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inside COVER P. 13 On Oct. 1, new alcohol laws will change how people buy beer and wine in Oklahoma and will impact how liquor stores, supermarkets and craft brewers sell them. By Nazarene Harris, George Lang, Jeremy Martin and Jacob Threadgill Cover by Ingvard Ashby
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NEWS 4 City Jim Couch announces
retirement
visits OKC to talk about education reform
6 Education Sen. Elizabeth Warren
8 Metro Open Conversations with
Chase Cook
10 Chicken-Fried News
EAT & DRINK 13 Cover alcohol law changes go into
effect Oct. 1
15 Review Metro Diner
17 Feature OKC Burger Week
18 Feature Ned’s Starlite Lounge 20 Gazedibles cake
ARTS & CULTURE 22 Art exhibITion at amshot 23
OKC Burger Week
27 Art Whiteout at Campbell Art Park
28 Theater Oklahoma City Ballet and
University of Oklahoma School of professionals
29
Book of Love
30 Community Del City Votes
31 Culture Science Museum
Oklahoma gets a new planetarium
new Thank the Donor program
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35 Active Oklahoma City Lady Force
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october 27
36 Calendar
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40 Event Breeders at Diamond 41 Live music
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42 Puzzles sudoku | crossword 43 Astrology OKG Classifieds 43
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Cit y
NEWS
Long runner
Oklahoma City manager Jim Couch retires as the city’s longest-running manager on Jan. 2. By Nazarene Harris
Oklahoma City manager Jim Couch announced his retirement on Sept. 17 and said he’s hoping to go out like Oklahoma State University/Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders. “I’d like to think I’m retiring while people still like me,” he said, “and while I’m still pretty good at what I do. I don’t want to be hanging around here in a decade or two and hear people whisper about the old guy who won’t leave.” However, the collective whispers of Couch’s coworkers and staff started to roar from Oklahoma City’s municipal building as employees expressed surprise over the city manager’s decision. “I don’t think anyone saw this coming,” said Ward 2 City councilman Ed Shadid. After 31 years as an Oklahoma City employee, Couch will effectively retire Jan. 2 as the longest-serving city manager in Oklahoma City’s history. Couch has worked as city manager for the past 18 years. Before that, he said, he worked as assistant city manager MAPS director and city water and wastewater utilities director. According to Sam Anderson, author of the recent Oklahoma City-based nonfiction book Boom Town: The Fantastical Saga of Oklahoma City, its Chaotic Founding... its Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of Becoming a World-class Metropolis, dozens of city managers came and went in very little time before Couch took on the role. One stayed for as little as two days, and the average tenure was less than five years each. “In the seventy-three years preceding Couch, OKC had run through thirty-four city managers,” Anderson wrote in Boom Town. “Couch was a professional’s professional, able to get even the most complex projects done on schedule and on budget.” Couch is also leaving at a time when
his methods are under some scrutiny. Two recent resolutions introduced to the city council centered on transparency of proposed business agreements. In the Sept. 19 issue of Oklahoma Gazette, Shadid was reported as having watched as Couch and Alliance for Economic Development director Cathy O’Connor would meet with a few city council members to discuss city business proposals before and after meetings of the city council. The resolutions would require that transactions like the sale of city property and economic incentives like $1 million to Amazon’s fulfillment center be subject to three public city council meetings.
Public service
Couch salso erved as a trustee to several organizations including the airport trust, zoological trust, Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority, Metropolitan Area Schools Trust, Riverfront Redevelopment Authority, Economic Development Trust and McGee Creek Authority. Couch is also the chairman of United Way of Central Oklahoma’s board of directors, a role he said he will keep following his retirement. His involvement in the organizations is more a testament to tactic than enthusiasm. “I have loved working with the people here; I’ve developed strong friendships and have thoroughly enjoyed the company I am in,” he said. “However, there are benefits to being involved in one’s community that reach beyond enjoyment.” Networking skills and consistent participation in city government, Couch said, can lead to solid business deals and economic opportunities. Shadid said his past role as city water and wastewater utilities director, for
example, likely helped him accomplish what many consider to be his biggest success: securing water rights for OKC. After years of negotiations between Chickasaw and Choctaw tribe leaders, Couch played a winning hand in securing a landmark settlement in 2016 that guaranteed city residents indefinite access to water from lakes Sardis and Canton. “In 50 years from now, when the demand for water has increased significantly, Jim will be known for saving us,” Shadid said. “The cities that are able to secure water now will thrive then, and the cities that don’t will face challenges. Securing water rights for Oklahoma City residents makes his role in getting the Thunder look like child’s play.” Couch helped bring the New Orleans Hornets to Oklahoma City temporarily after Hurricane Katrina left the team without a court to play on. He later secured a permanent home for the OKC Thunder. Former OKC mayor Mick Cornett said Couch’s role in overseeing the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) plan is also one of the city manager’s biggest successes. Couch helped implement projects for MAPS for Kids, MAPS 3 and the current Better Streets, Safer City project. “There has been a lot of talk about the MAPS mayors but very little about the MAPS city manager,” Cornett said. “Jim Couch would never mention it because he’s a humble person who’s happiest working behind the scenes, but he was an integral part of Oklahoma City’s renaissance. It’s one thing to have a Former Oklahoma City mayor Ron Norick swore in Jim Couch as city manager in 2000. | Photo City of Oklahoma City / provided
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Oklahoma City manager Jim Couch addressed a crowd at the reopening of Santa Fe Station in 2017. | Photo City of Oklahoma City / provided
vision and another thing entirely to implement that vision.”
Smart hiring
Couch’s Sanders analogy extends beyond just leaving at the right time. While Sanders’ retirement came as a surprise to teammates, management and sports enthusiasts alike, those who closely followed the football player’s career took the news in stride. The story that was rarely told was that Sanders had played as a running back for the NFL for a decade when the average career of an NFL running back was under three years. Couch leaves City Hall on a similar note. “There’s a lot of noise right now,” Couch said. “I know a lot of people are surprised, and I understand that, but honestly, I’ve been here for 31 years. I’m just ready to slow life down a little.” Couch said he intends to stay in Oklahoma but hopes to travel more with his wife Cathy and his two grown sons. “There’s another side to life that I am interested in exploring,” Couch said. Couch said he owes his success as OKC’s longest running city manager to the people he has worked with. “I think the best piece of advice I could give to the next person who has this job is to recognize what a good employee looks like and to value that person. I’ve been really blessed to work with this team,” he said. “My advice would be to hire good people, keep good people and to use good people.”
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NEWS
SEPT. 28 - OCT. 6, 2018 TISHOMINGO, OKLAHOMA
For a full list of events, please visit AnnualMeeting.Chickasaw.net or call (580) 371-2040.
T h e C h i C k a s aw N aT i o N
“Kerry Ipema’s smart, hilarious sendup is more than a night of fandom – it’s a love letter to female relationships.” — Los Angeles Daily News
8 p.m. Oct. 18-20 Fairgrounds Talkback with the artist after each performance
Buy tickets now: okcontemp.org. oklahomacontemporary.org | 405 951 0000 | @okcontemporary 3000 General Pershing Blvd. | Oklahoma City, OK 73107
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Battle cry
Sen. Elizabeth Warren recently spoke on education reform at Northwest Classen High School. By Nazarene Harris
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E d u c at i o n
You are invited to experience the Chickasaw Nation Annual Meeting & Festival — a week of celebration, honoring Chickasaw culture and tradition.
Northwest Classen High School’s cafeteria was filled Sept. 22 with teachers, students, families and politicians who eagerly trickled in and stood up in the crowd to hear Oklahoma born and raised Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, speak about education reform in the Sooner State and across the country. If the crowd anticipated a somber speech by a Washington politician, they might have been surprised to hear a colleague’s battle cry instead. Warren, 69, graduated from Northwest Classen in 1966 and became the first person in her immediate family to graduate from college years later. She went on to become a public school special education teacher, law professor and eventually a state senator. “I am living proof that an Oklahoma City public education can prepare you for just about anything,” she said to the crowd of over a hundred. Warren praised Oklahoma teachers for leading the way to change. Low wages and a lack of funding have driven thousands of teachers to participate in walkouts and protests across the nation. Oklahoma’s own two-week teacher walkout in April made national headlines, and while teachers’ names are on ballots across the country this election season, no other state has as many educators running for office. With over 50 Oklahoma teachers running for state office, Warren took inventory of those who were present Saturday. “Raise your hand if you are a teacher running for office,” Warren said,
raising her own hand proudly. “If politicians won’t hear us at the Capitol, then we’ll make damn sure they’ll hear us at the ballot box.” Cheers and shouts of praise could be heard from outside a cafeteria that teachers normally attempt to keep quiet.
First steps
In June, Oklahoma Education Association counted over 100 educators running for office. The latest recount shows that about 70 teachers will be on ballots for state House and Senate seats in November. Oklahoma City Public Schools instructor Jamie Buckmaster said rallies like Warren’s are essential for maintaining candidates’ momentum. “The pay raise was good,” Buckmaster said, referring to the $6,000 pay raise legislators gave to teachers statewide in March before about 20,000 teachers and supporters went on a strike that resulted in the temporary closure of at least 10 school districts in the state. “But that’s just one of the victories we are fighting for. The strike was just the first step, and we know we have a long way to go. Rallies like this help fan the flame.” A $6,000 pay raise is not enough for a state that ranks close to last in the nation for teacher pay and educational funding, Warren said. “Ninety-one school districts in Oklahoma have been forced to become four-day week school districts,” Warren said. “We are fighting to change a system where teachers have to work two to three jobs just to make ends
Oklahoma City-born Sen. Elizabeth Warren spoke at Northwest Classen High School Sept. 22. | Photo Nazarene Harris
meet ... where teachers are drowning in student loan debts ... where outdated history books don’t go beyond the 43rd president of the United States and where wasp nests can be found in the cracks of the floors.”
Community foundation
In addition to advocating for education for all, Warren said she is also a firm believer in universal healthcare. Former police officer turned Cleveland County sheriff candidate Kevin Hammond listened to Warren from the back of the room as he held his 2-year-old daughter Rori. He said healthcare and education deserve equal attention in Oklahoma. “They are the foundation for a strong human being and also for a strong society,” Hammond said. “If a population isn’t well educated and has poor health, it’s hard for them to focus on anything else.”
If politicians won’t hear us at the Capitol, then we’ll make damn sure they’ll hear us at the ballot box. Elizabeth Warren Oklahomans who are fighting to receive education and healthcare can’t progress, Hammond said, when they are barely surviving. “Some people are fortunate enough to seek out a good home in a good school district,” Hammond said. “But that’s not the case for the majority of Oklahomans.” The tide is changing, Warren said, and will get stronger when educators are elected into public office, where they can create and implement policies that will positively impact Oklahoma’s educational system. “I feel a lot more encouraged to get Kevin Hammond, a candidate for Cleveland County sheriff, and his 2-year-old daughter Rori attended Warren’s speech and talked to Oklahoma Gazette about students’ need for good healthcare in order to focus on their studies. | Photo Nazarene Harris
to know the candidates,” Buckmaster said. “[Warren] made me realize that even if a teacher is not running for office in my district, that I can still encourage my friends and family to vote for an educator in their district.” Oklahomans should vote for candidates who support increasing funding for education, Warren said. Earlier this year, Oklahoma City School Board agreed to close Oklahoma City public schools on Election Day, Nov. 6, to support the educators and their families who are running for office. “We still have work we need to be doing,” Oklahoma Education Association vice president Katherine Bishop said at the school board’s meeting in May. “We’re working with our members right now to go knock on doors and work for candidates.” OEA is a major teacher union in Oklahoma with at least 40,000 members, according to its website. American Federation of Teachers, which organized Warren’s speech at Northwest Classen, is a national teacher union with Oklahoma representation. Sally Bell, an AFP member and freshman English teacher at U.S. Grant High School in OKC moved to Oklahoma upon learning that the state is one categorized by the union as a “high need and high risk” community. “It’s a blessing because I get to see the reward of my hard work on a daily basis,” Bell said. “At the same time, it’s hard because really getting to know your students means getting to know their struggles too. They struggle to have the basic tools needed to learn.” When basic needs aren’t met, Bell said, learning becomes more of a challenge. She said her freshman English class reads on a third-grade level. Evening the playing field for all of Oklahoma’s students should be a main priority, Warren said. Teachers, regardless of their political affiliation, seem to share that belief. “Regardless of political parties, a teacher’s success is a child’s success, and a child’s success is America’s success,” Warren said. Organizers said more education rallies will likely take place before November.
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NEWS Chase Cook, a reporter at Annapolis’ Capital Gazette, speaks at OU’s Gaylord College of Journalism on Friday. | Photo provided
Former director of information and development for The Oklahoman Joe Hight tweeted his condolences. “Chase,” Hight said on Twitter, “I am thinking of you and your fellow staff members on this tragic day. You and the @capgaznews staff are inspiring us with your determination and spirit. Please accept my sincere condolences.” The Oklahoma City Thunder and local reporters from the Sooner State, where life began for Cook, also tweeted their condolences and offered help.
Metro
Good reporting
Blindsided
Capital Gazette reporter and Oklahoma native Chase Cook reflects upon the day five of his colleagues were killed by a mass shooter in Annapolis, Maryland. By Nazarene Harris
Chase Cook admits to being your average 31-year-old American man. He went to college, fell in love, followed his career and still manages to play video games on his time off. However, unlike a typical American guy, Cook carries with him a heavy burden: the loss of five of his friends and coworkers to a lone shooter who stormed into the Capital Gazette newsroom where Cook works in Annapolis, Maryland, on June 28 with a shotgun in hand. “I heard a woman scream,” Capital Gazette staff writer Phil Davis later told Cook. “The shots were getting closer as [the shooter] was walking … to the back door and shooting people on the way. I knew someone was killed or very hurt. There were shots after he reloaded. He reloaded the shells individually. I stayed under my desk, hoping he didn’t hear me.” Capital Gazette assistant editor Rob Hiaasen had given Cook the day off since he had just wrapped up working 32 hours in three days to report on primary elections. Hiaasen called Cook to talk about a headline for one of his stories around 10 a.m. When he hung up the phone, Cook continued playing his video game, soaking in some much-needed time off. A little before 3:30 p.m., Capital Gazette’s editor-in-chief called Cook and told him there had been a shooting inside the newsroom. “Like inside the building?” Cook asked, trying to wrap his head around the concept. “A mass shooting,” he said in recollection, “is like a car accident. You don’t think it’s ever going to happen to you just like you don’t think you’ll ever get run over.” 8
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Upon hearing the news, Cook threw his work clothes on and headed to an office that had moments earlier been turned into a warzone. He parked at the mall across the street with a colleague, and the two began talking to police, reaching out to sources, live-tweeting and writing a story that would appear in the Capital Gazette the next day.
A mass shooting is like a car accident. You don’t think it’s ever going to happen to you just like you don’t think you’ll ever get run over. Chase Cook Cook said he cried before collecting himself. He did that on and off from the time he arrived in the parking lot to when he finally arrived back home around 10 p.m. that night. Somewhere in that six and a half hours, Cook wrote the tweet heard round the world: “I can tell you this: we are putting out a damn paper tomorrow.” Journalists and journalism supporters rushed in to Cook’s aide on social media. “I’m available all night tonight to make calls, send emails. I’ll help on any story you need,” New York Times reporter Katie Rosman tweeted back. “All of us in Baltimore are thinking about you and the entire Capital Gazette family. You are showing us the way under the most difficult circumstances,” Baltimore broadcast reporter Ron Matz said.
While the Capital Gazette accepted the help of reporters from other papers in the immediate aftermath of the shootings, Cook said he declined taking time off. Reporting, he said, served as therapy in the days and weeks that followed. He continued working so he wouldn’t slip into the dark abyss of depression but also because he felt that if he stopped reporting, the shooter would achieve what he set out to do in the first place. The suspected shooter, Jarrod Ramos, had a grudge with Capitol Gazette that started around 2011 when the paper published a story relating to Ramos’ alleged harassment of a high school acquaintance. Ramos filed a defamation lawsuit against the Capital Gazette that a judge later dismissed. In the following years, Ramos was rumored to have sent threatening letters to staff members at the paper. Whatever happened, Cook said, it was before he began working there in 2014. True to his journalistic roots, Cook is hesitant to make a political statement regarding mass shootings. “I grew up in Oklahoma, and I’ve shot a gun before,” he said. “I don’t mind guns. Had I been there that day and had a gun on me, I don’t know what I would have done. How can anyone say for sure? I don’t know what the solution is, but if I was a politician, I would absolutely be working on finding a solution. If a politician’s job is to protect life and liberty, then certa inly mass shootings are a threat to that. It’s their job to find a solution.” Cook said that while President D o n a l d Trump’s fake news rhetoric certainly
doesn’t help lend respect to the profession, past presidents and current government officials are not fans of the media either. “President Obama wasn’t a friend of the press either,” Cook said. “He just had better bedside manners when it came to antagonizing the press.” Instead of taking insults personally, Cook said, he sees them as affirmation that he’s reporting well. “If people are happy with what I’m doing, then I’m not doing a good enough job,” he said. It’s the kind of conversation, Cook said, that he would have liked to have with Hiaasen. Five people were killed in June 28 attack on Capital Gazette. Hiaasen, 59, was an assistant editor; Wendi Winters, 65, was a community correspondent; Gerald Fischman, 61, was the editorial page editor; John McNamara, 56 was a staff sports reporter; and Rebecca Smith, 34, was a sales assistant who had worked for the Capital Gazette for less than a year. A day hasn’t passed yet, Cook said, that he hasn’t thought of them. The remaining full-time staffers at the newspaper now work out of a new building in downtown Annapolis. “It’s the nature of our job to piss people off,” Cook said. “This is not a business where you make a lot of friends. I think as an industry, we need to be open to criticism.” Criticism, Cook said, he can take. A bad tweet, a bad review, a bad online comment are all understandable. But he might never understand blasting into a newsroom and killing strangers. Cook continues to report for Capital Gazette full-time and is working on reporting the latest details of Ramos’ sentencing. Recently, Ramos’ attorney has stated an intention for his client to plead insanity. Freedom of I n for m at ion Oklahoma hosts a dinner and open conversation with Cook 7-9 p.m. Friday at Universit y of Ok l a hom a’s Gaylord College of Journalism, 395 W. Lindsey St., in Norman. Visit foioklahoma.org.
The front page of Capital Gazette the day after the deadly shooting in Annapolis, Maryland | Photo provided
Tammi Sauer
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Boathouse District Oklahoma City
October 20 2018
10am–5pm
Oklahoma of Department
Libraries klahoma
Center for the Book
Best of Books Bob Burke Chickasaw Nation
okbookfest.org
Come one, come all to Oklahoma City’s Boathouse District for a fun-filled day celebrating books!
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The day will feature more than 50 authors from around the nation, plus panel discussions, presentations, story time and crafts activities, food trucks, and more! Oklahoma’s inaugural Book Festival is completely free to attend!
