Oklahoma Magazine October 2017

OCTOBER 2017

OUR ANNUAL

Working the NIGHT SHIFT They toil while we sleep

Kitchen and Baths SECTION Information

Innovation

The evolution of today’s libraries

ROBOTIC

Surgery

Changing how we treat joints

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Flu vaccinations for children are available at the various Warren Clinic pediatric office locations.

For more information, visit saintfrancis.com or call 918-488-6688.

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Features OCTOBER

2017 Oklahoma Magazine Vol. XXI, No. 10

57 The Magic of Mobility

Whether it’s from robotic-assisted knee replacements, exercises to keep you flexible or keeping your body tuned up from head to toe, joint health is a key to overall health.

70 The Night Shift Oklahomans on the night shift toil while we sleep.

45

Kitchen and Baths Explore some of the state’s most luxurious kitchens and baths in Oklahoma Magazine’s annual feature.

WANT SOME MORE? OCTOBER 2017

October 2017

Read expanded articles and stories that don’t appear in the print edition.

78 Information Innovation

Libraries have moved past being mere repositories for books. They now serve as all-purpose centers of ideas and work.

ON THE COVER:

Working

OUR ANNUAL

and Baths

SECTION Innovation

The evolution of today’s libraries

October 17 cvr.indd 2

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

the NIGHT SHIFT They toil while we sleep

Kitchen Information

Visit us online.

MORE GREAT ARTICLES

MAINTAINING

mobility Changing how we treat joints

9/18/17 2:36 PM

IN A COMPREHENSIVE PHOTO ESSAY, OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE SPEAKS WITH THE STATE’S NIGHT SHIFT WORKERS ABOUT LABORING WHILE THE REST OF OKLAHOMA IS SOUND ASLEEP.

PHOTO BY CHRIS HUMPHREY PHOTOGRAPHER

MORE PHOTOS

View expanded Scene, Style, Taste and Entertainment galleries.

MORE EVENTS

The online calendar includes even more great Oklahoma events.

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Departments

ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

11 State

Haunted house owners and actors in Oklahoma prepare all year for a month of scares.

14 16 18 19 20 22

29 Life and Style 30

Interiors A new Tulsa home on an old Ranch Acres property fits the lifestyle of a contemporary art-music enthusiast and bachelor.

34 36 38 40 42

City Life FYI Health Destinations Style Fall fashion trends include

44

Scene

fire-engine red and bombshell bordeaux. Be ahead of the style curve.

83 Taste

Matt Amberg, a noted foodie in Brooklyn, comes home to Tulsa with a flair for elegant dining at Oren.

84 86 87

30

History Agriculture Safety Nature Insider People

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42

83

Local Flavor Chef Chat Wine

89 Where and When Oklahoma’s only major professional team opens its NBA season at home this month.

90 93

In Tulsa/In OKC Film and Cinema

96 Closing Thoughts

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

89

The University of Tulsa

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Kidjo’s career began in the West African country of Benin. When a communist takeover threatened her artistic expression, she fled to France, and later, New York City. Twelve albums later, she has sold out Carnegie Hall, topped the Billboard charts and collaborated with Alicia Keys, Bono and Philip Glass.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

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You probably don’t think about the people who work the night shift until you encounter them. Whether it’s an EMT, firefighter, grocery store manager or custodian, these people toil while we’re sleeping soundly in our beds – keeping the state alive in the dark. For this feature, we’ve found nocturnal workers and let the photos do the talking (pg. 70).

In our annual medical feature, we delve into the importance of taking care of our joints (pg. 57). Mobility is maintained and improved through a variety of exercises and everyday practices that you can start right now. A bonus is our up-close look at roboticassisted knee replacement, proving that medical technology is continuously improving with time.

Libraries in Oklahoma are undergoing major transformations to remain relevant in today’s tech-crazy world. Not just a repository for books, libraries now offer high-tech goodies like flight simulators, puzzle rooms and maker spaces. We explore it all on pg. 78.

Finally, our annual Kitchen and Baths feature presents you with the most luxurious spaces in the state to entertain, cook and relax (pg. 45). Combining functionality and style, these rooms will impress and inspire.

As always, feel free to contact me at editor@okmag.com.

Sincerely, Mary Willa Allen Associate Editor

OKMAG.COM

S TAY CONNECTED

What’s HOT At

LET TER FROM THE EDITOR

OK COMING UP IN OCTOBER AT OKMAG.COM This month, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ron LaButti of Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma in Tulsa introduces us to the newest technology in orthopedic surgery, the OMNIBotics robotic system. This state-of-the-art, computer-controlled robotic tool gives surgeons the ability to provide improved clinical outcomes in regard to knee function and stiffness, while reducing knee pain and increasing overall patient satisfaction. For those interested in seeing the technology in action, Oklahoma Magazine takes viewers into the operating room to learn just how the unique system functions. See this video and other web exclusive content at okmag.com.

WEB-EXCLUSIVE VIDEO STICK AROUND AND WATCH ALL OF OUR WEB-EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS AT OKMAG.COM/WEB.

DECEMBER 2017

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

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State

ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

Behind the Haunting THE SANCTUARY IN OKLAHOMA CITY PRIDES ITSELF ON REALISTIC AND TERRIFYING HAUNTS. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

A

There’s no rest for the wicked, especially for those who scare people for a living.

s the crisp fall air settles in, one occasion springs to the forefront of many minds: Halloween. With it come ghosts and ghouls, costumes and cauldrons, monsters and mystery, spooks and

screams, and there’s no better place to indulge in all the terrifying tricks and treats than a haunted house.

Long lines of people filled with a palpable mixture of excitement and dread take shape in October as they anxiously await their turns to be frightened. But for those on OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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The State LIVE INSECTS LIKE COCKROACHES ADD A REALISTIC ELEMENT TO AN ALREADY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. PHOTOS BY BRENT FUCHS

SEVERAL ACTORS RETURN TO THE HAUNT YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS – BUT SCARING FOLKS IS AN ADRENALINE RUSH THAT’S HARD TO MATCH.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

the other side of the scare, the anticipation has increased for a much longer time. Preparation for Halloween began as soon as last year’s ended, just as it does every year.

“We definitely have a go-bigor-go-home mentality,” says Tino Pascuzzi, owner of The Sanctuary, a haunted attraction in Oklahoma City. “It doesn’t feel like work when you love what you do, and it’s just one big playground for us. We don’t want to be stagnant. We redesign scenes [and] add scenes. We change about 25 to 30 percent of the haunted attraction each and every year.”

Pascuzzi says keeping the haunt fresh is crucial because the public is desensitized to everything, thanks to online sources and horror movies.

“You really have to go that extra mile to figure out what’s going to move people,” he says. “Our attractions are psychological. We research a lot. We try to hit on many different phobias. There have been many, many studies about how people perceive fear and how they react to fear, why people are more prone to scare on the left hand side versus the right hand side. [It’s] because most are predominantly right-handed, [so] they feel safer.

“There are some interesting things – why turning left is a little more ominous for people and why they have a little trepidation about it versus right. There are a lot of things that most people don’t even realize that go into what we what we create.”

Kenton Baird, owner of Nightmare in the Country in Woodward, hosts a camp each March to prepare for Halloween.

“We invite all the actors and cast members of the past to get together, and we just have these big brainstorming sessions,” Baird says. “We have hot dogs and hamburgers and watch movies. We just throw out ideas and some stick and some get put back for the next year.”

Ethan O’Neil, one of the Nightmare in the Country actors, says a lot of work goes into putting the 5-acre Woodward haunt together each year.

“After you have your theme, you have to then construct the haunt with props and other effects,” he says. “You also have to

design the foot traffic on how they proceed without crossing paths into another haunt. You also need to make safety paramount; the last thing you want is an accident. As an actor, you have to plan out your costume, makeup, props and things to say to the victims. It all pays off – becoming a monster and seeing people’s reactions. It is almost therapeutic.”

O’Neil says his two years at Nightmare in the Country have been a great educational experience.

“I have learned how to use power tools, supervising skills, safety precautions, managing people, makeup artistry, managing money, video productions, commercials and marketing,” he says.

The casting process begins in the summer in order to have the haunt fully staffed by autumn.

“We’ll make up very specific things on the spot and have actors improv,” Pascuzzi says. “We want to see what you can do off the cuff.

It’s what you do under pressure for a second. It’s more about seeing, ‘Are you comfortable in your own skin?’”

Both haunts have several actors who return regularly. Shawna Grivich has been with Nightmare in the Country for eight of its nine seasons, even while she was eight months pregnant. She says there’s a price to pay for being great at the job – the risk of getting a reactionary injury from a scared guest.

“It’s kind of a rush whenever you get good scares,” she says.

“I’m pretty sure it doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re doing, you’ll probably get hit at least once, especially if you’ve been there as long as I have. If you are really good at scaring, you will get hit.”

Pascuzzi says the adrenaline rush from a good scare keeps actors coming back, plus a welcoming atmosphere that’s hard to beat.

“We’ve created an interesting little Addams Family of ours over the years. It’s really neat,” Pascuzzi says. “We cook for our actors each and every night that we’re open.

It’s really conducive to a family environment.”

BETH WEESE

22844 Crystal Bridges.indd 1

8/21/17 9:28 AM

OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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The State HISTORY

Organically Timeless

A 1930s Kilgen, long the signature sound of WKY radio, gains a restored purpose in the 21st century.

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OKLAHOMA’S KILGEN ORGAN IS ONE OF ONLY FOUR THEATERSTYLE ORGANS IN EXISTENCE THAT STILL PLAY. PHOTOS BY BRENT FUCHS

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he Oklahoma History Center is home to a special piece of state musical history – an instrument that has managed to endure eight decades of use.

The music industry, radio and musical performances have changed a lot since the Kilgen theaterstyle organ was installed in the studio of WKY radio in downtown Oklahoma City. The organ made its debut April 13, 1936. Eighty-one years later, it has found new life while playing to audiences – some old, some new.

It’s been quite the journey for this giant instrument, built in St. Louis in 1935 by George Kilgen and Sons Co. before being shipped to Oklahoma. A man named Ken Wright was WKY radio’s studio organist, who accompanied commercials, radio plays and singing groups; he even had his own show, according to Dusty Miller, an Oklahoma History Center volunteer and theater organ enthusiast.

Miller says that during this time, before the introduction of recorded music, a large radio station might even have a small orchestra, “but most radio stations did what the [silent movie] theaters did – they traded the orchestra for a theater organ.”

The theater organ, unlike a classical model, could produce sounds of various band instruments as well

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

as sound effects, like whistles, xylophones and drums, Miller says.

When WKY moved its studios in 1951, the Kilgen was sold to the city and installed in the Municipal Auditorium, today’s Civic Center. The organ was played there for various functions until a remodel in 1998 left the instrument out of work. At this point, the organ narrowly escaped being shipped out of state; instead, it was stored until a suitable home could be found. Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, was part of the effort to keep the Kilgen in state and made sure that it was included in the plans for the Oklahoma History Center, which opened in 2005.

But the Kilgen’s journey wasn’t over yet.

According to Miller, the organ was in such poor condition when it was brought out of storage that more than a combined 20,000 hours of reconstruction work spread across 10 workers were required to restore it. He describes how experts at the American Organ Institute at the University of Oklahoma carefully shaped and soldered old pipes and recreated leather pieces that had disintegrated with time. The entire project took two years.

But all the work was worth it.

“In its new home, the WKY Kilgen sounds absolutely fantastic,” Miller says. “It’s 80 years old, but it sounds brand new.”

The Kilgen has been played for several specially arranged (and sold-out) performances in the last year, with two more Oct. 23-24. Yet another performance is scheduled for Jan. 22.

The Kilgen’s unique value can be narrowed down to two points, Miller says: This is one of only four Kilgen theater-style organs in existence that still play. And beyond that, the voice of the Kilgen has been heard in Oklahoma City for so long that it’s only right that its sound continues to ring in the Sooner State.

BONNIE RUCKER

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The State A G R I C U LT U R E

The Farmer’s Advocate Improving the lives of rural Oklahomans is the main mission for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, which turns 75 this year.

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he Oklahoma Farm Bureau, a grassroots organization established in 1942, has more than 95,000 members across the state and represents an industry providing many Oklahomans with jobs and an almost $40 billion economic impact on the state.

The bureau is celebrating its diamondgold anniversary in a big way; events throughout Oklahoma have marked the nonprofit’s numerous accomplishments on behalf of farmers and ranchers.

In the spring, the group dedicated a special 75th anniversary courtyard at its home

TOP: FARMERS ATTEND A 1950S FIELD DAY AT AN EXPERIMENTAL PLOT TO LEARN METHODS TO IMPROVE THEIR FARMS. MIDDLE: MEET-THE-CANDIDATE FORUMS BEGAN EARLY IN OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU HISTORY AS A WAY FOR MEMBERS TO HEAR FROM THOSE SEEKING PUBLIC OFFICE. BOTTOM: THE PONTOTOC COUNTY FARM BUREAU HELD THIS FIELD DAY IN 1953 AT ITS DEMONSTRATION FARM TO SHOW LOCAL FARMERS NEW AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. PHOTOS COURTESY OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

office in Oklahoma City. The courtyard contains 77 metal pillars, representing every county in the state. Each pillar contains soil from the county it represents. Festivities culminate in November at the annual convention, which includes a banquet for all the county farm bureaus to celebrate the milestone.

The setting for the beginning of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau was grim. Farmers dealt with the results of the stock market crash, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. With farm prices falling to starvation levels, farmers struggled and many failed.

The number of Oklahoma farms declined 17 percent between 1935 and 1940, a loss of more than 36,000 farms.

The importance of the farm bureau’s mission increased over the years because it speaks for a minority population that produces crucial goods. In the 1940s, the state had about 196,000 farms and ranches.

Today, there are about 83,300.

The farm bureau has helped improve the lives of Oklahomans through legislative representation, education of the public and assistance to residents throughout the state with a variety of programs and activities.

“With our members at the helm, OKFB works on their behalf to advocate for agriculture and enact changes, whether legislatively or otherwise, that will ensure our state’s farmers and ranchers can continue to feed, clothe and fuel the world,” farm bureau president Tom Buchanan says. “The success of our rural communities is directly tied to the success of Oklahoma agriculture, and, by advocating for agriculture, we can help ensure that all rural residents will have a bright future.”

The farm bureau has stayed true to its original mission and has expanded its services to include the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Legal Foundation, the OKAgFund and the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation. All programs help to further the goals of its members in the legislature, the courtroom and the community.

“Oklahoma Farm Bureau members know that while we have accomplished much through our past 75 years, Oklahoma agriculture will continue to need a voice in our state and beyond,” Buchanan says. “OKFB is positioned to provide that voice for our farm and ranch families into the future, whether it be in Oklahoma City, Washington, D.C., or in each of our 77 counties.”

County farm bureaus host a variety of events for both members and non-members throughout the year. Oklahomans can learn more about the organization’s history and upcoming events by visiting facebook.com/ OKFarmBureau.

ALAINA STEVENS

Oklahoma’s Comprehensive Health Campus When a team of researchers and medical experts join together, it’s almost limitless what can be accomplished. When we unite under a common cause, today’s breakthroughs can become tomorrow’s cures.

OU Medicine’s multidisciplinary team includes thousands of Oklahoma caregivers practicing research-based medicine across virtually every child and adult specialty. We’re keeping Oklahoma alive and well.

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The State

SAFET Y

Treats, Not Tricks

Keep your child’s holiday safe and spooky this Halloween.

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s ghosts and ghouls come out to roam this Halloween, make sure your celebrations are full of frightful fun instead of disaster. A hazardous mixture of youthful excitement, festive costumes and bustling streets can lull Oklahomans into letting their guards down.

“We see an increase in traffic accidents around Halloween,” says Jeanne Mackenzie, public information officer with the Tulsa Police Department. “Pedestrian activity is a main concern.”

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, on average, children are more than twice as Do I need to likely to be hit by a car on Halloween check my child’s candy? than any other day of the year. The Oklahoma HighOfficer Jeanne Mackenway Patrol reports zie says yes. Every year most pedestrian stories surface. While it fatalities occur at can be hard to know the night, so vigilance validity of the claims, is as important as she confirms there ever. hasn’t been an incident To make sure in Tulsa. However, you this spooky night is never know what could safe, here are some happen, so err on the essential tips: side of caution.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

Reduce distractions and be cautious

“Put down your devices and make sure to look both ways before crossing a street,” says Mackenzie. “Kids get excited as they go from house to house, so drivers need to be aware as well.

The speed limit in residential areas is 25 miles per hour, but with the increased foot traffic on Halloween, we encourage drivers to go slower.”

Beware of what’s lurking behind you

The first 10 feet behind your vehicle pose the greatest back-over risk, especially with children. Before backing out of a driveway or parking spot, double check in all directions for little goblins and princesses.

Dress for safety

Costumes can put people at risk. Poor fitting garb can cause injury, masks can obstruct visibility and uncomfortable shoes can lead to falls.

“Face paint is always recommended over a mask, and choose good shoes that are safe for walking,” says Mackenzie. “Reflective tape, flash lights and glow sticks make you more visible.”

Go in a group

Statistics confirm you are less likely to become a victim when in a group of three or

ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL TRICK-OR-TREATING Garden Monster Bash

Myriad Botanical Gardens – Oct. 21 This ghoulish garden party includes games, eerie entertainment and devilishly good treats. myriadgardens.org

Haunt the Zoo

OKC Zoo – Oct. 21-22, 28-29 Costumed kids can collect candy from festive volunteers at 24 themed booths. okczoo.org

HallowZOOween

Tulsa Zoo – Oct. 26 The zoo welcomes families to enjoy treats, carnival games, special activities and haunted train rides. tulsazoo.org

BooHaHa in Brookside

Brookside – Oct. 28 The community can enjoy a pancake breakfast followed by a parade, costume contests and trick-or-treating. brooksidetheplacetobe.com more. For young children, that group should include a responsible adult.

“Kids under 12 should have adult supervision,” Mackenzie says. “If your child is old enough to trick-or-treat [alone], remind them to trick-or-treat in well-lit, familiar areas and only at homes with a porch light on.”

LINDSAY CUOMO

N AT U R E

The Unexpected Forest Discover the true origins of one of Oklahoma’s most unique – and perhaps haunted – landmarks.

T ABOVE: THE PARALLEL FOREST CONTAINS ROW AFTER ROW OF EASTERN RED CEDARS. PHOTO COURTESY R. SCOTT

BELOW: CIRCA 1911, WORKERS PLANT TREES THAT WILL BECOME THE PARALLEL FOREST.

