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Cleveland County, OK June 2026

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Gents Issue

LIFE + CULTURE

THE QUIET STANDARD: MIKE JOHNSON

FOOD + BEVERAGE IS WHISKEY ON ICE NICE?

TRAVEL

GUY’S GETAWAYS

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James

Ted

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Richard

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Aaron Smathers,

Men’s Issue

Dear Cleveland County family,

Have you ever stopped to really think about the impact a father has on his home? It’s immeasurable. Fathers lay down the foundation that their kids build their lives on. As a dad to two young men myself, I know that the level of impact we have is a choice we make every single day.

My Dad is my hero. He was a quiet man, born in 1928, who was married to my mother for 59 years. At just 17, he joined the Army—claiming he was 18—to serve at the tail end of WWII. He went on to serve in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, eventually retiring as a Command Sergeant Major in the 1st Air Cav and earning a Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam. In 1965, during an assignment in West Germany, he adopted me after I was abandoned at birth. He is the greatest man I have ever known, and it was a true honor to care for him during the last seven years of his life. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at my home in July 2019, at the age of 91.

A father’s true gifts aren’t material—they are his strength, his word, and his guidance. Those are the things that ripple through generations. A good dad builds his home in a few very specific ways:

• His strength acts as a steady anchor when things get tough.

• His words set the standard and inspire confidence.

• His presence brings comfort when it’s needed most.

• His time teaches the value of hard work, and the importance of having a little fun along the way.

• His guidance can change the entire trajectory of a life.

• His correction, while sometimes hard to hear, can be life-saving.

• The adventures shared with him become the memories we carry forever. This month, we’re celebrating the men who step up to the plate. If you still have your dad or a strong father figure in your life, reach out and let them know what they mean to you. And to the dads out there reading this: thank you. You are an essential part of your family and this community.

Happy Father’s Day!

@CITYLIFESTYLE_CLEVELANDCOUNTY

PUBLISHER

Jimmy Darden | jimmy.darden@citylifestyle.com 405.541.5650

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Veronica Bennett

veronica.bennett@citylifestyle.com

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

June 2026 Visit our Instagram

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Josh Govero

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kirstan Lanier

QUALITY

Proverbs 3:5-6

HEALTHY SMILES for life.

Explore the DDS Difference

Whether it’s cutting-edge tech or simply Netflix and a weighted blanket, our team has the tools to ensure your visit is a success.

Salivary Diagnostics

Cutting-Edge Technology

Same-day crowns available.

Commitment to Comfort

Specialized equipment to numb your mouth and keep you relaxed during your visit.

Allows us to know which bacteria or viruses are contributing to your oral condition

Digital Scans enable us to impress your mouth without the mess.

Laser Therapy for cold sore treatment

3D Printers & Cone Beam Scans

Allow us to have an in-depth look beyond traditional radiography.

Guided Biofilm Therapy ® (GBT)

The most thorough and gentle hygiene techniques.

Learn more about how we can partner together–

to achieve health, our role in risk management, why we take it so seriously, and experience the next level of “clean”.

Schedule Your Visit Today!

Read for a Cause: The Summer Learning Challenge

Join the Pioneer Library System this summer to turn your reading into rewards! Log your points at pioneer. beanstack.org as you explore new books and skills. Your progress helps us reach our community goal of 20 million points. If we hit the mark, the library will donate books to children across all three counties. Every page you turn helps a child in need!

Photography by Pioneer Library System

Camps Camps

Opening at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art on June 20

"The Sense of Beauty: Six Centuries of Painting from Museo de Arte de Ponce" presents a selection of sixty paintings by European, Puerto Rican, and North American artists that reflect the scope and diversity of the museum’s collection. The exhibition is organized into five sections based on themes that have been popular in the history of art: scenes of daily life, landscapes, religion, portraiture, and the concept of beauty. More at okcmoa.com/art

Photography by Oklahoma City Museum of Art

AN EXCERPT FROM EPISODE 6 OF SHARE THE LIFESTYLE, A CITY LIFESTYLE PODCAST

Photographer: Brittany Dawn Short

Creative Director: Jen Birn

Stylist: Stephanie Coultress O’Neill

Location: Hotel Saint Cecilia, Austin, TX

MIKE JOHNSON HAS BUILT HIS LIFE AROUND ONE QUIETLY RADICAL IDEA: THE STANDARD YOU SET PRIVATELY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS.