IncludIng expanded coverage on oct. 24 of all thIngs halloween
Publishes - OctOber 17 & 24 DeaDlines - One week PriOr tO Publish Date
bOOk yOur aD sPace tODay! call 405.528.6000 Or email sPecialsectiOns@Okgazette.cOm O kg a z e t t e . c o m | s e p t e m b e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 8
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chicken
friedNEWS Space corn
Mayor Mayfield
With LeBron James off in Los Angeles, where he’s trying to mold a cast of cartoon characters on a new team and starring in Space Jam 2, the city of Cleveland was looking for a new unofficial mayor. Sure, Corey Kluber and Francisco Lindor are leading the Cleveland Indians back to the Major League Baseball playoffs, but we’re a long way away from the loveable losers depicted in the movie Major League. The Indians are expected to win now. But there is no bigger salve to heal Cleveland sports fans’ loss of King James than for the fans in the Dawg Pound to once again cheer for a winner. It’s been a revolving door of incompetent quarterbacks since the Browns returned to Cleveland in 1999, but in essentially one half of a football game, former University of Oklahoma Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield has breathed new life into the city — and perhaps most importantly, he gave the city free beer. The Browns were a combined 1-31 in the previous two seasons before drafting Mayfield with the first overall pick in April’s NFL Draft and began this season with a tie and a loss under starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor, extending its streak without a win to 635 days. Taylor was knocked out of last Thursday’s game with a concussion, and Mayfield made his NFL debut on the final drive of the first half trailing the New York Jets 14-0, who are quarterbacked by fellow rookie Sam Darnold — the player many draft experts expected the Browns to draft over Mayfield — and immediately showed the same panache and onfield skills that made him a hero in Norman. Mayfield completed 17 of 23 passes with three receiver drops for 201 yards in about one half of play and caught a two-point conversion for good measure as the Browns erased the halftime defect and won 21-17. Anheuser-Busch placed locked coolers of Bud Light all over Cleveland, awaiting a Browns victory, and it set off celebrations across the city like they had won the Super Bowl rather than a regular season game, but good for you, Cleveland — Chicken-Fried News is cheering for you. Mayfield’s college coach Lincoln Riley chimed in with a tweet to Mayfield following the win: “Hey bud—bet they forgive you for planning the flag now—congrats,” in reference to the faux controversy following OU’s win at Ohio State in 2017. Mayfield planted his own flag in Cleveland last week, a conquering hero.
If they aren’t here already, serving us lattes and getting us sugared up and happy before they rip off their skin masks, unhinge their jaws and swallow us whole, the aliens who descend from the heavens will be looking for a sign that we’re not such a bad group of organisms. For now, let’s steer them away from any discussions of Space Force! and toward the giant portrait of Apollo 10 astronaut Thomas Stafford in a cornfield near his hometown of Weatherford. The visiting aliens might have seen Stafford before. In 1968, as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was planning its first manned visit to the lunar surface (CFN editor’s note: Now look, Infowars lunatics, you’ve got to let your Capricorn One and dietary supplement-fueled theories about the moon landing die the miserable death they deserve), Stafford commanded Apollo 10’s orbital flight around the moon. After that, he served as chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA and then commanded the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975, in which U.S. astronauts and
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Soviet cosmonauts joined spacecraft in orbit, studied the effect of weightlessness on fish eggs and ate canned beef tongue and caviar, which was kept separate from the fish eggs used for science stuff. Maybe. Essentially, it was Russian collusion in space, but positive and productive. Stafford is a true Oklahoma hero who helped usher in a period of American discovery and innovation. Meanwhile, most of the staff at CFN World Headquarters still thinks those guys drank Tang and mostly ate that freeze-
dried ice cream you can get at Academy. To honor Stafford on his 88th birthday on Sept. 17, P Bar Farms, a family farm specializing in agritourism, cut a truly staggering portrait of the retired lieutenant general into its cornfield. It’s massive, and only airplane passengers and the extremely tall will experience this impressive likeness. However, the portrait is also set inside an elaborate corn maze, which means that one kid on the third grade field trip will inevitably try to climb up Stafford’s nose. Now, back to those guys in the flying saucers with the bulbous heads. If they spy this portrait from space, consider this proof that the guy they saw flying around our moon was from here, which means we’re not all bad. Think of it as a giant, personalized welcome mat. Just don’t wipe your tentacles on it, Kang and Kodos. We’re trying to keep it nice.
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Cov er
EAT & DRINK
Drink up New alcohol laws will have an immediate impact on how consumers get their beer and wine and how retailers will sell them. By Nazarene Harris, George Lang, Jeremy Martin and Jacob Threadgill
It all changes Oct. 1. On that day, Oklahoma will no longer be a low-point beer state, a place where high-point beer can only be bought in liquor stores at room temperature. As the state ramps up for the change and customers anticipate greater access to their favorites, grocery stores are unveiling new wine displays and liquor stores are installing shiny new coolers. One local Sprouts Farmers Market proudly displays dozens of wine bottles, but several posted signs warn customers they “can look, but don’t touch.” The push to modernizing Oklahoma’s alcohol laws began with political pressure from big-box retailers. Walmart contributed more than $4.8 million to the group Yes On 792 Inc., which promoted State Question 792, providing about 90 percent of the group’s funding. Walmart also made donations to the campaigns of SQ792 coauthors and state senators Stephanie Bice (R-Oklahoma City) and Clark Jolley (R-Edmond, now retired). Retailers will benefit from the new revenue stream of being able to sell high-point beer and wine by Oct. 1, but its total benefits are yet to be fully recognized, said Jeff Fulk, general manager at Crest Foods.
“Displays will be determined by the size of the store, but it’s an exciting time — especially with the craft beer coming in,” Fulks said. OnCue gas stations, along with 7-Eleven and QuikTrip, made donations to political action committees (PACs) like Oklahomans for Consumer Freedom, Oklahoma Grocers Association and Foundation for Economic Prosperity. “Once we heard about the law change, we started retrofitting stores with beer caves and making other improvements,” said Laura Aufleger, vice president of corporate communication at OnCue Express. The phasing out of low-point beer has led to a transition period for massproduced beer. Some retailers stopped ordering low-point beer as early as the beginning of September, not wanting to leave unsold product on the shelves. Anheuser-Busch will continue production of 3.2 beer for select markets in the country but will no longer sell the product in Oklahoma after September, according to Jason Hall, head of Anheuser-Busch Oklahoma sales. “We are a week out from transition. There are some packages that we’ve pulled back on a little bit, but we’ve been able to fully service the market where
allowed,” Hall said. “Our customers (retailers) also want to manage their inventory. … We haven’t had any supply issues on our end for 3.2 beer.” Both Fulks and Aufleger said that they’ve heard of competitors cutting their low-point beer inventory in advance of the law change but each store is committed to selling as much as possible leading up to Oct. 1. “After this last weekend, we might start to get a little low just because of demand,” Fulks said.
Displays will be determined by the size of the store, but it’s an exciting time — especially with the craft beer coming in. Jeff Fulks
Sold cold
Within weeks of the new alcohol laws taking effect, Elk Valley Brewing Company will move from its current location at Brewers Union, 520 N. Meridian Ave., into a new Midtown location at 1210 N. Hudson Ave. Owner and founder John Elkins is in the process of finishing the new 6,000 square-foot space that features three 1,000-gallon tanks and three 500gallon tanks with two 2,000-gallon tanks planned for installation in early 2019. The space was developed by Pivot Project and will feature a taproom and upstairs patio. For Elkins, the most seismic change before State Question 792’s passage in
High-point craft beer will be available in supermarkets and convenience stores effective Oct. 1. | Photo Gazette file
November 2016 came with the passage of Senate Bill 424 earlier that same year, which allowed craft brewers to sell their products on brewery premises. “Before the 2016 law went into effect, we couldn’t sell high-point beer here [at the Brewer’s Union] for anyone,” Elkins said. “They could have up to 12 ounces in tasters, and it was such a pain. People wanted to buy, and they couldn’t. We got to the point [at the Brewer’s Union] that we didn’t have most of our stuff on tap; only the low-point. It negatively impacted the customer wanting to buy all of these beers and we’d have to tell them no. We had nine taps, and all with low-point rather than getting someone’s hopes up.” For Elkins and other brewers, the new laws throw open many doors that were previously closed. Brewers distributing high-point beer can now distribute in supermarkets and convenience stores and their products can be sold cold in liquor stores. This will likely result in enormous growth for Oklahoma’s craft breweries. Sean Mossman, director of sales and marketing at COOP Ale Works, said the projections are strong. Under the new paradigm, COOP products will be distributed by Republic National Distributing Company, which Mossman said could significantly extend the company’s retail reach. “We’re expecting to see somewhere in the range of a 40 percent increase in the fourth quarter of this year versus the previous year,” Mossman said. continued on page 14
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Cov er
That potential growth comes as a result of two factors: increased distribution and the economics of convenience. “There was a ton of pickup demand for products like ours, and they were fairly inaccessible,” Mossman said. “You had to go to a liquor store before 9 o’clock and not on Sundays and not on holidays. There was nothing convenient at all about consumers’ ability to buy our product before. Now, it’s about convenience, not just because it’s in grocery stores but because liquor stores can do so much more in their spaces.” Because of the blue-sky projections for local brewers, Elkins was able to go into a high-traffic district for his taproom, one that will give Elk Valley greater visibility. “The law change opens the doors for a place like Midtown,” he said. “Now you can afford to go into a place like that and be able to sell your product directly to the customer without having to go through two middle guys to get it.”
Game day
When customers could not buy highpoint beer on Sundays, they had to leave the couch for the big game. Sports bars, which make a large portion of their sales on Sundays, especially during football season, might be affected by the wider availability of high-point beer. But Chris Cochrane, owner of Lumpy’s Sports Grill, said that his business offers customers more than the chance to buy a strong drink. “We can only focus on the things that we can control,” Cochrane said, “but do I think it will have an impact? I doubt it for a couple of reasons. One, everybody in this state has been so used to preparing for, you know, if they drink, they take care of it on Saturday. And in our case, we’re a sports bar. This time of year, we’ve got NFL Sunday Ticket. We’ve got a lot of things that you wouldn’t have at your house, or if you did, it wouldn’t be as much fun. … We’ve got the Thunder season starting, so we’re optimistic. Our sales have been trending up, and I don’t think this is going to stop anything at all. It’ll bring us in line with the states around us, most of the states, really, now. There’s just a few states that have 3.2 left.” Though low-point beer is increasingly becoming a rarity as Oct. 1 approaches, it has accounted for a large portion of beer sales in Oklahoma and at Lumpy’s, where stronger beer has been available. “Everybody in the state has been on 3.2,” Cochrane said. “Of course we had strong beer, but it really only represented, out of beer sales, probably 5 percent, maybe 10 at the most. The other 90 percent was Bud Light and Coors Light. It was all 3.2 until just recently. For example, out of the three locations we have, we’re no longer able to order 14
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3.2 beer, so what’s coming in the back door is strong beer. We’re just depleting our stock, and it looks like so far it’s been pretty smooth.”
We’re expecting to see somewhere in the range of a 40 percent increase in the fourth quarter of this year versus the previous year. Sean Mossman Though the transition will ensure that the sports bar can continue beer sales uninterrupted, customers might notice an increased sales tax because strong beer is taxed at the same higher rate as liquor. According to Oklahoma Policy Institute’s Budget Guide, “3.2 beer is taxed at 11.25 per 31-gallon barrel, or about 20 cents per six-pack. Higher alcohol beer, wine, and liquor are taxed at rates between one-half and two cents per ounce. These taxes are paid by wholesalers to the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission (ABLE) and included in the retail price of the beverage. In addition to the wholesale tax, there is a 13.5 percent tax on mixed drinks served at bars and restaurants.” Cochrane said the increased tax rate isn’t as widely known as some of the other aspects of the changes in liquor
laws and it will disproportionately affect bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. “I don’t think that the average voter was aware of the fact that this was going to affect just our industry, really,” Cochrane said. “You go to Sam’s or Walmart, and they don’t have to pay the 13.5 percent tax. … I guess I am pretty opinionated because I followed the whole thing and I voted, and we’re just going to make the best of it now. The voters have spoken.” While restaurants and bars statewide might be affected, Cochrane said he remains optimistic about sales at Lumpy’s. “As an industry, I could see it having some impact, but at Lumpy’s, probably not. We’re pretty liquor-driven already,” Cochrane said. “I just don’t think that the average person is aware that, ‘Wow, it’s going to cost me more now to have that Bud Light.’”
Consumer reaction
Jordan Bonagofsky arrived at Oklahoma City’s Homeland grocery store near Classen Boulevard and NW 18th Street only to find lines of empty shelves where beer and wine used to be. “I assume,” she said, “there soon won’t be any need for that stuff.” The stuff Bonagofsky was referring to was low-point beer and wine, anything with an alcohol content below 3.2 percent. She reached for one of the few wine bottles still available. Come Oct. 1, when shelves will likely be filled with highpoint wine and beer, Bonagofsky said she will be back and ready for the good stuff.
A beer cave at an OnCue Express on 36th Street and May Avenue sits nearly completely empty except for a flavored malt liquor on Monday Sept. 24. | Photo Jacob Threadgill
“I’m super-excited,” Bonagofsky said. “I think this is long and far overdue.” Though she lives just down the block from Homeland, Bonagofsky said she’s curious to see how the grocery store’s prices will differ from those at Target and Walmart. She’s also excited, she said, to join a wine club where strong-point wine can finally be delivered to her home. “It’s a whole new ballgame,” she said. “Welcome to the 21st century.” Fellow Homeland shopper Mark Leonard couldn’t help but smirk when he noticed the empty shelves that were only months ago filled with Budweiser, Coors Light and the like. “I don’t drink,” he said, “but I find this amusing. If I did drink, I’d buy my beer at the grocery stores while I buy my groceries.” Leonard said there’s more than just amusement that makes him smile these days. A vendor for Homelands across the state, Leonard said the change in Oklahoma’s alcohol laws could mean a fatter wallet for him. “I think this is great,” he said. “If the grocery store sells more beer and wine because of the change, then it will make them a lot more money, which will mean that I’ll get a lot more money.”
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Fieri effect
Parlaying a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance into nationwide success, Metro Diner is a passable classic diner but a fun hedonistic adventure. By Jacob Threadgill
Metro Diner 3000 W. Memorial Road metrodiner.com | 405-437-3079 What works: Flavored coffee and overthe-top dishes like chicken and waffle with strawberry butter are delicious. What needs work: The corned beef and hash desperately needed onion. Tip: Order more indulgent dishes; it is where the restaurant excels.
The Fieri effect is a very real thing, and we’re all living in a post-Diner, DriveIns and Dives world. The hit Food Network show with host Guy Fieri is famous for only highlighting small operations with single locations, but with every appearance on the show, Fieri warns operators to be ready for increased business and attention. Here in Oklahoma City, Mama E’s is a textbook case in spreading too thin. After owners Keith and Stephanie Patterson appeared on DDD in 2009, they opened a second location only to see it flounder from lack of attention and an ignominious appearance on another Food Network show, Restaurant: Impossible. Thankfully, Mama E’s is still turning out excellent chicken and waffles at its original 3838 Springlake Drive location. In 2010, Fieri made an appearance at a Jacksonville, Florida, restaurant run by Mark Davoli and his father called Metro Diner, and it has become one of the breakout hits from the show.
Metro Diner’s meatloaf was featured in a 2010 appearance of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. | Photo Jacob Threadgill
Metro Diner opened its 50th location this year, along with the 3000 W. Memorial Road location in Oklahoma City that opened in June. Davoli retains minority ownership in the business as it joined with ConSul Hospitality Group to accelerate its nationwide expansion. The concept for Metro Diner is the same as the original Jacksonville location: scratch-made classics delivered with a majority of the menu checking in under $16. During its rapid expansion, the Metro Diner menu has added new items like fried chicken and waffles ($15.49) served with strawberry butter. It’s a gargantuan meal that is half of a chicken and three large Belgian waffles that weighs in at 2360 calories, according to the menu’s calorie count that is about as useful as a message from Clippy in an old Microsoft Word document. I realize that it’s trying to be useful, but I can’t ignore it fast enough. The menu has changed since the corporate takeover with additions like huevos rancheros ($11.49) that have been Fieri-fied by turning the dish into essentially nachos by frying tortillas (1580 calories). Notably missing from the menu are continued on page 16
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two dishes highlighted during the DDD segment: a salad topped with steak and french fries and a banana and cream cheese-stuffed French toast topped with strawberry and blueberry compote.
Hash and loaf
oscar-nominated documentary Last men in aLeppo (2017) directed by Feras Fayyad, syria
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I watched the segment in preparation for my first visit to Metro Diner, an early morning Sunday breakfast, and was disappointed the French toast wasn’t on the menu, instead replaced by a relatively mundane croissant version. I settled for the corned beef hash with poached eggs and toast ($9.29) with a cup of its rotating house blend flavor of coffee (cinnamon nut). Corned beef hash is one of my favorite breakfasts, and I’m sometimes wary of ordering it because you’re just as likely to get something from a can that looks like dog food as you are in-house brined corned beef. Metro Diner’s corned beef hash is certainly in the latter category, but it is so finely chopped with red skin potatoes that the quality product didn’t shine like I wanted it to. The hash was just a mixture of beef and red potatoes, and it desperately needed the flavor and contrast of some sautéed onions and/or sweet peppers. It left me slightly disappointed. The flavored coffee was nice, and it didn’t have the film that you see sometimes from lowquality store-bought versions. The cinnamon roll pancakes looked good, but their potential to be cloying and the calorie count (1,420) scared me off. I could see the kitchen turning out fresh biscuits and waffles while the three different types of eggs Benedict made me wonder if I just ordered the wrong thing. I returned for a dinner visit a few days later and ordered the one dish featured on the DDD segment that made it to the Oklahoma City menu: the meatloaf plate. I understand meatloaf is a non-starter for many people who grew up eating an uninspiring version at home or in a cafeteria, but it’s one of my favorite dishes when done correctly. Just like good meatballs, meatloaf requires a mixture of meat and fat contents. According to Davoli’s recipe on the segment, Metro Diner uses ground
beef, pork and turkey while also blending carrots, onions and mushrooms into the mixture with spices and binder of eggs and breadcrumbs. After being baked, portions of the meatloaf are crisped on the flattop, covered in brown gravy and served with mashed potatoes, squash and a baguette.
