Oklahoma Magazine September 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021

AUTUMN

ENTERTAINMENT IS BACK IN ACTION

Excellence in Technology Getting a foot in the door • Active Years • Collegiate Sports

Warren Clinic breast surgeons Dr. Erica Hill and Dr. Chad Johnson believe there is no one set treatment plan for breast cancer, because no two patients or cancers are exactly alike. “We have the ability and flexibility to talk through the process and educate each patient,”

Our breast cancer care is customized to the individual patient.

Dr. Johnson said. “We take into account the genetics of the person as well as the genetics of the cancer.” At Saint Francis Health System, patients also can feel confident they are cared for by an entire team of breast cancer specialists. This clinical group meets weekly to discuss cases, medications and treatment plans, and a nurse navigator is on hand to guide patients through every aspect of their treatment.

“Our specialists—medical, surgical, radiation oncology, plastic and reconstructive surgery—are truly a team,” said Dr. Hill. “I love the continuity of care that Saint Francis can provide for its patients.”

For more information, please call 918-502-9600 or visit saintfrancis.com/warrenclinic.

Chad Johnson, M.D. Erica Hill, D.O. WARREN CLINIC BREAST SURGERY

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Here to Help You Rebuild Your Life® Does It Matter How Property is Titled in Divorce?

Many individuals wonder whether it matters how property is titled in a divorce. In other words, some theorize that if an asset is in their individual name, it might mean that they will receive this asset in a divorce.

It could be a variety of property or assets. Some might try to title a bank account in their own name. Others might purchase a vehicle and put it in their own name. In other cases, an individual might set up an investment account that only has their name on it, but not their spouse. The possibilities can be infinite.

When a divorce takes place, many think the asset will be given to them by the court because it is not jointly titled with their spouse.

A common question for many is whether this is accurate or not.

The reality is that how property is titled in a divorce is normally not that important.

Instead, in states where equitable jurisdiction is controlling, courts look to when the property or asset was acquired. If the property is acquired during the marriage, it is normally labeled marital property. However, if the property was acquired before marriage, it is presumed to be separate property.

Courts then have to divide marital property in a just matter when considering all the factors. The factors can vary by state, but they can include different criteria. This includes

contribution of each party, the length of the marriage, the education and work history of the parties, the conduct of the parties in some states, and a litany of other factors.

In terms of the titling of the assets, it is truly not that important. If the asset is in one spouse’s name, it does not matter if the asset was acquired during the marriage. A party cannot purchase property or buy an asset with marital funds and assume that the asset will be allocated to them in a divorce.

A prenuptial agreement is something to consider for those who have substantial property or assets prior to marriage. To ensure they receive it in the divorce, they must agree to it beforehand. Through a prenuptial agreement, the parties can agree to have property or assets set aside to them in the future.

It is vital to draft the prenuptial agreement appropriately and that both parties have independent counsel. Other important criteria are that there needs to be full and fair disclosure and that there be no duress or undue influence.

Even after the marriage, parties could enter into a postnuptial agreement to denote who would get what property or assets in the case of divorce. That said, parties sometimes have little incentive to do this after the marriage.

One potential exception is where a party receives inheritance or gifts during the marriage. Inheritance or gifts are generally viewed as separate property in a divorce.

Thus, if parties place inheritance or gifts in a separate account away from other marital property or debt, doing so makes sense. Otherwise, there can be a risk that the separate property is commingled with other marital funds or property. When this happens, it can convert separate property into marital property.

For this reason, parties who receive inheritance or gifts should speak to an attorney if they want to ensure that it remains their separate property. It often makes sense before they receive the inheritance or gift to ensure it is handled appropriately. A separate account in this instance may make sense for liquid assets.

Stange Law Firm, PC limits their practice to family law matters including divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, guardianship, adoption, mediation, collaborative law and other domestic relation matters.

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Oklahoma County Office 2601 NW Expressway, Suite 411 W

Oklahoma City, OK 73112

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER 2021

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

7

30 34 42

22

22 24 26 27 28

The Robust Realm of Sports

While many are well-versed in the rigors and excitement of football, basketball and baseball, there are collegiate athletes working tirelessly in a variety of other activities.

Cracking the Tech Sector

From students just starting out in their career journeys to veterans with 20 years in the business, Oklahoma teems with opportunity for those in the information and technology sectors.

An expansion of Tulsa’s Discovery Lab means even more interactive, educational experiences for kids and kids at heart.

64 65 66 67

68 70 72

Recreation Philanthropy Arts Culture Community People Education Insider

Life and Style

Destinations The Florida Keys are a time capsule of true Americana.

FYI Health Outside the Metro Scene

Taste

A new restaurant in Tulsa brings elegance, opulence and, of course, top-tier cuisine.

Local Flavor Chef Chat Tasty Tidbits

Where and When

The convergence of summer and fall sports, the state fair and plenty of concerts make September an exciting month in Oklahoma.

Film and Cinema Closing Thoughts SEPTEMBER 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021

38

Whether a celebration of different cultures, the changing weather, music, art or delicious food, festivals are happening just about every week this autumn. Take a tour of the many options Oklahoma has to offer from September and beyond.

State 11 12 14 15 16 18 19 20

Fall Festival Preview

V O L . X X V, N O . 9

Active Years

From continued learning experiences to checking off exciting bucket list items, Oklahoma seniors are living their golden years to the fullest.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

AUTUMN

ENTERTAINMENT IS BACK IN ACTION

Excellence in Technology Getting a foot in the door • Active Years • Collegiate Sports

ON THE COVER: COOLER WEATHER IS THE IMPETUS OKLAHOMA NEEDS TO USHER IN A VARIETY OF FALL FESTIVALS, CELEBRATING FOOD, CULTURE, MUSIC AND SO MUCH MORE. SEE A COMPREHENSIVE LISTING STARTING ON PAGE 30.

We have views that stretch for miles, adventures that go on for days and plenty of space to go around for everyone. It’s time to breathe out the stress and breathe in the fun in The Natural State. Plan your trip at Arkansas.com. arkansas.com

OKLAHOMA LET TER FROM THE EDITOR With a (miniscule, barely detectable) hint of autumn in the air, September ushers in our spotlight on fall festivals. Many of Oklahoma’s favorites are back in action, so visit page 30 to get your plans sorted.

As a new school year gets underway, we focus our sports feature on lesser-known collegiate athletics. From rowing to rodeo, wrestling, tennis and golf, there’s plenty to get excited about (page 34).

Another extended story to check out is Active Years, focusing on continued education for older adults, plus exciting senior bucket list items (page 38).

Coming back for a second year, Excellence in Technology delves into Oklahoma’s booming tech sector and the many ways you can get your foot in the door (page 42).

We also present a behind-the-scenes look into the upcoming Discovery Lab at Tulsa’s Gathering Place, exploring its new draws and the hefty planning that went into this brand-new piece of Oklahoma infrastructure (page 7).

Stick around for a first peek into a soon-to-open Tulsa steakhouse redefining the genre (page 64); a deep dive into Oklahoma’s prestigious architecture programs (page 19); a visually stunning tour of the Florida Keys (page 22); and an exploration of a public art program in Edmond (page 14).

Stay patient, Oklahoma, winter is coming ... or fall, at least.

Mary Willa Allen Managing Editor

OKLAHOMA

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OKLAHOMA

PRESIDENT AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR DANIEL SCHUMAN

PUBLISHER AND FOUNDER VIDA K . SCHUMAN

MANAGING EDITOR

MARY WILLA ALLEN

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR JOHN WOOLEY

GRAPHICS MANAGER MARK ALLEN

ADVERTISING SALES ZOE ROBERTS

What’s HOT at

OKMAG.COM COMING IN SEPTEMBER After a lonely 2020, Oklahoma has come back in full force for the fall festival season.

We outline a variety of celebrations happening around the state in our annual Fall Festival Preview, which you can find in print and online at okmag.com, replete with a comprehensive listing and photos.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

NATALIE GREEN, NATHAN HARMON, SCOTT MILLER, STEPHANIE PHILLIPS, DAN MORGAN, DAVID COBB, SCOTT JOHNSON

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

THE STATE

ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

Discover More

An expansion of Tulsa’s Discovery Lab means even more interactive, educational experiences for kids ... and kids at heart.

T

Discovery Lab at Gathering Place will incorporate a variety of immersive learning experiences when it opens later this year.

Rendering courtesy KKT

ulsa’s Discovery Lab is known for its unusual utilization of packing tape: Over 16 miles of it were used to build the infamous Tape Tunnel. The museum is about to need a lot more of it, too, when it makes a big move to its new home later this year.

Established in 2007, Tulsa Children’s Museum began as a pop-up experience in local spaces and at events around town. The nonprofit made its presence more permanent when it opened Discovery Lab in the renovated Owen Park Recreation Center in May 2013.

Now the museum is graduating from its proverbial starter home and moving into its custom-built, 57,000 square-foot space in the Gathering

Place, Tulsa’s riverfront destination that was recently named best city park in the country by USA Today readers. When the museum opens later this year, 31st and Riverside will surely be an entertainment hot spot.

“We’re bringing the Discovery Lab you know and love at Owen Park with us to the Gathering Place,” says Ray Vandiver, Ph.D, the Discovery Lab’s executive director. “We want this to be a family-forward, education-based, diverse, ever-changing learning landscape.”

Learning experiences outside the classroom are essential for curious, growing minds. Knowing this, Discovery Lab aims to make an educational difference in the city. Higher participation at the museum, thanks

to increased visibility and capacity at the new facility, will continue to make this mission possible.

“We’re looking for this environment to hold dynamic learning experiences,” says Vandiver.

This mindset translates to the building itself, which was designed

by Tulsa-based KKT Architects, Inc., to inspire curiosity and wonder through intentional forms. KKT president and CEO Sarah Gould says one of these extraordinary uses of ordinary materials is visible before guests even enter the door: The building’s exterior brickwork was laid in a unique, 3-D pattern. As guests approach the wall, it appears to move like a wave.

“It really gives it a lot of life and

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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T H E S TAT E | S TA R T I N G O F F

Right: Kids are encouraged to explore and create with a variety of projects on hand.

Photo courtesy Discovery Lab Below: A rendering depicts the future Science Lab, which will feature guided activities led by Discovery Lab staff.

Rendering courtesy KKT

8

makes it unique to the museum,” she says.

Trevor Taylor, the project manager from Crossland Construction who worked on the site, says that visually, the new property is an extension of the Gathering Place, and as such, it needed to mimic the park’s modern, worldclass style of structure and intentional landscaping. His team consistently checked in to ensure they were meeting those expectations – all while working through supply shortages caused by the pandemic.

In many ways, Discovery Lab’s new home is a remarkable building constructed during unprecedented times for an extraordinary purpose.

“A lot of people are familiar with the current Discovery Lab location,” says Taylor. “When they come to this new location, they’re going to be wowed by how different and unique it is.”

At Discovery Lab’s new site, visitors will want to stop, play and learn at every turn. When children see the exhibit hall, they’ll be wowed by the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) playground that awaits. Every

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

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T H E S TAT E | S TA R T I N G O F F

Excellent Add-Ons

The new location should be finished in midDecember, officials say.

Rendering courtesy KKT

The museum offers multiple ways to engage outside the exhibit hall.

CAMPS:

Discovery Lab offers half-day to full-week experiences for children ages 4-12. Topics range from culinary chemistry to coding challenges. Sign up for Discovery Lab’s newsletter to be notified of new camp dates.

CAMP KITS:

inch of the room, both vertically and horizontally, is packed with exhibits to explore and new things to discover.

The reimagined exhibit hall includes a space reserved for temporary exhibits. First up is an earth science experience developed in collaboration with local geology experts. After its debut and residency in Tulsa, this exhibit, just like the featured exhibits that follow it, will travel around North America.

The Imaginarium invites participants to enter a fully immersive video space. Using seamless environmental projection, the room senses who’s in it and how they’re moving, then responds accordingly.

A favorite at Discovery Lab, the tape tunnels will get a massive expansion in their new home: Ten tape tunnels, playspaces made entirely of packing tape layers, will be front and center.

That’s only scratching the surface of what the exhibit hall contains. Other draws include activities about math and music, water-based engineering at the HydroLab, and systems-thinking in the Ballapalooza will be available when the museum opens to

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

the public in late December.

Just off the main exhibit floor sits three rooms with more to explore: the Science Lab, a staffed space featuring messier, guided activities; the WorkShop, a DIY space with open-ended, materialsbased opportunities that invite tinkering; and the Little Lab, which offers experiences for Discovery Lab’s youngest attendees.

“We hope to inspire families to come back over and over,” says Vandiver.

It’s clear the Discovery Lab team didn’t want to build a static experience. Behind the excitement lies a facility built for functionality, adaptation and the future.

Knowing that this new site will be the museum’s home for years to come, Jennifer Dewberry, a mechanical design engineer from Professional Engineering Consultants, needed to create a solution to future-proof the structure for exhibits to come. To meet this need, she designed for water access along the exhibit hall’s walls and channels filled with electrical access that extend the room’s length.

“I am so proud to be a part of this project,” says Dewberry. “Of course, being an engineer, I’m very

proud that they are really investing in STEM education.”

The museum has committed to hosting a yearly visit for Tulsa Public School students in Pre-K to sixth grade as part of a long term partnership with the district. Vandiver says through the program, Discovery Lab will reach nearly 25,000 students annually.

The new Education Center features five dynamic, state-of-theart classrooms, which will serve as the STEM Center for the entire TPS district. This 6,000 square-foot space is divided by five operable, interactive partitions, so that the room can transform to fit the lesson being taught. The Education Center is available to all regional school districts.

In addition, the new property includes a 250-seat outdoor amphitheater, a café created in collaboration with California-based BeanSprouts (we hear there will be healthy, monster-shaped sandwiches) and a science store. To top it all off, the third floor offers an event venue overlooking the Gathering Place and downtown.

As Vandiver says: “You’ll always find something new and entertaining at Discovery Lab.” LAUREN MIERS

Bring the fun of a Discovery Lab camp home. These kits offer five activities on a specific topic and can be done at your own pace.

DISTANCE LEARNING:

The museum prepared a collection of video resources that are free to use.

Each resource pairs with specific Oklahoma Academic Standards. Topics include inflation science, math, magic, creating clouds and more.

CLASSES:

Discovery Lab is available to lead classes in your classroom, afterschool program or other group setting.

Visit discoverylab. org to see the class list and make a request.

FIELD TRIPS:

Gather your group of young explorers and schedule a personalized Discovery Lab experience. The new facility is especially equipped to accommodate school groups.

T H E S TAT E | R E C R E AT I O N

The Wilderness Within

Safaris and wildlife parks provide Oklahomans the chance to see and interact with animals from around the globe.

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s the sun sets in Oklahoma, the frogs, crickets and cicadas start up their evening chorus. Yet, just outside of Stillwater, the sunset sounds more like lemurs hollering and peacocks calling.

Carla Meadors and her husband Rusty own Lost Creek Safari, a USDA certified exotic animal park located 10 minutes south of the college town. The couple never set out to start a safari: Carla and Rusty previously worked full-time and kept lemurs, porcupines, antelope, deer and a zebra. Friends and family repeatedly encouraged them to share their passion for animals with the public. The rest is history.

Now in its eighth season, Meadors says visitors come from all over the region, despite the couple never having advertised the safari; it’s all word of mouth and Facebook.

To accommodate the popularity of the park, the couple retired from their jobs to go fulltime at Lost Creek, which they run with the help of a few volunteers.

“Visitors get to see animals up close and get to feed animals they would never get to feed at the zoo,” says Meadors.

A trip to Lost Creek guarantees an animal encounter. Instead of being 150 yards away, Carla and Rusty pull the animals out of the pasture and towards the public areas daily, so they can be viewed closely by visitors.

“They don’t mind,” she says. “They come running in the morning. It’s time to go to work.”

The safari takes an hour or so to walk through, but in that time, visitors can see over 30 different species of animals, including the resident Dromedary camel named Gilbert; Tater, the zebra mare; and the largest troop of black-handed spider monkeys in the state of Oklahoma: A.J., Tommy, Kandace, Josie and Abbie.

Meadors says she and Rusty only acquire and house animals they have an interest in.

The safari features several uncommon species, such as a fennec fox, scimitar-horned

oryx antelope and an albino Bennett’s wallaby. Many of the animals have been bottle fed by the couple from a young age.

In the past year, Meadors says they’ve added a Nilgai antelope to the safari and welcomed several new additions including deer fawns, goat kids and twin baby blackand-white ruff lemurs.

This season, the safari debuted its parrot enclosure, where guests can get close to two macaws. Additionally, visitors can feed and pet the safari’s deer, emu, ostrich, goats, antelope, camel and water buffalo. Using a porcupine quill, guests can feed the lemurs.

Owen, the Sulcata tortoise, loves pets and head scratches, says Meadors.

Lost Creek Safari is open annually from spring break to October 31. Before heading out, make sure to check the operating hours on its Facebook page or website, lostcreeksafari.com. On hot days, the Safari closes early to allow the animals to cool off.

“It’s the animal first,” says Meadors. “We want them to enjoy it like we do.”

LAUREN MIERS

Well-loved exotic animals like emus abound at Stillwater’s Lost Creek Safari.

Photo courtesy Lost Creek Safari

MORE WILDERNESS OPPORTUNITIES: WILD WILDERNESS DRIVE-THROUGH SAFARI wildwildernessdrivethroughsafari.com

Head just across the state line to Gentry, Ark., for a safari adventure both on-foot and by-car. On the four-mile drive-through route, catch a glimpse of African lions, Bengal tigers, ligers, hippos and zebras. Set out on foot to see giraffes, kangaroos, warthogs and a variety of monkeys.

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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T H E S TAT E | P H I L A N T H R O P Y

A Community for All

Nancy Anthony came to the Oklahoma City Community Foundation in 1985 with only a bookkeeper.

Photo courtesy OCCF

Nancy Anthony has significantly increased the philanthropic capital in central Oklahoma.

A

s president of the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, Nancy Anthony is seriously driven and committed to improving the lives and infrastructure of OKC. She’s fully aligned with the nonprofit’s mission: to serve the philanthropic needs of donors and the community by the development and administration of endowment and other charitable funds, with the end goal of preserving capital and enhancing its value to support the community.

“Everyone in a community has something to offer, and our job as a community foundation is to engage all of them in helping to make all parts of it great,” she says. “We want everyone to participate and benefit.”

Anthony’s history with OCCF is lengthy.

