Alcholmanac

Peppy’s Pantry

A MOMENT OF CRISIS AND A LOVE FOR DOGS LED MORGAN TEPSIC AND GRANT FOWLER TO HELP MAKE SURE NO DOG GOES HUNGRY.

By Berlin Green

After the loss of his job and then his father, Morgan Tepsic found himself in a bit of a bind.

With rising costs, money was tight and his family found themselves struggling to make ends meet. Food for the family’s two dogs was among the expenses.

“Dog food was a big one. The stuff isn’t cheap,” Tepsic said. “I was talking to Grant [Fowler] about it and about how I was struggling. I thought, if I’m struggling, other people have to be struggling as well. So we came up with the idea to offer this free service to people in the city.”

Named for Tepsic’s papillon, Peppy’s Pantry was born. The pantry is designed to help dogs whose people are having a hard time making ends meet.

“Our mission is to not leave any dog hungry,” Tepsic said. “We work on a queue based system and we try to get them in the queue as quickly as we can and feed them as quickly as we can. Every person’s situation is different so we’re not trying to enforce too many stipulations to get food. In the seven months that we’ve been operating, we haven’t really had people ask for food for more than really two to three weeks, so it’s naturally worked out. We make it really easy — people can go to our website and fill out an application and then we connect them with a volunteer to provide free dog food. It doesn’t matter what situation that they’re in. We don’t ask questions. We just want to help.”

Peppy’s Pantry helps people of all different backgrounds and stages of life. While Tepsic and Fowler themselves deliver primarily to housed individuals, they also team up with other grassroots organizations like Bagz of Luv to distribute food to their homeless neighbors as well.

In the year since its inception, Peppy’s Pantry has been able to serve over 500 people, distributing about 15,000 pounds of dog food to

people in need. Tepsic and Fowler, both with full-time jobs, spend their free time making deliveries and maintaining the nonprofits’ other needs.

The small team relies on the help of generous donations and sources their food through corporate partnerships, going directly to the manufacturers and distributors to make it beneficial for both parties.

can not spend money on the food part, that can allow us to basically expand into more animal welfare projects.”

Tepsic and Fowler have big plans for the future of Peppy’s Pantry. The grassroots nonprofit is currently operating out of Tepsic’s garage — the team plans to secure warehouse space to accommodate larger donations and serve more pets.

“We truly want to give people a leg up. We’re not trying to feed them for maybe a couple of days. We’re trying to feed them for a while so they don’t need to call us back, so they can have a few paydays come in and actually try to get a leg up on their financial situation.”

“Every operating cost has come out of our own pockets to make this happen,” Tepsic said.

“We like to make our partnerships so there isn’t any loss on their part and also we are saving our donor money for bigger things like expanding our services. If we

“Right now we can only accept about 15 to 20 pallets, and that’s helpful, but we have bigger plans to help more,” Fowler said. “If we can accommodate larger donations, it really just helps the amount of dogs we can feed. Our long term goal is that we want to set up our own brand of dog food, make it super affordable and very healthy for the animals. We want to partner with vet clinics and offer free spay and neuters, free vaccinations, grooming and nail clipping. We want to help people out in other ways than just food because, a lot of the people we serve, they’re struggling with paying for food, they can’t afford essential services or they keep taking in rescues. I think part of that is education and the other is that they can’t afford it. So we’re there to help the community of dogs. We want to be there for them no matter what they can afford or not.”

The team knows difficult times come and go, but they want to be there to help people when they’re low.

Their mission has become one that is dear to their hearts. Both Tepsic and Fowler find great joy in helping people and their pets. The deep bond they have with their own dogs helps them to understand the unique relationship people have with their pets.

“After seeing these people who will feed their dogs before they feed themselves, without them I fear their situation would be much worse,” Tepsic said. “The fact that we can keep these people from giving up their dog — because we know what is most likely going to happen if they have to give them up — the fact that they can keep their best friend really makes it very worth it. It’s so gratifying to see these people have hope again. It’s truly a beautiful thing.”

Visit peppyspantry.com

(left to right) Grant Fowler, Peppy and .Morgan Tepsic. | Photo by Berlin Green

Peppy, the Peppy’s Pantry namesake and mascot. | Photo by Berlin Green

Wolf in sheep’s clothing

A NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN IS ATTEMPTING TO BRAND JESUS CHRIST IN THEIR OWN IMAGE.

By Robin Meyers

If those Jesus Gets Us ads look too good to be true, it’s because they are.

My progressive Christian friends have been almost giddy over their apparent emphasis on peace and justice, on immigrant rights, on a thoroughly human Jesus who knows the limits of politics, of family, and of judgmental fear mongering instead of forgiving. After all, they are beautifully produced, and if you didn’t know better you’d swear that they signal a theological shift of epic proportions. Let’s face it — none of us have ever seen religious ads like these on television, especially not during the Super Bowl. Was someone finally flipping the script on doctrinal purity while answering the question, WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) by proposing that we actually follow his example of love and sacrifice instead of hatred and division?

One thing was certain. Nobody knew who was funding the campaign, but a little digging reveals a lot, and reminds us that “buyer beware” applies to more than just widgets. A dark-money group called Signatry and its front the Servant Foundation got a huge donation from our very own Green family, who owns Hobby Lobby and built a Museum of the Bible containing religious artifacts. They sued all the way to the Supreme Court for the right not to provide contraception to their employees if it violated their personal religious beliefs.

A consulting firm was hired to find out why Christianity is dying and why young people prefer the coffee shop to the sanctuary. What they found was exactly what everyone already knew, namely that the church is imploding in the stench of its own hypocrisy, turning out people who care more about being right than about being loving. Legions of young people in this country can’t stand most organized religion and no longer want anything to do with Christianity, but they still find the life and teachings of Jesus remark-

able. So let the branding begin.

Watching the ads evokes memories of how people must have first responded to a penniless rabbi from Nazareth, the Teacher of Righteousness, who comforted the afflicted and afflicted the comfortable. One shows us that Jesus was himself a refugee (based on a literal reading of Matthew’s infancy narrative), but the people who paid for the ad are largely Christianity nationalists who use the plight of today’s refugees as political fodder. If you go to the campaign’s website, you are funneled into a right-wing media universe that includes Focus on the Family with all its homophobia and misogyny. One of my colleagues at the university, Mark Davies, said that if the HeGetsUs ads were a table, Jesus would have flipped it over. He goes on to say, “The HeGetsUs campaign comes off as a form of ‘Jesus Washing’ by a billionaire who doesn’t get us spending tens of millions of dollars telling us Jesus gets us while also spending millions of dollars to elect politicians that embrace values and implement laws and practices that are antithetical to the messages being conveyed in the campaign.”

The researchers who came up with this campaign slogan learned that the people who must be reached if Christianity is to survive want peace above all else and help coping with “toxic relationships.” They think that the institutional church does not have the answer (since it is often the source of division in families and relationships) but that the message of Jesus is the answer, because HeGetsUs. The problem is that when the ads are responded to by people who want to learn more, they reenter the same world that they left. This is not repentance by the Christian Right. It is cultural seduction. It is what one colleague called “fundamentalism in streetwear.” Using the language of social justice that conservatives love to hate, it becomes a bait-and-switch.

Not surprisingly, some evan-

gelicals are not happy about the ads either because they say the message focuses too much on Jesus as a compassionate mortal instead of a divine savior. Natasha Crain, a well-known fundamental ist blogger writes, “The HeGetsUs campaign does not practice bibli cal evangelism, and it does not present the biblical Jesus.” She goes on to urge that fundamental ists reject it as watered-down ca pitulation to “culturally palatable versions of social justice.”

So, it seems as if both progres sive Christians and evangelical Christians see a different kind of Trojan horse, but there may be a silver lining in all this. By trying to appeal to the spiritual-but-notreligious crowd, Christian Nationalists like David Green may have unwittingly endorsed the progressive movement while un masking their true intentions. By being nervous about watering down the divinity of Jesus, funda mentalists may have reminded those who left the church over dogmatism in the first place that they made the right decision.

One of my colleagues in the progressive Christian movement, Jim Burklo, suggested that we flip the hidden script here. He sug gests we change it from HeGetsUs to HeGetsUsTo. He gets us welcome immigrants; He gets us to embrace other religions; He gets us to celebrate same-sex mar

Robin Meyers |

Photo by Berlin Green

Illustrations by Jerry Bennett

Republicans in the Oklahoma House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 2177, which effectively bans transgender health care. It will be sent to the Senate, and, if approved there, to Kevin’s desk.

“This bill will protect children and parents from being pressured into agreeing to harmful experimental transition procedures by prohibiting

critical mental health care,” the bill’s author, Rep. Kevin West (R-Moore), told The Oklahoman.

Sure, you can make the argument that this bill is intended to allow persons to reach legal adulthood before making life-altering, permanent decisions about their bodies while they are still developing, but the next section lays bare the actual intentions.

sion of the services … to any minor or adult. No facility that receives public funds shall allow its staff or facilities to be used to perform the services … on any minor or adult. Any violation of this section shall result in the loss of public funding to the entity, orga-

concluded that more than 1.6 million people in the United States identify as transgender or nonbinary, but an Oklahoma Gazette study has found that 80 Republicans of questionable intelligence are threatening medical doctors acting within their realm of expertise and their patients’ wellbeing for political points with their base.

The party of “small government” has once again decided that overreach doesn’t apply to sticking its grubby little fingers underneath your clothing.

If anyone is still questioning the state superintendent’s commitment to public education, know that Ryan Walters showed up to personally present the

COVER STORY

Still the one

A LOOK AT SOME OF THE OKLAHOMAN DISTILLERIES THAT ARE HELPING TO PUT OUR STATE ON THE LIQUOR MAP.

