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NEWS 4

WHAT’S A CONSERVATIVE

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OP-ED

NEWS What Is a Conservative? Remembering the principles behind a label made meaningless. By Drew Williamson

What exactly is a conservative anymore? When I was 18 years old, Ronald Reagan was President of the United States, and I made the decision to register as a Republican as a freshman at Oklahoma City University. Having been raised by two “dyed in the wool” Oklahoma Democrats, this was no small thing, but I admired Reagan’s leadership and what he stood for. Being a conservative back then seemed pretty straightforward: limited government, fiscal responsibility, personal accountability, free markets, respect for the Constitution and skepticism of politicians spending tax dollars. That was conservatism then, but what is it now? Maybe we need to

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go back to the manual. Is it conservative for a POTUS to promise every adult American $5,000 if his party wins? The estimated price tag for paying 270 million eligible Americans is $1.35 trillion, OF NEW DEBT. This is socialism, not conservatism. Remember when Republicans cared about the national debt? Was waging war without congressional approval conservative? What happened to conservative skepticism of endless foreign wars? Is banning journalists you don’t agree with conservative? I thought conservatives held First Amendment rights so near and dear? I would say at least we have law and order, if not for pardons being granted for very recently convicted

felons, seemingly just because they supported the President or are Republicans. Now we have to also reconcile the increasingly blurry line between serving in a public office and private business. We have seen this play out on Oklahoma’s main stage, as the Inola smelter involves a UAE sheikh who invested $500 million into Trump’s cryptocurrency business right before he took office in 2025. This same sheikh (Tahnoon) then used Trump’s USD1 cryptocurrency to settle a $2 billion transaction, thus legitimizing USD1 in the crypto sphere and helping the Trump family make billions. In return, Tahnoon will own 60% of the Inola smelter via Emirates Global Aluminum, which he effectively controls. Is this conservatism or crony capitalism? Is it conservative for a state Republican party chairperson to intervene in a Republican primary and effectively tell Republican voters which Republican is sufficiently Republican? Charity Linch and the Oklahoma State GOP Committee endorsed Mike Mazzei and other candidates immediately before the August runoff and maintain they have the authority to do so. To shroud such behavior under

a 66-page OK GOP Certified checklist is not conservative, it’s patently absurd. Who certified the certifiers? Is conservatism about trusting voters, or managing their choices for them? Mike Mazzei, OK GOP’s “certified” candidate, has borrowed over $10 million (reportedly) from an Oklahoma bank to finance his campaign, mortgaging his business as collateral. Is this conservative or crazy? Many wonder how he will pay this back without being corrupt. Maybe we are now confusing being a Republican with being a conservative. Conservatism was once a philosophy based on the principles mentioned earlier. These principles don’t change because someone has a D or an R behind their name. They don’t change just because Charity Linch hands out a certificate, or because Donald Trump says you are or are not a conservative. Conservatism shows in actions, not words or being a member of a party. If not, conservatism isn’t a philosophy at all. It’s just a jersey … Drew Williamson is a Partner with Red Center Media-Oklahoma Gazette and served as Trustee of Teachers Retirement SystemOklahoma from 2019-2023.

F E AT U R E

Candidate Overview Four Oklahoma Democrats are hoping to turn the tide in November. By Kaile Hultner

On Nov. 3, voters will once again line up in droves at their polling places across the state and the nation to determine the shape and direction of government. With less than a month until the midterms, it’s an open question as to whether or not Republicans will maintain their control over the Senate and House of Representatives, or if the Democratic Party can rally ahead of the current administration’s flagging approval ratings and regain control of Congress. Here in Oklahoma, four Democrats—gubernatorial candidate Cyndi Munson, Attorney General candidate Nick Coffey, Congressional District 5 candidate Jena Nelson and Senate candidate N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas—hope to unite residents of all political stripes behind their platforms, which broadly address issues like affordability, public safety and corporate accountability. The Oklahoma Gazette spoke with each of these candidates in the last leg of the race to gain their perspectives on the most pressing issues facing Oklahomans today.

Cyndi Munson

Cyndi Munson, outgoing State Representative for District 85, is perhaps the most prominent political figure of the bunch. She ran against incumbent Rep. David

Dank in 2014 and lost, before defeating challenger Chip Carter in the 2015 special election following Dank’s sudden passing. Since then, Munson has been the stalwart incumbent in her district, and has risen to the position of minority leader within the Oklahoma House of Representatives; she has also served on 11 committees, including the Appropriations and Budget committee and the Government Oversight committee. Now, she’s running against Mike Mazzei to potentially become the first Democratic governor since Brad Henry. According to Munson, the issue about which voters have talked to her the most is education. “[It] doesn’t matter if I’m out in the panhandle, down in McCurtain County, or in my home district in Oklahoma City, the issue at the top of everyone’s list is public education,” she said in an interview conducted via email. Specifically, she cites the Parental Choice Tax Credit program as a pain point for rural voters and a source of confusion for her Oklahoma City-based constituency. “I listen to rural Oklahomans’ frustrations over their tax dollars being siphoned away to private school tuition waivers, when there isn’t even a private school option for their children,” she said. “And then I talk to some of my constituents in urban Oklahoma who acknowledge that they can already afford the private school tuition without the voucher, and would rather see investments made in the public education system.” Munson said she’s heard plenty of stories out on the campaign trail of schools falling apart, teachers and administrators leaving for other states and whole grade levels combined into single classrooms, while $250 million is spent on private school tax vouch-

Jena Nelson

ers. “We don’t need to raise taxes to improve our schools; we need to take a look at and reprioritize where our dollars are going,” she said. “Oklahomans should feel the benefits of the tax dollars they pay.” Congressional District 5 challenger Jena Nelson is no stranger to fighting to improve the state’s education system. Her debut on Oklahoma’s political stage was as a challenger to Ryan Walters for the state’s Superintendent of Public Education seat in 2022; prior to that, she worked as a teacher for 16 years, winning the state’s Teacher of the Year award in 2020 for her work at Deer Creek High School. Now she’s running against CD5 incumbent Stephanie Bice for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, and she’s set her sights on fighting for education on a much bigger stage. “Sec. [Linda] McMahon will get to know me on a first-name basis,” Nelson said in an email interview. “The cuts to the Department of Education must be remedied. We need oversight of our federal education dollars, and we must protect the rights of our students. [McMahon] is trying to dismantle public education in order for privatization of schools and a nationwide voucher program to be enacted.”

Nelson said, though, that education has not been the only thing on the minds of the people she’s met. “The first issue that is affecting everyone across the district is the cost of living,” she said. “Groceries, utility bills, gas prices and more are causing people of the 5th District to struggle.” She told the Oklahoma Gazette that she wants to end tariffs put into place by the president, break up giant corporate monopolies “that control everything from our food to entertainment,” and overturn the so-called Big Beautiful Bill, which she said would “return the $7 billion that will be cut from Oklahoma hospitals.”

N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas

In a similar fashion, everyone N’Kiyla Jasmine Thomas has talked to has also been hurt by the affordability crisis. “Affordability is something that is facing, I think, a lot of Americans, but really within [Oklahoma] because we are a low cost of living state,” she said via Zoom interview. “And so when prices start driving up and we don’t have the workforce, nor do we have the capacity to keep affording all of these goods or necessiContinued on page 6 O KG A Z E T T E . C O M | O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

NEWS Continued from previous page. ties because of the fact that we have corporations that keep raising the price due to greed, we start having issues with also housing, we start having issues with affording the food. We have issues with, you know, being able to survive and not just not thrive, but just surviving in general.” Thomas, who decided she wanted to run for something last year and jumped at the chance to run for Oklahoma’s second U.S. Senate seat after incumbent Markwayne Mullin left office to become the Secretary of Homeland Security, also sees a major desire for change across the board. “I’m seeing people want something different,” she said. “I’m seeing people actually want someone who works for them and not against them.” For her, “different” means being someone who will help hungry kids eat well at school and protect the state’s agricultural industry and water table from the proliferation of data centers, as well as someone who can help fund hospitals and provide residents with more transparency about how their money is working within the government. Transparency is also one of the primary goals for Nick Coffey, the

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Democratic pick for Attorney

Nick Coffey

General. Coffey brings his background as a federal prosecutor to bear, pledging to root out corruption in state government and keep Oklahoma kids safe from threats like gun violence, drugs and unsafe online spaces. He also wants to make sure that state agencies, politicians and corporations don’t unfairly take money from Oklahomans’ pockets to put into their own. And through it all, he told the Oklahoma Gazette he’s determined to operate as an attorney and not a politician himself.

“When I wrapped up the biggest drug conspiracy trial in decades in the Western District of Oklahoma last April, it was a group that had been flooding Oklahoma with liquid meth for years. An operation worth tens of millions of dollars,” he said. “When I finished that trial and I looked out at the people, particularly the front runner for Attorney General, and realized it was somebody that has never tried a jury trial before, I mean, that’s insane.” Coffey wants to return the AG office to a state outside partisan politics, one where going after insurance companies for denying valid claims, or holding the state’s power utilities and private data center companies accountable, or charging violent police or politicians with crimes they committed, isn’t considered “political.” To him, these are all simply functions of a working AG office. And when he’s done with this work? “I don’t have any interest in a longterm political career,” he said. “I’m still relatively young. I want to have my own legal practice, so I’m not going to be making decisions like ‘OK, how do I stay in office for 12, 16 years?’ No, that’s just not in the cards for me. So how can I do the most amount of good for the

people of Oklahoma in a short amount of time and then be done and go back to private life, you know?” Voters have until Oct. 9 to register to vote in the Nov. 3 midterms, and until Oct. 19 to request absentee ballots. Voting begins at 7 AM on Nov. 3 and you can vote early at your county election board office starting at 8 AM on Thursday, Oct. 29.

For questions about voting, registration, absentee ballots or election procedures, contact: Oklahoma State Election Board 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. 405-521-2391 info@elections.ok.gov Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

OIL Meets NIL, Hopefully

Harold Hamm is back in the news, this time for donating $150 million to the University of Oklahoma “to lift the health of Oklahoma by advancing health education, research and discovery …” among other things. That comes from the university’s website. In honor of his generous donation, the university announced that the health campus would get a new name: the Harold Hamm Health Campus at the University of Oklahoma. If Hamm is in the mood to solve problems at OU, may we suggest an offensive line and perhaps a new quarterback for the beleaguered football team?