“I started here in 1985 as the executive director with a bookkeeper,” she says. “The foundation started in 1969 and had about $19 million in funds, primarily generated by its founder, John Kirkpatrick. I was looking for an opportunity to be involved in the community beyond just serving on a non-profit board. OCCF was a chance to develop an organization that could play an important role in promoting philanthropy in the community. It was a great opportunity to develop something in the community.”

OCCF operates with a variety of grants and donations.

“Because we work with donors who

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

the funds given after the bombing of the advise a wide range of gifts, as well as the Murrah Building in 1995, and we have had grants that our trustees make, we make a very lasting impact on park and public more than 5,000 grants a year to more space beautification in than 1,000 different charOklahoma City.” ities,” she says. “AdditionOver her 30+ years ally, we will have approxiof service, Anthony mately 800 students who believes the OCCF has receive a scholarship “established a strong from one of our scholarstandard for charitable ship funds. Probably 90% All of us can help endowment manageof these funds remain in improve our communiment, for the adminisOklahoma.” ties, and it doesn’t tration of scholarships Since taking the reins, have to cost anything. to benefit students, and Anthony has witnessed Anthony encourages developed programs and spearheaded some interested parties to do that have expanded and amazing changes: “The some snooping: check improved parks and foundation has grown out social media pages public spaces throughfrom $19 million in 1985 and local community out the community. We to $1.5 billion today,” she organizations for ophave a strong commitsays. “We have developed portunities and needs. ment to help donors a significant endowment Then volunteer, help accomplish their chariprogram for charities, your neighbors and table goals.” a large scholarship neighborhoods, and enSo, what’s next? Anprogram that supports courage young people to thony says she’s looking students statewide, and think about their futures. for to the opportunity we have a very large Participate in elections, to “work with donors group of donors who and encourage others to to help them be more have been able to expand do the same. effective, and to preserve their philanthropic “The opportunities their legacy in the comimpact. I would say to give back will come munity. we have significantly best from our personal “The benefit,” she says, increased the philaninvolvement in our com“will be for the whole thropic capital in central munities,” she says. community.”

Oklahoma. Additionally, CAROL MOWDY BOND we administered many of

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A Mission to Enrich

Edmond’s Art in Public Places program brings prodigious value to the city.

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Above: Large Angelic Being is situated at First Commercial Bank in Edmond.

Right: Morning Mist, at Shadid Shuster Buildiing, is also part of the program.

Photos courtesy Patricia Carlisle

14

here’s nothing quite like visiting a new place and noticing beautiful pieces of art about town – or simply moving through the day and noticing artwork that raises the spirits. These encounters can be discouragingly rare, but the city of Edmond has changed that for their residents and visitors.

“The places that I’ve seen public art, it always sort of lifted the atmosphere, lifted the civility of the area. People just generally seemed happier, quite frankly,” says Randel Shadid, the former Edmond mayor who is a self-proclaimed public art enthusiast and one of the founders of Edmond’s Art in Public Places program. It celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

In April, a bronze sculpture

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

titled Reverence by David Pearson, a Santa Fe-based artist, was the latest public art installation in Edmond’s Mitch Park. Reverence joins 260 other works of art all over the city. Many of the pieces are concentrated in Edmond’s historic downtown district, but they can be found all around town.

Walking and bus tours are available through the City of Edmond, and all the displays are accessible to the public – as it’s one of the requirements of the program.

“It’s meant for people to be able to walk up to it and see it and be accessible to anyone in the public,” says Shadid.

The program is a partnership between private donors and the city. An individual selects the art and the location and arranges to pay half of the price. The city’s Visual Arts Commission, an appointed volunteer board, then approves the art and location and pays the other half of the cost (up to $30,000).

The city then owns the piece and is responsible for installation, maintenance and any necessary repairs.

Patricia Carlisle owns an art gallery in Santa Fe where David Pearson’s sculptures – seven in total – were purchased for the city of Edmond. Carlisle has watched the growth of the Edmond program and believes it provides high value to the city. “[Public art] enriches the day-to-day lives of everybody walking around Edmond, whether you’re downtown, whether you’re at a bank, whether you’re at a park, on a side street ... all of sudden there’s this bronze,” she says. “It’s going to enrich the lives of current generations and future generations. It’s just an amazingly positive thing.”

The bulk of the outdoor art is bronze

sculptures, and it depicts all kinds of subject matter, including animals, people and abstract art.

Since each piece is selected by the donor, many different styles and preferences are represented.

The future of the program includes statues placed in a new public park coming to Edmond in the next few years, according to Shadid. And as the driving force behind the project, he says he has a straightforward approach to the reasons behind it.

“It’s hard to be mad at someone when you’re driving down the road or walking down Broadway downtown and you see a beautiful piece, or you see a really happy piece or a funny piece,” says Shadid.

BONNIE RUCKER

THE DRIVING FORCE What was the impetus for this program? In a word: civility.

Shadid noticed a recurring theme while traveling.

“When I see public art in places, it just is a whole different dynamic for the community. It raises the level of civility in your community,” he says.

Love of art got Shadid started on Art in Public Places, but his commitment to Edmond and his desire to make the city a nice place to visit and a nice place to live made it worth the time and investment. “[Public art] enhances the aesthetic of the city tremendously and I think it improves people’s attitudes when they’re out and about and see it,” he says.

T H E S TAT E | C U LT U R E

RULES OF THE ROAD

Cycling Excitement

Oklahoma’s friendly cycling community offers its riders true camaraderie, on and off the bike.

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The nonprofit Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship (OEF) is dedicated to advancing mountain biking in Oklahoma through advocacy and trail work.

Photo courtesy OEF

sk anyone who cycles regularly and they’ll tell you all about the importance of community.

“Whether you’re a cross-country racer or just like to have fun riding the trails, biking is more fun with friends,” says Ryan Steadley, president of the Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship.

Community is also built off the bike, by volunteering to clean and maintain paths and trails.

“Without those volunteers, we wouldn’t have trails,” says Steadley.

“Trail work days are also a great opportunity to meet new folks to ride with.”

Michael Schooling, former president and current webmaster for Tulsa Bike Club, adds that clubs can “introduce you to new routes and riding opportunities, diet and training insights, and maintenance techniques.”

Both groups were fashioned out of necessity.

“OEF was formed back in 1996 in response to the needs of Oklahoma mountain bikers to have a club that would represent and advocate for their interests, as well as be the official trail maintaining organization,” says Steadley.

Along the same lines, the Tulsa Bicycle Club was created in 1972 by cycling enthusiasts who wanted to connect with other people and share their passions.

“Eventually, the club split with those more interested in racing forming Tulsa Wheelmen, and the remaining folks staying with the Tulsa Bicycle Club,” says Schooling.

While meet-ups to ride are always popular, Schooling says the Tulsa Bicycle Club has not had regular, in-person meetings since 2019.

“We’ve toyed with the idea of having virtual meetings,” says Schooling, but the gatherings have never drawn a large crowd for them in the past. Oklahoma Earth-

FOR CYCLISTS • Always yield to pedestrians or vehicles • Ride in the same direction as the flow of traffic • Obey all traffic signals and signs • Always use hand signals when turning or stopping • Always wear a helmet FOR DRIVERS • Beware of a left turn; a cyclist is often moving faster than you think • Give the cyclist three feet of clearance when passing • Look before you open your door to avoid hitting a cyclist • Cyclists on the road are considered vehicles – treat them as such bike Fellowship meets on the first Thursday of every month at trails or breweries in Oklahoma City.

Although the primary function of both groups is riding, they tack on a few other activities when possible.

“We do sponsor one or two event rides each year,” says Schooling, such as Tour de Tulsa, an event that was canceled this year but will hopefully be back in 2022.

As for OEF, they converge to “fix our bikes, dream of new bikes, and work on trails,” says Steadley.

Cyclists in Oklahoma face a big challenge: the dangers of the main roads. When asked how Oklahoma drivers fare in regards to road etiquette, both cyclists offer mostly positive reviews ... although Schooling notes that people are often in a hurry these days.

“Drivers just need to relax and pass with care when it’s safe,” he says.

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Some small Oklahoma towns can’t support fitness centers, but community leaders work hard to keep citizens moving.

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enior pastor Brett Land glanced out the window of his office at the First Baptist Church of Shamrock and saw something that warmed his heart: A young father was approaching the church’s playground and basketball court, carrying his daughter on his shoulders. They reached their destination, and each grabbed a basketball.

“He was shooting with one, and she was trying to figure out what to do with her basketball,” says the minister. “She appeared to be about two years old.”

There are no gyms or fitness centers in Shamrock, but the church’s outdoor space is available at all hours to the residents of this tiny town. Land says there’s never been any vandalism.

“We don’t worry about it; we just put the basketballs out in a container,” he says.

Many such Oklahoma communities are short on exercise facilities, but people who care about fun and fitness will usually find a way.

Marlene Clowers did a lot of volunteer work during her years as a stay-at-home mom. So, when she was approached by the Grand Gateway Area Agency on Aging to train as an Enhance Fitness leader, she assumed it would be another freebie. Turns out, she’s compensated for the classes she teaches at the Ketchum Senior Center, but she would probably do it for free.

“It’s an evidence-based exercise program that helps keep you out of the nursing home,” says Clowers.

Participants report having more energy, better balance, increased flexibility and enhanced upper and lower body strength.

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes operate a fitness center in the small town of Concho, where the tribe is headquartered.

But many tribal members live in rural areas

Even without state-of-the-art gyms or fitness centers, citizens of small Oklahoma towns find ways to exercise both solo and in group settings.

Photo courtesy Marcos Baros

Community Bonds On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, says Marlene Clowers, “I am very happy.” Those are the days she teaches two Enhance Fitness classes at the Ketchum Senior Center.

and towns too small to support a gym, so Marcos Baros “It’s like family to me,” goes to them. she says of the eight He’s the tribe’s to 10 seniors who typidiabetes prevencally show up for each tion coordinator workout. Clowers does and fitness asthe exercises along with sistant, and one her students, which she of his goals is to enjoys with the added convince people bonus of keeping some they don’t need of her own health chala gym memberlenges at bay. ship to stay in shape.

“They tell me how much “We have it’s helping,” she says. been working “They appreciate me. on an at-home They are real thankful for workout book,” the program. Especially he says. what it does for their At the same balance.” time, Baros wants tribal members to get comfortable with gyms.

“When I was in high school, I didn’t know anything about the gym or how to use the equipment,” says Baros. “Nobody explained it to me. I was scared of the gym. We try to make sure that we are welcoming for everybody.”

Land says programming at his church also includes recreation, especially for the youth. Activities range from card games to ping pong, so some youth nights are more physical than others.

“Recreation is important for everybody,” he says. “Everybody likes to play. It’s a way to connect, to team up with people you would not otherwise be teamed with, to celebrate successes. When we are doing games, it helps us to share life together.”

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Creating a Strong Legacy

Tinker Federal Credit Union’s Mike Kloiber spent 25 years improving life for his employees and patrons.

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After a storied career at Tinker Federal Credit Union, president and CEO Michael Kloiber (right) retired at the end of August.

Photo courtesy TFCU

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ike Kloiber put his “spin” on Tinker Federal Credit Union (TFCU), Oklahoma’s largest credit union, for 25 years. And he hopes he’s left behind a lasting legacy.

While Kloiber retired at the end of August as TFCU’s president and CEO, he’s held nearly every position imaginable throughout his career – everything from drivethrough sweeper and bank teller to senior officer and vice president of operations.

When that last position became available, Kloiber took the leap.

Thanks to his 10 years of experience in community banking, he got the job.

“Fortunately, I had been exposed to a lot of different experiences ... that’s what made me a qualified candidate,” he says.

“Plus, I also had the education.

Back then, leadership didn’t have as many college degrees ... they were educated by experience. I came in with the experience, plus a bachelor’s degree and a masters degree.”

While Kloiber is now spending his days traveling in an RV with his wife Pam, his days at TFCU were rarely predictable.

“There [were] no typical days,” he says. “You [would] come in with an agenda that you’d like to get done, but it was always interrupted. I think that’s what [made] the job exciting. I never had a single

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

spin on it, and I think most emday that was the same as the day ployees know who I am and what I before...I [was] just ready to tackle stand for, and that’s not very easy the next day.” with an organization of [TFCU’s] For Kloiber, the top priority at size,” he says. “I TFCU was his think you have employees. He to be close to the emphasized that people you are running TFCU responsible for took the whole and for them to team, and if know that you he didn’t have care about them. the employees I know what it’s doing their job, like to be at difthe credit union Kloiber was born in Tulsa ferent levels, and didn’t function. and raised in Oklahoma it’s important “They are City, where he attended to show apprethe face of the Southeast High School – ciation and be credit union, and the place where he met considerate of all how they treat his wife, Pam. He continemployees.” members is how ued his higher educaAs for the successful we tion at the University of future of TFCU, will be,” he adds.

Kloiber hopes “The employees Central Oklahoma. the financial are the most Previously a school institution conimportant thing teacher, Kloiber began tinues to expand for me – and the his career in finance by and add new one thing I miss sweeping the drivetechnology. He the most.” through at a community says he felt he left His passion for bank on weekends. It the credit union his employees was there that leaderin great shape led to Kloiber’s ship asked him to join and good hands, desire to imthe world of banking. ready to keep prove the culture He’s an advocate of growing. at TFCU during “I see nothing his tenure. He the credit union movebut good things says it is one of ment and is a steadfast in the future,” he the most crucial supporter of the defense says. things he did. community.

ALAINA STEVENS “I put the ‘Mike Kloiber’

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JOB OPTIONS ABOUND

Sky High Ambitions

Oklahoma’s two accredited collegiate architecture programs prepare students for success.

O Above: The Prairie House was built by University of Oklahoma architecture students under the guidance of professor Herb Greene in the early 1960s. Photo

by Bob Bowlby, courtesy OU Western History Collection Below: Students in OSU’s architecture program are given their own workspaces and desks.

Photo courtesy OSU School of Architecture

klahoma has a rich history when it comes to the study of architecture and the built environment. The two schools with accredited degree programs in Oklahoma – Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma – bring distinctive perspectives to the discipline.

The architecture school at OU started admitting students in 1926, and two decades later, with the arrival of architect Bruce Goff as chairman, the program took “a dramatically different course that proved to be unique and somewhat revolutionary, not only for OU, but globally for architecture pedagogy,” says Hans Butzer, dean of the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture.

During this time period, OU faculty developed an approach to architecture that was grounded in an understanding of the designs of Native American tribes, of the available materials in Oklahoma, and deep-seated respect for people and places, according to Stephanie Pilat, director of the Division of Architecture, part of the College of Architecture.

“Our program became one of

the few that truly emphasized architecture as a part of, or extension of, nature and natural resources,” says Butzer. “What today we call sustainability and resilience.”

And this history informs the current program’s core emphasis on sustainability and resilience, health and well-being in the built environment, as well as entrepreneurship and experimentation, says Butzer.

The architecture program at OSU was established in 1909, making it one of the oldest schools of architecture in the U.S. One of the unique traditions that has endured through this long history is that each student has a dedicated workspace and desk, says Suzanne Bilbeisi, professor and head of the School of Architecture. This allows students to work in teams and learn from one another. There are about 350 students through the five-year program, allowing students to work closely with faculty.

“Every student has the opportunity to work with every faculty member and get to know them on a personal level,” says Bilbeisi. “I’m very proud of our community at the school of architecture.”

The architectural schools in Oklahoma prepare students for future employment through mentoring programs, practicums, professional workshops and professional connections made in school.

Graduates of these programs can expect opportunities to work in architectural firms, construction administration, interior design or for planning firms, city municipalities and the real estate industry. They may work as a design architect, within a corporation representing a client, or in rendering creative drawings.

But what attracts a student to the study of the built environment? Bilbeisi says that prospective students tend to either enjoy drawing and building with toys, or they observe architecture around them in everyday life and when they travel.

“Architecture is a really interdisciplinary field, in that it requires people with a wide range of skill sets, and no single person has all of them,” says Pilat. “Really, you need to be a collaborative problem-solver.”

Cooperation and teamwork, as well as creative problem-solving, are some of the foundational skills that students learn from an architecture degree. Pupils work through problems with no clear path to solution, and are required to think creatively to solve them, says Pilat.

“Buildings take a whole lot of people to make happen, and so you’re always working in a team of people,” says Bilbeisi. “So if you can get to know how to work with other people and how to appreciate the design processes of your peers, that’s helpful to you in the real world.”

BONNIE RUCKER

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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

The Venerable Roy Clark

Claremore offers a tribute to this lauded musician, singer and honorary Okie.

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s far as country-music impresario Jim Halsey is concerned, the city of Claremore is a perfect place for an exhibition on his famed client and friend, Roy Clark. After all, Clark not only deeply admired Claremore’s favorite son, the celebrated Will Rogers; he was also, in 2005, grand marshall of the town’s annual Will Rogers Days parade.

“Roy was a big, big fan of Will Rogers,” explains Halsey, Clark’s longtime manager. “And he got to ride in the parade for Will, so there’s a real connection there.

Plus, I don’t know of two more

The late Roy Clark is remembered at the J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum in Claremore.

File photo

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

loved and respected Americans than Will Rogers and Roy Clark.

What two people pair up better?

That’s America, buddy.”

It’s also Claremore, now that the city’s J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum has opened its exhibit, The Story of Roy Clark, a little more than a mile away from where the Will Rogers Memorial Museum has long stood on a hill, overlooking the town. The latter is the permanent repository for Rogers’ artifacts, while the Clark exhibit at the Davis Museum is scheduled to last “about a year,” according to Halsey, who works out of his offices a couple of dozen miles down the road in Tulsa.

For decades, Clark was also a T-Town resident, and Halsey notes that efforts are underway to find “a permanent home” for the collection in their shared hometown. In the meantime, he says, “We have all this memorabilia that we need to do something with. So, what better place to do it than in a state-of-theart exhibition space in Oklahoma?

This gives Tulsans and people from the Tulsa area an opportunity to renew their acquaintance with Roy through physical objects – posters and albums and guitars and clothing, awards and citations.

They can see all the contributions this man made, not only to American music and American entertainment, but specifically to Tulsa and the whole Oklahoma area.”

Visitors will indeed find an intriguing array of Roy Clark material in the Davis Museum exhibit, from a pair of overalls and a banjo that he used during his long run on TV’s Hee Haw to custom and antique rifles to a special trading card.