By Brett Fieldcamp

For the first time in history, spirits have surpassed beer sales. In 2022, 42.1 percent of all alcohol sales came from liquor, while brewing accounted for 41.9 percent, according to the U.S. Distilled Spirits Council. While Oklahoma is relatively new to the spirits scene, here’s a glance at some of the distilleries competing for market share within state lines.

Woodworks Distilling Co.

912 W. Britton Road, Oklahoma City

The state’s newest distillery, Woodworks have their sights set on the classy, clean style of liquor with a refined aesthetic that nods toward the industry’s olden days.

The in-house offerings already available include a uniquely flavorful four-grain vodka and two variations on gin, with a classical London Dry and a citrusy “Western” style, not to mention their upcoming specially designed flavored liqueurs made with persimmon or spiced walnut.

For whiskey fans, Woodworks is aiming for the bold, spicy, dry crowd with their Preface series bourbon and rye, meant to openly spotlight their sourcing from Indiana giant MGP and their trademark leather and seasoned oak flavors.

Territory Distilling

1408

S. Fern St., Stillwater

Another recent addition to the state’s distilling roster, Stillwater’s Territory Distilling is all about thinking outside the traditionalist boxes.

Territory’s current claims to liquor fame are Aunt Bill’s Pecan Candy Liqueur, based on a 100 yearold candy recipe from the earliest days of Oklahoma, and the Prairie Smoke, a creatively distilled blend of barley, molasses, and blue corn

that’s been heavily smoked by Stillwater’s Bad Brad’s BBQ.

Red Fork Distillery

3310 Southwest Blvd., Tulsa

Launched in 2015, Tulsa’s Red Fork actually boasts the title of Oklahoma’s first post-prohibition distillery.

With an always locally-minded identity, Red Fork’s impressive lineup features the Botanical

means no younger than four years, no less than 100 proof, and nothing short of delicious.

With a true made-in-Oklahoma bottled-in-bond bourbon making its way onto shelves right now, some might say that our state has finally joined the ranks of the real whiskey producers.

Rock Creek Distillery

1742 S. Main St., Shattuck

The proud new owners of Oklahoma’s largest still, the brand new 1600gallon monster will be cooking up Rock Creek’s crystal clear, allwheat Schultz Vodka and their full line of Dead Parrot rums when it goes into operation this year.

Vodka, utilizing flavors selected with the Tulsa Botanic Garden; the War Dance, a creamy, sweet cinnamon moonshine; and The Heist, a blended whiskey named in honor of a legendary train robbery gone awry.

Hochatown Distilling Co.

41 N. Lukfata Trail, Hochatown

Another veteran operation on the scene since 2015, Hochatown Distilling has focused on straightforward, no nonsense spirits, and are currently aiming to be the leaders for true, Oklahomadistilled small batch bourbon.

With enough years under their belts to finally bottle some wellaged in-house distillate, Hochatown aren’t just boasting their fine 90proof offering, but also the state’s first-ever legitimate bottled-inbond bourbon.

Adhering to strict government quality control laws in place since the late 1800s, “bottled-in-bond”

With a clean, simple white rum and cocktailperfect flavors like coconut, pineapple, and dark vanilla bean, you can expect to see the Dead Parrot line popping up on backbars all over the state.

WanderFolk

Spirits

124 E. Oklahoma Ave., Guthrie

What more can be said about WanderFolk?

With the Same Old Moses Bourbon and Rye, Garden Club Gins and Vodka, and the longstanding, recently updated Prairie Wolf line, WanderFolk has been dominating the Oklahoma distilling game since coming through the surprisingly lucrative hand sanitizer-producing days of 2020.

They’ll be adding their own brand new, 500-gallon still very soon, not only massively increasing their production, but allowing them to start branching out and experimenting to their creativity’s content, including plans for a rich, scotch-style single malt.

The Woodworks Distilling Co. bar. | Photo by Berlin Green

Shelf life

LIQUOR MAY SOON BE COMING TO GROCERY STORE SHELVES, AND SOME IN THE LOCAL AND CRAFT INDUSTRIES HAVE THOUGHTS.

By Brett Fieldcamp

Oklahoma House Bill 2354 was supposed to be about local winemakers and self-distribution.

But that was before Feb. 27, when Rep. Jon Echols (R-Oklahoma City) moved to strike the entire language of the bill and replace the whole thing with a measure that industry insiders have been expecting for a while now: allowing sales of full-strength liquor in grocery stores.

Currently, fewer than half of American states allow grocers to sell liquor, reasoning that it would only increase concerns of theft and access to underaged drinkers. But both those that produce more niche, craft-level spirits and those that specialize in selling them point out loads of other concerns about things like selection, availability and how it would affect the viability of Oklahoma’s beloved, hyperlocal market.

“In short, this law would suck for liquor stores,” said Cody Wilson, owner of both George’s Liquors and Modern Liquor in OKC. “But I don’t think it’s closing any stores down that aren’t already going to close with or without the change.”

Wilson bought George’s in the wake of State Question 792, which made sales of full-strength beer and wine legal in grocery stores, so he’s had his focus set on the “specialty store” niche since day one.

But even if he feels confident that his locations will survive the coming changes, he’s not openly supporting any bill that will so dramatically change the game and hand control of the state’s spirits industry to corporate grocers.

“I’m not campaigning for or against it,” he said. “The downside with this is that liquor stores have zero to gain. So that change has to be in the products and customer service at your

store. Whatever happens, we will continue to sell things grocery will never know or even think about.”

That is, for as long as those more unique, specialized products continue to see distribution in Oklahoma.

Since SQ792 changed the way that distribution works in the state — in particular, requiring producers to sell exclusive distribution rights rather than being available to any distributor — availability of many smaller-run and niche products has plummeted. Just ask any Oklahoma whiskey lover looking for rare or allocated bourbon releases.

Once incoming brands are all expected to compete for shelf space in the small, carved-out corners of Walmarts and Targets across the state, availability issues are likely to worsen. With more consumers picking up all their drinking needs in grocery stores rather than specialty stores that have more room for — and more interest in — small and local brands, Oklahoma could easily see a major drop in local beer, wine, and spirits production.

Over at Guthrie’s WanderFolk Distillery, Head Distiller Jeff Cole says that’s because smaller, independent operations like theirs rely on exactly the kind of independent, mom-and-pop stores that are threatened by this new legislation.

“All of us believe that these brands are built in small stores. You don’t build brands in Walmart,” he said. “And believe me, I get it. Everyone wants the one-stop shop. But I personally think we’re going to lose as many as half of our breweries, and definitely some of our distilleries, because we’re already barely hanging on.”

The Momentum exhibition features Oklahoma artists 30 and younger working in a variety of media

The sign pointing to George’s Liquor. | Photo by Berlin Green

Cask of characters

TAKING CUES FROM THE SCOTCH WORLD, GUTHRIE’S WANDERFOLK SPIRITS IS GOING ALL IN ON CREATIVE BARREL-AGING.

By Brett Fieldcamp

By now, everyone knows the easy way to launch a small craft distillery. Buy a still and make some quick, simple vodka. Maybe an easy gin. Buy up some already made whiskey, slap a label on it, and act like you’re reinventing the wheel.

Well, sure, that’s the easy way. Now, how do you do it well and how do you make spirit snobs and whiskey connoisseurs — notoriously some of the hardest-to-please drinkers around — take notice?

If you’re Guthrie’s WanderFolk Spirits, the wisdom is in the wood.

“I’m just trying to gain as much knowledge as I can about maturation,” said Head Distiller and Director of Spirits Jeff Cole about the impressive barrel-aging program for their Same Old Moses brand of bourbon and rye whiskies.

Already, store shelves and bars across the state are seeing WanderFolk’s barrel-aged bourbon offerings, featuring explosively fruity expressions aged in barrels that previously housed tawny port, ruby port, and deliciously creamy Pedro Ximenez sherry.

But there’s an even deeper world of flavors currently developing in the WanderFolk rackhouse, with their drier, spicier rye whiskey aging in a whole new range of barrels, each inspired by the creative, richly flavorful barrel-finishings of the Scotch world.

But don’t start salivating just yet. When you’re zeroing in on a perfectly aged flavor, patience is the most important ingredient.

“We’re not going to sell it until it’s ready, and until everyone agrees that it’s ready,” Cole said.

But we can at least give you a little taste.

Same Old Moses Ruby Port Bourbon

The first of the readily available barrel-finished bourbons is a perfect example of Cole’s flavor objective: semi-sweet, fruity and drinkable. As a former bartender and backbar consultant, he knows what Oklahoma drinkers want.

“The things that do well here are rich with a little bit of fruity sweetness,” he said.

The two port-finished bourbon offerings fulfill either side of that description, with the ruby port covering the fruity element perfectly.

Tawny port is a touch older and a pinch drier than the fruitier ruby style, but when combined with bourbon, the result is slightlyoaked caramel and a bit of dark, dried fruit.

Aging in tawny port barrels is an age-old practice among single malt scotch producers to get a rich, hefty spirit perfectly suited to a peppery cigar.

Pedro Ximenez.

No matter what kind of whiskey you’re aging, a PX sherry barrel will impart a creamy, sumptuous character of toasted almond and vanilla cream in addition to the exceptionally dark, ripe fruit. The Same Old Moses bourbon takes to it beautifully, creating the most decadent of the currently available expressions.

Taking a cue directly from the world famous Nectar D’or from Scotch giant Glenmorangie, Cole is finishing a large batch of the spicy Same Old Moses Rye on sauternes barrels.

While Scotch producers just love experimenting with all the many various styles of sherry casks, Cole likes to use just one:

A luxurious, sweet, French dessert wine, sauternes barrel finishing makes for a bright, rounded, fruity whiskey. Add those notes to the spice and natural dryness of the rye and you get a wonderfully

balanced, sweet spirit perfect for any cocktail or nightcap.

When will it be ready for the bottle? Only time will tell.

Anyone who knows about amarone wine knows that it’s all about ripe, smoked, dark fruit flavors, a stunningly flavorful foundation for barrel-aging that is all too often ignored by all but the most imaginative Scotch producers.

