FASHION

Reviving an Icon

Gary Brooks on restoring downtown’s First National Center

BY KRISTEN GRACE

FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, THE

historic First National Center, located at Robinson and Park in downtown Oklahoma City, has undergone an over $275 million renovation led by developer and partner Gary Brooks along with Charlie Nicholas. Built in 1931 as the First National Bank building, this iconic 32-story skyscraper was graced with murals, painted ceilings, decorative metal finishes, near century-old marble floors and columns and cast metal art deco touches. Over the decades, its elegant appearance deteriorated, and multiple attempts to purchase and revive the building fell through.

In 2015, the building went into receivership and a federal judge gave it clean title, so it was waiting again for a qualified buyer. Brooks, whose previous development projects include the Edge at Midtown, was working in the ofce building across the street from First National Center at the time. “In September of 2015, I walked in and had a vision,” he said. “The building needed to be saved, probably by a local, someone with a rallying voice. But I knew I was going to need a lot of help. There aren’t any buildings like First National.”

Considering the leadership in the state and city at the time, along with the team he felt he could assemble and the building’s clean title, Brooks believed it was the opportune moment. “If you were ever going to redevelop it, that was the time,” he said.

Renovating the nearly century-old building came with many difculties, such as finding subcontractors willing to tackle the massive project and funding it during the pandemic. “It was a big challenge when every hotel in the country shut down, and we’re trying to finance a big one,” Brooks said. The team spent three years clearing millions of pounds of debris from the tower so it could begin construction. Brooks credits the hundreds of people working on the renovation for devising creative solutions to the “largest redevelopment in the history of the state.” Mayor David Holt, in his 2022 State of the City speech, said First National was no longer “a missing piece” of OKC’s downtown resurgence.

First National Center now holds 146 lavish hotel rooms alongside new apartment homes and features several restaurants and bars — including one inside the bank’s original vault, The Library of Distilled Spirits. Brooks said, “That’s a unique experience, to be able to have a drink or eat dinner inside a restored bank vault. I cast the vision, and the team created something better than what I had dreamed.”

Brooks mentions there is a table in the Great Hall where he sometimes sits to watch the wonder on people’s faces as they walk among its columns for the first time. Calling the Great Hall “Oklahoma’s living room,” he said, “I want people to be able to

ABOVE: Elegant seating at the First National’s Great Hall BELOW: The Great Hall’s lavish entrance that Brooks deems “Oklahoma’s living room”

enjoy First National that way; just for them to come in and sit down. I want it to be a place where Oklahomans can come and dream and say, ‘I know Brooks, he’s not that good. If he can pull this off, what else can we do?’”

After standing nearly a century, and after seven years of renovation, this architectural treasure, Brooks reminds us, is the city’s building. It always has been, it always will be.

Sept. 23-24

• Performances • Artist talks • Art-making • Music + the opening celebration for La casa que nos inventamos: Contemporary Art From Guadalajara!

11 NW 11th St., OKC | okcontemp.org/OpenHouse | @okcontemporary

Ball cap, collared shirt, flower sweater, belt and platform shoes from Library; jacket from Lucca; pants from Oak City Vintage; and handbags from Junk Fairy, The Coterie and Cult 70 Threads.

Vintage for Your Vibe

Secondhand looks are new again

BY LINDA MILLER | PHOTOS BY SHEVAUN WILLIAMS

FASHION TRENDS, OR AT LEAST SOME VERSION OF

them, circle back regularly. That makes shopping for previously owned clothing even easier for those who prefer styles that feel current without being cookie-cutter.

Just as important, it keeps a jacket, sweater or pair of boots from going to the landfill. As demand for sustainable fashion increases, embracing secondhand, vintage, upcycled and recycled options is becoming the norm for more shoppers.

