City crowned

CITY CROWNED

The Thunder’s championship wasn’t just about basketball. It was a defining civic moment that reframed Oklahoma City’s identity.

By Greg Horton, p.4

RUNOFF BALLOT

INSIDE

P. 4 Oklahoma City’s first NBA championship was a jubilant, defining moment that showcased the Thunder’s core values, elevated the city’s national profile and delivered a perfect mix of pride, perspective and one gloriously profane celebration. By Greg

Horton Cover by Kimberly Walker

4 COVER OKC Thunder wins NBA championship

6 CITY GO bond/MAPS 4

7 O K IMPACT Luisa McCune Animal Welfare Center

8 C HICKEN-FRIED NEWS

9 COMMENTARY reflection on T hunder win

11 FEATURE Picasso Cafe

13 REVIEW Kanji Japanese

14 GAZEDIBLES pet-friendly

& CULTURE

17 B EST OF OKC Runoff Ballot

21 PET GAZETTE The Greatest A merican Dog Den

22 P ET GAZETTE Mutt Misfits

24 THEATER Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Jewel Box Theatre

26 COMEDY Joe Pera at Tower Theatre

27 BOOKS The Prodigy by Dee A. Replogle, Jr.

28 FILM summer streaming 29 CALENDAR

31 FEATURE Santiago Ramones at Resonant Head

32 FEATURE powdr at Chateau Casa 33 LIVE MUSIC

34 PUZZLES sudoku | crossword

35 A STROLOGY CORRECTION:

In the story “Inevitable change” that appeared in the June 2025 issue, the order of the Oklahoma City Thunder players leaving the team was incorrect. The sentence should read, “through player departures, beginning with Kevin Durant, and then Russell Westbrook and finally James Harden.”

And this quote, “Best way I can put it: We have overcome diversity many times in this city, and we’ll do it again,” should have read, “We have overcome adversity...”

Thunder rolls

While winning the NBA Championship has shined a light on the city, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s enduring tenacity and values will continue to shine on their own.

By Greg Horton

When we finally document the story of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship season — after we’ve had time to reflect, dissect, critique, appreciate — it’s possible that the defining result is Mayor David Holt becoming a meme based on his head-in-hands response to Jaylin “J-Will” Williams’ perfectly timed F-bomb at Scissortail Park. No, it wasn’t family friendly, but the NBA, as much as it would like to portray that image, isn’t really family friendly. One of the wonders of the Thunder is how fan-friendly the team is, but no team is truly family friendly, unless the family in question uses profanity around the house like salt and pepper in the kitchen.

It was the moment when all the joy, excitement, decompression and celebration coalesced into one spontaneous, gloriously profane, and perfectly suc-

cinct summary of the day: “We’re the f–ing champs!” The team exploded with laughter, and Mayor Holt, per his own conversation with Oklahoma Gazette, said, “It was a fun moment, likely the defining sentence of the day, but as the mayor, and knowing it’s a family event, I had to have a little dad energy.”

Holt has seen the memes — J-Will posted one the same night — but he’s also seen the Thunder in The Economist, one of the most iconic publications in the world, in the wake of its improbable season.

“Oklahoma City is now part of a much different conversation,” Holt said. “Having a professional sports team changes the conversation about a city, but winning a championship immortalizes the team and city. We have journalists from all over the world talking about the Thunder and Oklahoma City.”

Given that no one besides indigenous people are “from Oklahoma,” it’s fair to say that in this, too, the team reflects the state. We were a cobbled-together people in a place most Americans didn’t think of as desirable. Free land brought them here, a place in the middle of everything and known for not much.

Core values

In the build-up to the NBA Finals, when it was becoming apparent that two “small market” teams would be the representatives of the Eastern and Western Conferences, national media went out of their way to wring their hands and lament the necessity of coming to one of these cities that isn’t New York, Chicago, Miami or Los Angeles. It was commentary reminiscent of Old Testament prophets spritzing themselves with dust and ash, as if these media professionals wouldn’t actually be staying in beautiful hotels and eating in restaurants that are now competitive with any city in America.

They’re talking about us in ways they haven’t before, and while it’s refreshing at one level, Thunder General Manager Sam Presti, speaking at his post-season wrap-up June 30, said what many of us have been saying and thinking since at least MAPS II: “I don’t agree … that this is an underdog state in any way. I think the thing to note here, in my opinion, is that there is really nothing missing in Oklahoma. There is nothing missing here, and we didn’t need a trophy to validate anything whatsoever.”

Presti had emphasized the team’s “cowboy toughness,” self-reliance and what he called “essential sense of goodness” and then noted that these are the features of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City and were before there was a team. Per Presti, the team is a reflection of the state’s core values and way of being.

“If you look closely at all of the things that make this place unique and special … the things that really matter, we’re not short on any of those things,” Presti said. “In fact, we’re long on all of them. I just want to make sure that although we won and we were the last team standing, we didn’t really need that for other people to recognize all the great things it means to be from here or to live here.”

That last bit is very important, because the Thunder aren’t “from here,” neither the team itself, nor, atomistically speaking, the players themselves.

When it was done, when the Thunder hoisted the trophies and the crowd was finally able to breathe, and when Presti’s choices to build a team reminiscent of who we are and to trust a young coach to guide the process were vindicated, we had a parade. Some official estimates say 500,000 people packed the parade route, Bicentennial Park and Scissortail Park. The special events team of the Oklahoma City Police Department will have official numbers at some point, but Mayor Holt said the initial estimates are reliable.

“It may have been the greatest day in the city’s history,” Holt said. “We’ve had big days before — the discovery of oil and gas, the launch of Tinker Air Force Base, the acquisition of a professional franchise — many great days, but we never had a parade for one of them until now. We hope to do it again, obviously, but there is nothing like the first time.”

Presti notes that the odds of doing it again next year are “stacked against us.”

“Sixty percent of the 10 previous champions have failed to get past the second round, and only one has repeated,” he noted.

In fact, the Thunder were the seventh different champion in the past seven years. In addition to the parity and money in the NBA, there are also the “silent forces” that Presti has spent a decade talking about: hubris, fatigue, distractions, complacency and the day to day of being a multimillionaire, world-famous athlete, including contract negotiations, tempting offers from elsewhere, family issues and even social media.

“Those silent forces knock a hell of a lot harder when you’ve had success,” Presti said. “We have been very, very fortunate, and that the role of chance and luck throughout the year at differ-

The Oklahoma City Thunder parade route included the Oklahoma City Memorial. | Photo Jimmy Do

ent times favored us. In past seasons, at different times, those things didn’t favor us. … Right now, what we need to do is be very present and be very grateful — grateful for our players, grateful for their families, grateful for wonderful ownership, a committed staff and a community that inspires us like a propulsive force.”

Presti and the Thunder organization have already started shoring up the team for next year. League, Conference Finals and Finals MVP Shai GilgeousAlexander has already agreed to a fouryear, $285 million contract extension on July 1, making his the richest annual salary in professional sports history. That extension begins in the 2027-28 season. Jaylin Williams signed a threeyear, $24 million contract on June 29, so Presti is well on his way to solidifying

team was built, the core values that the players and coaches embody.

“I read recently that there are 500,000 kids in Oklahoma between the ages of 8 and 15,” he said. “That’s the age when you’re really a sponge. What a great thing for kids to be consuming, not the trophy, but the way the trophy was earned.”

And for the city itself, Mayor Holt likes to remind all of us, including those who aren’t sports fans, that “people who consider moving their business here, opening a restaurant here, moving their kids here, this changes their perspective. It’s a prism through which we view the city.”

And that prismatic view includes the reality that, per J-Will, “We’re the f–ing champs!”

Visit nba.com/thunder.

NEWS Construction zones

By Emily Graham STATE

With several MAPS 4 projects under construction, the city’s preparing a bond package to help maintain streets, bridges and more.

As the city of Oklahoma City moves the needle on many of the $1.1 billion in MAPS 4 projects this summer, it’s also preparing a $2.7 billion bond package for infrastructure maintenance, expected to be on a special election ballot this fall.

There are some similarities between the two. Both MAPS 4 and the general obligation (GO) bond include city infrastructure projects, but MAPS 4 also invests in projects that create jobs or provide social services or improve quality of life.

velopment and libraries.

To put together the bond package, the city asked residents to submit suggestions for infrastructure improvements and weigh in on their top priorities.

Residents submitted 6,030 ideas. The city also reviewed projects citizens had previously called in to request or that work crews saw around the city, then selected the most high-priority projects that could be completed with the bond.

“With 621 square miles, we have a lot of infrastructure that we’re responsible for maintaining,” said Public Works Director Debbie Miller in a June presentation to the city council.

“The baseball arena’s changed downtown, and Palomar changes people’s lives. The Diversion Hub changes people’s lives,” Oklahoma City Public Information Officer Kristy Yager said of MAPS projects. “The 2025 bond is more meat and potatoes. It’s taking care of our infrastructure.”

What happens next with both? On July 15, the city council will vote on final approval of the GO bond proposal. If approved, city residents will be able to vote on the 11 types of projects in an Oct. 14 special election.

Also this month, the MAPS 4 pedestrian and bicycle bridge over the Oklahoma River at Interstate 40 and Eastern Avenue will open, linking the south shore bike trail with the Greenway River Trail on the north side of the river.

No matter how closely you follow city projects, when projects number in the hundreds and costs add up in the billions, it’s a lot to keep up with. Keep reading to get up to speed on both of these major programs.

GO bond

In addition to the projects mentioned above, the GO bond includes funding for police and fire facilities, public transit, economic and community de-

It’s likely that the city council will approve the final GO bond proposal in its July 15 vote. After that, the city will launch a new page at vision.okc.gov where people can view the selected projects before the fall election. Residents will also be able to learn more in wardbased information meetings.

MAPS 4 update

On the MAPS 4 side, the city council approved the master plan for beautification in May, and in June, officials celebrated the completion of the first fully completed project: a new coliseum at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

The GO bond is the successor of the Better Streets, Safer City bond package voters approved in 2017. By funding these infrastructure projects through bonds, the city is able to complete them without raising property taxes.

Half of the bond — $1.35 million — is earmarked for 382 projects for city streets, including resurfacing and widening of streets, sidewalks and other street enhancements. Other critical infrastructure will be improved, including drainage projects in areas that often flood, bridge maintenance and updates to city buildings.

According to Miller, the project list includes:

–more than 150 miles of sidewalks, with the focus on access to schools, parks and commercial areas –maintenance of 25 bridges –44 drainage projects to alleviate areas of frequent flooding –four facilities for municipal courts, family justice and police, including a new police lab and parking that can be used by Civic Center Music Hall ticket holders after business hours

–work on 7 Oklahoma City Fire Department buildings, including 4 new stations and completion of the Public Safety Training Center –maintenance and renovation of 17 city buildings –3 transit projects, including a bus fleet operations center

City officials and community leaders joined for a celebratory ribbon cutting for OG&E Coliseum on June 12. The coliseum replaces the more than 60-year-old Jim Norick Arena; demolition begins in August.

Like the old arena, the coliseum will be home to the state basketball championships, concerts and horse shows, but the updated facilities should also help maintain the city’s bragging rights as the horse show capital of the world as well as help maintain long-term event partners.

“It represents our busiest venue and largest economic driver,” Mayor David Holt said at the ceremony. “This is busy 52 weeks a year. It’s virtually all visitors.”

In the Innovation District, phase 1 of a project to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety will wrap up in September, according to MAPS Program Manager David Todd. It includes traffic monitoring and pedestrian signals, improvements to make sidewalks compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and a protected bike lane. In addition, a new facility for the Henrietta B. Foster Center is in design and will be completed in 2027. The new center will focus on minority small business ownership and entrepreneurship.

Diversion Hub, set to open in spring 2026. Diversion Hub serves families impacted by the criminal justice system and works to reduce recidivism among inmates. The new building will more than triple the size of space and serve as the permanent home of the hub and provide space for partner agencies.

In January 2027, work on the Louisa McCune Animal Welfare Center should be complete.

The MAPS 4 Family Justice Center to be operated by Palomar will wrap up in spring 2027. The Family Justice Center will allow the expansion of Palomar’s services to those affected by domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, elder abuse and stalking.

Work on MAPS 4’s 95 projects is funded by a penny sales tax that ends in 2028, but implementation will continue

into 2032, Todd told Oklahoma Gazette.

“When these projects are built, they’re paid for,” Todd said. “We’re always concerned about inflation and what that’s doing, but we continue to design to budget and provide good projects.”

Several other projects have moved into the design phase, including:

–a multipurpose stadium

–Clara Luper Civil Rights Center

And this fall, the first phase of affordable housing for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness will open, providing 37 housing units near NW 122nd Street and Dorset Drive. Another 33 units will be built in phase 2 of the Dorset Place project.

The city has broken ground on

–Mental Health Crisis Center and Mental Health Restoration Center

–parks projects

– one of four youth centers

For more information on the projects, visit okc.gov/maps4.

MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board Chair Teresa Rose and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt front row 6th and 7th from left cut the ribbon at the OG&E Coliseum on June 11. They’re joined by MAPS Citizens Advisory Board members, city officials and community leaders. | Photo provided

MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board Chair Teresa Rose and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, Palomar Founder Kim Garrett-Funk, a former Palomar client, Palomar Board Chair Tricia Everest and Oklahoma Representative Jason Lowe broke ground on the Palomar project in May. | Photo provided

Speakers at the Diversion Hub groundbreaking in October included from left founder and Chairperson Sue Ann Arnall and Executive Director Meagan Taylor. The new home will triple the Diversion Hub’s space in Oklahoma City. | Photo provided

OKLAHOMA IMPACT

Humane horizon

Oklahoma City sets a new standard for animal care with the Louisa McCune Animal Welfare Shelter.

By Julie Porter Scott

It’s a good time to be alive in Oklahoma City. We can now add “NBA champions” to our collective resumé, and national attention is abundant. Where there was once a windswept prairie, there is now Chisholm Creek. Faded First National Center has metamorphosed into The National, while the newly renovated Skirvin is home to Chef Andrew Black. We have OKANA, for goodness’ sake, not to mention the neighboring First Americans Museum, just a hop and a skip from Oklahoma Contemporary. We have the Wheeler District, and we have Scissortail Park.

So yes, it’s a great time to be in Oklahoma City — if you’re human.

But for animals, life in Oklahoma City can still be incredibly tough, and their reality hasn’t improved nearly as rapidly as the city has.

An August 2024 article in The Oklahoman by Jessie Christopher Smith documented the challenges faced by the current animal shelter, which has been stretched dangerously thin by chronic overcrowding. The shelter routinely operates above capacity, and even healthy animals are sometimes euthanized due to a lack of space. The staff of more than 60 people face this harsh reality daily, and it takes a toll. To alleviate the pressure, the shelter has implemented a managed intake strategy, effectively pausing animal intakes once a daily limit is met. It’s not a good

situation for the animals or the staff — it’s unsustainable, and it’s not reflective of where we are as a city.

But like so much else in Oklahoma City, that’s changing.

A special election on Dec. 10, 2019, gave us MAPS 4, an ambitious, debt-free public improvement program that has already reshaped life in Oklahoma City. RAPID bus transit is off to an incredible start, whizzing past enhanced bus stops, sidewalks and bike lanes, with more routes to come. The May issue of this paper highlighted the success of Diversion Hub, which received $18.9 million from MAPS 4 to reduce incarceration and recidivism. But the warmest and fuzziest MAPS 4 initiative is the $42 million, world-class Animal Welfare Center, a transformative project that will dramatically improve how Oklahoma City cares for animals in need.

In February, city leaders broke ground on the 70,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility behind the current shelter on SE 29th Street. Expected to open in 2027, the new center will more than double the number of dog kennels to nearly 550 and increase the number of cat condos to more than 300.

Beyond being larger and newer, HSEarchitects and Connolly Architects & Consultants designed the shelter to be a kinder, gentler place for animals in need. The facility will have four separate entrances — one each for adoption, intake, training and the clinic — improving building flow, safety and hygiene.

The new center will feature separate cat and dog kennel wings designed to create quieter, less stressful spaces for pets awaiting adoption. Each kennel room will include windows, allowing natural light to improve animal wellbeing. Plans also include outdoor play yards with artificial turf for exercise and socialization, a training room and

meeting spaces for events and educational programs.

The shelter currently accepts small mammals, reptiles, wildlife and farm animals, but the existing facility is illequipped for these species. The new shelter will include a 2,800-square-foot barn and pasture designed specifically to accommodate horses and other farm animals, a significant improvement, particularly for shelter staff, who shoulder a heavy burden under current conditions. The new space prioritizes the mental health of both the animals and the people who care for them.

Louisa’s legacy

None of this would have happened without the advocacy of Louisa McCune, who served as executive director of Kirkpatrick Foundation from 2011 until her passing in 2024. McCune was a tireless champion for animal well-being. Under her leadership, the foundation established two major animal wellbeing initiatives for Oklahoma: making the state “the safest and most humane place to be an animal by 2032” and increasing Oklahoma’s cat and dog “live release” rate to 90 percent by 2025.

