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by Kimberly Walker

Nude confusion

‘I believe we now have answers’: Hilbert posits Jackie Chan film as explanation for Walters TV nudity.

By Andrea Hancock and Tres Savage,

Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert said Aug. 5 he believes scenes depicting fully nude women in a 1985 Jackie Chan movie were responsible for the bizarre upheaval during a July 24 State Board of Education executive session that drew national attention.

While Hilbert said the film aired on Samsung’s TV Plus “Movie Hub Action” Channel 1204 during the time of the incident, his press release indicates that Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters privately discussed what he saw on the screen after avoiding such questions publicly and instead alleging Gov. Kevin Stitt and his appointed board members had orchestrated a conspiracy of “lies” to “assassinate” his character.

“This information seems to vindicate both the state superintendent as well as the two board members,” said Hilbert (R-Bristow). “It is not credible to believe that the superintendent or any member of his staff intentionally played an inappropriate film in the middle of an active board meeting. Additionally, it does not appear that Samsung’s internal movie channels list streamable content days in advance so a planned conspiracy would be highly unlikely. Instead, the available evidence points to a bizarre accident involving a newly installed television defaulting to a pre-programmed channel.”

Western warning Walters’ office did not respond to a request for comment before the publication of this article, although later, he tweeted a gif from the movie Tombstone of Wyatt Earp saying, “Hell’s coming with me.”

With the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office still collecting information for its own report, questions remain as to why Walters erroneously told media his office

Two screenshots of nude scenes in the 1985 Jackie Chan movie The Protector appear to align with the available information about a what appeared on Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters’ office TV during the executive session of an Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting Thursday, July 24, 2025. | Image provided NonDoc.com

“If I were guessing now, I’d say somewhere around 30 minutes, maybe. I don’t recall. I really don’t,” Deatherage said Tuesday. “What I’m trying to do is think about how long it took the parent to talk and then the (school district) superintendent to talk. So I’m guessing it was somewhere between 15 minutes and 30 minutes.”

Shown the two blurred screenshots from the movie depicted above — in chronological order — Carson said the images she saw were “not at all the first” but “possibly the second.”

She said she had no desire to watch the full movie but that she does have a question about Hilbert’s statement that the explanation “seems to vindicate” Walters.

Vindicating question

NonDoc.com

TV featured only a “cable TV box” and had no other streaming or media capabilities, a statement shown to be false by reports from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services and a thirdparty cybersecurity firm that reviewed the device. Walters also claimed the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office had concluded its investigation of the situation, prompting Sheriff Tommie Johnson to say that was also untrue.

Hilbert’s proposed explanation appears to align with some details reported by State Board of Education members Ryan Deatherage and Becky Carson.

On July 25, Deatherage and Carson both described the footage they saw as “retro” in nature, with Deatherage comparing it to M*A*S*H or Gilligan’s Island, but with nudity.

Rated “R” and released in 1985, The Protector stars Jackie Chan and Danny Aiello in a story about two New York police officers who travel to Hong Kong after the daughter of a wealthy businessman is kidnapped by a drug lord. While Chan reportedly edited nudity out of the film’s Hong Kong release, a YouTube version of the movie includes at least three scenes with nude women at roughly the 34-minute mark, the 65minute mark and the 69-minute mark.

Deatherage said he saw the nudity first during presentations about a Bethany Public Schools transfer denial, but he said he remained silent about it owing to the sensitive topic involving a parent during the meeting’s executive session. Carson saw nudity on the screen later during the private meeting and demanded that Walters turn the TV off.

Asked to estimate the time between when he first saw nudity and when Carson saw “nipples” and “pubic hair,” Deatherage’s answer could align with the movie.

Channel check

“It was, understandably, an unusual inquiry, and it took several days to receive a response,” Hilbert said. “However, this morning, I was provided confirmation that the films airing during that timeframe were The Protector (1985) followed by The Foreigner (2017).”

IMDb’s parental guide for The Protector lists “severe” nudity in the movie, most notably in a scene featuring a nude masseuse and a scene featuring naked women working at a heroin factory. The masseuse seen near the 34-minute mark of the film could match Deatherage’s description of a woman near a “chiropractic table.”

While Hilbert said the Jackie Chan movie airing on Channel 1204 during the board meeting offers “the most plausible explanation” for what happened, early reactions on social media from Oklahomans indicate that Walters’ own words last week may have made the situation worse for him as he ponders a gubernatorial campaign.

“My question would be, ‘What is he vindicated of?’” Carson asked. “It proves that we saw what we saw, that we weren’t lying. But it does not erase the fact that he stood before not just Oklahoma — this went worldwide — and so he stood up in front of the world and called us liars, defamed our characters, basically did a character assassination and thinks he can just walk away from it.”

Carson, who taught special education and elementary education before her retirement, said Walters’ public responses to the situation fell short of the honesty any teacher would try to instill in their students.

“There’s still that issue of, you know, you’re somebody who is representing education in the state of Oklahoma, and you’re showing our children that it’s OK to stand up in front of them and lie,” Carson said. “His story has changed at least five times now. We’ve gone from (him saying) it never happened to being able to describe a scene in the movie.”

Carson was referencing a portion of Hilbert’s press release where the House speaker described a conversation he had with Walters.

“Upon reviewing the parental guidance summary for The Protector on IMDB, it is clear that the content described by the board members matches scenes from that movie,” Hilbert said. “Additionally, this matches information shared with me in a phone call with the state superintendent on Saturday, July 26, where he explained to me what he thought he saw on the screen when he turned around to turn it off was a doctor and a nurse and that he saw a white lab coat.”

In his Aug. 5 press release, Hilbert said he contacted a “government affairs specialist” for Samsung to determine what movies had played on Channel 1204, which was identified by investigators with Alias Cybersecurity as the most recent channel viewed on Walters’ TV.

“My family has watched as board members stopped at nothing to stop education reform in the state of Oklahoma,” Walters said during a July 29 press conference. “These board members have a lot to answer for, and so does the governor of the state of Oklahoma. Did he direct these board members to lie about me? Did he direct his board members to go in and disrupt everything in these board meetings? Did he have the board fight against bringing private schools into the state for families? That’s school choice. What exact directives were they given? We have had our name cleared by both of them, yes, and the sheriff’s office. There is nothing scandalous that I was a part of whatsoever, and the lies will have consequences.”

Deatherage and Carson each said they spoke with Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office investigators, and Carson emphasized that neither board member accused Walters “of anything” other than failing to acknowledge the situation and apologize for nude images somehow being on his screen during the meeting.

“The reason I stepped forward was, one, because I thought it was important for him to be held accountable. You know, we have to be accountable for our actions — everybody, whether you’re in education or some other field,” Carson said. “And I hope, what I wanted others to see is that, yeah, it’s going to be hard to stand up and speak your truth, and it’s going to be difficult, and you’re going to be called names, and you’re going to get nasty emails — which I have. I’ve gotten tons of positives that have totally outweighed the negative, but you do get those, they trickle in, and they hurt, and I can’t keep from being hurt. (…) What I wanted people to see is that, you know, you have to stand up for what is right, and it’s not going to be easy, but it’s the only way we make change.”

NEWS Shared liability

Two tourism and hospitality acts make shared areas of the city walkable while drinking alcohol, but local businesses are hesitant to take advantage of them.

By Greg Horton

Confusion has been the primary response to a new interpretation of a couple pieces of legislation related to tourism and hospitality. When Mesero owner Trey Dyer posted a reel in June detailing the OAK’s use of the common patio law from 2020 in combination with the Tourism Development Act of 2024, operators around the city were curious about their rights within the legislation. First, the background.

In 2020, largely inspired by COVIDrelated issues at Edmond Railyard, the Legislature passed a law that allowed all licensed premises adjacent to a patio to use the patio, as opposed to the old law that only allowed one licensed concept to use the outdoor space. The primary stipulation was that all licensed entities would have to agree to share liability. It was a solid piece of legislation that allowed Railyard operators to sell alcohol in their operating space to customers who then were able

to take the drink and food to the patio on the Railyard’s west side. Restaurants around the metro implemented policies that used the new rule.

When the Tourism Development Act (TDA) created a legally defined “entertainment district” in 2024, the law was initially meant to create economic incentives for large-scale developments like OAK, The National and Fordson Hotel OKC. Essentially, the legislation allowed for the expansion of the common patio rule to an entire district, using the verbiage in bipartisan Senate Bill 1057 (authored in 2023 by Sen. Paul Rosino, R-OKC), provided the district met the criteria set forth in the TDA, which included stipulations like a minimum of 100,000 square feet, a hotel or residential component in the district and a requirement that 25 percent of guests be from out of state.

What that means in practice is best illustrated at OAK. A guest can purchase

a cocktail in a special cup (green, plastic, with the OAK logo) at Cloud Puncher in the Lively Hotel and then walk outside the hotel with that cocktail. This is very different from the to-go cocktail law also passed in 2020. A common patio law would have allowed the guest to take the drink to the OAK’s central plaza, but the TDA allows them to take the drink all over the district, including non-licensed retail establishments, provided the retail operator permits alcohol in the building. The other caveat is that the guest may not take the cocktail into another licensed establishment, so you can’t purchase a margarita at Mesero and carry it into Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar.

“I see this as a step in the right direction. That being said, I have two major concerns related to security,” Dyer said. “If someone buys a margarita from me and they’re not allowed to take it into another licensed establishment, do I have to police that? If it’s a beer, how would we even know where the beer came from? If something happens, everyone gets sued no matter who sold them the beer. Secondly, how do we police the rule in the larger district, as in how do we keep someone from leaving the premises with alcohol? OAK shouldn’t have to hire a half dozen extra off-duty police for every event. We have to figure out how everything works in

the larger scheme of the district, but this is a good move for consumers and businesses.”

A few rules related to the application of the TDA and common patio were not explicitly clear. Two were mentioned by Dyer: which establishments are required to share liability and how a district could prevent a guest simply getting in their car with the drink and driving off.

Lack of rules

ABLE Commission Legal Counsel Kate Springer said that ABLE still needs to create some rules around the legislation.

Trey Dyer | Photo provided

Mariachi Herencia de México

La Nueva Generación Tour

A new generation takes mariachi to new heights— pushing the boundaries of traditional mariachi music while simultaneously honoring the past, celebrating the present, and creating its future. Mariachi Herencia de México presents an electrifying and unforgettable night of Mexican music and culture. ¡Viva el mariachi!

October 2, 2025 | 6 p.m. @ Gaillardia Benefiting the Bright Path youth

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OKLAHOMA IMPACT

Community knot

Palomar connects victims of violence and abuse with essential services to help them move forward and heal.

By Henry Nam Hardwick

Located in the heart of Midtown, Palomar has been the central hub for victim services in Oklahoma City for nearly a decade. Collaborating with 44 partner organizations, Palomar has served over 29,000 clients over the last eight years — survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, stalking, elder abuse and human trafficking.

Named after the palomar knot that is renowned for its strength and resilience, the center offers itself as “a kindhearted home where clients and their children come first as they work through the healing process” in a holistic manner, according to its website. More than just a resource center, Palomar is a “community of healing” offering a plethora of free and confidential assistance to “people of all ages and genders, regardless of sexual orientation, language spoken, immigration status or income.”

By providing security, support and a tightly bound network of care through wraparound services at a single location, Palomar streamlines navigating victim services to cater to every individual client’s needs as accessibly and properly as possible. With help available as soon as one walks through the doors at 1140 N. Hudson Ave., Palomar is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and welcomes walk-ins before 4 p.m.

From the moment a client arrives, a navigator is available on staff to greet, assess needs, explain available services and help coordinate next steps. Victim advocates guide clients through paperwork, offer emotional support and even accompany clients to court. Clients don’t have to come to Palomar alone. While friends are welcome to support the client, even children are welcomed and cared for in the Children’s Sanctuary by specially trained children navigators who will watch over them. This all-encompassing approach ensures that every client is welcomed with open arms, no matter their situation or availability.

Palomar walks hand in hand with clients through immediate support, legal assistance, the healing process and moving forward. Provided victim services include:

• support for survivors : client services, safety planning, crisis intervention, advocacy, emotional support and transportation

• support for families: adult protective services, pet care, parenting classes,

trust-based relational intervention, child protective services and child care

• legal assistance : protective order representation, child support, divorce and custody help and civil legal representation

• holistic healing: counseling, support groups, spiritual care and medical treatment

• housing and financial assistance: job search assistance, classes, emergency shelter, re-housing and emergency needs assistance

• offender accountability : criminal prosecution, investigation, forensic exams and virtual privacy officer services

Among the partner organizations, 11 are hosted in-house and provide fulltime services. These partners and the services they provide include:

• Oklahoma Department of Human Services (Child Protective Services)

• EMBARK (client transportation)

• Homeless Alliance (long-term housing support and advocacy)

• La Luz Org (bilingual advocacy)

• Latino Community Development Agency (bilingual advocacy)

• Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc. (civil legal assistance)

• Oklahoma City Police Department (domestic violence unit)

• Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (connection to mental health services)

• Oklahoma Humane Society (pet advocacy and resources)

• Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office (victim protective orders)

• YWCA Oklahoma City (community, sexual assault and court advocacy, forensic nursing and support groups) While the recognition for the need

of Palomar’s services goes back to the initial discussions in 2012 between Chief Visionary Officer and Founder Kim Garrett-Funk and the Oklahoma City Police Department, the fight against domestic violence is tragically all too close to home.

According to the Oklahoma Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board, “domestic homicide numbers for the past four years are substantially higher than numbers prior to 2019” with an average of 114 victims between 2019 and 2022 alone. With Oklahoma ranking in the top 10 states for women murdered by men since 1996 and currently ranked second in the nation, the need for healing is recognized by both sides of the aisle.

For National Domestic Abuse Violence Awareness Month in October 2024, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s “Generally Speaking” column cited, “It is estimated that 51.5 percent of Oklahoma women and 46.0 percent of men will experience sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime.”

Most poignantly, however, is the reminder that these numbers “represent shattered lives, broken families and communities in pain.”

Oklahoma Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board recommended the state Legislature focus on “establishing a fund for a statewide program focused on providing direct traumainformed services, enacting a domestic violence-specific hearsay exception to bolster evidence-based prosecution, strengthening areas of state victim protection order laws and amending state statutes to eliminate discrepancies related to domestic violence crimes.”

New facility

One of Palomar’s greatest strengths is its investment in the future. Rather than just being reactive, it has been proactive in its mission to serve Oklahoma City to the best of its ability. Recently, Palomar broke ground on a new facility thanks to a $42 million expansion project sponsored by MAPS 4 in 2019 that will open in early 2027.

Sharing the future of Palomar with News 9, Garrett-Funk explained how the new center will expand on its current offerings through 24-hour services, comprehensive care with a new and robust medical center, a cafe staffed by survivors and a two-story children’s sanctuary. Additionally, the new center will even have desk areas with cribs.

Palomar has operated Camp HOPE America since 2016 as “the first evidence-based camping and mentoring program for children exposed to trauma” in the nation, according to its website. Aiming to break generational cycles of family violence “by offering healing and hope to children and adults who have witnessed and been impacted by family violence,” the camp offers a safe space for young people to grow into themselves beyond the abuse that they have faced. Providing such healing services is essential because Palomar cites that 78 percent of children who grew up in violent homes without help will continue the cycle of violence.

Palomar is intrinsically rooted in the community. From the work of local organizations to MAPS 4 and fundraising, Palomar highlights what it means for Oklahomans to come together for the good of one another. It offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, including both one-time service events and longterm services including special projects, front desk and phone hospitality, children’s sanctuary, emergency services shop, special projects and community events, spiritual cafe program, animal advocacy, Camp HOPE mentoring and the Palomar legal network. Other ways to help include internships, donation drives, benefit events, fostering pets, helping at open houses, offering testimonies, giving donations and supporting via social media.

By meeting each person where they are and helping them in every way they can, the work of Palomar is in the living testament of each individual survivor and the wounds healed in the face of Oklahoma’s domestic abuse crisis.

Visit palomarokc.org.

chicken friedNEWS

Ethics breach

Shelley Zumwalt, the former director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, has agreed to a settlement with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission after an audit found she approved agency contracts with a company where her husband was a vice president. The audit found she checked “no” on annual forms that asked about conflict of interest.

As a result, she’s agreed to a twoyear ban from public office and ordered to pay a $20,000 fine to the state’s general revenue fund.

