Spamalot 072314 by Oklahoma Gazette

FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY METRO OKC’S INDEPENDENT WEEKLY VOL. XXXVI NO. 30 JULY 23, 2014

SPAMALOT roasts all things

MONTY PYTHON BY DEVON GREEN P.42

FOOD: EAT SPAM A LOT. RECIPE INSIDE! P.22 NEWS: THE STATE OF GAY MARRIAGE IN OKLAHOMA P.4

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6/12/14 1:54 PM

CONTENTS 58

ON THE COVER

NEWS

LIFE

Monty Python’s Spamalot brings together veteran Lyric Theatre actors for a roast of all things quirky and wonderful. Raise your holy grail and toast this larger-than-life musical production, which runs through Saturday at Civic Center Music Hall. Story by Devon Green. P. 42.

State: gay marriage ruling

Health: mental health

State: marriage equality

Metro briefs

Chicken-Fried News

Commentary

Letters

— Jennifer Chancellor, editor-in-chief

OKG picks

Food & Drink: George’s Happy Hog Bar-B-Q, Spam, food briefs, microgreens, OKG eat: seasonal cocktails 30

Nonprofit: Visions Awards

Best of OKC runoff ballot

Nonprofit: Make-A-Wish Oklahoma 39

Culture: sustainability

Visual Arts: Solstice

Cover: Monty Python’s Spamalot

Performing Arts: Walking with Dinosaurs — The Arena Spectacular 44

Books: Knuckleheads: Fist Contact

Television: Emmy win

Sudoku / Crossword

Music: Center of the Universe, Swizzymack, Elms, song reviews, event listings

Film: Life Itself, Internet Cat Video Festival, Sex Tape 65

Astrology

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NEWS STATE

One step closer The LGBT community celebrates another court victory involving gay marriage.

“Someone once said it would be a cold day in July before marriage equality ever comes to Oklahoma,” Scott Hamilton joked last Friday. On a day that hit the low 60s during what is normally a sweltering Oklahoma City summer, that seemed close enough. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that Oklahoma’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, affirming a district court ruling from earlier this year and pushing the state one step closer toward recognizing the marriages of same-sex couples. Marriage licenses for gay and lesbian couples are not currently being issued, as the same court put a stay on its ruling, awaiting a likely appeal. However, Oklahoma’s case, along with a handful of others, appears to make it more likely that the United States Supreme Court will take up the issue of same-sex marriage at some point over the next year.

Making history

“We are living as witnesses to something that a decade ago I never thought possible,” said Hamilton, executive director of the Cimarron Alliance, an Oklahoma City-based organization that advocates for LGBT rights. With hundreds of supporters behind him, Hamilton raised the American flag, along with the rainbow LGBT flag, in front of the Cimarron Alliance’s headquarters during a rally to celebrate the court’s ruling. A few miles away, at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, another celebration was taking place. “This goes beyond a courtroom,” said Troy Stevenson, executive director of The Equality Network. “The validation and dignity it brings to the couples involved. It’s becoming clearer and clear by the day ... that this is no longer a question of if but when.” The Equality Network and Freedom Oklahoma hosted the Mayflower event, which also included dozens of same-sex couples eager to become legal spouses. Amanda Snipes, who also works at The Equality Network, said Friday’s ruling gave her hope that she will be able to marry her girlfriend next year. “It continued to affirm to myself and my fiancée that our optimism is correct, that we will be getting married in the fall of 2015,” Snipes said.

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P HOTOS BY M A RK HA N COC K

BY BEN FELDER

Not everyone agrees

While LGBT advocates celebrated the ruling, others were quick to criticize it. Gov. Mary Fallin said it was an example of the federal government overstepping its bounds. “Today’s ruling is another instance of federal courts ignoring the will of the people and trampling on the right of states to govern themselves,” Fallin said in a statement. “In this case, two judges have acted to overturn a law supported by Oklahomans.” Fallin said the ruling would be appealed, although her office has no control over that matter. Republican Rep. Josh Cockroft took to Facebook to express his displeasure with the ruling. “Once again, the judicial activism of three people has overruled the rights and wishes of over 1 million Oklahomans,” Cockroft wrote, referring to the three-person appeals court, which voted 2-1 in favor of same-sex marriage. “Marriage is between one man and one woman. Period.” Cockroft also said that while gay individuals should not be demonized, their lifestyle did not make sense “economically, practically and morally.” Hamilton responded to the argument for state rights and said there was a more important matter at stake. “This is not a state’s rights issue; it’s a human rights issue,” Hamilton said. Other LGBT advocates said civil rights should not be voted on by the

Troy Stevenson speaks Friday at a celebration of the same-sex verdict at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ. right Rev. Lori Walke welcomes attendees to her church on Friday. public; rather, the Constitution affords equal protection to all, including when it comes to marriage. “Even here in the reddest of red states, there are plenty of people who value what the Constitution declares as equality for everyone,” Hamilton said.

Religious reaction

Many religious leaders across the state also responded to the ruling, many saying it was an unbiblical view of marriage. The Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, claimed gay relationships lacked one of the most important parts of any marriage. “As I have said in the past, only the union between a man and a woman brings forth children,” Coakley said. The Tulsa County clerk’s office, which made the appeal to the circuit court, made the same argument that same-sex marriages should not be valid because they lack the ability to procreate. In its ruling, the court said the ability to have children was not a standard for marriage. “Oklahoma’s ban on same-sex marriage sweeps too broadly in that it denies a fundamental right to all same-sex

couples who seek to marry or to have their marriages recognized regardless of their child-rearing ambitions,” the decision read. “As with opposite-sex couples, members of same-sex couples have a constitutional right to choose against procreation.” The Supreme Court could decide to take up a same-sex case next year, which would bring finality to the legal debate taking place across the country. However, if the Supreme Court decides not to hear Oklahoma’s appeal, or any others, same-sex marriages could become legal in Oklahoma as early as this year. Oklahoma voters approved State Question 711 in 2004, which created a constitutional amendment banning samesex marriage. According to The Williams Institute, which uses U.S. Census figures, there are over 6,000 same-sex couples living in Oklahoma. SEE RELATED STORY ON P. 8

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NEWS HEALTH

Healthy debate Faced with a shortage of mental health access, Oklahoma City Council approves adult patient beds for an eastside facility. BY BEN FELDER

More beds needed

While there were many words of opposition addressed to the council concerning Cedar Ridge, several mental health advocates spoke in favor of the facility and the need to have more like it. “Medical care and saving lives happens every day [at Cedar Ridge],” said Terri White, commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service. “When every bed in Oklahoma City

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Cedar Ridge residential mental health treatment center and psychiatric hospital recently will keep access to its adult beds.

S HA N N ON CORN M A N

Obviously, public safety is the main issue and concern for law enforcement.

PERCENTAGE OF ADULTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS 1. Utah 22.35 2. Oklahoma 21.88 3. West Virginia 21.38 4. Oregon 20.89 5. Washington 20.77 6. Idaho 20.58 7. Mississippi 20.27 8. Tennessee 20.25 9. Maine 20.05 10. Indiana 19.87

Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

is full, and that happens all the time, ... [police officers are] driving to Tulsa because there were no more beds in the city.” Citty said his department was forced to transfer 11 mental health patients out of the city in 2011 due to a lack of beds. In 2013, that number was 106, and the department is on pace to hit 150 this year. “It takes 800 police man hours off the street to transfer 100 individuals to out-of-city facilities,” Citty said. Traci Cook, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Oklahoma, said the 36 adult beds up

Terri White

PROVIDE D

As the Oklahoma City Council considered whether or not to close beds at an eastside mental health facility, Oklahoma City Police Chief Bill Citty not only argued in favor of the facility but said more beds were needed across the city. “Obviously, public safety is the main issue and concern for law enforcement,” Citty said. “But I can tell you in looking at our history in dealing with Cedar Ridge it is not a public safety issue as far as I’m concerned. We should be talking about at some point adding more beds, not taking away beds.” An ordinance before the council last week required approval in order for Cedar Ridge, a residential treatment center and psychiatric hospital, to keep open its adult beds. The council approved the ordinance by a vote of 7-1, but comments from the public and council highlighted the stigma that continues to exist toward those with mental illness. “I realize there is a need for mental health [care],” said James Henderson, a resident near the facility. “But I have seen some very violent people in mental institutions. I’m concerned not only for my property value ... but also for my family’s safety.” Dozens of other residents spoke out against the facility, and a petition with over 600 signatures was submitted in protest. There were also some pastors who said the facility should have to close its adult beds. Ward 7 Councilman John Pettis Jr, whose ward includes Cedar Ridge, was the lone dissenting vote on the council. He said the facility had failed to meet with members of the community or address security and safety concerns. “Cedar Ridge has not been a good neighbor,” Pettis said.

for discussion at Cedar Ridge impact thousands of lives. “These 36 beds don’t serve 36 Oklahomans; they serve 2,000 a year,” Cook said. “We are talking about services that are critical.” A shortage of mental health beds is not just a problem in the city, as the entire state is classified as in critical condition considering its bed numbers. The Treatment Advocacy Center, a Virginia-based nonprofit that tracks mental health issues, reports that Oklahoma has 11 mental health beds for every 100,000 residents. That ranks the state as ninth worse in the nation. The same report claimed communities with a shortage of mental health beds often see increased problems with homelessness, overcrowding at jails and psychiatric hospitals, emergency

— Bill Citty room overflows and an increase in violent crime. “The results of this report are dire, and the failure to provide care for the most seriously mentally ill individuals is disgraceful,” Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, president of the Treatment Advocacy Center, said at the time of the report’s release. “Our communities are paying a high price for our failure to treat those with severe and persistent mental illness, and those not receiving treatment are suffering severely.” The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also reports that Oklahoma, at 21.88 percent, has the second highest rate of adult residents with mental illness.

‘The people ... are us’

Before the council voted in favor of allowing Cedar Ridge to keep its adult beds, Ward 4 Councilman Pete White spoke in favor of the center and was critical toward those residents who had said it posed a safety hazard and would drive down property values. “The property value question arises when people create a situation to something that is really not a problem,” White said. “The facility didn’t do anything to affect your property values. Your reaction did.” Representatives for Cedar Ridge told the council that safety measures were in place, including the addition of new fencing. However, White was also critical of surrounding Cedar Ridge with a fence. “What is the impact on the people on the inside of the facility when they are fenced in?” White asked. “The people who are inside that facility are us.”

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NEWS STATE

Tailored to fit Marriage equality messages reflect Oklahoma culture.

BY BEN FELDER

Marc Solomon of Freedom to Marry and Amanda Snipes, a community outreach director for Freedom Oklahoma, meet at The Red Cup to talk about marriage equality issues.

MARK HANCOCK

Marriage equality advocates have tailored their message for the Oklahoma market, trying to appeal to the religious and conservative communities of the state. “The messenger is more important than the message,” said Marc Solomon, national campaign director for Freedom to Marry. Solomon said making a convincing legal argument to those opposed to samesex marriage is not nearly as effective as finding convincing spokespeople for the cause. In a state like Oklahoma, that means that finding pastors, Christians and Republicans to show support for marriage equality can be an effective strategy, Solomon said. “Here in Oklahoma, we value family,” Oklahoma veteran Ed Cuyler said in a television commercial put out by Freedom to Marry and Freedom Oklahoma. “As a veteran, I know freedom means freedom for everyone, and no family should be denied the basic freedom.” Cuyler is a Republican rancher whose daughter, Deedra, is a lesbian. In the commercial, Cuyler offers a conservative case for marriage equality that advocates hope will hit home in Oklahoma. “It’s about making the case from Oklahoman to Oklahoman on why this is in line with the values of the people who live here,” Solomon said.

I am disappointed in the judge’s ruling and troubled that the will of the people has once again been ignored by the federal government.

Allies on the battlefield

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— Mary Fallin

MARK HANCOCK

Solomon, whose organization is based in New York, was recently in Oklahoma to meet with local marriage equality advocates as the state waited for the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to render its verdict on Oklahoma’s gay marriage ban. Oklahoma voters banned same-sex marriage in 2004 during a time when a wave of anti-gay ballot initiatives were sweeping across the country. Since then, dozens of state bans — including the one in Oklahoma — have been declared unconstitutional. Local marriage advocates are optimistic that courts will continue to push the nation toward marriage equality and the United States Supreme Court could take up the case soon. While marriage equality is winning on the legal battlefield, advocates continue to fight the hearts and minds of Oklahomans. “People have heard a lot from [the same-sex] community since 2004,

Troy Stevenson, executive director of The Equality Network. but they have not heard as much from our allies,” said Amanda Snipes, communication director of The Equality Network. Freedom Oklahoma has published a list of over 60 Oklahoma ministers and another couple hundred lawyers and veterans who support same-sex

marriage. Snipes said advocacy in the Sooner State has been particularly focused on a libertarian message of individual freedom in an effort to make the case for gay rights. “I think if you asked the average Oklahoman if individuals are doing something in the privacy of their own home and not hurting anyone, should the government get involved, they would say no,” Snipes added.

The changing tone of the opposition

While there are many examples of Republicans fighting same-sex marriage and it’s likely Oklahoma leaders will appeal any court decision that strikes down the gay marriage ban, there are also signs the party might see it as a battle no longer worth fighting.

“I don’t think the Republican Party is fighting it,” Wisconsin’s Republican Gov. Scott Walker told the Associated Press in an interview this month. “I’m not saying it’s not important, but Republicans haven’t been talking about this. We’ve been talking about economic and fiscal issues. It’s those on the left that are pushing it.” The same AP article highlighted other cases of Republican leaders steering away from the same-sex marriage fight. However, the official Republican platform still states, “We believe that marriage, the union of one man and one woman, must be upheld as the national standard, a goal to stand for, encourage and promote through laws governing marriage.” Following a district judge’s ruling in January that Oklahoma’s ban was unconstitutional, Gov. Mary Fallin expressed disagreement with the ruling. However, rather than affirming her stance against same-sex relationships, she argued for the state’s right to set its own laws. “I support the right of Oklahoma’s voters to govern themselves on this and other policy matters,” Fallin said. “I am disappointed in the judge’s ruling and troubled that the will of the people has once again been ignored by the federal government.” Same-sex marriage advocates also noticed an interview given by Steve Kern, pastor of Olivet Baptist Church and a Republican candidate for state Senate, who has been outspoken against same-sex marriage. In an interview with News 9, Kern, like Fallin, addressed the matter as a state’s rights issue. “No, it’s not biblical, but they have the freedom to do that,” Kern said about same-sex relationships. “It’s more imposing on a state right to determine what the people believe should be guidelines for the way they operate.” As opponents try to shift the discussion to one of state rights, supporters of gay marriage are working to frame it as an argument for individual freedom. Both are popular concepts in Oklahoma.

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Artsy Fartsy

METRO BRIEFS

Back to school read

Art | Film | music | theAter

A student expelled from Southwestern Christian University after her same-sex wedding says she’ll be enrolling at the University of Central Oklahoma.

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After being expelled from Southwestern Christian University (SCU) for marrying her same-sex partner, Christian Minard is enrolling at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). Minard, who was one semester away from earning a degree in sports management, received a letter earlier this month informing her that the school was dismissing her as a student for marrying her partner in a ceremony in New Mexico in March. Last Tuesday, the school gave Minard a chance to appeal its decision, but the former student instead took the opportunity to voice her displeasure in the school’s method of enforcing the SCU Lifestyle Covenant, a rulebook that all students sign before starting classes. “They didn’t really have an explanation for me,” Minard said. “They’re allowed to basically make up whatever punishment they want for whatever rule is being broken. They didn’t give me any answers.” The school president, provost and dean were present at the meeting, as was Minard, her mother and representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, but nothing constructive came from the meeting. “My mom and I were both in tears. Basically, they said they’re allowed to discipline how they feel is necessary, and this is how they felt necessary,” Minard said.

