Territory OKC Winter 2016-17 Issue 9

issue no. 9

issue no. 9

WINTER 2016

| 519 NW 23RD ST, STE 105, OKLAHOMA CITY 73103 | (405) 608-1923 | INTERIORGILT.COM

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TABLE OF CO N FEATURES

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BEAUTY Well-behaved women rarely make history—or find their deeper beauty. Real women and the best of the season’s beauty styles.

Left: Stylist Courtney Ann Necklace // Von Maur

ENTERTAINING Tastemakers Entertain: Some of the city’s most stylish folks, and their winter entertaining essentials.

photo by Samantha Jane

DOWNTOWN

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CHECKING IN WITH THE SPY FM John Calvin Abney, local music’s hardest working troubadour? Imogene Naifeh, 90 years of work and wisdom on Linwood.

MIDTOWN

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photo by Trace Thomas

IN PRAISE OF THE TACO Feasting on the taco trend. The Innocence Project at OCU works to free the falsely convicted. A bookstore based on conversation comes to Midtown.

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PLAZA DISTRICT

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UNITED BY LABOR Rough Hand Collective invites you into a makers collective for handmade heirlooms.

O NTENTS UPTOWN/PASEO

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SIERRA CLUB Sierra Club shake things up on fracking and injection wells. NUVEAU makes coloring books for grown-ups to benefit SixTwelve.

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A WINTER FORAGE Gardener Linda Vater on winter foraging and thoughtfulness. NewView uses smart design and skills to help the visually impaired navigate the world. NPR star Krista Tipett on growing up in Shawnee, her show "On Being," and her new book.

POINTS NORTH

photo by Lindie Northup

WESTERN AVE

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RECOVERY OF LAND AND SPIRIT The Osage Nation buys back homelandsfrom media mogul Ted Turner. Wine column: making the most of a post-792 wine scene.

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BOXING PULPIT Young warriors learn to box and win the fight of life.

photo by Courtney Waugh

BACKSIDE

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The Spy has been an icon since the 1970’s.

Loosely defined as INDEPENDENT it draws many labels such as “ALTERNATIVE SOUND COLLEGE and New Rock but is so much more. THE alternative UNDERDOG OF big radio, The Spy also has 15 specialty shows, attracting OKLAHOMANS who are curious about THE SPY

Listen commercial-free 24/7 on iTunes Radio, Roku, TuneIn, or TheSpyFM.com

@TheSpyFM

photo of Guerreros Boxing Gym by Kelly O'Roke

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR The Winter Issue is a rebellion and a comfort. If you picked up this magazine at Whole Foods Market in Nichols Hills, say, or Elemental Coffee in Midtown, you know that there are actually two versions of the cover of the Winter Issue. (Our large distribution boxes in some locations allow us to display two or more stacks at a time.)

One version of the winter cover: a hand plucking fruit from a bald cypress tree along the creek in Edgemere Park. The image draws from our story about living with more awareness of the abundant beauty around us, and taking a thoughtful approach to winter’s slower pace (see Linda Vater’s essay in the Western Avenue section).

Another version of the winter cover: Denys Cuellar, who trained at Guerreros Boxing Gym in the Farmer’s Market District. Boys like Denys are brought to the proud facility by their dads, mostly. There, big dreams and lifelong lessons are learned—and fatherhood is lovingly enacted (see James Corley’s story at the back of the book).

We debated long and hard about which cover to choose. A city magazine is in every way a reflection of its community. Choosing a cover is not just a matter of deciding on the most arresting image. After an exhausting and controversial year, do we need to cocoon or push ourselves?

A cover, and media, must also lead. What should we care about most? I’ve lived in San Francisco and Detroit, and the greatly diminished diversity I see on OKC city-core streets, stages, and media troubles me, and many of us—deeply so. Oklahomans take justified pride in being known for their kindness. Will that extend to a curiosity and support of a cover story about Latino fathers and sons, whose dignity and heart contradict stereotypes and hateful political rhetoric? Our neighbors were spoken of so grotesquely during the election, yet we benefit so much from their cultures, hard work, and soulfulness.

We know that releasing two covers will get you talking. We’re listening, and watching your reaction, friends. (Not gonna lie, it’s also just fun to break the rules.)

We hope you also find much to inspire in our first Beauty story—where our team paired natural beauty with a break-the-rules glam. We thank the real women we photographed, in all their incorrigible loveliness.

We also thank some of the city’s best tastemakers, who share secrets and favorite things for winter entertaining. This, and much more, will hopefully keep you in good company in the coming season.

Veronica Pasfield, Editor editorial@territoryokc.com 9

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WEBSITE REACH OUR UPDATED WEBSITE INCLUDES THE NEW PARTY PEOPLE PARTY PHOTOS + TRAVEL GOODIES

by Veronica Pasfield photo by Trace Thomas

Hey, y’all, thank-you so very much for making our new website (territoryokc.com) such a regular part of your lives.

We’ve kept a close eye on how you use our content, and we’ll constantly evolve our digital space based on how you use it.

By the time the Winter Issue hits the streets, we will have the latest version of Territory:Digital up and running.

A few changes you’ll notice: • Party Ppl, our new party pics page. We’ve been stalking you, we have photos of you, and we know where you live. Okay, maybe not the address part, but take a gander at your fine self on our Party Ppl page!

• Our event recommendations are bought and paid for like other publications in our market; Territory’s event recommendations are authentic. We know you, like us, value your time and money (not to mention authenticity). We curate the most interesting and worthy stuff to do every week, and load up the site with event deets and links.

Buena Vista, Colorado. But lordy, the time we spend figuring out the actual, truly, locally acknowledged genius places to eat, drink and shop! We’ll be bringing you along on our travels to our favorite places each season—so stay connected on social media, where we’ll announce our latest travel editorial.

• Improved social media linking. Linking content to Instagram is still a pain, but we’ve improved the way our site allows you to share our content in so many other ways.

• Travel is been a big part of our lives, and yours.

Recent faves: Louisville, Santa Fe, NOLa, Chicago and

See you at territoryokc.com, fam. Looking forward to he stories and adventures that await us all in the coming year.

TERRITORY:OKC MAGAZINE

Koon Vega, Art Director koon@creativevega.com

Published by Territory Media, LLC 3017 N. Lee Ave., Ste. A, Oklahoma City, OK 73103 territoryokc.com

Greg Horton, Vicar of Editorial & Wine Columnist vicar@territoryokc.com

Trey McNeill, Publisher trey@territoryokc.com

Courtney Ann, Associate Creative Director studio@courtneyannstudio.com

Veronica Pasfield, Editor editorial@territoryokc.com

Jessi Chapman, Social Media & Event Coordinator jessi@territoryokc.com

Olivia Morris, Business Development Strategist olivia@territoryokc.com

Emily Hopkins, Arts & Entertainment Editor Beagle, Website Design Bayley Jackson, Graphic Designer Trace Thomas, Contributing Photographer Courtney Waugh, Contributing Photographer Garrett Davis, intern 11

CONTRIBUTORS SAMANTHA JANE BEATTY Originally from the U.K. but a Texas resident since 2000, Samantha Jane Beatty lives and works in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as a fashion and portrait photographer. She got her start in the industry as the first intern at Sisterbrother Mgmt, a full service production agency representing photographers, stylists and creatives. Samantha worked for seven years as the stylist rep, while nurturing a personal passion for photography. In early 2016, Beatty made the decision to strike out on her own to pursue photography full time and finds herself, again, in a new position in the Sisterbrother family: as one of the photographers on their roster.

JAMES CORLEY James Corley wouldn't describe himself as a "mixologist" because those people have taken a weekend course in a dimly lit convention center and definitely paid the extra $15 for their personalized business cards. However, he does prepare drinks for a living to survive the industry recession in journalism jobs while putting off writing the next great American novel. He bought his first AP Stylebook in 2007 in Lincoln, Nebraska; Subsequent odd-year-only versions were purchased in Norman before being replaced by bar books and Crichton novels. Will write for ramen.

LINDIE NORTHUP Lindie Northup is a new Oklahoma City-based photographer. An Oklahoma native, she moved back to the metro after living and working in the Kansas City area. Her work as Lindiebeth Photography has established her as a wedding and lifestyle photographer, but she also enjoys shooting with musicians and documenting local life. She can now be found almost daily at various coffee shops in town.

Untamed Beauty Models Chelsey Ann Occupation // Makeup Artist Necklace // Naifeh Fine Jewelry Dayoung Jung Occupation // Dancer at Oklahoma City Ballet Earrings // Von Maur Courtney Haynes Occupation // HR Speciali

Creative Director + Stylist / Courtney Ann Studio | Photographer / Samantha Jane | Hair / Dianna Truong | Location / 21C Museum Hotel

Makeup / Cher Hukill

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100 N. Classen Blvd. Oklahoma City, 73106 | youngbrosinc.com | (405) 272-0821 | Mon–Fri 8–5pm

Heather Paul restaurateur

TASTE MAKERS ENTERTAIN

Heather and husband Keith rarely entertain at home; makes sense for the owners of A Good Egg Dining Group. When they do, Heather makes an eclectic tablescape with collections of vintage plates and silver + Malin+Goetz Otto candles from Sara Kate Studios + monogrammed linen napkins. Her afterparty: Ormus Bath salt soak.

Jimmy Rupp interior designer

When Jimmy and husband Tommy entertain, abundance in flowers, food, and friends (and liquor and champagne, hello!) bring them joy.

Signatures: snacks staged throughout their Lincoln Terrace home on trays (rustic breadboard from their store, Interior Gilt in Uptown) + an aunt's vintage flutes + decanters of premium spirits + luxe slippers from Spencer Stone + a fire crackling in the old wood-burning fireplace.

Valerie Naifeh jewery designer

More Tastemakers essentials: on our website, territoryokc.com. Marble courtesy Young Bros.

Valerie's style epitomizes understated elegance-and the impact of perfect accessorizing. Her go tos: Tom Ford Twist of Fate lipstick, the "perfect coral" + her signature scent, Hermes Eaux des Marveilles + Weitzman Python heels + ETRO scarf. Her wearable art includes stacked jeweled bangles + pyrite strand with removeable pearl baubles paired with pearls. The piece de resistance? Sylva et Cie 18-carat emerald bling ring.

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HOLIDAY EVENTS IN DOWNTOWN OKC DEVON ICE RINK DEVON'S SATURDAYS WITH SANTA SANDRIDGE SANTA RUN A DOG DAY IN DECEMBER FREE HOLIDAY WATER TAXI RIDES SONIC SEGWAY SANTA AUTOMOBILE ALLEY LIGHT DISPLAY BRICKTOWN CANAL LIGHTS FILM ROW LIGHT DISPLAY LEGENDS NIGHT IN DEEP DEUCE LIGHTS ON BROADWAY ANNUAL EVENT DELUXE WINTER MARKET HOLIDAY POP-UP SHOPS AT MIDTOWN WINTER SHOPPES AT MYRIAD GARDENS MISTLETOE MARKET HOLIDAY SIP 'N' SHOP SNOW TUBING WINTER FESTIVAL

BRICKTOWN TREE LIGHTING FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY SONIC SANTA’S ADVENTURES ON THE OKLAHOMA RIVER LITTLE WILLIE'S TRIPLE DOG DARE MYRIAD GARDENS HOLIDAY EVENTS SKIRVIN HOLIDAY EVENTS OKCMOA HOLIDAY EVENTS CHRISTMAS CRAWL AT DEEP DEUCE DUNLAP CODDING PRESENTS GLITTER BALL DOWNTOWN HISTORIC CHURCH TOUR & HOLIDAY CONCERT CANTERBURY CHRISTMAS AT THE CIVIC CENTER RED EARTH HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE & TREEFEST OKLAHOMA CITY BALLET'S THE NUTCRACKER OKC PHILHARMONIC'S CHRISTMAS SHOW LYRIC'S A CHRISTMAS CAROL REDUXION THEATRE HOLIDAY SHOWS HARKINS TUESDAY NIGHT HOLIDAY MOVIES OKC ARTS COUNCIL'S OPENING NIGHT

FOR A FULL LIST OF EVENT DETAILS, VISIT DOWNTOWNINDECEMBER.COM

WEDDINGS + WONDER

From receptions to rooms, buffets to brunches, 21c offers the perfect backdrop to your perfect day.

