Summer Guide

Be an OG Support Local Journalism

NEWS Prognosis negative

Unhealthy leadership and financial disorders led to a mental health (department) crisis.

By Henry Nam Hardwick

While the month of May has been Mental Health Awareness Month for nearly 75 years, things could not be in more disarray at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS).

As the Oklahoma House of Representatives continues to investigate the department’s massive shortfalls on top of a nearly $610 million budget, glaring issues have been brought to light, including unqualified leadership and tens of millions of dollars in deficit that must be addressed by vote this month. While the department had initially stated there was a $63 million shortfall, it was revised to $43 million due to internal reallocations. However, the department soon admitted to the House last minute on May 2 that it would be unable to make payroll for its 2000+ employees on May 7 after previously assuring there would not be any “cash flow issues before the end of May.” The date has now changed to May 21, and it is merely one part of the ever-changing details.

The initial request for a $6 million+ supplement to make it through FY25 at the end of June has increased to an astonishing $23 million. With House members critical of ODMHSAS’ glaring inefficiencies, one cannot help but ask why the state’s top leadership has not tried to be more involved — except for the fact that Governor Kevin Stitt actively praises Commissioner Allie Friesen as one of his hires and personally came to her defense during the finger-pointing.

Last month, FOX 25 investigated Commissioner Friesen’s credentials and found discrepancies with her licensed professional counselor (LPC) qualifications. While the governor announced her as “a licensed mental health professional since 2014” when she was hired in 2024, the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure showed her LPC as permanently expired on July 1, 2023, after she failed to renew it an entire year after the initial expiration date. Furthermore, Friesen is noted to have continued to use her LPC credential in multiple formats, including her email signature, commissioner business card, ODMHSAS biography, etc. and backed down from interviews regarding its expired status.

Although an LPC is not a required credential to serve as commissioner and Friesen was hired based on her work as Director of Clinical Programs in Behavioral Health at INTEGRIS, it is nevertheless illegal to misrepresent an LPC credential. According to §59- 1911

of the Oklahoma Statues concerning professions and occupations, the false usage of the title of Licensed Professional Counselor is subject to a fine of $100-$500 per offense along with the possibility of imprisonment. When questioned about this, Stitt denied any wrongdoing, saying, “I’m not aware of that situation. … But I haven’t heard that, and am not concerned about it.”

Despite this, Friesen assured all that “the new leadership team at ODMHSAS is committed to transparency and accountability,” and said, “The department is working with the governor’s office, OMES and the Legislature, and they are confident that no services will be interrupted and all team members will be paid on time.”

However, when asked about “mismanagement,” Friesen said under oath, “I cannot respond to that specific question due to multiple ongoing, pending investigations. … These are investigations that are ongoing under the (ODMHSAS) Inspector General’s Office.”

Since then, Inspector General Dewayne Moore resigned from the position, thanking Friesen and ODMHSAS leadership for their service and leaving the internal investigations in a state the House calls “worrisome.” Having previously ousted the old guard of ODMHSAS, the governor ironically spoke about how “you’re seeing the bureaucracy kick and scream as [Friesen] is actually putting a spotlight on this stuff. … Let’s see where all of the mice scatter to.” Bear in mind, when Friesen blamed the state of the department on the previous leadership of the last five years, Stitt had also been governor since 2019. If these financial problems are due to an unhealthy relationship with manipulative health providers and “cozying up to the vendors,” as the governor put it, where was he when things have fallen into disarray under his neglectful watch during what he called “years of mismanagement”?

While Gov. Stitt has announced appointing a special investigator to look into the department, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond called for Friesen’s immediate termination.

“The financial meltdown at the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is nothing short of government malpractice,” Drummond said in a statement from May 2. “Gov. Stitt should have fired his failed agency head months ago when we first learned of her incompetent leadership.”

Lashing back, Stitt accused Drummond of abusing his position by

going after those “targeted as political enemies” while comparing Friesen and her work to President Trump’s in an allusion to “draining the swamp.”

Knowledge deficit

During the House investigations, ODMHSAS has repeatedly shown that its incompetence stems from a lack of understanding, qualification and perhaps even corruption. Most notably, interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Skip Leonard was unable to answer basic questions or provide plans or examples of how to address the ever-growing financial issue under his watch. Despite having been aware of the dire financial situation since at least Feb. 21, Leonard did not address the crisis and instead said he did not receive any “formal training” as a former “executive partnership consultant” despite currently receiving a wage of $165/hour ($343,000 annually). He’s facing scrutiny within the House.

“Respectfully, Mr. Leonard, do you recognize your lack of knowledge and skill?” Rep. Ellyn Hefner (D-Oklahoma City) asked. “Why would you stay in this position, with all these months going by, making critical decisions that have definitely hit providers in our district?”

As time goes on, the House has continued to slam agency leadership.

“The situation at ODMHSAS is not an isolated oversight,” Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) wrote in an email to the Senate. “It is just the latest in a long line of failures, and we are left with yet another multimillion-dollar disaster dumped at the feet of the Legislature and, ultimately, the taxpayers of Oklahoma.”

NonDoc reported that House

Appropriations and Budget Committee

Chairman Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton) said, “The deeper we dig into the Oklahoma DMHSAS, the more we realize that they lack a basic understanding on governmental accounting principles, and it seems they were using statutorily obligated funds for whatever they wanted.”

Of course, the greatest issue with the state of ODMHSAS is not just the financial deficit but the lack of treatment and services being provided to Oklahomans because of it. As current leadership attempts to cut off vendors and health providers, renege payments and burn bridges, the ones most actively harmed by this are Oklahoma’s most vulnerable and those trying to help them.

The agency’s own website states, “Oklahoma has some of the highest rates for mental illness and substance use disorders.” Based on 2020 data, Oklahoma ranks 5th (25.6%) in the nation for rates of any mental illness, any substance abuse disorders is 16.1%. Between 700,000950,000 adult Oklahomans need services. Approximately 180,000 Oklahomans received ODMHSAS services in FY21.

With only a quarter of those suffering from mental illness and substance abuse actually receiving care before the brunt of the financial crisis, one cannot help but wonder about the ripple effects that this financial folly will have on the lives of fellow Okies.

ODMHSAS welcomes Commissioner Allie Friesen on X. | Photo X @ODMHSASINFO

OKLAHOMA TRAILBLAZERS

Perrin Duncan is a program officer for Arnall Family Foundation, where she primarily focuses on criminal justice reform. She recently spoke with Oklahoma Gazette about her career and work at AFF.

Oklahoma Gazette: Is there anything in particular about being involved in your community that you remember?

I remember going and doing some work at the zoo and helping build the zoo’s jungle gym. I remember going to a home and serving with Habitat for Humanity. We spent countless hours at the Junior League, where my mom was super involved.

I also remember the Oklahoma City National Memorial always being important to both of my parents. My dad was downtown when the bombing happened, and I was just a few months old at home with my mom. My mom’s been on the board of the memorial for many years, and my dad’s been a big supporter. I think both of them just found the story and the mission of the memorial to be really important. They also really value the Oklahoma Standard and what that truly means.

Tell me about college.

I went to DePauw University, which is a tiny liberal arts school in Greencastle, Indiana. I double-majored in economics and studio art and minored in Spanish, so my brain is kind of all over the place. DePauw is a very big study-abroad school, and I actually didn’t ever study abroad, but I spent one summer abroad, and then I also spent all four of our winter terms abroad. One year, I went to El Salvador and worked in a local community that had been bombed during the Salvadorian Civil War. I also went to Ecuador, and we set up medical clinics in communities that were two or more hours away from a hospital.

That was a really fascinating experience, and it taught me a lot about volunteerism, the positive and negative aspects. There was a community that we were actually run out of by a group of men with spears because they didn’t want Western medicine. I think about that moment all the time, even in the work that I do at AFF, because even in our own community, there are all these sub-communities, and sometimes people don’t want your help or they see solutions in a different way. Being conscious of that is, I think, crucial. We have to be invited, truly invited, into communities and partner with the community when we’re looking for change. We can’t just force things on people.

You moved back to Oklahoma in 2020 and worked for the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. When did you start with AFF?

When I met Sue Ann Arnall, it was just so clear that she’s the kind of person that I would love to work for. Her vision for

Perrin Duncan

By Benjamin Thomas

what community looks like and her willingness to invest her time and wealth are so inspiring to me. Pretty soon after I met her, she offered me the opportunity to apply for a position here, and that was a little over three years ago. When I was originally hired, the foundation was going through a little bit of transition. We’ve been around for 10 years now, and originally, the Arnold Family Foundation was invested in child welfare and animal welfare. More recently, we’ve been focused on criminal justice reform, homelessness, youth welfare and investing in economic mobility in Northeast OKC. My focus is on criminal justice reform and supporting the economic opportunity in Northeast OKC, and it’s really interesting. I mean, we get to work with the most incredible partners.

Why is your work in criminal justice so important to you?

In our country, we just allowed for a lot of the systems that have been in place to stay in place and never really questioned them. Is this truly adding to our public safety, or is this just what we’ve always done, so we’re going to keep doing it? But now we have people really looking with curiosity and care and trying to figure out if we are seeing increases in our jail population, is that actually a result of more violent people in our community? Or could that perhaps be related to people not paying fines and fees?

It’s hard to talk about that because people think people should be punished for what they did. But a $500 punishment feels very different to someone who makes $12,000 a year than it does to someone who makes $200,000. It’s not always a good punishment.

We’re also helping to expand diversion hubs into Cleveland and Canadian counties. They just do such amazing work of identifying what a person needs and can we help them connect with community services instead of putting them in prison.

Oklahoma has seemed to make a lot of progress on criminal justice reform. What is still left to do?

I’m really excited about the future of our state because I really do believe in Oklahomans. I think at our best, we do have the ability to make really great things happen, but it’s just a matter of keeping people in that mindset.

County circus

With finance violations, budget issues, turnpike debacles and development fiascos, Cleveland County is suffering a large amount of turmoil this year.

By Henry Nam Hardwick

The City of Norman is having a rough year, and not just because of the University of Oklahoma’s inaugural season in the SEC (Southeastern Conference). Rather, 2025’s forecast has been as bad as one could expect when trying to weather the storm when federal funding for national weather services is being cut. With the two great institutions of Norman under fire, the picturesque college town with a penchant for the status quo now stands at a crossroad. Rocked by the winds of change, 2025 is serving as a perfect storm of political controversies, monumental development projects and much ado about nothing.

Recently, Norman’s Ward 1 City Councilman Austin Ball entered a plea bargain of no contest regarding embezzlement charges after initially denying any campaign finance violations. The Oklahoma Attorney General’s office accepted a local petition to investigate. Furthermore, a recent audit of Cleveland County Sheriff Chris Amason’s office showed an overspend of $4 million (including 255 improper expenditures) on top of an $18.4 million budget. And Oklahoma Senator Lisa Standridge (R-Norman) made headlines with the proposal of Senate Bill 484 that prohibited the building of new homeless shelters outside Oklahoma City and Tulsa, specifically within 3,000 feet of schools, public libraries, parks and day cares and anywhere with fewer than 300,000 residents. The bill initially included domestic violence and youth shelters, and multiple revisions could not save it as it failed to pass in April.

Whether it be a Pikepass or a pipe dream, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) is trying to relieve traffic via the South Extension Turnpike expansion. ACCESS (Advancing and Connecting Communities and Economies Safely Statewide) Oklahoma is part of a “15-year long-range plan” to update and expand Oklahoma’s turnpikes, bridges and roadways. Covering 19 miles of roadway, the turnpike would extend from Franklin’s East-West Connector to Interstate 35 in Slaughterville. The update was originally planned along Lake Thunderbird State Park, but construction was halted in 2023 due to the turnpike crossing federal property and not meeting Bureau of Reclamation regulations. Ultimately, OTA announced in March 2025 that it would reroute westward toward I-35.

Despite this, Amy Cerato, president of Pike Off OTA and a University of Oklahoma civil engineering professor, said that wherever it is built will “go through all the stress and heartache and the living in limbo that we all felt on the original alignment.” For years, the project has threatened homes,

with local resident Michael Nash estimating that between 600-800 homes were at risk of being displaced through eminent domain. According to Cerato, it would affect “33% less houses if they moved it 1 mile west and take 66% less houses if they moved it 2 miles west.” With Cleveland County residents’ future left up in the air, OTA continues to assure “everyone to be able to reach out to us … and we will make them our first priority” as it hosts community meetings in Norman and Purcell this month.

Developmental renaissance?

Of course, Rock Creek Entertainment District and University North Park Arena is walking the high wire. Proposed to revitalize Norman by using land nearby I-35, Rock Creek will be a mixed-used development consisting of retail, dining, offices and residential spaces with the arena as its crown jewel replacing OU’s current Lloyd Noble Arena. With concerns over its jumbo $1.2 billion price tag, it was narrowly approved in a 5-4 vote by Norman City Council. In response, Oklahomans for Responsible Economic Development (ORED) managed to collect nearly 11,000 certified signatures to force a public vote. The petition was ruled invalid by Cleveland County District Judge Jeff Virgin, and the Oklahoma Supreme Court will begin hearings after receiving ORED’s brief by June 2.

Self-described as “a group of Norman neighbors who formed this nonprofit organization to make sure all the people of our community have a voice,” ORED claims that “the bottom line is the economic and social benefit of this arena is highly suspect and demands much more public vetting and discussion.”

