405 Magazine December 16

SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS: 5 GOLDEN RULES

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WINTER GLAM Needing Respite From Holiday Fare?

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Raise the Ball With Opening Night ’17 A Seasonal Spirituality Check

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in this issue

DECEMBER 2016

Features

38

IT’S THE MOST GLAMOROUS TIME OF THE YEAR

Cold weather is a prime time for haute couture, and one of the joys of the holiday season is its profusion of galas, balls and assorted other opportunities for dressing to impress. We’ve assembled some of our favorites for a shoot in the elegantly inspiring Skirvin Hilton; try these ideas to give your look some decorative dazzle, and augment fa la las with oohs and aahs.

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JOY TO YOUR WORLD

Family and feasting and carols to sing; Christmas is time for some marvelous things … but also a minefield of potential stressors and unrealistic expectations. From professional advice on bracing yourself emotionally to suggested prep work to alternatives involving leaving it all behind, these tips should help you survive – and thrive – during this busy season.

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405 MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016

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405 MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016

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DECEMBER 2016

In the 405

Home

15 Casual fashion and

79 Get swept away by yuletide sentiment with a visit to the enthusiastically decorated home of Marnie and Clayton Taylor; bouquets of flowers might be gilding the lily when it comes to incorporating vases like these into home décor.

wearable warmth in a cozy bundle of sweaters; gift-giving goodness fills Classen Curve boutique On A Whim; Restaurant maven Hal Smith discusses his appreciation for Oklahoma and the mindset that has helped his operations succeed; examining Americans’ increasing feelings of spirituality; the Secret Dirty Shaft and the dark side of holiday gift-giving.

Travel

88 Feliz Navidad! If you’re in the mood to celebrate southwest-style, Elaine Warner argues that there’s no finer getaway than the luminaria-lit city of Santa Fe.

Territory Ahead

Events

27 In a survivor’s tale

91 The OKC Ballet

from the heart of the Great Plains, M.J. Alexander recounts the illustrious history of the battle-scarred U.S. Cavalry horse named Comanche.

Dining

65 Brent’s Cajun brings a cavalcade of bayou flavors to the heart of Edmond; 21c chef Jason Campbell whips up a sensational steak salad; the distinctive candy craftsmanship of Norman shop Unique Creations; Lottinvilles plays to its delicious strengths by harnessing both rotisserie and wood grill; the pixel-powered bliss of a classic arcade gets an alcoholic boost at Flashback RetroPub.

ON THE COVER

6

Christmas Firing

80

Tradition would hold that the primary colors of Christmas are red and green … but that doesn’t take into account the deep and abiding loyalty that Clayton and Marnie Taylor hold for their beloved Oklahoma State University. While visitors will find no shortage of more conventional decorations in the remainder of their Edgemere Park home, this basement is all about the Cowboys.

showcases grace and impeccable beauty in its annual spin on “The Nutcracker”; Armstrong Auditorium welcomes the Turtle Island Quartet for a tribute to John Coltrane; the Oklahoma Arts Institute celebrates 40 years of broadening creative horizons; downtown Edmond offers a festive jump-start to the Christmas season; marking calendars for the massive year-end bash Opening Night.

In Every Issue 10 From the Editor 12 Web Sights 22 On the Scene 72 Food and Drink 94 On Location 98 On the Radar 104 Backstory

A stunning Hayley Paige gown from JJ Kelly, a certainty to draw eyes this season. Photo by Charlie Neuenschwander

405 MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016

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heidi.centrella@405magazine.com EDITORIAL Managing Editor Steve Gill steve.gill@405magazine.com Style Editor saragae.waters@405magazine.com Fashion Editor Jennifer Salyer jennifer.salyer@405magazine.com

Louise Scrivens Contributing Writers M.J. Alexander, Mark Beutler, Gina A. Dabney, Christine Eddington, Lauren Hammack, Greg Horton, Lance McDaniel, Elaine Warner plays D ir to win ty Santa (p. 26)

ART Art Director Scotty O’Daniel

scotty.odaniel@405magazine.com Graphic Designer Brian O’Daniel brian.odaniel@405magazine.com Design & Production Coordinator

Contributing Photographers M.J. Alexander, Justin Avera, Mark Hancock, Quit Nguyen, Charlie Neuenschwander,

ADVERTISING Associate Publisher Tom H. Fraley III tom.fraley@405magazine.com Executive Director of Advertising Cynthia Whitaker-hill cynthia.whitakerhill@405magazine.com Account Executives Melissa Bake melissa.bake@405magazine.com

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405 MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016

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VOLUME 2 • NUMBER 12

405 Magazine Volume 2, Number 12, December 2016. 405 Magazine is published monthly by Open Sky Media, Inc. at 729 W. Sheridan, Suite 101, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, 405.842.2266. © Copyright 2016 Open Sky Media, 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. single-copy price is $4.95. Back issues are $9.50 each

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FROM THE EDITOR

A Most Wonderful Time

HEIDI R A MBO CEN TRELL A Editor-in-Chief heidi.centrella@405magazine.com

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405 MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016

PHOTO BY SIMON HURST

A S W E R ECOV ER from the over-indulgence so many of us experience during Thanksgiving, and the days of leftovers to follow, we now get back in the saddle to revel in even more holiday-themed pleasures. This second go-round, of course, typically involves the addition of parties and the exchanging of gifts.

We have gone to great lengths to help you through this somewhat chaotic time. Our winter fashion feature (page 38) showcases the finest in holiday glamour – from jewelry to gowns, this visual feast is designed to inspire. And for those of you who are unsure what gifts to give those people in your life who help in ways we sometimes take for granted – housekeeper, teacher, babysitter, even dog walker – we’ve got a compilation of ideas that will make them feel thoroughly appreciated (page 46).

And while the North Pole’s holly, jolly residents are on many minds at this time of year, we’re focusing on our next-door neighbors to the north: It’s a great time of year to visit Edmond, for everything from shopping (page 53) to pre-Christmas events (page 98) to the tastes on tap at Brent’s Cajun (page 66).

We hope you’ll enjoy the content within this issue of 405 Magazine, which marks our one-year anniversary with a new name, a new brand and a new presence on newsstands. We’ve come a long way over the years, from launching Nichols Hills News in 1997 to combining all our individual community magazines into the greater whole of Slice Magazine in 2010, to last year’s transition to 405 Magazine – and the simple fact is that we couldn’t do it without you. We’ve read your feedback from reader surveys, we’ve considered your input along the way and, most of all, we constantly appreciate your continued loyalty to central Oklahoma’s finest city and lifestyles magazine.

As we celebrate this anniversary, we’re already in the throes of preparing future issues, compiling content that you’ve come to expect: quality journalism with integrity, an expansive dining section, a comprehensive events section and more. Oh, and Best of The City 2017 is already fast approaching. Be sure to check our website for a ballot and let us hear your opinion, so we can once again pay much-deserved recognition to the people and establishments that make the greater Oklahoma City area one where we’re proud to live.

I wish you all the joys of the season - Happy Holidays!

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Web Sights What’s online at 405magazine.com

Hot, Off the Press

The OKC metro is in an intriguingly active phase these days – so much so that we’re moving beyond the printed page to share some fresh developments with you in digital form. Keep an eye on 405magazine.com to stay on top of 405 Now, a new section headlining the page that will update multiple times weekly with informational content you won’t find in our magazine. Check it out, and stay in touch!

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As the year winds down, it’s an ideal time to reflect on the high points and what you genuinely love about living in the 405 … and then help make certain everyone knows about it! Online voting is open now for our Best of the City feature (coming April 2017), and by sharing your opinions you could be one of five readers to win a prize just for participating – fine dining, glamorous jewelry and more could be yours, so visit 405magazine.com/awards to vote. Who do you love?

Reaction Transaction So what do you think? We’re always excited to hear our readers’ opinions and reactions, so don’t hesitate to let us know what’s on your mind; shoot an email to feedback@405magazine.com and we may share them in these pages in a future issue. Thanks for writing!

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405 MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016

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A True Christmas Classic BC CLARK JEWELERS’ beloved Anniversary Sale Jingle has been a hallmark of Oklahoma’s holiday season since 1956. Airing locally from Thanksgiving Day to Christmas Eve, it is believed to be the longest running annual jingle in America.

To celebrate the Jingle’s 60th anniversary, BC Clark is releasing this exclusive snow globe, designed locally in Oklahoma and hand-crafted by Reed & Barton. With the timeless craftsmanship of the limited edition commemorative Jingle musical snow globe, you can celebrate this Christmas tradition for years to come – whether you’re in Oklahoma or on the other side of the globe.

Bring this piece of Oklahoma tradition into your home for the holidays while they last! $75 each online, or at your favorite BC Clark location.

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405 MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016

405

in the

PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

Warm Fuzzy Feelings If you think Thanksgiving isn’t supposed to be T-shirt weather, you’re probably pretty excited about nature actually cooling off. But how to express your joy? Don’t sweat it – we’ve got a bundle of suggestions, including this trio of Bella Freud creations (“Anita” $500, “Bada Boum” $435, “Rainbow Heart” $420) from Gretta Sloane in OKC. DECEMBER 2016 405 MAGAZINE

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in the 405 TRENDS

Sweater Weather

From On A Whim in OKC: 360Cashmere Anabel sweater, $437 (left), 360Cashmere Trista sweater, $265

Warm feelings for cool temperature wear T HE SW E AT ER is one of those pieces

of your wardrobe that’s an absolute must.

We all secretly (or openly) crave that time of the year when we get to pull out our favorites – most of us probably have a nice collection waiting somewhere under a bed or in a cedar chest, ready to be freed for the inevitable sweater weather. Go ahead and bring them out, but why not up the ante a bit this season and treat yourself? Whether you want a quirky design or simple luxury, here are just a few to get you inspired, as well as warmed up. - SARA GAE WATERS

PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

From Gil’s Clothing & Denim Bar in OKC: Love Tree “Olivia” sweater, $32 (left), Miracle USA sweater, $38

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DON A LD W. RE Y N O LDS VI SUA L A R TS CE N T E R | 41 5 CO UC H D R I V E | ( 40 5 ) 2 3 6 -3 1 0 0 | okc m o a .co m Thomas Ingmire, Ten Commandments (detail), Copyright 2003, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Minnesota USA.

in the 405 FAVORITE THINGS

Sydney Evan Love necklace, $1,600 “This is a special favorite of mine, I have worn the Love necklace for many years. I love the font and the look so much; it’s my go-to necklace for everything. I wear it with a plain tank and jeans and then also with a black dress and heels.”

No Passing Fancy Gifts and gladness at On A Whim ON A W HI M in Classen Curve

does its best to live up to its slogan: “The Best of Everything for You and Your Home.” From floor to ceiling, you’ll find yourself mesmerized by beauty – the choices in everything from table top to fashion are abundant, and each one harder to turn down than the next. “We want customers to be able to come by and get everything they need,” says co-owner Debbie Trachtenberg, “for themselves, as well as gifts for the other people in their lives.”

With their friendly crew and two passionate women leading the way, there isn’t any way you come out of the store without a feeling of satisfaction mixed with happiness. On A Whim is a gift unto itself … wrapped up, no less, in signature pink. - SARA GAE WATERS

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3-qt MacKenzie-Childs casserole dish, $165 “This is new this fall, and we can’t keep it in stock. MacKenzie-Childs customers love courtly check items, and this is a great one … so great to cook in, and it also looks great sitting out on the stove when not being used.”

Herend porcelain dog figurines, $445, $380, $385 “Herend is the perfect gift for someone who has everything, great to collect and display anywhere.

I love them in a bathroom in trios – so beautiful.”

Rebecca Minkoff tote bag, $345 “These bags are beautiful and stylish, and you see celebrities with them in all of the magazines – the styles are great, and I always have people stop me and ask where I got my bag.”

Kate Spade frames, $50 turquoise, $40 glitter “These are great for birthday gifts, housewarming gifts, et cetera. I love to give a greatlooking frame with a picture of my children in it to the grandparents for special occasions, especially Mother’s and Father’s Day.”

Michael Aram Pear salt and pepper shakers, $100 “This is the classic wedding shower gift or wedding gift – super classy and beautiful on any table. What bride wouldn’t want to dress up her table with this gift?”

PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

Owners Gina Bennett and Debbie Trachtenberg

Little Giraffe blanket $82, blanky $40 and burpy $20 “My favorite baby gift. I monogram them and give them to every baby in town. They are so soft and beautiful.”

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in the 405 CONVERSATION

we will stay involved in developing menu items that reflect the trend. Charleston’s has always had healthy salads and vegetarian options. The Garage has a great veggie burger, and we’ve introduced a veggie plate at Redrock Canyon.”

What did you understand about Oklahoma and Oklahomans that has made you successful here? “I was born and raised in Oklahoma. I started a company here after living in seven other states. During that time, I realized what a special place Oklahoma was to me. The Oklahoma pioneer spirit, hospitality, pride and ease of living were very clear to me, so when I had to decide where to live, Oklahoma was an easy choice. We incorporated some of those ideals into Legacy Grill. We wanted to honor the spirit and reflect the legacy of the state and its people, the people who brought pride to the state and helped make it what it is.”

Hal Smith on the ingredients of success H A L SMI T H R E STAU R A N T GROU P, or HSRG, now has more than 60 restaurants in seven states. Founded in 1992 by Ardmore native Hal Smith, the group spans 14 dining concepts, including Charleston’s, The Garage, Louie’s and Mahogany.

HSRG now employs more than 6,000 people, and has earned a reputation as models of customer service. The company’s in-house training program is highly respected among food service professionals, and is invaluable in the current Oklahoma City food service climate – where trained staff is desperately hard to come by.

We talked to Smith while the company was working through the grand opening of Legacy Grill (formerly Kd’s Southern Cuisine) in Bricktown.

HSRG people are considered priority hires in the metro because of the training they receive. How does that feel, and how did you discover or design the training program? “I am very proud of what our company has become and the respect we might have

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405 MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016

gained. Quite honestly, it is a culture that the entire team has bought into. Teamwork unquestionably drives each of our restaurants, and we have many employees who have been with us a decade or more. I couldn’t be happier that they found a home on our team.

I always say treat people with respect, have integrity, hire, train, reward accordingly and have fun. These are a few of the ingredients that make a successful team.”

What’s next for the food industry in the state, and what’s next for HSRG? “We now operate all 14 of our concepts in the state, and we have 3,500 employees in Oklahoma.

We are growing at the rate of eight to 10 restaurants per year, and our philosophy is to be consistent on a day-to-day basis, execute the highest of standards, take care of our own efforts and not worry about what others are doing. The trends seem to be take-home meals, fast casual, healthier choices and breakfast/lunch.

“The healthier choices include vegetarian, and while we will never go full vegetarian,

What are the most important business lessons you’ve learned, and how would you prioritize them to communicate with emerging entrepreneurs? “In my opinion, in business, one must have a burning passion for whatever endeavor they choose as an entrepreneur. If that isn’t present, the success rate goes down substantially. The most important ingredient for success, especially in the food service industry, is to attract, identify and hire people who can become team players and improve the company’s culture.

Once hired, you must train, train, train, and then get out of the way and let them do their job. Compensation and/or ownership for key individuals is also a key for success.

“Finally, part of the ‘people side’ of business is honest, open communication.

Know what your goals are, and know who and what are needed to allow success to happen.” - GREG HORTON

PHOTO BY MARK HANCOCK

Cuisine Dreams

Do you believe the state will hit a growth or development plateau anytime soon, and can we sustain the proliferation of new concepts and locations? “There have been new concepts come and go through the years.

Oklahoma City is experiencing a great renaissance right now, especially when it comes to entertainment and dining options. Our team is very proud to be part of this exciting time.

Of course, there is still room for the metro area to continue to grow and develop, and we look forward to participating in this growth.

As long as we are in tune with consumers’ wants and needs and we execute to our best ability, I don’t worry about who or how many may be entering the market. When it gets too crowded, the strong survive.”

in the 405 ON THE SCENE

3 1

2

Allied Arts OPUS

4

Hundreds of revelers fill the Criterion with joy and raise more than $245,000 at the biennial bash on behalf of the arts in central Oklahoma.

1. Kay Smith, Saundra Naifeh 2.Don Narcomey and Vicki VanStavern 3. Shane Cooley, Emily Ferguson, Meredith and Bobby Wegener 4. Kelli Stump, Adam Hall, Jessica and Craig Perry 5. Courtney Thomas, Garrett Hondronastas

5

2

12x12

Guests and artists enjoy the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition’s annual big, big party centered around a showcase and sale of small-scale creations.

1

3

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405 MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016

4

5

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN AVERA

1. Rick and Tracey Bewley, Marilyn and Andy Artus 2. Scott Davis, D.G. Smalling, David Leader 3.Suzanne Justice, Stacey McFarland 4. Ernesto Sanchez Villarreal and Lin Sanchez, David Gipson 5.

Nathan Quach, Chelsi Dennis, Sarah Dumas

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DECEMBER 2016 405 MAGAZINE

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in the 405 SPIRITUALITY

SEASON OF REFLECTION

December is packed with holy festivities

Seasonal Recognition Spirituality outside the traditional church box

A M ER ICA NS A R E DI V ER SE in culture and religion – this month is slated to be especially filled with myriad reverent celebrations in multiple faiths – but one swiftly growing group is the SBNRs: Spiritual But Not Religious. In January 2016, Pew Research Center authors David Masci and Michael Lipka examined survey data and presented an article titled “Americans may be getting less religious, but feelings of spirituality are on the rise.”

One expert meeting the needs of the SBNR sector is Ray Dykes. Formerly senior pastor of OKC’s Central Presbyterian Church, in 1994, he started Personal Pastor Program Inc. and its Personal Faith Program, which provides pastoral services to unchurched households and supplemental services to churched households. Dykes defines the difference between spirituality and being religious as a functional distinction. “‘Religious’ for most people means ‘church,’” says Dykes. “The concepts, the doctrine, the dogma means church. Spirituality, on the other hand, is an individual meaning; one’s personal relationship with God or whatever one considers holy or sacred.”

“Every person in every household needs to develop a belief system to have a fighting chance of living a quality life,” Dykes states on his website.

According to Dykes, the number of Americans active in an institutional church include 40 percent of baby boomers (those born between 1946-1964); 20 percent of Gen Xers (1965-1983); and 10 percent of millennials (1984-2000).

But that trend isn’t universal: In September, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in OKC opened a satellite church in Edmond. Senior Pastor Bob Long stated that the largest and second largest groups joining the church are 30- to 39-year-olds and 20- to 29-year-olds, respectively. The combined 20-39 group, he explained, makes up 50 percent of people joining the church. Regarding national statistics on church attendance, he commented: “Nationally, 80 percent of Christian churches, regardless of denomination, are either flat or in decline. It does not have to be that way.”

One way St. Luke’s is expanding membership is through delivering universal messages while staying true to the received word of God and focused on the church mission: to share God’s love and bring hope to the world. Religion and faith, Long remarked, can be elements that draw people together – and respect for each other is key.

