Slice October 2013 by 405 Magazine

Creative Thinkers Light the Way 77 COUNTIES: SEMINOLE An Enigmatic Epitaph

INSPIRATION IS SERVED OCMA Kitchen Tour

BORN IN THE SOONER STATE

Surprising Oklahoma Originals

Dwell in

Beauty

405.627.9193

anders@acdwellings.com | terry@acdwellings.com

acdwellings.com | swedishdekor.com Follow AC Dwellings on

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WHAT IS MISTLETOE MARKET?

istletoe Market is a three-day, one-stop holiday shopping extravaganza featuring unique merchandise from more than 100 carefully selected vendors from Oklahoma and across the country. Shop for clothing, gourmet foods, gifts, children’s items, jewelry and more during the market. Mistletoe Market raises funds to help support the community projects of the Junior League of Oklahoma City (JLOC). Projects focus on “Changing Lives Through Literacy.”

October 30-November 2, 2013

Wednesday, Preview Party October 30 6:00pm - 10:00pm Thursday, October 31 10:00am – 6:00pm Friday, November 1 10:00am – 8:00pm Saturday, November 2 10:00am – 5:00pm LOCATION: Cox Convention Center 1 Myriad Gardens, Oklahoma City, OK 73102-9219 TO PURCHASE TICKETS VISIT WWW.JLOC.ORG SPONSORED BY FOWLER TOYOTA

Celebrating 40 Years of Serving Oklahoma FOWLERTOYOTA.COM /// I-35 AND TECUMSEH RD /// 1-800-NEWTOYOTA COMPLIMENTARY CAR WASH WITH EVERY SERVICE VISIT

Why buy a piece of jewelryâ&#x20AC;Ś When you can own

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Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City Best Medical Facility | Best Healthcare Employer | Best Hospital for Childbirth

Thanks for making us a Readerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Choice winner for the sixth year in a row.

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ÂŠ d. yurman 2013

FEATURES

October 2013

Creative Visionaries

Some are among the standard-bearers for imagination in their fields; some helped dream up their own specialties. While their challenges range from promoting the arts to re-crafting entire cityscapes, one thing these six Oklahomans share is a ceaseless drive to innovate.

On the cover

Time to Meet Your Makers

Waving wheat and natural gas are staples of our economy, but some surprising (and awesome) stuff is made in Oklahoma too. Your radar should include these state-manufactured products that, when it comes to coolness, easily make the grade.

6 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

Creative Thinkers Light the Way 77 COUNTIES: SEMINOLE An Enigmatic Epitaph

INSPIRATION IS SERVED OCMA Kitchen Tour

BORN IN THE SOONER STATE

Surprising Oklahoma Originals

Bob Waldrop planted the seed that bloomed into the thriving Oklahoma Food Co-op. Photo by Simon Hurst.

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DEPARTMENTS 82

THE STARTING LINE

Most important meal of the day? Possibly. But thanks to the customizable options at Syrup, breakfast can easily be the sweetest for Norman diners. 14 From the Editor UP FRONT 17 Chatter The adventures of local ghost hunters Midnight Paranormal, plus paddle surfing, philanthropic goodness and other topics of conversation. 22 Details Basic black shouldn’t be a staple solely in wardrobes. The shade belongs in home décor as well; check out these eye-catching ebony accent pieces. 24 Retrospective A look back at the destination dining and unglamorous end of Molly Murphy’s House of Fine Repute. 28 Exchange A give and take about the joys of parenthood, the value of personal authenticity and setting a goal to be more goal-oriented with star CPA Melissa Prophet. SPACES 41 Life Central Good kitchens offer a convenient, functional space to cook; great kitchens do so while looking sensational and feeding the family’s spirit as well. Five of the area’s best are on the 2013 OCMA Kitchen Tour.

TRAVEL 48 77 Counties In her ongoing travels through the state, author and photographer M.J. Alexander ventures into Seminole County, home to a century-old tale of murder most foul … and a rumor of werewolves.

48 8 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

October 2013

52 Football – and Plenty More Thanks to a bustling campus, vibrant theater and music scene

and tremendous dining possibilities, the Big House is only the beginning of a trip to beautiful Ann Arbor, Michigan. COMMUNITY 55 Resilience in Adversity In an excerpt from his recent book “Vibrant,” behavioral psychiatrist Dr. R. Murali Krishna remembers the terror and uplifting empathy of the OKC Bombing, and ponders the human spirit at its best. MINGLING 58 Making an appearance on central Oklahoma’s social scene. PRACTICAL MATTERS 61 Balancing Holidays and Our Health Expert guidance on a variety of ways to stay serene as the holidays approach. 64 Techno Cool A gadget enthusiast takes a quick, critical look at the big value found in the iPad Mini. PURSUITS 65 A rundown of local events and entertainment, including a top 10 list of must-see attractions, the OKC Ballet season’s spin on classic literature and the Myriad Gardens’ return to Pumpkinville. FARE 80 Sweet Trick or Treats Sugary, salty and supremely scrumptious, this easy recipe for caramel corn will wow neighborhood ghosts and witches – if you decide to share. 84 Eat & Drink Take a gastronomic tour with Slice’s citywide dining guide. 94 Last Laugh 96 Last Look Correction: In September’s Mingling section, we misidentified two of the attendees at the OMRF 241 event: our apologies to Susan and Carl Edwards, the smiling couple at the lower left. We regret the error.

OKC: 6301 Waterford Blvd., Suite 101 • 8101 S. Walker Ave., Suite B • 405.427.4000 Edmond: 1440 S. Bryant Ave., Spring Creek Plaza • 405.427.4000 Since 1894 • www.banksnb.com • Member FDIC • Stillwater National Bank

October 2013

Volume 4 Issue 10

PUBLISHER Elizabeth Meares EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mia Blake EDITORIAL Features Writer John Parker Associate Editor Steve Gill Contributing Writers M.J. Alexander, Mark Beutler, Lauren Hammack, Gale Johnson, R. Murali Krishna, M.D., Michael Miller, Caryn Ross, Elaine Warner, Sara Gae Waters ART Art Director Scotty O’Daniel

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KC’s newest multivendor marketplace offers “a little bit of everything, and something for everyone.” Boomers Marketplace is a 10,000-square-foot retail mall with over 50 different vendor showcases. The unique blend of vintage collectibles, painted furniture, contemporary fashion and home decor makes for a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. The in-house sweet and savory Bluebonnet Bakery adds to the warm, friendly atmosphere and is a wonderful place to enjoy lunch or dessert. Boomers Marketplace and Bluebonnet Bakery’s convenient location makes it easy to visit; its vast selection makes it hard to leave. Stop in and discover a new favorite destination to explore.

Graphic Designer Brian O’Daniel Contributing Stylist Sara Gae Waters Contributing Photographers M.J. Alexander, Justin Avera, Simon Hurst, Claude Long, Michael Miller, Elaine Warner, Carli Wentworth ADVERTISING Executive Director of Advertising Cynthia Whitaker-hill Account Executives Jamie Hamilton, Elizabeth Young Account Manager Ronnie Morey ADMINISTRATION Distribution Raymond Brewer

WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA sliceok.com

11600 N. Pennsylvania Ave. | OKC | 405.748.9060 | boomersmarketplaceokc.com 10 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

L I K E A D AY A T T H E S P A . E V E R Y D AY . At Bob Moore Audi, we strive to give you everything you desire – which is why we’ve more than doubled our inventory. Rejuvenate your sense of luxury in the invigorating 2014 A4. Or melt into the soft, soothing leather of the 2014 Q5. With over 100 new Audis in stock, we’re sure you’ll find paradise. Bob Moore Audi. We make it easy to take it easy.

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EVENTS // PRODUCTS // EXCLUSIVE OFFERS

October 2013

Volume 4 Issue 10

READER SERVICES Mailing Address 729 W. Sheridan, Suite 101 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Phone 405.842.2266 Fax 405.604.9435 Advertising Inquiries dwalker@openskymediainc.com

A Recipe for Excellence Building or remodeling a kitchen requires an investment in time and money – wouldn’t you want to know what goes into making it perfect before you begin? Hahn Appliance Warehouse and Edmond Kitchen & Bath LLC present:

Job/Internship Inquiries jobs@sliceok.com Story Ideas and Letters to the Editor Your views and opinions are welcome. Letters must include your full name, address and daytime phone number. Email to editor@sliceok.com; fax to 405.604.9435; mail to the address listed above. Letters sent to Slice magazine become the magazine’s property, and it owns all rights to their use. Slice magazine reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Back Issues To order single-copy back issues of Slice magazine, please send $9.50 (includes P&H) to the Oklahoma City address above or call 405.842.2266 to order by phone.

Kitchen Design Center Open House Thursday, October 24, 5:30 p.m.

Bulk Orders For information on bulk orders of Slice magazine, please call 405.842.2266.

Find out about the latest design trends, converse with expert remodelers, explore the immense showroom filled with sample materials and learn the ingredients that make a terrific kitchen … all for free.

Slice magazine is available by subscription for $14.95 (12 issues), $24.95 (24 issues) or $34.95 (36 issues).

RSVP by calling 405.285.1926 or visiting EdmondKitchen.com – then get ready to see how your kitchen can be its absolute best.

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES

Questions or address change? Visit sliceok.com/subscribe or email subscriptions@sliceok.com. Order online at sliceok.com or send your name, mailing address, phone number and payment to: SLICE P.O. Box 16765 North Hollywood, CA 91615-6765

HAHN APPLIANCE WAREHOUSE 3947 W. Reno, OKC CORPORATE Chief Executive Officer & President Richard M. Franks

Soigné Tray Giveaway The holidays are approaching – ’tis the season of conviviality, good cheer and parties, and if you’re thinking about hosting, you might be in the market for merchandise that will make entertaining easier while impressing guests with your impeccable style.

Chief Marketing Officer Forbes C. Durey ADVERTISING Director of Sales Darla Walker Director of National Advertising Nathen Bliss

We happen to have something along those lines … and we’re giving it away to a Slice reader.

MARKETING AND EVENTS Corporate Director of Marketing & Events Cathy Hale

The gleaming Soho charcuterie half wood platter by Beatriz Ball is a serving tray and cutting board in one. The removable sturdy wooden plank gives noshers a place to cut their own slices of meat or cheese, while the aluminum alloy tray holds a generous supply of crackers, toast points or other accompaniments. Both elements are easy to clean, and together they look exquisite – versatility and elegance in one bound-to-impress package.

Director of Events & Community Relations Meredith Parsons

Visit sliceok.com and enter to win. And good luck!

12 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

Chief Financial Officer Todd P. Paul

Marketing & Events Coordinator Meghan Athnos CIRCULATION Director of Audience Development Kerri Nolan ©2013 Open Sky Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of Slice magazine content, in whole or part by any means, without the express written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Slice magazine is not responsible for the care of and/or return of unsolicited materials. Slice 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.

WE ARE HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IT’S NOT. And because ONE IN EVERY EIGHT WOMEN is diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s not something we take lightly, either. That’s why we have a comprehensive network of five centers throughout the Oklahoma City area dedicated to breast health that goes beyond simply booking an appointment … to building a relationship. From prevention to diagnosis to treatment and recovery, we’re here to provide thorough, specialized and – because we know how important it is to you – convenient care.

It all centers on this: 90% OF BREAST CANCER CASES CAN BE TREATED SUCCESSFULLY IF DETECTED EARLY. So get the simple mammogram that could save your life – and we’ll make sure it doesn’t take too much time out of your daily life. Evening appointments, convenient locations … and if it’s determined that a biopsy is needed, in most cases we can do it the same day. And all of it comes from the one place with the most beautiful results of all: MORE SURVIVORS OF MORE TYPES OF CANCER than anywhere else in Oklahoma.

integrisOK.com | 405.951.2277

UNI_13-IN-101_Breast_Cancer_Awareness_SLICE_OCT.indd 1

8/27/13 9:39 AM

From the Editor

SIMON HURST

ON THE RISE T

MIA BLAKE

Editor-in-Chief mia.blake@sliceok.com

14 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

his month’s cover story, “Creative Visionaries,” profiles six amazing people who are leading the way toward a more vibrant, engaging, conscious and diverse existence for our citizens … exactly the type of insight that we love to share with our readers. A glimpse into the future of our fair metropolis, if you will. I was struck by a phrase writer John Parker used in the article, dubbing urban designer Blair Humphreys part of a generation that has only seen Oklahoma City on the rise, beginning with MAPS and continuing to the present day. Really? Humphreys and I are “of an age,” so let me think about that for a minute. I was born in Oklahoma, but lived the nomadic life of an Army brat most of my school years, traveling to duty stations in the U.S. and overseas. I came back to OKC to start my junior year at John Marshall High School (go Bears!) and at the time, the common refrain was “There’s nothing to do here.” We can chalk a certain amount of that complaint up to teenage ennui, I’m sure, but even adults of my acquaintance said it. The mindset was definitely that you needed to travel to Dallas or Tulsa or Kansas City to see/do/eat/shop. Looking back now, I can almost chart the progression away from that type of thinking. From ’89ers Stadium summer evening games (some of my favorite memories, don’t get me wrong!) to watching the RedHawks from a sleek suite at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. From Blazers hockey in the Myriad to Thunder and Barons at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. From the turnpike two-step for the Gilcrease and the Philbrook to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. Close to 15 years ago, I remember making a trip downtown to do research for one of the first articles I wrote for the magazine. The topic was the Colcord building, and this was back when it was a largely empty office building, an aging grande dame that had definitely seen better days. I already had the bug for historical buildings. I parked in a mostly deserted, multi-level pay lot that is now either the site of the Downtown Library or the Devon Tower – I’m not even sure which since the area has been so completely transformed that I do not recognize it. I went into the diamond-in-the-rough building and walked through with a guide. I saw lots of empty, sad space that you would never know had been there if you checked into the Colcord Hotel today. Similar visits to Founder’s Tower and the Citizen’s Bank Tower are juxtaposed in my mind with their current incarnations. Once I traveled to Kansas City with a bunch of my friends for a big music festival, then turned around and drove right home that night so we could get to school the next day … and just last month little ol’ Guthrie hosted a biggie, practically in my own back yard. Local restaurants/restaurateurs are getting national attention, including popping up in the recent Heartland issue of Saveur magazine. Even areas that were labeled “Skid Row,” like Slice magazine’s home base on Film Row, are reviving and coming back stronger than ever to create a thriving place that you want to be a part of. Our food is fantastic. Our entertainment options are almost endless and growing all the time. Our people are the best, bar none. And it’s only getting better, can you believe it? I guess it doesn’t matter if you’re a Baby Boomer, a Gen Xer, a Millennial or a member of the Greatest Generation – you are here, now. It’s a great time to be in our city on the rise.

A GALLERY OF IDEAS

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UP FRONT Storm Warning

J.P. WILSON/OKC THUNDER PHOTOS

A new Thunder season is almost here, and with a revitalized Westbrook and a determined KD, anticipation is high as OKC prepares to get loud. The home opener against Phoenix is November 3; we’ve crunched some numbers in preparation. See page 26.

CHATTER Topics of conversation from around the metro 18

DETAILS Don’t fear the dark; these black accent pieces are anything but basic 22

RETROSPECTIVE A quick look back at a treasured piece of local history 24

EXCHANGE Discussing spreadsheets and spontaneity with CPA Melissa Prophet 28

OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 17

UP FRONT | Chatter

Night Prowlers

AS YOU’RE TURNING DOWN THE COVERS AT NIGHT, HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN UNEASY FEELING SOMETHING MIGHT REACH OUT FROM UNDER THE BED AND GRAB YOUR ANKLE?

Following the Sound SARAH LEE GUTHRIE AND JOHNNY IRION The first track is a chipper little number named for a cat. The mournfully titled “Lowest Ebb” is the album’s most propulsive. Sarah Lee Guthrie may be Arlo’s daughter and Woody’s grandchild, but “Wassaic Way,” her fourth album with husband Johnny Irion, seems determined to continue quietly moving beyond expectations based on her lineage; for one thing, it rarely sounds like folk. The Wilco-produced set of 11 tracks uses multiple instruments – slide guitar in the gentle musing of “Still Dreaming,” tinkling piano on New Orleansset “Hurricane Window,” even what sounds like a Casio drum machine in “Circle of Souls” – to frame the duo’s alternately harmonious and haunting vocals. If it isn’t what you’re expecting, it’s still an amply rewarding listen.

SURF’S UPRIGHT!

Riding the waves can be a bit difficult in a state with no coastline, but surfing is making a splash in Oklahoma … with the addition of a paddle. Flat Tide is an SUP (stand up paddleboard) rental company based in OKC hoping to help adventurers statewide find a new way to enjoy the water. Patrons can rent a board and paddle to strike out on their own, take floating yoga or fitness classes, go on an overnight Bigfoot-hunting excursion or even buy their own equipment. All the info is at flat-tide.com; just remember to hang onto the paddle or you might be up a creek. 18 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

Do you shut the closet doors so that thing in the back with the tail and red glowing eyes can’t slither out and watch you while you’re sleeping? And are you really sure that was just a shadow at the end of the hallway? A world of unexplained phenomena has baffled us mere mortals, and some have chosen to explore that world to see if they can come up with answers. “We know something is out there,” said Lindsey Miles, founder of “Midnight Paranormal,” Oklahoma City’s own local ghost-hunting crew. “We are trying to find out if ghosts really exist. We have voices on our recorders and pictures of apparitions. But exactly what they are is what we are trying to research. So for now we just call them ‘anomalies.’” Interest in the supernatural usually increases during the annual creep-fest we call Halloween. Black cats, full moons and Linus camping out in the pumpkin patch are all symbols that October is upon us. Midnight Paranormal doesn’t just work on Halloween, however. They are a year-round service, free of charge, with a team of 13 ready to explore those things that go bump in the night. “The places we go are pretty cool,” Miles said. “At first it is an adrenaline rush, but then we get down to business to see if the place is actually haunted. Investigations are not like you see on TV where something spooky happens all the time. It’s more like watching paint dry. But every now and then you have one case that makes it all worthwhile.” Have a haunting you need explored or a pushy ghost that won’t go away? Hook up with Midnight Paranormal and the Mystery Machine full of ghost hunters on their Facebook page.

Hand-passed Hors d’oeuvres

Bricktown . 1 Mickey Mantle Drive . 405.235.4410 . www.facebook.com/Nonnas

©PDGGGGG

UP FRONT | Chatter

Calendar Watch October 12 OU-TEXAS October 15 Alfalfa Bill Murray, the governor who went to war with Texas (sort of), died October 24 United Nations Day, which is about promoting cooperation between nations, not other states within the same country October 31 Halloween; perhaps consider a costume as Sad Mack Brown or a Golden Hat (assuming you live in Oklahoma)

ON THE PAGE OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

Alice Bell would be happy to wake up any time now. That might mean that the world would be back to normal, the car crash that killed her family would never have happened … and she wouldn’t be an unwilling (if effective) slayer of zombies. Bestselling Oklahoma author Gena Showalter, the pen behind 2012’s “Alice in Zombieland,” sends her young adult heroine further down the rabbit hole in “Through the Zombie Glass,” available in October from harlequin.com. Now fighting to overcome undead foes as well as to maintain her sanity, Alice finds her life has become a deadly chess match with herself as the Red Queen. At least, she’s covered in red … Written “by kids, for kids,” the alphabet book “O Is for Oklahoma” contains 26 couplets composed by members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County, accompanied by photographs from David Fitzgerald. Detailing in verse some of the Sooner State’s highlights from the Arbuckle Mountains to the OKC Zoo, it’s a cute way to engage young minds. B is for Bravo!

GOLDEN TOMORROWS

Architectural preservationists smarting over the impending destruction of Stage Center can take some solace in knowing the future is bright for another local landmark: Edmondbased environmental engineering firm TEEMCO recently purchased the Gold Dome in OKC with an eye toward renovating it and moving in by the end of the year.

DOING GOOD

Months after disasters made national news, local focus is still on philanthropy for area nonprofit groups. The Assistance League of Norman celebrated its 40th anniversary by replenishing young students’ wardrobes through its Operation School Bell program, and Infant Crisis Services launched a branch office near Moore High School that will be open on Wednesdays to help those in need of ongoing assistance. “We plan on being in Moore indefinitely,” said ICS’ Melissa Smuzynski. “From what we’ve been told, the rebuilding and recovery will take years, so as an organization we plan to be there for those families throughout the entire process.” And if you’re rarin’ to indulge your inner do-gooder, check out the Red Cross’ new app – a free download designed for the iPhone and Android platforms – that recruits for and gives info on volunteer opportunities. Just search the app store for American Red Cross, or visit redcross.org/ mobileapps, and get to work making lives better.

“He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal … I can’t wait to work with him.” -Director Zack Snyder, referring to the high-profile addition to his 2015 “Man of Steel” sequel and giving fans the perfect Halloween costume: Throw on a Batman outfit, affect a Boston accent and tell everyone you’re Ben Affleck. 20 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

...with a living tree. Commemorate a special occasion with a living spruce tree, which comes with its roots intact. After the holidays, you can plant it in your yard or donate it to a plant-a-tree organization. Place your order now.

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OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 21

UP FRONT | Details

BASICALLY BLACK

By Sara Gae Waters // Photos by Carli Wentworth

ICONICALLY SPEAKING, THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS IS WAY UP THERE. Most women will tell you it’s a must – a staple everyone should have in her closet. I have to admit, the color black is one of my favorites. Black is an essential for the home as well as the wardrobe. It draws your attention, provides contrast and adds a pop of interest to any room. We’ve gathered a few basic black items perfect for bookshelves, the coffee table or a side table. Surprisingly, many accent pieces out there are beautiful and make great conversation starters, too. It can be as simple and easy as a new vase or bowl, a sculpture or book, collected shells from a trip, a vintage camera or unique functional items. Keep it basic and your look will be just as iconic as the LBD: Eye-catching and classic!

Turtle shell on stand, leopard accent piece and block letters from Kern’s, Norman // Graphite Object wing and snake writing implements from Urbane, OKC // Black seashells, private collection

22 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

Roost picture frame, Fashion Insiders’ Guide book, Hillary Thomas Designs black star finial, Lazy Susan polished horn vessel and Vagabond Vintage plate from Cayman’s, Norman // Vintage camera and scissors, private collection

Polished horn bowl, black metal sculpture on wood base and sliced agate coasters from Urbane // Lazy Susan black hurricane vase from Cayman’s // Numbered cups from Wright’s Flower Market, Norman

o r t Respective

Infamous Eats

By Mark Beutler // Photos courtesy Oklahoma Historical Society PLAYBOY MAGAZINE ONCE DESCRIBED IT AS “A RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH THAT MATED WITH A RANCH HOUSE.” The entrance featured a toilet overflowing with flowers and the costumed wait staff bordered on rude. But it was all part of the dining experience at “Molly Murphy’s House of Fine Repute.” The restaurant opened in 1976 at 1100 S. Meridian, and owners Bob and Jeffiee Tayar soon turned the establishment into an Oklahoma City legend. A cherry-red Jaguar served as a salad bar. Upside-down flowerpots hung from the ceiling. If the wait staff caught you going to the potty, that private moment became very public. The end came in 1996 after a local TV station showed up to investigate the use of restaurant coupons and a scuffle broke out. Lawsuits followed, the restaurant closed without notice and that was the end of Molly Murphy’s. 24 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

PREMIER CARD 2013 PARTICIPATING MERCHANTS Friday, October 25 - Sunday, November 3, 2013 The Premier Card Formula is Simple! Here’s how it works: The Card Buyer

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Proceeds from card sales benefit Payne Education Center. Premier Cards can be purchased at merchants listed with the apple ( ) icon in this ad. For more information, contact Payne Education Center at (405) 755-4205. Bethany Cedarburg Square Mariposa Design & Accessories, Inc. Edmond, 33rd & Boulevard TSO Optical Edmond, 33rd & Broadway Courtyard Antique Market Kern’s Antiques & Interior Design Edmond, Downtown Chirps & Cheers Fashion Boutique McCall’s Silver Leaf Gems Sterling’s Home Décor & Gifts Edmond, Kickingbird Square Allton’s Clothiers for Men Best of Books It’s a Party! Kickingbird Flowers & Gifts Edmond, Metro By Invitation Only Cindy Ritchie Photography Swiss Cleaners Edmond, Spring Creek Plaza Artwear Jewelry New Balance Edmond Edmond, Spring Creek Village Isabella OK Runner Pinkitzel Cupcakes & Candy The Paper Lion Norman, Brockhaus Plaza In Your Dreams Mel’s Kloset Norman, Brookhaven Village OK Runner Norman, Campus Corner Tulips Bed, Bath & Tabletop

Norman, Sooner Mall Sun & Ski Sports OKC, 50 Penn Place Route 66 OKC, Britton Road French Quarter Antiques Pirate’s Alley Picture Frames OKC, Broadway Extension Trochta’s Flowers OKC, Casady Square Art Group Casey’s Gifts Essentials Naifeh Fine Jewelry No Regrets Red Chateau The Consortium OKC, Classen Curve BD Home Balliets Black Optical Carwin’s Shave Shop LIBERTE’ On A Whim Red Coyote Running & Fitness Steven Giles Uptown Kids Winter House Interiors OKC, Downtown B.C. Clark Jewelers Nancy Farha’s Pinkitzel Cupcakes & Candy Teena Hicks Company OKC, May & Grand Shoppes Blue 7 Four Graces Pilates Studio & Boutique Olive & Co. Paper ‘N More

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OKC, Nichols Hills Plaza Bebe’s C/K & Co. Gretta Sloane Luxe Objects Marcy & Abbey’s Ruth Meyers S.J. Haggard & Co. Fine Men’s Clothing Spencer Stone Co. Suzanne’s Linen Closet The Curtain Exchange of OKC Van Cleef’s Salon

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J. J. Kelly Bridal Sun & Ski Sports Wild Birds Unlimited OKC, North Penn Plaza Avondale Galleries, Inc. Dick Story Optical Koslow’s Furs Silver Accents OKC, Northwest By Invitation Only Cindy Ritchie Photography Eden Salon & Spa Lynda’s Birkenstock Portland Optical Swiss Cleaners OKC, Penn Square Mall B.C. Clark Jewelers COACH Mr. Ooley’s, Ladies Department Pottery Barn Williams-Sonoma OKC, Quail Springs Area Funky Monkey MetroShoe Warehouse Nothing Bundt Cakes Starr Home

URBANE HOME & LIFESTYLE 42nd Street Candy Co. Big Sky Bread Company Gordon Stuart Cameo Salon and Spa The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro OKC, Wilshire Boulevard Mitchener-Farrand Fine Jewelry Wilshire Garden Market OKC, Wilshire Village the lingerie store KSDesign gil’s clothing and denim bar learning tree The Wood Garden Dulaney’s The MakeUp Bar

Our Mission: Payne Education Center trains teachers to prevent reading difficulties in children, and to remediate dyslexia, while serving as a resource and referral center.