After eight years in the Air Force, a celebrated run on national television, and a health crisis abroad that sent him deep into supply chains and ingredient certifications most founders never touch, the result is Oshun — a luxury ritual brand built on provenance you can trace and integrity you can verify. In an exclusive conversation for the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Mike shares what it actually takes to build something worth putting your name on. Read the highlights below, then scan the QR code for the full episode.

Q: YOU BECAME A FAN FAVORITE ON THE BACHELORETTE AND THEN LEFT THE SPOTLIGHT. YOU MOVED TO MEXICO, LEARNED SPANISH, THEN COSTA RICA, AND BUILT A COMPANY. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR?

A: “If you’re a good person going in, that shows. If you’re not, that shows too. I also learned that people form this parasocial relationship with you — they assume things about you. When all actuality, different circumstances bring out different parts of who you are. I was on TV trying to find love. The kindness people were showing after felt a bit fake, because they wanted to be a part of something that isn’t who I am individually, but a part of what they saw on TV. And so I had to get away from everybody and everything and the noise.”

THE QUIET STANDARD:

MIKE JOHNSON

“Too many people have prayed for me. So I’ve got to get up and do the walking.”
— Mike Johnson

Q: YOU JOINED THE AIR FORCE RIGHT OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHAT WERE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING TOWARD?

A: “There was something in me that was saying: I’m not living up to my full potential. I was being a follower. My uncle said, ‘What’s going to make you become an adult the fastest?’ I said, obviously, the military. The Air Force broadened my thought process more than anything. We’re so caught up in our own perception — when you learn to understand different people’s perspectives, it adds to you in so many ways.”

Q: WITH OSHUN, YOU OWN YOUR MANUFACTURING, YOU EMPLOY A CHEMIST, EVERY PRODUCT HAS A BATCH NUMBER TRACEABLE TO ITS ORIGIN DATE. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO THAT DEEP WITH THE BRAND?

A: “The EU bans 1,100 ingredients in personal care products. The U.S. bans nine. That’s my starting point. Oftentimes, it might be the same ingredient, but it comes from a place where it doesn’t have the highest purity. And 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed. Every product Oshun makes carries a batch number that goes back to the exact day it was created — I can show you every single supplier, the date, the origin. I own more than one part of the supply chain because that’s the only way I can stand behind what’s in the bottle.”

This conversation is just the beginning. Mike goes deeper into why he’s buying land up north, the family in the Philippines who prayed over his factory floor, and what he’d tell every person ready to stop performing and start building. Scan the QR code for the full, exclusive City Lifestyle interview on the Share the Lifestyle podcast.

MIKE JOHNSON

Nice? Is Whiskey On Ice

THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY YOUR WHISKEY: ON THE ROCKS, ROCK, NEAT, OR WITH WATER

A brand ambassador that I had the privilege of listening to recently said the obvious: both dilution and temperature change when you add ice, so if you are going to add something, a little water is best. I personally prefer to use a water dropper, so I can add one drop at a time until I get to the desired taste. ARTICLE

In speaking to Whiskey lovers (most happen to be men, but do accept me in their brethren as a fellow enthusiast, writer, and educator), I’ve learned a great many opinions on how to drink Whiskey. Specifically, preferences on adding water and ice vary greatly.

HERE ARE THE DIFFERENCES:

Rocks: Provides the highest rate of dilution as a lot of ice melts quickly. If you are drinking a barrel proof Whiskey, it kind of defeats the purpose as the distiller didn’t add water as they do in every other type of finished Whiskey.

On the Rock: The single rock, cube, or sphere is the slowest to melt and thought to be the most aesthetic. It’s nice if you want to stretch out your tasting. I often order on the rock if I want my drink to last longer.