“We really try hard to lift up some principles that I hope transcend any certain denomination,” Long says. “It is a message that is resonating. That is why people are coming. St. Luke’s is the 13th-fastest growing Methodist church in America right now.”

If you’ve been feeling more concerned with matters of the soul, the Pew Center’s survey numbers revealed you’re not alone: “The growth of the unaffiliated population and their decreasing religiosity have been the main factors behind the emergence of a less religious public overall,” reads the article. “But, interestingly, the rise in spirituality has been happening among both highly religious people and the religiously unaffiliated.”

Respect for all faiths through understanding, tolerance and acceptance fosters a loving world. And love is a common bond among all spiritual beings. - GINA A. DABNEY

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405 MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016

Dec. 8: Rohatsu (Bodhi Day) in Buddhism A celebration of the time when Prince Gautama took his place under the Bodhi tree, vowing to remain there until attaining supreme enlightenment.

This holiday is honored through meditation.

Dec. 14: Mawlid al-Nabi in Islam A commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, in about 570 CE. His teachings are read and religious meetings are held. Shia and Sunni believers celebrate separate days.

Dec. 25: Christmas in Christianity This holiday observes the birthday of Jesus Christ. Attending church, exchanging gifts and family gatherings occur to celebrate.

Dec. 25-Jan. 1: Hanukkah in Judaism The Festival of Lights commemorates the Maccabean recapture and rededication of the Jewish Temple in 165164 BCE. To honor the holiday, the eight-candle Menorah is lit, and observers participate in readings and songs focused on liberty and freedom.

GET CONNECTED For more information:

Personal Faith Program personalpastor.org/ St. Luke’s United Methodist Church stlukesokc.org/

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in the 405 LAUGH LINES

The Secret Dirty Shaft Office Santa and the gift of disappointment NOW THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION is (mercifully) behind us, my co-workers and I are ready for our office’s main voting event: a ballot to decide whether the office holiday gift exchange will be Secret Santa – which would have us drawing a co-worker’s name of out of a hat and buying him or her a gift – or Dirty Santa, the more widely observed game of exchangesteal-brood-steal back.

The ghosts of my Christmases Past continue to haunt me about being on the receiving end of either arrangement. No matter the packaging, whether Secret or Dirty, I always get the shaft.

Here is where I try to console myself that it’s better to give than to receive (and in the case of the shaft, I really do agree).

I tell myself that the fun is in enjoying the game and seeing where the gifts end up. In the case of Dirty Santa – a game whose name is not arbitrary – the covetable gifts are quickly unveiled, admired and snatched up three times until they land in the candy cane-sticky hands of the same jerk who brought the shaft, valued $20 below the group’s agreed-upon price point for all gifts. Not that the price should matter – it’s the thought that counts, I try to remind myself as I rehearse an explanation for the Walgreen’s manager in my attempt to return an item without a receipt 15 minutes after the Dirty Santa exchange.

Although it comes from the same phylum, Secret Santa has a slight edge over Dirty in civility alone. If things get bitter in Secret Santa (I’ve got the puff-paint sweatshirt to prove it), the secret can stay as bitter and as secret as you’re willing to keep it (still bitter).

In the case of Dirty Santa, your bitterness and the justification for it are right out there for everyone to behold … before turning their attention to the next item they’d like to steal.

In terms of getting something you really want (and remember, the true focus of both gift exchanges should be about the giving, not the getting – keep telling yourself that until you can say it silently without moving your lips), your odds are better with Dirty Santa simply because of the potential number of times you could have “at bat.”

With Secret Santa, the fate of your gift satisfaction rests entirely upon the judgment of one co-worker. Think about that as you’re taking the long way around to avoid someone’s story about the proper way to wield a lightsaber.

On the other hand, Secret Santa allows for enough pre-game reconnaissance among co-workers to tip the scales in favor of someone like me. To avoid being on the receiving end of the Secret Dirty Shaft yet again, I make no secret about my Secret Santa wish list. In fact, the lucky co-worker who draws my

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name from the Santa hat will have a road map to my happiness, starting with just one gift.

As it does with every holiday and each day in between, my roving eye has caught a glimpse of something online that I might want for myself – in this case, a one-pound bag of just the marshmallows from a box of Lucky Charms. It’s everything you love about Lucky Charms, and nothing you don’t.

Seeing the marshmallows sets my gift-giving mind into motion, sparking magically delicious inspiration for the rest of my not-so-Secret Santa wish list: 1. I think millions of Hostess fans would side with me in saying that the outside cake of a Twinkie or Ding Dong is just the vehicle for the only part they care about: the creamy filling.

I’ll just have a 5-pound tub of that.

2. In my family, every birthday comes with a giant chocolate chip cookie from the mall, slathered with a sailboat motif and a manifesto of a birthday message, since this combination produces the highest yield of glorious, artery-choking frosting. Despite my persistence in the nautical charade, I’ve never scored the ultimate gift: a bag of frosting that I can mainline in the mall parking lot. Make it happen, Secret Santa!

3. In a similar vein, and maybe there’s a cream-filled theme here, I’m tired of pretending to have any interest beyond the Stuf in Double Stuf Oreos. The chocolate cookie is nothing more than padding to contain the Stuf I love. I’ve also heard that Double Stuf Oreos are vegan-friendly (a claim I refuse to challenge with research), which means a cheese wheel-sized block of the Stuf would represent the extent to which I would ever explore a vegan regimen.

Happy holidays … and may you never be on the giving, or the receiving, end of the Secret Dirty Shaft! - LAUREN HAMMACK

territory ahead

‘His Very Silence Speaks’ The legendary Cavalry horse Comanche

BY M.J. ALEX ANDER

T HE BAY WA S FOA L ED on the southwestern plains in 1862, running wild across the range as the Civil War raged to the east and the transcontinental railroad took shape to the west. At the age of 6, he was captured in a herd of mustangs and shipped to St. Louis for sale.

Purchased by the U.S. Army for $90 on April 3, 1868, he became one of 41 new horses joining the newly formed 7th Cavalry. It was the spring before the unit’s infamous attack on Black Kettle’s encampment on the Washita River in Oklahoma Territory, near present-day Cheyenne.

The 15-hand gelding became the favorite mount of Myles Keogh, an Irish-born Union veteran of the Battle of Gettysburg assigned to the 7th Cavalry at Fort Riley in the new state of Kansas. Years earlier, Keogh also had been captured — by the Confederates — after his old horse was shot from under him during a battle in Georgia.

Now Captain of Company I under George Armstrong Custer, his new horse soon was shot in battle by an arrow, letting loose a scream that sounded “like a Comanche.”

And so he was named Comanche.

As members of the 7th Cavalry, Keogh and Comanche worked the front line of the government’s attempt to impose order. They were assigned to Reconstruction-era Kentucky, where they took on the Ku Klux Klan and moonshiners, and later to Dakota Territory, where they chased Black Hills gold miners from Sioux land.

By the spring of 1876, the 7th Cavalry was near the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory. Their orders: force Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes onto reservations.

On June 25, Keogh astride Comanche was part of the five companies of the 7th Cavalry — 268 U.S. Army officers, troopers and scouts, including Custer himself — killed in battle. Plains Indians, who lost somewhere between 36 and 130 lives, called the fight the Battle of the Greasy Grass. Most everyone else came to know it as Custer’s Last Stand.

Dozens of horses were killed, some shot by desperate Cavalry soldiers hoping to use the bodies as shields from arrows and bullets. Afterward, Indian fighters took the surviving horses for their own, leaving the dead and dying.

Among them was Comanche. He had fallen on the battlefield, wounds in his side matching those from Keogh’s bullet-shattered left knee. He was discovered in a ravine two days later – barely alive, with four flesh wounds and serious injuries to his neck, front shoulder and hind quarter.

As news spread of the Army’s worst defeat in the war on the Great Plains, and the Indians’ greatest victory, Comanche was hailed as the battle’s only survivor, a symbol of hardy perseverance.

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territory ahead He inspired headlines and paintings, poetry and prose, some evoking Herodotus’ ancient Greek account of the 300 Spartans and Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade.”

An anonymous 1878 poet wrote: “Honor to Keogh’s charger!

Only his flashing eye Saw the Three Hundred Fighting — Saw the Three Hundred Die!” John Hay, a private secretary to Abraham Lincoln who later served as secretary of state, paid tribute in an 1880 poem titled “Miles Keogh’s Horse”: “ … of all that stood at noonday in that fiery scorpion ring, Miles Keogh’s horse at evening was the only living thing.

Alone from that field of slaughter, where lay the three hundred slain, The horse Comanche wandered, with Keogh’s blood on his mane … ” Colonel Samuel D. Sturgis, whose son was among the dead at Little Big Horn, declared of Comanche: “Though wounded and scarred, his very silence speaks in terms more eloquent than words of the desperate struggle against overwhelming odds of the hopeless conflict, and heroic manner in which all went down that day.”

Comanche was nursed back to heath and he was named the unit’s second-in-command. He would never be ridden again.

America’s most famous warhorse served as regimental mascot, marching in parades with the 7th Cavalry. He was saddled but riderless, in tribute to the men who had fallen.

Fifteen years after Little Bighorn, Comanche died of colic on Nov. 7, 1891. He was 29 years old.

He became the first of only two horses in U.S. history to receive a funeral with full military honors. (The other – Black Jack, foaled at Fort Reno Jan. 19, 1947 – served as the riderless mount in more than 1,000 military funerals, including those of Presidents John F. Kennedy, Herbert Hoover, Lyndon B. Johnson and Gen. Douglas MacArthur. The last horse to carry the Army’s U.S. brand, Black Jack was laid to rest in 1976.)

But cavalry officers were not ready to say goodbye. The story goes that Lewis Lindsay Dyche, a naturalist and taxidermist at the University of Kansas, offered to waive his $400 fee if the university could keep the horse. Dyche created a life-sized frame of wood, wire and clay and preserved and fitted the skin to fit.

The stuffed Comanche was shipped to Chicago for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Even among such attractions as belly dancing, the world’s first Ferris Wheel and Harry Houdini, reports noted that “thousands of people came to the Kansas building for the express purpose of seeing what is still in existence of this memorable and historic horse.”

Comanche returned to Lawrence, Kansas, where students would rub his nose or pluck a strand of his tail hair for luck during exams, soon requiring him to be encased in glass.

He has been displayed on various floors, stored in the basement and fought over by museums across Montana and the Dakotas, as well as both the U.S. Cavalry Museum at Fort Riley and the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument Museum.

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Tom Swearingen, exhibits director at KU from 1978-2001, liked to say the horse “has had more battles fought over him than he was in.” One of the disagreements centered on the brass plaque that proclaimed him the only survivor of the Battle of Little Bighorn. It was removed in the 1970s, after it was pointed out that, in fact, hundreds of Indians had also lived.

A century after his birth, his legend lived on in a fully jointed action figure from Marx Toys and a song from Johnny Horton that advised: “Though you are silent, your deeds did speak loud.

If your buddies could see you, I know they’d be proud.”

A venerated relic of the American West, Comanche’s remains are preserved in a humidity-controlled glass case on the ground floor to the right of the museum’s entryway, near the restrooms and coat rack, surrounded by recessed lighting and interpretive panels.

More than 150 years after his birth on the Plains, the witness to the last great Native American battleground victory stands on a replica prairie sporting his original saddle. His bridle, breastplate and gold-trimmed regimental blanket are embossed and embroidered with the number 7.

Ears cocked forward, a steer’s skull at his feet, he gazes straight ahead through glass eyes as visitors pause at his reliquary.

Long after the men who captured and broke and rode and revered him turned to dust, Comanche has lived up to his legend.

He is the sole survivor.

Fashion + Home Furnishings + Beauty + Gifts + Jewelry

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TRENDSETTER

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Given Stylish New Life

Reclaimed Wood Mud Bench

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Great Gifts Sculptor Susan Stamm Evans has spent her career exploring the expressiveness of the human figure; get inspired by this bronze entitled “Next Step Series: Reaching Higher” (6” x 6” x 2.5”d). $1,800 Howell Gallery

Beautifully designed in fine Italian leather, this Sarah White convertible clutch gives you great style with thoughtful interior organization for work and travel, day and night versatility. $250 R Meyers

Satin pillowcases can reduce wrinkles and help eliminate hair loss and breakage – these cases in various colors from Morning Glamour give new meaning to “beauty sleep.” $15 queen, $16 king Sooo Lilly

Make some noise with Foghorn from l.a. Eyeworks – spicy or cool, finely crafted acetate overlays spark colorful relationships with stainless steel armatures. $525 Physicians Optical

SHOPPING NEWS HOWELL GALLERY December 1 Stop by for some holiday cheer

at the Howell Gallery and KASA Wallpaper Holiday Open House, on Thursday from 1-7 p.m.

OKC MUSEUM OF ART December 1-24 OKCMOA’s Museum Store

is the perfect location for gifts, cards, unique stocking stuffers, art books and more – shop with your OKCityCard this month and receive 10 percent off your purchase. (Does not include Chihuly merchandise. No other discounts apply.)

Celebrate love with a beautiful duck down throw pillow, with a removable cover that’s dry-clean safe. It’s from French designer Christian Lacroix – and this is the exclusive location for Christian Lacroix gifts in the OKC metro. $164.95 Museum Store, OKC Museum of Art

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R MEYERS December 1-30 Worth New York showing December 1-3 Blue Duck Shearling showing December 15-17 Anna Beck jewelry showing

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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118 NW 8th

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LIGHT UP THE HOLIDAYS This holiday season is bound to be bright with the Cuna lamp from Vita. Sleek and modern, in a wintry mint green (and available in other colors), your everyday and holiday decor are sure to brighten up beautifully. $169

The Silvia Steel lamp lights up the holidays with fun and sophistication. Its chic and trendy style also provides the option of either a pendant or floor lamp in one. Whatever the holiday, light up the celebration! $119

Alluring and versatile, the EOS (shown here in medium gray) can light up those holiday gatherings in high-fashion style! Available in a multitude of colors and arrangement options, the soft light and elegance is perfect for those cozy gatherings by the fire or a luxurious holiday cocktail party. $249

519 N.W. 23rd St., Ste 105, OKC 405.608.1923 | interiorgilt.com DECEMBER 2016 405 MAGAZINE

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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9209 N. Pennsylvania • Oklahoma City • 405.842.2262

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Join us for another great winter of outdoor ice skating at the Devon Ice Rink. Located in the Myriad Botanical Gardens Nov. 11 - Jan. 29.

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Visit www.downtownindecember.com for more information.

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Glamorous Time It’s the Most

of the Year

BY JENNIFER SALYER

PHOTOS BY CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER

THE WINTER HOLIDAYS are a season filled with the love of family and friends, and the joys of giving and receiving – plus, thanks to a plenitude of parties and galas, some of the finest fashions of the entire year.

We’re happy to embrace and showcase the season’s enchanting looks, and where better to tell a glamorous tale than the recently refurbished Skirvin Hilton? Whether you’re planning for an upcoming soiree or merely drawn to beauty, a glimpse of the ensembles within these pages should be spellbinding in the best way.

Wayne Clark dress in pewter and Blue Duck Rex rabbit fur, both from R Meyers; Badgley Mischka metallic heel, from Von Maur; Multicolored South Sea pearls, from BC Clark

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Long gold and French tulle gown with beaded designs, Chantilly lace and a full, flowing train, from Stella Thomas Designs; Gold and pearl double-sided stud earrings, by Chartreuse Chandelier Jewelry; Eliza heel in champagne fabric by Betsey Johnson, from Von Maur

Blue gown with French tulle, side pleats and satin lining, from Stella Thomas Designs; Simone Perele demi bra out of the Jaipur Collection, from The Lingerie Store; Crystal statement drop earring by Theia Jewelry, from R Meyers; Burnt umber heel by Jessica Simpson, from Von Maur

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Pink Tartan embroidered jacket and velvet pant, both from R Meyers; Dusty lilac heel

by BCBG, from Von Maur; Sterling silver and diamond multiple full circle necklace by David Yurman and stylized diamond hoop earrings by Hearts on Fire, both from BC Clark

Two-piece suit, custom made to order with classic crepe suiting fabric and silk interlining in the sleeve, from Stella Thomas Designs; Sterling silver collar accented with black spinels,

by David Yurman, and wide sterling silver dome style ring accented with black spinels, by David Yurman, both from BC Clark

Two-piece silk ensemble with tulle top, Alençon lace appliquÊ and long flared rear paneling, with silk and feather hat, all by Stella Thomas Designs; Gold and pearl double-sided stud earring, by Chartreuse Chandelier Jewelry

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Special thanks to the Skirvin Hilton Hotel, Hilary from Brink Model Management, 822 Broadway Salon, Jack Odell for MarloHaus, Frank Christon with Recipe Styling, Hunter Stack, Alice Stella Thomas Kelsey with Stella Thomas Designs, R Meyers, Von Maur, JJ Kelly Bridal, BC Clark, Chartreuse Chandelier Jewelry, Naifeh Fine Jewelry, La Baguette Bistro and Interior Gilt.

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SWEETENING YOUR LOOK

A lavish red velvet treat from La Baguette is made even more decadent with beauty from Naifeh Fine Jewelry.

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From Naifeh Design, spectacular 22kt yellow gold bands with pink sapphire, Tsavorite green garnet, blue sapphires and diamonds; Statement ring featuring a cabochon of faceted aquamarine surrounded by diamonds in 14kt white gold, from Meira T; Ring featuring cat’s-eye chrysoberyl and diamonds in 18kt yellow gold, from the studio of Robert Procop; Moghul diamond earrings from Naifeh Design, featuring rose cut slices of diamonds set in globes of 22kt yellow gold; 18kt yellow gold stud earrings boasting 15.60cts of clustered cabochon moonstones, from Temple St. Clair; Sumptuous South Sea pearls from Naifeh Design in a 22kt yellow gold necklace; 18kt yellow gold “confetti” bracelet with moonstones and diamonds, by Paul Morelli; 34-inch rose gold chain, studded with more than 15cts of faceted white topaz; Cushion cut 10.84ct tanzanite set in 18kt white gold ring with 0.84cts of diamonds; three-stone 3.13 cts diamond ring in platinum by Valerie Naifeh; Fancy yellow radiant cut 3.02ct diamond ring with 1.68ct of white diamonds, from Christopher Designs; Magnificent earrings featuring more than 6cts of asscher, oval and marquise cut diamonds, surrounded by halos of round brilliant diamonds

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JOY TO YOUR WORLD ( SURVIVING AND THRIVING IN) THE HOLIDAYS

BY CHRISTINE EDDINGTON

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ERIC SCHOCK

How many shopping days until Christmas?