Minard does not believe there is anything more she can do legally but plans to continue speaking out against discrimination of homosexual people because there are many young people that experience it on a daily basis, she said. After the story became public, Minard said many criticized her and her partner Kadyn Parks but many more, including schools like UCO, which offered to help her with the admission and enrollment process to attend their schools, supported them both. Read the full story and updates online at okgazette.com. — By Kory Oswald

Runoff elections next month

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it is taking another look at confidentiality agreements with railroad companies about hazardous material shipped through the state and Oklahoma City, which includes oil being transported from the Bakken shale formation. Considered “security-sensitive information,” DEQ is not required to release details of materials that are shipped by train, but the issue has gained attention following accidents across the continent, including a crude oil train crash in Canada last year that killed 47. While lawmakers discuss how much information is made public, the Oklahoma City fire department says it is prepared to respond to any accident involving hazardous material. “We respond to anything chemical,” said Clint Greenwood, who oversees the department’s hazardous material response team. “Any kind of gases, flammable liquids, poisons, biologicals or white powder calls we are going to [respond to].” The hazmat team is based in a fire house at 22nd Street and Broadway Avenue, which is near a high-traffic route for trains traveling through downtown Oklahoma City. When fire crews respond to train accidents, railroad officials hand over shipping papers, which include information on what is aboard, Greenwood said. The hazmat team responded to 21 hazardous material calls of all types in April, which Greenwood said was an average month. “I think the system works pretty well,” Greenwood said. — By Ben Felder

Hazmat team prepared for train incidents

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has said

Residents have until Aug. 1 to register to vote for the Aug. 26 primary runoff election, which includes several races across the metro. Superintendent of Public Instruction candidates John Cox and Freda Deskin will compete for the Democratic nomination, and Connie Johnson and Jim Rogers will also be seeking the Democratic nomination for November’s U.S. Senate race. Both parties still have to name nominees for the Fifth District Congressional race as Tom Guild and Al McAffrey compete on the Democratic

M A RK HA N COC K

ticket and Steve Russell and Patrice Douglas for the Republican. Area Democratic runoffs for state Senate and House include Jason Dunnington and Paula Sophia for Senate District 88, Mary Sosa and Shane Stone for Senate District 89 and George Young and Eleanor Darden Thompson for House District 99. Republican runoffs include Stephanie Bice and Mark Thomas for Senate District 22, Ervin Yen and Steve Kern for Senate District 40 and John Paul Jordan and Jonathan Clour for House District 43. — BF

Wheeler District features weekly bike races

Following a week-long process of gathering ideas and putting plans on paper, officials with the proposed Wheeler District unveiled initial design proposals last week. A new urban community has been planned for Western Avenue near the Oklahoma River. Officials say the first homes could be built in a few years and that an entire urban neighborhood with businesses, school and parks will ultimately be built at the site of the former OKC Downtown Airpark. However, the site is already drawing the public through various events, including the Wheeler Criterium. The weekly cycling festival is held each Tuesday starting at 5:30 p.m. until Sept. 9. Hosted by the DNA Racing Team, the bike races plan to be a part of the ultimate Wheeler District design, which could feature regular races down neighborhood streets. — BF By the numbers

52. That’s the percentage of Oklahomans who gave Gov. Mary Fallin a favorable rating in a recent Sooner Poll survey. The 52 percent mark is the lowest of Fallin’s tenure and 19 points down from last fall. Sooner Poll officials said a refusal to expand Medicaid, the veto of a thirdgrade reading team bill and other controversial measures most likely contributed to the drop. — BF

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CHiCKEN We’re No. 2!

Drink or drive or shoot, but not all three Drunk, driving and shooting a gun. It sounds like the lyrics to a country song, but that’s just what David Wall does to celebrate America’s birthday. According to okcfox.com, the police were called about a man “driving recklessly and shooting off a gun.” By the time the

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police arrived, Wall had crashed his car into a tree. Witnesses reported gunshots from inside the vehicle after it collided with said timber. He was likely showing it who’s in charge. (It is.) While talking to the deputy, Wall reportedly reeked of alcohol and admitted to shooting at several trees on the property, the news report showed. A breathalyzer test determined that Wall was about twice over the legal limit. We’re not one to get all judgmental about how you celebrate your day of freedom. Next time, though, maybe it would be best to choose drinking or driving or shooting. Talk about making an “unforgettable evening.” Somehow, we don’t think this is quite what he had in mind.

Big Love’s

Bet you wouldn’t have thought the biggest company in Oklahoma would run a chain of gas stations, truck stops and convenience stores. The Huffington Post recently republished a map displaying the largest company in each state. The map was based on revenue and was developed by telecommunications company Broadview Networks using the Hoovers, A D&B Company database. Broadview even posted a list of each state’s largest company, its location and its revenue on its website. In Oklahoma, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc. reigns supreme. The family-owned company operates hundreds of travel stops, country stores and tire centers across the country. You’ve probably bought gas, browsed its aisles of knickknacks and stood in line for its fast food at least a couple times. It is among the largest private companies in the U.S. and celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

LL!

‘MERICA, YA ~SO~ WASTED

You know what else we rank among the worst states in the nation for, CNBC? Liking your stupid study, because it stinks. Anyhow, CNBC awarded our state just 70 points out of 300, also claiming the lack of local attractions as a contributing factor. Um, hellooooo? Have they ever been to the Blue Whale in Catoosa? How about the world’s largest praying hands in Tulsa? Yeah, we didn’t think so. On the bright side, we’re only the 16th worst for toxic chemical releases. So we have that going for us, which is nice.

B E E R

Oklahomans are a proud bunch, and we’re especially proud of the progress we have made in the last few years. We have an NBA team and a fancy new skyscraper in downtown OKC, and food trucks are sprouting up like weeds — portable, delicious weeds. So how does CNBC reward us for our ascension? By naming Oklahoma the second worst American state to live in. That’s how. The highly scientific study used several factors to determine which states to crap on, but football and onion burgers were apparently excluded for some reason. “The Sooner State gets its nickname from the 19th-century settlers who raced there to stake their claims,” the article said. “If the Land Rush were happening today, they might not be in as much of a hurry. Oklahoma ranks among the worst states in the nation for crime, health and air quality.”

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Love’s purchased more office space (from energy giant Chesapeake Energy, which you probably thought was the largest company in Oklahoma) in 2013 and has plans to expand its business by opening more compressed natural gas filling stations USA OF and tire centers. So it’s definitely not 12 L going anywhere G L11180916 anytime soon. 12

jobs, which means you are actually making money bussing tables on the weekend while your friends are wasting their money on things like movies and road trips. Awesome. Oklahoma teachers are also asked to study and prepare for a UNDERPL1118A09ID 16G 12 brand-new style of teaching, like 12 Common Core, only to be told they will ! G HIRIN NOW need to adapt to an entirely new procedure. More teachers That will keep you on your needed toes, ensuring you don’t get Looking for a new career? Area bored with the job. schools might have your answer. Right on! School districts across the state are If you’re lucky enough to get a struggling to find enough teachers as classroom with several students living a wave of teacher retirements, transfers in poverty — one in three students are and career changes are putting district — then you can take comfort in the fact officials in a tough spot, reported The that despite a lack of social programs to Daily Ardmoreite. That means now help your students overcome poverty might be the perfect opportunity for at home, you will be evaluated on your you to become a teacher. ability to teach a child who shows up With the second to worst average hungry every day. pay in the nation, Oklahoma teachers Did we mention the crappy pay? have the opportunity to seek second

ONE

Something is a-fowl at Triple S Ranch

Make sure you have your ducks in a row if the feds come a-knockin’. A ranch outside of Hughes County learned that the hard way. According to a Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry press release, several arrests were made at Triple S Wildlife Ranch and Resort following a lead on several stolen all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Executing a search warrant, officials found not only several stolen ATVs but two stolen tractors from another case. In addition, agents found that the ranch was indulging in several questionable practices, including administering drugs to practice what is called “green” hunting, where the animal is sedated rather than killed, and all manner of illegal taxidermy. “Green” hunting is not illegal, per se, but requires a license for the heavy

narcotics used in the process, which the ranch did not have, the press release alleged. Illegal taxidermy included several water fowl, which are illegal to sell by federal law, and specimens of endangered species including an addax, a type of endangered Saharan antelope and a scimitar oryx, which is extinct.

We’re No. 8!

All these numbers, all the time. BYE Oklahoma’s the GUY best. Oklahoma’s S... the worst. Which is it? Our great city is the 8th best place to work, according to the Employment Satisfaction Report Card by employment website Glassdoor. A whopping 2,200 businesses say they’re hiring right now, and 40 percent of employers say their business outlook for the next six months is “getting better.” Now, that’s optimism! The top jobs are cook, sales associate and occupational therapist.

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COMMENTARY

Translating growth into opportunity BY DAVID CASTILLO

Recently, there has been a lot of buzz in Oklahoma about all things Hispanic, and not all positive. The Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce would like to offer a perspective for optimists, entrepreneurs and the decisionmakers among the masses. As the American author Napoleon Hill famously said, “Your big opportunity may be right where you are now.” The rapid growth in our population presents our business community with particular challenges that, if approached effectively, can translate to market share as well as revenue. Since 2000, the Hispanic Chamber has been empowering its members and associates with an arsenal of tools. This is not exclusive to Hispanic business owners, as some might assume, but for any business that needs to reach the Latino market. Yes, the chamber offers startup business counseling, and yes, it has a

wealth of knowledge to help with getting businesses permits and getting them into compliance. But it’s also specialized and affordable compared to private agencies, because the chamber team helps navigate the Hispanic landscape in Oklahoma. In the next few years, if companies of any size are to seize the opportunities provided by growth of our demographic, they will need to have a comprehensive way of engaging the Latino community that goes beyond translating an ad or hiring a bilingual receptionist. Getting involved is how communities prosper and progress to meet the unique needs of the people and businesses that are important to them. » The chamber offers demographic and cultural expertise via an on-call consultant who can quickly access and interpret stats and trends to strategically reach the Latino audience. » Advertising, promotions and public

relations offer a turnkey solution with exclusive pricing throughout Oklahoma media outlets in both English and Spanish languages. » The networking opportunities allow access to executives, community leaders and consumer audiences in Oklahoma. » Food industry workforce certification includes a Spanish-language course and exam coordinated directly with the Oklahoma Health Department. » Events deliver a year-round calendar with thousands in attendance, both for business and community. Later this year, the chamber will unveil its new headquarters. There also will be new workshops from key experts on topics such as Hispanic media consumption and buying power. A capital campaign is in progress to raise the $300,000 for the purchase of the headquarters, of which $40,000 has already been donated. Tinker Federal

Opinions expressed on the commentary page, in letters to the editor and elsewhere in this newspaper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ownership or management.

Credit Union was the first with the largest donation of $25,000. Mike Kloiber, president and CEO, told me why the company donated: “For many years, the Hispanic Chamber has been highly instrumental to our organization in reaching the Hispanic community. This is true for all businesses in the Greater Oklahoma City area that serve this important community. The decision to support them in this campaign was natural. I strongly encourage everyone to step forward with their support and be recognized as strong supporters of the chamber’s efforts to serve this vital part of our local economy.” Anyone interested in learning more about the value of community involvement and business development through the Hispanic chamber may call 616-5031 or email david.castillo@ okchispanicchamber.org. Castillo is executive director of the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

LETTERS Oklahoma Gazette provides an open forum for the discussion of all points of view in its Letters to the Editor section. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Letters can be mailed, faxed, emailed to jchancellor@okgazette.com or sent online at okgazette.com. Include a city of residence and contact number for verification.

money to business entities via regulation of these bad habits as we have done with alcohol and tobacco. This may not be as morally satisfying as our punishment of those without our particular bad habits, but it will make our national drug cancer tumor benign and considerably reduced. — Clinton L. Wiles Oklahoma City Hush, now

How to shrink the tumor

There is a notable phrase in your article on the cartels story (News, “Cartel Crossroads,” Ben Felder, July 16, Oklahoma Gazette): “… you set yourself up for failure anytime there is a war because that means somebody’s got to lose,” a seemingly direct admission that the drug cartels aren’t going to lose no matter how frequently law enforcement wins a battle. Comparing the cartels to a cancer also seems telling and reminiscent of alcohol prohibition when the gangs grew powerful enough to control several American cities. The way to control the cartels is to take their money. Since we American humans are not going to give up our bad habits, that means we need to give the

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On Dec. 13, 2012, the FCC implemented rules requiring television commercials to have the same average volume as the programs that they accompany. These rules were to comply with Congress’ Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act. The majority of broadcasters do not comply. Those of us with a mute button on the remote already know this. There is an alternative: You may file a complaint on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website. This applies to most all broadcast media: cable, satellite, analog and radio. We need to take our airwaves back and not be assaulted every day by this noise pollution. The FCC promises to take each report seriously, so pass it on. — John Elder Edmond

Gazette is in touch with citizens

It’s refreshing to read John Thompson’s take on the defeat of (Oklahoma State Department of Education Superintendent Janet) Barresi and the revolt against rightwing corporate destruction of public education, “Education for the people” (News, Commentary, July 9, Gazette). At least there’s one editorial page in the city that is not out of touch with regular citizens and their schools. — Terry M. Clark, Edmond Well, that’s not Weird anymore

It’s come to my attention that you no

longer run the News of the Weird articles. They are one of the biggest draws to the Gazette. I have, however, noticed much more advertising. Should the Gazette continue along these lines, it will be little more than a supermarket tabloid with little substance. Today, the News of the Weird. Tomorrow, what? Letters to the Editor? It’s something to think about. If for nothing more than the principle! — Bryan Carlile Oklahoma City Editor’s note: In favor of publishing even more local content, especially in print, Oklahoma Gazette stopped printing the nationally syndicated News of the Weird column earlier this year.

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OKG picks are events

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

BOOKS DC Comics Spectacular, celebrate DC Comics with fun activities, special giveaways and a 5-day-only offer on all DC Comics graphic novels, July 23-27. Barnes & Noble, 540 Ed Noble Parkway, Norman, 579-8800, barnesandnoble.com. WED–SUN

FILM Sonic Summer Movie Nights: Ghostbusters, (U.S., 1984, dir. Ivan Reitman) three unemployed parapsychology professors set up shop as a unique ghost removal service, 9 p.m., July 23. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 445-7080, myriadgardens.org. WED

Paint N Cheers, creative social art classes, 1 p.m., July 23; 6:30 p.m., July 24; 2, 6:30 p.m., July 26; 2 p.m., July 27; 6:30 p.m., July 29; 1 p.m., July 30. Paint N Cheers, 1614 N. Gatewood Ave., 524-4155, paintncheers.com. WED–THU, SAT–SUN, TUE–WED Pinot’s Palette, paint, drink, have fun, 7-9 p.m., July 24-25; 2-4 p.m., July 30. Pinot’s Palette, 115 E. California Ave., 602-3850, pinotspalette.com. THU–FRI, WED Midtown Market at Saints, fresh, Oklahoma-grown produce, meats, dairy, baked goods, honey and prepared foods such as salsa, jam, jelly and relish, 1 p.m., July 25. Midtown Market, NW 9th St. and Walker Ave. FRI H&8th Night Market, street festival built around a lineup of the city’s top gourmet food trucks, 7-11 p.m., July 25. H&8th Night Market, 815 N. Hudson Ave., h8thokc.com. FRI The Artistik Palette, the social painting place, 7-10 p.m., July 25. Artistik Palette, 5820 E. Reno Ave., Midwest City. FRI Saturday Cooking Class, learn how to prepare a variety of easy and delicious dishes, 10-11 a.m., July 26. Uptown Grocery Co., 1230 W. Covell Rd., Edmond, 509-2700, uptowngroceryco.com. SAT

P ROVI DED

FOOD

Internet Cat Video Festival Have you ever asked yourself, “I can has Internet Cat Video Festival?” Well, you have basically just been gifted the human equivalent of capturing the red dot, because the Internet Cat Video Festival is really happening. See all your favorite memes on the big screen beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday at Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave. Admission is free, and yes, you can dress up like a cat. Call 445-7080 or visit myriadgardens.org. See our story on page 63.