Catering provided by

900 West Main Street, Oklahoma City | 405.982.6900 21cOklahomaCity.com

DOWNTOWN I Spy | Far Cries and Close Calls | Imogene Naifeh

I SPY story by Josh DeLozier photos by Aaron Slagell

It was the summer of 1999. I was a journalism student at Oklahoma State University and was planning a career in radio after interning at a station in Oklahoma City a month earlier. The Spy was still on the air at 93.7 FM, and Ferris O’Brien was the morning DJ. The station operated fast and loose. They played the songs no one else was playing and owned the ears of college students and fans in central Oklahoma.

In a world full of corporate radio stations, The Spy was and is committed to cultivating an experience for listeners.

They gave a voice to the kid who didn’t fit the typical mold.

They exposed listeners to records they would have never found on their own. They united the fringe around a single flag and made it cool to be different.

“There are kids across the state who don’t feel like they fit in in their town, and when they hear The Spy, they 32

know that there is a community out there that accepts everyone. I know this first hand. When I was growing up and didn’t feel like I fit in, The Spy was a refuge for me.”

This is from Jonathan Fowler, vice president of operations at Fowler Auto Group. A devotee of indie music and live shows, Fowler and company are major sponsors of The Spy in a heartfelt way. “I’m grateful for the voice The Spy gives to diversity and how that voice carries beyond our metropolitan areas into rural Oklahoma.” Fowler said. I’ve heard countless people say they remember listening to The Spy in the late ’90s. Finding just the right spot for their radios to get reception, however, was an artform. For Brian Winkler, owner of Robot House Creative, that spot was on top of his bathroom toilet. For Lennon Patton of Smirk New Media, it was a particular corner of his bedroom with an extra-tall antenna that reached to the ceiling. Spy listeners were a continues on page 74

FAR CRIES AND CLOSE CALLS JOHN CALVIN ABNEY FINDS HIS VOICE story by Justin Fortney photos by Lindie Northup

All across the Oklahoma music scene, John Calvin Abney puts in work. In between tours around the country, he wears a familiar path between venues all over the state. He is musical energy; maybe he’s the Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma bands. The guy just doesn’t seem to get tired.

A couple years ago, as I walked from stage to stage at the Norman Music Festival, I had to shake my head at how many sets I saw Abney play. If he wasn’t on every stage I watched, he was pushing his gear down the sidewalk toward it.

As an instrumentalist, he’s helped shape the sound of many of the most gifted current singer-songwriters in Oklahoma. But with his newest album, Far Cries and Close Calls, Abney’s making a mark with his own songwriting. It’s an album that feels natural and a good kind of familiarity. This is not a throwback sound, but a reminder that new music can hit our ears in ways that we might have forgotten.

You recorded these songs in March, and with the album now released, do you feel like these songs are still changing as you play them live? Since most of the songs on the album were recorded with a full band, and I tour predominantly as a solo artist, you have to go out there and find interesting ways of presenting those songs. They grow, man. I’m playful with the lyrics live, depending on how I’m feeling or what’s going on that day or something I’m currently persevering through.

The band on this recording was really intuitive, and we continues on page 72

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IMOGENE NAIFEH story by Greg Horton photos by Aaron Slagell

When I tell people that Imogene Naifeh has missed three days of work in more than 40 years, they are visibly impressed. When they learn those three days were for her husband’s funeral—one day—and surgery on her carotid artery—two days—they are stunned. The numbers are sort of unreal, but so is the reality of a 4’6” 90-year-old woman who still works nearly every day.

As part of developing this story, Mrs. Naifeh invited me to Sunday lunch with her family, three generations seated around one table, eating traditional Lebanese food that she had prepared, plus fried chicken.

“Sittee always makes fried chicken,” Nick said. He’s 25, the middle of three siblings, a grandson by Imogene’s son, Rick Naifeh, owner of Premium Brands Wine & Spirits (Sittee is one transliteration of the Lebanese word for grandmother) “She grew up in Depew, Oklahoma, so we get the Midwest with the Middle East whenever we have a big meal.”

“Those balls there are labana,” Rick said. “It’s a traditional Lebanese dish, kind of like yogurt. We spread them on nearly everything.”

“It’s Lebanese crack,” said Julie Naifeh, Rick's wife, with a laugh.

The chatter moves around the table and includes all three generations: Rick's and Julie’s other two grown children, Ben and Corie, and Imogene’s oldest, Debbie. In the midst of the passing of plates and bowls laden with kubiya, kibbi, salad and grape leaves, Imogene sits near the middle of the table surveying her family. Her hearing isn’t what it used to be—she’s 90, for god’s sake—so the family occasionally repeats strings of words for Sittee’s benefit. It feels natural, like a family meal, one that wasn’t staged for me or for a story.

“We do this nearly every Sunday,” Rick said. “The kids usually make it, and Debbie’s family, too. Mom cooks.”

Simple reportage. Mom cooks. Indeed, Imogene cooked almost everything on the table. Ben and Nick are closing on new houses, and Corie has a soccer game in the afternoon, her last of this semester. She’s at Bishop McGuinness High School. In short, it’s a typical American family, a thing that the Lebanese community in the United States has been creating since the first wave of immigration in the 1870s.

The second time I met Imogene was at her liquor store on Linwood Boulevard, just west of downtown. She and her husband bought the store in 1967; he passed away in 35

1974. She began tending the store when he got sick. I asked her when she had come to Oklahoma City.

“1944,” she said.

“From where?” I asked.

She gave me an odd look. I assumed she was going to say Lebanon, but she said, “Depew, Oklahoma.”

“When did you move there?” I asked.

A chuckle. “I was born there.”

It had never occurred to me there were Lebanese people born in Oklahoma in the first half of the 20th century.

Sure, there might have been a few that passed through Ellis Island, but Depew? What the hell?

“My father had a department store,” she said. “He did a lot of work on the barter system in those days.”

Many Oklahomans are old enough to remember the small-town retail and food stores that dotted the state before Walmart destroyed local microeconomies. In my grandmother’s hometown of Bowlegs, it was Vandiver’s Store, where Mr. Vandiver ruled over the front counter and the deli—real bologna and hog’s head cheese!—and he always had a nib of a pencil ready to jot down the adjustments to “accounts.” Only the most profligate types did not have monthly tabs in those days.

Imogene’s family, all nine of them, moved here in the middle of WWII. Three of her five brothers—the most the military would take—were away at war. The other two remained home with her and her sister, Blanche. The five brothers would eventually start a retail business, AMC Department Store, at NW 10th and Penn. Blanche’s Deli survived until it was destroyed in the Murrah Bombing.

She is the only of Imogene’s siblings still alive.

The family settled near NW 16th and Penn, close to the original location of St. Elijah’s Antiochian Orthodox Church (now at NW 150th and May). The Church has always been the hub of American Lebanese communities.

Imogene worked for many years at the John A. Brown department store in the shoe department before helping her husband with the store. Broadway Extension and Hefner Parkway did not exist then. Linwood—now beset with blight—was a major corridor. A stop at the Naifeh’s liquor store was convenient. Traffic patterns change, though, and so do neighborhoods. Still, Imogene stayed. Why? “I had two small children,” she said matter-of-factly.

“What was I supposed to do?”

The answer had none of the navel-gazing quality of modern answers to questions of vocation. Rather, it was a straightforward statement of pragmatic motivation: I had kids; they needed food and clothes and a home.

“She worked every day,” Rick remembers. “We had babysitters take care of us. She would get to work as early as 7:30 in the morning—the stores could be open 10 am to 10 pm in those days—and get home about a half hour after the store closed. She has never given up hope that Linwood would come back around. She’s said it every year.”

These days, the customers are the pint and half-pint variety. Imogene works the register herself; she has no employees except Ray, a maybe-homeless man who sweeps the parking lot on the east side. Rick remembers: Ray, Hooker, Robert, a list of first names, the signifier of street

people. Perhaps a last name seems less present when you don’t have to sign contracts or renew a lease?

Rick and I joined his mom at the store. There, he pointed at two bins in front of the register. “Mom used to keep the pints and half pints in there,” he said. “I was maybe 12 when I first saw someone try to steal from her.”

Young Rick was sitting behind the counter eating a bologna sandwich. He worked at a coin shop down the street. The man who tried to steal was big. In those days, Imogene was a strapping 4’ 9”—people shrink as they get older—and Rick remembers the guy being over six-feet tall. He was wearing a parka, so it was probably winter.

“I saw mom jump up and walk around the counter. She grabbed the man by his arm and spun him around. She put hands in both his pockets and removed pint bottles, setting them on the counter. She chastised him for trying to steal.

‘I never want to see you in my store again!’ She was waving her finger at him. He walked out, very embarrassed. I thought she was gonna get killed.”

The next time Rick was in the store, the man was back. After he paid for his booze, Rick asked his mom why she’d let him back in. “Ricky, if I banned everyone who tried to steal from me, I wouldn’t have very many customers left,” she said.

Matter-of-factly, of course.

Mrs. Naifeh has had some scary moments. A man robbed her and a friend at gunpoint in the parking lot. She still doesn’t like to talk about it. Mostly, though, she knows the customers, knows their preference, and knows the amount of the transaction before she rings it up. Work has been the constant in her life—work, family, church.

“God has been good to me. He’s always opened doors for me, and I’m so grateful for my life. To see my kids and grandkids do so well…what more could you ask?”

One of the things about getting older is that you discover that most good advice is simple; it’s the living into

“YOUR NAME IS IMPORTANT; DON’T DO ANYTHING TO RUIN YOUR GOOD NAME.”

continues on page 46

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MARK NORWOOD, Director of Operations, Scott Cleaners

LORI TYLER Stella’s Modern Italian Cuisine

“When I opened Stella, there was no question who I would choose—Scott treats each small business account like a large-scale corporate account.”

Eight locations serving the OKC metro scottcleanersinc.com | (405) 604-6666 |

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MIDTOWN Tacos to the Rescue | And Justice for All | An Offering to the Written Word

TACOS TO THE RESCUE

story by Greg Horton

AS DINERS LOOK FOR DEALS, SOME OF THE CITY’S BEST SAVE THE DAY DELICIOUSLY

The taco, like many other humble foods of the masses, has been put through the chef treatment recently. The unfortunate result of “elevating” inexpensive foods is that the price for the food in question elevates right along with the dish. You need look no further than short ribs to see what can happen to food prices once chefs get hold of some “rustic” ingredient. The taco, it seems, is coming out on the other side of this process with its soul intact. Tacos are peasant food, and like all good peasant food, they shine in their most rudimentary form. This is good news for our pocketbooks as well as our appetites this season.

Of the sudden proliferation of taco concepts in the city, the two most obviously vying for attention and dollars are Revolución Taqueria & Cantina downtown, and Barrios Fine Mexican Dishes in Midtown.

The former is the newest concept from late-night food maven Rachel Cope (Empire Slice House, Goro Ramen), and the latter is courtesy of A Good Egg Dining Group (Cheever’s, Tucker’s, and others).

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Turns out a history professor wrote about the origin of tacos (this is why no one dates history professors). This University of Minnesota professor Jeffrey Pilcher—not exactly taco central—told Smithsonian Magazine that his theory is that the taco was developed by Mexican miners in the 18th century. The convoluted reasons why are best left for your own discovery, but I did learn one other thing preparing this piece: Taco Bell is named for marketing genius Glenn Bell. My whole world just expanded in ways I never expected.

Barrios’ white, light-filled interior décor and beautiful patio have drawn crowds since opening day. The restaurant name pays homage to the Barrios family, whose members have staffed Good Egg restaurants from the earliest days.

The oily black tile behind the bar and pink patio chimney are a nod to the building’s former incarnation, an auto shop. Tropical fabrics, pretty seating, and an ambitious cactus garden make the space feel homey and chic at once.