That latter item particularly delighted the museum’s ex-

ecutive director Wayne McCombs, a well-known baseball expert who’s written extensively on the subject.

“We’ve got the bubblegum card [ from 1961] celebrating the 565-foot home run that Mickey Mantle hit at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.,” McCombs notes. “Roy saw him hit it. He was in the stands with his dad that day.”

By the time Mantle launched that monumental blast, the Clark family – originally from Virginia – had been living in D.C. for more than 15 years, where his father, a onetime farmer, had found work at the Washington Navy Yard. It wasn’t until the early ‘70s that Clark, by then an internationally known entertainer whose career had been guided for years

by Halsey, moved to Tulsa, where Halsey was busy building up his Jim Halsey Company. (By the mid’80s, it would be the biggest country-music agency in the world.)

Clark remained a Tulsa resident until his 2018 death, lending his name, presence and talent to – among other local endeavors – a nine-year run of annual Roy Clark Celebrity Golf Tournaments and concurrent Star Night concerts, all benefiting Tulsa’s Children’s Medical Center.

As impressive and star-studded as those events were, they make up only a small part of Roy Clark’s legacy – which is something that the museum’s executive director McCombs and curator Jason Schubert quickly realized when they began looking into the idea of a Clark exhibit.

“It started around Thanksgiving, when Jim gave me a call about it,” remembers McCombs. “He told me that Roy had a lot of hunting rifles and some antique stuff from the Civil War era that we might be interested in displaying. Then,

T H E S TAT E | I N S I D E R we started talking about Roy’s awards.”

Eventually, Schubert and McCombs visited the Clark home in Tulsa to take a look at some of Roy’s mementos. There, they were met by Julia Staires, Roy’s longtime office manager who, McCombs says, was assisting Barbara Clark, Roy’s widow.

“We started with the rifles,” Schubert remembers. “But as we looked at everything he had and saw just what was there, we said, ‘We really need to tell this story.’

That’s how it began to develop into The Story of Roy Clark.”

Adds McCombs: “We saw those awards and realized that each one of them was a milestone. We thought people needed to see them. So, we asked if we could use them, and they said, ‘Sure.’ Once we had permission, Jason and I started pulling them off the walls and wrapping them in bubble wrap.”

At one point, Halsey asked if they’d like to use any of Clark’s stage costumes.

“We said we’d take a couple,” says Schubert with a chuckle.

“He got us six, including, best of all, those Hee Haw overalls.”

Some of the items in the exhibit, including a platinum record (signifying sales of more than a million copies) of his 1969 single “Yesterday, When I Was Young,” will be familiar to even casual Roy Clark fans. Other pieces, however, may offer surprises to the exhibit’s visitors.

There is, for instance, a photo and helmet that reflected Clark’s passion for drag racing. Taken at a track in the Ozarks, the picture shows him and his car, with “Super Picker” emblazoned on the side. There’s also a section devoted to Clark’s love of baseball – which includes the trading card mentioned earlier. Clark was not only one of the owners of the Tulsa Drillers for many years; he’d been a good-enough player himself to earn a tryout with the St. Louis Browns.

“He really had a lot to do with saving professional baseball in Tulsa, too,” says McCombs.

“Back in 1979, they needed a new stadium. Roy put together

a telethon, on Channel 2, that raised $106,000 toward that goal.

And he was part-owner of the Drillers from ‘77 until after the ‘82 season.”

Yet, while McCombs is proud of the baseball component, his favorite part is the videohighlight reel put together for the exhibit – especially the footage of Clark’s character Myrtle Halsey (the last name was no accident) on The Beverly Hillbillies TV show.

“I remember back when I was a disc jockey [on radio station KVOO], visiting with Roy and telling him how I watched him on The Beverly Hillbillies with my family, when I was growing up,” McCombs says. “He told me that he’d gotten his first screen kiss, from [his co-star] Donna Douglas, when he was playing Myrtle Halsey.”

While McCombs had the opportunity to meet and visit with Clark – along with spinning his records as a deejay – Schubert knew Clark mostly through Hee Haw, which remained a popular syndicated program for decades. Now that he’s had a chance to look more deeply into Clark’s career, he admits to being “amazed” by the man.

“I didn’t realize the extent of musical talent that Roy Clark had,” he says. “I didn’t realize how tremendous of a musician he was – what a great talent he was.”

McComb adds: “When we went to his home, and got to see all his awards – well, it was unbelievable. All these awards, for years and years and years. And then, all that he gave back. The charity golf tournaments and the Children’s Medical Center and all that. It was just fantastic. He didn’t have to do that. He was already a welcomed, accepted Okie. But he kept going and going. He really was an amazing individual.”

That evaluation isn’t only shared by the J.M. Davis Museum’s curator and executive director; it’s also reflected beautifully in their new exhibit – a fitting tribute to one of Oklahoma’s all-time great adopted sons.

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LIFE & STYLE

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

The Keys to Relaxation

The Florida Keys are a time capsule of true Americana.

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Top: On-the-water activities like snorkeling are a hot ticket in the Florida Keys.

Right: Ernest Hemingway’s home is an often-visited tourist destination.

Photos courtesy the Florida Keys News Bureau

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ubbed as America’s “Sunshine State,” Florida has additional appeal with its unique cluster of keys.

Keys, from the Spanish word caya, means “small island,” and there are over 800 of them. Driving on Overseas Highway is an excursion in itself, as one gazes upon the everglades, estuaries and mangroves.

Key West is one of the best-loved islands, and its vibe is spectacular; trying to define it is fun. While it has similarities to New Orleans, beach towns and southern charm galore, it also has a touch of the tropics.

Tourists flock to Ernest Hemingway’s house, located street-side, though shrouded behind tall hedges.

Compared to Hemingway’s house in Cuba, the one in Key West has a different look: antiques and art deco chandeliers versus contemporary ambiance. The dwelling is a museum of artifacts, but the cats steal the

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

show; there’s even a cat cemetery on the property. The house/museum is perfectly located for tourists within a neighborhood of quaint architecture, lively bars and boutiques.

A lighthouse tower is located across the street – this gives Key West the distinction of reportedly being the only place in America that has a lighthouse within a city.

Nearby, tourists line up to pose at the southernmost point of the continental United States. Key West is a mere 90 miles away from Cuba, lending itself to that exotic aesthetic intensified by palm trees and lush florals.

The rest of your time can be spent meandering through the eclectic neighborhood streets, admiring architecture. Outdoor decor expresses that distinct Key West pride, from seasonal-themed props to bohemian stylings. It draws you into a magnetic force of relaxation. The balmy

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

Clockwise from top left: Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, photo

by Rob O’Neal/Florida Keys News Bureau Captain Tony’s Saloon, photo by Laurence Norah/Florida Keys News Bureau Christ of the Abyss statue, photo by Florida Keys News Bureau Kitten at the Ernest Hemingway home, photo by Rob O’Neal/Florida Keys News Bureau Hemingway home, photo by Laurence Norah/Florida Keys News Bureau

weather encourages you to slow down and seek shade in the canopied outdoor taverns. You’ll lose track of time ... which is kind of the point. Stained-glass windows, picket fences and Flamboyan trees adorn the neighborhood. It’s like a beauty pageant of houses, but they don’t compete – instead, they exist harmoniously. The nearby taverns are less pageant-like and more motley.

Coastal and seaside towns are startlingly different from their landlocked counterparts. It’s refreshing to see that places like the Keys maintain the integrity of their architecture and signage.

Some tourists question this time-warp effect while eventually succumbing to the very details of this energy. It’s a commitment to a lifestyle where people engage with the sea.

You’ve heard of catch and release ... but what about catch and cook? It’s fish you catch and have cooked at Islamorada’s Lazy Days restaurant. Airstream campers driving down the highways with boats and bicycles attached express a wellloved phrase: “Carpe diem!”

Driving back to resorts where you

might be lodging, you’ll pass seafood shacks and regional shops advertised with mid-century fonts and designs. The Keys don’t have to change and adapt to keep up with the times; they are a time capsule of Americana and part of the getaway.

Settling into relaxation back at your resort, you’ll retreat into the zone of seaside visuals. Serene white, blended with vibrant green, provide that tranquil palette, subsuming you into the luxurious pace of beach life. Sunset is an experience all its own, so take the time to drink it in with photos or watching boats and yachts drift by.

Dinners include an array of seafood: hogfish, grouper, snapper, mahi-mahi, conch and more. Cuban-influenced mojitos are a popular beverage and Key lime pies, iconic of the region, complete the dining experience. End the night chatting around the fire pit as you sink into your chairs and feel the fire’s flames on your cheeks. You get to do it all over again tomorrow. These are the keys to a relaxing vacation.

GINA MICHALOPOULOS KINGSLEY

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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LIFE & ST YLE | F YI

A Different Kind of Literate Becoming money savvy can help set you up for success now and years down the road.

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ost of us like to think we are financially literate, but there’s always room to learn. If you think setting up a budget should be your initial course of action, you could already be a step behind. Instead, the first questions to ask yourself are: why do I want a budget, and what do I want it to accomplish for me?

Many online tools are available to get your finances in order. The Motley Fool – a private financial and investing advice company – has a step-by-step process for setting up a budget, with an abbreviated version below: • Ask yourself why you need a budget • Assess your current spending habits • Denote on a calendar all one-time and periodic expenses • Total up all your income • Set financial goals • Make plans on how to stick to your budget Blake Parks, a business development specialist for Oklahoma’s Credit Union (OKCU), says there is always something to learn about personal finance.

“I believe financial literacy can be achieved when a person understands how to budget and manage their money effectively,” he says. “It takes consistent commitment to using the resources available in order to achieve your financial goals.”

Parks says that financial planning across different age groups has some markers in common.

“There are similarities across all ages, but I see younger adults tend to focus on establishing and improving their credit score while also learning the importance of saving for an emergency fund, so they have stability when unexpected life events happen,” he says. “For someone later in their career, they tend to focus on paying off debts like their mortgage, and investing in their retirement plan so they retire comfortably.”

He adds: “One way that members establish or repair their credit is with a secured credit card, where the card is backed by a cash deposit upfront. It’s also important to know that 35% of a credit score is based on payment history.”

OKCU periodically offers free classes to the public, including one titled ‘Your Money Personality.’

DEBI TURLEY

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

Arm Yourself with Knowledge

There are many sources in Oklahoma to go to for a financial refresher course, or just to get back on track after a major change such as a graduation, marriage, divorce, retirement, new job or the start of a business.

A Personal Financial Literacy Page is available at sde.ok.gov/personalfinancial-literacy. Some of the topics there include: • Earning an income • Understanding state and federal taxes • Managing a bank account • Understanding insurance • Charitable giving • Identity fraud and theft OSU in OKC offers a personal finance class that can be taken as an instructor-led class for six weeks or self-paced over three months. Some of their helpful topics include: • Knowing how to change your credit report • How to keep good financial records • Making the right investments

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SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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

An Epidemic within the Pandemic Substance use and abuse are on the rise due to increased isolation caused by COVID-19.

W

hile it’s normal to experience stress during difficult times – especially a global pandemic – stress can also increase substance use and abuse.

More people may drink or turn to other substances to cope with stress, sleep disturbances and even boredom, or people may drink and take drugs more heavily, increasing their risk for alcohol and/or substance use disorders.

Experts describe this concern as an epidemic within the pandemic.

Thanks to increased seclusion, mental stress and availability of potent drugs, more people are experiencing substance use, which can, in turn, lead to serious addiction, behavior disorders, crisis or even death.

Data shows that drug overdoses have accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic: Nearly 92,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the U.S. from November 2019 to October 2020, the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period, according to recent provisional data from the

26

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Effective treatment, positive coping strategies and access to recovery resources can reduce the impact of stress and fear, as well as alleviate anxiety, depression and other difficult emotions.

In Oklahoma, the state legislature made history this year through the largest ever state investment in crisis services. More than $17 million in additional funds were appropriated to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) for this purpose. In a press conference this summer, ODMHSAS commissioner Carrie Slatton-Hodges noted that through the investment in the mental health crisis and early intervention services, lives will be saved and people in crisis will more likely get the help they need.

The numbers don’t lie: Bryan Day, the CEO of 12&12, the state’s largest Comprehensive Care Addiction Recovery Center (CCARC), notes that the episodic instances of drug and alcohol crises have been on the rise

in the wake of the pandemic.

“We are seeing more people engaging us and in need of services at our facility with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders – depression, anxiety, bipolar – than ever before.”

Lowell Robertson, MD, is an internal/addiction medicine specialist affiliated with OSU Medical Center. He says that “the critical component here is awareness.

If you or a loved one are experiencing any stress-related behavioral effects that may be leading to increases in the consumption of alcohol or other substances, talk about it. These have been very difficult times, and coping mechanisms are being tested in all of us. Help is readily available if/when you need it.”

September is National Recovery Month. Observed annually, the month is used to educate the public on substance abuse, treatment and mental health services, as well as to celebrate the lives of those who have committed themselves to long-term recovery.

RON BRADY

LIFE & ST YLE | OUTSIDE THE METRO

Raving for El Reno

Just down the road from OKC, El Reno curates its own identity as a weekend getaway or suburban respite.

Right: The U.S. Calvary Competition is a hot ticket event.

Below: El Reno’s downtown area boasts a variety of murals.

Photos courtesy the City of El Reno

A

15-minute drive down Interstate 40 or historic Route 66 takes a person from the Canadian County seat of El Reno into the heart of Oklahoma’s capital.

That, says El Reno mayor Matt White, helps explain El Reno’s attractiveness and population growth over the past decade.

“We can conduct business in Oklahoma City, but we have a hometown feel,” says White, a longtime real estate and business developer of the community, which lies at the convergence of two highways and two historic routes. “You can go to a Thunder game, and do stuff in Oklahoma City, but live here. It’s a wonderful community.”

El Reno started as a trading post and resting place on the famed Chisholm Trail cattle drives, between Texas and Kansas, before Oklahoma statehood, and benefited from the arrival of the Rock Island railroad. It’s a thriving, energetic community and has proved a draw not only for its residents but for tourists and visitors. And with the reemergence of city life, activities that draw tourists to the city again are popping up on the calendar.

Some come to El Reno for a taste of the city’s local taste treat, the famed fried-onion burger, developed in the hard economic times of the 1930s by an entrepreneur who augmented his thin hamburger patties with piles of shredded onions, and

unknowingly created what became a local delicacy. Today, three fried-onion burger eateries – Sid’s Diner, Robert’s Grill and Johnnie’s Grill – draw a regular clientele of townsfolk and visitors, says Shana Ford, executive director of El Reno Main Street. The city pays tribute to the delicious burger creation with a Burger Day celebration each May. Ford offers an inquirer a list of other events this year that signal a return to better times. Four new murals are gracing the downtown area, along with four new down-

FOR MORE INFORMATION EL RENO MAIN STREET

405-262-8888 elrenomainstreet.com EL RENO CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

405-262-4070 cityofelreno.com

EL RENO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

405-262-1188 elrenochamber.com HISTORIC FORT RENO

405-262-3987 fortreno.org

CRIMSON CREEK GOLF COURSE

405-422-4653 crimsoncreekgolf.com

town businesses that have opened recently.

Events such as a Quilt Walk, Christmas parade, the “Smoke on the Water” boat races on Lake El Reno, and the city’s iconic soupedup lawnmower races – held on select weekends by the city’s Grascar Racing Association – are indications that El Reno is around for the long haul.

Population estimates from 2019 place El Reno’s population at just over 20,000, says White, as local officials await figures from the 2020 Census.

Originally 10 miles north, El Reno was established in its present location after the 1889 land run, and today is at the intersection of Interstate 40, U.S. Highway 81 and historic Route 66.

Just west of town is the site of an 1800s military outpost, Fort Reno, established to keep peace on the plains, which remains a tourist draw as an historic landmark that includes a museum, cemetery and a U.S. Agriculture Department research lab. It also includes the post chapel, a national historic site built in 1944 by African prisoners of war captured during World War II. Golfing enthusiasts will likely enjoy the city-owned Crimson Creek Golf Course, an 18-hole layout that includes holes that were part of the former El Reno Country Club course. The new links were designed by noted golf course architect P.B. Dye. HENRY DOLIVE

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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

Johnny & Karen Clark, Kenedi Ross, Chris Rowland, Tucker Howk; TBH event, Tulsa Boys’ Home

Chris Lambert, Connor Arnold, Greg Sellmyer, Thunder Girls Ashley & Shannee, Matt Clark, Leroy Combs, Arnell Dean, Michael Williams, Bryan Jones, John Graham; Celebrity Wait Night, Upward Transitions, OKC

Mayor G.T. Bynum, Bruce Dart, Pam Ballard, Chris Graber; Morning Toast, Community Service Council, Tulsa

Kayla Vaughn, Maura Guten; CAN Superhero Soiree, Child Abuse Network, Tulsa

n, ne, Matt Brow rd, Mike Hear es Ainslie Stanfo gural golf tournament, W ford; Inau dation, OKC Reagan Brad Welker Foun

Meg Salyer, Gov. Kevin Stitt, Bryn Schockmel, Rosie May; The Painters of Pompeii even t, OKCMOA

Lynette Savage, Mollie Williford, Bill Lyle, Steve Gerkin; Chaine des Rotisseurs and Mondiale induction ceremony, Summit Club, Tulsa

Tom Lindley, Max Weitzenhoffer, Larry & Peggy Rice; Will Rogers Memorial’s Lecture Series; Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore

Makhi, Josh Bowers; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma, Tulsa

John Chadwick, Christian Keesee; ArtNow 2021 opening, Oklahoma Contemporary, OKC

Alison Anthony, Tim Lyons, Karen Keith; Day of Caring Food Drive, Tulsa Area United Way

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

Candice Payne, Daniel Molina; ArtNow 2021 opening, Oklahoma Contemporary, OKC

Now enrolling for fall classes!

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Ti Amo Mediterranean Market is now open!

Visit the Ti Amo Market for the freshest meat and dairy, a wide variety of starches, or our special house-made sauces and soups. Dine in at our seating area or patio or pick up something from our menu or a family-style meal to go.

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6/2/21 10:38 1:27 PM 12/16/16 PM

Whether a celebration of different cultures, the changing weather, music, art or delicious food, festivals are happening just about every week this autumn. Take a tour of the many options Oklahoma has to offer from September and beyond.

Paseo Arts Festival, OKC Sept. 4-6

Paseo Arts District

Keep your Labor Day plans open for the Paseo Arts Festival, happening in the epynemous OKC district all weekend long.

