2013 January Oklahoma Magazine

JANUARY 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Ten exceptional restaurants.One special place.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Olive Garden Queenie’s

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Pepper’s Grill

Starbucks

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The Wild Fork

P.F. Chang’s

Stonehorse Café

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Polo Grill

Sushi Alley

Utica Square gift certificates available at Commerce Bank.

Utica at Twenty First

You Balance Soccer, Dinner And Your Checkbook.

You’re the chauffeur. You’re the cook. You’re the CFO who sets the budget and makes it work. You’re fiscally fit and proud of it, planning for the future while living in the moment.

Here’s to those who live life to the fullest.

Personal | Business | Mortgage | Retirement | Wealth Management Oklahoma City: 405.272.2548 | Tulsa: 918.588.6010 | www.bok.com | © 2013 Bank of Oklahoma, a division of BOKF, NA. Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.

Find financial tips for every stage of life at www.bok.com/tips

January 2 0 1 3 O K L A H O M A M A G A Z I N E

VOL. XVII, NO. 1

FEATURES

50

The long, last Walk Locked deep behind secure walls, steel bars and armed guards, Oklahoma’s Death Row is possibly the least-seen public space in the state. Of course, few would want to get up close and personal here, where Oklahoma’s worst criminals reach their end.

Contributing writer, author and former Tulsa homicide detective Charles W. Sasser takes a look inside Oklahoma’s Death Row at life at the facility where more than 100 convicts have spent their final days. Sasser further examines the history and debate over capital punishment in Oklahoma while recounting the stories of a few who have met their end at the hand of the State.

SPECIAL SECTIONS

44

HEaTH SHarP

73 Oklahoma Wedding

naTHan HarMOn

2012 Oklahomans of the Year From all corners of the state and from all walks of life, Oklahomans are an exceptional people. That’s particularly true when it comes to working to strengthen communities, reach out to those in need and guide the state to a brighter future. Our five 2012 Oklahomans of the Year have demonstrated that individuals can make a huge difference for the better – almost as much a difference as people working together. This year’s honorees exemplify these tenets and represent their respective communities and all of Oklahoma with their passion, vision and commitment.

OKMAG.COM

Want some more? Visit us online.

On The COVeR: OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE PReSenTS The 16Th annUal OklahOma WeDDing iSSUe. PhOTO BY naThan haRmOn.

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

m O R e g R e aT a R T i C l e S : read expanded articles and stories that don’t appear in the print edition. m O R e P h O T O S : View expanded Scene, Fashion, Taste and Entertainment galleries. m O R e e V e n T S : The online calendar of events includes even more great Oklahoma events.

Get Oklahoma

On The Go!

“I PROMISED MY DAUGHTER I’D BE THERE FOR HER. THANKS TO ST. JOHN I KEPT THAT PROMISE.”

JOHN LEE, ST. JOHN HEART INSTITUTE PATIENT

JOHN LEE ALMOST MISSED HIS DAUGHTER’S WEDDING BECAUSE HE WAS RUSHED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH IRREGULAR HEART RHYTHM. For five years, he’d struggled with constant ER trips, but his life changed when he found St. John Heart Institute and Dr. Mark Milton. Trained at the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins, Dr. Milton recommended a treatment he pioneered in Tulsa: atrial fibrillation ablation. Since undergoing the procedure, John Lee hasn’t visited the ER once.

Life-changing experiences like John’s are our passion. Equipped with advanced diagnostics, an all-digital imaging center and a first-class cath lab, our skilled doctors prevent, diagnose and treat heart disease.

AT ST. JOHN, YOUR HEART IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

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Contents

DEPARTMENTS 11

The State

The mall megaplex might be the most common movie theater today, but around Oklahoma, film fans are supporting several alternate venues that offer different experiences. From the classic drive-in to art house theaters to those that offer a distinct “gourmet” environment. The movie-going experience isn’t just rowdy teenagers and turbo dogs anymore.

14 16 18 20 22 24

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People Culture The Talk The insider Scene Oklahoma Business

Life

28 home Trends 30 living Spaces

Architect Mark Nelson worked with a team of experts in the renovation of a midtown residence that now reflects the home’s style as it was in the 1930s. The result is an airy, contemporary dwelling that would fit in as well in the Hamptons as it does in Tulsa.

34 38 39 40 42

57

Taste

A Brookside staple for years, S&J Oyster Company shuttered its operations in 2004. Now, under a new ownership team, the seafood restaurant is back and better than ever, serving up fresh seafood and oysters any way at a new, hip, downtown location.

Entertainment

It’s one of the city’s most exciting sporting events, and one of the few occasions that the word “midget” can be used without the possibility of offending someone. The annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Internationals promises a lot of excitement and fun for the whole family. Will anyone be able to unseat threetime champion Kevin Swindell? That will have to be settled on the dirt track.

64 Calendar of events 70 in Person

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63

Style Trendspotting nutrition Your health Destinations

60 What We’re eating 63

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

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15,

B Fo To rIn G r e o Tr A He AL THI ffe F I A r T S rp er L M ee H Z Ad gu o e n es M e on t. en Be -W e r ds Fe SH eeK bru I ary P. (o n

HeALTH Zone IMProvI nG HeALTH And FITneSS For

30 yeArS

2013 HeALTH & WeLLneSS exPo SATurdAy, JAnuAry 19 9 A.M. To 1 P.M.

The Health Zone is proud to have served the community’s health and fitness needs for 30 years. Join us and begin improving your health at the 9th annual Health and Wellness expo on Saturday, January 19. The event will include free fitness classes, wellness education with Warren Clinic physicians, free health screenings, cooking demonstrations and much more. The event is free and open to the public.

Health Zone features and services: 70,000 square-foot fitness facility A recent $6.5 million renovation Premier cardio, weight training and strength equipment A dedicated Pilates equipment studio Two indoor saltwater pools Boot camp, suspension training and CrossFit Beginner to advanced yoga Indoor cycling Zumba

5353 E. 68th Street | healthzone.saintfrancis.com | 918-494-1671

Basketball and racquetball Massage services Weight loss and life balance classes Locker rooms with steam room, sauna and towel service Kids Zone activity center Memberships for ages 12 and up Indoor walking track and outdoor trail Grab-and-go deli with smoothies, wraps and sandwiches Membership specials and promotions

OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA PRESIDENT AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR DanIEL SCHuMan

OKLAHOMA

PUBLISHER AND FOUNDER VIDa K. SCHuMan EDITOR THOM GOLDEn SENIOR EDITOR MICHaEL W. SaSSEr ASSOCIATE EDITOR JaMI MaTTOX CONTRIBUTING EDITORS CHrIS SuTTOn JOHn WOOLEy EDITORIAL ASSISTANT KarEn SHaDE GRAPHICS MANAGER MarK aLLEn

Edgar Payne: The Scenic Journey was organized by the Pasadena Museum of california art.

GRAPHICS ASSISTANT MOrGan WELCH CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS naTaLIE GrEEn, BrEnT FuCHS, CHrIS HuMPHrEy, naTHan HarMOn, JErEMy CHarLES, Dan MOrGan, SCOTT MILLEr, MarK TOrranCE, HEaTH SHarP, JEnnIFEr PITTS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE auDra O’nEaL ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER JaSMInE MEJIa

December 2, 2012 – March 24, 2013 1400 N. Gilcrease MuseuM rd. Tulsa, OK 918-596-2700 Gilcrease.uTulsa.edu Tu is aN eeO/aa iNsTiTuTiON. Edgar Payne, Sunset, Canyon de Chelly, c. 1916 oil on canvas, 28" x 34", (detail), Mark C. Pigott Collection

12666 Gilcrease 1/3.indd 1

11/29/12 1:36 PM

INTERNS JOHn ParSOnS, naTHan POrTEr CONTACT US aDVErTISInG InQuIrIES: ADVERTISING@OKMAG.COM EVEnTS anD CaLEnDar SuBMISSIOnS: EVENTS@OKMAG.COM QuESTIOnS Or COMMEnTS aBOuT COnTEnT: EDITOR@OKMAG.COM aLL OTHEr InQuIrIES: MAIL@OKMAG.COM Oklahoma Magazine is published monthly by Schuman Publishing Company P.O. Box 14204 • Tulsa, OK 74159-1204 918.744.6205 • FaX: 918.748.5772 mail@okmag.com www.okmag.com Subscriptions are $18 for 12 issues.

Mail checks to Oklahoma Magazine P.O. Box 14204 Tulsa, OK 74159-1204 Copyright © 2013 by Schuman Publishing Company.

Oklahoma Wedding, The Best of the Best, 40 Under 40, Single in the City, Great Companies To Work For and Oklahomans of the Year are registered trademarks of Schuman Publishing Company. all rights reserved. reproduction without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. all requests for permission and reprints must be made in writing to Oklahoma Magazine, c/o reprint Services, P.O. Box 14204, Tulsa, OK 74159-1204. advertising claims and the views expressed in the magazine by writers or artists do not necessarily represent those of Oklahoma Magazine, Schuman Publishing Company, or its affiliates.

2012

TM

Member

440 0 UNDER

™

12683 RCB Bank.indd 1

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

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TM

BOB-Finalno year.pdf

More than150 categories representing the best of Oklahoma 1

11/14/12

11:16 AM

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR A new year is upon us. It may be just another day on the calendar, but for most of us it’s a symbolic time to look to the future with hope, make resolutions, start anew. It’s also a time to reflect on the year that has passed. One way we do that here at Oklahoma Magazine is to look back at some of the people that have shaped our great state during the past year. In actuality, while each of our five Oklahomans of the Year honorees had significant accomplishments in 2012, they are all long-time contributors to the fabric of the Sooner State. This year’s diverse crop of honorees includes a former movie star turned philanthropist and community advocate, the chief of a sovereign nation and an innovative mayor who practices what she preaches when it comes to public service.

Each of these inspiring individuals saw a need to be met and rose to the challenge in their own way and each has left his or her mark on our state and made it a better place.

Oklahoma is lucky to have these people in our court, and I know they will continue to affect our state for many years to come.

Each January, we also present “Oklahoma Wedding,” a special section spotlighting wedding trends, fashion, Oklahoma’s top wedding experts and page after page of inspiration. This year’s edition includes fabulous fashion photography by Nathan Harmon, beautiful flowers by some of the state’s best florists, the inside scoop on looking your best on the big day and much more.

Thom Golden Editor PS: If you’re planning a wedding, don’t miss your opportunity to get advice from top wedding experts, check out the latest bridal fashion and more at the Oklahoma Wedding Show, Jan. 5, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Expo Square Central Park Hall.

Voting begins January 1 2013

Internet voting for Tulsa and Oklahoma City The Best of the Best awards begins on January 1.

Visit www.okmag.com for rules and online ballots.

Contributors

Each year our readers voice their opinions for our annual The Best of the Best issue. From burgers to banks, bathroom fixtures to brunch, they tell us who’s doing a good job, and who’s the best.

8 Oklahoma Magazine | January12/11/12 2013 BOB_1-3v_Strip.indd 1 11:48 AM

Oklahoma Magazine feature writer Charles Sasser explored the state’s death row system in “The Long, Last Walk” (p. 50).

“Exploring the criminal mind has long been a passion of mine as a full-time freelance writer/journalist for over 30 years, resulting in a number of books and dozens of magazine articles,” Sasser says.

“Also, as a former Tulsa Police homicide detective, I have known, arrested and interrogated many killers. The common quality I discovered in most of them, other than the ‘crime of passion’ variety, was a singular lack of remorse for what they had done.

“I approached the death penalty piece from a personal knowledge of crime and criminal justice. After all, a number of

people I investigated for murder ended up on Death Row.” Tulsa photographer Nathan Harmon was tapped by Oklahoma Magazine to photograph its annual bridal gown fashion spread (“Dramatic Effect,” p. 74). It was a welcome assignment for Harmon, who says he enjoys fashion shoots.

“We shot consecutive weeks in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, with both shoots being outside,” says Harmon. “I’m glad that we lucked out to have such beautiful weather, even though it was a little windy.

The hair and make-up team that worked did a fantastic job making the models look great, and of course the models themselves were fantastic. Anytime I get to work with true professionals, it makes for a good afternoon of shooting.”

Get OKLAHOMA

On The Go!

Download the January issue of Oklahoma’s No. 1 magazine on your mobile device.

+ get Oklahoma Magazine’s January issue at your fingertips. + View expanded galleries and exclusive content.

Now get Oklahoma’s most popular magazine anywhere you go with the Oklahoma Magazine app.

i had to do

everything i CoULd to

keep breathing. kathy houlihan

Lung Cancer Patient

“My care team not only gave me a personalized treatment plan to fight my lung cancer. They gave me hope.”

Kathy Houlihan will never forget the way she felt when she was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer: “I was terrified.” After conferring with her husband, Holt, a pediatrician, she decided to go to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America®(CTCA) website, cancercenter.com, to explore treatment plans that combined conventional medicine with integrative therapies to help strengthen her immune system while undergoing treatment. “That was the first place that gave me any hope.”

In a matter of days, Kathy’s care team of lung cancer experts started her on a treatment program designed specifically for her. It included TomoTherapy® (radiation to target her tumor while minimizing damage to healthy tissue) and chemotherapy. She also received nutritional counseling and naturopathic medicine to help ease her side effects. As her scans showed her tumor was shrinking and she was recovering, Kathy knew she made the right choice with CTCA.® 13 years later, Kathy is singing with her church choir, learning to paint with water colors, and happier than ever that she chose CTCA. “I put my faith in CTCA completely. Because they had faith in me.”

Read more about Kathy’s treatment and life after lung cancer at cancercenter.com/Kathy.

if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with advanced-stage or complex cancer, call 1-888-568-1571 or visit us at cancercenter.com. appointments available now.

Atlanta • Chicago • Philadelphia • Phoenix • Tulsa

No case is typical. You should not expect to experience these results. ©2012 Rising Tide

The State ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

Blake Smith, co-owner of admiral Twin, says that the drivein appeals to people of all ages and walks of life.

Beyond Mall Walls

art house, gourmet and drive-in theaters entice Oklahomans.

PHOTO By HEaTH SHarP.

E

ver-rising ticket prices and ridiculously overpriced concessions combined with an onslaught of digitally enhanced, mediocre movies being churned out of Hollywood are leaving more movie goers turned off instead of tuned in.

It’s no wonder that the numbers at multiplex movie box offices are in a slump, and alternative movie-going experiences are on the rise.

Stay-at-home options, such as Netflix, On Demand cable and Redbox, may be growing in appeal, but Americans like to get out of the house and go places to be entertained, and the theater is a venue that continues to evolve over time.

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

11

The State

at the drive-in is more economical than goand teenagers who will come see the same Like all else considered “alternative,” ing to an indoor theater, since with double movie theater alternatives come to life when movie over and over and buy a bunch of features, there’s more bang for your buck. the demand for something new and different concessions,” Hearn explains.

“There seems to be a resurgence of “So many grown ups don’t want that. from the mainstream is strong enough. drive-ins, and I think it’s because we cater to They want more than special effects-driven As a predominantly commercial-driven such a wide demographic of people,” Smith movies and A-list celebrities. They want film market, Oklahoma has traditionally not says. movies that are going to be intellectually had an art house following. However, in re“We offer options that indoor theaters cent years, art house theaters, such as Circle challenging and emotionally compelling. can’t compete with. The drive-in is just a They want an experience that’s going to Cinema in Tulsa and the Oklahoma City completely differMuseum of Art’s ent animal. We get (OKCMOA) film Patrons enjoy a show at the Oklahoma couples in Mercedes program, have had City museum of art’s theater. and folks in 1963 or a real opportunity ‘83 Buicks. The apto carve out a niche peal is different all for independent and across the board.” international film On the flip side screenings due to an to art house theaters outpouring of decatering to adults, mand in a commerdrive-ins prove to cially oversaturated be particularly good market. for young families, Both venues have where kids can fall experienced growing asleep in the car or success, as the interrun outside and play. est and attendance The in-car privacy continues to gain factor allows for momentum. more flexibility.

“Content is really Don’t feel like dresswhat sets us apart ing up? Forget about from the mall movie it. Talk, text, snack experience. We reon all of that food ally try to show the that you probably shouldn’t eat but love. enrich their lives somehow.” best of world cinema, and we work to have A little bit of anything goes as long as Like the vintage vibe of the OKCMOA exclusive engagements of films that can’t you’re not bothering other people at a drive theater, drive-in movie theaters also offer a be found in multiplex theaters,” says Brian in. tried and true, nostalgic alternative.

Hearn, film curator for the OKCMOA film “So many movie theaters now, even Though there are fewer than 500 operatprogram. though they’re nicer than they were 15 to 20 ing drive in theaters in the U.S., Oklahoma “Our year round mission is to enrich years ago, with stadium seating and nicer lives through the visual arts. That’s basically metros are fortunate enough to be home to seats and stuff – they’ve gotten a little stertwo of them: the Winchester in Oklahoma what we do: we treat film as a visual art ile. I think that’s why so many people are reCity and the Admiral Twin in Tulsa. form, and it’s still entertaining. We show alizing that they can see their entertainment As Americana as cheeseburgers and all kinds of genres of films, and it’s the dollar go further if they opt for something a Hollywood itself, the drive-in takes us right weirdest list in the world. There’s no rhyme little bit different,” Smith says. back to the ‘50s and ‘60s, says Admiral or reason to it. Comedies, documentaries, meika YaTeS hineS Twin co-owner Blake Smith, and an evening classics – there’s something for everyone.”

Built around Oklahoma City’s last downtown movie palace, which was constructed in 1947, the OKCMOA has breathed new life into what had been known as a “pigeon The biomedical sector in Oklahoma is seeking to raise awareness and promotion of life scipalace” for years. ences in the state by starting a not-for-profit organization called The Oklahoma Bioscience Gutted, refurbished and transformed into Institute. a state-of-the-art cinema in the original The new institute will focus on further developing biosciences in Oklahoma by providing theater’s space, the historic theater retains information and resources to meet current and future demands of the workforce, as well as all original architectural elements that were general interest from the public. salvageable.

The belief is that it will prove beneficial in finding and developing new leaders of biosciBoasting a Waterford crystal chandelier ence who have the tools and education needed to further increase Oklahoma’s profile. and café with a full bar, it’s safe to say that Training will be provided to both corporations and the public alike, and aspiring students the swanky digs and film content selection will be able to find useful knowledge to help them reach their career goals. cater to an adult crowd, whom Hearn says Bioscience is a diverse industry with many opportunities and potential benefits, and by Hollywood has been ignoring for years. focusing on education and developing leaders of the next generation, hopes are that some“The studios are absolutely creatively day Oklahomans might lead the way in areas of biomedical research, including the cure for dead in my opinion. There’s too much cancer or finding sustainable fuels, to name a few. – John Parsons focus on comic book movies and sequels

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

PHOTO COurTESy OKLaHOMa CITy MuSEuM OF arT.

ADVANCES IN BIOSCIENCE

Congratulations, Dr. Thomas K. McKeon

2012 Oklahoman of the Year

The State

PEOPLE

Robyn Sunday-allen is the current CeO of the Oklahoma City indian Clinic.

Propelled

By Passion

Oklahoma City indian Clinic CeO’s community health care interest is life-long.

services to nearly 17,000 people per year. It is an award-winning clinic, with its diabetes program setting national standards.

“It is vital to the metro-area health systems that we exist because there is no hospital, emergency room, clinic, health department, etc. that could absorb the number of patients that we serve,” says Sunday-Allen.

The future continues to look bright.

“We just purchased another 38,000 square-foot building that is one-tenth of a mile from our existing 27,000 square foot facility, giving us 65,000 square feet for services,” says Sunday-Allen.

Her immediate goal as CEO is to have a pharmacy built with drive-through capabilities on the existing property. Her long-term goal is to grow the overall clinic into a 150,000 square foot medical complex that will meet a large demand for medical services projected for the year 2020.

“We work hard to provide valuable health care services and do this with local funding,” says Sunday-Allen. “It is my mission, and that of the staff at OKCIC, to provide quality, comprehensive health and social services for underserved urban Indians and we do a great job.”

ShaROn mCBRiDe

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

PHOTO By BrEnT FuCHS.

R

obyn Sunday-Allen, Cherokee, RN, MPH, the current CEO of the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, says she has always had a passion for serving the Native American community and for medical services.

Sunday-Allen was not only born at the Claremore Indian Hospital, but she also says as a child she spent a lot of time playing in the halls of the hospital because her mother worked there. Her maternal grandparents also received care there for diabetes.

“As a result, I grew up in hallways of what was then the ‘old’ Claremore Indian Hospital,” says Sunday-Allen.

It was that early, positive experience that cemented her desire to pursue a medical career and to work in Indian health.

“I went to the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing on an Indian Health Service scholarship,” says SundayAllen. “For every year they paid for my school, I owed a year of service in Indian Health. I was fortunate enough to start right out of OU at the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic.

My scholarship payback was up 15 years ago, but I love my job, and it is hard to imagine working anywhere else.”

Throughout the years, the clinic has grown significantly.

Established in 1974 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, the clinic serves the urban Native American population of central Oklahoma. In 1995, Sunday-Allen worked as a registered nurse there. She was subsequently promoted to nurse manager of health services in 1997, to chief operating officer in 2001, and to chief executive officer in early 2009.

“I’m proof that the clinic is very supportive of its staff and wants to further their education,” says Sunday-Allen. “I’ve always had big dreams for myself and the clinic.”

Sunday-Allen says her background in nursing really helped set the stage for her success as CEO. “I chose nursing because I wanted a profession where you really got to know your patients and their families and to be able to spend ample time with them,” says Sunday-Allen. “I really enjoy the patient education component of nursing that you don’t often get to do in other medical fields.”

As a consequence, she says she understands more than just the business side of running the clinic.

“For me, it is more than the bottom line that matters,” says Sunday-Allen. “It is patient satisfaction and outcomes that matter most. If patients are happy and know they are receiving quality care, they will return for services, and the revenues will come.”

Today, she and her staff of more than 130 nurses, physicians and support staff provide comprehensive medical and behavioral health

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The State C U LT U R E

This boat team is ready to rumble.

L

ike every big city, Oklahoma City has its share of gangs. One of the city’s newest groups is the Golden Dragons.

The Golden Dragons is a team of around 30 senior adult dragon boat racers. Team members, all in their 60s, 70s and 80s, wear t-shirts that defiantly declare, “Paddle Strong, Live Long.” You can see the Dragons paddling in unison on the Oklahoma River early Thursday mornings, whenever weather permits.

The Golden Dragons are all residents of Spanish Cove Retirement Village in Yukon, a westside Oklahoma City suburb. One resident and team member is philanthropist Ann Lacy. When the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation asked Lacy to fund the purchase of a dragon boat, Lacy challenged Spanish Cove wellness director, Debbie Miller, to put together a team.

“I said, ‘Well, Ann, I’ll try,” Miller recalls. “Before I knew it, I had 30 people signed up.” Miller’s initial squad ranged in age from 72 to 86. The group began practicing in June, beating the heat by taking to the river before 8 a.m.

Lacy’s name is well known to anyone who has stepped foot on the campus of Oklahoma City University. Lacy funded OCU’s admissions center, a school of dance management and a softball stadium, all of which bear her name. As OCU’s rowing program grew to national prominence, she got involved in that, too, donating a boat to the team in 2010.

So Lacy already knew something about boating when the Boathouse Foundation asked her to fund a boat. This time Lacy planned

16

Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

members of Spanish Cove’s golden Dragons rowing team practice along the Oklahoma River.

to do more than write another check. She wanted to pick up a paddle and hit the water herself. The Golden Dragons were born.

A dragon boat typically seats a crew of 22, including a caller in the front and a drummer in the back. The crew paddles in unison to the drumbeat. But does dragon boat racing make any kind of sense for a group of senior adults?

Absolutely, says Miller. “A lot of our seniors are more physically fit than a lot of their children and even their grandchildren,” she says.

Many residents walk or run several miles a day, and many of them lift weights. “They are in great shape.”

The Dragons got their first taste of competition in September at the Oklahoma Regatta Festival. They are proud to have placed third in a three-way contest against two teams whose members were around 35 to 40 years old.

“We came in third out of the three teams, but we got a standing ovation from the crowd,” Miller says. “And we had the best form.”

Lacy is shopping for a second dragon boat to add to the fleet. She’s not satisfied with the first one because it doesn’t looking menacing enough. “They’re searching for another dragon for my (new) boat that really looks fierce,” she says.

Meanwhile, the Dragons are gunning for more competition. Miller has sent inquiries to other senior adult communities, challenging them to form a team and meet them at the river. You can be sure the Dragons are spending the winter working out and pumping iron.

When spring comes, the Golden Dragons plan to be ready to rumble.

TeRRY a. hUll

PHOTO COurTESy SPanISH COVE rETIrEMEnT VILLaGE.

Enter The Dragons

M i s s J a c k s o n ’s congratulates Peggy Helmer ic h on being named Oklahoman o f t h e Ye a r.

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The State

T H E TA L K

Exotic Product

karen galbraith has more than deer and antelope at play.