OKC, Shoppes at Northpark B.C. Clark Jewelers Jerome’s KEEDO Kids Clothes Kokopelli Mystique Fragrances Nancy’s Norwalk Furniture & Design Room 22 room to dream S.J. Haggard & Co. Silks, Etc. The Lime Leopard Geno’s Furs OKC, Uptown Shopping Pirate’s Alley Picture Frames OKC, Western Avenue Culinary Kitchen Sabrina’s Backroom Kamber’s on N. Western Eden Salon & Spa Mockingbird Manor Antiques & More sabi Soup Soup Designer Rugs Cameo Salon & Spa True North Living The Howell Gallery

www.payneeducationcenter.org 10404 Vineyard Boulevard, Suite A Oklahoma City, OK 73120 Office: 405.755.4205 Fax: 405.755.4281

THUNDERING UP BY THE NUMBERS

5 $1,500,000

years since the former Seattle SuperSonics moved to OKC

estimated economic impact on OKC per Thunder home game

0 18,203 official press conferences between the announcement of the franchise’s new name and the first use of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” as an unofficial team anthem

fans routinely Thunder-struck during sellouts at Chesapeake Arena

things that are more awesome than Australian punk musician The Badpiper playing “Thunderstruck” on a set of flame-shooting bagpipes (arguably)

109

120

26 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

$64,500,000

total estimated impact from the 2012-’13 season

1973 year Cheech & Chong told the world of their “Basketball Jones”

1990

115

approximate decibel level of rock band performance, for example when AC/DC plays “Thunderstruck”

games in the Thunder’s road back to the NBA playoffs

rank ESPN.com gave the Thunder in its predictions for the upcoming NBA season (behind the Miami Heat)

70.7

winning percentage ESPN.com projects for the 2013-’14 Thunder season

year Garth Brooks recorded “The Thunder Rolls”

decibel level inside Chesapeake Arena measured by TNT broadcasters during a 2010 Thunder playoff game

approximate decibel level of actual thunder “strike”

days from October 1 until the Thunder’s first home game of the season, fulfilling OKC’s collective basketball jones

rank Rolling Stone gave Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time

number of games OKC won by 10 or more points last season (viz., the Thunder rolled)

73.2 28

Thunder’s 2012-’13 winning percentage

Thunder’s winning percentage during their first season in OKC

UP FRONT | Exchange

ACCOUNTING FOR TASTE Co By Lauren Hammack // Photo by Carli Wentworth

A nvers ati with Meli on Prop ssa het

EVERY MONTH FOR THIS FEATURE, we like to sit down with a person of interest and delve into the hard-hitting issues of the day – songs on iTunes, horoscopes, bucket lists… When we asked Oklahoma City CPA Melissa Prophet, a partner at Cole & Reed, PC, to be the subject of this month’s Exchange, she offered, in classic accountant style, to “prepare” something for our conversation. Pshaaaaaw, we said, noting that the best conversations happen on the fly. They’re spontaneous! Organic! “Oh, no, no, no,” remarked the accountant. “The very words ‘on the fly’ make me nervous. Accountants don’t like anything ‘on the fly,’” she laughed. Nonetheless, Prophet graciously ventured off the ledger long enough to dip her toe into unchartered (and unscripted) waters to dispel all the stereotypes journalists and liberal arts majors perpetuate about accountants. Well, almost.

What is your hometown? Enid, Oklahoma. Is that where you met your husband, Jay Taylor? Yes. Who cooks at your house? Jay does. He’s a great cook. If it were left to me, we’d be eating cereal for every meal! Depending on the cereal, that might not be so bad. Crunchy Raisin Bran. Thank God for Jay. What do you love most about the work you do? Clients. I love learning about their businesses. What do you wish you’d started doing long before you did? Being in a mindset that I should be working out my whole life! Also, I’ve been doing a lot of artsy stuff with our daughter, Hannah. Do you hoard anything? Emails. What’s not as important as it used to be and what’s more important than it used to be? Children change everything, so everything is less important than it used to 28 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

be because nothing is more important than my husband and daughter. What do you value most in your friends? Honesty. Authenticity. Being themselves and loving me for who I am. What do you wish everyone could experience at least once in their lifetime? Having a child. With kids, you get to do all the fun things you kind of want to do anyway. Sure, you could go to Disney World without kids, but it’s great to share experiences like that. Early, late or on time? Early, but really only if it’s work-related. Otherwise, I’m usually on time. But for some reason, if it’s fun-related, we’re always late. What’s still on your bucket list? More travel. Recent purchase? A car for my husband. What’s the best advice you ever got? This was my first job right out of college, and I’ve been here ever since. I got the best advice on my first day:

Don’t feel you have to learn everything the first day. Also, our managing partner, Jim Denny, once told me that being perfect isn’t always better.

If it kills you, what one thing will you accomplish by the end of the year? Wow. I should be more goal-oriented. There’s one thing.

I like perfection from anyone wielding a scalpel, I’ll say that. Are you a perfectionist? I have a tendency to be, but I’m working on it.

Do you have any phobias? Generally speaking, no. I’m not particularly superstitious, but I will say, I’m not crazy about heights.

What is one of your better traits? I’m a great multi-tasker, and I’m very organized. You work with a lot of nonprofit organizations. Are there some you’re particularly fond of? Yes – many. Oklahoma City Community Foundation, OSU Foundation and the Oklahoma Heritage Association, just to name a few. I love working with nonprofits. It’s a very rewarding part of my job.

What movie can you recite by heart? “Almost Famous” and “Office Space.” What do you have a hard time saying ‘no’ to? Hannah [my daughter]. What is your hope for your daughter? That she’ll be independent and happy. That she’ll know that one person can make a difference. That she’ll never feel that someone else has to validate her.

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OKLAHOMA HAS ALWAYS RUN ON CREATIVITY – FROM SYLVAN GOLDMAN’S INVENTION OF THE SHOPPING CART TO THE FIRST UNFORESEEABLY CRUEL INSTALLATION OF PARKING METERS IN 1935. LET US CELEBRATE THE MODERN INCARNATIONS OF OKLAHOMA’S FORWARD THINKERS.

AGENT TO NORMAN’S STARS

rtists who’ve sought to advance their work into the public eye have always benefited from a promoter, a patron, a manager or zealous habitué eager to promote their excellence. For the last three years, Erinn Gavaghan has been all of those for the Norman arts scene. An actress, film producer and professional photographer, the executive director of the Norman Arts Council interacts constantly with aspiring talent ranging from art students to accomplished veterans. She’s part nurturer, part fire douser and part head cheerleader for the community’s 22 arts organizations. The 38-year-old manages events and the council’s Mainsite Contemporary Art gallery exhibits, and keeps tabs on council-sponsored festivals, programs, workshops and arts education activities. Her job involves carrying out the wishes of an influential community board that deeply understands how Norman’s arts and culture make life better for everyone. She’s completely committed as an artist and promoter-in-chief. “I very rarely say no to anybody when they come to me with a good idea,” she says. “‘I want to have this exhibit here or do that there.’ I always try to be as open and accommodating to artists who are passionate about their ideas.” Juggling the needs of a thriving arts community can be tough, though. The gallery’s exhibition space is booked for the next two years. The artistic crush has led to creative solutions such as Mainsite Lite – “pop-up” events, lectures, art shows and screenings. As a taxpayer-supported funder of multiple Norman arts organizations that promote local talent, the council itself concentrates on presenting regional, national and international exhibitions. For example, the band No Age, an experimental punk outfit from L.A., performed in Norman last month. Gavaghan’s influence on spreading the arts extends across central Oklahoma through constant communications and partnerships with other metro arts groups. The Norman Arts Council’s success since 1976 was happily confirmed last spring when Norman voters approved a penny hike in the city’s hotel-motel tax. Part of the money funds the arts council. For spring 2014, the council has dreamed up a five-week program that will involve “place making.” The idea is to transform a rundown part of downtown with pop-up galleries, shops, exhibition space and learning opportunities to show what can happen when people come together to create imaginative possibilities. As an artist who has succeeded in creating a career out of her passion, Gavaghan loves to work with college art students and jokes about the seed that she wants to pass on to them: “I like to give them hope that there are things you can do in the arts industry after college.” 30 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

THE BEST-LAID PLANS uring the formative years of Blair Humphreys’ life, he was on track to become the Donald Trump of Oklahoma City. The son of successful land developer Kirk Humphreys, he was a Putnam City High School freshman when his dad won the Oklahoma City mayoral race in 1998. In college at OU, he studied the perfect degree for an aspiring real estate developer – entrepreneurship and venture management. Years later, he would describe his trajectory at the time: “I wanted the life, the money.” For him, though, the dream didn’t work out. He spent two years in the developer life, but focusing on single projects for personal gain lost its appeal. He described it this way: “My bookshelf of Trump books and get rich in real estate guides gave way to urban planning classics (‘Death and Life of Great American Cities’ being my favorite), books on New Urbanism and a growing collection of research on the history of Oklahoma City. Soon, so much of my thinking was focused on Oklahoma City: what it was, what it had been and where it was going. I couldn’t focus on a single development project, because I was more concerned with how to make the whole city better. I wanted to recapture the vitality and spirit that I felt had been buried beneath the rubble of the wrecking ball and to rebuild the city into something it was always destined to become – a great city and a great place to live.” Swinging a personal wrecking ball, he dismantled his past and built a new path in city planning. He interned with the OKC Planning Department and later earned a master’s degree in city planning from MIT. At 31, he’s now the executive director of OU’s Institute for Quality Communities and is deeply involved in new visions for the metro and cities across the state. The Institute for Quality Communities’ staff, students and academicians have conducted transformation studies that have included OKC’s Western Avenue District, Norman’s J.D. McCarty Center for children with developmental disabilities and downtown Shawnee. Humphreys is part of a generation that has only seen OKC on the rise – from MAPS to MAPS 3. Citizen involvement in urban planning has become hip and saturated with input at city planning meetings, hyperlocal websites and Google chats. Quasi-guerrilla cadres like BetterBlockOKC invade run-down areas and erect temporary art exhibits, craft booths and food trucks to demonstrate imagined revitalized futures. Humphreys is a fellow traveler. “People today realize that more can be accomplished by having a little more comprehensive view and more thought process that actually focuses on the details – because the details matter,” he said. “We can’t afford to allow the architects to design this building, and the engineers to design this street and the landscape architects to design this park, all in a silo, and hope together that they will work perfectly. The reality is we’re seeing a much bigger push toward collaboration both among the professionals and the staff, but then ultimately they are co-dependent on the users, and that’s where – beyond even our democratic ideals – we need users to be involved in the process, because if they don’t buy into what the intentions of a project are , it won’t work. “For most of the 20th century, we were clearly on a trajectory to become a smaller, less impressive version of Dallas. I think during the MAPS era we put ourselves on a trajectory to become something else. Ultimately, though, we’re going to just be Oklahoma City, and the question is, what do we want that to be? Do we want it to be a community that values places and people and quality of life? I think we’ve proven over the last 20 years that if we put our minds to it and work together, we can reshape our city and craft a vision for Oklahoma City in the future that will not only amaze other people, I think it will amaze us.” OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 31

THE GOOD SHEPHERD OF SUSTAINABILITY ob Waldrop’s beard. As personal signatures go, it borders on glorious. The lamb-white waterfall of hair flows south in vertically undulating waves seemingly purloined from the twintailed mermaid of Starbucks herself. Combined with Waldrop’s shiny half-bald pate, dramatically flaring eyebrows and an authoritative-yet-comforting Renaissance visage, four images resurrect themselves inside your head: Santa Claus, Charlton Heston’s Moses, da Vinci’s self-portrait or the master’s depiction of God on the Sistine ceiling. Not bad company. In part due to his permissive grooming, the founder of the Oklahoma Food Cooperative is often suspected of being a liberal hippie; he was arrested this year for locking himself to construction equipment at a Keystone XL oil pipeline construction site. More-liberal co-op members, though, have suspected he might be an anti-government conservative. Waldrop himself describes the co-op as a “startup, entrepreneurial business.” As a fourthgeneration Okie who grew up in southwest Tillman County, he says he has “a disposition against government solutions.” Politics other than those of food are officially banned in the diverse, 5,200-member cooperative. Billed as the first co-op in the nation to focus on local foods and non-food products, Waldrop’s humble 2003 idea produced gross revenues of nearly $1 million in 2012, including $850,000 of product sales. One hundred and twenty farmers, craft artists, jam makers and other producers have sold through the co-op over the years. It currently features more than 4,700 Oklahoma products that can be picked up at nearly 50 sites within a 190-mile radius of Oklahoma City. Waldrop travels the state like an itinerant priest spreading the gospel of local empowerment. He preaches to chambers of commerce and Rotary Clubs, and he’s a devout Catholic who also founded the Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House. That organization delivers food to people who can’t afford transportation to bring it home. His typical homily falls along the lines of local selfreliance, economic opportunity and environmental sustainability. He spread the word to McAlester Rotarians in Pittsburg County that they were sitting on a $20 million retail market for locally raised and slaughtered beef – if only they’d come together with their existing ranchers and beef-buying families, and work away from letting cattle-buying conglomerates reap the highest profits. An experienced speaker, Waldrop constantly evaluates his audiences for signals of boredom or interest. “They looked at me like I had lost my mind,” he says, “but I also sensed that that they seemed more than politely interested in economic development.” Bob Waldrop is hard to pigeonhole as a type; his visions’ successes are more sustainably obtainable.

32 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

OKLAHOMA’S CREATIVE MINDER ince Creative Oklahoma is a prime promoter for an abstract concept – creativity – describing how the Oklahoma City-based nonprofit works can be tricky. It’s not like the group gathers people in a room, hands out crayons and construction paper and announces, “Be creative!” Creative Oklahoma, led by President Susan McCalmont, is based on research that shows creativity in a community, school or business can be revved up and propagated when it’s actively encouraged. The group does that by hosting conferences, bestowing creativity awards, sponsoring creativity “boot camps” and more. After seven years of doing just that, Creative Oklahoma is better described by its achievements. Serendipitously brought together the mind behind Bricktown’s 500-student Academy of Contemporary Music with educators who made it a reality (see page 35). Hosted a record-breaking 2,600 people from 18 countries and 38 states at the seventh annual World Creativity Forum (first time in the U.S.). Influenced an economic development delegation from Chiang Mai, Thailand, with a metro of about 1 million people, to visit four U.S. destinations to study creativity and innovation: Silicon Valley, Austin, San Francisco and Oklahoma City. Helped establish the Oklahoma FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) regional robotics competition, and Oklahoma schools’ robotics teams grew from a handful to more than 50. OKC’s 7-year-old Halloween parade, with 60,000 spectators last year, was the brainchild of Creative Oklahoma collaborators searching for a new signature event. Creative Oklahoma operates on the supposition that brilliant ideas fuel the 21st century economic engine. “You have to be intentional about creating this environment,” says McCalmont. “We philosophically believe that everyone is born with creative talents and gifts. Creativity is not just for the lone geniuses. We’re all capable, and we don’t age out of it.” The group’s members focus their work in three areas: education, commerce and culture. The goal is to forge creativity-oriented graduates, foster more entrepreneurial approaches in business and build a better place to live through arts and cultural initiatives. “People have that need to connect with one another physically, to be inspired by new ideas and to rub shoulders with Oklahomans who are in the creative businesses,” she said. “It can feel pretty tough if you’re a very creative and innovative person – whether it’s a school, a business environment, a church or a home – where you feel like ‘I’m all alone.’” McCalmont and Creative Oklahoma have already changed mindsets about opportunities in the state. Students and entrepreneurs have been amazed after finding out about the movement and the resources already in place to help innovators. “The real rationale behind it is that we want to be a perception game changer for Oklahoma,” McCalmont says. “We do produce some of the most incredible individuals, but no one has looked at that collective talent. No one has put together the synergy of saying, ‘Look at Oklahoma. We are the state of creativity.’”

A CRUSH OF CREATIVITY

The core of Oklahoma’s creative class in commerce, education and culture will converge Nov. 19 at the 2013 State of Creativity Forum in downtown Oklahoma City, one of the largest creativity and innovation conferences in the United States. More than 1,200 entrepreneurs, educators and students, policymakers, business leaders, technology experts and trailblazers are expected for the third annual event at the Civic Center Music Hall. The festive environment includes innovative business exhibitors, visual and performing artists and interactive conversation groups, and provides a platform for networking and idea generation.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

· Nancy Kanter, executive vice president of Disney Junior Worldwide. Kanter leads global creative content for Disney Junior digital and TV programming. · Brad Moore, president of Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, whose series is the most honored in U.S. TV history. · Gregg Fraley, an innovation consultant and author of “Jack’s Notebook,” a business novel used by Berkeley, Cambridge and other business schools. · Peter Sims, best-selling management author, entrepreneur and founder of BLK SHP Enterprises, a California creative consultancy. Call 232.5570 or visit StateofCreativity.com for more information. OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 33

FINDING THE SPARK

alerie Naifeh wasn’t sure what to expect when she stepped into Ann Garrett’s Designer Jewelry store in 1984. A 20-year-old Tulsa University student with a predilection toward architecture and graphic design, she showed up out of politeness. Her high school art teacher, Otto Duecker, who later became a noted hyperrealist painter, recommended her to Garrett for an apprenticeship. Naifeh thought she’d be filing papers, running errands and was prepared to turn down the job. Garrett liked her, was impressed with her maturity and explained how she would be an apprentice jeweler. On Naifeh’s first day, she sat down at a jeweler’s bench. Garrett showed her three kinds of files used for carving and a jeweler’s saw. She explained a few basics about making a wax model for an 8-millimeter-wide wedding ring. Then she left her alone. Naifeh spent what she thinks may have been half an hour – she can’t quite remember – spellbound in carving and crafting a simple ring. Then thunder struck. “I was so happy,” she says. “It was just this enormous, light bulb moment. No. 1, I thought, ‘People get paid to do this?!’ and No. 2 – that I’m supposed to be working with my hands. I’m supposed to be creating things, designing and building things. It was just this huge overwhelming feeling of ‘This is exactly where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to be doing.’” Her flash of clarity and purpose may have flowed from growing up with a father – Tulsa TV personality Lee Woodward – whose amateur pen-and-ink portraits amazed her and her two brothers. The siblings competed to match his fidelity to people’s faces and animals. Her brothers excelled, but Valerie couldn’t quite capture freehand. Instead, she drew elaborate designs alive with squares, triangles, colors and forms. A tomboy, Naifeh would play with her older brother as they pawed through pieces of erector sets, Lincoln logs, buckets of building blocks … They constructed imaginary structures and worlds. By high school and college, Naifeh was taking drafting and technical drawing classes and considering architecture as a career. It’s not surprising, then, that in her personal creative work she grasps for shapes, colors, lines and curves that sing beautifully together. She simultaneously constructs the jewelry’s technical architecture – the moldings, clasps, bails, bezels – with the simple visual beauty of the object she creates. Only six years after her apprenticeship began, Naifeh won her first design award for a mother-of-pearl, diamond and onyx triton-shell brooch; she rose above 600 other North American designers in the De Beers’ Diamonds Today Awards. She’s the only Oklahoma designer to win it twice – again in 1994 with a hematite, diamonds and platinum beaded bracelet design. She placed in the Japanese International Pearl Design Competition, competing with designers from over 40 countries. Naifeh’s creative process unfolds best in certain circumstances. Quiet is a must. No music or other distractions. She most often designs in solitude at home or in-studio. Inspiration can come unexpectedly, too, while jogging, or in the middle of a meeting – even gardening. “If you’re pulling weeds, you’re trying to figure out where the next weed is and you’re not just sitting in front of a blank piece of paper trying to force yourself,” she says. “You have to be willing to allow the process to be organic and take you where it will. I just find when I’m not under pressure to really solve something, is when the resolution just becomes very clear to me.” From life-changing spark to a lifetime of artistic inspiration, Naifeh’s experiences exemplify experts’ advice for anyone craving creative release: Expose yourself to new experiences as often as you can, and let your creativity flow. 34 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

HEADMASTER: SCHOOL OF ROCK

cott Booker was pretty much the unknown guy among about 150 “thought leaders” Brad Henry hosted at the governor’s mansion in October 2005. The A-list gathering was about creativity – especially how Oklahoma could harness it to blaze the state’s trail in the 21st century. Booker was there because he was a good friend of Flaming Lips singer Wayne Coyne, Oklahoma’s de facto ambassador of global rock ‘n’ roll hipness. The gathering’s organizers called him because he was also the Lips’ longtime manager. As Booker tells it, he told them he’d bring Coyne, but he wanted to be part of it, too. Good thing he was. Among those at Booker’s table were Roger Webb, then-president of Booker’s alma mater, the University of Central Oklahoma, and Paul Risser, then-chancellor of Oklahoma’s higher education system. It was the first big meeting of the Oklahoma Creativity Project – an informal movement that would later officially become Creative Oklahoma, the state’s nonprofit driver of innovation and forward-thinking (see page 33). With the governor informally commanding all those present to be creative, Booker told his group he wished he’d had one thing available when he became the Lips’ manager in the early 1990s: a class on how the music business works. Risser told him, in so many words, “that’s what I do – I can help you do that.” Webb liked the idea, too. Over the next four years, a few key events happened. Booker was at a music business conference in France when he was turned on to the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, England, southwest of London. He told Webb about it, and the UCO president made it a point to stop by on a trip to England. He loved it. Later, another former state chancellor, Phil Moss, happened to be at the South By Southwest festival in Austin – and so were England’s ACM crew. “I literally grabbed Phil and I grabbed the ACM guys and I stuck ’em in a corner,” Booker recalls. “I said, ‘You guys have to talk.’” They all hit it off, and the Academy of Contemporary Music of the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO) held its first classes in music industry education in 2009. Booker is now CEO of his brainchild, head of an academy that teaches 500 students on multiple floors of the historical Oklahoma Hardware Building astride the Bricktown canal. In partnership with its English counterpart, the school offers associate and bachelor’s degrees in music production, performance and business. The school focuses on rock, pop, gospel, country and any other contemporary sounds. Inaugural-year class member Dante Jones won a Grammy for his work on Kelly Clarkson’s platinum “Stronger,” which won Best Pop Vocal Album. He co-wrote “Mr. Know It All” and was one of the record producers. Booker is all-Oklahoman. The 48-year-old Edmond resident grew up in Midwest City and worked at Rainbow Records until the mid-1990s, when managing the Lips forced him to give up the record-store job he loved. Such are life’s choices. Before ACM@UCO, Booker witnessed a wealth of talent – including performers, booking agents, producers, etc. – leave the state to build careers in Nashville, L.A., New York and Austin. He thinks the metro can build a nationally known music industry hub to match or outstrip them. “My long-term vision for the ACM is to really be the catalyst for growth of the entertainment industry here in Oklahoma,” he said. “And I think we’re starting to see it already, in small ways. Anyone that paid attention to music five years ago, compared to now, would think there’s a more thriving ‘scene,’ for lack of a better term, and I think it’s better organized. Whether it’s artists or people that book venues or whatever, I think there’s a kind of a realized level of quality to what we’re doing, and I think that’s going to continue.” OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 35

Time to

Meet Your Makers COOL STUFF MADE IN OKLAHOMA

By John Parker

The Sooner State is known for exports like natural gas, oil, wheat and beef, but world-famous smokers and grills? Jaw-droppingly gorgeous muscle cars? You bet. These premier products are undeniably cool … and Oklahoman to the core.

