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contents 22

NEWS

LIFE

Education: after-school programs

City: Google Fiber

Performing Arts: The Wild, Wild West

City: sidewalks

Sudoku / Crossword

Chicken-Fried News

Downtown in December

Active: basketball courts

Commentary

Culture: gaming restaurant

Music: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, listings

Letters

Religion: Muslim holidays

Film: My All-American

Visual Arts: Christie Owen, Maurice S. Pérez

Astrology

Classifieds

ON THE COVER

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Then, the full-on push to Hanu-Christma-Kwanzaa comes on hard and heavy like an Oklahoma winter. Wrapping yourself in layers of scarves and hats and gloves will only get you so far. There are many ways to get through the holidays, and an innovative use of spirits can be one of the most enjoyable. Story by Greg Elwell. P.19

LIFE 14

Cover: seasonal drinks

Food & Drink: HiLo Club, Okura Sushi & Grill, briefs, Kernels & Kandies, OKG eat: Yukon

OKG picks

Mission statement Oklahoma Gazette’s mission is to stimulate, examine and inform the public on local quality of life issues and social needs, to recognize community accomplishments, and to provide a forum for inspiration, participation and interaction across all media.

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news education

Expanding learning Academics are a key component for a number of metro after-school programs.

On a rainy and damp October evening, Principal Kim Templeman scanned the Central Oak Elementary School cafeteria where parents and students gathered for a chili supper. Standing behind a serving table and wearing a school spirit T-shirt, the administrator smiled before sharing that turnout exceeded her expectations, especially considering the weather. On Oct. 22, Crooked Oak Public Schools, a district located on the southeast side of Oklahoma City, hosted the after-school program’s fall festival. It featured hayrides, pumpkin carvings, campfire s’mores and other activities for students and parents. When the rain fell, school leaders moved activities inside and hoped parents wouldn’t forgo the opportunity to share in their children’s education. Parents and grandparents, led into the facility by their children, embraced the opportunity. The festival was part celebration and part promotion of family participation. Research shows that parent involvement increases when children are enrolled in after-school programs. “The after-school program has connected us to the community,” Templeman explained. “It was one of the primary goals of the grant.” Prior to the 2014-15 academic year, Crooked Oak Public Schools was awarded a 21st Century Community Learning Centers program grant. The district, home to more than 1,000 students, joined a long list of schools and service organizations across the nation participating in the federal program, which begin in 1998 and contributes billions to after-school programs. Last year, 160-200 youth in prekindergarten through eighth grade stayed after school to participate in Crooked Oak’s Project STREAM, offered 3-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday. This year, Project STREAM serves more than 280 students. “We didn’t even realize how big the need was,” said Templeman, who began working for the district 22 years ago. “It was more significant than we knew.” Youth involved in the after-school program gain an additional hour of academics with teachers helping them with homework and reviewing classroom lessons. The program’s second hour is dedicated to enrichment with students

mark hancock

by Laura Eastes

From left Fourth-graders Renee Alvarado and Destiny Longoria receive after-school instruction from principal and Oklahoma’s After School Ambassador Kim Templeman at Crooked Oak Public Shools in Oklahoma City. participating in archery, cooking, robotics, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities, critical thinking class and sports. The school is tracking the after-school participants in hopes of collecting data supporting what teachers have already witnessed: improved grades and academic understanding. “I see it as an opportunity,” said Templeman. “Our staff is here every day after school. If [a struggling] student is here, we can target that student with interventions. … We provide an opportunity to work oneon-one or in small groups.” Crooked Oak staff is not alone in efforts to improve student academic performance. These days, it is difficult to find an after-school program in Oklahoma City that doesn’t address learning.

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Out-of-school time

Options for out-of-school time have been provided to youth for more than a century. Well-known national organization Boys & Girls Clubs of America traces its roots back to 1860 when three Hartford, Connecticut, women formed a club to get young boys away from roaming the streets. Character development became the key lesson addressed by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and academics were added later. Robert Halpern, a professor in child development at the graduate school Erikson Institute in Chicago, explored the start of after-school programs through his 2002 report, A Different Kind of Child Development Institution: The History of After-School Programs for Low-Income Children. Halpern described the first programs as “intent on rescuing children from physical and moral hazards” that came from being raised in major cities and immigrant

neighborhoods. “These men and women sought to create protected spaces in storefronts, churches or other buildings where children might relax, play board games, read and be provided as much instruction as they would tolerate,” wrote Halpern. “The majority were intended primarily as a refuge and diversion from the streets. Children could drop in when they wished, expectations were low and any youngster who refrained from tearing up the place was welcome.” Today’s programs continue to keep children safely off the streets; however, they hold high expectations of increasing kids’ abilities to succeed at school and beyond through academic support and learning enrichment activities. The annual growth in participation shows that families support the approach. Last year, 10.2 million students nationwide participated in continued on page 6

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Healing Hands

Ray Shaik works with 5-year-old Avery Watson on a robot project at techJOYnt after-school program in Edmond.

All the students turn in their report cards for us to monitor. We have very good relationships with parents and teachers. — Dee Cox

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after-school programs, up from 6.5 million in 2004, according to a survey from the Afterschool Alliance, which also found that for every child in an after-school program, there are two more children whose parents say they would participate if a program was available.

Boys & Girls

Three years ago, Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County expanded services to meet the needs of members in the southwest quadrant of Oklahoma City. Through a partnership with Santa Fe South Elementary School, club staff visits the charter school from 3 to 6 p.m. five days a week. The club, which is only for Santa Fe South (SFS) Elementary @ Penn Avenue and SFS Early Childhood students, serves an average of 125 students daily. After the school day ends, students enjoy healthy snacks provided by Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. After snack time,

students go to classrooms for Power Hour, 60 minutes dedicated to finishing homework or reading. Club staff, which includes teachers, is available to aid any students with questions or struggles. “Our main goal is academic studies,” said Amanda Boyd, SFS club unit director. “Our goal is to hit that need the first hour. Many of the parents are bilingual, but some only speak Spanish. Some of the parents work two jobs. When they come to get their kids, we want to have the homework complete. That way, parents can spend time with their kids in the evening, free of homework.” Many parents believe the academic help provided by the club gives their children an advantage over other classmates, said Boyd, who pointed out that around 90 percent of the students are Hispanic. After Power Hour, the students begin activities, such as art, science, health and fitness, vocal performance and dance. Additionally, students can join clubs, such as culture, pen pal and smart girls, which is designed for older girls and boosts self-esteem through unique, age-appropriate lessons. SFS administrator Kim Figueroa says a majority of the school’s students participate in Boys & Girls Club. She has noticed students have an advantage in the classroom and are more engaging in fine arts and sports. “We feel very blessed to have the support we do for after school,” said Figueroa. “The after-school program provides options that not many of our students would have otherwise,

Young students read and do homework after school at Santa Fe South Elementary School in Oklahoma City. like dance, choir or running club.” Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County has expanded the program to Oklahoma City Public Schools’ César Chávez Elementary and Tel Star Elementary School.

Urban League

Similar to Boys & Girls Club, Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City, Inc. begins its School-Age Care and Learning Center, a weekday afterschool program from 2 to 6 p.m., with a snack before spending the next hour focused on homework. The 21 students coming from northeast area schools — Oklahoma City Lighthouse Charter School, Millwood Public Schools, Dove Science Academy Elementary School and Crutcho Public Schools — work with education majors from the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) on assignments. After academic assistance, the students read for 30 minutes and then choose crafts or physical activity before parents come to pick them up. Dee Cox, who serves as the program’s coordinator and master teacher, said a recent grant by Dell Inc., provided a number of computer products, a projector and classroom furnishings to the program. The Dell products aid students in completing their homework and becoming acclimated with current technology. “They may not have Internet access at home or a computer to use,” said Cox. “We have all the tools at their disposal here.” For the past decade, the Urban League has provided an after-school program, but thanks to grant funding and partnerships, like the one with UCO and Dell Inc., staff members have enhanced the educational component. As the master teacher, Cox communicates regularly with her students’ teachers and parents about academic progress. “If a teacher has a problem, like with a student’s attitude or notices a homework issue, they call or email me,” Cox said. “All the students turn in their report cards for us to monitor. We have very good relationships with parents and teachers.”

Increasing opportunities

With the help of his four daughters, engineer Ray Shaik’s mission is to get Oklahoma City area students interested with science and technology. After a family conversation in a car trip, Shaik was informed that his daughters’ definition of STEM was vastly different from his own. “Their ideas were all futuristic, stuff not even developed yet,” Shaik recalled. “I was thinking mousetrap cars and marshmallow-toothpick bridges. That was not their idea at all.” Having previously coached robotic teams, Shaik, with his children’s involvement, began the social enterprise techJOYnt. Shaik described the venture as providing a multitude of activities and programs for kindergarten through high schoolers. For this afterschool program, parents purchase memberships for their children to visit one of two techJOYnt academies, located at 180 W. 15th St. in Edmond and at 8328 Glade Ave. in Oklahoma City. techJOYnt members engage in four pathways —game design, electronics, app development and robotics — known as GEAR. The children work together to collaborate and engage in problem solving lessons. techJOYnt forms several teams for STEM-based competitions, such as BotBall, FIRST LEGO League, Game Design Summit and FIRST Tech Challenge. Before establishing the academies, Shaik volunteered with Metropolitan Library System at five locations, bringing a few robots and laptops for classes. He anticipated 25 students per library, but closer to 50 students showed, with 72 students flooding Edmond Library. “Kids are really hungry for these kinds of activities,” Shaik said. Shaik said his business return comes not from profits but from the excited children who charge into the academy and immediately get to work programming their robots. “We are helping the next generation of workforce,” Shaik said, “but we are also ensuring kids don’t lose their dreams.”

O k l a h o m a G a z e t t e | n ov e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 | 7

news city

Speed needs Google identifies Oklahoma City as a potential Fiber city, and residents identify the service as a technology game changer.

Caleb Power, a junior studying computer science, was euphoric to learn Google is considering bringing its ultrafast Internet service, Google Fiber, to Oklahoma City. The University of Central Oklahoma student said if the metro had Google Fiber, it likely wouldn’t influence his Web design and programming assignments too much. However, it would revolutionize how he and his fellow college students use the Web. “Most students are very active with media streams, whether it be Netflix or various social media sites,” Power explained. Already a user of many Google applications, Power finds Google Fiber’s offerings in the three cities it now wires — Kansas City metro; Austin, Texas; and Provo, Utah — impressive. He believes the 1-gigabit-per-second Internet speed offered by the technology company would be a community upgrade, benefiting anyone who uses the Internet. “Provided that the network is up to par with Google Fiber, you would be able to stream without any delay,” Power said when describing the speed. “You would have little to no lag time. There would be no stops or chops. We often see network slow down when a whole bunch of people are on. … With Google Fiber, hopefully, we will see that the network slowdown would cease to be a problem.”

Economic development

Google makes it easy for area residents to be roused by the thought of Oklahoma City becoming the next “Fiber city.” On its website, fiber.google. com, a demonstration shows just how quickly Google Fiber can download 100 photos. In a blink or two, the download is complete. In addition to residential benefits, city officials and business leaders believe Google Fiber would boost business recruitment and further spur innovation. With an already thriving entrepreneurial community and the development of the innovation district, the addition of Google Fiber could mark the city as a tech hub for future growth. “I think it fits very well with the growing entrepreneur community,” said

Scott Meacham, president and CEO of i2E, a private, nonprofit corporation that mentors many of the state’s technology-based start-up companies. “I think it is another step forward in the process of Oklahoma City becoming a great environment for entrepreneurs and start-ups.” Google’s Jill Szuchmacher said OKC’s efforts to support entrepreneurs and small technology companies stimulated the company’s interest. On Oct. 28, Szuchmacher, along with Mayor Mick Cornett, announced Google would work with city leaders on the potential to bring the fiber speed to the state’s largest city. Additionally, Szuchmacher touted the city’s recent rankings in technology and business surveys as a key reason for Google engaging Oklahoma City. Personal finance website WalletHub named OKC as a top city for people in science and technology. “It is no wonder why nonprofits like The 404 and i2E are investing in the entrepreneurial community here, and we would like to do the same,” said Szuchmacher, director of expansion, during the recent press event on the rooftop of Oklahoma City Museum of Art. “We would like to bring Internet connectivity that is up to 85 times faster than broadband speed to Oklahoma City.” Last month, Google executives announced their intent to work with Phoenix and Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida, in addition to Oklahoma City. Right now, wiring is ongoing in Atlanta; San Antonio; Nashville, Tennessee; and Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina. While Google’s announcement is promising, company representatives will research a number of factors over the next few months before finalizing an agreement. Existing infrastructure, area topography and the permitting process will influence Google’s final decision, Szuchmacher said. The city stands ready to assist in the joint planning process, Cornett said. If it becomes a signed deal, thousands of miles of fiber network would be added to the city.

Fiber impact

Kansas City witnessed a tech evolution

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Ga rett fi s bec k

by Laura Eastes

Mayor Mick Cornett and Jill Szuchmacher, director of expansion for Google Fiber, address media during a recent press conference at Oklahoma City Museum of Art to announce Oklahoma City as a potential Google Fiber city. after Google Fiber began serving users there in late 2012. Matthew Marcus, an entrepreneur living in Boulder, Colorado, headed to his hometown, which was picked for the first wiring of Google Fiber. He owns the building that first connected to Fiber and won’t forget seeing the blue LED light appear on the Fiber jack box. He co-founded Kansas City Startup Village, an organization that supports the launch of new technology companies. He said the connectivity pushed that city into the ranks as a tech capital. “There have always been entrepreneurs in Kansas City as much as there have been in other cities,” Marcus said. “It was a somewhat quiet environment. Then, all of a sudden, you have Google bringing a service to your city that no other city has. … It was like a lightning rod for activity.” A fiber network brings more benefits than faster Internet and stimulated economic development. Trade group Fiber to the Home Council Americas studied the impact of gigabit speeds on economies. Communities with access to gigabit broadband also benefited from home value increases of up to 3.1 percent and growth in their gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of an economy’s size. Ken Dewey, a professor in Rose State College’s computer science program, sees another advantage: low cost. What Dewey finds impressive

is the pricing of Google Fiber’s basic Internet package. For example, in Kansas City, users can sign up for a service with up to 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speeds for no monthly cost; however, there is a $300 construction fee that can be split into payments of $25 per month. “You have people out there who can’t afford Internet,” Dewey said. “Now, they are going to be able to get it for free. … Some of our students come to Rose State after-hours because they don’t have Internet access.” Dewey believes a majority of people would find the basic service fits their needs. For those who want the gigabit speeds, pricing is competitive with OKC’s major Internet providers. Looking at Kansas City’s pricing, the gigabit service runs $70 per month. Adding television raises that price to $130 per month. In some Google Fiber cities, there are reports of improved service and price parity by longtime providers. In May, Cox Communications rolled out its Gigablast Internet service — comparable to Google Fiber in speed — to select areas, with Oklahoma pegged as a future location. No matter which company brings ultrafast Internet speeds to OKC first, it’s destined to be a game changer.

l aura e aste s

Paving lanes Oklahoma City takes steps to become more walker- and cyclist-friendly.

by Laura Eastes

It didn’t take long for officials to view the ongoing MAPS 3 Sidewalks project as a success. In some cases, hours after contractors moved orange construction cones, pedestrians traveled along the newly created paths, more safely accessing parts of the city. “People were walking, walking their dogs or pushing strollers,” explained David Todd, MAPS project manager, about the immediate walkway use. “I think the sidewalks have been very beneficial everywhere and for many reasons.” Providing sidewalks is a basic city service, but before Oklahoma City voters approved a 2009 sales tax initiative planned to improve the quality of life through eight distinct programs, sidewalk construction wasn’t a common sight in the metro. City leaders took action on the project after the completion of the 2012 master plan, which focused on areas along the arterial streets. The plan, which identified between 25 to 36 miles of new sidewalks, guided city leaders in determining the next areas to pave. Some notably busy sectors, such as Pennsylvania Avenue in the city’s southern quadrant, now safely usher pedestrians along paved walkways, as opposed to walkers weaving in and around parking lots, streets and grassy areas to get to their destination. With an increase in pedestrian and cycle travel, the City of Oklahoma City launched a campaign to stress that drivers need to be more mindful of pedestrian and cyclist safety. It’s called Watch for Me OKC, and city leaders unveiled the education program near the intersection of SW 59th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, viewed as one of the city’s most dangerous intersections and now home to new sidewalk infrastructure. “We’ve gone decades not seeing a lot of pedestrians walking our major corridors,” Mayor Mick Cornett said at

Construction is now complete on sidewalks around U.S. Grant High School’s southern quadrant on Pennsylvania Avenue. an Oct. 12 Watch for Me OKC media event. “Now, we are seeing that’s picked up, and thankfully, it has made us a more pedestrian-friendly community.” With 2008 grant funding from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, city staff designed the awareness initiative, traditionally geared toward drivers and cyclists, to include pedestrians as it expanded its message to encompass modes of travel, said Dennis Blind, a member of the city’s planning department. Much of the campaign is centered around “common sense” safety tips, such as pedestrians utilizing crosswalks, drivers staying out of bike lanes and cyclists performing hand signals while moving through traffic. Watch for Me OKC includes a website, okc.gov/ watchforme; brochures and handouts; youth safety programing events; and three demonstration lanes. To create demonstration lanes, city crews will restripe roads to bring bike lanes to areas with a growing number of cyclists. One such area is at N. Walker Avenue from NW Sixth to NW 10th streets. The three-lane road will be restriped on each side to add protective lanes. Next to the lanes is existing sidewalk. Other impacted streets are N. Shartel Avenue from NW 13th Street to Sheridan Avenue and NW Fourth Street from Western to Broadway avenues. “The best education tool is to implement something and have people experience it,” Blind said of the demo lanes. “There are things we need to do when we walk, cycle or drive. We’ve got to watch out for everybody.” Demonstration lanes will open in late winter, and construction of MAPS 3 sidewalks will continue through 2016.

