Celebrate the season across OKC. Your guide to OKC’s festive highlights
DATE: DECEMBER 6, 2000
COVER: OU Atheletic Director Joe Castiglone
WRITER: Mick Cornett, before becoming mayor
Photo by Braven Jarvis
Honoring History
Oklahomans honor Clara Luper’s legacy with new plaza.
By Phoebe Grandi
“We needed a change in this country,” Marilyn Luper Hildreth said to the crowd gathered in front of 15 life-size bronze statues recreating the historic 1958 Katz Drug Store sit-in led by civil rights activist and Oklahoma City teacher Clara Luper. “Because if we had not sat down here in Oklahoma City, young people throughout this nation would have never stood up.”
On Saturday Nov. 1, nearly 1,000 Oklahomans and visitors stood in the sunny intersection of W. Main St. and N. Robinson Ave. as Hildreth gave the final speech in the ceremony honoring the legacy of her mother. In the hour prior, attendees heard speeches from former Oklahoma Secretary of State John Kennedy, councilmember Rev. Lee Cooper, Studio EIS and Mayor David Holt, among others. Interspersed throughout the program were performances by Spencer Elementary, Dunjee Alumni, and Langston University choirs, as well as a spoken word piece by Tinasha LaRayé and group singing led by Joyce Henderson. The bronze scene, which took seven years to make, is the first formal recognition of the historic sit-in by the city.
Even though Luper and her students’ refusal to leave the segregated Katz lunch counter happened two years before the famed Greensboro, North Carolina sit-in, Oklahoma City is rarely recognized as the birthplace of the well-known civil rights protest tactic.
“This event was long needed in Oklahoma,” said attendee Reginald Booker. “For years when I was in the military, they did not know Black people even existed in Oklahoma, even though there’s more black townships here than anywhere else in the United States.”
The tone of the event was one of deep joy at finally recognizing Luper’s influence on Oklahoma and the larger civil rights movement. As the dedication ceremony concluded, attendees cheerfully crowded around the plaza to get a better look at the bronze statues. Women adorned in deep blue jackets with Zeta Phi Alpha logos took photos alongside sorority sisters found throughout the crowd, spanning generations and collegiate chapters. “[Clara Luper] was our sorority sister,” one of them said proudly.
Luper was committed to education. She was a successful student at Langston
University, where she joined the school’s chapter of Zeta Phi Alpha. Beyond her years in college, she committed her life to educating children, teaching for 41 years at schools throughout Oklahoma City. Her students still feel her positive impact today.
“I was really bashful. When I was in school, I was one of those kids that would cry if people were looking at me,” said Joyce Jackson, wearing a ribbon with “sit-inner” written on it in big vertical letters. At 13 years old, Jackson joined Luper’s sit-in movement, a week after the original Katz sit-in. “Ms. Luper told me, ‘You need to always walk like you know where you are going. Talk like you know what you’re talking about, hold your head up, and you can be and do anything you want.’ I kept that in my head, and every time I would get frightened, I’d think about that.”
Beyond her students, Luper affected people throughout Oklahoma. Michael Korenblit, co-founder of the Respect Diversity Foundation, was six years old when his father, a Holocaust survivor, saw the news of the sit-in on their TV in Ponca City. “He came out to the backyard and said, ‘Mike, come with your mom and I. We want to take you for a ride,’” Korenblit said. His parents took him to their local bus station and showed him the stark difference between the waiting areas labeled ‘white’ and ‘colored.’ “My dad looked at me, and he said, ‘Remember what I’ve shown you here today. That’s the reason you don’t have any grandparents or lots of aunts, uncles and cousins. People looked at them as being different and inferior human beings,’” said Korenblit.
Decades later, Luper became the first speaker to join Korenblit’s Respect Diversity Foundation where she traveled the country telling students about her experience. She also remains the namesake for the foundation’s Clara Luper Civil Rights Presenter designation.
“I didn’t realize what we did and how important it was, until I was grown,” Jackson said. “Somebody asked me, ‘Did you guys celebrate when they passed the civil rights bill? Because of you, doors began to open all across the country.’ I thought, all we did was just what Miss Luper said, ‘We’re going to go out there and sit in, and we’re going to make a difference.’”
And make a difference, they did. 67 years later Oklahomans are still captured by the courage, perseverance, and leadership Clara Luper showed during the Katz Drug Store sit-in and throughout her life.
“A couple of years ago the history center here told me that I was the first African American woman to be on television in the state of Oklahoma,” Jackson continued. “All because of Ms. Luper. ‘Walk like you know where you’re going. Talk like you know what you’re talking about.’”
The Clara Luper Sit-in Plaza, which leaves one chair open at the bronze lunch counter for those who want to sit alongside the heroic figures, will continue Luper’s legacy of inspiring young Oklahomans. The plaza can be visited at West Main St & N. Robinson Ave in downtown Oklahoma City.
More than a thousand people attended the dedication of the Clara Luper National Sit-In Plaza sculpture. | Photo Todd Scott
Clara Luper’s students stage a sit-in at Katz Drug Store.
Photo from Oklahoma History Center archives.
Looking Forward
Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park hopes to combine art and nature in Edmond.
By Phoebe Grandi
Just slightly east of 2nd Street and Coltrane stands a large tree with branches that are just beginning to turn a golden, autumnal brown. While hundreds of people drive down Edmond’s section of Route 66 every day, it takes a trained eye (or a knowledgeable Edmond resident) to notice this 146-year-old pecan tree.
“The land already had really great topography,” said Melissa Pepper, the executive director of Edmond’s forthcoming Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park, “and incredible trees.” The resident blue birds evidently agree, playfully bobbing between the property’s older growth trees and newly planted saplings. “By the time the park is built, we’ll probably have added about 1,000 trees,” Pepper continued.
Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park, which is currently slated to open in the summer of 2027, will be Oklahoma’s first dedicated sculpture park. It will also be the largest family friendly destination along Oklahoma’s stretch of Route 66, according to Pepper.
The land on the corner of North Coltrane and East 2nd Street was purchased in 2021 by Edmond resident and businessman Hal French, who created the idea for Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park as well as the nonprofit that currently controls it. When the park is built, the Uncommon Ground Sculpture non-profit plans to deed the land to Edmond’s Park Conservancy Trust, making it property of the city of Edmond.
Yet, the project has experienced a handful of obstacles since the idea was
brought forth by French. In the summer of 2023, French announced that he would pull his money out of the park’s development, citing difficulties faced with Edmond city staff members. However, the project has since resumed with French’s support.
Last month, NonDoc published an article detailing the complicated funding behind the park, as well as the $12 million in funding it still needs. It also highlighted the lack of clarity around how much Edmond will pay to maintain the park after it opens.
Both Pepper and Uncommon Ground’s promotional material claim that the park will have a positive economic impact “within 50 miles in every direction.” Pepper also emphasized that the park is still accepting donations.
But, the questions surrounding funding still raise feelings of unease among some neighboring residents. “I’m not a big fan of private-public money,” said Blake Emerson, member of the Huntwick II HOA. Emerson cited concerns over the lack of information surrounding the future cost of park maintenance. However, this concern was eclipsed by his excitement for the new addition to his neighborhood. “I think it will benefit our neighborhood a lot,” said Emerson, who’s excited to bring his family to the park. “Overall, it’s going to be great for the city of Edmond.”
As of now, the park is planning to have some ambitious features. A concert lawn that could fit 7,500 people, a restaurant pavilion overlooking the park, a 2-acre dog
park with splash pads, a 13-acre wooded hiking area, and a stocked pond for fishing. Most enticing to Edmond’s families will be the 3.5-acre playground made of organic materials and featuring climbable art. “Our mission is to connect people of all ages to the virtues of art, nature and play,” said Pepper.
As for the park’s main attraction, they are planning on opening with about 60 sculptures. The sculptures will range in size, theme, and origin, and will be scattered throughout the park. For now, though, many of them sit in what the previous owner
of the property used as a horse barn.
“This was made by an artist named Hermon MacNeil, who was born in 1866,” Pepper said, pointing to “A Chief of the Multnomah Tribe,” a towering bronze statue by the distinguished American sculptor. “This piece was made after he passed. The original cast was still in existence, so they made 12 replicas of the original. If they’re made with the original cast, they’re considered originals. This is one of those 12. One’s in the Smithsonian, one’s in the Met, and one’s in our barn.”
Some of the first sculptures to be placed in the park were made by Edmond artist and automotive welder Josh Brooks. “We call them the Reflection Dancers,” Pepper said, looking at the handful of colorful figures standing on large cement beams throughout what will soon be the park’s pond. “When the water is full, they look like they’re dancing on the water.”
Other sculptures will be similarly accentuated by their positioning in the park. A statue of a dog and its owner will be placed in the dog area; a dung beetle will sit outside the restrooms. Perhaps most entertaining is the giant banana on roller skates that will be positioned on the stairs up to the restaurant pavilion. “There’s some humor in it,” Pepper laughed. “We talk about the vibe being peaceful and playful. There’s humor in quite a few things throughout the park. While it remains unclear how certain aspects of the park’s funding will shake out, art enthusiasts in the OKC metro can look forward to walking among the statues in the Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park in the summer of 2027.
Digital rendering of the playground at Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park. | Photo provided
Meet the Class of 2025!
By Phoebe Grandi
On Nov. 13, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame honored its newest class of inductees. From award-winning singers to a world expert on desert rodents to NBA champions, the OHF class of 2025 could definitely be voted “most likely to knock your socks off.”
Many know Ronnie Dunn as half of the famed country music duo Brooks & Dunn. Veterans of the country genre might know their hits, including “Neon Moon” and “My Maria.” Oklahomans, however, know that Dunn began his music career just down the road in Tulsa. Brooks & Dunn rose to fame in the 90s, amassing 30 awards from the Academy of Country Music (ACM), 20 Country Music Awards (CMA), and 2 Grammys. More recently, though, they took home the award for Best Vocal Duo at the 2024 CMAs. Dunn has also had a successful solo career over the past decade, garnering hundreds of thousands of listeners on various streaming platforms.
Eddy Gibbs, proud resident of Owasso, founded Ameristar, which is the largest ornamental fence manufacturer in the world. He ran the company for 31 years before selling it on the condition that its operations would remain in Oklahoma.
Gibbs also bought and revived what remained of the historic Shangri-La Resort on Grand Lake, creating new employment opportunities for Northeast Oklahomans. He also gave the single largest gift to a private K-12 in American history, according to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, in addition to being a great benefactor to the Owasso community. Plus, this isn’t Gibbs’ first appearance in a hall of fame: he also appears in the Fence Industry Hall of Fame!
The year is 1997. You’re learning how to keep your Tamagotchi pet alive. Or, perhaps, you’re preparing to see the “Titanic” movie. One thing’s for certain: you can’t get “MMMBop” by HANSON out of your head. The oldest brother of the Tulsa-born band,
Taylor Hanson, has gone on to do so much more since his internationally acclaimed debut in the late ‘90s. Passionate about independence in the music industry, Hanson co-founded 3CG Records, which has allowed HANSON to control the production of their own music. A dedicated Oklahoman, Hanson has committed much of his time to his food sustainability nonprofit, Food On The Move (FOTM). FOTM provides groceries to communities in food deserts right here in our state.
