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YOUR TEAM OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS The new year brings fresh opportunities to provide Oklahoma City with the best in holistic healthcare at Optimal Health Associates. Our commitment to aging medicine and care for multiple maladies – including pelvic floor disorders and complex gynecologic conditions – continues to define what’s possible. I plan to continue my commitment to medical education and the training of our future physician leaders. I am excited to continue to expand my knowledge base through new learning opportunities. Our clinic is committed to our patients’ health and wellness in all phases of life. Thank you for your continued trust in our commitment to patient wellness in all phases of life and our dedication to medical education and training of our future physician leaders. Cheers to a great 2021,
Ben Barenberg, MD, MS, FPMRS
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Daring Dining
Home on the Range
Options for Aging
OKC’s exotic and delicious food offerings
Osage County draws film makers and
A listing of the 405’s top home health
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and long-term care providers 405MAGAZINE.COM
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In the 405 14 WHAT’S ONLINE Check out 405 Magazine’s new online shop with locally made gifts and objets d’art 16 TRENDING Hopeful colors usher in new year 18 PERSON OF INTEREST Oklahoma Historical Society’s Bruce Fisher shares the state’s complicated and fascinating Black history 20 FASHION A look at February’s feminine, flirty trends
Dining 52 THE DISH A salute to the 405’s best chicken sandwiches
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Out & About
53 THE DRINK Best and brightest malbecs
66 ARTS & CULTURE Jakian Parks’s photographic magic
Home
68 ONE MORE THING OKC Polo Club draws new enthusiasts to the sport
56 ENTERTAINING 101 Give roses an update with bold, unusual colors 58 AT HOME WITH The Wild Mother’s Palmer sisters bring art and storytelling to their floral design
70 LOOKING BACK 72 LAST LAUGH
O N T H E C OV E R Jenny Nguyen was our tour guide through some of her favorite Asian
60 DESIGN Will Lightfoot’s stylish bachelor pad 4
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District dishes, like this beef noodle bowl at Szechuan Story. Photo by Lexi Hoebing
FEBRUARY 2021
VOLUME 7 • NUMBER 2
OWNER | PUBLISHER
Jordan Regas jordan.regas@405magazine.com V I C E P R E S I D E N T
Kaley Regas kaley@hilltopmediagroup.com E D I T O R I N C H I E F
Melissa Mercer Howell melissa.mercerhowell@405magazine.com ART DIRECTOR
Christopher Lee christopher.lee@405magazine.com MANAGING EDITOR
Brandon King
Ever Evolving Selection 300 W. Wilshire Blvd., OKC 405.242.2227 | @artisantilestudio
brandon.king@405magazine.com PRODUCTION MANAGER
Emiley Sexton emiley.sexton@405magazine.com STYLE EDITOR
Sara Gae Waters saragae.waters@405magazine.com T R AV E L E D I TO R
Matt Payne matt.payne@405magazine.com SENIOR WRITER
THE FINALISTS ARE IN Voting Opens February 11th
Greg Horton greg.horton@405magazine.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Christine Eddington, Evie Klopp Holzer, George Lang, Linda Miller, Lauren Roth CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Lexi Hoebing, Rachel Maucieri, Charlie Neuenschwander, Matt Payne, Rachel Waters, Shevaun Williams
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405 Magazine Volume 7, Number 2, February 2021. 405 Magazine is published monthly by 405 Magazine, Inc. at 1613 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK 73103, 405.842.2266. ©Copyright 2021 405 Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of 405 Magazine content, in whole or part by any means, without the express written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited. 405 Magazine is not responsible for the care of and/or return of unsolicited materials. 405 Magazine reserves the right to refuse advertising deemed detrimental to the community’s best interest or in questionable taste. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of ownership or management. Basic annual subscription rate is $14.95. U.S. singlecopy price is $4.95. Back issues are $9.50 each
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FROM THE EDITOR
The Importance of Telling Our Stories admit it. I’m a history nerd. That’s one of the reasons I get excited when February rolls around and I get to consume enticing bits of Black history. There are so many great stories. Some many of us know. Others are lesser known. One of my favorite Black history stories is of Pearl Harbor hero Doris Miller. It was almost 8 a.m. on Dec. 7, 1941 when Miller, a Black Mess Attendant 2nd Class, felt the first torpedo hit the USS West Virginia. Under Japanese attack, Miller ran to the deck and dragged wounded men to safety. Then, with no training, he grabbed one of the ship’s .50-caliber Browning antiaircraft machine guns and fired at the Japanese planes until sailors were ordered to abandon ship. He was awarded the Navy Cross from Adm. Chester W. Nimitz in 1942. His heroism set changes into motion that modified and improved the Navy’s policies toward Black sailors. And, last year, work started on a new Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier named the USS Doris Miller, scheduled to be commissioned in 2030. Another story I love might be lesser known, but like Doris Miller, leaves me utterly inspired. The story is of Carter G. Woodson (December 1875 – April 1950), the father of Black history. Woodson was born in Buckingham County, Virginia, to former slaves Anne Eliza (Riddle) and James Henry Woodson. Neither of his parents could read or write, but his father supported the large family as a carpenter. School attendance for Woodson was intermittent since helping on the farm took priority over formal education. But, by the time he was 17, he had taught himself most of the basics that a public education would have given him. Hungry for more, Woodson and his brother moved to Huntington, West Virginia, where he entered Douglass High School in 1895 at the age of 20. He supported himself as a miner and attended school only a few months out of the year but received a diploma in less than two years. From there he began teaching, became a principal at Douglass High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in literature from Berea College in Kentucky. He was a school administrator in the Philippines and later traveled Europe and Asia and attended the Sorbonne University in Paris. In 1908, he received a master’s degree from the University of Chicago and in 1912, received a doctorate in history from Harvard University. Wow! … Woodson went on to author numerous books and scholarly articles on Black history and Black contributions to the
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American story. In 1926, he established Negro History Week, which became the monthlong Black History Month in 1976. He believed that our stories have the power to undergird our sense of self, and for Black America, that was vital. “Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history,” he wrote. Woodson always hoped “Black history” would become unnecessary – that history would be history and heroes would be heroes, regardless of ethnicity or color. I suspect that as America seeks to become more diverse, its lens on the past will build on Woodson’s work and fulfill that hope. In the meantime, read Greg Horton’s article this month on Bruce Fisher, who compiled the Oklahoma Historical Society’s first exhibition of Black historical artifacts, or check out the exhibition for yourself at the Oklahoma History Center.
Melissa Mercer Howell EDITOR IN CHIEF
405.330.4554 | 1951 S. Broadway, Edmond, OK 73013 | edmondfurniture.net
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Physicians Optical
In the 405 Get Flirty Pull together a romantic fashion look with mood-elevating styles and colors.
SHEVAUN WILILAMS
Page 20
Lele Sadoughi hair bow from Gretta Sloane, Oh La La Cherie pink bustier from The Lingerie Store, rib knit skirt from Siempre Viva, Marie Saint Pierre lilac coat from Balliets, Elena Ghisellini bag from Gordon Stuart and Miu Miu stilettos from rosegold.
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IN THE 405
Shop Talk Find locally curated gifts and art at the 405 online store ur team strives to feature the best of what the metro has to offer. That is why we are proud to announce our 405 The Shop – the retail side of 405 Magazine. In this collection, we are offering a wide array of distinctive gifts that reflect the talent, innovation and creativity of our community. We will showcase new vendors and products as inspiration strikes. We are especially excited with our Valentine Collection featuring Honestly Margo, Made by Maddie Designs, Simpleton Goods, Thomas Blonde and Greg White Illustration. Each vendor has been carefully selected to reflect the high standards our readers have come to expect from 405 Magazine. Our goal is to promote the entrepreneurial spirit of our community while celebrating what makes Oklahoma so special. Whether it’s a present for a Valentine or a gift to yourself, you’ll fall in love with these luxe products – each befitting the quality and distinctiveness of our magazine.
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IN THE 405
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She’s a Rainbow Brighter is Better BY EMILE Y SE X TON
“S H E C O M E S I N C O L O R S E V E RY W H E R E ...” including in the 405. When it comes to color, the classic mantra is usually, “I go back to black.” This season, embrace optimism with vibrant hues. What better way is there to brighten up your day?
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1. Missoni hand towels, Cayman’s Clothiers 2. HauteShore tote with small pouch, Cayman’s Clothiers 3. Marie Oliver dress, Balliets 4. Amy Maguire painting “Pink Blanket” 5. Cecelia New York boots with fur, Betsy King Shoes 6. Neon Space cardigan, rosegold 7. Assouline Travel Collection books, Cayman’s Clothiers 8. Rainbow hoop earring, rosegold 16
FEBRUARY 2021
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IN THE 405
Black History, Oklahoma’s Stories Bruce Fisher on preserving and sharing perspective on the past BY GREG HORTON P H O T O B Y C H A R L I E N E U E N S C H WA N D E R
Bruce Fisher dedicated years to collecting artifacts related to Oklahoma’s Black history.
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P E R S O N
ruce Fisher was standing in the Oklahoma History Center amid a collection of artifacts he had assembled to highlight the African-American experience in Oklahoma when serendipity offered him the perfect metaphor to explain the importance of his job as the curator of that collection. “There was an old water fountain with the ‘colored’ and ‘white’ signage in the collection, and two boys were trying to get a drink from it,” Fisher says. “I was watching them, amused by boys trying to drink from a non-working fountain, when one of them said, ‘What color is the water supposed to be?’” That question – asked through the lens of a childhood devoid of a state-sanctioned “separate but equal” world – lit up Fisher’s mind. “I was struck by two thoughts simultaneously,” he says. “What a long way we’ve come, but also, if we don’t tell the stories, people won’t understand the importance of the artifacts, the experiences.” Fisher, a Chickasha native, is the son of Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, the first Black woman admitted to the University of Oklahoma School of Law – though only after a long legal battle and racist shenanigans by the university administration, including creating a fake law school to admit her as the sole student. “Growing up, my father worked at the EEOC office at Tinker, so people were always coming by to see him or talking to him on the phone; he was the important one in the house,” Fisher remembers. “I was a sophomore at Langston when I began to realize my mother’s importance.” He had heard the story of his mother’s admission to the school, but he said she always told the story as if a “legal dream team” was the star of the story. “I took her to Tulsa, and Thurgood Marshall saw us walking up. He said, ‘Hello, Sip,’ and I remember thinking they must be good friends, because only a few people called my mother Sip. Prior to that moment, I was more familiar
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There was never a purposeful collection and preservation of Black history in Oklahoma, so I relied on the story to come to me. Most of what I know of the Black history here has come through people who told me the stories.”
with my mother as the woman, who – if you asked my friends – would have been described as the woman who was very kind and made great popcorn balls.” A Fulbright-Hays Scholar himself, Fisher absorbed the lessons about the importance of education, and he earned two degrees from historically Black colleges and universities, including a graduate degree in history at Texas Southern University. He worked in fields including organized labor before being invited to become the curator of the multicultural collections at the OHS in 1999. He retired in 2014. “When I started, the collection was pitifully inadequate,” he says. “To tell stories like this, you need artifacts, and we didn’t have them. There was never a purposeful collection and preservation of Black history in Oklahoma, so I relied on the story to come to me. Most of what I know of the Black history here has come through people who told me the stories.” He vividly remembers a man calling one day and saying, “I have some Black history for you.” It’s an unusual opening for a phone call, but certainly interest-grabbing. As it turned out, the man’s father, Lisle Prim, had been one of two Grade A dairy farmers in Oklahoma at one time. “I asked Walter, his son, do
you have any artifacts?” Fisher says. “He replied, ‘What’s an artifact?’” Collecting the stories has been filled with moments like this, and the task has not been easy. Take the Second World War, for example: One of Fisher’s key areas of concern was that 1.2 million Black soldiers served in WWII, and none received a Medal of Honor until President Bill Clinton had the issue thrust in front of him by storytellers like Fisher. “There were no permanent collections of African-American history when I started the job,” Fisher says. “But it’s important for people to know the stories and the names, to know that we participated in the history of this country, so we have the same rights and privileges.” As for Fisher’s post-retirement, he’s remained busy. He actively worries about missing role models for young African-Americans, and he continues to champion representation. He was instrumental in getting the Capitol Preservation Commission to include depictions of African-American history in the remodel project, including murals of Black Wall Street and the Katz Drug Store sit-in, and statues of civil rights activist Clara Luper and Hannah Atkins, the first African-American woman to serve in the Oklahoma legislature. Now, he’s digging into the history of Black cowboys, outlaws and lawmen, another area where the stories, by and large, haven’t been told. Yet. 405MAGAZINE.COM
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A Rebirth of Fashion Time to re-embrace dressing to impress BY LINDA MILLER
Cutline
Crystal fish earrings and cuff bracelet from rosegold, Oh La La Cherie lace bodysuit from The Lingerie Store and wrap dress from Habit.