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Chicken To Church’s

“Hello, my name is Hozier, and I’d like you to take me to church. Church’s Chicken, that is.” Perhaps the saddest part of the 15 Church’s Chicken locations shut down by the Oklahoma Tax Commission is that our dreams of having Irish singersongwriter Hozier come to our state to record a commercial for a fried chicken franchise are dashed. It’s not, though. The saddest part is actually that a lot of people don’t have jobs. Way sadder. That Hozier thing is just a dumb joke. Apparently, that is also how the Tulsabased company Reciprocity Restaurant Group LLC treated requests from the tax commission that it pay its $400,000 sales tax bill. “Ha ha,” they might have said. “What are you going to do, shut us down?!” And then the tax commission was all like, “Yeah. Exactly. That’s

Fried news exactly what we will do.” The home office for Church’s, located in Georgia, said they are trying to reach Reciprocity head Lyndon Johnson to figure out why the tax bill wasn’t paid and how to reopen the restaurants. Meanwhile, Johnson’s family reported him missing on Nov. 3. In the interim, Church’s is trying to reach local managers to provide immediate financial relief to employees. That’s so nice, it makes you want to eat at Church’s Chicken ... if you can find one open.

Perry probe

Wouldn’t it be nice to make a single call and have a problem go away, like the black-andwhite, good-vs.-evil, hero-saves-all (or mobster makes scrutiny “disappear”) we see happen all the time in movies and streaming reruns of Law & Order? Apparently, politicians sometimes

make calls like those in real life, too, as one such conversation between former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin allegedly shows. Earlier this month, investigative news website The Frontier reported that Perry, at one point a Republican presidential candidate, called Fallin after hearing about a Tulsa campaign contributor who was in hot water with the state’s medical board. “It’s unclear how much influence Perry had, but soon after his phone call in early 2013, a three-year, $600,000 investigation abruptly ended,” The Frontier wrote. The medical board’s investigation concerned Steven Anagnost, a spinal surgeon who continues to practice in Tulsa. A few years ago, he was accused of medical violations involving 23 patients — in some cases, the patients were paralyzed or in perpetual pain after surgery. The Frontier reported that the

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Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision was considering revoking Anagnost’s license. The board was asked to end the investigation and leave Anagnost alone after a meeting with Fallin’s general counsel, Steve Mullins. The article references a memo written by Dr. Eric Frische, the medical board’s executive director. Frische wrote that Mullins spoke of Gov. Fallin not wanting “any more calls from Rick Perry about this” and “what would it take to make it go away.” The Oklahoma Democratic Party agrees it’s not the governor’s job to interfere with the medical board and called for an investigation into the conduct of Fallin, Mullins and state Attorney General Scott Pruitt. Fallin, Mullins and Pruitt shouldn’t fear. Someone is bound to make a phone call to make it go away. Who does Perry know in the Democratic Party?

Tender foot

Shoes. They’re good for feet. Or are they? Yes. They are. Who said they aren’t? Crazy people on Facebook probably. You shouldn’t listen to those people. Then again, have you heard shoe people talk about shoes? Heel bags. Foamposite material. Collar lockdown. If you know what those things are, you either work for a shoe company or you’re really, very, desperately interested in what Thunder star Kevin Durant is wearing during games. Durant, or Oklahoma City Jesus, has his own line of shoes from Nike, and he wears them to play basketball. But then he hurt his foot and everybody was sad because he’s a legitimately nice guy and also helps the team win a lot. Now people are worried about which generation of his own shoes Durant is wearing to play. Are low-tops safe for his ankles? Are high-tops providing enough support? Can he play in thigh-high boots that’ll show off his sexy gams? What if he was in a full-body cast and just controlled a basketball robot with his brain? Until basketbrain becomes a real sport, Kev will just keep wearing KD8

3 minutes WITHOUT air

shoes and people will be scared that he’s going to fall down. And if he does get hurt, do not go on Facebook to talk about it, because those people are insane.

Educational messages

Bullying, fighting, cheating — educators have always had to deal with things other than education in classrooms. But technology has brought them an endless stream of additional, and much more serious, problems. Lt. Adam Flowers with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office told News9.com that issues with sexting have become rampant and dangerous. He said that students as young as 11 years old are sexting and are carrying those conversations, photos and videos into school hours and onto school grounds. “It happens from home, and they bring it into the school. They’ll have truth-and-daretype scenarios where

3 Days WITHOUT Water

they’ll try to do crazy pictures maybe somewhere at school,” Lt. Flowers said. “I’ve seen videos and pictures that are triple-X rated. It’s awful.” Students have been caught trading photos and videos, and some have even been charged with child pornography because they wouldn’t stop distributing the photos. “Kids don’t realize what they are doing; they only think in the now. They don’t think about the future consequences,” Flowers explained. Police are urging parents to monitor their children’s phone use and apps, as students don’t realize the photos can be used for blackmail or obtained by child predators.

Cute Chenoweth

We at Chicken-Fried News think Broadway actress and Oklahoma native Kristin Chenoweth is a dolly. We aren’t alone. It seems everyone loves the talented Chenoweth. Well, except

for members of controversial Westboro Baptist Church (who picketed outside one of her concerts in Kansas). So, yeah, pretty much everyone loves the talented Chenoweth! We recently discovered that actress and television personality Rosie O’Donnell is a huge fan, too. Earlier this month, she described the Oklahoma City University alumna as “the most talented woman I know,” “the cutest thing ever born” and “a little tiny human form of Prozac,” according to a recent USA Today article. O’Donnell made the comments at an annual gala for her arts education organization, Rosie’s Theater Kids. The event recognized Chenoweth for her performance work and her compassion in the arts. Like O’Donnell, her charity work centers on theater but is done through a partnership with Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center Foundation. Chenoweth responded very cutely to O’Donnell’s praise: “I’m glad I’m your Prozac, because you’re my Zoloft.” D’aw.

30 Days WITHOUT food

HOW LONG CAN YOU LIVE WITHOUT A CIGARETTE? November 19 is the Great American Smokeout. What would it take for you to quit for a day? You could get 11 minutes of your life back for every cigarette you don’t smoke.

QUIT FOR A DAY. QUIT FOR LIFE.

#GASO

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commentary

P ROV I D ED

Improving student behavior services BY ED ALLEN

Recently, Oklahoma City School Board member Bob Hammack criticized the Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers (AFT) for “purporting to show ‘anonymous’ negative comments from teachers” regarding student behavior and discipline. Mr. Hammack was dismissive of the 836 teachers who responded to an AFT survey with the large majority reporting serious problems with student behavior. Since other teachers did not respond to the survey, it was proof, according to him, that teachers not responding believed the AFT was engaging in an “effort to slow down or abate needed changes.” Illogical or misinformed statements by some district leaders are a common experience for teachers in our school system. Since teacher opinions are

No one should equate a flurry of activity by the district as proof we are on the right track to improving student behavior. routinely dismissed, it should not be surprising that morale is low and frustration high. No one should equate a flurry of activity by the district as proof we are on the right track to improving student behavior. New programs and endless pronouncements should not give anyone with knowledge of our district a sense that anything is improving.

Oklahoma City teachers want classrooms free from chronic misbehavior. Parents, students and teachers want safe and orderly schools. AFT is not calling for more suspensions. We are advocating for appropriate help and services for those who chronically misbehave, and in many cases, that help will need to be provided somewhere other than the regular classroom setting. Let’s commit to solutions that will help resolve this urgent problem: 1. The district and AFT must finalize work on a new student code of conduct. Sustained growth in student achievement will not occur without adherence to the new code. The superintendent should pledge that safe and orderly schools are his No. 1 priority.

Opinions expressed on the commentary page, in letters to the editor and elsewhere in this newspaper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ownership or management.

2. The newly created Office of School Climate and Student Discipline should be properly staffed. Currently, three employees are charged with overseeing discipline, training teachers and providing student intervention services for those who chronically misbehave. Most administrators and teachers agree that we have in excess of 1000 students in need of services. 3. Create a strong districtwide in-school suspension program that addresses the needs of the chronically disruptive. Dismissing and blaming others is not a solution. I renew my invitation to the superintendent to engage in discussions. Ed Allen is president of Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers, the bargaining representative for Oklahoma City teachers.

LETTERS Oklahoma Gazette provides an open forum for the discussion of all points of view in its Letters to the Editor section. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Letters can be mailed, faxed, emailed to jchancellor@ okgazette.com or sent online at okgazette. com. Include a city of residence and contact number for verification.

the highest in the country), as well as the real danger she has put our state in with massive deficits (due in large part to yearly tax cuts for the wealthy), she must realize her words are not only hollow but downright mystifying to anyone who takes the time to think clearly about the issue of promoting and funding public education for the public good. — Jay Hanas Edmond

STEM tide

Football rebellion

One has to wonder what alternative universe Gov. Mary Fallin lives in these days when she makes a speech like she did at the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) conference in Oklahoma City several weeks ago. In her speech, she emphasized that we, as a state, must do a better job of stressing science and math education in our public schools, especially to young girls. Of course, this is very true, and her words — on the surface — need to be commended. However, considering the record cuts in public education she has presided over in her five years at the governor’s office (almost 30 percent,

I wonder what would happen in Alabama if the football team would strike until the state reopened the drivers license agencies in areas where black voters might be likely to register, especially since that is a requirement to vote in that state? Missouri University could just be the beginning to set things up to be fair again. — Elda Davis Bethany Social insecurity

I’m sorry that during the lifetime of Judy Eichstedt (Commentary, Letters, “Open letter,” Nov. 4, Oklahoma Gazette), she didn’t get herself in some kind of financial shape so that

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she didn’t have to depend on her two children for housing. I’m glad that her two children can and do provide for her, but a raise in her monthly Social Security stipend would not have changed her situation. A couple of years ago, the raise was something less than $20 a year. After President Lyndon B. Johnson stole all the money from the fund and left us with IOUs and Obama has saddled us with debt greater than all other presidents combined, I’m just happy as a clam that the checks keep coming. — Thomas L. Furlong Oklahoma City

Regressive progressives?

If liberals wholeheartedly support the Black Lives Matter movement, then why do they then support Planned Parenthood? Planned Parenthood was formed primarily to reduce the number of black births by women, with disregard for blacks. I believe that Planned Parenthood performs a disproportionate number of abortions on blacks. This is contradictory to Black Lives Matter. Just what is the logic behind the liberals’ (“progressives,” aka “regressives”) support of Planned Parenthood? — Mickey McVay Edmond

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Schelly’s Aesthetics

okg picks are events

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

Schelly Hill, R.N.

Gift Certificates Available

BOOKS Greg Renoff Signing, fearlessly led by David Lee Roth and some kid named Eddie, California rock outfit Van Halen changed the face of rock; Greg Renoff signs his work describing the process, pulling from over 230 original interviews with various members, titled Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal, 6:30 p.m., Nov. 18. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 842-2900, fullcirclebooks. com. WED Fred Staff Signing, native Oklahoman author Fred Staff has written many books about Bass Reeves, one of the most feared lawmen of his time and the first black Deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi, as well as his friendship with “Hanging Judge” Isaac Parker, 5:30 p.m., Nov. 19. Best of Books, 1313 E. Danforth Road, Edmond, 340-9202, bestofbooksedmond.com. THU Mary Anna King Signing, a memoir on the fluctuation yet fortitude of love and family, Mary Anna King’s Bastards follows her unconventional childhood growing up with too few parents, followed by too many parents, and finally her own grandparents, and her subsequent reunion with the sisters she barely knew but knew she had, 6:30 p.m., Nov. 19. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 8422900, fullcirclebooks.com. THU New INK, this event showcases new local authors; this month features Richard Gerber, Barbara Middlebrook, Shelby Simpson, Aneesah Perkins, Donnie Collins, and Dana Crawford, 3 p.m., Nov. 21. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT

A smart way to buy, a smart way to sell Styles such as

Art Adventures, children can experience the world of art through stories and projects in this event series; this week’s story will be The Straight Line Wonder by Marc Fox, 10:30 A.M., Nov. 24. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., Norman, 325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. TUE

FILM

Hendredon, Ethan Allen, Drexel Heritage, West Elm &

other name brands.

4932 N. May Ave. OKC, Next to Stein Mart 405.949.1600

Out 1: Noli Me Tangere, (1971, US, dir. Jacques Rivette) boasting a length of twelve hours and 20 minutes, this is Out 1 as originally intended by the director, uncut, and delivered over the course of four days in eight approximately 90-minute episodes; based on Honore de Balzac’s History of the Thirteen collection, Out 1 delivers the stories of roughly 30 loosely connected characters who are actors in different troupes, 7 p.m., Nov. 19-22. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 236-3100, okcmoa. com. THU

HAPPENINGS Christmas in the Park, come drive or walk through a dazzling exhibition of over four million Christmas lights

PROVI DED

Shoppes at Northpark, 12028 May Ave. 405-751-8930 Open Mon-Sat www.skincareokc.om

Story + Design with Greg Smallwood There once was a time when comic books were associated with pasty mouth breathers who lived in their parents’ basements. Thankfully, those times have passed and a nerd renaissance is upon us. Join the not-at-all pasty or socially inept Greg Smallwood, comic creator and illustrator extraordinaire, for an insightful talk on the art of visual storytelling and the elements of design at 7 p.m. Thursday upstairs at Bricktown Brewery, 1 N. Oklahoma Ave. Tickets are $25, or free for AIGA members. Visit aiga.org/events.

Thursday covering four hundred displays; best of all, admission is free, so bring all your friends and family to kick your holiday rear into gear, 6-11 p.m., ongoing. Yukon City Park, 2200 S. Holly Ave., Yukon, , cityofyukonok.gov. Toast to the Maestro, join UCO for an unforgettable evening with world renowned, award winning pianist Valery Kuleshov; wine, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a coffee bar, and a silent auction will all be available to guests of this fundraiser benefiting UCO students and faculty, 6:30 p.m., Nov. 19. UCO Jazz Lab, 100 E. 5th St., Edmond, 359-7989, ucojazzlab.com. THU Automobile Alley Shop Hop, come check out all the fun at Automobile Alley, with food trucks, free hot chocolate, beer & wine, live music, and special late-night shopping hours and discounts, or even take in an Auto Alley free history tour, 5:30 p.m., Nov. 19 & 20. Automobile Alley, 1015 N Broadway Ave., 488-2555, automobilealley.org. THU-FRI

Pancakes & Booze Art Show, never before has there been a more gloriously and appropriately named event in all

What is winter without the feeling of gliding across the ice with a frosty breeze at your cheeks, elegantly flailing as you struggle to remember where the heck the brakes are on ice skates? Devon Ice Rink is back this year so you can embrace the joys of skating while absorbing the beauty of the great outdoors in the scenic Myriad Botanical Gardens at 113 S. Robinson Ave. And fear not, inside kids! Skating lessons are available for the athletically disinclined. Tickets are $7-$12. The rink is open 7 days a week, and hours vary. Visit downtownindecember.com or call 708-6499. PROV ID ED

ExclusivEly at

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Amazing Oklahoma City Comic Con, join thousands of other comic book artists, cosplayers and fans at the inaugural Amazing Oklahoma City Comic Con and meet the creators of Deadpool, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, see an incredible cosplay contest, and check out jewelry, crafts, art, and general nerdery available at Artist Alley, 3 p.m.-8 p.m., Nov. 20, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Nov. 21-22. Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, 602-8500, coxconventioncenter. com. FRI-SUN

Devon Ice Rink

View current inventory at www.designedtoconsigned.com

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Tea & Tips with Becky, if you are a fan of tea and also not dying, then join Uptown Grocery’s wellness expert Becky for a nice cuppa as she answers all your health-related questions, 9:30 a.m., Nov. 19. Uptown Grocery Co., 1230 W. Covell Road, Edmond, 509-2700, uptowngroceryco. com. THU

Wednesday-Wednesday, ongoing

PROV I D ED

Deluxe Winter Market Holiday shopping can be a real pain in the jingle bells, especially when you want to make sure your money isn’t going to wind up in the hands of a comic book villain-esque CEO of a megacorporation tapping his fingers together like Mr. Burns while muttering, “Excellent.” Don’t support Mr. Burns! Support local artists at Deluxe Winter Market, located in Leadership Square, 211 N. Robinson Ave. The market is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 28-29. Entry is free.

