405 Magazine January 2018

DISSECTING DIETS

Are you doing your body right?

A SoSA LOVE STORY

Exploring the Rutledge roost

BRIDGE BETWEEN OCEANS

Panama’s tropical splendor

DR. SUSAN CHAMBERS Obstetrics and Gynecology

BEST DOCTORS 173

PHYSIC 49 SPE IANS IN CIALTIE S

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in this issue

Features

33

BEST DOCTORS

When it comes to your health, you shouldn’t settle for second best.

The Best Doctors in America® List exists to provide an unbiased compendium of excellence – recognized by their colleagues for their elite skills and expertise, these are the finest physicians to be found in central Oklahoma.

48

DISSECTING THE DIET DILEMMA

In terms of calories consumed, less should be more your goal for greater overall wellness. Local experts weigh in on popular dietary fads, the importance of label awareness and how simple losing weight can really be.

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405 MAGAZINE JANUARY 2018

JANUARY 2018

in this issue

JANUARY 2018

In the 405

and soul of the San Blas Islands in Panama; the magic of sandhill cranes’ mass migration through Nebraska.

15 Behind the scenes of popular Oklahoma history program A Very OK Podcast; Moore boutique Reclaimed Warehouse offers stylish furnishings and community spirit; stylish tall boots to help take winter weather in stride; giving the accidental bombing of Boise City its place in World War II history; a humorous lament of one shopper’s susceptibility to sales flattery; attention-catching current trends in wedding bands; a roll call of roadside dinosaurs along Oklahoma highways.

73 McClintock Saloon raises the bar on refreshment in OKC’s Stockyards City; a simple, soulful comfort food recipe from Saturn Grill chef Joseph Royer; renowned for burgers and beer, Republic Gastropub also offers tastes from other culinary realms; give your cheeks some heat with a Fireball-powered cocktail from Urban Johnnie.

Health

Events

flexitarians, Oklahoma City’s dining landscape has begun an ongoing shift toward a healthier variety of options.

porary Arts Center celebrates the cutting edge of local creativity with its ArtNow event; The Diavolo dance company’s visit to UCO tops January’s must-see events; the glitzy, glamorous deadCenter fundraiser Glitter Ball returns to OKC’s Film Row.

Dining

54 Fortunately for

85 Oklahoma Contem-

Home

30

59 How the Rutledge family’s home in the SoSA neighborhood means they’re living inside a love story; a shining selection of chandeliers that could be the newest stars of your home.

Travel

66 One photographer’s visual exploration through the scenery

ON THE COVER

Watch for Dinosaurs

This road sign doesn’t indicate a real risk of drivers being trampled in a Jurassic crossing … but it does mean they should be on the lookout to spot Cimmy the Cimarronasaurus, a Cimarron County landmark and one of several roadside dinosaurs found in Oklahoma.

In Every Issue 10 From the Editor 12 Web Sights 26 On the Scene 78 Food and Drink 88 On Location 90 Speakerbox 92 On the Radar 96 Backstory

Dr. Susan Chambers of OKC Gynecology and Obstetrics, one of the Best Doctors in America®. Photo by Charlie Neuenschwander

VOLUME 4 / NUMBER 1, 405 MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY 405 MAGAZINE, INC., 1613 NORTH BROADWAY AVENUE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73103. APPLICATION TO MAIL AT PERIODICALS POSTAGE PRICES IS PENDING AT OKLAHOMA CITY, OK AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO 405 MAGAZINE, P.O. BOX 16765, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA 91615-6765.

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I WANT TO GO! Not to the restroom, but to the concert.

JANUARY 2018

Editor-in-Chief Heidi Rambo Centrella heidi.centrella@405magazine.com EDITORIAL Managing Editor Steve Gill steve.gill@405magazine.com

ICHELPOK.ORG Interstitial cystitis is a severe bladder condition limiting life.

If you suffer from the urge to go but are unsure or undiagnosed, you may have IC. Consult your physician to seek treatment.