Saturday

My Favorite Sandwich Contest, create your favorite sandwich for a chance to win prizes, 11 a.m., July 26.

Uptown Grocery Co., 1230 W. Covell Rd., Edmond, 5092700, uptowngroceryco.com. SAT Sushi Making, learn to make seaweed-rolled sushi for Makizushi with cooked seafood and vegetables, 6:309:30 p.m., July 28. Francis Tuttle Technology CenterRockwell Campus, 12777 N. Rockwell Ave., 717-4900, francistuttle.edu. MON

HAPPENINGS American Solar Car Challenge, see the latest in solar powered technology, visit with the teams who design, build and race the cars, 9-10 a.m., July 23. Lloyd Noble Center, 2900 S. Jenkins Ave., Norman, 325-4666, lloydnoblecenter.com. WED Center of the Universe Festival, over 100 live bands, street market with a variety of vendors, food trucks, 5 p.m., July 25-26. Brady Arts District, Brady St. and Main St., Tulsa, centeroftheuniversefestival.com. FRI–SAT

MARK H ANCOCK

Oklahoma’s largest newsweekly is accepting resumes for a sales intern. If this sounds like something you’d like to do, email your resume to our Sales Manager, CDuane@okgazette.com, pronto!

Deep Deuce Dive

It’s more than a job…or any ridiculous adventure… it’s a circus.

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We know it’s summer, and the last thing you want to do is dive down a giant Slip ’N Slide, play volleyball, chow down on food truck cuisine and listen to live music. But please bear with us. Aw, heck. Of course you want to do those things. So check out the inaugural Deep Deuce Dive, featuring all of the aforementioned awesomeness. The party is from 4 p.m. to midnight Saturday at NE Second Street and Central Avenue. Admission is free, and guests must be 21 and older. Visit downtownokc.com.

Saturday

Midtown Block Party, STASH, along with Waffle Champion and Dry/Shop host a Block Party to welcome locals to their businesses in the Midtown District, 6-9 p.m., July 25. Stash Midtown, 1108 N. Classen Drive. FRI Cowboys of Influence: Lane Frost and Robert C. Norris, live music, autograph sessions, roping lessons and more, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., July 26. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT Oklahoma City Hot Wheels Association Show, tons of toys and collectibles, buy, sell and trade, club t-shirts and custom diecast cars, July 26. Crown Center, 13300 S. Western Ave. 833-1296, greaterokchotwheels.com. SAT Sunday Funday at Uptown 23rd, brunch, live music and more at participating Uptown 23rd businesses, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., July 27. Uptown 23rd, 600 NW 23rd St. SUN Bricktown Bike Night, games, music, prizes, giveaways and a scavenger hunt, 6-10 p.m., July 30. Bricktown, Corner of Sheridan Ave. and Oklahoma Ave. WED

PERFORMING ARTS Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour, dancers, musicians and acrobats present a rock concert format that combines the excitement and innovation of Michael

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Jackson’s music and choreography, July 23. Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave., 602-8700, chesapeakearena.com. WED Children of Eden, musical based on book of Genesis, Act I tells the story of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Act II deals with Noah and the flood, 8 p.m., July 24-27. Mitch Park, 1501 W. Covell Rd., Edmond, 359-4630, edmondok.com/ parks. THU–SUN

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Pericles, the Prince of Tyre discovers a terrible secret in the court of Antioch and flees, fearing for his life, 8 p.m., July 24-26; 2 p.m., July 27. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. THU–SUN

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OKC Improv, wet, hot improv summer, 7:30, 9 p.m., July 25; 7:30, 9, 10:30 p.m., July 26. Reduxion Theatre Company, 914 N Broadway Ave., 651-3191, reduxiontheatre.com. FRI–SAT

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A MidSummer Night’s Dream, wickedly hilarious tale that explores the difficulty of love with the mischevious antics of the forest sprite Puck and Tatiana, Queen of the Fairies, 8 p.m., July 25. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 4457080, myriadgardens.org. FRI Dustbowl Dolls, back for another night of sexy sassiness, 10 p.m., July 25. HiLo Club, 1221 NW 50th St., 843-1722. FRI

SPORTS Nike Basketball Camp, targeted to players, both boys and girls between the ages of 11-17, who are looking to advance their skills and get better this summer, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., July 23. Casady School, 9500 N. Pennsylvania Ave., 749-3100. WED

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OKC Redhawks vs. Round Rock Express, minor league baseball, 7:05 p.m., July 23-24. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 Mickey Mantle Drive, 2181000, okcredhawks.com. WED–THU YogaVerve, donation only class, all proceeds go to a local nonprofit, 10:30 a.m., July 27. YogaVerve, 16501 N. Shawnee Ave., Edmond. SUN

Oklahoma River Cruises Disco Night Do you consider yourself “Hot Stuff”? Do you have “Night Fever”? Do you like to “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty”? Then head on down to Oklahoma River Cruises Disco Night — featuring a boogie-themed atmosphere, adult beverages and breathtaking view. (Bellbottoms and platform shoes are optional.) The boat departs 8 p.m. Saturday from Meridian Landing, 4345 SW 15th St., and boarding begins at 7:45 p.m. Tickets are $30, and reservations are required. Call 702-7755 or visit okrivercruises.com.

Saturday

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Batman Day Batman might be three-quarters of a century old, but he can still fight crime with the best of them. To celebrate the 75th year since The Dark Knight first appeared in a comic book, DC Comics declared July 23 Batman Day. Enjoy a special event, complete with Batman-themed giveaways and merchandise, beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Barnes & Noble, 6100 N. May Ave. Admission is free. Call 843-9300 or visit barnesandnoble.com.

Wednesday, July 23

YOUTH 1889 Schoolhouse Summer Camp, children pretend, learn and play like they’re living in Oklahoma in the year 1889, 9 a.m.-noon, July 23-24. Edmond Historical Society & Museum, 431 S. Boulevard St., Edmond, 340-0078. WED–THU

Summer Kids Camps, sports and recreation camps, college for kids and counselors in training program, July 23-25, 28-30. Oklahoma City Community College, 7777 S. May Ave., 682-1611, occc.edu. WED–FRI, MON–WED Astronomy Night in the Garden, members of the OKC Astronomy Club return to the gardens for summer nights filled with star gazing, 8:30 p.m., July 24. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 445-7080, myriadgardens.org. THU

KO RINEARSON

Harkins Summer Movie Fun, providing parents the opportunity to take their kids to the movies once a week for 10 weeks for only $5, 9 a.m., July 23-25, 2830. Harkins Theatre, 150 E. Reno Ave., 231-4747. WED– FRI, MON–WED

Okietales, dive into history with books and stories and explore a different topic from the Wild West and cowboys to land runs and pioneer life, 10:30 a.m., July 23. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 522-0745, www.okhistory.org. WED

Monty Python’s Spamalot You all know Monty Python and the Holy Grail, aka one of the greatest works of art in cinematic history. But have you seen the musical? Join Sir Lancelot, Sir Robin and the gang for Lyric Theatre’s production of Monty Python’s Spamalot, a raucous, Broadway-esque reimagination of the film. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave. Tickets are $35-$74. Call 524-9312 or visit lyrictheatreokc.com. Read our cover story on page 42.

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Dive In Movies, relax poolside and enjoy your favorite movies, 8:00 p.m., July 25. White Water Bay, 3908 W. Reno Ave., 943-9687, whitewaterbay.com. FRI Story Time with Julie, hear the best and newest children’s books, 10:15-11 a.m., July 26. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT Little Big Chefs , chef-instructed kid’s cooking class, 2 p.m., July 27. Uptown Grocery Co., 1230 W. Covell Rd., Edmond, 509-2700, uptowngroceryco.com. SUN Animal Babies, learn about your favorite baby animals and the ways they survive in the wild, noon-2 p.m., July 28-30. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 325-4712, snomnh.ou.edu. MON–WED Fossil Finders, explore fossils of all shapes and sizes, investigate amazing ancient animals, 3-5 p.m., July 2830. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 325-4712, snomnh. ou.edu. MON–WED

VISUAL ARTS

contemporary mixed media portraits with an impactful style using unique texture and gorgeous colors, 10 a.m.4 p.m., July 26. Paseo School of Art, 3110 A N. Paseo St., 205-8990, paseoschoolofart.com. SAT Head of the Meadow, vibrant colors of blue, yellow, green and orange and expresses Helen Frankenthaler’s desire to pursue her own path of Abstract Expressionism. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm St., Norman, 3253272, ou.edu/fjjma. Kim Robbins: Blossoms for the Soul, Robbins masterfully captures nature and adds her own unique flair through digital processing. Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, 301 W. Reno Ave., 297-3995, myriadgardens.com. Ladylike, work evolves from themes of female body image, feminine stereotypes, eating and domesticity. IAO Art Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan Ave., 232-6060, iaogallery.org. New West, featuring emerging and established artists from New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Kansas and Oklahoma. Acosta Strong Fine Art, 7302 N. Western Ave., 464-9719, johnbstrong.com.

Anji Bryner, works primarily in oils, but incorporates other media into her work including acrylics, watercolor and mixed media. Gallery 66, 6728 NW 39th Expressway, 314-2430, gallery66ok.com.

Recent Acquisitions of Photography and Works on Paper, works by artists Sam Francis, Laura Gilpin and Andy Warhol featured in this exhibition. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm St., Norman, 325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma.com.

Conspicuous Caffeination, stunning mesas and ordered lines of cedars of New Mexico sparked Bruce’s creative urge. Gray Owl Coffee, 223 E. Gray St., Norman, 701-2929.

Recent and New Works, oil painting, pottery, basketry, jewelry, wood, ceramic & metal works by Gallery Associate Artists. Contemporary Art Gallery, 2928 Paseo St., 601-7474, contemporaryartgalleryokc.com.

Contemporary Flora, exhibit by Linda Hiller is all about bright colors, bold forms and modern beauty. Summer Wine Art Gallery, 2928 B Paseo St., 831-3279, summerwinegallery.com. Emerging Artist Showcase, featuring artist and cloudscaper David Holland. Acosta Strong Fine Art, 7302 N. Western Ave., 464-9719, johnbstrong.com. Formed in Stone, the natural beauty of fossils. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 325-4712, snomnh.ou.edu. Georgiana Stewart, artist uses color and form to communicate the beauty and emotion in the people, objects, and amazing land and seascapes around her. Contemporary Art Gallery, 2928 Paseo St., 601-7474, contemporaryartgalleryokc.com. Girl Talk - Fun & Funky Portrait Painting, learn to create

Red White Blue, exhibit by Jann Jeffrey, large abstract designs and small mixed-media works full of the unexpected. Jann Jeffrey Gallery, 3018 Paseo St., 6070406, jannjeffrey.com. Rita Wilkinson, artist’s work is whimsical and abstract, looking nothing like the exact perception of the naked eye. Gallery 66, 6728 NW 39th Expressway, 314-2430, gallery66ok.com. Smile, exhibit by Diana J. Smith focuses specifically on the smiles of dogs. Governor’s Gallery, Oklahoma State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., 521-3356, arts.ok.gov.

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WWE Live SummerSlam Heatwave Tour When it comes to entertainment, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is about as theatric, extravagant and flat-out fun as it gets — especially in a live setting. Suplex your life and see all your favorite wrestlers — John Cena, Bray Wyatt and more — in the WWE Live SummerSlam Heatwave Tour, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave. Tickets are $15-$95. Call 800-745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com. For OKG

Saturday

music picks see page 61

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COMING THIS FALL TO MIDTOWN OKC

HOUSEMADE SAUSAGE GERMAN BEERS BAVARIAN PRETZELS BEER GARDEN HAND CUT FRIES LIVE MUSIC

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LIFE FOOD & DRINK

All smiles

Smoked barbecue ribs and sausage with greens and a side order of sweet potato pie.

Try the mixed greens at George’s Happy Hog Bar-B-Q. They’re as good as the meaty main dishes. Almost.

George’s Happy Hog Bar-B-Q 712 CULBERTSON DRIVE 525-8111 WHAT WORKS: The mixed greens are the best. The ribs are meaty and tasty. WHAT NEEDS WORK: The mac and cheese needs a flavor infusion. TIP: Desserts are displayed along the line, but ask if there’s something you don’t see.

The must-have item at George’s Happy Hog Bar-B-Q is not barbecue. Which is not to speak ill of the meaty, tasty ribs or the perfectly spiced, moist quarter chicken or the tender sliced brisket. They’re satisfying and plentiful. But from the very first bite, I was hooked on the Marvelous Mixed Greens ($1.49 for a serving, $3.49 for a pint, $6.49 for a quart). Tell me you’re going to George’s and the first thing I’ll tell you to do is get the greens. They’re smoky and tender, with big chunks of smoked turkey leg flavoring the mix. After you check and make sure that, yes, they have plenty of greens, the next thing you should order are the ribs. A

slab will run you $17.99, but a couple of ribs will probably be enough. These are hefty beef ribs, smoked nice and deep, with George’s classic rub on top. If you’re willing to put in a little more work, I quite enjoyed the Hog Wild Rib End dinner ($6.79), which means more bones but very flavorful meat. Wait. Let’s stop for a minute and think about the smiling pig on the restaurant’s sign. Does that pig know what goes on in there? Was he spared and now beckons other animals in with an unassuming grin? Or has he accepted his fate and understands that though this might be the end for him, at least the nice people inside are going to make him delicious? Seriously, I think about that sign a lot. Anyway. Generally, I prefer dark meat over light, but when getting the quarter chicken ($5.89 for a lunch, including a side and a drink) I’d opt for the breast and wing. They season it just right, and the meat is still nice and moist, whereas the dark meat I had seemed a touch too fatty. While I liked the deep, smoky flavor of the pulled pork, I wish they

had gotten a bit more of the fat out and pulled it a bit more — the serving I got was tender, but it was still a pretty solid piece of meat that needed continued shredding. For the biggest punch of barbecue for the buck, I’d turn to the sandwiches, like the Ribwich lunch ($5.59) with rib meat tossed with sauce on a bun. The brisket didn’t jump out at me alone, but paired with the sauce on a sandwich ($6.79), it’s a real winner. The spicy sauce, by the way, has a nice underlying heat, but it won’t burn you, so give it a shot. The baked beans (flavored with brisket, so vegetarians beware) were smoky and sweet, and the potato salad had a nice tang to it. But I was let down by the mac and cheese. While the dish was creamy, I thought it lacked a lot of the cheese flavor I was looking for. If you stick around for dessert, George’s has cherry and peach cobblers ($2.29), and you can add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a dollar more. And while you ponder getting another quart of greens for the road, look at that pig again. C’mon, pig. Tell me your secrets.

PH OTOS BY SH ANNON CORNMAN

BY GREG ELWELL

For the biggest punch of barbecue for the buck, I’d turn to the sandwiches.

