SLICE THE MAGA ZINE OF CENTR AL OKL AHOMA
PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS Global Change Starts Here
UP, UP AND AWAY
On Board With the Jet Set
among other things … Symphony Show House Trio, Advances in Women’s Health and May’s Gotta-Go Events
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FEATURES
38
May 2013
The Jet Set: Flying High, Metro Style
The pilots are top-notch, safety is paramount and the service is out of this world. When it comes to traveling at the highest levels of speed, luxury and convenience, private chartered jets are the only way to fly.
On the cover
SLICE THE MAGA ZINE OF CENTR AL OKL AHOMA
PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS Global Change Starts Here
33 A World of
Difference
On the principle that economic stability promotes political stability, an OKC nonprofit is using capitalism as a force for global progress: its Peace Through Business mentoring program encourages and trains female entrepreneurs in war-torn countries. 4 SLICE // MAY 2013
UP, UP AND AWAY
On Board With the Jet Set
among other things … Symphony Show House Trio, Advances in Women’s Health and May’s Gotta-Go Events
Rwandan restaurateur Fina Uwineza with her mentor Lori Tyler, owner of Stella Modern Italian Cuisine in OKC during 2012’s Peace Through Business program. Photo by Carli Wentworth.
Mall-Wide Event 6:00-8:00 pm Thursday, May 9th Makeovers, Entertainment, Fashion Tips, Food Sampling, Cocktails, Goody Bags*, Prizes and More!
At the corner of Northwest Expressway and Penn in Oklahoma City. Shopping Line: 405-842-4424 *while supplies last MAY 2013 // SLICE 5
DEPARTMENTS 58
ARKANSAS, NATURALLY Don’t be fooled by the sleepy Ozark setting: Bentonville has developed into a haven of luxury and culture without abandoning its Arkansan roots. 12 From the Editor 14 Perspectives UP FRONT 17 Chatter Creating brotherhood through scouting, rocking out to local blues quartet Them Hounds, kickstarting Reed Timmer’s latest storm-chasing project and other topics of conversation. 26 Retrospective Remembering the way we were with a look back at the pioneering mercantile landscape in Edmond. 28 Details The secret to enlivening outdoor living could be right behind you – lend an eye to these outstanding backyard seating options. 30 Exchange A give and take about pageants, parenting, a penchant for animals and more with the OKC Zoo’s effervescent Tara Henson.
94
28 6 SLICE // MAY 2013
SPACES 50 Three-Part Visual Harmony A trio of homes provides visitors with one unbeatable collection of decorative splendor in the 40th annual Symphony Designers Show House. TRAVEL 54 77 Counties In her ongoing travels through Oklahoma, author and photographer M.J. Alexander heads to LeFlore County – and through centuries of history – to explore the fact and fiction of the Spiro Mounds. COMMUNITY 62 An Attitude of Gratitude In an excerpt from his recent book “Vibrant,” behavioral psychiatrist Dr. R. Murali Krishna recalls his mother’s sacrifices and offers advice for coping with anger.
May 2013 MINGLING 65 Making an appearance on central Oklahoma’s social scene. PRACTICAL MATTERS 69 A look at the challenges, opportunities, breakthroughs and caring individuals focused on women’s health in central Oklahoma; plus tech talk about Nokia’s new giant-killer and excellent travel apps. PURSUITS 77 A rundown of local events and entertainment options, including a top 10 list of must-see attractions and a closer look at the OKC Museum of Art’s latest infusion of beauty. FARE 91 In the Kitchen A bit of extra care, and a secret ingredient, can transform a regular cake mix into a spectacular Mother’s Day treat via this easy recipe. 94 Bring the Heat A quick, tasty lunch or an unhurried examination of tequila’s finer points – Yucatan Taco Stand gives the Bricktown landscape an exceptional summertime stopover. 96 Eat & Drink Take a gastronomic tour with Slice’s citywide dining guide. 102 Appetite on Main Street The future is served at Francis Tuttle. A massive, high-tech overhaul of its School of Culinary Arts is set to give students the means to become better chefs, and diners a new address to enjoy. 110 Last Laugh 112 Last Look
17
MAY 2013 // SLICE 7
May 2013
Volume 4 Issue 5
PUBLISHER Elizabeth Meares EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mia Blake EDITORIAL Features Writer John Parker Associate Editor Steve Gill Contributing Writers M.J. Alexander, Tommy Arens, Mark Beutler, Lauren Hammack, R. Murali Krishna, M.D., Caryn Ross, Elaine Warner, Sara Gae Waters ART Art Director Scotty O’Daniel Graphic Designer Brian O’Daniel Contributing Stylist Sara Gae Waters Contributing Photographers M.J. Alexander, Justin Avera, David Cobb, Simon Hurst, Claude Long, Michael Miller, Elaine Warner, Carli Wentworth ADVERTISING Executive Director of Advertising Cynthia Whitaker-hill Account Executives Robin Eischeid, Jamie Hamilton, Doug Ross, Christin Scheel Account Manager Ronnie Morey ADMINISTRATION Distribution Raymond Brewer
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WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA sliceok.com
8 SLICE // MAY 2013
5,700
There are 5,700 hospitals in the U.S.
1,000
Less than 1,000 of those are certified to treat stroke.
25
Less than 25 are certified as Comprehensive Stroke Centers.
1
And the first in all of Oklahoma is Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City.
24/7
24 hours a day, seven days a week, Mercy is ready with expert stroke care.
1
So in the moment that counts the most, the name to remember is Mercy.
Mercy earned Comprehensive Stroke Center certification from the Joint Commission, American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association for our ability to treat the most complex stroke cases.
mercy.net/okcstroke MAY 2013 // SLICE 9
Don’t be in De-Nile! May 2013
Volume 4 Issue 5
READER SERVICES Mailing Address 729 W. Sheridan, Suite 101 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Phone 405.842.2266 Fax 405.604.9435 Subscription Inquiries info@sliceok.com
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After years of doing business as both companies, Young Brothers has retired the Southwest Tile name.
Back Issues To order back issues of Slice magazine, please send $9.50 (includes P&H) to the mailing address above or call 405.842.2266 to order by phone. Bulk Orders For information on bulk orders of Slice magazine, please call 405.842.2266.
CORPORATE Chief Executive Officer & President Richard M. Franks Chief Financial Officer Todd P. Paul Chief Marketing Officer Forbes C. Durey ADVERTISING Director of Sales Darla Walker Director of National Advertising Nathen Bliss MARKETING AND EVENTS Corporate Director of Marketing & Events Cathy Hale Director of Audience Development Kerri Nolan
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405.272.0821
www.youngbrosinc.com MARBLE • GRANITE • TILE EST 1969
10 SLICE // MAY 2013
Director of Events & Community Relations Meredith Parsons Marketing & Events Coordinator Meghan Athnos ©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.
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From the Editor
LOOKING BACK, LEAPING FORWARD
SIMON HURST
G
MIA BLAKE
Editor-in-Chief mia.blake@sliceok.com
reetings! This is my first official editor’s note in the pages of Slice, and it’s incredibly exciting. Exhilarating. Thrilling. Terrifying. It feels like I am peering out from behind a curtain and stepping forward to meet all of you, and I must say, it’s nice to finally see you face-to-face … or, ink to eyeball. Does anyone else have the sense that this is like a blind date? I don’t know you, and you don’t know me, but a mutual acquaintance thinks we might be perfect for each other. Let’s have a little introductory chat before we get down to business, shall we? Some of you may know that I am new to the position of editor-in-chief, but not at all new to the magazine (and its previous incarnations – here’s a shout out to any original Nichols Hills News readers – we go way back). A lady never tells her age, but I am rapidly approaching that point in time when I will have worked here longer than I have not. In my whole life. Whoa. I’ve worn many hats and worked in just about every capacity that a publishing company has to offer, and I have been lucky to do so alongside a terrific team. My colleagues are like a surrogate family to me – perhaps growing up as one of nine children set me up to immediately adopt my co-workers. I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to “grow in place.” I’ve read that job-hopping is becoming the norm in our society, and I always think to myself – those people haven’t met the Slice team. We’re lifers. (And I mean that in the best possible way, not in a prison gang kind of way.) I know we will continue to get acquainted in the coming months, and I do hope in the meantime you will drop me a line to let me know what’s on your mind. Let me just scribble my email address on this cocktail napkin for you. Now … on to the show. May is jam-packed with festivities, and for a quick rundown of our can’t-miss events, see Steve Gill’s “Top 10” on page 78. Sara Gae Waters urges us to get outside and enjoy the springtime weather with “Sitting Pretty” on page 28. John Parker lives the dream (if only for a short while) when he takes us inside the world of Oklahoma’s jet set on page 38. Lauren Hammack shares the mission of some philanthropic businesspeople dedicated to empowering the women of the world, on page 33, and in honor of Mother’s Day gives a rundown of her favorite TV moms on page 110. (I have to admit that Peg Bundy was my choice of TV mom role model. No offense, Mom. Love you!) We recently had a chance to mix and mingle with you, our fantastic readers, at the inaugural Slice Awards, where we honored your choices for best in central Oklahoma (page 65). It was a fun shindig, and we are looking forward to several upcoming events where we get to know you better. Keep an eye on our Facebook page (facebook.com/sliceok) and our Twitter feed (@sliceok), or subscribe to the magazine and provide your email address to stay in the loop on our parties. There is plenty more to be found in these pages, but I know the pleasure I get from letting a good read unfold, so I will say no more. Except this – when we get a new issue of the magazine at the office, we tear into the box of advance copies like a pack of ravenous wolves, then cluster ’round to immediately flip through it at lightning speed. I noticed last month that one person began reading front-to-back, and one read back-to-front. Does that say something about your personality? Purist or rogue? Either way, we’ve got you covered.
P.S. I wondered if some dedicated readers might miss seeing publisher Elizabeth Meares’ face here, so I was tempted to include a photo of us together (perhaps one from my 2003 wedding where she was the matron of honor?), but decided I should save that kind of blackmail for when I need the big guns. Like annual review time.
12 SLICE // MAY 2013
Perspectives
Where readers do the writing.
PARTY TIME!
We were so excited to host the inaugural Slice Awards, honoring your choices for the best in central Oklahoma. Here’s what you had to say about the celebration … Pretty excited about this event tonight! Slice magazine does a great job of putting out information about all the coolest stuff going on in OKC. Loved the VIP concept ... you treated us right!
Thomas McEvoy via Facebook
Thank you so much! An amazing event celebrating amazing people in OKC.
Mandi Heldreth via Facebook
Just got word that we were voted Best Casino in the #SliceAwards. #HeckYeah!
@RiverwindCasino via Twitter
Congratulations to our own Chad Taber. We are so proud of you! Chad was awarded Slice magazine’s Best Hairstylist in Central Oklahoma. We couldn’t agree more!
Salon W via Facebook
Congrats to Jack and Ron for winning Best Morning Radio Team from Slice Magazine!
KISS FM via Facebook
14 SLICE // MAY 2013
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PAINTING IN THE
COURTYARD Thursday, May 2nd 5:30-8pm
Be a part of art happening live! Over 15 artists will be working and creating in the gallery. OKLAHOMA’S PREMIER ART GALLERY
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A Gold Medal Winner Mid-West – Best Regional, Non-Fiction Independent Publisher Book Awards
uthor and photographer M.J. Alexander traveled more than 11,000 miles, photographing 250 Oklahomans from 50 cities and towns across the state for her latest book, Portrait of a Generation. It is an ode to the land and its people, a celebration of those destined to lead the state into its second century.
Gold Medal Winner Young Adult Book Award, Oklahoma Center for the Book
Order online at sliceok.com/portrait or call 405.842.2266 Also available at Full Circle Bookstore, Best of Books and JRB Art at the Elms $10 from every book sale is donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County.
16 SLICE // MAY 2013
UP FRONT Untamed Spirit
CARLI WENTWORTH
A dynamo since childhood, “Super Tara” Henson has a lot to say about fun, recommended entertainment and loving work; her current gig with the OKC Zoo definitely earns her seal of approval. (Ok, technically that’s a sea lion, but where’s the pun in that?) See page 30.
CHATTER Topics of conversation from around the metro 18
RETROSPECTIVE A quick look back at a cornerstone of local history 26
DETAILS Things we love, with an emphasis on colorful outdoor living 28 MAY 2013 // SLICE 17
UP FRONT | Chatter
Reed Timmer and The Dominator
COURTESY OMRF
The Weather Man EVEN IN OKLAHOMA, WHERE RESIDENTS ARE MORE ACCUSTOMED TO SEVERE WEATHER THAN ELSEWHERE, MOST PEOPLE DON’T ACTUALLY HOPE TO BE NEAR TORNADOES WHEN THEY FORM.
Then again, Reed Timmer isn’t most people. The Ph.D. student at OU has been an extreme weather buff since the age of 5 and has spent over a decade getting as close as he can – starting in a $500 truck stocked with paper maps, and now in an armored monster of a vehicle named The Dominator, equipped with mobile radar, an air cannon to launch data-gathering probes into tornadoes and hydraulic spikes that anchor the vehicle to the ground. Along the way, he was one of the main faces of The Discovery Channel’s “Storm Chasers” – and is now engrossed in plans for a groundbreaking new Web documentary series entitled “Tornado Chasers.” The independent project is garnering a good deal of interest: Timmer launched a Kickstarter fundraising campaign with an initial goal of accruing $75,000, and by the time it closed March 28 it had raised $135,856. (Keep an eye on tvnweather.com to stay current with the results.) He acknowledges that interest in storm chasing has risen substantially in the last 10 years, and advises aspirants to take training courses before heading out after the nearest wall cloud. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, it can be very dangerous and you can get yourself killed. If you know what you’re doing, then storm chasing overall is really safe … [but] you’ve got to be willing to eat gas station food three times a day for a lot of the year.”
SLENDER HOPES
OKC went from eighth fattest U.S. city in 2007 to 23rd fittest in 2012, according to Men’s Fitness magazine – but being in good shape is an ongoing goal. Ride a bike, tour the Myriad Gardens, maybe try one of four seasonal Mayor Mick Cornett-approved salads from Nonna’s in Bricktown. Summer is a good time to be in good health. 18 SLICE // MAY 2013
DNA specialist Dr. Roberto Pezza
HEARTLAND BRAIN TRUST Potential advances in combating diabetes, birth defects, heart malfunctions … Oklahoma City is about to host some new research with aweinspiring implications at the venerable Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation – the result of fresh ideas from junior researchers and the five-year, $7.8 million grant they were awarded from the National Institutes of Health.
MAY 2013 // SLICE 19
DOUG SCHWARZ
UP FRONT | Chatter
Getting in Tune THEM HOUNDS
After hammering out their sound since forming in August of 2011, OKC psychedelic blues-rock quartet Them Hounds are on track to have 2013 be their year: their 11-track self-titled debut LP dropped in March, and their furious tour schedule since included crowd-shaking sets on all three nights of the Norman Music Festival in April. A jangly, growling Kills-style bass line introduces the opener “Out the Window,” with a kaleidoscope of styles to follow: a wild fuzz-rock guitar solo in “Bad News,” trippy, layered echoes forming “The Void,” the lonely, sparse twang of “Sleepwalking,” all woven around the rippling Sleater-Kinneyesque vocals (that’s a compliment) of lead singer Erin Ames. To get a free listen to the LP and purchase a download, search for “Them Hounds” on Facebook – as Ames snarls on “Death Howl,” come on and get you some.
Keynote speaker Patrick Rothfuss
ON THE PAGE
REVIVE, STRIVE AND THRIVE WITH LIKE-MINDED READERS AND WRITERS AT THE 45TH ANNUAL OKLAHOMA WRITER’S FEDERATION INC. CONFERENCE MAY 2-4 Hundreds and thousands of avid readers will be making their way to Embassy Suites Norman for the awards banquet, autograph party and poetry slam, interspersed with workshops, assistance from “book doctor” Cindy Davis, sessions for pitching ideas to agents and editors and plenty of speakers. The lineup of guests includes local favorites like Tammi Sauer and Jordan Dane, as well as not-so-local favorites like Yup’ik storyteller Jack Dalton from Alaska and Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame novelist Jodi Thomas, currently writer-in-residence at West Texas A&M. It’s all capped off by keynote speaker Patrick Rothfuss, whose most recent novel, “The Wise Man’s Fear,” hit No. 1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list, and whose appearance in Norman will probably be even better than him using that time to finish the Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy already. Visit owfi.org for more details.
“I will get my education, if it is in home, school or any place. They cannot stop me.”
- Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, an outspoken opponent of religious bans against female education. She was personally targeted by the Taliban and shot October 12, was hospitalized until January 4 … and returned to school March 20. The youngest-ever nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize, she and her father Ziauddin Yousafzai received the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum’s 2013 Reflections of Hope Award in April. 20 SLICE // MAY 2013
Live Well • Dress Well • Shop Well
2201 West Main Street, Norman 405.360.2515 mitchells-jewelry.com Monday through Friday 9am to 6pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
2001 W. Main • Carriage Plaza • Norman 405.360.3969 • www.caymanscollection.com MAY 2013 // SLICE 21
UP FRONT | Chatter
Calendar Watch May 1 May Day May 5 Cinco de Mayo (see p. 94 for a libation destination recommendation) May 11 Commencement for OU, OCU and UCO’s soon-to-no-longer-beundergraduates May 12 Mother’s Day May 13 Norman’s townies begin re-emerging after the student exodus May 27 Memorial Day
Starting Line
Members of the pack at a scouting breakfast with Gov. Mary Fallin
Pack Mentality
The boys at Positive Tomorrows, a tuition-free private elementary school for homeless students, tend not to have many belongings, but thanks to their commitment and that of Paul Centrella and David Slane, they do share one thing: belonging. The men had worked to welcome students from Positive Tomorrows into the Boy Scout pack at Villa Teresa Catholic School. When that venerable institution closed in July 2012, Centrella and Slane formed a new pack, one where their own sons are members as well, rather than allowing their partnership with the underprivileged kids to fall apart. “We wanted to continue to build on what we started at Villa Teresa,” Slane said. “Our own boys have learned through this process to appreciate how privileged their lives are, and the boys of Positive Tomorrows are continuing to feel a part of something where they’re embraced as friends and brothers; they’re all just boys.”
GET YOUR FOOT IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL DOOR
22 SLICE // MAY 2013
Function, meet form. Norman cyclists will soon be leaving their rides in works of art, as this month will see the installation of five new artist-designed bike racks downtown. The winning looks, from Debby Kaspari, Chris McDaniel, Adam Stewart and Dustin Gilpin, were chosen from more than 200 entries in what is hoped to be an ongoing project of enhancing the community. One of the winning designs: Debby Kaspari’s 5-foot-tall “Bison Charge”
EAT IT!
A great idea is just a lost opportunity if you can’t get your foot in the entrepreneurial door; that’s why VentureSpur provides seed investment for prospective startup businesses. But not all of them: the group plans to run simultaneous “boot camp” programs in both OKC and Dallas this fall for between eight and 12 new companies – the trick is picking which ones. Applications are due by May 17 to venturespur.com; 16 finalists will pitch their ideas to investors and management (think a slightly kinder “Shark Tank”); the most compelling proposals get funding and expert assistance to share their dreams with the market.
THE NEW STYLE
Central Oklahoma’s culinary landscape may not be as renowned as that of southern France, but Provence residents don’t have a day like May 4 on their calendars. Celebrate the unique flavor of life in the Sooner state by heading a bit east of the metro for the annual Kolache Festival in Prague, or west for the 25th anniversary of Fried Onion Burger Day in El Reno … or, ideally, both.
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Your Backyard?
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MAY 2013 // SLICE 23
Mother’s Day BY THE NUMBERS
50,684
85,400,000 mothers in the U.S. (approximately)
age of Broken Arrow resident Anna Martin when she gave birth in 1972 (her 7th)
births reported in Oklahoma in 2011
4,000,000
25.1
average age of a first-time mother in 2008
U.S. women who have given birth in the past 12 months, thus receiving a new reason to celebrate
$1,900,000,000
$671,000,000
122,500,000
$126.90
amount spent annually on Mother’s Day flowers
phone calls made on Mother’s Day (compare with 85 million mamas and know you should get dialing!)
13
consecutive years (19992011) that “Jacob” has been the most popular name for boys born in the U.S.
1908 1914 24 SLICE // MAY 2013
57
amount spent annually on Mother’s Day cards
14.1875
weight in pounds of baby born in McAlester, December 2005
average amount spent by an American on Mother’s Day gifts
38
consecutive years (1961-1998) that “Michael” topped that list
year Anna Jarvis led a service in West Virginia considered the first official Mother’s Day celebration
year Mother’s Day became a national holiday
15
longest consecutive streak in the last 50 years for a girl’s name (“Jennifer,” 1970-1984)
1948
year Anna Jarvis was arrested while protesting the commercialization of Mother’s Day
1911
year the song “I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl That Married Dear Old Dad)” was released
1981
year Faye Dunaway starred in “Mommie Dearest”
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The National Weather Center Biennale art’s window on the impact of weather on the human experience Exhibition Opens April 22, 2013 The National Weather Center Biennale is the first exhibition of its kind: an international juried exhibition featuring art about the weather and the role it plays in shaping our lives. Sponsored by the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma, and the Norman Arts Council, the exhibition will be staged in the dramatic 244,000-square-foot National Weather Center. For each media category (Painting, Works on Paper, and Photography) there will be a $5,000 award, as well as an overall $10,000 Best-in-Show Prize. The exhibition opens on Earth Day, April 22, 2013 and will close on June 2, 2013. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. Visit www.ou.edu/eoo Visit www.nwcbiennale.org for registration and other information. Tony Abeyta (Navajo, b. 1965) Storm from the South [Detail], 2011 Oil on canvas, 36 x 48 in. On loan from a private collector.
The National Weather Center • The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art The Norman Arts Council
MAY 2013 // SLICE 25
Small Town, Big Dreams By Mark Beutler
NOT SO LONG AGO, Edmond was a quaint little village – home to OTASCO, Van’s Bakery and the WideA-Wake Café. The favorite watering hole among locals was the Green Hog Tavern, and Edmond Plaza was the first modern shopping center. Today, “The Plaza,” as old-time Edmondites call it, is still there, but the Green Hog is long gone. The Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles that ambled along Broadway have been replaced by Lexus SUVs and sporty BMWs, and Edmond is part of an upscale, thriving metropolis. Here’s a look back at that charming little village, over a half-century ago.
Top to bottom: Wide-A-Wake Café, 1940, Van’s Bakery logo, Edmond Plaza Shopping Center, 15th and Broadway, Downtown Edmond, looking north from Second Street and Broadway, circa 1960.
26 SLICE // MAY 2013
PHOTOS COURTESY EDMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION AND THE UCO LIBRARY, ARCHIVES/SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
o r t Respective
Make this Mother’s Day
Unforgettable
with
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UP FRONT | Details
Sitting Pretty By Sara Gae Waters // Photo by Carli Wentworth
TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS WITH THE KIDS, enjoying a glass of wine at sunset, dining al fresco with friends: outdoor living is finally here again. May is perfect for entertaining outside. Whether under the pergola or next to the pool, it’s time to move the party outdoors and enjoy the warmer days. Creating the right space for all that plein air entertaining can be entertaining in and of itself. Unique styles from retro to ultra modern can help turn a plain Jane area into something extraordinary. Seating choices beyond Adirondacks abound, not to mention the huge variety of colors and textures. Eye catchers like red retro chairs or modern “pebble” seating make a bold statement. A long wooden bench accommodates more people and might be just the ticket for a covered patio or front porch. Whichever direction you choose, be sure to take a seat yourself, kick back and enjoy the great outdoors.
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1. White EIS Studio pebble seating sculpture from Perch’d, OKC // 2. Orange Modfire Urbanfire outdoor fireplace from Perch’d // 3. Wooden bench from 405 Imports, Norman // 4. and 5. Orange Bend Seating multi-function ottoman/side table/stool and chair from Perch’d // 6. Retro red ’50s metal chair from The Green House, Norman // 7. Yellow EIS Studio pebble seating sculpture from Perch’d // 8. Synthetic grass from Always Greener, OKC
MAY 2013 // SLICE 29
UP FRONT | Exchange
WILD ABOUT THE ZOO By Lauren Hammack Photo by Carli Wentworth
Conv A e with rsation “ Tara Super ” He nson
AS ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S TOP 10 ZOOS, the Oklahoma City Zoological Park and Botanical Garden has long been a favorite destination for thousands of people, but it’s unclear how many of those visitors to the zoo are aware of one of its most fascinating attractions, Tara Henson. The bubbly and gregarious Henson serves as the zoo’s public relations and marketing director. A self-proclaimed “princess/tomboy,” Henson brings her love for people, animals and nature to what seems to be more of an extended play date than a job.
How long have you worked for the zoo? I came here in the fall of 1991, thinking I’d stay maybe five years, through the completion of some expansion projects that were on the horizon at the time – yeah, that was more than five years ago.
hair that would ‘grow’ when you pulled her ponytail out of her head …
What’s the best part of your job? I work at the zoo! What’s not to love?
You must have been a busy child. My mom had her hands full when I was growing up. I was a very active and spirited child – wildly imaginative and, I’m sure, exhausting. I was sort of a ‘princess/tomboy,’ – you know, dresses with shorts underneath.
Who do you think you could be mistaken for? Wonder Woman … ha! Recently, a friend said I looked like Helena Bonham Carter and I often hear Janeane Garofalo or Janine Turner. What’s the last book you’ve read? “Flight Behavior” by Barbara Kingsolver. What’s your most treasured possession? A handmade quilt, passed down from my grandmother. But some of my other treasured possessions were toys and things from my childhood – most that I don’t have any more. For instance, my Klackers had to be removed from our house. I tried to knock out both my eyes with Klackers! As did I, but I broke an ashtray – well, I call it an ashtray; my mother called it ‘an important ceramic art piece’ – so the Klackers couldn’t stay. I also loved those dolls that had 30 SLICE // MAY 2013
Velvet and Chrissy! Yes! I pulled out the ponytail first thing and cut it off because, well, they said it would grow back and I believed them.
