July 2023

Understanding Regenerative Medicine

Optimal Health Associates focuses continuously on providing the best scientific care practices to its patients. One newer area over the last several years is the focus on Regenerative Medicine. What does this mean? The intention of Regenerative Medicine interventions is to move from reacting to disease events with medicines or procedures to altering or improving normal physiologic processes to attend to the disease or symptoms. This can be done primarily through restarting routine cellular activity that has abated through age, stress or disease event. Whether as simple as hormone replacement therapy, nutrition, mitochondrial functionality improvement or providing targeted human cellular tissue products (formally called stem cell derivatives) there are a myriad of options to rehabilitate symptoms and disease events with this approach. Ultimately, regeneration means helping a person’s cells or intracellular organs return to normal. This in turns leads to tissue then organ and ultimately whole body restoration without more significant reactive medical interventions. There are a variety of options available for almost any condition. The Optimal Health Provider Team is ready to help!

look BETTER feel BETTER

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This exhibition was organized by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Photo © Museum Associates / LACMA.

A Guide to OKC's Coffee & Pastries

The delicious, caffeinated elixir fuels us, and baked goods warm our hearts. From roasts to drinks to pastries, we scoured the 405 for the best coffee for your cup and pastries to complement.

Trending

The

Dining

Culture

60 ARTS

Canterbury Voices sings its latest season with a new director

62 SPORTS

Row, row, row your way to Riversport OKC’s top-tier races

64 IN CONVO WITH

Artist Jay Sage puts a match to explosive, emotional portraits

66 TRAVEL

Venture into the otherworldly frontier of South Dakota

68 LOOKING BACK

Theme parks of the past once thrilled the 405

70 ONE MORE THING

Hollywood touches down in Oklahoma for "Twister" sequel

12 FROM

Coffee flight styled by 405 team, macarons from Ganache Patisserie. Photo by Charlie Neuenschwander.

OWNER | PUBLISHER Jordan Regas jordan.regas@405magazine.com

VICE PRESIDENT  Kaley Regas kaley@hilltopmediagroup.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF  Julie Partin julie.partin@405magazine.com

ART DIRECTOR Cadence Ramos cadence.ramos@405magazine.com

MANAGING EDITOR Evan Musil evan.musil@405magazine.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Jake Durham, Kristen Grace, Bennett Hill, Evie Klopp Holzer, Greg Horton, Helen Jacob, Matt Kirouac, Linda Miller

CONTRIBUTING

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kimberly Martin, Rachel Maucieri, Charlie Neuenschwander, Sarah Strunk

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Meagan Matthews meagan@hilltopmediagroup.com

CLIENT COORDINATOR

Leesa Neidel production@405magazine.com

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE Lisa Munson

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Drew Smith drew.smith@405magazine.com

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Kendall Morgan Hammack kendall.morgan@405magazine.com

DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Raylee Lewis raylee.lewis@405magazine.com

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consent

Matthew D. McReynolds D.D.S

From Loathe to Love

THERE ISNʼT A THING IN THE WIDE WORLD THAT HAS TRAVeled farther between the ends of my desire spectrum than coffee. As a kid and teen, I couldn’t understand how my dad savored on the daily this putrid, bitter, brown bean water. My gateway into the world of coffee happened in the usual way: a desperate late-night study session in college that called for something stronger than soda. I ordered a Pumpkin Spice Latte (basic, I know) in a Hail Mary situation, and to my surprise … it wasn’t horrible. In fact, I found myself craving them more and more.

Fast forward to today: I have a dog named Java and my early morning cup of joe is the reason I get out of bed in the morning. Don’t get me wrong, I have all kinds of fulfi lling reasons to get moving. But being a chronic insomniac and night owl, waking up has always been a challenge. When the sun comes up and the alarms start dinging, I know if I can just zombie crawl my way to the coffee station and take a few sips, I will be ready to face the day.

Healthy or not, it has become a joke and an understanding in our family — no questions for mom until after she has had a few sips. People have bought me hilarious mugs on the topic.

“No coffee no talkie.”

“May your coffee be stronger than your daughter's attitude.”

“Coffee is my love language.”

It gives me immense pleasure to present to you our mouth-watering “Guide to OKC’s Coffee and Pastries,” because nothing complements a beautiful caffeinated drink like a scrumptious treat (pg. 4). For this cover shoot, we had the shops bring their yummy items to our new office space. I’ll be honest in saying that feasting on the delicious pastries after the shoot was a little slice of heaven. We have some incredibly talented bakers in this town. Don’t miss the interactive coffee passport map (pg. 4)!

Also in this issue, we are excited to introduce you to a young OKC chef who has already made international waves on the small screen (pg. ) and a fi ne artist whose work is literally on fi re (pg. 4).

BEHIND THE SCENES

To help beat those hot summer temps, we offer hydration tips to keep you cool and healthy this sweltering season (pg. ). We also feature a modern and serene design spread (pg. ) and entice your appetite with eatery options in Bricktown and the warm weather favorite that is chicken salad (pg. ). Finally, we’re keeping you in the know with the lowdown on the major studio movie currently fi lming all over the metro (pg. ).

I hope you are having a summer worth savoring!

Enjoy,

Julie Partin EDITOR IN CHIEF

TRENDING

TV to Table

After two appearances on "MasterChef," Gabriel Lewis is cooking up private cuisine in OKC. p. 20

Pretty in Purple

The royal hue can be calm or eye-catching

BY BENNETT HILL

SYMBOLIC OF WISDOM AND POWER, THE COLOR PURPLE ALSO carries a look, and feel, of femininity. Purple was once considered a luxury item due to its painstaking production process, but it’s now seen everywhere from the runways to the streets. In a variety of shades, there is sure to be a hue for every person to show off their softer or more striking emotions. This versatile color looks perfect on everything from a flowing sundress to a dazzling accessory or a graphic top. Time to embrace your inner royalty!

1. Rag & Bone White Label, Andi in Lavender; Edit & Co. 2. L*Space, Santorini Dress in Jewel; Edit & Co.

3. Seychelles, Sweetener Clog Sandal; Betsy King Shoes 4. Valerie Naifeh Design, Sapphire Star Necklace; Naifeh Fine Jewelry 5. Another Love, Floral FIA Ru e Edge Sleeveless Top; Silver Accents

Bubbles & Blooms at OKCMOA

PHOTOS BY LOGAN WALCHER

A new event concept, Bubbles & Blooms, debuted on the Roof Terrace at OKCMOA during Art in Bloom. The 21+ cocktail party featured floral-inspired cocktails by WanderFolk Spirits and floral decor provided by Trochta’s Flowers and Garden Center, plus light bites, skyline views, a DJ and interactive performers in the galleries. Art in Bloom featured floral sculpture interpretations of works from the museum’s permanent collection, all crafted by designers from the Oklahoma City community. The floral installations were displayed in-gallery and throughout the museum.

Hometown Heroes

Visit Oklahoma City honored hometown heroes at an award ceremony held at Will Rogers Theatre. The honorees were selected based on their passion for OKC, leadership in the industry, collaborative spirit and ambassadorship for the destination. The Hometown Hero awards were bestowed upon 12 individuals and organizations that have energetically supported and promoted Oklahoma City tourism. Awards were presented to the following: EMBARK; Matt Kirouac; Brian Byrnes, Oklahoma City Thunder; Jim Glover and Dan Corder, Ground Floor Cafe; Mike Knopp, Riversport OKC; Denise Duong and Gabriel Friedman; Florence Jones, Florence’s Restaurant; Justin O'Neal, Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership; Avis Scaramucci, Painted Door Gift Boutique; Embassy Suites Downtown/Medical Center; The Ellison; and Gary Carpenter, National Reining Horse Association.

Alex Towler-Bliss and Shelby Ford

Nicole Moan and DJ Ostara

Lin Sanchez, Betsy King, Amber Kern

Interactive floral performers provided by Trochta's Flowers and Garden Center

Julie Partin and Carissa Pennington

Malissa Skrastins and Lavinia Creswa

Hearts of Hope

PHOTOS BY DANIELLE MAYES

City Rescue Mission is a place of refuge in Oklahoma City for those experiencing homelessness that provides a clean, safe place to stay and successful programs and services to help transform lives. Its 24th Annual Hearts of Hope Luncheon at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum featured Amanda Taylor of

as the

A Night in Asia

The OKC Asian Chamber held its first-ever gala with more than 360 guests at La Bella Event Center. During the event, Chamber President Scarlet Le-Cao introduced the organization’s first executive director, Cassie Kalancha. It also recognized three inaugural award honorees: The Civic Pioneer Award went to Super Cao Nguyen Market (Ba Luong, co-owner), the Vanguard Award to Jeff Chanchaleune of Ma Der Lao Kitchen — a James Beard Award finalist — and the Emerging Entrepreneur Award to Jenny Nguyen of Lee’s Sandwiches and Bun Box. Vietnamese, Filipino and Indian appetizers were provided by four guest chefs, including Chef Jeff Chanchaleune, Chef Bryan Le, Chefs Vangie and Ben Vilog and Chefs Khurshid and Israt Jahan. Dinner was a lavish and unique four-course culinary creation from Golden Phoenix.

Sofia Weaver, Alba Weaver, Matt Weaver and Rep. Daniel Pae

OKC Asian Chamber Founding Board of Directors

Gala Emcee Tasneem Al-Michael

Mohit and Shweta Singh

Tran Nguyen and Ba Luong

LaNita Martin and Barbara Green

Dr. Dan and Lien Nguyen

KWTV News 9

emcee and Dr. Amy Newberry, LPC-S, RTP, as the keynote speaker. This year's luncheon was chaired by Kati Christ and supported the Impact Project: Rest & Restoration.

