fri., Feb. 14, 6-7:30 p.m. Dick’s House of Sport, 13145 North Pennsylvania Avenue, (405) 254-2380, dickssportinggoods.com/s/scheduling/f/e202c622-1a25-4ad8a937-3ef4b6fc8de8?s=1592. FEB 14

Full Moon Yoga at Mix-Tape participate in an intentional gathering and gentle movement led by Beth White of Aether Yoga and Wellness as you dig into the offerings of the full moon. This time may provide abundance for those willing to slow down long enough to listen. Sinking into the atmosphere of the Wonder Room will allow for imagination to spark, and open the heart to receive and expand. This session will include slow restorative stretching and sound healing. This class is for people of any skill level., $25, Wed., Feb. 12, 7-8:30 p.m. Factory Obscura, 25 NW 9th St., factoryobscura.com/ events/2025febfullmoonyoga. FEB 12

Longevity OKC 2025: Valentine’s Day Celebration & Specials Event it’s a day of celebration. Take advantage of exclusive specials, sip on refreshing drinks, and enjoy delicious treats while pampering yourself. It’s the ideal time to show yourself (or someone special) some extra love. RSVP to and enter to a raffle to win a FREE BBL or Resolve Treatment. Fri., Feb. 14, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Longevity Aesthetics and Laser Spa, 3110 SW 89th St, (405) 703-4990. FEB 14

Partners Yoga + Sound Bath join MARKANNA

Wellness for this annual Partners Yoga + Sound Bath workshop. Practice two-person yoga poses, so bring your partner, friend or loved one for this fun and engaging experience! No crazy acrobatics. The class will end with an extended savasana sound bath to leave you feeling rejuvenated and refreshed after this fun bonding experience. $60 for two people, Sat., Feb. 15, 2-3:30 p.m. Studio on Western, 3710 N Western, (405) 524-1489, pilatesonwestern.com/. FEB 15

Sound Bath Meditation feel the energies of balance, harmony, cooperation and manifestation, it will be a time to focus on creating positive change in your relationships and personal growth. A sound bath is a deeply immersive, full-body listening experience that uses sound with crystal bowls, chimes and other instruments to invite gentle yet powerful therapeutic and restorative processes to nurture your mind and body. Please bring a blanket, pillow and yoga mat for optimal comfort, along with comfortable clothing. $20, Sat., Feb. 22, 6-7 p.m. Bikram Yoga OKC, 201 S Ellison, (405) 278-6944, bikramyogaokc.com/. FEB 22

Radiant Living Presents 3rd Annual Fun Fair engage in interactive workshops and thoughtprovoking presentations designed to uplift and empower. Enjoy raffles, door prizes, and a welcoming community of like-minded individuals. Whether you’re seeking guidance, healing, or simply a day of exploration, the Fun Fair offers something for everyone. Come celebrate and awaken your spirit! Sat., March 15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Will Rogers Gardens, 3400 NW 36th Street, OKC. (405) 907-8208, radiantlivingok.com/events-1. MAR 15

Yoga in the Gardens enjoy free yoga at the gardens held inside during the colder months and outdoors in the warmer months., Held year-round Tuesdays, Saturdays, 9 a.m. & 6 p.m. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., (405) 445-7080, myriadgardens.org/events/yoga/. TUE, SAT

VISUAL ARTS

“Found Treasures,” an Exhibition at 1515 Lincoln Gallery Explore Found Treasures: Visionaries and Hidden Gems, an exhibition featuring artwork from the gallery’s Found Art Collection. Discover pieces by renowned visionaries such as Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, and William Hogarth, alongside works by lesser-known artists from the gallery’s collection. The Found Art Collection at 1515 Lincoln Gallery includes over 300 works, complemented by hundreds of pieces from more than 50 contemporary artists represented by the gallery, both locally and internationally. 1515 Lincoln Gallery, 1515 N. Lincoln Blvd., (405) 593-1063, 1515lg.com/ exhibitions. THU-SAT THROUGH MAR 15

“From the Vault: The 80th Anniversary Exhibition” organized in honor of OKCMOA’s 80th anniversary in 2025, “From the Vault: The 80th Anniversary Exhibition” presents over 150 paintings, prints, photographs, drawings, and sculptures from the Museum’s permanent collection. The works in the exhibition have not been exhibited previously or on display in the last five years, allowing OKCMOA to share more of its collection with the community. All of the works are organized by the decade in which they were formally acquired (or accessioned) and grouped thematically to help tell the story of the Museum’s permanent collection. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, (405) 236-3100, okcmoa.com/visit/events/from-the-vault-the-80thanniversary-exhibition/. THROUGH APR 27