Nov. 28-29 of time and space; join the OKC Farmers Public Market once again as it hosts the epitome of booze, breakfast, and brainchildren together under one roof and fill the hearts, minds, and bellies of all who partake, 8 p.m., Nov. 20. Farmers Public Market, 311 S. Klein Ave., 232-6506, okcfarmersmarket.com. FRI

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Black Towns Then, Black Towns Now, learn about the culture and heritage of four of the only remaining all-black towns of Oklahoma, including Boley, Brooksville, Clearview, and Langston, 4-6 p.m., Nov. 21. Redlands Community College, 1300 S. Country Club Rd., El Reno, 422-1485, redlandscc.edu. SAT Footloose '80s Homecoming Dance, kick off your Sunday shoes, throw on your pinkest, fluffiest party dress or your freshest pastel tux and motor over to the sickest bash this side of Elmore City; people in '80s prom gear get in free, and it’s sure to be awesome to the max, 7 p.m., Nov. 21. Flashback Retropub, 814 W. Sheridan Ave., facebook.com/ flashbackretropub. SAT Drop-In Art, bet you never knew when you always got in trouble for blowing bubbles in your milk you were actually practicing making art; learn how to use straw blowing to make painted trees grow before your eyes, 1 p.m., Nov. 21. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 236-3100, okcmoa.com. SAT Precious Metal Clay Class, precious metal clays allow artists and jewelry makers to work with gold, silver, and other precious metals with the greatest of ease so that, with a little dexterity, even the most novice designer can craft unique pieces with the greatest of ease, noon-4 p.m., Nov. 21. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org. SAT

FOOD It’s Time For Cranberries, don’t fall victim to can-shaped jelly; check out this seminar on all the ways to prepare and love cranberries, from juice to dinner to dessert, 10 a.m., Nov. 18. Integris Third Age Life Center, 5100 N. Brookline, 951-2277, integrisok. com. WED Pumpkin Pancake Paloosa, sorry peppermint, pumpkin is not quite ready to abdicate its thrown as the holiday flavor of choice; join community dietitian Pam Patty for a cooking demonstration where kids can learn how to make tasty and nutritious foods with a fun fall theme, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Nov. 18. Variety Health Center, 500 SW 44th St., 632-6688, varietycare.org. WED Cheese & Wine: Holiday Party Prep, who needs Thanksgiving when you could be participating in Swanksgiving; it has nothing to do with Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank, and continued on next page

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Today I’m Thankful for

continued

curry

p rov id ed

lunch buffet M-F | 11am-2pm

Cirque Dreams Holidaze QUI GON GIN AND TONIC

DARTH VADER

JAVA THE HUTT

“SKYY” WALKER

The antithesis of a certain inexplicably divisive plain red corporate coffee cup, Cirque Dreams Holidaze is a seasonal spectacle jam-packed with enough holiday spirit to make Die Hard look like … one of the Die Hard movies that didn’t take place on Christmas. If Die Hard isn’t the first movie you think of when you think of Christmas, you should probably re-evaluate your priorities and life choices. Anyway, if your Grinch heart needs a jumpstart, go see Holidaze 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. Tickets are $25-$55. Visit okcciviccenter.com or call 297-2264.

Tuesday everything to do with impressing all your friends in the holidays to come by dazzling them with swanky cheese and wine pairings fit for the pros, 6:45 p.m., Nov. 20. Forward Foods-Norman, 2001 West Main St., Norman, 321-1007, forwardfoods.com. FRI Uptown Cooking Class, don’t have one regular cookie when you can have two giant ones glued together with fluffy, sugary sweet cream filling; this is America, and Chef Gary Tow is going to teach you how to enjoy the holiday the American way: with gingerbread whoopie pies, 10 a.m., Nov. 21. Uptown Grocery Co., 1230 W. Covell Road, Edmond, 509-2700, uptowngroceryco.com. SAT Amazing Apples, they say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but that only works if you have a good arm and your doctor is terrified of fruit; learn what you need to know about choosing, storing, eating & preparing apples for your health, 1 p.m., Nov. 22. Buy For Less, 10011 S.E. 15th St., Midwest City, 733-4385, buyforlessok.com. SUN

YOUTH Tape & Tunnels, get psyched for recyclables at the newest exhibit at SMO, where kids can experience an interactive wonderland with packing tape tunnels, bungee cord mazes, and cardboard clubhouses where they can climb, build, and explore. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St., 602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. Crafts For Kids, this turkey doesn’t speak jive, but he is fairly certain that that’s a racially insensitive stereotype; instead this pretty paper turkey is here to tell you about all the things for which you have to be thankful, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Nov. 21. Lakeshore Learning Store, 6300 N. May Ave., 858-8778, lakeshorelearning.com. SAT Hooray for Turkey Day, it’s time to go ham for turkey; animals love turkey too, and you can help deliver them some tasty turkey-filled treats, and even learn what animals are thankful for, 10 a.m., Nov. 21. Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Pl., zoofieldtrips.publishpath. com. SAT Superhero Day, real life wolverines may not be as handsome as Hugh Jackman, but they are certainly as ferocious and cool; spend a day learning about nature’s superheroes and what they have in common with your favorite comic book heroes, meet Rumble the Bison, and even write your own comic book, 1-4 p.m., Nov.21. Martin Park Nature Center, 5000 W. Memorial, 755-0676, okc. gov/parks. SAT

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PERFORMING ARTS The Fourposter, an ode to the circle of life as represented by marriage, this play follows a turn-of-the-century couple through 35 years together and the moments that shape them, both good and bad, all set in their bedroom, dominated by the titular fourposter bed, 8 p.m., Nov. 1921; 2:30 p.m., Nov. 22. Jewel Box Theatre, 3700 N. Walker Ave., 521-1786, jewelboxtheatre.org. THU-SUN Rushmore Four, no, they’re not the next One Direction, but these four gentlemen did take our country in the RIGHT direction; Rushmore Four is a program featuring the four presidents whose mugs are, you guessed it, carved into Mount Rushmore, offering stories from their lives and terms in office and who will be available for audience questions, 2 & 7 p.m., Nov. 19.; 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m., & 2 p.m., Nov. 20. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 521-2491, okhistory.org/historycenter. THU-FRI Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker, young Clara has awoken in the middle of the night to find that her Christmas present, a nutcracker prince, has come to life and is leading a charge against an army of mice led by a great rat king; The Nutcracker is a beautiful classical ballet production, perfect for Christmas with the family, 7 p.m., Nov. 19. Rose State College, 6420 SE 15th St., Midwest City, 733-7673, rose.edu. THU A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Steven Sondheim’s farce of a farce draws its inspiration from the classical Roman theater, and is served up with a heaping helping of camp and satire; Pseudolus is a slave in the house of Senex and belonging to our hero, Hero, a young man yearning for the affections of his neighbor Philia, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 20 & 21; 1:30 p.m., Nov. 22. OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center, 7777 South May Ave., tickets.occc.edu. FRI-SUN The Man in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash, performance artist Shawn Barker brings to life the linewalking rebel rock ‘n’ roll singer himself with relentless authenticity, singing the hits of the Man in Black himself, along with numbers made famous with June Carter Cash, 8 p.m., Nov. 21. Sugar Creek Casino, 4200 N. Broadway, Hinton, 542-2946, sugarcreekcasino.net. SAT China Circus, you won’t find any clowns at this circus; featuring more than twenty of the most talented acrobats in the world, this circus leaves the mundanities of the American circus far behind, leaving the audience in shock and awe, 8 p.m., Nov. 21. Rose State College, 6420 SE 15th St., Midwest City, 733-7673, rose.edu. SAT

Cuddle Party Comedy, get your warm fuzzies on most Sundays at the Opolis with Cuddle Party Comedy; this week’s cuddlers include Zach “Socks From The Dryer” Smith, Jenny “Bunny Slippers” Godwin, Lenny “Chenille Socks” Vanhorn, and Amanda “Footie Pajamas” Stonebarger, 9 p.m., Nov. 22. Opolis, 113 N. Crawford Ave., Norman, opolis.org. SUN

Annual Ceramics Sale, ceramic pottery from Oklahoma Contemporary is fantastic for a lot of things, including food & drink, decoration, and as useful and unique gifts for the whole family; proceeds go directly back to the studio to help keep class costs low and to improve and replace equipment. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd.

ACTIVE

Christmas Market, the art-lover in your family deserves a gift as unique as she is; show you care with one of the small works available at the Christmas Market exhibition, featuring small works by local artists. The Purple Loft Art Gallery, 514 NW 28th St., Suite 400, 412-7066.

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Baylor, if the city of Norman’s motto isn’t “brace yourselves; football is coming,” then consider this the official petition to change it, TBA, Nov. 21. Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, 180 W. Brooks Drive, Norman, 325-8200, soonersports.com. SAT Cranksgiving Bike Against Hunger, on this 16.5 mile bike ride, participants will stop at 8 local stores to purchase non-perishable food items, finishing at Sauced on Paseo where all donations will be submitted for the Regional Food Bank, time TBA, Nov. 21. Paseo Arts District, 3022 Paseo St., 525-2688, thepaseo.com. SAT Chill Your Cheeks 5k Run, this chilly 5k kicks off Yukon’s Christmas in the Park and ends amid 4 million Christmas lights arranged in incredible displays, 4:30 p.m., Nov. 21. Chisholm Trail Park, 500 W. Vandament Ave., Yukon, 3508937, cityofyukonok.gov. SAT OKC Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks, he’s seven feet tall with blonde, shaggy hair, and no, it’s not some sort of surfer Bigfoot (which is totally a reality show we would watch)… it’s German terror of the Mavs, Dirk Nowitski; come cheer on the Thunder as they take on Dirk and a team of 12 of his clones- just kidding, that would be awesome though, 6 p.m., Nov. 22. Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave., 602-8700, chesapeakearena.com. SUN

VISUAL ARTS America the Beautiful, Freda de Odis Flatt has spent her life documenting in paint the beauty of the American wilderness, often en plein air, the French term for painting out in the open air; in this way Flatt is able to capture most truly not only the sight of the landscape but also the energy present in nature not immediately perceivable to the naked eye. Oklahoma State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., 521-3356, ok.gov.

G E T YO U R

ELF ON AT

T E E R T S BAKEBR& G R I L L

Dirty Santa Novelty Toys, local artist Allin KHG makes some of the most unique, bizarre, and in some cases downright terrifying toys you’ve ever seen; delight your friends and terrorize your family at this year’s game of White Elephant or Dirty Santa or whatever by showing up with one of these adorably macabre contraptions, on sale through Christmas Eve. Kasum Contemporary Fine Arts, 1706 NW 16th St., 604-6602, kasumcontemporary.com.

Ellen Lisle/Mary Lou & John Moad, in celebration of the Studio Gallery’s 25 years in business, come see their featured artists’ works, including the wildflower macrophotography of Ellen Lisle and the paintings of Mary Lou & John Moad. The Studio Gallery, 2642 W. Britton, 752-2642, thestudiogallery.org.

BEST HAPPY HOUR IN TOWN! Monday–Saturday 2–9PM & All Day Sunday

Line Gallery Exhibit, featured artists include Gary Locke, Brett McDaniel, Angela Slack, Joe Slack & Kjelshus Collins. Line Gallery, 4623 N. Portland Ave. Little Prairies, Romy Owens’ uniquely sparse and innovative medium choices interpretations of miniature landscapes invite viewers to question what makes a landscape a landscape, what makes beauty, beauty, and what makes art, art. The Project Box, 3003 Paseo St., 609-3969, theprojectboxokc.com.

LIVE MUSIC WED–SAT NO RESERVATION FEES

Photography From 1987 and Beyond, this exhibit includes works from across the globe, including Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, India, Mexico, the U.S., and more, who have been exhibited worldwide in the MOMA, the Met, Tate Modern, and the Guggenheim; the decades encompassed in these photos were historic and revolutionary. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd.

On Holiday Parties & Group Reservations

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The Prophet Kahlil Gibran’s masterwork of poetry gains new life in this animated adaptation starring Salma Hayek, Liam Neeson, and Quvenzhané Wallis. An exiled poet makes his way home with his housekeeper and her daughter in tow, imparting his wisdom in the towns he traverses. Don’t be fooled by the fact that it’s a cartoon; The Prophet is a philosophical tour de force that touches on themes of family, pain, love, religion and death. Showings are 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive. Tickets are $5-$9. Call 236-3100 or visit okcmoa.com/films. For okg

Saturday-Sunday

music picks see page 47

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COVER food & drink

Season’s drinkings As temperatures drop, warm your palate with the comforting flavors of the season. By Greg Elwell

Sorghum Fizz at O Bar

Maple Pecan Fall Old Fashioned at Cafe 501

The Broge at In the Raw

Brian Cure and Robert DeCoste of Patrono, with drinks and two dinners, Bucatini Amatriciana pasta left and Steak Frites. They recommend Pinnacoli red wine with both dishes.

when developing a successful cocktail, and metro-area residents have become accustomed to having a wider selection of options at their favorite drinking establishments.

mark hancock

Garett fisbec k

Look for a ginger sidecar and a fall sangria on her list. Other cold-weather favorites, like bourbon milk punch and warm cider, will show up, too, but not every week. She said In the Raw, located at 200 S. Oklahoma Ave., Suite 130, has learned to take Oklahoma’s wild climate shifts into account when deciding which drinks to feature. “People will come in for those heavier, really warming beverages when it’s down to 30 degrees,” she said. “But then we’ll have a week when it’s back up to 65 and nobody is interested in them.” Mains said conceptually, bartenders have to think along a broader spectrum. “It’s about where you want people to go,” she said. “That’s what cocktails are; they’re an escape. So much more than a simple drink.”

Interesting ingredients

Her upcoming menu focuses more on robust spicing than the summer cocktail list, but it’s also about the smells and colors — using the drinks to embody the feelings that fall and winter inspire in guests.

Getting people interested in wine isn’t hard, no matter the season, said Patrono Italian Restaurant’s general manager Brian Cure, but the dishes paired with the bottles do get heavier at its 305 N. Walker Ave. location. “We’re selling a lot more of the rib-eyes as it’s gotten cooler,” he said. “Usually, we pair it with a Barolo. All of our wines are Italian, and they’re more unusual names than not.” continued on next page

O k l a h o m a G a z e t t e | n ov e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 | 1 9

mark h ancock

Restaurants aren’t the only places attuned to seasonal flavor trends. Bars across the metro also mix warm spices, dark liquors and local ingredients to make these festive months appetizingly intoxicating. There are many ways to get through the holidays, and an innovative use of spirits can be one of the most enjoyable. We are in the thick of it, folks. Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Then, the full-on push to HanuChristma-Kwanzaa comes on hard and heavy like an Oklahoma winter. Wrapping yourself in layers of scarves and hats and gloves will only get you so far. “Just like comfort food, in the winter, we tend toward comfort drinks,” said Cafe 501 bar manager Ryan Young, who authored the restaurant’s seasonal drink menu. Some are holdovers from last year — the Moscow Mule with house-made cranberry-ginger beer is a favorite — and others, like his Autumn Sour, are new to the lineup at 5825 NW Grand Blvd. A mix of dark rum, lemon and real maple syrup topped with honey foam, the sour hits each of Young’s criteria for a great cold-weather drink: seasonal ingredients, hearty brown spirits and an eye-catching presentation. In the Raw owner Anna Mains agreed seasonal ingredients are key

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Honey Badger at Cafe 501

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Our wine pairs well with turkey and difficult relatives.

Cheers to Fall!