However, local community developer and designer Richard McKown, who volunteers for Rock Creek, described ORED as a vocal minority misrepresenting the situation. Calling out OU professor Cynthia Rodgers and her husband, McKown said they are “academics who come to every [Norman City Council] meeting. Speak on every item, speak against it. Walk up and say, ‘I am a professor of economics, so I know everything.’”

However, ORED describes itself as not anti-arena or anti-growth but rather concerned with the “public financing of a project plan that saddles our city with a $600 million debt obligation for 25 years.” Dispelling that as rumor, McKown explained how Rock Creek would use two local TIFs (tax increment finance), a sales tax and an ad valorem tax (i.e., tax based on value), along with aid from OU for the arena.

“Unlike the Lloyd Noble, after 25 years, this thing will start to pay into the Norman Public School System like the OKC Downtown TIF, which will pay $17 million a year in OKCPS in 2026,” McKown said.

He said Rock Creek would significantly boost the local economy while potentially creating over 4,500 jobs.

Despite these roadblocks, the greatest value of Rock Creek is what it offers for Norman’s future.

“We have an opportunity to create this place for young, single people who want to be here,” McKown said, “something a 25-35-year-old will want.”

McKown sees it as a catalyst for Norman’s developmental renaissance and an all-or-nothing development.

“It’s a prairie next to the highway, and without the arena, you don’t get the bars,

businesses hotels, etc.,” he said.

Yet its remoteness is a benefit. When previously tasked with drawing up plans for Lloyd Noble’s replacement 13 years ago, McKown said from the scale of the parking garage alone, Norman City Council’s response was, “We don’t want the traffic, change, people, etc.”

While both the South Extension Turnpike and Rock Creek would concurrently affect I-35, McKown cited how Lincoln, Nebraska, moved a railroad to make a new arena district.

“Norman is famous for being against anything,” he said. “All college towns are like that. They explore everything that could go wrong.”

Yet when it comes to what could go right, McKown pointed toward local revitalizations, thanks to arenas in Kansas City’s Power & Light District, Downtown Dallas and even Downtown Oklahoma City.

McKown sees Rock Creek as the cure to what plagues Cleveland County.

“People want Norman to remain a small town like when they were 25, but you’re missing too many of the vital things that people want to have,” he said, “opportunities for their kids or even their own job opportunities.”

By helping Norman help itself, McKown hopes for a brighter future rather than a NIMBY (not in my backyard) attitude. Yet things may not look so bright for Norman, literally, when for two years in a row, local voters have rejected a 25-year franchise agreement with Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E) that would allow OG&E to access Norman’s public easements in exchange for a 3% franchise fee estimated at $2.8 million. Not the brightest move.

From courthouse controversies to turnpike tensions, Norman faces a year of transformation that’s reshaping the very landscape of Cleveland County. | Image Kimberly Walker

Walters plays politics and the Legislature fiddles

By Mark McBride

I’m just a simple guy, but it doesn’t take a Harvard degree to see what’s going on here. Ryan Walters is spending our hardearned education dollars not on kids, not on classrooms, but on building his own political army. And what’s worse?

The Oklahoma Legislature is sitting on its hands, watching it happen like they’re just taking the long way around the barn to avoid controversy.

In the past few weeks, Walters has been handing out fat paychecks to a bunch of out-of-state political consultants — folks who wouldn’t know a schoolhouse from a smokehouse.

• One fella, Matt Langston, is pulling in $130,000 a year, and in January, he pocketed a $34,000 bonus — part of a round of hefty payouts Walters gave to his inner circle.

• A nother, Jon “Matt” Mohler, managed to rake in over $76,000 in just two months — and it looks like he’s still got another full-time job back in Florida.

• Chad Gallagher, who’s best known for cleaning up messes for the Duggar family, is making close to $100,000 off our state budget, too.

• And Dan Isaacs, Walters’ former media guy, must’ve had a golden parachute — he walked away with around $76,000 when he left. Or was it for something else?

Just sayin’.

Now, I don’t know about you, but where I come from, if you pay a man to fix your fence and he spends all day polishing his boots, you fire him. You don’t hand him a bonus and call it a day.

Like Will Rogers said, “I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.” Well, the facts are plain: Ryan Walters is spending school money on political buddies, and nobody under the dome seems willing to lift a finger to stop it.

That dog just don’t hunt.

Yet here we are. Ryan Walters is using state education dollars like his own personal campaign piggy bank, and not one peep from the Legislature. No hearings. No investigations. No tough questions.

If the folks under the Capitol dome can’t find their voice when Oklahoma’s kids are getting the short end of the stick, maybe they need a little nudge.

Public service ain’t supposed to be about getting famous. It’s supposed to be about getting things done for the people you serve. Somewhere along the way, a few folks forgot that.

If this doesn’t sit right with you, don’t just shake your head — call your legislators and encourage them to address this.

Mark McBride is a fifth-generation Oklahoman, businessman, and conservative leader who served as state representative for Oklahoma’s District 53 from 2012 to 2024.

By Drew Williamson NEWS

Opinions expressed on the commentary page, in letters to the editor and elsewhere in this newspaper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of

or management.

Oklahoma GOP: Goons on parade

The Oklahoma Republican Party’s recent annual meeting marked a pivotal moment for the state’s political landscape, cementing a leadership slate and policy agenda that signal a hard-right lurch. The newly elected leadership, under the banner of unwavering conservatism, unveiled a platform that prioritizes ideological purity over pragmatism, drawing sharp criticism for its exclusionary tactics and divisive initiatives. Among the most contentious moves was the deliberate sidelining of the Oklahoma Young Republican Federation and College Republicans, who were stripped of voting rights at the convention, a decision that sparked outrage among younger party members. This editorial critically examines the Oklahoma GOP’s leadership and its troubling priorities and the backlash from the party’s youth, arguing that its agenda, particularly the opposition to public school funding, is a reckless betrayal of the state’s future.

The Oklahoma GOP’s leadership, as of March 2025, reflects a consolidation of power among hardline conservatives, with figures like state chairman A.J. Ferate steering the party toward an uncompromising vision. This group, elected at the annual meeting, has doubled down on a platform that emphasizes social conservatism, limited government and alignment with national GOP figures like President Donald Trump. Its rhetoric, steeped in appeals to “life, freedom, opportunity and security,” paints a nostalgic picture of the American dream but glosses over the practical needs of Oklahoma’s diverse population. The leadership’s insular approach was evident in their handling of the convention, where they prioritized control over inclusivity, alienating a key demographic: the party’s youth.

The Oklahoma GOP’s published priorities for 2025 are a laundry list of regressive policies that threaten the state’s progress. Among the most alarming is its explicit opposition to funding increases for public schools, a stance that defies logic in a state already grappling with underfunded education. Other initiatives include banning 5G technology, eliminating mail-in and early voting, and rejecting environmentally conscious investment strategies like ESG (environmental, social, governance) criteria. These policies, framed as defenses of conservative values, reveal a party more interested in culture wars than governance.

The opposition to public school funding is particularly egregious. Oklahoma’s education system is chronically underfunded, ranking among the lowest in the nation for per-pupil spending. Teachers’ salaries lag behind regional averages, and classrooms are overcrowded, with outdated resources hampering student outcomes. In 2018, a historic teacher walkout underscored the crisis, yet the GOP’s response in 2025 is to

dig in its heels, prioritizing tax cuts and ideological battles over the needs of students and educators. This stance is not just shortsighted; it’s a deliberate choice to starve the system that prepares Oklahoma’s future workforce. A well-educated populace is the backbone of economic growth, yet the GOP’s platform seems intent on dismantling it, favoring private interests and voucher programs that siphon public funds to unaccountable entities.

The push to ban 5G technology is equally baffling. In an era where connectivity drives innovation, Oklahoma risks falling behind by rejecting infrastructure that supports high-speed internet, telemedicine and remote learning. This policy, rooted in unfounded conspiracy theories, ignores the economic imperative of modernizing rural and urban communities alike. Similarly, the call to eliminate mail-in and early voting undermines democratic access. Oklahoma’s closedprimary system already limits participation, and further restrictions would disproportionately affect working-class voters, the elderly and those in rural areas — groups the GOP claims to champion. These initiatives reflect a leadership more concerned with appeasing a vocal fringe than addressing the state’s pressing needs.

The Oklahoma GOP’s exclusion of Young and College Republicans from voting at the convention was a calculated power grab that backfired spectacularly. The Oklahoma Young Republican Federation, a group dedicated to cultivating the next generation of GOP leaders, publicly condemned a proposed rule change that stripped their voting rights without prior notice or debate. The proposal, reportedly initiated by figures like Charity Linch and supported by party insiders, was slipped into precinct packets in Oklahoma County, bypassing transparency and democratic process. The move was seen as an attempt to silence younger, potentially more moderate voices within the party, ensuring that the leadership’s hard-right agenda faced no internal challenge.

The backlash was swift and fierce. The Young Republican Federation issued a statement decrying the “underhanded” tactic, arguing that it disenfranchised voters aged 18 to 40, a demographic critical to the party’s long-term viability. On X, sentiments echoed this frustration, with users like @Okie_ Rancher expressing dismay at the exclusion and pointing fingers at specific party operatives. The decision to marginalize young members is not just a tactical error; it’s a strategic disaster.

Young voters, even in conservative Oklahoma, are increasingly skeptical of rigid partisanship. Nationwide, youth

turnout has risen, with issues like abortion and economic opportunity driving their engagement. By alienating its youth, the Oklahoma GOP risks ceding ground to Democrats or, worse, fostering apathy among a generation that could have been its future.

The Oklahoma GOP’s priorities are not just misguided — they’re a betrayal of the state’s potential. Opposing public school funding is an attack on equity and opportunity. Education is not a luxury; it’s a public good that underpins economic mobility and civic engagement. By refusing to invest in schools, the GOP ensures that Oklahoma remains trapped in a cycle of low wages, brain drain and limited innovation. The state’s rural communities, already struggling with declining populations, will bear the brunt of this neglect, as underfunded schools fail to prepare students for a competitive global economy.

The rejection of 5G and voting access further exposes the leadership’s disconnect. Technological advancement and democratic participation are not partisan issues; they’re necessities for a functioning society. The GOP’s paranoiadriven policies cater to a shrinking base while ignoring the broader electorate’s demands for progress. And by excluding Young and College Republicans, the leadership has shown its fear of dissent, prioritizing control over coalition-building. This is not leadership. It’s cowardice dressed in conservative garb.

Oklahoma deserves better than a GOP that parades goonish policies under the guise of principle. The state’s challenges — education, infrastructure, economic diversification — require pragmatic solutions, not ideological crusades. The backlash from Young Republicans offers a glimmer of hope, signaling that not all within the party are willing to march lockstep with a leadership that’s lost its way. To reclaim its relevance, the Oklahoma GOP must embrace inclusivity, starting with restoring voting rights to its youth and engaging in good-faith dialogue about the state’s future.

The leadership should abandon its opposition to public school funding and champion a robust education system that equips all Oklahomans for success. It should prioritize infrastructure like 5G to connect communities and expand voting access to strengthen democracy. These are not radical ideas. They’re the bare minimum for a party that claims to value opportunity and security. Until the Oklahoma GOP sheds its goonish tendencies and governs for all, it will remain a parade of self-inflicted wounds, marching toward irrelevance.

Drew Williamson is managing partner of Red Center Media, LLC, holding company of Oklahoma Gazette

chicken friedNEWS

Church school?

Sometime next month, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to decide whether the Catholic church should be allowed to open its own public charter school in Oklahoma and receive state tax dollars to do so. For many, the idea of a religious public school seems to be a clear violation of the separation of church and state. But many Republicans, including Gov. Kevin Stitt, have a different take.

Some observers of the court believe it will rule in favor of the Catholic school. Justice Brett Kavanaugh seemed to argue that approving the new school would “be expanding the options, not contracting the options.”

That’s true, unless you’re, you know, not Catholic.

Given Oklahoma’s history of handing out public dollars to private entities and schools, it’s a safe bet that allowing religious organizations to start their own public schools will end in financial mismanagement. At the very least, Oklahoma’s Republican-majority Legislature will surely change its tune when other faiths begin opening their

Lunch insecurity

For the second year in a row, Oklahoma will not participate in a federal summer food program. Gov. Kevin Stitt has proclaimed that Oklahoma doesn’t have a childhood hunger issue. At least that should be the takeaway after he again declined to participate in the federal summer food program meant to feed kids who rely on school-provided meals.

Most states are participating in the program that issues $120 to every child who already qualifies for free and reduced lunch during the school year.

Oklahoma is “fully capable of serving children and students without a federal program that has floundered in other states,” said Stitt, seemingly unaware that our state has the secondhighest rate of childhood food insecurity in the nation.

Senate punts

After state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters slipped in new social studies standards that raise doubts about the 2020 presidential election, some lawmakers said it was a move too far. Even the governor criti cized Waters for trying to teach kids that Trump beat Biden.

But despite that criticism, the state Senate de clined to take up a resolution to remove the new standards. The leader of the Senate said his caucus just didn’t seem interested in the issue.

Walters declared it a “major victory for Oklahoma families and for the truth,” conveniently forgetting that “truth” used to require, you know, facts. He also proudly announced the Bible’s new status as a “foundational text,” presumably to help students understand why sudden ballot-counting halts are divinely inspired.