CEO of City Rescue Mission Erin Goodin and Mary Cutter

Yes, Chef

Gabriel Lewis turns up the heat on his dream

BY KRISTEN GRACE

PHOTO BY CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER

IN 2017, 19-YEAR-OLD OKLAHOMAN GABRIEL

Lewis rose from fast food anonymity to television fame with his performance on season eight of the hit show “MasterChef.” His authenticity and ingenuity won over audiences watching at home, as well as celebrity judges Gordon Ramsey and Aarón Sánchez.

On the show, Lewis was able to work closely with Ramsey, whom he has watched and been inspired by since he was 9 years old. When Lewis was cut from the show in seventh place, Ramsey offered to send him to culinary school, saying, “It’s very rare we see such raw talent come through this competition. You’ve got the potential to be huge in this industry — you just need the right training.”

Lewis chose to attend Johnson and Wales University — Denver, but the arrival of the pandemic sent everyone home. That didn’t stop Lewis from continuing to work and learn. He created his own website with recipes and instructional videos for home cooks, which blossomed into his own cookbook releasing July 14, We Got Food at Home

Gabriel Lewis made it on "MasterChef" with the culinary skills he learned from his family.

The burgeoning cook operates as a private chef under his own business and has worked for several brands and celebrities, including Sylvester Stallone. Lewis also works with local organizations, such as Loveworks Leadership, to create pop-up cooking classes and five-course dinners.

But Lewis didn’t start with a formal background in cooking. Before he competed on season eight and later season 1 of “MasterChef,” he grew up in the kitchens of his “three matriarchs” — his mother, Lisa, his aunt Gertrude and his grandmother Valerie. The youngest of four siblings, Lewis spent much of his free time in his family kitchen experimenting with fl avor combinations and the art of food preparation. Here, he learned that food is an expression of love and care, as well as innovation and creativity.

“I love seeing the look on the face of my clients when the food hits their table,” he said. “Cooking for people is caring for them.”

He’s been exploring new tastes and recipes recently. Lewis said that he has been interested in going back to his roots but with innovative twists. “I’ve recently done a karaage chicken and waffles: crisp cornbread waffles, togarashi-spiced karaage chicken, tare syrup and roasted miso corn butter.”

Lewis' hands already bear scars, which delineate his culinary journey. “If you want to learn from a chef, you watch their hands; you can learn the most from a chef’s hands,” he said. He has been able to watch and learn from the hands of several of his role models, such as Gordon Ramsey and Cat Cora, as well as his own family members.

His advice to young people with a dream in this career? “Don’t listen to the naysayers. Start by taking one ingredient, such as chicken, and learn to cook it every way that you can. Believe in yourself.”

For information on his classes, cookbook and private chef experiences, visit chefgabeonline.com or find him on Instagram at @the_gabriellewis.

The Hydration Situation

Making sure you get the water your body needs

BY HELEN JACOB

Tips for staying hydrated:

• Eat your water. According to the National Academy of Medicine, we should eat 20% of our daily water intake. Cucumbers, watermelon and oatmeal are great uid-heavy foods.

• Drink plenty of water before going in the pool. When you’re playing and being active, you’re sweating just as much as you would out of the pool — you just can’t see it.

• If you nd yourself forgetting to drink water throughout the day, try carrying around an insulated water bottle, such as Simple Modern's 32 oz. bottle, so you always have ice-cold water on hand.

• Sick of the taste of water? Flavor it: add a lemon wedge, cucumbers and mint, or infuse your water naturally with fruit. Coconut water or 100% fruit juices are good alternatives.

ON AVERAGE, WATER MAKES UP about % of our bodies. It comprises about % of body weight in infants and about % in older adults. And since that water can’t be stored, it needs to be replaced constantly. We know getting enough water every day is vital for life, but how much do we actually need?

The “eight glasses of water a day” recommendation comes from the 194 United States Food and Nutrition Board, which advised  1/ liters of daily water intake. However, some argue the fi ndings weren’t based on any solid evidence, and the recommendation also stated that water intake could come from food sources. Registered and licensed dietitian Shaina Yohannan recommends 11 1/ cups per day for healthy women and 1 1/ cups per day for healthy men. Of course, this can vary based on health concerns such as breastfeeding, increased activity level, renal diseases, heart failure, etc.

Dehydration, or a loss of body fluids, results in mood changes, headaches and unclear thinking, and it can lead to constipation and kidney stones. Anyone can become dehydrated, but there are a few groups that are most at risk. This includes babies and infants — due to a lower body weight, they are more sensitive to small amounts of fluid loss. People with long-term health conditions such as diabetes or alcohol addiction are also prone, as well as athletes, who can lose a greater amount of body fluid through sweat.

Being dehydrated can also lead to reduced motivation and increased fatigue, which can make exercise more physically and mentally difficult. Even mild dehydration (fluid loss of 1-%) can affect your energy levels and mood and lead to an impairment in memory and brain performance. Considering that muscle is about % water, it’s wise to have a bottle of water nearby during intensive exercise.

Your thirst reflex is how your body tells you that you’re in a water deficit. However, this tends to fade with age, so older people can become dehydrated without knowing it. You can usually tell when you’re starting to feel dehydrated if you’re sluggish or have a headache. A good indicator is to look at the color of your urine. It should be a pale-yellow color; if it’s a brighter or darker yellow, you need to drink more fluids.

On the other hand, there is no real advantage to drinking excessive amounts of water. It’s a myth that drinking more water helps flush out toxins or helps your kidneys in any way that’s significant. A 1 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association tested this using 1 patients with kidney disease, and in the end, drinking more water did not benefit any of them in terms of kidney function. The only change from drinking extreme amounts of water will be the color of your urine, which may go from pale-yellow to clear, but this has no medical implications for your health.

• Stay away from dehydrating drinks such as soft drinks, beer, hot cocoa and sweet tea. Anything packed with ca eine or sugar should be balanced with plenty of water to accompany it.

• Your body has low levels of water when you wake up in the morning, so it’s a good idea to start your day by drinking a glass.

The quantity of water has no direct correlation to the quality of your skin, either. Unfortunately for skin enthusiasts, drinking water won’t prevent the top layer of your skin from becoming dry or determine its moisture level. Furthermore, chugging copious amounts of water won’t help you lose weight, though if you’re replacing liquid calories such as soda or coffee with cream and sugar, it can reduce your overall calorie intake.

“Just meeting the daily needs is best,” Yohannan said. “Excess can lead to fluid overload in some individuals, which can cause hyponatremia,” which is when the sodium level in the blood is below normal.

Despite the things that water can’t do, there’s a lot more that it does. It regulates your body temperature, lubricates your joints, protects your spinal cord and gets rid of wastes through urine, sweat and bowel movements. It’s important to optimize your water intake to help your body and brain function and generally improve your well-being.

What are Human Cellular Tissue Products and how can they help patients?

HCTP, scientifically known as exosomes, are nano-sized, extracellular vesicles that play a pivotal role in cell-to-cell communications. They potentially provide regenerative properties and anti-inflammatory responses necessary to heal tissues and injuries. HCTP therapy is the process of delivering nano-particles to targeted areas of the body, and it works as a catalyst for whole-body health and regeneration. This therapy can offer pain and joint management, immune system modulation, tissue revitalization, and more.

When should someone consider hormone replacement therapy HRT?

Hormones are gland-made chemicals used to control specific actions of cells and organs. They regulate the body’s functions and keep everything running smoothly; however, when the hormones become imbalanced, HRT becomes an option. HRT is designed to correct the imbalance and should be done in conjunction with labwork and a detailed clinical visit to provide individualized therapy designed for each patient’s unique needs.

What therapies do you offer for erectile dysfunction?

Men dealing with erectile dysfunction often have underlying causes that generate es the overall problem. ED can stem from prostate issues, surgical side effects, medications, diabetes, or hypertension to name a few. ED doesn’t always mean complete loss of function. After a detailed clinical visit and lab work, our provider will determine a treatment plan that could include shockwave therapy (EWST), cellular tissue product injections, or medications.

How does O3 work in the human body?

Ozone represents the continued adoption of agitating therapies to improve cellular function. Injury leads to healing. The newer concept of sparking intracellular responses by stimulating a pseudo injury to cells is the mechanism of action for O3. Rather than damaging cells, ozone when applied correctly elicits restorative responses on a molecular level within the body. This directly leads to regenerating anti-oxidant species to balance oxidative metabolism, alters inflammatory mediator cascades, and revitalizes mitochondrial function which in turn improves cellular performance that is the basis for better tissue and organ activity. O3 also retrains cells to utilize oxygen more successfully and has a role as a potential anti-infective.

The summary from a clinical perspective is that Ozone Therapy gives the opportunity to correct or regenerate metabolic processes which have become imbalanced physiologically. This therapeutic option can be used to potentially address difficultto-resolve medical conditions.

Ozone Therapy benefits can include reducing fatigue and inflammation and improving circulation and cellular efficiency.

TheWood Garden

Good Balance

Geometric, symmetrical details create Zen inside this Edmond home. p. 28

Conversations and Fresh Air

Making the most of the beauty in your backyard.

BY JULIE PARTIN

WHEN HOSTING A GROUP OR COMPANION, LOOK NO FARTHER THAN YOUR own outdoor space. Of course, shade or evening time slots are recommended to beat the heat.

Flowers or elements of greenery from your garden make a simple and glamorous centerpiece and table accents. White plates and napkins are the perfect backdrop for a sprig of ivy placed beside a small piece of fruit. Light options, such as lemon hummus paired with white wine, will keep the vibe lively — and the fresh air, chirping birds and sounds of nature in the summer are certain to accentuate your quality time together.

PHOTOGRAPHER: RACHEL MAUCIERI STYLIST: SARA GAE WATERS

A Home Well Lived-In

The Kellys create their own space for new memories

BY EVIE KLOPP HOLZER

PHOTOS BY SARAH STRUNK

ERIN KELLY REMEMBERS THE FIRST MEAL SHE AND her husband, Mark, shared in their newly constructed home. Two long years of planning and purchasing had come to fruition. Everything was perfectly placed, in pristine condition.