So, too, do the Barrios menus inspire praise. For brunch, we recommend the Obligatory Breakfast Tacos, a pair of massive breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs and

Barrios food by Choate House Revolución and Barrios room photos by Trace Thomas

braised short ribs. Topped with cotilla, kale slaw, pickled onions, avocado and salsa verde, the flavors are intense and balanced. Throw in the free housemade chips and two salsas, and you can walk away from brunch very full for $10.

The lunch menu features three tacos, including lamb barbacoa, our favorite, although the carne molida with smoked tomato pico was a close second. For dinner, we recommend the wood-fired fajitas; super fresh tortillas and shrimp or steak perfectly done and smoky.

For the first time in recent memory, 2016 rolled around and restaurant business did not fall off sharply. People just kept eating out, but the ticket prices went down.

Keith Paul, founding partner of A Good Egg, smartly anticipated this. Chef de Cuisine Chad Willis revealed that the company knocked 15 to 20 percent off the prices before printing the final menu. “We looked at everything, factored the costs, and then intentionally made the food more affordable,” Willis said.

At Revolución, quality is also high and prices even lower, befitting the restaurant’s Plaza vibe. Our party of four had all eight tacos on the menu the night we went, and with minor quibbles about the fish taco and the carne asada (which Rachel is addressing), we discovered the best vegetarian taco ever, and the excellent pastor, carnitas, and lengua tacos. Here, too, is the genius of Cope and her team. The full menu is only about eight tacos and a handful of appetizers, including the best queso fundido I’ve ever eaten.

Cope also has nailed down the late-night dining crowd in Oklahoma City. Revolución will be serving the full menu until midnight on weekends. “We do really well with late-night diners,” Cope said, in a grotesque understatement—they kill with late-night diners. “Because of our hours, we attract a lot of (food) industry people. They like us, and we like them.”

The prices at Revolución are appropriate for tacos; peasants like writers, servers and students should be able to afford it, and Revolución gets that part absolutely correct with $3 and $4 tacos.

At Cultivar, the tacos inspire but their price point does not, primarily because everything is a la carte. Chef Josh Valentine moved to Cultivar recently, and the Auto Alley food scene has benefitted from his remarkable talents. His tacos are delicious, of course; Valentine does pork so well.

The lamb taco was sensational, as was the beef barbacoa. No doubt, the man can cook. But the lack of chips and salsa—all tacos are a la carte, remember—meant we left hungry unless we wanted to spend an extra $10 or so (Cultivar bowls and burritos are a way better value).

Also, when you stand in line to order, and bus your own table, we expect a lower price point. Three seasonal tacos and a soda came in at nearly $30 with tip—the duck confit taco is $7.75. On a second visit, we got four tacos for $20 before tip, and that did not include any beverages.

The most pleasant surprise lately has been the new taco menu at 1492 New World Latin Cuisine. The original location on N. Walker in Midtown had a rocky start. The concept was foreign to locals who were used to Tex-Mex, but the owners stuck with it.

The fall menu included a new section of tacos that looks much more like a taco joint you find on SW 44th. Louis Fowler, writing for "The Lost Ogle" and "Red Dirt Report", has made a compelling case that more of us ought to eat at taco shops owned by actual Latin American people. While I have myself enjoyed tacos at Tacos San Pedro—and so should you—quite frankly the booze is better at the places we’re discussing here. (Check out our web-exclusive about Barrios’ impressive tequila program at territoryokc.com.)

As 1492 knows, oxtail is simply one of the best meats in the world. There is a reason oxtail soup is popular, after all. 1492 has gone to the considerable trouble of boning the oxtail for us, and the resulting taco is one of the best in OKC. Served with queso fresco and pickled onions, it’s absolutely exploding with flavor.

1492 also features fish, carnitas, and others, but the cabeza might be our favorite. Don’t be squeamish about the source. The flavor is similar to intense roast beef, and combines beautifully with the pickled onions, cilantro and queso fresco. On Tuesdays, you can get all the tacos on the menu for $2.50 from 4-6 pm. We’d call it Taco Tuesday, but someone may not like that.

Barrios. 1000 N. Hudson; (405) 702-6922. barriosmexicanokc.com / Revolución, 916 NW 6th; (405) 606-6184. revolucionokc.com / Cultivar, 714 N. Broadway; (405) 610-2676. cultivarmexicankitchen.com / 1492 Latin American Cuisine, 1207 N. Walker; (405) 236-1492. 1492okc.com.

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Vi Br Fr W W

TERRITO RY PRE S ENTS

The Ginger Man

The Ginger Man Viejo Cancun can be found at Broadway Wine Merchants, Freeman's Liquor Mart, Sam's Warehouse Liquor, and Beau's Wine Bin.

1.5 oz Viejo Cancun Tequila 1 oz Ginger Strong Tonic syrup .75 oz fresh lime juice 1.5 oz apple shrub or cider pinch of cayenne pepper

Shake all ingredients in cocktail shaker for 15 seconds. Line a coupe glass with salt and cayenne pepper.

Strain cocktail into a coupe glass and garnish with thinly sliced apple. Enjoy!

Cocktail recipe courtesy of Packard’s New American Kitchen, Midtown

Strong Tonic can be found at Whole Foods, Forward Foods, Plenty Mercantile, Urban Agrarian, Culinary Kitchen, and Native Roots.

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AND JUSTICE FOR ALL story and photos by Trace Thomas

On May 9, 2016, after spending 22 years in prison for being accused and convicted of killing a 19-year-old woman, Malcolm Scott and De’Marchoe Carpenter were exonerated for a crime that they did not commit. Scott and Carpenter wrote and requested help for 22 years, until finally someone heard their plea. Years after standing by their innocence, the Oklahoma chapter of the Innocence Project took up their cause.

According to the Oklahoma Innocence Project (OKIP), Scott and Carpenter are not the only likely innocent people who have been put into the prison system. The OKIP website says that Oklahoma ranks in the top 10 in the nation in terms of the number of known wrongful convictions of innocent people.

The international Innocence Project’s mission is to free what they classify as “the staggering number of innocent people who remain incarcerated, and to bring reform to the system responsible for their unjust imprisonment.”

Founded in 1992, the U.S.-based non-profit has led to the freeing of 344 wrongfully convicted people, including 20 who spent time on death row.

The New York Times best-selling author John Grisham came to Oklahoma City in 2009 to help raise funds and awareness for the Oklahoma chapter of the Innocence Project. Grisham helped draw a national audience to the Innocence Project when he released his book "The Innocent Man". The book tells the true story Ron Williamson of Ada, Oklahoma., who was wrongly convicted in 1988 of rape and murder and was sentenced to death. After being on death row for 11 years, Williamson was exonerated by DNA evidence and other material presented by the Innocence Project.

Oklahoma opened their own clinic five years ago in a joint effort with the Oklahoma City University School of Law. The Oklahoma Innocence Project claims that it “is dedicated to identifying and remedying cases of wrongful convictions in Oklahoma.”

Executive Director Vikki Zemp Behenna has been pushing for an Innocence clinic for years. Not only is Behenna a believer in the cause, she understands on a personal level the profound impact of such. Behenna served as a prosecutor for the U.S. attorney’s office, specializing in white-collar economic crime and healthcare investigations. She also served on the Oklahoma City bombing case as a member of the trial team that prosecuted Timothy McVeigh in Denver. Behenna eventually moved into private practice for the firm Crowe & Dunlevy.

After being a prosecutor for more than 25 years, Behenna was thrust into having to view things from the other side of the courtroom. Her oldest son, former U.S. Army 1st Lt. Michael Behenna, was charged with murder for killing an al Qaeda operative while serving in Iraq.

“That entire experience made me rethink being a prosecutor,” Behenna said, “and maybe trying to get on the defense side and helping through these very terrible situations where they find themselves or loved ones charged.”

Contributing photographer and writer Trace Thomas sat down and talked with Behenna about the Innocence Project and how her personal experience led her to the cause.

Being Michael’s mother and being a lawyer, does that help or make things worse? I imagine there is a limited amount you could be involved with something personal like this. I go back to my experience with the Oklahoma City bombing case. One of the things that lawyers need to do when they're representing an individual is to think clearly and analytically. That's our job to neutrally review the facts, to analyze them, and then to make decisions.

When you're emotionally involved and tied to a case, it's hard to be analytical. You don't think like that. Your emotions get involved and you miss things and you oversee things. So, having had that experience with the Oklahoma City bombing case, when Michael was charged I knew that I couldn't represent him.

How did you feel when your son was released in 2014?

I mean, it is a huge relief. Our family is very close. I have three sons. To be able to have Michael back in our family unit and not to miss all those experiences that everybody else was experiencing. It was a sigh of relief to be able to have him home so he could heal, first, and secondly rejoin life. I mean, you just kind of stay on hold when you're incarcerated. You don't advance by way of experience when you're like that.

This led you to being more interested in defense.

How did you hear about the Innocence Project? I've had many conversations, even long before Michael was charged, with Dean (Lawrence) Hellman, then dean of the law school, about trying to start an Innocence Project.

The primary reason for that is, when you're in the criminal justice system, you can see the disparity somewhat in people who can afford good trial lawyers to prepare a defense for them and those that can't. I knew that it was continues on page 48

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AN OFFERING TO THE WRITTEN WORD

by Emily Hopkins

Midtown’s new Commonplace Books has poised itself as a place for people who wish to reverse the current trend.

Favoring original thought over conformative reverb seems countercultural of late. Consider that: stopping to actually talk to a real person, to share ideas in a constructive, informed manner, is seriously against the norm.

“People need to stop wearing ‘busy’ as a badge of honor,” said Ben Nockels, the store’s operations manager.

“Really, that’s how we numb out and ignore life.”

Nockels and his partners aim for Commonplace Books to be a place of “unhurried wonder.” The store is a collective dream between Nockels, Nate Carr (headmaster of The Academy of Classical Christian Studies) and Carr’s younger brother, Joe. The group came together via mutual friends, each unaware of their shared idea.

Commonplace is named for an idea born from fifteenth-century Italy and seventeenth-century England.

A “commonplace book” was essentially a blank tome for quotes, ideas, etc., all meant for public consumption.

Joe Carr, head of accounting/business development, adds that the project stems from a “commitment to be a lifelong learner”: “The only way I know how is to surround myself with the thoughts of great men and women. We want to give people an opportunity to engage new worlds.”

Commonplace reimagines the typical bookstore layout, with sections like “intellectual,” “creative” and “explorer,” since we wake up daily with a different task or mood.

“There are multiple genres that can and should be represented in each category,” Nockels said. “Rather than asking the patron to conform to notions of how they should identify, we want you to really find yourself.”

The team is also tapping into local experts for merch recs, such as Sara Kate Little (interior decorator for the space) and architect Asa Highsmith. “At the end of the day, this is the community’s store, so we want to serve and listen to the community.”

Nockels spent a year and a half apprenticing in Full Circle Bookstore with owner Jim Tolbert and staff. Commonplace expects to hold 7,000 different titles, with a fourth of the space for kids. “Children will not be an afterthought,” Nockels said. “We want kiddos of all age, race, gender and socioeconomic status to come in and fall in love with books.

We’re going to do everything within our power to enhance the magic within them.” “(Commonplace) needs to be a place where you can wrestle with the issues of the day. And if there’s an injustice in our town, we’re going to be at the center talking about it.”

Commonplace Books is set to open early 2017 at 1325 N. Walker Ave. Follow @commonplacebooks.

Imogene Naifeh from page 36

it that is difficult. Rick can run through the adages from years with his mother, but a couple stick out.

“You don’t cut corners,” he said. Imogene gave a verbal assent from behind the counter, not exactly an “amen,” but a monosyllabic moment of pride in her son’s repetition of a phrase she placed in his head from his earliest days. “Your name is important; don’t do anything to ruin your good name.” Again, the assent.

Elders used to be responsible for passing down traditions, practices, stories and wisdom. Successive generations benefitted from their presence in family, tribe and clan. The collective identity was formed by listening to the elders; the ethos and telos of a people were shaped by the stories and the admonitions, the accumulated wisdom and experience. Some of them take the form of platitudes or aphorism; others are based in practice, and the reasons and origins are sometimes obvious and sometimes obscure.

