Oklahoma Magazine March 2020

MARCH 2020

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& Garden The ins and outs of reinventing your space

OKLAHOMA ENTREPRENEURS The state’s small business boom and the people who can help

REAL ESTATE 101 Tips for buyers and sellers

Introducing our 2020 Champion Child.

A Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) Champion Child is often one who battles a rare medical condition with courage. This aptly describes Kooper, the 2020 CMNH Champion Child for the Tulsa area. “It all started with a stomach ache,” said Dawn, his mother. “And that was just the beginning.” In August 2018, Kooper was diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition that results in damage to blood vessels, blood platelets, kidneys and other organs; the result of an E. coli infection.

He then developed a blood clot and damage to his left lung, which ultimately led to his lung being removed. After more than a year, and several hospital visits and surgeries, Kooper is back to his old self—playing soccer, running for his school’s track club, and president of his fifth-grade class. “We are so grateful to The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis,” said Kooper’s dad Chris. “After a really difficult year, we now have so much to look forward to.”

Kooper, CMNH Champion Child (center), with brothers Jaxten (left) and Lokin.

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MARCH 2020

FEATURES O K L A H O M A M AG A Z I N E

V O L . X X I V, N O . 3

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Outdoor Living Welcome the warmer weather by creating an oasis in your backyard with high quality furniture, lighting and other outdoor amenities.

54

Real Estate 101

March is a bustling month for those wanting to buy or sell a home. Whether you’ve just started on your real estate journey or are ready right now to make some big decisions, experts can help. Find out what buyers are looking for, the questions you should ask when you tour a home, and which renovations can get you that elusive return on investment.

42

Creating a Refuge With spring on the horizon and the vestiges of winter behind us, now is the perfect time to give your home and garden a face-lift. For those looking to spruce up indoors, we offer interior design trends, tips on creating an eco-conscious home, and a rundown of in-home technology. If you’re on the hunt for ways to curate a better garden, we have tricks to get rid of pests, regional gardening advice, and suggestions on the everpopular she sheds and man caves.

Those with a passion for forging unique paths, taking risks or diving into new ventures go by many labels.

Mavericks. Pioneers. Individualists.

Gamblers. Perhaps the most common umbrella term is entrepreneur, which defines thousands of business owners in Oklahoma. Behind them are various resources to get their dreams off the ground.

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MARCH 2020

Developing Entrepreneurs

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Home

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Garden The ins and outs of reinventing your space

OKLAHOMA ENTREPRENEURS The state’s small business boom and the people who can help

REAL ESTATE 101 Tips for buyers and sellers

ON THE COVER:

The home and garden feature covers everything from regional gardening advice to interior design trends and ways to make your home more environmentally friendly.

Photo by Josh New; flowers courtesy Toni’s Flowers and Gifts

View expanded Scene, Style, Taste and Entertainment galleries.

MORE EVENTS

The online calendar includes more Oklahoma events.

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DEPARTMENTS

11 Habitat State Oklahoma’s for Humanity groups

have expanded in recent decades and helped many gain financial and family security.

13 14 16 18 20 22 23 24 26

History Sports Infrastructure Advocacy Makers Music Clubs Community Insider

ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

30 11 73

29 Life and Style 30

Interiors A midtown Tulsa home undergoes another renovation, which expands and updates the residence with current designs.

34 36 38 39 40 41

Destinations Health FYI Outside the Metro Scene Style Take cues from the

experts as you curate your spring wardrobe.

67 pands Taste Amelia’s exits presence in down-

41

town Tulsa with a separate brasserie and market two doors down from the original.

68 70 71

Local Flavor Chef Chat Tasty Tidbits

73 Where

and When

Tulsa Ballet’s passionate Vendetta transports audiences to a 1950s mafia feud in which a woman ascends to crime boss.

74 78

In Tulsa/In OKC Film and Cinema

80 Closing Thoughts

4

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

2/17/20 11:41 AM

Presidential Lecture Series

Sponsored by The Darcy O’Brien Endowed Chair

Becoming Dr. Q: My Journey from Migrant Farm Worker to Brain Surgeon

Dr. Alfredo QuiñonesHinojosa — just call him Dr. Q — was an impoverished teenager living in a rural Mexican village before he hopped an 18-foot fence into California and worked his way to becoming a medical student at Harvard. He is now regarded as one of the world’s finest surgeons, operating on some 250 people with brain tumors every year and leading cutting-edge research to cure brain cancer.

Dr. Q is now the neurosurgery chair at the Mayo Clinic in Florida.

He has appeared on television in the award-winning ABC series Hopkins as well as on NOVA, CBS News with Katie Couric and NBC’s The Today Show.

Quiñones-Hinojosa’s best-selling autobiography is the inspiration for Dr. Q, a film being produced by Brad Pitt’s production company, Plan B, in collaboration with Disney.

Free to the public. Book signing to follow lecture.

TU is an EEO/AA institution.

April 2 • 7:30 p.m. • utulsa.edu/pls The University of Tulsa Reynolds Center – 3208 E. 8th St.

March is a month of new beginnings. The weather warms, the plants bloom and the world comes out of its collective winter slumber. To coincide with that sense of rebirth, our home and garden feature – Creating a Refuge – offers a variety of topics to help you transform your dwelling space to welcome spring (page 42).

We talk interior design trends, eco-conscious amendments to your house, the newest tech, regional garden tips, ways to get rid of outdoor pests and the growing popularity of backyard sheds as outdoor oases.

Spring also sees an influx of home buying and selling. If you’re itching to make a major change, check out our Real Estate 101 feature on page 54. Get advice from experts on common-sense upgrades, what buyers are looking for and unexpected hurdles to anticipate.

Oklahoma harbors a variety of pioneers in various fields of business. In our brand-new Developing Entrepreneurs piece, we talk with successful start-ups; universities who help foster that entrepreneurial spark; and community foundations and businesses that can help turn a dream business into a reality (page 58).

We profile a variety of other interesting folks this month, from a group of lawyers determined to help Tulsa’s most vulnerable (page 18) to an acclaimed basket weaver (page 20) and a chef with an inspirational story (page 70).

Looking ahead to April, it’s time to get psyched for the reveal of our 40 Under 40 Class of 2020 – an impressive group of go-getters that will inspire. You can also visit okmag.com/votetbob2020 through March 13 to vote for our The Best of the Best issue, coming in July.

Feel free to shoot me a line at editor@okmag.com.

Mary Willa Allen Managing Editor

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Coming in March

Elizabeth Frame Ellison, CEO of Tulsa’s Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, takes us on a tour of Mother Road Market. See a few of the businesses who have made MRM home and learn more about what this innovative addition to Tulsa has to offer.

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THE STATE

ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

HOUSES THAT CHANGE LIVES Volunteers work rain or shine to complete homes.

Photo courtesy Tulsa Habitat for Humanity

Oklahoma’s Habitat for Humanity groups have expanded in recent decades and helped many gain financial and family security.

G

wendolyn Robinson-Johnson’s Habitat for Humanity house came with bedrooms for each of her sons – a significant factor in the family’s evolution.

“The house was the stepping stone,” says RobinsonJohnson, a legal secretary celebrating 10 years as a Habitat homeowner in northeast Oklahoma City. “They were able to express their personalities in decorating their rooms. They could stay up and study.”

Her sons, already avid readers, ingested even more books in the quiet of their own rooms, she says.

In the two-bedroom apartment they left behind, “I would tell them they had to share a room so they could learn to … get along. You make up things so they wouldn’t think that

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

11

T H E S TAT E | S TA R T I N G O F F we were lacking.”

Tameka Morrison, another Habitat homeowner, has fond memories of her move-in date, Aug. 31, 2018.

“I’m not a person that likes to be in the spotlight,” Morrison says, “but it was kind of cool that everybody came to celebrate.”

Among the gifts Morrison received were a custom-made quilt, a Bible and new cookware and silverware. The best present, she says, was no longer allotting the lion’s share of her money to rent.

“The amount I was paying for that onebedroom apartment almost covers my mortgage, taxes, insurance and utilities,” Morrison says.

Cameron Walker, president and CEO of Tulsa Habitat for Humanity, says most new Habitat homeowners earn between $14 and $18 an hour, which doesn’t leave much money after bills for investments or retirement accounts.

“One of the biggest drivers of wealth for a family is often the primary residence” because a house’s value appreciates over time, he says.

Habitat for Humanity International, founded in 1976, is an ecumenical, Christian housing ministry. With the help of donations and volunteers, Habitat builds houses for first-time homeowners, who sign 30-year, low-interest mortgages.

In some cities, homeowners earn down payments through “sweat equity” (actual work) on their own houses or other Habitat homes.

“It’s the most challenging, worthwhile thing I’ve ever been involved in,” says Ann Felton Gilliland, chairman and CEO of Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity.

“For over 30 years, I’ve had the opportunity to see these kids grow up and go on to college and jobs and the military and start their own businesses. I see what a difference it makes in their lives.”

Central Oklahoma Habitat, chartered in 1987, will dedicate its 1,000th house March 12, Gilliland says. The chapter, launched by volunteers from First Presbyterian Church of Edmond, opened its first office at the Presbyterian mission in Oklahoma City.

Today, it has a 10-acre campus with 50 employees. The nonprofit also operates two ReStores, which sell new and used furniture, appliances and building materials. Its critical home repair program helps low-income homeowners struggling to maintain their dwellings.

Presbyterian volunteers also kicked off Habitat in Tulsa in 1988, Walker says; it’s grown to 60 full-time employees.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

TOP TO BOTTOM: Emeka Nnaka was the recipient of a Tulsa Habitat for Humanity home in 2018, pictured here with Habitat president Cameron Walker.

Photo courtesy Tulsa Habitat for Humanity Volunteers and employees are the heart of Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity.

Photos courtesy Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity Tameka Morrison and her son, Robert, received their Habitat for Humanity home in August 2018.

Photo courtesy Tulsa Habitat for Humanity

“We completed our 400th home in 2017, but we have picked up the pace since then,” he says. “We had done 10 to 20 homes a year since inception, but this year we will complete 40, and we have a goal of 100 a year.”

Of the 40 homes going up this year, 10 will be built by volunteers, Walker says.

Applicants for Habitat homes undergo background and credit checks, Gilliland says.

“It’s not easy to get in, but once they get in, we do everything we can to assure their success,” she says. “They get a mortgage with 3 percent interest, and utilities that are generally half what they would be otherwise. The typical monthly house payment is $750.”

Central Oklahoma Habitat, which built its first homes near downtown OKC, has expanded to Spencer, Mustang, Blanchard, Midwest City and elsewhere in Oklahoma County and often creates large neighborhoods on donated or purchased land.

“We are always looking for good places to build – in good school districts and safe neighborhoods,” says Gilliland, adding that a recent acquisition includes 160 acres in the Piedmont school district, where about 500 houses will go up in the next 10 years.

Walker says Tulsa Habitat followed a similar path.

“We are beginning to do neighborhood development, but traditionally have done urban infill,” he says. “We would buy vacant lots or old homes that needed to be torn down. We have partnered with an architect to create a Craftsman-style home that fits in the older neighborhoods.”

Tulsa Habitat has built in the KendallWhittier and Crutchfield neighborhoods and expanded into Broken Arrow, Sand Springs and Skiatook.

Gilliland says a major focus for Habitat is building eco-friendly homes with geothermal elements and hail-resistant shingles that provide savings of up to 30% on homeowners’ insurance.

“My house looks nice,” Robinson-Johnson says. “It’s better insulated than a lot of houses. They equip the home so you are able to sustain it. You have a manageable electric bill.”

Morrison says her young son “went crazy” when he saw the amount of space in their new home. She loves their settled life.

“I don’t want my son to have to go through a lot of changes,” she says.

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T H E S TAT E | H I S T O R Y

A 100-YEAR-OLD NAME The University of Tulsa, chartered in 1920, traces its origins to an 1880s Presbyterian mission school in Muskogee.

M

University of Tulsa engineering students have conducted oil and gas research at the school’s North Campus site for more than 50 years.

Photo by Bob McCormack courtesy University of Tulsa

uch has changed in our world in the last 125 years – and higher education has not been immune. When the University of Tulsa was founded as Henry Kendall College just before the turn of the 20th century, the school looked entirely different than it does today, except for one element: dedication to students.

TU’s origins extend to the Presbyterian School for Indian Girls in Muskogee, founded in 1882. The small boarding school, started by the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions, became Henry Kendall College in 1894. The first college classes began that fall. The name honored the first Home Mission Board general secretary.

Kendall College was created to provide a liberal arts education through the study of the Bible, the classics and science. The college offered bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees, according TU officials. In 1898, Kendall College graduated three students, who hold the distinction of being the first people to earn bachelor’s degrees in what is now Oklahoma.

The school struggled financially during its first decade, which led officials to ask the Presbyterian synod, the denomination’s leadership body, to take over and find a new location for the school. To the northwest, a booming oil town that needed a college was the perfect fit. In the same year Oklahoma became a state (1907), Kendall College moved to Tulsa – temporarily in the First Presbyterian Church downtown, then to its current site off East 11th Street.

In 1919, a new college with ties to the Southern Methodist Church was proposed for Tulsa; Kendall

College trustees recommended the two schools unite under a common name, the University of Tulsa, because the city was not big enough to sustain two competing colleges. According to the TU website, the charter for the University of Tulsa was approved Nov. 9, 1920.

According to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, TU added its schools of law and business administration in the 1940s. The 1980s brought a focus on transitioning from a commuter campus to a residential university, according to TU officials. The next few decades saw the addition of the Reynolds Center basketball gymnasium, Collins Hall administration building, and additional science, engineering, performing arts and residential facilities.

TU’s focus on students thrives through a dedication to free inquiry, integrity of character and a lifelong pursuit of learning.

“The University of Tulsa has served Oklahoma for 125 years, and will be here to educate students for many future generations,” interim president Janet Levit says.

“Our mission – to prepare students for the responsibility of citizenship, service and leadership in a changing world, and to acquire the skills and appetite for lifelong learning – has never been more important.”

BONNIE RUCKER

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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T H E S TAT E | S P O R T S

BLESSED

BY BASKETBALL Kelenna Azubuike, a Brit who learned how to play hoops in Tulsa, has gone from the NBA hardwood to the sidelines as a broadcaster.

K

After several seasons in the NBA with both Dallas and Golden State, Kalenna Azubuike now broadcasts for the latter.

Photo by Noah Graham courtesy NBAE/Warriors

elenna Azubuike, London-born and Tulsa-raised, says he’s been blessed by basketball. And just seeing where the sport has taken him, his good fortune is quickly apparent.

As a sophomore, Azubuike led Victory Christian to the Oklahoma Class 3A title in 2000 and an appearance in the Class 4A championship game as a senior. After playing three seasons at the University of Kentucky, he logged 208 games in the NBA with Golden State and Dallas before retiring in 2012.

But he is not out of the game. Azubuike, 36, is in his first season as the color analyst for Golden State’s telecasts. He took this new role after four seasons in the studio during the Warriors’ pregame, halftime and postgame shows.

“It’s been really enjoyable,” he says. “I enjoy the studio stuff, but doing color during games is different and it’s fun to react real time to what’s going on. I’m always excited watching basketball. I just try to convey my excitement over the airwaves.”

Golden State, which has appeared in the NBA Finals for the past five seasons (winning thrice), has been devastated this year by severe injuries to superstars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson; the Warriors have one of the worst records in the league.

“People always say, ‘Well, [it’s] kind of a shame your first year went like this,’” Azubuike says. “It’s still basketball and there’s a lot to talk about. The guys play hard; they make games exciting.

I’m still having a blast.”

The 6-foot-5 Azubuike hasn’t lived in Tulsa since he left for college in 2002; however, he says T-Town always has a special place in his heart.

“Tulsa was home for a long time. We enjoyed ourselves,” Azubuike says. “I started out playing soccer because we were from London and that was the sport we knew. I really thought I was going to do that the rest of my life.

“I fell in love with basketball when my brother started playing.

It was rough for a while. I scored on the wrong basket. I dribbled the ball off my foot, but I kept working on my game and got pretty good at it. There are a lot of fond memories from Tulsa.”

In the years since he first started playing in Tulsa, basketball has taken him all over the world.

“Growing up, it obviously gave me something positive to focus my energy on,” Azubuike says. “It taught me discipline, hard work, teamwork, how to follow instructions, life lessons that you need in every arena. I never thought I’d go all over the world.

“Going to Kentucky, that was an experience. The Kentucky fans are incredible. I got to go to China with the Warriors. I got to go to Israel with the NBA and saw how basketball can really bring people together. I’ve been able to do charity work and different things because of basketball.

“It doesn’t really feel like a job. It still just feels like fun for me.

I get to watch basketball and it’s really a blessing. I never take that for granted. I’m really grateful.”

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T H E S TAT E | I N F R A S T R U C T U R E

HITTING THE JACKPOT Millions of dollars in upgrades to the USA Softball complex cement Oklahoma City’s reputation as the sport’s mecca.

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Upper-deck expansion will add 4,000 seats to Hall of Fame Stadium.

Photo courtesy USA Softball

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ucked near the zoo and Remington Park horse track in north Oklahoma City is a gem that annually pumps millions of dollars into the economy.

The USA Softball complex, finishing two years of upgrades, renovations and additions in April, is home to OGE Energy Field at Hall of Fame Stadium, the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum, and multiple playing fields and practice facilities.

The complex will host the Women’s College World Series for the 30th time May 28-June 3 and has a contract with the NCAA to host through 2035.

Craig Cress, CEO of USA Softball, says his group’s partnership with Oklahoma City has made it the Softball Capital of the World. A 2017 bond issue sent about $22.5 million to the complex. OGE Energy and other donors pitched in another $7 million.

“We’re the mecca of softball,” Cress says. “ESPN broadcasts the Women’s College World Series every year. We’ve had the world championships here. We had tryouts for the national team that will go to the Tokyo Olympics this summer. Oklahoma City is known nationally and internationally because of this.

“Our member teams want to play in this facility.

We do 31 other weekends besides the World Series. It doesn’t take long to get a return on the investment.”

