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INSIDE COVER Oklahoma Gazette’s annual Food Issue is chock-full of delicious treats and information on the Oklahoma City metro’s food scene. Enjoy articles about the future of OSU-OKC Farmers Market, OKC Black Restaurant Weeks, a food and dance event at SixTwelve, a look at available cannabis edibles and more.

By Gazette staff Cover by Phillip Danner

NEWS 4

FOOD ISSUE OSU-OKC Farmers

8

FOOD ISSUE Edmond Railyard

Market closes

8 STATE Oklahoma Rainbow

Collective

11 CHICKEN-FRIED NEWS

EAT & DRINK OKC Black Restaurant Weeks

11 FOOD ISSUE

14 FOOD ISSUE Black Walnut 16 GAZEDIBLES chocolate

ARTS & CULTURE 19 THEATER Romeo & Juliet at

Oklahoma Shakespeare

20 FOOD ISSUE First We Dance, Then

We Greet, Then We Eat at SixTwelve

Barkeep Supply 23 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide 22 FOOD ISSUE 24 CALENDAR

STREAMING ONLINE

PLAYITLOUDSHOW.COM

MUSIC

FEBRUARY 14

wade tower

29 FOOD ISSUE musician-friendly

restaurants

30 FEATURE Dezzy’s new video EP 32 LIVE MUSIC

THE HIGH CULTURE 33 FOOD ISSUE infused BLT recipe 34 FOOD ISSUE edibles

36 CANNABIS The Toke Board 36 CANNABIS strain review

FUN 38 PUZZLES sudoku | crossword 39 ASTROLOGY

OKG Classifieds 39

COMING SOON

FEBRUARY 22

joe diffie with special guest

josh gracin

march 13

craig morgan

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NEWS

FOOD ISSUE

The first day of the farmers market at Scissortail Park is April 4. | Photo provided

Market move

The OSU-OKC Farmers Market is shutting down and being replaced by a market at Scissortail Park, a decision that surprised and upset some vendors.

By Miguel Rios

Crows Farm Markets has been a vendor at OSU-OKC Farmers Market since before it was even known by that name.

Claudia Crow said her family started selling various items in 1987 at Pottawattamie County Farmers Market and then at the farmers market at Penn Square Mall, which eventually became the OSU-OKC Farmers Market in 1996.

“Business has been great at that market. There are multiple generations that now shop at the market,” she said. “As far as the management of the market is concerned, we the vendors have never really had a say in anything that goes there.

But we’ve been very appreciative of having the opportunity to be at that market.”

The feeling that vendors didn’t have much say or know about the market was underscored when OSU-OKC announced the market was being shut down and replaced by one at Scissortail Park. Many vendors found out about the decision from local media coverage.

In fact, Chad Ward of Ward Family Farms said vendors met with OSU-OKC president Brad Williams about six months ago and there was no mention of the market shutting down.

“It’s completely possible that the president standing there talking to us knew full well what he would’ve liked to have done,” Ward said. “Had he had that conversation with us a couple months ahead of time and even had the respect to say, ‘Hey, this isn’t working for us. We would like to find a solution,’ we could have participated in conversations about building the future of the farmers market instead of just being told, ‘We’re shutting down. There’s going to be this market at Scissortail Park, you should go there.’ … It’s not even that we’re mad that they wanted to go a different direction, but just having the respect to have a conversation with us about it instead of this absolute blow us 4

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off kind of attitude.”

Crow said they plan their production around farmers market schedules so they know just how many seeds to order and how much to produce. The sudden closure complicated things and is made worse by the fact that the OSU-OKC market officially closes at the end of February, but the Scissortail market won’t begin until April, leaving a onemonth gap for vendors. Additionally, OSU-OKC market vendors are used to a year-round market, but the new market will only be open for 6-8 months.

“We have enough things planted and producing that we counted on that market being open year-round, so now with it closing at the end of February, we have one whole month where we don’t have a place to go,” Crow said. “However, the Oklahoma City Farmers Public Market has an indoor market that is open year-round, so we started going there on Saturdays as well as continuing to go to OSU so we can inform the customers of the changes that are coming. The university has done nothing to help out with that.”

Ward Family Farms also started attending Oklahoma City Farmers Public Market but has stopped going to the OSU-OKC Farmers Market.

Crow said vendors have felt for a long time that they would eventually be kicked out.

“Every time a new president took the position, we all were wondering, ‘What now? What’s going to happen?’” she said. “So the suddenness of it was shocking. The fact that they threw us out was not shocking. … The most disturbing part of all of this was the complete and utter lack of respect towards people that have dedicated 20 to 30 years to that market. We’re all adults. We could have had an adult conversation, and this could have taken place a year ago because this didn’t happen overnight.”

Nick Trougakos, senior director of marketing and communications at OSU-OKC, said the decision was made after seeing the success of Scissortail Park’s Fall Market, which took place each Saturday during October. Along with that, he said the administration wanted to be able to use the building where the OSU-OKC Farmers Market was housed to benefit their other rapidly growing programs “The building … is tied up year-round because we’ve allowed our vendors to leave all their tables and booths and everything in there year-round, even when the market’s not happening, so we’ve lost access to that building,” he said. “The interesting thing about that building is that it’s our only multi-purpose on-campus venue that we have indoor, and we have seen in the last year really rapid growth in our public safety programs — our police science program, our fire protection program and our paramedicine program. And they are all desperately in need of indoor training space. … We’ve been getting in a bind with trying to provide the best academic experience for our students, and a natural solution for us was to be able to use that building.”

Trougakos said vendors were not told

ahead of time because they wanted to handle the announcement in a “positive and exciting way.”

“Out of respect for the folks at Scissortail, we wanted to make sure that when the decision to move and the announcement was made that we could structure that announcement in a really positive way,” he said. “We just wanted to make sure that we could have Scissortail be at the forefront of our thought process … to build for what we think is going to be a really exciting thing for Oklahoma City.”

Maureen Heffernan, Scissortail Park Foundation CEO and president, said the vision for the park was to eventually develop a farmers market. She said she received a call late last year from the OSU-OKC team, who told her they felt they needed to shut down the market but wanted to find an alternative for

their vendors. Officials say roughly 15 vendors from OSU-OKC, which averaged 30-40 vendors, have already signed up for space.

Heffernan said they will work with vendors to develop the market into a fun destination.

“In addition to the various vendors, we want to have some food people can buy, our cafe will be open in April. We’ll have some entertainers, hopefully live music at most of them. We’d love to invite chefs or others to come down and once in a while put on a food demonstration using what’s in season,” she said. “Our vision is just to make it a fun, relaxing experience on a Saturday that people downtown would come to and people would drive to.”

Crow and Ward have already been working with Lance Swearengin, Scissortail’s director of horticulture and grounds. They both said they plan to participate at Scissortail’s market but will have to have a presence at others to make enough profits. They also both commended Swearengin’s willingness to work with them and find solutions to many of their concerns while helping with the transition.

To address concerns about having to park far from the market, Heffernan said they will have staff and/or volunteers ready to assist people in taking

OKC Farmers Public Market, 311 S. Klein Ave., hosts a market every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit okcfarmersmarket.com. | Photo Miguel Rios

things to their cars.

Staff is also looking at ways to extend the market as much as possible. Heffernan said they will try to extend it into December if the weather cooperates. She said this could be done with a tent or heaters in the park’s pavilion. She also said once Union Station is renovated, which she suspects could be in the next five years, it could become the location for a year-round market.

The Scissortail market will be at the northeast corner of the park, adjacent to the stage. The first day for the market is April 4.

Visit scissortailpark.com/scissortail-park-farmers-market.

MANY OKLAHOMANS ARE STILL EXPOSED TO SECONDHAND SMOKE AT WORK.

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FOOD ISSUE

NEWS

Food yard

With a burger joint and a bar finishing up their respective build-outs, almost every food and drink tenant at Edmond Railyard is open. By Miguel Rios

Chris Anderson and Casey Massegee, Grant Group principals, got tired of having to travel south with their friends and families for unique, local eateries, so they decided to create a venue for those places at Edmond Railyard.

“We selfishly thought it would be good for the city of Edmond,” Anderson said. “We have a lot of other real estate in the area, so we thought it would be good for the area and good for the town in general.”

Edmond Railyard, 23 W. First St., follows in the footsteps of recently opened food hall concepts like The Collective and Parlor, both of which are in OKC and contain a variety of local restaurants.

“Edmond is essentially all chains.

There’s just a handful of local restaurants, local flavor. Everything [at Edmond Railyard] is local,” Anderson said. “We’re similar to the food halls, but we’re different in the sense that if you want to eat inside of these restaurants, they all have their own seating. The capacity is going to be around 50 for each restaurant. … So we offer both that traditional restaurant feel, plus that food hall feel where everybody can get something different and sit in a common area.”

Edmond Railyard features a patio and common seating areas, but each food and drink tenant will also have seating space within their space. | Photo Miguel Rios

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Through previous relationships, Grant Group secured a few tenants, but most learned about the project by word of mouth.

The mixed-use development in downtown Edmond will consists of six restaurants, a craft bar and two businesses (Midwest Energy Investments and Alliant HR Outsourcing) in its office spaces.

“Everybody in here has other brickand-mortars or food trucks, so they have experience,” Anderson said. “We sampled everybody’s food. We chose food that we thought was good and we thought would fit and complement each other, not compete. We put a lot of thought and effort into choosing the right tenants.”

BlueJ’s and 1884 haven’t finished construction but are expected to open within the next month and a half. 1884 benefits from having the biggest space in the development and will be connected to the 10,000 square-foot patio that provides outdoor seating in front of a colorful mural by OKC artist Kristopher Kanaly. 1884 will also serve food, so it doesn’t have to be exclusively for people 21 and older.

“They’ll have craft cocktails, craft beers, high-end wine, and upstairs they will have a cigar bar,” Anderson said.

“They will also have a cold menu and the ability to make paninis and light foods.”

The goal with Edmond Railyard was to create a destination for families.

Anderson said they wanted the entire development to be welcoming for children as well.

We sampled everybody’s food. We chose food that we thought was good and we thought would fit and complement each other, not compete.

Chris Anderson “Edmond is a family community. It’s different than Oklahoma City. The tenants that have locations in Oklahoma City were surprised when they did their grand openings, just how much business they did,” he said. “Instead of just a younger couple walking in, you have a couple walking in with two, three, four, even five kids. So they’re doing the same ticket orders, but the sales are so much larger because there’s more people. [People] come out here, and we have the patio with turf grass and games and stuff, and there’s kids running around playing and lots of families. So it’s definitely geared towards family.”

Once BlueJ’s and 1884 finish and announce their individual grand openings, Anderson said they will throw a collective grand opening party where they’ll encourage restaurants to have specials.

“Each one of these restaurants has had a grand opening and had great turnouts,” he said. “So this will be a grand opening party just to celebrate everybody being open.”

While Edmond Railyard is still not fully completed, Anderson said they’re already looking to keep expanding the project and they’ve purchased the buildings east of Edmond Railyard to S. Oschner Drive.

“We have a pie concept that’s going in next door. We have a vegan-based restaurant going in next door, and we’ll just keep pushing this project to the east,” he said. “We’re doing demo on the

Only two of Edmond Railyard’s seven food and drink tenants have yet to open but are expected to do so within a month and a half. | Photo Miguel Rios

stuff, so we hope to be handing over the spaces to the tenants in the spring so they can finish their build-out. So we’ll keep growing.”

Looking even further ahead, Anderson said they want to build on the idea of being able to “live, work, play” in the development.

“If we could have apartments on top of this, we would, but we can’t do that. We already leased out two of these spaces to offices, which [collectively] have about 20 employees, so they’re naturally going to eat here. Anything we can do to help just the success of everybody — more retail, different types of retail, different types of restaurant, just to get different people here so they can see everything else,” Anderson said. “We’d like to get some activity-based retail like a cycle bar or a yoga studio.

Obviously we’re going to get more restaurants that complement what we already have and don’t directly compete.”

Visit facebook.com/edmondrailyard.

Food and drink tenants Hott Wings

a concept from the owners of Eddie’s Bar & Grill

Oak City Pizza

formerly the Smoke N Oak Pizza food truck

Gogi Go

a Korean barbecue restaurant with another location in Midtown

Cities Ice Cream

an extension of the Capitals brand, which has a location in Midtown

Taqueria El Camino

a taco shop concept with chef Chris McKenna

BlueJ’s Rollin’ Grill

a food truck specializing in classic American cuisine

1884

a craft bar by the owners of The Patriarch Craft Beer House & Lawn

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S TAT E

NEWS

Wedding rainbows A local photographer created a directory to help the LGBTQ+ community easily identify affirming vendors for any wedding needs. By Miguel Rios

A couple weeks after getting engaged, Irissa Baxter and her fiancée started looking for wedding venues. Their first serious inquiry was with a Stillwater venue that they liked and would have met their needs. But once the owners found out the wedding was for a same-sex couple, they refused to work with them.

“After a couple of emails back and forth, once I clarified that we were a samesex couple that were looking for a venue for our wedding, they responded and said that they would not allow or not serve same-sex couples at their venue,” Baxter

said. “It was really surprising to me.”

Baxter said she originally found the venue through The Knot, a wedding planning application with a nondiscrimination policy that prohibits refusing to provide services on the basis of sexual orientation among other things.

“My assumption from using that app was that they would have screened the places,” she said. “That was one of the reasons I wanted to use the app, because it was accepting and they had a lot of same-sex couples on the app. … So it felt like that had given me some sort of safety net, but apparently it didn’t.”

Baxter, who happens to be Oklahoma State University’s coordinator of women’s and LGBTQ affairs, said she tried to have a productive conversation with the venue owners.

“I tried to speak to the people that ran the business a little bit to try and explain as best as I could why that was harmful and why that would hurt people and that might not be the best policy, but they were completely disinterested in having that conversation,” she said.

“That really just goes to show that we still have so much work to do and that just changing the law to make it legal for me to get married doesn’t necessarily make it so that I do not have to jump 8

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through so many extra hoops and go through so many extra hurdles to get to that marriage.”

After that encounter, Baxter said the rejection from the venue took their enthusiasm out of their engagement and they stopped wedding planning for a couple months.

“I wanted to be celebrating my life and my choices and my love and happiness, but this was extremely draining and really disheartening to hear that,” she said. “I work with LGBTQ issues

Oklahoma Rainbow Collective GayLa launch party will include an open house, a wedding vendor showcase, a draw show and a big gay prom. | Photo AJ Stegall / provided

and people. I talk about this stuff all day, so I thought I would be able to handle it a little bit easier, but it’s not easy. It’s not easy to feel like people are saying that there’s something wrong with my love or something incorrect or invalid or immoral about being happy and being in love.”

Safe vendors

After hearing other similar stories, AJ Stegall said he knew it was time to do something.

“I also noticed quite a few people online being turned away from vendors because they were LGBTQ+, and it was really killing me,” said Stegall, a local photographer who married his husband in 2018. “I’ve been in the wedding business for at least six years, maybe a little more, and so I knew the vendors that would work with me on my wedding and the people that I absolutely wanted and were supportive. But I had inside knowledge. … There’s not really a spot to go to and say, ‘Oh, this is a safe vendor. I’m not going to get turned away here.’ I can only imagine that there’s this build-up and lead-up to your wedding date where you’re getting all the right pieces and making

the pieces fit, and then you come to this roadblock. I’m sure it’s pretty defeating and probably deflates that sense of excitement and love and all of that. I’m so glad that I didn’t have to go through that. I can’t imagine how I might’ve responded.”