In November of 2022, Dr. Mautra Staley Jones was formally installed as the 11th president of Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), making her the first woman and first Black person to lead the college, as well as the first Black woman to lead a nonHBCU in Oklahoma. The OHF induction is not the first recognition of Jones’s impressive achievements and general brilliance. Among other accolades, she was named Oklahoma’s Remarkable Woman by KFOR, Oklahoman of the Year by Oklahoma Magazine, a Top Black Higher Education CEO by Forbes, Oklahoma’s Most Admired CEO of public companies by the Journal Record, and she was one of the 100 Women to KNOW in America.
Bert Mackie spent over 60 years working at Security National Bank of Enid, where he became a staple in the Enid community. However, his community engagement extends beyond his hometown. He is a founding member and former president of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, a non-profit organization focused on improving public schools statewide through private contributions. Like some of his fellow inductees, this is not Mackie’s first Hall of Fame appearance; he is also part of the Oklahoma Higher Education Historical Society’s Hall of Fame. Uniquely, Mackie also has a planetarium named after him.
The “Bert and Janice Mackie Planetarium” can be found at Northern Oklahoma College. Have you ever experienced a mind-blowing revelation while standing at the foot of a dinosaur skeleton at the Sam Noble Museum? Well, you can thank Dr. Michael A. Mares. The director emeritus of the Sam
Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History represents Norman on this year’s inductee list. It was under Mares’ direction that the museum opened its new 198,000 ft facility in the year 2000, highlighting the natural history of Oklahoma. A retired zoology professor at the University of Oklahoma, Mares has also been inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame. Mares even has a rodent, bat, and parasite named after him. This evident force in the worlds of science and zoology has rightfully earned his place in Oklahoma’s Hall of Fame.
Sam Presti, as Oklahoma’s basketball fans likely know, is the executive vice president and general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder. It feels pertinent to point out that Presti was announced as a member of the 2025 OHF inductee class almost a month before the Thunder took home the NBA championship. Because, after all, his worth to the Oklahoma City community is far greater than an 800-gemstone ring. While Presti hails from Massachusetts, he has spent the past 17 years ingrained in Oklahoma culture—and advocating for it, as well. Every new player added to the Thunder roster is required to visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, ensuring that they understand the values that comprise the city and the basketball team that represents it.
It is these values that have had a clear impact on Presti during his time in Oklahoma. As he said in his speech at the OHF induction ceremony, “The real value of the endeavor has very little to do with the symbolism of success: a trophy, a banner, a ring,” Presti said. “The most valuable thing is the creation of the community itself: the lifelong bond between all of those people who chose to come together in service of something bigger than could be achieved alone. Of all the things I admire and appreciate about Oklahoma, this is one of the strongest. This place doesn’t just talk about the power of community—it has lived it, again and again.”
MEET MICHAEL CROSS
The Oklahoma Hall of Fame inducts seven new members. | Photo provided
NON-PROFIT FOCUS
Mission Driven
Guided
by the tenet that all children are of equal worth, Bethany Children’s Health Center continues to grow
By Julie Porter Scott
You have probably heard of Bethany Children’s Health Center. Maybe you’ve driven past it on historic Route 66 or seen their inspiring stories appear on your social media feed. You might know that the innovative leader in pediatric rehabilitation has been around for 125 years. But until you have a chance to visit, it’s hard to understand all that happens on these 180 acres.
The Center began as an orphanage in 1898, before becoming a convalescent home and hospital for children with complex needs. It has since emerged as a world-class pediatric rehabilitation facility and is the only inpatient pediatric rehabilitation facility in Oklahoma. The Center has outgrown five expansions in the last 20 years alone, and leadership has continually added and expanded programs as new needs have been identified.
The Complex Care Unit provides specialized health care to children, ranging from newborns to 20 years old, with complex medical needs. These patients often present with chronic health conditions and require ongoing medical care. They tend to be the most complicated cases, and the definition of a successful outcome can vary widely from patient to patient.
The Pediatric Medical Rehabilitation Unit is a multidisciplinary team that works with the child and family to develop an individualized plan of care. Each patient in this program is evaluated by the team and receives a comprehensive plan to address their specific functional and medical goals.
The team collaborates with patients and their families to maximize the patient’s physical and cognitive potential, ensuring that families have the training and resourc-
es needed for a smooth transition from hospital to home.
Outpatient services, such as primary pediatric health care and specialty services, also take place on campus. The Center provides comprehensive rehabilitation therapies such as physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, nutritional support, and more.
A line in their mission statement clarifies the belief fueling their work: All children are of equal worth. Read it again—all children are of equal worth.
This guiding principle has served as the foundation of the organization for more than 125 years, and its daily application is on full display.
In the quiet, darkened rooms of the Complex Care Unit, children on ventilators rest while receiving round-the-clock care. A spacious gym serves patients with different long-term goals surrounding large motor skills, assisted by talented therapists. Dedicated educators oversee orderly classrooms and work to ensure that patients are developing essential life skills, helping each child reach their highest potential and achieve their unique goals.
The team at the Center has risen to meet every occasion. One example is an on-site pharmacy that not only provides the doses required for inpatient care but also serves patients after they return home. The pharmacy now ships medications across the state, ensuring that even those in the most rural communities can get their prescriptions.
A nondescript building has been reimagined into a small town dedicated to helping children return home. An entire house allows kids to practice everything from stepping
over a threshold to navigating the kitchen and bathroom independently.
Part of the purpose of this house is to train parents on the technology that will help their children once they’re back home. Adaptive technology exists for everything from playing video games—which helps with hand-eye coordination—to showering independently, one of the most important aspects of regaining independence.
A small shop helps kids in wheelchairs learn how to navigate tight corners—a necessary skill for returning to communities where not everything is wheelchair accessible. A school bus helps kids learn how to get on and off safely.
As I audibly pondered how wonderful this was for kids preparing to return home, my tour guide explained a more sobering reality: for the children who will not be able to return home, it provides a small taste of the world beyond the Center.
Bethany Children’s Health Center is also dedicated to improving the health and preventing injuries of Oklahoma’s children. These teams see survivors of childhood tragedies every day and have channeled resources into safety education and injury prevention through community outreach programs. These programs host safety workshops and provide resources in areas like car seat and child passenger safety, bike and pedestrian safety, and ATV safety. They also fund curricula and training focused on nutrition, tobacco use prevention, injury prevention, and more.
As the demand for care has increased and programs have expanded, the Center has once again outgrown its existing space. To address this need, a 200,000-square-foot, $178 million building is already under construction.
The “Landmark of Hope” expansion includes a brand-new outpatient tower, providing much-needed space for more health care professionals to address the growing waitlist for services. The tower will also allow the Center to expand its community outreach programs, thanks to a state-of-the-art immersive auditorium, chapel, space for adaptive sports, and community development areas.
The concept offers a unique design that will stand as a landmark on historic Route 66—a vibrant, colorful, four-story caterpillar. Symbolizing transformation, the caterpillar will welcome patients and families to the Center. The landmark will be ready just in time for the Route 66 Centennial, and the building will open to the public in 2027. For those looking to connect with the Center, “The Joy of Christmas” is an important tradition. The campaign starts on November 20 and invites the community, churches, businesses, and volunteer groups to participate by buying gifts for patients who are spending the holiday season at the Health Center.
“This is one of the most unique and tangible ways for the community to connect with the Center,” said Nico Gomez, chief executive officer for Bethany Children’s Health Center. “Our Christmas events give children and families the chance to experience the joys of home, even while they’re here at the Center. It is more than just a holiday event for the staff—it’s a reflection of the mission they practice year-round.”
“The Joy of Christmas” kicks off each year with a special tree-lighting ceremony, where a patient uses adaptive technology to light the tree—officially launching the campaign. Donors are welcome to drop off gifts, volunteer to wrap presents, or take a tour to see the Center’s legendary Christmas decorations.
Looking for a holiday gift for someone interested in Oklahoma’s humanitarian history? A new book released this year, “A Legacy of Hope,” documents the history and legacy of the Health Center and follows the incredible journey of siblings Carol and Albert Gray. Carol began at the Center in 1977 as a volunteer coordinator and is now senior director of mission and culture. In 1978, her brother Albert joined her and is now executive chairman of the board after serving as CEO for more than 40 years. All proceeds benefit the Health Center.
To learn more about Bethany Children’s Health Center, participate in the Joy of Christmas campaign, or purchase “A Legacy of Hope,” visit https://www.bethanychildrens.org.
This article sponsored by Potts Family Foundation.
A daytime rendering of the Landmark of Hope at Bethany Children’s Health Center. | Photo provided
A patient takes in the holiday decorations at Bethany Children’s Health Center. | Photo provided
chicken friedNEWS
Mayor Holt Receives Howard Baker Award
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt was recently honored with the prestigious Howard Baker Award, recognizing his exceptional public service and dedication to civic engagement. Named after the late U.S. Senator and former White House Chief of Staff Howard Baker, the award celebrates leaders who embody his spirit of bipartisanship and community service. The ceremony, held at the Civic Center Music Hall, highlighted Holt’s positive impact on the city. As he enjoys this accolade, potential challengers for the upcoming 2026 Mayoral election have yet to emerge, with the filing deadline approaching soon. Stay tuned, OKC!
Can Thunder strike twice?
As good as the Thunder looked last season in their historic championship run, this year’s team looks even better, if not dominant. Posting an historic start of 17-1 as of this writing, the Thunder sit easily atop the Western Conference rankings. Shai Gilgeous Alexander continues with his MVP form this season, and possibly most noteworthy, the Thunder have been without NBA all star, Jalen Williams so far this season. Thunder Up!
Sweet Home New York City
Jennifer Welch, from the “Sweet Home Oklahoma” reality show and the “I’ve Had It” podcast, has seem ingly left the Sooner State for none other than the Big Apple. She recently announced her move during a CNN interview at a Zohran Mamdani rally, saying she had grown tired of living in the Bible Belt. One has to wonder if she is also tired of paying Oklahoma’s lower taxes, or if she will actually claim New York as her state of residence?
OKC Residents are optimistic
Oklahoma City’s annual resident survey reveals that over 70% of respondents believe the city is headed in the right direction. Mayor Holt expressed delight over the positive feedback, highlighting improvements in public safety and community spirit. Many residents, like Carol Jenkins, praised cleaner parks and vibrant events. While some concerns about traffic and public transportation remain, the city plans to hold town hall meetings to address these issues.
EAT & DRINK Mediterranean Magic
The new owners balance tradition and innovation.
By Julie Porter Scott
When Maggie Howell and Christine Dowd purchased Mediterranean Imports, Deli & Gastro Goods in December 2020, they were coming off of a major loss.
They had closed their family catering business in early 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aunt Pitypat’s Catering had been a mainstay in the Oklahoma City metro for more than forty years, but the pandemic put a stop to the weddings and corporate events that had been their bread and butter.
“There was no sign of large-scale catering coming back anytime soon, so we made the very sad decision to close,” Howell said. They took some time to rest while deciding what to do next, and during that time, they learned that another Oklahoma City treasure was up for sale.
Locally owned by the Asal family, the small deli and grocery store had been in business since 1981. Known for Mediterranean cooking essentials and a unique assortment of specialty deli meats and cheeses, the shop served as a connection point for the city’s international community and an institution in the local food scene—even when there wasn’t much of a scene to speak of.