Tom Anderson, with the OKC city manager’s office, says last year’s Women’s College World Series drew 80,041 fans, whose spending totaled $18.8 million with $1.6 million in sales taxes.

“That’s what was spent at hotels, on souvenirs and in restaurants,” he says. “A lot of people in Bricktown say they get more business during the World Series than any other event.”

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

Cress, who touts softball’s fast pace, speed and power, says Susan Harkness, OGE Energy’s brand manager, pushed the company to secure naming rights for the stadium’s field. Harkness, a longtime advocate for women’s sports, died last year.

“OGE saw this is an opportunity to focus on female sports,” Cress says.

Anderson notes that OKC and Omaha, Nebraska, which hosts baseball’s College World Series, are the only permanent homes for NCAA championships.

The finals of other sports rotate to different cities each year.

“We have the finest collegiate and amateur softball complex in the country,” Anderson says. “Our goal is to have a great experience for the players and fans.”

Cress says new to the stadium this year are a 4,000-seat expansion of the upper deck (bringing capacity to 12,900), the playing surface (grass in the outfield, dirt on the infield and artificial turf in the wings) and additional ticket booths, concession stands and restrooms. Last year’s renovations included new locker rooms for players, a press box and expanded areas for media.

Anderson says the stadium “looks great on TV. ESPN crews really like working the World Series; there’s something electric about the athletes and fans. It’s an intimate setting. There are a lot of people from different states. Fans come every year and get together with friends from previous World Series.”

Cress says Women’s College World Series fans “love the great progress being made and they appreciate Oklahoma City and its residents because they know where the money came from.”

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THE STATE | AD VO C A C Y

DEFENDING THE VOICELESS Still She Rises provides free legal services for impoverished mothers and female caregivers of children.

T

Executive director Aisha McWeay (far left) and her team at north Tulsa’s Still She Rises advocate for mothers and caregivers in the community, free of cost.

Photo by Josh New

18

he impact of an arrest, criminal charge, eviction or family court litigation can devastate someone psychologically and financially. Add to those stressors the reality of being a single mother in poverty, perhaps with a mental illness, and the barriers to recovery may feel insurmountable.

This situation is common in Oklahoma, which has the highest female incarceration rate in the country; however, mothers and female caregivers facing legal action in Tulsa have a place to turn for help: Still She Rises.

Originally a project of the Bronx Defenders, a public defender nonprofit in New York, Still She Rises began representing caregivers exclusively in criminal and civil

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

court in 2017.

“We represent a wide variety of cases, from misdemeanor or municipal traffic cases to misdemeanor criminal offenses to felony offenses that carry the possibility of life in prison,” executive director Aisha McWeay says. “The unique thing about the organization … is that we are a holistic, interdisciplinary model, which means that we use a team approach.”

The nonprofit sits in the community it primarily serves: north Tulsa. Residents can be seen on a walk-in basis, and the staff also monitors women who have been arrested and live in the service area. Potential clients must be mothers or female caretakers of children. Each client is assigned an attorney, an investigator and a client advocate – each approaching the case from multiple angles to address a range of needs for an entire family.

“I find that the stakes are incredibly high for what happens – what level of representation is provided to a mother while a case is pending – because you’re not impacting just the one individual, but likely impacting multiple individuals with just the way the case maneuvers and

navigates through the system,” McWeay says.

Funding for Still She Rises comes from national and local foundations and individuals; clients pay nothing. In nearly three years of operation, the Tulsa group has seen more than 1,100 clients and grown from six employees to almost 30, including attorneys, investigators, fellows and social workers.

The firm also advocates for other social issues, including bail reform and mitigating the disproportionate impact of court and legal fees on low-income and other populations, according to McWeay. Fighting to solve these problems promotes the community vision of Still She Rises.

“Success for this community, much larger than the organization, is that we [would be] in a place where we understand and value funding community resources,” McWeay says. “We significantly decrease the criminal legal system and have a system that actually supports the needs of the people that reside in that community.”

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T H E S TAT E | M A K E R S

INTERLACED GENERATIONS Broken Bow native Eveline Battiest Steele preserves Choctaw art and tradition as a third-generation basket weaver.

C

ABOVE: Eveline Steele displayed her baskets at the 2011 Choctaw Days Festival at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington.

Photo by Lisa Reed RIGHT: One of Steele’s favorite baskets is this one made by her mother shortly before she died.

Photo by Carol Mowdy Bond

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overed in heavy clothing and donning boots, Eveline Battiest Steele trudges through dense cane breaks, where waist-high poison ivy and critters sometimes dog her efforts in finding something she covets.

Steele and her husband make periodic 60- to 80-mile round trips from their Broken Bow home to find mature cane along southeastern Oklahoma’s river banks.

This type of cane can’t be bought, so Steele harvests the cane herself with branch cutters

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

to weave traditional Choctaw baskets.

“One harvest makes maybe a couple of baskets, depending on basket size,” she says. “I only gather 25 to 30 cane poles because I only have a two-week window of time before they become dry and hard. At home, I use butcher knives to split the cane and peel it, making strands of cane fibers.

Working eight to 10 hours a day, it takes a couple of weeks to prepare the cane and dye it.”

Steele creates natural dyes – black walnuts for black, brown and tan; bois d’ arc tree fruit, often called horse apples, for a color she calls Osage orange; and cochineal, a cactus parasite, for red.

“I take the item and put it in a liquid dye bath,” she says.

“You can put your cane fibers in also. How long you keep it in the bath depends on the color shade you want.

Then the actual weaving process only takes three to seven days, with a full turnaround time of three weeks to a month to produce one basket.

“I can’t keep up

with the orders.”

Born in her parents’ home near Broken Bow, Steele and her family had no running water or electricity until she was 13. Steele’s first language is Choctaw, and she and her husband live about two miles from her birthplace.

Steele, whose ancestors came from Mississippi and Louisiana into Indian Territory, says no Choctaw basket weavers lived in the area for a long time. Then there were three, including her mother, Elsie Williams Battiest, who became famous as the longest-living weaver from that original group.

Battiest, born in 1914 in the community of Kuli Tuklo (Choctaw for “two wells or springs”), was the daughter of Fannie Battiest Williams Wesley, born around 1877 and whom Steele calls pokni (Choctaw for grandmother).

These master weavers, using only traditional processes, taught Steele their craft.

Wesley continued basket weaving even after going blind. Her baskets are displayed at Tulsa’s Philbrook Museum and elsewhere across the country.

Steele taught her sons to make baskets. Kevin lives in Arizona, where there is no cane, and he is rarely in Oklahoma; however, Corey marks the fourth generation of the family to weave baskets.

In 2011, Steele demonstrated basket weaving at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington.

Her baskets appear at various locations and will be permanently shown in the Choctaw Nation Capitol Museum in Tvshka Homma (often anglicized as Tuskahoma). Steele’s baskets, along with a video showing the art process, will also remain on display at Durant’s soon-to-open Choctaw cultural center, named Chahta Nowvt Aya, or Choctaw Journey.

Steele also sews traditional ceremonial clothing and helps the tribe preserve and pass along the Choctaw language and the making of traditional baskets.

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T H E S TAT E | M U S I C

SCORES OF PREPARATION Oklahoma’s professional orchestras spend months behind the scenes to provide satisfying experiences for concert-goers.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Tulsa Symphony musicians go through a rigorous audition process.

Photo by Tom Gilbert courtesy Tulsa Symphony OKC Philharmonic’s performances take hours of preparations – both as a team and individually.

Photos by Shevaun Williams courtesy OKC Philharmonic The Tulsa Symphony orchestra practices its classical pieces for three or four weeks before concerts.

Photo by Tom Gilbert courtesy Tulsa Symphony

22

L

ike many professional instrumentalists, Katrin Stamatis began her love affair with music as a child.

She was 8 when she first picked up a violin and, with an immense amount of training, ultimately became the principal second violin with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. Her path and dedication, unseen or unknown by many who attend concerts, are the norm in the symphonic world.

Throughout any season, the OKC Phil offers both classics and pops performances, which require dispa-

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

rate amounts of preparation.

“For classics, we get the music about three to four weeks ahead of the concerts to practice on our own,” says Stamatis, adding that classical pieces often fall within the musicians’ repertoire but that doesn’t mean practice is easy.

Full rehearsals, about 2½ hours long, take place nightly the week before the concert.

The pops series, however, is more of a “fly by the seat of your pants” situation, Stamatis says. Musicians have about a week to practice on their own before going into full

rehearsal … the same day as opening night.

Before the pieces ever get to these OKC musicians, planning of the season falls on music director Alexander Mickelthwate, in his second year on the job. He sees his role as something akin to a museum curator.

“I like to mix it up, to create contrast,” with the goal of engaging listeners and providing emotional experiences through music, Mickelthwate says.

Making orchestral pieces accessible today is not easy, but Tulsa’s Signature Symphony works to accomplish that feat. The ensemble’s performances, at Tulsa Community College’s VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education, are labors of love, creativity and community.

Joe Falvey pulls double duty by playing French horn in the orchestra and, as symphony manager, plotting the stage layout and

T H E S TAT E | C L U B S

KISSIN’ THE BLARNEY ALL YEAR March 17 isn’t the only day that members of the Irish American Club celebrate the land of St. Patrick.

T

working with guest musicians.

“We are mostly made up of local musicians – 90% or more,” he says. “When we are performing, we are performing for our communities.”

A great deal of behind-thescenes work goes into creating a stunning show, says Keith Elder, executive director of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra.

“We hope the audience doesn’t have to think about all that goes into producing a concert,” he says. “It should look as easy as just telling the conductor, musicians and audience when to arrive. But, in fact, there are so many facets to producing concerts. Our entire staff works together throughout the season to execute marketing plans, process ticket sales, raise funds … work through the operational elements … and [get] our pa-

trons and funders excited.

“To be a member of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, each musician on stage has practiced and studied for many years, attending conservatory or studying music at university. They are dedicated to their instrument and had to win a national audition to become members of the TSO.” TSO’s programming is determined not by one director but by an artistic committee, and “the consensus process is what drives the success and direction of this orchestra,” Elder says.

His job requires him to wear numerous hats, but he says his main role is to ensure everyone has a voice and to be “the No. 1 cheerleader for this great organization, telling the world its story and successes.”

KAYLEE CAMPBELL

he lush green landscape of Ireland is more than 4,000 miles from Oklahoma, but, to members of the Irish American Club of Tulsa, it’s right outside their doors.

The club, founded in 1977, celebrates everything about Ireland, like food, drink, music and games, and even more so around St. Patrick’s Day. “The main thing we try to do is pass along Irish heritage and promote different things in the community that are Celtic-related,” club president Rick Van Auken says. “We have monthly gatherings, like potlucks and bowling nights. We usually have a band and 90% of the time it’s Irish music. We just gather to celebrate what Ireland is all about.”

Oklahoma overflows with people claiming ancestry from the Emerald Isle.

“Oklahoma has a long history of Irish heritage,” Van Auken says. “Some came over for the land runs or for the oil fields and the railroads.”

When Ireland was in need in the 19th century, Native people in what became Oklahoma helped out.

“In the 1840s, Ireland had famine and over a million people starved to death,” Van Auken says. “The Choctaw Nation took up a collection to help. There is a strong connection between the Choctaw and the Irish.”

Choctaws collected $170 in 1847 (an extraordinary amount then) and sent it to the Memphis Irish Relief Committee for disbursement, according to a March 2018 article in Smithsonian magazine.

Van Auken’s genealogy

is solidly Irish and he has visited Eire.

“I like the openness and friendliness of it,” Van Auken says. “It’s a very warm, accepting culture. I’ve yet to meet any one of our members of Irish heritage who doesn’t enjoy talking about the stories they’ve had passed down to them.”

George Kennedy, a longtime member of the club, prepares corn beef and cabbage every St. Patrick’s Day and re-creates a traditional Irish pub for private use by friends and family at his business. Kennedy’s family emigrated from Ireland to Canada in the 19th century before making their way to the United States.

“Being involved in the club has been a great experience,” he says. “The Irish culture and music and the dance and the sense of humor the people have are fun. We actually have some people in the club who are from Ireland. It’s been enlightening for me to talk and visit with them.”

For Kennedy, crack is the best part of being Irish. Crack, or craic, isn’t a structural flaw, a drug or a body part; it simply means good conversation and fun.

“Members will bring whatever instruments they have and play Irish music,” Kennedy says. “A lot of nights, it’s kind of a free for all and there’s not a lot of structure. We also have a hurling club and we always have St. Patrick’s Day dinners.

We have an Irish night out at the ballpark.

“It’s always a fun, freewheeling atmosphere at those gettogethers.”

MATT PATTERSON

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

23

THE STATE | C O M M U N I T Y

“

One cast member could play the hero one week, and he might be playing the villain the next week.

and he might be playing the villain the next week.”

The Spotlight always looks for new talent for its long-running production and for The Olio, a variety show before The Drunkard featuring singers, dancers, magicians, comedians and other entertainers.

“We have open auditions on Wednesday night,” Uncapher says. “No experience is necessary as melodrama is a different type of theater than the normal shows.”

The theater, designed by famed architect Bruce Goff and known as the Riverside Studio when it opened in 1928, has hosted The Drunkard since Richard Mansfield Dickinson condensed W. H. Smith’s version of the temperance melodrama from five acts to three. Dickinson intended for the show to have one or two performances, but it was so well received that its run was extended.

“The play has stayed the same over the years because our directors saw to it that we put on a very clean melodrama, one that people could bring their entire family to see,” Uncapher says. “Our current director, Joe Sears, and his committee are responsible for the integrity of the show.”

Sears was nominated for a Tony Award for his play Greater Tuna, which he co-wrote and starred in.

Over the years, some have wondered whether The Drunkard would fizzle out as other theater groups emerged, but the Spotlight continues to be a place where performers can learn to adapt themselves to their roles and hone their skills.

Anyone interested in being part of the show can visit spotlighttheatre.org for details. The theater also needs hospitality workers.

“The performers and hospitality crew are all volunteers,” Uncapher says. “We don’t pay them except with applause from the audience and seeing the happy faces as they leave after the show.

That is the most gratifying thing for me.”

”

NEARLY SEVEN DECADES OF LAUGHS Tulsa’s Spotlight Theatre has produced the temperance melodrama The Drunkard continuously since 1953.

Volunteer actors make both The Drunkard and variety show The Olio successes.

Photos courtesy Tulsa Spotlight Theatre

24

E

very Saturday at Tulsa’s Spotlight Theatre, you can catch the longestrunning play in the United States – The Drunkard. The family-friendly production opened Nov. 14, 1953, and shows no signs of slowing down.

Stage manager Jere Uncapher, a part of the Spotlight since 1957, says the show’s long-term success comes from patrons.

“We have continued our run for 66 years by trying our best to put on a show that all can relate to,” he says. “The main reason it has been going on for so long is that we have repeat audience members. They see the show and bring friends and family members to see it.”

The Drunkard requires audience participation; guests are encouraged to boo, hiss, cheer, applaud and sing. While the show’s plot remains the same, the ever-changing cast keeps it fresh.

“We like to have at least three or more [people] for each role, so if you were to come down two weeks in a row … different people appear, bringing their personalities and interpretations,” Uncapher says. “One cast member could play the hero one week,

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

ALAINA STEVENS

T H E S TAT E | I N S I D E R

WHO’S THE BOSSA? Multi-talented Tulsan Ana Berry has several TV shows, webcasts and a host of acting credits, along with fronting a popular band.

I

Ana Berry works as a podcast host, singer and actor in and around Tulsa.

Photos by Lana Thomas, Voulez Vous Photography

26

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

first met Ana Berry a little more than two decades ago, when my filmmaking partner Leo Evans and I cast our feature Café Purgatory. She came to our attention by her father, Milton Berry, who had a leading role in the picture – and she turned out to be absolutely perfect as the young teenager who takes up with Elvis (Darwin Warner) in an afterlife eatery.

Café Purgatory ended up winning a few film festival awards and getting some good regional and national press, which led to a limited video release. But it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that Ana Berry’s path crossed mine again as she became the new co-host of Film Noir Theatre, my RSU TV series now in its fifth season. In getting reacquainted, I found that Berry had worked diligently and successfully in TV, movies and other media on both coasts before returning home to Tulsa, where she’s continued as a creative force.

Most recently, she’s been seen and heard to good advantage as the lead vocalist for a band called Bossa, which, she notes, “plays classical bossa nova from the [Antonio Carlos] Jobim family; a lot of beautiful Latin jazz from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s; cha-chacha; mambo; salsa; and some really classic jazz-standard songs that we put to that sexy bossa nova beat.”

Only a few months old at this writing, Bossa has emerged as a top act on the local scene.

In addition to her work with that group, Berry continues at the Rogers State University station not only with Film Noir Theater but also as the host of I Want Answers, a popular quiz show pitting teams from area high schools against one another in academic competition.

Plus, her interview program Unscripted, which she describes as “a news show that highlights good news, local businesses, and local heroes – the type of news I like to share,” runs on RSU TV as well as online at unscriptedok.com and facebook.com/beunscripted.

Then there’s This Is Tulsa, another online offering (thisistulsa.com), now in its second season.

“I co-created the show, and it’s like Unscripted times 10,” Berry says. “It shows the culture of Tulsa, with short videos showcasing what you can do in the city and how you can get involved.

My goal is for it to be a social media push to change the narrative of what Tulsa is, to see it for its vibrancy, its culture, its community.”

That fits with still another of her endeavors: working with the George Kaiser Family Foundation for the much-publicized Tulsa Remote program, helping young professionals brought to Oklahoma via the foundation’s $10,000 grants and other incentives.

While life in her hometown seems to be working out well for Berry, she freely admits that she made the move back from New York “kicking and screaming.”

“I came back not by choice,” she says. “I was going through a horrible divorce. I was the mother of a 1½-year-old, and I had no other choice but to come back and move into my father’s house. I had nothing. And I started over.”

She at least returned with an impressive resume – graduating from the Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago before heading to Los Angeles to pursue a career in movies and television. While I’d like to believe that it was Café Purgatory that launched her on that trajectory, her drive to act predated our movie by several years.