For climbing the monkey bars, of course. Exactly. Where does the “princess” part figure in? When I was about 10, I decided I wanted to be in a beauty pageant – “Our Little Miss” – and even though she didn’t understand my impulse, my mom was all on board. She hired a pageant coach and consultant and we went to Tammy-Linn’s to buy a really fancy pageant dress. (The interview is interrupted briefly while the two of us spontaneously erupt into the Tammy-Linn’s jingle, circa 1973.)
How did the pageant turn out? My mom was really stressed the night before. She was planning to cut my bangs …
NOOOOOOO!! So, to give her less to worry about, I just cut them myself. After her meltdown, she called my grandmother, who did her best to repair the damage. I ended up with a serious backcomb and a lot of hairspray. What do you laugh at that you really shouldn’t? Let’s just say that I value sarcasm when utilized properly. Do you have a guilty pleasure? “Duck Dynasty!” What recent purchase are you madly in love with? Mizuno Women’s Wave EVO Cursoris running shoes. Happy feet = happy girl! What do you wish you had known 10 years ago? That I wouldn’t have many more years with my Dad on this earth. I guess I wouldn’t have wanted to know, but I would have liked more time with him. I definitely miss our latenight calls. Do you have any hidden talents? They shall remain a mystery. A woman should have a little mystery.
What’s your favorite hole-inthe-wall in OKC? Weekend breakfast at Jimmy’s Egg (the Classen location) with friends is a standard. Shout out to my favorite waitperson extraordinaire, Mary! Speaking of shout-outs, do you have a nonprofit shout-out? Other than OZS ZooFriends, of course, I’d have to say Other Options and Central Oklahoma Humane Society. If you could have another name, what would it be? Super Tara … I love my name! Which character traits did you inherit from your mother? A hard work ethic, kindness, tender-heartedness and genuine goodness. I owe my Mom for instilling these virtues in me. What are the most important lessons she taught you? To be myself, to have faith, to trust in God, to follow the Golden Rule. What did you get in the most trouble for when you were young? Talking. Such a shock, I know.
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MAY 2013 // SLICE 31
Calvert her day.
This Mother’s Day, order mom an orchid in colors only found at Calvert’s.
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CARLI WENTWORTH
a world of difference
Fina Uwineza, a Rwandan restaurateur, and Lori Tyler, owner of Stella Modern Italian Cuisine in Oklahoma City
By Lauren Hammack
HER EMAIL SIGNATURE READS, “I EDUCATE AND EMPOWER WOMEN.”
t
hese words sum up the life calling of Terry Neese, founder and CEO of the Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW), a nonprofit organization established in 2006 whose focus is helping women entrepreneurs learn to build or grow a business. Helping women to succeed in business sounds easy enough in theory, but the question of how to do it is much more complex, given the volatility of our global society. If there were textbook solutions to building businesses or reaching one’s full potential to provide for her family and strengthen her community, the IEEW might already have identified and delivered them to aspiring entrepreneurs. For many women in other countries, however, success in business is often hindered by extreme political, cultural or economic obstacles, at best. At worst, creating a thriving, woman-owned business can be tantamount to a life-threatening condition. Encouraged by former first lady Laura Bush to assist women in war-torn Afghanistan to rebuild their country post-Taliban, Neese visited the country and instantly understood her life’s calling. She immediately extended the scope of advocating for women as business leaders to a global level by
developing the organization’s Peace Through Business program, aimed at providing longterm business education to women whose homelands – and lives – have been ravaged by genocide, war and extreme poverty. The program, which provides training and mentoring for women from Afghanistan and Rwanda, supports Neese’s belief that an economically sound country has a much greater capacity for peace. Intrinsic to such an outcome is the assurance that the lessons learned through the Peace Through Business
ing at Northwood University in Cedar Hill, Texas. The program also involves a weeklong mentorship program with an American business owner in a matching industry, as well as participation in the International Women’s Economic Summit at the program’s conclusion. Following a graduation ceremony, the students commit to what is perhaps the most important component, called “Pay It Forward,” through which the women “give back” by mentoring other women entrepreneurs in their respective communities.
“In business and in life, there are so many risks. But if we listen to people telling us to stay home, we cannot carry on our life. And we cannot stop living.”
YELDA MAHMOOD, 2010 PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS GRADUATE
program will be “paid forward” to others in those countries and that its participants will adopt a greater understanding and involvement in public policy. Peace Through Business consists of incountry training every year for women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan and Rwanda. It’s almost an MBA crash course. Among those women, 30 are selected to travel to the United States every July for a “Business Boot Camp,” a higher-level business and leadership train-
Progress seldom emerges without a struggle and, in countries such as Afghanistan and Rwanda, the empowerment of women often translates to a highly-charged, political and cultural provocation. For all their differences, the women who participate in Peace Through Business comprise a pioneering sorority of defiantly courageous individuals who are willing to put the vision of a better future for their children ahead of their personal safety. MAY 2013 // SLICE 33
CARLI WENTWORTH
a healthier tomorrow
“What makes Peace Through Business such a great experience is being reminded that, although we live in different worlds, we have a common humanity.”
DR. SUSAN CHAMBERS (OB/GYN), OKLAHOMA CITY
a
Dr. Susan Chambers and Afghan Dr. Lida Shams
34 SLICE // MAY 2013
mid the violence of the war in Afghanistan, Dr. Lida Shams chose to stay in her home country to provide medical care to women as a health and nutrition coordinator. Following the decline of the Taliban’s repressive regime, Dr. Shams pursued a career in obstetrics, completing a four-year residency program at a maternity training hospital, where she trained doctors and midwives. In addition to receiving a degree in obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Shams received training in ultrasonography, which was relatively new technology in Afghanistan at the time. Dr. Shams’ passion lies in providing quality care by female doctors, something that is very important for Afghan women. “Before coming to the United States, we must create our business plan, presenting obstacles and identifying opportunities for success,” Dr. Shams explains, noting that those challenges are often great. By shadowing her mentor, Dr. Susan Chambers, last July, Dr. Shams focused on the management side of owning a medical practice. Now that she has returned to her Kabul-based OB/GYN and Ultrasound Center, Dr. Shams has begun the “Pay It Forward” phase of the Peace Through Business program by sharing her knowledge with other professionals in her community through an ultrasound training program, in addition to the gynecological and obstetrics services her clinic provides to women. Dr. Chambers, who has mentored other participants with health care backgrounds, notes, “It has always been fascinating to see the different practices they do in the other countries, as compared with the U.S.”
CARLI WENTWORTH
fashion for all
s
Afghan Sahiba Nooristani, her mentor Jan Hill, right, and IEEW founder Terry Neese, seated
STYLE SHOWCASE
What: Eden Salon & Spa and Liberté women’s boutique will collaborate on this year’s fashion show to benefit The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women’s Peace Through Business program. All proceeds benefit Peace Through Business and 20 percent of sales at Liberté will help to offset program expenses. Date: July 23 Place: Liberté at Classen Curve
ahiba Nooristani is a two-time participant (2011 and 2012) in the Peace Through Business leadership development program. Her business interests include professional event planning, as well as fashion design. By participating in Peace Through Business, the beautiful and fiercely independent Sahiba hopes to develop the necessary skills to go into business on her own. In 2010, her interest in professional event planning aligned well with Sahiba’s position with the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency, where she was responsible for promoting and facilitating new business in her role as the chief planner for an exhibition that helped to showcase products created by Afghan women; many signed contracts to supply their goods to buyers. Sahiba’s growing interest in fashion design has developed into a talent for designing bridesmaid dresses, a passion that she hopes will evolve into a viable business. “Since my first visit to America, I have been designing bridesmaid dresses. I would love to continue and expand this business,” Sahiba says. Last year, Sahiba assisted in the Peace Through Business Fashion Show. She was thrilled to exhibit some of her own designs during the program, under the mentorship of Eden Salon & Spa owner Jan Hill, who created the annual fashion show and fundraising event. “My Peace Through Business journey has been a great experience,” Sahiba recalls. “It has allowed me to take the very initial steps on entrepreneurship and to learn more about the business world. It made me find a leader in myself and it encouraged me to bring out my hidden capacity so I can prove that Afghan young women can be innovative and diversified in business.”
MAY 2013 // SLICE 35
CARLI WENTWORTH
a fresh start
n
early 800,000 Rwandans lost their lives to the 1994 genocide and more than 2 million refugees fled the country, creating a gender imbalance in the country. Today, as women comprise the majority of the population, Rwanda is poised to rebuild itself with the highest percentage of women in government of any country in the world. Josephine “Fina” Uwineza attended school in Kenya and Geneva, far away from the turmoil in her native Rwanda. Following the genocide, Fina returned to her country in 1998, to quiet her persistent longing for her homeland. She opened Kigali’s first Chinese restaurant, which she named Flamingo. Flamingo’s popularity has allowed Fina to employ more than 20 people from her community. The restaurant provides dining, catering and conference facilities. In addition to her restaurant, Fina has launched an agricultural company, “Fina’s Freshings,” through which she works with local farmers from surrounding rural areas. Fina sells her own chili peppers locally and plans to export them in the future. Fina’s program mentor, Lori Tyler, owner of Stella Modern Italian Cuisine in downtown Oklahoma City, believes the rewards of the program are just as great for the mentors, who are the professional counterparts for each participant. After spending time with Lori at Stella, Fina observed Sheree Holloway, owner of Café 501 and Boulevard Steakhouse in Edmond, as well as a day with Cally Johnson, a chef and owner of Big Truck Tacos and Mutt’s Amazing Hot Dogs in Oklahoma City. Fina was one of two recipients of the 2012 Enterprising Women of the Year awards at her graduation. What about the Peace Through Business program inspires Fina? “I’m inspired by the fact that we can work together as women, despite our tribal differences,” she says. “When we focus on business, we can put those differences behind us.”
36 SLICE // MAY 2013
Fina Uwineza and Lori Tyler
“We arrived in the capital city in the middle of what would have been a busy working day a few months earlier. As it was, we drove into a ghost town. The air reeked of death, and I could hear the wind shrieking through abandoned homes like evicted spirits. Shop doors were ripped from their hinges, the stores were looted, and every once in a while we’d hear an explosion in the distance. I couldn’t recognize the beautiful city whose bright lights and busy boulevards had thrilled me so much as a teenager.” IMMACULÉE ILIBAGIZA, DESCRIBING KIGALI, RWANDA, IN HER BOOK “LEFT TO TELL: DISCOVERING GOD AMIDST THE RWANDAN HOLOCAUST”
AT A GLANCE
Peace Through Business • In 2006, the U.S. State Department and the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council asked the Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW) to create an international program that provides meaningful business education and effective mentorships for women business owners in developing war-torn countries. The IEEW created its Peace Through Business program to focus on the education, mentorship and coaching of women entrepreneurs from Rwanda and Afghanistan, with the understanding that economically stable societies have a much greater capacity for peace.
Freshta Hazeq, Afghan printing business owner
power of the press
f
reshta Hazeq, a 2012 Peace Through Business graduate from Afghanistan, started her own advertising and printing press company in Kabul – the first woman-owned printing press in her country. Shortly after being named one of two Enterprising Women of the Year at her graduation ceremony, Freshta returned to her country and won a job bid over a male competitor – the kind of bid that would advance her company to a considerably higher level. Unfortunately, male workers within her company were bribed to sabotage her business and the Taliban was enlisted to burn the company down. Driven by fear for her life and for the lives of her family, Freshta initially fled the country. But her retreat into anonymity went against an even stronger drive: to build a successful enterprise and provide for the very family she wanted to protect. Courageously, Freshta went back to face threatening opposition. “I never lost my passion to go ahead and ignore all of them,” she says. “I believe nothing is impossible and no work is out of the reach of women.” Freshta’s program mentor was Jason McWilliams, vice president of Impressions Printing in Oklahoma City. Jason finds inspiration from Freshta’s story. “Mentoring Freshta revealed so much,” Jason says. “The adversities she faced, and still faces, as a woman-owned business in her country cannot be comprehended by most of us here. I am in awe of her determination, will, strength and perseverance.” Terry Neese adds that Freshta will be returning to Oklahoma City this July for additional leadership training. “This is the kind of person who could return to Afghanistan and seek the presidency,” Neese observes.
• This program is implemented through three major components — In-Country Education, Leadership Development and Pay It Forward — to create a continuing program to educate women, promote their business and leadership skills and help build stable democracies. • Up to 60 women in Afghanistan and Rwanda participate in the classroom portion of the Peace Through Business leadership program, completing a curriculum based on accounting/finance, marketing, communications and the development of strategic business plans, among other skills. From these classes, 30 are selected to come to the United States for further leadership training and professional mentorship. • Thirty women (15 from Afghanistan, 15 from Rwanda) will arrive in the United States on July 12. They will be matched with American women business owners in their respective industries and will receive business mentoring in Oklahoma City from July 20-27. • New this year is the addition of a double-track curriculum, which consists of a Leadership Development Training and Teacher certification for previous Afghan and Rwandan program participants, allowing them to teach in major cities and rural areas where women speak only their native language, and the formation of a Peace Through Business alumnae association to encourage students to build a networking power base in their respective countries. • How can you get involved? There are many ways. Hosts and mentors are still needed for this year’s program participants while they are in Oklahoma City from July 20-27. If you are interested in hosting or mentoring, contact Karel Ford at the IEEW by email at kford@ieew.org. • Why get involved? Neese explains, “It’s important for those of us who are blessed to live in this country to help build civil societies around the world. It’s our social responsibility. The institute is the only organization in the world doing what we’re doing – and we’re based right here in Oklahoma City. I encourage those who want to get engaged in this inspiring effort to help women out of oppression and marginalization to contact me at tneese@ieew.org.” • Did you know? Oklahoma City and Kigali City, Rwanda, are sister cities.
MAY 2013 // SLICE 37
SIMON HURST
Private Jets Inc. operates out of the massive Atlantic Aviation hangar off South Portland near Will Rogers World Airport.
38 SLICE // MAY 2013
Flying High, Metro Style By John Parker
EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE LUXURY JET DEVOTEES LOATH TO FLY ANY OTHER WAY, THERE’S NO PRETENTIOUSNESS WHEN PAUL AND MARILYNN COHAGAN TALK ABOUT THEIR ADVENTURES. THEY’RE AS GROUNDED AS THEY COME. Their current successful enterprise is developing the Cedar Ridge Office Park in Yukon: eight acres of commercial real estate. On the side, they’re restoring an abandoned Yukon home built in 1932. Any given weekday, Paul might be dressed like your average contractor enduring the headaches that come with work on an elderly structure. After 15 years of jetting to places as varied as OSU Cowboys bowl games to Cabo, Paul and Marilynn are birds of a feather. Their energy is contagious. They’re “let’s go!” people and they have the stories that accompany the mind-set – from African safaris to a hop across the pond to London in the Concorde. Down to earth, but flying high. To hear them describe their romance is to get a glimpse of how they interact. They met at Wiley Post Airport in Bethany, where Marilynn had just moved her aviation insurance office and where Paul was a Gulfstream aircraft mechanic.
MAY 2013 // SLICE 39
“I had my office set up and he came walking down the hall,” Marilynn begins. “I just came back from a trip,” Paul takes over, “where I recovered an airplane for the Mexican government, and I came back carrying tools through the office – to tool up and get ready to go again. And I looked in the office and saw Marilynn and (Paul snaps his fingers) ‘Bing!’ A light went on and lightning struck. And we’ve been together ever since.” “Pretty much!” a gleeful Marilynn agrees. “It was so funny because, literally, he had five-gallon buckets …” “Full of tools …” “He just set ’em down. ‘Nice to meet you.’ Then he brought me muffins and coffee.” “Yep. Then I started bringing her back stuff from my trips because we had customers in Venezuela, Guatemala, Mexico. So I traveled quite a bit doing maintenance on the road. And so I’d bring her stuff back – try to spoil …” “Win me over.” “I guess it worked.” “Mostly it was Kahlua, tequila. Then I knew he was really listening to our conversations,” Marilynn chimes in before adding with a laugh, “but that was then. Now it’s selective hearing.” Paul and Marilynn are air heads – in the most positive sense. When she attends yearly airshows like the massive fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, or Florida’s Sun ’n Fun, she may marvel at the sleek coolness of a World War II P-51 Mustang roaring in flight, but she’s probably wondering what its insurance value would be. Paul made a living, and still does from time to time, working in the guts of flying machines. Besides his and Marilynn’s current business ventures, he says he was lucky to make a lot of money from the 1990s dot-com boom. He’s still a day trader. So what’s life like as a metro jet-setter? Prices for luxury jet service primarily depend on the size of the plane and the trip’s distance. There are two Oklahoma-owned, premier jet charter services in the metro: Private Jets Inc., headquartered at Will Rogers World Airport, and American Jet Charter, based at Wiley Post. 40 SLICE // MAY 2013
SIMON HURST
- PAUL COHAGAN
SIMON HURST
We are in Florida in 2½ hours. We landed at an airport that was 15 minutes from the dock. We’re sitting on the cruise ship waiting for everybody to show up and they’ve been traveling since four o’clock in the morning.
Paul and Marilynn Cohagan outside one of their favorite charter “Corvettes” – a Learjet 55 operated by Private Jets Inc. at Will Rogers World Airport.
American Jet Charter has been in continuous business longer – nearly three decades with a perfect safety record. Eleven planes are based in a cavernous hangar at Wiley Post. Private Jets Inc. dates to 1995, but its founder, Happy Wells, has flown charters for 40 years, including flying rock bands like Bon Jovi. Paul and Marilynn are fans and clients of both.
Small jets seating four people run for about $2,500 an hour; while mid-size models with roomy seating for eight can be $4,500 and up. But, oh, what your money buys. Small-plane charter companies operate away from the main public terminal at Will Rogers, and Wiley Post has no terminal. There’s no baggage scanning, taking shoes off or checking in. On board, your fare includes premium catering of any delights, including spirits, you’ve asked for ahead of time. The charter service will also arrange your limo or rental car at the other end, plus lodging and most any other requests. For how that works in the real world, consider last year when Paul and Marilynn and more than a dozen other friends struck on the idea of a group Bahamas cruise. Most were not taking private jets. Their
ERIC WELLS
Eric Wells, president and chief pilot of Private Jets Inc.
Jet-set perks include encounters with people you imagine you might see. Outgoing Marilynn met Harrison Ford when he was at Wiley Post inspecting the refurbishing of his float plane. She and Paul have crossed flight paths, too, with Matthew McConaughey, Ashley Judd and Princess Fergie.
travel plans were made the average way: one-, two- or three-stop commercial airline trips, poring through travel sites for the best rates and booking in advance. That led to the familiar routine of getting up pre-dawn to catch an early morning flight, layover(s) to switch planes, traveling all day from OKC to arrive at the Florida cruise port in the late afternoon. Unfortunately, their companions ended up missing a connection due to aircraft maintenance problems. Ultimately, the cruise ship had to wait for them. “So here’s the difference,” Paul said. “They get up at four in the morning. They go through all the mess – two hours early, through security, baggage check. We’re sitting at home having breakfast, running our regular routine and errands, and we don’t leave until a comfortable 10 o’clock in the morning. “We don’t touch our bags. You go through the gate and drive your car right up next to the plane, they take your bags, put ’em on the plane,” Paul said. “On the plane, you’ve got catering – wine, cocktails, whatever you like. We are in Florida in 2½ hours. We landed at an airport that was 15 minutes from the dock. We’re sitting on the cruise ship waiting for everybody to show up and they’ve been traveling since 4 o’clock in the morning.” Paul and Marilynn admit they’re spoiled by the luxury and convenience of the jet set life. Instead of air travel being part of the hassle before going on holiday, flying on a luxury jet becomes part of the vacation experience. “I can promise you – that for a new person who’s never chartered – if they do, regardless of the experience of their first time, I guarantee they’ll find a reason to do it again. In life, down the road, I guarantee they’re going to want to do it again.”
GROWING UP IN OKLAHOMA, ERIC WELLS’ PLAYGROUND WAS THE STILLWATER AIRPORT. The son of a career charter pilot who ran a flight school for OSU students, he learned quickly that flight instructors would jump at any flimsy excuse to get off the ground, so he’d ask them to let him fly. Before he was 10, Wells started logging hours sitting atop phone books in light prop planes, learning to fly by instruments that told him his altitude and other vital readings because he couldn’t really see that well over the dash. He was still in high school and 18 years old when he flew for the first time as a fully rated co-pilot in a Learjet. He earned his airline transport pilot certificate at the earliest age you can get one – 23. But he couldn’t rent a car without paying extra fees for the liability risk. At 36, he is now president and chief pilot of his own jetcharter company, Private Jets Inc. The operation is based at the Atlantic Aviation private hangar east of the Will Rogers World Airport terminal. The company also has bases of operation in San Antonio, Naples, FL, and Wiley Post. As a working pilot, Wells can’t live on a set schedule. Any minute, a client may book a flight on one of his company’s six jets and he will either have to fly the route or book one of his other pilots to do it. His work takes him to upscale locales such as Aspen and Palm Springs, CA. On one particular day, he flew to Colorado Springs in one jet, then to Dallas on another. Flying clients is far better than the other part of his job: making sure the company is complying with federal regulations, aircraft maintenance scheduling, writing company flight manuals and other desk work. “Sometimes I can’t f ly, I just have to be in the office,” he said. Wells lives in northwest OKC with his wife of 12 years, Jamie, and their 6-year-old daughter, Sophie. Although being a professional pilot can be hard on family life, a home in Naples, FL, and a condo in San Antonio help. The family spent spring break in Florida and his wife often flies with him for stays in Texas. “You can do a lot worse than San Antonio and Naples, especially when it’s cold in Oklahoma City,” Wells said. It’s a hectic life, but it has its perks. One of his recent flights involved a client who paid him to stick around, lodging expenses paid, for five days in the Bahamas. They wanted him to hang around until they needed him to fly back. MAY 2013 // SLICE 41
MICHAEL ALLEN RILEY ARCHITECTURE
Architect’s rendering of the upcoming Sundance Airport renovation
SUNDANCE WEEKEND-WARRIOR AMATEUR PILOTS CALL IT THE HUNDREDDOLLAR HAMBURGER. YOU CAN GET ONE IN LOTS OF PLACES. From Sundance Airport in far northwest Oklahoma City, a popular way is to f ly your single-engine plane to Stearman Field Bar & Grill in southern Kansas. The burger doesn’t cost that much. Getting there does. It helps that the bar concentrates on fun in an open-air “hangar” with aviation-themed décor. Other airports lure amateur and professional pilots with other enticements. Million Air Dallas in Addison, TX, is a firstclass, customer-service-oriented hub that caters on the level of a Starwood resort to business and pleasure fliers descending on the metropolis.
Oklahoma City serial entrepreneurs Jerry and Cindy Hunter aim to bring both of those experiences – and much more – to the long-neglected 5,000-foot runway and hangars off of 122nd Street and Sara Road. The Hunters have honed nearly a score of successful businesses, but their most current sensation is US Fleet Tracking, a $155 million company. It’s a global tracking system that can tell businesses where their assets – be they cargo trucks, VIPs, buses, even Super Bowl officials – are in real time. Now they’re turning their attention – in the form of a $3 million-plus initial invest-
Valair: The Art of Luxury Although a client has yet to ask Valair Aviation to trick out a jet’s landing gear with spinning chrome rims, its cadre of design, manufacturing and engineering professionals could probably get it done. The Oklahoma company occupies 240,000 square feet and five hangars at Wiley Post Airport, where part of its busi-
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ness involves catering to high-net-worth individuals and elite companies that prefer their jets luxurious, inside and out. Depending on the aircraft’s size and amenities, owners typically pay $50,000 to $300,000 for exterior painting and touches such as hand-crafted leather furnishings and burled walnut cabinetry. That price
ment – to Sundance. Aviators will see 80 new hangars and the complete, upscale renovation of the main operations building, among other changes. The metro will gain a first-rate, aviation-themed destination restaurant with a view, if you’re lucky, to take-offs and landings of a resident BD-5 micro-jet and other curiosities. A gala grand opening is planned this summer. Eventually, the Hunters envision upscale residential condo hangars: homes with aircraft “garages” and driveways that roll to the runway. “I enjoy building stuff,” Hunter said. “The harder you work, the luckier you get.”
range covers state-of-the art entertainment systems, in-flight Wi-Fi, satellite communications, couches, showers, china and crystal storage and more. Darryl Wilkerson, president and CEO of Bethany-based AGC Integrated Defense, said it’s up to owners to choose what they want. Some clients arrive with set ideas, including material samples, while others take advantage of Valair’s experienced design advisers.
AS PRESIDENT OF THE OLDEST AIR CHARTER SERVICE IN THE METRO, JIM HENSLEY ENCOURAGES POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS TO TOUR HIS WILEY POST OPERATIONS AND BLITZ HIM WITH QUESTIONS. If you and your family plan to start using private jets (or prop planes) regularly, your safety comes first, he says. And if you don’t happen to ask, he’ll eagerly tell you that American Jet Charter Inc. carries a perfect safety record. His company is a Part 135 FAA-certified outfit – along with the other metro-based jet charter service, Private Jets Inc. Both operate under stricter standards as on-demand charter services. If you’re new to charter flying, Hensley says there are red flags you should to pay attention to. “We don’t have a problem with competing against another charter operation, but … illegal charter is rampant all over the United States, and it’s as bad here as anywhere,” Hensley said. A common example is an aircraft owner/pilot who offers to fly you or a group to a destination for a fee, even though he or she doesn’t have a charter license. “That’s not legal,” Hensley said. Besides risking a flight with someone not covered by commercial passenger insurance in an accident, you may be putting your life on the line with an owner desperate to finance expensive aircraft parts that should have been replaced a year ago.