“We were sitting, eating dinner, and Mark said, ‘Gosh, I feel so anxious,’ and I was like, ‘I do too!,’” Kelly said with a laugh about that confessional moment. “Immediately, we started touching everything; we didn’t want any of it to feel too precious.”

The Kellys agreed to stop worrying and start living. After all, one of their goals for their new Edmond home was “no wasted space,” according to Kelly. Having two young daughters and a puppy helped.

With building plans underway, the Kellys had partnered with interior designer Meghan Cates of Meghan Cates Design Studio to create a home that was beautiful but practical. Kelly had several inspirations saved from Pinterest, and Cates had the expertise to execute.

“God help designers these days, because I’m sure Pinterest is the bane of their existence,” Kelly said.

Highlighting the 21-foot ceilings is the Kuzco Lighting Chute pendant, which serves as both a light source and a sculptural work of art.

Erin Kelly's geometric vision for the dining room was realized through vertical wall paneling, one of many carpentry marvels found throughout the home.

The curvy, sculpted lines of the kitchen banquet make this nook extra inviting.

The City Maps wallpaper by Rifle and Co. in the girls' bathroom pairs perfectly with the vanity in SherwinWilliams' Blue Peacock.

FROM TOP LEFT, CLOCKWISE:

A favorite perch for the family Aussie-doodle, the Lennon Bed from Arhaus makes the primary bedroom feel light and airy.

The foyer's floating staircase, which aligns perfectly with the window, blends elegance and functionality.

Sparrow wallpaper tops off this dreamy bedroom, designed for the Kellys' twin daughters.

In the primary bathroom, black tile contrasts beautifully with golden plumbing fixtures and wooden slats.

The kitchen features Piatto Pendant lighting from Visual Comfort and Portinari marble, installed to seamlessly carry from the backsplash to the ledge wall.

When it comes to online finds, Cates said she often helps clients edit and focus — drilling down on only the best ideas and locking in (rather than scrolling for more ideas) once design decisions are finalized.

“I feel like Erin already had such a vision for this home,” Cates said. “She had all these awesome ideas … [I was] just making sure that they were all cohesive with the materials, lighting and paint colors — things like that.”

The Edmond home showcases Scandinavian modern design in a welcoming way. Custom carpentry, saturated colors and geometric details flow throughout the home, almost luring visitors from one symmetrical space to the next.

“We're both science nerds, and we like symmetry,” Kelly said. She is a physician, and Mark Kelly is a dentist. “[The balance] just makes you feel good.”

Cates said the home’s overall warmth accurately reflects Erin Kelly’s friendly persona. The two became close friends during the design-andbuild collaboration, blending their ideas and navigating hiccups together. And of course, there were a few.

“Construction is not perfect — ever,” said Cates.

Kelly advises anyone building a home to have patience and understanding.

“Keep in the back of your head that everyone wants the same end result,” she said. “Everyone wants a great product. Everyone wants a place that you're really happy with.”

The Kelly family is all thrilled with this end result: a family home that is becoming more and more well-lived-in every day.

“People talk about their dream home, and for us, this is so much more than that,” Kelly said. “It’s the place where we plan to make our lives’ memories. There's something so sweet when we put the girls to sleep and we're sitting down here, watching TV, before bedtime. You hear the little pitter-patter of feet across the ceiling upstairs.”

Sometimes, Kelly said, those little feet come to the wooden slats dividing the stairs from the living room. “I love you,” the girls whisper before running back to bed. The family is making this new home their very own — practically perfect in every way.

EXQUISITELY ECO-CONSCIOUS

Get a sneak peek of the first stop on our home tour

This summer, Cadillac sent designer, stylist and star gardener Linda Vater on a home tour adventure around Oklahoma City and Edmond to talk with homeowners about their architecture, design and landscaping. In this captivating three-part video series, we delve intimately into the inspiration and distinctiveness of each home.

Linda cultivated her gardening skills and acumen for 30 years at her Tudor-style home, and she shares her lessons learned with 158,000 subscribers on YouTube and in her book, The Elegant and Edible Garden. We asked Linda for her expert take on this fabulous OKC home — and these are her answers.

405: What did you find remarkable or unique about this home?

VATER: The owners expressed their personal value set throughout the home in its eco-conscious design, family-friendly practicality — expressed in exquisite modern ways — and brilliant, focused use of color.

405: In what ways did you see the family reflected in the design of the home?

VATER: I see them reflected in the functional, tough materials to handle the demands of a boisterous family with pets, with lots of spaces to gather and congregate indoors and out. There’s lots of room for the whole family to entertain and engage in so many ways.

405: What parts of the home do you think will inspire others?

VATER: I think the fabulous indoor-to-outdoor views will, and how nature is everpresent as a muse wherever you are. I love the vivid use of green!

PRODUCED BY 405 MAGAZINE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Linda Vater @potagerblog

Roasters, cafes and caffeine appreciation around the 405

WORDS BY GREG HORTON PHOTOS BY CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER

CAFE EVOKE/TWISTED TREE:

Frozen Oatchata

Lemon Poppy Berry Scone

Chocolate Ganache Cruffin

Pain Au Raisin

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie

Croissant

Blueberry Scone

few years ago, a commentator on a nationally syndicated podcast mentioned that because coffee contains caffeine, many Americans go about their days with all the resultant side effects of regularly ingesting a psychoactive drug. Allow me to speak for all of us: Hush. We don’t care. Give us our psychoactive deliciousness, and let us enjoy it while you drink your fizzy water or orange juice.

No matter an individual’s preference — black, sugar, sugar and cream, loaded with whipped cream, oozing with caramel or poured over ice cream — coffee is our national addiction, but as addictions go, it’s benign and wonderful.

Only one thing makes coffee better: a bite of something sweet. So we’ve compiled a list of coffees and pastries around the 405, and we’ve broken the businesses down into the coffee roasters and the coffee shops. Most of the roasters also have a shop, but not all.

We asked Ian Flemming, owner and roaster at Sincerely Coffee Roasters, why the roast is important. Turns out it’s not just throwing green coffee beans in a big oven and waiting till they turn brown.

“Roasting smaller batches in a roastery is for the purpose of being more intentional about the roast profile for each batch,” Flemming said. “Single-origin coffees are coffees coming from a single place of origin, both country and usually farm or lot. Both of these are usually signs of quality because of the intensive sorting and attention to detail from growing to picking to processing and to roasting that happens at the farm or roastery.”

The roast profile is the important part for our flavor preference, so we asked him to explain that, too. Even if it doesn’t help you enjoy your coffee more, you’ll at least understand how special and specialized this task is, and why you should hug your roaster next time you see them (ask permission first).

“A roast profile is a chart that consists of the temperature and time during the process of roasting,” Flemming said. “It’s usually noted in 30-second increments. The measurements are checked visually and aurally because the beans go from green to yellow, yellow to orange, orange to brown, and then there is an audible ‘crack’ that roasters use as a significant checkpoint. The coffee is then tasted according to the time and temperature it comes out of the roaster, and that becomes the profile.”

By finding the best flavor profile in the process, the roaster is then able to replicate the process over and over to give you consistently delicious coffee. You’ll find information about Sincerely below, along with many more of the 405’s local roasters and coffee shops.

- IAN FLEMMING, OWNER AND ROASTER AT SINCERELY COFFEE ROASTERS

SINCERELY COFFEE ROASTERS:

Grapefruit Shandy

Mango Chili Lime Scone

Cheddar Jalapeño Scone

ELEMENTAL COFFEE:

Cardamom Cream Pie

Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie

Cool Hand Luke

THE rOaSTErS

Clarity Coffee, 431 W. Main St., OKC

The downtown shop is home to one of Oklahoma’s most respected roasters, and the founder and one-time partner in KLLR Coffee, Steve Willingham. His shop is clean, bright and bustling, given its location in the central business district. The staff is famously friendly, and the coffee is stellar. Seasonally, he adds outstanding coffee drinks, like the pumpkin spice latte made with fresh, local pumpkin. Pastries are from Quincy Bake Shop.

Coffee Slingers, 1015 N. Broadway Ave., OKC

The OG roaster in Automobile Alley, Coffee Slingers was one of the first shops to take coffee seriously. It still does, with a full roster of French presses, Americanos, cold brews and even the Nitrane — coffee with nitrogen, much like a good beer. It even has drinks for the kids, such as hot chocolate and Italian sodas, and the pastries come from Harvey Bakery and Kitchen.

Elemental Coffee, 815 N. Hudson Ave., OKC

One of the turning points in the development of Midtown was the decision by Elemental’s then-owners to locate their shop and roastery at NW Eighth and Hudson Avenue, the site of H & 8th Night Market, the massive nighttime food truck festival in the glorious days before COVID. As of last year, the partners are now Laura and Allie Phillips-Shinn, roaster Marcus Smith and Elena Hughes, the latter of whom has been overseeing Elemental’s delicious food program since she joined the team in 2014. Highlights include the cookies, especially the salted chocolate chip, and pastries, like the blueberry lemon hand pie that occasionally appears in the pastry case.

Eote Coffee Company, 7 NE Six th St., OKC

For Todd Vinson, coffee started as a side project, second to his work as the founder of Willow Springs Boys Ranch near Chandler. The spiritual components of Vinson’s life and work are made plain in the name EOTE — “ends of the earth.” Fortunately, it’s not a gimmick; he cares about people, and he cares about coffee. The shop is located in the Central Exchange Building, and it’s one of the more striking settings you’re likely to see in a coffee shop, with its post-industrial-meets-comfy vibe, the roaster operation behind the counter and large windows lending a diorama feel to the aesthetic. Vinson is a great collaborator, so you’ll find pastries by Ganache Patisserie on the counter, as well as Ganache’s Nutella Italian shortbread cookie (it’s complimentary!) and syrups from Matthew Griffin's Rose & Thorns.