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Eat Spam a lot In honor of Monty Python’s Spamalot, we made something delicious with the original ham in a can. BY DEVON GREEN

Spam! Lovely Spam! Lovely Spam! In honor of Lyric Theatre’s production of Monty Python’s Spamalot (which you can read about in this week’s Oklahoma Gazette cover story), we wanted to pay tribute to the funniest comedy troupe to ever cross the Atlantic. And what better way to honor it than with a recipe including the humble tinned meat product Spam? Monty Python’s classic Spam skit, which debuted in 1970, did more than marketing dollars ever could; it assured that Monty Python and Spam would be linked for eternity. In the skit, Eric Idle and Terry Jones, both dressed as ladies, sit in a restaurant and try to order a breakfast that doesn’t include Spam. Because it is Monty Python, that wonderful combination of highbrow cleverness met with patent absurdity, there are also singing Vikings. It’s natural that the musical about its most famous movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, would be named Spamalot. It should be noted that Spam’s list of ingredients is surprisingly short and sensible. We expected it to resemble its poorer cousin, Armour Star’s Treet. Do not confuse the two. Treet is chock full of things like “partially defatted pork fatty tissues.” Hmm. Spam, on the other hand, includes ham, pork, sugar, potato starch and, according to the label, “a hint

of sodium nitrate for color.” We decided to make classic fried rice, the leftover Chinese food favorite. In the canned meat aisle at Buy For Less, 3501 Northwest Expressway, we discovered that Spam isn’t just Spam; there are 12 varieties. The meatmaker is well aware of its ties to Monty Python, too. On the packaging, there is a cartoon knight brandishing his sword with the words “Glorious SPAM!” beside him. Yes, it should perhaps have been a Viking, but who’s keeping track, really? We chose the classic variety for this recipe, but you can pick one of many: hot and spicy (with Tabasco pepper sauce), teriyaki and black pepper. There is truly a Spam for every occasion. This recipe, like all rice dishes, produces more than you can eat in one sitting. And it’s surprisingly good. The soy compliments the flavor of the meat, and it’s not overly salty. The meat itself wasn’t as oily as we remembered, which was nice. The sweetness of the rice nicely cuts the tang of the soy. And if you aren’t yet sold on the pop-culture importance of both Monty Python and Spam, as further proof of the lingering cultural effect, the reason that noxious junk email is called spam is because the skit and the emails — and the meat products — are both ubiquitous and inescapable.

Spam Fried Rice (for two) 4 cups plain white rice, cooked 1 can Spam classic 2 tbsp. vegetable oil 1/2 cup baby carrots, chopped* 1/2 cup green peas* 2 large eggs soy sauce, to taste sesame oil, to taste (optional) *you can substitute 1 cup frozen mixed veggies, thawed

1. Cut Spam into cubes. 2. Saute cubes in vegetable oil on medium high until browned. 3. Add veggies and rice. Saute until browned, about 1 minute. 4. Crack eggs into rice, stir in to combine and scramble the eggs into the rice. 5. Drizzle with sesame oil, if desired, and toss again. 6. Serve hot while wearing a Viking helmet and singing Monty Pyton’s Spam song.

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There’s a new food truck on the scene. Twist Gourmet Pretzels is now tooling around the metro and available for private events. Becky and Lance King are its owners. Lance is a designer and illustrator, and he designed the logos and visuals. Becky is the chef. Twist offers several varieties, including salted classic, cinnamon raisin and cheesecake. It also offers dipping sauces like beer cheese and Nutella. You can find Twist on twitter @TwistPretzelsOK.

food diversity around the world. It also is a meeting of some of the greatest minds in food to help unite local, small farms on the principles of “good, clean and fair” and implement policies that encourage local farming that uses these principles. Oden is currently raising money through crowdfunding site Indiegogo. You can find out more and contribute to her campaign by visiting indiegogo .com. You can also read last week’s Oklahoma Gazette interview with Oden at okgazette.com. SH ANNON CORNMAN

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Those in the northwest part of the city no longer have to drive far to get Old School. Owner Michael Leal recently opened a new Old School Bagel Cafe location at 6210 Northwest Expressway, in a shopping center at the intersection of Northwest Expressway and Wilshire Boulevard. The stores offer up to 19 varieties of freshly made, water-boiled bagels, and yes, you can taste the difference. Campaign

Local chef and food expert Loretta Oden has been cooking local for years. This year, Slow Food USA, a movement dedicated to preserving food traditions, has asked Oden to be a delegate at the Terra Madre and Salone del Gusto, a conference dedicated to

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Odyssey de Culinaire benefits ProStart

The Oklahoma Restaurant Association (ORA) is hosing its annual fundraiser for ProStart, a national school-to-career educational program. ProStart pairs a culinary student with a local chef, and the two work together on an aspect of the popular Odyssey de Culinaire, a one-night-only talent show of the city’s finest chefs and up-and-coming culinary students. Tickets are $125. This year’s dinner is 6 p.m. Thursday at the Skirvin Hotel, 1 Park Ave. Oklahoma City host chef Christopher Pope will open his doors to Jonas Favela from Boulevard Steakhouse, David Henry from The Coach House, Kathryn Mathis from Big Truck Tacos and Mark Vannasdall from Aravalli and Nebu in the Devon Energy Center tower. OKC’s coordinating chef is Robert Black from A Good Egg Dining Group, and the theme is Italian. You can purchase tickets for either event at okrestaurants.com or by calling 1-800-375-8181. There also will be a Tulsa event hosted by Chad Horvath on July 31 at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel & Convention Center.

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Upward mobility Local producer Travis Flatt grows affordable, organic microgreens and herbs. BY DEVON GREEN

Locals can have fresh microgreens and herbs for cooking in a new and convenient way. Microgreens, a chef favorite, are petite vegetable greens that add color, nutrition and flavor to dishes. They are now available at select supermarkets, thanks to Edmond resident Travis Flatt, his on-trend growing methods and his Upward Harvest product line. Flatt uses aquaponics, a soilless growing method that uses fish and plants in a symbiotic relationship. “The fish provide the nutrients for the plants, and the plants provide filtration for the fish,” he said. After the plant clusters are started, they’re then potted and sold for about $2-$3 at his farm, on his website and at local stores. They’re also economical in other ways. The plants are “environmentally responsible” and use 10 percent of the water and 5 percent of the land that conventionally grown produce uses, he said. Flatt finds it frustrating that healthy, organic products are normally out of financial reach for lower-income families. “We really want to put organic in the hands of every demographic; we want it to not be in the hands of those that can afford it. We want to make it available to everyone. That’s really what we’re trying to do,” Flatt said. At Buy For Less, 3501 Northwest Expressway, Upward Harvest plants are on display with the organic produce. They are neatly wrapped in a soil-like fabric with a small information tag attached with a rubber band. There is almost no waste; the “pot” can be discarded when ready to use, or the whole thing can be planted to provide fresh herbs whenever they’re needed. Herbs and greens are easy to take care of — they require minimal watering and will grow easily in a pot in a kitchen window. One cluster of basil is enough to add to a favorite dish. Upward Harvest has 14 varieties of

Travis Flatt of Upward Harvest glances over the microgreens in his aquaponic garden.

The plants basically go on a ‘lazy river’ ride where they get adequate sunlight and nutrients. — Travis Flatt

microgreens, including radishes, dill, beets, wheatgrass, arugula, kale and amaranth. Flatt is working on a new greenhouse so he can add even more varieties. His plants now live on a multistory platform, and they are constantly moving in a bath of nutrient-rich water that provides all they need for fertilization. Ten thousand goldfish, which live in a separate part of the greenhouse, play a crucial part in the growing process simply by living there. While the plants and fish are kept in different areas, they share the same water. “The plants basically go on a ‘lazy river’ ride where they get adequate sunlight and nutrients,” said Flatt. Thanks to the fish, there’s no need for the chemicals that are usually used for hydroponic growing. In return for their services, the fish get a sparkling clean tank and fresh air. Upward Harvest microgreens are available for purchase at area Buy For Less grocery stores, Urban Agrarian at 1235 SW Second St. and Uptown Grocery Co. at 1230 W. Covell Road in Edmond. They can also be picked up at the Local Harvest Farm out near E. Waterloo Road and S. Coltrane Road in Edmond. Order online and learn more at upwardharvest.com. Local delivery is free for Internet orders over $250.

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Cool places, cooler drinks We know. It’s hot. It’s summer in Oklahoma. Cool down by sampling cocktails that local bars and restaurants have concocted just for you. Find a nice, air conditioned space or a shaded patio and while away the hours drinking the flavors of summer. You might decide it’s not that bad after all. — by Devon Green, photos by Mark Hancock, Shannon Cornman and Lauren Hamilton

Bricktown Brewery 1 N. Oklahoma Ave. bricktownbrewery.com 232-2739

The local beer geniuses at Bricktown Brewery kicked the summer off right by tapping their newest contribution to the betterment of humanity. Blues Berry Ale is a light ale infused with real blueberries for a refreshing summer treat. The Brewery also has daily special cocktails to beat the heat, making it a great place to hide from the power of the sun.

RedPin Restaurant & Bowling Lounge

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If you are looking for a great place to cool off, you could do worse than this ultra-cool lounge and bowling alley right on the Bricktown canal. The seasonal drink menu has several chilly options, including the Skinny PinaCoco Club Special: light pineapple coconut vodka, agave, club soda and lime. Yum.

The mix masters at Scratch know that some flavors just taste like summer. Sample some of your favorites with Scratch’s expertly crafted Oklahomathemed cocktails. The Seasonal Sooner Cobbler offers a loving tribute to this summer’s blackberry harvest. It tastes like grandma’s cobbler all grown up.

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Deep Fork always has a bevy of sexy seasonal cocktails, and this summer is no exception. One that particularly caught our eye is the Gin Atomic, a combination of gin and elderflower liqueur with basil simple syrup. It’s light, fragrant and perfect for sultry summer nights. We have it on good authority that it’s a staff favorite, and we can understand why.

It seems like just yesterday, Local was new in the Norman restaurant scene. It has been a couple of years, and Local is now a fixture in its own right, known for its quality seasonal cuisine and vast selection of ever-changing cocktails. Cozy up to the bar and try something from the seasonal cocktail menu for a refreshing change of pace.

Tucked away in plain sight, Bellini’s is both casual and elegant. Surrounded by lush greenery, this Oklahoma institution is a dreamy place to pass an hour or two, especially with a glass of wine from its vast collection or one of its elegant cocktails. Make sure to try the cocktail that gave the restaurant its name, with peach nectar and sparkling Prosecco wine. It tastes like sweet sunlight.

When the blazing heat makes you want to take shelter immediately, hide out in one of the coolest joints in the metro. Junior’s celebrated its 30th birthday last year and shows no signs of slowing down. Make an evening out of it with dinner in the dining room followed by cocktails in the piano lounge. Performances start nightly at 8:30 p.m. Its large selection of cocktails make you feel like you’ve stepped into another era.

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Visionaries awarded Four leaders are honored for their work in the community. BY ALISSA LINDSEY AND BEN FELDER

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The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits will honor four nonprofit leaders for their work throughout their communities with the center’s fourth annual Visions awards. At the November event, A. Jaye Johnson, unit director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County, will receive the Special Recognition Award for his twelve years of service to local children. As unit director, Johnson is responsible for the management of the staff and children in order to ensure that the club is providing a safe environment in which children can have fun. The club, open to all kids ages 6 to 18, offers programming in areas like tutoring, arts and crafts, music and karate. About 85 percent of the club’s members come from single-parent homes, so Johnson has stepped up to become a mentor to more than 350 kids who attend the club daily and said he has enjoyed watching them grow and mature over the years. “I’m the one who’s blessed. People say that I’ve blessed the lives of many. No. These kids have blessed my life being able to be a part of theirs,” Johnson said. Last May, Johnson suffered a massive stroke that left him temporarily paralyzed and unable to speak. During his six-month recovery time, all he could think about was getting back to see his kids. “They’ve helped strengthen me to get back,” he said. He walks with a cane now, but it doesn’t matter to the many children

The Fields & Futures team at The Greens Golf Course, providing lunch and golf for coaches. From left, Dot Rhyne, Tim McLaughlin, Liz Cromwell, Mandi O’Neill. whose lives he has impacted. For more information about the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County or to donate to the nonprofit, visit bgcokc.org. Tim McLaughlin of Fields & Futures will earn the Visionary Impact Award for his tenacious fundraising efforts to rebuild playing fields for kids in the Oklahoma City Public School (OKCPS) district. Through partnerships with OKCPS Athletic Director Keith Sinor, Oklahoma Cleats for Kids, the Oklahoma City Police Athletic League and other organizations, Fields & Futures has raised $3 million in just two years. Rebuilding every playing field in the OKCPS district is a $5 million project. So far, Fields & Futures has rebuilt softball, baseball and soccer/football fields at Jefferson and Webster middle schools. McLaughlin has combined his fundraising expertise with Sinor’s plan of action. “[McLaughlin] decided kids are going to join something, whether that’s a gang or whether it’s a sport,” said Jill vanEgmond, vice president for external affairs at Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits. “So it’s starting with the fields and the kids getting involved and taking pride in that, and then it’s moving out into the whole community.”

Sinor said the pride developed from the new fields has spread from students to the community. “It has been such a boost for our communities,” Sinor said. “When you look at some of the schools that [don’t have new fields], you can see trash all over the place. You look at the schools that have been done and the community takes care of it. They are excited because now they have a place to watch games, have their Little League teams and have their pickup games.” Sinor said he has also noticed increased game attendance at recently remodeled fields and there have been higher participation rates among students. “In years past, our students would travel outside the district and see what other districts have ... they would ask, ‘Why don’t our fields look like that?’” Sinor said. “Now they have something that they can be proud of. More kids want to participate because now they have a field to play on.” Cleats for Kids donates 300 pairs of athletic shoes every month, and the Wes Welker Foundation puts up money for field equipment like goals and bases. Cimarron Construction Co. provides much of the labor at or below cost. “This is how we’re able to get the bang for the buck ... we’ve got lots of people taking pieces and parts of the redevelopment,” McLaughlin said. Next year, $2 from all Oklahoma City Energy Football Club tickets A. Jaye Johnson gets lots of hugs from his little friends at the Boys & Girls Club on N. Western Avenue during the summer day care with new extended hours. The facilty was recently flooded by heavy rain, and Johnson reached out to the community for help and had the club cleaned and running within a week.

will go toward Fields & Futures to maintain the new fields. “We really need to have the community wrap around these schools and support them however they can,” McLaughlin said. Ken Fergeson, chairman of NBC Oklahoma in Altus, will receive the

We really need to have the community wrap around these schools and support them however they can. — Tim McLaughlin

Lifetime Achievement Award for being an agent for change in the community in his role as a board member at 24 nonprofits. Albert Gray, CEO of The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital, will earn the Pat Potts Visionary Award for fighting to keep The Children’s Center open and transforming it into a state-of-the-art pediatric hospital. The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits provides more than 17,000 nonprofits in Oklahoma with the training, advocacy, support and resources they need. For more information about attending the Visions event scheduled for Nov. 18, visit okcnp.org. For more information about Fields & Futures or to make a donation, visit fieldsandfutures .com.

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BEST LOCAL ANNUAL EVENT OR FESTIVAL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS NORMAN MUSIC FESTIVAL OKC PRIDE PASEO ARTS FESTIVAL STATE FAIR OF OKLAHOMA ballot continued next page

FOR YOUR BALLOT TO BE COUNTED: • Fill out at least 27 categories. • Oklahoma Gazette must receive your ballot (one per envelope) by mail no later than July 30, 2014.

• Ballot may NOT be typewritten, photocopied or hand delivered. • There cannot be multiple handwritings on the ballot. • All contact information must be complete.