Karen Galbraith and her husband, Dave, own the Walnut Creek Alpaca Farm near Talihina in southeastern Oklahoma. Alpacas aren’t just exotic animals native to South America. They’re a labor of love for this former ballet dancer and chiropractor that practically fell into the business of Alpaca farming. And fell in love with Oklahoma along the way.

Oklahoma Magazine: There are dozens of different livestock types you can raise in Oklahoma? Why alpacas?

Karen Galbraith: Well, we first started with paint horses. But then they did away with the slaughter of horses and it got to the point where you couldn’t give one away. People were turning horses out and it just got to be too much. But even before that, we wanted to try something else. We tried goats and didn’t care for it. I happened to see an alpaca commercial one day and we went from there. Got into alpacas and never looked back.

OM: Where is alpaca wool used? Is it common? Can I find it at the mall?

KG: More and more you’re starting to find alpaca wool everywhere.

It used to be very rare. Now you can go to a yarn shop and find alpaca yarn. The alpaca wool itself is so much warmer than sheep wool and it’s also softer and stronger. It’s just a much better wool.

Alpaca wool has just taken off. I’ve even seen a wedding dress made out of alpaca wool.

OM: What pays the bills? Selling the alpacas or selling their wool?

KG: Right now I make most of my money from the breeders. We raise show quality alpacas and every year we try to breed up. We’ve improved our breeding stock and we sell the breeders. But we also sell the wool to handspinners or have it spun up by a mill. In the end, the wool will bring in the money. But right now it’s still a breeder’s market.

OM: Alpacas are livestock, for sure, but how is raising them different from, say, raising horses or cattle?

KG: Horses are bigger. They’re harder to sell. I can make more money with alpacas and they’re smaller and easier for me to handle.

And they’re sweet. They’re just sweet, timid animals. When you’re around them, you start to realize how peaceful and friendly alpacas are. I can take a new male or female and put them in with the herd and it’s not like horses. Horses will tear each other up. But I can introduce a new alpaca to the pen and I don’t have to worry about it getting injured.

OM: Tell me about getting into it. Nobody just jumps into something like alpaca farming.

KG: We did. I bought my first alpaca before I’d seen one in person. I bought it over the internet.

OM: It showed up and you were just good to go?

KG: Yeah. I wanted to do it. I found a breeder and bought a female.

She had a baby girl before she even arrived at our farm. I ended up buying that female and before that female even came home we’d already bought two more females and a male. When we had them all come here at once it was a male with four females.

OM: After you jumped right into it, what was the “Aha!” moment where you said, “This is what I want to do?”

KG: Day one when they got here. I just fell in love with them and knew I wanted to do it. I know it sounds crazy but we bred the females and the girls had their babies. I resold a female with her son along with another female. I sold that package my first year and I was already in the black.

OM: I know alpaca farming isn’t your first career and you’re originally a city girl, definitely not from these parts. What brought you to them?

KG: I was dancing ballet, my first love, but I had to have several eye operations. After the last one, I realized I was getting too far behind in my dance career. So I dropped it and went to school to be a chiropractor. I opened up a practice and got into a car accident.

I thought I wouldn’t be able to practice after that but changed my mind and decided I could still do chiropractic enough to help people.

Well, I wanted to help Native Americans so I came to Oklahoma.

It was great. Eventually, though, I did have to leave chiropractic.

But I wanted to stay in this area. There wasn’t much work here so I had to take a lot of different kinds of jobs. Then I met my husband, Dave, and we moved onto the ranch after we were married. We were together for a short time before we decided to start alpaca farming.

18

Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

OM: How much will a solid alpaca put me out?

KG: It depends on the quality you want, from beginner’s level on up to show quality. Ours start at about $700 and go up from there.

OM: You sound like a person who loves what they do. I guess the alpacas won’t send you packing back to the city?

KG: I love it here. I’ll never move back to the city, I swear.

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19

The State

THE INSIDER

Bill’s Thud local documentarians hope a film ignites appreciation of Vietnam veterans.

I

should begin by saying I know all the principals in this story pretty well. My friend, Leo Evans, and I have done a feature movie and half-hour documentary together. The relationship between Dennis King and me goes back nearly 30 years, to our long tenure together as Tulsa World writers. (We both retired on the same day in 2006.) And I have long known and admired Clark Wiens for his tireless work as co-founder and president of Tulsa’s Circle Cinema, a fiercely and commendably independent theater operation in an age of homogenized entertainment.

On top of all of that, I’m a Vietnam veteran.

Let me note that I had it relatively easy over there, stationed on a helicopter carrier transporting ground troops and a Marine Air Wing to the Gulf of Tonkin, and later sweeping mines out of Haiphong Harbor.

But my year in the war zone left me with a deep interest in literature – including documentary films – about the war and the deeply divided home front, which often treated returning Vietnam servicemen with indifference or even hostility.

That’s where these three guys come in. With Wiens producing, Evans directing and King scripting, they’ve created a feature-length, Vietnamrelated documentary, Bill’s Thud, that’s not only coming to a theater near you, but to venues all across the country. The purpose of the picture, says Wiens, is simple: “It’s about honoring Vietnam vets. We honor all veterans, but particularly that group, because they weren’t treated with the same respect the other ones were. If we can get one person to see this film and then say they’re going to go home and tell their neighbor, who’s a Vietnam veteran, ‘Thank you for what you did,’ then we’ll have our reward.”

Bill’s Thud wasn’t always about Vietnam veterans, however. At its

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

genesis, some 10 years ago, it was about one vet. His name was Bill Pachura, and he was Wiens’ brother-in-law.

“After he married my sister, he became my brother – for almost 47 years,” says Wiens. “We were very close. He went to Vietnam in the worst year, 1968, when two-thirds of the people on the (Vietnam Memorial) Wall died.”

A pilot, Pachura was tasked with flying bombing runs from Takli, Thailand, to Hanoi in an F-105 Thunderchief, one of the fighter-bombers nicknamed “Thuds.” After 129 missions, he went on to other assignments, finally retiring from the Air Force and moving to Baltimore with his family.

Years later, Pachura was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Wiens began flying to Baltimore every few months to visit, and it was during one of those trips that Pachura’s son-in-law brought out a book that listed every F-105 ever made.

“There were only 722 of them, and most didn’t make it back to America,” notes Wiens. “They were either shot down or ran out of fuel on the way back to Thailand and were ditched in Cambodia. Maybe 50 or 100 were brought back, and they were used for Air National Guard training.”

It didn’t take Pachura long to find his plane in the book. And armed with that knowledge, Wiens spent a day making phone calls, trying to see if Bill’s particular Thud still existed. When he found out it was sitting on the tarmac at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, being used for security training, Wiens knew he had to reunite his brother-in-law and the plane.

By this time, Wiens had met Evans – via a documentary class at Tulsa Community College taught by King. So the two decided to make a video record of the terminally ill Pachura’s trip to Lackland, accompanied by many of his family members, including Wiens. Wiens and Evans also traveled to Nevada to interview some of Pachura’s war buddies.

“So while he was alive, through Leo’s good efforts, we finally developed a 30-minute film,” recalls Wiens. “I made up a poster and a little book, and I flew to Baltimore and walked through his neighborhood, telling people about the film. So, in his basement, for our first showing, 50 or 60 people were crowded in, watching the movie, seeing his grandchildren touching the airplane. I’d never seen Bill Pachura cry

PHOTO By HEaTH SHarP.

Clark Weins and leo evans are part of a team that have produced Bill’s Thud, a documentary that focuses on the Vietnam War.

PHOTOS COurTESy LEO EVanS.

The State

before. He told me later it took him seven times before he could watch it without crying.”

Wiens’ next idea was to have Pachura’s Thud hauled to his hometown of Centralia, Ill., where it would serve as a Vietnam Memorial. That happened, too, with Evans chronicling it all. But it didn’t happen quickly. In fact, it wasn’t until four frustrating years after Pachura’s death that Wiens was finally able to jump through all the Air Force’s hoops and get the deal done. Along the way, however, he and Evans grew to realize that Pachura and his airplane had become the catalyst for a larger story – and a fulllength documentary.

“At first, we did it for nothing but the family,” Wiens explains. “But we had Vietnam vets come over to the Circle and watch that short film, and there were enough tears shed to clean the floors forever. And Leo and I said, ‘Wait a minute. If it’s impressing people like that, why in the hell are we limiting this? Why don’t we take this thing national?’”

“As all of this was going on,” adds Evans, “Clark and I spent a lot of time together. At first, when we went to Las Vegas and Reno, we weren’t thinking about all Vietnam vets. We were just thinking about Bill’s friends and fellow pilots. We were thinking about a real documentary, but what we were trying to think was, ‘What is this about?’ We went around and around with it, and we first came up with the idea that it was about heroes.

“But it finally came to me when we moved the plane,” Evans continues. “I thought of Scenes from Bill’s Thud. how that plane rolling across America was like Lincoln’s funeral procession – a healing process. And that’s when I said, ‘Okay, we’ve got to interview a lot more people. We’ve got to get a broader view.’”

That’s also where their old friend King – a Vietnam vet – came in, providing, Evans says, “another perspective, and someone we could bounce ideas off of ” in addition to his scriptwriting.

Now, after lots of tweaking and “at least three major recuts,” according to Evans, Bill’s Thud is ready to go on the road, even as its namesake rests comfortably in Centralia, its own travels ended. Interestingly enough, a couple of years after the filmmakers figured out what the picture was about, they found their theme echoed by none other than the President of the United States.

“The speech President Obama gave at the Wall on Memorial Day this year summarizes exactly what the movie is about,” explains Wiens.

“That’s how we end it now, with the President speaking and our credits running to one side. The only reason we didn’t show the film before Nov. 11 is that we didn’t want people to think it was a tool to get votes for him.

“But now that he’s elected,” Wiens adds, “we’re hoping to start a movement for a one-time ‘Thank a Vietnam Vet Day,’ during his term, perhaps to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive, which was on Jan. 28, 1968. We’re not politicians, and it’s going to take politicians to do it, but to have a day in which everyone in America would thank a Vietnam vet – that’s our goal.”

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The State

SCENE

(Seated) lee R. West, Tom Ward, Bart Conner, Suzanne Warren, Stan Clark and Ronald h. White were inducted into the 2012 Oklahoma hall of Fame. The inductees were presented by (standing) David Russell, hance Dilbeck, Timothy Shriver, Judy kishner, Bill Burgess and glen Johnson.

Judy Wang, Dr. Frank Wang and gov. mary Fallin celebrated the inauguration of Dr. Wang as the new president of Oklahoma School of Science and mathematics.

mike Thompson and ann Felton gilliland were among those who celebrated 25 years of Central Oklahoma habitat For humanity.

eddie Walker, Penny mcCaleb, Teresa Rose and kip Welch were among those at the governor’s arts awards, at which The Oklahoma City Philharmonic was honored.

Bunky echo-hawk, Jari askins and David Toahty were among those who attended the 2012 Red Feather gala, which benefited the Oklahoma City indian Clinic.

22

Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

Timothy Shriver, gini moore Campbell, Shannon l. Rich, nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner enjoy the festivities prior to the 2012 Oklahoma hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Brian Paschal, Christy Craig, elvis Ripley and kate hoback were all smiles at the second annual Boomtown awards, hosted by Tulsa’s Young Professionals.

Pam newby, Ron norick and Christy Counts were honored for their contributions to the community through nonprofit service at the 2012 Visions event hosted by the Oklahoma Center for nonprofits.

Brian Biehl and heidi and Barrett hughes enjoyed the second annual Corks & kegs event benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

ann ackerman and Stan Clark attended leadership Oklahoma’s 2012 Fall Forum at Oklahoma City’s Devon Tower.

David and Pattie Bowman and Jennifer and Tom Palmer enjoyed the Signature Symphony’s First Chair Society reception.

Catherine aur, Caroline aur, karen kesinger and ellen muershel enjoyed a Toast to the arts, held at Fred Jones Jr. museum of art.

The State

OKLAHOMA BUSINESS

Tying The Knot, Or Not an obscure Oklahoma law prevents divorcees from remarrying soon after separation.

O

klahoma is a good neighbor, often greeting travelers from neighboring states with an immediate casino, if not a collective “howdy.” In turn, however, Oklahoma needs just one thing: a place to get hitched, at least for some seeking to remarry.

Due to an obscure law that is still in practice and enforced, Oklahoma prohibits recent divorcees from remarrying within six months of a legal separation. This means that many couples in this situation choose to leave the state’s borders to get married.

Although neither the state nor the wedding industry collect or retain statistics, Eureka Springs, Ark., is one city that has seen the economic effects of this Oklahoma legislation.

Bill Ott, marketing and communications director of two hotels in the small town, says that he has definitely noticed the business that Oklahoma has sent to his establishments.

“Oklahoma continues to be our annual number one geographic market for weddings at both of our local hotels – the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa and the 1905 Basin Park Hotel,” he says.

And since the town boasts the title of the “Wedding Capital of the South,” this is no small market, nor is the number of Oklahomans driven to wed out of state negligible.

“Notable numbers of Oklahomans using our facilities and our services would be an accurate description,” Ott says.

A hotel manager concierge from Eureka Springs, speaking on condition of anonymity, agrees that much of his establishment’s business comes from Oklahoma.

“A substantial amount of our business is from Oklahomans – probably around 50 percent,” he says.

Also, he says, it is not just the hotels that gain business.

“You have to remember, too, that there are wedding planners and

24

Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

organizers, and also probably pastors and different churches that gain business,” he says.

The manager says it would make sense for Oklahomans to travel there as a means of avoiding the trap of the unusual law – and Eureka Springs businesses appreciate the boon.

“If you took a survey of all the businesses in Eureka Springs, you’d probably be surprised about how large a percentage of the business comes from Oklahomans,” he says.

Deborah Shallcross, attorney with GableGotwals, says that most of her clients were already familiar with the law prohibiting a quick remarriage. As 1886 Crescent hotel & Spa a former district court judge of 30 years, Shallcross spent nine of them in the divorce division.

“I didn’t hear a lot of surprise from either party about the remarriage law,” she says. “But I did hear complaints.”

Shallcross says that most of the complaints that she heard were from those who wanted to marry again quickly.

However, as old-fashioned as the law might sound, Shallcross says that it is still in place for a reason.

“The legislature passes laws that reflect the policy of the state.

This has always been Oklahoma’s policy to prefer marriage over divorce,” she says. “This makes it harder to jump from an old relationship into a new one.”

As to her personal opinion of the law, Shallcross says that she isn’t opposed to its presence in the books.

“I was obligated to enforce it, of course, but I personally have no problem with it,” Shallcross says. “The six months after a decree is signed is a time when people should reflect. I would hate to see people jumping from one failed relationship into another relationship so quickly.”

But for those who are ready, of course, there’s always Eureka Springs. megan mORgan

More than150 categories representing the best of Oklahoma

Voting begins January 1, 2013 Each year our readers voice their opinions for our annual The Best of the Best issue. From burgers to banks, bathroom fixtures to brunch, they tell us who’s doing a good job, and who’s the best.

Internet voting for Tulsa and Oklahoma City The Best of the Best awards begins on January 1.

Visit www.okmag.com for rules and online ballots.

Life

PHOTOS COurTESy OF TarGET, rESTOraTIOn HarDWarE anD anTHrOPOLOGIE.

THE BEST OF LIVING WELL

S

Time To Reflect Jazz up that bare wall with a decorative wall mirror.

ome have a love/hate relationship with mirrors: They do serve a function, but boy, sometimes we don’t like looking into them. However, there should be no hate for decorative wall mirrors, as they can add interest and beauty to a small or large room. Mirrors are also great tools for creating the illusion of more space.

Before you install that hook to hang a mirror from, take time to

think about what type of mirror would suit your space; just like other dĂŠcor objects, a mirror should be proportional with other items in the space.

The design element of decorative mirrors, the frame, comes in all different shapes and sizes. Whether your taste is suited by frames that are simple or ornate, to-scale or oversized, look for a mirror that will suit your needs in terms of goals for decorating.

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January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

27

Life

HOME TRENDS

Up On The Roof

I

From synthetic to natural materials, picking the perfect roof will enhance the beauty of your home.

f you are building a new home or discover it is time to replace your aging roof, you will find a wide variety of roofing materials in today’s market.

Choosing the appropriate roof depends on several factors, including your home’s style and, of course, cost. Asphalt shingles remain the most common roofing material, available in various grades that offer warranties from 15 to 50 years. Laminated asphalt shingles, also known as architectural shingles, create an illusion of wood shingles or slate. Because their construction plies two or three layers of shingles, they are more durable than the traditional three-tab product. But laminated shingles have been more expensive until recently.

“Manufacturers have broadened their market by introducing a laminated shingle with a thinner profile, making the product more affordable,” says Jeff Siems, operations manager for Elliott Roofing, with five locations throughout the state.

Impact-resistant shingles can lower homeowner’s insurance because of Oklahoma’s hail-prone weather. Siems recommends checking with your insurance company to get a list of approved products. For additional tax advantages and lower energy bills, check out Energy Star rated lighter-colored reflective shingles.

Wood shingles and shakes offer a luxurious esthetic appeal but cost two to three times as much as asphalt. Because of past fire problems in older wood shingled neighborhoods, some homeowners’ associations and local jurisdictions have restrictions on acceptable roofing materials. Today, wood shingle and shake options include products manufactured from pressure-treated wood impregnated with fire-resistant material, offering Class B or C fire resistant ratings with a typical 30-year life. A long-lasting faux shake shingle

28

Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

created from polymer resins offers a Class A fire rating.

Slate, cement and clay tile roofs are among the highest quality roofing materials on the market, often lasting 100 years, but these products run up to five times the cost of conventional roofing. For homeowners wanting the unique architectural look when it is not in the budget, manufacturers have introduced synthetic alternatives at about half the cost.

Stone-covered steel roofing technology is becoming a popular alternative to traditional materials available with the look of architectural shingles, clay tile, shakes or slate. The product weighs less, making it safer in case of an Oklahoma earthquake. And it is energy efficient, fire-resistant, hailstone and wind rated with warranties of at least 50 years.

Research First Fraudulent roofing contractors prey on vulnerable homeowners, especially after a region experiences extensive storm damage. That’s why Basey’s Roofing, with locations in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City, offers a series of questions you always want to ask any roofing contractor, including how long the company has been in business and if they are insured.

Oklahoma enacted the Roofing Contractor Registration Act in 2010, and a list of registered roofing contractors who meet certain standards is available on the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board website at www.ok.gov/cib/.

The Oklahoma Roofing Contractor Association provides a member directory at www.orcagroup.org. And finally check the company’s standing with the Better Business Bureau.

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29

Life

The home was stripped to its bones. The only original architecture feature left is the staircase.

The homeowner chose a neutral color palette for walls throughout the home and accented with pops of vibrant color, such as the chairs in the dining room.

L I V I N G S PA C E S

Tulsa, Meet

The Hamptons adamant about saving Tulsa’s midtown homes, a homeowner and architect renovate rather than replace this classic residence.

Photography by nathan harmon

W

hen architect Mark Nelson discovered a vintage photo of this 1930s midtown Tulsa home, it became a touchstone for Nelson and the homeowner to recreate its earlier stately character.

Over the years, there had been various renovations and additions by previous owners. “But we felt most of the original character had been lost,� explains Nelson.

With the sloping lot and style of the house, the team felt it had the potential graciousness of a home in the Hamptons, so they replaced the existing siding with shingles and selected a classic gray and white exterior color scheme. The fairly new vinyl-clad full-view windows were replaced with custom wood-divided light windows, fabricated and installed by CDK Distribution.

The extensive renovation, overseen by builder Maison Consulting, continued inside where the walls were taken back to the studs with all new wiring and plumbing. Even the wood floors were removed and replaced with a wide plank, hand-scraped oak in a smoky dark finish. The only completely original architectural element remaining is the staircase.

Since much of the space had been carved into smaller areas, the goal was to create a more inviting floor plan that was conducive to entertaining while staying within the proportions and ceiling height that were typical of the 1930s. To add depth to the

30

Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

31

Life The original kitchen and breakfast room were combined to create a larger space that features custom cabinetry and steel hood vent.

the expansive living room ceiling, a low-profile coffer was installed on an angle. Thin plank siding was added to the kitchen and family room ceilings.

“When you walked in the front door, there was a wall right in front of you,” says the homeowner. “Our goal was to open it up so you could see all the way through to the new saltwater pool.”

The original kitchen and breakfast room were combined to enlarge the kitchen, and a small office was transformed into the kitchen’s banquette. A custom stainless steel vent hangs between the custom cabinetry, designed by the homeowner and Nelson, built and installed by Architectural Interiors. The island is handcrafted from walnut. Statuary marble from Permastone was chosen for the kitchen since it is purer with less veining and is more impervious to stains.

The downstairs master suite was added several years ago, but it still required modernization. A new masonry fireplace was added, and the old laundry room was removed and the space added into the master closet. A new laundry area was also included. Horizontal marble tile lines the master bathroom walls from floor to ceiling as well as in the shower. Carrara marble was selected for the countertops and bathtub surround. Mirror was inset into the vanity cabinet doors and drawers to create a more spacious feel. Plumbing fixtures were supplied

by Ferguson Enterprises Inc. Upstairs, nearly all the walls were reconfigured, and a new laundry room was added. An old pool cabana was demolished, and a third garage bay was added. Then, a new cabana was built, allowing for a second story addition for a new bedroom. The original four-bedroom home now boasts five bedrooms and five-and-a-half baths.

“The old pool sat at an angle in the backyard that made it difficult to create an entertainment area,” says Nelson. So an old back porch and the existing pool were removed. Derek McCall of DRM Design Group was brought on board to

32

Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

a banquette off the kitchen was converted from a small office.

architect mark nelson worked to restore this midtown Tulsa home to how it appeared in a vintage photo of the 1930s. This included replacing full-view windows with custom wood-divided light windows, which were installed by CDk Distribution.

hand-scraped wide oak plank floors run throughout the home.

design the new pool, fountain and the landscaping around the lavish outdoor living room complete with a new fireplace and outdoor kitchen.

The homeowner chose a neutral color palette for the walls and used bold colors as accents. The furnishings were transitioned from a modern home and blend with a mix of artwork and new accessories, while Flor carpet tile was used to create colorful area rugs.

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

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Life

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

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Life

Trendspotting A round-up of things that you cannot live without. grind Those gears

When it comes to jewelry, Bauble Bar could be my absolute favorite place to shop. The prices are reasonable, the pieces are incredible, and the company partakes in fabulous collaborations, as well.

I’m currently swooning over gear bangles (in collaboration with nina Garcia). They come in various, beautiful colors, and they look amazing stacked. I don’t think you can ever own too many bangles, and these are the perfect addition to any outfit. www.baublebar.com

To Dos

I live by to-do lists. If I don’t write something down, I won’t remember it, so I am constantly adding to my never-ending to-do list.

While my plain, white paper is functional for keeping a list, it’s by no means chic and fashionable. Thanks to Brittany Fuson paper, you no longer need to write your notes and lists on plain old paper. you can write them on notepads with beautiful sketches

by Brittany herself; you’ll look forward to checking off your to-dos. www. brittanyfuson.com

Smooth as a Baby’s… no, this is not

Potent Portables

you may think shoes when it comes to Jimmy Choo, but I’m also thinking fragrance. When I’m running around from a lunch to a meeting to dinner, it’s nice to freshen up, even if there’s only minutes in between each. Carrying a large perfume bottle around is never an option, so Jimmy Choo’s portable purse sprays have come to the rescue. not only does the fragrance smell divine, it also fits in the palm of your hand, making it easy to spray on the go. www. nordstrom.com

a product for babies, but it will make your feet feel just as soft as a baby’s foot. yes, really! Baby Foot is a chemical peel foot exfoliation made up of 17 types of natural extracts and fruit acid.

It’s an extremely simple process: stick your feet in the booties, seal them shut with the existing adhesive tape, sit for an hour, rinse with water when done, and your feet will be softer than they have ever been before. I love that the process is so easy, and the results are absolutely incredible. Within two to seven days of the initial treatment, the dead skin naturally peels off. Baby Foot uSa products are available online as well as at Tulsa Surgical arts, Miss Jackson’s, Bella Vita Spa & Salon, J.Cole, Wink Eyelashes and more.

We’re all human

I love a cool t-shirt that pairs nicely with a casual pair of jeans, blazer or cardigan and fun accessories. not only are good hyOuman t-shirts cool, but they are meaningful and carry a strong message. The premise is that everyone has a story in this world, and those stories are placed on the shirts. read more about the good hyOuman story and purchase products, visit www.goodhyouman.com

JUlie BORTniCk

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

For minimergencies We all find ourselves in a pinch at one time

or another. a nail chips, your earring back falls off, you forget to put on deodorant before a big night out – if any of these sound familiar, you’re like me and need to carry around half the bathroom cabinet in a purse. Pinch Provisions carries a Minimergency Kit that holds anything you could possibly need in any of the aforementioned situations and more. These kits come in adorable bags, and they are perfect for a gift for yourself or someone else. www.pinchprovisions.com

Life

NUTRITION

T

Drinkers, Beware

Soda is being increasingly linked to health problems and risk of disease.

oday, soft drinks have become the daily drink of choice for many, often becoming even a replacement for water and other healthy beverages. However, more evidence is coming to light that soda can bring about a number of harmful long-term effects.