A slew of artists, entertainers and performers will line the streets for a fully immersive dive into the city’s talented arts community. With works from over 90 visual artists, guests will see photography, paintings, woodwork, jewelry, ceramics and more.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

Those looking for performance artists are in luck, as two stages will spotlight singers, songwriters, dancers and other musical acts.

Children are encourged to visit a special area for activities tailored just for them, including spin art and sculpture classes. Even better, the entire district is teeming with art galleries, restaurants and other specialities shops, so patrons can enjoy the festival for hours on end.

For more information, visit thepaseo.org/festival.

Photo courtesy the Paseo Arts Festival

Pseo rts Fest

By Mary

en Willa All

Iron Thistle Scottish Festival Rooster Days Festival Sept. 2-5

Central Park, Broken Arrow

roosterdays.com

Oktoberfest, Tulsa October 21-24

River West Festival Park

You know the drill: delicious German food, folks dressed up, live music around the clock, and yes – plenty of beer. Tulsa’s Linde Oktoberfest returns after a mustaggrieved hiatus in 2020.

Whether it’s your first time or your tenth, the sheen of Oktoberfest never wears off. You can experience “Bavaria in Oklahoma” with one of the nation’s top-rated cultural celebrations. Highlights include polka dancing, rows of vendor booths with one-of-a-kind arts and crafts, plus authentic markets. Stick around for the iconic Dachshund Dash dog races, plus beer pong competitions and beer keg races. New this year are a Lederhosen Lauf 5K race on opening night, plus the acceptance of credit cards – so no more exchanging of coupons!

Oktoberfest is open to the public Thursday from 5-11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Learn more at tulsaoktoberfest. org.

Dusk ’Til Dawn Blues Festival Sept. 3-5

Mollie Spencer Farm, Yukon

ironthistlescottishfestival.com

Fall Festival at the Orr Family Farm Sept. 15-Nov. 13

Orr Family Farm, OKC

orrfamilyfarm.com

OK Blues Hall of Fame, Checotah

Coweta Fall Festival

Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival

cowetachamber.com

dcminnerblues.com

Sept. 3-5

Tvshka Homma Tribal Grounds, Tuskahoma

choctawnation.com/ labor-day

Water Lantern Festival Sept. 4

ktobeest Photo courtesy Linde Oktoberfest

Sept. 11-12

Hafer Park, Edmond

waterlanternfestival. com/oklahomacity.php

Watermelon Festival and Community Fair Through Sept. 4

310 N. Main St., Ringwood

travelok.com

Paseo Arts Festival Sept. 4-6

Paseo Arts District, OKC

thepaseo.org/festival

Bluegrass and Chili Festival Sept. 10-11

Downtown Wagoner

bluegrasschilifest.com

Red Fern Festival Sept. 10-11

Norris Park, Tahlequah

tahlequahmainstreet. com/red-fern-festival

Sept. 16-18 Downtown

Tulsa Greek Festival/Greek Street Drive-Thru Sept. 17-18, 24-25 1222 S. Guthrie, Tulsa

tulsagreekfestival.com

Scotfest

Sept. 17-19

Broken Arrow Event Complex

okscotfest.com

Wiley Post Festival Sept. 18

506 Williams St., Maysville

chickasawcountry.com

Elk City Fall Festival Sept. 18-19

Convention Center

visitelkcity.com

Pumpkin Festival at Shepherd’s Cross Sept. 21-Nov. 6 Shepherd’s Cross, Claremore

shepherdscross.com

Skiatook Pioneer Day Festival Sept. 23-25

Skiatook Central Park

skiatookchamber.com

Downtown Edmond Arts Festival

Muscogee Nation Festival

Broadway and Second St., Edmond

Claude Cox Omniplex, Okmulgee

Sept. 10-12

downtownedmondok.com

Sept. 23-26

creekfestival.com

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Aviaion Festiva

Photo courtesy the Aviation Festival

Sept. 24-25

Peyton’s Place, Tahlequah

illinoisriverjam.com

Fin and Feather Fall Festival Sept. 24-26

Fin and Feather Resort, Gore

finandfeatherresort.com

ill Roges Motion Picture Festival

Aviation Festival, Norman Oct. 2

Photo courtesy Will Rogers Memorial Museum

Max Westheimer Airport

Those with dreams of sky-high adventures should visit the Max Westheimer Airport for the 15th annual Aviation Festival.

This year marks the 80th year of flight training at the airport, so the event brings more fun than ever with an open house, static aircraft displays and a children’s activity area. Sights to behold include the OU Fleet, an antique Steersman, and the T-6 Texans. The Vance Air Force Base, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and radio control aircraft from the Central Oklahoma Radio Control Society will also have displays on hand to enjoy.

“This is a perfect opportunity to see the airport up close,” said Lance Lamkin, the Max Westheimer Airport Administrator, in a press release. “You get to touch and feel the aircraft and visit with the pilots. This is a wonderful time for children and adults of all ages to explore the aviation world and see the many facets of the airport, aircraft and careers in aviation.”

Other draws include a model hot air balloon, tours of airplanes, and food and snow cone trucks. Visit ou.edu/airport for more information.

Illinois River Jam

Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival, Claremore Nov. 3-6

Photo courtesy Tulsa Greek Festival

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum is the place to be from Nov. 3-6 as a celebration of ‘Oklahoma’s Favorite Son’ gets into full swing.

The Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival celebrates film and Western heritage icon Rogers, an Oologah native, with a diverse array of film offerings from local, national and international creators. Stick around to see who will win the Dog Iron Award at the award ceremony Nov. 6.

While you’re there, mosey around the museum itself for a variety of informative content. Learn more about the Oklahoma icon with memorabilia, exhibits and helpful guides.

For more information, visitdogirons.com or willrogers.com.

Tulsa Greek Festival/ Greek Street DriveThru

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

The beauty of Greece is calling at the Tulsa Greek Festival, returning this year live and in person with a hybrid celebration, mixing the popular drive-thru model of last year’s event with traditional entertainment from years prior.

Authentic and delicious food is a major draw for this event – whether

you’re craving gyros, lamb dinners, baklava, ouzo, spanakopita and more.

Other enticing adventures including live folk dancing performances, replete with traditional garb and music. To curb any health concerns, patrons are able to watch this dazzling entertainment from the safety of their own vehicles. Patrons can also witness live cooking demonstrations, called saganaki, and partake in the delicious results.

For more information on the festival’s 60th anniversary event, visit tulsagreekfestival.com.

Tulsa Greek Festival OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

Elmer Thomas Park, Lawton

lawtonok.gov

Sucker Day Festival Sept. 25

Main Street, Wetumka

travelok.com

Oklahoma Heritage Farm Fall Festival

Sept. 25-Oct. 31 38512 U.S. Hwy 75, Ramona

okheritagefarm.com

Mesta Festa Sept. 26

Perle Mesta Park, OKC

mestapark.org

Oklahoma’s International Bluegrass Festival Sept. 30-Oct. 2

Cottonwood Flats Recreation Area, Guthrie

Honobia Bigfoot Festival and Conference Oct. 1-2

Kiamichi Mountain Mission Campgrounds, Honobia

honobiabigfoot.com

Oklahoma Regatta Festival Oct. 1-3

RiverSport Adventures, OKC

riversport.org

Aviation Festival Oct. 2

Sept. 17-18, 24-25

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Sept. 24-26

oibf.com

Will Rogers Memorial Museum

International Festival

Max Westheimer Airport, Norman

ou.edu/airport/events/ festival

Plaza District Festival Oct. 2

Plaza District, OKC

plazadistrict.org

Oklahoma Czech Festival Oct. 2

Main Street, Yukon

czechfestivaloklahoma.com

Poteau Balloon Festival

Scotfest, Tulsa

LeFlore County Fairgrounds

Broken Arrow Event Park

Sept. 17-19

Turn your eyes to the skies this fall as the Poteau Balloon Festival returns for out-of-this-world adventures. From hot air balloon rides to balloon glows, helicopter rides and tethered rides, thrill seekers can certainly get their fill of fun off the ground.

But the festival is more than just balloons – guests can enjoy a variety of arts and crafts booths, plus carnival rides for those wanting to stay planted on the ground.

If you’re interested in how things work, pilots will be on hand to explain the ins-and-outs of hot air balloon mechanics. Other draws include the Ms. and Mr. Balloon Festival, plus ATV races and pet contests with the Poteau Humane Society. Don’t miss out on Mean Machine monster truck rides and delicious concessions to boot.

For more information or to book a balloon ride, visit poteauchamber.com/poteauballoonfest.

Primarily modeled after the 178-year-old Lonach Gathering and the 189-year-old Braemar Gathering, both in Scotland, Tulsa’s Scotfest is as authentic as it comes.

Celebrating Celtic history and heritage, this weekendlong celebration is the perfect pick for all-ages fun.

A highlight is the Scottish Highland Games, featuring over 160 athletes in events like the caber toss, braemar stone, hammer throw and sheaf toss.

If you’re buzzing for some live music, Scotfest offers it all, from folk to roots and rock to pop. Other entertainment includes highland and Irish dance, whisky tastings, a variety of vendors and a delicious selection of beers. Stick around for educational sessions and workshops, plus sack races, three-legged races and a Scottish ring fling.

For more information, visit okscotfest.com.

Photo by Georgia Read

Photo courtesy Poteau Chamber of Commerce

Oct. 15-16

Regatta Festival, OKC Oct. 1-3

Grab a blanket, grab some friends and head to the Oklahoma River to enjoy the Oklahoma Regatta Festival.

A celebration of rowing, kayaking, dragon boating, whitewater rafting and family fun, the Regatta Festival offers athletes and spectators alike the chance to see and engage in the best these on-the-water sports have to offer. Athletes

Banjo Fest

Vinita Oktoberfest

OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Theater, OKC

Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Vinita

Oct. 7-9

Oct. 9

banjofest2021.com

holyghostvinita.org/ oktoberfest

Pelican Festival

Tallgrass Music Festival

Oct. 7-10

Wolf Creek Park, Grove

pelicanfestok.com

Watonga Cheese Festival Oct. 8-9

Downtown Watonga

hewatongacheesefestival.wordpress.com

Owasso Harvest Festival Oct. 9

Redbud Festival Park

cityofowasso.com

come from around the country, competing in collegiate, masters and junior rowing.

For those of us on the sidelines, food trucks and beer gardens abound, along with fireworks to round out days of fierce competition. A variety of special community activities and exhibitions typically run in tandem with the festival, so visit riversportokc.org for more information.

Robbers Cave Fall Festival

National Weather Festival

Robbers Cave State Park, Wilburton

Virtual

Oct. 15-17

robberscavefallfestival.com

Oct. 14-16

Chisholm Trail Festival

travelok.com

Mollie Spencer Farm, Yukon

2967 W. 133rd S.t N., Skiatook

Oct. 16

Poteau Balloon Fest

yukonok.gov/chisholmtrailfestival

LeFlore County Fair Grounds, Poteau

Oct. 16-17

Oct. 15-16

poteauchamber.com

Boo on Bell Fall Festival Oct. 15-17

Main Street and Bell Avenue, Shawnee

visitshawnee.com

Trucktoberfest Gathering Place, Tulsa

gatheringplace.org/ events

Linde Oktoberfest Oct. 21-24

River West Festival Park, Tulsa

tulsaoktoberfest.org

Oct. 25-30

ou.edu/nwc

Will Rogers Days

Photo courtesy Scotfest

Oklahoma River

Beavers Bend Folk Festival and Craft Show

Minco Honey Festival

Forest Heritage Center Museum, Broken Bow

minco-ok.com

Nov. 5-7

Nov. 3-6

forestry.ok.gov/fhc

willrogers.com/willrogers-days

Nov. 6

Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore

Talihina Fall Foliage Festival School Agriculture Barn

Chamber Music Festival

talihinacc.com

McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, Stillwater

920 S. Sheridan Rd., Lawton

Nov. 4-7

mcknightcenter.org

BXTRM Festival Nov. 13

bxtrmfestival.com

Dia de los Muertos Festival

Chickasha Festival of Light

Living Arts of Tulsa

2400 S. Ninth Street, Chickasha

Nov. 5

livingarts.org

Nov. 20-Dec. 31

chickashafestivaloflight.org

Dec. 7

Minco High School

Los Festivales y Mercado Dec. 18

Kendall Whittier District, Tulsa

visitkendallwhittier. com/losfestivales

All festivals on this list are subject to reschedule, go virtual or cancel. Visit individual websites for updates.

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

33

Sports The Robust Realm of

By Luke Reynolds

34

While many are wellversed in the rigors and excitement of football, basketball and baseball, there are collegiate athletes working tirelessly in a variety of other realms. From dedicated wrestlers and rowers to golfers and equine pros, the state abounds with experts. We also take a look into the precarious balance between athletics and academics and advise on a few sportsrelated occupations outside the arena.

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

A SPOTLIGHT ON THE LESSER-KNOWN

While everyone knows the grueling expectations on the gridiron and get pumped to see athletes on the court, Oklahoma harbors a wealth of other talented athletes in sports you don’t read as much about. We take a look at a few of these programs.

The University of Oklahoma

At 4:30 a.m., while most college students at OU are sleeping, rising senior Cassidy Mulligan’s alarm starts ringing.

Mulligan doesn’t have a plane to catch, nor does she just have a penchant for the morning air. No, she is a member of the Sooner women’s rowing squad and has a practice to get to.

“Ideally, I’m walking out the door by 4:50 a.m.,” says Mulligan. “We’ll launch, go up and down the river, do some different drills, and then we’ll get back to campus usually around 9 a.m.”

Each sport comes with unique challenges and opportunities. Sure, waking up isn’t easy, Mulligan says. But the camaraderie among teammates can’t be beaten.

“I absolutely love my team,” she says. “You get so many different cultures, and on top of the fact that we’re up before the birds are singing, you learn to bond with people that are so different from you. I think that’s a really unique aspect you take away from college sports.”

The rowing season runs concurrently with the academic schedule, with the most important competitions or regattas happening in the late spring.

Rowing

A demanding sport, rowing requires athletes to rise early in the morning for hours-long practices.

Photo courtesy the University of Oklahoma Athletics Department

Oklahoma State University

On the north side of the state, just a few miles up I-35, more opportunity exists for members of the Oklahoma State wrestling team.

The Cowboy’s team is one of the most well-known in the wrestling world and is steeped in history. It is the most successful NCAA Division I program of all time in any sport: The program holds 34 NCAA team titles and 143 individual NCAA champs.

In March, Cowboy true freshman AJ Ferrari became the 143rd individual national champion in the history of the program.

“I’m focusing on one match at a time, one takedown at a time, and it pays off,” he says. “It’s awesome to be a part of such a great program and the greatest team.”

The college wrestling season lasts four months and starts in the first half of November, with the regular season ending in late February. The NCAA National Championships take place in March.

University of Tulsa

At TU, tennis is another strong option for athletes looking to pursue a competitive sport outside of the ordinary.

The men’s Golden Hurricane finished the 2021 season with a record of 11-12.

“I’m really proud of this group,” said director of men’s tennis Vince Westbrook in a season recap. “We’re a very young group, and with all of the protocols and all of the things that we had to do for our team this year that were a little bit different, like not traveling that much, not staying the night, we had to change the way we operated in the past. We learned by trial and error and we had a really good set of results, considering everything we had to go through.

And I’m proud of our guys and how they finished the year.”

Off the court, the men’s program was SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

35

awarded an American Athletic Conference’s Team Academic Excellence Award for the 2020-21 academic year in July. The award is presented to the institution in each conference-sponsored sport with the highest cumulative grade point average for the year. The team finished out the year with a GPA average of 3.6. The TU women’s tennis team, on the other hand, fared better this season, going 15-7.

Northeastern State University

36

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

Oklahoma Panhandle State University

For those with interests outside of traditional athletics altogether, Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell offers an equine team as well as a rodeo program with a bevy of dedicated and talented athletes.

The program has produced several individual national titles at the College National Finals Rodeo national championships. The men’s rodeo team finished within the top-15 programs in the nation at this year’s CNFR in Casper, Wyo. in June.

Most sports at OPSU are affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics but the equestrian and rodeo teams operate outside of the NAIA conference.

Rodeo

The OSU wrestling program is prestigious, holding 34 NCAA team titles.

Photo courtesy Oklahoma State University Athletics

Wrestling

To find the school that holds the distinction of being the oldest institution of higher learning in Oklahoma, one must look to Tahlequah, Okla. in the northeastern part of the state. With a robust athletics program offering 11 men’s and women’s sports, NSU’s golf program stands out.

In 2019, the women’s golf team won its fourth consecutive Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association women’s golf championship. The Riverhawk men were runner-ups in the same year at the MIAA Conference Championship, finishing the tournament with a score of 855.

“The last year has been a wild ride for all in athletics, especially my program here at Northeastern State,” said Scott

Varner, head golf coach at NSU, in a letter to supporters and alumni. “However, we continued our success and look forward to getting back on the course just as soon as possible.”

COLLEGIATE ENDORSEMENTS

The landscape of amateur sports has changed dramatically in the past six months. In June, the NCAA adopted an interim policy that will allow athletes to earn income in their sports.

“This is an important day for college athletes, since they all are now able to take advantage of name, image and likeness opportunities,” said NCAA president Mark Emmert in a statement. “With the variety of state laws adopted across the country, we will continue to work with Congress to develop a solution that will provide clarity on a national level. The current environment, both legal and legislative, prevents us from providing a more permanent solution, and the level of detail studentathletes deserve.”

The policy hinges on state and local laws as well as institutional rules. According to the NCAA, the “temporary policy will remain in place until federal legislation or new NCAA rules are adopted.”

STAYING BALANCED

For collegiate student-athletes, being on the field or in the arena is just a small part of the overall college experience. Many programs have robust support systems in place to ensure athletes find balance between the rigors of competing at a university level and pursuing higher education. At the University of Oklahoma, for example, student-athletes have access to academic counselors that help them plan class schedules, find study time between training, and help monitor their grades.

Additionally, the NCAA regulates the amount of time spent participating in supervised practices to ensure athletes maintain academic solvency.

For some student-athletes, academics and athletes are nearly inseparable. The work in the classroom informs what they do on the field, court or course ... and vice versa.

And, at some schools, including Oklahoma Panhandle State University, the line between athletics and academics can be very thin or even complementary, with academic programs that are closely related to what participants do in the arena. OPSU offers a strong agriculture program, including animal science focused on equine science, with courses that include applied animal nutrition, equine evaluation and horse science.