BEFORE YOU FLY … Go to faa.gov and key in “air charter guide” for information on how to use charter services. Ask the pilot or company to see their Part 135 charter certification and liability insurance coverage.
Valair recently completed a $300,000 treatment on a Hawker 800 jet – a model that currently sells for around $4 million. The customer ordered a custom paint job, interior upgrades and a complete audiovisual and communications package. The job took about 2½ months. “Each one of these jobs is painstakingly created by hand in our shop by very experienced artisans,” Wilkerson said. “There is no assembly line for this kind of work.”
Valair Aviation technicians strip jets to their basics when adding or replacing sophisticated interiors, but it’s not like a home renovation. Take your pick of opulent carpets – as long as they meet FAA fire-resistance standards.
COURTESY OF AGC AEROSPACE & DEFENSE
Third-party ARGUS TripCHEQ reports tell about the qualifications of charter companies – even down to specific pilots on your booked flight – and are available online. Look for gold or platinum ARGUS certification of the company. WYVERN is another top safety-certification service.
MAY 2013 // SLICE 43
EMPTY LEGS
If your schedule is flexible and you’re not too worried about where you’re flying to, then empty leg flights might be your best (and usually discounted) embarkation point to the world of private jets. Empty leg flights happen when a jet ferrying a paying customer must fly back from, or to, a destination “empty,” i.e., with no passengers. For example, a Learjet may need to fly from Oklahoma City to the West Indies to pick up a family wrapping up spring break at their oceanside villa. That empty leg out could be yours at half the cost, and often less, of a round trip. Obviously, getting back is another issue – one of the challenges of empty leg travel. But, hey, what price would you pay for a story to tell about jetting off to the West Indies on a Gulfstream?
Here’s how empty leg flights work: If buying a whole leg, you’re purchasing all the passenger seating for the plane. That usually ranges from four to 15 seats, depending on the jet’s size. If the leg costs a flat fee of $3,300 and you and your golfing buddies fill, let’s say, a Citation Jet 2 with six seats, that’s $550 each. The metro’s largest locally owned jet charter operators – Private Jets Inc. and American Jet Charter – also sell by the seat, as do other jet charter operators. One recent flight from OKC to Galveston, TX, was going for $1,000 a seat. Prices, though, can be negotiable. Eric Wells, president of Private Jets Inc. said he’d “absolutely” consider an offer of $500 for an empty leg if the conditions and f light are right.
“Especially as it gets closer to the departure date,” he said. “If you see we have an empty leg posted out three weeks in advance … we may not be inclined to do business at that point. But if it comes down and we’re a couple days before the trip and we still haven’t sold an empty leg … we’re more willing to talk.” Options for getting back could include an empty leg on another charter service at the destination, or a commercial flight. Other tricky aspects of empty leg flying are flights being canceled because the jet is suddenly needed for a full-fare flight, or the clients who booked the original flight moving up their return date. Empty legs can also be booked for coming back to the metro, such as if you’ve flown to Las Vegas commercially, but find an emptyleg private jet flight back.
First Class or Platinum?
HERE ARE SOME RECENT EMPTY LEG FLIGHTS OUT OF OKC COMPARED TO THEIR NEAREST COMMERCIAL COUNTERPARTS (FIRST-CLASS, NONSTOP) AVAILABLE AT THE TIME. Beach Getaway: A chance to blow out your flip-flops flying to Galveston, TX, on a sleek Learjet 45. Price: $5,000 for up to eight passengers, or $625 each. A nonstop airline seat could be had for $492, but it could only get you to Houston. Even Better Beach Getaway: You missed jetting off for pizza night Thursdays at the Tipsy Seagull in the Bahamas. For $14,000, a Dassault Falcon 20 could have winged you and eight others to Treasure Cay. That’s a discount from the round-trip flight, which costs about $35,000. Split among nine,
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that’s $1,555 each. United Airlines had a $450 one-stop flight with a nearly fourhour layover in Houston. Dreamy Desert Diversion: If you hadn’t already checked the Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale off your bucket list, a Citation CJ3 could have whisked you and seven gushingly appreciative friends to the Sonoran Desert for $6,500 ($812 Dutch price, but less happy friends). By the time you got to Phoenix (not direct to Scottsdale) in an airliner, you’d have paid $447 and sat through more than a two-hour layover in Dallas.
Empty Leg Sites With OKC Opportunities privatejetsinc.com/empty_legs.php american-jet.com/view-flights charterhub.com chartermatrix.com jetcharters.com aircharterguide.com
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MAY 2013 // SLICE 45
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BOAT SLIP
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48 SLICE // MAY 2013
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Linda Almaraz MAY 2013 // SLICE 49
SPACES | Discerning Design
Three-Part Visual Harmony By Steve Gill Photos by David Cobb
Sisters Linda Quigley and Lisa Boswell of L&L Designs decorated all three of these homes before they became the 2013 Show House, so they knew the contemporary house’s cool-toned kitchen would reward bursts of color from various objets d’art. Quigley is especially proud of the glass tiles in the backsplash and the counters of durable quartz that are less porous than granite.
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Serendipity and skill combine in this welcoming gallery-like front room (originally intended as a formal dining area) with art from Dodson Galleries and pieces supplied by Heenan’s Home Furnishings – while the vibrant paintings by Oklahoma City abstract artist Joy Richardson pop against the neutral space, Chris McGahan’s redento raffinato vase of hand-blown art glass rewards a closer look as well.
F
or its 40th year of organizing the inspirational exhibition of decorative excellence called the Symphony Show House, the Oklahoma City Orchestra League is branching out. Rather than one home, Fairview Farm developers Mark Gautreaux and Mark Dale have given designers access to three residences that form “The Trio in the Abbey.” Each house’s expertly selected interior strikes an individual note – contemporary, traditional and Italian – that when seen in conjunction form a magnificent decorative chord. The 2013 Symphony Show House is cochaired by Teresa Pope and Dana Galiga, with assistance from design chair Kim Underwood. Tour proceeds benefit the Oklahoma City Philharmonic as well as the music education programs of the Orchestra League. And to those who are enchanted by any or all of the wonders on display, bear in mind that much of the furnishings – as well as the houses themselves – are for sale. With that said, on with the show! House!
An opulent home theater sits downstairs, and when the movie’s over this colorful adjacent kitchen area takes the spotlight. Equipped by Travis Neely of Neely Design Associates, its sleek, clean lines cement its place in the house’s décor while the vintage posters and touches like the glass globes of candy speak of good times past and to come.
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SPACES | Discerning Design
The comfortable living room in the traditional home, courtesy of Steve Calonkey, Susie Pickett and Katelynn Calonkey of Mister Robert Fine Furniture, showcases the designers’ love for animal imagery and talent at bringing together multiple patterns on sumptuous materials. Lighthearted touches abound as well – look for the whimsical sculpture of a flying pig between the blue alligator armchairs. The fixtures in this epically luxurious master bath are original to the house; the magic is by Deb and Steve Johnson and Jeannie Kind of the aptly named Paint Inspirations, whose eye-catching corona above the tall bathtub is a prime example of working with what’s in a room to accentuate its strengths. Even the shower is enclosed entirely with glass, letting the user enjoy the luminous view.
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The Italian home’s great room and kitchen share a colossal space with ceilings soaring over 20 feet high … giving Kat Daggs from Bob Mills Furniture the opportunity to draw the eye back downward and complement the stacked stone fireplace with rich, imposing pieces in dark wood and leather (and, in the case of the coffee table, a massive slab of bluestone) and cheerfully bright decorative touches.
IN FULL VIEW The 40th Symphony Show House is open daily May 4-19; hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Access is through Fairview Farm’s Gate 4 on Western Ave., which will close to entrants 45 minutes before the house closing times. Children under age 8 will not be admitted, and the homes are not wheelchair or handicapped accessible. Tickets are available for $15 online at symphonyshowhouse.com or at the door of the contemporary home during the tour; they are also sold in advance for $12 at participating outlets listed on the Show House website.
Inspired by a bolt of cut velvet, Susan Tiffin of Susan Tiffin Interiors got permission to drill holes and install it as a canopy, and its hues informed this guest room’s color scheme: the lighter cream and gold help the space feel larger, and the gray – which Tiffin calls “the new neutral” – is echoed in the crocodile-textured bed skirt. The chair is an antique recovered and paired with a new pillow, part of the room’s successful attempt to mix timelines while maintaining a comfortable European feel. MAY 2013 // SLICE 53
TRAVEL | Wanderlust
77 COUNTIES: LEFLORE COUNTY
The Treasure of Spiro Mounds By M.J. Alexander
SPIRO MOUNDS IS AT ONCE THE MOST AUTHENTIC AND MOST INAUTHENTIC ANCIENT SITE IN OKLAHOMA. The 150-acre park, with its dozen mounds, is the only one of Oklahoma’s 25,000 prehistoric sites open to the public, and comprises the state’s only archaeological park. The land is acknowledged as one of the most important Native American sites in the United States, a seat of power and culture for Caddoan-speaking tribes west of the Mississippi River from 850-1450 A.D., and listed as one of the top sacred sites in North America. The mounds scattered near the vast central plaza were built over the course of centuries, one basket of dirt at a time, and tell the story of the rise and fall of a complex society. “It was not a nation, really, but a confederation of over 60 different tribes, over 30 different language groups, well over 3 mil-
lion people and stretched all the way from the Rockies to the Virginia Coast, from the Gulf Coast of Florida to the Great Lakes,” says park manager Dennis Peterson. “Their trade extended further. Spiro’s trade goes all the way from the Gulf of California east, so pretty much most of the United States either had contact with them or was controlled by the leaders here at Spiro.” The leaders themselves – more than 1,100 – were interred in the great burial mound, laid to rest with ceremonial items denoting their importance in this life and the life beyond. The bones of revered ancestors, ceremonial regalia, elaborate jewelry, axes and maces, blankets and beads and effigy pipes, treasures of pearl and copper and shell were buried together and left undisturbed for 600 years, until they were unearthed in the 1930s. Few places on the continent are steeped in more prehistory, and mystery.
And yet. And yet ... Unlike the ancient pyramids or cliff dwellings, the key feature of Spiro Mounds today is reconstructed. The fourlobed burial mound that is the centerpiece of the park, as long as a football field and more than 30 feet high, is not original. It was built in the 1970s, a replacement for the ancient Craig Mound razed during the Great Depression by impatient treasure hunters and gung-ho researchers. All but the smallest artifacts in the interpretative center are reproductions. But that does not faze Peterson, who has managed the site since 1987. “Once you’ve dug it up, you can’t go back again. Archaeology is a destructive science.” It is the big picture that Peterson sees, and the great mound is just one piece of the puzzle. He leads detailed tours of the site on the first days of spring, summer, fall and winter, walking the curious
Editor’s Note: This is the ninth installment in a continuing series as author and photographer M.J. Alexander chronicles her travels across the state of Oklahoma.
54 SLICE // MAY 2013
across the paths and through the mounds. He brings visitors to the replica of the Spiro house, tells tales of political intrigue, of rousing stickball games on the great plaza and of a town of elites built to align with the setting sun on the equinoxes and solstices. He speaks of the past in the present tense. “In my mind’s eye, I see not an empty field and not hills and grass, but can imagine those 10,000 people living in the city around us, hundreds living on the property next to the burial mound. Tons and tons of kids and dogs running around. In my mind’s eye, it’s a cacophony of noise – burning wood, hunting, fishing, farming, bringing things in, trading things. “This is the pinnacle of Native American culture in Oklahoma. We have such a limited and skewed version of Native America that lives in our heads because TV and movies put it there. If you ask nine out of 10 people what they know about the culture, chances are it’s whatever they saw in a John Wayne movie. The society that lived here pre-European contact was of such complexity, many just can’t grasp it.” His glass-half-full approach points out the positive developments that resulted from the destruction of Spiro Mounds: the state of Oklahoma became a leader in the preservation of antiquities, passing one of the nation’s first laws to protect ancient sites in 1935. The discovery of the mound treasures, however ham-handed, brought a deserved attention and greater understanding to the details of life for the pre-Columbian Mississippian people. And the grave diggers’ selling of the treasures to far-f lung buyers – with collections of Spiro artifacts now in dozens of museums including the British Museum and the Louvre, the Hermitage and the Smithsonian – brings awareness of the culture that once f lourished in eastern Oklahoma, and attracts visitors from around the world who want to see where the artifacts originated. “You can’t get a feel of what the past is like unless you see it. Gettysburg, Bull Run. Black Kettle. And Spiro. Unless you’re actually there, you’re only getting part of the story.”
A “King Tut” Tomb of the Arkansas Valley AFTER THE MOUND BUILDERS MOVED ON, the area around Spiro Mounds did not host a permanent settlement until the Choctaw Nation was forcibly relocated to Indian Territory from Mississippi and Alabama in 1832. The Choctaw recognized the mounds for what they were: remnants of an ancient people. They did not farm the mounds, and – when forced by the federal government to dissolve their tribal government and divide up the allotted lands among its people – it assigned the land of the mounds to the freedmen, their former slaves.
The first owner after statehood, Rachel Brown, lived in a cabin near what is now known as Craig Mound. She told of mysterious sounds and of blue f lames emitted from the mound at night, and of mules that were spooked around the structure. William Craig inherited the property after Brown’s death, and kept the curious away. Upon his death, he willed the land to his young grandchildren. Their maternal grandfather, George Evans, saw leasing the land as a way to get money to pay off his mortgage and to treat his grandson’s tuberculosis. So 80 years ago, in 1933, in the depths of the Great Depression, a group of six men – calling themselves the Pocola Mining Company – kicked in $50 each to raise the $300 Evans was asking for a 2-year lease to excavate the mound on the Craig property. Descendants of the miners say they believed gold was hidden in the mound, stashed by early Spanish explorers who were traveling the rivers of the interior from Colorado, trying to make it to the Mississippi and the sea. The story maintains that the gold was buried in a mound near a river, along with the Indian guides who were killed to keep the secret. They started with picks and shovels. At first, the relics and skeletons the diggers unearthed from the mound were of little interest. These men were after gold. But curiosity seekers would come by and offer a nickel
MAY 2013 // SLICE 55
TRAVEL | Wanderlust or a dime for an artifact that caught their eye. As word spread, curio hunters came by the mounds to buy up more of the items. When word of the cache of relics reached Forrest Clements at the archaeology department of the University of Oklahoma, he tried to stop the dig. He attempted to buy out the investors, who were discouraged they weren’t hitting pay dirt. He tried to get Evans to rescind the lease. He lobbied the Oklahoma Legislature to pass an antiquities act to protect the mounds from commercial digs – and there he succeeded. But not everyone agreed with his idea that the past was public property. The 1930s was the era of the fictional Indiana Jones and the decade after the spectacular unearthing of King Tut’s tomb. Weren’t archaeologists really treasure hunters too? Clements explained the difference in terms of the greater good: “If the atpresent, almost wholly unknown, prehistory of Oklahoma is to become a matter of scientific record, the archaeological work must be done by formally trained persons and published in the orthodox scientific journals before the relatively few sites have been irretrievably ruined.”
He added a simple assessment, in layman’s language: “Scratching around can never be useful and is always damaging.” Four months before the Pocola Mining Company’s lease was to expire, the new law allowed Clements to contact the LeFlore County sheriff’s office and file a complaint about the now-illegal digging on Craig Mound. A deputy showed up and told the men they had to stop, under threat of arrest. Clements, thrilled that the slow 56 SLICE // MAY 2013
destruction of the mound through shovel and pickax had been stopped, headed to California to teach a course. Upon hearing that Clements had left the state, the Pocola Mining Company snuck back to the mound to get as much for its investment as it could. They hired out-ofwork miners and decided to speed up their quest to tunnel through to the mound’s center. About 30 feet in, they hit fragments of conch shells, engraved with faces and symbols. Accounts tell of the miners hauling out the decorated shells by the wheelbarrow and dumping them near the entrance, where they were crushed underfoot. Eventually, the diggers hit a wall of hard-packed earth, 18 inches thick. In his book “Looting Spiro Mounds,” historian David La Vere tells of the moment of discov-
ery and what waited on the other side: “The pick blade broke through into empty space. Immediately there was a hissing noise, as humid Oklahoma summer air rushed into the hollow chamber beyond.” The miners’ lamps revealed one of the most stunning finds in the history of the continent: the largest trove of pre-European-contact artifacts north of the Mexican border, sealed in Spiro Mounds decades before Columbus set foot in the Americas. What followed was a feeding frenzy. There was neither time nor inclination for photographs or sketches to be made of the layout or holdings in the central tomb. Witnesses tell of beads, pearls and arrowheads spilled across the site, feather capes and elaborate weavings trampled, ancient cedar poles burned as firewood and human
bones piled at the edge of camp, where they soon crumbled to dust. The Spiro Mounds treasure made headlines nationwide. The New York Times trumpeted the significance of the relics, inaccurately noting that “each item taken from the mound is catalogued and photographed and careful records are being kept.” The Kansas City Star heralded the discovery of a “‘King Tut’ Tomb of the Arkansas Valley.” Soon, other LeFlore County mounds came under attack from relic hunters wielding shovels and driving mule-team-drawn scrapers. With the burial chamber sacked, time running out on their lease, and Clements due back from California, the Pocola Mining Company decided on one last action. From La Vere’s telling: “In a fit of spite, just to jab their finger in Clements’ eye, they packed the central chamber of the Great Temple Mound with kegs of black powder and touched off a mighty explosion.” The blast shattered whatever items remained in the chamber, creating a small cave-in and a large crack in the mound and, according to La Vere, “destroyed the Pocola men’s reputation as down-home heroes fighting for their property rights,
blowing them instead into the ranks of looters and destroyers.” The men were eventually arrested, but there is no record of them serving time. The damage was done. Though the artifacts were priceless, the miners sold them for next to nothing. The money to be made was pocketed not by the
workers but by dealers reselling the items to private collectors and museums. The wealth of secrets lost in their rush to find gold disintegrated as quickly as the crushed fragments of bone and shell. They are now known only to the wind and the earth near the bend in the river where Spiro once ruled.
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TRAVEL | Getting Away
ARKANSAS, NATURALLY One doesn’t usually think of the words “Arkansas” and “sophistication” in the same sentence. If not, it’s only because “one” hasn’t been to Bentonville lately. Yes, it’s the home of Walmart (also not associated with sophistication) but one can’t deny the influence that the corporate behemoth has had on the town – particularly in the areas of culture and cuisine. Through corporate and family funds, plus the business partners who travel to Bentonville from all over the world, the town has added some big city amenities to what was once a sleepy Ozark community.
“The Cub Series – The Rabbit” by Oleg Dou
58 SLICE // MAY 2013
By Elaine Warner
PREVIOUS PAGE: RETT PEEK, COURTESY OF 21C MUSEUM HOTELS. THIS PAGE: ART GALLERY AND DINING BRIDGE BY TIMOTHY HURSLEY, CRYSTAL SPRING TRAIL BY DERO SANFORD, COURTESY OF CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS
Clockwise from left: Crystal Spring Trail features native stone walkways // Twentieth-century art gallery // View of dining bridge at dusk
Crystal Crown Without a doubt, Bentonville’s crown jewel is Crystal Bridges,
a stunning American art museum founded by Alice Walton. Located on 120 acres of woodlands and gardens, the complex features 3½ miles of trails, most of which are paved and serve as settings for sculptures. The museum is reached by way of a long, winding drive. The entrance is rather stark and unimpressive. The museum itself, however, is stunning. It’s tucked into a deep ravine that has a spring-fed creek running through it. The main part of the museum is a connected ring of buildings, two of which are wood and glass structures suspended by cables and serve both as bridges and dams which create two large pools. The collections are arranged in loosely chronological order beginning with the Colonial Period up to quite recent works. Walton is intimately involved with the museum and its acquisitions. Her first
art purchase, made when she was about 10, was a small copy of one of Picasso’s “blue” pieces from her dad’s first dime store. Her taste, impeccable then, still is; her purse has gotten larger. Crystal Bridges sits on one of the most financially solid foundations in the world of art museums. And little expense has been spared in purchasing pieces for the museum. The collection now consists of over 1,000 works, approximately 450 of which are on display at any time. The art ranges from strictly traditional to screamingly contemporary. Every visitor will find pieces to delight, pique curiosity and perhaps even incite annoyance. A visit is an exhilarating experience. Architect Moshe Safdie’s buildings are user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. The setting is inviting and offers spots for recreation, rest and entertainment. The museum is closed Tuesdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The trails are open every day. Admission: free. The art: priceless. MAY 2013 // SLICE 59
TRAVEL | Getting Away
Sheet Dreams
Every city worth the name has at least one “luxury boutique” hotel. Bentonville has its – plus. If you didn’t get enough art at Crystal Bridges, check into 21c Museum Hotel. The concept began in Louisville in 2006. Art lovers Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson figured out a way to share their love of contemporary culture with the city’s revitalization efforts. Their goal is “To collect and exhibit the work of living artists and to integrate contemporary art into daily life.” 21c Museum Hotels were born and Bentonville is their third hostelry. The hotels’ mascots are penguins – about 4 feet tall and in colors unique to each hotel. Bentonville’s penguins are green. This troop of funny birds tends to wander from place to place and you never know where one will turn up. The main level contains a number of spaces where art – paintings, sculpture, multimedia and interactive – is displayed. Throughout the hotel, guests are greeted with artistic expressions – even some of the wallpapers are unique creations. The rooms are sleek, comfortable and filled with great amenities. Among these are 42-inch HDTV flat TVs, iPod docking stations, complimentary high speed Wi-Fi and – if you should actually want to sleep – luxury linens. There’s just no other description of this hotel than uber-cool!
High on the Hog
In spite of all this sophistication, Bentonville has “Sooie” in its soul. It’s possible that bacon is the Arkansas state vegetable. Far from denying their country roots, Bentonville’s top chefs have embraced the local cuisine, dubbing it “High South.” That means they’ve put lipstick on that pig.
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Top to bottom: 21c Museum Hotels bedroom // Ham-brined pork chop with sweet potato puree, braised greens and pecan relish
Chefs from three of Bentonville’s best restaurants will be in performance this November at the Beard House in New York City. They’ll showcase Arkansas cuisine, taking a refrigerated truck full of locally produced meats and produce along with craft beers and even artisan moonshine. Chef Matt McClure from The Hive, the restaurant in the 21c Museum Hotel, is one of the participants. Among the ingredients
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he’ll be taking to New York are Arkansas black walnuts, freshly milled corn meal, hickory smoked hams, peaches, melons and sweet onions. And you can sample his creations when you visit the 21c. Another participant is Chef Jacob Harr from Eleven at Crystal Bridges. He describes his menu as High/South/ Low Midwest. The lunch menu, with light plates, salads and sandwiches, is not extensive but offers a real variety. It wouldn’t be the Ozarks without beans and cornbread, but Chef Harr kicks up the smoky ham broth with a drizzle of chive oil. And the traditional barbecue pork sandwich morphs into a Vietnamese banh mi with smoked pork shoulder topped with pickled slaw and chili-garlic BBQ mayo on toasted French bread. Dinner, with an expanded menu, is served on Wednesdays and Fridays. Check out special options like the Wednesday and Friday “Culture Hours,” wine f lights and the monthly tasting menu. Chef/owner Rob Nelson, pastry chef Scott Riedesel and mixologist Scott Baker from Tusk & Trotter American Brasserie complete the group. The menu and the clientele are eclectic. Diners range from families with picky-eater kids to gourmets looking for unusual or exotic fare. Oh, yes, you’ll find pork in many guises – try pig ear nachos or maple bacon brittle ice cream – but there are plenty of other options. This restaurant has picked up a bushel of awards since opening in 2011 and would be a pick of the litter in any city. If you’re an adventuresome drinker, try the Ghost Chile (the world’s hottest) Margarita. Northwest Arkansas is beautiful country with lots of attractions. Fort Smith has a great Wild West heritage. A fun excursion train runs between Van Buren and Springdale. Eureka Springs features art and eccentricity. But for a real uptown, high-class experience in a Norman Rockwell setting, you can’t beat Bentonville.
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COMMUNITY | From India to Oklahoma City
An Attitude of Gratitude 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.
A MOTHER’S LOVE IT’S 6 A.M. Sunrise. Close to the equator, the sun rises at 6 a.m. It sets at 6 p.m. Murali’s mom, R. Ranga Rajya Lakshmi, is in the kitchen preparing her family’s breakfast. Amma, as he calls her, soaked the mixture of white rice and f lour overnight so her family could enjoy their morning staple of idli and chutney. Idli is part of a traditional Indian breakfast. Similar in shape to a donut, idli is not sweet, yet very filling. Amma slips quietly in to gently awaken Murali. She coaxes the young boy to the kitchen for breakfast. The small house has only one bedroom where the whole family sleeps — father, R. Swamy, Amma, Murali and his two sisters. The family can hear the cow man coming down the street – cow in tow. Amma and her children go to oversee the milking of the cow. “Sometimes, the cow man and his wife tried to slip in a little water if someone was not looking. It would make my mom so mad. She had a little meter to test the milk. They never tried to trick her after that. She was very protective of us. Nutrition was very important.” One component of Murali’s nutrition involved a raw egg each day. The egg was added to his diet at the insistence of his Thatha (his grandfather) after an unsettling incident with a tutor. Murali was about 4 years old when a tutor came to the house to work with his older sister. His sister already was excelling at school and had a photographic memory, but the family so valued education they 62 SLICE // MAY 2013
wanted to ensure she performed at the highest level. The subject level was not age appropriate for Murali, but he wanted to join in nevertheless. The tutor challenged him with questions beyond his years and announced to the family that, heaven forbid, the boy is not very bright. A letter was dashed off to Thatha, and he arrived with a large bottle of pills to boost Murali’s intellect. “To this day, I have no idea what it was. I’m sure it was a mixture of herbs and vitamins. He also insisted I eat a raw egg every day.” Amma would coax the youngster to take the egg. For a time, she kept a hen at the house to ensure the freshness of Murali’s egg. “She held my nose in the beginning, and then I started doing it myself. She would wash the fresh egg, crack it open and pour it in my mouth.” The young mother was devoted to her children. She always put her needs last. In a time when most women in their community had dozens of saris, Amma only kept three or four. “They were always neat and clean, but she had very few compared to the other mothers.” Amma preferred to buy saris for her daughters’ future. At that time, it was common to collect many saris to be worn by the daughters once they married. Men would stack saris high on top of a bicycle and sell them in the streets. “He would ride down the street and women would call out to him to come inside their house.”