This isn’t a case of intentional financial gain, Zumwalt said in a statement, but rather a simple matter of failing to recuse herself. The Ethics Commission, in its own statement, called it a “clear warning to all state officials” that “unintentional “violations” would have “meaningful consequences.” It’s a valuable lesson for every public servant: When in doubt, just assume your spouse’s company is, in fact, a conflict of interest.

Walters’ woe

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and his former spokesman are appealing a federal judge’s order to pay $170,000 in legal fees to KFOR.

Walters, who was sued for blocking journalists from public meetings, settled the case but refused to admit he did anything wrong.

Walters has long been adversarial with the press and less than welcoming when it comes to public access. However, him barring the media from meetings took on a different light after he was recently accused of playing pornography on a TV in his office during an executive session with the state

Here’s hoping the lawsuit creates a more public-friendly state Department of Educa tion. If nothing else, $170,000 is a heavy chunk of change for Walters, who is paid $120,000 a year and apparently has a large movie streaming budget to maintain.

Pollution politics

With Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond running for governor, his seat will become open next year, ensuring that Oklahoma will have its fifth attorney general in five years. That’s a lot of inconsistency for the state’s highest law enforcement officer, especially for a state in love with the death penalty, the failed war on drugs and locking up as many people as possible.

But the race could also have an impact on a key environmen tal issue in eastern Oklahoma.

Two early candidates for the office are Jon Echols, a former state House leader, and Jeff Starling, the current state secretary of energy and environment.

Starling was appointed to the position by Gov. Kevin Stitt after he fired his previous secretary for attending a hearing over poultry pollution in eastern Oklahoma. A federal judge has ruled that Tyson Foods and other large poultry producers are to blame for polluted waterways. Drummond is currently overseeing the state’s interests in the case and has advocated for stricter pollution controls and penalties for the companies.

The case might be solved before the next attorney general comes into office, but given that the lawsuit was first filed in 2005, Oklahomans shouldn’t hold their breath.

Paycom exit

Oklahoma City is set to get a new arena, and it’s starting with a clean slate — literally. Paycom, one of the city’s corporate giants, has decided to end its naming rights when the new arena opens in 2028.

One wouldn’t think finding a new naming sponsor would be hard, especial ly after the Thunder re cently won the NBA Finals. But the most likely companies might not be a great fit. The city’s oil and gas giants have significantly been less

and ironic, considering the team used to be the Seattle SuperSonics — but the company has less local flavor after being bought by an Atlanta-based restaurant company.

Most of the city’s visible business growth these days appear to be OnCue gas stations and Starbucks, but both are uninspiring choices. Then again, the new arena could be named after the people who actually fronted the Thunder $1 billion for a new palace: the taxpayers of Oklahoma City.

Denial syndrome

Porndemic state and Ryan Walters Denial Syndrome

By Drew Williamson

A new affliction is plaguing approximately 10 percent of Oklahomans, and it has gone from symptomatic to a fullblown outbreak in the midst of the most recent scandal involving Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction. The virus is known as Ryan Walters Denial Syndrome. RWDS is seemingly rampant amongst an increasingly smaller portion of our population, but its presence is still felt broadly amongst all of us, some days more than others. Symptoms are fairly easily identified:

• distortion of reality: This is a prominent symptom that includes an inability to distinguish fact from fiction, interpreting results incorrectly and being delusional.

• inability to admit mistakes: This typically manifests with blaming others for the actions of Walters. This symptom seems to become most severe when it should not exist at all. In severe cases, it can also morph into conspiracy theories.

• selective memory: This is possibly the most frustrating symptom, as it requires extreme patience and grace

when encountered. The recommended treatment is to change the discussion topic.

• total lack of accountability: The strangest manifestation involves wanting to blame the wrong people for gross incompetence, while doing nothing about the person exhibiting a total inability to lead others, act ethically and do their job. This also appears to create total disregard for outcomes or data that do not support the belief system this malady instills. It is estimated this virus is affecting fewer people over time, as it appeared to be mildly affecting over 50 percent of the population in November 2022, when Walters was elected. However, the approximately 10 percent still being afflicted have much more severe symptoms and often refuse treatment. It is difficult to determine precisely how many cases exist, as those with RWDS talk about their conditions a lot more than would be normal, thereby making it appear that more people have the virus. RWDS is definitely reaching epidemic proportions at our State Capitol, rampant amongst

GOP lawmakers. Governor Kevin Stitt was positively diagnosed several years ago, becoming quite ill from 2022 until 2024, but has apparently recovered from this syndrome in the last year.

Treatment recommendations for RWDS are to stop hanging around with others who have the condition. This is known as an “echo chamber” and makes recovery difficult. Avoid large gatherings, such as Edmond Republican Women’s Club, Oklahoma GOP events and certain churches. Best results for overcoming RWDS have occurred by opening one’s mind, reviewing data and listening to reasonable people. Many have experienced faster recovery by simply admitting they have the condition and need help. Reading Ryan Walters’ statements can cause a relapse, as they can boldly make one believe things that aren’t true and slip back into a state of unconscious ignorance. It is recommended to simply call a teacher or school administrator if you read or hear Walters’ rhetoric and are drawn toward believing his utter BS.

Many think RWDS is about to break like a fever and it feels worst just before subsiding. If it doesn’t go away soon, our entire state could be left with longer-term side effects. The most pending impact is RWDS leaving our schools ranked 50th nationally, a ranking that would surely cost a football coach their job in Oklahoma. Future effects could be difficulty with creating a quality workforce,

making Oklahoma a much less desirable place to live or locate a business and numerous outcomes that affect our kids.

A quick remedy for RWDS would entail lawmakers doing their jobs. It should be noted there is a low likelihood that it could actually begin spread again, but this will depend on whether Walters intends to make a mockery of our gubernatorial election in 2026. If he does, this will be around for at least another 18 months. In the event Walters becomes governor or stays in power at the state’s Department of Education (OSDE), it is recommended to patiently await investigations into Walters’ personal finances. If this does not occur, private school is recommended for all children, and Texas looks like a great idea. One can be sure that recent controversy around the display of inappropriate content during an Oklahoma State Board of Education executive session, an edict with no funding to provide free meals for all in our schools, the attempt to anoint a failing out-of-state charter school in an effort to indoctrinate our youth and the continuous lies that flow from OSDE will soon cause RWDS to go away or get much worse. This is a pivotal moment, a time for leadership and will determine our governor’s legacy for Oklahoma. Hopefully, our state and lawmakers will take action now.

Drew Williamson is managing partner of Red Center Media, LLC, holding company of Oklahoma Gazette

EAT & DRINK

Heirloom hospitality

Memory and meal are inseparable at Lorena, where owner Lori Burson and Chef Cally Johnson work to preserve more than just recipes.

By Julie Porter Scott

Local Italian mainstay Stella recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, but little sister Lorena has been a dream in the making for almost as long. As Stella grew in popularity and set down roots, owner Lori Burson kept her eye on the space next door for over thirteen years. The space was occupied by 1492 New World Latin Cuisine before its owners shifted to focus on its primary location in Casady Square. When they let the landlord know they were leaving, the restauranteur’s phone rang, and the journey to open Lorena began.

The concept for the new space had been in development for much longer — percolating on a back burner in Burson’s mind were all the family recipes she wanted to share from her childhood, alongside other Southern food traditions. If you know Burson, even in passing, it’s little surprise that she hails from a long line of women known for their warm hospitality and their skills in the kitchen. The consummate hostess, she can be seen daily welcoming guests at Stella or moving through the dining rooms at Lorena to visit with regulars and greet newcomers. Lorena was her maternal grandmother, who raised her family in Abilene, Texas, and lived to be 104 years old. With a focus on Southern cuisine and hospitality, the restaurant is a way to carry on these traditions and share them with the community at large.

Those familiar with the original space will notice many changes throughout. Fitzsimmons Architects completely reworked it. The large bar was relocated to maximize dining space near the windows at the front of the building, giving a light and airy feel to what is now the main dining room. A side room features a large bourbonfocused bar; beyond that, a private room sits just off the kitchen, which was also expanded and upgraded. As she gave me

a tour of the space, Burson pointed out nostalgic touches.

“Above each booth, a framed cover from a cookbook that belonged to my mother, my grandmother or myself,” she said.

Another element of the new endeavor was decades in the making. Chef Cally Johnson was well-known during her over 20 years in Oklahoma — from stints at Boulevard Steak House and The Park House to co-founding Big Truck Tacos — before returning to her home state of California. Burson’s plan was convincing enough to lure her back to the 405 to serve as the executive chef at Lorena.

With renovations well underway and Chef Johnson on the case, menu development began in earnest. Johnson began working her way through a list of treasured dishes, each a memory from Burson’s childhood. She explained a central tenet of the concept.

“Each menu item is truly a story,” she said. “When we tell the story through food, we can help people access their memories.”

“The food that chef has created, sometimes when people try it, they start tearing up, finding memories of their own families and traditions,” Burson said. “And so this restaurant that honors my grandmother, I think, in so many ways honors everyone’s family and your memories of that connection.”

During recipe development, Burson was hoping for her grandmother’s chicken and dumplings, and the eager chef wanted to deliver. But since her grandmother didn’t always use written recipes, there was no road map. So Johnson started with what Burson could remember and made version after version until she got it right.

“I don’t care if you cook the best chicken and dumplings in the world,” Johnson said. “You’ll never come close to the memory until you hit the perfect

note.”

Catfish is a signature dish at Lorena, not only as a Southern staple but also because of Bubba.

“A friend’s mother — she is 90 years old, and everyone calls her Bubba — was telling me all about the catfish from Middendorf’s Restaurant in Louisiana,” Johnson said. “So I started researching the restaurant, and I did a deep dive on everything — every news article, everything.”

The chef is pleased with the thinly sliced catfish, fried to a crispy perfection, but perhaps no one is more thrilled than Bubba, who comes in once or twice a week for the catfish with a side of nostalgia.

Honoring history

Both white women, Burson and Johnson were acutely aware of the issues surrounding cultural appropriation in opening a Southern food restaurant. Southern food is deeply rooted in the experiences, struggles and innovations of Black America, a history that has often been ignored, or rather ignored until it is exploited. Today, Black chefs and restaurant owners face structural racism in the industry: They encounter more difficulty accessing funding, loans and prime locations; receive lower media visibility; and face greater scrutiny from critics.

Johnson and Burson both said it had been a chief concern, and they had gone into the project with open eyes, minds and hearts. Johnson started with research on Black foodways, from books like Bound to the Fire: How Virginia’s Enslaved Cooks Helped Invent American Cuisine by Kelley Fanto Deetz and the acclaimed Netflix series High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America

“I read, and I read and I read some more,” she said. “I wanted to understand the history and acknowledge the source, the often very painful origin of the food that we wanted to share.”

“I didn’t want to be somebody that came in and just monetized a period of time that is such a shameful chapter of our history,” Burson said. “But it’s fundamental to American food culture. I wanted to help tell these stories, and I believe we can do it in a way that is respectful.”

For example, one dish uses middlins, broken pieces of Carolina rice. The rice is a historic heirloom variety that originated in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia, Johnson explained.

“[Middlins are] grains of rice that get broken in the milling process,” she said. “Whole grains of Carolina rice went to the slave owners, and the broken pieces, the middlins, went to the slaves. We serve pimento cheese middlins with our catfish, and we source the middlins from Carolina rice.”

The chef also sources Camellia Brand beans from Louisiana, ham from Benton’s Bacon & Country Ham in Tennessee and Duke’s mayo. Many Southern staples found their way onto the menu, including grits, fried green tomatoes, crab cakes, deviled eggs, fried chicken and more. Lorena’s tagline is “Southern Twist,” and that seems right. Blessedly, no one is talking about “elevating” or “refining” Southern food. As we wrapped up our visit, Chef Johnson opened up further.

“The only thing that I can do is to go into it with the kindest heart and with the best intentions as I did this,” she said. “And my prayer was that the menu and the spirit in which it’s cooked would show honor and respect.”

Lorena definitely doesn’t feel like your grandmother’s house, but it is warm and welcoming, as intended. It might also be a high-end time machine. You can imagine someone tunneling into a long-lost memory after a bite of a handcrafted BLT on Pullman white. You can picture teleporting back into a day long past after that first taste of juicy fried chicken.

And what if you could return, for just a moment, to a big table with your grandparents, your parents, your siblings, a pitcher of iced tea sweating on the floursack tablecloth? Could you take a step back into one of those long summer afternoons, where a cake cooled on a counter as your mom let you help make the icing? Can a simple banana pudding take you all the way back to the sunsoaked back garden at your great-grandmothers’ house? At Lorena, it’s not a longshot; it’s just lunch. Visit lorena-okc.com.

Chef Cally’s family-style whole fried chicken is served with mashed potatoes, herbed brown gravy and green beans with Benton ham. | Photo Tony Thompson

The angel food cake is based on a memory from Chef Cally’s childhood. Chunks of cake can be dipped in the strawberry cream, chocolate buttercream or a classic crème anglaise. | Photo Tony Thompson

EAT & DRINK

Ruth’s place

Talented local chef Reuben Carey may finally have a hit on his hands, and the city is better for it.

By Julie Porter Scott

Ruth’s Creole Kitchen

610 NW 23rd St.

ruths-creole-kitchen.square.site | 405-673-7434

WHAT WORKS: Chef Reuben’s considerable talent

in

and

WHAT NEEDS WORK: The young servers are friendly but inexperienced, so bring a little patience.

Chef Reuben Carey is a friendly, funny force of nature. He has been part of the Oklahoma City food scene for the last decade or so. I’ve been to several meals catered by Chef Carey and have friends who have hired him as a private chef. He’s also had two concepts start and end over the past decade. But when I visited his bright, open space in July, I spied all the makings of a successful restaurant.

Ruth’s Creole Kitchen is named for Reuben’s mother, Ruth Carey, who passed away in 2024. She raised her family in New Orleans’ Upper Ninth Ward and was known for her cooking and hospitality, on display during her weekly Sunday dinners. Reuben has said his love of cooking for and hosting others stems from that tradition. In addition to naming the restaurant after her, a wall inside displays family photos, including one taken at his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary.

It’s nice to see that Uptown remains a neighborhood where Ruth’s can set up shop. NW 23rd Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Robinson Avenue has long been a corridor of locally owned businesses serving won derful food from nearly every corner of the world, and it seems even Starbucks

can’t stop this streak. The building, formerly The Copley (née Play Café), is bright and open, with a long bar along one wall. When I went, it only had its beer and wine license. I imagine it will get busier once daiquiris and other mixed drinks are on the roster.

I’d been excited to try Ruth’s for a while. I love everything about the Crescent City, from the historic neighborhoods full of rich history to the incredible art and music found on any given street corner. Give me Marigny, Bywater, Tremé, the Garden District and, of course, Frenchmen Street. And there’s the food. So when I received this assignment, I invited my little friend group, the one that travels to New Orleans together every year in the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras, my little krewe.

Authentic Creole

We started with the crab cakes, which we all loved. Full of Gulf Coast blue crab meat and served three to an order, they would have been delicious on their own, but the addition of Ruth’s remoulade put these little crab cakes over the top. I would put these up against any crab cake in town. Before you balk at $17 for three small cakes, just bear in mind these are very crab-forward and lightly pan-fried for a perfect texture.

Next up, the red beans and rice with baked chicken ($17) was excellent. I love red beans and rice and have ordered them all over town — all over the country, really. I thought these were just perfect: red kidney beans, the holy

The beans were just right, almost al dente. Is there a word for whatever happens just after al dente? Not al dente, but not soft or squishy either? Whatever that word is, these are that. The baked chicken was juicy and flavorful. Although it was a nice addition, I think the beans and rice are filling and flavorful enough on their own. No chicken needed.

The seafood gumbo ($13), one of the measures of a Creole spot, was a standout. So much has to be done just right, from the roux to the holy trinity to the stock — without those elements, gumbo just isn’t gumbo. The seafood has to be just right, too, not overcooked, added at just the right moment. This iconic dish was perfectly executed by Chef Carey and his team. The shrimp and sausage Creole ($15) was also beautifully done, with andouille, tomatoes, the aforementioned trinity and a healthy portion of Creole seasoning, served atop that perfect rice. I really enjoyed this, but I would love to see shrimp Creole on the menu, sans sausage. That would make for a lighter dish, and this menu could use a few lighter options.

The only item we ordered that I would skip was the muffaletta ($12). At our table, we all agreed this was the least impressive dish. The sandwich had most of the elements on point: salty meat, smoked cheese and the crunch of the olive salad. But the bread — of utmost importance — was just lacking. One of my krewe called it “Subwayesque,” a damning description if ever there was one.