There are hundreds of support positions that make participation in athletics possible outside the field, arena or court.

From the athletic trainers who ensure the physical wellness of the athletes to the sports psychologists who foster the mental wellness of the athletes, there are plenty of opportunities to be involved.

Equipment managers, for example, are responsible for ensuring the athletes have the apparel and any specialized gear necessary to succeed in their given sport.

At many universities this position can be filled by one or many part-time students with the oversight of a full-time staff member who manages the students.

For more specialized positions such as a sports psychologist, special training may be required, including a “master’s or doctoral degree in clinical, counseling or sports psychology. Even then, additional classes in kinesiology, physiology, sports medicine, business and marketing are required,” according to the American Psychological Association.

The same goes for athletic trainers whose job training focuses more on the physical, but still requires at least a bachelor’s degree according to Oklahoma State’s Careers in Athletic Training page.

More information on these positions can usually be found by searching oncampus job boards.

In 2019, the women’s golf team at NSU won its fourth consecutive Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association women’s golf championship.

Photo courtesy NSU

Golf

Oklahoma Panhandle State University offers unique athletic opportunities, including equine and rodeo programs.

Photo courtesy OPSU

Tennis

Along with a strong season, the TU men’s tennis team were awarded a designation for academic excellence.

Photo courtesy TU

OUTSIDE THE ARENA

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Act ive YEARS

By Lauren Miers

From continued learning opportunities to checking off exciting bucket list items, Oklahoma seniors are living their golden years to the fullest.

Never Too Late to Learn

Residents at Covenant Living at Inverness are encouraged to stay active and engaged.

Photos courtesy Covenant Living at Inverness

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

The senior years are about staying sharp and spending your free time on what interests you.

Local colleges and universities help level-up that learning while introducing students to others interested in the same topic.

Tulsa Community College offers non-credit, continuing education classes at a discount for students over 55. Offerings include topics such as do-it-yourself landscape design, photography and photo editing software, memoir writing, community band and orchestra. New courses begin regularly and vary in length.

“The feedback that we hear from our students is that taking classes offers the opportunity to continue challenging your mind and to meet people,” says Beth Wild, director of continuing education at TCC. On the for-credit side of the institution, seniors over 65 can audit courses at a reduced cost, up to seven hours per semester and four

hours during the summer. To begin, seniors must apply for admission and work with an academic advisor.

Oklahoma State University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers non-credit education, social and travel activities for adults 50-plus.

The institute serves Oklahoma City, Stillwater, Bartlesville, Tulsa and the online community. There are 125 OLLI’s at higher education institutions nationwide, including one at the University of Oklahoma.

The membership-based organization offers participant classes on topics such as American and world histories, humanities, culture and language, healthy aging, fine arts, as well as hands-on courses like painting. Davis says this fall, OLLI is piloting a virtual book club and a dine-around group in Tulsa. OLLI members can also partake in day trips. Past outings have taken members to the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur and the circus cemetery in Hugo.

“Our members tend to be very happy to see

each other and to socialize, and that’s a really strong part of OLLI,” says Robbin Davis, director at OSU’s program.

Many OLLI members use the program to help keep the blues away, socialize if they live alone, or find respite from caring for an ailing spouse.

To Learn More:

OLLI’s fall session begins on Sept. 20.

Call, email or go online at education. okstate.edu/outreach/osher-lifelonglearning-institute to learn more and enroll. Learn more about TCC’s Continuing Education offerings at tulsacc. edu/ce.

Keep Up with the Community

The past year was a reminder of the vital nature of connection. But after being isolated, it’s tough to revamp those relationships.

“Staying connected to people you care about allows people to have a fulfilling, purpose-filled life,” says Jeromy Buchanan, director of community living, aging and protective services at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. “I think the more isolated people are, the more susceptible they are to mental health decline, abuse and neglect.”

OKDHS provides funding, oversight and monitoring for 11 area agencies on aging, which then connect local seniors to the resources and services they need. Congregate meals programs, which are offered in most counties across the state, provide free, nutritious meals and activities to residents 60 and over.

“The interaction and the connection that people get is just as important as the nutrition that they’re getting from the meal,” says Buchanan.

“People love to come to those centers and meet and fellowship with other people.”

No matter the size of the city, getting connected with a local community center can provide opportunities to meet others who share similar interests. Oftentimes, local libraries curate lists of local resources, community exercise classes and learning opportunities.

Senior living communities help their residents stay connected, both to their personal goals and the community at-large. Covenant Living at Inverness offers small group, boutique classes, such as poetry reading SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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Easy on the joints but still a tough workout, pool-time exercise is a popular choice at Covenant Living at Inverness.

Photo courtesy Covenant Living at Inverness

groups, board game clubs and painting classes, as well as larger events that appeal to many residents, such as performances from Steinway pianists and presentations from local museum docents.

Jana Decker, the community’s director of wellness, emphasizes that it is essential to build a relationship with the individual, know who they are in that moment and meet them where they are. Getting to know them and making the invitation to get involved is important.

Building Community Abroad

For the adventurous, travel tours to destinations both domestic and abroad provide another way to build community through a shared experience. If booking hotels and coordinating flights feels daunting, set out on the adventure of your dreams by leaving the planning to the pros. Travel companies, like the London-based Martin Randall or the wellknown American travel guru Rick Steves, offer planned and guided tours for all ages, but are especially suited for senior travelers.

Before heading out on your next great ad

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venture, the CDC recommends visiting your doctor a month before your trip and packing prescription medications, plus a few extra days worth, in your carry-on luggage.

Make sure to bring back-up hearing aid batteries or other essentials that could be hard to find. Rick Steves recommends bringing a small notebook or getting comfortable with your phone’s notes app to record important information, such as flight numbers, hotel room numbers and directions.

While travel insurance might feel unnecessary or expensive, it can be beneficial to senior adventurers. Make sure to explore your options and coverage before setting out. As you set or review your itinerary, be honest with yourself about any limitations you have and plan accordingly; there’s no reason to book lodging without an elevator if access to one would greatly improve your well-being and trip itself.

Bucket-List Adventures

While travel destinations are a popular bucket list item, sometimes goals are more sentimental.

An octogenarian who resides at Covenant Living at Inverness hoped to put on his flight suit one last time. Instead of flying the plane, he wanted to jump from it. Surprisingly, he wasn’t the only resident interested in making the jump. Decker took a group from Covenant Living to go skydiving, and she says the resident’s flight suit still fits all these years later.

For most, living past 80 years of age is both an accomplishment and a permission slip to take it easy. Even so, it’s important to have big, audacious goals, no matter the amount of candles on your cake.

“Sometimes when we’re having conversations, they’re more legacy driven, which is great. We need to know about the past,” says Decker. “But we also need to be having aspirational conversations to find out what they want to still accomplish. It’s so important to have goals and to want to accomplish things.”

Other resident goals have included a former West Point boxer hoping to hit the bags again or visiting a working ranch to ride a horse. In both cases, Decker and the staff at Covenant Living helped them check off those bucket list items.

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SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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n i k Cr ac g ki ng c a Crthe Tech

r o Sector t c e S Sector

By Kimberly Burk

From students just starting out in their career journeys to veterans with 20 years in the business, Oklahoma teems with opportunity for those in the information and technology sectors. Experts discuss collegiate degrees to prepare pupils for success, plus some buzzwords to know, popular jobs in tech and some soft skills aspiring programmers should learn.

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

ng The University of Tulsa offers students a variety of degree programs in computer science, cybersecurity, computer information systems and more. Pictured here are Mauricio Papa, a computer science professor, and Sal Aurigemma, a computer information systems professor.

Photo courtesy the University of Tulsa

Getting a Foot in the Door

It’s nothing to be ashamed of, but many people don’t understand the difference between the disciplines of computer science and computer information systems, says Sal Aurigemma, the J. Bradley Oxley professor of computer information systems at the University of Tulsa.

As a result, Aurigemma says, some students arrive at TU intending to major in one ... only to find out they are better suited for the other.

Computer science is housed out of engineering, and CIS is in the business school, he says.

“Computer scientists are the folks who create the next-generation technology and tools – something we will do down the road,” he

says. “They are very much focused on technical solutions, and they are very smart people.”

In CIS, he says, “we solve today’s problems with today’s technology, and work with our computer science counterparts to give them what they need to build the best product to solve the problems we have.”

CIS students are more business-focused, more honed on the interface between technology and the user. They supplement their technical training with classes in management, accounting and finance. Computer science focuses more on the hard sciences, says Aurigemma.

Either way, there’s plenty of work for everyone, says Eric Kehmeier, CEO of the Broken Arrow-based Integrated Business

Technologies.

“The industry is growing, and it’s only going to keep growing,” he says.

IBT functions as an outsourced internet technology department for small and medium-sized businesses that don’t have such a department on-site.

“Most of my employees have a bachelor’s degree,” he says.

Kehmeier says excellent training is available at TU, the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma’s vocational-technical schools, to name a few.

“The more specialized you are, the higher the pay,” he says. “The hottest field is going to be in cybersecurity. We have more jobs in the industry than we have people to fill.”

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Positions in the Sector

Aurigemma sometimes catches himself boasting about his TU program and its students – rightfully so.

“Our employment rate is close to, or it is, 100 percent,” he says. “The job prospects are fantastic.”

TU trains candidates in the information technology industry with bachelor’s degrees in computer science, computer information systems and cybersecurity, as well as a master’s degree in cybersecurity and a Ph.D. in cyber studies.

“We’ve been very active in computers and cybersecurity for a very long time,” he says. “And we have a long list of employers who come to our students, offering paid internships that pay an average of $20 an hour.”

People who are not in the field probably don’t realize how broad the internet technology industry really is, says Aurigemma. Specialties include software development, programming, IT management, web development, computer systems analysis and cybersecurity.

“The workforce needs so many IT professionals right now,” he says. “In such a short period of time, technology has become integral to everything in our lives.”

All specialties are needed, but cybersecurity is becoming increasingly crucial.

“We were one of the first universities in the nation to have a dedicated cybersecurity program,” says Aurigemma. “We have a bachelor’s that’s new.

We have had a master’s for about five years. There are upwards of a million cybersecurity jobs in the United States alone.”

Cybersecurity requires a base knowledge of computer science and computer information systems, Aurigemma says, “but adds another layer of how things can be exploited and how they can be protected.”

Kehmeier says his internet technology managers are increasing their work with clients on security matters, including multi-factor authentication.

“We also do dark web monitoring, so if their credentials are for sale on the dark web, we can let them know about it and re-set it,” he says.

The Nitty Gritty

If you don’t like change, you are not going to like being in internet technology, says Kehmeier. But it’s the constantly evolving nature of the business, he says, that many longtime employees enjoy.

“A lot of people in this industry find it fun because it’s challenging and new,” says Kehmeier, who has worked in the field for more than 20 years.

“Most IT jobs aren’t 8 to 5 jobs. There are times you have to work around the clock. But we find satisfaction in helping people do their jobs.”

The technology industry offers “a fit for any personality,” says Aurigemma.

“Your satisfaction, part of it is knowing who you are and what you want to get out of a job. It’s almost a guarantee there is a job out there that meets your desired goals and what you want to get out of it. You just have to find it.”

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Integrated Business Technologies, based in Broken Arrow, helps small to medium-sized businesses who don’t have their own tech departments on hand.

Photo courtesy IBT

Students at the University of Tulsa have their choice of a variety of degree programs in the technology sectors.

Photo courtesy the University of Tulsa

The Importance of Soft Skills

Working in the information technology industry is about a lot more than staring at a computer screen. Even with a shortage of candidates, potential employers should not let their standards down when it comes to seeking people with the right skill sets, says Aurigemma.

“We need more people in the field, but technical skills are not enough,” he says. “They need soft skills too. They need to be able to communicate effectively and to have good moral values. Those things are just as important.”

Good customer service is crucial, says Kehmeier. He says tech employees must listen carefully to what their clients are telling them, especially the customers who are not well-versed in technical jargon.

Information technology workers need to be problem-solvers, and people who know how to think analytically.

“A lot of it is detective work,” he says.

Buzzwords to Know

Shelly Blunk, MSW Executive Director

Artificial intelligence uses algorithms to look at info that currently exists, says Aurigemma. AI can very rapidly look at a lot of information and do things with it, such as classification. It can help predict where the next surge of COVID might be, for example, based on the types of things people are doing internet searches for.

The cloud is a pool of computing resources managed by large companies, so that organizations and individuals aren’t required to have their own servers, and it provides a level of service and security. The cloud is essential for modern businesses, Aurigemma says. It offloads the information into data sectors spread throughout the world.

The internet of things is something that cybersecurity people are concerned about, Aurigemma says.

“It’s all the other things being put on the internet that aren’t associated with people doing their jobs or enjoyment-browsing,” he says. “Even though I study cybersecurity and am very careful, I have things connected to the internet that are unmanaged. Most of these devices are dirt cheap, have very little security built into them and can be taken over to gain access. It’s coffee pots, televisions, everything on the internet that you never thought would be on the internet. Who thought refrigerators would be on there someday?”

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THE PROFESSIONALS WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST What are the different types of laser treatments I can have on my face? What do each of them do?

There a various type of laser used to treat varying types of skin conditions and concerns. A popular laser treatment is IPL (Photofacial) which uses intense pulse light to MALISSA SPACEK target hyperpigmentation (dark spots) while shrinking pore size and helping improve the look of fine lines. It is a quick treatment with little downtime. On the other side is C02 laser resurfacing, which goes much deeper to target fine lines, deep wrinkles and acne scars. This procedure yields wonderfully dramatic results but does require 3-7 days downtime. Then there are tons of in-between options. The best way to find out which is right for you is to schedule a complimentary consultation with you skin care professional. You can do so by calling 918-872-9999.

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HOSPICE CARE I know there is no cure for my cancer, but I want to live as long as I can. Will going on hospice shorten the time I have left with my family?

Hospice does not shorten a person’s life expectancy. The goal of hospice care is to help you live comfortably when a cure is no longer possible. A SHELLY BLUNK, MSW hospice team seeks to understand you and your family’s needs, fears and concerns so that you are provided the emotional, spiritual and medical support you need. At Grace Hospice, we are about person-centered care. This means knowing the people we serve, understanding their unique needs, and tailoring care to ensure the best journey through the final stages of life. If you would like to learn more about hospice services, please call us at 918-744-7223.

Shelly Blunk, MSW Executive Director Grace Hospice of Oklahoma 6218 South Lewis, Suite 1000 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.744.7223 www.gracehospice.com

FINANCIAL ADVISOR How do I capitalize on employee stock options?

If your employer provides you the opportunity to own company stock, it’s important to understand how the options work. Here are terms to understand: Strike price: the price you will pay to purchase shares. Market price: the current value of a share of stock.

DAVID KARIMIAN CFP®, CRPC®, APMA® Vesting date: after receiving the option, you may have to wait for a specified time period before you can exercise it. Expiration date: once the option is fully vested, you may choose to purchase the stock at any time before the expiration date. If the market value of the stock stays below the strike price by the time you reach the expiration date, you may want to let the option expire. Once the vesting date is reached, you can purchase shares in several ways. If you purchase shares, they become part of your portfolio and your overall financial strategy.

David Karimian, CFP®, CRPC®, APMA® Prime Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial 7712 S. Yale Ave. Suite 240 Tulsa, OK 74136 918.388.2009 • David.x.Karimian@ampf.com www.primewealthmgmt.com SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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ES FACES FACES Cof of TRUE TO O K L A H O M A’ S WORKFORCE FOR 75 YEARS

FACES FACES of of

Behind every locally grown business is a fleet of hard working folks, from the owner and CEO to the employees who give it their all, day in and day out. Now in its sixth year, Oklahoma Magazine’s Faces of Oklahoma shines a spotlight on these resilient and industrious people and the businesses they’ve created.

Tulsa

Tulsa

FACES FACES of of

From medical professionals to real estate experts, the companies showcased here make Oklahoma a better place to live and work, contributing to the state’s consistent growth. As an engaged consumer, you should seek the top quality candidates to give your business.

OKC

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When deciding who to trust, turn to the best. Turn to the Faces of Oklahoma.

APPLY TODAY. Financial Aid Available OSUIT.EDU | 918.293.4680

FACES of Okmulgee, OK

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FACES ofFACES

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Dr. R. Michael Siatkowski

Tulsa

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THE FACE OF

Ophthalmology DR. R. MICHAEL SIATKOWSKI

There is a new face in the leadership role at Oklahoma’s nationally ranked Dean McGee Eye Institute (DMEI). R. Michael Siatkowski, MD, MBA joins the Faces of Oklahoma as the new chief executive officer of DMEI and the Edward L. Gaylord professor and chair of the University of Oklahoma (OU) Department of Ophthalmology.

Prior to assuming the leadership role at DMEI on March 1, 2021, Dr. Siatkowski

served as vice chair for academic affairs and ophthalmology residency program director for DMEI/OU. He has practiced as a pediatric and neuro-ophthalmologist at DMEI since 1999.

“I am honored to be in this role,” Dr. Siatkowski said. “I am passionate about DMEI’s mission of serving all Oklahomans and the global community through excellence and leadership in patient care, education, and vision research. Our doctors and scientists

OKC

are working every day to put an end to vision loss through cutting-edge treatments and groundbreaking research. All of us at DMEI look forward to serving our fellow Oklahomans and improving their quality of life.”

DMEI serves patients at four locations in the Oklahoma City metro area – at the Oklahoma Health Center, Northwest OKC, Edmond, and Oklahoma Children’s Hospital – plus a clinic in Lawton and offers the full-range of ophthalmology sub-specialties along with optometry. In addition to comprehensive eye exams for newborns to adults, services provided include cataract surgery, diabetic eye care, glaucoma treatment, LASIK vision correction, and cosmetic eye and facial treatments.

Siatkowski says, “Anyone in need of eye care should research all of the options available at DMEI. The spectrum and quality of care we provide are unmatched anywhere in the region.

We would be honored to serve you.”

405.271.6060 | Oklahoma Health Center | 608 Stanton L. Young Blvd. | Oklahoma City | dmei.org SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Residential S ofFACES Real Estate OKC CHINOWTH & COHEN

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S

Chinowth & Cohen Realtors is the largest independent real estate company in the state of Oklahoma. It saw over $2 billion in annual sales in 2020 and is already on track to surpass that in 2021. And although Chinowth & Cohen has grown relatively quickly, the company had very humble beginnings.

