Territory OKC Fall 2017 issue 12 by Territory OKC

issue no. 12

FALL 2017

issue no.

COMING THIS FALL

13230 Pawnee Drive Suite 3

COMING THIS FALL

13230 Pawnee Dr, Ste 301 • Oklahoma City 73114 • chisholmcreek.com • 405.418.8590

FURNITURE | ACCENTS DESIGN SERVICES 519 N.W. 23RD ST., STE 105 | OKC 1633 W. 33RD ST. | EDMOND 405.608.1923 | INTERIORGILT.COM

10900 HEFNER POINTE DRIVE

5101 N. WESTERN AVENUE

COMMERCIAL , PROFESSIONAL , & EXECUTIVE BANKING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. Delivering all of the banking ser vices you require, while remaining true to our community banking roots.

405.848.2001

FNBOK.COM

SMOKING LOUNGE | PERSONALIZED LOCKERS | PREMIUM ACCESSORIES Oklahoma's Largest Walk-In Humidor, Offering 1,800 Selections 2726 W. Britton Rd. Oklahoma City, 73120

(405) 942-0070

www.ztcigars.com 7

DOWNTOWN

36. Zen and the Art of Charcuterie

40. 39. 42.

MIDTOWN 46. Nonesuch Arrives

Todd Woodruff & Colin Stringer bring hyperlocal food-art tasting menu to Midtown.

49. Larry Dean Pickering in 5,4,3... 50. Midtown Insider

UPTOWN/PASEO 57.

Oklahoma in War

A new Vietnam War exhibit that shines light on the tangled truths of war.

60. Uptown/Paseo Insider 61. Concerts, Curated

Ancient techniques find reverence and respect at Mary Eddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Reclaiming Dead People's Stuff Datebox Delivers Downtown Insider

WESTERN AVE. & BEYOND 64. Necessity and the Father of Invention

A third-generation surgeon carries on the legacy of techniques that sound like wizardry.

67. Domestic Chardonnays, Broadly 69. Western & Beyond Insider

FALL ARTS PREVIEW 75. Culturati

Our selections for the arts events most worth your time and money this season.

Cover Image: Cover image: H.E. Ledbetter House, Norman, 1947. Ryerson & Burnham Archives, Courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

FEATURES VOICING THE FUTURE

People in the trenches of change, who tell us what that looks like in real time.

27.

CONSTERNATION & BEWILDERMENT

The work and legacy of eccentric architectural genius Bruce Goff explored.

Photo credit: Walker Zanger

THOMAS RYAN REDCORN

Photographer Thomas Ryan RedCorn was born in Tahlequah. His young newlywed parents moved the family back to the Wa.xa.k’o.lin district on the Osage reservation outside Pawhuska, in 1980. Here Ryan grew to appreciate indigenous arts. His parents, both photographers/designers maintained a darkroom in their small reservation-house bathroom. His grandfather was a painter, one grandmother was an interior designer, and a bevy of aunts and uncles were accomplished painters. This gave Ryan access the arts at a young age. He attended the University of Kansas, studying Visual Communications. He founded Demockratees, a line of acclaimed political T-shirts featured by Urban Outfitters to MTV. Ryan also co-founded Buffalo Nickel Industries, one of Native America’s only advertising agencies. The activism of Ryan and his friends lets to the formation of the 1491s, a performance group that’s an avenue of social and political commentary explored through comedy by way of social media and

digital outlets. (Do yourself a favor, and explore their YouTube channel.) Ryan lives and works on the Osage Reservation with his wife, Electa, and three daughters. They regularly attend Osage language class. Ryan sits on his district’s In.lon.shka War Dance Committee. Says Ryan, “People have been pointing cameras at Indians for a while. And that has shaped how people view Native peoples. With the acquisition of a camera, I have tried to explore the relationship of power that exists and changes when the camera changes hands.” @redcorn @1491s

Contributors from the University of Oklahoma. Whitney is an Oklahoma native who returned to Norman after traveling the world for a year. She spends her days planning her next trip.

J. GWYN RAINEY

Whitney Bryen is an award-winning journalist recognized by Colorado Associated Press Editors and Reporters and Colorado Press Association for her strong voice, conversational tone and news coverage. She is a freelance writer and photographer with a BA in Journalism

OKC-based photographer J. Gwyn Rainey first caught our eye in her lively coverage of Saints Sessions jazz series in the Plaza. We believe she has the mind of a photojournalist, and a hunger to riff with other creatives. She photographed our charcuterie story in the Downtown District, and the Scott Cleaners ad at OKC Ballet’s new building. “I am most in my element when I’m creating; everything from writing to dancing to playing music,” Rainey says. “My truest passion, however, has always been for people.” Her photography reflects a fascination with the subtleties of human form and the honesty of feeling.

WHITNEY BRYEN

PUBLISHED BY TERRITORY MEDIA, LLC 3017 N. Lee Ave., Ste. A, Oklahoma City, OK 73103 www.territoryokc.com

Funnel Design Group, Graphic Design

laura@territoryokc.com

Trey McNeill, Publisher

funneldesigngroup.com

Garrett Davis, Publishing Associate

trey@territoryokc.com

Greg Horton, Vicar of Editorial &

Beagle Design, Website Design

Veronica Pasfield, Editor

Wine Columnist

Trace Thomas, Contributing Photographer

editorial@territoryokc.com

vicar@territoryokc.com

Courtney Waugh, Contributing Photographer

Emily Hopkins, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Deepika Ganta, Publishing Associate

Leigh Naifeh, Publishing Associate

emily@territoryokc.com

Laura Rossi, Publishing Associate

leigh@territoryokc.com 11

Custom work is the best work.

HANDMADE • LOCAL Fabric: Pitaya by Camengo

• Designer fabrics • Workroom on-site • Every window, every wall

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR It was around 10 pm the night I met Larry Dean Pickering. I was the only person at the bar at Ludivine. As a native Detroiter, I had not yet grown out of my nocturnal ways. That night, it felt like the bartender and I were the only two people still awake in Oklahoma City. I was just enjoying my first cocktail when the door to the bar flew open, saloon style. In walked a lanky guy with his arms outstretched as wide as they would go. He surveyed the empty room and declared, loudly, “Shit just got real!” The bartender smiled. Lord, I thought, this is either the most interesting guy in town or the biggest pain in the ass. I studied my drink as he walked my way, taking the barstool next to mine. He soon turned to me and said, “I’m Larry Dean Pickering. Who are you?” Not a friendly, “Quiet night, huh?”—but a question from a local checking up on a stranger. I answered Larry’s first question, and all the others after it. It was fun talking to him. When I told Larry about the magazine we were starting, he said. “You don’t know shit about Oklahoma City.” That’s when I decided I really liked Larry Dean Pickering. I come from an underdog town, too; his protectiveness was endearing.

“Nope,” I said. “But I know how to make a magazine. I’ve been doing it a long time.” He told me to call him LDP. And I do. There are many stories like this in the Fall Issue—our third. Impassioned creatives like Larry, a designer and builder, give all they have to continue to evolve OKC. Inspiration and innovation are core themes for the Fall Issue. No one exemplifies this more than infamous Okie architect Bruce Goff, the subject of a new coffee table book from OU Press. The Art Institute of Chicago stewards Goff’s archives (itself a massive validation). I thought I’d spend a couple of hours digging around for a cover photo there. I was transfixed for two days. Goff’s famed Ledbetter House in Norman, the subject of a 1948 story in Life magazine, adorns our cover. I’m out of room on this page, so you will have to read for yourself about the civic leaders and artists giving all they have to this city right now. In the end, innovating is rooted in hope. And that’s something Oklahomans do very well. Veronica Pasfield Editor & Co-founder photo by Thomas Ryan Recorn

OKLAHOMA CITY IS COMING OUT OF A BOOM TIME, AND INTO… NO ONE IS ENTIRELY SURE. TERRITORY BEGINS A CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE IN THE TRENCHES, WHO TELL US WHAT CHANGE LOOKS LIKE IN REAL TIME.

essay by Veronica Pasfield with Greg Horton interviews by Greg Horton photos by Ryan RedCorn

It’s not entirely clear what the tone and tempo of the next five years will be in our community. Oklahoma City is coming out of an extraordinary boom time (albeit one that did not benefit all equally). The anticipation of new projects such as the just-announced development of the NW 6th St. corridor near Auto Alley, say, or stylish new condos in SoSA, are counterbalanced by the presence of a glut of For Rent signs in key parts of town and new restaurant concepts quite a bit more modest than those we enjoyed over the last three years. Voters just approved more than $1 billion in funding for infrastructure, public safety, parks, and “economic and community development.” While less exciting than a flashy new tourist destination, the bond projects are a response to resident demands for MAPS money to focus more on getting everyday things right. There are also important communities of color outside the downtown core who are holding the city accountable for being treated as if they are off the MAPS funding grid. As we came to the end of the third wave of development in the form of MAPS III, it was apparent that all citizens and key neighborhoods have not benefitted in the same ways nor at the same pace as the urban core. Similarly, the state legislature’s unproductive year fomented disgust, but also an inspiring and practical movement that could help create an upsurge in civic engagement in a state where such is badly needed. We tried to catch this transitional tiger by its tail. We felt reassured by refreshingly heterogeneous voices coming from neighborhoods not often invited to the mic of public discourse. Change agents are creating momentum in places, and in ways, that have been underserved. Diversity characterizes this latest chorus creating change in Oklahoma City; diversity in thought as well as culture. We wanted to hear from some of the most

Andy Moore, Let's Fix This

distinct voices and thinkers. Diversity is good news for democracy. Andy Moore was concerned over the 33% voter turnout in Oklahoma during the 2014 midterm elections—so he acted. During the contentious presidential election, Moore started a grassroots political organization called Let’s Fix This. It just may help create the most fundamental change of all, from apathy and helplessness to engagement. “(D)oing our “civic duty” is more than just casting a vote,” Moore said, “it’s actively seeking out information about candidates and issues and sharing that knowledge with others.” Race, socioeconomic status, and place also starkly figure into the need for

change, and those organizing for it. Neighbors immediately to the northeast and southwest of the city core are still behind the growth seen in downtown, Midtown, Edmond, and the Innovation District. Oklahoma City is not just downtown. It is actually much larger than the segment from Nichols Hills to I-40. If you got a snapshot of the recent development, it would look like a flower vase, with the neck starting at Trader Joe’s, moving down the Western Ave. corridor, broadening as it hit Paseo and Plaza, growing ever rounder at downtown, Midtown, Bricktown and Innovation districts, and the base would be the new I-40 crosstown, with a watermark of sorts in the form of the Skydance Bridge. Most development has happened in that area—the overwhelming majority of investment, in fact. Historically black neighborhoods and businesses on the northeast side are just now getting some of the attention that’s been lavished on the urban core districts over the past 10 years. One piece of evidence of this disparity comes via a study commissioned by Seven major OKC institutions from the esteemed Brookings Institution. The study was a sort of needs assessment for the growth of the Innovation District, which is located on the Northeast side, near the University of Oklahoma hospital complex, and into Automobile Alley. Stakeholders who commissioned the study included the city, the Greater OKC Chamber, OU, and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. The report, titled Positioned for Growth, was released in April. It offers guideposts for our city at large. Brookings scholars researched qualitatively on critical issues and quantitatively worked through key data points. The findings confirmed “low-income residents of neighboring communities remain largely disconnected from employment within the district.” Brookings further stressed the need “to nurture the talents and potential of low-income residents, who, if history is any lesson, will otherwise remain disconnected from the innovation economy’s growth.” Recommendations include forming a standing committee on “diversity and inclusion.” (The study is easily found online, and will be linked at territoryokc.com.) Neighborhoods like NE and SW OKC should be respected as communities of citizens, taxpayers, and voters. They’re places with contributive knowledge, wisdom, and labor of all kinds. The residents of these neighborhoods drive our city forward, too. Not all of them are low-income or professionally marginalized, of course. We spoke with—and learned from—three

YOUNG LEADERS FROM THESE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE STEPPED UP. who are deeply involved in shaping the future of Oklahoma City. Gina Sofola holds a Master’s of Regional and City