712 N Broadway wEd 11am-7pm

405.232.wINE (9463) THUrS-SaT 11am-11pm

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20 nw 9th • 405-270-0516 5929 n may • 405-843-8777 14020 n may • 405-418-8477 1909 S douglaS blvd mwC 405-741-9494 7745 S walker (I-240 & walker) • 405-631-0783 www.sandbburgers.com 2 0 | n ov e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 | O k l a h o m a G a z e t t e

What makes a great winter wine truly depends on what a customer enjoys most of the time, Cure said. People might drink more reds as temperatures plummet, but that doesn’t matter if a customer doesn’t like red wine the rest of the time. Instead, Cure guides diners toward a varietal they’ll enjoy based on their other tastes. At O Bar, 1200 N. Walker Ave., cocktails tend to be the icing on top of the seasonal cake, said beverage manager Jeffrey Cole. Nearly two years old, the venue is built on a solid selection of fine wines and liquors, and cocktails are where O Bar’s seasonality can shine. “First and foremost, if you’re not thinking about your menu seasonally, you’re not doing yourself or the local farming community any favors,” he said. “In the summer, it’s all about fresh ingredients. Going into winter, we really start thinking about what we can do without fresh fruit.” The winter menu is a showcase of preservation techniques. Bitters, vinegars and bushes are all touches mixologists can use to create drinks that feel right for the season. “One thing we’re using is sorghum that we get from OKC Farmers Public Market. It really plays well with scotch,” he said. Finding ingredients that play well together isn’t always easy, but Flint beverage manager Mindy Magers said the restaurant, located at 15 N. Robinson Ave., is putting the family spirit back in the holidays by getting input from each bar staff member for its seasonal cocktail list. Two cocktails she is excited about are the Sour Mash (Bulleit Bourbon Whiskey, Luxardo maraschino liqueur, apple-pear shrub and Angostura bitters) and the Decemberist, which she describes as having “the warming gingerbread cookie feel without being a sweet drink.” The Decemberist is another Bulleit bourbon drink, but this one uses Snap (a ginger liqueur), simple syrup, lemon, bitters and Cock ’n Bull Ginger Beer. “Everyone has a hand in the menu, so it’s very cohesive and embraces the spirit of fall,” she said. Another ingredient that fits the season are egg whites, which add weight and structure to drinks like the Caribbean Fizz and Sarah’s Sour. Magers said flavor is front and center at Flint, and its drinks feature syrups, shrubs and fresh squeezed juices. But there’s also a focus on speed. “A lot of people come in before Thunder games,” she said. “You don’t want to wait five or six minutes for a cocktail.” While cocktails come together

Bottoms up Oklahoma City is home to many master mixologists, mad drink scientists in cocktail labs, brewing up beverages that’ll whet your whistle. Try your hand at home with our guide to seasonally appropriate ingredients. Then go to the bar anyway, because those folks are geniuses.

Booze Go dark and warm: Bourbon, whiskey, scotch and rum are favorites, or infuse vodka or gin with seasonal touches with fruits and spices.

Spices Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves are obvious choices, but many turn to herbaceous touches, like sage and rosemary, that pack a lot of flavor.

Ingredients Whether you’re infusing liquor, making a syrup or adding juice, the flavors of fall and winter are found in apples, cherries, pears and cranberries. And don’t forget those warm wintery treats with vanilla, honey and ginger — all great additions to your cocktail recipes.

quickly at the bar, Young said it’s a long process to perfect the recipes that end up on the menu at Cafe 501. Well before fall begins, bartenders work to create the right flavors for chillier weather. That’s important, he said, because drinks aren’t just a signifier for the season — they’re also a survival technique. “Sometimes you drink to celebrate,” he said. “And sometimes you drink just to tolerate your family.”

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life food & drink

HiLo Club doesn’t shy away from the “dive bar” label; it embraces it. By Greg Elwell

During tornadoes or blizzards, whenever people lose power, they come here. For whatever reason, we always have power. — Topher Sauceda Open daily from noon to 2 a.m. at 1221 NW 50th St., the bar is a home away from home for regular patrons. Sauceda said people seeking shelter from storms, literal or metaphorical, find their way to the bar. “During tornadoes or blizzards, whenever people lose power, they come here. For whatever reason, we always have power,” he said. “And even if we don’t, they still come here.” The history of the name come from the unique building the HiLo occupies, a sturdy concrete structure with top and bottom levels. Back in the day, Sauceda said, there was a club

Mark Hughes takes a drink of his beer as he arm wrestles Al Rojas Jr. at HiLo Club. upstairs and a club downstairs. Since 1956, it has been the HiLo. Though the 39th Street Enclave is known for gay-friendly bars, Sauceda said the HiLo has a history as a place for those who are out and those who aren’t yet out to mingle. “It’s a refuge for people,” he said. “It’s a place to be seen when you want to be seen and a place to hide when you don’t want to be seen.” It’s also a place to get a strong drink. Its signature cocktail is the Holy Diver, and it’s one most firsttimers are encouraged to try, said Sauceda. But beware; this sweet and fruity beverage packs a serious punch with a mix of coconut rum, 151 and orange, cranberry and pineapple juices topped with a splash of grenadine. Another top seller is the HiLo Happy Meal: a shot of peppermint Schnapps and a Miller High Life for $3.50. The bar goes through about 30 cases of the beer each week. Get a little loose and you’ll be fine, but if too many Divers lead to trouble, Sauceda said, you’ll be gone in a hurry. “We’re a dive bar, and we’re proud to be one,” he said. “People have been coming here a long time. We take care of them, and they take care of us. If you cause trouble, you’ll be leaving quickly.” Though competition in the market is always growing — new bars seem to open every hour in OKC — Sauceda said the HiLo will endure because it isn’t new. It isn’t trendy. “People come here because it’s reliable, consistent and it’s always fun,” he said.

2 tickets to

It’s okay to call HiLo Club a dive. It likes it that way. Tucked away just off Classen Circle, the HiLo is a maze of a bar. It’s dark. The music is loud. The scent of cigarettes long-since smoked permeates the air. That might not be for everybody, but everybody is welcome, said bar manager Topher Sauceda. “The HiLo is a place where any and everybody can come and be themselves,” he said. “We’ve got a very diverse crowd. Drag queens, lawyers, bikers, punkers — everybody fits in here.”

diamond TUESday,

wreck the BallRooM dECEMBER halls 2015 EnTER To win okgazette.com/gWW 2 0 1 5

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Gazette’s weekly winner will be announced each week in the table of contents. Printed winners have 7 days to claim tickets. must give email, full name & Phone number. O k l a h o m a G a z e t t e | n ov e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 | 2 1

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Okura avenue Okura Sushi & Grill is a hidden gem on May Avenue. By Greg Elwell

Let’s cut to the chase. Hamachi-kama, also known as the collar of the yellowtail, is a delicacy. It’s not a staple of many menus around here, but you can find it at Okura Sushi & Grill, 7508 N. May Ave., and I suggest you find yourself there soon. Okura flies under the radar in the Oklahoma City sushi discussion, though I’m not sure why. It’s clean, if a bit lovingly worn. The ambiance is intimate. The teppanyaki grill is kept in back, so it doesn’t have the circus feel that sometimes permeates Japanese restaurants. The service is prompt, but understated. You never feel like someone is breathing down your neck, but you also don’t have to worry about an empty glass of water begging for a refill. More to the point, the food is great. If you like sushi and Japanese food, you’re probably going to like Okura. I certainly did. At the top of the list is the Hamachi-kama ($9.95). This is a piece of fish that requires work. There is bone to dig around. You might request a fork to aid you in discovering each delicate pocket of moist, flavorful fish. The outside of the collar is glazed, but the real joy is the delicate meat within. It has that perfect oiliness, rich and silky, that melts

Rice, avocado, crab salad and fresh tuna are stacked high before you, practically daring your inner 8-year-old to topple and devour it.

against the tongue. You do not chew this appetizer so much as you let it fall apart against your teeth. If you’re tired of miso soup — which seems like a crazy thing, but OK, it’s just us talking; this is a safe space — maybe you’d like the O-Suinono soup ($4.95) with its clear, mushroomy broth, onions, scallions and tender bits of shrimp. But let’s not put off the inevitable any longer. You want to know about the sushi, and, by god, I want to tell you about it. Specifically, I want to tell you about the Toro-Tartar hand roll ($7.25). Have you ever eaten an ice cream cone, except the cone was made of seaweed and the ice cream was diced tuna with ginger, soy, sesame oil, green onions and a quail egg? Because that’s the Toro-Tartar, and it’s kind of glorious. My only concern is I’m pretty

p hotos by Ga rett fi s be c k

@ the h

Ahi tower at Okura Sushi & Grill

BadAss Roll

Okura Sushi & Grill 7508 N. May Ave. | 842-3764 | okurasushiokc.com sure I dipped the tip of my What works: Hamachi-kama is a flavor nose in egg yolk bomb, and the sushi is expertly prepared. a few times. The What needs work: The teppanyaki ahi tower vegetables left something to be desired. ($14.95), if not Tip: Lunch specials abound if you’re specifically on a budget. sushi, is sushiesque. Rice, avocado, crab salad and fresh But that seems like a waste of good tuna are stacked high before you, canvas, especially when there’s sushi practically daring your inner 8-yearto be had. old to topple and devour it. It’s big I was a little disappointed in the enough to share but good enough vegetable teppanyaki dinner ($10.95), that you probably won’t want to. which was underseasoned and The BadAss roll ($13.95) is in underwhelming. the category of delicious sushi rolls Usually, the teppanyaki grill that are far from traditional. Inside imparts a deep brown, flavorful is crunchy shrimp tempura and caramelization to foods, but the cucumber. On top is thinly sliced blend of onions, broccoli and sprouts tuna and avocado. seemed wan and watery. You will shove this delightful Oh, but that Hamachi-kama. concoction into your mouth as What a joy to find that on the menu quickly as possible. at a little sushi restaurant nestled in Like those at many of the other the upper reaches of May Avenue. top-tier sushi restaurants in the With skilled sushi chefs, metro, Okura’s sushi chefs delight in quick service and a quiet, relaxed presentation. atmosphere, it is a wonder that the Everything set before you is a restaurant has flown under the radar little work of art, like a Monet or a as long as it has. Renoir, but edible. I mean, I guess Some secrets, though, are too you could try and eat a painting. good to be kept.

lunch & dinner 6014 N. May 947.7788 ZORBASOKC.COM

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open daily 11am - 2 am

food briefs by Greg Elwell

Corner of Classen & boyd, norman 405.329.3330 | themont.Com

p rovi ded

Come Celebrate your favorite team with us on game day!

Da, comrade! Ludivine, 805 N. Hudson Ave., returns with its classic cocktail class 4 p.m. Sunday with a tutorial on making the perfect Moscow Mule. The class will include a history of the famous drink, instruction on how to create your own and a finished cocktail made with Prairie Wolf vodka. Participants will also receive a copper mug to take home so they can prepare Mules in the right barware. Following the class, there will be a reception at The R&J Lounge and Supper Club featuring light hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $40 at the door (enter through the bar on Seventh Street), and there are only 30 spots available. To reserve a spot, call 778-6800.

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Call 405.720.9464 or order online Wingstop.com 7000 NW Expressway • OKC, OK 73132 Corner of NW Expressway and Rockwell

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1 block from Civic Center & OKC Museum of Art

305 N. WALKER

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405.702.7660

Cultivated following Questions about Cultivar Mexican Kitchen’s impending arrival at 714 N. Broadway Ave. have been swirling for months. President and managing partner Gary Goldman said the wait is almost over. The “farm-to-fire” concept will be built on fresh salads, burritos and craft tacos and is slated to arrive in late December or early January. “We’re not high-end, but we’re culinary-influenced, fresh and as local as we can be,” he said. “We’re also trying to be as GMO-free and sustainable as we can. We’re trying to stay true to that mission, but we’re not labeling ourselves.” With chef Dean James Max in the test kitchen, Goldman said he is excited for Oklahoma City to get to try Cultivar’s signature craft tacos. The restaurant will also feature a bar with some organic liquor, beer and wine. There will be an indoor-outdoor marketplace patio area, and there are plans to add a rooftop bar in the spring.

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30 PC

Local beef and drink purveyor S&B’s Burger Joint opened a new location at 7640 Northwest Expressway last week and has two more shops planned for the near future. Originally a single restaurant hidden inside the gold building in front of Best Buy at 5929 N. May Ave., the little slider joint has grown to six locations across the city and one each in Lawton, Oklahoma and Carbondale, Illinois. In early 2016, its burgers with spot-on flavor combinations, fries and a full menu of bloody marys will be available in Mustang and Bixby — the first Tulsa-area expansion for the business. Despite the restaurant’s interstate reach, S&B’s keeps it local with Pay It Forward Tuesdays, in which 10 percent of sales for the day go to a local organization. “You have to stand out and be different,” said partner and co-founder Shannon Roper on the restaurant’s success. “Since opening, we’ve grown from nine employees to 300. It’s a lot of work, but it’s easier when you have a culture of pride in the food you produce.”

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Map of

Events Brought to you by Downtown OKC, inc. and presented by devon energy

➘

NW 13th St.

NW 10th St.

NW 6th St.

Sheridan W Reno Ave.

10 3 2

25 14 1

28 27 17 11

NW 2nd St. Mickey Mantle

NW 4th St.

N E.K. Gaylord Ave.

23 22 20 21

I-235

7 13

Walnut

N Robinson Ave.

N N Shartel Ave.

N Western Ave.

SW 3rd

Shields Blvd.

1. Devon Ice Rink 2. Devon’s Saturdays with Santa 3. SandRidge Santa Run 4. Bricktown Tree Lighting Festival 5. Free Holiday Water Taxi Rides 6. Sonic Segway Santa (various locations) 7. Automobile Alley Lights on Broadway 8. Bricktown Canal Lights 9. Snow Tubing Winter Festival 10. Little Willie's Triple Dog Dare 11. Dog Day in December at Midtown Mutts 12. Dunlap Codding Presents Glitter Ball 13. Shop Hop on Automobile Alley 14. Winter Shoppes at Myriad Gardens 15. Deluxe Winter Market 16. Holiday Pop-up Shops 17. Holiday Sip 'n' Shop 18. Lyric's A Christmas Carol 19. Harkins Tuesday Night Holiday Movies 20. OKC Philharmonic's The Christmas Show 21. OKC Ballet's The Nutcracker 22. Canterbury Christmas 23. Reduxion Theatre Holiday Shows 24. Downtown Holiday Church Tour 25. Holiday Events at Myriad Gardens 26. Santa's Adventures on the Oklahoma River 27. Red Earth Open House & TreeFest 28. Skirvin Holiday Events

N Broadway Ave.

N Walker Ave.

Sheridan

W Reno Ave.

SW 3rd

I-40

O k l a h o m a G a z e t t e | n ov e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 | 2 5

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An Annual Collection of

Holiday

Events

owntown in December, presented by Devon, is a collection of more than 28 holiday events that take place in and around downtown Oklahoma City each year.

The Devon Ice Rink is located in the Myriad Botanical Gardens at 113 S. Robinson (at the corner of Robinson and Sheridan.) Please call (405) 708-6499 to book a private party or for general questions. Visit DowntownInDecember. com to see the full schedule and daily hours of operation.

All information about the following events, including schedules, pricing, and other details can be found online at DowntownInDecember.com

› $12 per person for all ages, includes skates › $8 for guests who bring their own skates › $8 for 10 or more guests, includes skates

DowntowninDecember.com

Bring the kiddos downtown to the Devon Energy Center every Saturday Dec. 5 through Dec. 19, 2015 to visit Santa, make crafts, and participate in holiday-themed activities.

DowntownOKC DowntownOKC DowntownOKC DevonIceRinkOKC SaturdaysWithSanta #DowntownInDecember

RATES:

Reservations are encouraged for groups

DEVON's SATURDAYS WITH SANTA

Saturday, Dec. 5 - 10am to 4pm Saturday, Dec. 12 - 10am to 4pm Saturday, Dec. 19 - 10am to 4pm

Devon Energy Center is located at 333 W. Sheridan Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City. For more information, visit saturdayswithsanta.com.

SandRidge Santa Run Devon Ice Rink at Myriad Gardens

The Devon Ice Rink returns for its 5th season in the Myriad Botanical Gardens November 13 through January 31. Join us for another great winter of outdoor ice skating at Downtown in December's premier attraction. Open 7 days a week, the Devon Ice Rink hosts daily public skating, private parties, and special events all winter long. Hungry skaters can dine indoors at the new Park House restaurant, six days a week for lunch or dinner. Check out their “Learn to Skate” and Saturday morning “Cartoon Skate” programs!

On Saturday, December 12, guests will be prancing in the streets of downtown Oklahoma City in the 2015 SandRidge Santa Run. As part of Downtown in December, the SandRidge Santa Run includes a 5K race, a one-mile Fun Run and a free Kids' Dash, plus a warm-up with Rumble the Bison and the Thunder Girls. All runs begin and end at Leadership Square (211 N. Robinson,) where there will be snacks, a photo booth, kids activities, and a mad scientist show! Medals will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers in each 5k age group, and all runners are invited to dress up in their most festive holiday attire for cash prizes in a costume contest afterward! Register now at DowntownInDecember.com

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Bricktown Tree Lighting Festival

On Friday, Nov. 27 from 5 to 7pm, the annual Bricktown Tree Lighting Festival will take place on the 3rd Base Plaza at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Guests will enjoy a live band, hot cocoa, food and fun as Mayor Cornett lights the Christmas Tree and kicks off the holiday season. Santa will make an appearance at the festival to take free photos with the kids, which are printed on site. The event also features free snacks, food trucks, and face painters. The Bricktown Tree Lighting Festival is free and open to the public.