Cowboy Boots: From Roundups to Runways, presented by Lucchese Bootmaker journey through this exhibit that will transport visitors on a journey through time, tracing the evolution of cowboy boots from their 19th-century origins to their modern-day status as a cultural icon. This unique temporary exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the craftsmanship, history and enduring appeal of these timeless boots. $20. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. 1700 Northeast 63rd St., OKC. (405) 478-2250. nationalcowboymuseum.org. THROUGH MAY 4

Curator Talk at 1515 Lincoln Gallery Curator

Elizabeth Wylie will present a talk on Saturday, February 15, from 1- 2 pm, discussing her curatorial process and her journey in the arts. The talk is free, but seating is limited. To RSVP, please email info@1515lg.com or call 405.593.1063. Free, Sat., Feb. 15, 1-2 p.m. 1515 Lincoln Gallery, 1515 N. Lincoln Blvd., 405-593-1063, 1515lg.com. FEB 15

Thomas Batista Retrospective see the Retrospective art exhibit of the late artist Thomas Batista. This exhibit will feature works throughout Batista’s career. All artwork in the exhibit comes from the private collection of Thomas Batista’s son Lamar Batista and will be available for sale. The Batista Artist Retrospective will be shown throughout the month of Free, Tuesdays-Saturdays. Little D Gallery, 3003 Paseo, (720) 773-1064. TUE-SAT

OKCMOA Free on Second Sundays thanks to the generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program, visitors of all ages will receive FREE access to Museum galleries on the second Sunday of each month for the next three years. See all exhibitions on view at no cost, sip on some bubbly while shopping at the OKCMOA Store, and so much more., HOW TO RESERVE YOUR TICKETS, Free tickets will be available one week before the next Access for All 0, first Sunday of every month, 12-5 p.m. through June 8. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com/visit/events/february-access-for-all/. MAR 9

Submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon the first Wednesday of the month. 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.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27 PAT GREEN

SUNDAY, MARCH 16 ROBERT EARL KEEN

THURSDAY, MARCH 20 THE WALLFLOWERS

THURSDAY, MARCH 27

SHANE SMITH & THE SAINTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 JUDAH & THE LION

FRIDAY, MAY 2

HIPPO CAMPUS

MUSIC

Artistic license

Rainbows Are Free celebrate the release of Silver and Gold at The Blue Note.

By Jeremy Martin

Heavy psych rockers Rainbows Are Free’s latest album Silver and Gold is rich with shiny metal forged to bend the mind, but lead single “Sleep” mines anxieties at the forefront of the brain.

“It is pretty straightforward,” vocalist Brandon Kistler said, explaining the song’s meaning. “We’ve gotta hold it together, and sometimes it’s hard to sleep.”

“Sleep” describes the troubled headspace that comes from restless nights and the fear of waking up to something worse: “Product of the times / Product of my mind / Distracted, divided, overwhelmed, still fighting / Sometimes I care / Easier when I don’t.”

Kistler said concerns about modern society and the future for his children inspired the lyric “We can’t let it break, no it can’t be broke.”

Rohitash Rao directed the stop-motion video accompanying “Sleep,” an expressionist nightmare of clay tentacles, dragons, bloodshot eyes and countless other oddities and Rainbows Are Free “Easter eggs.”

“We didn’t want it to be too literal, and he liked that and he ran with it,” Kistler said. “We really gave him a lot of license, and he delivered.”

Rao’s immediate connection with the song helped sway the band to select it as the lead single.

“You just never know what people are going to respond to,” lead guitarist and backing vocalist Richie Tarver said. “We’ve been doing this for long enough where we’re probably in a bit of an echo chamber with our own music, so it’s nice to get an outside perspective.”

Though it’s arguably one of the heaviest songs lyrically on the album, musically, Tarver said “Sleep” offers only a taste of heavier moments to come.

“I think it’s a good appetizer,” Tarver said. “I think it’ll allow people who may not be familiar with us access to some

Diamond Dave some love.”

Second single and album closer “The Gift” features a riff reconstructed from a backward loop of a song from Rainbows Are Free’s 2019 album Head Pains and draws inspiration from fellow OKC band Chat Pile.

“It’s like orders of magnitude heavier than ‘Sleep,’” Tarver said.

The band describes “Dirty,” meanwhile, as “disco-cocainesurf-rock,” and third single “Solar Flare” orbits Black Sabbath’s disarmingly mellow “Planet Caravan” for a while before blasting off into a blistering scorcher.

Magical strategy

and they’re primed for the next studio release.

of not our more challenging, but maybe our more adventurous song writing. I think it’s a good introduction for people who might not have ever heard of us, and then once they’re in, they’re a captive audience and we can unleash some of the more dangerous moments — darker, more adventurous songwriting, nontraditional song structures, stuff like that.”

The song is not inspired by stoner metal band Sleep, but Tarver joked the association with a well-known artist couldn’t hurt.