PHOTO COURTESY WICHITA MOUNTAINS WILDLIFE REFUGE

he Oklahoma landscape often gets a singular reputation. The flat prairie is frequently featured, although the state’s topography is much more diverse. On State Highway 115, also known as Meers Road, in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, there is a surprise: the Parallel Forest.

Oklahoma, the young state that it was back then, was selected to be home to a 16-acre stand of evergreens planted in 1911 and 1912.

Row after row of eastern red cedars stretches toward the sky, instead of outward as species typically grow.

Six feet apart in all directions along straight, parallel lines, the trees have

been forced to grow upward in their fight for sunlight. The forest’s original purpose was to provide sturdy wood for fence posts while acting as a haven for birds. Over a century later, the forest still stands, unused for its original purpose.

“If you were to see [the forest], there is an eerie feeling because the trees are so close together and the canopy shuts out a lot of light,” says Donna Phillips, refuge volunteer and vice president of the Friends of the Wichitas organization.

The notion of space offered by the high canopy beckons as light struggles to filter through. The dimness accentuates the shadows and tricks of perception created by the stretching rows of bare trunks.

Around the forest, there are mysteries that visitors want to solve. Along a path just outside of the Parallel Forest, visitors have come to call a certain strange site The Altar. Over 10 feet in diameter, a circle of flat stones surround a short monolithic pole. Many see The Altar as a geometric creation of man, and some have imagined its uses for a variety of nefarious purposes.

Tales of the imagination often speak of paranormal sensations, and others have

reported visions of apparitions like ghost riders, floating orbs and headless ghouls. Rumors of the area’s use for demonic rituals enhance the ominous reputation of the forest.

However, in truth, there is little unknown about the area, according to Phillips, and she is more than happy to tell you the honest tale.

“The Parallel Forest was a reforestation project by the Department of Agriculture,” she says. “There were several other plantings on the refuge but the others are gone, used up over the years.”

And as for The Altar, after its rediscovery in the 1950s, the configuration was determined to be an arrastra, a tool used by mining operations well into the 19th century for manually separating ore from rock.

For visitors, the Parallel Forest has much to offer. It is a place to enjoy nature, to explore and to investigate – with caution.

“We want people to appreciate the history and its purpose, but visitors need to practice ‘leave no trace.’

Take your trash. Don’t take saplings or flowers,” Phillips says.

Next time you are in the Mount Scott area, take time to venture to the eastern side to experience one of the refuge’s little known features, hidden near an unassuming pullout. Who knows what wonders – paranormal or other – you might discover.

LINDSAY CUOMO

OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

19

The State

INSIDER

Out of a Mercedes Trunk and Deep Freeze

sounding exhortations, complete with the gasps between A new DVD about three concerts given by Leon phrases, the explosions of Russell in the 1970s uses footage that survived heat, words, the falling emphases at the ends of sentences. time and bad luck.

He informs audience members lthough I’m well that they need to prepare for a into my fourth religious experience – getting their decade of writing money back if they don’t want one – about music, espeand later explains that he’s preaching cially Oklahoma’s about the power of music, “not trying music, I’m reminded regularly how to sell anybody on religion.” It’s an much more I have to learn. My most amazing performance that owes a recent schooling came courtesy of a great debt to the radio and television new DVD, one that combines footage hellfire-and-thunderation orators who from three concerts given by Leon permeated the airwaves of 1960s and Russell and his band during the 1972 ’70s Oklahoma. tour that yielded the three-LP Leon Chalk up one more sound that Live album. deeply influenced Leon Russell and Released by Deep Freeze Films his music. (deepfreezevideo.com), the disc made The words, as you might imagine, me realize that while I’ve long been complement the songs, delivered by doing my best to understand and Leon and a big band that includes catalog all the sounds swirling around his fellow Tulsans Chuck Blackwell Tulsa that Leon plucked out of the on drums and Carl Radle on bass. air and blended into his own unique The three backup singers, Phylliss style, I’ve until now overlooked a and Maryanne Lindsey and Nawasa certain form of oratory indigenous to Crowder, along with the group’s our part of the country. second piano player (and vocalist) The DVD, simply titled Leon RusPatrick Henderson, would go on to sell, carries the subtitle The Best of record an album as Black Grass, the Leon Russell Festivals. (A second released on Leon’s Shelter Records subtitle is Out of the Deep Freeze in 1973, the same year as Leon Live.

– the Lost Reels, which we’ll get to Others in the band include guitaristshortly.) And its first 15 minutes is vocalist Don Preston, guitarist Joey propelled by monologues from Leon Cooper, organist John Gallie and that come blazing out of the classic percussionist Ambrose Campbell.

TV-preacher playbook. In a long Shelter Records’s D.J. Rogers comes opening medley that combines the out to sing during the encore. chorus of the Staple Singers’ 1972 hit “This is a trip back in time to Leon “I’ll Take You There,” the old Coastat his peak,” says California-based ers B-side “Idol with the Golden filmmaker Jeffery Haas, the man Head,” the hymn “I Serve A Living behind the DVD and Deep Freeze LEON RUSSELL Savior” and the classic riff from Films. “It is possibly the finest live GARNERED A DOCUMENTARY STAR the Bobby Bland bar-band standard concert video he’s ever done. He’s TURN AFTER STEAL“Turn on Your Love Light” (which young and strong and full of vitality ING THE LIMELIGHT morphs into Bob Dylan’s “The and passion and fire.”

IN A FEATURE FILM ABOUT JOE COCKER. Mighty Quinn”), Leon sells his songs The genesis of the disc came PHOTOS COURTESY DEEP with evangelistic zeal and authenticabout following Leon’s star turn in FREEZE FILMS

A

20

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

the 1971 documentary Mad Dogs & Englishmen. It was a film that dealt with the 1970 tour of the same name, ostensibly a star turn for vocalist Joe Cocker. According to many contemporary observers and reviewers, however, Leon, the tour’s bandleader, stole the show.

“I think the thought was, ‘Look what Leon did [in Mad Dogs & Englishmen]. This man deserves his own movie, his own spotlight,’” Haas says. “I don’t know if it was Leon’s thinking. But it must’ve been someone’s.”

Unfortunately, the subsequent documentary never got even close to theaters, or even to a finished version. The whole story, in exacting detail, can be found online at deepfreezevideo.com/deepfreezestory.html. Here’s an encapsulated version: In the wake of Mad Dogs & Englishmen, a real-estate developer named Gilman Fera ponied up $500,000 to finance a similar rock documentary on Leon, intended to play in theaters. The idea was to shoot on videotape, then convert the masters to film, a process that had been utilized on the 1964 rock musical The T.A.M.I. Show, among other features. Footage was shot at Leon shows in Long Beach and Anaheim, California, and Charlotte, North Carolina. There were, however, so many technical problems associated with the taping that the project died.

Fera, disgusted, shoved all the footage into a non-working freezer (hence the Out of the Deep Freeze subtitle on the DVD) and there it stayed for years, forgotten, until one day when Fera’s nephew, who was helping his uncle move, discovered it. He began hauling the tapes around L.A. to see if they could be salvaged – without much luck. As Haas notes,

the tapes spent “three years in the trunk of a Mercedes during California summers.”

Eventually, Haas, who was then working as a videographer in Southern California, and the nephew, Alan Pacella, connected through a mutual friend.

A deal was made, and suddenly Haas was looking at 13 hours of glitch-laden tapes from many years earlier. One silver lining: Each of the three shows represented were pretty much the same.

“When I watched the original tapes, it seemed like their set lists were almost identical,” he says. “He [Leon] was recording the Leon Live album live in Long Beach, and then he was doing the same show in Charlotte, in Anaheim, in every city on the entire tour.

“Ninety-five percent [of the DVD] is Long Beach and Charlotte, and about 5 percent is Anaheim. The reason why is that the Anaheim performance really isn’t that great. Plus, I don’t have the original 2-inch reels for it.”

After countless hours of work, Haas brought the first version out in 1989 as a VHS tape. A DVD followed in 2005. But then, Haas – who was living in Texas at the time – was contacted out of the blue by a man in Malibu, California. It turned out he had a second set of tapes from the original project, given him by the now-deceased Pacella as collateral on a $5,000 loan. By working extra video jobs, Haas finally raised the money to buy back the tapes. He then took them to DC Video in Burbank, California, to undergo a restor-

ative process called baking.

“When you bake a tape, you have to heat it up, to get the oxides to re-bind with the Mylar,” he says. “Baking these tapes, and cleaning them, and praying that they would recover properly was as arduous as any process we did.”

Even with the benefit of DC Video’s vintage players, restoring the tapes was anything but a sure thing. But while he wasn’t particularly optimistic, owner David Crosthwait – who, as it turns out, had worked with Leon at his California-based Paradise Studios – vowed to do his best.

“At first, he said, ‘I don’t think it’s going to work. The machines are clogging,’” Haas says. “Then, all of a sudden, one morning he says, ‘Leon has been saved. The reels are looking good.’ It was a get-down-onyour-knees-and-cry moment of relief.”

Now, with the brand-new release of the definitive DVD version, Haas gives lots of credit to both his wife, Karen (“who convinced me to revive the project”), and Crosthwait for the finished product. The clarity of the images and quality of the sound convincingly retrieve Leon and his musical cohorts from all those years ago, caught in the act of creating a Tulsa Sound time capsule that remains fascinating and deeply entertaining some 45 years after the fact.

The 127-minute Leon Russell: The Best of the Leon Russell Festivals can be ordered for $24.95 from the website deepfreezevideo.com. The site also includes bonus footage.

JOHN WOOLEY

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The State PEOPLE

Mural Magic

An internationally acclaimed artist embraces Oklahoma’s history and culture in his works.

A

rt lovers can find Bob Palmer’s 2,500-plus murals worldwide, from Canada and Mexico to Macedonia and Croatia, but his history-steeped work in Oklahoma has captured and kept this artist’s heart for the past quarter-century.

Palmer is the man to call to create murals everywhere from Bass Pro Shops to the House chamber in the state Capitol. He and his team can be in and out in a week – not counting design consultation and prep time – to create works that leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

The passion for murals all started with friends, family and working for free.

“In the beginning, I was a graduate student at East Tennessee State,” Palmer says.

“I was a painting and photography double major, but found I love working large. My wife and I got the idea to do a mural in the dorm lobby, and that was our first big project. We continued to do murals, often for free, as I was teaching in high school and junior college. But when we moved back to Oklahoma, it really took off, and that’s what I’m still doing, 26 years later.”

Palmer credits his long-term, professional, 15-member team – many of whom are his former students – for the smooth execution of his murals. But his wife is his “greatest critic and supporter,” he says.

“She’s the perfect complement to an artist, as she doesn’t pick up a paint brush but she has the business savvy and organization skills to keep us going.”

The process starts with a phone call to Palmer, followed by a site visit. Often, clients don’t know exactly what they want, so Palmer uses his expertise to guide. As his work is highly sought after by history buffs in the state, many of his murals are historically based, although “some are just plain fun,” he says.

The vast majority of those who view a Palmer mural love it – but the history better be accurate.

“I help those commissioning the work research the image for the topic,” he says.

“You just better do your homework and then some when it comes to public art.”

Choosing a favorite work of his own isn’t easy, but Palmer concedes: “I love the Oklahoma Centennial Mural in Oklahoma City’s Bricktown. It’s become iconic with movies and television shows shot in front. And it

was “great fun” painting in the Capitol, but there is nothing like small-town Oklahoma.

“You can’t beat the small towns in this state,” he says. “I’ve been all over, and I can tell you these are the nicest, salt of the earth people. They feed us, hang out with us and treat us like royalty. When you’re blessed to put an image in a school or church or hospital … you feel like you’ve contributed to the quality of life.”

Palmer mural prices fall in a range with a minimum fee of $1,000 for a day’s work.

For dangerous projects like a 120-foot-high grain elevator, costs rise to accommodate insurance and equipment.

The artist exclusively uses Tulsa-manufactured Anchor paint. When not creating public art, Palmer, who has a doctorate in education, can be found teaching in the University of Central Oklahoma’s art department.

TRACY LEGRAND

BOB PALMER HAS PAINTED MURALS ACROSS THE STATE, INCLUDING THOSE AT SEQUOYAH MIDDLE SCHOOL IN EDMOND (TOP) AND DOWNTOWN ADA (BOTTOM).

PHOTOS COURTESY BOB PALMER

22

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

FALL DAYS Naturally Made

In Arkansas, a fall day is an open invitation to do whatever your heart desires. Seek out great local cuisine, take in world-class art, and, by all means, get outdoors and soak up the beauty of our legendary fall color. To get more tips on how to spend your fall weekend retreat, go to Arkansas.com.

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Top Four Options Typically Available:

1 Leave the money in your former employer’s plan, if permitted.

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The Untold Story Of The Stranded 401(k).

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Did you know that millions of people leave behind their 401(k) each year during a job change? That’s more than $1 trillion of investible dollars orphaned since 2010*.

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Today, Americans change jobs more often than ever before. In some cases, their 401(k) accounts get lost in the shuffle. But many people are simply unsure of what to do with their assets once they change jobs or move into retirement.

Roll over the assets to your new employer’s plan, if permitted.

3 Roll over to an IRA.

4 Cash out the account1.

Fortunately, we can help you review your options regarding your stranded 401(k).

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[1] Cashing out your account may cause significant tax penalties and payments. Consult with your tax and financial advisors prior to doing so.

Securities, insurance and advisory services offered through BOK Financial Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC and a subsidiary of BOK Financial Corporation. Services may be offered under our trade name, BOK Financial Advisors. NOT FDIC INSURED | NO BANK GUARANTEE | MAY LOSE VALUE. Whether or not your ultimate choice is a rollover IRA or another option, you should evaluate the investment options and services provided, as well as the fees and costs associated with the various alternatives. You should choose the option that’s best for you. All investments are subject to risk, including possible loss of principal. The content in this document is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional, accountant or lawyer for legal, tax and investment advice. *Source: www.benefitspro.com/2013/05/09/orphaned-401k-accounts-stacking-up

Call 1-877-781-6889 for financial advice when retiring or changing jobs.

Life & Style

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

Walkers of the Night OSU-IT brings terror to the residents of Okmulgee in its student-run haunted attraction.

S

THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE UTILIZES THE TALENTS OF STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL OF VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS. PHOTO COURTESY OSU-IT

tudents at the Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology conjure spooky experiences for guests young and old at the annual Zombie Apocalypse, held in the basement of the Commerce Building in downtown Okmulgee. The event began in 2015, and it has grown due to the generosity of one OSU-IT professor.

“When one of our new instructors joined the School of Visual Communications, he let our student organization, the Visual Communication Collective, use the props from his side business, a zombie apocalypse-themed survival game,” faculty member Brian Caldwell says. “The haunted attraction evolved from that loan into a walk-

through haunted house where the students utilize their creative skills in makeup, set design and project planning/ management.”

Students in graphic design, photography, three-dimensional design and nursing partner with Okmulgee Main Street to create the spectacle. Caldwell says the event is open to participants of any age because students can “tailor the experience to the overall age of OSU-IT ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE the group going through at any COMMERCE BUILDING one time.”

115 S. GRAND AVE. Visit osuit.edu for more DOWNTOWN OKMULGEE OCT. 30-31 information.

OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

29

Life & Style

LEFT: THIS NEW HOME IN RANCH ACRES PRESENTS AN INVITING FIRST IMPRESSION. THE ENTRANCE IS MARKED BY A COMMERCIAL GLASS FRONT DOOR AND MATCHING PANELS.

INTERIORS

‘Clean, Crisp, Sleek’ A new Tulsa home on an old Ranch Acres property fits the lifestyle of a contemporary art-music enthusiast and bachelor.

By M.J. Van Deventer • Photography by Scott Johnson, Hawks Photography

D

esigner Lea Sutton and Dr. James Rodgers make a perfect team when it comes to designing interiors.

“Jim had definite ideas about what he wanted in his new Ranch Acres home, and we were always in perfect agreement on everything,” Sutton says. “I had worked with him when he lived in the Mayo Hotel [in downtown Tulsa], and we both tried to utilize many of the things he already had, especially his impressive contemporary art and music memorabilia collections.”

Rodgers’s direction for Sutton’s design was simple: “I like clean, crisp, sleek interiors.”

Ranch Acres is a midtown Tulsa area developed in the 1950s as more contemporary ranch-style homes became popular, even in older, traditional areas. When Rodgers began looking at the property, others had bid to buy and renovate the home.

“I didn’t want to save the existing home because I knew it wasn’t going to fit my plans. That’s why I wanted a new home,” Rodgers says. “I’m a neurosurgeon, and my family owns Cain’s Ballroom.

We know about remodeling.”

Rodgers’s new 10-room home reflects modern architecture, but

30

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

THIS CLUB/LIVING ROOM IS A TRUE GATHERING PLACE FOR JAMES RODGERS’S GUESTS. LEA SUTTON, INTERIOR DESIGNER, USED A SOFT GRAY COLOR PALETTE, ACCENTED WITH SHADES OF BLUE, TO ACCESSORIZE THE ROOM. TALL WINDOWS REVEAL THE SLOPING BACK LAWN, LANDSCAPED WITH MATURE TREES AND PLANTINGS. FAR LEFT: A CENTER ISLAND MEASURING 15 FEET LONG DOMINATES THE KITCHEN. PENDANT LIGHTS ARE A FOCAL POINT, ACCENTING THIS DRAMATIC ISLAND, WHERE GUESTS LOVE TO GATHER. THIS ROOM IS THE HEART OF THE HOME. CENTER LEFT: ADJACENT TO THE MASTER BEDROOM IS THE COZY PATIO FEATURING AN INVITING HOT TUB. LEFT: THE COVERED PORCH AND PATIO PROVIDE AMPLE SEATING AND CONTINUE THE COLOR SCHEME FROM THE CLUB/LIVING ROOM. OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

31

Life & Style TOP: A PRISTINE ATMOSPHERE IS EVIDENT IN THE SPACIOUS MASTER BATH WITH A FREE-STANDING SOAKING TUB FOR TWO AND EXPANSIVE TWIN LAVATORIES. CENTER: A SERENE MOOD IS EXPRESSED THROUGH QUIET COLORS IN THE MASTER BEDROOM, WHICH OVERLOOKS THE PATIO. BOTTOM: IN THE MUSIC MEMORABILIA ROOM, GUESTS FIND MULTIPLE SIGNED MUSIC SHEETS AND GUITARS FROM FAMOUS MUSICIANS. RODGERS IS AN AVID ROCK ‘N’ ROLL FAN AND HAS BEEN A LEAD SINGER AT SEVERAL ROCK ‘N’ ROLL FANTASY CAMPS IN LOS ANGELES.