First, the obvious: weight gain.

“Pop is often mistaken as free food. People don’t realize how many calories they have,” says Michelle Dennison, licensed and registered dietitian with the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center. “A 12-ounce can of Dr. Pepper has 210 calories, and most people don’t drink a small can; they drink 20-ounce bottles.”

Women need about 1,500 calories per day to sustain. Soda can take up a large portion of that daily caloric intake.

Second, tooth decay. “Soda contains acid, which pulls out minerals from the teeth and causes breakdown, which creates more cavities,” Dennison says.

Soda also contains phosphorus, which is a mineral that determines how calcium is absorbed in the body. An excessive amount of soda in the body is believed to lead to possible increased risk for osteoporosis.

Third, increased risk of disease.

Earlier this year, the Center for Science in the Public Interest released a study linking Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and their diet counterparts, to cancer. The consumer-interest group claims that the sodas contain a chemical that has caused cancer in lab rats.

Another recent study shows an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in soda drinkers. Additional studies are currently being conducted addressing the connection between soda and certain diseases, such as renal

and cardiovascular disease.

And, of course, drinking soda is linked with increased risk for obesity and diabetes. When meeting with patients who wish to improve their health and lose weight, Dennison’s first move is to cut out all of their caloric drinks. “I first suggest switching to diet soda, which still has acid and chemicals, but it’s a good first change,” says Dennison. “Diet pop has no calories, so it’s a good alternative, but it’s still a chemical like regular pop. It eats acid off batteries just like regular soda, so it can’t be good for our internal organs or our teeth.”

As a way to decrease the amount of daily intake, Dennison suggests slowly cutting back on how much a person drinks per day, one can, or serving, at a time.

“Obviously, our goal is to get everyone off sugary, highcalorie drinks and drink more water and milk,” says Dennison. “But it’s a tough problem because so many people are so dependent.”

Dennison attributes America’s universal soda addiction to the drink’s high sugar content and habits created early in life. “So many people start young drinking soda, at 4 or 5 years old, when they should be drinking milk or water,” she says.

She also suggests substituting soda with flavored water drinks.

But “the best alternative is always water,” she says.

Signs that individuals may be drinking too much soda include becoming jittery or getting a headache when they haven’t had their normal daily amount. These could also be symptoms of other ailments or problems, says Dennison, or a combination of many factors.

“When people start to go off of pop, reactions to withdrawal are different,” says Dennison. “Some feel lethargic. Others who may be pre-diabetic or diabetic may notice they have more energy.

“While individuals may experience unwanted reactions in the beginning, they won’t last, and, besides, caffeine is not a chemical we want to be dependent on.” emilY RamSeY

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Life Y O U R H E A LT H

S

Good/Better/Best local experts list the best choices for some tricky foods.

tarting off the New Year, many of us are looking to drop a few pounds collected over the holidays. But, let’s face it. Digging through the mountain of weight loss dos and don’ts can be impossible. We sat down with three dietitians to simplify healthy eating options. We posed a good, better, best scenario of four pretty tricky food categories: rice, sweeteners, grains and oils.

Rice The most important thing to remember when dining on rice is portion control, says Suzanne Forsberg, registered dietitian with St. John Healthy Lifestyles.

“A third of a cup is a serving,” says Forsberg.

White rice, while low in fat, has pretty much zero nutritional value. So how do you step up this go-to side dish?

A good option, without stepping outside the white rice comfort zone, is to simply add in some brown rice, suggests Cassie Wrich, registered dietitian with Hillcrest Medical Center.

“Go whole grain as much as you can,” explains Wrich.

There is another bonus to making your own mix. The custom blend is likely to be low in sodium.

“Buying the plain versions and seasoning on your own drastically reduces the sodium,” says Karen Massey, community nutrition coordinator with INTEGRIS Health. “Season with commerciallyprepared, no-salt seasoning, like a Mrs. Dash, or opt to add your own herbs.”

Stepping up the fiber even more, a better option is wild rice.

Wild rice is high in fiber and nutrients since the whole grain is still intact, explains Massey. If you are testing the waters, try out a wild rice blend, suggests Massey. Most wild rice available in stores is a mixture of plain and wild rice. Generally, flavored blends are low in fat, but proceed with caution.

“Sodium is markedly higher in flavored blends,” warns Massey.

The best rice option is brown rice. Brown rice, like wild rice,

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

has the bran layer still intact, providing lots of fiber and nutrients, explains Massey, and is readily available at an affordable price.

For some, the long cook-time and stiff texture of traditional brown rice isn’t appealing. Massey suggests trying a quick-cook style for when you need to get healthy food on the table. If you just can’t trade in the fluffy rice, try out a new food innovation: whole-grain white rice.

“This new product might be a nice option for those who like the appearance and taste of traditional white rice dishes,” offers Massey.

Oils Start with this simple rule. Healthy oils are liquid at room temperature, advises Wrich. Solid fats are higher in saturated fat and trans fat than liquid oils. All fats have the same number of calories, about 120 per tablespoon. But highly saturated fats, like butter, shortening and lard tend to raise blood cholesterol and increase risk of heart disease.

So if it holds its shape at room temperature, it’s best to avoid it as much as possible.

A good option is tub butter or margarine.

“Tub butter or margarine is usually better than a stick,” explains Wrich. “Try a light margarine, like one from Smart Butter or Brummel and Brown’s.”

Oils low in saturated fats and high in polyunsaturated fats are known to lower cholesterol, making them a better option. This healthy option does come with some caution. Polyunsaturated fat lowers both good and bad cholesterol levels, warns Wrich.

Corn oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil and most vegetable oils are high in polyunsaturated fats. Two trendy oils in this category, flax seed oils and fish oils, should be used with caution, says Forsberg.

“Be careful of flax seed oils or fish oils because it can really mess with your medicines,” explains Forsberg.

All agree that oils high in monounsaturated fats are really the best option. Monounsaturated fat is especially beneficial because of its ability to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol, reducing your risk for heart disease.

“Two oils come to mind as excellent choices: olive oil and canola

oil,” says Massey. “After that, the differences may depend on what you are cooking and on your taste preference. Oils vary in their ability to withstand high temperatures.”

But remember, all fats have about the same calories. Oils are definitely another area where less is really more for a healthy, lowcalorie diet.

grains Grains are where you get most of your carbohydrates, i.e. your energy. The best choices are those with the least solid fat, sugar and salt, and the more whole grains the better, making reading the labels extremely important.

“Look for whole grains among the first few ingredients,” advises Wrich. “If whole grain is pretty far down the list, they only added enough to make it brown and not really nutritional.”

There are plenty of good options in the cereal aisle. Many cereals are made with enriched grains. These blended grains combine whole grain flour with enriched flour for a blend of wholesome nutrients, says Massey.

“Again, do read the label,” repeats Massey.

“Some brands contain more salt, sugar or fat than other brands.”

The best options are whole grains like oatmeal, barley or buckwheat and products made from 100 percent whole grains. Advertisers’ lingo can make picking the right one tricky.

“Labels can be tricky. For example, 100 percent wheat bread is not the same as 100 percent whole wheat bread. White bread is 100 percent wheat. They didn’t put any rice or barley in it. Multigrain bread does have more than one grain included, but that’s not the same as whole multigrains,” clarifies Massey.

Forsberg recommends Bimbo’s 100 percent whole wheat bread.

At less than $2 a loaf, it has minimal sugars and preservatives yet plenty of fiber.

Sweeteners Neither sugar nor sugar substitutes offer much nutritional value. On average, we consume 20 percent more added sugars than in 1970, shares Forsberg. Where sweeteners are concerned, it is all about the calories. There are two ways to cut that number, says Massey:

Consume less sugar or use sugar substitutes.

“Sugar substitutes are okay in moderation,” says Forsberg.

“Instead of drinking 32 ounces of regular soda, diet is better, but still not the best choice,” shares Wrich. “Limit yourself to two or less cans a day.

“People who consume artificial sweeteners in excess tend to be at a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease,” she adds.

“The sugar substitutes are so sweet that our bodies begin to crave more and more,” says Forsberg.

There are two types of sugar substitutes. Some sugar substitutes do provide calories. These are often termed polyols, or sugar alcohols. Polyols are often blended with other sweeteners in commercial products, such as sugar-free gum and in many “no-added-sugar” products, explains Massey.

The second type is non-caloric sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame or saccharine. Newer products include stevia – also known as rebaudioside A – neotame and advantame.

“Which sweetener is ‘best’ mostly depends on one’s personal preference,” says Massey. “All sweeteners have been shown to be safe.”

“Old-timers, who’ve been using saccharine forever, like saccharin’s price,” explains Massey.

“For those with a more discerning palate, Splenda may taste more like sugar. Still, others may prefer NutraSweet or stevia.”

“Truvia would be my choice because it comes from a plant,” shares Wrich. “But, it really is just personal preference.”

There are three sweetener options that do offer some health benefits: local honey, molasses and agave.

Honey from local bees can help cure some allergies, say Forsberg and Wrich.

“Just be sure it’s the real thing,” warns Forsberg. “Always check the labels.”

“Molasses does provide some trace minerals, such as small quantities of iron, especially blackstrap molasses,” says Massey.

Agave has a low glycemic index, says Wrich, meaning agave will give you less of a spike in your blood sugar. But, it is still a sugar with about 60 calories per serving. linDSaY CUOmO January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Life

San Diego offers visitors a spectacular waterfront and vibrant city life, in addition to several famed attractions.

aT a g l a n C e access: San Diego International airport is serviced by most u.S. air carriers and by amtrak via the historic Santa Fe Depot in downtown.

Population: approx. 1.3 million, citywide Climate: Blessed with what many consider an idyllic climate, San Diego has warm, dry summers and mild winters. main attractions: Beaches and watersports, regional mountain sports, hiking, famed San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, arts and culture.

D E S T I N AT I O N S : W E E K E N D I T I N E R A R Y

Sun, Surf And SoCal

C

Scenic San Diego has the ocean, ideal weather and famed attractions.

LITTLEny / SHuTTErSTOCK.COM

attraction, SeaWorld San Diego. Exhibits abound, with many interacheck in to and acquaint yourself with your accomtive and others exclusive nationally to SeaWorld. Seeing everything at modations Friday evening and then head out to enjoy SeaWorld can also easily take an entire day, so discretion is advised.

San Diego nightlife in the bustling, historic Gaslamp Consider other options for the late afternoon. Among numerous Quarter. Duck in where the music suits your mood, options are the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the Maritime or consider the hip Minus 1 Lounge or the fabulous Museum of San Diego, USS Midway Museum or outdoor destinations Waterfront Bar & Grill. such as Torrey Pines State Reserve, Old Point Loma Lighthouse or the Saturday morning, grab breakfast at your hotel or en route to one San Diego Baywalk. Festivals, theater and professional and amateur of the quintessential San Diego sites on your day’s itinerary. You’ll sports might also be on the agenda, depending on when you travel. want to head to Balboa Park first. Its neo-classical Spanish architecture and beautiful flowering gardens are impressive, but it is the San Diego Zoo here that attracts most visitors. The zoo, often considered the best in the U.S., occupies more than 100 acres and includes exhibits not seen anywhere else, including a rare, sizable panda community. On-site or in the vicinity are numerous other museums, gardens and attractions including the San Diego Natural History Museum, the San Diego Air and Space Museum, San Diego Museum of Art, Museum of San Diego History and many others. The zoo alone can easily occupy an entire day, so portion your time out so that you take in all that you want. Late afternoon, head off to enjoy the last of the day’s sunlight on the sand of Mission Beach, Pacific Beach or Ocean Beach. Saturday evening, head back to the Gaslamp Quarter for seafood at Escape Fish Bar or for Churrasco at Rei do Gado.

Enjoy early Sunday morning back on the beach or by grabbing breakfast at the city’s favored morning eatery, Snooz, in the Hillcrest area. Then it’s off to the area’s other main The San Diego zoo is considered the best in the U.S.

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

hOT PiCkS

San Diego beaches are ideal for passive or active enjoyment.

Downtown San Diego from the Cabrillo Bridge.

S TaY i n S T Y l e The Grand Del Mar has been lauded

by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the “World’s Best Places to Stay,” and that feeling permeates this tony resort, spa and golf club, whether one is staying in an airy guest room, spacious suite or the spectacular 4,500 square-foot Brisa Villa.

Every detail has been considered in advance,

VIDEOWOKarT / SHuTTErSTOCK.COM

Finally, wrap your San Diego stay with dinner Sunday night at a local favorite like Sushi Ota for the finest fresh from the sea, Phil’s BBQ for some of the west coast’s best smoked meats and sauce, or Island Prime Restaurant for spectacular views paired with terrific steaks and seafood.

Either option is sure to conclude your west coast stay with a memorable farewell meal.

go!: Pick up a Go San Diego Card (www. smartdestinations.com) and save, with 49 attractions free with card.

Whale: If whale-watching catches your fancy, consider a February visit to San Diego, when the whales migrate past in view of locations such as the overlook in Cabrillo national Monument. (Sighting tours also readily available.)

Visit: Time permitting, San Diego is the gateway to colorful Tijuana. The San Diego Trolley’s blue line provides service from downtown to the Mexican border.

Tijuana

as reflected in a comprehensive slate of handy and courtesy services and amenities to meet any traveler’s needs. www.thegranddelmar.com

Britt Scripps Inn, located in Bankers Hill and overlooking downtown, feels even more removed from San Diego’s hustle and bustle.

Victorian charm and modern elegance blend seamlessly at this romantic bed and breakfast. Nine rooms, each with its own style and character craft a romantic backdrop, further emphasized by lush linens, attentive staff and an aesthetically appealing three stories of historic magnificence. www.brittscripps.com Tower23 Hotel is a luxury lifestyle hotel located oceanside just south of La Jolla on San Diego’s northern boundary, with many regional attractions just minutes away. Sleek, modern guest rooms are designed to accentuate the natural design elements of the waterfront location and feature private balconies or patios, teak furnishings and high-end amenities. Sunsets from the second floor Tower deck and treatments at the Tower Spa are particularly luxurious. www.t23hotel.com miChael W. SaSSeR

The grand Del mar has been called one of the “World’s Best Places to Stay.”

ViSiT Online www.sandiego.org January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

43

2012

OKLA The Giving Star a former starlet still shines for causes across Oklahoma.

Peggy Dow Helmerich didn’t exactly mean to get into a life of philanthropy.

“Mayor Bobby LaFortune, who was our neighbor at the time, said, ‘Peggy I want you to be on the library board,’” Helmerich says.

“I thought, ‘Oh mercy, I can’t turn him down,’ but I thought, ‘What am I doing?’”

Although she felt out of place at first, Helmerich found her place fund raising for the library.

“Someone said, ‘We’ve got an endowment fund with only $300 in it, and I thought, ‘You know, that’s kind of a shame,’” Helmerich says. “So the library head and I decided we would do some money raising and have an author come to our library for the 10th anniversary.”

What started as a simple fundraiser for the library has evolved into the Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award, an annual honor awarded to an American author in Tulsa.

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

AHOMANS of the Year

PHOTO By HEaTH SHarP.

Oklahoma is a state that had been built on gumption and giving by diverse peoples working together to carve out a distinct culture and beautiful environment from a land once considered undesireable. That is our shared history and one buoyed by the tireless work of Oklahomans of all stripes.

Oklahoma Magazine has once again scoured the state seeking suggestions of individuals who warrant specific recognition for their efforts on behalf of all residents in 2012. These five Oklahomans well represent the countless state residents who each and every day work toward building stronger communities and a better Oklahoma.

Born in a small town in Mississippi, Helmerich attended Northwestern University and studied classical theater before moving to Hollywood to begin a career in acting.

Helmerich, then known as Peggy Dow, signed a seven-year contract with Universal Studios, making her on-screen debut with Undertow in 1949 and most notably appearing as the nurse in 1951’s Harvey with James Stewart.

“I was very fortunate to get some terrific parts,” Helmerich says. “There were some B-movies which everyone has to sort of do to pay their dues, but I was really so fortunate to get nice parts.”

After only three years, Peggy Dow married Walt Helmerich, an oil and gas man, in 1951, and moved to Tulsa to begin a family.

Now more than 60 years, five sons and 13 grandchildren and great-grandchildren later,

Helmerich, along with her late husband, has lived her life dedicated to improving the health and arts landscape of Oklahoma.

Although Helmerich has spent her life in service, this year was particularly noteworthy as the University of Oklahoma renamed their drama program, the second oldest in the country, the Peggy Dow Helmerich School of Drama.

“That was really a wonderful honor,” Helmerich says. “It’s a marvelous school full of the most beautiful young people; I said I was really sorry they couldn’t name it for some big movie star rather than someone who was a kind of starlet type who was just in the beginning of a career.”

In addition to Helmerich’s donations to the school of drama, she has also supported numerous organizations across the University of Oklahoma system, as it was Walt Helm-

erich’s alma mater.

Also this year, the Peggy V. Helmerich Women’s Health Center opened a second center at Hillcrest South to help provide education and other services to Oklahoma women.

“We have a wonderful hospital that’s a real state-of-the-art place,” Helmerich says.

Tulsans would be hard-pressed to find an organization that hasn’t been touched by the generosity of the Helmerich family. For Peggy Helmerich, her faith is what has made it all possible.

“Being grounded in my faith has really been important to me,” Helmerich says. “It is so important to be grounded in things: it’s that old silly adage, ‘You have to stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.’ You really have to stand for something and really believe in it heart, soul and mind.” – Bailey Elise McBride January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

45

Man on a Mission

Pastor Tom Jones, president and CEO of City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City, says, “I have always had a passion to help those who are in need.” His desire to help others started at an early age, after his alcoholic father left the family when Jones was 5. Twenty years later, Jones received the call that his father’s body had been discovered in an abandoned building.

“He had died as a homeless man living on the streets,” Jones says. “At that point in my life I felt I needed to try my best to help those that found themselves in his situation. He was a man that could not overcome his addictions alone.

Even though addictions are difficult to break, people need to feel loved and accepted while they are trying to overcome them. Every homeless man is someone’s son, brother, uncle or dad.

Every homeless woman is someone’s daughter, sister, aunt or mother. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect while they are seeking help.”

Jones, who has led City Rescue Mission for the past five years and builds upon 35 years of experience as a pastor, has spearheaded some of the mission’s most successful projects, including the most recent, the Impact Hunger Food Resource Center, that opened this past September. The center allows near-homeless clients who either receive food stamps or have a letter of recommendation from a church or aid agency to shop for food at no charge. “This allows for the working poor to get assistance with food and maintain their dignity,” Jones says. “They shop and select the food items that their family likes, not what someone else thinks they would like.”

During his term as president of the mission, Jones has overseen the creation and implementation of the Bridge to Life Recovery Program, which offers individual, holistic, solutions-based aid and is now being practiced at agencies across the nation. In the past four years, the program has seen some 1,000 graduates. Jones also directed the implementation of the mission’s new Job Placement Center, which is open to everyone in the community, homeless or not.

In addition to his responsibilities at the mission, Jones was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry to the Governor’s Interagency Council on Homelessness, and now chairs that organization and its efforts to foster collaboration amongst agencies that help the homeless across the state.

Of his life’s work, Jones says, “Our desire is to find solutions for every homeless person that enters our doors. Many would say that we are trying to work ourselves out of a job, but the truth is that there will always be people that face challenges and need our services.” – Tara Malone

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

PHOTO By BrEnT FuCHS.

Pastor Tom Jones of City Rescue mission gives hope to the homeless.

The Cultivator

PHOTO By HEaTH SHarP.

Tulsa Community College President Tom mckeon grows success one student at a time.

The words “chief executive” and “horticulture” are not words often found in close association. On the surface, the terms couldn’t be further apart in terms of practicality.

Unless, that is, you happen to be Tom McKeon. In the case of Tulsa Community College’s president, a horticulture background comes in handy. After all, McKeon is in the business of growing success.

McKeon’s association with one of northeast Oklahoma’s most recognized educational institutions spans more than 30 years, serving in his current capacity since 2004. During that time, McKeon has seen the institution transform itself from the former Tulsa Junior College into one of the most cutting-edge community colleges in the nation.

And it is the “community” in TCC’s name that drives him as the institution’s president. “The community looks to TCC many times as a community resource,” McKeon says. “That’s been a part of our culture from the very beginning.”

Despite steadily increasing enrollment and a four-campus system, McKeon enthusiastically points to TCC’s relentless outreach to the region’s students, both current and future. With a view toward expanding affordable post-high school education opportunities to a broader spectrum of prospective students, McKeon was a driving force in TCC’s groundbreaking Tulsa Achieves program. The program provides a very affordable option to high school graduates demonstrating a desire to pursue successful post-high school academics. “If you have a 2.0 grade point average or higher,” McKeon says, “we provide 63 college credits at no cost.” Keeping the community emphasis, Tulsa Achieves requires participants to perform 40 hours of community service each academic year. “(Tulsa Achieves) is an acknowledgement that students need some post-secondary education to succeed,” McKeon says.

McKeon’s dedication to TCC students’ success does not end once a student begins classes. Under his leadership, TCC has implemented a program known as Achieving The Dream. The national program is designed to foster community college student success and increase graduation rates. McKeon points to Achieving The Dream as one of TCC’s greatest success stories during his tenure. “It has truly changed how we work to improve our students’ success,” he says. “To me, that is truly exciting.”

In addition to TCC’s people-oriented doctrine, McKeon’s tenure as president has also seen the college’s infrastructure take a giant leap forward with the construction of the Metro Campus’s Center for Creativity. Serving as TCC’s epicenter for media, visual arts, communications, and distance learning programs, the glitzy building is home to a broad, outdoor rooftop featuring a self-sustaining “green” area, in addition to providing students with access to up-tothe-second technology.

With the future looking bright for TCC, McKeon is eager to translate TCC’s success and vision to all levels of the educational process. “I really see the college being a real leader in education from pre-kindergarten through college and beyond,” he says. “We’re facing some real challenges in secondary education.” McKeon adds that concurrent enrollment arrangements between TCC and area high schools provide access to additional educational opportunities that might not otherwise exist.

Over the course of a conversation with McKeon, it is easy for even the most casual observer to catch his contagious enthusiasm.

“I think a lot of that excitement is derived from our successes and outcomes,” he says. “And that has been significant.” – Brian Patrick

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

47

Pride And Progress If the needs of Oklahoma’s Choctaw Nation exactly mirror those of the United States, then Choctaw Chief Gregory E. Pyle has every reason to be proud of the Nation’s accomplishments during his tenure. The 2007 Oklahoma Hall of Fame inductee cites vast improvements in health care and in employment as his administration’s most noteworthy achievements even while the U.S. struggled addressing those issues.

“It was a big thing in my family, when you come into something, leave it better off than before,” Pyle says in regard the question of his legacy. “I’m very proud that we were able to build and expand a hospital and to build and operate the clinics that we have.

“Also when I started here, there were 1,200 employees. Now there are 6,000.

These jobs also permit people to stay in rural Oklahoma.”

Pyle grew up shuttling between California and Oklahoma. His parents had sought better opportunities in California but regularly returned to Oklahoma. They made their home in Durant permanently a half-century ago.

Pyle was elected Chief in 1997 after serving more than 13 years as assistant chief. He says his call to public service is an extension of his values.

“I think it’s because of basic values passed down from my parents,” Pyle says. “I grew up in a small town that didn’t have a church.

My dad and a few men remodeled this big house into a church, and then my dad took his bulldozer and made a parking lot. When you’re 6 or 7 years old, which I was, those are big, important things.”

Big, important things are just what Pyle has accomplished. Under his leadership, a new hospital was built in Talihina as well as the Diabetes Wellness Center; clinics in Stigler, McAlester, Atoka and Idabel; a new Hospitality House, new Recovery Center and a new Women’s Treatment Center.

The Poteau Clinic has expanded to include additional health care professionals and a mail-pharmacy refill center. Other successful advancements include independent living facilities for the elderly in six different towns, several new and refurbished community centers, four child development centers and a score of new tribal businesses.

Pyle is also proud of the progress made in employment. In addition to expanding employment at the Nation, hundreds of people have

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

benefitted from expert training, ranging from six weeks to two years. The result: An average improvement in income of $12,000 annually.

“This past year we increased employment by about 400 jobs and provided training for another 800 people,” Pyle says.

Also key this past year was progress in discussions with relevant parties about the vital issue of water in the region as well as ongoing relationship building with OU and OSU in regard to medical issues. Pyle was also the impetus behind the development of

the Choctaw Language Program that is present in some 30 area schools today.

Pyle, who is a national Native American figure today as well, points out the irony of the language program.

“Generations ago, my mom went to a girls academy where she was not allowed to speak Choctaw,” says Pyle. “Things have changed.”

For the thriving Choctaw Nation, much has changed for the better, and Pyle has been a lynchpin. – Michael W. Sasser

PHOTO COurTESy CHOCTaW naTIOn.

Choctaw Chief gregory Pyle has helped guide the nation’s renaissance.

From Classroom To City Hall

PHOTO By BrEnT FuCHS.

norman mayor’s public policy expertise has helped guide the city’s progress.

