405 Magazine September 2019

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RAINFOREST ADVENTURE: TREASURES OF THE AMAZON P. 54

SEPTEMBER 2019 VOLUME FIVE | ISSUE NINE

SEASONS OF SPORTS OKC SPORTS FANS ENJOY MORE OPTIONS THAN EVER

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CONTENTS

54

SEPTEMBER

Exploring the Amazon NEARLY 4,000 MILES LONG, CROSSING NINE COUNTRIES, RESPONSIBLE FOR 20 PERCENT OF THE WORLD’S FRESH WATER, TEEMING WITH LIFE … THE AMAZON ISN’T JUST A MASSIVE RIVER; IT’S A WORLD ALL ITS OWN.

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Seasons of Sports CENTRAL OKLAHOMA STILL HAS PLENTY OF FOOTBALL DEVOTEES, BUT AS THE METRO GROWS AND ITS ATHLETIC OPTIONS CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN DIVERSITY, IT’S A VERY GOOD TIME TO BE A SPORTS FAN IN OKC.

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CONTENTS

43

SEPTEMBER IN THE 405

13 FASHION Meet Norman-based couture line Kiss of the Wolf 16 CREATIVES An expansive new season for the OKC Philharmonic 18 PRIME PICKS What you should be doing this month 19 SPEAKERBOX Richard Marx and The Fixx 20 RETROSPECTIVE Guthrie’s Benedictine Hospital reborn 22 EDUCATION Heritage Hall’s golden anniversary 24 ON THE SCENE A look back at local social events

HOME 25 HABITAT Bruce Hall, Mike Stuart and the Miller Mansion 30 ENTERTAINING 101 Prep for hosting cool parties

TRAVEL 37 ADVENTURE GRANDMA Shoeless Joe’s legacy 40 STATESIDE Touring Greenville and Cincinnati 42 ON THE ROAD Keeping nature pristine while exploring

DINING 43 LOCAL FLAVOR Cultures and chefs collaborate at Chigama 46 INDUSTRY NEWS Remembering OKC titan Chef John Bennett

64 ON THE RADAR 12x12 and the Plaza District Festival 68 RESTAURANT GUIDE Vegan delights at The Loaded Bowl 72 LAST LAUGH Coping with a genetic lack of direction

ON THE COVER Former Mayor and OKC sports superfan Mick Cornett. Photo by Rachel Maucieri

Sauteed chicken, shishito peppers and a soy-wine reduction – the Ma La Chicken shows off Chigama’s flair for color.

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PH OTO BY R AC H EL M AU C I ER I

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Sporting Life

I

attended high school football games religiously in the 1980s (Go, Plainsmen!); we all did back then. That was the Friday night ritual, as is still the case in most smaller cities and towns across our state.

However, I was never much of an athlete. I fared well in gymnastics as a young child ... say, through middle school. I ran track and played softball in junior high school, and enjoyed both. On the other hand, I tried basketball at about the same time, and I was terrible at it. When my coach allowed me off the bench and on the court during games to give a qualified member of the team a break, I didn’t know which direction to turn, much less what to do on this six-on-six court.

In high school, shortly after moving to the northwest Oklahoma town of Enid, I joined the swim team. I was a swimmer my entire life – still am. My sophomore year, I was eligible to join Enid High School’s synchronized swim team, Aquaettes. It wasn’t really a team, as there was no competition, rather an annual show. However, I found synchronized swimming a beautiful bond between swim team and gymnastics – my two favored sports – and it required the strength and flexibility of both.

I was an EHS swim team member and Aquaette for all three years of high school (ours was grades 10-12, versus the more traditional 9-12). Being a member of both meant practice in the early mornings before school and after school ... and again after dinner.

There were times those of us who were involved in both sports spent more than five to six hours a day in the chlorinated water. But if we didn’t love it, we wouldn’t have done it. And love it we did, thanks to the support of one pretty amazing teacher – Coach Ginny Shipley. She tolerated our shenanigans, mentored us through high school hardships and was quick to tell us when we needed to stay in our lane. Thanks for everything, Ship!

Team sports can teach us much about life in general; it can even prepare us for situations to come later. No matter your passion, competitive or otherwise, being part of something that’s going after the same end-game and achieving it is a pretty fantastic feeling – whether it’s a sport or a career, or even a sport that is a career. And even if you’re only participating from the stands, the more enthusiastic your fandom, the sweeter the victory when “we” win.

Greg Horton’s feature on page 48 explores the growing diversity of sports in OKC, among other elements of fandom. And if you aren’t interested by the Energy FC’s playoff push, the start of a new Thunder era or the college of your choice’s football fortunes, you can drink in the sights of an Amazon excursion in Matt Payne’s travelogue on page 54.

Between summer’s oppressive heat and the chill still to come, this is a perfect month for getting out and engaging in some kind of activity – competing, cheering or just exploring. Happy trails!

HEIDI RAMBO CENTRELLA

Publisher | Editor-in-Chief heidi.centrella@405magazine.com

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PH OTO BY S H E VAU N WI L LI A M S

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SEPTEMBER 2019 | 405 MAGA ZINE

IN THE 405

The Call of the Wild LUPINE LOOKS FROM A NORMAN DESIGNER

BY SH E VAU N WI LLIAMS

405 MAGA ZINE | SEPTEMBER 2019

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FA S HIO N

D

esigner Lori Bacigalupi and her clothing line, Kiss of the Wolf, have been influential in the artisan clothing market for more than 30 years.

She is a regular at the most prestigious craft shows in the country, and her garments are worn by actors and authors, administrators and architects and other stylish, successful women from San Francisco to Manhattan and beyond – and it all begins in a studio nestled in the trees behind her historic home in Norman.

Kiss of the Wolf is best known for silk. Bacigalupi and her creative team begin with white silk and color it with techniques and patterns from around the world – Indonesian batik, Japanese shibori, Peruvian huari, silkscreen, block printing and more – before hand-tailoring it into stunning art couture. Visit kissofthewolf.com to learn more.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT The late author Toni Morrison, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for Literature, was one of Bacigalupi’s clients; she wore a Kiss of the Wolf suit to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.

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PHOTOGR APHY: SHEVAUN WILLIAMS; HAIR AND MAKEUP: TERESA LUZ; MODEL: INA QUINTANILL A FOR BRINK; PHOTO A SSISTANCE: HE ATHER HANSON

C R E AT I V E S

Snap, Crackle …

Further adventures in musical fun

The Classics season might contain a larger dose than usual of movie tunes, but that doesn’t mean the Phil is neglecting its Pops programming: Nov. 8-9 Star of stage and screen Megan Hilty belts out an evening of Broadway hits and personal favorites.

Dec. 5-7 Hark! The Christmas Show returns, bringing Santa, the Mistletoes dancers, special guest Max von Essen and plenty of spirited sparkle.

Matilda Lloyd

Expanding Sounds

B

THE OKC PHILHARMONIC’S MUSICAL RANGE eethoven, Shostakovich, Respighi, Strauss … but also Ennio Morricone, Jonny Greenwood and Frank Zappa? The OKC Philharmonic is tuning up for a new season, and a broader range of musical treats than ever before is in store for listeners.

Music Director Alexander Mickelthwate is about to raise the baton on his second year at the Philharmonic podium, and has put together a Classics season with a good deal of range. “I really hope everyone is as excited as I am,” he said as the programming was announced; now’s the time to get enthused, because the season begins Sept. 14. In Oklahoma Stories, the Phil will pair the familiar – Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 5 – with the new and intriguing, in the form of Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto featuring guest artist Matilda Lloyd, and a Native medley including Cherokee composer Jack Kilpatrick’s “American Indian Serenade.”

The combination of major names from the classical canon with unexpected selections continues through the season: for example, October’s slate (inspired by Life of Pi) includes Benjamin Britten and Debussy’s “La Mer,” alongside a piece from 15-year-old local composer Dacey Tietz. January’s Minimalism in a New World pairs Dvorak with Philip Glass’s Violin Concerto No. 1 – “I hope to do more Glass here in general,” says Mickelthwate – and “The Dog Breath Variations” by Frank Zappa. Speaking of range, February gets two concerts thanks to Leap Year, and they’re titled From the Dramatic to the Sublime and Colliding Contrasts.

The general takeaway is that – due to the skill and dedication of the state’s finest musicians – each performance will be impeccably and beautifully presented, and even longtime listeners will encounter new compositions to expand their musical palates. Excitement is warranted; visit okcphil.org to explore the full schedule and get individual tickets or multi-concert packages, then take your seats. They’re already tuning up. - STE VE G I LL

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Jan. 24-25 John Williams is an unparalleled film composer, and he was at his memorable best in 1981 – thrill to a screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark as the Phil plays the soundtrack live.

Feb. 21-22 The music of Mexico takes center stage as Grammy-winning ensemble Mariachi Los Camperos lifts its voices in song.

March 20-21 One state, many stars: this power-packed concert honors The Boss, The Four Seasons, Whitney Houston and other Garden State natives in Jersey Boys and Girls.

May 1-2 Guest vocalists Tony DeSare and Capathia Jenkins turn back the clock in Frank and Ella, a loving tribute to the timeless sounds of Sinatra and Fitzgerald.

PH OTO BY A N D R E W J M CCOY

PRIME PICKS

The challenge: make the best sculpture from the assigned material. The juror: award-winning architect and OU College of Architecture Dean Hans Butzer. The rewards: $3,000 in prizes for winning participants, plus fascination and potential creative inspiration for viewers.

The artistic medium: a single sheet of aluminum foil. The Firehouse Art Center’s Foil Sculpture exhibition invites creative reevaluation of an ordinary material, and the results should definitely be worth a close look. September 13-October 19, Firehouse Art Center

Buddy Guy

GUITAR GUY

Blues man, no group. One of the world’s great guitarists and foremost living legends of the blues, Buddy Guy has eight Grammys, a National Medal of Arts, a space in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame … and a date in Norman this month to share some licks, keep his 50-plus-year career rolling and celebrate that, as his latest album says, The Blues Is Alive and Well. September 20, Riverwind Casino

VOX SCRIPTORIS

VOCAL WARM-UP Mi-mi-mi-mi … Armstrong Auditorium is launching into a dazzling new season of its performing arts series, and opening with a four-part bang. Their initial concert is also a new beginning for Alberto, Roberto and the Federicos – better known as the Four Italian Tenors – who will combine their impeccable voices to make Edmond a dazzling stop on their first ever American tour. September 12, Armstrong Auditorium

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SEPTEMBER 2019 | 405 MAGA ZINE

Literacy is a lifelong gift, libraries are community treasures and a good story is worth celebrating – three excellent reasons to join the Metropolitan Library System for its 17th annual Literary Voices fundraising dinner. Guest speaker Kristin Hannah is the bestselling author of Firefly Lane, Home Front and The Nightingale, and the event also honors Cliff and Leslie Hudson while helping to provide programs, materials and services for OKC libraries. September 25, OKC Golf & Country Club Find more events in our Event Guide on page 64 and online at 405magazine.com

PARK IT It’s no exaggeration to say that a lot of time, effort and resources have gone into planning and preparing the new Scissortail Park in downtown OKC – now it’s time to show off the results. With food trucks, family activities and a free concert from Kings of Leon, Sept. 27 should be a big, big day.

PH OTOS: B U D DY GU Y BY PAU L N AT K I N; T H E FO U R I TA LI A N T EN O R S BY K EI T H D I XO N; A LU M I N U M FO I L A R T CO U R T E S Y FI R EH O US E A R T C EN T ER ; SC I SSO R TA I L PA R K R EN D ER I N G BY H A RG R E AV E S A SSO C I AT E S

FALL FOILAGE

SPEAKERBOX

Get Your Kixx The Fixx is in the house

I

n the early 1980s, English band The Fixx were the monsters of radio.