Overall, the food is excellent, and if you’re into Creole, that’s probably all you need to know. I don’t worry too much about service at a place that is so food-focused and unassuming, but I will note our server was young, inexpe rienced and nervous. That will improve with time, and I remember being a

young, nervous server with absolutely zero experience, so I tend to give a wide berth.

I didn’t get to visit for lunch before they stopped that service, or at least paused it until business picks up overall. That’s a shame, as so much of this menu lends itself to lunch. It seems like this could really be a core part of the business if it could get going. With so many nearby office workers hungry for something different, it’s easy to see how lunch could be a boon.

One thing I really appreciated about Chef Carey’s concept is the resistance to rely on fried foods. With Cajun Corner just down the block, this corridor has the fried category of Southern food well covered. I also want to point out the lovely private room available here. I’m often asked if I know of any private rooms in town — for business meetings, small reunions, birthday dinners and baby showers. The one at Ruth’s is beautifully done and speaks to Carey’s long run as a private chef. I’ll be adding this room to my roster of private dining spaces, and so should you.

There are plans to renovate and improve both the back garden and front patio. These would make for wonderful additions that give the space more personality and functionality. Chef Carey’s planned large yellow, purple and green awnings outside would be a fun addition to the streetscape. Add a full liquor license and a big fun patio, and we’d almost be able to pretend we were actually in New Orleans.

Visit ruths-creole-kitchen.square. site.

shines brightly

this inviting space,

those familiar with authentic New Orleans food will find much to love here.

TIP: Check Ruth’s social media for upcoming live music events, especially if jazz, soul or Creole music is your jam.

left to right Shrimp and sausage Creole, seafood gumbo, and red beans and rice with chicken

| Photos Julie Porter Scott

EAT & DRINK

Slush fund

August in Oklahoma always has us asking ourselves a few questions, like, “What circle of hell is this?” followed closely by, “How much money do I need to summer in Cape Cod?” But then we’re reminded of a few things: We’re made of sturdier stuff, and when we need to beat the heat, the city has plenty to offer. So even if you’ll never have Vampire Weekend money, you can still sip the life-giving cocktails our favorite mixologists are whipping up for us this summer.

By Julie Porter Scott and photos provided

Pool Bar and Bodega

900 W. Main St. poolbarokc.com 405-982-6900

You won’t find a better place to cool down than Fordson Hotel’s Pool Bar and Bodega. Head over to the West Village for the pool, cabanas and DJs, and stay for the summer cocktails of your dreams. One sip of the Jalapeño Black Cherry Margarita will have you in the mood for summertime shenanigans. Crafted with blanco tequila, triple sec, fresh lime juice and agave syrup, it’s finished with a house-made jalapeño and black cherry grenadine.

Later Bye

301 NW 13th St., Suite 101 laterbyeokc.com 405-768-3208

Despite becoming one of the most soughtafter seats in the city, pocket-sized Later Bye has stuck to its guns, bringing unique flavors to a diverse crowd of devotees. This summer, we’re putting on the out-of-office message for the TTYL featuring nori-infused tequila, yuzu Curaçao, lime and salted tomato oleo. Catch the aperitivo hour 3-5 p.m. for an affordable afternoon getaway. No passport required!

Good For a Few

1705 NW 16th St., Suite B goodforafew.com

Head to Plaza’s hidden cocktail bar when you’re ready to trade the blazing sun for somewhere cool, dark and moody. We can’t get enough of the tropical and beautiful Papaya Anthem, built on Planteray Rum 3 Stars and Smith & Cross rum, then highlighted with peppered papaya syrup, carrot juice, lime and Coco Lopez and finished with edible flowers from local purveyor Tessa Linville. Or try its summery, herby take on a gin fizz, Octopus’s Garden. “Good” doesn’t even begin to cover it.

SPARK

300 Oklahoma City Blvd. eatatspark.com 405-900-5921

The iconic Club Special was invented right here in Oklahoma City by a bartender at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club. Countless approximations and appropriations have made their way through this market, but leave it to the good folks at The Social Order’s SPARK to improve the original by serving up the Frozen Club Special and her fancy cousins: Park Peach, Blackberry Sage, Pineapple Jalapeño and Grapefruit Lavender.

Palo Santo 1203 SW Second St. palosantobar.com 405-594-3676

Palo Santo knows not to mess with a good thing. That’s why every summer, when the peaches and watermelon reach their prime, Palo Santo rolls out its seasonal tentpoles. The fantastic Verano de Sandía is composed of blanco tequila, fresh watermelon juice, serrano, Manzanilla sherry, lime and chile salt. The Fuzzy Butt Rubs features mezcal, peach oleo, Amaro Nonino, Bordiga Bianco, lemon, and gusano salt. The drink’s funny name will give you the warm fuzzies.

The Jones Assembly

901 W. Sheridan Ave. thejonesassembly.com 405-212-2378

When you think of perfect summer bevvies, you may automatically default to dreams of Jones’ famous frosé, and we can’t blame you. But the hottest days call for something a bit stronger. We suggest Haterade, a mix of Tito’s vodka, Italicus, melon, lemon and electrolytes. Six specialty cocktails are on the summer drink menu, proving once again why TJA reigns supreme.

Flamingo TIKI

605 NW 28th St. osopaseo.com 405-309-8226

Oso on Paseo’s boozy little sister brings tropical vibes to OKC 365 days a year, and the dog days of summer are no exception. Within the walls of the hot pink stucco, you’ll find cool breezes, traditional tiki cocktails and island-inspired tapas from Oso. Flamingo boasts over 20 specialty tiki drinks. During summer, it’s hard to beat the Dole Whip: Take a delicious pineapple soft serve, then top it with your choice of rum.

GAZETTE FLAVOR SEEKERS

Happy Hour Monday to Saturday 4pm to 6pm

DINE SHOP

Providing the ultimate experience of relaxation in massage therapy and luxury spa services since 2006. 3604 NW 58th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 Delivery and Curbside available at Byronsliquor.com or Download the Byron’s Liquor App. 2322 N Broadway Ave OKC (405) 525-2158 Mon-Sat 9am-10pm, Sun 12pm-6pm LOCAL FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1959, WE ARE PROUD AND HUMBLED TO HAVE SERVED

1/2 price oysters in Bistro

2025 BEST OF OKC WINNERS

Oklahoma City’s first and longest-running readers’ poll, Best of OKC, is back for its 40th year! You voted your favorites last month and we tallied them up. Now we bring you the Best of OKC!

FOOD& DRINK

BEST PET-FRIENDLY PATIO

The Pump Bar

CLOSED AS OF AUGUST 3, 2025

BEST PLACE TO WATCH TV SPORTS

Fassler Hall

421 NW 10TH ST., SUITE 201

BEST LOCAL BREWERY

Angry Scotsman Brewing

704 W. RENO AVE.

BEST COCKTAIL

Club Special - The Mill Bar

Neighborhood Bar

3600 NW 58TH ST.

BEST BREAKFAST

Cafe Antigua

1903 N. CLASSEN BLVD.

BEST BRUNCH

Cafe Kacao

3325 N. CLASSEN BLVD.

BEST SPOT OPEN LATE

Guyutes

730 NW 23RD ST.

BEST BURGER

Johnnie’s Charcoal Broiler MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST TACO

Big Truck Tacos

530 NW 23RD ST.

BEST SANDWICH SHOP

Lee’s Sandwiches

3300 N. CLASSEN BLVD.

BEST BARBECUE

Clark Crew BBQ

3510 NORTHWEST EXPRESSWAY

BEST PIZZA PLACE

Hideaway Pizza

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST STEAKHOUSE

Mahogany Prime Steakhouse MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST SUSHI

Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

7512 N. WESTERN AVE.

BEST SEAFOOD

Pearl’s Oyster Bar

5641 N. CLASSEN BLVD.

BEST RESTAURANT OR BAKERY W/ VEGAN, VEGETARIAN, GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS

Picasso Cafe

3009 PASEO

BEST DESSERT RESTAURANT, SHOP OR BAKERY

Pie Junkie 1711 NW 16TH ST.

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Azteca Mexican Grill OKC

4024 N. MAY AVE.

BEST LATIN RESTAURANT

Cafe Kacao

3325 N. CLASSEN BLVD.

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Patrono Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

305 N. WALKER AVE.

BEST COFFEE SHOP

Elemental Coffee

815 N. HUDSON AVE.

BEST WESTERN EUROPEAN RESTAURANT, NOT ITALIAN

La Baguette Bistro

7408 N. MAY AVE.

BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT

Basil Mediterranean Café

211 NW 23RD ST.

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT

Taj Cuisine of India

1500 NW 23RD ST.

BEST EASTERN ASIAN RESTAURANT

Ma Der Lao Kitchen 1634 N. BLACKWELDER AVE., SUITE 102

BEST NEW RESTAURANT TO OPEN AFTER 8/1/24

Tipsy Tomato 7301 N. MAY AVE.

BEST FINE DINING RESTAURANT

Mahogany Prime Steakhouse

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

The Mill Neighborhood Bar 3600 NW 58TH ST.

BEST NEW BAR TO OPEN AFTER 8/1/24

Later Bye

301 NW 13TH ST., SUITE 101

BEST PATIO DINING

Redrock Canyon Grill

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST DINER

Sunnyside Diner MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST RESTAURANT

Ma Der Lao Kitchen 1634 N. BLACKWELDER AVE., SUITE 102

BEST CHEF

Chef Meghan Synco, Hal Smith Restaurants

@CHEFSYNCO

BEST PRE-OR-POST EVENT SPOT

The Jones Assembly 901 W. SHERIDAN AVE.

BEST LGBTQ+ BAR OR CLUB

The Boom 2218 NW 39TH ST.

BEST DIVE BAR

The Mill Neighborhood Bar 3600 NW 58TH ST.

Oklahoma City is always ready to come through for a Jeff Chanchaleune joint, and Ma Der is no exception. “Ma der” is a Laotian phrase that means “Come eat” or “Come through.” That expression has become an encapsulation of Chanchaleune’s most personal venture to date. Rooted in the recipes his family has cooked and eaten together for generations, Chanchaleune’s unassuming style brings his family’s menus to the forefront without presumption. With two James Beard nominations tucked safely into his apron, it would be understandable for him to preach to us, to pontificate, to proselytize. Instead, he brings approachable fare to the young and old of OKC, to the hip and the tragically hip alike. His only goal? Shining a little more light on Lao cuisine and culture. From the laab gai to the seen hang and the different, yet oddly familiar moek paa, Ma Der is putting OKC on the map, by way of Laos. Find it at the intersection of cuisine, panache and street cred.

MA DER LAO KITCHEN

BEST RESTAURANT

BEST EASTERN ASIAN RESTAURANT

BEST NATIONAL OR REGIONAL RESTAURANT* CAVA

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST APPETIZERS

Pizzeria Gusto

2415 N. WALKER AVE.

BEST LOCAL LUNCH SPOT

Cheever’s Café

2409 N. HUDSON AVE.

BEST FOOD TRUCK

Tamale King

2915 N. CLASSEN BLVD., SUITE B

ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

BEST LOCAL PARK

Scissortail Park

300 SW SEVENTH ST.

BEST LOCAL COVER BAND

Jukebox Hero

@JUKEBOXHEROOKC

BEST LOCAL ORIGINAL BAND OR SINGER Jabee

@MYNAMEISJABEE

BEST LOCAL SOCIAL INFLUENCER

Tiffany Whitefield

@TIFFANYINOKC

BEST PERFORMING ARTS GROUP

Oklahoma City Philharmonic OKCPHIL.ORG

BEST LOCAL MEDIA PERSONALITY, TEAM OR SHOW

David Payne, News 9 @THETORNADOPAYNE

BEST VISUAL ARTIST

Matt Goad

@MATTGOADART

BEST LOCAL ANNUAL EVENT OR FESTIVAL

Paseo Arts Festival THEPASEO.ORG

BEST FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

Oklahoma City Zoo

2000 REMINGTON PLCE

BEST FREE ENTERTAINMENT

Scissortail Park

300 SW SEVENTH ST.

BEST BAR/CLUB FOR LIVE MUSIC

51st Street Speakeasy 1114 NW 51ST ST.

BEST CONCERT VENUE

Tower Theatre

425 NW 23RD ST.

BEST PUBLIC ART / STATUE / INSTALLATION

Plaza Walls PLAZAWALLS.ORG

BEST PLACE TO BUY LOCAL ART

The Paseo Arts District

THEPASEO.ORG

BEST ART GALLERY

DNA Galleries 1709 NW 16TH ST.

BEST MUSEUM

OKC National Memorial & Museum 620 N. HARVEY AVE.

BEST LOCAL DISTRICT

The Paseo Arts District

THEPASEO.ORG

BEST CASINO

Riverwind Casino 1544 STATE HIGHWAY 9, NORMAN

BEST LOCAL TOURIST ATTRACTION

OKC National Memorial & Museum

620 N. HARVEY AVE.

BEST PLACE TO DANCE

Groovy’s 5705 MOSTELLER DRIVE

GOODS & SERVICES

BEST CAR DEALERSHIP

Mercedes Benz of OKC 14240 BROADWAY EXTENSION

BEST CREDIT UNION OR BANK*

Tinker Federal Credit Union

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST PLACE TO BUY JEWELRY

BC Clark

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST THRIFT, VINTAGE OR CONSIGNMENT STORE

Bad Granny’s Bazaar 1759 NW 16TH ST.

BEST FURNITURE STORE

Mathis Outlet

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

Eden Boutique 3014 PASEO

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING

Mr. Ooley’s 6500 N. WESTERN AVE.

BEST PLACE TO BUY LIQUOR

Byron’s Liquor Warehouse 2322 N. BROADWAY AVE.

BEST VAPOR SHOP

Liquid Vapor Lounge 6608 N. MAY AVE.

The crown jewel of Oklahoma City’s outlandish renaissance, Scissortail Park is like the popular girl everyone loves who happens to be deeply deserving of the lavish praise. In addition to the ornamental gardens, woodlands and children’s playground one might expect, the space also includes a dog park, sport courts, interactive water fountains, a three-acre lake, a performance stage and great lawn, a picnic grove, a restaurant and a seasonal roller rink. Most recently, Scissortail served as the de facto spot for every local Thunder playoff game, culminating in her star turn as the heart of what Mayor Holt called, “unquestionably, the largest gathering in our city’s history”: the terminus of the NBA Thunder Championship parade on June 24. Talk around the Gazette water cooler indicates we might retire the Best Beautification Project category — at least for the next decade or two — as it’s hard to imagine anything else taking top prize anytime soon.

SCISSORTAIL PARK

BEST NAUGHTY BUSINESS

Christie’s Toy Box

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST PLACE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION

Oklahoma City University

2501 N. BLACKWELDER AVE.

BEST NEW RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT TO OPEN AFTER 8/1/24

OAK OKC

2124 NORTHWEST EXPRESSWAY

BEST LOCAL GROCER, DELI OR SPECIALTY FOOD SHOP

Uptown Grocery Co

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST LOCAL FLORIST

Trochta’s Flowers & Garden Center

6700 BROADWAY EXTENSION

BEST GARDEN SHOP

TLC Garden Center

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST PLACE TO FIND UNIQUE GIFTS

Craig’s Emporium 1209 NW 23RD ST.

Volunteering isn’t just about the warm fuzzies, although at Oklahoma Humane Society, the fuzzies are certainly very warm. In order to win Best Place to Volunteer, the entire experience needs to be best in breed. Just as you wouldn’t toss just anyone into an important role at work, the folks at the Oklahoma Humane Society take the volunteer program seriously. Applicants are screened; upon approval, they participate in an online orientation before being placed in a role that is appropriate to their skill set. Next up, they’re properly trained for their new post, learning to doggie paddle before being thrown in the deep end. Once on the inside, OK Humane volunteers have access to a robust tool for scheduling their shifts, receiving important messages and more. Community packs are also welcome to volunteer, and they come in droves. Don’t be surprised if your litter has to wait a beat — the waitlist for volunteer groups is best measured in dog years. But it’s still well worth it.

Craig’s Emporium has been a welcome departure from OKC retail normcore for over 25 years. From the first blast of fragrant incense to the friendly team member welcoming you in before giving you time to wander, you’re reminded why Craig’s Emporium has been a local mainstay for a quarter of a century. Craig’s has also served as a rite of passage for a few generations of the metro’s young adults, who found their way out of the trappings of chain retail in search of something different. The treasures found during those expeditions take their place as some of the most memorable purchases in a lifetime of consumerism. In today’s age, where doomscrolling can only be counteracted by the dopamine hit of online shopping, it’s no wonder the emporium feels more like a portal to another world than ever before.