Homers on the Range

The Oklahoma City Comets won their first Triple-A National Championship on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Las Vegas Ballpark, defeating the Rochester Red Wings 5-3 in 10 innings to clinch the title. The Comets are the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won the past two World Series titles. With the success stacking up like this, we’re wondering if there is room downtown to squeeze in yet another sports facility, this one for a Major League Baseball team.

Constitutional Convention? See You in Court

Former Rep. Mark McBride is suing Gov. Kevin Stitt over J. Kev’s decision to unilaterally schedule an April 2027 vote on whether Oklahoma should hold a constitutional convention. McBride actually supports a convention—he just thinks governors should follow the Constitution before trying to rewrite it. What a stickler. Stitt says he has the authority; McBride says the Legislature does. Now the Oklahoma Supreme Court gets to decide who actually read the instruction manual.

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NON-PROFIT FOCUS Human Connection N E WS

Born from one cancer patient’s desire to help others, Tenaciously Teal now provides comfort, resources and community to cancer fighters in Oklahoma and beyond. By Julie Porter Scott

In 2012, Tarah Green was in her final semester of graduate school when she was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer. Surgery and chemotherapy followed, and while it was an incredibly difficult journey, she was buoyed by a broad network of friends and family. A pastor’s kid who had been involved in several churches during her formative years, Green had connections across the country. Flowers and cards poured in while her tight-knit family and graduate-school cohort supported her locally. As she endured chemotherapy, her background in child welfare made her especially attentive to the struggles of those around her. “When I was going to treatment, I recognized some of the familiar signs of people who were struggling and needing support and resources,” Green said. “I would take five to 10 care packs with me Bto treatment and hand them out. That’s kind of where it got started.”

The care packs offered more than fuzzy socks, lip balm and a handwritten note. They were a tangible expression of human connection: I see you.

The response was so powerful that “One of my favorite parts Green kept going. is seeing kids see their Care Pack Parties are a wonderful opportunity for families to volunteer alongside each other to help spread love and “I was running it out of my house, parents being so strong hope to cancer fighters. out of my closet,” she said of those and so brave,” Green said. early days. What began with care “It just kind of flips what cancer we do try to do that,” Green said. packs for fellow chemotherapy pa- brings into a family environment. She serves as founder and CEO tients in 2013 officially became the This is something we can all do to- alongside just two additional fullnonprofit Tenaciously Teal in 2014. gether and face together in an en- time employees, who oversee proThe early decision to distribute care vironment where you feel empow- grams and operations. But while Tenaciously Teal may be small, its packs became a model for an orga- ered, strong and confident.” reach is substantial: Since its incepnization built around making cancer Empowerment Shoots provide pro- tion, the organization has distribfighters feel seen and supported. The organization’s programs even- fessional makeup and portrait pho- uted 55,000 care packs nationwide. tually expanded to include Brave tography, giving patients another It has also provided nearly $500,000 Shaves and Empowerment Shoots. way to reclaim some of the agency to Oklahomans fighting cancer, Hair loss can be one of chemother- lost to cancer and its treatment. helping local families shoulder the apy’s most visible and emotionally Green said she loves the little ex- financial burden of treatment. difficult side effects. Green envi- changes that happen during the sioned Brave Shaves as a way to give shoots. “We recently had a little Tenaciously Teal’s work remains patients back some agency over 5-year-old who, when her mom fin- rooted in Green’s own experience ished getting her makeup done, said, with cancer, a firsthand under‘Mom, you look so new,’” Green said. standing that continues to shape the organization’s work. In recent years, Tenaciously Teal has broadened its mission. Cancer “Unless you’ve been that person in creates needs that medicine does that chair, you don’t know how not solve: Treatment can require much suffering is tied to the diaglong drives, particularly in a rural nosis and how it impacts not only state, while lost wages and mount- your physical health, but your ing expenses can make day-to-day mental health and your confidence, necessities harder to afford. Tena- how you view yourself and your ciously Teal helps fill those gaps by family and kids,” Green said. “It’s a providing gas and grocery gift cards, ripple effect.” along with additional financial assistance through a board-designat- More than a decade after Green began handing care packs to stranged fund. ers in the chemotherapy room, that Recently, the organization learned ripple continues to spread. about a woman fighting cancer who was also caring for her granddaugh- Those who want to support the ter, who was on a defibrillator. mission can join the Care Crew with When the family faced having its a monthly gift starting at $10, electricity disconnected during the enough to sponsor one care pack summer heat, Tenaciously Teal each month. Upcoming fundraisers scrambled on a Friday afternoon to include Taking Aim at Cancer on Oct. 30 and Mahjong & Mistletoe intervene. on Nov. 15. For more information, “Being a smaller organization, we visit tteal.org. can respond quickly to needs, and

Becky Walker from the Empowerment photoshoot 8

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chemotherapy-related hair loss. “It’s a way for people to feel empowered to tackle hair loss with bravery, on their own terms, with the support of friends and family,” she said.

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NEWS DA recommends forensic audit of Oklahoma County finances after accounting discrepancies Reprinted with permission from KOSU By Ashtynn Caldwell

Citing accounting errors, officials say Oklahoma County’s available funds are $10 million less than they thought. Now, the district attorney wants a forensic audit of county finances. Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna is recommending a forensic audit of county finances after the County Clerk’s office revealed that available funds were overestimated by about $10 million. In April, the Oklahoma County Clerk’s office announced it had found $14 million that hadn’t been included in the county budget but was still available for use. They said it

had never been allocated due to a bookkeeping error. At last week’s Budget Evaluation Team meeting, the clerk’s office reversed that claim, saying the “found” money is $11 million less than they thought.According to reporting by The Oklahoman, multiple other internal transactions were recorded incorrectly. Errors appear to leave the county budget at $152 million, with a deficit of about $10 million, but county officials said they aren’t sure. “At this point the information is premature to know exactly where we stand on the amount in the reserve fund and we certainly cannot make a decision at this time on how to move forward,” said Brian Maughan, chairman of the

Vicki Behenna, Oklahoma County District Attorney.

County Budget Board and the Board of County Commissioners. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is continuing to investigate alleged embezzlement in the clerk’s office, which County Clerk Maressa Treat said was unrelated to the bookkeeping errors. Behenna has recommended a forensic audit of the county government’s finances. County commissioners must decide whether to move forward with the audit, possibly as early as their regularly scheduled meeting Wednesday.

discrepancy in numbers, and how numbers were changing, my advice…was to get an independent audit. We are at a critical time right now in Oklahoma County and trying to finalize our budget, and so it seems to me, and with conversations I’ve had with the State Auditor and staff at the state auditor, they have made clear to me that they think they know what the issue is and how the numbers got skewed.” The budget deadline per Behenna is October 8, and so given the limited time available, she recommended against a full forensic audit at this time, “... because I have no evidence that any criminal activity, other than

Update (by Gazette staff) On Friday, September 18, 2026, the Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously (3-0) to request a limited audit of Oklahoma County’s FY 2025 budget. The vote occurred during a meeting specially called to decide the matter. After noting that the her office is not involved with setting or reviewing the budget, District Attorney Vicki Behenna, she went on to tell the commissioners that “...it is the job of the D.A.’s office to advise elected officials about what steps they should take.” Behenna went on to say, “When I started hearing in the news about 10

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Brian Maughan, chairman of the County Budget Board and the Board of County Commissioners.

the embezzlement, and that is under investigation already,” she said. Behenna said a limited audit will give auditors a chance to see if numbers are off because of inaccurate reporting or if funds are actually being taken. She went on to say that the State Auditor’s office believes they can “...figure out where the problem is, give us advice about how to finalize our budget in a week or two,” which would allow the county to finalize the supplementa l budget sometime in October.

F E AT U R E

EAT & DRINK

Steeped in Spooky The National, Autograph Collection Downtown OKC casts a playful Halloween spell over afternoon tea with themed treats, bubbling brews and a few surprises. By Julie Porter Scott

If ghosts haunt downtown Oklahoma City, they apparently have excellent table manners. This fall, The National, Autograph Collection Downtown OKC debuts its newest seasonal offering inside the soaring Great Hall. The aptly named Trick-or-Tea has all the sumptuous touches guests expect from afternoon tea at The National, but feels more playful and less formal than other iterations. It’s hard to overstate the scale and elegance of the Great Hall. Afternoon tea offers the perfect opportunity to spend time in the opulent former banking lobby, which first opened in 1931 and was painstakingly restored before reopening in 2022. Tea here already feels theatrical, even without a theme, yet the simple addition of black, web-like lace and tiny orange twinkle lights creates something clearly planned for guests of all ages. On the day of my reservation, I didn’t see anyone in full costume, but plenty were dressed for the occasion: a toddler in a ghostcovered dress, and a duo of young women in spiderweb tights, black boots and black dresses. As Halloween approaches, I imagine more costumes will be on display. The attentive staff wore Halloween colors and patterns, with pointy witch hats perched atop their heads. The effect was charming, if a bit less elegant. Somehow, that toning down made the experience feel more accessible; less pinkies-up, more conversational and relaxed. A coupe of champagne was presented when we were seated, while younger guests received a nonalcoholic sparkling drink. From eight bottomless tea choices, our group selected the Bubbling Brew Chai Tea and Whispering Willow Mint Tea, served in exquisite teapots with dainty cups and saucers. My daughter and niece accompanied me, and the elegant setting gave us a chance to showcase our manners.