From the release of their debut record Shuttered Room in 1982, the band was a mainstay in three different radio formats because of their diverse sound and ability to write perfect radio songs such as the eerie “Stand or Fall.”

When Reach the Beach hit record stores a year later, The Fixx was headlining concert halls. “One Thing Leads to Another” was a smash, with an edgy guitar hook by Jamie West-Oram that led to dynamic keyboards. Lead singer Cy Curnin was becoming a visual force as well, as the band’s videos were in heavy rotation on MTV. Things tapered down like every band that starts off hot. The group has gone through a few lineup changes, but four of the five current players were in the original band. So when The Fixx perform at the Tower Theatre on Sept. 4, it will be just like 1982 all over again. Tickets are available at towertheatreokc.com. - J C

Right There Waiting

R

RICHARD MARX, THE HAIR, THE HITS!

ichard Marx wasn’t only known for a slew of Adult Contemporary Radio and MTV classics; the man had some amazing hair. When his debut album was released in June 1987, it would go on to spawn four Top 10 singles, and talk in tabloids about “best hair” awards. Marx’s talent and connections got him a record deal, and he worked with diverse musicians: Members of the Eagles played on his self-titled debut, along with members of Toto and Fee Waybill of the Tubes. Weirdly, Waybill actually co-produced his third LP, Rush Street, which entered the charts at No. 1.

Since 1987, Marx has recorded 11 records and amassed 14 Top Ten hits. Lately, he’s been on fire on Twitter @RichardMarx. You should definitely give him a follow. He’s remarkably funny and self-deprecating and political. He gets it. Most performers just promote their shows or new music, but Marx offers up punny jokes and pointed observations.

So his hair is still pretty glorious, but it’s cut short these days. He’ll perform a special solo acoustic show on Sept. 8 at the Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd. Tickets are available at towertheatreokc.com. - J E R RY C H U RC H

Random Ramblings Quick takes on new releases

TAYLOR SWIFT – LOVER

Though she’s incredibly prolific, Swift and her producers carefully construct LPs and pay attention to themes, metaphors and details. Gone is the “Dark Taylor” from Reputation; in on Lover are rainbows, puppies, butterflies and empowerment anthems.

The first two singles “ME!” and “You Need to Calm Down” return Swift to the bright pop that typified 1989 and Red.

PRINCE – ORIGINALS

Prince was a workaholic and, like Neil Young, he would often record whole albums and shelve them. Originals is the second release in the archive series, and it is a dandy of treasures.

The 15-track set collects the original demos that Prince gave away to other artists. They lack polish, but gems such as “The Glamourous Life” (later a hit for Sheila E.), “Manic Monday” (The Bangles) and “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Sinead O’Connor) allow the listener into Prince’s writing process.

CHARLI XCX – CHARLI

Earlier this year, I predicted that Charli XCX was going to be the breakout pop artist of 2019. Even though she’s released three albums and four mixtapes, she’s primarily made her name as a songwriter. You absolutely cannot watch television without hearing her songs in commercials. New album Charli includes 14 collaboration tracks while showcasing her immensely improved singing – this is a fantastic first record for fall.

405 MAGA ZINE | SEPTEMBER 2019

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RETROSPECTIVE

Guthrie’s Benedictine Revival

O

NEW LIFE FOR A LANDMARK HOSPITAL

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SEPTEMBER 2019 | 405 MAGA ZINE

Sentimental Journey Keeping tabs on treasured memories

A few years ago, on my birthday, I decided to drive over to Guthrie and see the old hospital, so Mom and I got in the SUV and headed down State Highway 33.

“When your dad was driving me over that night, we got to this curve and I thought I had waited too long,” Mom reminisced. “They took me right up to the delivery room, and you were born just after midnight.”

On this hot September day, we pulled up in front of the dilapidated old building on W Warner. An old red Jeep came bouncing up – Matt was meeting us to take our photo, in those days before selfies.

“There she is, Bubba,” said Matt, referring to the spooky-looking structure. (“Bubba” was Matt’s term of affection since our college days.)

The windows were broken, grass and weeds were overgrown and the brick façade was crumbling, but the art deco design was still incredibly beautiful.

Matt took a photo of Mom and me, cheesy smiles and all, standing out in front, and it became a ritual every September for more than a decade – Matt, Mom and me. So if you see us posing for photos outside the new/historical apartment complex in Guthrie this month, please stop and take part in our sentimental journey. - M B

H OS PI TA L PH OTO CO U R T E S Y O K L A H O M A H I S TO R I C A L SO C I E T Y

ne of Oklahoma City’s trendiest overnight spots is 21c Museum Hotel in Film Row. Its general manager Matt Cowden, happens to be an old college buddy of mine. Every day, Matt makes the trek into Oklahoma City from his home town of Guthrie. The city is special to him – and to me, as well, since I was born there in 1963. In fact, the old Benedictine Heights hospital was the birthplace to a generation of Baby Boomers from Logan, Kingfisher and Oklahoma counties.

Construction on Benedictine Heights began in 1926, but because of the Great Depression, it wasn’t finished until 1948. Back then, it was state of the art. During the ’70s, however, Guthrie had its own version of “Urban Renewal” and abandoned the hospital for a shiny new one on the city’s west side. The stately old building was shuttered in 1978 and sat empty for 40 years, steadily growing more forlorn.

Then one morning in 2017, I got an email from Matt – reading “Dude! Look at this!”

– with a link to a story in the Guthrie Daily Leader. The article said the old hospital had been sold and was about to undergo a major renovation. It would come back to life as an apartment complex for those 62 years and older – ironically, the same age group as those who had been born there decades earlier.

Construction began, and Matt kept me updated on the progress. A little less than two years later, the “Villas of Benedictine Pointe” opened to the public.

Matt couldn’t make it, but early this spring Mom and I were some of the first guests to tour the shiny new facility.

Entering through what was once the ER on the north side, we made it up to the second floor, which in 1963 had been the maternity ward. Mom pointed the way to where her room had been located. We entered the cozy little apartment, but nothing looked familiar until we got to the bedroom.

“This is it,” she said matter-of-factly. “This was our room. Children weren’t allowed in the maternity ward back then, so your Grandma Beutler was standing right there on the lawn with your sister and brother. I held you up to this window, so they could see you.”

Villas Resident Manager Brittany Timmons said that since its re-opening, she has heard from many people who were either born there, gave birth there or were employed at the hospital.

“They are all so very pleased it has been revamped and is no longer sitting empty,” she says. “We have a total of 53 units, and 18 have been leased. Our tenants truly love living here, and we are so happy to have them. Guthrie is a wonderful small town, lively with entertainment. We are so proud to call Guthrie home. The hospital had a rough beginning and a rough middle, but it is going to have a happily ever after.” - MAR K B E UTLE R

Edgar Degas (French, 1834-1917). Little Dancer Aged Fourteen (Petite danseuse de quatorze ans), model executed ca. 1880; cast in 1922. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond. State Operating Fund and the Art Lovers’ Society. Photo: Travis Fullerton. Š Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

E D U C AT I O N

Charging Toward Gold

I

HERITAGE HALL CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

f 1969 promised anything, it was change on a universal scale: political, social, generational. In every sense, traditional boundaries – particularly Earth-bound constraints – were defied as the Boeing 747 made its debut, the Concorde supersonic aircraft launched its maiden flight and the Apollo 11 mission successfully set the first humans on the Moon.

The “Summer of Love” was also a summer of unrest. Throughout the late ’60s and especially throughout 1969, change and unrest were significant themes in Oklahoma City. Public education had come under fire for classroom overcrowding, insufficient educational standards and cross-town busing that would remove young children from their neighborhood schools.

In May 1969, Norman and Maxey Reynolds, unsatisfied with the quality of education their four children were receiving in public school, felt a need for a new private school, as nearby private schools were too full to accept new students. The couple convened a group of concerned parents at their Belle Isle neighborhood home for a series of meetings, which included families from the surrounding elementary districts of Monroe, Mayfair, Burbank and Nichols Hills.

The parents’ group included nine individuals – John Elder, Bruce Morrison, Norman and Maxey Reynolds, Pat Shoemaker, Roger and Sherlene Swan, Albert Welsh and Homer Wiggs – who would become the founders of Heritage Hall.

Acting on a suggestion by Roger Swan, the parents agreed that the new school’s name would emphasize their shared vision of providing their children the highest standard of education, and their unified belief that every American child’s heritage must include such an education.

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On the eve of Heritage Hall’s 50th anniversary, Maxey Reynolds remains the last living member of the school’s first board of trustees – whose legacy is a school that exemplifies its founders’ vision, mission and sincere desire to effect change for the benefit of its students.

In early August, the school’s founders gathered in the Reynolds’ home, resolved to move forward in earnest to establish Heritage Hall for the 1969-70 academic year, mere weeks away. Weeks earlier, Father Robert Shaw, rector of All Souls Episcopal Church, had agreed that the fledgling school could hold classes in the church’s basement classrooms.

A staggering 255 teachers applied for 24 faculty positions during the month of August.

Textbooks were ordered. School desks were assembled. On Sept. 8, 1969, about 200 school children in grades 7-11 became the first Heritage Hall students.

Despite being labeled a “white flight” school in 1969, Heritage Hall was integrated from its earliest existence. The school’s founders pressed for diversity among the student body, remaining dedicated to growth throughout its first decade. By 1975, the school had a new home in northwest OKC between Pennsylvania and Western, accommodating all divisions at a single location. The 112-acre campus that Heritage Hall calls home today accommodates around 930 students from preschool through grade 12.

“We imagined a full school with many wonderful things, which we have achieved,” Reynolds says. “We consistently earn recognition for excellence in academics, athletics and the arts. We’ve got a wonderful music program and a debate program that is nationally known.”

Reynolds credits her late husband and her fellow founders for bringing that shared vision to life. “This was a just a group of people who said, ‘We’re going to do this,’ and we did it.”

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405 MAGA ZINE | SEPTEMBER 2019

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7/26/19 4:54 PM

ON THE SCENE

Jonna Kirschner, Mary Pointer

Michelle Smith, Lindsey Pittman

Joe Dorman, Gov. George Nigh, Joey Gregory, Abigail Woodson

Heroes Ball The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy goes up, up and away to bring supporters an evening of super-powered fun at the Skirvin Hilton, and to recognize Oklahomans who go the extra mile on behalf of our state’s children.

Meredith and Dr. Vamsi Kaliki

Brian Dunning and the Batmobile

Tim Kenney, Michelle Balenseifen

Constanzia Nizza, Tyler Elmore Tawnya Hill, Mitchell Rozin

Melissa Raplin, Patricia Tipping, Rebekah Davis

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PH OTOS BY FR A N KOZ A KOWS K I

HOME

Inside the Miller Mansion BRUCE HALL, MIKE STUART AND A NEIGHBORHOOD LEGACY

BY MARK BEU TLER / PHOTOS BY D ON RISI

Longtime residents Bruce Hall and Mike Stuart have been instrumental in helping to revitalize the historic Miller Neighborhood, so it’s fitting that they feel their home - more than 100 years old and filled with art and treasured antiques - has become part of their identity.

405 MAGA ZINE | SEPTEMBER 2019

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HOME

The sitting room upstairs is ideal for escaping busy schedules.

I

t was October 1994 when Bruce Hall and Mike Stuart met for the first time. Hall was walking his dogs, Stuart was jogging and they stopped to chat. The two hit it off immediately, and soon were best friends.

“We were together for 21 years, and then were married on January 30, 2016,” Hall says. “So next January, we will celebrate 25 years together.”