Is your mother-in-law coming to dinner during Hanukkah? Will you have enough? Enough time, money, presents, patience, candy canes, chocolate coins, green bean casserole and make-ahead cookie dough to keep you from going off the rails until January? We don’t know. What we do know is that the holidays are a mix of sweet and stressful for many of us, and with that in mind, we’ve assembled a Holiday Survival Guide for you and yours.

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M Maria Trapp, a psychologist in Edmond, has been practicing for more than 20 years. When it comes to surviving the holidays, she says, “One thing we should all do is to check our expectations. Society gives us unrealistic expectations, and the last time I checked, my family is not Beaver Cleaver’s. Even in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, by the end, it’s all beautiful and everyone is happy.”

So far so good, we can definitely explore tempering our expectations. But will there be a kick-line of dancing sugar plums, or will your sourpuss Uncle Joe get soused in the corner? “One way to base them is on a realistic appraisal of history. If Joe was grouchy last year and the years before that, guess what? Joe will probably be grouchy this year. And if you’re wrong and your holidays unexpectedly look like a Norman Rockwell scene? Then that’s a bonus,” Trapp says.

She’s got some pointers for specific sources of holiday stress, too. “Decide what you are going to expect of yourself. I always say that aspiring to perfection is the pursuit of failure.” Instead of perfection, aim for doing some things really well, like a time-tested favorite recipe, and then don’t sweat the rest.

Sit down, this may come as a surprise: “Teenagers can be a challenge. They don’t always act as outwardly appreciative as we may want them to. That’s part of their developmental stage, and it’s perfectly normal, but we get our feelings dashed when they don’t act like they did when they were 5.”

Unrealistic expectations are one thing, but comparing your actual life to the lives of your friends through the lens of social media is another. “Maybe it looks like everyone is out there having fun, but you never know what happened in the second before that photo was taken or in the second after it was taken. Don’t get sucked in. There is value in being discerning about which events you say yes to. People who attend every single thing may not value any of them. So if it’s a concern for you, turn it off. Don’t look at social media. You don’t have to, and you can control how much of it you see. Read a dang book for a change!

And be selective in what you choose to do.”

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GET HELP, FOR GOODNESS’ SAKE

A

terrific way to minimize time spent on the holiday hamster wheel is to get help. Valerie Riley started her personal concierge business, LifeSquire, in 2009. “I was a personal assistant and loved the work,” she says. “I am a caretaker by nature and an entrepreneur at heart. People have an easier time wrapping their heads around the idea of a personal concierge during the holidays.”

Last year, Riley and her crew of 20 merry helpers assembled and decorated 21 Christmas trees, bought 650 holiday gifts, wrapped 850 presents and stuffed, addressed and mailed 1,500 holiday cards. “We can do anything,” she claims with a smile. “We staff parties, check coats, decorate homes – anything a person needs to make life easier. When people finally admit to themselves and us that, ‘No, I really don’t have time to pick up the turkey, and I need help,’ there’s all this relief that comes with that. You can hear it in their voices.”

The LifeSquire process is simple and rewarding.

“When any person calls, asking us about help, we reward them with a Starbucks card no matter if they hire us or not, just because it’s hard to ask for help. We always hold our first meeting with a client in their home. We like to see where they are in their crisis.

[Some] people cry when they first meet with us.”

The next step is to ascertain what the client needs, and to assign him or her an assistant. “Every client has their own assistant. We do personality testing on all of our employees, and we meet with clients in person at first because what we do is a little like matchmaking. There has to be trust, and there has to be a personality fit.”

Her advice for surviving the holidays? “Just enjoy the moment. Whether you have help or not, there’s no use in stressing out over gifts or going to a party.

Be sure to remember why you are buying a gift or going to the party.”

THE 405 GIFT GUIDE

FOR THE TRICKIEST PEOPLE ON YOUR LIST ... YOU’RE WELCOME. TEACHER

Sydney Hale Candles, $28 There is no better candle to usher in the season than this one! And it soothes the soul – and what teacher doesn’t need that? From Collected Thread Hardwood Mini Vases, $8.99 and $18.99 Beautifully crafted in Virginia from various exotic hardwoods, which will make them all the more fun for 7th graders to describe. From AMP Variety

BFF

Besties Necklaces, $24 for both Best friend necklaces are a very nostalgic, fun gift. Also because why can’t you give your best friend a bestie necklace even though you’re chronologically an adult? From MODE All the Emotions Glassware Set, $39 Drink away your feelings with your friends. This is a set of 4 glasses, each with a different gold foil emoji on it. From The Social Club

DOG WALKER

OKC Map, $26.50 Your dog walker has to cover a lot of ground. Give the gift of this map and help him mark his territory. From Collected Thread Acrylic Water Bottle, $24.99 Beautiful and also extremely functional, these water bottles are perfect for your dog walker! The lid and top both unscrew to allow for ice or fruit on those hot days spent pounding the pavement with those furry friends. From Black Scintilla

NEIGHBOR

Cloisonné Oklahoma-themed Christmas Ornament, $45 An exclusive, handcrafted ornament bedecked with all things Oklahoma. From Occasions Oklahoma Door Mat, $35 It’s a one-of-a-kind gift that never stops giving, and reminds you of the giver each time you walk in the door. Plus, it’s cool! From Always Greener

BABYSITTER

Bar Accessories, $48.99 for the set, individual pieces priced individually There is nothing better than a great cocktail after a day of babysitting.

These useful tools are American made from W&P Design. Prices range from $11.99 for individual pieces to $48.99 for sets. Available at AMP Variety Handmade Oco Geode and Quartz Lariat Necklace, $39 Fashionable for any age, any time of the year! These necklaces can be adjusted to wear at any length so they go with everything. We promise your babysitter will love you for this one, and face it, you probably owe her one! From Out on a Limb

A 65-YEAR-OLD MAN

doTerra Deep Blue Rub $39 Whether he’s your boyfriend’s father or your mother’s brother, this super nutrient-filled rub will provide relief to achy muscles. From Udander Harry’s Shave Set, $30 A good shave is a great gift for any guy. With German-engineered blades, a flex head and a polished chrome handle, this cutting-edge (ha!) razor gives a close, comfortable shave every time. The set includes 3 blade cartridges, a 4-ounce can of shave gel and a travel cover, all packaged in a gift-ready box. From Shop Good

NIFTY GIFTY

S

hopping at the mall is an overcrowded annual nightmare for many. Shopping local is ideal, but hopping from store to store to store is time consuming and can be exhausting. Allison Barta Bailey, prime mover of the vibrant pop-up shop scene in Oklahoma City and organizer of the Holiday Pop-Up Shops in Midtown, has a solution, and it’s one you can enjoy with your friends.

“The Pop-Up Shops are a wonderful way to shop local, and they are free to the public,” she says. “The domes are a little small, though, and they can get crowded. So we’re launching something new this year: the Top Shopper pass.” And as she explains the Top Shopper program, holiday shopping starts feeling less like a dreadful slog, and more like a series of scheduled girls’ nights out, complete with beverages and live music.

“The Top Shopper pass is a preview pass that’s good for the whole season. Each Friday that the shops are open, the selection of merchants changes. Top Shoppers are invited to a series of three Thursday night VIP previews, before anyone else gets to see the merchandise,” Barta Bailey says. Top Shoppers also receive a shopping bag filled with special items from the shops, valued at $75. Add that to the beverages, snacks, camaraderie and stress relief, and the Top Shopper pass price of $75 becomes a bargain. Only 150 passes are available.

The shops bringing their goods to the 2016 Pop-Ups are the cream of the Oklahoma City shopping crop, and include old favorites and newcomers that will soon be staples, such as A Date with Iris, The Social Club, Green Bambino, AMP Variety, Siempre Viva, Udånder, Black Scintilla, Bekah Sometimes, Live boho and SILO. The full schedule and vendor list are available at okcpopups.com.

The season is upon us. Go forth and make it wonderful, simple and memorable.

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ONE WAY TO WIN THE HOLIDAYS? Leave it all behind.

M

ichelle Carbone, owner of Michelle’s Destinations in Norman, helps hundreds of people do just that every December.

“At Christmastime, people want warm. They want Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Jamaica, cruises and resorts,” Carbone says. Heck, we want those most days.

“We see a pretty even number of families and couples planning to travel for Christmas. A lot of the time, something has changed in someone’s life that makes them want to start a new tradition. Maybe a loved one has died, or there’s been a divorce.

Grandma passed away this year, so grandpa wants to take the whole family to Mexico to try to make the holidays less difficult.

Or sometimes that’s just what people want to do.”

For family trips, Disney is tops in Carbone’s book. “Disney does the holidays right. There are so many cool parades and shows and holiday events and activities going on, it truly is magical.” For adults, all-inclusive resorts can be a great idea.

“I hope people aren’t just now planning their trips. Really, holiday travel planning should begin in February or March,” Carbone says. “I tell our clients that, but truly most people never listen. Booking early will save you a little money, but it will really increase the availability of certain places.”

But if you didn’t book early, or if it was just this moment that you decided to toss tradition to the wind and head for Tahiti, don’t worry too much. Carbone and her staff specialize in great customer service, and, should you wish, they can get you to a beach for this year’s visit from Sandy Claus.

DR. TRAPP’S FIVE GOLDEN RINGS OF HOLIDAY SEASON SURVIVAL

Exercise. However crowded your schedule might be, make some room in it to get moving several times each week. “It’s a stress reliever. Do it no matter what. Just put it in your calendar as part of your routine and don’t evaluate it.”

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Mind your nutrition, sugar plum. There’s only one man who looks good with a belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly and it’s not you.

Or as the more tactful Dr. Trapp puts it, “Don’t overdo it on the sugar, high fat food, caffeine and alcohol.”

405 MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016

Sleep! Lack of sleep makes Jill a very dull girl indeed, and it also plays havoc with her ability to think clearly, regulate her emotions and maintain her exercise routine. Adults need seven to nine hours each and every night.

Balance. “People need to make time to be out with friends, and time to give to others through volunteering, but they also need time to stay in. Down time. Time to regroup, rest, recharge.” Neglecting this balancing act will make everything else harder.

“Feel OK about saying no to some things. Or, feel OK about saying yes to some things. Remember, just because the phone rings doesn’t mean you have to answer it.” So remember that the holiday is only temporary, and give yourself a break.

HOW TO WRAP THE PERFECT GIFT

S

usan Potts, owner of Occasions gift shop in Norman’s Carriage Plaza, loves to wrap presents. That’s good, because during the holidays, she spends as many as eight hours a day wrapping other people’s presents. It’s a service her shop offers for a nominal fee, as long as you buy the wrapping paper and ribbon from her. “The gifts can be from anyplace,” she says. “I’ve got families who will bring me every gift that will be given during the whole season, and I try to have them ready to pick back up within 24 hours.

“A lot of people like to come in and pick three or four papers that go together, and mix and match.

Others like to do everything in the same paper. Although some will recommend wrapping each child’s presents in their own paper, that can be tricky if one child’s pile of gifts is a little bigger.”

Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or a pay-someone-elser, there are some hard and fast rules of wrap that Potts prefers to stick to.

Start with a great foundation. “A good box makes a big difference,” Potts says. If you have to, go ahead and re-box, or at least re-shape the box and shore it up with

tape. “The hardest things to wrap are kids’ toys that come in odd-shaped packaging or plastic. If the child is very young, just go ahead and put it in a cute bag with lots of pretty paper.”

Use good paper. “It’s kind of like using good paint when you paint a room. It’s thicker and goes on better, and you can’t see through it. Caspari makes great, thick paper, and it really does make a difference. It’s crisper and cleaner.”

Double. Sided. Tape. When Potts talks about tape misuse, her whole demeanor shifts. “There is nothing worse,” she says, emphatically, “than a gorgeous package with visible, shiny tape. I never have tape showing.” For Potts, a properly wrapped gift is a satisfying job well done. “When I was a kid, I wrapped for hours and hours. I love it. My mom would pile up all of the family’s gifts and I’d just wrap.”

Presentation is more than the paper. “Choose a beautiful ribbon, or get creative and wrap a gift in something useful. You can wrap gifts in tea towels, for instance, and that’s perfect for a hostess gift. Make your gift tag a part of the presentation, and decide where you will place it when you begin to wrap. Or if it’s ugly, put it on the bottom.”

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GIVE THE GIFT OF POSSIBILITY

Every day, the YMCA OF GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY gives our community the support it needs to learn, grow and thrive. From advocacy to food security, cancer support to athletics, afterschool care to yoga, everything we do helps strengthen our community and the people who live here.

But keeping our community great is a full-time job. Every day, we face new challenges that create a greater need for the work we do.

And we need your help to do it. Your gift can help make our community stronger - one child, teen or family at a time.

For a better you. For a better community. For a better country.

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EDMOND Edmond already has a great selection of retailers and restaurants, and continues to grow and develop seemingly every day. New neighbors give it energy and variety, old favorites give it character, and together they make it a more complete, vibrant place worth visiting as often as possible – especially as the holidays approach.

Come shop, eat and shop some more!

DECEMBER 2016 405 MAGAZINE

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Love your community. Shop Edmond first.

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405 MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016

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Edmond

BY THE NUMBERS POPULATION Edmond Population

HOUSING Average New Home Price

89,182

$339,797

Number of Households

Average Sales Price

34,439

$280,205

OKC Metro Population

Home Ownership

1,343,996

Median Household Income $69,882 SOURCE: EDMOND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

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Total Sales Tax Collections $64.2 million Retail Sales Tax Collections $48 million

66.6%

INCOME Average Household Income $103,237 Per Capita Income $40,100

TAXABLE SALES Total Taxable Sales $1.7 billion

TAX STRUCTURE Property Tax 105.71 mills per $1,000 assessed value Sales Tax Edmond - 3.75% State - 4.5%

INTEGRIS WOMEN’S HEALTH EDMOND BACK ROW: DR. SPARKES, DR. STEARMAN FRONT ROW: DR. SEACAT, DR. HANSEN, DR. SHEPHERD, DR. O’LEARY, DR. HUGHES

As women, we’re the caretakers. The mothers. The ones who kiss and bandage the bumps and bruises or nurse the sick back to health. But we need our own special kind of care, and that’s the passion of all the women of INTEGRIS Women’s Health Edmond.

It’s compassionate, gentle OB/GYNs easing the transition to womanhood for young women.

For moms-to-be, it’s everything that makes pregnancy choices easier, like a designated baby friendly and Women’s Choice Award-winning hospital, a dedicated lactation consultant, Level II Special Care Nursery and Edmond’s largest and most comfortable labor and delivery department.

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t began with family: Kristin Haynes began fostering her now adopted five-year-old daughter last May. She soon realized that her daughter was struggling emotionally and socially – and then Kristin discovered that she had some Sensory Processing Disorder issues, as well. In researching ways to help her daughter, Kristin came across We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym. Right away, she knew not only that she needed to bring one to the Oklahoma City area, but that the Brummels (her sister Kortney and brotherin-law Danny) would be the perfect partners. Both have been touched by friends and family members with special needs, and have a passion for serving the community. The Brummels immediately recognized this was a place that would not only

help their sweet niece, but countless other children in their community – both typically developing and those with special needs.

Both families love that this is “Finally a place where you never have to say, ‘I’m sorry.’” They are excited to be able to provide a place of understanding, acceptance and opportunity for growth and development that is beneficial to both children and parents. Through counseling and addressing her sensory needs, Kristin’s daughter is now thriving, and the two families believe the specialized environment and equipment in their gym can help other children, too!

They sincerely want to continue educating the community, and to provide an inclusive experience for ALL families. We Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym - Oklahoma City is now open 7 days a week!

THE GYM INCLUDES Suspended Swings Crash Mats & Crash Pillows Zip Line Trampoline Indoor Climbing Structure Sensory Based Toys Arts and Crafts Area

Rockin’ Ideas for Kids’ Birthday Parties, Private Play Dates and Special Events If you are looking for a great way to celebrate a birthday or special event, or a spot to plan a private play date, We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym Oklahoma City is just the place for you!

Our environment is a place where ALL kids have a place to play, create and use their imaginations. Our expert staff will guide you through every detail of your party planning experience.

My Brother Rocks The Spectrum Foundation is our non-profit 501(c)3 organization that helps families receive the funding they need to participate in our social skills classes, private therapies and more. This funding allows children to use specialized sensory swings and equipment, providing a fun activity for ALL. Follow us on Facebook at wrtsokc!

From left: Daniel Brummel, Kortney Brummel, Kristin Haynes, Shayla Haynes

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dining

PHOTO BY QUIT NGUYEN

Crustacean Sensation Sometimes simplicity is sublime – ask anyone who’s ever enjoyed the uncomplicated mess of vittles that is a seafood boil. The ones at Brent’s Cajun are customizable and seasoned to your specification (choices include Mild, Lemon Pepper and Kitchen Sink, but don’t pick Diablo unless you’re serious). Of course, you’ll probably want to bring a friend, because not only are traditional boils social occasions, but this is more food than one person should probably eat … and only a taste of what’s in store.

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dining

LOCAL FLAVOR

BAYOU BITES

A Deep South feast at Brent’s Cajun

BY STEVE GILL PHOTOS BY QUIT NGUYEN

I T ’S A SPECIF IC combination of sensations: the odd cautionto-the-wind feeling that arises when your stomach signals, “OK, it’s getting full down here, time to stop eating now,” and your mouth replies, “Belay that order! This food is too delicious to stop, so damn the torpedoes; full speed ahead!” The Germans probably have a word for this phenomenon of being satiated but still salivating – they seem to have a word for just about everything – but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Gulf Coast had one, too … if only because the last couple of times I’ve had that feeling have been at Brent’s Cajun in Edmond.

The namesake chef comes by his cuisine honestly – not only has Brent Hickman been in the kitchen his entire life, his family roots are deep in the bayou soil. He hails from Lafayette, Louisiana, where his grandfather and great-uncles operated a seafood restaurant. After stints in Houston and OKC, where he opened The Shack in 2010, he launched his latest project a few months ago. Brent’s in Edmond is a warm, rustic space with wood and brick all over the interior in a comfortably raw aesthetic. Its menu combines a few personal touches – Hickman

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identifies the Crab Cake Jambalaya as his own recipe, and the Oysters Brent is a signature dish – with traditional favorites and family recipes. “My grandmother was the original chef,” he says with a small, fond smile.

“I learned a lot from her.”

Whether old or new recipes, the results are mostly impressive, especially if you’re looking for something fried, spicy or both. (You might have a tougher time if you’re a vegetarian or allergic to shellfish, but the menu isn’t aiming to please absolutely everyone.) Before I had introduced myself or anyone had mentioned magazines or reviews, I asked my server Lindsey what was good, and she instantly smiled and replied, “Everything. I’ve worked for the company for seven years, and I still crave the food every day.”