She worked relentlessly to ensure animal welfare received MAPS 4 funding, advocating throughout the extensive public input process.

“Louisa was a tireless advocate for animals, working to ensure they had humane living conditions,” Mayor David Holt said. “Her passion for helping both animals and people left a lasting impact on OKC, and it is appropriate to honor that legacy with this naming.”

“Louisa was a champion for everyone, but especially the underdog,” Kirkpatrick Foundation chairman Christian Keesee said. “Kirkpatrick Foundation has long supported animal well-being, dating back to my grandparents, John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick. What a fitting honor that she be remembered through Oklahoma City’s new animal welfare center.”

Animal advocates emphasize that a new shelter alone is not a magic bullet. While increased capacity will ease some of the shelter’s biggest challenges and lead to better care and outcomes, systemic solutions are still needed. As NonDoc reporter Megan Prather pointed out in September 2024, shelter over-

crowding is a community issue. Without widespread spay and neuter efforts, the new shelter could quickly reach or exceed capacity. It’s an education issue and an accessibility issue. Oklahomans must have access to affordable, timely spay and neuter services.

In addition to a new facility, the shelter has new leadership. Ronnie Schlabs, with 17 years of experience in animal welfare, was hired as superintendent following a nationwide search. In a February announcement, City Manager Craig Freeman called Schlabs “experienced, compassionate and committed to protecting the health and safety of people and animals in our community.”

Schlabs emphasized the thoughtfulness behind the shelter’s design.

“The kennels will be larger, which is good for the animals’ emotional and mental health,” he explained. “They’ll be able to move around more and play more. There will be outdoor play yards — a lot of consideration went into how to make sure the animals have the best day possible when they’re in our care.”

Schlabs also has high hopes for expanded community programs to address overpopulation.

“We currently have our spay and neuter program. We’d love to expand that,” he said. “And at our new facility, we’ll have more resources for those programs, as well as an education center.”

Kelley Barnes, executive director of the Kirkpatrick Foundation, echoed this commitment.

“At Kirkpatrick Foundation, we are proud to carry forward our legacy of supporting animal well-being by championing leaders and organizations dedicated to the fair and humane treatment of animals,” Barnes said. “Through education and encouragement, we can empower Oklahomans with the knowledge and tools to better care for animals.”

The work continues. As the new shelter edges closer to becoming reality, McCune’s refrain during the fight to add the shelter to MAPS 4 still resonates: “Where animals fare well, people fare well.”

Visit okc.gov.

Louisa McCune was a tireless advocate for all animals and fought to see that a new shelter would be part of the slate of MAPS 4 projects.

Lousia passed in August 2024, before the groundbreaking in early 2025. | Photo provided

At almost 70,000 square feet, the new Animal Welfare Center will have space for 550 dog kennels and 300 cat condos. The $42M project is funded by MAPS 4. | Photo provided

chicken friedNEWS

Thunder move

The Oklahoma City Thunder just completed a historic season in a building that will soon become history itself. OKC voters approved a new arena to be opened by 2028, meaning Paycom Center, the only home the Thunder has known, has just three years left.

No doubt, the new arena will include more bells and whistles that modern NBA fans expect. There’s also hope that its design will provide some punch to a downtown that hasn’t always been architecturally ambitious. But when you think of the memories just made in Paycom Center, it’s saddening to think that court and those seats will soon be no more.

Paycom Center has a smaller footprint than most modern NBA arenas, and while that can create cramped conditions around the concessions and restrooms, it has likely boosted the decibel level inside the arena bowl.

Then again, Thunder fans have proven their spirit more than enough to believe the next arena will have a stellar home-court advantage.

Progress is a fact of life, but Thunder fans should cherish the next few seasons in the arena that made this all possible.

that’s $170,000, walters! so cough up the dough. you fReeloader!

Taxpayers ain’t footing your bill this time, ryan!

Spare my beard! I’ll pay!

Chicken s***

After a mere two decades, a federal judge has finally confirmed what many residents in Eastern Oklahoma already know: the Illinois River Watershed is still getting a generous, phosphorus-rich “spa treatment” from poultry litter. Federal Judge Gregory K. Frizzell ruled last month that despite the claims of major poultry producers like Tyson Foods, the vibrant green glow of the river means pollution from chicken litter is still a problem.

This latest ruling was part of a 20-year lawsuit the state brought against several poultry producers.

Two years ago, Frizzell ruled in favor of the state and asked the state and poultry companies to come up with an agreement on how to mitigate future pollution. There’s been no agreement yet.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond said he’s confident that an agreement will be reached, resulting in a clean Illinois River Watershed and a vibrant poultry industry.

“Both can, and should, exist,” he declared. So far, that coexistence hasn’t been a reality.

Snow days

The use of virtual school during the pandemic brought an end to snow days, as schools quickly real ized they could close their buildings during in clement weather while still counting it as a school day if students logged on to their laptops at home. That won’t be as much of an option moving forward.

Beginning in 2026, schools will be limited to two virtual learning days a year after ap proval of a new bill by the Okla homa Legislature.

State Rep. Anthony Moore, the bill’s author, claimed that some districts had clocked in a whopping 43 virtual days last year.

“My own children had two virtual days where they had no instructional material!” said Moore, R-Clinton.

Rep. Michelle McCane, D-Tulsa, a former educator, pushed back on that notion, telling Oklahoma Voice she didn’t believe virtual days equated to no instruction.

“Every virtual day I’ve ever been involved in really still required a lot of instruction and support on my part as a teacher,” she said.

Whatever the case, soon, a snow day will once again be a snow day.

Tuition at the University of Oklahoma (OU) is going up. Hey, university president salaries don’t pay

The OU Board of Regents has voted to raise tuition for the fifth consecutive year. It’s practically a tradition now, like tailgating before a Sooners football game. Most undergrads and grad students will see a 3%

OU President Joseph Harroz, who the Board of Regents also gave a $75,000 salary increase and $200,000 bonus, said the average cost for a freshman resident is actually less than it was six years ago. This, he explained, is due to the university generously doling out more need-based aid and scholarships. Yet Harroz said the extra cash through the tuition hike will help recruit faculty (who probably need a raise to afford OU tuition for their own kids), expand study-abroad options and address “critical deferred maintenance projects.” Meanwhile, Gov. Kevin Stitt said his “gut feeling” was that a tuition increase wasn’t necessary, believing universities haven’t squeezed out “all of the efficiency.”

NEWS More than a trophy

By Amy Blackburn

I’ve lived in Oklahoma City the majority of my life. I was born here. I was here for the bombing. I’ve weathered the tornadoes. I’ve lived through the oil busts and the booms. I was raised here, and now I’m raising a family of my own in OKC. That hasn’t always been easy. The weather alone drives many away, and sometimes, overcoming this city’s reputation has felt like an uphill climb.

But over and over again, I’ve witnessed something powerful: the way this city quietly rises to meet hardship. It’s not loud or flashy. It’s neighbors helping neighbors, people showing up for each other, rebuilding what’s broken and offering the type of kindness that doesn’t need an audience. It’s a deep, steady strength that’s earned through hardship, cemented by hope.

Adversity shapes a person. We know this. But what does it do to a city? What does it do to a community of people who refuse to be defined by their darkest day?

For a sleepy, overlooked place like OKC to burst onto the national stage in April 1995 was unthinkable. Yet we did.

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.

Not because of an event we chose, but because of how we responded to it. In the face of unthinkable terror, this city showed the world what grit, grace and resolve truly look like.

And in the painful aftermath, something extraordinary happened. We didn’t just rebuild; we reimagined. Our city leaders, our neighbors, our communities came together with an unshakable belief that we could be more. If Oklahoma City was going to survive, let alone thrive, it would require vision, unity and longterm, relentless intentionality.

That vision was realized in MAPS. Again and again, voters said yes to visionary investments and believed in the long game. We built an arena before we had a team. We planted seeds without knowing exactly what would grow, but we trusted it was worth it.

And then, when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, we opened our arms. We welcomed the displaced Hornets into our city, not just as guests, but as our own. We filled the arena. We

cheered. We showed up. And we sent them back home, a little stronger and maybe a little softer at the same time. In return, we got a team of our own, a team that came to define this new chapter of who we are, one that reflected our values: hard work, humility, resilience and community.

And now, Oklahoma City is an NBA champion.

This isn’t just a sports milestone. This is a civic one. It’s a validation of decades of determination, of thousands of everyday choices to believe in our potential, to invest in something bigger than ourselves.

It’s the spirit of the 168 souls we lost, who deserved to be here for this. It’s the echo of the volunteers who cleared rubble, of the citizens who voted yes, of the dreamers who said, “What if?” long before anyone else believed it could happen.

Let me be clear: No, it wasn’t worth it. I would trade every championship, every accolade for just one more moment with those we lost. I would rewrite April 19, 1995, into a quiet, un-

eventful day if I could.

But I can’t. And since that day, nothing has been normal. Maybe that’s the point.

Maybe we became something different that day, something stronger, more unified, more daring in what we could become.

This championship is more than a gold trophy. It’s the physical embodiment of 30 years of resilience, reinvention and relentless heart. It’s a symbol of what happens when a city dares to believe — not just in basketball, but in itself.

The world sees a championship team. But we know better.

We see the long road here. We see what it cost.

And we know this is only the beginning.

Amy Blackburn works in higher education and lives in northwest Oklahoma City with her husband, Jeff; their daughter, Everly; and three dogs.

Spirit Buffalo Coloring Contest

EAT & DRINK

Paseo personified

Picasso Cafe has long served as the center of The Paseo Arts District, even as the district and city have grown up around it.

By Julie Porter Scott

Paseo is like a mirage. One wrong turn, and you could miss it entirely. Catch it on a dark night, and you might fail to spot the enduring, endearing details of the district’s Spanish Revival architecture. But in a city bisected by I.M. Pei’s harsh lines, Paseo stands apart with its color, culture and timeless architecture. Developed by G.A. Nichols in 1929 as the first shopping district north of downtown, the area enjoyed nearly four decades as a busy retail and restaurant district before becoming the epicenter of hippie counterculture during a period of decline. In the 1970s, Paseo was revitalized by the artists and galleries that began to move in, laying the groundwork for the neighborhood we know and love today.

Paseo is now somehow the perfect blend of all her different personas: once again home to a bustling restaurant scene as well as a compelling selection of local retail, all layered within the network of galleries and studios that kept Paseo alive long enough to become what she is now. Most importantly, Paseo has managed to remain a stomping ground for the hippies, artists, flunkies, skaters, thinkers, wanderers, poets, lovers and dreamers.

The hearth of Paseo is Picasso Cafe. As is so often the case, this restaurant has served as the third place for this community and a safe haven for the folks who call it home. Picasso turns sixteen this December, and you can trace the bar and restaurant’s success along one throughline: authenticity.

As the city has grown by leaps and bounds, so too has the Paseo. Modern construction has gone up all over Paseo, and many new shops, restaurants, bars and other small businesses have taken root in the area. Just as portions of Oklahoma City are unrecognizable, the same can be said of segments of Paseo. Meanwhile, Picasso has remained largely unchanged inside and out, in both look and feel. Rather, it has evolved in other ways, rising up to meet the changing tides and vibes of the neighborhood and its customers. This is thanks in large part to partner and operator Kim Dansereau. She has been a part of the story since Picasso began in 2009, alongside business partner Shaun Fiaccone, who would eventually go on to form Humankind Hospitality, the group behind Frida Southwest, Oso on Paseo, Flamingo Tiki Room, Sauced on Paseo, and The Other Room, which adjoins Picasso.

Oklahoma City’s current hospitality business. They were both ready for their next chapter after stints at Deep Fork, North Fork Grill, Cafe Nova and Bolero Tapas Bar & Spanish Grill. When the restaurant previously located at 3009 Paseo received that dreaded orange sticker — and the revocation of that sales tax license — Dansereau and Fiaccone made their move.

Dansereau’s unique ability to identify a need in the community and then come up with a successful plan to fill that need is baked into Picasso’s DNA. In doing so, it often turns out that the void was wider than anyone had previously realized.

One of the earliest and most enduring examples of this is Picasso’s storied vegetarian program.

“For so long, vegetarian food just wasn’t much of a thing in Oklahoma City,” Dansereau explained. “My best friend was a vegetarian, and she always just had to order a bunch of sides, rather than an entree. But (Chef) Ryan Parrot was at North Fork, and he made a chicken-fried portobello for her. It was an actual entrée. The texture was amazing. That got me thinking about vegetarian entrees, kind of keeping track of the best ones around town. I knew there was a need for that. So we always had something on the menu.

“It was an easy transition for us,” she said. “We were already making a wide array of cocktails with shrubs, which work so well in zero-proof. It was also just the right thing to do for our customers. Everyone should have the option to have a well-made drink that pairs well with food. You shouldn’t be relegated to water because you don’t drink.”

The lively patio is always a fun place to perch, but it’s made even better because Picasso has long allowed customers to bring Fido along for the fun. Beyond being invited, the dogs are also catered to, just like any welcome guest. A full Doggy Dining Menu is available, and complimentary water and treats are always provided.

“A few years after we opened Picasso, the president of the Oklahoma Vegetarian Society called me and suggested a vegetarian dinner, almost like a wine dinner. We started doing a vegetarian five-course tasting menu monthly, and it sold out almost every month. That’s been going monthly for thirteen or fourteen years, and it usually sells out.”

Parrot joined the team in 2013 and continued refining and adding vegetarian items to the menu and creating veggie specials.

As with so many of the folks now running the city’s restaurant scene, Dansereau and Fiaccone can both trace their roots back to Deep Fork Grill. Whatever was in the water in that tributary has become a key element in the landscape of

Inclusive neighbors

Another group known to call Picasso home is the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Picasso was ahead of its time — at least in Oklahoma — in terms of inclusive policies, respectful language and pronouns, gender-neutral facilities and diversity in hiring. Beyond that, the group has worked to provide a supportive environment for both staff and guests.

Dansereau talked about another recent evolution, another result of authenticity-driven decisions: the addition of a zero-proof beverage program.

The menu for humans is wide-ranging and offers something for every palate. The shared plates are especially strong. Standouts include the fried goat cheese, smoked salmon and avocado spring rolls and the Impossible empanadas. Brunch is wildly popular — the breakfast burrito is as big as your arm and the stuff of legend. This menu is largely, perhaps completely, the work of Ryan Parrot, the concept’s longtime executive chef. Change is, as always, afoot. In June, Parrot announced his departure after 12 career-defining years. A Facebook post on his personal page was nothing but positive. He cited a need for some time off with family and hinted at new culinary projects coming together. Dansereau had nothing but praise for her colleague and friend.

“He was just absolutely instrumental in making us what we are, for over a decade. We will always be thankful he shared his talents with us,” she said.

And while Parrot was definitely a driving force, he never made it about himself; the restaurant should fare well in the face of his departure as a result of keeping the institution center stage.

It’s almost impossible to imagine Paseo without Picasso and the de facto community-building role the restaurant has taken on. Neighbors agree.

“Picasso has become an anchor of the Paseo Arts District,” said Amanda Bleakley, executive director of the Paseo Arts Association. “From their locally focused cuisine to support of community artists and their love for our furry friends, they are an excellent partner in the success of the district.”

Partner, placemaker, progressive neighbor — Picasso Cafe is nothing short of a masterpiece.

Picasso Cafe hosts a monthly vegetarian five-course tasting menu that regularly sells out. | Photo provided

Pups are welcome, and there is even a menu for your furry friends. | Photo provided

The iconic patio at Picasso is perfect for peoplewatching in the Paseo Arts District. | Photo provided

Vocational

Continuing

Drivers’

Charter

REVIEW

EAT & DRINK

Fish forward

Kanji Japanese brings omakase-style dining in an upscale, intimate setting to far northwest Oklahoma City.

By Julie Porter Scott

14600 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Suite G kanjiokc.com | 405-493-9471

WHAT WORKS: The nigiri is on par with highend sushi spots in major metros.

WHAT NEEDS WORK: There’s not much to improve upon here; it’s more about guests understanding the format. This is not your neighborhood quick-serve sushi spot.

TIP: Follow Kanji’s social media for announcements about upcoming omakase dinners.

Omakase translates to “I leave it up to you” and is defined by Michelin as “a form of Japanese dining in which guests leave themselves in the hands of a chef and receive a meal that is seasonal, elegant, artistic and uses the finest ingredients available.” Oklahoma City has never really had true omakase at this level, and suddenly, there are two: Kanji Japanese and AKAI. Kanji feels special somehow for existing outside the urban core.

Only the postman knows where Oklahoma City ends and Edmond begins. Kanji must be close to that demarcation and is a welcome addition to this part of town. Don’t let the strip shopping center fool you; they’ve done an incredible job of making you forget about the parking lot and suburban sprawl just beyond. Immediately upon walking in, you pass through a dense velvet curtain, and suddenly, you’re transported to Kanji.