Many of this fall’s fashion trends can be found in metro area stores that specialize in or at least offer a selection of pre-loved garments. Anyone new to the idea can ease into fall with a leather jacket, chunky soled shoes or platform heels. Head-to-toe leather was all over the runways in 2022. So were plenty of plaid, sweeping hemlines and lots of layering. There’s also a nod to the ’60s with swirling patterns and abstract designs. Trends from the 1980s that are having another moment include color, oversized proportions, plastic jewelry, big shoulders and glitz, even if it’s just a crystal buckle on a wide belt. And don’t forget about an all-important topper for your head. Berets and newsboy caps make the perfect statement.

Many of the looks from the last several years and decades are timeless, making pre-owned clothing even more appealing. Not ready to step wholeheartedly into sustainable fashion? Start by mixing old with new for a more interesting outfit and wardrobe. The planet will thank you.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHEVAUN WILLIAMS & ASSOCIATES MODEL AND STYLIST: ANNA FROST HAIR AND MAKEUP: BRYNLEE HANDY, BEAUTY BY BRYNLEE LOCATION AND SET DESIGN: SPECIAL THANKS TO ROBINSON’S REPURPOSED IN NORMAN

Plaid beret, raw-hem top, jeans and squaretoe boots from Library; jacket from Oak City Vintage; and necklaces and rings from The Dandy Stone, Rink Gallery and Cult 70 Threads.

Leather cap, plaid collar shirt, smiley face vest and high-top shoes from Library; tie from Junk Fairy; and pants from Oak City Vintage.

Black beret, corset harness and platform boots from Library; bow from The Dandy Stone; plaid blouse from Oak City Vintage; and leather skirt from Cult 70 Threads.

Necklace and rings from The Dandy Stone; stripe blouse from Junk Fairy; crop sweater from Cult 70 Threads; and plaid pants and platform shoes from Library.

Polaroid sunglasses from Physician’s Optical; denim jacket and striped halter from Habit; yellow scarf from mode; Paige white sailor jeans from Edit & Co.; and white Billini boots from Tallulah Lou.

Gray beret, plaid crossbody, pants and shoes from Library; red necklace from The Dandy Stone; and sweater and gloves from The Coterie.

THE COTERIE CULT 70 THREADS, CULT70THREADS.COM DANDY STONE, @THEDANDYSTONE ON IG JUNK FAIRY, THEJUNKFAIRY.COM LIBRARY, LIBRARY.CLOTHING LUCCA, ILOVELUCCA.COM OAK CITY VINTAGE, OAKCITYVINTAGEOKC.COM RINK GALLERY, 3200 N. ROCKWELL AVE., BETHANY

405 HOME

READ THE LATEST ISSUE AT 405MAGAZINE.COM

Flavors of Fall

This fall’s issue of 405HOME explores the usual seasonal suspects: front porch decor, simmering apple cider and pumpkins galore. However, it also focuses on the heart of the home — and hub for the holidays — the kitchen! Read about windowsill herbs, a local cutting board artist and favorite kitchenware fnds, and get ready to savor the most delicious kitchen designs.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR

SEPT. 15-25

The Oklahoma State Fair has adopted the theme “Your Fair Share of Fun” for 2022. That’s probably accurate, considering how many vastly diferent activities are happening at the fairgrounds — visitors can enjoy 11 days packed with competitions, concerts and shows, in addition to taking in all of the vendors, Midway rides and games and fair foods galore. (Who can resist a funnel cake, turkey leg or roasted corn dripping with hot butter?)

Disney on Ice

Sept. 15-19 “Road Trip Adventures” brings favorite Disney characters into the Jim Norick Arena, with nine musical skating performances scheduled Sept. 15-19. Mickey Mouse will be joined by other familiar faces: Moana, Simba, Aladdin and even Woody and Forky from Toy Story 4. Tickets start at $20 and include outside gate admission if purchased on or before Sept. 14.

Xtreme Bulls & Broncs Tour and Concerts

On Sept. 23 and 24, don’t miss the PRCA Xtreme Bulls & Broncs Double Trouble Tour and Concerts. Viewers will be on the edge of their seats as they watch bull riders test their strength and stamina. After the dust settles, they can relax a bit and enjoy music by Trace Adkins (performing Sept. 23) or Chris Janson (Sept. 24). Tickets will cover outside gate admission when purchased on or before Sept. 14.