But “imaginative” is exactly what Cole and WanderFolk are shooting for.

The rye whiskey pulled from Cole’s amarone casks is loaded with all the dried cherry and lightly smoky oak spice that you could want, even as it’s still resting and maturing and just waiting for Cole and his team to find just the right time to bottle it.

Of course, you can always schedule a tour of the WanderFolk distillery and just ask nicely. Maybe you’ll get to taste it sooner rather than later.

Visit wanderfolkspirits.com.

Same Old Moses Tawny Port Bourbon

Same Old Moses PX Sherry Bourbon

Same Old Moses Sauternes Barrel Rye

Same Old Moses Amarone Barrel Rye

WanderFolk head distiller Jeff Cole. | Photo by Brett Fieldcamp.

Aging whiskey in barrels at WanderFolk. | Photo by Brett Fieldcamp.

Here for beer

THE BEER FESTIVAL SEASON IS APPROACHING RAPIDLY. HERE ARE TEN OKLAHOMA BREWERIES YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY SAMPLE THIS SPRING.

By Matt Dinger

While this one is technically out of season, it’s possible to find a few straggling six-packs to stockpile until it returns in the colder months. Latin for “happy and dark,” what sets this American stout apart from its brethren is the use of orange peels that make the finish surprisingly sharp. If you’re still looking for something strong, The Hallows — their Belgian tripel — is now back in season.

The biggest complaint about abbey ales isn’t usually the heft of the alcohol content but rather the sweetness of the brew. Fortitude is the rare Belgian-style that comes off dry and less sweet while maintaining the strength the style is infamous for having. The problem you’re most likely to face with this tripel is that it’s crushable, which is a dangerous proposition when it comes loaded with 9.7 percent ABV.

Dead Armadillo is one of the OG breweries that has gotten overlooked far too frequently in the craft beer explosion. For the initiated, the Tulsa Flag blonde ale and the Amber are great to go back-and-forth with in a session. Both are always available in the taproom if you prefer them fresh, along with plenty of rotators to satisfy those who have been keeping score well before the laws were updated.

One of the benefits of being a taproom dweller is sometimes getting sneak peeks of concoctions in the works. While the Dublin Debauchery is finished and canned, its release is still a few days out. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, this no-holds-barred barrelaged coffee stout comes out swinging with a 13.8 percent ABV and the barrel flavor tempered by a little Irish cream. This one is thick and sweet and the robust flavors and strength make this one a one-anddone beer, but stout enthusiasts will definitely try to push their luck.

Hochatown is a bit of a drive from OKC and Tulsa, but fortunately, Mountain Fork comes to you. One of seven of their styles distributed in cans, Sneaky Snake is a strong Belgian-style golden ale is, in fact, quite sneaky. The 8.9 percent ABV is well masked by the sweet yet dry citrus flavors and goes down smoother than it should. This light beer is also extremely reasonably priced, which makes it even easier to tear through a four-pack before you realize you’ve been bit.

Mountain Fork Brewery Stonecloud Brewing Co.

Cabin Boys Brewery

Dead Armadillo Craft Brewing

Angry Scotsman Brewing

IRISH RED ALE

Sometimes you just want a beer-flavored beer and Kochendorfer excels at brewing traditional styles without fanfare or fancy names. Irish reds aren’t necessarily the most popular style these days, but when you find a solid entry in the category, an old standard becomes a new favorite. This Duncan brewery also puts out one of the best hefeweizens in the state with that signature banana aftertaste you often find in European wheat ales.

PATCHES TREAT

STRAWBERRY WHEAT FOREVER

TRAGIC BALLERINAS

Frenzy Brewing Co.

Prairie Artisan Ales became a household name among beer drinkers for its stouts, then dominated the local market when sours became popular, but recently they’ve been crafting some strange brews and none are more unique than the flavors they’ve been concocting using beloved candies. They’ve stretched their Tiny Esses series to its logical limits, but, if you enjoyed that, the Patches Treat is one you must try. Significantly less sour, which is surprising considering the candy this is based on, it’s just as sweet as the Skittles sour.

If you’re looking to kickstart spring, Strawberry Wheat Forever is currently available both in cans and on tap at Anthem. The strawberry juice in this brew dulls the wheat flavor if you’re not a fan of hefeweizens, creating something that’s both subtle and bold in its flavor. Don’t go into this one expecting it packed to the brim with sugar but with just enough to replace a light lemonade or agua fresca if you prefer your spring drinks slightly spiked.

When Skydance Brewing arrived on the scene, the Fancy Dance IPA took the city by storm while the NDN Time waited to be noticed. A rich, malty amber ale, both it and the Rez Dog (their blonde ale) have quickly become staples in beer fridges. We’d certainly be remiss not to mention the taproom with its rotators and experiments (like the Juice Wolves line, which tops itself with each release), but the new packaging for the Skydance core beer lineup is a good reminder for a repeat tasting.

It’s become quite the rage to pack the weirdest imaginable adjuncts into stouts and sours, but sometimes a beer made with some classic flavors does the job best. While Knick Knacks is their flagship sour, this take brewed with pineapple and passionfruit really kicks it up a notch. Bold in flavor without being overwhelming, Tragic Ballerinas is exactly what a fruited sour should be. If peach is more your style, don’t sleep on Quitcherpeachin, their fruity wheat ale, or the Peachy Pyrotechnics, their milkshake IPA, which are both currently on tap.

Anthem Brewing

Kochendorfer Brewing Co.

Skydance Brewing

Prairie Artisan Ales

Beware the Ides of March

The year is 44 BC. You’re famed and feared leader Julius Caesar, and you receive a warning from a soothsayer: “Beware the Ides of March.” Ignoring bad omens and your wife’s pleas, you head to the Senate. Upon arrival, your friend distracts you while senators pull out their forks and fatally stab you. All right, so the Caesar salad has nothing to do with Julius but here’s seven places to get this salad.

By Tatum Stewart

I’m no historian. However, Julius Caesar would have probably been an avid patron of Junior’s had he lived in the 20th century. Opening their doors in 1973, Junior’s has been a hidden gem specializing in premium-cut sirloin steaks and table-made Caesar salads. Since the pandemic, they have ceased making the salads at the tables while still keeping the quality. Featuring giant leaf lettuce, and a creamy anchovy sauce, Junior’s kills the Caesar salad.

It’s common for Caesars to become repetitive with the ingredients that make up the salad, and Cheever’s realized that when they put the fan favorite on their menu. To combat this, the American fine dining spot masterfully adds Calabrian chilis to their anchovy base, giving the sauce a sapid, smokey flavor. You can order the salad on its own, but if you’re looking for a protein option, try pairing it with grilled chicken or shrimp.

Have you ever wanted a salad but didn’t want to deal with the hassle of using a bowl or fork? Look no further than Charcoal Oven The iconic burger shop makes an innovative take on the Caesar salad, sandwiching it between two toasted buns. The Caesar burger features a charcoaled patty with crispy lettuce and topped with — you guessed it — a Caesar sauce that makes this burger the ideal way to get your greens on the go.

(405) 848- 5597 • 2601 NW Expresswayjuniorsokc.com

(405) 842-8911 • 3604 N May Ave.

Photos provided

(405) 525- 7007 • 2409 N Hudson Ave. cheeverscafe.com

Junior’s Charcoal Oven Cheever’s Cafe

((405) 471-6853 • 1800 NW 16th St.themuleokc.com

If you’ve been around the Oklahoma City metro for a while, chances are you’ve already had The Mule. Whether you’re looking for a hip drinking spot or a hangover cure, The Mule has you. Besides their impressive menu of artisanal made sandwiches and soups, they also offer a Caesar salad that is sure to not only sate your hunger but also leave you feeling good about what you just ate.

multiple locations beehealthycafe.com

Bee Healthy has one mission: to curate a menu that makes it easy to eat healthy while not having to sacrifice time out of your busy schedule. Along with an extensive array of health cautious options, such as wraps and hummus veggie dishes, Bee Healthy also has a salad for the Caesar lover in all of us, featuring fresh romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, and grilled chicken as well as other classic Caesar toppings.

(405) 763-5911 • 324 N. Robinson Ave. kitchen324.com

Showcasing a plethora of salad options on their menu, Kitchen 324 makes ordering a salad at brunch a must. Their Caesar option is just subtly different from your usual runof-the-mill order by substituting the traditional iceberg lettuce for kale. Along with the kale, Kitchen 324 also builds on the salad by adding their garlic toasted bread crumbs and a light, house-made Caesar dressing. Add salmon to your order to amplify your superfood meal.

(405) 898-8811 • 301 NW 13th St.theharveybakery.com

Just like Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Harvey Bakery has a classic style. Caesar salad lovers will be pleased to know the Harvey’s option is just as classic as their decor with shredded lettuce, croutons made from their sourdough loaves and a tangy sauce. You can have it as an entree or a side. If you’re having lunch, try the Caesar in their two for $12 special.