Dr. Krishna’s mother, “Amma”
Upon seeing the sari man, Murali would run to him and tell him to keep going. “That is only small children calling your name. They are trying to trick you. You should not stop here.” It made the sensitive young boy sad to see his mom look through the colorful saris and never buy one for herself. “She used to laugh about that. ‘My boy won’t let me buy ANY saris because I won’t buy one for myself.’” Amma’s saris sometimes became a hiding place for the shy boy. The cloth flowing over the shoulder, the pamita, served as a little tent to block out the world. “When we would go places, I would be shy at first and hide there. Also when it was time to go, I would start tugging on it.” The young mother showed great patience — though Murali often put her to the test. There was a young woman that helped out around the house from time to time. One of her jobs was to take a large vessel to the public watering spigot and get drinking water for the family. If Murali was angry, he put sand in the fresh drinking water. Amma would quietly ask the young woman to go get more water. “He must be upset about something, let me go and find out.” Occasionally, Amma threatened to tell his father when he got home. But that rarely happened. “She was really, really patient with me.” Amma was not only patient with her son, but with others. When a family heirloom necklace for her daughter’s future wedding – which was 15 to 20 years away – went missing, she began investigating.
I learned a valuable lesson from her. Believe in people before you believe in something different. Believe in the good in people. Look for the good side. She went to visit the forest dwellers to take advantage of their spiritual powers. “The forest dwellers had little contact with the modern world. They held on to their ancient spiritual belief system. The legend was that this person could make the person who stole from you show up on your thumb. Much to my mom’s surprise, it was said to be her assistant. She just could not believe that. “I learned a valuable lesson from her. Believe in people before you believe in something different. Believe in the good in people. Look for the good side.” Amma never found the heirloom, and never accused her assistant. “She just let it go.” Amma was a compassionate person. “Kind and caring. That is how I would describe her.” Caring for her family gave her great pleasure. No one could see what was lurking. Daily life was normal. Evening was the best part of life in India. Children were always playing outside. Mothers prepared dinner early so they could join their friends outside and watch their children play. About 6:30 or 7, the families went back inside to wash up and get ready for the family meal. Dinner was served at about 8. In the early years, the family had no table in the kitchen. Banana leaves that had been purchased at the vegetable market
were moistened with water and spread out on the floor. Little stools, usually stacked to one side of the kitchen, were placed in a circle. The evening meal was always finished with a small cup of yogurt. The healthy treat was mixed with rice and maybe a little pickle on the side. “One hundred percent of Indian families eat this yogurt. I still eat it every day.” Dinner time was filled with laughter and storytelling. Murali and his sisters formed alliances. “If you don’t tell what I did, I won’t tell what you did.” Adults would follow their meals with a mouth freshener known as “pan.” The small betel leaves were spiced and mildly sweetened. The children would watch as their parents’ mouths and lips turned bright red from the after-dinner treat. Murali and his sisters would get a little taste. “My mouth is redder than yours.” It is rare for children to get a taste of the betel leaves. “It will dull your intelligence. That is the legend.” Legends are passed down through family members in India. Murali learned most of the stories through his paternal grandfather, Thatha. But he has good memories of his mother’s family as well. The family would load up in a bullock cart to go visit his mom’s parents. A curtain surrounded the cart to shield the women’s faces. Women from respected families were not permitted to show their
faces when traveling on the road. Deep ruts made it hard for the cart to navigate. Murali knew not to sit too far back or he would be the first to fall out when they hit a big bump. “It got stuck sometimes and we all got out and had to push.” While visiting once, he was playing with his uncle on one of the empty bullock carts. The uncle would pull down the front poles and hoist Murali in the air. When the pole slipped from his grasp, Murali crashed down and bit through his tongue. Amma scolded the uncle. “She told him to take me away and not to bring me back until I was comfortable. So he fed me all kinds of sweets and settled me down. When we walked back in the house, my mom bopped him on the head and laughed. She was very playful.” Happy times turned sad at the grandparents’ house when Amma’s father grew ill. Murali was at his mother’s side when her father died. Everyone is crying. Murali tucks his head beneath his mom’s pamita. Such sadness. So many tears. Amma is crying, and it is breaking her son’s heart. The body is carried immediately away to be cremated near the lake. His family offers his body back to God. Rituals are performed. It is beautiful. And sad. The sadness of Amma scares Murali. Those fears will eventually return tenfold.
DR. R. MURALI KRISHNA ON
Connection, Gratitude and Claiming Your Spirit LIFE HAS A BEGINNING AND AN END. Experiences in our first few months of life can have an impact on our lives to the very end. But it is our choices in the middle that make us who we are. How will you react to life’s situations? What paths will you take?
Do you know how to express yourself, manage your anger and express your gratitude? I was blessed with kind and loving parents. I formed a strong bond with them at an early age. We all must bond with someone or something – the earlier the better. It might
not be a parent; it might be a caregiver. We all have an overwhelming need to connect. Sometimes, it might even be with a pet. Connecting is part of being human. If you show someone a photo of someone hurting, you can see the mirror neurons light up in the brain. This is an innate MAY 2013 // SLICE 63
COMMUNITY | From India to Oklahoma City
See everyone as your fellow traveler in life. Look beyond what we see with our own eyes. Try to view people from a grander perspective. response, beyond our conscious awareness. What we feel is their pain. We can also feel someone’s pleasure. Think of someone you know who can truly respond to the emotions of others. They can be happy for someone else’s good fortune or success. Conversely, they are saddened if they know someone is hurting. These responses are mirror neurons in action and they represent true empathy. Experience shows us that empathy can be developed with conscious effort. In short, walk in someone else’s shoes. In every life there are highs and lows. Sometimes we get depressed and we can no longer be happy or even sad for others. But if you focus on the areas of life where you are grateful, it can boost your spirits and even your immune system. Having an attitude of gratitude is important to us. For example, when I sit on my back porch and watch the Oklahoma sunset, I am grateful to live in a clean city where I can see it so clearly. I have been in areas of the world where it is masked by a haze. One evening, my wife, Sam, and I were admiring the different varieties of pink begonias in our yard. She told me how some of them grow best in the sun and others thrive better in the shade. But a hail storm came later that night and wiped them all out. I took time afterward to be thankful that we had taken a moment the night before to admire their beauty. A gratitude list starts to take shape when you closely watch throughout the day for things to add. It can truly be transforming. Gratitude fosters hope, compassion and love. It also makes us more open to forgiveness. If we do not forgive those who have harmed us, we will remain their victim. In simple terms, if I don’t forgive you, I am doing harm to myself. But once forgiveness is given, the relationship can return to a state of trust.
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Forgiveness and gratitude can also lead us to a spiritual pathway. It has profound healing energy that can bring us serenity and peace. We can learn to see the divine presence of the Creator in our fellow human beings. Look for the good in people. See everyone as your fellow traveler in life. Look beyond what we see with our own eyes. Try to view people from a grander perspective. If you want to serve God, serve other people. As Mother Teresa says, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” There are many angles from which to view others. It is like light. There is only one sun, but it casts its light to form many perspectives. If you are facing a dire situation, look for another angle. Understand that over time, you may uncover the deeper meaning. Just take one step toward hope. The absence of hope is a downward spiral. It is not hope versus reality; it is hope with reality. Keep your feet rooted in reality, but allow hope to creep in. Remember that we can only control our effort. We cannot control the end result. We have to be mindful of what we can control and let go of the rest. One thing we can control is our reaction. If we anger easily, we need to analyze our feelings and learn to calm ourselves. There is a plethora of research showing the negative impact that anger has on our hearts. The risk of a heart attack or stroke increases approximately 100 percent in the two hours following an incident of anger. Anger weakens our immune system and can also delay healing. The first step in dealing with anger is to recognize it. Know the early warning signs. Do you tense up? Does your heart rate quicken? Do you experience a f lushed feeling? Second, determine the source of your anger. We get angry when we feel a sense
of powerlessness or injustice. Are you angered by what happened to you or your response to it? Look for any mistaken attitudes or convictions that may be leading to your anger. Third, hit the pause button. Count. Go for a walk. Remove yourself from the situation. Listen to music. Do anything to calm your mind. Then, examine your expectations. What triggered the anger? Calming yourself does not mean suppressing your anger. That is not dealing with it. If you hang on to your anger, it will eventually break free. Fourth, look for solutions. Once you’ve identified what’s causing the anger, you must decide to modify the situation or modify your feelings. If you cannot change the situation or adapt to it, you may have to remove yourself from it. Fifth, find a way to channel your anger in a positive way. Anger can often motivate us to make a positive change. But if your anger comes from a sense of powerlessness, you need to explore the possibility that you may have self-doubt or self-contempt at a deeper level. You can address this with positive self-talk. Ultimately, it is always up to you to decide how you react. Anger is a normal human emotion. But don’t let your automatic response of anger take over. Live your life with deliberate choices and reactions.
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
MINGLING | On the Town
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SLICE AWARDS
Photos by Justin Avera and Claude Long Slice readers, their favorite personalities and lovers of the good life in the metro fill the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum for a community-wide celebration of the best of everything in central Oklahoma. 1. Ronnie Morey, Susan and Dr. Tim Love 2. Cindi Shelby, Marion Paden 3. Alan Randolph, Skyler Munday 4. Steve Calonkey, Katelynn Calonkey 5. Jim Roth, Lauren Hammack 6. Vicki Rodgers, Tom and Valerie McEvoy 7. Michael and Edith Laird, Christopher Dillingham, Diane Dillingham
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MINGLING | On the Town
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HEART BALL Photos by Michael Miller
Hundreds of guests help raise funds for cardiac health – over $800,000 – at the American Heart Association of OKC’s inspirational gala. 1. Peter and Ginny Carl, Davis Angel, Molly Beetort, Michelle and Mitch Hale 2. Kelsi Williams, Monica Elkins, Kim Holloway, Danny Holloway 3. Bruce Barkocy, Tammy Payne, Donna and Bruce Lawrence 4. Mary Ann Malone, Anne Holzberlein 5. Todd and Sarah Brawley
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JUNIOR LEAGUE OF NORMAN GALA Photos by Justin Avera
The JLN lets the good times roar at “Flappers and Fellas,” a ’20s-themed blowout enlivened by a taster’s affair, auctions and dancing that raked in upwards of $50,000 to bolster the league’s philanthropic work.
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1. Elizabeth Greenhaw, Amanda Whorton, Kris Booze, Katsey Johnson 2. Jennifer and Chad Vice 3. Saradee and Sam Griffin 4. Katelynn Calonkey, Steve Calonkey, Courtney Blau 5. Brandon and Apryl Meyer More photos, gifts, reprints ... all at sliceok.com
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The OKC Museum of Art celebrates its film program and the versatile tastiness of a theme ingredient in “Lights, Camera, EGG-tion!” at the Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center … a glittering success to the tune of over $100,000 that will fund museum exhibits and projects. That’s a wrap! 1. Lee Lassiter, Susan Phillips 2. Jennifer Klos, Derek Sparks 3. Lynn Goldberg, Bosé Akadiri, Kat Tabbytite, Terry Cotterell 4. Haley Jones, Luke Crabtree 5. Mike and Lea Morgan, Vicki VanStavern and Don Narcomey
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An Academy-sanctioned Oscar Experience at the Will Rogers Theater provides glitz, good times and $15,000 of support for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of OKC. 1. Shannon Sharee Patterson, Kyle Coldiron 2. Wendell Edwards, Maggie Stokes 3. Jay and Tynia Watson 4. Brooke Roberts, Cydney Miller 5. Lauren and Taylor Wheeler 6. Dominique Russ, Kaili Tucker, Alisha Whetstone 7. Karri Hoffhines, Jessi Bramlett
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MINGLING | On the Town
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Shiloh Camp is a weeklong getaway of sports, crafts, ministry and adventure for hundreds of inner-city youth … so the knowledge of what their nearly $18,000 contribution will enable gives this fundraiser’s guests one more reason to enjoy the evening. 1. Kanela Huff, hosts Jerry and Carleen Burger, Stephan and Scotia Moore, Will, Nancy and Davis Burger 2. Bob and Ann Gilliland, Connie Givens, Kelly McNitt 3. Chester Woods, Kally Rey, Aaron Squirrel 4. Donna Higginson, Tami Murphy 5. Susan Coles, Tom Parrish
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Women’s Health | PRACTICAL MATTERS
Big Challenges, Wonderful Opportunities GIVEN ALL THE ENERGETIC HEALTH INITIATIVES OUT THERE, CENTRAL OKLAHOMA LOVES WOMEN. AS A GROUP, OKLAHOMA WOMEN HAVE SOME OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME in pursuit of the goal of enjoying a healthy, vibrant life. Cervical cancer rates are higher than the national average, and more women with the disease end up dying from it, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. About 34 percent of Oklahoma women have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, in contrast to 28 percent across the country. Nearly 35 percent deal with arthritis – about 5 percent more than the rest of the nation. But more encouraging statistics do exist. While breast cancer rates are barely higher than the national average, deaths from the disease are lower – a good sign for the quality of our medical community. Fortunately, Oklahoma women are blessed with big-time allies. Central Oklahoma is bursting with foundations, medical experts, events and awareness programs dedicated to empowering women with health solutions and positive support. And May is one of the busiest months for all those initiatives. National Women’s Health Week begins on Mother’s Day, May 12. Locally, the American Heart Association-Oklahoma will hold its Go Red for Women Luncheon on May 10. Opportunities for women to jump into health-positive action aren’t necessarily all big get-togethers, either. OU Medical CenterEdmond will host Ladies’ Night Out on May 8, a chance to speak one-on-one to OU physicians on the latest in women’s health and wellness (call 271.1572). Come for the free food and beverages; stay for your health. Expectant mothers can take a Prepared Childbirth Weekend Express Class on May 11 at Norman Regional Health Center’s Moore campus (call 912.3085). It’s a one-day class about what to expect on The Big Day. Don’t forget to bring two pillows and your support person. Given all the energetic health initiatives out there, central Oklahoma loves women – whether it’s women standing up for women, or the men, children, friends and other relatives who burst with joy to see them thrive. For you, for them, let’s all stand up for healthy Oklahoma women.
American Heart Association supporters shine under the SkyDance Bridge over Interstate 40 near downtown OKC. The sculpture shone red in February for Wear Red Day. Standing left to right: Sofia Hidrogo; Dr. Hong Chen; Jessica Mitchell; Leslie Coffee. Seated are Julie Avants; Dr. Mary Ann Bauman and two-time stroke survivor DaVida Daniels.
On Go Red for Women Nearly 40 percent of Oklahoma City-area deaths each year are attributed to cardiovascular disease, even though this leading cause of death for men and women is preventable. The goal of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women campaign is to reverse the perception that heart attacks and cardiovascular disease are problems mostly affecting men. The May 10 Go Red For Women Luncheon at the Skirvin Hilton is aimed at nothing less than saving lives. This year, Martha Burger, senior vice president for human and corporate resources at Chesapeake Energy, is enticing donors with a $25,000 matching pledge. For more information about the luncheon and sponsorship, contact Go Red Director Jennifer Seal at 948.2147. Nearly 450 women proudly accented in red attended last year’s luncheon. Funds raised by Go Red For Women activities support research to discover scientific knowledge about heart health.
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PRACTICAL MATTERS | Women’s Health
Thinking Forward
It’s getting better all the time. Researchers here in the metro and around the world are continually augmenting our understanding of the human body and discovering new ways to prevent disease and improve health – and new breakthroughs are consistently on the horizon. ALZHEIMER’S More women than men suffer from Alzheimer’s, and research has shown that it causes greater mental deterioration in female brains. The good news is that over a thousand clinical trials are under way worldwide, and some have optimistic results, like a late 2012 discovery at the University of Alberta that a failed diabetes drug could restore memory capacity to brain cells with Alzheimer’s.
ADVANCES IN BREAST RECONSTRUCTION
Dr. Tim Love has participated in five Food and Drug Administration studies over two decades to help improve the practice of breast augmentation and reconstructive surgery, including research that restored confidence in the safety of silicone gel implants nationwide. With more than 30 years as a plastic surgeon, Love closely follows and applies the latest, most beneficial techniques and tools for his patients. One of the advances he’s excited about affects women who’ve had single or double mastectomies and are planning breast reconstruction: the use of fat-derived stem cells. Transferring fat cells from a woman’s own abdomen as part of shaping and reconstructing breasts is well-established. In the past, surgeons knew that transferred fat cells often improved the health of nearby skin, but weren’t sure why. Now researchers have discovered that the beneficial effect is due to the stem cells within the transferred fat. Stem cells are progenitor cells that can transform into healthy tissue. Using stem cells in fat grafting allows for restoring damaged tissue. The discovery has huge implications for breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. Rather than just serving as a cosmetic aid, stem-cell-containing fat grafting has been shown to help regenerate healthy tissue. Research indicates that fat-derived stem-cell grafting has potential for other breakthroughs, too, such as restoring failing organs to the point of knocking people off organ transplant waiting lists. “The applications of fat-derived stem cells in so many different things involving tissue injury are going to be remarkable,” Love said. Each patient has unique starting conditions for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. Some mastectomies leave just a scar and smooth, generally healthy skin. Others leave uneven thicknesses of tissue and sometimes brittle skin due to cancer treatments. Better uses of fat-derived stem cells promises great advances in natural tissue growth and health of reconstructed breasts, he said.
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INFERTILITY Drs. Pezza and Dresser at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation are researching a protein called HFM1, which keeps chromosomes attached during meiosis (reproductive cell division). If HFM1 doesn’t do its job, it can lead to birth defects, and if it’s missing it can cause infertility … but learning more about it could lead to tests for those abnormalities and therapies to treat them. LUPUS About 90 percent of its diagnosed patients are women, and there is still no cure for the unpredictable disease, but there was also no genetic documentation for why it is five times more likely to affect people of African descent than European – until February. A team of scientists from across the country (including Oklahoma) tracked down the gene whose mutations may be responsible. Stay tuned. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Although the quest continues to find a cure (Walk MS OKC is May 4 at the zoo) for the disease of the nervous system – which affects twice as many women as men – some of the paralysis it causes can be treated The Integris Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Center now offers wireless systems that electronically stimulate nerves and muscles in the leg or hand, allowing greater mobility, fuller range of motion and a richer life.
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PRACTICAL MATTERS | Women’s Health
A SECRET IN NEED OF SHARING
Have you seen your urogynecologist lately? Do you even know what a urogynecologist is? Don’t worry if you don’t. Although gynecologists have been treating women’s pelvic problems for decades, urogynecology was only recognized two years ago as a surgical subspecialty combining gynecology and urology. Dr. Arielle Allen with Integris Health is the state’s only female, fellowship-trained urogynecologist. An obstetrician-gynecologist can practice independently after a four-year residency program. Allen’s specialty involved another three years of training focused on urinary and fecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Allen’s expertise helps women, most often in their 40s or older, who suffer from persistent urine leakage or fecal incontinence. Other conditions that could warrant seeing a urogynecologist include bladder problems such as burning sensations or recurrent infection; persistent difficult bowel movements; or a bulge at the opening of the vagina, a common symptom of a fallen, or prolapsed, bladder. Allen often meets women who suffer from these kinds of symptoms, but write them off as a normal part of aging. When they discover specialists like Allen, and a possible remedy for their condition, it can get emotional. “They are elated,” Allen said. “They come in because they’re usually these poor women who have been suffering for years, and they didn’t realize something could be done for them. I evaluate them and when I can say, ‘Hey, there’s something we can do for this,’ they’re so happy I get hugs.” Allen urges women to seek help. Widely seen lawsuit commercials about medical complications from a mesh prolapse-repair kit in the market about five years ago, which affected about 25 percent of users, might scare some patients off, but the commercial is misleading, she said. For example, it also mentions “mesh slings,” which only have complications in one percent of cases. “A lot of what I can do can really improve a woman’s quality of life,” Allen said. “A lot of women don’t want to leave home because they leak urine all day long and sit in their houses and become recluses. They can get out there, go shopping … and get back in life.”
BREAKING A BAD CONNECTION
The Go Red for Women initiative focuses on the No. 1 taker of women’s lives, but as a killer, heart disease doesn’t work alone. Its accomplices include high cholesterol, extra weight and high blood pressure. Heart disease shares the latter risk factor with the No. 4 killer of women – stroke. The American Heart Association recognizes connections like these and doesn’t limit itself to a narrow focus when it comes to women’s health. This month’s Go Red for Women Luncheon happens to coincide with another health awareness initiative – American Stroke Month. Major risk factors for heart attack and stroke are the same: smoking, sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, poor diet and more. A stroke is a “brain attack,” caused when a clot or broken vessel cuts off blood flow to the brain. African-Americans have almost twice the risk of first-time strokes compared to Caucasians. DaVida Daniels has survived two. The registered nurse at a mental health facility in OKC spreads the word about stroke dangers as an ambassador for the American Heart Association. Daniels had her first stroke in 2007. She was in rehabilitation from it when the second stroke hit. It robbed her of her ability to walk, and to feel from the neck down. To look at her today, Daniels appears physically recovered, but she says she occasionally has some lingering effects, such as vision problems. At presentations throughout the metro, she urges people to recognize the signs of stroke in themselves, friends and relatives: among them, inability to speak, read or write; paralyzation; vision problems; sudden numbness. “If you see signs like these, call 911,” she said. The connections between heart disease and stroke are real. Fortunately, they can be broken with the same tools: taking steps to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar and losing weight, to name a few. The American Heart Association says a walk 30 minutes a day is a great start. Get out there and enjoy those May flowers! 72 SLICE // MAY 2013
More Info:
American Urogynecologic Society augs.org Society of Gynecologic Surgeons sgsonline.org
A Few Organizations in It for Your Health AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, GO RED FOR WOMEN In its 10th year, this social initiative is designed to reverse the myth that cardiovascular disease is a “man’s disease.” It’s actually the No. 1 health threat for everyone. Go Red’s signature event in May is its gala luncheon – May 10, Skirvin Hilton, 9:30 a.m. auction, 10 a.m. breakout sessions, noon lunch. | goredforwomen.org | heart.org/ OklahomaCity LUPUS FOUNDATION OF AMERICA, OKLAHOMA CHAPTER Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage skin, joints and organs and more. It mostly strikes women of childbearing age (15-44). Get ready for the Walk to End Lupus at the OKC Zoo, June 1. | lupus.org | 225.7510 OKLAHOMA PROJECT WOMAN The project is a statewide program providing free mammograms, diagnostic procedures and surgical services for Oklahomans with no health insurance and limited financial resources. The program has provided breast health care for more than 25,000 uninsured Oklahomans, 510 of whom have been diagnosed with breast cancer. | oklahomaprojectwoman.org SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE, CENTRAL AND WESTERN OKLAHOMA The chapter has been part of the global initiative against breast cancer since 1994. It has donated over $9 million to local hospitals and organizations. So far this year, it has awarded over $600,000 toward the fight against breast cancer by funding grassroots screening and educational programs to six local organizations and nearly $250,000 for the national research grant fund coordinated by Komen National. | komencentralwesternok.org WOMEN AGAINST MS, OKLAHOMA CHAPTER Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often debilitating disease that attacks the central nervous system. It is two to three times more common in women than men. The 13th annual luncheon is planned for the fall and the Walk MS event will be held May 4 at the OKC Zoo. | nationalmssociety.org | 488.1300
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THE NOKIA LUMIA 920 WITH WINDOWS SURFACE IS THE GIANT KILLER. With a 4.5" LCD panel with higher resolution than the iPhone 5, better camera, hyper-sensitive touch panel (which can respond to gloved hands, fingernails and even the lightest touch of your finger) and a new Snapdragon 2.4GHz processor that’s even faster than its competitors, it signals a potential market shift. It has a 32GB chip which is a hundred-dollar upgrade from the other guys, a gig of RAM and the out-of-the-box contract price of $99 (plus it comes with more color choices: cherry red, yellow, blue, black and white). Windows Surface works great and comes with a free mobile version of Office. While Surface doesn’t yet have the breadth of apps that Apple and Android do (around 100,000), the market will see most popular apps available soon. Nokia has added several apps of their own, making the device a true mobile work center with navigation, email, social networking and Internet right at your fingertips. One of my favorite features is wireless charging and Nokia has released a wireless charger for the 920. It’s the DT-900: a small plate that you simply place your phone on to charge (as opposed to taking the phone and connecting it to a charging cable). No fuss, no muss. The DT-900 comes in several colors to match the phone. While the Nokia 920 is currently exclusive to AT&T, expect it to be released to the other networks sometime in the future. Until then, remember it’s only a $99 upgrade with a contract through AT&T, as opposed to iPhone’s much higher upgrade price – another point in its favor.