While students will now be required to identify discrepancies in the 2020 election, it might be worth adding a lesson on identifying ways the Oklahoma Legislature fails to do its job. Other lessons worth considering should also include identifying discrepancies in the Oklahoma state Department of Education budget and the large salary payouts Walters has made to his buddies.

Real ID

In a state where lawmakers have long argued more background checks are needed for voter registrations, many of the same lawmakers resisted efforts more than a decade ago to strengthen the security of IDs, such as driver’s licenses.

After the federal government introduced the REAL ID program following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Oklahoma Legislature and Gov. Brad Henry signed into law in 2007 legislation specifically forbidding the state from complying.

Years later, the Legislature and Gov. Mary Fallin finally agreed to comply. After multiple delays, the deadline for Oklahomans to have a REAL ID to fly or enter military bases has finally arrived.

There is no doubt that many Oklahomans are still scrambling to get their new ID, a process that could have been completed years ago. In the end, Oklahoma leaders turned the needed REAL ID into a real pain for its

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS OKLAHOMA DELEGATION

Fax: (202) 225-3038

(918) 283-6262 Dist 1: Kevin Hern (Tulsa)

Tel: (202) 225-2211

Fax: (202) 225-9178

(918) 935-3222

EAT & DRINK

Vibrant flavors

OKC’s newest Latin restaurant offers brunch, dinner and everything in between with a side of excellent service.

By Sarah Neese

Tayta Latin Cuisine

25 N. Hudson Ave. taytalatincuisineoklahoma.com | 405-493-9805

WHAT WORKS: If there’s something Tayta definitely does right (there’s more than one thing), it’s the collection of condiments and sauces. I couldn’t get enough.

WHAT NEEDS WORK: Make sure you really like the protein you select with your meal. You get a lot of it, and it might not be cooked in the way you’re used to.

TIP: Don’t worry about grabbing the first parking spot you see along the street. Tayta offers free parking in the garage next door.

While I won’t pretend to be the most up-to-date Oklahoman about what’s up and coming in the metro’s restaurant scene, I’d like to think I have a pretty good idea of who’s opened their doors in recent months.

However, I’d be lying if I said the opening of Tayta Latin Cuisine, 25 N. Hudson Ave., didn’t fly under my radar.

Tayta brings vibrant flavors from Latin America, including recipes influenced by South and Central America and the Caribbean, to downtown Oklahoma City. With authentic dishes like churrasco con chimichurri (steak with chimichurri sauce) and an entire menu section dedicated to ceviche, this isn’t your typical Tex-Mex fare.

In all transparency, when I decided to try Tayta, I wasn’t in the mood for this kind of cuisine. A warm bowl of queso? Sure. More traditional Latin American food? I

expected openness. The interior is nothing short of beautiful, and everything from the light fixtures to the plates seems to have been selected with simple elegance in mind.

Tayta’s Saturday lunch menu features a mix of both breakfast and lunch items, so keep that in mind if you’re looking to try somewhere new for a weekend brunch spot. It also meant I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to enjoy a tall glass of orange juice — no matter how unconventional. (It didn’t disappoint.)

I started the meal with Peruvian empanadas, a seasonal offering of traditional pastries filled with a choice of seasoned beef or spinach and cheese filling. Never one to pass up any form of meat pie, I went with the beef. As the empanadas arrived at the table, I was conflicted, as they were so beautifully golden and handmade with care that I almost didn’t want to eat them. Almost.

While a pocket of pastry filled with meat typically connotes something hearty and heavy, these little tasty tokens were inexplicably light. Paired with a chimichurri sauce, the herb-forward condiment only added to the airy flavor of the empanadas and made for the perfect nosh to start the meal.

We’ll pause here for a moment of honesty and vulnerability. Alongside the chimichurri sauce, the empanadas also came with a sauce made with ají amarillo peppers. I would love to be able to describe all of the

michurri, and the other was the most creamy, delightful, garlicky goodness you can imagine. I couldn’t resist dipping everything into it (within reason) and elevating the flavor that much more.

Pan con Lechon signifies a roasted pork sandwich topped with avocado, tomato and caramelized onions. Something about the mention of artisanal bread and the promise of textural intrigue called to me.

While slightly difficult to eat from the sheer size of the pork, the first bite was exactly what I’d been hoping for. Salty pork married well with the creamy but fresh avocado, while the caramelized onions did what they do best: make everything better.

Perfect potatoes

However, as I reflect on this meal, the sandwich takes a backseat as I tell you about the real star of the show. When my plate arrived at the table, I was surprised yet skeptical that my sandwich came with what appeared to be breakfast potatoes.

I know this won’t win me any popular points, but I’m usually not a fan of breakfast potatoes. Most brunch goers will argue that they’re an important staple. I, however, feel they’re usually lacking in flavor and texture and somehow manage to be a little too potato-y, if that’s even possible.

These potatoes were different. These potatoes were a side to write home about. These potatoes had to be some of the best potatoes I’ve ever had the privilege of eating. Am I exaggerating? I really don’t

Cooked to perfection, these small cubes of starchy goodness had what I can only describe as award-worthy texture. Crispy but not too heavy. Soft without being too mushy. Seasoned without being overpowering. What I would have once considered filler potato pieces on a plate ended up being the culinary highlight of my entire day — so good I felt it would have been disrespectful not to eat every

Why was something as simple as a side of potatoes so great? There’s a very specific reward you get with the honest simplicity of letting the ingredients speak for

themselves. Tayta seems to capture this perfectly. Each dish I saw come out of the kitchen displayed vibrancy, almost as if you could see life on the plate — dishes with recipes that have clearly passed down across generations that tell the story of culture and identity.

Authentic Latin American cuisine isn’t necessarily something the Oklahoma masses are familiar with. But that’s where the staff at Tayta really shine. Every person I encountered or observed during my time there offered up a welcoming smile and went out of their way to be helpful.

To my left, a waitress helped a girls’ brunch duo whittle down their selections based on what “vibe” they were going for. On my right, another staff member patiently walked a newcomer through each menu option, explaining what this word meant over here and which ingredients came with that one there. Never once did she seem annoyed or anything less than genuinely helpful. The woman serving my table was exceptionally attentive, checking in at just the right times while still keeping the meal moving. Even as I went to leave, a staff member stopped me to double-check I had the directions for how to take advantage of Tayta’s free parking next door, if I needed to.

At the end of the day, I’m happy to have been proven wrong about my attitude for adventure. From its beautiful downtown location and bright, welcoming interior to its colorful dishes and genuine staff, Tayta proved it could outshine even the grumpiest of moods by being uniquely itself.

If you’ve ever had the privilege of immersing yourself in true Latin American culture, you may have experienced the vivacious fervor for life, family, friends, food and culture that so much of the community embodies. Tayta Latin Cuisine manages to capture that essence and infuses it into the experience as a whole, something which is clearly intentional.

I’ll happily return to try some of its dinner menu offerings and remind myself that life is about more than corporate achievement or errand completion. Sometimes, it’s about a smile with a side of chimichurri.

Visit taytalatincuisineoklahoma.com.

Pan con Lechon sandwich with potatoes

| Photo provided

Tayta’s empanadas come with chimichurri sauce and a sauce made with ají amarillo peppers. | Photo provided

Boom Town Creamery

multiple locations

boomtowncreamery.com 405-423-5419

If you’re craving all the ice cream, head to Boom Town Creamery for a flight with six mini scoops of your choice. Choose from classic homemade flavors like Turtley Rad made with caramel, fudge and pecans; Salted Cowboy Cookie with chunks of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies; or Elemental Espresso Crunch made with Elemental Coffee Roasters coffee ice cream, hazelnut and fudge. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, try a scoop of What’s Up Doc?, a sweet, carrot-based sorbet.

Urban Agrarian 1235 SW Second St. urbanagrarian.com 405-231-1919

Sasquatch Shaved Ice NW 16th Street and N. Indiana Avenue sasquatchshavedice.org 405-431-5705

Carnival Eats & Treats food truck facebook.com/iluvcorndogs 405-633-7572

For a lighter grab-and-go goodie, head to Urban Agrarian for some fresh fruit. It works with over 140 Oklahoma farmers and food producers to bring the freshest harvests to the metro. Produce enthusiasts can opt for a weekly or bi-weekly $35 subscription box to keep their summer fruit bowl fully stocked.

This frosty summer treat is a staple of Oklahoma summer. Sasquatch Shaved Ice in the Plaza District serves up more than basic Tiger’s Blood and Blue Raspberry. The available flavor combinations can be overwhelming for first-time visitors, but we don’t think you can go wrong with Chump’s Paradise made with orange, pineapple and pomegranate syrups. True snow cone-noisseurs can spring for a whipped

Who says you have to wait for September for a funnel cake? Carnival Eats & Treats brings fair fare to festivals and events all over Oklahoma all year long. Those hankering for corn dogs, Indian tacos and fried Oreos flock to the brightly lit, multicolored trailers to satisfy their cravings. Keep an eye on its Facebook page for its next appearance.

ARTS & CULTURE

Neuf territory

Oklahoma Contemporary features Oklahomabased artist Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds’ work in a retrospective exhibit as well as the basketball court in Campbell Art Park.

By Jo Light

On one of the city’s few recent sunny afternoons, I drove past Oklahoma Contemporary and spotted two kids playing basketball in Campbell Art Park, 11 NW 11th St.

The courts had recently been painted in splashes of pinks, yellows and rust reds. The kids, darting across just-dried colors, probably didn’t know they were standing on one of Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds’ newest pieces of artwork, “Neufs for Oklahoma Autumn.”

Heap of Birds (Cheyenne and Arapaho Nation) is a local art treasure world-renowned for his Neufs series as well as his text-based artwork calling attention to Indigenous issues and sovereignty. He was born in Wichita, Kansas, lived internationally and is currently settled in Oklahoma. He received his bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Kansas, studied painting at the Royal College of Art in London and received a master of fine arts degree from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University.

Teaching is a huge part of his work, too. He taught at the University of Oklahoma (OU) for 30 years and has lectured in over a dozen countries at various schools (Yale University included). His work appears in major collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and Tate Modern. He’s been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and received numerous honors throughout his career, all while maintaining his home base here.

Artistic strategy

It might then surprise you that Oklahoma Contemporary has just mounted his first retrospective exhibition in this state in 40 years. Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds: Honor Song opened Feb. 20 and features over 500 pieces. Honor Song took years to put together as Heap of Birds realized he had connections to Oklahoma Contemporary through family and former students.

That’s where we started when Heap of Birds joined me on Zoom: How did I find the exhibition? (Not at all a daunting question when speaking with one of America’s most significant contemporary artists.)

There was one piece I responded to in particular, “Dunging the Ground”: two large aluminum panels that were originally displayed outside at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Connecticut on either side of Enoch Smith Woods’ sculpture “Nathan Hale.”

The panels feature violent quotes from militiamen who perpetrated the Pequot Massacre in 1637.

I told Heap of Birds that the recontextualization of the horrible event through his eyes, in a new setting and format, drew me to the work.

A lot of his art is like that: declarative or direct. “Smile for racism,” one painting invites with a menacing version of a Cleveland mascot scribbled over in red (“American League,” 1994). “Do Not Dance for Pay” is painted on another work (“Was Told 12 Times,” 2022).

“I feel really strongly about that perspective,” he said.

He noted that he doesn’t want to be driven by market demand, which is often steeped in fetishism and commodification.

“But if we had more art that was more real, like what you responded to about ‘Dunging the Ground’ and the Massacre of the Pequot — and people don’t know that happened, right?” he said. “It’s like a secret. And why should it be a secret? Why can’t we really embrace history? Because the artists aren’t presenting it.”

The assertiveness in his work is an artistic strategy and a political statement. His art refuses to cater to mainstream expectations about how Indigenous artists should create or what their art should look like. Instead of producing work that fits stereotypes, he challenges viewers with direct confrontations of historical truths and contemporary realities.

“Why is a Native artist asserting their history and their presence in society — that’s a remarkable achievement or a stance. Why are those things remarkable?” he asked. “People aren’t ready for that, or they don’t expect that you actually would speak up and say what’s true or how you feel rather than what you’re expected to say.”

A straightforward textual element also appears in “Neufs for Oklahoma Autumn” in the form of the backboards. “Sooners, today your host is Arapaho,” players will read on one. This is part of his Native Hosts series, which features signs honoring historical Indigenous inhabitants.

The courts themselves are based on two paintings in the gallery (“Neuf for Autumn” and “Neuf for Autumn II”) and feature over 50 colors. Heap of Birds, a basketball fan who went to KU (“Where they invented basketball”), said he’s been playing street ball for years, so the courts were a welcome canvas when he was first approached by Project Backboard for a New York project (which became “Neufs

for Hawaii,” 2022).

“The Shinnecock people came and danced with their feathers on the courts, and we had workshops for children,” he said of the Murray Park court. “I’m looking to see what happens here, if we can program things or invite people to come in, have tournaments.”

The OKC opening will likely feature DJs and Indigenous drummers. Heap of Birds said he and the museum are open to other programming ideas, especially for Indigenous communities or youth.

Community creation

His Neuf paintings are abstract, leaflike shapes of diagonal color. He began these paintings in 1981 after returning to Oklahoma. Like many artists who study in major art centers, he found himself at a crossroads, connected to the art world but disconnected from the natural environment that nourished him.