Oklahoma Rainbow Collective went live in November and has nearly 90 vendors, including photographers, caterers, venues and wedding planners. Stegall said it is actually approaching a tipping point and will have to upgrade its directory soon. He said the vendors have been incredibly supportive of his efforts.

“They’re super excited about it. They see a need and that there’s a hole in our market and this part of the world,” he said. “Really we have everything covered as far as you would need to plan your wedding. … The best part is that a vendor can go on the website, go to the directory, create an account, create a listing and then they’re in charge of the listing.

Of course, they get approved through me and then once it’s approved, it’s live on the website.”

Equally Wed is a national directory for LGBTQ+ friendly wedding vendors, but it currently only includes two Oklahoma vendors: Stegall’s photography business and Alexandra Dugan Photo. Stegall said Equally Wed hosts vendor training to help vendors learn how to work with LGBTQ+ couples.

Looking ahead, he said he would like to do something similar with Oklahoma Rainbow Collective.

“Eventually, I would love to see an education component for vendors, like what Equally Wed does but on a more local level, and then also educating the community about how to service an LGBTQ wedding,” he said. “The sky is the limit.”

Oklahoma Rainbow Collective Gay-La will serve as the official launch party 6:30-11 p.m. Feb. 20 at Verbode, 415 N. Broadway Ave., Suite 101. There will be an open house, a wedding vendor showcase, a drag show produced by Shalula and a “big gay prom.”

“I’m hoping this is like a launching point for maybe even a bigger platform to reach the community at large in Oklahoma,” Stegall said. “I want to get to a point where we have every venue and vendor that is open and accepting on the list. That’s the goal.”

Baxter and her fiancée have resumed their wedding planning and are excited to be back on track.

“We’re making strides. We’re back on the boat. We have our engagement photos

Oklahoma Rainbow Collective has nearly 90 vendors already including caterers, photographers, planners, venues and officiants. | Photo AJ Stegall / provided

coming up. So there’s a lot of good,” she said. “The boat has righted. We’re doing things happy now, but it was definitely a step back and a very sad step back.”

Despite not having used the directory yet, Baxter said she appreciates how helpful it is. In planning her wedding since the venue’s rejection, she said she has made it a point to ask up front if vendors have any issues with same-sex couples, which has been successful but is in itself another stressful step in wedding planning.

“I don’t even want to, at this point, get interested in a place unless I know for sure. Even if they were on the fence about it, I don’t want to get married somewhere where people aren’t going to 100 percent be excited about it,” she said. “Asking

AJ Stegall created Oklahoma Rainbow Collective, a directory that helps connect LGBTQ+ couples to affirming wedding vendors. | Photo Mamoii Photography / provided

that question myself was very uncomfortable … and having a directory and having resources like this that put all that information and all those individuals into one place gets rid of that step. I don’t have to put myself out there; I don’t have to be uncomfortable or get my hopes up and have them put down.”

Visit okrainbowcollective.com.

Oklahoma Rainbow Collective Gay-La 6:30-11 p.m. Feb.20 Verbode 415 N. Broadway Ave., Suite 101 okrainbowcollective.com $15

chicken

friedNEWS

Golden State ban

With all of the energy of a younger sibling upset that their older brother ate the last pork chop at the dinner table, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed an executive order banning all nonessential state travel to California.

Stitt’s decision is in retaliation of the city of San Francisco banning travel to 22 states, including Oklahoma, for what

city officials say are “restrictive abortion laws.” The state of California banned travel to Oklahoma in 2018 after Gov. Mary Fallin signed a law allowing private adoption and foster agencies to deny same-sex couples from working with them on religious and moral grounds.

“California and its elected officials over the past few years have banned travel to the State of Oklahoma in an effort to politically threaten and intimidate Oklahomans for their personal values,” Stitt said in a statement. “Enough is enough.”

Projection much, governor? We didn’t know you felt so threatened and intimidated. How often was the state of California visiting Oklahoma anyway? In comparison, Oklahoma is only banning nonessential travel to California. There are plenty of reasons for the state to visit the world’s sixth-largest economy. Oklahoma will still send officials to try to recruit businesses to the Golden State, and state-funded universities will continue to play sports there.

On both sides, these proclamations are political rhetoric with little ramifications. California can smugly signal to its citizens that they’re better than flyover country — as if we’re all a monolith of views — and Oklahoma can make headlines and draw attention away from its standing near the bottom of most quality of life measures in the country and his public fight with Oklahoma’s Native American tribes.

“The governor’s latest decision to ban travel to California is nothing more than attempt to distract from another recent bad decision the governor made, which was to alienate and attack our tribal nations and ask a federal court to shut down our state’s tribal gaming industry,” a joint statement from the tribes said.

According to The Oklahoman, Stitt’s

office said the decision was made in advance of the National March for Life — the annual anti-abortion rally in Washington D.C. — which goes to show he cares about babies only when they’re in the womb.

ered the changes that have roiled retailing in general and bookselling in particular.” We now reluctantly return you, dear reader, to other news about the world around us, which, we don’t need to tell you, is often not so fun to read.

Book learnin’

Clean canal

Hey, you. Yeah, you. Thank you for reading. Not just Chicken-Fried News or even Oklahoma Gazette, but just, you know, reading, like, in general. Despite ample opportunities to fill your head with misinformation and garbage in the internet age, reading continues to be an excellent gateway drug to actually knowing stuff, and despite what the high-profile actions of some of our elected officials might indicate, Oklahomans are apparently reading — books, even.

For example, Oklahoma County’s Metropolitan Library System (metrolibrary.org) announced that patrons checked out a record 2 million ebooks and audiobooks in 2019 through the Libby lending app. Some of the most popular books in both categories included Delia Owen’s coming-of-age murder mystery Where the Crawdads Sing, Michelle Obama’s memoir Becoming and Tara Westover’s memoir Educated, which describes her efforts to learn actual history in spite of her upbringing in what The New York Times describes as a “family cursed by ideological mania.”

“She is but yet another young person who left home for an education, now views the family she left across an uncomprehending ideological canyon, and isn’t going back,” writes Alec MacGillis.

We can only imagine that Oklahoma’s voracious readers enjoy the book as an escapist fantasy, because how could they possibly relate?

And there’s good local news for fans of physical books, as well: Publishers

The Bricktown Canal is drained and cleaned every few years, revealing a slew of lost items almost like a slimy, accidental underwater time capsule. It was properly cleaned for the first time in three years recently, and thankfully no (human) bodies were found.

Officials found common items like cell phones, wallets and skateboards, but having only come to the city two years ago, Lime scooters made their official bottom-of-the-canal debut this year.

Parks & Recreation crews said they found more than 20 of the green scooters. It’s too bad Bird scooters left the OKC nest before they could be immortalized in an abundance of local TV and print canal cleanup coverage.

The cleanup crew also found 30 orange safety cones, a bicycle, a camera tripod and even a wheelchair. But perhaps the most interesting finds were fish. Crews found about 50 catfish, 30 goldfish and some koi. A seriously dedicated KFOR reporter actually held one of the found goldfish, which was roughly the size of her head, for her segment on the canal cleanup.

“You might be wondering how goldfish ended up in the Bricktown Canal.

Seems kind of fishy, huh buddy?” she said while staring at the fish. “Well, city officials believe they could’ve been pets that outgrew their tanks and then were dumped by their owners.”

Scott Copelin from OKC Parks & Rec said some people would rather dump their overgrown goldfish instead of upgrading their tank. He said catfish could’ve also been dumped or their eggs could’ve been dropped by birds. We’re not sure which seems most unlikely in this case, but Copelin said the catfish are headed to the Oklahoma River.

As for the goldfish and koi, Garden Ponds Unlimited in Moore offered to take in the fish. Lauri Lucas, Garden Ponds co-owner, told The Oklahoman they’ll be placed in display ponds and monitored for a few months until they are rehomed.

All’s well that ends well, we suppose.

Weekly named OKC’s Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, as a finalist for its 2020 Bookstore of the Year Award, honoring “independent booksellers across the country that have weathO KG A Z E T T E . C O M | F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0

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FOOD ISSUE

EAT & DRINK

Building community A monthlong celebration of black-owned restaurants will create awareness and track economic impact. By Jacob Threadgill

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS IN OKC BLACK RESTAURANT WEEKS

In honor of Black History Month, OKC Black Eats has organized a selection of black-owned restaurants in the Oklahoma City metro area together for a monthlong celebration designed to build community and study economic development.

Apollo Woods founded OKC Black Eats in 2017 and has watched the marketing organization grow in the intervening years so much that it has become his fulltime job. After starting Black Restaurant Week last February, Woods is expanding the event to the entire month as 18 blackowned restaurants will host events and offer special menu items.

“It is about food and emphasizing supporting local businesses,” Woods said.

“We just want people to have a good time. … It goes way beyond the east side [of Oklahoma City]. I wanted representation across the city. The hope is that if people go to restaurants, they’ll stop at a gas station or walk into a nearby retail space.

All of that direct spending stays in that ZIP code, that ward.”

OKC Black Eats is working with the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau to develop an economic impact report for dollars spent at black-owned restaurants and tourism brought to the city.

“I want restaurants to know that you’re a restaurant, but you have impact for drawing people to Oklahoma City,” Woods said.

To participate in OKC Black Restaurant Weeks, download a bingo card at okcblackeats.com. If you complete five restaurants in a row by checking into a restaurant on social media or taking a photo of the food, you will be eligible for prizes like apparel and gift cards sponsored by OKC Convention and Visitors Bureau and Metro Family magazine. Visit okcblackeats.com.

OKC Black Eats is sponsoring a service project Saturday in conjunction with Restore OKC.

CLEAN JUICE CLASSEN CURVE BRIELLE’S BISTRO

9205 NE 23rd St. briellesbistro.com | 405-259-8473 The offerings at Brielle’s and its sister restaurant in Automobile Alley, Magnolia Bistro, 722 N. Broadway Ave., Suite 100, are the closest Oklahoma City diners can come to New Orleans with Cajun and Creole meals done right. While you’re checking out its gumbo, étouffée and fried-green tomatoes topped with crawfish, be sure to save room for its huge selections of desserts that include show-stopping cakes and even King Cake bread pudding.

5810 N. Classen Blvd. cleanjuice.com | 281-814-7884

Clean Juice was founded in Charlotte in 2015, and as it has expanded to hundreds of locations across 21 states, it is the only USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise. The first Oklahoma location opened its doors at the beginning of February. Customers can enjoy coldpressed juice, smoothies, salads, acai bowls and much more.

ELMER’S UPTOWN BAR AND GRILL 3925 N. Lincoln Blvd.

405-525-5367

Open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day, Elmer’s Uptown has been the place for late-night dancing and drinks as well as food. Get up on the dance floor and groove to make a little extra room for its menu that includes favorites like fried chicken and catfish, burgers and rib-eye.

BIG O’S PORK AND DREAMS

285 S. Santa Fe Ave., Edmond porkanddreams.com | 405-657-2235 Former coach and school counselor Owen Wilson leans on his education background to create the DreamCAST development program that rewards at-risk students and kids with scholarship opportunities. Big O’s specializes in overstuff baked potatoes, brisket, pulled pork, hot links, Polish sausage and much more.

CARICAN FLAVORS

2701 N. Martin Luther King Ave. caricanflavors.com | 405-424-0456 Oklahoma’s beacon for Caribbean food has long been the best place in Oklahoma City for stewed oxtails, jerk chicken and stewed red snapper. Owner Sharon McMillan is working on new menu items this month, which includes salmon for the first time. It’s not on the official menu yet, but be sure to ask for it.

CORNISH SMOKEHOUSE GEORGE’S HAPPY HOG BBQ BLACK WALNUT

100 NE Fourth St. blackwalnutokc.com | 405-445-6273 Chef Andrew Black has an ambitious culinary mind (See this week’s review on P. 14.), and that continues for his participation in OKC Black Restaurant Weeks. He’s thinking of putting together a special menu in honor of Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, who was viewed as a messianic figure by the Rastafari movement in Black’s native Jamaica.

712 Culbertson Drive facebook.com/georges-happy-hog 405-525-8111 This family-owned restaurant has remained a customer-favorite for years thanks to its signature pecan-smoked meats including brisket burnt ends, brisket, chicken, smoked sausage, hot links and especially its bologna. Don’t worry about fried sides, as baked beans, mixed greens, potato salad, green beans, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw play an accompanying part in the symphony of smoked meat. Save room for a piece of lemon cake to top it all off.

801 SW 119th St. cornishsmokehouse.com 405-703-1300 This restaurant on the border of south Oklahoma City and Moore sets itself apart from the barbecue field by offering deep-fried chicken and fish that is smoked before it gets crispy for extra flavor. It also has homemade jerk sauce made with ingredients shipped from Jamaica. Be on the lookout for jerk fried chicken with French toast as a special item this month.

continued on page 12

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EAT & DRINK continued from page 11

Wednesdays at 11am GOOD TIMES & GREAT VIBES DAIQUIRI LOUNGE

FREEZING COW ROLLING ICE CREAM 6401 Northwest Expressway Suite 126 B freezingcowokc.com | 405-982-0166

Host Francis Lam

This locally operated chain takes advantage of the method of using an antigriddle (which reaches temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius) popularized in Thailand to combine cream with unique flavors right in front of customers.

Freezing Cow offers a variety of flavors that range from traditional to unique like green tea, mango, cotton candy, butter and even has keto and vegan-friendly options.

EXPERIENCE FIRST FRIDAY GALLERY WALK Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 • 6-9pm

232 S. Air Depot Blvd.

Suite D, Midwest City facebook.com/good-times-greatvibes | 405-458-0994 Whether you want to enjoy a colorful daiquiri at Good Times & Great Vibes or take the drink to-go, this lounge has you covered. On Friday, it hosts karaoke night with a happy hour 5-7 p.m. that features drink specials starting at $5.

On Sunday, they’re hosting an open mic night. Follow @goodtimes_greatvibes on Instagram for more events coming this month.

ARTS DISTRICT

In the Paseo Art Space at 3022 Paseo PAA Members’ Show – Annual juried show featuring all mediums created by PAA Members. Exhibit Feb. 7 - 29 Local and national art, great food, art classes and plenty of shopping!

OFF THE HOOK SEAFOOD & MORE ICE EVENT CENTER & GRILL #FirstFridayPaseo

405.525.2688 • thepaseo.org

List your event in 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.

Submit your listings online at okgazette.com or e-mail them to listings@okgazette.com.

Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

12

F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

1148 NE 36th Street facebook.com/ice-event-centergrill | 405-208-4240 Ice doubles as a community center and restaurant. It hosts all sorts of events ranging from jazz to comedy and trap music, but it’s also a restaurant that turns out burgers, catfish and more. Be on the lookout for cooking classes in the month of February led by chef Rodney James that will include prizes and giveaways.