Neat: This is the way single malt Scotch is served at a tasting event, in a branded Glencairn or Neat glass so that proper nosing for aromas can be achieved - and a dram of Scotch, smaller than an ounce, fits in them perfectly.

Water: As I mentioned above, quoting the brand ambassador, a little water is better for a fine Whiskey over any kind of ice. Often, if ordered with water, the water is served in a separate vessel on the side so you can add in as much as you want.

Quoting another expert on the subject, Richard Paterson of The Dalmore famously and enthusiastically demonstrates in his Scotch classes how to drink single malt Scotch Whiskey: Paterson fills a lowball glass to the rim with ice, adds Scotch and then ceremoniously throws it over his shoulder onto the carpet of the classroom – because that much ice makes the drink worthless. One more quote, never “add green tea or milk to Whiskey. You can add a little water, but not a lot of ice.”

Ultimately, the reason we add ice can be for aesthetics, to stretch out the time spent on one glass, for cooling, and for dilution. However, the number one reason enthusiasts add water is … drumroll please … because adding a little water actually opens up a Whiskey to show more aromas and flavors.

Al Fr es co STYLE

Spending time outdoors and enjoying friends and family over good food and drinks is a great way to enjoy the season’s beautiful weather. From the fresh flower arrangements, produce, and herbs, this earthy spread is brimming with character and flavor. The earthy ceramic and clay vases give the perfect vessel to fill with organic cut herbs and handpicked wildflowers. We arranged a beautiful medley of Queen Anne’s lace, mint, sage, rosemary, lavender, lamb’s ear, nigella, buddleia, oregano, dill, feverfew, and geranium to name just a few of these beautiful blooms.

We love a good home-cooked menu mixed with a signature drink, so we paired our meal with a delicious craft cocktail. Buttermilk brined fried chicken was a must for this outdoor party. A delicious peach bread pudding with salted vanilla caramel cream rounded out our meal for the perfect sweet treat. We wanted to share a few of our favorite recipes for you to try at home. Enjoy!

FARM-TO-TABLE ENTERTAINING

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAUL VERSLUIS

FARM-TO -TABLE

Buttermilk Brined Fried Chicken

INGREDIENTS:

Dried spice mix

• 2 tablespoons white pepper

• 1 teaspoon ground mustard

• 5 teaspoons paprika

• 2 teaspoons fresh black pepper

• 2 tablespoons garlic powder

• 2 teaspoons dried oregano

• 2 teaspoons cayenne

• 1 teaspoon celery salt

• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

• 4 teaspoons onion powder

• Palm kosher salt

Buttermilk Brine

• 4 cups buttermilk

• 1 bunch fresh sage

• 1/2 of spice mixture

Dredge

• 2 cups flour

• 1/2 cup cornstarch

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• Whole cut up chicken or 2 bone-in breasts, 2 thighs and 2 drumsticks

To cook

• 4 cups shortening

INSTRUCTIONS:

Marinate chicken in brine for up to 24 hours. Place chicken in large Ziploc bag and pour marinade over top. Add fresh sage and store in fridge. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking rack with a sheet pan for raw chicken and one for cooked chicken. Add remaining spice mixture to flour mixture. Whisk together well. Heat shortening to 350 degrees. (Preference is cast iron Dutch oven) Pull chicken out of buttermilk mixture and let drip. Coat firmly in flour mixture and set on raw chicken rack. Complete each piece of chicken. Heat oil to 350 degrees. Place 2 or 3 pieces of chicken in oil and cook 3-5 minutes per side.  Place on cooked chicken rack. Put cooked chicken in oven to complete cooking for 15 minutes. Let chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before serving!

Peach Bread Pudding

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 loaf brioche

• 5 fresh peaches

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 2 cups milk

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 5 eggs

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

• 2 teaspoons vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut bread into 1-inch cubes. Dice peaches into medium dice. Place peaches, white sugar, and butter in saucepan. Cook until sugar is dissolved and peaches are soft. Mix all other ingredients together. Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan and add peach mixture with brioche pieces and then add milk mixture. Bake for 45 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes before cutting.