“Café Purgatory was my film debut, but before that, I did a lot of on-camera stuff with my mom,” Berry says of longtime Tulsa television anchor Beth Rengel. “I like to say I was on TV before I could walk because I was always next to her at the MDA telethons or on Christmas commercials – all kinds of things. I feel like I always wanted to be an actress, and I would really attribute it to my parents. My mom, obviously, was in media, and my dad was an actor, so I never knew anything other than, ‘I’m going to be an actress.’ I always knew I would.”

Berry got her first national TV job just after

college by playing a flight attendant on an episode of the series Prison Break.

“That tiny little role got me my [Screen Actors Guild] eligibility, and I went to Los Angeles and got tons of small roles in commercials, films and TV. And then I went to New York City, and I was in Blue Bloods, The Following, 30 Rock. I was in The Bourne Legacy. But I was always a reporter,” she says with a laugh.

“I guess I just had it in me. I knew how to talk.

I knew how to interview. And I guess I had the hair and the looks.”

She returned home more than four years ago, but it’s only been about a year since she came up with the idea for the Bossa band. She readily admits it happened during another challenging time in her life, when she considered going into bartending.

“Then I thought, ‘Well, maybe I could sing in a bar. I wonder how much money I could make if I sang in a bar?’ Then, by the grace of God, I got together with Edwin Garcia, and he wanted to do some bossa nova.”

Garcia, one of Tulsa’s top bassists, is known for his work with Mezclave, the long-lived salsa band that Berry had heard and enjoyed.

After their initial musical meeting, Garcia suggested the two of them jam again … and Bossa was on its way to being born. When two more top-drawer musicians, guitarist Randy Wimer and drummer Michael Bremo, came aboard, the group was complete.

“They took a chance on me,” says Berry, noting that she had neither been in a band nor sung professionally before Bossa.

She caught on quickly, with good results.

“We had a bunch of rehearsals, and on our first gig, we packed out Hodges Bend,” Berry says. “Then we packed out the roof of the Mayo [Hotel]. Fast forward a few months, and we sell out Duet. So we’re building a name.

“Bossa is a Portuguese word meaning a cool trend, like a wave. Nova means new. So it’s this new wave of music. We used the name Bossa because it’s just kind of something new and fresh.

With a chuckle, she adds, “And bossa is like a female version of boss.”

Of all the musical genres, bossa nova might seem unusual to launch a singing career.

“When I was in New York, I had Carioca roommates,” Berry says of these friends from Brazil. “So they were all from Rio, and they were wild, and so much fun. I learned a song from them, ‘Chega de Saudade,’ which means ‘no more sadness.’ And truthfully, last March, when I made this decision to sing, I was tired of being sad. I was tired of feeling sorry for myself. And I said, ‘I’m going to sing. I’m going to stay creative in this town. I can do this.’

“I didn’t want to compete with [vocalists] Annie Ellicott or Branjae Jackson, even though they’re my friends. So I thought, ‘What can I do that’s different and authentic?’”

It didn’t take her long to figure that one out.

“I had a travel blog called America’s Gypsy when I was back in LA, and in New York I turned that into a [TV] show. I’ve always been this gypsy. So I wanted to sing in different languages – and what could be better for that than Brazilian bossa nova?”

JOHN WOOLEY

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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LIFE & STYLE

A M A P TO L I V I N G W E L L

GREENHOUSE GOODIES A beautiful conservatory in Tulsa harbors a variety of plant life.

Photo by Josh New

P

erhaps you’ve gotten into a winter weather funk. After all, most Oklahomans know that the cold can extend far beyond the first day of spring on March 19.

If you’re yearning for warmth and the accompanying colorful plant life, a hidden gem at Tulsa’s Woodword Park, the Lord Burnham Conservatory, can help to transport you to a greenhouse wonderland.

The conservatory, part of the Linnaeus Teaching Garden and the Tulsa Garden Center, offers beautiful Victorian architecture and bustling plant life – from tropical flowers to a variety of cacti.

Even better, the conservatory is free to enter and open seven days a week. For more information, visit tulsagardencenter.org.

MARCH 2020| WWW.OKMAG.COM

29

L I F E & S T Y L E | I NT ER I O R S

SECOND TIME’S THE CHARM A midtown Tulsa home undergoes another renovation, which expands and updates the residence with current designs.

By M.J. Van Deventer Photography by Nathan Harmon

I

The kitchen banquette offers an intimate dining space with unique seating and art pieces.

30

f one renovation is good for a home, two must make it perfect.

Carolyn Fielder Nierenberg, an interior designer with Campbell Designs, renovated this midtown, two-story Tulsa home eight years ago. Built in the 1930s, the house needed a master suite and a large utility-laundry room. That remodel included fresh paint on the stairway, enlarging the garage, and adding a mud room for three children.

Two years ago, the homeowners requested another face-lift and more extensive renovation. Nierenberg worked with Scott Pohlenz, architect and owner of Pohlenz Cucine Moderne in Brookside, and contractor Kurt Barron of Barron and McClary. The trio achieved an impressive, well-planned makeover.

“The key to adding on to the back of this neo-colonial home was establishing a feeling of continuity with the volume of the space,” Pohlenz says. “The challenge was to tie the old with the new in a seamless transition from the existing space to the addition. There was also the challenge of not losing the light in the upstairs bedrooms by raising the downstairs ceilings. I wanted to make the home more current with today’s design trends.”

Barron’s challenge involved grading in the back lawn. This was his third time to work on the home, and he calls Pohlenz’s vision nearly flawless.

“It was a treat to work with Carolyn and Scott,” he says.

The home aged well, but it needed a fresh look. This time, the exterior benefited from the trio’s expertise. The brick and shake shingles were painted light

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: The fireplace in the main living area warms ample guests.

The living room blends seamlessly with the kitchen and banquette.

Crisp and streamlined, the kitchen combines functionality and style.

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

31

L I F E & S T Y L E | I NT ER I O R S gray, the shutters were painted charcoal, and a new front door added a welcoming ambiance.

“Now the exterior of the home looks really crisp,” Nierenberg says. “The landscaping features bright green shade grass and nice, colorful flowers. It looks cheerful and sophisticated compared to its original 1930s appearance.”

Nierenberg praises the homeowners for “always being willing to push the envelope throughout the last renovation.

They have such an adventurous spirit and they were willing to do the things Scott and I wanted to do,” she says.

One suggestion included raising the ceilings in the great room – no small feat in any remodeling project.

The office, near the mud room, is a highlight of the renovation; Pohlenz strategically positioned it with windows overlooking the back lawn so the children can be seen at play. Nierenberg designed the floor in the office with porcelain resembling limestone and extended the same sturdy material into the nearby utility room.

In the kitchen, the center work island is perfect for food prep and casual dining. A banquette near the kitchen provides a cozy eating area.

Nierenberg also applauds the homeowners for accepting and encouraging her use of bright paint schemes.

“They were not afraid to push the limits with splashes of color,” she says.

That concept is seen in a variety of contemporary art in bold, vivid hues, along with area rugs, throw pillows and other interesting accessories. The palette includes bright cornflower blues, raspberries and greens, softened with neutrals in upholstery. A warm and creamy white was used on ceilings to mask the extensive renovation, giving a new, seamless look throughout the home for its latter (and perhaps final) renovation.

TOP: The formal living area brings in pops of color through the artfully placed throw pillows.

MIDDLE: The dining area offers eye-catching lighting.

LEFT: The office continues the white color scheme with interesting art pieces to bring in color.

FAR LEFT: Splashes of color are found throughout the home’s crisp, white interior.

32

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

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L I F E & S T Y L E | D E S T I N AT I O N S

CAPTURING LA VIDA PURA The natural beauty of Costa Rica can quickly turn a tourist into a nature enthusiast.

W

ABOVE: Views around the Arenal Volcano are surreal.

RIGHT: Hot springs are a popular resting point during outdoor activities in La Fortuna.

Photos courtesy MMGY NJF PR Agency

34

hen you find yourself eating juicy starfruit plucked from a tree after a midday rain has lulled you into a misty trance, you’ve embraced the pace of Costa Rica. Go during shoulder season – late September is often ideal – which is the temperate period between distinct dry and wet times of year.

Following is a suggested itinerary for a first-time Costa Rican traveler.

Days 1-2: Arrive in San Jose, the capital, and rent a car with GPS because signage is not always reliable. The drive through the sultry countryside takes 3 hours but feels much shorter because of the Edenesque landscape. Away from the city, you assimilate into la pura vida, the country’s slogan, meaning the simple life.

On Highway 702, stop at the roadside tavern Soda Las Orquideas for an immersive culinary experience. As you dine, take in vibrant visuals of draping tropical

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

fruits. The owners give a tour of their backyard, miniature rain forest, replete with hanging vines, bananas, avocados, coffee beans and butterflies, all overlooking a rushing river.

Like Alice going down the rabbit hole in Wonderland, you descend into a realm

of unrecognizable vegetation during your drive. Farms and schoolchildren decorate hillsides in a swath of soft pastels – not neon hues typical of other Caribbean locales. You reach La Fortuna when you see the town’s centerpiece, the arresting Arenal Volcano.

For lodging, the Arenal Luxury Paradise Home Rental is a 6-acre retreat.

Feeding wild birds at sunrise and sighting sloths and massive iguanas in trees amount to an excursion in and of itself.

The creek encircling the home surges and babbles. Sit in rocking chairs and empty your mind. Peruse the laminated chart of indigenous wild birds while sipping coffee. Try sweet or savory patacones ( fried plantains). Watch a daily rain shower.

Tabacon Thermal Springs, with its dazzling Shangrila Gardens, is a resort option that includes restaurants, a spa and a pool. You can buy a day pass if you don’t lodge there.

For dining, Parilla de Maria Bonita, Nenes and Nanku are excellent choices.

Day 3: After acclimating to this beguiling country, you can enjoy some in-depth excursions. Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park has 16 bridges and 600 acres of forest sanctuary for ecotourism.

You see pit vipers, monkeys, peccaries and other wildlife. The bridges seem intrepid to cross, but the vistas are so spectacular that your fright is quickly replaced with awe. The thundering waterfall is climactic on this winding, 2-mile trail. Look for the mimosa pudica, a plant that recoils when you touch it,

and learn about the unique reproduction of parthenogenetic insects.

Day 4: Trek through a canyon or go rapelling for high-octane adventure. The Lake Arenal Sunset Cruise captures the magic of the Arenal Volcano with pink skies and white egrets at the shoreline.

On the way there, spot toucans in the trees.

Day 5: Visit a finca ( farm). Meander trails of horticultural beauty to gain perfect closure for a trip that turns the tables on the tourist; you’re the one in captivity and animals and nature observe you. An appreciation of untouched nature is strengthened when you’re surrounded by it. One tour guide, who asserts that people would be better stewards of the earth if they knew this much beauty exists in it, says, “You cannot love

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park is the perfect combination of adrenaline-pumping experiences and breathtaking views.

Hiking around the Arenal Volcano is a popular activity for those seeking outdoor adventure.

In La Fortuna, dazzling waterfalls abound.

what you do not know.”

Know Costa Rica. The spiritual souvenir you take home is the attitude of la pura vida.

GINA MICHALOPULOS KINGSLEY

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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L I F E & S T Y L E | H E A LT H

BLOCKING PTSD’S EFFECTS Cost-effective injections of an anesthetic into a set of nerves in the neck can help with depression, anxiety and insomnia.

H

elping U.S. military men and women cope with the perils of service has long been a focus of our nation’s defense, veteran and medical communities. For instance, much research and testing have gone into post traumatic stress disorder, which has been diagnosed in warriors throughout the 1900s and into the 21st century.

One treatment showing positive results involves blocking a nerve set known as the stellate ganglion; it has relieved some symptoms, such as depression, anxiety and insomnia, for many service members.

The stellate ganglion – at the base of the neck in front of the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae – is named for its star shape and is part of the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers a physiological reaction during acute stress (sometimes called the fight, flight or freeze response). Blocking the stellate ganglion can treat a variety of conditions, including complex regional pain syndrome, phantom pain, Raynaud’s disease and shingles.

“A local anesthetic is injected onto [the stellate ganglion] in the front of the neck,” says anesthesi-

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

ologist Aaron Miranda, a visiting physician with the Ascension St. John Pain Management Clinic in Tulsa. “We usually use fluoroscopic [X-ray] or ultrasound guidance for accurate placement and safety. This is an outpatient procedure which usually takes a few minutes to perform. Usually, patients report immediate improvement in their symptoms within minutes.”

Miranda says growing evidence suggests stellate ganglion blocks may reasonably treat PTSD. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the number of veterans with PTSD varies by service era. Between 11% and 20% of those serving in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, about 12% of those in Operation Desert Storm and the Persian Gulf War, and an estimated 30% percent of Vietnam veterans have sought treatment for PTSD. Joysree Subramanian, an anesthesiologist and pain medicine specialist with OU Medicine, says the stellate ganglion block has been used to treat PTSD since 2008, but there has been renewed interest in its use for several reasons.

“The first line of treatment – psychotherapy, pharmaco-therapy or a combination – has its own challenges and limitations,” says Subramanian, adding that the stellate ganglion block may be a good option to supplement existing therapies, reduce the use of medications or help individuals who have not responded to conventional treatment.

She says more research is needed to support the routine use of the procedure and some studies have “concluded that there was substantial beneficial psychiatric effects and substantiates that this immediate acting procedure may provide positive results for patients with PTSD and reduce barriers to treatment.”

Subramanian also says “the stellate ganglion block may be more cost-effective, even if repeated blocks are performed, compared to other treatments, like cranial electrical stimulation, psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, which have their own potential harms. It is a very useful block to reduce the use of medication, especially opioids for pain and benzodiazepines for anxiety.”

REBECCA FAST

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LIFE & ST YLE | F YI

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE The right fuel and fluid levels don’t just apply to trains, planes and automobiles. When working out, your body needs them, too.

L

ike a motor vehicle, train or an airplane, your body must undergo preparation and maintenance before any fitness journey begins, be it a simple, twice-a-week gym routine or grueling, long-term training for a marathon.

Proper warmups, hydration and nutrition are all part of any pre-workout plan.

“I like to compare it to a car,” says John Jackson, a trainer at Tulsa’s Impact Fitness. “If you’re going on a long road trip, you have to prepare those things for your car. You have to fill up with good gas.

That’s your hydration and nutrition.”

A protein snack about an hour before a workout is a good food choice, says Jackson, adding that hydration should be continuous and sometimes go beyond water.

“It’s important to keep your water intake up throughout the day,” Jackson says. “If you know you’re going to have a heavier workout the next day, hydrate the day before. Electrolytes are also important, both before and after a workout.

There are a lot of drinks, like Gatorade, that have electrolytes that will work.”

Jackson says a fitness instructor can help clients pick out warmup and workout plans that suit their needs. For instance, physical limitations might prevent someone from participating in certain activities.

“Everyone’s warmup is going to be a little different, just as their workout can be different,” Jackson says. “If someone has structural issues, like back problems,

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

the approach is going to be different than someone who doesn’t have those limitations.”

For most people, just doing time on a treadmill or an elliptical machine should include a basic stretch to make sure muscles are ready to go.

“The soft tissue work is important,” Jackson says. “Most people – if they’re doing cardio – just some basic stretching with a foam roll is all that’s needed. But also stretch afterwards; that’s important, too.”

University of Oklahoma Internal Medicine physician Joanne Skaggs says it’s wise to discuss any new exercise plan with a doctor. Paying attention to your body before, during and after a workout is also important. If something doesn’t feel right, take note.

“If something hurts, it’s a signal that something is going on,” Skaggs says. “If you are feeling short of breath, dizzy, feel your heart fluttering, nausea or vomiting, or experiencing pain in your chest, left arm, throat, jaw or back – those are warning signs you need to seek urgent medical care. Bottom line – physical activity is encouraged for all; just make sure you are doing it safely.”

Footwear, clothing and intensity of workouts are other considerations.

“Start slow,” Skaggs says.

“It’s OK to not do a long workout or try to conquer the entire gym.

Pace yourself. Take care in extreme temperatures.”

After-workout maintenance matters, too.

“Don’t underestimate the importance of rest,” Skaggs

says. “Cooling down with stretching or aerobic activity in which your heart rate is lower will help your muscles from getting too tight and prevent dizziness or lightheadedness. Typically, this should last 5 minutes. Eat a protein-carbohydrate combination within two hours of exercise.”

MATT PATTERSON

L I F E & S T Y L E | O U T SI D E T H E M E T R O

FAE FOLK AND CHICKEN-FRIED STEAK Vinita seems like a typical small town … except for a world-famous cafe on Route 66 and two Renaissance festivals.

I

n one sense, Vinita embodies enchantment and make-believe, especially with get-away destinations nearby at Grand Lake. However, the Craig County seat is also a common-sense, down-home place.

Vinita embraces both – illustrated by a Depression-era cafe with an international following and two Renaissance festivals that take visitors back to 1540s Scotland.

Grant “Sweet Tator” Clanton opened the first Clanton’s Cafe in 1930. The diner has stayed in the family ever since; Melissa ClantonPatrick and her husband, Dennis Patrick, have run it since 1997.

The couple were happily settled in Colorado, where he ran a restaurant group and she was a software engineer. But they couldn’t resist the opportunity to take over Clanton’s.

“We said we’d give it five years and see what happens,” Dennis Patrick

says, “but that’s turned into more than 20.”

The eatery has gained fame by appearing on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and operating on Route 66.

“The locals are proud of what we’re doing,” Patrick says. “When they go on vacation and people find out they’re from Vinita, they know the town because of Clanton’s.”

Business is always steady and he says “we sold over 55,000 chickenfried steaks last year. That’s a large herd of cattle.”

Clanton’s also serves as a community hub.

“Table 19 is for the old-timers who drink coffee and solve the world’s problems,” Patrick says. “People who live here are genuine and I appreciate the intimacy of the town. I know them by their first names.

“People come in and want to know

what’s happening and we tell them.”

Two such happenings occur back-toback this month. The Queensferry Renaissance Festival runs March 21-22 at the Parkhill Motel and RV Park; the Grand Lake Renaissance Festival is March 28-29 at Vinita Lake Park.