Oklahomans love making great things. We export over $4 billion a year in goods and services to more than 190 international markets. Reigning as the ninth-biggest state exporter of boilers and containers is impressive, but heavy metal objects don’t offer much cachet. Instead, we rounded up made-in-Oklahoma products with global appeal that will make you say, “Wow!” We found a pre-statehood clothing company embraced by celebrities; a mechanic shop in demand by muscle car fanatics; a maker of premium smokers favored by professional and amateur barbeque champs; and a software company that’s at your service in hotels – but only behind the screens.

ROUND HOUSE

Around the World

ROUND HOUSE PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING THE LARGEST MAKER OF AMERICAN-MADE JEANS AND OVERALLS. THE ONLY THING BETTER THAN THAT IS THEY’RE ALL MADE IN WEWOKA AND SHAWNEE.

The 110-year-old garment maker is the oldest manufacturer in the state and exports around the globe to more than 25 countries. Its notable celebrity sightings include actor Christopher Walken wearing Round House overalls in the movie “Joe Dirt,” and country singer Miranda Lambert sporting them on her honeymoon with husband Blake Shelton. Its biggest overseas market is Japan, says company Vice President David Antosh. “Japanese customers love American brands with a long history of quality,” he said. “The same jeans Denim stacks high as Round or overalls that you can buy at a House seamstresses weave western store here can be purtheir magic at the Shawnee chased at a high-end boutique in factory in the early 1900s. Shibuya, Tokyo.” About 80 employees make over 1,000 denim garments a day, mostly woven from Oklahoma cotton. One 17-foot-tall pair of overalls holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest. Although many garment manufacturers have moved to China, Mexico and other low-wage locales over the years, the state’s 2011 exporter of the year plans to stay buttoned down in Oklahoma. “Our brand is based on being made in America,” Antosh said. “We would never think of moving overseas.”

36 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

President Jim Antosh and the World’s Largest Overalls

CLASSIC RECREATIONS

Yukon’s Fantasy Factory

ALL PHOTOS THIS PAGE COURTESY CLASSIC RECREATIONS

CLASSIC RECREATIONS IN YUKON CATERS TO CLIENTS WORLDWIDE WHO LOVE MUSCLE CARS AND POSSESS AN INNATE NEED FOR SPEED. BUT SOMETIMES THE NEW OWNERS’ REACTIONS TO THE STUNNING AND POWERFUL SHELBY SPEED DEMONS CREATED BY OWNER JASON ENGEL AND CREW ARE COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED. “We had a client fly in from Maine to view his Shelby, and once he started the car he did a huge donut in the parking lot here at our facility,” Engel said. “Tire smoke was boiling out everywhere and our employees’ mouths hit the ground. That was a huge shock.” Classic Recreations opened in 2004 and has since restored and crafted more than 150 custom sports cars, mostly classic Ford Mustangs. They’ve been delivered to movie stars and pro athletes and to places as far away as Russia and Sri Lanka. Classic Recreations’ premier and most powerful model is the Shelby GT500CR 900S, which sells for around $200,000. It can tap 750 or more horsepower running on 91 octane – something of an engineering marvel given the power-generating limits of gas station fuels. This roadrunner has hit 191 mph and roars from zero to 60 in 3.5 seconds. Engel himself owns two Shelby models. He grew up in Yukon surrounded by muscle cars that his father sold. He was not unknown to local law enforcement. He says driving a true muscle car is “almost euphoric.” “I have had a fair share of speeding tickets in my lifetime here in Oklahoma, but the older I get the more cautious I become,” he said. “At one point as a teenager, driving my modified Mustang, I had over 13 tickets on my record.” OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 37

MONSCIERGE

A Company Worth Checking Out YOU WON’T NECESSARILY SEE THE MONSCIERGE BRAND DURING YOUR NEXT LUXURY HOTEL STAY, BUT THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE THE OKLAHOMA CITY TECH STARTUP WILL MAKE YOUR VISIT TERRIFICALLY MORE ENJOYABLE. Since its launch in 2009, the rapidly growing company has been knocking out home runs (its headquarters is across the street from Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark) in the hotel industry. Twelve of the world’s top 15 brands are clients, including Marriott, Doubletree and specialty groups such as NYLO in Dallas. Monscierge creates guest experience software that’s usually branded under the hotel chain’s name. As a traveler, you may be closer to home than you think if you’re tapping a 42-inch Virtual Concierge touchscreen in a Novotel lobby overseas. If a hotel offers a smartphone app to order room service, book excursions, check out and more, Monscierge probably wrote the app for that.

Hundreds of hotels across the globe – from Los Amigos Beach Club on Spain’s Southern coast to the downtown New York City Marriott – have adopted the tech-savvy, innovative ideas dreamed up by the 36-employee company. The firm is already dipping into a future growth area in the health care market – offering hospitality at hospitals. “We have a lot of ideas on white boards,” Chief Experience Officer Marcus Robinson said. “It’s just a matter of time and an increase in staff at this point – and not losing focus on our primary suite while we are still growing.”

COOKSHACK

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IF YOU’RE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING YOUR BARBEQUE BRISKET JUST RIGHT, IT’S PROBABLY TIME TO INVEST IN ONE OF OKLAHOMA’S BEST SMOKERS: THE $19,325 COOKSHACK FEC 750 FROM THE FAST EDDY COMMERCIAL LINE MADE IN PONCA CITY.

The Whitt’s Barbecue chain in Nashville uses more than a dozen of them to cook nearly 10,000 pounds of pork most days. As a home user, though, you could opt for the Smokette Elite, but it only handles up to 25 pounds at a time. Cookshack has been making premium-quality smokers and grills for more than five decades. Its annual sales this year will be close to $10 million – 15 percent of that in international markets, said CEO and President Stuart Powell. Powell employs three smokers at his home for different types of meats, ranging from bacon to fish. “Several years ago I was at a trade show in Germany and went to this small restaurant to have dinner,” Powell said. “They had some smoked items on their menu. I asked the waiter what they were smoking in, and he couldn’t really understand my English enough to figure out what I was talking about, so I gave him one of my business cards. About five minutes later the owner comes out and says, ‘Are you from Ponca City?’ I said yes, and he said, ‘That is where our smoker is from!’” 38 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

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Discerning Design | SPACES

LIFE CENTRAL

MANY SPACES WITHIN A HOUSE HAVE NAMES THAT AREN’T HARD TO PARSE: The room with a bed in it is the bedroom, bathtubs go in bathrooms and if a home has a sewing room, that space probably doesn’t contain a piano or pool table. So why does the spot with couches and a TV get the appellation “living room,” when so much life happens in the kitchen? They are the beating hearts that sustain and power their homes, the engines that propel their families through whatever travails await … and in the case of these five beautifully equipped domestic gems, the places to find exquisite combinations of design, functionality and decorative style. The Oklahoma County Medical Alliance’s Kitchen Tour in Nichols Hills offers live cooking demonstrations from local guest chefs (including a doozy at Culinary Kitchen), question-and-answer sessions with

By Steve Gill // Photos by David Cobb

certified kitchen designers at A Karen Black Company, luxury table settings and breathtaking floral designs – but most importantly, inspiration for living. 1503 DRURY LANE The massive ceiling beams in the remodeled and expanded kitchen, breakfast and family room of Cliff and Diane Stockton might be overwhelming in a smaller space – but here they look right at home in conjunction with the twin islands, each housing an oversized copper farm sink, gorgeously finished leathered granite countertops and ornate carvings on the corner supports. The glass doors to the partially enclosed outdoor living area help open the space up visually as well. The lanterns that hang above the islands are French, as is the plaster fireplace on the north wall – personal touches that, along with the entire design and construction, come courtesy of Anders and Terry Carlson with AC Dwellings. Keep an eye out for: The various decorative touches indicating Diane’s Francophilia – the railway signs, the canisters labeled “sucre” and “thé,” the Paris street scene painted by Antoine Blanchard, even a small Eiffel Tower sculpture near the stove.

OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 41

SPACES | Discerning Design

1712 DRAKESTONE AVENUE More counter space, more refrigeration, more storage for cooking accessories, double ovens, a beverage area for wine … this kitchen required an extensive renovation to meet the standards of homeowner (and avid cook) Dr. Terrie Gibson. Fortunately, Jennifer Machin and Leroy Estes from A Karen Black Company were up to the task, removing unnecessary decorative frills and consolidating space to produce a crisp, functional, practically perfect space. White cabinets and tile backsplashes, honed granite counters and a little sparkle from the pendant fixtures create an ideal environment for cooking and entertaining. Keep an eye out for: Visitors might not get to meet the resident dogs (though Hope is especially sweet), but Dr. Gibson’s enthusiasm for viniculture is clearly evident – a converted utility room in another part of the house is a supplementary wine storage area (including some bottles with her name on the label), and the glass vessels filled with corks make a cheerful decorative statement of past enjoyments.

1603 W. WILSHIRE BOULEVARD Light is a key element in the brand-new but classically designed kitchen in Ken and Debbie McKinney‘s 1960s home – the wash of brightness from its southern windows enhances the cheerful colors of the blown-glass lights dangling over the sink (they’re from Murano, Italy), and lights inside the glass-fronted cabinets make dishes and glassware seem almost like museum displays. State-of-the-art appliances make cooking fast and easy, while the various built-in shelves and nooks (look to either side of the stove) keep essentials close at hand in eye-catching style. The space, including its elevated ceiling, was built by Anders and Terry Carlson, but Debbie richly deserves a co-credit for the design. Keep an eye out for: A combination of interests in the framed large-scale maps of the Cote de Beaune and Cote de Nuits, two sections of the Burgundy region of France renowned for their sensational wines. 6721 AVONDALE DRIVE (not pictured) This vintage home built in 1932 has just undergone a major renovation; while maintaining its vintage charm, it now reflects the style of Jeff and Ashley Ritenour’s young family. The new open-concept kitchen’s central location gives it clean sightlines to practically all the interior and the beautiful park-like backyard. Many of its cabinets hold more than shelving; one antique French door hides the refrigerator, while another provides access to the walk-in pantry. Those signature touches, along with other “modern vintage” touches like the zinc-finished vent hood, proclaim this to be an AC Dwellings gem. Keep an eye out for: Everything! This remodel is so new that visitors on the Kitchen Tour will be among the first people to witness the results, so take a good look at the whole shebang. 42 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

Purchase Install… Design… Accessorize! DON’T MISS THIS YEAR’S OCMA KITCHEN TOUR IN NICHOLS HILLS, OCTOBER 20, 2013 Culinary Kitchen will be open from 1-5pm for chef demonstrations and tastings as part of the tour Tickets sold here at $15 in advance or $20 at the door

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SPACES | Discerning Design

6719 AVONDALE DRIVE Builder Bill Stubbs constructed this residence in 1957 for his family, which makes it especially apt that current owners Leslie and Rick Russell are family: Rick is Bill’s grandson, and spent his first night out of the hospital here. Rick, an experienced homebuilder himself, helped Leslie select design materials and finishes for their “modern ranch” home and kitchen and handled a renovation through Rick Russell Homes. The remodel emphasizes clean lines and a modern look, with a white color scheme and stainless steel accents for the room that serves as the calming center of life for their busy family of five. Keep an eye out for: Touches indicating that kids work in this kitchen too – the counters are durable, spill-resistant quartz, the island houses a pull-out stool (the better to climb up and help), treats are abundant and even some of the cookbooks are aimed at younger chefs.

BON APPETIT The 2013 OCMA Kitchen Tour will be held Sunday, October 20, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Suzanne Reynolds is OCMA president, Amy Bankhead is president-elect and tour chairs are Karen Gunderson and Marni Sigmon. Proceeds benefit the CARE (Child Abuse Response and Evaluation) Center and Health Alliance for the Uninsured. Tickets are available for $20 at the door, or $15 in advance at these locations: New Leaf Florist – 2500 N. May Avenue and 9221 N. Penn Place, Casady Square On A Whim – 5850 N. Classen Boulevard, Classen Curve Culinary Kitchen – 7222 N. Western Avenue A Karen Black Company – 3013 N.W. 63rd Street 42nd Street Candy Company – 4200 N. Western Avenue

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TRAVEL | Wanderlust

48 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

77 Counties: Seminole County

The

Human Wolves of Konawa

By M.J. Alexander

THE CEMETERIES SIT EAST OF KONAWA ON HIGHWAY 39, divided by the county line. Violet Springs is smaller, situated on the Pottawatomie side. Graves obscured by long grasses memorialize infants and toddlers who would be centenarians now. Tombstones remember mothers mourned, young soldiers killed in World War I and old veterans of World War II. On the Seminole County side is Konawa Cemetery, better kept and with more markers. From the west, to the left of the one-track road, is the most enigmatic gravestone in Oklahoma. At the top, a carving of heavenly gates opens to reveal a single star. Then, the following inscription: KATHERINE Dau. of J.T. & M.K. CROSS Mar. 13, 1899 Oct. 10, 1917 Below the dates when Katherine Ann Cross drew her first breath and her last is a brief epitaph, chiseled in a left-leaning script: Murdered by human wolves. Those four ominous words, carved on the orders of a grieving family 96 years ago this month, have spurred decades of tales and oft-repeated whispers. The idea that human wolves – werewolves, maybe – roam the wilds of Oklahoma has intrigued ghost-hunters and amateur detectives, historians and mystery writers. Many have imagined, or even concocted, a story behind the story.

John Taylor Cross and his wife, Mary Katherine Diehl Cross, had moved to Oklahoma with hopes for a better life for their family of 10. During the Great War, they left the Arkansas town of Vilonia in Faulkner County to head west with their four girls and four boys: Katherine, Ursie Mary, Esther, Ella, Claud, Clyde, Marvin and Raphen.

Katherine was the oldest, named for her mother and her mother before. The day she was born in 1899, a Sunday, came exactly one week before her parents’ first wedding anniversary. On the day she was buried, 18 years later, J.T. Cross had one small consolation: at least his own mother was not there to see Katherine consigned to the Oklahoma dirt. Sarah Elizabeth Godsey Cross had died two years before, and now lay buried in the Konawa Cemetery. Her husband, Absalom, had died in 1898 and was interred back in Vilonia. There was an empty plot beside Sarah in Konawa, and that is where young Katherine was laid to rest. Shortly after Katherine’s funeral, the front page of the Shawnee Daily News-Herald announced an arrest and charge of first-degree murder. The Oct. 18, 1917, headline trumpets, “Under Bond, Dr. Yates to Face Murder Charge; Konawa Physician Arrested Following Death of Katherine Cross; Charge Death Result Criminal Operation; Doctor Is Brought to This County for Safe Keeping.” “For the second time within sixty days, Dr. A.H. Yates, a Konawa physician, is facing a charge of performing a criminal operation. On information filed by County Attorney Al G. Nichols, he was arrested at Konawa, accused of murdering Katherine Cross, pretty 18-yearold daughter of J.T. Cross, a Konawa farmer.” The newspaper reported the investigation “developed the fact that the girl would have become a mother within the next six months. Yates is accused of attempting to prevent that result. He is said to have coerced Mrs. Cross into tacit permission by telling her the girl was threatening to kill herself. The information was withheld from Cross, it is said.” The report quotes County Attorney Nichols declaring “the parents of the dead girl have told the whole awful story, and are ready to testify to the facts on the stand.” The final paragraph noted: “Another arrest is expected soon in connection with Katherine Cross’ death.” Within the week, the charge against Yates in Katherine’s death was downgraded from first-degree murder to first-degree

Editor’s Note: This is the 14th installment in a continuing series as author and photographer M.J. Alexander chronicles her travels across the state of Oklahoma.

OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 49

TRAVEL | Wanderlust

manslaughter, and the doctor was again released on $10,000 bail. As the days and months passed, no news was reported of a second arrest. On Feb. 23, 1918, Yates was acquitted of manslaughter in district court … however, this was actually a verdict for the earlier case of 18-year-old Elsie Stone, who had died two months before Katherine. Yates was arrested for committing an “illegal operation,” and apprehended by officers while singing in the choir during a revival meeting. Fred O’Neil also was arrested, charged with procuring the procedure. Friends of Stone testified that she had been impregnated by O’Neil, the married principal of the Vamoosa school where both taught. In reporting his acquittal from Wewoka under the headline “Jury Liberates Konawa Doctor,” the news article mentioned the Katherine Cross case with a cryptic line: “Another charge of the same nature is pending against Yates, but will not be tried this term at court.” No details or follow-ups were reported. The outrage, which four months earlier had gripped Konawa townspeople to the point that Yates was brought under guard to neighboring Pottawatomie County for his own protection, faded away. The Cross family never received their day in court. They relocated after Katherine’s death, moving to a farm 100 miles southwest, between Ringling and Waurika. Eleven years later, the Crosses were approached by Neely Jackson and W.T. Corbin, candidates for the office of Pontotoc sheriff. By then, the arresting officer in Katherine’s case, Deputy Fred Bowles, was sheriff of Pontotoc County. Jackson and Corbin asked 50 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

the Crosses to swear an affidavit against Bowles. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, meeting in 1931, summarized: “The affidavit secured by the defendants from J.T. Cross and his wife contained statements charging Fred Bowles co-operated with Dr. Yates and Arthur Bowles in causing an abortion upon their daughter Katherine which caused her death.” Sheriff Bowles maintained his innocence, the Pontotoc County Court found Jackson and Corbin guilty of libel and slander, and the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals upheld the conviction of a $1,000 fine each and one year in the county jail. The courts concluded there was no proof of the claims and that the failed candidates for sheriff had tried to spread gossip for political gain. There appears to be no further mention of the case of Katherine Cross. Eventually, J.T. and Mary Katherine moved to Bryan County, closer to the Arkansas border. J.T. died in the spring of 1957, one day after their 59th wedding anniversary. Mary Katherine followed the next year, at the age of 80. Today, their simple gray marker is found in the Bennington Cemetery. It contains no final statement or elaboration beyond a carved flower and vines in the upper corners, with dates of birth, death and marriage. Dr. A.H. Yates died in 1931, at the age of 64. His remains are interred in Konawa Cemetery, within view of Katherine’s tombstone. Only Katherine’s gravestone bears an epitaph. The full story behind those four words, “Murdered by human wolves,” lies buried with her, silent as the grave.

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TRAVEL | Getting Away

FOOTBALL Ann Arbor is home to the University of Michigan. You can’t miss it: The central campus sits on the corner of downtown like a giant spider whose legs spread out between buildings and homes. Standing in the center of town and looking south on Main Street, you’ll see the Holy of Holies – the football stadium. Affectionately known as the “Big House,” it’s the largest in the United States, with an official capacity of 109,901. It’s been known to hold as many as 113,000. As popular as the games are, unless you hit a weekend featuring Michigan State, Ohio State or Notre Dame, your chances of getting a ticket are good. The university is as valuable as it is inescapable. Among the several Ann Arbor campuses, the university serves 43,000 students. It boasts top-notch faculty, houses excellent museums and adds greatly to the diversity of the community. It contributes in so many ways – through the arts, in the demand for great and varied cuisine and in the rich intellectual life it encourages. 52 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

AND PLENTY MORE

By Elaine Warner

From top: The University of Michigan Stadium, aptly named the “Big House” // Scoring is never sweeter than against Ohio State.

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Art at UM takes several forms. The traditional Museum of Art consists of a classic 1910 structure and a contemporary addition, and its holdings range from traditional to modern and from European and American works to African and Asian creations.

produces works of Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Comfort Tiffany and Charley Harper. Other galleries of interest include: • Clay Gallery: Representing 18 local ceramicists and potters.

• Frita Batidos: Lunch here has to rank as one of my best experiences. Owner Eve Aronoff pays homage to Cuban street food with her fritas (burger equivalents) and batidos (tropical milkshakes). • Gratzi: Italian, of course – it combined great choices with a cool venue, once a movie palace, and boasts iPad menus where a touch of the finger brought up photos and details about each dish.

• WSG Gallery: Representing contemporary regional artists in many media including paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, ceramics and art glass. • Selo-Shevel Gallery: Focuses on international folk art and textiles, and has branched into American crafts, fine jewelry and blown glass. • Ann Arbor Art Center: An organization over 100 years old that offers classes, public exhibitions and a superb sales gallery.

THE SHOW GOES ON

PHOTOS: MICHIGAN FOOTBALL AND UM MUSEUM OF ART COURTESY VISITANNARBOR.COM, MOTAWI TILEWORKS AND GRATZI BY ELAINE WARNER

Motawi Tileworks

Outdoor art is a major feature on the North Campus. Take off your shoes and really get in touch with Maya Lin’s Wave Field, a 90-foot-square space with grassy undulations, or ponder the complexities of Alice Aycock’s large steel sculpture “Summaries of Arithmetic through Dust Including Writing Not Yet Printed.” Or, just enjoy the straightforwardness of Dan Heikkinen’s bronze and stone “Wolverine.” My favorite art spot was Motawi Tileworks, which handcrafts beautiful tiles for both decorative elements and stand-alone pieces. Owner Nawal Motawi creates many of the designs, but the company also works with other contemporary artists including Gary Phillips and Yoshiko Yamamoto, and

I’m not a diehard Woody Allen fan, but I loved “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” and Jeff Daniels could make my heart throb any day. Native to the area, he founded the Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea (just west of Ann Arbor), and serves as its executive director in addition to his work as an actor and playwright. In fact, Daniels wrote the first play of its 20132014 season, a comedy called “The Vast Difference.” The theater season consists of four plays, staged over 43 weeks, seven shows a week. Whew! The community supports a number of live theaters: In downtown Ann Arbor you’ll find the Performance Network Theatre and, on the North Campus, UM’s Arthur Miller Theatre. Ann Arbor is also an important player in the contemporary pop music scene, and home to Ghostly International and Quite Scientific Records. One of its hottest venues is The Ark, a non-profit home

Gratzi – great food, Italian ambiance.

• Vellum: Chef/owner Peter Roumanis gives American dishes an international touch, and the artistic presentation heightens the gustatory experience. • Conor O’Neill’s Traditional Irish Pub: lots of choices, including some real authentic dishes. The interior could have been imported straight from the Auld Sod, and much was: Stone for the floors came from an island off the Kerry coast and Irish stonemasons built the fireplace. • Mani Osteria: Another great Italian choice. • The Earle: French and Italian provincial cooking with a wine list of over 1,200 selections. Winner of Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence” for 21 years – all complemented with live jazz five nights a week. Ann Arbor has it all in a walkable downtown. And shopping isn’t neglected here, either. I didn’t know what to expect before I visited this Michigan gem. I couldn’t have imagined a more delightful destination … and there’s football. OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 53

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Resilience in Adversity

Behavioral psychiatrist Dr. R. Murali Krishna is president and COO of Integris Mental Health, as well as co-founder and president of the James L. Hall Jr. Center for Mind, Body and Spirit. The following excerpt, part of an ongoing series, is from his recent book, “Vibrant: To Heal and Be Whole,” co-authored by Kelly Dyer Fry, in which Dr. Krishna recounts the difficult journey of his own life and uses those experiences to encourage readers toward choosing to become happier, more purposeful people.

TERROR IN MY CITY IT WAS APRIL 19, 1995. Murali started his day with a tennis match. Like many Oklahomans, he was going about his business – tennis, shower, packing a suitcase for a flight later that day. As chief of staff, he had planned a retreat to Houston for the leadership of Saint Anthony Hospital. Murali didn’t know Timothy McVeigh was threading a Ryder truck slowly through traffic in downtown Oklahoma City. He didn’t know evil was descending upon his city. He didn’t know a bomb was about to explode, forever altering the course of so many lives. And end the lives of 168 people, including 19 children at a day care center. He didn’t know his world would change that day. No one did. It was 9:02 a.m. “I heard and felt the loud boom. [His wife] Sam’s parents were here visiting. My father-inlaw walked outside to see if he could see anything. We did not know what it was. But a few minutes later the hospital called and said there had been an explosion.” Who? What? Where? When? WHY? All questions, no answers. He first went to the scene of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The homemade truck bomb had sheared away half the building. People were running. Not running away from the building, but running toward it. “You normally see people fleeing a scene like that, but that was not the case. The police had a hard time keeping people out. They would sneak back in and try to help.” Chaos. Terror. It became clear to Murali that he was most needed at the hospital. Being the closest hospital, St. Anthony would soon be overrun with patients. Within minutes, the halls filled with nurses, staff members and doctors of every specialty. They all showed up. And so did the injured. The streets around St. Anthony were filled with throngs of people. The injured were streaming in and their injuries were severe. Deep cuts, severed arteries, missing eyes, burns – injuries more in line with a war zone than the streets of a Midwestern state capital.