Free Holiday Water Taxi Rides

All aboard for an adventure cruise on a Bricktown Water Taxi! Come enjoy a fun-filled float down the beautifully-adorned Bricktown canal free of charge, courtesy of the Downtown Business Improvement District. The narrated and holiday-themed Free Holiday Water Taxi Rides will begin at the main dock on canal level, below the entrance to Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse. The tours will run on a continuous loop through Bricktown, Thursdays through Sundays, November 27 - December 24 from 6pm to 9:30pm. (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.) Admission is free and open to the public.

Sonic Segway Santa

Keep an eye out for Santa as he tours downtown holiday events on his Segway and delivers goodies for both kids and adults. You never know when Santa might be just around the corner with special holiday giveaways and treats. Follow @downtownokc on Twitter to learn when and where Sonic Segway Santa will be throughout the season!

Automobile Alley Lights on Broadway

See the historic buildings of Automobile Alley in a whole new light at Automobile Alley Lights on Broadway. More than 180,000 colorful LED lights will drape the buildings along eight blocks of North Broadway making for a magical holiday wonderland. (NW 4th to 10th St. on Broadway Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City)

Bricktown Canal Lights

The Bricktown Canal Lights display will brighten your Bricktown experience from November 28 through January 1. As you stroll the canal, enjoy the dining and shopping along downtown OKC's premier entertainment district under the gorgeous holiday lights. The light display is free to the public. Also, check out the Free Water Taxi Rides on certain nights of the week throughout the season.

AUTOMOBILE ALLEY'S LIGHTS ON BROADWAY

Devon Ice Rink at Myriad Gardens

Little Willie's Triple Dog Dare

The 4th annual Little Willie’s Triple Dog Dare will be held Saturday, Dec. 5 at 8:00 am at Leadership Square. This stair climbing athletic event is open to people of all ages, and keeping it in line with the “Little Willie’s” spirit, there’s even a Firefighters Division – racing in full gear of course! All proceeds go to charity. Awards will be given to Top 3 overall male and female as well as age group divisions. For more info, visit littlewilliestripledogdare.com.

Snow Tubing Winter Festival

The all-new Snow Tubing Winter Festival at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark opens on Saturday, December 5! It all begins with our gigantic snow tubing slope, starting from the upper level behind first base and landing near second base — it’s a thrill that you won’t want to miss. There will also be a second, smaller slide for children and those looking for a more moderate thrill. But let’s not stop with the slide! From Santa’s Workshop to our new children’s train, plus sparkling new holiday lighting and décor, this will be a holiday highlight that your family will remember for years to come. There’s something for the whole family, so bring everyone along for a ride in the snow, hot chocolate and a snack, and a festive holiday atmosphere. Non-riders can purchase Winter Festival tickets for just $3 per person. Guests that will be snow tubing can buy single-session tickets for $14 per rider. Please call 405-218-2100 for group rates and private event information.

A Dog day in december at midtown mutts

Bring the pups and enjoy a pet-friendly holiday party on Friday, December 4th from 6 to 8pm at Midtown Mutts Dog Park at 1171 N. Hudson Ave. Dogs will take photos with Santa and enjoy Milk Bones and Cookies. Adults will enjoy cocktails and camaraderie. Free to enter, beverages and photos will have a small fee. All proceeds benefit Midtown Vets and Dr. Baez’s program to help the pets of the homeless population in Oklahoma City. This event is sponsored by The Midtown Association.

Dunlap Codding Presents Glitter Ball

Winter. Whimsy. Champagne. Sparkles. Glitter. Join us for the The 2nd annual Glitter Ball -Holiday Edition. Food, drinks, live music, and... well, let's just say it's probably the best holiday party you'll go to this season. Glitter Ball will be held at Dunlap Codding in historic Film Row at 609 W. Sheridan Ave. in downtown Oklahoma City on Saturday, December 12, 2015 from 7pm to 11pm. Glitter Ball will feature a variety of live performances, heavy hors d'oeuvres, a premium bar, and several signature surprises. The event will also showcase art for auction. Tickets are $100 for general admission or $200 for

bricktown tree lighting festival

SandRidge Santa Run

VIP, and they may be purchased online at www. kindtevents.com/glitterball. Proceeds will benefit deadCENTER Film Festival, Sunbeam Family Services and the OKC Girls Art School. Preceding the Ball will be a family-friendly "Christmas with Santa" event in Dunlap Codding's courtyard. "Christmas with Santa" is free to attend and open to the public.

Shop Hop on Automobile Alley

Thursday, November 19th 6:00-09:00 pm Thursday, December 17th 6:00-09:00 pm Broadway Ave. between NW 4th and 10th streets

Holiday Pop-Up Shops at Midtown

The Holiday Pop-Up Shops are returning to Midtown in Downtown Oklahoma City for their 4th year in 2015! Visit 35 Oklahoma-owned shops and an urban Christmas tree lot for four weeks this holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Shops rotate weekly through a set of geodesic domes at NW 10th and Hudson, next to Bleu Garten. The holiday shopping village is open each weekend, starting Black Friday, Thursday through Sunday to the public. Entry is free, shopping is encouraged. For more information, including the list of shops, visit okcpopups.com. Nov. 27 – Dec. 20 Thursdays - Saturdays: 10am to 9pm Sundays: 10am to 6pm

Open Friday, November 27 through Sunday, December 20, the Winter Shoppes at Myriad Gardens presented by Prodigal is an exciting outdoor shopping experience featuring more than 20 different vendors and a full size carousel for just $1 per ride. The shops are located at the North Plaza by the Great Lawn. For more information, visit wintershoppes.com. November 28-29, 11am-6pm December 3-6, 11am-6pm December 10-13, 11am-6pm December 17-20, 11am-6pm

On Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29, 2015 the Deluxe Winter Market will take place in Leadership Square (211 N. Robinson Ave.) Back for its 8th year in 2015, the market will offer an opportunity for guests to do their holiday shopping at more than 60 vendor booths featuring all local and handmade goods. Free admission and free kids' activities. For more information, visit deluxeok.net. Saturday, Nov. 28: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Come explore the retailers, restaurants and gorgeous light display along Historic Automobile Alley for TWO holiday-themed Shop Hop events this season! The stores stay open late and offer discounts and giveaways, complimentary cocoa, cider or wine, and there is live music, street artists, kids’ activities, food trucks and crafts everywhere! Plus, you can join the free Auto Alley History Walking Tours on both event nights starting at 5:30pm at OCCF (SE corner of 10th and Broadway.) No RSVP necessary.

Winter Shoppes at Myriad Gardens

Deluxe Winter Market

Holiday Sip 'n' Shop

On Thursday, November 19, 2015 Katiebug's Food Truck and the Cargo Room Retail Truck will both be parked outside Continental Resources (20 N. Broadway) from 11am-1pm for a Holiday Sip 'n' Shop! Grab a delicious cup of hot cocoa and knock out some holiday shopping on your lunch break! continued on next page

O k l a h o m a G a z e t t e | n ov e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 | 2 7

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Snow Tubing Winter Festival

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Lyric's A Christmas Carol

In its fifth year running, the spectacular Oklahoma holiday tradition returns with Lyric's production of Charles Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol, sponsored by Devon Energy. Go on a magical journey with Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future! Tickets start at $30, and the show takes place at Lyric's Plaza Theater, 1725 NW 16th St. To purchase tickets or for more information visit, www.lyrictheatreokc. com or call (405) 524-9312. SHOW DATES & TIMES:

Wednesday, December 2 - Sunday, December 27 Tues., Wed., Thurs. performances at 7:30pm Fri. & Sat. evening performances at 8:00pm Sun. evening performances at 7:00pm Sat., Sun., Tues.(12/22), and Wed.(12/23) matinees at 2:00pm

Harkins Tuesday Night Holiday Movies

Harkins Theatres is proud to present Tuesday Night Classics. Special presentations of classic films are brought back to the big screen every Tuesday at 7pm for only $5 per person. Relive your favorite holiday films the way they were meant to be seen! December 1, 2015: Christmas Vacation,

PG 13 at 7:00pm December 8, 2015: Elf, PG at 7:00pm December 15, 2015: A Christmas Story,

PG at 7:00pm December 22, 2015: The Polar Express,

G at 7:00pm

OKC Philharmonic's the Christmas Show

The Chickasaw Nation Pops Series presents The Christmas Show at the Civic Center Music Hall. OKC's Favorite Holiday Song-n-Dance Spectacular, starring Michele Ragusa. A holiday treat for the entire family, The Christmas Show is a Broadway-style holiday variety show with singers, dancers, comedy, holiday music, gorgeous costumes and full sets. From delightful novelty numbers to inspiring Christmas hymns, the Philharmonic will move you with the spirit of the season! For more information, visit okcphilharmonic.org or call 405-TICKETS (8425387) Show dates & times:

Thursday, December 3, 2015: 7:30pm Friday,

December 4, 2015: 8:00pm Saturday, December 5, 2015: 2:00pm Saturday, December 5, 2015 – 8:00pm

Oklahoma City Ballet's The Nutcracker

A family trip to the Civic Center Music Hall to see The Nutcracker creates special holiday memories that will last a lifetime. With fanciful new set and costume designs, the story of Clara, her Nutcracker prince, and the Sugar Plum Fairy will enchant with 10 performances this holiday season. There will be special activities before and after performances for families to enjoy together! To purchase tickets or for more information visit, okcballet.com or call OKC Ballet at (405) 848-8637. Show dates & times:

Saturday, December 12: 2:00pm, 7:00pm Sunday, December 13: 2:00pm Friday, December 18: 7:00pm Saturday, December 19: 2:00pm & 7:00pm Sunday, December 20: 2:00pm & 7:00pm Monday, December 21: 7:00pm Tuesday, December 22: 7:00pm

Canterbury Christmas at The Civic Center

Canterbury Choral Society will hold their 125-member adult chorus holiday performance on Sunday, December 6 for Canterbury Christmas at the Civic Center Music Hall at 7 p.m. For the third year in a row, Canterbury has partnered with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and Christmas Connection to serve Oklahomans in need during the holidays. This year's special guest is Oklahoma's own world-renowned fiddle sensation, Kyle Dillingham. To purchase tickets you may contact 405-232-SING or visit www.canterburyokc.com.

Reduxion Theatre Holiday Shows

Reduxion Theatre Company (RTC) announced the production of the company’s first ever Holiday play, an interactive Christmas-theme event Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker! This original piece of live theatre was developed by the artists of RTC and is based on the life and works of romantic English novelist Jane Austen. For more information, visit reduxiontheatre.com Dates: Dec 11 – 19, 2015

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Downtown holiday historic Church Tour

The first-ever Downtown Holiday Historic Church Tour will take place Sunday, December 6, 2015 from 2:00 to 6:00pm. This event features self-guided tours of historic churches in downtown Oklahoma City and a concert at First Baptist Church with renowned pianist Matt Schinske and all proceeds benefit Good Shepherd Ministries. Wristbands are $25 each. For more information or to purchase wristbands, visit goodshepherdokc.org/tour/

Myriad Gardens Holiday Events Bringing Books to Life

Wednesdays December 2, 9, and 16. 10-10:30am FREE Bring your youngster for story time each Wednesday at 10am. Books are nature-themed and selected based on the season.

Holiday Series: December Drop-Ins

Wednesdays December 2, 9 and 16. 10:30-11:30 am FREE (Suggested $2 donation/child) After Bringing Books to Life at 10am, stay for holiday crafts, music, and hot chocolate! Children will make ornaments to take home for tree decoration or gifts.

Gingerbread House Workshop

Saturday, December 5, 10am – Noon $30 Come to the Gardens and create your fragrant masterpiece. All supplies provided including gingerbread structure, frosting, candies for decorating and a little help if needed.

Living Wreath Class

Saturday, December 5, 2-4pm $55-85 Choose from a fantastic, modern succulent wreath or the classic, traditional evergreen wreath in this fun, hands on holiday workshop.

Free Admission Sundays

Sundays, December 6, 13, 20, and 27. 6-9pm The beauty of the Crystal Bridge takes on a whole new glow at night. Thanks to OGE Energy Corp., we are pleased to offer FREE admission on Sunday evenings in December.

Hand-craft Your Own Christmas Gifts

Saturday, December 12, 1 – 3pm $18 Craft a therapeutic holiday gift basket with healing herbs, creating a sleep pillow, bath bomb, and calming herbal tea blend.

Art Camp in the Gardens

Friday, December 18, 9am – 4pm $30, Best for ages 6-10 Kids will have a blast kicking off their winter break with a day filled with art lessons, games, stories, and FUN with the pros from Abrakadoodle OKC.

Riversport Adventures

Ho ho ho! Head down to the Land Run Monument in Lower Bricktown for Santa’s Adventures this holiday season! Get into the holiday spirit by trying out the SandRidge Santa Zip and Candy Cane Climb. Cost is $12 per adventure or purchase a $20 combo pass for unlimited fun! For more information, visit riversportokc.org. Hours of operation: Open Dec. 5-6, Dec. 12-13 and Dec. 19-23 from 12 noon to 6:00pm. Open Dec. 24 from 12 noon to 4:00pm.

Red Earth Holiday Open House & TreeFest

Red Earth Art Center will host a Holiday Open House with entertainment, food, beverages, and shopping. The 2015 event will be held Sunday, December 6 from 1:00 to 4:00pm at 6 Santa Fe Plaza (between the Skirvin and the Chase Tower.) Also, the Inaugural Red Earth TreeFest is December 1-30, featuring seven Christmas trees adorned with ornaments created to showcase the Native cultures that make Oklahoma unique. For more information, visit redearth.org or call 405-427-5228. Admission is free and open to the public.

Skirvin Holiday Events

As Downtown Oklahoma City comes to life this holiday season, the Skirvin Hilton once again will host several festive events, including Holiday High Tea and Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Plus, enjoy fabulous Skirvin holiday breakfasts, brunches, and dinners on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. For reservations or more information, contact the Holiday Desk at the Skirvin at 405.702.8542.

life food & Drink

Make it a Happy Holiday with

Poppin’ sweets

cookie trays, party trays & party subs, breads & pastries & corned beef

Stacey Mott and Ron Lynch celebrate the city’s sweet tooth with their colorful and creative confections.

p hotos by Ga rett fi s be c k

By Curt Gooch

Every once in awhile, a new business resonates with its patrons to such a degree that they wonder how they lived without it. For many, Oklahoma City’s Kernels & Kandies, 7002 Northwest Expressway, Suite B, is that place. Founded in April 2014, it offers more than 50 flavors of homemade, award-winning popcorn. Co-owners Stacey Mott and Ron Lynch (currently engaged) said they spent more than a year researching and testing their recipes to weed out wax-containing chocolates, vet vendors and build their selection. They said the shop’s clientele has recognized their dedication to craft.

Stacey Mott and Ron Lynch at Kernels & Kandies in Oklahoma City

Flavor fans

During a recent visit, Mott and Lynch engaged guests as they handed out popcorn samples. Customers, Mott said, often make flavor recommendations to each other, too. At least six Midwestern cities (Ridgway, Illinois; North Loup, Nebraska; Marion, Ohio; Valparaiso and Van Buren, Indiana; and Schaller, Iowa) claim the Popcorn Capital of the World crown, and Kernels & Kandies owners might have unintentionally entered Oklahoma City into that realm, too. They admitted they created a cheese-and-caramel recipe with a flavor that resembles a version that, until recently, they imported from Illinois. “Most can’t tell a difference,” they said. Fifty-four color-coordinated cylinders, each containing a different flavor, line what they call The Wall of Popcorn. Vintage candy brands like Abba-Zaba, Slo Poke and Black Cow adorn the venue’s other walls, along with sodas and Mott and Lynch’s assortment of homemade fudge. Adventurous clientele gravitate toward boxes of chocolate crickets. In the shop’s center is an island of mix-and-match hard candies, gummies and chocolate-centered sweets assorted by color. The couple also will custom-make flavored fudge upon request. Mott and Lynch make time to connect weekly with current and prospective candy vendors to keep the selection quirky and on-trend. When they find sweets that pique their interest — like Jelly Belly’s

M-F 7am-6:30pm • Sat 9:30am-4pm 2310 N Western 524-0887

Popped daily, flavored popcorn is displayed according to color.

Top sellers

Popular Kernels & Kandies popcorn flavors in early November: Cheese: Spicy Buffalo Carmel: Extra buttery Candy: Cinnamon with Cornfetti Chocolate: Oreo tied with peanut butter Youth flavor: Birthday cake

BeanBoozled game — often, they interest their customers, too. The game allows players to try flavors of jelly beans that may or may not represent their lookalike counterparts, such as Tutti-Fruitti (stinky socks) or lime (lawn clippings). “It flies off the shelf,” Mott said. “We can barely keep it in stock.”