32

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

architect Mark A. Nelson was sensitive to the neighborhood’s character in his blueprints; the finished product reflects this insight. The home, built by Tim Yardy, boasts a large, three-paned glass front door, a welcoming first impression.

“The open floor plan has high ceilings and a clean, fresh design throughout,” Sutton says.

“The white, gray and black color palette is evident, especially in the dining room, which we painted a dark charcoal, appropriately named anthracite, for dramatic impact.”

Black is a pivotal color in the home by providing a perfect backdrop for contemporary art.

The hubs of the home are the kitchen and club room, which flow easily into each other.

“As a bachelor who doesn’t cook but loves food, I wanted to make the kitchen so anybody could cook in it,” Rodgers says.

The center island, which delineates the kitchen from the club room, dominates the cooking space.

Kitchen cabinets, designed by Jay Rambo Co., are a dramatic, white-and-gray, lightly streaked Carrara marble with a European high gloss lacquer. The glass cabinet doors are power-controlled and reach the 14-foot ceilings.

Ralph Lackner, a certified kitchen designer, played a major role in this design. Countertops were fashioned by Midwest Marble.

A striking table dominates the adjacent dining room. It is a custom stainless steel cube with a 72-inch glass top – a definite conversation piece.

Flowing into the club room, a series of glass shelves flank both sides of the room’s fireplace, which can be seen from the open kitchen.

“We used a lot of glass cullets on the shelves, which are beautiful when the light shines through them,” Suttton says.

The club room also has tall windows overlooking the sloping back lawn, landscaped with mature trees and plantings.

“I used three sofas and two club chairs [in the club room] flanking the fireplace to furnish this room,” Sutton says. “The result is an inviting setting for drinks and conversation.”

The master bathroom is a jewel. It has a large, acrylic, stand-alone soaking tub designed for two people. Other upscale amenities include a European-style bidet with a heated seat and interior light. The tile floor is electrically heated.

Among other unusual features is Rodgers’s music room. Don’t look for a grand piano.

Instead, guests see multiple signed guitars and posters from famous artists who have visited Tulsa. Rodgers’s rock ’n’ roll interest is compelling … but that’s another story.

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Life & Style CIT Y LIFE

Enid is ‘And,’ not ‘Or’ The longtime home of Vance Air Force Base is also an axis of arts and culture in northwest Oklahoma.

M

SINCE THE DAYS OF ENID ARMY AIR FIELD IN 1941, TEAM VANCE HAS GRADUATED MORE THAN 30,000 AMERICAN AND ALLIED MILITARY PILOTS.

PHOTO COURTESY U.S. AIR FORCE/ DAVID POE

RIGHT: DOWNTOWN ENID HOSTS MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS. PHOTO COURTESY VISIT ENID

34

any times, people say something is this or that.

Enid, however, embraces the conjunction and while mixing different traditions.

Enid is a military city because of Vance Air Force Base and a cultural hub of northwest Oklahoma. Symbolizing this symbiosis is the recent FLY Film Festival, begun in 2014. Director Christopher Sneed says the acronym for Films Like Yours also acknowledges Vance’s vitality, engendered since 1941.

“The Air Force base is a confirmation of what we’re doing,” he says. “With our festival, we involve all the arts: musicians playing, artists creating trophies, activities at the Enid Symphony Center.”

Stoking much of Enid’s cultural engine is Park Avenue Thrift. Since October 2007, the store has donated $2.34 million to arts and charitable groups, says Paula Nightengale, cofounder and director with David Hume.

When the pair, friends for 30 years, retired, “we didn’t want to start a traditional ministry,” Hume says. “It’s our belief in what’s going on in Enid: broad community, quality of life, the arts and education. We want to help organizations that continually have their funding cut by the state.”

Before Park and FLY came the Enid Symphony, founded in 1906 and Oklahoma’s longest continuing civic orchestra. For decades, it showcased Phillips University’s faculty and students, says Douglas Newell, artistic director and conductor since 1983.

Phillips closed in 1998, but the symphony had evolved into a professional company, attracting emerging soloists and composers.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

The European-style acoustics in Joan L. Allen Symphony Hall, a masterpiece itself, allows Newell to land finalists from the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

Newell could have moved to bigger orchestras, but “if you reinvent yourself every seven years, you’ll be happy, and this orchestra and city have given me that opportunity,” he says. “We bring in new programs, such as the father-son piano duo, Donald and Barron Ryan [Oct. 21-22]. We’ve worked with other organizations in northwest Oklahoma to have a reciprocal agreement called the ArtsPass. Plus, my wife and I have raised four children in a healthy environment.”

Vision, people, quality of life and pride are why Col. Darrell F. Judy, commander of the 71st Flying Training Wing, raves about Enid.

“It’s a treat living here,” says Judy, on his third assignment at Vance. “It’s a super connection.

The city has always been supportive of Vance.”

He cites agreements with Enid’s municipal airport, Woodring: joint-use hangars, diverting flights when traffic is heavy at Vance, runway extenions and using Woodring’s fields for instrument training.

“We call it Enid, America, because it represents what the country’s about: patriotism, work ethic and support,” Judy says. “They make us feel welcome.”

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FUN FACTS POPULATION 51,386 QUICK GROWTH The population of the Cherokee Strip went from 0 to 10,000 in a single afternoon after opening for settlement at noon Sept. 16, 1893.

MAJOR EMPLOYER 3,360 people are listed as personnel at Vance Air Force Base.

A MINISTRY’S START Phillips University student Oral Roberts began his traveling ministry in Enid.

TOP TRAINING Vance Air Force Base’s renowned pilot training program has awarded 33,500 wings.

SAFE LANDINGS Woodring Airport has an 8,002-feet runway in case a T-38 from Vance gets diverted.

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Life & Style F YI

Rasco also recommends researching governing rules in your neighborhood, such as limitations on noise, overgrown lawns and trash by your municipality or homeowners’ association. If talking about your concerns in person with your neighbor doesn’t work (which should be the first step), file a complaint with police, code … but another adage, the Golden Rule, can make dealing enforcement, the homeowners’ with rowdies relatively stress-free. association or county office.

Anticipating problems is vital. ome say good fences make good neighIf you’re throwing a party at your place, go to neighbors. There might be some truth to this bors who might be affected and offer them either a adage, used by Robert Frost in “Mending verbal invitation to the party or a card with your phone Wall,” but, in the 21st century, dealing number. If the noise escalates, your neighbor can call with bad neighbors undeterred by good you instead of the cops. fences presents challenges.

If all else fails, document Georgie Rasco, executive the problem, which helps in “You have to be a good three ways. First, it lets you director of the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma, neighbor in order to have evaluate the seriousness of the is straightforward about the situation. Looking at it on pagood neighbors.” “nice” and “not so nice” neighper, you may realize it’s not as bor: “You have to be a good neighbor in order to have big of an issue as you once thought, or you might see good neighbors.” a solution. Second, you have information to back you The No. 1 rule that Rasco recommends when dealing up when you explain the situation to your neighbor. with a neighbor is to not make assumptions. An overThird, if push comes to shove, good record keeping grown yard next door may not be the result of a lazy shows authorities that you’re serious and organized. neighbor; it may be because someone is ill or recently Tulsa and Oklahoma City have complaint-driven widowed. Visit your neighbor to learn why the lawn is code enforcement systems. To report issues in Tulsa, untended, and, if someone needs help, offer to mow. go to Tulsa Neighborhood Inspectors at tulsa311.com “The art of neighboring is sometimes a dying art, as or call 311. In OKC, there is also a one-stop-shop today’s families are so busy [that] we tend to drive into system for code violation reports: the OKC Action our garages, shut the garage door and enter our house Center. Log onto okc.gov or call 405-297-2535.

SHARON MCBRIDE without ever going out on the front porch,” he says.

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors …

S

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

R U A L U P D AT E

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT Many use apps to know what’s going on in their neighborhoods, whether it’s finding a last-minute babysitter, learning about an upcoming party or getting in the know about nearby crime. Platforms like Facebook and Nextdoor are particularly useful in making private groups, so much so that the Cape Girardeau Police Department in Missouri uses Nextdoor to communicate lawenforcement information to neighborhoods.

“With Nextdoor, we can help empower neighbors to keep their communities safe and connected and give them the ability to collaborate on virtual neighborhood watch efforts,” Police Chief Wes Blair says.

A neighborhood in Elgin, Oklahoma, uses Facebook to keep neighbors involved, informed and safe.

“I created the Rockbridge Neighborhood Watch page on Facebook as a precautionary tool,” says Nettie Evans, a homeowner and Neighborhood Watch president. “A lot of us have children that we let out to play, and then there are times when we are gone for several days at a time and I wanted us as a community to look out for one another.”

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EVEN STARS GET BURNED

This year, social media star Jake Paul rented a $17,000-a-month mansion in Los Angeles and drove his neighbors mad. Paul used the house as ground zero for loud parties and some of his social media stunts, which included lighting piles of furniture on fire in the pool. He publicized the address of his rental home, so droves of young fans and their parents regularly lined the streets.

Los Angeles City Council member Paul Koretz put a halt to Paul’s shenanigans. Koretz said Paul’s antics were a drain on public resources in terms of public safety, parking, noise, littering and graffiti.

In a publicized report, Paul’s neighbors stated they put the wheels in motion to file a classaction, public nuisance lawsuit against the star. They succeeded in getting him to move out after he was informed he could face up to six months in jail for filming in and around the property without the proper permits.

What this neighborhood group did was right: documenting offenses, getting city officials involved and discovering legal recourses.

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Life & Style H E A LT H

Beware Labels and Claims

Hidden levels of salt, sugar and fat in certain foods spell disaster for a health-conscious eater.

W

hen it comes to the foods that we eat every day, we face a bounty of choices.

Some foods we can enjoy in large quantities and others we should avoid. Some ingredients can be stricken from our diets altogether.

It’s difficult to know what is in the food we eat. Sometimes simple substances like salt, sugar and fat hide in our foods in high levels that we don’t realize.

One way to determine healthful foods may be to ignore what’s emblazoned on many packages. According to Theresa Dohm, registered dietician from St. John Health System, foods that claim to be “fat free,” “sugar free” or “gluten free” are often unnecessarily labeled as such and may have other added ingredients.

“While gluten free is an essential label for those with celiac disease, gluten free doesn’t mean healthy,” Dohm says. “The label is often added to items that never contain gluten to begin with, like gummy bears.”

Foods labeled fat free often have added sugar, and “sugar free” foods can have artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols that have the same or worse effects on the body as sugar.

An appropriate level of salt, sugar or fat can

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

be a bit complicated. The American Heart Association recommends that the average adult consume less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium (ideally less than 1,500 milligrams) each day.

This organization also suggests limiting added sugars to 100 calories for women and 150 calories for men, says Dohm, who stresses that there is no nutritional need for added sugars in the diet. Karen Massey, a dietician with INTEGRIS Health, says U.S. Dietary Guidelines suggest less than 10 percent of calories should come from saturated fats and added sugars.

“The best rule of thumb is to balance your calorie needs with foods from each food group.”

The best advice with food may lie in moderation. We have a wide array of foods available to us, so strive to eat a moderate amount of many different types of food.

“The best rule of thumb is to balance your calorie needs with foods from each food group,” says Massey, noting that even

additives and preservatives can be helpful in certain situations. “Food additives are carefully regulated to ensure that foods are safe to eat. Preservatives are important to prevent food from rotting and reduce the likelihood of foodborne illness.”

She concludes that utilizing a combination of fresh, frozen and canned goods can be beneficial in ensuring fruits and vegetables in the diet year round.

Dohm suggests focusing on vegetables by getting most carbohydrates and fats from plant-based sources, eating lean meats and staying away from added sugar.

“Making vegetables the basis of our diet is a sure way to obtain all essential nutrients while also meeting those guidelines for salt, fat and sugar,” she says.

Massey cautions that it’s important to keep in mind all of the aspects of eating – both for physical sustenance and as a part of the social makeup of our lives since the beginning of time.

“Choosing a healthy diet isn’t a matter of good versus evil,” she says. “It’s a continuum where the goal is to balance calorie needs by choosing foods from the basic food groups to meet physiological needs, but acknowledging that eating is also a pleasure.”

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39

Life & Style

D E S T I N AT I O N S

Savoring the Valley

Northern California is awash with vineyards, tours and tastings.

R

ABOVE: BENZIGER FAMILY WINERY USES GREEN FARMING PRACTICES THAT BENEFIT THE LAND AND PRODUCE AUTHENTIC, DISTINCT WINES.

PHOTO COURTESY BENZIGER FAMILY WINERY

40

olling hills, green valleys, sprawling shade trees, quiet back roads, ancient redwood forests, 150-year-old olive trees, some 50 miles of Pacific coastline – and that’s only a snippet of a pristine, northern California destination.

Fifty minutes north of San Francisco and 15 minutes west of Napa Valley is where some of the finest grapes in the world are grown – Sonoma Valley.

While the perception of the birthplace of California wine may be fast-paced and tourist-soaked, Sonoma Valley presents a rural, lowkey, breezy lifestyle with a Mediterranean feel.

Wine and vineyards take center stage. Some 400 wineries can be found in Sonoma Valley, with many offering tours of their vineyards and production facilities. Big names – Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate and Garden; Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards; Korbel Champagne Cellars; Benziger – are here, as well as smaller family-owned operations well worth the visit.

Sonoma County sits at the junction of three distinct valleys – Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River – and has a microclimate perfect for grapes, olives (the second largest crop) and mushrooms (Sonoma is one of the world’s premier edible wild mushroom regions).

A good place to begin exploring the wineries is in the town of Healdsburg. Six generations have produced Mauritson wines, whose products include their signature sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, zinfandel and cabernet sauvignon. Viszlay Vineyards in the Russian

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

PHOTO COURTESY GLORIA FERRER CAVES AND VINEYARDS

PHOTO COURTESY GLORIA FERRER CAVES AND VINEYARDS PHOTO COURTESY GLORIA FERRER CAVES AND VINEYARDS

River Valley is a family-owned boutique winery producing estate wines. It’s a treat to sip a glass of vintage in Lambert Bridge Winery’s candlelit barrel room. Lambert produces handcrafted wines that mix Old World refinement with grape varietals.

Dry Creek Vineyard was the first new winery in Dry Creek Valley following Prohibition. Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves (with tastings in a cave) is known for old vine zinfandel and Rhone varietals. Foppiano Vineyards (the oldest working winery in Sonoma County) is known for artisanal wines. Jordan Vineyard and Winery produces chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon and offers 360-degree views of all three valleys.

Also in Healdsburg, visit Dry Creek Olive Co. and see acres and acres of olives trees, which have grown there since the mid-1800s.

In the tasting room, sample some 20 varieties of olive oil pressed from the mill.

Another town worth exploring is Santa Rosa. Paradise Ridge Winery is a 156-acre wine estate overlooking panoramic vistas, vineyard landscapes and expansive views of the Russian River Valley. Kendall-Jackson in nearby Fulton offers exceptional food and wine pairings and lovely grounds on which to stroll.

Another spot gaining notoriety for its wine is Oakland, on the east side of San Francisco Bay. Only a handful of wineries so far make up the Oakland wine trail. Two to try are the highly regarded Urban Legend Cellars and Dashe Cellars, which uses cooler-climate fruits to make its wines.

Wine, food, biking and walking tours are available here. Gondola Servizio offers authentic Venetian gondola tours on Lake Merritt. Wine and cheese can be savored while the driver sings to you. Oakland’s downtown and distinct neighborhoods are trendy with one-of-a-kind shops and bistros.

Jack London Square, which pays homage to the author of The Call of the Wild and White Fang, is Oakland’s waterfront jewel with dozens of shops and restaurants, along with Yoshi’s Jazz Club and Japanese Restaurant (the city’s premier jazz venue) and spectacular views from the Waterfront Hotel.

Only a half a block from there is the USS Potomac, which served as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential yacht from 1936 to 1945.

Docent-led tours and cruises on the 165-footlong vessel, a National Historic Landmark, run May through November. A film about the yacht can be seen in the visitor center.

CHUCK MAI

BELOW: KENDALL-JACKSON IS A PART OF JACKSON FAMILY WINES IN SONOMA COUNTY. PHOTO COURTESY JACKSON FAMILY WINES

OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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43

Life & Style

SCENE 1

Michelle Holdgraver, Kacie Frazier, Michaela Renee, Suzanne Warren, Vince Westbrook, Jeanette Kern; Bruce. G. Weber Tennis Classic, Bruce G. Weber, Tulsa

2

Collin & Caroline Sniff; Divas and Devils Masquerade co-chairs, Oct. 27; Tulsa Opera, Tulsa

3

Colton Swon, Zach Swon; Red Shoe Gala, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Oklahoma City

4

Ted & Shiela Haynes, Michael W. Bros; Preparations for Carnivale, March 24, Mental Health Association Oklahoma, Tulsa

5

Dustin Thames, Christy Craig, Ashley & Micha Alexander; Mix 2017, Philbrook, Tulsa

6

Shannon Hill, David Morton, Julie Naifeh; Preparations for McGuinness Rocks On Dinner and Auction, Feb. 2, Bishop McGuinness, Oklahoma City

7

Sid & April McAnnally, Betsy & Bryan Hendershot; Alexis de Tocqueville Society Fall Reception, Tulsa Area United Way, Tulsa

8

David Leader, Paula Love, Cindy Colton, Scott Davis; Red Tie Night Committee Kickoff, Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund, Oklahoma City

9

David Leite, Jennifer Latham, Julia Thomas; Chapters: A Casual Evening of Books, Bards and Bites, Tulsa City-County Library, Tulsa

10

Conor Cleary, Kate Neary; Preparations for Ribbon Ribbon Gala, March 3, Tulsa CARES, Tulsa

11

Denise & Brian Cramer, Janine Wheeler, Cindy Batt; POP 2017, St. Anthony Foundation, Oklahoma City

12

Chaney Davis, Shannon Clark, Amber Roberts, Denise Castelli; Circle of Red Kick Off, American Heart Association, Oklahoma City

1 3

4

5

6

EXPANDED PHOTO GALLERY THERE’S MORE FUN WHERE THESE CAME FROM. SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM OKLAHOMA’S PREMIER CHARITY EVENTS AT OKMAG.COM/WEB. 7

8

11 10

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

12

9

2

THIS AIRY KITCHEN WITH FIR AND ALDER WOOD ACCENTS WAS RENOVATED BY DUVALL ARCHITECTS. MORE PHOTOS CAN BE FOUND ON PG. 50.