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FA S H I O N
omfortable, cozy and easy clothing has been the go-to for almost a year, but perhaps it’s time to embrace a shift in thinking. Fashion can lift spirits and bring a muchneeded dose of joy. Mood-elevating styles and pretty colors look and feel especially appealing right now. Those fleece joggers may be the most desired item in the closet, but consider giving them a day off now and then. Resolve to dress up, not down, even if it’s just for a quiet dinner at home. Pull together a look that’s romantic, a little sexy or flirty for a night out or night in. Dress up because you want to; because it makes you feel good. Wear something that brings a smile every time you see your reflection in the mirror. Show some attitude. Be daring, be creative and have fun. Remember how good it felt when you routinely wore clothes that reflected your personality or spirit? If inspiration is needed, consider pink and lavender pastels, creamy neutrals, sheer blouses worn with lace bustiers or bodysuits, rib knit dresses and skirts, thoughtfully placed ruffles, high-waist pants, soft prints, statement belts and sophisticated mini floral matching sets. Pair with the perfect stilettos, slingbacks or boots. Already thinking about spring? Jump on the bubblegum pink trend early. Until life returns to something like normal, and even after it does, engage in a little flirtation with clothes just for the fun, the romance and the delight of it.
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Adam Lippes print blouse from Gordon Stuart, Veronica Beard belt from Gretta Sloane, blush skirt from Habit and Kat Maconie hot pink sandals from Betsy King.
Photography: Shevaun Williams Model, hair and makeup: Jessi Murray Styling: Samia Moses Creative Location: The Eleanor 405MAGAZINE.COM
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FA S H I O N
Crystal pineapple earrings from rosegold, Wacoal bralet from The Lingerie Store, No. 21 matching floral set with crop pants from Gordon Stuart and Jimmy Choo patent sandals from rosegold.
Balliets 6443 Avondale, OKC balliets.com Betsy King A Shoe Boutique 3001 Paseo, OKC betsykingshoes.com CK & Co. 6429 Avondale, OKC ckandcompany.com Gil’s Clothing 7644 N Western, OKC gilsclothing.com Gordon Stuart 6500 N Western, OKC gordonstuart.com
Gold earrings from Gil’s and Marchesa Notte one-shoulder floral dress from CK & Co.
Gretta Sloane 6476 Avondale, OKC grettasloane.com Habit 3400 S Bryant, Edmond myhabitshop.com The Lingerie Store 7642 N Western, OKC thelingeriestoreusa.com rosegold, 6423 Avondale, OKC shoprosegold.com Siempre Viva 3770 W. Robinson, Norman siemprevivaclothing.com
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P H O T O S BY L E X I H O E B I N G | BY G R E G H O R T O N
of adventure
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person who loves dogs is not a doggie; a person who loves books is not a bookie; and a person who loves food is not a foodie. Now that that’s out of the way, we can look into the world of – not foodies, thank you – but those who will dine on anything … adventurous eaters. Everyone who has raised a child knows that at some point between 4 and 6 years of age, that child will fixate on a dish or meal to the point that when you ask, “What do you want for dinner?” the answer will remain unchanged for months. “Chicken nuggets, French fries and ketchup!” or “Cheese pizza!” True story: I knew a California law enforcement veteran who ate a pancake sandwich at the same diner every morning for 15 years. Then there are the polar opposites. Likely you have a friend – or you are the friend – who will try anything “weird” on a menu. Sometimes it works out; sometimes it does not. That’s adventurous eating. Going to a place where you feel slightly concerned for your safety: adventurous eating. Indian food in a truck stop: adventurous. Ordering things you can’t pronounce … you get the idea. To suss out opportunities for adventurous eating in the 405, we have taken three approaches: We asked four people to speak very specifically about a district or ethnic cuisine; we asked industry professionals to recommend a restaurant or a dish; and we built a list of 10 things to get you started on your own adventure. 405MAGAZINE.COM
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La 29 (Veinte-Nueve) Northeast OKC C H AYA P E N N I N G T O N F L E T C H E R has been in hospitality most of her professional life, as server, manager and owner, among other jobs. She’s an operating partner in Kindred Spirits on NE 23, and she lives, works and eats in the district. “The one place I eat most often is Carican Flavors,” she says of the Caribbean restaurant at 2701 N MLK. “My go-to is the curried goat. Combined with plantains to balance the spicy with sweet, and spinach rice, it’s the perfect meal.” The northeast community adjacent to downtown has a few wellknown eateries: Fletcher recommends yam-fried chicken at Florence’s, 1437 NE 23, and Guy Fieri spent a few moments raving about it when he was in the city last. She also said she’d be doing the community a disservice if she didn’t mention the fish and chips at Ice Events Center and Grill (1148 NE 36th). Geronimo’s Baker y and Burgers (1817 N MLK) and Polk House (2319 N Lottie) aren’t as well known outside the district, but both have phenomenal food. “Polk House is the rare place in OKC to have pork neckbones, and they do a chicken-fried lobster tail, too,” Fletcher says. “Geronimo’s has always had amazing donuts, but their burgers are delicious. Ask them to ‘Geronimo it’ and they’ll add fried shaved ham.”
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E M M A D E A N K R AT O C H W I L L is the executive director of La 29, the district that runs from Shields to S May along SW 29, so, yes, she has some of the 405’s best Mexican food in her district. “Birria is gaining in popularity everywhere,” Kratochwill says. “Especially the tacos, but I still like traditional birria, like the goat birria at Los Desvelados” – that’s Taqueria Los Desvelados at 1516 SW 29. The dish, a tradition in northern Mexico, features seasoned meat served in stock with fresh tortillas, sauce, onions, etc. Make your own tacos or just use the tortillas to scoop. For something farther off the beaten path, consider an unusual possibility at 641 SW 29. “Cueritos at Crudoolandia are for the truly adventurous,” she says. “They’re pickled pork skins, and they are challenging.” A little funky, a lot chewy, cueritos really are graduate-level adventurousness. A beer on the side, vinegar and chiles help.
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Stephanie Morrical Miller EXECUTIVE CHEF-PARTNER, THE HAMILTON
“I’ve been loving Ling’s Cakery (2723 N Classen), especially the egg tarts and the strawberry dump cake.” The latter is not adventurous, but it is fantastic. Shelby Sieg EXECUTIVE CHEF, IGUANA MEXICAN GRILL
Sieg loves the larb, a dish we’ve covered in the magazine, from Four J’s Diner at 2920 S Agnew. It’s a staple dish in Laos, and one that doesn’t get nearly enough love in OKC.
Chris McKenna EXECUTIVE CHEF, STELLA MODERN ITALIAN
“Anything from C’est Si Bon in Edmond. I usually get the crawfish etouffee.” This is high praise coming from a man who makes stellar etouffee himself, but the kind found at 308 W Edmond is superb. Vuong Nguyen CHEF-PARTNER, CAFÉ DE L’ASIE
“My go-to is wonton soup and nem nuoung cuon (barbecued pork spring roll) at Golden Phoenix” at 2728 N Classen. Bryan Wilson CHEF, MAGNOLIA BISTRO
“I like the fried pork chops at the Prince Hall store at NE 27 and Kelly, and everything at This Iz It.” For the latter, delicious fried chicken and waffles are the first thing to try at 2831 NE 23. James Corley BARTENDER/SERVER, R&J LOUNGE AND SUPPER CLUB
“The chicken korma at Tandoor, the Indian food restaurant inside the truck stop (at 1901 E Reno). It’s the best korma I’ve ever had.” Pro tip: everything here is delicious. Jay Iaquinta CONSULTANT-OPERATOR
“The noodle bowls at Szechuan Story (2800 N Classen). My son Judah gets the liver and pig blood bowl and eats every bite.” If you don’t know about pig blood in Vietnamese food, that’s advanced-level adventurous eating, but you also can get it in the bun bo hue at Pho Cuong, 3016 N Classen.
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The Asian District
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excited, it’s fair to point out that eating soup, even soup called pho, is not adventurous. It’s soup. Once you get past the embarrassment of asking for colonialist silverware, you’re eating delicious soup. Jenny Nguyen is the operating partner at Lee’s Sandwiches at 3300 N Classen, and she knows the district better than most locals. We talked about Vietnamese food beyond pho, and the first dish that came up was thit kho to, or clay pot pork. “That’s the dish of every Vietnamese kid’s childhood,” Nguyen said. “It’s my comfort food, and the one at Lido [2518 N Military] is delicious.” Nguyen is also a big proponent of Szechuan Story for their authentic Szechuan cooking, especially the noodle bowls and crispy chicken. Another recommendation: always get their dumplings. At Lee’s, the bun bo hue – pho’s spicier cousin – is her mother’s recipe, crafted after she arrived in the U.S. in 1985, and yes, her version has the gelatinized pig blood, but you can ask for it without.
THE S TA R T E R LIST Smoked bologna at Jamil’s Steakhouse, 4910 N Lincoln. Real bologna, not the stuff you see in plastic containers. Tacos de buche at Carnitas & Tacos El Tarasco, 2635 SW 29. Best not to ask what it is before you try it, because once you taste it, you won’t care. Fried chicken livers with gravy at McClintock’s Saloon and Chop House, 2227 Exchange. I didn’t think I liked chicken livers until I had these. Chicken hearts at Goro Ramen + Izakaya, 3000 Paseo. It’s a skewer of hearts, and just know they are amazing.
Taste of Lebanon Nihari at Sheesh Mahal, 4621 N May. A traditional Pakistani dish that Oklahomans will love because it’s super tender beef. Chicharron pupusa at Pupuseria mi Chalateca, 2416 NW 23. It’s minced pork in a corn cake, and it’s magical. Taco Lorenza at Yaqui’s Mexican Restaurant, 2812 S Western. Open-faced, crispy beef taco, Sonoran style. You’ll make a mess. Enjoy it. Lamb ribs at Black Walnut, 100 NE 4. With chimichurri, so perfect. Dry, crispy, spicy chicken at Szechuan Story, 2800 N Classen Blvd Suite 108. Spicy chicken nuggets with magic peppers. Yemsir Watt at Queen of Sheba, 2308 N MacArthur. One for the vegetarians, but seriously, this lentil dish with berbere sauce is mind-numbingly delicious.