How could this happen? Why? Murali prayed throughout the day. “God give us strength to help these people.” Patients. More patients. The seasoned psychiatrist was taking note of what he would later define as a very strange phenomenon. “People were not arguing and making demands. Many of the patients were offering to let others go before them. It was strangely quiet.” Murali knows that people in pain often panic, but that was not the case on that sunny April morning. “Everyone had a job to do and they were doing it.” As chief of staff, Murali began getting phone calls from other doctors wanting to help. Dr. Jay Shurley showed up and added a sense of calmness to the situation for Murali. He had seen mass injuries in war. He and Murali discussed the emotional devastation that would hold victims in a vise-like grip for days, weeks and even years to come. It would spread beyond victims to family members, friends and people around the world. The stranglehold of terror descended upon the United States when people everywhere came to the realization that they could wake up one day, go to work and never return to their families. They could be sitting in an office one moment and descend into a mass of dust and steel the next. Terror. Dr. Krishna and his team set up a room in the basement of the behavioral health area of the hospital to allow victims and their families a place to share, a place to decompress. “They just needed to share with one another. There was so much anxiety.” Rescue soon turned to recovery. But what happened in Oklahoma City was nothing short of a miracle. Every need was met for the rescue and recovery workers. A steady stream of volunteers kept the makeshift camp running smoothly. Meals were cooked, clothes were cleaned, beds were made. Even haircuts were

offered. Workers came from across the country to painstakingly remove debris bit by bit. It was the largest crime scene in U.S. history. The collective soul of Oklahoma was battered. But it would rise. “I have seen it with my own eyes. We may be obese, have heart problems and dental problems, but Oklahomans are the kindest people on earth. We are Oklahomans for the rest of our lives. We will be very much a part of society here for generations to come. I have seen acts of kindness, acts of compassion – nowhere could top it.” The first three days were a blur for Murali – for all Oklahomans. Days began before sunrise and lasted into the next day. The media were hungry for information. Interview requests were mounting. Murali was interviewed by networks and media outlets from all over the world. His family and friends in India read about him and followed the news coverage. Sam fielded calls from them as Murali spent hours upon hours at the hospital. At the end of the third night, Murali made his way slowly to his car on the first level of the parking garage. Another doctor approached him and asked a simple question. “He said to me, ‘Murali, how do you do it? I know you are tired and you want to go home, but I want to ask you a question. What makes you so good?’ I was taken aback. I told him I don’t know how good I am, lots of people I know work really hard too.” The doctor pressed further. “He said, ‘Murali, people trust you, they like you. What makes you different? I want you to think about it.’ I laughed it off and got in my car.” He was weary from the day, but it was nice to get a compliment. But the question lingered for a bit. “I thought maybe I am just lucky with opportunity; maybe I had good mentors. I didn’t really know.” He drove home, walked inside and had his dinner. Sam always keeps his dinner no matter how late he stays at the hospital. Exhausted from a long day, he went to bed and fell fast asleep. Then his eyes popped open. Awake. “I just woke up all of a sudden. It was like a light bulb went on. I realized it was not because of my education or my mentors or my intelliOCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 55

COMMUNITY | From India to Oklahoma City

gence. I knew people who had better education and were smarter than me. The reason I succeeded was because of my mother. I had learned to connect to the pain and distress of others. I had genuine empathy of the heart.” It was as if Amma’s suffering somehow made sense now. Murali realized he had

grown into the doctor he was at that moment because of his mother’s illness – her sacrifice. The world started to change for Murali. He was previously on a path to finish out his career in a decade or two, retire comfortably and enjoy his golden years. But the spirit of Oklahomans, the spirit displayed

by mankind in the wake of despicable acts of terror, grabbed Murali on a very deep level and pushed him. It pushed him to find new ways of helping Oklahomans. It pushed him to do more. It pushed him to be vibrant. It pushed him to pray to God every day. “God, please use me up before you take me.”

Dr. R. Murali Krishna on

THE GOODNESS OF HUMANITY AND RESILIENCY RESILIENT PEOPLE ARE EVERYDAY PEOPLE who rise to the occasion when faced with a challenge, change or adversity. We all have the capability to be resilient and do extraordinary things. Barriers. We are separated by many barriers. Busy lives. Self-absorption. Daily routines. Barriers of race. Barriers of religion and politics. But when tragedy strikes, we reach across those barriers. We connect with each other. Man to man. Spirit to spirit. That is the true nature of humanity. At our core, we are nurturing, caring human beings. We have the ability to put our own needs, comforts and concerns on the back burner. We can reach out to another human being and help. The suffering human who needs help takes priority over everything else. That’s when the barriers are broken. That’s when we are at our best. Someday you may be called upon to pull someone from a crumbled building. Or it may be something as simple as carrying your neighbor’s groceries into the house. Acts of kindness cross barriers. They tap into our inner hero. FROM THE DARKNESS After the Oklahoma City bombing, the range of raw emotions within our community was palpable. Anger was strong. Anger toward the bombers. Anger over our shattered innocence. Anger toward God. Why us? Why here? Why now? Why would God let this happen? When something of value is taken from you, it is natural to ask difficult and challenging questions. Being angry with our Creator is normal. If you didn’t believe in Him, you couldn’t be angry with Him. It is like being angry with a parent. We have the expectation that we will be taken care of because we are loved. Many people believe God shields us from pain. But no one will be shielded from all pain. Every life experiences pain and loss – usually multiple times. What God gives us is strength to handle our pain. With God’s help, we can cope. We can overcome. The human spirit is resilient. We can all find resiliency within ourselves. Resiliency is the transformative process in life 56 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

that changes the dark coal of adversity into a brilliant clear diamond of strength. It is the force that energizes us to grow through adversity or change by discovering our own resources, abilities and strengths. It is a process that we all possess. Resiliency comes to us in varying degrees at different times of our life. If we look back at our lives, we can find pain and obstacles that seemed insurmountable at the time. For example, a grieving widow may see little reason to go on. But as time passes, little by little, she gains strength. The resiliency of the human spirit is a beautiful sight to behold. People visibly transform when they make the decision to go on – to keep living. They choose life. For some people, the decision is made quickly. For others, it may take months. There is no timetable or deadline – it varies by the individual. Resilient people are generally optimistic and seek out joy in even small things. They notice the bluebird or the laughing child. They not only notice small things, they look for them. The resilient have humility and hope. They look for things to be grateful for and make every attempt to connect with others. They nurture relationships and seek out a network of support. If people are experiencing a loss of death or divorce, they often build a network of friends with whom to share their ups and downs. Don’t be afraid to venture out. Support groups can open your mind to new approaches and ideas. You don’t always have to share your own feelings in a support group. Just go and listen until you are ready to share. People who are resilient do not dwell on what others think of them. They give themselves permission to find their own way on their own time. They have self-respect. Self-acceptance. The resilient fundamentally know they need to take care of themselves. They make it a point to exercise and eat healthy. They choose how and where to direct their energy. It is important to make conscious decisions about your health and well-being. One of the most important aspects of resiliency is to practice patience. Be patient with yourself. During times of great challenge, it is important to tolerate a degree of uncertainty.

You may not have all the answers that you are looking for, but you can still have faith that your journey will improve with time. Even the greatest of sorrows loses energy over the course of time. LEARNING THE ART OF SELF-TALK CAN HELP WITH NEGATIVE THOUGHTS Recognize the negative thought and make a decision to stop it. Distract yourself or redirect your energy. Practice removing yourself from the negativity. Detach and disengage. Write and share with others. It is important to take steps and be proactive. Go for a walk or do something with your hands. Science has shown us that working with your hands can ease your stress level. Resilient people are everyday people who rise to the occasion when faced with a challenge, change or adversity. We all have the capability to be resilient and do extraordinary things. I saw Oklahomans rise beyond their abilities to help their fellow man after the bombing. They discovered a purpose greater than themselves. They reached across the barriers we face every day and placed their hand in the hand of someone in need. This is the goodness of humanity. We are at our best when we reach out to someone in need. Oklahoma walked through dark days in April of 1995. We cried together. Our collective spirit was hurting. But we joined hands and are now stronger as a community. When we go beyond healing and rise to new levels, we become vibrant. I am proud to call Oklahoma City my home.

Proceeds from “Vibrant: To Heal and Be Whole” endow the Dr. R. Murali Krishna Family Eliminate the Stigma Award. Visit sliceok.com/ vibrant to order ($24.99) and receive a complimentary copy of Dr. Krishna’s “Natural Relaxation” CD while supplies last. Find Dr. Krishna online: web: drkrishna.com // fb: rmkrishnamd // tw: @drrmkrishna

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MINGLING | On the Town

DANCING FOR A MIRACLE Photos by Justin Avera

Local celebrities take fundraising for a spin – and a twirl, and a dip – in the Children’s Hospital Foundation’s sixth annual high-stepping gala that raised $165,000 for improving young lives.

Mitzi and Sheriff John Whetsel, Jan and Dennis Dunham

John and Robyn Woods

Aly Akers, Kelsey Griswold

Cliff and Diane Stockton

MIDSUMMER NIGHTS’ FAIR Photos by Claude Long

Paul Pfrehm, Michael Lombardo, Mariah Gillespie Dan Nealy, Sherry Shofner

Their revels now are ended, but while it lasted it was an outstanding set of artists, musicians, food vendors and fun-havers brought together in Lions Park by the Firehouse Art Center. Jamie Lim, Jane Lawson, Hannah Harrell

Heather Glenn, Grayce Glenn

JIM THORPE COURAGE AWARDS Photos by Claude Long

The annual Integris gala honors the exceptional grace, bravery and strength of spirit of three rehabilitation patients and raises nearly $600,000 for future support and improvements.

Yvette Bruff, Judge Bob Lake Grove

Samuel Clark, Pam Forducey, Jim Igo

Keith Wilton 58 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

Jan Peery, Gov. Mary Fallin, Desmond Mason and Dr. Al Moorad unveiling a tribute to the late Chad Peery

More photos, gifts, reprints ... all at sliceok.com

YWCA BREAKFAST Photos by Claude Long

Men should be part of the conversation on domestic violence too – that’s why the YWCA of Greater OKC hosts the Engaging Men breakfast to share stories, seek solutions and raise nearly $55,000 for public service. Gary Desjardins, John Goetz, Joe Jondahl

Tim, Juliann, Marylee and Katylee Strange Tempie Farmer, Dan Martel, Debbie Schramm

Doug and Carolyn Chancellor, Sandy Mitchell

Sara Smith, Kasey Boes, Joe Pointer, Lisa Synar

CASINO FLORALE Photos by Wendy Mutz

Mike Turpen, Lisa Tutt, Jan Peery, Reggie Cook

The evening is filled with food, drinks and games of chance, but the result of a more attractive city is a sure thing – OKC Beautiful’s casino-themed fundraiser netted $16,000 for appearance-improving programs.

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THE BIG TASTE OF NORMAN Photos courtesy TapSnap

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma treats guests to “A Night in New Orleans” with music, masquerades and thoroughly incredible food.

Julia Chew, Deidra Peters, Casey Vinyard

Clay Bennett, Shannon Presti, Bill Russell

OK SPORTS HALL OF FAME Photos by Justin Avera

Stars and fans gather at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum to dine, swap stories and laud the seven newest members of the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

Mac and Shannon Maddox Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 59

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Looking and Feeling Good | PRACTICAL MATTERS

BALANCING HOLIDAYS AND OUR HEALTH By Gale Johnson, N.D.

There are some things in life we can escape, but holidays and stress are not on the list. Just thinking about the worries of finances or family obligations during the season can trigger emotions and behaviors in each of us. I get anxious seeing all the holiday décor displayed after the July 4 festivities. Goblins, turkeys and snowmen all bundled together into an already hurried world … ugh. I prefer one holiday at a time. We can learn to tame the effects of visual overstimulation, harried crowds and political differences at the Christmas table by being proactive and protective, and by learning emotional response techniques and some simple preventive stress aids. Try to become more aware of what heightens your nervous system’s response, and then Pause, Inhale, Relax, Reflect and Act. As we practice this in our everyday life, we can start controlling our levels of cortisol, a nasty little stress-triggered hormone whose gradual buildup can weaken the immune system, hinder concentration, cause sleeplessness and depression, elevate blood pressure, suppress thyroid function, affects blood sugar levels and decrease bone density. Yikes! Fortunately, we can practice mental control daily to build up our vagus nerve (which controls how we react to stress) and tone it just like toning up muscles. By being aware of our emotional responses, we can stimulate the activity of other hormones (catecholamines) that help our physical health by keeping our systems balanced. This equilibrium we all yearn for is not like balancing on a tight wire. We can achieve emotional and physical wellness with organized practice. If we desire peak performance in jobs, hobbies, activities and family, we must take time to develop this stability. You do have time! Here are some prime areas to consider:

Try to eat something small before a holiday party to control the urge to snack. We all tend to pamper ourselves with a few too many “Cheers!” because of all the season’s social events and parties, so take care to pace yourself, drink water between each cocktail and stick to a limit. If you are in a large social circle, it’s OK not to make every engagement. It would be like running a marathon every other day. It can’t be done without injury. Take a walk in the daylight hours to get a good dose of vitamin D, and it is always a good habit to walk after dinner with a friend or family member. Walking with a pal or spouse is a valuable and easy healthy habit. For energy in the morning, a tablespoon of honey delivers vigor and important antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Mangoes are wonderful for altering blood chemistry to calm the body. Just a whiff of citrus can rejuvenate your senses also – make a large pitcher of spring water or carbonated water and slice up a cucumber, grapefruit, lemon, mint sprig, lime and pomegranate. It’s great for detoxing and refreshing. Sticking to a clean diet free of refined foods during November and December is a sure way to keep from packing on those extra pounds.

ORGANIZATION

Keep it real. Remember what you can do physically and financially, and ask for help if needed. Let go of over-the-top expectations with gifts and decorating, and set your own trend. Get creative and make homemade goods and music, or send e-cards online to save time and money. Send money to someone’s favorite charity if you can’t figure out what to buy for someone. There can be too much emphasis on gift buying, when most people (with the exception of kids) really just want peace, family and fellowship.

DIET AND EXERCISE

Don’t compromise your daily routine of exercise and eating right, especially around the holidays. Indulging is what we need to modify this time of year: Oversizing everything places stress on the pocketbook as well as our psychological and physical well-being. We need to be alert and ready. OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 61

PRACTICAL MATTERS | Looking and Feeling Good

EMOTION

Think positive. This isn’t easy for everyone during this time of year; this could be the first holiday you are alone or ill. Don’t discount your feelings during this poignant and reflective time. Make new traditions, call a friend for lunch and engage in laughter when possible. Laughing has long-term effects of fighting stress, improving mood, relieving pain and increasing oxygen levels (which stimulates the heart). Remember that this is a time of gratitude. Putting a smile on the faces of those around us (especially the less fortunate) is an outstanding gift.

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Meditate just 10 minutes a day. If you are not sure about meditation and just can’t seem to relax, try listening to Hemi-Sync music. It’s a patented audio process containing binaural beats and sound waves that synchronize the two hemispheres of our brain. It can help with many physical and mental difficulties. Omharmonics is another sound-based meditation enhancement program using binaural beats – you can try them both out on YouTube. Take a 20-minute self-break: Fill the tub, add Epsom salts, lavender or rose essential oil and soak. Reflecting in a relaxed atmosphere is essential for the body but helps to collect your thoughts at the end of the day. Playing with your pets, reading or any noncompetitive activity you love can always create a tranquil mood. Health aids like massage, Reiki and reflexology can be beneficial for circulation and pain reduction. When you work hard physically or mentally, these treats are valuable to aid fatigue and mental exhaustion. Hoku is a traditional Chinese acupressure point you can use on yourself to relieve mental stress and physical pain. It is located on the fleshy muscle between your thumb and index finger. Place your thumb on the point, angling in a bit toward the bone, and your index finger opposite it, on the other side of the hand. The point may be tender, but hold for 15 seconds to one minute, then switch hands. Make sure you breathe deeply, as the oxygen will help relieve the pain as well. A drop of lavender can be added to the pressure point, since it is an analgesic. In fact, keeping lavender essential oil by your bedside is beneficial – the scent induces relaxation and reduces pain. Melatonin or 5-HTP are great supplements to help regulate sleep cycles, alleviate anxiety and treat Seasonal Affective Disorder. Both are effective in increasing production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine that stimulate the noradrenergic receptors in the brain. These are non-addictive hormone supplements that assist with regulating other hormones and maintain the body’s circadian rhythm. This toolbox of simple health tips can keep our spirits engaged in the joys of the season and not the anxieties. Take a deep breath … relax … the holidays are coming. Gale Johnson, N.D. (Doctor of Natural Medicine) is a Form and Function Pilates C.P.F.T., has a B.S. in Holistic Nutrition and is certified in Energy Medicine and Homeopathy.

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I <3 THE LITTLE APPLE IN MY EVERYDAY LIFE, I connect to computers from remote locations. I decided to purchase the iPad Mini as a way of reducing the load I have to carry while maintaining the ability to work remotely from anywhere without lugging my laptop with me. I have to say Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very happy with the decision. The iPad Mini is two inches smaller in height and width than the iPad 2, and is about half the weight. It has an improved screen and runs all the apps the iPad 2 runs in a smaller package. Even with the smaller screen, I can see desktops in the browser and run apps just as easily as I could using the iPad 2. Having owned and used both the Kindle Fire and the iPad Mini, I would say the feel and interface of the iPad is much better. The reduced cost of $329 (MSRP) for the iPad Mini positions Apple well for cutting into the Kindleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s market. The iPad Mini has about 10 hours of battery life, and with my portable Bluetooth keyboard, it works well for me as a laptop replacement.

For those times when extra power is needed, I have found a couple of new battery options: The Powerocks Magic Cube 6000mAh portable battery has the ability to recharge any device that attaches to a USB or mini USB connector. Available in several colors, it gives you the power to recharge your tablet or phone without an electrical outlet. Alternately, the Lepow Moonstone has a different look and design from the Powerocks Magic Cube, but fulfills much the same function with dual output and 3000mAh storage. To replace the mouse and to give me better fine control on the screen of the iPad, I tried the new GoSmart Stylus 200. While the shape of the tip takes some getting used to, it gives you the same fine motor control you have with a pen and paper. I love it for moving around the screen and for letting people sign my iPad credit card receipts with a real signature. 64 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

PURSUITS Gourdness Gracious!

CARL SHORTT JR.

Crafts, games, tasty treats and a bumper crop of fun await kids and families as fall celebration Pumpkinville returns to the Myriad Gardens. See page 68.

TOP 10 Prime starting points for making the most of the month 66

SPOTLIGHT The OKC Balletâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s literary-themed season gets off to a wild start 70

SEE & DO The music, theater, visual arts and other delights of October 72 OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 65

PURSUITS | High Points

The Top By Steve Gill

IT’S A BIG, BUSY METRO OUT THERE – IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT TO EVERYTHING, HERE’S WHERE TO START. BETTER TOGETHER

October 4, Festival Market Place When some people see a problem, they try to fix it: small charity Edmond Mobile Meals has been helping feed the elderly, disabled and homebound for almost 40 years. But more gets done when people combine, so share and enjoy at the first EdFest, featuring beers from local breweries, tasty bites from food trucks and live music by guest fiddle maestro Kyle Dillingham.

RICH TAPESTRY

October 4, OKC Civic Center To start its 45th season, Canterbury Choral Society is pulling out all the stops: Over 300 singers, including world-class soloists Penelope Shumate, Jeffrey Picon and Brandon Hendrickson, plus the power of the OKC Philharmonic, and a 3-D computer-assisted “projection map” of a spontaneous live painting by artist Chad Mount. This unprecedented, multi-layered performance of “Carmina Burana” is a stroke of great good fortune for metro aesthetes.

SOLID GOLD ENTERTAINMENT

October 4, Skirvin Hilton The hue and the concept will both get a workout at this epic event celebrating Lyric Theatre’s 50th anniversary: “One Singular Sensation” is the theme for the annual Broadway Ball, featuring auction treasures, décor heady with gilded glory and knockout live performances from “A Chorus Line” by Lyric’s finest. Enjoy the show, and here’s to 50 more.

THE (OTHER) LAND OF THE FREE

October 5-January 5, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Inspired by the Cold War-era promotion of forward-thinking Latin American art, the Fred explores creations of Soto, Matta, Joaquin Torres Garcia and more in “Libertad de Expresion” – the exhibit is accompanied by packs of extras, including a day symposium, gallery talk, mini-festival of Latin films, Dia de los Muertos street festival and more – check online for times and details. Viva la Creatividad! 66 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

“Eiffel Tower” by Andre Tutak

The Color and the Shape

Through October 19, Howell Gallery Fused glass creations in bursts of bright jewel tones by Suzanne Wallace Mears, dynamic metal sculpture by Marko Kratohvil, a glittering oil-and-acrylic rainbow of paintings by Bennett Berry, Dennis Johnson, Andre Tutak and David Branch … six OKC artists bring their individual perspectives on the title elements in their works to the resplendent group show “A Study of Form and Color.”

Winds of Change October 6, Santa Fe Depot

The summer’s gone; the ceaseless music of the season is dropping into the quieter and more introspective realm of cooler weather. That means it’s time for Norman’s Performing Arts Studio to resume its Winter Wind concert series, and the first guest is someone familiar with the concept of ceaseless music: Guitarist and singer/ songwriter Ari Hest is a constant conduit for sonic self-expression.

PHOTOS: HUNGARIAN STATE FOLK ENSEMBLE COURTESY ARMSTRONG AUDITORIUM, ARI HEST BY SHERVIN LAINEZ

SOOIE SOIREE

October 17, Midtown OKC That little piggy was delicious. And so was that one. And that one. Basically, bacon tastes good – and when you turn some talented metro chefs loose to create themed specialty food items, and use those to fuel a Midtown fundraiser along with drinks, music, auction items and a raffle, it’s so good they had to do it again: 6 Degrees of Bacon is back.

A TEASE TO PLEASE

ISTEN HOZOTT TO THE BIG SHOW

October 7, Armstrong Auditorium The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble was established in 1951, which is a pretty impressive time span … but the duration of their inspiration totally dwarfs that six decades, as their colorful costumes, intoxicating music and energetic choreographies are drawn from traditions stretching back centuries. The Ensemble displays the soul of a people in an evening of spectacle – they don’t make ’em like this anymore.

October 18-27, Sooner Theatre If you’re out of work and low on funds, and your friends are counting on you, sometimes it’s simply your duty to show off your booty. And whatever else you’re packing. Dance professor Lyn Cramer choreographs and co-stars, and OU School of Drama Director Tom Orr helms the production, as the Sooner Theatre prepares to give audiences “The Full Monty.”

JOY TO THE METRO

October 30-November 2, Cox Center It’s the most wonderful time of the year for people hoping to enjoy the holidays with their shopping already done – thanks to the Junior League of Oklahoma City’s massive, magnificently merry Mistletoe Market. Now in its 22nd year, the bazaar features over 125 vendors offering a vast array of gifts, seasonal décor, clothing and accessories, food, jewelry and plenty more; exploring is practically a party in itself. OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 67

PURSUITS | Spotlight

FEELING PUMPED By Steve Gill // Photos by Carl Shortt Jr.