1920 S. Meridian Ave. offthehookokc.com | 405-606-6040 The second Off The Hook Seafood & More location features a full bar and expanded menu from its original location on Britton Road. Chef Corey “Slawta” Harris is the only chef in Food Network history to win two competition shows, Family Food Showdown and Bite Club.

Harris has created a menu that has done the impossible and made Oklahoma known for seafood with Off the Hook’s famous lobster cream sauce.

OKLA SOUL CAFÉ 1524 SE 15th St. 405-652-0111

This brand-new restaurant entered the Oklahoma City culinary community in 2020. Its food made with soul changes every one to two weeks. A normal meal comes with a main dish, two sides and a dinner roll, but the restaurant will offer a sampler plate for the whole month of February that features candied bacon deviled eggs, fajita chicken with rice, corn, roasted garlic potatoes, greens beans and a dinner roll.

TASTE OF SOUL GIANT EGG ROLL 4605 SE 29th St., Del City facebook.com/tasteofsouleggroll 405-677-5820

This concept has graduated from popular food truck to brick-and-mortar with inventive fillings of the venerable egg roll. While the Chinese restaurant version is usually a side dish, a single egg roll at Taste of Soul can be a whole meal with a side of fried rice. February will bring a special egg roll, but you can’t go wrong with a breakfast option or the Purple Pork with loads of fresh pork and purple cabbage.

TEZ WINGZ

3801 N. Oak Grove Drive, Midwest City tez-wingz.com | 405-546-8777 Chicago-style mild sauce is a condiment unique to the Windy City. It’s a blend of barbecue sauce, hot sauce and other ingredients. Get the regular or spicy version of mild sauce on wings, shrimp or catfish covered in lemon pepper seasoning at this Midwest City eatery founded by Chicago native Will Jordan.

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4:30–6:30PM | MON-SAT

121 E. Waterloo Road, Edmond texlahomabbq.com | 405-513-7631 Despite being located on the far reaches of northern Edmond, Texlahoma attracts crowds with its superior smoked meats.

The restaurant makes its own jalapeño sausage, and the rest of its options — highlighted by pulled pork, pork ribs and beef ribs on Saturday — are so moist and tender, they don’t even require sauce.

The Butler is a huge baked potato studded with brisket, pulled pork and sausage served with a pork rib garnish ($15).

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1141 E. Second St., Edmond thehiveeatery.com | 405-906-2902 This new restaurant in Edmond is an equal-opportunity nourisher. It supplies comfort food classics with a twist like chicken and waffles with a jalapeño cornbread waffle, but it also keeps vegetarians and people keeping gluten-free diets in mind with plenty of healthy options like three kinds of avocado toast.

WING SUPREME

3925 N. Lincoln Blvd. wingsupreme.com | 405-702-5464 Self-proclaimed Oklahoma city’s King of Wings offers 18 flavors of wings that get cooked as the wing finishes for maximum flavor. You can also order boneless wings and seafood like its famous Boom!

Boom! Shrimp. Complete a meal with sides like macaroni and cheese, green beans, fries and more.

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TA Z I K I S C A F E . C O M O KG A Z E T T E . C O M | F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0

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FOOD ISSUE

EAT & DRINK

Breaking the mold Black Walnut takes dinners around the world with different flavors on one plate. By Jacob Threadgill

Black Walnut 100 NE Fourth St. blackwalnutokc.com | 405-445-6273 WHAT WORKS: The branzino has cripsy skin and delicate balance of flavor between saffron couscous and lobster broth.

WHAT NEEDS WORK: The pappardelle was overcooked and drowning in sauce.

TIP: There is plenty of free parking in the garage along Oklahoma Avenue.

Sandwiched between his two other restaurants, Chef Andrew Black has made Black Walnut, 100 NE Fourth St., stand out from the pack by breaking the mold of what to expect when sitting down to dine.

Menu items are broken up by flavor profile instead of appetizer, salad and entrée. Small plates are on the menu right alongside entrees using qualifiers like “sweet and savory,” “fresh and light,” “smoky and satisfying” and “casual and comforting.”

Inside many of those dishes, Black takes guests around the world in one plate, combining flavors from different cuisine. Southern-fried green tomato is joined by Italian burrata cheese and

Norman) ascend in service from left to right. There is counter-order La Baguette Deep Deuce, the casual table service of Black Walnut and the highend tiered tasting menu of Grey Sweater at the northern end of the complex.

While there is no direct street parking for the restaurants, there is plenty of free parking in the building’s garage, which can be accessed along Oklahoma Avenue.

Just follow the red signs and pull up to the gate, which will automatically open.

Even during a Friday night in which both Black Walnut and Grey Sweater entertained packed houses, there were plenty of available spots.

For a Friday night dinner, I was able to make a reservation on Thursday, but it’s the kind of place where you can easily pull up to the bar for a meal and drink during the week on a walk-in or find space for weekend brunch.

I took the elevator up from the parking garage and walked up to the maître d, who asked if it was my first time dining at Black Walnut (it was) and was greeted with a hearty handshake and smile, which was an indication of quality service to come.

Thankfully, the server refrained from the somewhat obnoxious trope of “We do things a little bit differently here” when explaining that the menu is broken up by flavor profile rather than dish size. I like the way the menu is divided because it promotes sharing dishes — but unlike

above Spinach pappardelle with a sauce made with tomatillo and butternut squash right Falafel under a salad or celery root and apple will be leaving the menu at Black Walnut this week. | Photos Jacob Threadgill

avocado candied bacon for one of its most popular starters ($12). Another popular dish are lamb ribs — popular in the Mediterranean — but they get a decidedly non-Mediterranean brown sugar glaze and are paired with South American chimmichurri.

The ethos extended to Black Walnut’s cocktail program, which features flavors from Italy, England, Canada, France, Thailand, China, Brazil, Panama and Mexico with each individual drink.

The three restaurants connected to Maywood Apartments along Walnut Avenue operated by chef Black and Rudy Khouri (founder of La Baguette in 14

F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

tapas, which always leaves me hungry, Black Walnut is offering hearty meals.

Our server was helpful in guiding decisions for cocktails as we settled on the “takes two to mango” ($13), which she

said was her creation and inspired by the sweet/spicy combination found in many Mexican fruit candies. The drink was topped with fried sage that provided a smoky finish. The House ($9) with Black Walnut-infused bourbon and bitters was simple, yet complex in flavor.

We started the meal with falafel cakes paired with celery root apple slaw and burnt leek vinaigrette ($9), which was well executed but not a preparation of falafel I haven’t seen. When I met with chef Black this week to follow up on the meal, he said a new menu unveiling this week will not include the falafel dish.

What he has planned to replace it excites my tastebuds. The new dish will combine an Italian preparation of eggplant with a West African acaraje (spiced ground beans formed into a patty and fried like a fritter) with Lebanese-style garbanzo beans, garlic and olive oil ($11).

“It’s going to be one of my favorite complex items on the menu,” Black said.

“My problem with a lot of vegan and vegetarian cooking is that many people don’t put enough flavor. There is no compromise in flavor. I know I can pack it with flavor so you won’t miss anything.”

We continued our meal with a pair of chargrilled oysters ($3 each) topped with Thai vinaigrette and Parmesan and cambozola cheeses. They reminded me of Oysters Rockefeller, but the oysters are quite small — the meat itself was about the size of a nickel.

Black said he uses smaller Pink Moon oysters as a way to entice people that might not usually eat them. I might like to see an option for $6 for a larger portion.

The meal continued with spinach pappardelle served in a sauce made with

Crispy branzino served over saffron couscous and lobster broth | Photo Jacob Threadgill

butternut squash and tomatillo that includes poached egg topped with crispy anchovies and breadcrumbs for texture ($15). I really enjoyed the balance of sweetness from the squash and acidity from the tomatillo for an interesting sauce, but there was too much of it. The pasta — which didn’t have an al dente bite — was drowning in the sauce and might’ve been cooked too long because the advertised soft-boiled egg arrived hard-boiled, without requisite runny yolk.

The branzino with perfectly crispy skin topped on saffron raisin couscous and sumptuous lobster broth ($28) arrived and whipped away any lingering disappointment from the pasta dish.

The broth balanced spicy and seafood flavor as the pearl couscous held up through the cooking process, which can’t always be said for the smaller types of couscous.

“The broth adds intense flavor with that light, mild fish,” Black said. “I wanted to put couscous with it that I knew wasn’t going to be too heavy. You can do more with [pearl couscous]. You can add things and it holds it versus other kind of couscous where it almost becomes mush.”

I’m excited to see where Black takes the menu. Full-time additions include scallops with candied bacon and truffle fries ($38), tomahawk pork chop with crispy mushrooms, asparagus and Brussels sprouts ($39) and vegetarian dishes like the previously mentioned eggplant, a salad made with turnip leaves and roasted butternut squash, avocado and garbanzo beans ($11) and cardamom roasted baby beets ($12), which Black said are sweet in flavor and taste less like dirt than standard red beets.

“Every time I got to take an item off the menu, there’s someone that says ‘Don’t touch it,” Black said with a laugh.

Visit blackwalnutokc.com.

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GAZEDIBLES

EAT & DRINK

Cocoa craving

We are less than two weeks away from Valentine’s Day, which means chocolate season is in high gear.

Fulfill your chocolate craving at these seven locations.

By Jacob Threadgill with provided and Gazette / file photos

Ganache Patisserie

La Baguette Deep Deuce

Ava’s Premium Toffee

Sometimes a name says it all. There is no finer stop for imported European chocolate than this true patisserie from classically trained owners. The amount of items working with chocolate at Ganache is almost endless. You can go big with a ganache-covered chocolate mousse cake or get or a chocolate pecan tart or a chocolate macaron or a chocolate croissant or a, well, you get the idea.

Do not wait until the last minute to get a sweet treat for your sweetie on Valentine’s Day. La Baguette in Deep Deuce offers a variety of cakes, pies and housemade chocolate treats. It offers cakes in three sizes, and you can order a double chocolate cake or something a little more interesting like a chocolate divine, which has a layer of white chocolate on the bottom.

Ava’s puts the P in premium by using the finest ingredients. The toffee is made with butter from grass-fed cows, organic coconut and cane sugar and organic Madagascar vanilla and is topped with highgrade Belgian chocolate and Himalayan pink salt. In addition to the classic almond toffee, it also offers sea salt and pecan toffee and toasted coconut cashew toffee.

13230 Pawnee Drive, Suite 114 ganacheokc.com | 405-286-4068

100 NE Fourth St. labaguette.com | 405-445-6272

1408 N. Portland Ave. avaspremiumtoffee.com | 405-265-5986

The 4U Café located inside H&H Shooting Sports features made fresh daily grilled onion burgers, fresh cut fries, hand battered onion rings, and many other made from scratch items. We make our burgers using 100% Certified Angus Beef that’s cooked when you order.

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F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

405.601.3454

EDMOND

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cHICKEN tandouri & tikka butter chicken & white rice

Pie Junkie

1711 NW 16th St. piejunkie.com | 405-605-8767 Pie Junkie is rightfully one of the best dessert destinations in Oklahoma City.

Even if you don’t like regular pie it has crème-filled whoopie pies (which are more like cookies than pie). One of Pie Junkie’s signature pies is the Drunken Turtle, which has a graham cracker crust, fudgy filling and salted caramel topping. The French Silk and S’more pies are also great chocolate options.

Flip’s Wine Bar & Trattoria

5801 N. Western Ave. flipswinebar.com | 405-843-1527 There are a lot of people that have the ability to forgo Flip’s tasty selection of pizzas, pasta and other Italian favorites and go straight for the dessert menu. We can’t blame them, either. Why deny yourself what you really want? The gooey chocolate pudding is topped with fresh whipped cream that will warm you up with comfort decadence.

Belle Kitchen

Iron Star Urban Barbecue

Dark chocolate macarons have helped put Belle Kitchen on the proverbial map, along with its collection signature doughnuts and savory items. Using high-quality Belgian chocolate, the macarons remain one of the top-selling items. It allows the ganache to rest for 24 hours to ensure that characteristic macaron “chew.”

If it is possible to save room after a meal of high-quality barbecue, Iron Star offers a pair of desserts that will satisfy chocoholics. The double chocolate bread pudding is finished with a Grand Marnier glaze to make you feel fancy, and the giant chocolate cake lives up to its name, as it is big enough for two to eat.

7509 N. May Ave. belle-kitchen.com | 405-430-5484

3700 N. Shartel Ave. ironstarokc.com | 405-524-5924

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17

ON EXHIBIT JANUARY 31 – MAY 10, 2020

1700 Northeast 63rd Street •Oklahoma City, OK 73111 (405) 478-2250 • nationalcowboymuseum.org Illustration created by NCWHM

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F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

T H E AT E R

ARTS & CULTURE

Sweet sorrow

Oklahoma Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet celebrates love in spite of a generational cycle of violence.

By Jeremy Martin

For approximately the 10th time in Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park’s nearly 35-year history, a pair of starcrossed lovers take their life.

Romeo & Juliet runs Feb. 13-March 1 at Oklahoma Shakespeare, 2920 Paseo St. William Shakespeare’s tragic romance, in which the title characters find passionate love despite their families longstanding hate for each other, has been staged, adapted and reimagined countless times since it was first published in 1597. Shakespeare’s version was based on Arthur Brooke’s 1562 poem “The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet,” which was based on a French translation of a story by Italian writer Matteo Bandello. Director Kris Kuss said the play is “always a crowd favorite,” but audiences tend to overestimate how well they know the story and its characters.

“People love it,” Kuss said. “Even if they’ve never read it, never seen it, they still seem to know something about it. … A lot of things that people assume they know about the show, they actually don’t. … It’s become so part of our cultural consciousness that we have these tropes and clichés for these characters, but they don’t actually know the story.

I approach it as the director that we’re going to tell the story the way the way it’s written, and very often, that alone is enough of a surprise for the audience at the beginning.”

The intensely passionate Romeo (played by Bryan Lewis), for example, is not just a “whiny, lovesick character,” and Bryan Lewis and Nikki Mar play the title characters in Oklahoma Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. | Photo April Porterfield / provided

Juliet (Nikki Mar) is more “clever and driven” than she’s often given credit for.

“A lot of times, people see Juliet as this very innocent and somewhat naive personality, whereas in fact she’s actually very witty, incredibly smart and cunning and not given over to just her emotions but actually very careful in planning and the work and the effort that she goes through to pursue her own future and to claim her own destiny in the way that she wants,” Kuss said.

Though simply presenting the play as written remains compelling and even surprising for audiences, Kuss said Oklahoma Shakespeare tries to find new layers in the text of any play it presents.

We want to believe, deep down, that when two people find each other things will work out for them.

Kris Kuss “We’re always looking at these works, wanting to reexamine them, because we always have to ask ourselves the question as a company that is staging works that are at this point over 400 years old, ‘What purpose does this still serve for us?’” Kuss said. “In our production, we’re looking at questions of violence, not only between individuals, but threats of violence and hate and anger that extend out to a community, to an entire people group, and the interpersonal strife that happens there. I think that’s something that we can still relate to today. We still see it all the time on the news. … We want to tell the story that illuminates the damaging aspects — how it not only hurts individual, but it hurts the entire community.”