I want to be clear that I’m not advocating this, because it would be a shame to miss some of the entrees, but you could

BRENT’S CAJUN SEAFOOD & OYSTER BAR 3005 S Broadway, Edmond (NW corner of Broadway and 33rd) 405.285.0911 brentscajunseafood.com Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Friday 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Sunday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Bear in Mind: Vast though the menu is for lunch and dinner, if that’s all you get, you’re missing out. That’s because the brunch, served 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on weekends, is excellent all by itself. It turns out – who’d have thought? – that many of the components that make up the main entrees are also delicious in conjunction with eggs and potatoes!

Case in point: The St. Charles gives you a chance to eat crawfish etoufee with crab meat for breakfast by ladling them over an omelette, with biscuits and Andouille sausage as chasers. Someday I might even work up the nerve to try the Bloody Mary Pancakes.

easily eat your fill and then some without leaving the appetizer menu. Oyster options include Jacked Up (smoked and topped with bacon, jalapenos and jack cheese) or the namesake Brent (topped with crab and shrimp, cheese and garlic butter and grilled), and the exceptional Crawfish Nachos smother house-made chips and tasty crustacean tails with cheese and pico de gallo. Or, you could simply dial up a massive appetizer platter piled with possibilities like calamari, onion rings, bacon-wrapped shrimp and fried crab fingers.

Assuming you do make it to the main menu, you can get shrimp stuffed with a mix of crab and extra shrimp (which is brilliant) or gorge on a Cajun boil with your choice of seafood,

corn, potatoes, onions and Andouille sausage. But let me recommend instead a pair of pure winners: Of the first, Chef Hickman explains, “Court Bouillon is a traditional Cajun dish that’s kind of like a seafood stew. It’s one of our top sellers, and it’ll change your world. That blend of flavors? Man.” It’s not as thick and dark a roux as the jambalaya’s, but it’s even more richly flavored; peppers and onions and scallops and crawdads and shrimp and … I lost count, honestly. Just try it. The other is called the Ponchartrain: a fish filet with shrimp, crab and mushrooms all swimming in a smooth, savory sherry cream sauce. I make no apologies about scraping the plate as bare as could be – I’ll happily echo Hickman’s sentiment that, “If you’ve never tried this, you need to.”

As you can probably tell, I’m a fan of Brent’s Cajun. I’ve been in a handful of times so far and never yet been in danger of leaving without being completely full. I might even come up with a name for that feeling described earlier … after two or three more enormous helpings of that Court Bouillon, that is. Do you think “Brentsian” is too obvious?

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dining

CHEF’S TABLE

HOW IT’S DONE Chef Campbell’s Steak Salad

21c chef Campbell’s salad supreme JA SON CA M PBEL L GR EW U P in Orlando, Florida – a city better known for Disney

than food culture. Tourist meccas eventually attract high-quality food, though, and Campbell’s resume includes time as chef de cuisine at Cask and Larder. During his tenure there, the chef-owners were nominated for James Beard Awards, and the restaurant was named one of the best in the nation by Esquire magazine.

Campbell followed his wife Lia to Cincinnati for her job, which is where he first started working for 21c Museum Hotels – now he’s the executive chef at Mary Eddy’s, the restaurant inside our 21c.

Away from work, Campbell describes himself as a fan of history, and although some of his down time is spent cooking with his wife, his non-culinary pursuits include his 1966 Dodge Charger. He works on it in his off time, so he can “go cruise and clear my head.”

“I love history, and I think of these old-school cars as part of American history,” he says. “If it’s loud, has a big motor and can smoke the tires, I love it!”

While his earliest memories of cooking involve his mother and grandfather, Campbell would eventually get formal training at Le Cordon Bleu in Orlando, from which he graduated in 2004. He combined that formal training with his Southern heritage: “We grew up eating a lot of Southern food,” he says. “Braised collard greens, cornbread – things cooked in bacon fat.” The food at Mary Eddy’s certainly reflects that, as well as Campbell’s culinary curiosity.

“I’m always playing with big flavors like black cardamom, making our own black garlic, fermenting hot sauce, sumac, harissa,” he explains. “I try to focus on making a dish light when it tends to be heavy by adding some citrus zest or a raw green or vegetable for texture.”

For this recipe, Campbell is showcasing exactly that method by combining flavors and textures in a mix he describes as “super fresh, crunchy, meaty and zippy.” He prefers prime rib eye or NY strip for this take on a steak salad. - GREG HORTON

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MEYER LEMON VINAIGRETTE 1 small shallot, finely chopped 2 tsp Dijon mustard 3 tbsp white wine vinegar 1 tbsp water 1 tbsp Meyer lemon zest and juice 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme Pinch of sugar Salt to taste

Combine all together and shake well in a sealable container to emulsify. It’s OK if the vinaigrette breaks. Just shake it well.

STEAK SALAD 2 bunches of Tuscan kale, washed and chopped 1 cup thin-shaved raw Brussels sprouts 1 cup thin-shaved raw fennel 1 pink pearl apple or granny smith apple, sliced thin 1 cup carrot ribbons (use a peeler to peel the carrots into thin strips) 1 cup butternut squash ribbons (see recipe above) ½ cup toasted sunflower seeds 4oz chunk of pecorino cheese 4oz of Meyer lemon vinaigrette

While steak is resting (after cooking to taste), add everything to a large bowl and dress the greens. Taste to see if it needs salt or more dressing. Slice steak in strips and place on salad. Grate cheese and extra lemon zest over the top and enjoy.

PHOTOS BY SHANNON CORNMAN

Big Flavor From Mary Eddy’s Kitchen

PICKLED BUTTERNUT SQUASH RIBBONS 2 cups apple cider vinegar ¼ cup sugar 1 tbsp pickling spice 2 sprigs fresh thyme 1 tbsp sugar 1 tsp salt 1 larger butternut squash

Cut neck off of squash and reserve bottom for another use; maybe squash soup.

Peel off outer layer and discard.

Cut neck of squash into 4-inch blocks, peel with peeler into thin ribbons and place in a heatproof vessel.

Add all items in a saucepot and bring to a simmer to dissolve sugar.

Turn off heat, let sit for five minutes and then pour over squash ribbons.

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W W W. L EG ACYG R I L L .C O M

BEST PLACE TO WAT C H T H E G A M E .

dining SWEETS

Candy Creativity The singular joys of Unique Confections

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Andrew Marsh

“Sometimes it has taken me many pounds of failures to learn and realize how to perfect a certain creation.” nougats, barks and various chocolate figurines and chocolate Christmas ornaments.”

Besides the artisan chocolates, some of his other top sellers include a dark chocolate English butter toffee, and also a truffle creation he stumbled upon by accident.

“I call it a ‘Nurdle,’” Marsh says with a laugh. “That’s just a word I made up. A ‘nurdle’ is a dark chocolate with vanilla inside, and it is coated in dark chocolate candied almonds in powdered sugar.

After studying in France and then spending time at New York’s Culinary Institute of America, Marsh came to Norman to open his shop – and Unique Creations celebrates its fourth anniversary in January. “I live and work in Norman, and have really tried to become a staple within the community,” he adds.

“And not just for business, but also helping in various charities where and when I can.”

Unique Confections is open from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at 1100 E Constitution, Suite 120, in Norman.

Visit the website at ucshops.com – and feel free to add a little sweetness to your holiday season. - MARK BEUTLER

PHOTOS BY SHANNON CORNMAN

I T TA K E S A SPECI A L knack to create a new edible concoction that is truly unique – but still delicious. For example, who was the first person to think jelly on a peanut butter sandwich might be fun, or the brave soul who put that first dash of cream in their coffee?

Andrew Marsh is one of those inventors. As owner of Norman’s Unique Confections, Marsh is constantly trying new flavor combinations in his candy shop.

“Some of the flavors I make in my chocolates have just come to fruition by sheer accident,” he smiles. “Mostly I try to stick with seasonal fruits, nuts and berries as my primary theme, but I have made many batches of things that did not turn out the way I was hoping.”

When that happens, Marsh says he puts it on the back burner and does a little more research.

“Sometimes it has taken me many pounds of failures to learn and realize how to perfect a certain creation,” he adds. “For example, I worked on a gingerbread truffle for three years before coming to the conclusion of how to mix the ingredients and at what proportions, and what steps I had to take to perfect this truffle.”

Some of his best sellers include “Winter Sunshine Orange,” a blend of orange rind grated into dark chocolate and topped with a strip of candied orange peel, as well as a truffle made of applewood-smoked bacon crunchies and rendered drippings of mesquite-smoked bacon stirred into a rich ganache, coated with dark chocolate and sprinkled with hickory-smoked bacon in caramelized sugar. Other luscious treats include Lemon Mint Sea Salt, White Chocolate Cherry and Milk Chocolate Lavender.

Being a one-man dynamo means Marsh does everything from dishwashing to paperwork, ordering supplies and waiting on customers. Only a small portion of his day is actually spent cooking.

“Christmas is the biggest time of year for me, and the main highlight of the Christmas season is the Aunt Bill’s Brown Candy I make,” he says. “Others for the season include divinity,

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food drink Symbols

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

American ANCHOR DOWN Sip a beer or specialty cocktail and munch on a selection of gourmet corndogs in this fresh Deep Deuce concept housed within repurposed shipping containers. 30 NE 2nd, OKC, 605.8070 $ CAFÉ 501 Rustic stone oven pizzas, fresh salads and specialty sandwiches on house-made artisan breads. Add welcoming atmosphere and enjoy. 501 S Boulevard, Edmond, 359.1501; 5825 NW Grand, OKC, 844.1501 $$ DEEP FORK GRILL Crisply elegant atmosphere complements the menu of superb seafood (wood-grilled cedar plank salmon is a house specialty), steaks and accoutrements. 5418 N Western, OKC, 848.7678 $$ FAT DOG This flavor-filled kitchen and bar dishes up treats from fish and chips to a killer Cobb salad … but if you just want to cool your heels on the patio with burgers, hot dogs and beer, you’re in the right place. 1234 N Western, OKC, 609.3647 $ FLINT Approachably casual style, plus the kitchen’s impeccably serious attention to detail in the outstanding contemporary cuisine, winningly combined in the Colcord Hotel. 15 N Robinson, OKC, 601.4300 $$ GUYUTES The vibe is definitely and deliberately mellow in this Uptown watering hole; the diverse and musically named collection of pizzas and wraps and such have a ton of flavor to offer, adding more temptation to the loaded drinks menu and incredible patio. 730 NW 23rd, OKC, 702.6960 $

and a full suite of tempting cocktails, wines and spirits. 6437 Avondale, OKC, 842.1000 $$

HEFNER GRILL Upscale fare of handcut steaks and seafood plus a tempting brunch to boot, enhanced by a live piano and a spectacular view overlooking scenic Lake Hefner. 9201 Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 748.6113 $$

LEGACY GRILL The décor is rich with artifacts and imagery honoring Oklahoma’s great leaders and stars, and the menu’s collection of comfort food and fresh tastes includes more than a few greats of its own. 224 Johnny Bench, OKC, 701.3535 $$ LEGEND’S A Lindsey Street landmark for over 40 years, this casually upscale restaurant still serves exceptional seafood, steaks and more amid welcoming surroundings. 1313 W Lindsey, Norman, 329.8888 $$ MARY EDDY’S Inside the inviting environs of Film Row anchor 21c Museum Hotel, this showplace of a restaurant turns out a seasonally driven menu of expertly tuned flavors and dishes meant to be shared. 900 W Main, OKC, 982.6900 $$

The R&J Lounge and Supper Club

A sentimental dining experience with vintage recipes and atmosphere. Seating is limited but the patio is a yearround treat, and the drinks menu is a thing of beauty. 320 NW 10th, OKC, 602.5066 $$ SATURN GRILL A star of the lunchtime stage in Nichols Hills Plaza, its rotation of daily specials and tasty twists on pizza, sandwiches and salads keep it crowded on weekdays. Calling ahead is recommended. 6432 Avondale, OKC, 843.7114 $ SCRATCH Isn’t that the best place for food to come from? Top-of -the-line ingredients are combined into entrees and sides that are carefully concocted in-house, as are the bevy of wondrous craft cocktails. 132 W Main, Norman, 801.2900 $$

NIC’S PLACE Already justly renowned for his skill at the grill, burger master Justin Nicholas offers breakfast, dinner, drinks and late night treats served in outstanding style at this Midtown diner and lounge. 1116 N Robinson, OKC $$

SUNNYSIDE DINER A new day dawns for breakfast and lunch on the west side of downtown as a former service station becomes a no-pretense, made-from-scratch diner. Order up!

916 NW 6th, OKC $

PACKARD’S NEW AMERICAN KITCHEN They’re not kidding about the “new” – the entire lunch and dinner menus are filled with innovative tastes for a distinctive dining experience. 201 NW 10th, OKC, 605.3771 $$

SYRUP The most important meal of the day is also the most enticing at this unique breakfast boutique serving a heaping helping of signature dishes (the crunchy French toast is something special) and Stumptown coffee. 123 E Main, Norman, 701.1143 $

THE HUTCH ON AVONDALE The all-time classic Coach House receives an update with a more modern menu sprinkled with experimental twists,

REDROCK CANYON GRILL Rotisserie chicken, enchiladas, pork chops and steak by the lake in a casual, energetic, hacienda-style atmosphere

405 MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2016

WHISKEY CAKE High-quality locally sourced ingredients, prepared using slow cooking techniques that’s a prime recipe for outstanding dining. Enjoy – and don’t forget the namesake dessert.

1845 NW Expressway, OKC, 582.2253 $$

MEATBALL HOUSE The focus in this Campus Corner restaurant is right where the name says, but the variety of ingredients, sauces and presentation in salads/sandwiches/pizza/pasta gives a surprising breadth of satisfying dining options. 333 W Boyd, Norman, 701.3800 $$

PICASSO CAFÉ Their neighbors in the Paseo are painters, potters and sculptors, so it’s apt that creativity abounds in these zippy sandwiches, salads, pizza and surprises, including plentiful selections for vegetarians.

3009 Paseo, OKC, 602.2002 $

recommendation for the Ambassador Hotel’s in-house restaurant; don’t overlook the brunch options. 1200 N Walker Ave, OKC, 600.6200 $$ WAFFLE CHAMPION A food truck that expanded into a brick-and-mortar location in Midtown, its gourmet flavor combinations use waffles as the foundation for sweet and savory sandwich treats. 1212 N Walker, OKC, 525.9235 $

KITCHEN NO. 324 A seasonally inspired café and craft bakery serving spectacular rustic American cuisine.

Open for lunch and dinner, and a thorough treat for breakfast or brunch.

324 N Robinson, OKC, 763.5911 $

HATCH They call it “early mood food,” and if you find yourself in the mood for a sumptuous made-from-scratch breakfast (or lunch), it should be right up your Automobile Alley. 1101 N Broadway, OKC, 232.3949 $$

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of stone walls and mahogany beams around an open kitchen. 9221 E Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 749.1995; 1820 Legacy Park, Norman, 701.5501 $$

VAST Keeping your attention on the steaks, seafood and other temptaitons might be difficult; the view from atop the Devon Tower is truly unparalleled in Oklahoma, making this a fantastic date spot. 280 W Sheridan, 49th floor, OKC, 702.7262 $$$ VICEROY GRILLE Opulent décor, comfortable environs and some outstanding cuisine make a strong

Asian CHAE Found near OCU, this pancultural treat puts a delectable influence on embracing traditional Korean cuisine and showcasing its versatility by blending its ingredients with dishes from around the world. Grab your chopsticks and enjoy. 1933 NW 23rd, OKC, 600.9040 $$ GUERNSEY PARK A hidden treasure on an Uptown back street, reflecting traditional Asian flavors expertly fused with a hint of French influence. Try the chicken lollipops and curry salmon. 2418 N Guernsey, OKC, 605.5272 $$ O ASIAN FUSION Sublime quality in a wide span of culinary influences – freshly rolled sushi to fiery curry – in cool, vibrant digs. Call ahead for dinner, because it becomes a packed house in a hurry. 105 SE 12th, Norman, 701.8899 $$ SAII With a dark, rich ambiance that elevates it over its surroundings, the captivating Saii serves expertly done Japanese, Thai and Chinese fare plus an extensive and adventurous sushi menu.

6900 N May, OKC, 702.7244 $$

Bakery BELLE KITCHEN Doughnuts, macarons, pastries and ice cream created from scratch, in small batches – making treats like these with care and passion makes a difference that’s easy, and a pleasure, to taste. 7509 N May, OKC, 430.5484; 30 NE 2nd, OKC, 541.5858 $ CUPPIES & JOE The name is only part of the story: the Uptown nook holds cupcakes and coffee as well as pie, live music, a cozy, trendy vibe and more.

Park around back and take a peek. 727 NW 23rd, OKC, 528.2122 $ LA BAGUETTE Comfort and exquisite baking make a tres chic destination for

brunch and beyond. They supply pastries throughout the metro, but the source is especially delicious. 1130 Rambling Oaks, Norman, 329.1101; 2100 W Main, Norman, 329.5822 $

landmark is justly renowned. 1300 Classen Blvd, Norman, 329.3330 $

burgers, beer and festive atmosphere since 1968. A St. Patrick’s Day must. 769 Asp, Norman, 217.8454 $ PUB W Multiple sections provide a choice of atmosphere, but the menu filled with choice beer and “new classic” fare from barbeque wings to pork chops is a constant pleasure. 3720 W Robinson, Norman, 701.5844; 3121 W Memorial, OKC, 608.2200 $$

PIE JUNKIE A Plaza District haven for serious pie aficionados. Call ahead to order a whole pie or quiche or walk in and choose from what’s on hand; either way the flavors are incredible, and you may never find a better Key lime. 1711 NW 16th, OKC, 605.8767 $ SARA SARA CUPCAKES The ambiance and milk bar make great additions to the variety of specialty cupcakes - selections range from traditional chocolate to blueberry honey and even bacon, egg and cheese. 7 NW 9th, OKC, 600.9494 $

Bar & Pub Food BLU FINE WINE & FOOD Just south of Main Street, this sleek bar stands out due to quick, courteous service and a menu with gourmet range from mojitos to barbeque chicken pizza to fresh hummus. 201 S Crawford, Norman, 360.4258 $$ THE MONT While the food should tempt palates inclined toward a Southwestern zing, it’s beverages like the beloved Sooner Swirl and the primo patio (with misters) for which this

IRON STAR URBAN BARBEQUE Iron Star specializes in “a unique and tasty spin on comfort food.” While its entrees are excellent, the sides here are equal players as well. 3700 N Shartel, OKC, 524.5925 $$ LEO’S BAR-B-Q Dense, rich flavor and tender texture, delivered in genuine unpolished style for commendable value – no wonder its ribs and brisket are favorites among Oklahoma connoisseurs.

3631 N Kelley, OKC 424.5367 $

REPUBLIC GASTROPUB Part beer bar and part upscale eatery, this noisy, amply attended Classen Curve locale pairs a vast selection of quality brews with tasty menu items, including a great burger selection. 5830 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 286.4577 $$

The Barrel

The menu is well-stocked with intriguing and delicious twists on pub cuisine like shepherd’s pie and shrimp and chips, but the equally ample bar makes it a great spot to relax over drinks as well. 4308 N Western, OKC, 525.6682 $

Burgers & Sandwiches COW CALF-HAY This tempting burger spot offers ample flavor combinations, and the delicious neverfrozen patties are mmmmmassive.