As a political science professor and curator of the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center at the University of Oklahoma, Cindy Simon Rosenthal would often be questioned by students, “Why don’t you run for public office?”

The inquiry prompted reflection.

“At some level I felt that in order to encourage future generations of leaders that it was important to have an experienced person to speak in a deeper way to students, to talk to them about the rewards,” says Rosenthal.

“As someone who tries to mentor young people, I know they look to see if you not only talk the talk, but also walk the walk.”

Thus, in 2004, Rosenthal ran for and was elected to the Norman City Council before, three years later, becoming the first popularly elected woman mayor of the city. She was re-elected in 2010 to another three-year term, and throughout, she has tirelessly paired an acclaimed career in office with her ongoing effort to prepare the next generation of public policy makers – with a particular focus on women in the process.

“So much of my experience serving the city has enriched what I teach,” Rosenthal says.

“This has been an opportunity to serve the community and make that experience come alive in the classroom. It’s not just an ‘academic’ interest in public policy – I think the best teachers often have applied knowledge.”

Still, Rosenthal says her foray into politics was an evolution. In 1985, her husband was offered a position at the University of Oklahoma, prompting the move to Norman. The Northwestern University graduate, who’d become interested in public service while a journalist, ran her own consulting business and also chose to further her education.

“I went back to school at 40,” Rosenthal says. In 1995 she earned her doctorate in political science from OU and joined the faculty.

Under her leadership in 2002, the Carl Albert Center launched what would become the Women’s Leadership Initiative, which includes multiple partnerships with women’s and youth-serving organizations. Recognized as a public policy expert, Rosenthal is co-author (with Ronald M. Peters, Jr.) of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the New American Politics. She edited Women Transforming Congress and is the author of When Women Lead, among other publishing credits.

Rosenthal has implemented her expertise

throughout her career in office. Among the accomplishments she is particularly proud of are furthering the downtown arts district, Norman’s vaunted leadership within the state on fiscally smart sustainability initiatives, and the city’s financial and personnel stability during the recession.

“I’m proud of the leadership this community has taken in terms of sustainability that also make incredible economic sense,” she says.

Just last year, Rosenthal says the city observed the ribbon cutting of a new CNG station that’s also open to the public and the opening of Norman’s second LEED-certified

fire station. In August 2012 the city also passed its largest bond issue for infrastructure improvements with 63 percent of a public vote.

If a third term is in the cards – and she says she’s still considering another run – Rosenthal says she would like to focus on quality of life projects such as a new library, renovated parks and a year-round aquatic center.

“I recognize the desire in the community for these things,” she says. “Norman is a great city and a terrific place to raise our family.” miChael W. SaSSeR January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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THE LONG, LAST WALK

Serene Death Row is the last address for Oklahoma’s worst offenders.

By Charles W. Sasser

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

The condemned’s last day on earth begins before daybreak at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

Footfalls echo on death row as guards escort him to a holding cell only eight feet and 12 hours away from the execution chamber. In 2012, five convicted Oklahoma murderers walked the “last mile.” Gary Welch would have been the sixth, except he died of natural causes only weeks before his scheduled execution in January 2012.

Sixty-two others, including one woman, await their turns. One hundred have been put to death since 1976.

Oklahoma leads the nation in executions per capita and ranks third behind Texas and Virginia in overall numbers.

Michael Edward Hooper was one of the death chamber’s most recent visitors on Aug. 14. He was sentenced to death for the Dec. 7, 1993, slayings of Cynthia Lynn Jarman, 23, and her two children, Tonya, 5, and Timmy, 3. He shot each twice in the head and buried their bodies in a shallow grave in a field near Oklahoma City.

Witnesses – both Hooper’s relatives and those of the victims – watched through a window from a separate room as Hooper delivered his final words while strapped to a gurney with IV tubes attached to his arms.

“I just want to thank God for such an exuberant sendoff. . .” he said. “I ask that my spirit be released into the hands of Jesus. I’m ready to go.”

Although “we have means to prevent them from fighting or trying to get off the table,” says Terry Crenshaw, Warden’s Assistant at McAlester, “individuals have pretty well made peace with their God by this time.”

People of good will have debated both sides of capital punishment since at least 1608 when the death penalty was first administered in the New World to a resident of Jamestown Colony for spying for the Spanish government. Throughout the rest of the 17th century, the British Governor of Virginia’s Divine, Moral and Martial Laws hung the convicted for all sorts of crimes, including stealing vegetables and trading with Indians.

Capital punishment came to Oklahoma in 1804 when Congress applied U.S. criminal law to the Louisiana Purchase, which included Oklahoma. Capital crimes were tried in federal courts in Arkansas, Kansas and Texas until Indian Territory became a state in 1907. Judge Isaac Parker, the “hanging judge,” sent a total of 79 Indian Territory convicts to the gallows.

Hanging remained Oklahoma’s most common method of execution until 1915 when Henry Bookman became the first convicted Oklahoma killer to sit in “old sparky,” the electric chair. A total of 82 males, no females, died in the state’s electric chair until the Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional in 1972.

Execution has been by lethal drugs since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Charles Troy Coleman holds the dubious honor of being the first Oklahoman to die by this “more humane method” when he was executed on Sept. 10, 1990, for a 1979 murder in Muskogee County. Wanda Jean Allen, executed in 2001 for slaying her lesbian lover, was the first woman in the state to die

by lethal injection – one of only three women executed in Oklahoma since statehood.

Currently, 34 states still actively practice capital punishment.

Certain aggravating circumstances must be present before a killer can be sent to Death Row in Oklahoma. These include prior conviction for a violent felony; knowingly creating great risk to more than one person; murder for hire; an exceptionally atrocious or cruel murder; murder committed to avoid arrest or prosecution; murder while serving a sentence for a violent felony; and a high probability of a repeat offense or of becoming a further threat to society.

A 2006 Oklahoma law, so called “Jessica’s Law,” allows the death penalty for anyone convicted twice for rape, sodomy or lewd molestation involving children under the age of 14. It has not yet been applied in the state.

Abolitionist groups such as Oklahoma’s Anti-Death Penalty Project and the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty oppose all capital punishment on a variety of levels ranging from the moral Tulsa Police Sergeant gary neece sees to the practical. More the drawn-out nature of the appeals than 200 death penalty process in death penalty cases as detrimental to families that need closure. opponents gathered outside the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind., on June 11, 2001, when Oklahoma’s most notorious son, Timothy McVeigh, was executed for killing 168 people in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Abolitionists held a “Don’t Kill For Me” silent vigil at the Governor’s Mansion on the evening of Michael Hooper’s execution.

“Murder is often committed by insane, intoxicated, passion-ridden people who don’t consider the consequences of their acts,” asserts Joe P. Robertson, director of the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System that employs 75 full-time staff attorneys statewide to represent indigent defendants. “But what about someone who knows all the facts, is soberly cognizant and makes a considered opinion to kill? That’s what a jury does.

What’s the difference between an individual killing someone and a jury killing someone? Killing should be wrong for everyone.”

Proponents of capital punishment take umbrage with the assertion that condemned murderers may not be responsible for their choices and actions. Some crimes, they argue, are so horrific that society’s only adequate response is to prescribe death in order to re-level the scales of justice.

“The scary psychopath who should be executed is a rare exception rather than the rule,” concludes Tulsa County Chief Public Defender Pete Silva, who defended his first capital offense in 1979. He, like many of those who oppose capital punishment, contends the death penalty is no deterrent to crime.

A 2008 poll cited by the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington D.C.

PHOTO By HEaTH SHarP.

“THE SCARY PSYCHOPATH WHO SHOULD BE EXECUTED IS A RARE EXCEPTION RATHER THAN THE RULE.”

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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The Oklahoma State Penitentiary houses the state’s death row inmates.

surveyed the nation’s police chiefs and reported that almost all of them ranked the death penalty last among their crime-fighting priorities since they did not believe it deterred.

“I have inquired for much of my adult life about statistics that might show that the death penalty is a deterrent,” Janet Reno, Attorney General under President Bill Clinton, has said, “and I haven’t seen any research that would substantiate that point.”

Does Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris, who has been a prosecutor for 27 years, think the death penalty is a deterrent? “Yes, I do. For that one individual, michael edward hooper was exThe execution chamber housed in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary anyhow. First of all, it’s Oklahoma law. But since it is ecuted on aug. 14. he was convicted is a simple room that contains a gurney. The drugs used for lethal of slaying a woman and her two injection are administered on the other side of the wall. the ultimate punishment, it should be reserved for only children in 1993. the most heinous crimes.”

Another argument used by abolitionists is that lethal injection by drugs may not University of Oklahoma. always provide painless death. Florida inmate Angel Diaz took 34 minutes and a Since 1973, 140 death row inmates nationwide have second round of drugs before he died from lethal injection in 2006. Witnesses said he been released after being exonerated. Eight people have “gasped” and “grimaced.” been cleared in Oklahoma while on death row, largely “We need to kill people softly,” Austin Sarat, a professor at Amherst College, has through relatively new DNA research. said, “to kill people gently in order to have a legitimate form of execution. And we just Harris has established a review process to prevent wrongful convictions in Tulsa County.

“I’ve been present at three different executions,” he says. “When you’re there and watch it meted out, you know you can’t be wrong about the decision. We must make sure beyond a reasonable doubt that the evidence is appropriate, strong and that there are no mistakes.”

Polls show a majority of Americans continue to support the death penalty. In Oklahoma, according to the District Attorneys Council, most prosecutors oppose efforts to abolish capital punishment. The vast majority of law enforcement officers also believe that some can’t figure out what that is.” convicted murders should pay the ultimate price.

Former State Medical Examiner Dr. Jay Chapman, who helped approve the lethal The problem, cops say, is in the unconscionably long drug method for Oklahoma executions, counters by saying, “Considering the methods time between conviction and execution. In June 1936, by which (convicted murderers) dispatched their victims, (lethal injection) is perhaps a Arthur Gooch was hanged after spending less than a little too humane.” year on Oklahoma’s death row. Today, legal appeals to In 2011, some 3,200 people were confined on federal and state death rows in the higher courts can drag on for decades. Michael Hooper United States. It is far cheaper, say opponents of capital punishment, to house a prisspent 19 years on death row. A Florida inmate died of oner for life than to execute him. The average cost from arrest to execution for a single natural causes at the age of 94 after spending 37 years inmate ranges from between $1 and $3 million. In Texas, a death penalty case costs awaiting execution. about $3 million, while imprisoning an inmate for 40 years (a life sentence) costs $2 Wagoner County Sheriff Bob Colbert believes the million. death penalty is a mockery of justice for the anguish Perhaps the strongest abolitionist argument is that innocent people may be executed. it imposes upon the victim’s loved ones while the con“We’re the state with the highest per capita execution rate and the highest per capita victed killer languishes. wrongful conviction rate,” points out Dr. Susan Sharp, death penalty researcher at the

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

PHOTOS COurTESy OKLaHOMa DEPT. OF COrrECTIOnS.

“THE LONG PERIOD BETWEEN CONVICTION AND EXECUTION STRINGS OUT GRIEVING FAMILIES AS THEY WAIT FOR CLOSURE.”

PHOTO By HEaTH SHarP.

ings are a bunk overlaid by a mattress, a toilet and a desk, all of which are concrete.

“The pain and suffering of the victim’s family is A small, high window allows sunlight, but inmates are unable to see trees, grass or worse than anything the criminal endures,” he maintains. anything else outside.

“The long period between conviction and execution The prisoner lives in this small space 23 hours of every day. He is allowed one hour strings out grieving families as they wait for closure,” a day in an exercise area either alone or with his cellmate. Like his cell, the exercise agrees Gary Neece, Tulsa Police sergeant and author of area is a somewhat larger concrete box, about 30 feet by 15 feet, with a small skylight the novel Cold Blue. “If I had a mind to kill someone, window. There is no exercise equipment. and was actually convicted, my appeals would drag out Each inmate may have a TV and is allowed to check out books that are carted around for years. Finally, when my last day arrived, I could rest from the prison library system. Scheduled visitors must sit on the opposite side of a easy knowing I’d lived longer than my reckless lifestyle thick wall of glass. would have afforded me on the streets.”

Most eventually become accustomed to life on death row. “There’s a peacefulness,” The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to hear the one observes. “There is contentment. There’s peace and quiet.” case of a Florida inmate who insisted his 32 years on Contrary to popular myth, executions do not occur at midnight. The usual execution death row amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. process in Oklahoma starts at about 5:30 p.m. and is over in less than an hour. Three Justice John Paul Stevens, now retired, expressed conguards watch and log the condemned’s every movement during his last day in the holdcern over such long incarcerations on Death Row. ing cell.

“Delays in state-spon“He can make phone sored killings are inescalls, write letters and have capable,” he said, “and... visitors,” says Crenshaw, executing defendants after “and he is allowed to such delays is unacceptably shower and change into cruel.” fresh offender’s clothing.

Justice Clarence Thomas He is served his last meal has a different take. “It between noon and 1 p.m. is the crime, and not the It has to be selected off a punishment imposed by menu from McAlester resthe jury or the delay in petitaurants and cannot exceed tioner’s execution, that was $15.” ‘unacceptably cruel.’”

As time draws near, the Joe P. Robertson believes individual is allowed to capital punishment will freely walk the short eight eventually be abolished in feet from the holding cell to America. the execution chamber. This “We are one of the few is the only time during the nations in the world that day that he is not restrained. still practices it,” he says.

“We have staff to help if “The higher the level of he needs assistance, if his education and sophisticalegs get weak or sometion within a state, the less thing,” Crenshaw explains. likely it is to approve the The execution room is death penalty. Where it painted white; it contains prevails now is in the south only a white-sheeted and southwest. These will gurney. The condemned is be the last states to abolish placed on the gurney, and it.” an IV is inserted into each Should capital punarm. Lines from the IVs ishment eventually be lead through a wall behind stricken, contends Silva, which the executioners the alternative must be life wait. in prison without any possiTulsa County Public Defender Pete Silva, Witnesses enter the bility of parole in order that who defended his first capital murder outer room, sit in chairs society can be adequately case in 1979, believes the death penalty is not an effective deterrent. and watch through the plate protected. glass window that separates “There is a lot of talk them from the individual about commuting senwho is only minutes away from death. The warden allows the condemned two minutes tences,” he explains, “which I think is a bad idea. The to make his final statement. Afterward, behind the wall, out of sight, three executioners, law should be what it says, and for everyone. Justice that whose identities are known only to the warden, administer three cocktail drugs with is not certain is justice denied.” handheld syringes into the IV lines.

In the meantime, life at McAlester for the approxiThe first syringe contains pentobarbital, which causes unconsciousness. The second, mately 60 men and one woman on Death Row continues vecuronium bromide, stops respiration. Finally, potassium chloride from the third as they await their “last mile.” syringe stops the heart.

Warden’s Assistant Crenshaw describes a world that is Michael Edward Hooper smiled as the drugs began to flow at 6:08 p.m. He exhaled uniformly concrete. Except for a few who are doubledeeply, murmured, “I love you all,” closed his eyes, and lay motionless. celled, the majority live solitarily in concrete cells apIt was over. proximately 12-by-eight feet. In each, the only furnishJanuary 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Special advertising Section

the professionals SKIN HEALTH & AGE MANAGEMENT As a consumer, should I be worried about Botox?

Many people are not aware that Botox comes in a freeze-dried form and must be reconstituted using saline.

The common amounts of saline added to Botox range from 1.0ml to 10.0ml per 100 units freeze dried Botox.

Sharon Smithson, Using minimum amounts of saline, BSRN as is recommended for the specific purpose, allows for precision during administration and gives better, longer lasting results.

The more saline used, the more likely the Botox is to drift from the exact area it is administered. If you get little to no results, it could be due to watered down Botox. If you have any questions about Botox or this article, please call SkinMedic at 918.587.7546. Visit our website – www.skinmedic.com – for a listing of our current specials.

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PHD LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR

Is there a sexual obligation in relationships?

Feeling obligated to have sex with a partner to relieve stress in a relationship may create pressure or resentment. This can also cause levels of intimacy to drop, create communication barriers and divide sexual and Courtney Linsen- emotional expectations. Feeling remeyer-O’Brien, sponsible for your partner’s happiness PhD, LPC, MHR or feeling obligated to placate to their sexual agenda is exhausting and only leads to relational opposition in and out of the bedroom.

Learning to communicate different understandings of intimacy and sexual needs is important in order to feel both are invested in the relationship, and to assure that reciprocity is being met by both people.

Courtney linsenmeyer-O’Brien, PhD, lPC, mhR 1723 e. 15th St., Suite 250 Tulsa, Ok 74104 918.639.0570 www.drcourtneyobrien.com drobrien@drcourtneyobrien.com

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

LEGAL SERVICES

HOSPICE CARE

What is “intangible property”?

“Intangible property” is property that does not have a physical component.

If you can touch it, see it, hold it, etc., then it is not considered intangible property. Copyrights, patents, trademarks, claims against a party, intellectual property rights, ownership rights, debts and goodwill all are considered Brad Beasley intangible property. Intangible property can be bought and sold. Intangible property often is evidenced by something tangible. For example, if you owe someone a debt, the debt is intangible property and may be evidenced by a written document (i.e., a promissory note). Ownership of a corporation is considered intangible property, but the document evidencing such ownership, a stock certificate, is tangible. Finally, intangible property may produce certain rights separate from the property that contains such rights. The use and implementation of a patent in a cell phone is separate and distinct from the actual cell phone.

Brad Beasley is a partner with Boesche mcDermott llP, and has been in practice for 33 years. he maintains a commercial litigation and general business practice.

Bradley k. Beasley Boesche mcDermott llP 110 W. 7th St., Suite 900 Tulsa, Ok 74119 918.858.1735 (Direct Dial) 918.583.1777 telephone 918.592.5809 facsimile

BRIDAL CONSULTANT

Hospice care provides a holistic approach that includes the physical, spiritual, emotional and social facets of a Ava Hancock family. This means your grandmother will have a dedicated group of professionals who are trained in end of life care. They will provide pain and symptom management; whether that pain is physical, emotional or spiritual.

This team includes physicians, nurses, nurse aides, social workers, chaplains, bereavement counselors and volunteers. They work with you and your family to develop an individualized plan of care to address your unique needs. You and your family will also continue to receive support for as long as needed after the death by a bereavement professional. Please contact Grace Hospice at 918.744.7223 for further information.

ava hancock executive Director grace hospice of Oklahoma 6400 South lewis, Suite 1000 Tulsa, Ok 74136 918.744.7223 www.gracehospice.com

VETERINARIAN

How long before my wedding should I start shopping for a dress?

It all depends on how you shop. In our store, we recommend shopping as soon as you are engaged. Then, plan on ordering nine to 12 months out. Most designer gowns take approximately five Jennifer Thompson months to order. You will likely need some type of alterations. Alterations could take anywhere from four to eight weeks. Most brides don’t think about bridal portraits when they are looking for a gown, but photographers like to take bridal portraits about a month before the wedding, so you need to make time for that, too. You can always purchase off the rack if the size and color are right. You can also rush the gowns most times, but this is at an additional cost to the bride, and it only comes about a month earlier, so you still have to plan ahead. This is supposed to be a fun time, and if you wait too long it becomes very stressful.

You will want to have everything completed the month before the wedding so you can enjoy the upcoming parties and festivities stress-free.

Jennifer Thompson Facchianos Bridal and Formal attire 71st and garnett Broken arrow, Ok 74012 918.461.VOWS (8697) www.facchianos.com

My grandmother’s doctor has recommended we look into hospice care for her. What is involved and who will be caring for her?

Winter is here and we have an outside pet. Is it okay for my pet to stay outside when it’s below freezing or snowing?

Many breeds with long, thick hair are fine in the cold. However, if you have a breed with short, thin hair, it should only be outdoors for a short period of Dr. Rodney Robards time during freezing temperatures. Elderly and arthritic pets should be given extra care during the winter. The cold can leave their joints stiff and tender. As a rule of thumb, you should not leave your pet outside longer than you would be comfortable being outside in the cold. Also, your veterinarian can check your pet for any medical problems that could make it more vulnerable in cold weather. If you have more pet questions, check out the Southern Hills Veterinary Hospital iPhone app for more answers.

Rodney Robards, DVm Southern hills Veterinary hospital 2242 e. 56th Pl. Tulsa, Ok 74105 918.747.1311 www.southernhillsvet.com Views expressed in the Professionals do not necessarily represent the views of Oklahoma Magazine, Schuman Publishing Co. or its affiliates.

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To be included in the Professionals, call 918.744.6205.

LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST

I have someone in my family that is struggling with substance addiction. What is the best way for our family to help?

I have heard that hormone imbalances can be directly related to weight gain. What’s a good approach to regulating hormones and can weight loss really be attained by doing so?

My first question would be, “Does your family member want help?” Most people struggling with addiction do not make a concerted effort toward sobriety unless Amy Kesner, PhD, they are ready. Usually a person with LPC, LADC chemical dependency does not commit to the process of sobriety until their perception of the benefits of using no longer outweigh the consequences. Any treatment program should be individualized to address the unique and special needs and issues for the person seeking help.

Individual counseling is helpful to discover underlying issues contributing to the abuse as well as to develop appropriate coping skills and to develop a lifestyle change to support sober living. Family counseling can assist the family in understanding issues related to addiction as well as learning ways to support the family member in treatment. Substance abuse is often a family issue as it rarely affects only the person who has the addiction. It is not uncommon for some family members to seek individual counseling as well. A chemical dependency assessment may be a helpful tool in determining which treatment approach is best for an individual.

amy kesner all Things Psychological 5500 S. lewis, Suite 5505 Tulsa, Ok 74105 918.691.2226 www.allthingspsychological.com dramykesner@gmail.com

As we age, our bodies tend to hold on to fat in order to retain depleting Malissa Spacek hormones. Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is an excellent way to treat this issue as well as improve muscle mass, fatigue, depression, mental clarity and libido. BHRT is rich in plant molecules that can easily be converted to function exactly like those that the body produces. The effects of BHRT essentially slow the aging process by giving the body hormones that it can no longer produce on its own. At BA Med Spa & Weight Loss Center, we offer a comprehensive approach to hormone replacement therapy for men and women by targeting specific symptoms and addressing with a personalized treatment program.

Dr. James R. Campbell D.O. and malissa Spacek, managing Partner Ba med Spa & Weight loss Center 500 South elm Place Broken arrow, Oklahoma 74012 918.872.9999 www.baweightspa.com

PR & MARKETING CONSULTANT

PHYSICAL THERAPY

How can automation marketing help my business?

I have noticed athletes on television and people at the gym using tape on their shoulders. What is this for?

Industry statistics show that nurtured leads make 47 percent larger purchases than non-nurtured leads. Automation marketing helps you nurture your leads and communicate with your customers throughout the sales process. For example, when a patient schedules dental Jessica Dyer surgery, the dentist can communicate with the patient pre- and post-op via targeted emails about what to bring on the day of their surgery, post-op instructions and links to articles about what to expect during recovery. In tough economic times, it is still possible to increase your revenue by offering current customers additional products and services. You can automatically generate emails based on their purchase history, to keep them buying from you instead of your competitor. Increased market share is what we all want; often, marketing and sales support are cut first. Marketing automation enables you to outsource your marketing, automate your administrative functions, and keep your sales people where they do you the most good: out in the field.

Jessica Dyer emerge marketing & PR 11063-D S. memorial Dr. #445 918.925.9945 Jdyer@emergempr.com www.facebook.com/emergePR

Occupational and Physical Therapists have used a variety of taping techniques for many years in order to perform musculoskeletal correction.

Shelly Walentiny, At this time, and what is often seen on OTR/L, CHT athletes, is elastic tape. I use elastic tape on my clients that would benefit from musculoskeletal corrections, such as an impingement syndrome in the shoulder and tendonitis in the elbow or wrist. The elastic tape is also beneficial for reducing swelling, accelerating blood flow and optimizing more normal movement patterns. I have seen great results with use of the elastic tapes when applied properly and the client is trained/instructed on strengthening and stretching exercises to perform regularly.

Shelly Walentiny, OTR/l, ChT excel Therapy Specialists 918.398.7400 www.exceltherapyok.com

COSMETIC & IMPLANT DENTISTRY

Dr. Chris Ward D.D.S.

My dentist recommends that I get a bridge or a removable partial denture for two missing teeth on my lower right. She doesn’t do implants, and I would rather not have something to take in and out or cut down the only other teeth I have on that side? Are implants a good option in my case?

I feel the same way. Most of my patients say something removable is a pain. The best longterm option are implant-supported crowns. You won’t have to take them in and out, nor will you have to cut down any remaining teeth. We simply remove the teeth and place a socket graft, if needed; if the teeth are already missing, we will have to check for adequate bone, and then place the implant or any needed bone grafting and allow healing a few months then come back and get an impression for the implant crown/crowns. Depending on the size of the space, sometimes these are splinted together or put in a bridge form for those patients missing more than two teeth in a quadrant. This can be very streamlined, and the results are simply wonderful for my patients. They can chew what they want and it feels just like their natural teeth. We offer many different financial arrangements and options to help you achieve the dental goals you have for yourself.