Chinowth & Cohen Realtors was founded in 2004 by Sheryl Chinowth and Lee Cohen. At its inception, the brokerage had only one office and 25 sales associates. Since then, the husband and wife duo, along with sons Leland and Taylor Chinowth, has grown the company to over 800 associates and 14 offices in Bartlesville, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Carlton Landing, Coweta, Grand Lake, Midtown Tulsa, Muskogee, Owasso, Sand Springs, Skiatook, and South Tulsa.

In 2020, Chinowth & Cohen expanded to the Oklahoma City area with offices in Nichols Hills and Edmond, after acquiring Churchill Brown & Associates.

Along with having the best and most knowledgeable real estate agents in the state, there are many things that set Chinowth & Cohen apart from other brokerages. The main attribute to this family-owned and operated enterprise is cultivating a family environment and investing in people, and that starts from the top down. Sheryl serves as CEO, Lee is the CFO, Leland serves as President, and Taylor is the Vice President. These four are out there and accessible to the agents in ways that one might not typically expect from the leaders of such a large company. They invest so much in their sales associates and really pave the

way for individual success.

Realtors love being a part of Chinowth & Cohen because of the tools they are equipped with in order to make them as effective and successful as possible.

Aspiring and new agents have the Chinowth & Cohen Real Estate Academy with an extraordinary team of educators and trainers, who also offer a plethora of courses for existing Realtors to further their education in real estate.

Chinowth & Cohen also prides itself on its large in-house marketing department, a one-stop shop for agents to get all the graphic design, printing, photography, and videography services right within the company, instead of having to outsource.

And because real estate is really about people and making genuine connections, the profound level of investment in people goes beyond just the real estate business. Chinowth & Cohen supports dozens of non-profits and charitable organizations throughout Oklahoma and encourages their agents to get involved with a cause and be present in the communities they serve. Chinowth & Cohen’s mission extends beyond just helping Oklahomans buy and sell homes - it’s about community.

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, a family looking for the next place to call home, someone in search of a luxury property or someone looking for that special place to retire, Chinowth & Cohen Realtors is the real estate family that will go above and beyond to provide an elite level of service. We will be proud to stand by you during the transition into your next phase in life.

3912 E. 91st, Tulsa 918.392.0900 | www.ccoklahoma.com

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Chinowth & Cohen staff

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THE FACE OF

Construction Companies ROSS GROUP

Ross Group’s roots go back to 1979 in Catoosa, Oklahoma, when Jesse Ross founded J. Ross Acoustics and Drywall. Beginning as a small contracting company, Jesse specialized in carpentry and interior finishes and quickly earned a reputation for quality facilities construction, professional excellence, and good

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old-fashioned hard work. Then in 1996, Warren Ross joined his father Jesse and The Ross Group Construction Corporation was incorporated in the great state of Oklahoma. Building on one another’s strengths, Jesse and Warren used their knowledge and reputation to make a seamless transition into general contracting.

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Over the past two decades, Ross Group has evolved into a development, engineering, and construction firm serving private, commercial, and government clients under the leadership of CEO Warren Ross. We work hand-in-hand with our clients to provide industry-leading solutions in a variety of markets, such as medical,

Melody Allwine, Brittanie White, J.R. King, Jennifer Maxwell, Warren Ross, and Travis Bird aviation, hospitality, education, government, manufacturing, industrial, and oil and gas. By offering an integrated suite of services to fit any need in any market, we commit to making sure each project ends just as our clients envisioned it.

While our company has grown to include more than 125 employees spread across four

offices, we are still a roll-up-our-sleeves and get-to-work kind of place. Just like our founder Jesse, our leadership and staff realize that companies don’t build projects. People do. We are team players who will help anyone who asks, regardless of our titles, because we know we all succeed or fail together. With that in mind, Ross

Group’s dedicated employees continue to build our firm’s reputation through our actions, while delivering tangible benefits to our clients as a one-stop-shop for project delivery.

Visit us at www.withrossgroup.com to learn more about how Ross Group can help your make your vision a reality.

510 E. 2nd St., Tulsa – 918.234.3811 | 620 W. California Ave., Oklahoma City – 405.235.0726 | www.withrossgroup.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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RENAISSANCE HARDWOOD FLOORS

What started out as a small venture with a filing cabinet, a nail gun, a couple crew members and some sanding equipment has transformed into Renaissance Hardwood Floors, one of the region’s premier wood installation services based in their new showroom in Glenpool, Oklahoma.

In business since 1982, Renaissance was founded by Tom Nicklas, a firefighter who was working a side job as a contractor and remodeler to make ends meet. After overhearing a hardwood floor crew complain about their conditions, Tom suggested the team start their own business. A few weeks later, they did just that … with Tom at the helm. The family-ownedand-operated company is now celebrating over 39 years in business and is joined by Charla, Tom’s wife, and their son, Duston.

What sets Renaissance apart from its competitors? Just about everything. From top-of-the-line craftsmanship to outstanding crews and some of the best

installers in the region who boast decades of experience, the team at Renaissance will work tirelessly to see that their clients get exactly what they want – even if it means spending hours to get a stain color just right. Tom and Duston can even work from a single photo for reference to create the custom flooring their clients desire.

The team is dedicated to continuing its long-standing positive relationship with Tulsans, evidenced in their enthusiastic customer service and passion for each project, big or small.

Award-winning, hand-crafted hardwood floors; intricate and unique designs; custom trims, beams and mantles; hardwood ceiling and wall installation and custom furniture design are just a few of the myriad services offered at Renaissance. Whatever it is that you want, Renaissance will make those dreams a reality for you.

“If it has to do with wood,” says Tom, “we can build it.”

550 W. 125th Pl. S. Ste. 300, Glenpool 918.298.4477 | www.renhardwood.com

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THE FACE OF

Medical Spas BA MED SPA & WEIGHT LOSS CENTER

BA Med Spa & Weight Loss Center is Tulsa’s premier medical spa and weight loss center. Over the past decade, managing partner and founder Malissa Spacek, along with her partner and overseeing physician Dr. Campbell and their team of experts on staff, have been helping the men and women of this community to look and feel their best.

With state-of-the-art procedures and treatments, customized treatment plans and complimentary consultations, BA Med Spa offers something for everyone, whether it be Botox or dermal fillers, laser services, hormone therapy,

body contouring with Coolsculpting or Emsculpt, weight loss services, or one of their many other options.

As the leading medical spa in Oklahoma, we strive to ensure that every patient who comes through our front doors leaves feeling that their expectations were exceeded. From the moment they check in at the front desk, to meeting with one of our various medical professionals, or even just picking up a prescription through our drive-through, our patients know they have been cared for by a staff who values their individual needs and treatment goals.

510 N. Elm Pl., Broken Arrow 918.872.9999 | www.baweightspa.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Plastic Surgery WHITLOCK COSMETIC SURGERY CENTER

Whitlock Cosmetic Surgery Center enjoys seeing people gain the self-confidence they once only dreamed of. Whether it's feelings about breast or chest size, regaining that lost tummy and waistline of youth, wanting the bottom you never had, the fullness in your neck you see in all your photos, or any other perception that seems to be holding back the real you – we want to help. Dr Whitlock utilizes the latest in technology and techniques to assure you get what you want.We know that seeking cosmetic surgery may be intimate as well as intimidating. Our office understands that when you're self-conscious, the last

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thing you want is to be exposed. We take this seriously and will make your consultation comfortable with limited exposure time. Back in your normal attire, Dr. Whitlock will take all the time necessary to explain everything in Layman's terms, ensuring you understand the recommended procedures, while answering any and all questions and making sure realistic expectations are set. Dr. Whitlock uses the latest in 3D simulation technology to show you the future, more confident you, visualizing your attainable breasts, tummy, butt, neck and jawline, etc., ahead of time. You will even get a link to these images to show your loved

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ones the possibilities before your big day.

We strive to provide you with everything you need to make a wise, informed decision, and will remain available at all times.Dr. Whitlock specializes in Breast Enhancements, including Breast Augmentations and Lifts, Gynecomastia, Tummy Tucks, Liposuction, Brazilian Butt Lifts, Labiaplasties, Facelifts, Necklifts and Blepharoplasties among many others. We also welcome patients with “botched” previous surgeries from other facilities.

Not all plastic cosmetic Surgery is the same.

Dr. Whitlock compares the scalpel or needle to a paint brush. The “tool” does not create the

Deb Keener, Tami Thompson, Cynde Payton, LMA, RMA, Danielle DeJarnette, Kilie Parkman, Ariel Fields, Kimberly Muratet, CNP, RN, Rhonda Whitlock, RN, and Bryan Whitlock, MD masterpiece, the artist does. Give a paint brush to five people and you’ll get five completely different results. Experience and results matter!

Visit other offices. Go where you feel most comfortable. See their actual results. Know their complication rates. Request referrals and check out reviews. Beware of bad mouthing other offices to sell their own skills. We are confident in our own abilities, and will never put others down to lift ourselves up. As it has been said, “nothing is more expensive than a cheap ‘surgeon.’”

Medical spa co-owner and longtime injector Rhonda Whitlock, RN, is excited to announce

some of our newest services: Glow Facial - A peel that delivers beautiful, lasting results with no downtime, needles or pain.

PlasmaMd Pen - An advanced, minimally invasive skin tightening, skin lifting and rejuvenation technique. Great for eyelid!

Qwo - A non-invasive cellulite treatment that actually works. A great compliment to Cellfina, our other treatment. With these two options, cellulite doesn't stand a chance!

Other med spa favorites include Botox, hyaluronic acid fillers, microneedling and photofacials. We also offer medical grade skin

care, including our exclusive line, to meet all your skin care needs.

Nothing is more rewarding than our many favorite patients sending in their friends and family. Thank you to all our wonderful patients – 22 years has gone by so quickly! The Whitlock children were little when the practice started, and we have a staff that have been with us nearly as long. The kids have grown up, are getting married and starting families of their own. New kids have since been added. It has been a blessing that as a team, we’re growing older together, with so many memories and stories to share!”

8913 S Yale Ave, Suite 200, Tulsa | 918.74.5438 | www.whitlockcosmetic.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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From left to right: April, Essence, Laura, Hailey, Lynda, Dr. Matthew Walker, Mary, Jerri Lynn, Kimberlie, Mae

THE FACE OF

Cosmetic Dentistry UTICA DENTAL — DR. MATTHEW WALKER

Dr. Matthew Walker and the team at Utica Dental offer patients a truly relaxed, professional, state-of-the-art experience, with beautiful results from the moment they walk through the door. Conveniently located between 15th and 21st Street on South Utica Ave. in Tulsa, Utica Dental provides patients with peaceful, serene views out of the floor-to-ceiling windows while the dental team provides gentle care. Television monitors allow patients to get comfortable and watch a favorite show or movie. Want to hear music instead? Just ask Alexa to play it while in the dental chair.

Dr. Walker provides cosmetic and family dentistry to patients of all ages. General restorative care, dental implants, Invisalign, teeth whitening, root canal treatment, extractions, crown and bridge, preventative hygiene care, sedation dentistry, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and full mouth transformation procedures are all available at Utica Dental.

Infection control and sterilization are top priorities at Utica Dental. Using the most up-todate, strictly followed CDC guided sterilization procedures and products, Dr. Walker is committed to creating a sterile environment for

the safety of every patient and team member.

Utica Dental is an Oklahoma Magazine “The Best of the Best” recipient, and Dr. Walker continues to elevate his dental techniques to provide the best dental care to patients. Dr. Walker encourages you to come and experience Utica Dental, where every patient is a priority and truly a member of the family.

Whether you’re looking for a new dental home, you’re new to the area or just looking to schedule a first-time visit, please give the office a call to schedule your appointment today!

1720 S. Utica Ave., Tulsa | 918.712.0000 | www.uticadental.com

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Stephen M. Brownlee, M.D.

Anthony E. Loehr, M.D.

Christopher R. Siemens, M.D.

Jeremy G. Foon, M.D.

David W. Hall, M.D.

Landon Massoth, MD

William P. Sawyer II, M.D.

Atul M. Vaidya, M.D.

David W. White, M.D.

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Evan R. Moore, M.D.

OKC

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Ear, Nose & Throat Care EASTERN OKLAHOMA ENT

Eastern Oklahoma Ear, Nose and Throat has been dedicated to providing the highest quality of care with respect, integrity and compassion for more than 40 years. In fact, it’s grown to be the largest clinic of its kind in Oklahoma, specializing in complete care for pediatric and adult ear, nose and throat diseases. The clinic has the only board

certified neuro-otologist in Tulsa, a full service allergy testing and treatment center, boardcertified audiologists and staff members who are committed to ensuring patients and their families enjoy a positive experience during each visit. The dedicated Eastern Oklahoma Ear Nose and Throat team includes Drs. Anthony Loehr,

Stephen Brownlee, William P. Sawyer II, David White, David W. Hall, Atul Vaidya, Christopher Siemens, Evan Moore and Jeremy G. Foon, and our audiologists include Jessica Degginger, Mary Ellen Finerty, Megan D. Ellwood, Karen B. Cox, Desirae Webb, Kevin Hamilton and Shelley Ballard.

5020 E. 68th St. S., Tulsa | 9343 S. Mingo Rd., Tulsa | 918.492.3636 | www.eoent.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Lam Le, M.D., CWSP

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Wound Care TULSA WOUND CENTER

The Tulsa Wound Center is Oklahoma’s first independent wound, hyperbaric, and research center designed for the treatment of chronic and complex wounds. The wound center is a state-of-the-art facility that uses the most advanced technology, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Ultrasonic Mist therapy, MolecuLight bacterial imaging, Natrox treatments, and dermaPACE® extracorporeal shockwave treatment.

Founder and Medical Director Dr. Lam Le and her team provide exceptional care in the treatment of non-healing wounds.

Dr. Le has been a prominent wound care and hyperbaric physician for over 15 years.

Prior to opening the Tulsa Wound Center, Dr. Le spearheaded and lead, as the medical director, one of Oklahoma’s busiest and most successful wound centers. She is an alumni of the University of Tulsa, and graduated medical school from The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, completing residency with OU Internal Medicine. Dr. Le trained in wound care and hyperbaric medicine under world renowned wound and hyperbaric guru Dr. Thomas Serena. Dr. Lam Le is a well-published wound physician and principal investigator. Being at the forefront of advanced wound care and hyperbaric research, Dr. Le knows that her involvement

with wound research gives her the best insight on treatment for her patients. It also allows Tulsa Wound Center to provide exciting new treatments and the best care and options to patients.

Dr. Le believes independent wound centers will be the next big shift in wound care and hyperbaric medicine. At Tulsa Wound Center, patients receive care from a certified wound and hyperbaric physician, without inccurring simultaneous hospital facility charges.

Eliminating the hospital facility charge can be a cost saving measure of up to 75%, a win-win for patients and insurance carriers.

4538 S Harvard Ave, Tulsa | 918.561.6661 | www.tulsawoundcenter.com

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Kerry Fesperman, Ron Brady, Jennifer Rains, Bryan Day, Lori Patrick, Jared Sawyer

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Addiction Recovery 12&12 ADDICTION RECOVERY CENTER

12&12 Inc. is the largest Comprehensive Community Addiction Recovery Center in Oklahoma. At 12&12, the only focus is to help men and women battle the brain disease of addiction and co-occurring substance abuse/ mental health disorders. 12&12’s complete continuum of care provides multiple levels of treatment including medically supervised detoxification, intensive residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, transitional living, as well as longer term sober living

for homeless Veterans in recovery at 12&12’s Bryce House.

“For over 35 years, we have helped thousands of Oklahomans in the fight to get their lives back,” says CEO Bryan Day, shown here with members of the 12&12 Executive Leadership Team: Jared Sawyer/CFO, Ron Brady/CMO, Jennifer Rains/Director Human Resources, Lori Patrick/Director Revenue Cycle Management, Kerry Fesperman/ Director Development. “Our service model is

based on a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates medical oversight, psychiatry, nursing, counseling and case management.”

Independently operated and located in the heart of Tulsa, 12&12 holds Behavioral Health Care accreditation from the Joint Commission, and is certified by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) as a Comprehensive Community Care Addiction Recovery Center (CCARC).

6333 E. Skelly Dr., Tulsa | 918.664.4224 | www.12and12.org SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Heating and Air AIRCO SERVICE, INC.

With over 60 years in business as a familyowned company, Airco Service has a reputation for reliability, along with the trust of customers who count on us for excellent service, honesty and integrity.“We are fully committed to finding customers the best solutions and quality products for their home,” says owner

Tom Boyce. “We also provide 24/7 service, since we know not all emergencies happen during business hours.” Airco is a “one call does it all” company. With the largest service area in Oklahoma, Airco Service provides customers with the highest quality products and maintenance available in the areas of

heating, cooling, electrical and plumbing.The company’s technicians are certified, trained, knowledgeable professionals with excellent customer service and workmanship skills.

Plus, Airco offers free estimates on product replacements.

Tulsa — 918.252.5667 | Edmond — 405.715.2665 | Moore — 405.378.4500 | Grand Lake — 918.782.2263 www.aircoservice.com

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Kenneth Burkett

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Sustainability AMERICAN WASTE CONTROL

Since 1970, American Waste Control (AWC) has been a leader in the sustainability and waste sectors. Led by founder and owner Kenneth Burkett, the company manages more than 185 trucks and 250 employees. Adhering to Burkett’s full-circle approach to sustainability, the company also operates its own recycling center and waste-to-energy landfill.

“Sustainability is about stewarding resources responsibly for the benefit of our local economy, community and environment for the next

generation,” says Burkett.

This philosophy is put into practice at AWC, which takes recycled material to local manufacturers to create new products right here in Oklahoma.

However, the recent fire at the Feed Mr. Murph recycling facility has thrown a wrench into the process. Unfortunately, recycling facility fires are common – mainly due to inexperienced recyclers placing lithium-ion batteries in the recycle cart. If things go wrong, these fires

can slow down or even stop recycling efforts for years – but not in Tulsa. Burkett sees this as an opportunity to bring the latest recycling innovations to the city, and he plans to do it in record time. He believes recycling in Tulsa will be stronger and better than ever.

Burkett and his team at AWC are not giving up, working to create a greener Tulsa.

“It’s about leaving an impact on people’s lives and our community in a positive and meaningful way,” he says.