Hot pops

Mott and Lynch said they also create “promotional tie-in,” limited-run

popcorns. There was a Frozen flavor last year, and they plan a Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice mix in March to coincide with the movie release. Seasonal and sports-themed flavors are popular, too. They said their winter-only peppermint popcorn is the fastest-selling recipe in the shop’s short history. Kernels & Kandies popcorn is popped and prepared in-house. Caramel is made from scratch; cheeses are melted, not powdered; and chocolates are premium, wax-free Asher’s and Marich varieties. Mott and Lynch arrive at the shop three hours before it opens each day and make fresh popcorn. Customers often hear about their shop by wordof-mouth, they said, and visit from Lawton, Enid and Edmond. Kernels & Kandies is open 10 a.m.7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Call 470-7446 or visit kernelsandkandies.com for more information.

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Yukon gold If the City of Yukon is to be believed, the community started with about 25 residents back in 1891. Yeah. Sure, Yukon — if that is your real name. From 25 to 24,000 in 100 years? A likely story. Next, you’ll be telling us you have some restaurants we ought to try. Oh. Really? OK, here are some restaurants in Yukon you should try. — by Greg Elwell, photos by Mark Hancock and Garett Fisbeck

Carlito’s Cafe

Wings and Things

The Miller Grill

455 E. Main St. 354-5757

608 W. Vandament Ave. 265-3232

326 Elm Ave. millergrill.com | 265-2775

Unfortunately, Carlito’s Cafe is not a restaurant sequel to the Al Pacino classic Carlito’s Way. It is, however, a pretty good place to eat a burrito, which is exactly what Al Pacino’s character was trying to do all through the movie. There was also a subplot about getting out of prison and reconnecting with a lost love, but those are really just metaphors for tamales and carne asada — which are readily available at Carlito’s Cafe.

Come for the wings; stay for the things. Then stay some more for more wings. Seriously, you should try the wings at Wings and Things. You can get 50 of them for $36, which might be the best way to spend $36 since the days of Valley of the Dolls’ discount champagne room Tuesdays. The po-boys and pork chop sandwiches are great, too, but you need those wings in your life.

The Miller Grill does not mess around with portion sizes. This is the place you go when you want to get fed. Handbreaded chicken-fried steaks? Got ’em. An enormous Indian taco? Done. A giant stack of onion rings? Boom. Do you want all those in an omelet? That’s not on the menu, but you should ask, because this restaurant is in the business of making food dreams come true.

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Jojos

Poquito de Mexico

Pho Hieu

1615 S. Mustang Road 324-8882

422 W. Main St. 354-9902

1615 S. Mustang Road 265-1220

The Big Easy New Orleans Cafe

Jojos is a bar that serves food, not a restaurant with a bar. There is a difference. That’s not to say there isn’t plenty to feast on at Jojos — big burgers, heaping plates of nachos, even this weird thing where they put lettuce on a plate and you eat it? But flip the food menu over and you’ll be treated to a truly glorious selection of brews.

“A little bit of Mexico” is a weird name for a Mexican restaurant. Take a look at the menu and it makes even less sense. Tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tamales, chili rellenos — it seems suspiciously like Mexican food to me. Maybe it’s time to change the name of this cash-only Yukon mainstay to Mucho Mexico.

How have you not tried pho yet? It’s all the things you love — noodles, beef, steaming hot broth — in one fabulous bowl. And if you’re a vegetarian, you’ve got to check out Pho Hieu, where the pho rau swaps out beef for carrots, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and mushrooms. Or if you’re militantly antiveg, the pho dac biet has steak, brisket, tripe, tendon, flank and fatty flank for a beefy punch that can’t be beat.

359 E. Main St. 350-8989

As a pickup bar, The Big Easy does not live up to its name. If anything, most people there seem way more interested in the food than finding a partner for a fleeting night of passion. But if you get shut down by a table full of hotties, at least you can take comfort in a plate of spicy, creamy crawfish étouffée or the delightful Catfish Royale.

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life culture

Dragon games A group of local gamers plan to open an inclusive restaurant and gaming space in OKC.

The weird, chaotic and wildly enjoyable world of tabletop gaming brings together people from all walks of life. Junior high students face off against veteran attorneys in Magic: The Gathering tournaments. Forty-five year-old bankers and 12-year-old skaters pit x-wing fighters against tie fighters in heated, highly competitive Star Wars miniatures games that sometimes make chess look like tic-tac-toe. It was this eclectic blend, this bizarrely heterogeneous mix, that reunited adopted 20-year-old Anthony Vandyousefi with his birth mother and inspired him, with the help of some friends, to bring tabletop gaming to Oklahoma City in a big way. Vandyousefi’s birth mother, Alice Beard, opted for adoption because she faced one of the harshest adversities of all: extreme poverty. She wanted a better life for her son, a life she had little chance of providing. Beard had a friend with a sister who was looking to adopt, and within a matter of days after his birth, Vandyousefi had a new home. When Vandyousefi was 16, his mother slowly started telling him things about his birth mother and her family.

I owe the world of gaming a debt, and that’s another reason I want to do this. — Anthony Vandyousefi

“This went on for two years. But I didn’t really care, per se. She was the one who raised me. She was my mom. It was interesting to hear, but it was nothing I had strong feelings about,” Vandyousefi said. By then, Vandyousefi was a hardcore gamer, and at the age of 20, he was regularly attending gaming conventions. Not long before one of the conventions rolled into town, his mother told him that his biological mother’s name was Alice Beard. He recognized it instantly. Beard was a concessionaire at the many gaming conventions Vandyousefi had attended since the age of 15. They’d gotten to know each other over the years, becoming good friends and spending time talking when the concession booth slowed down. At the next convention, Vandyousefi confronted her. “She was deathly quiet. And this woman always had something to say. We’d known each other for five years or so and had no clue that we were related to each other,” Vandyousefi said. “We’d become great friends, saw each other every few months, and had no inkling that she was my mother and I was her son that she’d given up for adoption. The world of gaming reconnected me to my biological mother. … It was very surreal. I owe the world of gaming a debt, and that’s another reason I want to do this. It gave back to me. I want to give back to gamers.”

Fantasy nosh

Vandyousefi, now 36, along with friends Johnnie and Layla Payne, wants to open a combination gaming retail store and restaurant, a haven for Oklahoma City gamers. Think of it as a Chili’s built out with sets taken from Game of Thrones, complete with drinks served in metal steins, serving wenches, a renaissance band and turkey legs served on metal plates with no silverware. The name Dragons and Flagons sums up the tavern atmosphere the trio is striving for. “We’re envisioning several things all wrapped up into one,” Johnnie said. “One is a safe place where gamers and geeks can go and everything is catered to them. The TVs won’t have sports on them, and things won’t get too rowdy.” Gamers at Dragons and Flagons also won’t have to deal with bullying or

p hotos by m a rk ha n coc k

By Paul Fairchild

From left Johnnie Payne, Anthony Vandyousefi and Layla Payne, check out the roll of dice during a game of Firefly over drinks. strange looks for playing a game in a public setting. “Creating that safe place is big for us,” Johnnie said. Non-gamers and families will be welcomed warmly, too. Thirty years ago, family game night was Life, Monopoly, Scrabble and other tried-and-true favorites. And those will be available at Dragons and Flagons, too. But the times have changed, and the games have changed with them. Now, Settlers of Catan might be the game of choice for a family. Never tried it? No worries. You can check it out from the restaurant’s library and a member of the staff will show you how to play. “The second thing we want is a unique experience for non-gamers. There are a lot of people out there who aren’t gamers but like the themes that are involved in gaming. They like sci-fi. They like the medieval period. There are tons of Game of Thrones fans that have never thrown dice before, but they just like the idea of being in a dark tavern setting with some people dressed up, or maybe their waitress looks like a serving wench and they get to drink beer out of a big metal glass and eat a turkey leg with no silverware,” Johnnie said. The three hope to open the eatery in northwest Oklahoma City by early 2016 and are in the process of determining a location. Vandyousefi said that in addition to providing a refuge for gamers, he

and the Paynes want families to interact without the divide often caused by technology. “That’s one of the things we’re trying to bring back. It’s great that we’re targeting gamers, but we’re also targeting families in general, the families that come in just to try out the restaurant. And hey, while you’re here, why don’t you try this card game?” Vandyousefi said. “We want to bring back some of that social connection.” Gamers will be excited to know that Dragons and Flagons will host regular, sanctioned tournaments for a number of games. These are rare in Oklahoma City, as judges need to be formally certified before an event can be sanctioned. Those tournaments alone are expected fill the Dragons and Flagons venue. Between the three of them, Vandyousefi and the Paynes have more than 60 years of gaming experience. They like to play, and they like to have fun. They said they will bring that spirit of fun to Dragons and Flagons and hope to prove that business and pleasure can coexist. An October crowdfunding attempt to raise $40,000 on Kickstarter missed its mark, but they weren’t discouraged. “Fear not; we have a plan B and are still shooting for an early 2016 opening,” they Tweeted to fans.

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m a rk ha n coc k

life religion

Generation divide Comfort levels with surrounding culture shift from one generation of Muslims to another during holidays and campaign season.

By Brett Dickerson

The holiday season can present unique challenges for many interfaith communities in Oklahoma City and across the state. This year, local Muslims are working together to reduce emotionally extreme and harmful misconceptions of Islam during a time of year when pundits and national political candidates also tend to ramp up anti-immigrant and thinly veiled anti-Muslim rhetoric. Among these Muslims, there also is a divide between those old enough to have gone through several U.S. presidential race cycles and those not yet old enough to vote. The generational line splits along the traumatic 9/11 terror attacks in New York and Virginia, perpetrated by militant al-Qaida Muslim extremists. For those of Islamic faith old

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Principal Buthiana Jwayyed listens to comments during a recent Oklahoma Gazette interview at Mercy School Institute. enough to have experienced the full impact of the multiple levels of horror on that day, caution is often their first response when interacting with Western culture, where those born afterward interact more comfortably with American culture. How do Muslims handle the holiday season that stretches from Thanksgiving to New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day and includes religious and cultural celebrations like Kwanzaa, Christmas and Hanukkah, especially as political rhetoric and religious fervor can amplify erroneous stereotypes and feelings of anxiety? And how do some Islamic

N OA MIL

We’re not changing Islam to make you think it is a moderate religion; this is what Islam really is. — Buthiana Jwayyed

faithful cope with hostility embedded in segments of Oklahoma culture at a time when the predominating culture’s emotions run high? Oklahoma Gazette recently visited with a Muslim clergyman, the principal, a teacher and students at Mercy School Institute, which focuses on Islamic faith and practice, a Muslim family whose children are in public schools and visited an event that allowed community members outside of their faith to ask questions and demystify the monotheistic and Abrahamic religion.

Holidays

Islamic clergyman Imam Imad Enchassi said some of the holidays can represent clear separations between the Christian-influenced majority culture and Muslim beliefs while others can represent their commonalities. He pointed out that two national holidays, Thanksgiving and Independence Day, are widely celebrated by Muslims, in large part because they are secular and they allow them to express their pride in being American. But not all seasonal celebrations give comfort to Muslims, even though all interviewed believed everyone should be allowed to celebrate them. Conservative Muslims often associate Halloween, especially, with paganism, which is objectionable to them, Enchassi said. Yet, even the most conservative Muslims encourage their children to abstain from participating in the holiday rather than speak out against it, as some conservative Christians might do. Tariq Sattar’s family is less stringent about Halloween. “We typically go trick-or-treating with our neighbors as a social time with them,” he said. His wife, Ayesha, said she usually adorns their lawn with fall-themed items, like pumpkins. She is devout

yet moderate. She avoids decor that celebrates the dead or paganism, and the couple allows their children to have fun with the day and their neighborhood friends. Their children attend public schools and enjoy associating with their friends of differing faiths. Sattar’s daughters, Edmond Santa Fe High School senior Zoya and sophomore Fizza, said that they don’t worry about whether or not their friends are Muslim because they all grew up together in the same community and can accept and respect each other’s cultural, religious and holiday practices without compromising their own. Enchassi said Thanksgiving, and to a lesser extent New Year’s, are widely celebrated by Muslims because they are national, secular, civic holidays. “Our big dinner is on Thanksgiving,” Enchassi said. Most of his in-laws are Catholic. Sattar and Enchassi both said they typically invite a wide circle of family and neighbors, regardless of their faiths, because the holiday observes America’s founding, as does another popular celebration, Independence Day. Mercy School students from more traditional Muslim homes told Oklahoma Gazette that their families feel free to celebrate Thanksgiving because it is nonreligious. Principal Buthiana Jwayyed pointed out that the somewhat uniform time off allowed to students, staff and faculty for Thanksgiving break allows families to gather and spend time with each other. Muslims of all ages had similar responses regarding Christmas: It is a holiday that belongs to another religion and is not theirs. “As Muslims, we have our own holiday, Eid, and we celebrate that,” one of the Mercy School students said. “Christians will celebrate Christmas. Everyone has their own holiday. And we respect other holidays, but that doesn’t mean that we affiliate with them.” This same desire to live in harmony with cultural and religious differences was reflected in the student group’s comments. One female said she plays soccer in her hijab, a traditional head covering Muslim women wear for modesty. “No one has any trouble with it at all,” she said. Moroccan-born Mohanneh Baha, a member of Mercy School’s administration, pointed to important differences between his generation and the generation of Muslim youth born and raised in the United States,

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just towed away from my driveway. I am thrilled to be supporting KGOU and I know it’s helping support some of my favorite programs.

life culture

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Administrator Mahanneh Baha makes a point during a group interview at Mercy School Institute. like the students in the room. “It’s their land; it’s their part of life,” he said, referring to America. Baha said the young people in that room were, “very proud to be good citizens and happen to choose their own faith” and “[t]hey respect their neighbors.”

Generational differences

The comfort with American culture and how to be Muslim and American was evident in the Islamic youth who spoke to the Gazette. Having grown up here, they agreed, helped them more easily navigate American culture. But the older generations who were adults on 9/11 expressed a deeper concern for their children’s safety. That day marked the beginning of great uncertainty among American Muslims. Jwayyed and a Mercy School history and science educator (who asked to not be publicly named to protect her privacy) were asked about the impact extremism has on the perceptions others have of her religion. She said she teaches her students that Muhammad, who founded Islam, taught followers to take the “middle way” on all things. “I can’t see Islam as anything but a moderate religion. We’re not changing Islam to make you think it is a moderate religion; this is what Islam really is,” she said. “Once you take Islam to the extreme, that isn’t Islam anymore.”

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Those people on the plane hijacked my faith. — Imad Enchassi Jwayyed defined Islamic radicals as “those who are extreme in any matter.” She said people who claim they carry out overzealous acts in Islam’s name do so because, “their personality is extreme, not because of their religion.” But violent images of acts perpetrated by the religion’s fanatical outliers are seared in the minds of non-Muslim Americans and catalyze a mix of reactions, including more violence. “There were so many challenges,” Enchassi said about events on 9/11 and beyond. “Your next-door neighbor that you’ve known all of your life suddenly thinks that you are responsible for 9/11.” Then there were helpless feelings many of the faith had when hijackers self-identified as Muslim. “Those people on the plane hijacked my faith,” Enchassi said. In reaction to the terrorists’ acts, he said, American Muslims felt compelled to visibly and vocally reaffirm their loyalty to the U.S., even though they held no influence over or responsibility for the attacks.

OUt 1: nOli me tAnGere

“It was extremely crucial that we differentiate ourselves from those who hijacked our faith,” Enchassi said.

Reaching out

One late October event revealed the deep concern that, during this time of multiple faith-based holidays when emotions can run high, Muslim adults must open themselves up again to dispel misperceptions about their faith. The discussion also revealed how differently Muslim teens and adults address anti-Muslim sentiments. The Oct. 29 town hall meeting, Challenging Islamophobia in Oklahoma, was hosted by the Council on American-Islamic RelationsOklahoma (CAIR). The event was formed in reaction to recent threats some groups made to hold armed protests at a mosque near NW 39th Street and N. Portland Avenue, although those threats never materialized. An interfaith panel comprised of clergy and other community leaders addressed what is widely perceived by Muslims, and even Christians, to be a growing hostility toward Islam across Oklahoma and the nation. In a room filled with people from mixed faith backgrounds, concerns, tears and expressions of support from outside the Islamic community were evident. One guest shared a common story among older Muslims who experienced the fallout of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. “I was in high school when 9/11 happened, and people that I thought were friends were no longer by my side,” she said. With each new event in the world that involves Muslims and violence, such as the recent attacks on Paris, new challenges arise and are sure to increase the older generations’ desire to protect their children from hostile overreactions. And that is perhaps the starkest difference between Muslim adults and teens. The fear of sudden isolation from American culture and its potentially lethal outcomes is obvious in those Muslims who were adults when 9/11 happened. They are the ones who have experienced that fear of isolation before and are determined to keep the next generation from experiencing it again.