In 2020, the Asals were looking for the perfect people to pass the torch to, and the experienced trio of food professionals fit the bill.With backgrounds in both catering and restaurants, those parts of the business came naturally to the new team. However, the imported grocery store nestled within the small building was more of a challenge. “The purchasing—that was really the big learning curve for us,” explained Howell.
Chef Christine Dowd trained extensively with Asal to learn about the complicated logistics, vendor relations and purchasing challenges that come with sourcing imported foodstuffs. “We had not dealt with direct logistics or trucking. But here, you have items coming from the East Coast, the West Coast, or Houston, or they are shipping directly.”
While Asal was originally Palestinian from Nazareth and deeply connected to Oklahoma City’s Greek and Middle Eastern communities, the new owners needed time to build trust with longstanding customers and understand the cultural nuances. “We just tried to be open to everyone’s needs, and our customers knew we were still learning. There were items they were asking for that we had never heard of, or maybe we had only ever heard it referred to as something else, so we would look it up together. Thank goodness for Google,”
Howell laughed. “ People were just so lovely and patient with us learning and growing. Unexpectedly, it has turned out to be one of the most beautiful parts of the work.”
The grocery business is thriving despite current events. “Tariffs and supply chain issues are impacting specialty item prices, especially cheeses and olive oil,” said Howell. “Whatever price comes to us, we always keep our standard markup.” If their price goes down, so too does the price to the customer. “We had a customer the other day who regularly buys these cans of Valbreso feta from France, and he’s like, ‘This is actually less than when I bought it last time.’”
At the deli counter, everything is cut to order, so you can get as much or as little as you want. With more than 150 imported meats and cheeses, if you want it, they probably have it.
For all the learnings that have come on the grocery side, there have also been some incredible opportunities born out of the new owners’ expertise in the catering space. The team enhanced catering services, choosing to focus on casual, drop-off meals while maintaining quality. As a result, this part of the business has expanded significantly. The menu is perfectly positioned for the zeitgeist, with a cuisine that naturally lends itself to health-conscious fare that can easily be served gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan. Dietary restrictions and preferences are not an afterthought; they are simply inherent to a Mediterranean diet.
The catering menu includes popular Mediterranean bowls, kebabs, customizable gyro bars, chip-and-dip trays, as well as handmade desserts. Those who remember Aunt Pitypat’s will be happy to know the legendary lemon bars are alive and well on the catering menu, thanks to an in-house pastry chef.
“There are a lot of great catering options, but not all of them are as fresh and cleanly made. We make hummus two and three times a day in small batches; every sauce is made daily,” said Howell. Customizable charcuterie boards are also available, tailored to audience and event needs.
And then, there are the grazing tables. If you’re not familiar with the concept, think of a charcuterie board on crack. They are so impressive that they can serve as both buffet and centerpiece. Guests mingle as they craft their perfect plate of meats, cheeses, olives, nuts, dried fruits, crackers and breads, veggies, hummus, specialty mustards, jams, and more. The small team recently put together a grazing
table for 400 guests, measuring 24 feet in length. The variety is staggering, the execution is impressive, and the scale is wild. The team asked me to reassure readers that they are also happy to put together smaller grazing tables.
But she does a special every Thursday. Recently, we had all this fresh okra, and she whipped up a delicious Moroccan beef stew with okra and olives. Christine just has that gift—something just a little special that tweaks it in a
Under Chef Dowd, the brick-andmortar restaurant has also flourished. Beloved regulars can always find their favorites, which Dowd has mastered. But it is the daily specials that have set the business apart, winning the respect of longtime customers and attracting new diners. Every day, ten fresh salads are offered, and of those, eight are vegan. All desserts are made in-house, including gluten-free options and seasonal specials.
“The main thing that sets us apart is Chef Christine,” said Howell. “She makes a daily special. Many of those are longtime favorites that we’ve just tweaked because they’re so beloved.
direction that helps keep us relevant.” The food business can be a tough one, but these resilient women have taken the challenges head-on. Not only have they kept an important institution alive, they have bolstered revenue streams to further protect the little deli that could. For this tenacious trio, the winding road led them to exactly the right place at the right time.
The Mediterranean diet is all the rage right now, and with good reason. | Photo provided
The legendary charcuterie trays are fully customizable. | Photo provided
EAT & DRINK
Holiday Entertaining
By Julie Porter Scott
Holiday hosting always sounds like such an excellent idea. You have so many plans— such vision! And then, suddenly, the day has arrived. How can you possibly have it feel as lovely and fun as you meant for it to? The panic sets in: you’ll never be able to pull it all off at this late date. Unless, of course, you outsource the most important part: the food. It’s always a good call—for your guests’ experience and your increasingly tenuous hold on sanity. For everyone’s sake, here are some local spots that always come in clutch.
Iron Star
3700 N. Shartel ironstarokc.com 405-524-5925
Iron Star’s bulk orders are one of the easiest ways to host at home or at the office. From appetizers like deviled eggs and bacon-wrapped quail to smoked meats, chicken, salmon, and prime rib, there are many options from which to choose. Add some of their legendary sides— like fancy mac and cheese and fried okra—and you’re in business. But good luck choosing between the desserts: chocolate bread pudding, banana pudding, and lemon cloud pie.
Big Truck Tacos
530 NW 23rd Street bigtrucktacos.com 405-525-TACO
Scrap the stuffy holiday meal and give your guests what they really want: Big Truck Tacos! Their Build-Your-Own Taco Bar is always a hit, featuring corn and flour tortillas; verde, roja, and OMG salsas; chips; and all the fixings. The BTT taco bar comes with your choice of two taco fillings from an extensive list that includes all of BTT’s greatest hits—from basic to obscure—for both meat eaters and vegetarians. They also offer the same set up for a breakfast taco bar.
Social besocialcatering.com
405-602-8705
Need a perfectly portable box lunch? Or maybe you’re looking for heavy hors d’oeuvres worthy of a photo shoot? Or do you just need a warm, hearty meal designed to satisfy a crowd? No matter the catering concern, Social has you covered. These folks do such a big catering business they closed down the brickand-mortar restaurant and converted it into a special events and catering operation. From your weekly staff meeting to a once-in-alifetime fête, Social knows how to do it all.
Chef Curry Catering & Events
chefcurrytogo.com
405-842-TOGO
Chef Kendall Curry is well-known for his healthy meal prep services, but his work as a caterer gives him a bit more room to flex his creative side. They cater weddings and corporate events, but they also fill a unique need by taking care of smaller luncheons, staff meetings, or any intimate gathering of 25–50 people. Unlike many caterers, their packages start at just $500. If supporting small businesses is part of your philosophy, this checks all the boxes.
The Press 1610 N. Gatewood Ave. thepressokc.com 405-208-7739
If you want a meal that feels homemade (but blessedly isn’t), The Press is the spot. The catering orders come in portions of ten, and you can choose from home runs like Oklahoma caviar, Theta-ish sliders, green chile chowder, buffalo chicken salad, pot roast, and more. Your guests will love the unfussy meals with a distinctly Oklahoma flair, made with quality ingredients. If you want to make it supremely easy, host your little shindig in their private room.
30th Street Market 4057 NW 30th Street 30thstreet.market 405-645-5397
The darling little café and market nestled in the Paseo does everything well, and that includes its catering program. Picture this for your holiday spread: kick things off with a beautiful charcuterie board with assorted salami, cheeses, pickles, olives, nuts, and more, plus a Mediterranean platter with hummus, tapenade, tomatoes, feta, and toasted ciabatta. Then let your guests select their favorite gourmet sandwich before loading up on specialty salads and signature sides. Even Ina would approve.
Stitch 835 W. Sheridan www.stitchokc.com 405-212-2346
Hosting a brunch event is an excellent way to connect with your crew during the busy holiday season, when evenings get so packed. And it’s just a good excuse to serve local favorite Stitch, known for its delicious breakfast fare. Order a full spread of breakfast tacos or burritos, a box of their beloved tarts, and piping-hot, house-roasted coffee. Add your own mimosa bar or serve fancy Bloody Marys to impress without the stress.
Raise a glass to the most wonderful time of the year with our exquisite collection of Laurent Perrier Champagne from the iconic La Cuvée to the radiant Blanc de Blanc and prestigious Grand Siécle.
Thank you for making us your trusted home for the finest wines and champagnes all year long. Joyeux Noël and cheers to magical moments ahead!
Come for the wine, stay for the experience!
EAT & DRINK
Merry Mary
Maybe we’ve all been good this year, and that’s why we get to have Sunday brunch at Mary Eddy’s.
By Julie Porter Scott
Though apparently frowned upon by parenting experts these days, when I was little, our parents bribed us all the time. If we could keep it together for Thanksgiving dinner with our Oklahoma grandparents, our folks would load us up and head to the movie theater for a late-night viewing of whatever blockbuster had just been released. If we didn’t let any bad words slip in front of the Iowa grandparents during the annual Christmas visit, we could stop in Kansas City on the way home, where we would shop, eat, and stay overnight on the Plaza.
I have come to the conclusion: Sunday brunch at Mary Eddy’s is the grown-up version of the movie theater or Kansas City. If I can get through the workweek, practice gentle parenting through my gritted little teeth, and remember to floss said teeth, maybe I will have earned Sunday brunch at Mary Eddy’s.
From the moment you step in, you might as well be the most important guest staying at the Fordson—the staff is that welcoming. The sumptuous digs, the rich jewel tones reflected in mercury glass, the soft lighting on the oil paintings in their ornate frames: after a few minutes, you’re a tourist in your own city. The hospitality never wanes: water is refilled, empty plates are whisked away without interruption, and it always seems like servers here must have to pass a personality test, because
they are all pitch-perfect.
The menu is an Italian-inspired affair, just bougie enough and just boozy enough. The cocktail menu is split into three parts: bubbly cocktails, bloody cocktails, and coffee cocktails. The bubbly selections lean bright and lively. There were mimosas and Aperol spritz, but I ordered the surprisingly delicious and approachable Spaghett. This Fordson lager meets Aperol spritz was unique and delicious, and I would absolutely order it again.
I also like my booze caffeinated, so I tried the silky Fordson Carajillo and enjoyed its vanilla–citrus warmth. Others in our group raved about the Manifesto’s deeper, bourbon-spiced complexity. As I’ve learned to expect from anything coming out of this bar program, the espresso cocktails are far more compelling than your standard espresso martini. After all, nothing standard gets real estate on this thoughtfully curated menu.
My husband can’t call it brunch without a Bloody Mary. And, when looking at this menu, I am pretty sure he has never felt more understood. There’s nothing normcore about it: Mary Eddy’s bloody cocktails showcase bold, culinary-driven flavors. There are several to choose from, but we loved the Caprese Bloody Mary—an herbaceous twist on the classic, with basilinfused vodka and a balsamic reduction. The best touch was a little skewer
of fresh mozzarella that soaked in all the flavors. It was a salad-meets-cocktail moment that perfectly fit the restaurant’s Italian spirit. I will one hundred percent be soaking mozzarella balls in Bloody Mary mix for the rest of my life.
The first-course menu is full of fresh, vibrant, and seasonally inspired flavors.