“I don’t know if you’ve listened to the next track on the album,” Tarver said. “It’s called ‘Taylor Swift.’”

There’s no actual Swiftie-baiting on the album, but “Running With a Friend of the Devil” combines Van Halen and Grateful Dead song titles without really sounding like either band. However, Rainbows Are Free count Van Halen as an influence.

“I like a little play on words, and we gotta have one ridiculous song title on every album,” Kistler said. “I’ll give

Produced by the band with Trent Bell at Bell Labs Recording Studio in Norman, Silver and Gold is Rainbows Are Free’s fourth studio album and second release through label Ripple Music, following 2023’s Heavy Petal Music, recorded live at Summer Breeze Music Festival in Norman in 2021.

“It was our first show back from the lockdown,” Tarver said. “We had no plans on it being a live record.”

Kistler added, “We didn’t even know we were being recorded, first of all.”

But when Carl Amburn played his recording for the band, Tarver said they “were just shocked that it was as good as it was.”

“We just kind of let it rip, and that night was just so magical for, not only for us, but for everyone else,” Tarver said. “We were pretty thirsty for live music. Getting to do that in our hometown, in Norman, I think it’s a moment we’ll all have etched in our brains for a long time.”

They were also surprised when their new label wanted to release it.

“But it actually turned out to be a winning strategy because the idea was kind of a one-two punch,” Tarver said. “We released the live record, so for anyone who’s never heard of us, it does have this kind of greatest-hits-complete-discography vibe from the last 15 years. So that reaches a new audience,

“We kind of look at that record as a culmination of that period of the band. It was a little sampling from every album, two or three songs from every album, and we were able to put that behind us and now move forward.”

Fans familiar with the originals may be surprised by some of the versions on Heavy Petal Music

“Structurally, they’re all the same, but with the addition of the synth,” Tarver said.

Synth player Josh Elam added, “There’s some different parts, though. [Drummer] Bobby [Onspaugh] is playing some different stuff. [Rhythm guitarist] Joey [Powell] is playing some different stuff.”

Kistler said, “And there’s some tempo changes from the originals.”

Tarver laughed and said, “So they’re completely different songs.”

Elam, who joined Rainbows Are Free in 2019, is the most recent addition to the 17-year-old band, and the older songs on Heavy Petal Music didn’t originally have synth.

“With that album, with those being old classics … it was an exercise of trying to come up with parts that fit without ruining the original balance,” Elam said.

Tarver said the current version of Rainbows Are Free is “the ultimate lineup ... in terms of our chops and our chemistry and everything,” and the band agreed Silver and Gold reflects that.

“With this new album, it’s a lot more cohesive because the synth is part of the writing process,” Elam said. “It definitely has helped evolve the sound into something new and inspiring.”

Silver and Gold is available for purchase at ripplemusic.bandcamp.com.

Rainbows Are Free’s latest album was recorded at Bell Labsia Norman. | Photo Dylan Johnson

Rainbows Are Free’s latest release is the band’s fourth studio album. | Photo Dylan Johnson

Silver and Gold release party is March 8 at The Blue Door. | Image provided

MUSIC

Beyond Chaos

Skating Polly returns to Factory Obscura and ‘rewrites the formula’ following Chaos County Line.

By Jeremy Martin

In 2010, stepsisters Kelli Mayo and Peyton Bighorse released Skating Polly’s debut, Taking Over the World, recorded on a 24-track TASCAM with help from their dad in their home outside Oklahoma City.

In 2023, Skating Polly, including brother Kurtis Mayo on drums and backing vocals, released Chaos County Line, recorded by producer Brad Wood (Liz Phair, Sunny Day Real Estate, Smashing Pumpkins) at his Seagrass Studio outside Los Angeles.

In 2025, Skating Polly is coming back through Oklahoma City to play at Factory Obscura, 25 NW Ninth St., on Thursday, March 13. And they’re back to recording themselves.

The plan is to self-record an EP, but they’re seeing what happens.

“Maybe it’ll all go terribly wrong and it’ll only be two singles, I don’t know,” Kelli Mayo said. “We’re working on it, and it’s really exciting. We’ve done ‘going to the studio’ so many times I wanted to kind of rewrite the formula, like, ‘Let’s see what happens if we completely produce ourselves. What can we make?’ … I just really wanna make something crunchy and weird.”

Whatever crunchy weirdness Skating Polly makes will be the followup to 2023’s Chaos County Line, an hour-plus double

surreal and impressionist, self-portraits and complex and catchy musical arrangements that feature at least as many cleanplucked arpeggios as distorted power chords and significantly more gorgeous blood harmonies than punk snarls.

What follows may be something else entirely.