Planning from the University of Oklahoma. She spearheaded the Page Woodson project, which transformed a NE OKC school into quality housing. Sofola expressed a savvy and nuanced intention about Woodson spawning more development nearby—“hopefully not development in and of itself, but specifically the kind that focuses on rebuilding community, which means you have to know the community and hopefully make them part of the rebuilding process.” Cathy O’Connor helped develop the NE Renaissance Urban Renewal Area and TIF, and is president and CEO of the Alliance for Economic Development. It has management of Oklahoma City’s tax increment financing (TIF) program—critical funding undergirding much of the revitalization. O’Connor cited the work of Gina Sofola at Page Woodson, as well as other interviewees in this story, as symbolic of needed growth. That is, of course, a textbook definition of gentrification. When we asked the mayor about the disconnect between the underserved neighborhoods and the renaissance of downtown, he said he disagreed with our assessment. “With the release of the Brookings Study and the Project for Public Spaces, we recreated the TIF district that covers that area,” O’Connor said, “and now we’re focused on site location for new housing and new amenities in the district. A big part of our work is to knit back the neighborhoods that surround the Innovation District.” Building a technology center in a poor part of town is only good for that section of the city if it leads to jobs, higher quality of living, and other positive outcomes for residents there. If it doesn’t, it’s something more akin to gentrification. Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said he has seen very little gentrification in Oklahoma City in his lifetime. The mayor was quick to point out the good news—that is a mayor’s job, and we did talk to him before he announced his upcoming gubernatorial campaign, by the way. “Unemployment is down to 3.8 percent,” Cornett said. “There is more development ongoing in underserved areas than in the past 30 years. Also, the Chamber of Commerce says there are more projects in the pipeline now than in the city’s history.” True, true, and true. But as Cornett said of the area south of Plaza District and west of Classen: “We are already seeing speculating going on in those neighborhoods. We expect to see rent increases as property owners reinvest in the area.” “We have the bus routes,” he said. “We have a new health and wellness center and fire station in Capitol Hill. We are working to expand the park system all over the city. And the September sales tax vote…will direct revenue to infrastructure needs….” The conversation, and the work, must continue. We end this round of interviews with words of wisdom and inspiration from future-thinking architect, Rand Elliott.

With almost a billion dollars in bond projects just approved by voters, he reminds Oklahomans that quality and vision are two infrastructure components critical to the future of our city. “As high-quality architecture improves the overall quality of a city,” Elliott said, “other industries are affected: arts, businesses, non-profits all benefit. The system is cyclical, and the organizations are tied to each other and to the level of quality.” In future installments, we’ll hear from Native American, Latino/a, and other voices that aren’t as readily heard. When we asked people what was next, we sort of expected visionary talk. What we got was project talk, task talk, quality talk. That’s an Oklahoma thing, too—a get-shit-done attitude that eschews pretty words in favor of actual work. We’ll take it.

MEET COMPLEXITY WITH COMPLEXITY Camal Pennington, Esq. & Quinton Hughes, Ph.D. Camal Pennington and Quintin Hughes are both deeply involved with education and development, spearheading vision, education, and equitable development in OKC. By day, Hughes is Dr. Q to his students at Northeast Academy and Douglass Mid-High School. He is also the chairman of the board for NE Oklahoma City Renaissance, and he sits on the board of the Oklahoma City Black Chamber of Commerce. At night, Hughes spends time, in his own words,

“DEVELOPING CAPACITY FOR LEADERSHIP, ECONOMIC, COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT.” Hughes holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in industrial engineering from OU. Pennington is a staff attorney for the Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers. Previously, he was a staff assistant and legislative correspondent in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a steering committee member for MAPS 19

4 Neighborhoods, a citizen-led group that is pushing for investment in areas overlooked by the first three MAPS programs. Pennington earned his B.A. in Political Science from OCU and a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. What’s the status of development under the tax increment finance district (tif) for the NE side? Hughes: The tif provides increased awareness of, and opportunity in, the district, especially for attracting more developers. It creates an opportunity to adjust perceptions of the NE side. The two main projects—Page Woodson and the Northeast Plaza shopping center at NE 36th and Lottie—are underway. The last update I had on the shopping center was that they are looking for an anchor tenant. Pennington: The fact that the developers are there gives me hope. We used oNE OKC (a block party last May, see www. oneokc.net) as a way to get the word out to the community, too, that development was ongoing, and how they could be more engaged in the process. Developers were excited about great new spaces and the level of community engagement. Hughes: It was also a celebration of the community’s history and diversity. We want it to be a catalyst for further development, and to use it to provide direct connections between prospective and current business owners and residents.

the kinds of places you see in the Plaza District or other districts with their own different culture and vibe. The Innovation District is on the NE side, but a recent study by the Brookings Institution reported OKC must “nurture the talents and potential of low-income residents, who, if history is any lesson, will otherwise remain disconnected.” Hughes: There is capacity within in the district for new, young professionals to move here—the kind who would be attracted to or attached to the Innovation District or OUHSC—but we also need to focus on our current residents, not just recruiting new ones. Pennington: The Innovation District people will acknowledge that there is a gap between the vision and reality of being fully integrated into the community. We believe Northeast OKC Renaissance, Inc., can help bridge that gap, but there really hasn’t been much conversation yet.

THERE IS ALSO SOME IRONY TO OUHSC BEING LOCATED IN THE NE QUADRANT, BUT THE DISTRICT HAS THE WORST HEALTH OUTCOMES IN THAT ZIP CODE. Hughes: We are partnering with a group headed by the Lynn Institute to help improve health outcomes. Transportation is one area they are working on, especially as it relates to healthcare. The tax structure is set up so that schools in underserved areas always struggle. This is even worse in periods of legislative underfunding like now. How can we help education in NE schools? Hughes: NE Oklahoma City is part of the task force to figure out what we can do to improve educational outcomes. The critical recommendations to the state government were to recruit and keep high-quality teachers and leaders, and to pay them well. We need to look at the possibility of creating better incentive structures in the schools and at other revenue sources like federal funds. Pennington: There are also untapped community partnerships we can explore. There are resources we can bring in if we pursue them aggressively.

The developers (Pivot Project) at the NE 23rd and Rhode Island shopping center are using a unique model by providing an ownership stake to their tenants. That is helping them recruit a diverse tenant base because as the value of the property increases, so too does their stake. We want to see restaurants, record stores, barber shops— 20

AFFLUENT COMMUNITIES ALSO DO A BETTER JOB OF SUPPORTING THE SCHOOLS. THAT CAN BE DONE HERE, TOO, IF WE USE OUR OWN TALENTS.

A PAT H Y I S N OT A N O P T I O N Andy Moore, Let's Fix This Andy Moore is the founder of Let’s Fix This, a grassroots political organization designed to provide meaningful encounter between politicians and everyday people. While it does sound a bit like a dating service, the guiding principle is a quote from Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt: “Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and Senators and Congressmen and Government officials, but the voters of this country.” Moore, a Dallas native, tries to avoid words like “community organizing” because some find the connotations to be negative. But the group does exist to encourage organized civic action. Let’s Fix This started in the spring of 2106 as a Facebook event, and Moore was amazed more than 100 people showed up. In August, Let’s Fix This co-hosted a sheriff candidate’s debate with NonDoc Media at the Tower Theatre. The abhorrent practices of former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and President Trump’s efforts to pardon him, give us a lens through which to consider the importance of engagement in local elections. The Let’s Fix This website (letsfixthisok.org) has dummy-proofed democracy. It links to resources such as contact info for Oklahoma legislators, links for voter registration, an issue primer, template letters to lawmakers, text of the Oklahoma Constitution, maps for parking at the state capitol, and more. Their new podcast, Let’s Pod This, dives deeper into the issues of the day (see iTunes and the website). In a sense, the Let’s Fix Moore attend Southern Nazarene University, where he completed degrees in psychology (B.S.) and counseling (M.A.). He worked as a counselor before moving into healthcare administration. What do you think is critical for OK(C) in the next one to five years? I think Oklahoma needs to take a long, hard look at who we’ve become as a state, what values we project, and whether or not those values are attractive to both businesses and people. The core components of civilized society and modern life—schools, healthcare, corrections—have been continually starved for nearly a decade. It is impossible to attract people to our state if we do not demonstrate that we will properly care for them once they’ve arrived. What do you think OKC needs most? Voter turnout in Oklahoma is abysmal; just 33 percent of registered voters in Oklahoma cast ballots in 2014 midterm elections. We also need to do a better job reaching out to marginalized groups, such as women, minorities, and LGBTQ, and engage them in the political process. They feel like their vote doesn’t matter, and honestly, up until now, it hasn’t. But doing our “civic duty” is more than just casting a vote; it’s

actively seeking out information about candidates and issues and sharing that knowledge with others. Oklahoma City needs to continue doing what we’ve done well over the past 20 years: articulate a vision for the future and pursue it with all that we have. That vision needs to be broadened beyond the urban core, though. We need to invest in the culture of our various communities the way we have in our districts. Other areas are coming along, such as the Stockyards, SOSA, Wheeler, and Innovation Districts, but all of the areas so far are located in a just a few square miles and are fairly homogeneous. We’re missing out on rich cultural diversity of NE 23rd, Capitol Hill, Asian District, and more. There are pockets of deep beauty and passion and excitement just waiting to explode, if only we will invest. Tell me about the involvement and importance of millennials. There are young leaders in each community who will be the urban pioneers of the next decade, and they are just waiting to be discovered. One important caveat: investment in those areas won’t pay off unless we find ways to connect them to one another. Not just physically (ahem, can you say streetcar?) but also emotionally. Millennial voter turnout was low during the 2016 presidential election; some estimates place it at below 50 percent. But then the election happened, and suddenly (Let’s Fix This) started having groups showing up for meetups, and people were full of questions about how they could get involved. Millennials have surpassed the Baby Boomers to become the largest generational group in America; we need to realize that our collective voices (and votes) can determine the future. What problems most need to be dealt with? We see news stories every week about the budget holes that aren’t filled, laws being passed with questionable constitutionality, insidious partisan bickering, and ethics scandals by our elected officials. That kind of stuff seriously erodes the public’s faith in our government and fuels apathy…. However, there’s a lot that everyone agrees with: everyone wants good schools, adequate teacher pay, access to healthy food, lower costs for healthcare, job security, and a general feeling of safety. 21

D R I V E N B Y/ F O R D I V E R S I T Y Gina Sofola, consultant & developer

PART OF HER ROLE IN THE PAGE WOODSON PROJECT IS “NAVIGATING STRONG COMMUNITY SENSITIVITIES THAT LED TO MERGING COMMUNITY OBJECTIVES WITH THOSE OF THE CITY’S MASTER PLANNING OBJECTIVES.” IN OTHER WORDS, HELPING WORK THROUGH TENSION AND POSSIBLE MISUNDERSTANDING TO ACHIEVE GOALS GOOD FOR EVERYONE.

Gina Sofola heads her own project management and planning consulting firm in Oklahoma City. Currently, she is the developer’s agent and project manager for the Page Woodson Restoration Project, a multi-phase, mixed-use, mixed-income project on the city’s northeast side. The project includes restoration of the old Douglass High School and the construction of new apartments adjacent to the OU Health Sciences Center. Sofola received her Master’s of Regional and City Planning at the University of Oklahoma. She has worked for Fortune 500 companies overseeing projects in Kansas City and Oklahoma City.Part of her role in the Page Woodson project is “navigating strong community sensitivities that led to merging community objectives with those of the city’s master planning objectives.” In other words, helping work through tension and possible misunderstanding to achieve goals good for everyone. How can we more effectively build bridges between the northeast side and downtown? I know this seems an odd question since they are adjacent to each other, but a few people have pointed out that they might as well be miles apart. Multi-modal transportation networks are one tangible way. But more than the physical separations caused by large boulevards and interstates, we have a real cultural divide. This is not unique to OKC; this cultural divide is national and is difficult to approach—but not impossible. Dr. John Harris, a professor at the University of Oklahoma in the Regional and City Planning Department at the College of Architecture, has done lots of research on issues around culturally sensitive planning, community engagement and social empowerment. Also, he’s very knowledgeable on the impacts of green infrastructure and its impact economically and socially. In working with him and others, we’ve explored the impact that the built environment has on the safety of women of color, psychological health, physical health, etc. I think we have an opportunity in Northeast OKC to be pioneering in how we go about rebuilding, and most of that conversation centers on quality of life issues for the people (there).