At the end of lunch at Imogene’s house, one of those traditions played out in front of me. Corie had a new car, as did Julie. Julie mentioned in passing the blessing of the new vehicle. I asked what that meant.

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“Oh, she forms a cross from bread dough and affixes it to the underside of the front wheel well, and then she says a blessing over the car,” Julie explained.

“Every car in the family?” I asked.

“All of mine," Rick said. "Kids, too.”

All of us walked outside to watch. Imogene handed the dough cross to Julie, and told her to stick it under the wheel well. Imogene prayed a brief petition for protection.

Back inside, I was curious about the origin of the tradition.

“Mom, why do you use bread dough?” Rick asked.

“My mother did it that way,” Imogene replied.

“Do you know where it came from?” Rick asked.

“From my mother,” Imogene said.

That was sufficient. What else did you need to know?

The tradition was passed down. Here sat her family around the table, all safe. Rick summed it up.

“I don’t know if there is anything to it, but I’ve been in a few (small) collisions, but nothing serious over the years.”

Imogene was not paying attention to our conversation.

She was getting dessert ready, moving around the kitchen with purpose. Another day of work. Another day of feeding family. Another day of doing what she loves, 90 years in.

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And Justice for All from page 45

not a perfect system; although it’s a good system, it's not perfect, and so what I wanted to do was to fill that gap in the criminal justice system by having an Innocence Project.

Of course, Dean Hellman had that same vision and goal and started working toward getting the funding together.

The Innocence Project opened in 2011. [The current Dean Valerie Couch] approached me about two years ago and asked me if I would help with the Innocence Project as executive director. We had two cases pending: Malcolm Scott and De’Marchoe Carpenter. The lawyer that was in the Innocence clinic was a young lawyer who didn't have any trial experience. An evidentiary hearing is a mini trial…you get one shot at post-conviction and the team wanted to make sure, with my experience as a trial lawyer, that she had confidence in somebody that knew how to

put the case together and how to present the evidence. At that point, I had left the U.S. Attorney's office and was in private practice. Having been on the side where I had a family member who was charged and going through trial, I wanted to help Malcolm and De’Marchoe.

Both Malcolm and De’Marchoe’s convictions have been overturned. What was that experience like—having helped prove their innocence and setting them free?

Besides watching (my son) Michael walk out in March 2014 and come home, as a lawyer, I’ve had lots of incredible cases I've worked on. High-profile cases, public corruption cases, the Oklahoma City bombing. I mean, you're involved in a case like that, you're thinking ‘You know, this is the pinnacle of my career.’ And then to review Malcolm and De’Marchoe’s case and know that these boys—they were boys at the time—were convicted of a crime and I was fully convinced reviewing all the evidence that they were not the shooters. Knowing they had been in prison for 22 years, the pressure of making sure that evidentiary hearing went well and all the evidence came in so the judge could make the right decision. We gave her the tools to do that.

And then to watch them walk out free men was absolutely the pinnacle of my career.

How many cases have been taken on by the Innocence Project? Since opening in 2011, we've had 1,300 requests for assistance. Three cases have been filed—Scott and

Carpenter, and we have a third pending right now that is Willard O’Neal’s case in Tulsa County. We actually had an evidentiary hearing [for O’Neal] set in December, but I just continued that to April because we have some DNA that was not tested initially. The Tulsa County D.A.'s office has agreed to retest for DNA evidence, so we're going to be doing that. We have 91 cases waiting for a law student to start working. There are 300 cases in queue for more investigative work. You can see there's just a tremendous amount of work to do.

What is the criteria to choose what cases the Innocence Project is going to take on? We don't do death penalty cases. We look for cases where the individual has a long sentence. I mean, that sounds weird that we use that as a criterion to exclude people, but post-conviction cases can take years to investigate. We don't have subpoena power.

We can't make a witness talk to us. We can't make somebody give us a document.

Much of what we do is developing relationships with the witnesses getting them to trust us so that they'll give us the information or documents we need. We've got to have cases where a person has a long sentence. Then we look for cases where we can make a claim of actual innocence; the person was not in any way involved in the incident. So, for instance Michael's case, my son's case, would not have been considered by the Oklahoma Innocence Project because he actually was involved in it. I mean, it was self-defense, but he was actually the shooter, so those cases get excluded.

How are these cases different from when you were a prosecutor? You just look for avenues and to make sure that if you charge this person that you've got the evidence to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. We're reviewing trial transcripts to see was the defense counsel effective? Did he do his job or her job appropriately? Was there junk science? We're looking for DNA or forensic evidence that wasn't tested. We're looking (to see) if there was eyewitness identification that might have been faulty or a false confession that might have been forced because somebody was in an interrogation room for 12 hours without a break.

How has the Oklahoma public taken to the Innocence Project? Conceptually, emotionally, intellectually: the public is very much behind us. I think that there has been an awareness of the innocence movement, and I think everybody is horrified by the fact that somebody could be convicted of a crime they didn't commit. I talk to many people several times a week who are shocked that Oklahoma has an Innocence Project, which is astounding to me because we've been in existence for five years.

I'm trying to do more by way of community outreach, so people understand that we’re here. One of the things that we haven't talked about is how when somebody is convicted they have no voice anymore. I mean, after somebody's convicted, you're like, “Oh, you had your day in court; you just don't like the result.” For Malcolm and De’Marchoe, for instance, they wrote letters for 22 years continues on page 72

48

PLAZA DISTRICT United by Labor

UNITED BY LABOR ROUGH HAND COLLECTIVE ON EMBRACING TRUE GRIT

“Robots can’t do what we do,” maker Kyle Hix joked, scanning the retail floor of his shared Plaza District workspace.

But truly, what an understatement. R2-D2 can’t hand stitch a wallet, nor can Optimus Prime reupholster a classic car. There are some things that the tools of technology will never be able to master—some things that are best left to a mere human’s two hands.

Enter the phrase Unita Per Laborem. It’s the driving mantra of Oklahoma City’s new Rough Hand Collective.

United by labor, this small group of makers banded together for a simple cause: reviving the tradition of quality handcrafted goods. This is the embodiment of a slew of trades that have waned in the U.S.—proof that, in a sense, the Luddites had it right.

The Plaza District seems to be the breeding ground for this “better together” mindset. In our Spring 2016 Issue, we featured Rally OKC and the creative women behind the name. As a collective, they combine their talents and support under the Rally moniker; separately, they push their individual brands.

Likewise, Rough Hand Collective brings together Tyler Carder and Noah Whitnah of Simpleton Goods and Kyle Hix of Hix Design. Carder tried out leatherworking on a whim during a musical sojourn, but Hix has been doing this for quite some time.

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story by Emily Hopkins photos by Lindie Northup

Just look at his hands. Like two catcher’s mitts, they’re coarse from years of use, stained and hardened from his labors. At one point, he says, they were even colored blue for a week. After that mishap, he now purchases pre-died leather straight from the tanneries.

A graduate of WyoTech in Laramie, Wyoming., Hix has a solid background in the art of automotive upholstery, paint and body work. There he learned the basics of sewing and car interiors (watch his custom ’69 Camaro video on YouTube, and you’ll see that “basics” is a vast understatement). Small leather goods, he says, are self-taught.

Both Carder and Whitnah are Hix’s previous protégés.

After walking their own paths in the leatherworking realm, the three men joined forces again this fall. Although each brand specializes in leather goods, their executions are quite distinct.

“We offer both ends of the spectrum,” Carder said.

“Simpleton tends to be a little more vintage and straightforward, whereas Hix is more conceptualized, modern and leans heavily on design.”

“It’s kind of cool that we push each other to create,” Hix added. “It’s all just friendly competition.”

Once they were all back in Oklahoma City (Whitnah from Ireland, Hix from Dallas, and Carder from Seiling,

Oklahoma), Hix’s wife came upon a brick façade around the corner from Saints, and the ball was soon rolling.

In the space, wood, metal, brick and leather, of course, have a palpable presence. Antiques are dotted throughout, from an old pair of boxing gloves under a glass canister to a beat-up belly tank propped in a lone corner. A small motorcycle sits on a concrete pedestal in the workshop area; an American flag hangs near a wall packed with multicolored swaths of leather.

These things and others—typewriters, a golden ax, framed traditional tattoo drawings—represent the true grit of Americana. Centuries of laborers who toiled with their hands, whose tables were topped with food only when their hard work paid off, are alive through this collective.

It’s the do-it-yourself spirit—even the “I don’t know how, but I’ll figure it out” spirit—that Rough Hand embodies.

“We want to teach people why handmade things are

better, why the quality is better, why these goods last longer and why they’re more expensive than something you’re going to buy that’s made from a machine in China,” Hix said. “We want to show people why we need to bring these crafts back to America and why they should quit buying stuff that’s going to fall apart.”

Eventually, they plan to add others to their small but impressive pack of makers. They have friends who are soap makers, candle makers, metalworkers, even a guy who’s making knives and straight razors. Halston & Henley products already line a few shelves, making Rough Hand the first place outside Weldon Jack to carry the brand.

Education is also set to play a key role. As of publication, the collective’s workshop likely will be finished with a clear wall separating it from the retail space. This sense of transparency will allow visitors to better understand the hard work that goes into making these leather goods.

Playing off Tree & Leaf ’s popular Drink & Draw gatherings, Rough Hand plans to incorporate a similar community education component. “Stitch & Sip” or “Whiskey & Wallets,” Carder jokes, but both titles have a nice ring to them. On a regular basis, budding leatherworkers will be able to purchase kits with pre-cut leather and learn how to sew their own wallets.

“I feel like we’re living in a computerized world, so to bring back this gritty labor to create these products is a great feeling,” Hix said. “God gave us these hands, and we’re choosing to make something from nothing.”

Follow @roughhandcollective Visit them at 1708 N. Gatewood Ave. OKC, OK

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54

UPTOWN/PASEO SHAKING THINGS UP

story by Jessica Valentine

If anything can define 2016, it’s high-stakes issues. As Native Americans and others fight to protect land and water against pipelines in the Dakotas, some residents in Oklahoma struggle to navigate the current unease about earthquake activity and drinking water safety concerns.

Residents in towns such as Medford, Fairview and Pawnee are experiencing earthquakes to alarming degrees, causing safety and financial concerns. Sierra Club filed a lawsuit in February 2016 against Old Dominion, Devon Energy, Chesapeake, and SandRidge Energy (in April) for the wastewater those companies inject into wells as a result of fracking.

Since then, Johnson Bridgwater, director and lobbyist for the Sierra Club’s local chapter, reports he’s observing new well permits being issued in new locations, which enable wastewater to be inserted at much shallower depths—at only 3,000 to 4,000 feet below the earth’s surface, which the organization says could have a hazardous effect on the groundwater supply.

“When companies started injecting into the wastewater wells, the whole idea of those was to put them three or four miles into the ground, so that drinking groundwater would not be affected,” Bridgwater said.

Although the number of earthquakes decreased in 2016, the magnitude increased. On September 3 of this year, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake, the largest in the state’s history, occurred near Pawnee. “So, there is no total attempt [by the state] to really stop the injection or bring it down significantly over the entire area of concern,” Bridgwater continued. “Because of that, we’re seeing the earthquake locations spread and increase in magnitude.”

Progress seems at a glacial pace, laments Bridgwater: “Amazingly, in the nine months that have passed, the courts have not taken any action. A formal motion to dismiss has been filed by the energy companies and we are literally waiting month after month for the district court to rule on that motion.”

Sierra Club hoped to see a potential solution from those companies last November, when they filed the initial intent to sue. But the Sierra Club felt real action didn’t happen until the day after the lawsuit was filed. That’s when

SIERRA CLUB REPORTS SHALLOWER FRACKING WASTEWATER WELLS IN ITS PROTRACTED FIGHT TO ADDRESS EARTHQUAKES IN THE STATE

Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the state regulatory agency overseeing such issues, posed a solution.