“Maybe these won’t be as emotional of songs. I don’t really know yet,” Kelli Mayo said. “I almost want to lean into playful and noise and madness instead of pouring my heart out. … I was not drained after Chaos County Line, but more like, ‘What’s next?’ and I felt like the next thing to do was something completely different … just go for it and see what comes out.”

Friends and family

Also coming soon (hopefully) is a four-song folk EP that Kelli Mayo recorded with Exene Cervenka of X.

“I’ve lived with Exene for a bit now,” Kelli Mayo said. “I was the unofficial best man at her son’s wedding, I’m very, very close with her. She’s like a mother, a sister, a best friend, technically maybe old enough to be my grandma, but we’re like friends, too, so it’s interesting.”

Cervenka produced 2013’s Lost Wonderfuls and features on Skating Polly’s “Queen for a Day,” and Kelli Mayo plays a younger Cervenka in X’s video for “Alphabetland.”

Since Kelli Mayo and Bighorse began writing and recording songs as children, they’ve converted several of their influences into collaborators. Beat Happening’s Calvin Johnson produced 2014’s Fuzz Steilacoom and 2017 EP New Trick features Louise Post and Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt.

“People say don’t meet your heroes and stuff,” Bighorse said. “Usually, the musicians I meet where I had a bad experience with and I didn’t expect it, I didn’t go on to work with them. The people I work with are pretty darn cool.”

One of Chaos County Line ’s most chaotic tracks, “Man Out There,” features Jesus Lizard’s David Yow convincingly playing just about the last man you’d want out there “trying to get in,” but he was surprisingly unsure of his performance in the studio.

“I’d known him as, like, this friend who’s been supportive to me that I’ve met a couple times, and when I asked him to be on ‘Man Out There,’ I was like, ‘I don’t even know if you like my music,’” Kelli Mayo said, “But no. He was stoked about it. It’s really funny seeing him perform, because on that song, he just came up with his part. He did, like, four takes or something and did completely random David Yow stuff. Then he would get nervous after the take, like, ‘Oh, do you like it? Am I stepping on the song too much?’ and I’m like, ‘What the heck?’”

Being treated like creative equals by more experienced musicians they respect may be the most valuable lesson Skating Polly has taken from these collaborations.

“The way that they mentor me is usually them saying, ‘Trust your gut and don’t listen to the suits,’” Kelli Mayo said. “We manage ourselves now, and … a big part of this chapter of Skating Polly is that I don’t want to look to someone else. I just want to shake up the recipe on our own.”

More guided attempts at mentorship have not been as helpful or welcome.

“The only people who ever go, ‘Oh this is how you should do it,’ to me and Peyton and Kurtis are people who have never created art,” Kelli Mayo said. “We’ve had our own struggles with management and stuff because of that. You have people telling you there’s a formula … and usually the formula doesn’t involve a lot of making art. The formula usually involves trying to get big on TikTok, and if you’re not doing that, you’re not actually trying and you’re wasting their time.”

After eight years of playing as a three-piece, Bighorse and the Mayos’ biggest influences at this point are probably each other, even if they spend the

time between tours living apart and working day jobs.

“We don’t live with our parents anymore,” Kelli Mayo said. “It’s a different formula; we’re making minimum wage and just being a band from our own little corners.”

Bighorse and Kelli Mayo may live miles apart in Southern California, and Kurtis Mayo lives in Tacoma, Washington, where the band was recording when we spoke on the phone.

“We’ve just been working together, not just as a band, but growing up together, so it’s very easy to fall back into being creative together, even after being apart for some time,” Bighorse said. “In the past, maybe it wasn’t as easy, maybe we went into it a little less sure of ourselves, but at least now it’s all pretty smooth.”

Kelli Mayo agreed.

“We’re very close as siblings, so even if we don’t plug in as regularly as we used to, we’re comfortable,” she said. “It’s not like, ‘Oh, I’m scared to try this in front of you.’ No. Me and Peyton have been doing this for over 15 years now, and Kurt’s been doing this since 2017. … We don’t really hold back, and one thing that’s exciting about spending time away from each other and then getting back together and being so close is that we all bring different tastes to the table and we all have different stories from our life to bring to the table.”

Skating Polly’s upcoming show at Factory Obscura will be its third at the venue since 2023.

“Factory Obscura is one of our favorite venues on Earth,” Kelli Mayo said. “It’s really hard to imagine us playing anywhere else when we come to Oklahoma because I love it so much. … It’s a total hidden gem, and I know a lot of people in Oklahoma know about it, but the whole country should know about this place because it’s kind of the best you can get with a venue. The sound is great, and the projections are so cool. Every photo and video from Factory Obscura always comes out excellent because they’ve got a great setup.”

The band shares the bill with coheadliners Gully Boys from Minneapolis.