And much of that time has been spent at their home in Oklahoma City’s Miller neighborhood. “We both had separate houses the first two years we were together,” Stuart says. “We had driven by this stately old house several times, and when it went on the market, Bruce and I went to an open house one Sunday. Within an hour, we had made an offer.”

The couple bought the home in 1997, and it soon became part of the fabric of their lives.

“I think we knew instantly this was going to be our home,” Stuart says. “We have put so much of ourselves into this house; we both have busy lives, and this is our place to retreat at the end of the day.”

The house was built in 1915 by George Miller, who founded the Miller neighborhood.

“Back in the teens and ’20s, Miller was way out in the country,” Hall explains, “so they ran trolley tracks over to the neighborhood to take residents into the city. Our house was known as the ‘Miller Mansion.’”

But by the time Hall and Stuart bought the house in 1997, the Miller neighborhood had fallen into disrepair.

“It was a rough neighborhood,” Stuart says. “There were crack houses around us, and most of the houses were primarily rental

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The spacious dining room is a perfect spot for elegant yet comfortable dinners with family and friends.

“I think, like most people, we spend much of our time in the kitchen,” Stuart says. “We eat casually, and when we entertain, most of our guests seem to migrate to that area.”

Some people collect stamps, or coins … rolling pins (above) are an unusual, and decorative, choice. A cozy sun porch (right) off the guest bedroom allows abundant natural light, and is filled with some of Hall’s treasures from his antiquing business. “My friend Mickey Barnard is a decorator and has a knack for knowing how to place things and make it look like it came out of a magazine,” Hall says.

405 MAGA ZINE | SEPTEMBER 2019

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HOME

WE HAVE BEEN HERE NOW 22 YEARS AND WE’VE NEVER TIRED OF THIS HOUSE. WE LOVE THE HOUSE …

Mike Stuart and Bruce Hall

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The couple added a pool to the backyard, and the outdoor living area is decorated with vintage patio furniture from the 1950s and 1960s. Snapshots of son Garrett and his family are displayed in the main living room, while upstairs is a charming guest bedroom.

properties. Our house had been remodeled before we moved in, but most of the surrounding houses were still in bad shape.”

The two men became active in the neighborhood association and began working on improvements. Hall says he wanted nicer street lighting but was told by city officials that was out of the question. So he began painting the current ones himself – a total of 48 light posts. He mowed the medians and picked up trash, which led to him being named “Neighbor of the Year” by Oklahoma City Beautiful in 2010 and the Neighborhood Alliance in 2012.

Today, the Miller neighborhood is no longer “up and coming.”

It has, in fact, arrived.

“This is a very sought-after, vibrant neighborhood,” Hall says.

“We feel like we have one of the best locations in Oklahoma City.

We are minutes from the highway, minutes from downtown.

But we are close enough to downtown, Midtown and the Plaza District without all the chaos of living there.”

Back in 2000, the couple added a pool to the backyard – they enjoy entertaining friends there in the summer, and set aside time for themselves for staycations.

“We have been here now 22 years and we’ve never tired of this house,” Stuart says. “We love the house, we love the location, we love its history. In fact, we feel like it is part of our identity. I can’t see us living anywhere else.”

Learn more about our classes, camps and free exhibitions coming to downtown Oklahoma City at oklahomacontemporary.org.

oklahomacontemporary.org | @okcontemporary | 3000 General Pershing Blvd. | Oklahoma City | 405 951 0000

E N T E R TA I N I N G 101

Hostess Ease

I

LEMON FIZZ

BE PREPARED TO CHILL

f I have learned one thing over the years about entertaining, it’s that being a good hostess or host means being a relaxed one.

Ways to make this actually happen can vary with the individual, but here are four tips that should definitely help you be a little more at ease.

1. BEAUTY FIRST While setting a beautiful table is always a priority, that doesn’t mean it has to take a lot of time. Laying out some type of greenery down the center is the perfect anchor for a beautiful table and requires only the time to cut and place. Weeping willow branches, with their wispy feel, are one of my favorites. Adding freshly cut garden roses to small vases along the garland is an ideal accessory, and takes no time at all.

2. DRINKS, PLEASE While wine or champagne are easy choices, a mixed cocktail for the evening is a nice touch … but it doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple drink with only a few ingredients is key. This Lemon Fizz is a primo summer cocktail, refreshing and a snap to make.

3. MUSIC, ALWAYS Preparing a playlist for the evening ahead of guests’ arrivals is a great way to get yourself in the party mood, plus having it all set up and ready to go gives you one less thing to think about during the evening.

4. THE PARTY’S OVER Do paper napkins and plastic or paper plates violate number 1 on this list? Not necessarily. With today’s options, finding a disposable white plate and stylish napkin is relatively simple, and the ease at clean-up will make it all the more worthwhile. Mix in flatware and glasses, because you can just pop them into the dishwasher – then sit back, pour yourself one more lemon fizz and listen to a few of your favorite songs to toast a well-hosted fete. - SAR A GAE WATE R S

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In each glass, combine 1 oz. vodka, slice of lemon and sprig of mint.

Stir.

Then add a splash of fruit-flavored Italian soda of your choice, and enjoy.

NO FUSS

Plastic white plates and blue and white paper napkins make the clean-up portion of the evening quick and easy.

CELEBRATION STATION

Check out the playlist on Spotify titled 405 Magazine by Sara Gae Waters.

PH OTOS BY R AC H EL M AU C I ER I

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TRAVEL

A Salute to Shoeless Joe THE SAGA OF A BASEBALL ICON

BY EL AI N E WARN ER

Shoeless Joe Jackson (right) chatting with Babe Ruth in 1920

405 MAGA ZINE | SEPTEMBER 2019

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T R AV E L

Adventure Grandma WITH EL AI N E WARN ER

L

ife is an adventure. Sometimes that means exciting moments such as zip-lining or whitewater rafting, but it’s so much more, too – true adventure is finding something surprising in every journey. I was excited about visiting Greenville, South Carolina, which I knew was a foodie destination with a vibrant downtown. What I didn’t expect was finding a sports story that piqued my passion.

When I walked into the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum in Greenville, the first thing I was told was, “Whatever you think you know about Shoeless Joe, it’s wrong.” Joe Jackson’s biggest fault was that he was naïve. His biggest handicap was that he was illiterate.

He grew up in a small mill town, and went to work in the mill when he was 6 years old. By 12 or 13, Jackson was so good at baseball that he was playing on the mill’s men’s team. He got his nickname while playing on a semi-pro team; new shoes hurt his feet, but he was too valuable to be benched, so he took the shoes off. No one noticed until he hit a triple and slid into third base, where the third baseman yelled, “You shoeless son of a …!” The “shoeless” part stuck.

Jackson hated the name.

By 1910, he was playing with the Cleveland Naps (later to be renamed Indians). In 1911, his first full year with the team, he batted .408. No rookie before or since has beaten that average. In 1915, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox. A few years later, he participated in an event that would go down in history – the 1919 World Series between the White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. “Say it ain’t so, Joe,” entered the American repertoire and Shoeless Joe Jackson became the poster boy for players gone bad.

Except he hadn’t – and nobody ever said, “Say it ain’t so, Joe,” except a sportswriter who wrote fake news.

Before the World Series, gamblers approached some of the Chicago players. The Sox had little love for team owner Charles Comiskey, who was such a tightwad that he made the players pay to wash their own uniforms. (The team was derisively dubbed the Black Sox even before the cheating scandal.)

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Cleveland Naps star Joe Jackson, 1913

The Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum is currently closed for renovation.

Check before you go. For more reasons to visit Greenville and Cincinnati, visit 405magazine. com/travel.

The gamblers wanted the Sox to throw the series.

Since Jackson was the team’s best player, they wanted assurances that he was in on the deal. He wasn’t.

A look at his record for the series should be enough assurance that he was playing to win.

The rest of the story is long and involved, with court appearances, disappearing testimony and cover-ups.

The upshot: Eight Chicago players, including Jackson, were acquitted – although a number of them were actually guilty. The Commissioner of Baseball, however, banned all eight from the sport for life.

For the full story, visit Greenville, South Carolina.

For more about the series, visit the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. Don’t look for a Jackson plaque in Cooperstown, though. Subsequent commissioners could have reinstated Jackson, making him eligible for baseball’s highest honor. They haven’t. This year is the 100th anniversary of the infamous 1919 World Series. Surely, a century later, it’s time to set the record straight.

Jackson was one of the truly great players. And he’s my hero.

I L LUS T R AT I O N BY B R I A N O'DA N I EL

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The park offers guests miles of hiking and biking paths, Segway tours, group tram or private guided tours, horseback riding, and trout fishing for the novice and experienced fly-fisherman alike. You’ll also find an active gristmill, the full-service Canyon Grill, one-of-a-kind nature center and a treehouse built by Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters.

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T R AV E L

A Tale of Touring Cities

A

Cincinnati skyline

and the Roebling Suspension Bridge (a prototype for the engineer’s later work in Brooklyn).

If you’re traveling with kids, you won’t want to miss the Newport Aquarium on the Kentucky side of the river, or the Dinosaur Hall in the Museum of Natural History and Science. One of the city’s biggest celebrities can be found at the Cincinnati Zoo: Fiona was, at birth, the smallest Nile hippo ever known to survive. She’s now well over 1,000 pounds and a favorite with children and grown-ups alike, and was deputized by the Cincinnati Police Department.

LOTS TO LOVE ON AN APPALACHIAN EXCURSION pproximately 400 miles separate Greenville, South Carolina, and Cincinnati, Ohio. What connects these cities on the opposite fringes of Appalachia? For me, it was a desire to follow the story of Shoeless Joe Jackson (see page 38) – but they also share status as sensational tourist stopovers.

GOING GREENVILLE Once a thriving center of America’s textile industry, it’s diversified in a big way. There are more than 120 restaurants in the downtown area; 98 percent are locally owned. Greek cuisine at Ji-Roz, Persian food at Pomegranate, Moroccan dishes at Lazy Goat, a beautiful butternut soup at Passerelle French Bistro and kouign-amann, a decadent Breton cake, at Upcountry Provisions … my best suggestion for tackling this taste fest is taking a Chef’s Table Culinary History Tour. The walking will help counteract the eating, and you get a side of local history in the bargain.

Downtown features interesting shops and galleries, too, while street corners and small parks feature public art. Beautifully landscaped Falls Park includes the gently curving Liberty Bridge, Dale Dale Chihuly’s “Rose Crystal Chihuly’s “Rose Crystal Tower” and part Tower” stands at the south of the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a biker’s must. end of Falls Park.

Add up all these attractions and throw in the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains, and you have a big-time destination with a small-town feel.

QUEEN CITY SERENADE Once known as the “Queen of the West,” Cincinnati’s nickname is now simply the Queen City, and long may it reign.

I stayed in the heart of downtown, within easy walking distance of the Contemporary Art Center, a riverfront park, a giant Ferris wheel

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Fiona, 29 pounds at birth, now weighs over 1,000 pounds.

THE ROAD CONTINUES Read more of Elaine’s travels online, including an examination of the Shoeless Joe connection, by visiting 405magazine. com/travel.

With apologies to Bengals fans, Cincinnati is a baseball town – the Reds are celebrating their sesquicentennial this year, as the 1869 Red Stockings were the first openly all-salaried professional team. The Reds’ first World Series championship came against the “Black Sox” a century ago, back when their players stayed at the classy Metropole Hotel. Today, the 1912 building shines once more (complete with bright yellow penguins) as the ultra-modern 21c Museum Hotel – sometimes everything old becomes new again. - E L AI N E WAR N E R

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41

ON THE ROAD

Tour Tips

Making memories with minimal impact Pack out what you pack in: Take a bag with you to dispose of your waste properly.

Leave Only Footprints

Take your kids: Nature sparks imagination and creativity.