Bee Healthy Cafe

The Mule Kitchen No. 324

Harvey Bakery

BOOKS

Book Trivia Night participants will answer questions about popular literature covering a wide range of fiction from the classics, to children’s and young adult books, with a dash of book-to-movie adaptations, and more, 6 p.m., Mar. 9. Best of Books, 1313 E. Danforth Road, 405340-9202, bestofbooksok.com. THU, MAR 9

Read the West Book Club discuss the book Lonesome Dove, the story of two aging Texas Rangers embarking on one last adventure, 1-2:15 p.m., Mar. 19. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum. org. SUN, MAR 19

FILM

Carole King: Home Again (1973, USA, George Scott) a full-length film of Carole King’s May 26, 1973 live homecoming concert on The Great Lawn of New York City’s Central Park before an estimated audience of 100,000, 7p.m., Mar. 10; 11:30a.m. & 8p.m., Mar. 11. Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Ave., 405-235-3456. FRI-SAT, MAR 10-11

Dirty Dancing, An Interactive Screening (1987, USA, Emile Ardolino) Frances “Baby” Houseman falls in love with the camp’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle, during her summers at a Catskills resort with her family, 7 p.m., Mar. 18. Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Ave., 405-235-3456. SAT, MAR 18

Fire of Love (2022, Canada, USA, Sara Dosa) the story of two volcanologist, Katia and Maurice Krafft, who were pioneers in filming and photographing volcanoes and lava in extremely close proximity but unfortunately met their demises, together, doing with they love, 3 p.m., Mar. 12. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SUN, MAR 12

A League of Their Own (1992, USA, Penny Marshall) two sisters join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amid their own growing rivalry during World War II, 7 p.m., Mar. 16. Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Ave., 405-2353456. THU, MAR 16

Leprechaun (1993, USA, Mark Jones) a demonic Leprechaun goes on a killing rampage in search of his beloved pot of gold, 7 p.m., Mar. 17. Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Ave., 405-235-3456. FRI, MAR 17

OKG PICKS

Pacifiction (2022, France, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Albert Serra) on an island in French Polynesia, the Haut-Commissaire, lives between the highest tier of politics and the lowest social class of his co-citizens, but a life of conflict will lead him to take reckless decisions against his political status, 8 p.m., Mar. 17; 7:30 p.m., Mar. 18. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. FRI-SAT, MAR 17-18

The Quiet Girl (2022, Ireland, Colm Bairéad) a quiet, neglected girl is sent away from her family to live with foster parents for the summer, where she blossoms in their care, but in a house where there are meant to be no secrets, she discovers one, 5:30 p.m., Mar. 17; 2 & 5 p.m., Mar. 18; 12:30 & 3:30 p.m., Mar. 19. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. FRI-SUN, MAR 17-19

Selena (1997, USA, Gregory Nava) the true life story of a Texas-born Tejano-style singer, who rose from cult status to performing at the Astrodome, as well as having chart-topping albums on the Latin music charts before being murdered, 6:30 p.m., Mar. 13. Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Ave., 405-235-3456. MON, MAR 13

HAPPENINGS

Birding Activity participants will learn how to identify birds by size, shape, habitat, and call, read field guides and track bird counts, noon-1:30 p.m., Mar. 17. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark.org. FRI, MAR 17

Compost Corral learn the basics of composting and the benefits of turning food waste into nutrient-rich soil, 6-7:30 p.m., Mar. 16. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark.org. THU, MAR 16

DIY Skullarium Event learn to make a skull terrarium step-by-step with museum staff with a variety of moss, gravel, woodsy and crystal pieces, a real skull and a succulent, 10 a.m. & 3 p.m., Mar. 11. Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, 10301 S. Sunnylane Road, 405814-0006, skeletonmuseum.com. SAT, MAR 11

Heard on Hurd a family friendly evening featuring food trucks, children’s activities and live music from a variety of local artists with proceeds benefiting nonprofit organizations, 6-10 p.m., . Citizens Bank of Edmond, 32 N. Broadway, 405-341-6650, mycitizens.bank/heard-on-hurd. SAT, MAR 18

Hoop Fever Tournament players of all skill levels are encouraged to participate in this tournament of hoop shooting skills, prizes provided by Skydance Brewing, 7:30-10:30 p.m., Mar. 15. Up-Down OKC, 1629 NW 16th St., 405-673-7792, UpDownArcadeBar.com/ Oklahoma-City. WED, MAR 15

St. Patrick’s Parade celebrate the Oklahoma Irish heritage and the western culture of Stockyards City with a parade featuring the Slash O Ranch Longhorns, bagpipes, Irish dancers, cool cars and much more, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Mar. 11. Stockyards City, 1307 S. Agnew Ave., 405-235-7267, stockyardscity.org. SAT, MAR 11 Photo provided

How to Grow a Vegetable Garden Even If You’ve Never Planted a Seed in Your Life instructor Elia Woods will teach the basics of gardening; soil, water, seed,participants will help plant a container garden that can be scaled up or down, hosted at 1016 NW 32nd St., 11 a.m.-noon, Mar. 11. CommonWealth Urban Farms, 3310 N. Olie Ave., 405-795-2044, commonwealthurbanfarms.com. SAT, MAR 11

IXP an Indigenous comic con showcasing Native American pop culture from comics to games to sci-fi to film and tv, featuring special guests Tahmoh Penikett, Kaniehtiio Horn and many others, along with vendors and various activities, Mar. 10-12. First Americans Museum, 659 First Americans Blvd., 405-594-2100, indigipopx.com. FRI-SUN, MAR 10-12

Knit Night an evening of fellow knitters working on their projects while enjoying the store’s atmosphere, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. TUE, MAR 14

LIVE! on the Plaza join the Plaza District every second Friday for a themed art walk featuring artists, live music, shopping and more, 6-10 p.m. second Friday of every month. Plaza District, 1618 N. Gatewood Ave., 405-426-7812, plazadistrict.org. FRI, MAR 11

Norman Wine and Craft Festival a family-friendly event featuring over 70 booths of wine, beer, crafts, home décor, food, art and more, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Mar. 11. Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 615 East Robinson St, 405-360-4721. SAT, MAR 11

OKCstorySLAM: Getting Lucky share a tale of good fortune at the monthly open mic storytelling event, anyone can share a story on the theme, all stories should be true and told by the person they happened to, 7-9 p.m., Mar. 19. 51st Street Speakeasy, 1114 NW 51st St., 405-463-0470, 51stspeakeasy.com. SUN, MAR 19

Plants & Punch Workshop participants will receive a terrarium kit that includes plants, all the materials needed and instructions on how to put everything together while enjoying some adult punch, 5:30-7 p.m., Mar. 17. Plant People Shop, 1212 N. Hudson Ave., 405698-8428, plantpeopleshop.com. FRI, MAR 17

ShamROCK The Gardens celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with various Irish food vendors, music, face painting, and traditional Irish dancing, 11a.m. - 2p.m., Mar. 17. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-4457080, myriadgardens.com. FRI, MAR 17

Tavern Night an evening of Dungeons and Dragons with pre-made characters, four different Dungeon Masters leading teams of six through an epic campaign, 5-9 p.m., Mar. 12. The Sanctuary, 2828 NW 10th Street. SUN, MAR 12

TokenCon a three-day event featuring the latest board game releases, a series of tournaments, demos of over 500 games and visitors can also sell used board games a the flea market, 10-1a.m., Mar. 17; 9-1 a.m., Mar. 18; 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Mar. 19. Embassy Suites Hotel, 1815 S. Meridian Ave., 405-239-3901, tabletop.events/conventions/tokencon-2023. FRI-SUN, MAR 17-19

Where the Bison Roam an interactive presentation of the American Bison’s habitat, history and its importance to Oklahoma and the Great Plains, noon-1 p.m.. Mar. 15. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark.org. WED, MAR 15

Writing the West an interactive writing workshop led by authors Terri Farley and Suzanne Morgan Williams that will introduce students to the parts of a story and writing with their senses to create a group story, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Mar. 10. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. FRI, MAR 10

FOOD

Veggie Dinner at Picasso Cafe join Picasso Cafe on the third Tuesday of each month for a four-course menu; featuring a fresh and creative take on vegetarian-inspired fare with the option to have a wine pairing, reservations required, 6:30 p.m., third Tuesday. Picasso Cafe, 3009 Paseo St., 405-605-2002, picassosonpaseo. com. TUE, MAR 21

Crawfish Boil and Blues a plated crawfish boil followed by a blues showcase featuring Brad Fielder, Paul Benjaman, Seth Lee Jones, and more, 3 p.m., Mar. 11. Blue Note, 2408 N. Robinson Ave., 405-600-1166, thebluenotelounge.com. SAT, MAR 11

Sunday Jazz Brunch enjoy a lavish brunch featuring classics like eggs benedict, lemon buttermilk pancakes and Italian favorites the wood-fired grill with live jazz music and signature cocktails, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Sundays. Tellers, 120 N. Robinson Ave, 405-900-6789, tellersokc. com/event. SUN, ONGOING

Wine Down Wednesday explore the sommeliercurated menu of Old and New World wines while listening to live music, 6-10 p.m., Wednesdays. Tellers, 120 N. Robinson Ave, 405-900-6789, tellersokc.com/ the-great-hall. WED, ONGOING

YOUTH

Crafts and Tales a story followed by an activity ranging from learning about a real specimen from the collections to crafting a thematic piece of artwork, 11 a.m.-noon, Wednesdays. Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., 405-325-4712, samnoblemuseum. ou.edu. WED, ONGOING

Drop-In Art each Saturday will feature a different themed craft for children, third Saturday of every month, 2:45 p.m. through June 17. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa. com. SAT, THROUGH JUNE 17

Little Scientists: Beautiful Birds kids will learn all about birds through stories, games, songs, crafts and museum exploration, 9:30-11 a.m., Mar. 21, 9:30-11 a.m. Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., 405-325-7977, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu. TUE, MAR 21

Outdoor Preparedness Class learn how to pack a backpack, set up a tent, and prepare for emergencies in this park ranger-led class, noon-1:30 p.m., Mar. 13. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark.org. MON, MAR 13

Pi Day Spring Break Activity celebrate Pi Day with free S.T.E.M activities for elementary-age students, 2p.m., Mar. 14. Best of Books, 1313 E. Danforth Road, 405-340-9202, bestofbooksok.com. TUE, MAR 14

continued on page 20

Momentum features 38 Oklahoma emerging visual artists aged 30 and under, using a wide range of media including, painting, printmaking, sculpture, video, and much more, 7-10 p.m., Mar. 10-11. Sailor and The Dock, 617 W. Sheridan Ave., 218-355-8467, ovac-ok.org. FRI-SAT, MAR 10-11

Photo provided

Sonic Family Discover Week families receive free museum admission to the galleries, including the new spring exhibitions, take part in fun art-making activities, and create memories that last a lifetime, sponsored by SONIC, America’s Drive-In., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mar. 14-19. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405236-3100, okcmoa.com.