Kameron Torix says the Queensferry Festival is in its second year.

The Parkhill site has a 3-acre pond, which symbolizes the body of water that separated Edinburgh from an area to the north, so Scottish Queen Margaret paid to have a ferry (hence the name) run between the two.

Torix says her group, working closely with the Scottish Club of Tulsa, features the Tulsa Pipe and Drum Corps, a blacksmith, wool spinners, a Viking encampment and a pirate group discussing naval surgeries.

The Grand Lake Renaissance Festival, which used to be at Parkhill, took last year off and reincarnated itself as a women-owned-and-operated nonprofit, creator Kittye Williams says. This sixth iteration is its first at Vinita Lake Park, once part of Eastern State Hospital.

This festival, also set in Queensferry, features singers, fae folk and Queen Marie de Guise, the regent during the infancy of Mary, Queen of Scots.

“Our main focus is fun, education and history. There’s not enough true, clean fun in the world,” Williams says.

BRIAN WILSON

This year marks the return of the Grand Lake Renaissance Festival.

Photo courtesy Kittye Williams

FUN FACTS Population 5,397 NOT HIS FIRST RODEO Phillip Calvin McGraw, commonly

known by his television persona Dr. Phil, was born in Vinita in 1950 before his family moved to Texas.

HOLSTER THAT WEAPON The common image of an oldstyle western holster exposing

the pistol hammer and trigger guard wasn’t invented until 1925 … by Vinita native Tom Threepersons, a Cherokee who worked for many police agencies and got into gunfights in the still wild areas of Arizona and New Mexico.

EMPOWERING PLACE PSO, a primary utility in Northeast Oklahoma, began as the Vinita Electric, Light, Ice and Power Co. in 1889 and made the town the first to have electricity in what would become Oklahoma.

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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L I F E & S T Y L E | SCENE

Newton & Patricia Box, Insung Kim, Jill Donovan, Craig & Cheryl Beers; Uncorking the Cure, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Tulsa Phil & Miranda Kaiser, Susan & GT Bynum; Toyland Ball, Parent Child Center of Tulsa

Jeanie Webb, Beverley Bass, Lindy Ritz, Amy Downs, Tamara Pratt; Rose State College panel event, Midwest City

Toni Nigro, Mousumi Som, Chris McNeil, Taran Valdivia-Carlilse; Scholarship and Awards dinner, Osteopathic Founders Foundation, Tulsa Anthony & Ashley Herron; Snowflake Gala, United Way of Central Oklahoma, OKC

Leigh Goodson, Sam Combs, Dana Wilkes, Michelle Hardesty, Amie Trammell; Hardesty Student Success Center Removing Barriers Groundbreaking, Tulsa Community College

Christine Allen, Ann Felton Gilliland, Cindy VanKley; Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast, Midwest City Chamber Daniela Buson, Marcello Angelini; Icons and Idols, Tulsa Ballet

Don & Susie Wellendorf; Icons and Idols, Tulsa Ballet

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

Jim Couch, Jimmy Curry, Sue Ann Arnall, Carl Edwards, Debby Hampton; Snowflake Gala, United Way of Central Oklahoma, OKC

Sarah Karimian, Crystal Stovall, David Karimian; Icons and Idols, Tulsa Ballet

Rick Guild, Anne Fite, Glenn Hudgens; Gift of Hope Celebration, Tulsa Boys’ Home

Susan Savage, Daryl Thompson, Jeff Nowlin; Community Connection, Ascension Saint John, Tulsa

L I F E & S T Y L E | S T YL E

TROPICAL TWIST Welcome the warmth with vibrant hues and beachy patterns.

1 8 7

9

2

10 3

11

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by Ma tteo Pra

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4

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5 6

13

1: Greca bangle bracelets, Versace. 2: Eyelash ribbon tweed mini purse, Oscar de la Renta. 3: Gold chain link cu, Alexis Bittar. 4: Yellow leather top handle tote, Gucci. 5: Hao Mule flat suede and leather sandal, Louboutin. 6: Antheia leaf sandals, Versace. 7: Gold long chain link post earrings, Alexis Bittar. 8: Matte hot pink lipstick, Gucci. 9: Bora Bora swimsuit, Melissa Odabash.

10: Collier de Chien cu bracelets, Hermes. 11: Bum bag in swift calf skin, Hermes. 12: Spetsos crepe satin sandals, Louboutin. 13: Print squalo sneakers, Versace.

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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CREATIN A REFUG With spring on the horizon and the vestiges of winter behind us, now is the perfect time to give your home and garden a facelift. For those looking to spruce up indoors, we offer interior design trends, tips on creating an eco-conscious home, and a rundown of in-home technology.

If you’re on the hunt for ways to curate a better garden, we have tricks to get rid of pests, regional gardening advice, and suggestions on the ever-popular she sheds and man caves.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

NG GE

INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS

Although each person’s taste dictates what a home ultimately looks like, you can certainly take cues from popular trends.

What the fiddle leaf fig was to 2019 décor, the olive tree is the “it” plant in 2020, according to design behemoth West Elm, which has Oklahoma City and Tulsa locations, and Planterina, a YouTube plant guru.

When it comes to walls and accessories, multiple style sources point to floral wallpaper and vintage accents among the hottest trends. Elle magazine’s style-trackers predict bold, monochromatic colors – vibrant greens, eggplant purple and cobalt blue – trending this year, along with the purposeful layering of old and new furniture with other décor.

Think outside the box, says Jennifer Welch of Jennifer Welch Designs in Oklahoma City, and remember that it’s your home.

“Stick to what you’ll love for a long time, and not for a hot minute,” she says.

Designer Lance Cheney of Tulsa’s Richard Neel Interiors agrees that individualism never goes out of style.

“If you look at what becomes iconic or what people remember … it’s due to someone’s individual style,” he says. “To me, that is always what we try to encourage our clients and store customers to find; we’re the style coach to help you find your own style … that makes you happy and sets you apart.”

Photo courtesy Crypton

HOME ECO-CONSCIOUSNESS

By Tracy LeGrand

Outdoor living areas are an enduring expectation of homeowners, architect Brian Freese says.

Photo by Nathan Harmon

Saving the earth and a few bucks can coexist with eco-friendly adjustments to your home. Brian L. Freese, principal of Freese Architecture, suggests several ways to make your home green.

• Install continuous insulation in walls, ceilings and the roof.

This includes properly sealing the many openings in a home – windows, doors, light switches, power outlets and ceiling light fixtures.

• Replace old windows with thermally efficient options.

• Install a solar energy water heater consisting of a roofmounted panel and specialty wiring. Water from this system can be used throughout the house or just in certain areas.

• Add programmable thermostats.

• Utilize low-flow toilets to substantially reduce water use.

• Use a drip irrigation system for shrubs. Plants and trees require a lot less water than we think.

• Install drought-tolerant, regionally indigenous plants accustomed to our climate (they require little irrigation) and utilize local landscape architects, designers and nurseries experienced in this field.

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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IN-HOME TECHNOLOGY

Whether it’s for entertainment or safety, in-home technology advances each year. A variety of gadgets awaits installation in your home to make day-to-day life easy, safe and cohesive.

Josh Onley of Tulsa’s Video Revolution knows that connecting many devices to the internet through centralized hubs (like Samsung SmartThings Hub, the Amazon Echo Dot, the Google Home or the Apple TV 4K) remains the trend that reigns supreme.

“Everything from garage doors and doorbells to thermostats and cameras … even refrigerators [are automated],” he says. “The biggest concern is that these devices aren’t secured.”

Non-secured devices are prime for hacking – but resolving that concern isn’t as complex as it seems.

“Make sure you’ve changed all the default passwords,” Onley says. “People hook up new devices and think that no one’s going to target them. The thing is, [hackers] aren’t looking to target anyone; they’re looking for openings.”

Onley suggests checking your network’s security online; there are websites that look for open ports on your firewall. Apart from that, keeping the firmware up to date or installing automatic updates is ideal.

One unique tech advancement Onley has seen lately has to do with lighting adjustments based on a person’s circadian rhythm; certain bulbs can be calibrated to change in brightness and hue as bedtime approaches.

“We’re inside looking at blue lights all the time, and it’s become more and more apparent that there are detrimental effects of it on your eyes and your sleep,” he says. “If you’re working late constantly or up late, the clock is adjusted to reflect your rhythm, not the sun’s rhythm.”

For entertainment add-ons, Onley stresses userfriendly interfaces.

“Our goal is to be able to put in a system that is flexible,” he says. “As you switch [through streaming services], it’s about making sure these WiFi devices have good functionality – simple and intuitive technology. We want people … to find what they’re looking for [as easily as possible].”

If you’re on the hunt for a security system, Onley suggests doing your research before buying.

“Wired network security cameras with local storage are the biggest growing part of our company,” he says, “because they finally got affordable. There are certain cameras where, if the internet is out, you have no recording. We offer [artificial intelligence] tech on cameras that offer everything from virtual trip wires to object recognition, so you’re not getting false alerts anytime a tree blows.”

Onley recommends ICRealtime camera systems and Savant control systems for circadian rhythm lightbulbs.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

Photo courtesy Lamps Plus

HOME WALKING THE WALK For those wanting to extend eco-conscious behavior into everyday habits, architect Brian Freese suggests the following: • Reuse containers, sacks and other single-use items whenever possible.

• Request paper bags over plastic. Even better, take your own reusable bags.

• Recycle plastics, aluminum, glass, paper, cardboard and other materials accepted by recycling organizations.

• Instead of tossing items you don’t use anymore, donate them.

• Buy local or regional products across the board, such as construction items, food and household products, to reduce trucking and shipping.

• Unplug electrical appliances when not in use.

• Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.

• Turn off water when you’re not actually using it, including brushing teeth, shaving and washing dishes.

The Renaissance starts today Nothing brings a Renaissance to your home or office like a custom-designed hardwood floor.

GARD ECO-GARDENS

Sustainability, important for both the home and garden, was the theme for last year’s annual conference for Oklahoma’s Master Gardeners in Muskogee. For gardeners, that word means creating an ecologically friendly space for all seasons.

An eco-garden starts with soil and soil quality. The “tools” for creating such an environmentally friendly area are simple to acquire.

• Create a rain collection system; this can be as simple as a barrel or a metal tub.

• Build a compost pile. It doesn’t have to be fancy; it can just rest on the ground in a private area. Turn it as often as possible so the refuse works into the soil. Add tree limbs and brush to aid circulation.

• Have designated places in your backyard for your pets and make the rest of the area accommodating to wildlife, such as letting a warren of rabbits live under a storage shed, protecting them from weather and predators in a semi-country setting. A dog can have a home on the patio and venture into certain parts of the yard. Birds can fly in and out frequently at their feeding place.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

DEN

By M.J. Van Deventer

GOING LUNAR Moon (or lunar) gardens are unusual tributes to the night.

Myriad flowers bloom spectacularly after dark and seem to reflect moonlight in their soft white or pastel petals.

Among the most popular of these flower children of the night are cleome, sweet water clematis, night blooming jasmine, blue silver artemisia, variegated junipers, hostas and petunias.

Their fragrance also attracts bats and moths, which are moonlight pollinators.

Photo courtesy Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

GETTING RID OF PESTS Fire ants, mice, moles and mosquitoes. Bugs, slugs and spiders. These are unwelcome creatures in a garden.

There aren’t enough words here for every remedy for every pest, but this sampling keeps many critters at bay.

• Lay crushed egg shells on the ground to deter slugs … or feed them leftover beer.

• Line your plant area with a border of durable marigolds. French marigolds also repel nematodes, which can attack plant roots, according to Jeff Brendenberg, author of How to Cheat at Gardening and Yard Work.

• Plants with insect-repelling qualities include basil, catnip, mints, rue and tansy.

• Kathy Caviness, owner of Caviness Landscape Design, says to shave a bar of soap and place the parings in critical areas or rub them on tree trunks. Voila. Pests be gone.

WILD GARDENING Give your garden a break from extensive planning because the surprises can be fascinating. For instance, sunflowers, gladiolas and iris growing without restrictions can pop up anywhere in your yard. Birds love sunflowers, and gladiolas constantly surprise with their mobility.

You could also buy seed packets at a dollar store and mix them together for a small side garden.

In bloom, they form a botanical patchwork quilt – a riot of color, shapes and sizes – for only $5.

MARCH 2020| WWW.OKMAG.COM

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GARDE

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EN

GROWING YOUR OWN GOODS In spring, summer and early fall, there’s not a more pleasant and economical way to dine than to pick your salad, vegetables and fruits from your own garden.

Lettuce, spinach, kale, turnips, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, zucchini, onions, okra and a medley of fresh fruits, especially berries, thrive in Oklahoma. Make friends with vendors at farmers markets for excellent growing advice.

SHE SHEDS AND MAN CAVES Studio Shed, based in Colorado, helps clients across the country with sheds for relaxation, storage or hobbies.

Photos courtesy Studio Shed

Becoming increasingly popular in home and garden discussions is the man cave or she shed – typically a small, stylish building in a backyard that acts as a haven for personal hobbies or downtime.

Clare Ashby, a Tulsa landscape architect, has designed a combination she shed, greenhouse and garden storage on her property.

“If the shed will be visible from inside or a patio, it’s important that the architectural design blend with the home’s style,” she says. “Our home has a mid-century vibe, so the building will have lots of windows and a slanted roof with a deep overhang. It will store garden tools, have a cozy place to read and [be] an area to hold over winter plants that aren’t cold hearty or are too big for the home.”

Miranda Van der Meulen of Studio Shed provides clients across the country with sheds to fit their interests, whether they’re for storage, studio spaces or relaxation. Customers can buy a finished space or a shell-kit they design themselves. The company can help with interior finish options and professional installation.

“All of the components of a typical order … are individually built and prepared by … craftsmen at Studio Shed headquarters in Boulder County, Colorado,” Van der Meulen says. “So every building project ships in a kit ready for onsite assembly. We can assist in design and site-planning as well as putting together engineer-stamped permit plan sets.”

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

49

INDOOR HAVEN

Personal greenhouses have gained popularity as outdoor respites.

Photo courtesy Southwood Landscape and Garden Center

Young, aspiring gardeners may live in apartments and lean toward indoor gardening out of necessity. With little outdoor space to grow plants, a balcony or even a windowsill can become an inspiring mini-garden. For others with a green thumb but a tight budget, indoor gardening is also a perfect solution.

House plants, like ivy, ferns, spider plants, peace lily, jade plant and cacti, require little care, sunlight and water. Even a small tree in a beautiful pot adds a spark of nature for an indoor oasis.

GARDEN KEEPING IT REGIONAL

Soil and water are major factors in regional gardening, says Brian Jervis, a horticulturist with the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

“Oklahoma is fortunate to have so many different landscapes that relate to water,” he says. “We don’t have to worry about easy access to water like some other Midwestern states have to do.”

Jervis says abundant water allows Oklahomans to grow a wide variety of plants for their gardens.

As for the soil, he says “here we have put so many amendments in [it that] we’ve covered the issue of bad dirt, so we can succeed in our gardens.”

With the state’s mercurial weather, Jervis suggests the following plants that thrive well in Oklahoma: Bubblegum Petunia – “It’s a hard one to beat for its performance. It is one you can kind of set it out and watch it flower.”

Chaste Tree or Vitex – “A great flower shrub that blooms late in the growing season.”

Autumn Sage – “A tough perennial that will flower long into the season – many different colors.”

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

POPULAR LAWN AND GARDEN TRENDS Cacti and other succulents have become kings of the garden in Oklahoma, says Brian Jervis of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Office, because they require little water or care. The self-sufficient cactus seems impervious to Oklahoma’s mercurial weather.

Jim Thompson, a landscape architect who worked for Greenleaf Nursery for 20 years, sees the trend continuing with beautifully landscaped outdoor living areas. He suggests a variety of color and textures to make a lasting difference in your garden.

“You owe your neighbors a pleasant front yard,” Thompson says. “If the back yard is private, do anything you want.”

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Heavy duty umbrellas can provide a respite from the blistering Oklahoma sun.

Photo courtesy Treasure Garden Perfect for any weather, fire pits provide a common gathering area for socializing.

Photo courtesy Well Traveled Living

OUTDOOR LIVING

Outdoor furniture isn’t restricted to casual couches or lounge chairs; high-end dining pieces can really make the backyard pop.

Photo courtesy Seaside Casual Furniture

With warmer weather on the way, now is the time to create an outdoor oasis in your backyard.

From durable furniture and firepits to ample lighting fixtures, it’s easy to make your yard a sanctuary to rest and relax.

Quality outdoor lighting accessories mean the party can last long after dark.

Photo courtesy Lamps Plus

Finding durable outdoor furniture is key to creating a longlasting backyard sanctuary.

Photos by David Schacher courtesy Woodard & Mallin

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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ATTORNEY AT LAW Can my employer fire me while I am off work, due to a work related injury?

An employer may be in violation of Title 85A section 7, Prohibition of Retaliation Against Employee Acting in Good Faith, when the employee is terminated while off work, during the period that the ESTHER M. SANDERS treating physician has determined that the employee is not able to return to work. You should bring your claim for wrongful termination to district court, unless the work related injury occurred between Feb. 1, 2014-May 28, 2019.

(The claim may be filed with the Oklahoma Workers Compensation Commission during the later period.) A person seeking damages for wrongful termination should contact an attorney at the time of the termination to determine your immediate obligations and rights.

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FINANCIAL ADVISOR How can I ensure my spouse and I are on the same page about retirement?

The years leading up to retirement are an important time to compare ideas with your spouse. Address: When you plan to retire – if one spouse wants to work longer than the other, ensure that the spouse who retires earlier can pursue DAVID KARIMIAN CFP®, CRPC®, APMA® activities in the interim. If your plans are dependent on being together, come to a mutual time agreement. Where you plan to live – have a plan that works for both of you. Your vision of a retirement lifestyle – what will keep you occupied? Are there activities that you will both enjoy, or are you fine pursuing aspects independently? Try to find middle ground. Don’t be alarmed if you don’t have the exact same idea of how retirement will work. Flexibility is also key. Once the reality of retirement sets in, either person’s viewpoint might change. Be prepared for the potential that a medical event could alter your plans.