Seafood lovers will gravitate toward the Colossal Poached Shrimp with San Marzano cocktail sauce. Mary Eddy’s Caesar is elevated by the addition of sweet overnight tomatoes, while the Panzanella salad mixes burrata, artichoke, focaccia, and basil. Heartier firstcourse choices are also available and should not be missed. Because what’s the point of Sunday brunch if you skip the crispy, creamy sweet corn arancini served with a bright lemon aioli?
The only thing that kept me from ordering everything on the “prima” menu was the roster of main dishes that followed.
On the “mains” menu, start with the Egg In The Hole, where Parmesancrusted brioche cradles a soft egg over mushroom cream, earthy truffle, and peppery greens. This was not only delicious but, as an elevated version of a childhood classic, it evoked all sorts of nostalgia.
I was trying to be good and add some veggies to brunch when I ordered the vegetarian frittata di patate, which mixes artichoke, arugula, and eggs with hash browns, spinach, tomato, and mushrooms, along with Parmesan, mozzarella, and white balsamic. This is the frittata of my dreams, and a far cry from the healthy, meal-prep frittata I make at home. It was unexpectedly one of the stars of the entire experience, and I have found myself wanting to go back just for that dish (and, admittedly, to beg for the recipe).
The steakhouse crew and the protein packers will love the steak and eggs, featuring a 14-ounce prime New York strip and fried eggs with a poblano salsa verde. Italian-leaning dishes like the caprese omelet offer a lighter, flavorforward option with pesto and overnight tomatoes, while the spicy blue crab campanelle drapes fresh crab in a vodka sauce heightened by garlic and chili breadcrumbs.
The “pièce de résistance,” hands down, was the ricotta pancake. Fluffier and more custardy than a traditional pancake, dressed with blueberry compote and lemon curd, and topped with streusel, it is a fever dream of flavor and texture. The streusel alone was a revelation; the tart lemon curd was perfect atop the pillowy pancake, and the blueberry compote provided the sweetness.
If you make it to the dessert course, you’ll find the carrot cake ice cream sandwich. Made with carrot caramel, cream cheese semifreddo, and candied walnuts, this is a favorite from their dinner menu.
But really, it’s the affogato for me: vanilla ice cream under a shot of hot espresso. If you need one more drink, opt for the boozy affogato, which features amaro.
For the holidays, Mary Eddy’s is also offering two limited-time specials that fit seamlessly into the menu’s warm, indulgent vibes. The Cinnamon-Eggnog French toast is decadent and aromatic, with thick brioche soaked in spiced eggnog custard, creating a soft center and crisp, caramelized edges. Cozy cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla notes evoke holiday mornings. Pair that with the gingerbread espresso martini, infused with winter spice and blending bitter espresso with gingerbread flavors—molasses, cinnamon, and clove—resulting in a velvety, dessertlike sip.
The holidays can be a lot. This is perhaps the understatement of the century. It’s hard to find time to do everything, whether you’re a busy working parent, half of a power couple, or making your way through another holiday season solo. Consider reserving a Sunday in December for yourself and a few of your closest friends, or make a plan to see the people you’ve been meaning to see all year.
I normally do a lot of entertaining, but that feels harder this year for a variety of reasons. So, I’m planning to post up at Mary Eddy’s with my friends and eat all the ricotta pancakes in a concerted effort not to let another holiday season go by in a blur. I don’t even know if I’ve been particularly good this year, but I still think my plan is Santa-approved. I hope you, too, will find ways to care for yourself this holiday season.
The ricotta pancakes with lemon curd, blueberry compote and a streusel topping are even more delicious than they are beautiful. | Photo provided
ARTS & CULTURE
Sacred Soil
“Jakain Parks: The Black Land” is a powerful exploration of the beauty, legacy, and living traditions of Oklahoma’s Black rodeo community.
By Julie Porter Scott
Jakian Parks was almost apologetic as he spoke to the small group of local press assembled for a media preview of his solo exhibition, “The Black Land.” “I’m very nervous speaking in front of a crowd.” His smile seemed to be equal parts uncomfortable jitters and profound delight as he shifted in his square-toe cowboy boots and took a deep breath. He need not have worried: the journalists gathered were rapt as the young, effervescent photographer and documentarian walked us through his solo exhibit at Oklahoma
Contemporary’s Mary LeFlore Clements Oklahoma Gallery.
The exhibit, which opened on Nov.6, pays homage to Parks’ native Oklahoma and focuses on his authentic representation of Black American cowboy culture and community. His photography emphasizes intergenerational connections between youth and elders, as well as the deep family and communal roots embedded in rodeo traditions.
Parks grew up attending rodeos with his aunt and became immersed in Black rodeo culture at a young age. The self-
taught artist captures moments that connect the past to the present, the oldest living generation to the youngest, and the land to the complicated history between Black Americans and agriculture.
There is so much happening in Parks’ photography; the artistic choices are purposeful, meaningful, and powerful. Saturated reds and wan whites symbolize broader aspects of Black America, well beyond what is portrayed in the media or taught in school. The photos’ settings move from a raucous Pony Express rodeo relay event to a grandmother’s house, tidy as a pin and symbolizing comfort, identity, and cultural roots.
In his portraiture, the facial expressions are arresting. The direct gaze conveys the confidence and determination of today’s Black cowboys, but also gestures toward the resilience of generations of African Americans who have worked the land, both in and out of
captivity.
In “Homegirls,” a group of tween cowgirls look at the camera, their collective tenacity on display. Together, they are everything: the easy bond between them, the mix of tough and sweet, what they know and what they don’t yet know.
In “Our Ancestors’ Dream,” the littlest cowboy sits astride his horse and stares bravely into the camera as he grips the saddle. Parents everywhere will recognize his tiny, dimpled knuckles as an indication of just how young he really is. Any Oklahoman could tell you that from the barren look of the trees, it was probably cold—and that he was being brave about that, too. The photo feels both of this time and from another era entirely, and it stays with you long after you’ve left the museum.
To miss the through lines of the work would bean exercise in practiced avoidance. As the press release for the exhibition so beautifully states, “For Black
Americans, farmland evokes a lineage of forced labor, sharecropping and ongoing challenges around ownership and sovereignty. Yet ‘The Black Land’ also affirms the expertise and insight that have emerged from this proximity. Through its gestures and imagery, the exhibition suggests that ancestral spirits hold the key to a deeply rooted knowledge of plantation systems, gardening traditions and livestock ranching.”
“‘The Black Land’ is a ceremonial parade of the admiration and respect we have for ourselves and our ancestors,” said Chloe` Flowers, guest curator for the exhibition. “The overlap between faith and forward action creates a supernatural progression for Black people. I hope viewers are able to see their reflections in the work and implement more advancement into their lives.”
Parks’ work feels part art, part archive. Take, for example, the image “Pony Express.” The Pony Express is an eight-man relay race on horseback, originating in Oklahoma’s Black rodeos. It is considered even more engaging than bull riding, as it is highly competitive and pushes audience engagement to a new level. As Parks explained the details of a Pony Express event to the small crowd, you could feel him relax into his expertise and experience.
Standing by his side was Flowers, his longtime friend, collaborator, and—in his own words—“muse.” A writer, archivist, and educator from Houston, Flowers explores the intersections of visual culture, cultural history, nostalgia, and critical race theory through prose, essays, and curatorial practice.
As the show’s curator, she had many hard choices to make; the version of the exhibition that reaches viewers is the result of a thousand decisions. “There were a lot of good images,” Flowers explained. “We had to do a lot of work to get it down to the pieces we really loved.”
Flowers also helped determine what would be the key image of the show, “8 Seconds.” “I knew that it was going to be the one,” said Flowers. “When I talk to people about ‘8 Seconds,’ I compare it to when a recording artist has a new album: they have that one song that plays on the radio. ‘8 Seconds’ is like that—the single.”
“We just really love the candid moments here,” Flowers continued. “His skin, the melanin in his skin. But
then also the greenery in the back, and of course we wanted to keep the element of red. And again, as we said before, just the youth connection to equestrianism. When you see cowboys, it’s often a man aged 30 to 50. But in Oklahoma, Black children really have a relationship with rodeo, and they’re committed to it.”
Parks’ unassuming nature belies not only his talent but also his résumé and the recognition he has received, including collaborations with Pharrell Williams for the Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall–Winter 2024 show in Paris, France, and a campaign honoring Black History Month with bootmaker Timberland. In addition, Parks has promoted Black rodeo culture through his work with the nonprofit Oklahoma Cowboys.
His deeply authentic connection to this community provides both the access point and profound affinity he has with his subjects. The respect he has for the people in his photographs borders on reverence, in the best possible way, capturing an overlooked strength and beauty. The closeness of the photographs leaves the viewer haunted by their power. Parks is at the very beginning of what has all the makings of an incredible career, and Oklahoma Contemporary is wise to embrace the young artist and provide this platform.
Jakian Parks: The Black Land
Nov. 6, 2025-June 1, 2026
Oklahoma Contemporary 11 NW 11th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73103 okcontemporary.com | 405-951-0000
Admission to exhibitions is always free
Jakian Parks.
ARTS & CULTURE
Colorfully Abstract
OKCMOA’s colorful dive into Paul Reed’s work opens in time for the holidays.
By Phoebe Grandi
On Nov. 22, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA) welcomed dilettantes to its newest exhibition, “Paul Reed: An Exhibition.” The exhibit, which will run until April 12, showcases the art that characterized the life work of the abstract artist.
Organized chronologically, OKCMOA patrons are guided through the work that characterized his early, mid, and late career.
Beginning in the early 1950s, Reed’s early paintings set the stage for his love of artistic experimentation and involvement in Abstract Expressionism. He toyed with mediums, like the then novel acrylic paint, to create the abstract effects that were becoming popular in the mid-twentieth century. He also ex-
large portion of the collection, is filled with amorphous and geometric swaths of color. These pieces chart the beginning of Reed’s distinctive interest in color experimentation.
A striking piece entitled “No. 14D” (1964) features a mist-blue background with four semi-opaque purple petals arranged in a flower-like shape and four bright orange squares layered on top of them. It is bright and soothing, yet also dark and unnerving, reminding the viewer of how malleable their feelings are in the hands of color theory.
“No. 14D” also straddles a binary for Reed, sitting at the juncture between the amorphous shapes that defined his early mid-career and the geometric themes that would dominate his later
perimented ideologically. “Manet’s Vase After Pollock” (1958), which looks exactly like what the name suggests, illustrates his reverence for art theory and his obsession with pushing its bounds.
His mid-career, which constitutes a
style. His “Disc” (1965) series is a prime example of the latter, in which Reed juxtaposes a monochrome circle with a bright background and different colored triangles placed in alternate corners.
Some of the most remarkable pieces
in the collection, the “Shaped Canvas” series pushes the limits of Reed’s geometric style. The abnormal canvas shapes hold a level of dynamism that, when combined with their color-based visual effects, make them extraordinary.
“Margem” (1968) was painted on a misshapen rectangular canvas and has a little square cut out from its middle. The bold colors—inlcuding orange, pink, yellow, green, blue, and brown— form panels around the cut out to make it feel like you’re looking into an abstract depiction of a room. The piece distorts your perception, making it feel near impossible to decipher whether it is two or three dimensional.