Respect wildlife: Be a quiet observer. Don’t feed, taunt or take wildlife.

I

THOUGHTS ON RESPONSIBLE SIGHTSEEING n my nearly four years at 405 Magazine, I’ve had the privilege of exploring some of the Sooner State’s most far-flung wilderness areas and then sharing my experiences with readers. There is perhaps nothing I love more than finding someplace truly unique and relatively unknown, and sharing it with likeminded souls.

My hope has always been that people not only find as much joy in the natural world as I do, but that in finding that joy, they might also be inspired to protect and care for it.

In this year’s June issue, I wrote a story titled “Other Roads to Summer Adventure: An Alternative Oklahoma Travel Planner,” which included the J.T. Nickel Preserve – a Nature Conservancy property – outside Tahlequah. The Nature Conservancy projects are not state property nor parks; it’s a global, environmental nonprofit with the mission, according to their website, “to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.” Much of the land they have acquired is closed to the public entirely, but certain areas – such as the Nickel Preserve in Tahlequah and the Tallgrass Prairie in Osage County – are open in a restricted manner. Because this organization is a nonprofit, they cannot afford security, and since it is not state-owned, there is no ranger here.

It is private land that the general public is privileged and entrusted to use for recreation and inspiration.

Not long after my article ran, it came to my attention that as visits to the preserve have increased, images of “Instagrammable” spots have spread the word about this sprawling piece of riverside forest. Before long, trash started appearing; then graffiti. Soon, those who once found this spot almost sacred found it simply scarred. The idea that my work driving even a small percentage of the traffic to this hallowed ground might have led to its defacement not only made my heart hurt, but in a way, called into question why I even do what I do. Maybe “hidden gems” are best left hidden.

But I believe we can do better. Our state parks, preserves, refuges and recreation areas operate on shoestring or nonexistent budgets, yet these areas are where we, as a state, truly shine. Let’s let them keep shining.

Keep traveling, but please do so responsibly. - MAT T PAY N E

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SEPTEMBER 2019 | 405 MAGA ZINE

Leave what you find: Leave natural objects such as rocks and flowers behind. They have a purpose to serve in the wild.

Buy it where you burn it: Leave your firewood at home. Instead, buy wood cut within 50 miles of where you’ll have your fire to avoid spreading invasive insects and diseases.

PRESERVATION INSPIRATION “Today, across our land, the National Park System represents America at its best. Each park contributes to a deeper understanding of the history of the United States and our way of life; of the natural processes which have given form to our land; and to the enrichment of the environment in which we live.”

- FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE GEORGE B. HARTZOG

Don’t cross contaminate: Wash your water gear – including kayaks, boots, waders, flotation devices and paddles – with a 10 percent hydrogen peroxide solution before and after use to avoid spreading deadly pathogens that harm wildlife.

Do not release pets into the wild: This includes fish, frogs, lizards and turtles, which can carry fungus that is deadly to wildlife.

DINING The Chigama Panorama A TEMPTING CULTURAL BLEND

BY S TE VE GI LL / PHOTOS BY R ACH EL MAUCI ERI

It is perhaps a bit of a cliche to call something visually appealing “a feast for the eyes,” especially if it’s food-related … so let’s just say that a visit to Asian-Mexican fusion restaurant Chigama in north OKC is rewarding in (and to) multiple senses.

405 MAGA ZINE | SEPTEMBER 2019

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DINING

A

s we three representatives of 405 stood in Chigama, watching and talking among ourselves while dish The spectacular crispy orange chicken (left); after dish was brought out a taco trio spanning walto be photographed and sampled, two nut shrimp, pulled pork and tender duck confit words kept coming up over and over in our murmured conversation: “colorful” and “savory.” Also “ooh” and “wow,” but those were practically involuntary interjections – the More traditional entrees range from food coming out of this fusion concept’s kitchen is a beautifully executed strip steak with seriously impressive. peppercorn butter to the impeccable texThe dining area is a nice little space, too, decorated ture of the crispy salmon to a deceptively mainly in orange with contrasting pops of teal. It’s simple roasted chicken breast – the side filled with shiny and sparkly accents, but isn’t so of mole sauce elevates it tremendously. sleek that it stops being comfortable, especially in the If you’re in the mood for straightforward banquettes and wing chairs along the south wall.

Asian cuisine, the Taiwanese cold noodles Chigama is a collaboration between OKC traditions, are a refreshing summertime treat, and as well as a blend of Latin and Asian cultural flavors: the sweet-spicy balance of the crispy It’s the result of a partnership between chef Jeffrey orange peel chicken makes it perhaps the Khowong, who was a driving force behind Sushi Neko single best thing on the menu. and Musashi’s for years, and the Ha family, whose For a more a la carte experience, former restaurant Dot Wo Garden is still frequently the gourmet tacos are an easy recommourned around our office. mendation. Baja-style fish with mango I asked chef Khowong whether any particular dish black bean salsa, braised angus beef stands out, and without cracking a smile, he replied, with avocado aioli and pickled cabbage, “The whole menu is specialties.” We chuckled at what candied walnut shrimp with chili sauce seemed like a dry sense of humor, but as we began and lime butter, even tender duck confit tasting this dish and that, it quickly became clear that with slivers of granny smith apple and he wasn’t exaggerating much, if at all. dried cranberries … each one is dazzlingly

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CHIGAMA

3000 W Memorial, OKC 405.513.5999 chigamaokc.com

WARMING UP

I make it a point to try menu items that bear the restaurant’s name – what clearer recommendation could you ask for? – so I’m happily in a position to recommend that you start your feast with an order of Chigama fries for the table. Think of a platter of hot, tasty cheese fries, but with three kinds of cheese, plus bacon, Chinese chorizo and frijoles, topped with jalapenos and drizzles of three different sauces. It’s delicious enough to be its own meal, but sufficiently spicy that it might be better shared. Trust me on both counts.

Clockwise from left: Crispy salmon with Brussels sprouts, chili-dusted elote, Ma La chicken in a soy-wine reduction, roasted chicken in mole, jumbo shrimp with candied walnuts; the glittering decor includes a plea for greater and more delicious understanding.

laden with bursts of flavor, and most (especially the pulled pork) go quite well with the accompanying Hatch chile sauce that is spicy for real.

Plus, anything you order will benefit from the addition of some fried buns, fresh mussels or zesty elote from the appetizer menu, or a side of fried cauliflower, chorizo-laced edamame or the must-try sweet corn risotto. If it sounds as though I’m recommending most of the menu, that’s … well, largely accurate. In additional to being colorful and savory, almost everything is strongly tempting.

For those who want to play “Spot the Influences,” expect to see flavors and inspirations from China, Thailand, Japan and Taiwan – Asia is a big place – as well as Mexico and Latin America. Honestly, though, I wouldn’t worry too much about what comes from where; just order a lot and enjoy exploring Chigama’s idiosyncratic world of flavors.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Remembering Chef John Bennett AN OKC LEGEND LEAVES THE TABLE

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Park It, Punk Burger Punk, the food truck that taught us fried onions, nacho cheese Doritos and hoisin mayo work great together on the same burger, will open as a fixed location on Nov. 1. The 84 Hospitality concept (see p. 53) will occupy the space formerly used by The Root just south of NW 30th and Walker. A small, focused menu will feature signature burgers and beers, and whiskey is the only spirit. - G H

A Sip of History

Nearest Green, also known as Uncle Nearest, is the man who taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey. Nearest was a slave when he started young Jack’s training, making his modern-day recognition one of the great moments in American distilling. Uncle Nearest Tennesee whiskey is a great story, and also delicious. Available at Byron’s Liquor Warehouse in OKC and The Spirit Shop in Norman. - G H

PH OTOS: C H EF B EN N E T T CO U R T E S Y C H R I S LOW ER ; B U RG ER PU N K CO U R T E S Y 8 4 H OS PI TA LI T Y; U N C L E N E A R E S T CO U R T E S Y U N C L E N E A R E S T

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o industry news this year is bigger than the loss of Chef John Bennett on July 22. As chef at the Cellar at Hightower, Bennett was the pioneer of fine dining in Oklahoma City.

That was 1964, and Bennett’s influence shaped the next 50 years of food and fine dining in OKC. A lifelong friend of Julia Child and James Beard, Bennett also spent time with Jacques Pepin, the famous French chef, television personality and author. He was a student at the Culinary Institute of America, which was not yet 20 years old when he attended. As dazzling as his circle of culinary celebrity friends was, however, his most important work was done here in Oklahoma City, shaping a generation of chefs and restaurateurs.

Bennett, or JB to friends, was a gifted storyteller, and young chefs who entered his orbit speak fondly of their time at the table listening to him recount remarkable culinary histories.

“He was a good teacher, but I learned more through his storytelling than I did through working with him in the kitchen,” says Melissa Aust. Aust is the executive chef at Stella Modern Italian, which is how she came to know Bennett. “(Owner) Lori Burson had me attend JB’s Christmas party, but she couldn’t go, so I went alone,” Aust says. “I jumped into the kitchen to help, which he appreciated. By then, he was less mobile, so I was able to move around and get things done.”

They would not cook together again until a truffle dinner at Stella in 2016, Aust’s first as Stella’s executive chef.

“JB sat on a stool a good part of the time and told me what to do. He had a Bourbon in his hand,” Aust says with a laugh. “He loved Bourbon. He took one look at my consommé and said, ‘You don’t need my help!’ We had an interesting relationship. He liked that I was an out-of-stater who moved here to work in the boom, and he used to tell me not to let the boys give me any s___.”

Every chef who came across Bennett’s path has a memory of him, and all of them are of a gentleman who was fascinating, funny and insightful. Mostly, though, they remember sitting at a table while he told stories. - G R EG H O R TO N

falling in love

To schedule a private tasting, text or call Russell at:

405.206.4885

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HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE THE SPORTS EXPERIENCE IN OKC

BY GREG HORTON

When it comes to sports, most of us have an attitude that falls somewhere between the performative disinterest of airily dismissing “sportsball” and showing up to a competition with no shirt, a painted face and a lungful of insults for refs and opposing players.

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ome people genuinely don’t care and have never once referred to a franchise or its players as “us”; others plan their vacations around sporting events, make quasi-religious pilgrimages to venerated arenas, lose sleep over a loss or suffer genuine shortterm depression at a playoff-run-ending debacle. Yet most of us sleep pretty well at night, even after our team loses, and the parents who scream at the umps at their 6-year-old’s tee ball game are a thankfully small minority.

Still, sports affect all of us, even if we eschew fandom: the arena paid for with public funding, the parade in the middle of the street, the taxes that support public school sports, the cost to public health of sports-related injuries and even deaths. We as Americans are not alone in this – witness soccer around the world, or cricket on the Indian subcontinent, and the proliferation of violent combat sports seemingly everywhere. Among the first questions we answer in childhood is which sport we’d like to pursue, if any.

In Oklahoma, at least in living memory, the answer had two categories: football and other. Yes, boys played baseball and basketball, and even a little soccer and wrestling, while girls opted for softball, gymnastics, cheer, volleyball, track and field, etc. But football was the dominant form of sports entertainment, even while Okie fans were forced to choose a pro team – Cowboys, Chiefs, the city of your birth – since we had no NFL franchise of our own. In 2005, the ship started its long, slow turn, though, as the devastation of Hurricane Katrina brought NBA refugees to Oklahoma City. The Hornets arrived, and everything changed. Could our city support sports at this level?

Could the NBA steal our gaze from Sooner football? The seasons overlapped about halfway through the semester, so how would that affect both teams?