PHOTO BY FOCUS B STUDIO

Functional Luxury At Its Finest

By M.J. Van Deventer

It’s no surprise that kitchens are truly the heart of any home. It’s where we start and end our days with breakfast and midnight

snacks. What is a surprise? The way architects and interior designers embrace the latest trends to make the kitchen the perfect gathering place for friends and family.

The center island has replaced the living room coffee table. It has assumed a more vital role than ever before, turning the kitchen into the family entertainment center. Kitchens are light-filled, ever so open, sleek and sophisticated. Appliances are high-tech with helpful robotic personalities. The color palette is hushed – crisp whites, soft creams, blues and grays, as gleaming as finely polished silver.

Bathrooms, where we also start and end our days, are more luxurious than ever before with tiles, marble and glass features, someWEB EXCLUSIVE times even crystal chandeliers. The quiet colors and impressive accessories in these bathrooms show our read- FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS FEATURE, VISIT ers how to create a perfect setting for ultimate relaxation. OKMAG.COM/WEB.

OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

45

a crisp construction PHOTOS BY NATHAN HARMON

A new home near Philbrook Museum in midtown Tulsa gave interior designer Carolyn Fielder Nierenberg the opportunity to create luxurious bathrooms and a stunning kitchen, all designed with special amenities.

“The family wanted the exterior of the two-story, stone-and-stucco home to look historic, as if it had been in the neighborhood for years,” Nierenberg says. “But they wanted the interior to have a more transitional feeling.”

Since the family has two young

46

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

children, the spacious kitchen needed to be user-friendly. The center island was designed as a perfect place for their early morning breakfasts and after-school snacks with friends.

The island is fashioned of leathered black granite that shows no wear or child-size fingerprints. Stainless steel pendant lights feature frosted glass to limit glare over the island. The brushed stainless steel is mirrored in the kitchen appliances. The cabinets, provided by Kitchen Concepts, were factory finished for durability.

The island is surrounded with a light gray Caesar stone, complementing the gray and white color scheme.

Spanish white 3-by-6-inch beveled subway tile comprises the back splash. Gray-stained rift sawn white oak floors anchor the kitchen.

“We used a blend of natural materials in the kitchen and master bath,” Jeff Johnson of TileStone Distributors in Tulsa says. “There’s such a broad range of new materials, including the Belgian bluestone and polished, stained Turkish white tile. These materials are well priced, have a thick base

molding and different components all in the same color. Pillowed limestone has softly rounded edges and gives a quilted look to a room.”

In this kitchen, filled with low maintenance appliances, paned windows are a special feature. They reach to the 15-foot ceilings to create a sunny, light-drenched environment for cooking and casual entertaining.

“Working with architect Mike Dankbar, the family custom designed the home,” Nierenberg says. “With large windows at both ends of the kitchen, they have a view of the front lawn, as

LEFT: A LARGE CENTER ISLAND WITH A TEXTURED GRANITE TOP DOMINATES THE KITCHEN. CAESAR STONE CABINETS AND A WOOD FLOOR ARE OTHER FEATURES. THE LARGE BRUSHED NICKEL LIGHT FIXTURES COMPLEMENT THE HIGH CEILINGS. MIDDLE: THE SMALL YET ELEGANT POWDER ROOM UTILIZES DARKER COLOR SCHEMES FOR VARIATION. BOTTOM: HEXAGON-SHAPED MARBLE ANCHORS THE BATHROOM FLOOR. THE SAME SOFT COLOR SCHEME OF THE KITCHEN IS REPEATED IN THE MASTER SUITE.

well as another vista that overlooks the pool and outdoor cooking area.

This is definitely the dream kitchen they wanted.”

Personal amenities abound in the master bath. A shower with “his and her” doors divides the wife’s bathroom from her husband’s bath. The shower has solid sheets of tile as walls.

The flooring is designed of 2-inch hex Turkish white polished marble with a light gray grout. The brick walls are fashioned of the same product with light gray veining. The large vanity includes two separate areas for

a sink and a makeup area. The Kitchen Concept cabinets allow a custom design for the placement of the knee space.

Stained white Turkish tile was placed behind the vanities.

The large windows overlook the expansive back lawn and feature motorized shades for privacy. A small, elegant powder room is set by the entry to the master bathrooms.

The kitchen and baths both reflect the family’s love for living in a home that has all the modern amenities for luxurious living.

OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

47

ABOVE: THE SPACIOUS BATHROOM EXUDES ELEGANCE WITH ITS SIZE, A GRAND CHANDELIER AND A COLOR SCHEME REFLECTING THE DESIGN WORLD’S LOVE FOR SHADES OF GRAY – THE NEW NEUTRAL. THE MATERIALS PROVIDE A NEW VOCABULARY FOR BATHROOMS WITH MANY EUROPEAN TILES, MARBLES AND PORCELAINS THAT ARE BRUSHED, HONED AND POLISHED. RIGHT: TWIN VANITIES, OVERSIZED MIRRORS AND SOFT LIGHTING CREATE A ROMANTIC AURA IN THIS BATHROOM, WHICH REFLECTS ALL THE HALLMARKS OF A BEAUTIFUL LIFESTYLE.

Elegance Brings Bliss PHOTOS BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL

Jeff Johnson’s parents had no idea when they established TileStone Distributors in the 1970s that the Tulsa company would become a niche market for luxurious tile and stone accents in kitchens and bathrooms.

A recent bathroom project in an upscale midtown Tulsa home represents the best of this firm’s talents.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

Jeff chose a light and dark gray color palette to complement the marble and glass used in the master bathroom.

Johnson and his son, Kramer, were drawn into the project when builders Jack Arnold and Tony Jordan asked them to implement several design details.

“I was impressed by the overall simplicity of the design,” Johnson says.

“There’s only one marble wall in the shower that houses both the shower controls and a recessed niche. Everything else is glass.”

The polished marble mosaic for the floor also was used on the back of the recessed oversize niche in the shower.

“That niche was a great idea,” Johnson says. “It’s functional and adds a design element.”

With Kramer importing mostly

European limestone and porcelain, Johnson notes that the company is “involved with all types of products, not all high end – porcelain tile from Italy and Spain, limestone from Belgium, France, Portugal and Eastern Europe.”

Johnson advises anyone tackling a new bathroom or a renovation project to “hire a designer. Tulsa is fortunate to have so many talented interior designers.”

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ABOVE: FIR WOOD BEAMS AND RECESSED CEILING LIGHTING ADD TO THE WARMTH OF THE KITCHEN FROM THE PENDANT LIGHTING OVER THE AMPLE CENTER ISLAND – THE FAMILY’S FAVORITE PLACE TO GATHER. RIGHT: THE AIRY KITCHEN IS DOMINATED BY A LARGE CENTER ISLAND OF ALDER WOOD. THE FUNCTIONAL ROOM INCLUDES ARCHED WINDOWS, AND PENDANT AND RECESSED LIGHTING TO CREATE A LIGHT-FILLED SPACE, PERFECT FOR COOKING AND ENTERTAINING.

Renovation Enhances Historic Kitchen PHOTOS BY FOCUS B STUDIO

Architect John Duvall has the expertise to show that a 1928 kitchen can be transformed to function in the 21st century.

“The kitchen in this Forest Hills home in midtown Tulsa was designed by the late Charles Dilbeck,” Duvall says. “It is one of the grander renditions of the French country style that was typical of Dilbeck’s work in the 1920s and 1930s.

“As with any historic home renovation, our challenge is to achieve our cli

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

ent’s functional goals while maintaining the integrity of the original home design.

The kitchen is at the back of the home and is the family’s primary circulation path to the rest of the house.”

The homeowner, an avid cook, wanted a more functional kitchen design that would open to the adjacent dining room and include a comfortable sitting area. Duvall’s challenge was to integrate modern appliances and conveniences while using design details respectful of

Dilbeck’s original design.

“The goal of the design was to create a light, open feeling, while maintaining some of the richness and detail of the original home,” Duvall says.

He accomplished the goal with a series of major face-lifts. First, he blended light cabinets with an off-white, glazed, handmade tile on the kitchen’s focal wall. Next, he created a stained alder wood island and stained alder wood open shelving. Along with adding

stained fir beams to match existing beams in the dining room, Duvall also introduced an antiqued brick tile floor extending from the side entry door to the door leading to the back porch.

“We continue to see clients wanting open kitchens, full and light, designed around their particular functional needs,” Duvall says. “In this kitchen, we hope the first impression is of a seamlessly integrated design that feels as if it is still a part of the original historic home.”

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RIGHT: THE DESIGNER REPLACED DATED RED WALLS AND MINIMIZED DECORATIVE ORNAMENTATION BY USING THE LIGHT BLUE-GRAY AND WHITE COLOR THEME. BELOW: A BEVY OF MIELE KITCHEN APPLIANCES AND STORAGE UNITS MAKES COOKING AND ENTERTAINING A BREEZE.

Sleek and Seamless Simplicity PHOTOS BY DAVID COBB

Sleek, seamless and shiny as polished silver.

That was the desire of a Norman homeowner who asked Brenda Helms to remodel her early 1990s traditional Dallas-style kitchen.

“The original kitchen was U-shaped with the cook top on the island, and the sink was in a forlorn, back corner,” Helms says. “The basic white traditional kitchen cabinets were flanked by red walls. A small corner pantry was across the room.”

“There were a few challenges and parameters for this job. A very large skylight in the middle of the room made lighting over the new island difficult.

She also wanted a design with many flush surface interactions – a flush mounted cook top, countertops with the door faces, flush integrated floor vents and concealed outlets.”

The homeowner’s desire was to have a modern kitchen where she and her husband could cook and enjoy entertaining guests. She also wanted a wellorganized space with a place for everything.

Banking on the current on-trend color theme – light blue-gray, white and silver – Helms used a mix of white, high-gloss acrylic for the cabinets.

A silvery, light blue-gray high-gloss acrylic, with a dash of brushed aluminum, was chosen for the frosted glass doors.

To make the kitchen highly functional, Helms selected Miele brand appliances from Germany.

“This kitchen features a steam oven, which is one of the most popular new high-gloss acrylics in kitchen appliances,” Helms says. “These cook food by steam and preserve freshness, vitamins and minerals.”

As Helms completed the renovation, she hoped guests would feel “refreshed” when they saw the kitchen’s modern transformation.

“I wanted them to feel like they were about to experience something very special and unique,” she says. “The kitchen now has a fresh, cool, calming feeling.”

She wasn’t disappointed. Neither were the homeowners.

“Guests have commented [that] they just want to linger there for a while,” Helms says with a smile.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

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FAR LEFT: AN ARTFUL WINE STORAGE AREA ADDS ANOTHER LAYER TO THE WARM KITCHEN. LEFT: THE LARGE ISLAND WAS DESIGNED FOR VERSATILITY AND ENTERTAINING GUESTS. WITH A SALAD AND SOUP WELL, A PLENTIFUL BUFFET SERVING AREA, GUESTS HAVE A CHOICE OF ENTREES. BELOW: RICH WOODS, BEAUTIFUL FLOORS AND EASY ACCESS TO THE LIVING AREA MAKE THIS KITCHEN A PERFECT PLACE FOR ENTERTAINING LARGE OR SMALL GROUPS.

Stillwater Lodge Gets a Rustic Face-Lift PHOTOS BY DAVID COBB

When Brenda Helms stepped inside an old-fashioned, two-story home in south Stillwater, she knew it needed a major renovation. She still remembers that encounter vividly.

“The original kitchen was still sporting gold appliances with Formica counter tops and floral wallpaper,” she says.

“And all of that was confined to half the space that kitchen now enjoys today.”

The redesign was not just a casual kitchen makeover, but an overhaul that

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

engaged almost every part of the home.

“After rebuilding the floor, raising a wall that had sunk through the years, dealing with cracks in the foundation, leveling floors and relocating three walls, we then proceeded to add new rear windows that overlook the beautiful creek and wildlife that frequent this country setting,” Helms says.

When it came to taking an ugly duckling kitchen into the 21st century, Helms was well equipped for this daunting task. She and her husband,

Robert, have owned Edmond Kitchen and Bath for 16 years.

Helms chose a color scheme of natural browns, grays and creams, peppered with dashes of black and rust.

“The biggest challenge in the kitchen involved careful space planning and tying the kitchen and living area together to create a more open feeling in the home,” she says. “Low maintenance was also a goal. The couple have two dogs, so we used a light slate-colored porcelain tile in

these areas.

“We also created room for a set of kitchen pantry cabinets by recessing them into an area inside the old laundry space that had been allotted to an outdated wet bar area. This required careful planning around existing ductwork and laundry appliances.”

Helms says the home is a great example of rustic farmhouse elegance and how a forlorn kitchen and living area now express a modern, functioning lifestyle.

PHOTO COURTESY JENN-AIR

In the dynamic realm of interior design, technology and style meld together in the creation of exciting appliances. These kitchen wonders provide the consumer with cutting edge technology and efficiency partnered with the sleekest looks that mirror popular design trends of the time. Style and efficiency combine for a magical – and trendy – result.

Waterjet marble inlay designs by Trove allow endless patterns in a room.

PHOTO COURTESY THERMADOR

PHOTO COURTESY TILESTONE DISTRIBUTORS

The Viking stainless steel grilling grates with ceramic briquettes facilitate even, radiant heat distribution.

The Sub-Zero refrigerator, above, boasts insulated windows and allows you to view the food without opening the door. The Family Hub 2.0, below, utilizes similiar technology through the internal View Inside cameras. Images of those items can be added to the shopping list feature and even ordered through an app.

PHOTO COURTESY SAMSUNG

Trending Now

PHOTO COURTESY VIKING

The Jenn-Air connected wall oven is paired with Nest, a home automation company, to allow consumers to check the status of a baking time remotely through an app.

PHOTO COURTESY SUB-ZERO

PHOTO COURTESY GAGGENAU

The Gaggenau cooktop uses precision heating to perfectly cook just about any food.

The Thermador Star Speed runs a dish cycle in an impressive 20 minutes, and customized lighting adds a whimsical element.

OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Mobility The Magic of

our joints strong and fle y g n i p e e xible K is

By Rebecca Fast

a ke y to

an

ac ti

ve l

es

if

e. t yl

Whether it’s from robotassisted knee replacements, exercises to keep you flexible or keeping your body tuned up from head to toe, joint health is a key to overall health. Regular exams can reveal underlying problems that can aect balance, muscle tone, joints and bodily systems. We take a look at ways to remain mobile and relatively pain free for years to come.

OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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As the largest joints in the body, knees allow us to walk, run and jump – all while carrying our weight and absorbing the impact underfoot.

Knees are also our most vulnerable joints, and chronic pain caused by injuries or arthritis leads many people to choose total knee replacement surgery, which, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, is one of the most successful procedures in all of medicine. This is largely due to improvements in materials and techniques, including computer-assisted robotic surgery.

OMNI Orthopedics, a Massachusettsbased company, received clearance by the Food and Drug Administration in 2010 for its unique OMNIBotics system, a computercontrolled, robotic-assisted total knee replacement technology. The system uses an advanced robot, weighing less than two pounds, that attaches directly to the patient during surgery. The system also features OMNIBotics Bone Morphing technology, which builds and displays a three-dimensional model in real time and removes the need for pre-operative scans.

Ronald LaButti is an orthopedic surgeon with Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma – formerly Central States Orthopedics – in Tulsa and serves as a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He also operates at Oklahoma Surgical Hospital.

With the bone-morphing technology, “the surgeon creates a … plan based on the computer-generated model,” LaButti says.

“Also, the hospital does not have to buy any hardware or software, which can cost up to a million dollars. OMNI provides the computer and the robot, at no charge to the hospital, which increases cost effectiveness.”

With OMNI including the robotic system as part of the operating room equipment, more surgeons and hospitals have the opportunity to add the latest in robotic technology to their offerings. This is especially significant considering expected growth in the field.

LaButti says there are about 650,000 knee replacements every year in the United States, with that number predicted to rise 673 percent by 2030. He says studies have shown that OMNIBotics produces improved clinical outcomes in regard to knee function and stiffness, pain reduction and increased patient satisfaction compared to conventional manual instrumentation.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

“Many studies confirm computer and robotic-assisted knee replacement improves the accuracy and reproducibility of the bone cuts in knee replacement compared to manual knee replacement,” LaButti says.

“The addition of robotic technology has improved the surgeon’s ability to balance the ligaments.”

Jeremy Thomas, an orthopedic surgeon at Hillcrest Hospital Claremore and Hillcrest Hospital Pryor, also sees positive results from the robotic system.

“We are seeing much faster recoveries in the hospital and faster rehabilitation with home health and with our therapists, especially within the first three to four weeks, when motion improvement is critical,” says Thomas, adding that a robot gives the surgeon the ability to see the implant in its final position before making the first bone resection. “Following bone resections, we are able to visualize the corrections in alignment and stability as well as the balance of the knee through all ranges of motion. The bone morphing technology allows for … 3-D modeling instantaneously in the operating room and …micro-adjustments as we need to get a very individualized fit every time.”

For patients hesitant about robotic knee surgery, it’s important to remember that the system is a tool.

“We are in control of the system at all times,” Thomas says. “If at any point we feel that something is amiss, we can make ‘on the fly’ adjustments or corrections, and at any point are able to go back to manual instrumentation. As with any technological advancement, we are using OMNIBotics as an adjunct to improve on what is already a surgery with extremely high patient satisfaction scores.”

Gregory Holt, an orthopedic surgeon with The Orthopaedic Center and CORE, an orthopedic hospital in Jenks, says patients have embraced new technology and finds that many people value the robotic system’s benefits.

“My patients obtain a better range of motion and with a better fitted prosthesis,” says Holt, noting that people were once encouraged to wait until they were around

age 60 to receive knee replacements, but, with new and improved implants, those recommendations have changed.

“We now feel that any age is appropriate when knee pain is significantly hindering a patient’s function. The odds are 95 percent that a knee replacement will last a person’s lifetime.”

To learn more, visit tulsaroboticknee.com or call 918.203.4300.

WEB EXCLUSIVE FOR A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT THE OMNIBOTICS SYSTEM IN ACTION, SEE OUR VIDEO AT OKMAG.

COM/WEB.