“The Oklahoma Corporation Commission ordered a 40% reduction in around 400 wells, but it doesn’t address the whole area of concern,” Bridgwater said. “It was the best move they’ve made yet, but it still doesn’t go far enough in our eyes to address the problem.”

On May 25, 2016, Sierra Club’s lawyers at Public Justice—a national non-profit, public-interest firm— opposed defendants’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Sierra Club’s legal team not only has to prove the timing of the wastewater being injected is a factor in earthquake activity, but also that the location of the wells poses a threat.

Public Justice attorney Richard Webster believes the public will see some solution: “The real issue is to what extent we can connect them (wastewater wells) with the earthquakes,” Webster said, “and we believe we have a pretty good connection.”

As Sierra Club waits for a ruling, new concerns about wastewater well depth and location are arriving just in time for lobbying during the new Oklahoma legislative session, beginning in early February. Oklahoma’s earthquakes are Sierra Club’s number one priority. But 2017 could also mean possible solutions for the expansion of solar and other renewable energy sources, too.

If energy policies were changed, sunny Oklahoma has the potential to rank sixth in the nation for solar energy power, Bridgwater claimed. Sierra Club held the Oklahoma Solar Summit on October 1. It enabled the public, city officials, and members of the solar industry to discuss how to transition Oklahoma into a renewable energy state.

“Unfortunately, right now, Oklahoma ranks at the very bottom in terms of what we’re doing to expand solar,” Bridgwater said. “There was some legislation attempted last year, and we hope there will be some legislation attempted this year.”

Currently, Sierra Club (located in Uptown and the state’s largest environmental organization) is doing educational materials for public meetings and elected officials outlining solar energy possibilities and industry expansion.

More info at www.sierraclub.org/oklahoma.

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THE NEW NUVEAU

ADULT COLORING BOOK WITH A PURPOSE story by Garrett Davis illustration by Tiffany McKnight

Color inside the lines, our elementary school teachers would say. Draw a butterfly, a house. The childlike lure of zoning out with a handful of markers still draws us in, based on the massive popularity of adult coloring books over the last couple of years. (Don’t lie, you want one—or already partake.)

Becoming actively involved in art changes the dynamic of the creative process, a concept seen between the lines in Tiffany McKnight’s abstract, bold and intricate adult coloring book, NUVEAU: The Future of Patterns. Half of the book’s profits will benefit SixTwelve, the already-storied community center in the heart of the Paseo District.

“NUVEAU is different from the old ‘color by numbers’ phenomenon; that didn’t involve the elements of free will or choice, as Tiffany’s artwork will,” explained Chad Reynolds, co-founder of the book’s publisher, Penny Candy Books. “(Tiffany) is inviting you to actively play a role in...deciding how the pattern will ultimately look.”

The founder and executive director of SixTwelve, Amy Young, spearheaded the creation of NUVEAU. In 2010, Young discovered a ramshackle apartment building and

PHOTO CREDITS Fassler Hall/Dustbowl - photos by Courtney Waugh Packards New American Kitchen -photo by Trace Thomas Vintage Reclaimed Lumber- photo by Courtney Waugh, staged by Olivia Morris First National Bank -photos by Trace Thomas Ketch Design Center - photo by Courtney Waugh 56

decided to restore it into a hub for learning a week before the building was set for demolition. Enter McKnight.

“When I bought the building in 2010, I already knew I wanted her work in the building because she loves Art Nouveau as much as I do,” Young said.

The duo struck a chord while studying art at the University of Oklahoma. After her purchase of the SixTwelve building, Young commissioned McKnight to design Nouveau inspired wallpaper (an echo of popular, symmetrically-patterned art influenced by elements in nature) with the help of Ketch Design Centre.

Chad Reynolds was aspiring to publish children’s drawings hung up at SixTwelve when McKnight’s wallpaper was brought up. Lightbulb. What followed was a coloring book of 15 designs, which dance between the boundaries of African textiles and Neo-Art Nouveau. The pages are also perforated, encouraging artists to display their work.

“This isn’t art that’s static,’ Reynolds said. “It’s dynamic.

It breaks itself out of its own book. The notion of the perforated pages...breaks down the barriers of the viewer, the participant, the art and the artist.”

Although Young recently has been awarded the Paseo Volunteer of the Year award and her organization continues to gain prominence, McKnight hopes to additionally promote SixTwelve’s operations through NUVEAU. “I think it’s going to be a great opportunity to show people in the community that SixTwelve not only does workshops for children and urban gardening for the community, but they’re also willing to employ and invest in artists that can enhance a space,” McKnight said.

McKnight’s modernized designs act as a psychedelic slide into a pool of ever changing movement. Readers will discover that adding color to the vast maze of NUVEAU will offer an inner reflexive experience that breaks the traditional definition of “artist.” Plus, it’s for a good cause.

“Universally, people like patterns, finding meaning and beauty, and they like truth,” Reynolds said. “And if you like all of those things, you’re going to love Tiffany’s book.”

The newly launched Penny Candy Books, or its imprint Penelope Editions, plans to partner with a non-profit organization annually.

Sharpen your coloring pencils because advance copies of NUVEAU: The Future of Patterns will be available on December 2 at SixTwelve during the First Friday on the Paseo. The full run is available January 10th.

SixTwelve, 612 NW 29th St. sixtwelve.org + pennycandybooks.com

Scott Cleaners -photo by Courtney Waugh Stella's Modern Italian Cuisine- photo by Courtney Waugh Naifeh Fine Jewelry -photo by Emily Hughes, styling by Leigh Naifeh & Olivia Morris, Makeup by LJ Hill Young Brother's -photo by Courtney Waugh, styling by Courtney Ann, select decor items provided by Interior Gilt Veijo Cancun Tequila/Strong Tonic -photo by Trace Thomas

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Sleek, simple shades.

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Commercial & residential window treatments that fit any imagination.

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WESTERN AVE A Winter Forage | Seeing Beyond Sight | Becoming Wise, One Conversation at a Time

62

A WINTER FORAGE

ON THE MEDITATIVE GIFTS OF FORAGING IN THIS QUIETEST SEASON

story by Linda Vater photos by Courtney Waugh styled by Courtney Ann Studio

These things: the miracle of nature’s math and symmetry in the mandala of a seed or shell; the woodsy, autumnal smoky scent of fall; the perfection of a cap-attached acorn.

These were wondrous jewels to me as a child, and remain so today. A walk through my Crown Heights neighborhood invariably results in the bulging pockets of my North Face jacket, stuffed like a squirrel’s cheeks with pieces of lacy, lichen-covered bark, perfect mounds of velvety green moss, and spiked balls of the Sweet Gum tree.

Evocative, sensual things found through foraging in nature jettison me back to my childhood like nothing else.

We moved around when I was growing up more than most families. My father’s career kept us on the move: Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Oklahoma were all home.

Each move coinciding with a personal, often difficult, benchmark in childhood and school. Friends, geography and the terrain of what was known frequently changing.

Even family size was not a constant, as older nurturing siblings went away to college.

The first move I remember was when I was six. My mother died when I was five, leaving behind a just-trying-to survive father and seven kids. Kindergarten for me got lost in the aftermath, and I started first grade a year after her death. A mere two months into the school year, the moving van pulled up and we were off, along with a new mother, to Knoxville.

I remember thinking back then, and I believe it still, that no matter how poor I am or how bereft I may feel, I am rich and endowed with an abundance of beauty for the taking, literally at my feet.

I am so terribly nearsighted that without contacts or glasses I am incapable of seeing much beyond the tip of my nose. My poor vision surfaced as early as the second grade, but all the change in my family meant I didn’t get glasses and have that miraculous ‘individual leaves on the trees’ epiphany until I was in the fifth or sixth grade. For those important formative years in elementary school, anything beyond the reach of my tiny arm was just an undefined, amorphous blob.

As a result, my young self was oblivious and inattentive to so much because I was, quite literally, blind to it. No 63

that perfect branch or berry while checking Instagram, or point in attending to a sign that couldn’t be read or making talking on the phone. I have finally learned that the mindeye contact with someone I couldn’t identify. The outer fulness required for the practice and art of foraging is as world, was safe for my squinting and the interpretive eyes inherent to the beauty of what is found as the object itself. of others, denied me.

In early winter, Mother Nature’s gifts spew out of the But, my, how the intimate natural world, up close and baskets and bowls I greedily fill with foraged finds. They’re personal, filled that void! Books and textures and the remarkable centerpieces of the fall and winter seasons, and beautiful minutiae of natural objects provided the clarity I without expense. Such abundance dulls the melancholy of craved and filled my sensory void in miraculous ways. this seasonal stage in the circle of life.

Starting first grade anew in a new place with a new As I craft my found mother against a treasures into the form backdrop of immense of a wreath or bouquet sadness was painSUCCESSFUL FORAGING in a vase, the foraging ful and filled with REQUIRES BEING PRESENT ENOUGH continues, though interlots of homesickness TO ACTUALLY SEE WHAT TREASURES nal now. The quiet revery and confusion. But ARE TO BE FOUND. of creative moments when playing with lends itself to thoughtful my siblings, buildrummaging—insights ing leafy forts and that are often transforhiding under the mative, ugly behaviors canopy of the huge that might be banished, oak and sassafras or at least, softened. trees in front of my I moved again for the new home, I was last time with my family, comforted by the the summer before I same earthy sounds graduated from high and scents and school. Back to Indiana textures of nature I and my senior year in had known playing a new place with new outdoors in Indiana. faces and new chalThey had followed lenges. But those familme, providing a iar towering trees and much needed touchwoods embraced me and stone, a sense of became wondrous to me security and contiagain. Between college nuity. Here, too, I entrance exams and discovered, foraging graduation requirements, material was plentiI would dig up forest fern ful for fairy houses and small trees to bring and treasure boxes. inside, tending them and Just before startmomentarily forgetting ing junior high, I the absence of faraway bid my Appalachian best friends and the fear home goodbye of the adult unknown; and we moved to brief moments to breathe Edmond. No more and plan and reflect. towering trees and Many of my friends rolling hills. This was and family are hunters a new kind of natural and gatherers as well, beauty. The rugged with an equally insatiable appetite for earthy offerings. gnarliness of Cross Timber post oaks and blackjack trees.

They often gift me with foraged finds—a bouquet of Prairie grasses and rose rocks for the cutting and collectcut branches in fall, a homemade grapevine basket for ing now. More difficult terrain to forage and navigate, not Christmas, a tiny fir tree to transplant from my native unlike my own pre-teen and teenage years. The metaphor Indiana home. I like knowing that they, too, are being of this did not escape me, even then, and I think of the reflective in their foraging process, thinking of me and our parallels often. Though the geographic language of beauty mutual gratitude for what lessons nature provides. was different, it nevertheless provided the same message of comfort and generosity and life flow.

Linda Vater teaches and inspires about gardening for KFOR Successful foraging requires being present enough to and her blog, Potager at potagerblog.com. actually see what treasures are to be found. I seldom find 64

photo courtesy of ADG

SEEING BEYOND SIGHT REVISIONING SPACE, PLACE AND BELONGING FOR OKLAHOMA’S VISUALLY IMPAIRED story by Emily Hopkins

Imagine you’re in the middle of a large room, dark to the point where your hand’s only visible if it’s right in front of your face. You can make out brighter beams elsewhere in the room, but they’re situated haphazardly and provide no sense of direction. A door slams suddenly, the sound of wood against wood pinging like a pinball in space.

And there you are, aware of solid matter around you, but completely unsure of how to proceed.

Navigating the world with impaired vision is something like this. The majority of the population, those with full sight, understandably take their surroundings for granted.

But when you’re more reliant on your other senses, you start to tune in to what others so often miss.

The difference between feeling safe and feeling lost in a place? Textures, lighting cues and architectural planning.

Betsy Brunsteter of Oklahoma City’s ADG collaborated with nationally renowned (and blind) architect Chris Downey to design plans for NewView’s new clinic.

NewView, previously known as the Oklahoma League for the Blind, works with many of Oklahoma’s more than 500,000 visually impaired citizens to provide health services, job placement and other programs to better the lives of those with weaker vision.