We know the answers now, and overseeing much of that transition was then-Mayor Mick Cornett, a former sportscaster who was elected to the City Council while still doing play-by-play. Cornett, a lifelong golfer himself who dabbled in running and tennis, ran for mayor in 2003-’04, so it was during his tenure that the Hornets visited, stole our hearts and left. OKC then finagled a team away from Seattle, renamed it the Thunder, and has since been treated to some of the best basketball – at least by individual statistics – in the history of the NBA. To get an overview of the state of sports, we talked to a sampling of locals, including Cornett, whose lives have been changed by athletic competition.

The diversity now found in OKC is astounding, given the dominance of football for so long. That sport continues its reign, but other pursuits are creeping up.

Admittedly, there are no opposition perspectives here; we went all in for the “pro” position. That seems permissible, given that, culturally, we’ve decided that a little bit of sports is good for all of us.

PH OTO BY S H A N N O N CO R N M A N

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CODY LAURENDI Goalkeeper, OKC Energy FC

OKC sports superfans Terri and Mick Cornett

MICK CORNETT Former Mayor, Former Sportscaster, Multi-Sport Athlete

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escribing his life now as “busier than I thought I’d be, and some days busier than I want to be,” Cornett said he is speaking around the world, mainly in support of his book The Next American City.

“The second edition comes out in January, and it includes a new chapter that Penguin-Random House requested,” Cornett says. “I’m focused on building a consulting business, and I do manage to get some golf in.”

Sports in his life has moved through phases: recreation softball in his 30s, running in his 40s and tennis in his 50s. Golf has been the consistent pursuit, and it’s a sport the former mayor would love to see Oklahoma City woo even more.

“We are one of the largest cities in the country without a major golf tournament,” he says. “We simply need a title sponsor, and it would only require one week a year of support, including fan support, which we could easily do in addition to our support of the Thunder.”

Speaking of the Thunder, with the sudden departures of Russell Westbrook and Paul George, the team is faced with an uphill struggle to remain relevant in the short term, and the upcoming season looks unusually uncertain (by comparison; we’re talking about a team that’s made the payoffs nine of the last 10 years) for players and fans alike. Cornett believes that the city is in no danger of losing its NBA franchise, no matter how bad next season looks.

“We’ve sold out all our games, and the fan support is strong,” he says.

“We definitely have long-term viability; like other cities – Portland and San Antonio, for example – the one professional sport model works well in cities of a particular size.”

He is less hopeful about baseball. Talk of a Major League Baseball team has sprung up thanks to the success of the AAA OKC Dodgers franchise in the city, but the scale of operations is much larger for an MLB team.

“At this point we don’t have the corporate base to support a major franchise,” Cornett says. “However, with some infrastructure improvements, a Major League Soccer team is a possibility.”

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stadium for Major League Soccer would need a capacity of about 20,000 seats. The model requires a good-size fan base, but nothing like Major League Baseball, where the stadiums need a minimum capacity of about 40,000. The OKC Energy play in Taft Stadium with its 7,500-seat capacity, and as the only current minor league soccer franchise in the city, the hopes of the sport’s future rest on their shoulders, including those of Florida native Cody Laurendi, the Energy’s goalkeeper.

The team recently underwent a coaching transition with the departure of Jimmy Nielsen and the hiring of Steve Cooke. Laurendi was matter-of-fact about the changes, calling transition in professional sports “inevitable.”

“In that sense, it mirrors life,” Laurendi says. “Good pros understand that and respond accordingly. For me, that means showcasing my skills and strengths and helping the club make a good transition.”

Laurendi has played in Los Angeles and Miami, so his experience with soccer – which goes back to the age of 4 – is shaped by grander stages in larger markets. We asked him about the viability of MLS in Oklahoma City.

“My experience has been fantastic here, but I recognize that the city isn’t ready for MLS,” he says. “The infrastructure isn’t here yet. Look at cities like Austin, Cincinnati and Columbus. They’re pumping millions into the sports infrastructure because they see soccer, as an expression of the country’s growing diversity, is the future.”

Can Oklahoma City get there? “The fan base here is growing,” Laurendi says. “We have generational support now, and the trajectory is toward even more soccer. Highlights are readily available online and on television. The landscape is definitely changing.”

I T ’ S FA R FRO M A D O N E D E A L , BUT AS OF THIS WRITING, A PRO POS ED 10,0 0 0 - S E AT A R E N A CO U L D B ECO M E PA R T O F T H E M A PS 4 C I V I C I M PROV EM EN T PAC K AG E . PR ELI M I N A RY PL A N S C A L L FO R I T TO B E B U I LT N E A R D OW N TOW N , A N D TO A L LOW FO R E X PA N S I O N TO 20,0 0 0 S E AT S I N T H E FU T U R E .

PH OTOS: M I C K & T ER R I CO R N E T T BY R AC H EL M AU C I ER I; CO DY L AU R EN D I BY D O N R I S I

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SAM MAYES

Radio Personality, OSU Alumnus, All-American Offensive Lineman

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occer isn’t the only alternative taking our attention off football. Lacrosse has found an unlikely advocate in The Franchise’s radio personality Sam Mayes, who played on the offensive line at Oklahoma State from 2001-04 under Coach Les Miles. An All-American at the position, Mayes was drafted by the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, but a broken leg suffered during the Senior Bowl hurt his performance in his rookie year. He returned to Oklahoma and played briefly for the Tulsa Talons of the Arena Football League before settling in Stillwater.

“I made some bad decisions during that time,” he admits. “I had no path. I’d never before been told I couldn’t make a team. I was working at a par3 golf course when a longtime OSU fan came in.

He said, ‘Aren’t you Sam Mayes?’ I told him I used to be.”

The low period broke when he started doing a radio show weekly on Wednesday nights. It didn’t pay well, so he worked at Daylight Donuts, too.

The schedule was grueling, but it eventually led to more radio opportunities. His ascent in Oklahoma City radio was rapid, largely due to his natural abilities, great voice, excellent analysis and two of the best teammates in radio: Colby Daniels and Cara Rice. In 2014, Mayes’s “Mid-Morning Mayes” was moved to the prime afternoon drive-time spot and became the “Triple M Ranch.”

Mayes has four kids in his family, three of whom are old enough for sports. The dangers of football are discussed openly in the house, but the sport is not demonized.

“It’s an open conversation in our house, for sure,” Mayes says, “but we also talk about playing the right way: head up, knees bent, deliver hits, don’t take hits. Be the aggressor.”

Mayes said he follows the NFL conversations about chronic traumatic encephalopathy closely, and he doesn’t think enough information is available yet to say with any certainty how CTE begins.

“I’m not going to tell my kids they can’t play,” he says. “We don’t know enough yet. At the same time, I don’t necessarily trust the NFL to tell us all they’re learning in their research. I’m afraid they’ll hide things.”

In the meantime, though, there’s lacrosse, which Mayes calls the “best sport, period.” His girls already play, and he believes it’s an excellent choice for both genders.

“No other sport requires as many skills, and no other sport prepares you to play other sports as

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well,” he says. “Lacrosse requires speed, agility, footwork, endurance, strength, vision, intelligence; it’s the one sport football players should be playing in the offseason.”

Lacrosse has had slow growth in the metro, where football coaches have been slow to support the sport. Precia Barrett, whose son has played since third grade because of “a soccer coach who yelled a lot,” said that Capital City United Lacrosse has had its first player signed with a Division I college program this year. The league has functioned as a “catch all” for kids

who did not live in school districts with active lacrosse teams.

“Girls can play with Endurance Lacrosse, too,” Barrett says. “We’ve not had the growth here that the Heartland League of Tulsa has had. Their football coaches caught on faster to what a great sport lacrosse is for the spring, and so the growth came quicker.”

Barrett expects even more growth thanks to concerns about concussions and CTE brought on by football, and the visibility gained from students being recruited to college programs can only help.

PH OTOS: SA M M AY E S BY C H A R LI E N EU EN SC HWA N D ER ; R AC H EL CO PE BY D O N R I S I

RACHEL COPE Restaurateur, Founder of 84 Hospitality, Collegiate Softball National Champion

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achel Cope may be the only player ever ejected from a softball game by her own coach.

“Some people called it a walk of shame,” she says. “I think it was a walk of rage. The bat may have slipped and sailed all the way to the dugout, so he tossed me. I’d been tossed by an ump before – I was an occasional head case – but being tossed by your coach is embarrassing.”

Cope brings that assertiveness and energy to business, too. She’s also still “an angry loser.” 84 Hospitality now has six brick-and-mortar concepts in the urban core, and Burger Punk near Paseo and Empire Tulsa are in the works. She builds a team, and then delegates responsibilities to the people she thinks best suited for a job.

“Growing up, I was lucky to have parents who never made anything I ever participated in seem

like boys versus girls,” she says. “I carry that attitude to this day – whoever is the best player is who plays. I always want to be the best player.”

That was one of the first sports lessons she learned that was also a life lesson. Many more would follow. You don’t win a collegiate national championship at any level without being fully committed.

“My coaches contributed to the team’s success and my own personal growth in different ways,” she says. “They demanded excellence in different ways, but there were similarities. They didn’t congratulate us for things that were expected, which made the times they did congratulate us seem more meaningful. It was a different kind of positive mental attitude, a real-world kind. There were no participation ribbons and they made sure we knew that. That type of coaching worked for me; it doesn’t work for everyone.”

Sports don’t necessarily translate directly to real-world situations, but they often do. Students need to know in obvious ways that reading and math are more useful long-term than football or softball, and while talk of athletes being leaders is overblown – who, after all, is actually following? – there are valuable business and leadership lessons to be learned in sports done the right way.

“I have a lot of resiliency,” Cope says. “Most of that came from sports: losing when we should’ve won, winning when we should’ve lost and coming back from three ACL reconstructions are good examples from my sports career.

There is no quitting when you own your own company or are the leader of your team. Fall, get up and try again.”

Growing up in Jenks, Cope was exposed to sports programs that featured female athletics as secondary to boys’ sports. Their girls’ basketball teams have been well respected around the state, but even their facilities were co-ed; most money was spent on facilities specifically for boys. The current focus on women’s sports is good for sports as a whole and creates an opportunity to talk about women in sports. Cope wants parents, coaches and teachers to help turn young women into successful athletes and even more successful community leaders.

“For parents, I’d say it’s important to teach your children about women athletes by making a point to take them to women’s sporting events, watching televised events and making an effort to listen to your children when they say they want to play softball and not do cheer,” she says. “One sport is not more acceptable than the other. Let them experience all kinds! If you own a business, sponsor a girls’ team, donate product, use your social media presence to spread the word. There are so many solutions.”

CO PE WO N T H E 20 07 N A I A SO F T BA L L C H A M PI O N S H I P A S A M EM B ER O F T H E O K L A H O M A C IT Y U N I V E R S IT Y STA R S . WI T H A TOTA L O F 10 T I T L E S TO DAT E , O CU I S T H E PRO G R A M WI T H T H E M OS T C H A M PI O N S H I PS S I N C E T H E A N N UA L TO U R N A M EN T B EGA N I N 1981.

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Exploring the

Amazon TROPICAL ADVENTURE ON THE WORLD’S MIGHTIEST RIVER

by Matt Payne

Afternoon rains to starry nights to morning fogs, the immense Amazon River – as seen on an 880-mile adventure with International Expeditions – has many faces.

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A woolly monkey – one of 15 species of monkeys found along the Peruvian Amazon – creeps alongside the river in search of food.

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“When I was a kid, my favorite thing was to wake up early and watch the sunrise over the river,”

says International Expeditions naturalist Juan Tejada, looking out the window as the Ucayali River – a tributary and source river of the Amazon – rolls past us from the deck of the recently renovated Zafiro riverboat. “After the sunrise,” Juan continues, “I would go down to the river by myself when it was quiet, and swim …” he paused again, as though about to let me in on a secret. “… I would swim with the pink dolphins.”