PHOTOS COURTESY OMNIBOTICS

Robot-Assisted Knee Surgery

DR. RONALD LABUTTI PERFORMS ROBOTICASSISTED KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY WITH THE OMNIBOTICS SYSTEM AT OKLAHOMA SURGICAL HOSPITAL IN OKC. PHOTOS BY BRENT FUCHS

OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

59

WEIGHT (KG)

BMI = HEIGHT (M)2 HEALTHY JOINTS AT ANY AGE Taking steps to maintain or improve joint health can increase your flexibility, help prevent injury and sustain mobility.

Keith Stanley, a doctor specializing in sports medicine at Tulsa Bone and Joint Associates, shares how one can support and protect joints at any age.

“To help your joint health, it’s important to stay at an appropriate weight,” he says. “Using a body mass index [BMI] calculator, plug in your information and check your numbers.

If you fall within the mildly, moderately or severely obese categories, then one of the first things you can focus on is getting your weight and BMI closer to what it should be.”

For those with a high BMI, Stanley recommends beginning a workout routine with low-impact exercises such as swimming, water aerobics or a stationary bicycle to reduce joint stress. These activities also help someone who already has an arthritic weight-bearing joint, such as an ankle, knee or hip. In addition, individuals should incorporate range-of-motion exercises to help support normal joint function.

“When people reach the age of 50, they tend to start having balance issues,” Stanley says.

“This can be multi-factorial and can be due to vision problems, the inner ear not functioning as efficiently, the proprioceptors or balance

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

receptors in our joints not working as well, or injuries that affect our balance, whether it’s a joint injury or head injury. So, working on exercise programs to augment these … would be another tool people should consider.”

Within his practice, Stanley has noticed a trend of patients in their 20s and 30s who have significant joint degeneration caused by overuse or injury during their pre-adolescent and adolescent years.

“There is a lot of concern that excessive, intense training very early in life, while it may have some short-term benefits for success in sports, may ultimately be a bad thing for joints,” he says. “Younger people need to be paying attention to their joint health and not abusing themselves unnecessarily.

However, the age group of most concern, the pre-adolescents and adolescents, are too young to understand the long-term effects on their body. That’s why it’s so important for parents and coaches to be educated and aware of the injuries that can be occurring from overuse.”

Walk through the health and wellness section of any grocery store or pharmacy and you’ll find a wide range of supplements intended to promote joint health. While they look promising, Stanley advises patients to proceed

with caution.

“There are a lot of claims in the marketplace regarding supplements that help support joint health. However, many of these claims are not substantiated by true scientific-structured studies,” he says. “My advice to patients is to remember that although something is advertised as natural, these supplements are still chemicals and can have potential side effects just like prescribed medicines. It’s also imperative that people always include within their list of medications any herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements they are taking. There can be serious drug interactions with these products and it’s critical for your physician to be informed.”

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Head-to-Toe Healthy

Too often, life gets in the way of health.

Many times we skip yearly physicals or postpone dental appointments because we feel fine. But we’re taking risks. Recommended medical screenings and exams help identify issues before they become serious problems affecting bones, joints, muscles, tissues, organs and, ultimately, your mobility.

Consider putting your health at the top of your to-do list, as recommended by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force.

BLOOD PRESSURE Men and women should have blood pressure checked every three to five years.

However, if the systolic number is 120139mm HG, or the diastolic number is

DOCTORS RECOMMEND CHECKING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE EVERY THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

80-89mm HG, then a person should have it checked every year.

CHOLESTEROL Men and women who have risk factors for heart disease may begin cholesterol screening at age 20. Individuals with normal cholesterol levels should typically be checked every five years.

COLORECTAL CANCER Adults between 50 and 75 should be screened for colorectal cancer, and adults 76 to 85 should ask their physicians if they should be screened.

TEETH AND GUMS According to the American Dental Association, 100 million Americans do not see a dentist each year. Visiting a dentist once or twice a year can help to prevent problems or identify problems early enough to offer more simple and affordable solutions. The ADA recommends flossing daily and brushing twice a day for two minutes.

EYES Alexander Davis, a doctor specializing in cornea and external disease at Oklahoma City’s Dean McGee Eye Institute and a

EYE EXAMS CAN UNCOVER SERIOUS EYE CONDITIONS BEFORE SYMPTOMS OF VISION IMPAIRMENT.

clinical assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology for the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, recommends having a yearly eye exam, which can uncover serious conditions affecting a person’s sight.

“Having great vision does not necessarily mean there are no dangerous diseases lurking about,” he says. “Common eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma can cause significant damage to the internal structures of the eye before they affect vision. By the time vision is affected, these diseases are more advanced and difficult to treat, and permanent vision loss can occur. In addition, ocular cancers can present in a variety of

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ways on the surface of the eye, in the eye or on the eyelids without any decrease in vision whatsoever. Yet diseases such as these can be detected early with regular visits to your eye care provider.”

He encourages individuals to consider eye problems as important as any other problem with the body.

“Similar to seeing a primary care doctor, a person should have routine visits with an eye-care provider and make an appointment if there are sudden or new changes,” Davis says. “For example, dry eye can be a symptom of a serious undiagnosed condition such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.”

BONE DENSITY FOR WOMEN A bone density test assesses bone strength and can determine if you have osteoporosis. The preventative services task force recommends screening for osteoporosis in women 65 or older and in younger women whose fracture risk is equal to or greater than that of a 65-yearold woman who has no additional risk factors.

“After menopause, women are at a higher risk of decreased bone density due to the corresponding decline in estrogen,” says Neha Satyanarayana, a resident physician with OU Physicians Family Medicine. “Estrogen is protective against osteoporosis and osteopenia.

Women who smoke or have a low body mass index are also at higher risk for low bone density.”

MAMMOGRAMS “The majority of breast cancers can be diagnosed from screening exams like the mammogram, which is an X-ray of breasts that allow abnormal breast tissue to be seen easier,” says Jennifer Li, a resident physician with OU Physicians Family Medicine.

“The goal of a mammogram is to catch invasive breast cancer early enough so that it can be treated to prevent death.”

She says screening has the most benefit for women more likely to develop breast cancer and who will benefit

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

from earlier treatment, if breast cancer is detected.

“Health care providers decide on the best time for patients to start mammograms based on the patient’s risk factors for breast cancer,” Li says. “Risk factors … include personal history of ovarian cancer and breast cancer, family history of breast, ovarian or peritoneal cancer, having gene mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2, or a history of radiation therapy to the chest. If a woman has any of these histories, it is important that her physician knows so that breast cancer screening can start at the appropriate time.”

Li points out that if a woman doesn’t have any personal, family or genetic history related to breast cancer, then age becomes the biggest risk factor for developing breast cancer.

The preventative services task force “suggests that mammograms every two years will benefit women age 50 to 74 years the most,” Li says. “From age 75 and on, mammograms may not have as many benefits and the decision is also made between the patient and physician.

From age 40 to 50, the decision to do mammograms is somewhat controversial.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2017 guidelines recommend offering mammograms at age 40 with screening every one to two years if the patient and physician decide on screen-

ing. The American Cancer Society guidelines suggest starting the conversation at age 40 and annual screening to begin at age 45. The bottom line is, for this age group, mammogram screening should be … based on the patient and physician’s discussion regarding risks versus benefits, patient values and concerns, and other environmental risk factors that the patient may have.”

PAP SMEARS The preventative services task force “recommends getting your first Pap smear when you are 21 years old,” says Becky Purkable, a resident physician with OU Physicians Family Medicine.

“If your Pap smear is normal, you need to repeat the test every three years. If it is not normal, you will need to be screened more frequently. What is really exciting is that we can now test for HPV or human papillomavirus, which is the virus that causes most cervical cancers. When you are 30 years old and older, you can be tested for HPV while getting your Pap smear. If both are normal, you do not have to get a Pap smear for five years.”

Purkable also notes the importance of receiving the HPV vaccine, which helps protect against HPV strains known to cause cancer. The vaccine is intended for males and females between 12 and 26 years old.

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Osteoarthritis

What it is and how to manage it

OSTEOARTHRITIS IS THE INFLAMMATION OF A JOINT THAT LEADS TO DEGENERATION OR WEARING DOWN OF THE CARTILAGE.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are more than 100 different types of arthritis causing joint pain and joint diseases. Osteoarthritis, the most common form, affects an estimated 31 million Americans.

“Osteoarthritis is inflammation of a joint that leads to degeneration or the wearing down of the cartilage,” says Danya Josserand, an orthopedic surgeon with Warren Clinic Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine in Tulsa. “As the degeneration worsens, a joint may become ‘bone on bone,’ meaning there is no longer any cartilage capping the bones that form a joint. So instead of a smooth surface meeting another smooth surface, a joint becomes a rough surface meeting another rough surface. This leads to crepitus [a grating sensation produced by friction between bone and cartilage] when moving the joint and oftentimes pain.”

While osteoarthritis can

affect anyone, the disease is more common among adults over 65. However, Josserand says there are certain risk factors that may speed up the development of osteoarthritis. If a person suffers trauma around a joint, such as a fracture, it can lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Obesity can also hasten the onset of the disease as increased body weight increases the amount of force across a joint and causes joint cartilage to wear down more quickly.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for osteoarthritis or a way to prevent it. Instead, individuals living with this disease must learn how to manage their symptoms. Strategies to decrease pain include low-impact aerobic exercises, maintaining a body mass index (BMI) of less than 25 and the use of oral and/or topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Additional treatment options include steroid injections into the arthritic joint and surgery.

“There are various surgical procedures available for osteoarthritis, with the most common surgery being joint replacement surgery—also known as arthroplasty,” Josserand says. “This usually involves replacing the worn down bones that form the arthritic joint with metal and plastic. If you are considering joint replacement surgery, weight loss may be of your best interest as a lower BMI correlates with decreased risks of complications postoperatively. Joint replacement surgery is a viable option after you have exhausted all conservative, non-operative treatment modalities, including pain medication (NSAIDs), injections, and exercise or physical therapy.”

Fitness-Inspired Smartwatches Aiming to educate and motivate Today’s smartwatches offer new and improved features to help you reach your fitness goals. Following are a few popular choices.

Apple Watch Series 3 boasts built-in cellular connectivity for calls and texts as well as a heart-rate app with in-depth monitoring. Features include personal coaching, GPS and a dual-core processor.

LG Watch Sport offers 4G LTE wireless connectivity allowing you to call, text and browse without a smartphone.

Features include Android Wear 2.0 and Google Fit to coach and track activity, including strength training. A heart-rate monitor and GPS are included.

Polar M430, tailored for the serious runner, has cutting-edge running metrics, advanced GPS and wrist-based, heartrate monitoring. Polar’s Smart Coaching offers guidance and extended battery life that lasts up to 30 hours.

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Garmin Forerunner 935 is a premium GPS running/triathlon watch with wristbased, heart-rate monitoring. Its new performance tool, Training Status, evaluates exercise history and performance indicators to gauge productivity.

Nokia Steel HR has the look of a traditional analog watch but adds a heart-rate monitor, activity tracker and sleep monitor. Features include call, text and event alerts, a silent smart alarm and battery life lasting up to 25 days.

Huawei Watch 2 has a comprehensive fitness tracker along with on-the-go calling and texting. A heart-rate monitor, GPS and real-time coaching are included.

Samsung Gear S3 offers military grade durability, hands-free calls and Bluetooth connectivity for texts, emails and alerts.

The S Health app tracks your activity and heart rate. Sleep monitoring and GPS are included. It’s compatible with Android and iOS.

THE HEART RATE APP OFFERS MORE DETAILED HEART RATE MEASUREMENTS.

PHOTOS COURTESY APPLE

ING OPEN IN N S O O N D! O EDM

NEUROFEEDBACK BRAIN FITNESS CENTER

ARE YOU STRUGGLING? • Anxiety • Depression • Insomnia • ADHD • PTSD • Learning Difficulties RenuYou Neurofeedback Center is highly regarded as one of the top clinics in the world for neurofeedback. Board certified, with licensed doctors, therapists and counselors on staff, they provide a safe, therapeutic way to retrain the brain. They begin with an EEG brain mapping of 12 different areas of the left and right hemispheres.

Once treatment begins, they use “reward biofeedback” that involves watching a movie or listening to music, while connected to sensors.

As desirable brainwave patterns emerge, the continued playing of the music or movie reinforces them. When undesirable patterns appear, the reward is taken away. As treatment sessions progress, normal patterns begin to emerge.

Once these new neuropathways are forged, they become a permanent part of the brain’s productivity.

“Neurofeedback effectively treats conditions many feel they must endure for the rest of their lives and performs what many people would call miraculous!”

Announcing Dr. Anton Surja FINALLY, A PSYCHIATRIST THAT WANTS TO HELP GET PEOPLE OFF OF MEDICATIONS WHEN POSSIBLE: RenuYou Neurofeedback Brain Fitness Center is excited to announce the addition of psychiatric doctor, Dr. Anton Surja to our group! Dr. Surja is one of only a few TRIPLE BOARD CERTIFIED Psychiatrists in the state of Oklahoma. His certifications are in General psychiatry, Child/ Adolescent Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry.

He completed his residency at the University of Louisville, Louisville KY. Dr. Surja has over 18 years of diverse experience treating patients of all ages with services including preventive healthcare and medication management. He is not your typical psychiatrist. While recognizing the need for medications, he would like to help patients reduce or better manage their medication when possible and believes that neurofeedback is the

perfect adjunct to help accomplish that task. If you've been searching for a compassionate child psychiatrist to help your child Dr. Surja wants to help! He specializes in helping children and adolescents with mood, anxiety, attention and affective disorders and has also has a heart for adolescents and adults dealing with substance abuse. Dr. Surja is looking forward to working with RenuYou Neurofeedback Brain Fitness Center and helping our patients be the best they can be.

"I see neurofeedback as a very effective piece of the puzzle to help my patients achieve peak performance in their health. I'm honored to work with the dedicated staff at RenuYou." Appointments with Dr. Surja can be made by calling RenuYou at 918-747-7400.

RenuYou Neurofeedback Brain Fitness Center

918.747.7400 | RenuYouTulsa.com

BODY WEIGHT IN WATER

Exercise and Arthritis

How to keep moving through the pain Joint pain from arthritis can slow you down, but exercise can help reduce pain and improve mobility.

“Any movement is great for arthritis,” says Brooke Rusher, an exercise physiologist and aquatic coordinator for St. John Health Club in Tulsa. For those specifically struggling with arthritic joints, she suggests an aquatic program with a warm water pool.

“At St. John’s, we have a therapy pool that is kept at 92 degrees for people who have arthritis,” Rusher says. “The warmth of the water feels not only good to the joints but allows more range of motion. When you are chest depth in the pool, you are eliminating 75 percent of your body weight. Think about all the things that you could do if you only weighed 25 percent of your body weight.”

In a pool, you’re able to run and jump without additional stress on your joints, and, because water is denser than air, you also benefit from resistance training.

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“Imagine a place where your joints feel good; you are basically weightless and get a workout all in one session,” Rusher says.

To help individuals with arthritis choose the right exercise, the Arthritis Foundation provides the Your Exercise Solution (YES) Tool. This online application allows you to identify where you have pain, select your current fitness level and then choose an activity that is right for you. You will also receive personalized modifications that will help you exercise safely. The program is available to download on your mobile device through Apple’s App Store and Google Play.

“The bottom line is we are all aging,” Rusher says. “If we begin to take care of our bodies now, we can look forward to living a longer, healthy and independent life.”

YOUR EXERCISE SOLUTION TOOL, AN ONLINE APPLICATION, TAILORS ACTIVITIES TO YOUR PERSONAL FITNESS LEVEL.

= (WEIGHT) • .25

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Leading the Charge Against Lung Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates that 3,050 people in Oklahoma will be diagnosed with cancer of the lung and bronchus in 2017, and that 2,450 people will die from this disease. Because lung cancer is often not detected until it has reached an advanced stage, time is an important factor in its treatment.

A

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: BRADLEY MONS, PETER BAIK, DOUGLAS KELLY, DANIEL NADER, THEODORE POLLOCK AND KENDAL HERVERT

t the Lung Center at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) in Tulsa, many aspects of care – from diagnostics and consultations to treatments and follow-up visits – are coordinated and delivered under one roof, which helps patients start a personalized treatment plan as quickly as possible.

The CTCA® lung cancer specialists in Tulsa are led by fellowshiptrained, board-certified Interven-

tional Pulmonologist Dr. Daniel Nader, who serves as the Chief of the Pulmonary Services Division and is Chief of Staff in Tulsa. Dr. Nader has been recognized by Castle Connolly and U.S. News & World Report as a top doctor in pulmonary medicine.

Other members of the Tulsa lung team include: Dr. Peter Baik, Thoracic Surgeon; Dr. Kendal Hervert, Pulmonologist; Dr. Douglas Kelly, Radiation Oncologist; Dr. Bradley Mons, Otolaryngologist and Head, Neck and Microvascular Reconstruc-

tive Surgeon; and Dr. Theodore Pollock, Director of Medical Oncology and Vice Chief of Staff.

Earlier this year, the Tulsa hospital earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Lung Cancer Certification. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. CTCA in Tulsa is the first hospital in Oklahoma to receive this designation.

At CTCA, each patient’s plan is individualized and based on emerging technologies, including: genomic-based cancer care, immunotherapy, stereotactic body radiotherapy, brachytherapy and photodynamic therapy, less invasive robotic surgery options, and all are supplemented with evidence-informed supportive therapies to manage side effects.

To learn more about lung cancer options, visit cancercenter.com/tulsalung or call 888.568.1571.

Working the

Night Shift WHILE THE REST OF US SLEEP,

they toil … and keep Oklahoma fed, safe, healthy, hydrated, protected and operational. Defying circadian rhythms

common to most in the daylight world, thousands of Oklahomans make their livings on the night shift. Being a night owl helps, but why these workers labor in the wee hours of the morning are as varied as their jobs. Some prefer the family benefits, atmosphere or extra pay often accompanying night work. Others enjoy that they can spend daylight hours outside instead of cooped up at a workplace. Regardless, as one worker says, the night shift is “a whole different beast.” Here are nine of their stories.

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By Brian Wilson

PHOTO BY CHRIS HUMPHREY PHOTOGRAPHER

STEPHANIE WAGNER Firefighter Owasso As driver and operator for Fire Station No. 2, Wagner supervises all fire suppression and rescue equipment.

“The driver is the caretaker of the crew.” Before joining the Owasso force seven years ago, Wagner was a Tulsa paramedic. “I often saw how much [firefighters] enjoyed their jobs … and I wanted to be part of that environment.” Working overnight has had family benefits, too. “My children have learned to depend on both parents, not just one.”

