Pride Was A Riot

After decades of progress, Pride has once again become a battle for equality and fairness.

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OF FLORIDA GEORGIA LIN E

Pride and prejudice

By Brett Fieldcamp

The queer community is under attack.

Every week — sometimes every day — we’re seeing new legislation, new rhetoric or talking points, new book bans and new pushback against the decades of progress made toward something like acceptance or solidarity, in particular targeting trans youth and genderaffirming care.

As state legislatures and courts nationwide continue to codify these regressive, targeted policies, Oklahoma has leapt into the fray with no fewer than four such anti-trans bills and is already loudly signaling that even more political toxicity is on the horizon.

But so is Pride.

Each year, across the country and beyond, the month of June sees parades, performances, and outpourings of support in the name of Pride, the open celebration of the unified gay, queer and transgender communities.

But for all of the rainbow-colored, increasingly non-threatening fun for which Pride Month has become known, its origins trace back through a tragic and difficult history of oppression, intolerant violence and ultimately outright protest in the name of demanding basic human equality regardless of identity or orientation.

With the same fights and bigotries now recycling back into the public discourse, and with the trans community fighting, in many cases, for their very lives, this year’s Pride celebrations around Oklahoma City are set to more closely resemble those earlier days.

“Pride means never forgetting that this protest must continue,” said Tessa White, President of OKC Pride, and the first transgender president in the long -

standing organization’s history. “As much as we would love to celebrate, we really can’t this year. So instead, what we want to do is just continue this protest.”

The Body Politic

After the worrying political upheaval and fundamentalist conservative empowerment of the past few years, tensions heading into this year’s Pride feel more charged than potentially in decades.

State officials like Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters have staked much of their recent political capital on attacking gender-affirming healthcare and 2SLGBTQ-inclusive children’s books, backing and encouraging a slate of bills in the state legislature.

“Fortunately — and frankly, we don’t even know how it happened — but we managed to only have one bill actually get signed into law this year, and that would be the bill excluding trans youth

from having care within the state of Oklahoma,” White said.

That bill, Senate Bill 613, has so far been the most successful of the openly anti-trans legislation floating through the state government, but it hasn’t been alone. Separate bills also targeting transgender-related healthcare, birth-gender bathroom designations, and strict legal definitions of what is allowed to be called a “woman” have also made the rounds just this year.

Then there’s the efforts to outlaw drag performance.

Following in the backwardsfacing footsteps of Tennessee, Republican lawmakers in Oklahoma have tried to make visible public drag shows into a felony offense.

“We so often express ourselves politically through performance,” said Plaza District Executive Director Rachael Leonhart, who is also the lead organizer for their annual PRIDE on the Plaza event.

“So much of our culture re -

volves around the art of drag,” Leonhart said. “And now there are politicians at the Capitol trying to claim things like, ‘I could be downtown, walking with my family, and then all of sudden there’s drag queens!’”

The unifying theme at each of OKC’s largescale Pride events this year is encouraging political action, both to block and stall these pending bills and to hopefully reverse or nullify the alreadysigned law keeping trans youth from potentially life-saving gender-affirming treatment.

“We’ve been lucky enough to have some people within the legislature that actually are good people, that actually care about what happens to the LGBT community,” White said. “But we’re very sad, because there are so many transgender youth that are suffering right now, and not only suffering, but being discriminated against in schools, being bullied. Many of them are having to move out of state.”

“At its foundation”

These scenarios have begun to feel frighteningly familiar to anyone aware of the blatantly anti-gay laws and mentalities of the 1960s and the tragic, explosive circumstances that Pride itself was created to memorialize.

On June 28, 1969, police violently raided the Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village, a popular, if necessarily hidden, gay bar, sparking one of the first major clashes and uprisings against anti-LGBT laws and discrimination.

The violence lasted for days, resulting in further clashes with police, mass arrests and fire being

INTHEFACEOFREGRESSIVELEGISLATIONATTEMPTINGTODEHUMANIZEAND ERASETHE2SLGBTQ+COMMUNITY,THISYEAR’SPRIDECELEBRATIONSARE RETURNINGTOTHEIRROOTSASPROTESTANDREVOLUTION.

A scene from the 2022 OKC Pride Alliance Parade | Photo by Berlin Green

set to the Stonewall Inn.

One year later, gay rights activists in Los Angeles, Chicago, and right there in Greenwich Village marched in the very first official “Gay Pride” parades to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising.

By June of 1971, the parades had spread across the country as mass, coordinated protests with marchers demanding equal rights, equal treatment and an end to the lingering homophobic laws that outlawed, in many cases, even the right to openly identify as anything but straight.

The marchers’ most important political strength was their numbers.

On the front lines of the Stonewall riots that night, and helping to lead and organize the community in the aftermath were a number of instrumental Black trans activists, such as Marsha P. Johnson, Miss Major GriffinGracy, and Stormé DeLarverie.

“Pride is a protest at its foundation,” White said. “Since 1969, we’ve come an awful long way, but with the last couple of years, we’ve slipped backwards by

decades. So it’s just a little emblem hanging around our neck that says, ‘Don’t forget where you came from, and don’t ever let your guard down.’”

Oklahoma City didn’t see an open, official Pride march until 1988.

Historical Need

These histories are told and recounted every year throughout the community, with leaders and

organizers hoping to keep that original revolutionary spirit alive during Pride Month.

But for so many casual allies and young newcomers to the 2SLGBTQ+ identity, it’s been difficult to see through June’s expected, arms-length “rainbow capitalism” to understand that Pride still represents solidarity against a serious threat on an entire worldwide community.

“We should probably have a real place in OKC where we can

learn about our history,” Leonhart said. “We don’t have a brick-and-mortar 2SLGBTQ+ establishment in this city where we can learn, and we really should, someplace that’s not just a bar or a pop-up in someone’s home. Just like we don’t have a consistent, reliable publication or outlet giving updates in real time.”

So many of the hopes for that kind of multi-generational, financially supported community were dashed in the 1980s.

“Organizations need funding,” said Leonhart. “Any chance that we had in the queer community of having generational wealth and power, any head start that we had, was wiped out in the AIDS crisis. All of our straight-passing white men, they all got HIV and AIDS and then passed. It’s really, really sad. And now we’re trying to rebuild that.”

Much of that rebuilding has settled into the infrastructure and economy of the 39th Street District, nationally recognized as one of the largest and most diverse gay districts in America.

Though it may seem to some like

A group from ACLU Oklahoma walks in the 2022 OKC Pride Alliance Parade holding signs to support trans youth and protect abortion access.

| Photo by Berlin Green

a surprising outlier in a notoriously conservative state, its community has become galvanized and successful out of necessity.

“We need places like 39th Street because when you’re part of a marginalized community, there’s a certain camaraderie in just being with each other,” Leonhart said. “There’s a saying that adversity breeds community. The reason why Oklahoma City has such thriving gay establishments is because the rest of Oklahoma is so against us. There has to be a safe haven somewhere.”

Unite the Fight

The 39th Street Pride Parade, organized by OKC Pride, remains the largest privately held event in the city with as many as 100,000 participants each year.

“If that’s not sending a message,” White said, “I don’t know what is.”

As the president of OKC Pride, White has her work cut out for her to create a mammoth multi-day event with enough fun and appeal to bring out the crowds while also striking the challenging tone of protest, solidarity and calls for desperately needed political action.

“This year, our theme had to be specific and it had to be protest-minded,” she said, “and we heard the suggestion of ‘Unite the Fight.’ As soon as we heard it, it was absolutely perfect. It’s just a constant reminder that we are in a fight for our lives, and that we should just never forget. Like, let’s have fun, let’s enjoy each other’s company, let’s celebrate who we are. But let’s not forget.”

Under that banner, OKC Pride hopes to bridge the gap between party-starved supporters and politically minded protesters by framing the fight as one of inclusion, with visibility itself as the most powerful weapon.

“Pride means that we’re still here,” White said. “We look around at one another, and we realize that we’re all still here together, and that our strength is in numbers. And those numbers are just growing exponentially right now.”

Queer Joy: The Resistance

Many of those growing numbers can be seen spreading

out across the city, bringing that same message of open-armed inclusion in the fight into new venues and new, increasingly visible parts of the city.

“There’s so many of us here in Oklahoma, and it’s such a beautiful reminder,” said Kylan Durant, president of the more recently established OKC Pride Alliance, organizers of the already wildly popular PrideFest celebrations at Scissortail Park.

“If we could just remember that every single day when we’re in the midst of all of this,” Durant said. “Just remember looking out on that Friday or that Saturday during Pride, and there’s this massive sea of queer people out there to just celebrate and be together.”

For their Pride theme this year, they chose “Queer Joy: The Resistance,” openly signaling that, as their website directly states: “CELEBRATION IS A PROTEST.”

seen a dip in our number of followers, like a significant dip. And so we’re definitely being aware of who is supporting us, because we have people showing up to the table who don’t support the whole community and especially the parts of our community that are even more marginalized.”

“A middle finger”

Leonhart, who is also a board member for OKC Pride Alliance, feels that it’s her job to keep the rebellious, revolutionary spirit of Pride’s history alive.

“The things that I’m not supposed to book, or that aren’t supposed to be allowed, I do it anyway,” she said. “I give a middle finger through programming. When they say we can’t have drag performers or we can’t have pasties? Yes we can. When they say we can’t talk about sex? Yes

do we even do it? But it’s for a lot of reasons. I mean, when someone tells you it’s their first Pride or that they really feel seen and understood for the first time, that means something.”

“A place for everybody”

For all of the current political weight and all the revolutionary hopes for Pride this year, all of these organizers are clear that the overriding culture of fun and inclusivity remains paramount.