Chris Ward, D.D.S. 12814 e 101st Pl n, Suite 101 Owasso, Ok 74055 918.274.4466 www.ChrisWardDDS.com

PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICE What New Year’s resolution should I make to improve my cleaning routine?

Out with the old, in with the new!

Now the best time to toss old cleaning supplies even if you don’t see visible wear and tear. Brooms usually last two to three years; laundry detergent Amy Bates should be used within six months, and sponges should only be kept for three to four weeks. For cleaning products that contain chemicals, keep the expiration dates in mind. If you have been considering transitioning into an eco-friendly cleaning routine, now is the perfect time. Disinfectants like vinegar and baking soda have much longer shelf lives than harsh chemicals. In fact, vinegar lasts approximately three years, while bleach should be tossed after nine months.

amy Bates merry maids 5656 S. mingo Road Tulsa, Ok 74146 918.250.7318 www.merrymaids.com January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Taste

FOOD, DRINK, AND OTHER PLEASURES Oysters on the half-shell are a staple at S&J Oyster Company.

PHOTOS By HEaTH SHarP.

S

Fresh Tastes

a Tulsa classic is revived in burgeoning downtown.

troll down the drab and icy downtown street as the gloomy winter sky begins to darken and through an unmarked door. It’s summer inside. It’s the slack hour before the dinner rush, but in the brightly lit bar, with gleaming walls of white shiny tiles, a crowd of eager diners are attacking huge platters of lustrous orange shrimp and giant oysters fresh from tropical waters.

It’s light, it’s noisy and full of energy; happy hour here means more than drink discounts. You might want to stop and savor some rich, sweetly decadent Oysters Rockefeller, but if you walk toward the back, past a big neon-green clock that used to adorn the old Kansas City S&J Oyster Company (which closed in ‘89) and under an enormous brightly-painted wooden fish (“We saw it sitting in some guy’s yard in Oklahoma City and talked him out of it for 1,200 bucks”) to the spacious high-ceilinged dining area, chances are you’ll see co-owner Michael Denson at a corner booth hunched over a stack

of account ledgers. This slow hour is the only time the hard-working owner can find to balance the books.

With his long and slightly graying, flowing hair and neatly trimmed goatee, Denson looks stern as a conquistador stepped out from a Velazquez portrait. But get him talking about the old Brookside S&J, which opened 30 years ago in a streamline-style Art Deco building that now houses Leon’s, and his face softens.

“When I worked there, I spent all my time there,” he recalls, “and it felt more like home than my real home. It was fun, lots of wild times, and some of the regulars became my best friends.

“It wasn’t just a job,” Denson reminisces, “but a way of life. And a damn good time.”

Denson worked for restaurateur Howard Smith, the founder of S&J, for most of his life, more than 40 years. You’ll never hear the full story of that fabled establishment. “It would take about three days to tell,” says Denson, “and there are some parts I’m just not telling.” But January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Taste

michael Denson and Bill Parkey have partnered to open the new S&J in downtown Tulsa.

JUAN DEL FUEGO

BRian SChWaRTz

58

Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

Juan Del Fuego serves diner classics with a mexican twist.

BrEnT FuCHS

Any college town worth its hash browns has a go-to breakfast place, preferably one that opens early enough to allow collegians that may or may not have tied one on the night before to consume the proper amount of eggs, fried breakfast meats and potatoes to stave off the oncoming hangover. And when that college town has more than 30,000 students, it’s nice to have a variety of diners to choose among. Juan del Fuego, open since late 2011, is the new kid on the block but has developed a cult following for its breakfast and lunch diner-style offerings with a Mexican twist.

Buttermilk cakes and chicken fried steak is served alongside dishes like enchilada and eggs, two cheese enchiladas topped with homemade red sauce and served with two eggs.

Just the thought of Juan del Fuego’s tamales and eggs, topped with a homemade sauce, are worth the trip alone. 223 34th Ave. South, Norman. 405.310.2030 – Jami Mattox

THE BUZZ

Prepared foods are the main event at The Fresh market.

THE FRESH MARKET

You’ve just picked the kids up from their after-school activities, and the dog is waiting for you at the groomer. You need to drop off the week’s dry cleaning and, oh yes, your friends are coming over for dinner. Who has time to cook on an evening like this? Lucky for Tulsans, The Fresh Market is now open and ready to rescue those in just such a conundrum. The grocery store focuses its efforts on prepared foods that are ready to go, as well as bulk departments that offer everything from coffee and candy to nuts and grains. The South Carolina-based chain opened its first Oklahoma location this past summer, and the store does brisk business. Shop The Fresh Market’s vast selection of rotisserie meats, soups and sandwiches and wraps, as well as salads, sushi and cheese trays. 8015 S. Yale, Tulsa. www.thefreshmarket.com – Jami Mattox

HEaTH SHarP

as Denson tells it, it all came about because Howard just loved New Orleans.

He loved the lazy festive ambiance, he loved the little tiled cafes, and most of all, he loved those oysters. He wanted to bring all this to his hometown. S&J proved wildly successful, and soon there were four branches: Brookside, south Tulsa, Kansas City and Fayetteville.

Michael worked at all four, but by 2004 all had closed down.

“I’ve been bugging Howard for years to open a new one,” he recalls. When rancher Bill Parkey, son of Howard’s old business partner, got rich in cattle and wanted to start a new S&J, it was natural for them to join forces. “It was a labor of love,” declares Denson.

The black and white tiles and spare wooden fish house-style chairs and tables are new, but they are exact duplicates of what you’d have found in the old Brookside branch. The menu, too, is unchanged (“except for the prices” Denson remarks, though by today’s standards, the new prices are very reasonable). You’ll find all the old favorites: Shrimp Louie Salad with rich creamy dressing; Etouffee with a Cajun roux, sweet and dark as molasses, hand-stirred for 20 minutes, sometimes by Denson himself; fried clams; oysters from Bon Secour, Ala.; jumbo shrimp with golden coconut breading, and perhaps Tulsa’s best-loved bread pudding.

So if you’re in need of the spiritual recharge that a trip to New Orleans can bring, consider S&J instead. It’s a lot closer, you’ll get a true Tulsa welcome, and you’re guaranteed not to meet Lestat de Lioncourt or Ignatius J. Reilly.

F AV E S

What do you want to eat?

Check out our online restaurant guide at www.okmag.com

Feb

2013

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January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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11/21/12 1:34 PM

W H AT W E ’ R E E AT I N G

For years, we have been told that olive oil is the hearthealthy fat that we should use in place of other fats. If you’re an olive oil fan, your favorite oil now has some healthy competition. As the rates of heart disease, obesity and diabetes have skyrocketed in the U.S., the tropics have not experienced those same problems. The reason?

Coconut oil.

Once thought to be a bad saturated fat, fragrant coconut oil is now touted as the newest super food. It has been shown to aid in weight loss, boost metabolism, stabilize blood sugar and much more.

Coconut oil contains lauric acid, a type of fatty acid that has been shown to fight both bacterial and fungal infections and viruses.

Use coconut oil as you would other fats. It is delicious in stir-frys, popcorn and even piecrusts. – Jill Meredith

HEaTH SHarP

Taste

S I M P LY H E A LT H Y

Dinner

Brookside By Day

3 tbsp. coconut oil 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into one-inch pieces 2 Fuji apples, peeled, cored and cut into one-inch pieces 1/4 c. honey 1 tbsp. minced ginger 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 c. chopped green onions Cooked brown rice Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; add coconut oil. Sauté chicken and apples until chicken is cooked through and apples are tender, about 7-8 minutes. add honey and ginger. add the red bell pepper and green onions; season with salt and pepper to taste. Sauté for another three minutes until the veggies are softened.

Serve over rice.

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for order, as well as a few chalkboard specials offered. Everything from chicken fried chicken with mashed potatoes, veggies and Texas toast, to soups and salads, even omelets – BBD can quench the diner cravings, now, at any time of day. 3313 S. Peoria, Tulsa. www.brooksidebyday.com

Bulgogi gyro Foodies

Deciding what to eat for lunch can be burdensome. Do you want Mexican or Italian? Chinese or Indian? Greek or Korean?

If the latter is your predicament, you’re in luck; just head to Foodies, a small lunchtime eatery in Oklahoma City’s Midtown area that is serving amped-up Asian cuisine to hungry crowds. A favorite is the Bulgogi Gyro, a mash-up that combines the succulent meat of Korean barbecue and that Greek classic that is marked by a pita wrapped around meat, vegetables and tzatziki sauce. The sweet meat combined with savory sauce makes this a winner, for lunch or dinner. 1220 N. Hudson, Oklahoma City. 405.235.1111

Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

BrEnT FuCHS

Chicken and apple Stir-Fry Recipe

BBD is a Tulsa staple for leisurely breakfast or brunches on the weekends as well as quick meals during the week. But now the mainstay is open for three meals a day, Tuesday through Friday. Any item from the breakfast or lunch menu is available

Talmadge Powell, Chris murphy and monica Basu are working with a new venue for the 2013 Red Ribbon gala.

Same Occasion, New Location Tulsa CARES’ 2013 Red Ribbon Gala will seem a little different compared to years past.

PHOTO By naTaLIE GrEEn.

D

ust off those cummerbunds and take the red gowns to the cleaners: Tulsa’s Red Ribbon Gala returns March 9. The gala benefits Tulsa CARES, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing social services for those affected by HIV and AIDS. In its 16 years of existence, the gala has grown to become one of Tulsa’s premier events.

“It’s an elegant, wonderful affair,” says Seana Murray, director of development for Tulsa CARES. The event is black (or red) tie and features a cocktail hour, sit-down dinner, live auction and plenty of dancing.

Lots for sale in the live auction have included shopping trips to New York and Chicago, artwork, jewelry and home-catered dinners by some of Tulsa’s best chefs.

“This really is a new event for us, in a way,” says Chris Murphy, this year’s event chair. Honorary chair is Monica Basu.

After holding the event at Southern Hills Country Club for several years, Tulsa CARES ran into a welcome problem: they ran out of room.

“We were standing-room-only at Southern Hills the last couple of years,” says Murray.

Not wanting the prospect of turning potential donors away, Tulsa CARES decided to move the event to the Tulsa Convention Center where space constraints would not be an issue.

“I thought, ‘Here’s an opportunity to do something different and do something special,’” says Murphy. “We’ll be able to really grow and have the ability to have an almost unlimited amount of people.”

Southern Hills was able to host between 365-375 people for the event in years past. This year, Murphy is hoping for around 500 attendees.

Talmadge Powell Creative, a Tulsa marketing and event planning

company, is helping to put on the event, but this year Murphy and Powell are looking to bring something new to attendees.

“I think with Talmadge and I working together in the new space, it’s a blank canvas to do something different that will be pretty fun,” Murphy says.

Murphy won’t say what differences people can expect, only adding, “We have some ideas we are keeping close to the vest.”

Some Green With That Red With the gala’s history of success and new opportunities provided by the Tulsa Convention Center, the future looks bright for Tulsa CARES. “Last year was record-breaking, raising $548,000 in one night,” says Murray. “We’re hoping to get pretty close or even break it this year.”

This year Tulsa CARES plans to use the event to jumpstart its new capital campaign. The nonprofit recently purchased a new building where it hopes to better serve the needs of the community.

“I’ve always been amazed with how Tulsa steps up to the plate,” says Murphy. “I’ve lived in a number of places, and I’ve never seen such a philanthropic city.”

Single tickets for Tulsa CARES Red Ribbon Gala start at $500. For more information visit www.redribbongala.org. mORgan BROWne January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Resolution Time Once you’ve watched the ball drop and survived the eggnog, caroling and family, it’ll be time to come to grips with your credit card statement and those New Year’s resolutions.

The List and Shack Shackelford are here to help you kick off the year right by breaking out of the treadmill mold. The following are some of the top growing fitness trends of 2012 – watch weekday nights at 6:30 to see Shack put them to the test!

Boxing – Boxing is no longer just for the boys. Now you can work out and work out your midweek stress at the same time. Title Boxing in Tulsa offers boxing and kickboxing workouts where you can say goodbye to up to 1,000 calories in an hour!

Barre – This blend of pilates and ballet barre work was developed in the ‘50s by an injured ballet dancer. Concentrating on repetitive, deep muscle movements used to develop a long, lean physique; this method is a favorite of actresses and models. Sculpt Tulsa in Brookside is the premier place to keep calm and barre on.

Chairography – The fitness professionals at Sky Fitness have found a way to bring a little burlesque into your life with chairography, a flirty new fitness class that incorporates a pilates apparatus and fun dance moves to work your core and legs.

Cycling with Bands – also known as CrossCYCLE Bands – Sky Fitness takes spin cycling to the next level by hanging resistance bands from the ceiling so you can complement your spin routine with a full upper body workout.

If you find yourself giving up on ambitious resolutions, experts say the average person abandons their resolution by Jan. 10 – here’s a quick primer on infused liquors to dress up that plain old bottle of vodka left over from holiday revelry.

Infused spirits can be purchased, but homemade allows you to experiment with flavors and make combinations that you may not be able to purchase in stores. Plus, here at The List, we can’t think of a better housewarming present than a lovely bottle of infused liquor with a decorative label. Here are our favorite flavor combinations to get you started: • Peanut Butter and Jelly Vodka • Tequila and Strawberries • Bananas and Rum • Cranberry Vodka • Lemons and Gin

Watch The List with Shack Shackelford, weeknights at 6:30 on 2 Works for You

Entertainment G R E AT T H I N G S T O D O I N O K L A H O M A

Bowl-ed Over

PHOTO By BranDOn anDErSOn.

The 27th annual lucas Oil Chili Bowl nationals brings speed and spice to Tulsa’s expo Square.

T

here are 35 different postseason bowl games on the schedule for college football from December to early January, but if your game is racing rather than pigskin, you’re still blessed, because the biggest event in midget car racing is back and also in a bowl.

The Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals zips back to Expo Square in the newly named Muscogee Creek Nation Center for five days of small engines and big dreams.

Running Jan. 8-12, the Chili Bowl welcomes back hundreds of amateur and professional drivers across all engine-racing formats from karts to sprint cars.

Founded in 1987 by Emmett Hahn and Lanny Edwards, the racing event attracts competitors from all around the world earnestly pursuing the trophy. They’ll have to make it a steal from Kevin Swindell,

who completed a triple sweep of the title last year. Swindell is the son of Sammy Swindell, a three-time National Sprint Car Champion who competed in and won the Chili Bowl in 2009, a year before Kevin displaced him. This is the kind of competition drivers will be up against, and that makes it all the more exciting for spectators who expect big things to happen at one of the largest indoor racing bonanzas in the world.

In addition to the race, visitors can visit with vendors at the Chili Bowl tradeshow running throughout the event. Also look for the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame Induction on Jan. 11. Tickets to the 27th annual run are available now at www.chilibowl.com, and they’re going fast.

If you can’t keep up with all the bowl games of the NCAA, you’ll definitely remember the stir and excitement of the Chili Bowl. kaRen ShaDe January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Entertainment

Calendar

PeRFORmanCeS

in COnCeRT

FamilY

COMMUNITY The Oklahoma Wedding Show Are wedding bells in your future? If so, or even if you’re only dreaming of a fairytale wedding, the Oklahoma Wedding Show is your chance to see all things wedding all under one roof. This fun event brings together brides-to-be from all over the Tulsa area to visit with the area’s top wedding experts, get one-on-one advice and choose favorites from an elite selection of bakers, florists, photographers, caterers and much more. Guests will be treated to a bridal fashion show spotlighting the latest designs from local boutiques. “Champagne with the Experts” is back this year by popular demand – enjoy a glass of bubbly and learn some tricks of the trade during fun discussions with some of the biggest names in the wedding business. You’ll also have the opportunity to win one of many prizes totaling more than $12,000 throughout the day. If you’re planning a wedding, this event is a must. The Oklahoma Wedding Show is presented by Oklahoma Magazine on Jan. 5 at the Expo Square Central Park Hall. For more information, visit www.okmag.com.

Performances Tuesdays with morrie

Jan. 10-13 Theatre Tulsa presents a stage adaptation of Mitch Albom’s best-selling book about visiting his dying professor, at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. www.theatretulsa.org

The good Counselor

Jan. 11-Feb. 2 Carpenter Square brings the drama of an attorney in the public defender’s office struggling to represent his client, accused of killing her newborn son, as he grapples with feelings toward his own neglectful mother. www. carpentersquare.com

Pristine Visions

Jan. 12 OKC Philharmonic welcomes violinist Stefan Jackiw to this performance of works by Dvorak and Beethoven at the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall. www.okcphilharmonic.org

Tulsa gridiron

Jan. 25-26 The annual foray into political and social satire and parody returns to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center with the Tulsa Press Club Educational and Charitable Trust. www.tulsapac.com

River north Chicago Jan. 19-20 The celebrated dance company of accomplished and emotive dancers amazes audiences around the world. Choregus Productions brings River North Chicago to Tulsa’s Cascia Hall Performing Arts Center. www.choregus.org

Time Stands Still Jan. 25-Feb. 2 Heller Theatre presents another play by Donald Margulies, this time exploring the addictive nature of conflict through a war photojournalist facing secrets and lies at home, at the Henthorne Performing Arts Center. www.cityoftulsa.org/ henthornepac

Jan. 22-27 Broadway brings the tale of a doctor and his evil alter ego to musical heights in this presentation from Celebrity Attractions at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. www.myticketoffice.com

Rock the Presidents Carrie Rodriguez at the Blue Door

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Jan. 25-26 A musical revue spanning 223 years of the U.S. presidency? The Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust brings this energyfilled show about every Commander-in-Chief to the

Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

both from the best music schools around the world (Julliard, Chopin Academy) perform at the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center. www.myticketoffice.com

Organ Recital By Casey Cantwell Jan. 27 Performance will be at Trinity Episcopal Church. www.trinitytulsa.org Some enchanted evening Jan. 30-Feb. 16 Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma brings the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein from some of the most delightful musicals into a production. Look for songs from The Sound of Music, Cinderella and Oklahoma! at Lyric at the Plaza. www.lyrictheatreokc.com

in Concert Justin Bieber Jan. 9 www.bokcenter.com Downlink and liquid Stranger Jan. 11 Ballroom. www.cainsballroom.com

Stoney laRue

cainsballroom.com

an evening with Frank Vignola Jan. 26 Guitar impresario Frank Vignola has worked with Ringo Starr, Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Emmanuel and some of the most renowned orchestras in the world. Watch as he plays solo for the audience at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. www. tulsapactrust.org in the land of Chopin

Jan. 26 Signature Symphony goes to another land and time to the Romantic Age of Chopin and his contemporaries for a concert at the Tulsa Community College VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education. www. signaturesymphonyattcc.org

Cain’s

Jan. 12 Cain’s Ballroom. www.

Rascal Flatts Jan. 18 www.bokcenter.com Junior Brown Jan. 18 CD release show at Cain’s

Ballroom. www.cainsballroom.com

SNL Comedy Show with Jon lovitz at Shawnee’s grand Casino hotel & Resort

george Strait

Jan. 19 Chesapeake Energy Arena. www.chesapeakearena.com

Jeff mangum

Jan. 19 Neutral Milk Hotel singer at the ACM@UCO Performance Lab. www.ticketstorm.com

Johnette napolitano

Jan. 20 Concrete Blonde singer at Vanguard Music Hall. www.thevanguardtulsa.com

Trampled by Turtles

Jan. 22 Cain’s Ballroom.

Drive-By Truckers

Jan. 24 Cain’s Ballroom.

www.cainsballroom.com

Jan. 15-20 Broadway brings the tale of a doctor and his evil alter ego to musical heights in this presentation from Celebrity Attractions at the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall. www.myticketoffice.com

COmmUniTY

Up Close with the karkowska Sisters Jan. 27 The violin-piano duo of Anna and Kasha,

The music of michael Jackson

Jekyll & hyde

Jekyll & hyde

ChaRiTaBle eVenTS

www.cainsballroom.com

Snl Comedy Show Jan. 12 Favorites Jon Lovitz, Chris Kattan and Tim Meadows of the NBC television show Saturday Night Live are featured in this live show at Shawnee’s Grand Casino Hotel & Resort. www. grandshawnee.com

Jan. 21-22 The Brightmusic Chamber Ensemble warms-up the night with a program of Mozart pieces plus a few by other composers thrown in with performances at Oklahoma City’s All Souls’ Episcopal Church and, the following night, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral. www.brightmusic.org

aRT

stage in fun way at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. www.tulsapactrust.org Jan. 2526 James Delisco sings the songs of the King of Pop in this new show presented by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic featuring hits from Jackson’s days in the Jackson Five to his early solo career to the pinnacle of the Thriller album. Show will be at the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall. www.okcphilharmonic.org

Bright mozart

SPORTS

Cody Canada & the Departed

Jan.

25 Cain’s Ballroom. www.cainsballroom.com

Tracy lawrence

osagecasinos.com

Jan. 26 Osage Casino. www.

Tributes for Taron

Jan. 26 Tribute bands at Cain’s Ballroom. www.cainsballroom.com

Carrie Rodriguez bluedoorokc.com

Jan. 27 Blue Door. www.

gretchen Peters Jan. 27 Performing Arts Studio @ the Depot, Norman. www.ticketstorm.com matchbox Twenty Jan. 29 Hard Rock Tulsa Hotel & Casino. www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com Rebecca loebe

bluedoorokc.com

Jan. 31 Blue Door. www.