Nightly Concerts

Sept. 15-25 evenings Check out the fair’s schedule of free concerts — including big names like Tracy Lawrence, Tommy James and the Shondells, Foghat and more — presented in the Entertainment Plaza on the Chickasaw Country Entertainment Stage every night.

SCISSORTAIL PARK TAKES FLIGHT

SEPT. 23-25

The new southernmost section of Scissortail Park will open to the public and connect to the north end of the park via Skydance Bridge. This newly completed portion of Scissortail Park will nearly double the size of the park to 70 acres. The park foundation, along with the City of Oklahoma City, MAPS and its partners, will host a ticketed frst-look gala on Sept. 15 and a free weekend-long “Scissortail Park Takes Flight” celebration Sept. 23-25. The three-day event will include guided tours, children’s programming, music and dance, health and wellness activities as well as a concert. Many programs will be ofered both in English and Spanish. The sports courts will be open to the public for open play several hours each day, and will also showcase expo games with professional athletes. scissortailpark.org

CZECH FESTIVAL IN YUKON

OCT. 1

Beginning with a parade down Main Street at 10 a.m. and concluding with polka bands and folk dancing at Yukon Czech Hall at midnight, the Czech Festival is an actionpacked day dedicated to the city’s Czech heritage. This 50-year-old tradition features carnival rides, arts and crafts booths, the crowning of Oklahoma Czech royalty and favorite foods like klobasy sausages and sweet kolaches. Even though more than 2,500 dozen of the fruit-laden treats are baked for the festival, local vendors often sell out by afternoon. czechfestivaloklahoma.com

ORR FAMILY FARM

SEPT. 24-NOV. 12

Admission includes activities such as hay rides, train rides, a corn maze, pumpkin patch and animal barnyard, jumping pillows, a carousel and more. Pony rides and homemade treats sold separately. Tickets can be purchased online for a discounted price; kids 2 and younger are free. orrfamilyfarm.com

CHESTER’S PUMPKIN PATCH

SEPT. 24-OCT. 31

Come check out this patch’s new giant slide, barnyard games, pony rides for children, tractor rides, petting zoo (zoo food sold separately), three-acre mystery maze, live music on the weekends and more. Admission is $6 for ages 11 to 64, $12 for ages 1 to 10 and free for ages 64+ and children under 1. Be on the lookout for an “early bird special” on its website in early September. chesterspartybarn.fun

PUMPKINVILLE AT THE MYRIAD BOTANICAL GARDENS

OCT. 7-23

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Pumpkinville boasts 30,000 pumpkins arranged in themed vignettes throughout the Children’s Garden. Admission includes pumpkin murals, mums, cornstalks and haystacks, as well as unlimited activities such as Mo’s Carousel rides, pumpkin games (e.g., bowling, chess, reading time, crafts) and access to food trucks (food sold separately). Purchase pumpkins in the pumpkin patch area, and ride the Pumpkinville Express Train that travels throughout the gardens. Tickets are $8; members and children 2 and younger are free. myriadgardens.org

WINGS FALL FESTIVAL AND PUMPKIN PATCH

SEPT. 30-OCT. 23

Wings Special Needs Community enhances the lives of adults with developmental disabilities through social, vocational and residential programs. Its biggest fundraising event of the year is the fall festival at its location in scenic Edmond. Tickets include unlimited hayrides, games, bounce house visits, pumpkin train rides, petting zoo entry, photo-ops and access to food trucks. A vast variety of pumpkins, gourds, hay bales and pansies is also available to purchase for your fall decorating needs. Tickets are $7 per person, or you can get a family-four-pack for $25. Check the website for special Saturday activities, and for more details. wingsok.org/festival

OKTOBERFEST

The traditional German fall festival, flled with savory sausages, warm pretzels and, most importantly, cold beer, has inspired countless imitations, and Oklahoma City is host to several of these Bavarian bashes. Fassler Hall in Midtown hosts an annual Oktoberfest weekend complete with a stein hoisting competition (who can hold a liter of beer parallel to the ground the longest), a bratwurst eating contest and Dachshund (“weiner dog”) race. The town of Enid holds a First Friday celebration with beer gardens, live polka performances and loads of brats, strudels and bierock, a pastry stufed with ground beef, cabbage and onions and then oven-baked. If you’re wanting to tone down the festivities and simply savor the favors, trips to Ingrid’s or Royal Bavaria might relieve your hankering.