CRAIG’S EMPORIUM

PLACE TO FIND UNIQUE GIFTS

BEST PLACE TO VOLUNTEER

BEST TATTOO OR BODY PIERCING SHOP

23rd Street Body Piercing 411 NW 23RD ST.

BEST BOOKSTORE OR COMIC SHOP

Full Circle Bookstore

1900 NORTHWEST EXPRESSWAY

BEST LOCAL ARTS CLASSES

Pinot’s Palette

115 E. CALIFORNIA AVE, SUITE 100

LIFE & WELLNESS

BEST PLACE TO VOLUNTEER

Oklahoma Humane Society

7500 N. WESTERN AVE.

BEST NONPROFIT

Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma

3355 S. PURDUE AVE.

BEST PLASTIC SURGEON

Tim R. Love, MD DRTIMLOVE.COM

BEST HOSPITAL*

Mercy Hospital

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST MEDICAL SPA

Radiance Medical Aesthetics of Oklahoma

3308 NW 135TH ST., SUITE 100

BEST SPA

The Sweet Mimosa Day Spa

3604 NW 58TH ST.

BEST YOGA STUDIO

This Land Yoga 405 NW 30TH ST.

BEST PILATES OR BARRE STUDIO

Pilates Studio on Western 3712 N. WESTERN AVE.

BEST ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONER

Be Well Acupuncture MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST PLACE TO GET FIT* YMCA MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BEST HOTEL* The Skirvin Hilton ONE PARK AVE.

BEST UNIVERSITY GREEK HOUSE

Kappa Kappa Gamma, Oklahoma State University OKSTATE.KAPPA.ORG

BEST LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADER

Mayor David Holt @MAYORDAVIDHOLT

BEST LOCAL GRASSROOTS ACTIVIST

James Cooper, Oklahoma City Councilman @JAMESFOROKC

MISCELLANEOUS

BEST PLACE FOR FIRST DATING APP MEETUP

Scissortail Park 300 SW SEVENTH ST.

BEST GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURE

Turner Falls Park DAVIS

BEST BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT

Scissortail Park 300 SW SEVENTH ST.

BEST NEWS WE’VE HAD IN A LONG TIME Thunder won the finals

BEST WORST POLITICAL ISSUE Ryan Walters’ social studies standards

BEST ANNUAL PARTY ARTini, Allied Arts ALLIEDARTSOKC.COM

ARTS & CULTURE

Original perspectives

By Jeremy Martin

The painting’s impressionist technique means it’s hard to say where the woman riding the horse is looking, whether she stares intently at the road ahead or casts a glance behind her. She might be gazing back at us. The distinctions between the subjects and their surroundings are also unclear. The woman and the horse may well have sprung up from the ground. “I love to paint. That’s my medicine,” said artist Joyce Nevaquaya Harris. “It helps me to remember who I am and where I come from and to share with people, not only our Native people, but everyone.”

Nevaquaya Harris’ painting “Path of Her Ancestors” is one of the many artworks included in Through Her Eyes, an exhibition featuring paintings, beadwork, photography and textiles created by Indigenous women and on view at Red Earth Art Center, 100 N. Broadway Ave., Suite 110, in the BancFirst Lobby, through Sept. 26.

A Comanche artist whose ancestry also includes the Choctaw, Chickasaw and Crow tribes, Nevaquaya Harris said she consciously incorporated elements of her father Doc Tate Nevaquaya’s painting style in “Path of Her Ancestors.” Orphaned at 14 and enrolled in the Fort Sill Indian School in Lawton, Doc Tate Nevaquaya gained international fame as a self-taught painter and flute player

despite the school’s attempts to discourage his early artistic tendencies.

“He would sit at his desk and sketch,” Nevaquaya Harris said. “The teacher would tell him, ‘You’re not allowed to do that,’ and I think that she hit him with a ruler on his hand.”

As a child playing in the yard, Nevaquaya Harris wanted to make art like her father.

“Me and my brother, we’d sit out there ... imitating our dad, kind of sketching in the dirt,” she said. “So I could just say that I started from the ground up.”

Reclaiming something

Chickasaw multimedia artist

Destiny Green’s Incho’wa noital is an ongoing series of black-and-white photographs of people with tribal tattoos. The portraits consciously imitate the high-contrast glamour shots of Hollywood stars from the 1930s and ’40s.

“It’s part of a revitalization that’s occurring right now for a practice that had essentially gone to sleep,” Green said. “So we’re in the process of reclaiming something. … I did not want the piece to come across as clinical or like some sort of anthropological work. … I’m using a style that in the past neglected or in fact sometimes pushed aside the beauty of Indigenous people and their existence in lieu of a more Eurocentric perspective of what was proper, what was beautiful and what was expected from society.”

home when you feel like there’s nobody, at least nobody living, whose hand you can take.”

Kelly, whose influences include Canadian Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau and Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt, purposefully blends realism with openended abstraction. Her family’s artistic tradition has its own unanswered questions.

“Mental health struggles have informed not only the making of my art, but the decision to pursue art seriously,” Kelly said. “There’s also a healing history to the arts. … My greatgrandfather was really low-key about everything that he did, or at least he tried to be. … Something that he hid was that he was always, all of his years, making traditional beadwork, and a lot of people in my family didn’t even know that until he passed away and we found pieces of beadwork that were half-finished. So I think it’s not only a healing for myself ... that I can share with other people who view it, but also kind of a healing for that family tree as well.”

display at Through Her Eyes is more educational. With her art, her Bartlesville-based floral business Roots + Blooms and classes helping Native American entrepreneurs, Virden hopes to help break the cycle of generational trauma and poverty.

Lauren Kelly’s painting “Nshekéwbe” takes its title from the Potawatomi word meaning “to be home alone.”

“Like many people in my generation, I have a lot of living family that even if they are enrolled with our nation, they don’t really practice the culture and they don’t know where to begin,” Kelly said. “That isn’t necessarily their fault, but it’s a result of a lot of negative things in United States history. … As somebody that is going on that journey of reconnecting, I often feel myself at home alone … so it’s really just about exploring that return

Whitney Virden, a floral artist with Comanche, Kiowa and Cherokee ancestry, originally created her sculpture “Between Two Worlds” for the annual Art in Bloom exhibition at the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa. Inspired by the Philbrook’s collection of works depicting Mary and Jesus, Virden made the sculpture from chicken wire, air clay, dried leaves, rose petals and amaranths to honor “the children taken and the mothers left behind” by the federal policy of removing Indigenous children from their families and enrolling them in boarding schools from the 1860s until the 1960s.

“Jesus was forcibly removed from his mother, and we know his end,” Virden said. “I thought, well, ‘What if I gave it a Native American perspective?’”

The original sculpture won the People’s Choice award in 2024, but Virden was surprised to learn that many people she talked to about the piece were unaware that the boarding schools existed, though their impact still affects families.

“A lot of the stories say that these kids never went back home because they became ashamed of their families and thought that they were savages,” Virden said. “If they did go home, weren’t able to communicate with their grandparents anymore, because all they spoke was their native language. There was such a divide and disruption in Native American families that it’s like, ‘Who raised these kids?’”

While the original piece was more spiritually symbolic, the sculpture on

“I love the fact that I’ve been able to build a business, and I’ve received tribal funding that has helped me buy a commercial building, so now I own property … which I wouldn’t have been able to do without tribal help,” she said. “There’s so much funding out there right now, and there’s so many things to help build Native American entrepreneurs that I do believe that we have a hopeful future.”

“The Women Who Came From Ladybugs” by Cynthia Masterson, a Comanche artist and founder of Blue Dot Beadwork in Seattle, is inspired by a creation story, but a newer one than you might expect. When Masterson showed a ladybug pattern to her cousin over Zoom, her cousin thought they looked more like human women.

“She said, ‘Take off their antenna and put a braid down their back,’” Masterson said. “We can still make up stories. They don’t have to come from olden times. And I think they’re good in a way, but a lot of things that we’ve had are lost to time and oppression and things like that.” Visit redearth.org, and go to okgazette.com to read extended interviews

“Path of Her Ancestors” by Joyce Nevaquaya Harris | Image provided

The right panel of Incho’wa noital by Destiny Green | Image provided

“Nshekéwbe” by Lauren Kelly | Image provided

Talk Early. Talk Often.

Kids as young as 11 report vaping. Start the conversation.

ARTS & CULTURE

OVO

, rehatched

THEATER

Paycom Center hosts Cirque du Soleil for the first time in eight years Sept. 11-14, as the international troupe brings a reimagined production of OVO back to a similarly reinvented Oklahoma City.

By Julie Porter Scott

In early September, Paycom Center will be crawling with dozens of insects — everything from scarabs and dragonflies to spiders and crickets — all for your entertainment. Cirque du Soleil’s insect-themed OVO is chockablock with mind-bending contortionists and gravity-defying acrobats flying through jaw-dropping set pieces as a live band provides the energetic score. Created 15 years ago, the famous show has been completely reimagined with an all-new set design, acrobatic acts, original characters, reimagined costumes and reinvented music.

The funny, chaotic show is meant to charm the inner child and tickle the imagination. OVO exudes extraordinary showmanship, from crickets bounding off trampolines to a hypnotic spider contorting inside her web and high-level acrobatic acts that redefine the limits of the human body. The insects’ home is a world of biodiversity and beauty, filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion. When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic

object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives.

OVO, or “egg” in Portuguese, first premiered in 2009. Brazilian choreographer Deborah Colker created the show, which explores the world of insects and themes of biodiversity, the origins of life and the life cycles of insects, as well as joy and curiosity. She immersed herself in entomological studies; she and her team researched spiders, beetles, caterpillars, ants and butterflies to understand their movements, colors and habitats, then crafted the set to reflect the scale of the insects’ environments.

The colorful colony moves to a score by Brazilian composer Berna Ceppas, which incorporates elements of Brazilian music and culture to help create the vibrant experience. Ceppas infuses the hum of the insects with bossa nova and samba rhythms, plus snatches of funk and electro. The tempo of the music helps set the tone for the audience, shifting from fun, wild moments to more emotional and reflective sections.

Audience interaction and an ex-

change of energy are vital to the live performance experience, and performers adapt their style based on audience response, enhancing the uniqueness of each performance. The remarkable, one-of-a-kind production is designed to be family-friendly, accessible and universally engaging.

Since it open in Montreal in 2009, OVO has thrilled more than 7 million people in 40 different countries. The different languages of those 40 countries are no problem for OVO. To nurture an experience that is accessible and inclusive, the show features minimal narration and often relies on an invented “bug language” while also integrating words from each country visited to enhance cultural richness. OVO emphasizes community and unity, especially as it relates to the performers. Despite the show’s technical choreography, there is room for realtime adjustments and adaptation, allowing space for improvisation. That improvisation allows the cast to adjust the show according to the audience and their reactions.

During the NBA Finals run in Oklahoma City, Cirque’s local public relations team reached out to me with a unique opportunity: the chance to sit down with Kyle Cragle, in town to perform during the opening of Game Five against the Indiana Pacers. A hand balancer, Cragle previously performed in OVO from 2016 to 2017 and is touring with the show again. We talked about the opportunity to perform in front of such an electric crowd and how that relates to the upcoming run of OVO in the same arena in September.

“The night we did the performance at the Thunder game, I just got so excited to come back here and experience this community from the stage,” Cragle said. “I did the performance before the game, and then we sat down in our seats, and I just looked around and took it all in. I was just like, ‘Wow! This community is so supportive and so together,’ and it just made me so excited about coming back on the tour to this same city, where some of those same people will come together in the same place for a totally different type of experience. I was texting some of the guys back on tour, sending them videos — they have the nickname Loud City for a reason. I was telling them, ‘Just wait until you get here.’

“Audiences are different everywhere, and I think it’s going to be really exciting to come back with this really uplifting show full of Brazilian music and bright colors. It’s just very joyful, and it’s going to be such a good match with this city that has such a friendly vibe. The show also has a message of unity and coming together, and it is very accessible with this universal lan-

guage,” Cragle continued. “I think the interaction with the crowd will be so fun here. People definitely have audible reactions to the show, and there is a lot of laughter and surprised sounds, and obviously kids have a big response. So it’s not like a Thunder game, obviously, but I do think we’ll be able to feel that same energy from these audiences. There is a dynamic energy exchange, and if the audience reacts in a certain way and you respond in kind, then everyone is a part of creating this experience together.”

This is Cirque’s most kid-friendly production, and Cragle noted that the kids get really into it.

“They don’t have to suspend reality as much as adults, so they can really slip into the story. And for me, it’s almost existential. This life is really crazy, and we’re traveling all the time. And on stage, things happen so fast and you’re making adjustments in the moment. And there is just so much beauty in having these moments where you catch a kid’s big laugh or just a look of sheer delight, and you realize it’s 1 p.m. on a Sunday and you just got to be a part of someone’s core memory.”

It’s worth noting what a different city Cirque will return to when the show’s 20 semi trucks roll back into the 405. When the troupe was last here, the arena did not yet glow green with Paycom’s logo, and nearby Scissortail Park was still under construction. Many of the districts near downtown were not nearly what they are today. In the years since the cast of OVO last leapt through the air inside the arena, the topography of the city has changed. Our collective appetite for world-class entertainment is insatiable, and productions of this level are more in demand than ever.

That the show promotes inclusion, friendship and collaboration across species is fitting. The cast and crew of OVO are made up of 100 people who represent 25 nationalities and speak 18 different languages. Cirque du Soleil is a deeply diverse organization; the Canadian company now employs more than 4,000 people, including 1,200 artists from 80 different nationalities.

Last year, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group celebrated 40 years of defying reality, defining entertainment and illuminating the world through art and creativity. Since its creation in 1984, more than 400 million people have been inspired on six continents and in 86 countries.

OVO will be presented at Paycom Center, 100 W. Reno Ave., Sept.11-14. Tickets are $43-$193. Visit paycomcenter.com.

OVO

Sept. 11-14

Paycom Center

100 W. Reno Ave.

paycomcenter.com | 405-602-8700

$43-$193

EXPERIENCE

Ash Rose which takes on a more muted, cosmetic shade of pink, and is met with the collection’s signature floral embroidery in the same gorgeous shade.

Up to a size K in some band sizes.

Think we can interest you in Teagan? Call and set up an appointment with an experienced and certified bra fitter today!!

Kyle Cragle buzzed around Oklahoma City in June, when he was in town to perform before Game Five of the NBA Finals ahead of Cirque du Soleil’s return to Oklahoma City in September. | Photo Dennis Spielman

ARTS & CULTURE Light fantastic

Storyteller

By Jeremy Martin

With happy memories of her time in India, an imagination fueled by her love of books and more than a little help from her friends, young Sara Crewe finds hope and magic in her dismal attic room after a cruel reversal of fortune in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1905 children’s novel A Little Princess

With Academy Award-nominated assistance in cinematography and set design, director Alfonso Cuarón’s 1995 film version became a beloved family classic noted for its sumptuous visual style despite disappointing box office returns.

With thoughtful staging and lighting and two young actors playing Sara, Storyteller Theatre co-founder Brenna Wickstrom will direct her own adaptation of the 120-year-old story in a basement black-box theater.

“I grew up with the story, like so many little girls in the late ’90s, early 2000s did, with the Alfonso Cuarón movie version,” Wickstrom said. “It was just a lovely story, and I read the book as a kid, and it just, it felt like a great nostalgic piece that I’ve wanted to adapt for Storyteller for a while.”

A Little Princess runs Aug. 15-24 at CitySpace Theatre at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. Tickets are $25.

While recreating the film’s rich set design on a small stage would be impossible, Storyteller’s adaptation of the story still takes inspiration from the movie’s visuals.

“We are in a minimalist space,” Wickstrom said. “It’s a black-box theater, so it is very intimate, but we’re trying to incorporate a lot of Cuarón’s work in the color theory that he used in the film. We’re really wanting to draw on that and bring in those rich colors, especially when she references her home in India, really pulling in those bright oranges and pinks and greens, and the lighting is going to help a lot. … And then it really comes down to just incorporating interesting costumes and props with everyone and consistent movement on stage.”

Still princesses

Actors Betsy Bergthold and Agatha Silva will take turns in the role of Sara, whose standing at an upper-class boarding school changes suddenly after she’s informed of her father’s death. Formerly a favored student, she’s forced to become a servant to her classmates and find hope in her friends and fantasies.