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LIFE They’re going through a really hard time in life, and whether or not their lives can be long or not, I can’t control that. But if I can do something to help their life be better … then I think that money is well spent. P ROVI DED

— John Cresap

Birthday wish A birthday donation gives a day of joy to children with life-threatening illnesses. BY ALISSA LINDSEY

Make-A-Wish Oklahoma will grant about 10 additional wishes this summer thanks to a $50,000 donation by the Cresap Family Foundation in honor of Trustee John Cresap’s upcoming 50th birthday. “So for any kid, [their wish is] a time that can completely just take their mind off of that current situation and let them think towards the future and think toward making a full recovery,” said Katie Hargis, development officer at Make-A-Wish Oklahoma. Deacon, a 5-year-old with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), loves airplanes, and his wish was the first made possible by the donation. The Stillwater youth was recently diagnosed with DMD, which leads to muscle weakness and degeneration,

according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). He told MakeA-Wish that he loves playing with toy planes and watching videos about the Blue Angels. He wants to be a pilot and loves everything about planes, including the wings, engines and cockpits. Coordinators hope to get Deacon up in a plane or helicopter as part of his wish in August. “We love being able to see the different Adopt-A-Wish sponsors, but especially the Cresap Family Foundation, want to give to Make-AWish and help make more wishes come true,” Hargis said. Cresap, president and CEO of Cresap Capital, chose to donate to Make-A-Wish in order to mark this

The Oklahoma Make-A-Wish Foundation made it possible for Pierson M. to receive his wish of being a pirate. milestone birthday and improve the lives of local children with lifethreatening illnesses. “They’re going through a really hard time in life, and whether or not their lives can be long or not, I can’t control that. But if I can do something to help their life be better … then I think that … money is well spent,” Cresap said. The Cresaps started the Cresap Family Foundation in 2012 after the sale of their company, Premium Beers of Oklahoma, an Anheuser-Busch

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distributorship. The foundation was established in order to give back to the community, and in 2013, it gave $690,225 in grants to community nonprofits like Children’s Hospital Foundation, American Red Cross of Central Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma Humane Society, United Way of Central Oklahoma and the YWCA of Oklahoma City. For those inspired by the generosity of the Cresap Family Foundation, the Adopt-A-Wish program enables groups or individuals to fundraise and become wish sponsors for the 180 Oklahoma children waiting for their wishes to come true. “We are local. So all the funds raised in Oklahoma, they stay here, and they help Oklahoma kids,” Hargis said. Typically, it costs between $5,000 and $7,500 to grant a wish, and Make-A-Wish strives to grant the child’s wish within three to six months of referral from the child’s doctor, parent or guardian. The Adopt-A-Wish program connects sponsors with wish kids and their families to provide support along with the donations. For more information about the Adopt-A-Wish program, visit oklahoma.wish.org.

LIFE CULTURE

Central sustainability Green programs in OKC are reinforced by the partnership of two sustainability-minded organizations.

BY JOSH HUTTON

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In an effort to expand sustainability programs in the Oklahoma City area, Sustainable OKC (SOKC) has partnered with the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). The partnership brings SOKC under the UCO Foundation’s umbrella, granting the nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) status, a tighter infrastructure and a pool of student volunteers through UCO’s Volunteer and Service Learning Center. “[UCO wants] to serve OKC, not just Edmond. This is why we have the downtown consortium (Downtown College Consortium), the ACM (Academy of Contemporary Music). But most of all, Sustainable OKC’s mission syncs up with UCO’s green initiative,” Tim Tillman, president of SOKC and sustainability coordinator at UCO, said. Both UCO and SOKC strive to provide a model and ideas for sustainability programs, and this partnership bolsters that initiative. In 2006, UCO became the first university in the state to derive 100 percent of its energy needs through wind power. The university commissioned the “BroncH20” hydration trailer in 2012 to reduce plastic waste. Created by the UCO Plumbing Shop, is utilized at both campus- and community-based events. Presently, the university is submetering its buildings to see where additional energy cutbacks can be made. In 2005, SOKC was created as part of the Oklahoma Sustainability Network. Since then, it has put education and networking at the forefront of its work. The group hosts Green Drinks — an event where green-minded individuals meet and discuss tangible ways to change environmental impacts and oversights — every quarter. The group also curates Buy Fresh Buy Local, a guide that helps consumers connect with local farmers, and operates Fresh Greens, a blog providing tips on gardening, recycling and transportation. In May, SOKC partnered with SixTwelve, a community outreach and educational center focused on creativity and sustainability, to give away rain barrels at the Paseo Arts Festival. The two groups took drums donated from Great Plains Coca-Cola and then crafted kits to fix the rain barrels to gutters.

VOTE FOR US

President of Sustainable OKC and UCO Sustainablity Coordinator, Tim Tillman and board member Bandon Tyler during a SOKC board meeting at the Myriad Botanical Gardens conference room in OKC. Oklahoma Gazette

Reusing things ... It’s better for the environment, and it makes you happy. — James Varnum

James Varnum, SixTwelve co-founder and SOKC vice president, contends that programs like this not only preserve the environment but help with personal well-being. “Using, reusing things smarter, using local food — knowing where that food comes from — makes you happier. You walk. You bike. Endorphins are released. It’s better for the environment, and it makes you happy,” Varnum said. On July 12, SOKC’s board held a retreat to plan ahead for the next few years. Alongside UCO, SOKC is working on plans to host a global

sustainability conference as soon as the fall of 2015. Tillman said trying to maintain SOKC’s nonprofit status before the partnership was tedious. “With a nonprofit, you have a board of nine to 12 people, and these people have to manage all the bookkeeping as well as the administrative needs. These are people with full-time jobs. It’s near impossible,” Tillman said. In 2012, SOKC’s nonprofit status lapsed due to an oversight with the paperwork. Looking to avoid similar complications, Tillman approached both the UCO Foundation and the university’s legal counsel about the incorporation of SOKC. The legal counsel crafted a memorandum of understanding granting SOKC full control over their bylaws, meeting times and agendas before the partnership was finalized. The memorandum also provides UCO with one board seat. And finally, it was agreed that neither entity were agents or employers of the other.

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LIFE VISUAL ARTS

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Heat wave

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Solstice closing reception 6-10 p.m. Friday Istvan Gallery 1218 N. Western Ave. istvangallery.com 831-2874

If you like art, ice cream, nice sounds and summertime aesthetics, then get ready to smile big and text your friends about the closing reception for the wonderful exhibit going on at Istvan Gallery Friday night. Oklahoma City’s women’s art organization Fringe, which continues to grow and leave a prominent footprint across galleries throughout the city, presents Solstice, an exploration and celebration of our longest day of the year with the sun. The art of Mary James Ketch, Sarah Day-Short, Jessica Craddock and Lindsey Bochniak will be featured in this group show that celebrates Oklahoma’s usually sweltering relationship with the sun. “During the summer, the sun in Oklahoma can feel oppressive, but we wanted to celebrate it,” artist Mary James Ketch said. In this exploration of the sun, you can expect to see works motivated by its source of light, heat and life — from the color of the shadows splashed against the wall to the power we all have to be luminaries and warm those around us. Istvan Gallery owner Stephen Kovash hopes the show is able to elicit certain thoughts from its

audience. “Excitement, evocative and generosity,” he said. “Each artist brings a distinct style, but all make bold statements with color, composition and flow. These pieces are highly personal to the artists, but there are no assumptions about what each piece will mean to my patrons. These four artists are outstanding, and I would like to see gallery visitors purchase art from our fantastic local talents.”

These pieces are highly personal to the artists, but there are no assumptions about what each piece will mean to my patrons. — Stephen Kovash The works featured were created specifically for this exhibit, but each artist regularly works with nature as a main source of inspiration, which makes everything seem very organic. Artist Jessica Craddock elaborated on the subject. “Nature has always been a predominate theme in my art,” she said, “but gardening and cooking started showing up about a year

P ROVI DED

Sarah Day ”Short”

the use of elements such as fire and lights, to enhance the organic and visual feel of object manipulation such as hula hooping, poi spinning, staff spinning and more.” Keeping with the mystical, earthcentered theme, there will be tarot card readings by Stephen DillardCarroll. And, of course, no party would be complete without good music, which will be handled well by DJs Beau and Jessica Blackstock, aka Sibling Rivalry. Finally, despite the summer heat, the glass blowers of Blue Sage Studios will show off their skills, turning fire and molten glass into beautiful works of art.

“Looks Like Rain” by Mary James Ketch

PROVIDED

and a half ago, when I realized I needed to learn to combine all of my interests instead of compartmentalizing them.” At Friday’s closing reception, expect a party to celebrate both the work in the show specifically and the energy of summer in general. A number of activities will complement the solstice theme, including hot dogs and ice cream, the only two foods anyone really needs to get through summer. “The concept of the summer solstice itself suggests lots of mystical, earthy kinds of things,” Kovash said. “So I asked Spinnergy Flow Arts, a local group of flow artists that employ

O K L A H O M A G A Z E T T E | J U LY 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 | 4 1

LIFE COVER

What’s the word Medieval prime mockingbird?

VOTE! SEE PAGE 33

Driving home the news everyday.

A far cry from a Trojan horse, Lyric Theatre’s Monty Python’s Spamalot is confidently equipped to invade the Civic Center. BY DEVON GREEN

Director Ashley Wells is pretty proud of the Monty Python’s Spamalot cast, and she has every reason to be. They have pulled together a grand, broad production at a breakneck pace, and they have to — this is summer at Lyric Theatre, and they don’t waste a moment’s time. Between July 8 and Aug. 9, they will perform three major Broadway productions with about 10 days in between. That’s 10 days to pull the productions together.

Thankfully, Wells has an extremely talented professional cast, some of whom are reprising their roles in previous productions of Spamalot. Steve Blanchard (King Arthur); his wife, Meredith Inglesby (Lady of the Lake); and Monte Riegel Wheeler (Sir Lancelot) have played their parts before. This makes Wells’ and the actors’ lives much easier. “We’re doing a show where most people can quote every single line. You want to make sure you get it

KO RINEARSON

M-F 4-7p • Sat-Sun 5-6p

Perry Sook, Meredith Inglesby and Monte Riegel Wheeler are King Arthur, Lady of the Lake and Lancelot.

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M A RK HA N COC K/ FI L E

Civic Center Music Hall

Monty Python’s Spamalot 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday Civic Center Music Hall 201 N. Walker Ave. lyrictheatreokc.com 524-9312 $35-$74

right,” Wells said. “Also, it’s Monty Python; there are lots of words in this play.” She also would like to get something off her chest. “I’ll be honest; I actually like the musical a little better,” she said. “It’s even funnier [than the movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail] and more fun. You want to see those dancing knights in tights, and you only get to see that once or twice in the movie.” The movie is a rollicking, hilarious take on Arthurian legend as only Monty Python could tell it. Spamalot, meanwhile, is the musical version, complete with the aforementioned dancing knights in tights, the Lady of the Lake, her Laker Girls and more. It’s an extravagant production, complete with moving sets and flying knights. Wells, a choreographer by training, choreographed and directed several productions with Lyric in the past two seasons, both at Civic Center Music Hall and Lyric’s Plaza District location. The musical remains true to the film’s story line, but there are homages to the Monty Python franchise and parts that are expanded and manipulated for a new, fresh experience. Wells is thrilled to bring that fun and magic to Lyric this summer, yet her biggest challenge is actually managing the entire show — not just the choreography. “It’s been difficult relinquishing that control,” she said. “I want to take on the dance numbers as well. It’s actually difficult not having my finger on everything.” But she learned to let it go and is thrilled so far with the results, especially her cast.

“I’m pretty proud of them,” she said. “The rehearsal is such a joy. It’s very give-and-take, and we can work together.”

Sir Lancelot For Wheeler, stepping back into the role of Lancelot was, in some ways, like he never left it. He played the role in the production put on by his home theater, Music Theatre of Wichita (Kansas), before coming to Oklahoma City to play Clayton in Lyric’s production of Tarzan. He was greeted with the offer to reprise Sir Lancelot in Lyric’s upcoming production. “The difference is that with [Music Theatre of Wichita], I made a lot of new friends,” he said. “And with [Lyric Theatre], I get to do it with a lot of old friends.”

We’re doing a show where most people can quote every single line. You want to make sure you get it right.

We’d

LOVE your vote again!

— Ashley Wells

Although it reads like an obvious joke, Wheeler feels that he fell into the role he was made to play. (Monte was made to do Monty, if you will.) He remembers growing up and watching Monty Python on PBS with his father, even finding it groundbreaking and hilarious as a child. “For me, British humor just rings in my bones,” he said. “The very first time I saw it on television, I just got it.” Most struggling artists are familiar with the virtues of the service industry. Not by choice, necessarily, but through years of dedication and paying the rent with CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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KO RINEARSON

Much Thanks for your Love & Support OKC!

LIFE COVER

signed, One Grateful Granny

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various jobs. It’s where the actor/ waiter cliché comes from. Wheeler’s take on it, however, is the key to his motivation. “I ultimately think that at the core of a creative life is service,” he said. “We’re serving a play, an audience. That’s the core.” He also feels that time spent in the service industry connects you to that truth. It’s something he’s thankful for. Don’t misunderstand; he has a career in the arts in the Midwest. It’s a rare and enviable position, and he is not taking it for granted, especially playing a role that he has fallen into — and fallen in love with. “I think one of the things that makes this show — and Monty Python — so special is that it’s clever and funny,” he said. “That’s hard, I mean really hard, to do. When this came along, I just fell into it. This is what I was made to serve. It’s been one of those projects that shows you what your purpose is.”

Lady of the Lake Inglesby’s Lady of the Lake is the role that has been the most expanded from the movie. “She actually doesn’t exist in the movie,” she said. “She is a made-up role that basically embodies all of the women on Monty Python.” And Inglesby doesn’t mind a bit. She played the Lady first in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and, much like Wheeler, fell in love with the role. She was in Oklahoma with her husband while he was here for Tarzan last summer, and the creative team at Lyric asked her about playing the role again. She was delighted. “[The Lady of the Lake] is a bit of a diva. I’m not comfortable being a diva in real life, so being her onstage is more fun,” she said. “Funny is where I’m much more comfortable.”

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Sir Galahad (Perry Sook) and Sir Lancelot (Monte Wheeler) with the Holy Grail in Monty Python’s Spamalot Getting to play a sexy, funny woman is hitting the jackpot, according to Inglesby. Madeline Kahn — the queen of the “trifecta” in that she was funny, smart and beautiful — is a role model of hers. Kahn was also a dynamo of theater and cinema who wasn’t afraid to subvert her role as a femme fatale with a pratfall for a laugh. For Inglesby, this role hits that mark on the spot and is every bit worth the hard work, especially when there is a shortage of those types of roles. “She’s sexy, bawdy, a little bit diva, and you get to do really great, silly, fun production numbers,” she said. It’s also a part that requires a lot of preparation. Most of the key roles do, and Inglesby is thankful that the Lady is “an old friend.” “It’s very challenging, especially vocally challenging,” she said. “She is all over the place. One minute, she’s a diva/opera/coloratora (a type of opera distinguished by leaps and trills). The next minute, she’s doing impressions.” The payoff is that Inglesby gets to play this role with this cast. She made many friends when she was visiting last year, and both Inglesby and Wheeler said they were waiting for the right play to come along so they could work together again. “This company at Lyric is just fantastic, and theater in Oklahoma is just fantastic,” Inglesby said. “This quality in this level of theater is just outstanding. I was very impressed last year, and I was so excited to come back.”