“It’s got to be exciting,” White said. “It’s got to be fun and a safe place for all of our community members to see what it looks like to be out and proud.”

Whether you’re drawn to Pride this time around to help make a loud, proud statement of political support, or just to show solidarity by adding your number, all good intentions will be welcomed.

“There’s a place for everybody, and not everyone’s place is throwing bricks. There’s levels to it. Some of us are supposed to be the activists, the ones that are perceived as always angry or always loud. And then some of us are supposed to be the mediators. We have people from all backgrounds and all walks of life. We just have to trust,” Leonhart said.

“To live joyously in the midst of all of this is an act of rebellion and an act of resistance,” Durant said. “And just having the Pride festival is one of the biggest displays of that.”

Unfortunately, Durant has seen cracks forming in some parts of the community that wish to compartmentalize the struggles and to focus on the successful social gains rather than the work to be done.

“We have a pretty big divide happening in the community with the trans issues going on,” he said. “There are some queer people who are not fully behind the trans movement, and that’s very disappointing to see. I actually had a conversation the other day about followers on our accounts and how anytime that we’ve posted something about SB613, we’ve

we can. We can’t give resources to families for trans health? Yes we can, and we will, and we won’t apologize for it.”

Of course, that kind of conscious rebelliousness unfortunately carries some serious, somber considerations, especially as some other cities around the country are already canceling official Pride celebrations out of fear.

“As a festival organizer, I have to ask if, in an attempt to create a safe space and a place where people can be seen and heard, am I actually in some way creating a target in the political climate that we’re in?” Leonhart said. “I’ve quadrupled security over the last year for PRIDE on the Plaza and PrideFest at Scissortail. We’ve spent nearly $20,000 just on security. And it’s like, well then why

We can all hope that next year might be different, that the spirit and energy of Pride can return again to unified joy and celebrations of progress and acceptance, but this year, everyone who shows up will be standing for something, even if it’s just to be counted.

“It’s about saying ‘this isn’t right,’” Leonhart said. “This is not right, and the people who came before us fought way too hard for all of this.”

A group walks in the 2022 OKC Pride Alliance Parade holding signs to support Native American tribes and Two Spirits. | Photo by Berlin Green

The Clinton era

By Kendra Michal Johnson and

McClintock

Clinton has big summer plans for a sleepy city of fewer than 10,000 people.

Each Friday for 10 weeks, the historic bandshell in Clinton’s McClain-Rogers Park will be filled with live music. The city will also host its first Pride festival June 10.

Summer concert series planned through 2025

The concert series will mark the first of three years of outdoor performances.

The City of Clinton and local nonprofit music initiative Scissortail Productions, Inc. have received a $90,000 matching grant from Levitt Foundation to produce three summer concert series of ten performances each starting in June and continuing through 2025. All performances will be free and open to the public.

The first show is scheduled for June 2, featuring Orgullo de América, Vasquez Flamenco Dancers, and Hudost.

The June 9 concert will feature Megan & friends and Edgar Cruz; June 16, Jazz Combo, Goodblanket Intertribal Dance Troupe and Incendio; June 23, Oklahoma Opry, Kerry Morrow & Shelley Martinson and Chatham Rabbits; June 30, Bob Wiles & Cowboy Jones; July 7, Red Dirt Rangers; July 14, Jessica Tate & the Green Mystic Quartet and 77th Army Band; July 21, Phillip Martinson, Goodblanket Intertribal Dance Troupe and Delbert Anderson Quartet; July 28, Oklahoma Opryland and Jared Deck.

The closing performance Aug. 4 will feature Heather Appel and Kyle Dillingham & Horseshow Road.

There’ll also be food trucks, mini golf and such.

“It’s going to be what you would say in a kind of festive carnival atmosphere,”

Clinton Mayor David Berrong

said. “It’s family friendly.”

Scissortail Productions, Inc.

Executive Director Susan AdamsJohnson was looking for a suitable location to partner with for the grant program. She happened to be in Clinton for an unrelated commitment when she saw the amphitheater in McClainRogers Park.

“I walked in, did a cold call with Robert [Johnston], the city manager,” Adams-Johnson said. “We came back and met with Robert and David, the mayor.”

“I always want to make very, very clear that this is about the community of Clinton,” she said. “Scissortail is here as a facilitator, but it really is about Clinton.”

Berrong also spoke positively of the community support for the

performance series.

“We’re all in different walks of life, being able to come together for a common goal,” he said. “That’s always fun. And it’s rewarding and builds fellowship within the community and a sense of purpose, he said.”

For more information, visit the Levitt AMP Clinton Music Series Facebook page.

Western Oklahoma Pride Festival

The inaugural Western Oklahoma Pride Festival is June 10, and it takes place in one of the most conservative counties in the state.

“The root of fear is based in ignorance. This event is about education and inclusion to help deal with that fear. We want to educate people,” said Sara Roland, Western Oklahoma Pride Festival creator.

“I think most of the issues we are experiencing in this community are based on citizens not understanding what the LGBTQ+ community is actually about. We intend to change that with this festival,” she said.

After the hospital closed in her lifelong hometown, Roland felt defeated.

“People were depressed; I was depressed,” she said.

She decided to do it, and planning just took off. Friends soon joined the cause

and made the festival a reality.

There have been some small concerns such as security for the event and local opposition but Roland said that the comments have been minimal.

“We have plenty of security, including uniformed officers. That should make all festival goers feel safe. And opposition has also been minimal. All are welcome to come join in a great event,” Roland said.

The family-friendly event will include musical performances by Patrick Saint James, Tony Aye and KINGQUEEN along with food trucks, local musicians, food trucks, art exhibits, numerous vendors, guest speakers and a kids area.

The festival starts at noon and will go until sundown at McLainRogers Park.

Visit www.wokpride.com.

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McClain Rogers Park will host 10 free outdoor concerts this summer as part of a grant funded three year program. | Photo provided by City of Clinton.

The historic bandshell at McClain Rogers Park will fill with music for ten Fridays this summer, through the Levitt AMP Clinton Music Series. | Photo provided by City of Clinton.

Key to the outside

POLITICIANS WANTING TO LIMIT ACCESS TO READING MATERIALS ARE MISSING THE PURPOSE OF THE ACT ITSELF.

By Robin Meyers

When Oklahoma lawmakers argue over what books children should be allowed to read, they seldom acknowledge the purpose of reading itself. They are mostly waging a political battle against “wokeness” (if anyone could define what that means) in which authors are writing about subjects that either shame children for the sins of their fathers, or tempt them to explore alternative lifestyles. In other words, books are for “grooming” children to become bi-sexual Marxists.

When the great poet Emily Dickenson said, “There is no frigate like a book,” she wasn’t advising us to allow only certain people on board. She was reminding us that nothing develops the empathic imagination like a good book, because reading is the key to the outside. She understood, as have countless psychologists, that when we are born, we are locked in a kind of prison of self. As babies we are a bundle of pure id, and this is necessary for survival. But as we grow, we have to escape this dungeon of self-absorption, in order to develop the most important single faculty for becoming fully human: to be able to imagine what it is like, what it is really like, to be another human being.

We are constantly advising one another to love the stranger, to feed the hungry, to show mercy to those who have fallen from grace, but this is impossible until we develop a moral imagination, that distinctly human gift which makes it possible to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes instead of just telling them to buy a new pair. Recent studies have shown that we are experiencing a sharp decline in empathy, but this should not be surprising. Social media traps us in echo chambers of like-minded influencers. Books, on the other hand, take us on incredible journeys into the lives of people not like us, people we might otherwise never understand, but only fear.

The great Quaker William Penn said, “Love is the hardest lesson of Christianity,” and Thoreau said no

greater miracle could take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant. But this is an act of pure imagination. And let’s be honest, truly imaginative children frighten some unimaginative lawmakers to death. Isn’t this the tool of the devil? If you read about a gay character in a book, won’t you imagine being gay yourself? If you read about the Tulsa Race Massacre, won’t you feel shame and sadness because you can imagine it? One can only hope so.

Here is one of the most disturbing and revealing phrases of our time: “I just can’t imagine.” We say it all the time. “I just can’t imagine why she said that.” “I just can’t imagine what he sees in her? “I just can’t imagine anyone being that stupid?” Or this, “What on earth has gotten into your head?”

This is how we dismiss what we cannot understand. We label what we have never imagined as outside the realm of being human. When Timothy McVeigh blew up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and killed 168 people, including 19 children, people said, “I just can’t imagine.” But it would be good if we tried since McVeigh himself imagined the Second American Revolution, bottle-fed on the anti-government vitriol of Rush Limbaugh.

Now that mass shootings have become as American as apple pie, people say they just can’t imagine what could have caused such unimaginable mental illness. But by all means let’s make sure we don’t imagine a world in which citizens cannot buy military assault weapons. As for banning books about people who are LGBTQ+, perhaps it would be wise to ask whether the mind-numbing violence of point-of-view shooter video games is not the real obscenity.

Television and movies produce images for us, while reading allows us to be in control of what we imagine. Although these mediums can also inform and inspire, they require less imagination. Now we seem to know more but feel less. The mind, after all, is like a gallery hung with images and when we read we are the curators of our own show. If you are looking for dangerous indoctrination these days, look at advertising, not books.

To often we say to our children, “That’s only your imagination.” But Quaker novelist Jessamyn West, who wrote Friendly Persuasion, said that no other faculty is more important to develop in children. She wrote:

“The most important question a mother can ask her child each night is not ‘What did you learn today?’ or ‘Did you go to the bathroom?’ or ‘Have you said your prayers?’ but ‘What did you imagine today?’ Prayers, learning, and health are barren without imagination.

The sick child may die, but the unimaginative child is already dead. The pious child who does not inhabit his prayers with imagination might as well be saying ‘Hickory, dickory, dock.’ The child who learns but does not illuminate his learning with imagination is an inferior calculating machine—but alas, unlike the calculating machine, capable of terrible brutalities.”