ORANGE IS THE NEW BACKGROUND, and the shade at the forefront of the new seasonal makeover at the Myriad Gardens this month – a smash hit returns in the second annual Pumpkinville. The event transforms the Children’s Garden into a new world to explore October 12-31. As marketing director Christine Eddington puts it, “Pumpkinville is the Myriad Botanical Garden’s celebration of all things fall: pumpkin decorating, cider pressing, corn husk doll making and a not-too-scary Halloween party are all on tap for families.” In its first year, the event won the Outstanding Children’s Attraction or Event from the Frontier Country Marketing Association, and organizers have been inspired to make it even better; that means entertaining games, crafts and activities, a hay bale maze, spooky storytelling events … and even more pumpkins. How many? Try 3,000 of the namesake gourds. There’s plenty to experience every day, but if you can only manage one visit, make it October 26 – for the Pumpkinville Halloween Party (woooOOOOooo!). Guests will sample spooky witches’ brew and other treats that might or might not be haunted, while participating in a variety of fun games and activities, and jamming out to seasonal favorites like “Monster Mash.” Costumes optional … but encouraged. When the event ends, as all good things must, the stars of the show can’t go back into storage to wait for next year – so organizers offer the chance for them to go home with visitors. October 31 is the Great Pumpkin Haul: For a nominal fee ($5 for members and $10 for nonmembers), guests can tote away and keep as many pumpkins as they can carry in one load. The whole shebang is presented by OGE Energy Corp., and is one of the gardens’ primary fundraisers – and a whole lot of fun in its own right. Visit myriadgardens.org or call 445.7080 for membership information, and pump(kin) up your fall. 68 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

FALL FUN TIMES Pumpkinville open October 12-31 Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday - Saturday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. General Pumpkinville admission Free for members $5 per person non-members Pumpkins for painting $5 each Halloween Party Saturday, October 26, 6-8 p.m. Free for members $10 per child and $8.50 per adult for non-members

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OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 69

PURSUITS | Spotlight

THE 2013-’14 SEASON October 11-13 Mowgli: The Jungle Book Ballet A new season begins with a new experience for viewers: In fact, this is only its second staging ever. Adventure and discovery lie in wait in this feast for the eyes and ears, featuring choreography by Toni Pimble, richly detailed sets and immense puppets designed by Emmywinner Gregory Crane, gorgeous masks and costumes by Jonna Hayden and Lynn Bowers and intoxicating rhythm and movement from the OKC dancers in this engrossing adaptation of Kipling’s classic tales of the jungle boy and his animal brethren. December 13-15 and 20-22 The Nutcracker Entire volumes have been written about the E.T.A. Hoffmann story of a wooden toy and the immensely popular ballet that it inspired – suffice it to say that Clara’s dream journey is the best kind of holiday tradition, perennially fresh and familiar at the same time. Especially with the OKC Philharmonic expertly providing the marvelous Tchaikovsky score. February 7-9 Carmen et al. – A Triple Bill A brand-new production of Prosper Mérrimée’s gypsy revels - choreographed by the OKC Ballet’s own Jacob Sparso – is the linchpin of an evening that also provides a duet of additional delights: The Oklahoma premiere of the glittering work “Rubies,” a collaboration between Stravinsky and Balanchine, and the world premiere of an as-yetunknown piece by contemporary choreographer Matthew Neenan. April 18-20 Beauty and the Beast The tale as old as time (or at least the 1740 story of Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve) is new again; the OKC Philharmonic will perform a score composed by Kermit Poling to accompany Robert Mills’ choreography in a world premiere production that showcases a kind woman, a cursed prince and the romance they forge almost despite themselves. And they all danced happily ever after.

Beauty and the Beast

THE TURNING OF THE SEASON By Steve Gill

THE ROTATIONS AND REVOLUTIONS OF THE HEAVENLY BODIES have been called “the cosmic ballet,” so as the Earth moves and we proceed away from summer and into fall, it’s fitting to consider the OKC Ballet (no strangers to rotations) as they begin a new season of their own … one that’s concerned with turning pages. Literary classics leap (or jete) to life beginning this month as artistic director Robert Mills leads his troupe through a quartet of productions that turn stories “From the Page to the Stage.” “All the ballets this season (except my ‘Nutcracker’) are new to Oklahoma, and three are world premieres,” says Mills. “Yes, I think there is allure to the new, but I know for a fact there is even greater audience allure to stories.”

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TALE SPINNING

The Nutcracker

All the shows on the OKC Ballet’s plate will unfold at the OKC Civic Center – and tickets are likely to remain in high demand (the more so during this season’s new option of Friday night shows). Don’t tiptoe around the issue; call 848.TOES or visit okcballet.com for more information and personal reservations.

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OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 71

See & Do DANCE Hungarian State Folk Ensemble Oct 7 Traditional costumes, a centuries-old musical heritage and the joy of movement that unites a people characterize the colorful performance of this folkloric dance troupe. Armstrong Auditorium, 14400 S Bryant Ave, Edmond, 285.1010, armstrongauditorium.org Mowgli Oct 11-13 An astounding confluence of choreography, special effects, brilliant costumes and unbelievable puppetry form an immersive environment for the adventures of Baloo, Shere Khan and the title boy from “The Jungle Book” in OKC Ballet’s dazzling season premiere. OKC Civic Center, 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 848.8637, okcballet.com Spectrum Oct 31 Students and faculty from the OU School of Dance host a fashion show and party highlighted by live dance performance - and considering the date, it’s especially appropriate that they’re doing “Thriller.” Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 281.777.7178, ou.edu/finearts/dance

EVENTS

await in Frontier City’s massive array of holiday spook-tacle. Frontier City, 11501 N I-35 Service Rd, OKC, 478.2140, frontiercity. com OK Czech Festival Oct 5 An annual tradition that looks good, sounds good and tastes fantastic - catch the parade in downtown, the royal ball at the old Czech Hall, the rides at the carnival or everything all day. Just don’t forget to grab a kolache. Downtown Yukon, 205 N Czech Hall Rd, 354.3567, yukoncc.com Rebuilding Together Construction Derby Oct 6 All it takes is four wheels and a dream - and no motor - to compete in the 10th annual downhill dash of vehicles built from construction equipment. The day’s festivities also include a Burger Build contest, if your talents lie more that way. “No Motor Speedway”, NW 5th and Walker, OKC, 607.0464, rebuildingtogetherokc.org OKC Public Schools Wall of Fame Induction Oct 10 At a lavish awards dinner, Wanda Jackson, James Loftis and Jo Carol Cameron join an elite company of celebrities, civic leaders and philanthropic forces who share the distinction of being OKC Public Schools alumni. Skirvin Hilton, 1 Park Ave, OKC, 879.2007, okckids.com

Lecture: Running on Empty Oct 1 Manon Slome, president and chief curator of a New York organization dedicated to transforming empty urban spaces into galleries, speaks about finding ways to increase interest in “place making.” Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Dr, OKC, 951.0000, oklahomacontemporary.org

1st Friday Gallery Walk Oct 4 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 St, OKC, 525.2688, thepaseo.com ARTonTAP Oct 4 Raise a glass to raising funds for the OKC Museum of Art at this brew-riffic event featuring food, dancing, art and more than 80 beers. OKC Museum of Art, 415 Couch Dr, OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa. com Celebrity Sing Oct 4 Featuring a live auction with prizes including vacation packages and custom jewelry, The United Way of Norman’s red-carpet blowout Celebrity Sing brings talented singers and dancers to the stage for some unforgettable performances that make a huge difference in the community. Riverwind Casino, 1544 W Hwy 9, Norman, 329.2025, unitedwaynorman.org EdFest Oct 4 The one and only Kyle Dillingham headlines “Bands, Bites and Brews,” a joyous fundraiser to benefit Edmond Mobile Meals in its commitment to providing nourishment and caring for elderly or disabled citizens. Festival Market Place, 30 W 1st St, Edmond, 341.3111, edmondmobilemeals.org

6 Degrees of Bacon Oct 17 Everyone is connected - by deliciousness - in the second annual sampling of fanciful, delectable bacon-inspired food items from area restaurants and talented chefs. Midtown OKC, 1114 N Harvey Ave, OKC, 235.3500, downtownokc.com OKC Town Hall: Jack Hanna Oct 17 The venerable lecture series continues its season of bringing a world of viewpoints to the metro with a presentation filled with fun and fur in equal measure, thanks to globe-trotting animal expert Hanna and assorted zoological pals. St. Luke’s UMC, 222 NW 15th St, OKC, 826.9689, okctownhall.com Orchids in October Oct 17 Few events carry such a pop of natural splendor as the Myriad Gardens’ annual sale of the namesake flowers and luncheon honoring a longtime supporter - Avis Scaramucci in 2013 - with the Crystal Orchid award. Myriad Gardens, 301 W Reno Ave, OKC, 445.7080, myriadgardens.org

Parade of Homes Oct 19-27 From The Hill to Birnam Wood, there’s much to see in the realm of quality metro homes - tour one or all of the seven neighborhood developments on this year’s Fall Classic for ideas in design, décor or where to relocate. OKC and Edmond, 513.5710, paradeofhomesok.com

Roy Rogers antique figurine Dale Rogers Training Center 60th Oct 13, OKC

The Life Expo Oct 10-19 Whether trying to lose weight, gain knowledge or find new fashion and makeup tricks, visitors can get on the right path for a recipe to success among top quality health, beauty and fashion industry professionals and hundreds of the best health and fitness companies. Cox Center, 1 Myriad Gardens , OKC, 888.207.0987, thelifeexpo.com 2nd Friday Circuit of Art Oct 11 A monthly community-wide celebration of creativity, focused on historic Downtown Norman. Norman Arts Council, 122 E Main St, Norman, 360.1162, normanarts.org Pumpkinville Oct 12-31 Parts of it are deliciously spooky, others delectably sweet due to cider pressings and various sugary snacks - but most of all, it’s about celebrating fall as the Myriad Gardens provides crafts, a hay bale maze, storytelling and treats for all ages. Myriad Gardens, 301 W Reno Ave, OKC, 445.7080, myriadgardens.org

Lyric’s Broadway Ball Oct 4 An event as good as gold, spotlighting the many high notes of Lyric Theatre’s outstanding, entertaining 50-year history. It’ll be singularly sensational. Skirvin Hilton, 1 Park Ave, OKC, 524.9310, lyrictheatreokc.com

Dale Rogers Training Center’s 60th Oct 13 The vocational training and employment center for people with disabilities marks its 6th decade with a performance from Roy Rogers Jr. and his son Dustin Rogers, and by unveiling a new museum-quality exhibition of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans memorabilia. Dale Rogers Training Center, 2501 N Utah Ave, OKC, 946.4489, drtc.org

FrightFest Oct 4-Nov 2 Warm up your vocal cords now - plenty of gasps and shrieks

Second Sunday Poetry: Karen Kay Bailey Oct 13 A free presentation of the authors’

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Downtown Living Bike Tour Oct 15 What’s it like residing in downtown OKC? Grab a bicycle, or register to borrow one from ridesharing program Spokies, and find out on a guided tour. Native Roots Market, 131 NE 2nd St, OKC, 235.3500, downtownokc.com

Norman Library Book Sale Oct 18-21 Pick a genre - practically any genre - and treasures to tempt its most avid fans will be awaiting discovery at the annual extravaganza of literary redistribution presented by the Friends of the Library. Norman Public Library, 225 N Webster Ave, Norman, 701.2600, pioneer.lib.ok.us

Cocktails on the Skyline Oct 3-31 Fancy a drink? On Thursday evenings the museum’s roof terrace boasts a full bar, complimentary snacks and a killer view of the downtown skyline. OKC Museum of Art, 415 Couch Dr, OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa.com The Moth Mainstage Oct 3 Founded in New York but inspired by long nights spent listening to tales in the sultry South, The Moth is a nonprofit dedicated to the craft of storytelling; its road show will feature regionally specific tales and will be recorded for national broadcast. Rose State PAC, 6420 SE 15th St, Midwest City, 297.2264, rose.edu/rslive

words in her own voice, as Bailey reads from “Oklahoma Coal Fires,” “Deep Blue Waters” and “Leaving Flatland by Poetry.” Santa Fe Depot, 200 S Jones Dr, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.org

OCMA Kitchen Tour Oct 20 Five outstanding examples in kitchen design are open for exploration in this annual event benefiting the Oklahoma County Medical Alliance, featuring fabulous decorations, live cooking demonstrations and more. Nichols Hills, 245.6456, ocmsalliance.org OCU Hall of Honor Oct 23 A pentad of preeminent business and community leaders - Phil Busey, Pete Delaney, Leland Gourley, Dave McLaughlin, Polly Nichols - will be applauded at the 27th annual luncheon for OCU’s Meinders School of Business. Cox Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, OKC, 208.5540, okcu.edu/business Storybook Forest Oct 23-30 A scarefree environment for younger kids and their parents to view costumed fairytale characters, collect candy and enjoy games and treats. Arcadia Lake, 9000 E 2nd St, Edmond, 216.7471, arcadialakeok.com Champions of Fate Oct 24 The nonprofit FATE is about Fighting Addiction Through Education - its annual fundraising dinner honors those public individuals who do just that, aiding the community through substance abuse prevention. Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, 4040 N Lincoln Blvd, OKC, 202.8863, changeyourfate.org Good Neighbor Awards Oct 24 Forget good fences - good *people* make good neighbors, and the best of those groups and individuals who give of themselves to improve their neighborhoods and cities are recognized at the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma’s affair. Petroleum Club, 100 N Broadway Ave, OKC, 528.6322, nacok.org Haunt the Harn Oct 24 History gets a little bit (but not too) spooky with a trick-or-treating event at the venerable estate-turned-museum. Harn Homestead, 1721 N Lincoln Blvd, OKC, 235.4058, harnhomestead.com

Taste of Western Oct 24 Having so many toptier restaurants offering tempting tastes in so many genres along the length of Western Avenue is already a joy - putting them all in one room with auction items and refreshing wines is nigh-overwhelming. Will Rogers Theater, 4322 N Western Ave, OKC, 412.5990, visitwesternavenue.com Fuego Friday Iron Pour Oct 25 The OU School of Art and Art History will stop the world and melt with you - so stand back, because the heat is pretty intense at this outdoor party with a live demonstration of iron pouring techniques. OU Parrington Oval, 520 Parrington Oval, Norman, 325.2691, ou.edu/finearts Red Shoe Gala Oct 25 Stylish they may not be, but the big floppy red-shoed look is totally in when it comes to raising funds to help Ronald McDonald House Charities of OKC provide housing and help for families in times of medical crisis. Petroleum Club, 100 N Broadway Ave, OKC, 424.6873, rmhcokc.org Bully Dog and Custom Car Show Oct 26 The dogs are American Bully breeds, the cars are freestyle, the event is packed with entertainment for fans of both. Cox Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, OKC, okcbullyshow.com Edmond’s Got Talent Oct 26 A little song, a little dance, a deliriously entertaining evening as the community’s gifted performers (or those whose dreams outshine their actual gifts) take the stage and a shot at cash prizes. Edmond North HS, 215 W Danforth Rd, Edmond, 340.4481, edmondfinearts.com Haunt the Zoo Oct 26-31 Lions and tigers and vampire bats are everywhere - and that’s just the kids in costume. Trick-or-treaters who are wild at heart will feel right at home in this kid-friendly event. OKC Zoo, 2101 NE 50th St, OKC, 424.3344, okczoo.com Neustadt Festival Oct 29-Nov 1 Poetry, political discussions, book signings and a prestigious panel of jurors meeting to select the 2014 Neustadt International Prize for Literature mark the festival sponsored by World Literature Today, plus a keynote address from author Naomi Shihab Nye. OU Memorial Union et al., 900 Asp Ave, Norman, 325.4531, neustadtprize.org Mistletoe Market Oct 30-Nov 2 Tisn’t quite the season yet … but there’s no better opportunity to get a jump start on holiday shopping than at this festive collection of over 100 merchants’ gift items, clothing, gourmet foods and decorations. Fun times await! Cox Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, OKC, 843.5668, jloc.org Trick or Treat on the Street Oct 31 Downtown Edmond’s merchants and nonprofits make their own opportunity to get in on the holiday fun, by opening their doors to pass out candy and entertain little visitors. Downtown Edmond, 100 S Broadway, 249.9391, downtownedmondok.com

FILM The Violin Oct 6 Violins and violence are both consistent presences in the lives of a farming family secretly working to overthrow the oppressive government in this tense tale directed by Francisco Vargas. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma Clandestine Childhood Oct 8 1979 was a dirty time in Argentina, but still rewarding for young Juan - even though he and his family are exiles, returned to the country under false names and fighting the ruling junta. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma The Colors of the Mountain Oct 9 Soccer is more than a game for Manuel and Julian; the boys use their obsession to distract themselves from the violence engulfing their native Colombia. So when their ball rolls into a minefield, getting it back is a must … somehow. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma

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PURSUITS | See & Do

GALLERIES A Study of Form and Color Through Oct 19 An all-star lineup of the gallery’s OKC artists combine their gifts to explore creative concepts: 4 painters, 2 sculptors, myriad viewpoints. Howell Gallery, 6432 N Western Ave, OKC, 840.4437, howellgallery.com Mark Fox Through Oct 26 Anxiety and feelings of loss are natural reactions in the wake of uncontrollable destruction, but Fox tries to embrace the potential for renewal in his sculptures and installations. [Artspace] at Untitled, 1 NE 3rd St, OKC, 815.9995, artspaceatuntitled.org CLAY Through Oct 19 While the title doesn’t leave much ambiguity about the prime components of this national juried exhibition, the artistry of its entrants allows for all sorts of creative flights of fancy. Firehouse Art Center, 444 S Flood Ave, Norman, 329.4523, normanfirehouse.com

Reigns Supreme Through Dec 30 Extravagant in impact if not subject matter, the Oklahoma History Center’s exhibit draws on the Oklahoma Historical Society’s fashion collection to portray over 75 years of the little black dress. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr, OKC, 521.2491, okhistory.org To Pioneer Through Jan 4 Mixed media artist Denise Duong becomes a challenger of the unknown in this collection of new works laced with bold color palettes and expanding her craft into unexplored territories. Oklahoma Heritage Museum, 1400 Classen Dr, OKC, 523.3231, oklahomaheritage.com Dark Light Through Jan 12 Celebrating an innovative force in contemporary Native American pottery, this exhibition collects mica-rich ceramics by Christine Nofchissey McHorse. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma

Ana Maria Hernando lights up the OK Contemporary gallery with brightly colored, intricately layered installations and paintings. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Dr, OKC, 951.0000, oklahomacontemporary.org

MUSIC Tuesday Noon Concerts Oct 1-29 Its incredible collection of art is free for public perusal, but the museum sweetens the deal further with complimentary lunch accompaniment: Rod Ackman Oct 1, Mark Lucas Oct 8, an Opera Preview Oct 15, Gregory Lee Oct 22 and Christina Giacona Oct 29. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears Oct 3 Funky, soulful bluesmith Black Joe headlines a free outdoor fiesta for OU students to

Matt Atkinson Oct 1-30 The Native American artist makes his own paints from scratch for an authentic connection between the land’s materials and the gorgeous landscapes he creates. Summer Wine Gallery, 2928 Paseo St, OKC, 831.3279, summerwinegallery.com

Orchestral Season Opener Oct 8 The Oklahoma Community Orchestra launches into its 30th season of entertaining the metro’s music lovers with a sonically luscious suite of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, Verdi’s “Forza del Destino” overture, a John Williams fanfare and Grieg’s Piano Concerto, featuring the extremely talented Jeongwon Ham. Oklahoma Christian University, 2501 E Memorial Rd, Edmond, 425.1990, okorchestra.org

The Art of the Graphic Novel Oct 11-31 Rembrandt van Rijn, Jacques-Louis David, Alex Ross. Seriously. Graphic novels and comic books use pictures to tell stories, but that doesn’t invalidate those pictures’ artistic potential, as seen in these comicinspired creations. P.S. KRRAAAAANG! Istvan Gallery, 1218 N Western Ave, OKC, 831.2874, istvangallery.com

MUSEUMS Seals of Jeremiah’s Captors Through Oct 31 The world’s first look at an archaeological biblical bonanza in the form of artifacts from a groundbreaking dig in Jerusalem. Armstrong Auditorium, 14400 S Bryant Ave, Edmond, 285.1010, armstrongauditorium.org Of Heaven and Earth Through Nov 17 Half a millenium worth of masterful, inspiring, sometimes impossibly beautiful works that are all from one country (must be something in the water) populate this dazzling exhibit of 500 years of Italian painting. OKC Museum of Art, 415 Couch Dr, OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa.com Faces of Bettina Steinke Through Dec 22 Looking back at Steinke’s life involves seeing many other lives as well, since she spent over 60 years capturing the faces, aspects and emotions of people from all walks of life. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org

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Blue Door Shows Oct 5-28 Self-billed as “the best listening room in Oklahoma,” it certainly has some of the best music: Tracy Grammer Oct 5, the Howlin’ Brothers with Wood and Wire Oct 6, Jimmy Webb Oct 1213, Mary Gauthier Oct 19, the lovely Audrey Auld Oct 26, the also-lovely Bill Carter & The Blame Oct 28 and more - check online for updates. The Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley Ave, OKC, 524.0738, bluedoorokc.com

Opolis Performances Oct 6-28 Metro, meet Opolis. You’ll make beautiful music together, courtesy of a vast and varied lineup of outstanding local and traveling bands including the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (yeah!) Oct 6, Little Green Cars Oct 14, Jason Isbell and John Moreland Oct 15, an Elliot Smith tribute Oct 18, Bill Callahan Oct 19, Depth and Current Oct 22, Ester Drang Oct 25 and Moondoggies Oct 28. Check online for the fresh scoop. The Opolis, 113 N Crawford Ave, Norman, opolis.org

Deep 6 Oct 6-30 Whatever our ages, interests or destinations in this world, we’re all going to the same thanatopsical place in the end. (So to speak.) Female artistic collective Fringe OKC explores the creative inspiration in people’s preparations to enter the Great Beyond in this IAO exhibit. IAO Gallery, 706 W Sheridan Ave, OKC, 232.6060, fringeokc.com

Type Talks Oct 24-Nov 24 This exhibit is, if you’ll pardon the expression, a font of inspiration in the creative possibilities of the written word - or rather, typed letter, as it contains UCO students’ experiments at creating visual art via typography. UCO Donna Nigh Gallery, 100 N University Dr, Edmond, 974.5201, uco.edu/cfad

Purple Bar Performances Oct 4-26 A cozy setting, ample menu and outstanding music from local artists. Nonna’s Purple Bar, 1 S Mickey Mantle Dr, OKC, 235.4410, purplebarokc.com

Winter Wind: Ari Heist Oct 6 Bid farewell to hot weather and welcome the Winter Wind Concert Series presented by the Performing Arts Studio. First up is guitar-wielder, international traveler and passionate musical creative force Heist. Santa Fe Depot, 200 S Jones Dr, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.org

Jacqueline Iskander Through Oct 31 Mosaic artist Iskander places a premium on precision, working in uncluttered designs that convey ease and harmony through their awareness of space. Santa Fe Depot, 200 S Jones Dr, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.org

Wooden Fish Oct 11-Nov 9 When you combine a Master of Fine Arts and a B.S. in Zoology, you get a top-notch painter and sculptor with an abiding interest in nature and environmental issues. Norman’s Donald Longcrier works in a variety of scales (geddit?) for this exhibit, accompanied by work from Barbara Ryan. MAINSITE Contemporary Art Gallery, 122 E Main St, Norman, 360.1162, normanarts.org

Carmina Burana Oct 4 Their dedicated practice is your good fortune: Canterbury Choral Society delivers one of the all-time great vocal masterpieces in its season opener. So at this hour, without delay, pluck the vibrating strings of fate and get tickets. OKC Civic Center, 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 232.7464, canterburyokc.com

Bi-Centennial Celebration Oct 14 Opera as an art form got a huge boost in 1813, even if it wasn’t immediately apparent - that’s the year both Richard Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi were born. Two hundred years later, OU celebrates by hitting some of the composers’ combined, ahem, high notes. OU Catlett Music Center, 500 W Boyd St, Norman, 325.0311, music.ou.edu

The Lumineers Oct 3, OKC

Untamed Through Mar 1 Wild horses couldn’t drag this exhibit away from the museum, but they do prove a powerful attractive force for viewers in a collection of mustang-themed paintings by Jennifer Cocoma Hustis. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St, OKC, 602.6664, sciencemuseumok.org Allan Houser and His Students Through May 11 Part of a statewide effort to honor the exceptional artist’s 100th birthday, this collection uses his works and his proteges’ to highlight Houser’s skill as a teacher. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org Libertad de Expresion Oct 5-Jan 5 A collection of Cold War-era works whose creators explored cosmopolitan modernist styles, this exhibit celebrates freedom of expression in America - Latin America, to be precise. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma Cowboy Crossings Oct 11-12 What’s better than the opening of a beautiful exhibition? Two opening at once: the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association’s exquisite saddles and spurs, and the Cowboy Artists of America members’ Western paintings and sculpture. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org The Illuminated Garden Oct 15-Dec 20 Inspired by the quiet, delicate, sensual beauty of flowers, Argentinian artist

mark the opening of the Fred Jones exhibit “Libertad de Expresion.” Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma Chris Tomlin Oct 3 Spirit will be in ready supply as the Grammy- and Dove-winning Christian comtemporary singer hits the road on the “Burning Lights” tour, accompanied by Atlanta pastor Louie Giglio. Chesapeake Arena, 100 W Reno Ave, OKC, 800.745.3000, chesapeakearena.com The Lumineers Oct 3 With a simple style that’s getting sellout response nationwide, the folk-rock revivalists are riding high and happy to spread the joy of their music. This stop on their tour includes special guests Dr. Dog and Nathaniel Rateliff. OKC Downtown Airpark, 1701 S Western Ave, OKC, 866.966.1777, zooamp.com Diamond Ballroom Oct 3-25 Big, big sound in a bunch of styles, thanks to Jimmy Eat World with Matt Pond Oct 3, AV Club legends Dawes Oct 4, Local Natives and Wild Nothing Oct 7, Trivium and Devildriver Oct 10, the Hollywood Undead Oct 15 and troubadour Jamey Johnson Oct 25. Diamond Ballroom, 8001 S Eastern Ave, OKC, 866.977.6849, diamondballroom.net Noon Tunes Oct 3-31 Free lunchtime serenades in the Downtown Library: Joe Baxter Oct 3, the Savoy Trio Oct 10, Susan Herndon Oct 17, Jill Justice Oct 24 and the great Wayne McEvilly Oct 31. Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave, OKC, 231.8650, mls. lib.ok.us