Don’t forget the onion rings. 3409 Wynn, Edmond, 509.2333; 212 N Harvey, OKC, 601.6180 $

SLAUGHTER’S HALL A good-vibe hangout in the heart of Deep Deuce, it’s home to great sandwiches and brunch options, a strong beer selection, a notoriously tasty take on poutine and some of the best mac and cheese in the city. 221 N Central, OKC, 606.6063 $$

OAK & ORE A Plaza District port of call built with repurposed rustic materials, it offers more than a handful of creative sandwiches that practically require a knife and fork, as well as a tantalizing selection of lovingly chosen craft beers. 1732 NW 16th, OKC $

THE FIXX Massive, monstrous burgers and hot dogs, put together with thought and care. Don’t forget to get a shake or something from the full bar. 644 W Edmond, Edmond, 285.2311 $

Barbeque EARL’S RIB PALACE A popular choice among locals in a genre that’s hardly lacking in options, the local chain pounds out hit ribs and turkey as well as a top-tier burger. 6 metro locations, earlsribpalace.com $

O’CONNELL’S IRISH PUB & GRILLE Beloved by students, alumni and townies alike, it’s served up killer

THE GARAGE BURGERS & BEER It can get noisy in the sports-bar atmosphere, but even so your focus will likely be on savoring the many tempting flavor possibilities of huge, juicy

NW OKC’s Prime Steak House & Wine Bar A prime dining experience with fine foods, organic vegetables, all natural beef, organic chicken, European style cocktail service, and an extensive wine list

Renewed Dining & Spirits Served with Love & Gratitude

2920 NW 63rd St. | 405.608.8866

|

Monday-Thursday: 11am-10pm

|

Friday-Saturday: 11am-11pm

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burgers and fries. 8 metro locations, eatatthegarage.com $ HILLBILLY’S There’s mighty appealing flavor in their land-based or seafood sandwiches, and the licit thrill of moonshine cocktails is a bonus. The shady patio is a genuine pleasure. 1 NW 9th, OKC, 702.9805 $ IRMA’S BURGER SHACK Hand-cut fries, hand-breaded onion rings and simply great burgers, especially with No Name Ranch patties - lean and flavorful thanks to a local breed of cattle. 1035 NW 63rd, OKC, 840.4762; 1120 Classen Dr, OKC, 235.4762 $ THE MULE Solid beer and beverage selection plus a delectable array of gourmet grilled cheeses and melts (ingredients range from fontina to figs) fill the menu at this relaxation destination in the Plaza District. 1630 N Blackwelder, OKC, 601.1400 $

Lots to Love Grilled goodness at Lottinvilles

O N E O F TH E M OST widely touted truisms of the restaurant

industry is its high turnover rate – different people cite different statistics, but the plain fact is that many of them close fairly quickly. Striking a chord with diners is crucial for success, and considering that Lottinvilles in Edmond is on track to turn old enough to vote this summer, they must be doing something right.

While the menu is fairly broad and they put on an impressive brunch buffet, they’re really best known for their rotisserie and wood-burning grill. This makes it easy to recommend the Rotisserie Pork Chop – what you might think of as the best of both worlds. The thick slab of protein spends the night before soaking in a special brine, takes a few laps on the rotisserie until it’s cooked through and then (as you can see from the sear marks) finishes up on the grill. Set it off with sweet potatoes and a shallot spinach salad, and be sure to try the sauce, which is an oyster-laced brew cooked down into a thick, slightly sweet and spicy glaze.

Djuan Simmons will be more than happy to serve one up for you – and if he recommends the Queso Fondito as an appetizer, listen to him. Its creamy mixture of chorizo, mushrooms, jalapeños, onions, tomatoes and pepper jack fired with tequila is one more good reason to keep coming back. - STEVE GILL

NIC’S GRILL It’s small, it’s crowded … and it’s incredible. It’s only open for lunch and the lines are often long, but the colossal burgers are easily among the metro’s best. Don’t forget some money, since it’s cash-only. 1202 N Penn, OKC, 524.0999 $ S&B’S BURGER JOINT Good news: these burgers’ exquisite flavors - including such showcase ingredients as peanut butter or a coffee crust - come as sliders too, the better to sample more kinds. 5 metro locations, sandbburgers.com $ TUCKER’S ONION BURGERS With one burger, one side dish (fries) and one salad, the menu is easy to remember - and the execution makes the meal unforgettable. Add a shake and enjoy. 3 metro locations, tuckersonionburgers.com $

Coffeehouse & Tea Room ALL ABOUT CHA Universal standards and unusual concoctions (the sweet potato latte is a wonder) in a cheerful atmosphere; the food options are worth investigating, as well. 5 metro locations, allaboutcha.net $ CAFÉ EVOKE Outstanding coffee drinks and other beverages from one of the area’s great caterers; if patrons wish to stick around to sample soup, sandwiches, snacks or sweets, so much the better for their palates. 103 S Broadway, Edmond, 285.1522 $ CLARITY COFFEE The vibe is crisp, clean and cool while remaining welcoming and comfortable – including seating for sipping or getting some work done – and the brewers have their beverages down to a science. As the sign says, “Drink the Coffee.” 431 W Main, OKC $ COFFEE SLINGERS Rocking a brisk, urban vibe on Automobile Alley, it has become a gathering place for genuine java enthusiasts, especially during its periodic educational sampling seminars.

1015 N Broadway, OKC, 606.2763 $ ELEMENTAL COFFEE Seriously spectacular coffee roasted in-house

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- the passionate staff is always eager to share knowledge about the process augmented with locally sourced salads, breakfast options and other treats. 815 N Hudson, OKC, 633.1703 $ RED CUP Comfortably ramshackle surroundings encourage curling up for conversation over great coffee, baked treats, vegetarian-friendly breakfast and lunch specials, and live music. It’s highly recommended. 3122 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 525.3430 $ T, AN URBAN TEAHOUSE Proving that an establishment’s focus can be at once narrow and broad, these retreats offer over 100 varieties and expert counsel to explore a world of possibiliteas. 511 NW 23rd St, OKC, 7518 N May, OKC, 418.4333 $

Continental BIN 73 Think of it as a wine bar but don’t overlook the tasting menu - diners can fill up on filet mignon or simply top the evening off with tapas while enjoying the full gamut of libations and chic ambiance. 7312 N Western, OKC, 843.0073 $$ BLACKBIRD A Campus Corner gastropub pairing succulently creative dishes like pot roast nachos with a broad beer, wine and whiskey list. There’s little on the menu that won’t tempt palates. 575 S University, Norman, 928.5555 $$ CHEEVER’S Southwestern-influenced recipes (the chicken-fried steak is a house specialty) and love of seafood drive the contemporary comfort food in one of the city’s finest dining destinations. 2409 N Hudson, OKC, 525.7007 $$ EN CROUTE A warmly welcoming, comfortable café in Nichols Plaza offers treats all day long, from fresh pastries to select spirits and beer, with special emphasis on artisanal cheese and charcuterie. 6460 Avondale, OKC, 607.6100 $ LUDIVINE The menu adjusts constantly to reflect availability of elite-quality, locally sourced ingredients - but every dish is the result of genuine culinary artistry. 805 N Hudson, OKC, 778.6800 $$$ THE MANTEL Marvelous steaks, seafood and other specialties combine with a refined atmosphere and outstanding service to set the stage for a truly memorable meal, especially if you have a date to impress. 201 E Sheridan, OKC, 236.8040 $$$ THE MELTING POT Special occasion?

Here’s where to make a meal into an event. Specializing in four-course fondue dinners, this Bricktown restaurant rewards a time investment with delectable memories. 4 E Sheridan, OKC, 235.1000 $$$ THE METRO A perennial favorite that feels comfortably upscale without exerting pressure to impress on its clientele, the far-reaching menu covers culinary high points from vichyssoise to crème brulée. 6418 N Western, OKC, 840.9463 $$

LOTTINVILLES PHOTOS BY SHANNON CORNMAN

GOOD TASTE

MICHAEL’S GRILL Thoroughly urbane dining in an intimate setting: the steaks, chops, seafood and pastas are all reliably excellent, and the Caesar salad prepared tableside is the stuff of legends. 2824 W Country Club, OKC, 810.9000 $$$ THE MUSEUM CAFÉ A setting as inspiring as the OKC Museum of Art warrants something special in cuisine: delicately light or delectably robust, its European-inspired menu delights for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. 415 Couch, OKC, 235.6262 $$ PARK AVENUE GRILL A one-ofa-kind dining experience inside the luxurious Skirvin Hilton, blending traditional steak and seafood with the high style of its 1930s setting. 1 Park, OKC, 702.8444 $$$ PASEO GRILL Quiet and intimate inside, cheerful and comfortable out on the patio, with an award-winning menu filled with distinctive flavors inspired by the cuisines of Europe in both areas – try the duck salad. 2909 Paseo, OKC, 601.1079 $$$

cuisine and magnificent beer in a less expensive, faster-paced location in downtown Norman. 229 E Main, Norman, 701.3748 $ FASSLER HALL Bringing festive German flavor to Midtown via housemade sausages, warm soft pretzels with cheese sauce, duck fries and a heftig beer menu, plus a weekend brunch – what’s not to love? 421 NW 10th, OKC, 609.3300 $ INGRID’S Authentic German fare at its best, including outstanding Oklahomamade bratwurst. Join weekend regulars for breakfast, and remember the bakery counter. 3701 N Youngs, OKC, 946.8444; 6501 N May, OKC $$ ROYAL BAVARIA Superb takes on traditional dishes like Weinerschnitzel, Jagerbraten and sausages, plus fantastisch house-brewed beers. The time spent is a worthy investment in this family-style dining hall. 3401 S Sooner, Moore, 799.7666 $$$

Indian

PRITCHARD Tempted by tempranillo? Musing about muscat?

This Plaza District stop is amply stocked with an extensive list of exceptional wines, and sampling the varied dishes is a pleasure in itself. 1749 NW 16th, OKC, 601.4067 $

GOPURAM - TASTE OF INDIA A full-service restaurant whose richly appointed interior and attentive staff accord patrons the feel of fine dining, even during the inexpensive and plentifully stocked lunch buffet. 4559 NW 23rd, OKC, 948.7373 $$

ROCOCO An “East Coast-style” restaurant with a diverse menu of international dishes, all set off by carefully selected wines to create the perfect dinner pairing. 12252 N May, OKC, 212.4577; 2824 N Penn, OKC, 528.2824 $$

MISAL OF INDIA A Norman institution for over 30 years, specializing in tandoori-cooked delicacies and boasting healthy, natural, delicious cuisine served amid splendid ambiance. 580 Ed Noble Pkwy, Norman, 579.5600 $$

SEVEN47 A Campus Corner hotspot boasting sleek, swank décor, an appealingly broad menu including a tantalizing brunch and a consistently celebratory vibe - in toto that makes this a winner. 747 Asp, Norman, 701.8622 $$

TAJ A tremendous set of Indian staples and delicacies - the menu has sections for vegetarian, tandoori, South Indian and Indo-Chinese specialties - plus full lunch and dinner buffets. 1500 NW 23rd, OKC, 601.1888 $$

SIGNATURE GRILL Unassuming locale; magnificent culinary rewards.

The expertly considered menu mixes French and Italian flavors to present a wide spectrum of amazing flavors in a few select dishes. 1317 E Danforth, Edmond, 330.4548 $$$ WEST Expert staff and stylish décor augment a menu filled with treats from beef pad thai to roasted airline chicken.

Don’t forget the zuccha chips! 6714 N Western, OKC, 607.4072; 1 Mickey Mantle, OKC $$

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

German DAS BOOT CAMP Longtime fixture for Deutsch festivities Royal Bavaria has brewed up a second round of exceptional

4308 N Western Avenue • 405.525.6682 • barrelokc.com

NOW SERVING DAVE’S DEEP DISH PIZZA!

Italian & Pizza BELLINI’S Tasteful in décor and Italian offerings alike, this romantic nightspot quietly, confidently exudes elegance. It’s worth a visit even if only for a couple of the namesake beverages on the shady patio. 6305 Waterford, OKC, 848.1065 $$ BENVENUTI’S Subtly flavored minestrone to rich, hearty ragouts, the splendid menu keeps the booths full and diners planning return trips to this vintage building by the railroad tracks; don’t overlook Sunday brunch. 105 W Main, Norman, 310.5271 $$ FLIP’S WINE BAR & TRATTORIA Managing to feel rustic despite its location in a busy corridor of OKC, this cozy Italian joint keeps extended hours, and tends to get busier and louder as the hour gets later. 5801 N Western, OKC, 843.1527 $$ HIDEAWAY PIZZA If you’ve been serving a devoted following for over half a century, you’re doing something right.

In this case, that’s incredible pizza in jovial surroundings - a true Oklahoma

5418 N Western Avenue • 405.848.7678 • deepforkgrill.com

NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS DAY!

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AT THE BAR

success story. 8 metro locations, hideawaypizza.com $$

served with plenty of ambiance. 5516 W Memorial, OKC, 470.5577 $$ UPPER CRUST A chic, contemporary pizzeria and wine bar specializing in wood-fired, thin-crust New York-style pies complemented by a full menu and wine list. 5860 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 842.7743; 1205 NW 178th, Edmond, 285.8887 $$

Reigning over the Plaza District in New York style (that means thin, flexible crust with a lot of surface area to cover in cheese and tasty toppings), it offers whole pizzas or slices, a full bar and a primo patio. 1734 NW 16th, OKC $

HUMBLE PIE PIZZERIA There’s really no need to be humble about this true Chicago-style pizza, boasting perhaps the best crust known to man.

It’s one of our favorites; choose your toppings and think deep thoughts. 1319 S Broadway, Edmond, 715.1818 $

Past, Present, Pleasure Taste the Thriller at Flashback RetroPub CO N S I DE R TH E NAT U R E of time. Actually, never mind; that sounds like a potential waste of it, since you presumably already know it can seem malleable or even recursive depending on how much you’re enjoying yourself at any given moment. And as the calendar winds toward its end, it’s a perfect time to turn back the clock with a visit to Flashback RetroPub – the ’80s-themed watering hole on Film Row is home to a time warp that provides huge enjoyment for anyone who (like me) poured an amazing number of quarters into various arcade machines during childhood. Or beyond.

Flashback is even better than an old-school arcade: not only do classics such as Galaga, Centipede, Rampage, the side-scrolling X-Men and many more beckon on every side, but they’re free to play for bar customers, and that bar is pretty boss. Get inspired by the throwback soundtrack and consider the Thriller, a smooth-sipping concoction that’s fruity but not too sweet, and stronger than it looks without packing too overwhelming a wallop – gotta keep that hand-eye coordination sharp if you’re going to defeat Magneto/Shredder/Donkey Kong/whoever’s at the end of Double Dragon.

Ask bartender Stacey Richardson to whip one up for you as the perfect accompaniment to taking M. Bison to school. Then hold onto it tight and have a killer, diller, chiller, Thriller here tonight.

Can you dig it? - STEVE GILL

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KNUCK’S WHEELHOUSE Homemade daily with sauces from scratch and local beer in the crust, it’s a tasty and varied stopover for Bricktown wanderers as well as a pizza-lover’s destination in its own right. 103 E California, OKC, 605.4422 $

VITO’S RISTORANTE Homestyle Italian cuisine in an intimate setting where the staff and management treat customers like guests in their home.

It’s a small space, so calling ahead is recommended. 7521 N May, OKC, 848.4867 $$ VOLARE A flavor-filled variety of Neapolitan-style pizzas, produced with haste from a specially imported oven, fill this stylish Campus Corner space boasting a serious rooftop patio. 315 White, Norman, 310.3615 $$ THE WEDGE Wood-fired pies crafted from fresh ingredients (the possibilities range from pepperoni all the way to figs or truffle oil) and made-from-scratch sauces. 230 NE 1st, OKC, 270.0660; 4709 N Western, OKC, 602.3477 $$

Japanese // Sushi

MONI’S Handmade, New Jersey-style brick oven pizza and authentic pasta recipes from Southern Italy in a casual, comfy ambience (ideal for dates). 17200 N May, Edmond, 285.5991 $$

CAFÉ ICON Tempting sushi, Japanese specialties and delicious spectacles like steak cooked at the table on a sizzling stone fill the menu to bursting with visually splendid and palate-pleasing treats. 311 S Blackwelder, Edmond, 340.8956 $$

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

The Norman location regularly hosts live music, too. 434 Buchanan, Norman, 701.4900; 1 S Broadway, Edmond, 330.9045 $$

GORO An “izakaya” is a Japanese pub; visitors to the Plaza District will quickly come to associate the term with expertly crafted deliciousness thanks to this cheerful spot for ramen, yakitori, bar snacks and more. 1634 Blackwelder, OKC $

PIZZA 23 The tempting selection of specialty pies on especially buttery, flaky crusts is available for takeout, but dining in is recommended; the Uptown joint’s good beer selection and crisp, urban décor add savor to the flavor. 600-B NW 23rd St, OKC, 601.6161 $$

INAKA The main draw of this Casady Square spot is the fresh, savory sushi: with these imaginative combinations, names like Amazing Roll and Fantastic Roll feel like stating the obvious. 9321 N Penn, OKC, 242.2224 $$

PIZZERIA GUSTO Neapolitan-style pizza (which harnesses an extremely hot fire to quickly cook superfine flour crusts and quality ingredients) stars alongside Italy-inspired salads, pastas and appetizers. 2415 N Walker Ave, OKC, 437.4992 $$ STELLA MODERN ITALIAN CUISINE A luscious spate of legitimately Italian tastes for a casual lunch, or romantic dinner, amid stylish scenery. The weekend brunch offerings are especially superb. 1201 N Walker, OKC, 235.2200 $$ TOMMY’S ITALIAN-AMERICAN GRILL An old favorite returns to the metro to provide fresh, plentiful doses of primo pasta and pizzas, always

MUSASHI’S Exquisitely f lavorful Japanese cuisine prepared with genuine artistry, thanks to the skilled chefs executing culinary performance art at tableside hibachi grills. It’s a great spot for a special occasion. 4315 N Western, OKC, 602.5623 $$ SUSHI NEKO An established OKC favorite combining style (sleek, brisk, classy) with substance (in the form of an especially wide-ranging and creative sushi menu). 4318 N Western, OKC, 528.8862 $$ TOKYO It’s neither huge nor lavishly appointed, and the menu focuses on tradition rather than creativity; but it’s palpably fresh and routinely cited as among the metro’s best sushi. 7516 N Western, OKC, 848.6733 $$

FLASHBACK PHOTO BY SHANNON CORNMAN

Empire Slice House

VICTORIA’S A comfortable atmosphere, with local art on its walls and the art of pasta on its plates – the chicken lasagna and linguine with snow crab are especially excellent. 327 White, Norman, 329.0377; 3000 SW 104th St, OKC, 759.3580 $

VOLCANO Creations from the hibachi grill or dazzling displays of handcrafted sushi prowess – this restaurant might not have much seating, but it’s certainly far from short on f lavor. 2727 S I-35, Moore, 759.3888 $$ YOKOZUNA The noodles, entrees and snappy drinks menu beckon, but it’s the rolls that stand out in this heavyweight contender for local sushi supremacy – personally, we’re partial to the 405 Roll.