T H E R E W E R E I M M I G R A N T S from Lebanon in Oklahoma before statehood, so their food has always been found in abundance around the state, even in small towns. Greg Gawey has owned Jamil’s Steakhouse at 4910 N Lincoln since 1977. He bought it from his uncle, who opened it in 1964. It’s the last Lebanese steakhouse in the 405, and one of only three left in the state. “There are only two places I really go to get Lebanese food in OKC,” Gawey says. “I get the combo plate at Mediterranean Deli” – 5620 N May – “because I get cabbage rolls, kibbeh, tabouli and hummus. And then there’s the hashwa at Nunu’s.” (It's a must-try, found at 3131 W Memorial.) Kibbeh is a meat dish usually made with bulgur wheat or another grain. Traditionally, it’s served raw (kibbeh nayyeh), baked or fried, and all are legitimate expressions of the dish. Some are made with lamb, but beef is common. As for food at Jamil’s, Gawey is happy to point out that you can get steak, chicken-fried steak or ribs, and still get that taste of Lebanon. “We serve tabouli, hummus, cabbage rolls and grape leaves, so you can get a little Lebanese with your Americana.” 405MAGAZINE.COM
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COOL
TOP: TRAVEL OK, LEFT, RIGHT: MATT PAYNE
COW
OS AGE
CO U N TY:
S E T T ING
WIT H
A
SOPH I ST I CAT ED SPICY
PA ST
BOY BY
BR ANDON
KING
MORE THAN 100 MILES have passed since the bustle of city life occupied my rearview mirror. Driving down U.S. Highway 60, all that remains is an endless winding road, cresting over and through the prairie, to Osage County. It’s an amalgam of rich, natural beauty; tribal culture; cowboy heritage; and a tumultuous history of graft and murder. The area offers visitors a glimpse into one of Oklahoma’s more intriguing, legendary places. Established in 1907 when Oklahoma became a state, Osage County is the largest county by area in the state, stretching over 2,000 square miles and encompassing towns including Fairfax, Burbank and parts of Ponca City and Tulsa. It also serves as the boundary of the Osage Nation, home to one of Oklahoma’s many American Indian tribes. After being forcefully removed from their ancestral lands in Kansas and Missouri, the tribe purchased its land in Indian Territory from the Cherokee Nation in the late 1860s. In 1897, oil was discovered. Within a decade, members of the Osage tribe became some of the wealthiest people in the world. Pawhuska, the county seat, became home to the first Rolls-Royce dealership west of the Mississippi River and a Tiffany’s of New York retail location.
But violent racism and massive economic shifts, as depicted in David Grann’s nonfiction bestseller Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI – soon to be adapted as a feature film directed by Martin Scorsese – defined many of the towns in Osage County today. PAW H U S K A A N D T H E P I O N E E R WO M A N
Golden fields give way to green farmlands as I drive into the county’s largest city. The two-lane highway merges into Pawhuska’s Main Street, lined on each side with locally owned businesses. Commerce is brisk and homegrown, reflected in well-kept brick and stone storefronts. The only large chain choices offered here are a Sonic drive-in (an Oklahoma-based company) and a Subway sandwich shop near the outskirts of town. At the heart of Pawhuska, the triangular-shaped Frontier Hotel – a five-story, burgundy-bricked boutique boarding house – casts its shadow over the downtown area. Nearly a century would pass before the town would begin to resemble what it is today, due in large part to one of its luminaries: Ree Drummond, who gained national recognition after defeating Food Network chef Bobby Flay in a cooking competition. Her blog, “Confessions of a Pioneer Woman,” which she launched to keep family and friends apprised of life on the Drummond Ranch, was named one of the top 25 blogs in the world in 2009 by Time Magazine. She continues to showcase life and food on the ranch with her husband Ladd and four children. “SHE’S OUR NEIGHBOR”
Since her national debut, Ree and Ladd Drummond have launched numerous retail businesses in Pawhuska. They purchased the vacant building across the street from the Triangle Building, home to the Osage Mercantile in 1910. The Mercantile, using its predecessor’s influence in both name and the inner structure of the building, opened for business on Oct. 31, 2016, as a multi-purpose business including a dine-in restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, a clothing store, bakery, coffee shop and deli. An aroma of freshly brewed coffee and buttered biscuits wafts toward the central entrance of the Mercantile. On one side, a well-equipped store caters to fans of the Pioneer Woman and travelers looking for a new shopping experience. On the other, an open-concept dining area, kitchen and coffee bar welcomes all looking for a warm place to sit and refuel with food designed specifically from Ree Drummond’s cookbooks. It’s what brings people from across the country or parts of the world including China and 405MAGAZINE.COM
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Ree Drummond, known as the Pioneer Woman, has been vital to Pawhuska's revival
Scotland, even if the wait time to be seated is extended to two hours, according to Jackie Cade, the bakery and coffee manager of the Mercantile. “I always laugh a little when I hear people complain about having a 45-minute wait," Cade says. “Opening day, I remember seeing the lines wrap down the city block to eat here. Not much has changed, really. I started as a barista two weeks before the opening, and I’ve seen this place go through multiple changes, though everything you see here has been approved and chosen by Ree. She’s not just some celebrity; she’s our neighbor and someone we can trust.” Among the Drummonds' other Pawhuska-based businesses is The Boarding House, designed as an eight-room, “cowboy-luxury” hotel. It’s idyllic for romantic getaways, if you can book a reservation in time. Across the street is another of the Drummond businesses: Charlie’s Sweet Shop. Named after the family’s dog, nicknamed “the ultimate sweetheart,” it operates as a traditional candy store. Its specially flavored ice cream options
The Osage Nation's tribal culture is part of the town's legacy
include the Huckleberry – a blend of homemade vanilla ice cream infused with blackberries and raspberries. One building over is P-Town Pizza, a local pizzeria: fresh-made dough, baked in a massive dome-shaped oven, all open for the public to watch as artisanal and filling entrees are created. Fans of the Pioneer Woman can travel 18 miles out of town to visit “The Lodge,” where her show (airing Saturdays on the Food Network) is filmed. Though Pawhuska is a growing community, its small-town roots are on display as the sun falls. Most of the stores close between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., with the exception of The Dry Hollow Bar – the only bar in town. Designed as a pool hall in 1913, the interior resembles a mix of Pawhuska’s cowboy past and its present-day rural sophistication. Cowboy hats hang on the wall next to industrial lights. A miniature Aussie with crystal blue eyes – who serves as the bar’s tacit mascot – smiles a toothy grin as patrons order upscale cocktails. For those hoping to find the modern West, the Dry Hollow fits the bill.
TA L L G R A S S P R A I R I E
Located half an hour outside of the town’s center, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is home to the largest tract of remaining tallgrass prairie in the world, reaching nearly 40,000 acres and housing many animals including more than 2,500 free-ranging bison, often seen grazing amid a thin layer of mist cascading over the rolling hills. A 10-mile driving loop and designated hiking trails offer options for experiencing the area. It also is home to the ranch where cowboy actor Ben Johnson spent his youth and, according to locals, often played host to his friend, John Wayne. B AC K D R O P F O R B OX O F F I C E H I T S
Movie buffs will have plenty to do if exploring locations of films made in Osage County is on the itinerary. Scenes from 2012’s To the Wonder, 2013’s August: Osage County, season 3 of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and Killers of the Flower Moon – which is scheduled to start production in March – are a short drive from Pawhuska by car or guided tour.
Though Pawhuska is a growing community, its small-town roots are on display as the sun falls. 32
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When Lewis and Clark first encountered the Osage people near modern-day St. Louis, they were astonished by their impressive physique, demeanor and trading acumen. Frontier naturalist and artist John James Audubon echoed their sentiment, calling them, “well formed, athletic and robust men of noble aspect.”
LEFT: OK FILM, RIGHT: MATT PAYNE
T R I B A L C U LT U R E
Moon Shot Scorsese brings Killers of the Flower Moon to the screen with Osage County starring as itself BY GEORGE L A NG
David Grann’s nonfiction crime story Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI won critical raves in 2017 for its vivid depiction of the vicious, greed-fueled murders of Osage Nation landowners whose property sat on enormous oil deposits. Soon after the book’s release, Martin Scorsese swept in to acquire the film rights and cast two of his greatest repertory players, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, as two of the key criminals in the case. Scheduled to commence shooting in
The natural beauty of Osage County attracts travelers
Osage County in March, Flower Moon covers a four-year period in the 1920s when the oil rush was in full swing in Oklahoma and oceans of crude were being discovered under tribal land. Members of the Osage Nation had become multimillionaires thanks to their mineral rights, called “head rights,” but the county grew rife with a criminal element that sought to capitalize on the Osage riches, legally or illegally. Pre-production on Scorsese’s version of Flower Moon has experienced both common and unusual challenges since the film was announced as a co-production of Apple TV+ and Paramount. The original script from screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) underwent extensive rewrites after Di Caprio insisted on playing Ernest Burkhart rather than an investigator. In addition, the film was subject to the coronavirus-related delays that affected so many film
C OW B OY C O U N T RY
productions in 2020.
Osage County is home to nearly 1,400 farms and ranches covering more than 1 million acres, according to USDA figures. Tools of the trade – boots, hats, saddles and spurs – are ubiquitous here. Stories and memorabilia of those who pioneered cowboy and rodeo culture, including Ben Johnson, “The One-Arm Bandit” John Payne, the Drummonds and more are found at the Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum, owned and operated by Cody Garnett; the same owner of the novelty shop, The Buckin’ Flamingo. With a large, metal-
While Scorsese’s film is still listed as a 2021 release, 2022 seems more likely due to lost time and production requirements. However, with a score by Scorsese’s longtime friend Robbie Robertson, editing by Scorsese’s career-long film editor Thelma Schoonmaker and Osage County playing itself, Killers of the Flower Moon MATT PAYNE
Famous American Indian artist George Catlin, who painted portraits of several tribal members in 1834, said that he believed the Osage “to be the tallest race of men in North America … there being few indeed of the men at their full growth, who are less than six feet in stature, and very many of them six and a half, and others seven feet.” Today, the Osage tribe keeps its culture and history vital through the Osage Nation Museum and the Osage Nation Visitors Center, which provides guests an opportunity to explore the Osage language through its app and iPad bar, or purchase gifts and art crafted by Osage artists. Large iron letters from the Osage alphabet can be seen next to large murals depicting the Osage Nation’s culture throughout Pawhuska. The tribe also operates three casinos throughout Osage County including locations in Pawhuska, Skiatook and Ponca City.
should be worth the wait.
lic pink flamingo wearing Ray-Ban sunglasses and a van out front to match, it’s hard to miss. Osage Outfitters, located in downtown Pawhuska, offers Western apparel and gear for residents and visitors alike. The shop features boots, hats, belts, custom saddles and ropes in addition to upscale women’s apparel and accessories. If more leather is on your shopping list, visit Bar Diamond Leather in Shidler. Owned by Ali Payne, an equine dentist who cattle ranches with her husband, the store’s patrons can order custom tack and leatherwork that is as beautiful as it is functional. One of the most comprehensive exhibitions of cowboy culture is in Security State Bank in Fairfax. There, more than 150 pairs of spurs line the walls, belonging to prominent ranchers, outlaws, lawmen and entertainers including Bob Wills and Ben Johnson. The collection was started by Robert Clark some 60 years ago and is maintained today by local collector Steve Barnard. “My mother used to work for him at the bank when I was a kid,” Barnard says. “He and I spent many an hour talking about the spurs because we shared the same passion for them and the stories they told. The wearers, the makers, each tell a story of who we are.” Osage County can be deceptive to the casual traveler. Despite its large size, the area offers an authentic, complex experience that explores a turbulent and rich past, all while encapsulating the best of what a ranching community can be. 405MAGAZINE.COM
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Top Home Health and Long-Term Care In recent years, options for home healthcare and long-term care have expanded to meet the needs of aging Oklahomans. To make finding the right care easier, we’ve listed the area’s top home healthcare companies and longterm care facilities based on findings obtained through an independent research firm. Contacting a provider to discuss your needs can help determine what care is best for you.
METHODOLOGY & DISCLAIMERS
factoring in online ratings. We were looking for facilities/
DataJoe architected and implemented a research
providers meeting our minimum thresholds with the
care in assembling content for this list. DataJoe does
campaign to find the top home healthcare companies
highest ratings and smallest proportion of negative
not warrant that the data contained within the list
and nursing homes in the area. We consulted various
reports/press.
are complete or accurate. DataJoe does not assume,
DataJoe uses best practices and exercises great
We recognize that many companies may not be
and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for
nursing facilities that did not meet our minimum
shown in this representative list. This is a sampling of
any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions
capacity threshold, to increase the likelihood that the
the huge array of facilities within the region. Inclusion
herein whether such errors or omissions result from
winner set would have openings for readers interested
in the list is based on information that we were able
negligence, accident, or any other cause. All rights
in contacting these facilities (reader relevance). We then
to gather in our independent research. We take time
reserved. No commercial use of the information in
factored in 12 months of federal government ratings to
and energy to ensure a fair, multifaceted research
this list may be made without written permission
isolate the top candidates for our list. We also conducted
process. We certainly do not discount the fact that
from DataJoe.