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In the float pool at Oklahoma State University Medical Center, Whisenhunt Luster enjoys wearing many hats in “different areas with different experiences each night. Nights are less chaotic, so … I can do more patient care and spend less time organizing their time because [daytime] patients go for testing, dialysis, evaluations or physical therapy.” She began working nights so that her children, now late teens, could avoid going to day care. Plus, “I’ve always been a night owl.”

PHOTO BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL

SUSAN WHISENHUNT LUSTER Nurse Tulsa

Dampf delivers the documentation necessary to get Tulsans out of jail in the wee hours of the morning at her mother’s business, Affordable Bail Bonds. The work requires professionalism and is quite demanding, but Dampf understands the perception varies from the reality of the job. “Most people are shocked when they hear I’m a bondsman. Often times, people imagine a bondman’s office as a dark, smokey office with a big guy kicked back at a desk. I don’t fit that description, nor does my office.”

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PHOTO BY MARY BETH EDE

DIAMOND DAMPF Bail bondsman Tulsa

MARK WALKOVIAK Grocery manager Tulsa

PHOTOS BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL

The slow pace of overnight customers actually speeds up work for Walkoviak because he always has something to do to get the Reasor’s grocery store at East 15th Street and Lewis Avenue ready for daytime business. “There is little or no downtime, so it doesn’t feel monotonous or mundane.” As a former bartender, he has seen many shenanigans, but “expecting the unexpected still doesn’t prepare you for what can happen overnight. I love off-the-wall encounters.”

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Garcia, with Office Express Janitorial Service, keeps all eight of Bixby’s schools “shining so that they can be ready when classes start every day.” Garcia worked her way up through the company because of her dedication, thoroughness and ability to do floor work, “which is rare because that’s almost always performed by men.” Garcia notes that many perceive custodial work as easy, but “it’s not. It’s very detailed and people expect us to be perfect.”

PHOTO BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL

GEORGINA GARCIA Custodial manager Bixby

Night work for OnCue at Interstate 35 and Southeast 15th Street fits Bell’s lifestyle because “you get your whole day to yourself out in the sunlight.” He also takes day classes at Oklahoma City Community College toward an associate’s degree in business and management. His duties mean “you stay busy the whole night, so the time goes by fast because we clean everything. We even wipe down the gas pumps from head to toe. Also, it’s more money.”

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PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

LAMARR BELL Convenience store manager Oklahoma City

HOLLY JONES Paramedic Oklahoma City

PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

Overnight brings a combination of excitement and humility to Jones, in her ninth year with EMSA. “I love that I’m the first person who gets to help somebody … when they’re having the worst day of their life. This – just like firefighting, police work, any public service – is a thankless profession.

It takes sacrifice and a servant’s heart.” Plus, she gets “an adrenaline rush with every shooting or stabbing.

Night shift is a whole different beast.”

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ANDEY DELESDERNIER Club disc jockey Tulsa

BRETT STEWART Baker Tulsa

PHOTO BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL

Shutting down night clubs and other performance venues has led DeLesDernier to a host of unusual encounters. “Oh, man, people get drunk and want to talk my ear off while I’m trying to get songs queued up. They can turn nasty really quick if you don’t give them the attention they’re seeking.” But those encounters are just part of a job she loves. “It’s so much fun to provide the soundtrack to someone’s night … and that’s when the best money is made.”

PHOTO BY JORDAN GARRETT COURTESY MERRITT’S BAKERY

Stewart has worked for 32 of the 38 years that his employer, Merritt’s Bakery, has operated. He relishes the night shift because “most of my hobbies – drone racing, golf, fly fishing – take place outdoors. I’d be sad if I couldn’t spend a little time in the sunshine each day.” Stewart is the production manager and head baker. “I’m fortunate that most of my bakers have been working with me for 10 or more years.”

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THE PROFESSIONALS FINANCIAL ADVISOR What should I do if I need to refocus on my financial goals?

If you’ve had trouble committing to financial resolutions you’ve made earlier, follow these tips to take a fresh look at your finances.

Start with a clean slate. Review your financial goals and spending patterns and remind yourself healthy financial DAVID KARIMIAN CFP®, CRPC® behaviors can become part of your daily routine.

Commit to financial stability. Just like you set aside time to clean out the garage, set aside time to clean up your finances.

Create, update or review your plan of action. A financial plan provides a road map for spending and saving, including how you will handle day-to-day finances and long-term goals.

Spend within reason. Your plan should allow you to keep long-term goals in sight as you satisfy near-term expenses.

Prepare for the unexpected. Assess your insurance policies and make creating an emergency fund a priority to help you handle any unexpected events.

Find joy in the process. Focusing on your finances today may help you secure a more comfortable future. Consider working with a financial professional to create a plan to reach your goals.

David Karimian, CFP®, CRPC® Prime Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise 7712 S. Yale Ave. Suite 240 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.388.2003 • 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 Views expressed in the Professionals do not necessarily represent the views of Oklahoma Magazine, Schuman Publishing Co. or its affiliates.

LEGAL SERVICES

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST I am considering a facelift, but before committing to surgery, are there any other options available to me?

NovaThreads (PDO sutures) are great alternative for anyone considering a facelift. To decide which option is best for you, try asking yourself these questions. Do I want MALISSA SPACEK surgery? Do I want scars for life? Do I have 2-3 weeks recovery time? Do I want people to see a dramatically new me, or do I want something a bit more subtle, but noticeable? Depending on how you answer these questions, you may want to consider a consultation for NovaThreads. NovaThreads stimulate your body to build collagen in the area where the thread is placed. The thread is absorbed by the body over a few months, but the collagen produced remains in place providing volume and lift that last for 1-2 years.

Contact us today at 918.872.9999 to find out if you are a good candidate, and together let’s explore your options for a younger, fresher you!

Dr. James R. Campbell D.O. and Malissa Spacek, Founder BA Med Spa & Weight Loss Center 500 S. Elm Place Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012 918.872.9999 www.baweightspa.com

I recently purchased a used car, which was sold “AS IS, WHERE IS.” What does this mean?

One who sells something “AS IS, WHERE IS” is selling the item without representation or warranty as to the condition of the item or its suitability for its intended use. “AS IS, BRAD BEASLEY WHERE IS” often is regarded as the English translation of caveat emptor: “let the buyer beware.” Selling something “AS IS, WHERE IS” may preclude the buyer from successfully making a claim against the seller if the purchased item does not work or is defective. Attempting to be protected from claims by selling an item “AS IS, WHERE IS” may be ineffective however, depending upon the circumstances, including instances in which defects were known to the seller which the seller did not disclose to the buyer.

Bradley K. Beasley Boesche McDermott LLP 110 W. 7th St., Suite 900 Tulsa, OK 74119 918.858.1735 (Direct Dial) 918.583.1777 telephone 918.592.5809 facsimile

HOSPICE CARE

INSURANCE PROFESSIONAL Are there seasons when animal collisions are more likely?

October, November, and December are the months when love is in the air and the deer are on our roads as more animal collisions occur in Oklahoma due to deer mating season. Over the last twenty years, an average of 110 Oklahomans RUSS IDEN have been killed or injured annually in collisions involving deer. That number has grown in recent years as urban growth has pushed deer into more populated areas. Here are some timely crash-avoidance tips: • If a deer-vehicle collision is unavoidable, don't swerve out of your lane as you may strike another car or lose control of your vehicle.

• Always wear your seat belt and stay focused by reducing all distractions in the vehicle, including putting down the phone.

• Keep your eyes moving and watch for animals, especially along the sides of roads.

• Slow down around curves and drive more slowly.

By using these tips, you should arrive to your destination safely. If you have any other questions about deer collisions and auto insurance, call a AAA agent near you.

Russ Iden AAA Oklahoma 918.748.1034 800.222.2582, x1034 russ.iden@aaaok.org

My wife has been taking care of her mother for almost a year now, and it is practically a fulltime job. I am worried about my wife’s health and wellbeing. Do you have any advice on how to get her to allow someone to come in and help her?

Your wife is certainly not alone. In fact, according to CaregiverAction. org, 65 million people are caring for a family member. I truly believe being a caregiver is one of the most difficult jobs out there. While it can be special and rewarding to care for a loved one, it can take its toll on the caregiver. I believe in the old saying, “You must take care of yourself first in order to take care of someone else.”

There are many support services available to help your wife, including respite care once or twice a week, so she can get errands done or get some much needed “me time.” At Grace Hospice, we provide free respite care for our hospice patients, and it is very beneficial to caregivers. If you would like more information on caregiver stress as well as our free support groups, call Grace Hospice at 918-744-7223.

AVA HANCOCK

Ava Hancock Grace Hospice of Oklahoma 6400 South Lewis, Suite 1000 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.744.7223 www.gracehospice.com OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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INFORMATION I Libraries N NhaveOmovedVAT I O N past

By Tara Malone

being mere repositories for books. They now serve as all-purpose centers of ideas and work.

ibraries loom large in our culture as hushed, hallowed repositories of knowledge.

The word conjures images of dusty tomes and a stern, bespectacled librarian poised to shush at the slightest provocation.

We might not think of libraries as having state-of-the-art flight simulators, exercise classes or puzzle rooms. We might not see them as shelters during disasters, resources for health information or animation studios. But more than half of Americans have visited a library or used library resources in the past year, according to the Pew Research Center, so they’ve seen that libraries no longer resemble the opening scene of Ghostbusters.

Information itself has changed so rapidly that one misconception about libraries is that they are only in the book game. But it’s really the hub of the information game now because words and data are no longer exclusively relegated to print.

“Libraries have always been about access to information,” says Risa Sargent, access services manager at the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library System. “In the past, information has largely been in printed book format. Libraries would help individuals navigate those printed resources to find the best, most reliable sources. Today, information comes

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FLIGHT SIMULATORS, LIKE THIS ONE AT TULSA CENTRAL, ARE JUST ONE OF MANY TECHNOLOGICAL WONDERS AVAILABLE AT LIBRARIES STATEWIDE. PHOTO BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL

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PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS PHOTO BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL

in print and digital formats, and libraries … help individuals navigate those resources to find reliable information.”

Kimberly Johnson, CEO of the Tulsa City-County Library System, adds: “Libraries have historically been the go-to location for knowledge. As technology advances, libraries adapt to new methods of providing information.”

Johnson cites the American Electric Power Foundation Digital Literacy Lab at downtown Tulsa’s renovated Central Library, where programs bridge digital divides through coding, robotics and game design.

And for those who can’t make it to a library, the library often goes to them. In a tradition that spans at least a century, library staff often take information out of the building to where it is most needed, either by providing in-person services or digital resources.

“Outreach Services travels around Tulsa County visiting Tulsa Housing Authority locations and retirement villages to share library resources with readers not able to visit,” Johnson says. “By using the JobNow service, adults can access free online assistance with interview coaching, resume help and practice tests for professional licenses.”

Above all, programming is a cornerstone of public libraries.

“Aside from the typical story times and book clubs … our libraries offer a huge variety of activities that entertain teens and adults of all ages,” says Kim Terry, marketing and communications director for the OKC system. “One of the latest programs that both teens and young adults are enjoying is our ‘Escape Room’ game. Participants find clues and use logic and team-building to solve puzzles in time to ‘escape.’

“We also offer a variety of financial programs for … teens and adults, such as retirement planning and college financial aid programs. And health and wellness classes are always a favorite.”

Oklahoma faces frequent health, health-literacy and medical problems, so many libraries partner with each other or organizations like the Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative and the Oklahoma Department of Libraries to promote exercise, wellness and diet.

“Having been born and raised in Oklahoma, I have witnessed firsthand the many health challenges that face our state, and I can understand the influence of … [poor] diet, smoking, poverty, [in]accessibility to health care and lack of a widespread infrastructure [not] conducive to physical activity,” says Shari Clifton, associate director, professor and head of reference at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center’s Robert M. Bird Library. “Health information outreach has the potential to

“LIBRARIES...ARE EMBEDDED IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE,” SHARI CLIFTON SAYS. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

positively impact health literacy and connect Oklahomans to … reliable, actionable information at the point of need.”

For decades, Clifton and other Bird librarians have traveled the state’s back roads to offer diverse health information programs.

They recently created Oklahoma’s Health Information Specialists Program, which partners with public libraries to provide training on reliable, consumer-friendly health information for patrons.

“Libraries, particularly public libraries, are embedded in the communities they serve and are vital conduits for the flow of health information to the citizens of our state,” Clifton says. “Building a collaborative network of

library and literacy personnel throughout the state facilitates the sharing of ideas, strategies and programming tailored to our unique Oklahoman perspective and … contribute[s] to a more robust culture of health.”

Those visiting libraries today notice changes in physical spaces. At OU’s Bizzell Memorial Library in Norman, the hi-tech Helmerich Collaborative Learning Center is a sprawling, modular area encouraging cooperative thinking and shared creativity. Central in Tulsa houses one of the latest trends in the library world, maker spaces, where handson learning tools include three-dimensional printers, engravers, sewing machines and a state-of-the-art recording studio.

E-BOOKS

Libraries are heavily invested in electronic resources, especially e-books.

However, that does not mean the end of the printed page, librarians say.

“E-books are a wonderful resource that provide an additional avenue to access information,” says Kimberly Johnson, CEO of the Tulsa City-County Library System. “As the popularity of tablets and laptops increase, TCCL continues to reach new readers. However, printed books remain the most popular way to read in Tulsa County. As a library, we’re happy to get people reading regardless of what they’re reading or how. For Tulsans, it seems like there’s just no replacing the connection of a printed book and your favorite reading nook.”

Risa Sargent, access services manager at the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library of OKC’s Metropolitan Library System, adds, “Printed materials still have an advantage over e-books in the ability to scan quickly through a work as well as causing less eye-strain than a screen.”

TULSA’S CENTRAL LIBRARY OFFERS A STATE-OF-THEART RECORDING STUDIO FOR PODCASTS, ALBUMS AND AUDIO PROJECTS.

PHOTO BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL

PHOTO BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL

LIBRARY ARCHITECTURE

Information delivery isn’t the only innovation in libraries; the locations themselves have evolved. The Oklahoma City and Tulsa systems either have had recent overhauls of large libraries or have building projects underway. The construction of libraries in Bethany and Capitol Hill will include study rooms, meeting spaces and expanded computer capacity. Tulsa’s Central Library reopened a year ago after a three-year renovation that created a collaborative community gathering space with state-of-the-art technologies.

THE RONALD J. NORICK LIBRARY IN OKC TRANSFORMED OUTWARDLY TO REFLECT THE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES INSIDE. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

PHOTO BY CHARLIE ROSENTHAL

“TCCL is so much more than a quiet place to study,” Johnson says.

“Our children’s story times are full of music, singing and dancing.

Teens can meet to record music in our … studio or learn to build and fly drones. We also partner with community groups to offer adults lessons in dances from around the world.”

With the staggering variety of programming and services, it’s easy to overlook libraries’ most powerful resources: the people who work there, including those not technically librarians. “[A] misconception is that all library workers are librarians,” Sargent says. “Some are shelvers; some focus on checking materials in and out; some focus on creating programming for members. Everyone works together to create a welcoming environment and provide resources for the public.

“As access to information has broadened with digital resources, citizens need ‘information ambassadors’ now more than ever. The link between libraries and other services is usually still bound in the link of information. Lending Wi-Fi hotspots, e-readers or even gardening tools helps connect citizens with the information and knowledge they need to complete whatever they desire.”

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CHIEF METEOROLOGIST

MIKE COLLIER

WORKING FOR YOU EVERY WEEKNIGHT

5:00 / 6:00 / 10:00

Taste

F O O D, D R I N K A N D O T H E R P L E A S U R E S

Oren’t You Glad You Went There?

Matt Amberg, a noted foodie in Brooklyn, comes home to Tulsa with a flair for elegant dining.

CHEF MATT AMBERG UTILIZES LOCALLY GROWN VEGETABLES IN MANY DISHES AT OREN. PHOTO BY NATALIE GREEN

“I

want to come here again, Mommy!” yells a tiny diner at one of the birchwood tables. The parents smile indulgently, not only because their little girl is adorable, but because the food they’ve just eaten has brought back a glimmer of the wide-eyed excitement of childhood.

“I ate here last week and I’ve reserved for next week,” says a man in a natty bespoke blazer whose hobby is

jetting off to New York and Europe to dine at Michelinstarred restaurants.

“What he does is an art, and how he does it I don’t know, but it’s amazing,” says Jacqui Kelly, the customer’s server, who, coming straight from a gig at a trendy Orange County restaurant, should be jaded but is energized.

The he is Matt Amberg, chef and owner of Oren and, incidentally, the man who spent countless hours sawing

OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Taste

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passion for vegetables, and the first half of the menu is devoted to them. Each of these reasonably priced ($8) plates showcases a fine, locally grown vegetable, and there are always surprises. A refreshing heirloom tomato salad is enhanced by raspberries, ground peanuts, pistachios and Vietnamese nuoc mam.

Then come the meat dishes, which are more straightforward yet spectacular.

Bursting with flavor, chicken from 413 Farm in Adair finds a counterpoint in a sauce whose strange, haunting flavor comes from one ingredient: asparagus.

Slices of pork tenderloin are artfully arranged on a bright red pomegranate-celery sauce that explodes across the plate as if flung by an abstract expressionist painter.

Exuberant and smiling, Yaara Amberg bounds into the room, and a small redheaded boy rushes ahead of her to join his dad. Matt Amberg smiles, too, because everything he loves is in reach, and, with the white walls of the dining room behind him, it looks like he’s in heaven.

Oren is at 3509 S. Peoria Ave. in Tulsa.

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

“I LIKE TAKING HUMBLE THINGS AND TURNING THEM INTO SOPHISTICATED, ELEGANT DISHES,” SAYS AMBERG. PHOTOS BY NATALIE GREEN

LO C A L F L AV O R

A PIT FOR HARDTO-FIND BEEF RIBS Maples in Midtown OKC serves barbecue and blues.

In an open lot on Northwest 11th Street at Hudson Avenue in Midtown Oklahoma City is an Austinesque gem, complete with a gleaming white trailer, a smoke pit, an outdoor tent, classic blues (shout out to T-Bone Walker!) and what you came for … amazing barbecue.

Beef ribs are hard to find in Oklahoma barbecue, and certified prime Angus ribs are a stretch, but not at Maples. On weekends, this joint features wood-smoked beef ribs (brontosaurus sized), and folks statewide can’t seem to get enough. Every day, Maples offers classic brisket, pork ribs and sandwiches. Monthly features, posted on social media, are all tooth-sucking and belly-rubbing worthy.