Operating partner Sonny Choy and executive chef Midian Pratama clearly understand two things: Oklahoma Citians are excited about — and supportive of — new restaurants, and this

part of the metro is definitely home to more high-end diners than it has higher-caliber restaurants.

Well, they understand those two things and they understand fresh fish.

Pratama, a native of Indonesia, had extensive experience as a sushi chef in Chicago and Miami before coming to Oklahoma City.

“Kanji means ‘sensation’ in Japanese, and we chose it because we believe we can create a sensation with our omakase-style dinners and excellent fish program,” Pratama said.

An extensive wine, sake and beer list has been selected to pair specifically with the dishes. As a big fan of Japanese whisky, I opted for the Kanji house Old Fashioned made with Mars Iwai whisky, aromatic bitters, yuzu bitters and demerara sugar (which I had to look up; it’s an unrefined light brown cane sugar with a molasses-like flavor). It was excellent, so I had to try another cocktail with dinner. This time, I opted for the highball made with Toki Suntory whisky and soda water. If Japanese whisky is your jam, you’ll probably just want to work your way through Kanji’s catalog, which spans the gamut from Mars Iwai to Takamine 20-year. I’d suggest doing this slowly and responsibly, with a rideshare at the ready.

Leveling up

Whisky in hand, we moved on to the starters, which also cover quite a spread, from the familiar edamame, eggplant frites and crispy Brussels sprouts to the wagyu tartare and a six-pack of seasonal oysters served with lychee jelly and ponzu. As a yellowtail aficionado, I had to go with the chili buri: raw yellowtail, ponzu, onion crisp, jalapeño relish and scallion. It was absolutely

perfect, and I will probably never go there without ordering it. I mean, unless it’s omakase. More on that soon.

I would not normally go to a place like Kanji and get sushi rolls, but my children were present, which means the rolls were gobbled up just as quickly as they could be made and placed within reach. I’m always thankful for the perspective on the menu provided by my kids, and this was no exception. Were it not for them, I might have missed the rolls altogether. We all fought over the Dragon Crunch: shrimp tempura, cream cheese, avocado, crunchy crisp, masago, unagi sauce, spicy Kewpie and sweet chili. That may sound similar to a roll you get at your neighborhood sushi spot, so you’ll just have to trust me when I say this is not the same as that. It’s those same ingredients, but with skyscraping elevation. I’m not suggesting I can’t go back to my sweet little local shop (coincidentally, also located in a strip mall) and enjoy my Dragon Roll. But the quality of this fish, the cut, the extra time spent rolling it perfectly — all of that meant this roll was simply superior to its down-market cousins.

I would totally come back just to try more of the rolls. The list has some really intriguing options, like the A5 lobster roll, with creamy lobster, seared A5 Wagyu, truffle sauce, jalapeño, kizami wasabi and caviar. As a snow crab fangirl, I was also happy to see three different rolls featuring snow crab in the starring role.

I stuck mostly to nigiri for this visit.

It’s what Kanji is known for, and with good reason. I always feel like chef’s selection is as close to omakase as one can get on a normal person’s salary; it’s like ordering a double iced Americano and adding extra milk to make yourself think you’ve gone full iced latte on that deal.

My “mini-omakase” could not pos-

sibly have been more on point: delicately sweet sea bream, paper-thin amberjack, melt-in-your-mouth yellowtail, silky salmon, rich bluefin tuna and horse mackerel in all its oily, briny, splendid minerality.

I can’t remember the last time I’ve had fish so perfectly sliced; it was certainly in San Francisco or Seattle, not Dallas or Oklahoma City. I know that there are different cuts for different textures of fish; I won’t pretend to know, understand or pronounce the names of those styles.

But I’d be willing to bet these hardwon skills around specialized techniques are nothing short of muscle memory for Chef Pratama.

What pushed the entire evening over the top was the hospitality. If Choy and Pratama were going for “omotenashi” — the definition of Japanese hospitality — they nailed it. The anticipation of our every need, the genuine warmth radiated by our server and the attention to detail — we may as well have been in Osaka.

Here’s the thing about the leveling-up of Oklahoma City’s dining scene: As the restaurants evolve beyond what we’ve known before, we as diners must rise to the occasion. As guests, we have to be ready to lean into a completely new experience in unexpected environs with new flavors and sensations. For some, this experience may mean simply slowing down. It may mean toning it down in terms of volume, considering the smaller, more intimate space. It may just mean making room for the unexpected, the unknown the unpronounceable.

My next time at Kanji will be for omakase. I’ve had a taste, and now I want the full treatment. I want the caviar and champagne at the top. I want to be blissfully relieved of the responsibility of making even a single decision. For me, it’s escapism at its finest. I can’t hop on a plane and head to Tokyo; there are many, many places I will never see in my lifetime. But I am fortunate to live in a time and place where I get to experience those cultures in my own hometown, maybe even my own ZIP code. It may not be a stamp in my passport, but I feel lucky to enjoy it all the same.

Kanji Japanese

The Chef’s Selection 12-piece nigiri is different every day, depending not just upon seasonality but the freshest offerings, flown in daily. | Photo Vickie Vo

Dragon Crunch includes shrimp tempura, cream cheese, avocado, crunchy crisp, masago, unagi sauce, spicy mayo and sweet chili. | Photo Vickie Vo

EAT & DRINK

Pups welcome

There’s a saying about why dogs love their owners so completely. It’s something along the lines of, “They’re just a part of your world, but to them, you’re the whole world.” That feels a little manipulative, since I’m pretty sure my dog mostly lives for her sixteen comatose couch hours every day. But it is true that every good dog does deserve to see and be seen, and it is fun to load up your fur baby and show them some of the best spots in the city. Many patios in the metro welcome your four-legged friends, but these are our top seven doggie destinations.

By Julie Porter Scott with provided photos

The Jones Assembly 901 W. Sheridan Ave. thejonesassembly.com 405-212-2378

The Jones Assembly is the gift that keeps on giving. Come for All-Day Frosé, stay for incredible (if lesser-known) musical acts and a seasonal menu that is somehow full of on-trend, hand-crafted, gourmet fare and completely devoid of attitude. The beastie boys and girls also love it — the coolest pups in the city know there’s nothing ruff about life at The Jones.

Solo’s Park & Pub 13310 Pawnee Drive solosparkandpub.com 405-849-5990

Chisholm Creek is home to Solo’s Park & Pub, which will have you asking, “Is this fur real?” Bark Rangers are trained to keep an eye on off-leash doggos at Solo’s chaperoned dog park. They even clean up after your pups so you can relax and enjoy the full-service restaurant and bar (humans only). Reserve a full- or half-day spot at doggie daycare — leave them “solo” or stay and work remotely thanks to complimentary Wi-Fi.

Social Capital 517 S. Hudson Ave. ctbokc.com/social-capital 405-270-7805

No visit to Scissortail Park would be complete without that waggy tail! But what’s a pup to do when it’s time for a patio? Head to Social Capital, of course! There, you’ll find tacos, margaritas and some of the best views OKC has to offer. The doggos are always welcome to join on the outdoor patios while you take your time choosing from more than 100 craft beers on tap. Bonus points for Social Capital’s kid-friendly food and vegetarian fare.

Fassler Hall

421 NW 10th St., Suite 201 fasslerhall.com

405-609-3300

Sausages and sausage dogs! Fassler Hall is home to some of the best German food in the 405, but dog moms and dads love its huge, dog-friendly patio. For the Venn diagram of beer lovers and dog lovers, look no farther than the OKC outpost of Elliot Nelson’s beloved beer garden. With large wooden tables made for making new friends and a menu chockablock with bratwurst, schnitzel, pretzels and more beers than there are dog breeds, Fassler is always a solid bet.

The Pump Bar

2425 N. Walker Ave. pumpbar.net

Maybe the dogs think it’s The Pup Bar?

Whatever you call it, don’t get it twisted: The Pump Bar is strictly age 21 and up, so don’t bring your baby, unless your baby happens to be a canine quadruped. Come for the famous tots (OG, trashy, or boujee), but stay for the best pup- and peoplewatching in Uptown 23rd District.

Deep Deuce Bar & Grill

307 NE Second St. deepdeucebarandgrillokc.com 405-235-9100

For over two decades, Deep Deuce Bar & Grill has remained a hospitable spot for Spot. The large patio is the old girl’s crowning amenity, and nearby residents stopping by for a pint with their pup make it that much better. A daily happy hour makes patio time that much sweeter.

Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails

132 W. Main St., Norman eatatscratch.com 405-801-2900

What are a foodie and her fur baby to do?

We suggest Norman’s Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails, especially if we’re talking brunch. Craft cocktails give way to an incredible brunch menu, complete with crab cakes, eggs Benedict and French toast. If you can’t make it for brunch, you can still enjoy a long lunch or decadent dinner. As long as you’re comfortable on the patio, your pup is welcome to enjoy her status as a lady who lunches.

RUNOFF BALLOT

Oklahoma City’s first and longest-running readers’ poll, Best of OKC, is back for its 40th year! You nominated your favorites last month and we tallied them up. Now we need you to tell us who is the Best of OKC in print or at bestofoklahomacity.com, through July 23rd.

FOOD & DRINK

BEST PET-FRIENDLY PATIO

GOOD TIMES

SKYDANCE BREWING CO.

THE GARAGE BURGERS & BEER

THE PUMP BAR

THE WINSTON

BEST PLACE TO WATCH TV SPORTS

74 SPORTS KITCHEN & COCKTAILS

FASSLER HALL

PUB W

THE GARAGE BURGERS & BEER

THE WINSTON

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ANGRY SCOTSMAN BREWING

LIVELY BEERWORKS

PRAIRIE ARTISAN ALES

SKYDANCE BREWING CO.

STONECLOUD BREWING COMPANY

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BUTTERFLY EFFECT, JIMMY B’S CULINARY + KRAFTED

OKLAHOMA OLD FASHIONED, SYMMETRY

OLD FASHIONED , THE MILL NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

SO FRESH, SO CLEAN, PUB W

ZUMA PUMA, ZUMA OKC

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AURORA ALL DAY CAFÉ

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NEIGHBORHOOD J.A.M.

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HATCH EARLY MOOD FOOD

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PRESS & PLOW

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BEVERLY’S PANCAKE HOUSE

GUYUTES

THE MILL NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

TWO DOORS DOWN WINE + BISTRO

ZUMA

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THE GOOSE

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1492 NEW WORLD LATIN CUISINE

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OSTERIA

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FULL CIRCLE BOOKSTORE

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FAIT MAISON RESTAURANT

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HIMALAYAS - AROMA OF INDIA

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ELISABETTA

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FLIP’S WINE BAR & TRATTORIA

GUYUTES

HILLWILLY’S KITCHEN & BAR

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REDROCK CANYON GRILL

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AROUND THE CORNER RESTAURANT

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FRIDA SOUTHWEST

MA DER LAO KITCHEN

SYMMETRY

BEST CHEF

ANDREW BLACK, PERLE MESTA

CHEF KEVIN LEE, BIRDIES

CHEF MEGHAN SYNCO, HAL SMITH RESTAURANTS

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THE BOOM

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GOOD TIMES

THE FLEA

THE MILL NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

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CAVA

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CHUY’S

TEXAS ROADHOUSE

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BEST APPETIZERS

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PUB W

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THE WINSTON

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CHARLESTON’S RESTAURANT

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PUB W

RAINBOW BISTRO

TWO DOORS DOWN WINE + BISTRO

BEST FOOD TRUCK

BIRRIERIA UTZIL

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ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

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MARTIN NATURE PARK

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MY SO CALLED BAND

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CHAT PILE

ERIN MICHELLE

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CLINTON AVERY THARP @CLINTONAVERYTHARP

EMILY PHILLIPS @EMILYPHILLIPSW

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SERENE RUSSELL @SERENEBROOKRUSSELL

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DAVID PAYNE, NEWS 9

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TJ, JANET AND JROD KJ103

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CARLES BARBUSA

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THE DELI

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THE PASEO ARTS DISTRICT

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KICKAPOO CASINO

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NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM

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ANGLES

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GROOVY’S

CLUB ONE 15

THE BACHATA ROOM

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BOB HOWARD AUTO GROUP

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KALIDY KIA

MERCEDES BENZ OF OKC

ORR NISSAN

BEST CREDIT UNION OR BANK*

BANCFIRST

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KIRKPATRICK BANK

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TINKER FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

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ARTS & CULTURE

Glamp grounds

A hike that ended with Travis Brorsen chasing his dog down a mountain kickstarted a surprising career.

By Julie Porter Scott

When Travis Brorsen was trying to figure out his life’s direction, it didn’t come to him in a dream or vision; it wasn’t the result of working with a career counselor or life coach. Instead, it went running away from him down Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles.

After graduating from Oklahoma State University (OSU) and moving from Oklahoma to Los Angeles in 2001, he had been pursuing his acting career and waiting tables to make ends meet. With over twenty national television roles and commercials, he was on track to continue to make a name for himself as an actor. Just as his career was starting to ramp up, the 2008 Writers’ Strike halted production in Hollywood on everything but unscripted (reality) television.

During the strike, Brorsen was on a hike in Runyon Canyon with his dog, a boxer named Presley. The actor lost control of the pup, who took off down the mountain. Travis scrambled after him before coming to an abrupt stop when he spotted a woman petting Presley. He describes the scene: “I’m breathless, and she asked me if the dog was mine. I actually hesitated for a second, like, ‘What did he do?’”

The woman turned out to be a casting director for a new CBS reality show Greatest American Dog, in which dogs (alongside their humans) would participate in challenges over the course of the show. Just a few weeks before filming was set to start, she had a hole in her roster. Travis and Presley fit the bill.

Well, sort of. The problem was Presley had no training, and Travis was clueless when it came to getting the dog

to obey.

“I was a bad dog dad,” Brorsen recounts. “I basically did every single thing I now tell my clients not to do.”

But the actor was such a perfect fit for the project that the studio put Presley and Brorsen through a twoweek training intensive with an expert.

“I learned so much from him, and Presley was so smart, we really did make good progress, even with such a limited amount of time,” Travis said. “Mostly, I learned the importance of positive reinforcement, of mutual respect. Presley had to love and respect me in order to listen to me.”

One last tip from the trainer truly sealed the deal.

“He told me, ‘Before you go in for the final audition, just devote as much time as you can beforehand playing with him. Just wear him out.’ So we played for like three hours before I went in to meet with the production team and studio executives,” Brorsen said. “I walked in. I told Presley to lay down. He did and promptly fell asleep. We were cast immediately.”

The training continued to pay off, as Travis and Presley went on to compete in challenges such as doggie musical chairs, “pet-iquette,” doggie IQ and more. The duo became the unlikely winners of the contest, securing the title of Greatest American Dog as well as a $250,000 cash prize. He began sharing his knowledge with private clients in LA and produced Adventures

With Travis and Presley, a series of eight bilingual children’s books and educational materials.

His world changed again when he reconnected with Heather, a friend from college, over a pizza at Hideaway Pizza in Stillwater. The two began dating, and

within a year, they were married. Brorsen relocated to New York, where Heather worked as a Broadway performer, and he began training dogs in the tony townhouses of the Upper West Side. In New York, he also put his talent to work with stints as a judge on the Discovery+ show Puppy Bowl Presents: The Dog Games and as the host of My Big Fat Pet Makeover

In 2019, now with a young son in tow, the couple returned to Oklahoma and began to shape their next chapter. Travis worked as a consultant for other training organizations, sharing his approach: lots of praise, positive reinforcement, and zero choke chains or shock collars.

Disarmingly self-deprecating and funny, Travis talks warmly of his journey from an Oklahoma ranch to OSU, to acting, to that fateful day in the canyon that led to reality television success. He has the benefit of hindsight, realizing all these individual steps eventually led to his biggest venture yet.

The Greatest American Dog Den

In January, The Greatest American Dog Den opened in Edmond on Second Street near Interstate 35. The nondescript exterior in an industrial complex belies the love and care that have gone into planning and building the space. In addition to private and group training, the facility offers doggie daycare, overnight boarding and an on-site groomer. The vibe is campsite, and reclaimed wood from pallets was used to create a rustic look throughout that’s cute but not overwhelmingly so.

The large facility has several different play areas, including a tractor tire yard, a rock yard with boulders and a large adventure zone. Giant garage doors open onto a spacious outdoor area, and dogs cycle through 20-minute rotations in each of the different zones. Dogs are sorted into small packs according to size, temperament and energy level.

Brorsen’s training philosophy places an emphasis on safety and positive reinforcement.

“If a pup starts to get overexcited, they

are removed from the rotation long enough to calm down before rejoining the group,” he said. “They’re not bad for getting a bit hyper, and they’re not in trouble. They’re just given the chance to chill out, and in doing so, the pack stays chill.”