Your financial circumstances are also always a consideration.

Have a discussion with your financial advisor about your retirement plans.

David Karimian, CFP®, CRPC®, APMA® Prime Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial 7712 S. Yale Ave. Suite 240 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.388.2009 • David.x.Karimian@ampf.com www.primewealthmgmt.com

PERSONAL TRAINER Should I use a weight belt when lifting weights?

The weight will help with intraabdominal pressure while lifting.

Optimal support depends on the type of exercise and load intensity.

It’s recommended for weight exercises that stress the lower back during heavy or maximal lifting.

JOHN JACKSON However, the weight belt will limit some of the core stability within your exercise movement. Weight belts are basically used for back squats and deadlifts; no weight belt is needed for exercises that don’t stress your back. Have a health professional assess your specific weight belt needs.

John Jackson, Personal Trainer St. John Siegfried Health Club 1819 E. 19th St., Tulsa, OK 74104 918.902.4028 jljackson70@hotmail.com

HOSPICE CARE My mother is terminally ill with brain cancer and her doctor has recommended hospice care. I don’t know much about hospice.

What services are included?

I am so sorry about your mother’s diagnosis. At Grace Hospice, we work hard to help our patients and their loved ones make every moment CAITLIN EVERSOLE count. We have an interdisciplinary team of professionals that works on several fronts to improve the situation right away. Our first priority is to manage pain and other symptoms that might be making everyday life challenging. We also assist with personal care of the patient, such as bathing and other hygienic needs. We offer social services as well as spiritual, grief and bereavement counseling to both patient and family for as long as it is needed. Grace Hospice also supplies medications, medical supplies and equipment – all in the comfort of the patient’s home. All of our services are fully covered through Medicare, at no cost to either the patient or family, and we also work with private insurance. You can learn more at www.gracehospice.com or call us at 918-7447223. We are here to help you and your family.

Caitlin Eversole Admissions Supervisor Grace Hospice of Oklahoma 6218 South Lewis, Suite 1000 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.744.7223 www.gracehospice.com MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Real Estate 101

By Carol Mowdy Bond

March is a bustling month for those wanting to buy or sell a home. Whether you’ve just started on your real estate journey or are ready right now to make some big decisions, experts can help. Learn more about what buyers are looking for and how to lure them in; the questions you should ask when you tour a home; clarifications on oft-used real estate jargon; a brief timeline of selling your home; some unexpected hurdles to anticipate in the process; and which renovations can get you that elusive return on investment.

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The Renovation Debate

You’ve decided to take the leap and sell your home. What’s next?

If you’re considering major renovations or add-ons before putting it on the market – to increase the value and appeal – speak with experts before taking that major financial plunge.

“What I tell people, buyers or sellers, depends on the house, the situation and the seller,” says Peter Walter of Tulsa’s Walter and Associates. “I make recommendations where I think it’s appropriate.”

Bryan Sheppard, president and CEO of Tulsa’s Coldwell Banker, says to measure all the variables to decide how to proceed with your renovations.

“It’s important for homeowners to know that price, condition, location and marketing affect the saleability of their homes,” he says.

“Outdoor living areas are very popular as add-ons, depending on what is done.”

Philip Churchill and Meg Stamatis of Edmond’s Churchill-Brown Associates caution that swimming pools rarely get a return on investment, so getting one for personal enjoyment should be the main motivation. Leland Chinowth, president of Tulsa’s Chinowth and Cohen, cautions that same attitude be placed on other specialty renovations.

“Add-ons that tend to help the least usually fall into two categories: too specialized for many buyers, or done without the comparable properties in your area in mind,” he says. “Typically adding expensive pools, movie rooms or extensive landscaping is not worth it for those reasons.”

For interior renovations, the best bang for your buck is giving some TLC to the kitchen and bathrooms.

“These are areas where you spend a lot of time, and home buyers tend to prioritize these rooms,” Chinowth says. “Most studies show the [return on investment] for a kitchen averages about 70%-75% of what you’ve actually got in the home.”

Other smart investments include professionally cleaning or replacing carpets and getting a pre-sale home inspection.

“If a home is tired or shows signs of heavy use,” Churchill says, “a pre-inspection can alleviate the risk of losing a sale to inspections.”

Walter offers another side to the argument on major renovations: Sometimes it’s better to leave the home as-is.

“I tell a lot of people not to change anything when selling their homes because there are many buyers who want to make the changes themselves so the house will be like they want it to be,” he says. “But it just all depends on the situation.”

Luring the Buyers

Potential buyers can lose interest within seconds of seeing a home because curb appeal is a first-chance impression. Experts suggest that sellers clean up everything they can – from the roof and windows to the wilted flowers in the front yard.

Laura Bryant of McGraw Realtors says evergreen plants and flowers are best for year-round color, and advises that “if [potential buyers] don’t like the outside, they will never come inside.”

Seth Bullard with Keller Williams Realty agrees.

“Button up the landscaping,” he says.

“There’s a lot of new construction [in Edmond] to compete with.”

Churchill explains that today’s technology means you have to work hard to stand out from hundreds of other houses on the market.

“In the days of internet, it all begins with photos to win the buyer’s attention,” says Churchill, adding that keeping a home clean, neat and uncluttered makes for effective marketing photos.

Bryant recommends neutral interior colors.

“Keep paint colors light, and stay away from yellow,” she says. “Bright colors don’t appeal to the masses.”

The Buyer’s Mind

Each buyer is different, but there are a few areas that appeal to people across the board.

“Outdoor spaces to allow indoor/outdoor flow for entertaining are prized,” Bryant says. “And buyers want privacy in yard space.”

Price and convenience are also major draws for buyers, Bullard says.

“In Edmond, anything under $200,000 is a seller’s market at that price point,” he says. “Buyers are looking for houses that are move-in ready, so they can immediately move on with life. They will pay more for not having to do anything.”

Chinowth agrees.

“There has been an increase in priority of updates and amenities,” he says. “Tulsa buyers are typically savvy and conservative, so they are usually conscious of the [comparative homes] in the area.”

Stamatis stresses that buyers want to see value, which takes many forms, from well-functioning, updated appliances to zero clutter.

Walter is succinct about what makes the inside and outside of a home appealing to buyers: “Condition. Floor plan. Design.”

There is no one correct answer because every buyer has different expectations; one person’s open floor plan dream is on another buyer’s “no thanks” list.

“People look for location, quality and potential,” Walter says.

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The Timeline

The home buying or selling process is complicated. The experts offer a timeline of what to expect.

• Find a reputable Realtor or real estate agent.

• Find out how much your home is worth, and go over the marketing plan for your home. To price your home, your agent will assess the market conditions and the competition.

• List your home with professional photos.

• Prepare your home to show.

• Show your home to interested buyers, either through private tours or open houses.

• Field offers and negotiate terms.

• Prepare for the appraisal and inspection of the home. If a home is properly evaluated before the listing and sale, the appraisal should not be an issue. Be sure to meet the appraiser and attend the home inspection.

• Negotiate requests for repairs from the home inspection.

• Resolve any closing issues.

• Sign and close.

Unexpected Hurdles

While the timeline above is standard operating procedure, anticipate delays and snafus.

“There are lots of scenarios that can cause a contract to fall on a house,” Sheppard says. “It’s important to have an experienced Realtor on your side, who can navigate the complicated process from having a contract to closing.”

Common hurdles, Bryant says, are “buyers losing financing, unexpected inspection issues and appraisals that fall short.”

Other issues include getting permits for add-ons during renovations, an escrow account that falls through or a high volume of requests for repairs after the home inspection.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

Buyer Preparation

Before making a bid on a home, gather relevant information and come prepared.

• Have a list of questions on hand when touring.

• Keep your eyes peeled for abnormalities, like loose wires or broken appliances.

• Ask about the roof. Does it need repairs? When was it last updated?

• Ask about the heating and cooling systems and the insulation.

• How much are property taxes?

• What are the average utility prices?

• What are the neighbors like?

• How is the internet connection?

Take matters into your own hands to ensure satisfaction by hiring a contractor to scope out vents and water lines.

Taking precautions is a good choice, but Sheppard advises that “a buyer needs to be prepared to move quickly on a home they want, or they may miss out. The inspection, after the contract, is a great time to get into the details of the home on any defects that the home may have.”

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Jargon Glossary • •

• •

• • • •

The buyer’s lender sends out an appraiser to determine the home’s value, which is the appraisal.

For a balloon payment, if a buyer gets a loan for five years, whatever is left of the loan at the end of five years is due in full.

A capital gain or loss is the difference between what you paid for the property and what you sold it for.

A buyer and seller incur closing costs when the home changes hands. They are costs above and beyond lending fees, and often include title charges, recording fees, title insurance and abstracts.

Depreciation is loss of value due to factors like home condition and the market.

In real estate, escrow generally refers to a third party holding money on behalf of the transacting parties.

The amount of ownership in a property is the equity.

A real estate broker or agent represents buyers and sellers in a transaction. Oklahoma law requires sales associates to hang their licenses with a broker.

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Developing Entrepreneurs

By Kimberly Burk

Kitchen 66, created by the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation, is Tulsa’s kickstart cookery that works to decrease barriers to success for food entrepreneurs.

Photo courtesy Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

THOSE WITH A PASSION FOR FORGING UNIQUE PATHS, TAKING RISKS OR DIVING INTO NEW VENTURES GO BY MANY LABELS. MAVERICKS. PIONEERS. INDIVIDUALISTS. GAMBLERS. PERHAPS THE MOST COMMON UMBRELLA TERM IS ENTREPRENEUR, WHICH DEFINES THOUSANDS OF BUSINESS OWNERS IN OKLAHOMA. BEHIND THEM ARE VARIOUS RESOURCES TO GET THEIR DREAMS OFF THE GROUND.

BY UTILIZING COURSES AND MAJORS AT UNIVERSITIES, COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS, LOCAL INCUBATORS, AND PRIVATE CITIZENS, ENTREPRENEURS CAN SUCCEED IN OUR STATE WITH THE RIGHT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.

The Tom Love Innovation Hub at the University of Oklahoma is free and offers a maker lab, a workshop and virtual reality equipment.

Photo courtesy the University of Oklahoma

Tools to Succeed

Aspiring entrepreneurs should seek out mentors and look for ways to collaborate with them, say leaders of nonprofits that help fledgling business owners.

“People representing any industry, any idea, any product, anything that is business-related could benefit from being at Oklahoma Venture Forum meetings,” says Kyle Golding, chairman of the board of the Oklahoma City-based nonprofit, which has a monthly luncheon where members “meet each other, network and find ways to work together.”

Golding and his partners own the Golding Group, which provides consulting services to businesses and nonprofits, many of which are startups.

“We were in existence before I found out about the Venture Forum,” Golding says. “I wish I had known about it.”

Devon Laney, president and CEO of 36 Degrees North, calls his nonprofit “Tulsa’s base camp for entrepreneurs. We provide the resources, work space, relationships and education to really help entrepreneurs build and grow.”

Membership levels range from shared workspace or a dedicated desk to three sizes of offices, Laney says. Benefits include free seminars, discounts on business services, attentive assistance from Laney and his staff, and collaboration with peers.

“You are surrounded by other entrepreneurs, and everyone is working hard, trying to figure it out,” Laney says. “Those kinds of conversations are really valuable.”

Tulsa’s Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation also works “to decrease the barriers associated with Tulsans achieving their goals,” CEO Elizabeth Frame Ellison says. “Entrepreneurship is really important because we need more quality jobs in our state, and we need more young people to stay in our state.”

The foundation’s programs include the Mother Road Market, Kitchen 66, Kiva Tulsa and the Tulsa Startup Series.

Mother Road Market, on historic Route 66, comprises 21 businesses that sell food and retail products. The model allows an entrepreneur to test an idea or concept without opening a full-scale restaurant or retail space.

Kitchen 66, housed at same location, offers commercial kitchen space, business training (such as the Launch Program) and sales opportunities through the café and general store at Mother Road Market. Since 2016, it has helped more than 125 food entrepreneurs, including immigrants from 10 countries. More than half have been women.

Kiva.org is a crowdfunding platform designed to alleviate poverty.

“One of the reasons we brought Kiva to Tulsa [in 2017] is that it’s a lot harder for women and people of color to have access to capital,” Ellison says.

The Lobeck Taylor foundation partners with Kiva Tulsa to offer zero-interest loans of up to $10,000 and with the Oklahoma State University Riata Center for Entrepreneurship in the Tulsa Startup Series, which has generated more than 2,300 full-time, part-time and contract jobs since 2007.

Ellison looks for coachable people willing to take constructive feedback and tweak their business plans.

“We try not to tell our entrepreneurs what kind of business they should run,” Ellison says. “But in the food space, we might be more excited if a person has an idea for a restaurant Tulsa needs more of.”

Bruce Barringer, head of OSU’s School of Entrepreneurship, celebrates risk-takers who create new products and innovate.

“It’s uncommon that a traditional company would create something new, like an Airbnb or an Uber,” he says. “Small business is the backbone of growth in our economy.”

An entrepreneur must be an optimistic problem-solver willing to admit what he or she doesn’t know, says Laney, adding that “being an entrepreneur is really hard. You are going to make mistakes.

It’s very lonely at times. That’s part of why being at an organization like 36 Degrees North helps.”

Entrepreneurship is worth the risk, Golding says.

“I’m pretty happy with where we are,” he says of his company.

“We have jobs we love and we enjoy working together.”

Molding Entrepreneurs

Oklahoma’s colleges and universities, adjusting to the interests of students, offer a variety of resources to help aspiring business owners.

Every year, 5,000 people make use of the Tom Love Innovation Hub at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. It includes a maker lab, a woodshop, a metal shop, virtual reality equipment and other resources for people who have prototypes and want to learn new skills.

“It’s pretty unusual for a university anywhere to offer this kind of space for free,” executive director Tom Wavering says. “Our mission is to increase innovation and entrepreneurship across the university and the state. Anything we do is open to anyone – students, retirees, you name it.”

Experiential learning is a focus at the University of Tulsa, says Larry Wofford, the Davis D. Bovaird endowed chair of entrepreneurship.

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Students at Oklahoma State University compete in a business plan and pitch/poster event in the School of Entrepreneurship.

Photo courtesy Spears School of Business

“We have a number of projects where our students work with entrepreneurs to help their experiential learning and to help the entrepreneurs,” Wofford says. “A lot of entrepreneurship occurs within businesses by people who are looking to change the way they do business. Many of our students will get into entrepreneurship by joining or buying a company and becoming entrepreneurial and innovative and changing it.”

At OSU, the School of Entrepreneurship is one of eight departments in the Spears School of Business, Barringer says.

“About 225 students are majoring in entrepreneurship, and 150 minors,” he says. “Last semester, 1,200 students took one or more of our classes. We work with students outside the college of business, especially [science, technology, engineering and math] students.”

For those looking elsewhere, Tulsa Community College offers business development classes and Northeastern State University offers an entrepreneurship major.

Road Map to Starting a Business

The first decision when starting a business is finding a sector you enjoy, says Larry Weatherford, with the Oklahoma district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Once your idea is set, the SBA suggests 10 steps that apply to most ventures.

1. Conduct market research. Gather information about potential customers and businesses already operating in your area, and use it to find a competitive advantage for your venture. Methods include surveys, questionnaires and focus groups. “Market research lets you reduce risk even while your business is still just a gleam in your eye,” Weatherford says.

2. Write a business plan. This is the

foundation of your business – a map for how

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

Catherine Ha co-founded Babel Analytics, a company that produces datadriven analytics for the health care sector.

Photo courtesy Babel Analytics

to structure, run and grow your new business. You use it to convince people that working for you or investing in your company is a smart choice.

3. Fund the business. Your plan helps

you determine how much money you need to start your business. If you don’t have money on hand, which is common, you need to raise it or get the capital from investors.

4. Choose a location. Whether you set

BY THE NUMBERS •

up a brick-and-mortar business or launch an online operation, your choices affect taxes, legal requirements and revenue.

5. Choose a structure. The legal structure you choose impacts your business registration requirements, how much you pay in taxes and your personal liability.

6. Choose a name. You want one that reflects your brand and captures the spirit of the company. Make sure the name isn’t already being used or is copyrighted by someone else.

•

7. Register the business. Make the business and its name legal and protect your brand, the SBA says. If you do business under a name different than your own, you need to register with the federal government and sometimes with your state government.

8. Get federal and state tax IDs. You use your employer identification number for important steps to start and grow your business, like opening a bank account and paying taxes. It’s like a Social Security number for your business. Some states require a tax identification number as well.

9. Apply for licenses and permits. Keep

your business running smoothly by staying legally compliant. Licenses and permits vary by industry, state, location and other factors.

10. Open a business bank account. A small-business checking account can help you handle legal, tax and day-to-day issues.

•

•

Oklahoma is home to nearly 400,000 small businesses, which account for 99% of the state’s companies, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBA defines small businesses as firms with fewer than 500 employees.

Oklahoma small businesses employed 712,582 people in 2016, the most recent year for which the SBA has employment numbers. That represents 52.4% of the private workforce. Firms with fewer than 100 employees have the largest share of smallbusiness employment.

Minority-owned businesses employed more than 90,000 Oklahomans in 2016.

The top small-business employers by industry are health care and social assistance, accommodations and food services, retail trade and construction.

Tulsa-based entrepreneurs gather at 36 Degrees North, an incubator that provides resources, work spaces and networking opportunities.

Photo courtesy 36 Degrees North

Success Stories

Catherine Ha The ink was barely dry on their master’s degree diplomas when Catherine Ha and William Booker founded Tulsa-based Babel Analytics, which creates data-driven software integrating technology with health care.

Ha, 25, credits mentorships, team-building and OU’s Love Innovation Hub for her success. She says she started as a collegian on a pre-medicine track, then went for a master’s degree in computer science at OU. “My ultimate goal was to combine the two,” she says. “Research is a really good way to incorporate new findings to help people.”

One of Babel’s systems helps healthcare providers use artificial intelligence to identify people at risk of opioid abuse.