Creamy American white cheese forms the base of Maples’s mac-n-cheese, which can’t be missed, especially when you have it with pit-smoked jalapenos, savory ranch beans loaded with meat debris, and sliced white bread to sop up Maples’s sweet, tangy sauce.

SCOTTY IRANI

PHOTOS BY BRENT FUCHS

and polishing planks to make those tables.

His wife, Yaara, also a chef, has, too. The farm-driven Brooklyn eatery where Matt worked was so popular that a magazine put him on its list of most influential foodies.

But Amberg realized that a lifetime of work would never get him enough cash to open a restaurant in New York. So he came home to Tulsa.

Most modern chefs will tell you their job is to take the best ingredients and let them shine. That’s what Amberg does at Oren, but he has all sorts of secret tricks to concentrate and amplify the flavors, and maybe tweak them in a way that’s sort of like the food you know, but much better.

“When I was a kid,” he says, “I hated broccoli. It was just bland and mushy. But put in a bit of salt [and] roast it – it’s transformative. I do a few more tricks; I play with the texture, the temperature, surround it with a broccoli puree enlivened with a dash of lemon zest and a bit of spinach, stud it with walnuts, and it’s ready for the menu.”

Many more menu items are still in development. Love of food is a job requirement at Oren, and Amberg expects his line cooks to come to him with ideas for dishes that he will help them develop.

“I’m working on a cauliflower dish that will have three or four techniques on the same plate: roasted, pureed, raw and maybe there’ll even be cauliflower couscous,” says Amberg, who, when he talks of what he loves, looks like a happy Vincent Van Gogh. “I like taking humble things and turning them into sophisticated, elegant dishes.”

He has a special

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85

Taste

“What vegetarian comes to a steak house once a week?” he asks. The answer: someone who knows great food and where to get it.

What began as a joke about a vegan couple making reservations wound up with Favela gaining customers who have followed him to Meat Market Refectory.

“They asked for a vegetarian meal, and I could have easily prepared a bunch of side items,” Favela says. “I don’t like to say no, and it’s my craft to create something wonderful for every diner.”

So he did, and now the pair comes in to dine once a week.

Methods and preparations matter to Favela. With sidekick and sous chef Mitchell Dunzy, Favela experiments with aging, processing and crafting flavors and allows for the artistic creativity that many – no, all – chefs inherently long for and their customers expect.

“I don’t micromanage. Mitchell and the kitchen come up with great ideas. It’s my job to make sure they don’t veer too far off course,” says Favela, showing off Dunzy’s hand-sewn duck breast prosciutto, drying and curing in a cooler.

Guests come to restaurants to be nourished, to drink and to be entertained. Creating an atmosphere within an aesthetically pleasing space is important to Favela. Just as a curator would in a museum, he takes great pride in pointing out an artist’s work hanging on the walls of the private party room. Over the prominent Omega Bar, Meat Market Refectory is well known beautifully constructed for its steak frites. Included in the meal inside the main dining is a 10 ounce, 100-day, dry-aged strip room, Favela emphasizes steak with house-cut, double-fried a hanging sapphire-blue French fries with Maldon salt. The glass sculpture and whiskey peppercorn sauce accompadirects the guests down nies the dish.

Artichoke Alley, named for the artichoke-shaped pendant lights over semi2 tbsp fresh chopped garlic private booths.

1 tbsp whole black peppercorn Then come the eats: 2 tbsp canola oil perfectly cooked beef 4 oz Jack Daniel’s whiskey tournedos with shaved 1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream cured egg yolk; lobster 1 cup veal demi glace thermador with oyster Pinch kosher salt and shiitake mushrooms embraced in cream and Crack your peppercorn by pressing a finale of parmesan down gently on it with the flat side of a gratine; the center eye of chef knife blade. Set aside. a domesticated Wagyu Heat the canola oil. Add the fresh beef ribeye precisely chopped garlic and cook gently to a grilled. These dishes, at golden brown. a glance, reflect Favela’s menu.

Add the cracked whole peppercorn Pair any of them and veal demi glace. Simmer. Then add with a thoughtful wine the whiskey and let the alcohol burn off. and cocktail list and you instantly become a Finish with the rich heavy cream. patron of gastronomic Stir and let the sauce thicken, then art in an exquisite setting season to taste with the kosher salt. … all from a chef who cares about your entire Add the sauce to any grilled steak, or experience. in a small bowl for dipping.

WHISKEY PEPPERCORN AU POIVRE SAUCE

C H E F C H AT

The Maestro of Meat Jonas Favela at OKC’s Meat Market Refectory makes a diner’s experience exquisite from beginning to end.

J

JONAS FAVELA EXPERIMENTS WITH AGING, PROCESSING AND CRAFTING FLAVORS AT MEAT MARKET REFECTORY. PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS

86

onas Favela, executive chef and operator of Meat Market Refectory, is no stranger to the Oklahoma City restaurant scene.

With credentials like his, he could be … should be … the maestro of meat.

Having earned his stripes in notable steak joints and chop houses around the city, such as The Ranch, Boulevard Steak House, The Metro and Flint, Favela specializes in the aging, preparation and cooking of all matters meat.

“We are never going to get past the meat and potatoes customer in Oklahoma,” he says about his menu. “And we shouldn’t. You introduce the diner to new forms and variations, be it grass-fed beef or organic vegetables, locally sourced, or even hybrids of beef, such as Japanese Wagyu.”

Favela even has a following within the vegetarian community, although he’s a master of meat and potatoes.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

SCOTTY IRANI

WINE

Blends Can be Your Fall Friends

love going out with groups of friends; it’s almost always guaranteed to be more fun than just being with one person. In a group, if one person is having a bad day, then you have the rest of the group to liven things up. I often look at wine the same way – a wine that is a blend of several different grape varietals generally delivers a better sip. The blend combines the best characteristics of several grape varietals and, when needed, can cover up small flaws in certain wines due to weather or vine problems.

Blends strike my fancy in the fall as the weather starts to cool off. I leave behind my summery, single-grape varietals of pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc, which are both grapes that are not usually blended with others. My fall choices tend to be a little richer and heavier-

bodied, making them perfect for heartier autumn fare.

When wine makers create blends, they formulate recipes for concoctions and strive to make future blends in identical or similar ways.

Grapes or wines for the blends can come from different grapes, parcels, vineyards, areas, years,

RANDA WARREN, MASTER SOMMELIER

PHOTO BY CHRIS HUMPHREY PHOTOGRAPHER

I

Varietals make a perfect pairing with the crisp, cooler weather.

soil types, barrel types or toast levels within the barrels, and even different quality levels of wines – a high quality, expensive reserve wine may be blended with a lower quality wine.

A great example of this recipe or formula is a Bordeaux medoc red wine. A common combination is blending cabernet sauvignon with merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petite verdot. The cabernet sauvignon gives the blend backbone and structure due to its high tannin profile.

The merlot lends roundness and softens up the tannins in the cabernet sauvignon. The cabernet franc adds finesse and gives a hint of a spicy, herbal note.

Go for the blends this season and you’ll see that your new fall weather friends will be true friends for life.

GRAPES

SOMETIMES BLENDED TOGETHER INCLUDE: Cabernet, merlot, cabernet franc Bordeaux, France/California and worldwide Grenache, syrah, mourvedre Rhone Valley, France Carignan, grenache, mouvedre Languedoc, France Sangiovese, cabernet, merlot, syrah Italy Tempranillo-grenachegraciano-mazeula Rioja, Spain Sauvignon blanc, semillon, muscadelle Bordeaux white Chenin blanc, viognier California white Chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier Champagne, France Touring franca, tinta roriz, tinta barroca, touriga nacional, tinto cao Portugal

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OKLAHOMA OKLAHOMA

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

Thundering Return Oklahoma’s only major professional team opens its NBA season at home this month.

PHOTO BY LAYNE MURDOCH/NBA VIA GETTY IMAGES

F

ans of multiple sports love this month because they can add to their professional and college football diets with plentiful plates of basketball.

The National Basketball Association returns Oct. 18 with 11 games nationwide; our state’s only major professional team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, opens its regular season at home the next night against the New York Knicks.

In the offseason, the Thunder, coached by Billy Donovan, traded for standout forward Paul George and signed three-point specialist Patrick Patterson. They join a lineup that includes perennial All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook.

“This feels like home,” George said when he was introduced as Westbrook’s running buddy. “Defensively, we could be pretty special. And I will add onto the fast, high-tempo, fun team that’s always been here.”

Westbrook, center Steven Adams and others on the Thunder will

try to convince George to remain in Oklahoma long-term because he will become a free agent at the end of the season. However, George might find a separate, off-court reason to stay in state. At 6-foot-9, he may be one of the tallest fishermen in Oklahoma. The avid angler, who hosts his own annual fishing tournament, has access to plenty of places to drown a worm at Oklahoma’s premier fishing spots, such as Lake Texhoma, Flat Creek, Quanah Parker Lake, Lake Eufaula, the Deep Fork River and Grand Lake.

The Thunder’s other regularseason home games this month at Chesapeake Energy Arena are against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 22 and the Indiana Pacers, George’s former team, Oct. 25.

Thunder supporters can preview the team in action with exhibition games at Tulsa’s BOK Center on Oct. 3 and at Chesapeake on Oct. 6 and 8.

For ticket information, go to nba.com/thunder/tickets.

OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

89

Where & When

IN TULSA PERFORMANCES THEATRE TULSA NEXT STAGE PRESENTS: GREEN DAY’S AMERICAN IDIOT

Through Oct. 1 PHOTO COURTESY PROPELLER COMMUNICATIONS

TULSA PAC Fed-up

COMMUNIT Y

Oktoberfest Returns Ranked by USA Today as one of the best in the country, Tulsa’s Linde Oktoberfest celebrates its 39th year this autumn.

Fan favorites such as the Dachshund Dash, the Chicken Dance, German beers (scores of them), Bavarian cheesecake and literally tons of bratwurst return. Tulsa’s event is closely modeled after Munich’s annual Oktoberfest, and signature bands come from Bavaria and other parts of Germany to perform. Oklahoma singers also take the stage to bring a splash of the Sooner State to the occasion.

The JugenZelt (Children’s Tent) provides scores of special activities for youngsters.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

agent turned bodyguard Frank Farmer is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker.

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS: FOLLOW YOUR HEART Through Oct. 1

No dogs are allowed, except on the last day of the festival for the race. Dachshunds running in the dash have to be registered beforehand.

Linde Oktoberfest takes place Oct. 19-22 at River West Festival Park. Tickets are $10 apiece at the gate, with advance purchases at $7 each. Oct. 21 is Zeeco Family Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; everyone gets in free during those hours.

Parking near River West costs between $10 and $20. However, free shuttles from downtown lots run every 5-10 minutes.

For more information, go to tulsaoktoberfest.org.

EXPO SQUARE Follow your heart straight to adventure at Disney On Ice.

tulsastatefair.com

TULSA SYMPHONY PRESENTS: FRIDAYS IN THE LOFT CHAMBER SERIES: BEETHOVEN AND BRAHMS Oct. 6 FLY LOFT TSO’s

concertmaster Rossitza Jekova-Goza and pianist Lyndon Meyer perform Beethoven’s Sonata No. 9, the Kreutzer. tulsasymphony.org

PAC TRUST PRESENTS: HOW I BECAME A PIRATE Oct. 6

TULSA PAC Sail off on a swashbuckling musical excursion as young Jeremy Jacobs joins Captain Braid Beard’s band of comical pirates. tulsapac.com CHOREGUS PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS: TU DANCE

COME FLY WITH ME

CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS PRESENTS: THE BODYGUARD Through Oct. 1 PAC Former Secret Service

celebrityattractions.com

FA M I LY / K I D S

Oct. 13-14

TULSA PAC The company aims to reveal the connective power of dance, celebrating a beautiful diversity on stage in work that often navigates complex themes of social change. choregus.org

of today’s most sought-after comedians. riverspirittulsa.com

CHAMBER MUSIC TULSA PRESENTS: DANISH STRING QUARTET Oct. 15 TULSA PAC These four

musicians invite listeners to share their infectious joy for music. chambermusictulsa.org

TULSA OPERA PRESENTS: FAUST Oct. 20 TULSA PAC Faust is the

classic tale of ambition, love, redemption and making deals with the devil. tulsaopera.com

SIGNATURE SYMPHONY PRESENTS: MUSIC OF THE KNIGHTS Oct. 20-21 TCC VAN TREASE PACE Sir

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney are among the most influential popular songwriters of all time.

Music of the Knights honors them. signaturesymphony.org

BETTY BUCKLEY Oct. 21 BROKEN ARROW PAC Betty Buckley, often called “the voice of Broadway,” is one of theater’s most respected leading ladies.

brokenarrowpac.com

AMERICAN THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS: FUN HOME Oct. 21-22, 26-28 TULSA PAC Fun Home is

marked by Gothic twists, a family funeral home, sexual angst and great books.

americantheatrecompany.org

TULSA SYMPHONY PRESENTS: TCHAIKOVSKY’S SYMPHONY NO. 6 Oct. 28 TULSA PAC Andrew

Grams returns to Tulsa to guest conduct Tchaikovsky’s emotional Pathétique symphony. tulsasymphony.org

CONCERTS GARY CLARK JR. Oct. 1 CAIN’S BALLROOM

PHOTO BY PHILIP ANSON COURTESY POTEAU CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The 12th annual Poteau Balloon Fest expects to draw 25,000 people again this year. Visitors get to see hot air balloons up close and in flight, and even talk with pilots.

At dusk, the balloons come aglow as burners blast hot air into the canopies.

The event has plenty of booths for food, drink, arts and crafts. A petting zoo awaits kids. Mud pit races are also popular attractions for the more rowdy of guests.

Special events include tethered balloon rides, pony rides, helicopter rides, Mean Machine monster truck rides and carnival rides. Free parking is available at Carl Albert State College with shuttle service to the fairgrounds; parking on-site costs $5.

All balloon events are subject to weather, especially wind, rain and lightning. Most flights are between 7 and 10 a.m. and 4 and 7 p.m., but conditions may dictate different times.

suburban youths struggle to find their places in a superficial society in this Broadway rock opera. theatretulsa.org

T.J. MILLER Oct. 14 RIVER SPIRIT CASINO AND RESORT T.J. Miller is one

The festival runs Oct. 20-21 at the LeFlore County Fairgrounds. Children under 4 get in free.

For more information, go to poteauchamber.com/poteauballoonfest.

American blues singer Gary Clark Jr. continues his two-night stop in Tulsa. cainsballroom.com

BRADY THEATER Southern rock is redefined with Gov’t Mule. bradytheater.com

TOM JONES Oct. 7 RIVER SPIRIT CASINO AND RESORT Tom Jones’s 50-year

EASTON CORBIN Oct. 1 EXPO SQUARE Enjoy

career has gone from strength to strength.

tulsastatefair.com

MUTEMATH Oct. 8 BRADY THEATER This New

country crooner Easton Corbin at the Tulsa State Fair.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD Oct. 6 HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO See one of rock’s biggest acts take the stage. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY

Oct. 6

CAIN’S BALLROOM True to Explosions in the Sky’s newest album title, The Wilderness explores the infinite unknown. cainsballroom.com

GOV’T MULE Oct. 6

riverspirittulsa.com

Orleans-based quartet is on its newest tour. bradytheater.com

THE HEAD AND THE HEART Oct. 10

CAIN’S BALLROOM Enjoy

the sounds of this American quintet. cainsballroom.com

STEELY DAN Oct. 12 RIVER SPIRIT CASINO AND RESORT Get down

with the ‘70s band Steely Dan. riverspirittulsa.com

RYAN ADAMS Oct. 12 CAIN’S BALLROOM With

decades of acclaimed work to his credit, Ryan Adams’s first album of all-new original material since 2014 is primed to add superlatives to his resume. cainsballroom.com

KIDZ BOP Oct. 14 BOK CENTER The ultimate

ART

The Weeknd has announced a second leg to his critically acclaimed Starboy: Legend of the Fall 2017 World Tour.

IN FULL SWING

bokcenter.com

BAD COMPANY Oct. 26 HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO Rock out with Bad

Company. hardrocktulsa.com

family-friendly live concert will feature brand new songs, choreography and an eye-popping set design.

MAREN MORRIS Oct. 27 BRADY THEATER Country

bokcenter.com

bradytheater.com

MARILYN MANSON Oct. 17 BRADY THEATER Enjoy

CHASE RICE Oct. 27 RIVER SPIRIT CASINO AND RESORT Country music

crooner Maren Morris makes a stop during her Hero tour.

the quirky works of Marilyn Manson and company. bradytheater.com

JOSH ABBOTT BAND Oct. 20 CAIN’S BALLROOM

Texas-based Josh Abbott Band comes to Oklahoma on its Until My Voice Goes Out tour. cainsballroom.com

THE WEEKND Oct. 21 BOK CENTER Grammy

Award-winning and multiplatinum selling music artist

maverick Chase Rice has only grown more self- aware, mature and grateful in the wake of his success. riverspirittulsa.com

THE FLOOZIES Oct. 28

CAIN’S BALLROOM Born in funk and bred in the digital age, live electronic duo The Floozies have burst onto the scene at a time when the industry needed them the most. cainsballroom.com

ART

Southeastern Indian Artists Association works to promote the arts and artists of tribal peoples. tulsapac.com

FIRST FRIDAY ART CRAWL

CHEROKEE ART MARKET Oct. 14-15 HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO The Cherokee Art Market is one of the largest Native American art shows in Oklahoma.

cherokeeartmarket.com

Oct. 6

THE ART OF NEOWTA

This year-round, monthly event features all of the galleries, studios and museums as well as the part-time galleries in various shops opening their doors.

AHHA TULSA Northeastern

BRADY ARTS DISTRICT

thebradyartsdistrict.com

TOM MANHART AND STUDENTS Oct. 6-26 LIVING ARTS OF TULSA

This is a retrospective of the work of Tom Manhart, professor of art at the University of Tulsa, and many of his students. livingarts.org

INDIAN OFFENSIVE Oct. 6-26 LIVING ARTS OF TULSA An

exhibit of multimedia pieces by seven members of the Southeastern Indian Artists Association is on display in the lobby of Mullins Library. livingarts.org

STREETS: MARK LEWIS Oct. 6-Nov. 19

108 CONTEMPORARY

Working in large-scale paper and graphite collages, Mark Lewis builds up layers to create highly dimensional urban landscapes.