Perhaps we should trust our children more and give thanks for the power of reading to develop the interior life. Without understanding there is no empathy and

without empathy there is a truly unimaginable future. Reading about the real world helps our children to live in the real world rather than in a fairytale.

Elizabeth Peabody was asked once how she happened to run into a tree on the Boston Common. Her explanation, “I saw it, but I did not realize it.” That’s the story of our time — 20-20 vision, but hearts that are not in focus because we cannot imagine.

When Joan of Arc was on trial for heresy, her tormentors accused her of imagining everything. To which she responded, “How else would God speak to me, if not through my imagination?”

Thank God for books, for librarians, and for those who trust the imagination of their children. If we are going to ban something, maybe it should be paranoid politicians.

The Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers is pastor of First Congregational Church UCC in Norman and retired senior minister of Mayflower Congregational UCC in Oklahoma City. He is currently Professor of Public Speaking, and Distinguished Professor of Social Justice Emeritus in the Philosophy Department at Oklahoma City University, and the author of eight books on religion and American culture, the most recent of which is, Saving God from Religion: A Minister’s Search for Faith in a Skeptical Age. Visit robinmeyers.com

Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers. | Photo by Berlin Green

Roll with it

Egg rolls have many sizes, variations and fillings, yet are always a dependable comfort food. June 10 is National Egg Roll Day and here are seven places to snag one (or all of them) to celebrate.

By Tatum Stewart Photos provided

Taste of Soul Lee’s Sandwiches OKC Eggrolls

405-677-5820

Fusion egg rolls have become all the rage in the past decade, and Taste Of Soul has been at the forefront. Although usually eaten as an appetizer, theirs are closer to the size of a small burrito, making it the perfect entree. Their menu varies with different takes on the classics like the southwest roll, a savory blend of chicken, corn, peppers and black beans.

instagram.com/okceggrolls

OKC Eggroll’s owner Vickie Vo has one mission: to bring authentic Vietnamese egg rolls like her grandmother used to make straight to OKC’s taste buds. Although this is a traveling pop-up, the quality is consistently outstanding. The two specialty egg rolls — pork (cha gio) and a vegan umami option — are crisped to golden perfection. Follow them on Instagram for dates and locations.

Although Lee’s is not actually Oklahoma-owned, it’s hard to argue that the Vietnamese sandwich shop doesn’t hold a place in the city’s heart. With authentic, budget friendly options across the board, sometimes all you need is a bag of their egg rolls. An egg roll for eating, not for thinking, if you will. Offering either pork, shrimp, or a variety pack with both, Lee’s guarantees a crunchy egg roll every time.

• 4605 SE 29th St. facebook.com/tasteofsouleggroll

405-601-2161 • 3300 N Classen Blvd. leesandwiches.com

Riviere is a Vietnamese fusion bar and eatery nestled on the outskirts of Midtown. Taking a modern stance on conventional Vietnamese cuisine, Riviere is constantly pushing the boundaries by adding innovative flavors and dishes. Their egg rolls are the perfect starter for the complex flavors to follow. Packed with carrots, ground pork and stretchy glass noodles, they’re wrapped with care in rice paper and fried to perfection.

A hidden gem at the Super Cao Nguyen supermarket, Cafe Oasis is literally an oasis for authentic contemporary Chinese food. This laidback cafe is known for their milky boba teas, casual atmosphere and never ending comfort food options. Their egg rolls are no exception.

There are plenty of reasons to visit Quoc Bao, whether it be for the banh mi, baked breakfast items, supporting a local business or their infamous egg rolls. After closing for some time, Quoc Bao reopened to great fanfare. Quoc Bao’s egg rolls are double-wrapped, creating a thicker, crispier crust.

Blue Moon is Edmond’s premier spot to get archetypal Chinese food. Along with an impressively authentic variety of entrees, Blue Moon is also famous for their egg rolls. Coming in pairs, the Chinese style egg rolls are the size of the plate. The wheat flour wrappers ensure a crunchy bubble effect, giving it its authentic homemade look. Inside the roll, you’ll find a plethora of cabbage and roast pork.

405-528-5700 • 1125 NW 25th St. cafeoasisoc.com

405-604-3446 • 905 N Hudson Ave. riviereokc.com

405-760-6322 • 2501 N Classen Blvd.

405-340-3871 • 1320 S Broadway

Cafe Oasis

Riviere Modern Banh Mi Quoc Bao Bakery Blue Moon

Lights, camera, action

By Kendra Michal Johnson

“Take 1.” Click.

Few sights and sounds are more associated with a film set than clapping a filming slate, and 89 high schoolers get to experience that moment first-hand.

On June 8 and 9, Oklahoma teens will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and training in the film industry, for free, through deadCenter University, a partnership between deadCenter Film Festival and Metro Technology Centers.

“There’s a lot of really cool programs around the state here and there for whether it’s theatre or this film thing,”

Metro Technology Centers Digital Film Instructor and deadCenter University

Director Harry Wolohon said. “But most of them, if not all of them, require something— some sort of payment. This is free for anybody from freshman year to their senior year.”

On the first day of the program at Green Pastures Studios, students will get to work on four scene scenarios, gaining hands-on guidance from industry professionals including directors of photography (DPs), directors, stunt artists, and special effects makeup artists.

During the second day, at the Metro Tech Downtown Business Campus, participants will hear from panelists currently including: Jon Shryock, who will share about his fabrication shop work; director Kyle Roberts and some cast members from his film What Rhymes With Reason ; director of photography Andrew Smith; di -

rector Milena Govich; screenwriter and director David Cornue; cinematographer Kara Abernathy Choate; director Jeremy Choate; and filmmaking duo Jacob Leighton Burns and Zachary Burns.

Each student also receives two free passes to the festival.

“That’s why we’ve grown to four separate teams of directors and DPs and assistants that’ll assist those groups,” Wolohon said.

This separate group system allows for each of the four groups to be smaller, giving each student more hands-on experience.

Growing the number of par -

Meanwhile, for Noble Banks, the program has come full circle over the past 10 years.

Banks was a high school student when he attended the first deadCenter University program in 2013 and returned the next year.

“It kind of opened my world to the independent film scene and made it feel a lot closer to the possibility of me being able to pursue this as a career,” he said.

He went on to eventually become a technical assistant at Metro Tech University and production coordinator at deadCenter University.

In these roles, he assists Wolohon in running the program— helping guide students who are standing where he once stood himself.

“I was the first ever returning deadCenter University student to be a director as a part of deadCenter University, you know, nine years later, and then also one of the first returning to have a film actually in the festival, which is a pretty cool milestone,” Banks said.

ticipants leads to new challenges, since a growing program needs more industry professionals to supervise and teach.

And Oklahoma’s film industry growth has led some filmmakers to be unable to assist with deadCenter University, due to prior commitments on filming shoots across the state.

“It says that we’re going in the right direction, and it shows to our students like, ‘Hey, we used to have this person, but we’re so busy that that person is on a film set in our own state,’” Wolohon said.

He recommended that the students attending the program use it as a chance to network and to ask questions of the filmmakers.

“All the professionals that we bring in are there to teach you,” he said.

More information about the program can be found at metrotech.edu/events/upcoming/ deadcenter-university

Metro Technology Centers Digital Film Instructor and deadCenter University Director Harry Wolohon peers through a viewfinder. |

Photo by Kendra Michal Johnson.

BOOKS

An Afternoon with Oklahoma Authors Book Signing authors Sheldon Russell of Listen, Peggy Doviak of 52 weeks to Well-Being and William Tilk of The Champion of Quiet will be autographing their books, noon-2 p.m., June 10. Best of Books, 1313 E. Danforth Road, 405-3409202, bestofbooksok.com. SAT, JUNE 10

John Albedo book signing Oklahoma author, Dr Paul Hallingsworth, will be autographing his three part book series known as The Brainbow Chronicles, in this intricate medical drama, the lives of Callaway and Ivy Pettibone intertwine, with Ivy earning the nickname “the monster baby” due to her severe birth defects, 6:30-7:30 p.m., June 9 Deer Clan Books, 3905 N. College Ave, 405-4959005. FRI, JUNE 9

FILM

De Humani Corporis Fabrica (2023, France, Switzerland, USA, Lucien Castaing-Taylor, Verena Paravel) a documentary utilizing specialized recording equipment and microscopic cameras to explore the magnificent terrain of the human body, 7:30 p.m., June 1. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. THU, JUNE 1

Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition (2023, United Kingdom, David Bickerstaff) explore a unique opportunity as Exhibition on Screen film offers a private exhibition view guided by the Rijksmuseum director and curators, delving into Vermeer’s artistry and creative process, 5:30 p.m., June 2; 2 & 5 p.m., June 3; 12:30 p.m., June 4. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. FRI-SUN, JUNE 2-4

HAPPENINGS

Bluegrass, BBQ & Brews spend the day rafting, surfing and tubing then wrap up the day with local barbecue, beer and live music by The Bottom of the Barrel, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., June 3. Riversport OKC, 800 Riversport Drive, 405-552-4040, riversportokc.org.

SAT, JUNE 3

Carnivorous Plants Workshop participants will create their own carnivorous terrarium while learning about the soil, water and the long-term strategies for keeping these plants alive, 1-3 p.m., June 10. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-4457080, myriadgardens.com. SAT, JUNE 10

Coffee and Cars OKC the largest monthly gathering of car enthusiasts across the state, featuring automotives of all types spanning from classics to hotrods, exotics to luxuries, sports to supers, there is something for every car lover, first Saturday of every month, 8 p.m. Chisholm Creek, 13230 Pawnee Dr., 405-728-2780, coffeeandcars. com.