Internet research to check various local media outlets
many, many good and effective companies may not
to confirm a positive community perception, as well as
appear on the list.
public sources to collect our information. We eliminated
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FEBRUARY 2021
For research/methodology questions, contact our research team at surveys@datajoe.com.
Top Home Health Abiding Home Health of Oklahoma City
4323 NW 63rd Street, Suite 232 Oklahoma City, OK 73116 405-607-2302
Accentra Home Health & Hospice 2028 E Memorial Rd Edmond, OK 73013 405-488-2222
Alliance Oklahoma Home Health OKC
7919 Mid America Blvd, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73135 405-736-0064
Amedisys Home Health Care
5828 NW 135th Street, Suite A Oklahoma City, OK 73142 405-748-7104
Apex Home Health and Hospice 8241 South Walker, Suite 152 Oklahoma City, OK 73139 405-525-0118
Best Choice Home Health
3037 NW 63rd Street, Suite 152w Oklahoma City, OK 73116 405-286-9140
Brookdale Home Health OKC
5600 North May Street, Suite 147 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-341-4361
Companion Home Health 1310 E Oklahoma Avenue Guthrie, OK 73044 405-293-9000
Elara Caring Chickasha
328 S 29th Street, Suite 320 Chickasha, OK 73018 405-224-0012
Elara Caring Oklahoma City
3030 NW Expressway, Suite 1204a Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-949-9984
Elite Home Care
6701 W Hefner Road Oklahoma City, OK 73162 405-752-2523
Encompass Health - Home Health, Norman 209 48th Ave NW Norman, OK 73072 405-360-0041
Epworth at Home
14901 N Pennsylvania Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73134 405-767-9033
Excell Home Care & Hospice
1200 SW 104th, Suite D Oklahoma City, OK 73139 405-631-0521
Family Care Home Health, Inc 865 East 33rd Street Edmond, OK 73013 405-842-5656
Golden Age Home Health, Inc 934 SW 107th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73170 405-692-1255
Healthback Home Health of Norman
226 W Gray Street, Suite 214a Norman, OK 73069 405-292-1890
Healthback Home Health of OKC 16201 N May Ave Edmond, OK 73013 405-330-5500
Healthback Home Health of Purcell 519 West Delaware Street Purcell, OK 73080 405-527-0027
Heartland Home Health Care
2802 N Kickapoo Ave Shawnee, OK 74804 800-955-1219
Innova Home Health
4100 Perimeter Center Drive, Suite 210 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-604-9172
Top Nursing Homes Integris Home Care Oklahoma City
3500 NW 56th Street, Ste 201 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-951-8400
Interim Healthcare of Oklahoma City
3613 NW 56th Street, Suite 385 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-848-3555
Lifespring Home Care of Shawnee 4000 N Kickapoo Shawnee, OK 74804 405-273-2733
Loving Care InHome Health Services
100 Woodbriar Drive Noble, OK 73068 405-872-1515
Macarthur Park Home Health
120 West Macarthur, Suite 130 Shawnee, OK 74804 405-878-4753
Phoenix Home Health Agency
2526 North Midwest Boulevard Spencer, OK 73084 405-702-1515
Providence Home Care
2831 NW 59th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-602-3295
Sooner Home Health
Accel at Crystal Park
Gran Gran’s Place
Baptist Village of Oklahoma City
Holiday Heights Healthcare Center
Bellevue Health & Rehabilitation
Ignite Medical Resort Norman
Brookwood Skilled Nursing and Therapy
Ignite Medical Resort OKC
Chandler Therapy & Living Center LLC
Kingwood Skilled Nursing and Therapy
Chickasha Nursing Center
River Oaks Skilled Nursing and Therapy
Cottonwood Creek Skilled Nursing & Therapy
Shawnee Care Center
315 Southwest 80th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73139 405-635-9961
9700 Mashburn Boulevard Oklahoma City, OK 73162 405-721-2466
6500 North Portland Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73116 405-767-6500
940 Southwest 84th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73139 405-636-0626
601 West 1st Street Chandler, OK 74834 405-258-1131
2701 South 9th Street Chickasha, OK 73018 405-224-3593
2300 Iowa Avenue Chickasha, OK 73023 405-224-6456
Emerald Care Center Midwest 2900 Parklawn Drive Midwest City, OK 73110 405-737-6601
Epworth Villa
3750 West Main Street, Bldg. 7, Park A Norman, OK 73072 405-321-7400
14901 North Pennsylvania Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73134 405-752-1200
SSM Health at Home - Oklahoma
Glenhaven Retirement Village
608 NW 9th Street, Suite 6200 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 800-722-0353
404 South 29th Street Chickasha, OK 73018 405-224-0909
Ultimate One Home Health Care
419 East Oklahoma Avenue Guthrie, OK 73044 405-282-0144
3617 N Grand Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-606-2200
Golden Age Nursing Facility
Grace Skilled and Nursing Therapy Norman 4554 West Main Street Norman, OK 73072 405-366-8800
1110 South Cornwell Drive Yukon, OK 73099 405-350-2311
301 East Dale Street Norman, OK 73069 405-321-7932
1050 Rambling Oaks Drive Norman, OK 73072 405-292-2273
6312 North Portland Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-946-6932
1921 Northeast 21st Street Oklahoma City, OK 73111 405-424-1449
1901 Parkview Drive El Reno, OK 73036 405-262-2833
1202 West Gilmore Shawnee, OK 74804 405-273-8043
South Park East
225 Southwest 35th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73109 405-631-7444
Spanish Cove Retirement Village 11 Palm Avenue Yukon, OK 73099 405-354-5906
The Fountains at Canterbury
1404 Northwest 122nd Street Oklahoma City, OK 73114 405-381-8165
The Timbers Skilled Nursing and Therapy
2520 South Rankin Street Edmond, OK 73013 405-341-1433
The Wolfe Living Center at Summit Ridge 18501 Northeast 63rd Street Harrah, OK 73045 405-454-1400
Willow Creek Health Care
2300 West Noble Avenue Guthrie, OK 73044 405-282-1686
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Top Oklahoma City Private Schools The following is a listing of the metro’s top private schools as selected by the national organization Private School Review.
SCHOOL LOCATION GRADES NO. OF STUDENTS
EDMOND Holy Trinity Lutheran School (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
308 NW 164 St Edmond, OK (405) 844-4000 PK-8 171
Mercy School Institute (Islamic)
14001 N Harvey Ave Edmond, OK (405) 748-5500 PK-12 262
Oklahoma Christian Academy (Church of Christ)
1101 E 9 Edmond, OK (405) 488-6478 PK-12 271
Oklahoma Christian School (African
St. Mary’s Episcopal School (Episcopal)
Terra Verde Discovery School
Methodist Episcopal)
505 E Covell Rd Edmond, OK (405) 341-9541 PK-5 164
Community Christian School (Christian)
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Roman Catholic)
NORMAN
Southwind Montessori (Episcopal)
Trinity Lutheran School (Lutheran Church
4680 E Second St Edmond, OK (405) 341-2265 PK-5 568
925 S Boulevard Edmond, OK (405) 348-5364 PK-8 394
All Saints Catholic School (Roman Catholic) 4001 36th Ave NW Norman, OK (405) 447-4600 PK-8 383
3002 Broce Dr Norman, OK (405) 329-2500 NS-12 758
1601 W Imhoff Rd Norman, OK (405) 364-2772 PK-1 62
1000 36th Ave SE Norman, OK (405) 366-6362 K-7 128
Missouri Synod)
603 Classen Blvd Norman, OK (405) 329-1503 PK-5 52
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Veritas Classical Academy (Christian)
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT OKLAHOMA’S PRIVATE SCHOOLS
801 N Peters Ave Norman, OK 73069 (405) 850-5309 K-12 164
OKLAHOMA CITY Antioch Christian Academy
Oklahoma has 229 top private schools for the 2020-21 school year, serving 37,986 students.
3616 SW 119 St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 691-8012 K-12 123
Bishop John Carroll School (Roman Catholic) 1100 NW 32 St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 525-0956 PK-8 201
Average private school tuition is $5,081 for elementary schools and $7,637 for high schools.
Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School (Roman Catholic)
801 NW 50 St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 842-6638 9-12 709
Casady School (Episcopal)
The average acceptance rate is 91%.
9500 N Pennsylvania Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73120 (405) 749-3200 PK-12 949
Christ The King Catholic School (Roman Catholic)
Minority enrollment is 24% and the student:teacher ratio is 11:1.
1905 Elmhurst Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73120 (405) 843-3909 PK-8 493
Christian Heritage Academy (Christian)
76% of schools are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Roman Catholic).
4400 SE 27th St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 672-1787 PK-12 635
Creative Kids Learning Center (Christian)
335 SW 134 St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 799-5437 PK-6 156
There are three Blue Ribbon schools, one all-boys school, nine Montessori schools, 28 schools offering summer programs and 173 preschools. SOURCE: PRIVATESCHOOLREVIEW.COM
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Crescent Academy
10105 N Pennsylvania Ave Oklahoma City, OK (405) 749-8282 PK-12 81
Crossings Christian School 14400 N Portland Ave Oklahoma City, OK (405) 842-8495 NS-12 1,112
Destiny Christian School 3801 SE 29th St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 677-6000 PK-12 508
Gethsemane Lutheran School
Rosary School (Roman Catholic)
1919 NW 18 Oklahoma City, OK (405) 525-9272 PK-8 233
Roserock Academy Special Education School 3301 N Martin Luther King Ave Oklahoma City, OK (405) 548-1280 K-1 38
(Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)
Sacred Heart Catholic School (Roman Catholic)
Good Shepherd Lutheran School
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School
8811 W Wilshire Blvd Oklahoma City, OK (405) 721-1167 PK-8 24
(Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
700 N Air Depot Blvd Oklahoma City, OK (405) 732-0070 PK-8 91
Harvest Life School (Assembly of God)
9125 SE 15 St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 455-3805 PK-12 58
Heritage Hall
1800 NW 122 St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 749-3005 PK-12 980
King’s Gate Christian School 11400 N Portland Ave Oklahoma City, OK (405) 752-2111 PK-6 290
Messiah Lutheran School (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
3600 Northwest Expressway Oklahoma City, OK (405) 946-0462 NS-8 153
Mount Saint Mary High School (Roman Catholic)
2801 S Shartel Ave Oklahoma City, OK (405) 631-8865 9-12 420
Parkview Adventist Academy
2700 South Shartel Ave Oklahoma City, OK (405) 634-5673 PK-8 196
(Roman Catholic)
5000 N Grove Ave Oklahoma City, OK (405) 789-0224 PK-8 197
St. Eugene Catholic School (Roman Catholic) 2400 W Hefner Rd Oklahoma City, OK (405) 751-0067 PK-8 331
St. James Catholic School (Roman Catholic) 1224 SW 41 St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 636-6810 PK-8 198
St. Luke’s Child Development Center Daycare / Preschool (Methodist)
222 NW 15 St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 232-2391 K-1 65
St. Philip Neri School 1121 Felix Pl Oklahoma City, OK (405) 737-4496 PK-8 173
Victory Academy (Christian)
1630 SW 74 St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 688-8000 K-7 23
Warm World School
Alternative School (Methodist) 14343 N Macarthur Blvd Oklahoma City, OK (405) 721-4141 PK-K 163
Westminster School 600 NW 44 St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 524-0631 PK-8 583
Young Achievers Christian Academy (Baptist)
1025 NE 15th St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 424-1701 PK-8 140
St. John Christian Heritage Academy
YUKON
(Baptist)
Harvest Hills Christian School
5700 N Kelley Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73111 (405) 478-8607 PK-5 76
St. John’s Episcopal School (Episcopal) 5401 N Brookline Ave Oklahoma City, OK (405) 943-8583 PK-8 103
St. John’s Lutheran School (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod)
1032 NW 12 St Oklahoma City, OK (405) 794-8686 PK-8 98
(Baptist)
9713 N Countyline Rd Yukon, OK (405) 721-1920 PK-12 82
St. John Nepomuk Catholic School (Roman Catholic)
600 Garth Brooks Blvd Yukon, OK (405) 354-2509 PK-8 198
Southwest Covenant Schools (Christian) 2300 S Yukon Parkway Yukon, OK (405) 354-9222 PK-12 428
(Seventh Day Adventist)
4201 N Martin Luther King Ave Oklahoma City, OK (405) 427-6525 K-12 43
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT PRI VAT E SCHOOLRE V IE W.C OM
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Ask the Experts: Health & Wellness
On the following pages, read expert opinions from OKC’s leading health and wellness professionals as they answer questions on important and timely topics.