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life visual arts

Garett fisbeck

Fringe beneﬁts A local artist created a group to help women artists manage their time and create. By Jack Fowler

Some artists can dedicate their entire lives to their work. Maybe they’re single, famous, rich or so broke they don’t care anymore. Whatever their lot in life, they can float above the workaday fray the rest of us are mired in, unencumbered by the snares of a normal weekday. For the rest of the world’s working artists, life intrudes on their art. Student loans and soccer games, board meetings and business lunches — they all chisel away at the time every artist needs in order to create. That’s why OKC artists Christie Owen and Christie Hackler started Fringe in 2011. “To me, you have to be responsible in all areas of your life,” Owen said when asked about the mission of Fringe, a women’s art collective aimed at promoting female artists in Oklahoma City. “But you have to pursue the things you want to define your life. I want to be an artist, so I have to prioritize some

3 8 | n ov e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 | O k l a h o m a G a z e t t e

Christie Owen poses for a photo at Verbode in Oklahoma City. things. That’s who I want to be, so I have to make time for that. So I do.” Placing art higher on the priority list might be more difficult for women, especially mothers. Like it or not, statistics prove the majority of domestic responsibilities, from chores to child care, still fall on women, especially in a place like Oklahoma. And while Fringe is committed to nurturing and exhibiting female artists, Owen said the group is far more about support and accountability than feminism. “We don’t necessarily look at Fringe like a feminist movement,” Owen said. “It was mainly so women could bond together through a common interest, kind of a ‘strength in numbers’ thing. When a lot of women start having children, start getting married, plenty of these domestic things can take away from the time you need to be an artist.

p rovi de d

Christie Owen’s piece “Happy Farms”

By raising our standards, we feel like we’ve helped raise the standards in the community, and it’s been magical. — Christie Owen

And several of the girls in the group were art students at [the University of Central Oklahoma], just starting their career path, so it would’ve been especially easy for them to let go of their art.” Owen said Fringe helps its members stay focused on their goals. “If there wasn’t that camaraderie, that accountability that helps you keep art in front of you and tells you, ‘Hey, this is what you’re supposed to be doing,’ I think it would be much easier to lose it altogether,” she said. “This helps a lot of people not be so distracted.” Owen said that accountability also enhances the quality of Fringe shows and the Oklahoma City arts scene as a whole. Fringe artists aren’t given a membership card and a free pass; they’re responsible for attending events, showing their work and pushing themselves as artists. “By raising our standards, we feel like we’ve helped raise the standards in the community, and it’s been magical,” Owen said. “In Fringe, you gotta show up, you gotta show and you gotta make good, quality work. It’s not just about supporting female artists; it’s about challenging them.” A challenge of sorts was issued by OKC artist and graphic designer Erin Cooper in a feature story in the Oct. 14 issue of Oklahoma Gazette. The article centered around

Cooper’s assertions that the city’s arts scene could be a “boys club” at times and aspects of its creative climate could lean toward sexism, both unintentionally and deliberately. When asked if she’d read the article, Owen said she had, but her experiences differed from Cooper’s. “You know, I had really never thought about it until I read that article,” she said. “It did challenge me to decide how I felt about it, but I just can’t say from personal experience that I feel the same way. I’m a graphic designer too, and I couldn’t even tell you the ratio of male-to-female artists in the field. I do work for BMX, and I think maybe I’m just used to working with those dirty boys. BMX is very dirty, very gritty, very technical, very ... masculine. So I guess I just got used to being a female artist in that arena.” Cooper and Owen might have had different experiences with biases in the art world, but they share the same hustle and determination that has allowed them to balance their personal and professional lives with their artistic ambition. “If you want to do something, you have to go after it,” said Owen, who has a husband, an 11-yearold daughter and the countless responsibilities that only a working parent/artist can understand. “You set your goals, and that’s what you pursue every day, whether you’re male or female. I think you can balance being a mom, working another job and being an artist when you need to be. We’re all multitasking. It’s just a matter of what you choose to be your priorities. The laundry can wait.” Fringe’s next show, Enclave, takes place at Mainsite Contemporary Art, 122 E. Main St., in Norman in December. Visit fringeokc.com for more information.

O k l a h o m a G a z e t t e | n ov e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 | 3 9

life visual arts

Cultural amalgam Local painter Maurice S. Pérez calls on his worldly upbringing and his instincts to create award-winning art.

By Brett Fieldcamp

Welcome Nostalgia

It’s never easy to put visual art into words. The work is usually designed to tap into some ineffable emotional or intellectual feeling that is best expressed without speaking. But every so often, a local artist like Maurice S. Pérez comes along with such clear goals and such a well-formed sense of personal style that it isn’t difficult for them to talk about their work how they want it presented. Words are never his first choice, though. “Put a painting in the right space, and I think an internal conversation can take place between the art and the viewer,” Pérez said. “Art is subjective anyway, so I feel like those first moments an art appreciator has with a painting are very important.”

Strong foundation

Pérez is the son of a Puerto Rican father and a German mother, and he said his dense, multiethnic upbringing informs his life and work. “The type of life that I had grown into, the places and people that I’ve seen, the culture and family background that I’ve had, and also understanding that both my parents were trying to start new lives in a foreign land — all of that has influenced me,” he explained. “I was taught to appreciate all that life has to offer, and that has greatly influenced the creative process.” His recent work, which is more figurative and direct than much of the abstract pieces he has done, heavily focuses on capturing moments and figures from his parents’ youth. He said his aim is to “respect the family that [he has] been a part of, but also to celebrate the diversity that [he has] been fortunate to grow into.” That diversity formed the core of Pérez’ identity as he traveled across the U.S. and, at times, around the world,

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Moore artist Maurice S. Pérez sips on coffee in front of his works left “Calling” and “Rule of Three.” as his family moved to places like Kansas, Louisiana, Texas and Germany for his father’s military career before settling in Moore when he was an adolescent. “I’ve lived in Oklahoma longer than any other place so far during my life,” he said. “For the first time in my life, I was able to build something … and establish roots. The vastness of this state, the agelessness of certain architectural details, the progressiveness of certain changes in the downtown area, the weather — all have influenced me.” He said the weather most affects his work. “The fluidity of change that weather possesses and the impact severe weather can create are big influencers, abstractly and emotionally,” he said.

Creative theme

Pérez didn’t intend to pursue a creative lifestyle. He was raised to be a pragmatist. Throughout his teens, he expected his creative talent would lead him into a more traditional career as an architect. “When the moment came when I needed to choose a degree, I just chose visual art,” he said. “It probably wasn’t the most realistic choice when considering my career choice, [but] I

4 0 | n ov e m b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 | O k l a h o m a G a z e t t e

had a feeling and I just stuck with it.” He used his time at Oklahoma City Community College to learn and develop the technical aspects of painting and to hone his instinct for color and movement. His love of abstract expressionism endured and informed his progress into representational and portraiture painting. “I get restless if I do the same thing over and over, which is why I work in different areas at times,” Pérez said. “Working with different subject matter is a way of expressing myself, keeping me on toes and never settling during the creative process.”

Vibrant detail

It is difficult to pin Pérez’ work down to a single style, but he will give it a name when he has to. “If I had to throw my work into a broad category, I think it would have to be minimalism,” he said. “However, I consider my work to be very dense at times, in terms of the emotions and ideas at play.” His desire to evolve means more and more people have been drawn to new aspects of his work, which also has led to greater popularity and acclaim. Earlier this year, he won the Viewer’s

Choice Award at Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition’s (OVAC) Momentum OKC art exhibition. He also was a featured artist at OVAC’s 12x12 Art Fundraiser. “My aim is to create work that is pleasing to the eye but can also be incorporated with other interior design aesthetics,” he said. “Colors, line movement, the building of abstract structures or my interpretation of imagery that has influenced me to this point, [and] I understand that all of that and more can strike a chord in the viewer.” From his own experience, he knows Oklahoma is a great place for his organic, free-flowing work, as the state evolves and incorporates styles and cultures. “It’s progressing,” he said. “If you take the time to really look, there are some gems in this Oklahoma art scene. I can only imagine that the local art scene will continue to grow, and that’ll only encourage all artists to step their game up even further.” Pérez’ work will be featured alongside that of Jessica Legako in Welcome Nostalgia at Graphite Elements and Design, 1751 NW 16th St., through November. See more of Pérez’ work at artofmsp.com.

life Performing arts

p r e s e n t s P ROV I D ED

A co-production with Oklahoma City Community college

Wild harmonies Oklahoma City Philharmonic transports music-lovers to the Wild West on Sunday. By Jack Fowler

The Wild, Wild West 2 p.m. Sunday Thelma Gaylord Performing Arts Theatre Civic Center Music Hall 201 N. Walker Ave. okcphilharmonic.org 297-2584 $9

Oklahoma City Philharmonic (OKC Phil) kicks off its popular series of youth outreach concerts Sunday with a set list that celebrates Oklahoma’s untamed pioneer spirit. The Wild, Wild West, an hourlong selection of cowboy- and nativeinspired orchestral pieces ranging from William Tell Overture to “Orange Blossom Special,” is the first concert in OKC Phil’s annual Discovery Family Series, which aims to make classical music accessible to children aged 4 to 13. The show begins at 2 p.m. at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., but the fun starts a full hour before in the lobby. “The scene in the lobby is a really wonderful part of these shows,” said Susan Webb, OKC Phil marketing director. “We have a family-friendly, interactive experience that precedes each concert where we fill the lobby with things the kids can get their hands on. They get to not just watch, but be a part of it.” Children are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite Western wear, and in addition to meeting the performers and conductors, aspiring virtuosos will be able to tune, blow or bang away on the classical instrument of his or her choice in the Instrument Playground. It’s just part of what makes the Discovery Family Series special, Webb said. “It’s actually part of the Philharmonic’s mission to reach young audiences with quality music,” she said.

Youth play with instruments as part of Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s Discovery Family Series. “When the orchestra was restructured in 1990, it was with a real, service-oriented focus. We asked ourselves, ‘How can we bring the joy of orchestral music to not only our current patrons, but our future patrons?’” OKC Phil has renewed its focus on local outreach and “orchestrating passion.” In addition to the Discovery Series, the orchestra plays two free youth concerts each season that see as many as 17,000 Oklahoma City students bussed in from every corner of the state. It also teams up with local businesses and organizations to promote music education, and Webb said several community partners (like the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, sponsoring the Instrument Playground) will have a presence in pre-concert lobby festivities. Native American culture also will be prominently featured during West. The bill promises music from “Native inspirations to Western trail rides,” and Osage and Cherokee actor, composer, author and musician J.C. High Eagle will accompany the orchestra on a native flute for a portion of the show. Webb said the series is just another way to make orchestral music come alive for everyone. “You know, with budgets being what they are at a state level, with arts programs being cut, this is just something we need to do,” she said. “We know we can’t totally fill the void, but we are very dedicated to working with other organizations and community partners to make music an important part of every Oklahoman’s life.” Visit okcphilharmonic.org/ discovery for more information.

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Nov.

25th

ACROSS 1 Pushovers 8 Horn of Africa native 14 Pushed forward, as a crowd 20 Wellesley grads 21 “Same here!” 22 Paternally related 23 1982 Arnold Schwarzenegger film 25 Vintner Paul who would “sell no wine before its time” 26 Knot on a tree 27 ____ of the earth 28 Like a chestnut 29 ____ Joaquin, Calif. 30 Fell for an April fool, say 31 Verses with six stanzas 33 Bringer of peace between nations 36 ____ qué (why: Sp.) 37 NPR host Shapiro 38 Worked to the bone 39 State bordering Texas 45 Actress Pflug of M*A*S*H 46 Dummy 47 Wishing sites 48 Author who inspired the musical Wicked 50 Chiwere-speaking tribe 54 Bygone office worker 56 65 or so 57 Rose buds? 60 Spruce up 62 Op-Ed columnist Maureen 63 Spanish airline 64 Met, as a legislature 66 Jason Bourne and others 70 Big name in outdoor and fitness gear 71 2014 land-grab 73 Draft picks? 74 Tarzan’s simian sidekick 76 Salad-bar bowlful 79 Kung ____ chicken 80 Constellation next to Scorpius 83 Stephen of Ben-Hur 84 Alternative-media-magazine founder 85 Pep 87 Some Fast and the Furious maneuvers, slangily 88 Opening of a Hawaiian volcano? 91 Some auto auctions’ inventory 94 Unhurriedly 98 One calling the shots, for short?

99 “Well, ____-di-dah!” 100 Land in the Caucasus 102 Deli sandwich filler 107 New ____ (official cap maker of Major League Baseball) 108 Wares: Abbr. 109 Wite-Out manufacturer 110 Caps 111 ____ me tangere (warning against meddling) 112 Costner/Russo golf flick 114 Chocolaty Southern dessert 117 Climate-affecting current 118 How some people break out on Broadway 119 Trig calculation 120 Div. for the Mets 121 It may be filled with bullets 122 Catches some Z’s DOWN 1 Fills to capacity 2 How you can’t sing a duet 3 Yellowfin and bluefin 4 Cell that has multiplied? 5 Place to retire 6 Like sushi or ceviche 7 ____ knot, rug feature 8 Some bunk-bed sharers, for short 9 Concubine’s chamber 10 Half-baked 11 Slanting 12 Caterpillar machine 13 It comes with a charge 14 Iraqi city on the Tigris 15 Like one side of Lake Victoria 16 Ones calling the shots, for short? 17 Chatterbox 18 Ballet headliner 19 Slightly depressed 24 Workers on Times tables, briefly? 29 California wine region 32 Bread substitute? 33 Second-largest dwarf planet 34 Cuisine that includes cracklins and boudin 35 Turn a blind eye to 37 One spinning its wheels? 39 Some I.R.A.s 40 All the rage 41 Pinpoint 42 Greek sorceress 43 Nicholas Gage memoir 44 Anakin’s master in Star Wars

20 23

VOL. XXXVII No. 46

Oklahoma Gazette is circulated at its designated distribution points free of charge to readers for their individual use and by mail to subscribers. The cash value of this copy is $1. Persons taking copies of the Oklahoma Gazette from its distribution points for any reason other than their or others’ individual use for reading purposes are subject to prosecution.

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49 Bridge words 51 Amateur botanists’ projects 52 Yellow dog in the funnies 53 Morales of HBO’s The Brink 55 John in the Songwriters Hall of Fame 57 Writes in C++, say 58 Utensil’s end 59 A Doll’s House playwright 61 Lawyer’s clever question, say 62 Showtime crime drama, 2006-13 64 One who has crossed the line? 65 Janis’s husband in the funnies

101

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37 42

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Stumped? Call 1-900-285-5656 to get the answers to any three clues by phone ($1.20 a minute). The answers to the New York Times Magazine Crossword Puzzle that appeared in the November 11 issue of Oklahoma Gazette are shown at left.

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67 Rock, paper or scissors 68 Phishing lures 69 Places for links? 72 Hit AMC series that ended with a Coca- Cola ad 75 Iffy 77 Immediately preceding periods 78 Hokkaido port 79 Magician’s word 81 La ____ (Debussy opus) 82 Dunderhead 85 Intl. group headquartered in Vienna 86 One at the wheel 89 Pellet shooters 90 Got high, in a way 92 Vinland explorer circa A.D. 1000

1115

New York Times Magazine Crossword Puzzle Three-peat By Tracy Gray / Edited by Will Shortz

93 Opponents for Perry Mason, for short 94 Winning blackjack pair 95 Send 96 Romance novelist Banks 97 Going out 101 Dutch town known for tulip tourism 102 Au courant 103 Miners’ entries 104 Ruy ____ (chess opening) 105 Skirt style 106 Nutritionists’ prescriptions 110 Grp. of teed-off women? 113 Snoop group, in brief 114 POW/____ bracelet (popular 1970s wear) 115 Neither red nor blue?: Abbr. 116 Tres menos dos

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Thunder superstar Kevin Durant gives back and opens a new outdoor basketball court at Oklahoma City’s North Highland Elementary. By Brendan Hoover

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Kevin Durant remembered his own childhood in the Washington, D.C., suburbs during the dedication of a new outdoor basketball court at Oklahoma City’s North Highland Elementary School on Oct. 5. “We didn’t always have access to a gym, and it was basketball courts on every corner for us as kids,” said the Thunder superstar as he stood on the first court in North America launched under the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation’s Build It And They Will Ball Courts Renovation Initiative, which seeks to increase the number of high-quality courts accessible to underprivileged youth in the United States and abroad. “That’s where we all went. Some days, we didn’t every play basketball. We just sat around and talked to each other.” Students cheered and waved as Durant opened the festivities. Some held signs reading “thank you.” The court is a hub for neighborhood youth and means a lot to the community, said North Highland Elementary Principal Anita Jones. “On the weekend, this is where the community is. They’re on the court,” Jones said. “They play until the sun goes down.” As a child, playing outside helped mold Durant into who he is today, said the 2013-14 NBA Most Valuable Player. “I think that’s something as a community we’ve gotten away from,” Durant said. “This is how I was brought up. This is how I played. This is how I learned to build relationships with people.” Jones said many of today’s youth suffer from obesity and juvenile diabetes due to sedentary lifestyles. “This is a way for them to come out, get involved, be active and just have fun and be kids again,” she said. The Kevin Durant Charity Foundation partnered with Nike on the initiative. North Highland Elementary is its second project worldwide. A renovated court opened in Berlin, Germany, in September, and a third court is expected to open in Washington, D.C. The new court’s underlays include Nike Grind, a premium material made from recycled athletic shoes and manufacturing scrap that provides cushioning and durability.