Better still, the upscale afternoon meant my gentle coaching wasn’t met with eye rolls or exasperated sighs. Even if this sort of soiree weren’t—forgive me—my cup of tea, I’d bring my children back just to blow the cobwebs off the higherlevel manners we rarely have occasion to practice. The menu was cleverly divided into Tricks, or savory selections, and Treats, or sweets, plus a Little Goblins’ menu for children. Among the Tricks, our favorites were the Misty Moor Salmon Toast and Black Cat Chicken Wrap. The young ladies enjoyed Mummy Wheels—ham and cheese pinwheels—and Boonanna Sandwiches made with peanut butter and banana. Other savory bites included Gruyère and potato

offerings, both excellent. On the Treats side, we agreed the Witches’ Cider Donuts were hard to beat. We could have eaten a dozen. We also loved the scones and the Jack-o’-Lantern Truffle, filled with pumpkin ganache and coated in white chocolate. The Spooky S’mores Treat, made with milk chocolate and marshmallow in a graham cracker crust, resembled the cutest little Casper. A perfectly made blackberry macaron rounded out the sweets. A pick-your-poison menu of Halloween-themed cocktails was also available. After much deliberation, I chose the Pink Potion Fizz, made with gin, Cocchi Americano, lemon, raspberry and egg white. The scari-

Treats included in the Trick-or-Tea at The National, Autograph Collection.

est part of the afternoon was choosing among the elixirs. I plan to steal every cocktail idea for my own Halloween party, with apologies to the talented folks behind the bar. Continued on Page 15

Trick-or-Tea at The National, Autograph Collection. Photo provided. 11

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GAZEDIBLES

EAT & DRINK

Soup Season By Gazette Staff

We are (fingers crossed) at the end of a long, hot summer, and while we are rolling into Spooky Season, it’s also the time of year when soup starts to feel like a perfect match for the weather. Of course it’s a yearround option, but it just sounds better in the fall and winter. And while we know most Okies love a little tomato soup with grilled cheese, we decided to add a little international flavor to make things spicier—so here are seven to get you started.

Photo by Quit Nguyen

Hacienda Tacos

Le Parisien

Ma Der Lao Kitchen

New Mexico-style Posole

French Onion Soup

Khao Soi

Honestly, choosing between the posole and the green chile stew is tough, but this isn’t about stew. Rather than go with green or red style, Hacienda goes full Christmas chiles with roasted red and green peppers, roasted pork, hominy, onions, tomatoes and peppers. The restaurant also tosses in a couple of fresh tortillas for dipping, or you can get a small order of chips to scoop.

It’s hard to explain why Chef Bryant Gallegos’ food is extraordinary, but it seems he can only make great food, so yes, the French onion soup isn’t just French onion soup. Like everything he does from French toast to gnocchi, it’s phenomenal. It doesn’t hurt our Oklahoma sensibilities that the gratin of Gruyere atop the bowl might seem excessive—it’s not—and the country toast is perfect for finishing off the broth.

Chef Jeff Chanchaleune has a soup schedule at his Plaza District Lao restaurant, and on that schedule you’ll find Khao Soi Thursday. Wide rice noodles in a pork broth with a sauce of minced pork and tomatoes, accompanied by long green beans, cilantro, mint, green onions and sprouts, it’s a slightly spicy, deeply satisfying bowl of umami magic.

V I N N Y D E P O N T O ’ S

Mind reader DIRECTED BY ZACH MORRIS OCTOBER 15 - 17, 2026 PERFORMANCES IN THE VENETIAN ROOM AT THE SKIRVIN HOTEL TICKETS: SPPOKC.ORG

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My Place Sip & Savor

Riviere Modern Banh Mi

Bush League Sports Tavern Nunu’s Mediterranean Cafe

Poh Tak Talay

Pho

Elote Chowder

Lentil Soup

If you want traditional Thai food in a modern setting with beautiful plating and excellent service, this is the spot. The poh tak talay is as potent as you prefer it. It’s a spicy seafood soup with plump shrimp, white fish, mushrooms, onions, lemongrass and herbs. Crank the heat as the weather gets cooler, but if the summer lingers, it’s still super refreshing in the mild range.

With so many places to find great pho in the metro, it’s hard to pick one, but the small batch version they execute at both Riviere locations (Midtown and Edmond) helps them stand out. They make theirs with steak and brisket, and of course it’s accompanied by the standard accoutrements. Also, you can choose braised short rib as a protein option.

It’s definitely a non-traditional spin on corn chowder, as the presence of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos dust should attest, but it’s also spicy, hearty and delicious. Bush League starts with roasted corn, red and green (Christmas) chiles and crema, and then adds lime and cilantro to finish it off.

This Lebanese joint tucked into the north side of West Memorial has quietly produced some of the best food in the city for decades, and that includes its take on lentil soup. Maybe the “special sauce” is the hint of citrus, or maybe it’s just because the family has been making it for generations, but the hearty mix of lentils and mirepoix in a savory broth manages to flip the nostalgia switch even if you didn’t grow up with a Lebanese sitti.

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EAT & DRINK F E AT U R E

Cafe Convert

Midtown’s newest café transforms the former Brown’s Bakery into a stunning European-inspired escape with scratch-made breads, pastries and plenty of reasons to linger. By Julie Porter Scott

I’m a pretty positive person, or at least I like to think so. But for some reason, I had a blind spot around the Summer Moon coffee shop when it first opened. I’d heard about its signature Moon Milk and thought it sounded gimmicky and odd. For whatever reason, I was antiSummer Moon—or at least agnostic. That is, until I actually tried it. I fell in love with the Moon Milk, with the unfailingly polite employees in their perfectly tucked little T-shirts. It became a sometimes treat, then a weekly stopover. Now my iced quarter moon is simply a habit. Like the tides themselves, I swoon for the Moon. So how had I not learned my lesson by the time I heard about Mezzo? I silently scoffed at the idea of a European café brought to us by the good folks from Summer Moon. It wasn’t nostalgia for Brown’s, which has been gone for years. I think it was simply a lack of imagination on my part. Could they really pull off a European café that was also, somehow, the commercial bakery supplying pastries to every metro-area Summer Moon?

Whatever I was on about went right out the stunning floor-to-ceiling windows the minute I stepped inside. Under the beautifully restored soaring ceiling, I had to eat my words. After that, I was happy to gobble up both the sumptuous interiors and the delicious food. It all started with a pastry problem: With eight Summer Moon locations across the metro, Tori and Chad Arnold were outgrowing the commissary kitchen they used to keep up with pastry demand. “We were doing all the work and all the behind-the-scenes stuff, and we were like, ‘Why don’t we just bring it front-facing?’” Tori recounted. A family trip to Italy ultimately transformed the idea from a practical bakery operation into something more ambitious. The Arnolds returned home wanting to capture something of what they had experienced there through espresso, sandwiches, pastries and a slower approach to enjoying them. “We were so sad when we left because there’s nothing like it here,” Tori said. “And so we were like, ‘All right, let’s

A variety of pastries are offered at Mezzo’s kitchen. Photo provided.

do it.’” With the concept in place, the next question was location. Serendipity entered the chat when Tori, after deciding against another potential location, happened to drive past the vacant Brown’s Bakery. She called her husband with a simple declaration: “I think we’re supposed to go to Brown’s.” The landlord had already completed significant renovations to the historic building before the Arnolds re-

ceived the keys in January. They spent the next eight months transforming the bare-bones interior, and Mezzo opened in September. I started with a deliciously sippable spritz, which I dutifully took my time enjoying. I love the inclusivity of a spot that takes espresso, cocktails and zeroproof drinks equally seriously. After an impossible deliberation, I opted for the Scelta Madre sandwich, made with prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, Continued on page 16.

Mezzo’s kitchen. Photo by @mezzosbakeshop 14

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EAT & DRINK Steeped in Spooky Continued from page 11. “The creativity behind these experiences really comes from thinking beyond the food and asking ourselves how we can create moments people will remember,” said Rich Furino, food and beverage director at The National. Trick-or-Tea’s greatest illusion is making an afternoon in downtown Oklahoma City feel briefly removed from ordinary life—somewhere between a grand European salon and the world’s most mannerly haunted house. For me, afternoon tea has always seemed like something that happens somewhere else, for someone else. Simply attending felt like putting on a costume of sorts. The entire affair is slightly performative, in the best possible way—like taking the most polished version of myself out for a spin. At a time when our imaginations seem permanently stunted by the

small screens we hold in our hands, there is something wonderfully escapist about it all: the Halloween decor, the cinematic setting, even the simple acts of dusting off your best manners and making polite conversation with friends and family. For a few hours, everyone agrees to put away the ordinary and play along. Trick-or-Tea is offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31, with reservations available between 1 and 3 p.m. Tickets are $55 for adults and $30 for children. For reservations, visit thenationalokc.com.

Trick-or-Tea at The National, Autograph Collection. Photo from @thenationalokc

She’s just stressed. She’s just sensitive. She’s just going through a phase.

She's addicted to nicotine

L E A R N H O W T O H E L P HER AT

— and it's ruining her mental health. O KG A Z E T T E . C O M | O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

EAT & DRINK Cafe Convert Continued from page 14.

tomato and basil cream. The housemade schiacciata—focaccia’s betterfor-sandwiches cousin—was the perfect platform for just-right bites of salty prosciutto, pillowy mozzarella and fresh tomato. Basil cream snuck into every nook and cranny of the airy bread, which somehow held its structure through the last perfect nibble. I knew the breads and cheeses were made in-house. While visiting with the team, I also learned they mill their ow n f lou r, as one does. At this point, my initial snobbery seemed downright silly. Much like my Summer Moon habit, I suspect Mezzo will quickly become part of my regular rotation. I rounded the whole thing out with a wild-looking, delicious pignoli

cookie. While it may be a classic Italian cookie, I’d never seen one before. It looked like a delicious little armadillo, and it will not be my last. I’ve never been to Italy. In truth, I don’t know if I’ll get there in my lifetime, as is the case for many of us. But if I squint just a little while taking a bite of that sandwich, listening to the vague beats of a low-key house track above the din of my fellow Okies chatting, I’m not sure I need to suspend disbelief by much. Every city can use more third places, but especially Oklahoma City, amid a population boom and with an upcoming date with the Olympics. Mezzo is to cafés what Scissortail is to parks: It has upped the ante in the best possible way.

Mezzo’s menu items. Photo by @mezzosbakeshop

Mezzo’s dining room. Photo by @mezzosbakeshop

Spicy turkey sandwich. Photo provided.