How is Page Woodson important for the northeast side and the urban core in particular? Its success is important economically in raising tax revenue for the city and providing affordable housing for the workforce, and it’s a great example of the benefit of federal and state financing tools. Going further, it’s important because of its historical fabric. The facility has always been a source of pride for the community, but in its deteriorated state, it sort of said the community wasn’t worth the investment. Its rebuilding and its celebration of African-American history speaks to the value of the people who walked the halls, educated the children, taught of excellence and pride in self and community... lots of things we rarely talk about or really understand, quite frankly. Its success can catalyze further development. But hopefully not development in and of itself, but specifically the kind that focuses on rebuilding community, which means you have to know the community and hopefully make them part of the rebuilding process. Is this the beginning of a trend of redevelopment in the district? What do you hope to see? We hope the development is the beginning of a trend, but for developments of this size and complexity, additional tools that help provide soft equity are necessary. The community needs business and financial partners that think out of the box, understanding

Continues on page 24 22

COMMIT TO QUALITY Rand Elliott, architect & poet Listing the awards for Rand Elliott + Associates Architects would take more room than we have. Elliott, who started his firm in 1976, has won 10 national AIA Honor Awards alone. He is without doubt an Oklahoma treasure, but his insight is not limited to architecture. Catch him at the right time and you can engage in conversations about multiple topics, including one of his favorites: art. Working in the same city for more than 40 years gives a committed artist or artisan a sense of place, a sense of the rhythms of the place, and an ability to recognize patterns and change that elude the newcomer or the casual observer. Because he thinks not just about a building, but about how it impacts the overall aesthetic of a city, Elliott is not a casual observer. He pays attention to details—a good thing in his field—and thinks in fourth-dimensional ways. His recent Full Moon residential complex reminded us why this statesman of Oklahoma architecture continues to fascinate us. The five-story Full Moon building reimagines a narrow lot in Midtown as the site for a stylish structure with an enormous circular hole at the center of the building, designed to frame a rising full moon at certain times of the year. How does architecture help a culture evolve, and how can it lead/move us forward? It’s not just architecture; it’s quality. Architecture contributes to the quality of the environment, and so do other factors—quality restaurants, high-quality buildings, businesses in general that are done in a high-quality way. At the same time, architecture is the most visible of the arts. Architectural projects reveal quality even as they are going up. I willl say quality in the city is higher than ever. And I wish we had a new generation of Bruce Goffs and Solomon Andrew Laytons—architects with their attitudes. There are very talented people in our community, and I like to think we can find clients who will also lead in these areas—people like Leland Gourley. He founded the “flying saucer” bank on Lincoln Blvd. Leland took a chance on that design, and he felt like he could (attract) more business if he had a high-quality, innovative design. We need that attitude today. How does that influence broadly? As the overall quality of a city, other indusnon-profits—all benefit. Architecture way—every city is looking for a way to

high-quality architecture improves tries are affected: arts, businesses, helps evolve a culture in a specific be unique. question. Architecture... a part of streetcars, parks, and everything that want our contribution to make the city a better place. When we do that, quality of the work will come through. move forward in terms of visionary architecture and planning in a growtaking things no one cares about condition, and turn those conditions Mason did on 9th Street. All those an opportunity, and he invested in else wanted and he made it into

City planning is an environmental the total environment, as are roads, goes to make up the community. We overall environment better, to make the the uniqueness of a community and the Does the Full Moon project signal a architecture? Part of the task of doing ing city—working to create density—is because of size, location, shape or into opportunities. Look at what Steve buildings were tear-downs. Steve saw the area. He took something no one something people enjoy. I WILL SAY QUALITY IN THE is there to meet what I think is a It’s safe to say that Full Moon CITY IS HIGHER THAN EVER. cool, unique place. We wanted to market void. People desire to live in a raise the bar in terms of living space, and I think the response reveals that we have created a wow factor. People are already talking about it; they already want to live there. We are coming out of a boom time. Where we are headed? Are we in a boom, coming out of a boom? I don’t know. Business has always been tough, and I’m probably not the right person to ask. However, I will say that MAPS has created a higher level of quality throughout the city. The changes under MAPS have been very positive…many of these new projects tell us that there are high-quality projects being done. {Ed: For a broader perspective on Oklahoma architectural vision, see our piece on Bruce Goff at the back of this issue.}

Driven by/for Diversity continued

“THE STRUGGLE IS TO GET HOUSING CLOSE TO WHERE PEOPLE WORK AND IN PROXIMITY TO HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOLS. THIS WOULD PUT US IN A LEAGUE WITH OTHER MAJOR CITIES, MANY OF WHICH HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDS.” —CATHY O’CONNOR, CEO OF THE ALLIANCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PRINCIPAL IN BRINGING GE AND BOEING TO OKC.

that the issues facing underserved communities are atypical from those that can easily be reconciled within the standard financial or development models. How and in what way is working with the Innovation District important to Page Woodson and OKC? By allowing large institutional-type businesses to partner and/or incubate smaller emerging and startup businesses, we have the potential of job development and increased tax revenue base.

BUT WE CAN’T FORGET THE SOMETIMESINTANGIBLE QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUES THAT ATTRACT CREATIVE BUSINESSES THAT LOOK FOR THAT, AND BUSINESSES THAT CATER TO THEM. We can’t afford to leave anyone out of the equation with the challenges our cities face, which means we have to roll up our sleeves and deal with the difficult issues around underserved communities. Working with the Innovation District has the potential of building bridges that reach further into the community than just the localized northeast side. It has the potential for bringing business partners to schools, helping non-profits whose missions center on social issues maximize their effectiveness and reach. It has the potential of partnering with businesses, vocational-technical schools, and mentoring programs to help emerging businesses.

BRUCE GOFF B Y V E R O N I C A PA S F I E L D

Anyone with more than a curiosity about architecture in Oklahoma has heard of Bruce Goff. Architect Rand Elliott was perhaps the first to tell me about him, or maybe it was architect Dave Wanzer, or one of his devotees in Okie Mod Squad. The more people talked about Bruce Goff, it seemed, the more they had to say; the talking seemed to only stoke their fascination, not quench it. The same happened when I visited the massive Bruce Goff archive at the Art Institute of Chicago. I thought Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d spend a couple of hours, but even this experienced researcher was agog and overwhelmed after two days. The Art Institute archivist, an impassioned Goff fan, only inspired me deeper into the material. 27

1 / F O R D H O U S E - - - 2 / C H U R C H D E TA I L - - - 3 / D A C E E X T E R I O R

J A PA N E S E PAV I L L I O N - - - L A C O U N T Y M U S E U M O F A R T

A similar passion drives Bruce Goff: Architecture of Discipline in Freedom, a lush new coffee table tome from University of Oklahoma Press. Author Arn Henderson, Professor Emeritus of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma, digs deeply into the structures, stories, and ideas surrounding this most notable Oklahoman. Henderson conducted scores of interviews with Goff associates and students, and traveled the country to study and photograph every remaining Goff building. It’s a masterful piece of scholarship many years in the making. For Goff’s exceptional talents, Henderson credits the independent credo of the American West, “which nurtured development of his individualism and the ennobling courage to act on his ideals and convictions…living quietly in Middle America, (he) was one of the pioneering leaders of twentieth-century building.” Like all truly great artists, there are myriad points of connection within the Goff mythos and many are explored in the book: his engineering innovations, his pivotal place within American organic 29

BARTMAN HOUSE GOFF WORKING

architecture, even the role of his homosexuality in his exit as head of the OU School of Architecture. Henderson reports that Goff was gay, and that his sexuality played a part in his exit from OU, a long-standing rumor. Henderson’s book also offers a satisfying biographic context of a Tulsa kid from modest means, who was identified as a gifted designer at 12 years of age, and went on to capture the mentorship of Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago, the directorship at OU without a college degree, and the admiration of Frank Gehry, who told The Washington Post that Goff “pushed the frontier forward and extended Wright’s legacy.” At the tender age of 22, Goff completed the stunning Boston Avenue Methodist Church. Over the course of his career, his work generated two LIFE magazine articles, including one about the home on our cover, the Ledbetter House. At a public

CO M E R H O U S E - - - D E W Y, O K L A H O MA

open house, LIFE reported an elderly lady

Goff aesthetic. Rather, “his design language of

approached Goff and asked him if he’d live in

conceptualization (demonstrates) a keen sense

the house. Goff responded, “Oh my, no. It’s

of discipline amid the colorful expressions of a

much too conventional for me.”

well-developed imagination.” Nor can his legacy

The architect’s long career ended posthumously,

be contained; it stretches from a cultish devotion

with the Japanese Pavilion for the Los Angeles County

across our state all the way to a generation of

Museum of Art. It was commissioned at the behest

Japanese architects influenced by Goff’s OU

of Oklahoma pipeline magnate Joe D. Price, when he

student Takenobu Mohri.

donated $30-40 million worth of Japanese art from

Territory will explore Goff’s work and legacy

his collection. Before that, the Price treasures lived in

further this fall, on our website. How could we

a futuristic Goff home in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

not? Until then, revel in Bruce Goff: Architecture

As Henderson illustrates, there is no defining

of Discipline in Freedom.

GOFF PORTRAIT BY ROBERT BOWLBY COURTESY OF OU PRESS. P H O T O S P. 2 9 , 3 0 & 3 3 B Y A R N H E N D E R S O N , C O U R T E S Y O F O U P R E S S . 31

THE INDEPENDENT SOUND OF OKLAHOMAâ&#x201E;¢

can be heard every day on KOSU from 7:00pm-5:00am, and across the state 24/7 on iTunes Radio, Roku, TuneIn, or TheSpyFM.com @TheSpyFM

91.7 OKC | 107.5 Tulsa | 88.3 Stillwater | KOSU.org 33

Ally Noriega of @allysoninwonderland

STAY(CATION) WITH ART Who says you have to leave home to have some fun? Spend the night at one of the largest multi-venue contemporary art museums in the U.S. and treat yourself to art-filled galleries open 24/7, bold eclectic flavors at Mary Eddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen x Lounge, and genuine hospitality. > Visit 21cOklahomaCity.com for seasonal offers

900 West Main Street, Oklahoma City 405.982.6900 | 21cMuseumHotels.com 405.982.6960 | MaryEddysOKC.com

WHAT'S HAPPENING

OW N T OW N

Charcuterie Datebox Dead People's Stuff Insider

ZEN AND THE ART OF CHARCUTERIE Ancient techniques find reverence and respect at Mary Eddy’s. story by Whitney Bryen photos by J. Gwyn Rainey

After the dishes are done and the staff has gone home to recoup from another busy shift at Mary Eddy’s Kitchen x Lounge, chef de cuisine Jeff Patton can be found shoulder deep in the bowels of a backroom freezer making meat magic. It’s nearly midnight as Patton pops the top of a Miller High Life. He takes a sip and cranks up the volume on his favorite reggae playlist, which will provide the soundtrack for his latest pas de deux with pork. Charcuterie is Patton’s art and pig is his medium. “He’s having a moment,” Executive Chef Jason Campbell said of Patton, who drives the restaurant’s charcuterie program. “You have to have room and a clear state of mind going into it. It’s almost relaxing (because) it’s a real hands-on craft.” Every couple of weeks during one of these graveyard shifts, Patton grinds, mixes, seasons, stuffs and hangs about 100 pounds of sausage used in the restaurant’s claim to charcuterie fame. Sometimes Patton works alone. Sometimes he is joined by Campbell and, occasionally, cooks from Mary Eddy’s kitchen will trade an extra pair of hands for a lesson from their master of meat. Charcuterie—the practice of dry-curing or fermenting cuts of meat—has been a passion project for the Oklahoma City restaurant since opening in May of 2016. Campbell and Patton approach charcuterie like a vocation, with reverence for its time-honored methods. Molded salumi cylinders, tubes of freshly packed sausage and decapitated pig limbs dangle from the shelves of a two-door freezer called the charcuterie chamber. Beds of salt line the shelves of the cooler, which maintains a constant temperature of 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and houses a fan and humidifier for drying out the meat. The chamber was customized to mimic the climate of an openair, Italian cellar where many of the world’s top fermented meats have been produced for centuries. After four months in the charcuterie chamber, a saltcured pork picnic shoulder is starting to take shape, but Campbell said it is likely another eight months away from 36

“So much fat, flavor, salty g God bless America.” —Chef Patton making its debut on The Toolbox, Mary Eddy’s popular meat and cheese board. The platter consists of five different meats, including house-fermented meats and other fresh-style sausages, two cheeses, three different types of pickles, mustard and the restaurant’s homemade wheat bread topped with a rich lard spread and toasted. Fruits, fresh honeycomb, smoked fish dip and rillettes make rotating appearances on the meat and cheese board depending on the season. Last summer’s platters included cooked meats such as a spicy hatch greenchili chorizo verde with pumpkin seeds and black sesame, and a duck terrine dotted with pistachios. Before electricity, charcuterie was about survival. Salt was used to cure meats, preserving them before refrigeration was an option. Charcuterie also insures nothing is wasted;

PRINCIPLES FOR COMPOSING A CHARCUTERIE BOARD

“A charcuterie board is an expression of who you are as a host that night,” Chef Campbell said. “Let it reflect that.”