(918) 446-0023 | 1420 W. 35th Street | Tulsa | www.americanwastecontrol.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

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TASTE

FOOD, DRINK AND OTHER PLEASURES

Channeling Hemingway A new restaurant in Tulsa brings elegance, opulence and, of course, top-tier cuisine.

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Above: Braised pork belly is a star on the Hemingway menu.

Facing page, top to bottom: The prime porterhouse steak is one of a variety of top-tier meat options at Hemingway.

Chef Trevor Tack is working to change the perception of steakhouses.

“It’s not just hunks of meat, and not just for birthdays,” he says.

Photos by Stephanie Phillips

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owards the end of 1921, Ernest Hemingway, having survived a war and a pandemic, arrived in Paris. During the next few years, he chatted with Pablo Picasso, got drunk with James Joyce, took a group of friends to a festival in northern Spain, wrote a novel about it, and changed the world.

So picture now, a century later, Trevor Tack: young, excitable, dashing (he looks a lot like the young Hemingway as described by contemporary writers) and mesmerizing, talking about the brand new, Tulsa-based Hemingway steakhouse.

“We want to create a space that tells a story to our post-pandemic world,” he says. “It will reek of indulgence, decadence, and everything screams Hemingway running off to Paris after a plague.

Everything will be opulent; every-

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

thing will be over the top.”

And no, Tack does not mean a place of debauchery. He is conjuring up a place that comforts you, giving you permission to feel happy and to indulge. And the choice of name is quite appropriate. Yes, tall tales of Hemingway-esque excesses fueled a whole Lost Generation of louche impostors imbibing in Parisian cafes ... but Hemingway was also a very hard worker. His time in Paris was to change novels, writing, and the English language.

And perhaps Hemingway steakhouse will modernize or even explode what Tack views as the stodgy old institution known as a steakhouse.

“It’s not just hunks of meat, and not just for birthdays,” he says.

Today, Tack’s presiding over one of the endless trials of a new menu item: French onion soup.

“We have a brioche crouton with gruyere and thyme leaves – it takes 24 hours to make the veal stock with caramelized onions,” he says. “The crouton and big wafer of cheese are in your bowl, and the soup is poured over it tableside. You smell it, and you just know it’s traditional French onion soup.

But it’s easy to eat, no glops of cheese, and so elegant.”

By now, you realize that it’s not your regular steakhouse if they spent weeks developing a perfect-tasting soup that takes days to prepare.

The rest of the menu eliminates the old fib of a rule that when in a steakhouse, you shouldn’t order anything that isn’t steak. You can start with a torchon of foie gras which takes days to make, or lamb “lollipops” which feature thick, soy-lacquered lamb chops served with peanut-mint chimichurri and bright, elegantly cut Vietnamese chili pickles (a development of a dish Tack invented when he presided over Tulsa’s Bodean).

Presentation is paramount. Just check out the pork belly confit, a dish

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The Eleanor

AMANDA JANE SIMCOE

wagyu and to a cut that’s almost mythical, rarely seen except in food blogs, imported from Japan with so much marbling it looks like snow.

Some of the steaks will be reverse-seared, some of the filets will be sous-vided, but Tack hews to tradition, and most are broiled.

“We got the best broiler we could from a Dallas firm that does custom kitchens,” he says. “Brett and I designed every inch of that kitchen and it’s just the nicest kitchen I’ve ever worked in.”

Brett is, of course, Brett Rehorn, a veteran restaurateur known for his whimsical yet evocative designs at Kilkenny and Nola’s.

So you know the decor, designed by Rehorn and Tack, will be painstaking in its attention to detail.

“Lots of oil paintings, rich wallpaper, dark woods. It will be a whole new experience,” Tack concludes. “You’ll have to experience it for yourself.”

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

Photo by Tia Dawn Photography

with brightly colored balls of orange and green compressed melon, glowing purple and amber slices of condiments – including chipotle and mezcal pickled onion – strewn across the plate.

“I want to do fun stuff, fearless,” says Tack.

The rest of the menu continues in the same vein: Fresh, house-made pastas that change at the chef ’s whim, roast field chicken with black truffle jus, salmon dishes, and rich meaty delights such as a short rib “pot au feu” and a huge lamb shank, served caveman style, bone and all, nestled in a bed of vegetables and gravy.

And then, of course, there are the steaks.

While Tack rejects the traditional steakhouse experience, he’s a steakhouse veteran – having eaten in countless places in New York and Chicago, all part of his research.

He developed the Lounge at the Tavern, a retro look at the 1950s that is one of Tulsa’s most highly regarded traditional steakhouses. He knows his stuff.

“We’ve bought the space that used to be Mary’s,” says Tack, “and I’m building my own walk-in cooler to use as an aging room.”

There, you’ll see rows of primal cuts hanging in the cold air, the way the best traditional steakhouses have always dry-aged meat – yet all but impossible to find nowadays. They will also wet-age some steaks for those who don’t like the rich, evocative dry-aged flavor.

“We’ll get the meat from small farms when we’re able, but we’ll use larger co-ops too. Whichever is best. We’re not beholden to a single farm,” says Tack. Yes, there will be dry-aged strips and porterhouses – it’s mostly short loins that are hanging in the aging room – and more besides.

“We’ll have A5, snow beef,” Tack continues, referring to the top grade of Japanese

The Eleanor OKC: Life is “la vie en rose” on Uptown 23rd Street.

Like myself, you might have missed the fact that just a couple of months before a global pandemic began threatening to close down the local dining and bar scenes, a trendy new OKC hotspot opened its doors.

The space that not long ago used to be home to vintage ’70s decor and a larger-than-life image of Burt Reynolds on the wall as the Rockford Cocktail Den has been completely transformed. Shades of pink, florals, all of the selfie opportunities you could ask for – along with the honor of being the largest Champagne lounge in Oklahoma – are what you will find at the Eleanor.

Owner Amanda Bratcher named her chic lounge after Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of England and France, and provides a list of Champagnes and bubbly-inspired cocktails fit for a queen, while still offering options for those of us on a less royal budget.

In addition to sparkling wines and bubbly cocktails, other libations include still wines, spirits and other house cocktails.

After you’ve selected your drink, check out the bites and sweets menu, where you’ll find truffle-Parmesan popcorn, baked goat cheese, tiny grilled cheese sandwiches, plus a cheese and charcuterie board.

If you have a sweet tooth, opt for the macarons, raspberry cheesecake, or the chef’s selection of “something chocolate.” If you’re the brunching type, they offer both sweet and savory options in small and large formats.

Specialty brunch drinks are available as well.

The Eleanor offers a private room for special events, happy hours and weekly live music.

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TA S T E | CHEF CHAT

Going for Gold

Chef Joanna Gold helps OKC foodies find and enjoy the meals they’ve been craving.

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or many people, going to the grocery store, prepping meals and cleaning the kitchen are the kind of mundane chores they’d prefer to avoid. For Joanna Gold and her team of personal chefs, it’s all in a day’s work.

A native of New Jersey, Gold started her business Gold Plated in 2013. She designed her in-home culinary services for busy families who wanted to enjoy delicious, nutritious meals at home – without all of the hassles that come with. As a wife and mom herself, Gold understands that sometimes people just need a little help.

An initial consultation with new clients gives Gold a chance to assess their personal needs, including preferences, dietary restrictions and the frequency of meals they want to receive.

She then pairs them with one of the professional chefs on her team, who creates a customized weekly menu. The chef handles all of the shopping, prepping, cooking and packaging, and provides a list of the items along with heating and serving instructions. The chef then takes care of all the kitchen cleanup so that clients come home to a tidy kitchen – convenient, right?

For those who like to cook but don’t have the time, Gold Plated’s chefs can also do the shopping and prepping, leaving the refrigerator full of ready-togo ingredients and step-by-step recipes for you to cook yourself.

Even better, if you are unsure of your culinary skills, private cooking lessons are available.

What sets Gold Plated apart from traditional private chef services is that it is truly affordable. Since the team of chefs serves several clients in the Oklahoma City area, each family

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can choose the number of hours they purchase, rather than hiring a full-time chef. Over time, the client and chef work together to establish preferences and favorites. Once a chef learn your routine, he or she can easily anticipate your needs on an ongoing basis, including making sure fresh and delicious snacks are on hand if needed in between meals.

If you’ve never thought about hiring a private chef, there are many benefits to the flexibility of a shared service, and many goals they can help you accomplish. If you’re trying to cut back on the number of nights that you’re just too tired to do more than grab fast food or takeout, a private chef can help. Still wary of crowded restaurants amid reignited COVID-19 concerns?

Let the chef-prepared meals come to you. When throwing a dinner party, Gold Plated can also make an impressive dinner seem effortless.

Gold works closely with producers and vendors around town to obtain the highest quality and freshest products possible. She loves to show off local ingredients, farmers and shops.

It’s a lot easier to eat locally and seasonally when you have a professional orchestrating your menu and grocery list for you.

If you’re interested in learning more about chef Joanna Gold and her team of kitchen magicians, give her a call at 405-252-0022 and schedule a complimentary consultation.

AMANDA JANE SIMCOE

Joanna Gold and her team at Gold Plated make the dream of healthy and delicious meals a reality for busy OKC families.

Photos courtesy Joanna Gold

ONLINE

TO SEE CHEF GOLD’S RECIPE FOR LASAGNA ROLL-UPS, VISIT OKMAG.COM/GOLD

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Dos Bandidos

The Baked Bear

For inventive sweets and personalized combinations of ice cream sandwiches, Baked Bear delivers the yum and the fun of crafting your very own confection.

Flavors of the month vary and may include toasted s’mores, butter brittle cake, dark chocolate, mint chip, espresso bean and vegan chocolate chip.

Delicious decadence deserves myriad topping choices; these include Fruity Pebbles, Oreo crumbles, hot caramel, hot fudge, Nutella, whipped cream, almonds, brownie bits, Heath bar bits and, of course, sprinkles. You can ever get a ‘hot pressed’ sandwich, warmed up and ready to enjoy. Locations in Norman, Edmond, and Yukon; thebakedbear.com

Photo courtesy the Baked Bear

Photo courtesy Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

There are nuances to Tex-Mex cuisine, and Dos Bandidos offers a menu curated from family and friends in southern California and Mexico.

Such highlights include 15 house-crafted drinks like the Canatarito – a Jalisco tradition of tequila, orange liquor, Squirt, juices of orange and lime, served in a clay mug with a Chamoy and Tajin rim, replete with a candy straw. Appetizer choices include crab and shrimp nachos, with the titular seafood sautéed in garlic butter, spices and finished with sour cream sauce, queso, pico, cotija cheese and avocado. The house queso includes hints of garlic, and has a purposeful absence of vegetables for a creamy texture. Traditional family recipe entrées include the Tia Nenes, a dish of fettuccine noodles sautéed in a roasted poblano pepper and cream cheese sauce, served with barbacoa. Or, try the filete a la diabla, a fish filet cooked in house-made arbol chili, garlic butter sauce and onions, all served on rice. 13330 S. Memorial Dr., Bixby; 210 S. Main St., Broken Arrow; dosbandidosrestaurants.com

Photo courtesy Flo’s

Photo courtesy Dos Bandidos

Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

Flo’s Burger Diner

Since 1987, Tokyo Japanese Restaurant has perfected the art of curating traditional Japanese cuisine and sushi, creating memorable experiences in textures and flavors. With a robust selection of sake, your meal may start with Takoyaki, which is ball-shaped octopus dumplings with bonito, seaweed flakes, mayo, shredded cabbage and takoyaki sauce. Traditional entrees include Yakiniku grilled steak with sautéed onions and sesame, topped with a savory and sweet sauce, served with steamed rice, miso soup and salad. You can also try Sushi Supreme with tuna/cucumber rolls and nigiri of tuna, shrimp, salmon, squid, albacore, eel and yellowtail. 7516 N. Western Ave., Oklahoma City; tokyookc.com

Lovers of legendary chicken fried steak are known to follow Flo’s Burger Diner on Facebook to see if that gravy-topped favorite is available. A classic and renowned diner on Route 66, Flo’s serves varying daily specials – and you might just come across the Bomb Burger, which has a “cream cheese jalapeno popper schmear between two patties with mayo and bacon” that also comes in junior size. Loaded grilled cheese sandwiches defy convention, packed with choices like slow roasted pulled pork and avocado. Other favorites include a ribeye French dip, along with scratch-made side dishes like fried mushrooms, fried dill pickle chips, haystack onion rings and variations of tator tots and hand-cut French fries, including chili cheese and bacon cheddar. 2604 E. 11th St., Tulsa; facebook.com/FlosBurgerDinerTulsa TRACY LEGRAND

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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

O N T H E S TA G E

IN TULSA PERFORMANCES

THEATRE TULSA PRESENTS: THE GUYS

Through Sept. 5 Tulsa PAC Just after the Sept.

11 attacks, a fire captain who has lost most of his men must present the eulogies at their memorial services. theatretulsa.org

CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS PRESENTS: ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE Through

Sept. 5 Tulsa PAC Welcome to Margaritaville, where people come to get away from it all – and stay to find something they never expected. tulsapac.com

WORLD STAGE THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS: SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION Sept.

9-19 Tulsa PAC When Andy

Dufresne is convicted of murder and sentenced to life in the notorious Shawshank prison, he must find a way to keep himself and his hope alive. tulsapac.com

THE SEASON BEGINS

This month marks the opening of a variety of performing arts seasons – and Oklahomans can enjoy the benefits.

In Tulsa, Creations in Studio K runs Sept. 9-19. This annual series of new works are created by internationally-renowned choreographers, featuring Tulsa Ballet’s talented dancers.

Chamber Music Tulsa brings their first act of the season to Tulsa on Sept. 24-26: the Poulenc Trio. Enjoy the mixture of oboe, bassoon and piano for a dazzling evening of music. While Sept.

MY FAIR LADY 24’s venue is to be determined, the second two performances are at the Tulsa PAC. In OKC, Ballet Under the Stars returns Sept. 10 at Scissortail Park. OKC Ballet’s talented dancers perform riveting pieces of choreography to kick off the season. At the Myriad Gardens Water Stage, Lyric Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning play Master Class from Sept. 15-Oct. 3. Visit the Paseo district for Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park’s rendition of Pride and Prejudice Sept. 16-Oct. 3 for a ‘theater-in-the-round’ experience. And OKC Broadway rounds out the month by hosting a communal favorite, My Fair Lady from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3 at Civic Center Music Hall.

1

TULSA BALLET PRESENTS: CREATIONS IN STUDIO K Sept. 9-19 Studio K Enjoy

this annual series of new works created by internationallyrecognized choreographers. tulsaballet.org

CHAMBER MUSIC TULSA PRESENTS: POULENC TRIO Sept. 26 Tulsa

PAC The combination of

piano, oboe, and bassoon creates a unique sound world. chambermusictulsa.

org

CONCERTS

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OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

CONCERTS HANSON Sept. 3-4 Cain’s Ballroom See this

homegrown band on their Against the World tour. cainsballroom.com

SAMMY HAGAR AND THE CIRCLE Sept. 11 River Spirit

Casino Resort Formed in 2014, the critically-acclaimed supergroup takes fans on a musical journey through rock history. riverspirittulsa.com

SYLVAN ESSO Sept.

16 Cain’s Ballroom Indie favorites Sylvan Esso return to Tulsa. cainsballroom.com

EARTH, WIND AND FIRE Sept. 17 River Spirit

Casino Resort See this iconic, feel-good band live. riverspirittulsa.com

BLAKE SHELTON Sept.

24 BOK Center Blake Shelton is taking his Friends and Heroes Tour back on the road. bokcenter.com

FROM CROONERS TO COUNTRY STARS

EARTH WIND & FIRE

Photo courtesy River Spirit Casino Resort

2

Photo by Joan Marcus

EVENTS LISTED ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CHECK INDIVIDUAL WEBSITES FOR UPDATES.

Lovers of live entertainment can rejoice – concert halls are opening again, welcoming back some of music’s biggest names.

At Cain’s Ballroom, don’t miss Oklahoma’s favorite homegrown band, Hanson, as they take the stage Sept. 3-4. River Spirit Casino Resort is hoppin’ this month, welcoming Sammy Hagar and the Circle Sept. 11; Earth, Wind and Fire Sept. 17; and Sheryl Crow Sept. 25. BOK Center hosts country heavy-hitter Blake Shelton on Sept. 24.

In Oklahoma City, the Paycom Center (previously the Chesapeake Energy Arena) hosts everyone’s favorite crooner Michael Buble on Sept. 19. Nearby, the Brothers Osborne take the Criterion stage Sept. 18.

And in Durant, Choctaw Casino and Resort is gearing up to present a variety of superstars in September, including Lynyrd Skynrd Sept. 4; Keith Urban Sept. 11; and Kansas Sept. 18.

PEPPA PIG Sept. 25 BOK

Center Hasbro and Round Room Live are thrilled to announce Peppa Pig Live. bokcenter.com

PIXIES Sept. 26 Cain’s Ballroom See the popular indie rock band live. cainsballroom.com

ART FROM THE LIMITATIONS OF NOW Through Sept. 5

Philbrook Bringing together local artists and artists working across the country, From the Limitations of Now reflects on the important ways art and literature allow us to examine America’s past, present and future. philbrook.org

VIEWS OF GREENWOOD Through Sept. 5 Philbrook

Views of Greenwood presents nearly fifty photographs of the Greenwood District by three Oklahoma photographers through time. philbrook.org

THIS IS AN ADVENTURE: ACCIDENTALLY WES ANDERSON Sept. 17-Jan.

2 Philbrook This showcase

features distinctively dramatic photographs of locations around the world taken by the Accidentally Wes Anderson community. philbrook.org

GREENWOOD’S LEGACY: SHAPING A CITY AND A NATION Through

Sept. 19 ahha Tulsa This

exhibition is a celebration of Greenwood’s victory in overcoming the decimation of the Massacre to rebuild and grow its vibrant neighborhood. ahhatulsa.org

A LUTHIER’S TALE: THE CRAFT OF STRINGED

INSTRUMENTS Through Sept. 19 108 Contemporary Guest curator Benjamin Liggett brings together local and regional makers in an exhibition dedicated to the art, craft and design of stringed instruments.

108contemporary.org

DALÍ’S ALICE IN WONDERLAND Through

Oct. 17 Philbrook Journey down a rabbit hole of delight, imagination and paradox with Salvador Dalí and Lewis Carroll. philbrook.org

EARTHLY MIRAGE Through

Oct. 24 ahha Tulsa Earthly Mirage is a survey spanning 10 years of artistic production by queer Latinx artist Hoesy Corona. ahhatulsa.org

SPORTS TULSA DRILLERS BASEBALL

Sept. 1-5 ONEOK Field The Drillers take on a variety of teams during regular season play. milb.com

UNIVERSITY OF TULSA FOOTBALL Sept. 2, 25 H.A.