Mezzo’s kitchen. Photo by @mezzosbakeshop

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MUSIC

ARTS & CULTURE Still ‘Amped Up’ at 73

Five-time Grammy winner Robert Cray brings legendary sounds back to OKC By Kelly Wray

Robert Cray was just a high school kid with a passion for music. Albert Collins was his hero. A chance meeting between the two in 1971 helped launch Cray through the blues stratosphere and into legendary status, and it happened thanks to Cray’s classmates. His high school class had a choice for its graduation party: It could invite Collins or a popular rock band of the era. The class chose Collins. “I kind of idolized Albert Collins,” said Cray. “After he played our high school graduation party, I went up to him and introduced myself. He asked me, ‘Are you that young man who plays guitar?’” When Cray answered in the affirmative, Collins said, “Well, keep it up.” It was important early affirmation, and Cray has been going strong ever since. In fact, Cray is bringing his All Amped Up Tour to Oklahoma City at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 27. The show at Tower Theater will be his first OKC visit since performing with Eric Clapton at what is now the Paycom Center on March 5, 2007. There’s a chance Cray could play music from his soon-to-be-released album that he says focuses on current events with “some good ole’ blues and R&B.” While the album has been cut, but a release date hasn’t been set, although Cray expects it will be released early next year. How It Started Coincidentally, that encounter between Collins and Cray at the graduation party wasn’t their last meeting. In the mid-1970s, the newly formed Robert Cray Band served as Collins’ backup band as they toured the Pacific Northwest and West Coast for more than a year.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Collins “... had been playing a lot of music festivals, and these festivals featured a variety of music—rock, R&B, blues,” Cray said. Members of the rock band Canned Heat championed Collins’ music and helped him get booked on the San Francisco psychedelic rock circuit alongside acts like the Grateful Dead. “What I noticed was that anyone who came before him or after him got beat up (musically),” Cray said. “I’m watching this and going crazy. We ended up opening up for him in the early days, and he was a father figure to me. We’d open up and then he’d come on stage and we’d stand behind him. It was in the days of platform shoes, and you’d stand there and your feet would start to get sore. He’d take that long cord and walk into the crowd, and we’d look around and wonder, ‘Where’s Albert?’”

Robert Cray. Photo provided.

something Cray foresaw, nor did his contemporaries. “It became more than what we expected,” Cray said. “We played music because we loved it, and just being able to do that and make a living meant success to us. For bands like ours, our music includes a core of R&B and blues and a touch of rock.” The mixture of genres helped, and according to Cray, so did MTV. “MTV opened up a lot,” he said. “Smoking Gun” earned Cray a nomination for the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist in a Video in 1987. Where It’s Going Now 73, Cray has released 20 studio albums, with the 21st on the way, and he has surpassed five million copies in total career sales. He’s been a member of the Blues Hall of Fame since 2011, and received the Americana Music Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.

And don’t think he’s ready to stop singing the blues. As for who his successor will be or who might move the genre forward after him, there are many good prospects, and “They’re all doing their own thing,” Cray said. “You listen to Derek Trucks or Kingfish [Christone Ingram]— they’re inspired by the blues, but they’re also inspired by what they’re listening to now,” Cray said. “It’s like when I started. You couldn’t have done it without Howlin’ Wolf, but you also couldn’t deny the greatness of an Otis Redding either.” Or an Albert Collins, for that matter. It was his handshake and kind words that inspired Cray, who inspired the second generation of blues legends and lifted the genre to a new apex.

Branching Out After backing up Collins, Cray launched his own successful recording career, releasing his debut solo album Who’s Been Talkin’ in 1980. He followed that with acclaimed records Bad Influence (1983) and False Accusations (1985). That’s the same year he reunited with sweetmimosadayspa@gmail.com (405)702-0005 Collins, this time as peers, to 3604 NW 58 Street www.thesweetmimosa.com record the Grammy-winning Oklahoma City, OK 73112 collaborative blues album Mental Health Awareness Month Showdown! TREAT YOUR EMPLOYEES THIS MONTH! Cray achieved mainstream crossover success with Strong Corporate Chair Events Corporate Sound Bath Persuader (1986), which featured the hit single “Smoking Gun” and sold more than two million copies. The single reached number two on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Breast Cancer Awareness Month Chart and number 22 on the HER STRENGTH. HER STORY. HER HOPE. Billboard Hot 100, but the exThis October, we stand together in honor of every woman affected by breast cancer. pansion of the blues was not United in pink. Stronger together. �� th

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F E AT U R E

ARTS & CULTURE I Am Curious (Yellow)

Color dominates and delights in Clever, Quick, Magnetic: The Art of Witty Banter by Brian Hearn

David Salle has done us a fine favor. The accomplished postmodern painter, author and curator, who hails from Norman, has delivered an absolute knockout of super fresh painting at Oklahoma Contemporary. In 32 curated works, Salle taps deep into his network of world-class artist peers, gallerists and collectors to manifest a lusty vision for the expressive personalities of paint. There is a marvelous jumping-off point into Salle’s super-saturated pigment party Clever, Quick, Magnetic: The Art of Witty Banter. A modest little painting by Verne Dawson depicts a familiar sight on the prairie, a towering thunderhead against a blue sky. In the lower foreground, however, a thick black horizontal strip of paint hovers like a pancake above the tree line. Entitled “U.F.O.” Dawson’s adorable pancake of paint points to the uncanny. In the adjacent black and white work, the pancake form repeats as a balance beam. A girl in a white dress stands precariously poised at its edge with a hump of headland and distant ocean in the background. Bennett

Miller’s dream-like image, notably A.l. generated, reads like a fuzzy old snapshot. We all recognize that anxious moment at the end of the diving board or the top of the roller coaster. Ready to dive? That is what Salle has achieved in this exhibition: He’s given us a place to jump and a luscious foam pit of a landing spot. It’s fascinating how intergenerational the witty banter pings around the gallery. Clever, Quick, Magnetic exhibits at least four generations of artists, all in lively contemporary conversation. Huge heavyweight abstractions like “Yumeji’s Theme” feature confident painterly gestures with hints of figuration in an intriguing pictorial space. Tamo Jugeli’s 2026 work is a superb example of the red hot “ultra-contemporary” sales category, generally artists under 40, whose primary market works are in high demand. Typically, one would only encounter such fresh, grand material at art fairs or mega galleries. Not to be outdone, the venerable American master Alex Katz—still

Cecily Brown, The Art of Witty Banter, 2026. Oil on linen, 41 × 43 in. © Cecily Brown. Photo Genevieve Hanson. Courtesy of the artist.

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painting at age 99 and best known for his sleek female figures and flat fields of color—goes big in abstract orange and white with his 2024 painting, “Road 25.” Rose Wylie, a 90-something British painter, injects a healthy dose of saucy humor through her naïve painting style in “Illuminated Manuscript, Adam and Eve.” Significantly, it’s one of several paintings throughout the exhibition that prominently feature the use of bright yellow. In Wylie’s case, it marks the biblical serpent. Yellows provide key background support for the sturdy sculptural forms in Albert Oehlen’s “Omega Man 1” or the cartoonish mudras of Charlene von Heyl’s “Don’t Think it Hasn’t Been Lovely Because It Hasn’t Been (Bugs Bunny).” The full-length nude in Chantal Joffe’s “Painter in Bed” lies stiffly across a yellow drapery—somewhat paralyzed, vulnerable, suspicious. A sign of our post-pandemic times, no doubt. Then, shining like a sun, Sterling Ruby’s “TURBINE. Solar Cult.” exudes industrial-strength materiality with its sewn-on cardboard cladding. Ruby’s pure powdery pigment trails of green, black, orange-red, pink and aquamarine seem to vibrate off the yellow ground like magnetic filaments. Salle has a refined instinct for such compelling articulations of paint. “Cracks in legal protection,” for example, is a 2026 drone painting by Walter Price with range of chilling blueblack paint surfaces and ghostly silhouettes rendered with a tension of surveillance and invisibility. This must be post-postmodern painting, dematerializing before Big Brother Tech’s omniscient eye. After all humanity has been through the last several years, there is surprisingly little gloom to dwell on with so much fabulous paint to revel in. Amy Sillman’s “She/They” and Spencer Sweeney’s “Nocturnal Congress” communicate bodily angst in their figures, as does Carroll Dunham in his violent rassling match, “Big Men (2).” There are some big feelings present but some

Julian Schnabel, Self Portrait (End of the Day in the Engadin Valley), 2025. Oil, plates, and bondo on aluminum. 72 × 60 in. © Julian Schnabel Studio. Courtesy Private Collection. Photo: Tom Powell.

clever punch lines too. Josh Smith sure gave the Grim Reaper a proper makeover. David Salle appropriately includes his own work in the conversation. “New Pastoral with Red Tights” is a vibrant cinematic composition with a touch of Gauguin-in-Tahiti vibe. A mysteriously delicate female hand seemingly breaks through the picture plane flanked by taut brown torsos, a sunburst, a carved wood paddling figure and disembodied garments. Salle’s allover, mytho-poetic action can seize up the brain and force creative reconciliation. Naturally, Salle’s generational peers make seminal contributions to Clever, Quick, Magnetic. Not the least of whom are art stars like Stanley Whitney, Julian Schnabel and the underrated sculptor Arlene Shechet. She holds the distinction of having the only stand-alone sculpture in the exhibition: Her powderencrusted biomorph appears to be visiting from far, far away and has apertures to communicate. One happens to be oozing a tongue of multicolored paint, thus speaking Salle’s language. We can all learn by immersing ourselves in the irrepressible personalities of paint, on exhibit at Oklahoma Contemporary until Jan. 11, 2027.

FILM

ARTS & CULTURE

Screen Time Savor a full set of fearsome cinema. By Laron Chapman

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma

I have come to the conclusion that director Jane Schoenbrun makes films with me in mind, specifically. Their previous films We’re All Going to the World’s Fair and I Saw the TV Glow were bold swings, exploring themes of technology, adolescent angst and identity. Their latest film spoke to me on a cellular level. It is by turns hyper-stylized, intellectual, meta-textural, introspective and deeply personal. It has a deep reverence for genre and pop culture while demonstrating how powerful a tool cultural media is in shaping our collective identity. Gillian Anderson (“The X-Files”) and Hannah Einbinder

sphere, and an uncanny ability to merge humor and terror while never losing sight of the narrative stakes. Lead actor Austin Abrams is charismatic and instantly relatable as a neurotic medial courier having the night from hell. His inability to accomplish a single task successfully becomes a running comedic bit that never loses steam. At 97 minutes, the film moves at a thrilling, break-neck pace. It is less a faithful adaptation of the popular source material than it is a vehicle for placing audiences “within” the franchise’s gaming experience. We become the unwitting avatars in Cregger’s hellish landscape.

thing deeply creepy and off-putting about children’s programs like “Barney,” “Teletubbies” and “The Wiggles.” Underneath those cheerful, furry exteriors was something dark and unsettling. Taking this specific, seemingly innocent universe and exposing its sinister underbelly, Kelly creates an iconic new horror villain that promises to unleash the childhood fears buried inside your subconscious. Conceptually, this is quite brilliant, provocative and novel featuring haunting, indelible images that are absolute nightmare fuel. The humor is deranged and jet black. The production design is absolutely bonkers. The main theme song is a chilling earworm you won’t be able to stop chanting. In short, say goodbye to your happy childhood memories. They belong to Buddy now.