GENEROSITY IS KEY

Start with three varieties of cheese + four meats. Plan for six slices/person. MEAT

Pair something spicy with a whole muscle, like coppa. Add a traditional flavor like sopressata. Round the flavors out with a fennel salumi, one of Campbell’s personal favorites.

y goodness…

CHEESE

Cover the spectrum with bold, such as blue cheese + aged, such as a Spanish Manchego + creamy, like a goat cheese. FINISHING TOUCHES

Whole grain mustard for dipping + fresh fruit + crackers or quality bread. every part of an animal is utilized. A pig’s ear concoction made for a fascinating—if daring—element to the board last spring. Charcuterie requires uncompromising care, planning, and what Campbell calls a sort of intimacy with the meat, something Mary Eddy’s chefs would argue is also rewarding. “Every chef or cook usually goes through a charcuterie stage at some point in their career,” Campbell said. “Then they either stick with it or decide it’s too labor intensive and it’s not for them. And it’s definitely not for everybody.” As he hangs a fresh salumi in the cooler, Patton admires the white mold that after only four days coats the adjacent cylinder of pork signaling to the chef an abundance of flavor: “That’s the best thing in the world. That blanket of white is what makes it so good and flavorful.” Campbell is a no-nonsense chef, making his obvious respect for his assistant chef all the more striking. “It is definitely a labor of love,” Campbell concurred. “Patience is the key when it comes to charcuterie; patience and passion.”

PRESENTATION IS EVERYTHING

Our personal favorites are the luxurious marble boards created by Young Bros., located directly across the street from Mary Eddy’s. They make tray in the shape of the state for most Territory parties. BEST SOURCING

Mary Eddy’s sells by the pound, if you ask very nicely + Norman’s Forward Foods + Whole Foods Market + OKC’s Native Meat Co. at Urban Agrarian.

Starts at Mickey Mantle Drive between Reno & Sheridan This event is free & open to the public. Trick-or-treaters must be under the age of 14 and be in costume to receive free gifts or candy.

DATING OUTSIDE THE BOX VIA THE BOX Datebox expands nationally thanks to i2e and a whole lotta OKC love. story by Whitney Bryen

Among a pile of wedding gifts was a small cardboard box containing movie tickets, candy and the secret to wedded bliss. A handwritten note inside the box encouraged Brett Kolomyjec and his new bride, Devon, to “never stop dating.” “We thought it was a cool gift, but the weight and relevance of that wisdom came later,” Brett said. It was a little more than three years into their marriage when the Kolomyjecs realized they had settled into a routine of ordering in and zoning out in front of the television instead of planning fun and thoughtful date nights that reignited the connection that first brought them together. Life was getting in the way. And then, they remembered the box. “It wasn’t about what was in the box,” Kolomyjec said, “but the message that if we weren’t intentional about spending time together, we could grow apart.” Now, with nearly five years of marriage under their belts, the couple and their partners are paying it forward and passing on that wisdom through a subscription box service called Datebox. For $28 to $34 a month, a new date-in-a-box is shipped to couples each month complete with an activity, instructions, conversation starters and a customized Spotify playlist. Kits for dancing, painting, coffee roasting and cooking classes—complete with all the needed supplies and instructions—are among the Datebox options. “We spend so much time searching for someone to spend our life with, and then we move on to other needs,” Kolomyjec said. “We want to help people realize it’s a consistent choice, which is why the subscription model works so well for this.” Datebox is now headquartered in Automobile Alley, and one of its five male founders, Ashton Owens, says concept was “born from a pain point of guys who don’t know what to do. I’m terrible at date night.” But don’t worry, said the Oklahoma native. When couples sign up with Datebox, they’re asked if they want in-home boxes or local date nights and how often. The company ships one of six to eight boxes chosen for the couple based on preferences gleaned from an introductory survey. The instruction booklet for each activity includes conversation prompts developed by one of the founders of eHarmony. Since launching two years ago, Datebox has delivered over 130,000 boxes to couples in all 50 states. Last spring,

photo provided Datebox raised $2.6 million through i2E—a private, not-forprofit incubator for Oklahoma entrepreneurs. The money was used to build offices in the Buick Building, increase OKC staff, launch on-the-town date nights, and fund impending expansion into Dallas, LA, Seattle, Phoenix and Nashville. Tyler, a Datebox tester for this story, recently moved from OKC to Chicago. He and girlfriend Megan gave the sushi Datebox a good review: “(C)ooking sushi was a great way to spend an afternoon, but more importantly it was an opportunity to engage in an activity that straddled the line between eating out and relaxing in pajamas.” Our other testers, Taylor and Jamie, grew up in OKC and moved to Dallas after graduating from OU. They were skeptical when their first Datebox arrived. The couple had sworn off subscription services after a few epic fails with subscription meal boxes. But a few days after the coffeeroasting Datebox arrived, they caved. "Each item had a hip, young, chic feel to it, right up our modish, mid-20s alley,” Taylor said. “I began reading the instructions from the booklet and I felt as if I was reading an excerpt from GQ. The layout and design were stylish.” Despite impatience with the hand-grinder and a latenight caffeine buzz, Taylor said the couple ended the night in a burst of laughter. (The prompt in the booklet asked them to stare silently into each other’s eyes.) Success. One couple loved their date night so much that they wrote to Datebox thanking them for the activity— building a pillow fort in their living room—and also announcing their first baby. “Datebox is making kids now,” Owens joked. “So that’s a win for us. Apparently, we’re onto something.” 39

TREASURES AMONG THE DEAD (PEOPLE’S STUFF) Jack SmithSchick stockpiles the concrete mementos of the dead and offers them for the continued enjoyment of the living. story by Jessica Valentine photos by Trace Thomas

The dead leave traces, and their stories live on in the objects left behind. Entering Architectural Antiques & Dead Peoples Stuff feels like walking into an old haunted house. Every gorgeous, disembodied stained-glass window and rusty plow or lightning rod undoubtedly has epic stories to tell—tales of colossal storms, men who tilled the soil and prayed for a bountiful harvest. Brasskeyed cash registers and old pulpits from two centuries past seem to beg to be used once again. The elegant decorative windows and fancy doors could tell us much about the folks who built mansions from the spoils of such labor and resources. Somehow, Jack SmithSchick’s warehouse on Linwood Boulevard just west of downtown belongs in the ghost-town vibe of this stretch of downtown. The name accurately reflects the interior—fireplace mantles, bins filled with crystal doorknobs, light fixtures from old dilapidated buildings, and telephone booths adorn almost every nook of this 40,000-square-foot warehouse. Architectural salvage items mix in with collectibles such as French cemetery crosses, glassware and old paintings—pieces SmithSchick calls “dead people’s stuff.” 40

Restaurant developers, interior designers, and developers find unique pieces here—but it’s a relatively unknown treasure trove for everyday people. “This stuff has seen wars come and go, and the materials these things are made out of aren’t found in any building materials today,” SmithSchick said. “You can probably get a craftsman to build it, but it won’t come from a tree and will have no character.” As much as we might want to write the history of Oklahoma City into each item, the inventory at Architectural Antiques mainly comes from Europe and the upper Midwest, out of what SmithSchick calls the “grandiose era” in the late-19th to early-20th centuries. This includes a mammoth staircase from of an 18th-century, French-Revival-style manor in southwest England that SmithSchick refuses to sell in pieces despite many requests from customers. SmithSchick admits he admires the European penchant for preserving things: “They don’t just blow things up like we do. They will disassemble and save everything and then it gets dispersed all over the EU.”

Over the years, SmithSchick has seen the urban renewal of Oklahoma City and, consequentially, much of its historic architecture flattened. He opened his first architectural salvage store downtown in the early 1980s and recalls, “Nothing was down there except for pigeons, back before Bricktown was Bricktown.” He bought the old Caterpillar equipment warehouse on Linwood in 1999 and turned it into a space for his salvaged inventory. SmithSchick, a Shreveport native, attended LSU in Baton Rouge in the ’60s. He majored in art for a short time before leaving to join the military. Today, Van Gogh and post-Impressionism are just some examples of books that sit on his office shelf as a reminder of his young enthusiasm—something he’ll be the first to say he “never really grew out of.” Still, his Louisiana college days introduced him to the salvage industry, thereby enabling him to appropriate a different lens for his eye for art. “In the late ’60s when they were starting to do the preliminaries for the Super Dome in New Orleans,” he remembers. “They were tearing down a lot of old structures and I needed a summer job.” He began working for a local architect who, like many, bought the remainders of demolition. As he witnessed pieces and history of the New Orleans Italianate aesthetic come down bit by bit, SmithSchick noticed a disheartening reality: even in one of America’s most unique and architecturally intricate cities, “people save nothing.” With demolition companies often pressured to take down buildings as quicky as possible, architects, designers, salvage companies and antique dealers scramble to save any component they possibly can before they’re taken to a landfill. The biggest enemy, says SmithSchick, is time. A little bit of hope glimmers with decor trending toward rustic, urban-farmhouse design, he says. Young homeowners seek more vintage and eclectic design elements. “People want to be different now. So many young people grew up with these design elements that all looked the same, and now they’re getting away from that.” SmithSchick now has additional space in Bradford Ink—an antique store on Wilshire Boulevard—to sell what he describes as “more dead people’s stuff.” If that phrase seems strange, he is quick to point out that “it’s a strange business.”

“This stuff has seen wars come and go, and the materials these things are made out of aren’t found in any building materials today,”

1900 Linwood Blvd; (405) 232-0759. Find them on Facebook. 41

INSIDER

STAG LOUNGE WSKY Lounge has seen some changes. Some literally breathed a sigh of relief when the cigar bar moved the smoking lounge upstairs (holla!). Others hated the switch. WSKY was our swanky go-to bourbon bar, but disagreement led to change. Its new incarnation, Stag Lounge, opened in early September. Can’t wait to see what’s next. 228 NE 2nd St., Deep Deuce. @staglounge

LEAF + BEAN TEA SERVICE Ever feel like an outlet bandit at some of the city’s crazy-busy coffee shops? We love the laid-back vibe of Leaf + Bean in Deep Deuce, perhaps best exemplified by its tea service tray. Locally sourced Woodshed Tea, a timer, and brutally simple info + instruction cards invite us into slower living and savoring. 321 N. Oklahoma Ave., Deep Deuce. leafandbeanokc.com @leafandbeanokc @woodshedtea

DOWNTOWN OKC Can we stop and give a shout to the tiny team that makes downtown living so fun? Territory uses the Downtown OKC online calendar to plan our events coverage (and lives). This fall, Downtown OKC and friends help host Barre3 at Myriad Gardens (10/2), Full Moon Bike Ride & Run (10/5), Midtown Walkabout (10/21), Brick-or-Treat Halloween party (10/24)…and just a lot more. It’s exhausting. In a good way. downtownokc.com/events @downtownokc

NASHBIRD HOT DANG! CHICKEN

Behold, the Nashbird Chicken Biscuit, y’all. They only make two dozen daily (the oven is needed for other things). Grilled chicken is an option, but who are we trying to kid? The lightly breaded, succulent breast meat is sourced from a regional, small farm. The biscuit—let’s admit it, the real star of this show—is beautifully soft, crumbly, and perfected after several tweaks with the flour. Chef/ owner Marc Dunham, the former head man at the Tuttle culinary program, is perfectionistic, to our benefit. The Nashbird menu is simple and well-conceived. Counter service and a $10 (or less) price point makes this a fun, quick stop. 1 NW 9th St., Auto Alley. nashbirdchicken.com @nashbirdchicken Insider recs by Veronica Pasfield & Garrett Davis photos by Trace Thomas 42