“They’re a great band,” Kelli Mayo said. “From the just-getting-ready-totour contact we’ve had with each other, they’re really sweet. And I think it’s going to be a really cool melding of fanbases. It’s like the scene we want to be involved with — cool femme people making music, young people pouring their hearts out and going for it.”

Skating Polly and Gully Boys

7 p.m. Thursday, March 13

Factory Obscura 25 NW Ninth St.

factoryobscura.com

$17-20

Skating Polly is curreently self-recording new music. | Photo Tom Berger

Skating Polly is: Kurtis Mayo (left), Peyton Bighorse (center), and Kelli Mayo (right).

| Photo Megan Magdalena

LIVE MUSIC

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

WEDNESDAYS

Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley Bricktown Pub. ROCK

Jazz Jam, 51st Street Speakeasy. JAZZ

Jazz Night, Bradford House. JAZZ

Trett Charles, River Spirit Casino Resort. COUNTRY

Vintage Vinyl Wednesdays, El Coyote Bar & Cantina. DJ

THURSDAYS

Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge Karaoke Night, Dust Bowl. KARAKOE

Music Over Midtown, O Bar. VARIOUS

FRIDAYS

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

Mojo’s Blues Revue, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

SATURDAYS

Bedlam Live Local Bands, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. VARIOUS

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTURMENTALISTS

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

Mojo’s Blues Revue, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

SUNDAYS

Jazz Night!, Blue Note. JAZZ

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

No Whiners Aloud, Mojo’s Blues Club. ROCK Hösty, The Deli. AMERICANA

MONDAYS

The Aints/Bailey Gilbert & Friends, The Deli. AMERICANA

Blue’s Night Jam Session, Othello’s. BLUES

TUESDAYS

Bruce Benson & Studio B, 51st Street Speakeasy. BLUES

Caleb McGee, The Deli. BLUES

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12

Koffin Kats / The Drowns, 89th Street Collective. ROCKABILLY

FRIDAY, FEB. 14

Catch Your Breath w/ Archers, The Funeral Portrait, & If Not For Me, Beer City Music Hall. ROCK Blake Hall, Legally Brewed. POP

Soft Hands: The Love Boat Sails Again, Tower Theatre. ROCK

Aaron Watson, Diamond Ballroom. COUNTRY

SATURDAY, FEB. 15

Larry Fleet w/ Everette, Tower Theatre. COUNTRY Pink Cupid Club w/ heartspace + L!PB!TE, Ponyboy. DANCE

TUESDAY, FEB. 18

OSU Symphony Orchestra Performs Beethoven 5!, McKnight Center for the Performing Arts. ORCHESTRA Shovels & Rope w/ James Felice, Beer City Music Hall. ROCK

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 19

Edgar Cruz and Friends, Broke Brewing Company. enjoy guitarist, ACOUSTIC Maddy Kirgo, Brody Price, & Ramsey Thornton, Resonant Head. INDIE

BOGUES, 89th Street Collective. INDIE

Faye Webster Featuring guest appearances by Wilco guitarist Nels Cline and experimental rapper (and middle school friend) Lil Yachty, Faye Webster’s 2024 album Underdressed at the Symphony stakes out a charmingly cozy little corner of that increasingly occupied space between R&B and country music that’s so hot right now. According to the press release, the album title is inspired by Webster’s impulsive trips to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. “Going to the symphony was almost like therapy for me,” she says. “I was quite literally underdressed at the symphony because I would just decide at the last moment that that’s what I wanted to do,” Webster said in the press release. “I liked that I didn’t feel like I belonged.” Hear Webster’s self-assured and idiosyncratic music about feeling awkward and out of place live with occasional strings. Formal attire not required. The show starts 8 p.m. Feb. 18 at The Criterion, 500 E. Sheridan Ave., in Oklahoma City. Tickets are $84.50-$125. Visit criterionokc.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Photo Pooneh Ghana

THURSDAY, FEB. 20

TYR with Aether Realm North American Tour with Shame in Nothing, 89th Street Collective. METAL

Kat Hasty, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

Dan Bern, The Blue Door. POP

FRIDAY, FEB. 21

Live Music in the Lounge: Maddie Nash, Legally Brewed. VARIOUS

Big Train & The Locomotives, The Blue Door. BLUES

Paul Cauthen w/ Hogslop String Band, Tower Theatre. COUNTRY

Hannah Dasher, Diamond Ballroom. COUNTRY

SATURDAY, FEB. 22

The Droptines, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

Shelly Phelps And The Storm, The Blue Door. ROCK

The Broken View, 89th Street Collective. ROCK

SUNDAY, FEB. 23

Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

KNOCK2 w/ REMK & ALEKO, The Criterion. ELECTRONIC

Clem Snide with Guest Rye Valley, The Blue Door. COUNTRY

TUESDAY, FEB. 25

Jerry Cantrell, Tulsa Theater. COUNTRY

THURSDAY, FEB. 27

Library Out Loud, Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library. VARIOUS