Sports OkC Thunder

www.nba.com/thunder

v. Brooklyn Jan. 2 v. Philadelphia Jan. 4 v. Minnesota Jan. 9 v. Denver Jan. 16 v. Memphis Jan. 31

Tulsa 66ers v. Idaho Jan. 4

www.nba.com/dleague/tulsa

v. Texas Jan. 5 v. Austin Jan. 18-19 v. Los Angeles Jan. 25-26

Oklahoma State University men’s Basketball www.okstate.com v. TCU Jan. 9 v. Texas Tech Jan. 19 v. West Virginia Jan. 26 v. Iowa State Jan. 30

Oklahoma State University Women’s Basketball www.okstate.com v. Texas Tech Jan. 2 v. Kansas Jan. 8 v. Iowa State Jan. 20 v. West Virginia Jan. 29

Oral Roberts University men’s Basketball www.orugoldeneagles.com v. Northwestern State Jan. 10 v. Stephen F. Austin Jan. 12 v. Lamar Jan. 24 v. McNeese State Jan. 26 v. Nicholls State Jan. 31

Oral Roberts University Women’s Basketball www.orugoldeneagles.com v. Northwestern State Jan. 10 v. Stephen F. Austin Jan. 12 v. Lamar Jan. 24 v. McNeese State Jan. 26 v. Nicholls State Jan. 31

University of Oklahoma men’s Basketball www.soonersports.com v. Oklahoma State Jan. 12 v. Texas Tech Jan. 16 v. Texas Jan. 21

University of Oklahoma Women’s Basketball www.soonersports.com v. West Virginia Jan. 2 v. Texas Tech Jan. 12 v. Texas Jan. 19 v. TCU Jan. 30

University of Tulsa men’s Basketball www.tulsahurricane.com v. Buffalo Jan. 2 v. Rice Jan. 12 v. UTEP Jan. 16 v. Southern Miss Jan. 26

Tulsa 66ers at SpiritBank event Center

ART Edgar Payne: The Scenic Journey Living at the turn of the 20th century, Edgar Payne was a true man of his time. The Missouri-born painter who grew up roaming the Ozarks traveled the world painting landscapes and scenes like other Impressionists of the day, but it was his exploration of the American West and its powerful beauty that made him stand apart from the set. Like John Muir who poetically described it and Ansel Adams who photographed it, Payne translated the magnitude of nature for the world in an age of increasing industrialism. The touring exhibit Edgar Payne: The Scenic Journey, curated by the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, Calif., continues its exclusive stop in the region at Gilcrease Museum through March 24. Nearly 100 paintings and drawings by the artist complete this retrospective of his career, development and continuing influence in art. For more about the museum, hours, admission and this exhibit, visit www.gilcrease.utulsa.edu online. motors on four wheels (at least) charge back to the BOK Center for another show of obstacle-crunching fun, smashing, soaring and more. www.bokcenter.com

27th annual lucas Oil Chili Bowl nationals Jan. 8-12 Midget car and microsprint racing

at its finest returns to Tulsa at Expo Square’s Muscogee Creek Nation Center with big names competing against up-and-coming drivers at the annual festival for speed freaks everywhere. Look for other events, including the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame Induction on Jan. 11. www.chilibowl.com

Special Olympics Oklahoma Winter games Jan. 10-12 Athletes take their marks at the sports meet this time at the University of Oklahoma in Norman and other locations. The Olympic-style event hosts thousands of athletes hoping to medal and go on to world competition. www.sook.org

Strikeforce University of Tulsa Women’s Basketball www.tulsahurricane.com

Jan. 12 Mixed martial arts fighting comes to the Chesapeake Energy Arena with a fight card that includes three championship bouts to be televised on Showtime network. Also look for the return of Oklahoma State University’s Daniel Cormier. www. chesapeakearena.com

v. Langston Jan. 3 v. UTEP Jan. 9 v. Marshall Jan. 17 v. UCF Jan. 24 v. SMU Jan. 27

CF athletic Tulsa nationals

Tulsa Oilers

fast-moving excitement is set for Claremore Expo Center. www.motorheadevents.com

Jan. 1719 Wrestling event at the Expo Square Pavilion. www. exposquare.com

www.tulsaoilers.com v. Bloomington Jan. 12 v. Texas Jan. 13 v. Wichita Jan. 19-20 v. Arizona Jan. 22 v. Denver Jan. 29

OkC Barons

www.okcbarons.com v. Charlotte Jan. 11-12 v. Texas Jan. 13 v. San Antonio Jan. 18-19 v. Charlotte Jan. 31

monster Jam

Jan. 5-6 The biggest and baddest

Tuff Truck & aTV Racing and Demolition Derby Jan. 18-19 Car-smashing fun and more

international Finals Rodeo 43 Jan. 1820 Cowboys and cowgirls get into the spirit of competition with pro rodeo action in a variety of categories at Oklahoma State Fair Park. www.ifrodeo.com aBa Sooner nationals

Jan. 25-27 USA BMX bike racing hits another high with events at Expo Square. www.usabmx.com

PBR Oklahoma City WinStar World Casino invitational Jan. 25-27 Professional

Bull Riders head to the Chesapeake Energy Arena for three nights of bucking bulls and jaw-dropping rides for

glory. www.chesapeakearena.com

amSOil arenacross

Jan. 26-27 Dirt motorbikes tear into the BOK Center for two days of racing that’s all action and high-flying fun. www.bokcenter.com

Family america the Beautiful Jan. 27 Phil the Penguin and conductor Matthew Troy get patriotic with America’s anthems and favorite music at the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall for the family. www. okcphilharmonic.org Treasure island

Jan. 31-Feb. 3 Begin the adventure with the characters of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel about pirates on the high seas in search of treasure performed by Oklahoma Children’s Theatre in the Kirkpatrick Theatre. www.okchildrenstheatre.com

art adventures Ongoing Children 3-5 experience art every Tuesday morning at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman, with special guests. Go online for schedules and other information. www.ou.edu/fjjma Second Saturdays Ongoing Families enjoy the Philbrook Museum of Art and participate in art activities for free on the second Saturday of every month. www.philbrook.org Tiny Tuesdays and Drop-in art

Ongoing Guest artists at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art Education Center help families with young children create together and understand the museum artworks the third Tuesday of each month through May. Drop-in Art is open Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. www.okcmoa.com

light Captured; light Cast Jan. 4-26 Photographer Beth Downing captures light and its reflection off surfaces while artist R.C. Morrison casts LED light through objects in a special installation of work in two and three dimensions at the Tulsa Artists’ Coalition Gallery. Reception will be on opening night. www.tacgallery.org landscapes from the heart

Jan. 4-27 Artist Janice Wright presents her landscape paintings in a solo show for exhibit at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center gallery. www.tulsapac.com

e.CO

Thru Jan. 5 Artspace at [Untitled] presents in conjunction with the Ministry of Culture of Spain, the Spain-USA Foundation and the Embassy of Spain this exhibit of photographic essays on the subject of the environment. www.artspaceatuntitled.org

Dancers & Deities

Thru Jan. 6 The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History exhibits a selection of Kachina figures from the James T. Bialac Native American Art Collection to demonstrate the mastery of Hopi and Zuni Pueblo artists and the role they played in cosmology and spiritual life in the Southwest. www. snomnh.ou.edu

american moderns, 1910-1960: From O’keeffe to Rockwell Thru Jan. 6 Fifty-seven

artworks from the Brooklyn Museum collection go on display at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art exhibiting the myriad approaches to style, subject and matter from artists including Stuart Davis, Milton Avery, Alie Nadelman and others. www.okcmoa.com

art Processed: Silkscreen Prints by Schmickle, Yang and live4This Jan. 4-24 The collaborative show focuses on graphic design, fine art and pop culture and how each area informs on the others. Look for it at Living Arts of Tulsa. www. livingart.org

an evening with Frank Vignola at the Tulsa Performing arts Center

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Entertainment

Regency Tulsa to raise funds for the Parent Child Center of Tulsa working to prevent child abuse and nurture healthy families. www.parentchildcenter.org

Crime Commission Wine Dinner Jan. 14 Arrive with an appetite as Tulsa police and firefighters do their best to wait tables for tips that benefit the Crime Commission’s goal of improving safety and security for area citizens. www.crimecomok.org St. anthony Celebrity Chef Jan. 17 The fun starts at the Rapp Foundation Conference Center at Saints Medical Plaza in OKC where a surprise celebrity chef will hold a live cooking demonstration event focused on heart health. Event is presented by the St. Anthony Foundation for St. Anthony Hospital. www. ssmhc.com Below zero

Jan. 19 LIFE Senior Services hopes you’ll join the coolest party in town at the Mayo Hotel Ballroom for a chilled atmosphere of hors d’oeuvres and drinks served at an ice bar decorated with ice sculptures and a fur-clad server. www.lifeseniorservices.org

OkC Charity Fight night Jan. 24 Get ready to rumble at this big event featuring this year “Kid” Carson Jones defending his USBA Welterweight Championship.

Ray “BoomBoom” Mancini is the night’s celebrity host at the Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center. This year’s event benefits the Oklahoma City Police Athletic League. www.okcfightnight.com

IN CONCERT George Strait Something tells us that George Strait is a man of his word.

Perhaps it’s that black hat, his rugged, easy confidence or the long stream of soul-baring country hits, but George Strait comes off as unshakeable. So when he titled his 2013-14 tour The Cowboy Rides Away Tour, we know we’re getting, perhaps, that last chance at seeing a solo live show of hits from his long-riding career. The second stop of the tour unloads in Oklahoma City at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19 with special guest, the lovely Martina McBride. Strait may be a little saddle-sore from a life of extensive travel, but he isn’t about to hang up the lasso; the singer will continue to make new music and perform the occasional live show. Tickets to this one are $72.50 and $92.50 and can be purchased at www.chesapeakearena. com.

14th Traditional Cowboy arts association Show Thru Jan. 6 The National Cowboy and

Western Heritage Museum displays the fine craftsmanship of silversmithing, saddlemaking and other crafts of cowboy culture. www.nationalcowboymuseum.org

Small Works, great Wonders

Thru Jan. 6 Join the reception and fundraiser event on opening night that is all about small works of art by big artists, some of whom were featured in the annual Prix de West show, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. www.nationalcowboymuseum.org

Opening night new Year’s eve celebration in downtown Oklahoma City

Bizzaro exhibiting geometry and mathematics as artists see and use it. www.sciencemuseumok.org

99th annual School of art and art history Student exhibition Jan. 18-Feb. 10 Works by

University of Oklahoma arts students go on special display at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. www.ou.edu/fjjma

Christo and Jeanne Claude: The Tom golden Collection Jan. 18-May 5 Bartlesville’s

Price Tower Arts Center highlights a collection of work donated by the late art patron Tom Golden by artist duo (and his friends) Christo and Jeanne Claude of their astonishing art installations and photographs from around the world. This traveling exhibition is organized by the Sonoma County Museum in California. www.pricetower.org

Photorealism Revisited

Jan. 24-April 21 Art and photography met in unexpected and fascinating ways in the Photorealism movement of the 1960s and beyond.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art examines the force and its re-examination today through the work of some 60 works by such painters as Robert Bechtle, Richard Estes, Don Eddy, Ralph Goings and more. www.okcmoa.com

Reflections: The Photographs of allison V. Smith and Stanley marcus Jan. 25-March

national geographic: greatest Photographs of the american West Thru Jan. 6 This collection of iconic Western images by National Geographic going back more than a century goes on exhibit at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. www.nationalcowboymuseum.org

Roy lichtenstein: american identity Thru Jan. 13 Twenty prints by the artist of American

pop culture demonstrative of his iconic comic bookthemed works go on exhibit at the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. www.jewishmuseum.net

geometrix: geometry in art Thru Jan. 14 A new exhibition at Science Museum Oklahoma in collaboration with Satellite Galleries brings a collection of work from six Oklahoma artists Bryan Boone, Dan Garrett, Klint Schor, Noel Torrey, Eric Wright and David

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30 Artspace at [Untitled] presents a unique photo exhibit of works by Dallas-based photographer Allison Smith and her late grandfather, former president of Neiman Marcus, Stanley Marcus. The exhibit includes pictures from the fashion world of the mid 20th century captured on his travels for the clothing giant and a series of correlated images shot by Smith taken around the world. www.artspaceatuntitled.org

national geographic: greatest Photographs of the american West Thru Feb. 3 A

collection of iconic Western images by National Geographic going back more than a century go on exhibit at Gilcrease Museum. www.gilcrease.utulsa.edu

models & muses: max Weber and the Figure Thru Feb. 3 Philbrook Museum of Art brings

works by the early cubist, who was an important artist in bridging America to avant-garde and modern art through cubism, to exhibit. www.philbrook.org

Concept/Ok: art in Oklahoma

Thru Feb. 16 Works by 41 artists in the region are part of this debut exhibition at the new Hardesty Arts Center, headquarters

Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

Snowflake gala Jan. 25 Celebrate another successful United Way of Central Oklahoma fundraising campaign at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum with 500 other guests enjoying dinner, entertainment and an awards presentation. www. unitedwayokc.org Boots and Ball gowns gala

Jan. 26 The fourth fifth annual Western-themed gala for Infant Crisis Services in OKC celebrates the organization’s work and raises funds to do more at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. www.infantcrisis.org

Photorealism Revisited at the Oklahoma City museum of art

of the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa, opening to the public. The exhibit presented by the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition displays work seeking to represent art making in Oklahoma in an ambitious competition. www.ovac-ok.org

edgar Payne: The Scenic Journey Through March 24 The retrospective exhibition

features nearly 100 paintings and drawings by the California plein air artist as well as photos and objects from his studio. www.gilcrease.utulsa.edu

Prominent Figures of the West from the T.B. Walker Collection of Portraits by henry h. Cross Thru March 31 This selection of por-

traits of Native American leaders, U.S. generals, trappers and guides by Cross display key figures of the artist’s day and their influence on culture. www.gilcrease.utulsa.edu

Pablo Picasso’s Woman in the Studio Thru August 2013 The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of

Art on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman has the Picasso masterpiece from 1956 on loan from the St. Louis Art Museum. Also look for the work to be displayed along with Picasso pieces from the FJJMA permanent collection. www.ou.edu/fjjma

americana Collection Ongoing National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s Dickinson Research Center. www.nationalcowboymuseum.org Scissortail gallery

Bishop kelley Trivia night Jan. 26 Teams accept the challenge of this annual trivia spectacular that also benefits Bishop Kelley High School. Look for it at the school gymnasium. www.bkelleyhs.org Price Tower gala Jan. 26 Look for this exciting night of entertainment, auctions and fun at the Bartlesville Community Center to support the Price Tower Arts Center’s programs, which promote art, architecture and design. www.pricetower.org a Taste of Tulsa

Jan. 26 Tulsa’s finest restaurants offer their best at the Tulsa Convention Center Tulsa Ballroom to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma, but don’t miss out on other fun events, auctions, live music and dancing. www.bbbsok.org

Community

Ongoing Fritz White, Clark Kelley Price, Jim Gilmore, Linda Besse and Jim Smith are just a few of the artists with works on display. www.scissortailart.com

new Year’s eve and Day Firelake grand new Year’s Celebration Dec.

First Friday gallery Walk Ongoing The galleries of OKC’s Paseo Arts District welcome all each month. www.thepaseo.com

31 The Shawnee casino lights up the night with fireworks to welcome in 2013 with music, great food and drinks and special attractions. www.grandshawnee.com

2nd Friday Circuit art Ongoing A monthly celebration of arts in Norman. www.2ndfridaynorman.com

Dec. 31 Downtown Oklahoma City throws the party of the year on New Year’s Eve once more with great music performances, dancing, theater, fireworks and activities for this family-friendly attraction. www.artscouncilokc.com

Weekends On Us

Ongoing Free admission to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum the first full weekend of every month. www.nationalcowboymuseum.org

Charitable events Toyland Ball

Jan. 13 This signature gala goes “chocolate, lollipops and gumballs galore” at the Hyatt

Opening night

nYe Olive Drop 2013

Dec. 31 Live music, dancing, party favors, appetizers and more lead up to the big toast at midnight at Bartlesville’s Price Tower Arts Center. www.pricetower.org

new Year’s eve Sobriety Powwow Dec. 31 This all day event includes traditional Native Ameri-

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The Party! new Year’s eve Ball Drop Dec. 31 Indoors or out, the fun goes on with a

lighted ball drop, fireworks display, music and more Times Square-style street party festivities at the Blue Dome District in downtown Tulsa. www.newyearsevetulsa.com

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new Year’s eve Bash Dec. 31 Ring in the New Year at Oaklawn Racing & Gaming in Hot Springs, Ark. The event includes drink specials, giveaways, cash prizes and more. www.oaklawn.com

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Dec. 31 Presented at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame with plenty of live music from the region’s jazz favorites. www. myticketoffice.com

Downtown in December Thru Dec. 31 OKC’s Bricktown becomes a wonderland of holiday lights, decorations and activity with snow tubing, outdoor ice skating and more. www.downtownindecember.com garden of lights

Thru Dec. 31 Honor Heights Park in Muskogee glows with Christmas lights and festivities. www.muskogeeonline.org

Christmas kingdom at the Castle

Thru Dec. 31 The massive collection of holiday inflatables is just part of the wintry attractions in Muskogee. www. okcastle.com

The Oklahoma City Winter Quilt Show Jan. 1-12 The 12th annual expo for quilters and

shoppers includes workshops and vendors at the Cox Pavilion at Oklahoma State Fair Park. www.qscexpos.com

Rhema Christmas lights

Thru Jan. 1 Rhema Bible Church invites all to the expansive lights and music spectacular in Broken Arrow. www.rhemabiblechurch.com

Tulsa holiday Winter Circuit

Thru Jan. 2 The holiday reining horse competition will be at the Ford Truck Arena at Expo Square. www.tulsaholidaycircuit.com

The Oklahoma Wedding Show Jan. 5 Oklahoma Magazine presents its annual fair of gorgeous gowns, spectacular décor, sumptuous foods and everything you could want to make your wedding something they’ll talk about for years. Join the vendors for entertainment, fashion shows, fantastic door prizes and so much more at Expo Square’s Central Park Hall. www.okmag.com 10-Day mardi gras Festival

Jan. 5-Feb. 12 Festivities include a grand ball, royal court, jazz brunch, blessing of the floats, pub crawl, music, traditional New Orleans-style cuisine and more in Eureka Springs, Ark. www.krazo.ureeka.org

Chesapeake energy holiday lights Display Thru Jan. 5 Northwest Oklahoma City

brightens with holiday cheer at the lights display the main Chesapeake Energy campus. www.travelok.com

Winterfest Thru Jan. 6 Join friends in the chill with the warmth of the holiday season that includes carriage rides, outdoor ice skating, thousands of lights, twinkling trees, hot concessions and more outside of the BOK Center. www.bokcenter.com

PERFORMANCES Jekyll & Hyde In Oklahoma, the word “revival” is usually reserved for use with sermons and tents. This time, revival comes to the state’s stages as a musical touring its way to Broadway. Celebrity Attractions presents Jekyll & Hyde: the Musical this month at the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall and the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

Starring American Idol’s Constantine Maroulis and R&B singer Deborah Cox, Jekyll & Hyde is the gutted and overhauled incarnation of the musical that debuted on Broadway in 1997 and ran for four years. This engagement (on tour since September) has brought the story out of a long sleep and given it new breath for a new audience in the tradition of a horror story with a meaty psychological nucleus. Plus, this Jekyll & Hyde looks decidedly sexier than the original if the promotional photos are anything to go by. Look for the play in Oklahoma City from Jan. 15-20 and in Tulsa from Jan. 22-27. For more, visit www.myticketoffice.com.

The Original Free RV & Boat Show Jan. 11-13 Enjoy the ultimate in travel, sporting and outdoor leisure equipment from kayaks and boats to campers and more at Oklahoma State Fair Park. www. freeshowokc.com Western hills Winter Bluegrass Festival Jan. 17-19 Spend three days by Fort Gibson Lake

with jam bands, workshops with other intrumentalists (banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, dobro, bass, more) and artists in session at the Lodge at Sequoyah State Park near Wagoner. 405.273.8578

Dr. martin luther king Soul Food CookOff Jan. 18-19 Whether you’re cooking or testing, you

won’t want to miss this big food event at Muskogee Civic Center bringing the best in home cooking to contest.

918.684.6363

Oklahoma City home & garden Show Jan. 18-20 Get inspired at the next big expo

of vendors, workshops and ideas for home inside and out. Show will be at Oklahoma State Fair Park. www. oklahomacityhomeshow.com

55th annual Delta exhibition

Jan. 18-March 10 The Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock, Ark., displays innovative works in all media from artists of the Delta region. www.arkarts.com

Wilson’s art & Craft Show

Jan. 19-20 This showcase of vendors in handmade items will take place

holiday ice Skating in edmond

Thru Jan. 6 Lace up your skates at the Edmond Outdoor Ice Rink at Festival Marketplace and enjoy the Christmas lights and fun. www.expressice.com/edmondok

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memorates the Civil War battle fought in January 1863 with activities, an encampment, reenactment, period dance and church service at Arkansas Post Museum in Gillett, Ark. www.arkansasstateparks.com/ arkansaspostmuseum

Trail Dance Film Festival

Jan. 25-26 Duncan’s Simmons Center hosts the annual independent film event that highlights filmmakers from all over the globe and introduces them to the state’s growing film industry. www.traildancefilmfestival.com

green Country home and garden Show Jan. 25-27 The holidays are over, and it’s

time again to look to the new year and your home. Vendors with great products for the home will be at Expo Square. www.exposquare.com

Ongoing Revealing the amazing science that allows us to travel beyond the confines of earth. www.sciencemuseumoklahoma.org

Walking Tour

Jan. 28-Feb. 3 The adventure starts with the annual expo of campers, boats, water craft and travel equipment plus a visit with the guys of Animal Planet’s Hillbilly Handfishin’ and wakeboard sensations the WakeBrothers at Expo Square’s Muscogee Creek Nation Center. www.tulsaboatshow.com

gilcrease Films Ongoing See various films throughout the month. www.gilcrease.org

Civil War arkansas, 1861-1865

various films. www.philbrook.org

Thru Jan. 31 Created by the Arkansas Humanities Council, this new exhibit at the Delta Cultural Center in Helena-West Helena, Ark., explores the Civil War battles and sites of impact in Arkansas. www.deltaculturalcenter.com

a.m.-4:15 p.m. One-hour guided walking tour through the upper level of Blanchard Springs Caverns in Little Rock, Ark. 501.975.7230. www.blanchardcavetours.com

Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

Destination Space

Tulsa Boat Sport & Travel Show

Jan. 26-27 Central Park Hall at Expo Square. www.rkshows.com

Walking Tour: Blanchard Springs Caverns Ongoing Wednesdays through Sundays, 9:30

Oklahoma City gem, Jewelry & Bead Show

Justin Bieber at the BOk Center elements of the sport while honoring its most accomplished athletes at Science Museum Oklahoma. www. sciencemuseumoklahoma.org

R.k. gun Show

Ongoing Support group taking place every Monday at Grace Hospice. www.gracehospice.com

als, gems, precious metals, beads and fossils beckons collectors and crafters for this event at Oklahoma State Fair Park. www.okstatefairpark.com

150th anniversary of the Battle of arkansas Post, gillett January 19-20 Com-

grieving the loss of a Spouse

Oklahoma City gem, Jewelry & Bead Show Jan. 11-13 The premiere showcase of miner-

Oaklawn’s Opening Weekend Jan. 1113 Experience the excitement of Oaklawn Racing & Gaming’s live thoroughbred racing season culminating with the Arkansas Derby on April 13 in Hot Springs, Ark. www.oaklawn.com

at Oklahoma State Fair Park. www.okstatefairpark.com

international gymnastics hall of Fame Ongoing Celebrate the athletic and artistic

Ongoing Take a walking tour of historic downtown Tulsa. www.tulsahistory.org

OkCmOa Films

www.okcmoa.com

Ongoing OKC Museum of Art.

Philbrook museum Films

Ongoing See

Planetarium Shows Ongoing Science Museum Oklahoma. www.sciencemuseumoklahoma.org To see more events happening around Oklahoma, go to

WWW.Okmag.COm.

Submissions to the calendar must be received two months in advance for consideration. add events online at WWW.Okmag.COm/CalenDaR or e-mail to events@okmag.com.

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IN PERSON

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

(Owning the Bigheart Times) appealed to me because, working for other news organizations in the 20-year window I did, circulation was going down. When I started (working in newspapers) – I would say I started in Biloxi – I still had those oldschool, tobacco-chaw editors who weren’t wearing fedoras, but were of that era. It kind of morphed, the whole industry, into the USA Today model from the old model, to where long stories were embraced, in-depth was embraced. I kind of embraced the idea of having a weekly paper because I could put my own thoughts into print to follow through with how I thought a newspaper should be run and the news that should be printed.

We try to be pretty even-handed in our coverage. We’ll jump right into the negative, whether it’s crime or corruption – we cover it all. We can be very in-your-face or very sweet. We try to write lots of profiles of people in the community that have made a difference. We have grown, much to Barnsdall’s dismay. Barnsdall is way too small to support a newspaper. There is no ad revenue here, and when I bought it, we had circulation of 600. I expanded the coverage to cover Pawhuska, and now we pretty much cover all of Osage County. I try to cover the news that they’re not going to get anywhere else. I cover trials, the Wynona Robotics Team going to Fort Smith to compete for a national title… not that we always succeed, but we try to cover everything that matters, the good, the bad and the ugly.

(When I bought the paper) I was the devil to some, but I was a hero to many more. I called the (detractors) the “Hateful Eight,” and it was literally about that many people who were really, really pissed off. I’m not going to cover them because they think they’re important, and that irritated them, and they were very vocal. To everyone else, it was great because I gave voice to the disenfranchised who had historically been ignored.

Small newspapers should pay attention to our model. We have more than tripled the

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

circulation of our paper by doing long-form story and expanding coverage. A lot of small newspapers don’t report and interview people and do the hard stories where you have to ask people (hard questions). We take the old, big-city attitude and put it in a small town, and it can be awkward. We report every felony and misdemeanor charge when it gets to court in Osage County. The first week (we ran the crime log) there was a

guy that lived in Pawhuska that was in (the crime log) twice. I was going to go to the grocery store to buy bacon, and I went up to the bacon display and here was the guy that had been in the crime log twice, and my first reaction was to dart back into the spice aisle.

Now I’ve toughened up, and if someone glares at me, I think, whatever. You have to have thick skin to do this in a small town. aS TOlD TO Jami maTTOX

PHOTO By raCHEL annE SEyMOur.

louise Red Corn is owner and publisher of Bigheart Times, a weekly newspaper serving Osage County, located in Barnsdall, Okla. Red Corn has worked as a reporter at several large newspapers across the United States as well as for TIME magazine.

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Oklahoma Magazine presents

the ultimate wedding planning experience

Saturday, January 5 10a.m. – 4 p.m.

Expo Square Central Park Hall Tulsa, Oklahoma

Schedule of eventS 10:00 a.m. Doors open 10:30 a.m. CHAMPAGNE WITH THE EXPERTS: enjoy a glass of bubbly and learn the tricks of the trade during fun discussions with some of the biggest names in the wedding business 11:30 a.m. Bridal and Honeymoon runway show 2:00 p.m. Bridal and Honeymoon runway show

2:30 p.m. CHAMPAGNE WITH THE EXPERTS: enjoy a glass of bubbly and learn the tricks of the trade during fun discussions with some of the biggest names in the wedding business throuGhout the day • More than $12,000 in prize giveaways • Tablescapes • Consultations with top wedding experts • Cake & Food Tastings

For more inFormation, call 918.744.6205 or visit www.okmag.com

Oklahoma Wedding

PHOTO By naTHan HarMOn.

Contents

Dramatic Effect Bride By Design Bridesmaids revisited Face Time Practical Perfection unveiled Saintly Settings Color Coded EfďŹ ciency and Etiquette Petal Perfect all american Tasteful Travel and Honeymoon Highs 116 What not To Do 118 Service Directory 74 85 88 90 92 94 96 99 104 106 110 112

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Ivory silk mermaid gown with sweetheart neckline and full-embroidered lace overlay and cathedral train, Bridal Palace, Tulsa.

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

SHOT On LOCaTIOn aT FIrST PrESByTErIan CHurCH, TuLSa anD THE GayLOrD PICKEnS OKLaHOMa HErITaGE MuSEuM, OKLaHOMa CITy. MODELS COurTESy anTHOny DaVID aGEnCy. HaIr STyLISTS: SHaWna BurrOGHS, Jara HErrOn SaLOn; MaDDy BOWMan, B. JOLIE SaLOn anD SPa. MaKEuP: HaILEy WHEELEr; CarrIE BOLDEn, B. JOLIE SaLOn anD SPa. FLOWErS PrOVIDED By TOnI’S FLOWErS & GIFTS anD WHOLE FOODS MarKET.