The concept for Metro Diner is the same as the original Jacksonville location: scratch-made classics delivered with a majority of the menu checking in under $16. The meal was completely competent but didn’t rise to an upper echelon. I’d prefer a coarser chop on the vegetables and the introduction of extra spices to the meatloaf. I also tried bites of the chicken potpie (regular sized at $9.29), and even on the smaller option, the portion is nearly the length of a high school regulation football. I liked that Metro Diner topped the potpie with a biscuit crust rather than the sometimes-used pastry shell, but I missed the lack of a bottom crust layer. I enjoyed the potpie with a nice mixture of vegetables (lima beans, corn, carrots, peas and green beans) more than the meatloaf. Metro Diner cooks with a higherquality product and fresher ingredients than, say, Denny’s, the country’s largest diner-style chain, but Metro Diner simply can’t replicate the love and care with which Davoli prepares dishes at the original location. As an everyday diner, I’ve had better classic diner fare at locally owned Sunnyside Diner and a few other individual greasy spoons. Metro Diner’s strengths as a restaurant lie with the indulgent dishes. If you’re going to make a trip, pull out all the stops and order something crazy like the fried chicken and waffles or the Davoli burger, which uses grilled cheese as buns. The chicken potpie gets a biscuit crust. | Photo Jacob Threadgill
S&B Burger Joint’s Sir Bac-a-Lot mixes bacon into the patty and tops it with bacon jam and two types of cheese. | Photo provided
f eat u re
The first S&B’s began during a backyard conversation between Shannon Roper and Bryan Neal. In the mood for an onion burger, the friends went to the now-defunct Abraham’s Western Cafe, and it inspired the two to wonder if they could do something similar. Roper, who grew up in El Reno and had a background in restaurant, was looking to get back in the kitchen after finding success with a landscaping business due to back surgery. Neal owned Electro Lounge, and when they added a flattop to the bar, Roper handled the burgers and Neal worked front-of-thehouse starting in 2009. Guests had to be over 21 years old to enter during its first six months.
Burger celebration
Celebrate the state’s unique burger culture with the first Oklahoma Gazette Burger Week. By Jacob Threadgill
Oklahoma has a hamburger culture unique to the country, whether it is an El Reno-style onion burger or a Theta or Caesar burger that started at the old Split-T. In honor of Oklahoma’s burger culture, Oklahoma Gazette is sponsoring its first Burger Week Sept. 26-Oct. 2 at 18 participating locations: BlueJ’s Rollin’ Grill, Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge, The Fixx, Flatire Burgers, The Garage Burgers & Beer, Hudsons Public House, James E. McNellie’s Public House, Kaiser’s Grateful Bean Café, La Baguette Bistro, Lip Smackers, Little Mike’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers, McClintock Saloon & Chop House, Metro Diner, Nic’s Place, Patty Wagon, S&B’s Burger Joint, Tucker’s Onion Burgers and Twisted Oak Tavern at The Greens Country Club. Burger Week is as simple as enjoying a meal away from your home or office. A few participating locations will roll out menu specials, but you can participate in the Gazette’s social media-driven photo contest to be automatically entered to win prizes. Simply tag @okgazette on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with hashtags #OKCBurgerWeek and #OKCFoodWeek with a picture of your meal. A new winner will be chosen every day of Burger Week.
Onion burgers
Tucker’s Onion Burgers (four locations) and S&B’s Burger Joint (10 locations) are two of Oklahoma City’s most successful hamburger purveyors specializing in onion burgers. It might come as a surprise that they both use Angus beef from Creekstone Farms in Wichita, Kansas, but they have slightly different takes on how to cook an onion burger.
We decided to just do the Oklahoma onion burger with the best possible ingredients. Keith Paul Over that period, Roper and Neal worked seven days a week from morning until 2 a.m. at Electro Lounge before hiring another employee, serving fullsized burgers and sliders with inventive toppings, but its base was onion burgers. The old-fashioned deluxe cheeseburger remains its top seller to this day. S&B’s uses the “smash” burger technique popularized by the Smashburger chain and In-N-Out. If you were told early in life that a burger shouldn’t be pressed while cooking or it will lose moisture, this is true, but not if the patty is smashed when immediately added to the grill. The Maillard reaction caramelizes the meat and seals in juices.
“I grew up in El Reno, where you put the onions on top of the patty and smash it down into a 3- or 4-ounce patty,” Roper said. “I do it differently. We cook the onions on the burger, but we smash the patty first, season it, put the onions on and flip it so that it steams the onions. The trick is you take your ball of meat, throw it down and smash it immediately, and all you do is flip it one time. We cook it for a short period of time on the grill side and flip it on top of the onions so that all of the juices, meat and salts and fat drain into the onions, and that’s where we get the onion flavor so much.” Two of S&B’s most popular nontraditional burgers are the Colombian (sea salt- and coffee-crusted patty with smoked Gouda, avocado and cilantro lime salsa) and the Sir Bac-a-Lot (a halfpound burger patty mixed with freshly ground bacon topped with bacon jam, Swiss and cheddar cheese). The first Tucker’s was opened at 324 NW 23rd St. in 2013 by A Good Egg Dining Group. Keith Paul, the restaurant group’s CEO, said that the focus for Tucker’s was to honor Oklahoma’s most popular and unique dish, the onion burger. “Instead of going with something that was a lot of extra toppings, we decided to just do the Oklahoma onion burger with the best possible ingredients,” Paul said. Because Tucker’s has a streamlined menu, it means the grill can be kept at optimum temperature to achieve its desired onion effect, which is much darker than S&B’s, for example. “Most of the cooking time [70 percent] is done with the patty on top of the onions,” Paul said. “There is a fine line. Some people think the onions are burnt sometimes because they’re looking for a sautéed onion. People that know onion burgers love it. We have to walk a fine line there; we don’t want to burn the onions, but you eat with your eyes sometimes, and it is tough.” Tucker’s will be offering the Star Burger during Burger Week, which tops the traditional burger patty with jalapeño cheddar sausage, cheddar cheese and barbecue mayonnaise. One of the biggest burger trends in the country doesn’t actually involve meat. The expansion of the Impossible Burger — a plant-based burger laboratory-designed to mimic beef — has been added full-time to menus both at Tucker’s and S&B’s. Paul said they contacted Impossible Burger through social media and had it on their menu within a month. They sold about 1,000 Impossible Burgers across four stores in the first week, and it has stuck. S&B’s has added it full-time at the original 5929 N. May Ave. location, but it will not replace The Skinny, a housemade veggie patty, on the menu. Visit okcfoodweek.com.
Tucker’s Onion Burger added the plant-based Impossible Burger to its menu full-time this year. | Photo provided O kg a z e t t e . c o m | S e p t e m b e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 8
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Retro modern
Ned’s Starlite Lounge serves modern fare in a vintage 1960s setting. By Jacob Threadgill
Ned’s Starlite Lounge opens at 7301 N. May Ave. this week, and diners will be transported to a vintage 1960s-era eatery with modern conventions, which is the vision of its namesake. Ned Shadid Sr. is the bridge linking old and new in an Oklahoma City restaurant dynasty. His parents helped run the original Sussy’s — the restaurant and nightclub credited with popularizing pizza in Oklahoma City — with Jake Samara in the 1950s and ’60s. Shadid Sr. helped expand his cousin’s Big Ed’s Hamburgers to 32 locations across the Midwest until the 1980s oil bust lead to its downsizing and Shadid’s focus on his very successful Ned’s Catering. The catering business is famous for its seated dinners, which sometimes means supplying food for 1,200 guests or as many as 7,000 people in suite- and club-level boxes at Oklahoma State University football games. Ned Shadid Jr. is a member of the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, where his father was a past president. Seated on a custom barstool that matches the ’60-era corner lounges, Shadid Sr. said he wanted a restaurant where residents near N. May Avenue
can feel at home. “It’s been a concept I’ve had in my back pocket for about 20 years. We kind of patterned it after a northeastern tavern,” Shadid Sr. said. “If you go to some of those areas of the country, you’ll have places like this — surrounded by nothing but residential — and it’s where they eat, drink and enjoy with each other.” The bar at the center of the 94-seat dining room is covered in tasseled carpeting that will be nostalgic for older guests familiar with the shag carpet popularity in the 1960s, and younger guests might make a joke about “stroking the furry wall” in reference to the 2010 comedy Get Him to the Greek. A vintage Schlitz beer statue depicting a gold woman holding a light-up globe sits in the corner of the bar. Shadid said he was attracted to the item after they found it online. During a private soft opening, he said a guest offered to buy it on the spot. “He said they’re very rare and expensive, so I guess we got a good deal on it when we bought it,” Shadid Sr. said. “We’ll have some pictures on the wall my dad had; he had a few prohibition bars before there was legal liquor.”
The decor at Ned’s Starlite Lounge is meant to invoke a 1960s setting in a modern context. | Photo Alexa Ace
The barstools and bar are reproductions, but everything in the restaurant from its gold flock wallpaper to tile in the bathrooms are from the 1960s, stored in a warehouse of Ketch Design Centre, Shadid Sr. said. “We wanted you to feel like you’re walking into the ’60s, but it is today’s and yesterday’s food with a twist,” Shadid Sr. said. Fried chicken wings were not yet popularized in the 1960s, but contemporary diners will enjoy the jumbo wings, particularly the dry rub that is as sweet as it is spicy with a pair of housemade dipping sauces. Arancini is a classic Sicilian dish traditionally made with day-old risotto and deep-fried. Ned’s Starlite Lounge makes the risotto and stores it overnight in a cooler. “[Letting it rest] gives the dish more bite,” he said. “We fill the risotto with roasted garlic, mozzarella, a sun-dried tomato reduction, deep-fry it and then place them on a bed of the tomato reduction; it’s been very popular.” Shadid Sr. is proud of his chickenfried steak, which can be topped with traditional cream gravy or a poblano reduction. A grilled salmon filet served over sautéed greens with Mediterranean bruschetta and a balsamic reduction has been popular during soft opening rehearsals, he said. Fresh half-pound hamburgers are cooked medium, and the most popular is the PB&B; roasted pork belly is diced and caramelized with bacon and topped with cheddar cheese on the burger in
between soft and buttery brioche buns. The restaurant’s version of the pizza burger is an homage to the building’s previous tenant, Nomad II, and its fried pepperoni pizza legacy that now lives on at Sussy’s at 200 S. Oklahoma Ave. in Bricktown. The Nomad burger tops the halfpound burger with sautéed onions, red bell peppers, mozzarella, the sun dried tomato reduction and, of course, fried pepperoni. The cocktail menu will feature a mixture of house-designed craft cocktails in addition to vintage cocktails such as the Harvey Wallbanger, whiskey sour and the Bloody Bull, which is similar to a bloody Mary but also includes beef bouillon in the tomato juice mixture. “In the old days, men would order the Bloody Bull and the women would order the bloody Mary,” Shadid said. “We’re going to bring that back to the forefront and see how it goes over. We’ll see how the new generation likes it.” Ned’s Catering has been a staple in the Oklahoma City community, whether it was donating meals following the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building or working with The Homeless Alliance to distribute meals. “I’m born and bred in Oklahoma City and [have] been involved in the community my whole life,” Shadid said. “In any community, you give back what you take out. I’ve always believed in giving back.”
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Ned Shadid Sr. is the proprietor of Ned’s Starlite Lounge. | Photo Alexa Ace
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Cake craving
We’re not talking about cupcakes or a small cake bite. These are either full-sized cakes or decadent slices that will fully satisfy your craving for moist and sweet desserts that a pie can just never touch. By Jacob Threadgill with photos by Alexa Ace and Gazette / file
Raspberries ’n’ Crème 2925 Lakeside Circle raspberriesncreme.com 405-755-3560
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more aesthetically pleasing cake than the flower-topped ones from Raspberries ’n’ Crème, but the cakes are more than just for show. There are 14 cakes on the menu, but the signature cake is milk chocolate cake with a layer of raspberries and whipped crème. The ribbon cake is one chocolate cake, one sour cream white cake with a layer of Italian crème and strawberries between layers.
The Red Cup
Legend’s Restaurant
The Red Cup shows that you don’t need eggs and butter to make a delectable dessert. Chef Patrick Clark has a rotating selection of cake slices for sale that can be eaten with coffee for breakfast, as a lunchtime treat or taken home if you’re a stickler for waiting until after dinner.
This venerable restaurant is anything but a relic, with new and inventive menu items right alongside the classic ones that have kept it in business for 50 years. Its cakes — particularly the lemon crème layer cake and Coca-Cola cake with vanilla ice cream — have earned national magazine recognition over the years, and for good reason.
3122 N. Classen Blvd. theredcupokc.com | 405-525-3430
1313 W. Lindsey St., Norman legendsrestaurant.com | 405-329-8888
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Scratch Join uS on the patio! 427 nW 23rd St | 405-604-8940 www.scottiesdeliokc.com 20
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Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar
Gaberino’s Homestyle Italian
La Oaxaqueña Bakery
Cheever’s Cafe
One of Oklahoma City’s most beloved restaurants is this locally owned franchise. It would be impossible to complete this list without including the restaurant’s namesake dessert. A toffee torte is moistened with a bourbon anglaise, spiced pecans and whipped cream. The cake is served warm, but it’s so good that you’ll eat it all before the cream melts.
The Gaberino’s Italian Cream Cake is so popular that it has been suggested that you order it first with your meal just to secure a piece before it runs out. The restaurant puts a spin on the classic cake by adding nuts for a texture contrast. Grab a piece with some French press coffee, and you might order a second piece rather than making your way to the entrees.
The confluence of evaporated milk, condensed milk and heavy cream used to soak a sponge cake in a traditional tres leches cake creates one of the most decadent bites in all of dessert land (Like Candy Land, but more substantial). La Oaxaqueña has tres leches cakes ready to go in its cooler, but you can also place special orders.
You might associate carrot cake with grandparents, but the dessert actually dates back to carrot pudding eaten in Europe during the Middle Ages. Cheever’s Cafe shows that the classic dessert is still relevant and tasty in the 21st century with its huge slice of six-layer carrot cake with requisite cream cheese frosting. It’s a group event unless you plan on making it your entire meal.
1845 Northwest Expressway whiskeycake.com | 405-582-2253
400 Ed Noble Parkway, Norman gaberinos.com | 405-310-2229
2409 N. Hudson Ave. cheeverscafe.com | 405-525-7007
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Saturday, September 29 2 p m - 7pm
Spend the afternoon in the beautiful Hennessey Memorial Park enjoying great food, music, sampling more than 100 wines from over 20 wineries at the official Oklahoma State Wine Festival. Must be 21 to consume wine,valid driver’s license is required to obtain a wine wrist band. Online price good through September 28. Day of event price is $20.
Visit www.allabouthennessey.com/wine
ONLINE TICKETS Memorial Park 204 N Main St. Hennessey, Oklahoma ONLY $15 CHOCOLATE Purchase tickets online or at the gate TICKET $5
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Lunch Tues - Sat from 11:30 to Close Dinner Tues - Sat from 4:00 to Close Phone 405.478.4955
1226 NE 63rd St., OKC, OK 73111
www.gabriellasokc.com O kg a z e t t e . c o m | S E P T E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 1 8
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ARTS & CULTURE “Community Party” by Sam Washburn | Image amshot / provided
him the time to interact with others outside his studio. “We designers and illustrators almost live like hermits,” he said. “So being social and talking to other people has been fun, but also my favorite part was they gave me a lot of creative freedom. I got a lot of freedom to sort of go crazy with the subject matter and produce a bunch of funky stuff.”
art
Giving back
Technical art
A local tech company supports artists and the community with a gallery space featuring rotating exhibitions. By Joshua Blanco
Thursday, amshot, an Oklahoma Citybased IT and software development company, will unveil the artwork of illustrator Sam Washburn as part of its fresh new art series exhibITion. The series acts as a way for the tech company to support its local arts scene, allowing the artist to gain recognition while simultaneously raising money for the community. Every quarter, a new artist will be featured and their work will remain on display in the front lobby. Washburn has the honor of headlining the series’ debut. “I was really humbled when they asked me to do it because it’s going to be a really exciting thing for me,” he said. “I also like the fact that hopefully we can raise a lot of funds for the arts here in Oklahoma City.”
[It] just kind of evolved into this community building, awareness-building piece that we’re all really excited about. Michael Thomas Drawing since he “was knee-high to a frog,” Washburn graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He has been working as an illustrator ever since, earning him the attention of a number of organizations focused on creative design. He recently teamed with Robot House Creative to design a new box for Oklahoma’s own Hideaway Pizza. Now 22
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he’s embarking on another creative expedition with amshot.
Creative freedom
He met Rick Alliss, amshot director of software development, and Michael Thomas, amshot CEO, at OKC Midtown Rotary, an organization to which all three belong. Friends of Washburn, Alliss and Thomas approached him a couple years back, suggesting he do a piece for their company. “[The process of recruiting Washburn unfolded in] a natural progression from that first meeting where we wanted some art to explain what we do in kind of a more practical way,” Thomas said. “[It] just kind of evolved into this community building, awareness-building piece that we’re all really excited about.” What was initially intended to be a couple large pieces eventually became a series taking Washburn about a year and half from concept to creation. The cornerstone piece, made up of 58 illustrations combined into one, is intended to act as a symbolic expression of the company’s message. “That’s the big surprise: They combine to form a larger piece of artwork that is representative of amshot and their missions and goals as a whole,” Washburn said. When wrapping up the project a few months back, the decision was made to transform the series into a rotating gallery. Since then, Washburn has been running around, “busily collecting essentially everything [he has] produced in the last five years.” Though the project is challenging, Washburn has enjoyed it, as it has allowed him the chance to hone in on his creative talents while still affording
But the part he and those who commissioned him at amshot seem to like most is the opportunity to be able to give back to their community. One way they intend to do this is by giving away free beer at the event. “Craft beer is so much fun right now, and we love to support the different breweries,” Thomas said. Two local breweries, Stonecloud Brewing Co. and Elk Valley Brewing, agreed to donate the beer. Just as the artwork is an expression of the company, so are the brews that go along with it. “We’re definitely a fun office and so, you know, we do drink beer sometimes,” Thomas said. “We’re very employeefocused, so we wanna have a very fun environment for the employees.” However, he was quick to realize a potential liability, one that he cleverly leveraged into a charitable work.
“Then we started getting nervous because we had free beer,” he admitted. “We need to charge something at the door to keep the entire universe from coming for free beer. And that’s when we decided we would donate the proceeds of that.” The idea was inspired by a fellow Rotary Club artist who donated 10 percent of the proceeds from one her art installments to a charity of her choosing. Community empowerment being one of amshot’s goals, it only made sense to do the same. To Alliss, Thomas and Washburn, the charity of choice became obvious, and they were ready to give it all away. Ian Dauteuil, president of OKC
Midtown Rotary, was ecstatic to learn the proceeds would be handed over to the organization, and he readily agreed to partner up for the event. Despite not being exclusively focused on the arts, a good chunk of the group’s support is poured in that direction. “[Arts are] our main focus,” Dauteuil said. “Every dollar that goes back in goes right back out into the community.” The group also has the support of the rotary district, which will often match the club’s funds two to one for larger projects. For example, they replaced a high school dance floor, a project wielding a price tag of approximately $18,000. And it seems the club already has an idea of where to allocate the proceeds from the upcoming event. “Schools in general are still very much underfunded in Oklahoma City, and the program that’s always first to get cut is the arts program,” Dauteuil said. “So more than likely, that money will be used to supplement some of those schools’ arts programs.” In the upcoming exhibitions, the featured artist will change, as will the brewery supplying the beer. Dauteuil expects amshot will rotate to a different charity as well. “They might circle back with us, but I know amshot really wants to spread the wealth within the community in general,” he said. In addition to a charitable cause and free beer, those who attend the 4:30-8
“Teamwork” by Sam Washburn | Image amshot / provided
p.m. event Thursday can expect a food truck and an art sale with the opportunity to purchase Washburn’s art. “Everyone is the office is talking about the event and how much fun it’s gonna be,” Thomas said, happily awaiting the upcoming presentation. Visit amshot.com/exhibition.
exhibITion 4:30-8 p.m. Thursday amshot 428 Dean A. McGee Ave. amshot.com/exhibition | 405-418-6282 $5
presents
okcburgerweek.com Celebrating creativity between the buns!