El Ahumado

“Spanish for Smoky”

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 ounces Reposado tequila

• 1/2 ounce aperol

• 3/4 ounce lime juice

• 1/2 ounce agave nectar

• 1/4 ounces luxardo cherry syrup

• 1 spritz of Mezcal

INSTRUCTIONS:

Lightly sweet, pleasantly bitter. The Mezcal adds just a hint of smoke to make a beautifully balanced, interesting cocktail.

GUYS’ GUYS’ GETAWAYS GETAWAYS

Has it been too long since your tribe gathered to rib and one-up each other as only guys can do? To help plan a getaway for just the guys, City Lifestyle gathered an eclectic list of locations offering tons of things to see, do and experience. Here’s hoping the only ribs one will get on this guys’ getaway are the kind to hold in hands while barbecue sauce drips onto shirts.

FOUR GREAT PLACES FOR GROOVES, GRUB AND GAWKING WITH BEST BROS

Bowling Green, Kentucky

“America’s Sports Car” is produced at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, where visitors can join guided tours to observe Corvettes being built and learn the fascinating history of these sexy autos. See examples of all Corvette generations at the National Corvette Museum. And if the need for speed is still felt, a few times a year Xtreme Experience offers driving or ride-along events in exotics like Ferraris or Lamborghinis at the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park. After getting all revved up, cool down at Mammoth Cave National Park, the longest known cave system in the world and a World Heritage Site, where guided tours take participants through tunnels humans have used for thousands of years. And after all this touring, the Bowling Green area is the southernmost point in the Kentucky Bourbon Trail of distilleries.

Austin

Live music rules here, with iconic venues such as Antone’s, The Continental Club, the White Horse and hundreds of other locations, from dive bars to big stages. From rock and blues to country and urban, music is heard every night of the week (and many afternoons as well). When guys are hungry, there are tons of barbeque and Tex-Mex joints. Unique food trucks are truly a thing here, with nearly 2,000 food trailers in town. Burn some calories biking or running the Southern Walnut Creek Trail or one of many paved paths. Get out on the water in a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard on Lake Travis or Lady Bird Lake. Take a dip in the historic Barton Springs Pool, where the underground springs keep the water around 68 degrees all year.

RO A D CHOW

FUN AND CREATIVE TRAVEL SNACKS GUARANTEED TO SATISFY EVERY TASTE PALATE IN THE FAMILY.

Planning to load up the family truckster and head out on an adventure? These easy-to-pack and satisfying snacks are a great way to keep growling tummies quiet while you’re behind the wheel. Grab the kids, prepare them together, and try not to eat them all before you hit the road!

DIRECTIONS:

1/ Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups quick oats

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 cup peanut butter

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1/3 cup apple butter

• 1 large banana, mashed (1/2 cup)

• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

• 1/2 cup pepitas

• 1/2 cup raisins

2/ Combine all the ingredients into a large bowl of a stand mixer (or hand mixer). Mix until all the ingredients are combined and the dough is thick and heavy.

3/ Portion 1/4 cup mounds of cookie dough onto prepared cookie sheets. Use the back of a spoon to slightly flatten out into a cookie shape. (The cookies will not spread in the oven.)

4/ Bake for 16-18 minutes or until the edges are slightly brown. Cool cookies on the baking sheets for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

5/ Cover leftover cookies and store at room temperature for up to 5 days or 10 days in the fridge.

TRAIL MIX

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup puffed quinoa or puffed millet

• 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

• 1/2 cup whole roasted almonds

• 1/2 cup raw pepitas

• 1/2 cup raw cashews

• 1/2 cup dried banana chips (broken in half)

• 1/4 cup chopped dried mango or papaya

• 2 tablespoons candied ginger

• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chunks (or chocolate chips)

DIRECTIONS:

1/ In a medium mixing bowl, toss all ingredients together until evenly combined.

2/ Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month or in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

realty report

This data is a sampling of sold properties from last month. Source: OKC/Norman Multiple Listing System.

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