“I came back after all that experience. I was showing in New York a bit, but I was kind of lost, struggling with trying to find the natural world, in a sense,” Heap of Birds said. “So I just moved back to the reservation, where I never lived before.”

This period led to an artistic breakthrough. While living in his great-grandmother’s home, he created his first Neuf painting, which would set the direction for much of his subsequent work. The painting emerged from both a spiritual and physical connection to the land.

“I look at it as a sovereign moment, and it has taken 30 years to understand that it was a painting,” he said. “I was on the reservation on the Arapahoe land, living with nature. And so sovereignty isn’t just a book or an idea; it’s really about a place.”

For Heap of Birds, public installations like the courts serve a purpose by making art accessible to people who might feel intimidated by traditional museum spaces.

“The public art, of course, is so great because it’s free. The museum’s free, but there’s certain apprehension about going in a big building, and people don’t

go,” he said.

His approach connects to his broader concerns about art education and cultural awareness in Oklahoma. As an educator, Heap of Birds witnessed firsthand the gaps in arts education across the state. At OU, he mentored many students to success in art before shifting into Native Studies.

“I felt that it was important to educate more of the layperson at the university, because we needed more sponsors of art,” he said. “We’ve got enough artists. We’ve got a lot of artists. They don’t have any work being sold, and no exhibits. We need people to actually be the patrons.”

Heap of Birds continues to work internationally. He’s currently developing a project for the Palais de Tokyo in Paris that will examine the Louisiana Purchase from an Indigenous perspective (specifically, how France sold land it didn’t own in the first place). He was about to travel to work in Hawaii when we spoke, and he’s preparing a book with Radius Books in Santa Fe.

Heap of Birds has also focused on his involvement in his community, explaining how in the Cheyenne culture, ceremonial leaders and priests are involved in a form of creation.

“That’s how the culture is transmitted, has been transmitted in ceremony,” he said. “And I’ve been through that with ceremonies for 30 years. That’s why I live here, too. Now I’m more of an elder. So now I’m really happy to pursue more of that. How do you mentor other younger Cheyenne men that are responsible toward carrying on the culture?”

Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds: Honor Song through Oct. 20

Portrait of Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds with “Neufs for Hawaii,” 2022, in Long Island City, 2022. |

Photo John Dennis

ARTS & CULTURE

Touch grass

By Daniel Bokemper

Don’t let the always-early June bugs deter you. Our state is in full bloom, and you’ve got to see it. From gentle rivers and massive lakes to serene hikes, jawdropping vistas and vibrant wildlife, you don’t have to leave Oklahoma to have a great time this summer.

And you don’t even need a cooler full of beer, either. (Though most of these places won’t discourage it if that’s your thing.) In fact, Oklahoma’s outdoor scene is prime to entertain people of all ages, be it through fishing, hiking, camping or just learning about what makes our ecosystem so special. Aside from some driving, all you need to do is step outside. Here are some great spots to do it.

Robbers Cave State Park

2084 NW 146th Road, Wilburton robberscavestatepark.com 918-465-2565

Ever wonder where Jesse James kicked back and relaxed after he wrapped a heist? While Robbers Cave State Park isn’t exclusively known for its legendary history, its former status as an outlaw haven alone makes the trip to Wilburton worth taking.

Of course, you can venture into the cave and see the likely place where outlaws and bandits would hole up. But the surrounding area offers so much more than that with light to moderate trails, rock climbing areas and an abundance of spots to fish along Fourche Maline Creek.

On May 20, the park hosts a free

youth fishing tournament for anyone under 17. Parents can fish alongside their kids, but of course, they won’t be eligible for the championship. And if that’s not quite your speed, May 17 features Kids in Parks, an two-part event that kicks off with crafts from 2-5 p.m., followed by a guided nature hike.

Robbers Cave State Park also offers several great spots for riverside camping as well as a nearby visitors’ center to stock up on ice, firewood and other basic necessities. For those who want an even more removed experience, the park offers several primitive camping spots, though you’ll likely want to avoid trying it after any recent rainfall.

Lake Eufaula

lakeeufaula.com

If you prefer something as close to a beachside getaway as you can get in a land-locked state, look no farther than Lake Eufaula. As Oklahoma’s largest lake, it’s one of the ideal spots to spend a weekend filled with boating, fishing or swimming.

Eufaula features a vast campground with dozens of spots fit for RVs. For those who want to spend a night closer to the water, many of its tent camping areas lie on small peninsulas, making sleeping overnight a bit more comfortable, thanks to the lake’s constant and pleasant breeze.

More adventurous lake-goers could climb up one of several of Eufaula’s massive rock faces and — with the right

Robber’s Cave Photo Oklahoma Tourism

Lake Eufaula

Photo Oklahoma Tourism

precautions — plunge into the water from 20-plus feet. Plus, the lake’s sheer size makes it great for speedboats and jet skis since, for this most part, Eufaula rarely gets as congested as some of the Oklahoma’s smaller bodies of water.

Designated ramps, harbors and swimming areas also make it easier for families to have fun on the shore with kayaks or even just a few floaties.

Illinois River

15971 Highway 10, Tahlequah grda.com/illinois-river

918-456-3251

Don’t let the name fool you. The Illinois River is an Oklahoman staple. Most flock to float the six- to 12-mile stretch located in Tahlequah, and for good reason. Deer, bald eagles and more are known to frequent the area, especially during the thick of summer.

For fishing, the Illinois rewards those who stay on the move, though it still offers plenty of opportunity near the shore (if you’ve got a set of waders). If your friends and family are new to the experience, it’s hard to go wrong renting a raft for four to six people from either Arrowhead, Diamondhead, War Eagle or Eagle Bluff resorts. All four also offer lodging and tent camping if you intend to stay overnight, which wouldn’t be a bad idea to minimize driving and maximize your time on the water.

For those looking for more excitement and better control over the float, kayaks or canoes give you the chance to float alongside the shore and explore its nooks and crannies that are a little treacherous for the larger rafts. Either way, come to terms with potentially tipping over, and be sure to come with water shoes in the event you need to briefly drag your craft along some of the shallower areas.

Broken Bow

brokenbow.com

580-204-4899

No, this isn’t just west Arkansas. But it’s admittedly pretty close. A bit further out than any of the other spots on this list, Broken Bow offers no shortage of things to do.

While you could spend some time in one of its many premium cabins, Beavers Bend State Park is filled with hikes, many of which are short enough to fit a handful in a single day. Thrillseeking families will enjoy the numerous bike trails, while others might find a float down Beavers Bend exactly what they needed to forget about the metro’s hustle and bustle. The area also has

great areas for horseback riding through the woods, which is surprisingly rare in most parts of the state.

That said, Broken Bow is also known for its modern charm. With plenty of options to eat out and even a bowling alley, this plunge into nature offers many spots to relax if you start to get tired of the sun.

Quartz Mountain

14722 Highway 44a, Lone Wolf travelok.com/state-parks/quartz-mountain-state-park 580-563-2238

The Wichita Mountains aren’t just home to a one-of-a-kind art institute. It also features one of the most beautiful vistas Oklahoma has to offer. While Black Mesa may technically be the state’s highest point, Mount Scott is sure to give you the best view of the Great Plains. You can even drive up to it in the afternoon if you want to spare the trek and see more of what the park has to offer.

And from ample woodland hikes to several buffalo, there’s no shortage of opportunities to experience this Okie oasis. If you ever see multiple vehicles on the side of the road, be sure to stop. Chances are, you’ll catch a family of prairie dogs at their most active.

When you’ve got your fill of wildlife, visit nearby Medicine Park for great food, cozy lodging and an electrifying aquarium and science center.

Martin Park Nature Center

7 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday 5000 W. Memorial Road okc.gov/departments/parks-recreation/ martin-park-nature-center 405-297-1429

Don’t have time to leave Oklahoma City? No problem. Martin Park Nature Center offers tons of opportunities to learn about nature and soak in the outdoors without dedicating an entire day to it.

Ideal for children, the park hosts programs almost every week through the summer, including its Habitat at Home Nature’s Classroom series. In these sessions, kids and adults can learn about the many plants and animals that make up our ecosystem with educational discussions and activities.

For those who prefer their learning on the go, the nature and birding hikes are a great way to find out more about local wildlife up close and personal. Even if you hike the park without a guide, you’ll still find a unique wilderness experience around every corner. And when you’re ready to go, civilization is just a few steps away.

May 23 June 27 July 25 Aug 22 Sep 26 Oct 24

Beavers Bend

Photo Oklahoma Tourism

EXPERIENCE

Friday, June 6, 2025 | 6-9pm

In the Paseo Arts & Creativity Center at 3024 Paseo Gallery I: Poetic City – Sunee Rice Gallery II: Andrea St. Clair and Terry McCarty Gallery III: Darci Lenker

The Paseo Arts District has local and national art, great food, art classes & plenty of shopping!

ARTS & CULTURE

Creative sanctuary

Art House on 4th is ready to build a new kind of community space.

By Lauren Thomas-Martin

A visit to Noah Davis’ The Underground Museum in Mid-City Los Angeles motivated Chandler Watson to create something similar in Oklahoma City. The art house in Mid-City was a combination bookstore, art gallery and sculpture park with movie screenings and community events. The location was called “The Underground Museum.”

“He was bringing world-class art to the hood, essentially, and that inspired me,” Watson said. “I wanna open up something like that.”

Watson’s time in Los Angeles made him reevaluate the Oklahoma art scene and see it from an outsider’s perspective.

doesn’t have to be associated with this,” he said. “Art House is gonna do its own thing and provide space for artists that are marginalized and overlooked.”

OKC artist Denae Smith also studios at Art House on 4th. Watson and Smith met at the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (OVAC) Artist Entrepreneurial Program, and their aligned priorities brought them together and convinced Watson to share the space and burden of running an art house.

“It makes things easier for me,” Watson said. “She’s been a massive help.” Smith, an OVAC THRIVE

Tuesday - Friday 10am-5pm Sizes Small to 2X

12100 N. May

The Shoppes at Northpark (North End, East Side)

“When I was out in LA, they were like, ‘We would never expect somebody like you to be from Oklahoma,’” he said. “So now you have to change other people’s perspective of what this place is.”

Rainbow connection

Watson said his ultimate motivation for Art House on 4th, 829 NW Fourth St., is late Black Panther activist Fred Hampton.

“When I leave, you’ll remember I said, with the last words on my lips, that I am a revolutionary.” Hampton said. “And you’re going to have to keep on saying that.”

“Fred Hampton, in his book, says, I’m paraphrasing, but he said, ‘If you ever mention my name,you better be a revolutionary,’ essentially,” Watson said. ”So whenever I say his name, it’s like, nope, well, I have to do more.”

Watson was further inspired by Hampton’s Rainbow Coalition, the multicultural working-class anti-racist movement aimed to reach people of all backgrounds with common struggles.

“He went from hood to hood. It didn’t matter what color, what background they were,” Watson said. “He’s like, ‘Oh, you’re poor, you’re poor, you’re poor, you’re poor, you’re all being treated like shit. Let’s come together and let’s start this program.’”

Watson feels the art house will speak for itself and doesn’t need to have his name on the building.

“It’s bigger than me. My name

Grant recipient, is currently working with Bridge Impact Center and Kidvation Global to offer free art classes to children.

“I’m just grateful that I have a space where she can help young minds grow,” Watson said.

Well-lit

Watson wants to provide a space for artists to work outside the home, noting there are few places in the city to work in a quiet and clean environment.

“Everything’s a bar,” Watson said. “I always wanted my own workspace, too, besides just working in my apartment. This could be more than that. It could be community.”

Art House on 4th plans on offering monthly artist memberships that allow access to the studio space and tools.

Bigger plans include adding a food bank and classes on firearm safety and canvas-stretching and a sculpture park. But first things first: an art walk block party.

“When I’m able to, I’ll have a bunch of artists come set up and then have some live music,” Watson said. “There’s just a lot of potential right here.”

Art House on 4th looks to be more than an art gallery.

“It’s a sanctuary for creatives that don’t ever get a chance in the other art pockets in the city,” Watson said. “It’s about unity — sanctuary and unity. That’s it. And don’t cross that line or you get fucked up.”

Visit instagram.com/arthouseon4th.

Collaborative art pieces by Chandler Watson and Danae Smith on display at Art House on 4th.

| Photo Chandler Watson

ARTS & CULTURE

Controlled chaos

By Lauren Thomas-Martin

The COVID-19 pandemic affected all of us in different ways. For Tiffany and Matt Donovan, lockdown gave them time to focus on family.

“This was back in 2020, when everyone was going crazy,” Tiffany said. “We’re looking for alternative methods for our son, who suffers from mental illness. We’re looking for something different to try to help him out.”

An exploratory trip to a rage room in Tulsa led to a total life shift.

“We were like, ‘This is the best thing. We’ve gotta bring this to our area,’” Tiffany said. “So with that, we decided to quit both of our jobs and just go in feet first.”

Within the first few months of operation at the Edmond location of Chaos Factory, 2215 NW 78th St., Suite A, Matt knew they had something rare in our area when a group visited from Arkansas to rage.

“They said, ‘We just came to see you,’” Matt said, “and it kind of gave me goosebumps.”

After that visit, Matt put a map on the wall asking guests to place a pin

showing where they were from.

“We had Yukon, we had outside of Edmond and Oklahoma City, of course, and we had Norman, and we had Choctaw. Everybody was filling up,” Matt said, “and most people came from Norman.”