Straight Tequila Night - ‘90s Country Tribute, Tower Theatre. COVER

FRIDAY, FEB. 28

Chuck Briseno w/ Chad Todd Band, The Ritz Theater. COUNTRY

Kierston White, Legally Brewed. AMERICANA

SATURDAY, MAR. 1

flipturn, Tower Theatre. INDIE

Red NOT Chili Peppers w/ The Stylees, Beer City Music Hall. COVER

Ace Monroe, 89th Street Collective. ROCK

SUNDAY, MAR. 2

Tab Benoit w/ The Vibro Kings: A Mardi Gras Celebration, Tower Theatre. BLUES

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 5

Edgar Cruz and Friends, Broke Brewing Company. ACOUSTIC

GloRilla - The Glorious Tour, The Criterion. HIP-HOP

The Amity Affliction, Diamond Ballroom. METAL

THURSDAY, MAR. 6

America’s Rejects Tour Featuring Attila And Butcher Babies, 89th Street Collective. METAL

FRIDAY, MAR. 7

Cameron Sacky Band, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

My So Called Band - ‘90s Tribute, Tower Theatre. COVER

SUNDAY, MAR. 9

Killswitch Engage, Kublai Khan, Fit For A King, Frozen Soul, The Criterion. METAL Yacht Rock Revue, Tower Theatre. ROCK PHOBIAS Tour Featuring TRAITORS, 89th Street Collective. METAL

MONDAY, MAR. 10

CANE HILL with MUGSHOT + Fox Lake and Weeping Wound, 89th Street Collective. METAL

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

OKLAHOMA CITY METRO RESOURCES

Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma 3355 S. Purdue Ave. regionalfoodbank.org regionalfoodbank.org/get-help 405-972-1111

YWCA 2460 NW 39th St. ywcaokc.org 405-948-1770

City Rescue Mission 800 W. California Ave. cityrescue.org 405-232-2709

City Care Night Shelter 6001 N. Classen Blvd. citycareokc.org 405-652-1112

NAMI Oklahoma namioklahoma.org/resources/oklahomaresources

Oklahoma City Animal Shelter 2811 SE 29th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73129 www.okc.gov/departments/animal-welfare/programs-and-services/adoptions/ pets-available-for-adoption 405-297-3100

NATIONAL RESOURCES 988Lifeline 988lifeline.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline thehotline.org 1-800-799-7233

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) www.samhsa.gov 1-800-662-4357

To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) twloha.com pleasestayalive.com

Trans Lifeline 877-565-8860

Veterans Crisis Line 800-273-8255

PFLAG pflag.org/find-resources

The Trevor Project thetrevorproject.org/resources Text START to 678-678

Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon the first Wednesday of the month. 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.

Human Rights Campaign hrc.org

Anti-Violence Project avp.org 212-714-1141

American Civil Liberties Union aclu.org

PUZZLES

NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE

PUZZLE LETTER OPENERS | 0202

By Rich Proulx

Rich Proulx (pronounced ‘‘proo’’) of Berkeley, Calif., works for the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S.D.A. This is his ninth crossword for The Times since 2017, and his first Sunday. For this puzzle, he originally wanted the images to appear in circles in the grid, but those proved too small to make out. So he revamped the puzzle and placed them in the clues instead. — W.S.

ACROSS

1 ‘The weekend is almost

22 S ee 19-Down

23 Place for a white picket fence and a mom-and-pop shop

87 S ee 82-Down

88 G o a little one way or the other

90 G ordon ____, engineer with a ‘‘law’’ predicting a doubling of transistors on microchips every two years

91 Record label for the Backstreet Boys

92 Tech company exec, for short

93 In a corner

95 C ause of some sleep issues

98 S ee 101-Down

102 ‘‘Ten-____!’’

103 Show listlessness

104 ‘ ‘See above,’’ in footnotes

105 G ot online, say 109 ‘Conclave’’ actress Isabella

111 S ee 107-Down

114 S aber alternative

115 Worst time for a double fault

116 A pproaches furtively

38 S TEM part: Abbr.

39 Sierra ____

40 ‘What are the ____?’’

42 S ee 46-Down

47 Awkward people to butt-dial, perhaps

48 Circuit board device

51 Vast, as an operation

53 ___ Collins, author of ‘‘The Hunger Games’’

55 H elen of ‘‘The Queen’’

56 Futon component

57 Was transfixed by, in a way

59 G lass ____, spaghetti-like fish

60 G ive a darn?

62 French aperitif

63 Weapon with wires

64 S ee 67-Down

68 J ustice Kagan

70 N atural feature between México y Texas

71 ___Kosh B’gosh

73 T V journalist Navarro

74 A nnual observance for breast cancer awareness

76 K nee parts, in brief

78 Auto mechanic’s tool

80 War room briefings, in military shorthand

81 G old Medal offering

83 ‘‘Au contraire!’’