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PRECISION VISION SURGERY CENTER Darrell J. Pickard, MD is the first and only surgeon in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan area to offer bladeless, laser cataract surgery. This is available using the LenSx laser at Precision Vision Surgery Center in Oklahoma City. The LenSx laser from Alcon is a computer-controlled femtosecond laser which delivers more precision and accuracy than traditional cataract surgery. This laser assists the surgeon in performing the most delicate parts of the cataract procedure. High-definition imaging helps the surgeon customize each patient’s surgical treatment to their eye’s unique anatomy. Femtosecond lasers are a proven technology, having been used for over a decade in corneal eye surgery like LASIK. Advances in imaging and computer technology have allowed for its expanded use in cataract surgery. Dr. Pickard has been performing eye surgery in Midwest City and the Oklahoma City metro for 19 years. “I’ve performed over 12,000 traditional cataract surgeries using a blade to manually make the small incisions. After investigating this technology, I’m in agreement with other thought leaders in Ophthalmology that LenSx offers patients the most advanced treatment for cataracts.” says Dr. Pickard. “As a refractive cataract surgeon, I not only want to safely eliminate the cataract but to also deliver the best vision possible to my patients after cataract surgery.” If you have been diagnosed with cataracts and would like a consultation for candidacy for traditional or laser cataract surgery, feel free to call McGee, Pickard and Robinson Eye Associates at 405-733-4545.
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PRACTICAL MATTERS | Travel Smart
APPS TO HELP YOU HIT THE ROAD THIS SUMMER By Tommy Arens
AS FAMILIES PREPARE TO HIT THE ROAD OR TAKE FLIGHT THIS SUMMER, more travelers will book using their mobile devices than ever before. Purchases of airline tickets or hotel reservations by smartphone or tablet are expected to triple from $2.6 billion in 2011 to $8.1 billion in 2013, according to a study by travel research firm PhoCusWright. Your mobile phone can help simplify and organize your travel planning to make your trip easier and more enjoyable. There are several apps for smartphones and tablets that can be used to plan, share and commemorate your vacation. These free apps can help with your travels: • Expedia’s mobile app lets you easily discover hotel and air travel deals available in the cities you’re visiting and even collect Expedia Rewards points for booking on your mobile device. Expedia
Flickr
• You can leave the camera at home and capture fun moments from your vacation by using your mobile device to take high-quality pictures. The Flickr app can be used to enhance them with filters and then share them through your Flickr account, email or social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. You can even tell the story behind your photos with titles, descriptions, comments and tags.
Play Music
• Of course, we all want to stay entertained during down time and travel time on vacation. You can watch your favorite movies and television shows on large HD screens and listen to favorite music or podcasts to stay entertained through the long hours on the road or in the air.
Field Trip
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• The Field Trip app serves as a local tour guide to the places you travel. Depending on where you are, this app will pop up with fun facts and suggestions for the best nearby places to visit, shop or dine.
Whether you’re still packing, are on your way or have already arrived at your summer destination, mobile devices can keep you and your family entertained and ready for whatever your trip has in store. Tommy Arens is director of sales for U.S. Cellular in Oklahoma.
76 SLICE // MAY 2013
SHEVAUN WILLIAMS
PURSUITS
Blue Skies
What’s a picnic without a little Watermelon? Music lovers and those who enjoy a good party alike are gearing up for free fun in the sun as veteran bluesman Watermelon Slim headlines the Edmond Jazz and Blues Festival, Memorial Day weekend in Stephenson Park. See page 79.
TOP TEN Prime starting points for making the most of the month 78
SPOTLIGHT Herb Ritts’ photography further beautifies the OKC Museum of Art 80
SEE & DO The music, theater, visual arts and other delights on May’s calendar 84 MAY 2013 // SLICE 77
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.
A PIECE OF HER May 4, Riverwind Casino Jewel loves horses (she rode one 12 miles to reach the several jobs she worked in her Alaska hometown) and hard work (see above) and music – but you knew that one, since her career thus far has encompassed more than 27 million album sales, four Grammy nominations and over a dozen smash singles, many of which she’ll be performing as part of her Greatest Hits tour. BEST WHEN SHARED
COURTESY NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM
May 4-5, Andrews Park The event is turning the big 4-0 this month, but then again the May Fair Arts Festival has been a big deal since day one; that’s what you get when you combine dozens of juried artists from across the country, including 2013 Celebrated Artist Tim Kenney, live musical and street performers, a 5k run, kids’ art education and great food vendors and invite the community to enjoy together.
SQUARE DEAL
May 5, Edmond Fine Arts Institute Original work by 55 Oklahoma artists, each creation 5 inches by 5 inches in size, on sale for $55 apiece in a first-come first-served event beginning at 5:55 p.m. Sensing a pattern here? The Fine Arts Institute’s new 5 x 5 fundraiser is built around a strong, perfectly clear theme: think cinco! Thomas Stotts, untitled
LASTING LOOKS Through May 12, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Much of the museum is undergoing renovations, the better to exhibit and explicate the art, culture and story of the American West, but organizers have made certain to maintain some displays that exemplify that commitment – like the brief pictorial history of an influential Great Lakes tribe titled, “An Enduring Legacy: Photos of the Otoe-Missouria People.” 78 SLICE // MAY 2013
Chief Hoke Dent of the Otoe-Missouria tribe
CREATIVE FORCE
May 15-June 1, IAO Gallery Even if a soldier survives a war, how does he or she come back from it to re-enter normal life? The Combat Paper Project uses the act of creation as connection and catharsis, turning actual uniforms into paper that is then used as a vehicle for emotional expression. The international traveling art exhibit is being held over in Oklahoma, including a special reception on Memorial Day.
SOUND OFF!
May 25-26, Stephenson Park If you like music, you should probably think about heading to Stephenson Park this Memorial Day; if you love music, there’s no question about it – the dates should already be circled on your calendar. Tasty food, free admission and some of the smoothest, sweetest sounds around make the Edmond Jazz and Blues Festival a must for over 10,000 listeners … but there’s always room for more.
POWER WALKING
May 25-27, Paseo Arts District More than 60,000 people will throng to the few blocks that form the Paseo over Memorial Day weekend, drawn by the dozens of musicians on two stages, food court featuring far-flung genres and overflowing cornucopia of creativity – over 80 guest artists will fill every gallery and the streets themselves with marvels in every conceivable genre. Welcome to the 37th annual Paseo Arts Festival.
DYNAMIC DUO
May 31-June 7, Civic Center Think New York City, Paris, Naples … then think the opposite. Tuna, Texas, is terribly small, but delving into its doin’s makes for a major event – especially for frenetic actors Donald Jordan and Jonathan Beck Reed, who appear as 20+ characters from DJs Arles and Thurston to Tastee Kreme waitress Helen Bedd and Yippy the Dog in CityRep’s speedy, silly production of “Greater Tuna.”
FEATURED CREATURES June 1, IAO Gallery Local artistic pros draw inspiration from shelter dogs and cats awaiting adoption, and the proceeds from selling the works they produce help fund the operations of Pets & People Humane Society. Focusing on homeless animal moms in 2013, “Sit. Stay. Art!” is an annual collaboration in which everybody wins, including the canine and feline stars of the show.
Diana J. Smith, “Angela & Lola”
Forward Momentum
May 13, Rose Creek Golf Course The late, great Wayman Tisdale was a man of impressive musical skill, exceptional athletic ability and boundless joie de vivre. He was also an amputee, an experience that inspired the launch of his namesake foundation to help others, especially those without insurance, obtain prosthetic care – and via the second annual Wayman Tisdale Memorial Golf Tournament, you can help them keep their lives moving ahead as well.
MAY 2013 // SLICE 79
PURSUITS | Spotlight
It’s a Beautiful Life A DOWNTOWN INSTITUTION SINCE 2002 with roots that stretch back decades beyond that, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art is one of the metro’s cultural crown jewels. Its massive collection spans five centuries of creative mastery and, in conjunction with its frequent temporary exhibitions sourced from around the world, draws over 130,000 visitors annually. It’s home to educational seminars, creative workshops, an independent repertory theater, a library and an award-winning café … plus guests might have noticed the enormous blownglass cascade in the front lobby, a 55-foot masterpiece by Dale Chihuly of over 2,100 individual pieces. The museum is broad in scope and scale, diverse in subject matter, alight with beauty and, while often filled with famous names, not committed solely to them if featuring a lesserknown subject might forge a stronger visceral connection with viewers. In those respects, it strongly resembles the work of legendary photographer Herb Ritts, whose oeuvre is the subject of the museum’s latest exhibit. Organized by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston with the support of the Herb Ritts Foundation and the OKC Museum of Art, “Herb Ritts: Beauty and Celebrity” will feature over 80 large-scale black-and-white photographs by the acclaimed photographer. Famed for his innovative approach to fashion, intimate portraiture of celebrities and classical treatment of the nude form, Ritts emerged in the 1980s to become one of the most successful celebrity and 80 SLICE // MAY 2013
By Steve Gill
Photos this page: Herb Ritts (American, 1952-2002). “Woman in Sea, Hawaii,” 1988. Gelatin silver print, 24 by 20 inches (60.9 x 50.8 cm). Museum of Fine Arts, Boston © Herb Ritts Foundation; “Waterfall IV, Hollywood,” 1988. Platinum print, 20 x 16 inches (50.8 x 40.64 cm). © Herb Ritts Foundation; “Loriki with Spear, Africa,” 1993. Gelatin silver print, 45 x 41 inches (114.3 x 104.1 cm). © Herb Ritts Foundation; Facing page: “Matthew McConaughey, Palmdale,” 1996. Gelatin silver print, 24 x 20 inches (60.9 x 50.8 cm). Museum of Fine Arts, Boston © Herb Ritts Foundation
“I like form and shape and strength in pictures.” - Herb Ritts MAY 2013 // SLICE 81
PURSUITS | Spotlight
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“Corps et Âmes – 14, Los Angeles,” 1999. Gelatin silver print, 14 x 11 inches (35.5 x 27.9 cm). © Herb Ritts Foundation
fashion photographers of the late 20th century, and an important part of the history of American photography before his death in 2002. The photographs included represent some of Ritts’ most iconic imagery: the natural light of the California sun, textural elements like water droplets or grains of sand, the inherent beauty of the human form in use (like the dancers in motion pictured in his rare “Corps et Âmes” series of photographs). As the exhibit demonstrates, Ritts also added an extra layer of visual depth to models and ensembles of the fashion industry, and encapsulated the characters of celebrities from Jack Nicholson to Drew Barrymore to Matthew McConaughey to David Bowie (to the extent that anyone can encapsulate Bowie). Never intimidated by fame – he did grow up next door to Steve McQueen – Ritts didn’t aspire to a career in photography: his camera skills were self-taught through practice for enjoyment’s sake, and his break into the industry came about as the result of serendipity and his friend Richard Gere being discovered. Once established as a star in his own right, Ritts continued to avoid being blinded by the lights, concentrating on taking a good shot rather than a shot of a famous person. “Regardless of whether you speak the language or are familiar with a culture,” he told a French curator, “the picture should hold up. I’ve always said that if you didn’t know Madonna necessarily, you’d still be curious about the woman in the photograph.”
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82 SLICE // MAY 2013
Even though photographs are timeless, “Beauty” is fleeting. The OKC Museum of Art’s exhibition of Herb Ritts’ work “Beauty and Celebrity” opens May 9 and will be on display through July 28. For exhibit hours and more information, visit okcmoa.com or call 236.3100.
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IN MEMORY OF JOHN L. BELT
PASEO ARTS FESTIVAL Memorial Weekend May 25, 26 & 27
Saturday & Sunday, 10am-8pm Monday, 10am-6pm In the Historic Paseo Arts District, from N.W. 28th and Walker to N.W. 30th and Dewey.
Over 80 juried artists, live music, entertainment, great food and fun for the entire family!
For more information, call 405.525.2688 or visit thepaseo.com MAY 2013 // SLICE 83
See & Do DANCE Water Won’t Wait May 17-19 A moving display of performance art from Perpetual Motion Dance Company, combining stunning visuals and technical ingenuity to speak without words of time and the river of life that carries us all along, whether we wish it to or not. OK Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd, OKC, 206.2843, perpetualmotiondance.org
EVENTS 1st Friday Gallery Walk May 3 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
of creativity, focused on historic Downtown Norman. Norman Arts Council, 122 E Main St, Norman, 360.1162, normanarts.org Go Red for Women Luncheon May 10 Hundreds of ladies gather with a common color and for a caring cause - the healthy meal is followed by an impassioned speech and informational sharing about stopping heart disease’s terrible reign as the foremost killer of women. Skirvin Hilton, 1 Park Ave, OKC, 948.2147, heart.org Live on the Plaza May 10 Vendors, artists, residents and passerby unite for a monthly fiesta. OKC Plaza District, 1618 N Gatewood Ave, OKC, 367.9403, plazadistrict.org Rendezvous for Red Cross May 10 Disaster relief doesn’t just happen; supporters who help the Red Cross help others come together for a joyous
Harn Homestead, 1721 N Lincoln Blvd, OKC, 235.4058, harnhomestead.com Heritage Dinner May 16 Devoted to commemorating the stories of its city’s past, the Edmond Historical Society has amassed a noteworthy legacy of its own, one lauded at this anniversary fete. Edmond Historical Society, 431 S Boulevard St, Edmond, 340.0078, edmondhistory.org Cork and Canvas May 17 A festive, casual evening of food and drink, featuring auction packages highlighted by art created by the children at beneficiary Positive Tomorrows. Devon Boathouse, 725 S Lincoln Blvd, OKC, 556.5082, positivetomorrows.org Evening With the Elephants May 17 Pachyderm power! This event is by nature a pretty big deal, since it’s dedicated to some of the zoo’s biggest stars: Asha, Chandra, Rex and
Symphony Show House May 4-19 The OKC Orchestra League’s tradition of bringing the metro’s finest furnishers and designers together to make a chosen mansion into a thing of beauty is turning 40 this year - explore the greatness on display inside the Trio in The Abbey. Fairview Farms, NW 150th St & Western Ave, OKC, 842.6787, symphonyshowhouse.com 5 x 5 Art Show May 5 A cool idea with extremely precise execution: 5” x 5” canvases created by 55 Oklahoma artists on sale for $55 each. Edmond Fine Arts Institute, 27 E Edwards Ave, Edmond, 340.4481, edmondfinearts.com 2nd Friday Circuit of Art May 10 A monthly community-wide celebration
84 SLICE // MAY 2013
Cowboy Cantina May 21 An afterhours, adults-only tour of the museum’s wonders in a monthly event offering drinks, conversation and live music. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org
Urban Pioneer Award May 23 An urban pioneer is someone who exemplifies a leadership or inspirational role in rediscovering a city’s potential through a commitment to revitalization … that is to say, it’s Chip Fudge. The Film Row entrepreneur will receive the Plaza District’s 9th annual honor at this gala luncheon. OCU McDaniel University Center, 2501 N Blackwelder Ave, OKC, 367.9403, plazadistrict.org
Downtown Edmond Arts Festival May 3-5 The city comes together to feast, frolic with performing artists and tour the wondrous works of more than 100 exceptional artists and crafters from across the region and beyond. Downtown Edmond, 100 S Broadway Ave, Edmond, 249.9391, downtownedmondok.com
May Fair May 4-5 When the month arrives, the event is nigh - this is the 40th year the Assistance League of Norman combines art, food, music and family fun in Andrews Park. And don’t miss the 5k Saturday morning! Andrews Park, 479 N Webster Ave, Norman, 321.9400, norman. assistanceleague.org
Rusty Gables Spring Show May 19 Oklahoma perfection for your Western art collection - all proceeds support the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum from this sale seasoned with chuckwagon fare and live demonstrations. Rusty Gables, 3800 NE 50th St, OKC, 424.1015, rustygablesart.com
Science Lounge: AeroSPACE Camp May 23 Science is for adults only in a special themed evening with live music, appetizers, a cash bar and hands-on experimentation. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St, OKC, 602.6664, sciencemuseumok.org
Infant Crisis Auction May 3 Infant Crisis’ Teen Associate Board has assembled enough stupendous treasures to fill a three-ring circus; step right up for the chance to enjoy and help children in need. OKC Golf & Country Club, 7000 NW Grand Blvd, OKC, 778.7620, infantcrisis.org
Norman Library Better Book Sale May 3-5 It’s a literary treasure hunt where spoils lie heaped on every hand; fine volumes in every genre find new and grateful readers in this annual sale. (And Friends of the Library get a head start!) Norman Public Library, 225 N Webster Ave, Norman, 701.2600, pioneer.lib.ok.us
Variety Show May 18 A little song, a little dance … a great deal of entertainment via some very talented volunteers on behalf of the organization that makes quality affordable health care available to anyone in need. Skirvin Hilton, 1 Park Ave, OKC, 629.5201, varietycare.org
OKC Nationals
May 31-June 2, Oklahoma River
evening honoring Gov. Mary Fallin. OKC Golf & Country Club, 7000 NW Grand Blvd, OKC, 228.9542, redcross.org GALA 85 May 11 The Junior League has devoted considerable time - to the tune of over 1.5 million hours - to volunteering on the community’s behalf; now it’s time to mark its 85th anniversary with an outstanding party. OKC Golf & Country Club, 7000 NW Grand Blvd, OKC, 843.5668, jloc.org Ostrich Egg Breakfast May 11 Now those are some big frittatas. The OKC Zoo uses some deliciously unusual ingredients in serving up a benefit breakfast for maintenance and special exhibits. OKC Zoo, 2101 NE 50th St, OKC, 425.0618, zoofriends.org Mother’s Day Brunch May 12 Treat the lady right - a special buffet hosted by the museum’s Dining on Persimmon Hill restaurant is an excellent start. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org Fandango at the Harn May 16 Kick up your heels during A Night on the Prairie as the historic homestead and museum throws a wildly enjoyable hootenanny.
Malee, who put on a special show for audiences that will also enjoy a wine dinner, auction and behind-the-scenes tour. OKC Zoo, 2101 NE 50th St, OKC, 425.0618, zoofriends.org
Chuck Wagon Gathering May 25-26 The fare ain’t fancy but it’s expertly made - biscuits, beans and cobblers from cowboy cooks draw visitors of all ages, especially kids enjoying the stage entertainment, music and activities. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org
Jerry Seinfeld May 17 What does OKC have in common with NYC? A comedian as elite as Seinfeld has devastatingly humorous things to say about life that apply to both locales. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 297.2264, okcciviccenter.com
Paseo Arts Festival May 25-27 To celebrate the arts, look to the artists: the historic OKC arts district cranks its creativity up to maximum to showcase 90 visual painters and crafters, dozens of performers, tasty surprises and loads of fun. Paseo Arts District, 3022 Paseo St, OKC, 525.2688, thepaseo.com
Dining in the Dark May 18 It’s a feast for the senses - except sight - as the Heartland Council for the Blind masks guests’ eyes for an elegant dinner and a clearer perception of the work it accomplishes with their help. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St, OKC, 632.2248, hcbokc.org
H&8th Night Market May 31 Midtown becomes a primetime paradise in this after-hours street festival boasting live music, a convoy of awesome food trucks, craft beer and free socializing. Elemental Coffee, 815 N Hudson Ave, 633.1703, h8thokc.com
Mom and Me Alice in Wonderland Tea May 18 Reality remains in full effect during a cheerful midafternoon refreshment for mothers, daughters and special friends - dress in your Wonderland best and enjoy tea, crafts, dancing and croquet. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr, OKC, 521.2491, okhistory.org
OKC Nationals May 31-Jun 2 Fire it up! One of the largest drag boat races in the nation returns to the river as fans soak up demonstrations, concerts and the spectacle of competitors struggling for supremacy at over 200 miles per hour. Oklahoma River, 725 S Lincoln Blvd, OKC, 630.7668, okcmotorsports.com
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MAY 2013 // SLICE 85
PURSUITS | See & Do
FILM Notorious May 3 Intrigue is the name of the game as Ingrid Bergman attempts to infiltrate an organization of expatriate Nazis; difficult enough even if she weren’t romantically entangled with her handler Cary Grant in this skilled Hitchcock thriller. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma The Stranger May 17 A tense cat-andmouse conflict between a government investigator and a war criminal in hiding as a small-town teacher, directed by and co-starring the great Orson Welles. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma
GALLERIES Revive Through May 9 Functionality isn’t dependent on provenance garbage is given new life as usable art in this exhibition of custom furniture design that takes objects from trash to treasure. UCO Nigh Gallery, 100 N University Dr, Edmond, uco.edu/cfad Exposed Through May 17 Bryan Adams - yes, that Bryan Adams, Canadian rock star - shares more than a decade of high notes from his side gig as a photographer in this touring exhibit. OK Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd, OKC, 951.0000, oklahomacontemporary.org Lewton-Brain & Weidell Through May 31 A rich lode of creativity is exposed at the Firehouse this month, as its gallery displays exquisite jewelry and metalwork by author and master goldsmith Charles Lewton-Brain and UCO associate professor of jewelry and metalsmithing Charleen Weidell. Firehouse Art Center, 444 S Flood Ave, Norman, 329.4523, normanfirehouse.com
creative mindsets bring a range of styles - from brilliantly hued streetscapes by Dana Powell to Lynn Farrar’s delicately stacked and soldered glass - to one fortunate spot. In Your Eye Gallery, 3005 Paseo St, OKC, 525.2161, inyoureyegallery.com Jess & Keegan May 10 Synthesis at work: once they started collaborating, Jessica Beethe and Keegan O’Keefe found their efforts to be better together, so now she brings the organic realism and natural detail, he brings the form and texture of human culture and the results bring all eyes to their complex canvases. dna.galleries, 1705 NW 16th St, OKC, 525.3499, dnagalleries.com Geatches Studio Artists May 10-Jun 29 The Performing Arts Studio exhibits paintings and sketches encompassing nearly every style and subject, with the common link their provenance: artists who do their work at the venerable converted grocery in OKC. Santa Fe Depot, 200 S Jones Ave, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.com Istvan Summer Show May 10-Jul 28 Those who must, create. Two educators - Edmond North’s Bjorn Bauer and Scott Henderson from Science Museum Oklahoma - lend their experienced perspective to Istvan’s exhibition that also includes the reclaimed assemblages of Tony Westlund, tattoo-influenced sketches from Ashley Smith and Tanner Frady’s graffiti-inspired aerosols. Istvan Gallery, 1218 N Western Ave, OKC, 831.2874, istvangallery.com Combat Paper Project May 15-Jun 1 Soldiers returning to civilian life after war use paper made from the fibers of their uniforms to express themselves
Noble Museum, 2401 Chatauqua Ave, Norman, 325.4712, snomnh.ou.edu
Red Earth Museum, 6 Santa Fe Plaza, OKC, 427.5228, redearth.org
An Enduring Legacy Through May 12 Look into a piece of the West’s history in this collection of photographs chronicling the OtoeMissouria tribe, a Great Lakes people who met Lewis and Clark and gave their name to Missouri. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org
Into the Void Through Jul 28 A studentcurated printmaking exhibition of visual spectacle paying homage to the founders of the Optical Art movement - it’s pretty much a must-see. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.2691, ou.edu/fjjma
Crumbo Spirit Talk Through May 29 Six decades of the great painter’s personal career, plus examples of Woody’s legacy in the artwork of his children. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr, OKC, 521.2491, okhistory.org Enriched: Animal Art Through Jun 1 Living in the zoo can get a bit boring, so some of the OKC Zoo’s resident artists explore their muses, with curiously aesthetic results. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr, OKC, 521.2491, okhistory.org Reitz & Kratohvil Through Jun 1 Their sculptures - Don Reitz’s ceramics and Marko Kratohvil’s work in steel - both depart from the traditional utility of their media, embracing form over functionality for spatially involving works with surprising delicacy of spirit. [Artspace] at Untitled, 1 NE 3rd St, OKC, 815.9995, artspaceatuntitled.org Art Interrupted Through Jun 2 Organized in the 1940s and then quickly torpedoed by conservative mindsets, this reunion tour of a national experiment shows what might have been and prompts contemplation on the intersection of art and politics. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma
Michelle Junkin Through May 31 It’s hard to predict what you’ll find in a Junkin show; her artistic range encompasses clay monoprints, stone work, acrylic and gouache painting and mixed media collages, and she freely admits that “just as in life, I have some but not total control of the outcome.” But as her full CV attests, the results are always complex, vibrant and captivating. IAO Gallery, 706 W Sheridan Ave, OKC, 232.6060, iaogallery.org Drawing on the Past May 3-Jun 1 Born in Stillwater, Michelle Hines McCrory left Oklahoma to study but eventually found herself pulled back to wellremembered places. Her intrguing mix of techniques in these multimedia creations likewise juxtaposes her memories with the mementoes of strangers for decorative, deep results. Paseo Originals Gallery, 2920 Paseo St, OKC, 604.6602, paseooriginals.com Hammack & Tower May 3-31 Rapturous color enlivens the gallery this month, via the mathematically influenced abstract paintings of Beth Hammack coupled with Brooks Tower’s intricately stylized tile mosaics. JRB Art at the Elms, 2810 N Walker Ave, OKC, 528.6336, jrbartgallery.com Powell - Howard - Farrar May 3-Jun 1 Three of the metro’s outstanding
86 SLICE // MAY 2013
Stirring the Fire Through Jul 28 Subtitled “A Global Movement to Empower Women and Girls,” it’s an illuminating compendium of photographer Phil Borges’ efforts to call attention to gender issues worldwide. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma Oklahoma @ the Movies Through Aug 10 Help commemorate the beautiful friendship between the Sooner State and the silver screen. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr, OKC, 521.2491, okhistory.org Beautiful Beasts Through Sep 16 Macrophotographer Thomas Shahan takes a closer look - closer than that … no, way closer - at the forms and faces of our tiny neighbors in an exhibit subtitled “The Unseen Life of Oklahoma Spiders and Insects.” Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chatauqua Ave, Norman, 325.4712, snomnh.ou.edu 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 Beauty and Celebrity May 9-Jul 28 Herb Ritts, though self-taught, was one of the most successful celebrity and fashion photographers of the latter 20th century - this exhibition of over 80 photographs explores his gift for capturing nature, texture and the beauty of the human form. OKC Museum of Art, 415 Couch Dr, OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa.com Photo Slam May 16 Curated by Carlos Knight, this one-night-only exhibition gives 12 photographers a hot mic to describe their creative process - with pictures - for an informative, entertaining evening. OKC Museum of Art, 415 Couch Dr, OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa.com
Jess & Keegan
May 10, dna.galleries
through art in this emotionally uplifting nationwide project. IAO Gallery, 706 W Sheridan Ave, OKC, 232.6060, iaogallery.org
MUSEUMS Bugs: Outside the Box Through May 12 The Sam Noble Museum shrinks visitors so they can shake pincers with the kingdom of the spiders, ants, beetles and butterflies in this traveling exhibit of vastly enlarged, intricately detailed insect sculptures with educational commentary. Sam
National Weather Center Biennale Through Jun 2 It is the first exhibition of its kind: an international juried show of art about weather and the role it plays in shaping our lives. Nearly 400 artists submitted works; this free exhibit features the top 100 pieces. National Weather Center, 120 David L. Boren Blvd, Norman, 325.1496, nwcbiennale.org Red Earth Master Artist Show Through Jun 28 The monumentally magnificent Red Earth Festival is on the horizon - get a taste of things to come by enjoying some of the best of what has been in this retrospective exhibit featuring prominent artists from previous years.