SAT, JUNE 3

Crochet a Market Bag Workshop participants will learn the crochet pattern and receive all materials to make their own bag, 1-4 p.m., June 10. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org. SAT, JUNE 10

Dearest Deserts participants will have the opportunity to learn about desert plants, and their interactions with animals, and engage in planting a succulent or cactus to take home, 11 a.m.-noon, June

9. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405445-7080, myriadgardens.com. FRI, JUNE 9

Dungeons & Dragons & Brews join in on an afternoon of adventuring while playing the fantasy tabletop role-playing game and enjoying local craft beer, 1 & 5 p.m., Sundays through Dec. Vanessa House Beer Co., 118 NW 8th St., 405-517-0511, vanessahousebeerco.com. SUN, THROUGH DEC

Eastside Fresh Market a weekly farmer’s market with vendors selling fresh produce, homemade desserts, plants and other unique products, 4-7 p.m., Tuesdays. Oklahoma County OSU Extension Center, 2500 NE 63rd St., 405-713-1125, facebook.com/Eastsidefreshmarket.

OKG PICKS

TUE, THROUGH OCT 24

Edmond’s Farmer’s Market an all-Oklahoma grown and made market, offering produce, meat, plants, baked goods, salsa, BBQ sauce, herbs, crafts, and more, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays through Oct. 28. Festival Market Place and Farmers Market, 26 W. 1st St., 405-359-4630, edmondok.gov/365/ Farmers-Market. SAT, THROUGH OCT 28

Farmers Market at Scissortail Park a morning market featuring local sourced options such as, pasture-raised meats, fresh produce and cultivated mushrooms, plants, eggs, raw honey, breads and baked goods, assortments of specialty prepared food and beverage producers, as well as highquality artisan from almost 60 vendors, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays through Oct. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark.org/ farmersmarket. SAT, THROUGH OCT

Guided Garden Explorer Tour free tour of the gardens led by the horticulture team focusing on flowering perennials, shrubs, and trees, 1 p.m. every second Friday and 10 a.m. every last Saturday of the month. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. FRISAT, ONGOING

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, 405-8422900, fullcirclebooks.com. TUE, JUNE 13

Live & Loud a networking event for aspiring songwriters, composers, lyricists, musicians, and bands to exchange ideas with industry professionals, 7-10 p.m., Thursdays. Joe & Charlies’ Sober Nightclub, 1146 N. Macarthur Blvd., 405-999-0450. THU, ONGOING

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, JUNE 9

Magical Miniature Gnome Gardens create a miniature garden complete with a house plant, whimsical décor and a gnome, 10-11 a.m., June 10. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-

445-7080, myriadgardens.com. SAT, JUNE 10

Night Market at Scissortail Park shop from Oklahoma’s top local businesses and artisans, featuring home décor, gifts, specialty food, art, bath and body products, fashion, and plants, along with live stage performances and a variety of local food trucks, 5:30-10 p.m., June 2. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark.org. FRI, JUNE 2

OPERA Spirit, Mind & Body Faire attend lectures on metaphysical topics, visit with psychics and mystics and shop vendors selling oil, crystals and other items, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., June 3; noon-6 p.m., June 4. Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled, 8421 N. Walker Ave., operaoklahoma.org.

SAT-SUN, JUNE 3-4

Parlor Pop-Up a pop-up shop featuring local artists and small businesses throughout the venue for patrons to shop from, 2-7 p.m., second Saturday. Parlor OKC, 11 NE 6th St., 405-294-4740, parlorokc. com. SAT, JUNE

Red Dirt Writes a monthly writers’ workshop led by Durell Carter, Red Dirt Poetry’s Director of Education, 7-8:30 p.m., second Thursday of every month.Literati Press Comics & Novels, 3010 Paseo St., 405-882-7032, literatipressok.com. THU, JUNE 8

Red Earth Festival a celebration of Native American culture featuring children’s activities, entertainment, food trucks, a parade, art market, a pow wow and more, June 2-3. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org.

FRI-SAT, JUNE 2-3

Riversport Summer Music Series spend the afternoon relaxing at the river listening to live music from local artists, 2-5 p.m., Saturdays through Sept. 30. Riversport OKC, 800 Riversport Drive, 405-5524040, riversportokc.org. SAT, THROUGH SEPT 30

Round Barn Rendezvous a free live concert featuring an open jam session filled with country, bluegrass, folk and Americana music where onlookers watch the show from the hayloft on the second floor, noon-5 p.m., second Sunday of every month. Arcadia Round Barn, 107 OK-66, 405-396-0824, arcadiaroundbarn.com.

SUN, JUNE 11

Summer Train Rides enjoy a 40 minute train ride in historic passenger coaches pulled by vintage diesel locomotives on the historic MKT mainline track, 9:15 & 11:15am, 1:15 & 3:15pm, First and Third Saturdays. Oklahoma Railway Museum, 3400 NE Grand Blvd., 405-424-8222, oklahomarailwaymuseum.org. SAT, ONGOING

Vibes a monthly art walk featuring art exhibitions, live music, samples and demonstrations from local vendors, food trucks and more, 5-9 p.m., first Thursday of every month.

Downtown Edmond, 32 N. Broadway Ave., 405-2499391, downtownedmondok.com. THU, JUNE 1

Wheeler District Farmers Market enjoy an evening of shopping for fresh produce, baked goods, pantry staples, and more from local vendors from all over Oklahoma, 6-9 p.m., Fridays. Wheeler District, 1701 S. Western Ave., 405-655-8455, wheelerdistrict.com. FRI, THROUGH OCT 27

FOOD

Le Tour de Vin indulge in a unique blend of wine, food, and generosity, with wine tasting, guided painting, delicious pairings, and a silent auction showcasing local vendors’ unique items, 6:30-10 p.m., June 10. NOUN Hotel, 542 S. University Blvd., 405-701-5858, letourdevin.com. SAT, JUNE 10

Oklahoma Craft Beer Festival sample locally brewed beers from 60 different brewers at this annual festival, now in its 13th year,, 1-4 p.m. & 6-9 p.m., June 3. Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, 3220 Great Plains Walk, 405-948-6700, okcraftbeerfestival.com. SAT, JUNE 3

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., 405900-6789, tellersokc.com/event. SUN, ONGOING

Wine Down Wednesday explore the sommelier-curated menu of Old and New World wines while listening to live music, 5 p.m., Wednesdays, through May 31. The Great Hall at First National Center, 120

Experiments in Abstraction: Art in Post War America 1950s-1980s an exhibition showcasing experimental artworks that produce illusionistic and distorting effects, offering unique, almost hallucinogenic experiences, Through Sept. 3. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SAT-THU, THROUGH SEPT 3 Photo provided

OKG PICKS

FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK

Friday, June 2, 2023 • 6-9pm

In the Paseo Arts & Creativity Center at 3024 Paseo

Gallery I: Heroes, Poetic City

Gallery II: The Wichitas, VC Torneden

Gallery III: Transparencies in Time, Jose Trejo Maya

Opening reception is Friday, June 2, 6-9pm. Featured thru June 30

deadCenter Film Festival over 175 films including shorts, documentaries, features and more were chosen for screening at this year’s festival, which takes place at five locations in the downtown area, June 8-11. Downtown OKC, 211 N. Robinson Ave., 405235-3500, downtownokc.com. THU-SUN, JUNE 8-11 Photo Oklahoma Gazette/archive

N. Robinson Ave., 405-900-6789, greathallokc.com.

WED, THROUGH MAY 31

Wines of the West sample wines from local Oklahoma wineries while enjoying live entertainment, shopping stores and the pop-up market, and exploring the district, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., June 3. Stockyards City, 1307 S. Agnew Ave., 405-235-7267, stockyardscity.org. SAT, JUNE 3

YOUTH

Children’s Gardening Fair a two-day fair for children to explore gardening through interactive stations, immersive learning, play, and hands-on activities, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., June 3-4. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. SAT-SUN, JUNE 3-4

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., 405-3254712, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu. WED, ONGOING

Hummingbird Sun Catchers kids will create a hummingbird sun catcher and learn about the plants that attract them, 2-3 p.m., June 10. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. SAT, JUNE 10

Kids Take Over the Cowboy: Desert Life children will learn about what kind of plants and animals live amongst the rocks, dirt and sand and determine how they manage to survive with art activities and storytime, 10 a.m.-noon, June 3. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT, JUNE 3

Storytime with Miss Julie enjoy snacks, crafts and story time, 10:15-11:30 a.m., Saturdays, ongoing. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT, ONGOING

Weekday Story & Craft Time for Littles listen to a story or two followed by a hands-on arts and crafts activity, 10 a.m., every 2nd & 4th Thursdays.

Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. THU, JUNE

8 & 22

PERFORMING ARTS

10 Minute Opera Festival - Year 3 an evening showcasing the world premieres of five short operas exclusively commissioned from talented composers in Oklahoma, featuring Conveyance by David C. Broyles, How Can I Keep From Singing by Jacob Frost, It Takes A Village by Samuel and Haleigh Philips, Split and Gutter by Tyler Zwink, and Yildiz by Hannah Helbig, 7-9:30 p.m., June 4. UCO Jazz Lab, 100 E.

Fifth St., 405-359-7989. SUN, JUNE 4

Art Moves a free arts event that features a wide range of artistic mediums from live art demonstrations to musical and theatre performances to short films and more, weekdays in various downtown OKC locations, noon-1 p.m., weekdays. Downtown OKC, 211 N. Robinson Ave., 405-235-3500, artscouncilokc. com/art-moves. MON-FRI, ONGOING

The Big Gay Hope a dazzling drag fundraiser hosted by Renee Hilton and Carmen Devereaux, in support of the Trans community, presented by The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 7 p.m., May 31. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-708-6937, towertheatreokc. com.