Into It. Over It. Oct 16 Evan Thomas Weiss is but a man … but he has plenty of company in generating IIOI’s wistful indie pop, as he lists two dozen other band members as helping. He’ll be far from alone in OKC, as opening acts include Hostage Calm, Everybody Talks, Keeper and Emma. And they might have even more company at The Conservatory in October; adds and adjustments posted online. The Conservatory, 8911 N Western Ave, OKC, conservatoryokc.com Keith Urban Oct 19 Country music lovers will be fired up, and sparks will fly - after all, Urban is in OKC on his Light the Fuse tour with Little Big Town and special guest Dustin Lynch. Chesapeake Arena, 100 W Reno Ave, OKC, 800.745.3000, chesapeakearena.com Winter Wind: Kevin Welch Oct 19 Welch lives in Nashville, and listeners might hear a bit of a twang in his voice, but his songs are less country and more contemplative of the human condition. Santa Fe Depot, 200 S Jones Dr, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.org Avenged Sevenfold Oct 23 If you love contemporary heavy metal, what do you do when A7x comes to town? Their new album is titled “Hail to the King,” if that offers any pointers. Riding high and traveling with the Deftones, they might get loud. Chesapeake Arena, 100 W Reno Ave, OKC, 800.745.3000, chesapeakearena.com The Blues Brothers Revue Oct 24 No matter who you are and what you do to live, thrive and survive, there are still some things

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OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 75

PURSUITS | See & Do

that make us all the same - you, me, them, everybody. Everybody needs some music to love, and “Jake” and “Elwood” are eager to share the brothers Blues’ signature soul sound in a rousing concert. Rose State PAC, 6420 SE 15th St, Midwest City, 297.2264, rose.edu/rslive Sutton Series Concerts Oct 3-28 The OU School of Music welcomes listeners to a slate of musical mastery: the OU Wind Symphony and Symphony Band Oct 3, Accademia Filarmonica Oct 6, flautist Valerie Watts Oct 7, OU Jazz Bands Oct 8, Combined Choirs Oct 27 and saxophonist Jonathan Nichol Oct 28. OU Catlett Music Center, 500 W Boyd St, Norman, 325.4101, music.ou.edu Roz Brown Oct 15 OCCC’s 2012-’13 Cultural Arts Series continues with the superb solo presence of sensational soul singer Brown, a compellingly energetic performer with a gift for inspiring devoted fans. OCCC, 7777 S May Ave, OKC, 682.7576, www.occc.edu/cas UCO Wind Symphony Oct 15 Student performers showcase their skills in a puissant slate of Hindemith, Arnold, Grainger and a world premiere of the rollicking “Anth’s Boogie” by Jim Colonna. UCO Mitchell Hall Theater, 100 N University Dr, Edmond, 974.3375, uco.edu/cfad Beethoven’s Fifth Oct 19 The second installment of the OKC Philharmonic’s Classics series features a set of classics indeed: Smetana’s mighty “Moldau,” Barber’s Violin Concerto featuring a deft bit of bowing by special guest violinist Jennifer Koh and the victorious titular masterpiece. OKC Civic Center, 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 842.5387, okcphilharmonic.org

The First Friday Gallery Walk takes place on the first Friday of every month, rain or shine, from 6-10pm. The Historic Paseo Arts District stretches from N.W. 28th and Walker to N.W. 30th and Dewey, and is the oldest arts district in Oklahoma City. 20 Galleries, Studios, Gift & Clothing Shops, Restaurants

“Oklahoma City’s Arts Community” For more information, call 405.525.2688 or visit thepaseo.com

— Community Engaged — Classes & Workshops • A Jeweler’s Art • Batista School of Art • Gayle Curry Encaustic Art • Gypsy heART Studio • Paseo Pottery • Paseo in Process, a series of workshops by Paseo artists

F.E.A.S.T. - Meal based micro-funding for Oklahoma Artists

76 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

Walk Now for Autism Speaks Oct 5 The more we as humanity know, the closer we come to winning the fight over this spectrum of developmental disorders - and fundraisers like this one help convert determination into knowledge. UCO Campus, 100 N University Dr, Edmond, 271.2131, walknowforautismspeaks.org Voices in the Dark 5K Oct 6 The race isn’t haunted; it’s a fundraiser to assist nonprofit No Boundaries International’s Project HOPE and its efforts to end human trafficking. Wheeler Park, 1120 S Western Ave, OKC, voicesinthedarkrun.org Cowboy Football Oct 5-19 OSU continues its pursuit of a Big 12 title with home stands against the Kansas State Wildcats Oct 5 and TCU Horned Frogs Oct 19. Boone Pickens Stadium, 700 W Hall of Fame Ave, Stillwater, 744.5745, okstate.com Sooner Football Oct 5-26 Fire the RUF/NEK cannons! OU tries to make use of its homefield advantage in skirmishes with TCU Oct 5 and Texas Tech Oct 26. Owen Field, 180 E Brooks St, Norman, 325.2424, soonersports. com Thunder Basketball Oct 15-20 It’s only the preseason, but we have a suspicion that OKC won’t be playing to an empty house when they host Denver Oct 15 and Utah Oct 20. Chesapeake Arena, 100 W Reno Ave, OKC, 208.4667, nba.com/thunder Komen Race for the Cure Oct 20 Whether running for a loved one - mother, sister, friend - or the thought of a future without breast cancer, community supporters gather here to boost one another spiritually. Myriad Gardens, 301 W Reno Ave, OKC, 526.2873, komencentralwesternok.org

Sargent House Tour Oct 22 The dedicated label (“genre: Real Music Played By Real Musicians”) sends a sonic beachhead to OKC via Irish instrumentalists And So I Watch You From Afar and Oxford math rockers This Town Needs Guns. ACM Performance Lab, 329 E Sheridan Ave, OKC, 866.966.1777, acm.uco.edu

Monster Dash Oct 27 Wearing a Flash costume might not guarantee victory in this USATF-sanctioned 5k and 1-mile fun run … but it couldn’t hurt, and either way you’ll be helping the community-enhancing projects of the Junior League of Norman. Reaves Park, 2501 Jenkins Ave, Norman, 329.9617, juniorleagueofnorman.org

Turnpike Troubadours Oct 25 With a name like that, the band has clearly done some traveling, and the more they push themselves to continue ahead, to keep writing and keep touring and keep searching for self-expression, the finer their road-honed Red Dirt sound becomes. Riverwind Casino, 1544 W Hwy 9, Norman, 322.6000, riverwind.com

THEATER

Macabret Oct 25-27 Metro residents know to expect something musically special from UCO when the calendar moves toward All Hallows’ Eve - this year’s “Spooktacular Halloween Revue” unearths the greatest hits in vampire, werewolf and zombie tunes. UCO Jazz Lab, 100 E 5th St, Edmond, 974.3375, uco.edu/cfad Larry Pierce Combo Oct 27 After 20-plus years on the metro circuit, this finely aged jazz combo still has plenty of sizzle. The Depot doesn’t have a lot of room to dance, but Pierce and his pros can sweep listeners off their feet while they’re still seated. Santa Fe Depot, 200 S Jones Dr, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.org

SPORTS Oklahoma Regatta Festival Oct 2-6 Row, row, row your massive amounts of entertainment, swiftly down the Oklahoma River. Merrily, merrily - well, the winners will be merry, and so will the audience enjoying kayaking, dragon boating, live music, food and massive fun. Boathouse District, 725 S Lincoln Blvd, OKC, 552.4040, oklahomariverevents.org Barons Hockey Oct 4-19 OKC’s ice warriors face off against the Charlotte Checkers Oct 4 and 5, Texas Stars Oct 15 and Abbotsford Heat Oct 18 and 19. Cox Center, OKC, 232.4625, okcbarons.com The Color Run Oct 5 Also known as the “Happiest 5k on the Planet,” it’s a unique paint race that celebrates healthiness, happiness, individuality and giving back to the community. Remington Park, 1 Remington Place, OKC, 855.662.6567, thecolorrun.com/oklahoma-city

Godspell Though Oct 6 The Lamb of God, the Son of Man, the Light of the World … a pleasant tenor. CityRep and UCO’s Department of Musical Theatre tell the story of a certain storyteller named Jesus Christ and his efforts to enlighten his followers in this G-rated gospel tale. OKC Civic Center, 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 848.3761, cityrep.com Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse Through Oct 11 A spirited young mouse starts a new grade, tries to deal with bullies, learns to spell backwards and tries to understand family and friendship - perfect topical fodder for the actors of Oklahoma Children’s Theatre. OCU Burg Theater, 2501 N Blackwelder Ave, OKC, 951.0011, oklahomachildrenstheatre.org Noises Off Through Oct 20 It’s a lesser-known corollary of Murphy’s Law: anything that can go wrong, will likely be hilarious. Poteet Theater is mounting a production of the uproarious play-within-a-disaster, so prepare for farce and keep an eye on the kippers. St. Luke’s Poteet Theater, 222 NW 15th St, OKC, 609.1023, poteettheatre.com One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Oct 3-27 What price order? Those who have lost their grip on sanity need a little extra control, but outright tyranny is unsustainable, and the influence of one committed con man is the match that can blow an asylum’s powder keg wide open. Jewel Box Theater, 3700 N Walker Ave, OKC, 521.1786, jewelboxtheatre.org Altar Boyz Oct 4-26 Singing, dancing, selfdoubt and gleeful reaffirmation of selfperceived awesomeness - it doesn’t take a true believer to be thoroughly entertained by the travails of Christian boy band members Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham (he’s Jewish). Pollard Theater, 120 W Harrison Ave, Guthrie, 82.2800, thepollard.org A Grimm Affair Oct 6-13 Maybe a trifle dark but still suitable for kids and adults, this trio of short operettas based on classic fairy tales is Cimarron Opera’s movable feast for the ears of Metropolitan Library System

listeners. Check the website for locales. Throughout the metro, 364.8962, cimarronopera.org L’Elisir d’Amore Oct 16-20 You might also call it “Love Potion Numero Nove.” Emboldened by a tantalizing, romanticizing, totally fake tonic, a poor peasant takes a swing at wooing the object of his affections in the OU School of Music’s presentation of Donizetti’s sprightly comic opera. OU Reynolds PAC, 560 Parrington Oval, Norman, 325.4101, ou.edu/finearts The Rocky Horror Show Oct 16-Nov 2 Matthew Alvin Brown directs Lyric Theatre’s annual excursion into the weird, creepy, humorous, song-filled and seriously weird (seriously) world of Dr. Furter and … friends. Lyric’s Plaza Theater, 1725 NW 16th St, OKC, 524.9312, lyrictheatreokc.com The Full Monty Oct 18-27 When the going gets tough, the tough drop their pants and shake their money-makers. Well, basically - that’s not the only moral in the story of unemployed blue-collar pals doing what it takes to get by, but it might be the most prominent. Sooner Theater, 101 E Main St, Norman, 321.9600, soonertheatre.org Medea Oct 17-27 You could say it’s a story of villainy being punished … except that the villainy is that of Golden Fleece hero Jason ditching his wife for another woman, and the punishment is that wife going black-eyed crazy and murdering everyone he loves, including their kids together. OKC Civic Center, 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 297.2264, okctheatrecompany.org Lobby Hero Oct 18-Nov 9 Nothing happens in a vacuum; even a small-scale murder investigation involving only a couple of cops and security guards has room to explore family ties, class divides, racism, blossoming romance and sparkles of wit amid melancholy in a compelling tale from Kenneth Lonergan. Carpenter Square Theater, 800 W Main St, OKC, 232.6500, carpentersquare.com Cabaret Oct 24-Nov 16 Step lively for tickets to Reduxion’s revisiting of the classic musical; both because fancy legwork is a staple of the seedy, decadent Kit Kat Klub, and opportunities to see the show are likely to go quickly. Broadway Theater, 1613 N Broadway Ave, OKC, 651.3191, reduxiontheatre.com Opera in Autumn Oct 25-27 A weekend of food, drinks, roisterous conviviality and some occasional recitiative as Cimarron Opera Company provides some trick-free treats, including interactive Wolves and Witches performances. Santa Fe Depot, 200 S Jones Dr, Norman, 364.8962, cimarronopera.org Violet Oct 25-27 A badly scarred innocent hops a Greyhound in the hopes of getting a televangelist to heal her looks, and finds unexpected (and, thanks to the OCU Opera and Music Theater students, musical) sorrows and joys along the way. OCU Burg Theater, 2501 N Blackwelder Ave, OKC, 208.5227, okcu.edu/music Measure for Measure Oct 31-Nov 3 Laws hold us together as a society, but those setting and enforcing them must be held accountable as well - otherwise you’re left with magistrate Angelo offering to free a prisoner in exchange for sexual services from his sister as UCO’s drama students tackle Shakespeare’s exploration of power corrupting. UCO Mitchell Hall Theater, 100 N University Dr, Edmond, 974.3375, uco. edu/cfad

ON THE RADAR Dia de los Muertos Nov 1 Those who have passed beyond the veil are with us still in memory - coupled with the Fred’s current “Libertad de Expresion” exhibit, that’s plenty of reason to celebrate the Day of the Dead with a festive street party. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Nov 1 Dorsey himself died in 1956, but the smooth, melodious legacy of the “sentimental gentleman of swing” lives on in his namesake collection of timeless talent, coming to Norman for a transcendent musical evening.

Sooner Theater, 101 E Main St, Norman, 321.9600, soonertheatre.org Wish Ball 2013 Nov 1 The theme for this elegant event is “the power of dreams,” but the real inspiration is the power of philanthropic caring from the generous patrons who are moved by children in perilous health to help make their dreams come true. Skirvin Hilton, 1 Park Ave, OKC, 286.4000, oklahoma.wish.org Sci-Fi Spectacular Nov 1-2 Excelsior! The marvellously mellifluous George Takei emcees an exceptional slate of sci-fi music from television and movies, performed by the OKC Philharmonic, conducted by Jack Everly and featuring star soprano Kristen Plumley. OKC Civic Center, 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 842.5387, okcphilharmonic.org Carousel Nov 1-10 The OU School of Musical Theater gives the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic a whirl, essaying the story of Billy Bigelow, his tragic brush with crime and efforts to put things right from beyond this vale of tears. OU Weitzenhoffer Theater, 563 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.4101, ou.edu/finearts The Doobie Brothers Nov 2 It’s been a long time, and a long road, since the Doobies first got together in 1970, but through lineup changes, deaths and more than 40 million albums sold, they’re still more than eager to let fans listen to the music. Grand Casino, 777 Grand Casino Blvd, Shawnee, 964.7777, grandshawnee.com Toast to the Arts Nov 2 International cuisine paired with champagne and sparkling wines from around the globe proves ideal fodder for a tour through the far-flung wonders of the museum’s permanent collection in an exciting fundraiser. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.2297, ou.edu/fjjma National Weather Festival Nov 2 Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody else celebrates it like the attendees of this informative annual bash featuring balloon launches, storm chaser demonstrations, tours and plenty of kids’ activities. National Weather Center, 120 David L. Boren Blvd, Norman, 325.1147, norman.noaa.gov Heritage Hills Historic Home Tour Nov 2-3 The 47th Annual Heritage Hills Historic Home Tour’s five stops in Oklahoma City’s oldest historic neighborhood are prime examples of this year’s theme: “Upscale Urban Living in Historic Homes.” Overholser Mansion, 405 NW 15th St, OKC, 922.5420, heritagehills.org

Inspired Design

Brightmusic: Sonata Evening Nov 4-5 A consistent form yields a world of musical beauty from Beethoven, Poulenc, SaintSaens, Schumann and Prokofiev courtesy of the outstanding OKC chamber ensemble. All Souls’ Church and St. Paul’s Cathedral, 6400 N Penn and 127 NW 7th, OKC, brightmusic.org Canadian Brass Nov 7 More than 100 albums in a shade over 40 years - and they’re pretty funny, too. The stirring, shining quintet flexes their repertoire in a gorgeous performance. Armstrong Auditorium, 14400 S Bryant Ave, Edmond, 285.1010, armstrongauditorium.org Starlight Ball Nov 9 It’s a lucky number tonight: the 13th gala boasts a Monte Carlo theme and benefits the pediatric research and clinical care of the Children’s Hospital Foundation. OKC Golf & Country Club, 7000 NW Grand Blvd, OKC, 271.9008, okchf.org

SPREAD THE WORD

Like to list your upcoming event in Slice? Visit sliceok.com/calendar, click the link for “Submit an event” and tell us about it – and remember that submissions must be received two months prior to publication for consideration.

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OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 77

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FARE Stacking the Deck

CARLI WENTWORTH

It’s crowded, but has good cause to be: Norman’s Syrup breakfast boutique has much to offer the early riser, including options that deserve a place among the metro’s pancake pantheon. See page 82.

SWEET TRICK OR TREATS A simple how-to for mouthwatering caramel corn 80

EAT & DRINK Variety is on the menu in Slice’s citywide dining guide 84

OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 79

FARE | In the Kitchen

Caramel Corn 4-5 quarts popped popcorn, made on the stove (do not use microwave popcorn, use the real deal) ½ c margarine or unsalted butter 1 c brown sugar ¼ c dark corn syrup 1 ½ t salt ½ t baking soda 2 c M&M candies 1 c candy corn Place popped popcorn into a paper grocery sack. In a 2 quart bowl, microwave butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and salt on high for 2 1⁄2 minutes. Carefully remove from microwave and stir in baking soda. The mixture will turn a caramel color. While it’s hot, pour over the popcorn in the grocery sack. Stir to evenly coat all of the kernels. Fold the top of bag down and place the whole thing in microwave (make sure there are no staples in the sack). Heat on high for 4 minutes, stopping every minute to shake the contents of the sack and return to the microwave. Once done, immediately pour the popcorn out on cookie sheets to cool. Once cooled, add the candy and place into airtight container to store.

Here are some other delicious gourmet caramel corn recipes: Peanut Butter Fudge Popcorn 1 recipe of caramel corn 1 bag Wilton dark chocolate candy melts 2 T creamy peanut butter In a medium-sized bowl, melt candy melts according to package instructions. Once melted, add peanut butter and stir until well combined. Drizzle over cooled caramel corn. Allow chocolate to harden, then serve.

Sweet Trick or Treats By Caryn Ross // Photos by Carli Wentworth

I JUST LOVE CARAMEL CORN! The salty, sweet treat makes me want to cuddle up on the couch, flip on a good movie and munch to my heart’s content with a giant bowl. Some recipes require a candy thermometer and lots of patience. Mine is like everything else I do – simple! All you need is a large paper grocery bag, cooked popcorn, candies and five ingredients to make the caramel. I make this every October to share with my neighbors, packaging the golden goodness in small bags and then sending my little goblins out to deliver.

80 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

White Chocolate Nuttiness 1 recipe of caramel corn 1 c unsalted cashews 1 c unsalted almonds 1 bag Wilton white chocolate candy melts 2 T almond paste Add the nuts to the plain popcorn, then add the caramel mixture to the sack, proceed with the instructions and place on cookie sheets to cool. Then, in a medium-sized bowl, melt candy melts according to package instructions. Once melted, add almond paste and stir until well combined. Drizzle over cooled caramel corn. Allow chocolate to harden then serve.

Book Your

Holiday Parties

at West

Call today to make your reservations. 6714 N. Western Avenue | Oklahoma City | 405.607.4072 | www.westbar.com OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 81

FARE | Matters of Taste

THE STARTING LINE By Steve Gill // Photos by Carli Wentworth

AS THE SATURDAY SUN RISES ON NORMAN, not a great deal is stirring downtown. A car moving east from Flood along Main Street about 9 a.m. is likely to have the road more or less to itself … until that car reaches the Sooner Theatre. Suddenly the deserted road springs to life, streetside parking on both sides of Main goes from practically unoccupied to near-totally full and quick-stepping pedestrians move toward the crowd loitering outside a certain set of windows. Norman diners have a newfound appreciation for the most important meal of the day, thanks to the sweetness to be found within Syrup Breakfast Boutique. The menu isn’t huge, but does contain selections both sugary (the Crunchy French Toast, whose slices are coated in cornflakes before grilling, is a surprisingly light marvel) and savory (Eggs Benedict and biscuits and gravy are classics for a reason). Alternately, the Morning Glory piles scrambled eggs, bacon and cheese on top of a delicious waffle – the best of both worlds. And a word about one of the most popular options, the Plain Jane: The name isn’t meant as a bland pejorative, but to indicate its status as a blank slate, a waffle or stack of pancakes with a panoply of possible toppings for diners to create individualized perfection. Bananas and pecans? Blueberries and caramel syrup? Peanut butter, chocolate chips and crumbled bacon? Say the word and make it happen. Sitting in the bright, clean-lined interior, suffused with light and redolent with rich aromas – thanks in part to the beverages wrought courtesy of Portland-based but widely famed coffee culture cultivators Stumptown Roasters – is a reward in itself for early risers. Just don’t linger too long; you’ll hold up the line. 82 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

Quick tips Step outside. Depending on the time and attendant crowd, there may be a moderate delay (1520 minutes or so), but the waiting area up front gets congested pretty easily. You’ll be part of the solution if you’re prepared to take a brief sojourn in the morning sunshine. Don’t skimp on the protein. The temptation to pile up the sugary carbs is strong, and encouraged – the place is called Syrup, after all – but do yourself a service and get a side of pecanwood smoked bacon. They do it right. Ask about the larger mission. The Syrup brass founded the restaurant in part to provide financial support for humanitarian projects in Africa; if you’re interested, you can probably find someone eager to share the story.

SYRUP BREAKFAST BOUTIQUE 123 E. Main St., Norman 405.701.1143 syrupbreakfast.com Tuesday – Sunday 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.

OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 83

Eat & Drink KEY $ $$ $$$

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

Have an addition that you’d like us to consider? Send establishment name, address, phone number and a brief description (40 words or less) to dining@sliceok. com. Submissions must be received two months prior to publication.