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PROMOTION
Ask the Expert: Health & Wellness
Noel Williams, M.D. Board-Certified Gynecologist Dr. Noel Williams is a board-certified gynecologist, Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and owner of Optimal Health Associates. Williams received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at Emory University in Atlanta, later graduating from the Ohio State University College of Medicine. He completed an internship in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center and residency in the same specialized focus at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
What are minimally-manipulated stem cell therapies and how can they help patients? Minimally-manipulated stem cell therapies are known as exosomes that 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. Exosome therapy is the process of delivering the nanoparticles 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.
How long is recovery from exosome therapy? Since exosome therapy is non-invasive, recovery is minimal; in fact, most patients resume normal activity by the next day. The treatment itself typically takes less than 30 minutes overall and can be administered at the Optimal Health offices.
What are some common causes for erectile dysfunction? Men who are dealing with erectile dysfunction often have an underlying symptom that is causing the overall problem. It can stem from anything from prostate issues to surgical side effects, or other medical conditions including hypertension or diabetes.
When should someone consider hormone replacement? Essentially, hormones are gland-made chemicals that are used to control certain actions of cells and organs. They regulate the body’s functions and keep everything running smoothly; however, when the hormones become imbalanced, that’s when people should consider replacement. This procedure is designed to correct the imbalance, though not every hormone imbalance is made equal. If you are concerned, consult your primary care physician and consider the options.
N O E L W I LL I A M S , M . D. O P T I M A L H E A LT H AS S O C I AT E S 980 0 B R OA D WAY E X T S U I T E 200, O K L A H O M A C I T Y, O K 7311 4 O P T I M A L H E A LT H AS S O C I AT E S .C O M 405-7 15-4 496
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Jacob Haynes,M.D.
Ask the Expert: Health & Wellness
Oklahoma Sports & Orthopedics Institute Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Jacob Haynes is a fellowship-trained adult hip and knee reconstruction surgeon with the Oklahoma Sports & Orthopedics Institute. Arriving in Oklahoma as a National Merit Scholar, the Iowa native graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor of science degree in microbiology, later completing his medical training at the top of his class at the Oklahoma College of Medicine. His residency training at Washington University and an adult hip and knee reconstruction fellowship at the Anderson Orthopaedic Clinic make Haynes one of the few surgeons in the metro who can perform the minimally invasive direct anterior hip replacement. His training also allows him to perform minimally invasive partial and full knee replacement, as well as complex hip and knee revisions. We spoke with him about misconceptions about joint replacements and some of the cutting edge medical procedures he performs.
What are some common misconceptions people have about hip and knee replacement? Most people assume they will have significant limitations after their joint replacement. The majority of recovery is completed during the first few months after surgery, and there have been many advances in all aspects of joint replacement surgery compared to 10-15 years ago. Many patients are unaware of the non-surgical and surgical options that are available to help alleviate their pain. By performing minimally invasive joint replacement, some patients are able to leave the hospital the same day, and almost all are home by the day after surgery.
What is direct anterior hip replacement, and how does it help patients? With hips, I perform what’s known as the anterior hip replacement – or approach from the front - which is a more minimally invasive technique than more traditional surgical approaches. When I say minimally invasive, the method I utilize involves not cutting muscle or tendon, which is different than other methods in which muscle and tendon are cut during the surgery and then repaired at the end. Our rapid recovery protocol involves all aspects of the surgical experience and includes our anesthesia providers, nursing staff and physical therapists. This method allows for quick and safe discharge, and allows patients to get back home much earlier than has been done in the past.
Regarding orthopedic surgery, is there any advice for a new patient to consider? My philosophy is that I strive to treat everyone like a family member and work to get them relief from their hip or knee pain with the least invasive treatment option possible. There are many very effective treatments short of surgery, which include things like icing, rest, oral medications, injections and physical therapy. The first steps to diagnosing the cause of joint pain typically involve an examination of the affected joint as well as imaging such as an x-ray or MRI. We have a lot of success managing joint pain in many patients without surgery, and in those where the non-surgical treatment isn’t providing adequate relief, surgery is a very effective solution.
JAC O B H AY N E S , M . D. D R JAC O B H AY N E S .C O M OKLAHOMA CITY 1110 N . L E E AV E . S U I T E 20 0 O K L A H O M A C I T Y, O K 7310 3 (405) 218-2530 EDMOND 13401 N . W E S T E R N AV E . S U I T E 301 O K L A H O M A C I T Y, O K 73134 (405) 218-2530 MIDWEST CIT Y 340 0 S D O U G L AS B LV D S U I T E 30 2 O K L A H O M A C I T Y, O K 73150 (405) 218-2530 S H AW N E E S S M S H AW N E E C L I N I C 321 4 J D K E T H L E Y R D S H AW N E E , O K 74 80 4 (405) 218-2530
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PROMOTION
Ask the Expert: Health & Wellness
Dr. Shanna Teel Founder. Leadership, Talent and Organizational Development Consulting Firm Dr. Shanna Teel is the bearer of numerous titles – a dual Ph.D. in industrialorganizational and clinical psychology; a post-graduate certificate in neuroscience and nutrition-science; and more than 22 years of experience as a business consultant, an executive coach and an adult and organizational transformation facilitator. Teel’s mission is to promote positive, healthy culture change in the workplace, while transforming the health of individuals, leaders and organizations. Teel spoke with us to share how Oklahomans can manage their health and well-being inside and outside their jobs.
Has there been a shift in standard workplace cultures? If so, how and why? No matter what age group, people are seeking meaning in their work, and they want to add value no matter their position. We need leaders who are willing to connect with their people, know their team’s unique talents and use those talents to add value to the organization. Great leaders are self-aware and empathetic, and know how to get the best out of their people while fulfilling the mission of the organization. Yet, it takes leaders being self-aware and healthy themselves to be able to do this for others. I heard none of this sort of talk when I first started my career. It has become clearer over time that people seek meaning and purpose in their work, and they need leaders to help them deploy their talents in meaningful ways.
Why is self-care important when most occupational objectives are aimed toward providing the most production possible? Self-care provides the fuel to do what needs to be done in the workplace. We could all sit around at home all day, be healthy and do nothing, but what does that accomplish? As driven adults, we have a need to create and work. Self-care and managing our health have a direct correlation to capacity; the healthier I am, the more energy I will have to accomplish my goals and the goals of the organization. Managing health doesn’t only apply to physical health; it applies to mental, emotional, financial, creative and spiritual health too.
stress and anxiety and often in health events, like panic attacks, heart palpitations, adrenal fatigue or other more serious illness and disease. I lived through several years of adrenal fatigue myself.
Are there things people can do routinely to avoid the invisible wall? If you’re working from home, separate the section you consider “for work” from what you call home. Allow yourself to take breaks from work, either for a walk outside, doing a creative activity or simply learning to sit in the silence. Connect with people who are good in your life that you can talk to. Movement and connection can solve many of our challenges. In our culture, we tend to over-value productivity, but we don’t value the rest and reset portion of our lives. Society doesn’t give us enough freedom to rest. As much as the pandemic affected our lives, it forced us to reset our values. It shifted our priorities and made people take a hard look at their boundaries, values and priorities – which is a great thing to do.
What happens when people push their boundaries and don’t manage their stress? BURNOUT. Burnout happens. I’ve been that person who runs on caffeine and cortisol to achieve my goals. Self-driven, highly motivated people can hit what I call the invisible wall. It can come in many forms, but typically it comes in the form of physical, mental, emotional and performance fatigue. This fatigue doesn’t happen overnight; it erodes your performance each time you push it to its extremes. Driven people are driven to develop strong habits and these strong habits can sneak up on us and cause burnout. The more you do this without equally managing your health, that invisible wall presents itself in changes in mood, lower performance, increased 44
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SHANNA R. TEEL, PHD D R S H A N N A .C O M 781-249-7531
PROMOTION
Ask the Expert: Health & Wellness
Janelle Wagner, APRN, C-NP Nurse Practitioner Born in Ethiopia and raised in Stillwater, Janelle Wagner has been a dedicated nurse practitioner and has practiced in aesthetic medicine for 25 years. Wagner received a Bachelor’s in Nursing and a Master’s in Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She regularly attends professional conferences, and advanced educational courses and trainings in her field. Wagner is dedicated to providing the latest technological advancements in aesthetic medicine to help bring out the inner confidence in all her clients.
How long have you been practicing in this industry? I have 25 years of experience when it comes to aesthetic medicine. I wanted to be on the ground floor of facial injections. I’ve been injecting Botox since it was approved by the FDA. I’ve seen the progression of all injectable fillers, from collagen products to the latest and greatest injectable fillers, lasers and non-invasive aesthetic procedures, over the span of my career. It’s allowed me to have perspective of where we’ve come from and where we’re going with the aesthetic industry. The industry is constantly evolving and exciting to be a part of.
What sets you apart from others in your profession? Aside from being a certified nurse practitioner, I also serve as a regional educator for Allergan Medical Institute, training other nurse injectors and physicians on injection application and techniques including Botox, Kybella and Dermal fillers. I have a passion for aesthetic medicine and strive to be the best while practicing safe medicine to help clients have an optimal outcome. At RefineU, we strive to provide our clients with the confidence they desire by enhancing their own natural features, using our combined clinical expertise.
What should people look for in a MedSpa? I believe people should look for a MedSpa that makes a client feel mentally, physically and spiritually balanced. When clients first come to a MedSpa, they should expect a well-trained and certified staff to show compassion for their needs while combining art, science and precision to enhance their natural beauty. We all desire a youthful, refreshed look; at RefineU MedSpa, it’s our specialty to do that with personal care that is unmatched.
What services does RefineU offer? Our services provide a range of aesthetic opportunities for clients, anything from minimal to long-lasting. In addition to our injection fillers and neurotoxins, we offer services like body sculpting, laser treatments, thread lifting, microneedling, an IV nutrition bar and more. Instead of resorting to going to multiple locations for these services, we wanted to design a place that was an all-inclusive experience for people who want to accentuate their inner beauty.
R E F I N E U M E D S PA 1330 1 N M E R I D I A N AV E S U I T E 30 0 A , O K L A H O M A C I T Y, O K R E F I N E U O KC.C O M 405-8 49-5391
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Ask the Expert: Health & Wellness
Tracy Kuykendall, M.D. Board-Certified Dermatologist Dr. Tracy Kuykendall is a board-certified dermatologist and is the newest addition to Edmond’s SPMG Skin Specialists of Oklahoma team. After graduating from the University of Arkansas College of Medicine in 2003, Kuykendall has gained 18 years of experience with training in dermatologic oncology, cosmetic dermatology and surgery. Kuykendall spoke with us about the importance of being aware of your skin’s health.
What is the difference between medical dermatology and a skin care specialist? I think people believe anyone can do dermatology because they see these clinics that advertise as skin care specialists – but many aren’t true dermatologists, because they never attended dermatology residencies. Dermatology is a board-certified specialty with training in everything from rashes to skin cancers, unusual skin conditions, pathology and things of that nature. It can be deceiving due to some who claim to be skin care specialists, but not all are board-certified dermatologists.
Are there preventative measures the public can take to better protect their skin? For sun protection, using good sunscreen or sun-protective clothing is one of the more important, and often overlooked, things we can do. Regularly monitoring things like unusual spots or lesions is another way people can protect themselves; for example, when a new lesion develops, take the proper precautions and see a dermatologist to have it examined. Even if it’s for peace of mind, it’s better to know than to not and make things worse.