The gallery provides much needed context to the pieces, while still allowing the viewer to form their own thoughts about each painting. Their commentary on Reed’s shaped canvas period provides insight into the ideology fueling the artist’s career in the late sixties and early seventies: “The shaped canvases best represent the totality of Reed’s theories, abilities, and the pure excitement of representing and deconstructing the architectural nature of three dimensional painting.”
Further necessary context for the Paul Reed exhibition is provided by the neighboring exhibit, “The Legacy of the Washington Color School.” The Washington Art School was an abstract expressionist movement born in Washington, D.C. and active from the 1950s until the 1970s. Reed, alongside Kenneth Noland, Morris Louis, Gene Davis, Howard, Mehring, and Thomas Downing, were the formative members of the movement.
The gallery brings together pieces by the other artists in the Washington Art School, displaying the bold colors and experimental patterns that compliment the similar artistic focus that inspired Reed. Additionally, OKCMOA opened its walls to other contemporaries of the Washington Color School whose work often gets overlooked in conversations about the abstract movement. “The Legacy of the Washington School of Art” is a fascinating collection of diverging and converging art styles
that is impressive as both a counterpart to “Paul Reed: An Exhibition” and as a standalone curation.
The Reed exhibit ends with a selection of works from his later career, which stretched from the 1970s to 2010. While the quantity of Reed’s work shrinks as he grows older, his commitment to experimentation remains. Oil pastel abstractions, textured gouache impressions, and photo collages complete the extensive retrospective.
The impressive exhibition’s appearance in the Oklahoma City Metro should be no surprise. In 1968, the museum acquired the Washington Gallery of Modern Art’s collection, as the museum that showcased the art of the Washington Color School was closing. Following a 2016 feature of one of Reed’s paintings, the Paul and Esther Reed Trust gifted 125 of Reed’s works to OKCMOA. As the museum said in its press release for the exhibition, it was “a donation that made OKCMOA the definitive home of Reed’s work.”
The pleasing colors and satisfying shapes can satiate any museumgoer, making the exhibit a perfect destination for any cousins, grandparents, grandchildren, or in-laws that may be visiting you this holiday season.
On the gallery’s opening day, a young family walked amongst the brightly colored and uniquely shaped canvases. The youngest, a boy about five years old, turned to his mom and said “can you take a picture of these, so I can draw them when I get home?” It was the sort of organic curiosity that was delightfully apt for a Paul Reed retrospective.
Paul Reed: A Retrospective
Nov. 22, 2025-Apr 12, 2026
Oklahoma City Museum of Art 415 Couch Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73102 okcmoa.com | 405-236-3100
Free for members, $12.50-$19.50
Inside Look
Add to your home art collection with pieces from 1515 Lincoln Gallery’s “Paul Reed - Works on Paper.”
By Leslie Spears
1515 Lincoln Gallery will debut a new exhibition, “Paul Reed – Works on Paper,” with a public opening on Thursday, Dec. 4, from 6-8 p.m. The show brings together 37 works created between 1965 and 2011, offering a rare look at the depth and evolution of Reed’s practice beyond the painted canvas. All works of art are for sale.
The exhibition centers on Reed’s colored pencil drawings, pastels, and prints—mediums that reveal his meticu-
1515 Lincoln Gallery offers art to the OKC Metro. | Photo provided
ARTS & CULTURE
Holiday Happenings
What’s sparkling in OKC this holiday season.
If you think you’ve seen it all, think again—OKC’s seasonal lineup is the kind you have to experience to believe. From immersive light displays and ice rinks to standout shows, markets, and one-of-a-kind pop-ups, the metro is buzzing with events that impress even the toughest out-of-town guests. Whether you’re roaming downtown, catching a performance, or discovering
Bright Lights
Lights on Broadway
Automobile Alley
Special strolling events on November 29, December 6 & 13, 4-7pm automobilealley.org
Bricktown Entertainment District and Canal
Throughout the season bricktownokc.com
OKC Zoo Safari Lights
Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
Through January 4 okczoo.org/safarilights
SPARKLE Holiday Walk
Scissortail Park
Now through January 4
Thursdays-Sundays, 5:30-9:30pm December 18-January 4
Open Nightly, 5:30-9:30pm scissortailpark.org
Ice, Ice, OKC
Devon Ice Rink
Myriad Botanical Gardens Through February 1, 2026 downtownindecember.com
OAK on Ice
OAK Shopping Center Through January 18, 2026 oakokc.com
Classic Christmas Ice Rink
Remington Park Through December 28 classicchristmasokc.com
something unexpected in a neighborhood nook, there’s no shortage of ways to show off this city
Here’s what the OG has pulled together for readers ready to entertain visitors—and gather with their favorite people. We’ve kept this list intentionally tight to make space for the highlights, and each event includes a link with more details. You’ll find a mix
Magical Performances
A Christmas Carol Lyric Theatre, Plaza District
November 28-December 27 lyrictheatreokc.com
It’s a Wonderful Life - A Live Onstage
Radio Play
Carpenter Square Theatre
November 28-December 13, performances at 2pm, 7:30pm & 8pm carpentersquare.com
Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker
Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park Paseo Arts District
December 4-21
Paseo Arts District okshakes.org/jane-austens-christmascracker
Jim Brickman: The Gift of Christmas Tower Theatre
December 4, 8pm towertheatreokc.com
Christmas with The Rat Pack
Oklahoma City Community College
Friday, December 5, 7:30pm occctickets.com
Christmas with The Petersens Tower Theatre
Friday, December 5, 6:30pm towertheatreokc.com
A Very Merry Pops
Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra
Civic Center Music Hall
Friday & Saturday, December 5-6, 7:30pm okcphil.org
of ticketed experiences and free gems worth exploring.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: “Ghosts of Christmas Eve” Paycom Center December 7, 3 & 7pm paycomcenter.com
Holiday Spectacular Oklahoma City University School of Dance Thursday-Sunday, December 11-14, 2pm & 8pm performances okcuschoolofdance.com
The Nutcracker Oklahoma City Ballet December 12–23, 1pm, 2pm, 5pm & 7pm performances Civic Center Music Hall okcballet.org
SANTA’S HOUSE PARTY: AN EDM + HOUSE NIGHT, The Dance Parties Saturday, December 13, 9pm Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com
Shopping Local
Holiday Pop-Ups Midtown, downtown November 28-December 21, Fridays and Saturdays, 10am-8pm and Sundays, 10am-6pm okcpopups.com
First Friday Gallery Walk Paseo Arts District Friday, December 5, 6-9pm thepaseoartsdistrict.org
Holiday Artist Markets Factory Obscura Saturdays, November 29 and December 13, 3-7:30pm factoryobscura.com
LIVE! on The Plaza: Holiday Block Party The Plaza District Sunday, December 14, 12-4pm plazadistrict.org
Take A Ride
FREE OKC Streetcar rides Downtown OKC Weekends through January 4. okcstreetcar.com
The Polar Express™ Train Ride Oklahoma Railway Museum Through December 28 okcpolarexpressride.com
ArtAfloatOKC’s Caroling Cruises Bricktown Water Taxi December 4-19, 6:30pm bricktownwatertaxi.com
Run, Walk, Immerse
Coca Cola Classic Christmas Remington Park Through December 28 classicchristmas.com/oklahoma-city
Crystal Bridge Conservatory Holidays Myriad Botanical Gardens Open daily myriadgardens.org
Saints Santa 5K Run Downtown OKC Saturday, December 6, 9am-12pm downtownindecember.com
Cowboy Christmas Parade Stockyards City Saturday, December 6, 10am-1pm stockyardscity.org
OKC Chanukah Festival Scissortail Park Sunday, December 14, 4:30pm jewishokc.com
SilverHaus: 21+ Oklahoma Contemporary Saturday, December 13, 8pm-12am okcontemporary.com
Automobile Alley lights up at night . | Photo by Missy Mayo Photography
Photo by Carl Shortt
Speakeasy Holiday Hang
The Holiday Hideaway Chicken N Pickle Through December 31 chickennpickle.com
Miracle Social Capital Through December 31. Closed Mondays. miracleoklahomacity.com
Dasher’s Den Colcord Hotel Through January 3, 6:30-10pm colcorddashersden.com
Blitzen’s at Basin Bar Omni Oklahoma City Hotel Through January 2 omnihotels.com
The Jones Assembly Holiday decor & events through New Year’s thejonesassembly.com
Sports
OKC Thunder Home Games Paycom Center
Wednesday, December 17: vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 7pm
Monday, December 22: vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 8:30pm
Thursday, December 25: vs. San Antonio Spurs, 1:30pm (Christmas Day game)
Sunday, December 28: vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 2:30pm
Monday, December 29: vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7pm
Wednesday, December 31: vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 7pm (New Year’s Eve game) okcthunder.com
Movies
“Wicked For Good”, now open
“Stranger Things Season 5”, Netflix, November 26-December 31
“Oh What Fun,” Michelle Pfeiffer, Prime, December 3
“Merrily We Roll Along Movie”, December 5
“Avatar: Fire and Ash,” December 19
“The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants”, December 19
“Anaconda”, December 25
“Song Sung Blue”, December 25
12/19 | BLUE CHRISTMAS W/ BRIAN LEE DUNNING
12/18 | JABEE PRESENTS W/ DRACO, CORTNEY LACHELLE, TREVO, MAIGUY
12/20 | BLY W/ SHAY LYRIQUE & MADISON
RESERVE YOUR TABLE AT OKCBLUENOTE.COM 2408 N ROBINSON
TABLESIDE CATERING BY
12/13| BLUEGRASS BRUNCH W/ JOHNNY MULLENAX
GARNER
SPARKLE stars in the Woodland Gardens at Scissortail Park . | Photo by Stacey Aldridge
ARTS & CULTURE
In Review
Movie theaters might be struggling, but 2025 had its bright spots.
By Phil Bacharach
With 2025 almost in the rearview mirror, it’s as good a time as any to assess the year in film, particularly since it has been a considerable improvement over the comparatively listless 2024.
Although, one would not necessarily know it based on box-office receipts. It is no secret that moviegoing has been on the proverbial ropes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, crippling strikes by screen actor and writer guilds, and a surfeit of streaming options that has revolutionized how people consume entertainment. As of this writing, North American ticket sales for 2025 represent a modest increase over last year, but grosses remain more than 20%below pre-pandemic levels. The recovery underway—if it is a recovery—is slow, and the newest bogeyman of AI isn’t exactly fueling optimism in Hollywood.
Out with the new, in with the old Hollywood’s saving grace, financially speaking, might be its collective lack of creativity. Audiences love to grouse that moviemakers aren’t coming up with new ideas and stories, but there is little incentive for studio executives to tax their imagination when wellestablished IP is putting butts in seats. Of the year’s 20 most commercially successful films, only “Sinners,” “F1: The Movie” and “One Battle After Another” were not a remake, reboot, sequel or based on computer games or comic books.