Romeo and Juliet’s romance escalates the feud between their influential families, perpetuating a cycle of violent revenge t hat threatens all of Verona, Italy.

“Everyone is constantly walking around on a razor’s edge, where at any point we could step over

into strife and conflict,” Kuss said. “For example, the majority of our characters are always carrying a knife on their belt.

They always have a weapon on hand. So what does that do to someone psychologically when weapons are just a part of their entire existence, all the time? If they didn’t have the weapon and they got angry, that would maybe just lead to a shouting match or something like that, but now that they have the possibility to actually incite violence on another human being, psychologically that could escalate things incredibly fast. The passions that guide these characters can so quickly vacillate between violence and hate and love and passion.”

Although Oklahoma’s permitless carry law allowing adults to carry guns in public is not the production’s intended target, Kuss said the play’s themes concerning impulsive violence are relevant.

“These characters,” Kuss said, “are always walking around with weapons, and that’s going to have an effect on the way you perceive the world. When you come across somebody who you have a beef with, if you’re going about unarmed, it’s very different than if you carry a sword, a knife, a gun, whatever. If you have a weapon on you, it suddenly alters that interaction, that altercation.”

Kuss, a trained stage combat director certified by Dueling Arts International, said any time physical violence is portrayed onstage signifies a moment when “words can no longer resolve the issue.”

“I don’t want to give it away, but the audiences are going to get a little bit of a unique perspective with our show,” Kuss said. “We’re a little bit limited in what we can accomplish with combat, but we’ve got a really neat concept that I think the audiences will really enjoy, that will heighten the moment. It’s almost as if the audience can see and reflect on the violence while the characters themselves are being carried away in it. … It’s necessary for telling this story, but we don’t do it in celebration of the violence but, rather instead, as a cautionary tale against this kind of violence.”

An irreversible chain of events triggered by a violent act rapidly moves the play to its seemingly unavoidable tragic end.

“What happens when characters are moved to action and they commit to actions without thought or planning or before someone else can intercede?”

Kuss said. “We want the audience to experience that feeling that these characters are barely trying to keep up with the action and it’s just keeping a little bit ahead of them. At the very beginning

Romeo & Juliet runs Feb. 13-March 1 at Oklahoma Shakespeare. | Photo April Porterfield / provided

of the play, they’re referred to as ‘starcrossed lovers.’ They are a pair that the fates have come against, and it’s almost as if the circumstances of the universe are leading them just beyond their control, and they’re just kind of tumbling towards this inevitable fate.”

But Kuss said he believes Romeo & Juliet has continued to enthrall audiences for more than 500 years not because of its famously sad ending but because of the potential for a happier one.

“We want to believe, deep down, that when two people find each other and they find a like soul, things will work out for them, even though this story, we know that it is a tragedy,” Kuss said. “We watch the play over and over again wanting to believe in hope for these characters, that they will end up together in the end, that love will conquer all. And it’s only in those last moments when they fail that it becomes a tragedy. … Even though they die in the end, the message still comes across that it is that love, that connection, that forming of a bond that we should strive and work for and fight for, even if we fail. That’s what makes life worth living … and we should not just give in to a generational curse of hate and violence. I think that’s something that resonates with all of us deep down. We want to believe, we want to hope, we want to strive. Even if this story fails, maybe the next Romeo and Juliet that come along, they will succeed, and we can break the cycle.”

Tickets are $16-$30. Call 405-2353700 or visit okshakes.org.

Romeo & Juliet Feb. 13-March 1 Oklahoma Shakespeare 2920 Paseo St. okshakes.org | 405-235-3700 $16-$30

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FOOD ISSUE

ARTS & CULTURE

Soul food

SixTwelve’s First We Dance, Then We Greet, Then We Eat series creates community through cooking and dancing lessons. By Jeremy Martin

KOSU is your spot to fill up on ethically-sourced local news and conversation. Tune in and donate at kosu.org.

Oklahoma Community Orchestra PRESENTS

A Children’s Concert

Sunday,

February 16TH

3:00pm FEATURING...

Sugar Free All Stars

OCCC Visual & Performing Arts Center 7777 S. MAY AVE | OKC

TICKETS

$12.50 in Advance @

www.okorchestra.org $15 @ the Door (children 12 and under are admitted free)

SUPPORT HAS BEEN PROVIDED, IN PART, BY E OkOrchestra 20

F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

National Endowment for the Arts

Growing up in New York City suburb Rockland County, Marie Casimir belonged to a community of open doors.

“I had access to lots of different cultures, but within that context, it was like we lived in each other’s homes,” said Casimir, founder and director of Djaspora Productions. “You were outside playing with kids, and you’d run into somebody else’s house and grab some food. I missed the communal aspect of that, so I am always trying to bring that into my work as much as possible.”

Casimir, whose family immigrated from Haiti when she was a child, said her love of community inspired First We Dance, Then We Greet, Then We Eat — a series of six monthly events pairing a hands-on cooking class with a dancing lesson.

“There was always food, and there was always dance and there was always music, and those things weren’t separate,” Casimir said. “So I wanted to create a space where people can really inhabit that. … It’s all communal, and it’s all art. … It’s all seamless. It’s all one.”

Three remaining installments are currently scheduled 2-4:30 p.m. Feb. 15, March 21 and April 18 at SixTwelve, 612 NW 29th St. Kindred Spirits co-owner Chaya Fletcher, who serves as “curator of the culinary experience,” said combining food and dance provides opportunities for socializing, learning and creativity.

“Food brings people together, and then we bring in dance and how we share space with each other,” Fletcher said.

“So I think it’s important that we have a dancer and a chef that appreciates both those things — community and exploration of different cultures and tying dif-

First We Dance, Then We Greet, Then We Eat pairs a hands-on cooking class with a dancing lesson. | Photo provided

ferent expressions of art together.”

SixTwelve co-founder and executive director Amy Young said the events fulfill the community education center’s mission: “sharing tools to build a better community.”

“We focus on creativity and sustainability, and part of sustainability is cooking,” Young said. “We try to grow our own food at SixTwelve with the idea that the kids can bring it in, learn how to cook it and then eat it so they see from the seed to the fork. … The whole idea behind SixTwelve is to give people a place to go where they can learn how to do things that help them better take care of themselves and each other, from the time they’re 3 until they leave the planet.”

Casimir, who taught series of dance and writing workshops during her artist residency at SixTwelve in 2018, said she originally imagined First We Dance with the space in mind because its community garden and multigenerational atmosphere reminds her of her childhood.

“I think it’s such a unique space in Oklahoma,” Casimir said. “‘I tell everyone I know … ‘There’s chickens, there’s children, there’s vegetables, there’s old folks, there’s everything in between. It’s amazing.’”

The dances and dishes highlight African and African diaspora cultures.

A past event paired jazz dance with vegan soul food prepared by Nicole Asali, owner of Health Koncious catering, for example. The Feb. 15 event features a lesson in kizomba dancing,

which originated in Angola (formerly a Portuguese colony), followed by Latin-fusion cuisine prepared by chef Jonas Favela from Graffiti at Parlor OKC. “I call it the fusion edition, but in my head, it’s also the sexy edition because kizomba is this partner-style dance, which is super sexy,” Casimir said.

“Originally, it’s from Angola; that’s where it originated, but it’s super international. … It’s really popular in Brazil, it’s really popular in Paris, and Martinique in the French Caribbean. It’s popular in Haiti.”

A dance for partners was chosen specifically for Valentine’s Day weekend.

“If you don’t have someone, come and get someone,” Casimir said.

Part of the event’s purpose is “creating an environment where people feel safe to experiment, to try new things.”

“People who don’t normally go to dance class have come who were like, ‘I don’t normally do this, but let me try,’” Casimir said, “or, ‘I’m just here for the food, but I have to dance to get the food.’”

As a dance instructor, Casimir said teaching people who don’t think they can dance is most rewarding.

Food brings people together, and then we bring in dance and how we share space with each other.

Chaya Fletcher “You get to watch the progression of people from the beginning of the class to the end of the class, especially people who walk in thinking, ‘I have no rhythm.

I have two left feet. I don’t really dance,’” Casimir said.

Casimir — who also co-founded The Instigation Festival, which brings improvised dance and music to nontraditional locations in New Orleans and Chicago — said presenting art in an informal setting can make it feel less intimidating, especially when it’s followed by food.

“We were doing jazz dance, which people think belongs in a dance studio,” Casimir said. “What happens when you bring that jazz dance into a community space, and then there’s food to go along with it? It breaks down the idea that certain forms belong in certain spaces. … The idea is always, ‘It’s fun.’ It doesn’t always have to be precious, even though precious is nice and beautiful too.”

Intersectional cuisine

Dishes such as the Burkina Faso-style fufu featured at a previous event can also offer a new experience.

“I think maybe 75 percent of the people had never had fufu,” Casimir

wishes a Happy 35th Anniversaryy

to our friends The next event is 2-4:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at SixTwelve. | Photo provided

said, “so it’s introducing people to African diaspora cuisine. … If you’re familiar with African diaspora culture, you can come and celebrate that, and if you’re not, then you can learn in an environment that feels encouraging and inclusive of everyone.”

Fletcher said the kitchen is an inherently inclusive environment.

“The kitchen is the place where everybody always ends up,” Fletcher said.

“That’s where you share in conversation or food or drinks. So, to me, the kitchen has always been this communal space.”

The cooking class instructors have ranged from professional chefs to home cooking experts, but Fletcher said she and Casimir have been “really intentional about finding people who we felt were artists” who “have a passion to create food, even if it’s not what they do for a living.”

“Creativity is art, whether you plate it in a certain way or whether we’re eating family-style,” Fletcher said. “To me, it’s more about the communion that we share when we eat and drink.”

Young said the combination of dancing, socializing and cooking offered at these events creates a close-knit community atmosphere.

“By the end,” Young said, “we’re making friends, we’re eating together, we’re laughing and joking. That’s the beauty of food to me. It really does pull everyone together.”

Casimir agreed.

“Usually people are lingering,” Casimir said. “That’s always the best.

That’s when you know the food has been good and the time has been good.”

Registration is $20-$75, and each event is limited to 15 people. Call 405208-8291 or visit sixtwelve.org.

Come out and enjoy!

February 7-9 / Bennett Event Center For tickets/information: statefairparkokc.com

First We Dance, Then We Greet, Then We Eat 2-4:30 p.m. Feb. 15, March 21 and April 18 SixTwelve 612 NW 29th St. sixtwelve.org | 405-208-8291 $20-$75

O KG A Z E T T E . C O M | F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0

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ARTS & CULTURE

New Year, New You! Heat-Friendly

SYNTHETIC WIGS

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FOOD ISSUE

STORE HOURS: Monday-Friday

DEPRESSION Study Currently Enrolling

Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects millions of adults in the United States every year according to the American Psychological Association. The Lynn Institute of Oklahoma City is now enrolling patients ages 18 - 65 who are currently on an antidepressant that isn’t adequately controlling symptoms.

Participants will receive study-related healthcare from medical professionals at no cost and may receive compensation for time and travel! Interested in more information?

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F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

In good spirits

A Midtown retailer caters to both amateur and professional mixologists wanting to raise the bar with better ingredients and supplies. By Charles Martin

It wasn’t so long ago when Oklahoma bartenders had to go to great lengths to tap into the nation’s ever-expanding array of specialty bitters, mixers and bar tools while also being stifled by the state’s strict and confusing blue laws. Barkeep Supply has stepped in to allow the metro’s more ambitious mixologists to explore more adventurous trends in cocktail culture.

It also boasts a full bar so customers can see the products in action whether it is one of Barkeep’s array of specialty bitters or craft cocktail rocks by Vault Ice. “I’ve been a bartender since college, and I had a hard time finding the stuff that I wanted to use at work,” owner Julia McLish said. “I just opened Barkeep out of necessity. I thought people would feel the same way that I do and would like to see more craft cocktail tools available to the public.”

McLish doesn’t prescribe to the normal bar approach of a massive stash of bottles but instead focuses on a smaller selection of base spirits and an extensive collection of mixers.

“It’s funny. When we opened two years ago, I only anticipated having what I was calling a demonstration bar,” McLish said. “And so I was trying to just keep the selection really slimmed down, just enough to show people how to make different cocktails. But as this has gone along, we became a full bar with regular customers and a cocktail menu that changes seasonally. We get a lot of people coming in for a drink before dinner somewhere else in Midtown.”

The challenge of building a bar cart diversified enough to explore the everexpanding world of craft cocktails can be a daunting task, but Josh Cockle, owner of OKC-based Winship’s Bitters said step one is to focus on what you know you like.

“Do you like to drink lighter liquors or do you like darker liquors?” Cockle

said. “What sort of clientele are you serving, or what do you think your friends at your party are going to like?

Maybe they like Old Fashioneds, so make different spins on that but if the party is a bunch of people that you know don’t want to drink heavier things, then make something light and refreshing like a Daiquiri and use some lime bitters in it so it’ll be the best Daiquiri they’ve ever had.”

Cockle became fascinated with the potential of good bitters when he started making them while bartending at Ludivine back when even a good, simple orange bitter was hard to find in Oklahoma. Cockle said that good mixology is less about stockpiling obscure and expensive spirits than it is about making the five or six ingredients in the cocktail perfectly copacetic.

“It’s really about balancing drinks, just like making good food,” Cockle said. “We often run into the misconception that this is unapproachable and that you have to be super knowledgeable to make a balanced cocktail, but it’s really not super complicated. When you’re at home making cocktails for your friends, begin with the simple aspects of classic cocktails and let your own creativity expand out from there.”

On the balance front, over-pouring and waste are the bane of every bartender whether slinging drinks at a highvolume club or trying to keep up at a house party. That’s why McLish said that no bar is complete without pour spouts and an atomizer.

“They are these little spray bottles that look like perfume,” McLish said.

“If there’s an ingredient that’s really powerful like a peaty scotch or absinthe, you don’t necessarily want to add a liquid measurement but are instead just trying to rinse the glasses.

Otherwise you have to pour in, swirl

Barkeep Supply carries an array of specialty products, including Norman-based Vault Ice and OKCbased Winship’s Bitters. | Photo Phillip Danner

the ingredient, then dump it. The atomizer might seem extra fancy but it’s really useful.”

Having a bar bible with cocktail recipes is really helpful, McLish said, and carries a selection including her own go-to The Bar Book by Jeffrey Morgenthaler.

So, you’ve got your bar supplies, a good selection of bitters and a list of doable cocktail recipes. The finishing touch to many cocktail recipes is the ice.

Vault Ice is a surprising success story of a Norman producer exploding onto the national mixology scene. Seth Stevenson is the director of business development for Vault and said the company started with cutting ice for Whiskey Cake in 2016, but are now shipping ice to thousands of restaurants, bars and hotels in 21 states.

I thought people would feel the same way that I do and would like to see more craft cocktail tools available to the public.

Julia McLish Cocktail enthusiasts bristle at the sight of a carefully crafted drink hitting the table with a fistful of bar ice slowly ruining the otherwise beautiful and balanced chemistry.

“Traditional bar ice melts really quickly,” Stevenson said and added that this not only waters down the drink but also changes the flavor because of contaminants. “Our water goes through three-stage filtration including reverse osmosis, UV filters and water softening to pull out 98 to 99 percent of particulants.