The second, larger Chaos Factory location in Norman has three rage rooms, a splatter room (think Jackson Pollack’s dream workspace), an all-ages Smash Alley and a party room that has seen birthdays, corporate events, graduations and divorce parties.

Smashing safely

Guests arrive and sign their waivers, then it’s on to the smashing good stuff.

“Each person that goes in the room gets a crate full of items,” Tiffany said. “Dishes, bottles, electronics, random knick-knacks from grandma’s house.”

In addition to the included crate of doodads for demolition, guests can grab experience enhancers like extra bottles, confetti bombs and ceramics. Those needing to release a bit more rage have some bigger add-on options.

“We also have TVs and windshields as well,” Tiffany said. “So if you’re thinking about an ex-boyfriend or exgirlfriend and you’re like, ‘I wanna

pretend like I’m gonna hit their car,’ you can bring a windshield in the room and smash away.”

Guests are welcome to bring their own items to annihilate from home, but check with Chaos Factory first to make sure your item is safe to destroy on-site.

Heading into the Splatter Room, each guest receives three bottles of neon blacklight reactive paint, a 9x12-inch canvas, paintbrushes and plastic seat covers for the ride home.

Add-ons include white T-shirts and hats, extra protective gear, glitter tubes and splat balls, large cotton balls swimming in paint that you can dip and redip for extra splatting fun.

“You can squirt paint on your canvas; you can squirt it on each other, on the walls. I mean, just go crazy and wild,” Tiffany said. “Our paint is water-based. It will come out of your hair, skin and clothes really easily, and it is non-toxic as well.”

“And it’s gluten-free,” Matt joked.

In the Rage Rooms, guests are required to wear hard-soled, closed-toe shoes, and Chaos Factory provides the rest.

“We want to make sure that everyone is safe before they go into the rage room,’ Tiffany said. “We provide coveralls, a helmet with a face shield and some cutresistant gloves.”

Each Rage Room is set up similarly with a large cable spool, a chain with a clip to hang breakables from, a Bluetooth speaker for your personalized rage playlist and a window for those who would rather watch the destruction

than participate. The plywood walls are spray-painted with positive affirmations.

“We try to put little positive notes: ‘You’re amazing. Survivor. Just do it. Keep going. Rise above,’” Tiffany said. “There’s a lot of negativity in the world, so we just try to bring it up a little bit.”

While the Rage Rooms are strictly for ages 12 and over, all ages are welcome in the splatter room and Smash Alley, where guests get bottles and a small basket of breakables to throw at the wall and shelf targets.

“We only require you putting on some goggles in here, and then you’re able to throw things as hard as you can,” Tiffany said. “You can hear that loud crashing noise and still get the satisfaction from that.”

Though the Donovans said one of the biggest challenges of Chaos Factory is finding new and exciting items to smash, the rewards have outweighed any hurdles.

“Mainly people come in just to have a great time, but there’s also people that are hurting,” Tiffany said. “And so the blessing part, the good part about this, the rewarding part about our job is that we get to help people and we get to be the arena for people to come in and just let it all out, let loose, forget about their problems for a little bit.”

Visit chaosfactoryok.com.

Tiffany and Matt Donovan began The Chaos Factory as a coping method for their son. | Photo Jeremy Martin

The Chaos Factory in Norman has three rage rooms, a splatter room, an all-ages Smash Alley and a party room. | Photo Jeremy Martin

ARTS & CULTURE

Tulsa treasures

Take a long weekend to explore all the Art Deco, rolling hills and tree-lined streets T-town has to offer.

By Julie Porter Scott

Culture

Tulsa’s storied cultural landscape is alive and well, offering a wide array of activities to benefit your mind, body and soul.

Gathering Place

7 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through March 7

2650 S. John Williams Way E., Tulsa gatheringplace.org

918-779-1000

Free

It’s free to visit the 66-acre park along the Arkansas River, where you’ll find playgrounds, bike trails, a skate park and sport courts.

Bob Dylan Center

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday

116 E. Reconciliation Way, Tulsa bobdylancenter.com

918-392-3353

Free-$22

Head over to the Tulsa Arts District for a deep dive into the music of Nobel Prize-winning singer-songwriter Bob Dylan through exhibits, events and education.

Greenwood Cultural Center

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday

10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday

322 N. Greenwood Ave., Tulsa greenwoodculturalcenter.org

918-596-1020

Free

Pictorial exhibits explore the legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, which destroyed 2,000 businesses and 36 square blocks of Tulsa’s Black Wall Street.

Philbrook Museum of Art

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, Saturday-Sunday

9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday

2727 S. Rockford Road, Tulsa philbrook.org

918-749-7941

Free-$18

A serious museum that doesn’t take itself too seriously, the Philbrook’s exhibits and events offer something for absolutely everyone. Save plenty of time to explore the breathtaking grounds.

Shop

Look beyond Utica Square for plenty of impressive local shopping options.

Fulton Street Books & Coffee

21 N. Greenwood Ave., Tulsa fultonstreet918.com

918-561-6600

By focusing on the stories, narratives and lived experiences of people of color and marginalized communities, Fulton Street has created a community around literacy and discourse.

Made

11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday

219 E. Archer St., Tulsa shopatmade.com

918-665-1478

Featuring modern, handmade goods by local makers, this Tulsa mainstay is located in the Archer building, home to many other outstanding local concepts.

The Nest on Cherry Street

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday 1608 E. 15th St., Tulsa thenesttulsa.com

918-530-5580

This beloved home goods store is known for its locally made pottery, custommade candles and industrial farmhouse-style products upcycled from found items.

Brunch

There’s no shortage of brunch spots in Tulsa, but these two just hit the spot.

Cherry Street Kitchen

8 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday 5-8 p.m. Wednesday

111 W. Fifth St., Tulsa cherrystkitchen.com

918-884-3408

These folks will make you feel so welcome as they serve you great bis-

cuits, chicken, breakfast burritos and more. It’s no longer located on Cherry Street — now it’s downtown, next to The Mayo Hotel.

Bramble Breakfast & Bar

8 a.m.-2 p.m. daily

1302 E. Sixth St., Tulsa 3sirensgroup.com/brands/bramble 539-664-5635

With locations in the Pearl District and Broken Arrow, Bramble features freshly baked breads and fresh ingredients. It’s open seven days a week, but they don’t take reservations, so go early to get a spot.

Lunch

In between all the fun things to do in T-town, you’ll need to refuel. These two award-winning spots stand out among locals and critics alike.

LoFi Pizza

11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-later Friday-Saturday 1301 E. 15th St., Tulsa lofitulsa.com 918-921-5634

Lofi Pizza features wood-fired sourdough pizza, great music and an excellent wine selection. Come for the pies, but don’t sleep on the incredible starters menu.

Cricket & Fig

8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday 5800 S. Lewis Ave., Suite 129, Tulsa cricketandfig.com 918-271-5199

Named one of the Top 5 chocolatiers in the U.S., Cricket & Fig has something for everyone: sandwiches, pasta, hummus, flavored lemonade and, of course, chocolate.

Anytime

These three all-day options offer something for everyone; while the food is good, the vibes might be even better.

Mother Road Market

11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday 1124 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa motherroadmarket.com 918-984-9009

Named USA Today’s Best Food Hall in 2023 and 2024, this local treasure is home to twelve food vendors as well as local shops, mini golf and more.

Favorites include Doctor Kustom and Big Dipper Creamery.

Country Bird Bakery

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday 1644 E. Third St., Unit B, Tulsa countrybirdbakery.com

This artisanal bakery focuses on regionally sourced grain and flour to make its sourdough, scones, cookies and more. Owner-baker Cat Cox is a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker.

Maple Ridge Grocer

7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday

7 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday

8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday

1810 S. Cincinnati Ave., Tulsa mapleridgegrocer.com

918-550-5610

Maple Ridge Grocer is simply the cutest, tastiest little all-day bistro of your dreams: bakery, breakfast, brunch, lunch, cocktails, soups, salads and more.

Dinner

Tulsa’s restaurant scene is better than ever and increasingly recognized by international food writers and awards programs.

Noche

5-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday

11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday

110 N Elgin Ave, Ste. 140, Tulsa eatdrinknoche.com

918-574-8407

Inspired by the vibrant food and beverage scene in Mexico City, Noche has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 James Beard Award for Best Restaurant, and with good reason. Sit on the expansive patio and sip from its extensive selection of agave-based spirits before moving onto dishes like the pecansmoked short-rib fajitas and Yucatánstyle pork shoulder.

FarmBar

5-11 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday

1740 S. Boston Ave., Tulsa farmbartulsa.com

918-576-6967

Farmer-Chef-Owner Lisa Becklund, a semifinalist for the 2025 James Beard Outstanding Chef Award, has built this award-winning restaurant on the foundation of local, sustainable food. Book the chef’s table and watch as your multicourse tasting menu comes together before your eyes.

By Drew Williamson

Nestled in the scenic foothills of the Ozarks, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in northeastern Oklahoma offers a lifestyle that blends natural beauty, recreation and luxury. At the heart of this vibrant community is Monkey Island, a peninsula extending into the lake, renowned for its upscale amenities, including the prestigious Shangri-La Resort. This area is a haven for those seeking relaxation and adventure, with activities ranging from boating and golfing to fine dining and festive celebrations.

Shangri-La Resort

Shangri-La Resort stands as a centerpiece of Monkey Island, offering a comprehensive experience for guests and residents alike. The resort features a 119-room luxury hotel equipped with modern amenities such as a state-of-the-art fitness center, an indoor pool, a steam room,

a sauna and a full-service spa. Guests can enjoy the expansive 6,500-square-foot outdoor pool area, complete with a tanning ledge, a hot tub, a splash pad and a playground, all overlooking serene Grand Lake.

Golf enthusiasts will appreciate the resort’s 27-hole championship course and the unique 18-hole par-three course, known as The Battlefield, both offering picturesque views and challenging play.

Food and nightlife

Dining at Shangri-La is an experience in itself. Summit Restaurant, located at the highest point on Monkey Island, provides panoramic lake views and a menu crafted by Executive Chef Matthew Hensley. Open to members and resort guests from Thursday to Saturday and the public on Sundays, the restaurant is known for its exceptional cuisine and elegant atmosphere.

For a more casual setting, Doc’s Bar & Grill offers a relaxed lakeside dining experience, while Eddy’s Lakeside Bar is the perfect spot for enjoying drinks by the water during the warmer months.

Beyond the resort, Monkey Island boasts a vibrant nightlife. Venues like Big Shots Rhythm & Booze provide a lively dance club atmosphere, and The Blind Swine offers live entertainment and karaoke. For a more laid-back experience, The RoadHog Saloon serves up hearty meals and features live bands without a cover charge.

Activities and nature

Grand Lake is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts, offering opportunities for boating, fishing and jet skiing. The lake’s 46,500 surface acres and 1,300 miles of shoreline make it one of Oklahoma’s premier destinations for aquatic recreation.

For those seeking outdoor adventures on land, nearby Twin Bridges Area at Grand Lake State Park provides a tranquil setting for camping, picnicking and fishing. The park is known for its excellent fishing opportunities, including trophy-sized bass and catfish, and features amenities such as lighted boat ramps, picnic areas and playgrounds.

July 4th

Independence Day is a highlight of the summer season on Grand Lake. The area comes alive with patriotic festivities, including boat parades, live music and spectacular fireworks displays over the water. These celebrations offer a unique opportunity to experience the community spirit and scenic beauty of the lake.

Luxury lifestyle

Living on Monkey Island offers residents a blend of leisure and luxury. The community provides access to world-class amenities, including golf courses, marinas and fine dining, all set against the backdrop of Grand Lake’s natural splendor. Whether you’re seeking a weekend getaway or a permanent residence, Monkey Island presents an idyllic setting for a relaxed and refined lifestyle.

In summary, Grand Lake and Monkey Island offer a unique combination of natural beauty, recreational opportunities and upscale amenities. From the luxurious accommodations of Shangri-La Resort to the vibrant local culture and festive celebrations, this area stands out as a premier destination in northeastern Oklahoma.

in the foothills of the Ozarks, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees provides a serene backdrop for luxury, adventure, and lakeside living on Monkey Island. | Photo Drew Williamson

ARTS & CULTURE

Sizzling and surfing

Misericordia, Sinners and The Surfer are playing in theaters now.

By Phil Bacharach

Misericordia

Misericordia opens from the point of view of an unknown driver navigating winding roads of southern France until we finally arrive at Saint-Martial, the sort of European village that likely hasn’t changed in centuries. Who is the driver, and why has he arrived here? Writer-director Alain Guiraudie takes time answering these questions directly, but motives are not easily deciphered in this place.

Our motorist, Jérémie Pastor (Félix Kysyl), once lived in Saint-Martial and has returned for the funeral of his former mentor, the local baker. Jérémie, who had been in love with the newly deceased, finds comfort in being back, and he readily accepts an invitation from the man’s widow, Martine (Catherine Frot), to let him stay at her home. The reception from others is chillier. Martine’s hotheaded son, Vincent (Jean-Baptiste Durand), thinks Jérémie is out to diddle his mom. “He’s exploiting your loneliness!” Vincent tells the new widow, and the son’s suspicions grow when Jérémie begins wearing dead dad’s hand-me-downs.