WED, MAY 31

Blue Note Babes Brunch join in on Blue Note’s drag brunch hosted by Nikita, 2 p.m., June 3. Blue Note, 2408 N. Robinson Ave., 405-600-1166, thebluenotelounge.com.

SAT, JUNE 3

Hamilton the groundbreaking musical about Founding Father Alexander Hamilton with a score blending hip-hop, jazz, blues and R&B, Wednesdays-Sundays. through June 4. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com.

WED-SUN, THROUGH JUNE 4

Little Shop of Horrors a singing man-eating plant helps a shy florist gain confidence and woo his dream girl, 8 p.m., June 9-10, 16-17, 22-24, 29-30, July 1; 2 p.m., June 18 & 25. The Pollard Theatre, 120 W. Harrison Ave., 405-2822800, thepollard.org. THU-SUN, JUNE 9-10, 16-18, 22-25, 29-30 & JULY 1

Madagascar The Musical a vibrant and captivating production that brings the beloved animated movie to life on stage, filled with infectious songs, hilarious characters, and unforgettable adventures, 7 p.m., June 6-7. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. TUE-WED, JUNE 6-7

Much Ado About Nothing a comical tale of two couples’ misadventures in love written by William Shakespeare, 7:30 p.m., June 8, 11, 18; 8 p.m., June 9-10, 16-17. Oklahoma Shakespeare, 2920 Paseo St., 405-235-3700, oklahomashakespeare.org.

THU-SUN, JUNE 8-11, 16-18

Open Mic Night enjoy an evening of music, stories, poetry and comedy performances, Thursdays. Core4 Brewing, 7 N. Lee Ave, 405-620-4513. THU, ONGOING

Sunday Gospel Brunch a comedy performance over brunch hosted by Kitty Bob and Norma Jean as they mix a farcical church service with skits, sing-alongs, and drag, noon & 1:30 p.m. The Boom, 2218 NW 39th St., 405-601-7200, theboomokc.com. SUN, ONGOING

continued on page 20

Local and national art, great food, art classes & plenty of shopping! YOUR

OKG PICKS

Where You Do Not Wish to Go a play by Rachel Kennedy, two friends, Margot and Henry, who gained fame together, face the unsettling demand for payment from a sinister figure called the Silence, testing their identities and resilience, 7-8:30 p.m., June 2-3. Upstage Theatre and Performing Arts Studio, 844 W Danforth Road, 251-207-9443, lydwinejournal.org/events. FRI-SAT, JUNE 2-3

ACTIVE

Doga a one-hour dog friendly yoga session hosted by Shane Cooley, 9-10 a.m., Sundays through Dec. Bar K, 901 SE 5th St., 405-252-1993, barkdogbar. com. SUN, THROUGH DEC

Full Moon Bike Ride bring a bike or rent one from Spokies for a leisurely ride as the sun sets, lights and helmets are required to participate, 8:45-9:45 p.m., June 3. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. SAT, JUNE 3

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., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. MON, ONGOING

Myriad in Motion: Yoga bring your mat and water for an all-levels yoga class with instructors from YMCA, 6 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. TUE & SAT, ONGOING

Myriad in Motion: Zumba enjoy a high-energy dance fitness class with Latin-inspired music and choreography, 5:45 p.m., first and third Thursdays. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405445-7080, myriadgardens.com. THU, ONGOING

OKC PieceWalk an annual event to bring awareness to Autism, featuring a resource fair, food trucks, a chill zone, a kids zone and more, 6:30-8 p.m., June 3. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark.org. SAT, JUNE 3

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

Rugged Manic Obstacle Race an adult version of recess, featuring a 3-story water slide, trampolines, a fire jump, and a lively festival with a DJ and ample beer, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., June 10. Remington Park, 1 Remington Place, 405-424-9000, ruggedmaniac.com/events/okc. SAT, JUNE 10

Summertime Slam: A Roller Derby

Doubleheader Victory All-Star Squad vs Kansas City Roller Warriors and Tornado Alley vs Rocktown Roller Derby, along with a raffle, bake sale, vendors, halftime games, and special halftime entertainment, 5 p.m., June 10. Arctic Edge Ice Arena, 14613 N. Kelly, 405-748-5454, fb.me/e/ KLgNiVoo. SAT, JUNE 10

Wheeler Crit cheer on Oklahoma’s top cyclists at this weekly race around the Wheeler District, 5-8 p.m., Tuesdays through the Fall. The Big Friendly Brewery & Taproom, 1737 Spoke St., 405-492-3785, thebigfriendly.com. TUE, ONGOING

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., 405-366-5472. FRI, ONGOING

Zumba Class participate in a weekly free class at the Sky Rink Event Pavilion, 9-10 a.m., Saturdays. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark.org. SAT, ONGOING

VISUAL ARTS

21st Century Mound Builders explore and learn about the Mound Builder cultures along the walking path to the top of the FAM Mound which is 90 feet in height and serves as a cosmological clock, ongoing. First Americans Museum, 659 First Americans Blvd., 405-594-2100. SUN-SAT, ONGOING

Academy of Western Art: Sculpting

Expressive Portraits a three-day workshop led by artist Blair Buswell in which participants will learn to sculpt from the inside out by focusing on the skull and corresponding

Pride on 39th Festival featuring live entertainment, vendors, and food trucks celebrating the pride community with the three-day festival concluding with a parade, June 2-4. 39th Street District, 2215 NW 39th St., 405-237-9037, prideon39th.com. FRI-SUN, JUNE 2-4 Photo Oklahoma Gazette/archive

muscles, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., June 5-8. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org.

MON-THU, JUNE 5-8

Art After 5 enjoy a discounted admission to the museum to explore the art galleries and Museum Store while partaking in specialty drinks, including beer and wine, 5-8 p.m., Thursdays. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. THU, ONGOING

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, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. THROUGH

JUNE 18, 2024

Cynthia Daignault: Oklahoma an exhibition honoring the Oklahoma City bombing’s tragic past with a single painting, Through Dec. 31. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.

WED-THU, THROUGH DEC 31

Desideratum & Other Uncommon Words features prints and oil paintings of landscape scenes such as the Wichita Mountains and Oklahoma grassy plains by artist Cori Crawford, May 18-July 1. Artspace at Untitled, 1 NE Third St., 405-815-9995, 1ne3.org. THU-SAT, THROUGH JULY 1

From the Golden Age to the Moving Image view portraits painted by Kehinde Wiley, Anthony van Dyck, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and George Bellows, through July 30. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.

FRI-SUN, THROUGH JULY 30

Green Vines Oklahoma City mural artist TANK and Eduardo Sarabia teamed up to decorate a building with Sarabia’s signature vine imagery, inspired by the floral motifs used to adorn houses in his childhood neighborhood in Los Angeles, through July 2024. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org.

FRI, THROUGH JULY 2024

Inclusivity Art Show an exhibit featuring 30 different artists’ interpretations on the theme: inclusivity, June 8-July 2. DNA Galleries, 1709 NW 16th St., 405-525-3499, dnagalleries.com.

THU-SUN, JUNE 8-JULY 2

Jose Dávila features sculptures in which the artist has balanced industrial materials in precarious ways off of fabricated construction, through May 2023. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org. THU-

SAT, THROUGH MAY

Multiple Voices a metal sculpture involving tempered glass and “shelves” etched with blurred text, inspired by the Oklahoma Contemporary building created by Eva Schlegel, through June 10. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org.

WED-

SAT, THROUGH JUNE 10

Nicole Emmons’ Music Video Show explore an exhibition by Oklahoma City filmmaker Nicole Emmons, showcasing her captivating stop-motion animation music videos and stills, featuring the video premiere of “Irish Goodbye” for Labrys and a special acoustic performance by Penny Pitchlynn 6-9 p.m., June 2. Little D Gallery, 3003 Paseo, nicoleemmons.com/ Events. FRI, JUNE 2

OKLA HOMMA the signature exhibition of the museum, features works of art, interactive media, and film from all 39 tribes in Oklahoma as of today depicting stories with ancestral origins, collective histories, sports and more. First Americans Museum, 659 First Americans Blvd., 405-594-2100. ONGOING

Origins an exhibition featuring paintings by Beth Hammack, through June. JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave., 405-528-6336, jrbartgallery.com.

FRI, THROUGH JUNE

Paseo Arts District’s First Friday Gallery Walk peruse art from over 80 artists with 25 participating businesses for a night of special themed exhibits, refreshments and a variety of entertainment opportunities, 6-9 p.m. first Friday of every month. Paseo Arts District, 3024 Paseo St., 405-525-2688, thepaseo.org. FRI, JUNE 2

Patterns of Knowing an exhibition showcasing the artistic works of Jordan Ann Craig, Benjamin Harjo Jr., and Jeri Redcorn, delving into the significance of Indigenous cultural patterns as carriers of ancestral wisdom through ceramics, paintings, prints, and drawings, through Oct. 23. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 11 NW 11th St., 405-951-0000, okcontemp.org/PatternsOfKnowing.

THU-WED, THROUGH OCT 23

Plein Air Watercolor Workshop a two-day workshop, led by Katherine Liontas-Warren, that delves into diverse methods of interpreting nature through watercolor, incorporating wet into wet and wet into dry techniques while offering constructive critiques, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., June 3-4. Artspace at Untitled, 1 NE Third St., 405-815-9995, 1ne3.org. SAT-SUN, JUNE 3-4

OKG PICKS

Ted's App!

Ted's new app is designed to enhance the overall dining experience for our guests The app will offer a range of features to make it easier for you to access and enjoy Ted's delicious Better Mexican!