NewView CEO/President Lauren Branch and others from the clinic traveled to San Francisco to tour The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, an organization similar to NewView with a facility that Chris Downey designed. The experience helped them gain insight on specific modifications to make to the new low vision clinic.

“We realized the importance of lighting and texture,” Brunsteter said. “In hallways, all lights will be fixed very directionally so the clients can get a sense of which way is north and south.”

Floors, too, will vary with purpose. Hard surfaces in common areas will allow clients to use their sense of hearing when people with canes or hard-soled shoes are approaching. Flat pieces of metal, known as Schluter strips, will separate these hard floors from carpeted areas and signal a switch in space. Heavy, dated textures have been stripped from walls, allowing those without canes to navigate with ease via touch. Rather than starting from scratch, NewView selected a wood-framed 1970s structure on Classen between 42nd and 43rd streets.

Throughout the planning process, Brunsteter spoke with Downey over the phone and in OKC, getting his advice and recommendations to keep the project moving forward.

This in itself, she said, was a very interesting process.

Downey uses his fingers like must people use their eyes, so when talking about the floor plan, he’d say “I feel that you’ve done this” rather than “I see that you’ve done this.”

It was a paradigm shift for the experienced Oklahoma architect, who has worked on other healthcare projects like St. Anthony’s Hospital and INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center: “I’m coming away with the knowledge of how important it is to provide accessibility for people with low vision, and that will undoubtedly impact my future projects.”

NewView’s current low-vision clinic reached capacity almost as soon as it was built. The pediatric area was practically nonexistent, the rehabilitation and activity rooms were limited and the office space left much to be desired. Many employees have been essentially working out of their cars, Branch said, making it very difficult to coordinate efforts and perform their tasks to the best of their abilities.

The new facility is a game changer in every way, shape and form, said Branch. Medical services aside, her goal is to be able to address client needs in a holistic way.

Social-based activities like cooking, art classes and even senior tai chi will allow clients to build rapport and relationships with people like them who are struggling with similar issues. Children, too, will benefit from camps and continues on page 73

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BECOMING WISE, ONE CONVERSATION AT A TIME story by Greg Horton photo by Peter Beck

Asking Krista Tippett, the host of NPR's On Being, to give me the elevator pitch for her new book, Becoming Wise, was probably not, in retrospect, the best idea. Tippett, the Brown- and Yale-educated professional interviewer and deep question asker, said: "I'm not great with elevator pitches."

For fans of the show, the understatement is hilarious.

That's because Tippett describes her task as "drawing out the animating questions at the heart of our religious traditions," and that is not a task that lends itself to brevity.

Tippett grew up in Shawnee, and through a fascinating career path became one of National Public Radio’s most esteemed hosts. Tippett has interviewed scientists, politicians and educators, people from multiple disciplines.

Recent subjects include the likes of memoirist Mary Karr, civil rights activist Ruby Sales and Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales.

Tippett never seems to interview as a means to an end, but with a fascination and love for humans. Her distinctive approach in intent and voice have earned her a Peabody Award and a National Humanities Medal. Becoming Wise comes out in paperback February 28th (and is available now at Full Circle Bookstore in hardcover and on CD).

"In the early days, the program was called Speaking of Faith," Tippett said. "I thought it was important to have something on public radio with faith in the title. What interests me is drawing out those questions at the heart of the big traditions, questions like 'Where did we come from?' Or 'What does it mean to be human?' Religious traditions are vast repositories of information and deep reflection on these questions."

Growing up in Shawnee in the 1960s and ’70s, it was difficult to see the world as the massive place it is. Small Oklahoma towns defined religious diversity as having Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal and Catholic churches.

Occasionally, an agricultural community would have a Lutheran church, or perhaps a Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah's Witnesses might be found here and there, but diversity was defined as degrees of separation from the person of Jesus, not Moses and certainly not Muhammad.

Tippett's grandfather was a Southern Baptist preacher.

Her family attended First Baptist Church of Shawnee.

Shawnee was not a small city during her childhood, though; it was a town. The only notable institutions there 66

were the Baptist University of Oklahoma, now OBU, and Shawnee Milling Company—if you grew up in Oklahoma, you’ve had their pancake, cornbread or biscuit batter at least once.

Her grandfather was a supply preacher for small churches in and around Shawnee. Supply preachers filled in for pastors who were sick, on sabbatical or vacation, and for churches in between full-time ministers. She describes him as a "hellfire and brimstone preacher." The archetype is so much a part of the fabric of American religion, no description is required. However, Tippett would internalize some truths about her grandfather that would be critically important to her life's mission much later.

I asked her how she has learned to integrate the categories of childhood faith into On Being, her own life, and relationships. How do you take what is good from a life within a community of faith—a community that teaches you what the categories of reality are, how you understand the world—and leave behind the toxicity or false categories? Is it necessary to reject the community and its teachings utterly? Tippett said she had found it necessary to move away from religion for a period of about ten years; separation can be useful in sorting things out.

“The lessons of my grandfather are good examples of how to integrate the categories, though,” she said. “My grandfather formed me in the ways he was living, not just what he was saying. He had a great sense of humor, and he was passionate and very loving. I was able to internalize that God is love, even if my grandfather’s teachings sometimes made that difficult. I learned we are formed more by

the things that are embodied rather than the things that are said.”

She speaks of her grandfather as a man of rules, too— so many rules. She laughs easily about it now. “He always knew, and so we always knew, what you could or couldn’t do. Things like drinking and card playing were part of the rules. He believed that the world was full of temptations, and you had to stay on your guard. When I moved away, I learned that the world is full of temptation, but it’s also full of beauty.”

The moving away was before the public radio program, though—way before. As a teen, Tippett went to a debate event in Chicago. Sometimes you see something that opens up your imagination or your experience to much larger realities. While in Chicago, Tippett made a friend who was headed to Providence, RI, to attend Brown University.

Almost inexplicably, the small town girl applied for acceptance to the Ivy League school.

Such lack of fear sort of defines Tippett’s orientation to the world. She said she just wanted to get out of her small town, and that impulse resonates with smart, precocious kids in small towns all over the world. She was accepted to Brown, and moved to Providence.

From there, she studied at Yale. A student exchange program placed her in communist East Germany, a semester that would help her flesh out her broad-minded perspective on being human.

"I was in a place—divided Berlin—where very literally a geopolitical line had been drawn that separated people and contrasting worldviews," Tippett said. "The question of how to order human society was being answered by people and policies in very high places. I was working with people who developed those policies, including policies related to nuclear arms, and the more I worked in that divided place, the less convinced I became that the policies or lines told the whole story."

At this point, it's fair to mention that I introduced the idea that a parallel might possibly be drawn between the Wall that divided Berlin and the wall that seemingly divides our nation. The interview took place the day after the General Election, after all, so it's difficult to talk about geopolitical divides without talking about Trump-Clinton and the American body politic. While not specifically addressing the election—that'll come later—she did talk about a remarkable observation that, like many things she addresses, seemed obvious after she said it.

"Part of the story was that people on the wrong side of the good/evil divide created lives of beauty and dignity, while people on the good side were pretty empty," she said. “The important thing is to avoid placing people into geopolitical categories.”

Of course we shouldn’t do that, but America is eaten alive with cries of “fascist,” “libtard,” “Nazi,” and “ecoterrorist,” all variations on the top-tier categories in our political taxonomy: conservative and liberal.

Tippett studied history, but unlike most historians, she is not convinced that the old adage is correct that learning from history helps us to avoid repeating it. In that sense,

she does not have a messianic view of education; it won’t necessarily save us from ourselves.

“I don’t think knowing something happened will create a changed reality,” she said. “We are aware of political events, but it’s not about politics; it’s about human beings.”

This is the thrust of all that she does, this parsing of the ontological question: what does it mean to be human? We defy categorization, because categories are meant to make the world more intelligible, but often they simply obscure the truth of how wonderful and how complex humans can be. You can read in her writing and hear in her questions the voracious curiosity combined with the gentlest tone that drive the quest, and she is clearly convinced that religion does not hold all the answers; it’s just a good place to look.

“We are never at our best when we’re in a state of fear,” she said. I asked her to diagnose our present circumstance, both politically and ontologically—we both studied theology and these questions are the things that keep theology nerds awake. “Technology and globalization have uprooted everything that gave meaning to our lives. The institutions we believed helped us understand the world have been uprooted, too, and basic issues are being redefined. The process has been very unsettling to human beings.”

This is not a jeremiad; she’s a quester, not a prophet of doom. The uprooting hasn’t destroyed everything; it’s simply made them more confusing, and the things and institutions that helped us understand the world are mostly suspect right now. Absent the clear institutional answers we used to have—the “thus sayeth the Lord” in the mouths of our parents and pastors and teachers— human beings look for meaning and structure in new and scary places, or they look to the past. This sums up the recent election, I think, and it’s here that she finally agreed to talk about it, even if a bit tangentially.

“The dynamics of the election come back to that state of fear we’re experiencing,” she said. “We can talk about who gets elected, but the more important question is who we are. Going forward we need to ask ‘What is the common life and what questions do we ask in common?’

We must dwell on those questions across the divides, and that requires human work, not policies.”

Note that she did not say dwell on the answers. For Tippett, the asking and the discussing are primary.

Answers seem, if anything, to be pauses in human discourse, setting us up for the the inevitable, “Yeah, but…” that leads to the next questions. Her new book has something to say about that, too. She said she noticed that the one word that kept coming up when she interviewed people was “wisdom,” and happily, it’s one of the virtues that we can all achieve. It may be the virtue of saints, but it happens to be available to sinners as well.

“Wisdom emerges in the raw materials of life,” she said. “It’s possible for all of us to achieve it.”

So she wrote a book about it, and she tells stories, of course, because stories have always been great continues on page 73

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POINTS NORTH Recovery of Land and Spirit | Wine Column

RECOVERY OF LAND AND SPIRIT THE OSAGE NATION PURCHASES HOMELANDS FROM MEDIA MOGUL TED TURNER story by Veronica Pasfield, photo by David Jennings

Last summer, Osage citizens celebrated the return of 43,000 acres of their homelands, purchased from media mogul Ted Turner. The Osage Nation purchased Bluestem Ranch west of Pawhuska for $74 million, and took possession of the property November 1.

The ranch was only one parcel in Turner’s vast holdings; he owns one of the largest land portfolios in the country.

Turner has earned a reputation for robust bison ranching and sustainable ecosystem restoration. The property’s prime condition enhanced its value.

This land transfer means much more than regaining an asset for Osage people, though. Emotional, spiritual, and cultural ties to homelands are among the most archetypal, and deeply felt, of the human experience. Such weave thickly through our psyches, our families, our religions, and our political economies. This holds especially true for indigenous peoples, who’ve built cultures and identities around a place for centuries or even millennia—and have spilled much blood on the land in an attempt to retain it for their children.

“It’s a requirement for a tribe to honor its culture daily,” said Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear.

“You cannot have your full culture without your language.

You cannot have your language and culture if you don’t live as a community. And you can’t have community without a defined territory. Those three go together. If we want to get real about it, we have to have a territory.”

The name Pawhuska serves as an excellent example of the richness of context and place. The average American probably thinks of Pawhuska as the town where “The Pioneer Woman” lives. History buffs may know of the Osage Indian murders there, when Americans married and then killed tribal members for their oil royalties in the early 20th century. The town is actually named for Chief Pawhuska. He and other chiefs led the Osage through devastating waves of epidemics brought by Euroamerican settlers, ignored treaties, and violent contestations over territory and resources for the last three centuries.

One of the toughest: the 1906 Osage Allotment Act that stripped the tribe of most of its original land base. As 1.5 million communally owned tribal lands were forcefully parsed into individually owned plots, taxation and poor farming conditions meant all-but 5% of Osage territory 70

ended up in non-Indian hands. The property that remained was “checkerboarded” into fragmented slivers with many descendent owners.

The good news? In 1905, Chief Big Heart successfully negotiated to retain communal ownership of mineral rights. Oil and other royalties help sustain the community to this day. Ted Turner’s Bluestem bid package required a cash offer and an accelerated timeline of 30 days, which sparked intense strategizing within tribal government; could they make it happen and how? Nail-biting negotiations inside and outside of the tribe led to a successful purchase.