WHEEZE

KITCHEN NO. 324 REMIX So long open food displays, hello swanky new bar! Kitchen No. 324 added a bar in early September, in response to the influx of downtown dwellers thirsty for Kitchen’s craft cocktails and a hip place to hang out in the downtown core. Kitchen’s signature green banquettes inspired the design of the updated space. Full confession: we’ve been silently wishing for a bar at Kitchen for a while, such a great stop for a drink before a Civic Center concert. 324 N. Robinson, Downtown. kitchen324.com @kitchen324

STONECLOUD BREWING SOURS + TOURS There’s a sour thing going on with microbrewers right now, and at first we were dubious. But brewer Joel Irby, an Oklahoma native who learned his trade in Colorado, has converted us to this complex and finicky art. His experimental, barrel-aged sours share tap space with juice-infused pale ales, and so much more. Weekend brewery tours started Labor Day weekend. (See our Spring Issue story on Irby at territoryokc.com.) 1012 NW 1st St., Downtown. stonecloudbrewing.com @stonecloudbrewing

When sipping on spirits, wondering where the next bar stop will be, there’s usually a point in the night when your body starts begging for late-night eats. Empire Slice House co-founder Avery Cannon had our backs many a night in the Plaza District. Now, Avery helps us get healthy the morning after at heeze the Juice, his new Deep Deuce juice bar. Wheeze prides itself on whirring up superfood-laced blends of veggies and fruits—sometimes with a base of the excellent housemade almond milk. When our editor got a kidney stone, the first place she went (after the ER) was to Wheeze for something to help purify her body. Avery sent her home with a concoction including lemon water and charcoal compound, advising her to drink pH+ water and lots of lemon. So far, no recurrence. “You can regulate almost every aspect of your health and well-being through fruits and vegetables, which is insane,” said Avery. “You can live any lifestyle you want, but you gotta have that healthy aspect to it, or it’s just one sided.” The dead-on ’80s-themed juicery occupies a front corner of the OKSEA shipping container complex, artfully conceived by developer Richard McKeown. 30 NE 2nd St., Deep Deuce. @wheezeokc Avery created a smoothie just for Territory readers--or specifically, photographer Trace Thomas, who came to the shoot under the weather. Avery designed the Buffy the Vampire Slayer to boost our immune systems when the seasonal viruses start to hit.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»

4 OZ FROZEN PINEAPPLE 4 OZ FROZEN MANGO 2 OZ FROZEN PEACHES 6 OZ FRESH OJ 2 OZ ALMOND MILK 1 LARGE HANDFUL OF FRESH SPINACH 1 OZ FRESH GINGER PINCH CAYENNE

Blend and enjoy! This delicious smoothie is packed with Vitamin C, as well as the anti-inflammatory benefits of ginger and the boosting properties of cayenne.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

I D T OW N Nonesuch LDP Insider

WHAT DOES OKLAHOMA TASTE LIKE TODAY? The hyper local, artfully plated fare at Nonesuch answers this curiosity. story by Whitney Bryene

What does Oklahoma taste like today? This question guides the mission and menu at Nonesuch. In a very real sense, the Nonesuch concept is both the most modern—and the most timeless—restaurant in town. Foraging for wild delicacies, preserving and fermenting, planning around what is most seasonal that week—these traditions have nourished humans for centuries. It has also earned big-city restaurants Michelin stars; the famed Alinea in Chicago and Copenhagen’s Noma jump to mind. And any Netf lix foodie will recognize this approach to dining from series such as Chef ’s Table and Cooked. For nearly two years, devoted wild-crafter Colin Stringer and restaurateur Todd Woodruff have been refining the vision for Nonesuch. The restaurant’s design is dark, sophisticated and, like the food, evocative. The menu focuses on locally sourced ingredients and foraged foods personally gathered by the 28-year-old Stringer, and his sous chefs Jeremy Wolfe and Paul Wang. 46

Diners will be taken on a tour of the flavors of the state. Scavenger hunts yield wild mushrooms, onions, garlic and tasty botanicals found on property owned by friends to wildlife refuges. Stringer’s urban backyard also offers up delicacies such as henbit and wood sorrel, which taste like lemon. Scavenged ingredients are complemented by fresh produce and occasional meat brought in from local vendors. “Our generation has become really disconnected from natural foods because of all of the processed and frozen foods we grew up on,” said Stringer. “I’m just trying to reconnect with where food comes from.” No detail went unconsidered inside the dining room. Woodruff invested in custom cutlery by OKC’s Voight Knives and tableware by Sage Eden pottery. Such creates a handcrafted setting for dishes that will be as much edible art as sustenance. Further, diners only receive a menu upon request, after the meal and delivered in a sealed black envelope, and not a moment before. It will serve more as a memento than a menu.

"I want it to be like a real hedonistic experience in a way. I want it to be a sensory overload because those are the meals I’ve experienced that I’m in love with." –Colin Stringer

“We want you to suspend control while you’re with us,” Woodruff said. “We’ve got you.” The 20-seat tasting-menu eatery opens October 4. Reservations run like a pop-up; they are made and paid for in advance at nonesuch.tocktix.com. Guests can up-ticket wine and courses on site as well. Stringer and Wolfe collaborated on Nani, a private dinner club that was shut down by the Oklahoma Health Department in 2015. They recruited Wang from his most recent gig, a Noma pop-up in LA. “I was one of the first people to experience Nani,” said Woodruff. “I heard about it through some friends. I didn’t really know the guys who were doing it, but after I experienced the dinner I was giving them hugs. I was impacted emotionally.” Woodruff opened Waffle Champion four years ago, and nearby Maple Barbecue last spring. His Buttermilk Southern Sliders food truck will morph into a Plaza District restaurant next spring. Nonesuch is his first leap into fine dining and it’s a big leap, a giant leap. The next year has the potential to elevate Woodruff to a league with other local restaurant groups. “Waffle Champion took off, so now I’m working on passion projects,” Woodruff said, “things I really believe in and I feel like there’s a void in the market. Why else do you get into this business? I don’t care if it’s not playing by rules, and I don’t care if it might crash and burn. That’s what I mean by passion project.” It all hangs on whether Oklahomans are ready for such an experience, and if they like the true flavors of Oklahoma. “We are here to explore that and continually cook new dishes that tell that narrative,” Stringer said. “I want it to be like a real hedonistic experience in a way. I want it to be a sensory overload because those are the meals I’ve experienced that I’m in love with.” 803 N. Hudson, Midtown. nonesuch.toctix.com @nonesuchokc 47

LUNCH • DINNER • BRUNCH • 405.235.2200 48

MIDTOWN • 1201 N. WALKER AVE. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73103

LDP IN 5,4,3... He would set up Midtown as a benevolent monarchy with himself in charge if it were in his power, and the result would likely be creative, fun, interesting and collaborative. interview by Greg Horton photos by Trace Thomas

We begin with a full disclosure: Larry Dean Pickering is my friend. That’s part of the reason the editor asked me to interview him. Larry—LDP to his friends—appeared either overtly or subtly in most of our early issues. Whether it was LDP, quaffer of bubbles, or LDP, the “get off my lawn” guy associated with H&8th, we wove him into the magazine because he’s as much a feature of the urban core as any landmark down here. To treat LDP as only a sort of Ignatius J. Reilly of Midtown is a mistake, though. LDP is known in most of the bars and restaurants in the urban core because they are his haunts, but he’s also known in the professional offices because of his gifts for art and architectural design. IN WHAT IMPORTANT WAYS DO YOU THINK MIDTOWN HAS CHANGED VIA RECENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, AND WHY SHOULD PEOPLE CARE?

The obvious answer is new construction and the influx of people. Still, I think Midtown is missing a tremendous opportunity to be completely different than any other developing area. Our neighborhood districts are encapsulating. They have no place to grow, but Midtown has space still. The district’s future success is based on density. The bombing left a bunch of damaged buildings down here. In the process of urban renewal, a couple of dozen buildings were torn down, which made space for development. We need to focus on “densifying” the area now. Eliminate lot lines and just build side by side. Stop trying to cram parking lots between the buildings. We need a parking solution, and a multi-story parking lot is one part of the solution, but throwing a tiny parking lot between buildings is not an answer. Fix the sidewalks. Downtown OKC, Inc., has been preaching walkability but the developers aren’t listening. We don’t have to cater to cars everywhere. What would Midtown look like if we cut off Harvey and Hudson between NW 10th and 13th? We would have this awesome area in Midtown for pedestrians

and bikes. We don’t need every street down here to be a through street. We have enough cheaply built apartments down here. Please quote me on that. Cheaply built. We also have enough $500,000 homes. To make density a reality, we have to focus on mixed-use buildings. Give people different options in terms of the cost of housing, and encourage retail businesses to share space with residential. IF I GAVE YOU $100,00 AND 30 UNRESTRICTED MINUTES ON A BULLDOZER, HOW WOULD YOU MAKE OKC A BETTER PLACE?

I’d take out the Land Run sculpture in Bricktown, and then I’d give ten Native American artists $10,000 apiece to sculpt something else. It’s not the same as the Confederate monuments, but the principle is similar. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not a fan of certain bars down here. The crowd they draw—the as much booze as possible as fast as possible crowd—is not conducive to or necessary for a vibrant community. You’ve seen the trash pick up I do every Saturday and Sunday.* Part of redevelopment means businesses are accountable for the kind of product or service they offer and the clientele they attract. *Note: If you don’t follow LDP on social media, you do miss out on one of the best continues on pg 72

INSIDER

DOING GOOD, BEAUTIFULLY An old tire shop transforms into a complex stitching together cause and craftsmanship.

In Spanish, Siempre Viva means succulent; the words literally translate to always alive. The Siempre Viva boutique in Midtown immerses visitors in lively color, pattern and texture. The tunics, dresses, jumpers, huaraches, accessories, and home goods serve as a canvas for the creativity of skilled makers. Siempre Viva’s Mexican artisans adorn their crafts with care, incorporating the color and f lare of their vibrant culture. The threads, leather, wood, and metal that comprise each good represent the work of earnest hands and ambitious hearts. Sally January introduces our city to the beauty of Modern Pueblo while giving us the opportunity to engage in conscious and cause-centered shopping. Sally has created a space where tangible beauty and heart collide. We’ve all said it to ourselves, after an amazing trip:

“I could totally see myself living there.” Sally had the same thought, but acted on it. After spending time in Colima, Mexico, as an exchange student through a Sister Cities International Program, Sally decided to stay. At the age of 15, she left her home in Norman, enrolled in high school in Colima, and began her life there. As Sally became fluent in Spanish, her love for the people grew. She went on to study International Development at the University of Colorado, and spent time in Spain. Sally wanted to return and give back to the region of Mexico she called home. A little over two years ago, Siempre Viva began with one skirt and one woman. That one item of merchandise has now grown to a full range of products and more than 30 makers, sold online and via 70 retail locations nationally. Sally regularly visits Colima, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. She works alongside makers, coaching and encouraging. She offers sustainable employment and fair wages. The majority of her makers are women providing for their families. It’s a lot of work, but a lot of fun. Sally raves about Colima’s food, nightlife, and beaches. When there, she spends her mornings with artisans and meets up later on the beach with her husband and twin boys, Silas and Cruz. Out of 30 applicants, Siempre Viva was chosen to receive a start-up gift and initial free rent in the old Swanson’s Tire Shop redevelopment. The development group that awarded the prize includes Keith Paul, owner of A Good Egg Dining Group. Their most recent concept, Barrios Fine Mexican Dishes, is adjacent to Siempre Viva’s space. At Barrios you’ll taste the heritage of Mexico, at Siempre Viva you can wear it. We delight in knowing our purchases are creating real and lasting change for our sisters south of the border. siemprevivaclothing.com @siemprevivaclothing —Maggie Murdock Nichols

photos by Trace Thomas and James Corley 50

BRUNCH MIDTOWN’S WEEKEND BRUNCH SCENE JUST GOT A LOT BETTER BECAUSE OF THE OLD SWANSON’S COMPLEX, TOO. ON SATURDAYS, HALL’S PIZZA KITCHEN SERVES UP BREAKFAST SLICES ADORNED WITH THYME EGGS, SAUSAGE, HONEY AND SRIRACHA, AS WELL AS A TRULY DECADENT GLAZED CINNAMON ROLL. THEHALLSPIZZA.COM

@thehallspizza —Veronica Pasfield

405 YOGA 405 YOGA opened last May in the former Swanson’s Tire Shop building. Owner Merideth VanSant, an Edmond native, had been working as a consultant in Washington, D.C. when she set her sights on a fresh challenge. A young mom and newly trained yogi, she opened 405 YOGA, a Power Flow studio in the capitol. “It’s an adage around D.C. that you can sneeze and hit an awesome coffee shop or yoga studio. So, with D.C. nearing its saturation point and our team wanting to expand, we identified our hometown as our market,” VanSant said. The Midtown studio features a glass roll-up door as a nod to the building’s former life as a tire shop. Sara Kate Studios incorporated industrial lighting and minimalist design. VanSant’s family frequented Swanson’s Tires, and she feels “it’s a beautiful thing to have the privilege to serve out the space” and to keep the tradition of family-owned business alive. Power Flow yoga moves quickly, is great for strength training and will leave you feeling energized. VanSant says most importantly, she wants students to feel included in community. “It’s a place where women are building each other up, where it’s a safe space to become the strongest versions of yourself,” she said. VanSant also co-founded True U, a nonprofit that brings yoga and meditation to inner-city girls and is fully funded by donors. VanSant encourages Territory readers to reach out with recommendations. 405yogaokc.com @405Yoga —Emily Hopkins

JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM THIS PROMISING NEW CLUSTER, LUDIVINE’S SUNDAY BRUNCH IN EVERY WAY SHOWCASES THE SKILL OF THAT FARM-INFORMED KITCHEN, WHILE KEEPING IT HOMEY AND LOW-KEY. JUST WHEN WE THINK WE’VE FOUND THE BEST DISH, THE KITCHEN INNOVATES EACH WEEK. OUR ONLY ADVICE: GO!