Oklahoma Wedding

Dramatic Effect all eyes are on the bride in gowns that exude elegance, glamour and high drama.

Photography by nathan harmon

Vera Wang ivory organza mermaid gown with ruched bodice and lace jewel neckline, full rufed skirt with frayed edges, J.J. kelly Bridal, Oklahoma City.

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Oklahoma Wedding

Mori Lee crystal beaded lace cocktail dress with sweetheart neckline and removable tulle overskirt; Helen Heart turquoise cowgirl boots, Bella Rose Bridal and Formal, edmond.

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

White organza mermaid gown with sweetheart neckline, ruched bodice and beaded oral applique at hip; full rufed skirt with rosettes and semi-cathedral train, Facchianos, Tulsa.

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Oklahoma Wedding

Farage Paris ball gown with lace, rhinestone encrusted corset and gathered satin skirt with orets and beaded embroidery, alyssa’s Bridal, Tulsa.

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

Oklahoma Wedding

Diamond white organza ball gown with pleated bodice, sweetheart neckline, beaded waistband and rufed skirt, David’s Bridal, Tulsa.

Ivory trumpet gown with net and re-embroidered lace, sweetheart neckline and semi-cathedral train, alfred angelo, Tulsa.

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

Monique Lhuillier white silk trumpet gown with re-embroidered lace and sleeveless v-neck, J.J. kelly Bridal, Oklahoma City.

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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LOVE AND ROCK ‘N’ ROLL FOREVER. Make your wedding legendary at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.

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Oklahoma Wedding

Bride By Design

Some of the biggest names in bridal couture set the bar with gowns that range from the traditional to the avante garde and from black to white — literally.

March 2007 • Oklahoma Magazine

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Magazine • March 2007 86 Oklahoma Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

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You don’t need elaborate embellishments or tons of tulle to make a statement at the altar. Sleek, simple gowns can be incredibly glamorous, sexy and exude an air of confidence.

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For Simplicity’s Sake

ANNE BARGE

Make your big day a red carpet event with a gown that recalls the sultry starlets of vintage Hollywood. From Grace Kelly to Marilyn Monroe, these sexy dresses say, “May I have the envelope, please?”

JENNY PACKHAM

Siren Song

JENNY PACKHAM

VERA WANG

REEM ACRA

Oklahoma Wedding

REEM ACRA

VERA WANG

VERA WANG

It’s your day, honey, and this may be your last chance to dress like a princess as an adult. Bring on the volume with billowy layers and ruffles galore. To keep it modern, choose a mermaid or trumpet silhouette.

Why White?

In the grand scheme of matrimony, white gowns are a fairly recent custom – Queen Victoria is widely credited with starting the trend. Top wedding designers are answering the call of innovative brides with gowns of a different color.

ANNE BARGE

VERA WANG

VERA WANG REEM ACRA

MONIQUE LHUILLIER

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VERA WANG

VERA WANG

VERA WANG BADGLEY MISCHKA MONIQUE LHUILLIER

Va-Va-Volume

Gam It Up Coco Chanel caused a sensation with a knee-length wedding gown in the 1920s, but there’s nothing scandalous about showing a little leg today. Don’t be afraid to rock a short dress, party in the front or channel Angelina.

March 2007 • Oklahoma Magazine

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Oklahoma Wedding

Bridesmaids Revisited

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

have to be the ill-fitting, pastel nightmares of generations past. Today’s bride isn’t afraid to let her bridesmaids stand out and be sexy and confident – though outshining the bride is still considered poor taste. Individualism is becoming the new tradition, with bridesmaids walking down the aisle in beaded ball gowns, cocktail dresses with cowboy boots and delightfully, but carefully, mismatched dresses that fit each

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It’s been dubbed the “Pippa Effect” in response to the furor over Pippa Middleton’s form fitting Alexander McQueen bridesmaid dress that she wore to the royal wedding of her sister Kate to Prince William. Buzz over the dress and Pippa’s physique nearly upstaged the bride, but in reality this was the culmination of a tradition-kicking trend that has been in the works for years. Bridesmaid dresses don’t

MICHaEL KOrS, SaKS FIFTH aVEnuE

a new generation of bridesmaid dresses puts a fresh spark of style into nuptials.

bridesmaid’s body type and enhance the overall décor or theme of the wedding. Bridesmaids dress designers are embracing this trend with a variety of styles, and many brides choose dresses that may not have been created with bridesmaids in mind. So, when you’re choosing attire for your bridesmaids, forget the pastel taffeta – unless that’s what you’re into. Who knows, she just might wear it again.

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Oklahoma Wedding

Face Time

get fresh faced for the most photographed day of your life.

Get Cheeky

Makeup expert Joy Robinson says a blushing bride will always look happy, no matter how crazy the day gets. She says Laura Mercier’s Second Skin Cheek Color ads the perfect amount of sheer color – she says lighter skin tones should opt for a soft pink, while those with darker skin may choose rosier hues.

Keep It Bright

Eye Spy as the saying goes, the eyes are the windows to the soul. We asked two makeup mavens to weigh in on giving your peepers a little soul of their own.

Create a canvas: Saks Fifth avenue yves Saint Laurent beauty specialist niccole Wyatt says start with a primer, such as ySL Top Secrets Wake up Eye Care, that will smooth eye contours, refresh the skin and set the stage for make up. Then dab on a little concealer just slightly lighter than your skin tone. lash longer: While some stay away from waterproof mascara for everyday wear, Joy rob

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inson, cosmetics buyer for Balliets, says it’s the way to go on your wedding day. Laura Mercier Waterproof Mascara will earn its name when the tears flow and it will simply last longer. get in line: Wyatt says to reconsider black eyeliner, as it can look harsh especially in natural light. Opt for a slightly softer shade of gray, navy or brown.

Brilliant eyes: robinson suggests a light colored shadow on the brow bone to keep you looking bright and refreshed. Contour with a complimentary shade, but don’t use anything too intense.

Pencil it in: Definitely pay attention to your brows, says Wyatt. Give them definition with the ySL eye pencil or a product that matches your hair color.

Beauty authority niccole Wyatt says that although nude, natural pale lip color may seem like a good choice for a serene bride, you’ll end up washed out – especially if you’re wearing bright white. Choose a brighter shade of pink or rose, or if you want to go for the bold, choose a classic red.

She says it’s hard to go wrong with either ySL’s rouge Voluptè or rouge Pur Couture lipstick for delicious long lasting color. and always keep a tube with you for touchups.

Oklahoma Wedding

Practical Perfection how to get wedding day perfect in just 90 days.

T

he first thoughts of many girls after having an engagement ring slipped over her finger are of pounds to lose and hair to grow.

It is a delicate game of timing to get precisely primped with no telltale signs.

Three months before your wedding is not the time to try anything crazy, but there are options to lift, tighten, whiten and fluff as close to 90 days before the big day.

Locks Of Love Healthy hair grows a quarter to half an inch a month, says Shawna Burroughs, wedding hair specialist at Jerra Herron Salon. Growth can be stimulated, but a bride should consider what length of hair she wants at least six months before the wedding. Then she should spend the three months before taking good care of it. Burroughs suggests a trim every four weeks, eating healthy, not over processing and using good products.

“Three months is not time for an experiment,” says Burroughs. “It’s mainly just trying to get your hair back to its best health with treatments, etc.”

Extensions are also an option – Burroughs can create long, flowing locks or tuck in a few pieces.

Burroughs recommends that women who color regularly get a touchup seven days to two weeks prior. Major changes should be taken care of at least six months prior.

Trial runs on the wedding day ‘do are a

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good idea. If all goes well on the first try, Burroughs says, book for the big day. However, a month before the wedding, a second trial run scheduled on the same day as a dress fitting ensures the hair is exactly right.

Fit And Trim Contouring and tightening treatments like Thermage can take six months, says Karen Weidner of Utica Square Skin Care Clinic.

That means toned arms and a flat belly are going to come from diet and exercise.

“A lot of women are afraid to lift weights.

If you really want to make improvements, that is what you have to do,” says Monique Washington, a certified personal trainer at St. John Siegfried Health Club.

You don’t even need a gym membership, Washington says. Your body weight is resistance enough. Pushups, squats, crunches, arm dips and lunges hit all the areas that a woman would most like to be toned.

“If you just do cardio, you’re just going to get a smaller version of yourself,” says Washington. “If you want muscle tone. You have to do resistance training.”

All Aglow Two months before the wedding is a bride’s window for addressing her skin.

“I would do a corrective facial to remove impurities like any benign abnormalities, lumps, bumps, brown spots to even out skin tone,” says Weidner.

A corrective facial is specific to every woman, but might include microdermabrasion and dermaplaning to restore and correct skin. Weidner also makes sure the bride will not have an adverse reaction to any products.

Laser fractional resurfacing two to three weeks before the wedding gives skin a youthful appearance. A full body exfoliation or chemical peel will make skin soft and create a smooth surface for a spray tan.

“Some brides like to do Botox and fillers,” Weidner says. “That is something you need to plan ahead for.”

Plan a facial and brow wax a week before the wedding.

Say Cheese “With dentistry today, you can do pretty much anything in three months,” says dentist Chris Ward.

Damaged teeth can be repaired, crooked teeth aligned and missing teeth replaced.

Ward says allow four weeks after for swelling and irritation to resolve. Implant work should start three months before the wedding. If laminates or veneers are needed, a bride should allow two months.

Teeth can be whitened in one office visit or in two to three weeks with a dentist prescribed at home process. A few days of tooth sensitivity often follows a bleaching treatment. Ward says bleach a month prior to the wedding to avoid sensitivity on the big day. linDSeY JOhnSOn

Ninety-Day Wedding Makeover

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BECAUSE YOUR BIG DAY IS ALL ABOUT THE marriott_bold_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? åç´ƒ©˙ˆ˚¬µ˜øœ®ß†¨¥`¡™£¢§¶•ªº–“‘«…æ÷ SMALL DETAILS.ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜،‰Íˇ¨„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±"'»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '" At Marriott Tulsa Hotel Southern Hills you can be confident your marriott_bold_italic_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? åç´ƒ©˙ˆ˚¬µ˜øœ®ß†¨¥`¡™£¢§¶•ªº–“‘«…æ÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜،‰Íˇ¨„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±"'»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '"

wedding will be just the way you imagined it. Picture perfect. marriot_condensed_light_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz`1234567890-=[]\;’,./ ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ~!@#$%^&*()_+{}|:”<>? å∫ç∂´ƒ©˙ˆ∆˚¬µ˜øπœ®ß†¨√∑≈¥Ω`¡™£¢∞§¶•ªº–≠“‘«…æ≤≥÷ ÅıÇÎ´Ï˝ÓˆÔÒ˜Ø∏Œ‰Íˇ¨◊„˛Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿ Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±”’»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ ”“’‘ '"

To begin planning your picture perfect day call:

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MARRIOTT TULSA HOTEL SOUTHERN HILLS Tulsa, OK

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Oklahoma Wedding

Unveiled

For many, the thought of a bride walking down the aisle sans veil just won’t do. Bridal veils are part and parcel of our traditional image of a bride. Veils are actually an ancient wedding accessory once used to protect the bride from evil spirits or, in some cultures, keep the groom from bolting at the sight of a bride he’d never seen before. regardless,

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Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

the choice to wear a veil or not is now up to the bride and as horrifying as it may be to grandma, many are saying goodbye to the netting.

This trend is making way for an entirely new assortment of hair accessories that are often worn in lieu of a veil. Brides are choosing eye-catching barrettes, combs,

headbands and tiaras, and some are even repurposing family heirloom jewelry and other ornaments into one-of-kind headpieces that add special meaning to the ceremony.

Even if you do opt for a veil, many of these pieces may still flatter your ensemble or top off your look after the veil has been tossed for the reception.

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Saintly Settings There’s no need to be angelic in order to receive a halo setting engagement ring.

Make The Cut

get the scoop on five of the most common cuts of diamonds.

GraVITy By BC CLarK

Round Brilliant This shape accounts for around threefourths of diamonds sold today. Its 58-facet cut achieves optimal brilliance.

Halo settings serve the purpose of improving the beauty of an already beautiful diamond. Small, pave-cut diamonds surround the larger stone, making it appear larger and enhancing the brilliance. a trending setting for years, the halo can be found in several price points. The chic setting has been seen on the fingers of such starlets as natalie Portman, Carrie underwood and Giuliana rancic.

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Cushion a popular cut for a wide range of diamond shapes, from squares to long rectangles. The cushion cut, also known as a pillow cut or candlelight diamond, is an antique cut that features large facets.

The cut first rose to popularity in the 1800s due to its ability to brilliant reflection of candlelight.

marquise This elongated diamond with pointed tips is a popular cut used in solitaire settings.

emerald The rectangular shape with cut corners features long lines, which produces very dramatic flashes of light. The emerald cut makes a great choice for an engagement ring, and it is often more affordable than a round cut.

Harry KOTLar, BC CLarK

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Princess The princess is a square or rectangular cut that features numerous sparkling facets. It is also a popular choice for solitaire engagement rings.

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Oklahoma Wedding

green Moss sphere with anthurium and hypericum berries, Toniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Flowers and gifts, Tulsa.

Color Coded all the hues of the rainbow are at your disposal to add punch to your wedding day.

Photography by Chris humphrey and Brent Fuchs

Orange roses, cymbidium orchids, parrot tulips, ranunculus, rose hips and autumn leaves, Petal Pushers, Tulsa.

Red Tulips, protea, dianthus, Cole Dewey Designs, Oklahoma City.

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Oklahoma Wedding White Phalaenopsis orchids, peony, lamb’s ear, The Fleuriste, Oklahoma City.

Violet Freesia, stock, dianthus, greenery, Cole Dewey Designs, Oklahoma City.

Pink Calla lilies, peonies and cymbidium orchids with beads, Petal Pushers, Tulsa.

Orange roses, spray roses, alstroemeria, hypericum, variegated foliage, Trochta’s Flowers, Oklahoma City.

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Pink assorted roses, peonies, lemon leaf, Trochta’s Flowers, Oklahoma City.

White Phalaenopsis orchids, roses, gardenia, dahlia, tuberoses, stock, hydrangea and magnolia leaves, Toniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Flowers and gifts, Tulsa.

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Oklahoma Wedding Yellow Calla lilies, roses, hypericum berries, trachellium, The Fleuriste, Oklahoma City.

green anthurium, phalaenopsis orchids, hydrangea, succulents, dianthus, grasses, twigs and lotus pods, mary murray’s Flowers, Tulsa.

Yellow Spray roses, poinsettia, Fuji mums, Hagoromo mums, freesia and statice, Whole Foods market, Tulsa.

Violet Peonies, Fuji mums, tulips, dahlia’s anemones and hydrangea, Whole Foods market, Tulsa.

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Red roses, pepperberry, amaranth and pearls, mary murray’s Flowers, Tulsa.

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Efficiency And Etiquette electronic invitations are gaining popularity but aren’t for everyone.

Your close friends and related peers are tech-savvy and used to living in a tweet-a-minute, constantly plugged in electronic world.

They’re used to even the most elaborate plans for a group ski getaway or cruise being shared via email or even a vacation planning website. That doughty anachronism known as the post office is for delivery of junk mail and annual birthday gift cards from that distant great aunt Elsie. So, with the big event coming later this year, why not send out your wedding invitations via email and save both a tree and some money simultaneously?

Indeed, some couples will jump at the electronic option, either for the savings, the simplicity or for the green hipster cred. And email invitations are certainly increasingly common and have steadily improved to offer potential consumers a spectacular array of tools to create impressive multimedia extravaganzas. But time-honored traditions don’t fade easily, framing the question as efficiency versus etiquette.

It is that efficiency and improved quality that have buoyed recent use of email wedding invitations. Cost is part of that efficiency. The

owner of www.emailweddinginvitations.net told Columbia News Service last year that the company could provide the same quality email invitations as it could printed versions for as low as $48.99 – and that business had gained steam the past two years. Numerous service providers can now craft for couples complete multi-media e-invites, complete with video, photo montage, music and much more – improving dramatically on earlier invitation versions with which many people are familiar. Efficiency of delivery is another factor couples consider since email invitations are far less time consuming, eliminating the need for much of the process including calligraphy, stamps, reply cards, postage, etc.

Most service providers include a response option so keeping a tally of guests is considerably easier.

Combined with the environmental benefits, email invitations’ appeal is obvious. But it also isn’t universal, with such institutions as Bridal Guide Magazine opposing the trend, manners maven Anna Post having strong reservations and even Crane & Co. moving only slowly in exploring electronic applications.

Chief arguments against the e-trend are tradition. Emails tend to be informative or informal, not the bearer of formal symbolic gestures such as the wedding invitation, which is often saved as a keepsake.

“To many people, an electronic invitation just does not convey the same sense of importance as a paper-and-ink invitation

received in the mail,” wrote Peggy Post, director of the Emily Post Institute and the great-granddaughter-in-law of its namesake, in a New York Times column in 2011.

Many weddings will also include guests who aren’t entirely technologically savvy, who don’t live their lives online, pay attention to email or routinely check their spam folder. The result is an inevitable two-tiered invitation process that makes it unlikely that all guests will receive their invitation simultaneously – another tradition – and complicates the entire process.

There are a number of ways technology can ease the wedding planning process without affecting tradition, such as a wedding website for disseminating information, sharing plans, collecting replies and requests, etc.

A wedding Twitter account can be fun and festive. However, when it comes to determining whether to go with electronic or paper invitations, there are a number of factors to carefully consider and weigh against the vision you have of the special occasion.

“A wedding is considered one of life’s most important occasions, and the invitation that heralds it sets the overall tone of the event to come,” Peggy Post opined in the Times. miChael W. SaSSeR

Technology Enhances Wedding Photography If there’s an aspect of weddings clearly enhanced by technology, it would be wedding photography. and, no, not just because of what Photoshop and its likes can accomplish.

Technology now permits easy sharing of wedding and related photos with friends and family around the world with the touch of a key. It’s also changed the way professional wedding photographers and their clients interact and do business with an eye on quickness, efficiency and quality.

Most people are familiar with sharing photos on social network websites such as Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, and these 104

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have relatively easy general processes.

However, the platforms weren’t specifically developed to share large numbers of themed photos with a specified group of people.

Such tools can be cumbersome to use and to control access to. Fortunately, a number of other sites are designed specifically to share photos with particular people, such as Flickr, Photobucket, SlickPic, Shutterfly and others.

Each offers a different array of membership benefits and tools and they are generally easy for most users.

The relationship between the professional wedding photographer and clients calls for

different needs but is also enhanced by technology. Instead of having to wade through hundreds or thousands of digital images delivered en masse on photo CD, commercial websites enable photographers to share certain images with certain clients, with the client then being able to peruse, make decisions and requests on her own time frame. The very popular Pictage, for example, lets users request prints of preferred photos.

Technology also permits online proofing and, of course, the magic of Photoshop, which even as technology advances, still might be brides’ best friend. – MWS

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Petal Perfect

These custom wedding confections take their inspiration from ďŹ&#x201A;owers.

Photography by Chris humphrey and Brent Fuchs

gardenia Four tier round cake, amy Cakes, norman.

Rose Three tier round cake, rosebearyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Designs in Baking, Guthrie.

Cherry Blossom Three tier round cake by nibbles by Grandeur affaires, Tulsa.

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Trend alert:

More brides are dispensing with the traditional white cake with buttercream filling in favor of something more flavorful. Black tie cake; vanilla and chocolate cake with chocolate mouse and Bavarian creme filling and buttercream frosting by nibbles

by Grandeur affaires.

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Oklahoma Wedding

Peony Two tier round cake by nibbles by Grandeur affaires, Tulsa.

Red Poppy Five tier round cake by Icing on the Top, Tulsa.

magnolia Three tier square cake, Icing on the Top, Tulsa.

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The Art of the

Wedding Elegant Lighting & Drapery ♦ Monogram Images Sound Systems ♦ Video Projection ♦ Outstanding Service

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Facchiano s Bridal and Formal Attire

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All American Gourmet deviled eggs with black peppered bacon and smoked gouda, ailaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catering kitchen/go West Restaurant.

Barbecue beef on jalepeno cornbread crostini, Polo grill.

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Veal and beef tenderloin meatloaf served on toasted brioche with spicy ketchup, Palace CafĂŠ.

Miniature twice-baked, loaded baked potatoes, Polo grill.

Classic american comfort food transformed into bite-sized reception treats, lets you up the fun factor without sacrificing elegance.

PHOTOS By HEaTH SHarP.

Gourmet four-cheese jalapeno mac-n-cheese served in a parmesan tuile cup, aila’s Catering kitchen/go West Restaurant.

Four-cheese and pesto pizza, Wolfgang Puck Bistro.

Lobster corndog with spicy mustard and house made ketchup, Palace Café.

Spicy chicken meatballs served with tomato basil garlic sauce and shaved parmesan cheese, Wolfgang Puck Bistro.

January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Tasteful Travel And Honeymoon Highs global destinations abound for food and wine enthusiasts.

Pico island

W

hile honeymoons catering to food and wine lovers have been increasingly popular over the past decade, specific destinations appealing to those couples are readily familiar to most travelers – New York, Paris and Madrid, to name a few of the obvious. But, a table’s bounty awaits honeymooners in all sections of the globe.

Dining Down Under Oceania was already a hot general tourism destination before global moviegoers traced hobbits to quiet, pastoral New Zealand.

But while many travelers focus on sporting itineraries, Australia makes for a delicious oenophile honeymoon.

Outside Melbourne an hour by car, the Yarra Valley is a spectacular destination to stay or to visit on a wider itinerary. Lush, rolling green hills and misty forests accentuate the pristine environment. Here, more than 50 wineries dot the countryside, ranging from small family operations to well-known names such as Chateau Yering and Domain Chandon. Some of Australia’s finest pinot noir and sparkling wines are made here, among others.

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Explore and sample the wineries however suits you best – from self-guided tours to limo tours; and a sunrise hot air balloon excursion over the valley is most memorable. Dining is luxurious here, with the region also being famed for its dynamic produce. For a spectacular afternoon, consider packing a basket of local products and taking to the National Rhododendron Gardens for a picnic among lush flowers.

Other significant wine regions include Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale in the south and Margaret River and Swan Valley in Western Australia.

into The Cape Like Australia, South Africa has witnessed a notable increase in the popularity of its wine and food in recent years. And also like Australia, tourism has benefitted as a result and today South Africa draws as much interest in its fine dining as it does its famed veldt.

Fortunately, ample elegant options for accommodations and fine dining in Cape Town, just a short distance from many of the nation’s leading wineries. Just 20 minutes from Cape Town, Constantia is a leading wine region with myriad offerings. The Route 62 wine

trail has been called the longest wine route on earth with a host of wineries and vineyards along its winding path, and the Stellenbosch Wine Route and its famed JC Le Roux sparkling wine is the country’s oldest trail.

Famed destinations include the 245-year-old Spier Wine Estate; the town of Robertson, home to the acclaimed Robertson Winery, winner of numerous international awards for its shiraz, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay varietals; the Wellington region, famed for its brandy; and Paarl, South Africa’s third oldest town and home to internationally renowned Nederburg Wine Estate, as well as numerous other premier brands.

Fine dining can be found throughout the Cape, but the nearby Franschhoek Wine Valley is considered the “gourmet capital of South Africa,” and is a terrific alternate to Cape Town for honeymooners’ stays.

at earth’s end At the veritable end of the world, Chile’s midsouthern region offers adventurous honeymooners with a taste for good wine and food an emerging destination rich in opportunities.

Chilean wines, predominantly reds, are wildly popular today for quality and value. Primary wine destinations, easily accessible from the Wine is both an important australian export and an attraction to oenophile travelers.

healdsburg, Sonoma Valley

capital of Santiago, include Maipo Valley, San Antonio Valley, Cachapoal and Casablanca Valley. Hospitable wineries cheerfully greet visitors throughout, crafting tasting experiences thrust against the beautiful backdrop of the sea to the west and the mountains to the east. Chilean wines will present surprises to even veteran wine aficionados.

In culinary terms, Chile’s best features are an abundance of fresh produce from its green core and the bounty of the sea. But being a city of some five million people, many different cuisines are represented, and foodies will find countless opportunities to indulge themselves in Santiago. In addition to ample high caliber food and free-flowing local wine, there are beautiful accommodations in Santiago and more than a few city attractions to ensure a memorable stay at the far end of the world.

Quintessential Wine Country

South Pacific doesn’t produce world-famous wines, nor is it home to UNESCO world Of course, after France, the first destinapatrimony designated vineyards – unlike tion many American think of when it comes Pico, which can make both claims. There to wine-driven travel is California wine are a few wineries worth visiting. Here you country. And when it comes to the quinteswill want to sample regional wines and table sential Sonoma Valley venue, that image is of Healdsburg.

Santiago, Chile Everything about the town and its immediate vicinity appeals to wine and food lovers. Numerous vineyards and wineries are within easy travel of the quaint, lush town and there are numerous tasting rooms surrounding the central town square. Terrific zinfandels, pinot noir from Porter Creek and the Petite Sirah from Froppiano’s are among wine treats. Pair those wines with top-notch dining as well, since Healdsburg is a foodie paradise with an emphasis on fresh California cuisine in numerous restaurants located in town as well as fresh local products available in shops.