“For me personally, my emotional moment came when I signed the acquisition document,” said Chief Standing Bear. “It was the first time since 1808 that an Osage chief had signed to get that much land; since then, we had been signing (documents) to give up land.”

In a letter to Standing Bear last June, Turner expressed similar sentiments: “It is our sincere hope that the Osage Nation will own this land for all future generations and use it as a learning environment for your children and a home for bison.” The parcel is undergoing the Department of the Interior process to secure tribal trust status, insuring it stays in Osage hands forever.

Regaining these 43,000 acres is not only deeply meaningful to the Osage people, it helps create critical mass to Pawhuska-area conservation efforts by the Nature Conservancy. Chief Standing Bear served as a trustee there in the 1990s.

The Conservancy reports its 40,000-acre Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, 15 miles from Bluestem Ranch, is the “largest protected remnant of tallgrass prairie left on earth… (as) urban sprawl and conversion to cropland have left less than 4% of this magnificent American landscape” that once stretched from Minnesota to Oklahoma.

Environmentalists say this decimation surpasses the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. The biodiversity and habitat on these lands is vast and critically important.

That the Osage people remain today, and are committed to restoring their lands and the connection to them, is a tribute to Osage people.

Garrett Davis contributed to this article.

wine column MAKING THE MOST OF A POST-792 WINE SCENE (WHILE IT LASTS)

photo of wine cellar at Legacy Grill by Trace Thomas

by Greg Horton

State Question 792 passed overwhelmingly on November 8, and so, barring judicial corrections in the inevitable lawsuits, Oklahoma will see a complete upending of the way the booze business has been conducted.

When the legislation goes into effect in October 2018, the shelves of our local retail and grocery stores will finally be home to beer and wine below fifteen percent alcohol by volume. Many count this a victory. I have no intention of fighting that fight again. Rather, there is one negative consequence upon which we must necessarily dwell.

Given how retail works—maximizing profits by maximizing shelf space for fast moving products—it seems we will be saying goodbye to a massive chunk of our wine selection in the state. If all you care about is Apothic, Flip Flop, Barefoot, Franzia, or any of the other low-quality, low-price brands, then move along. You’ll be fine.

If, however, you love those boutique wines from small production, family-owned wineries in the U.S. and abroad, we will need to take time to lament and grieve those losses. We wanted to take a moment to reflect on how good we’ve had it in Oklahoma—since 2008 at least—with our wine selection.

Only committed wine geeks and wine professionals recognize that Oklahoma, thanks to those “archaic” laws, was home to dozens of brands that only appeared in one or two other states. We moved a ton of boutique wine, and so we had access to some of the best, most sought-after brands in the country.

Much of that will end in 2018, so we offer a few of our favorites. These are the ones you bought as a gift or were thrilled to receive, the names that not everyone knew, with a quality that comes from care and expertise. We hope they make the cut; they may, but it’s entirely possible that many of our favorites will no longer be available, because the new, higher cost of doing business for wine brokers means that they will have to eliminate many, many skus. I asked one medium-sized broker how much of his portfolio was in jeopardy. “All of it,” he said.

Let’s enjoy the following while we can: Melee Grenache. From Tuck Beckstoffer, this is one of the finest American Grenaches. It’s not too late to try it by the glass, though, as it’s on the new list at The Metro.

Bernabeleva Arroyo del Tortolas. This Spanish Garnacha was highly allocated to start with—we only

got a couple cases in the state—so its future is surely in jeopardy. This rich, medium-bodied red is about as good as Garnacha gets.

Turley Hayne Vineyard Petite Syrah. Please let this one make the cut! If there is a better domestic Petite Syrah, I don’t know what it is. Dense, dark, layered, cocoa and black fruit awesomeness.

Giuseppe Quintarelli Bianco. From the legendary Italian winemaker, this white blend was my favorite white every year for the past five. A blend of five grapes, including Garganega and Trebbiano, this is how white wine should taste. Maybe we can make a “modern” law that requires it!

Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne. I’m seriously concerned we won’t see Grower Champagnes again, so count the whole category as represented by this beauty.

Champagne is a difficult sell most of the year, and since the huge houses somehow maintain their popularity producing bubbles that taste like wet matches and sadness, many of us cured our Champagne addictions with the Growers. Please don’t leave us!

Albert Boxler Gewurztraminer. The whole category of Cru Alsace is in jeopardy. These Alsatian whites are stunning, and this is hands-down the best Gewurztraminer I’ve ever tasted.

Radio Coteau Chardonnay. One of the most popular varietals in Oklahoma, Chardonnay when done right really can be wonderful. Usually, though, Oklahoma palates lean toward flabby and heavily oaked wines. The Radio Coteau, like the Bindi Quartz, is unique and beautiful.

La Voix Reflektor Pinot Noir. From Steve Clifton comes his homage to Arcade Fire, rock and roll, and badass Pinot Noir. Small production Pinot Noir, both domestic and Burgundy, are the joy of Pinotphiles, and they are also likely in trouble.

This list could be five or six times the length. I haven’t even touched on other Okie favorites, like Cabernet or Pinot Grigio. In truth, we’ll see an abundance of those varietals after 2018, as well as Sauvignon Blanc, bad Riesling, sugary-sweet Moscato (fingers crossed for Tintero Moscato d’Asti, though), flabby Merlot, and weird red and white blends with cutesy labels. It’ll be more important than ever to shop local, folks, because the more you buy in big box stores, the less selection you will see in local shops.

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And Justice for All from page 48

Far Cries and Close Calls from page 33

to people—everybody they could write to asking for help. So, from that you can see once you're convicted, people don't listen anymore and that's the work of the Oklahoma Innocence Project.

For over 20 years, the message has mostly been about being hard on crimeand now the consensus seems to be that maybe we should take a step back. I think we've learned from the 1980s, from our tough-on-crime initiatives putting people in prison for 20 or 22 years at the age of 19 or 20. Expecting them to come out and be productive members of society is ridiculous. There's a point of no return in young people being incarcerated.

You incarcerate somebody two years, three years…maybe ten years, and they get the message. Their life can still be rehabilitated. After ten years, what do they know about society? Malcolm and De’Marchoe are a perfect example, my own son's a perfect example. I mean, there weren’t smartphones when he went in there. So you come out into a society that is completely different, and you don't know how to function initially.

hadn’t rehearsed anything. I just sent them demos, and we recorded the whole thing in three days, and mixed in one.

WHEN SOMEBODY IS CONVICTED THEY HAVE NO VOICE ANYMORE. I MEAN, AFTER SOMEBODY'S CONVICTED, YOU'RE LIKE, “OH, YOU HAD YOUR DAY IN COURT; YOU JUST DON'T LIKE THE RESULT.” What are some changes that need to take place, in your opinion? I think steps in recognizing and trying to minimize mistakes and eyewitness identification would be huge. I think a recognition that there were some sciences that we used to convict people that maybe were not objective science. I think trying to reduce sentences.

The Supreme Court did that in recognizing that the federal sentencing guidelines should not be mandatory but maybe more advisory. The circumstances in trying to give people who are mentally ill or addicted to drugs the opportunity to do something else, (to) rehab (them) and not put them in prison. All those are really good changes.

So let’s pretend I am somebody who still doesn’t understand the importance of the Innocence Project.

What is your final appeal to try and convince them that this is something that they should care about?

Because it could be you. It could be you. It could be a family member at some point that finds their way into the criminal justice system. My question to you is, what would you want someone to do on your behalf? Wouldn’t you want there to be someone to listen to you and to try to help you?

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You recorded this album to 2-inch tape (as opposed to an easily-edited digital file). What was the significance of that, and did it affect how you wrote and arranged the songs? Every one of my releases has been done to analog tape. It is an unbelievable experience. It’s harrowing.

If you’re used to digital cut/copy/paste and pitch correction, that stuff is completely non-existent. You aim to nail your sound before you put it to tape. You’re capturing fleeting performances, whatever’s going on in that room. You can’t remove it. You become … ok. You learn to become satisfied with your performances, and you become more interested in first takes, second takes. It’s a beautiful experience. It cured me of perfectionism. The word intuition keeps coming to mind, because there was very little verbal communication with the incredible band. We just slammed it live. It was cosmic. Completely strange.

If you listen to any of my recordings, you’ll hear mistakes, and I think that’s beautiful. That’s human. When you heard an old recording from the ’70s, and there was a little mistake, you don’t think, “Oh, gross.” You think that person must have had red blood and lungs just like the rest of us.

Listen to Beggar’s Banquet (Rolling Stones) or Nebraska (Springsteen). Listen to Highway 61 (Dylan)—that was done on two-track—two microphones in a room, you know what I mean? It’s because performance was king.

By no means am I condemning either way of recording (digital or analog). I just love recording to tape because I think maybe it captures not just the music, but the person’s spirit and behavior and tendencies. It makes the tracks relatable to other human beings. The warmth of tape is unbelievable, and the noise is always present. And I love it.

As an instrumentalist you’ve accompanied so many fantastic musicians like Samantha Crain, Kyle Reid, Levi Parham, John Moreland. As a songwriter, you’ve been prolific as well. Talk about how those two experiences are different on stage. As a side man, a Fleet

Foxes lyric comes to mind: “a cog in some great functioning machinery.” I feel like I’m a soldier in an army that’s charging forward. I feel like, “Wow, we all need to be here together!” I feel a super sense of camaraderie as a side man.

You’re on their side. You’re part of a team. Playing solo …

I have to think about a lot of things. Interaction with the crowd. I think far too much when I’m playing my stuff.

Sometimes, though, I hit my stride, and it’s a state of mind that’s instantaneous and fleeting, just a moment in life where everything is clear.

When I’m a solo artist, I’m also speaking my mind.

I’m expressing personal opinions and battles, and I have to connect with an audience, and maybe I’m having a less than perfect day. If I’m a hired gun, I’m still expressing myself, but it’s within the context of someone else’s art, so I don’t have to think about it as much. Playing my own stuff, I have to dig deeper down within myself, and that’s not easy.

What’s on your musical wish list right now? I wanna keep doing what I’m doing. Just make enough money to keep doing this. Oh wait, I got one. I want to play with a full 20- or 30-piece orchestra. I tried out for the OU music school. I tried out for guitar performance and music composition on piano, and I didn’t get in. I spent my entire freshmen year—I skipped math class—teaching myself piano and music theory. I learned so much and failed math simultaneously, and they still wouldn’t let me into the music program! I’d love to score some films, score some independent video games. I’m a huge fan of Yasunori Mitsuda, Keiichi Suzuki, Nobuo Uematsu, who are prominent Japanese video game composers.

What are you listening to right now that you think is extraordinary? I’m listening to Scott Hirsch. Unbelievable dude from California doing Tulsa sound kinda stuff with a Beach Boys vibe. The record’s called Blue Rider Songs.

The Beachwood Sparks’ record from 2012 (The Tarnished Gold) is another alt-country, soft, psychedelic, folk, pop album that I just can’t stop listening to. Covered in pedal steel. So many of my friends are putting great music out, too. You know, some people say we’re just becoming inundated with music, and everyone’s a songwriter in the digital age—like that’s a bad thing. Who cares? There’s more people on earth expressing themselves than ever.

Becoming Wise from page 67

repositories of truth, even if they weren’t exactly true stories. Wisdom is not an immediate virtue; I asked her what we need post-election.

“Compassion. It’s too soon for love and forgiveness.

Those take time, and most people are not there yet, so we start small, with manageable things like a kind action in the moment. We can manage that. Hospitality, too. I

don’t have to love someone or agree with someone; it just acknowledges we share a world and often need hospitality.”

Listening was the big one, the one we all need, and Tippett fears we’ve unlearned it. “Our culture has taught us to go into a room with an opinion, to advocate for our position and identity, and that is not necessarily good for the skill of listening. Also, I think that we can’t ask everyone on every side to be ready to do all this yet. Some people feel threatened, rightly, and those of us who hold a space where people come together need to foster listening.”