Ga rett fi s bec k

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Kevin’s court

Kevin Durant greets students during a Kevin Durant Charity Foundation unveiling of a basketball court at North Highland Elementary School in October. Jones said she got a phone call last spring that an anonymous entity wanted to refurbish the court, which itself was donated several years ago. “The old court is nice, but kind of sunken in the middle, so the water collects,” Jones said. Then she got a call from Durant’s agency, Roc Nation, whose representatives visited and gave her the good news. The old court stands beside the new one and will be refurbished as well, with help from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Durant said. Last year, Durant’s teammate Russell Westbrook opened a new reading room at the school. North Highland was established in 1963, and its entire student population qualifies for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program, which subsidizes meals for students from families at 185 percent of the poverty level or below, Jones said. “(Durant) said this community is a lot like the community he grew up in — a lot of single parents, high-poverty area — and he wanted to give back. He wanted the kids to know that he cares, and I think that is so important,” she said. “My kids try so hard, and I want them to understand and know that their circumstances don’t determine how far they can go, and I think this court says the same thing to them.”

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Equilibrium, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. JAZZ Erica James, Full Circle Bookstore. ACOUSTIC Haniwa, 51st Street Speakeasy. INDIE

Nina Simone Tribute Friday

Nina Simone lent her voice to a broad number of musical styles and popular songs, but most notably, she lent it to the American civil rights movement, making the fight for racial equality a part of every aspect of her life and performances. Join the YWCA in celebrating her life and legacy through song and story 7:30 p.m. Friday at The Plant Shoppe, located at 705 W. Sheridan Ave. There is a $5 door charge, 100 percent of which will benefit the YWCA. Call 748-0718 or visit plantshoppe.com.

Jackson Tillman, Wormy Dog Saloon. COUNTRY Jim the Elephant, Baker Street Pub & Grill. ROCK

Paradise, Sizzle & Storm, Civic Center Music Hall. CLASSICAL

Kaylea Harris/Christina Cooper/Josie Zepeda, Rodeo Opry. COUNTRY

Shortt Dogg, Riverwind Casino, Norman. BLUES

TUESDAY, NOV. 24

Stat Band, Russell’s, Tower Hotel. R&B

Kris Roe of the Ataris, 89th Street Collective. POP

The Suspects, Tapwerks Ale House & Cafe. Reggae

LUCKY/Shaun Suttle, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. COVER

Kyle Reid & the Low Swingin Chariots/Annie Oakley, Castle Row Studios, Del City. INDIE Midas 13, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK

Seth Walker, The Blue Door, Wednesday, Nov. 18

Travis Linville/Carly Gwin, Opolis, Norman. COUNTRY

zac k smith / royal potato family / provided

Jake Gill, Baker Street Pub & Grill. COUNTRY

Wesley Hayes/Outlaw Territory, Remington Park. COUNTRY

SUNDAY, NOV. 22

Drive, Baker Street Pub & Grill. ROCK Edgar Cruz/Jeff Nokes, Avanti Bar & Grill. ACOUSTIC

Edgar Cruz, Park Avenue Grill. ACOUSTIC

Grant Wells, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. JAZZ

Jamie Bramble, Uptown Grocery Co., Edmond. ACOUSTIC

Jared Deck/Ali Harter, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewery. SINGER/SONGWRITER

John 5 & The Creatures, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK Mike Hosty One Man Band, The Deli, Norman. ROCK Penny & Sparrow/Walkup String Trio, The Blue Door. FOLK Scott Lowber/Will Galbraith/Rick Toops, Friends Restaurant & Club. COVER The Wild, Wild West, Civic Center Music Hall. FOLK

MONDAY, NOV. 23 5th Street Strutters/Dixieland Band, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. JAZZ Rick Toops, Friends Restaurant & Club. ROCK

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WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25

Maurice Johnson, R&J Lounge and Supper Club. Scott Lowber/Will Galbraith/Ed VanBuskirk, Friends Restaurant & Club. COVER The Cruz Brothers, The Blue Door. ACOUSTIC

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. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail them to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

Besta n ddeeln um m er 918-5601 Author Kroon , Ron / An e fo / P ROVIDED

MALIA JAMES / P ROVID ED

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

Southern soul

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats bring their Southern sound to ACM@UCO Performance Lab. By Adam Holt

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats 8 p.m. Friday ACM@UCO Performance Lab 329 E. Sheridan Ave. acm.uco.edu 974-4715 $10

As far as Southern, soul and rock musicians go, Nathaniel Rateliff’s look doesn’t fit the bill. He and his band, The Night Sweats, look more Mumford & Sons than Sam & Dave. But upon hearing Rateliff’s wailing voice, one that somehow strikes a balance between gruff and smooth, there’s no question. Rateliff and his seven-piece band are signed to Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, the former home to soul acts such as The Bar-Kays, Rufus Thomas and the aforementioned Sam & Dave. Much of the group’s latest self-titled album screams the influence of 1960s and 1970s Stax Records and Memphis music scene, which, along with Detroit’s Motown, helped define the era’s soul sound. “Definitely Otis Redding, soul music like that. Definitely an influence,” Rateliff said about the effect of Memphis music. Even the album’s cover, a shot of Rateliff’s bare chest under a denim jacket and a necklace, looks to an era decades past. To define Rateliff and his band as soul rock only would not be a fair assessment. This effort is Rateliff’s fourth full-length album and his first with The Night Sweats. His past records tend to include more laid-back soul, rock and country guitar-driven tunes. Those sounds still find their place in his current work, but they lack the pep of his song “S.O.B” from the latest album. Southern spiritual verses are driven by

hand claps before the chorus erupts as Rateliff yells, “Son of a bitch! Get me a drink!” While the Rateliff of past albums sounds like a singer-songwriter guitarist accompanied by sparse percussion, bass and horns, the leader of The Night Sweats is a Missouri-born Joe Cocker. But rather than jerking spastically like the late English singer, Rateliff instead employs the silky-smooth shoe shuffle of James Brown. Though the new songs feature many voices, two saxophones and a trumpet, Rateliff approached the songwriting for the album in a similar fashion to those of the past. “On this record, I came up with a lot of stuff on my own, at my house, demo work,” he said. “Play bass, beat a drum, play some chords and sing the other parts I wanted in there.” However, the sum of this formula differs from his prior efforts. The horn section produces a thicker sound, and the overall sound is livelier. Rateliff’s lyrics come across as quite personal, though he admitted his songwriting does not always have a clear premise. “Relationships and stuff,” Rateliff said about lyrical themes. “You don’t always know what a song’s about till later.” The soul Rateliff and his band create took root not in Motown or Memphis’ Beale Street, but in rural Missouri. He was born in Hermann, Missouri, in late 1978. He spent most of this first two decades of life in the small town, known for its wineries. Rateliff struck gold by combining this down-to-earth, country appeal with Southern city soul that is heard in the wailing of his voice and expressed in his and the band’s appearance. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats performs 8 p.m. Friday at ACM@UCO Performance Lab, 329 E. Sheridan Ave.

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All-American repeat

VA N REDI N / C L ARI US ENTERTA INMENT / P ROVI DED

life film

My All-American

Hollywood’s newest sports story doesn’t quite make it past the end zone. By Tyler Talley

By now, most audiences are familiar with the tropes and cliches of “based on a true story” sports films: scrappy underdog(s) faced with insurmountable odds. Unfortunately, due to a massive and ever-growing catalogue of these movies, particularly ones about football, it is difficult for most new entries to make any sort of substantial impression. For every Friday Night Lights and Remember the Titans, there are nearly twice as many forgettable films like Radio and Facing the Giants. These days, the best-case scenario is an audience treated to a solid production that, while schmaltzy, inspires and even moves them regardless of whether or not they are fans of the sport presented. The worst case is a film bogged down by overt sentimentality, self-importance and strict adherence to tired cliches. Unfortunately, My All-American falls closer to the latter. Based on the true story of University of Texas football player Freddie Steinmark, the flick follows Steinmark (Finn Wittrock) through his high school footfall career to his time as a member of the iconic 1969 Texas Longhorns team coached by the legendary Darrell Royal (Aaron Eckhart) and culminates with the discovery of a bone tumor above his left knee, leading to the amputation of his leg up to the hip. His fight against cancer would lead to the National Cancer Act of 1971. Under the right direction, Steinmark’s story has all the right elements for a

great film. Without question, My AllAmerican’s ultimate strength is its earnestness. Not a single frame of this film comes off as false or insincere. It is commendable retelling of a truly compelling story and treats its subjects with respect. This rings true during various football game sequences, beautifully shot and edited by cinematographer Frank G. DeMarco and editor Dan Zimmerman. Unfortunately, this sincerity also leads to some of the film’s biggest problems.

Roll call

Writer and director Angelo Pizzo is no stranger to the genre, having written screenplays for two classics, Hoosiers and Rudy, so it is rather disappointing to see him deliver this lackluster work. Pizzo doesn’t just hit every cliche and trope in the book; he does so within the film’s first 30 minutes and even begins to repeat himself as it trudges on over the course of its nearly twohour runtime. The script is a veritable checklist of everything we’ve seen countless times before in better movies. A near faultless hero with broad traits such as trying hard and being too stubborn for his own good? Check. An equally faultless love interest tasked with supporting the protagonist? Check. A formal rival turned best friend? Check. The list goes on, and it doesn’t stop with the characters. There are multiple big games and speeches by both Wittrock and

Eckhart. There are training montages, and clunky foreshadowing is delivered with equally clunky dialogue. At times, My All-American borders on self-parody. The plot never feels as if it is building to anything. It focuses more on Steinmark’s football career rather than the more compelling and engaging parts of his life. His cancer diagnosis doesn’t factor into the story until about 30 minutes before final credits roll. This wouldn’t be a major issue if the sports elements were as interesting as his struggles off the field, but as presented, they are not. He faces no real issues as an athlete for the majority of the film. The audience is told that, much like Pizzo’s Rudy, Steinmark is too small, but that never becomes a major story conflict. The cast, on the whole, is serviceable and incredibly likable in spite of being forced to deliver weak dialogue. Wittrock imbues his portrayal of Steinmark with a natural charisma and likability that elevates the movie. Eckhart also does solid work as Steinmark’s tough-but-lovable coach. Perhaps most commendable is Sarah Bolger, best known for her roles in Showtime’s The Tudors and ABC’s Once Upon a Time, who does small wonders with her relatively thankless role of Steinmark’s girlfriend. While it is an utterly watchable addition to the sports film canon, there isn’t anything about it that sets it apart. My All-American is by no means a terrible film; it is simply incredibly cliched.

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY by ROB BREZNY

Homework: Take a guess about what your closest ally most needs to learn in order to be happier. FreeWillAstrology.com ARIES (March 21-April 19) Urbandictionary.com defines the English word “balter” as follows: “to dance without particular skill or grace, but with extreme joy.” It’s related to the Danish term baltre, which means “to romp, tumble, roll, cavort.” I nominate this activity to be one of your ruling metaphors in the coming weeks. You have a mandate to explore the frontiers of amusement and bliss, but you have no mandate to be polite and polished as you do it. To generate optimal levels of righteous fun, your experiments may have to be more than a bit rowdy.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You’ve arrived at a crossroads. From here, you could travel in one of four directions, including back towards where you came from. You shouldn’t stay here indefinitely, but on the other hand you’ll be wise to pause and linger for a while. Steep yourself in the mystery of the transition that looms. Pay special attention to the feelings that rise up as you visualize the experiences that may await you along each path. Are there any holy memories you can call on for guidance? Are you receptive to the tricky inspiration of the fertility spirits that are gathered here? Here’s your motto: Trust, but verify.

face was contorted in pain. A message from Bubby’s owner revealed that her beloved pet desperately needed expensive dental work. She had launched a campaign at gofundme.com to raise the cash. Of course I broke into tears, as I often do when confronted so viscerally with the suffering of sentient creatures. I longed to donate to Bubby’s well-being. But I thought, “Shouldn’t I funnel my limited funds to a bigger cause, like the World Wildlife Fund?” Back home an hour later, I sent $25 to Bubby. After analyzing the astrological omens for my own sign, Cancer the Crab, I realized that now is a time to adhere to the principle “Think globally, act locally” in every way imaginable.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) How well do you treat yourself? What do you do to ensure that you receive a steady flow of the nurturing you need? According to my reading of the astrological omens, you are now primed to expand and intensify your approach to self-care. If you’re alert to the possibilities, you will learn an array of new life-enhancing strategies. Here are two ideas to get you started: 1. Imagine at least three acts of practical love you can bestow on yourself. 2. Give yourself three gifts that will promote your healing and stimulate your pleasure.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) English model and TV personality Katie Price has been on the planet for just 37 years, but has already written four autobiographies. You Only Live Once, for instance, covers the action-packed time between 2008 and 2010, when she got divorced and then remarried in a romantic Las Vegas ceremony. I propose that we choose this talkative, self-revealing Gemini to be your spirit animal and role model. In the coming weeks, you should go almost to extremes as you express the truth about who you have been, who you are, and who you will become.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) To activate your full potential in the coming weeks, you don’t need to scuba-dive into an underwater canyon or spelunk into the pitch blackness of a remote cave or head out on an archaeological dig to uncover the lost artifacts of an ancient civilization. But I recommend that you consider trying the metaphorical equivalent of those activities. Explore the recesses of your own psyche, as well as those of the people you love. Ponder the riddles of the past and rummage around for lost treasure and hidden truths. Penetrate to the core, the gist, the roots. The abyss is much friendlier than usual! You have a talent for delving deep into any mystery that will be important for your future.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) A flyer on a telephone pole caught my eye. It showed a photo of a nine-year-old male cat named Bubby, whose

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Normally I charge $270 an hour for the kind of advice I’m about to offer, but I’m giving it to you at

no cost. For now, at least, I think you should refrain from relying on experts. Be skeptical of professional opinions and highly paid authorities. The useful information you need will come your way via chance encounters, playful explorations, and gossipy spies. Folk wisdom and street smarts will provide better guidance than elite consultants. Trust curious amateurs; avoid somber careerists.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Some athletes think it’s unwise to have sex before a big game. They believe it diminishes the raw physical power they need to excel. For them, abstinence is crucial for victory. But scientific studies contradict this theory. There’s evidence that boinking increases testosterone levels for both men and women. Martial artist Ronda Rousey subscribes to this view. She says she has “as much sex as possible” before a match. Her approach must be working. She has won all of her professional fights, and Sports Illustrated calls her “the world’s most dominant athlete.” As you approach your equivalent of the “big game,” Scorpio, I suggest you consider Rousey’s strategy. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) If you were embarking on a 100-mile hike, would you wear new boots that you purchased the day before your trip? Of course not. They wouldn’t be broken in. They’d be so stiff and unyielding that your feet would soon be in agony. Instead, you would anchor your trek with supple footwear that had already adjusted to the idiosyncrasies of your gait and anatomy. Apply a similar principle as you prepare to launch a different long-term exploit. Make yourself as comfortable as possible CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Here’s how Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn begins: “Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.” The preface I’d write for your upcoming adventures would be less extreme, but might have a similar tone. That’s because I expect you to do a lot of meandering. At times your life may seem like a shaggy dog story

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with no punch line in sight. Your best strategy will be to cultivate an amused patience; to stay relaxed and unflappable as you navigate your way through the enigmas, and not demand easy answers or simple lessons. If you take that approach, intricate answers and many-faceted lessons will eventually arrive.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) The Confederation of African Football prohibits the use of magic by professional soccer teams. Witch doctors are forbidden to be on the field during a match, and they are not supposed to spray elixirs on the goals or bury consecrated talismans beneath the turf. But most teams work around the ban. Magic is viewed as an essential ingredient in developing a winning tradition. Given the current astrological omens, I invite you to experiment with your own personal equivalent of this approach. Don’t scrimp on logical analysis, of course. Don’t stint on your preparation and discipline. But also be mischievously wise enough to call on the help of some crafty mojo. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Slavery is illegal everywhere in the world. And yet there are more slaves now than at any other time in history: at least 29 million. A disproportionate percentage of them are women and children. After studying your astrological omens, I feel you are in a phase when you can bestow blessings on yourself by responding to this predicament. How? First, express gratitude for all the freedoms you have. Second, vow to take full advantage of those freedoms. Third, brainstorm about how to liberate any part of you that acts or thinks or feels like a slave. Fourth, lend your energy to an organization that helps free slaves. Start here: http://bit.ly/liberateslaves. 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 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.

Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin or an intention to make any such preference, limitation, preference or discrimination. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of this law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings in our newspaper are available on an equal housing opportunity basis.

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