Capping Healdsburg’s travel appeal is that it caters extensively to wedding parties and honeymooners who want to enjoy the best that wine country has to offer.

island in the Stream Mention Portugal to many travelers and their thoughts might turn to smoky red wines and, of course, the homeland of the world’s greatest port wines. But Pico Island in the Azores might be the nation’s premier destination for true aficionados.

With Mt. Pico towering over it, Pico is a beautiful, serene, lush island that might look like somewhere in the South Pacific. But the

wines under the Terras de Lava, Frei Gigante and Basalto labels and Pico’s most famous libation, fortified verdelho wines (Lajido).

Dining life revolves around informal and very friendly cafes and dining is simple Cape Town, South africa but very fresh and regional. Informal also describes accommodations, although service is likely to be warm and personal.

From whale watching to water sports, Pico is a nature lover’s paradise. And when you witness sunset from Mt. Pico after a beautiful 2-3 hour hike, “paradise” will definitely come to mind. What more could one ask of a honeymoon? miChael W. SaSSeR January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Thirty days before he would marry the love of his life, Alex Pelley was involved in a serious car accident.

Despite that, just days before the wedding, 20 pounds thinner and very weak, Alex met his bride Cortney Ketchum in Tulsa to exchange vows, finding the strength to stand through the ceremony, have his first dance and take part in all of the precious rites of passages that are true to wedding tradition.

“He was amazing. He is amazing,” Cortney says.

Having met through mutual friends in Dallas, Cortney, of Tulsa, and Alex, of Sherman, Tex., have a love story that could grace the silver screen.

Pelley proposed on top of a mountain in Vail, Colo. – the picture-perfect kick-off to what would blossom into a wedding that will have their guests reminiscing for years to come.

“I had always wanted to be married on New Year’s Eve, but never thought it would happen since Saturdays on Dec. 31st are only every seven years,” Cortney says.

“Fortunately for us, the next New Year’s Eve after our engagement was a Saturday, and my childhood church, Kirk of the Hills, agreed to let us marry on that day.”

No fairy tale wedding is complete without a princess dress, and that’s exactly what Cortney wore as she walked

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Wedding Announcement

the aisle of her childhood church.

Complete with a matching cathedral length veil embellished with thousands of Swarvoski crystals, the exquisite details of her custom Carolina Herrera ball gown became the inspiration for the lavish seven-layer wedding cake.

Chosen for its ambiance, the Mayo Hotel was ideal for a New Year’s Eve wedding, and their 377 guests were in for quite a treat.

For their reception, no detail was spared to set the mood for an evening of celebration in the Crystal Ballroom.

Elaborate flower arrangements towered over the tables, and the room was decked to the nines with New Year’s Eve inspired decorations.

The couple took great care with unique details, ensuring that their guests were catered to in style, from the eclectic 16-piece live band and posh décor, to the fully stocked bar and impressive variety of food.

The band didn’t let up until 1 a.m., but the party continued on until 3 a.m. when guests were taken to the penthouse for hand rolled cigars on the balcony and a spread of breakfast snacks.

And of course, what better way to toast the end of such a celebration than wedding favors of monogrammed champagne bottles and jars of black-eyed peas? meika YaTeS hineS

PHOTOS By CHrIS HuMPHrEy PHOTOGraPHEr.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE

Weddings

AT THE GAYLORD-PICKENS OKLAHOMA HERITAGE MUSEUM

Indoor & Outdoor Accommodations: the elegant Bennett-McClendon Great Hall the breathtaking Edith Kinney Gaylord Garden the stately Front Steps Information or booking:

special events director Corie Baker

1400 Classen Drive • OKC 73106 405.523.3206 • clb@oklahomaheritage.com www.oklahomaheritage.com Photos courtesy of (clockwise, from top left): Tara Lokey Photography, Tara Lokey Photography, Gordon Dinsmore Photography, eventures corporate event production and Prints Charming Photography.

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Wedding. Reception. Honeymoon.

Our Tulsa, Oklahoma hotel is the perfect place to say “I Do.” Memorable venues, professional staff and spacious accommodations await you at the Hyatt Regency Tulsa.

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What Not To Do Brides should keep a few courtesies in mind when it comes to bridesmaids.

This is one of the most exciting and important moments of your life. You expect your bridal party to make your wedding their number one priority. Hold it, Bridezilla!

People have their own lives and other matters with which to worry. When the majority of your bridesmaids are in their mid-20s, not everyone’s careers are established and some may be going back to school. Here are some pointers on how to maintain a sense of reality during planning for the Big Day. Please be reasonable with the number of girls you select in your bridal party. This is not a competition with other brides to display 116

Oklahoma Magazine | January 2013

who has more friends. The more bridesmaids you have, the more stressful the planning and coordinating can become. Also, this weakens your ability to cover certain important costs for your bridesmaids. When your bridal party exceeds six to eight girls, bigger problems tend to arise. Remember, your friends are investing not only a significant amount of money but also their valuable time to be in your bridal party.

If your wedding is a destination wedding (requiring a plane ticket), do not plan an extravagant bachelorette party unless you plan to chip in. Do not lose sight of the other

expenses your bridesmaids have – engagement gifts, bridal shower gifts, wedding gifts, airfare/hotel for the wedding, actual expenses for the bridesmaid attire. This being said, it is also a good idea to allow some time in between the bachelorette party and the wedding so your bridesmaids can recover financially.

Rather than scheduling the bachelorette party one month before the wedding, maybe coordinate it to take place three to six months before the wedding. Additionally, if you have your travel agent involved handling the travel plans for the bridesmaids, be certain the agent explains all the rules and conditions prior to booking and taking deposits.

In some cases, directly booking air and hotel may be best for bridesmaids, individually, versus going with the bookings by an agent.

If one of your bridesmaids was unable to attend the event and the travel plans were handled by the agent, the bridesmaid may not be able to get her deposit back. That might place a strain on the relationship.

If you are not paying for your bridesmaids’ dresses, please be kind and select a dress that is not only affordable, but something that can be worn again (no canary frocks, please).

This goes for shoes, as well. If you are going to be so demanding with the height of the shoes, perhaps you can cover the cost of this or find a very affordable option for your friends to eliminate their endless search for the perfect shoe.

If your wedding does require your bridesmaids to travel, it is a nice gesture to treat them with hair and makeup. You are asking them to be a part of your big day, which includes numerous photos, so please be grateful for their effort and surprise them with these beauty treatments. This also goes for jewelry. If you are requiring the bridesmaids to wear a certain style of earrings or necklace, this could be the perfect gift for your bridal party.

Some of these pointers might sound outrageous, but I have experienced each of these scenarios in some way during my role as bridesmaid in various weddings. Remember the golden rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” When you make requests of your bridesmaids, take a second to think to yourself, would you do this or even want to do this as a bridesmaid for one of your friends? amanDa ShaCkleFORD

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Oklahoma Wedding

Wedding Service Directory The Dresser mansion

An ideal venue for weddings, receptions, parties and more, the mansion can host up to 200 guests, offering both indoor and outdoor ceremonies. 235 W. 18th St., Tulsa. 918.585.5157. www. dressermansion.com

gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma heritage museum

The historic Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum is a beautiful and unique place for any ocasion. With indoor and outdoor space available, your wedding will be elegant and functional.

1400 Classen Dr., Oklahoma City. 405.235.4458. www. oklahomaheritage.com

CHrIS HuMPHrEy PHOTOGraPHEr

gilcrease museum

hotels and Venues 1886 Crescent hotel & Spa

The 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa is a mountain-top spa resort located in Eureka Springs, Ark. Only a 2.5 hour drive from Tulsa, we are the ultimate wedding venue. 75 Prospect Ave., Eureka Springs, Ark. 479.253.9766. www.crescent-hotel.com

Campbell hotel and event Center

Ideal for your most memorable occasion, The Campbell Hotel & Event Center is characterized by lavish colors and accent carpeting, a built-in dance floor, two built-in bars, tables and chairs and is ideal for up to 250 standing or seated guests.

2636 E. 11th St., Tulsa. 918.744.5500. www. thecampbellhotel.com

The Canebrake

At The Canebrake, you can rejuvenate amid the splendor of northeast Oklahoma’s Green Country.

Varied topography of the region provides breathtaking views at every turn. 33241 E. 732nd Road, Wagoner. 918.485.1816. www.thecanebrake.com

Cherokee Spur Ranch

Cherokee Spur Ranch on Grand Lake in Afton provides a stunning location for an Oklahoma wedding, whether you want a day wedding or an all weekend event. Visit our website, www. cherokeespur.com for more information. 28597 S. 4520 Rd., Afton. 918.698.7590, 918.256.5400.

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With various reception spaces throughout the museum and beautiful gardens for outdoor activities, your special event will take on a distinctive flair at Gilcrease. 1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Rd., Tulsa. 918.596.2771. www. gilcrease.utulsa.edu

girouard Vines

817 E. Third St., Tulsa.

918.231.4592. www. girouardvines.com

glenpool Conference Center

A beautiful, versatile facility with indoor and outdoor options that can accommodate any size or style of wedding. An affordable venue conveniently located at 121st Street and U.S. 75. 12205 S. Yukon Ave., Glenpool. 918.209.4632. www. glenpoolconferencecenter.com

hard Rock hotel & Casino Tulsa

With more than 75,000 square feet of event space, 450 hotel rooms and honeymoon suites, championship golf and a variety of entertainment venues, Hard Rock Hotel tosses up more than just the bouquet. 777 W. Cherokee St., Catoosa.

918.384.6725. www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com

harwelden

Harwelden reflects the elegance of the early 1920s with its unique detail and majestic style. It is a resplendent setting for any special event. 2210 S. Main St., Tulsa. 918.584.3333. www.ahct.org

holiday inn Tulsa City Center

Located in the heart of downtown Tulsa, offering a contemporary event space that fits 200 people, discounted group room rates, outdoor rooftop terrace and full-service catering. 17 W. Seventh St., Tulsa. 918.585.5898. www.holidayinn.com

hyatt Regency Tulsa

More than 450 guest rooms, including five luxurious suites. Located in the heart of Tulsa’s Art Deco district. 100 E. Second St., Tulsa. 918.582.9000. www.tulsa.hyatt.com

The kennedy mansion

The Kennedy Mansion offers a breathtaking, romantic setting for your wedding or any special event. Located two minutes northwest of downtown Tulsa, the elegant and spacious Kennedy Mansion is a Tulsa treasure. 506 W. Fairview St., Tulsa. 918.712.8065. www.kennedymansion.com

marriott Tulsa hotel Southern hills

A full-service hotel offering an elegant venue, spectacular catering and modern guest accommodations. 1902 E. 71st St., Tulsa. 918.523.3527. www.marriott.com

The mayo hotel

The Mayo Hotel is a one-stop shop for your dream wedding, so you can keep your mind on the aisle while we take care of the details. 115 W. Fifth St., Tulsa. 918.582.6296. www.themayohotel.com

Oklahoma Jazz hall of Fame

Celebrate your wedding at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. Enjoy iconic glamour and Art Deco elegance at the perfect venue for your perfect day.

5. S. Boston Ave., Tulsa. 918.281.8605. www. okjazz.org

OneOk Field

ONEOK Field is the perfect venue for your next wedding, reception or rehearsal dinner. Nestled in downtown Tulsa, ONEOK Field offers stunning views from its meeting and event spaces.

201 N. Elgin Ave., Tulsa. 918.574.8308. www. oneokfieldevents.com

Osage event Center

Featuring 5,000 square feet of flexible event space, delicious on-site catering, exciting gaming and a great value with complimentary tables, chairs, set-up and more. 951 W. 36th St. N., Tulsa.

918.699.7621. www.osagecasinos.com

Park inn Tulsa airport

Catering also available. 2201 N. 77th E. Ave., Tulsa. 918.835.9911. www.parkinntulsaairport. com

POSTOak lodge and Retreat

Located on 1,000 breathtaking acres outside Tulsa, POSTOAK Lodge and Retreat offers a number of picturesque indoor and outdoor locations for all of your wedding guests. 5323 W. 31st St. N., Tulsa.

918.728.2765. www.postoaklodge.com

Tulsa air and Space museum & Planetarium

We are a unique venue that specializes in customized weddings. Through our technology, we transform your wedding into a whole new level or destination. At TASM, you determine where you say, “I do.” 3624 N. 74th E. Ave., Tulsa.

918.834.9900. www.tulsaairandspacemuseum.org

Tulsa Convention Center

For your big day, we offer Oklahoma’s largest ballroom, full-service catering, personal event coordinator, sky bridge to a full-service hotel, and we are within five minutes of Tulsa’s downtown church district. 100 Civic Center, Tulsa.

918.894.4350. www.tulsaconvention.com

Tulsa garden Center

Historic Italian Renaissance mansion within Woodward Park’s lush urban garden setting.

Elegant, old-world setting suitable for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners and parties. 2435 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa. 918.746.5125. www. tulsagardencenter.com

A 10,000 square foot historic mansion for weddings, receptions, parties, corporate events and celebrations of life and reunions. Abundant parking. 1 W. 81st St., Tulsa. 918.446.8181. www. whitehousemansiontulsa.com

Bridal and Formal Wear al’s Formal Wear

Saks Fifth avenue

Find the latest in fashionable wear for weddings, rehearsal dinners and other celebrations. 1780 Utica Square, Tulsa.

918.744.0200. www.saksfifthavenue.com

Cakes nibbles by grandeur affaires, inc.

Al’s Formal Wear has America’s largest selection of tuxedos that will fit any budget and with formal accessories that will coordinate with any wedding. Now for a limited time free wedding invitations. See stores for details. Al’s Formal Wear has 100 locations in Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mississippi. 4020 S. Yale, Ave. and 7029 S. Memorial Dr., Tulsa. www.alsformalwear.com

Eclectic café and tea room. Provides turnkey wedding services such as custom wedding cakes, premium catering and floral services. 8313 S. Memorial Dr., Tulsa. 918.254.5050. www.grandeuraffaires.com

alyssa’s Bridal & Tuxedos

aila’s Catering kitchen/go West Restaurant

6808 S. Memorial Dr., Suite 358, Tulsa.

918.250.1991. www.alyssas.com

Catering

Bridal Rentals & more

We offer full-service catering, custombuilt menus, alcohol and wedding and rehearsal venues. 4900 W. 71st St., Tulsa.

918.446.6955. www.cateringkitchentulsa. com

Facchianos Bridal & Formal attire

1515 N. Portland, Oklahoma City.

405.942.4000. www.auntpittypatscatering. com

mary Ruby apparel

Offering a banquet facility with room to seat 90 for myriad needs with a beautiful setting, outstanding menu options and superior service. 10021 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa.

918.296.3000. www.tulsabistro.com

8262 E. 71st St., Tulsa. 918.461.9222. www.bridal-palace.net For all your prom, pageantry, bridal and special occasion rental needs. 12929 E. 21st Place, Tulsa.

918.622.2229. www.bridalrentalsandmore.com Bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, mothers’ dresses, tuxedos, flower girl dresses, wedding head pieces, jewelry, invitations and the best quality and service in Oklahoma! 71st and Garnett, Broken Arrow. 918.461.8697. www.facchianos.com Mother of the bride and groom and special event dresses. 6034 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa. 918.491.0808. www.maryruby.com

aunt Pitty Pat’s Catering

The Bistro at Seville

Celebrity Restaurant

3109 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa. 918.743.1800. www.celebritytulsa.com

Chocolate Fountains of Tulsa

Chocolate fountains are quickly becoming a must-have at wedding receptions. Our attendants strive to provide a professional and friendly service to ensure an excellent experience.

918.691.8825. www.chocolatefountainsoftulsa.com

3202 W. Kenosha St., Broken Arrow. 918.254.8337 ext. 4. www.tedscafe.com

Ti amo Ristorante italiano

Spacious meeting rooms; flexible table layouts; beautiful paneled rooms; limitless menu options; state of the art audiovisual system; portable bar and removable dance floor; two locations. 6024-A S. Sheridan Rd., Tulsa. 918.499.1919. 219 S. Cheyenne Ave., Tulsa. 918.592.5151. www.tiamotulsa.com

hammett house

Whole Foods market

los Cabos mexican grill & Cantina and Waterfront grill

Wolfgang Puck Bistro

1616 W. Will Rogers Blvd., Claremore.

918.341.7333. www.hametthouse.com

Both Los Cabos and Waterfront Grill provide outstanding and high quality food for any occasion. Rehearsal dinners or weddings, we offer tent parties on the river as well. 300 Riverwalk Terrace, Suite 100, Jenks. 918.298.2226. www. loscabosok.com

Polo grill

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Bridal Palace

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The White house mansion

The Polo Grill has multiple private rooms that are perfect for rehearsal dinners. Some of our rooms can accommodate up to 60 people. 2038 Utica Square, Tulsa. 918.744.4280. www. pologrill.com

Restaurant at gilcrease

Weddings and other special events turn into artful occasions when held at Gilcrease Museum. Complete catering services will help simplify your special day. 1400 W. Gilcrease Museum Rd., Tulsa. 918.596.2771. www.gilcrease.org

Ted’s Café escondido

The favorite Mexican restaurant provides catering services for events.

Our team of chefs is dedicated to preparing delicious, natural, fresh food for any occasion. 1401 E. 41st St., Tulsa. 918.712.7555. www.wholefoodsmarket.com Private dining space for rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions. 3330 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa.

918.292.8585. www.wolfgangpuck.com

event Planners Bartlesville Convention & Visitor’s Bureau

The staff of the Bartlesville CVB can assist you with your wedding planning needs, including rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception locations, hotel accommodations and more. 201 SW Keeler Ave., Bartlesville. 918.336.8708

Talmadge Powell Creative

Events.Design. Marketing. 918.582.0359. www. talmadgepowell.com

Financial Services new York life insurance Co.

We offer sound financial strategies and timely insurance and investment solutions for the various and ever-changing stages in life. 2431 E. 61st St., Suite 650, Tulsa. 918.581.8829. www.newyorklife. com January 2013 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Oklahoma Wedding Jewelers Bruce g. Weber Precious Jewels

1700 Utica Square, Tulsa. 918.749.1700. www. brucegweber.com

lighting Omni lighting, inc.

Lighting and audio/visual productions, rentals, sales and service. 1333 E. Fourth St., Tulsa.

918.583.6464. www.omnilighting.com

Transportation Party express Bus

Toni’s Flowers & gifts

Complimentary consultation by appointment. We serve all of your wedding needs. 3549 S. Harvard Ave., Tulsa. 918.742.9027. www.tonisflowersgifts.com

health, Beauty and Wellness aRCS Salon

8624 E. 71st St., Suite A, Tulsa. 918.250.2213. www.robertcromeans.com

Ba med Spa/Weight loss

500 S. Elm Pl., Broken Arrow. 918.872.9999. www.baweightspa.com

Box Talent agents assist couples in selecting the perfect wedding bands, quartets and entertainment for their ceremony, rehearsal dinner and reception.

6305 Waterford Blvd., Suite 480, Oklahoma City.

405.858.2263. www.boxtalent.com

Brava Quartette

String quartette music for weddings, receptions and parties. 918.230.6695 or 918.520.0086. www. bravaquartette.com If you need music, we can provide it. The best DJs, killer lighting rigs, the best music. It’s everything that you would expect from Tulsa’s hottest radio station. 7030 S. Yale Ave., Suite 711, Tulsa.

918.492.2020. www.khits.com

Photo Booth The Oklahoma Photobooth Company, inc.

Authentic photo booth rentals for any occasion.

11520 Vail Drive, Guthrie. 405.520.1505. www. okphotobooth.com

Photography Chris humphrey Photographer

“Chris Humphrey has the rare ability to capture the climax of a moment with the click of his camera in a single image.” – Quote from a pleased bride. Serving all of Oklahoma and destinations worldwide. 918.625.4630. www. chrishumphreyphotographer.com

Registry

1902 E. 71st St., Tulsa. 918.493.2646. www. spasouthernhills.net

Tulsa Surgical arts

7322 E. 91st St., Tulsa. 918.392.7900. www. tulsasurgicalarts.com

Utica Square Skin Care

Offering medical skin care and a variety of services and therapies to help you look and feel your best. 2111 S. Atlanta Place, Tulsa. 918.712.3223.

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918.382.7278. www.tulsaparty.com

home Builder The Capital Homes team builds high-quality, Energy Star certified new homes throughout the Tulsa area. Find us online at www.capitalhomes. com. 12150 E. 96th St. N., Suite 202, Owasso.

918.230.9991.

Travel Travel Place inc.

Crafting personalized “one in a lifetime” honeymoons with 25 years of experience. Ask about my American Express Insider Tahiti Specialist designation. 9410 Main St., Manassas, Va. 703.368.8757. www.travelplaceinc.com

World Travel

World Travel has been serving Tulsa for 53 years. Part of the Virtuoso Network, each advisor is highly skilled. We believe your experience deserves ours. 7645 E. 63rd St., Suite 101, Tulsa.

918.743.8856. www.worldtraveltoday.com

Videography Captain Video Productions

We offer multiple HD camera coverage and Stedicam that discreetly captures your event. Tulsa families have been trusting us with their memories since 1985. 1429 N. Umbrella Ave., Broken Arrow.

918.622.4441. www.captainvideoinc.com

Photographic memories

Skin medic

Spa Southern hills

Fabrics, chuppahs, mandaps, canopies, stage design, props. 918.401.0361

Capital homes

Photographic Memories provides high-quality, innovative custom wedding photography. We maintain a very stylish, photojournalistic approach capturing every special moment of your beautiful wedding story. 7312 N. 195th E. Ave., Owasso. 918.272.7007. www.photographicmemoriesbytammy.com

1727 S. Cheyenne Ave., Tulsa. 918.587.7546. www.skinmedic.com

Parties Plus Productions

music

Chris Ward, DDS

Implant, cosmetic and sedation dentistry. 18 months SAC financing. File all dental insurance as a courtesy. Open five days a week. 12814 E. 101st Pl. N., Suite 101, Owasso. 918.274.4466. www. chriswarddds.com

Complete wedding and party rental for rehearsal, ceremony and reception needs. 2033 E. 11th St., Tulsa. 918.583.6557 or 918.584.1030. www. abcoparty.com

miss Jackson’s

Exquisite china and crystal blend seamlessly with artisan tableware and modern home accessories in Miss Jackson’s unique collection of registry offerings. 1974 Utica Square, Tulsa. 918.747.8671. www.missjacksons.com

nielsens exclusive gifts

8138-A S. Lewis, Tulsa. 918.298.9700. www. nielsensgifts.com

Williams-Sonoma

With more than 50 years of experience in the

CHrIS HuMPHrEy PHOTOGraPHEr

naTaLIE GrEEn

All wedding flowers, bouquet, corsages, boutonnieres, center pieces, arches, votives, rental items, candelabras, vase stands and great ideas. 1660 E. 71st St., Suite H, Tulsa. 918.494.0999

aBCO Rents

zach Downing Production

k-hits music 2 go

Petal Pushers

Rentals and Supply

Renovated, transit-style party buses are known for their style and come equipped with top-of-the-line stereos, party lights, entertainer poles and professional drivers.

Tulsa. 918.249.4386. www.partyexpressbus.com

Box Talent agency

Florists and Decor

kitchen, Williams-Sonoma has perfected the art of cooking and celebrating special occasions by providing the finest cooking equipment, tools, recipes and foods available. 2016 Utica Square, Tulsa.

918.742.5252. www.williams-sonoma.com

When pirouettes coincide with the playoffs,

Program your DVR from anywhere with Remote DVR Scheduling. It’s fast. Easy. FREE — with COX Advanced TV.

SM

918-286-3429

Cox Advanced TV with DVR service and receiver rental required. Other restrictions may apply. ©2013 Cox Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

Introducing the new 2013 LS and all-new LS F SPORT. Driven to make a statement with sleek, bold, confident styling. Driven to exhilarate with the F SPORT’s driver-adjustable sport-tuned air suspension, Brembo® front brakes,1 and eight-speed transmission with race-inspired paddle shifters. Driven to inspire with available technology like the Lexus Enform App® Suite2 featuring Pandora,® OpenTable® and Bing,™ and the available Climate Concierge that balances steering wheel, seat and air temperatures perfectly. The new 2013 LS and all-new LS F SPORT. Driven to never go quietly.

#LexusLS

L E XU S .CO M

Visit Your Local Lexus Dealer 1. High-friction brakes require periodic inspection and measurement as outlined in the Warranty and Services Guide. The pads and rotors are expected to experience greater wear than conventional brakes. Pad life may be less than 20,000 miles, and brake rotor life may be less than 50,000 miles depending on driving conditions. 2. Always drive safely, obey traffic laws & focus on the road while driving. Apps/services vary by phone/carrier; functionality depends on many factors.

Select apps use large amounts of data, you are responsible for charges. Apps/services are subject to change. Apps identified by ™ or ® are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. For enrollment, cost and more details, see lexus.com/enform. ©2012 Lexus.