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Cancel those trips to Jurassic Park. A much safer (but equally cool) dinosaur replica is coming to Oklahoma. BY DEVON GREEN

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The elementary school gymnasium was packed with over 100 thirdand fourth-graders doing their best to sit quietly but squirming with anticipation. Whispers rippled through the crowd, which was hushed with anticipation. It was obvious that they were told about their special guests and they were trying their best to be orderly and quiet. There was a section of the gym curtained off from prying eyes, with rustling and murmurs going on behind it. Voices stage-whispered instructions and lastminute preparations. Emcee Matthew Rimmer came out from behind the curtain with a microphone in hand. He immediately harnessed the audience with the promise of seeing a real, live dinosaur. He explained that the dinosaur that came with him that day was a baby Tyrannosaurus rex named Baby T and it needed encouragement to come out and see them. He led the audience, rapt with anticipation, in chants of “Baby T! Baby T!” Without a sound, the baby T. rex, nearly 8 feet tall and feathered, emerged and made a beeline for the rows of children.

Mama and Baby T

I feel like every dinosaur has its own personality. It’s not so much me controlling it as letting it do what it wants. — Jonathan Macmillan

There were shrieks of both terror and delight as Baby T made its way through the crowd of children. Some froze in place, and others screamed and scooted across the floor. The realness of such a creation is nothing if not eerie, and your immediate reaction is curious. Your head tells you it’s a creation, a mockup, while that vestigial, survivalist part of your brain is setting off one alarm bell after another to get the heck out of there — and quickly. This creature is right there in front of you, yet its existence seems impossible. You notice it’s feathered and that while it is a youngster, it’s also a fearsome creature that stands

Utahraptors

several feet taller than the average human. At the same time, Baby T exhibits the characteristics of a child, even an 8-foot-tall one. There’s an element of play in its movements. It isn’t attacking the children; it’s engaging them. The expressions on the kids’ faces ranged from wonder to terror, yet they were all having a ball. Walking with Dinosaurs is based on the BBC television series of the same name. It features 20 dinosaurs that combine puppetry, animatronics and remote control aspects. They are wonders of special and practical effects, periodically updated using the latest discoveries in paleontology. Each dinosaur takes a team of three people to operate.

Baby T, the smaller of the dinos, is run by only one man. On this tour, that man is Jonathan Macmillan, an athlete and acrobat whose strength and agility make up Baby T’s surprising speed and grace. “I feel like every [dinosaur] has its own personality,” he said. “It’s not so much me controlling it as letting it do what it wants.” Walking with Dinosaurs originated in Australia in 2007 and sold out arenas. After a break from touring and some “evolution” of the dinosaurs, the tour is back for what are sure to be seven sold-out shows at Chesapeake Energy Arena in October. For more details about the show, visit dinosaurlive.com.

Stegosaurus

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First Contact A local writer and artist unleash a fresh perspective on the American superhero.

BY EMILY ANDERSON

A fat, lazy slacker who suffers from hangovers might not be the typical superhero, but he is the hero in Brian Winkeler’s first graphic novel Knuckleheads: Fist Contact, a comedic story that takes a fresh perspective on the all-American superhero. Winkeler, an Oklahoma City resident, started writing content for the graphic novel five and a half years ago. The main character, Trevor K. Trevinski, aka Crystal Fist, would be similar to Green Lantern if Green Lantern was a fat and lazy boozer. Winkeler says that Trev was so hung over when he received his super powers that he doesn’t even remember how he got them. He’s definitely not your classic superhero. (He also uses his powers to cheat at Wii and steal Netflix.) In a classic comic book twist, a monster eventually shows up and Trev has to save the girl. In this case, the girl is Emma, a hot, drunk English chick. Crystal Fist, along with his roommate, Lance Powers, and their unlikely friend, Pizza Guy, are lumped together — not for the adventure they find but for the adventure that finds them. “I create characters first and see what they will do and how they will react to things,” Winkeler said. “I think, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if … ?’ and see how the characters react to the situation.” A huge part of the comic world is Comic-Con. To Winkeler, it is an

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Brian Winkeler against a mural by Joe Hunter at Robot House Creative.

I create characters first and see what they will do and how they will react to things. I think, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if … ?’ and see how the characters react to the situation. — Brian Winkeler

old familiar friend that has been a part of his journey to creating his first graphic novel. In 2009, Winkeler took eight pages of the Knuckleheads graphic novel, replete with Robert Wilson IV illustrations, to ComicCon. After receiving good feedback, it was recommended that he complete an entire issue, which resulted in 22 pages. The 2010 self-published issue grew awareness with other creators. In 2012, an acquaintance of Winkeler was starting a digital publishing company called Monkeybrain Comics. Monkeybrain Comics invited Winkeler and Wilson to continue the series, and the digital series was distributed in 2013.

Knuckleheads caught a break with Monkeybrain Comics, as they have a special relationship with IDW Publishing. Winkeler met with them last year in San Diego and was quickly offered a book deal. The book contains Inside story panels of Brian Winkeler’s graphic novel Knuckleheads: Fist Contact.

the first eight issues of the digital comics. Winkeler is going back to ComicCon this summer to promote the full graphic novel Knuckleheads: Fist Contact. Winkeler and Wilson work with Jordan Boyd of Norman for coloring and Thomas Mauer of Hamburg, Germany, for lettering. “It’s a team effort of four people putting issues out,” Winkeler said.

Winkeler compares it to the likes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, New Girl or other 20-something misfit sitcoms. “I call it a sitcom because the characters are hanging out, having fun busting each other’s balls instead of aliens,” Winkeler said. “Someone who likes Arrested Development, not necessarily someone who has read every Batman comic, will enjoy Knuckleheads.” Born in St. Louis, Winkeler moved to Bethany when he was five years old. He said he had one sad year in Lubbock, Texas, and realized Oklahoma City wasn’t so bad after all. There are even a few OKC Easter eggs in the novel. When he isn’t creating characters for his comics or working at his design and advertising firm, Robot House Creative, Winkeler said he and his wife, Vi, do a lot of kid stuff with their sons, Hugh, 6, and Van, 11. He also loves to eat and drink beer, so he winds up exercising a lot and playing indoor soccer to offset some of the calories. Winkeler has loved comics from a young age. “I think people are compelled to do the things they are good at. My brother

was the engineer, and that wasn’t me and I wasn’t sporty. In junior high, I was the kid watching Doctor Who and reading comics.” “[This book represents] a couple of guys who have worked really hard to birth this thing,” Winkeler said. “It is the best book possible and one that we would want to read. It’s not without its charming flaws, but I think it is pretty cool and am excited to share it with people.” Despite a planned release date of July 22, the comic debuted sooner than expected and is currently for sale at local comic shops and also on Amazon. Winkeler, Wilson and Boyd will be getting together for two signings and a panel discussion at this year’s ComiCon in San Diego. Winkeler said that if he doesn’t have any other future opportunities to produce comics, Knuckleheads: Fist Contact makes him laugh and he loves seeing Wilson’s artwork progress throughout the book. “It will be the first book for Robert and me with our names on it,” Winkeler said. “This is our dream come true and what we have been working toward for five years.”

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Local musician Jabee, a constant in the Oklahoma City hip-hop scene, is now an Emmy Award winner. The OKC-based artist won an Emmy along with Funnel Design Group, an Oklahoma City marketing firm, for their project “What If?,” a marketing campaign for Science Museum Oklahoma that went viral through social media and local sporting events earlier this year. “I still can’t believe it,” Jabee said. “I’m just a guy from east-side OKC. I feel blessed. This award will be with me forever, even if I never win anything else in my life.” Emmy Awards are given for excellence in the television industry, which makes this award for a nonprofit science museum’s viral ad — hosted by a hip-hop artist, no less — unique. Jabee has been a part of the Oklahoma music scene since the age of 15 (he wrote his first rap at age 7) and has been making waves ever since. But he never imagined himself winning an Emmy. “People work their entire life trying to win an Emmy, and some never get it. But I have one?” he said. Jabee’s tireless work in the hiphop community earned him an award with worldwide recognition, which he believes helps show the world that OKC is more than just a tour stopover city. “I think it shows that Oklahoma has a lot going on, we are diverse. For the hip-hop scene, it shows that we are expanding past just being the underground scene here that nobody

knows about,” Jabee said. The musician hopes that his work with Funnel Design Group will provide similar opportunities in the future. Weeks ago, he also appeared in the new Nike X KD commercial (part of which shows him thumbing through albums at locally owned Trolley Stop Record Shop). He also hopes to start a new album soon. His latest album, Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt dropped last December. He has also been touring, but he’s not into making predictions about his future. “I’m taking it one day at time,” Jabee said, “just stay prepared and dependable.” For Funnel Design Group, the Emmy is validation of the firm’s work on the “What If?” campaign as well as validation of the state. “We are extremely excited. To be recognized for that level of award, not just from Oklahoma but the Heartland region, is really overwhelming,” said Bryan Ellison, Funnel Design Group’s chief visionary officer. Word of the Emmy Award came Saturday night, streaming live online and then posting early Sunday morning. “Jabee is amazing,” Ellison said. “We worked very early in the morning with him, which I’m sure was very different than his working career on stage, but he just dove in and did what he does best.” The design firm also launched the OKC Energy Football Club campaign and is currently working with the Oklahoma State Fair, gearing up for this year’s event, Ellison said.

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By Tom McCoy / Edited by Will Shortz Note: The circled letters, when read clockwise, will reveal a quote from Gertrude Stein.

82 Makes loop-the-loops? 84 Chicken ___ diable 86 Spanish “that” 87 One summing things up ACROSS 89 They may come with covenants 1 Fighting group 92 Property areas 6 Understood 94 Match game? 9 Scientific truth 97 Words dismissive of detractors 12 Lives 102 Send, in a way 18 Opposite of wind up 103 Urge to attack 20 Bobby on the ice 104 Top choice 21 Memphis-to-Nashville dir. 105 Expression of resignation 22 Like yesterday 109 Baseball stat. 23 Classic excuse for some 110 “Did gyre and gimble in the misdemeanors ___”: 26 Intimidating words “Jabberwocky” 27 Prefix with -graphic 114 Take it easy 28 Mercury, but not Earth 115 Cast 29 Workman’s aid 116 Sushi topper, maybe 30 Heavy work 117 Hardly highbrow reading 32 Carrier to Tokyo 118 Material blocked by parental 33 World’s largest particle physics lab, controls in Switzerland 119 Fantasy title character whose 34 Many a drive-thru installation name is one letter different from 35 Declaration from Popeye the creature he rides 38 ___ Anne’s (popular pretzel 121 “We will tolerate this no more!” purveyor) 125 Least plausible 41 Smugglers’ worries 126 Certain wardrobe malfunction 42 ___ mortal 127 Filler of la mer 43 Doubt-dispelling words from Lady 128 Mess up Macbeth 129 Covers with goo 48 Follower of lop 130 Austin Powers, e.g. 49 Follower of lop 131 Record stat 50 Formerly, once 132 Guide 51 Spectrum 53 “Alea iacta ___” (“The die is cast”) DOWN 54 Mutt’s mutter? 1 Like some measures 57 “When You’re Good to ___” 2 Cell part (“Chicago” song) 3 Whirlpool product 60 Aside, e.g. 4 Strike a chord 63 Encyclopedic 5 “Gross!” 65 Frequent features of John 6 Source of great profit Constable landscapes 7 Mercury or Earth 68 Atypical 8 District in Rome 70 Bearing in mind 9 Sheldon’s apartment-mate on The 72 Famous Yogiism Big Bang Theory 76 Traditional Gaelic singer 10 “___ questions?” 77 Falafel holder 11 Emmy-winning drama four years 78 Food often with pentagonal cross in a row, with “The” sections 12 Some memory triggers 79 “All ___” 13 Stereotypical beatnik accessory 14 Hard water 80 Holy ___

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Rapper ___ Rida Juin preceder 1968 live folk album Tender Is the Night locale, with “the” Mideast legislature Determines the concentration of a dissolved substance Team V.I.P. Ocho – dos Certain ruminant “Summer Nights” musical Colorful, pebble-like candies Bit of trip planning: Abbr. Roth ___ Take up again, as a case Yearbook sect. Small power sources Ones that warn before they attack Former employer for Vladimir Putin, for short

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LIFE MUSIC

P ROVI DED

Commercial rock L.A. pop band Capital Cities — one of the many acts on display at Tulsa’s Center of the Universe Festival — has always had a penchant for the spotlight. BY JOSHUA BOYDSTON

Center of the Universe Festival featuring Capital Cities, Young The Giant, AWOLNATION & more Friday-Saturday Downtown Tulsa centeroftheuniversefestival.com $35-$50

There’s a certain sense of delicious irony to the success enjoyed by the creative partnership of Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian over the past year or so. Before Capital Cities even came to be, the two worked together in the fast-paced world of jingle writing and ad campaign music composition, facing their share of criticism, creative compromise and outright rejection. But with the duo’s debut album, In a Tidal Wave of Mystery, those discarded musical scraps — inspired by acts as varied as The Beatles, Depeche Mode, Radiohead and Air — were molded into well more than an island of misfit toys. Merchant and Simonian would eventually take them from small club shows in their hometown of Los Angeles to their current slot opening for Katy Perry on her current U.S. tour and headlining performances like this

weekend’s appearance at Center of the Universe Festival. Still more juicy is the ubiquitous nature of US Alternative Songs charttopping “Safe and Sound,” a song that has gone on to be placed in commercials for Mazda, HBO, Smart Car, Microsoft and more. “We were always having to come up with lots of ideas,” Simonian said. “Some of them were so interesting we used them in our music after having been rejected by the commercial we were working for in the first place.” For all the harsh realities of commissioned work, there were more than a few silver linings, though. The demand for grabbing someone’s attention quickly and working even quicker are useful lessons have continued to pay dividends. “In that world, you have to work really fast, and we apply that mindset to Capital Cities,” Simonian said. “It’s not pigeonholing yourself and incorporating lots of kinds of music and also trying not to dwell on the details and make decisions relatively quickly.” It’s funny that a band favoring such a rapid-fire approach has enjoyed such a slow burn; “Safe and Sound” was first released back in 2011 and is still readily played on Top 40 radio, and In

We’re just trying to create interesting, provocative songs that are going to make the listener want to tap their toes.

these earliest drafts described as a little more experimental and possibly less dance-hook heavy. “The overall feeling and general approach is going to be the same,” Simonian said. “We’re just trying to create interesting, provocative songs that are going to make the listener want to tap their toes. I have a good feeling about the future of the relationship with our fans.”

— Sebu Simonian a Tidal Wave of Mystery is still birthing fun, funk-bent indie-pop singles like “Kangaroo Court,” “I Sold My Bed, But Not My Stereo” and its latest, “One Minute More.” “We’re kind of riding that wave and allowing for it to do its thing,” Simonian said. Even in the midst of a demanding, near-ceaseless tour schedule, Capital Cities has ground through the past few years. The creative partners are at work on new material, jotting down ideas and recording sketches for songs on the bus between shows. But the heavy lifting won’t come until 2015, when the live shows slow down in favor of studio time, allowing Capital Cities to flesh out and refine

Friday headliners AWOLNATION Fitz and the Tantrums Twenty-One Pilots Z-Trip Fly Golden Eagle Fiawna Forte Nuns Taddy Porter

Saturday headliners Young the Giant Capital Cities Cold War Kids DJ Jazzy Jeff Clear Plastic Masks Greensky Bluegrass Horse Thief Matt Stansberry & the Romance

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LIFE MUSIC

Mack truckin’ P ROVI DE D

Philadelphia DJ Swizzymack’s hard-hitting club bangers hit the dance floor — and your eardrums — with authority. BY JOSHUA BOYDSTON

Swizzymack 9 p.m. Friday Kamp’s Lounge 1310 NW 25th St. lndrnrs.com 819-6004 $10-$15

Swizzymack wasn’t the most popular kid growing up. But over the past few years, the 19-year-old producer born Jordan Safford has flipped that script. Now, the party follows the Philly club favorite everywhere he goes. “I was a fat little kid, and I didn’t have many friends. I didn’t do much but sit at a computer all day,” Safford said. “I came across this Lex Luger video and loved it. So I just downloaded (music software) FruityLoops and that was it.”