84 C ause of puddles in early spring, say

117 ‘ ‘Over here!’’

118 Hydroelectric projects

119 ‘ ‘White & ____’’ (2006 Weird Al Yankovic parody)

120 Structure that’s set on fire

DOWN

1 N etwork owned by Showtime

2 M ighty wind

3 O ne might start as a seed

4 ‘ ‘Have no ____ of perfection — you’ll never reach it’’: Salvador Dalí

5 J ust like that!

6 W ithout regard to privacy

7 Temporary residence

8 L argest public sch. in the U.S., by enrollment

9 P.S.T. part: Abbr.

10 S o far

11 S afe harbors

12 P oker pot

13 Fair-hiring letters

14 Storage devices made obsolete by MP3 players

15 Sharp 16 ‘ ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf’’ author

17 Intended

19 * See image

20 K ashmiri king

24 Offs

29 *Se e image

30 N umber two

31 Bit

33 P ublic house offering

34 W hite House dog of the 1980s

35 H elps, informally

36 Guarantee

38 P art of an act

41 M ore crafty

42 [Shivers]

43 V isible signs of maturity

44 G ot down to business, in a way

45 ___ Urquhart, co-host of the podcast ‘‘Morbid’’

46 * See image

48 Many a school chaperone

49 Later

50 Cognizant of

52 Folk singer Guthrie

54 Diddly-squat

55 H ip-hop’s ____ Thee Stallion

57 T hey’re for suckers

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

58 M editative martial art

61 Common word with or without an apostrophe

65 M eaty pasta sauce

66 Ridge in metalworking

67 * See image

69 O ffice folder?

72 Vowel sound in ‘‘father’’

75 Dude

77 Audiophile’s system

79 Cut (off)

80 W hat ‘‘fitz-’’ or ‘‘-ovic’’ means, in names

82 * See image

83 Innocent sort

85 ‘ ‘Chances ____ . . .’’

86 B ecame one

89 M odern prefix with anxiety

90 S alt’s companions

93 T heseus’ need in the Labyrinth

94 In an uncouth manner

95 M arketing worker, informally

96 C redit, informally

97 P rominent features of elephant seals

98 Comedian Radner

99 A p erfect storm, e.g.

100 Planet whose day is longer than its year

101 * See image

105 Done

106 E xtend one’s military service

107 * See image

108 H ard thing to find in a house of mirrors

110 ‘Wee’’ fellow

111 C hannel with the onetime spinoff America’s Store

112 Su ffix with emir

113 S .F.-to-Napa dir.

PUBLISHER Kimberly

kwalker@okgazette.com

MARKETING

lspears@okgazette.com

DISTRIBUTION

ADVERTISING

advertising@okgazette.com 405-528-6000

ACCOUNT

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Gina

gnichols@okgazette.com

Robert Medley rmedley@okgazette.com

Angela Clark Little aclarklittle@okgazette.com

Hardwick Greg Horton

ILLUSTRATORS

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Homework: What’s the most outrageously loving act you could engage in? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Love requires stability and steadiness to thrive. But it also needs unpredictability and imaginativeness. The same with friendship. Without creative touches and departures from routine, even strong alliances can atrophy into mere sentiment and boring dutifulness. With this in mind, and in accordance with astrological omens, I offer quotes to inspire your quest to keep togetherness fertile and flourishing. 1. “Love has no rules except those we invent, moment by moment.” —Anaïs Nin. 2. “The essence of love is invention. Lovers should always dream and create their own world.” — Jorge Luis Borges. 3. “A successful relationship requires falling in love many times, always with the same person, but never in quite the same way.” —Mignon McLaughlin.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

In celebration of the Valentine season, I suggest you get blithely unshackled in your approach to love. Be loose, limber, and playful. To stimulate the romantic and intimate qualities I think you should emphasize, I offer you these quotes: 1. “Love is the endless apprenticeship of two souls daring to be both sanctuary and storm for one another.” —Rainer Maria Rilke 2. “Love is the revolution in which we dismantle the prisons of our fear, building a world where our truths can stand naked and unashamed.” —Audre Lorde. 3. “Love is the rebellion that tears down walls within and between us, making room for the unruly beauty of our shared becoming.” —Adrienne Rich.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

To honor the rowdy Valentine spirit, I invite you to either use the following passage or compose one like it, then offer it to a willing recipient who would love to go deeper with you: “Be my thunderclap, my cascade of shooting stars. Be my echo across the valley, my rebel hymn, my riddle with no answer. Be my just-before-you-wake-up-dream. Be my tectonic shift. Be my black pearl, my vacation from gloom and doom, my forbidden dance. Be my river-

song in F major, my wild-eyed prophet, my moonlit debate, my infinite possibility. Be my trembling, blooming, spiraling, and soaring.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