Live-action remakes of “Lilo & Stitch” and “How to Train Your Dragon” were bona fide hits despite middling reviews, raking in $423.7 million and $262.9 million in domestic sales. An anodyne installment in the “Jurassic Park” franchise, “Jurassic Park: Rebirth,” earned $339.6 million stateside. While superhero flicks are no longer the automatic payday they once were (“Madame Web,” anyone?), reboots of Superman and the Fantastic Four were moderately profitable, as was even the critically drubbed “Captain America: Brave New World.” The domestic opening of the “Minecraft Movie” drew a record $163 million and is sitting on more than $423 million. While more entertaining than it had any right to be, the cinematic adaptation of a 15-year-old gamer mainstay doesn’t exactly represent out-of-the-box thinking.
There have also been plenty of IP financial disappointments. While
Hollywood is banking on some holiday releases (we’re looking at you, “Avatar: Fire and Ash”), 2025 is strewn with the shattered expectations of glass-jawed underperformers like “Snow White,” “Tron: Ares,” “The Smashing Machine,” “Christy” and “The Running Man.”
Industry observers are skeptical that theaters can rebound from the reality of streaming services. Matthew Belloni, arguably the nation’s most influential reporter covering show business, says we are witnessing “the real-time disintegration of a 100-year-old industry.”
Cinephiles know the singular joys from the communal experience of watching a movie on a screen 30 feet high, but evidently it doesn’t trump the convenience of streaming. According to the Associated Press, only 16%of Americans go to a theater each month, compared to 32 percent who stream a new release monthly. Why venture out when you can wait a few weeks and see the latest wannabe blockbuster without having to leave the comforts of your home—or even the toilet, for that matter?
Horror still a scream
The horror genre, typically modestly budgeted but high-yielding, has long been a sure bet at the box office. This year is no exception, with scary pictures topping domestic sales over at least 11 weekends. Horror IP has been dependable, with “The Black Phone 2,” “The Conjuring: Last Rites” and “Final Destination: Bloodlines” among the financial winners.
Some of 2025’s most artistically lauded films were horror entries.
Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” set in the Mississippi Delta of the 1930s, mashes vampires with the Black experience in the Jim Crow South. What initially looks like an incongruent match turns out to be a nifty metaphor on cultural appropriation.
“Weapons,” the sophomore effort of former sketch comic Zach Cregger, builds on the promise he showed in 2022’s “Barbarian.” Employing a nonlinear structure steeped in mystery, “Weapons” offers a fictional town where an entire third-grade class disappears into the night.
The “28 Days Later” franchise received new blood—and spattered blood—with the reunion of director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland; The new movie provides the requisite zombie gore within the context of an affecting coming-of-age story.
Another terrific genre pic, writerdirector Ben Leonberg’s “Good Boy,” presents a haunted house tale from the perspective of a dog.
Ripped from the headlines
In the politically polarized America of 2025, where trolling and doomscrolling are national pastimes, a handful of movies are meeting the moment.
Movie buffs had eagerly awaited Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” which marks the filmmaker’s biggest budget to date and first work since 2002’s “Punch-Drunk Love” set in the modern day. The film’s critical reception this fall was near-rapturous.
A crackerjack comic-thriller about an ex-leftist terrorist’s search for his teenage daughter, “One Battle After Another” felt like it had been written only weeks ago, even though Anderson had been thinking about the project for many years. Christian nationalism, the current crackdown on illegal immigration, and left-wing terrorism factor prominently in this mainstream movie likely to earn Oscar nominations for stars Leonardo Di Caprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and Teyana Taylor.
But, it isn’t the only topical film. Ari Aster’s “Eddington” satirizes the social tumult of the pandemic, while Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt” examines cancel culture and gender politics on an Ivy League campus. Both films, the work of talented provocateurs, predictably divided audiences and critics alike.
“Bugonia,” the fourth collaboration between director Yorgos Lanthimos
and his muse Emma Stone, mines black comedy from the wells of conspiracymongering endemic to the internet and social media.
Every generation needs its cautionary tale of nuclear apocalypse, it seems. Baby boomers had “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” and “Fail-Safe.” GenX had “The Day After” and “Threads.” Now GenZ has “A House of Dynamite.” Veteran director Kathryn Bigelow posits what would happen if a nuclear warhead was heading toward the United States, and it ain’t reassuring. Shot documentary-style, “House of Dynamite” crackles with relevance given today’s eruptive global politics.
Closer to home
Back in the Sooner state, the 25th anniversary of the deadCenter Film Festival this summer was a rousing success. Boasting a 33% jump in attendance over 2024, moviegoers turned out over the five-day fest for Oklahomamade entries such as “Reverence,” “Jurassic Games: Extinction” and “67 Bombs to Enid.”
Moreover, Oklahoma’s burgeoning film industry continues to flex. The state’s film rebate program, launched by the 2021 Filmed in Oklahoma Act, is reaping dividends. A study earlier this year found the law has had a $531 million economic impact in the state. Movies released this year shot in Oklahoma include “King Ivory,” “Sarah’s Oil,” “The Last Rodeo,” “The Beldham” and “The Unbreakable Boy.”
Amy Madigan plays the character “Aunt Gladys” in the 2025 horror film, Weapons, a terrifying and enigmatic villain who seems to be a normal woman but is actually a witch preying on children to sustain herself.
CALENDAR
MUSIC
An Evening with Tommy Emmanuel, CGP
December 3, 7:30pm Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center
Good Boy Daisy
December 3, 7pm 89th Street
Ov Sulfur & Ingested & CELL
December 3, 6pm Beer City Music Hall www.bandsintown.com
Jake’s Jingle Jam: Preston Cooper & Braxton Keith
December 4, 7pm Riverwind Casino
Jim Brickman: The Gift of Christmas December 4, 7:00pm Tower Theatre
John Moreland - Three Nights
December 4, 8:00pm The Blue Door (405) 524-0738
UCO Jazz Lab presents: “A Christmas Story - The Musical” December 4
Wind Symphony in Concert
December 4, 7:30pm Mitchell Hall Theatre calendar.uco.edu
12 STONES - 89th Street
December 5, 6:30pm 89th Street Collective
Good Boy Daisy
December 3, 7pm 89th Street - Bandsintown
Crazy & The Brains
Friday, December 5, 8pm Beer City Music Hall
12 Stones: The Smoke and Mirrors
Tour
Friday, December 5, 6:30pm 89th Street 89thstreetokc.com
R.A.P. Ferreira
Friday, December 12, 2025. Resonant Head
Kashus Culpepper
Thursday, December 11, 7pm The Criterion
Chiodos
Wednesday, December 10, 5:30pm The Criterion,
South Austin Moonlighters
Friday, December 12, 7pm Blue Door,
Black Kite Christmas Performance
Saturday, December 13, 7pm Wiley Post Event Center
Rain City Drive with Nevertel
Sunday, December 14, 7pm Tower Theatre
The Shapeshifter Tour Part II
Sunday, December 14, 6pm Tower Theatre
Arkansauce
Friday, December 19 Beer City Music Hall
Tequila Songbirds Annual Holiday Show
Saturday, December 20, 8pm Blue Door
Man Of The North Tour (Liam St. John)
Saturday, December 20, 7pm Beer City Music Hall
Adèle Wolf’s New Year’s Eve Follies Wednesday, December 31, 10pm Little Theatre, located within the Civic Center Music Hall
FILM
Tales from the Silver Screen: A Christmas Carol (1984)/ Scrooged (1988)
December 3, 7:00pm
Edmond Library
www.metrolibrary.org, (405) 3419282, (405) 231-8650
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
December 4, 7:30pm
Oklahoma City Museum of Art www.okcmoa.com, (405) 236-3100
COMEDY
Jeff Dye
December 4, 7:00pm Bricktown Comedy Club
THE SWAMP
Saturday, December 6, 9:30pm OKC Improv
Dustin Nickerson
Sunday, December 7, 6pm Bricktown Comedy Club
Darci Lynne
Date: Thursday, December 11, 7pm Bricktown Comedy Club
Put A Cork In It Comedy: Nick Campbell & Friends!
Friday, December 12, 7pm Location: Put a Cork in It
William Montgomery
Friday, December 12, 7pm, with additional dates through December 14.
Bricktown Comedy Club
Cactus Tate
Saturday, December 20, 7pm, with additional dates through December 21. Bricktown Comedy Club,
Alfred Robles
Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 7:00 PM. Bricktown Comedy Club
Tony Roberts
Date: Friday, December 26, 7pm, through December 28. Bricktown Comedy Club
PERFORMING ARTS
A Christmas Carol - ASL Interpreted
December 3, 7:30pm Lyric Theatre
Red Dirt Poetry
December 3, 7:00pm Literati Press Bookshop
It’s a Wonderful Life - A Live On-
Stage Radio Play Adapted from the Film
December 4, 7:30pm Carpenter Square Theatre www.carpentersquare.com (405) 232-6500
Jake’s Jingle Jam
December 4
Musical Theatre: Holiday Show
December 4, 7:30pm University of Central Oklahoma calendar.uco.edu
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
December 4, 11:30am Oklahoma Railway Museum okcthepolarexpressride.com
Ponyboy Karaoke
December 4, 9pm Ponyboy ponyboyokc.com
Theatre Arts: Short Play Festival
December 4, 7:30pm Mitchell Education Center calendar.uco.edu
Lyric’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL ‘25 November 28 to December 28 Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma
THE ADDAMS FAMILY CREEPMAS SPECIAL!
Friday, December 5, 7pm The Boom
Oklahoma City Philharmonic: A Very Merry Pops: A Fun-Filled Family Concert Saturday, December 6, 2pmCivic Center Music Hall,
Canterbury Voices: Handel’s Messiah Sunday, December 7, 7pm Civic Center Music Hall
Oklahoma City University’s Holiday Spectacular Kirkpatrick Auditorium in OCU’s Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Building.
Oklahoma City Ballet: The Nutcracker
December 12-23, 2025.
Location: Civic Center Music Hall
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Saturday, December 27, 7pm Civic Center Music Hall
Red Earth TreeFest 2025
Dates: November 13, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
Location: Red Earth Art Center, 800 N Classen Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73106.
Contact: Visit the Red Earth website or the VisitOKC page for details.
Mingle & Jingle - Porcelain Art Museum Open House Saturday, December 6, 10am Porcelain Art Museum
Holiday Drop-in Art at Oklahoma City Museum of Art Saturday, December 6, 10am Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Film In Oklahoma Tuesday, December 9, 5:30pm 8th Street Market,
Spirit, Mind, & Body Faire of OPERA Saturday, December 6, 11am
Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled
VISUAL ARTS
ArtNow 2025: Materials and Boundaries
Oklahoma Contemporary okcontemp.org, (405) 951-0000
Holiday Sip and Shops
December 3, 4:00pm Howell Gallery howellgallery.com, 405-840-4437
Public Exhibition Tour of The Legacy of the Washington Color School Oklahoma City Museum of Art www.okcmoa.com
Country’s
SHINE on Oklahoma Music highlights Jean Shepard.
By Brian Maughan
This November marks the 70th anniversary of Jean Shepard’s induction into the legendary Grand Ole Opry. Shepard was the eighth woman to be given membership as a solo artist. To commemorate the historic milestone, a documentary detailing her life came out on November 21 on SHINE Oklahoma Music’s YouTube called “Jean Shepard: Trailblazer.”
Shepard, a native of Pauls Valley, would break several barriers for women in country music. She was the first country singer to have an all-women band, The Melody Ranch Girls. Shepard played bass and provided lead vocals for the group. When she met her music idol Hank Williams, Sr., she told him she was going to be a country music singer. Hank told her that there really were no “girl singers in country music,” she later recounted.