Hoboken Coffee Roasters, 224 S. Division St., Guthrie

There are stories, and then there is the story of Trey and Mallory Woods riding their bikes from Oregon to Oklahoma after selling their car to buy an espresso machine. They’d moved to Oregon to dive into coffee culture, and they brought their experience and expertise to Guthrie, a town that was just beginning to see its potential as a culture destination. The cafe and roastery are in an old garage made beautiful by their hard work. It’s a popular hangout in Guthrie with a lovely patio, beautiful interior, comfortable vibe and delicious pastries.

KLLR Coffee, kllrcoffee.com

(It’s pronounced “killer.”) Before he launched Clarity Coffee, and after he left Elemental as roaster, Steve Willingham co-founded KLLR Coffee. The company is still running fine without a storefront, but you can find its coffees in many local restaurants, and you can buy them online at its website. The focus is small-batch and single origin, and the beans are roasted to perfection.

Leap Coffee Roasters, 44 NE 51st St., OKC

Named for leap day 2016 — when the Starkeys purchased the roastery from founders Gary Hargrave and Lee Morrison — Leap is best known for its Artist Series, a project that puts local artists on bags of coffee and on the shelves of major retailers. The Starkeys have collaborated with Ebony Iman Dallas, Eyakem Gulilat and Amanda Zoey, among others. The focus is small-batch and blended coffees, all of which you’ll find on its website or at the roastery the first Friday of every month.

Not Your Average Joe, nyaj.coffee

The mission is what gets people’s attention. NYAJ hires people with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities, and roaster Hannah Barstow makes good coffee. The five locations are cozy and friendly — especially Midtown, where the patio is dog-friendly, including a water bowl, and the walk-up window is very convenient.

Prelude Coffee Roasters, 3 NE Eighth St., OKC

Located in the 8th Street Market east of Automobile Alley, Prelude roasts its beans weekly, so the coffee is always fresh. In addition to full coffee service, it collaborates with Urban Tea House and Woodshed Teas and offers pastries from Quincy Bake Shop. Prelude also features ceramics from a local artisan, and you can subscribe to its coffee program so you never need to leave your house to get great coffee.

Sincerely Coffee Roasters, 1325 N. Walker Ave., OKC

Ian Flemming makes coffee for people who like coffee, not coffee drinks. That means that while the lattes at Sincerely are delicious (still waiting for it to be autumn so the house-made butterscotch returns), the pour-over and drip coffee have remarkable balance and drinkability. For those of us who love black coffee, Sincerely is a happy place. Flemming offers a subscription service, too, and his package design is among the best in the business. As an added bonus, there are fresh-from-the-oven scones and tacos from Taqueria Lupita most days.

30TH STREET MARKET/ HOLEY ROLLERS:

Vanilla Bean Donut

Strawberry Basil Donut

Vanilla Lavender Donut

Strawberry Chocolate Cheesecake Donut

Tawbi Organic Coffee Roasters, 7519 N. May Ave., OKC

The focus at Tawbi is in the name: organic beans. The roastery creates blends to achieve specific flavor profiles rather than focus on terroir — the French wine term that describes the taste of a place as much as the product. The bags are adorned with Oklahoma critters as a reminder that the organic concept matters, and the shop provides full coffee service, tea and a few other beverages.

Yellow Dog Coffee Company, 222 S. Porter Ave., Norman

Yes, owners Robert and Sereta Wilson love dogs; they even help operate a dog rescue. But the coffee is also very good. Images of dogs, including the eponymous yellow lab, adorn the bags and are an important part of the shop’s decor, but the Wilsons have built their Norman brand on quality roasts and great, friendly service. The scones from local Sconed are beautiful, creative and delicious.

Zero Tolerance Coffee and Chocolate, 913 W. Britton Rd., OKC

In a perfect world, Maura and Roy Baker would have a line down the street outside their Britton shop every day. The veteran-owned roastery and cafe features bean-to-cup coffee and bean-to-counter chocolates. Maura oversees the day-to-day operations, including the roasting, and all the equipment needed to make the chocolate is behind the counter. The breakfast is excellent — on a very good day, she’ll have Ukrainian oreshki, shortbread cookies filled with dulce de leche, from a local producer.

Chocolate Croissant

Apple Turnover

Red Velvet Cookie

Snickerdoodle

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie

Peanut Butter Cookie

Cinnamon Roll

Macarons

HARVEY BAKERY:

Raspberry Linzer

Midnight Cowboy Croissant

Croissant

Almond Croissant

Cinnamon Roll

THE SHOPS & PaSTrIES

30th Street Market and Holey Rollers

Andrea Koester has built an adventurous, forward-thinking hospitality company in and around the Paseo Arts District. Holey Rollers was the first vegan donut shop in Oklahoma City, and it's always featured great coffee. Koester has long been friends with Elena Hughes at Elemental, so it was an easy choice to pour Elemental at Holey Rollers. It's also home to what is likely the best glazed donut in the 405, and yes, it's vegan also. At 30th Street Market, Koester converted an old but awesome space into a sandwich shop, wine shop, local grocery store and coffee shop. The sandwiches, especially the pastrami and turkey at lunch, and the sausage and egg at breakfast, are excellent, as is the pastry case, which features wonderful cookies including the locally famous miso peanut butter cookie. At 30th Street, Koester opted for Ian Flemming's Sincerely Coffee Roasters for her full-service coffee bar.

Coffee Jerks, coffeejerks.com

Named for owner Kenny Wooldridge’s grandmother — she was a soda jerk at a shop in Watonga — the shop certainly has one of the more recognizable and memorable names in the industry. It also has the iced Caramel Creek latte (and frappe!), which is one of the best coffee indulgences in the 405. Conveniently, it has three locations as well, which makes it easy to find a Caramel Creek latte and a bacon, egg and cheddar bagel.

Cafe Evoke, 103 S. Broadway Ave., Edmond

Robert and Lori (Dickinson) Black purchased the downtown Edmond spot from founders Jason and Jenni Duncan in late 2019. Dickinson Black said the goal all along was to create a space with great food and coffee — “It’s hard to find both in the same place,” she said — and art and music. They’ve succeeded in all categories, with a wide variety of delicious breakfast and entree items, pastries — both in-house and from sister spot Twisted Tree (see below) — and with coffee from Middle State in Denver and tea from Rishi. Dickinson Black said they chose to go with Middle State because of the high quality and to avoid duplicating what other shops are doing.

Classen Coffee Company, 2515 N. Classen Blvd., OKC

Located in a cute stucco on the west side of Classen Boulevard, the shop boasts what is likely the city’s best dirty chai latte. It has a few pastries, great study/work space and a very nice outside area. It’s a no-frills approach to coffee culture, and the KLLR coffee is always top-notch.

Culture Coffee, culturecoffeeokc.com

It’s really a coffee shop with a greater purpose, and the homage to some of Oklahoma’s great Black artists, activists and civic leaders drives the point home. The original location on NE Sixth Street and Stonewall Avenue finally brought good coffee to the Innovation District, as well as breakfast burritos and pastries from La Baguette. Culture Coffee uses roasts from Sincerely and Prelude, and also features vegan fare from Loaded Bowl. The collaborations are evidence of a tangible commitment to building community,

and now with a location in the Sequoyah Memorial Office Building, it’s even easier to be part of that community.

Ganache Patisserie, 13230 Pawnee Dr., OKC

If you’ve spent any time at all looking at the assortment of pastries and chocolates in the case at Ganache, you’ll understand the meticulous minds at work in this French patisserie. It’s basically a guarantee that the custom roast from Eote will be delicious, and it is. So, too, are the croissants, macarons, tarts and cakes. Chef-owners Matt Ruggi and Laura Szyld are both classically trained pastry chefs and chocolatiers, and if there is any justice in the world, they’ll have a location within walking distance of my home soon.

Gray Owl Coffee, 223 E. Gray St., Norman

The shop is worker-owned and -operated as of 2021, so it’s a collective effort to ensure you get great service. The focus is on being a community space with excellent coffee and tea, but the freshly baked pastries, breads and croissants are the stars of the menu.

Harvey Bakery and Kitchen, 301 NW 13th St., OKC

Chef Alyssa Ulrich has received a great deal of much-deserved attention since Harvey opened. It’s rare to find this much talent in one shop, but Ulrich manages to serve up beautiful, decadent pastries and flavorful, fresh breads daily, including the Midnight Cowboy croissant, cinnamon rolls, muffins and regular surprises. The coffee is by Onyx Coffee Lab, headquartered in Rogers, Arkansas, a roastery that seems incapable of making bad coffee. The standout on the coffee menu is the Harvey Latte, made with caramel milk.

Junction Coffee, 611 N Broadway Ave., OKC

It's hard to miss the 1974 double-decker bus named Maebel that is the trademark for Junction Coffee. Owners Nick and Lori Bollinger started the mobile coffee shop in 2015, and they added a storefront on the south end of Automobile Alley last year. You can still find the bus around town, but the coffee shop is easy to find, and it makes excellent coffee drinks and a very good London Fog. The pastry case features sweets from Harvey Bakery just in case you want to skip the line on NW 13th Street.

Perets Dessert & Coffee Bar, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., OKC

This new-to-the-city coffee bar has quickly become a destination for students who study after school and groups of friends looking for alternatives to bars, as it’s open 3-11 p.m., rather than the normal coffee shop hours. In addition to the brilliant coffees from Onyx, it also serves a lovely affogato, and the pastries — get the pistachio strawberry tart — are as delicious as they are beautiful.