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BLUEJ’S SIGNATURE SMOKEYJ BURGER BlueJ’s Rollin’ Grill
GREEN CHILI RANCH BURGER The Garage burgers & Beer
Food Truck
Multiple locations
The BlueJ’s Signature SmokeyJ Burger is crafted from 100 percent fresh ground beef loaded with smoked sausage, thick-cut bacon, cheddar cheese, dill pickles and a truck-made smokey horseradish aioli! Find it at BlueJ’s Rollin’ Grill Food Truck! Pair it with a COOP Ale Works Octoberfest for the perfect combination that can also be found at special events this fall from BlueJ’s Happy Wagon! For schedules, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
Try the new Green Chili Ranch Burger now available at The Garage: Hatch green chilis, pico de gallo, pepper jack cheese and chipotle ranch on Angus beef, turkey, garlic quinoa vegan patty or grilled chicken. It pairs great with a local craft beer or $2 Coors Banquet always available on tap.
bluejsrollingrill.com
eatatthegarage.com
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JUMBO ONION BURGER Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge
ONE-EYE JACK BURGER Hudsons Public House
421 NW 10th St.
1000 NW 192nd, Edmond 27 East Sheridan Ave., OKC
This juicy, all-beef patty is a deliciously messy tribute to the famous onion burgers from El Reno. It’s cooked to perfection atop a mound of sweet grilled onions. Then it’s covered with American cheese and yellow mustard and placed in a squishy potato bun. It’s perfect for before or after bowling.
Fried egg, bacon, green chilies, pepper jack cheese, chipotle mayo, grilled beer onions, lettuce and tomato. hhpublichouse.com
dustbowllounge.com
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THE CRY BABY The Fixx
ORIGINAL MCNELLIE’S CHARBURGER James E. McNellie’s Public House
644 W. Edmond Road, Edmond Don’t be such a Cry Baby! Unless you want to be! A hand-packed Angus beef patty, habanero cheese, ghost pepper cheese, Carolina Reaper sauce and grilled jalapeños might challenge any heat-seeking foodie and could bring you to tears. This baby isn’t just about the heat; it tastes great too!
1100 Classen Drive McNellie’s original charburger has been a staple of Midtown OKC’s dining scene for more than 10 years. Its 1/2 pound patty, which is never frozen, is always popular — especially on Wednesday nights when it’s only $3.99.
thefixxok.com
mcnellies.com
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LUCY’S COUSIN BURGER Flatire Burgers
SOUTH-OF-THEBORDER BURGER Kaisers Grateful Bean Cafe
318 E. Ayers St., Edmond She’s just built different! 1/2 lb. beef patty stuffed with fresh jalapeños, crispy bacon and cream cheese. Topped with lettuce, tomato, homemade potato chips and our Rooster sauce. Make it a double if you dare!
1039 N. Walker Ave. This superburger is not for everyone, but it is for people who like to eat plenty and eat well. Moderation is always in season. However, if need be, St. Anthony is close and EMSA closer. The burger is available as a single ($9.95) or double-decker ($11.95) with sirloin beef burger, turkey bacon, guacamole, Swiss cheese and jalapeños. Served with fixin’s and baked french fries. Soda pop is included in this Burger Week special.
flatireburgers.com
Photo Alexa Ace
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facebook.comkaisersgratefulbean
SMOKEY MOUNTAIN BURGER La Baguette Bistro 7408 N. May Ave.
Eat them all!
The Smokey Mountain Burger has a delicious 1/2-pound patty made fresh daily from its own butcher shop. The juicy patty is topped with thick-cut Applewood smoked bacon and a generous portion of melted cheddar cheese all on a buttery brioche bun. labaguettebistro.com
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BRIE CHEESE & FRIED APPLE BURGER Lip Smackers 4200 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Lip Smackers is the only restaurant in the world that serves the Brie cheese and fried apple burger. Like all other 12 burger selections, our burger is grilled to perfection, all juice and no grease. Our never-frozen Angus beef, unique seasoning and perfect recipe gives our burgers the freshest and second-to-none taste. lipsmackersokc.com
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DOUBLE-CHEESE DOUBLE-MEAT BURGER WITH BACON Little Mike’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers 6724 NW Expressway A Little Mike’s original onion-fried burger with two allbeef patties, two slices of delicious, melty cheese and four strips of hickory-smoked bacon. Top it off with whatever you like from the fresh veggie bar! littlemikeshamburgers.com
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DIRTY SOUTH BURGER McClintock Saloon & Chop House
BlueJ’s Rollin’ Grill Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge The Fixx Flatire Burgers The Garage Burgers & Beer Hudsons Public House James E. McNellie’s Public House Kaiser’s Grateful Bean Cafe La Baguette Bistro Lip Smackers t Little Mike’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers McClintock Saloon & Chop House Metro Diner Nic’s Place Patty Wagon S & B Burger Joint Tucker’s Onion Burgers Twisted Oak Tavern at The Green Country Club
2227 Exchange Ave. Liquid lunch or a badass burger for your next lunch? Why not both? Mosey in for our Dirty South Burger with pimento cheese, jalapeño, bacon, cheese and an egg on top paired with libations from McClintock’s extensive bar menu. In the Stockyards, beef is king! McClintock’s half–pound burgers have the fixings of housemade ingredients and are always made to order.
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mcclintocksaloon.com
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BOLD CITY BURGER Metro Diner
SIR BAC-A-LOT S&B Burger Joint
3000 W. Memorial Road, Suite 109
10 metro locations
One of Metro Diner’s originals and a creation of its founder, Mark Davoli, the Bold City Burger is a mouthful! It starts with a half pound of sizzling Angus beef and is topped with Provel cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, sausage, fried jalapeños, lettuce, tomato and garlic aioli and stacked high on a brioche bun — this burger is big and bold. Come try one today.
A 1/2 pound Angus beef and bacon blend patty topped with melted sharp cheddar and Swiss cheese on a brioche bun with lettuce, tomato, housemade Jim Beam Maple Bacon Jam and a smoky burger sauce. sandbburgers.com
metrodiner.com
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NIC’S ORIGINAL CLASSIC HYBRID BURGER Nic’s Place
THE STAR BURGER Tucker’s Onion Burgers
1116 N. Robinson Ave.
Topped with jalapeño cheddar sausage, cheddar cheese and barbecue mayo, the Star Burger is available only during OKC Burger Week at all four Tucker’s Onion Burger locations!
4 metro locations
The classic hybrid fried onion cheeseburger features a hand-packed, fresh ground, never frozen, 9 oz. patty larger than most, which takes extra searing time to create the best of both worlds! It can be a little messy, but along with sautéed onions, it creates a marriage made in heaven!
tuckersonionburgers.com
facebook.com/nicsplacedinerandlounge
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CALI RANCHER Patty Wagon
THE KITCHEN SINK BURGER Twisted Oak Tavern
3600 N. May Ave. 100 percent premium Certified Angus Beef™ patty topped with grilled caramelized onions and melted American cheese on a bakery-fresh butter-toasted bun, with fresh sliced tomatoes, lettuce, fresh avocado slices and signature house-made savory jalapeño ranch sauce. Nothing goes better with its delicious, Best of OKC-nominated burgers than fresh, hand-cut fries and an old-fashioned hand-dipped ice cream shake.
at The Greens Country Club 13100 Green Valley Drive 1/2 pound Iowa 8 Premium Black Angus Beef topped with Ralph’s Sugar Bacon, smoked cheddar, fried jalapeño, LTO Slaw, an onion ring and truffle ranch prepared by executive chef Jim Camp. It pairs well with a COOP F5. Join us at recently reimagined The Greens Country Club and dine in our Twisted Oak Tavern to start enjoying the ultimate adult playground in OKC!
thepattywagonok.com
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ARTS & CULTURE
art
Whiteout, originally installed in Madison Square Park in New York City, will open in Campbell Art Park at NW 11th Street and Broadway Avenue on Oct. 11. Oklahoma Contemporary’s exhibition of the Erwin Redl artwork will run through the end of March. | Photo Moorehart Photography / provided
Lit up
An art installation originally in New York City finds new life and transformation in Oklahoma City. By Jeremy Martin
Relocating from New York City to Oklahoma City requires some adjustment, even for a configuration of LED lights embedded in transparent white spheres suspended from a grid of steel poles and cabling. Erwin Redl’s Whiteout, the latest exhibition at Campbell Art Park, 1146 N. Broadway Ave., can be seen in OKC beginning Oct. 11 because of a partnership between Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center and New York City’s Madison Square Park Conservancy. “We’ve actually had a relationship with them for a while,” said Jennifer Scanlan, curatorial and exhibitions director at Oklahoma Contemporary. “They commission a large-scale piece from a lot of really interesting contemporary artists … and they reached out to me, saying, ‘We have this piece and we’re looking to find another venue for it when it closes here in New York. Would you be interested?’ It’s part of a great, ongoing relationship we have with the New York conservancy. It would be sort of a high ticket for us to be able commission on our own.” Redl’s work, which displays lights in preprogrammed patterns and sequences, will need to be rearranged to accommodate the space and layout differences between Madison Square Park and Campbell Art Park, Scanlan said, but reconfiguring the grid will also
allow Redl a chance to make adjustments and improvements. “There were two parallel rectangles, like an equals sign, because they had a big, wide space in New York City to put those,” Redl explained, “and we have a long, thin space, so the two pieces are kind of going to be merged a little bit, and they have a different format. When an artist — in this case Erwin Redl — gets a chance to do an installation once, much like a project you or I might do once, you do it once and you look at it and you’re like, ‘I could do this better,’ or ‘I could do this differently next time. These are the things that I learned about this piece, so let me try something slightly different next time.’ And that’s exactly what he did.” Whiteout 2.0 will feature a more involved layout to create more intricate patterns with the lights, which are suspended from the grid of cables about 18 inches off the ground. “Without going into too many details,” Scanlan said, “if you look at the New York pictures, the lights are in a very regular grid. [Here] they’re going to be in a much more complex setup so that the things that he’s able to do with the lights are going to be more complex and interesting.” Redl visited Oklahoma City to survey the space and then returned to supervise the installation.
“What he does basically is everything gets set up, the structure gets set up and then he, from his laptop, manipulates the program, the sequencing of the lights, when they’re going on and off,” Scanlan said. “So he’ll just sit out there with his laptop and type in the code and test it out and see how it works in the space. So he’s really doing it onsite to react to what we have. We have, for example, different lighting conditions, and that’s going to be a huge difference from New York, and you experience the piece in a much different way because it’s not in the middle of a park. It’s right next to the road. There’s going to be different sounds. There’s not going to be skyscrapers all around it. Oklahoma City is much more horizontal, and New York City is much more vertical. So that’s going to be different, and maybe even things like the ground will be different so it will be reflecting the light in a different way. There’s going to be fewer trees. It’s very important to him that the piece works with the space it’s in, so he’ll just spend hours out there testing different patterns, testing different things to see what really works best for our space.”
Natural effects
Scanlan compared the exhibit’s installation process to computer programming but said natural elements will also alter the way Whiteout looks from moment to moment. “Most of the visual effects are created that way, essentially from the lights going on and off, but that’s not something you’re going to notice as much as you’ll notice the movements and patterns,” Scanlan said. “It’s like on a computer screen; you don’t really notice the pixels going on and off. What you notice
is the image on the screen. … In a secondary way, the wind will create different things, the way the lights cast reflection on the ground or on the trees will change too. And of course, different times of the day or night, the piece will look differently.” Redl will discuss his art works and the process behind them 6-8 p.m. Oct. 10 at 21c Museum Hotel, 900 W. Main St., and visitors will also be able to attend half-hour interactive discussions about the exhibit led by Oklahoma Contemporary staff onsite at Campbell Art Park, weather permitting, through March 14. Morning talks, titled Start With Art will feature coffee for sale from Coffee Slingers Roasters for art lovers who want a caffeine fix. “We have monthly talks,” Scanlan said. “We’ve got a couple of different kinds of programs that will get people out there, just to see something beautiful and inject a little bit of beauty and art into their day.” When compared with the New York City exhibition, the experience of viewing Whiteout in Oklahoma City will be limited in at least one way, Scanlan said, but the ambiance in Oklahoma City might be more pleasant. “We’re going to try to get some drone footage as well because, of course, there’s a whole different effect when you get to be up above it,” Scanlan said. “In New York, you did have the opportunity to see it from above, now that I’m thinking about it, because any of the buildings around it, you could go up and watch it from above. So we’re going to kind of miss out on that experience in Oklahoma City, but on the other hand, there’s a lot more serenity in Oklahoma City. You don’t have tons of people in cars honking and ambulances and all that stuff that you hear all the time in New York.” And OKC does have a factor that will make the patterns in Whiteout’s lights more dynamic. “They’re basically all suspended on wires, so they move in time with the wind,” Scanlan said. “Redl’s really interested in those kind of environmental conditions. So I was like, ‘OK, great. We’ve got a lot of wind in Oklahoma, so this is going to work out really well for you.’” Free to view, Whiteout will be on display Oct. 11-March 31. Visit oklahomacontemporary.org.
Whiteout Oct. 11-March 31 Campbell Art Park 1146 N. Broadway Ave. oklahomacontemporary.org | 405-951-0000 Free
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ARTS & CULTURE t h e at e r
Ballet buddies
Oklahoma City Ballet teams up with University of Oklahoma School of Dance to help students transition to professionals. By Jeremy Martin
Two University of Oklahoma students are finding out what it’s like to play in the big leagues, so to speak. Michael Bearden, director of the OU School of Dance, used a sports analogy to describe the school’s new collaboration with Oklahoma City Ballet. “Let’s say I’m the football coach at OU,” Bearden said, “and what I’ve created or helped to foster is I allow two of my strong players on the OU team to go down and do a minicamp with the Dallas Cowboys. When they come back, maybe their eyes are wide open, like, ‘Oh my gosh. I see what it’s going to take now to get to that next level.’ So that’s kind of what we’re creating here. They’re not on the Dallas Cowboys, but they get their foot in the door, and they get their feet wet in what that culture and environment is like and what the expectations are.” The collaboration, officially launched earlier this month, allows OU juniors Micah Bullard and Caroline Young to dance with Oklahoma City Ballet as trainees while still attending school. Bearden said he got the idea from a similar program at the University of Utah, where he used to serve as an assistant professor of ballet. “It’s pretty much the same,” Bearden said. “The concept is basically we have two full-time students that are fully involved with the University of Oklahoma, and we at the School of Dance are just flexible with their schedule. So we allow them to drive up to Oklahoma City and take ballet class with the company. It’s a really good educational tool for them because then they’re learning from the high level of professional dancers in that environment.” For the students to feel integrated into the professional dance company, Bearden said he wanted to ensure that Robert Mills, director of Oklahoma City Ballet, chose the program’s participants himself. “I gave feedback as well on the selection,” Bearden said, “but I felt it was important for him to select the dancers from here so that they truly know that he selected them to be part of the organization as opposed to me selecting them, and then they may feel like Robert doesn’t have their endorsement. So this way, they’re truly members of that organization as well.” Typically, Bullard and Young will travel from Norman to Oklahoma City twice a week to dance with OKC Ballet, but their schedule will get more intense Ballet majors Micah Bullard and Caroline Young are the first OU students to be trainees with OKC Ballet as they continue their education and training at the university. | Photo provided 28
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next month as the company rehearses for its upcoming presentation of Septime Webre’s Alice (in Wonderland), scheduled to run Oct. 26-28. Bearden said balancing the demands of a professional dance production with a full academic course load will be the greatest challenge facing the students and their instructors. “I think the biggest concern is just navigating their schedule to still allow them to get done what they need to get done for their degree because that’s their first priority,” Bearden said. “So in this first year, it’s just learning how we communicate with the students and with Oklahoma City Ballet so we’re all on the same page and make sure that all parties are being served as needed. … But I’m confident that Oklahoma City Ballet’s committed and the students are committed to doing whatever we can to help facilitate these students’ schedules.”
Real work
Bearden, who previously performed as a principal dancer with Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Utah, said transitioning from college to the world of professional dancing involves some adjustments. “I think in some ways, I was prepared,” he said, “but the intrinsic difference is you go into the professional world
and the standard is maybe even higher because now you’re getting paid to do the work. So you’re no longer a student; you’re actually an employee, and that comes with a whole new set of pressures and demands that on some level we just can’t replicate in the academic environment.” While some of the real-world pressure is impossible to duplicate, Bearden said the school always attempts to mirror the working conditions and expectations of a metropolitan ballet. “We really strive to create and foster a professional environment for the dancers so that there isn’t that shock going to the professional level,” Bearden said. “They’re really used to that way of working. … We really have the students dancing about the same number of hours that they would be dancing in a professional environment, so that’s not too big of an adjustment.” After a week in the program, Bearden said, Bullard and Young’s response has been completely positive. “So far, I’ve asked the students for feedback, and they said they’re really enjoying being there,” Bearden said, “and they really appreciate getting to observe how some of the high-caliber dancers in the Oklahoma City Ballet operate.”
Convenient collaboration
The collaboration comes at an opportune time for both the ballet and OU’s School of Dance, Bearden said. “I believe the Oklahoma City Ballet is on a nice climb,” Bearden said.
“They’re getting better and better as an organization artistically. So I think we’re really fortunate to be able to establish this relationship with an organization that is just continuing to get stronger and better.” In a written statement, Mills said a cooperative effort between the two organizations is an intuitive fit because of their shared history. “Since both OU’s dance program and OKC Ballet trace their roots back to Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo dancers Miguel Terekhov and Yvonne Chouteau, it is only natural that the two entities collaborate and work together,” Mills said. ”I am happy to begin this joint training program with the OU School of Dance and look forward to working with their students in the coming years.” After performing in famous Ballet Russe, Chouteau and Terekhov founded both the School of Dance and Oklahoma City Civic Ballet, which became Ballet Oklahoma and then OKC Ballet, in the 1960s. The collaboration between OU and the ballet, Bearden said, is another way for the school to achieve its ongoing mission to improve the possible futures of its young dancers. “What I seek to help facilitate for our students is opportunity — opportunities to learn, opportunities to succeed,” Bearden said. “And even though it’s only a couple of students in this case, it’s nice to have an avenue that is a way for our students to learn and grow. … We’re really excited for this program. It’s important for our school to keep strong connections with the professional dance world for the sake of our students.”