Another extracts and summarizes information from medical records “to find out what details are hidden in patient notes,” Ha says.

Babel also has a product that could speed up eye-injury diagnoses, ranging from curious children with laser pointers to military personnel hurt in combat.

Ha says Wavering, the innovation hub’s executive director, helped her learn about governmental research grants, which is how much of Babel has been funded since it began in May. Ha and Booker finished third in the graduate division of the Love’s Entrepreneur’s Cup, a statewide competition for collegians with business plans.

“We had an MBA student on our team,” she says. “That gave us the … insights of what we needed to pay attention businesswise.”

Ha says she does not necessarily think of Babel Analytics as her life’s work.

“It would be super cool to grow a huge company here in Oklahoma and employ a lot of people,” she says, “but my thought is to take it one step at a time. With a startup, you have to be flexible.”

After selling his business, Piyush Patel began giving keynote speeches to help aspiring entrepreneurs.

He also invests in several OKC projects.

Photo by Jason Loudermilk Photography

Piyush Patel The difference between having ideas and making them real is execution, says Piyush Patel, an Oklahoma City entrepreneur and investor.

“I call them ‘wantapreneurs,’” says Patel, founder of Digital-Tutors, an online company that he sold to Pluralsight in 2014 for $45 million. “I used to be a sixth-grade science teacher and, after that, a college professor. My wife and I started our business with $54.”

Digital-Tutors grew to 42 full-time employees and 500 contractors, Patel says.

“It was profitable the whole 14 years,” he says. “We did it with no investors and no debt. It’s exciting to be part of a journey where you start with nothing and build something. We had 1.5 million customers around the world.”

His company provided online training for 3D animators and digital artists, primarily for the film and gaming industries.

“I had authored six college textbooks, and just seeing how fast they were sold made me realize there might be an opportunity,” Patel says. “But having an education background and not a business background, it was difficult to learn how to run a business.”

He found help from the Entrepreneurs Organization, a nonprofit with chapters in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

“EO completely changed my life,” Patel says. “I really feel like I shrank my school of hard knocks to a shorter amount of time.”

In 2018, Patel wrote Lead Your Tribe, Love Your Work: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Creating a Culture that Matters. He gives about 25 keynote addresses a year and mentors other entrepreneurs.

Patel and his wife, Lisa, own Conclusion Wines in California’s Napa Valley and the Angry Scotsman brewery in Oklahoma City and are investors in about a dozen companies.

“Retirement is boring. I tried it for three or four months,” he says, “so I poured myself back into creating and developing.”

THE RIGHT SPIRIT Some of Oklahoma’s successful entrepreneurs and educators discuss character traits needed to start a company.

•

•

•

•

“A typical entrepreneur is just a little narcissistic, a little overconfident, and a bit paranoid. That hot mess creates success.” – Piyush Patel, entrepreneur and investor “One of the things we look for is hustle – somebody really willing to work hard for their business.” – Elizabeth Frame Ellison, CEO of Lobeck Taylor Foundation “Here in Tulsa, we have a wide range of restaurants and bars that are just nice places to go and spend some time. A lot of young people are starting them.

They are realizing they don’t have to have gray hair to get into business.” – Larry Wofford, Davis D. Bovaird endowed chair of entrepreneurship, University of Tulsa “There’s no singular way to run a business correctly.

You have to be flexible, adaptable and open to utilizing your opportunities.”

– Kyle Golding, chairman of the board, Oklahoma Venture Forum

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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REAL WEDDINGS | ANNOUNCEMENT

A DAY TO REMEMBER A Tulsa-based couple marry in a gorgeous beachside ceremony.

M

Photos by Daniel Romero

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alissa Spacek McNeal and Kim Lee McNeal were married on Jan. 16, 2020, in an intimate ceremony attended by close friends and family.

The stunning wedding was 8 years in the making.

Kim, a dentist, was born and raised in Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 1980. Malissa, a native

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

Oklahoman, owns and operates BA Med Spa, a successful medical spa and weight loss center in Tulsa.

The couple were introduced by a mutual friend. After an 8-year courtship, Kim, who goes by the nickname Doc, proposed to Malissa at BA Med Spa. When searching for the perfect dress with close friends, Malissa knew it needed to stand out, as

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the wedding was a destination beach ceremony. She wanted the wedding “to be both beachy and formal at the same time,� so she went with an elegant lace dress while Kim chose a formal tuxedo.

The ceremony was held in San Pancho, Mexico, at the Villa Cavallenias Resort. The intimate beachside ceremony incorporated roses, hydrangeas and peonies

with a beautiful driftwood arch at the alter. Malissa’s daughter, Melody Hawkins, officiated the wedding.

To ensure all friends and family were included in the couple’s joy, a small civil service was held in December at the couple’s home, officiated by the honorable Georgenia Van Tuyl.

After the beach ceremony, the fun continued with a reception at the Villa, with fabulous catered food, music and dancing. The wedding was planned and executed expertly by wedding planner Robyn Manoogian of Vallarta Vows.

Malissa and Kim will take an extended honeymoon in the near future but have not yet decided the location. The couple plan to stay in the greater Tulsa area and continue their successful business ventures.

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MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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SUMMER CAMPS COMING SOON

15+

LOCATIONS

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

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SUMMER CAMPS

FOR KIDS Camp Loughridge Day Camp is a place of faith, discovery, adventure and community for kids 6-13.

Just five minutes west of Tulsa Hills, Camp Loughridge is a fun outdoor setting where kids can escape the noise of everyday life and focus on the voice of the Holy Spirit. Our summer camp programs are centered around the gospel of Jesus Christ, helping kids foster a living and loving relationship with God - and with each other!

2020

For more information, please call 918-494-1671 or visit saintfrancis.com/healthzone.

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2020 Summer Theatre Camp

clcamps.org for dates and registration.

Each camp session includes daily instruction in acting, singing and dance! Five sessions available for ages 5-14, one week of our very first Penguin Project Camp!

918.596.1412 ClarkYouthTheatre.com

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MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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"Young Entrepreneurship" Summer Program

June 1 - 30, 2020 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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Frozen 2 Camp: June 1-5 Mulan Camp: July 6-10 9-noon $100 (tuition includes a daily snack, craft, guest princess and camp t-shirt) Sing, Dance, Act and a Performance on Friday at noon!

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Summer Camp at Gilcrease Museum is an adventure in creativity and fun as students ages 5-13 explore art, history, culture and the beautiful Gilcrease grounds. It is a time for learning, making new friends and discovering the artist in us all.

Camp Registration Member registration begins March 2.

Not-yet member registration begins March 16.

Register at gilcrease.org/summercamp.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

1/31/20 3:17 PM

TASTE

FOOD, DRINK AND OTHER PLEASURES

FILLING A NICHE, PARIS STYLE Amelia’s expands its presence in downtown Tulsa with a separate brasserie and market.

T

The seared scallops come with braised leeks, fennel and citrus salad and beurre blanc.

Photos by Josh New

he origin story for the offshoot of Amelia’s Wood Fired Cuisine is varied … but there is a common denominator: Paris.

Find owner Amelia Eesley – perhaps sitting on one of those curved Art Nouveau barstools or a leather banquette or a vaguely Art Deco rattan chair in the dining area – and she says the need for a market began when she opened her eponymous Tulsa restaurant in 2017.

When the space that housed Sette Italian Brick Oven became available two doors down, Eesley and chef Kevin Snell realized they could combine a market with a casual dining area and create a downtown community center. That conception became reality as Amelia’s Market and Brasserie opened in December, but its germination dates to Eesley’s childhood.

“I was raised watching those old, 1940s, black-and-white movies,” Eesley says. “Paris seemed to be in every movie. I saw those Robert Doisneau photos of young lovers kissing by the Seine, and it seemed like the most romantic place in the world.”

Walk inside the brasserie and those feelings waft around you.

This new space is more than a romantic date-night getaway. You can come for breakfast, then hook

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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TA S T E | FIR S T BI T E

Head chef Kevin Snell and owner Amelia Eesley lead the charge at both Amelia’s Wood Fired Cuisine and the new market and brasserie.

your laptop up to the Wi-Fi and sip one of the concoctions that Nate Wood (also the bartender) fashions from coffee specially blended by the local Cirque Coffee.

Or, stop by on your way to the office and grab a to-go sandwich from the market.

“We’re trying to make life easier for the downtown community,” Snell says. “We have pre-cooked meals, or you can buy fresh ingredients and we’ll give you the recipe card.”

At lunch and dinner, the restaurant shines.

Snell manages to take a dish everyone knows, find its essence and make it better.

The trout Amandine is cooked in a roaring, wood-burning oven, which somehow makes it the most tender and succulent fish you’ve ever had.

Every afternoon between 4 p.m. and the dinner rush, Raqaun Bennett, chef de cuisine at Amelia’s Brasserie, heads toward the kitchen to prepare the family meal for cooks and servers alike.

“It’s one of the most important times,” Bennett says. “It shows the staff I care and it’s the one time they can slow down, maybe talk about their lives. We are literally running all the time.”

Today’s meal is pizza, so Bennett stops at the oven, a coppery beast that dominates its corner of the restaurant. Myssie Roberts runs over to prepare a vegan mayonnaise made of beets. Roberts, who achieved a fine reputation at Bird and Bottle, says Amelia’s is a bit different.

“[It’s] the first kitchen I’ve ever worked in where I feed a fire and smell like a campfire when I come home,” she says. “And fire is so primal. Also, we’re challenged here in a different way. We have to be creative, but within a French traditional framework.”

When the staff meal is ready, the workers head for the kitchen and grab a macaron from pastry chef Lauren Washburn, who used to work for David Chang at New York’s Momofuku.

“One of the best things is watching Lauren make macarons,” Bennett says. “There’s such total grace and concentration.”

Leave the staffers in the kitchen and stroll into the market, where narrow aisles and jam-packed shelves are full of delights beyond imagination: rice and grits, sandwiches, ice cream, dips, soups and entrees – homemade from the kitchen; glistening fish and scallops; and locally sourced foods like pork and chicken from 413 Farms, eggs from Prairie Creek, and dairy from Swan and Lomah.

A whole counter is devoted to tomahawk ribeyes, filets and sausages. Snell used to do all the butchering, but he’s trained others, including Chance Cundiff.

“I can do a lot more pushups since I started here,” Cundiff says while turning the crank on the sausage grinder. “I was working as a dishwasher at [the original] Amelia’s, but Kevin saw I had potential, so he trained me to be a butcher.”

A few feet away, at the oven, Roberts is back at work and smiling.

“It’s nice loving what you do,” she says.

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

TA S T E | L O C A L F L AV O R

Photo courtesy ZamZam

A ZAMZAM-ING NEW START

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

A year ago, fire broke out at ZamZam Mediterranean Grill in Warr Acres. In December, the restaurant reopened – bigger and better than ever – to the delight of many a faithful follower who loves the joint’s exceptional Mediterranean treats.

Savory grilled chicken and beef and vegetable kabobs, served with traditional, fragrant rice, are crowd favorites. Diners also enjoy savory salads, gyros, falafel and dolmas, plus some of the best house-made hummus and baba ghanoush anywhere in metropolitan OKC. With the new ZamZam comes a new feature, an expansive weekend buffet. From 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, ZamZam offers all the classics and favorite dishes to the public. Come back for the Sunday brunch buffet, too.

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12/27/19 10:38 2:54 PM 12/16/16 PM

TA S T E | CHEF CHAT

A HEART FOR SERVING AND TEACHING Despite obstacles, Michael Paske thrives at the Hamilton Supperette as he mentors his staff and aspiring restaurateurs.

A

chef needs a few key elements to succeed: creative flair; experience and understanding of how a kitchen should run; and a good mind when it comes to business and profitability. A chef must also be a leader, mentor and teacher to those who seek guidance.

Michael Paske of the Hamilton Supperette and Lounge in north Oklahoma City combines all these traits and has earned his culinary

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

stripes. Born and raised in Oklahoma City, but with small stints in southwest Texas and suburban Chicago, Paske is proud to claim OKC as home.

Becoming a chef, however, was not his first plan after high school; instead, it was sports medicine for the then-athlete.

After figuring out college was not in the stars, Paske turned to the dining business.

“I knew I loved cooking and had been working in restaurants for a while,” he says. “So I put my head down, worked my way up through corporate kitchens and eventually got to a small, independent restaurant called Primo’s, where I was the co-executive chef.”

Paske’s ambition did not stop at that Yukon establishment, and his cohorts knew that. They suggested he study under Kurt Fleischfresser, the lauded OKC chef and mentor, to get the education and guidance he longed for. However, life kicked in and becoming a single father meant time with his daughter was more important than the long hours of a chef apprenticeship.

Paske eventually found a way to combine his culinary smarts with his desire to mentor young cooks through ProStart and Odyssey de Culinaire. ProStart, an organization through the National Restaurant Association’s educational foundation, reaches out to students considering the hospitality industry as a career. Odyssey de Culinaire, a fundraising dinner through the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, takes chefs from Tulsa and Oklahoma City, along with ProStart kids, and they prepare the feast. Paske found a home with these organizations and gets understandably emotional when discussing them.

“A lot of the kids that you spend time with don’t have much,” he says. “I didn’t have much as a kid. This gives me an opportunity to give back to the community. Some of these kids need a positive role model and to know that someone does give a damn about them. It makes me happy to be able to do this.”

Before looking up, Paske wipes his eyes and mumbles, “You got me.”

Back at the Hamilton, that same sense of mentoring pervades in his kitchen; Paske understands that he and his kitchen crew sometimes see each other more than they do their loved ones.

He emphasizes teamwork, cohesion and responsibility.

“We all work as a team here,” he says. “Some weeks are really busy, and everyone is worn out, but we have to stay positive and show every customer who walks through our doors the same love Chef Michael Paske’s and hospitality that we showed the first take on the Irish colcanday. If we can’t take care of our customnon includes lamb and an Irish whiskey ers that way, then we might as well find demi-glace. something else to do.”

Photo by Brent Fuchs For Paske, being a chef is a lot more than knowing how to cook. In addition ONLINE to the relationships that evolve, it means SEE MICHAEL not taking blessings for granted.

PASKE’S RECIPE AT Ask Paske. He’ll show you. okmag.com/paske SCOTTY IRANI

TA S T E | TA S T Y T I D BI T S

Cater to every guest list

Local ingredients and from-scratch selections – with an emphasis on nutrition and flavor – can be found at Aurora, a hip OKC café. This is a new go-to spot for specialty libations, a craft coffee bar and house-made pastries.

Find a cozy spot to perch in the breakfast bar or enjoy backyard dining. Among savory breakfast choices is the pulled-pork hash with sarsaparilla-braised pork, potatoes, cabbage and eggs. Creative, culinary deliciousness also envelops the artichokes au gratin, a creamy mélange of artichokes, melted Parmesan and garlic breadcrumbs.

Those yearning for pasta can’t go wrong with papparelle bolognese, a hearty dish with tomato sauce, beef, homemade sausage and peas, or the seasonal vegan risotto. 1704 N.W. 16th St., Oklahoma City; shinewithaurora.com 4933 E 41st St. | Tulsa | 918-622-7815 | www.cfasouthroads.com ©2020 CFA Properties, inc Chick-fil-A Stylized® is a registered trademark of CFA Properties, Inc Nov '20

Dining Guide

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Photo courtesy Pearl’s

Photo ccourtesy Shared Plate Hospitality

AURORA LIGHTS IT UP

A PEARL OF AN OYSTER BAR

It’s not just fresh seafood that continues to draw discerning diners to Pearl’s Oyster Bar in OKC. Offering an alluring fusion of Creole, Southwest, Asian and Mediterranean influences in a sleek and contemporary space, Pearl’s is also known for perfect margaritas on the patio during its tempting happy hour.

Many choose to start or make a meal of house-made soups, such as the cioppino – a brimming bowl of shrimp, scallops, mussels and clams in an Italian red broth – or the classic Pearl’s gumbo. Others choose a Cajun-style favorite – maybe the lobster tail or Alaskan king crab – or tease their palates with esoteric creations like Japanese sea bass over spicy miso ramen, chock full of mushrooms, broccoli, boiled eggs, pickled carrots, jalapeños and scallions. 5641 N. Classen Blvd., Oklahoma City; pearlsokc.com

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COMING THIS SUMMER

O N LY O N

WHERE & WHEN G R E AT T H I N G S TO D O I N O K L A H O M A

GANGLAND DANCERS Tulsa Ballet’s passionate Vendetta transports audiences to a 1950s mafia feud in which a woman ascends to crime boss.

Photo courtesy Tulsa Ballet

T

ulsa Ballet brings 1950s Chicago to Oklahoma in a performance where women rule, mafioso style. The renowned dance company presents Vendetta at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center from March 26 to 29.

The work depicts Rosalia Carbone’s tragic wedding day, when a long-standing grudge between rival mob families explodes, says Bethany Kirby, the ballet’s marketing manager. The godfather, feared patriarch of the Carbone family, is killed in a shootout and an enraged Rosalia takes his place.

“Vendetta premiered in the spring of

2017 in Montreal,” says Marcello Angelini, Tulsa Ballet’s artistic director. “I went to see it, as I love Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s works, and fell in love with it. In the words of Annabelle, Vendetta is ‘Broadway meets film noir meets Moulin Rouge meets vaudeville … with a tad of Fellini.’

“The work is interesting, funny, engaging … and the story is well told and well developed with enough drama to keep the audience at the edge of their seats and enough humor to lighten up the experience. I love that, for once, the padrino ends up being a woman. So refreshing.”

For insights into the show, ticket

holders can attend free discussions in the Westby Pavilion on the promenade level 30 minutes before curtain. The talks are led by Tulsa Ballet artistic staff and visiting artists.

Topics may include the choreography, scoring and costuming.

Kirby says those with a certain idea of a trip to the ballet should not expect a tame evening this time around. Full of red-hot emotions, anger and greed and depicted through the beauty of dance, Vendetta is a thrilling show with passion, humor and bada bing bada boom.

“You’re guaranteed a captivating performance,” she says.