13230 Pawnee, OKC, 500.1020 $$

Mediterranean HAIGET’S Vegan-friendly – and friendly in general, due to the influence of the warm, patient namesake owner – this gem rewards the adventurous with Ethiopian and Kenyan specialties to explore and share. 308 W Edmond Rd, Edmond, 509.6441 $$ MEDITERRANEAN IMPORTS & DELI The menu is stocked with authentic, quick and savory options from Greek salad to eye-watering cabbage rolls, and there’s even a mini-grocery stocked with select staples. 5620 N May, OKC, 810.9494 $ QUEEN OF SHEBA Practically the definitive example of a hidden treasure, the spicy, vegan-friendly menu of Ethiopian delights awaits the bold. Bring friends and be prepared to linger. 2308 N MacArthur, OKC, 606.8616 $$ ZORBA’S For well over 20 years, Zorba’s has satisfied appetites and pleased palates. Serving dishes from recipes passed down through generations, they proudly share flavors of Cyprus, Spain, Greece and Morocco. 6014 N May, OKC, 947.7788 $

Mexican & Latin American 1492 Authentic Mexican cuisine in an elegant atmosphere, combining its caliente flavors with fusion decor to make an ideal spot for a romantic evening ... including perhaps the world’s best mojitos. 1207 N Walker, OKC, 236.1492 $$ BARRIOS A serious collection of Latin-flavored deliciousness, including a brunch that’s maravilloso, in a cool Midtown space with a back patio that’s pure paradise. 1000 N Hudson, OKC, 702.6922 $ BIG TRUCK TACOS It’s nearly always standing-room-only at lunch, but don’t let that deter you; spend a few minutes in line and get an ample reward in the form of fast, fresh, imaginative taco creations.

530 NW 23rd, OKC, 525.8226 $ CAFÉ DO BRASIL It’s a long way from OKC to Rio, but the savory menu in this Midtown hot spot covers the distance in a mouthful. Even brunch is a spicy, inimitable treat. 440 NW 11th, OKC, 525.9779 $$ CAFÉ KACAO A sunlit space filled with bright, vibrant flavors from

the zesty traditions of Guatemala.

Lunch possibilities beckon, but it’s the breakfast specialties that truly dazzle.

3325 N Classen, OKC, 602.2883 $ CULTIVAR A farm-to-fire Mexican kitchen that stresses sustainability, local sourcing and fresh, fast, f lavorful food. Gluten-free options, chefcrafted tacos, a substantial bar and plenty more are on the menu. 714 N Broadway, OKC $$ MAMA ROJA MEXICAN KITCHEN A festive atmosphere on the scenic shores of Lake Hefner sets off a menu loaded with hand-rolled tamales, vendor-style tacos and signature dishes . 9219 E Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 302.6262 $$ REVOLUCION You say you want a Revolucion? You easily might once you try this spicy Tex-Mex haven – start with the queso fundido and don’t stop until you reach the delectable arroz tres leche dessert. 916 NW 6th, OKC, 606.6184 $$ TARAHUMARA’S Beloved by locals (there’s usually a line but it moves quickly), this airy ristorante serves huge, tasty Tex-Mex classics plus less ubiquitous fare like carnitas de puerco and mole poblano. 702 N Porter, Norman, 360.8070 $$ YUCATAN TACO STAND A Bricktown haven for feisty Latin fusion cuisine such as paella and tamales wrapped in banana leaves plus signature nachos and combos … and a selection of over 75 topshelf tequilas. 100 E California, OKC, 886.0413 $ ZARATE’S In addition to the familiar joys of enchiladas and the like, the chef’s Peruvian heritage shines in dishes featuring plantains, yuca and imported spices. Try something different; find something tasty. 706 S Broadway, Edmond, 330.6400 $$

Seafood THE DRAKE The Good Egg Group’s flagship and a standard-bearer for diners who crave excellent seafood, it supplies a passel of chef’s creations featuring the sea’s finest, plus an oyster bar and righteous cocktails. 519 NW 23rd, OKC, 605.3399 $$$ PEARL’S OYSTER BAR A perennial OKC favorite for its flavorful seafood and spicy Creole-inspired dishes: Shrimp Diablo, Tabasco-infused Caesar salads, Andouille omelets at Sunday brunch and more. 5641 N Classen, OKC, 848.8008 $$ TRAPPER’S FISHCAMP Zesty, widely varied flavor from the Pearl’s family of restaurants finds a comfortable home in a backwoods fishing lodge atmosphere.

Don’t forget the bountifully stocked bar, either. 4300 W Reno, OKC, 943.9111 $$ THE SHACK SEAFOOD & OYSTER BAR A massive selection of nicely spiced Cajun and Creole cooking, plus fried and grilled seafood, in an atmosphere that’s not shy about being as casual as it can be.

3 metro locations, theshackok.com $$

Inaka Sushi and Bar HALF-PRICE HAPPY HOUR*

4-6pm Monday-Friday $4 rolls (select from 27 different kinds) $5 wine $2.50 draft beer *special Happy Hour menu

405-242-2224

9321 N Pennsylvania Ave • Oklahoma City inakasushiok.com

FRESH

T FRIES HAND-CU eal Ice pe d R Hand-Dipm Shakes C r ea

WE USE ONLY 100% GRASS-FED BEEF

“IT’S CRIMINAL

LY GOOD!”

3600 N May Ave • Oklahoma City • 405.917.1711 DECEMBER 2016 405 MAGAZINE

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Soul Food BRENT’S CAJUN Sit down to a massive platter of jambalaya, crawfish etoufee, Pasta Orleans or any of the wellseasoned temptations on the weekend brunch menu – and spice up your life.

3005 S Broadway, Edmond, 285.0911 $$ C’EST SI BON The name is accurate: it is impressively good for lovers of Cajun-style catfish and po-boys.

Crawfish etouffee, frogs’ legs, fried chicken and shrimp po-boys are among the highlights, but the award-winning catfish is a must-try. 101 N Douglas, Midwest City, 610.2555 $ THE DRUM ROOM March your own drumsticks in for a heap of crispy, juicy fried chicken (among the city’s best) starring alongside fried okra, waffles and a fully loaded bar. 4300 N Western, OKC, 604.0990 $$

JAMIL’S STEAKHOUSE Saving room for your steak, lobster or prime rib is difficult when your gratis appetizers arrive in the form of a Lebanese bounty, but make the effort.

Jamil’s has been feeding Oklahoma exceptionally well since 1964. 4910 N Lincoln, OKC, 525.8352 $$$ JUNIOR’S The classic restaurant’s decor sets the perfect stage for hand-cut Angus steaks and lobster to fight for attention with knockout fried chicken.

2601 NW Expressway, OKC, 848.5597 $$$ MAHOGANY PRIME STEAKHOUSE The ambiance and service are sublime, but fine aged steak broiled to perfection is the star. 3241 W Memorial, OKC, 748.5959; 100 W Main, OKC, 208.8800 $$$ MEAT MARKET REFECTORY The well-aged steaks are excellent, but they’re the tip of the ample menu’s iceberg: fresh seafood and Australian lamb chops command attention as well, and from Hatch green chili crab cakes to champagne sabayon, the carefully selected flavors pop and sparkle in this prime dining experience. 2920 NW 63rd, OKC, 608.8866 $$$ MICKEY MANTLE’S This lushly atmospheric social spot in Bricktown serves powerhouse entrées and sides with a full complement of amenities destined to impress. 7 S Mickey Mantle, OKC, 272.0777 $$$

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RANCH STEAKHOUSE Effortless opulence, custom-aged hand-cut USDA Certified Prime tenderloins and ribeyes, served amid warm Southern hospitality.

3000 W Britton, OKC, 755.3501 $$$

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The team behind Blackbird and Blu dishes up big ol’ helpings of jambalaya, pork ribs, fried catfish and many more deep South classics for OU-adjacent crowds. 575 S University, Norman, 801.2828 $

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BOULEVARD STEAKHOUSE Perfectly soigné ambiance down to the last detail and cuisine easily in the metro’s elite – a sumptuous, if pricy, masterpiece. 505 S Boulevard, Edmond, 715.2333 $$$ BROADWAY 10 Cruise into the Buick building in Automobile Alley to savor steak supremacy or seafood selections (even sushi) in a cozy enclave amid urban bustle. 1101 N Broadway, OKC, 212.3949 $$$ CATTLEMEN’S Almost as old as the state itself, this Oklahoma institution’s immense corn-fed steaks and matchless atmosphere are history served anew every day. 1309 S Agnew, OKC, 236.0416 $$ J. BRUNER’S AT THE HAUNTED HOUSE Renowned for its spooky past (its name is no accident), it’s a must for its steak, lobster and enduring charm.

7101 Miramar, OKC, 478.1417 $$$

RED PRIMESTEAK Visionary design and atmosphere house super-premium steaks, vibrant, imaginative f lavors and amenities to make some of the state’s best dining. 504 N Broadway, OKC, 232.2626 $$$ TEXAS DE BRAZIL Inspired by Brazilian churrascarias, this festive establishment offers diners cuts from their choice of skewers laden with beef, pork, chicken and sausage, in addition to excellent sides and a massive salad bar. 1901 NW Expressway, OKC $$$

Thai SALA THAI Pineapple curry, basil squid, fried rice with crab, cinnamon beef ... the variety is exceptional, making this Midtown diner a popular midday option. 1614 NW 23rd, OKC, 528.8424 $ SWEET BASIL The enormous aquarium adds to the cozy ambiance; with its outstanding curries and specialty dishes, it makes a great venue for a dinner date. 211 W Main, Norman, 217.8424 $$ TANA THAI There’s a lot to like about the food in this little spot, from red snapper filet to pad thai. Pay special mind to the varied soups, and do not play chicken with the spice level. 10700 N May, OKC, 749.5590 $$

home

PHOTO BY DAVID COBB

Saint Nick Squad Bringing a bit of magic home for the holidays is a genuine pleasure – and for Clayton and Marnie Taylor, a little more is a lot better. In fact, their levels of seasonal spirit are just too high for a single Santa Claus to manage, no matter how jolly. So when it’s time to decorate their Edgemere Park home for Christmas, it takes a very merry village.

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home HABITAT

TAYLOR-MADE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

BY CHRISTINE EDDINGTON PHOTOS BY DAVID COBB

At home with Marnie and Clayton Taylor FOR 22 Y E A R S, Marnie and Clayton Taylor have made their

home on a beautiful acre of land in the middle of one of Oklahoma City’s coveted historic districts, Edgemere Park. This power couple has more energy between them than seems possible – both enjoy high-power careers (Marnie is executive director for Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits; Clayton runs a lobbying group), and the pair opens their home several times a month for family, friends and causes dear to their hearts.

“We used to think that if you lived in one place for too long, it would be like torture,” Marnie says. “We had always loved finding a new house, but it was like we were dating all of those other houses and we married this one.”

In fact, she and Clayton lived in 16 places in 14 years, with stints in such polar opposite locales as Denver and Aruba, not to mention Houston and Chicago, where they met.

“We were set up on a blind date by some people we didn’t know that well, and didn’t like that much,” Clayton says, laughing, “but nobody else could have set us up. They were the common denominator. We went to see A Chorus Line.”

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A nearly life-sized Pere Noel greets all who set foot in the foyer at the Taylor home. Each year, the family staircase is lined with bright red poinsettias, which Marnie orders from the nonprofit Oklahoma County Bar Association Auxiliary.

(Top) Elegantly festive white lighting covers the balcony and evergreen shrubs in front. One could easily imagine the home as the center of a snowglobe, just waiting for a shake to yield a flurry of flakes.

It was love at first sight. The Taylors dated for about a year and a half. They met in September 1979, married in July 1981 and spent the first year and a half in Chicago, before heading to Oklahoma when Clayton’s work with Phillips Petroleum brought them here.

“Our first house was on 38th in Crown Heights, across from the park,” Marnie recalls. “It had two magnolias in the front, and we knew it was the house for us when we walked through it – there was a diploma on the wall from Notre Dame, my alma mater.”

Marnie also grew up in South Bend, Indiana; her father, an engineer, entrepreneur and sculptor, also went to Notre Dame, and once was honored at a football game for being the oldest alum in the stadium at 95. Suffice it to say, that diploma sealed the deal.

Five years in Crown Heights were followed by a move to Denver, back to Oklahoma City, then off to Aruba for a stint when Clayton was working for Coastal Corporation, then, finally back to Oklahoma, where the family embraces the holidays in a big way.

“I have collected Christmas plates by Suzi Swinford for more than 20 years,” Marnie says. Swinford is a beloved local ceramic artist whose work can be found in hundreds of OKC homes. Once three smaller rooms, the Taylors’ expanded kitchen is now more than large enough to accommodate their collection of Christmas dishes, coffee cups, tea towels and even a few wreaths.

(Top) The living room’s regular inhabitants include a magnificent fireplace screen from the Hightower Mansion in Heritage Hills, a number of paintings from the Dolese Mansion in Crown Heights, plenty of significant Western art and a stunning Leonard McMurray sculpture, “Christ’s Descension,” in the center of the room. During the holidays, the room gains a fine festooning of wreaths, trees, garlands, stockings and beautiful bric-a-brac.

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(From top) Legendary Oklahoma City interior designer John Chadwick created the Taylor home’s classic color palette 22 years ago, and it’s as inviting today as it was then. On the north wall of the room, a window has been converted into a display case for the couple’s significant collection of glassware. Topping the table is more of Beverly’s Christmas magic, in the form of a resplendent centerpiece flanked by antique silver candelabras.

A portrait of Marnie’s namesake, Marian, painted by her brother-in-law, gives marching orders to a small army of Fathers Christmas from the dining room.

She looks a bit bemused by the company she’s found herself in. Marnie estimates there are 60 Santas throughout the home.

Busts of the Taylors’ two sons anchor the ornate mantel. The sculptures are the work of Marnie’s father, Jack Brehmer, who took up sculpting later in life.

“It takes us about a full week, plus a little more, to get Christmas done. It’s all up by Thanksgiving, and we leave it up for 60 days,” Marnie says.

The boss of Christmas at their house is the one and only Beverly, a Jamaican woman whom the couple met in Aruba, and who came to Oklahoma with them when they left. She oversees the placement of 30-plus poinsettias each year, the Christmas china, coffee cups, Santa sculptures, ornaments, floral arrangements, candles and bounty of bric-a-brac that occupy, decorate and festivate every spare spot and surface in the stately home. Happy holidays indeed.

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Sophisticated, stunning… and waiting to be experienced.

Mister Robert F I N E

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home DÉCOR

Vase Versa

Vessels for decorative beauty

I T ’S NOT A COM MON PHE NOM E NON to find an accessory for the home

that comes in almost every single shape and size, but the vase is one of them.

Spherical to square, tiny to tall, the vase is extremely versatile, as well as functional. Whether you fill one of these selected few with blooms or leave it empty truly doesn’t matter. Each stands alone as a work of art, and a great addition to any coffee table or bookshelf. - SAR A GAE WATERS

From Muse by Lucca in Edmond: Blue and white porcelain vase, $87.50

(l to r) From Muse by Lucca: Whitewashed resin vase, $104; Marbleized cylinder glass vase, $80; Blue Rain glass vase, $37

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PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

(l to r) From Erdos at Home in Edmond: Espina vase, $45.95; Macon vase, $115

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travel STATESIDE

Trees in the historic Plaza are decorated for the Season of Lights.

NEW MEXICAN MAGIC Santa Fe’s winter enchantment SA N TA F E IS A HOT SPOT even when it’s cold. The winter air

is crisp – not a bone-chilling, damp cold, but dry and generally sunny. When it does snow, Santa Fe turns into a magical, snowglobe scene with icy crystals sparkling in the light of thousands of farolitos. Piñon smoke scents the air. Santa Fe, romantic in the summer, becomes even more intimate in the winter; it’s the Season of Lights, thanks to the glowing lanterns lining the rooftops. (Farolitos and luminarias are the same thing, but natives use the traditional term.)

ARTFUL SHOPPING If shopping is your bag, you’re in the right place. Boutiques abound and art is king. With more than 100 galleries, exploration of Canyon Road galleries could consume several days, but Edmond residents Bob and Kathy Thomas, veteran art collectors, suggest several of their favorites: The Nedra Matteucci Galleries specializes in historic paintings, including works by Taos Society artists, sculpture, pottery, jewelry and

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contemporary western works. The Meyer Galleries features contemporary representational works; Manitou Galleries has locations on Canyon Road and in downtown Santa Fe; and the well-respected Acosta-Strong also has a sister gallery in Oklahoma City.

Sculpture and modern/contemporary works are on display at Patricia Carlisle Fine Art, which represents David Pearson, sculptor of several works in the Edmond Public Art collection.

For contemporary art, the Railyard Arts District is a choice destination.

The Blue Rain Gallery, another favorite of the Thomases, includes contemporary Native American and Strings of dried peppers are regional contemporary paintings, popular as decorations, as well as cooking ingredients.

Pueblo pottery, sculptures, glass art and southwest jewelry – or check out Evoke, named one of the top three contemporary galleries for 2016 by readers of the local alt pub Santa Fe Reporter.

The big news this year is that the annual Winter Indian Market has been moved to Dec. 16-18 at La Fonda. Check the hotel site for special packages.

PHOTOS: TREE LIGHTS BY JACK PARSONS, PEPPERS BY ELAINE WARNER, PALACE OF THE GOVERNORS BY CHRIS CORRIE, SKIER BY LEE KLOPFER

A-MUSE-MENTS For museum junkies, Santa Fe has plenty to satisfy. At the New Mexico History Museum, the prime exhibit is actually a whole building – the historic Palace of the Governors, the oldest government building in the nation. That, with the modern addition, covers stories of the area from the earliest native inhabitants to contemporary times.

Take a trip to Museum Hill, southeast of downtown, to find The Museums of Spanish Colonial Art, Indian Arts and Culture and International Folk Art. And no trip to Santa Fe would be complete without a stop at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, with a collection covering more than 80 years of the artist’s works.

Almost a dozen other museums draw visitors to their exhibits, as well. There’s even a bug museum – one I’ve managed to miss.