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ARTS & CULTURE
Voting lessons
Del Crest Middle School students take civic lessons to the streets with their mission to register 200 residents to vote in November’s statewide elections. By Nazarene Harris
Aaron Baker’s eighth-grade civics class at Del Crest Middle School is a lively bunch. The average student is 13, that special age where the brain begins to grasp complicated issues but has not yet been worn down by society’s cry for political correctness or the need to be overly polite or apologetic. Thirteenyear-olds are, in a word, honest. “When you don’t vote, you get a bad president,” student Sidney Priest told visitors of a Save-A-Lot grocery store in Del City one September weekday after school. “I know a lot of people here like Donald Trump, but that’s the truth whether you like him or not; when we don’t vote, we get bad leaders.” Since August, Priest and her civics class classmates have been working hard to register Del City residents to vote in Oklahoma’s upcoming November elections. The initiative is part of their class’ project, Del City Votes, founded by Baker, who teaches U.S. history and a civics course titled Local and Global Citizenship Civics. “A lot of what we’re doing with this project is typically reserved for juniors and seniors in high school who are about to reach the legal voting age,” Baker said. “It makes logical sense for them to learn about civic responsibility, but I believe these lessons need to be taught a lot earlier.” The goal, Baker said, is to register 200 30
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Del City residents to vote by Oct. 12. Priest and classmates Michelle Rooks, Terry McMorris, Keiana Burden and Colin Gaines, among others, have gone to public places like grocery stores on an almost weekly basis in an effort to sign people up to vote. Their faces glow in the dawning summer sun, and their enthusiasm is hard to hide, despite receiving some pushback. “I think a lot of people look at us like we are just some dumb kids,” Gaines said, “like we don’t really know what we’re talking about. I know I have a lot to learn, but I also know how to do this; our teacher taught us how to do this.” With confidence, Baker’s students ask passersby if they’d like to register to vote. They then help each willing participant fill out a voter registration form. Baker submits newly completed forms to the State Election Board weekly. Sometimes, Baker said, the honesty of the young isn’t enough to convince the old. “There are some people who have a hard time understanding why they should take advice on voting from someone who’s not even old enough to vote,” Baker said. “Part of this project is reminding older generations that there was a time when they too believed they could change the world.” Rooks said she’s not easily let down.
“It’s OK if they say no,” she said. “Maybe they are busy. Maybe they are already registered. I don’t take it personally.” Every time the group takes their classroom to the community, they learn something new, Baker said. The group has already received several “no, thank you”s from convicted felons who are ineligible to vote, Baker said. According to American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Oklahoma, Oklahomans who are convicted felons lose their voting rights for the duration of their original court sentence. However, they can restore their voting rights once their original sentence has been completed. “I could tell them that in the classroom,” Baker said. “But for them to hear it from a person who’s living that reality is totally different.”
Real experiences
The educational organization Teaching Tolerance awards grants to public school teachers who propose projects that would allow for students to learn the values of diversity and tolerance in new and innovative ways. In August, the organization donated $750 to Baker and his Del City Votes initiative. Baker, a native of Arkansas, said he has called Oklahoma home for over a decade. While his formal education in theology and seminary school called for him to pursue a career in the church, Baker said the desire to make a difference in the lives of young people from every religion, race and culture appealed to him. He attained an alternative teaching certificate and settled down with his wife and three children in the Sooner State. He is a firm believer in taking the classroom to the community, and his
from left Terry McMorris, Keiana Burden, Colin Gaines, Sidney Priest and Michelle Rooks | Photo Nazarene Harris
passion is community-building. “You can teach a 17-year-old how to vote,” Baker said. “But for them to understand why they should vote and why it’s important to be a part of their community, teaching has to begin way before 17.” He hopes more classes and subjects will be taught using techniques that allow students to experience learning in the real world. For now, Baker said, his students have a long way to go to meet their goal of registering 200. They have a little over a dozen registered voters so far. “We’re going to keep going, and if we don’t meet that goal, that’s OK,” Baker said. “Every vote matters.” Baker said this year’s November elections are crucial for the state of Oklahoma and he hopes voters will consider voting for candidates who advocate improving Oklahoma’s public schools. “I think folks from both parties are agreeing that education is one of the biggest issues during this year’s elections,” Baker said. “Pay raises were important, but they should represent a first step in an initiative to repair our public schools.” He hopes to see newly elected officials work to restore state funding for education so schools like his will be fully staffed and eventually equipped to compete with those in neighboring states like Texas. But more than hope for change, Baker and his civics class students said they will help people vote to make sure it happens.
Act i v e
ARTS & CULTURE
Star tech
Science Museum Oklahoma upgrades its planetarium to provide a better experience for audiences. By Jeremy Martin
Thanks to an anonymous donor, the stars in the sky are shining brighter at Science Museum Oklahoma’s (SMO) Kirkpatrick Planetarium. The planetarium, which closed to the public on Aug. 6, will reopen with upgraded technology and equipment on Saturday. Before the recent renovations, the museum had been using the same equipment, manufactured by the Minolta camera corporation, since 1978. “At the time, it was certainly cuttingedge technology,” said planetarium director Tom Arnold, “and even now, the sky was still halfway decent, but it was getting old. The stars were dimming. The planets didn’t work anymore. Literally, it had one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel, so we had to do something.” The operating system previously used to control the planetarium’s lights and slide projectors was an antique installed in the early 1990s. “We had to retrofit people’s knowledge back to DOS in order to be able to handle the application that we were having to babysit every day,” Arnold said. When new information about the cosmos was discovered, Arnold and his staff still attempted to incorporate the
latest knowledge into the planetarium’s presentations, but the process was difficult and time-consuming and the results were limited by the old equipment. “We tried to keep up with the technology in terms of what we were learning in outer space,” Arnold said. “We kept updating the slides, but they were slides and that’s pretty much it.” Clint Stone, vice president of programs at the museum, said the planetarium staff’s efforts gave visitors an enjoyable educational experience but the new renovations will allow them to provide a more interactive and impressive show. “It was pretty common to come in to the planetarium to see Tom and crew working on things, keeping things going and changing out slides very often on all the projectors,” Stone said. “What Tom and we’ve been able to do through this planetarium is to give everyone who comes here a great experience, a wonderful live show. And we were able to do that with the Konica Minolta and the system that we had in place with the slide projec-
tors, but what we’re able to do now is take that a step forward. … We listened to what our guests wanted, what we’ve heard back and spent a long time looking at possibilities and what we thought would fit our guests’ needs most but give us opportunities to grow as well and challenge ourselves in new ways.”
Experience upgrade
The biggest challenge the planetarium faced once the decision had been made to upgrade the equipment, Arnold said, was determining which system to install. “We wanted to make sure that we had something that was really cutting-edge today,” Arnold said, “because when you buy technology of any kind, whether it be a computer or anything else, you buy the best that you can at any given point in time because in a few years, it’s going to be obsolete. That’s the philosophy that I used when I started first looking for these things, to try to find the best technology that would be the most expandable over time. Digital is certainly going to be expandable. It’s going to be around from now on. So that was a key factor in the decision-making process.” The other major challenge, Stone said, was planning a major renovation without keeping the planetarium out of service for any longer than necessary. “From the small things like redoing our console to the big things of removing the star ball and preparing a lot of the conduit, air conditioning, wall painting, floors, there was a lot of work that needed to be done,” Stone said. “So we worked backwards from when we wanted to open to when we needed to start preparing and tried to minimize the amount of time we would be closed to our guests.
We have 70,000 folks who come through every year to see a star show, and we don’t want to let anyone down. And by doing this, we’ll be able to make everyone’s experience even better.” The new system, an Evans & Sutherland Digistar 6, features Sony high-resolution digital projectors controlled by 12 computers. By upgrading to digital graphics, Arnold said the planetarium shows can now include “literally anything [he] can dream up.” “Anything you would see in any science-fiction movie, any fantasy movie, we can do that same kind of thing here,” Arnold said. Stone said the new system will allow the planetarium to create its own customized shows specially designed for audiences in Oklahoma. “Our guests love seeing a night sky that’s not only specific to our area and what they’ll be seeing that evening, but our stories and our own culture that we’ve developed here as a museum, so we’re continuing that,” Stone said. “They will see new things, they will see stories about their own sky, they will have an enhanced experience from what we were offering two months ago.” Updating the system and equipment will allow the planetarium to offer up to seven shows per day where it could previously offer three or four. In addition to pre-recorded programs, visitors will be able to choose from a variety of different options for customized shows. “One thing we like to do is to ask the audience, ‘Where would you like to go? What would you like to see?’” Stone said. “So if the audience wants to visit Mars — maybe there’s been a lot of news about Mars that day — we can travel to Mars and not only see Mars but see Mars as it is at that time and address questions. … If they have interest in the rovers, we could do something with the rovers as well. Pluto is very popular. Kids always want to go to Pluto, and we can take them. Things that guests may have heard about in the news, we’ll be able to shift the show and focus on those things.” The old equipment, including the outmoded star-ball projector, has been removed from the planetarium, but Stone said the museum will still retain it because of its historic value and it might eventually end up in its own exhibit. “It’s been with us 40 years, since the planetarium was in this space in 1978,” Stone said. “We have plans for growth in the future and sharing that with our guests in some kind of context, possibly a historical context … so it’s being well taken care of right now.” Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $12.95-$15.95. Call 405-602-6664 or visit sciencemuseumok.org. Science Museum Oklahoma planetarium director Tom Arnold said the new planetarium system can create custom programs for Oklahoma audiences when it goes online Saturday. | Photo Alexa Ace
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ARTS & CULTURE
“SPARKLING, FRESH AND LIVELY.” - Los Angeles Times
NATIONAL TOUR PREVIEW PERFORMANCES! Friday, Nov. 2 at 8 pm Saturday, Nov. 3 at 2 pm OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater 7777 South May Avenue
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Blood ties
Oklahoma Blood Institute’s Thank the Donor program lets recipients connect indirectly with their donors. By Daniel Bokemper
Donating blood is one of the few altruistic actions most people can do. However, a giver’s knowledge of their donation’s impact was usually removed from the equation. Earlier this year, Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) sought to change this. Built in tandem with and working from many of the institute’s established record technologies, Thank the Donor is a new program allowing patients to express thanks to all involved with their care with the modern ease of using social media. This initiative is the nation’s first to allow a direct connection between donor and recipient without compromising any medical privacy laws. Thank the Donor likewise allows for digital gratitude to be spread to all parties involved with the transplant, crafting a visual representation for hospitals and volunteers to curate and maintain. Conceived by Dr. John Armitage, CEO of OBI, the application of Thank the Donor is straightforward. Via a green, heart-shaped tag adorned with a QR code attached to every bag of blood originating from OBI, patients are encouraged to visit thankthedonor. org to begin crafting their unique thank-you note. Armitage noticed the technology has been used in commercial environments but has not been harnessed effectively for charities. “Before, a blood center might know who is giving blood and the stories of amazing impact that process entails,” Armitage said. “Still, there was no way for an institute like us as a charity to celebrate that and make it a part of our narrative; it’s more vague and abstract.
I happened across the fact you could use a barcode on a product to pull limitless information with your phone, and this flexibility with the technology opened up a concept of using a barcode of sorts on a blood unit to help break down this abstract barrier.” Though there was an initial concern with disclosure and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance, Armitage and his team quickly realized if the program was implemented in a fashion akin to Facebook or Instagram, this concern could be alleviated with recipient’s consent to share. Armitage also knew the technology would need to be accessible; thus, OBI sought the assistance of local software developer Justin Redwine to create the module. “This has just opened up a flood of content and a ton of emotion power that was previously hidden,” Armitage said. “With Justin’s help, we were able to also enact a bit of innovation, and now we’re establishing licensure agreements with other, neighboring blood centers. Once a facility starts to use the program and see what it does, it’s easy to see how it can help them.” Given the required anonymity for a donor, Thank the Donor is not so much about crafting a personal relationship between two ends of the donation process. Instead, the program allows for one to illustrate gratitude open the public’s eyes to the tremendous impact of giving blood. “It changes this process from something veiled to a visualization,” Armitage said. “For example, a 91-year-
Gazette School1.8(2).pdf
Ben Evans left is a recipient who participated in Oklahoma Blood Institute’s Thank the Donor program, which was conceived by Dr. John Armitage (third from right). | Photo Oklahoma Blood Institute / provided
old woman may not only say thank you but also post a picture of her ability to get outside and care for her garden again because of the donation. Thank the Donor provides this emotional rush and gives the donors, volunteers and the public a sense of what we’re doing has a tremendous effect on people.”
Fostering support
In Armitage’s experience, Thank the Donor has empowered staff as well as patients. Without the encouragements of nursing staff, for instance, blood recipients might have little to no context as to what the green heart does and represents. The nature of Thank the Donor is not only used to forward OBI’s mission, but can be used by hospitals and other care facilities alike to echo the importance of recovery. “The tag itself is super passive, so it needs someone to explain it and why it helps the community. The way the nurses and hospital staff have engaged in this program and the overall positive reception means they are finding the joy of healing,” Armitage said. The aforementioned reception of Thank the Donor in turn encouraged Gov. Mary Fallin to declare Aug. 2 Thank the Donor Day across Oklahoma. Armitage feels the day promotes OBI’s mission while simultaneously encouraging more donors and blood drives. Moving forward, this event will likely spur the empowerment and continued success of blood centers throughout the state and, eventually, the nation. Through the creation of Thank the Donor, a patent was filed for a concept known as share-thanks. Armitage said the technology is currently available for free to local charities so developers can gauge the success that such software might have in other nonprofit sectors. However, determining truly the best fit for the tool will still take some period for consideration. In the meantime, the benefit of Thank the Donor is apparent in the industry it currently involves. Even so, Armitage feels strongly about the widespread impact it could have. “My hope is maybe in a few years, when somebody gets a transfusion, it will become second nature to say thank you with the help of this little green heart,” he said. “The donor gives blood and the recipient provides this tangible message of gratitude; it becomes an organic part of the process. There are several people that may only give blood if it’s for a family member of if they’re paid. Yet 80 percent of the world’s population, predominantly women and children, don’t have access to safe, reliable supplies of blood. This tool could, in some way, be the lever that fixes a global crisis.” Visit obi.org.
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12:08 PM
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FALL 2018
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LAKE STREET DIVE
0 9 . 2 7 . 1 8CY
MAT KEARNEY
10.02.18
FATHER JOHN MISTY
10.11.18
ST. LUCIA
10.25.18
ANDY GRAMMER
10.28.18
HIPPO CAMPUS
11.05.18
DAWES
11.06.18
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS
11.14.18
KURT VILE
12.05.18
ROBERT EARL KEEN
12.18.18
BRONZE RADIO RETURN
04.05.19
CMY
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Join us september 28 to september 30 when more than 100,000 film lovers in over 350 venues across six continents gather to view and vote for their favorite films in the 21st Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival.
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September 26 COOP SHOWCASE September 27 TODD RUNDGREN September 28 MY SO CALLED BAND September 30
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October 4 THE BAD PLUS October 6 READ SOUTHALL BAND October 7
BISHOP BRIGGS October 8 HENRY ROLLINS — TRAVEL SLIDESHOW TOUR
9/28 5:30 & 8:30pm | 9/29 5:30 & 8:30pm | 9/30 2:00 & 5:30pm Selected from over 1500 submissions, this year’s nine Manhattan Short finalists hail from eight countries and represent a wide array of genres. The film collection will be screened simultaneously across the world during a one-week period, with the Best Film and Best Actor awards determined by ballots cast by the audiences in each participating venue.
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ARTS & CULTURE
Compassionate transportation A local service provides helpful transportation to patients undergoing medical care. By Joshua Blanco
In the time following a major operation, Laura Fleet quickly became disenchanted with the quality of service provided by the transportation companies she often relied upon. In addition to followup visits with her doctor, she regularly attended physical therapy as part of her recovery regimen. Struggling to get to these places alone, she wondered if there wasn’t a better alternative to the Ubers and taxis she used in the past. Unfortunately, she had no such luck until she came up with an idea of her own. The concept was simple: Create a rideshare program to accommodate medical patients who could use the extra help in getting to the places responsible for providing the care essential to their recuperation. While some patients rely on more well-known rideshare programs for transportation, not everyone can admit to having the best experience. Fleet was one of those people. “The first day I called an Uber car,” she said, referencing her first physical therapy appointment, “by the time I had reached the front door, they canceled the ride, charged me $5 and left.” She also tried taxis but was unsure of the manner in which drivers were selected. She wondered whether or not they could be trusted or if they had even been screened in the first place. In spite of her doubts, she decided to give it a go and though she arrived safely, the driver didn’t seem too interested in helping her out of the car. “He wasn’t helping me get out of the car, and I really needed help. … I was in a lot of pain,” Fleet said. “I did some research and found I was not the only
one with that problem. So I created SendaRide.” Fleet, SendaRide’s founder and CEO, was able to get the rideshare going, officially beginning the program’s beta testing in March 2017. Still, she had some time to go before the dream would become a reality. In true entrepreneurial spirit, she spent the better part of a year pitching to investors, hoping someone would realize the true potential of her idea.
Getting started
Unsure of where to turn next, she eventually enrolled in i2E’s Venture Assessment Program, a three-week course evaluating a number of indicators essential to determining business potential such as product market fit and competitive response. According to Scott Meacham, president and CEO of i2E, “You want an entrepreneur that can get you there. There are a lot of good ideas that die by the wayside because of lack of execution by the entrepreneur.” Meacham served as state treasurer of Oklahoma from June 2005 to January 2011. Despite his confidence in Fleet’s potential to successfully run the business, the team wasn’t “as enamored with” her original idea. Undoubtedly qualified, having worked several years a professional healthcare attorney, Fleet understood the ins and outs of the legal landscape under which her business would operate. But that wasn’t enough. If she wanted the investors’ green light, she would first have to return to the drawing board and reassess the weak points in her
business model. Luckily, she didn’t have to go it alone. “I didn’t know anything about the process. I was very much an amateur — I did not know what I was doing,” Fleet admitted. “I went through their Venture Assessment Program, and they kind of guided me along the way.” Of the changes, the most drastic was the decision to nix the child accommodation aspect, which included both care and transportation services for children. Though SendaRide was created to help the frail, vulnerable and elderly regardless of age, Fleet found it wasn’t so easy to earn parents’ trust on such a large scale. After accommodating the focus to be strictly on healthcare, a deeper assessment was performed. Also known as a Series A round, the process is common among companies that have already shown potential in the marketplace. SendaRide had already been servicing a few hospital systems within the state. At last, i2E determined Fleet’s business to be a sound investment, earning her fledgling startup an initial $1.74 million. “What you’re looking for as an investor that’s investing in a high-growth company is you really want an idea that has potential in the marketplace to catch on and be of regional, of national and potentially international significance,” Meacham said.
Company growth
SendaRide currently services both the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metros and was recently granted a license to operate in Texas. They will soon be offering rides in Dallas. In the meantime, Fleet is on the hunt for a chief growth officer, customer service representatives, a sales staff and a VP of engineering. In the future, she hopes to incorporate an Oklahoma-based engineering crew, but that doesn’t mean she’s not happy with what she already has. She describes the group as “a unicorn in and of itself because it’s very rare to find an engineering team from across the world that delivers and delivers on time and on budget a very quality product.”
Join 107.7 The Franchise live in the parking lot at White & Asp on Campus Corner. Make The Franchise All-Day Tailgate Party your OU pre and post-game destination!