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W H E R E & W H E N | ENT ER TAI NMENT

1

PERFORMANCE

A SMÖRGÅSBORD OF SHOWS

Discover the rhythmic, rousing Stomp, presented by Celebrity Attractions, on March 6-8 at the Tulsa PAC. Signature Symphony performs Classics: Beethoven 5 on March 14 at Tulsa Community College’s VanTrease PACE with a breathtaking collection of arias. The force will be with you at Tulsa Symphony’s Star Wars in Concert on March 14 at the PAC. OKC Broadway offers the adventure-filled musical Anastasia on March 3-8 at the Civic Center Music Hall. Visit the Susan Brackett Dance Center from March 13 to 15 to see OKC Ballet’s Future Voices – A Choreographic Showcase, an innovative program of new works.

Join the OKC Philharmonic for Pops: Jersey Boys and Girls at the Civic Center Music Hall on March 20-21; the show highlights the music of New Jersey natives, including Whitney Houston, the Four Seasons and Lesley Gore.

STOMP OKC’s Lyric Theatre explores what it means to be Native American in Distant Thunder on March 25-April 11 through dance, story and song.

Edmond’s Armstrong Auditorium has two events of note this month: Vladimir Lande and the Siberian State Symphony Orchestra on March 4, and the son-father cello duo of Julian and Gerard Schwarz on March 24 with accompaniment from the Mozart Orchestra of New York.

entertains with provocative, thoughtful comedy. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

TULSA BALLET PRESENTS: VENDETTA, A MAFIA STORY March

tulsaballet.org

bokcenter.com

C.S. LEWIS’ THE GREAT DIVORCE March 27-29 Tulsa

TOBYMAC March 21 BOK

thrilling performance where Broadway meets film noir.

PERFORMANCES

TULSA OPERA PRESENTS: MADAMA BUTTERFLY March 1

Tulsa PAC An unscrupulous

American naval officer marries a young Japanese geisha who believes that their love is eternal.

tulsaopera.com

THEATRE TULSA PRESENTS: THE FACE OF EMMITT TILL March 1-8

Tulsa PAC The Face of

Emmett Till is a true-to-life dramatization of the death of a 14-year-old black Chicagoan. tulsapac.com

MOON MOUSE: A SPACE ODYSSEY March 6 Tulsa

PAC Bullied and picked on

by the “cool” rats, Marvin the Mouse is labeled as a loser and geek. tulsapac.com

CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS

74

heaven, hell and the choice between them comes to life.

TULSA SYMPHONY PRESENTS: STAR WARS IN CONCERT March 14 Wars differently with a screening of A New Hope with accompaniment from the TSO.

BOB WILLS’ TEXAS PLAYBOYS March 7 Cain’s

SIGNATURE SYMPHONY PRESENTS: BEETHOVEN 5

cainsballroom.com

March 11 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa See this Prince

chambermusictulsa.org

Enjoy Ludwig van Beethoven with trumpeter Stephen Goforth.

signaturesymphony.org

TREVOR NOAH March 13 River Spirit Casino Resort See

AMERICAN THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS: THE HUMANS March 20-28

KISS March 12 BOK Center

committee said of this 2016 runnerup: “A profoundly affecting drama that sketches the psychological and emotional contours of an average American family.”

bokcenter.com

PRESENTS: STOMP March

is explosive, inventive, provocative and witty – an unforgettable experience for all ages. celebrityattractions.com

CHAMBER MUSIC TULSA PRESENTS: MCGILL/ MCHALE TRIO March 6-8

Duet Jazz/Tulsa PAC This trio of flute, clarinet and piano was created for a festival concert.

writer, producer and television personality Trevor Noah on his Loud and Clear Tour. riverspirittulsa.com

THEATRE TULSA PRESENTS: A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC March 13-22

Tulsa PAC Stephen

Sondheim’s sublime musical follows the romantic lives of several couples in early 1900s Europe. theatretulsa.org

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

Tulsa PAC Experience Star

tulsasymphony.org

March 14 TCC Van Trease PACE

Tulsa PAC The Pulitzer Prize

tulsapac.com

JIM JEFFERIES March 21 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa Jim Jefferies

hardrockcasinotulsa.com

DAN AND SHAY March 20 BOK Center Dan and Shay

tulsapac.com

6-8 Tulsa PAC Stomp

a lasting impact on country music.

26-29 Tulsa PAC Enjoy a

PAC C.S. Lewis’ fantasy about

IN TULSA

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa Easton Corbin has had

CONCERTS Ballroom Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys return to Tulsa’s Timeless Honky Tonk.

PURPLE XPERIENCE

tribute band rock the joint. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

Enjoy the signature rock ‘n’ roll stars of Kiss on their End of the Road World Tour.

WILLIE NELSON AND FAMILY March 15 River

Spirit Casino Resort With

a six-decade career and 200-plus albums, this iconic Texan is the creative genius behind many historic records.

riverspirittulsa.com

EASTON CORBIN March 19

perform with The Band Camino and Ingrid Andress.

Center Joining TobyMac are rising stars Tauren Wells, Jordan Feliz, We Are Messengers, Ryan Stevenson, Aaron Cole, and Cochren and Co. bokcenter.com

CANDLEBOX March 26

River Spirit Casino Resort

Emerging from Seattle’s burgeoning 1990s grunge scene, Candlebox found mainstream success with deep, lyrically driven melodies. riverspirittulsa.com

ALAN JACKSON March 26

BOK Center Country music hall-of-famer Alan Jackson brings decades of hits to his fans. bokcenter.com

RAILROAD EARTH March

26 Cain’s Ballroom Railroad

Earth’s music is driven by front man Todd Sheaffer and delivered with seamless arrangements by the band. cainsballroom.com

CLINT BLACK March 27

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa After 30 years of “killin’

time,” Clint Black celebrates with an anniversary tour. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

THE COMMODORES March

28 Osage Casino Enjoy this funk/rock/soul trio. osagecasino.com

ART FIRST FRIDAY ART CRAWL

March 6 Arts District This year-round, monthly event features works from galleries, artists, studios and museums. thetulsaartsdistrict.org

RECALL/RESPOND: TULSA ARTIST FELLOWSHIP AND GILCREASE MUSEUM COLLABORATION (PHASE II) Through March 15 Gilcrease The second

iteration of Recall/Respond is a multi-phased contemporary exhibit with works by current Tulsa artist fellows and fellowship alums.

gilcrease.org

TULSA TREASURES: PRIVATE COLLECTIONS IN PUBLIC March 15-May 24

Philbrook This exhibition

unveils some of the most fascinating privately owned objects in the community and sheds light on why people collect art. philbrook.org

AHHA TULSA PRESENTS: NOT A NUMBER – ARTISTS FROM THE MABEL BASSET CORRECTIONAL CENTER Through April 5

Ahha Tulsa In collaboration with Poetic Justice, Ahha presents art by women in the Mabel Basset Correctional Center. ahhatulsa.org

Photo courtesy Celebrity Attractions

READY FOR AN EXCITING MARCH? READ ON FOR OUR TOP CHOICES THIS MONTH.

IN CONCERT

ROCK, COUNTRY AND CHRISTIAN MUSIC, PLUS COMEDY

Thackerville’s Winstar World Casino and Resort features rapper Pitbull on March 13; country crooner Brad Paisley on March 20; and comedic powerhouse Adam Sandler on March 21. Oklahoma’s own Carrie Underwood, on March 14, and Clint Black, on March 28, perform at the Choctaw Casino and Resort in Durant.

Photo courtesy Chesapeake Energy Arena

BOK Center’s lineup includes Kiss on March 12; country duo Dan and Shay on March 20; Christian rap artist TobyMac on March 21; and country music star Alan Jackson on March 26.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa welcomes the Prince tribute band Purple Xperience on March 11; country artist Easton Corbin on March 19; comedian Jim Jefferies on March 21; and country legend Clint Black on March 27. Enjoy the danceinducing soul of the Commodores on March 28 at Tulsa’s Osage Casino.

OKC’s Chesapeake Energy Arena welcomes Christian artist Lauren Daigle on March 6; the time-turning singer Cher on March 12; and Edmond natives MercyMe on March 21.

CHER

Photo courtesy Choctaw Casino

SPORTS

FROM RODEOS TO WRESTLING

13-14 Guthrie Green This free

gilcrease.org

event celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with activities and entertainment for all ages.

MEXICAN MODERNISM: REVOLUTION AND RECKONING Through Aug.

TULSA DOG TRAINING CLUB AGILITY TRIAL

30 Gilcrease This exhibit

features a rotation of works representing a pivotal time in Mexico’s history. gilcrease.org

AETHER AND EARTH

and Earth is how Mazen Abufadil describes his feelings behind the innovative process he developed – combining the ancient art of fresco with 21st-century digital photography. gilcrease.org

SPORTS

RED CROSS MONTH March

Nationwide March was proclaimed Red Cross Month in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to raise awareness for the organization and its mission.

TULSA OILERS HOCKEY March 3, 14, 20, 22, 24 BOK

Center Cheer the city’s hockey team at its home games. bokcenter.com

Cox Business Center

tournament marks the fourth neutral-site conference championship for the sport.

lifeseniorservices.org

bokcenter.com

explores the colorful abstractions of Tulsa-based Eric Sall and how a transformative event augmented his risk-taking in abstract painting. philbrook.org

I-WITNESS CULTURE: FRANK BUFFALO HYDE

Through May 10 Gilcrease

Artist Frank Buffalo Hyde, from the Onondaga and Nez Perce tribes, says artists are responsible to represent the times in which they live. gilcrease.org

MEMORIES AND INSPIRATION: THE KERRY AND C. BETTY DAVIS COLLECTION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ART Through July 26 Gilcrease

THUNDER RUN

Inspired by previous African-American art collectors, Kerry and Betty

TaulCoy Room Guests can enjoy a reception, dinner and dancing to benefit Tulsa Source for Hearing-loss and Access. tsha.cc

SIP FOR SIGHT GALA

world-famous Harlem Globetrotters take on their long-time rivals, the Generals.

ROUTE 66 MORGAN HORSE CLASSIC March

MONARCH BALL: SWEET DREAMS TO SAFER DAYS

bokcenter.com

sipforsight.com

March 7 Southern Hills Country Club Join Domestic

horseshowsbysandy.weebly. com

Photo courtesy BOK Center

3

Proceeds from this annual gala benefit Life Senior Services.

March 6 Mayo Hotel This black-tie dinner has live and silent auctions to help Vizavance provide free vision screenings to children.

majestic Morgan horses as they compete.

Philbrook This exhibit

CELEBRATE LIFE March 5

VINTAGE ‘53 March 6

TULSA FC SOCCER MATCHES March 14, 17, 21

March 15 BOK Center The

THE CURRENT: ERIC SALL Through April 12

redcross.org/about-us/ red-cross-month

BIG 12 CONFERENCE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS March

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

KISS

all breeds and abilities compete to be named top dog. exposquare.com

CHARITABLE EVENTS

18-21 Expo Square View

Tulsa Oilers home hockey matches are scheduled for March 3, 14, 20, 22 and 24 at the BOK Center, which also hosts the alpha male drama of the Big 12 Conference wrestling championships March 7-8.

Visit Tulsa’s Expo Square for two equine events: the Route 66 Morgan Classic on March 18-21 and the Green Country Spring Fling, showcasing Arabian horses, on March 27-29.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have NBA home games March 3, 11, 13, 20 and 26 at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The state’s only major professional sports team also hosts the Thunder Run on March 7, with a 5K or a family run through downtown OKC. Rodeo lovers can check out the heart-pounding PRCA Xtreme Bulls Ultimate Challenge on March 28 at Enid’s Stride Bank Center.

March 13-15 Expo Square See canines of

action-packed motorsports experience for families returns. bokcenter.com

ONEOK Field Tulsa FC, formerly known as the Tulsa Roughnecks, begins regularseason play. fctulsa.com

CLINT BLACK

tulsairishfest.org

MONSTER JAM March 28-29 BOK Center This

Ongoing Gilcrease Aether

7-8 BOK Center This

2

Photo courtesy OKC Thunder

Davis began gathering a wide variety of works by African-American artists.

NEOKLA SCCA AUTOCROSS March 22

Violence Intervention Services for drinks, dinner and dancing at its premier fundraising gala. themonarchball.com

Expo Square Heart-pounding

BRAINIAC BALL March 7

GREEN COUNTRY SPRING FLING March 27-29 Expo

Family and Children’s Services for a night of team trivia, an auction, dinner and dancing. brainiacball.com

events await you at these races. neoklascca.org Square Competitions,

exhibitors and entertainment abound at this equine extravaganza. gcaha.com

COMMUNITY AKDAR SHRINE CIRCUS

Through March 1 Expo Square

Enjoy all the fun at this family-friendly event.

Cox Business Center Join

GOSPEL, GRITS AND GERSHWIN March 7 Booker T. Washington

High School This annual fundraising brunch features student and alumni performances, artwork, and live and silent auction items to benefit the Booker T. Washington Foundation.

exposquare.com

btwfoundation.net

TULSA HOME AND GARDEN SHOW March 12-

GRANDPARENTS DAY

March 13 Augustine Christian

15 Expo Square Oklahoma’s largest home and garden trade show has more than 500 exhibitors to help with home-improvement projects.

Academy An annual day to honor grandparents includes a special assembly with class presentations. acatulsa.org

TULSA BOTANIC BLOOMS

March 14 Rotary Park, McAlester Volunteers join

tulsahba.com

March 12-April 26 Tulsa Botanic Garden Enjoy the

start of spring with more than 100,000 budding flowers.

tulsabotanic.org

TULSA IRISHFEST March

MARCH FOR BABIES

thousands of people in cities across the country to help raise funds to support research, advocacy and programs for the health of all moms and babies.

marchforbabies.org

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

75

W H E R E & W H E N | ENT ER TAI NMENT

INSTALLATION OVERLOAD

Artist Frank Buffalo Hyde is featured at Gilcrease Museum’s exhibition I-Witness Culture, running through May 10, with a focus on Native Americans’ use of social media and the representation of today’s Native peoples. With a March 15 debut, Tulsa Treasures: Private Collections in Public is an exhibition at Philbrook Museum of 18th-century French objects, regional art, furniture and more. The show is meant to demystify the practice of collecting and answer the question: Why do people collect art?

4

Frank Buffalo Hyde, Buffalo Dancers Study, 2016, acrylic on canvas, Courtesy of Tansey Contemporary

ART

I-WITNESS CULTURE

FA M I LY / K I D S

TROLLS, DINOSAURS AND HOOPS HIGH JINKS

5

Photo courtesy Jurassic Quest

Immerse yourself in the world of singing, dancing, rainbows, glitter and hugs at Oklahoma City’s Cox Convention Center when Trolls Live runs March 6-8. Kids of all ages can enjoy the hoops fun of the famous Harlem Globetrotters, who visit OKC’s Chesapeake Arena on March

14 and Tulsa’s BOK Center on March 15. The ultimate in monster truck racing gears up at Monster Jam on March 28-29 at the BOK Center.

For rides, family fun and dinosaurs, check out Jurassic Quest at Oklahoma City’s State Fair Park on March 13-15. Visit State Fair Park again March 28-30 and experience the big top when the Shrine Circus hits town. An international event for filmmakers, songwriters, musicians and poets, the Sunny Side Up Film Festival takes place March 20-22 at Miami’s Coleman Theatre.

Robert Mills brings back this fun, creative showcase choreographed by company members and local dance professionals. okcballet.org

benefit the impoverished Blackfeet Nation.

reputable credentials in every facet of entertainment.

JAY LENO March 27

MERCYME March 21

THE ILLUSIONISTS March

Late-night TV host, stand-up comedian and children’s book author, Jay Leno is often called the hardest working man in show business.

Chesapeake Energy Arena

okcciviccenter.com

riverwind.com

BRETT YOUNG March 27

OKC BROADWAY PRESENTS: THE OFFICE – A MUSICAL PARODY March

CANTERBURY VOICES PRESENTS: SPECTRUM OF HARMONIES March 29

showcases the jaw-dropping talents of master illusionists.

TULSA’S NEW LEADERS

March 27 Southern Hills Country Club This fundraiser

honors Tulsa’s best and brightest young professionals and gives people with cystic fibrosis opportunities to lead full, productive lives. finest.cff.org/tnl

CARNIVALE March 28 Cox Business Center Mental

Health Association’s Carnivale is often called the Best Party in Town with a lavish evening of fine dining and dancing unlike any other event in the state. bestpartyintown.org

TBH WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION ANNUAL SPRING LUNCHEON

76

March 31 Renaissance Hotel A fun-filled afternoon

with sumptuous fare, entertainment, a silent auction and door prizes comprise an exciting luncheon for the Tulsa Boys’ Home. tulsaboyshome.org

IN OKC

PERFORMANCES

OKC BROADWAY PRESENTS: ANASTASIA

March 3-8 Civic Center Music Hall Inspired by

beloved films, the romantic and adventure-filled new musical Anastasia is on tour. okcbroadway.com

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

VLADAMIR LANDE March 4 Armstrong Auditorium Enjoy

this talented musician with the Siberian State Symphony Orchestra.

armstrongauditorium.org

LYRIC THEATRE PRESENTS: HAVING OUR SAY Through March 8 Lyric

at the Plaza Celebrate the story of a century with 103-year-old Sadie and 101-year-old Bessie, known as the Delany sisters. lyrictheatreokc.com

OKC BALLET PRESENTS: FUTURE VOICES – A CHOREOGRAPHIC SHOWCASE March 12-15

Susan E. Brackett Dance Center Artistic director

riverwind.com

Riverwind Casino, Norman

13-14 Civic Center Music Hall This spectacular

JURASSIC QUEST

lyrictheatreokc.com

18 Hudiburg Chevrolet Center, Rose State College, Midwest City It’s a typical morning

at Scranton’s third-largest paper company until, for no reason, a documentary crew begins filming the lives of the employees of Dunder Mifflin.

okcciviccenter.com

OKC PHIL PRESENTS: JERSEY BOYS AND GIRLS March 20-21 Civic Center Music Hall The Garden

State has supplied some of the most incredible musicians of all time. Join the OKC Philharmonic for an extravaganza honoring many of them. okcphil.org

LYRIC THEATRE PRESENTS: DISTANT THUNDER March

25-April 11 Lyric at the Plaza

Darrell Waters, a successful young attorney, returns to his childhood home in Montana to broker a deal that can

Civic Center Music Hall

Canterbury offers a world premiere. okcciviccenter.com

CONCERTS LAUREN DAIGLE March 6

Chesapeake Energy Arena

Christian artist Lauren Daigle performs with Johnny Swim. chesapeakearena.com

EXCISION March 11 The

Criterion Enjoy Canadian disc

jockey Jeff Abel, better known as Excision. criterionokc.com

CHER March 12 Chesapeake

Energy Arena See pop icon

Cher on her Here We Go Again Tour. chesapeakearena.com

WILLIE NELSON AND FAMILY March 13 Riverwind Casino, Norman With a

six-decade career, Willie Nelson has earned just about every conceivable award as a musician and amassed

Multi-platinum selling MercyMe continues its landmark season.

chesapeakearena.com

The Criterion See Young on

his Chapters Tour with Matt Ferranti. criterionokc.com

ART FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK March 6 Paseo Arts

District More than 80 artists

and more than 25 businesses, all within walking distance, stay open late the first Friday of each month. thepaseo.org

TWO GRITS: A PEEK BEHIND THE EYEPATCH

Through March 10 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum This

exhibit examines similarities and differences in the two versions of the film True Grit. nationalcowboymuseum.org

RENEGADES: BRUCE GOFF AND THE AMERICAN SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE Through

April 5 Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman The exhibition

includes more than 150 drawings, documents and

COMMUNIT Y

Photo by Steven Christy

HOMES, GARDENS, PUPS AND ST. PATRICK

Everything you need for sprucing up your house and yard can be found at the Tulsa Home and Garden Show on March 12-15 at Expo Square. Stick around Expo Square for the canine athleticism featured at the Tulsa Dog Training Club Agility Trials from March 13 to 15.