Tippett has connected with Oklahoma again in ways she didn’t expect. Her son is attending the University of Oklahoma, so she’s learning about people and projects here again—and still carries an understanding with her.

“After the election, I was headed back to Minneapolis with a group of journalists who were stunned at the results,” she said. “I wasn’t. I am grateful that Oklahoma is my roots, as it helps me understand a part of the country that is not well understood where I live now.”

See our website for a web-exclusive excerpt of Krista Tippett’s Becoming Wise at www.territoryokc.com.

Seeing Beyond Sight from page 65

programs designed specifically for them, and parents will be able to interact with each other and form support systems.

“We want to create a space that engages community,” Branch said. “Especially with our older clients, they tend to be isolated. When they start losing their vision, they feel embarrassed and feel like they’re the only ones dealing with this. They don’t want to be a burden. But by nature, we’re all social creatures.”

Branch describes the particularly heartbreaking story of a single dad raising a young son with impaired vision. The overwhelmed parent, looking for answers, took his child to the doctor, expecting some sort of relief. Instead, he was told to put his son in a helmet because he “would never be able to live a normal life.”

Now, a year later, the young boy is thriving at NewView and is learning that he’s not so different from other kids his age. Many of the pediatric programs integrate children from the community who have full sight, helping to lay the groundwork for tolerance and acceptance in future generations.

“I mean, that’s how we change the world, right?” Branch said. “I tell these kids that they’re going to grow up someday and be just like me. They’ll be hiring people, and they need to understand that someone who looks different or (has) different needs is really a lot like them.”

NewView relies on the continued support of the Oklahoma City community volunteers and donors. For more info, visit NewViewOklahoma.org.

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I Spy from page 32

loyal breed, and they found a way to listen from as far away as Norman and Yukon and beyond.

“The Spy was an oasis of unexpected cool in the cultural wasteland that was central Oklahoma in the early-mid ‘90s,” says Winkler. “It was the station we always dreamed of but never thought we’d get, and during an age when one had to proactively, painstakingly search out anything outside the mainstream, The Spy delivered hope, in the form of amazing music.”

When the station was killed by new management in 2001, all of the DJs were let go, except Ferris. He stayed on as the morning host of the new Hot 93.7 and hosted a New Wave lunchtime show and a five-hour Alternative show on Sunday nights. I went to work there and became the afternoon DJ, often assisting Ferris with his New Wave show.

I fell in love with New Wave: Adam Ant’s “Goodie Two Shoes,” Pet Shop Boys’ “West End Girls,” Falco’s “Der Kommissar” were just a fraction of the songs. Ferris played everything from his own CD collection, so it made the experience even more authentic and cool for me.

EVEN A GREAT LOVER OF MUSIC WITH A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCENE CAN GET TRAPPED IN A SONIC BUBBLE OF THEIR OWN CREATION. THEY NEED A FRIEND WHO WILL POP THAT BUBBLE AND SAY, ‘THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVEN’T HEARD. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU NEED Mike’s College Bar on The Strip in Stillwater quickly became the spot where Ferris and I would listen to local bands—some of which went on to make it big, like All-American Rejects. Mike’s College Bar was small and dark, and had worn leather couches in the back where you could hang out without being bothered. It also had a simple stage in the front corner where bands played so loud you’d have to yell to speak to each other. We’d drink and he would tell stories of his earlier days in radio, back when he was younger and crazier in Dallas. He’d talk about the time he and a friend bought a hearse and drove to California for the summer, or the time he jumped on the bus with EMF and toured with them until they circled back close enough to Dallas for him to go home.

He also talked fondly of his mentor at Dallas’ 94.5 The Edge, George Gimarc. His show, The Rock and Roll Alternative, introduced listeners to The Sex Pistols, The Smiths, The Psychedelic Furs and hundreds of other bands way before they were superstars.

“Everything we do on The Spy I learned at The Edge,” says Ferris. “From the way I program the station to the way I set up the music rotations to the simplicity of The Spy

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logo, everything is rooted in the lessons George taught me.

(He was) a pioneer in the industry.”

I stayed on at 93.7 until graduating and moving back to OKC in 2002. I honestly didn't know if I’d see Ferris again, especially as I focused on my own career and family.

But just a few months later, Ferris also moved back and took the reigns at KSYY, the second iteration of The Spy. In ’09, Ferris attempted to purchased 105.3 FM and start his own station. But when the sale fell through, Ferris took The Spy online 24/7 at thespyfm.com, where it continues to live today.

“I’ve been in radio for three decades. It’s what I do and what I love,” says Ferris. “And, after working for several stations, GMs, and under the thumb of corporate consultants, I realized that I simply had to own my own station.

I wanted to do things my own way, play by my own rules, and never sell out for ratings or the mighty dollar. Building an independent, successful, amazing radio station will hopefully be my legacy.”

In 2012, KOSU approached Ferris to simulcast The Spy—an opportunity for The Spy to again broadcast on terrestrial radio, and a great fit for Oklahoma public radio, said Ryan Lacroix, operations director at KOSU and host of The Oklahoma Rock Show.

“Very rarely do you get a radio station that's willing to think outside the box and try something wildly different. KOSU understood the influence of The Spy and the need for these forms of music to be heard on terrestrial radio. This partnership has allowed The Spy’s music to be preserved on radio and broadcast to the masses on one of the biggest signals in the state.”

In today’s world of Pandora and Spotify, anyone can find a song at a moment’s notice. But how do you find quality, new music and find more of the music you love?

We’re partnering with some of OKC’s most knowledgable, interesting people. On Tuesdays, Rob Vera’s show, "Turn of the Century," taps into the best of ’90s and 2000s altrock. George Lang’s Saturday night show, "Spy 101," offers an educated journey into the essence of specific genres. A new dating show hosted by Ryan Drake and Malory Craft, "The Dates of Our Lives," airs Sunday nights. We also host shows focused on vinyl, Rockabilly, EDM, and more.

“Here’s the thing,” says George Lang, host of Spy 101 and professor at ACM@UCO, “even a great lover of music with a deep understanding of the scene can get trapped in a sonic bubble of their own creation. They need a friend who will pop that bubble and say, ‘This is something you haven’t heard. This is something you need.’ Ferris O’Brien and The Spy do that for me.”

Delozier is the new GM of The Spy. We asked him to share the station’s history and recent resurgence because we are unabashed fans of local and indie radio and music, and The Spy deserves our support. To listen up in OKC, tune in to 91.7 in the evenings, or anytime at thespyfm.com.

Boxing Pulpit from page 76

the lack of attention the coaches were giving his boy. Given all the experience he had gained as a behind-the-scenes volunteer, he decided to open his own gym.

Martinez partnered with the Farmers Public Market for a one-shot boxing match, then walked into property owner Burt McAnnaly's office to see if there was anyplace available to rent. McAnnaly showed him an empty space two driveways west of what is now Powerhouse bar. McAnnaly said Martinez would need to fix up the space first, then tossed Martinez the keys. About a month later, McAnnaly was invited to the gym's grand opening.

McAnnaly told Martinez he would make him a deal on the rent. Even a single dollar less would be a steal, but McAnnaly simply asked for three Guerreros t-shirts. He hasn't asked for anything more since 2007.

Martinez also was impressed with McAnnaly, 62, for

giving him an opportunity despite knowing nothing about him. It’s a sport the property owner has loved throughout his life, and even participated in when he was younger. As essentially the gym's sponsor, McAnnaly enjoys being a patron for boxing, especially because Martinez approaches it the right way—the “Mr. Miyagi way instead of the Cobra Kai way,” as McAnnaly puts it.

"Mario is the backbone and driving force for the gym," McAnnaly said. "He's a really righteous guy."

All four of McAnnaly's kids have been in the gym to train with Martinez; McAnnaly believes even going just once can have an impact. "Boxing is a wonderful sport," he said. "It teaches discipline, self-worth and confidence."

Guerreros, which means "warriors" in Spanish, opens its doors about 5:30 pm. Kids of all ages—and some enthusiastic adults, too—come to work on their hitting strength and technique, spending one-on-one time with Martinez in the ring for three rounds.

Faced with opening a gym without consistent trainers, Martinez taught himself how to coach. The dividends of that hard work are on display in his office: a cabinet stacked high with trophies from area competitions and filled inside with even more.

"When you start doing something and you see that it's good, you keep going," he said.

His fighters have competed in tournaments all across the state and region, winning awards and gaining notoriety in the boxing circuit. People approach him at tournaments in places like Tulsa and Wichita, and they know the name "Guerreros."

Martinez wishes he could give more attention to each student who comes through the door but said if he stuck with just one fighter for too long, the rest would leave. Not that more training would necessarily change things much; people who bring in their children—excited to have an after-school activity that keeps them occupied and out of trouble—request that Martinez work their kids himself.

Martinez starts with the youngest ones like Jesús, seven, who took a break from jumping off the ropes in various pro wrestling moves to develop a punching discipline with a big smile on his face under Martinez's tutelage.

"Give him one more year and he could be really good," Martinez said.

For the kids—some of whom have experienced the ugliness of bullying firsthand—having someone who believes in them is all the difference in the world. Knowing how to dodge a punch probably doesn't hurt, either.

Martinez works carefully to build up their confidence as much as their striking speed. He doesn't give up with them until they master a technique and carry themselves with heads a little higher.

"Mario is a perfectionist," said 20-year-old Kevin Mitchell.

"He won't move on until you get it right."

New fighters like 11-year-old Adrian Cardenas Martinez, completing his third session, and more seasoned fighters like Mitchell and KD Campbell, 19, who have been coming to Guerreros several times a week for about six months, relish the opportunity to learn to defend themselves and compete in what Campbell says is a passion sport: "No excuses. You versus him."

Martinez is careful to avoid accidentally equipping a raw, frustrated bully with valuable technique, however. He teaches his students not to start fights or pick on others outside the safe space of the gym.

"If you want to fight, do it in the ring," he tells them. "This is not the streets — there are rules."

When he locks up the gym and heads home, Martinez can rest easy knowing his warriors are better prepared for whatever life throws at them.

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BOXING PULPIT

MARIO MARTINEZ PREPARES HIS YOUNG BOXERS FOR THE FIGHT OF LIFE

story by James Corley opening photo by Josh Welch remaining photos by Kelly O’Roke

Adolescence is already so much of a drag. It just had to add in the strong picking on the weak, didn't it?

Despite our best efforts to fight against it, bullying keeps coming back.

From Netflix's nostalgic masterpiece Stranger Things, web comment sections, school hallways around the world, and now to the highest levels of American politics, bullying is everywhere. It has been a part of the Great Human Experiment since its earliest days: death, taxes, bullies.

My parents taught me to fight back against bullies with kindness. Kindness never saved me from getting tripped in the dirt on the playground or picked on for reading books. But Mario Martinez, owner and trainer at Guerreros Boxing Gym in the Farmers Market District, thinks he might have one possible answer.

Martinez, 47, grew up in Mexico. He said fighting was necessary for survival in school and his neighborhood. If he didn't fight, others felt they could push him around for any reason.

Martinez wanted a different future for his son, nine years old at the time, who mostly just wanted to play video games. If bullies kept pushing his son around, he wanted his son to know how to defend himself so that they wouldn't keep trying. Martinez also wanted his son to be active and have a constructive outlet for his endless energy. Boxing fulfilled all of those needs.

It was important to Martinez to be involved in his son’s transformation. The father volunteered to hold boxing bags, clean the bathrooms, help with dues collections — anything he could do so his son would keep training. After trying a couple of different gyms around the city, though, Martinez was frustrated with continues on page 75

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Denys Cuellar

Above: Mario Martinez Top right: (L-R) Jose Nunez and Josue Nunez Bottom right: (L-R) Rafael, Alex and Jose Herrera

"WHEN YOU START DOING SOMETHING AND YOU SEE THAT IT'S GOOD, YOU KEEP GOING." ~Mario Martinez

top: Denys Cuellar and his father bottom left: (L-R) Denys Cuellar and Alex Herrera bottom right: Alex Herrera

Mario Martinez