Invisible Eve May 30-Aug 31 Powerful images from the lens of renowned photographer Yousef Khanfar, whose new book of the same name depicts insights and images of women incarcerated for nonviolent crimes. OK Heritage Museum, 1400 Classen Dr, OKC, 523.3231, oklahomaheritage.com Art After Hours: Nonobjective Painting May 31 In the works of abstract painters Dove and Pereira, the museum ponders the import of pioneers in the field of creatively representing nothing at all. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma
MUSIC OCU Jazz Band May 1 End the school year with a bit of swagger courtesy of the campus’ resident jazz experts.
Photographs courtesy of Solta Medical Aesthetic Center
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PURSUITS | See & Do
OCU Kirkpatrick Auditorium, 2501 N Blackwelder Ave, OKC, okcu.edu/music Blue Door Shows May 1-25 Selfbilled as “the best listening room in Oklahoma,” it certainly has some of the best music: the Carper Family May 1, James McCartney May 2, “Rock Star” rock star Patrice Pike May 3, John Fullbright May 10-12, the inimitable Jimmy Webb May 17-18, Kevin Welch May 24 and Miss Brown to You with Michael Fracasso May 25. The Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley Ave, OKC, 524.0738, bluedoorokc.com
in OU’s music program, but sometimes (like this evening), it’s good to sit down with friends and pump out some jazz. Santa Fe Depot, 200 S Jones Ave, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.com Mozart for Mother’s Day May 12 Veteran piano master Wayne McEvilly dazzles with a rendition of Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor, and
into his nascent career. Lions Park, 450 S Flood Ave, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.com
health programs. Myriad Gardens, 300 W Reno Ave, OKC, 943.1025, marchofdimes.com/oklahoma
CJ Boyd May 21 The visual arts gallery becomes the place for bass as Boyd wows listeners with his emotional breadth and improvisational joy. IAO Gallery, 706 W Sheridan Ave, OKC, 232.6060, iaogallery.org
Piece Walk May 4 Autism Oklahoma sponsors this day of togetherness assembled around a consciousnessraising group walk and 5k race with thousands of participants. Every year the funds raised help us all learn more about autism, and come that much closer to piecing it all together. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S Mickey Mantle Dr, OKC, 315.6337, piecewalk.org Vibrant Tennis/Table Tennis Tournament May 4 Whether on the full court or the emerald table, demonstrate your tennis mastery in an event helping Dr. R. Murali Krishna and the Integris Foundation eliminate the stigma of mental illness. The Greens Country Club, 13100 Green Valley Dr, OKC, 751.1094
Noon Tunes May 2-23 Free lunchtime serenades in the Downtown Library: Edgar Cruz May 2, the Raul Reyes Trio May 9, a Salute to America May 16, the ATM Piano Triet May 23 and singersongwriter Denver Duncan May 30. Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave, OKC, 231.8650, mls.lib.ok.us
Walk MS OKC May 4 Stepping out together can be the key to funding lifesaving research and ongoing awareness of Multiple Sclerosis; keep the effort moving forward. OKC Zoo, 2101 NE 50th St, OKC, 918.488.0882, nationalmssociety.org
Opolis Performances May 2-28 Metro, meet Opolis. You’ll make beautiful music together, like The Devil Makes Three May 2, Son del Barrio May 3, an Ottrepop reunion May 7, Bill Callahan May 9, Empty Bottles May 11, Beau Jennings & the Tigers May 17, ADDverse Effects May 24, Black Plus May 25 and Lord Huron May 28. The Opolis, 113 N Crawford Ave, Norman, opolis.org
Roller Derby May 11 Part graceful race, part all-out brawl, the month’s slate of spectacle includes the Lightning Broads lacing up to battle the OKC Outlaws as the Valkyrie Vixens face off against Cell Block 9. Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, OKC, 496.1348, okcrd.com
Delbert McClinton May 3 The longlasting McClinton is a bluesman down to his shoes - he’s been a musician for over 50 years, teaching John Lennon how to blow the harp, backing for Howlin’ Wolf and sharing his own songs ever since. Sooner Theatre, 101 E Main St, Norman, 321.9600, soonertheatre.org Cirque de la Symphonie May 3-4 It’s a, um, soaring performance as the OKC Philharmonic puts an exclamation point on its Pops season with a little help from their high-flying friends in Cirque du Soleil. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 842.5387, okcphilharmonic.org Purple Bar Performances May 3-31 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 Jewel May 4 Her greatest hits compiled on a recently released album - are pretty great; the sometime poet, actress and pop-country hitmaker should make waves on the Riverwind stage. Riverwind Casino, 1544 W Hwy 9, Norman, 322.6464, riverwind.com SoundBites in the Park May 10 The city’s center gets more pedestrian-friendly all the time … though rarely more so than when Downtown OKC, Inc. sponsors a live concert and a collection of food trucks for midday festivities. Bank of OK Plaza, 201 Robert S. Kerr Ave, OKC, 235.3500, downtownokc.com Season Finale May 11 Before drawing the curtain on a magnificent season, the OKC Philharmonic is making time to close out its Classics series with a trip around the world, starring the orchestra’s masterful musicians and the great works of Wagner, Barber, Tchaikovsky and Strauss. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 842.5387, okcphilharmonic.org Larry Hammett Group May 12 Hammett’s an accomplished classical soloist, and director of guitar studies
88 SLICE // MAY 2013
Chip in for the Arts May 13 There are all kinds of ways to help the metro become better - even taking a long drive off the first tee. Allied Arts’ annual fundraiser is a 4-person scramble with rewards for winners and the community’s cultural force. OKC Golf & Country Club, 7000 NW Grand Blvd, OKC, 278.8944, chipinforthearts.com
Summer Breeze: John Fullbright May 19, Lions Park, Norman
explains the music’s emotional connection to the composer’s mother, in a free presentation. Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave, OKC, 231.8650 Celtic Woman May 16 A dab of traditional Irish tunes like “The Parting Glass,” a bit of more modern pop like “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” even some showcases like “Ave Maria” … sure one of the finest ways to hear music is when it’s sung by lovely Celtic chanteuses with world-class pipes. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 297.2264, okcciviccenter.com Schubert and Friends Festival May 1823 Mozart, Weber, a world premiere by Christopher Theofanidis and plenty of the Romantic master fill Brightmusic’s multi-concert series featuring worldrenowned clarinetist David Shifrin. St. Paul’s Cathedral & All Souls’ Church, 127 NW 7th St & 6400 N Penn Ave, OKC, brightmusic.com Summer Breeze: John Fullbright May 19 Norman’s Performing Arts Studio encourages potential listeners to discard the concept of labels in their consideration of this initial star in the open-air concert series - Fullbright’s sound isn’t truly pop, nor Americana, nor folk, but a rousing fusion that’s already distinctive just a few years
Edmond Jazz & Blues Festival May 25-26 Free for the whole family thanks to the generosity of local sponsors, the annual jam packs Memorial Day weekend with live performances from sweet, smooth soundsmiths. Stephenson Park, 100 E 5th St, Edmond, 341.3321, edmondjazzandblues.org Grupo Pesado May 26 The Sonic summer concert series kicks into a higher gear with the blazing-hot masters of the Norteno sound. Frontier City, 11501 N I-35 Service Rd, OKC, 478.2140, frontiercity.com
SPORTS RedHawks Baseball May 1-31 Take yourself out to the ball game - OKC’s Triple-A titans take on Nashville May 1-2, Tacoma May 7-10, Salt Lake City May 11-14 and Omaha May 28-31. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S Mickey Mantle Dr, OKC, 218.1000, oklahomacity. redhawks.milb.com March for Babies May 4 Every child should get to start life on the right foot, so participants use their feet to raise funds that will help the March of Dimes support prenatal and early infancy
Wayman Tisdale Memorial Golf Tournament May 13 Losing part of yourself can be devastating, even without the accompanying medical costs - so the late basketball great’s eponymous foundation devotes funds from this event to helping amputees who have no insurance afford prostheses. Rose Creek Golf Club, 17031 N May, OKC, 947.0911, waymantisdale.net NAMI Walk May 18 Nearly 60 million Americans experience a mental health condition every year; mental illness affects the lives of one in four adults, and those people need help, hope and community support. You shouldn’t need any further reason to join the throng walking to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Stars and Stripes Park, 7398 N Portland Ave, OKC, 230.1900, namiwalks.org/oklahoma Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship May 22-26 Fewer teams in the conference mean the pressure is on OU, OSU and their opponents to shine on the diamond and keep their seasons alive. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S Mickey Mantle Dr, OKC, okcallsports.org
THEATER Dirty Work on the Trail Through May 5 The Jewel Box Theatre is closing its season with a throwback to ripe old melodramas - audience participation is encouraged in the form of hissing the villainous plot to disgrace the Pony Express, cheering the hero’s attempts
to thwart said villainy or awww-ing the tender romance once he saves the heroine from peril (spoiler!) Jewel Box Theatre, 3700 N Walker Ave, OKC, 521.1786, jewelboxtheatre.org On the Town Through May 5 The Bronx is up and the Battery’s down, but the action’s in Norman, where OU students under the sure hand of director Lyn Cramer race through the dizzy escapades of sailors on leave in Bernstein’s beloved musical. OU Reynolds PAC, 540 Parrington Oval, Norman, 325.4101, ou.edu/ finearts/drama Miss Nelson Is Missing Through May 10 A rambunctious class quickly learns to appreciate the sweet, kind teacher they had when she disappears and is replaced by a gruesome taskmaster (who looks awfully familiar) in the tale enthusiastically told by the Oklahoma Children’s Theatre. OCU Kirkpatrick Auditorium, 2501 N Blackwelder Ave, OKC, 951.0011, oklahomachildrenstheatre.org One-Act Festival May 3-4 Theatrical magic for the fast and the curious - a rapid-fire assortment of farces, romances, wrenching dramas and meditations on humanity from the UCO School of Drama. UCO Pegasus Theater, 100 N University Dr, Edmond, 974.5512, uco.edu/cfad The History of Tom Jones May 3-25 It’s not unusual to find Reduxion Theatre Company transporting the classics to different historical eras and settings for the sake of throwing fresh light on their themes, but the basic bones - romance, social commentary on hypocrisy and action-adventure awesomeness - of Fielding’s novel come through loud and clear. Broadway Theater, 1613 N Broadway Ave, OKC, 651.3191, reduxiontheatre.com Sister Act May 8-13 When a brash, flashy singer witnesses a shooting, the police order her to lay low in an un-conventional spot (Geddit? “convent?”), where her lust for life quickly begins inspiring the other nuns (there’s probably a joke in there somewhere about it being habit-forming) in Celebrity Attractions’ mayhem-filled musical. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 800.869.1451, celebrityattractions.com Something Intangible May 17-Jun 8 The frustration of reifying inspiration, the burden of enabling someone else’s genius, the surprising resilience of family ties and a hefty dose of humor propel this tale of two brothers building a movie empire around a successful cartoon character. (Pssst! They’re Disney analogues!) Carpenter Square Theatre, 800 W Main St, OKC, 232.6500, carpentersquare.com Greater Tuna May 31-Jul 7 Life in the tiny Texas town of Tuna is anything but sleepy - the more so since hardworking CityRep actors Donald Jordan and Jonathan Beck Reed manage (somehow) to portray the dozens of oddball members of the dramatis personae all by themselves. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 848.3761, cityrep.com
ON THE RADAR American Tourist’s “A Night in New Orleans” Jun 1 Travel broadens the mind, but being transported to exciting
destinations via Upward Transitions’ annual soirees broadens the nonprofit’s capacity to give the metro’s homeless and needy a boost up to self-sufficiency. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St, OKC, 232.5507, upwardtransitions.org Canterbury Sapphire Soiree Jun 1 Its members’ extensive vocal training and well-developed lungs will come in handy when the Canterbury Choral Society blows out the candles at the lavish gala marking its 45th anniversary. Montgomery Event Center, 500 W Main St, OKC, 232.7464, canterburyokc.com Sit. Stay. Art! Jun 1 A fur-bedecked exhibition of animal artwork inspired by pets awaiting adoption at local shelters, with proceeds and art sales benefiting Pets & People Humane Society - what’s not to love? IAO Gallery, 706 W Sheridan Ave, OKC, sitstayart.org Luncheon on the Grass Jun 2 You bring your lunch; nature brings the grass; the entertainment in the form of arts, activities and musical guests The Gourds comes courtesy of the Firehouse Art Center, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Jacobson House and the Norman Arts Council Lions Park, 450 S Flood Ave, Norman, 329.4523, normanfirehouse.com Wish Upon a Par Jun 3 A clinic from PGA pro Jim Woodward, food, gear and all the trimmings and a round on the top-flight course, all to help make wishes come true for seriously ill children. Oak Tree National, 1515 W Oak Tree Dr, Edmond, 286.4000, oklahoma.wish.org deadCENTER Film Festival Jun 5-9 Independent cinema reigns supreme in this vast collection of works in all kinds of genres: multiple venues, hundreds of films, one incredible celebration on celluloid. Downtown OKC, 415 Couch Dr, OKC, 246.9233, deadcenterfilm.org Charlie Christian Music Festival Jun 7-8 An OKC original lives on through the strength of his influence on blues guitar playing, and through the listening pleasure brought to thousands by the special guest performers during his namesake festival. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S Mickey Mantle Dr, OKC, charliechristianmusicfestival.com Le Tour de Vin Jun 7-8 Raise a glass to the ideal of service above self as Norman’s Rotary Clubs leverage over 200 domestic and foreign varietals toward celebrating wine, food and generosity, all benefiting Food and Shelter for Friends, Inc. Riverwind Casino, 1544 W Hwy 9, Norman, 310.9121, letourdevin.com
museum
Discover Oklahoma’s Diverse American Indian Cultures Through Beautiful Art Historical Artifacts Special Exhibits Native Gift Gallery
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.
Located in the heart of downtown OKC Park Avenue at Broadway Next to historic Skirvin Hilton Hotel Open Weekdays 10-5 pm • Free Admission
(405) 427-5228 www.redearth.org Like us on: Red Earth, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non-profit with a mission to promote the rich traditions of American Indian arts and cultures through education, a premier festival, museum and fine art markets.
MAY 2013 // SLICE 89
MOTHER’S DAY IS BEST SPENT IN BED
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FARE Come to Mama May is the month to give Mom a break and show your appreciation. Nothing is easier than a cake mix, and this “fanciedup” version is guaranteed to come out perfectly every time. Grab an apron and show some love for the special mom in your life this Mother’s Day! See page 92.
MATTERS OF TASTE Sensationally spicy food and curative summertime booze fuel Yucatan Taco Stand 94
EAT & DRINK Variety is on the menu in Slice’s citywide dining guide 96
FUTURE FLAVOR Francis Tuttle’s new dining destination is ready for plating 102 MAY 2013 // SLICE 91
FARE | In the Kitchen
Sweet Treat By Caryn Ross Photos by Carli Wentworth
FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, there has not been a Mother’s Day that I do not miss my mom, Frances Walker. She was the essence of spring. She loved flowers, spring festivals and most of all, she loved lemon cake. As a kid, this is one of the first cakes I learned to make. Now, this is the cake I make in honor of my mommy every Mother’s Day. I am so excited to share this easyto-make lemon cake with fresh lemon curd. It sounds complicated, but lemon curd is a snap to make and the cake is a simple “fancied-up” cake mix. The best part of this classic cake is the lemon curd. Many people think that lemon curd is something they get at the gourmet store – not so! It’s easy and costs pennies to make from scratch. The secret to fabulous lemon curd is to always use fresh lemon juice, never bottled. It’s so good I would put my lemon cake up against any bakery’s version!
Lemon Layer Cake with Fresh Lemon Curd 1 box yellow cake mix 1 box instant lemon pudding mix, 3.4 oz ½ c vegetable oil 4 large eggs, room temperature ½ c milk 1 c sour cream or 2% Greek yogurt 1 t lemon zest 2 T fresh lemon juice 2 containers Cool Whip Vanilla Frosting Fresh Lemon Curd 4 large egg yolks, room temperature ½ c sugar 3 T fresh lemon zest c freshly squeezed lemon juice Pinch of salt 7 T unsalted butter, cut into small pieces Preheat oven to 350°. Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Combine the cake mix, lemon pudding mix, vegetable oil and eggs and beat in 92 SLICE // MAY 2013
a large bowl for two minutes with an electric mixer, scraping the sides to incorporate all the dry ingredients. Add in the milk, sour cream, lemon zest and lemon juice, and beat for one minute. Pour half of the batter into each pan, smooth and then tap on the counter, releasing air bubbles to make a more even cake. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Invert your pans onto a sheet of parchment paper and place the pans over the top to create a steam dome. Allow cakes to cool for at least three hours for a super moist cake! To make the lemon curd, place one cup of water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Create a homemade double-boiler by using a metal bowl that fits on top of the sauce pan, and in it whisk together everything but the butter. Place the bowl over the simmering water and whisk gently until the mixture thickens up to the consistency of thick pudding. It’s done when it can coat
the back of a wooden spoon. Remove from heat and whisk in butter, piece by piece, until the curd is thick and shiny. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. To assemble, first create an evenly sized cake by horizontally slicing the rounded top off with a serrated knife held flat, guided by the pan rim. Place one layer, cut side down, on a cake plate. Take thin strips of wax paper and tuck under the edges of the cake so any mess you make when icing can be easily removed. Spread lemon curd over the cake, then top with second layer, cut side down. Using an offset spatula, empty one container of frosting onto the cake and spread down the sides to completely cover the cake. Empty the second container on top and evenly spread over the top and sides. Decorate with fresh flowers and serve!
Welcome to West
½ Price Appetizers Every Day from 3-6 Brunch Every Saturday and Sunday 10-4 Book Private Parties/Events in Our North Room 6714 N. Western Avenue | Oklahoma City 405.607.4072 | www.westbar.com
from concept t o realit y
BELLA | VICI
residential & commercial interiors
design www.bellavici.com shop www.hautebox.co t 405/702-9735 3555 nw 58th street, suite 140
CALL FOR SPECIAL SAVINGS FOR SLICE READERS! MAY 2013 // SLICE 93
FARE | Matters of Taste
Bring the
Heat By Steve Gill // Photos by Carli Wentworth
GIVEN THAT WINTER TOOK ITS SWEET TIME receding this year, it’s even more enjoyable than usual to luxuriate under a patio umbrella in the blazing sun, sipping a complicated beverage and digesting a Latin fusion feast while idly watching people wander along the water’s edge. And the best part is that this particular Eden-esque afternoon doesn’t require a trip to Cancun; merely to Bricktown, home of the Yucatan Taco Stand Tequila Bar and Grill. By August we may be longing for a touch of chill, but as spring swells into summer, this perch over the canal serves as an ideal place to make taste while the sun shines. If the patio is packed or the weather uncooperative (this being Oklahoma and all), don’t despair – unlike a few watering holes around the metro that shall remain nameless, this is much more than a deck with drinks service and a mediocre kitchen attached. 94 SLICE // MAY 2013
Outside or in (where the f latscreen TVs and comfy semiprivate conversation booths reside), the food is fantastic, and while it might be technically a Mexican restaurant, it’s more than Tex-Mex. There’s a real range of f lavors at work, with spices used to complement and enhance rather than overpower. Much of the menu is built around presenting proteins – garlic shredded beef, tequila lime chicken, carne de puerco – in varied configurations: soft tacos, nachos, burritos, deconstructed “burrito bowls” topped with fried tortilla strips and even salads. Tempura fish is a specialty; it does well in the taco, but is even better in a grilled sandwich on toasty torta bread with a pop of garlic aioli, accompanied by crisp fried strips of plantains. And whatever form your meal takes, even if you need to add on a taco or two before tackling a specialty dish like the Carne Asada Chimichurri, don’t leave without trying the marvelous spicy tequila shrimp. (Managing to leave enough room for the deepfried cheesecake is its own reward.) As indicated by the “Tequila Bar” part of the name, Yucatan Taco Stand Yucatan Taco Stand takes the spirit very seriously Tequila Bar & Grill – besides housing a mindboggling selection of over 75 100 E. California, #110, different varieties, it offers Oklahoma City samples of its bounty via 604.5384 tequila flights; guided tasting yucatantacostand.com tours of the liquor’s potential. Sunday-Thursday One last topical question: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Is it a sublime spot for Cinco de Mayo? Si! Also Quatro de Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. Mayo, y Nueve de Mayo, y Quince de Junio …
Quick tips 1. Experiment with beverages. Yes, you can get a killer margarita, but you already know what those taste like; let the skilled bartenders whip you up something a little less conventional like the exquisitely delicious strawberry-basil or pineapple-cinnamon versions. 2. The bathrooms are through the alcove to the right of the bar, out a door and around a couple of corners to the left. Don’t be afraid to ask for directions – no matter how many times it takes (may vary depending on how assiduously you followed the first tip). 3. Get your designated driver something nice from the Bricktown Candy Company, on the west side of the building. They’ve earned it.
MAY 2013 // SLICE 95
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 $ AROUND THE CORNER RESTAURANT A no-frills, old-school diner that’s a favorite spot for Edmondites to linger over omelettes, pork chops or pancakes and coffee. 11 S Broadway, Edmond, 341.5414 $ BASEMENT, THE Local ingredients in signature made-from-scratch dishes, including Whoopie Pies – plus the entertainment of RedPin Bowling Lounge under the very same roof. 200 S Oklahoma, OKC, 602.0111 $ BOULEVARD CAFETERIA Roast beef, chicken and dumplings, even liver and onions … one of the last of the area’s independent cafeterias is still pounding out the hits. 525 NW 11th, OKC, 239.6861 $ 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 $$ CLASSEN GRILL Don’t be thrown by the seen-better-days exterior; the food inside is deftly done diner deliciousness, especially the breakfast options. The eggs benedict and cheese
96 SLICE // MAY 2013
grits can make your day in advance. 5124 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 842.0428 $ COACH’S RESTAURANT Overlooking the diamond at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark or within earshot of Owen Field, Coach’s locations serve fans during games and fans of its pizza, barbecue, burgers and beer anytime. 102 W Main, Norman, 360.5726; 20 S Mickey Mantle, OKC, 232.6224 $$ 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 $$ DIAMOND DAWGS A love of baseball informs this Campus Corner spot from the grounder up; its huge allbeef franks and specialty options will inform and re-inspire visitors’ love of hot dogs. 753 Asp, Norman, 364.3294 $
notch buffalo burger, Kaiser’s boasts a great view… if you can tear your attention away from the ice cream & soda fountain. 1039 N Walker, OKC, 232.7632 $ LEGEND’S A Lindsey Street landmark for over 40 years, this casually upscale, three-diamond AAA restaurant still serves exceptional seafood, steaks and more down-to-earth fare amid welcoming surroundings. 1313 W Lindsey, Norman, 329.8888 $$ 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 $
DINER, THE The classics never go out of style, and when locals refer to this institution as a greasy spoon, it’s a term of endearment if not veneration. Masterful preparation of ordinary breakfast and lunch fare – expect lengthy lines. 213 E Main, Norman, 329.6642 $
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 $
EISCHEN’S Two things to bear in mind: 1. It’s in Okarche, about 45 minutes from OKC proper. 2. It’s universally agreed to be well worth the trip. Legendary fried chicken and okra in a gloriously noisy packed house; cash only. 108 S 2nd, Okarche, 263.9939 $
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 $
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 $$
REDROCK CANYON GRILL Rotisserie chicken, Southwestern enchiladas, pork chops and steak by the lake served expertly in a casual, energetic, hacienda-style atmosphere of stone walls and mahogany beams around an open kitchen. 9221 E Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 749.1995 $$
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 $$ GOOD GRAVY DINER Hefty, heavenly portions of roast beef or chicken fried steak, tasty sandwiches and burgers, a constellation of breakfast options… and a whole slew of specialty gravies to top them off. 8014 N Western, OKC, 842.6200 $ INTERURBAN CLASSIC GRILL It’s a simple concept: serve good food at a reasonable price in comfortable, casual surroundings. Favorites like chicken-fried steak are always on the menu, but there are plenty of options for the health-conscious as well. 4 metro locations, interurban.us $$ JIMMY’S EGG Although it’s open for lunch as well, Jimmy’s Egg is a breakfast favorite with endless omelette possibilities, friendly service and fresh-baked breads and biscuits. 11 metro locations, jimmysegg.com $ KAISER’S AMERICAN BISTRO Founded in 1918 and serving contemporary classics like a top-
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 $ SHARTEL CAFÉ Diverse diner-style classics – bacon cheeseburgers, pancakes, reubens, bakery goodies, etc. – done with panache and further improved by airy, comfortable surroundings and friendly service. 5116 N Shartel, OKC, 843.0900; 201 Robert S. Kerr, LL 140, OKC, 601.8024 $ 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 $ TOBY KEITH’S I LOVE THIS BAR & GRILL He does, you know. Deep in the heart of Bricktown, this venue hosts frequent live music performances and features a homestyle menu, memorabilia and drinks served in
Mason jars. 310 Johnny Bench, OKC, 231.0254 $$ VAST Keeping your attention on the steaks, seafood and other globally inspired American cuisine might be surprisingly difficult: the view is truly unparalleled in Oklahoma. 280 W Sheridan, 49th floor, OKC, 702.7262 $$ WILL’S/THE LOBBY BAR Coffee vendor by day, bar by night, it features an unexpected and wonderfully inviting lunch and dinner menu: baked manchego, lobster sliders and many more. 4322 N Western, OKC, 604.4650 $
ASIAN 180 MERIDIAN GRILL Intended to unite east and west through blending the essence of Asian cuisine with culture, its intriguing menu spans sirloin with teriyaki butter, hoisin barbecue duck pizza and ample sushi options. 2541 W Main, Norman, 310.6110 $$ BLUE MOON CHINESE RESTAURANT Chinese cravings may come much more often after experiencing the spectacular amount of sweet, sour and savory tastes from this studentfriendly eatery. 1320 S Broadway, Edmond, 340.3871 $ DOT WO GARDEN With an elegantly appointed new location, Dot Wo continues its crowd-pleasing legacy of over two decades by pairing sumptuous classics of Chinese cuisine with fiery, fresh sushi. 6161 N May, OKC, 608.2388 $$ FOODIES There are other, more decoratively soigné places to meet for atmosphere; for Asian fusion in big servings with tremendous flavor, drive by this friendly little diner. 1220 N Hudson, OKC, 235.1111 $ 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 $$ O ASIAN FUSION Sublime quality in a wide span of culinary influences – freshly rolled sushi to fiery curry – in a cool, vibrant environment. Call ahead; it becomes a packed house in a hurry. 105 SE 12th, Norman, 701.8899 $$ 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 $$
BAKERY AMY CAKES Imaginative cakes and cupcakes to make any special occasion a bit more memorable – and it’s a onewoman show. By appointment only. 113 Hal Muldrow, Norman, 360.1131 $
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May is a month to celebrate MAY 10 & 11 For more information about Norman Open Studios, visit www.normanarts.org or call 405-360-1162.