Sip and Stroll a leisurely event for guests aged 21 and above to explore wildlife while visiting conservation-themed bars and food trucks, 6-10 p.m., June 8 & 15. The Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Place, 405-424-3344, okczoo.com.

THU, JUNE 8 & 15 Photo provided

Prix de West Invitational Art Exhibition & Sale an annual exhibition and art sale featuring more than 300 Western paintings and sculptures by contemporary Western artists of landscapes, wildlife and illustrative scenes, June 9-10. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. FRI-SAT, JUNE 9-10

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, JUNE 9

Selections from In Citizen’s Garb: Native Americans on the Southern Plains an exhibit displaying modern gelatin silver prints made from glass plate negatives of Indigenous people in the Lawton and Fort Sill area from 1889 to 1891, ongoing. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org. TUE-MON, ONGOING

Spirit of Aloha: Polynesian Pop an exhibit showcasing tiki culture through private collections featuring South Seas artifacts, Hawaiian carvings, tiki mugs and other art, through July 31. Firehouse Art Center, 444 S. Flood Ave., 405-329-4523, normanfirehouse. com. THU-MON, THROUGH JULY 31

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., 405-3253272, 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, ONGOING

The Wichitas a large format photography exhibit featuring work by Oklahoma based artist and photographer VC Torneden, June 2-24. Paseo Arts and Creativity Center, 3024 Paseo St., 405-525-2688, thepaaok.org. TUE-SUN, JUNE

2-24

WINIKO: Life of an Object, Selections from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian reflecting on the Native belief that their cultural materials hold the spirit of their makers and those who wore or used them this exhibit features of over 100 items that have been returned to the 39 tribes of Oklahoma after being taken from them in the early 1900s, ongoing. First Americans Museum, 659 First Americans Blvd., 405-594-2100. ONGOING

Use of performance materials authorized through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI)

EDEN ROSE

JUNE 1 - 2 FOR $25 HASH ROSES

JUNE 2 - 14 G BHO DABS FOR $55

JUNE 3 - 3 FOR $15 1 G BHO DABS

JUNE 4 - 2 CURED RESIN CARTS FOR $25

JUNE 5 - 5 G BHO DABS FOR $20

JUNE 6 - 3 FOR $30 MOONWALKER

JUNE 7 - 2 FOR $25 GANJ GUMMZ 500 MG

(SELECT FLAVORS)

JUNE 8- 2 FOR $25 ROSIN CARTS

JUNE 9 -BUY 2 RIPPY STARGAZERS & GET 1 FOR A PENNY

JUNE10- 2 FOR $30 10 PACK PRE-ROLL

JUNE 11- 2 CURED RESIN CARTS FOR $25

JUNE 12 - 3 FOR $15 1 G BHO DABS

JUNE 13 -1 FOR $50 | 2 FOR $90 MEGA SCRAPPY 3000 MG

(WHILE SUPPLIES LAST)

3 LOCATIONS

3420 N. MAY AVE, OKC

OPEN: SUN - THURS 9AM - 12AM

FRI & SAT 9AM - 2AM

1333 N. SANTA FE AVE #104, EDMOND

OPEN: SUN - THURS 10AM - 10PM

FRI & SAT 10AM - 12AM

920 SW 104TH ST

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73139

OPEN: MON - SUN 10AM - 10PM

Through the grapevinyl

TUCKEDWITHINASECOND-STORYLOFT,TRENDINGVINYLBARUPSTART LISTENUPOKCISADEEPCUTOFURBANNIGHTLIFEWITHAHI-FISPIN.

By Evan Jarvicks

One needn’t be a member of high society to mingle over cocktails in an urban loft decked out with the finest vinyl and audio gear that money can buy. Thanks to ListenUpOKC, a casual all-ages lounge in Oklahoma City’s Automobile Alley district, anyone can keep up with the Joneses, especially those named Quincy, Davy, and Norah. By placing sound fidelity at the forefront of its design, the bar achieves an audio experience so rich that listeners can and do hear their favorite music artists as never before.

“ListenUpOKC is, for audio, like the difference between watching a movie on a 50-inch TV at home versus seeing it in a big Dolby theater,” Jay Shanker, creator of ListenUpOKC, said. “It’s really mind-blowing.”

All elements of the space — the decor, the gear, the layout — work together to transform the 3,000 square-foot room at 712B N. Broadway Ave. into a sonic haven for passive visitors and discerning listeners alike. The interior design brings a linear flow to the elongated space, progressing from drinks at an informal bar to a cluster of cocktail and banquet tables to vintage upholstered seating and coffee tables to the turntable and sound system. Bins of vinyl records flank the walls leading to ListenUpOKC’s centerpiece, a luxurious pairing of Klipsch Klipschorns and JBL Sovereign Twos. Stereotypically, the glory of such gear would serve to attract audiophile fawning while losing touch with more casual, less technically consumed music fans. Shanker and his team, however, trounce any suggestion of elitism.

“We shy away from the term ‘audiophile,’ which can sound snooty (and expensive),” Shanker said. “We’re providing a space where anyone who loves music can connect, reflect, rediscover what it means to listen and celebrate together, and it seems to be working.”

It is fitting to its name that ListenUpOKC’s growing patronage comes more from its proliferative word of mouth than its visibility. Tucked away in a second-floor loft

above Ash Cigar Lounge and Saj Lebanese Cuisine, the business is easy to miss on a strip known for eye-catching signage. While LED signs scroll from the upstairs windows and standing displays inform the entrance below, they are most likely to be noticed by pedes-

stash and a for-sale public selection, the latter of which comes courtesy of a partnership with local record store Monkey Feet Music. Furthermore, the music selection is practically endless since the sound system also accommodates CDs and streaming services. While

“We know we’re just scratching the surface in making ListenUpOKC a hub for creative networking among music lovers of all tastes, ages, and interests,” Shanker said. “We’re working to bring more performers in for curated evenings of their own recorded music and the music of their musical heroes. Talks have begun about a monthly Jazz 101-styled listening party with a host-curator sharing insights into jazz history.”

ListenUpOKC is not limited to music, either. The list of prospective event nights goes on to include non-musical recordings like spoken word and stand-up comedy. The space can also be rented for a variety of private events, which is a natural move given its vibe.

“Patrons tell us they feel like they are guests at a great party when they visit,” Shanker said.

trians rather than motorists. As online reviews like to say, the place is a hidden gem, but it may not be a secret for much longer.

This growing reputation has netted the attention of major tastemakers like Alexander Mickelthwate, music director of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, who periodically gives previews of upcoming repertoire by playing recordings over the house system and offering exclusive, in-person commentary. Platinum-selling rock band Hinder picked the space to host its inaugural Holiday Hangout listening event in December. Rising Hindi hip-hop producer Sun Deep holds a monthly music production show-and-tell networking event called Beatmakers Monday. The diversity of these illustrious endorsements is not happenstance, as the bar caters to any conceivable music taste.

Boasting thousands of vinyl records, ListenUpOKC’s collection comprises both Shanker’s private

this allows for versatility, it also proves practical by allowing music fans to hear new physical releases without breaking any factory seals.

“To be frank, new records are expensive,” Shanker said. “It makes sense for us (as well as many of our patrons) to first access new music from streaming services.”

While house policy doesn’t allow guests to bring and play their own vinyl for liability reasons, one need not be in control of the music selection to ensure a great time. ListenUpOKC curates fun theme nights based on genre, current events, or word games. Past programming has included a Motown night, an a capella night, a night of artists with plant-related names (Kate Bush, Guns & Roses, etc.), and a night of bands with numerical names (U2, The 1975, etc.). Sometimes, though, this lightheartedness takes a step back for tribute nights to the recently passed away like Jeff Beck and Burt Bacharach. Whatever the occasion, the space is equipped to meet the mood.

The social element is foundational to ListenUpOKC. Conceived in the wake of COVID-19, it is a direct response to social distancing. Conscious of those times, it provides an intentional platform for shared, in-person music listening, as if to swear off ever taking it for granted again. Even the loft’s casual mingling, while seemingly incidental, is an important piece of the experience’s design. From the listening area’s cozy living room feel to the bar’s socially lubricative libations, the space offers a dynamic spread of ways for world-weary visitors to connect under the umbrella of great music.

If the passion behind the project is not already evident, it is worth recognizing that everyone working here still holds down a day job. This is how they are choosing to spend their spare time, and while this currently limits normal operating hours to Wednesday through Saturday evenings, that window of time seems ample for the moment. The loft best complements the neon glow of its district at night, after all, and ListenUpOKC is adept at seeing its niche in the bigger scene of the city.

“Auto Alley is an artery for downtown’s vitality,” Shanker said, “and we are here to warm the blood in that artery a bit.”

Visit listenupokc.com

An inside look at ListenUpOKC. | Photo by Evan Jarvicks.

FRIDAY, JUN. 2

All Time Low, The Criterion. ALTERNATIVE

Audio Book Club/Coat/Love Seats, Resonant Head. ROCK

Caleb McGee/John Elisha, The Deli. BLUES

Everybody Else’s Girl, Full Circle Bookstore.

JAZZ

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY. 31

Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley Bricktown Pub. ROCK

Cruz Contreras Of The Black Lillies, The Blue Door. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Hosty, The Jones Assembly. ELECTRIC

Jeff Slate & Friends, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa.

ROCK

Rhapsody of Fire/Wind Rose/Seven Kingdoms, 89th Street—OKC. METAL

The Bottom of the Barrel, Hollywood Corners. AMERICANA

Trett Charles, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa.

COUNTRY

The Wednesday Band, The Deli. COUNTRY

THURSDAY, JUN. 1

The Brothers Moore/Rattlesnake Diner, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ALTERNATIVE

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

Dirt Monkey/Jantsen, Beer City Music Hall. ELECTRONIC

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant, Norman. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Lady A, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa.