Pretty close to medical grade. The goal is to give customer most authentic delivery of their favorite libation without watering down or adding weird flavors to it.”

Vault Ice is designed to be as clear, flavorless and tasteless as possible, but also to melt slowly. A little water is still necessary, Stevenson said, to separate the fiery ethanol from the flavorful guaiacol. When the ice melts at a proper rate, the guaiacol will release the nose of the spirit to the top of the drink while the ethanol will sink. If the ice melts too fast, the guaiacol is buried under the water.

Barkeep uses Vault Ice cocktail rocks in the drinks they make but also sells sleeves of the ice for use at home. Because the rocks are so dense, they melt slowly and are good for a 10-minute drive. For a longer trip, there are insulated bags available.

“Better ice means a better-tasting drink which means improved customer satisfaction,” Stevenson said. “This is how you get customers to come back.”

Visit barkeepokc.com.

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O KG A Z E T T E . C O M | F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0

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CALENDAR are events recommended

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

WOLF PARADE | February 5 STEEP CANYON RANGERS | February 6 MAT KEARNEY | February 7 MY SO CALLED BAND | February 8 THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS | February 11 THE AUTHENTIC VOICES TOUR | February 15 LOST DOG STREET BAND | February 20 DWEEZIL ZAPPA | February 28 ROME & DUDDY | February 29 PUP | March 2 RECKLESS KELLY | March 6 KAMASI WASHINGTON | March 7 TICKETS & INFO AT TOWERTHEATREOKC.COM @TOWERTHEATREOKC 405-70-TOWER | 425 NW 23rd Street | Oklahoma City

BOOKS Kevin Hearne book signing the author will autograph copies of his book A Blight of Blackwings, 4 p.m. Feb. 8. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SAT Mid-Oklahoma Writers a meetup for local writers featuring guest speakers and literary discussions, 7-9 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month. Eastside Church of Christ, 916 S. Douglas Blvd., 405-732-0393. TUE Read the West Book Club meet up to discuss Charles Portis’ True Grit, 1-2:30 p.m. Feb. 9. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SUN Second Sunday Poetry hear the works of a variety of local poets, 2 p.m. second Sunday of every month. The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., Norman 405-307-9320, pasnorman.org. SUN

FILM OKC at the Oscars enjoy food, auctions, bingo and red carpet photo opportunities at this Oscar viewing party benefiting Positive Tomorrows, 6 p.m.

Feb. 9. The Paramount Room, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-887-3327, theparamountroom.com. SUN Oscars watch party watch the 92nd Academy Awards on the big screenat this event with prize giveaways and entertainment during commercial breaks, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9. Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Ave., 405-235-3456. SUN Scandalous Shorts deadCenter Film Festival presents a screening of short films, 2 p.m. Feb. 9.

Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., 405-708-6937, towertheatreokc.com. SUN VHS & Chill: Blockbusted Video a cult-classic film screening where audience participation and commentary is encouraged, 7-9 p.m. Feb. 12. The Paramount Room, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-8873327, theparamountroom.com. WED

HAPPENINGS Afro Beats a dance party with soca, hip-hop, Caribbean, dancehall and other genres of music provided by DJ Sinz, 11 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays.

Glass Lounge, 5929 N. May Ave., 405-835-8077, glasshouseokc.com. FRI The Bella Bash magician John Shack, comedian James Nghiem and more are scheduled to perform at this benefit for Bella Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals, 8-11 p.m.

Feb. 7. The Paramount Room, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-887-3327, theparamountroom.com. FRI

2.5 JEREMY PINNELL with JOHN CALVIN ABNEY 2.6 CHRIS JONES & THE FLYCATCHERS 2.9 DILLA DAY with DJ D.L., Ronnie Harris & DJ Reaper 2.13 BROTHER MOSES 2.14 MOCHATEA PODCAST LIVE - VALENTINE’S DAY 2.17 MOTHERFOLK with Rousey 2.18 STAR PARKS 2.19 An evevning with DRIVIN N CRYIN 2.26 STEVE 2.29 SAINTSENECA 3.2 JACK BROADBENT 3.5 ROOTS OF THOUGHT with Swim Fan & Twigs 3.8 IGOR & THE RED ELVISES with Klamz 3.11 DEAD HORSES WWW.PONYBOYOKC.COM @ponyboyokc #StayGoldOKC 24

F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

Cowgirls of Color students can see a presentation from the first all-female rodeo team to participate in the Bill Pickett International Rodeo, with introductory comments from City Councilwoman Nikki Nice, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Feb. 5. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. WED Drag Me to Bingo bingo night hosted by Teabaggin Betsy, 9 p.m. Tuesdays. Partners, 2805 NW 36th St., 405-942-2199, partners4club.com. TUE Filmrow Trivia Night test your cinematic knowledge at this monthly competition hosted by VHS and Chill, 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month. The Paramount Room, 701 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-887-3327, theparamountroom.com. TUE The Friend Zone: Speed-Friending make new friends five minutes at a time at this platonic meetup, 7 p.m. second Monday of every month. Oak & Ore, 1732 NW. 16th St., 405-606-2030, oakandore.com. MON The Happy Hour a monthly meet up and networking event for professional women with guest presenters and drinks from Anthem Brewing Company, 5-6:30 p.m. second Wednesday of every month. The Treasury, 10 N Lee Ave., Suite 100, 325660-2264. WED Karaoke Night perform your favorite songs on a stage with a light display and professional sound system, 8 p.m. Dec. 25. Bison Witches Bar & Deli, 211 E Main St., Norman, 405-364-7555, bisonwitchesok. com. WED Kokedama – Japanese Moss Ball Planters learn how to display small indoor plants using this method at a demonstration presented by Oklahoma County Master Gardeners, 6 p.m. Feb. 12. Will Rogers Garden Center, 3400 NW 36th St., 405-9430827, okc.gov. WED Moore Chess Club play in tournaments and learn about the popular board game at this weekly event where all ages and skill levels are welcome, 1-4 p.m.

Sundays. Moore Library, 225 S. Howard Ave. SUN

Blood Wedding Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca’s Blood Wedding is a surreal tragedy about the recursive nature of violence and the ways it reinforces societal constraints. Guest director Sara Guerrero (pictured), in a press release, praised Lorca’s “image-laden poetry” and “brilliant marrying of costume, set, movement and lights.”

The play runs Friday-Feb. 16 at University of Oklahoma’s Weitzenhoffer Theatre, 563 Elm Ave., in Norman. Tickets are $10-$35. Call 405-325-4101 or visit theatre.ou.edu.

FRIDAY-FEB. 16 Photo provided

Night to Shine special needs people age 14 or older are invited to attend this prom night experience presented by the Time Tebow Foundation, 6-9 p.m. Feb. 7. Crossings Edmond, 1500 West Covell Road, 405-242-5460. FRI Oklahoma Native Plant Society meeting John Weir from Oklahoma State University’s natural resource ecology and management department will discuss the ecological benefits of prescribed burns, 7 p.m. Feb. 6. OSU-OKC Campus, 900 N. Portland Ave., 405-947-4421, osuokc.edu/home/. THU

FOOD Chocolate Decadence enjoy chocolateinspired cuisine, live music, wine, champagne, and a Valentine auction at this fundraising event benefitting the Automobile Alley Association, 6:309 p.m. 6:30-9 p.m. Feb. 6. Leadership Square, 211 N. Robinson Ave., 405-232-0877. THU OKC Farmers Market a year round farmers market featuring fresh produce, honey, baked goods, meat, hand made goods and more., Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. OKC Farmers Market, 311 S. Klein Ave., 4054860701, okcfarmersmarket.com. SAT

YOUTH Art Adventures children can enjoy story time and related activities, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. TUE Beginning Martial Arts Classes students ages 7 and older can learn martial arts from instructor Darrell Sarjeant at this weekly class, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Thursdays. Nappy Roots, 3705 Springlake Drive, 405896-0203, facebook.com/pg/nappyrootsbooks. THU The Cat in the Hat Dr. Seuss’ beloved feline takes the stage in this play based on the classic children’s book, through Feb. 9. Lyric Theatre, 1727 NW 16th St., 405-524-9310, lyrictheatreokc.com. THU-SUN OKC Drag Queen Story Hour children and their families are invited to a story and craft time lead by Ms. Shantel and followed by a dance party, 4 p.m. second Saturday of every month. Sunnyside Diner, 916 NW Sixth St., 405.778.8861. SAT Sankofa Chess Club children 7 and older are invited to learn chess in this club meeting weekly, 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Nappy Roots, 3705 Springlake Drive, 405-896-0203, facebook.com/pg/ nappyrootsbooks. WED Story Time with Britt’s Bookworms enjoy snacks, crafts and story time, 10:30-11:30 a.m. first and third Thursday of every month. Thrive Mama Collective, 1745 NW 16th St., 405-356-6262. THU

PERFORMING ARTS Arrows International Dance Company the

GO TO OKGAZETTE.COM FOR FULL LISTINGS!

LOVE IS TIMELESS

dance company presents a live concert to celebrate its upcoming tour of South Asia, 7 p.m. Feb. 8. Church on the Rock, 1780 W Memorial Rd, 405-463-4900. SAT

VALENTINE SALE

TINGS!

Christian & Sons Clocks

Blue Sunday a monthly blues tribute show hosted by Powerhouse Blues Project,6-8 p.m. the second Sunday of every month. Friends Restaurant & Club, 3705 W. Memorial Road, 405-751-4057, friendsbarokc.com. SUN Celebration of Melanin History a poetry showcase presented by Poetic City and featuring Black Chakra, 8:30-11 p.m. Feb. 7. Glass Lounge, 5929 N. May Ave., 405-835-8077, glasshouseokc.com. FRI The Choir of Man a touring musical performance featuring song and dance in a variety of styles, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 10. OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater, 7777 S. May Ave., 405-682-7579, tickets.occc.edu. MON Glory Denied Painted Sky Opera presents Tom Cipullo’s opera about Captain Jim Thompson, the longest-held American prisoner of war in history, and his attempt to return to life after his release, Jan. 31Feb. 7, Through Feb. 7. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. FRI The Mingling Poet’s Society a pottery open mic titled “Lose My Cool,” 7-9 p.m. Feb. 8. All Nations Champions Church, 4501 N. Meridian Ave. SAT

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Sanctuary Karaoke Service don a choir robe and sing your favorite song, 9 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays and Thursdays. Sanctuary Barsilica, 814 W. Sheridan Ave., facebook.com/sanctuarybarokc. WED Tribes playwright Nina Raine’s drama explores the internal and interpersonal conflicts of young hearing impaired adults, Feb. 6-9. Mitchell Hall Theatre, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, 405-974-2000, uco.edu. THU-SUN

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Late Nite Lab: Crime Scene Investigation If your child is into shows like CSI and Dexter, let’s hope it’s because they’re interested in science. At this family- and sensoryfriendly evening event, your forensics prodigy can learn about fingerprinting, DNA extraction, blood typing and more as they work to solve a crime — just like Dexter does, sometimes. The game is afoot 6-10 p.m. Friday at Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place. Tickets are free-$15. Call 405602-3760 or visit sciencemuseumok. org. FRIDAY Photo provided CY

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ACTIVE 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 Road, 405-603-7655. MON Run the Alley a three-mile social run for athletes of all abilities ending with beers at The Yard, 6:30 p.m.

Thursdays. OK Runner, 708 N Broadway Ave., 405702-9291, myokrunner.com. THU Stars and Stripes Spin Jam a weekly meetup for

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CALENDAR C A L E N DA R

continued from page 25 jugglers, hula hoopers and unicyclers, 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays. Stars & Stripes Park, 3701 S. Lake Hefner Drive, 405-297-2756, okc. gov/parks. WED Twisted Coyote Brew Crew a weekly 3-mile group run for all ability levels with a beer tasting to follow; bring your own safety lights, 6 p.m. Mondays. Twisted Spike Brewing Co., 1 NW 10th St., 405-301-3467, twistedspike.com. MON

Yoga Tuesdays an all-levels class; bring your own water and yoga mat, 5:45 p.m.-7 p.m. Tuesdays.

Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405445-7080, myriadgardens.com. TUE

landscapes, through April 5. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., Norman, 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma. FRI-SUN Renewing the American Spirit: The Art of the Great Depression an exhibition of paintings, prints, photographs and more created in the 1930s, Through April 26. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SAT-SUN A Thin Place view fantasy-inspired conceptual photography by Oklahoma artist Lauren Midgley, through Feb 29. The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., 405-307-9320, pasnorman.org. FRI-SAT Tiny Little Fables: The Enchanted a multimedia art exhibition featuring works by Nonney Oddlokken, Nicole Moan and Aztrid Moan, Feb. 7-May 18. The Art Hall, 519 NW 23rd St., 405-231-5700, arthallokc. com. FRI-MON

Harlem Nights Starring Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx, 1989’s Harlem Nights would be a major piece of comedy history if all three were just filmed standing around not saying or doing anything, but writer and director Murphy’s witty crime drama uses all three actor’s charisma to tell the story of a gambling house owner (Pryor) and his partners try to stay alive and in business despite unhinged gangsters and crooked cops in 1930s New York City, a one-of-a-kind portrait of loyalty in the face of adversity. Watch for appearances by Charlie Murphy, Arsenio Hal and Touched by an Angel’s Della Reese playing against type, and listen for Herbie Hancock’s ultra-cool score. The film is 8-11 p.m. Monday at Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St. Tickets are $5. Call 405-708-6937 or visit towertheatreokc.com.

MONDAY Photo provided

Yoga with Art workout in an art-filled environment followed by a mimosa, 10:30 a.m. Saturdays. 21c Museum Hotel, 900 W. Main St., 405-982-6900, 21cmuseumhotels.com. SAT

VISUAL ARTS Colors of Clay an exhibition of clay pots, bowls, pitchers and jars created by Native American artists, Through May 10, 2021. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. FRI-SUN D.J. Lafon exhibition view paintings by the Oklahoma artist who died in 2011, through Feb. 29.

JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave., 405-5286336, jrbartgallery.com. FRI-SAT Huda Hashim exhibition view works created

by British-born Sudanese-American designer, contemporary artist and 3D architect, through Feb. 29. Artspace at Untitled, 1 NE Third St., 405-8159995, 1ne3.org. THU-SAT Inside the Artist’s Heart an exhibition featuring photographs by Blu Lirette and jewelry by Jennifer Woods, Feb. 7-March 3, Feb. 7-March 3. The Paseo Plunge, 3010 Paseo St., 405-315-6224, paseoplunge. org. FRI-TUE Magic of the Land: Paintings an exhibition of works by Carol Beesley, Jim Keffer, and Karl Brenner, through Feb. 11.

Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. TUE Metro Camera Club workshop learn about portrait and tabletop lighting at this workshop taught by photographer Sam Hyden, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 8.

Will Rogers Building, 2401 N. Lincoln Blvd. SAT Re-New an exhibition of Tulsa artist Whitney Forsyth’s mandala-inspired ceramic work, through Feb. 29, Through Feb. 29. Artspace at Untitled, 1 NE Third St., 405-815-9995, 1ne3.org. THU-SAT Renegades: Bruce Goff and the American School of Architecture an exhibition celebrating non-traditional architecture inspired by Native American designs, everyday objects and natural

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F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

Until We Organize: The Struggle for the Equal Rights Amendment an exhibition of photographs chronicling Oklahoma’s battle over the ERA, through Nov. 30, 2020, Through Nov. 30.

Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org. MON-SUN Warhol and the West an exhibition exploring Andy Warhol’s artwork featuring icons and imagery from the American West, including his Cowboys and Indians print series, Jan. 31-May 10, Through May 10.

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum. org. FRI-SUN

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 32

GO TO OKGAZETTE.COM FOR FULL LISTINGS!

CHAD WAYNE HUNNICUTT

Photo: Topher Sauceda

FAMILY & MUSIC - WE MISS YOU

December 1, 1974 - January 27, 2020

O KG A Z E T T E . C O M | F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0

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LEARN IN A NEW LIGHT

Ignite your creativity and hone your skills at our new Studio School.

STUDIO SCHOOL REGISTRATION OPENS FEB. 24

oklahomacontemporary.org/studioschool Classes | Workshops | Artist demonstrations NW 11th and Broadway, Oklahoma City

28

F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

FOOD ISSUE

MUSIC

Tasty licks

Local eateries serve their food with a side of live music. By Jeremy Martin | Photos Gazette / file

In last year’s Food Issue, we highlighted several concert venues — Chesapeake Energy Arena, The Jones Assembly, Opolis — where you can see a nationally touring act and also eat a better than decent meal. This year, we’d like to offer a variation on the theme and serve up a menu of restaurants where, in the process of filling your belly, you’re quite likely to fill your ears with the sumptuous sounds of live, often locally sourced, music. You should also be aware that in addition to live music, many of the restaurants/venues listed below host comedy, drag, burlesque and art shows, making the Oklahoma City metro’s cultural palette more diverse and interesting, feeding our heads as well as our stomachs.

arrive for concerts and open mics before 10 p.m. when you can order from a full menu of appetizers and entrees. For the long night of spirits and songs ahead, you could do much, much worse than carb-loading with a sandwich — The Sooner (roast beef, turkey, smoked Gouda and Russian mustard), Green Turkey (with bacon, avocado slices, cream cheese and alfalfa sprouts) and generously topped Veggie offer sitespecific variations alongside the standard club, pastrami and Reuben — or soup (chili, chicken tortilla, cream of potato, broccoli or mushroom) served in a bread bowl.

Othello’s Italian Restaurant

Bedlam Bar-B-Q

610 NE 50th St. bedlambarbq.com 405-528-7427 You can get traditional smoked meats (brisket, ribs, chicken, pulled pork, sausage) and sides (fried okra, mac and cheese, potato salad, collard greens) plus some unexpected options (tabbouleh salad, veggie burgers, Vietnamese egg rolls) seven days a week at this restaurant named for the famed sports rivalry between University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. But on Saturday nights, you can also catch live performances by local singer-songwriters and Americana, jazz, blues and other acts that pair well with saucy meats. On Sundays from noon to 3 p.m., music fans and foodies have another chance to congregate at Bedlam’s weekly gospel brunch.

Hubbly Bubbly Hookah & Cafe

2900 N. Classen Blvd., Suite K hubblybubblyokc.com 405-609-2930 In addition to open mics and other events, Hubbly Bubbly’s stage is home to Art of Rap and Heart of Hip-Hop, a monthly competition and showcase where some of OKC’s most talented MCs hone their craft. You can grab a seat in the lounge’s tightly packed couch labyrinth to sample from a vast menu of hookah flavors, but if you feel like ingesting something solid, you can also order Mediterranean cuisine such as beef gyro, chicken shawarma, falafel and kefta kebabs, as well as fried zucchini, chicken tenders and wings, onion rings and cheese sticks.

51st Street Speakeasy

1114 NW 51st St. 51stspeakeasy.com 405-463-0470 The menu offers well-crafted burgers and fries, nachos and wings, and true to its name, the Speakeasy offers plenty of booze options that, thankfully not true to its name, weren’t brewed in hoodlums’ bathtubs. Also true its name, Speakeasy’s many comfy nooks, crannies and corners offer opportunities for jovial, reasonable-volume conversations. The first floor hosts rock, hip-hop and comedy concerts and dance and burlesque nights, but except in the case of large events such as Robot Saves City’s massive multimedia art shows, it’s entirely possible to stop into the Speak for drinks and remain barely aware that a talented local band or comic is performing on the other side of the building, so it’s definitely worth exploring.

painting classes and live music including jazz, blues, R&B and more. Also keep an eye out for podcast recordings, watch parties, speed dating events and other events promoting culture and building community.

Bison Witches

211 E. Main St., Norman bisonwitches.com 405-364-7555 Showing up late to local shows is an unfortunate but time-honored tradition pretty much everywhere, but Bison Witches offers plenty of incentive to

Ice Event Center & Grill

1148 NE 36th St. 405-208-4240 The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, salads and catfish, shrimp and pork chop baskets, and the entertainment options are equally enticing. Ice is home to comedy showcases featuring local and national acts, poetry readings,

434 Buchanan Ave., Norman othellos.us 405-701-4900 This restaurant and venue opened at its Campus Corner location in 1977 and recently reopened in the same spot after sustaining extensive damage in a 2017 fire. The menu includes crab-stuffed mushrooms, fried calamari, lasagna, Parmigiana and garlic-crusted rib-eye steak, and the stage hosts jazz, blues and reggae acts as well as the metro’s longest running comedy open mic.

Sauced on Paseo

2912 Paseo St. saucedonpaseo.com 405-521-9800 Sauced’s patio and dining area give diners plenty of space to enjoy its many pizza, pasta, sandwich and salad options in relative peace while its adjacent bar Sauced on the Side hosts varied and engaging music, comedy and poetry nights where you’ll see and hear things they’d never allow at Chuck E. Cheese.

When the music’s over, you’re likely to catch musicians anywhere affordable and filling that’s still open after they’re done loading the van. The usual suspects include IHOP, Whataburger, Waffle House and every 24-hour drive-thru, but less common options are also available.

If you managed to get out before the bars close, Flip’s Wine Bar & Trattoria, 5801 N. Western Ave.; Guyutes, 730 NW 23rd St.; The Pump, 2425 N. Walker Ave.; and on Friday and Saturday, Polk’s House, 2319 N. Lottie Ave., are open until 2 a.m.

If you tarry past last call, Beverly’s Pancake House, 3315 Northwest Expressway, is always open.

O KG A Z E T T E . C O M | F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0

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MUSIC Aporia is about questioning whether the sacrifices made for success are actually worth it. | Photo SIKE Images / provided

SPRING 2020

GRACE POTTER W/ DEVON GILFILLIAN

02.13.20

INDIGO GIRLS 02.26.20

ORVILLE PECK

W/ TEDDY & THE ROUGH RIDERS

03.13.20

AMERICA’S #1 PARTY + EVENT BAND

PARTY ON THE MOON

BLUES TRAVELER 04.16.20

ANDREW BIRD

F E AT U R E

03.27.20

Reasonable doubt

Deezy’s five-song video EP Aporia second-guesses the meaning of success. By Jeremy Martin

W/ ERIKA WENNERSTROM

04.29.20

TICKETS & INFORMATION AT

THEJONESASSEMBLY.COM 901 W. SHERIDAN, OKC

PARASITE

132 Minutes Greed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan. This darkly comic thriller directed by Bong Joon-ho is currently nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture.

OPENING JAN 31

COME AS YOU ARE

106 minutes Three disabled men drive to Spain to visit a brothel that caters to people with disabilities. Their first problem is trying to conceal the real purpose of their holiday from their parents and the second is finding a suitable driver for their journey.

JOIN US ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH FOR CLOSED-CAPTION SCREENINGS ALL DAY!

OPENING EXCLUSIVELY AT RODEO CINEMA

FRI, FEB 7

VHYES

72 minutes A bizarre retro comedy shot entirely on VHS, VHYes takes us back to a simpler time, when twelve year-old Ralph mistakenly records home videos and his favorite late night shows over his parents’ wedding tape. The result is a nostalgic wave of home shopping clips, censored pornography, and nefarious true-crime tales that threaten to unkindly rewind Ralph’s reality.

And don’t forget to join us in the lobby for tape swap, collector showcase, and all ‘round VHS fun on the evening Sunday, February 16th!

OPENING EXCLUSIVELY AT RODEO CINEMA

FRI, FEB 14

Showtimes & Tickets at Rodeocinema.org 2221 Exchange Avenue, OKC 405-235- 3456 (FILM)

Follow us on

30

F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

aporia – noun 1. An irresolvable internal contradiction or logical disjunction in a text, argument, or theory 2.

The expression of doubt “Anybody that’s out here working, trying to pursue your goals or chasing after success, sometimes you don’t know what comes with that until you get there, and then once you get there, you might start questioning whether you want it as bad as you thought you did,” Oklahoma City hip-hop artist Deezy, aka James Curd, said.

Deezy began releasing five-song video EP Aporia, the followup to 2017’s Evolve or Decay (E.O.D.), Tuesday.

Viewed together, the videos, filmed by Imageline Studio with financial backing from sponsor Krow’s Nest BBQ and Catering, will tell a complete story.

“It’s really just talking about what it’s like being in a relationship and being an artist or chasing after success and what comes with that, some of the situations we deal with going after that

success,” Deezy said, “real situations that I’ve dealt with as an artist … being out late, having events come up all the time, and on top of that, I’m still working a regular job at the same time, so I might be gone all day. It takes away from me being able to be around my kids, sometimes, going to so many events and stuff like that, being pulled away from that.”

Creative director Nicole AllenFisher, who helped Deezy fine-tune the storyline and concept, said the album’s theme of self-doubt and internal conflict in the pursuit of success is “not just about rapping” and “so relatable to so many people.”

“When I heard the word ‘aporia’ and looked it up, I was like, ‘Oh my god, that’s like my whole life,’” Allen-Fisher said. “We’re always caught in some sort of quandary that makes us ask, ‘Do we really want to be where we are and do we really want to keep going where we’re going?’”

Though Deezy is continuing to pursue greater success, he has already faced challenges balancing his private and artistic lives.

“Getting to the point where I’m being played on the radio consistently, being on the news, having more exposure is creating a lot more of a demand on my time, and being gone more and really trying to stay consistent with the level that I’m at and continue to get to a higher level, there’s new things coming with that and it’s definitely caused some strain,” Deezy said. “Even shooting the video, some of the storyline that we did caused some issues. I don’t want to give too much of the storyline away, but just shooting with some of the females that was in the video, it wasn’t anything too crazy but just being in that setting with somebody in lingerie and stuff like that, if you’re in a relationship, that kind of raises some eyebrows a little bit. … It’s a little bit over-exaggerated, the situation, but in the process of trying to shoot it, it created exactly what I’m talking about in the video.”

Working on Aporia with Deezy gave Allen-Fisher a better appreciation of some of the issues that inspired it.

“When you finally get what you want, or you get close to getting what you want, you never really imagine what the problems and the issues that arise will be,” Allen-Fisher said. “Other people can tell you what they’ve been through, but until you get there, it’s very difficult for you to know. Just even watching Deezy himself go through the stages of being recognized on the street or having literal fans when we go to other places and laughing about his [direct messages on social media] or things like that … and that actually having some sort of tangible effect on his relationship and his life and all of the different decisions on where he’s going to spend money and where’s the money going to come from to fund the project, and all of that, just watching him go through it, it’s like I’ve been seeing the project in real life.”

“Doin Thangs”

The album, produced by Reggie Ganther of 778 Music Group, begins with an assessment of Deezy’s current situation, and despite the conflicts that follow, it ends with resolve to keep progressing.

“The first song is called ‘Doin Thangs,’ where I’m basically saying, I’ve made it to this level of success I was chasing after,” Deezy said. “I’m basically making that statement that I’m doing what I said I was going to do.

Then, as you move on from there, it goes more into me looking at where I’m at and starting to realize how it’s affecting me and my relationship and stuff. And the last song is really the single. [‘Count It Up’] is me working it out and getting back to business.”

Deezy released the first single from five-song video EP Aporia Tuesday. | Photo SIKE Images / provided

People, we’re not always in the same mood. ... I really embrace that aspect of myself and knowing that I’m not always in one mental space.

sories Clothing • Acces les Curious Collectab & More!

in the Plaza 1759 NW 16th • Oklahoma City • 405-528-4585 Open Tues-Sat 12-7 • Follow Us Online!

Bu O y N pe ow ns Fo In rB 2 es W t S ee ea ts ks! &P ric es!

The subject matter of his lyrics varies with his thoughts and feelings from day to day.

“The majority of what I talk about is stuff that’s related to where I’m at in life or what I’m dealing with in my head, stuff like that,” Deezy said. “It just kind of depends on what the goal is with the song.

I’m kind of all over the place with my content sometimes. … People, we’re not always in the same mood. We don’t always keep the same viewpoint on certain things. Some days you might feel super political, and other days you might just feel like partying and not really being on that vibe. I really embrace that aspect of myself and knowing that I’m not always in one mental space. … I think it helps me connect with a broader audience.”

Roses are Red e Violets are Bgluifts Bad Grannyr’syour boo!

Are here fo

Deezy Aporia’s songs were finished at the beginning of 2019, but filming the videos took a year.

“We had a lot of hold-ups with getting certain venues,” Deezy said. “I had specific things that I wanted to do.

One of the videos, we shot at a church, and I wanted the stained glass windows and all of that, and it was difficult finding a place that would let us come and shoot and not have to pay a ridiculous amount of money to make it happen. And people flaked out. We had to rework certain things in the storyline because of that, but we followed through. We made it happen.”

Though Allen-Fisher said the finished product “became something almost completely different” from the “huge idea” Deezy originally presented to her, his adaptability and commitment elevated Aporia to a level viewers and listeners might not expect.

“It’s above and beyond what people are really doing, and I mean that on a national scale. I think he’s doing things that people will be copycatting in some way for sure,” Allen-Fisher said. “The great thing about Deezy as a performer, an artist, a visionary is that he finds opportunities wherever he goes. He’s always kind of double-mindedly doing both regular life and artist’s life at the same time, almost all the time. … He’s the real thing, the balance between somebody who talks about what they want to do but they also walk the walk of what they want to do and keep pushing the envelope and boundaries to get done what he wants to get done.”

Visit facebook.com/deezygbreed.

By Emily Mann • Adapted from the Book by Sarah L. Delany and A. Elizabeth Delany with Amy Hill Hearth

STARRING

Celebrate the story of a century with 103-year-old Sadie and 101-year-old Bessie, famously known as the Delany sisters. From the old Jim Crow South, to renaissance Harlem, and ultimately as a professional teacher and a dentist, respectively – their stories weave a rich tapestry of lives lived triumphantly. While making dinner (live, on stage) these two African American sisters tell us of the last century as they lived it – with true stories that touch the soul and your funny bone – filled with humor, faith, love, and family.