When it’s time to rest, the Den’s 28 “cabins” are designed to limit outside visibility, thereby reducing dog anxiety and overstimulation. Two large airconditioning units keep the space comfortable, and tall ceilings make even the indoor areas feel airy and open. And the smell? There really isn’t any. The dogs spend so much time outside, indoor accidents are rare and addressed quickly. Outdoor areas are subject to daily power washing with soap and water to maintain cleanliness and minimize odors.

Thoughtful touches abound: The “senior center” is a cozy room full of dog beds and low couches, designed with the oldest dogs in mind. This area doubles as the space for staff meetings and breaks, so a steady flow of teammates moves through the space. These dogs don’t need active play, but this area ensures they are not alone and have plenty of attention throughout their day.

Brorsen’s philosophy behind staffing is also thoughtfully informed by his experience. One of the things he noticed during his consulting days was a tendency to hire young, unskilled workers to keep wages down. But Brorsen realized that came with hidden costs: High staff turnover required constant hiring, onboarding and training, all of which was lost when the staffer invariably moved on. His practice prioritizes investing in the staff with both higher wages and more responsibility as it is earned. He encourages them to solve problems and learn from their own mistakes.

He also hires people with a natural tendency toward kindness, compassion and general helpfulness.

“I hire people who already have the things that can’t be taught,” he tells me. “I know I can train them on the dog stuff. I mean, I am pretty good at training.”

Visit travisbrorsen.com.

Travis Brorsen and a German Shepherd share a smile at The Greatest American Dog Den. | Photo provided

For Brorsen, playtime means lots of pawsitive affirmations. For the pups in his care, it’s just another day at camp. | Photo provided

SUMMER READING

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5 Minutes or Complete 1 Reading Activity = 5 points Log your reading and activities from June 1 - July 31

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ARTS & CULTURE Misfit miracle

A small, volunteer-run organization is saving the “unsaveable” from the metro’s overcrowded animal shelters.

By Julie Porter Scott

Longtime Oklahoma City Thunder fans can certainly understand the inclination to root for the underdog, cheer on the outlier or bet it all on an unlikely hero. Local nonprofit Mutt Misfits Animal Rescue Society has been doing the same thing since 2017, saving the dogs and cats that have been deemed “unsaveable” by other organizations. It has proven time and again that a dedicated group of volunteers and fosters can save many animals that would otherwise almost certainly have missed their chance at a full, happy life.

The tiny 501(c)(3) has worked tirelessly for the last eight years to save animals facing euthanasia due to special needs, injuries or major medical issues. Board Chair Chelsea Hixon has her hands full, especially with so many shelters around the state at capacity and with lengthy surrender waitlists.

“We pull animals from overcrowded municipal shelters across central Oklahoma, then use a dedicated network of fosters and donors to find spots for even the most challenging cases,” Hixon explained.

for them. Most people who come to their local shelter looking for a forever friend aren’t usually in search of a medically fragile, special-needs creature of advancing age. Tripods, seniors and the generally yet uniquely maligned need not apply.

That doesn’t mean these dogs are less worthy of saving; for the municipal shelter, it’s just about the best allocation of extremely limited resources. It’s about intake numbers, adoption numbers and maintaining the lowest possible euthanasia rates — all good KPIs for a shelter. It’s not gymnastics; no extra points are awarded for extra difficulty. The shelters, beholden to boards, councils and accountability groups, are required to make real-time decisions based on occupancy, life expectancy and adoptability.

Heartwarming care

The mission of Mutt Misfits is equally easy to understand: These animals can be saved, deserve to be saved, and the desperate machinations of municipal shelters should not be the only measure. The nonprofit is fully volunteer led; all funds raised go directly to the rescue and care of animals in its charge. Guided by a no-kill philosophy, the organization does everything within its power to find a place for animals who are otherwise out of options. Because Mutt Misfits is foster-focused, many of its key volunteers are able and ready to take on even the most challenging cases.

Once the immediate needs have been addressed and the animals have had a chance to be assessed in a home environment, another group of dedicated volunteers takes to social media to try to find homes for the animals. The appeals espouse the animals’ best attributes while laying bare the issues that made them misfits; transparency in advocacy is key to the organization’s many successful placements.

The shelters have been dealt an unwinnable hand as well, and the team at Mutt Misfits recognizes this. The calculus of an overburdened, overfull, overwrought municipal shelter is simple: triage. When

When an animal lands with a Mutt Misfits foster, their luck has officially changed. Pets receive comprehensive medical care, including spay/neuter procedures; core vaccinations; and treatment for heartworm, tick-borne diseases and other conditions. They are placed with a foster prepared to manage medical chal-

skill set. They have a willingness to open themselves up to another dog, and it’s going to be so bittersweet when you send them to their new home,” Hixon tells me. “But I’d rather live with that bittersweet sorrow than have that same dog live its whole life in a shelter, never having a loving home, spending its last day on earth in a shelter.”

Hixon has a cache of heartwarming, tearjerking stories. She has countless success stories and a Rolodex full of lovely humans ready to provide short-term homes, longerterm halfway houses or forever homes for the misfits. And yes, it’s often true that the folks willing to take on the most special cases are also some of the most special people. It takes one to know one, apparently.

A recent case that really hit home with the volunteers was Herbie, a nine-monthold puppy who arrived at a local urgentcare vet clinic in such horrible condition that the vet convinced the owners to surrender him on the spot. The clinic then alerted Mutt Misfits to the situation.

“He was skin and bones. He had pressure wounds from being in too small of a kennel. He was so emaciated and so sick,” Chelsea recounts. “A vet tech offered to foster him, which made such a big difference because he needed wound care, antibiotics and a special feeding program to help him gain weight. He had to learn how to trust people again, how to be a puppy again. But he made an incredible recovery. He did get adopted and found a loving home.”

Mutt Misfits as an organization also stays involved, so if the deck continues to stack against a misfit and their foster, they’re not out there on their own. The organization still steps in to

help cover unexpected costs or navigate complicated medical needs.

Once the fosters have done the work of getting the animals back on track, social media volunteers step in to find a forever home. Although the animals are ready for new families, they may still have longterm medical needs. The adopters who work with the rescue are also a unique breed prepared to handle lingering medical issues or the lasting effects of injury.

Hixon is also keen to make one other point known.

“Sometimes people feel like a small donation can’t possibly make a difference,” Hixon said. “Even a recurring donation of $10 per month is a really big deal to an organization of our size. That one recurring donation could cover the monthly cost of prescriptions for an animal or offset another bill. Not everyone is in a position to adopt a medically complicated cat or a dog recovering from a serious injury, but there are so many other ways to support these animals.”

Even if you’re not in a position to foster, adopt or donate, volunteers are a critical part of an organization with no paid staff. There’s always a dog who needs transport, donations to be sorted or administrative duties to attend to. There’s something so endearing about a fully volunteer-led organization, especially one that has done so much good for so many animals.

A long line of misfits and their humans have this small, determined group of people to thank for an untold number of boops, tail wags and snuggles.

Learn how you can help and find a gallery of adoptable pets at muttmisfits.org.

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Herbie before and after his recovery, which was facilitated and paid for by local nonprofit Misfit Mutts. | Photo provided

The adoptive family with their beloved Herbie, who is happy and healthy today. The organization began keeping detailed records in March of 2020; since then they have saved 2,176 pets in need. | Photo provided

Brighton Beach Memoirs (Sept. 5-21) and Ken Ludwig’s stage adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express (Oct. 17-Nov. 2), features “classic plays that people know and love but maybe haven’t had the chance to see in Oklahoma City in a long time.”

The metaphorical “cat” in Williams’ play is Maggie, a dissatisfied wife caught in a loveless marriage. Brazil said actor Tiffany Tuggle, who plays Maggie in the Jewel Box production, masters the controlled physicality required for the role made famous by Elizabeth Taylor in the 1958 film.

very internalized, stoic quality that Brick has. Brick has all of these emotions going on, but he really doesn’t want to let them out. And he’s reluctant to share how he’s really feeling.”

Brick’s father, Big Daddy, is the other central character. Played by an imposing Burl Ives in the 1958 film, Big Daddy is celebrating his 65th birthday, and concerns about his health and how his estate will be divided add heat to the already-simmering conflict between Brick and Maggie, whose troubled relationship seems incapable of providing an heir. Brazil said actor Chris Crane gives Big Daddy a charismatic complexity that elevates the production.

“One of the things that Chris brings to the role is a little bit of a likability that you don’t always see,” Brazil said. “He is a harsh man, but he shows how sometimes people can be harsh and they can be hard-nosed and they can have high expectations, but they can be compassionate as well at times, and Chris is doing a great job with that.”

Complex subtext

By Jeremy Martin

Winner of the 1955 Pulitzer Prize for drama, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof features nine principal human cast members — all humans. No cats.

Oklahoma City’s Jewel Box Theatre, 321 NW 36th St., will stage the Tennessee Williams play July 18-Aug. 3.

“One of the things that I like about Jewel Box,” said director Rodney Brazil, “is that with this season, they’re not shying away from these casts that are a little bit bigger. Live performing arts is expensive, and it’s hard to pay for it. … A lot of times, when it comes to plays in

community theater, it can be easy to pick a three-, four-, five-person play. ...

Audiences are going to be in for a treat to really kind of see a full-scale play like you might’ve seen decades ago when these things were written that we don’t necessarily see now.

“It’s not gonna be three people and a ladder in a spotlight. We’ve really got this full production, a full set, a big group of all very experienced actors bringing their talents together.”

Brazil said Jewel Box’s current season, which also includes Neil Simon’s

“She uses her physical appearance to negotiate with other people,” Brazil said. “That was something that Tiffany really brought at the audition was that ability to kind of use her femininity to communicate in different ways, not even necessarily in a sexual way. ... I felt like that was important to the role, and Tiffany is definitely successful at that. I think that’s going to really be a strong point in the show.”

Maggie’s husband Brick is an alcoholic haunted by the suicide of his friend, Skipper. The role, played by Paul Newman in the 1958 film, will be played in the Jewel Box production by Carson Rapsilver. He’s an experienced actor, but he only recently moved to Oklahoma City,” Brazil said. “One of the things that he brought to the audition was this

At 70 years old, the play has some dated references and language, Brazil said, but its central conflict pitting societal expectations against personal desires remains relevant.

“There’s, of course, no cell phones in the show,” Brazil said, “but there are a lot of people that spend a lot of time trying to cultivate a public image. They say things that they want people to believe are true, but behind closed doors, that’s not really true. People maybe think that they’ve moved past some of those gender norms and what a woman’s role is in the family and what a man’s role is in the family. There are still a lot of things when it comes to having children, not having children, taking over the family business, those things are very, very real for a lot of people today, and especially in

Carson Rapsilver and Tiffany Tuggle play Brick and Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. | Photo Rodney Brazil

Oklahoma, where a lot of family businesses are passed down from generation to generation.”

Another of the play’s central con flicts was almost completely removed from the 1958 film.

“One of the major themes is that people think that Brick is gay,” Brazil said, “and that really is censored out of the movie. When you compare it to the stage play, it’s really been minimized. In the play, Maggie almost comes right out and says, ‘You’re gay and that’s okay with me, even though we’re married.’ He, of course, denies it every time. It’s my perception he doesn’t even really understand what his sexuali ty might be.”

Ensuring the play’s rich emo tional subtext translates to a 21st-century au dience is a problem Brazil compares to a high-stakes

balancing act. “Modern audiences may not always

be familiar with some of the turns of phrase that they use,” Brazil said. “So making sure that every moment is clear and everything that these people say are relevant to audiences, keeping all those plates spinning at the same time, that’s the biggest challenge ... making those dominoes fall, making sure that by the endble that every single thing that we saw led to the next

ground directingedies — including Pricks! The Vaccine Musical featured in OKC’s Theatre Crude Fringe Festival in 2023 — is useful Cat on a Hot , though the play is neither.

proaching it as a comedy,” Brazil

said. “There are some amusing things that these characters do, and there are some idiosyncrasies that these characters have sometimes that do kind of bring the lighter side to a lot of heavy drama. … One of the things that Tennessee Williams is known for is the musicality of his language. Even though we’re not singing anything, a lot of his sentences sort of trip out of the mouth like a song lyric.”

To quote Maggie the (metaphorical) cat: “Oh, you weak, beautiful people who give up with such grace. What you need is someone to take hold of you — gently, with love, and hand your life back to you, like something gold you let go of — and I can! I’m determined to do it. And nothing’s more determined than a cat on a tin roof, is there?” Visit jewelboxokc.com.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

July 18-Aug. 3

Jewel Box Theatre 321 NW 36th St. jewelboxokc.com

$20-$25

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof runs July 18-Aug. 3 at Jewel Box Theatre.

| Photo Rodney Brazil

ARTS & CULTURE

Mild side

Comic Joe Pera will not try to put you to sleep at Tower Theatre.

By Jeremy Martin

We resisted the urge to use the most common headline for a story like this, but Joe Pera talked with us.

The standup comic and namesake star of Adult Swim’s delightfully low-key series Joe Pera Talks With You is scheduled to bring his Peras Tour to Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 7 p.m. Sunday, July 27.

Pera Talks You to Sleep” features the comic trying to do exactly what the title indicates.

His ongoing podcast Drifting Off With Joe Pera does the same, with an eight-hour version for Patreon subscribers featuring extended ambient music interludes. Slow & Steady, his 2023 comedy special, concludes with a live

Did you start out trying to make people laugh, or did people just think you were funny first? Everybody’s funny. When I was 18, I decided I wanted to give stand-up a try, and so I did it.

I guess I kind of had an idea of what I wanted to do comedy-wise pretty early on.

I had been thinking about it for a long time before I did it in writing, and I knew what I liked comedy-wise and just did what I thought was funniest.

Me and my buddy Dan [Licata, writer for Joe Pera Talks With You] would write jokes in this basement in high school. And we didn’t perform them, but we just would write and try to make each other laugh.

He put out a special called For the where he performed for an audience of all teenage boys in our high school auditorium on YouTube. It was very fun and very different than other stand-up specials. It seems gimmicky, but it’s not because it kind of works into

Is having a reputation for making people go to sleep something you ever pushed back against as a comic? It seems like something most people

Yeah, it’s fine. I learned it early on. I guess my dad would fall asleep at high school, the orchestra or chorus concerts sometimes. I was a little embarrassed of it, but my music teacher said that sleep is a reaction, and it’s a pretty good reaction. So I don’t know. When I first started doing the sleep stuff, at the recommendation of a friend, it worked and kind of led to what I do well in comedy. I just kind of kept on doing it because, I don’t know, I like stuff that’s on the milder side and a

lot of the stuff, music that I’m drawn to, is a little bit mellower. So it was natural, and there’s a lot to explore with sleep. I’m not the only artist to do it, but it’s neat to do it with comedy. But the live show is a little bit more ... I don’t know. It’s a fun night. It’ll be a good time and laughs and not trying to put the audience to sleep. There’s a little bit more jokes. Just regular, not regular jokes but jokes with punch lines. I’m trying to make sure everybody has a good time and is laughing out loud. … There’s some stuff that’s a little bit wilder or different in tone than the TV show.

What do you think of Oklahoma?

I did a show in Tulsa at the Blue Whale Festival a couple years ago, and I really enjoyed it. I went to the Woody Guthrie Museum and walked around in the heat. It was during the summer as well. I rode a Lime Scooter around safely. I went to the [Philbrook Museum of Art]. I forget the name, but it was the big art gallery in the old mansion.

I really had a lovely time. All the comedians were fun. Carmen Christopher is going to open for me. He really suggested that we come to Oklahoma City because he had a good time performing here before. Every July or August for the past three years, we’ve gone on a little summer tour together, and he’s so funny. He’s got a special out called Live From the Windy City, and it’s always a treat to go on tour with him. He makes me laugh a lot, and sometimes he’ll come on-stage and we’ll riff at the end and make fun of each other for whatever’s been going on on tour. So I look forward to that. It’s become a tradition that’s very special. We just end up going to the hottest places in the summer. Oklahoma in July. But why not? I don’t care.

Joe Pera brings his The Peras Tour to Tower Theatre July 27.. | Photo provided

ARTS & CULTURE

Cold War caper

By Greg Horton BOOK

A local attorney’s first novel focuses on a planned kidnapping in East Germany.

The Prodigy, a new novel by Oklahoma City attorney Dee A. Replogle, Jr., begins in a unified Berlin at the end of the millennium, but the bulk of the international thriller is set in various cities with the collapse of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) as the backdrop. Replogle has long been a fan of Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, John le Carré and Vince Flynn, among others, and their influence shows through in both content and construction.

The story combines the history of communism’s fall in Europe with Replogle’s fascination with subjects ranging from finance to neuroscience. After a brief introductory chapter set in 1999, the larger story begins with a Stasi officer who is made aware that powerful people in the East German state intend to kidnap his 2-year-old son, Peter.