It Ends

Buddy (“Hacks”) are sexy, funny and delicious in their respective roles. The stacked supporting cast is a wicked delight; the needle drops were pitch-perfect; and the surrealistic production design/art direction are pure eye candy. Think Scream/Friday the 13th by way of David Lynch.

Resident Evil

Director Zach Cregger just gets it. He is now three for three, following the success of his critical and box office horror hits Barbarian and Weapons. His move from original storytelling to established IP is seamless, still providing grisly genre thrills without skimping on his unique flair for subverting audience expectations. He has a masterful command of tone, mood and atmo-

Director Casper Kelly (Too Many Cooks) brings his peculiar brand of off-kilter horror and scathing sitcom satirization to the silver screen to disturbing and uttering effect. Kelly confirms my lifelong suspicion that there was some-

parents’ ashes at their honeymoon destination. Things take a turn when he encounters malevolent, demonic spirits that conjure painful memories from his past. While the story is a bit familiar, McCarthy generates suspense and plenty of well-executed, one-of-kind scares that rival some of the best in the genre.

Hokum

With 2024’s Oddity and now this, director Damian McCarthy has mastered the traditional, old-school approach to horror. The kind that requires creepy, dilapidated locations, cursed objects, ghostly soundscapes and eerie atmosphere. There is a tactile, ornate quality to the production design and practical effects that feel reminiscent of a bygone era. Adam Scott plays a grieving, pernickety novelist with a sardonic tongue who hurls insults to unsuspecting guests to mask his inner turmoil. In an effort to finish his latest book series, he visits a remote inn in rural Ireland for inspiration and to scatter his late

There is nothing scarier than the transition from adventurous, carefree adolescence to isolated adulthood. It is a painful, unavoidable rite of passage that director Alexander Ullom’s debut feature understands on a personal, souldeep level. Dreading the inevitable divergence of their respective life and career paths, a group of friends and recent grad students venture out on an evening drive for a celebratory meal and send-off. Their plans are derailed when they turn on a mysterious, never-ending road that promises fatal consequences if they come to a stop. This is a haunting, meditative “existential” horror film about the anxieties of adulthood, unfulfilled dreams and unresolved trauma filtered through a Gen-Z lens. What starts as something sinister morphs into something introspective, melancholy and heartbreaking. The cast of newcomers (Phinehas Yoon, Akira Jackson, Noah Toth and Mitchell Cole) are uniformly excellent.

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FILM

ARTS & CULTURE

Scary Streaming Creep yourself out this month with Censor and The Lure. By Phil Bacharach

The spooky season is upon us—always welcome news for those of us who enjoy getting scared within the safe confines of the movie theater. To date, the horror offerings of 2026—Obsession, Backrooms, Hokum, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and Resident Evil—have made for a helluva time at the multiplex, but don’t overlook little-known gems currently languishing on streaming platforms. Here are two worth seeking out. Censor (2021) Does movie violence spur the real-life kind? Great Britain in the 1980s certainly thought so, when outcry over low-budget exploitation films prompted the administration of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to swoop in and censor so-called “video nasties.” It’s a world revisited in the somber, delightfully disturbing Censor. Enid Baines (Niamh Algar) is a flinty loner with ashen skin and a demeanor

to match. A censor for the British Board of Film Classification, she approaches her work with the utmost severity. “It’s not entertainment,” she admonishes her parents when she thinks they are making light of her job. “I do it to protect people.” But there is another burden that weighs heavily on her: Enid carries the guilt of a childhood incident in which her younger sister, Nina, disappeared while both girls were walking in the woods. The ever-present trauma of that experience hits hard when Enid screens Don’t Go in the Church, a cheapo “video nasty” by horror director Frederick North. The film, which North specifically requested that Enid review, bears an alarming similarity to the circumstances under which Nina vanished. While Enid’s parents have finally allowed themselves to accept that Nina is likely long dead, Enid isn’t so sure. Algar is riveting as a woman haunted by the past. Enid digs into North’s oeuvre, only to notice that one of his regular actresses resembles what Nina might now look like as an adult. Writer-director Prano BaileyBond and cowriter Anthony Fletcher create a stifling, insulated environment for Enid. Censor is almost oppressively claustrophobic; it takes place in only a handful of locations, usually indoors and at night, in what appears to be a sparsely popu-

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lated London. Cinematographer Annika Summerson accentuates the sense of dread with a nearly washedout visual design. The result is moody AF. (St reaming on Amazon Prime and Kanopy) The Lure (2015) I’ll go out on a limb and proclaim that The Lure is unequivocally the best-ever Polish-language mermaid-centric fairy tale dressed up as a horror musical. In her directorial debut, Agnieszka Smoczyńska didn’t hold back. This resolutely bonkers picture concerns mermaid sisters Golden (Michalina Olszańska) and Silver (Marta Mazurek), who wind up latching on to the house band of a Warsaw nightclub. Being mermaids—their huge tails sprout whenever they are splashed with water—they attract the interest of the seamy nightclub owner (Zygmunt Malanowicz), who immediately directs them to disrobe. “Smooth as Barbies,” says an onlooker, noting that the mermaids have no sex organs when in human form. Despite that fact and the sisters’ childlike behavior, they are soon put to work, albeit exploitatively, as a sexualized cabaret act. There are musical numbers outside the nightclub, too. Like I said, the movie is also a musical. Silver falls for Mietek (Jakub Gierszał), the club’s floppy-haired bass player, despite the protests of her more circumspect sister. Golden has good reason to be wary. After all, the lore of The Lure dictates that if a mermaid falls in love with a human who ends up mar-

rying another, she must eat the person who spurned her—lest she turn into sea foam the morning after the marriage. Bet you can guess what might happen. Loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, The Lure ladles on more gore and sexiness than Disney’s Ariel ever could have imagined. Silver sacrifices everything for Mietek, who seems not to register the depth of her devotion. “To me, you’ll always be a fish, an animal,” he tells Silver before they swap spit. Beneath the grotesqueries is a heartbreaking parable about the bodily autonomy of women and their subjugation to men. The weirdness is the film’s lure, if you will, but Smoczyńska and writer Robert Bolesto clearly have more on their minds. As we all know, fish is good brain food. (Streaming on HBO Max, Criterion Channel and Plex)

F E AT U R E

ARTS & CULTURE

Visual Arts Overview By Brian Hearn

On the Road of Dreams Artist Jeremy Fish’s reverse trek along Route 66 is bringing him to OKC. Jeremy Fish got the memo: A certain ribbon of asphalt was gonna be celebrating a big centennial this year. Route 66, no less, that Chicago-to-L.A. icon of American car culture and highway to West Coast cool. Who hasn’t dreamed of getting out on that open road? Inspired by the centennial, the history, the critters and machines that transformed the American West, San Francisco-based Fish composed 20 new screen prints in honor of The Mother Road. Not only that, the artist set out on a Route 66 journey in reverse. Starting the 2,448-mile trip in southern California, Fish has been traveling east

Storytelling in Skin Tattoo traditions take the stage at the NDN Territory Gathering of Ink. Anthropologist Lars Krutak published an impressive tome last year called Indigenous Tattoo Traditions: Humanity through Skin and Ink. He researched tattoo practices in cultures across every continent, from the Arctic to Papua New Guinea to the American Plains. While we tend to think of our recent era of

behind the wheel of his 1987 Toyota Corolla, dubbed the “Golden Eagle,” to stops like Flagstaff and Albuquerque. With a little luck, Fish is set to land his Golden Eagle in Oklahoma City on Friday, Oct. 2, from 6 to 9 PM at Denise Duong’s Little D Gallery on Paseo. At least 10 of Fish’s screenprints will be on view and editions will be for sale. Fish is an accomplished, versatile artist who pivots from a unique brand of surrealist-meets-symbolist drawing and painting, to large public art projects, to a crisp graphic design style that translates beautifully to screen printing in one or two colors. Fish’s zany hybrid mashups may include Muppet monster trucks, Model-T horses on skateboards and vintage bunny buses with layers of historic pop culture references. There’s a li’l bit of Ken Kesey and a li’l bit of Ralph

machine tattooing as the ultimate form of personal decoration, its function as a visual language has much deeper communal, ritual and spiritual meanings that date back thousands of years. Indigenous tattoo traditions amount to a global cultural heritage; one that must be continuously revitalized so that it can inspire future generations. NDN Territory Gathering of Ink is an event dedicated to honoring, preserving and celebrating Indigenous skin marking practices. Taking place at the OKANA Resort & Waterpark Oct. 23-25, with support from Muscogee Nation Businesses, LLC, the Gathering of Ink will create space for artists to demonstrate hand poke techniques in a wide variety of styles. Several artists take inspiration from traditional designs in other media such as beadwork, basketry or rock art. The tools of the trade have scarcely changed; bone or stone needles, thorns,

Steadman’s inventive spirits in these playful images, although Fish has a distinctive comic illustration style that is somehow funny and slightly disturbing as one absorbs the details. On the Road of Dreams has a clever, symbolic story to tell about the absurd arc of human transport and its environmental impact. Fish has seen the future in the Bay Area and has chosen a 1987 Golden Eagle over a self-driving car. You can meet the traveling artist in person on Oct. 2, acquire a signed print

spines or sharpened plant materials do the poking. Inks are still sustainably harvested from naturally occurring pigments in minerals, plants—even bugs. One imagines it’s as painful to receive those pigments under the skin as it ever was. The Gathering of Ink will showcase the resilience of this ancient practice among new generations of artists. Several tribal nations from Oklahoma are well represented among the confirmed artists, such as Nathalie Standingcloud based in Tahlequah, Charis Johnson-Turner of Edmond and Kii Johnson of Tulsa. Out-of-state artists like Ashley Foreman, Missy Mahan, Shelly Wahweotten and Nipinet Landsem will bring their own tribal expressions and design skills from

and support the tour before it rolls on to Kansas City, St. Louis and the eastern terminus of the Mother Road in Chicago. To quote a great Okie film, “Stay gold,” Fish. On the Road of Dreams Screen Print tour featuring the transportationthemed artwork of Jeremy Fish, Oct. 2-31, Little D Gallery, 3003A Paseo St., Oklahoma City.