Julia Lema

Terry Burrell

as Sadie

as Bessie

February 19 - March 8

Broadway Star of:

Broadway Star of:

Lyric at the Plaza

Guys and Dolls Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music

Dreamgirls Thoroughly Modern Millie

1725 NW 16 St., OKC

Charge Tickets by Phone: (405) 524-9312 • Online: LyricTheatreOKC.org • In Person: 1727 NW 16 Discounts Available for Groups of 8 or More! Email for Information: Groups@LyricTheatreOKC.org SEASON SPONSORS

O KG A Z E T T E . C O M | F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0

31

READY FOR A SMOKEFREE NIGHT OUT? VISIT ONE OF THESE

LIVE MUSIC

SMOKEFREE VENUES IN OKLAHOMA CITY

SK Love Warning: Fans of King Diamond, Alice Cooper, true crime podcasts and the TV show Snapped might develop a dangerous infatuation with SK Love. In October, the Norman-based “theatrical concept band” released EP Checkmate, the third and final act in a trilogy of albums about a woman’s descent into madness and murder. The “SK” in the band’s name stands for “serial killer,” and as portrayed by vocalist Danielle Tipton, the album cycle’s antihero is conflicted, damaged and nuanced. The band’s upcoming double LP is titled, appropriately enough, Rock Opera, and live, you can expect props, costumes and audience interaction that is hopefully not too stabby. Em and the Mother Superiors share the bill. The show begins 8 p.m.

Bison Witches, 211 E. Main St., in Norman. Call 405-364-7555 or visit facebook.com/ bisonwitchesnorman. SATURDAY Photo provided

These are events recommended

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

Jahruba & The Jah Mystics, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. REGGAE Oberon/Stone Wolf/A Lady We All Know, Blue Note Lounge. ROCK Papa Nooch, Full Circle Bookstore. SINGER/SONG-

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5 Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley Bricktown Pub.

WRITER

Perseus/If It Bleeds It Dies/Buried Under Broadway, Oklahoma City Limits. METAL

ACOUSTIC

Gost/Black Magnet/PittersplatteR, 89th StreetOKC. ELECTRONIC

SUPPORTING SMOKEFREE BARS & CLUBS FIND MORE SMOKEFREE BARS NEAR YOU FREETHENIGHTOK.ORG

The Kudzu Duo, The Blue Door. BLUES Wolf Parade/Land of Talk, Tower Theatre. ROCK

Texas Hippie Coalition/Cyanide Hook/ Backwash, Diamond Ballroom. METAL

SUNDAY, FEB. 9 DJ D.L./ DJ Reaper/Ronnie Harris, Ponyboy. ELECTRONIC/HIP-HOP

THURSDAY, FEB. 6

Hosty, The Deli. ROCK

Casey & Minna, COOP Ale Works Tap Room. FOLK

Jeff Denson, Romain Pilon & Brian Blade, UCO Jazz Lab. JAZZ

Chris Jones & the Flycatchers, Tower Theatre.

AMERICANA

Dogleg/Cliffdiver/Ben Quad, 89th Street-OKC. ROCK

Marc Douglas Berardo/Grace Morrison, The Blue Door. SINGER/SONGWRITER Peter Bradley Adams, The Depot. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Greg Klyma, 89th Street-OKC. SINGER/SONGWRITER Peekaboo/Zeke Beats, Farmers Public Market.

ELECTRONIC

Shelly Phelps & Dylan Nagode, Jazmo’z Bourbon St. Café. ACOUSTIC Steep Canyon Rangers, Tower Theatre. AMERICANA

FRIDAY, FEB. 7 Austin Duplantis, Bison Witches Bar & Deli. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Ben Brock/John Goolsby, The Blue Door. AMERICANA

MONDAY, FEB. 10 The Aints, The Deli. AMERICANA Jason Hunt and Preston Ware, Sean Cumming’s Irish Restaurant. FOLK

TUESDAY, FEB. 11 Kyle Reid, Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Levante Duo, The Depot. ACOUSTIC The New Pornographers/Diane Coffee, Tower Theatre. ROCK

Bodysnatcher/Great American Ghost, 89th StreetOKC. METAL/HARDCORE

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12

Chelsea Days/Gloom Cruise/Candy Fly, Opolis. POP

Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley Bricktown Pub.

Elizabeth Speegle Band, Saints. JAZZ Fitz & the Tantrums, First Council Casino. POP Jessica Tate & John Rouse, Bossa Nova Caipirinha Lounge. JAZZ

ACOUSTIC

John Carlton & Kyle Reid, The Winston. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Van Darien/Indianola, The Deli. AMERICANA

John Moreland, Guestroom Records.

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Mat Kearney/Eli Teplin, Tower Theatre. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Randy Coyne’s Jazz Cartel, Grand House. JAZZ

SATURDAY, FEB. 8 Ali Harter/John Calvin Abbey/The Wight Lighters, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort. SINGER/SONGWRITER DJ Triple Eight, Bar Cicchetti. ELECTRONIC Edgar Cruz, Ned’s Starlite Lounge. ACOUSTIC Hosty/Ken Pomeroy/Chloe Beth, The Deli. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

32

F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

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.

GO TO OKGAZETTE.COM FOR FULL LISTINGS!

THE HIGH CULTURE Instructions

1. Roast or grill the jalapeños until soft, then blend them and set aside for later use.

2. In a stand mixer, combine the two eggs and 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard.

Mix until egg starts to thicken.

3. While mixing, slowly add the infused oil at a constant rate of one drop at a time to a light stream until all the infused oil is emulsified into the eggs.

FOOD ISSUE

4. As the color of the yolks starts to lighten, add the lemon juice, vinegar and salt and pepper and continue mixing.

Sandwich artistry

The chefs at Guyutes have spiced up the traditional BLT with an added kick. By Matt Dinger and Jacob Threadgill

If you are going to make a sandwich, you might as well have some fun with it.

Each month, the chefs at Guyutes team up with Oklahoma Gazette to bring readers a fresh take on cannabis-infused dishes.

“We’re gonna do a bacon, arugula, cucumber and egg sandwich, a play on a BLT,” Matt Pryor said.

“We wanted to go with a little bit more that that pepperiness of the arugula with the freshness of the cucumber and it’s going to go well. It’s going to be a roasted jalapeño mayonnaise. I figured if we have any residual flavor from the infusion that the jalapeno will kind of mask it and it’ll give it a nice spiciness to change up from your regular mayonnaise that most people just get bored with or don’t like in general,” he said.

Making the infused mayo is the hardest part of the recipe. Pryor recommends using an electric mixer.

“I’d recommend a mixer for most people just because it’s so intensive whenever you’re doing it by hand, your arm will basically want to fall off by the time you’re done making the mayonnaise. You’re going to try to go as slow as possible. You don’t want to put too much oil in it all at one time, so you’re going to start with just a slow drip because you want those molecules to slowly start to open up the egg molecules and you just want them to absorb as much oil as possible. As you do this, you’ll notice that the egg will actually start to change color and lighten by adding all the oil and air into it, ” Pryor said.

“It’s not a joke. You’ve got to do it super slow. I did a test run beforehand with a hand mixer and tried to do like a teaspoon at a time and that was way too

fast and I just ended up with this mess of goo,” Jarrod Friedel said.

The rest of the recipe is pretty straightforward and will add a burst of flavor to one of the simplest dishes imaginable.

“When we were talking about this, I was like, ‘Man, tomatoes are gross.

Marinara is good, salsa is good, but tomatoes are gross. Let’s do something else.’ Cucumbers are the only thing I can think of that have enough water in it that would make it still kind of crunchy but have enough moisture in it there was still tastes like you’re biting into a sandwich. I think BLTs are a joke anyway.

Bacon’s great, but it’s not a meat. If you’re going to give me a BLT, you’d better put a pound of bacon on there so I feel like I’m biting into a sandwich. I was really hoping I could do something where I can make it be a BAKE, but BACE was the closest we could come up with,” Friedel said.

Review

I like raw tomatoes but much prefer them in a salad or simple in-season tomatoes with fresh cracked pepper and salt in the summertime. I completely understand why people don’t like tomatoes on a sandwich. People complain that they don’t have much flavor — a problem that can be mitigated by allowing them to reach room temperature before cutting and then applying salt.

My problem with tomatoes on a sandwich has to do with its structural integrity. I’m tired of biting into a tomato, only to have it push the rest of the ingredients off the bread. I commend the chefs at Guyutes for reinventing the BLT without the T. I might even do a quick

The bacon arugula cucumber sandwich features cannabis-infused mayonnaise. | Photo Phillip Danner

marinade on the cucumber with red wine vinegar, garlic, salt and black pepper. The cannabis-infused mayonnaise was very tasty, and any lingering cannabis flavor was covered up by the spicy kick of jalapeño. The egg even held up after a few hours in the refrigerator, and I enjoy the sandwich cold as much if not more than it would be if it was hot.

I ate half the sandwich and enjoyed a good body high for about six hours.

5. Add the half cup of oil at a constant light stream until fully emulsified.

6. Slowly fold the roasted jalapeño puree into the mayonnaise.

Making the infused oil Ingredients

1 cup of canola or olive oil 7-10 grams of decarboxylated

medical cannabis

Instructions

1. Mix the oil and cannabis and apply low heat (140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit) for 90-120 minutes. Do not let the oil exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit or allow it to boil.

2. Remove the oil from the heat.

Allow it to cool.

Bacon Arugula Cucumber sandwich Ingredients

2 piece of toast 2 servings of infused mayo 1 handful of arugula 3 slices of bacon 6 thin slices of cucumber 1 fried egg

Instructions

1. Do not tell me you got so high you need someone to tell you how to make a sandwich.

Infused mayonnaise Ingredients

3. Strain the oil over cheesecloth into an airtight container for at least 45 minutes. Do not squeeze the cannabis flower.

4. Store any excess oil in a dark container in a cool, dry place. Refrigerate it to extend the shelf life to several months.

Headband 26.3 percent Classen Kush House 7g x 1000 = 7000 7000 x 26.3 percent = 1841 mg 1841 divided by 16 tbsp = 115.06mg per tbsp 115.06mg divided by 12 servings = 9.59mg per serving

2 egg yolks 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/2 cup of oil 1 cup of infused oil 2 teaspoon of white wine vinegar

or cider vinegar 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper 4 jalapeños for roasting salt (to taste) O KG A Z E T T E . C O M | F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0

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THE HIGH CULTURE

The Medicine MAN TWISTED TUESDAY 5 Prerolls for $25

THIRSTY THURSDAY Buy One / Get 1 Half Off

BLACK GOLD 1200mg SYRUP

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Discuss the benefits of medical THC and CBD oils with our in-house team.

Buy two THC and CBD oils get third 1/2 off

suggestions saturdays Tell us our best product, items we carry, let us know how we’re doing or offer suggestions on things to change/improve. Suggestions get a gram 1/2 off

FOOD ISSUE

VETERAN 10% DISCOUNT DAILY

MONDAY make it thru the week all 1/2 oz products get $30 discount try out tuesday 10% discount when you purchase something new that you’ve never tried hump day wednesday 20% discount on 1/8 or more throwback thursday 15% discount on 2 grams or more friday chill with us

Boundless choices

The Oklahoma edibles market is in high gear, with dozens and dozens of options for patients who prefer eating their cannabis to smoking it.

By Matt Dinger

Super sundays donut & coffee free with your purchase of $30+ Veterans: free coffee or donut with your purchase of $15+

Prerolls 2/$10 3:30-6:30pm daily 405-225-1323

5917 S. Sunnylane Road - OKC

themedicinemanok@yahoo.com

When the Oklahoma medical cannabis market opened for business in fall 2018, choices of edibles were few and far between. In the months since, it seems like a new producer or product has hit the shelves every week, if not more frequently. Here are some of the most popular products available in the state.

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Nature’s Key

On my very first trip to a cannabis dispensary as a card-carrying patient, the first commercial edible I laid my eyes on was the Nature’s Key line. While it offered a limited slate of baked goods and products in the early days, its machine for manufacturing gummies changed the game with production output, not to mention the stellar recipe that packs as much flavor as it does a wallop of THC. Its CBD gummies are equally delicious for those not seeking the high.

OUT THE DOOR PRICE *

ounce

Quality Flower! * While Supplies Last

Flower | Edibles | Plants | Vapes | Tincture | & More!

Consistent Affordable Quality Products

Medical Marijuana Dispensary Family Owned & Operated

405.429.7570 | 1221 SW 59th ST, OKC MON-SAT 10AM-9PM SUN 12PM-6PM

CANNASOUTH.NET

Nature’s Key 25mg gummies| Photo provided

@canna_south

cannabis superstore Big & Beautiful. Open 24 Hours. Come Visit.

Mr. Mack’s

Following on the heels of Nature’s Key was Mr. Mack’s, which started working on its packaging game well before the vote for State Question 788 came down, resulting in some incredibly professional-looking product that also happened to be made by experts with history in the culinary arts.

Its Pot Pops, which dropped last year, were also a novelty upon arrival, the first medicated hard sucker I got my hands on.

Pot Pops from Mr. Mack’s | Photo provided

Easy Street

Easy Street came to market much later but quickly became the talk of the town. I am told it is made with top-shelf flower pressed into live rosin for use in Easy Street edibles.

With an array of flavors like Strawberry Tart, Cherry Limeade, Mango Ginger and Island Punch, these are also easy to overdo (especially if you have medicated previously and gotten the munchies). Tread lightly, as these can be particularly potent.

ALWAYS OPEN. LET’S GO.

1043 S Meridian Avenue | Open 24/7 | stabilitycannabis.com |

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F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

@stabilitycannabis

Easy Street indica vegan gummies | Photo provided

Sean O’Grady’s Gummy Gloves

Sean O’ Grady’s Island Punch Gummy Gloves | Photo provided

It was only a matter of time before Oklahoma saw its own homegrown celebrity product, and Sean O’Grady’s Gummy Gloves are it. The Island Punch flavor is phenomenal, and patients can choose between three strengths: lightweight (5 mg), middleweight (10 mg) and heavyweight (20 mg). Sean O’Grady has told me that while he was not initially a cannabis enthusiast, he became a true believer after using CBD topicals and then THC topicals on his battle-weary hands, and it’s nice to see the World Boxing Association Lightweight Champion of the World throwing his weight behind medicinal cannabis.

WE’RE SOCIAL.

Cheeba Chews THC taffy | Photo provided

Cheeba Chews

Probably the out-of-state company with the largest following that I have encountered, Cheeba Chews has recently made its entry into the Oklahoma market. With a reputation for being consistent as well as potent, this infused taffy has four High Times Cannabis Cups under its belt and is carried in more than 800 dispensaries in Oklahoma, Colorado, California and Nevada. In addition to the eponymous taffy, the company also produces Green Hornet gummies, and all products come in indica, sativa and hybrid varieties.

Millennium Grown Presents

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$70 MMJ DR. REC’S $70

TOKE BOARD

THC

FALITNERANL I S T- B E S T O F O K C AT I V E M E D I C I N E P R A C T I T I O N E R

Natural Choice Urgent Care

PATIENTS

$70 MMJ Rec’s $70 Call for appointments 405.608.6820

Applications Received:

259,147

DISPENSARIES

Applications Approved:

GROWERS

246,718

MON-FRI 9AM-6PM SAT 8AM-3PM

Randy Whitekiller, DO 5929 N. May Ave, Suite 500 Oklahoma City SUMMIT BUILDING

READ US AT

Applications Approved:

2,242

Your food should be inspected by the best.