When is the right time for someone to have a spot or rash checked? Anytime you are concerned about your skin or an unusual spot, you should get it checked immediately by a dermatologist. Though some might be nervous to be checked out, it is better to come in and be aware of what is happening rather than to self-diagnose or do nothing. It’s worth the reassurance to have a professional diagnosis, rather than a Google search that could be misleading. Once you are aware of a possible skin condition, there are resources available online to help.
T R ACY KU Y K E N D A LL , M . D. SPMG SKIN SPECIALISTS OF OKLAHOMA 9 N . B RYA N T AV E ., E D M O N D , O K 730 34 405-920-178 8
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Ask the Expert: Health & Wellness
Brandon Johnson, M.D. Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, Founder of The Hip Clinic Dr. Brandon Johnson is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and founder of The Hip Clinic – a facility specializing in arthroscopic hip surgery. An Oklahoma native, Johnson graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and pursued specialty arthroscopic training at The Santa Monica Orthopedic Group. Johnson established The Hip Clinic in 2017 and has performed more than 2,000 hip procedures since starting his practice in 2014.
What is the main purpose of The Hip Clinic? The mission of The Hip Clinic is to preserve the hip joint through proper diagnosis and treatment. One of the common misconceptions I hear from patients is the assumption that hip surgery is hip replacement. Our entire practice is based on minimally-invasive arthroscopic out-patient procedures to preserve the hip joint, rather than to replace. Hip arthroscopy is an outpatient procedure in which a camera is utilized along with small instruments to repair the hip joint.
Why did you specialize in hip arthroscopy? I’m from the metro area and, following my residency, I saw there was a need for metro patients to have the option for hip preservation rather than the only option being hip replacement surgery. I was interested in emerging new technology, so I pursued additional training in Los Angeles to provide metro patients options other than hip replacement.
Who are the common patients and what are their usual ailments? My patients’ ages range anywhere from 12 to 80. The most common complaints are groin pain with sitting or persistent tenderness and pain on the outside of the hip. Unfortunately, nearly all my patients have been told they have arthritis and need a hip replacement, or they have simply been told nothing is wrong. The truth is they haven’t seen a qualified hip specialist to give them the proper diagnosis.
What separates The Hip Clinic from other clinics? What makes The Hip Clinic different is the expertise we provide for our patients. I am the only Oklahoma surgeon who is a member of the International Society of Hip Arthroscopy, known as ISHA. To be a member of ISHA, not only must you have extensive arthroscopic hip training, but you must demonstrate expertise in practice. With the clinic only focusing on hip preservation, the staff also has extensive experience in caring for the thousands of hip patients that have been successfully treated through the clinic. One of the primary factors that affects outcome is a surgeon’s experience and I, along with my staff, have extensive experience in treating thousands of patients.
THE HIP CLINIC 9800 N . B R OA D WAY E X T N , S U I T E 203 O KC 7311 4 T H E H I P C L I N I C O KC.C O M 405-424-5 417
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klahoma Sports Science & Orthopedics has been home to some of the metro’s top orthopedic specialists for over a quarter century. This year marks OSSO’s 26th anniversary, a mile-marker and testament to its beginnings as a single specialty group of physicians specializing in orthopedics.
Over the years, OSSO has gradually expanded its scope of practice from strictly sports and orthopedics into a variety of specialty focuses. The name emphasizes orthopedics; however, this evolution from one group dedicated to orthopedic sports science towards a multi-specialty organization was designed to provide Oklahomans proper healthcare under one organization spanning across the metro. Robert Fuxa, Vice President of Marketing for HPI, says this redefining of OSSO was a natural progression aimed towards increasing “the repertoire of specialties, including some that are in constant high demand in the metro area and are more difficult to obtain a timely appointment.” “In the beginning, we started recruiting physicians who specialized in areas that needed a strong focus in Oklahoma,” Fuxa said. “Over time, we have added specialists from various fields such as primary care, women’s health, urogynecology and gastroenterology; in fact, our most recent specialty category is endocrinology. We will continue to add new specialties to this growing list.” Through this expansion, OSSO has grown into a complete family healthcare provider, delivering inclusive, innovative care to patients of all ages. With practices encompassing concussion care, neurosurgery, pain management, rheumatology and others, OSSO’s group of 32 physicians provides patients with an unmatched level of orthopedic and specialty care. Aside from a patient’s ease of having most medical procedures performed under one organization, OSSO specialists are driven to making healthcare accessible to both urban and rural communities. Though the metro operates as OSSO’s medical focal point, this expansion includes areas in north and south Oklahoma City, Edmond, Yukon and, in certain cases, beyond.
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“Although some of the physicians under the OSSO brand are traveling to areas outside of the metro, over time, we will be adding clinic schedules in more rural areas to facilitate patient convenience,” Fuxa said. “Providers will be available to these areas to help provide further care. This allows people who may not want to travel into the metro a great opportunity to see a specialist in their area, or at least closer to home.” Convenience through clinical coordination is the key to OSSO’s success. This combined effort is not only seen in their multi-faceted approach to medicine, but also through OSSO’s available resources. Their website, ossonetwork.com, provides the user with a comprehensive list of physicians, reasons for facility visits, along with their scheduling phone number, (405) 427-6776. After dialing, the user will be taken through a detailed list of all of OSSO’s specialties to better guide you to the physician you require. Barry Northcutt, M.D., HPI Board Chairman shared, “One of the great things about OSSO and our group of physicians is how we understand the intricacies of each specialty and our ability to work together on any given medical procedure. Because of this understanding, we can find a physician for almost any patient’s needs. Even outside of the OSSO network, our group works well with other specialists to ensure that patient care is the highest priority.” What started as a group of orthopedic specialists has grown into an umbrella organization created to better facilitate healthcare for all patients. As OSSO continues to build from the necessities of its patients, its unwavering mission of providing numerous orthopedic and specialty services for all Oklahomans is what defines OSSO today.
405.427.6776
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ossonetwork.com
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Dining
Feathered Feud This issue we weigh in on the local chicken sandwich war including new selections from Hal Smith’s new downtown concept, Jimmy B’s. Page 52
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Tori Tori goes non-traditional with a ground chicken patty on their new chicken sandwich.
Chicken Sandwich Champions The metro’s best birds on buns BY GREG HORTON
ne of the questions that dominated social media for a month or so in 2020 – unbelievably – was which fast-food chain that uses factoryfarm-raised chickens, flavorless buns and questionable condiments had the “best” chicken sandwich. In a year dominated by COVID, it made a perverse sort of sense. With hope for a better 2021, we think the more apposite question is: Which local joint that uses responsibly raised chickens, fresh ingredients and buns that taste like, well, actual bread, has the best chicken sandwich? Perhaps, too, we can stop talking about which thing is the “best” and just find a bunch of things that are all delicious in their own ways. In that spirit, we built a list of chicken sandwiches to
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get you started on your quest, beginning with what one critic called a “chicken meatball sandwich.” (Sometimes criticism is praise in disguise.) Tori Tori! at 1634 N Blackwelder is the latest concept from Rachel Cope’s 84 Hospitality, and it’s built around chicken. (Tori is the Japanese word for “bird” or loosely, chicken.) Chef Jeff Chanchaleune took the concept for his chicken sandwiches from the meatballs at Goro. “People love the tsukune-style meatballs we do at Goro, and formerly Gun, so I thought it would be fun to make a chicken sandwich using ground chicken,” Chanchaleune says. “I like the texture, and it’s more interesting than a brined breast.” The ground chicken does make it possible to intensify flavors more easily and consistently than using breasts, or even thighs, and the texture is burger-like and very satisfying. The patties are crunchy thanks to the panko breading, and they’re finished with charred negi (onion) mayo, red cabbage, mustard vinaigrette and pickled cucumbers. There is a spicy version, too, that is legitimately spicy. Palo Santo (1203 SW 2) uses panko for the breading, too, on its katsu chicken sandwich. It’s a simple, delicious approach with a brined breast, house pickles and Kewpie mayo mixed with sriracha. In the category of “over-the-top,” the Nashvillain at Marc Dunham’s Nashbird (locations in downtown OKC, Edmond and Norman) is hot chicken on a bun with mac ‘n’ cheese, bacon, onion rings and ranch dressing. You can choose the heat level, or opt for southern fried or buttermilk ranch style. The brioche bun holds up nicely, and it’s enough food for two once you add the side.
As for split-able sandwiches, the monster at Burger Punk (3012 N Walker) is definitely a meal for two … but maybe get the loaded fries just to be sure. Chef Chris McCabe dreamed this up in some shiny, sunny corner of his brain, so it features a pterodactyl-sized breast, house-made pickles, lettuce and punk sauce. It’s a beautiful, delicious mess. Back to the chicken thigh variation for a moment. Thighs really do have more flavor than breasts; it’s not even controversial. R&J Lounge and Supper Club at 320 NW 10, in an homage to Bobo’s Chicken on the northeast side, uses Eastside chicken to make its sandwich. The thighs are smoked, deboned and fried, so they’re very flavorful. There’s some heat from the sriracha aioli, but it’s a pleasant, warming heat, not biting. Finally, Jimmy B’s opened at 1225 N Broadway on Automobile Alley in 2020, and was one of the best things to happen last year. Its chicken sandwich features a brined breast with buttermilk wash, a touch of arbol chili, a hint of cayenne and seasoned flour. With fresh tomatoes and cole slaw that should win awards, it’s a traditional chicken sandwich that has just enough flavor tweaks to make it deliciously distinctive.
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Merely Malbec Malbec remains mainstay for red wine lovers BY GREG HORTON
hile 2020 was the year of grenache, PetNats, carignan and some wine bars, restaurants continue to report their bestsellers are cabernet, chardonnay, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc and malbec. Yes, malbec, maybe being the biggest disconnect of all. “Malbec has a reputation as a beginner wine,” says Ian Clarke, certified sommelier and industry professional. “In the glass, it’s so purple it looks like cartoon wine. It’s easy to drink, juicy and with almost no tannins.” That’s industry talk for “it’s pleasant, but uninteresting.” Malbec has never been an important grape, except in Cahors, a French region that grows it exclusively. Clarke sells arguably the best, most affordable introduction to French malbec available – Clos La Coutale. If all iterations of the grape tasted like Cahors, then malbec would have a better reputation. Domestic Malbec is almost nonexistent, comparatively speaking. Some are exceptional, but expensive, like the Devil Proof from Aperture Cellars, a stunning California malbec over $100. Titus malbec is delicious, more modestly priced, but still about $50 – twice that at restaurant prices. “That does show you the potential of malbec, though,” Clarke says. “It can be great. Wines like Vina Cobos from Argentina show that the quality is there when it’s done right.” Good malbec exists, though it’s hard to find. You can find these around the 405, or order them from your favorite wine shop. Brazos Wine Company has made a living off finding great South American malbecs. Their Vaglio trio – Aggie, Chacra and Temple – are single-vineyard wines at great prices. They are vibrant, layered and complex, with dark fruit and excellent structure. Trapiche, long associated with bulk wines, has a single-vineyard line, too. Marketed as the “Terroir Collection,” Ambrosia, Coletto and Orellana are rich, fruit-forward, serious wines that hit the midpoint between French (restrained and serious) and New World (fruity and bombastic). Felino malbec, a Vina Cobos wine, is super affordable. It’s by the glass at The Hamilton, so you can try it before you commit to a bottle. Upper tiers of that line get pricey, but there’s plenty of quality in the lower tiers. Also from Argentina – Patagonia – comes Wapisa. It has less fruit extraction than typical South American malbecs, so it showcases genuine restraint, bright fruits and medium body.