TUE-SUN, MAR 14-19

Spring Break Activities drop in for family-friendly activities where children can create a different makeand-take craft each day, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Mar. 12-17. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum. org. SUN-FRI, MAR 12-17

OKG PICKS

the Mississippi River to find freedom, 10 a.m., Mar. 9-10; 2 & 5 p.m., Mar. 11. Lyric Theatre, 1727 NW 16th St., 405524-9310, lyrictheatreokc.com. THU-SUN, MAR 9-11

Bored Teachers Comedy Tour put down your red pens, call your teacher besties, and burn off that school year stress at a hilarious skit-comedy show, featuring the funniest teacher-comedians all on one stage. 7 p.m., Mar. 9. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-708-6937, towertheatreokc.com. THU, MAR 9

Chris D’Elia a live stand-up comedy performance, 7 p.m., Mar. 11. The Tulsa Theater, 105 Reconciliation Way, Tulsa, 918-582-7239, bit.ly/ChrisDEliaTUL23. SAT, MAR 11

Clue: The Musical based on the popular board game this musical brings the characters of the game to life while the audience helps solve the mystery of who killed Mr. Boddy, 8 p.m., Mar. 10-11, 17-18, 23-25, 30-31 & Apr. 1; 2p.m., Mar. 19 & 26. The Pollard Theatre, 120 W. Harrison Ave., 405-282-2800, thepollard.org. FRI-SAT, MAR 10-11, 17-19, 23-26, 30-31 & APR 1

Dave Brubeck’s To Hope! A Celebration a reprise of jazz legend Dave Durbeck’s celebration mass, combining elements of classical and jazz music, featuring the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, presented by Canterbury Voices, 7:30 p.m., Mar. 9. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. THU, MAR 9

Dollz with Ballz a monthly drag show, hosted by Kelly Powers, 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.,third Saturday of every month. Joe & Charlies’ Sober Nightclub, 1146 N Macarthur Blvd, 405-999-0450. SAT, MAR 18

Free Comedy Show enjoy a free night of live standup comedy from local comedians featuring David Bates, Zach Amon, Brian Bizjack, and more, 7 p.m., Mar. 10. Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St.,Tulsa, 918-584-2306, cainsballroom.com. FRI, MAR 10

Harvey the story of Elwood P. Dowd, his sister Veta, and his imaginary friend Harvey who is a six-and-ahalf-foot-tall rabbit, 8-10 p.m.,Mar. 17-18; 2-4:30 p.m., Mar. 19. 3rd Act Theatre Company, 12040 N May Ave., 405.593.8093, 3rdacttheatreco.com. FRI-SUN, MAR

17-19

Jurassic Quest guests will be able to walk or ride with the dinosaurs in this submersive exhibit featuring interactive animatronic dinosaurs, an area to dig for fossils, a meet-and-greet with baby dinos and much more, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Mar. 10-12. Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, 3220 Great Plains Walk, 405-948-6700, jurassicquest. com. FRI-SUN, MAR 10-12 Photo provided

Spring Break Bone Dig children will help uncover the bones of a mystery skeleton under our 40-foot Humpback whale inside the museum, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Mar. 14-16. Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, 10301 S. Sunnylane Road, 405-814-0006, skeletonmuseum.com.

TUE-THU, MAR 14-19

Spring Break Drop-ins celebrate spring in the Children’s Garden with story time, arts and crafts, and adventures all based on the day’s theme, 10 a.m.-noon, Mar. 13-17. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com.

MON-FRI, MAR 13-17

St. Patrick’s Day Slime Creations kids will create and take home a container of green aloe slime and a container of leprechaun slime after going on a scavenger hunt to find a pot of gold glitter and slime charms to add to their creations, 1-2 p.m., Mar. 17. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. FRI, MAR 17

PERFORMING ARTS

Art Fusion guests will enjoy music from multiple genres including singer/songwriter with a taste of rock, neo soul, hip-hop mixed with poetry, and more, browse the walls with canvas created by four local painters, and watch two live paintings throughout the evening, benefiting the Girls Rock Camp OKC, 6-10 p.m., Mar. 11. Yale Theater, 227 SW 25th St., 405-249-6859. SAT, MAR 11

Big River based on Mark Twain’s novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, about Huck who escapes from his abusive father and Jim the runaway slave as they travel

MOVE! honoring the legacy of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment by embracing dance with more than 120 performers dressed in vivid costumes and showcasing different dance styles from around the world, 8 p.m., Mar. 9-10; 2 & 8p.m., Mar. 11. Oklahoma City University, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave, 405-208-5000. THU-SAT, MAR 9-11

Nimesh Patel a live stand-up comedy performance, 7:30 & 10:15 p.m., Mar. 17; 7 & 9:45 p.m., Mar. 18; 7 p.m., Mar. 19. Bricktown Comedy Club, 409 E. California Ave., 405-594-0505, bricktowncomedy.com. FRI-SUN, MAR 17-19

Pageant The Musical a beauty pageant of six contestants, all men, who are competing in swimsuit, talent, grown and spokesmodel contests to be crowned Miss Glamouresse, each night will end differently as the judges are random members selected from the audience, 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from through Apr. 21. The Boom, 2218 NW 39th St., 405-601-7200, theboomokc.com. FRI-SAT, THROUGH APR 21

A Raisin in the Sun the story of an African-American family living in south Chicago that receives a life insurance check and must figure out how to spend the money before it tears their family apart, 7 p.m., Mar. 9-11; 2 p.m., Mar. 12. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. THUSUN, MAR 9-12

Roughtail Comedy Night a homegrown comedy show alongside some great homegrown brews. 8-10 p.m., third Saturday of every month. Roughtail Brewing Company, 320 W Memorial Rd, 914-432-2662, linktree. com/1andrewrose. SAT, MAR 18

Sense & Sensibility adapted from Jane Austen’s classic novel about social mores in 18th-century England, 8 p.m., Mar. 16-18, 23-25, 30-31, & Apr. 1; 2:30 p.m., Mar. 19, 26, & Apr. 2. Jewel Box Theatre, 321 NW 36th St., 405-521-1786, jewelboxokc.com.

THU-SUN, MAR 16-19, 23-26, 30-31 & APR 1-2

Shane Mauss a live stand-up comedy performance, 3 p.m., Mar. 11. The Vanguard, 222 N. Main St.,Tulsa, 918561-6885, thevanguardtulsa.com. SAT, MAR 11

Squid a story of two people trapped at the bottom of the sea as they explore love, conflict, trust and betrayal, inspired partly by Vampyroteuthis Infernalis by Viliém Flusser and Louis Bec. 7 p.m., Mar. 16-17. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-9510000, okcontemp.org/SQUID. THU-FRI, MAR 16-17

The Texas Tenors Emmy Award-winning vocal trio with a repertoire ranging from classical to country to Big Band, 8 p.m., Mar. 17. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. FRI-SAT, MAR 17

ACTIVE

Myriad in Motion: Tai Chi dress in your comfy clothes and flat shoes for an entry-level Tai Chi class led by Ling Miller, 4:30-5:30 p.m., every other Monday. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-4457080, myriadgardens.com. MON, ONGOING

OKC Touch Rugby Practice an evening of playing touch rugby for beginning to advanced players on the Love’s Travel Stops Great Lawn, Tuesdays, Wednesdays. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark.org. TUE, WED, ONGOING

Run Lucky 5K a festive 5K run in which participants can dress up or at least wear green to avoid getting pinched, 2 p.m., Mar. 12. Fassler Hall, 421 NW 10th St., 405-609-3300, fasslerhall.com. SUN, MAR 12

Skele-Zen enjoy a relaxing morning of Vinyasa yoga among the museum’s collection of over 450 skeletons, 10:30 a.m. - noon, Mar. 12. Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, 10301 S. Sunnylane Road, 405-814-0006, skeletonmuseum.com. SUN, MAR 12

Vernal Equinox Sound Bath and Meditation reflect on the passing winter season and set goals for the upcoming spring while immersed in a sound bath created by sound bowls and other instruments, participants should bring a blanket, pillow, and yoga mat for optimal comfort, 6-7 p.m., Mar. 20. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. MON, MAR 20 Yoga in the Park bring a yoga mat and water bottle for an hour of spirit, mind and body alignment, 6-7 p.m., Fridays. Andrews Park, 201 W Daws St., 405-3665472. FRI, ONGOING

VISUAL ARTS

The Art of Food an exhibition that features over 100 pieces of work by 37 well-known artists , all highlighting the subject of food, through May 22. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org. THU-SUN, THROUGH

MAY 22

Art of the Northwest Coast features the artistic work of the northwest coast known throughout the world for its style and vibrant colors that tell stories, teach family history and express cultural views though prints, glass, totem poles and more, through May 1, 2023. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT-TUE, THROUGH MAY 1

Art Workshop with Connie Seabourn a two-day fast-paced, step-by-step watercolor painting workshop, March 21-22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., 405-307-9320, pasnorman.org. TUE-WED, MAR 21-22

Art-o-Mat an exhibit that features Clark Whittington’s idea of transforming an old coin-op cigarette machine into a photography distribution device, along with close to 300 works from the Art-O-Mat repertoire and the option for visitors to purchase a piece of art for $5 from the machine, through Mar. 10. Oklahoma City University Norick Art Center, 1608 NW 26th St., 405-208-5707, okcu.edu. MON-FRI, THROUGH MAR 10

Chihuly Then and Now: The Collection at Twenty an exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Chihuly collection at OKCMOA showcasing five decades of glass and painting telling the story of his groundbreaking career featuring never before seen works in Oklahoma City, through June 18, 2024. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405236-3100, okcmoa.com. THROUGH JUNE 18, 2024