Swizzymack has made quick work of things, too, a credit to both his youthful obsession with making music and instinctive ear for thumping, destructive dance floor grooves. After a string of successful original beats and searing bootleg remixes releases online, he was snapped up by Diplo and his Philly-based techno label Mad Decent, home of premier dancehall artists like Baauer, Major Lazer and Zeds Dead. The label released his debut EP, Bass, last year, culminating in a hometown performance at the Mad Decent Block Party last summer that finally let Swizzymack’s family see him out in his element. “I was surprised to see my mom there,” Safford said, mentioning her

overwhelming support for his music career. “Mid-set, I see her in the middle of the mosh pit. I was like, ‘What the fuck?’ My grandma, my mom and my sister there, partying with everyone else.” It was a special moment for Swizzy, a torchbearer for the Philly club and trap music scene. “My music came from Philly. It plays a really big part of it,” Safford said. “Philly club is faster, more aggressive. There’s just a lot more energy.” That vibe is quickly making Swizzymack a favorite of the fashion world as well. He curated the music for the runway show debuting Rick Owens’ Spring/Summer ’15 line at Paris Fashion Week this year, and he is currently plotting a similar collaboration with fellow Philly native and fashion designer

Gianni Lee in the near future. Along with that, an overseas tour and some more official singles due through the rest of the year. “They’ll definitely make booties bounce,” Safford said. “I opened my mind up to a lot of new genres. With club music, you can kind of do anything. It’s free range, and I’m taking advantage of that.” The rest of the details and benchmarks moving forward are less concrete, but he’s more than content to enjoy his time as the life of the party until he figures them out. “It changes all the time,” Safford said of his career goals. “Last year, it was being Diplo. This year, I don’t know. I just want to keep going where I’m going and seeing where it lands.”

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Planting the seed No longer just a solo act, singer-songwriter Chelsey Cope is embarking on a more collaborative and organic endeavor. BY NATHAN WINFREY

Chelsey Cope’s new band, Elms, is as earthy and native to Oklahoma as the trees that are their namesake. The soulful folk four-piece’s debut EP, Parallel Lines, was recorded at Bell Labs Recording Studio in Norman and is on its way in September. But the band has already given us a tease, with its first single, “Burn,” going live on SoundCloud on July 14. Compared to Cope’s previous offerings, this new journey is a bold progression into fresh sonic territory, but it’s an easy leap from her earlier style and unmistakably “Chelsey Cope.” “It’s a pretty natural evolution of her sound. All of us like her music too much to change it too drastically,” bassist Michael Bewley said. Cope’s honest, passionate, never overprocessed tunes and unique voice have been the hallmarks of her music, and that isn’t going away. Those familiar with Cope’s 2012 EP, A Deeper Root, will recognize her classic songs in Elms’ arsenal, but each old favorite has a new spin thanks to creative input from all members of the Elms brain trust. “Everyone has their own style and character,” drummer Billy Reid said. “Now that the band feels more democratic than it was in the past, the sound is going to change because our personalities are going to come out more.” The transition from singer/ songwriter to full-scale band is a long time coming for Cope. “We think about it as a team,” she said. “Watching so many bands for so long and standing in the audience, I was like, ‘I want to try that.’ After playing by yourself for so many years and seeing what level you can reach with so many musicians coming in, you pretty much have to.” For the past two years, Cope’s lineup of musicians has been a whirlwind. However, for the past six

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I think now, more than ever, it’s time for all of us. — Chelsey Cope

months, a pretty solid band has been assembling. Reid and Bewley have been playing with her for a long time, and Chavez Soliz added his guitar just a couple of months ago. Soliz has played in local bands since he was in his mid-teens, and Reid and Bewley have storied musical histories as well. A Tulsa native now based in Oklahoma City, Cope has been singing and writing songs since she was 13, borrowing time on her older sister’s guitar when she could. Cope cut her teeth on the twin influences of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker soundtrack and Tom Waits’ Bone Machine — two CDs her stepdad gave her when she was little. He was a traveler, always coming back from someplace far away and often returning with exotic musical instruments that would then fall into Cope’s hands. “I’d play with that stuff all the time,” she recalled. “When you’re meant to do something, all you need is your introduction to it.” It seems Cope is meant to create music, and the advent of Elms might be the spark that lights the powder keg. “I never felt strong enough as a musician to tour,” she said. “I think now, more than ever, it’s time for all of us.” Elms has two dates in Texas next month: Aug. 15 at Dan’s Silverleaf in Denton and Aug. 16 at The Blackheart in Austin. But first, the band will play at The Society’s anniversary party Aug. 11. After they return from Texas, Elms will play an album release show Sept. 20 at a soon-to-be-announced location.

A N N A LE E

LIFE MUSIC

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LIFE MUSIC REVIEWS Broncho

Song: “Class Historian” | Available now | bronchoband.com

Broncho has never been hurting in the hook department. The success of the trio’s 2011 debut, Can’t Get Past the Lips, was predicated mostly on its ability to marry melodies with kinetic guitar riffs and anarchic energy. Yet we’ve heard nothing to the degree of pure pop catchiness on display in “Class Historian,” the new single from Broncho’s upcoming sophomore album, Just Enough Hip to Be Woman. The song isn’t a total rewrite, but it tones down the snarl heard still on “It’s On” — another album track that debuted earlier this year on HBO’s Girls — for a widely accessible, unapologetically simple and heartwarming song primed for a national

breakout moment, letting its catchy refrain shine above all else. Addictive hooks come about as easy as breathing for frontman Ryan Lindsey, and “Class Historian” represents an unadulterated acceptance of everything that comes so naturally to him. Those same echoes of The Kinks and Ramones remain, but everything from The Strokes to John Hughes soundtracks come pinned to its underbelly, the “do-dida” choruses ringing with the same resonance of the gratifyingly elementary indie rock of the early ’00s, maybe marking the dawn of a new garage revival with each passing note. — Joshua Boydston

Boare

Song: “playdatshit” | Available now | soundcloud.com/boareing

The world is in the midst of an electronic music renaissance, and you find most of this boon of producers laying claim to the club-friendly, bass-dropping variety, holing up in the the free-flowing world of hip-hop beatmaking or pitching their tent on the out-there, boundary-pushing EDM camp. Even in the middle of this explosion, precious few have found themselves successfully tiptoeing that line in the sand between all three. Burial, Zomby and Bonobo come to mind, but it’s rarified air given the sheer numbers. With just a few songs under his belt, Oklahoma City’s Boare is building

toward that quickly, his latest single, “playdatshit,” standing tall as his most effective outing to date in melding all those realms together. A bare intro quickly erupts into splices of schizoid-synth shivers and bass bellows fused together for a song that is as skin-crawling as it is chest-thumping. It’s a quietly confident, familiar but forwardthinking production recalling Arca’s work on Kanye West’s Yeezus and with FKA Twigs. And if Boare keeps this up, he might hear names like that calling sooner rather than later. — JB

TJ Mayes

Song: “When Love Comes Down” | Available now | facebook.com/tjmayes59

’50s era rock ’n’ roll had been long overdue for a rebirth. Thankfully, the stockpile of capable luminaries has not been in short supply over the past few years. Nick Waterhouse, the Allah-Las and Hanni El Khatib have all proven to be up to the task of faithfully updating that sound, while Tulsa’s own J.D. McPherson is one of the foremost names in that fight with his breakout single “North Side Gal.” Don’t be surprised to see Shawnee-based singer TJ Mayes join those ranks shortly. “When Love Comes Down,” the lead single

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and title track from his upcoming debut, is so authentic it might as well come with a pack of cigarettes and jar of hair grease. It’s a sparse, spooky little jaunt with a saucy standup bass groove and some effective gang vocals sprinkled liberally throughout. The track isn’t a hollow gesture, its pores bleeding an unquestionably genuine love for its source material (Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins), and Mayes’ wholesome voice and the backing bands’ rich musicianship more than serviceably do the trick. — JB

LIFE MUSIC WEDNESDAY, JULY 23

Britney Roe, Remington Park. SINGER/SONGWRITER Chiodos/I Killed the Prom Queen/Capture the Crown, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK Christian Pearson/Gary Johnson, Red Piano Lounge, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO

Attica State, Baker St. Pub & Grill. COVER

Chuck Cannon, The Blue Door. COUNTRY

Ghost Town/Outline in Color/Bring Your Finest, The Conservatory. ROCK

Dirt Road Detours, Sliders. COUNTRY

Grant Wells, Red Piano Lounge, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO Steely Dan , Brady Theater, Tulsa. ROCK

Drive, Louie’s Grill & Bar, Lake Hefner. COVER Evan Michaels Band, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill. COUNTRY

Steve Crossley, Redrock Canyon Grill. ROCK

Helen Kelter Skelter/The Continuums/Junebug Spade, Opolis, Norman. ROCK

The Friends No BS Jam, Friends Restaurant & Club. VARIOUS

Jason Young Band, Thunderbird Casino, Norman. COUNTRY

THURSDAY, JULY 24

Josh Sallee, 51st Street Speakeasy. HIP-HOP

Acoustic Terrace Thursdays, Myriad Botanical Gardens. ACOUSTIC Brent Saulsbury/Will Galbraith/Wayne Duncan, Friends Restaurant & Club. ROCK David Morris, Red Piano Lounge, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO Drive, Redrock Canyon Grill. ROCK Eric Dunkin, O Asian Fusion, Norman. ROCK Erik the Viking, Jazmoz Bourbon Street. FOLK Hayes Carll, The Blue Door. COUNTRY Jabee, The Deli, Norman. HIP-HOP Jeff the Brotherhood/D. Watusi/The Shutdown Shutouts, Opolis, Norman. ROCK

Justin Witte and The Horn Wreckers, Grandad’s Bar. ROCK Luke Wade & No Civilians/Paperscissor, Lower Bricktown Plaza. SINGER/SONGWRITER Matt Blagg, Redrock Canyon Grill. SINGER/SONGWRITER Maurice Johnson, Avanti Bar & Grill. JAZZ

Ravens Three, Full Circle Bookstore. FOLK

The Grown Ups, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewery. ROCK The Living Dead, The Deli, Norman. ROCK The Railers, Wormy Dog Saloon. COUNTRY

Randy Cassimus, Bricktown Brewery. ACOUSTIC

SATURDAY, JULY 26

Ali Harter/John Calvin, Blue Note Lounge. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

There’s not a more appropriate hometown for an artist than The Woodlands, Texas, for Hayes Carll. The 35-year-old singersongwriter’s music is steeped heavily in blues and Americana, yet there’s a certain mystique to his sound that makes it seem like it came from deep within the thickets of the Lone Star State. See Carll 8 p.m. Thursday at the always intimate Blue Door, 2805 N. McKinley Ave. Tickets are $30-$35. Call 524-0738 or visit bluedoorokc.com.

pick

The Clique, Friends Restaurant & Club. VARIOUS

Von Strummer, Bricktown Brewery. VARIOUS

Aaron Newman Band, Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse. ROCK

OKG

Scott Shelby Band, Vintage 89, Guthrie. COUNTRY

Machine Head/Anti-Mortem/Horse Called War/Myora, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK

FRIDAY, JULY 25

Thursday

music

Rick Toop and Friends, Nonna’s Purple Bar. VARIOUS

Venomous Maximus/Idre/BitchWizard, The Conservatory. ROCK

The Dave Thomason Band, Grady’s 66 Pub, Yukon. COVER

Hayes Carll

Miss Brown To You, The Paramount OKC. VARIOUS

Listener/68/Homeless Gospel Choir, IAO Art Gallery. ROCK

Scott Shelby, Wormy Dog Saloon. COUNTRY

P ROVI DED

LIVE MUSIC

Grant Stevens, Red Piano Lounge, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO Grassland Caravan, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. BLUEGRASS Larry Mitchell Band, Jazmo’z Bourbon Street Café. ROCK Life of the Party, Russell’s, Tower Hotel. COVER Lower 40, Moonshiners Music House. ROCK

Aaron Newman Band, Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse. ROCK

Mark Vollertsen, Colcord Hotel. PIANO

Amarillo Junction, Riverwind Casino, Norman. ACOUSTIC

McKenna Pena, Vintage 89, Guthrie. JAZZ

Astral Planes/Western Residents, The Conservatory. ROCK

Mike Ryan, Wormy Dog Saloon. SINGER/SONGWRITER Mountain Smoke, Redrock Canyon Grill. COUNTRY

Attica State, Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown. COVER

North Meets South, Bricktown Brewery. ACOUSTIC

Banana Seat, Tapwerks Ale House & Cafe. COVER Britney Roe, Remington Park. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Pinkish Black/We the Undead/Cobrajab/The Tower, The Conservatory. ROCK

Amarillo Junction, Riverwind Casino, Norman. ACOUSTIC

Dirt Road Detours, Sliders. COUNTRY

Red Dirt Rangers, The Blue Door. COUNTRY

Annie Oakley, The Paramount OKC. COUNTRY

Don and Melodee Johnson, Twelve Oaks, Edmond. JAZZ

Avenue, Tapwerks Ale House & Cafe. COVER

Drive/Charles Scott Duo, Newcastle Casino, Newcastle. ROCK

Rick Jawnsun, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill. COUNTRY

Bandromeda, Russell’s, Tower Hotel. ROCK Brea/Fictional Maladies/REAL, Blue Note Lounge. ROCK

Erik the Viking/Yesterday’s Wine, Grandad’s Bar. ACOUSTIC Flat Land Band, Nonna’s Purple Bar. ACOUSTIC PROVIDED

Bad Sports/Radioactivity/Lotta Tuff, VZD’s Restaurant & Club. ROCK

The Salsa Shakers, Myriad Botanical Gardens. LATIN

MONDAY, JULY 28 The Handsome Devils/Alan Orebaugh, The Deli, Norman. VARIOUS

TUESDAY, JULY 29 Amanda Cross Band, Blue Note Lounge. SINGER/ SONGWRITER Grant Stevens, Red Piano Lounge, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO Mitch Casen, Friends Restaurant & Club. COUNTRY

Robert Banks/Deep Water, Urban Roots. R&B

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30

Stars, Baker St. Pub & Grill. ROCK

100 Bones, Baker St. Pub & Grill. ROCK

Stranded at the Station, Full Circle Bookstore. ACOUSTIC

All Star Jam, The Deli, Norman. VARIOUS

The Clique, Friends Restaurant & Club. VARIOUS

American Idol Live, Brady Theater, Tulsa. VARIOUS

The Mighty Orq, VZD’s Restaurant & Club. BLUES

David Morris, Red Piano Lounge, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO

Three Dog Night, Frontier City. ROCK We Were Wolves, HiLo Club. ROCK Yonatan Gat/New Fumes, Opolis, Norman. ROCK

SUNDAY, JULY 27 David Morris, Colcord Hotel. PIANO Edgar Cruz, Red Piano Lounge, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. ACOUSTIC Justin Young, Uptown Grocery Co., Edmond. JAZZ

Bad Sports, VZD’s Restaurant & Club, Friday, July 25

Bear, Blue Note Lounge. ROCK

Larry Mitchell Trio, Lions Park, Norman. ROCK Mike Hosty, The Deli, Norman. BLUES The Joy Kills/Since We’re All Here/Little Kicks/Little

Mark Vollertsen, Redrock Canyon Grill. ACOUSTIC Nick Waterhouse/The Wurly Birds, Opolis, Norman. SINGER/SONGWRITER The Friends No BS Jam, Friends Restaurant & Club. VARIOUS

Submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. 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.