“The biggest thing that I was looking for when we were casting Sara is some-

body who could captivate us with their imagination,” Wickstrom said. “Sara has a huge imagination that kind of keeps her going, even through all of her grief. I didn’t want to cast some child who would get so bogged down in the drama of it but could keep us lifted throughout the story and inspire us the way that she inspires all of the girls throughout her struggle. So that’s really what Betsy and Agatha both brought to the table, was that they had this enthusiasm for pretending and imagining and for storytelling that they could draw us in the way that they approached their monologues and their relationships with the other characters.”

In the book, Sara says, “I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics. Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren’t pretty, or smart or young. They’re still princesses.”

Bergthold and Silva are both experienced stage actors, but Bergthold will be making her Storyteller Theatre debut. The other children’s roles were also double-cast using a combination actors from Lyric Theatre’s Thelma Gaylord Academy, returning actors from previous Storyteller productions and first-time actors.

“About half of our young actresses haven’t done anything before,” Wickstrom said. “This is their first show. They were spectacular in auditions and they’re doing a great job in rehearsals as well.

“I really enjoy working with young actors, and especially young actors who

much more willing to collaborate together on their character.”

Angela Lux, the drama teacher at Crossings Christian School, plays boarding school headmaster Miss Minchin, who begins cruelly mistreating Sara when she suddenly goes from heiress to indigent orphan.

“She’s fantastic,” Wickstrom said. “She just brings this quiet evilness to her character that Miss Minchin has to have, where she’s not, like, overbearing but doesn’t say much. It’s mostly in her actions and the things that she doesn’t say.”

In a change from the original story, Wickstrom gender-swapped the role of Ram Dass from a man to a woman. Kat Abdallah, seen recently as the Wicked Witch in Storyteller’s adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, plays the role of the servant who befriends Sara and helps transform her attic into a magical space inspired by the India they’ve both left behind.

“I really wanted to draw on the femininity of the Indian culture and how that related to Sara, and it felt more relatable to Sara,” Wickstrom said. “Also, there are things in the book that feel strange, like Ram Dass comes into her attic and leaves her gifts. It felt strange to have a man do that, and we really wanted to kind of change that up. The name actually isn’t depicting of gender. It just means ‘one who walks

In the book, Burnett wrote, “Perhaps there is a language which is not made of words and everything in the world understands it. Perhaps there is a soul hidden in everything and it can always speak, without even making a sound, to another soul.”

Wickstrom said Sara’s story explores spiritual themes without adhering to any particular religion.

“There’s the magic being all around her, which is really very spiritual … but not moralistic,” Wickstrom said. “There’s always some type of greater good working for all of us, whether we want to believe in a higher being or not, which I think is kind of special.”

Similarly, she said Storyteller Theatre’s adaptation is suitable for smaller theatergoers but isn’t exclusively intended for children.

“We just consider ourselves mostly family friendly,” Wickstrom said. “We try to make sure that all of our works can engage a wide variety of audiences. So it’s not children’s theater. It’s not theater for young audiences, but mainly just theater for everyone to come and enjoy it.”

Betsy Bergthold is one of two actors playing Sara Crewe in Storyteller Theatre’s adaptation of A Little Princess. | Photo Brenna Wickstrom

Agatha Silva is one of two actors playing Sara Crewe in Storyteller Theatre’s adaptation of A Little Princess. | Photo Brenna Wickstrom

ARTS & CULTURE

Back in business

Now that we are more than halfway through the year, it’s time for the requisite listing of 2025’s best films — so far.

By Phil Bacharach

After a pandemic, the streaming revolution and strikes by actors and screenwriters, the good news is that the theater experience is back in business. People are going to movies again. The less good news: Hollywood is woefully short on originality. With a few exceptions, namely Sinners and F1: The Movie, virtually all the box-office successes have been sequels, reboots or cashgrabs of existing IP.

Still, there have been plenty of bright spots. These are my top 10 as we head into fall:

10. Warfare

Director Alex Garland teamed up with Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza for this painstakingly authentic retelling of a harrowing Navy SEALS operation in Iraq in 2006. Tense, immersive and very loud, Warfare is surely one of moviedom’s most realistic depictions ever of combat. ( Streaming on Plex)

9. My Mom Jayne

Law & Order: SVU actress Mariska Hargitay was only 3 years old when her famous mother, Jayne Mansfield, died in a grisly car accident at age 34. Hollywood of the 1950s and ’60s had relegated the buxom Mansfield to caricature, but in My Mom Jayne, Hargitay lays out how reductive and inaccurate that assessment was. Through archival footage and candid interviews, this absorbing documentary reveals a more complex portrait of the actress. ( Streaming on HBO Max)

8. Friendship

Few adjectives these days are quite as overused as “cringy,” but the description is apt for the comedy of Tim Robinson. In Friendship, he is a blithely affable husband and father who becomes an unlikely buddy to a new neighbor (Paul Rudd), a TV weatherman who oozes charisma. Robinson, with his simpleton smile and lumbering frame, is a physical manifestation of social insecurities, and his performance here has the morbid allure of a roadside wreck. Writerdirector Andrew DeYoung’s feature debut is alternately hilarious and maddening, and you can’t look away.

7. Thunderbolts*

Has Marvel got its mojo back? While I’d be fine with an extended moratorium on superhero movies, Thunderbolts* (yes, the asterisk is intentional) represents a near return to form for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The secret weapon here is Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova,

an ace assassin and kid sister to Black Widow. A true movie star, her commanding presence carries the picture, although there is some irresistible scenery-chewing from David Harbour as Yelena’s boisterous dad and Julia LouisDreyfus as a villainous CIA director. Director Jake Schreier knows how to execute terrific action set pieces, and the requisite banter among this new assemblage of misfit heroes is brisk and funny.

6. The Shrouds

At age 82, David Cronenberg shows no sign of softening. The filmmaker who practically invented the body-horror movie continues working out his cinematic obsessions — physical transformation, shadowy conspiracies, sex and death — in The Shrouds. Vincent Cassel (who bears more than a passing resemblance to Cronenberg here) portrays a wealthy widower who has channeled his grief into an industry of high-tech cemeteries where mourners can watch the decay of their dearly departed. And that’s not even the weird part. Diane Kruger deftly manages dual roles, with Guy Pearce trying his best to play a nebbish. ( Streaming on Criterion Channel )

5. Superman

With filmmaker James Gunn now at the helm of DC Studios, the superhero’s superhero is getting a much-needed reset. David Corenswet’s guileless, idealistic Man of Steel is a pitch-perfect antidote for this era of cynicism, with Rachel Brosnahan his equal as a takeno-shit Lois Lane. I’m more than a little baffled over the pop-culture debate over whether this Superman is woke because Lex Luther (Nicholas Hoult) is a tech bro with an outsized hatred for aliens. The stranger-in-a-strange-land theme has always been integral to the Superman myth. The movie isn’t immune from the genre’s more eyerolling tropes — the third act collapses into a sludge of CGI — but most of Superman soars.

4. Eephus

First-time filmmaker Carson Lund summons the spirit of Robert Altman (Nashville, Short Cuts) in this wry ode to baseball and male bonding. The title references a rare variation of the curveball; eephus is a pitch so slow, it lulls batters into forgetting to swing until it’s too late. That can also be a nifty metaphor for life, and Eephus, set in smalltown Massachusetts circa the 1990s, is about life — midlife, to be exact

— in all its bittersweet, shaggy, achyback glory. As one character opines, “Is there anything more beautiful than the sun setting on a fat man stealing second base?” Short answer: No, there is not. A quintessential hangout movie, the screenplay by Lund, Michael Basta and Nate Fisher is endlessly quotable. ( Streaming on MUBI )

3. Companion

As the world loses its collective mind over artificial intelligence, let’s give it up for Companion, a comic thriller with a fresh take on the possibilities of AI. Writerdirector Drew Hancock’s feature debut is set in the near future, but it very much feels like a movie of the moment. Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid play a young and in-love couple off for a weekend getaway with friends in the country. There are snappy twists and surprises I won’t spoil here — unlike Warner Brothers’ unfortunate marketing campaign — and so the less you know going in, the better. (Streaming on HBO Max)

2. 28 Years Later

In 2002, director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland (co-director of #10’s Warfare) reinvigorated the zombie flick with 28 Days Later, a boxoffice hit that spawned a sequel five years later from different filmmakers. Now the original collaborators have reunited for 28 Years Later, but this is no cash grab, nor would you expect it from these exceptional artists. In this scenario, the “rage virus” of the franchise has reduced the United Kingdom to a largely uninhabited wasteland overrun by flesh-eating zombies. The installment delivers the requisite gore, but at its heart is an affecting comingof-age story for Spike (newcomer Alfie Williams), a 12-year-old boy intent on finding medical help for his ailing mother.

1. Sinners

Genre movies are comfort food for the multiplex. We’re drawn to such films because we know what to expect, that they will satisfy a specific craving. But the tenets of genre are most fun when they’re teased, tweaked and turned on their head. By way of example, we have Sinners, Ryan Coogler’s genre mashup of period drama, musical and vampire picture. Unburdened by Marvel’s Black Panther franchise and its accompanying MCU constraints, writer-director Coogler drops us in Jim Crow Mississippi circa 1932, where twin brothers Smoke and Stack (Michael P. Jordan) are opening a juke joint for the area’s black sharecroppers. Boasting richly drawn characters, across-the-board great performances and Autumn Durald Arkepaw’s exquisite cinematography, Sinners is a lotta movie to sink one’s teeth into. (Streaming on HBO Max) Also worth noting: Black Bag, One of Them Days, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Freaky Tales

CALENDAR

These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

BOOKS

A Conversation with Dr. Mona Hanna: Author of “What the Eyes Don’t See,” and Researcher Who Exposed the Flint Water Crisis Potts Family Foundation invites you to its Aug. 28 Self-Healing Communities Zoom gathering featuring Dr. Mona Hanna, whose powerful and essential book, What the Eyes Don’t See, chronicles her courageous journey exposing the Flint water crisis. It’s a compelling narrative that goes beyond the headlines, revealing the dedication of a doctor, scientist, and mother who stood up for a community’s health and future. Her work highlights the critical connections between environmental health, social justice, and the well-being of our children and communities. This free Zoom event is open to the first 500 people. The event may be accessed at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/ register/tZEpdO-hqzwrGdeOSils1KM6mhR10ynKkQZT. Free, Thu. Aug. 28, 10-11:30 a.m. 405-486-4955, pottsfamilyfoundation.org. AUG 28

FILM

FANFEST: HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN Accio nostalgia! Step back into the wizarding world with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban—now showing on the big screen. Dine like you’re at the Three Broomsticks with magical bites and brews: Death Eater Pizza, Hogsmeade Butterbeer, Mandrake Rootbeer, and the legendary Butterbeer 1707. Every ticket comes with a collectible souvenir glass—no spell required. Tue. Aug. 26, 6:45-9:45 & 7:30-9:30 p.m. Flix Brewhouse Oklahoma City, 8590 Broadway Ext, 405-766-5900, flixbrewhouse.com/events/45148-fanfest-harrypotter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban/. AUG 26

COMEDY

Kurtis Conner: The Goodfellow World Tour Comedian and internet sensation Kurtis Conner brings his sharp wit and offbeat humor to The Criterion on August 17th for a night of nonstop laughs. Door time is subject to change. Aug. 17, 6 p.m. The Criterion, 500 E. Sheridan Ave. 405-308-1803, criterionokc.com/. AUG 17

Stand Up Comedy: Edward Bell and Friends [SiriusXM, PBS, iTunes #1 Album] (18+) Edward Bell is a nationally touring stand up comedian originally from rural eastern Iowa. His debut album, Residual Income, hit #1 on the iTunes Comedy Charts, was named best comedy album of 2024 by the Denver Westword, and can be heard on SiriusXM. $15, Aug. 23, 7:30-9:30 p.m. The Venue, 1103 North Villa Avenue, go.evvnt.com/3168962-2?pid=1430. AUG 23

Tyler Fischer Comedian LIVE Comedian Tyler Fischer hits OKC with his sharp impressions and unfiltered stand-up. Seen on Gutfeld!, America’s Got Talent and The Joe Rogan Experience, he’s bringing the laughs to Bricktown Comedy Club Oklahomma City on Saturday, August 24 at 7PM. $26, Aug. 24, 7 p.m. Bricktown Comedy Club, 409 E. California Ave. (405) 594-0505, bricktowncomedy.com/shows/314878. AUG 24

FOOD

Making You Happy for Happy Hour log off work to enjoy these awesome specials to unwind, relax, and become HAPPY!!! varies, ThursdaysSundays, 4-6 p.m. Twenty6 Lounge, 9622 N. May ave, 4056878739, twenty6lounge.net. THU-SUN Sunday Jazz Brunch take in a lavish Brunch every Sunday at Tellers featuring brunch classics like Eggs Benedict, Lemon Buttermilk Pancakes and Italian favorites from our wood-fired grill. Enjoy live jazz music in the Great Hall while sipping on a curated menu of sparkling and signature brunch cocktails. Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tellers, 120 N. Robinson Ave, 4059006789, tellersokc.com/event/jazz-brunch/. SUN

Taco Tuesday’s at El Coyote enjoy the most festive day of the week - Taco Tuesday! With $2 off delicious tacos and $5 margaritas, cervezas, and sangrias. Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. El Coyote Bar & Cantina, 925 W. Britton Rd. 405-849-5218, elcoyoteokc.com/. TUE Thursday Date Nights make date night a breeze with complimentary bubbly & chocolate covered strawberries every Thursday night! Thursdays, 12-9 p.m. Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails, 132 W. Main St. 405801-2900, eatatscratch.com/reservations. THU

FUNDRAISERS

Bowl For Kids’ Sake - OKC Bowl For Kids’ Sake fundraising campaigns support the children in our OKC mentoring program. So far this year, we’ve served 373 children in OKC! This remarkable achievement marks a significant acceleration in impact and is a testament to the dedication of our mentors, the support of our community, and the growing need for additional fundraising efforts. One way to show your support is through our Bowl For Kids’ Sake fundraising campaign. To get started, create a fundraising team,

host a fundraiser, then celebrate success at our signature bowl party on August 21 at Andy B’s. Thu. Aug. 21, 6-9:30 p.m. Andy B’s Bowl Social, 11917 N. Pennsylvania Ave. 405-606-6300, bfksokc.org. AUG 21

Le Tour de Vin Get ready to mix things up at Le Tour de Vin! It’s not just about wine this time. We’re adding beer and cocktails to the mix. So whether you swirl, sip, or cheers, every drink helps us pour with a purpose! Le Tour de Vin, a partnership of the four Rotary Clubs of Norman, is thrilled to partner with Bridges of Norman as the primary beneficiary for 2025 and 2026. The mission of Bridges is to empower high school students in family crisis to pursue education without obstacles. Bridges will utilize the grant to renovate their student center. $100, Sat. Aug. 23, 6-10 p.m. Embassy Suites by Hilton Norman Hotel & Conference Center, 2501 Conference Dr, (405) 364-8040, letourdevin.org/. AUG 23

YWCA OKC’s 14th Annual Engaging Men

Luncheon For over thirteen years, YWCA Oklahoma City’s Engaging Men Luncheon has rallied thousands of men to stand united against domestic violence. This powerful event fuels the life-saving work of YWCA OKC—the leading provider of services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Oklahoma County. We’re thrilled to announce Robert Attaway as our keynote speaker. Robert will share his powerful and deeply personal story of surviving domestic violence as a child—a journey of resilience that will leave you inspired and reminded of why this work matters. Thu. Aug. 21, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. St. Luke’s Methodist Church, 222 NW 15th St, 405-948-1770, ywcaokc.org/events/engaging-men/. AUG 21

YOUTH

Charcoal & Pastel Landscape Drawings Class

Designed for ages 8-12 | Inspired by Ansel Adams’s iconic black-and-white landscapes, students will use charcoal and pastel to explore dramatic contrasts, atmospheric perspective, and compositional depth. Through guided exercises and reference imagery, registrants will learn to capture the emotion and structure of natural landscapes using only black, white, and gray. This class is perfect for artists who want to develop a deeper understanding of tone and the power of simplicity in landscape art. $20 Members | $30 Non-Members, Sun. Sept. 7, 1-3 p.m. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405.236.3100, okcmoa.com/visit/events/ charcoal-pastel-landscape-drawings-2/. SEPT 7