Just dropping the word “Stasi” into a paragraph highlights the problem Replogle is up against from a worldbuilding perspective. East Germany ceased to exist in October 1990 with reunification, and while its importance in geopolitics was extraordinary, 35 years later, much of our cultural awareness of the main actors in the Cold War has faded to the U.S. versus the USSR, or perhaps Soviet bloc countries. That means Replogle couldn’t just write a story; he has to explain the setting and machinations to remind us what it was like then, and that leads to the book’s main flaw, which is admittedly a nitpick, and that is the tendency toward pedantic passages that provide insight into the historic setting and the way the author’s brain works.

Friendly feedback

Replogle is both highly formally educated and an autodidact in areas unrelated to his formal training. After graduating from Casady School — he is an OKC native — he completed degrees from Stanford University, University of Oklahoma College of Law and New York University (post-doc), and he has 54 years of experience in the practice of law, nearly all of it at McAfee & Taft in estate planning and mergers and acquisitions. But he also reads voraciously about things he finds fascinating, particularly neuroscience and his family’s German roots.

“I was in Berlin when I decided it would be fun to write a book,” Replogle said. “I intended to write it for myself and print 50 to 100 copies for friends and family. If I didn’t like it, I’d move on to something else. I was genuinely

surprised at the feedback from friends.”

Two of those friends in particular provided the impetus to publish the book for a wider audience. Replogle gave an early draft of the book to two colleagues, one of whom had written and published a novel and one he was sure wouldn’t like the book. But because she’d been first in her class in law school, he suspected he’d get honest feedback. The latter told him, “I couldn’t put it down!”

The former explained the tedious process of getting a book published without a famous name.

“He said he got more than 30 rejections from publishers before one finally accepted it, so he said, ‘Just self-publish.’ So I did,” Replogle said.

He researched companies that helped authors self-publish and landed with Archway Publishing, a subsidiary of Simon & Schuster.

When reading The Prodigy, which is, in fact, a page-turner and well-constructed story, readers who are familiar with self-published books will notice immediately that Replogle’s mastery of English — he loves Faulkner, and it shows — means we get none of the cringey gram matical and mechanical issues that plague other amateurs. That makes it much easier to enjoy the actual story.

“I was talking to some friends I went to Casady with, and I told them if our English teacher Mrs. (Margaret) Tuck saw the book, she’d ask who my ghost writer is,” Replogle said.

Jokes aside, an amateur writer who doesn’t need a proofreader has a huge

advantage over his peers.

Beyond the grammatical mastery, what Replogle brings to the genre is a love for details and an ability to think complexly about plotting. His commitment to research also means he avoids the errors of fact that also plague amateur writers’ work. His knack for explaining things in clear language is a bonus in world-building, and here’s hoping that the second book — he’s planning three — will simply move the exposition out of dialogue, the book’s only other real flaw. To be fair, dialog is often cited as one of the most difficult things for writers to do well, and Replogle was met with an unusual challenge in writing his character: savantism.

How does someone with no real emotional affect speak? In the book, Peter’s voice can fall a little short as Replogle tries to write lines for a neurodivergent who, as is often the case, will simply report details that ought to elicit an emotional response in the speaker. That often translates better to film than print, but this, too, is a nitpick. The story is entertaining, compact, wellpaced and suffused with the kind of details that add to the enjoyment.

Forensic approach

As for his process, Replogle is an openended writer. This is not a series that is sketched out in advance.

“I had no preconceived notion of how the book would end,” Replogle said. “I didn’t know how a single chapter would end when I sat down to write it. I just

allowing the story to emerge.”

Many writing programs will tell you that’s the wrong way, but that is more a preference of the instructor and less an actual rule. For Replogle, it certainly works. His forensic approach to the process kept him from committing errors of continuity, so it doesn’t read like he was allowing the story to emerge. The narrative holds together in large part, most likely, because Replogle’s 54 years of experience in future-casting makes him very good at keeping multiple threads and possibilities discrete in his mind as he writes.

That means whether the characters are in Berlin or Utah, the story doesn’t get muddied, and there are no loose ends, unresolved subplots or clear contradictions. His characters are fully formed, and the father, Friedrich, is easily the best constructed: Full of paternal concern, somehow menacing and serious at times, dogged, careful, deliberate, but thoroughly likeable, he emerges as the star over his son, who, admittedly, is more target than central character. This is Friedrich’s story, so book two, hopefully out in fall 2026 when Peter is 23, will be Peter’s story.

“I’m still reading and studying to get ready for book two,” Replogle said. “I’ll be going to a conference in Chicago for the International Society for Intelligence Research this summer. Other aspects of the book require me to go back to Germany for more research. I’m hoping that researchers at the University of Tübingen will meet with me and let me tour their research laboratories. The second book involves researchers, and it becomes a spy novel with a focus on solving the ‘problem’ of savantism.”

In the meantime, The is available to order, and like other readers, I understand why many are asking Replogle if he has thought about optioning it as a movie or series.

Visit dreploglejr.com.

Dee A. Replogle, Jr.’s The Prodigy features a kidnapping plot set in the final days of the German Democratic Republic. | Photo provided

ARTS & CULTURE

Summer flicks

These 10 streaming movies are ideal for summer.

By Phil Bacharach

Movies love summer. The two just go together, kindred spirits dedicated to childhood, fun and escapism.

Hollywood saves its blockbuster entertainments for that period between Memorial Day and Labor Day, of course, but there is also that class of films that are set during or otherwise pay homage to the season of long days and warm nights. The other seasons must surely resent such cinematic adulation. Wintertime, when studios typically release their Oscar bait, comes closest, but most winter movies are less about the season and more about Christmas. Spring has a limited appeal at the multiplex, despite having its own romanticism. And autumn? Spare me. Autumn gets football and pumpkin spice, and that’s about it.

Here, in ascending order, are my picks for 10 movies ideal for summer viewing. Before you scoff at my omissions (although you’re welcome to scoff away), I am limiting myself to movies currently available for streaming. That means I’m excluding such summercentric favorites as Jaws, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Adventureland, Stand by Me, The Sandlot, Call Me by Your Name and Moonrise Kingdom

We don’t have Jaws, but Piranha is the best of the rip-offs that came in the wake of that 1975 blockbuster. Director Joe Dante and screenwriter John Sayles inject fun and wit into what could have been just another cash-grab by Roger Corman’s New World Pictures. A “No trespassing” sign ignored by drunken kids, a military experiment gone awry, genetically engineered killer piranha, a nearby summer camp — need I say more? ( Streaming on Amazon Prime, Peacock, Kanopy and Plex)

9. The Endless Summer (1966)

Even the most zealous surfing aficionado might be attention-challenged by

all the action in The Endless Summer, but this cult fave is awash in goofy charm. Writer-director Bruce Brown tempers his loving homage to the sport with wry voiceover narration. While loads of footage highlight surfing legends such as Miki Dora, the documentary’s focus is on surfers Robert August and Mike Hynson as they ride the crest in Malibu, Hawaii, Australia, Africa — anywhere there are tasty waves to be conquered. A perfect film for hanging loose. ( Streaming on Amazon Prime, Peacock and Kanopy)

8. Dirty Dancing (1987)

While a quintessential movie of the 1980s, Dirty Dancing takes place in 1963, and leads Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey are about as unconvincing in that decade as the iPhone15. But this summer romance between a pampered rich girl and a dance instructor from the wrong side of the tracks is movie love at its most beguiling, with beautiful people having big feelings amid big production numbers. Is Dirty Dancing vapid, or is it irresistible? It might be both, but as any fan of the picture knows, one thing is certain: Nobody puts Baby in a corner. ( Streaming on Peacock and Plex)

7. Summertime (1955)

We don’t all have the luxury of spending a summer in Venice, but at least we have filmmaker David Lean’s Technicolor romance in which Katherine Hepburn plays a “fancy secretary” from Ohio on a bucket-list vacation in the City of Canals. Her complicated fling with an Italian antiques dealer (Rossano Brazzi) admittingly carries a whiff of dated “spinster pity,” but Hepburn delivers a rich, affecting performance that earned her an Oscar nomination. And it is impossible to resist the enchanting visual feast that is Venice. (Streaming on Max, Criterion Channel, Kanopy and Plex)

Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 novel about class, wealth and murder has been fodder for some excellent movies and prestige TV, but The Talented Mr. Ripley is arguably the best of the lot. Matt Damon portrays Tom Ripley, a creepily charming social climber who tracks down and gloms on to a n’er-do-well playboy and his girlfriend (Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow) vacationing in Europe. Things eventually turn deadly, but writer-director Anthony Minghella juxtaposes this dark thriller against the sun-kissed beaches and villas of Italy. (Streaming on Criterion Channel and Kanopy)

5. Y Tu Mamá También (2001)

Teenaged boys out to get laid are a timehonored tradition in summer flicks, but director Alfonso Cuarón took the trope to a new level. Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal play horndog besties from upper-class Mexican families intent on sexual conquests while their girlfriends are in Italy for the summer. (Italy must be quite the summer destination.) The friends wind up on an impromptu road trip with a married older woman (Maribel Verdú). Against a backdrop of political unrest in Mexico, Y Tu Mamá También weaves a story about sexual awakening — this is one sexy movie — with deeper ideas about, well, life itself. ( Streaming on Netflix and Hulu)

4. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Family road trips are a summer staple, and Hollywood has effectively mined them for comic content. National Lampoon’s Vacation has its admirers, but I prefer this acid-dipped comedy of a severely dysfunctional family traveling from New Mexico to California in a VW microbus so that 10-year-old Olive (Abigail Breslin) can compete in a junior beauty pageant. The stellar cast includes Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carrell, Paul Dano and Alan Arkin (who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for it), all of whom get respective moments to shine. (Streaming on Hulu)

3. American Graffiti (1973)

Four years before he changed movies forever and two years after his directorial debut, George Lucas offered this

lightly biographical confection about growing up in small-town California in 1962 before a slew of events — the Beatles, the Kennedy assassination, Vietnam — upended everything. What American Graffiti lacks in plot, it makes up for in cool cars, a bitchin’ soundtrack and its nostalgic remembrance of being young and full of possibility. The extraordinary cast includes two native Oklahomans in Ron Howard and Candy Clark, along with Richard Dreyfuss, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Harrison Ford and Mackenzie Phillips. ( Streaming on Netflix)

2. Dazed and Confused (1993)

Writer-director Richard Linklater’s shambling comedy about Texas teens in 1976 at the advent of summer vacation does for GenX what American Graffiti did for Boomers. Like that earlier picture, Dazed and Confused is populated by young actors then on the cusp of stardom, including Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, Milla Jovovich and a scene-stealing Matthew McConaughey. The keggers and potheads, the jocks and the hazing, and a classic-rock soundtrack — its recreation of the 1970s is, as essayist Chuck Klosterman observed, less about how things were and more about how things are remembered And isn’t that ultimately what summer is about? (Streaming on Amazon Prime)

1. Do the Right Thing (1989)

Arguably cinema’s greatest fictional narrative about race relations in America, Do the Right Thing also happens to be one helluva summer picture, chiefly in its richly evocative depiction of a sweltering summer day in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. Writer-director Spike Lee turns the heat itself into a character, using it to ignite the simmering tensions of a neighborhood ready to literally and figuratively erupt. Its inventive camerawork, memorable music score and stunning ensemble cast — particularly John Turturro, Samuel L. Jackson, Danny Aiello and Bill Nunn — make Do the Right Thing a must-see. (Streaming on Netflix)

10. Piranha (1978)

6. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Y Tu Mamá También

The Endless Summer

CALENDAR

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

FILM

FANFEST: THE GOONIES Catch this iconic ‘80s movie on the big screen with a limited-time specialty menu. Plus, take home a collectable souvenir glass with admission. $11.95, Mon., July 28, 6-8:30 & 6:459:45 p.m. and Tue., July 29, 6:45-9:15 & 7:30-10 p.m. Flix Brewhouse Oklahoma City, 8590 Broadway Ext, 405-766-5900, flixbrewhouse.com/events/43252fanfest-the-goonie. JULY 28-29

FIRSTFEST: SUPERMAN Suit up and get your appetite ready! Our exclusive SUPERMAN FIRSTFEST is an all-inclusive, one-night-only premiere feast. The three-course menu includes hatch chile queso with blistered shishito peppers and everything bagel naan, the Kobe Beef Metropolis Burger, and a decadent red velvet cupcake to make your taste buds soar. Guests will also receive two Flix beers and our Fortress of Solitude cocktail, crafted just for this heroic occasion., Thu., July 10, 7-9:30 p.m. Flix Brewhouse Oklahoma City, 8590 Broadway Ext, 405-766-5900, flixbrewhouse.com/events/44074-firstfest-superman/. JULY 10

Women’s Adventure Film Tour Join for the screening of A Journey Through Bold New Voices and Groundbreaking Adventures, a thrilling selection that span extreme sports, personal journeys, and boundary-pushing storytelling from across the globe. These short films represent the spirit of perseverance and the power of women in the outdoors to inspire, entertain, and spark important conversations. Sat., July 26, 7 p.m. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St. 405-708-6937, towertheatreokc.com. JULY 26

COMEDY

Put A Cork In It! Comedy Showcase Nationally touring trans comedian and activist Ren Q. Dawe (he/they) brings their sharp wit and powerful perspective to OKC for one unforgettable night of standup. Catch Ren as they pass through during their Here to Pee Tour, a 50-state comedy journey uplifting trans voices across the country. Also featuring local favorites Liz Campbell, Olivia Lycan, and Thunderwof, with Nick Campbell hosting. Expect laughs, heart, and a night that proves inclusive comedy belongs everywhere! $15 adv, $20 door, July 11, 7-8:30 p.m. Put A Cork In It Winery, 115 E. California Ave., 405605-6656, facebook.com/share/1AcNp2f2yE/?mibex tid=wwXIfr. JULY 11

Hidden Gems: Neil Rubenstein Enjoy a standup comedy showcase featuring nationally touring comedians stopping through Oklahoma City on their way to bigger stages. This month’s headliner is Neil Rubenstein — a former hardcore band frontman turned comic whose sharp, offbeat storytelling flips expectations. Discover the comedy scene’s best-kept secret — before everyone else does. $15 adv, $20 door, July 13, 7-8:30 p.m. Put A Cork In It Winery, 115 E. California Ave., 405-605-6656, facebook.com/shar e/1FYebDNJXk/?mibextid=wwXIfr. JULY 13

Joe Pera Laugh with stand-up comedian Joe Pera, with The PERAs Tour: All Dried Up. You may have seen him perform on Conan, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Comedy Central, or heard his voice on Bob’s Burgers, F is for Family, and Pixar’s Elemental. Don’t miss him live in OKC! The show is recommended for a 16+ audience. July 27, 7 p.m. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-708-6937, towertheatreokc. com. JULY 27

Comedian Jon Reep Join an evening of laughter with nationally touring comedian Jon Reep, renowned for his contemporary country humor. Winner of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” Season Five, Jon has appeared on Comedy Central, Netflix’s “Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo,” and Amazon Prime’s “Ginger Beard Man.” You might also recognize him as the “Hemi Guy” from Dodge’s popular ad campaign. Tickets are $50 for Reserved and $35 for General Admission. 35, Aug. 2, 7-9 p.m. Centre Theatre, 110 S Bickford Ave, 4057872229, elrenoentertainment. com. AUG 2

Skate the Plaza: A Rolling Block Party See 16th street closed up and filled with wicked ramps for all skaters to make jumps off of! Skaters, bikers, rollerbladers, and scooters — if it’s got wheels, it’s invited! Bring your gear, join the fun, and roll with the coolest crew in OKC. Not only will people witness gravity defying tricks, they will also get to enjoy listening to local punk/hardcore bands!, Aug. 8, 6-10 p.m. Plaza District, 1618 N. Gatewood Ave., 405-426-7812, plazadistrict.org/event-calendar. AUG 8

FOOD

Making You Happy for Happy Hour Log off work to enjoy these awesome specials to unwind, relax, and become HAPPY!!! Thursdays-Sundays, 4-6 p.m. Twenty6 Lounge, 9622 N. May ave, 4056878739, twenty6lounge.net. THU-SUN

Sunday Jazz Brunch Take in a lavish Brunch every Sunday at Tellers featuring brunch classics like Eggs Benedict, Lemon Buttermilk Pancakes and Italian favorites from our wood-fired grill. Enjoy live jazz music in the Great Hall while sipping on a curated menu of sparkling and signature brunch cocktails., Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tellers, 120 N. Robinson Ave, 4059006789, tellersokc.com/event/jazz-brunch/. SUN

Taco Tuesday’s at El Coyote Enjoy the most festive day of the week - Taco Tuesday! With $2 off delicious tacos and $5 margaritas, cervezas, and sangrias., Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. El Coyote Bar & Cantina, 925 W. Britton Rd., 405-849-5218, elcoyoteokc.com/. TUE

Thursday Date Nights Make date night a breeze with complimentary bubbly & chocolate covered strawberries every Thursday night! 0, Thursdays, 12-9 p.m. Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails, 132 W. Main St., 405-801-2900, eatatscratch.com/reservations. THU

FUNDRAISERS

50 Shades of Pink Come together for an unforgettable evening of wine tasting, giving, live music, delectable bites, fashion style segment, silent auction, raffles, and a wine pull all in support of Locs of Strength’s mission to provide care packages and hair prosthetics to black women battling breast cancer. $45.00, Sat., Aug. 9, 7-9 p.m. Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, 701 N Lindsay Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, 405-834-7980, zeffy.com/ ticketing/50-shades-of-pink-wine-tasting-fundraiser.