Prior to my arrival to Iquitos, Peru – where my journey through the Amazon began – the idea of such an animal sounded mythical.

Yet as he mentions this to me, a trio of pink dolphins breach the water just to starboard. I take a sip of my pisco sour, waiting for Juan’s next bit of brilliance. The night before, along with much of the staff of Zafiro, he’d put on a musical performance worthy of a stadium tour. In fact, the multi-talented staff ensured that there is never a dull moment – unless, of course, that is what the traveler wants.

Now though, Juan is reverential, as though he knows about something even more magical than a sunrise swim in the river with

Amazon villagers, known as Riberenos, live modestly, adjusting to the rise and fall of the river. Homes are on stilts and food comes from subsistence farming and fishing.

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pink dolphins. But for now, he chooses to keep that bit of magic locked in the Amazon.

“It was really wonderful.”

As if on cue, a pink dolphin breaches the water and takes a breath. Then another.

Along the shore, I can see the high-water mark on trees as we pass. It is early June, and the rainy season has just ended. The river has already receded almost 5 feet and will continue to recede well into the dry season. The river, which now feels more like a lake, will be a ropy brown band of water, and wild animals such as jaguars will come to the river’s edge to feed on caymans. Now, though, with the water still high, my seven-day voyage with International Expeditions will highlight some of the Amazon’s more docile wildlife – sloths, monkeys, butterflies and birds – and also offer a look into the lives of the people who live harmoniously along the river’s edge.

Wildlife is varied and often vibrant along the river, including the Bald Uakari (its red face is actually the result of lack of pigment in its skin), blue and gold macaws, brown-throated threetoed sloths, ferruginous pygmy owls, Jabiru storks and many more. Strangler figs (right page) come from germinated seeds dropped by birds on other trees, growing down to soil and up to sunlight before taking over the host tree entirely.

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Wildlife may be the attraction to the Amazon, but people are what bring the rainforest to life. Whether it is fishermen catching piranha and catfish at the mouth of a tributary or children playing soccer along the river’s edge, the Riberenos are the soul of the river.

Although considered an “Amazon Cruise,” I learned quickly that experiencing the “Amazon” was a little more involved than just hopping into a boat and sailing up (or down) the river. The journey began in the city of Iquitos. The Peruvian city of just fewer than 500,000 is accessible only by air or by boat from the rest of the country, and is where most Amazon adventures begin. The Amazon – the world’s most voluminous river – flows south, but our expedition takes us down the Ucayali, the Amazon’s largest tributary, which actually flows north until its confluence with the Maranon River. The headwaters of the Ucayali, and ultimately the Amazon, are deep up within the Andes Mountains.

Our seven-day wildlife journey takes us into the Pacaya Samiria Preserve, 8,000 square miles of floodable rain forest, surrounded on one side by the Ucayali and by the Maranon on the other. Each stop consisted of an adventure down one of the Amazon’s 1,100 tributaries or a visit to one of the river’s vibrant communities, like the one where Juan grew up, and the Riberenos who call the river home.

Explore our photo essay to experience what makes Juan’s Peruvian Amazon such an irreplaceably magical place.

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ON THE R ADAR

EVENTS GUIDE These listings are not related to advertising in 405 Magazine. To submit an event for potential inclusion (at least six weeks in advance), please email events@405magazine.com.

EVENTS SEP 6 OKCMOA RENAISSANCE BALL An OKC classic continues to thrive in this graceful, elegant fundraiser - whose powerhouse afterparty is a beauty of a different kind.

OKC Golf & Country Club, 7000 NW Grand, OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa.com SEP 6-28 PHOTOFEST It’s a snap! The Paseo’s photography exhibition (judged by juror Nathan Poppe) and sale is a great snapshot of the medium’s possibility.

Paseo Art Space, 3022 Paseo, OKC, 525.2688, thepaseo.org SEP 7 THICK DESCRIPTIONS SOIREE Dedicated to cultural awareness and context to better understand each other, Thick Descriptions welcomes civil rights scholar Dr. George Henderson to this gala. Dunlap Codding, 609 W Sheridan, OKC, 397.0584, thickdescriptions.org SEP 7 VEGFEST A celebration of healthy living as part of a plant-based lifestyle, this OKC iteration of a nationwide event is a good way to learn about community resources.

Myriad Gardens, 301 W Reno, OKC, vegfestokc.com SEP 7-8 WGSO TOUR The Water Garden Society of Oklahoma’s 33rd annual tour shows off members’ carefully cultivated H2O highlights; explore and get inspired.

Throughout OKC, 802.6800, wgso.org SEP 12-22 STATE FAIR Disney on Ice, a cavalcade of live concerts, thrilling rides, livestock exhibitions, a wonderland of sweet and savory treats to taste … there’s only one Great State Fair of Oklahoma. State Fairgrounds, 333 Gordon Cooper, OKC, okstatefair.com

12 x 12 Making a Big Impact OVAC’S MAJOR EVENING OF MINOR ART

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f you’re looking for a new art piece that’s not too big – fitting exactly within 12 inches by 12 inches – the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition is hosting an event just for you. The 12x12 Art Fundraiser is a silent and blind auction featuring small works by 175 Oklahoma artists.

“I always think it is a fun way to see all of the different types of work being created in the state, all in one place,” says Krystle Brewer, executive director of OVAC. While admiring the wide variety of small-scale art, you also can enjoy live music and tempting food from local restaurants. All proceeds at this entertaining event go directly to supporting Oklahoma’s visual artists through grants, education and exposure.

“We believe that Oklahoma is a vibrant place for artists to thrive in their careers, and that Oklahoma artists are worthy of our support,” says Brewer. “It is the rich arts and culture community that make our communities such wonderful places to call home.”

The works will be open to the public for viewing Sept. 9-15, and the 12x12 Art Fundraiser will be held Sept. 20 at 50 Penn Place. For more information, visit 12x12okc.org. - MAD I SO N BO LTO N

SEP 14 SEPTEMBERFEST Oklahoma history takes center stage at this annual celebration of the state - it’s packed with educational opportunities and fun activities for kids.

OK History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi, OKC, 521.2491, okhistory.org

SEP 13 ANTE UP The NCWHM shuffles and deals out a fundraiser with Old West saloon ambiance, but without any dadburn four-flushin’ polecats. Nat’l Cowboy Museum, 1700 NE 63rd, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org

SEP 19 MISSION OF HOPE City Rescue Mission’s 20th annual fete features storyteller Joe Castillo, Councilwoman Nikki Nice as emcee and the unmistakable aura of making real positive change in the lives of vulnerable citizens. Nat’l Cowboy Museum, 1700 NE 63rd, OKC, 232.2709, cityrescue.org

SEP 13 SOS GOLDFISH RACES And they’re … off?

You don’t have to pick the fastest fish to have a great time at this inaugural cocktail party benefiting Specialized Outpatient Services. Dunlap Codding, 609 W Sheridan, OKC, 810.1766, oksos.org

SEP 19 OKC TOWN HALL The Town Hall lecture series returns for its 87th year, kicking off a new slate by welcoming “Father of Supply-Side Economics” Art Laffer for a keynote address. Church of the Servant, 14343 N MacArthur, OKC, okctownhall.com

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SEP 21 WALK FOR WISHES More than 3,000 wishes from critically ill children have been granted by Make-A-Wish Oklahoma; this family-friendly event is instrumental in keeping the philanthropy flowing. Myriad Gardens, 301 W Reno, OKC, 349.7375, oklahoma. wish.org SEP 22 MESTA FESTA You don’t have to live here to enjoy this chill neighborhood block party; grab a local beer, hear some live tunes, play beach volleyball and just enjoy. Mesta Park, 1900 N Shartel, OKC, mestapark.org SEP 25 TASTE OF WESTERN One of OKC’s most delicious districts shows off its tempting delights in an evening of excellent food, adult refreshments and live jazz. Will Rogers Theatre, 4322 N Western, OKC, visitwesternavenue.com

SEP 26 HARN HOMESTEAD SOCIAL Dinner, drinks and dancing in cowboy casual chic - A Night on the Prairie helps continue the preservation of this historic homestead from territorial days. Harn Homestead, 1721 N Lincoln, OKC, 235.4058, harnhomestead.com SEP 27 FLIGHT FOR FUTURES Good times and good vibes are now boarding at this 5th annual fundraiser; the food, drinks and fun benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County. Wiley Post Airport, 7200 NW 63rd, OKC, 602.5712, bgcokc.org SEP 27 ZOOBREW You can’t spell hippopotamus without IPA; the Zoo is gearing up for an epic party featuring beer flights from more than 40 breweries, plus music and assorted deliciousness. OKC Zoo, 2101 NE 50th, OKC, 425.0618, zoofriends.org

PH OTOS CO U R T E S Y OVAC

ON THE R ADAR

SEP 28 TINKERFEST As the name implies, it’s a hands-on event; SMO’s free day of creative learning encourages experimentation and discovery, filling the museum with experts and explorers ready to learn. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington, OKC, 602.6664, sciencemuseumok.org SEP 29 OK ALE TRAIL This autumn promenade is an Edmond Fine Arts Institute jam - a three-mile fun run featuring complimentary craft beers brewed for this event after each lap. Slainte!

The Patriarch, 9 E Edwards, Edmond, 340.4481, edmondfinearts.com SEP 29 NICK OFFERMAN He probably won’t demonstrate his chair-caning technique, but you never know Offerman enjoys doing his own thing, which is often extremely funny.

The Criterion, 500 E Sheridan, OKC, 840.5500, criterionokc.com

MUSEUMS SEP 14-DEC 8 A GIVING HERITAGE Generosity and hospitality are cornerstones of a Native tribe in this exhibition of cultural exploration, subtitled Wedding Clothes and the Osage Community. Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua, Norman, 325.4712, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu SEP 14-JAN 5 CABALLEROS Y VAQUEROS The Old West didn’t invent the cowboy - this exhibition traces the evolution of the figure on horseback from its globespanning cultural origins. Nat’l Cowboy Museum, 1700 NE 63rd, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org

MUSIC SEP 5-7 BANJO FEST The Alison Brown Quintet, The Grascals and Johnny Baier & Buddy Wachter headline this three-day tribute to an all-American instrument. American Banjo Museum, 9 E Sheridan, OKC, 604.2793, banjofest2019.com SEP 6 KYLE REID & SAMANTHA CRAIN A double dose of top-notch local music: Reid and the Low Swingin’ Chariots bring the rollicking New Orleans-style jazz and swing, Crain the emotionally resonant folk infusion. Legacy Park, 1898 Legacy Park, Norman, normanarts.org SEP 12 UCO PRESIDENT’S CONCERT The university’s Symphony Orchestra, Concert Chorale, Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensemble and more combine their musical efforts to honor Patti Neuhold-Ravikumar. UCO Mitchell Hall, 100 N Broadway, Edmond, 974.5686, uco.edu/cfad SEP 17 INTERPOL The post-punk powerhouses from NYC are bringing their gloomy, glamourous sound to OKC’s Film Row - expect choice cuts from newest album

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A Plaza Pleasure ONE OF OKC’S COOLEST STREET FESTIVALS RETURNS

W

hat began as a passion project to save an increasingly dilapidated OKC community has grown into a celebration of the best in local business, music, art, food and more, as its neighborhood has become one of the hottest destinations in town. The 21st Plaza District Festival is on Sept. 28, featuring new musical and visual artists, activities for children, food vendors and retailers – and attendance remains free.

The festival “is a celebration of the revitalization of the plaza district and a collaboration of all things local,” says Selena Skorman, executive director of the Plaza District. “We are lucky to be considered … a jumping-off point for young artists and musicians.” This year’s lineup includes 35 visual artists and “so many great musicians,” Skorman says.