QUINCY BAKE SHOP:

Almond Croissant

Strawberry-Raspberry Danish Cardamom Bun

Quincy Bake Shop, 1235 NW 38th St., OKC

Chef Tricia O’Donoghue arrived in OKC from Chicago, where she studied at The French Pastry School — the train stop near the school is Quincy and Wells, thus the name. We’ve raved about her chocolate babka in the magazine before, and her cardamom bun is on anyone’s list of the 405’s best pastries. The case is always full of brilliant treats, and the coffee is an Eote blend.

Stitch Cafe, 835 W. Sheridan Ave., OKC

Locals have been flocking to Stitch for the hand pies since it was in the old space adjacent to the Paramount Building. The pies are less rustic now, but no less delicious, and the strawberry-prickly pear tart is simply one of the best things in OKC. There are savory options, too, including delicious tacos, and its horchata latte and tres leches latte are must-try delights. The coffee comes from the best roasters in the country, including Onyx.

Twisted Tree Baking Company, 111 N. Broadway Ave., Edmond

The sister operation to Cafe Evoke, it’s also a family affair, and some of the pastries, including the unbelievably delicious cruffins, land in the case at Evoke. You’ll still want to stop by Twisted Tree for the city’s best morning bun, wonderful donuts and an assortment of pastries that make it hard to leave with less than a box-load.

The Underground Coffee, 1621 S. Douglas Blvd., Midwest City

A trio of siblings have inspired enough excitement about coffee in Midwest City that a friend insisted on bringing me a sample all the way across town. The coffee is excellent, and the specialty drinks are even better. Clever names help sell the drinks, but ultimately, it comes down to taste, and The Underground does it right. Try the Caramel Underground or Holy Mocha, Batman! to get a sense of what it’s up to — and don’t worry, the $87 Latte doesn’t actually cost that much.

Vacca Coffeehouse, 10 W. Main St., Yukon

Premium coffee and excellent pastries have made Vacca a favorite in Yukon. Located inside an event center, Vacca is a coffee shop, ice cream shop, breakfast joint and lunch restaurant rolled into one. The brownies and cinnamon rolls are fantastic, and so is the Vaccaccino, a build-your-own frappe that’s just right for the summer months.

eye DOCTOR’S ORDERS

you asked, they answered!

Q: A:

“I am looking forward to improving my vision with cataract surgery, but I am nervous about the process. How do you make sure my eye stays open?”

It is very common to feel apprehensive or nervous prior to a procedure, especially when it involves the eyes! We have an excellent team of anesthesiologists, and you will receive sedating medication through an IV prior to the surgery. Although you are not completely asleep, you will be comfortable and free from pain. We use a small metal speculum to hold the eyelid open, so you won’t need to worry about keeping your eye open on your own. After the procedure, most patients are surprised to hear that the surgery has already finished, and they report that they had fun “watching the light show!”

Q: A: Q: A:

What are Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRDs), and how does genetic testing help?

IRDs are a group of disorders that cause vision loss, which may worsen over time, due to abnormalities in genes that control retinal function. Diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and Stargadt disease are common examples of IRDs. These conditions can affect patients of all ages.

Genetic testing has revolutionized the field of IRDs. In the early 2000s, around 50 genes were associated with IRDs. Today, over 300 genes have been discovered, and we can now detect causal genes in the majority of known IRDs. Identifying the genes that cause IRDs is tremendously important. It allows us to provide better prognosis and clinical management. Genetic testing also provides information that is relevant when planning a family, and, most importantly, identifies patients who can participate in clinical trials or receive new therapies as they become available.

Can glaucoma be treated with marijuana?

No. Marijuana is not effective for treating glaucoma. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. It is characterized by progressive loss of nerve cells in the optic nerve, the cable transmitting the signal from the eye to the brain, and it is often but not always associated with increased pressure in the eye or intraocular pressure (IOP). Regardless, treatment of glaucoma is aimed at lowering IOP. While marijuana (specifically the psychoactive THC component) can marginally lower IOP, its effects last only 3-4 hours requiring dosing 6-8 times per day around the clock. Furthermore, unsafe lowering of blood pressure may occur with marijuana use, which can worsen glaucoma. Finally, all major, reputable eye care societies do not recommend marijuana for the treatment of glaucoma most notably the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Glaucoma Society.

Ben J. Harvey, MD

Razek G. Coussa, MDCM, FRCSC

Victoria A. Bugg, MD

For more information about this issue and to discuss a comprehensive advertising plan that includes our other platforms, contact your 4O5 account executive or call 405.842.2266.

DINING

Back to Bricktown

The downtown district has quietly turned into an excellent food destination. p. 52

The Bricktown Bonanza

An influx of options that shouldn’t be overlooked by locals

BY GREG HORTON

ALTHOUGH LOCALS TEND TO VIEW BRICKtown as a “tourist district” or entertainment destination, the reality is that over the past three years, we’ve seen a definite shift in Bricktown’s food scene, such that it should be a destination for metro residents, too. The refurbishment of the old TapWerks building, the construction of the new Renaissance Hotel and the continued development of the properties around Harkins Theatres have created opportunities for local restaurateurs to take a chance on the city’s original downtown district.

One of the newest concepts in the district is The Side Chick , a modern American restaurant with a sports bar vibe. “We like to call ourselves sports-friendly, not a sports bar,” said co-owner Tammy Radney. Located in the former Hooters space on the canal at 115 E. California Ave., The Side Chick focuses on classic Americana: sandwiches, cheese fries, mac and cheese and some of the city’s best wings.

“We like to work with other local businesses, so we use the Kosmo’s Q dry rubs from Yukon,” Radney said. She and her husband, Ty, also own Tipsy Island Margarita Lounge in Yukon.

Another Yukon business owner, Latrice McMillian, has moved her Ragin Cajun to Lower Bricktown, bringing what could be the city’s best Cajun food to 200 S. Oklahoma Ave. near downtown. McMillian is originally from Alabama, where she has another restaurant, and her flavors come straight from the Gulf Coast seafood culture that has its strongest presence in the Creole, Cajun and Southern flavors of New Orleans. Everything from the spicy chicken gizzards to the blackened lobster and gumbo is bursting with flavor. The noodle bowls are exceptional, as is the jalapeño cornbread, and the full bar serves up boozy, sweet frozen drinks and a full line of craft cocktails.

Brian Bogert’s Social Order Dining Collective is best-known for The Jones Assembly and Spark, but Bogert has long been on the development side of popular franchises. He was instrumental in developing the cocktail program for Fuzzy’s Taco Shops at his original location in Norman, and he’s had a hand in helping with Dave’s Hot Chicken, too. At his Lower Bricktown locations, he took over the former Sonic space at 208 Johnny Bench Dr. to add to Fuzzy’s and build out Dave’s Hot Chicken

Buffalo chicken mac and cheese at The Side Chick

ABOVE: Classic Benedict at Culprits RIGHT: French toast at Culprits

The two franchises are known commodities at this point, and diners flock to both for the consistent high-quality food and service.

The chicken at Dave’s is spicy, as advertised, but even the hottest level is within pain limits (for many people) and manages to taste like chicken instead of just searing heat. The frozen cocktails at Dave’s are a genuine treat, as are the margaritas at Fuzzy’s. No one knew that feta cheese was good on tacos until Fuzzy’s came along — or if they did, they never told us — but it isn’t just the novelty of Greek cheese on a Mexican staple that makes Fuzzy’s appealing. The spicy pork, fish tacos, queso and breakfast tacos are all excellent.

When Community Through Beer took over the TapWerks building at 121 E. Sheridan Ave., it was very much in need of refurbishment. The company behind The Patriarch and Social Capital brought Chef Chris McKenna on board to helm the kitchen in the beautifully remodeled space on the first floor known as The Joinery. The modern American approach gives McKenna — formerly at Boulevard, Packard’s and Stella — a home for his stellar food, with a menu that changes seasonally. The icing on the cake, so to speak, is pastry chef Amber Bloom Pego, whose creative, beautiful desserts make

The Joinery a destination for multiple reasons. Checking out the basement bar is an essential part of any trip to Bricktown.

We can thank the Bricktown Renaissance Hotel’s decision to partner with Jeff Dixon’s Provisions Concepts (Broadway 10, Hatch, Sidecar, etc.) for the existence of Culprits at 100 E. Sheridan Ave. We covered it in the January issue, where we noted how beneficial the input of chef-consultant James Fox will be to OKC’s larger food scene. Fox is a James Beard nominee from Phoenix, who infused the Culprits menu with his signature flavors before partnering with Dixon on Riserva in Chisholm Creek. As a hotel restaurant, Culprits serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, and the food is excellent, with the rack of lamb, scallops and vodka mezzi as standouts.

There are many more locally owned options in Bricktown, including Oklahoma Craft, the delicious pizza at Rendezvous, tacos at Yucatan Taco and New Orleans specialties at Bourbon Street. The explosion of great food makes our “tourist district” more than worthy of consideration for local dining, too.

Kung Foo Shrimp at The Joinery

Buttermilk tart at The Joinery

BELOW: The spread at Dave’s Hot Chicken

Park Harvey Rolls On

Powerfully pleasing sushi in downtown OKC

BY GREG HORTON

PHOTO BY RACHEL MAUCIERI

WHEN WE AMERICANS SAY “SUSHI roll,” we tend to mean one of two Japanese concepts: maki and uramaki. The former is a roll with seaweed (nori) around the outside; the latter inverts the wrap, putting nori inside the rice but around the filling. It turns out that sushi has a very complex set of names and descriptions related to how the dish is served. Four of the big five are very common in Oklahoma: maki and uramaki, plus sashimi and nigiri. The fifth, temaki, is a cone-shaped presentation that you can occasionally find at restaurants dedicated to traditional sushi.

For most of us, though, eating sushi is about the rolls. Park Harvey Sushi at 200 N. Harvey Ave. downtown has been a destination since 2009 for lunch, happy hour and dinner, and the focus of its menu is definitely rolls. Sure, there are the usual suspects on the appetizer menu — gyoza, edamame, calamari and even wings — but the menu is dominated by rolls. Park Harvey changed hands in 2022, when the original owners retired and sold the concept to Will Cook and Will Scott.