ZOOBREW, OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO

SEPT. 30

There are several times during the year when you can sip local beers in the Oklahoman air with like-minded craft enthusiasts, but there’s only one ZOObrew. The yearly fall fundraiser organized by the Oklahoma Zoological Society is billed as the state’s “largest outdoor beer tasting festival,” and it lets you taste selections from over 55 Oklahoma breweries while you explore the OKC Zoo’s wildlife. The fest’s 2,500-person capacity seems massive, but tickets sell out quick.

FALL COOKING CLASSES

As temperatures dip, our taste buds retreat from a light, fruity summer palate to heartier fall favors. David Crabtree, the general manager of Sur La Table in OKC, likens this shift in taste to hibernation — we want to conserve our energy and eat more food of substance. It can also be attributed to what produce is in season, such as summer tomatoes giving way to winter squash and pumpkins. If you’re interested in infusing these fall staples into your own cooking, there are multiple cooking classes in the 405 to help you learn.

Sur La Table will start ofering an Oktoberfest-inspired Baravian feast course Sept. 30, which features pork schnitzel and spiced apple cake. It’ll also host a class in which students can craft pumpkin spice macarons — a delicate French classic with an autumn twist. Vitamix sponsors a fall-themed course that lets students cook lemon thyme steak and a hazelnut cocoa spread with crepes using its blenders. Classes range from $89-99 and are held throughout the week and weekend.

International Pantry in Norman will bring back its “Dinner and a Show” classes in early September in time for the fall. Curious cooks can watch and learn how to create food from a wide range of cuisines including Italian, Mexican, Persian and American. Every course is taught by local chefs who’ve launched and worked in 405 kitchens. The favors aren’t all uniquely autumnal, but the season is popular with aspiring chefs. Sandy Brickman, one of the managers at International Pantry, said the store’s classes fll up quickly as many students return year after year.

WINERIES

Taking in the changing colors of fall trees is a blissful experience, but it’s better with a glass of wine in hand. Clauren Ridge Vineyard and Winery in Edmond lets you enjoy the autumn wonder of Oklahoma’s countryside with your favorite selections. For a cozier mood, Strebel Creek Vineyard in OKC features a patio nestled in trees and a wide range of samples. The Flower Shop Winery & Pizzeria in Yukon covers both eat and drink, and its decorated outdoor space includes a stage for live music.

HAUNT THE ZOO

OCT. 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30 9 A.M TO 4 P.M.

Candy and camels? Sweets and lorikeets? This longtime Halloween tradition at the Oklahoma City Zoo is an amusing pairing, and it’s proven popular for both kids and adults. Haunt the Zoo is Oklahoma’s oldest family trick-or-treat event, going on its 39th year, said Candice Rennels, the director of public relations at the zoo. “It’s pan-generational. Parents are bringing their kids, and they came trick-or-treating on the Haunt the Zoo trail when they were little.”

Kids travel through the zoo’s habitats where elaborately themed props and hand-painted backdrops decorate the trail and costumed volunteers give them treats. “We have Sasquatch, we have a giant bat at one of our booths and we have some new things coming out this year,” Rennels said. Kids can also snatch sweets from the bottom of an 8-foot-long tube as volunteers drop candy in from the top. The zoo will host hayrides and pumpkin painting sessions. In previous years, professional pumpkin carvers created impressive sculptures, such as a realistically detailed elephant in 2020. And, of course, there are plenty of animals for young ones to discover along the course.