AMERICAN ANN’S CHICKEN FRY HOUSE This Route 66 classic provides a blast from the past in its copious decorative memorabilia, and excellent chicken fried steak big enough to sate the hugest appetites. 4106 NW 39th, OKC, 943.8915 $ CAFÉ 7 A fast, casual restaurant with a very cool concept: widely varied salad, sandwich, pizza and pasta options, all priced under $7 and served up in 7 minutes, 7 days a week. 14101 N May, OKC, 748.3354; 120 N Robinson, Suite W 175, OKC, 748.3354 $ CAFÉ 501 Rustic stone oven pizzas, fresh, uniquely designed salads and delicious specialty sandwiches on house-made artisan breads – add classic atmosphere and enjoy. 501 S Boulevard, Edmond, 359.1501; 5825 NW Grand, OKC, 844.1501 $$ CLASSEN GRILL Don’t be thrown by the seen-better-days exterior; the food inside is deftly done diner deliciousness, especially the breakfast options. The eggs benedict and cheese grits can make your day in advance. 5124 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 842.0428 $ DEEP FORK GRILL The dimly lit, crisply elegant atmosphere perfectly complements the contemporary menu of superb seafood (wood-grilled cedar plank salmon is the house specialty), steaks and accoutrements. 5418 N Western, OKC, 848.7678 $$ FANCY THAT No longer restricting customers to a quick lunch and bakery treats, this Main Street café’s robust expansion into evening and weekend hours is cause for celebration … over dinner. 215 E Main, Norman, 307.0541 $$ FLINT Approachably casual style in the front of the house, with impeccably serious attention to detail in the kitchen; it’s the Colcord Hotel’s winning combination for contemporary cuisine. 15 N Robinson, OKC, 601.4300 $$

84 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

INTERURBAN CLASSIC GRILL It’s a simple concept: serve good food at a reasonable price in comfortable, casual surroundings. Favorites like chicken-fried steak are always on the menu, but there are plenty of options for the health-conscious as well. 4 metro locations, interurban.us $$ KAISER’S AMERICAN BISTRO Founded in 1918 and serving contemporary classics like a top-notch buffalo burger, Kaiser’s boasts a great view… if you can tear your attention away from the ice cream & soda fountain. 1039 N Walker, OKC, 232.7632 $ LEGEND’S A Lindsey Street landmark for over 40 years, this casually upscale, three-diamond AAA restaurant still serves exceptional seafood, steaks and more down-to-earth fare amid welcoming surroundings. 1313 W Lindsey, Norman, 329.8888 $$ MUTT’S AMAZING HOT DOGS Now this is a hot dog – Mutt’s inspired creations feature prime meats like chicken, bison and duck, topped off with tantalizing and unexpected flavor profiles. 1400 NW 23rd, OKC, 525.3647 $ NEBU You shouldn’t have any trouble finding this airy, accommodating provider of chef-prepared sandwiches, sushi, pizza and more – it’s in the garden wing of the colossal Devon tower. 280 W Sheridan, OKC $ PACKARD’S NEW AMERICAN KITCHEN They’re not kidding about the “new” – the entire menu, from appetizers to complicated cocktails, is infused with thoughtful, innovative ideas and ingredient combinations for a tasty and truly unique dining experience. 201 NW 10th, Suite 100, OKC, 605.3771 $$ PICASSO CAFÉ Its neighbors are painters, potters and sculptors, so it’s no surprise its management strives to make their cuisine a work of art. Creative arrangements of pizza, sandwiches, salads and surprises abound. 3009 Paseo, OKC, 602.2002 $ POPS A little out of the way but undeniably worth going the extra mile, the Good Egg Group’s roadside café has burgers, salads, shakes and the irresistible draw of an unbelievably broad soda selection. 660 W Highway 66, Arcadia, 233.2020 $ REDROCK CANYON GRILL Rotisserie chicken, Southwestern enchiladas, pork chops and steak by the lake served expertly in a casual, energetic, hacienda-style atmosphere of stone walls and mahogany beams around an open kitchen. 9221 E Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 749.1995 $$ SATURN GRILL A star of the lunchtime stage, its surprising daily specials and inspired, tasty twists on ordinary sandwiches, salads and pizza keep it crowded on weekdays. Fortunately, the line moves quickly and calling ahead is encouraged. 4401 W Memorial, OKC 463.5594; 6432 Avondale, OKC, 843.7114; 1012 N Walker, OKC, 606.8182 $ SCRATCH Isn’t that the best place for food to come from? Entrees, sides, rotating specials and more are all carefully concocted in-house, as are the tantalizing craft cocktails. 132 W Main, Norman, 801.2900 $$ 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 $ VAST Keeping your attention on the steaks, seafood and other globally inspired

American cuisine might be surprisingly difficult: the view is truly unparalleled in Oklahoma. 280 W Sheridan, 49th floor, OKC, 702.7262 $$ WAFFLE CHAMPION The little food truck that could has finally expanded into a Midtown diner, bringing more joy to those addicted to its gourmet sweet or savory waffle options. 1212 N Walker, OKC, 525.9235 $ WHISKEY CAKE Take high-quality locally sourced ingredients, use slow cooking to do unbelievably delicious things to them and serve in a charmingly homey atmosphere; that’s a prime recipe. Enjoy – and don’t forget the namesake dessert. 1845 NW Expressway, OKC, 582.2253 $$

ASIAN 180 MERIDIAN GRILL Intended to unite east and west through blending the essence of Asian cuisine with American culture, its intriguing menu spans sirloin with teriyaki butter, hoisin barbeque duck pizza and ample sushi options. 2541 W Main, Norman, 310.6110 $$ DOT WO GARDEN With an elegantly appointed new location, Dot Wo continues its crowd-pleasing legacy of over two decades by pairing sumptuous classics of Chinese cuisine with fiery, fresh sushi. 6161 N May, OKC, 608.2388 $$ GRAND HOUSE A number of Chinese restaurants concentrate on their cooking to the exclusion of any other aspect of dining – Grand House is the happy exception that goes the extra mile to provide enjoyable ambiance alongside its excellent cuisine. 2701 N Classen, OKC, 524.7333 $$ GUERNSEY PARK A hidden treasure on an Uptown back street, it’s home to tasty Asian fusion with a hint of French influence in dishes ranging from oxtail ravioli to curry salmon. 2418 N Guernsey, OKC, 605.5272 $$ O ASIAN FUSION Sublime quality in a wide span of culinary influences – freshly rolled sushi to fiery curry – in a cool, vibrant environment. Call ahead; it becomes a packed house in a hurry. 105 SE 12th, Norman, 701.8899 $$ SAII ASIAN BISTRO & SUSHI BAR With a dark, rich ambiance that elevates it over its surroundings, Saii serves expertly prepared Japanese, Thai and Chinese dishes plus an extensive and adventurous sushi menu. 6900 N May, OKC, 702.7244 $$ VII ASIAN BISTRO The bright, sleek interior and personable staff make a good impression, confirmed by the savory spate of Chinese and Vietnamese menu options … especially the glass noodles with shrimp and crab. 2900 N Classen, OKC, 604.2939 $

BAKERY BIG SKY BREAD COMPANY Enjoy cookies, scones, brownies or granola, but don’t fill up before the main attraction: the incredible bevy of fresh-baked bread. 6606 N Western, OKC, 879.0330 $ BROWN’S BAKERY An incredible selection of delicious traditional and specialty cakes, cookies, breads and other baked goods. 1100 N Walker, OKC, 232.0363 $ GREEN GOODIES BY TIFFANY Specialty organic cupcakes for all – even those adhering to vegetarian and vegan diets or coping with food allergies or other dietary concerns can enjoy these high quality,

flavorful treats. 5840 N Classen Blvd, Suite 5, OKC, 842.2288 $ KITCHEN NO. 324 The venerable Braniff Building on the SandRidge campus downtown hosts this seasonally inspired café, coffee curator and craft bakery serving rustic American cuisine. Aroma alone summons crowds. 324 N Robinson, OKC, 763.5911 $ LA BAGUETTE BAKERY & CAFÉ A spacious, comfortable seating area combined with the exquisite baking mastery that is the brand’s trademark makes this a tres chic, and very popular, destination for brunch and beyond. 1130 Rambling Oaks, Norman, 329.1101; 924 W Main, Norman, 329.5822 $ NONNA’S BAKERY Family recipes are the foundation of these unbelievably scrumptious treats – walk in and pick or call ahead and special order cream pies, decadent cakes and much more. 1 Mickey Mantle Dr, OKC, 235.4410 $ SARA SARA CUPCAKES Located in a charming little converted house, the ambiance and milk bar make great atmospheric additions to the varied menu 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 51ST STREET SPEAKEASY A converted house with a perpetually packed porch and patio, the joint jumps with energy and the top-shelf spirits and beers flow with abandon. 1114 NW 51st, OKC, 463.0470 $ ABNER’S ALE HOUSE Beers and whiskies of the best, plus knockout renditions of accompanying dishes, with the aim of re-creating the true English public house vibe. 121 E Main, Norman, 928.5801 $$ BELLE ISLE RESTAURANT & BREWERY Live music, handcrafted beers and a great burger selection fill this bustling bar in the landmark 50 Penn Place. 1900 NW Expressway, OKC, 840.1911 $ BLU FINE WINE & FOOD A popular bar option among OU students and Normanites, blu stands out due to quick, courteous service and a menu with gourmet range – try the hummus. 201 S Crawford, Norman, 360.4258 $$ CLUB ONE15 The nightclub vibe is in full effect with energetic music and three bars, though the robust menu including fajitas, pasta bowls and seafood is quite a draw of its own. 115 E Sheridan, OKC, 605.5783 $$ DEEP DEUCE GRILL The funky, comfortably run-down vibe of its namesake district lingers in this alternative to Bricktown crowds, featuring burgers, beer and a people-watching patio. 307 NE 2nd, OKC, 235.9100 $ JAMES E. MCNELLIE’S PUBLIC HOUSE Designed to bring Ireland’s pub culture to our city, this Midtown hotspot features 350 varieties of beer, including difficultto-find options from all over the world. 1100 Classen Dr, OKC, 601.7468 $$ MONT, THE Though frequented by many purely for its primo patio and Sooner Swirls from the bar, the Norman landmark also boasts a tempting suite of pub food with a zing of Southwestern flavor. 1300 Classen Blvd, Norman, 329.3330 $ O’CONNELL’S IRISH PUB & GRILLE Beloved by students, alumni and townies alike,

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FARE | Eat & Drink

this OU Campus Corner landmark has been serving up burgers, beer and festive atmosphere since 1968. 769 Asp, Norman, 217.8454 $ REPUBLIC GASTROPUB Dedicated to bridging the gap between beer bar and upscale eatery, this contemporary public house in Classen Curve pairs a vast selection of quality brews with imaginative menu items designed to complement one another. 5830 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 286.4577 $$ SAINTS An inviting Irish bar nestled in the Plaza District, its whiskey and beer selection dovetails nicely with classic dishes like shepherd’s pie, bangers and fish and chips. 1715 NW 16th, OKC, 602.6308 $$ SEAN CUMMINGS’ IRISH RESTAURANT & PUB Classic Irish fare (lamb stew, bangers and mash, even beef or salmon boxtys) mixed with favorites and delivered with engaging and gracious service. Plus, naturally, there’s Guinness on tap. 7523 N May, OKC, 755.2622 $$ URBAN WINEWORKS If its delicious madein-Oklahoma wine isn’t draw enough (and it should be), the haute culinary creations featuring rabbit, duck, pork belly and more should certainly entice diners to the Plaza. 1749 NW 16th, OKC, 525.9463 $$ VZD’S RESTAURANT & CLUB Live music is a staple on weekends, but the unusually broad, tasty bar menu draws a substantial lunch crowd as well. Try the turkey burger, the chili or both. 4200 N Western, OKC, 524.4203 $ WES WELKER’S The food shows great variety and imagination - from duck nachos to sirloin broiled in bourbon butter. And in terms of enjoyment, the bevy of TVs and 83 available beers ain’t bad either. 3121 W Memorial, OKC, 608.2200, $$

BARBEQUE

COW CALF-HAY A City Bites spinoff that easily stands on its own, the selections are ample and interesting and the delicious never-frozen patties are mmmmmassive. 3409 Wynn, Edmond, 509.2333, 212 N Harvey, OKC, 601.6180 $

1954,” should serve as a fairly strong recommendation all by itself – this modest little drive-in has been cheerfully feeding its staunch fans burgers, fries, tots and shakes for six decades and counting. 1820 W Main, Norman, 321.8526 $

FLATIRE BURGERS Beloved by (and generally crowded with) UCO students, this bravura burger joint excels at innovative additions to the classic patty and bun, like sauerkraut, carrots, pineapple relish and habanero salsa. 100 N University Dr (at UCO), Edmond, 974.4638; 6315 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany, 603.2822 $

TEXADELPHIA A popular spot thanks to numerous flatscreen TVs and the nearby canal. The menu draws raves for burgers and wraps, but especially the monstrous made-to-order cheesesteaks. 200 S Oklahoma, OKC, 208.4000 $

GARAGE BURGERS & BEER, THE It gets noisy in the low-lit sports bar atmosphere, but even if your focus isn’t on a televised game, conversation would probably revolve around the huge, juicy burgers and fries – both available in several tempting flavor possibilities – anyway. 307 E Main, Norman, 701.7035; 601 S Bryant Ave, Edmond, 341.5801, 1024 S I-240 Service Rd, OKC, 601.4198 $ IRMA’S BURGER SHACK Hand-cut fries, hand-breaded onions rings and simply great burgers. Try the No-Name Ranch burger – lean and flavorful, thanks to a unique breed of cattle raised in Wynnewood using organic techniques. 1035 NW 63rd, OKC, 840.4762; 1120 Classen Dr, OKC, 235.4762 $ JOHNNIE’S CHARCOAL BROILER Fresh-ground hamburgers cooked over real charcoal set Johnnie’s apart. Try the incredibly popular Cheese Theta or Caesar burgers, and don’t forget a side of their outstanding onion rings. 4 metro locations, johnniesok.com $ LOUIE’S GRILL & BAR Casually cool and come-as-you-are, these popular neighborhood bar-type hangouts excel at inexpensive burgers, sandwiches and pizzas. 12 metro locations, louiesgrillandbar. com $

EARL’S RIB PALACE Beloved by locals in a setting far from starved for competition, the award-winning barbeque chain pounds out hit ribs, pulled pork and smoked turkey as well as a top-tier burger. 6 metro locations, earlsribpalace.com $

LOUIE’S ON THE LAKE An unbeatable view of scenic Lake Hefner from the patio adds to the ambiance of this classic eatery, which features a tasty spate of entrees under $10. 9401 Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 751.2298 $

IRON STARR URBAN BARBEQUE Named for notorious outlaw Belle Starr, Iron Starr specializes in “a unique and tasty spin on comfort food.” The entrees are excellent, but the sides are equal players here as well. 3700 N Shartel, OKC, 524.5925 $$

MULE, THE Solid beer and beverage selection plus a delectable array of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches 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 $

LEO’S BAR-B-Q Dense, rich flavor and tender texture through and through, delivered in genuine unpolished style for commendable value – no wonder it’s a recurring favorite among OK connoisseurs. 3631 N Kelley, OKC 424.5367; 7 Harrison, OKC 236.5367 $ RUDY’S COUNTRY STORE & BAR-B-Q It’s hard to get more casual than a set of picnic benches, where food comes on cafeteria trays with plastic utensils and paper towels... but as the lines attest, the brisket and other barbeque staples speak for themselves. 3450 Chautauqua, Norman, 307.0552; 3437 W Memorial, OKC, 254.4712 $$

BURGERS // SANDWICHES BISON WITCHES BAR & DELI The monster sandwiches are loaded with standout flavors, but the best way to enjoy them is in halves, accompanied by a bread bowl of fresh hot soup and a bag of pretzels. 211 E Main, Norman, 364.7555 $ CAFÉ PLAID & BAKERY Fresh sandwiches begging to be combined with a sensational selection of salads (veggie, tuna, pasta…) make it an ideal spot for lunch when you’re near OU. 333 W Boyd, Norman, 360.2233 $

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NIC’S GRILL It’s small, it’s crowded, it’s cash-only… and it’s incredible. The colossal burgers, easily among the metro’s best, and mounds of fresh fries make this holein-the-wall diner pure paradise. 1202 N Pennsylvania, OKC, 524.0999 $ S&B’S BURGER JOINT Good news: these burgers’ exquisite flavor combinations – including such showcase ingredients as peanut butter or a coffee crust – come in slider form as well, the better to sample more selections. 20 NW 9th, OKC, 270.0516; 5929 N May, OKC, 843.8777; 7745 S Walker, OKC, 631.0983; 102 W Main, Norman, 360.5726 $ SERVICE STATION Once a filling station, the building still has vintage décor and is home to Bentleys, Packards and dipsticks, but now they’re the names of its delicious half-pound burgers and fries. 502 S Webster, Norman, 364.2136 $ SMASHBURGER Billing itself as a place with a burger soul, this savory hot spot provides 100 percent Angus beef in three sizes amid a panoply of tasty toppings and sides, plus similarly varied chicken sandwiches and salads. 2127 W Memorial, OKC, 418.8416; 7642 W Reno, OKC, 787.5700; 1841 Belle Isle, OKC, 767.9771 $ SOONER DAIRY LUNCH The menu’s masthead, “Serving Norman since

TUCKER’S ONION BURGERS With one burger (and variants), one side dish (fries), one salad and beverages, the menu is easy to remember. With this level of bravura execution, the meal is hard to forget. 324 NW 23rd, OKC, 609.2333; 5740 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 286.3331 $

COFFEEHOUSE // TEA ROOM ALL ABOUT CHA Universal standards and more adventurous concoctions (the sweet potato latte is a wonder) in a bright, bustling atmosphere that still has room for quieter lingering. 3272 S Broadway, Edmond, 340.9959 $ ARAVALLI This weekday waystation in the Devon Energy Center is a prime spot for breakfast pastries and coffee, lunch gelato and desserts and a daily rotating handful of grab-and-go entrees. 333 W Sheridan Ave, OKC, 278.7000 $ BEATNIX CAFÉ, THE While it’s certainly possible to get a sandwich, cup of hearty soup or powerhouse latte to go, doing so would mean missing out on the lovely laid-back vibe that pervades this stressless dawdling spot. 136 NW 13th, OKC, 604.0211 $ CAFÉ EVOKE Outstanding coffee drinks and other beverages from one of the area’s great caterers; if patrons wish to stick around for soup, sandwiches, snacks or sweets, so much the better. 103 S Broadway, Edmond, 285.1522 $ COFFEE SLINGERS Rocking a brisk, urban vibe thanks to its Automobile Alley location, this has become a gathering place for genuine java enthusiasts, especially during the monthly educational sampling seminars called “cuppings.” 1015 N Broadway, OKC, 606.2763 $ CUPPIES & JOE The name’s not really a misnomer, but if it listed all their features it’d be too long. For cupcakes and coffee and pie and live music and a cozy, trendy vibe and more, park around back and take a peek. 727 NW 23rd, OKC, 528.2122 $ ELEMENTAL COFFEE Seriously spectacular coffee roasted in-house - the passionate staffers are always eager to share knowledge about the process - augmented with locally sourced treats, including a variety of crepes on weekends. 815 N Hudson, OKC, 633.1703 $ MICHELANGELO’S COFFEE SHOP & WINE BAR Enjoy exceptional coffees, a wellstocked pastry case with chocolates and sweets, a surprisingly robust wine catalog and even breakfast and lunch selections. 207 E Main, Norman, 579.3387 $

T, AN URBAN TEAHOUSE Proving that an establishment’s focus can be narrow and broad simultaneously, this endearing retreat doesn’t do coffee or sandwiches, but does offer over 100 varieties of tea and expert counsel to explore a world of possibilities. 7518 N May, OKC, 418.4333 $

CONTINENTAL BIN 73 WINE BAR Diners can fill up on filet mignon or simply top the evening off with tapas while enjoying the full bar and chic ambiance. 7312 N Western, OKC, 843.0073 $$ BLACKBIRD A Campus Corner gastropub pairing delectably creative food – pot roast nachos! – with an expansive beer, wine and whiskey list. 575 S University, Norman, 928.5555 $$ CAFÉ NOVA Lunch, dinner and late at night, the simple but innovative fare and hopping bar in this Western Avenue spot aim to please hipsters, families and whiteand blue-collar joes and josephines. 4308 N Western, OKC, 525.6682 $$ CHEEVER’S Dress up or down for the Southwestern-influenced recipes and love of seafood that drive the contemporary comfort food found in this converted florist’s; truly one of the city’s finest destinations for dining out. 2409 N Hudson, OKC, 525.7007 $$ COACH HOUSE, THE Definitively among the metro’s most refined, elegant, upscale dining experiences, the rotating menu of seasonal cuisine highlights regional specialties prepared with classical perfection by master chef Kurt Fleischfresser. 6437 Avondale, OKC, 842.1000 $$$ LOTTINVILLE’S WOOD GRILLE Rotisserie chicken and wood-grilled salmon are the featured players among a host of Southwestern-influenced entrees, salads and panini; the Sunday brunch is epic. 801 Signal Ridge, Edmond, 341.2244 $$ MANTEL WINE BAR & BISTRO, THE Marvelous steaks, seafood and other specialties (don’t miss the lobster bisque), combined with a refined, intimate atmosphere and outstanding service, make a truly memorable meal. 201 E Sheridan, OKC, 236.8040 $$$ MELTING POT, THE If the occasion is special, here’s where to make a meal into an event. Specializing in four-course fondue dinners, this elegant restaurant rewards time investments with delectable memories. 4 E Sheridan, OKC, 235.1000 $$$ METRO WINE BAR & BISTRO, THE 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 $$ MICHAEL’S GRILL Thoroughly urbane dining in an elegant, intimate setting – the steaks, chops, seafood and pastas are excellent, and the Caesar salad prepared tableside is legendary. 2824 W Country Club, OKC, 810.9000 $$$

PARAMOUNT, THE A Film Row joint with a screening room attached, it serves a few options for breakfast and lunch and snacks to go with its movies, but it’s the all-day beverage menu that delivers the stuff dreams are made of. 701 W Sheridan, OKC, 517.0787 $

MUSEUM CAFÉ, THE A setting as inspiring as the Oklahoma City Museum of Art warrants something special in terms of cuisine… et puis voila. Ethereally light or delectably robust, this European-inspired menu delights for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. 415 Couch, OKC, 235.6262 $$

RED CUP Comfortably ramshackle surroundings encourage curling up for conversation over spectacular PrimaCafe coffee, baked treats, vegetarian-friendly breakfast and lunch specials and live music. Highly recommended! 3122 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 525.3430 $

NONNA’S EURO-AMERICAN RISTORANTE & BAR A cozily appointed, thoroughly opulent atmosphere housing distinctive cuisine, specialty drinks and live music in The Purple Bar and fresh-baked goodies to top off a grand evening. 1 Mickey Mantle, OKC, 235.4410 $$$

Casual, YET

SOPHISTICATED DINING

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2909 PASEO, SUITE A ~ 405.601.1079 ~ PASEOGRILL.COM ~ MON-THU 11AM-9:30PM ~ FRI 11AM-10PM ~ SAT 5:30PM-10PM

CL ASSEN CURVE LOC ATION: 5860 N. CL ASSEN CURVE | EDMOND LOC ATION: 1205 NW 178TH S T | WWW.OKCBES TPIZZA .COM LIKE US ON

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PARK AVENUE GRILL A one-of-a-kind dining experience inside the luxurious Skirvin Hilton, blending traditional steak and seafood cuisine with the high style of its original 1930s setting. 1 Park, OKC, 702.8444 $$$ PASEO GRILL Quiet and intimate inside, cheerful and comfortable out on the patio, with an award-winning menu full of distinctive flavor combinations – try the duck salad. 2909 Paseo, OKC, 601.1079 $$$ ROCOCO RESTAURANT & FINE WINE An “east coast-style” restaurant, built around a diverse menu of hand-crafted international dishes from Penne Bolognese to Petrale Sole, set off by carefully selected wine and exceptional service. 12252 N May, OKC, 212.4577; 2824 N Pennsylvania, OKC, 528.2824 $$ SEVEN47 A Campus Corner hotspot boasting sleek, swank décor, an appealingly broad menu including a tantalizing brunch and a consistently celebratory vibe make this winning combination. 747 Asp, Norman, 701.8622 $$ SIGNATURE GRILL Unassuming locale; magnificent culinary rewards. Chef Clay Falkner’s expertly considered menu mixes French and Italian techniques, presenting a wide spectrum of amazing flavors in a few select dishes. 1317 E Danforth, Edmond, 330.4548 $$$ VIN DOLCE Primarily a venue for the endless, joyous pursuit of discovering the perfect glass of wine, downtown Edmond’s hot spot also serves gourmet tapas and homemade sweets. 16 S Broadway, Edmond, 285.5333 $$ WEST The staff is speedy, the décor sleek and modern, and the entrées – like bucatini with meatballs or roasted salmon and ratatouille – are wide-ranging but elegantly simple. 6714 N Western, OKC, 607.4072 $$

FRENCH LA BAGUETTE BISTRO Brothers Alain and Michel Buthion have firm roots in the city’s culinary landscape, and La Baguette combines fine dining (linger over multiple courses whenever possible) with an exceptional bakery, deli and butcher shop on site. 7408 N May, OKC, 840.3047 $$

ROYAL BAVARIA Excellent renditions of traditional dishes like Wienerschnitzel, Jagerbraten and a variety of sausages, plus fantastisch house-brewed beers, make the time consumed a worthy investment. 3401 S Sooner, Moore, 799.7666 $$$

HEALTHY // ECLECTIC

VICTORIA’S PASTA SHOP A shabbycomfortable 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 $

BELLINI’S RISTORANTE & GRILL Tasteful in décor and Italian offerings alike, this romantic nightspot quietly, confidently exudes elegance. 6305 Waterford Blvd, OKC, 848.1065 $$

EARTH NATURAL CAFÉ & DELI, THE Super, super fresh sandwiches, salads, soups and baked goods in one of the most vegetarianand vegan-friendly menus you’ll ever see, plus organic fair-trade coffee and tea. 750 Asp, Norman, 573.5933 $

CAFFE PRANZO The atmosphere raises first-time diners’ hopes; the execution exceeds them. Classic dishes, as well as less ubiquitous options that should be better known, are elevated to greatness. 9622 N May, OKC, 755.3577 $$