805 N. Hudson. Ludivineokc.com @ludivineokc —Veronica Pasfield All located at 1004 N. Hudson Ave.

SAT URD AY, O C T OB E R 2 1 , 2 PM - 6 PM s on down Get your tootsie 21st Saturday, OCT for the from 2pm-6pm

WHAT'S HAPPENING

PTOWN/PASEO

State of War | Sound Check | Insider

STATE OF WAR The Oklahoma History Center revisits the Vietnam War and its aftermath. story by Greg Horton

Thuan Nguyen was the first Vietnamese refugee I met. He showed up for football practice one day in 1978. Slender, athletic and quick, he was a perfect cornerback, and he could hit. The coaches loved him; he loved football and learned it quickly. After we learned to pronounce his name, he became part of the group. Nguyen was not in the first group of refugees who came to the U.S. after the fall of Saigon in 1975, but he was not far behind. We were 14, and we were both navigating our lives as Americans while not talking about a war that made the navigation necessary. His presence in my life was not the first impact of the Vietnam War. My father was a veteran, and long before anyone knew what PTSD was, my father was helplessly shredding our family with his inability to readjust after his service as a combat medic. He went as a healer; he returned broken beyond repair. Growing up in the Army meant everyone I knew had been impacted by the war, but over the decades, the memories have faded from the public consciousness, and now I have to tell my college students about the war and even which war I’m referencing. In November, the Oklahoma History Center launches an exhibit intended to highlight the impacts of the Vietnam War on Oklahoma. According to the History Center website, 988 Oklahomans gave their lives in service to the Vietnam War. The exhibition includes thousands of artifacts, photographs, recordings, interactive displays, and even a Huey helicopter suspended from the ceiling of the temporary exhibit space. Larry O’Dell is director of special projects and development at the center. He and his team assembled artifacts and interviews with American veterans, as well as Vietnamese refugees and their descendants. O’Dell said it was important to Executive Director Dr. Bob Blackburn that the exhibit remind Oklahomans of the strong presence of refugees in our history. The day this piece was written, when President Trump announced his decision to rescind DACA. We have always, it seems, had an uneasy relationship with newcomers. When the first Vietnamese refugees arrived in Oklahoma City from Ft. Chaffee, Ark., less than 40% of Americans supported the resettlement efforts, despite the fact that most who came had aided the U.S. Among those early refugees was Ban Nguyen, now a partner in Jimmy’s Egg restaurants. He married wife Ann in 1986, after graduating Oklahoma State University. A CIA operative who was a friend of the Ban’s father helped the family get out of Vietnam at the end of the war. Nguyen’s story, which he tells for the installation, is relayed in a matter-of-fact tone, but the details are harrowing, including hiding in the trunk of a car, using fake documents, separation from their father, and enough details to make a damn good movie.

“My father was a formal military man,” Nguyen said. “He was career military who finished as a colonel in the Vietnamese Army. From 1959 to 1962, he was the governor of the state of this province in Vietnam, and from 1966 to 1970, he was the mayor.” Like many refugees, Nguyen’s father’s career accomplishments could not earn him special place or privilege; they had to start over. Such reflections of the refugees and the veterans are the heart of the exhibit. Al Lovelace is a retired Air Force colonel, and was stationed at Da Nang. He and wife Merline seem haunted by stories that remain unresolved. “When we were going to Air Command Staff College in Alabama, we were going with a young Cambodian officer,” Al said. “We had officers from many, many countries in our class and this is a time when all the killing was going on over in Cambodia. His family was still there and he decided he had to go back and try to get them out. So, we took up a collection among our class and I think maybe we gave him $1,500 or so. But at the time, they were killing all of the military and all the educated people. We put him on a plane and (it was) a pretty tearful thing because we never heard from him again, and I would imagine that he was killed when he landed over there.” Retired Air Force Col. Merline Lovelace was the executive officer for the 377th Combat Wing Commander in Vietnam. “I went to the wedding of one of my employees,” Merline remembered, “and I loved it because they got married in a Western ceremony one day, wearing white and a veil. The next day we went back for a Taoist ceremony, and she was in red and gold and it was beautiful. I don’t know what happened to her. We lost touch when I came back…I feel bad about that.” The exhibit won’t be able to finish out the unfinished stories and memories of what was once America’s longest war—since eclipsed by Afghanistan—but it can help shed some muchneeded light on the complex ways refugees make a new life in America, and how American soldiers cope with their often-contradictory relationships to the victims of war, including themselves.

Opens November 9-12 with The Wall That Heals, a traveling scale model of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive. okhistory.org.

INSIDER

BUNNY TRAIL

PASTOR DONE RIGHT

A new concept from the team at Packard’s New American Kitchen, Hunny Bunny Biscuit Co. Chef Chris McKenna is a man of few words and many talents. The new breakfast and lunch spot will feature “scratch-made biscuit sandwiches,” counter service, and lots of coffee options. Launch set for early November. The line starts right behind us. 429 NW 23rd St. @hunnybunnybiscuitco

One of the better arguments for multiculturalism is what some consider the greatest taco ever invented, tacos al pastor. Emilio Granja’s new restaurant, El Fogoncito, brings this classic to the Paseo. During the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century, Lebanese immigrants came to Mexico and brought shawarma with them. Mexican cooks made it their own. Guanja takes pride in that: “We butcher all the meat ourselves… it takes about three days to prepare” before it goes on the spit. Full story at territoryokc.com. 3020 N. Walker, at the corner of NW 30th.

TIX + BUNS It’s a new kind of dinner and show-urbun Korean bun shop is the official ticket sales office for the Tower Theatre. Thinkno online service fee + preferential seating options such as the balcony and front row while eating delicious Korean buns. 431 NW 23rd St. @urbuneats @towertheatreokc

POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME Norman’s Syrup Breakfast Boutique, which built a reputation for community and Crunchy French Toast, just opened a stylish new location Uptown. The white-andmarble decor and homey breakfast and lunch eats (including a gluten-free menu) are so welcome. 1501 NW 23rd St. @syrup_breakfast_okc

Insider recs by Laura Rossi & Trace Thomas

SOUND CHECK Two new stages, so many national acts, our choices for both. story by Sophia Massad

Tower Theatre IRMA THOMAS // OCTOBER 18

JOHN MORELAND // DECEMBER 2

The Blind Boys of Alabama and the Preservation Hall Legends Quintet bring NOLa, in a big way. If you didn’t get enough of that good-good at Jazz Fest, or your soul needs healing, anyone who knows about either on knows that this show is where it’s at.

Fresh off a national tour and attendant national media attention (including a masterful appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, well worth a watch), Rolling Stone and The New Yorker alike call him an inheritor of Townes Van Zandt’s legacy. His latest, Big Bad Luv, portrays a rich and heartfelt Americana sound that captivates with raw vocals and poetic lyrics. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St. towertheatreokc.com @towertheatreokc

PENNY & SPARROW // NOV. 8

In support of their upcoming album, Wendigo, Penny and Sparrow bring their warm folk sound. Similar to Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, and Mumford & Sons, Penny & Sparrow captivate with mesmerizing harmonies and telling lyrics.

The Jones Assembly

The Criterion

CUT COPY // OCTOBER 5

THE XX // OCT. 12

Australia’s Cut Copy offers a fresh take on electronic indie dance music—as Rolling Stone said, “Gary Newman on Prozac and ecstasy” that collages weird samples and live beats “to create something magically evocative and new.” They debut their ninth release, Haiku from Zero, September 22nd.

This indie pop trio revamped the quaint sound of the first album, Coexist, and really brought out a bigger and more explorative sound with its latest, I See You. Ominous sounds and lyrics feel beautifully haunting. KID CUDI // NOV. 2

The Passion, Pain, and Demon Slayin’ world tour stops in Bricktown. After debuting his single Day n’ Night in 2008, Kid Cudi quickly became a beloved and prolific artist. with spellbinding alternative hip-hop artist. 500 E. Sheridan. criterionokc.com @criterionokc

ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES // OCTOBER 13

Like so much Southern rock, this Alabama-based, high-voltage act is undercut with deep soul influences only enhanced by a new recording out of Nashville Sound Emporium. Guitars and keys are joined by a solid brass presence on their new release Sea of Noise. 901 W. Sheridan. thejonesassembly.com @thejonesokc 61

WHAT'S HAPPENING

ESTERN

AVE & BEYOND

Dr. Ertle Wine Column Insider Culturati

NECESSITY AND THE FATHER OF INVENTION From the trenches of WWI to OU, the Ertl Method lives on. by Veronica Pasfield

World War I was a savage, brutish war, where pitched battles were fought from trenches at close range. Equipment was crude by today’s standards, and often soldier had to the most dangerous thing of all to enact their grisly task—they had to poke their heads up out of a trench, or run across a blasted battleground to rescue a comrade. The injuries from such wars were profound. Dr. William John Ertl sat at a conference table in a spotless white doctor’s coat, and opened a 1939 surgical textbook. The yellowing pages showed soldiers with missing pieces of their lower jaws, or massive trenches in their skulls gouged out by bullets. Photos document human lives taken from catastrophic wound to, miraculously, near-restoration. Over months, the photographs show bodies regaining healthier form and function. It’s freaky, frankly, and almost unbelievable. But these results are quite real, and tested over the last three generations. The author of the 1939 textbook? Dr. Janos Ertl, William’s grandfather and a WWI combat surgeon for Hungary. Janos pioneered what’s now known as the Ertl Procedure, a bone grafting technique. Now a standard of care worldwide, the Ertl Procedure chisels off periosteum, and grafts it onto damaged bones. The graft actually regenerates new bone mass. “Patients not only cosmetically would look better, but they would function better,” explained William, an orthopedic surgeon at OU hospital. “Sometimes from their injury they would lose their teeth, but they could eat, or there was a defect and (it) all grew back in.” This generation’s Dr. Ertl takes care of traumatic amputations as part of the Level 1 Trauma team at University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Such emergencies hold intense challenges since many patients have multiple serious injuries, and more than one surgeon is needed to save life and limb. Dr. Ertl researches and works collaboratively across OU teams to enact his grandfather’s time-honored techniques, but also to evolve them. He’s currently focused on improving outcomes for above-knee amputation. He’s also dedicated to maintaining the integrity of how the original Ertl techniques are deployed, and expresses concern with protocols within the military. An improperly done amputation, he explained, makes it much harder to have success with prosthetics and physical therapy. Such profoundly affects quality of life. Start with a good foundation, do it properly, and keep learning. These were fundamental ideals the Ertl family brought from Hungary when they emigrated to the United States after WWII. 64

TELL ME ABOUT GROWING UP IN A FAMILY WITH SUCH A FASCINATING LEGACY.