Rennels recommends buying zoo tickets beforehand online, and a purchase of a Haunt the Zoo bag is required to collect candy. There will also be another All Grown Up event Oct. 28 from 6 to 11 p.m., when adults 21 and older can enjoy a dance foor, bar and food trucks. For each event, costumes are encouraged to take part in the Halloween fun.

EXQUISITE CORPSE COSTUME BALL , ARTSPACE AT UNTITLED

OCT. 29

This ffth annual fundraising event for the ARTSPACE at Untitled is inspired by the surrealist art exercise of passing a sheet of paper among artists, each adding their unique contribution before folding and hiding their work from the next person, resulting in a fantastical hodgepodge creation. The Deep Deuce gallery expands this concept to larger linoleum, and 12 artists create three interchangeable thirds of a body in a costumed celebration. With drinks, live music, palm readings and a costume contest, this ball revels in the bizarre creativity that Halloween embodies. Tickets to the costume ball are $150 for admission and fve tokens for drinks and activities, and proceeds fund ARTSPACE’s free programming and high school mentorship program. The resulting works will be displayed for free until Dec. 31.

GUTHRIE HAUNTS SCAREGROUNDS

FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS, SEPT. 16-NOV. 5

Just north of Guthrie, across a river and in an isolated feld, lies the Guthrie Haunts ScareGrounds, with a grand and ghoulish concourse of jugglers, hula-hoopers, medieval combat fghters and scare actors. “It’s like a spooky carnival,” said owner and operator John James Pagonis. This waiting area is meant to occupy visitors as they wait for the main scare, and it also has food trucks, beer, a theater, a karaoke DJ and mechanical bull rides.

For hardcore scare-seekers, Guthrie Haunts ofers touch upgrades, which allows performers to interact with visitors, such as placing them in an electric chair or shackling them. For a little more, you can add fake blood.

The 2022 haunt is still under construction, but the season opens Sept. 16 with half price tickets ($10), and then continues every Friday and Saturday until Halloween weekend, when it’ll be open Sunday and Monday as well. During the fnal weekend, Nov. 4-5, the lights will be turned of for visitors with epilepsy to enjoy the scares.

HAUNT THE RIVER , OKLAHOMA RIVER CRUISES

OCT. 14-15, 21-22, 28-29

This creepy cruise down the Oklahoma River is adorned in haunted decor. Nourish your spooky soul with a cash bar, light snacks, Halloween music and a costume contest. Cruise tickets are $35, and riders must be 21+ to hop aboard the eerie boat.

WICKED FOREST OF TERROR

A meandering, wooded trail is this OKC haunt’s biggest draw. Its outdoor setting lends it a sweeping atmosphere of creepiness. Test your morbid curiosity by lying down in a closed casket that feeds you unsettling sensations, or bring your more adventurous kids to the attraction’s Tiny Terror nights, when they can walk through the spooky sets without scare actors or eerie sound efects. Regular tickets are $30, and the season begins Sept. 24 with every following Friday, Saturday and Sunday open for frights.

TWISTED MINDZ HAUNTED ATTRACTION

This growing haunt in Wheatland serves striking scares at a reasonable price. With plenty of jumpscares and chainsaws, this 25-30 minute maze has ranked high with local horror enthusiasts in the past few years. Look out for the unofcial mascot Pigman, who, according to the attraction’s Facebook page, has been relaxing in the pool in hungry anticipation for the haunt season. Tickets are $15 cash only, and the scares start Sept. 30 and continue each Friday and Saturday of October.

MURDER MYSTERY WEEKENDS AT THE STONE LION INN IN GUTHRIE

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS

If solving a classic case of “Who done it?” intrigues you, head over to the Stone Lion Inn in Guthrie. Built in 1907, this Victorian mansion hosts Murder Mystery dinners Friday and Saturday nights. Up to 40 guests can enjoy a seven-course meal and then work together to untangle a hilariously twisted plot. One will be killed; one will be the killer. The event lasts about four hours, depending on the group’s detective skills, but there’s no need to rush home: The Stone Lion Inn is a B&B. facebook.com/StoneLionInnBNB/

FALL FOLIAGE

BY TRAVEL OKLAHOMA

The changing of the seasons ushers in new opportunities for rest and recreation in Oklahoma when fall colors decorate the landscape. As the weather cools, Oklahoma becomes the go-to place to experience glorious fall foliage and family-friendly festivals.