While we don’t know if Jérémie wants to sleep with the older but indisputably attractive Martine, there are suggestions of an erotic past between him and Vincent. Serene salaciousness has a hold on Saint-Martial. The kindly parish priest, Abbé Philippe (Jacques Develay), doesn’t conceal his designs on boyishlooking Jérémie. Philippe forages for morels in nearby woodlands and proudly shows Jérémie the size of the mushrooms he has collected. And then there’s Vincent’s doughy friend, Walter (David Ayala), who is jobless, likes his drink and may harbor desires of his own.

Trying to tamp down so much horniness can only mean trouble. One thing

leads to another, and someone dies. Revealing any more would spoil some of Misericordia ’s surprises.

Screening May 16-18 at Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, Misericordia has all the trappings of a sex farce, even if — despite some flashes of male nudity — there is a notable lack of sex. But the humor is bone-dry. Guiraudie, whose credits include 2013’s tonally similar Stranger by the Lake, weaves an atmosphere of sustained awkwardness. The vibe is quiet, contemplative and heightened by Claire Mathon’s exquisite cinematography of forests glistening with dew. The pastoral loveliness only underscores the absurdity of its characters’ not-so-dormant passions. (Grade: B)

Sinners

If Misericordia keeps its carnal appetites under wraps, Sinners eschews any such reservedness. Frank dialogue about sex (cunnilingus, if you must know) is only a sliver of what makes this spring blockbuster so much fun. Sexy, scary, exhilarating — there is simply a lot of everything in this bombastic genre mashup from Ryan Coogler, the writerdirector’s first outing since helming Marvel’s Black Panther franchise.

Extricating oneself from other people’s IP can be freeing. You sense Coogler’s joy at being able to cut loose. Sinners is a lovingly detailed story of the Black experience in the Mississippi Delta of the 1930s. It is a vampire flick awash in bloodletting and garlic. It is a celebration of the timelessness of music — blues, to be precise — with a tasty helping of Irish folk tossed in for good measure.

In other words, Sinners does not lack for thematic content. In fact, one might argue that it could have benefited from

less thematic content. Then again, one could argue that arguing over a movie this wildly entertaining is a buzzkill. Sinners is hardly perfect, but its flaws are outweighed by its zeal for cinema.

Set in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the film plops us into a vibrant Black community at the height of Depression-era Jim Crow. Identical twins Smoke and Stack (Michael B. Jordan pulling double duty) have returned home after a stint working in Chicago. Now flush with mob money and stolen booze, the brothers are converting an old sawmill into a juke joint where Delta sharecroppers can dance, drink and blow off steam.

A juke joint requires music. Stack rounds up his young cousin, Sammie Moore (Miles Caton), a bluesman whose musical aspirations are at odds with his disapproving preacher father. Sammie is joined by Delta Slim (always great Delroy Lindo), a seasoned harmonicist and piano player with a liking for corn liquor. While Stack is putting together the entertainment, Smoke is across town, rekindling things with Annie (Wunmi Mosaku), his wife and mother of their dead child.

That’s a lotta characters, and I haven’t even gotten to Stack’s love interest (Hailee Steinfeld) or the Asian married couple (Yao and Li Jun Li) who operate the local grocery. It is a testament to Coogler’s directorial chops that the film’s first third so thoroughly acclimates us to a distinct place and time, along with vivid characters we get to know through compactly delivered backstories. For all the visceral pizzazz we get once the sun goes down and the juke joint opens its doors, Sinners excels as period drama. The ensemble cast is exceptional. While Jordan has arguably the most challenging role (er, roles), he is nearly matched by newcomer Caton in his acting debut.

And then there is Jack O’Connell, riveting as Remmick, a mysterious Irishman who comes to town promising a future unfettered by racism. His enticements, however, come with a catch. But as Sinners neatly underscores, freedom is messy — and not even particularly free. (Grade: A)

The Surfer

In The Surfer, Nicolas Cage stars as an

unnamed man who can’t catch a break, much less a wave. He and his teenaged son (Finn Little) visit an Australian beach, surfboards in tow, for a fatherson outing. Cage — let’s call him the surfer — grew up in the area and wants to show the boy the childhood house that he plans to purchase. And what better way to showcase the home than from a surfboard? Alas, they are blocked by a gang of belligerent Aussie bros. “Don’t live here, don’t surf here,” one barks at our hero. The surfer gently pushes back, but to no avail. The bros’ ringleader, a self-styled masculinity guru (Julian McMahon), makes it clear that outsiders aren’t welcome.

The son is shaken by his father’s humiliation and bikes away. We learn the surfer’s estranged wife is about to marry another man whose child she is carrying. Adding insult to injury (or injury to insult, for that matter), the bullying locals are not through terrorizing our hero. Forced to remain at the beach’s carpark (in a contrivance that strains credibility), the surfer suffers an escalation of indignities.

He loses his surfboard. He loses his phone. He loses his car. Finally, he loses his shit.

Zonked out by a merciless sun and beaten down literally and figuratively, the surfer melts down faster than a snowcone in July. But this is a Nicolas Cage movie, so we wait for the inevitable explosion of whack-a-doodle vengeance.

Think again. The Surfer is strange, even by Cage standards. Director Lorcan Finnegan and screenwriter Thomas Martin have an existential journey in mind, not revenge, even as they play in the sandbox of a psychological thriller.

All the weirdness is endearing. There are psychedelic visual touches and stylistic nods to B-movies of the 1960s and ’70s. The overly theatrical music score would’ve been at home in a spaghetti western. The Surfer is ultimately as ridiculous as the tortured backstory it offers to explain why the Cage character was born and raised in Australia but has an American accent.

But … so what? A film this devilishly unhinged is hard to resist. Surf’s up!

(Grade: B)

The Surfer

Misericordia Sinners

A Place to Learn. A Place to Grow.

At Trinity School, we believe every student deserves to be understood and supported. As the Oklahoma City Metro’s only K–12 school dedicated solely to educating students with learning differences, we offer:

CALENDAR

Buy your tickets today!

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

FUNDRAISERS

ACLUOK Liberty Gala join the commemoration of 60 years in defense of civil liberties. Over six decades, the ACLU of Oklahoma has worked tirelessly in the courts, the legislature, and communities across the state to expand the constitutional protections afforded to all Oklahomans. Take a look back over some of the cases and controversies that have changed the state and in which the ACLU has played a key role. Many of these issues remain hotly contested to this day, and it’s clear that the ACLU’s work on behalf of all Oklahomans has never been more essential than now., Sat., May 17, 6-9 p.m. Yale Theater, 227 SW 25th St., (405) 2496859, acluok.org/en/events/liberty-gala. MAY 17

No One Fights Alone: A Firefighters Gala raising awareness for mental health support and fighting stigma. All funds help Oklahoma firefighters access mental health services. The campaign’s biggest fundraiser is the annual No One Fights Alone: Firefighters Gala. $150, Sat., May 17, 6-10 p.m. Capitol View Event Center, 5201 N Lincoln Blvd, 405-424-1452, osfa.info/ events/KifqTNsg6Vv8xgWW3Av0. MAY 17

Zoo Gala: Waddle & Whirl raising vital support for the Zoo’s newest habitat, Shore to Sea. The evening will also pay tribute to distinguished honorees Claudia Holliman, BancFirst, the late Gene Rainbolt, Larry Mathis, and Mathis Home for their outstanding contributions to conservation and community impact. presented by Expand Energy, chaired by Paula and Don Beck., 6pm. Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Place, 405-424-3344, ozsgiving. org/zoogala. JUNE 6

about what these organizations can do for you. Many different types of organizations will be represented, from medical, food, and housing help to children’s and aging services. Light refreshments served! free, Sat., May 17, 1-4 p.m. Capitol Hill Library, 327 SW 27th Street, 405-634-6308, metrolibrary.org/event/communityresource-fair-484484. MAY 17

Full Moon Yoga at Mix-Tape join an intentional gathering and gentle movement led by Beth White of Aether Yoga and Wellness as we dig into the offerings of the full moon. Sinking into the atmosphere of the Wonder Room will allow for imagination to spark, and open the heart to receive and expand. This session will include slow restorative stretching and sound healing. Participants can explore the full Mix-Tape immersive art experience before the session begins. 25, Mon., May 12, 7-8:30 p.m. Factory Obscura, 25 NW 9th St., 4053671578, factoryobscura.com/events/2025marchyoga. MAY 12

Scissortail Sports KIDS Soccer Camp kick off the summer with the Scissortail Sports KIDS Soccer Camp! Perfect for young athletes ages 6–12, this two-day camp is a fun and engaging way to build skills, make friends, and enjoy the game. Registration is $60 per child and includes both camp days and an official Scissortail Sports T-shirt. Sat., May 31, 9 a.m.-noon and Sun., June 1, 9 a.m.-noon. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., (405) 445-7080, scissortailpark. org/events/scissortail-sports-kids-soccer-campcopy/?occurrence=2025-05-31&time=1748682000. MAY 31 AND JUNE 1

VISUAL ARTS

Aliens vs Robots Group Art Show join the Epic art battle ahead! A showing of sci-fi art, featuring aliens and robots or a mash up of the two! You get to vote on who wins... the aliens or the robots! Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase. Tickets available online or at the door. $10, Sat., May 17, 7-9 p.m. Mycelium Gallery, 2816 N. Pennsylvania Ave., 4055196027, myceliumgallery.com/event-details-registration/aliens-vs-robots-group-art-show. MAY 17

Walk to Cure Arthritis OKC raise awareness, honor local arthritis warriors, and raise funds to improve health outcomes and improve quality of life for those suffering for this debilitating disease. The Arthritis Foundation is boldly pursuing a cure for America’s #1 cause of disability while championing the fight to conquer arthritis with life-changing science, resources, advocacy and community connections. June 7, 9 a.m. Stars & Stripes Park, 3701 S. Lake Hefner Drive, 405296-3723, walktocurearthritis.org/okc. JUNE 17

PERFORMING ARTS

Calderón Dance Festival enjoy a FREE day of dance at the Calderón Dance Festival with variety of performances and classes by local artists and Grammy Award winner Anthony Thomas, choreographer of Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation”. Featured Guests Artists include ReVoZo, Edgar Cruz, and guest judges for the Hip Hop Battle (with cash prizes!) led by Groovemeant Community. Free, Sun., May 18, 12-8 p.m. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-8199299, calderondancefestival.org. MAY 18

Defying Gravity: Stephen Schwartz & Friends enjoy an unforgettable evening with Grammy and Oscarwinning composer and musical icon, bringing musical theatre from Godspell to Wicked and beyond! Tickets start at $24, Fri., May 23, 8 p.m. and Sat., May 24, 8 p.m. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-8425387, okcphil.org/concerts/defying-gravity/. MAY 24 Native Gardens by Karen Zacarias in this brilliant new comedy, cultures and gardens clash, turning wellintentioned neighbors into feuding enemies. An impending barbeque for colleagues and a delicate disagreement over a long-standing fence line soon spirals into an all-out border dispute, exposing notions of race, taste, class and privilege. $30 Adults *Thursdays only all tickets $15*, Fridays, Saturdays, 8-10 p.m., Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m. and Sundays, 2-4 p.m. through June 9. Carpenter Square Theatre, 1009 W. Reno, 405-232-6500, carpentersquare. com/native-gardens. THURS-SUN THROUGH JUNE 9

Oklahoma Shakespeare presents the Merry Wives of Windsor take in the stage outdoors in the beautiful Shakespeare Gardens, Paseo, directed by Oklahoma Shakespeare Artistic Associate, Kris Kuss, and starring Oklahoma Shakespeare Associate Artistic Director, Lance Marsh, as the inimitable Sir John Falstaff, the production is sure to please! Thurs., June 5, 7:30pm, Fri., June 6, 8pm, Sat., June 7, 8pm, Sun., June 8, 2pm, Thurs., June 12, 7:30pm, Fri., June 13, 8pm, Sat., June 14, 8pm, Sun., June 15, 2pm. Oklahoma Shakespeare, 2920 Paseo St., 405-235-3700, okshakes.org/ merry-wives-of-windsor. THU-SUN through JUNE 14

WICK’D A Wicked Parody buckle up those ruby red slippers because Wicked is about to get the full drag treatment! Oz ain’t ready for Ephabet’s brand of unfiltered, gravity-defying excellence. Enter Gaylinda-Miss Popularity herself-who struts into the scene with blonde ambition and high heels. They start as frenemies, then besties, then full-on this-lip-sync-is-personal rivals-all over a man who isn’t even worth the drama. $20, Fridays, Saturdays, 7-8:30 p.m. through May 31. The Boom, 2218 NW 39th St., 405-601-7200, facebook.com/TheBoomOKC/. FRI-SAT THROUGH MAY 31

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Community Resource Fair see what local organizations have to offer for you — all at the same time! Learn

Golden Hour: Sunny Dayz x ATCOKC join this collaborative social event and don’t forget to BYOC (bring your own craft)! This will be an interactive, hands-on event where participants can hang out, listen to music, and do some arts and crafts. Some supplies will be provided. Free, Thu., May 22, 6-8 p.m. Plaza Walls Courtyard, 1745 NW 16th St Suite F4, (405) 252-0569, allthosecreative.org/events/atcokc-sunnydayz-may2025. MAY 22