Chapman Stadium The Tulsa Hurricane take the field for the first football games of the season. tulsahurricane.com

TULSA REINING CLASSIC Through Sept.

5 Expo Square Enjoy some equine excellence at the Reining Classic. tulsareining. com

TULSA FC SOCCER Sept. 8, 11, 18 ONEOK Field Semi-pro

soccer is back with the Tulsa FC. fctulsa.com

AMERICAN MINIATURE HORSE REGISTRY NATIONALS Sept.

9-19 Expo Square Enjoy dazzling mini horses

TOUGHEST MONSTER TRUCK Sept. 11 BOK

Center The Toughest

Monster Truck Tour is coming to BOK Center for the first time ever. bokcenter.com

ENDUROCROSS Sept.

18 BOK Center EnduroCross Racing Series holds a six-race American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Championship series. bokcenter.com

COMMUNITY

WOODCARVING AND FOLK ARTS FESTIVAL Sept.

10-11 Broken Arrow Community Center Witness seasoned

craftsmen transform wood, ceramics and other materials into works of art at the annual Woodcarving and Folk Arts Festival in Broken Arrow. eowa.us

OKLAHOMA TRIBAL CELEBRATION Sept.

25 Gathering Place More than 39 Native American tribes call Oklahoma home, and Tulsa’s Gathering Place is celebrating Oklahoma’s beautiful tribal cultures. gatheringplace.org

FIRST FRIDAY ART CRAWL

TULSA STATE FAIR Sept.

30-Oct. 10 Expo Square Bring

Since 2007, the Tulsa Arts District has presented the community with rotating art displays as part of the First Friday Art Crawl. travelok.com

IN OKC

CONQUER THE GAUNTLET OBSTACLE RACE Sept.

4 181 Ranch, Bixby Conquer

the Gauntlet is a challenging four-mile obstacle course and adventure race that features over 30 obstacles conquerthegauntlet.com

the whole family out for Tulsa’s largest annual event. exposquare.com

PERFORMANCES

SINGER ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS: FOREVER MOTOWN Sept.

10 Civic Center Music

Hall Listen to over 50 hits from all the Motown legends. okcciviccenter.com

SPORTS

Photo courtesy Conquer the Gauntlet

A BIT OF EVERYTHING

It’s nearly time to say goodbye to regular season baseball, but you can catch the Tulsa Drillers Sept. 1-5 at ONEOK Field. The OKC Dodgers take Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Sept. 2-7, 16-21 and 29-30.

Soccer’s still kickin’ – Tulsa FC plays at ONEOK Field Sept. 8, 11 and 18, and the Energy FC storm Taft Stadium Sept. 12, 26 and 29.

BOK Center teems with sporting events, including the Toughest Monster Truck event Sept. 11 and Endurocross Sept. 18.

Stick around Tulsa for the Conquer the Gauntlet obstacle race at Bixby’s 181 Ranch on Sept.

4, which puts athletes to the test in a four-mile race.

And September means Oklahoma players return to the gridiron. The University of Tulsa plays at home Sept. 2 and 25; the University of Oklahoma Sept. 11, 18 and 25; and Oklahoma State University Sept. 4, 11 and 25.

3 CONQUER THE GAUNTLET

Sept. 3 Downtown Tulsa

COMMUNIT Y OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR

BELOVED EVENTS RETURN

The oppressive heat is waning, so outdoor community celebrations are an ideal pick for this month.

In Pryor, Rocklahoma comes to town Sept. 3-5. This epic, three-day rock extravaganza welcomes more than 70 acts from around the country.

In Tulsa, the Oklahoma Tribal Celebration runs Sept.

25 at Gathering Place. A gathering of Oklahoma’s 39 tribes, culture and entertainment mix for an exciting day of education.

In Mustang, the Old Volks Show at Mustang Wildhorse Park highlights beautifully restored, quirky and eye-catching Volkswagens from creative Oklahomans.

Gallop over to Lazy E Arena in Guthrie to experience the Oklahoma Wildlife Expo, Oklahoma’s largest indoor and outdoor recreation event with a variety of animals to see and enjoy.

And it’s not September in Oklahoma without the fair. In OKC, the fun runs Sept. 16 to 26 at State Fair Park, then comes down to Tulsa’s Expo Square Sept.

10 to Oct. 10. Delicious eats, rides, prizes, music – what more could you want?

OKLAHOMA CITY BALLET PRESENTS: BALLET UNDER THE STARS Sept.

10 Scissortail Park Celebrate

the beauty of Oklahoma City Ballet, and downtown Oklahoma City, at the Second Annual Ballet Under the Stars. travelok.com

LYRIC THEATRE PRESENTS: MASTER CLASS Sept. 15-Oct.

3 Myriad Gardens Water Stage Visit the Myriad

Gardens Water Stage to watch the Tony Award-winning play Master Class. lyrictheatreokc.com

OKLAHOMA SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK PRESENTS: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Sept.

16-Oct. 3 2920 Paseo Head to the Paseo District for a delightful evening of theater as Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park presents it’s production of Pride and Prejudice. okshakes.org

OKC BROADWAY PRESENTS: MY FAIR LADY Sept. 28-Oct. 3 Civic

Center Music Hall Director Bartlett Sher’s glowing production is “thrilling, glorious and better than it ever was,” according to the New York Times. okcbroadway.com

FRIENDS! THE MUSICAL PARODY Sept.

29-30 Hudiburg Chevrolet Center Enjoy the

comedic musical that lovingly pokes fun at TV’s Friends. okcbroadway.com

CONCERTS BLUE OCTOBER Oct. 9 Tower Theatre Rock

band Blue October visits OKC. towertheatreokc.com

OKC PHIL PRESENTS: OPENING NIGHT – BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO. 1 Sept. 11 Civic

Center Music Hall The OKC Philharmonic is back with an opening showcase featuring Kate Pritchett on French horn. okcphil.org

ALABAMA Sept. 17 Paycom

Center Multi-platinum selling country rock group Alabama has announced a new date to their 50th Anniversary Tour. paycomcenter.com

BROTHERS OSBORNE Sept.

Museum The exhibition

will include more than 100 early 20th century artworks by 70 artists.

nationalcowboymuseum.org

museum.org

FROM HEROES TO IMMORTALS: CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGICAL PRINTS

Sept. 15 Sam Noble Museum

Since prehistoric times, humans have sought to understand darkness and its mysteries, and implement what we learn from nocturnal creatures in how we sustain light. samnoblemuseum.ou.edu

POSTWAR ABSTRACTION

Through Sept. 26 OKCMOA

The half-century or so following the end of World War II was one of the most fertile periods in the history of abstract painting. okcmoa. com

THE PAINTERS OF POMPEII

BANDA MS Sept. 18 Paycom

The Painters of Pompeii: Roman Frescoes from the National Archaeological Museum, Naples sees a number of collection highlights travel to North America for the first time.

Center Enjoy this popular Mexican band for one night only. paycomcenter.com

MICHAEL BUBLE Sept.

19 Paycom Center One of

America’s most popular crooners visits OKC. paycomcenter.com

ART NEW BEGINNINGS: AN AMERICAN STORY OF ROMANTICS AND MODERNISTS IN THE WEST Sept. 10-Jan.

2 National Cowboy and Western Heritage

Mexico’s independence from Spain had continental repercussions for the Americas. nationalcowboy-

IN THE DARK Through

18 Criterion Brothers Osborne

is an American country music duo consisting of brothers T.J. and John. criterionokc.com

4

Photo by Hugh Scott courtesy Oklahoma State Fair

at this exciting 10-day event. exposquare.com

Through Oct. 17 OKCMOA

okcmoa.com

FIND YOUR NORTH

Through Oct. 17 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Its name might

indicate the eastern origins of those who labeled it, but the American West is far larger than a single perspective.

nationalcowboymuseum.org

¡VIVA MÉXICO! Through Oct. 17 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

Through Nov. 7 OKCMOA

For millennia, classical mythology has been a shared language through which artists can tells tales of heroism, love, vengeance and more. okcmoa.com

FRITZ SCHOLDER: BEYOND STEREOTYPES

Through Nov. 7 OKCMOA

Fritz Scholder stated he saw one too many over-romanticized and generalized depictions of Indigenous people “looking at the sunset.” With his Indian series, Scholder sought to replace the tourist-approved narratives. okcmoa.com

A LIFE IN LOOKING

Through Dec. 31 Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman

The renowned art historian Dr. Creighton Eddy Gilbert, a scholar of Italian Renaissance art, spent nearly seven decades dedicated to scholarship, collecting, and teaching. ou.edu/fjjma

NUCLEAR ENCHANTMENT: PATRICK NAGATANI Through Jan.

30 Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Over a 40-year career,

Patrick Nagatani created a diverse body of work that pushed the contours of photography. ou.edu/fjjma

SEPTEMBER 2021 | WWW.OKMAG.COM

69

WHERE & WHEN | ENTERTAINMENT FRAMEWORK: EXPLORING THE ARTISTIC PROCESS Through Feb. 27 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum There is

more to art than meets the eye. Behind every piece of art is a creative process.

nationalcowboymuseum.org

TATTOOING: RELIGION, REALITY AND REGRET

Through May 8 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Tattooing

is a custom dating back thousands of years in North America.

nationalcowboymuseum.org

WEITZENHOFFER COLLECTION Ongoing Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art

In 2000, the University of Oklahoma received the single most important collection of French Impressionism ever given to an American public university. ou.edu/fjjma

SPORTS

Durant. choctawcasinos.com

KEITH URBAN Sept. 11 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant Coun-

try crooner Urban visits the Durant stage. choctawcasinos.com

ART WHAT I KNOW: GIFTS FROM GORDON W. BAILEY Through Oct. 11 Crystal

Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark. What I Know is

an exhibition about knowledge featuring works from a variety of artists. crystalbridges.org

STATE OF THE ART Ongoing Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Ark.

Crystal Bridges opens the new decade with the opening of the Momentary, and the debut of State of the Art 2020. crystalbridges.org

SPORTS

Sept. 2-7, 16-21, 29-30 Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Enjoy

America’s favorite pastime.

milb.com/oklahoma-city

ENERGY FC SOCCER Sept.

12, 26, 29 Taft Stadium Enjoy some exciting semi-pro soccer with the Energy FC.

energyfc.com

COMMUNITY FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK Sept. 3 Paseo Arts District Visitors can

enjoy art openings, wine tastings, live music and other activities. thepaseo.org

2021 OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR Sept. 16-26 State Fair Park One of the most

beloved Oklahoma traditions returns. okstatefair.com

THE STATE

PERFORMANCES

RON WHITE Sept. 3 Choctaw

Casino and Resort, Durant Visit the Choctaw Grand Theater to see comedian Ron White. choctaw-

casinos.com

THE CEMENT OPRY Sept. 4 410 N. Main, Cement The Cement

Opry is a monthly live variety show held in the Jesse James Ballroom. travelok.com

DUNCAN LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS: JUST DESSERTS Sept. 17-25 Marlow

Opera House Head to the Marlow

Opera House for a fun night of a hilarious murder mystery, drinks and homemade desserts. duncanlittletheatre.com

CONCERTS LYNYRD SKYNRD Sept.

4 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant One of the world’s

most iconic rock bands visits

ONS Sept. 3-5 Beutler Brothers Rodeo Arena, Elk City For over 75

years, Elk City has hosted one of the most renowned rodeos in the state of Oklahoma. elkcityrodeo.com

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL Sept. 4, 11, 25 Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater The

Cowboys are back in action in Stillwater. okstate.com

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA FOOTBALL Sept. 11, 18,

25 Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman See

the Sooners take on early season foes. soonersports.com

COMMUNITY CHEROKEE NATIONAL HOLIDAY Sept. 2-5 Virtual The

Cherokee National Holiday in Tahlequah celebrates the signing of the Cherokee Nation Constitution in 1839. travelok.com

ROCKLAHOMA Sept. 3-5 1421 W. 450 Rd., Pryor Enjoy an epic three-day rock music festival featuring more than 70 entertainment acts on three stages. rocklahoma.com

SENIOR GAMES Sept.

9 Simmons Center, Duncan Seniors over

the age of 50 who are looking to stay active and engage in a little friendly competition are invited to attend the annual Senior Games. simmonscenter.com

BISON VIEW 5K Sept.

11 Broadway and 4th St., Sulphur The Bison View

leads runners through the scenic Chickasaw National Recreation Area. okc.

enmotive.com

OKLAHOMA HERITAGE FARM FALL FESTIVAL Sept.

25-Oct. 31 38512 US Hwy. 75, Ramona Celebrate autumn

with a trip to the Oklahoma Heritage Farm Fall Festival in Ramona. okheritagefarm.com

FOR MORE EVENTS IN TULSA, OKC AND AROUND THE STATE, HEAD TO OKMAG.COM. 70

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

Ushering in Fall Flicks A unique assortment of films grace the screen this month.

S

eptember arrives with, I assume, a lot of Oklahoma heat still shining down upon us. This month, I’ve got a wide variety of choices with mostly smaller films and one big action tent pole spectacle for good measure. I’d also like to inform you that it is my birthday month – so please plan accordingly.

Starting the month strong is ShangChi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The second installment of Phase Four in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the film stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, a man who must confront his past when the Ten Rings organization pulls him back into his former life. Co-starring Awkwafina, Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh, the film tells an action-packed origin story with some bonkers set pieces and fight choreography. It releases on Sept. 3.

Next up is a period drama called The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Based on a 2000 documentary of the same name, the adaptation sets out to dramatize the life of the titular Tammy Faye, a televangelist, singer and television personality who gained undue popularity in the ’70s and ’80s with her then husband, Jim Bakker. Filled with all the ups and downs of their turbulent, lavish and often criticized lifestyle, the film looks like an acting showcase for its two leads, Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield. Directed

by Michael Showalter (The Big Sick), it should also have a fair bit of comedy dashed in. It’s out on Sept. 17.

© 20th Century Studios

PRCA RODEO OF CHAMPI-

OKC DODGERS BASEBALL

FILMAND ANDCINEMA CINEMA FILM

To add some British flare to your life, I recommend this next film called The Duke.

The film stars Jim Broadbent as Kempton Bunton, a 60-year-old taxi driver who steals a portrait of the Duke of Wellington and sends ransom notes, saying that the painting will be returned if the government invests more money in elderly care. Based on true events and co-starring Helen Mirren and Matthew Goode, the film is shaping up to be quite a good time, full of English humor and wit. It releases on Sept. 17.

If you’re looking for something odd, The Nowhere Inn should likely satisfy. Starring Annie Clark, better known as St. Vincent, plus Carrie Brownstein and Dakota Johnson as fictionalized versions of themselves, the thriller mockumentary seems like it’s going to start out normal and just go way off the rails. The trailer doesn’t give much away, which is a blessing in this spoiler-laden age, so I’m optimistic it’ll be an insane ride that people will be trying to piece together long after they leave the theater. It releases Sept. 17.

Lastly, a South Korean television show with a plethora of awards under its belt recently became available in the U.S.. Titled Beyond Evil, the show focuses on two police officers and their unwavering determination to catch a serial killer. The drama, literally translated as Monster, will likely be a thrilling ride full of some dark turns. If you need a good detective mystery, it’s streaming on Netflix now.

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CLOSING THOUGHTS Photo courtesy the Alliance for Economic Development of OKC

Cathy O’Connor

ONLINE

FOR MORE, VISIT OKMAG.COM/ CATHYOCONNOR

W

ith a hand in nearly every downtown OKC initiative in the past 20 years, Cathy O’Connor has enacted real change as president and CEO of the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City. She previously served as assistant city manager and as the City’s finance director.

Committed to the redevelopment of distressed areas, O’Connor has spearheaded myriad community projects around town.

She is also active in a variety of community organizations, including Oklahoma CREW, the Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools, the United Way of Central Oklahoma, and the Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership. We caught up with O’Connor and got her thoughts on…

... lessons she’s learned in previous jobs.

How important the team is. Economic development requires participation by so many different individuals: developers, investors, company leadership, elected officials, city employees and the public. Many of our most significant projects in Oklahoma City have required public participation, meaning that we are using public funding to attract very large private development.

... what drew her to this job.

It was the opportunity to create the Alliance the way we knew economic development should be done. While I was at the City, we began identifying the resources that could be managed by the same entity, so that we had many different economic development tools under one umbrella. We knew it would enhance our speed, efficiency and opportunities, and would elevate Oklahoma City’s ability to compete at a higher level for companies that are relocating and expanding.

... the Alliance’s core mission.

I would say economic development, but I don’t think that’s a term that most of the public fully understands. Our core mission is to make it easy to work with Oklahoma City, so that we attract new development, new industry and new jobs and make Oklahoma City a better place to live.

If a new developer needs some guidance on new construction or renovation, he or she has a one-stop shop with guidance to navigate the requirements

72

OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2021

and approval processes. We cut the red tape and shorten the learning curve. If a company is looking for the right place to expand, the Alliance can acquire adjacent parcels of land, sometimes held by government agencies, and compile those into a large acreage needed for a new industrial or warehouse business.

... greatest accomplishments.

My entire career has been an eye-opening experience that has furthered my commitment to the redevelopment of distressed areas. I led efforts to create a local funding source for affordable housing, and have worked with small developers and investors to encourage construction of single-family homes in neighborhoods targeted for investment. I’d point to Culbertson’s East Highland neighborhood, and the apartments at Page Woodson where the Alliance has increased high quality, affordable housing in the urban core.

Early in the creation of the Alliance, I worked with the city to create a Tax Increment Financing District for Northeast Oklahoma City to incentivize investment in this part of town. In 2015, I began working with a developer to renovate the multi-tenant retail building at 23rd Street and Rhode Island Avenue. The EastPoint Project has over 41,000 square feet of renovated single-story retail and office space and is already home to Centennial Health, Kindred Spirits and other businesses.

I mark one of my most significant accomplishments to be the Homeland grocery store, nearly completed at NE 36th and Lincoln. Northeast Oklahoma City lacked a full service grocery store for nearly 20 years, and that created hardship for people who lived there – they had to drive for miles to get fresh produce and meat. I was determined to solve the puzzle and I worked on it for years, with several starts and failed deals. I finally found the right grocery partner in Homeland.

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