DIY Wedding & Prom: Corsages & Boutonnieres participants will learn the step-by-step process with tips and tricks to create their own corsages and boutonnieres for any special occasion, 1-3 p.m., Mar. 18. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-4457080, myriadgardens.com. SAT, MAR 18

Flower Globes Workshop create a dramatic and long-lasting pop of color with these unique flower globes that stay colorful and fresh longer than traditional bouquets, 7-9 p.m., Mar. 16. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org. THU, MAR 16

Fugitive Speech features seven artworks by artists Emily M. Chase, Jerome Ellis and Anita Fields explore acts of personal testimony in the face of social, cultural and historical odds through distinct perspectives and approaches to media, including textiles, video, photography and ceramics, while considering the relationship between voice, memory and time, through April 30, 2023. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, okcontemp.org. THU-MON, THROUGH APRIL 30

Journey of Light an exhibit featuring photography by Yousef Khanfar showcasing various pieces from his different collections such as Landscape, Portraits, Jerusalem, and more, through Apr. 29. JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave., 405-528-6336, jrbartgallery. com. FRI-SAT, THROUGH APR 29

Kiarostami: Beyond the Frame features a multimedia collection of artwork by Iranian filmmaker, photographer and visual artist, Abbas Kiarostami, through April 9, 2023. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SAT-TUE, THROUGH APR 9

Monthly Art Opening a monthly art show of local artists with March’s featured artists being John Salame, Landon Tolentino, and Wesley Kramer, March 9-April 2. DNA Galleries, 1709 NW 16th St., 405-525-3499, dnagalleries.com. THU-SUN, MAR 9 - APR 2

Perspective: An Inquiry into the Literal and Conceptual Sense of the Word features the work of An Ha and Clover B.C. in which they attempt to reconcile two drastically contrasting backgrounds to find the nature of human perspective, and how the human

Oklahoma Farm-to-Table Festival a free fair highlighting historic and modern farm life demonstrating how food and household items make it from their source to our homes, featuring chuckwagon cooking, livestock, a petting zoo and more, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Mar. 18. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org. SAT, MAR 18 Photo Adobe Stock

race attempt to mend the gap between this difference, March 2-25. Artspace at Untitled, 1 NE Third St., 405-8159995, 1ne3.org. THU-SAT, MAR 2-25

Playing Cowboy an exhibition featuring Westernthemed toys from the 1880s all the way to present time including toy cap guns, costumes, board games, a coin-operated mechanical horse and more, through May

7. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org.

FRI-SUN, THROUGH MAY 7

Purpose and Pattern an exhibit that focuses on the combination of tradition, culture, and self-expression through examples of patterns in art, including basketry, pottery, intarsia, and textile designs from five different artists, March 1-June 30. Exhibit C, 1 E. Sheridan Ave., 405-767-8900, exhibitcgallery.com. SUN-SAT, MAR

1-JUNE 30

Rainforest Adventure visitors will explore one of the least-known habitats on earth in a fully interactive maze exhibit, full of the sights and sounds of a tropical rainforest, 10 a.m.-5 p.m, Tuesdays-Saturdays and 1-5 p.m., Sundays, through June

4. Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., 405-325-7977, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu. TUES-SUN, THROUGH JUNE 4

Second Friday Art Walk a free celebration of arts & creativity held monthly in the Walker Arts District of Downtown Norman, second Friday of every month, 6 p.m. Downtown Norman, 122 E. Main St., 405-637-6225, downtownnorman.com. FRI, MAR 10

Second Saturday XL: Eat Your Art Out a family outing of creative fun with The Art of Food-themed art-making, performances and activities. 1-4 p.m., Mar. 11. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, okcontemp.org. SAT, MAR 11 Spring 2023 Group Exhibition features the work of five Oklahoma-based artists working in a variety of media: Courtney Glassey, Calli Heflin, Sylvie Mayer, Michael McDaniel, and Erick Perry. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., through April 23. The Art Hall, 519 NW 23rd St., 405-456-9504, arthallokc.com/spring-2023-group-exhibition. TUE-SUN, THROUGH APRIL 23

Synesthesia Factory Obscura’s newest immersive art experience focusing on color and textural elements while guests open their senses to discover what colors sound and smell like. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. THROUGH JUNE 4

Taking Flight: Oklahomans Explore the Skies an exhibit featuring the first steps toward air travel for both military and commercial flights and ways that Oklahomans such as Wiley Post contributed to aviation,opening Mar. 1, ongoing. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org. WED, ON-

GOING BEGINNING MAR 1

Thundor: The Art of Chase Dryden an exhibit showcasing photographs of Chase Dryden’s and other painter’s body painting works on Thunder fan Garrett Haviland, better known as Thundor, through April 28. Firehouse Art Center, 444 S. Flood Ave., 405-329-4523, normanfirehouse.com. FRI, THROUGH APR 28

Voices from the Drum features 20 drums thematically arranged to examine how the artists approached the drum, through their culture, artistic vision and in relationship to traditional dance within the Osage community, Feb. 4-March 31. First Americans Museum, 659 First Americans Blvd., 405-594-2100. SAT-FRI, THROUGH MAR 31

You Have Died of Dysentery an exhibit showcasing Western-themed games, books and videos, such as The Oregon Trail and Red Dead Redemption, through May 7. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT-TUE, THROUGH MAY 7

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On the road again

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS TAKE STAGE AT THE JONES ASSEMBLY ON MARCH 21.

By Dave Gil de Rubio

When Drive-By Truckers went into the studio at the end of July 2021, it was coming off releasing an unintentional trilogy of albums rife with socially conscious messages—2016’s American Band, 2020’s The Unraveling and The New OK.

The band plays The Jones Assembly March 21.

All three albums were overflowing with trenchant musical observations about gun violence, the Trump immigration family separation policy and Black Lives Matter. Suffice it to say, founding members Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley were ready to get more personal with their songwriting, a shift that’s readily apparent on Welcome 2 Club XIII, the Georgia quintet’s fourteenth album. The duo’s pre-DBT days playing in the late ‘80s outfit Adam’s House Cat proved to be a source of inspiration for the nine songs that make up the new release.

“We were a band from ’85 to ’91 and we made a record right before we broke up that never came out at the time,” Hood said. “We were able to locate the missing tapes, mix it and we put it out in 2018 [as Town Burned Down]. Working on that was sort of the impetus for some of the writing on this current record.”

Cooley’s oldest child turning 19 and Hood’s senior child just marking his 17th birthday, along with retrospection from those Adam’s House Cat days, proved to be all the inspiration needed for what wound up being an exploratory three-day recording session that birthed the newest album.

Among the memories were the venue referenced in the title track that was actually where the band cut its teeth while coming up through the music scene in the Muscle Shoals area. (“It was about the only place to play and it would have outlived me had I not gotten out of there.”) Or there’s the titular person referenced in “Billy Ringo In the Dark” (“That song was directly inspired by someone who had been in that band who had long since passed away. It obviously

wasn’t his real name—it was kind of a nickname.”)

Looking back on the Adam’s House Cat period proved to be a meaningful way to pivot away from the topical themes that had dominated much Drive-By Truckers material for the past six years.

“As far as the character-driven stories [on this album], these characters tend to be us, or family or really close friends, that in some cases, (we) lost,” Hood said. “Part of it is a reflection on our younger days, but not in a ‘glory days’ sentimental way — more of taking stock of that time. You know when you’re young and having a good time, it’s great. I’m all about (being) young and having a good time and hopefully (you) come out on the other end and find a way to make it work in your later life. There gets to be a point where there gets to be an accounting.”

Some of the highlights include the Crazy Horse-flavored rager “Maria’s Awful Disclosures,” the fuzz guitar-soaked title track shuffle and the horn-kissed “Every Single Storied Flameout,” a Hood favorite.

“That’s my favorite song on the record and that might be my alltime favorite Drive-By Truckers song,” he said. “I really love that song. I’m really extra-proud of it. I think Cooley’s songwriting on that is so next-level and phenomenal— the words and the whole thing plays out—and the horns. I fucking love the horns on that.”

Adding to the fun are contributions by country music talent Margo Price and her husband Jeremy Ivey on harmonica. (“We ended up sharing a dressing room with Margo and her husband Jeremy at the Newport Folk Festival,” Hood said. “We’re talking and one thing led to another and we asked if she wanted to sing on something and she said she’d love to.”)

Longtime friend Mike Mills of R.E.M. also checks in, providing background vocals, a talent that had impressed Hood since the latter would drive around his truck listening to R.E.M.’s Fables of the Reconstruction and singing along to Mills’ contributions to that record. (“He’s one of my favorite harmony singers in the world. It’s an honor to have his voice on our record because I love him because he’s just so great.”)

And while the recording process proved to be quite a breeze, getting to the other side of the pandemic proved to be the biggest challenge for Hood and the band.

“When I first got sent home, we were on tour when everything shut down and we had to fly home,” Hood said. “I thought it was an inconvenience and that maybe we were going to lose a month of work at most. But then the reality started setting in that this wasn’t ending any time soon. We may go bankrupt. It was brutal financially and on a mental and personal level. I kind of shut down. I wasn’t really able to write or do near all the creative things I wanted to do. Generally, when I’ve had dark times in my life, writing has been my sort of self-therapy that I’ve used to get through it on the other side. It kind of threw me. It wasn’t like a writer’s block necessarily, but more along the lines of anything I wrote made me feel worse. So I just didn’t do it much. I didn’t really write a lot until around December 2020, when the election was over — or when we thought it was. Or when it was supposed to be over. They had a vaccine coming and I started thinking that I’d start to be able to go back to

work and be able to pick up the pieces. We had survived and hadn’t lost our house, which was a big deal. After that, the floodgates opened.”