PERFORMING ARTS

“She Kills Monsters” by Qui Nguyen She Kills Monsters tells the story of Agnes Evans as she leaves her childhood home in Ohio following the death of her teenage sister, Tilly. When Agnes finds Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, however, she finds herself catapulted into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was her sister’s refuge. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s pop culture, acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen offers a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all. $30, Sun. Aug. 17, 2 p.m. Sun. Aug. 24, 2 p.m. Sun. Aug. 31, 2 p.m. and Sun. Sept. 7, 2 p.m. Carpenter Square Theatre, 1009 W. Reno, 405232-6500, carpentersquare.com/kills-monsters. AUG 17, AUG 24, AUG 31

Moist Battle: Consenting Comics Catcall Competitively Moist Battle returns for a wet seat three-peat! This comedy competition provides a healthy consensual environment for thirsty little goblins to be hilariously horny to each other. Your battlers: Returning Champion Jessi Kyle, Rachel Waters, Cam Hunter, Loser Minnelli, Cody Troutman and Spencer Hicks! Your celebrity judges: Indya Naomi, Taylor Gross and Inaugural Moist Battle Champion Lynn K! $10-$15, Thu. Aug. 21, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Mycelium Gallery, 2816 N. Pennsylvania Ave. 4055196027, facebook.com/share/19K9aQwW81/. AUG 21

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Dance Passport Travel the world without having to leave Oklahoma City with Dance Passport! Dance Passport offers free cultural dance classes in Oklahoma City Saturdays 10:00 am to 11:00 am June through August 2025. Each week will feature a different cultural dance style. Classes will be held at Aalim Dance Academy, 2520 N. Meridian, Oklahoma City. Dance Passport is made possible with a grant from the Kirkpatrick Foundation. Thank you! Free, Saturdays, 10-11 a.m. through Aug. 30. Aalim Dance Academy, 2520 N Meridian, 4058440304, aalimokc. com/dance-passport. SAT THROUGH AUG 30

Dementia Caregiver Support Group Are you caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia-related illness? Get the support you need from a group of peers who understand the challenges you are facing led by professional Health Services caregivers. Respite care is available with advanced notice. Located in the Touchmark at Coffee Creek North Activity Room. Call 405-340-1975 to RSVP at least two days before each event. FREE, first Monday of every month, 6-7 p.m. through Dec. 1. Touchmark at Coffee Creek, 2801 Shortgrass Rd, 405-340-1975, touchmark.com/ senior-living/ok/edmond/coffee-creek/. SEPT 8

Fitness at the Wheel End the summer off right at Fitness at the Wheel! Every Sunday morning

HOMECOMING 2025 Join Homeless Alliance for an unforgettable evening at HOMECOMING 2025, an event celebrating the transformative journey home. It’s inspired by a classic high school homecoming, but it’s more than just a party! It’s a celebration of the power of community, connection and the collaboration that makes our city so special. The night will feature a festive atmosphere, complete with a homecoming court, music, a dance floor, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and opportunities to learn more about Homeless Alliance’s mission. The goal is to raise vital funds to continue offering life-changing support, housing programs and shelter environments that help people regain their footing and begin to build a future they deserve.

HOMECOMING 2025 is 6-10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22 at Will Rogers Theatre, 4322 N. Western Ave. Tickets are $75. Visit homelessalliance.org.

FRIDAY, AUG. 22 Photo provided

during September, join us for rejuvenating FREE fitness classes under the iconic Wheeler Ferris Wheel. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or just looking to try something new, this is the perfect way to get moving and kick off your relaxing Sunday. With classes offered by studios such as This Land Yoga, PureBarre, The Pilates Collective, and F45, you’re sure to find a class you enjoy! Bring your mat, a water bottle, and get ready to move! Free, Sundays, 10-11 a.m. through Sept. 28. Wheeler Ferris Wheel, 1701 S. Western Ave. 405655-8455, instagram.com/wheelerwheelokc/. SUN

Full Moon Sound Bath Every month MARKANNA Wellness hosts a relaxing sound bath meditation to celebrate the full moon. A sound bath is a deeply immersive, full-body listening experience that uses sound with crystal bowls and other instruments to invite gentle yet powerful therapeutic and restorative processes to nurture your mind and body. Please bring a blanket, pillow, yoga mat for optimal comfort, and comfortable clothing. This event is FREE and open to the public. Class size is limited to 70 people. First-come, first-serve. Please arrive no later than 6 pm so we can provide a distraction-free environment for participants! Free, Sun. Sept. 7, 6-7 p.m. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave. 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.org/events/ sound-bath-full-moon-689/. SEPT 7

Full Moon Yoga at Mix-Tape Join us for an intentional gathering and gentle movement led by Beth White of Aether Yoga and Wellness as we dig into the offerings of the full moon. This time may provide abundance for those willing to slow down long enough to listen. Sinking into the atmosphere of the Wonder Room will allow for imagination to spark, and open the heart to receive and expand. This session will include slow restorative stretching and sound healing. This class is for people of any skill level. Participants can explore the full Mix-Tape immersive art experience before the session begins. 25, Sun. Sept. 7, 6-7:30 p.m. Factory Obscura, 25 NW 9th St. 4053671578, factoryobscura.com/ events/2025marchyoga. SEPT 7

Internal Kung Fu (Tai Chi, Xing Yi, Ba Gua) Class Learn taiijiquan (tai chi), xingyiquan, and baguazhang in an inclusive, judgment-free environment! Improve your balance and coordination, develop strength and flexibility, and de-stress with mindful movement. E-mail OKCneijia@gmail.com for more info. $15, Sundays-noon. Dolese Disc Golf Course, 5105 NW 50th St. 3477350083, meetup.com/oklahoma-cityinternal-kung-fu-group/events/bdwpctyfcfbjc/. SUN Yoga at The OKC Farmers Market because health and your local farmers market go hand and hand! Yoga with Libb happens during market hours every other Saturday! We are so excited about this collab! Four different session perfect ranging from beginner to the master yogi! 15, Starts at 9am. OKC Farmers Public Market, 311 South Klein Avenue, 405.232.6506, okcfarmersmarket.com. SAT

VISUAL ARTS

“Discovering Ansel Adams” “Discovering Ansel Adams” features over 100 photographs that share Adams’s most celebrated works while revealing aspects of his development that are frequently overlooked. Together with original archival materials from the Center of Creative Photography’s Ansel Adams Archive, these photographs demonstrate how Adams transformed from a fourteen-year-old tourist with a camera into a renowned photographer between 1916 and the 1940s.

Along the way, photographic prints from his early visits to the American Southwest, his mountaineering experiences as a young man, and his quest to photograph America’s national parks will enchant visitors. TuesdaysSundays. through Sept. 28. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, (405) 236-3100, okcmoa.com/ visit/events/discovering-ansel-adams/. TUE-SUN

“People, People, People,” a Group Exhibition at 1515 Lincoln Gallery This July, 1515 Lincoln Gallery presents People, People, People, a group exhibition showcasing a broad and compelling range of figurative art. Curated by writer and art historian Elizabeth Wylie, the show highlights a selection of works by artists both represented by the gallery and drawn from our Found Art Collection. Together, these pieces honor the legacy of figurative art and celebrate the enduring power of the human form. The exhibition reflects reverence for tradition, a drive for innovation, and a willingness to expand the very definition of figuration. Free, Through Aug. 30, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 1515 Lincoln Gallery, 1515 N. Lincoln Blvd. 405-593-1063, 1515lg.com/exhibitions/peoplepeople-people. THU-SAT THROUGH AUG 30 Guided Tonal Landscape Paintings Class Designed for ages 18+ | Discover the power of light and shadow in this guided painting class rooted in Ansel Adams’s dramatic aesthetic. Working in monochrome or limited palettes, participants will explore tonal range, atmospheric depth, and strong composition to create expressive landscapes. Through guided instruction, registrants will learn to capture the emotional impact of the natural world—not just what it looks like, but what it feels like. $25 Members | $45 Non-Members, Sat. Sept. 6, 1-3 p.m. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405.236.3100, okcmoa.com/visit/events/ guided-tonal-landscape-paintings-2/. SEPT 6

Mythics and Cryptids: Group Art Exhibition Mycelium Gallery presents it’s August themed group art exhibition, “Mythics and Cryptids”, Local artists create artwork in the theme of Mythology or Cryptozoology. Opening Night includes music, artist access. “Lucid Libations”, located in Mycelium Gallery is a non-alcoholic bar that carries craft canned cocktails, sodas and snacks. Exhibition runs from 8/16- 9/14 10.00, Sat. Aug. 16, 7-9 p.m. Mycelium Gallery, 2816 N. Pennsylvania Ave. 1580278943, myceliumgallery. com/. AUG 16 THROUGH SEPT 14

Paseo Arts District’s First Friday Gallery Walk peruse art from over 80 artists with 25 participating businesses for a night of special themed exhibits, refreshments and a variety of entertainment opportunities, 6-9 p.m. first Friday of every month. Paseo Arts District, 3024 Paseo St. 405-525-2688, thepaseo.org. SEPT 5

Passion & Pain Project Enjoy performance art and live music as body-painted models share their powerful stories through art. 18+ $50-$75, Sat. Aug. 23, 6-9 p.m. Paseo Arts and Creativity Center, 3024 Paseo St. 4053000081, blackcanvasokc.com/. AUG 23

Silkscreen Landscapes in Black and White Class Thursday, August 28 and Thursday, September 4 from 6-8 pm | Designed for ages 18+ | Explore the power of contrast and the poetry of the landscape in this hands-on screen-printing workshop inspired by the iconic work of Ansel Adams. Using a limited black-and-white palette, participants will learn how to create bold, high contrast prints that echo the mood, structure, and tonal depth of Adams’s photographs. Using the painterly method, this class focuses on capturing atmosphere through shape, value, and negative space, transforming photographic inspira-

CALENDAR

tion into striking silkscreen art. Perfect for beginners and experienced printmakers alike. $40 Members | $60 Non-Members, Thu. Aug. 28, 6-8 p.m. and Thu. Sept. 4, 6-8 p.m. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405.236.3100, okcmoa.com/visit/events/ silkscreen-landscapes-in-black-and-white/. SEPT 4

HAPPENINGS

Dave & Buster’s Summer Season Pass – Unlimited Gameplay All Summer Long! Shift your summer fun into overdrive with the Dave & Buster’s Summer Season Pass! Whether you’re looking to beat the heat or just level up your game nights, enjoy unlimited gameplay, exclusive daily food & beverage discounts, and the chance to score big with ticket bonuses every week. Three Pass Levels to Choose From:, Platinum Pass – $149.99, Gold Pass – $99.99, Silver Pass – $69.99, Don’t miss your chance to game all summer long! For full details, visit https://www. daveandbusters.com/us/en/power-up/season-pass, Available at all participating locations in Oklahoma, 10-10:45 a.m. through Sept. 1. Dave & Buster’s, 5501 N. May Ave. (405) 254 - 9900, daveandbusters.com/ us/en/power-up/season-pass. THROUGH SEPT 1

Wheeler District Farmers Market every Friday through October 24th from 6–9 PM. Located just south of downtown OKC, this family-friendly market features fresh produce, baked goods, pantry staples, and handmade items from local Oklahoma vendors. On the fourth Friday of each month, enjoy our expanded Night Market with extra vendors, entertainment, and community fun. Note: There will be no market on July 4th. Sponsored by: Weokie Federal Credit Union, Chicago Title, Modern Environment, Pink’s Window Services, Central Bank Mortgage, Scott Group, Wheeler Realty, Corbin and Kayla Jackson, and Curbside Apparel! Free, 6-9 p.m. through Oct. 24. Wheeler District, 1801 Wheeler St, (405) 609-2994, wheelerdistrict.com/. AUG 22 OKC Public Farmers Market Saturdays Shop local every Saturday, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Historic OKC Farmers Public Market. Enjoy fresh produce, meats, honey, baked goods, and handmade items in a landmark space that’s supported Oklahoma farmers and makers since 1928. A year-round tradition with deep roots and vibrant community spirit. OKC Farmers Public Market, 311 South Klein Avenue, 405.232.6506, okcfarmersmarket.com/farmers-market/. SAT

Saturday Farmers Market at Scissortail Park Scissortail Park’s Farmers Market is a Producer-Only market, featuring homegrown, handmade, and locally made products from Oklahoma vendors. Free parking is available around the park and in the northwest lot. No market on April 26 for the OKC Memorial Marathon!, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through Oct. 25. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St. (405) 445-7080, scissortailpark. org/events/saturday-farmers-market-2025-season/? occurrence=2025-04-05. SAT

The Saturday Scene Take your museum visit to the next level—literally! Spend your Saturday mornings on the OKCMOA Roof Terrace, a scenic spot to vibe and take in the sights and sounds of downtown Oklahoma City. Enjoy locally sourced pastries and refreshing drinks available for purchase—the perfect prelude to a day of film and fine art. Access to the Roof Terrace is included with a film ticket purchase or gallery admission. Simply show your purchase confirmation to the Admission desk, then ride up the elevator!, Members always receive free admission. Not a member? Join today at okcmoa.com/membership. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, (405) 236-3100, okcmoa.com/the-saturdayscene/. SAT

Bachelor Monday Can we steal you for a second? Bachelor Mondays are taking over the Green Room at Ponyboy every Monday at 7PM!, Wells might not be here, but our bartenders will have you sipping cocktails so good, you’ll feel like you’re in paradise yourself. FREE ENTRY! Bar opens @ 5PM. 21+, 7 p.m. through Sept. 8. Ponyboy, 423 NW 23rd St. 405-6025985, ponyboyokc.com. MON THROUGH SEPT 8

True Crime Tuesdays “Dun dun” - Tuesdays just got criminal. Join us every week in Green Room at Ponyboy for True Crime Tuesdays! We’ll be streaming Forensic Files from 7PM–9PM with drink specials all night long. FREE EVENT!, Bar opens @ 5PM on Tuesdays. 5 p.m. through Sept. 2. Ponyboy, 423 NW 23rd St. 405-602-5985, prekindle.com/promo/id/2853111880118497995. TUE THROUGH SEPT 2

World’s Fair of Money See $100 million in rare coins and currency, including a $3 million nickel and $4 million silver dollar, at Oklahoma’s first World’s Fair of Money®. Sponsored by the nonprofit American Numismatic Association, hundreds of dealers will be buying and selling. Get free informal appraisals and enjoy family fun and educational seminars. Admission: Tuesday through Friday, August 19-22, 2025, $10 for adults, children 12 and under admitted free. Free admission for everyone on Saturday, August 23. $10 for adults, Aug. 19, 1-5 p.m. Oklahoma City Convention Center, 100 Mick Cornett Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73109, 800-367-9723, WorldsFairofMoney.com. AUG 19-23 Wednesday Mid-Week Farmers Market at Scissortail Park running through September 2025 at Hill Pavilion & Promenade in Scissortail Park’s Lower Park, south of I-40 and Skydance Bridge. Located near South Robinson and SW 15th,

free parking is available along South Robinson, South Harvey, and SW 15th Street. 6-9 p.m. through Sept. 24. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St. (405) 445-7080, scissortailpark.org/events/wednesdaymid-week-farmers-market-2025-season/?occurren ce=2025-05-07. WED

Mix-Tape After Hours: OKC StorySLAM Factory Obscura is staying open late to give grown-ups (18+) the run of the Mix-Tape experience!, On August 21st, we’re partnering with OKC StorySLAM for an evening of stories. The theme is “That Was Weird”. Those strange and unexpected sights you can’t unsee. The bizarre and random occurrences that will leave you shaking your head for the rest of your days. THIS is a place for those stories! The weirder the better. 25, Aug. 21, 7-9 p.m. Factory Obscura, 25 NW 9th St. (405) 367-1578, factoryobscura.com/ events/2025/after-hours-aug. AUG 21

Preserving Oklahoma: Past, Present, and Future Join OKCMOA for an engaging panel discussion on the history of conservation in Oklahoma—from early wildlife protection efforts to today’s initiatives to preserve our state’s natural beauty. Inspired by the “Discovering Ansel Adams” exhibition, this conversation explores the evolution of conservation from Adams’ era to the present day. Panelists from leading environmental organizations will highlight key milestones in Oklahoma’s conservation journey, discuss current challenges, and share how individuals can take action to protect our diverse ecosystems. $5 for Members, $25 for Non-Members, Aug. 21, 5:30-7 p.m. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405.236.3100, okcmoa.com/visit/events/preservingoklahoma-past-present-and-future/. AUG 21

Forensic Night Explore what forensic anthropologists, law enforcement, and investigators can learn by examining human skeletal remains. Each table will be assigned a mystery case and through a hands-on investigation, you will learn to “read” the features of a human skull to determine your subjects: age, sex, physical trauma and/or pathology (disease). These are replica skulls from REAL homicides, accidents & suicides. Personal discretion is advised. Ages 16 & Up. $45, Aug. 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, 10301 S. Sunnylane Road, 4058140006, skeletonmuseum.com/forensicnight/. AUG 29

Cocktail Cruises join the adult Cocktail Cruise every Friday & Saturday through August. Groups of 10 or more should book a private charter. Please consider this is an adult environment cruise. Departs from Regatta Landing at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. Advance ticket purchase is advised. $20 adults and $15 seniors and children 17 and under, 7 p.m. Oklahoma River Cruises Regatta Park Landing, 701 S. Lincoln Blvd. 405-7027755, embarkok.com/ferry/specialty-cruises. FRI-SAT

Night Market at Scissortail Park drawing thousands each spring and fall for local shopping, live entertainment, and amazing food trucks. Stroll the Promenade and explore Oklahoma’s best small shops, artisans, and entrepreneurs offering jewelry, décor, fashion, candles, plants, and more — all with great vibes and great finds! 5:30-10 p.m. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St. (405) 445-7080, scissortailpark.org/ wp-admin/post.php?post=33812&action=edit. FRI

Submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon the first Wednesday of the month. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail them to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted. For OG live music see page 28

MUSIC American tunes

AJJ’s Sean Bonnette talks about sincerity, irony and Woody Guthrie before the band’s Resonant Head show.