“I’m going to change that,” Shepard proudly stated back to Hank. Change country music is exactly what she did.
In 1953, she became the second woman to have a number one record with her recording of “Dear John Letter.” It remained at the top position for 23 weeks on various charts selling over one million copies. In fact, prior to Shepard, only two women, Kitty Wells and Goldie Hill, had even charted a song on the Billboard country hit list.
Shepard was only 19 years old at the time. And, the chart topping song would only be the beginning of a prolific career. Over the next 15 years, she would place 73 songs and 14 albums on the Billboard’s country hit list. To this day, that makes her one of the most charting female country
singers in history. She was also among the first women to perform for audiences abroad as her popularity extended to many other countries.
In 1960, she married fellow Grand Ole Opry star Hawkshaw Hawkins. They were the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill of their day. The two became favorites at the Opry and on various variety television shows.
But, just three years into their marriage with Shepard eight months pregnant with their second child, Hawkshaw was tragically killed in the same plane crash that claimed the lives of Cowboy Copas and Patsy Cline.
Unsure of how to go on performing while raising their two sons on her own, Shepard received encouragement from her husband’s best friend, Marty Robbins.
Robbins asked if he could write her a song that he thought would be fitting considering the circumstances. The result was a song called “Two Little Boys.” When Robbins presented it to her, Shepard noticed that the songwriting credit was given to her two sons. Robbins wanted the boys to have the songwriting royalties since they had lost their father at such early ages.
Shepard recorded “Two Little Boys” as the B side to her comeback hit “Second Fiddle (to an Old Guitar)” which went to #5 and was nominated for a Grammy. It also established her two sons as the youngest songwriters to ever be credited on a song, a record which stands to this day.
Having to go on as the sole provider for her children, Shepard continued touring. While she may have done it out of neces-
sity, she nevertheless shattered another glass ceiling by becoming the first woman to headline a country music tour.
Keep in mind that Patsy Cline had already passed. Kitty Wells, Wanda Jackson, and Loretta Lynn had already arrived on the scene. Yet, it was Shepard who trailblazed this record.
On her 35th birthday, Shepard married Benny Birchfield. They would enjoy 48 years of marriage until her death on September 25, 2016. At the time of her death, she was the longest reigning member of the Grand Ole Opry at 61 years. Her record has since been eclipsed by Bill Anderson, but she remains the most tenured female member.
In 2010, she was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and the following year she was finally placed into the Country
Music Hall of Fame. Even after all that time, she was still only the 15th woman to be inducted into the prestigious institution, showing her endurance and survival in a male-dominated world.
Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, and Reba McEntire have a song called Trailblazer. It talks about those who came before them in the business. The whole song could be about Jean Shepard. Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, and all the others have walked the trail that Jean Shepard began to blaze 70 years ago.
Brian Maughan serves as Oklahoma County Commissioner, Dist 2 and does a series of interviews with Oklahoma music stars for the Oklahoma History Center called SHINE on Oklahoma Music.
Jean Shepard poses with Garth Brooks. | Photo by Ruth Bauer
Jean Shepard performs at the Grand Ole Opry. | Provided by Bruce McGuire
MUSIC
Fireside Seats
Oklahoma City native Chase Kerby bares all in new album.
By Phoebe Grandi
While Edmond Memorial played rival Edmond North on Nov. 14, one couple—just across the street from the riotous postseason game—set up string lights, built a fire, and prepared a woodland stage in their backyard. Jessica and Caleb had dreamed of hosting house shows in the hollow carved from the brush behind their home since the two got married there last year. The first musician they invited to their sacred space was their friend and local singer/songwriter Chase Kerby.
“Intimate” begins to describe the atmosphere, and “thoughtfully curated” completes the picture. A table on the house’s patio served carefully crafted tuna tartare sandwiches and elote cake for guests to graze. The charcuterie board featured persimmons and gooseberries alongside your more usual fruit and cheese suspects. The makeshift bar served two cocktails: an old fashioned and a fernet and coke. The bartender, who I overheard was a pastor at a nearby church, kindly explained to me that fernet (a liquor I’d never heard of) is often referred to as a ‘bartender’s handshake.’
As they made their way to the hollow, guests sat on small benches situated around a keyboard, a microphone, and a propped up guitar case with “Chase Kerby” written in giant white letters.
Over the next few hours, Kerby performed the entire length of his new album, “Saved Seats,” to a captivated audience of 25, interspersing the acoustic numbers with personal stories and comments.
It was a one-of-a-kind and refreshing experience, especially for a world increasingly obsessed with stadium tours. Every “thirddd…downnn” and faint Drake chorus that drifted from the Memorial football game felt like a comical reminder of the unusual musical gathering. For Kerby, though, the concert felt as gratifying as any stadium show he could’ve played. “I felt like I had just played Wembley,” Kerby said, in an interview with the Gazette.
“Saved Seats” is Kerby’s first full album. And, the collection is what Kerby considers an “autobiographical album,” one that digs deep into his past experiences with unapologetic honesty. “You have to understand that when it’s just you and you’re making your own art, that is the one chance that you have to be more honest with yourself than ever before,” Kerby said.
The album title references the emotion-
al space––the “saved seats,” if you will—we hold for people. Collectively, the songs weave a delicate picture of the complex feelings that accompany difficult breakups, the death of a loved one, learning to let go, and learning to hold on. “Saved Seats” establishes Kerby as a lyrical force capable of embracing vulnerability.
But, such vulnerability didn’t always come easily to him. “It’s been such a process to just get here,” he said. “I had to back off from a lot of stuff, and really kind of step out of the scene for a while to find myself again. But, I’m glad he was still in there.”
Kerby has been in the Oklahoma City music scene for 25 years, having previously been a part of a handful of bands—one of which went on to tour with the All-American Rejects. He also had a stint on The Voice,
which he described as both an “isolating experience” and hard to look back on because of his father’s death soon after. “I never really knew where I fit in with anything,” the singer/songwriter said, reflecting on his past projects.
Creating “Saved Seats” gave Kerby the opportunity to make something that was truly his own.
Even the process of recording and mixing the songs was a practice in trusting himself and his art. “I started to realize that I couldn’t afford to go to a studio; I couldn’t afford to hire all these people to play on it,” said Kerby, talking about when he first started “Saved Seats.” “I had just a little two-channel interface, so I made the whole album in my apartment. I played everything on it, from acoustic guitar, classical guitar, synthesizer, keyboards, piano, percussion, bass, electric guitar, slide guitar, and all the vocals.” The only other people to be featured on the forthcoming album are Amanda Fortney, who played violin on three songs, and Zach Stabler, who played bass on two.
Yet, for an album produced with an
unusual caliber of independence, it was also the evident child of Kerby’s supportive community. From the laptop his friend leant him to the album cover photos shot by his girlfriend to the unwavering support from his mother, Kerby makes it clear that it was his “core circle of people who made [the album] come to fruition.”
“The Pass,” one of the most impactful songs performed that night, was written when Kerby’s friend and bandmate Beau Jennings told (or, rather, dared) Kerby to write a song using no metaphors, a stray from the lyricist’s poetic style. The result was a beautifully descriptive and unmistakably tender account of the childhood trips Kerby and his dad would take to Colorado: “It’s me and my dad in a ‘90 Corolla / driving to places outside Oklahoma / 500 bucks in the bank / and a quarter is left in the tank / the closer to the summit, the closer to the rain.”
“I am proud of it,” Kerby said about “Saved Seats,” thoughtfully. “Every day that goes by I’ll listen to a couple tunes and think ‘I should have mixed this differently’ because I’ve never mixed my own album. But, I produced, mixed, and played almost everything on it. And, you know what? That’s not bad.”
For Kerby, the gratifying process of making the album has informed where he’s headed in the future. “I want to lean into being an artist,” Kerby said. “It’s a strange thing to say when you’re about to be 41 years old. I’ve already tried all this stuff, but now I need to be me. I mean, this is the poorest I’ve ever been in my life, but it’s also the happiest I’ve been in years.”
After the show ended, audience members waited around to share their thoughts, ask him questions, or simply congratulate him. “That is the best byproduct of making music, the connection afterwards,” Kerby said.
One 12-year-old asked Kerby if his album is available on vinyl because, of course, he wanted to add it to his vinyl collection.
“That’s the coolest [thing] that’s ever happened to me,” Kerby laughed. “A kid wants my album on vinyl. That makes two of us.”
For those who want to listen to “Saved Seats”—before its prospective vinyl release—Kerby is planning to release the first single, “Death of a Salesman,” in January. Two more singles, “Freezing in the Summertime” and “The Pass” will be released in February and March, before the full album release in April. You can find Chase Kerby on Instagram at @chasekerbymusic.
Chase Kerby will release new album “Saved Seats” in April of 2026. | Photo by Kiki Mackey
Live Masterpiece
Indie-folk band Big Thief rocks Tulsa’s historic concert hall.
By Phoebe Grandi
At 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 3, Tulsa’s historic Cain’s Ballroom was nearly full. Fans in their teens and twenties wearing eyeliner and camo pants packed tightly together between portraits of famous country musicians. Words inscribed above the stage reminded everyone that they were standing in the “Home of Bob Wills.”
The crowd began to cheer as the show’s opener walked on stage. Lomelda— the stage name of Hannah Read—was exceedingly casual, sporting a Golden State Warriors sweatshirt and hardly addressing the crowd. Less casual was her accompaniment, which included a violin and harmonium among other instruments more typically seen in indie bands. Her sound was ambient, with evident folk influence. It was gentler than the songs about to be played by Big Thief, but equally as lyrically reflective.
After a short break between sets, it was time for Big Thief to take the stage.
The audience cheered ecstatically as Adrienne Lenker calmly walked on stage.
Drummer James Krivchenia and bassist
Joshua Crumbly followed. Last was guitarist Buck Meek, looking like one of Bob Wills’ own Texas Play Boys in his black slacks, white button down shirt and black tie. His perhaps accidental homage to the “Home of Bob Wills” made me laugh just enough to forget how sardine-like the audience had become.
The band began with “Vampire Empire,” an upbeat yet stripped back single released between their fifth and sixth albums. The audience shouted along, imitating Lenker’s passionate singing.
Big Thief, who gained popularity as an indie-folk band in the late 2010s, is largely known for their poetic lyrics and folk sound.
But, their choice to open with “Vampire Empire” clarified one thing: Big Thief is also a rock band.
They jumped between songs from their older albums, maintaining the audience’s unwavering attention with rock instrumentals, lyrical vocals, and clear joy for playing their music. As they performed, the cavern of white cement behind them filled up with purple and red light. The lighting seemed a simple stage feature when other bands concern themselves with projections and pyrotechnics. Big Thief didn’t even have their band name written on their drumset, and yet nothing was missing. The simplicity forced us to fixate on the music with an intensity that seemed both obvious and rare.
As the band finished a song from their fifth album, Lenker smiled and softly said, “This is one of my favorite venues to play.” It was one of her first times addressing the audience.
Big Thief came to Tulsa as a part of their Somersault Slide 360 Tour, which followed the release of their sixth studio album, “Double Infinity.” The concert, however, was a masterful tour of their entire discography. More songs were played from their 2022 album, “Dragon New Warm Mountain
I Believe in You,” than “Double Infinity.”