BARE NECESSITIES In terms of eating and sleeping, there’s nothing bare about the variety of choices in Santa Fe. The historic La Fonda, right in the middle of the Plaza’s activity, is my favorite stay. Hand-crafted chandeliers, tin and copper lighting fixtures, colorful tiles and handmade furniture take guests back in time while they are pampered with every modern convenience. And SEASONAL the rooftop Bell Tower Bar is HIGHLIGHTS the perfect spot to watch the Dec. 9 Christmas at the Palace, sun set.

5:30–8 p.m., a free family event North of Santa Fe is the including hot cider, cookies, live music, piñatas, crafts, Mr. and Mrs. Hilton Buffalo Thunder Claus and more Resort and Casino, owned by Dec. 11 Las Posadas, 5:30–7 p.m., the Pojoaque Pueblo. Amea traditional candlelight procession nities include a golf course, around Santa Fe Plaza with a few spa and a great collection of added surprises – stay for cookies and carols afterward Native art. It’s handy to the excellent Poeh Cultural CenDec. 16–18 Winter Indian Market, La Fonda ter and Museum, and would be convenient for attending Dec. 16–Jan. 1 (closed Dec. 24-25) the Pueblo’s Night Dances, GLOW 2016, Santa Fe Botanical Garden – winter lights, children’s Vespers and Procession on activities, Santa, live entertainment Dec. 11, Our Lady of GuadaDec. 24 Canyon Road Farolito Walk: lupe Feast Day (Dec. 12) or farolitos and luminarias light the way the Kings Day celebrations while open galleries host guests with (Jan. 6). For information hot drinks and traditional biscochitos about Pojoaque Pueblo Dec. 24 Noche Buena: Midnight events, call 505.455.3334. mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assisi As for eating spots, great options abound. For New Dec. 25 Community Menorah Lighting, 3 p.m., downtown plaza Mexican cuisine, some prefer The Shed, but I Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve on the Plaza, like its sister restaurant, 10:30 p.m. with live music and a digital media/light show countdown La Choza, better. For a wider selection of entrees, Edmond foodies Jerri and FOR MORE INFORMATION Terry Dillon recommend the santafe.org Tune-Up Café, which offers indianpueblo.org an eclectic menu. Jerri says lensic.org

For more than six decades, Native American artists have sold their wares under the portal of the Palace of the Governors. The vendor program assures buyers that the works are authentic to the artist and his or her tribe.

the flat-iron steak is the best she ever ate and “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” featured their El Salvadoran pupusas. For breakfast, the Dillons give all their thumbs up for the Chocolate Maven. This spot is a great place to kick-start your day.

To end the day, the Dillons suggest a stop at Vanessie’s Lounge, where Doug Montgomery rules over the Piano Bar. A blend of Downhill skiing: a wintertime must in Santa Fe Liberace with a bit of Borge thrown in, Montgomery entertains guests with R&B, show tunes, jazz and even the occasional classics several nights a week. Check the schedule and get there early.

Santa Fe is the whole package tied up with a bow. And, if you’re a skier, toss in Ski Santa Fe, 10,350 feet in elevation, with lessons for all levels and 79 trails. All this fun – and it’s just an eight-hour drive from Oklahoma City. What are you waiting for? - ELAINE WARNER DECEMBER 2016 405 MAGAZINE

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Canterbury Christmas

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7:00pm | Civic Center

2017 And after you’ve cast your votes, don’t forget to register to win one of 5 prizes, from jewelry to fine dining.

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Toy’s Story

events

KATE LUBER

It’s a bit of a paradox: How can an experience feel comfortably familiar yet simultaneously surprising each time? You already know the story of The Nutcracker, and the OKC Ballet isn’t going to hammer in an unexpected twist just for the sake of shock value, yet the grace, control and pure physical artistry of the corps de ballet never ceases to amaze. The OKC Philharmonic provides the hauntingly beautiful Tchaikovsky score for this matchless seasonal marvel – get your tickets early and make a memory.

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events PRIME PICKS

American Dreams Dec. 1, Armstrong Auditorium Named for the Native American myth of North America’s creation, the outstanding Turtle Island Quartet has made a sterling name for itself by fusing the concept of a string quartet with improvisational jazz and bluegrass sounds. They’re preparing to knock out Armstrong Audiences with a John Coltrane tribute titled “A Love Supreme” … you’re likely to love it.

Voices Rejoicing Dec. 4, OKC Civic Center This time of year wouldn’t be the same without its musical accompaniment – that’s part of the reason Canterbury Voices’ annual concert Canterbury Christmas is such a well-loved event. The choral experts even exhort the audience to join in for part of the show. And heaven and nature sing?

Perhaps not, but tenors and basses will, as well as sopranos, altos and even those of us who have more brio than pitch.

Land of Legend Dec. 22-23, OKC Civic Center

Picture this task: taking perhaps the oldest continuous civilization in the world – a cultural identity that stretches back before the written word – and summing up its high points in a two-hour stage show. Shen Yun does exactly that, and makes it completely captivating, by incorporating the legends, music and costumes of five thousand years of Chinese history into an acrobatic spectacle. A custom orchestra, classical dance and beautiful visuals combine for storytelling magic.

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Cheering Section Dec. 27-31, OKC Civic Center Christmas comes but once a year – and then it’s over. But if you want to hang on to the feeling just a little longer, OKC Broadway is serving up an extra-big dose of holiday spirit by bringing the musical adaptation “Elf” to the Civic Center stage.

The story of the easily excited Buddy and his quest to connect with his long-lost father is a post-Christmas gift that keeps giving smiles.

events ON LOCATION

with Lance McDaniel

Stories in Scenes Lael Erickson and the power of images

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Lael Erickson

“Every shoot, be it a commercial, short film, corporate video or documentary, needs to be researched to fully find the psychology of what you want to present,” she says. “The light, color palette and movement should represent the emotion of the piece.”

With thousands of projects under her belt, Erickson’s influence stretches into every business sector. She flew over the Gulf of Mexico to film the first offshore oil rig for Kerr McGee; she helped re-launch Baptist Hospital as Integris; she recently partnered with the Chickasaw Nation to welcome tourists to Adventure Road.

And as executive VP/creative director, she has helped Ackerman McQueen stay on top of the constantly changing technology landscape in film and video.

Ackerman was one of the first agencies in America to move to non-linear editing, purchasing one of the first three AVID editing systems, and early adopters of the new generation Canon cameras with film

lenses. And now, they are heading into the world of virtual reality.

With more than 50 people in production, from producers to editors to gaffers to grips, Ackerman McQueen now has the biggest in-house production team in the state. It allows them to collaborate more freely, solving problems in pre-production so they are more efficient when they are out on a shoot.

This saves clients money … but also requires great leadership. And part of that leadership involves identifying and grooming future leaders to take over when you are gone.

“You have to be able to cultivate the young people who are coming into the business,” says Erickson. “They need careers and livelihoods. We are stewards of these people; we are stewards of our industry. We have to guide and show and nurture. Then we have to let go and turn it over to the next generation of storytellers.”

PHOTO BY LANCE MCDANIEL; ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN O’DANIEL

“IT’S ALWAYS ABOUT A STORY, and the story is not always in words.”

Lael Erickson is a storyteller through moving images. The visuals she has created, captured and illuminated throughout her career as a producer, director and editor at Ackerman McQueen have defined Oklahoma – and the world around us – for the past three decades.

“The initial Oklahoma tourism campaign in the early 1990s was one of those extraordinary moments,” she remembers.

“People had a negative opinion of Oklahoma that we were dry, flat and dusty.

Our job was to change that perception.

“We showed places with lots of water, undulating terrain, cities filled with life. The outdoor beauty was something that people just didn’t know,” she says.

“We were able to slowly change people’s perception of the state.”

The campaign increased out-of-state tourism to Oklahoma, driving real dollars into the economy. But it did not just affect outsiders; Oklahomans started noticing the beauty all around them.

The success of the tourism campaign fueled Erickson’s passion for understanding the psychology of images. How does the interplay of visuals, music and words create emotions and drive behavior? What is the effect of one visual versus another?

events ARTS

Four Decades of Creativity The OK Arts Institute keeps on inspiring came together with a common goal: They wanted to give Oklahoma’s high school students an opportunity to study the arts in an intensive setting. That’s when the Oklahoma Arts Institute was formed.

Each year, 270 high school students from across the state come together for the Oklahoma Summer Arts Linda Cavanaugh and Julie Cohen Institute at Quartz Mountain. They are identified through a statewide competitive audition process, and attend in one of “We hope to secure the future of the program by building nine artistic disciplines: acting, ballet, chorus, creative writing, our endowment and updating some of our classroom spaces,” drawing and painting, film and video, modern dance, orchestra Cohen explains. “It’s turned out the campaign came at a critical or photography. juncture, as our annual budget has been hit by the cuts in state Four decades after its inception, the OAI is celebrating with funding to education.” its inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame Induction and 40th AnniThe 40th anniversary is also a chance to bring together some versary Celebration. The big event takes place Dec. 6 at OKC’s former students, and kick off the Alumni Hall of Fame. The Skirvin Hilton. inaugural honorees include harpist Yolanda Kondonassis, actor/ “For 40 years, our main goal has been to identify Oklahoma’s director/writer/producer Tim Blake Nelson, conductor Timothy most talented high school students, get them Long and fashion and celebrity photograall in one place at one time and offer them pher Troy Word.

“It’s creative. It’s the opportunity to study their art form on “We have four decades of alumni who inspiring. IT’S A GIFT a collegiate level,” says OAI President and are now out in the world, many as working CEO Julie Cohen. “Every student who is artists, and we decided it was high time we YOU GIVE YOURSELF. accepted receives a scholarship paying for started telling their stories,” says Cohen.

The Oklahoma Arts most or all of the cost. They spend their day “So the OAI Alumni Hall of Fame was born.

Institute is truly one of Our plan is to induct these first four honorstudying in their specific discipline, and every evening all students attend lectures, our Oklahoma treasures. ees at our December event, and then we will performances and demonstrations in all discontinue adding alums as we move forward.

I love those folks.” ciplines. So in addition to honing their craft, In the future, that may happen when we L I N DA CAVA NAUGH they are exposed to a variety of art forms.” are in residence at Quartz Mountain, so the Their mission is not only to create future students will get the benefit of working with artists, Cohen said, but to instill an appreciation for the arts in these artists.” hopes that students will support the arts in their own commuThe Hall of Fame and 40th Anniversary Celebration will be nities across the state and throughout the nation. Notable OSAI hosted by KFOR-TV news anchor Linda Cavanaugh, who is both alums include actresses Megan Mullally and Milena Govich, as OAI parent and alum. well as musician Kyle Dillingham.

Cavanaugh said that as a parent, she watched her daughter But OAI is not just for high school students. A few years grow into an artist who loved photography. “It was an experiafter its inception, organizers formed the Fall Arts Institute for ence that continues to serve her well, even a decade later. And adults. It’s a chance for educators, professional artists and amaas a participant myself, I’ll always treasure the autumns I spent teur artists to gather at Quartz Mountain for four-day weekend at the Institute. There’s a certain energy you feel just being workshops in the literary, visual and performing arts. there. It’s creative. It’s inspiring. It’s a gift you give yourself. The Through the years, OAI has grown from using tents for classOklahoma Arts Institute is truly one of our Oklahoma treasures. room spaces to building five pavilions and a state-of-the-art, I love those folks.”

700-seat performing arts center. They are also in the midst of a Tickets to the 40th Anniversary Celebration are available comprehensive fundraising campaign. online at oaiquartz.org or by phone at 605.7500. - MARK BEUTLER

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PHOTO BY SHANNON CORNMAN

BACK I N 1976 , a group of arts advocates and parents

Melvin Edwards: In Oklahoma through 12/27

COME & SEE

12 brand-new installations 405 Mag Half Page Nutc H.pdf

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

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on the radar

WANT TO SEE MORE? Visit our online calendar at 405magazine.com

Dance THE NUTCRACKER Dec 10-20 A wintertime tradition like no other, the OKC Ballet’s annual performance of this fantastic voyage through dreamland is as good as it gets. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 848.8637, okcballet.com

Events

One Wonder Weekend Edmond gears up for Christmas N E AR TH E C LI MA X of “A Christmas Carol,” an Ebenezer Scrooge in the throes of a spiritual conversion promises, “I will honour (he was British) Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” Which is inspiring and all, but most of us go on rest-of-the-year autopilot and wind up needing to top off our yuletide tanks in preparation for the holiday season ahead. If that describes you, get up to Edmond December 2-3 – it’s about to be an extremely jolly weekend.

UCO WINTERGLOW Start off your celebration Friday on the shores of Broncho Lake, as Central students and the community gather to light the President’s Tree at 6 p.m. Then go a-wassailing to the Nigh University Center for crafts, activities, tasty treats and – in exchange for a toy donation to the Edmond Hope Center – photos with a certain rubicund jolly old elf.

MAYOR’S TREE LIGHTING Saturday sees the main event(s). After a day spent however you like – perhaps the Holiday Hop at the Edmond Historical Society, or taking a horse-drawn carriage ride through the cheerfully decorated downtown – head for Shannon Miller Park, where Mayor Charles Lamb presides over the carol-filled ceremonial lighting of the city’s evergreen and the reading of winners from a children’s essay contest.

PARADE OF LIGHTS But wait! After the tree lighting, stick around for the illuminating experience that is Edmond Electric’s annual Parade of Lights. Each entry in this spirited procession is required to have glowing, glittering adornments on its vehicle or float, so the experience is rather like taking a tour of Christmas lights while standing still. It’s a special treat to cap off a weekend of cheerful memories. - STEVE GILL

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ONGOING FESTIVAL OF LIGHT Through Dec 31 Food trucks, horse-drawn carriages, camel rides … oh, and 3.5 million or so scintillating reminders that the season is one of celebration, illuminated if at all possible. Joyeux noel! Shannon Springs Park 2400 S 9th, Chickasha, 224.9627,

CHRISTMAS COMES TO EDMOND Dec 3 Come for the Electric Parade of Lights; stay for the Mayor’s Tree Lighting complete with carols - the spirit of the season starts here. Downtown Edmond 10 S Boulevard, Edmond, 359.4630, edmondok.com COWBOY CHRISTMAS PARADE Dec 3 Now what to your wondering eyes will appear? Why, Santa in a sleigh and some giant longhorn steers! Ring in the season with a Western flair. Stockyards City 1307 S Agnew, OKC, stockyardscity.com MESTA PARK HOLIDAY HOMES TOUR Dec 3-4 Five fabulously decorated neighborhood houses open their doors to share joy with the community - music, lights, food trucks and more. Mesta Park 704 NW 18th, OKC, mestapark.org

DOWNTOWN IN DECEMBER Through Jan 8 Snow tubing, skating, Santa sighting, shopping … joys of the holiday fill the city center with yuletide glee in this month-plus party. Downtown OKC OKC, 235.3500, downtownindecember.com

OAI ALUMNI HALL OF FAME Dec 6 A new event honoring the breadth of Oklahoma talent whose careers blossomed after time spent honing their gifts at the Oklahoma Arts Institute. Skirvin Hilton 1 Park, OKC, 605.7500, oaiquartz.org

TERRITORIAL CHRISTMAS Dec 1 Deck the halls pre-statehood style with the period-costumed denizens of the Harn Homestead. Harn Homestead 1721 N Lincoln Blvd, OKC, 235.4058, harnhomestead.com

HOLIDAY HAPPENING Dec 8 Join the museum for an afternoon of family activities, entertainment and holiday shopping - and keep an eye out for the biggest Santa hat you’ve ever seen. Sam Noble Museum 2401 Chautauqua, Norman, 325.4712, snomnh.ou.edu

WOMEN WHO CARE SHARE Dec 1 Naomi Judd is keynote speaker at this annual luncheon, a show of support for survivors of domestic violence and an opportunity to help the YWCA work to end it. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd, OKC, 951.3333, ywcaokc.org 1ST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK Dec 2 The historic arts district’s name means “stroll,” which happens to be the preferred form of locomotion while taking in its wonders during a monthly display of arts and culture. Paseo Arts District 3022 Paseo, OKC, 525.2688, thepaseo.com UCO WINTERGLOW Dec 2 Kick off the holiday season Broncho-style, with games, crafts, wintry treats and more in this annual party. UCO Campus 100 N University, Edmond, uco.edu/winterglow BOYS RANCH TOWN PAGEANT Dec 2-4 Residents and volunteers from the juveline facility present a reverent living nativity for visitors to drive through. Boys Ranch Town 5100 SE 33rd, Edmond, 341.3606, obhc.org BRIAN REGAN Dec 3 He’s kind of a big, sarcastic goof - but in this case, that’s definitely a good thing. Widely admired stand-up Regan should make a splash in OKC. The Criterion 500 E Sheridan, OKC, 840.5500, criterionokc.com

LIVE ON THE PLAZA Dec 9 Vendors, artists, residents and passerby unite for a monthly fiesta. OKC Plaza District 1618 N Gatewood, OKC, 367.9403, plazadistrict.org SCIENCE OVERNIGHT: STAR WARS Dec 9 You won’t find any midichlorians in SMO, but kids can learn about scientific forces while having a ball at this fun, educational sleepover. Science Museum Oklahoma 2020 Remington, OKC, 602.6664, sciencemuseumok.org NORMAN MAIN STREET CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY PARADE Dec 10 Snow or not, dash through whatever’s in your way to get downtown and catch this cavalcade of bands, floats, equestrians and seasonal merriment.

Downtown Norman 911 W Main, Norman, 366.8095, visitnorman.com OKC COMEDY Dec 15 A writer for Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, Josh Gondelman is also an incisively funny stand-up comedian - and the proof is coming to downtown OKC. ACM@UCO Performance Lab 329 E Sheridan, OKC, okccomedy.com COWBOY CHRISTMAS BALL Dec 16 Country troubadour Michael Martin Murphey returns to the NCWHM for another round of seasonal, full-family

celebration and music. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org HOLIDAY RIVER PARADE Dec 18 Celebration takes to the water as glowing floats and costumed skiers precede a fireworks show and cruise-by from Mr. Claus himself. Oklahoma River 725 S Lincoln, OKC, 231.0912, okcparade.com

CLASSICS SERIES Dec 6-27 Catch a masterpiece you missed the first time around or just want to re-experience on the big screen:Elf Dec 6, Christmas Vacation Dec 13, A Christmas Story Dec 20 and Die Hard Dec 27. Harkins Theatres 150 E Reno, OKC, 321.4747, harkinstheatres.com

Galleries

SHEN YUN Dec 22-23 Five millennia of Chinese history, myth and culture make abundant inspiration for a genuinely spectacular combination of acrobatics, music, dancing and more. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 888.974.3698, shenyun.com/okc

ONGOING SMALL WORKS VI Through Dec 23 Santa Fe Depot Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.org

OPENING NIGHT Dec 31 Ring in the new year with thousands of your neighbors at the Arts Council of OKC’s annual bash; hello, 2017! Downtown OKC 301 W Reno Ave, OKC, 270.4848, artscouncilokc.com

HOLIDAY GIFT GALLERY Through Dec 24 Firehouse Art Center Norman, 329.4523, normanfirehouse.com

Film CENTER THEATER SHOWS Dec 1-18 The OKC Museum of Art screens overlooked treasures and unsung independent films - this month includes Cameraperson, The Shop Around the Corner, Tower, Tampopo and more.