Paseo Arts District’s First Friday Gallery Walk peruse art from over 80 artists with 25 participating businesses for a night of special themed exhibits, refreshments and a variety of entertainment opportunities, 6-9 p.m. first Friday of every month. Paseo Arts District, 3024 Paseo St., 405-525-2688, thepaseo.org. JUNE 6

HAPPENINGS

Spring Open House discover the heart of our farm, enjoying the beauty of the property as you embark on a self-guided tour to our pond, apiary, and pollinator and vegetable gardens. Featuring a Coffee & Conversation about water gardens, during which local experts will discuss how to create and care for water gardens and ponds. This event involves walking on potentially uneven terrain, so please prepare accordingly! This event is FREE, but tickets are required, Sat., May 17, 9-11 a.m. Mollie Spencer Farm, 1001 Garth Brooks Blvd., molliespencerfarm.org. MAY 17

Sip and Stroll the OKC Zoo guests 21+ to enjoy drinks, bites, animal encounters, and a digital scavenger hunt across seven wildlife-inspired zones — complete it for a chance to win a cool prize! $20 ZOOFriends, $25, 6-10 p.m. through May 23. Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Place, 405-424-3344, okczoo.org/sipandstroll. FRI THROUGH MAY 23

Breakfast with the Animals spend the morning with your friends and family in the newly renovated Love’s Pachyderm Building event space or on the patio overlooking the African Savanna. Breakfast guests will also have the opportunity to learn more about the African animals that call the OKC Zoo home. $56 adults, $46 ages 3-11, 9-11 a.m. through May 31. Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Place, 405-424-3344, okczoo. org/breakfast. SAT THROUGH MAY 31

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

Saturday Farmers Market at Scissortail Park a Producer-Only market, featuring homegrown, handmade, and locally made products from Oklahoma vendors. Free parking is available around the park and in the northwest lot. No market on April 26 for the OKC Memorial Marathon!, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through Oct. 25. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., (405) 445-7080, scissortailpark.org/events/saturday-farmers-market2025-season/?occurrence=2025-04-05. SAT

Wednesday Mid-Week Farmers Market at Scissortail Park located near South Robinson and SW 15th, free parking is available along South Robinson, South Harvey, and SW 15th Street., 6-9 p.m. through Sept. 24.

Studio Hamed Ouattara at Paseo Arts Festival Later this month, The Paseo Arts District hosts its 48th annual arts festival, and artists from all over the world will gather to connect with each other and display their best works to the Oklahoma City public. Among the roughly 85 jury-selected artists, multidisciplinary visual artist and designer Hamed Ouattara’s work is sure to stand out. A Burkina Faso native with a base in Atlanta, Ouattara’s appearance at the festival will be his first visit to Oklahoma, and he hopes to bring a message of hope and resilience with his art. Continue reading this article by Kaile Hultner on okgazette.com.

10 A.M.-10 P.M. MAY 24-25, 10 A.M.-5 P.M. MAY 26 Photos provided

Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., (405) 445-7080, scissortailpark.org/events/wednesday-mid-week-farmersmarket-2025-season/?occurrence=2025-05-07. WED

Wheeler District Farmers Market located just south of downtown OKC, this family-friendly market features fresh produce, baked goods, pantry staples, and handmade items from local Oklahoma vendors. Free, 6-9 p.m. through Oct. 24. Wheeler District, 1801 Wheeler St, (405) 609-2994, wheelerdistrict.com/. FRI

Armed Forces Day on the River all Active Duty/ Retired military ride the public ferry free with military ID., View the ferry schedule to determine the best departure time and location for you. Adults $12, Seniors and kids 7-17 $6, children 6 and under ride free., May 17, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Oklahoma River Cruises Stockyards Landing, 800 S. Agnew Avenue, 405-702-7755, embarkok.com/ferry/public-ferry. SAT

GeekCon 2025: Brave New World Star Wars fan? Anime fan? Comic book fan? Pokémon fan? LIBRARY fan? If you answered yes to everything above (and even more not mentioned) join us for Downtown Library’s GeekCon 2025! Escape rooms, crafts, mini-panels, cosplay fashion show and more await you at GeekCon ‘25! Costumes are encouraged. It’s an all-ages event, so bring the entire family and Geek out! FREE, May 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave., 405-231-8650, metrolibrary.org/event/ geekcon-25-445671. SAT

West Village Fourth Friday attend for an evening of live music, sidewalk activities, and pop-up markets, and discover what makes this up-and-coming district a place you want to be! Businesses along Film Row will be rolling out the red carpet offering entertainment, elevated experiences, menu specials, and more!, fourth Friday of every month, 6-10 p.m. through May 30. West Village District, 898 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-235-3500, westvillageokc.com/fourth-fridays/. FRI

Chuck Wagon Festival celebrate Western and Native American history, art, and cuisine. This festival will feature chuck wagon and First American food samples, live music, artisan demonstrations, Western re-enactors and much more for all ages to enjoy!.

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org/annual-chuck-wagon-festival/. SAT-MON

Let’s K-pop Experience Korean Culture at the Capitol Hill Library!, Live performance- Korean Culture & Language School of Oklahoma (2:15 p.m), Taste Korean Snacks, Try on traditional Hanbok, Win Line Friends prizes & connect with fellow K-culture fans!, Don’t miss out-fun for all ages! Free, May 24, 2-4 p.m. Capitol Hill Library, 327 SW 27th Street, 405-231-8650, metrolibrary.org/event/lets-kpop-488717. MAY 24

2025 Pubs in the Park take a “trip across the pond” for a British Pub inspired beer-tasting event with more than 10 local

breweries serving their favorites! Beers and ales from local breweries, featuring live music from “Bangers and Mash” – a British cover band, Junction Coffee’s double-decker bus, food trucks, and games. Event Pavilion, Upper Park; 7-8pm | VIP Hour; 8-10pm | General Admission $45 general admission, May 30, 7-10 p.m. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., (405) 445-7080, scissortailpark.org/pubsinthepark/. FRI

Cocktail Cruises join this is an adult environment cruise every Friday & Saturday through August. Groups of 10 or more should book a private charter. Advance ticket purchase is advised. $20 adults and $15 seniors and children 17 and under, June 6, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. Oklahoma River Cruises Regatta Park Landing, 701 S. Lincoln Blvd., 405-702-7755, embarkok.com/ferry/ specialty-cruises. JUNE 6

“Taking Flight” Wind and Kite Festival 2025 from soaring kites to spinning pinwheels and sailing boats, blustery days bring endless fun powered by nature’s breeze. The first 100 guests will receive a FREE kite — plus, join our Kite Camp to decorate yours before it takes flight! Enjoy live music on the Love’s Travel Stops Stage with OKC Winds (10–11am) and Steelwind (11:30am–12:30pm). Let’s celebrate the magic of wind together — see you under the open sky!, June 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Scissortail Park, 300 SW 7th St., (405) 445-7080, scissortailpark.org/events/ wind-and-kite-festival-2025/?occurrence=2025-06-07. JUNE 17

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

For OG live music see page 33

MUSIC Making artists

Neighborhood Noise showcases and challenges hip-hop artists at Hubbly Bubbly.

By Jeremy Martin

The Pressure’s off for now, but Queen Caution is still pushing local hip-hop.

When Queen Caution (linktr.ee/queencaution), aka Carissa Cudjo, realized her Pressure battle-rap competition was not fostering the uplifting community environment she intended, she changed the format and name to Neighborhood Noise, a local hip-hop showcase on the third Wednesday of the month at Hubbly Bubbly, 2900 N. Classen Blvd., Suite K.

“It’s definitely a lot more positive,” Cudjo said. “People can connect on a deeper level and not feel like a competition. … I like seeing artists come together.”

Cudjo wants to provide newer artists the kind of supportive space she enjoyed at two previous Hubbly Bubbly institutions: The Art of Rap, a three-round competition, and The Heart of Hip-Hop, a showcase featuring winners from the competition performing alongside more established artists.

“They created a place for me to share my art and stuff when I was first getting out there,” Cudjo said. “I’m to a pretty comfortable state in my music, so I was like, ‘Why not do something for my city, for my community, to give other artists that were coming up a chance as well?’”

While the intense competition at The

as a younger artist, she said a “more easygoing” showcase seems to suit newer performers now.

“I don’t want to create something that’s going to discourage these artists,” Cudjo said. “It was a lot different for me coming up in the hip-hop scene here in the original culture where we had battle raps. We were out here at The Art of Rap competing for just $50, and it got real intense because it was for the culture.”

Cudjo’s Neighborhood co-host HusL (lnk.bio/husl), aka Keyan Chukwurah, said the format change is intended to support new artists in a way that’s comfortable for them.

“Maybe not everybody is ready to do battle rap,” Chukwurah said. “But maybe there are some people who still take their craft really seriously, and we want to showcase those people.”

The showcase continues the legacy of previous Hubbly Bubbly events in other ways. Nymasis, who DJ’d for both The Art and The Heart, returns to the turntables for Neighborhood Noise, and the

mixed very well, it does not sound good whenever you’re having two vocals competing for the same space,” Chukwurah said. “Two, it shows that you don’t really know your craft. … Rock ’n’ roll artists are praised on their ability to hit certain notes or to be able to produce certain sounds … their ability to play the instrument. But with rap specifically, the only thing you have to go off of is your vocal, your rap IQ, in a sense. … your lyrical ability, your cadences, how you’re able to perform breath control, how you’re able to engage the crowd, how you’re able to say something meaningful. ... If you get up there and perform a song over your own vocals, it shows you don’t really know the song. … It’s a bad habit to learn because it teaches you not to be confident in vocal performance and your rap ability.”

Settling for less can hold back artistic progress, Chukwurah said, for individuals and for the culture at large.

“In my honest opinion, I feel like rap should be a lot more advanced than it is now, but I feel like we’re regressing,” Chukwurah said. “It’s very over-saturated. Before, we were just wondering, ‘How do we become rappers? How can we get on and do the things that we see on TV?’ Now that everybody has access to the technology and the means to do it, you’re starting to realize that it’s not as good as you would have hoped for. There’s a lot of people who don’t even understand the history of rap, and there’s a lot of people that are only using it as a vehicle to get to something else. … A lot of people do not really care what the previous generation had to do. They don’t care about what the pioneers had to do.”

difference between the music that will last and the trendy stuff, and there’s nothing wrong with it. There’s a lane for everything, but what we’re trying to do specifically is something that’s real and raw that you don’t get at other showcases because they don’t care. They let you rap over vocals. The lyrics don’t really have to make sense. … The newer challenge is we are essentially living in a microwave generation. Everybody wants everything instantly and they want it now, and if it takes time or if it takes any type of hard work, it’s looked at as lame, boring or something that’s not worth doing.”

Local scene

Chukwurah’s Local Scene, a 21-track album featuring beats from local producers, is scheduled for release Thursday, May 15.

“I’ve seen a lot of things within the city in the 12 years I’ve been doing music, and I’m just kind of showcasing what it means to me,” Chukwurah said.

Cudjo is currently working on a follow-up to her album The Misfit, released in 2024.

Neighborhood Noise is for the “niche community of people who care about the art form and who want to see it advanced,” Chukwurah

“There’s at least a thousand rappers in Oklahoma City specifically,” Chukwurah said.

“Whenever I or Queen Caution tells them what the requirements are, all of a sudden, that list drops to about 10 percent. … You consider yourself a professional recording artist, but you cannot rap without supporting tracks in the background. That seems problematic.

“We’re trying to get them to understand the

“It’s going to be a full singing album because I actually did start off singing first,” Cudjo said. “I’ve always been in love with singing, and I felt like this would be a good time to, you know, show my fans a side of me that I never really expressed before.”

And while she’s welcoming new artists to the Neighborhood, she’s still not giving up on getting them battle-ready.

“Sometimes after the showcase, we’ll do a cypher or we’ll do a rap battle,” Cudjo said. “I’m hoping we can get them to a point where it’s like, ‘I want to do that,’ you know, by just showcasing it.”

Chukwurah said battle rap can be respectfully competitive without getting messy.

“People are in competitive kung-fu or boxing,” Chukwurah said. “They fight all the time, and at the end, they shake hands and go on about their thing. They learn what they needed to do, and they come back harder. ... I’m not attacking your character. I’m just trying to get you to apply what you do better. It’s easy to write a rap, but can you continually do it? Can you consistently do it when nobody’s pushing you to, whenever you’re not getting the engagement that you want, whenever you feel like no one is supporting you? Do you still care about the art form if nobody’s watching?”

Neighborhood Noise will take a break in May but return on Wednesday, June 18. Visit facebook.com/hubblybubblyokc. Neighborhood Noise

p.m. June 18

$10

sf/moc.sbu

Yourpassiontobuildabusiness always involved the future.

For many, building a business around their family is the true sign of success. It helps create value and a lifestyle that can last for generations. Are there strategies you can put in place to help preserve your legacy?

PFC ,nosmailliW werD

® AWPC , ® roineSeciVhtlaeW-tnediserPtnemeganaM etavirPhtlaeWrosivdA 7391-203-504 moc.sbu@nosmailliw.werd

YourUBSFinancialAdvisorcanhelpyoufindanswers for your business, your personal wealth and passing on your success.