COUNTRY

Midnight River Choir/Jeremee Knipp, Blue Note. BLUES

Music Over Midtown, O Bar. VARIOUS

Ray Wylie Hubbard, Tower Theatre. COUNTRY

Rodney Crowell/Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. COUNTRY

Shelly Phelps and The Storm, Bourbon Street Bar. BLUES

Showboat Concert Series 2023, Bricktown

Water Taxi. VARIOUS ARTISTS

Steelwind, The Jones Assembly. BLUEGRASS

The Shiners, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Thursday Night Live Concert Series, American Solera Edmond. VARIOUS ARTISTS

SUNDAY, JUN. 4

Bestial Mouths/Karger Traum/Colin Nance/Flower of Blood, The Sanctuary.

ELECTRONIC

Crown Magnetar, 89th Street—OKC. METAL

Jessica Tate, Full Circle Bookstore. INSTRUMENTALIST

Moxie/The Doozers, Resonant Head. INDIE ROCK

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant, Norman. INSTRUMENTALISTS

John Fullbright, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Kalo, The Jones Assembly. ROCK

Leotie, Frenzy Brewing Company. INDIE

Luke Bulla/Jared Tyler, The Blue Door.

SINGER/SONGWRITER

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar.

JAZZ

Mojo’s Blues Revue, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Rachel Lynch, Core4 Brewing. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Scattered Hamlet/Showdown/ Haggardz Hellraizerz/Bux, 89th Street— OKC. ROCK

Shortt Dogg, UCO Jazz Lab. BLUES

Soft Hands, Tower Theatre. COVER Sparta/Geoff Rickly/Zeta, Beer City Music Hall. ROCK

Tommy Goodroad/Derek Paul, Opolis.

COUNTRY

Volk, Blue Note. COUNTRY

SATURDAY, JUN. 3

Ace Stile and The Trees/Hunter Gotcher Band/ROZ, The Vanguard, Tulsa. INDIE ROCK

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant, Norman. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams/ Robbie Fulks, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa.

COUNTRY

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar.

JAZZ

Miss Brown to You, Full Circle Bookstore. FOLK

Mojo’s Blues Revue, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Cindy Scarberry/OK3/Luke Haley/ Tara Scott/Kolton Hall/Bryant Smith/ Dustin Jones/The Oklahoma Opry Band, ACM @ UCO. COUNTRY

Sam Baker, The Blue Door. FOLK

Shania Twain, BOK Center, Tulsa. COUNTRY

Smilin’ Vic, UCO Jazz Lab. BLUES

The Unlikely Blues Band, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. BLUES

No Whiners Aloud, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Teresa Williams & Larry Campbell, The Blue Door. COUNTRY

Tin Can Gramophone/Hosty, The Deli. FOLK

Trivium/Beartooth, The Tulsa Theater, Tulsa. METAL

MONDAY, JUN. 5

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

TUESDAY, JUN. 6

Brit Floyd, The Tulsa Theater, Tulsa. TRIBUTE

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

Caleb McGee, The Deli. BLUES

Doyle (of Misfits)/Red Devil Vortex/ Cutthroat Bastards/Fragmented Tranquility, 89th Street—OKC. METAL

The Rocket Summer/Sarah and the Sundays, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ALTERNATIVE

WEDNESDAY, JUN. 7

Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley Bricktown Pub. ROCK

Billy Strings, BOK Center, Tulsa. BLUEGRASS

Edgar Cruz and Friends, Broke Brewing Company. ACOUSTIC

MyChildren MyBride/Extortionist/No Cure/ Your Spirit Dies, 89th Street—OKC. METAL

Trett Charles, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa. COUNTRY

The Wednesday Band, The Deli. COUNTRY

THURSDAY, JUN. 8

The Brave Amigos, Frenzy Brewing Company. ACOUSTIC Country Music Group Therapy/Biscuits & Groovy, The Deli. COUNTRY

Free 4 All/Agony/Grimoire/ EXITWOUND/Left to Rot, The Sanctuary. METAL

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant, Norman. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Music Over Midtown, O Bar. VARIOUS

Shelly Phelps and The Storm, Bourbon Street Bar. BLUES

Showboat Concert Series 2023, Bricktown Water Taxi. VARIOUS ARTISTS

Stay Gold Karaoke, Ponyboy. KARAOKE

Tab Benoit/Matt Andersen, Tower Theatre. BLUES

The Shiners, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES Thursday Night Live Concert Series, American Solera Edmond. VARIOUS ARTISTS

FRIDAY, JUN. 9

Christian Schafer, Frenzy Brewing Company COVER

Combsy/The Sometimes Island/Sydney Lee/ Fern Dad, The Vanguard, Tulsa. INDIE ROCK

Dance Party, Ponyboy. DANCE

Harpy Hour w/ Oklahannah, Ponyboy. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant, Norman. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Labrys, Opolis. ALTERNATIVE

TAYTAY PARTY (Taylor Swift Dance Party), Tower Theatre. DANCE

SATURDAY, JUN. 10

Ashley Osborn/AJ Davis/Madison Eckerson/ Mackynsie & Austin McKedy/Amber Cole/Dustin Jones/Cindy Scarberry/The Oklahoma Opry Band, ACM @ UCO. COUNTRY

Attack Attack!/Belmont/Traitors/ Colorblind, The Vanguard, Tulsa. METAL

Beats & Bites: Gin Blossoms, Riverwind Casino. ROCK

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

Blue Cactus, The Blue Door. COUNTRY

Dance Party, Ponyboy. DANCE

Deity/Teneverum/Magazu/Dog Will Hunt, 89th Street—OKC. METAL

Flo Rida, First Council Casino, Newkirk. RAPPER

Garrett “Big G” Jacobson, UCO Jazz Lab. BLUES

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant, Norman. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

Meet Me @ The Altar/Chloe Lilac/Kid Sistr, Beer City Music Hall. ALTERNATIVE Mojo’s Blues Revue, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

The Rosenbalms, Frenzy Brewing Company. COVER

Thin White Dukes (David Bowie Tribute)/ Pocket Change, Tower Theatre. TRIBUTE

Visions of Afterlife/Groucho/Tarantula, Opolis. ALTERNATIVE

Weezer, The Zoo Amphitheatre. ALTERNATIVE ROCK

SUNDAY, JUN. 11

Bastille, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. POP

Black Joe Lewis, The Vanguard, Tulsa. FUNK Blues in the Park, Will Rogers Amphitheater. BLUES

Celtic Jam, Full Circle Bookstore. CELTIC

Djunah/Sisteria/Rainbows Are Free, Beer City Music Hall. ROCK

Jazz Night!, Blue Note. JAZZ

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

No Whiners Aloud, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES Stepmom - Summer Breeze Concert Series, Lions Park. PUNK

Tin Can Gramophone/Hosty, The Deli. FOLK

MONDAY, JUN. 12

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

Dikembe/Glazed/Ben Quad/Goodridge, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ROCK

Escuela Grind/Inferna/Shaka/ W/oe, 89th Street—OKC. METAL

Heldtight/Vulgarity/Czar/Defiled, The Sanctuary. METAL

Robyn Hitchcock, The Blue Door. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

TUESDAY, JUN. 13

Béla Fleck and the Fleckstones, Tower Theatre. BLUEGRASS

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

Caleb McGee, The Deli. BLUES

Robbie Fulks, The Blue Door. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Swim Fan a three-piece band hailing from OKC that combines pop melodies, synth waves and psych-tinged sounds, inviting listeners on a soothing sonic journey with their upcoming EP Do U Mind? See them at their EP release party with special guest Welshly Arms June 9 at Beer City Music Hall, 1141 NW 2nd St., 405-708-6937, beercitymusichall.com.

FRI, JUNE 9 Photo provided

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

Mojo’s Blues Revue, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES Pecos & The Rooftops/KVDE, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. COUNTRY

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. GO TO OKGAZETTE.COM FOR FULL LISTINGS!

THE HIGH CULTURE STRAIN

Strain name: Purple Tangie

Grown by: Fabulous Cannabis Co.

Acquired from: Origins

Date acquired: May 19

Physical traits: thickly frosted shades of purple and green

Bouquet: pungently gassy

Review: It had been awhile since I dipped into Origins and since I just moved nearby, it seemed like a good time to check it out. The dispensary, once known as Rabbit Hole before transitioning to the Washington-based Origins umbrella, will soon again be known as The Rabbit Hole as the estab lishment transitions back to private ownership. Fabulous Cannabis Co.’s Purple Tangie boasts an alluring appear ance that immediately caught my eye, but I was sold by the enticing aroma. As soon as

Strain name: Sundae Driver

Grown by: R&D Green RX

Acquired from: The Greens of Cen tral Oklahoma

Date acquired: May 24

Physical traits: thickly frosted shades of light purple and green

Bouquet: sweet and earthy

Review: A little farther west up NW 23rd St., you’ll find The Greens of Central Oklahoma, another veteran dispensary with a great selection. Many of their offerings come from their in-house grow, including the classic Sundae Driver. This flower show cases a beautiful blend of deep purple and forest green hues. Breaking open a nug releases a rich and pungent aroma that com bines notes of sweet chocolate with a hint of fruity undertone. The result is a smooth and creamy smoke that is both indulgent and satisfying — it’s like enjoying a decadent dessert in every puff. This one starts out smooth but as the high progresses,

you open the jar, a burst of citrusy goodness envelops the room. The tangy, zesty notes of tangerine dominate, creating a refreshing and invigorating scent that is difficult to resist and the flavor profile perfectly complements those aromatic qualities by offering a delightful combination of sweet and tangy citrus flavors that give a refreshing and uplifting experience without

the “indica” side of Sundae Driver becomes more pronounced, leading to deep relaxation and a sense of physical tranquility making it perfect for unwinding after a long