By Jeremy Martin

A few minutes into our interview with AJJ frontman Sean Bonnette, he paused to have a quick chat with someone else in the room with him. His voice temporarily became a little more loving, kind, fatherly.

“I have two small children,” Bonnette explained afterward. “They’re awesome.”

Their arrival also changed Bonnette’s songwriting, though he hopes he’s never self-aware enough to explain exactly how his style has evolved in the years between the Phoenix-based band’s 2005 debut Cap Guns & Cigarettes (released under the band’s former Andrew Jackson Jihad moniker and featuring songs Bonnette no longer performs live and has compared to rereading a high school diary) and most recent studio album, 2023’s Disposable Everything. While the newer material’s more sophisticated arrangements and production methods are obvious on first listen, the demos included on 2024 companion album Disposable Everything Else show agitated acoustic folk punk remains at the heart of AJJ’s songs.

But Bonnette can explain how having children has changed his worldview.

“It’s made me a lot more nervous for the future,” Bonnette said, “a lot less devil-may-care and a lot less nihilistic about where things might end up. I have a little bit more invested in it now.”

Possibly related: 2008 compilation Only God Can Judge Me and More concludes with “We’re All Gonna Die,” a song featuring a kazoo chorus and the lyrics “Who

family, disposable dignity.”

AJJ is scheduled to play Resonant Head, 400 SW 25th St., Suite A, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26. Tickets are $31.25.

What’s the motivation for releasing demos and alternate versions from Disposable Everything and 2020’s Good Luck Everybody?

As a fan of music, I personally like that kind of stuff a lot. I come from a time when you could buy the deluxe edition compact disc and it comes with a whole second disc of demos, alternate takes. Some of my favorites like that are Pavement. They’ve released the first couple of their albums that way. I especially love the Slanted and Enchanted deluxe edition. Super good. I like Van Morrison’s Complete Bang collection. The last 20 or so tracks are this recording session he did to get out of a recording contract, so he just kind of makes up all the songs on the spot as he gets, like, drunker and meaner. Those are great. There’s not really a good time to release that stuff nowadays, I feel like, besides maybe a year after the record comes out or something. I guess it does, to an extent, buy us a little bit more time as far as writing and recording a new record to do that stuff.

Is there anything coming out soon that we should mention?

Nothing really worth announcing yet, although I’ve got a big stack of songs that I’m slowly introducing to the rest of the band, and we’re going to record a

Kind of taking an approach similar to our album The Bible 2. That’s what we did. We had all the songs at our disposal, and then we would arrange them in the van on the way to the show. We bought these two crappy, tiny guitars that you can fit in the van, and we’d workshop stuff on the way to the show and then play around and jam at soundcheck. If we get anywhere, we have a new song to try out that night.

Would you say the inspiration for new songs comes more from a musical idea or a philosophical idea? I would say kind of from a philosophical idea, but also, usually when something works out the best for me, it’s kind of in the form of a jingle. And by that, I mean the words and the melody kind of fit together all at once. Sometimes it’s hard to separate the two: words and melody. I can write plenty of musical stuff, but it’ll take me a while to make up something to a pre-written melody.

Some reviews of Disposable Everything describe the songs as more direct and personal and less satirical or ironic than your earlier work. Does this feel true from your perspective?

Probably, although I don’t consider ourselves to be too much of an ironic band anyhow. Humorous, but not really ironic. But lately I’ve definitely placed an even greater importance on sincerity in art. I think it’s a good thing. I think it’s an underrated thing, one that people kind of go through waves of appreciating more or less. I think it’s on an upswing right now, though. I think people are kind of sick of irony.

Speaking of humor, it seems like when y’all started out, a lot of comedy was trying to satirize racism and bigotry and show how stupid it is. But Sarah Silverman, for example, said

would still get a little too excited about us playing it. A bunch of guys moshing to that song is not a good look.

Is the comedy in your music a byproduct of the songwriting or your personality, or is it something you intentionally try to do? Are you ever like, “Let’s punch this up?”

I like songs to be conversational, and I like for lyrics to really communicate, and a good way to do is through humor. And I like to make myself laugh. That’s the biggest joy of songwriting, the couple times when you do get to kind of tickle your own armpit and it works.

Are humor and sincerity hard to balance?

No. I don’t think so. I don’t think the two are necessarily related at all. I’d like for more sincere people to realize they can be funny, maybe.

What do you think the version of you that started this band in high school would think hearing Disposable Everything?

I think he’d be pretty excited about it because it sounds kind of like Neutral Milk Hotel. He’d be like, “Oh, cool. He finally did it. He made a band that sounds like Neutral Milk Hotel.” ... At the risk of tattling on myself, I think it’s just such a deep early influence. It’s kind of our ideal, whether we realize it or not.

What do you think of Oklahoma?

I love Oklahoma. Tulsa and Oklahoma City are both kick-ass places we played a lot over the years. We played The Conservatory a gazillion times. We love Jim [Paddack] over at Size Records next door. I think both of these businesses might be ancient history at this point. In the band, we’re all big fans of Chat Pile. … Woody Guthrie is another kind of DNA-level influence on our band. Especially listening to Dust Bowl

AJJ plays Resonant Head on August 26. | Photo Kyle Dehn

MUSIC

Nourishing roots

OKC folk rockers Compost Adjacent release debut EP Junebug on Aug. 15.

By Jeremy Martin

Grub worms spend three years in the larval stage feeding on plant roots before they emerge in the summertime as June bugs.

Junebug, the debut EP from OKC’s Compost Adjacent, also took a while to arrive.

“We recorded it at this point back in March,” vocalist and guitarist Ryan Smith said. “With the name Junebug, we were kind of anticipating in March that we would get our stuff together and by June or July be out. The June bugs don’t necessarily come out in June, but here we are. June bugs are still present.”

Recorded live at producer Johnny Manchild’s Wasted Space Studio, Junebug comes out Friday, Aug. 15. Compost Adjacent will celebrate the release 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 at bookstore and performance venue Bookish, 1005 NW 36th St. Tickets are $10, and Alan Edward Murphy, Moriah Bailey and Flash Jordan are also scheduled to perform. The band returns to Bookish on Friday, Sept. 19.

Smith, the band’s primary songwriter, wrote Junebug album opener “No. 7” more than a decade ago, but he wasn’t sure how he felt about it until after he heard the band playing it. Now the song is one of his favorites.

“Lyrically, it’s very optimistic, and when I brought it to the guys, I was like, ‘It’s a little too happy,’ Smith said. “I was going through a divorce, and I was at, I guess, a more somber place. Even though some of our songs are a little bit heavier, we just played it. And they love playing it and it sounded good, and so it just stuck.”

Compost Adjacent formed in 2023 when Smith teamed up with bassist and backup vocalist Nicholas Allen. The band grew into a six-piece with Marcus Upshaw on keyboards, Jared Eoff on electric guitar and Joseph Mohmed on doumbek. Drummer Joshua Gibbs recently replaced Jules Deberry, who plays drums on the album.

The band takes its name from CommonWealth Urban Farms, 3310 N. Olie Ave., the community farming and

composting operation where most of the band members originally met.

“One of our first shows was literally adjacent to the compost lot at a house next door,” Smith said. “It’s interesting because there’s just a variety of musical backgrounds that all kind of came together over a mutual interest separate from music.”

Well almost everyone.

“I’m the adjacent part. I’m not the compost part,” said newest member Gibbs. “One thing that drew me to this project was Ryan specifically and his emotion that he carries in his voice.”

Seeking structure

Smith said Junebug has an emotional arc mirroring a weekend with “No. 7” opening like a rowdy Friday night before the mood gets gradually more contemplative as the Sunday night scaries emerge.

Allen said the album’s genre-spanning sound mirrors the lyrics.

“The first song on the EP is more like a fast-paced, more rockabilly-sounding song, and then by the end of the album, the last song starts and ends with a poem. And it’s a lot more ethereal, a lot more effects-driven,” Allen said. “That one is played with a loop that I set up with the double bass.”

After writing the basic song structure, Smith brings the song to the band and the other members develop their own parts.

“I kind of come to the table with a song with two or three chords and just strumming,” Smith said. “And then Nick and the rest of the guys kind of just turn it into a symphony.”

Smith is constantly surprised by the inventive ways his bandmates add to his songs and the emotional depths their instrumental parts uncovered in Junebug.

“It’s wild because a few of the songs on there, when I wrote them, the feelings that I was feeling ... the other guys aren’t necessarily singing but are able to bring that emotion and its fullness ... feeling it in their own way,” Smith said.

Finding space for six different interpretations of an emotion can create chaos, but order eventually emerges.

“We’ve been able to balance all of our songs to where everybody’s inte grated pretty well,” Smith said. “The first run-throughs, whenever it’s like, ‘All right. Here’s the vibe. Here’s how it goes,’ and then everybody just comes in, it’s just a big mash of sound. But, I mean, it sorts itself out pretty quickly.”

Sometimes the songs change drasti cally, not just in their forming, but from show to show.

“Dropping Gypsum,” for example may sound unfamiliar even to fans who’ve heard it before.

“For the first two years of playing that live, that was always really fun because we played it differently every single time,” Allen said. “That song starts with some improv that I’m doing on the bass with the bow. We captured a version of that song that we’re really happy with, but if you’ve heard us play it live, it’s maybe slightly different.”

Though the songs on Junebug may continue to evolve, Smith is proud of the way they sound on the album and happy to have them collected on physical CDs. Compost Adjacent previously released two singles digitally, but Smith said the feeling wasn’t the same.

“It felt really shallow,” Smith said. “It’s just a couple songs, but with a CD, we’ve been putting a lot more intentionality into the layout of the songs, to the insert. We did a bunch of collages and lyric pages and stuff.”

Compost Adjacent released “Silly Boy Prance,” the lead single from Junebug, on Aug. 8. The lyrics advise listeners to “Take time out for what is good for your soul / Everybody wants to be something else sometimes / Grass always greener / The wine seems sweeter / Everybody wants to be something else.”

Songs can vary from show to show, and shows vary too, as the band navigates the challenges of performing as a six-piece.

“We’re all buddies,” Smith said. “We’ve played some shows that pay pretty well and it’s really exciting and engaging, and then some shows it’s like, ‘Yeah, there were more people on stage.’”

But even when the band outnumbers the crowd, Compost Adjacent are having a good time.

“We haven’t really had a bad night,” Allen said. “We haven’t really had a bad show because we’re hanging out and we’re playing.”

Visit compostadjacent.bandcamp.com.

Compost Adjacent Junebug EP release

7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16

Bookish 1005 NW 36th St. shop-Bookish.com $10

Compost Adjacent will celebrate the release of debut EP Junebug at Bookish. | Photo provided

LIVE MUSIC

These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

WEDNESDAYS

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley Bricktown Pub. ROCK

Jazz Jam, 51st Street Speakeasy. JAZZ

Jazz Night at the Bradford, Bradford House. JAZZ

Trett Charles, River Spirit Casino Resort. COUNTRY

Vintage Vinyl Wednesdays, El Coyote Bar & Cantina. DJ

Kendrick McKinney Trio, 51st Street Speakeasy. JAZZ

THURSDAYS

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES Music Over Midtown, O Bar. VARIOUS

Open Mic Night, Core4 Brewing. OPEN MIC Karaoke @ Ponyboy, Ponyboy. KARAOKE

FRIDAYS

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

Mojo’s Blues Revue, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES Dance Party, Ponyboy. dance

SATURDAYS

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Bedlam Live Local Bands, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. VARIOUS

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTURMENTALISTS

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

Mojo’s Blues Revue, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES Dance Party, Ponyboy. DANCE

SUNDAYS

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

No Whiners Aloud, Mojo’s Blues Club. ROCK Hösty, The Deli. AMERICANA

Jazz Night at the Blue Note, Blue Note. JAZZ

MONDAYS

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

TUESDAYS

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUE

THURSDAY, AUG. 14

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Beer City Music Hall. ROCK

Index Paradox, Letr, Visions of Afterlife, 89th Street. ROCK

FRIDAY, AUG. 15

Mr. Splitfoot, Grand Royale. ROCK Brantley Gilbert, The Zoo Amphitheatre. COUNTRY

Maren Morris, The Criterion. COUNTRY panhandle w/ Major Good, 51 Street Speakeasy. ROCK

Psychostick, Beer City Music Hall. METAL

Summer Concert Series, Wheeler Ferris Wheel. VARIOUS Turnpike Tributedours, Tower Theatre. COUNTRY Tru Love Shows, Bookish. VARIOUS Battle For Kattfest, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK

SATURDAY, AUG. 16

Chris Welch, Grand Royale. FOLK

Compost Adjacent, Bookish. ROCK

Kiss the Goat, Resonant Head. ROCK

4C Cowboy Country Showcase, Cache Creek Cowboy Church. COUNTRY

Straight Tequila Night, Tower Theatre. COVER

Carter Sampson, The Blue Door. SINGER/SONGWRITER

SUNDAY, AUG. 17

DEMOLA LIVE!, Tower Theatre. INSTRUMENTAL

Mama Pearl’s Singalong Drag Show, Mycelium Gallery. VARIOUS

TOTO + Men At Work + Christopher Cross, The Zoo Amphitheatre. ROCK

Milk Krayt, The Venue. ROCK

Slow Degrade, Resonant Head. ALTERNATIVE

Drew & Ellie Holcomb, The Jones Assembly. AMERICANA

Nik Parr & The Selfless Lovers, The Blue Door.