You don’t want to miss the first welcome of spring at Tulsa Botanic Blooms at Tulsa Botanic Garden; the March 12-April 26 event offers more than 100,000 florals to enjoy.

Vehicles of all sorts are featured at the OKC Auto Show from March 6 to 8 at

State Fair Park.

There’s rowdy Celtic fun across the state on March 14, a few days before St. Patrick’s Day. The Tulsa Irish Fest is at Guthrie Green, Broken Arrow’s ShamRock the Rose runs all day in the Rose District, and you can delay the partying a bit and get healthy instead at the Runners World St. Patrick’s Run in downtown Tulsa. The O’City St. Patrick’s Fest and Parade offers music and authentic Irish step dancing in downtown Oklahoma City. The Myriad Botanical Gardens has a family-friendly event all day. And O’Connell’s in Norman offers the biggest party in town on March 17 with live music, karaoke, a green eggs and ham breakfast and, of course, green beer all day long.

6

COMMUNITY

open bar, all to benefit Calm Waters. give.calmwaters.org/ bigtop2020

BOTANICAL BALANCE FREE YOGA March 3, 7, 10,

14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31 Myriad

Botanical Gardens Practicing yoga in the gardens has the benefit of connecting with nature and offers a beautiful, tranquil space to help relieve stress and quiet the mind. myriadgardens.org

OKC AUTO SHOW March 5-8 State Fair Park Enjoy

beautiful, state-of-the-art vehicles in an array of displays. okcautoshow.org

JUNIOR BOTBALL CHALLENGE March 7

National Cowboy and Western

State Fair Park Watch

budding scientists compete in this brain-teasing challenge. statefairparkokc.com

chefsfeast.org

JURASSIC QUEST March

PLAYMAKERS BALL March

jurassicquest.com

auction, raffles and fun raises money for athletic programs in OKC Public Schools

Experience more than 80 true-to-size dinosaurs and all new water dwellers.

GO GREEN: ST. PATTY’S DAY March 14 Myriad

Enjoy an art auction with cocktails to help Allied Arts.

O’CITY ST. PATRICK’S DAY FEST AND PARADE March

CELEBRATION OF RECOVERY March 31

Avenues Everyone is Irish as guests enjoy a day of music and fun. ocityparade.com

Heritage Museum Each spring, this A Chance to Change event hosts more than 600 attendees who fight for the treatment and support of those with mental illness and/or substance disorders and their families.

nativecrossroads.org

RENEWING THE AMERICAN SPIRIT: THE ART OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION Through April 26 OKCMOA

This exhibition explores the physical and social landscape of the United States during the Great Depression through paintings, prints, photographs and other media.

okcmoa.com

ONE MUST SEE MANY THINGS: SELECTIONS FROM BEN SHAHN’S RILKE PORTFOLIO Through May 3 OKCMOA Known for his linear

and abstracted images of the human body, Ben Shahn became one of the leading American social-realist artists in the 1930s. okcmoa.com

Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman Sideshow surveys

COLORS OF CLAY Through

ou.edu/fjjma

Colors of Clay explores the cultural and regional diversity of indigenous ceramic vessel traditions in North America.

the satirical, often irreverent imagery of O. Gail Poole.

WARHOL AND THE WEST

Through May 10 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum This is the

first museum exhibition to explore Andy Warhol’s love of the West, represented in his art, movies, attire, travel and collecting.

nationalcowboymuseum.org

DOROTHEA LANGE: POLITICS OF SEEING

Through May 10 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Through

her camera lens, Dorothea Lange documented American life with riveting, intimate photographs reflecting some of the most powerful

May 10 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

nationalcowboymuseum.org

FIND YOUR WESTERN

Through May 10 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Perceptions

of the West through popular media have been a mainstay of culture.

nationalcowboymuseum.org

SPORTS OKC THUNDER BASKETBALL March 3, 11,

13, 20, 26 Chesapeake Energy

Arena The state’s only major professional team hosts regular-season NBA games. chesapeakearena.com

OKC BLUE BASKETBALL

March 4 Chesapeake Energy Arena See the OKC Thunder’s

G-League affiliate, the OKC Blue, take on the Memphis Hustle. chesapeakearena.com

THUNDER RUN March 7 Chesapeake Energy Arena

Embark on an energizing run through the Bricktown Entertainment District with the Thunder 5K. chesapeakearena.com

OKC ENERGY FC SOCCER

MATCH March 7 Taft Stadium Experience the

excitement of professional soccer as the Energy take on the Colorado Switchbacks. energyfc.com

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS March 14 Chesapeake Energy Arena The Globetrotters take

on their long-time rivals, the Generals.

chesapeakearena.com

ARTINI March 27 Oklahoma

some good, old-fashioned day of Irish family fun at the gardens.

showcases feature films, music videos, documentaries, animations and short films that consider how Indigenous people and communities shape the present and future.

nationalcowboymuseum.org

27 Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club An evening of

weswelkerfoundation.org

Botanical Gardens Have

NATIVE CROSSROADS

moments of the 20th century.

Heritage Museum Enjoy an evening featuring food from top chefs and live music while helping to raise money for the Regional Food Bank’s Food for Kids Programs.

13-15 State Fair Park

FILM FESTIVAL March 26-28 Norman Public Library This free event

O. GAIL POOLE’S SIDESHOW Through May 10

luncheon, hosted by OKC Beautiful, honors individuals, businesses and civic organizations for their community efforts in beautification, volunteer work and other service-related projects that improve the city. okcbeautiful.com

14 Sheridan and Oklahoma

objects, many of which are drawn from the newly created American School Archive in the OU Libraries’ Western History Collection. ou.edu/fjjma

Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club This

CHEFS’ FEAST March 26

myriadgardens.org

O’CITY ST. PATRICK’S FEST

36TH DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS LUNCHEON March 26

OKC HOME AND OUTDOOR LIVING SHOW March

27-29 State Fair Park Get

everything you need for spring improvements at this show. homeshowokc.com

CHARITABLE EVENTS

artiniokc.com

National Cowboy and Western

achancetochange.org/ celebration-of-recovery

AROUND THE STATE PERFORMANCES

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS March 5 McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, Stillwater In post-war Paris,

romance is in the air and youthful optimism reigns.

mcknightcenter.org

RED TIE COCKTAIL PARTY

March 5 Park House This event celebrates Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund’s 29 years of providing more than $13 million in funding and resources for Oklahoma’s HIV/AIDS community.

ADAM SANDLER

March 21 Winstar World Casino and Resort, Thackerville From

comedian and producer to actor and screenwriter, Sandler is a versatile performer. winstar.com

okaidscarefund.com

OMELETTE PARTY March 6 Bricktown Events Center

This party has live music, food from acclaimed local chefs, an open bar and a local art raffle, all while supporting the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. okcmoa.com

UNDER THE BIG TOP

March 6 Farmers Public

City Farmers Public Market

Market This annual, ticketed fundraiser with carnival games features a live magician, aerialists, stiltpeople, card games, a wine pull, a jewelry draw, live and silent auctions, food and an

GASLIGHT THEATRE PRESENTS: JACK AND THE BEANSTALK March 21-29 Gaslight Theatre,

Enid A retelling of a familiar story, this version has the regular characters, with a twist of rabble-rousing, for a fresh experience. gaslighttheatre.org

JONATHAN BISS March 27-28 McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, Stillwater Jonathan Biss

expands his reputation as a teacher, musical thinker and one of the great interpreters of Ludwig van Beethoven’s music. mcknightcenter.org

MARCH 2020 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

77

FILM AND CINEMA

W H E R E & W H E N | ENTER TAINMENT PITBULL March 13 Winstar World Casino and Resort,

Thackerville See Pitbull, known as Mr. Worldwide, perform. winstar.com

CARRIE UNDERWOOD March

14 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant Oklahoma’s

own country sensation Carrie Underwood returns home.

choctawcasinos.com

BRAD PAISLEY March 20 Winstar World Casino and Resort, Thackerville One of

country music’s brightest stars takes the stage.

winstar.com

CLINT BLACK March 28 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant See Clint Black

with guest Steve Wariner. choctawcasinos.com

ART SMALL TALK Through March 2 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark.

This free exhibition shows how artists employ text within their works. crystalbridges.org

BANDITS AND HEROES, POETS AND SAINTS Through March 8 Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, Shawnee This show

explores how the ancient cultures of Africa blended with indigenous and colonial Portuguese traditions to form the vibrant, social mosaic of modern Brazil. mgmoa.org

FINAL FRIDAY ART CRAWL March 27 Downtown

Stillwater Inspired by First Friday events in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, this lively art crawl is on the final Friday of every month and celebrates the art culture of the community. museum.okstate.edu

STATE OF THE ART 2020

Through May 24 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark. A team

of curators at Crystal Bridges traveled across the country to select a diverse group of 61 artists from varied backgrounds and at different points in their careers. crystalbridges.org

TEMPERA Ongoing Crystal

Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark. Tempera

painting (also known as egg tempera) has a rich history as a medium for artists from ancient times to today, and is an older form of painting than oil. crystalbridges.org

SPORTS HERITAGE RODEO March

7 Stephens County Fair and

Expo Center, Duncan See cowboys and cowgirls compete in bareback riding, ranch bronc riding, tie-down roping and bull riding. travelok.com

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS March 12 Stride Bank Center,

Enid The Globetrotters play their long-time rivals, the Generals. stridebankcenter.com

TIMED EVENT CHAMPIONSHIP March

13-15 Lazy E Arena, Guthrie

Enjoy this annual event featuring the top 20 PRCA athletes competing for the title of World’s Best All-Around Timed Event Cowboy.

MARCHING TO COLUMBIA

ENID ULTIMATE PRCA XTREME BULLS March 28

The True/False Festival, not too far away in Missouri, is documentary heaven with a party-hearty spirit.

lazye.com/event-calendar Stride Bank Center This

event has a long round of 30 bull riders, followed by a short round with the top 10 contestants. stridebankcenter.com

COMMUNITY SPECTACULAR CIRCUS March 4 Stride Bank

Center, Enid This circus has acrobats, aerialists, animals and clowns. stridebankcenter.com

GRAND LAKE BOAT AND SPORT SHOW March 5-8

Grove Civic Center Visitors find an array of boat dealers, RV dealers and miscellaneous vendors. grandlakeboatshow.com

MUSTANG CHOCOLATE

FESTIVAL March 6 Town Center Satisfy your sweet

tooth at this event. travelok.com

RED DIRT FILM FESTIVAL March 6-8 Stillwater

Community Center The festival welcomes filmmakers from around the world for a weekend of screenings and industry talk. reddirtfilm.com

OKLAHOMA BIGFOOT SYMPOSIUM March 7-8 CC

Camp, Stilwell Explore the lore surrounding one of Oklahoma’s most mysterious creatures.

okbigfootsymposium.com

PARKSTOP MUSIC FESTIVAL March

14-15 Town Center Mainstage,

Medicine Park This annual event features music for the whole family, including bluegrass, country, rockabilly, punk and rock. medicinepark.com

SUNNY SIDE UP FILM FESTIVAL March

20-22 Coleman Theatre, Miami Join the fun for a

competition for filmmakers and screenwriters.

brenrockproductions.com/ SSUFF.html

FOR MORE EVENTS IN TULSA, OKC AND AROUND THE STATE, HEAD TO OKMAG.COM.

78

ONWARD

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

Around Town

Another March, another True/False Film Festival, and another round of cajoling you to go to Columbia, Missouri, to catch this unusual event.

If just one person has driven 5 hours from Tulsa or 6½ hours from OKC to check out True/False, then this column has succeeded. The special festival, which emphasizes nonfiction films of both the crowd-pleasing and experimental ilk, feels like a mixture of family reunion, wild party and art installation.

The 18th iteration of True/False runs March 5-8.

When you pack into a giant venue like the Missouri Theater, alongside thousands of others coming to view a weird flick about, say, Orthodox Jewish brothers who are hoarders (an actual film at the festival a few years ago), you know you’re in documentary heaven, surrounded by people who love film just as much as you do.

At Home

Please pardon this millennial moment – a recommendation for a movie that diverges from my usual style, one that fascinated me as a child.

The Wizard stars Fred Savage of The Wonder Years fame. Having not seen it since childhood, I’m unsure whether it holds up as a film, but its central premise – a kid who’s really good at video games – held endless appeal to my 10-year-old self. On release, critics complained that the film felt like extended product placement for Nintendo, but millennials have cemented its status as a cult classic.

The film has probably retained some

actual value, if only because of its solid cast, which includes Beau Bridges, Christian Slater and a young Jenny Lewis, better known for her work in the band Rilo Kiley.

Shout! Factory releases a new Blu-Ray of the film this month; it features a 4K transfer that should capture the film’s cinematography in all its late-1980s glory. The package also includes deleted scenes, audio commentary from director Todd Holland, and a “making-of ” documentary. As a bonus, ordering from the Shout! Factory website scores you a poster featuring new art from the re-release.

In Theaters

Sticking with the childhood theme, March brings another Pixar film to theaters, the studio’s first non-sequel since 2017’s Coco.

Onward is set in a supernatural realm overtaken by science, which has gradually robbed the inhabitants of their sense of magic. It’s an interesting theme for Pixar to tackle, given its place at the vanguard of computer animation, which some argue has robbed films of the magic of hand drawing.

Regardless, this should be another quality Pixar release. The hope is that Dan Scanlon – who directed a favored Pixar film, the critically underrated Monsters University – brings some of that film’s emotional maturity to Onward to balance out the humor, which should be plentiful with comic actors Chris Pratt, Ali Wong and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss among those providing voices for the film.

ASHER GELZER-GOVATOS

©Disney•Pixar. All rights reserved.

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CLOSI N G T H O U G H T S

PAMELA FRY

P

amela Fry became president of Oklahoma State University-Tulsa in July. She is the third person and first woman to hold that position since its founding 1999. She has served in numerous administrative and faculty positions with OSU since 2001 and worked at OSU-Tulsa’s forerunner, the University Center at Tulsa.

We caught up with Fry and got her thoughts on …

… unexpected pleasures of the new job.

I have been pleasantly surprised with just how much that I enjoy living and working in downtown Tulsa. I last lived in Tulsa in the 1980s, and the development of downtown is remarkable. It is so rewarding to step out my door and walk for a cup of coffee at my favorite bakery, enjoy activities at Guthrie Green or experience our vibrant arts scene.

Living downtown has inspired me to look at new ways for OSU-Tulsa to serve and be part of our community.

My long-term goal for OSU-Tulsa is to be recognized as a premier metropolitan, urbanserving research university that builds access and pathways to degrees, reflects diversity and inclusion, and drives innovation to benefit Tulsa and beyond. Short-term goals include significantly increasing the number of degrees offered in Tulsa, fully implementing our Linked Degree program with Tulsa Community College, and collaborating with community partners to learn how we can best serve them. Ultimately, my goal for OSU-Tulsa is to be an anchor institution that plays an integral role in building a prosperous future for Tulsa.

… challenges for OSU-Tulsa.

We need to create relevant programs for today’s student, whose career will span to 2070 and beyond. We have to innovate course delivery and support services to fit the way our students live and learn. We also need to keep higher education affordable and matched to the needs of first-time graduates and mid-career adults looking to advance or change professions.

… the OSU-Tulsa/TCC connection.

The process of making a direct path to get

80

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

Photo by Josh New

… short- and long-term goals.

a publicly funded bachelor’s degree began with a discussion with Tulsa Community College president Leigh Goodson about how best to serve Tulsa-area students.

Most community college students want a four-year degree but don’t actually achieve that goal because of structural and cultural differences between schools when they transfer. We set out to change that by creating Transfer Maps that provide a seamless academic pathway between our schools, and now expanding that with Linked Degree, which provides a cohesive public university experience in Tulsa with advising, student services and other social supports that follow students through their entire college careers.

… the Tulsa part of OSU.

What unifies both OSU campuses is our land-grant mission to serve and improve society. OSU-Tulsa allows OSU to apply this mission to an urban setting and increase Tulsans’ access to a public research university. During my time as a department head, dean and vice provost on the OSU-Stillwater campus, I built relationships and became familiar with the way both campuses worked.

That dual experience helps me facilitate collaboration between the two campuses ONLINE to manage proFOR MORE grams, personnel with Fry, visit and other activities okmag.com/fry between them.