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

WEEK OF JUNE 1

Homework: Tell a loved one a good secret about them. Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

History tells us that Albert Einstein was a brilliant genius. After his death, the brain of the pioneer physicist was saved and studied for years in the hope of analyzing the secrets of why it produced so many great ideas. Science writer Stephen Jay Gould provided a different perspective. He said, “I am less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops.” I bring this to your attention, Aries, in the hope it will inspire you to pay closer attention to the unsung and underappreciated elements of your own life—both in yourself and the people around you.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

Human life sometimes features sudden reversals of fortune that may seem almost miraculous. A twist in my own destiny is an example. As an adult, I was indigent for 18 years—the most starving artist of all the starving artists I have ever known. Then, in the course of a few months, all the years I had devoted to improving my craft as a writer paid off spectacularly. My horoscope column got widely syndicated, and I began to earn a decent wage. I predict a comparable turn of events for you in the coming months, Taurus— not necessarily in your finances, but in a pivotal area of your life.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

I am weary of gurus who tell us the ego is bad and must be shamed. In my view, we need a strong and healthy ego to fuel our quest for meaning. In that spirit and in accordance with astrological omens, I designate June as Celebrate Your Ego Month for you Geminis. You have a mandate to unabashedly embrace the beauty of your unique self. I hope you will celebrate and flaunt your special gifts. I hope you will honor your distinctive desires as the treasures they are. You are authorized to brag more than usual!

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

One study reveals that British people own a significant amount of clothing they never wear. Other research suggests that the average American woman has over a hundred items of clothing but considers just 10 percent of them to be “wearable.” If your relationship to your wardrobe is similar, Cancerian, it’s a favorable time to cull unused, unliked, and unsuitable stuff. You would also benefit from a comparable approach to other areas of your life. Get rid of possessions, influences, and ideas that take up space but serve no important purpose and are no longer aligned with who you really are.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

In July 1969, Leo astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first human to walk on the moon. But he almost missed his chance. Years earlier, his original application to become part of NASA’s space exploration team arrived a week past the deadline. But Armstrong’s buddy, Dick Day, who worked at NASA, sneaked it into the pile of applications that had come in time. I foresee the possibility of you receiving comparable assistance, Leo. Tell your friends and allies to be alert for ways they might be able to help you with either straightforward or surreptitious moves.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Great shearwaters are birds that travel a lot, covering 13,000 miles every year. From January to March, they breed in the South Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Africa and South America. Around May, they fly west for a while and then head north, many of them as far as Canada and Greenland. When August comes, they head east to Europe, and later they migrate south along the coast of Africa to return to their breeding grounds. I am tempted to make this globetrotting bird your spirit creature for the next 12 months. You may be more inclined than ever before to go on journeys, and I expect you will be well rewarded for your journeys. At the very least, I hope you will enjoy mindopening voyages in your imagination.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

One of the central myths of Western culture is the Holy Grail. For over 800 years, storytellers have spun legends about the search for a precious chalice with

magical qualities, including the power to heal and offer eternal youth. Sober scholars are more likely to say that the Holy Grail isn’t an actual physical object hidden away in a cave or catacomb, but a symbol of a spiritual awakening or an enlightening epiphany. For the purposes of your horoscope, I’m going to focus on the latter interpretation. I suspect you are gearing up for an encounter with a Holy Grail. Be alert! The revelations and insights and breakthroughs could come when you least expect them.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

June is Dare to Diminish Your Pain Month for you Scorpios. I hope you will aggressively pursue measures to alleviate discomfort and suffering. To address the physical variety, how about acupuncture or massage? Or supplements like boswellia, turmeric, devil’s claw root, white willow bark, and omega-3 fatty acids? Other ideas: sunshine, heating pad, warm baths with Epsom salts, restorative sleep, and exercise that simulates natural endorphins. Please be equally dynamic in treating your emotional and spiritual pain, dear Scorpio. Spend as much money as you can afford on skillful healers. Solicit the help of empathetic friends. Pray and meditate. Seek out in activities that make you laugh.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

A hungry humpback whale can hold more than 15,000 gallons of water in its mouth at once—enough to fill 400 bathtubs. In a funny way, their ability reminds me of you right now. You, too, have a huge capacity for whatever you feel like absorbing and engaging with. But I suggest you choose carefully what you want to absorb and engage with. Be open and receptive to only the most high-quality stuff that will enrich your life and provide a lot of fun. Don’t get filled up with trivia and nonsense and dross.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Funny story: A renowned Hollywood movie mogul was overheard at a dinner party regaling an aspiring actor with a long monologue about his achievements. The actor couldn’t get in a word edgewise. Finally, the mogul paused and said, “Well, enough about me. What do you think of me?” If I had been in the actor’s place, I might have said, “You, sir, are an insufferable, grandiose, and boring narcissist who pathologically overestimates your own importance and has zero emotional intelligence.” The only downside to speaking my mind like that would be that the mogul might ruin my hopes of having a career in the movie business. In the coming weeks, Capricorn, I hope you will consistently find a middle ground between telling the brazen truth to those who need to hear it and protecting your precious goals and well-being.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

When faced with important decisions, most of us benefit from calling on all forms of intelligence. Simply consulting our analytical mind is not sufficient. Nor is checking in with only our deep feelings. Even drawing from our spunky intuition alone is not adequate. We are most likely to get practical clarity if we access the guidance of our analytical mind, gut feelings, and sparkly intuition. This is always true, but it’s extra relevant now. You need to get the full blessing of the synergistic blend. PS: Ask your body to give you a few hints, too!

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Has your intuition been nudging you to revise and refine your sense of home? Have you been reorganizing the domestic vibes and bolstering your stability? I hope so. That’s what the cosmic rhythms are inviting you to do. If you have indeed responded to the call, congratulations. Buy yourself a nice homecoming present. But if you have resisted the flow of life’s guidance, please take corrective measures. Maybe start by reorganizing the décor and furniture. Clean up festering messes. Say sweet things to your housemates and family members. Manage issues that may be restricting your love of home.

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 | ALTERNATE ENDINGS

By Sid Sivakumar | Puzzles

Edited by Will Shortz | 0521

Sid Sivakumar is an M.D./Ph.D. student at Washington University in St. Louis. This is his 15th Times crossword in three years. He likes theme ideas and clues that are challenging but not forced. When you figure something out, he wants you to say, “Of course!” not, “Uh .?.?. OK, I get it.” When possible, Sid includes South Asian references in his puzzles, as in the clue for 111-Down here.—W.S.

55 Analogy words

57 “Yes, that spot right there .?.?. “

60 Added streaks to, say

63 Honey ____! (ringshaped cereal)

65 Young bloke

66 Ruin

67 Last word in “America the Beautiful”

68 Anna of Arendelle’s elder sister

69 Festival with lion dances

70 Mobile ____

cry

119 Backside

120 Air Seoul’s parent airline

121 Hubbub

122 Actress Mowry of “Sister, Sister”

123 Green expanse

124 Commander for Joe Biden, e.g.

125 Pass judgment on

126 Tricksy

DOWN

1 *Person with a stopwatch

2 Drink that may be spiced

3 Potential scenario in which a piece of software might be helpful

4 Person who worships

Jah

5 Puffins, e.g.

47 *Many a presidential election occurs in one

48 Prospective eBay buyer’s figure

52 “Better than I thought”

53 *Where hip-hop originated

54 State of matter in the sun

55 *Theoretical substance for which a chemistry law is named

56 Fifth in a scale

57 Stadium with the first animated scoreboard

58 *Where newlyweds are typically seated at a wedding reception

59 Severity

61 Latin “is”

62 *Toddler drop-off locales

64 Equilibria

76 Home to the sport of hurling

82 Jessica ____, astronaut who participated in the first all-female spacewalk 83 Not the same

84 It “sounds like a clarinet with a cold,” per Victor Borge

6 Total dump

7 *”Is it even possible?!”

8 *It’ll take a second to get it

9 Similar group

10 Elegy, e.g.

11 Boba tea is often served with a wide one

12 Miniature-cheese-wheel brand

13 “____ Maria”

14 *Chinese New Year decoration

15 *Meat-and-vegetables dish with Creole and Cajun varieties

16 Target

18 Coat that may take awhile to put on

20 Witherspoon of Hollywood

21 *Electrical wiring nexus

78 Americans usually spell “cancelled” with this

79 Queens players

81 Enters like slime

86 Grammy-winning Mexican singer Downs

87 *Exercise that strengthens hip flexors

89 *Compilations of laughably bad takes

90 Bit that bonds

92 Mineral collection site

94 Motion to ____ (court request)

98 Are

99 Certain essential worker

100 Taco topping

101 Job increasingly replaced by speech-totext programs

102 G7 member, informally

40

University of Cincinnati athlete

44 ____ Command (Atari game of the 1980s)

Abbr.

54 Designer of Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art

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

SUDOKU EASY |

N° 17364

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

NEW YORK TIMES

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

27 Pigmented eye layer

30 Lower-interest deal, for short

33 Blood work, colloquially

34 Start of a detective’s trail

35 Uno + dos + tres

37 Site with gadget reviews

42 *Revolutionary cooking device?

43 Conflict over seceding from the Galactic Republic, in sci-fi

45 Some brandy cocktails 46 *Hair-salon goo

Puzzle No. 0507 which appeared in the May 17 issue.

104 Some offshoots

105 What might have attachment issues?

106 “You’re kidding!”

109 Tablet you might take in the bathroom

111 The Hindu god Ganesha is often depicted with four of them

114 Ray-gun sound

115 Makeshift towel

116 N.Y.C. commuter rail overseer

117 Pedestrians cross them: Abbr.

VOL. XV NO. 11