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IN THE 405
The Tao of Flowers A month of blooming beauty B Y S A R A G A E WAT E R S PHOTO BY R ACHEL MAUCIERI
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E N T E R TA I N I N G
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hile some believe it’s a cliche to give flowers – especially roses – on Valentine’s Day, ask any florist or floral department: They’re winners. It’s also a great time to have them around the house, especially if you plan to cook a traditional Valentine’s Day dinner at home. Giving yourself the gift of flowers is something I highly endorse. An abundance of roses can make the most idyllic table decor. Which table? Any! The dining table for that special dinner, a side table, coffee table, even the entry table. I love to have a big arrangement for dinner, then the next day, break it up into smaller ones you can spread around the home; especially roses with unique, vibrant colors. Although each rose color has a variety of definitions, parting with convention and going with what is pretty and unusual is key. Red roses may be favored, and while they’re traditional, who can say no to a classic? However, if you want to add a little surprise, venture beyond the traditional. Lavender, pink, yellow, white, orange ... the choices are as varied as a rain-kissed rainbow. Consider a combination of colors, because monochromatic isn’t always the answer. Let your interiors be your guide. Ask yourself: What color complements your home’s color scheme?
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Although each rose color has a variety of definitions, parting with convention and going with what is pretty and unusual is key. The vase or vessel the flowers go in a can provide a distinctive twist. Most florists will either have unique containers for you to choose from or, if you ask, they will let you bring in a favorite one from home. If you are buying flowers you plan to arrange yourself, here are a few simple things to remember: Remove leaves from the lower part of the stem going into the water. Cut stems before you put them in water. Add the “flower food” provided in a small package that should accompany your bouquet. You can make a tight arrangement by cutting the stems so the buds are just over the rim of the container, or leave them longer for a looser arrangement. Finally, flowers around this time of the year don’t have to be relegated to just your “love interest.” It’s always nice to get flowers from someone, whether it’s friends, families or even coworkers. Putting a little extra effort into the selection shows it comes from the heart. This also means giving yourself flowers on occasion, even as a form of self-care. Everyone can use some of that.
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A Different Mother’s Day The Wild Mother’s floral sister act B Y S A R A G A E WAT E R S PHOTOS BY R ACHEL MAUCIERI
Specializing in floral arrangements, sisters Lauren, Leah and Cali Palmer make up the talented team of The Wild Mother Creative Studio, 629 W Sheridan Ave. What started out as an affinity for entertaining with flowers turned to arranging flowers and curating a look for the special moments of their clients’ lives. 405 Magazine chatted with Lauren Palmer about their start and what inspires them. HOW DID THE WILD MOTHER COME INTO BEING?
Leah and I both attended (Oklahoma Baptist University) at the same time … both studying arts and humanities. We always thought pursuing a business adventure together would be something fun to do; however, flowers were not the original idea. I always had flowers around my home and around when entertaining. This passion became known to friends, so some started asking us to help them with their weddings. Once we started getting phone calls from people we didn’t know, we felt like we were being guided towards this being a business venture. WHERE DID THE NAME “WILD MOTHER” COME FROM?
Leah was studying poetry her junior year and I was studying a lot of opera, as well as anthropology, so we were inspired by a lot of the things in nature that were in the texts and the lyrics that we were reading, learning and performing. So, we landed on a concept of nature being like a mother and caring and providing for her children. WHERE DO YOU LOOK FOR INSPIRATION – NOT ONLY IN THE ACTUAL CREATIVITY OF YOUR PRODUCTS, BUT ALSO IN HOW YOU OPERATE THE WILD MOTHER? 58
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ABOVE: Poetry, literature and art contribute to the floral concepts developed by The Wild Mother. LEFT: Sisters Lauren, Cali and Leah Palmer launched their floral business after friends began asking for their help with weddings.
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Echo Tile and Stone Full Kitchen & Bath Remodel 405.905.5982 120 SW 11th St. Moore, OK 73160 Randy, Dalon and Elizabeth Valadez
We didn’t have floral mentors or traditional floral design training. While we are classically trained artists in other disciplines, floral design is something that is just innate. We do, however, have people we are inspired by. We feel like it is really important to not live or create in a vacuum, but to be inspired by other artists that are creating in other mediums. We lean pretty heavily on that creative community that started when we were really young. Art ends up being a character in our story that ends up being a mentor to us.
More than simple decor, the Palmer sisters imbue their arrangements with storytelling elements.
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THIS YEAR HAS BEEN SO STRANGE; HOW HAS THE CURRENT SITUATION AFFECTED THE WILD MOTHER AND THE THREE OF YOU? What
is the most interesting to us is that we were able to pivot to a conversation about representation in the wedding industry during not only the pandemic, but the civil unrest around systemic racism. What we are finding refreshing is that we have posted how we are … feeling as Black and afro women, and it sparked a conversation that is so special. We’ve talked to people all over the world. At the height of the spring season when flowers are bursting from the ground, we weren’t able to have access to them. So, we pivoted and put most of our time and attention into our nonprofit, The Conversation Workshop. The responses from not only the community here, but from around the world (including) florists, caterers and others in the wedding industry, have been amazing. We want to protect The Wild Mother and the space we have created for art and healing through art, but we also decided that we cannot afford to (sidestep) the conversation. We are still learning and growing.
VOTING ROUND FEBRUARY 11-28 405MAGAZINE.COM
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IN THE 405
For the Boys Will Lightfoot called in talented friends for an instant bachelor upgrade B Y E V I E K L O P P H O L Z E R | P H O T O S B Y E LY FA I R
onsidering how quickly Will Lightfoot established his Mesta Park home, his last name is fitting – nimble is an understatement. “I found the house the first day I was on the MLS, and put a contract on it that day,” Lightfoot says. His process was thoughtful – relying on the expertise of several friends – and fast. When he first toured the property, he immediately invited longtime friend and interior designer Sara Kate Little to come see it and provide feedback. “I went over to look at it and it was just beautiful,” Little says. “I was laughing because that’s so Will; just seeing the right thing and ready to pull the trigger.” Little and Lightfoot have known each other for decades. Their parents are friends, and Lightfoot introduced Little to her future husband, Jason. Little designed Lightfoot’s previous residence, a condo in Deep Deuce. Now, he was ready for a family home to enjoy with his 8-year-old son, Hudson. “It was cool, because the home really felt like a graduation for him – a little bit of a growing up and the next chapter for him,” Little says. “He has Hudson, and it’s like the realtor set it up: There were kids riding bikes down the street that day. People were out walking with strollers. It was really clear that Mesta Park is family friendly.” With Little’s wholehearted approval, Lightfoot purchased the house in March 2016. Then, he asked his friend Randy McDaniel with Backyard Solutions to add a pool. “I told him, ‘I need this pool open in May,’” Lightfoot says. Hudson loves to swim and they both love to entertain, so a pool was a must-have. “There was no reason for me to move into a house unless I had an outdoor space and a pool to enjoy and have people over.” Lightfoot’s friend since the second grade, Jacob Vorderlandwehr with Evergreen Landscaping, helped him revamp the green spaces, while Little assisted with patio furniture selections. Come summertime, Little was referring to Lightfoot’s backyard as “Mesta Park Country Club,” since Lightfoot frequently hosted neighbors and friends. It wasn’t until after the home was his that Lightfoot realized it was the same property his church friend Ty Bavmeister had previously purchased in foreclosure and flipped. This gave Lightfoot instant confidence in the home’s renovations, and it provided a solid foundation for Little’s interior design.
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ABOVE: Emily Reynolds at Anonyma sourced most of Lightfoot’s artwork collection. Smaller pieces are grouped together in a gallery style. BELOW: Will Lightfoot says reading with his son, Hudson, is a favorite pastime.
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D E S I G N
The Sputnik chandelier in the dining room adds unexpected glamour to the males-only home.
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I think the theme of the house really coming together is ‘old friends.’ The ability to trust all the people involved was crucial in it coming together so fast.” – WILL LIGHTFOOT
FAR LEFT: A blue-andgreen abstract painting from Anonyma anchors the living room design. LEFT: Considering Lightfoot’s affinity for trees, Woods wallpaper by Cole and Son is fitting in the powder bath. BELOW Accents are arranged casually – easy to move for father-son LEGO builds.
“I think the theme of the house really coming together is ‘old friends,’” Lightfoot says. “The ability to trust all the people involved was crucial in it coming together so fast.” He gave Little free rein on making design decisions, partly because he trusts her style and partly because he values efficiency. “I can always be confident in her taste, her eye for detail and her eye for quality,” Lightfoot says. “She is a self-starter and she finds great pieces quickly. A designer has to make lots and lots of decisions. If she was always having to come back to me to make them, or if she wasn’t confident, then it would drag the process quite a bit. It was important to me that she could take some general ideas and run with them. That’s what she does really well.” The design timeline tightened after Lightfoot agreed to having his new residence on the Mesta Park Home Tour that December. In a matter of months, his place needed to be walk-through ready. “That was further incentive to call Sara and say ‘Let’s just move completely in and do everything immediately,’ instead of the normal bachelor routine of putting a mattress on the floor and being OK with that for months,” he says. Little was up for the challenge. She helped him fashion ideal spaces for fatherson playtime, adding toy storage and large tabletops for LEGO builds to the main living areas. Little incorporated paints (like Benjamin Moore’s Pale Navy 62
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D E S I G N
ABOVE: Interior designer Sara Kate Little found this Kilim rug with bold tones to contrast the room’s more muted shades of blue. BELOW: When the king bed didn’t fit perfectly between the bedroom windows, Little used the same pattern on the windows and walls for a cohesive look.
on the front door) and patterns (like Cole and Son’s Woods wallpaper in the powder bath) that played up Lightfoot’s affinity for trees and the color blue. “I’m not super design-savvy, so I lean heavily on her,” Lightfoot says. “Because women don’t live here, I think she wanted to keep it masculine – but not hopeless bachelor. She wanted to give it a little bit of class.” “I was teasing him, saying, ‘I know you’ve been living in a bachelor pad, but can I please make this a pretty one?’” she says. Pretty-yet-manly elements include the Schumacher Deconstructed Stripe wallpaper and fabric layered throughout the master bedroom and the boldly colored Kilim rug in the living room. However, Little’s favorite items are in the dining room: a golden Sputnik chandelier and draperies in an almost-watercolor pattern, Clarence House’s Kiki. “That’s the benefit of being good friends with a client – being able to get away with things like that,” Little says. “Had we not known each other so well, I think he would’ve been more anxious. We’ve known each other for so long, and frankly he kind of knew what he was getting into when he asked me to help: that I would push him a little bit and try to do something a little out of the box.” Much of his artwork shows nature-inspired themes and was sourced by Emily Reynolds at Anonyma. Lightfoot’s favorite piece is a blue and green abstract that reminds him of leaves drifting in water. Reynolds lives in the Mesta Park neighborhood, but Little introduced Lightfoot to her shop, where she collects and sells works by lesser-known or unknown artists. Thoughtful touches make the home feel unique, but the goal was always to create a place where boys can be boys. Nothing too precious. No rooms off-limits. In a home of boys, you can count on things getting a little messy. “Hudson spends hours throwing a little basketball in the entryway. He’ll act like he’s playing the game and calling his own shots – ‘Hudson Lightfoot shoots a three,’” Lightfoot says. “Some designs, you’d feel uncomfortable if it wasn’t spotless all the time. This design is more conducive to having piles everywhere, not having to keep it spotless.” The resulting design is a balance of casual and cool, with ample area to play and entertain. It reflects Lightfoot’s preferences and personality – and, of course, it was all finished right on time. 405MAGAZINE.COM
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Out & About
Hot to Trot The OKC Polo Club is drawing a kinetic mix, including college-aged and female players. Page 68
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OUT & ABOUT
Parks mixes eras — modern and older fashions — to create contrasts that emphasize his models’ humanity.