ROCK

MONDAY, AUG. 18

Hed PE, 89th Street OKC! ROCK

TUESDAY, AUG. 19

Mountain Grass Unit, Beer City Music Hall. BLUEGRASS

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 20

Bashfortheworld: The Migo in America Tour, Beer City Music Hall. RAP

Big Time Rush: In Real Life Worldwide, The Zoo Amphitheatre. POP

THURSDAY, AUG. 21

Rachel & Griffin at El Coyote!, El Coyote Bar & Cantina. FOLK

Lyndhurst, , 89th Street OKC! PUNK

Harper Valley Hypocrites, OK Cider. HIPHOP

Leaving Time, Keep, FEVEREST, Dayspring, Resonant Head. ROCK

Whitey Morgan and the 78’s, Tower Theatre. COUNTRY

FRIDAY, AUG. 22

Fleetwood X: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, Tower Theatre. COVER HAARPER / SHAKEWELL, Beer City Music Hall. HIPHOP

Live Music in the Lounge: Jacob Tinsley, Legally Brewed. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Option Ego, Resonant Head. POP

Olive Green Duo, OK Cider. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Logan Mac, The Blue Door. COUNTRY

SATURDAY, AUG. 23

Purple Faith by Soft Hands, Tower Theatre. COVER

Parthian w/Animal Mother, Grand Royale. ROCK

Adam & Chris Carroll, The Blue Door. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Dj Into the Knight @Resonant Head. DJ

Uncovered: The Juno Soundtrack, Factory Obscura. COVER

SUNDAY, AUG. 24

And In The Darkness I Was Free, Speak, Memory, Discern, The Sanctuary. ROCK

Larrissa, Molly Devine, Frankie & Gwen, Resonant Head. FOLK

Teddy Swims, Cian Ducrot, Zoo Amp. GENRE Escape from the Zoo w/Fair Weather Enemies, Grand Royale. SKA

The Depot’s Summer Breeze Concert Series, Lions Park. SINGER/SONGWRITER

MONDAY, AUG. 25

United States Air Force Band of the West, OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater. INSTRUMENTAL

TUESDAY, AUG. 26

Crowbar, 89th Street OKC! METAL AJJ, Resonant Head. FOLK

Uncovered: The Juno Soundtrack In addition to winning the 2008 Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for achieving new levels of quirk in the way Hollywood pretends teenagers talk, Juno improbably topped the Billboard charts with an eclectic soundtrack featuring Buddy Holly, The Kinks, Cat Power, Sonic Youth and The Moldy Peaches. Hear local acts Keathley, The Ugly Cowboys, The Best of Ronnie & Delta, Jarvix and BertaB cover songs from the soundtrack in their own styles and showcase originals they think could’ve been included at the latest entry in Factory Obscura’s ongoing Uncovered series. The show starts 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23 at Factory Obscura, 25 NW 9th St. Tickets are $20-$23. Visit factoryobscura.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23 Photos provided

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27

Punky and Pals, Grand Royale. BLUES

Our Last Night – The Double Life Tour, Tower Theatre. ROCK

THURSDAY, AUG. 28

Oceano - Farewell Tour / Last Shows Ever, 89th Street OKC! METAL FRIDAY, AUG. 29

Jon Batiste, The Zoo Amphitheatre. JAZZ

SATURDAY, AUG. 30

The Oxys, Grand Royale. PUNK

TUESDAY, SEPT. 2

Dharius, Beer City Music Hall. HIPHOP Peelander-z, Anthem Brewing Company. ROCK Anciients, 89th Street OKC! METAL

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3

Clipse & Earthgang, The Criterion. HIPHOP

THURSDAY, SEPT. 4

Creed Fisher, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY PIXIES – North American Tour 2025 with special guests Spoon and Fazerdaze, The Zoo Amphitheatre. ROCK

FRIDAY, SEPT. 5

The Droptines, Beer City Music Hall. ALTERNATIVE

Scattered Hamlet, 89th Street OKC! ROCK LETR, Resonant Head. ROCK DAMAG3, Resonant Head. RAP CHEW, Resonant Head. ROCK

Mr. Wood is Dead: 10 Year Anniversary Tour, Tower Theatre. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Joel Mccoll, The Blue Door. SINGER/SONGWRITER

SATURDAY, SEPT. 6

Here Come the Mummies, Tower Theatre. ROCK Nelly & Special Guests: Where The Party At Tour, The Zoo Amphitheatre. HIPHOP

Table Rockin’ Blues from Big Train and the Loco Motives!, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES Monte Montgomery, The Blue Door. SINGER/SONGWRITER

TUESDAY, SEPT. 9

Omni, 89th Street OKC! PUNK

Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon the first Wednesday of the month. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible.

Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

PUZZLES

By John Kugelman Puzzles Edited by Will Shortz

ACROSS

1 M aintains, as a superstition

9 Subject of the 2017 musical film

‘‘The Greatest Showman’’

15 ‘ ‘Same with me’’

20 N ot funny

22 Ralph Ellison novel about a nameless protagonist’s journey in racist America

24 Forgiving middle-aged dads for their dad jokes, say?

26 Picket line?

27 B ud in Cooperstown

28 D orm room staple food

29 C ross-country conveyances

30 Darth Vader’s childhood nickname

32 Inflexible

34 H ave away with words?

36 M uppet of Mexican descent

39 K nows just when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em, maybe

42 G ives lip

47 Attire for Larry Page and Sergey Brin when visiting Google incognito?

51 Columbus sch.

52 Carnage

53 D own Easter

54 O ne with a set of pipes

55 Come out of one’s shell

57 Sherlock’s sister on TV

60 bag

62 M uch-maligned 2019 movie about which one review said ‘‘It’s ‘Battlefield Earth’ with whiskers’’

63 O ne of classical music’s Three B’s

66 L andscaper’s supply

69 Tundra or taiga

71 ‘ ‘You think that hunk of junk’ll pass inspection? Please!’’?

78 Trademarked refrigerant

79 U ncle Sam’s land, informally

80 Lithe

81 +/-

84 D rink mixed in mixed drinks

86 Handy

89 Avatar of Vishnu

90 B ack in, in a way

92 Try to hit in laser tag

95 O lder sister of Rachel, in Genesis

98 B asic BASIC statements

99 Real chess playa?

104 Contemporary of Gauss and Faraday

105 J ames who played Scotty on ‘‘Star Trek’’

106 ‘ ‘No ____, Bob’’

107 P art of une pièce de théâtre

110 Plunderers of Rome

112 H indu honorific

113 Clock toggle 117 H ollowed out, as an apple

120 H ogwarts’s ‘‘Half-Blood Prince’’

122 B urnt pigment

126 G reeting from a famous Italian character to a famous Italian American actress?

130 D C power player in the late 1800s?

131 G ood thing to play in a tricktaking game

132 M agical symbol

133 D ispensing, with ‘‘out’’ 134 A rt lovers DOWN

1 O ne always cooking up new ideas?

2 Ritzy

3 ‘ ‘That’s my cue’’ 4 ___ compensation (stock options, for instance)

5 Revegetation, e.g.

6 C anon option, in brief

7 T hey may be Thai or chai

8 Cuisinart competitor

9 N oted rapper with an oxymoronic name

10 D irector Lee

11 Traveler in no need of hotels, for short

12 Columbian caravel

13 ‘ ‘I’m your guy’’

14 B ogged down

15 ___-right (political category)

16 Twice tres

17 O ut of control

18 Nail salon request, familiarly

19 1980s band among Australia’s all-time best-selling groups

21 Q uartz compound

23 C ast out

25 W hen doubled, ‘‘Sleep well’’

31 L angston Hughes poem that begins ‘‘____, sing America’’

33 Word with mine or dump

35 ___ the Town (punny fast-food restaurant name)

36 Vacation package offerer, perhaps

37 Visionary?

38 Lot unit

40 P refix with angular

41 D.C. 100: Abbr.

43 M ickey Mouse’s boss in ‘‘Fantasia’’

44 W hale of a tale

45 G éorgie, par exemple

46 I dentity thief’s acquisitions, in brief

47 T he pyramids, essentially

48 Stimpy’s TV pal

49 Rookies

50 B ond’s man?

56 Skill taught to Luke Skywalker

58 Texter’s gasp

59 Feast with kalua pig

61 Skedaddles

64 ___ de Glace (glacier in the French Alps)

65 Fr. holy women

67 D esperate pursuit of fame, in modern lingo

68 Weight

70 C hannel that popularized video jockeys

72 Shower scrubber

73 Split

74 M ai ____

75 T V friend of Jerry, George and Kramer

Stumped? Call 1-900-285-5656 to get the answers to any three clues by phone ($1.20 a minute).

76 M oney for your money

77 Slightest

81 B lack-and-white hunter

82 Longtime NPR host Diane

83 P art of a flight

85 Bone-dry

87 B usiness entity inits.

88 Shrill cries

91 Slimy veggie

93 B rian who co-founded the Long Now Foundation

94 In awe

96 Ch ums, in Chamonix

97 ‘ ‘Bah, humbug!’’

100 N ashville and New Orleans, for musicians

101 Stomping ground

102 B ringing up the rear

103 [Yuck!]

108 S acred object

109 Lose ground?

111 Slash on a scoresheet

113 Q tys.

114 W hen repeated, a tropical fish

115 ___ rock (genre for Pink Floyd and Dream Theater, familiarly)

116 A pt name for a narcissist?

118 Release

119 H e loved Lucy

121 N esting pair in the Outback

123 A rmy ____

124 T he Emerald Isle

125 P hotosensitive cells

127 S easoning for una margarita

128 B it of plasma

129 O ne whose uniform bears the Star of Life, for short

PUBLISHER

Kimberly Walker kwalker@okgazette.com

EDITOR

Brittany Pickering bpickering@okgazette.com

MUSIC / ARTS & CULTURE WRITER

Jeremy Martin jmartin@okgazette.com

FOOD / ARTS & CULTURE WRITER

Julie Porter Scott jporterscott@okgazette.com

DISTRIBUTION distribution@okgazette.com

ADVERTISING

advertising@okgazette.com 405-528-6000

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Gina Nichols gnichols@okgazette.com

Beau Stephenson bstephenson@okgazette.com

Robert Medley rmedley@okgazette.com

CONTRIBUTORS

EDITORIAL

REPORTERS

Phil Bacharach Greg Horton Henry Nam Hardwick Benjamin Thomas

MARKETING

DIGITAL CONTENT COORDINATOR Lauren Thomas-Martin

CREATIVE

ILLUSTRATORS

Nick Hermes Steve Hill

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Homework: What’s crucial for you to learn next? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Rama is the star of the ancient Hindu epic story, the Ramayana. I love him! He’s one of my favorite legends! His heroic journey isn’t fueled by a greed for power or personal glory. Unlike 90 percent of modern action heroes, he’s not pumped up with anger or a lust for vengeance. Instead, he is animated by a sense of sacred duty. Against all odds, and in the face of bad behavior by weird adversaries, he acts with exemplary integrity and calm clarity. During your upcoming exploits, Aries, I invite you to be inspired by his exalted and unwavering determination. As you proceed, ask yourself, “Is this in rigorous service to my beautiful ideals? Are my decisions and words in alignment with my deepest truths?” Be motivated by devotion as much as by hunger. Aim not just for novelty and excitement, but for generosity of spirit.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the Mexican festival of La Noche de Rábanos—Night of the Radishes—giant radishes are carved into elaborate altars and scenes. Humble roots become fancy art. I think you’re engaged in a metaphorically similar process, Taurus: sculpting with uncommon materials. Something you’ve regarded as modest—a small breakthrough or overlooked strength—is revealing unexpected value. Or perhaps a previously latent or indiscernible asset is showing you its neglected magic. Celebrate your subtle but very tangible luck. Take full advantage of half-disguised treasures.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In Zen archery, the aim is not simply to hit the target. Instead, it’s to align one’s body, breath, mind, and bow so fully that the arrow releases itself naturally and effortlessly. It shoots itself! I would love for you to adopt this breezy attitude in the weeks ahead, Gemini. See if you can allow an evolving project, relationship, or vision to reach a new maturity, but not through pushy effort. Rather, trust life to bring you the precise guidance exactly when you need it.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In ancient Rome, the priestesses known as the Vestal Virgins tended an eternal flame. They never let it be extinguished, not even for a moment. Their devoted focus on nurturing the fire was both a religious practice and a symbol regarded as essential for the well-being, prosperity, and survival of the Roman state. I propose, Cancerian, that you engage in your own version of Vestal Virginlike watchfulness. Assign yourself the role of being the keeper of a sacred promise or resource. What is it, exactly? Identify this repository of spiritual wealth and dedicate yourself to its sustenance.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In medieval Europe, pilgrims traveling to the shrine of Saint James in Spain often wore scallop shells. These were badges to signify they were on a sacred path in quest of divinely inspired transformation. The shell also had practical uses. It was a scoop for food and water, underscoring the humility and simplicity embraced by wayfarers on the road. I invite you to acquire and wear your own equivalent of this talisman, Leo. You have begun a new chapter in your self-perception, and life is asking you to proceed without pretense. You don’t need definite answers. You don’t have to rush to the end of the journey. The becoming is the point. I hope you seek out inspirational symbolism and generous companions to help nurture your brave transformations. (PS: Your best conversations may be with people who will lovingly witness your evolution.)

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In ancient Greek drama, the peripeteia was a term for the moment when everything turns. The pivot doesn’t happen through force, but through the revelation of what was always true. I see the coming weeks as your peripeteia, Virgo. There may be no fireworks or grand announcements. Just a soft spiraling crackle that signifies a realignment of the system, a cathartic shift of emphases. Confusion resolves. Mysteries solve themselves. You might say, “Oh, yes, now I see: That’s what it all meant.” Then you can glide into the future with a refined and more well-informed set of intentions.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In coastal Portugal, there’s a lighthouse called Farol do Cabo da Roca.

Built on a cliff where land ends and the Atlantic Ocean begins, it marks the westernmost edge of continental Europe. We might say it’s a threshold between the known and unknown. I believe you will soon be poised at a metaphorically similar place, Libra. An ending is at hand. It’s not catastrophic, but it is conclusive. And just beyond it are shimmers, questions, and a horizon that’s not fully visible. Your job is to finish your good work, even as you periodically gaze into the distance to see what’s looming.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The Maasai people of East Africa observe the potent tradition of enkang oo-nkera, or the “circle of the fire.” The community gathers around the evening fire, and the elders facilitate discussions of ancestry, legends, moral lessons, practical knowledge, and conflict management. Now would be an excellent time for you to take inspiration from the Masai ritual. According to my analysis, you and your people are due for a deep sharing of mutually important truths. Certain riddles need to be addressed collaboratively. Tales from the shadows must be illuminated. Your power as a group can be of vigorous service to each individual.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In some early maps of the cosmos, Sagittarius wasn’t just an archer. Your sign was symbolized by a centaur with wings: part horse, part bird, part god. I bring this to your attention because I suspect your own hybrid nature is extra wild and strong these days. A part of you wants to roam, and a part wants to ruminate. A part wants to teach, and a part needs to learn. How should you respond to the glorious paradox? I say, don’t force harmony. Let contradiction become choreography. Maybe liberating joy can arise through a dance between apparent opposites.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In Sardinia, there are tombs carved into rock called Domus de Janas—“houses of the fairies.” People once left offerings there to court the help of beings they couldn’t see. They truly believed that fairies are

real and can exert effects in this world. In modern times, fewer Capricorns actively consort with invisible presences than any other zodiac sign. But I hope you will take a short break from your usual stance. Mysterious and mythic influences are gathering in your vicinity. You’re being nudged by forces that defy explanation. What do you have to lose? Why not have fun making room to be delighted and surprised by miracles and wonders?

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Thou shalt embrace the confounding contradictions, Aquarius. That’s the first commandment. Here’s the second commandment: Thou shalt caress the tricky incongruities. Third: Thou shalt whisper endearments to the mysterious ambiguities and invite the mysterious ambiguities to whisper endearments to you. Fourth: Thou shalt rumble and cavort with the slippery paradoxes. Commandment number five: Thou shalt chant spicy prayers of gratitude to the incongruities, paradoxes, contradictions, and ambiguities that are making you deeper and wiser and cuter.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In early medieval gardens, there was sometimes a space called the hortus conclusus. It was a walled sanctuary that protected plants and herbs from harsh weather and predation by animals. It comprised a microclimate and provided a private, peaceful space for contemplation, prayer, and study. Sometime soon, Pisces, I would love for you to create your personal equivalent of a hortus conclusus—even if it’s metaphorical. You will harvest maximum benefits from surrounding yourself with extra nurturing. The insights that would come your way as you tend to your inner garden would be gently and sweetly spectacular.

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes /daily text message horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.

Business Development DirectorAmonia and Industrial Products LSB Industries, Inc. (Oklahoma City, OK) to be resp for origntng & excutng bankbl offtk agrmnts to secre invstmnts in Ammonia & Indstrl Prodcts.; dvlpng apprprt offtake strategs w/spcfc targt cstmrs & engmnt pln alignd w/Co intrnl reqs; leadng the negtiatn of term sheets & detld offtk agrmnts; usng subjct mattr exprt knwldg on Ammonia & Ammonium Nitrate (US & glbl) prodct & markts to maxmze netbck prcng, imprv sellng decsns. Mstr’s dgr in Busn, Law or rel fld + 2 yrs wrk exp in pos off or rel. Must hold CFA cert or eqvlnt. Must know (thru acad trng or wrk exp) prodct dvlpmnt, cost mngmnt, margin mntnnce, & price mngmnt; prcng strtgs & strctr, takng accnt of local comptv envrnmnts in regnl busn; obtng & mntrng data rel to cmptr actvty to prvd a base line for pricing strtgs; optie mnfctrng assets on basis of fdstck inputs (e.g. gas, ammonia, phosphate rock) thru make vs buy dcsns, prdct mix, & dmstc/exprt channel strtgs; assist in prcng plcy dvlpmnt for N. America incl rgnl vartn, mntn cmpttve price analys & estblsh market imprtvs. Must have excptnl abilty in the scnc of Ammonia & Ammonium Nitrate global trade & sales strategy. May WFH. Resumes to mfontenot@lsbindustries.com.