Once the Drive-By Truckers were able to return to touring, they spent most of 2021 making up for rescheduled dates from 2020 and early 2021 before starting to hit markets that didn’t lose shows to the pandemic. And while business concerns might have dictated holding off on releasing Welcome 2 Club XIII until after the band had played the make-up dates — essentially continuing The New OK tour — gut instinct drove Hood and his compatriots to get the new music to the fans, even at a financial cost.

“Waiting on releasing the new album would have probably been the smarter business move to make,” Hood said. “In retrospect, maybe we should have [waited]. But it’s not what we felt like doing. We were excited about this record and this is what we wanted to be doing. Now we’re kind of dealing with the other end of that. They let us do what we wanted to do. If they told us no, we would have probably been sore about it, but they might have been right.”

Visit thejonesassembly.com

The Drive-By Truckers. | Photo by Brantley Guitierrez.

EDEN ROSE

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TWO LOCATIONS

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OPEN: SUN - THURS 9AM - 12AM

FRI & SAT 9AM - 2AM

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OPEN: SUN - THURS 10AM - 10PM

FRI & SAT 10AM - 12AM

LIVE MUSIC

MARCH 25 @ GRAND ROYALE

PERFORMANCE BY:

THE BASTARD SUNS (ATL) | DIAL DRIVE (FL) |

DIRTY REGGAE PUNX (OKC)

okgazette.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 8

Amanda Cunningham, Hollywood Corners.

COVER

Ashley McBryde, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa.

COUNTRY

Flogging Molly, Diamond Ballroom. PUNK

Jazz Jam, 51st Street Speakeasy. JAZZ

Trett Charles, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa.

COUNTRY

The Wednesday Band, The Deli. COUNTRY

THURSDAY,

MAR. 9

The Brave Amigos, Frenzy Brewing Co.

INSTRUMENTALIST

Buddy Guy, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa.

BLUES

Country Music Group Therapy/Biscuits & Groovy, The Deli. COUNTRY

Cro-Mags/Ringworm/No/Mas/Brat, 89th Street—OKC. METAL

Eric Gales/Ally Venable, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewing Co. BLUES

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

J.R. Carroll/Jordan Nix, The Vanguard, Tulsa.

ALTERNATIVE

Mark Lettieri Group/Local Man Ruins

Everything, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar. JAZZ

Music Over Midtown, O Bar. VARIOUS

Shelly Phelps and The Storm, Bourbon Street Bar. BLUES

Short & Broke/The BlueRays/JL Jones, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Shovelin Stone/Bee and the Hive, Blue Note. FOLK

Static-X, Diamond Ballroom. METAL

FRIDAY, MAR. 10

Gabe Lee/King Margo, The Blue Door. FOLK

Helen Kelter Skelter/Groucho, The Deli. ROCK

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Kennedy Fine, Stonecloud Brewing Co. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Kenny Feidler and the Cowboy Killers/Kellen Smith, Grady’s 66 Pub. COUNTRY

Let’s Go Tribute to the Cars, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewing Co. TRIBUTE

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

PariahSystem/A Dim Light/Caliber/Within

The Walls, The Vanguard, Tulsa. METAL

Scott H Biram, 89th Street—OKC. BLUES

Spring Breakdown, Beer City Music Hall. DANCE

A Tribute to the Purple One, Tower Theatre. TRIBUTE

Wink Burcham, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee. SINGER/SONGWRITER

SATURDAY, MAR. 11

Be Our Guest: Disney Throwback Night, Tower Theatre. DANCE

Bedlam Live Local Bands, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. VARIOUS

Brandon Birdwell, Frenzy Brewing Co. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Carter Sampson, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee. AMERICANA

Feverest/The Others Like Us/Speak, Memory/ Greyland, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ALTERNATIVE

Gunfighter’s Dilemma/The Dead Aces, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar. ROCK

JamBros, Hollywood Corners. COUNTRY

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

Mando Saenz/Mac Leaphart, The Blue Door. FOLK

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

Nick Schnebelen, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewing Co. BLUES

Noche de Verano Sin Ti!, Beer City Music Hall. DJ Sierra Ferrell/Jaime Wyatt, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. AMERICANA

Tayls/Rock Europa/Monte/BaileyBoy, The Deli. ALTERNATIVE

Tracy Thomas/Haylie Bagwell/Angela Brooks/The Hunt Brothers/Luke Haley/ Lauren Akin, Rodeo Opry. COUNTRY

SUNDAY, MAR. 12

Celtic Jam, Full Circle Bookstore. CELTIC

Jazz Night/Jake Hertzog, Blue Note. JAZZ

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

No Whiners Aloud, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES Theory of a Deadman/Skillet, The Tulsa Theater, Tulsa. ROCK

Tin Can Gramophone/Hosty, The Deli. FOLK

MONDAY, MAR. 13

The Aints/Bailey Gilbert & Friends, The Deli. AMERICANA

TUESDAY, MAR. 14

Bruce Benson & Studio B, 51st Street Speakeasy. BLUES

Caleb McGee, The Deli. BLUES

HIDE/Harpy, 89th Street—OKC. ELECTRONIC Shamarr Allen/Soup, The Vanguard, Tulsa. JAZZ

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 15

Alter Bridge, The Criterion. METAL Bilmuri, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ALTERNATIVE

Edgar Cruz and Friends, Broke Brewing Co. INSTRUMENTALIST

Gripe/Grandpa Vern/Kemper Temper/ Buguloid, The Sanctuary. PUNK

Hosty, Hollywood Corners. ELECTRIC

Jazz Jam, 51st Street Speakeasy. JAZZ

Sunset Patio Bar Karaoke Night, Sunset Patio. KARAOKE

Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, Ponyboy. COUNTRY

Shwayze, Beer City Music Hall. RAP

Trett Charles, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa. COUNTRY

The Wednesday Band, The Deli. COUNTRY

THURSDAY, MAR. 16

David Bruster Band/Gunner Fore and The Interstate/Matt Moran, Blue Note. AMERICANA

Country Music Group Therapy/Biscuits & Groovy, The Deli. COUNTRY

Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge Karaoke Night, Dust Bowl. KARAOKE

Edgar Cruz/Ansy McClain, UCO Jazz Lab. INSTRUMENTALIST

Ice Cube, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa. RAP

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Music Over Midtown, O Bar. VARIOUS

These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to

Live From Cain’s a public radio concept combining live music with entertaining conversations tapped with a live audience featuring Parker Millsap and Bette Smith, 6:30 p.m., Mar. 18. Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St., Tulsa, 918-584-2306, cainsballroom.com. SAT, MAR 18 Photo provided

Shelly Phelps and The Storm, Bourbon Street Bar. BLUES

Short & Broke/The BlueRays/JL Jones, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

FRIDAY, MAR. 17

100 Bones Band/Weekend AllStars, VZD’s

Restaurant & Bar. SOUL

Blake Shelton, Paycom Center. COUNTRY Blushing/Mad Honey/Photocopy/Burl, The Sanctuary. ALTERNATIVE

Brain Gorrell and Jazz Company, UCO Jazz Lab. JAZZ

Dan Martin, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Erin Michelle Duo, Hollywood Corners. COUNTRY

Holly Beth/Wight Lighters, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

Jason Eady, The Blue Door. COUNTRY

Jessica Tate, The Deli. INSTRUMENTAL

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

The Odyssey/Pabu/Beau Turrentine, The Deli. ROCK

Oklahannah, Ponyboy. INSTRUMENTALIST

Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular, Tower Theatre. TRIBUTE

Randy Cassimus, Full Circle Bookstore. ACOUSTIC

Scotty Laughlin, Stonecloud Brewing Co. COUNTRY

Thunderstruck Tribute to ACDC, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewing Co. TRIBUTE

SATURDAY, MAR. 18

405 Pitstop, Beer City Music Hall. VARIOUS

Bedlam Live Local Bands, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. VARIOUS

Chris Blevins, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee. AMERICANA

Darlin’ Darla/Mackensie & Austin McKedy/ Keelee Bright/James Hostler/Amber Norlin, Rodeo Opry. COUNTRY

Dreams Unwind/American Petty, Tower Theatre. TRIBUTE

Howard Brady, Full Circle Bookstore. BLUES

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

Matt Woods/Sean Halcon/Hosty, The Deli. ROCK

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa. AMERICANA

Robert Allen Band, Hollywood Corners. COUNTRY

Special Agent/Magazu/Otis VCR/War, On Drugs, The Sanctuary. PUNK

SUNDAY, MAR. 19

Brother Moses/Lex/Ramsey Thornton, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ALTERNATIVE

Jackie Venson, Ponyboy. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Jazz Night!, Blue Note. JAZZ

Jessica Tate, Full Circle Bookstore. INSTRUMENTALIST

K. Michelle, Tower Theatre. R&B

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

No Whiners Aloud, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Tin Can Gramophone/Hosty, The Deli. FOLK

The War and Treaty, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

MONDAY, MAR. 20

The Aints/Bailey Gilbert & Friends, The Deli. AMERICANA

Swim Fan/Sleeping Jesus/SweetTalker, Blue Note. POP Taleen Kali/Psychic Baths/Computer Girl, Opolis. ALTERNATIVE

TUESDAY, MAR. 21

Bruce Benson & Studio B, 51st Street Speakeasy. BLUES

Caleb McGee, The Deli. BLUES Sunny Sweeney, Beer City Music Hall. INDIE

Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Visit okgazette.com to submit your lisitngs or email listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

YOUR DAILY INTEL BRIEFING ON-AIR, ONLINE AND ON-DEMAND

Strain name: Chimera #4

Grown by: Lettuce Smoke Co.