Find the perfect gift for Mother’s Day & Graduation at…
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1201 N. Walker 405-235-2200
LUNCH + DINNER BRUNCH + COCKTAILS MAY 2013 // SLICE 97
FARE | Eat & Drink
CRIMSON AND WHIPPED CREAM With a cheery Campus Corner vibe and the operators’ celebratory approach to food and life, it’s a terribly tempting spot for cookies, cupcakes, tea and dynamite coffee. 331 White, Norman, 307.8990 $ GIGI’S CUPCAKES Brace yourself – each Gigi’s location is home to a dozen different cupcake temptations in inspired flavors that rotate daily, and it’s surprisingly difficult to choose merely one. 1636 24th Ave NW, Norman, 801.2525; 14101 N May, OKC, 286.6200 $
own to take home, repurposed into breakfast pastries and desserts or accompanying the deli sandwiches and soups in the cafe. 1114 N Classen Dr, OKC, 602.2922 $ 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 $
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 $
LIBRARY BAR & GRILL, THE Despite the name and its location directly adjacent to the OU campus, this low-light hangout spot won’t help you study… unless you’re doing independent research on local beers and excellent pizza. 607 W Boyd, Norman, 366.7465 $
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 $
LIBRARY OF FOOD & SPIRITS, THE A cozy, welcoming place to receive a friendly greeting and curl up with a good book-themed entrée, fresh salad and soup, monstrous burger or vegetarian fare – plus a commodious collocation of beverages. 119 N Robinson, LL, OKC, 235.8880 $
MCLAREN’S PANTRY For over 25 years, this independent bakery with a tempting sandwich selection has been a welcoming environment to enjoy a bite and connect with friends. 3414 S Boulevard, Edmond, 348.2336 $
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 $
The One15 Sangria Club One15, OKC
SUGAR Got a special event on the radar? Customized cakes and cupcakes with incredible artistry and imagination as a key ingredient are Sugar’s specialties – call for a consultation. 6900 N Western, OKC, 286.0058 $$$
PANERA BREAD The breads are fresh, the sandwich and salad options ample and the atmosphere welcoming, thanks in part to the tasty baked goods and free wi-fi access. 9 metro locations, panerabread.com $
SWEETS & SPURS Specializing in gourmet cupcakes, mini-pies, handdipped chocolates and cowboy boots… not pastries; actual footwear. Yee-ha! 215 34th Ave SW, Norman, 801.2555 $
PINKITZEL CUPCAKES & CANDY Sweetness reigns supreme in this local confectionary creation – gourmet cupcakes that are baked fresh daily, a substantial candy boutique and gift shop and cafe seating to enjoy it all with coffee, tea, hot chocolate and more. 1389 E 15th, Edmond, 330.4500; 150 E.K. Gaylord, OKC, 235.7465 $
BAR // PUB FOOD
PRAIRIE THUNDER BAKING CO. In this house of carbs, the bread baked on-site is the star of the show: on its
98 SLICE // MAY 2013
FOX & HOUND PUB & GRILLE Considering the pool, darts, frequent live music and perpetual celebratory vibe, it might be hard to concentrate on the varied menu… but at least try the fresh-baked pretzels. 3031 W Memorial, OKC, 751.7243 $ 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 difficult-to-find options from all over the world. 1100 Classen Dr, OKC, 601.7468 $$
KITCHEN NO. 324 The venerable Braniff Building on the SandRidge campus downtown hosts this seasonally inspired café, coffee curator and craft bakery serving rustic American cuisine. Aroma alone summons crowds. 324 N Robinson, OKC, 763.5911 $
NOTHING BUNDT CAKES Luscious flavors of rich, moist cake and frosting, available in bite-sized bundtinis packaged by the dozen; single-serving bundlets; or multi-tiered marvels that sate over two dozen dessert connoisseurs. 2520 W Memorial, Suite B, OKC, 751.8066 $
DEEP DEUCE GRILL The funky, comfortably run-down vibe of its namesake district lingers in this alternative to Bricktown crowds featuring burgers, beer and a peoplewatching patio. 307 NE 2nd, OKC, 235.9100 $
BLU FINE WINE & FOOD A popular bar option among OU students and
GREEN GOODIES BY TIFFANY Specialty organic cupcakes for all – even those adhering to vegetarian and vegan diets or coping with food allergies or other dietary concerns can enjoy these high quality, flavorful treats. 5840 N Classen Blvd, Suite 5, OKC, 842.2288 $
NONNA’S BAKERY Family recipes are the foundation of these unbelievably scrumptious treats – walk in and pick or call ahead and special order cream pies, decadent cakes and much more. 1 Mickey Mantle Dr, OKC, 235.4410 $
DAN O’BRIEN’S PUBLIC HOUSE With a party atmosphere and rocking live shows, it’s more a group bar than a casual restaurant; though the full menu and mighty burgers should universally satisfy. 2747 W Memorial, OKC, 752.4486 $
renditions of accompanying dishes, with the aim of re-creating the true English public house vibe. 121 E Main, Norman, 928.5801 $$
CARLI WENTWORTH
BROWN’S BAKERY An incredible selection of delicious traditional and specialty cakes, cookies, breads and other baked goods. 1100 N Walker, OKC, 232.0363 $
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
Normanites, blu stands out due to quick, courteous service and a menu with gourmet range – try the hummus. 201 S Crawford, Norman, 360.4258 $$ BRICKTOWN BREWERY Only here for the beer? Not so fast – an amped-up menu of temptations demands a sampling at lunch or dinner… or both. 1 N Oklahoma, OKC, 232.2739 $$ BRIX RESTAURANT & SPORTS LOUNGE More than 30 flatscreens fill the enormous, plush lounge, restaurant and bar area, and the amenities include the Sunday NFL Ticket and NBA League Pass. If the game’s on, it’s on at BRiX. 27 E Sheridan, OKC, 702.7226 $$ CLUB ONE15 The nightclub vibe is in full effect with energetic music and three bars, though the robust menu including fajitas, pasta bowls and seafood is quite a draw of its own. 115 E Sheridan, OKC, 605.5783 $$
O’CONNELL’S IRISH PUB & GRILLE Beloved by students, alumni and townies alike, this OU Campus Corner landmark has been serving up burgers, beer and festive atmosphere since 1968. 769 Asp, Norman, 217.8454 $ PURPLE BAR, THE Inviting and intimate; an ideal place for celebratory martinis to close out the workweek or a quiet nightcap with dessert from Nonna’s bakery. 1 Mickey Mantle (in Nonna’s), OKC, 235.4410 $ 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 $$
-operated barbecue restaurant (open since 1935 in Shawnee), it does well with the basics and really rocks at ribs. 320 N Porter, Norman, 364.0600 $
SOONER LEGENDS Sandwiches and salads, outstanding barbecue, steaks, even Mexican and Italian specialties made to order in a loudly, proudly crimson and cream atmosphere. Great hangout for OU fans. 1200 24th Ave SW, Norman, 701.8100 $
BURGERS // SANDWICHES
TAPWERKS ALE HOUSE & CAFÉ The staff will gladly serve burgers, wraps, pizzas and other entrees, but most of the crowd – and it gets crowded – is here to sample from the 212 (yes, really) beers on tap. 121 E Sheridan, OKC, 310.9599 $$ URBAN WINEWORKS If its delicious made-in-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 $$ VZD’S RESTAURANT & CLUB Live music is a staple on weekends, but the unusually broad, tasty bar menu draws a substantial lunch crowd as well. Try the turkey burger, the chili or both. 4200 N Western, OKC, 524.4203 $
ABRAHAM’S WESTERN CAFÉ Follow your nose – the onion burgers coming off Abraham’s grill draw lunch crowds with effortless ease. 4716 N Western, OKC, 528.5152 $ BISON WITCHES BAR & DELI The monster sandwiches are loaded with standout flavors, but the best way to enjoy them is in halves, accompanied by a bread bowl of fresh hot soup and a bag of pretzels. 211 E Main, Norman, 364.7555 $ BROWN BAG DELI Quick-as-awink sandwiches, desserts and killer chili. Limited seating; takeout recommended. 7600 N Western, OKC, 842.1444 $
BARBECUE
BUNNY’S OLD FASHIONED ONION BURGERS Small space; big taste. The namesake creations are fresh, lean beef grilled to perfection and served in “big” and “bigger” versions. 5020 N Meridian, OKC, 949.2889; 1023 S Meridian, OKC, 949.2949 $
BILLY SIMS BBQ Even Cowboy or Longhorn fans will find serious taste to enjoy, but the memorabilia isn’t exactly in short supply in these tailgate-style chowhouses owned by the namesake Sooner star. 7 metro locations, billysimsbbq.com $
CAFÉ PLAID & BAKERY Fresh sandwiches begging to be combined with a sensational selection of salads (veggie, tuna, pasta…) make it an ideal spot for lunch when you’re near OU. 333 W Boyd, Norman, 360.2233 $
EARL’S RIB PALACE Beloved by locals in a setting far from starved for competition, the award-winning barbecue chain pounds out hit ribs, pulled pork and smoked turkey as well as a top-tier burger. 6 metro locations, earlsribpalace.com $ IRON STARR URBAN BARBEQUE Named for notorious outlaw Belle Starr, Iron Starr specializes in “a unique and tasty spin on comfort food.” The entrees are excellent, but the sides are equal players here as well. 3700 N Shartel, OKC, 524.5925 $$ 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 barbecue staples speak for themselves. 3450 Chautauqua, Norman, 307.0552; 3437 W Memorial, OKC, 254.4712 $$ STEVE’S RIB A longtime Edmond favorite, its flavorful brisket, fried okra and more are the same but diners can choose their milieu: a seated restaurant in Edmond or a stand-up counter in NW OKC. 1801 W Edmond Rd, Edmond, 340.7427; 7202 W Hefner, OKC, 728.9555 $ VAN’S PIG STAND A scion of Oklahoma’s oldest family-owned and
NICHOLS HILLS PLAZA 63RD & N. WESTERN | 405.842.1478 www.ruthmeyers.com
CHARCOAL OVEN The smoke-filled flavor of a backyard cookout without having to fire up your own grill – get ’em while they’re hot! 2701 NW Expressway, OKC, 842.8911 $ CITY BITES Get in, get a full-flavored hot or cold sub on your choice of fresh bread, or soup and a baked potato, get some cookies for the road, get on with your day. The plethora of metro locations means you’re never far from a tastier day. 18 metro locations, citybites.com $ CLASSIC ’50S DRIVE-IN A locally owned drive-in that just gets the concept right. Burgers and shakes, fried pickles and slushes, breakfast items… the waves of students during peak hours are proof that familiarity breeds devotion. 1521 W Lindsey, Norman, 321.2271 $ FIRST EDITION, THE A café inside the Downtown Library would be worth it merely for the convenience, so it’s a welcome bonus that the sandwiches, pizza and panini practically warrant a trip all on their own. 300 Park, OKC, 605.8347 $ 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 $ GARAGE BURGERS & BEER, THE It gets noisy in the low-lit sports bar atmosphere, but even if your focus
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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 $
Treat mom to a specially-selected fondue dinner complete with framed family picture, "mom-friendly" coupons, and chocolate covered strawberries.
Open Noon to 8 pm Sunday, May 12
HOME RUN SLIDERS A tasty array of sliders, from your basic “Rookie” to prime rib, is served in an atmosphere that pays tribute to the national pastime. And don’t miss the ode to the condiment: Oklahoma’s largest ketchup bar. 128 E 5th, Edmond, 513.5410 $ 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 $
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED • MELTINGPOT.COM (405) 235-1000 • 4 E SHERIDAN AVE., OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73104 *Valid at this location only.See store for details or restrictions.
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405.887.3474 100 SLICE // MAY 2013
KAMP’S 1910 CAFÉ The Kamp family is well-known in the Oklahoma food scene, and their 1910 Café builds on that history with first-rate breakfast and lunch, bakery items and full coffee shop on site. 10 NE 10th, OKC, 230.1910 $ 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 $ 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 $ 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 $ NATIVE ROOTS MARKET The locally sourced groceries are a great way to stock your pantry, but the downtown destination also has a daily deli serving sandwiches, salads, hummus and soup made from scratch for maximum tastiness. 131 NE 2nd, OKC, 310.6300 $ ND FOODS Gigantic deli sandwiches featuring Boar’s Head meats, homemade soups in a variety of intriguing flavors and a selection of freshly baked cookies, pies and other desserts. Step right up! 2632 W Britton, OKC, 840.9364 $ 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 hole-in-the-wall diner pure paradise. 1202 N Pennsylvania, OKC, 524.0999 $ PATTY WAGON Building these burger behemoths involves ingredients like
fresh, toasted buns and add-ons like thick, crisp fries, but it all comes back to a foundation of outstanding local farm-raised beef. 3600 N May, OKC, 917.1711 $ RED HORSE GRILL A prime lunch spot thanks to its speedy but cooked-toorder menu, the onion burgers, shakes, malts and frozen custard have devoted local followings, as does the Friday Fish Fry special. 2205 W Main, Norman, 360.3287 $
$50* PE
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 $ 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 $ SOMEPLACE ELSE DELI Simple, straightforward hot and cold sandwiches made especially superb by virtue of fresh breads, speedy service, low price tags and the option of adding on an array of exceptional baked goods. 2310 N Western, OKC, 524.0887 $ SOONER DAIRY LUNCH The menu’s masthead, “Serving Norman since 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 $
TEXADELPHIA Popular hang-out spots inside and out due to the numerous flatscreen TVs and patio seating. The menu draws raves for burgers and wraps, but especially the monstrous made-to-order cheesesteaks. 1150 W Lindsey, Norman, 701.5635; 200 S Oklahoma, OKC, 208.4000 $ 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 $
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Chef Marc Dunham, director of Culinary Arts, and vice president of Bockus Payne Associates Architects David Payne
Appetite on Main Street By Steve Gill
102 SLICE // MAY 2013
IT’S NOT A NEW RECIPE; for nearly three decades the Francis Tuttle School of Culinary Arts has been taking in students and turning out chefs. But much has changed in the food service industry over all those years, and the school is changing to meet those evolving demands: visitors to the school’s Rockwell campus have been aware for some time that something special was cooking. Enter the newly redesigned School of Culinary Arts. Built with the expertise of Bockus Payne Associates Architects, the school answers a growing demand for high-quality career training in the hospitality and food service industry by providing a full-scale training center with the facilities, technology and environment to ensure student excellence and career success. Its 31,000 square feet of space houses nine teaching kitchens, a demonstration kitchen with video production capabilities, potential capacity for 250+ students, state-of-the-art cooking suites with eco-friendly features, a chocolate lab (jackpot!) and professional pastry and baking labs. Running through and connecting all these elements is a vast corridor – over two football fields in length, a potentially unwieldy design component architecturally transformed into a “Main Street” concept via concrete, steel, wooden panels, lighting and other decorative touches to separate spaces into individual “store fronts.” Inspiring and engaging as the new facility is for aspiring chefs, it’s also definitely worth seeing for citizens – fortunately, we have the ready justifications of visiting Tut’s breakfast and lunch
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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 $ BEANS & LEAVES Comfy and welcoming like a coffeehouse should be, the large menu of brewed temptations simply rocks. 4015 N Pennsylvania, OKC, 604.4700 $ 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 $ BLUE BEAN COFFEE CO. Excellent coffee, even better service and a particular knack for formulating a perfect balance within creatively flavored specials. 13316 S Western, OKC, 735.5115 $ CAFÉ BELLA Craving some bubble tea? A panini with pep? Knowledge about the benefits of fair trade? The independently owned and muchloved Café Bella provides freshroasted coffee and expertise in every department. 9018 S Penn, OKC, 691.9018 $
PHOTOS: CHEF MARK DUNHAM AND DAVID PAYNE BY SIMON HURST; SCHOOL OF CULINARY ARTS INTERIORS BY COOPER ROSS/INSIGHT VISUAL MEDIA
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 $
Top to bottom: A look down part of the massive “Main Street” corridor that links the new school’s multiple sections; the refined Chef’s Table in District 21; a sunny spot outside espresso and pastry purveyor Cravings.
café, or bakery-slash-coffeehouse Cravings … and, slated for a June opening, a full-service restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating named District 21. The new School of Culinary Arts has been in the works for some time; now that it’s here, there’s plenty to savor. To investigate, visit francistuttle.edu/culinaryarts, call 717.7700 or drop by the Francis Tuttle campus near N.W. 122nd and Rockwell and follow your nose.