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Critical thinking

Life Itself

Life Itself is an intensely moving portrait of Roger Ebert, the world’s most well-known film critic. BY PHIL BACHARACH

Life Itself 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 5:30 p.m. & 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday Oklahoma City Museum of Art 415 Couch Drive okcmoa.com 236-3100 $7-$9

When I was 12 years old, nothing fueled my inner movie geek more than Sneak Previews. The weekly television series on PBS featured a pair of rival film critics — fat, bespectacled Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times and thin, balding Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune — reviewing and often arguing about films. I was mesmerized by their passion, their knowledge and that they cared as much about The Bad News Bears Go to Japan as I did. To me, their celebrity was only slightly below that of Nolan Ryan or the members of KISS. I resolved to talk to them. Siskel was unlisted, but Ebert’s phone number was still in the Chicago phonebook at that time. I wish I could say that in our subsequent conversation he dispensed earth-shattering advice. He didn’t. All I know for certain is that Ebert was patient and polite. I vaguely

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recall telling him I’d been disappointed by Paradise Alley, a Sylvester Stallone picture about pro wrestling. Ebert had a profound influence on me, as he did for anyone who cherished movies. I made weekly pilgrimages to Taylor’s News Stand and Book Store in downtown Oklahoma City to buy the Sun-Times for Ebert’s reviews. By then, he had won the Pulitzer and was the first film critic to earn that distinction. His writing stoked my own love for cinema, and it fanned my desire to become a writer. Movie reviewers don’t typically become rock stars (alas), but Ebert and Siskel certainly did. Their impact on the entertainment industry was enormous. After Siskel died in 1999 in the wake of brain surgery, Ebert soldiered on until thyroid and salivary gland cancers robbed him of his lower jaw, his ability to eat or drink and his voice. But he would not be silenced. Appreciating the potential of social media, Ebert became a prolific and expert blogger. His writing deepened and grew more personal, covering everything from Steak ’n Shake to politics and religion until his death in 2013. His was a wonderful life, as Frank Capra might have put it, and one that is beautifully recounted in Life Itself, an

intensely moving documentary based on Ebert’s 2011 memoir. It screens Thursday through Sunday at Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive. Documentary maker Steve James, whose Hoop Dreams was among the great films given a big boost by Siskel and Ebert’s enthusiastic support, offers a rich and textured portrait of the country’s most influential movie critic. Life Itself chronicles its subject from his Illinois childhood to his storied career in print and on TV. There is fitting celebration of Ebert’s smarts, generosity and tireless work ethic. We hear from the likes of Martin Scorsese and Werner Herzog, filmmakers whose early pictures were championed by Ebert. And movie buffs are sure to get a kick from outtakes in which Siskel and Ebert make it clear that their onscreen animosity was no put-on. The documentary is far from hagiography. Ebert was flawed. Life Itself shows he could be self-centered and arrogant, petty and resentful. He was a bit of a lech, which explains his unlikely excursion into screenwriting Beyond the Valley of the Dolls for sexploitation filmmaker Russ Meyer. He was an alcoholic who finally quit in 1979.

The tools at James’ disposal are fairly routine — talking-head interviews, archival videos and still photos, movie clips with excerpts of Ebert’s plainspoken newspaper reviews — with one notable difference: Ebert and his wife Chaz provided full access to James in the five months before Ebert’s death. Such intimacy can be discomforting. The camera’s unflinching gaze shows that Ebert’s artificial chin is essentially a flap; behind his open mouth, shaped into an almost cartoonish smile, is nothing. But Ebert, an old-school newspaperman, wanted no punches pulled. When James captures hospital staff suctioning out Ebert’s trachea, an excruciating ordeal, the patient later sends a congratulatory email to James on filming the procedure. That isn’t surprising. Ebert was a guy who embraced life, all of it, pains and joys alike. He loved to learn. He loved experience. He loved stories. In a clip early in the film, Ebert likens movies to machines that “generate empathy.” Life Itself proves that proposition, bringing us closer to understand and admire a man who was worth understanding and admiring.

KEVIN HORA N

LIFE FILM

Meowie wowie

The cats of the Internet invade Myriad Botanical Gardens for the sole purpose of making you laugh.

7 p.m. Saturday Myriad Botanical Gardens 301 W. Reno Ave. myriadgardens.org 445-7080 Free

The kittens are coming straight out of the Internet. We all know the Internet is fueled primarily by funny cat videos. Come Saturday, the best and the brightest of the Internet cats will descend on Oklahoma City. Myriad Botanical Gardens is an official stop on the 26-date tour of the Walker Art Center’s (Minneapolis, Wisconsin) runaway hit, the Internet Cat Video Festival. Watch as grown humans dress up and LOL their way through an evening of food, felines and fun. You know you’ve spent countless hours on Facebook poring over funny cat videos. You probably do it on company time (we won’t tell), but it’s usually something you do in private, right? Either you get it or you don’t. Why not join hundreds of people who do and watch them all together? Walker Art Center in Minneapolis asked the same question and held a festival devoted to the best the Internet had to offer. The program compiled a curated, juried selection and crammed it into one video and the first Internet Cat Video Festival was born. The fest is now crisscrossing the country on an official tour. “With the Walker Center, they were kind of amazed at the number of people who showed up,” said Christine Eddington, Myriad Gardens’ marketing and communications director. When the opportunity came to

Life Itself Thursday, 7:30

Friday & Saturday, 5:30 & 8 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m.

BY DEVON GREEN

Internet Cat Video Festival

P ROVI DE D

A woman dressed up as Grumpy Cat.

The response has been enormous. — Christine Eddington For movie descriptions and ticket sales visit okcmoa.com

host the festival, the entire staff was immediately onboard, and of course, they chose a “Caturday.” There will be food trucks, including Kona Ice, The Hall’s Pizza Kitchen and Roxy’s Ice Cream Social. Coop Ale Works will also be there to help you wash down all the laughs. Arts Council of Oklahoma City is providing a live band before the show. There will be face painting and potted catnip, as well as official festival merchandise, available for sale. “We are hosting a cat picture contest on our Facebook, and the response has been enormous,” Eddington said. “The winning feline will have their picture on the big screen before the show.” There will also be several animal rescue groups, including The Bella Foundation and Central Oklahoma Humane Society, in attendance. They will not be hosting pet adoptions at the event, but they will be distributing information on how to get your own possible internationally famous feline. Please do keep in mind that while you might enjoy socializing with people who also love furry felines, this might be terribly stressful on an actual cat. The festival asks that you leave your furball at home. You can tell him or her all about the fun you had. That possibly the most aloof of our domesticated animals can create such camaraderie is for greater minds than us. We just know we want cat videos and we want them ... meow.

O K L A H O M A G A Z E T T E | J U LY 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 | 6 3

TASTIEST DINER

LIFE FILM

Sex Tape

Just South of 4th Street on I-35 in Moore Movie Line:

( 405 ) 703-3777 • WarrenTheatres.com

Impotent comedy Even by summer-comedy standards, Sex Tape is a remarkably underwhelming affair. BY ZACH HALE

How much do you really know about The Cloud? You know, that mysterious place — utilized by services such as Dropbox, iCloud, etc. — where we store digital data in order to access it across multiple devices. For Annie (Cameron Diaz, The Other Woman) and Jay (Jason Segel, The Five-Year Engagement), the kinky couple at the center of raunchy new comedy Sex Tape, the answer is not much. And like its protagonists, the movie is more awkward and hollow than it is stimulating. Annie and Jay are married parents of two, frustrated with their waning sexual relationship since having children. While the kids are away one evening, they decide to record themselves in the act as a way of spicing up their sex lives. The video — filmed on their iPad — is uploaded to the enigmatic Cloud and, thus, all of their devices, unbeknownst to them at the time. This is especially problematic for the couple because Jay sells iPads as part of his job as a DJ, and everyone from their best friends to their mailman has a copy of the video on their device. In a panic, Annie and Jay embark on a mission to obtain all of the iPads and erase the each copy of the sex tape before anyone can see it. Unfortunately, it’s a conflict that would have been more effective if Annie and Jay were sympathetic in any way. But the performances from Diaz and Segel just aren’t that engaging, nor do they have any onscreen chemistry to speak of. And by the film’s tiresome climax, one couldn’t be blamed for simply not caring what happens in the end. There’s another problem: The premise of the film is based on the idea

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Like its protagonists, the movie is more awkward and hollow than it is stimulating.

that when a video is recorded on your mobile device (in this case, an iPad), it is automatically uploaded to The Cloud and available across all of your iPads, iPhones and Mac computers. While this premise is inherently false (Apple’s current technology allows photos to be shared automatically across all your devices via My Photo Stream, but not video), Sex Tape is able to skirt this notion because most people simply don’t know it to be true. But either way, the laughs here are too inconsistent and the story too scattershot for it to matter all that much. There are some genuinely funny moments, however. Rob Lowe (TV’s Parks and Recreation) is typically affable as a hard-partying businessman and proprietor of one of the iPads, and several of the script’s gags are reasonably clever. But the execution of many of its best bits end up falling flat, and the film’s reliance on awkward humor befuddles more than it indulges. Ultimately, its shortcomings and general lack of conviction are tantamount to a 90-minute headscratcher. And in a summer severely lacking in the comedy department, Sex Tape manages to underwhelm despite its unique premise.

P HOTO P ROVI DE D

THE

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY Homework: Make up a secret identity for yourself. What is it? How do you use it? Testify at Truthrooster@ gmail.com.

ARIES March 21-April 19 A report in the prestigious British medical journal BMJ says that almost one percent of young pregnant women in the U.S. claim to be virgins. They testify that they have conceived a fetus without the benefit of sex. That’s impossible, right? Technically, yes. But if there could ever be a loophole in natural law, it would happen for you Aries sometime in the coming weeks. You will be so exceptionally fertile, so prone to hatching new life, that almost anything could incite germination. A vivid dream or captivating idea or thrilling adventure or exotic encounter might be enough to do the trick. TAURUS April 20-May 20 As you weave your way through the next chapter of your story, I suggest you take inspiration from the turtle. You may even want to imagine that the turtle is your animal ally, a guide that helps you access the gradual and deliberate kind of intelligence you will need. Moving quickly will not be appropriate for the leisurely lessons that are coming your way. The point is to be deep and thorough about a few things rather than halfknowledgeable about a lot of things. There’s one other turtle-like quality I hope you will cultivate, too: the ability to feel at home wherever you are. GEMINI May 21-June 20 America’s biggest winery is E & J Gallo. It sells more wine than any other company, and has been named the planet’s “Most Powerful Wine Brand” four different years. Ernest and Julio Gallo launched the enterprise in 1933 after studying the art of winemaking in pamphlets they found in the basement of a public library in Modesto, California. I foresee a less spectacular but metaphorically similar arc for you, Gemini. Sometime soon -- maybe it has already happened -- information or inspiration you come across in a modest setting will launch you on the path to future success. There is one caveat: You must take seriously the spark you encounter, and not

underestimate it because it appears in humble circumstances. CANCER June 21-July 22 Diamonds are not rare. They are so numerous that if they were evenly distributed, you and me and everyone else on the planet could each have a cupful of them. And if you are ever in your lifetime going to get your personal cupful, it may happen in the next 11 months. That’s because your hard work and special talent are more likely than usual to be rewarded with tangible assets. Strokes of luck will tend to manifest in the form of money and treasure and valuable things you can really use. Be alert for the clues, Cancerian. One may appear momentarily. LEO July 23-Aug. 22 According to the legends about Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table, the boy who would ultimately become King Arthur didn’t know he was heir to the throne while he was growing up. His future destiny was hidden from him. The wizard Merlin trained him but made sure he never found out he was special. When the old King Uther Pendragon died, a tournament was staged to find a replacement. The winner would be whoever was able to withdraw the enchanted sword that was embedded in a large stone. Quite by accident, our hero got a chance to make an attempt. Success! I have reminded you of the broad outlines of this tale, Leo, because at least one of its elements resembles your destiny in the next 11 months. VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept. 22 When a crocodile slams its jaws shut, the energy it summons is powerful. But when the beast opens its jaws, the force it exerts is weak. That’s because the muscles used to close are much more robust than the muscles used to open. I’m wondering if an analogous story might be told about you these days, Virgo. Are you more prone to close down than to open up? Is it easier for you to resist, avoid, and say no than it is to be receptive, extend a welcome, and say yes? If so, please consider cultivating a better balance. You need both capacities running at full strength in the coming days.

LIBRA Sept. 23-Oct. 22 In the latter part of the 18th century, American rebels and rabble-rousers used to gather regularly in the basement of the Green Dragon Tavern in Boston. There they plotted the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere’s ride, and other dissident adventures that opposed British Rule. That’s why the Green Dragon became known as the “Headquarters of the Revolution.” I think you and your cohorts need a place like that, Libra. It’s high time for you to scheme and dream about taking coordinated actions that will spur teamwork and foster liberation. SCORPIO Oct. 23-Nov. 21 “When one has not had a good father, one must create one,” said philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. What does that mean? How might you go about “creating” a good father? Well, you could develop a relationship with an admirable older man who is an inspiring role model. You could read books by men whose work stirs you to actualize your own potentials. If you have a vigorous inner life, you could build a fantasy dad in your imagination. Here’s another possibility: Cultivate in yourself the qualities you think a good father should have. And even if you actually had a pretty decent father, Scorpio, I’m sure he wasn’t perfect. So it still might be interesting to try out some of these ideas. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to get more of the fathering energy you would thrive on. SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec. 21 “If I seem free, it’s because I’m always running.” So said Sagittarian musician Jimi Hendrix, widely regarded as one of the most inventive and electrifying guitarists who ever lived. Does that prospect have any appeal to you, Sagittarius? I don’t, of course, recommend that you keep running for the rest of your long life. After a while, it will be wise to rest and ruminate. But I do think it might be illuminating to try this brazen approach for a week or two. If it feels right, you might also want to mix in some dancing and skipping and leaping with your running. CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19 In the next 11 months, Capricorn, you will be given some choice riddles about the art of togetherness.

To solve them, you will have to learn much more about the arts of intimacy -- or else! It’s up to you: Either work your ass off as you strengthen your important relationships, or else risk watching them unravel. But don’t take this as a grim, sobering assignment. On the contrary! Play hard. Experiment freely. Be open to unexpected inspiration. Have fun deepening your emotional intelligence. That approach will work best. AQUARIUS Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Hypothesis: The exciting qualities that attract you to someone in the first place will probably drive you a bit crazy if you go on to develop a longterm relationship. That doesn’t mean you should avoid seeking connections with intriguing people who captivate your imagination. It does suggest you should have no illusions about what you are getting yourself into. It also implies that you should cultivate a sense of humor about how the experiences that rouse your passion often bring you the best tests and trials. And why am I discussing these eccentric truths with you right now? Because I suspect you will be living proof of them in the months to come. PISCES Feb. 19-March 20 In 1961, Paul Cezanne’s painting *The Artist’s Sister* was on display at a museum in Aix-en-Provence, France. Then a lucky event occurred: It was stolen. When it was finally recovered months later, it had been ripped out of its frame. An art restorer who was commissioned to repair it discovered that there was a previously-unknown Cezanne painting on the back of the canvas. As a result, the appraisal of the original piece rose $75,000. Now both sides are on view at the St. Louis City Art Museum. I foresee a comparable progression in your life, Pisces. An apparent setback will ultimately increase your value. 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.

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Crane Cartage is looking for Owner-Operators for the Oklahoma area. Recruiting for one ton flatbeds with 32’ to 40’ goosenecks to handle hot shot and expedited oil field deliveries. Owners Must Have: • Valid CDL • A verifiable clean driving record and good work history • No more than three moving violations in three years • Must be 21 years or older Owner Operators Must Be Able To: • Speak and read English well enough to do his or her job and respond to official questions • Determine whether the vehicle is safely loaded Call 405.568.4056

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