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Laura Fleet started SendaRide after having bad experiences with taxis and rideshare services taking her to physical therapy appointments | Photo provided
Fleet is also looking for drivers to join the SendaRide team. “The drivers are definitely our secret sauce,” Fleet said. “They’re very wonderful, compassionate, caring individuals. … These are people who genuinely love what they do and want to give back, and that makes all the difference in the world.” In addition to friendly drivers willing to walk up to the rider’s home for assistance, customers will be able to enjoy a variety of perks not offered in other rideshares, regardless of location. For example, SendaRide complies with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and maintains a transparent security system allowing the rider and his or her emergency contact to monitor the ride’s progression. Still it is important for prospective riders to understand this is a non-emergency service. Riders must be able to walk without having to be lifted and are required to be over the age of 16. Nonetheless, Fleet hopes to make the rides as accommodating as possible. The more users who appreciate the service, the sooner the company will be able expand to other markets to help those also dissatisfied with their current means of transport. “This is much more a curated care,” Meacham said. “If an entrepreneur can be successful in determination alone, Laura will get there.” Visit sendaride.com.
ARTS & CULTURE Oklahoma City Lady Force Football includes about 20 teammates who play games against other regional teams. | Photo Oklahoma City Lady Force / provided
have included Kansas Lady Cougars, Kansas City Storm, the Northern Oklahoma Xtreme and the Enid Lady Enforcers, among others. Did I mention the Lady Force has never lost a game? It has been undefeated for four years. It is the four-time WXFL champion team. “A lot of people don’t want to play us,” Ford said. “We’re good. We’re dedicated.”
Act i v e
Growing team
Hard-hitting
Oklahoma City Lady Force plays full-impact football in the Women’s Xtreme Football League. By Jo Light
Under a leaden sky, on the practice field of Moore High School, a group of female football players meets regularly. On this Saturday, they count off their stretches, finishing each one with a shout of, “Lady! Force!” Head coach Shay Ford spots me hanging out on the sidelines as I wait for a chance to introduce myself. She waves. “You want to play football?” she shouts. I don’t, but I’m still impressed with what I see of the team so far. It’s clear pretty quickly that the women on the field take the game seriously. They train intensely and hit hard, playing fullcontact, eight-man football.
We need women to come out and play and the support from local sponsors so that we can continue to grow. Shay Ford The Lady Force has been around for several years. The team played its first season with the Women’s Xtreme Football League in March 2015, and this is Ford’s second year of coaching. She has played football since 2002. “There’s a lot of people that don’t even know that we even exist,” Ford said. “So for us to be women and playing football, it’s like, ‘Oh, it’s just like a little league team.’ If I tell anyone we play football, it’s like, ‘Oh, are you powder puff?’ or, ‘Are you guys lingerie?’”
Team owner and running back Sade “Koi” Roberts explains that the team was previously with the Sugar n Spice Football League (SSFL), but they decided to leave because the league was, in their opinion, “degrading to women.” Players wore cropped jerseys and short shorts. Ford agrees. “It was more of a lingerie-type league,” she said. When it first moved to the WXFL, Oklahoma City Lady Force had only the Northern Oklahoma Xtreme from Ponca City to play against. But by the next year, there were five teams. Now, players range in age from 18 to 52. Some work as physical therapists and daycare owners, while several others have jobs in law enforcement. Many of them have families. And Ford said most of the women on the current roster are return players. “You can watch it on TV,” Ford said, “but it’s different when you’re out here, knowing exactly who messed up, the techniques, the positions and all that. So we actually teach football.” Ford and Roberts pointed out that a lot of women join for the fitness aspect, too. “Not only is it just fun, and it’s a family atmosphere, you have an opportunity to build bonds and lose weight,” Ford said. “It’s like a fit camp.” Lady Force’s 2019 season will begin in March and run through June. It will have at least eight regular-season games, plus playoffs. Since it’s so early before the new season, the league is not currently set. Fellow teams in the past
Ford said its goal is to recruit enough players to eventually move up to an 11person league. “We need women to come out and play and the support from local sponsors so that we can continue to grow,” she said. The team has about 20 players on its roster right now but cannot comfortably switch leagues, preferring to have more players in case of injuries. The team has been through some changes this year. Roberts (who is a teacher and Army veteran) took over as owner last January, and one of her main goals is to establish the team as a nonprofit. It needs funding before it can go through the process. For now, the team members must provide almost everything they need themselves. Ford said they essentially have to “pay to play.” “That’s the toughest part about being in a women’s sport,” Ford said. “And that’s in any women’s team I’ve played on. Fees for the team, you know, [it’s] $250 up to $500, depending on what league we’re in. And that’s kind of tough, with everybody being parents and doctors and everything else.”
Past fundraisers have included car washes, potlucks, bake sales and poker tournaments. The team members try to be active in their communities, too, and have held prior events at Boys & Girls Club of Oklahoma County.
Kid-supported
During a water break, I met players Brittani Craig and Heather Dorsey. They were breathless after agility runs. Craig is a mother of seven and a prekindergarten teacher. She plays corner-
back. Dorsey works in retail security and has three kids. She’s the team’s center. “It’s kind of family away from family,” Craig said of the team. “So you don’t have to deal with the stress of your everyday job, and the kids, and cooking and being a wife and all that. You get to come out here and hang out with the girls. It’s pretty fun.” “You can come and take out aggression,” Dorsey added. “[You can] hit people, and they don’t get mad at you.” Both said their children look up to them. Craig said her kids want to play, and her young students are also supportive. “They have signs they make and everything,” Craig said. “They’re very excited about it.” They say although most people are encouraging and the team has a strong fanbase, it does at times meet with resistance, especially from men. But the teammates let their playing speak for itself. “We’re really technical and really focused,” Craig said. “I think sometimes more focused than the guys. But it’s okay. The NFL players, they’re good. They look nice.” Craig and Dorsey laughed at the light teasing. They said they both want their league to get bigger. “A lot of our high school girls that play football for high schools, a lot of them don’t know that we exist,” Dorsey said. “After high school, there’s still an opportunity to play. So I would like to reach out.” As far as new recruits, Ford said she’s looking for women of all backgrounds, sizes and experiences to play on the team. Players just need to be at least 18 years old. Practice continued, even when rain started to dampen the field. No one complained. Two of Dorsey’s children
Oklahoma City Lady Force Football players. | Photo Oklahoma City Lady Force / provided
trailed her as players did pass drills. At one point, Roberts gestured to the women sprinting nearby. “Look at them,” she said. “They look kind of intimidating. For somebody new to come and step on the field, [it’s] like, ‘I don’t know if I can do this.’ It’s just about motivation and dedication, the drive, the willingness to learn. Is this something you want to do?” Visit facebook.com/okcladyforce. O kg a z e t t e . c o m | S e p t e m b e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 8
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calendar out to people on the streets at this event hosted by Debate Night OKC, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. last Sunday of the month. NE OKC Community & Cultural Center, 3815 N Kelley Ave., 405-401-3350. SUN
are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.
Plaza District Festival a daylong annual event showcasing performing and visual arts with live music, vendors and children’s activities, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 29. Plaza District, 1618 N. Gatewood Ave., 405-426-7812, plazadistrict.org. SAT
Books Books & Brews browse for books while listening to live music and enjoying craft beer from COOP Ale Works, 7-9 p.m. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT-FRI
Reiki/ Energy Share learn about reiki healing and share good vibes at this community get-together, 6 p.m. Fridays. Beautifully Connected, 13524 Railway Drive., Suite J, 262-753-6852, beautifullyconnectedwellness. com. FRI
Brunching with Books a book club meeting every other week, with reading selections chosen by group preference, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Buttermilk Paseo, 605 NW 28th St., 405-605-6660, buttermilkokc.com. SAT
Sewing: Block of the Month Class make a different block each month to create quilt; bring your own scraps of fabric, a sewing machine and more, 6 p.m. Thursday. Mustang Parks & Recreation, 1201 N. Mustang Road, 405-376-3411, cityofmustang.org. THU
Mid-Oklahoma Writers a meetup for local writers featuring guest speakers and literary discussions, 7-9 p.m. Eastside Church of Christ, 916 S. Douglas Blvd., 405-732-0393. WED
Film 40 Minutes or Less: Modern Love a curated screening of short films presented by the OKC Film Society, 6-8 p.m. Sept. 27. [Artspace] at Untitled, 1 NE Third St., 405-815-6665, 1ne3.org. THU Bad Reputation (2018, USA, Kevin Kerslake) a documentary chronicling the career of rock ‘n’ roll star Joan Jett, 7 p.m. Sept. 26. Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Ave, 405-235-3456. WED Horror Fest: The Beyond/Pieces gory, macabre films by Lucio Fulci and Juan Piquer Simon kick off the Oklahoma Film Society’s inaugural horror film festival, 6-9 p.m. Oct. 2. The Paramount Room, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-887-3327, theparamountroom.com. TUE Blaze (2018, USA, Ethan Hawke) the life of Texas country pioneer Blaze Foley serves as the inspiration for this expressionistic bio-pic, Sept. 28. Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Ave, 405-235-3456. FRI Last Men in Aleppo (2017, Syria, Feras Fayyad) a documentary chronicling battlefield rescue efforts in Syria, 7:30 Oct. 3. Oklahoma City University Meinders School of Business, 2700 N. McKinley, 4052085593. WED Manhattan Short Film Festival more than 100,000 cineastes around the world will gather to vote for their favorite films in this international, simultaneously screened film festival, Sept. 28-30. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com.
FRI-SUN
Red River (1948, USA, Howard Hawks) John Wayne and Montgomery Clift lead an epic cattle drive along the Chisholm Trail, 1-2:30 p.m. Sept. 26. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. WED VHS & Chill Presents Fantasy Rewind watch a selection of vintage sci-fi, fantasy, and animation TV shows, with onsite concessions and beverages, 8-10:30 p.m. The Paramount Room, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-887-3327, theparamountroom.com. WED
Vietnamese Lunar Moon Festival - Tết Trung Thu Celebrate the harvest moon with paper lanterns, traditional dragon dances and games at this evening event hosted by the Vietnamese American Community of Oklahoma. Dine on food truck fare, shop from local vendors and watch the Little Miss Vietnam Pageant. The first 1,000 children in attendance will receive a free gift bag containing toys, a lantern and a candle. The festival is 4-10 p.m. Saturday at Military Park, 1200 NW 25th St. Visit facebook.com/congdongvnokc. SATURDAY Photo provided
VHS and Chill: True Romance (1993, USA, Tony Scott) celebrate the 25th anniversary of this outlaw road trip romance penned by Quentin Tarantino with a screening in VHS format and a raffle, 10:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Sept. 29. Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Ave, 405-235-3456. SAT
Happenings Board Game Brunch play board games while enjoying a variety of food and beverage options, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. last Sunday of the month. The R&J Lounge and Supper Club, 320 NW 10th St., 405-6025066, rjsupperclub.com. SUN Board Game Day enjoy local craft beer while playing old-school board and arcade games with friends, 5-8 p.m. Sundays. FlashBack RetroPub, 814 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-633-3604, flashbackretropub.com. SUN Board Game Night choose from more than 125 board games to play with family and friends with drinks and snacks available, 6-11 p.m. Tuesdays. PB&J Games, 1201 NW 178th St. #117, 405-696-5270, pbandjgames.co. TUE Chicago Steppin Class learn how to do the popular dance at this free weekly class, 7-9 p.m. Thursdays. L&G’s on the BLVD, 4801 N. Lincoln Blvd., 405-5242001, facebook.com/landgsontheblvd. THU Conversational Spanish Group Meetup an opportunity for all experience levels to practice
speaking Spanish, 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. TUE Deep Deuce Sessions a monthly concert and artwalk series in the historic neighborhood, 7 p.m. Saturday. Urban Johnnie, 121 NE Second St., 405208-4477, urbanjohnnie.com. SAT Down Syndrome Festival and 5K a walk to raise awareness and raise funds for the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma followed by a festival with games, inflatables, animals, a DJ and more, 8 a.m. Sept. 29. Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, 2 S. Mickey Mantle Drive, 405-218-1000, okcballparkevents.com. SAT Fiestas de las Americas an outdoor festival to celebrate Hispanic cultures throughout North and South America, beginning with a parade and followed by live dance and musical performances, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 29. Historic Capitol Hill, 319 SW 25th St., 405-632-0133, historiccapitolhill.com. SAT Frankie’s 1-Year Anniversary celebrate the bar’s first year in business at a luau-themed party with food and karaoke, 5 p.m.-midnight Sept. 30. Frankie’s, 2807 NW 36th St., 405-602-2030, facebook.com/frankiesokc. SUN Fuzzy Friday a monthly happy hour meet-andgreet hosted by the Bears of Central Oklahoma, 5:30 p.m. Fridays. Apothecary 39, 2125 NW 39th St., 405-605-4100. FRI Hangar Dance don 1940s-era costumes for this dance party featuring live music from the Justin Pierce Band and raising money for the Ninety-Nines Museum of Women pilots, 6-10 p.m. Sept. 29. Sundance Airport, 13000 N. Sara Road, 405-373-3886, sundanceairport.com. SAT Holiday Job Fair learn about full-time, part-time and seasonal opportunities in retail sales, 1-4 p.m. Sept. 29-30. Penn Square Mall, 1901 Northwest Expressway, 405-841-2696, simon.com/mall/pennsquare-mall. SAT-SUN Latino Community Development Agency Luncheon the keynote speaker for this annual event is SONIC president Claudia San Pedro, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 26. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. WED Lost Lakes Haunted Forest the theme-park adds a frightening attraction for the Halloween season, Sept. 28-Oct. 31, Sept. 28-Oct. 31. Lost Lakes Waterpark and Amphitheater, 3501 NE 10th, 405-7024040, lostlakeshauntedforest.com. FRI-WED Music Industry Networking Night a meetup for musicians, promoters and fans in the OKC metro, 6-11 p.m. Sept. 26. The Root, 3012 N. Walker Ave., 405655-5889, therootokc.com. WED
Oklahoma Regatta Festival If the prospect of row, row, rowing down the stream sounds exhausting, maybe seeing someone else take an oar sounds a little dreamier. Watch from the banks of the Oklahoma River as teams from throughout the U.S. compete in rowing, kayaking and whitewater rafting races, and if that’s not enough to float your boat, check out fireworks displays, food trucks, craft beer and meet-and-greets with Wonder Woman and Captain America. The festival runs Friday-Sunday at Riversport Rapids, 800 Riversport Drive. Admission is free. Call 405-552-4040 or visit riversportokc.org. FRIDAY-SUNDAY Photo provided
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OKC Vintage Flea Market get your shopping done at the flea market with antiques, collectibles, vintage, crafts and more, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, through Dec. 9. Crossroads Event Center, 7000 Crossroads Blvd. SAT Oktoberfest enjoy live music, traditional German food, craft beer and a stein-holding competition at this 21-and-older event, noon-6 p.m. Sept. 29. Stonecloud Brewing Co., 1012 NW First St., stonecloudbrewing.com. SAT Open Fiber Night a weekly crafting meet-up for knitters, crocheters, spinners and weavers, 5-8 p.m. Thursdays. Yarnatopia, 8407 S. Western Ave., 405601-9995, yarnatopia.com. THU Paper Sack Project prepare sack lunches to pass
go to okgazette.com for full listings!