California, Arizona, Missouri and Minnesota. Performances are scheduled throughout the weekend by Sten Joddi, who doubles as a hip-hop and tattoo artist; the Central Plains Dance Troupe; and accomplished flute player and visual artist Randy Kemp with several guest DJ sets. NDN Territory Gathering of Ink promises to be an opportunity to build community, share knowledge and celebrate this storied art form in skin.

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SPORTS

SPORTS Thunder Aim for Greatness Your 2026-2027 Thunder Season Primer By David Brandon

The Thunder enter the 2026-2027 season with high expectations. Two years ago, the Thunder won the NBA Finals. Last year, they lost a tough Western Conference Finals in seven games to the San Antonio Spurs. This year they’re aiming for the championship again. Here’s your primer for all things Thunder in 2026-2027.

Depth Chart

Projected Starters: PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander SG: Cason Wallace SF: Jalen Williams PF: Chet Holmgren C: Isaiah Hartenstein

Projected Rotation Players PG/SG: Ajay Mitchell PG/SG: Jared McCain SG: Alex Caruso PF/C: Jaylin Williams

Offseason Overview GM Sam Presti and head coach Mark Daigneault remain the leaders of this Thunder team off the court. On the court, the trades of Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins mean major depth chart changes. Dort’s departure changes the Thunder the most, as the team loses a starter and its main defensive wing. Joe was the Thunder’s three-point

specialist. Versatile wing Wiggins contributed as a key offensive reserve. Four Thunder starters from last season remain; the fifth starter will probably be Cason Wallace, the player most able to fill Dort’s defensive shoes. Ajay Mitchell is the likely sixth man, with Jaylin Williams, Alex Caruso and Jared McCain as the next three off the bench. The Thunder have several younger players who will be asked to step up this year. Kenrich Williams may also play more minutes due to a lack of forwards. Trades and signings could still change the depth chart, too, as one roster spot remains open and Wallace’s extension remains unsigned. Presti has shown a willingness to trade star rookie contract players if the sides can’t agree on an extension — James Harden, Jeff Green, Reggie Jackson, Josh Giddey. The most likely outcome is that Wallace stays in OKC, but if there isn’t an extension in place by mid-October, things may get interesting.

Strengths Defense

The Thunder’s defense is their best weapon. They force a ton of

Thunder Up crates at Scissortail Park in 2025. Photo by FlightTimeOKC

turnovers and understand the help defense ballet better than anyone else. Chet and IHart are among the league’s best rim protectors.

less cushion this year. They cannot lose that many key players to injury in the playoffs again and expect to win.

Isolation Scoring

Key October/November Games

Shai is the reigning MVP and the most consistent offensive player in the league. JDub is one of the best young wing scorers. Ajay Mitchell has emerged as an intriguing young guard in his own right. At least one will be hot when they’re on the floor.

Weaknesses

Rebounding & Size Hartenstein is an excellent rebounder, but he has an outsized effect on team rebounding; without him, the Thunder often lose their size advantage, playing more small guards than the opponent. Their frontcourt outside of IHart isn’t great at cleaning the glass either. They can get bullied by bulkier players.

SGA-less Offense Shai works to keep the team involved, and Hartenstein is a key frontcourt playmaker with picks, pitches and dribble handoffs when he’s on the floor; without them, the ball can stick. In the regular season this matters less, but in the playoffs, when ball pressure ramps up, playmaking suffers.

Health

OKC Thunder fans use their thundersticks during foul shots. Photo provided by OKC Thunder. 22

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The Thunder lost a lot of players due to health last year; winning 64 games was a testament to depth and coaching, but the injuries took their toll in the playoffs. They have

October 20, Opening Night: Thunder at Spurs An important look at a budding rivalry and a national TV showcase.

October 22, Home Opener: Nuggets at Thunder Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic are a tough nut for the Thunder. Potential playoff matchup.

November 22: Thunder at Heat The Thunder’s first chance at the new-look Heat with Giannis Antentokounmpo. An important test.

November 25: Timberwolves at Thunder LaMelo Ball. Anthony Edwards. Rudy Gobert. A two-way challenge and a potential playoff matchup.

Thunder Up The Thunder are a top championship contender, despite a handful of issues and question marks. Barring injury, this team can (and maybe should) make the Finals.

H E A LT H

HEALTH Assisted Living Assistance How to make sure you’re choosing the right facility By Dr. Brett Krablin

By 2030, the United States will be home to nearly 60 million baby boomers. A significant percentage of them will need living accommodations that can help with medical oversight, food preparation and social integration. This particular type of care setting is known as Assisted Living. As an Internal Medicine physician, I have practiced in the assisted living setting for more than 25 years. I have worked with patients and their families during the challenging and often overwhelming transition from their lifelong homes and comfortable lives into a new and unfamiliar place of residence. Although they come from a wide variety of situations and needs, there are a few common threads that flow through all their stories. It’s the unfolding of those stories and eventual decisions that have informed me over the years. The process of selecting an assisted living facility typically begins within the normal channels: an internet search, a friend’s recommendation, perhaps by simply noticing a facility that is along routine traffic routes. The next step is usually a call, followed by a tour and a sharing of brochures and information, typically related to amenities, associated services and costs. That’s a great place to start. My experiences take up where this initial introduction leaves off. I have learned that there are many questions and considerations that potential residents and their families may want to consider that go a bit deeper and can turn a good fit into a great one. The Care Team Two people who are absolutely vital to the residents of an assisted living facility are the executive director and nursing director. It is critical to meet them both. The vast majority of communication and day-to-day operations depend

on them. You must get a feel for their ability to communicate and handle problems. Are they present? Are they approachable? Are they responsive? Take the time to find out. The executive director takes care of the business side of things. A good sign is an open door and easy approachability. Be sure to ask questions about different levels of care and potential changes in cost so there won’t be any surprises down the road. This relationship is important in making sure you are getting what you pay for. The nursing director is in charge of anything medical that happens in the facility, including interactions with medical care providers. They will serve as a liaison for any home health services, hospice services, changes in condition and anything that can and does happen with the resident’s health. They have to be a good communicator and somewhat of a bulldog to ensure that the residents’ medical needs are being met. Some additional questions regarding these two important people: How long have they been in the position? Longevity typically runs with stability. What is their experience in the assisted living setting? The more the better. What hours do they keep? What is their availability for calls and communication? When they are out of the building, who is next in line for issues that come up? Also, be sure to ask if there is a physician who does rounds in the building. If so, do most of the residents use their services? What is the relationship to the nursing director like? Are they easy to reach for problems? Do they provide an after-hours call service? How frequently are they in the building?

Food, Fun, Freedom Food is a major part of the assisted-living experience. You will certainly be given many details about meal times, menus and the dining experience itself, but be sure to dig a bit deeper into flexibility for special diets such as gluten sensitivity, diabetic preferences, religious diets and after-hours food availability. Inquire about meal options. Is there fresh fruit? On-site food prep or outsourced? And most of all, make sure to try the food. Dietary intake plays a deceptively important role in the success of a resident’s stay. Make sure you know what is offered. Activities are often the lifeblood of a facility. Vibrant, active communities are a source of routine and motivation for aging residents, so meet the activity director. Pay close attention to the calendar of activities. Are there religious services? Do they go off-site for shopping and outings? How often? What is the attendance on activities in the building? Are beauty services available? A resident’s day should be filled with meaningful, well-planned activities to enrich and enliven their time. Lastly, check out the grounds and surrounding area. What is the physical space like? Is there room to roam? Areas for privacy other than their primary room? Are there designated spaces to walk and exercise? Are there places outside for residents to enjoy a nice day or time with visitors? Make sure there are many options for getting out of their room on a daily basis. Support Staff These are the people who make the building run. The category includes the medical aides and assistants, kitchen crew, janitorial team and maintenance staff. Take time to ask about hours of medication administration, room cleaning services and frequency, assistance with in-room help with cable or TV problems, availability for issues with plumbing or AC, etc. Be sure to inquire about how much of the staff is full-time and how often they rely on outside agency staff.

Watch and Learn Everybody puts their best foot forward for prospective patient visits. Tours and information gathering are certainly important; however, you want to make sure real life matches up with your expectations. Take the time to find a spot to watch, listen and observe. What is the interaction like with the residents? Do the staff members know them by name? Is the interaction hurried or is there evidence of a deeper relationship? Pay attention to the sights and sounds and smells of this potential new home. Usually, half an hour will give you more than enough information to inform your decision. Every assisted living residence is unique. Each comes with its own strengths and weaknesses. This is a huge decision and will directly affect the quality of life and happiness of you or your loved one for what most likely will be the final phase of their life. Feelings of confusion and intimidation are completely normal. Just remember, the facility is there to care for and enhance the lives of its residents. Your job is to be bold and direct in your information gathering and questions. Getting to know the whole story will make the difference between a good fit and a great one.

Brett Krablin MD is an Internal Medicine physician who has practiced for 25 years in assisted living, memory care and long-term care settings. He attended the University of Oklahoma College of medicine for both medical school and residency. O KG A Z E T T E . C O M | O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

PICKS

CALENDAR - OCTOBER

October is packed with things to see, hear and do across Oklahoma City metro. The OG Picks editors have selected a sampling of festivals, performances, concerts, exhibitions, sporting events and seasonal happenings for you. For complete details, visit the websites listed with each event. Thanks to the many organizers, venues and more for filling the calendar this month. Enjoy October!