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 $ 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 $ 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 $ VINTAGE TIMELESS COFFEE A locally owned and lauded beverage bistro with plenty of sweet flavor combinations, treats from Brown’s Bakery and innovations like the smooffee (an espresso-powered smoothie). 1101 NW 49th, OKC, 752.0038 $
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 ambience. 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 $$ BOLERO A unique experience provided by coupling delicious tapas with the perfect Spanish wine from a signature selection, in an elegant, open-air atmosphere. 200 S Oklahoma, OKC, 602.0652 $$
COWGIRL COFFEE Patrons can’t linger and loiter and soak up the atmosphere – because there isn’t any; it’s a tiny to-go shack in a parking lot – but that’s about the only downside to this sweet spot for baked goods and specialty beverages. 121 E Waterloo, Edmond, 341.5060 $
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 white- and blue-collar joes and josephines. 4308 N Western, OKC, 525.6682 $$
CUPPIES & JOE The name’s not really a misnomer, but if it listed all their features it’d be too long. For cupcakes and coffee and pie and live music and a cozy, trendy vibe and more, park around back and take a peek. 727 NW 23rd, OKC, 528.2122 $
CHEEVER’S Dress up or down for the Southwestern-influenced recipes and love of seafood that drive the contemporary comfort food found in this converted florist’s; truly one of the city’s finest destinations for dining out. 2409 N Hudson, OKC, 525.7007 $$
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 $
CHEFS DI DOMANI A proving ground of sorts for the chefs-in-training at Platt College’s culinary institute, this restaurant offers the opportunity to watch the students in action and enjoy their internationally influenced work. 2727 W Memorial, OKC, 749.2423 $$
MICHELANGELO’S COFFEE SHOP & WINE BAR Enjoy exceptional coffees, a well-stocked pastry case with chocolates and sweets, a surprisingly robust wine catalog and even breakfast and lunch selections. 207 E Main, Norman, 579.3387 $
COACH HOUSE, THE Definitively among the metro’s most refined, elegant, upscale dining experiences, the rotating menu of seasonal cuisine highlights regional specialties prepared with classical perfection by master chef Kurt Fleischfresser. 6437 Avondale, OKC, 842.1000 $$$
PARAMOUNT, THE A Film Row joint with a screening room attached, it serves a few options for breakfast and
HEFNER GRILL Hand-cut steaks and fresh seafood are served by courteous staff in conjunction with one of the
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best views in the city. 9201 Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 748.6113 $$ LOTTINVILLE’S WOOD GRILLE Rotisserie chicken and wood-grilled salmon are the featured players among a host of Southwestern-influenced entrees, salads and panini; the Sunday brunch is epic. 801 Signal Ridge, Edmond, 341.2244 $$ 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 $$$ MELTING POT, THE If the occasion is special, here’s where to make a meal into an event. Specializing in fourcourse fondue dinners, this elegant restaurant rewards time investments with delectable memories. 4 E Sheridan, OKC, 235.1000 $$$ 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 $$ MICHAEL’S GRILL Thoroughly urbane dining in an elegant, intimate setting – the steaks, chops, seafood and pastas are excellent, and the Caesar salad prepared tableside is legendary. 2824 W Country Club, OKC, 810.9000 $$$ 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 $$ NIKKELLETTE’S CAFÉ A selection of fresh salads and tasty sandwiches on homemade bread, served in a distinctive atmosphere: how many other cafes have tableside chandeliers? 2925 Lakeside Cir, OKC, 755.3560 $ NONNA’S EURO-AMERICAN RISTORANTE & BAR A cozily appointed, thoroughly opulent atmosphere housing distinctive cuisine, specialty drinks and live music in The Purple Bar and fresh-baked goodies to top off a grand evening. 1 Mickey Mantle, OKC, 235.4410 $$$ 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 $$$ PASEO GRILL Quiet and intimate inside, cheerful and comfortable out on the patio, with an awardwinning menu full of distinctive flavor combinations – try the duck salad. 2909 Paseo, OKC, 601.1079 $$$ ROCOCO RESTAURANT & FINE WINE An “east coast-style” restaurant, built around a diverse menu of handcrafted 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 $$
104 SLICE // MAY 2013
SEVEN47 A Campus Corner hotspot boasting sleek, swank décor, an appealingly broad menu including a tantalizing brunch and a consistently celebratory vibe make this winning combination. 747 Asp, Norman, 701.8622 $$ 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 $$$ TASTING ROOM, THE Located in Will Rogers Theatre, this intimate space is a culinary stage for expert chefs to dazzle small groups. 4322 N Western, OKC, 604.3015 $$$ 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 $$ WEST The staff is speedy, the décor sleek and modern, and the entrées – like bucatini with meatballs or roasted salmon and ratatouille – are wideranging but elegantly simple. 6714 N Western, OKC, 607.4072 $$
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 $$ WHISPERING PINES B&B A secluded getaway on the south end of Norman, this inn houses a treasure of a restaurant serving sumptuous, savory French-inspired cuisine in quiet comfort with first-class service. 7820 E Highway 9, Norman, 447.0202 $$$
GERMAN 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 $ INGRID’S Authentic German fare at its best, including outstanding Oklahoma-made 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 $$ OLD GERMANY RESTAURANT Justly renowned for its Bavarian delights – the schnitzels, soups and cevapcici sausages are spectacular. Reservations strongly recommended; it’s a small place and dinner’s already a lengthy process without waiting in line. 15920 SE 29th, Choctaw, 390.8647 $$$ 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 $$$
HEALTHY // ECLECTIC COOLGREENS This health-conscious establishment has a menu, but customization is encouraged; every available component in their salads, wraps and frozen yogurt is naturally delicious. 4 metro locations, coolgreens.com $$ EARTH NATURAL CAFÉ & DELI, THE Super, super fresh sandwiches, salads, soups and baked goods in one of the most vegetarian- and vegan-friendly menus you’ll ever see, plus organic fair-trade coffee and tea. 750 Asp, Norman, 573.5933 $ GREEN & GRILLED Steak, chicken, pork, veal or tofu grilled to order and served with fresh salads and sides, resulting in a balanced, filling, extremely tasty green meal for only a little green. 8547 N Rockwell, OKC, 563.2605 $ HEALTH NUT CAFÉ Fast food that’s also fresh and nutritious in the form of salads, wraps, melts, smoothies and more. Eat healthy, live happy! 333 NW 5th, Suite 104, OKC, 601.1444; 920 N Lincoln, OKC, 239.2233 $ JUICEBLENDZ CAFÉ Over 40 delicious Smoothiez made from 100 percent fresh squeezed juices and other goodness, plus low-calorie breakfast bagelz, saladz, sandwichez and wrapz. Embrace the z! 1200 W Covell, Edmond, 285.0133 $ 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 $$ LUDIVINE The experience is never the same on successive visits, because the menu adjusts constantly to reflect availability of elite-quality, locally sourced ingredients. 805 N Hudson, OKC, 778.6800 $$$ MATTHEW KENNEY OKC Built with sustainability and raw cuisine preparation in mind, it’s a warm, modern setting in which to savor the unique and innovative menu crafted by the renowned raw food chef and author. 5820 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 842.1050 $$ PINK ELEPHANT CAFÉ On Main Street but off the beaten track, the green, health-conscious labor of local love has a small menu and constantly rotating daily specials to complement its earth-friendly vibe. 301 E Main, Norman, 307.8449 $
ICE CREAM // YOGURT IL DOLCE GELATO Rich, creamy and decadently delicious, with two dozen flavors daily handmade from scratch on location; the cioccolato scuro is unbelievably sublime. 937 SW 25th St, Suite B, Moore, 794.7266; 1318 N Interstate Dr, Norman, 329.7744 $
ORANGE LEAF FROZEN YOGURT Dozens and dozens and dozens of decadent-tasting, waistline-friendly flavors, topped however you like since you’re making it yourself. Just don’t try them all at once, since it’s charged by the ounce. 9 metro locations, orangeleafyogurt.com $ PASSIONBERRI An oasis for the dessert lover whose sweet tooth is tempered by a healthy mindset, the menu includes self-serve frozen yogurt and toppings, tea and new passion sweet crepes. 1204 N Interstate Dr, Norman, 701.8898; 1236 E Alameda, Norman, 801.2233 $ PEACHWAVE YOGURT A full 50 flavors – every one low-fat or nonfat – conveyed to your taste buds via the finest, freshest ingredients in completely delicious customized combinations. 3 metro locations, peachwaveyogurt.com $
INDIAN AJANTA CUISINE OF INDIA Find appealing possibilities at the busy lunch buffet or delve into the menu’s tandoori treasures – the hardest part is choosing. 12215 N Pennsylvania, OKC, 752.5283 $$ 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 $$ KHAZANA INDIAN GRILL Don’t let the thought of a buffet throw you off this place. The food is superior and very fresh; the staff is delightful. New to Indian food? Alert a server and you will be guided through the cuisine. 4900 N May, OKC, 948.6606 $$ 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 $$ TAJ CUISINE OF INDIA A tremendous selection of Indian staples and delicacies – the menu has sections for vegetarian, tandoori, South Indian and Indo-Chinese specialties – plus full lunch and dinner buffets. 1500 NW 23rd, OKC, 601.1888 $$
ITALIAN // PIZZA BELLINI’S RISTORANTE & GRILL Tasteful in décor and Italian offerings alike, this romantic nightspot quietly, confidently exudes elegance. 6305 Waterford Blvd, OKC, 848.1065 $$ BENVENUTI’S Subtly flavored minestrone to rich, hearty ragouts, the splendid menu keeps the booths full and diners planning return trips; don’t overlook the Sunday brunch. 105 W Main, Norman, 310.5271 $$ 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 $$ FALCONE’S More than a pizza place, although the “by the slice” is terrific, it encourages experimentation via a deli counter of imported Italian meats, cheeses and delicacies. 6705 N May, OKC, 242.2222 $ FLIP’S WINE BAR & TRATTORIA Managing to feel rustic despite its location in a busy corridor of OKC, this cozy Italian joint keeps extended hours, and tends to get busier and louder as the hour gets later. 5801 N Western, OKC, 843.1527 $$ GABERINO’S HOMESTYLE ITALIAN Finding a seat can be tricky - the handful of tables generally stay filled, possibly due to the powerful aromas, tender pasta and savory sauces that make up the family recipes the owners are happy to share. 283 34th Ave SW, Norman, 310.2229 $ 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 $$ HIDEAWAY PIZZA If you’ve been serving pizza to a devoted following for over half a century, then you must be doing something right. In this case, that something right is incredible pizza in jovial surroundings. 7 metro locations, hideawaypizza.com $$ 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 $$ NOMAD II A classic old-school Italian restaurant (the pizza is especially popular) that also serves excellent steaks and fried chicken, and offers a slice of OKC history through its décor. 7301 N May, OKC, 843.4557 $$ 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 $$ OTHELLO’S OF EDMOND A sister restaurant to the original Othello’s in Norman, it offers a similarly welcoming atmosphere and menu, with its own spin courtesy of a historic location and customers’ culinary contributions. 1 S Broadway, Edmond, 330.9045 $$ PAPA DIO’S Three generations of the Bonadio family offer an ample menu of new and classic dishes – Tuscan fusion, anyone? – in separate dining rooms for casual or more refined
dining. 10712 N May, OKC, 755.2255 $$ PIZZA 23 The tempting selection of specialty pies is available for takeout, but dining in is recommended: the crisp, urban décor and good beer selection add savor to the flavor. 600B NW 23rd St, OKC, 601.6161 $$ 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 $$$ SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE, THE A family destination since 1989 and one of the initial harbingers of the Bricktown renaissance, it delivers immense servings of piping hot pasta and 15-layer lasagna with cheerful enthusiasm. 101 E Sheridan, OKC, 235.0402 $$ 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 $$ UPPER CRUST WOOD FIRED PIZZA A chic, contemporary restaurant in Classen Curve, this uptown pizzeria and wine bar specializes in woodfired, thin crust New York-style pies complemented by a full menu and wine list. 5860 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 842.7743; 1205 NW 178th, Edmond, 285.8887 $$
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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 $ 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 $$ WEDGE, THE Wood-fired pizzas crafted from fresh ingredients and made-from-scratch sauces; there’s a build-your-own option if the house specialties’ unconventional toppings (figs, truffle oil, walnuts) don’t appeal. 230 NE 1st, OKC, 270.0660; 4709 N Western, OKC, 602.3477 $$
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JAPANESE // SUSHI 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
Classen Curve | 5710 N. Classen, OKC | 405.607.1199 Mon-Sat 10-7 Sun 11-4 | www.winterhouseinteriors.com
MAY 2013 // SLICE 105
FARE | Eat & Drink AT FIFTY PENN PLACE 405.848.6166 • 1900 NW Expressway Mon-Fri 10-7 • Sat 10-6 • Closed Sun
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 $$ MUSASHI’S Exquisitely flavorful Japanese cuisine prepared with genuine artistry, thanks to the skilled chefs performing at tableside hibachi grills. Nobody does the onion volcano better. 4315 N Western, OKC, 602.5623 $$
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 $
SHIKI JAPANESE RESTAURANT A boisterous, high-energy meal off the hibachi menu, or a quieter repast of reliably fresh, high-quality sushi – either way, diners win. 14041 N May, OKC, 751.8989; 4406 W Reno, OKC, 947.0400 $$
QUEEN OF SHEBA Practically the definition of a hidden treasure, an excellently spiced, extremely veganfriendly menu of varied Ethiopian delights awaits the adventurous. Bring friends and be prepared to linger. 2308 N MacArthur, OKC, 606.8616 $$
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 $$
ZORBA’S MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE For over 20 years, Zorba’s has satisfied appetites and pleased adventurous palates. Serving traditional and modern dishes from recipes passed down through generations, they proudly showcase the flavors of Cyprus, Spain, Greece and Morocco. 6014 N May, OKC, 947.7788 $
SUSHI HAYASHI Lovers of fresh, flavorful and sometimes fiery sushi, take your chopsticks to this southside scion of a California success story to experience their love of quality food and warm atmosphere. 10600 S Penn, OKC, 759.7788 $$ 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 $$
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Greek salad to eye-watering cabbage rolls; the food is authentic, quick and spectacular. 5620 N May, OKC, 810.9494 $
CAPERS There’s no menu per se; it’s more a case of deciding what delicacy you’re in the mood for – gyros, shawarma, fresh tabouleh, falafel, homemade Mediterranean-style pizzas, baklava – and then retrieving it from the massive buffet. 6317 N Meridian, OKC, 720.2600 $$ COUS COUS CAFÉ Massive flavor comes packed into this small space; an impressive balancing act among the payload of spices elevates the kabobs, shawarmas, tagines and other Moroccan hits. 6165 N May, OKC, 286.1533 $ LET’S DO GREEK A versatile menu of Mediterranean standards, with many flavors available in salads, pitas or arepas, distinguishes this family endeavor – and the curry chicken stew is exceptional. 180 W 15th, Edmond, 285.8898 $ MEDITERRANEAN IMPORTS & DELI Selected groceries and a menu stocked with options from a simple
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 $$ ABEL’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT TexMex necessities like enchiladas and tacos are plentiful, while authentic flavor really shines in steak and pork specialties. Bonus points for the Huevos Chorizo. 5822 NW 50th, OKC, 491.0911; 6901 S May, OKC, 686.7160 $ ABUELO’S MEXICAN FOOD EMBASSY In a word: huge. The restaurant itself, the variety, the plates, the flavors, the experience. No passport required. 17 E Sheridan, OKC, 235.1422; 3001 W Memorial, OKC, 755.2680 $$ ALFREDO’S MEXICAN CAFÉ Kick back with an agave limeade and take your time perusing the menu. From avocado enchiladas to fried tacos, the choices – and portions – are more than ample. 3 metro locations, alfredosok.com $$ ALVARADO’S MEXICAN Options abound – from creamy, dreamy chicken tortilla soup to sopapillas with brandy butter sauce made to order – for a Mexican feast leaving customers full and fully satisfied. 1000 E 2nd, Edmond, 359.8860 $$ 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 ANTIGUA Breakfast and lunch are both served until close, making it twice as hard for the midday diner to choose from the double lineup of intriguing Guatemalan specialties. 1903 N Classen, OKC, 602.8984 $ CAFÉ DO BRASIL OKC is a long way from Rio, but the supremely savory
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For over 21 years, Second Chance Animal Sanctuary, a non-profit organization operating solely on donations from kind and loving people, has been working to help homeless dogs and cats find their way to a safe, permanent and loving home. We are a no-kill facility, so each pet we bring to our sanctuary will remain there until they are either adopted, or fostered by one of our many foster families.
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405.272.0340
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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 $$
lunch standards from both sides of the border for a devoted, and expanding, clientele. 223 34th Ave SW, Norman, 310.2030 $
CAFÉ KACAO A sunlit space filled with bright, vibrant flavors from the zesty traditions of Guatemalan cooking. Lunch possibilities beckon, but it’s the breakfast (and brunch) specialties that truly dazzle. 3325 N Classen, OKC, 602.2883 $
LA CUEVA GRILL Homestyle Mexican just north of downtown OKC, the menu is an appealing mix of old and new dishes, and the breakfast burrito with egg and chorizo is not to be missed. 409 N Walker, OKC, 604.0523 $
CARNITAS MICHOACAN On beyond Tex-Mex! This walk-up taqueria-style destination serves specialties from its namesake southern Mexican state, including asada, pollo, cabeza and even lengua dishes. 306 W Edmond Rd, Edmond, 341.0356 $
LA LUNA MEXICAN CAFÉ Its cantinastyle atmosphere is undeniably festive, and only adds to the enjoyment of classic fajitas, enchiladas and bolder dishes like the carne ranchera. 409 W Reno, OKC, 235.9596 $$ MAMA ROJA MEXICAN KITCHEN A festive atmosphere on the scenic
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 $$
INCA TRAIL Maintaining a cultural culinary heritage that includes flavors from around the world results in great variety, from piquant ceviches to silkysmooth homemade flan. The Pollo a La Brasa comes highly recommended. 10948 N May, OKC, 286.0407 $$ JUAN DEL FUEGO Blueberry pancakes to beef quesadillas, this “Mexi Diner” in Redbud Plaza dishes up breakfast and
108 SLICE // MAY 2013
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 $$ JAZMO’Z BOURBON STREET CAFÉ Its upscale yet casual environment and Cajun and Creole-inspired selections provide a nice backdrop for both a night out in Bricktown and watching the big game at the bar with a bowl of gumbo. 100 E California, OKC, 232.6666 $$
PEARL’S OYSTER BAR A perennial winner in “best of the metro” polls for its fresh, flavorful seafood and spicy Creole-inspired dishes: Shrimp Diablo, Tabasco Caesar salads and more. 5641 N Classen, OKC, 848.8008 $$
DIEGO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT The proprietors’ personal investment (there’s a family tree on the menu) and pride in their Central Mexican culinary heritage fuel the marinades and specialty dishes in this charming little café. 1501 NW 23rd, OKC, 525.1700 $$
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 $$
BIG TUNA FISH JOINT, THE Large, fast and fresh, with a casual vibe, counter service and a menu filled with handbattered seafood flown in daily and a varied drink selection – a prime port of call in Brookhaven Village. 3720 W Robinson, Norman, 928.5250 $$
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 $$
CHUY’S If you’re just feeling a trifle peckish, you might have your hands full with this one – the portions are substantial, the Hatch chile-fueled flavors are strong and the vibe is playfully enthusiastic. 760 N Interstate Dr, Norman, 360.0881 $$
FUZZY’S TACO SHOP At home in high-traffic 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, 701.1000; 208 Johnny Bench, OKC, 602.3899 $
SEAFOOD
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 $$
CHELINO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT How do you find some of the metro’s fastest, most frequented Tex-Mex? Look around – there’s probably a Chelino’s nearby. An Oklahoma flavor empire spanning from Norman to Edmond, its substantial menu includes a bevy of lunch specials. 11 metro locations, chelinosmexicanrestaurant.com $$
EL POLLO CHULO Chicken, steak and seafood options marinated in limes Spanish-style and grilled for healthy flavor make for a lean, inexpensive, savory meal. 5805 NW 50th, OKC, 792.2300 $
in South American dishes featuring plantains, yuca and imported spices. 706 S Broadway, Edmond, 330.6400 $$
DAVID COBB
CANTINA LAREDO A sophisticated take on traditional Mexican food, specializing in fresh fish specials and certified Angus beef dishes. 1901 NW Expressway (in Penn Square Mall), OKC, 840.1051 $$
faculty keep coming back for more Mexican classics. 752 Asp, Norman, 321.6232 $
Asian Salmon, Bourbon Pecan Pie and Crabcakes The Big Tuna Fish Joint, Norman
shores of Lake Hefner sets off a menu loaded with hand-rolled tamales, vendor-style tacos and signature dishes. 9219 E Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 302.6262 $$ MAMASITA’S A popular watering hole due to its spacious patio and prime location on the south side of Nichols Hills Plaza, it also offers a full menu – try the tortilla soup! 1121 NW 63rd, OKC, 848.0541 $ MAMAVECA MEXICAN RESTAURANT A tasty take on familiar Mexican favorites plus a rare treat for culinary explorers: the diverse delights of Peruvian cuisine, which incorporates the combined flavors of four continents. 2551 W Hemphill, Norman, 573.4003 $$ MARGARITA’S RESTAURANTE MEXICANO The menu offers comfortably familiar favorites, and the real draw is the exceptional execution: always fresh, never greasy, reliably delicious. 7800 N May, OKC, 848.8394 $$ PEPE DELGADO’S Fast service, consistent quality and proximity to campus make Pepe’s a packed house during the lunch rush, as students and
TED’S CAFÉ ESCONDIDO The gold standard of OKC-area Tex-Mex: residents may prefer another eatery, but when they attempt to make converts, Ted’s is the point of comparison. Fast, fresh and amply portioned, it’s often very crowded and always supremely delicious. 4 metro locations, tedscafe.com $$ TRE’S TAQUERIA Y CANTINA A trio of cuisines – Spanish, New Mexican and South American – provide distinctive flavors for diners in selections ranging from daily tapas specials to hallacas (Venezuelan tamales), finished with exquisite tres leches cake. 305 E Main, Norman, 701.8282 $$ YUCATAN TACO STAND Fast, fresh and often fiery Latin fusion cuisine like paella and tamales wrapped in banana leaves alongside signature nachos and taco combinations… plus a selection of over 75 100-percent-agave tequilas. 100 E California, Suite 110, OKC, 886.0413 $ ZARATE’S LATIN MEXICAN GRILL And now for something a trifle different: In addition to the familiar joys of enchiladas and chimichangas, the chef’s Peruvian heritage shines
SHACK SEAFOOD & OYSTER BAR, THE A massive selection of nicely spiced Cajun and Creole cooking, plus fried and grilled seafood, in an atmosphere that’s as casual as can be. 303 NW 62nd, OKC, 608.4333 $$ TRAPPER’S FISHCAMP & GRILL Zesty, delectable flavor from the Pearl’s family of restaurants finds a comfortable home in a backwoods fishing lodge atmosphere. 4300 W Reno, OKC, 943.9111 $$
SOUL FOOD BIGHEAD’S Fried alligator appetizers and frog leg platters, oyster po’ boys with a tangy remoulade and simmering, savory seafood gumbo – it’s a bayou treat right nearby. 617 S Broadway, Edmond, 340.1925 $$ CAJUN KING The buffet filled with étoufée, jambalaya, collard greens, candied yams and red beans and rice could satisfy even the most rapacious palates, and the fresh fried catfish and beignets are purely regal. 5816 NW 63rd, OKC, 603.3714; 700 Ed Noble Pkwy, Norman, 928.5050 $$ MAMA E’S WINGS & WAFFLES Now with two locations after a star turn on The Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” this labor of love is adored by locals looking for classic Southern dishes flavored with authenticity. 3838 Springlake, OKC, 424.0800; 900 W Reno, OKC, 231.1190 $
THAI
BOULEVARD STEAKHOUSE Perfectly soigné ambiance down to the least detail and cuisine easily ranking among the metro’s elite – a sumptuous, if expensive, masterpiece. 505 S Boulevard, Edmond, 715.2333 $$$
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 $
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 $$
SALA THAI Pineapple curry, basil squid, fried rice with crab, cinnamon beef with rice noodles... the variety is exceptional, and the inexpensive create-your-own lunch special makes it a popular midday option. 1614 NW 23rd, OKC, 528.8424 $
HAUNTED HOUSE, THE A quaint estate renowned for its spooky past (its name is no accident, folks) and being a tad difficult for newcomers to find, The Haunted House is legendary for its steak, lobster and quirky charm. 7101 Miramar, OKC, 478.1417 $$$
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 $$
HOLLIE’S FLATIRON STEAKHOUSE This plush, cozy restaurant in front of the Warren Theatre features fresh, tasty entrees seared on a flatiron grill and a kick of Southwestern spice running through the menu. 1199 Service Rd, Moore, 799.0300 $$
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 $$
JAMIL’S STEAKHOUSE Saving room for your steak, lobster or prime rib is difficult when your gratis appetizers arrive in the form of a Lebanese bounty, but make the effort. Jamil’s has been feeding Oklahoma exceptionally well since 1964. 4910 N Lincoln, OKC, 525.8352 $$ JUNIOR’S 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 $$$
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STEAKHOUSE
H e n r y l o w p r o f i l e o n e H o l e d e c k m o u n t e d l avat o r y fa u c e t w i t H g r o v e B r i c k w o r k s i n n ava l d e e p B l u e
VIETNAMESE CORIANDER CAFÉ Updating traditional Vietnamese recipes with modern sensibilities via local ingredients, this vegetarian-friendly café makes a quick, casual, comfortable dining alternative. 323 White, Norman, 801.3958 $ LIDO Spring rolls to vermicelli bowls, this venerable diner runs the gamut of Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine, and even finds room for a few French specialties. 2518 N Military, OKC, 521.1902 $$
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We need your help! Animal Rescue Friends of Nichols Hills helps pets impounded in Nichols Hills find their owners or a new home. Your support will help ARF continue its work in saving strays.
MR. PHO It abuts the riotous variety of Super Cao Nguyen market, so it’s not surprising that Mr. Pho is exceptionally fresh and its menu is far-reaching: from pork vermicelli to whole Cornish hens. 1133 NW 25th, OKC, 525.7692 $ 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 $
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 $$$
PHO CA DAO Vermicelli bowls, rice platters and even banh xeo crepes are there for investigating, but the main draw is still piping hot pho (with choice of meat) and icy cold bubble tea. 2431 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 521.8819 $
RANCH STEAKHOUSE Driven by custom-aged hand-cut USDA Certified Prime tenderloins and ribeyes, the effortlessly opulent Ranch offers exceptional food, warm hospitality and unbridled Southern comfort. 3000 W Britton, OKC, 755.3501 $$$
PHO SAIGON Can’t decide between Vietnamese and Thai? The spicy noodle broth in this casual restaurant’s name is a standout, but the proprietors have happily added some of their native Thai cuisine to the menu as well. 2800 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 525.1110 $
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 $$$
SAIGON BAGUETTE Fast and flavorful – and unbelievably cheap – this cash-only counter in the Milk Bottle Building just north of Western packs a Vietnamese punch into fresh sandwiches and knockout egg rolls. 2426 N Classen, OKC, 524.2660 $
Call 843.4222 or 843.3038
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LESLIE SIPES | 405.850.8743 | LUXURIOUSPACES.COM |
MAY 2013 // SLICE 109
Last Laugh
JUDGE IF YOU MUST, BUT MY FAMILY HAS BEEN TAKEN IN BY “HERE COMES HONEY BOO BOO,” TLC’s 60-minute train wreck. In one episode, Honey Boo Boo’s mother, June, prepares “sketti” for the rest of her brood, making sketti sauce from microwaved margarine and ketchup. We also learn that one of June’s daughters only brushes her teeth on “special occasions.” Thank you, Mama June, for inching me ever closer to Mother of the Year. While the better part of motherhood requires on-the-job training, June reminds me that a steady – not to be confused with sketti – TV diet throughout my formative years has actually taught me a lot about motherhood from TV moms. (Bully for the therapist who gets to fix my kids.) Arguably the patron saint of TV moms, June Cleaver (Barbara Billingsley) has done more to distort the perception of motherhood than any of her peers. She wore a dress, pearls and heels at all times, yet her baseboards never needed scrubbing. It’s unclear how she developed her finely tuned BS-meter, but it served her well when it came to shielding Wally and the Beav from the high jinks of one Eddie Haskell. I bonded early with Shirley Partridge (Shirley Jones), whom I’d identified as my mother-in-law-to-be since I had firm plans to marry David Cassidy; unfortunately, David Cassidy’s plans weren’t as solid. Shirley was a pop-singing matriarch who drove a psychedelic bus: pump up the cool factor. Her only flaw was Reuben Kincaid. Oh, and that other elephant in the room, Danny Bonaduce. Once Greg Brady became my intended fiancé, I studied Carol Brady (Florence Henderson) in earnest. Motherhood transformed her from being downright matronly to over-the-top hip with a shag haircut and plaid bellbottoms. With six kids under her platformsoled foot, Carol ran a tight ship, even if it was Alice who did most of the heavy lifting and lunch packing. Carol never dreamed of abandoning her maternal lot in life for something more inviting. If Carol had better prospects, she kept them to herself. Even when Mike got the perm. What made Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery) a great mom? In a word: restraint. Despite having the sorcery to send (either) Darrin to parts unknown, Samantha always kept her cool. A lot of moms might be tempted to brag about it if their kids could magically move their toys around the room, but Samantha remained low-key about her kids’ supernatural abilities. It was much more fun to let Gladys Kravitz figure it out on her own. Among the last of the wholesome TV moms is Marion Cunningham (Marion Ross). Mrs. C is the kind of lovely, yet complex, person who can’t help raising nice kids like Richie and Joanie. Don’t forget, though, that she was also the mother of Chuck, the oldest of the Cunningham children, who just “went away” one day, never to return or even come up in conversation again. Mrs. C never looked back. In fact, Chuck’s exit made more room for Fonzie, who eventually moved in and became her dance partner. According to the Peg Bundy School of Motherhood, being a mom is sometimes inconvenient – like when kids are around. Peg
110 SLICE // MAY 2013
By Lauren Hammack FRANK OCKENFELS/AMC
Mother of the Year
“Mad Men” mom Betty Draper. Note the cigarette, cocktail ... and lack of visible children.
(the first true antidote to June Cleaver) can’t be bothered with the mundane details of feeding or raising her children or maintaining a household. But what’s funny about Peg (Katey Sagal) is that there’s really nothing maternal about Peg, and no one seems to mind. Enter Betty Draper (January Jones), my favorite TV mom and something of an amalgam of several TV moms. Like June Cleaver, Betty is a snappy dresser and well coiffed. Like Shirley Partridge, Betty suffers creepy, adolescent boys (Shirley +Danny; Betty + Glen) for reasons unknown. It’s very probable that, had the young Fonz shown up on her doorstep, Betty would have taken him in. Oddly, Betty Draper shares many traits with Peg Bundy. She enjoys a drink (or five) during the day. She’s never far from her smokes. Betty is often irked by the existence of children (thank God they have a TV) and lacks maternal warmth – or any warmth, for that matter. When young Sally Draper scampers into the kitchen with a dry cleaning bag over her head, Betty admonishes her daughter that she will be a very sorry young lady if the clothes from the dry cleaning bag are now on the floor of her closet. Oh, Betty Draper – at least the kids always know where you stand.
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Fingerlakes Collection MAY 2013 // SLICE 111
Last Look
Boys of Summer Photo by Jennifer James McCollum
These Rosary School kindergarteners, Sullivan McCollum, Nate Grim, Drew Harris and Thatcher McMorris, bring to mind this excerpt from the poem “Kindergarten Scholar,” penned by the photographer’s father, William Edgar Elliott, in 1965 for her brother Billy. Tucking covers, under chin This my flesh and blood and kin … (Fading shade of summer tan!) Child tonight, tomorrow – a man!
To submit your photo for Last Look, visit sliceok.com/last-look 112 SLICE // MAY 2013
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