An Entire Mood The stunning photography of Jakian Parks BY GREG HORTON
akian Parks has already booked his first art installation, and he’s only 19. The south Oklahoma City-born and Yukon-raised photographer came to the attention of Ashley Forrest, co-owner of Forma Optics & Art, via a musician friend. “She had been telling me about this young man who was sweet and humble and mega-talented, and then I saw his work, and knew we had to support him,” Forrest says. “He’s motivated at a level you don’t always see at 19, and I think given that and his talent, he’s going to be huge.” Growing up in Yukon isn’t necessarily a context in which artistic inspiration is generated, but Parks attended high school at Young Achievers Christian Academy on NE 15, where he encountered what he called “real” Black culture and history. “Not just the stuff that’s taught in history books,” Parks says. “My work explores the regality and natural beauty in Black existence, so attending school on the northeast side allowed me to better understand and appreciate Black excellence and its beauty.” Those are the themes woven into Parks’s photography, but through a lens of fashion and that impossible-to-qualify
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component at which we all shrug and agree to call “cool.” As Forrest put it: “His work is an entire mood.” “He has an eye for color and for faces,” she says, “and he stages beautifully. For the installation we’re doing at Forma, we’re transforming the south wall into a mockup of the Overholser Mansion, and creating an interactive experience with Jakian’s photography.” Growing up, Parks stood out in art class, and he loved drawing, graffiti and playing with light and photography via Tumblr on family trips. But it was photography that stuck. “Photography became my first priority because of people,” he says. “I see things and stories in humans. People strike me and I’m inspired by their looks. I like to tell a story through people.” To tell the stories, everything in the tableau is controlled by Parks: hair,
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makeup, clothing, models, background … everything. The clothes are thrifted, wigs made by hand, makeup done on set and props selected to create the mood. He collaborates well with local hair and makeup professionals. Parks also has a knack – probably born from years on photography apps and a natural eye – of posing his models in a dramatic fashion that feels perfectly natural. Chiaroscuro and other lighting tricks help, but his eye for the human form drills all the way down to gestures and angles. The photography is as obvious a medium for a gallery as it is for the pages of a magazine; it’s beautiful in every setting. The installation “I-Opening: A Look at Black Excellence” will run from Feb. 5 through the end of March, with the first night being invitation-only. Parks said his goal is to accentuate the ordinary person’s raw beauty through his lens, using frank and candid expressions. “The candid expressions emphasize the traumatic experiences that Black people endure,” he says. “The installation will highlight the essential humanity of Black people and portray them as the face of high fashion.”
@JakianParks on Instagram
Staged in tableaus with contrasting colors and textures, Parks’s subjects seem almost three-dimensional.
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OUT & ABOUT
O N E
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T H I N G
The OKC Polo Club features a well-equipped, privately owned facility with two barns, a regulation-size polo field, two practice fields and more.
Saddle up with the OKC Polo Club BY BR ANDON KING
avid Ragland’s midlife crisis was not conventional. While many men’s middle-age romp with youth is gradual, Ragland’s struck like lightning on his 40th birthday when a friend invited him to play a sport he had never played before. Now at age 78, Ragland recalls this time as pivotal to who he is today. “After my birthday, a guy invited me down to play polo in Norman at the Broad Acres Polo Club,” Ragland says. “I had never ridden a horse before the age of 40, but I was invited back to play the next weekend. I kept going and, well, the rest is history.” His invitation was given by Bob Moore, a prominent business leader best known for his work in the automobile industry – and an avid polo player who founded the Broad Acres Polo Club. The club served as a recreational focal point for many in the polo community, including Ragland, who remembers Moore as “a Will Rogers sort of man.” After Moore died on Nov. 19, 1998, Broad Acres closed in 2002. Players like Ragland dispersed to different parts of the country to continue playing, leaving a vacuum for polo enthusiasts. In 2008, Ragland purchased property in Jones with plans to build a new polo club. At the time, he was the United States Polo Association (USPA) Great Plains Circuit Governor – a governing body for polo encompassing states including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and part of Missouri. He continues to hold that title today, and coaches the Oklahoma State University polo club.
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Ragland’s OKC Polo Club came to fruition in 2013. The club provides recreational opportunities for those wanting to participate in the equine sport including a well-equipped, privately owned facility with two barns, a regulation-size polo field, two practice fields and more. A typical polo season operates from the beginning of May to the end of October. With memberships ranging from $100 to $1,500 per season, riders have the opportunity to participate in weekend matches, private polo lessons and social gatherings, like the Margarita League – a slower-paced game followed by an outdoor cookout with fellow members. “The OKC Polo Club is giving players in Oklahoma a place to go; something that hasn’t happened since Bob’s passing,” he says. “We get a variety of people out here trying the sport, but the majority of those playing here are younger people from college polo clubs and women.” Michelle LaVasque, a commercial and equine photographer and now the communications director for the OKC Polo Club, was hired to shoot promotional photos for the club in 2015. Being raised around horses and trained in various equine disciplines, she quickly became a member of the club, followed a year later by husband Erik LaVasque, a Boeing programs director. Michelle LaVasque says this game allows people to branch out and experience something most people hadn’t experienced before in Oklahoma. “I would say 99 percent of people, when you tell them you play polo, they’re confused at first. They’ll say ‘Polo? Do you mean water polo?’” she says. “Once people know about it and that we have it here in the state to try, you typically see a wide variety of people wanting to experience something different.” Adds Erik LaVasque, “It’s addictive from the start. If someone like me, who hadn’t ridden a horse outside of trail-riding, can, then anyone can do it. Most people, once they start, never turn back.”
OKC Polo Club 11301 E Memorial Rd okcpoloclub.com
PHOTO PROVIDED
Fun at a Gallop
Victoria Solorzano; Keeley Walker, CNP; & Lindsey McElvaney
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LOOKING BACK
Whiteout Conditions Remembering the ferocious blizzard of 1971 BY BR ANDON KING
reshman Mike Smith sat in Felgar Hall’s map room at the University of Oklahoma on the afternoon of Friday, Feb. 19, 1971. The weekend’s early weather forecast predicted snow for the panhandle. By the following Monday, however, much of northwestern Oklahoma had experienced one of the worst recorded blizzards in United States history. Nearly 50 years later, memories of the blizzard that struck Oklahoma, the Texas panhandle and parts of southeastern Kansas remain with Smith. He didn’t foresee the storm’s magnitude until he arrived back at the university’s weather department after attending Sunday mass in Norman. “When I came back to the meteorology department, I was surprised to see so many people on a Sunday afternoon.” Smith says. “I started plotting out the map since, back in those days, there was no such thing as being able to look at a distant radar. When we started drawing out what was expected, even at the time, we knew it was going to be terrible.” As evening fell on Feb. 20, snowfall descended on northwest Oklahoma with winds between 30 and 50 mph, quickly enveloping the panhandle in more than 10 inches of snow, according
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to numerous reports. More than 30 inches covered parts of Woodward and Harper counties, with Beaver breaking the state record for snow depth at more than 36 inches on the morning of Feb. 22. The effects of the blizzard were far-reaching. According to the storm data entry from the National Weather Service, “One death was attributed to the storm when a woman drowned in Wagoner County, a northeast county, after her car spun off the highway on icy roads into a creek. An unknown number of motorists were treated for exposure after being rescued from their stranded cars. Some motorists were stranded up to 37 hours. Property loss from the blizzard was estimated at 11,000 cattle, 3,500 hogs and 1,000 sheep.” Oklahoma Air Guard used a Douglas C-124 Globemaster II – a 1950s heavy-lift military trans-
port aircraft – to fly over snow-covered fields in search of stray cattle. Once spotted, the plane plunged toward the surface, airdropping 5 to 10 bales of hay. In total, more than 300 tons of hay were dispersed throughout northwestern Oklahoma. According to Smith, damage assessments for natural disasters like the 1971 blizzard, provided by local meteorologists and economists, were rare in the 1970s. “Back in those days, meteorology, unfortunately, didn’t think that was really any of our business,” Smith says. “Today, we have economists who work with meteorologists, and also social scientists, who study the socioeconomic impact of a blizzard like this. More than likely, because there wasn’t any insurance for farmers, many people lost their livelihood and had to find other work.”
P H O T O C O UR T E S Y O K L A H O M A HI S T O R Y C E N T E R A ND T HE O K L A H O M A N
Hard-hit Laverne, Oklahoma, was paralyzed by the blizzard leaving homes and a local motel buried in snow. The photo originally was published in The Oklahoman Feb. 23, 1971.
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LAST LAUGH
Joint Venture Startling revelations from a shared bank account B Y L A U R E N R O T H | I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y K AT H Y L E E
o matter what else is going on in the world, February always turns my attention to Valentine’s Day. I don’t know if it’s the double X chromosomes, the annual inhalation of that weird mucilage glue during my formative years or my tendency to gravitate to holidays that are primarily associated with chocolate, but I like a holiday that celebrates coupledom. Valentine’s Day or not, I’m convinced that the ultimate expression of coupledom – outranking both the full-sized waterbed and matching jogging suits – is a joint checking account. Mr. Roth and I opened a joint checking account a year ago in February with the intention of using it to pay household bills, as most couples do. Ours is the first joint account I’ve ever had, and signing up for it was a leap of faith for me. Think about it: All your purchase history is right there for the account’s co-owner to see and judge. I cringed imagining the conversations: Mr. Roth: “You spent $250 at Sephora?!” Me: “Yesssss! My favorite eyeliner was on sale! I’m all stocked up now!” or... Mr. Roth: “This is weird. Here’s the transaction for those shoes you got last Saturday, but there’s an identical transaction on Monday. You should call them – you got billed twice!” Me: “I think we both know how cute those shoes are in black, so why are you surprised that I went back and got them in navy?” A couple of days before Christmas, the actual conversation went this way: Me: “Did you really spend $80 at Chipotle? Was this an office thing? Are you going to be reimbursed?” Mr. Roth: “Whaaaa?”
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Me: “Hey, sorry to bother you again, but did you take your staff to lunch at BJ’s Restaurant in Laurel, Maryland, last Friday and spend $158?” Mr. Roth: “Whaaaaa?” Me: “I’m looking at the account right now and it looks like you also ordered pizza for $93 a few days ago.” Mr. Roth: “Pretty sure that’s not me. I think I’d remember going to Maryland for lunch!” As I scrolled through the weekend’s activity in the account, I added up nearly $600 in restaurant charges, each attributed to Mr. Roth’s debit card. There could only be two explanations: either Mr. Roth is banking on a winning scratcher in the foreseeable future, or a pothead with a tapeworm in Maryland has stolen his debit card number. My first call, naturally, was to the bank, who quickly (and inconveniently) shut down Mr. Roth’s card in the final sprint to Christmas. My next several calls went to a few of the restaurants who had unwittingly fed the criminal with joint funds from the Roth account. With honey dripping from my smoothest Nancy Drew voice, I wasted no time collecting the phone number and address of our criminal who, like the buffoon I imagine them to be, had all their meals DELIVERED. The fraudulent charges will be reimbursed by the bank, of course. For many level-headed people, the story might end there, but level-headedness has never been an affliction of mine. I’ve got this cat’s cell phone number – verified by the pizza delivery guy I spoke with – and for me, the story is just getting started. As a service to the banking public, I’m taking steps to distract the jerk who wormed his way into our funds and preyed upon my (now very justified) phobia about joint accounts. By the time you read this article, our hungry little swindler will have received a million phone calls and texts about discounted Super Bowl tickets, unexpected pregnancy test results, free goldendoodle puppies, a fire sale on a Vail timeshare, and anything else that I (and 25 of my best pals) can plaster onto our car windows with his phone number. Only then will I feel ready to move on … ... to week two.
HAPPY BDAY CCB! What a year! We have adapted, we have grown, and we have prospered. 2020 may have altered our lives and how we do Business from day-to-day, but it hasn’t affected our commitment to “Building better lives for everyone” in our community. Whether it is a home loan, commercial loan, or whatever your banking needs may be, we’re here to help. Visit our website at ccb.bank or scan the QR code below for more details. Come and Join the Celebration! Chickasaw Community Bank- It’s a pretty sweet place to be.
909 S Meridian Ave • Oklahoma City, OK 73108 Main: 405.946.2265 • Fax: 405.949.2600
ccb.bank
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A LEGACY OF FINE FURNITURE FOR 62 YEARS
Keven Calonkey Carl Professional Member ASID NCIDQ Certified
Est. 1958 • 109 East Main • Norman • 405.321.1818 • MisterRobert.com •