Teacher Open House educators with valid credentials can tour the museum and learn about field trip possibilities, Sept. 29-30. Museum of Osteology, 10301 S. Sunnylane road, 405-814-0006, museumofosteology.org. SAT-SUN Tinkerfest artists, engineers, educators, crafters and other creators will converge in this daylong event featuring hands-on activities promoting ingenuity and curiosity, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 29. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St., 405-6026664, sciencemuseumok.org. SAT Ultimate Bully Throw Down see dogs compete in this official American Bully Registry show, noon-7 p.m. Sept. 29. Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, 405-602-8500, coxconventioncenter.com. SAT Unlearning Racism a safe space for the discussion of struggling with racism and its impact, 6:15-7:30 p.m. Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2301 NE 23rd St., trinitypresbyterianchurchokc.wordpress.com. THU Venetian Ball a masquerade ball with cocktails, food, dancing, casino games and auctions benefitting Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, 6-11 p.m. Sept. 29. The Criterion, 500 E. Sheridan Ave., 405-3081803, criterionokc.com. SAT ZOOBrew enjoy craft beers, lawn games and live music from Mike Hosty at this fundraiser for Oklahoma City Zoo, 7-10 p.m. Sept. 28. The Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Place, 405-424-3344, okczoo.com. FRI
Food Automobile Alley Walking Food Tour take a guided food-centric tour through a district that was once home to early pioneers and evolved into an auto-dealership hub, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. every other Saturday through Nov. 24. Automobile Alley, 1015 N. Broadway Ave., 405-488-2555, foodiefoottours. com. SAT Foodie Foot Tours Walking Food Tour explore African-American history on a food-focused tour in this district with deep jazz roots, 4-7 p.m. Saturdays. Deep Deuce District, 100 NE Third St., 405-2353500, foodiefoottours.com. SAT High Tea a traditional afternoon tea with treats and classical harp music, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Sept. 29. Skirvin Hilton Hotel, 1 Park Ave., 405-272-3040, skirvinhilton. com. SAT Let’s Make Organic Apple Rings learn to make a healthy fruit snack with organic toppings including cinnamon, nuts and chocolate, 4-6 p.m. Sept. 26. Natural Grocers, 7013 N. May Ave., 405-840-0300, naturalgrocers.com. WED Let’s Taco ’Bout Organics! learn to make tacos using organic produce for fillings and toppings, 3-4:15 p.m. Sept. 30. Natural Grocers, 7013 N. May Ave., 405-840-0300, naturalgrocers.com. SUN Observation Cooking Classes watch a local chef create a variety of cuisines and sample each course as it’s prepared, 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through Nov. 11. International Pantry, 1618 W. Lindsey St., 405-360-0765, intipantry.com. TUE-THU Paseo Farmers Market shop for fresh food from local vendors at this weekly outdoor event, 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays. SixTwelve, 612 NW 29th St., 405-208-8291, sixtwelve.org. SAT Taste of Western enjoy food from several local restaurants, drinks, live jazz and a silent auction at this dinner benefitting Horace Mann Elementary School, 6-9 p.m. Sept. 27. Will Rogers Theatre, 4322 N. Western Ave., 405-604-3015, willrogerstheatre.com. THU Yoga, Wine, and Chocolate get a stretch in at this wine and chocolate tasting, 7-9 p.m. Sept. 28. Waters Edge Winery-OKC, 712 N. Broadway Ave., 405-232-9463, http:wewokc.com. FRI
Youth Early Explorers toddlers and preschoolers can participate in fun scientific activities they can repeat later at home, 10-11 a.m. Thursdays, Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St., 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. THU
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calendar C a l e n da r
continued from page 36 Explore It! get your questions answered of what, why and how about the natural world we live in, 11:30 a.m-noon Saturdays. through Dec. 29. Sam Noble Museum, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., 405-325-4712, samnoblemuseum. ou.edu. SAT Storytime Science the museum invites children age 6 and younger to hear a story and participate in a related scientific activity, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St., 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. TUE
Performing Arts The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Theater eat a four-course dinner while attempting to solve an interactive murder mystery, 6-9 p.m. Saturdays. Skirvin Hilton Hotel, 1 Park Ave., 405-2723040, skirvinhilton.com. SAT The Enigma Variations the OCU Wind Philharmonic performs the Edward Elgar piece as well as works by Bach, Bernstein and more, 7:30-9 p.m. Oct. 2. Oklahoma City University, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., 405-208-5000. TUE
Thursday Night Dirt Crits weekly criterium trials for all ability levels meeting at the Mountain Bike Trailhead and hosted by Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship, 7-9 p.m. Thursdays. Lake Stanley Draper Trails, 8898 S. Post Rd. FRI Wheeler Criterium a weekly nighttime cycling event with criterium races, food trucks and family activities, 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays. Wheeler Park, 1120 S. Western Ave., 405-297-2211, okc.gov. TUE
Visual Arts American Indian Artists: 20th Century Masters an exhibition of Native art from the Kiowa Six, Harrison Begay, Tonita Peña and more, through Sep. 1, Through May 12, 2019. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT-MON Art Against Violence an art auction and fashion show to raise awareness of sexual abuse and funds for Norman Women’s Resource Center, 6-11 p.m. Sept. 28. Resonator, 325 E Main St. Norman, resonator.space. FRI Art Awakening a family-friendly art show featuring works by artists living with mental illness, trauma and addiction, 4:30-7 p.m. Sept. 27. NorthCare, 2617 General Pershing Blvd., 405-858-2700, northcare.com. THU
through Oct. 14. IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-232-6060, iaogallery.org. FRI-SUN Confessions of a Quilter fiber artist Janet Leigh North will give this humorous presentation at the monthly meeting of the Central Oklahoma Quilters Guild, 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sept. 27. Clarence E. Page Building at Wiley Post Airport, 5810 Tulakes Ave, 405603-7726. THU Ethos an exhibition featuring works by Christie Hackler, Christie Owen, Behnaz Sohrabian and other members of the collective Fringe: Women Artists of Oklahoma, 6-9 p.m. Sept. 27. Verbode, 415 N. Broadway Ave., 405-757-7001, verbodegroup.com. THU Fall 2018 Group Exhibition an exhibition of works from local artists including Kjelshus Collins, John Davidson, Shanina Graves and more, Through Nov. 30. The Art Hall, 519 NW 23rd St., 405-2315700, art.theriseokc.com. FRI A Few of Our Favorite Things view a selection of artwork from the center’s collection, including contemporary and traditional works by Native American artists, through Oct. 31. Red Earth Art Center, 6 Santa Fe Plaza, 405-427-5228, redearth.org. WED The Garden Chronicles Plus an exhibition of paintings by artist George Bogart, Through Nov. 2. Norman Santa Fe Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., 405307-9320, pasnorman.org. FRI
Fling at the Springs Music Festival bring coolers, blankets and lawn chairs for this outdoor concert featuring Michael Buchanan, Billy Beck, Lakeview Dreams and more, 3:30 p.m. Sept. 29. Government Springs Park North, 509 E. Oklahoma Ave., 580-234-0400. SAT
Steve Hofstetter the host of Laughs and Finding Babe Ruth performs standup comedy, 7-8:30 p.m. Sept. 30. Loony Bin Comedy Club, 8503 N. Rockwell Ave., 405-239-4242, loonybincomedy.com. SUN When We’re Gone a pop-punk musical set in London during the 14th century plague, through Oct. 14, Sept. 26-Oct. 14. Lyric Theatre, 1727 NW 16th St., 405-524-9310, lyrictheatreokc.com. WED-SUN
Active Gusto! Family Fun Ride a social group ride for all levels; with pizza, , 6:30-8 p.m. Mondays, through Oct. 29. Celestial Cycles, 2929 W Hefner Rd., 405751-8809, celestialcycles.com. MON Learn-to-Swim Program Giving residents of all ages and financial situations the opportunity to learn to swim with proper technique and basic water safety at their own pace offered by the King Marlin Swim Club, ongoing, Through Dec. 31. Lighthouse Fitness (Front), 3333 W. Hefner Road, 405-845-5672, marlinswimamerica.com. SAT-MON Monday Night Group Ride meet up for a weekly 25-30 minute bicycle ride at about 18 miles per hour through East Oklahoma City, 6 p.m. Mondays. The Bike Lab OKC, 2200 W. Hefner Rd., 405-603-7655. MON OKC Wednesday Worlds a fast-paced 30-35 mile ride heading east out of OKC at 20-25 miles per hour, 6 p.m. Wednesdays. The Bike Lab OKC, 2200 W. Hefner Road, 405-603-7655. WED Peaceful Family Solutions Auction and Golf Tournament a live auction, raffle and reception followed by a team golf tournament to benefit children who are affected by addiction, Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Oak Tree Golf & Country Club, 700 Country Club Drive, 405-340-1010, oaktreenational.com. SUN-MON Poke and Pilates complete a workout lead by instructor Andrea Lodes then reward yourself with a poke bowl; bring your own mat, 11 a.m.-noon Sept. 30. Okie Pokie, 2418 N. Guernsey Ave., 405-6055272, facebook.com/okiepokieokc. SUN
Plaza Walls Mural Expo Panel Discussion local artist Kris Kanaly leads a panel discussion featuring Mural Expo artists Merlot, Amuse126, Anamarietta, Wane COD and Monster Steve, 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 27. 21c Museum Hotel, 900 W. Main St., 405-982-6900, 21cmuseumhotels.com. THU Poetic Embroidery an exhibition of nontraditional textile work including “Red Dirt Rug,” made from Oklahoma dirt and shaped by the soles of shoes, through Sept. 27. Melton Gallery, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, 405-525-3603, uco.edu. THU Pop Stars! Popular Culture and Contemporary Art an exploration of contemporary pop art inspired by Andy Warhol, Nick Cave, R. Luke DuBois and others, through Feb. 28. 21c Museum Hotel, 900 W. Main St., 405-982-6900, 21cmuseumhotels.com.
Still Looking: The Photography Collection of Carol Beesley Hennagin an exhibition of selections from Hennagin’s extensive collection, including works by Edward Weston, Frederick Sommer and more, through Dec. 30. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma.
The Music Man an adaptation of the classic Broadway musical starring Jonathan Beck Reed and Teri Bibb, Sept. 28-30. OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater, 7777 S. May Ave., 405-682-7579, tickets.occc.edu. FRI-SUN
Side Show a Broadway musical inspired by the story of conjoined twin sisters Daisy and Violet Hilton, Sept. 28-30, Fri. Oklahoma City University Campus, Kirkpatrick Auditorium, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., 405-208-5000, okcu.edu. FRI-SUN
Paseo Photofest a juried exhibition of photography and related artworks including film and mixed media creations, through Sept. 29. Paseo Art Space, 3022 Paseo St., 405-525-2688, thepaseo.com. FRI-SAT
Seeds of Being curated by students enrolled in the university’s Native American Art & Museum Studies Seminar, this exhibition examines the impact of art in indigenous communities, through Dec. 30. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., 405325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. TUE-SUN
Hindustani Music and Jazz Fusion Concert Saxophonist Phil Scarff and tabla maestro Vivek Virani present an evening of classical music from India with a taste of contemporary jazz, 8 p.m. Sept. 28. Catlett Music Center, 500 W. Boyd St., 405-3250538, musicaltheatre.ou.edu/facilities/catlett. FRI
Ryan Davis the comic, popular on YouTube, performs live standup, 8 p.m. Sept. 30. Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-708-6937, towertheatreokc.com. SUN
One Thousand Tears multimedia artist Janet O’Neal combines photography, sculpture printmaking and painting in an exhibition of works exploring loss, grief and the healing process, through Oct. 13. [Artspace] at Untitled, 1 NE Third St., 405-815-6665, 1ne3.org. THU-SAT
SUN-MON
The Gorges Motel a comedy and drama written by six playwrights following several members of a wedding, through Sept. 27. Carpenter Square Theatre, 806 W. Main St., 405-232-6500, carpentersquare. com. FRI-THU
Richard III Shakespeare’s play detailing the violent downfall of the notorious king during England’s War of the Roses, Sept. 13-28., Through Sept. 28. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens. com. THU-FRI
images captured by National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore to preserve current species for future generations, through Dec. 16. The Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Place, 405-424-3344, okczoo.com. WED-SUN
TUE-SUN
Studio Gallery’s Featured Show an exhibition featuring paintings, photography and handmade jewelry created by a variety of artists, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, through Oct. 31. The Studio Gallery, 2642 W. Britton Road, 405-752-2642, thestudiogallery. org. THU-WED
McCabe & Mrs. Miller Pauline Kael called it “a beautiful pipe dream,” and Roger Ebert called it Robert Altman’s one “perfect” film. Altman, meanwhile, called it an anti-Western. The relationship between the title characters — a gambler and a madam played by Warren Beatty and Julie Christie and introduced through mumbled asides and disjointed scenes soundtracked by Leonard Cohen songs — is more business than romance, and the gunfights are stomach-turning and inglorious. While many classic Westerns show us who we wish we were, Altman lets us figure out what we know we are. The film starts at 1 p.m. Oct. 3 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St. Admission is free. Call 405-478-2250 or visit nationalcowboymuseum.org.
T-Shirt Quilts learn to make a keepsake from old favorite T-shirts at this hands-on workshop taught by Janet Leigh North, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 28. Clarence E. Page Building at Wiley Post Airport, 5810 Tulakes Ave, 405-603-7726. FRI Take a Seat: A Group Exhibition of Feminist Art view works created by women curated by Jarica Walsh, Trina Kopacka and Cayla Lewis, through Oct. 3. Oklahoma City University School of Visual Arts, 1601 NW 26th St., 405-208-5226, okcu.edu/artsci/ departments/visualart. THU-WED Welcome Home: Oklahomans and the War in Vietnam explores the impact of the war on Oklahoma families as well as the stories of Vietnamese families relocated to Oklahoma, Through Nov. 6, 2019. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org. MON
OCT. 3 Photo provided
Art Brings People Together an exhibition featuring works by artist Theresa Hurt and Joe Hopkins, through Sept 30. In Your Eye Gallery, 3005 Paseo St., 405-5252161, inyoureyegallery.com. THU-SUN Art History: Revolutions & Funny Stories an art history lecture presented by Belgian-born artist MC.Lafayette, 6-8 p.m. Sept. 27. Paseo Art Space, 3022 Paseo St., 405-525-2688, thepaseo.com. THU Artist Perspective From Two Views view paintings by Diane Goldschmidt and Diana Robinson, Sept. 6-27, Through Sept. 27. Edmond Fine Arts Institute, 27 E. Edwards St. Edmond, 405-340-4481, edmondfinearts.com. THU Artist Supply Swap bring unused brushes, scissors, charcoal, pencils, paper, paints, frames and other supplies to give away, sell or trade with other artists, noon-5 p.m. Sept. 29. [Artspace] at Untitled, 1 NE Third St., 405-815-6665, 1ne3.org. SAT Autumn Pop-Up view new work from the studios of Anthony Dyke, Susan Morrison-Dyke, Suzanne Mears and Christie Owen, through Nov. 9. Nault Gallery, 816 N. Walker Ave., 405-604-7947. FRI Carol Beesley, Bob Nunn, and Alan Atkinson view paintings from the three artists including large landscapes and works inspired by Chinese and Japanese art, through Sept. 30. JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave., 405-528-6336, jrbartgallery. com. FRI-SUN Chrome Chocolate an exhibition of paintings, mixed-media and video and digital art created by Vivian Beethe, Skip Hill, Keegan O’Keefe and more,
Glitter & Glam an exhibition of wearable jewelry curated by Jennifer Woods and Erin Merryweather, Sept. 7-30, Through Sept. 30. The Paseo Plunge, 3010 Paseo Plunge, 405-315-6224, paseoplunge.org. FRI-SUN
Horsepower a dual exhibition by artists Kristen Vails and Dusty Gilpin featuring works juxtaposing horses and automobiles, through Oct. 20, Through Oct. 20. Firehouse Art Center, 444 S. Flood Ave., 405-329-4523, normanfirehouse.com. FRI-SAT Ink & Draw a weekly meet-up for illustrators, artists and comic book creators, 4-6 p.m. Sundays. The Paseo Plunge, 3010 Paseo Plunge, 405-315-6224, paseoplunge.org. SUN Jerry Piper exhibition the artist’s BoHo Blessing sticks, mixed-media painted wood pieces, will be on display, through Sept. 30, Through Sept. 30. The Purple Loft Art Gallery, 514 NW 28th St., 405-4127066, thepaseo.org. FRI-SUN Memory Sparks create a one-of-a-kind personal journal at this hands on book-making workshop taught by Carol Ann Webster, Sept. 29-30, Sat., Sept. 29 and Sun., Sept. 30. Brayer&Brush, 3012 N. Lee Ave., 405-204-1120, brayerandbrush.com. SAT-SUN MFA Inclusive Exhibition view works created by master of fine arts students at the University of Oklahoma, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday through Sept. 17. The Lightwell Gallery, 520 Parrington Oval, 405-325-2691, art.ou.edu. TUE-FRI National Geographic Photo Ark a collection of
Submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail them to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.
For okg live music
see page 41 38
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go to okgazette.com for full listings!
EVENT
MUSIC
Double exposure
Twin Shadow taps into his personal experience and spirituality on his fourth album, Caer. By Daniel Bokemper
In a continuation of Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Oklahoma’s ever-growing Metro Music Series, Twin Shadow will headline the Oct. 5 installment at ACM@ UCO Performance Lab, 329 E. Sheridan Ave. Fresh off his latest studio album, Caer, Twin Shadow brings an eclectic mix of modern pop and spiritual contemplation back to Bricktown. Testing the musical waters throughout the early 2000s with the band Mad Man Films, a change of heart spurred George Lewis to pursue a solo career. “This idea of genuine curiosity created Twin Shadow,” Lewis said. “I’ve always loved music and have always been curious of how people make it. That curiosity was and still is essential. It’s absolutely key. Without it, I’d probably just ride my motorcycle all day because it’s a lot less painful.” Though the artist would gain traction with his debut album, Forget, Lewis achieved widespread acclaim in 2012 with his sophomore effort, Confess. But one month after the release of 2015’s Eclipse, Lewis and his crew
and band were involved in a tour bus accident. While healing from the crash, Lewis pored through his old and unfinished material, ultimately yielding the Night Rally mixtape. Released earlier this year, Caer (Spanish for “to fall”) is a contemplation of Lewis’ personal experiences and humanity’s place as we approach “a breaking point.” “Crafting Caer was about exploring new impulses rather than trying to visualize something specific and create that,” Lewis said. “It felt far more improvised than the way I’ve approached songwriting in the past. It started from a place with no rules, as if whatever is created is the path that would be followed.” Caer marks a shift within Lewis’ creative process.
“There’s a softer touch in Caer,” Lewis said. “I’m not digging in my heels like I was in my last two records. The songs just come out more easily; they’re not falling off the rails. The music isn’t necessarily safer, but I feel it’s better constructed, more solid and more substantial. This was almost like an exercise in craft for me.” Despite Caer being his fourth fulllength album as Twin Shadow, Lewis found the passion for creation and the anxieties of publication to be ever-present, and that sense of vulnerability brought on by “the pageantry of releasing a record” yields its own turmoil.
I’ve always loved music and have always been curious of how people make it. George Lewis “That feeling of vulnerability is always there for me,” Lewis said. “However, I’ve gotten better at harnessing it, and that’s important. It’s all about nerves; getting the nerve to consider something, having the nerve to actually do it and keeping the nerve to go through it. It equals excitement. If you ever lose that excitement, you’ve lost excitement for the process itself.” Lewis, who was born in the D om i n i c a n Republic and raised in Florida before moving to Boston to start M a d M a n Films, recognized he is a far cry from his beginnings. Within the routine and consistence of composition and performance came the continued development of his character. “ There’s so many factors that help you understand your own growth, whether it be humbling yourself or recognizing a moment when you’re in decline,” he said. “At the onset, artists are kind of a mess. When I achieved a certain kind of success, I had to develop a form of discipline that could maintain it. This also involves practice; I see it as George Lewis performs as Twin Shadow. | Photo Warner Bros. Records / provided
Twin Shadow’s latest album, Caer | provided
very blue-collared, the way you keep hammering away at it. That’s the most honest kind of growth.”
Observing musicians
In addition to his headlining performance, a select group of ACM students will be attending a special songwriting clinic with Lewis. Among them and throughout the institution are aspiring musicians and producers who strive to reach Lewis’ level. However, Lewis found that such aspiration might sometimes lead to insincerity. “We live in a world where it’s incredibly easy to follow in the footsteps of your peers or even your heroes,” Lewis said. “I really like the idea that though I grew up with heroes, they were all out of reach. I’ve never been to a David Bowie concert nor saw any kind of behind-the-scenes looks at how his sounds and songs were created. Now, everyone has a really good look at what the people ahead of them are creating.” Though the ability to observe what others are doing might have its limited benefits, Lewis argued that to obtain true longevity, one must look beyond the popular spectrum. Ultimately, tapping into one’s spirituality and taking a chance on what they find there is exponentially more rewarding. “I think we’re very much a culture dependent on the idea of someone else creating our identity,” Lewis said. “Genuine curiosity has far more to do with what it is a growing artist would want the world to hear, rather than just looking at what someone else is doing and figuring out how they can imitate it. The idea someone else can completely guide you to your own identity is bullshit; no one can ever do that for you.” Visit facebook.com/acmucoperformancelab.