Enjoy a scenic drive through one of the prime foliage areas with the windows down or hike through an outdoor recreational area, watching as the autumn leaves seem to change colors before your eyes. Meander across the tops of ancient mountains and marvel at the breathtaking vistas as you overlook miles of rolling hills set ablaze with spicy fall colors on the Talimena National Scenic Byway. Or explore the Arbuckle Lake and Chickasaw National Recreation Area to gaze at nature’s magnifcent colors refecting on the lake’s surface and lining the rippling creeks. Plan your fall escape during late October and the frst week of November to catch the peak foliage displays.

The Oklahoma land produces a bountiful autumn harvest. So pack up the family and head out for some fun on the farm at pumpkin patches and giant cornfeld mazes. Or, schedule a weekend getaway around one of the many fall festivals and celebrations across Oklahoma.

A TURNING POINT FOR YOUTH

U

UNFATHOMABLE AS IT MAY BE IN

our high-income country, houselessness is still a growing issue in the United States. More than 550,000 Americans do not know where they will sleep tonight as of 2021. In 2020, it was estimated that more than 34,000 people without houses were children through young adults. Approximately 90% of those 34,000 people are between the ages of 18 and 24, and 50% of houseless youth are unsheltered — sleeping in a car, outside or in other places not intended for habitation.

In 1972, Youth Services for Oklahoma County was established, offering counseling services to youth in transition from the criminal justice system. Over time, needs changed, and in 2018, Youth Services of Oklahoma County rebranded and became Pivot. “Our vision is that no youth navigate alone, and we truly live to be a force for good, turning young lives around and giving them hope for a future,” said CEO and executive director Jennifer Goodrich.

Part of that vision was to provide housing for youth ages 16 through 25 who are in transition from the criminal justice system or aging out of foster care. “Pivot has worked with youth experiencing homelessness since the inception of our Supporting Kids in Independent Living program in 1997,” Goodrich said. “It started with community volunteers and Pivot recognizing that there is youth living independently with no parental or family support.”

Pivot’s Tiny Homes project provides affordable housing — while small, ranging from 280 to 320 square feet, they represent stability. “The rent structure caps out at $150,” Goodrich said. “We also provide them access to our pantries for basic needs or other meal options. The homes come fully furnished. There is an onboarding process, an orientation, and they sign a lease. We want them to understand what they agree to, and it is a real-world experience they need to know.”

ABOVE: Pivot's microcommunity of tiny homes LEFT: Pivot CEO and executive director Jennifer Goodrich

RIGHT: The furnished interior of one of Pivot's homes

"Our vision is that no youth navigate alone, and we truly live to be a force for good, turning young lives around and giving them hope for a future."

Built in a microscaled community, each home is vibrantly colored and uniquely designed. Residents can choose from several floor plans. The space is compact but efcient, encompassing a living area, entertainment and sleeping quarters, a kitchenette, a bathroom and storage. Each home is stylish, modern and functional. A 12.5-acre campus supports 20 homes with plenty of room to grow.

Funding for the program is through a mix of private and public sources. Pivot was also incorporated in the original Metropolitan Area Projects Plan, or MAPS, as part of the homelessness initiative. “I always say this is a community built by a community, whether it was a designer decorating the home, different trades or trade schools providing services, donated tile, discounted paint and so much more,” Goodrich said.

Pivot offers other services in addition to housing, too. Through partnerships with organizations such as the United Way, Putnam City Schools and the Youth Homeless Alliance, residents are provided counseling, meals, tutoring, educational and emotional support systems and social activity. Pivot also tries to provide youth with a sense of accomplishment, pride, purpose and hope for the future. “We served over 2,000 youth last year on many different levels,” Goodrich said. “Pivot represents the desire to have real solutions to issues that face our community.”

To help or learn more about Pivot, please visit pivotok.org.