AUG 9

Bowl For Kids’ Sake - Stillwater Supports the children in The Bowl for Kids’ Sake Stillwater mentoring program, which has served 110 children in Stillwater this year! Show your support through the Bowl For Kids’ Sake fundraising campaign. To get started, create a fundraising team, host a fundraiser, then celebrate success at our signature bowl party. Sat., Aug. 9, 12-9 p.m. Frontier Lanes, 3524 N Washington Street, 405-624-9922, bfksstillwater.org. AUG 9

YOUTH

Backpack to School Bash Come out for a funfilled day as we get ready for the new school year! Kids will receive a free backpack filled with school supplies — available on a first-come, first-served basis. This completely free event also features: bounce houses, art tent, bubble pond, hot dogs, cookies & cotton candy, cookie wall, prize giveaways every 30 minutes. Proudly hosted and sponsored by Southern Oaks, Sat., Aug. 9, 10 a.m. Southern Oaks United Pentecostal Church, 6501 S. Walker Ave., 405-250-6433, myfreebackpack.com. AUG 9

Camp Flix Escape into adventure with $5 movie tickets, themed activities and photo ops before each showing. The all-ages camp-inspired movie series runs weekly throughout June and July. To sweeten the fun, indulge in a limited-time s’mores cookie.Flix Jr. Tuesday showings are designed with lower lights, softer sound, and an open-door policy for all moviegoers, and $5 kids meals. $5.00, Mondays-Thursdays. through July 31. Flix Brewhouse Oklahoma City, 8590 Broadway Ext, 405-766-5900, flixbrewhouse.com/ flix-picks/. MON-THU

Owl Pellet Dissections Dissecting an owl pellet and identifying the bones inside allows your student scientists to study the diet of owls. Each student will receive their own owl pellet dissection kit and a small bag to take home all of the bones they find and identify. $15, Fri., July 25, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, 10301 S. Sunnylane Road, 4058140006, skeletonmuseum.com/category/ current-upcoming-events/. JULY 25

Summer Thursday Enjoy FREE admission and summertime activities every Thursday in June and July. Each Thursday is themed around a different Oklahoma Hall of Fame Member featuring fun crafts, games, and art activities. Story time is held every hour on the half hour 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Summer Thursday Themes include: ranching, art, baseball, music, astronomy, and so much more! If you are bringing a group, please call in advance so we can reserve space for you during story time. Free. Oklahoma Hall of Fame Gaylord-Pickens Museum, 1400 Classen Drive, 405-235-4458, facebook.com/share/15GX7Hnktr/. THU

PERFORMING ARTS

Beautiful: The Carol King Musical Experience the inspiring true story that created the soundtrack of a generation! Beautiful traces music hit-maker Carole King’s journey from teenage songwriter to chart-topping solo artist. This Tony® and Grammy®Winning phenomenon is filled with pop gold made famous by Aretha Franklin, Little Eva, Neil Sedaka, James Taylor, The Supremes, Carole King and more. Tuesdays-Sundays, 2 & 7:30 p.m. through July 12. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405297-2264, lyrictheatreokc.com/shows/beautiful/. TUE-SAT THROUGH JULY 12

Disney The Little Mermaid Journey under the sea with Ariel as she dreams of life beyond the waves! Join her, along with Sebastian, Flounder, and more unforgettable characters, in this magical musical adventure. With catchy songs, dazzling costumes,

Dance Passport Travel Discover the world through dance this summer with Aalim Dance Academy’s Dance Passport series! Every Saturday morning in July and August, join free multicultural dance classes 10-11 a.m. at Aalim’s studios, 2520 N. Meridian Ave. Thanks to the Kirkpatrick Foundation and partnerships with local cultural groups, you can try West African, Scottish Highland, Colombian, Panamanian, Filipino, Egyptian Saidi, Bollywood, Street Dance, Waacking and more — no experience needed! Dance Passport brings the community together to celebrate global dance traditions with guest artists and local groups like the Panamanian Society of Oklahoma, KAPWA OKC, Clips ’n Hips, Groovemeant Community and Samarpan Dance Academy. Everyone is welcome to drop in, move and connect. To see the full class schedule, visit aalimokc.com or call 405-844-0304. Come dance your way around the world right here in OKC!

SAT THROUGH AUG 30 Photo provided

and a talented young cast, this splashy show is perfect for sea lovers of all ages. General Admission, July 26-27, 2-3 p.m. The Burg Theatre, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., 405-208-6200, oklahomachildrenstheatre.org/. JULY 26-27

Dope Poetry Night Listen to Dope Poetry Night at the Ice Event Center Bar and Grill is every Wednesday night, hosted by PraVurb, J. Wiggins, and DJ D. Chappell. Come experience a place where you can be unapologetically you, a place where your voice and presence matter, a place where you’re accepted and loved, where smiles, laughter, thoughts, and feelings are shared, and it’s all free, Show starts at 7:30 pm; Sign-ups begin at 7 pm, and the show begins at 8 pm. First 20 poets. Wednesdays, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Ice Event Center & Grill, 1148 NE 36th St., 405-208-4240, instagram.com/dopepoetrynight. WED

Oklahoma! Enjoy your favorite characters, including Curly, a charming, proud cowboy, and Laurey, a headstrong farm girl, in this high-spirited musical where true love unfolds amidst the comical adventures of Ado Annie and Will Parker, capturing the essence of hope, determination, and the promise of a new land. Presented by the Official State Theatre of Oklahoma. Tuesdays-Sundays, 2 & 7 p.m. through Aug. 2. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com/ events/detail/oklahoma. TUE-SAT THROUGH AUG 2

DRAG-SIC PARK A parody of Jurassic Park

Follow the story of a flamboyant billionaire who creates a groundbreaking theme park featuring prehistoric drag dinosaurs. Filled with high heels, high drama, and plenty of rhinestones, Drag-sic Park is a riotous romp where survival of the fiercest is the name of the game. $30, Fridays, Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. through Aug. 2. The Boom, 2218 NW 39th St., 405601-7200, facebook.com/TheBoomOKC/. FRI-SAT THROUGH AUG 2

It’s Poppin’ with Paprika Cherry Join for a night of sweet and spicy fun, featuring drag shows, drinks, and laughter. Whether you’re a newcomer to Oklahoma City or a seasoned local, Frankie’s welcomes everyone to experience this hidden gem where if you don’t have a home — you do at Frankie’s. Never a Cover! Fourth Saturday of every month, 10 p.m.midnight. Frankie’s, 3200 N May Ave, 405-602-2030, instagram.com/qweenpaprika/. JULY 26

Neighborhood Arts: Lucas Ross TV’s Lucas Ross (KFOR/KAUT’s Rise and Shine, American Banjo Museum) takes you on a banjo adventure with songs, puppets and lots of comedy! Whether it’s visiting a farm where instruments grow on trees, or traveling into space and meeting little green creatures, kidsand their adults- are sure to have a blast! WARNING: by the end of the show you’ll be laughing, singing, barking, buzzing and even playing air-banjo! FREE, visit the website for times, Metropolitan Library System, multiple locations, metrolibrary.org/neighborhoodarts. JULY 9-16

Neighborhood Arts: Lyric Theatre “Oklahoma!” Yeehaw! This interactive performance, brought to you by the Lyric Academy actors, will teach Oklahoma history and musical theatre facts through high energy songs, fun dances, and colorful characters. This performance is interactive, so we will need some volunteers from the audience to help us. Cowboy hats encouraged! FREE, visit the website for times, Metropolitan Library System, multiple locations, metrolibrary.org/neighborhoodarts. JULY 14-17

Neighborhood Arts: Painted Sky Opera - The Magic Flute Goes West! Join Painted Sky Opera for a kid-friendly adventure in “The Magic Flute!” Follow Prince Tamino and his funny sidekick, Papageno, as they journey to rescue Princess Pamina, facing magical creatures and discovering the power of friendship and courage. With colorful characters and catchy music, this interactive performance brings opera to life in a fun and exciting way for kids! FREE, visit the website for times, Metropolitan Library System, multiple locations, metrolibrary.org/neighborhoodarts. JULY 9-JULY 24

Neighborhood Arts: RACE Dance Collective Put on your dancing shoes and move to the groove with RACE Dance Collective. FREE, visit the website for times, Metropolitan Library System, multiple locations, metrolibrary.org/neighborhoodarts. JULY 22-26

Oklahoma Shakespeare presents Love’s Labour’s Lost enjoy Shakespeare’s heartwarming play about love in the most “inconvenient” times. Love conquers all ... or does it!? Outdoor Shakespeare Gardens., Thursdays-Sundays, 8 p.m. through Aug. 17. Oklahoma Shakespeare, 2920 Paseo St., 405-2353700, okshakes.org/loves-labours-lost. THU-SUN THROUGH AUG

Schmancy Pants: A Sketchy Murder Mystery! Help the Schmancy Pantsers solve an all-new murder! Featuring Olivia Lycan, Holly York, Jessi Kyle, Cam Hunter and Jacob Threadgill! Wear your schmanciest duds for a chance to win a fabulous prize! The mystery begins at 7pm!, Tickets just $5 at the door! $5, Fri., July 18, 7-9 p.m. OK Cider Co., 705 W Sheridan Ave, 405-501-8877, facebook.com/share/18UxwCXQad/. JULY 18

Open Bookish - An Open Mic at Bookish

continued on page 30

CALENDAR

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Comedy. Poetry. Music. Whatever. No bullies. Second Fridays at Bookish. Free. Hosted by The Martin Duprass., second Friday of every month, 7-10 p.m. through Dec. 31. Bookish: Used Books and Art, 1005 NW 36th St, 4059927570, facebook.com/events/18 41949556642261/1841949589975591/?acti ve_tab=about. JULY 11

She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen follow Agnes Evans as she leaves her childhood home after the death of her teenage sister, Tilly. Discovering Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, Agnes is thrust into a fantasy world filled with adventure, danger, and unexpected revelations. Written by acclaimed playwright Qui Nguyen, this heartfelt and action-packed story is a celebration of identity, imagination, and the inner geek and warrior that lives in us all. $30 Adults Thursdays only all tickets $15, Fridays, Saturdays, 8-10 p.m., Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m. and Sundays, 2-4 p.m. through July 27. Carpenter Square Theatre, 1009 W. Reno, 4052326500, carpentersquare.com/kills-monsters. FRI-SUN

WEIRDlesque - A Cosplay Cabaret this Burlesque experience is dedicated to all things Nerd and Pop Culture with a little bit of fetish sprinkled in for good measure! Featuring OKC’s best performance artists and high caliber guests from all over America!, Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. Encouraged dress: Cosplay, FetX attire or something that makes you feel fabulous, 18+ Show, FREE Sat., July 12, 8-11 p.m. Enclave Event Center, 2121 S Portland Ave, 405-254-8776, facebook.com/share/1HnvMfDmEG/. JULY 12

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Dementia Caregiver Support Group Get the support you need from a group of peers who understand the challenges you are facing led by professional Health Services caregivers. Respite care is available with advanced notice. Located in the Touchmark at Coffee Creek North Activity Room. Call 405-340-1975 to RSVP at least two days before each event. FREE, first Monday of every month, 6-7 p.m. through Dec. 1. Touchmark at Coffee Creek, 2801 Shortgrass Rd, 405-340-1975, touchmark.com/ senior-living/ok/edmond/coffee-creek/. AUG 4

Full Moon Sound Bath Enjoy a relaxing sound bath meditation hosted by MARKANNA Wellness to celebrate the full moon. A sound bath is a deeply immersive, full-body listening experience that uses sound with crystal bowls and other instruments to invite gentle yet powerful therapeutic and restorative processes to nurture your mind and body. Please bring a blanket, pillow, yoga mat for optimal comfort, and comfortable clothing. This event is FREE and open to the public. Class size is limited to 70 people. First-come, first-serve. Please arrive no later than 6 pm so we can provide a distraction-free environment for participants! Free, Thu., July 10 and Sat., Aug. 9, 6-7 p.m. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.org/events/soundbath-full-moon-689/. JULY 10 AND AUG 9

Full Moon Yoga at Mix-Tape Join an intentional gathering and gentle movement led by Beth White of Aether Yoga and Wellness as we dig into the offerings of the full moon. This time may provide abundance for those willing to slow down long enough to listen. Sinking into the atmosphere of the Wonder Room will allow for imagination to spark, and open the heart to receive and expand. This session will include slow restorative stretching and sound healing. This class is for people of any skill level. Participants can explore the full Mix-Tape immersive art experience before the session begins. 25, Thu., July 10, 7-8:30 p.m. and Sat., Aug. 9, 8-9:30 p.m. Factory Obscura, 25 NW 9th St., 4053671578, factoryobscura. com/events/2025marchyoga. JULY 10

Internal Kung Fu (Tai Chi, Xing Yi, Ba Gua) Class Learn taiijiquan (tai chi), xingyiquan, and baguazhang in an inclusive, judgment-free environment! Improve your balance and coordination, develop strength and flexibility, and de-stress with mindful movement. Only $15 per session!, E-mail OKCneijia@ gmail.com for more info. $15, Sundays-noon. Dolese Disc Golf Course, 5105 NW 50th St., 3477350083, meetup.com/oklahoma-city-internal-kung-fu-group/ events/bdwpctyfcfbjc/. SUN

Yoga at The OKC Farmers Market because health and your local farmers market go hand and hand! Yoga with Libb happens during market hours every other Saturday! We are so excited about this collab! Four different session perfect ranging from beginner to the master yogi! 15, Starts at 9am. OKC Farmers Public Market, 311 South Klein Avenue, 405.232.6506, okcfarmersmarket.com. SAT

SPORTS

PBR Wildcatters Days PBR is bucking its way back into Oklahoma City for three days of heartpounding action LIVE in the 405! Fri., July 11, 7:45 p.m., Sat., July 12, 6:45 p.m. and Sun., July 13, 1:45 p.m. Paycom Center, 100 W. Reno Ave., 405-6028700, paycomcenter.com/events/detail/pbr-2025. JULY 11-13

Wheeler Criterium Join Oklahoma City’s premier weekly cycling race series. Cyclists of all levels race on a fast, closed-loop course, creating an exciting experience for riders and spectators alike. Enjoy drinks from The Big Friendly, tacos from Taco Nation, and cheer on the racers! Don’t miss Kid’s Crit Nights on May 13 and August 12, where young riders can join the fun!, Sponsored by Willowbrook Construction, Watch For Me OK, and Johnson & Associates. Free, Tuesdays, 5:30-8 p.m. through Aug. 26. Wheeler District, 1801 Wheeler St, 405-609-2994, instagram. com/wheelercrit/. TUE THROUGH AUG 26

VISUAL ARTS

“Discovering Ansel Adams” featuring over 100 photographs that share Adams’s most celebrated works while revealing aspects of his development that are frequently overlooked. Together with original archival materials from the Center of Creative Photography’s Ansel Adams Archive, these photographs demonstrate how Adams transformed from a fourteen-year-old tourist with a camera into a renowned photographer between 1916 and the 1940s. Tuesdays-Sundays. through Sept. 28. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com/visit/events/discovering-ansel-adams/. TUE-SUN THROUGH sept

ASK Workshop: Publishing Your Comics & Graphic Novels Experience a deep dive into how comics and graphic novels are promoted, marketed and published once they are made. Whether you’re creating short zines or dreaming up a full-length graphic novel, this workshop will touch on portfolio tips, publishing options, and how to get your work into readers’ hands. It’s a chance to learn directly from someone who’s been through it and still loves the process. Led by comic book artist, illustrator and art director, Jerry Bennett. OVAC & Firehouse Members: $25

Non-Members: $40, Wed., July 9, 6-8 p.m. Firehouse Art Center, 444 S. Flood Ave., 405-329-4523, ovac-ok.org/event-6151923. JULY 9

“Out of the Studio”: New Works by Anthony Dyke and Susan Morrison-Dyke at 1515 Lincoln Gallery experience a two-person exhibition from artists Anthony Dyke and Susan Morrison-Dyke. The show features new works created in Boston at their Fenway and South End studios. The artists relocated to Boston from Oklahoma City in 2020. Their shared experience living among New England’s splendid natural beauty and the proximity to New York has resonated in their colorful paintings, sympatico with one another yet distinctively different. Free, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. through July 19. 1515 Lincoln Gallery, 1515 N. Lincoln Blvd., 405593-1063, 1515lg.com/exhibitions/out-of-the-studio.