Whether you are wanting to sample the best of local talent in OKC, or you just want a fun and enriching way to spend a Saturday, Skorman said there is something for everyone at the festival. Check out plazadistrict.org for details. - JAC K SO N WE LL S

Marauder. The Criterion, 500 E Sheridan, OKC, 840.5500, criterionokc.com

Theatre, 425 NW 23rd, OKC, 708.6937, towertheatreokc.com

SEP 20 TOMMY EMMANUEL Nobody plays quite like Australian émigré Emmanuel, but he’s unquestionably an international master of solo acoustic guitar, and he’s hitting Rose State to jam with special guest Joe Robinson. Rose State Hudiburg Center, 6000 S Trosper, Midwest City, 594.8300, okcciviccenter.com

SPORTS

SEP 21 WATERMELON SLIM Bill Homans had a hard-knock, ramshackle life as a younger man - an ideal foundation for becoming one of the best bottleneck guitarists and blues singers you’ve ever heard. Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley, OKC, 524.0738, bluedoorokc.com

SEP 7 OSU VS. MCNEESE ST It’s an all-Cowboys showdown in Stillwater, and while the FCS visitors are comfortable underdogs, fans should relish their first chance to see OSU defend their home turf. Boone Pickens Stadium, 700 W Hall of Fame, Stillwater, 877.255.4678, okstate.com

SEP 24 MELODIC MASTERS Brightmusic’s new season of exquisite chamber music begins with an evening of works by Brahms, Suk and Tailleferre. St Paul’s Cathedral, 127 NW 7th, OKC, brightmusic.org

SEP 8-22 ENERGY FC We’re aproaching the end of the season, so prime playoff position will depend on getting all 3 points at every opportunity - like against New Mexico United Sep. 8 and Sacramento Republic FC Sep.22. Taft Stadium, 2501 N May, OKC,

SEP 25 CARRIE UNDERWOOD Oklahoma native Underwood’s Cry Pretty tour roars into OKC, bringing her amazing vocals and special guests Maddie & Tae and Runaway June. Chesapeake Arena, 100 W Reno, OKC, 602.8700, chesapeakearena.com SEP 30 CALEXICO / IRON & WINE Both entities are loosely looped into the indie folk genre, but when they combine, as on recent release Years to Burn, the musical whole is greater than their parts. Tower

SEPTEMBER 2019 | 405 MAGA ZINE

SEP 1 OU VS. HOUSTON It’s finally football time in Oklahoma once again! The Sooners begin their Big 12 title defense at home in a rare Sunday tilt against the always dangerous Cougars. Owen Field, 1185 Asp, Norman, 325.2424, soonersports.com

SEP 29 OKLAHOMA DERBY It’s post time for a full day of horse racing excitement, including a wine festival, Derby Day hat and tie contests and the $400,000 main event.

Remington Park, 1 Remington Place, OKC, 424.1000, remingtonpark.com

THEATER SEP 4-22 FROST/NIXON Lyric takes a break from musicals to dial up the drama in a stage

adaptation of British journalist Frost’s riveting post-Watergate interviews with the disgraced Preident Nixon. Lyric’s Plaza Theatre, 1727 NW 16th, OKC, 524.9310, lyrictheatreokc.com SEP 6-22 EVERY BRILLIANT THING By turns delightfully funny and searingly sad - and sometimes both - this play about balancing depression with the best things in life is a workout for the emotions. OKC Civic Center, 201 N Walker, OKC, 848.3761, cityrep.com SEP 20-27 THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Painted Sky Opera kicks off a new season with one of comic opera’s all-time greats; love (and subterfuge) find a way in Rossini’s lighthearted romp. OKC Civic Center, 201 N Walker, OKC, 594.8300, paintedskyopera.org SEP 24-29 FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Change is a part of life, and each generation must decide what is worth maintaining. You don’t have to be a rich man or woman to relish the wealth of theatrical joy in OKC Broadway’s take on this musical tradition.

OKC Civic Center, 201 N Walker, OKC, okcbroadway.com SEP 27-29 THE MUSIC MAN Musical theatre is a great reason to visit OCU (with a capital O and that rhymes with go and that means you), so don’t miss this tuneful treat. OCU Kirkpatrick Center, 2501 N Blackwelder, OKC, 208.5000, okcu.edu

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RESTAURANT GUIDE These listings are not related to adver tising in 405 Magazine. If you f ind that a rest aurant dif fers signif icantly from the information in it s listing or your favorite rest aurant is missing from the list, please let us know.

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most entrees under $10 most entrees $10 to $25 most entrees over $25 outdoor dining reservations accepted valet parking new or updated entry

AMERICAN BLACK WALNUT Blending American cuisine with the neighborhood’s rich cultural history, with an eclectic, vibrant menu, thoughtful food and an unbuttoned atmosphere. 100 NE 4th, OKC, 455.6273

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BLOCK 23 The Sheraton’s house restaurant is a casual, contemporary, convenient spot for breakfast, lunch or drinks and snacks on the patio. 1 N Broadway, OKC, 455.6273 BUTTERMILK Get a fresh, hot start to the day at the Paseo’s brick-andmortar version of a beloved OKC food truck, specializing in a wide range of deliciousness served between biscuits.

605 NW 28th, OKC, 605.6660 CAFÉ 501 Stone oven pizzas, fresh salads and specialty sandwiches on house-made breads. Add welcoming atmosphere and enjoy. 501 S Boulevard, Edmond, 359.1501; 5825 NW Grand, OKC, 844.1501 HEFNER GRILL Upscale fare of steaks and seafood plus a tempting brunch, enhanced by a live piano and a spectacular view overlooking Lake Hefner. 9201 Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 748.6113 MARY EDDY’S Inside Film Row anchor 21c Museum Hotel, this showplace of a restaurant turns out a stellar menu of expertly tuned flavors and dishes meant to be shared. 900 W Main, OKC, 982.6900

NED’S STARLITE LOUNGE A successful family catering business grew into a lavishly retro-decorated bar serving burgers, chicken-fried steaks and more.

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NIC’S PLACE Justly renowned for his skill at the grill, burger master Justin Nicholas offers dinner and drinks served in outstanding style at this Midtown diner and lounge. 1116 N Robinson, OKC, 601.

9234 THE PRESS Oklahoma-inspired comfort food in a former printing

facility and garage in the Plaza District – the chicken-fried steak comes recommended. 1610 N Gatewood, OKC, 982.1010 SCOTTIE’S DELI Soups, salads and especially sandwiches, all made from scratch and featuring meats that are cured, smoked and cooked in-house.

Start with the pastrami and get ready to fall in love. 427 NW 23rd, OKC, 698.3696 SCRATCH Isn’t that the best place for food to come from? Top-of -the-line ingredients are combined into carefully concocted entrees, sides and wondrous craft cocktails. 132 W Main, Norman, 801.2900; 607 NW 28th, OKC SOCIAL The menu at this gathering spot is packed with American classics – and brunch is served every day of the week.

1933 NW 23rd, OKC, 602.8705

ASIAN CHIGAMA Think of it as Asian-slashMexican; influences of both cuisines are ample in this kitchen’s creative tacos, rice bowls and other wideranging treats. 3000 W Memorial, OKC, 513.5999 GOGI GO Fast-casual Korean barbecue in Midtown; pick your protein and customize the ingredients to a delicious bowl or wrap and get ready to come back again and again. 1325 N Walker, OKC, 778.8524 GUN IZAKAYA It’s not about firearms; think Japanese street food like sizzling yakitori, plus super-fresh seafood, shareable plates and a bar loaded with serious sake. 3000 Paseo, OKC MAGASIN TABLE Midtown’s home for a modern take on Vietnamese cuisine – think pork buns, savory pho and especially the exceptional banh mi sandwiches. 3 NE 8th, OKC, 212.2751 SUSHI NEKO An established OKC favorite combining style with substance (in the form of an especially wideranging and creative sushi menu). 4318 N Western, OKC, 528.8862

BAKERY GANACHE They serve les sandwiches, but this patisserie excels at mouthwatering croissants, macarons, tarts and other baked treats inspired by the owners’ studies in Europe. 13230 Pawnee, OKC, 267.912.5536 LA BAGUETTE Comfortable ambience and exquisite baking make a tres chic destination for brunch and beyond.

1130 Rambling Oaks, Norman, 329.1101; 2100 W Main, Norman, 329.5822 PIE JUNKIE A Plaza District haven for serious pie aficionados. Call ahead to order a whole pie or quiche or walk in and choose from what’s on hand; either way, the flavors are incredible. 1711 NW 16th, OKC, 605.8767

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he OKC dining scene has grown immensely in breadth and variety – it might have been difficult 10 years ago to imagine a vegan food truck being successful enough to expand into a brick-and-mortar restaurant, but we found a crowd eating and a line at the counter in the middle of a weekday afternoon at The Loaded Bowl, 1211 SW 2nd. While its Farmers Market-adjacent location is nice synergy for customers who care about quality ingredients, the outstanding cashew mac and cheese is rich and delicious enough to draw admirers anywhere, especially if you get it with the Down Home Bowl’s meat-free barbeque and broccoli.

BAR & PUB FOOD BLU Just south of Main Street, this sleek bar stands out due to quick, courteous service and a menu with gourmet range.

201 S Crawford, Norman, 360.4258 THE MANHATTAN A stylish bar in the heart of downtown, its cocktail menu is packed, and don’t overlook the selections of sandwiches, salads and tasty treats.

210 Park Suite 150, OKC, 605.5300 OAK & ORE A Plaza District port of call, it’s best known for a carefully curated rotating selection of craft beers, although the menu (especially the fried chicken) is amply rewarding. 1732 NW 16th, OKC, 606.2030

music and atmosphere of an Emerald Isle public house back to the metro – go raise a glass. 7628 N May, OKC WHISKEY BISCUIT Serving “Southern cuisine with a modern twist” – think oyster sliders, biscuits and gravy with fried crawfish, steak po’ boys and brunch all day. 322 NE 2nd, OKC, 673.7944 THE WINSTON A menu packed with intriguing possibilities among “elevated pub food” balances out an impressive selection of beer, wine and whiskies.

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PUB W Multiple sections provide a choice of atmosphere, but the menu filled with choice beer and “new classic” fare is a constant pleasure. 4 metro locations, pubdub.com

DECKLE SMOKEHOUSE Offering true Texas-style pit barbeque (nothing but oak for their smoke), its brisket, ribs and house-made German sausage are excellent. 324 W Edmond, Edmond, 657.2992

SEAN CUMMINGS IRISH RESTAURANT The namesake chef brings the food, drinks,

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entrees are excellent, and the sides here are equal players as well. 3700 N Shartel, OKC, 524.5925 SWADLEY’S Expertly prepared meats star in this Oklahoma chain’s crowd-pleasing menu. And if there’s a special occasion approaching, they’re also award-winning caterers. 6 metro locations, swadleys.com

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BURGERS & SANDWICHES COW CALF-HAY This tempting burger spot offers ample flavor combinations, and the delicious never-frozen patties are mmmmmassive. Don’t forget the onion rings. 3409 Wynn, Edmond, 509.2333; 212 N Harvey, OKC, 601.6180 NEW STATE BURGERS The Plaza needed a burger place, and this little spot fills the bill perfectly thanks to wellexecuted griddle-top burgers and other options, and a robust, excellent cocktail menu. 1705 NW 16th, OKC

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TEXLAHOMA BBQ Family owned and fabulously flavorful, its meats (especially the beef ribs) are eyerolling good. Don’t forget the espresso barbeque sauce! 121 E Waterloo, Edmond, 513.7631

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THE PRITCHARD WINE BAR Tempted by tempranillo? Musing about muscat? This Plaza District stop is amply stocked with exceptional wines, and sampling the varied dishes is a pleasure in itself. 1749 NW 16th, OKC, 601.4067 ROCOCO An “East Coast-style” restaurant with a diverse menu of international dishes, all set off by carefully selected wines to create the perfect dinner pairing.