“The previous owners decided to be full-time grandparents, and we didn’t want the place to change,” Cook said. “We’d been regulars for more than a decade; I have a food service background, and the other Will is an energy guy. Because we wanted to keep things very similar, Freddy — the previous owner — left much of his memorabilia for us to use in the restaurant.”

In order to put a personal stamp on the new space, the Wills have made minor changes to the menu, including the wings, and Cook is always working on feature items. Given that it’s OKC, they decided to add two rolls to the selection: the Spicy Cowboy and the Spicy Cowgirl.

The Spicy Cowboy features a filling of tempura shrimp and avocado (it’s healthy!) with crab, spicy mayo and red sriracha sauce outside. (Red because Park Harvey also has yellow sriracha, and it’s wonder-

ful.) The roll combines the fried food we Okies love with a variety of textures and a slight kick of heat.

The Spicy Cowgirl has smoked salmon, avocado and cucumber inside — again, healthy! — with tempura crab, garlic mayo, yellow Sriracha and tobiko (flying fish roe) on the outside. This roll offers some heat, too, but it’s a much more layered effect on the flavors with a little more freshness thanks to the cucumber. Both are delicious, and even Sooner fans will enjoy them.

“We take seriously the idea that we’ve inherited something that we love,” Cook said. “We are doing things to make it our own, but we also look at this as carrying on a legacy. We’re proud of that, and we’re happy to be a part of keeping Park Harvey Sushi going.”

The Spicy Cowboy and Cowgirl

A Chicken Salad Survey

10 metro variations of the versatile dish you need to try now

BY GREG HORTON

There are a few possible reactions to chicken salad, but most of us fall into two camps: 1. Give me all of it; or 2. Why are you ruining chicken? For the former, a chicken salad sandwich is a year-round treat that’s especially delicious in the summer months, with cold chicken, crisp veggies and soft bread — not too heavy, not too light. It’s great for picnics, poolside and grab-and-go, too. Basically, it’s the versatile Goldilocks of sandwiches. While many families have their own recipes, you can also find delicious variations all around the 405.

30th Street Market, 407 NW 30th St., OKC

A few spots in central Oklahoma serve a curried chicken salad — originally coronation chicken from England — a variation with just enough heat to make your mouth tingle a bit without ever being overwhelming. Andrea Koester’s version at 30th Street Market is an excellent example, and you can snag tubs to go in the grab-and-go section.

Bee Healthy Cafe, beehealthycafe.com

With locations all around Edmond, the urban core and south OKC, it’s easy to try the classic pecan chicken salad at Bee Healthy. It’s served with parmesan and a raspberry vinaigrette, adding layers of flavor, texture and comfort.

Cafe 7, 14101 N. May Ave., OKC

J. Mays and Chris Kana have been slinging chicken salad since they opened Cafe 7 in 2008 — it turns 15 in November. Mays said the chicken salad will always be on the menu, as the regulars love it so much it can’t come off. The presence of Craisins and walnuts adds texture and tanginess to the creamy salad.

The Cellar Cafe, 2915 N. Classen Blvd., OKC

Tucked into the basement of a nondescript building on Classen, The Cellar Cafe is about as close as you’ll get to a hidden gem in the digital age. Chef Cory Lawson is usually focused on catering, but he serves lunch most weekdays,

Curried chicken salad at 30th Street Market

and the chicken salad is a specialty. It’s a massive portion, and he tosses in ramekins of spiced almonds and goat cheese crumbles if you want to amp up the flavor.

Harvey Bakery and Kitchen, 301 NW 13th St., OKC

The most important thing to note here is that the bread is always freshly baked in Chef Alyssa Ulrich’s kitchen, so the quality of the sandwich is immediately elevated. The use of golden raisins makes it a touch sweet, and the addition of pecans adds some lovely texture and nuttiness.

Krell’s East Coast Style Deli, 2121 S. Yukon Pkwy., Yukon

One of Yukon’s newest concepts is from the chefgenius mind of Jonathan Krell, of Patrono fame. His take on a Jewish deli includes the delicious usual suspects, including a very traditional chicken salad sandwich on wheat berry bread.

The Metro Wine Bar and Bistro, 6418 N. Western Ave., OKC

It’s likely that LaVeryl Lower’s curried chicken salad has been on the menu longer than any other in the metro, and rightly so. It’s served salad-style on greens, but pros know to use the delicious rolls to make chicken salad sliders.

Petro Deli, 100 N. Broadway Ave., OKC

Located on the ground floor of the Chase Tower, this lunchtime hot spot for the business crowd has quietly served one of the best sandwiches

in OKC for years. A sister restaurant with Petroleum Club — thus the name — Petro Deli is a counter-service concept where you’ll find a massive, stellar chicken salad sandwich made in a straightforward savory style.

Richey’s Grill, 210 Park Ave., OKC

Another ground-floor restaurant for the business crowd, Richey’s has been serving classic American and Lebanese food for breakfast and lunch for years. The food is prepared fresh, with hearty portion sizes. The chicken salad — get it on greens or bread — is about as classic as a version gets.

The Stuffed Olive Cafe and Catering, 12215 S. Penn Ave., OKC

The OMG Chicken Salad is another straightforward entry in the list, but for the addition of a wonderful basil vinaigrette that gives the sandwich a delightfully zippy herbal edge. It’s served on toasted wheat, and you might as well ask for a little extra vinaigrette for dipping.

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CULTURE

Burning Passion

In a frustrated frenzy, Jay Sage found a spark of inspiration. p. 64

A New Voice

Nonprofit

Canterbury Voices welcomes its new artistic director, Julie Yu-Oppenheim

BY MATT KIROUAC

SINCE IT BEGAN AS A 60-SINGER CHOIR AT ALL SOULS EPISCOPAL Church in 1969, Canterbury Voices has evolved into the state’s largest symphony chorus, featuring trained singers performing on Oklahoma City’s grandest stage at the Civic Center Music Hall. Collaborating with esteemed organizations like the Oklahoma City Ballet and the OKC Philharmonic and performing with the likes of Andrea Bocelli, Canterbury Voices has long been at the forefront of both emerging and established talent, and its latest chapter continues that legacy with the naming of Julie Yu-Oppenheim as its new artistic director.

The acclaimed conductor is an exciting addition for a choir that has prided itself on diverse voices. Born in South Korea, she didn’t speak English when she fi rst arrived in the United States, but thanks to impassioned parents and encouraging educators, she found her voice in the arts.

“One teacher at a time offered support and guidance for me and others to fi nd the path we would eventually land on,” she said. “What I love about my industry is the melding of arts, education and the culture of the community. I believe the beautiful mosaic that comes about when you combine these elements into a dialogue reflecting on the world you want to see makes everything seem possible and hopeful.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, a Master of Music degree from Oklahoma State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of North Texas, she used her upbringing and schooling to create a career at once fulfi lling and multifaceted.

“I’m very proud of my Oklahoma heritage,” Yu-Oppenheim said. “I’m proud to have attended a high school with a diverse population. Since so many of us were military families, we had lived all over the world. I appreciated the importance of having [varied] worldviews and working with people of different backgrounds, but I also love the folks who are born and raised in a community and invest in it through generations. It’s that tapestry of individuals that is so beautiful.”

Yu-Oppenheim moved into the educator role when she taught at Norman High School, where she credits her co-teacher Tony Gonzalez as a pivotal mentor. “It was like getting another graduate degree every day, teaching there with him,” she said.

From there, she taught at San Jose State University and then spent 16 years educating at Kansas State University, the latter of which taught her how to build a choral program and how to appreciate the process of music-making, all while co-teaching with her husband, Joshua Oppenheim.

Eventually, though, she was called home. “Many of my colleagues who work with a symphony chorus have the opportunity to prepare large choral works in rehearsal, but then the symphony conductor will conduct in concert,” Yu-Oppenheim explained of the allure of joining Canterbury

Voices. “There are few civic choruses like (it) who not only collaborate with a world-class orchestra such as the OKC Philharmonic but then have their own independent concert season prepared and conducted by a dedicated conductor.”

Not only that, she added, but Canterbury Voices invests in children’s choral arts through Canterbury Youth Voices. “It’s a thriving, growing educational program that has unlimited potential,” she said. “I am also joining a small group of female conductors and conductors of color who have the opportunity to conduct such forces and to have the collaborative opportunities I will have.”

Her aspirations with the nonprofit symphony are to not only carry on the work and vision of retiring conductor Randi Von Ellefson but to grow the audience, Canterbury Youth Voices and ensemble membership to reflect the rich diversity of Oklahoma City and the region.

Heading into her inaugural 2023-24 season as artistic director, Yu-Oppenheim teased that the fi rst fall concert will “defi nitely scratch the itch of any choral enthusiast.” In the meantime, she announced that Canterbury Voices will perform Handel’s Messiah in December. “Especially after hearing Zadok the Priest at the recent coronation of King Charles III, it will be a delight to present Handel’s most famous masterwork,” she said, adding that they’re still locking down the spring concert with “what are sure to be favorites for the whole community,” including collaborations with the OKC Philharmonic and OKC Ballet.

After building a career out of constructing programs and fostering diverse singers, Yu-Oppenheim’s arrival is an apt homecoming for one of Oklahoma’s most talented voices.

The 150-member Canterbury Voices’ 2023-24 season includes a performance of Handel’s Messiah

Artistic director Julie Yu-Oppenheim

Master Strokes

OKC’s rowing presence still growing

BY JAKE DURHAM

EARLIER THIS YEAR, MAY 6-8, OVER 800 athletes gathered at the Oklahoma River and the Riversport OKC campus to compete in the USRowing Central Youth Championships.