THU-SAT THROUGH JULY 19

A Colorful Dream at Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art step into a world of vibrant imagination with an interactive exhibition by contemporary fine art photographer Adrien Broom. This family-friendly experience follows a young girl’s journey through a series of monochromatic fantasy worlds, each meticulously crafted to explore the emotions and symbolism of the full spectrum of the rainbow. Broom’s large-scale photographs, created without digital manipulation, capture the magic of these handmade sets, bringing fairy-tale-like landscapes to life. Free with general admission - Adults, $12; kids (17 & under), free, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 1-5 p.m. through Aug. 10. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., 405-325-3272, fjjma. ou.edu. THU-SAT THROUGH AUG 10

Paseo Arts District’s First Friday Gallery

Walk peruse art from over 80 artists with 25 participating businesses for a night of special themed exhibits, refreshments and a variety of entertainment opportunities, 6-9 p.m. first Friday of every month.

Paseo Arts District, 3024 Paseo St., 405-525-2688, thepaseo.org. AUG 1

Pee Wee’s Playhouse: A group art show featuring toys, puppets, games, and imagination Join us at Mycelium Gallery for our July art show that will feature works created by local artists within the theme of toys.

Exmaxhina will performing dark lo-fi glitch while you enjoy looking at the art., To apply to be an artist in our show go to our application page!, Mycelium Gallery hosts a non alcoholic bar that offers craft canned drinks and snacks 10.00, Sat., July 19, 7-9 p.m. Mycelium Gallery, 2816 N. Pennsylvania Ave., 4055196027, myceliumgallery.com/. JULY 19

HAPPENINGS

Wednesday Mid-Week Farmers Market at Scissortail Park Running through September 2025 at Hill Pavilion & Promenade in Scissortail Park’s Lower Park, south of I-40 and Skydance Bridge. Located near South Robinson and SW 15th, free parking is available along South Robinson, South Harvey, and SW 15th Street., 6-9 p.m. through Sept. 24. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark. org/events/wednesday-mid-week-farmers-market2025-season/?occurrence=2025-05-07. WED

LIVE! on The Plaza: Summer Block Party Soak up the sun this July during the Plaza’s summer block party! There are bound to be many fun activities to enjoy with friends and family! Beat the heat while searching for your new summer outfit and cool down

with refreshing drinks from the amazing restaurants around the district. Feel the love and good vibes as neighbors, friends, and family come together to celebrate the best of summer. Relax enjoy the cool community spirit of the Plaza District!, July 11, 6-10 p.m. Plaza District, 1618 N. Gatewood Ave., 405-4267812, plazadistrict.org/event-calendar. JULY 11

21+ Forensic Night Explore what forensic anthropologists, law enforcement, and investigators can learn by examining human skeletal remains. Each table will be assigned a mystery case and through a hands-on investigation, you will learn to “read” the features of a human skull to determine your subjects: age, sex, physical trauma and/or pathology (disease). These are replica skulls from REAL homicides, accidents & suicides. Personal discretion is advised. Ages 16 & Up. $65, July 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, 10301 S. Sunnylane Road, 4058140006, skeletonmuseum.com/forensicnight/. JULY 12

OKC Public Farmers Market Saturdays Shop local every Saturday, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., at the Historic OKC Farmers Public Market. Enjoy fresh produce, meats, honey, baked goods, and handmade items in a landmark space that’s supported Oklahoma farmers and makers since 1928. A year-round tradition with deep roots and vibrant community spirit. OKC Farmers Public Market, 311 South Klein Avenue, 405.232.6506, okcfarmersmarket.com/farmersmarket/. SAT

Saturday Farmers Market at Scissortail Park stroll a Producer-Only market, featuring homegrown, handmade, and locally made products from Oklahoma vendors. Free parking is available around the park and in the northwest lot. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through Oct. 25. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., 405-445-7080, scissortailpark.org/events/saturday-farmers-market2025-season/?occurrence=2025-04-05. SAT

The Saturday Scene Take your museum visit to the next level—literally! Spend your Saturday mornings on the OKCMOA Roof Terrace, a scenic spot to vibe and take in the sights and sounds of downtown Oklahoma City. Enjoy locally sourced pastries and refreshing drinks available for purchase—the perfect prelude to a day of film and fine art. Access to the Roof Terrace is included with a film ticket purchase or gallery admission. Simply show your purchase confirmation to the Admission desk, then ride up the elevator! Members always receive free admission. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com/the-saturdayscene/. SAT

Second OHOF Saturday Happening on the second Saturday of each month, Second OHOF Saturday celebrates an inspiring Oklahoma Hall of Fame Member through hands-on crafts and full access to the museum — all at no cost. Come explore Oklahoma’s rich history and remarkable people! Free, second Saturday of every month, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through Nov. 9. Oklahoma Hall of Fame Gaylord-Pickens Museum, 1400 Classen Drive, 405 235 4458, oklahomahof. com/program/second-ohof-saturdays. JULY 12

Bachelor Monday Can we steal you for a second? Bachelor Mondays are taking over the Green Room at Ponyboy every Monday at 7PM!, Wells might not be here, but our bartenders will have you sipping cocktails so good, you’ll feel like you’re in paradise yourself. FREE ENTRY! Bar opens @ 5PM. 21+, July 14, 7 p.m. Ponyboy, 423 NW 23rd St., 405-602-5985, ponyboyokc.com. MON

“Symphony of Quilts-A Celebration of Color 2025” Central Oklahoma Quilters Guild presents a quilt show, “Symphony of Color-A Celebration of Quilts 2025”. Money raised will help with the guild’s charitable causes. Come see quilts, many vendors, Recycled Treasures, and purchase tickets for the “Symphony of Color 2025 Raffle Quilt” and raffle baskets. $12 each day with free parking, July 18-19, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oklahoma State Fairgrounds: Centennial Building, 609 Kiamichi Pl, 405-948-6700, centralokquilters.org/. JULY 18-19

Pathology Night Step into the role of a forensic pathologist and examine human skull replicas for signs of disease, abnormalities, or traumas. After an introduction to skull anatomy, human osteology, and lab procedures, teams will use forensic tools to analyze key evidence, document findings, and present their diagnoses—just like real forensic pathologists! Museum-quality replica skulls are used in this interactive lab. Recommended ages: 16 and up. $45, July 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, 10301 S. Sunnylane Road, 4058140006, skeletonmuseum.com/current-upcoming-events/ pathology-night-june-20/. JULY 18

Wheeler District Night Market every fourth Friday to October, the Wheeler District comes alive after dark! Stroll through rows of farm-fresh produce, one-of-a-kind crafts, handmade home goods, and more—all while enjoying live music, mouthwatering bites from your favorite food trucks, and plenty of surprises along the way. It’s the perfect way to kick off your weekend and experience the best of what local makers and growers have to offer., Wheeler District | Spoke Street | 6-9 PM Free, Every fourth Friday, 6-9 p.m. through Oct. 24. Wheeler District, 1801 Wheeler St, 405-609-2994, instagram.com/ wheelerdistrict/. JULY 26

Eva Unterman Conferences for Holocaust Education | Norman

Conference State Holocaust experts will present experience-based, classroom-ready lessons. Social Studies, ELA and Visual Arts teachers will receive 7 Professional Development credits and instruction specific to their disciplines at our FREE conferences. Breakfast and lunch provided. FREE, July 21, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thurman J. White Forum Building, 1704 Asp Ave, 999-999-9999, events.humanitix.com/ copy-of-unbroken-spirit-holocaust-resistancerescue-resilience-or-eva-unterman-holocaust-education-conferences-or-lawton. JULY 21

Forensic Night Explore what forensic anthropologists, law enforcement, and investigators can learn by examining human skeletal remains. Each table will be assigned a mystery case and through a hands-on investigation, you will learn to “read” the features of a human skull to determine your subjects: age, sex, physical trauma and/or pathology (disease). These are replica skulls from REAL homicides, accidents & suicides. Personal discretion is advised. Ages 16 & Up. $45, July 26, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, 10301 S. Sunnylane Road, 4058140006, skeletonmuseum.com/forensicnight/. JULY 26

TICA Cat Show Watch cats and kittens compete for Best in Show in each of the six separate judging rings each day! Vote for your favorite cat in the Spectator’s Choice Award competition! Learn about the history of ancient and newer cat breeds in our breed presentations! Canadian County Expo Center, 3001 Jensen Road East, El Reno, Oklahoma 73036, Aug. 2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. TICA Cat Show, Canadian County Expo Center 3001 Jensen Road East, 4054418950, redriverrascals. weebly.com/come-to-a-cat-show.html. AUG 2-3

FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival The FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival will offer two days of balloon glows, balloon launches and rides, and family-friendly entertainment in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Come and watch balloons, catch quality live entertainment, and experience some of Oklahoma’s best vendors and food trucks., All times are subject to change and events are weather permitting., For the latest schedule updates and to customize your schedule, receive alerts, and map out your day, download our official mobile app, available on Google Play and the App Store. Free, Aug. 8, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival, 1702 S. Gordon Cooper Drive, 4052753121, potawatomi. org/event/firelake-fireflight-balloon-festival-2025/. AUG 8-9

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

page 33

MUSIC Possible musics

After more than a decade of writing, recording and studying, Santiago Ramones debuts Hypothetical.

By Jeremy Martin

Spoiler alert: Clicking around on Santiago Ramones’ website, you might find an obituary for Rebecca Michelle Woodward (1992-2016). But don’t worry; she didn’t really die because she never really lived.

Like many musicians’ sites, santiagoramones.com/hypothetical features links for streaming Ramones’ new album Hypothetical and lyrics from the songs, but some of the words and even individual letters contain hyperlinks to less common artifacts: letters, journal entries, codes, clips from video games and at least one obituary.

Ramones calls them “secrets.”

“All of the secrets are associated with individual tracks on the album,” Ramones said. “So, like, that obituary is associated with the song ‘Late.’ If you read the lyrics to ‘Late,’ you might think ‘Oh, OK. I think I know what this is about,’ but then maybe you read this obituary. ... In this specific context, it’s about the sort of feeling where you’ve ever had someone that you wanted to become better friends with but never got the opportunity to or maybe they moved away or, in this instance, they passed away.

“By the way, that obituary isn’t real. I made an obituary for a person who I thought I would have been good friends with. … I really wish I could have gotten

Everyone I spoke to didn’t know / I tried, I tried, I tried, I tried / I’m sorry I was late.” If you click the “o” in “sorry,” you’ll go to a regretful letter from an absent father. To get to the fictional obituary, you actually need to click a link in the lyrics to “Koi.”

Clicking on a link on the page for intro track “Bit Depth,” meanwhile, takes you to the first episode of Ramones’ podcast Bit Depth, but not the episode of the podcast discussing the track of the same name. The complexly interwoven web component, which we seem to be only hinting at, complements the songwriting approach on Hypothetical, which Ramones calls “shape-shifting fiction.”

“Star Destroyer” is a theme song for a nonexistent sci-fi anime series with lyrics translated from English to Japanese and back to English. “Space Heat” a few tracks later, could play over the closing credits. Many of the other songs on the album are from the perspective of fictional characters with sadder backstories. Ramones said he began working on some of the lyrics as early as 2011, when he was in high school.

“Honestly, whenever I started songwriting, I didn’t feel like I had enough experiences or traumas or failures to say something about,” Ramones said. “Maybe that had more to do with, like,

My wife is still married to me. She’s my wife. … So even that is sort of like a hypothetical into what would have ended those relationships.”

Ramones sings, “It’s too late to say all this / What I wanted was to show you / That I’m capable of feeling things / Just like you / It was far too hard to do / To put my feelings all away / Even harder then to let ’em out / Show ’em to you.”

The track also features vocalist Nia Moné, one of the 15 additional musicians credited on the album, including but far from limited to Jared Lekites, Kat Lock, Roz and Bailey Gilbert. The list concludes with the note that “All credited above are present on” final track “Hypothetical.”

Song conditioning

Ramones, who we’ve previously seen playing songs from Hypothetical solo on an acoustic guitar on OKC stages, said the album took 13 years from conception to release because of the additional instrumentation the songs required.

“I think the big thing that made it take so long is the fact that these are a bunch of alternative rock songs that demand live drums, and having the right environment to record live drums is expensive or time consuming.”

Ramones wrote the lyrics for “Replacement,” the oldest song on the album, on the roof of Lee’s Sandwiches while he was working on the air conditioning unit with his father.

“I was just humming with the air conditioning and, like, harmonizing with it,” he said, “and it was just kind of this four-line mantra that was, like, the first quote unquote song that I ever wrote.”

On “Replacement,” Ramones sings, “Colder, colder, colder / Warm / Colder, colder, colder

/ Noise / You’re past your prime / You’re out of time now.”

In the time between the rooftop and the recording studio, Ramones said the song became more instrumentally complex, but he couldn’t improve the simple words.

“Over the years, I tried adding more to it,” Ramones said. “I tried adding more lyrics, more chords or something, and none of that really stuck. It eventually kind of solidified into itself.”

A $5,000 grant from Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition’s Artist Entrepreneur Program allowed Ramones to complete Hypothetical, a process he began while studying production at the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO). Mixed by Mac Seigel and mastered by Kevin Lively Mastering, Ramones said the album represents the best of all possible versions of these songs.

“I really love the creative approach of chiseling away at the statue that is beneath the marble,” Ramones said. “Whatever the initial approach was, even if it’s from a thing that’s like so many years ago, the pursuit of enhancing it is not about throwing everything that I can at it. It’s more about honoring what that thing is trying to say, and so rather than the songs changing over time, they kind of more solidified into a place that feels more right. These songs feel the most right that they ever have.”

Visit santiagoramones.com.

Santiago Ramones’ album release show

8 p.m. Thursday, July 17

Resonant Head 400 SW 25th St. resonanthead.com

$12

Santiago Ramones started working on his album Hypothetical 13 years ago. | Photo Maddie Rae Jones

Santiago Ramones | Photo Maddie Rae Jones

MUSIC powdr play

By Jeremy Martin

After many lineup, name and style changes, powdr, aka the band formerly known as several other things, is ready to make its debut.

Released through Oklahoma label Mystery Class Records, Settle Pain will be available on cassette and through streaming services on Friday, July 25.

The following day, the band will celebrate the release with a house party show also featuring Money, Lust Online and Brainwasher, starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at Chateau Casa. Admission is $5. Message the band at @powdr.band on Instagram for the address.

Three-fourths of the band that would eventually become known as powdr formed when guitarist Joshua Peck, bassist Kilyn Massey and drummer Brent Hodge met in high school. The name they’ve used to collectively refer to themselves has changed several times, but this lineup has remained stubbornly consistent.

“We’ve been in, like, 10 bands together,” Peck said.

Massey added, “We get bored very easily, hence changing names and stopping and starting. We can’t give each other up, though.”

Peck said Massey may be the reason he continues to play live music at all.

“If it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t get on stage or do any of that, but he kind of forces me to,” Peck said.

Massey said Peck doesn’t take much convincing.

“I just ask him to do it,” Massey said.

Peck added, “He asks me nicely, too.”

The classic Ship of Theseus thought experiment asks whether an object is the same if its components have all been replaced. From powdr’s perspective, the current band is different from its first iteration, even if 75 percent of its

members are the same.

“In our eyes, it’s evolved a lot, but I don’t think it’s gone too crazy,” Peck said. “It’s always been a little indie rock, shoegaze, post-punk. We used to do instrumental music back in high school ’cause we were all too scared to sing. But now all three of us sing.”

One new key ingredient is obviously powdr’s fourth member, keyboardist Peyton Wilson, who also sings. And plays guitar. The press release from Mystery Class describes powdr “switching instruments mid-song” while maintaining an “incredibly tight unity in their playing.” Peck said the new album represents a shift between guitar rock subgenres.

“We’re trying to focus more on adding keyboards and making vocal melodies and strong guitar lines part of it instead of being, like, a jangle-pop band or something,” Peck said. “We’re kind of a little more post-punky this time.”

As the newest addition to the lineup by several years, Peck and Massey said Wilson is not having trouble making his voice heard.

“Peyton, he seems to take it in stride,” Peck said. “He kind of came in and started bossing us around.”

The four-piece settled on the name powdr after Peck made a minor mistake on the job at Old Blood Noise Endeavors, a guitar pedal manufacturer where he works with Massey.

“I do powder coating,” Peck explained. “And every day when it’s on the list “guitar pedal to powder,” I write the word ‘powder.’ I was just seeing it over and over. Then one day, I misspelled it, and I said, ‘That looks like a band name right there.’”

Single “Marie’s Cart,” the album’s “most abrasive” track, features lyrics

based on a dream Hodge had about a wreck and opens with the unrestrained squeal of pedal meeting metal.