So should your cannabis.

CONSUMERS

DISPENSARIES

Allows the entity to purchase medical cannabis from a processer licensee or grower licensee and sell medical cannabis only to qualified patients, or their parents or legal guardian(s) if applicable, and caregivers

GROWERS

allows the entity togrow, harvest, and package medical cannabis for the purpose of selling medical cannabis to a dispensary, processor, or researcher

FLOWER REVIEW

Cannabis effects vary wildly from patient to patient based on a multitude of factors, including THC tolerance, brain chemistry and personal taste. This review is based on the subjective experience of one patient.

Grown by: The Inner Circle Grows

Valentine’s Day skip the chocolates

buy a box of

Romance

instead!

LINGERIE • ADULT TOYS • BDSM & FETISH ITEMS • LOTIONS • NOVELTY GIFTS & CARDS 615 E. MEMORIAL, OKC • 405-755-8600 36

Acquired from: Planet Hollyweed Date acquired: Jan. 31 THC/CBD percentages: 20.7 percent/.1 percent

This

F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

8009 W. RENO, OKC • 405-792-2020

5,443

Natural person or entity in whose name a cannabis license would be issued

Strain name: Ragnarok #2

405 488 2400 | CannabestLabs.com

Applications Approved:

Physical traits: Light green and covered with wiry light orange stigmas Bouquet: earthy and herbal Review: While Ragnarok #3 with its reported 31.8 percent THC is what most people ran toward and swept up with quickness, I also heard a number of people saying that they preferred Ragnarok #2. I have joined the latter camp. While #3 does hit hard and get your heart racing, the intense high climaxes and then ebbs rather quickly, while #2 kept me humming for quite a while.

To be completely honest, if I had not tried The Bruce just a few weeks ago, I probably would

have passed on these strains, as they did not strike either my nose or my eye. That is where cannabis can be quite deceiving from a distance, as Ragnarok #2 has earned its place in my cannabis cabinet for “work fuel,” or strains I dip into when I need a little energy and attitude boost.

It definitely provides a heart-pounding feeling but stops short of inducing panic, instead cresting into a strong euphoric high without taking you off of task. It is out of character for me to review one grower so soon after another, but The Inner Circle Grows, with its boutique, limited runs, piqued my interest. Look forward to the drops of The Collinsworth and Texas Strawberry coming soon.

Ragnarok #2 | Photo Phillip Danner

O KG A Z E T T E . C O M | F E B R U A R Y 5 , 2 0 2 0

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PUZZLES NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE CROSSWORD PUZZLE FOOD ENGINEERING | 0209

By Erik Agard Puzzles edited by Will Shortz Instructions: When this puzzle is finished, change one letter in the last word in the answer to each asterisked clue to name a food. The replacement letters, in order, will spell an appropriate phrase.

ACROSS

1 It got some “Xtra” flavor in 2001 7 San Antonio pro 11 Atkins diet no-no 15 What’s called a cashpoint by Brits 18 Wage ____ 19 Add to the team 20 ____ squash 22 One-named singer with the 2014 hit “Chandelier” 23 *Looks that can be difficult to pull off 25 *“It’s 2 a.m. already?!”

27 Half up-front?

28 Tikka masala go-with 29 Gravitate (toward) 31 Singer Morissette 32 Actress de Armas of Knives Out 34 “How was ____ know?”

35 Place for speakers 37 Trig function 38 *Data visuals similar to histograms 41 *Swimming hazards in the ocean 44 Crossword-loving detective on Brooklyn Nine-Nine 45 ____ Dhabi 46 Celebrations of lives, for short 48 Dance arrangements, familiarly 49 One making frequent pitching changes?

51 Back of the neck 52 It’s spoken in Aberdeen 53 “Who ____ knows?”

54 Elderly 55 “I call dibs!”

56 [I’m mad!]

59 Honor for a play 60 Place in the earth 62 South African currency 63 Operatic showpiece 64 *“Man, that was cheap!”

66 *Holder of the single-game

WNBA scoring record (53 points) 68 Something to do before a deal 69 Super, in slang 70 Lisa who “ate no basil,” in a palindrome 71 Missiles and such 72 Animal in a Sound of Music song 73 Big Super Bowl purchase 74 Easy as falling off ____ 75 Nickname for a really thin guy 76 What Mercury and Venus lack 77 Religious observance that’s also a past-tense verb 78 “That ship has sailed” 81 Small-time 83 Cause of red-eye 84 Ate 85 Regret 86 *Diner choice 88 *Something visually arresting 91 Chief 92 Coin with 12 stars on one side 93 Ancient greeting 94 El Misisipi, e.g.

95 Source of some South American wool

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advertising@okgazette.com 405-528-6000

OPERATIONS & MARKETING MANAGER Kelsey Lowe

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Saundra Godwin Christy Duane Dustin Testerman

CREATIVE

CALENDAR COORDINATOR Jeremy Martin

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Phillip Danner

CONTRIBUTOR Charles Martin

ILLUSTRATOR/ GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ingvard Ashby

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GRAPHIC DESIGNER Mindi Stucks

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17 Hordes 21 Org. behind 14 of the 15 most- watched TV broadcasts in U.S. history 24 Capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan 26 They help with printing and pointing 30 Made line changes 33 Body of water greatly shrunk by 1960s Soviet irrigation 36 To the point 38 Howl 39 Opposite of the Latin “odi” DOWN 40 Busy as ____ 1 Children’s playroom, often 41 Less green, say 2 Zen garden accessory 42 Title woman in a No. 1 Beach 3 Running argument?

Boys hit 4 Frame in a box score 43 Learn by ____ 5 Hebrew for “son” 47 Score of zero, in slang 6 ____ Mawr College 50 Ins 7 Sword’s place 52 Pollution portmanteau 8 Almost a score of Mozart 56 People who would object to this compositions clue because of it’s punctuation 9 Receptacle for ancient Greek votes 57 Fixes 10 11-Down and such 58 Issa of “Insecure” 11 Small siestas 59 “How disastrous!”

12 Low-pH 60 “No way!”

13 Follower of CD 61 Nonnegotiable things 14 La ____ Tar Pits 62 Sound a warning 15 Donkeyish 63 Spanish month that anagrams 16 Have a connection with to a zodiac sign

ADVERTISING

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Brittany Pickering bpickering@okgazette.com

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98 Get groceries, say 100 Sole 102 Film excerpt 105 *Duplicate, in word processing 107 *Disappear suddenly 110 Long-handled tool 111 One with a track record 112 Spore producer 113 Keys of some songs 114 Loan fig.

115 Political worker 116 “A fickle food,” per Emily Dickinson 117 Superlatively pleasante

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STAFF REPORTERS Jacob Threadgill Jeremy Martin Miguel Rios Matt Dinger

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PUBLISHER Peter J. Brzycki

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First-class mail subscriptions are $119 for one year, and most issues at this rate will arrive 1-2 days after publication.

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VOL. XLII NO. 06 Oklahoma Gazette is circulated at its designated distribution points free of charge to readers for their individual use and by mail to subscribers. The cash value of this copy is $1. Persons taking copies of the Oklahoma Gazette from its distribution points for any reason other than their or others’ individual use for reading purposes are subject to prosecution.

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Order mounted or ready-to-frame prints of Oklahoma Gazette covers, articles and photos at okgazette.yourheadline.com 3701 N. Shartel Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73118-7102 PHONE (405) 528-6000 FAX (405) 528-4600 www.okgazette.com

Copyright © 2020 Tierra Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

64 Bit of gum 65 ____-faire 66 Birds on Minnesota state quarters 67 Bad smell SUDOKU VERY HARD | N° 36203 70 “Ugh!” Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3-by-3 box 73 -elect contains the numbers 1 through 9. www.printmysudoku.com 74 Alarmingly 75 Daytime TV fare 76 Back-to-school time 78 “Well, that’s that!”

79 Follower of 76-Down: Abbr.

80 Suffix with election 81 Skater’s leap 82 Candy discard 83 Not to go 86 Ballroom dance from Cuba 87 Sent packing 89 Actress De Carlo of The Munsters 90 Out-eat?

96 EMT’s procedure 97 Tiny battery 99 Smoke 101 Welsh form of “John” 103 Goddess pictured with a solar disk above her 104 Excellent, in dated slang 106 Grade-school subj.

108 Shade of green 109 Muslim-American icon

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

SKULLDUGGERY LANE By Ingvard Ashby

NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

Puzzle No.0202, which appeared in the January 29 issue.

R E H A B S

E R E L O N G

F I D E L I O

A U T O S M A E V R E

F R O N T P A G

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D I O R

S N O C A E T R A T L A U E N P T S S E R A U P B L R A A N W E

D R A F T S S E A L A N T

N I L E S A S K A N C E

T V P A R E N T S P E R K Y

G U L T I O N A B E N E

H E R O S E A N U A T U L A N T A G L E G G E R E R S P A D E S O R S E E L E S L P A D T I A R I S E N L I C I N G A T M C O D O A S N O R S T S D E H O M O G M A I L E O T R I M I N K N E E E S E M I Y S O O

B R O E W A N R N T E R R A J A I N R A D N I I N A S N E O N

L E V I

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S A T Y R S

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY Homework: You can fling imaginary lightning bolts from your fingers any time you want. Prove it!

FreeWillAstrology.com ARIES (March 21-April 19)

You now have the power to make connections that have not previously been possible. You can tap into an enhanced capacity to forge new alliances and strengthen your support system. I urge you to be on the lookout for a dynamic group effort you could join or a higher purpose you might align yourself with. If you’re sufficiently alert, you may even find an opportunity to weave your fortunes together with a dynamic group effort that’s in service to a higher purpose.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

“Victory won’t come to me unless I go to it,” wrote the poet Marianne Moore. In other words, you must track down each victory you’re interested in. You must study its unique nature. And then you must adjust yourself to its specifications. You can’t remain just the way you are, but must transform yourself so as to be in alignment with the responsibilities it demands of you. Can you pass these tests, Taurus? I believe you can. It’s time to prove it.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

While at the peak of his powers as an author, Gemini-born Nobel Prize-winner Jean Paul Sartre consumed an array of mood-shifters every day. He quaffed at least a quart of alcohol, smoked two packs of cigarettes, and drank copious amounts of coffee and tea. His intake of pills included 200 milligrams of amphetamines, 15 grams of aspirin, and a handful of barbiturates. I propose that we make Sartre your anti-role model during the next four weeks, dear Gemini. According to my analysis of your astrological indicators, your ability to discover, attract, and benefit from wonders and marvels will thrive to the degree that you forswear drugs and alcohol and artificial enhancements. And I’m pleased to inform you that there could be a flood of wonders and marvels.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

I don’t think I’m boring. How could I be? I have an abundant curiosity and I love to learn new things. I’ve worked at many different jobs, have read widely, and

enjoy interacting with a broad range of humans. Yet now and then I’ve had temporary relationships with people who regarded me as uninteresting. They didn’t see much of value in me. I tend to believe it was mostly their fault— they couldn’t see me for who I really am—but it may have also been the case that I lived down to their expectations.

Their inclination to see me as unimportant influenced me to be dull. I bring this up, my fellow Cancerian, because now is an excellent time to remove yourself from situations where you have trouble being and feeling your true self.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Soprano Helen Traubel and tenor Lauritz Melchior performed together in many productions of Wagnerian operas, often at the Metropolitan in New York City. Friends and colleagues but not lovers, they had a playful relationship with each other. A favorite pastime was figuring out tricks they could try that would cause the other to break into inappropriate laughter while performing. According to my quirky reading of the astrological omens, Leo, the coming weeks will be a propitious time for you to engage in similar hijinx with your allies. You have a poetic license and a spiritual mandate to enjoy amusing collaborative experiments, playful intimate escapades, and adventures in buoyant togetherness.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Eighteenth-century author Samuel Johnson singlehandedly compiled the influential A Dictionary of the English Language, which remained the definitive British dictionary for 170 years. We shouldn’t be surprised that it was a Virgo who accomplished such an intricate and exhaustive feat. As a high-minded Virgo, Johnson also had a talent for exposing hypocrisy. In commenting on the Americans’ War of Independence against his country, he noted that some of the “loudest yelps for liberty” came from slave-owners. I propose that we make him one of your role models in 2020. May he inspire you to produce rigorous work that’s useful to many. May he also empower you to be a candid purveyor of freedom.

Is there a project or situation you’d love to create but have lacked the confidence to try? Now is a time when you can finally summon the necessary courage. Is there a longrunning dilemma that has always seemed too confusing and overwhelming to even understand, let alone solve?

Now is a favorable time to ask your higher self for the clear vision that will instigate an unforeseen healing. Is there a labor of love that seems to have stalled or a dream that got sidetracked? Now is a time when you could revive its luminosity and get it back in a sweet groove.

Was there a more influential 20th-century artist than Scorpio-born Pablo Picasso? He was a revolutionary innovator who got rich from his creations. Once, while visiting a gallery showing of art made by children, he said, “When I was their age I could draw like Raphael [the great Renaissance artist]. But it took me a lifetime to learn to draw like they do.” In accordance with your current astrological omens, Scorpio, I suggest you seek inspiration from Picasso’s aspiration. Set an intention to develop expertise in seeing your world and your work through a child’s eyes.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

I know a Sagittarius man who has seen the film Avengers: Endgame 17 times. Another Sagittarian acquaintance estimates she has listened all the way through to Billie Eilish’s album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? 135 times. And then there’s my scholarly Sagittarian friend who has read the ancient Greek epic poem the Iliad 37 times. I have no problem with this behavior. I admire your tribe’s ability to keep finding new inspiration in sources you already know well. But in my astrological opinion, you shouldn’t do much of this kind of thing in the coming weeks. It’s high time for you to experiment with experiences you know little about. Be fresh, innocent, and curious.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Athens was one of the great cities of the ancient world.

Its vigorous art, theater, philosophy, architecture, and experiments in democracy are today regarded as

foundational to Western culture. And yet at its height, Athens’ population was a mere 275,000—equal to modern Fort Wayne, Indiana or Windsor, Ontario. How could such a relatively small source breed such intensity and potency? That’s a long story. In any case, I foresee you having the potential to be like Athens yourself in the coming weeks and months, Capricorn: a highly concentrated fount of value. For best results, focus on doing what you do best.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

According to my analysis, the year 2020 will be a time when you can have dramatic success as you re-evaluate and re-vision and revamp your understandings of your life purpose. Why were you born? What’s the nature of your unique genius? What are the best gifts you have to offer the world? Of the many wonderful feats you could accomplish, which are the most important? The next few weeks will be a potent time to get this fun and energizing investigation fully underway.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

Physicist Niels Bohr won a Nobel Prize for his insights about quantum mechanics. But he was humble about the complexity of the subject. “If you think you understand it, that only shows you don’t know the first thing about it,” he mused. I’m tempted to make a similar statement about the mysteries and riddles that are making your life so interesting. If you think you understand those mysteries and riddles, you probably don’t. But if you’re willing to acknowledge how perplexing they are, and you can accept the fact that your comprehension of them is partial and fuzzy, then you might enjoy a glimmer of the truth that’s worth building on.

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.

CLASSIFIEDS PHYLLIS NUNOO-WILLIAMS, MSW, LCSW LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST

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