USRowing is the country’s national governing body for the sport, and the nonprofit organization promotes rowing at all levels of competition, including the Olympics. Members include juniors, college students, masters and those who row for fitness, fun or competition.

The sport of rowing is growing, and Riversport OKC provides a top-tier facility. The training facilities and apparatus of Riversport’s OKC National High Performance Center rank among the best in the country. The Devon Boathouse, located on the Oklahoma River, is a $10 million, 33,000-square-foot facility that includes a dynamic propulsion rowing tank, a high-altitude training room, an indoor propulsion swimming pool, ergometers, RP3 machines, a variety of cross-training options and strength and conditioning gear.

The Oklahoma River has also been developed into one of the world’s top urban waterways. Athletes can train on a buoyed racing track year-round because of the area’s temperate climate. It provides rowers with a 2,000-meter (eight lane) buoyed racecourse and a 4,800-meter training course.

Rowing teams for races are classified by the number of rowers and whether they row with one oar (sweep rowers) or two (scullers). A coxswain sometimes serves as the captain and the on-the-water instructor on sweep teams. If there’s no coxswain, one of the sweep rowers controls the rudder with his or her feet. Sweep rowing teams can be found in pairs, fours and eights, the latter of which always have a coxswain. Sculling competitions are divided into three categories: single, double and quadruple.

Rowing competitions are based on segment lengths. Sprint contests at the national, collegiate, international and Olympic levels are 2,000 meters — like the Oklahoma River track. Each 500-meter segment of the racecourse is divided into six to eight buoyed lanes.

Riversport OKC is also an Olympic and Paralympic training facility for canoeing and kayaking. “Some of the (youth) athletes have Olympic aspirations,” said Riversport OKC chief

marketing officer Elizabeth Laurent. “Many will go on to row at the collegiate level and, from there, try to qualify to get into a high-performance training program like the one we have here at Riversport. We partner with many national and international governing bodies in rowing and canoe/kayak to host regattas. We’ve had as many as 30 countries competing in flatwater sprint international races (canoe/kayak) and have hosted many national and international teams for rowing events.”

Competitions such as the Central Youth Championships not only promote youth sports but are a boost to the local economy. With Riversport located near the entertainment district, athletes, their families and fans fill hotel rooms and attend many of OKC’s prominent restaurants and other venues.

Hundreds of spectators attended this year’s youth competition, including Mark Cuban. In all, 47 youth races took place over three days. Winners advanced to the USRowing National Championships in Sarasota, Florida, on June 8–11.

Riversport OKC held 47 youth races over three days for the USRowing Central Youth Championships.

The Oklahoma River allows for a eight-lane 2,000-meter racecourse, which is Olympic length.

405.208.HOOP

Jay Sage started his fiery artistic process with a blowtorch and switched to gunpowder.

Painting With Fire

BY HELEN JACOB | PHOTOS BY CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER

JAY SAGE IS KNOWN FOR LIGHTING FIRES. NOT FOR destruction, but instead for creating emotive, visceral works of art. What started out as a complete accident — a fit of rage with a blowtorch brought about by an artist’s failure to get the piece “just right” — turned into inspiration. He taught himself how to master fl ames as an artistic tool to evolve his pieces from abstract shapes to expressive portraits. Sage talks us through his discovery, and the process of creating and controlling art with fi re.

Why did you pursue art?

I had a very good high school art teacher. She always believed in me and knew what to say, and knew what kind of a kid that I was. My senior year she had pulled me aside, and she told me I’d never make it as an artist. She knew exactly what she was doing. She knew my personality, who I was and that I would want to prove her wrong.

The stuff you do with gunpowder — how did you discover that?

I actually got my start in oil painting, and I really loved the amount of detail that I could achieve and the control that I had with it. I wanted to learn how to let go and loosen up a bit, though. So I took a watercolor workshop, but I struggled with the drastic change in the technique.

Once, I was working on a portrait that I probably restarted over a half a dozen times. I was attempting to get the eyes just right, but I was impatient and overworked the area. So of course, I did what any normal, sane, rationally thinking person would do: I grabbed the nearest thing to me — which, because I was in my garage, happened to be a blowtorch — and I lit the painting on fi re and I threw it across the room.

The painting was leaning face up against the wall, and it was staring right at me through the fl ames. The water where I had overworked in the eyes — it was kind of streaming down the cheeks as though tears were ruining her mascara and her makeup. There was the emotion that I was looking for. It was perfect. I spent the next year or so exploring fi re and watercolor together

in a series of works before dropping the watercolor altogether and creating more abstract works from fi re, using a torch fl ame as a brush. Then, over time, that eventually led to gunpowder.

How did you perfect your process?

On paper, it seems so simple: buy some gunpowder, lay it down, light it on fi re, and you get an image. But it’s so much more than that. It’s a very complex and dangerous process … I once attempted to use sulfur in its raw powder form. It’s one of the main ingredients in the creation of gunpowder. What could go wrong? Turns out, a lot. When sulfur burns, it produces sulfur dioxide, which is a toxic gas. Talk about a learning curve!

You do live shows with your art; how does that process work?

I really just do what I do in my studio every day. I just put on cooler music and let people watch. People love seeing explosions. I’ll do a little projection mapping, or do a little dance and play some music and blow things up. More often than not, my performance pieces are the ones that end up selling because someone was there — they witnessed it. They were part of that experience, and now they have that story to tell.

What is the message you hope people take away from your art?

Every piece that I create is very intimate and personal; it is a little piece of my soul, an insight into my faith and my life. If you look at my work, it’s very clearly a painting, but the realistic part is the emotion. I’m trying to tug at someone’s soul, not at their eyes.

Gunpowder was discovered by Chinese alchemists in search of an elixir of immortality. It wasn’t long before its destructive properties were discovered. So, I like to believe that I take this thing that’s commonly used to destroy, and instead, use it to create — bring it back around to its original purpose of healing. And in a way, help me live forever through my art.

Artist Jay Sage harnesses combustion for creation

Black Hills, Badlands and Beyond

Stunning summer scenery in South Dakota

BY MATT KIROUAC

IF YOU ENVISION A QUINTESSENTIAL SUMMER VACAtion, visions of beaches and palm trees might come to mind — but in western South Dakota, the Black Hills and Badlands offer scenery that’s just as stunning, with mountains, memorials and activities that thoroughly embrace Americana. Where the Midwestern prairies meet the western mountains, and where terrain looks so spectacularly otherworldly it feels like another planet, the Mount Rushmore State shines as one of the most underrated summer destinations in the country … with enough abundant nature, history, lakes and scenery to have you forgetting all about the beach.

Where to Stay

As the urban hub of western South Dakota, forming a convenient gateway location for both Badlands National Park and the Black Hills, Rapid City is a good option for lodging. Along with myriad hotels and campgrounds, the historic Hotel Alex Johnson reigns as the crown jewel. Soaring over downtown as the tallest building in town, this hotel is as established as Mount Rushmore — in fact, the hotel began construction in 1927, just one day before the famed mountain carving got underway. The 11-story property, capped with rooftop Vertex Sky Bar, features Germanic Tudor-style architecture and comfy, ornate confines that transport guests back to the Roaring Twenties.

For another blast from the past, the hilly Gold Rush-era town of Deadwood fits the bill. An old-timey town known for its saloons, casinos and vintage-looking Main Street with gun-toting reenactments and a brothel museum, the Wild West hamlet boasts plenty of themed lodges and folksy abodes. Then there’s the refreshingly modern Four Points by Sheraton Deadwood, a comparatively sleek and sophisticated property that swaps faux shootouts for a rooftop terrace, craft beer bar and a swanky steakhouse called Snitches. While in town, be sure to traipse through Mount Moriah Cemetery, which overlooks the town from up on a forested hill and is where infamous rebels like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok are buried.

Where to Play

Home to Badlands National Park, a gnarly landscape that looks more like Mars than the Midwest, as well as the bucolic Black Hills and all their awe-inspiring beauty, western South Dakota is a veritable dreamscape of summer scenery.

Start with a sunrise hike at the Badlands. Located about an hour east of Rapid City, the park seems to emerge abruptly from the rolling prairie, as the land erupts into a sea of sandstone buttes, canyons, spires and pinnacles. Craggy hills and valleys look like super-sized sandcastles, which are ripe for climbing and hiking. There are a handful of short designated trails, but this is one of the rare national parks where visitors are free to explore off-trail — just be sure to come equipped with ample water and sunscreen, and keep your eyes peeled for roving bison and bighorn sheep.

With a cozy, sophisticated character, the Hotel Alex Johnson is as established as Mount Rushmore.

Not without a fraught history, Mount Rushmore is a remarkable feat.

The stunning spires and sweeping canyons make the Badlands look like another world.

A few minutes north of the park, Wall Drug is a kitschy roadside spectacle. After originating as a straightforward pharmacy in 1931, the area has evolved into a memorable smattering of saloons, cafes, shops, photo ops and attractions. Nowadays, upwards of 1 million tourists per year flock here to peruse the arcade, visit the tiny chapel, pose atop a giant jackalope figurine and tour The Apothecary Shop and Pharmacy Museum. Whatever you do, don’t miss the doughnuts — the cafeteria-style restaurant is revered for its cake-style doughnuts, frosted in vanilla, chocolate or maple.

About an hour and a half back west, the Black Hills beckon. An oasis of boulder-clad mountains, pristine lakes, hilly hiking trails and worldfamed memorials, this is a region that needs to be explored to be believed.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a famous American destination on par with the Statue of Liberty, is breathtaking to behold. The massive rock carving is a remarkable feat, rising like a chiseled monolith over a canopy of pine trees, especially at sunrise or sunset. Stroll along the boardwalk trail that forms a tree-lined loop in front of the mountain.