Still, the three songs they played from their newest album held their own weight in the setlist. The group was shrouded in deep pink light as they performed the record’s opening track, “Incomprehensible.”
As Lenker approached the sixth verse, it was one of the only moments throughout the concert where almost no one sang along. Rather, it felt as if the audience was holding its breath, eager to hear Lenker sing: “My mother and my grandma, my great-grandmother too / Wrinkle like the river, sweeten like the dew / And as silver as the rainbow scales that shimmer purple blue / How can beauty that is living be anything but true?”
As she faded into the chorus, light from the disco ball above the audience glistened slowly over Lenker. For a split second, it looked like a scene from a high school dance, with the timeless hardwood floors and barnlike structure of Cain’s resembling a classic American gymnasium. It made the performance seem simultaneously eternal yet fleeting, an appropriate duality for a song about the joy and complexity of aging.
Big Thief played with the confidence and ease of a band that had clearly carved its own niche in the music industry. While each member of the band mostly stood in the same spot and their commentary was few and far between, they acknowledged the audience through their evident love for their music. Despite the simplicity, Big Thief’s presence felt anything but minimal. Their encore consisted of four songs. By this point, my feet were starting to hurt from standing for almost two hours. But, I was not wishing the evening to end, and neither was anyone around me.
The last song of the night was Anything, a song off of Lenker’s acclaimed solo album “songs.” Lenker began playing, but paused after a few notes. “I wasn’t planning on playing this one tonight,” she laughed as she restarted the riff.
As the bittersweet love song filled the room, people in the more spacious parts of the crowd began to dance. It felt like a celebration of a night well spent. After all, how often do you experience two full hours of live music accompanied by nothing but the passion and joy of the band?
Adrianne Lenker and Buck Meek play guitar together on stage at Cain’s Ballroom. | Photo by Phoebe Grandi
PUZZLES
By Amie Walkerv
by Will Shortz
for short 81 ‘‘Don’t dillydally!’’
83 Gymnast Biles
85 ‘‘Sorry, I don’t think so’’
86 Phillipa of the original ‘‘Hamilton’’ cast
87 Traveler’s check, in brief?
89 Wrapped garment
90 Wear for just a moment, say
91 ‘‘Put your wallet away’’ 93 Tournament advantages
95 Show host
97 Any activities on them need to be wound up 101 ‘‘Best of’’ collections, often
Circus prop 106 Crate & Barrel product 108 Home shopping channel
109 1990s ABC sitcom about kids growing up without their parents
111 ____ pal (rhyming friend)
112 Leave with no doubt
115 Homer Simpson’s dad
116 Repetitive way of learning
117 Telegraph pioneer, or a description of four squares in this puzzle
120 Do a restaurant job
121 The ‘‘N’’ in E.N.T.
122 Like someone who experiences little to no amorous and sexual attraction, for short
123 Wine specialty of the Burgundy region
124 Sponsored spots
125 Hide
126 ____ Cucamonga, Calif.
127 Features of some wineglasses DOWN
1 Tie the knot
2 Figure with equal angles
3 Chance for supporters to induct athletes into the All-Star Game
4 ‘‘You can say ____ again!’’
5 River deposit
6 1,002, in old Rome
7 Peace Nobelist Kofi
8 Kiwi or ostrich
47 Emails discreetly
48 Bunches and bunches
49 Sightseeing excursion
51 Whisper affectionately
9 Like the teams of Starsky & Hutch and Cheech & Chong
10 West African crop
11 Bread for a corned beef sandwich
12 ‘‘Treat me like an adult, MOM!’’
13 Servings at teas
14 Hold up well
15 Way to get online
16 V8 component
17 ‘‘Au contraire’’
18 Disappointing firework
24 ‘‘The ____ Smith Show’’ (Apple TV offering)
29 After-dinner brandy
30 Residue on Santa’s suit
33 Muse of lyric poetry
34 Bathroom, to Mary Poppins
35 Like a foot that’s fallen asleep
37 Pistachio eater’s discard
39 Pristine
40 Cookie container
42 ‘‘Spamalot’’ co-creator
44 Scarce
spans two time zones: Abbr.
City that’s home to the Munch Museum
Beauty spot
Funny O’Brien
52 Howard and Spelman, for two: Abbr.
54 Pet-biting pest
57 Wager
58 Reduces, as anxiety
60 Handcrafted items in a fishing tackle box
62 ‘‘Lah-di-____!’’
64 Nocturnal primate of the Indian forest
66 Language in which ‘‘one, two, three’’ is ‘‘neung, song, sam’’
68 ‘‘Frozen’’ queen
71 ‘‘____ Breaky Heart’’
72 Paul ____, ‘‘There Will Be Blood’’ actor
73 Bunches and bunches
76 Actress Thurman
78 New Balance competitor
79 ‘‘Eye’’ on a spud
80 What strong leadership may be perceived as
82 Former QB Manning
84 Rain clouds
87 ‘‘All sales final’’
88 Phobia
as
onagers and zebras
you might put on a show?
Air freshener choices
‘‘Yuck!’’
‘‘The Life of a Showgirl,’’ for Taylor Swift
Rock’s ____ Speedwagon
Stumped? Call 1-900-285-5656 to get the answers to any three clues by phone ($1.20 a minute).
SUDOKU MEDIUM | N° 9769 Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3-by-3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9. www.printmysudoku.com NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS Puzzle No. 0831, which appeared in the September 2025 issue.
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ILLUSTRATOR Steve Hill
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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Japanese word *mushin* means “no mind.” In Zen Buddhism, it refers to the state of flow where thinking stops and being takes over. When you are moving along in the groove of *mushin*, your body knows what to do before your brain catches up. You’re so present you disappear into the action itself. Athletes refer to it as “the zone.” It’s the place where effort becomes effortless, where you stop trying and simply love the doing. In the coming weeks, Aries, you can enjoy this state more than you have in a long time. Ride it with glee!
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): For the foreseeable future, salmon are your spirit creatures. I’ll remind you about their life cycle. They are born in freshwater, migrate to the ocean, and live there for years. Then they return, moving against river currents, up waterfalls, past bears and eagles. Eventually, they arrive at the exact stream where they were born. How do they do it? They navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field and their sense of smell, remembering chemical signatures from years ago. I think your own calling is as vivid as theirs, dear Taurus. And in the coming weeks, you will be extra attuned to that primal signal. Trust the ancient pull back toward your soul’s home.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): What if procrastination isn’t always a problem? On some occasions, maybe it’s a message from your deeper self. Delay could serve as a form of protection. Avoidance might be a sign of your deep wisdom at work. Consider these possibilities, Gemini. What if your resistance to the “should” is actually your soul’s immune system rejecting a foreign agenda? It might be trying to tell you secrets about what you truly want versus what you think you should want.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): I’m only slightly joking when I recommend that you practice the art of sacred bitching in the coming days. You are hereby authorized to complain and criticize with creative zeal. But the goal is not to push hard in a quest to solve problems perfectly. Instead, simply give
yourself the luxury of processing and metabolizing the complications. Your venting and whining won’t be pathological, but a legitimate way to achieve emotional release. Sometimes, like now, you need acknowledgment more than solutions. Allowing feelings is more crucial than fixing things. The best course of action is saying “this is hard” until it’s slightly less hard.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The Chinese concept of *yuanfen* means that some connections are fated. Certain people were always meant to cross your path. Not soulmates necessarily, but soul-evokers: those who bring transformations that were inscribed on your destiny before you knew they were coming. When you meet a new person and feel instant recognition, that’s yuanfen. When a relationship changes your life, that’s yuanfen. When timing aligns impossibly but wonderfully, that’s yuanfen. According to my analysis, you Leos are due for such phenomena in the coming weeks—at least two, maybe more. Some opportunities appear because you pursue them. Others were always going to arrive simply because you opened your mind and heart.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Let’s talk about a forest’s roots. Mostly hidden from sight, they are the source of all visible life. They are always communicating with each other, sharing nourishment and information. When extra help is needed, they call on fungi networks to support them, distributing their outreach even further. Your own lineage works similarly, Virgo. It’s nutrient-rich and endlessly intertwined with others, some of whom came long before you. You are the flowering tip of an unseen intelligence. Every act of grounding—breathing deeply, resting your feet, returning to gratitude—is your body’s way of remembering its subterranean ancestry. Please keep these meditations at the forefront of your awareness in the coming weeks. I believe you will thrive to the degree that you draw from your extensive roots.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are currently in a phase when it’s highly possible to become both
smarter and wiser. You have a sixth sense for knowing exactly how to enhance both your intellectual and emotional intelligence. With this happy news in mind, I will remind you that your brain is constantly growing and changing. Every experience carves new neural pathways. Every repeated thought strengthens certain connections and weakens others. You’re not stuck with the brain you have, but are continuously building the brain that’s evolving. The architecture of your consciousness is always under construction. Take full advantage of this resilience and plasticity!
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The coming weeks will be a favorable time to stand near what you want to become. I advise you to surround yourself with the energy you want to embody. Position yourself in the organic ecosystem of your aspirations without grasping or forcing. Your secret power is not imitation but osmosis. Not ambition but proximity. The transformations you desire will happen sideways, through exposure and absorption. You won’t become by trying to become; you will become by staying close to what calls you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Some seeds can remain dormant for centuries, waiting for the right conditions to germinate. The oldest successfully germinated seed was a 2,000-year-old date palm seed. I suspect you will experience psychospiritual and metaphorical versions of this marvel in the coming weeks. Certain aspects of you have long been dormant but are about to sprout. Some of your potentials have been waiting for conditions that you haven’t encountered until recently. Is there anything you can do to encourage these wondrous developments? Be alert for subtle magic that needs just a little nudge.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Orb weaver spiders make seven different types of silk, each engineered for different purposes: sticky silk for catching prey, strong silk for the web’s frame, stretchy silk for wrapping food, and soft silk for egg sacs. In other words, they don’t generate a stream of generic
resources and decide later what to do with them. Each type of silk is produced by distinct silk glands and spinnerets, and each is carefully tailored for a particular use. I advise you to be like the orb weavers in the coming weeks, Capricorn. Specificity will be your superpower.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Benevolent gossip is the practice of speaking about people not to diminish them but to fondly wonder about them and try to understand them. What if gossip could be generous? What if talking about someone in their absence could be an act of compassionate curiosity rather than judgment? What if you spoke about everyone as if they might overhear you—not from fear but from respect? Your words about others could be spells that shape how they exist in the collective imagination. Here’s another beautiful fact about benevolent gossip: It can win you appreciation and attention that will enhance your ability to attract the kind of help and support you need.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Every 21,000 years, the Sahara Desert transforms into a lush green savanna. It’s due to precession, which is a wobble in the Earth’s axis. The African seasonal monsoon becomes much stronger, bringing increased rainfall to the entire area. The last time this occurred was from about 11,000 to 5,000 years ago. During this era, the Sahara supported lakes, rivers, grasslands, and diverse animal and human populations. I’m predicting a comparable shift for you in the coming months, Pisces. The onset of luxuriant growth is already underway. And right now is an excellent time to encourage and expedite the onset of flourishing abundance. Formulate the plans and leap into action.
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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