Acquired from: The Lettuce Bar

Date acquired: Feb. 26

Physical traits: frosted shades of green

Bouquet: earthy and gassy

Review: The Lettuce Bar is a little off the beaten path for most OKC residents, but the top-notch dispo is always worth the short drive. The

Chimera #4 is among the newest crops from Lettuce Smoke Co., their growing arm. For those who haven’t had a humanities or literature course in a while, a chimera is a beast with the body of a goat, a lion’s head (that breathes fire) and a serpent’s tail. A cross between White Truffle and The Creature, originally bred by Beleaf Cannabis, this one lives up to its namesake with a roaring blast that slyly and stubbornly sticks around long

THE HIGH CULTURE

STRAIN REVIEWS

WEEK OF MARCH 9

Homework: Who or what do you belong to in ways that keep you free?

Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

Repressed feelings and dormant passions are rising to the surface. I bet they will soon be rattling your brain and illuminating your heart, unleashing a soothing turbulence of uncanny glee. Will you get crazy and wise enough to coax the Great Mystery into blessing you with an inspirational revelation or two? I believe you will. I hope you will! The more skillful you are at generating rowdy breakthroughs, the less likely you are to experience a breakdown. Be as unruly as you need to be to liberate the very best healings.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

You finally have all you need to finish an incomplete mission or resolve a mess of unsettled karma. The courage and determination you couldn’t quite summon before are now fully available as you invoke a climax that will prepare the way for your awe-inspiring rebirth. Gaze into the future, dear Taurus, and scan for radiant beacons that will be your guides in the coming months. You have more help than you know, and now is the time to identify it and move toward it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Our sun is an average star in a galaxy of 100 billion stars. In comparison to some of its flamboyant compatriots, it’s mediocre. Over 860 light years away is a blue-white supergiant star called Rigel, which is twice as hot as our sun and 40,000 times brighter. The red supergiant Antares, over 600 light years away, has 12 times more mass. Yet if those two show-offs had human attitudes, they might be jealous of our star, which is the source of energy for a planet teeming with 8.7 million forms of life. I propose we make the sun your role model for now, Gemini. It’s an excellent time to glory in your unique strengths and to exuberantly avoid comparing yourself to anyone else.

after smoking. Their Cap Junky (a new favorite strain after last issue’s strain review) is also worth

Strain name:

Grown by:

Acquired from:

Date acquired:

Physical traits: and green

Bouquet:

Review: dispensary between Likewise Cannabis and Rooted Zen shut tered a few months ago, but their relationship continues on the shelves of the newest Like wise venture that just opened near Classen and Broadway avenues (directly south of Byron’s). Billed as a wholesale cannabis company, The Ware house is open to the public and features only growers and processors that have been handselected from years of previous collaborations to offer the same kind of selection that Byron’s does in the retail liquor space. This strain, another White Truffle cross, is bred with A Decade Under the Influence

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

feel gratitude for educating and entertaining you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

1. Mysteries may be truer than mere facts.

The philosophical principle known as Occam’s razor asserts that when trying to understand a problem or enigma, we should favor the simplest explanation with the fewest assumptions. While that’s often a useful approach, I don’t recommend it in the coming weeks. For you, nuances and subtleties will abound in every situation. Mere simplicity is unlikely to lead to a valid understanding. You will be wise to relish the complications and thrive on the paradoxes. Try to see at least three sides of every story. Further tips:

2. If you’re willing to honor your confusion, the full, rich story will eventually emerge.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

“There are no unsacred places,” wrote Leo poet Wendell Berry. “There are only sacred places and desecrated places.” Poet Allen Ginsberg agreed. “Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy!” he wrote. “Holy the solitudes of skyscrapers and pavements! Holy the cafeteria! Holy the mysterious rivers of tears under the streets! Holy the sea, holy the desert, holy the railroad.” With Berry’s and Ginsberg’s prompts as your inspiration, and in accordance with current astrological imperatives, I invite you to invigorate your relationship with sacredness. If nothing is sacred for you, do what it takes to find and commune with sacred things, places, animals, humans, and phenomena. If you are already a lover of sacred wonders, give them extra love and care. To expand your thinking and tenderize your mood, give your adoration to these related themes: consecration, sublimity, veneration, devotion, reverence, awe, and splendor.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

My favorite Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, wrote the following: “In us, there is a river of feelings, in which every drop of water is a different feeling, and each feeling relies on all the others for its existence. To observe it, we just sit on the bank of the river and identify each feeling as it surfaces, flows by, and disappears.” I bring this meditation to your attention, Virgo, because I hope you will do it daily during the next two weeks. Now is an excellent time to cultivate an intense awareness of your feelings—to exult in their rich meanings, to value their spiritual power, to

How might your life come into clearer focus when you uncover secrets that inspire your initiative and ingenuity? What happens when resources that had been inaccessible become available for your enjoyment and use? How will you respond if neglected truths spring into view and point the way toward improvements in your job situation? I suspect you will soon be able to tell me stories about all this good stuff. PS: Don’t waste time feeling doubtful about whether the magic is real. Just welcome it and make it work for you!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

It’s not the best time to tattoo a lover’s likeness on your abdomen. Maybe in May, but not now. On the other hand, the coming weeks will be an excellent time to see if your paramour might be willing to tattoo your name on their thigh. Similarly, this is a favorable period to investigate which of your allies would wake up at 5 am to drive you to the airport, and which of your acquaintances and friends would stop others from spreading malicious gossip about you, and which authorities would reward you if you spoke up with constructive critiques.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Redwoods are the tallest trees in the world. They may grow as high as 350 feet. Their roots are shallow, though, reaching down just six to 12 feet before spreading out 60 to 100 feet horizontally. And yet the trees are sturdy, rarely susceptible to being toppled by high winds and floods. What’s their secret? Their root systems are interwoven with those of other nearby redwoods. Together, they form networks of allies, supporting each other and literally sharing nutrients. I endorse this model for you to emulate in your efforts to create additional stability and security in your life, Sagittarius.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

What’s the best way to be fulfilled? Hard work and discipline? Are we most likely to flourish if we indulge only moderately in life’s sweet pleasures and mostly focus on the difficult tasks that build our skills and clout?

Or is it more accurate to say that 90 percent of success is just showing up: being patient and persistent as we carry out the small day-to-day sacrifices and devotions that incrementally make us indispensable? Mythologist Joseph Campbell described a third variation: to “follow our bliss.” We find out what activities give us the greatest joy and install those activities at the center of our lives. As a Capricorn, you are naturally skilled at the first two approaches. In the coming months, I encourage you to increase your proficiency at the third.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Mackerels are unusual fish in that they must keep swimming nonstop. If they don’t, they die. Do they ever sleep? Scientists haven’t found any evidence that they do. I bring them up now because many of you Aquarians have resemblances to mackerels—and I think it’s especially crucial that you not act like them in the coming weeks. I promise you that nothing bad will happen if you slow way down and indulge in prolonged periods of relaxing stillness. Just the opposite in fact: Your mental and physical health will thrive as you give your internal batteries time and space to recharge.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

A financial advisor once told me I could adopt one of three approaches to running my business: 1. Ignore change; 2. always struggle with change, half-immobilized by mixed feelings about whether to change or stay pat; 3. learn to love and thrive on change. The advisor said that if I chose either of the first two options, I would always be forced to change by circumstances beyond my control. The third approach is ultimately the only one that works. Now is an excellent time for you Pisceans to commit yourself fully to number three—for both your business and your life.

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes / daily text message horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.

NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE | SIMILE IRRESISTIBLE

By Rebecca Goldstein | Puzzles

Edited by Will Shortz | 0226

Rebecca Goldstein, of Albany, Calif., is a research scientist at Merck, developing cancer immunotherapies.

An avid crossword solver (typically six to 10 puzzles a day), she started constructing in 2020 at her wife’s suggestion. Her puzzles have appeared in The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times and elsewhere. This is her sixth (and first Sunday) for us. Rebecca is excited to debut the modern coinage at 39-Down. —W.S.

7 Muscles targeted by curls

8 Brings in

Muscles targeted by planks

10 Large container 11 Cry from someone who’s disheveled

13 “____ qué?” (“Why?” in Spanish)

14 Passion project, perhaps

15 Spanish city enclosed within intact medieval walls

16 Food, air, water, etc.

17 Tushies

20 Yiddish laments

21 Teachers’ teachings

23 Took five 24 23andMe facilities

28 Ending with clip or slip

31 “Today” co-host Kotb

32 Chutzpah 33 Commuter option

34 Big Ben hrs.

35 Hosts, as at a penthouse

36 “Can’t win ‘em all”

37 Affixed in a scrapbook, say

38 Posterior

39 Evidence derived from personal experience and observation rather than systematic research and analysis

42 Recede 43 Ankle bones

45 Help around the House

46 Paper purchase

47 Think out loud

49 Subject of Queen Mary

67 Ancient Roman formal wear

68 Tea served with a jumbo straw 69 Golden calf, for one 70 Hockey score 73 Pitch-perfect?

74 Pigs

75 “____ my last email .?.?.”

77 Shade providers

79 “Where’s My Refund?” org. 80 Whack

82 Down B-52s, say 83 Close tightly 84 Signifying symbol 85 Company that created a Sonic boom?

86 Handle at the bar

88 Succeeded at musical chairs

90 Imagine ____ Peace (Ben & Jerry’s flavor)

93 Campfire remnant 95 Skilled in 96 Elaborately decorated

97 Muscle contraction

98 Kauffman who cocreated “Friends”

99 Ancient Mesoamerican civilization

100 Places for some piercings

101 Objections

104 Winter setting in S.F.

106 Tushies

107 “Dealing with that right now!”

108 Campus with the ZIP code 90095

109 Place to swim or play b-ball

111 Stock launch, in brief

113 Image on Australia’s coat of arms

114 Donkey Kong, for one

115 Make final, with “up”

1

Stumped? Call 1-900-285-5656 to get the answers to any three clues by phone ($1.20 a minute).

SUDOKU HARD | N° 99978

NEW YORK TIMES

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Grid n°99978 hard

Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3-by-3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9. www.printmysudoku.com

Puzzle No. 0212 which appeared in the February 22nd issue.

VOL. XV NO. 05