OKC Museum of Art 415 Couch, OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa.com

UTOPIA Through Dec 23 Current Studio OKC, 673.1218, currentstudio.org

NEW VIEW Through Jan 14 IAO Gallery OKC, 232.6060, individualartists.org FINE ARTS INSTITUTE Dec 1-Jan 27 The FAI hosts a collection of wonders painted by local artist Gary Lennon.

Fine Arts Institute of Edmond 27 E Edwards, Edmond, 340.4481, edmondfinearts.com DECEMBER IN YOUR EYE Dec 2-27 The visually engaging Paseo gallery

hosts a collection of pieces by its stable of contributors, giving you “A Gift of Art.” In Your Eye Gallery 3005 Paseo, OKC, 525.2161, inyoureyegallery.com DECK THE WALLS Dec 8 As holiday gifts, for your own collection, to support the Paseo Arts Association … there’s no wrong reason to enjoy purchasing these 4” x 4” canvases donated by local creative specialsts. Paseo Plunge 3010 Paseo, OKC, 315.6224, paseoplunge.com

31 National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org WHEN THE EARTH SHAKES Through Jan 2 Sam Noble Museum Norman, 325.4712, snomnh.ou.edu CHRISTIE OWEN: SURROUNDINGS Through Jan 7 OK Hall of Fame Museum OKC, 235.4458, oklahomahof.com

Museums

SACRED WORDS Through Jan 8 OKC Museum of Art OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa.com

ONGOING EDMOND PEOPLE, EDMOND POLITICS Through Dec 17 Edmond Historical Society Edmond, 340.0078, edmondhistory.org

LOWELL ELLSWORTH SMITH Through Jul 9 National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org

MELVIN EDWARDS Through Dec 27 OK Contemporary Arts Center OKC, 951.0000, oklahomacontemporary.org

RED EARTH TREEFEST Through Jan 13 Red Earth Museum OKC, 427.5228, redearth.org

BALLETS RUSSES Through Dec 30 Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma

RED DIRT DINOS Through Mar 12 Science Museum Oklahoma OKC, 604.6602, sciencemuseumok.org

PICTURING INDIAN TERRITORY Through Dec 30 Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma

THE COMPLETE WPA COLLECTION Dec 2-Dec 31, 2017 A slice of American (and Oklahoman) history retakes the spotlight in this exhibition of works created under the New Deal’s Federal Art Project. OKC Museum of Art 415 Couch, OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa.com

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on the radar Music TURTLE ISLAND QUARTET Dec 1 Armstrong’s season continues with a visit from the renowned Turtle Island Quartet, who are celebrating the legacy of John Coltrane in “A Love Supreme.” Armstrong Auditorium 14400 S Bryant, Edmond, 285.1010, armstrongauditorium.org THE CHRISTMAS SHOW Dec 1-3 Don’t sleep on the OKC Philharmonic’s annual yuletidal wave of merriment and mirth - this year’s spin on the annual showcase stars the magnificent Kelli O’Hara.

OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 842.5387, okcphil.org OPOLIS SHOWS Dec 1-4 Metro, meet Opolis - you’ll make beautiful music together, including getting the month off to a roaring start via David Wax Museum Dec 1, Helen Kelter Skelter Dec 2, The Mystery Lights Dec 3 and Earthless Dec 4 - check online for updates. The Opolis 113 N Crawford, Norman, opolis.org

This Magic Moment Ring in 2017 at Opening Night TEC H N ICALLY S PE AK I NG, each day is an endless source of potential opportunities for growth and change – but there’s something special about the end of a year and the promise of a pristine new calendar spreading out expectantly into the future that adds an extra dose of enjoyment and anticipation. Essentially, ’17 is on the horizon, so it’s a prime time for a party. And they don’t come bigger or better than Opening Night, from 7 p.m. to midnight on Dec. 31.

“We are thrilled to co-chair Opening Night 2017,” says Kristy Boone, who is co-chairing the event with Tyler Bolton. A longtime volunteer for Arts Council OKC who has performed with OKC PARTY TIME Improv at the past few iterations of Wristbands are $8 in this event, Boone continues, “It is advance or $10 at the an honor to have the opportunity event, with children to shape Downtown OKC’s largest 5 and younger New Year’s Eve celebration, [and] I admitted free. Visit artscouncilokc.com am elated to help drive this wildly for details. entertaining evening!”

She’s not kidding about either of those descriptions: fully 75,000 people thronged the streets of downtown OKC last year to join in the revelry, and the slate to welcome 2017 includes comedy, magic and music from talents like Jabee, Moetowne Alex, Orquesta d’Calle and David Bruster and The Walkabouts spread across four venues on six stages, plus kids’ art activities, the Finale 5k race and street entertainment, all capped off by the raising of the lighted ball and a massive fireworks display. It’s all yours with a wristband – come count down to what’s next. - STEVE GILL

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OU SUTTON SERIES Dec 1-9 Join the OU School of Music for auditory bliss: the OU Symphony Orchestra Dec 1, Christmas at OU Dec 4, New Horizons Dec 8 and Holiday Pipes Dec 9. OU Catlett Music Center 500 W Boyd, Norman, 325.4101, music.ou.edu OCU CONCERTS Dec 1-10 Students and townspeople alike can head to campus and enjoy musical treats: a wind philharmonic concert Dec 1, Project 21 Dec 2, brass chamber concert Dec 5 and Christmas Vespers Dec 9-10. OCU Kirkpatrick Auditorium 2501 N Blackwelder, OKC, 208.5227, okcu.edu/music

Dec 8, I See Stars Dec 9 and Spoken & Dayshell Dec 17 - check online for more.

89th Street Collective 8911 N Western, OKC, 89thstreetokc.com CANTERBURY CHRISTMAS Dec 4 If you’re in the mood to hear - and make - a joyful noise, don’t miss Canterbury Voices’ annual Christmas concert, including a carol sing-along. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 232.7464, canterburyokc.com WINTER WIND CONCERTS Dec 4-18 Cozy up indoors and enjoy a season of more intimate singer-songwriter sounds from the likes of Sam Baker Dec 4 and Victor and Penny Dec 18. Santa Fe Depot 200 S Jones, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.org HEAVENLY HOLIDAYS Dec 8-17 Jingle all the way to the Jazz Lab for a festivityfilled evening of holiday tunes sung by some of UCO’s finest music students. UCO Jazz Lab 100 E 5th, Edmond, 974.3375, uco.edu/cfad RIVERWIND SHOWS Dec 9 The casino is hopping this month, with extra energy from legendary Texas singer Casey Donahew. Riverwind Casino 1544 W Hwy 9, Norman, 322.6464, riverwind.com THE CITY CABARET Dec 9-10 In “Retro Wonderland,” the venue becomes a 1940s-era jazz club with a sweet, seasonal blend of Christmas favorites and classic jazz standards. Make it merry. Paramount Theatre 11 N Lee, OKC, 928.0690, thecitycabaret.com OKC SYMPHONIC BAND Dec 11 Nearly 100 performers strong and impressively sonorous, the community band is tuning up for a special Christmas Festival Concert - join them! Cherokee Hills Baptist Church 5700 NW 63rd, OKC, okcband.org

BLUE DOOR SHOWS Dec 1-18 Self-billed as “the best listening room in Oklahoma,” it certainly has some of the best music, including Billy Crockett Dec 1, a tribute to Woody Guthrie Dec 4, Tish Hinojosa Dec 10, Ian Moore Dec 15, Travis Linville Dec 16, Jon Dee Graham Dec 17 and a pair of Christmas concerts Dec 18 - check online for updates. The Blue Door 2805 N McKinley, OKC, 524.0738, bluedoorokc.com

TOMMY EMMANUEL Dec 14 Guitar hero Emmanuel has been picking for a living since he was six years old and loves to improvise; whatever he winds up playing at his Rose State show will sound terrific.

Hudiburg Center 6420 SE 15th, Midwest City, 297.2264, okcciviccenter.com

NOON TUNES Dec 1-29 Free lunchtime serenades to sonically spice up your Thursdays: Evan Jarvicks Dec 1, Dinsmore and Leach Dec 8, Lucas Ross Dec 15, June Carter Dec 22 and Colin Holloway Dec 29.

Downtown Library 300 Park Ave, OKC, 231.8650, mls.lib.ok.us

FLAMING LIPS Dec 16 They’re back!

It’s been many a long day since OKC has had a loud, joyous, confetti-filled musical explosion courtesy of our signature rockers, so don’t miss the psychedelic show.

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

JAZZ LAB SHOWS Dec 2-23 Swing by the lab; they’re cooking up some killer music including Shortt Dogg Dec 2, Smilin’ Vic Dec 3, UCO’s Music Theatre Christmas Show Dec 8-17, Eldredge Jackson Dec 18, Edgar Cruz Dec 20 and Souled Out Dec 23. UCO Jazz Lab 100 E 5th, Edmond, 974.2100, ucojazzlab.com

ROBERT EARL KEEN Dec 16 After more than three decades on the road, the Houston native is still delighted to be touring and sharing his sound; catch a seasonal show in “Merry Christmas From the Fam-O-Lee.” Hudiburg Center 6420 SE 15th, Midwest City, 297.2264, okcciviccenter.com

OK COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA Dec 3-4 Dr. Irvin Wagner conducts the orchestra in accompanying the Central Oklahoma Ballet Company’s rendition of The Nutcracker. Yukon Fine Arts Center 850 Yukon, Yukon, okorchestra.org

AMBASSADORS’ CONCERT CHOIR Dec 24 The soulful community choir joins with its children’s chorale and special guest Mitch’s Brew to present “A Jazzy Christmas.” Enjoy. St. John Missionary Baptist Church 5700 N Kelly, OKC, 602.3866, ambassadorschoir.com

89TH STREET COLLECTIVE Dec 3-17 Fire up some music at a set of all-ages shows, including Tiger Lily Dec 3, Capsize

GRAND CASINO SHOWS Dec 30-31 It should sound great at the Grand this

PHOTO COURTESY ARTS COUNCIL OKC

SPOTLIGHT

month, thanks to a special performance

by Rodney Carrington Dec 30 and a Rock’n 80’z New Year bash Dec 31.

Grand Casino 777 Grand, Shawnee, 964.7263, grandresortok.com

Sports OKC BLUE BASKETBALL Dec 2-30 The Thunder’s D-League affiliate brings its A-game to battle Texas Dec 2, Austin Dec 6, Westchester Dec 10, Rio Grande Valley Dec 20 and 30 and Reno Dec 28.

Cox Center 1 Myriad Gardens, OKC, 208.4667, oklahomacity.dleague.nba.com BEDLAM 2016 Dec 3 The Sooners look to leverage home field advantage in a tilt against the Cowboys - bowl position and perhaps even the Big 12 title will be on the line. Owen Field 180 W Brooks, Norman, 325.2424, soonersports.com WWE LIVE Dec 3 An amped-up atmosphere featuring star grapplers like Bray Wyatt, Dean Ambrose, Randy Orton and many more - wrestling fans, prepare to get manic. Chesapeake Arena 100 W Reno, OKC, 800.745.3000, chesapeakearena.com OSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Dec 3-29, A new Big 12 season tips off for the Cowgirls as they host Georgia Dec 3, UT Rio Grande Valley Dec 11 and Iowa State Dec 29. Gallagher-Iba Arena 1046 W Hall of Fame, Stillwater, 877.255.4678, okstate.com OU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Dec 4-11 The Sooners’ house should be packed as they square off against Oral Roberts Dec 4, UT Rio Grande Valley Dec 8 and Tulsa Dec 11. Lloyd Noble Center 2900 S Jenkins, Norman, 325.2424, soonersports.com THUNDER BASKETBALL Dec 4-31 Join the crowds and hear the roar as OKC hosts New Orleans Dec 4, Houston Dec 9, Boston Dec 11, Phoenix Dec 17, Atlanta Dec 19, Minnesota Dec 25 and the L.A. Clippers Dec 31. Chesapeake Arena 100 W Reno, OKC, 208.4800, nba.com/thunder OU MEN’S BASKETBALL Dec 7-30 The Sooners’ house should be packed as they square off against Oral Roberts Dec 7, Memphis Dec 17 and Baylor Dec 30. Lloyd Noble Center 2900 S Jenkins, Norman, 325.2424, soonersports.com ALL-COLLEGE BASKETBALL CLASSIC Dec 10 A December classic returns to the ‘Peake as the OU men square off against the Shockers of Wichita State. Chesapeake Arena 100 W Reno, OKC, 236.5000, okcallsports.org OSU MEN’S BASKETBALL Dec 14-30 A new Big 12 season tips off for the Cowboys as they host Arkansas-Pine Bluff Dec 14, Texas A&M Corpus Christi Dec 22 and West Virginia Dec 30. Gallagher-Iba Arena 1046 W Hall of Fame, Stillwater, 877.255.4678, okstate.com

Theater ONGOING MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS Through Dec

3 UCO Mitchell Hall Theater Edmond, 974.3375, uco.edu/cfad LEADING LADIES Through Dec 4 Jewel Box Theater OKC, 521.1786, jewelboxtheatre.org SHREK THE MUSICAL Through Dec 4 St. Luke’s Poteet Theater OKC, 609.1023, poteettheatre.com A NICE FAMILY CHRISTMAS Through Dec 17 Carpenter Square Theater OKC, 232.6500, carpentersquare.com JUNIE B. IN JINGLE BELLS, BATMAN SMELLS Through Dec 18 Children’s Center for the Arts OKC, 951.0011, oklahomachildrenstheatre.org A TERRITORIAL CHRISTMAS CAROL Through Dec 23 Pollard Theatre Guthrie, 282.2800, thepollard.org A CHRISTMAS CAROL Through Dec 24 Lyric at the Plaza OKC, 524.9312, lyrictheatreokc.com A TUNA CHRISTMAS Dec 1-18 A tiny Texas town is home to big doses of merriment and mirth as CityRep celebrates the season - bumps in the road and all. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 848.3761, cityrep.com HANDS ON A HARDBODY Dec 2-10 An Americana musical focusing on a contest of will and endurance, in which all competitors have to do is touch a pickup … for as long as it takes to outlast everyone else. OU Rupel Jones Theater 563 Elm, Norman, 325.4101, theatre.ou.edu IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY Dec 2-10 Merry Christmas, you old Burg Theater at OCU! You’ll watch the performers as they unfold a radio broadcast of the shining Capra classic.

OCU Kirkpatrick Auditorium 2501 N Blackwelder, OKC, 208.5227, okcu.edu/ music/omt JANE AUSTEN’S CHRISTMAS CRACKER Dec 2-17 Guests might never have a better chance to dance with Mr. Darcy - this annual pleasure from Reduxion Theatre brings a slice of Austen’s England to life in an immersive show.

OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 297.2264, reduxiontheatre.com DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Dec 9-18 Enchantment of all kinds fills this familiar adaptation of a fairytale romance - time is running out to be part of the magic. Sooner Theatre 101 E Main, Norman, 321.9600, soonertheatre.org BEYOND THE STRATOSPHERE Dec 15-30 OKC Theatre Company and local playwright La’Charles Purvey present a not-so-happy holiday season for a group of marginalized black youths searching for meaning amid the chaos of the AIDS crisis. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 297.2264, okcciviccenter.com ELF, THE MUSICAL Dec 27-31 The Broadway adaptation of irrepressibly jubilant, judgment-impaired Buddy the Elf’s journey to the human world comes to OKC, bringing a generous gift of mirth along. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 877.737.2929, okcbroadway.com

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backstory

BY MARK BEUTLER

I T ’S NOT “SILV ER BEL L S ,” “White Christmas” or even Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” that signifies the beginning of the Oklahoma City holiday season. For many, it’s the first airing of the BC Clark Anniversary Sale jingle.

This Christmas marks the 60th anniversary of the jingle, which first aired during the holidays in 1956. Through the decades, the sprightly little ditty has become a tradition. Even actress and OKC native Megan Mullally remembers it – and actually gave a spirited a capella rendition on national TV during a 2009 appearance on Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show.”

“There’s this one thing that always reminds me of Christmas,” Mullally told Leno. “It’s this jingle for this fancy jewelry store. It’s kind of like the Tiffany’s of Oklahoma City, called BC Clark’s.” And with that, Mullally serenaded the nation with the familiar strains of “Jewelry is the gift to give ...”

The song originated with late legendary Oklahoma City advertising genius Ray Ackerman, according to his son, Ray Ackerman Jr. “Dad wrote the words to the jingle,” Ackerman says, “and Al Feigle put them to music. There’s also a missing verse that many people haven’t heard in years.” The jingle was edited in the 1970s to its current format – but when the song first aired, time limits weren’t so strict, he said. “Originally in the ’50s, radio stations weren’t watching those precious seconds so much. The jingle was originally 35 seconds long; the closing lines then were: ‘At Oklahoma’s oldest jeweler, since 1892, the Christmas wish of BC Clark’s is to keep on pleasing you. So give the gift you know can’t fail from BC Clark’s Anniversary Sale.’”

“Traditionally, we begin the Anniversary Sale for our loyal customers on November 1,” says founder B.C. Clark’s great-grandson, Coleman Clark. “But we never advertise the sale with the jingle until Thanksgiving Day.” Clark called it amazing that the song has become such a tradition, and said that Mullally’s rendition on the “Tonight Show” is just one example of how it has become a part of Christmas for so many Oklahomans.

“It was amazing and surreal that a local jingle would make it on the big stage like that,” he says, “but Megan’s story is like thousands of other Oklahomans who say they are reminded of home and Christmas when they hear the jingle. Other famous Oklahomans have mentioned it or sang it over the years, including Blake Shelton at his Oklahoma City concert back in September.”

To commemorate its 60th anniversary, the company has commissioned a limited edition “Jingle Snow Globe” that plays a portion of the tune, available at bcclarkjingle.com while supplies last.

“It even has its own Facebook page with over 12,000 followers,” Clark says. “And typing ‘BC Clark Jingle’ into YouTube will yield nearly 4,000 video clips.”

So here it is in its entirety, and let the holidays begin!

“Jewelry is the gift to give, ‘cause it’s the gift that’ll live and live.

So give the gift you know can’t fail, from BC Clark’s anniversary sale.

Most sales are after Christmas, but Clark’s is just before.

Most ev’rything is marked way down, savings you can’t ignore!

At Oklahoma’s oldest jeweler, since 1892.

The Christmas wish of BC Clark’s is to keep on pleasing you.

So give the gift you know can’t fail from BC Clark’s Anniversary Sale!”

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PHOTO COURTESY BC CLARK

Jingle All the Way

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