HALLOWEEN FALL FUN Frontier City Fright Fest Open through Oct. 31, Frontier City sixflags.com/frontiercity

Halloween and Dia de Los Muertos Oct. 23, West Village westvillageokc.com

The Village Arts Festival Oct. 3 - 4, The Village Civic Plaza tvaok.org

Dracula: A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really Oct. 29-Nov. 1, Mitchell Hall Theatre calendar.uco.edu

Banjo Fest 2026! Oct. 8-10, American Banjo Museum americanbanjomuseum.com

Music to Die For: Songs from the Shadows, OKC Phil Oct. 30-31, Civic Center Music Hall okcphil.org My So Called Halloween: 90s Tribute Oct. 30, Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com

FESTIVALS & FAIRS

Orr Family Farm Fall Festival Open through November orrfamilyfarm.com

Asian Night Market Festival Oct. 2-3, Military Park asiandistrictok.com/anmf

Pumpkinville: Road to Route 66 Oct. 1-25, Myriad Gardens myriadgardens.org

Oklahoma Regatta Festival Oct. 2-4, Riversport and the Boathouse District riversportokc.org

National Theatre Live: Frankenstein Oct. 3-4, OKC Museum of Art okcmoa.com

Indigenous Peoples Day Oct. 12, First Americans Museum famok.org OK!toberfest OKC Oct. 15-18, OKC Fair Park okcfairpark.com/oktoberfest Red Earth FallFest Oct. 17, Scissortail Park redearth.org Braum’s Affair of the Heart Oct. 23-25, OKC Fair Park okcfallaoth.com Midtown Walkabout Oct. 24, Midtown midtownokc.com/walkabout

FILM

Paseo First Friday Gallery Walk Oct. 2, The Paseo Arts District thepaseo.org

Manhattan Short Film Festival Oct. 1-3, OKC Museum of Art okcmoa.com

Psychic Medium: Cindy Kaza Oct. 7, Bricktown Comedy Club bricktowncomedyclub.com

Fiestas de las Américas Oct. 3, Historic Capitol Hill historiccapitolhill.com/fdla

National Theatre Live: Frankenstein Oct. 3-4, OKC Museum of Art okcmoa.com

GHOUL’S NIGHT! on The Plaza Oct. 9, Plaza District plazadistrict.org

3rd Annual Older Adult Arts Festival Oct. 3, Community Health Recreation and Wellness wellnesschc.com

Year of the Cat film screening Oct. 10, Oklahoma History Center okhistory.org

Haunt the Zoo Oct. 10-31, Oklahoma City Zoo okczoo.org “Scream” (1996) Screening Presented in partnership with deadCenter Continuum Oct. 17, Oklahoma Contemporary okcontemp.com West Village Fourth Fridays:

Pop-Up Market Oct. 3, Holiday Pop-Up Shops okcpopups.com RestoreOKC 10th Anniversary Celebration Oct. 3, RestoreOKC restoreokc.org

“Nimrods” Screening and Panel Oct. 10, Oklahoma Contemporary okcontemp.org

COMEDY Bored Teachers: “Is it Friday Yet?!” Comedy Tour Oct. 11, Rose State Performing Arts Center okcciviccenter.com

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Aviation Art Show Oct. 2, Street Smarts Gallery StreetSmartsGallery.com 9th Annual Steamroller Printmaking Art Festival Oct. 3, ARTSPACE at Untitled 1ne3.org/steamroller-2026

Bricktown Comedy Club bricktowncomedyokc.com • Marlon Wayans, Oct. 2-4 • Steve Hofstetter, Oct. 6 • Hans Kim, Oct. 10-11 • Sommore, Oct. 16-17 • Drew Lynch, Oct. 22-24

OVAC 12x12 Art Fundraiser Oct. 3, Dunlop Codding ovac-ok.org/12x12

David Sedaris Oct. 23, Rose State Performing Arts Center okcciviccenter.com

Kyle Riggall and Cassie Stover Oct. 8, DNA galleries dnagalleries.com

VISUAL ARTS

Access for All at OKCMOA Oct. 11, OKC Museum of Art okcmoa.com

Otto Neumann: Modern Artist Exhibition Oct. 1-Nov. 28, 1515 Lincoln Gallery 1515lg.com

9th Annual Steamroller Printmaking Art Festival Oct. 3 - ARTSPACE at Untitled

David Sedaris at the Rose State Performing Arts Center on Oct. 23.

The Garde Art Market Oct. 3, Oklahoma Contemporary okcontemp.org

For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com. Add your event at okgazette.com/community

The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art Oct. 31, 2026-Jan. 24, 2027 okcmoa.com

THEATER/ PERFORMING ARTS LIFE SUCKS. Sort of Adapted from UNCLE VANYA by Anton Chekhov Oct. 9, Oklahoma Contemporary okcontemp.org Bread & Puppet Theater: The Upside Down World Circus Oct. 10, OKC Farmers Public Market bptokc.blogspot.com Worlds of Wonder, OKC Phil Oct. 10, Civic Center Music Hall okcphil.org Menopause the Musical Oct. 15, Civic Center Music Hall okcciviccenter.com C.S. Lewis Beyond the Wardrobe Oct. 16-18, Civic Center Music Hall okcciviccenter.com Symphony of Psalms, Canterbury Voices Oct. 16, Civic Center Music Hall canterburyokc.com The BIG Sing, Canterbury Voices Oct. 17, Civic Center Music Hall canterburyokc.com The Carole King & James Taylor Story Oct. 20, Rose State Performing Arts Center okcciviccenter.com A Decade of Divas! Presented by Painted Sky Opera Oct. 23-25, Little Theatre at Civic Center Music Hall paintedskyopera.org

Oklahoma City Ballet SHORTS Oct. 23-25, Civic Center Music Hall okcballet.org

SPORTS OKC Thunder okcthunder.com Paycom Center • Oct. 6, New Orleans Pelicans • Oct. 7, Milwaukee Bucks • Oct. 13, Indiana Pacers • Oct. 22, Denver Nuggets • Oct. 25, LA Clippers • Oct. 26, Phoenix Suns OU Sooners, Home Games Memorial Stadium soonersports.com/sports/football • Oct. 17, Kentucky Wildcats • Oct. 31, South Carolina Gamecocks OSU Cowboys, Home Games Boone Pickens Stadium okstate.com/sports/football • Oct. 10, UCF Knights • Oct. 24, Colorado Buffaloes Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-N-Fire Oct. 10-11, Paycom Center paycomcenter.com Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show Oct. 11-17, OKC Fair Park’s OG&E Coliseum gnwcmhs.com

LIVE MUSIC & CONCERTS The Blue Note okcbluenote.com • Oct. 3, Matthew Scott Band • Oct. 15, Emily Myers & Jared Deck • Oct 16, TBF with Emma, Goldman Sachs & Limp Wizurdz

Suki Waterhouse: The Loveland Tour, in concert at the Criterion Oct. 6. Photo @sukiwaterhouse

•

Oct 23, Carson Lewis with Shelly Phelps & The Storm & Apex Convoy

Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com • Oct. 6, Łaszewo • Oct. 15, I See Stars • Oct. 21, Medium Build w/ Bella White • Oct. 27, The Robert Cray Band • Oct. 29, Billy Joel Legacy: A Tribute Experience Paycom Center paycomcenter.com • Oct. 1, Brooks & Dunn • Oct. 16, sombr • Oct. 24, The Smashing Pumpkins The Blue Door bluedoorokc.com • Oct. 9, Kyle Reid • Oct. 10, Jennifer Knapp • Oct. 16, Halleyanna & Rita Bliss • Oct. 17, Some Guy Named Robb • Oct. 30, Red Dirt Rangers & Randy Crouch The Criterion criterionokc.com • Oct. 6, Suki Waterhouse • Oct. 8, Parcels • Oct. 10, Hermanos Espinoza • Oct. 13, Leonid & Friends • Oct. 17, Indigo Girls

• •

Oct. 18, KELS Oct. 26, almost monday

Diamond Ballroom diamondballroom.com • Oct. 2, JACKYL • Oct. 3, THE LEFTOBERS: Toby Keith’s Easy Money Band • Oct. 9, Igorrr: North American Tour • Oct. 12, Sleeping With Sirens: An Ending In Itself Tour • Oct. 24, BUTCHER BABIES: HELLAWEEKEND XXI Resonant Head resonanthead.com • Oct. 8, Girl In A Coma • Oct. 15, The Wildwoods • Oct. 16, The Phantom A.D. • Oct. 21, Ak’chamel The Jones Assembly thejonesassembly.com • Oct. 19, Black Country, New Road • Oct. 30, Medicine Show Beam Live beamlive.club • Oct. 10, Shelly Phelps and The Storm • Oct. 16, Clejan Live in OKC

PLEASE NOTE: This is a sampling of live music Beer City Music Hall happening this month. Visit beercitymusichall.com each venue’s website for the • Oct. 10, Angélica Gallegos full lineup and additional show • Oct. 14, Beauty School Dropout dates. • Oct. 17, The Gringos The Smashing Pumpkins in concert at the Paycom Center Oct. 24. O KG A Z E T T E . C O M | O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

PUZZLES NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE CROSSWORD PUZZLE

RISE TO THE POWER

BY TRACY GRAY / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ AC R OSS

1 Special-ordered 7 Sections of a circle’s circumference 11 NASCAR stat that varies widely by venue 18 Banderas of the 2024 film ‘‘Babygirl’’ 20 Coaster feature, maybe 21 Assembles in proper order 22 Mar, as a reputation 23 See 25-Across 24 Maligns 25 With 23-Across, March Madness tournament round 27 Mouths (off) 29 Pact that preceded the U.S.M.C.A. 30 Burnable bog stuff 31 Burned chimney stuff 33 High-speed Olympic sport 34 See 37-Across 35 One who might have perfect pitch? 37 With 34-Across, full extent of something 43 ‘‘Holy moly!’’ 45 Defensive player who keeps an eye on the QB, in football lingo 46 Red-coated cheese 47 ‘‘____ funny!’’ 48 Bigwig 52 Own (up) 55 It’s off the wall! 57 ‘‘Red’’ or ‘‘1989,’’ to Swifties 58 Buck ____, first African American coach in Major League Baseball 60 Extremely soft, in music: Abbr. 62 See 64-Across 63 Chew the fat 64 With 62-Across, Beatles classic with the lyric ‘‘Will you still need me / Will you still feed me’’ 67 Noted exile isle 69 Energy-efficient bulb, for short 71 ____ orange, tree whose fruit has a brainlike appearance 72 Native Nebraskans 75 See 78-Across 76 Author who purportedly drew inspiration from a filing cabinet labeled ‘‘O-Z’’ 78 With 75-Across, ‘‘So very appreciated!’’ 81 Hold up 83 Narnia or Neverland