108contemporary.org

ART365 Oct. 6-Nov. 19 AHHA TULSA Visit the main

gallery and creative studios to witness Art365 by the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition. ahhatulsa.org

SECOND SATURDAYS Oct. 14

PHILBROOK The second Saturday of each month has free art activities, tours and scavenger hunts. philbrook.org

PHOTO COURTESY CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

Through Oct. 22

Oklahoma Woodturners’ Association presents the evolution of turning nature’s medium into contemporary art.

ART

WHEN IS A QUILT NOT A QUILT? THE PARADOX OF APPROPRIATION

The Oklahoma City Musuem of Art debuts the international tour of Master Strokes: Dutch and Flemish Drawings from the Golden Age. Straight from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, these 90 drawings span the 16th to 20th centuries. Artistic heavy-hitters like

ahhatulsa.org

Through Oct. 22

AHHA TULSA Explore the art of Jane Dunnewold at AHHA’s newest exhibition.

ahhatulsa.org

ALTARED SPACES Oct. 30-Nov. 4

LIVING ARTS OF TULSA

Enjoy the Master Strokes

Living Arts of Tulsa is hosting a celebration of Dia de los Muertos, in which it is believed that the spirits of those who have passed from this earth are remembered and return to join the living. livingarts.org

AFTER REMOVAL: REBUILDING THE CHEROKEE NATION Through Jan. 21

GILCREASE This exhibition tells the story of the Cherokee Nation in the 19th century through the stark contrasts of the human experience. gilcrease.org

ART.WRITE.NOW Oct. 2-28 TCC The Art.Write.Now.2015

national exhibition features the most creative visual and literary art by teens from across the country. artandwriting.org

PHOTO FROM VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON COURTESY OKCMOA

NATIVE HEARTS: RESPOND AND REFLECT Oct. 3-30 PAC GALLERY The

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is in the midst of its newest exhibition, Stuart Davis: In Full Swing. The show explores the whimsical works of a prolific artist.

Beginning at the turn of the 20th century and continuing into the 1960s, Davis was a trailblazer in the ever-evolving realm of modern art. Influenced by Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, Davis cultivated his own style of moderism and was quickly recognized as one of the greatest of his generation.

The New York Times describes Davis’ work as a “universe of jazzy patterns and blazing colors.” His abstract, colorful pieces, often described as proto-pop art, are informed by his love and affinity for jazz music.

The exhibition features more than 80 of Davis’s original paintings and drawings. The show runs until Jan. 1 and tickets are $8.

Crystal Bridges is in Bentonville, Ark., at 600 Museum Way. For more information, visit crystalbridges.org.

Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt van Rijn and Anthony van Dyck are featured, as well as virtual unknowns from the past.

The exhibition groups the art thematically and chronologically to allow viewers to compare the styles and practices of artists from the lower and upper Netherlands over five centuries. The drawings include designs for stained glass, portraits, landscapes and botanical studies in a variety of media, including watercolors and pastels.

Certain pieces are only sketches, while others are completed drawings or working studies.

The exhibition runs Oct. 28-Jan 21, and a member’s preview takes place Oct. 27. For more information, visit okcmoa.com.

OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

91

WALKINGSTICK SHINES The colors are often muted, subtle. The images range from abstract to impressionistic. Symbolism predominates.

These are the works of Kay WalkingStick, a Cherokee whose paintings hang in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington.

PERFORMANCE

Jennifer Koh

Violins are often used in films, television and scores to evoke emotion, from frantic excitement to deep despair. Perhaps one of today’s brightest masters of the instrument is Jennifer Koh, who comes to the OKC Philharmonic on Oct. 7.

Koh, a Chicago native, only chose the violin as a child because the school’s slots for cello and piano were taken. Despite her preliminary reluctance, the violin agreed with her; by 11, she made her debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the rest is history.

Koh’s accolades are numerous; she was named Musical America’s 2016 Instrumentalist of the Year and has won the Concert Artists Guild Competition. She is also the recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant, given out by the Lincoln Center to subsidize talented instrumentalists who the board and committees at the center believe have great potential 92

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

for solo careers.

“Koh is recognized for her intense, commanding performances, delivered with dazzling virtuosity and technical assurance,” says Susan Webb, marketing director at OKC Philharmonic. “We are very honored to have a musician of her renown performing Barber’s violin concerto.”

Koh performs at 8 p.m. at the Civic Center Music Hall. Visit okcphil.org for tickets.

City Thunder plays a preseason game in Tulsa for the ninth time. bokcenter.com

WWE LIVE Oct. 7 BOK CENTER This is your

chance to see many of your favorite World Wrestling Entertainment superstars in one place. bokcenter.com

TULSA ROUGHNECKS HOME GAMES Oct. 7, 14 ONEOK FIELD Enjoy a

night at ONEOK Field as the Roughnecks battle the Seattle Sounders 2 and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, respectively. roughnecksfc.com

TULSA OILERS GAMES Oct. 13, 25, 27-28

BOK CENTER Watch hockey at its finest with the Tulsa Oilers as they take on other

teams in the East Coast Hockey League. tulsaoilers.com

TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE VS. HOUSTON COUGARS Oct. 14 CHAPMAN STADIUM Cheer on the Golden Hurricane against the Houston Cougars at the homecoming game. tulsahurricane.com

U.S. NATIONAL ARABIAN AND HALF-ARABIAN CHAMPIONSHIP HORSE SHOW Oct. 19-Oct. 28 EXPO SQUARE Visit the

most prestigious Arabian horse show in America. Amateur and professional riders compete in a variety of disciplines.

exposquare.com

TULSA RUN Oct. 29

DOWNTOWN Come celebrate four decades of running by participating in the most historic race in Oklahoma. tulsasports.org/tulsarun

COMMUNITY AUTUMN IN THE GARDEN October-November

TULSA BOTANIC GARDEN

Celebrate cooler weather and a bountiful garden with lots of activities. tulsabotanic.org

MEDIEVAL FAIRE Oct. 1 9330 W. SOUTHFORK ROAD, SAPULPA Dress

up and enjoy food, music, performances and vendors.

standingbearpark.com

OKLAHOMA STATE SUGAR ART SHOW Oct. 1 QUIK TRIP CENTER AT EXPO SQUARE Watch as bakers compete in the Grand National Wedding Cake Competition to see mastery at work.

oklahomasugarartists.com

TULSA GREEK FESTIVAL Oct. 5-7

HOLY TRINITY GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH This

tradition whisks you away from Oklahoma and takes you on a journey to the colorful and rich culture of Greece.

htgoctulsa.org

ART IN THE SQUARE Oct. 7 UTICA SQUARE This free

event celebrates art and the art of shopping. Beautiful Utica Square is the backdrop for over 90 local artists as they showcase their work. uticasquare.com

THIRD ANNUAL PUMPKIN PATCH Oct. 7 TULSA BOTANIC GARDEN

Tulsa Glassblowing School has handmade, glass-blown pumpkins in all sizes and colors for sale. tulsabotanic.org

PHOTO BY JURGEN FRANK COURTESY OKC PHIL

ART

The Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa features WalkingStick in a special exhibit from Oct. 6 to Jan. 7.

WalkingStick is one of the leaders in contemporary landscapes; however, in the more than four decades she has been a professional artist, her works incorporate Native American history, feminism and minimalism.

“Over the past two decades, WalkingStick’s interests in landscape, the body and history have merged in majestic and often monumental compositions,” according to Gilcrease officials. “While [WalkingStick’s signature] diptych format still appears, it does not dominate or dictate her mature practice. References to specific places – often sites laden with historical associations – have become more common and many works indulge, simply and unapologetically, in the beauty of the natural world.”

For more information, go to gilcrease.org.

PHOTO COURTESY GILCREASE MUSEUM

Where & When

SPORTS OKC THUNDER VS. HOUSTON ROCKETS Oct. 3 BOK CENTER The Oklahoma

TULSA STATE FAIR

Through Oct. 8

EXPO SQUARE This

is the city’s largest family event, providing educational experiences and entertainment.

tulsastatefair.com

BUSH CREEK BAZAAR

Oct. 13-15

10900 S. LOUISVILLE AVE. This outdoor festival has something for everyone. It is an arts paradise showcasing more than 80 craft vendors. bushcreekbazaar.org

SECOND SATURDAY ARCHITECTURE TOUR Oct. 14

633 S. BOSTON AVE. Each

month these popular walking tours highlight some of Downtown Tulsa’s architectural treasures. tulsaarchitecture.org

AKDAR WINE FESTIVAL Oct. 14

ADKAR SHRINE CENTER

Numerous wineries from across Oklahoma, as well as locally prepared foods, will be available for tasting. facebook. com/tulsaakdarshriners

TULSA POP CULTURE EXPO Oct. 14-15

WYNDHAM HOTEL Enjoy

a cosplay contest, kids zone, extra life gaming zone, panel discussions, a Lego room, a vendor area, exclusive items and celebrity guests. t-popexpo.com

NIMROD WRITE NIGHT AND WRITERS’ CONFERENCE Oct. 20-21 TULSA GARDEN CENTER AND TU Nimrod International

Journal has its annual author reception and panel discussion on Oct. 20 at the Tulsa Garden Center. The next day is the magazine’s annual conference at the Univeristy of Tulsa’s Allen Chapman Activity Center. nimrod.utulsa.edu

OKLAHOMA JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL Oct. 22-25 CIRCLE CINEMA Explore

films with the common themes of Jewish identity at this festival. jewishtulsa.org

DR. BENET OMALU Oct. 27

TULSA TOWN HALL As chronicled in the highlyacclaimed film Concussion, Bennet Omalu was the first doctor to discover, identify

and report chronic brain damage as a major factor in the disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. tulsatownhall.com

HALLOWZOOEEN Oct. 27-31 TULSA ZOO HallowZOOeen

is a spooky (but not-too scary) Halloween trick-or-treat event for the whole family.

tulsazoo.org

HALLOWMARINE Oct. 27-31 OKLAHOMA AQUARIUM Once a year, the Oklahoma Aquarium opens its doors to trick-or-treaters of all ages to enjoy a safe, indoor,

fun Halloween tradition.

okaquarium.org

BOO HA HA IN BROOKSIDE Oct. 28 BROOKSIDE DISTRICT

Enjoy Halloween in the beautiful Brookside district with costume contests, trickor-treating and outdoor fun.

brooksidetheplacetobe.com

HAUNTED CASTLE HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL Through Oct. 28

CASTLE OF MUSKOGEE This festival has spooky attractions for everyone. Come and visit – if you dare. okcastle.com

CHARITABLE EVENTS 31ST ANNUAL TULSA HALL OF FAME DINNER AND INDUCTION CEREMONY

Oct. 2

TULSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM

Each year, the Tulsa Historical Society recognizes outstanding Tulsans. tulsahistory.org

TULSA’S TOGETHER WE READ BOOK DRIVE Oct. 3-14 CAP TULSA CAP Tulsa collects new and gently used children’s books for the young children that the agency serves. captulsa.org/

togetherweread

CENTER EXPERIENCE Oct. 6 THE CENTER FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL CHALLENGES

The Center Experience is a team-building event focused on awareness of physical disabilities. tulsacenter.org

GREEN LEAF GALA Oct. 7 COX BUSINESS CENTER

This black-tie gala benefits Up With Trees. upwithtrees.org

ST. JOHN ZOORUN Oct. 7 TULSA ZOO Enjoy a 1-mile

fun run, 5K or 10K to help out the Tulsa Zoo and St. John Health System. tulsazoo.org

SAVOUR AND STROLL Oct. 12

KENDALL WHITTIER DISTRICT This event benefits the mothers and children who call Lindsey House home.

COX BUSINESS CENTER

Funds from the Painted Pony Ball support Saint Francis Health System’s pediatric care, programming and facilities for sick children, regardless of their ability to pay. saintfrancis.com/ childrenshospital

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY’S MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER Oct. 21 MOHAWK PARK This 5K

noncompetitive walk is a powerful, inspiring opportunity to unite as a community to honor breast cancer survivors. cancer.org

MUTT STRUTT Oct. 21 CENTENNIAL PARK Join

Domestic Violence Intervention Services in its awareness for the organization’s kennel. dvis.org

SPOTLIGHT ON SAN MIGUEL: DANCING WITH THE TULSA STARS Oct. 21 COX BUSINESS CENTER A spectacular evening of cocktails, dining, entertainment, competitive dancing and voting for your favorite dancer await.

coxcentertulsa.com

GIVING SPIRITS Oct. 21 CAIN’S BALLROOM Giving

Spirits is a whiskey tasting experience put on by the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

lindseyhouse.org

okfoodbank.org

MCDAZZLE FUN BALL

PINK RIBBON TULSA Oct. 23 SOUTHERN HILLS COUNTRY CLUB This event includes

Oct. 12

COX BUSINESS CENTER

Come celebrate 26 years of serving families in need at the Ronald McDonald House of Tulsa. rmhtulsa.org

BONE BASH Oct. 13 ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION

The Bone Bash is a costumed affair featuring a themed dinner, costume contest, silent and live auctions, plus complimentary spirits. arthritis.org

PAINTED PONY BALL Oct. 21

a luncheon featuring a live auction and runway show.

oklahomaprojectwoman.org

SEVENTH ANNUAL BADGES ‘N’ BARBECUES Oct. 26 CHRISTIANSEN AVIATION Party goers enjoy the annual Guns and Hoses “Battle of the Grills” – a barbecue cook-off contest between area law enforcement and local fire departments, benefiting Crime Prevention Network. tulsacrimestoppers.

FOR EVEN MORE EVENTS IN TULSA, OKC AND AROUND THE STATE, HEAD TO OKMAG.COM.

FILM AND CINEMA

Projecting the Dark Side October calls for the macabre and the psychotic.

Around Town

It’s one of the world’s most famous films, but many don’t really know Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. Sure, you remember the shower scene, the screeching violins and maybe even Anthony Perkins’s repeated pleas of “Mother.” But there’s a lot more to this masterpiece than gets remembered by YouTube clips and parodies.

For one, it’s a surprisingly funny film – darkly satiric and acerbically witty. It also features an innovative structure, with plot developments that would drive modern Hollywood crazy, and a coda that, while a little obvious, delves into Hitchcock’s psychological preoccupations.

If it’s been too long and you need a refresher, head to Circle Cinema in Tulsa on Oct. 6-7 for two special screenings of Psycho. Make sure you perk up beforehand with some caffeine; the screenings don’t start until 10 p.m. … because everything’s spookier at night.

At Home

Being the month of Halloween, there’s no shortage of scary films you could pick to enjoy at home. For something a little different, try the DVD of David Lowery’s A Ghost Story, one of the best films of the year, which came and went quietly from theaters this past summer. Get beyond the lack of scary scenes (it’s not a horror film) and the intentionally cheesy ghost design – yes, the ghost is of the classic bedsheet variety – and you’ll discover a heartbreaking, mindbending film about love and loss.

Lowery, who directed last year’s surprisingly great Pete’s Dragon remake, goes

back to his indie roots here with a quiet, unpretentious film that captures the grieving process in finely etched detail. After the death of her husband, played by Casey Affleck, a young widow (Rooney Mara) must make sense of her life in the aftermath.

Meanwhile, Affleck’s ghost hangs around and is able to watch but not interfere in her life. Two-thirds of the way through, when you think the film has said everything, it changes in strange, affecting ways, becoming a deep mystery in the process.

In Theaters

Originally a playwright, the Anglo-Irish writer/director Martin McDonagh has established himself as one of the wittiest, most thoughtful filmmakers of the past decade.

His first film, In Bruges, is a hilarious, jarring meditation on sin and guilt, while his second film, Seven Psychopaths, spun his natural talent for words out in several meta-fictional directions. After tackling Irish mobsters and Hollywood hangers-on, McDonagh turns his third film to that most mysterious region, Middle America.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri looks to be an even darker affair from a director unafraid to tackle human depravity. The great Frances McDormand plays a grieving mother seeking justice (and going to great extremes) for her murdered daughter. When police fail to act with enough zeal, she takes out the billboards alluded to in the film’s title and throws the small community into uproar. In McDonagh’s hands, this should veer away from melodrama and towards deliciously dark comedy.

ASHER GELZER-GOVATOS

OCTOBER 2017 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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CLOSING THOUGHTS

Michael R. Bearden

... being the third director in the school’s history.

I feel very honored to be selected as only the school’s third director since

96

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2017

its inception in 1963. The School of Dance at OU has a long tradition of excellence, and I feel a great responsibility to both maintain and grow that level.

... ideas he has for the program.

... his greatest career achievement.

Motivating and organizing my co-workers at Ballet West to produce a performance that raised money for a local cancer foundation in Salt Lake City.

We will be adding an audition tour to places across the country like New York, Chicago and San Francisco.

The idea is to spread the word about our amazing program and recruit even more top-level dancers to the University of Oklahoma. The broader our reach is in recruiting, I believe we will have a broader impact on the dance world.

... personal challenges as a professional.

... the favorite moment in his new job.

... his vision for the School of Dance.

Getting to observe our dance students conduct their audition for the Young Choreographers Showcase production that we hold each year. I was inspired by their creativity and artistry as they workshopped their ideas by teaching each other phrases of their new choreography.

Having double ankle surgery in my prime. I struggled to get back to the level I had attained. It was a frustrating experience that filled me with a lot of self-doubt. I credit this hard time in my life as a learning tool for how to be persistent and to get over failures and move on.

I want to empower and support the students, staff and faculty in the pursuit of their best work. My hope is that we aspire not only to keep up with the ever-changing dance world, but also seek to innovate with new ideas that might influence positive and exciting change in the industry.

PHOTO BY SHEVAUN WILLIAMS COURTESY THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SCHOOL OF DANCE

Y

ou could say Michael R. Bearden began his relationship with dance on the wrong foot.

Watching his sister during a ballet class, then 11-year-old Bearden remarked that the discipline “looked easy.” That offhand statement was caught by his sister’s teacher, who challenged him to join the class; he soon fell in love with the art.

Years later, Bearden left his native Arkansas to attend the school of dance at the University of Utah, and, after just one year, he joined Ballet West in Salt Lake City, where he danced professionally for 14 years. Fate brought him to Oklahoma in 2016 for a guest residency at the University of Oklahoma, and, impressed with the people and campus, Bearden put his name in the hat for the director’s position at the School of Dance. He began the job in July. We recently caught up with Bearden and got this thoughts on ...