Proceed with passion

.cnI secivreS laicnaniF SBU 1084aidralliaGyawkraP etiuS001 amohalkOytiC,0981-24137 0291-203-504, 6957-958-008

For some of life’s questions, you are not alone. Together we can find an answer.

tnemtsevniresivda reffidlairetamsyaw uoyylluferacdaereht yrammusdedivorp yrammuspihsnoitaler/moc.sbu,ksaruoySBUlaicnaniFrosivdArofa.ypoclmth.serusolcsid-noitangised/ne/su/moc.sburoFnoitangisedserusolcsidtisivllA ©SBU.4202

rebmeM.CPIS/ARNIF5A5A143B-SBU-D-4202 weiveR:edoc.7682042SI:noitaripxE.5202/13/50 8042351

MUSIC

‘Love’ hurts

Kat Lock adjusts her songwriting to accommodate medical issues and aims for universal department store country pop on her latest single.

By Jeremy Martin

Kat Lock is about to be “Talkin’ Bout Love,” but this time, she’s not talkin’ ’bout anyone in particular.

“I kind of started writing differ ently a couple years ago, probably during COVID and all that,” Lock said. “I’m trying to make songs more universal, more general in a way.”

Lock plans to release her latest single, “Talkin’ Bout Love,” on Friday, June 13. The song will be Lock’s first release since “Next Christmas,” a single from November 2023 and Retrograde EP released in January of the same year.

“What I like about ‘Talkin’ Bout Love’ is that it’s obviously a love song, but it’s not actually about anybody. … I think people really often misuse the word ‘manifesting.’ You know? And I think it gets a little corny, but in a way, I feel like that kind of is what the song is. Because it’s nothing specific. It’s just describing all the feelings and the things that happen alongside it … whether you like it or not.”

When we spoke to Lock in the Before Times (July 2019), she was working to make a name for herself outside her former band, St. Basic, and overcoming fears that some of her songs were so personal and specific that listeners might figure out the real person who inspired the lyrics.

Following COVID in 2020 and surgery on her right shoulder in 2021, Lock approached songwriting dif ferently.

“I knew for a long time I wasn’t going to be able to play any instruments or

and are totally different, but have that same core feeling,” Lock said. “It might sound like a love song, and it might be one, but it can be about a friendship, a new home, a new job, anything. … I have one song that’s unreleased, but it sounds like it’s about a love song or a breakup, and it’s just about an emergency root

waited and ... never forced myself to finish it. You know? Eventually, I think I did make a track that just had empty spaces in the verses and just listened to it until one day, ‘OK. There it is. Found it.’”

Lock’s health also continues to complicate her creative process.

“After I had that surgery, it ended up not really helping,” Lock said. “I still struggle to play instruments, pretty much. That’s why I don’t do it live anymore. … Every now and then, I’ll do a little bit, but for the most part, it’s just better if I don’t. I’ve been diagnosed with, like, four or five other things since then, and my health has unfortunately become the main character of my life for the last few years, so that’ll make you reevaluate how you do everything.”

Lock recorded “Talkin’ Bout Love,” and scheduled follow-up single “Shut Me Up” at RCA Studio C in Nashville with Grammy-nominated producer Eddie Gore and guitarist Tyler Cain (Gavin DeGraw, Colbie Caillat). With “Talkin’ Bout Love,” Lock is aiming for a sweet spot somewhere between country and pop.

“I want it to be like this generation’s, ‘This Kiss,’” Lock said, referencing the 1998 Faith Hill hit. “The Shania Twain songs, Faith Hill, that’s kind of the vibe. Just like classic Kohl’s music.”

Following the release of “Talkin’ Bout Love,” Lock is scheduled to perform Saturday, June 21, at Jazz in June at Andrews Park, 201 W. Daws St., in Norman.

Visit katlock.com. Kat Lock at Jazz in June

Kat Lock

| Photo Faith Alesia

PUZZLES

By Jacob Reed Puzzles Edited by Will Shortz

61 Either of the two statues in front of the New York Public Library 62 Root word? 63

74 Shipshape

75 T hey’re rising over time

76 H umorist Bombeck

77 W hen tripled, ‘‘You know what I’m sayin’ . . . ’’

78 ___ Tour (record-breaking music event of 2023-24)

79 Suffix with proverb

80 Shepherd’s staff

81 84

87 It’s in the bag!

88 H eart

89 ___ Tour (annual sporting series)

90 L ike some marriages, seating and musical compositions

91 L ike the weather around a lighthouse, maybe

93 B aseball features 95 ‘By the way . . . ’’

96 ___ Moriarty, novelist who wrote ‘‘Big Little Lies’’

98 Tolkien character who dies as ‘‘the Grey’’ and returns as ‘‘the White’’

100 S ome opinion pieces

105 H ow to read the ‘‘words’’ written on this puzzle’s 108-Across

108 D evice used to read the eight visual clues in this puzzle

111 S ome large structures for pet owners

112 H ead honcho

113 Gave a thumbs up

114 G oes to the mat?

DOWN

1 G overnment org. that investigates accidents

2 Spoken

3 W hat a whistler whistles

4 ‘‘____ girl!’’

5 ‘ ‘Nevertheless . . . ’’

6 J immy Kimmel’s network

7 [ 2 funny!]

8 [way 2 funny!!!!]

9 D own for the count, in brief

10 Italian diminutive suffix

11 Word whose letters are aptly found from left to right in ‘‘scion’’

12 B ear’s counterpart on Wall Street, once

13 Courtyards

14 Tough customer for a wedding planner

15 D ebussy’s ‘‘Clair de ____’’

16 B rain tests, for short

18 Rolls

19 Bogus

21 C annabis variety contrasted with indica

22 B ush Senior and Carter each had one

25 Headquarter?

28 ‘ ‘The Source’’ channel

29 Swiatek of women’s tennis

31 point

32 Six-pack component

33 P C platform of the 1980s

34 O f service

35 H undred Acre Wood resident

36 O ne way to ‘‘play it’’

37 Reached a base horizontally

39 Show that, uh, didn’t win 43 of its

54 Emmy nominations

41 P age that points to other pages

42 Crew

44 Floral subject for van Gogh, Monet or O’Keeffe

45 O odles of

46 Adult male deer

49 Gou rmet mushroom type

52 O ne of the Marx Brothers

53 ‘‘Yikes!’’

54 Lunacy

55 Word with Kitchen or Angels

56 N aysayer

58 Film excerpt

59 B umpy jumpers

60 City where tourists take photos pretending to hold up its famous landmark

63 Name shouted in ‘‘A Streetcar Named Desire’’

64 Boiling

65 P eriods of abstinence from TV, news, social platforms, etc.

66 Honest-to-goodness

67 P ossible polling problem

68 M orales on the screen

69 Evita in ‘‘Evita’’

70 Pitchfork feature

71 C hew the scenery

72 Tended to a Zen garden, in a way

73 Anatomical sac

74 G ait faster than a walk

78 Website with a ‘‘Personalized and Custom Jewelry’’ page

79 L ine in old Apple ads

80 S ome kindergarten art supplies

82 Goaded

83 Comedian Notaro

84 ‘‘Yikes!’’

85 J unior and senior: Abbr.

86 G arment for one who’s wearing a wire?

89 H alf of a noted magic duo

92 In reserve for now

93 O ld sayings

94 Adirondack chair part

96 Coming-of-age Pixar film of 2021

97 B eers that might punnily have ‘‘hop’’ in their names, for short

98 ‘‘Splendid!’’

99 Steady stream

101 W hat a hot dog might do

102 L ist-ending abbr.

103 C ry after putting one’s pencil down

104 Mar ried mujeres: Abbr.

106 Sinus specialist, for short

107 P OTUS 34

109 Subj. of a class with dummies in it 110 P urple yam in Philippine cuisine

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

Homework: What do you want more than anything else but fear you’re not worthy of? Newsletter. FreeWillAstrology.com

ARIES (March 21-April 19): What may appear to be slow or static is actually moving. The developing changes are imperceptible from day to day, but incrementally substantial. So please maintain your faith in the diligent, determined approach. Give yourself pep talks that renew your deeply felt motivation. Ignore the judgments and criticism of people who have no inkling of how hard you have been working. In the long run, you will prove that gradual progress can be the most enduring.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The most successful people aren’t those who merely follow their passion, but those who follow their curiosity. Honoring the guidance of our passions motivates us, but it can also narrow our focus. Heeding the call of our curiosity emboldens our adaptability, exploration, and maximum openness to new possibilities. In that spirit, Taurus, I invite you to celebrate your yearning to know and discover. Instead of aching for total clarity about your life’s mission, investigate the subtle threads of what piques your curiosity. Experiment with being an intrigued adventurer.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini author Huston Smith was a religious scholar who wrote 13 books. But he was dedicated to experiencing religions from the inside rather than simply studying them academically. Smith danced with Whirling Dervishes, practiced Zen meditation with a master, and ingested peyote with Native Americans, embodying his view that real understanding requires participation, not just observation. In the spirit of his disciplined devotion, I invite you to seek out opportunities to learn through experience as much as theory. Leave your safety zone, if necessary, to engage with unfamiliar experiences that expand your soul. Be inspired by how Smith immersed himself in wisdom that couldn’t come from books alone.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): More than 2,000 years ago, people living in what’s now the Peruvian desert began etching huge designs of animals and plants in the earth. The makers moved a lot of dirt! Here’s the mystery: Some of the gigantic images of birds, spiders, and other creatures are still visible today, but can only be deciphered from high above. And there were, of course, no airplanes in ancient times to aid in depicting the figures. Let’s use this as a metaphor for one of your upcoming tasks, Cancerian. I invite you to initiate or intensify work on a labor of love that will motivate you to survey your life from the vantage point of a bird or plane or mountaintop.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You now have extra power to detect previously veiled patterns and hidden agendas. That’s why I urge you to be alert for zesty revelations that may seem to arrive out of nowhere. They could even arise from situations you have assumed were thoroughly explored and understood. These are blessings, in my opinion. You should expect and welcome the full emergence of truths that have been ripening below the surface of your awareness. Even if they are initially surprising or daunting, you will ultimately be glad they have finally appeared.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Renowned Virgo author Nassim Nicholas Taleb has called for the discontinuation of the Nobel Prize in Economics. He says it rewards economists who express bad ideas that cause great damage. He also delivers ringing critiques of other economists widely regarded as top luminaries. Taleb has a lot of credibility. His book *The Black Swan* was named one of the most influential books since World War II. I propose we make him your inspirational role model for now, Virgo. May he incite you to question authority to the max. May he rouse you to bypass so-called experts, alleged mavens, and supposed wizards. Be your own masterful authority.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I predict that your usual mental agility will be even more robust than usual in the coming weeks. Although this could possibly

lead you to overthink everything, I don’t believe that’s what will happen. Instead, I suspect your extra cognitive flexibility will be highly practical and useful. It will enable you to approach problems from multiple angles simultaneously—and come up with hybrid solutions that are quite ingenious. A possibility that initially seems improbable may become feasible when you reconfigure its elements. PS: Your natural curiosity will serve you best when directed toward making connections between seemingly unrelated people and fields.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’re ready to go to the next evolutionary stage of a close alliance. Although you may not feel entirely prepared for the challenge, I believe you will be guided by your deeper wisdom to do what’s necessary. One way I can help is to provide exhilarating words that boost your daring spirit. With that in mind, I offer you a passage from poet William Blake. Say them to your special friend if that feels right, or find other words appropriate to your style. Blake wrote, “You are the fierce angel that carves my soul into brightness, the eternal fire that burns away my dross. You are the golden thread spun by the hand of heaven, weaving me into the fabric of infinite delight. Your love is a furnace of stars, a vision that consumes my mortal sight, leaving me radiant and undone. In your embrace, I find the gates of paradise thrown wide.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In ancient Egypt, mirrors were composed of polished copper. To remain properly reflective, they required continual maintenance. Let’s take that as a metaphor for one of your key tasks in the coming weeks. It’s high time to do creative upkeep on your relationships with influences that provide you with feedback on how you’re doing. Are your intended effects pretty close to your actual effects? Does your self-image match the way you are perceived by others? Are you getting the right kind of input to help you stay on course?

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Chances to initiate creative transformations will come from unexpected sources in the coming days. I guarantee it. But will

you be sufficiently receptive to take maximum advantage? The purpose of this horoscope is to nudge you to shed your expectations so you will be tenderly, curiously open to surprising help and inspiration. What sweet interruptions and graceful detours will flow your way if you are willing to depart from your usual script? I predict that your leadership qualities will generate the greatest good for all concerned if you are willing to relinquish full control and be flexibly eager to entertain intuitive breakthroughs.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): For many Indigenous people of California, acorns were part of every meal. Nuts from oak trees were used to create bread, soups, dumplings, pancakes, gravy, and porridge. But making them edible required strenuous work. In their natural state, they taste bitter and require multiple soakings to leach out the astringent ingredient. Is there a metaphorical equivalent for you, Aquarius? An element that can be important, but needs a lot of work, refinement, and preparation? If so, now is a good time to develop new approaches to making it fully available.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): When Pisces-born Jane Hirshfield was a young poet, she mostly stopped writing poetry for eight years. During that time, she was a full-time student of Zen Buddhism and lived for three years at a monastery. When she resumed her craft, it was infused with what she had learned. Her meditative practice had honed her observational skills, her appreciation of the rich details of daily life, and her understanding that silence could be a form of communication. In the spirit of the wealth she gathered from stillness, calm, and discipline, I invite you to enjoy your own spiritual sabbatical, dear Pisces. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to relax into the most intriguing mysteries.

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes /daily text message horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.