86 Give it a whirl 87 Violinmaker of Cremona 88 Letters from your folks? 89 ‘‘So cool!’’ 92 Follower of John in the New Testament 94 Chef with ‘‘New New Orleans’’-style cooking 96 Greatest guy? 97 See 101-Across 98 Vent 100 Part of SCOTUS 101 With 97-Across, Vegas casino machine 107 No-cash deal 111 Lay off 112 Culprit, in police lingo 113 Modern pentathlon equipment 115 Metaphor for a too-hot room 116 Actress Christine whose last name sounds like a pair of musical notes 118 Ill will 120 Number written above and to the right of another number . . . as seen five times in this puzzle? 122 Weigh down, and then some 124 Number with a 120-Across, mathematically 126 Armand of ‘‘American Gangster’’ 127 Many mailbox stuffers 128 Zest 129 Iced tea request 130 Clumsy 131 Move fast, as a cloud 132 Road trip stopovers DOWN

1 Pampering place for a Persian 2 Not impressed 3 Watch via Hulu, say 4 Online forum qualifiers such as /j (‘‘joking’’) or /s (‘‘sarcastic’’) 5 ‘‘I’ll deal with this right now!’’ 6 Keeps hydrated, as vegetables in the produce aisle 7 Sitcom character from Melmac 8 Aussie animals 9 Item 10 Alfalfa shoot

PUBLISHER Red Center Media EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Greg Horton ghorton@okgazette.com COMMUNICATIONS + SOCIAL MEDIA Leslie Spears lspears@okgazette.com PRODUCTION + DESIGN ASSISTANT Emily Comstock ecomstock@okgazette.com DISTRIBUTION distribution@okgazette.com

ADVERTISING advertising@okgazette.com

(405) 528-6000 MEDIA EXECUTIVE Gina Nichols gnichols@okgazette.com

CONTRIBUTORS No. 0927

11 Stockholder’s setback 12 Weisshorn or Finsteraarhorn 13 Not merely enough to go around 14 Island containing Kiribati’s capital 15 ‘‘Don’t pay any mind to this’’ 16 Zoom, e.g. 17 Feminine pronoun in Florence 19 ‘‘Would you look at that!’’ 21 Wedding reception hiree 26 Partner of aahs 28 ‘‘So-o-o gross!’’ 32 A-one 36 With nary a chance 38 Ingredient in some hair relaxers 39 Make a long story short, say 40 Individually 41 Female rabbit 42 Elbow-bender

80 ‘‘Catch ya in the 44 Popular singer of the 108 Get even for morn!’’ Hawaiian folk song 109 Kind of ‘‘Pearly Shells’’ 82 Main squeeze, in insurance for newer slang 48 ‘‘Sup!’’ bridges 84 Lascivious look 49 Sonicare competitor 110 Types in 50 Reschedule, so to speak 85 Old-timey teacher 114 Surrey’s Derby town 89 Sped or bled . . . or 51 Things that drivers led sometimes leave 116 Singer/dancer/ behind? actress Falana 90 ____ Lilly (Mounjaro maker) 53 Letters on a lip balm 117 Say for sure tube 91 Pointe shoe 118 Org. supporting accessories 54 Scare stiff sobriety checkpoints 93 Amy who wrote 56 Some old Disney ‘‘Saving Fish From 119 Father of five collectibles Drowning’’ sons in the Bible 59 Arriving by 95 Balloon pilot, say 121 ____ buco 61 Tables 123 Adornment on a 65 Stiller’s comedic partner 99 Worth a pick? boathouse wall 102 Stick to simple and 66 Incur a cellphone unprocessed foods, 125 Heel, e.g. surcharge, perhaps say 68 Electrical-impulse 103 State with only transmitters three counties: 70 Face off Abbr. 73 Catchall abbr. 104 Illegal offerings 74 Priced to be, as bail 105 High-level H.S. class 77 Fortified wine from with derivatives Spain 106 Star football player? 79 Home of NoHo and SoHo

SUDOKU °29377 MEDIUM Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3-by-3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9. printmysudoku.com

Last month’s answers: take the edge off

WRITERS Jory Blaney David Brandon Laron Chapman Kaile Hultner Brian Hearn Julie Porter Scott Kelly Wray

Oklahoma Gazette is circulated at its designated distribution points free of charge to readers for their 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. Please address all unsolicited news items (non-returnable) to the editor. editor@okgazette.com 3701 N. Shartel Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73118-7102 PHONE (405) 528-6000

O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6 | O KG A Z E T T E . C O M

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY: OCTOBER ARIES (March 21-April 19): Orchids may lure pollinating insects with ingenious illusions rather than nectar. Some mimic the look or fragrance of other flowers. Others resemble female insects so convincingly that hopeful males unknowingly assist with pollination. From this, we might conclude that nature can be as duplicitous as humans. But rather than being bummed out by the facts of life, let’s use this as a lesson for you to wield in the coming days. Appearances can be deceiving—for both better and worse. If a situation initially seems disappointing or confusing, linger before drawing conclusions. Likewise, if something looks irresistibly attractive at first glance, investigate further. I predict your intuition will be extra skilled at distinguishing authentic richness from glamorous distraction. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I propose we make 93-year-old Taurus musician Willie Nelson your patron saint and role model for the foreseeable future. Earthy, unflappable, and unhurried, he has kept making his distinctive, soulful music for over 70 years, devoted all the while to the land and the people who work it. He has never pushed to sound like anyone else; he has patiently, inexorably become more fully himself. It’s your birthright to live like Nelson, Taurus, with a steady, sensual, enduring devotion to what you love. In the coming weeks, I invite you to tend to your deepest roots. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I may be preaching to the choir here, but there’s a fun kind of magic that thrives when you decline to be consistent. You Geminis are least likely, of all the signs, to exhaust yourself in trying to maintain a unified self-presentation. Like the Gemini poet Walt Whitman, you’re often pleased with the fact that you contain multitudes. It’s a potential superpower! The you who loves solitude and the you who craves connection can both be true. The skeptic and the mystic can coexist in the same nervous system. Your assignment: Honor three contradictory impulses without trying to make them coherent. You’re boisterously

excused from having to make too much sense. CANCER (June 21-July 22): In certain caves, like the Cave of the Crystals in Naica, Mexico, crystals grow to astonishing sizes. Why? Because the environment remains stable for thousands of years, with steady temperatures, minimal disturbances, and slow mineral flow. Under these stable conditions, ordinary molecules assemble into lavish structures. I believe you’re cultivating a similar sanctuary, Cancerian, as you invoke the powers of steadiness and devoted dedication. Even if progress appears slow, the underlying process is gradually generating a beautiful strength and/or lasting treasure. Now’s a good time to redouble your faith in your good work.

to the hilt, please!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The cosmic powers have granted you a license to be magnificent. Not arrogant, please note, but majestic, resplendent, and marvelous. You know the difference, right? Arrogance is parasitic, demanding that everyone reflects your glory back at you. Magnificence is expansive, making everyone feel more vital and attuned to their own splendor. The second option is far more nutritious and delicious for you in the long run. In the coming eons, and especially now, I hope you’ll be lavish with your praise and generous with your attention. Glow and dazzle in ways that inspire others to glow and dazzle.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Volcanologists distinguish between two different eruptions. In the effusive type, lava flows slowly and steadily, while the explosive eruptions eject material fast and hard. What does this have to do with you? In my astrological estimation, you currently contain building pressures that need release. Here’s the good news: You can maneuver yourself in the direction of effusive expression and thereby make the explosive kind unnecessary. So my advice is to find small, controllable outlets for what’s gathering inside you. Don’t wait until the only option is a massive, sudden discharge.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): A Zen teaching says, “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” But being the post-Zen teacher I am, I protest and say, “No, the chopping and the carrying ARE the enlightenment. There is no separate ‘after.’” The sacred is ALWAYS lurking in the mundane, disguised as ordinary tasks. And you Virgos are potentially the zodiac’s supreme master of this controversial truth. Others may chase after astral bling and transcendent glitter, but you know that divinity lives in the earthy details that are right in front of you. That’s how you transmute seemingly unremarkable stuff into the sublime. It’s time to wield your superpower

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll flourish in the coming years if you ask daring questions and befriend sweet ambivalence and welcome adorable uncertainty. You’ll stumble upon weird but interesting success and project potent authenticity if you let your curiosity lead you to situations outside of your cozy bubbles and velvet ruts. On the other hand, you’ll flounder if you cling to folk wisdom foisted on you by the algorithms, treat all your opinions as facts, or pretend you always know what the f*ck is going on in this dazzling mess of a world. Keep it generous and exploratory, Sagittarius. Seek out wide-ranging conversationalists and playful skeptics.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Let’s make Libran writer Ursula K. Le Guin your patron saint. She believed that any human arrangement, however permanent it seems, was made by people and can therefore be unmade and remade by people. The divine right of kings once seemed eternal and inevitable, she liked to remind us. Be like her in the coming weeks, Libra. Refuse to accept that the way things are is the way they must continue to be. Imagine more beautiful, more just, and more loving arrangements in every area of your life, including your relationships, your work, and your inner life. Then take three steps toward making it so.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A river delta is where a river finally meets the sea. Instead of arriving as one bold channel, it fans out into dozens of branching streams, depositing the rich silt it has carried for many miles. Deltas are fertile places because of everything the river gathered along the way and finally lays down. You’re approaching a metaphorical delta, Capricorn. All the experiences, emotions, and impressions you’ve been carrying are ready to be released and turned into fertile ground. Abundance wants to grow from all you’ve gathered. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In the 17th century, Aquarian astronomer Johannes Hevelius mapped the moon with surprising accuracy. Yet he worked with funky homemade telescopes perched on a homemade observatory that he built on the rooftops of his three connected houses. I recommend you borrow his approach, Aquarius. You might feel tempted to postpone action until conditions are ideal, but I hope you’ll begin with what you already possess. Prediction: As you proceed, your tools and strategies will evolve. Momentum will become one of your key resources. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In traditional Chinese medicine, *wei qi* is a protective energy that circulates beneath the skin, forming a shield against harmful influences. To nourish it, you revel in sleeping and eating well. You work diligently, with tender discernment, to maintain healthy boundaries. How are you doing with that, Pisces? Is it possible you’ve been working so hard on your deep transformations that you’ve semi-neglected this outer layer of strength? I hope that in the coming weeks, you’ll nurture the subtle shields that prevent you from absorbing every stray particle of psychic weirdness in your environment. Think of this task not as building walls, but tending to your garden’s edges.

O KG A Z E T T E . C O M | O C TO B E R 2 0 2 6

THANK YOU, HAROLD HAMM! A GAMEECHANGING INVESTMENT TO LIFT

OKLAHOMA’S HEALTH FOREVER.

Oklahoma Gazette October Issue