LOCAL Utilizing some of the finest, freshest regionally sourced ingredients available to fuel chef Ryan Parrott’s creative cuisine, its menu changes seasonally but its welcoming full-family atmosphere is constant. 2262 W Main, Norman, 928.5600 $$

EMPIRE SLICE HOUSE Reigning over the Plaza District in New York style, it offers whole pizzas or slices along with full bar service – making it a great place to go late at night or when seeking a primo patio. 1734 NW 16th, OKC $

LUDIVINE The experience is never the same on successive visits, because the menu adjusts constantly to reflect availability of elite-quality, locally sourced ingredients. 805 N Hudson, OKC, 778.6800 $$$

GABRIELLA’S ITALIAN GRILL AND PIZZERIA A fresh chapter in the Giacomo family’s delectable legacy of success in Krebs, McAlester and South Padre; one bite of the chicken piccata or homemade Italian sausage should win diners’ hearts with ease. 1226 NE 63rd, OKC, 478.4955 $$

ICE CREAM // YOGURT IL DOLCE GELATO Rich, creamy and decadently delicious, with two dozen flavors daily handmade from scratch on location; the cioccolato scuro is unbelievably sublime. 937 SW 25th St, Suite B, Moore, 794.7266; 1318 N Interstate Dr, Norman, 329.7744 $ ORANGE LEAF FROZEN YOGURT Dozens and dozens and dozens of decadenttasting, waistline-friendly flavors, topped however you like since you’re making it yourself. Just don’t try them all at once, since it’s charged by the ounce. 9 metro locations, orangeleafyogurt.com $

GERMAN

INDIAN

DAS BOOT CAMP Longtime fixture for Deutsch festivities and feasting Royal Bavaria has brewed up a second round of the same exceptional cuisine (and magnificent beer) for a faster-paced location in downtown Norman. 229 E Main, Norman, 701.3748 $

GOPURAM – TASTE OF INDIA A fullservice Indian establishment whose richly appointed interior and attentive staff give the feel of fine dining, even during the inexpensive and plentiful lunch buffet. 4559 NW 23rd, OKC, 948.7373 $$

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ITALIAN // PIZZA BENVENUTI’S Subtly flavored minestrone to rich, hearty ragouts, the splendid menu keeps the booths full and diners planning return trips; don’t overlook the Sunday brunch. 105 W Main, Norman, 310.5271 $$

PEACHWAVE YOGURT A full 50 flavors – every one low-fat or non-fat – conveyed to your taste buds via the finest, freshest ingredients in completely delicious customized combinations. 3 metro locations, peachwaveyogurt.com $

OLD GERMANY RESTAURANT Justly renowned for its Bavarian delights – the schnitzels, soups and cevapcici sausages are spectacular. Reservations strongly recommended; it’s a small place and dinner’s already a lengthy process without waiting in line. 15920 SE 29th, Choctaw, 390.8647 $$$

York-style pies complemented by a full menu and wine list. 5860 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 842.7743; 1205 NW 178th, Edmond, 285.8887 $$

COOLGREENS This health-conscious establishment has a menu, but customization is encouraged; every available component in their salads, wraps and frozen yogurt is naturally delicious. 4 metro locations, coolgreens.com $$

WHISPERING PINES B&B A secluded getaway on the south end of Norman, this inn houses a treasure of a restaurant serving sumptuous, savory Frenchinspired cuisine in quiet comfort with firstclass service. 7820 E Highway 9, Norman, 447.0202 $$$

INGRID’S Authentic German fare at its best, including outstanding Oklahomamade bratwurst. Join the Saturday regulars for breakfast and try the apple French toast, and no one can resist Ingrid’s bakery counter. 3701 N Youngs, OKC, 946.8444 $$

– 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 $$

KHAZANA INDIAN GRILL Don’t let the thought of a buffet throw you off this place. The food is superior and very fresh; the staff is delightful. New to Indian food? Alert a server and you will be guided through the cuisine. 4900 N May, OKC, 948.6606 $$ MISAL OF INDIA BISTRO A Norman institution for over 30 years, specializing in tandoori-cooked delicacies and boasting healthy, natural, delicious cuisine, served amid splendid ambiance. 580 Ed Noble Pkwy, Norman, 579.5600 $$ TAJ CUISINE OF INDIA A tremendous selection of Indian staples and delicacies

HIDEAWAY PIZZA If you’ve been serving pizza to a devoted following for over half a century, then you must be doing something right. In this case, that something right is incredible pizza in jovial surroundings. 7 metro locations, hideawaypizza.com $$ HUMBLE PIE PIZZERIA There’s really no need to be humble about pizza made the way a true Chicago pizzeria would make it. Take your choice of toppings and relish what is quite possibly the best crust known to man. 1319 S Broadway, Edmond, 715.1818 $ JOEY’S PIZZERIA A creative pizzeria on OKC’s Film Row, Joey’s serves first-rate appetizers and salads along with its mouth-watering pies. Can’t get enough? Have your pizza, then have another for dessert; The Surfer Dude can pinch hit as entrée or dessert. 700 W Sheridan, OKC, 525.8503 $$ OTHELLO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT Garlic bread and mussels to tiramisu and coffee – everything you’d hope for from a romantic, comfortably shabby Italian café. The adjoining bar regularly hosts live local music. 434 Buchanan, Norman, 701.4900; 1 S Broadway, Edmond, 330.9045 $$ PIZZA 23 The tempting selection of specialty pies is available for takeout, but dining in is recommended: the crisp, urban décor and good beer selection add savor to the flavor. 600-B NW 23rd St, OKC, 601.6161 $$ SOPHABELLA’S CHICAGO GRILL A quiet, classy gem offering premier tastes from Chicago and beyond – the menu includes Coquilles St. Jacques alongside pepperoni rolls – in comfort and style. 7628 N May, OKC, 879.0100 $$$ STELLA MODERN ITALIAN CUISINE A luscious spate of modern Italian cuisine for a casual lunch, romantic dinner or brunch that’s a bit of both, framed by stylish surroundings. 1201 N Walker, OKC, 235.2200 $$ UPPER CRUST WOOD FIRED PIZZA A chic, contemporary restaurant in Classen Curve, this uptown pizzeria and wine bar specializes in wood-fired, thin crust New

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 $$ WEDGE, THE Wood-fired pizzas crafted from fresh ingredients and made-from-scratch sauces; there’s a build-your-own option if the house specialties’ unconventional toppings (figs, truffle oil, walnuts) don’t appeal. 230 NE 1st, OKC, 270.0660; 4709 N Western, OKC, 602.3477 $$

JAPANESE // SUSHI CAFÉ ICON Tempting sushi and Japanese specialties — and much more — fill the menu’s pages to bursting with visually splendid and palate-pleasing treats. 311 S Blackwelder, Edmond, 340.8956 $$ FULL MOON SUSHI Mango salsa, chive oil, crème fraiche, “cherry death sauce”… you won’t find fresh, marvelously creative combinations like these elsewhere. Expect to spend some time poring over the extensive menu, and definitely try the Devil’s Advocate. 326 E Main, Norman, 535.6548 $$ GOGO SUSHI The name reflects the restaurant’s attitude toward speed and convenience, but doesn’t mention the robust menu or tantalizing specials. Go go check it out! 1611 S Service Rd, Moore, 794.3474; 432 NW 10th, OKC, 602.6333 $$ IN THE RAW DUNWELL SUSHI A chic, colorful, open-concept restaurant on the Bricktown canal offering excellent sushi, even more impressive specialty rolls and a wide assortment of sake. Try the bananas tempura for dessert. 200 S Oklahoma, OKC, 702.1325 $$ MUSASHI’S Exquisitely flavorful Japanese cuisine prepared with genuine artistry, thanks to the skilled chefs performing at tableside hibachi grills. Nobody does the onion volcano better. 4315 N Western, OKC, 602.5623 $$ SUSHI BAR, THE Sushi staples done with élan, as well as options starring more adventurous ingredients like sweet potato and jack cheese, in a bustling, comfortable environment. 1201 NW 178th, OKC, 285.7317 $$ 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). Flavor favors the bold! 4318 N Western, OKC, 528.8862 $$ TOKYO JAPANESE RESTAURANT It’s neither huge nor lavishly appointed, and the menu focuses more on traditional dishes than experimental flights of fancy; it is, however, palpably fresh and routinely cited as among the metro’s best. 7516 N Western, OKC, 848.6733 $$

MEDITERRANEAN AVANTI BAR & GRILL Gather around the hammered copper bar for the casual elegance of Italy and the Mediterranean with contemporary twists: crab falafel, bolognese pizza, osso bucco and more. 13509 Highland Park, OKC, 254.5200 $$

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BASIL MEDITERRANEAN CAFÉ Whether entrees like Chicken Bandarri, a pita stuffed with savory beef Souvlaki or a fresh bowl of tangy tabouli, flavor leaps from every corner of the menu. 211 NW 23rd, OKC, 602.3030 $ MEDITERRANEAN IMPORTS & DELI Selected groceries and a menu stocked with options from a simple Greek salad to eye-watering cabbage rolls; the food is authentic, quick and spectacular. 5620 N May, OKC, 810.9494 $ NUNU’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFÉ & MARKET The tangy, tantalizing, fresh and healthy flavors that characterize the cuisine of Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and their neighbors, faithfully reproduced from generations-old recipes. 3131 W Memorial, OKC, 751.7000 $ QUEEN OF SHEBA Practically the definition of a hidden treasure, an excellently spiced, extremely veganfriendly menu of varied Ethiopian delights awaits the adventurous. Bring friends and be prepared to linger. 2308 N MacArthur, OKC, 606.8616 $$ ZORBA’S MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE For over 20 years, Zorba’s has satisfied appetites and pleased adventurous palates. Serving traditional and modern dishes from recipes passed down through generations, they proudly showcase the flavors of Cyprus, Spain, Greece and Morocco. 6014 N May, OKC, 947.7788 $

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MEXICAN // LATIN AMERICAN 1492 1492 offers authentic Mexican cuisine in an elegant atmosphere, a fusion decor with an open bar, possibly the best mojitos in the universe and a romantic setting. 1207 N Walker, OKC, 236.1492 $$ ABUELO’S MEXICAN FOOD EMBASSY In a word: huge. The restaurant itself, the variety, the plates, the flavors, the experience. No passport required. 17 E Sheridan, OKC, 235.1422; 3001 W Memorial, OKC, 755.2680 $$ BIG TRUCK TACOS It’s nearly always standing room only at lunch, but don’t let that stop you – shove an elbow in at the counter and enjoy fast, fresh, imaginative taco creations. 530 NW 23rd, OKC, 525.8226 $ CAFÉ DO BRASIL OKC is a long way from Rio, but the supremely 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 $$ CAFÉ KACAO A sunlit space filled with bright, vibrant flavors from the zesty traditions of Guatemalan cooking. Lunch possibilities beckon, but it’s the breakfast (and brunch) specialties that truly dazzle. 3325 N Classen, OKC, 602.2883 $ CANTINA LAREDO A sophisticated take on traditional Mexican food, specializing in fresh fish specials and certified Angus beef dishes. 1901 NW Expressway (in Penn Square Mall), OKC, 840.1051 $$ CHUY’S If you’re just feeling a trifle peckish, you might have your hands full with this one – the portions are substantial, the Hatch chile-fueled flavors are strong and the vibe is playfully enthusiastic. 760 N Interstate Dr, Norman, 360.0881 $$ FUZZY’S TACO SHOP At home in hightraffic areas because it helps create crowds, Fuzzy’s dishes up jumbo burritos and big, flavorful salads – and, with special serious emphasis, shrimp tacos – quickly and in plenitude. 752 Asp, Norman,

90 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

701.1000; 208 Johnny Bench, OKC, 602.3899 $ IGUANA MEXICAN GRILL Whether “down by the railroad tracks” or returning to its roots in Nichols Hills Plaza, Iguana offers unique Mexican flavor in a fun atmosphere at reasonable prices, including awesome deals on Iguana Tuesdays. 9 NW 9th, OKC, 606.7172; 6482 Avondale, OKC, 607.8193 $$ INCA TRAIL Maintaining a cultural culinary heritage that includes flavors from around the world results in great variety, from piquant ceviches to silkysmooth homemade flan. The Pollo a La Brasa comes highly recommended. 10948 N May, OKC, 286.0407 $$ LA LUNA MEXICAN CAFÉ Its cantina-style atmosphere is undeniably festive, and only adds to the enjoyment of classic fajitas, enchiladas and bolder dishes like the carne ranchera. 409 W Reno, OKC, 235.9596 $$ MAMA ROJA MEXICAN KITCHEN A festive atmosphere on the scenic shores of Lake Hefner sets off a menu loaded with handrolled tamales, vendor-style tacos and signature dishes. 9219 E Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 302.6262 $$ MAMAVECA MEXICAN RESTAURANT A tasty take on familiar Mexican favorites plus a rare treat for culinary explorers: the diverse delights of Peruvian cuisine, which incorporates the combined flavors of four continents. 2551 W Hemphill, Norman, 573.4003 $$ PURPLE BURRO Casual and lighthearted (if you couldn’t guess from the name), it specializes in New Mexican cuisine fueled by the heat of green chiles in classics like chicken enchiladas and chile verde stew. 231 S Coltrane, Edmond, 359.8400 $$ TAMAZUL Ceviches and crudos join tacos and fajitas in this lively, upscale tour of Mexican and Oaxacan cuisine, featuring the state’s first mezcal bar. 5820 N Classen, OKC, 879.4248 $$ TARAHUMARA’S CAFÉ & CANTINA Beloved by locals (there’s usually a line but it moves quickly), this airy, unassuming ristorante serves huge, tasty portions of Tex-Mex classics plus less ubiquitous fare like carnitas de puerco and mole poblano. 702 N Porter, Norman, 360.8070 $$ TED’S CAFÉ ESCONDIDO The gold standard of OKC-area Tex-Mex: residents may prefer another eatery, but when they attempt to make converts, Ted’s is the point of comparison. Fast, fresh and amply portioned, it’s often very crowded and always supremely delicious. 4 metro locations, tedscafe.com $$ YUCATAN TACO STAND Fast, fresh and often fiery Latin fusion cuisine like paella and tamales wrapped in banana leaves alongside signature nachos and taco combinations… plus a selection of over 75 100-percent-agave tequilas. 100 E California, Suite 110, OKC, 886.0413 $ ZARATE’S LATIN MEXICAN GRILL And now for something a trifle different: In addition to the familiar joys of enchiladas and chimichangas, the chef’s Peruvian heritage shines in South American dishes featuring plantains, yuca and imported spices. 706 S Broadway, Edmond, 330.6400 $$

SEAFOOD FISH CITY GRILL Shrimp and grits, tilapia po boys, oysters on the half shell… anyone who secretly wishes Oklahoma had a coastline should feel right at home in this Spring Creek Village stopover. 1389 E 15th, Edmond, 348.2300 $$ HILLBILLIES PO-BOY Unassuming name; mighty appealing flavor in the form of

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FARE | Eat & Drink

fresh oysters, thoroughly tasty seafood sandwiches and the licit thrill of the fabulous moonshine bar. 1 NW 9th, OKC, 702.9805 $ JAZMO’Z BOURBON STREET CAFÉ Its upscale yet casual environment and Cajun and Creole-inspired selections provide a nice backdrop for both a night out in Bricktown and watching the big game at the bar with a bowl of gumbo. 100 E California, OKC, 232.6666 $$ PEARL’S CRABTOWN A 20,000-foot Bricktown warehouse is home to Crabtown, where the Cajun Crab Boil is a favorite and guests are encouraged to “leave the silverware at home and dig in.” 303 E Sheridan, OKC, 232.7227 $$ PEARL’S OYSTER BAR A perennial winner in “best of the metro” polls for its fresh, flavorful seafood and spicy Creoleinspired dishes: Shrimp Diablo, Tabasco Caesar salads and more. 5641 N Classen, OKC, 848.8008 $$ SHACK SEAFOOD & OYSTER BAR, THE A massive selection of nicely spiced Cajun and Creole cooking, plus fried and grilled seafood, in an atmosphere that’s as casual as can be. 13801 Quail Pointe Dr, OKC, 286.5959 $$

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SOUL FOOD BIGHEAD’S Fried alligator appetizers and frog leg platters, oyster po’ boys with a tangy remoulade and simmering, savory seafood gumbo – it’s a bayou treat right nearby. 617 S Broadway, Edmond, 340.1925 $$ THE DRUM ROOM Crispy, juicy, savory fried chicken (among the city’s best) stars along with fried okra, waffles, other treats and a fully loaded bar. 4300 N Western, OKC, 604.0990 $$ MAMA E’S WINGS & WAFFLES Now with two locations after a star turn on The Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” this labor of love is adored by locals looking for classic Southern dishes flavored with authenticity. 3838 Springlake, OKC, 424.0800; 900 W Reno, OKC, 231.1190 $

STEAKHOUSE BOULEVARD STEAKHOUSE Perfectly soigné ambiance down to the least detail and cuisine easily ranking among the metro’s elite – a sumptuous, if expensive, masterpiece. 505 S Boulevard, Edmond, 715.2333 $$$ CATTLEMEN’S STEAKHOUSE The very definition of an Oklahoma institution – it’s over 100 years old in a state that’s only 105 – its immense corn-fed steaks and irreproducible atmosphere are history served anew every day. 1309 S Agnew, OKC, 236.0416 $$ HOLLIE’S FLATIRON STEAKHOUSE This plush, cozy restaurant in front of the Warren Theatre features fresh, tasty entrees seared on a flatiron grill and a kick of Southwestern spice running through the menu. 1199 Service Rd, Moore, 799.0300 $$

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92 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

JUNIOR’S Some of the biggest oil deals in boom and bust days were finalized at this landmark Oil Center building restaurant, where hand-cut Angus steaks and lobster fight for attention with knockout fried chicken. 2601 NW Expressway, OKC, 848.5597 $$$ MAHOGANY PRIME STEAKHOUSE The service is outstanding and the ambience casually welcoming, but the star is the steak: the finest hand-selected customaged beef, broiled to perfection and served sizzling and delicious. It’s where

great steak is the rule, not the exception. 3241 W Memorial, OKC, 748.5959 $$$ MICKEY MANTLE’S STEAKHOUSE Named after a legendary Oklahoman, this lushly atmospheric social spot in Bricktown serves powerhouse entrées, sides and amenities that have become the stuff of legends themselves. 7 S Mickey Mantle, OKC, 272.0777 $$$ OPUS PRIME STEAKHOUSE Aspiring to the ultimate in upscale dining via hand-cut USDA Prime Black Angus steaks, a wine selection comprising over 1,000 labels and an ambiance of intimate elegance. 800 W Memorial, OKC, 607.6787 $$$ RANCH STEAKHOUSE Driven by customaged hand-cut USDA Certified Prime tenderloins and ribeyes, the effortlessly opulent Ranch offers exceptional food, warm hospitality and unbridled Southern comfort. 3000 W Britton, OKC, 755.3501 $$$ RED PRIMESTEAK Visionary design and atmosphere house super-premium steaks that are among the state’s very finest, accompanied by vibrant, imaginative flavors and refined amenities to make world-class dining. 504 N Broadway, OKC, 232.2626 $$$

THAI PAD THAI Dine in comfortably or quickly carry out beautifully executed exemplars of the form: delicately flavored or searingly spiced soups, curries, fried rice and noodle dishes like its namesake. 119 W Boyd, Norman, 360.5551 $ SALA THAI Pineapple curry, basil squid, fried rice with crab, cinnamon beef with rice noodles... the variety is exceptional, and the inexpensive create-your-own lunch special makes it a popular midday option. 1614 NW 23rd, OKC, 528.8424 $ SWEET BASIL THAI CUISINE The enormous aquarium adds to Sweet Basil’s cozy ambiance, which when coupled with its outstanding curries and soups recommends it as a date spot. Be aware that it is on the higher end of Norman’s price range for Thai. 211 W Main, Norman, 217.8424 $$ TANA THAI BISTRO There’s a lot to like about the food in this little spot, from the red snapper filet to the plain old (so to speak) pad thai. Pay attention to the soups, and do not play chicken with the spice level. 10700 N May, OKC, 749.5590 $$

VIETNAMESE CORIANDER CAFÉ Updating traditional Vietnamese recipes with modern sensibilities via local ingredients, this vegetarian-friendly café makes a quick, casual, comfortable dining alternative. 323 White, Norman, 801.3958 $ LIDO Spring rolls to vermicelli bowls, this venerable diner runs the gamut of Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine, and even finds room for a few French specialties. 2518 N Military, OKC, 521.1902 $$ PHO CA DAO Vermicelli bowls, rice platters and even banh xeo crepes are there for investigating, but the main draw is still piping hot pho (with choice of meat) and icy cold bubble tea. 2431 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 521.8819 $ PHO BULOUS Super fresh, super fast, reasonably priced and perhaps Edmond’s finest take on the namesake soup… although some of the specialties like Honey Ginger Chicken or Wasabi Salmon also merit closer inspection. 3409 S Broadway, Edmond, 475.5599 $

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OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 93

Last Laugh

By Lauren Hammack FOR THE SECOND TIME, I’ve signed up to participate in a 21-day Meditation Challenge with Deepak Chopra, the renowned Hindu Indian-American author, physician and all things “one-withspirit” master. The first time I did the Meditation Challenge, I lasted about 10 or 11 days, hoping that meditation would teach me to quiet my weary mind and give that hamster on the wheel in my head a moment’s rest before he pops a few more Bennies and gets back on. This time, more agitated than ever, I’m committed to sticking it out the entire 21 days. Deepak (since we’ve meditated together, I think I can call him by his first name) suggests meditating in the morning, since a good night’s sleep encourages the right state of mind for an optimal meditation experience. Initially, this sounds sensible enough, but even Deepak would shudder at the opposing forces that wait for me on the other side of my harmony-seeking meditation: the morning commute. It is a fact that all the driving misfits in the universe converge into one lane – mine – causing me to appreciate the satisfying benefits of both transformational meditation and the Open Carry law in the same moment. Yes, I want to expand my universal understanding but I want to take target practice, too. It’s hard for me to get to a place of peace and tranquility, namely because of my daily struggle with these drivers who personify the “challenge” in “Meditation Challenge.”

It is a fact that all the driving misfits in the universe converge into one lane — mine …

The Texter – As the worst offender, you top the list, Texting-WhileDriving. You’re going to kill us all, but until you do, you’ll wreak havoc on all sides as you swerve, slow down and speed up while inserting just the right emoji into your message. The emoji I want to send you can’t be printed in this family publication, so I’ll just text it to you and get out of your way. 94 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

The Sunday Driver – Oh, Sunday Driver, you’ve got nowhere to go and all day to get there. The entire highway is your personal school zone. But since this is a workday, you’re holding up the traffic in your wake for miiiiiiiles. When you finally get to that I-44/I-40 junction, you’ll suddenly realize that you shouldn’t even be in the left lane and you’ll brake as you mull over a way to get back into the middle lane. You rank half a car-length behind the Texter as a menace on the road. The “I Can’t Drive 75” – Out of nowhere, you appear in my rearview mirror as if you’ve been shot from a cannon. I feel an urgent need to create an unspoken pact – and a barricade – with an unwitting Sunday Driver as I sidle up beside him and search my passiveaggressive soul (and my rearview mirror) for answers to the meaning of road rage. The Rubbernecker – Granted, we’ve all earned this distinction at some point, but the sanctity of the morning commute must garner more attention than the fender bender or blowout on the shoulder. Besides, staring at a fresh accident carries all the bad juju that comes with watching a fellow skier fall – it’s highly contagious. Braker Braker – What is the MATTER with you? There are no puppies or unattended children wandering around on the highway. Take your foot off the brake before the rest of us unleash our inner Speed Racer and send you into next week. The Hauler – You have something to haul, and it’s usually precariously strapped onto a f latbed trailer or wobbling in the back of a truck. Here’s a late-breaking message: half of the haul is f lying out and causing a backup behind you. And hey, here’s something – get out of the passing lane. Methuselah – I admire and respect you, Methuselah, for insisting on driving well beyond what could be considered safe for you and anyone sharing the road. I’ll admit, from behind, it’s hard to tell the difference between you, the Texter and the Sunday Driver, but the point is the same: the morning commute is not your race. Yelling at you is like cursing a Walmart greeter and that’s no way to start the day. It’s probably asking a lot, but if you wouldn’t mind catching an hour of Kathie Lee and Hoda before you head out, the rest of us will (hopefully) be out of your way.

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OCTOBER 2013 // SLICE 95

Last Look

Cause to Reflect Photo by Charles E. Grubbs

The Wichita Mountains in Southwestern Oklahoma date back about 270 million years (give or take) â&#x20AC;Ś but enjoying the splendor that nature bestows upon them each autumn never gets old.

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96 SLICE // OCTOBER 2013

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