Twin Shadow 7 p.m. Oct. 5 ACM@UCO Performance Lab 329 E. Sheridan Ave. acm.uco.edu | 405-974-4700 $10
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event
MUSIC
Divine hammer
Breeders guitarist Kelley Deal discusses the Last Splash lineup’s new album. By Jeremy Martin
In the quarter century between Last Splash and All Nerve, Breeders guitarist Kelley Deal stopped worrying about breaking stuff in the studio. “Last Splash wasn’t my first recording, but it was still like a big mystery to me,” Deal said. “There were lots of new things. And back then, too, it was so expensive. Recording studios can still be like that, but a lot of the stuff we did was to two-inch tape, so when you do that, there’s expensive mics, so it’s kind of a big deal, and I do remember feeling like it was very … not serious, but it was very scientific — the process was. Not the playing, but walking in and, you know, ‘Don’t touch that,’ or ‘Oh, I better not drop that mic’ — a kind of a reverence, almost, to the process. And now, I don’t feel like that at all.” Led by Kelley’s twin sister Kim Deal, The Breeders have gone through several lineup changes since Kim, still playing bass for The Pixies at the time, founded the band as a side-project with Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses in 1989. Debut Pod was one of Kurt Cobain’s favorite albums, but the Breeders’ second LP, 1993’s Last Splash, was a breakthrough classic that earned the band MTV airplay for the Top 50 single “Cannonball,” a spot on Lollapalooza and, thanks to a sample from “S.O.S.,” a songwriting credit on The Prodigy’s international chart-topper “Firestarter.” Reunited for a tour celebrating the album’s 20th anniversary in 2013, the lineup that recorded Last Splash — the Deal sisters on vocals and 40
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guitars, Josephine Wiggs on bass and Jim MacPherson on drums — began writing and recording new music together, culminating in All Nerve, released in January. Kelley Deal, who joined The Breeders as lead guitarist in 1992 and has played on every album since, said that while recording All Nerve, she was struck by how little the dynamic between the musicians had changed in the past 25 years. “I wasn’t that aware of what felt different,” Kelley Deal said. “What I couldn’t believe was what felt the same about recording All Nerve and Last Splash. Other than the obvious stuff, which is it’s the four same people and we actually were using our same gear … that’s the obvious stuff which is the mechanical process of recording, but also like the soft portion, which is like what it’s like to do a track and then just the little things about the songwriting process and about how we interact with each other.” The experience of recording All Nerve, from Kelley Deal’s perspective, was different only in that she was present to experience more of it. When not tracking the vocal and guitar parts (and, for “S.O.S.,” a Kenmore 12-stitch sewing machine) for Last Splash, Kelley Deal said she was rarely in the studio. “A lot of times, if somebody wasn’t recording, like actively recording, they were at the bar down the street,” Kelley Deal said. “I know I was. And this time, I didn’t do that. So, for me, I was there a little more even though I don’t do All Nerve was released in January to critical acclaim. | Image 4AD / provided
anything when the drums and bass do their thing. I remember the process now, which is nice.” In the nine years between Last Splash and follow-up Title TK, Kelley Deal entered a rehab program after an arrest for heroin possession in 1994 and recorded two albums with The Kelley Deal 6000. She paired with Kris Kristofferson for a turbulent cover of Willie Nelson’s “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” in 1996 and joined Skid Row’s Sebastian Bach and Smashing P u mpk i n s d r u m mer Ji m my Chamberlain to form the supergroup The Last Hard Men, which covered Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” for the soundtrack to the movie Scream. “I love working with people who I have no business working with,” Kelley Deal said. “When I was growing up, anybody cool didn’t like hair metal. If you really cared about actual music and the writing process and the authentic voice inside you communicating with another person, you didn’t like hair music because that was all just bullshit. ‘She’s my cherry pie, nananana.’ … But when I was working with Sebastian Bach, I put that aside because of his voice. … I’m sure he did exactly what he wanted to with his voice, but his voice was the most beautiful instrument, not only his control and his technique but the actual timbre of it, the tone he could get, what he could do with it. It’s really such a shame because he never did exploit it. This is just me waxing about lost opportunities.”
Her bag
In 2008, Kelley Deal released a combination tour diary and handbag-knitting guide titled Bags that Rock: Knitting on the Road. She’s spent considerable time crafting on tour, but she has intentionally never learned certain basic guitarplaying techniques. “I still can’t run up a scale,” Kelley Deal said, “but I kind of do that on purpose. I don’t want to learn the blues scales and be able to riff out on a blues thing because how do you get that out of your mind? I don’t want to think of
Josephine Wiggs, Kim Deal, Kelley Deal and Jim MacPherson reunited to record 2018’s All Nerve, the first album featuring this lineup of The Breeders since 1993’s Last Splash. | Photo Marisa Gesualdi provided
the most obvious harmony. … I try to think out of the box of what my expectations are.” The Deal sisters provide backing vocals on Courtney Barnett’s album Tell Me How You Really Feel, and Barnett appears on All Nerve’s “Howl at the Summit.” The Breeders have recently toured with Screaming Females and Speedy Ortiz. Kelley Deal said that the most impressive thing about the newest generation of women rockers is that they exist at all. “They’re awesome players and they have their own voice, if you will, they’ve got their own thing going on, which is really cool,” she said, “so I really love that, but then also, there’s a lot of work with getting a band together, you know, ‘Where’s all the gear?’ ‘OK, you didn’t sell it for rent or crack or whatever? OK cool.’ ‘We’re all going to practice, and here’s our set, and we’re going to be able to play these. We’re going to repeat the noises, and we’ll be able to rent a van to get to the show.’ That’s a skillset that a lot of people don’t have. They may be really righteous and they may have a really cute song on Bandcamp or a YouTube thing or whatever, but there is a huge difference between doing that in a box versus showing up with your guitars in hand with extra strings in case you break one. That’s what I really like about those gals. They’re doing it.” Visit thebreedersmusic.com.
The Breeders 8 p.m. Oct. 3 Diamond Ballroom 8001 S. Eastern Ave. diamondballroom.com | 405-677-9169 $26.50
LIVE MUSIC These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.
Wednesday, Sep. 26 Christopher Shayne, Red Brick Bar.
Dog Will Hunt/White Lamb, The Root. ROCK Hunter Thomas Band, The Weekend Saloon. COUNTRY
KISS THISS/The Dead Aces, Oklahoma City Limits. COVER
My So Called Band, Tower Theatre. COVER Steve Crossley, Louie’s Grill & Bar. R&B
SINGER/SONGWRITER
Saturday, Sep. 29
Elizabeth Speegle Band, The R & J Lounge and Supper Club. JAZZ
Darden Smith, The Blue Door. SINGER/SONGWRITER
Ghostland Observatory, Cain’s Ballroom. ROCK
Johnny Black/Riley Coyote/The Evan Phillips Band, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar. SINGER/SONG-
Space Jesus/ZEKE BEATS/Conrank, Farmers Public Market. ELECTRONIC
Thursday, Sep. 27 The Cake-Eaters, Bluebonnet Bar. ROCK Chelsey Cope, Legacy Park. SINGER/
SONGWRITER
WRITER
Lauren Akin/Bella Brown/Clancy Davis, Rodeo Opry. COUNTRY MC Magic/Lil Rob/Dj Kane, Tower Theatre. HIP-HOP
Terri Clark/Pam Tillis/Suzy Bogguss, Sugar Creek Casino. COUNTRY
Spunk Adams, Saints. JAZZ Todd Rundgren, Tower Theatre. ROCK
Friday, Sep. 28 Buddy South, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewing Company. ROCK
publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible.
Submit your listings online at okgazette.com or email them to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.
SINGER-SONGWRITER
Hidden Agenda, JR’s Pub & Grill. COVER
Sorrytown/Bloodfeather/Brain in the Sky, The Root. ROCK
than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired
Parker Millsap, Myriad Botanical Gardens. Republican Hair, Opolis. POP
Koolie High & the Tap Band, Ice Event Center & Grill. JAZZ
Submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later
Oklahoma Uprising, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. ROCK
Elizabeth Speegle Band, Stella Modern Italian Cuisine. JAZZ
Jean Caffeine, The Blue Door. SINGER/SONGWRITER
List your event in
Tone/Obi J/Tob Wan, The Root. HIP-HOP Trombone Shorty, Cain’s Ballroom. JAZZ The Weekend All Stars, Newcastle Casino. COVER
Sunday, Sep. 30 Amber Rubarth, Norman Santa Fe Depot. FOLK The Decembrists, Cain’s Ballroom. ROCK G Effin Smith/JV’s FIllin Station, The Root. BLUES
Monday, Oct. 1
Cade Roth & the Black Sheep, Bill’s Steakhouse & Saloon. COUNTRY
Jason Hunt, Sean Cumming’s Irish Restaurant. FOLK
Derek Harris Duo, Newcastle Casino. COVER
Tuesday, Oct. 2 Country Clique, Friends Restaurant & Club. COUNTRY
Kyle Reid, Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails. SINGER/SONGWRITER
Mat Kearney/Atlas Genius, The Jones Assembly. SINGER/SONGWRITER
Wednesday, Oct. 3 Juice Wrld, The Criterion. HIP-HOP Maurice Johnson, The R & J Lounge and Supper Club. JAZZ Paperback/Seasonal, The Root. ROCK Super Whatevr, 89th Street-OKC. ROCK Tenth Mountain Division, The Deli. ROCK
Kali Ra Released in May, “Sunset Boulevard” describes the illusions and deceptions inherent in show business in an almost overwhelming rush of multitracked vocal paranoia belied by the deceptively up-tempo disco-tech beneath. The Bowie reverence is evident even without the Cracked Actor-inspired video, but the lead single from upcoming album Monarch promises much depth below the fragmented surface. Tulsa’s The Secret Post and Arkansas’ White Mansion will present well-constructed acts of their own. The show starts at 8 p.m. Friday at 89th Street – OKC, 8911 N. Western Ave. Admission is $7. Visit 89thstreetokc.com. FRIDAY Photo Cait Brasel and Jonathan Shahan /
Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.
provided
go to okgazette.com for full listings!
O kg a z e t t e . c o m | S E P T E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 1 8
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New York Times Magazine Crossword Puzzle the art of puzzle-making By Andrew Zhou| Puzzles Edited by Will Shortz | 0930
After completing this puzzle, draw a line connecting the circles, starting and ending at the first circle of 62-Across, to spell a five-word message. The connected circles will reveal a picture related to the puzzle’s theme. (NOTE: ROUNDED EDGES LOOK BEST.) TO COMPLETE THE EFFECT, DRAW A LINE BETWEEN THE CIRCLE AT 36-ACROSS AND THE CIRCLE AT THE THIRD SQUARE OF 37-ACROSS.
ACROSS 1 Accents to tuxedos 6 Leader in a robe 10 Stinger 14 Wind-borne seed 19 Sesame Street figure 20 “Long live …!” 21 Western ski resort 22 NFL’s Kaepernick 23 Where 68-Across is permanently housed 25 How 122-Across is usually described 27 Hoses connect to them 28 Curiosity or Opportunity 29 Imperial ____ (bar orders) 30 Pill alternative, for short 31 Vegas inits. 34 Rug rat 35 Blood parts 36 It may be a shocker 37 Hawaiian for “appetizer” 38 Sum to 39 Sport-____ (off-roaders) 41 Recipe amt. 42 Ones making the grade, for short? 43 Triangular snacks 46 DJ ____ tha Kyd 48 Time for pampering oneself 51 Lightly bite 52 Dogie catcher 56 Invisible lures 58 Thither 59 Writer with an interest in cryptography 61 Idiot, in slang 62 Not cooped up 64 Sigh of relief 66 Experimental writing? 68 1929 work that is the theme of this puzzle, with “The” 71 Short 73 “Our” side in a sci-fi battle 74 Mild cheeses 77 AAA line: Abbr. 78 California wine city 79 Nickname for the Philadelphia Eagles stadium, with “the” 81 Falsity 82 Lake that’s the source of the Mississippi
85 With 96- and 105-Across, how 122-Across explained the subject of this puzzle 89 Tops 92 Bests in a Fourth of July hot dog contest, say 94 Irony or hyperbole 95 MI6 R&D division in 007 novels 96 See 85-Across 99 Certain laundry appliance 101 Three ____ of the Wheel of Dharma (Buddhist concept) 104 Lead-in to cab 105 See 85-Across 109 Spanish greeting 111 Quantity of eggs 115 ____-green 116 Prosy 120 Place for works that are in the works … or what the message formed by the connected letters is? 121 Houston-based petroleum giant, informally 122 Creator of 68-Across 123 Established figures? 124 Drying-out woe, for short 125 “Whew!” elicitor
DOWN
1 Modern pic 2 Moving company? 3 Open 4 Set in a cockpit 5 Mailed 6 Tie, as a score 7 Caramel morsel from Hershey 8 Composer of the “Concord” Sonata 9 Dorm VIPs 10 “Time ____ …” 11 Grad 12 Cloud type 13 Pirate’s pet 14 Lasting reminder 15 Some pullovers 16 Michigan college or its town 17 Choir stands 18 Snare 24 Julius Caesar’s first name 26 ____ Park, Colo. 31 Kind of sauce
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Advertising advertising@okgazette.com 405-528-6000 Account EXECUTIVES Saundra Rinearson Godwin Christy Duane Philip Rodriguez
95 Play period: Abbr. 97 French queens 98 Fall 99 Figure in the Arabian Nights 100 Virtuosic 102 2018 biopic with a 0 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes 103 Narrow cuts 104 Boston ____ 106 Device outmoded by smartphones 107 Unusual feature of 68-Across 108 Second side to vote 110 Nails 112 Suffix with Motor 113 Unsightly spot 114 Chemical ending 117 Scottish denial 118 Tour grp. 119 Winner of a record eight NHL Norris Trophies
67 “I agree fully!” 69 Broadcast antennas, e.g. 70 Bit of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” 71 Witches in Macbeth, e.g. 72 Words upon a shocked realization 75 Form 1099-____ 76 Actor Green 78 “See ya!” 80 Plane area 83 Beach-house owner 84 ID 86 Graduating grp. 87 Cawfee 88 Channel that aired Moesha 90 Half-Betazoid Star Trek character 91 German city with a Pennsylvania namesake 93 Dangerous job
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M A G Y A M U R A P S R E I N G N D A A I V R N E A G U P A M R O J M H E S A R O W S U K E T S Y
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free will astrology Homework: Make two fresh promises to yourself: one that’s easy to keep and one that’s at the edge of your capacity to live up to. Testify at Freewillastrology.com. ARIES (March 21-April 19)
Do you have any skills at living on the edge between the light and the dark? Are you curious about what the world might look like and how people would treat you if you refused to divide everything up into that which helps you and that which doesn’t help you? Can you imagine how it would feel if you loved your life just the way it is and not wish it were different from what it is? Please note: people less courageous than you might prefer you to be less courageous. But I hope you’ll stay true to the experiment of living on the edge between the light and the dark.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20)
According to Popbitch.com, most top-charting pop songs are in a minor key. In light of this fact, I encourage you to avoid listening to pop songs for the next three weeks. In my astrological opinion, it’s essential that you surround yourself with stimuli that don’t tend to make you sad and blue, that don’t influence you to interpret your experience through a melancholic, mournful filter. To accomplish the assignments that life will be sending you, you need to at least temporarily cultivate a mood of crafty optimism.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20)
I’ve taken a break from socializing, my fellow Cancerian. In fact, I’m on sabbatical from my regular rhythm. My goal for the coming days is to commune with my past and review the story of my life. Rather than fill my brain up with the latest news and celebrity gossip, I am meditating on my own deep dark mysteries. I’m mining for secrets that I might be concealing from myself. In accordance with the astrological omens, I suggest that you follow my lead. You might want to delve into boxes of old mementoes or reread emails from years ago. You could get in touch with people who are no longer part of your life even though they were once important to you. How else could you get into intimate contact with your eternal self?
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Don’ts for Boys or Errors of Conduct Corrected was an advice book for boys published in 1902. Among many other strictures and warnings, it offered this advice: “Don’t giggle. For the love of decency, never giggle.” There was additional counsel in the same vein: “Don’t be noisy. The guffaw evinces less enjoyment than the quiet smile.” Another exhortation: “Don’t tease. Be witty, but impersonal.” In accordance with astrological omens, I hereby proclaim that all those instructions are utterly wrong for you right now. To sweetly align yourself with cosmic rhythms, you should giggle and guffaw and tease freely. If you’re witty—and I hope you will be—it’ll serve you well to be affectionate and personable.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Here’s a quote from A Map of Misreading, a book by renowned literary critic, Harold Bloom: “Where the synecdoche of tessera made a totality, however illusive, the metonymy of kenosis breaks this up into discontinuous fragments.” What the cluck did Harold Bloom just say?! I’m not being anti-intellectual when I declare this passage to be pretentious drivel. In the coming days, I urge you Leos to draw inspiration from my response to Bloom. Tell the truth about nonsense. Don’t pretend to appreciate jumbled or over-complicated ideas. Expose bunk and bombast. Be kind, if you can, but be firm. You’re primed to be a champion of down-to-earth communication.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
A data research company, Priceonomics, suggests that Monday is the most productive day of the week and that October is the most productive month of the year. My research suggests that while Capricorns tend to be the most consistently productive of all the signs in the zodiac, Virgos often outstrip them for a six-week period during the end of each September and throughout October. Furthermore, my intuition tells me that you Virgos now have an extraordinary capacity to turn good ideas into practical action. I conclude, therefore, that you are about to embark on a surge of industrious and high-quality work. (P.S.: This October has five Mondays.)
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Biologists are constantly unearthing new species, although not new in the sense of having just appeared on our planet. In fact, they’re animals and plants that have existed for millennia. But they’ve never before been noticed and identified by science. Among recent additions to our evergrowing knowledge are an orchid in Madagascar that smells like champagne, an electric blue tarantula in the Guyana rain forest, and a Western Australian grass that has a flavor resembling salt and vinegar potato chips. I suspect you’ll be making metaphorically comparable discoveries in the coming weeks, Libra: evocative beauty that you’ve been blind to and interesting phenomena that have been hiding in plain sight.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
There is no such thing as a plant that blooms continuously. Phases of withering and dormancy are just as natural as phases of growth. I bring this fact to your attention to help you remain poised as you go through your own period of withering followed by dormancy. You should accept life’s demand that you slow down and explore the mysteries of fallowness. You should surrender sweetly to stasis and enjoy your time of rest and recharging. That’s the best way to prepare for the new cycle of growth that will begin in a few weeks.
On a spring morning some years ago, a smoky aroma woke me from a deep sleep. Peering out my bedroom window into the backyard, I saw that my trickster girlfriend Anastasia had built a bonfire. When I stumbled to my closet to get dressed, I found my clothes missing. There were no garments in my dresser, either. In my groggy haze, I realized that my entire wardrobe had become fuel for Anastasia’s conflagration. It was too late to intervene, and I was still quite drowsy, so I crawled back in bed to resume snoozing. A while later, I woke to find her standing next to the bed bearing a luxurious breakfast she said she’d cooked over the flames of my burning clothes. After our meal, we stayed in bed all day, indulging in a variety of riotous fun. I’m not predicting that similar events will unfold in your life, Aquarius. But you may experience adventures that are almost equally boisterous, hilarious, and mysterious.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)
If you were ever going to win a contest that awarded you a free vacation to an exotic sanctuary, it would probably happen during the next three weeks. If a toy company would ever approach you about developing a line of action figures and kids’ books based on your life, it might also be sometime soon. And if you have ever had hopes of converting your adversaries into allies, or getting support and backing for your good original ideas, or finding unexpected inspiration to fix one of your not-so-good habits, those opportunities are now more likely than they have been for some time.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
An 81-year-old Capricorn man named James Harrison has donated his unique blood on 1,173 occasions. Scientists have used it to make medicine that prevents
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Rhesus disease in unborn babies, thereby healing more than 2.4 million kids and literally saving thousands of lives. I don’t expect you to do anything nearly as remarkable. But I do want to let you know that the coming weeks will be a favorable time to lift your generosity and compassion to the next level. Harrison would serve well as your patron saint.
Health
I’ve got three teachings for you. 1. Was there a time in your past when bad romance wounded your talent for love? Yes, but you now have more power to heal that wound than you’ve ever had before. 2. Is it possible you’re ready to shed a semi-delicious addiction to a chaotic magic? Yes. Clarity is poised to trump melodrama. Joyous decisiveness is primed to vanquish ingrained sadness. 3. Has there ever been a better time than now to resolve and graduate from past events that have bothered and drained you for a long time? No. This is the best time ever.
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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