“The first sound you hear,” Peck said, “is from a pedal called the Chase Bliss MOOD, and it’s really complicated, and I really don’t know how to rein it in or use it really. So I just kind of turn it on, and it makes a crazy sound.”

Austin animator James Roo, a former bandmate, created the video for the single.

Like an amorphous dream cart, the band is already careening around the next corner, casting a side-eye at the rearview mirror.

“I think I’m already sick of the album, like playing that stuff,” Massey said. “I’m ready to do all new stuff. … We’re around seven songs deep for the next album.”

The band that used to switch names almost every time they played a show continues to speed toward the next checkpoint, but the race team roster remains rather familiar.

“We want to get back to writing and recording just,” Peck started.

Massey concluded, “so we can finish up another album.”

Visit mysteryclassrecords.com.

See a video interview with Peck and Massey on okgazette.com. powdr album release show

7 p.m. Saturday, July 26

Chateau Casa Message @powdr.band on Instagram for the address

$5

powdr’s album release show is July 27 at Chateau Casa. | Photo Kilyn Massey

LIVE MUSIC

WEDNESDAYS

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley Bricktown Pub. ROCK

Jazz Jam, 51st Street Speakeasy. JAZZ

Jazz Night at the Bradford, Bradford House. JAZZ

Trett Charles, River Spirit Casino Resort. COUNTRY

Vintage Vinyl Wednesdays, El Coyote Bar & Cantina. DJ

Kendrick McKinney Trio, 51st Street Speakeasy. JAZZ

THURSDAYS

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

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

FRIDAYS

The Blues Sisters Saxophonist and lifelong Blues Brothers fan Adam Ray wanted to produce a tribute show featuring songs from the 1980 film when, like the sunglassessporting siblings, he saw a glimmer of divine inspiration. “I realized, ‘Wait. This would be a lot cooler with two awesome female singers,’” Ray said. Enter OKC vocalists Chanda Graham and Ivy Whitten to front a 10-piece band performing favorites from the original film soundtrack, plus songs from the oft-forgotten sequel and the live stage show, recreating the Chicago-centric bro-fest with more feminine energy and Oklahoma’s “melting pot” sound incorporating elements of Chicago, New Orleans and Mississippi Delta blues. Plus, of course, the requisite sunglasses and hats. Read our interview with Ray, Graham and Whitten at okgazette.com. The show starts 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, at Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St. Tickets are $21-$37. Visit towertheatreokc.com.

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

FRIDAY, AUG. 8 Photo by Joy Neel These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

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

SATURDAYS

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

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

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTURMENTALISTS

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

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

SUNDAYS

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

No Whiners Aloud, Mojo’s Blues Club. ROCK Jazz Night at the Blue Note, Blue Note. JAZZ

The Depot’s Summer Breeze Concert Series, Lions Park. VARIOUS

MONDAYS

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

TUESDAYS

Live Blues Music, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUE

WEDNESDAY, JUL. 9

Nightlife, 89th Street—OKC. ROCK

THURSDAY, JUL. 10

Brent Cobb, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

FRIDAY, JUL. 11

Dylan Wheeler, Beer City Music Hall. ROCK

SATURDAY, JUL. 12

Live Mario Kart, Tower Theatre. INSTRUMENTAL

Penelope Road, Beer City Music Hall. POP

SUNDAY, JUL. 13

Buñuel, 89th Street—OKC. ROCK

Sixpence None The Richer, Tower Theatre. POP

MONDAY, JUL. 14

Iration, Tower Theatre. POP

WEDNESDAY, JUL. 16

Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, Criterion. COUNTRY

THURSDAY, JUL. 17

KING LIL G & YOUNG DRUMMER BOY, Beer City Music Hall. HIP-HOP

FRIDAY, JUL. 18

EKKSTACY: The ‘Forever’ Tour, Beer City Music Hall. ROCK

Phosphorescent, Tower Theatre. ROCK Summer Concert Series, Wheeler Ferris Wheel. VARIOUS

SATURDAY, JUL. 19

Arkansauce w/ Special Guest Johnny Mullenax, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY The Avett Brothers, Paycom Center. FOLK

The Elton Johns, Tower Theatre. COVER Table Rockin’ Blues from Big Train and the Loco Motives!, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

SUNDAY, JUL. 20

MC Magic, Baby Bash, & Lil Rob, Tower Theatre. HIP-HOP

TUESDAY, JUL. 22

Descendents, Tower Theatre. PUNK Scene Queen w/ girli & Deadlands, Beer City Music Hall. METALCORE

THURSDAY, JUL. 24

Kody West, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

FRIDAY, JUL. 25

Archers: The Temporary High Tour, Beer City Music Hall. METALCORE

Bop To The Top, Tower Theatre. DJ

SATURDAY, JUL. 26

Huser Brothers, 89th Street—OKC. COUNTRY

Mates of State: Somewhere Tour, Beer City Music Hall. POP

Old Dominion, The Zoo Amphitheatre. COUNTRY

Speakeasy 90s-2000s Dance Party, 51st Street Speakeasy. DJ

SUNDAY, JUL. 27

Yelawolf, Criterion. HIP-HOP

WEDNESDAY, JUL. 30

The Aquabats, Tower Theatre. SKA One Night of Queen, OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater. COVER

THURSDAY, JUL. 31

Buena Vista Orchestra, Tower Theatre. LATIN CLUTCH with Blacktop Mojo and the inspector cluzo, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK Gideon, Beer City Music Hall. METALCORE FRIDAY, AUG. 1

Jon Wolfe, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY Live Music in the Lounge: Tyler Boren, Legally Brewed. SINGER-SONGWRITER Marisela, Criterion. LATIN SATURDAY, AUG. 2

My So Called Band, Tower Theatre. COVER

TUESDAY, AUG. 5

Glass Beams North American Tour 2025, Tower Theatre. ROCK FRIDAY, AUG. 8

2010s Night, Beer City Music Hall. DJ The Blues Sisters, Tower Theatre. COVER

SATURDAY, AUG. 9

Journey of a Lifetime, Tower Theatre. COVER

TUESDAY, AUG. 12

Ice Nine Kills, Criterion. METALCORE

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

PUZZLES

By Ruth Bloomfield Margolin and Hannah Margolin

Puzzles Edited by Will Shortz

ACROSS

1 L arge ____ Collider (facility in Geneva)

7 ‘ ‘We need to talk . . .’’

12 B arnyard strutter

16 L azy day attire, for short

19 Family elder in El Salvador

20 B ishop’s deputy

21 Marine predator

22 L uau accessory

23 M ake a partner’s beard presentable for all the photos?

25 P oet hired to write the couple’s vows in flowery verse?

27 Survey option

28 Responded to an alarm

29 Increment in an elephant’s weight

30 P ancake with applesauce or sour cream

31 Trample

34 C ause of many headaches while planning the big day?

37 1980s tennis champ Ivan

39 Reeves of ‘‘The Matrix’’

40 Suffix with Caesar

41 W hat’s broken for a record?

44 U nagi catcher

46 L ay low?

48 ‘ ‘____ on Down the Road,’’ song from ‘‘The Wiz’’

52 Tool for a couple who intend to return everything and keep the money?

56 W here inner truth is seen clearly?

58 P ro ____

59 Start of a ‘‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’’ farewell

60 D iamonds, for one

61 Airport alternative to EWR

62 L ittle nobodies

65 P ope who excommunicated Martin Luther

66 Response to winning a lottery, maybe

67 M ilk source

68 Fancy headpiece ornament?

72 Much

74 Famous ‘‘Dr.’’ who never practiced medicine

75 ‘ ‘____ is me, to have seen what I have seen’’: Ophelia

76 Mesmerized

79 In the style of

80 Weight of an

empty container

81 Spread the word?

83 O ne side of the Bosporus

84 ‘‘Absolutely!’’

86 Colorful sequined jacket that the groom chose to wear?

89 M ine find

90 L ike some online purchases

92 O bsessed with 93 M ajor lobby in D.C.

94 Communication that goes without saying, for short

96 Trojan War king

99 Rugby scuffle

101 O ne ensuring that each family can invite the same number of guests?

106 O rthodox Jewish sect

110 W hat wispy swirling lines from a cartoon pie may represent 111 U mpire’s call 112 Febreze competitor

114 D isembodied assistant 115 A nimal’s escort down the aisle?

117 P arent who foolishly wore stiletto heels to a garden event?

120 P opular 90-min. show

121 A b ushel or a peck

122 G ather a bushel or a peck, perhaps

123 ____-weenie 124 Wee bit 125 PlayStation maker 126 H ead over heels 127 Taxis, typically DOWN

1 Lacks

2 Detest

3 O ne of music’s Allman Brothers

4 G ender ____ (prebirth event)

5 Fútbol cheer

6 ‘ ‘King’’ Cole’s first name

7 Declare

8 L ady Anne, at the beginning of ‘‘Richard III’’

9 Rocker Ric 10 L ike the Mario Kart games

11 Famous ‘‘Dr.’’ who never practiced medicine

12 Piña colada vessel

13 Cousin of a chimp

14 Loops in, in brief

15 M udslide component

16 B atter’s position

17 Spasms 18 M enu heading

24 Manages

26 D inosaur ‘‘from our imagination’’

29 T hin-sounding

32 O ff! ingredient

33 Real lulu

35 M ilk source

36 Caboose

38 Terms of a contract?

41 Q ueue before Q

42 G et one’s ducks in ____

43 V intage racket?

45 C horal arrangement essentials

47 Community at the end of the line

49 Year-round, as tires

50 Starch-yielding palm

51 P arent of Shopping.com

53 D river’s warning

54 ‘ ‘Away with you!’’

55 1 099, e.g.

57 Stayed home for dinner

60 Filibuster components

63 Wallop

64 W ithout change

66 Young pigs

69 T he ‘‘H’’ in HOMES

70 O verly precious

71 Lackluster

72 F that comes right after A, B, C and D

73 Additionally

77 Heap

78 ‘ ‘Look! I did it!’’

81 M ake a quick visit

82 O ne looking for a free ride

85 Adjusts sights

86 J ack on a nonfat diet

87 Awkwafina’s given name

88 H oofed creatures that sound up-to-date?

91 Galore

95 S ocial climber’s obsession

97 S econd-largest Portuguesespeaking country

98 L ike the cheese in fondue

100 H ow one might feel when a crossword clue is tricky

101 Blue Ribbon beer

102 ‘ ‘The Hunger Games’’ venue

S outh Pole trailblazer Amundsen

B agel option

M otorsports Hall-of-Famer Bobby

C haracter in ‘‘The Crown’’

‘ ‘Crocodile Hunter’’ Steve 109 D igs for data

‘ ‘____ thy father and refuse thy name’’: Juliet

H elpful word on a class reunion name tag

REPORTERS Phil Bacharach Greg Horton Benjamin Thomas MARKETING MARKETING COORDINATOR Lauren Thomas-Martin CREATIVE ILLUSTRATORS Nick Hermes Steve Hill

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Homework: Can you figure out a way to have more fun while you do your work? Newsletter.FreeWillAstrology.com

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the days before lighthouses, some coastal communities used “fire beacons”—elevated structures where people tended open flames to guide sailors. In the coming weeks, Aries, I invite you to be like both the keeper and the flame. People will be drawn to your brightness, warmth, and persistence as they navigate through their haze and fog. And surprise! You may find your own way more clearly as you tend to others’ wayfinding. Don’t underestimate the value of your steady, luminous signal. For some travelers, your presence could be the difference between drifting and docking. So burn with purpose, please. Keep your gleam strong and visible.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The ancestors of my American friend Arisa lived in Ukraine, Indonesia, the Choctaw nation, and the Great Lakes region. Her new husband Anselme is of Japanese, Italian, and French descent. Their wedding was a celebration of multi-cultural influences. Guests delivered toasts in five languages. Their marriage vows borrowed texts from three religious traditions. The music included a gamelan ensemble, a band that played Ukrainian folk music, and a DJ spinning Choctaw and Navajo prayers set to Indian ragas. I bring this to your attention in the hope you will seek comparable crossfertilization in the coming weeks. It’s an excellent time to weave richly diverse textures into your life.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I predict a future when women will hold half of the leadership roles, when their income and time devoted to childcare will match men’s, when women’s orgasms are as common as men’s, and when most guys know that misogyny is perilous to their health. Until the bloom of that wonderful era, I invite Geminis of all genders to invoke your tender ingenuity as you strengthen female opportunities and power. In my view, this work is always crucial to your maximum spiritual and psychological health—but

even more so than usual in the coming weeks. Boost the feminine in every way you can imagine.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): In Yoruba cosmology, ase is the sacred life force that animates the universe. It’s divine energy that can be harnessed by humans to make things happen, to speak and act with ardent intention so that words and deeds shape reality. I am pleased to report that you Cancerians are extra aligned with ase these days. Your words are not casual. Your actions are not mild or minor. You have the power to speak what you mean so robustly that it has an enhanced possibility to come into being. What you command with love and clarity will carry enduring potency.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In medieval bestiaries, unicorns were said to be fierce, wild creatures. They were very real but also hidden. Only people with pure hearts could see or commune with them. I suspect you now have the chance to glide into a potent “pure heart” phase, Leo. My fervent hope is that you will take this opportunity to cleanse yourself of irrelevancies and rededicate yourself to your deepest yearnings and most authentic self-expressions. If you do, you just may encounter the equivalent of a unicorn.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Some Buddhist monks create mandalas on floors from colored sand. They work meticulously for days or weeks to build intricate, symmetrical masterpieces. Once their beautiful work is done, however, it typically doesn’t last long. The creators sweep it away either immediately or soon. The sand may be disposed of, perhaps poured into a river or stream. What’s the purpose of this strange practice? Most importantly, it displays a reverence for the impermanence of all things—an appreciation for beauty but not an attachment to it. I recommend you consider taking a cue from the sand mandalas in the coming weeks. Is there anything you love that you should let go of? A creation you can allow to transform into a new shape? An act of sacred relinquishing?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Glassblowers shape molten sand with breath and fire, knowing the

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material can only be formed while it’s hot and glowing. If they wait too long, the stuff stiffens, turns brittle, and resists change. But if they push too soon, it collapses into a misshapen blob. In this spirit, Libra, I urge you to recognize which parts of your life are now just the right temperature to be reshaped. Your timing must be impeccable. Where and when will you direct the flame of your willpower? Don’t wait until the opportunity cools. Art and magic will happen with just the right amount of heat applied at just the right moment.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “I have often been racked by obsessive urges that plague me until I act them out.” So says my Scorpio friend Fatima, a conceptual artist. “Fortunately,” she continues, “I have finally retrained myself to focus on creative obsessions that fuel my art rather than on anxious, trivial obsessions that disorder my life. I’d be an offensive maniac if I couldn’t use my work as an outlet for my vehement fantasy life.” I recommend Fatima’s strategy to Scorpios most of the time, but especially so in the coming days. Your imagination is even more cornucopian than usual. To harness its beautiful but unruly power, you must channel it into noble goals.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The Igbo people of Nigeria have a term: ogwugwu na-adi n’ulo. It means “the medicine is in the house.” It’s the belief that healing doesn’t necessarily come from afar. It may already be here, hidden among the familiar, waiting to be acknowledged or discovered. Dear Sagittarius, your natural instinct is to look outward and afar for answers and help. But in the coming weeks, you should look close to home. What unnoticed or underestimated thing might be a cure or inspiration you’ve been overlooking? How can you find new uses for what you already have?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I invite you to celebrate the holiday known as Be Your Own Best Helper. How should you observe this potentially pivotal transformation in your relationship with yourself? Divest yourself of yearnings to have someone clean up after you and service your baseline

CAT-TRACTOR

necessities. Renounce any wishes you harbor for some special person to telepathically guess and attend to your every need. Vow that from now on, you will be an expert at taking excellent care of yourself. Do you dare to imagine what it might feel like to be your own best helper?

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the ancient practice of astronomy, the stars were considered “incorruptible.” Unlike the planets, their movements were unchanging, their lights stationary, their destinies steady and stable. We human beings are the opposite of all those descriptors, of course. There’s no use in hoping otherwise, because constancy just isn’t an option for us. The good news, Aquarius, is that you are now poised to thrive on these truths. The inevitability of change can and should be a treasured gift for you. You’re being offered chances to revise plans that do indeed need to be revised. You are being invited to let go of roles that don’t serve you. But what initially feels like a loss or sacrifice may actually be permission. Evolution is a tremendous privilege!

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The axolotl is an amphibian that never outgrows its larval form. Unlike most creatures, it retains its youthful traits into adulthood. Amazingly, it can regenerate it limbs, its spinal cord, and parts of its brain. Let’s make the axolotl your inspirational animal, Pisces. What part of your “youth” is worth keeping—not as immaturity, but as righteous design? Where are you being asked not to evolve past a stage, but to deepen within it? And what might be regenerated in you that seemed to have been lost? Your magic will come from being like an axolotl. Be strange. Be playful. Be ageless and original and irrepressible.

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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