Cancerian author Elizabeth Gilbert wrote, “The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all.” One of those strange jewels in you is emerging from its hiding place. Any day now, it will reveal at least some of its spectacular beauty—to be followed by more in the subsequent weeks. Are you ready to be surprised by your secret self? Are your beloved allies ready? A bloom this magnificent could require adjustments. You and yours may have to expand your horizons together.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

In 2025, the role that togetherness plays in your life will inspire you to achieve unexpected personal accomplishments. Companionship and alliances may even stir up destiny-changing developments. To get you primed, I offer these quotes: 1. “Love is a trick that nature plays on us to achieve the impossible.” —William Somerset Maugham. 2. “Love is the ultimate outlaw. It won’t adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is sign on as its accomplice.” —Tom Robbins. 3. “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same. Yet each day reveals new constellations in our shared sky.” —Emily Brontë.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Psychotherapist Robin Norwood wrote that some people, mostly women, give too much love and kindness. They neglect their own self-care as they attend generously to the needs of others. They may even provide nurturing and support to those who don’t appreciate it or return the favor. Author Anne Morrow Lindbergh expressed a different perspective. She wrote, “No one has ever loved anyone too much. We just haven’t learned yet how to love enough.” What’s your position on this issue, Virgo? It’s time for you to come to a new understanding of exactly how much giving is correct for you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Are you ready to express your affection with lush

and lavish exuberance? I hope so. Now would be an excellent time, astrologically speaking. I dare you to give the following words, composed by poet Pablo Neruda, to a person who will be receptive to them. “You are the keeper of my wildest storms, the green shoot splitting the stone of my silence. Your love wraps me in galaxies, crowns me with the salt of the sea, and fills my lungs with the language of the earth. You are the voice of the rivers, the crest of the waves, the pulse of the stars. With every word you speak, you unweave my solitude and knit me into eternity.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Among its potential gifts, astrology can raise our awareness of the cyclical nature of life. When used well, it helps us know when there are favorable times to enhance and upgrade specific areas of our lives. For example, in the coming weeks, you Scorpios could make progress on building a strong foundation for the future of love. You will rouse sweet fortune for yourself and those you care for if you infuse your best relationships with extra steadiness and stability.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

I want you to be moved by intimacy and friendships that buoy your soul, inspire your expansive mind, and pique your sense of adventure. To boost the likelihood they will flow your way in abundance during the coming weeks, I offer you these quotes. 1. “Love is a madness so discreet that we carry its delicious wounds for a lifetime as if they were precious gems.” —Federico García Lorca. 2. “Love is not a vacation from life. It’s a parallel universe where everything ordinary becomes extraordinary.”

—Anne Morrow Lindbergh. 3. “Where there is love there is life. And where there is life, there is mischief in the making.” —my Sagittarius friend Artemisia.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Every intimate alliance is unique, has its own rules, and shouldn’t be compared to any standard. This is a key theme for you to embrace right now. Below are helpful quotes. 1. “Each couple’s love story is a language only they can speak, with words only they can define.”

—Federico Fellini. 2. “In every true marriage, each

serves as guide and companion to the other toward a shared enlightenment that no one else could possibly share.” —Joseph Campbell. 3. “The beauty of marriage is not in its uniformity but in how each couple writes their own story, following no map but the one they draw together.” —Isabel Allende. 4. “Marriages are like fingerprints; each one is different, and each one is beautiful.” —Maggie Reyes.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Borrowing the words of Aquarian author Virginia Woolf, I’ve prepared a love note for you to use as your own. Feel free to give these words to the person whose destiny needs to be woven more closely together with yours. “You are the tide that sweeps through the corridors of my mind, a wild rhythm that fills my empty spaces with the echo of eternity. You are the unspoken sentence in my every thought, the shadow and the light interwoven in the fabric of my being. You are the pulse of the universe pressing against my skin, the quiet chaos of love that refuses to be named. You are my uncharted shore.”

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Love and intimacy and togetherness are fun, yes. But they’re also hard work—especially if you want to make the fun last. This will be your specialty in the coming months. I’ve assembled four quotes to inspire you. 1. “The essence of marriage is not that it provides a happy ending, but that it provides a promising beginning— and then you keep beginning again, day after day.” —Gabriel García Márquez. 2. “The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret. But those who follow the art of creating it day after day come closest to discovering it.” —Pearl Buck. 3. “Love is a continuous act of forgiveness.” —Maya Angelou. 4. “In the best of relationships, daily rebuilding is a mutual process. Each partner helps the other grow.” —Virginia Satir

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.