My mom wanted to be a nurse, and my parents met (when) my dad did his residency, after he came to the United States. He was basically drafted into the Korean War before he was made a citizen. I remember seeing a picture in his office of him in his naval uniform, being sworn into (citizenship). The story I remember is he got this draft notice and he said. “How can I be drafted, I’m not a citizen?” And they said, “Well, put your uniform on and raise your right hand.’ He spent two years in the Korean War on a naval ship. I grew up in Chicago. I had to do a science paper in grade school, and I learned quickly not to leave it to the last minute. My father said, “Who do you want to write on?” And I said, Opa, or Grandfather. This was on Saturday night. At five (the next) morning, my dad knocks on the door. It was in the middle of winter, about 30 degrees outside, and we sat in his office and talked. Then I wrote and he read it, and then I had to correct it. Then he said, “Well, you got it wrong” and we would talk more, and he would explain to me things about his father. His family members were hikers and we are hikers. When we would go walking, he would tell us stories. Right before he passed away, he was starting to tell us what he went through during WWII. My cousin, when he graduated, had a candlelit graduation. I leaned over to my dad and said, “This is romantic.” I was 16 or something, and he goes, “Oh, I graduated by candlelight, too…we had to do it because there was a bombing raid. The Allies were bombing Budapest.” (He) pretty much escaped through the underground, from Budapest to Germany. IN A WAY, YOU’RE THE INHERITOR OF EPIC STRUGGLES. YOU COME INTO PEOPLE’S LIVES AT AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TIME, TOO.

The hardest part to take care of is the acute trauma, because nobody desires to wake up and get in the car and get hit by a bus, or they get hurt on their job—let alone have a limb-threatening injury that may resolve in amputation. Last night there was a guy just working an engine and the engine block fell over and he probably will need an amputation for his arm. So those are the challenging patients because their life changes in an instant. But what I try to do is be supportive with them and show them that, even with a missing limb, they can still have a very high quality of life. What we have seen with our patient surveys is that it takes about two years (to)

The Point of Better Living

A contemporary live-work-play community From upscale townhomes to corporate offices, Wilshire Point offers both commercial and residential properties. Some of our amenities include dining, walking trails, parks, resort pool and SPA/fitness center and private garage and storage! East of Nichols Hills, a modern mixed-use commercial and residential community. Located on 26 verdant acres in north Oklahoma City, along the east side of Classen, south of Wilshire.

Contact: David Bohanon, Broker/Owner • 405.850.0987 • dbohanon@blackstonecom.com • WilshirePoint.com

WHITE AMERICANS Not that kind. Domestic Chardonnay, broadended beautifully. by Greg Horton

Chardonnay remains the most popular white wine served by the glass in Oklahoma, and while that points to a troubling lack of imagination and adventurousness in the wine-drinking public, domestic Chardonnay is worth some exploration. It’s also a great value, with price points that make them an easy risk. We will break the varietal into three styles: oaky, moderate oak, and stainless-steel fermented. The most popular style in Oklahoma (and other places) for a couple decades now has been the oaky style. You’ll know when someone prefers it, because they will say things like, “I love buttery Chardonnay,” or…actually, that’s it. That is the dead giveaway. The butter, toast, and vanilla notes come from the French oak barrels, not the grape itself. The analogy that best serves is one related to another favorite human obsession: sex. Preferring Chardonnay that tastes buttery to Chardonnay that tastes like Chardonnay is rather like preferring the edible underwear to the sex itself; the oak barrel is not the point. If that style is your preference, I won’t make fun of you for it. There are times when that style makes sense, but sipping wine at happy hour is not one of them. More approachable by far, and truer to the varietal uniqueness of Chardonnay, are the lightly or moderately oaked expressions—wines that rely on mostly neutral oak, which is oak that tends to impart very little flavors to the wine. Thanks to the price of French oak barrels, the cost of the big Chardonnays can be prohibitive, and if you opt for a less expensive buttery bottle, you’re getting oak staves, or worse, oak chips, not high-quality French barrels. Bridging this gap is the Goldilocks of Chardonnay: domestic, moderately oaked expressions that run from $12 to $25 a bottle. From Appellation Wine Company, one of the most respected names in domestic wines, comes True Myth Chardonnay at about $14 a bottle. Present are plenty of stone fruit and tropical notes on this one, as well as the creaminess associated with oaked white wines. That’s the main draw of moderately oaked Chardonnay, by the way: all the creaminess without the butter and spices notes. Pro tip: The

whole of Appellation Wine Company is excellent, so look for Baileyana, Paraiso, Tangent, and Zocker, as well. Alpha Omega is known for classic Napa wines, but for their Alpha Omega II Chardonnay, they asked Bordeaux winemaker Michel Rolland to collaborate on a wine that blended the best of Old and New World. For under $25, you get the acidity and structure of France with the fruit-forwardness of Napa. Monterey County in California produces excellent Chardonnay, but it’s hard to beat Ian Brand’s price point on Le P’tit Paysan Jack’s Hill Chardonnay. Brand also loves the Old World, so mixed in with the stone and orchard fruits are solid minerality and bright acidity. One of the hottest names in winemaking is Andrew Jones of Field Recordings, and his Wonderwall Chardonnay from the Central Coast is an outstanding introduction to his style: fresh, crisp fruit flavors, lively acidity, and solid balance. Expect orange peel, pear, stone and tropical fruits. Pro tip: To get a super affordable sample of Jones’s winemaking, pick up Fiction White Wine (Chardonnay) in the can. Washington produces good Chardonnay, and Owen Roe Sharecropper’s Chardonnay is a steal at about $16. You will get some of the toast from the oak, but it’s integrated into solid tropical and orchard fruit flavors. Disruption is also a relatively new line for Oklahoma. The Chardonnay from the Ancient Lakes appellation is full of green apple, tropical fruits and solid minerality. You get enough creaminess to balance out the zippy acid, too, and it’s about $13. Pro tip: Washington produces some of the best fruit in the world, and the prices are much lower than California and Oregon, meaning you get comparable quality at a fraction of the cost of Napa, Sonoma and Chehalem appellations. Available in better wine shops such as Edmond Wine Shop and Freeman’s Liquor Mart. Most stores can order any wine available in Oklahoma and have it in stock in a day or two. Spanish Springs Vineyard in Pismo Beach, CA, the main source for Field Recordings Chardonnay. Photo by Randy Searcy. 67

Life and Legacy: The Art of Jerome Tiger August 25, 2017 – May 13, 2018

Stickball, “Beginning to End.” Jerome Tiger (Muscogee/Seminole), 1966. The Arthur and Shifra Silberman Collection, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. 1996.27.0984.

1700 Northeast 63rd Street Oklahoma City, OK (405) 478-2250 nationalcowboymuseum.org

Exhibition Sponsor KFOR News Channel 4 Museum Partners Devon Energy Corp. • E.L. & Thelma Gaylord Foundation Major Support The Oklahoman Media Company • The True Foundation

INSIDER SUNDAY SUPPER CLUB

UNMASKED GALA

Boulevard Steakhouse

October 27

Edmond natives rejoice—the first Sunday of every month Boulevard Steakouse hosts a “Dine at Your Own Pace” dinner for $125 a couple, including 3-4 courses and wine pairings. Visiting wine reps share knowledge, and Edmond Wine Shop is on hand with special pricing. 505 S. Blvd, Edmond. boulevardsteakhouse.com

An important cause, indeed, the Oklahoma Behavioral Health Association launches a new fund-raising party at Will Rogers Theater Halloween weekend. Proceeds benefit behavioral health and addiction treatment advocacy and training. The party promises to be fun with cocktail attire, or costumes for the brave. 7-10 pm. 4322 N. Western Ave. Details on Eventbrite.

LEARN TO SAIL October 7-8 If this fall is anything like year, it will be the perfect time to take the Learn to Sail Keelboat class taught by Riversport, at Lake Hefner’s Sailing Center on Hobie Point. This class is for total beginners, and teaches basics like steering, knots, lines and tacking. Details at riversportokc.org.

Insider recs by Veronica Pasfield & Garrett Davis

WESTMINSTER FALL FEST 27 October 27 Be the hero, bring the kiddos, and celebrate the season at Westminster Presbyterian Church’s shindig. Games, a costume walk, food, and good clean fun for the fam. 5-7 pm. 4400 N. Shartel Ave. Details on Eventbrite.

A/W ‘17

7302 N. Western Ave. / shoprosegold.com

CMY

Lord of of the the Flies Flies Lord Oct.26-28, 26-28,2017 2017 Oct. ages12+ 12+ ages

Junie B B in in Jingle Jingle Junie Bells Batman Smells Bells Batman Smells Nov.27-Dec. 27-Dec.17, 17,2017 2017 Nov. allages ages all

Dorothy and and the the Dorothy Wizard of Oz Wizard of Oz Participation Play Play AA Participation for children children ages ages 3+ 3+ for Feb. 23-Mar. 23-Mar. 9, 9, 2018 2018 Feb.

Check the the website website for for classes, classes, Check camps, and and fun fun opportunities opportunities camps,

OklahomaChildrensTheatre.org ENROLL: 606-7003 TICKETS: 951-0011

Pecos Bill Bill and and the the Pecos Ghost Stampede Ghost Stampede Mar. 22-Apr. 22-Apr. 5, 5, 2018 2018 Mar. ages 5+ 5+ ages

2017-18 SEASON

Pinocchio Pinocchio

Apr. 20-May 20-May 4, 4, 2018 2018 Apr. ages 5+ 5+ ages

Oklahoma Arts Council Inasmuch Foundation Allied Arts National Endowment for the Arts Oklahoma City University Oklahoma City Community Foundation Kirkpatrick Family Fund • Chickasaw Nation Red River Community Corps • Bank SNB Reagan Smith Energy Solutions, Inc. BancFirst • Mercedes-Benz of OKC • MidFirst Bank HoganTaylor CPAs • Gumerson + Blake American Fidelity Foundation

*Note: This is true. It was summer. I was trapped inside on deadline. He put a small, iced lunch bag on the back of his scooter and brought me rosé. FOOD PLAYS AN OUTSIZED ROLE IN YOUR CREATIVE LIFE. WHY?

LDP JUMP

Some of it has to do with my mother and her hospitality. Also, I think food is a pivotal shared activity. It’s communal. Cooking is therapeutic for me, too. I can just focus on the food and not projects or money. It’s a dream of mine to be in the food industry someday. I don’t know how that will happen yet. I think, too, that you slowly find your niche. I’ve done enough restaurants that I’m good at restaurants now.

Necessity and The Father of Invention from pg 64

emotionally and mentally accept the fact that they are an amputee. They go through all the stages of grief. Anger is one of the things that stays with them a little bit longer— anger they ended up with an amputation because of someone else’s poor judgement, or their arm got ripped off because of the oil well.

LDP in 5,4,3... from pg 49

uses of social media: his trash pick-up inventory. Recent entries include beer cans, liquor bottles, used condoms, and abandoned underwear. If you know which bars he lives close to, this will not come as a surprise. YOU’VE DONE QUITE A FEW BUILD OUTS FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS (CULTIVAR, NONESUCH, REVEL 8, ETC.). WHAT ARE SOME SIGNATURE WAYS YOU’RE CREATING GOOD ENVIRONMENTS FOR EVERYONE TO EXPERIENCE?

In my notes I have: “I don’t know what the f**k that means.” I guess I’ll answer this way. I’m a design facilitator. I left the architectural ego behind six years ago, and now I really want to help people make their dreams come true. I can get behind that, and I like to take strong input from my clients. We collaborate on every project. I’m not breaking new ground on design, but I’m helping people realize their dreams, and they do that best when they’re allowed to express themselves in the process. WHAT ARE THE MOST SURPRISING THINGS YOU’VE BEEN ABLE TO DO ON A SCOOTER, AND IS THERE SOMETHING MAYBE EVEN PREFERABLE ABOUT SCOOTER LIFE?

I’m surprised more people don’t have scooters downtown. They can be a bit dangerous, obviously, but other than walking, they’re the best. I do “hillbilly hauling” on my scooter, and I brought you wine.* Hillbilly hauling involves steel, tools and equipment for job sites, among other things. 72

YOU ALSO DEAL WITH EMOTIONAL TRAUMA, NOT JUST TRAUMA TO THE BODY.