Another Black Hills colossus is the Crazy Horse Memorial, a perpetual in-the-works mountain carving so large that it towers Mount Rushmore. Meant as an homage to Lakota leader Crazy Horse, the granite feature will be the largest mountain carving in the world if completed. Until then, guests can visit the memorial via an extensive museum and visitor center, with the enormous carving — a silhouette of Crazy Horse extending his arm out toward the surrounding hills — taking shape in the distance. It’s worth noting both attractions have been criticized, as Mount Rushmore was built on stolen Lakota land and several of Crazy Horse’s descendants disagree with the memorial, but as long as visitors are mindful, the beauty of these fraught attractions make them requisite destinations.

Elsewhere in the Black Hills, the pastoral terrain offers a wonderland of scenic drives and experiences, including the Needles Highway that carves its way through Custer State Park and needle-thin rocky tunnels. Along the way, stop off at Sylvan Lake for a picnic on the shore, a casual kayak trip or a hike up adjoining Black Elk Peak for panoramic views atop the highest point in the state. Or if you’d prefer another mode of transport, the 1880 Train is a vintage steam locomotive that’s been chugging its way through hilly forests between the charming towns of Hill City and Keystone since the mining boom of the 1880s. Today, while prospectors aren’t still mining for ore, passengers can board the train for an old-fashioned journey from a bygone era.

In the Southern Hills, the town of Hot Springs is another unique destination worth the stopover. As its name suggests, it’s a town famed for its hot thermal waters, which visitors can soak in at places such as Moccasin Springs Natural Mineral Spa, an elegant oasis with six outdoor pools that range in temperatures between 80 and 105 degrees. Moccasin Springs shares a roof with one of the best restaurants in the region, Buffalo Dreamer, where seasonality and organic ingredients form an ever-changing menu with dishes like lamb chops in honey mint sauce, red lentil dahl and banh mi tacos.

Where to Eat and Drink

In addition to Wall Drug doughnuts, Crazy Horse fry bread and Buffalo Dreamer tacos, the region teems with other culinary riches. Among them, Skogen Kitchen is an intimate chef-driven nook in Custer featuring a

dynamic roster of eclectic eats such as lobster steam buns, duck leg with parsnip dashi puree, veal cheek with black garlic tahini and sweet potato agnolotti with yuzu butter.

To drink, Hill City is home to the one-two punch of Miner Brewing Co. and Prairie Berry Winery, two boozy destinations nestled next to each other on a small hill. The former offers a diverse array of house brews on draft, like Miner Mango Cream Ale and the Miner Alter Ego Concord Sour Ale, while Prairie Berry is a family-run staple that offers a full food menu and a library of wines to sip and sample, including a pear wine called Gold Digger and the fan-favorite Red Ass Rhubarb.

Back in Rapid City, you might be surprised to discover such a real-deal taste of Tokyo in the Black Hills. That’s thanks to Bokujo Ramen, a buzzy downtown noodle nook that combines local ingredients with Japanese technique, resulting in dishes like bison bone ramen, kale furikake salad and roasted bison steam buns.

Mountain views and varied brews make Miner Brewing Co. a great spot to lay back.

Roadside attraction Wall Drug offers guests shops, saloons, doughnuts and an abundance of wacky photo ops.

Fun City, Oklahoma

An up-and-down history of OKC’s amusement parks of yesteryear

BY LINDA MILLER

OKLAHOMA CITY MUST HAVE SEEMED LIKE A WONDERland to many amusement park fans in the 1950s and ’60s. The city boasted three theme parks — Springlake Amusement Park, Wedgewood Village Amusement Park and Frontier City — each offering its own spin on entertainment and fun for all ages, from slower-paced carousels to staged Wild West gunfights to rip-roaring roller coasters.

Springlake opened in the early 1920s after owner Roy Staton invited the public to swim and play in his spring-fed pond near NE 40th Street and what is now Martin Luther King Avenue. He added picnic areas, a dance pavilion and a pool, followed by some attractions from the closed Belle Isle Lake amusement park.

By 1929, Springlake boasted a carousel, swimming pools, a racetrack and the Big Dipper roller coaster, one of the park’s most popular rides. New attractions were added regularly, and an amphitheater became a big draw for entertainers, including Johnny Cash, the Beach Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Righteous Brothers and Conway Twitty.

Until the 1960s, however, Springlake was not open to everyone. The park was segregated and only opened its gates to everyone after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited racial discrimination. Black visitors now could enter the park except for the renowned pool, which was limited to members only as an attempt to pacify angry white customers. That soon changed, but the pool closed after the 1967 season.

Years of racial tension led to April 11, 1971, when, according to The Oklahoman, word spread that a Black teen had possibly been pushed off the Big Dipper. Several argumentative youths were escorted out, but the parking area soon erupted with a crowd estimated between 300 and 1,000 throwing rocks and bottles. Thirty people were arrested. None were white.

The park soon slipped into a downward spiral. Customers questioned the park’s safety, attendance numbers fell and maintenance suffered. It was sold in 1977, but the new owner couldn’t recover from a fire, and the park closed in 1981. The Springlake campus of Metro Technology Centers now occupies the land.

Across town, Maurice Woods opened a golf driving range with a few children’s rides on North May Avenue in 1955, and three years later relocated and opened Wedgewood Village Amusement Park at NW 63th Street and Northwest Expressway. Lines were long for the Tornado and Wild Mouse roller coasters, the Calypso and the Roto Jet. Concerts included Herman’s Hermits in the mid-1960s and The Who in ’68. Though always crowded, the park continued to lose money and closed in 1969.

Frontier City on I-35 between Hefner Road and NW 122th Street is the city’s only remaining amusement park. Oklahoma City businessmen James Burge — a former Hollywood publicist who became interested in the theme park business after a visit to Disneyland in 1955 — and Jack Williams envisioned the 1880s Western town theme.

Frontier City opened in 1958 with a marshal’s office, saloon and bank, along with a train, stagecoach, donkey rides and an indoor dark ride. Admission was free, but it cost a quarter to watch the popular gunfight shows.

The park offers dozens of rides, stunt gunfights, magic shows, a zip line, games and children’s amusements. The popular Silver Bullet, installed at the park in 1986, cranks up to a height of eight stories before speeding down at almost 50 mph and then shooting into a huge loop. Frontier City is now owned by EPR and operated by Six Flags. Hurricane Harbor on West Reno Avenue is also part of the theme park chain.

The amusement park landscape might have changed in Oklahoma City, but at least one theme park is still bringing smiles, and sometimes screams, to all ages.

Visitors enjoy one of the rides at Springlake Amusement Park in 1958.

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From Storm to Screen — Again

Twister spurred interest in tornado chasing and is set for a sequel

BY JAKE DURHAM

ALMOST 27 YEARS TO THE DAY AFTER THE RELEASE

of the blockbuster film Twister, its sequel, titled Twisters, began filming in Oklahoma this May. The first movie made over $41 million at the box office on its opening weekend and grossed $495 million worldwide. Most notably, it was also the first film released on DVD in the United States. Its sequel marks yet another Hollywood production being made in the Sooner State.

Twister put Oklahoma and Tornado Alley back in the spotlight in 1996 when it showed the world the excitement and dangers of storm chasing. “The first time I saw Twister was in Wichita, Kansas, on opening day,” said Oklahoma resident, photographer and storm chaser enthusiast Dave Schweitzer. “I will never forget when Rabbit said, ‘There’s a big crease right through Wichita,’ and the entire theater erupted in applause. I’ve always loved the weather since I could remember, and this was the ultimate movie for me.”

But the blockbuster film also illuminated that while we know much about tornadoes, it pales in comparison to what we don’t know. Once a tornado touches down, its movement can be impossible to predict, and many people rely on reports provided by storm chasers.

“One of the biggest dangers is all the people chasing storms and all the vehicles clogging roads, which makes it harder to find or use your planned exit route,” Schweitzer said. “I think the rush comes from the unknown, the power of Mother Nature and the sheer beauty of something not many get to see. It’s all so exciting, but also very heart-wrenching, knowing that a tornado can destroy so many people’s lives.”

The film did, however, do a decent job depicting the planning, the anticipation and the risks of chasing these storms. “One time, we were just out trying to get some lightning pics of a storm to our north that was moving

east,” Schweitzer said. “The storm started to collapse, but we were hit with about 80 mph winds from a gust front. On the other hand, there are some days when a storm produces nothing, which can be disappointing, especially if you drove a long way to get there.”

The dangers of storm chasing are not limited to direct contact with a tornado, but also include being in the path of an impending storm. Violent storms such as squall lines and supercells bring high winds and the threat of lightning, hail and flying debris. Located in the Great Plains, Oklahoma’s vast, wide-open space makes it ideal for forming large, tornado-producing storms, and therefore the perfect setting for a natural disaster film.

Production for Twisters continues in downtown OKC and by Amblin Entertainment and Universal. The movie is directed by Lee Isaac Chung, who also directed the Oklahoma-filmed Minari. Twisters will star Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos.

“Twister is an amazing movie,” Schweitzer said. “Some parts of the movie, such as the combine scene, do not realistically depict how debris would fly around. Being in an F5 tornado, the debris would have killed the characters. But that made it exciting, and I will keep watching it forever.”

He continued, “When I first heard about Twisters coming out, I told my wife that we were going to go see it in the theater. We haven’t been to a movie theater since 2015, so that says something.”

Twisters is scheduled to open in theaters July 19, 2024.

BEST

JACOB ADAM WALTON, @JAWCREATIONS

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OVERHEARD

... I might hate that the Sonics left for Oklahoma City, but I am no longer a hater of OKC. I am enjoying being here and doing some sightseeing.”

@SHANSONSEATIMES, REPORTER FOR THE SEATTLE TIMES

There’s nothing like OKC sunsets ”

@NCAASOFTBALL

Oklahoma City was excellent and way groovier than expected. So much good food and MCM arch. If you like that sort of thing – also lower humidity, do recommend!”

@BAESTLOUIS

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