12252 N May, OKC, 212.4577 SIGNATURE GRILL Unassuming locale; magnificent culinary rewards. The expertly considered menu mixes French and Italian flavors to present a few select dishes. 1317 E Danforth, Edmond, 330.4548

FRENCH CAFÉ CUVEE Located in Midtown’s magnificent Ambassador Hotel, this paean to the flavors of la belle France is a collaboration between star chefs and elite ingredients. 1200 N Walker, OKC, 898.8120

TUCKER’S ONION BURGERS With one burger, one side (fries) and one salad, the menu is easy to remember - and the execution makes the meal unforgettable. Add a shake and enjoy. 4 metro locations, tuckersonionburgers.com

FAIT MAISON This classical French restaurant delivers exceptional cuisine made with exacting care – the name translates to homemade – for exquisite, if pricy, event dining. 152 E 5th, Edmond, 509.2555

ALL ABOUT CHA Universal standards and unusual concoctions (the sweet potato latte is a wonder) in a cheerful atmosphere; the food options are worth investigating, as well. 5 metro locations, allaboutcha.net ELEMENTAL COFFEE Seriously spectacular coffee roasted in-house, augmented with locally sourced salads, breakfast options and other vegetarianfriendly treats. 815 N Hudson, OKC, 633.1703 RED CUP Curl up for conversation over great coffee, baked treats, vegetarian breakfast and lunch specials, and live music. It’s highly recommended. 3122 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 525.3430

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PASEO GRILL Quiet and intimate inside, cheerful and comfortable out on the patio, with an award-winning menu inspired by the cuisines of Europe– try the duck salad. 2909 Paseo, OKC, 601.1079

NIC’S GRILL It’s small, it’s cash-only and the lines are often long, but the colossal onion burgers are easily among the metro’s best. Cheese and everything?

1202 N Penn, OKC, 524.0999

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THE METRO A perennial favorite that feels comfortably upscale, the far-reaching menu covers culinary high points from vichyssoise to crème brulée. 6418 N Western, OKC, 840.9463

THE MANTEL Steaks, seafood and other specialties combine with a refined atmosphere and outstanding service for a truly memorable meal, especially if you have a date to impress. 201 E Sheridan, OKC, 236.8040

LA BAGUETTE BISTRO Les Freres Buthion have deep roots in the city’s culinary landscape, and this flagship combines fine dining with a great bakery, deli and butcher on site. 7408 N May, OKC, 840.3047

INDIAN GOPURAM - TASTE OF INDIA A full-service restaurant whose richly appointed interior and attentive staff accord patrons the feel of fine dining, even during the plentifully stocked lunch buffet. 4559 NW 23rd, OKC, 948.7373 MISAL OF INDIA A Norman institution for over 30 years, specializing in tandooricooked delicacies and boasting healthy, natural, delicious cuisine served. 580 Ed Noble Pkwy, Norman, 579.5600 TAJ A set of Indian staples and delicacies - the menu has sections for vegetarian, tandoori, South Indian and Indo-Chinese specialties - plus full lunch and dinner buffets. 1500 NW 23rd, OKC, 601.1888

ITALIAN & PIZZA BENVENUTI’S Subtly flavored minestrone to rich, hearty ragouts, the splendid menu

keeps the booths full and diners planning return trips; don’t overlook Sunday brunch. 105 W Main, Norman, 310.5271 BELLINI’S Founder Tommy Byrd is back at the helm of the revitalized OKC legend, where the atmosphere is comfortably cool and the menu remains filled with classics.

6305 Waterford, OKC, 848.1065 MONI’S Handmade, New Jersey-style brick oven pizza and authentic pasta recipes from Southern Italy in a casual, comfy ambience (ideal for dates). 17200 N May, Edmond, 285.5991 OSTERIA Casual and unforgettable, thanks to a knockout menu of Italian inspiration and expertise from chefs Fabio Viviani and Jonathon Stranger.

6430 Avondale, OKC, 254.5058 OTHELLO’S Garlic bread and warm mussels to tiramisu and coffee – all you could want in a romantic Italian café.

434 Buchanan, Norman, 701.4900; 1 S Broadway, Edmond, 330.9045 PIZZERIA GUSTO Neapolitan-style pizza (which uses an extremely hot fire to quickly cook superfine flour crusts) stars alongside Italy-inspired entrees, pastas and appetizers. 2415 N Walker, OKC, 437.4992 SPARROW House-made pasta, locally sourced produce and fresh takes on classic dishes are helping this cozy Italian restaurant near downtown Edmond to soar. 507 S Boulevard, Edmond, 815.3463 STELLA A luscious spate of legitimately Italian tastes for a casual lunch, or romantic dinner, amid stylish scenery.

The weekend brunch offerings are especially superb. 1201 N Walker, OKC, 235.2200 VICTORIA’S A relaxed atmosphere for enjoying superb pasta – the chicken lasagna and linguine with snow crab are especially excellent. 215 E Main, Norman, 329.0377; 3000 SW 104th, OKC, 759.3580 VITO’S RISTORANTE Homestyle Italian cuisine in an intimate setting where the staff and management treat customers like guests in their home. Calling ahead is recommended. 7628 N May, OKC, 848.4867 VOLARE A flavor-filled variety of Neapolitan-style pizzas, produced with haste from a specially imported oven, fill this stylish Campus Corner space boasting a serious rooftop patio. 315 White, Norman, 310.3615 THE WEDGE Wood-fired pies crafted from fresh ingredients (including figs or truffle oil) and made-from-scratch sauces. 230 NE 1st, OKC, 270.0660; 4709 N Western, OKC, 602.3477

MEDITERRANEAN & AFRICAN QUEEN OF SHEBA Practically the definitive example of a hidden treasure, the spicy, vegan-friendly menu of Ethiopian delights awaits the bold.

Bring friends and be prepared to linger.

2308 N MacArthur, OKC, 606.8616 ZORBA’S For well over 20 years, Zorba’s has satisfied appetites and pleased palates with family recipes and flavors of Cyprus, Spain, Greece and Morocco.

6014 N May, OKC, 947.7788

MEXICAN & LATIN AMERICAN 1492 Authentic Mexican cuisine in an elegant atmosphere, combining its caliente flavors with fusion decor to make an ideal spot for a romantic evening. 1207 N Walker, OKC, 236.1492 FRIDA SOUTHWEST Food in bloom; drinks in spirit; a stunningly beautiful space in The Paseo. Southwestern spices set off a menu filled with choice and packed with flavor. 500 Paseo, OKC, 683.7432 MEXICAN RADIO Adding savor to the Plaza with a “laid-back taco shop” and more that favors flavor innovations over traditionalism, and good tastes for all.

1734 NW 16th, OKC, 900.5608 YUCATAN TACO STAND A Bricktown haven for feisty Latin fusion cuisine plus signature nachos and combos … and a selection of over 75 top-shelf tequilas. 100 E California, OKC, 886.0413

SEAFOOD C’EST SI BON The name is accurate: it is impressively good for lovers of Cajunstyle po-boys and crawfish etouffee, and the award-winning catfish is a must-try.

101 N Douglas, Midwest City, 610.2555 CRABTOWN A huge Bricktown warehouse where the Cajun Crab Boil is a favorite, guests are encouraged to “leave the silverware at home and dig in,” and taste is king. 303 E Sheridan, OKC, 232.7227 THE DRAKE The Good Egg Group’s flagship and a standard-bearer for diners who crave excellent seafood, it features the sea’s finest, plus an oyster bar and tempting cocktails. 519 NW 23rd, OKC TRAPPER’S FISHCAMP Zesty, widely varied flavor from the Pearl’s family of restaurants finds a comfortable home in a backwoods fishing lodge atmosphere with a full bar. 4300 W Reno, OKC, 943.9111

STEAKHOUSE MAHOGANY PRIME STEAKHOUSE The ambiance and service are sublime, but fine aged steak broiled to perfection is the star. 3241 W Memorial, OKC, 748.5959; 100 W Main, OKC, 208.8800 MICKEY MANTLE’S This lushly atmospheric social spot in Bricktown serves powerhouse entrées and sides with a full complement of amenities destined to impress. 7 S Mickey Mantle, OKC, 272.0777

CROSSFIT HAS LITERALLY CHANGED MY LIFE. I feel better in my 30’s than I ever did in my 20’s. I’m stronger, I’ve lost weight, and I’ve gained muscle. I’ve definitely gained more self-confidence.

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Lost and Confused NAVIGATING LIFE WITH A BROKEN INTERNAL COMPASS

U

BY L AUREN ROTH

nlike me, my mom has always been judicious in her use of profanity. She only cursed once a year – you could almost set your watch by it – while we were in the Buick on a family

vacation. As dad nervously negotiated Dallas traffic to find the Ramada Inn, he’d prompt her to give him directions from the map she was holding (upside down). It was like poking a rattlesnake.

“I can’t read the damn map!” she’d snap, right on schedule.

Directions, or a lack thereof, were her Achilles heel. Map or no map, asking my mom for directions was pure folly on my dad’s part. She had the homing instincts of a merry-goround and he knew it.

My mom’s annual map-reading meltdown should have tipped me off that the females in my family are short-changed on internal GPS. She and I once set out for Tyler, Texas, from Dallas – I drove, while my mom “navigated” what should have been a 100-mile trip. Three hours later, on our approach to Texarkana (nowhere near Tyler), it occurred to me that she and I share what can only be called the LAC gene: Lost And Confused.

This is a dominant family trait – I inherited it from my mom and recklessly passed it to my daughter. For us, north, south, east and west are superfluous to any conversation related to wayfinding. Why not just chat about algebraic theory while you’re at it? If you asked any of us which direction we’re facing, we’d say in unison, “Forward.”

My interpretation of direction is that north is always up. South is always down. East is to my right. West is to my left. Intellectually, I’m aware that this kind of spatial orientation is both comical and dangerous – precisely the kind of logic that could lead to a deserted gravel road on the sketchy side of town where I’ll be robbed of the fillings in my teeth – but knowing that doesn’t seem to help.

Nothing inside me sets off an alarm that warns, “Heyyyyy … this doesn’t feel right,” as I drive or walk, sometimes for hours, in the wrong direction. Cab drivers could make a fortune on me if they knew how far out of their way they could really drive before I questioned their choice of routes.

Something very Total Recall-ish also happens in every elevator: My mind is wiped clean of any internal compass once I’m inside.

When the doors re-open, I have no idea where I am in relation to my surroundings. I exit toward the wrong direction every time, only to hear Mr. Roth say, “Other way, love.”

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SEPTEMBER 2019 | 405 MAGAZINE

NATURAL GIFT I read recently that leatherback turtles swim 8,000 miles from Indonesia to California before returning to the very same beaches where they hatched. By contrast, I’ve relied on my car’s GPS to get me out of the mall parking lot more than once.

The missing compass is inconvenient at every (wrong) turn. Excursions on foot turn into blister-filled double marathons. It’s nearly impossible to be anywhere on time without a half hour cushion for my “circling the block” ritual. Detours are the geographical equivalent of working a Rubik’s Cube behind the wheel. Nighttime navigation? A fool’s errand.

When I listen to someone giving me directions, I think, “Charlie Brown’s teacher got a new retainer.”

My Lost And Confused gene is a good predictor that I’ll be that elderly resident who sets off the alarm at the back of the retirement home before wandering aimlessly through an open field in search of the 2 p.m. bingo game. Hopefully Mr. Roth will find me to say, “Other way, love.”

I LLUS T R AT I O N BY C H A D C ROWE

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