Some people don’t get over that mountain that they’re climbing and I’ve seen it also absolutely 180 degrees in the other direction, where they take control of their life. That’s the one thing (my dad) always pressed on me when I was little: it’s not called plastic surgery, it’s reconstructive surgery. Amputations are reconstructive. He always looked at surgery as restoring some function. So, getting those patients over that mountain is important. I try to empower the patient; are you going to do your rehab? And if you do, you can see other patients in the clinic doing better than they ever thought they would. Amputation is a disability, it’s a void, a loss. But…why not reach for those goals? HOW DID YOU END UP IN OKLAHOMA?

I walked into my mentor’s operating room—he’s from Texas and he had that Texas drawl. He was doing a unique approach to a fracture and I wanted to see. He just stopped and looked at me and said, “If you don’t go work for (OU), I will.” (OU was building) the trauma program. They needed more trauma surgeons and when I heard my mentor say that, I was like, ‘I better call.’ I HEAR YOU SAYING, ‘GET IT RIGHT’ A LOT, KIND OF LIKE YOUR DAD SAID TO YOU WHEN YOU WERE WRITING THAT PAPER.

We (hosted) three amputation symposiums in three years and only two surgeons showed up, though a lot of (related fields) came. We educated a lot of people, but a lot of surgeons don’t put stock in doing a quality amputation.

CASADY SQUARE 9209 N. PENNSYLVANIA OKLAHOMA CITY 405.842.2262 REDCHATEAU.NET MONDAY-SATURDAY 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM FORMERLY RED CHATEAU

CASADY SQUARE 9221 N. PENNSYLVANIA 405.840.5323 MIDTOWN 2500 N. MAY AVENUE 405.842.2444 NEWLEAFFLORIST.NET

"Surgeons look at amputation as a failure; as a surgery of failure. (It’s) the pink elephant in the room. I see amputation as an opportunity to get rid of what is dysfunctional." The surgeon creates a limb that is the foundation, and if you don’t do that, how can you expect a patient to successfully use a prosthesis, and to then go to a therapist and get their functional capabilities back? If you have a poorly done amputation, then they’re going to be frustrated because they are going to be spending so much money on prostheses. And when they can’t use the prosthesis, they’ll sit in their wheelchair. BEING JONAS ERTL’S GRANDSON, WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ADD TO THE LEGACY OF THE ERTL METHOD?

Through the research, (I’m) trying to re-educate people on really the fundamentals of the Ertl procedure…. My hope is before I leave this planet, to have that impact, or at least to try to educate people (more)…. Surgeons look at amputation as a failure; as a surgery of failure. (It’s) the pink elephant in the room. I see amputation as an opportunity to get rid of what is dysfunctional. What we have seen in some of our research studies is that when amputees get a sound amputation with functional prosthetics, they can pretty much do work-simulated tasks just as well as a non-amputee. They just do it a little slower. I felt like I knew my grandfather, but I never met him. He passed away after he came to the United States, six months later, because of renal failure. He was given an appointment at the University of Chicago and you always wonder, what if he had done that? I guess existentially I’m trying to do now what maybe my grandfather would have done in the ’50s, before the end of his career. Maybe in the back of my mind, subconsciously, I have been trying to extend that legacy to modern-day science, studying at the tissue, cellular and functional level. Sophia Massad assisted with this story. Archival photo courtesy of the Ertl family. Dr. William Ertl photo courtesy of OU Physicians.

TERRITORY AD PHOTO CREDITS Interior Gilt-photo by Courtney Waugh, model Jessi Murray of Brink Models Packard's-photo by Courtney Waugh Scott Cleaners-J Gwyn Photography, featuring the OKC Ballet Stella-photo by Madi Rae Jones Urbun-photo by Trace Thomas ZT Cigars-photo by Aaron Slagell Bedlam BBQ-photo by Trace Thomas Chisholm Creek- photos by Choate House and provided FNB-photos by Trace Thomas and David Cobb The Jones Assembly-photos by Maddie Rae Jones

A carefully curated guide to the most compelling & worthy cultural events in Oklahoma Veronica Pasfield, editor Leigh Naifeh, assistant editor

DANCE Swan Lake // October 20-22 by Greg Horton photos by Shevaun Williams

Prior to the Oklahoma City Ballet’s performances of Sleeping Beauty last February, Robert Mills, the ballet’s artistic director, told the audience that 2017 would be a very special year for the company. “The company will perform all three pieces of Tchaikovsky’s ballet trilogy in one calendar year,” Mills said. Sleeping Beauty was the first, and the company will close the year with The Nutcracker, as is their tradition. Between the two is Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece, Swan Lake, which OKC Ballet stages October 20-22. The story itself is a mishmash of German and Russian fairy tales, as well as some invention on the part of Tchaikovsky. The result is a dramatic love story with a tragic ending, almost as if Shakespeare, the Grimms, and Greek mythology made a story baby. He’s not overstating in saying, “This is the cornerstone of classical ballet repertoire.” The music is both stunningly beautiful and, in the words of Mills, “energizing and uplifting.” Oklahoma City Philharmonic will surely rise to this special occasion. “For anyone who has never seen it, you need to come,” Mills said. “This is classical ballet; this is history. Come see what it’s about, and you will find that you know the music.” The last time OKC Ballet performed Swan Lake was 2013, and that was a first for the company. “In all honesty, the old company could not really have pulled it off,” Mills said. “They simply didn’t have the dancers. I have as many male dancers available now as comprised the whole company back then. In fact, we will have 24 swans for the performances. It takes a tremendous number of resources to do this piece.” When Swan Lake debuted, critics were quite direct in their assessment of the libretto. While we’re not sure how to say “stupid” in Russian or German, that was the word they used. Without minimizing its dramatic power, the story is boy meets girl/swan, she is cursed by evil wizard, boy/prince must choose wife and wants girl/swan (Odette), evil wizard foils romance with black swan/girl (Odile), boy and Odette commit suicide, apotheosis ensues, which means their spirits ascend, so no sex. Tchaikovsky died before he saw a version of which he approved. Tchaikovsky’s friend Marius Petipa, with the help of Lev Ivanov, finally developed the traditional choreography and musical structure. In-house composer Ricardo Drigo also made changes to the score and individual songs. The three are credited for the success of the 1895 revival, and their template has been the traditional choice since. All of the choreography is not determined ahead of time, and filling in those gaps is the task of a company’s artistic director. Mills is excited to do so—no wonder with principal dancers such as Miki Kawamura, DaYoung Jung, and Alvin Tovstogray. This year, he will also have new principals: Jonathan Batista from Brazil, and North Carolina native Courtney Connor Jones. “We will use the principals on a rotating basis with the characters of Odette, Odile, and Siegfried,” Mills said, “so who you see depends on which performance you choose.”

Petite Mort // April 13-15 Though Petite Mort: A Triple Bill doesn’t happen until April, when allocating arts season dollars, this ticket must be on the list. The Oklahoma City Ballet stages a triple bill every season, and the performance typically includes a modern piece. The 2017/18 season includes the company debut of Czech choreographer Jiri Kylian’s Petite Mort. The irony is that Kylian chooses a French allegory referring to orgasm (and similarly altering states of mind) to use for the title. While there are frankly erotic parts to the performance, most of the piece focuses on brutality, isolation, dehumanization and secularization. The juxtaposition of these themes set to Mozart’s hauntingly beautiful music creates emotional depth. Kylian, in reflecting on his musical choice, put it this way: “(It’s) my way to acknowledge the fact that I am living and working as part of a world where nothing is sacred, where brutality and arbitrariness are commonplace.” In other words, it’s not really about ecstasy as much as death. The performance includes Helen Pickett’s Petal, and a new piece by artistic director Robert Mills to celebrate his tenth anniversary with the company. okcballet.com @okcballet 76

FILM OKC Museum of Art // October-November 415 Couch Dr. okcmoa.com @oklahomacitymoa

Faces Places. OKCMOA deems this a must-see documentary. It follows famed French New Wave director Agnès Varda, 89, and photographer/graffiti artist JR, 34, as they road trip through working-class France. Their van acts as a makeshift photo studio/giant Polaroid, where larger-than-life photos are printed immediately and subsequently plastered on village façades—or passing trucks and shipping containers, etc. Winner of the 2017 Golden Lion Documentary Prize at Cannes, Faces Places’ meditation on the relationship between photography, place and memory is both intellectually rigorous and genuinely moving,” said film curator Lisa Broad. (Varda’s also one of five people to attend Jim Morrison’s Paris burial and is all-around much cooler than any of us could ever hope to be.) Human Flow. The film I hope everybody will—and I think needs—to see. It’s the first feature-length film by China’s best-known visual artist, Ai Weiwei, an outspoken activist who was also the artistic consultant on the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympics. This intricate and heartrending exploration into the global refugee crisis (filmed in 23 countries) displays why caring about other people is important. The Square. This satirical drama by Swedish director Ruben Östlund won the ’17 Golden Palm at Cannes. The trailer proves this film is one twisted piece of work. It’s about the publicity and chaos surrounding a Swedish art installation; really, it mixes a ton of social satire with dramatic bits of comedy to create something that many critics are deeming “bizarre” and “freaky.” Says Anderson of this film, it will “captivate anyone that sees it, especially the extended performance art piece, which is both satire of performance and really interesting performance art at the same time.” Film dates weren’t finalized at press time, but the committed films rank among the favorite of the 2017 world premieres for film curator Michael Anderson.

Filmography at 21c Museum Hotel // Nov. 17 A free monthly film series in conjunction with deadCenter Film and the OKC Film Society.

by Emily Hopkins Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry. While working as a journalist in China, first-time director Alison Klayman was given unprecedented access to the acclaimed Ai Weiwei. The result: an in-depth look at the prolific artist and activist. Though he’s often dubbed the Chinese Andy Warhol, he stands for so much more. 900 W Main St. @21cOKC @okcfilmsociety @deadcenterfilm 77

MUSIC OKC Philharmonic by Greg Horton

With the end of Joel Levine’s long career at Oklahoma City Philharmonic next May, Alexander Mickelthwate steps up as the designate music director of the orchestra. Mickelthwate conducts several performances between now and May, 2018, including cellist Joshua Roman on January 13 and pianist Joyce Yang on March 3. The Frankfurt, Germany, native has been the conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra since 2006, and led that orchestra at Carnegie Hall in 2014. Mickelthwate currently splits time between here and Canada, and has just purchased a home on NW 19th. Mickelthwate spoke to Oklahoma composer J. Cruise Berry by phone from his Winnipeg home. We will run the full interview on our website (territoryokc.com) later in the season. Speaking of his experience thus far of creating art in a small city: “Nothing against LA or New York, but I don’t want to live there at all anymore,” Mickelthwate said. “(OKC) is actually big, at least for German standards...and the people have this really awesome sincerity...and an absolute warmth and intelligence. It’s something one gets more in the middle of America. And then the arts scene itself is very liberal or very open and colorful, which I’m used to in Winnipeg.”

THEATRE Pollard Theatre Company 120 W. Harrison Ave., Guthrie. thepollard.org @pollardtheatre by Garrett Davis

Hedwig and the Angry Inch. John Cameron Mitchell’s 1998 rock opera follows a transgender rock goddess of the same name. She’s fresh off the boat from Germany, stalking her ex-lover’s rock tour after he took off with the majority of her music. Hedwig (formerly Hansel) fled Cold War Germany after a botched sex change left her with an “angry inch.” Armed with a shattering, electrifying voice and her heroic story of self-acceptance, Hedwig tours broken-down bars and buffets, demanding America to listen. Way ahead of its time in the ’80s, it’s still a bold choice for Guthrie’s Pollard Theatre,October 13-28.

Lyric Theatre 1727 NW 16th St., Plaza District. lyrictheatreokc.com @lyrictheatre Rock of Ages: Whitesnake, Styx, Bon Jovi. Or, to put it another way: hair, metal ballads, spandex. The Lyric boldly takes on the ’80s and long guitar (and drum) solos this fall, and we cannot wait to see what kind of pipes OKC’s considerable musical theater cohort brings to this production October 11-November 4.

COMING THIS FALL

13230 Pawnee Dr, Ste 301 • Oklahoma City 73114 • chisholmcreek.com • 405.418.8590

Suite 301

issue no. 12

FALL 2017