Style Editor Sara Gae Waters saragae.waters@405magazine.com

MIDTOWN

Contributing Writers M.J. Alexander, Mark Beutler, Jerry Church, Christine Eddington, Lauren Hammack, Greg Horton, Lance McDaniel, Matt Payne, Elaine Warner, Bill Wasinger

r a retu Pining fo hill for sand Nebraska tion (p. 70) igra crane m

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ART Art Director Scotty O’Daniel scotty.odaniel@405magazine.com

IT’S GOING TO BE

Back in the 405 after Ch the U ristmas in K ; h op ing fo snow r h the tr ere to ease ansitio n

405 Magazine Volume 4, Number 1, January 2018. 405 Magazine is published monthly by 405 Magazine, Inc. at 1613 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK 73103, 405.842.2266. © Copyright 2018 405 Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of 405 Magazine content, in whole or part by any means, without the express written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited. 405 Magazine is not responsible for the care of and/or return of unsolicited materials.

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READER SERVICES Relieved to find that a 405 Magazine flexitarian diet seems 1613 N. Broadway doable in OKC (p. 54) Oklahoma City, OK 73103 Phone 405.842.2266 Fax 405.604.9435 info@405magazine.com, 405magazine.com Story Ideas and Letters to the Editor Your views and opinions are welcome.

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A New You How-To

HEIDI R A MBO CEN TRELL A Editor-in-Chief heidi.centrella@405magazine.com

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405 MAGAZINE JANUARY 2018

PHOTO BY SIMON HURST

W E’ V E SU RV I V ED the holidays and are now in the throes of planning our next year … again. This is the time when many people are ready to make a change. Some will swear off sugar, carbs, booze or other unhealthy substances; some will promise to actually use that gym membership they’ve been paying for. Others will swear off swearing off anything, because is there really enough time in anyone’s schedule for agonizing over major life changes that most likely won’t last?

So what if a major life change didn’t have to feel so major? What if we simply managed our lives in a way that wouldn’t require much more than a few fairly minor adjustments on a day-to-day basis?

There are practical approaches to diet and exercise that don’t require gloom and misery, or all the fretting and fear of failure.

To help you kick off 2018 in proper fashion, Christine Eddington delves into a dissection of diets, explaining the differences between the many trendy fads such as Keto, Paleo, Whole 30 and other super-restrictive diets that ultimately set many people up for failure (p. 48). She also speaks with a couple of experts in the field of nutrition and counseling, who explain how people can achieve their health/weight loss/exercise goals without pressure or shaming themselves. Greg Horton’s story is slightly different, in that his upcoming food-choice change has been prescribed by his doctor. The omnivore we know and love now will be compelled to practice a flexitarian diet (p. 54) – and, by golly, he’s kinda sorta looking forward to it, thanks in part to some large strides made in recent years on the OKC dining scene.

Appropriately for a time at which we’re all thinking about better health, this month – as you can tell by the cover – is our annual Best Doctors issue. As you’ll read in the methodology (p. 33), Best Doctors’ researchers use a peer-to-peer polling method and balloting software, which Gallup has audited and certified, to reflect the doctors selected to be on the Best Doctors in America List. This isn’t a vanity exercise in which they pay to be praised – these genuinely are skilled, dedicated health care professionals, and the 405 is home to an impressive collection of healers.

I wholly avoid making New Year’s resolutions, but I’ll admit there’s something inspiring about seeing the blank pages of a new calendar and pondering the possibilities. I hope you’re taking care of yourself, and that 2018 is a great year for all of us, right from the start.

Cheers!

Web Sights What’s online at 405magazine.com

Cost: $30 Lunch provided.

To register, visit www.eeda.com or call (405) 340-0116.

Sponsored By:

’ ORS EDITOICE CH

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NIC’S GRILL, 1201 N PENN, OKC

Technically, that’s “Justin Nicholas and Jovon Bunkley” … but one of the reasons these two excel at what they do is that they make firsttime guests feel like regulars almost immediately. Nic’s Grill is a legend among OKC burger connoisseurs, and deservedly so, but it’s also tiny. There’s a lot of pressure inherent in running a two-man restaurant operation with barely enough room to move around and a line perpetually out the door, and these two have been making it look easy for years. With the recent opening of Nic’s Lounge in Midtown, they have more demands on their time, but they’re still working together to keep the city fed and happy, with cheese and everything.

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PHOTOS: WESTBROOK BY LAYNE MURDOCH/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES, PROVIDED BY OKC THUNDER; NIC AND JOVON BY SCOTTY O’DANIEL

Featured Speakers: EEDA Executive Director Janet Yowell Oklahoma State Treasurer Ken Miller, Ph.D.

of the

CORNMAN

Location: Edmond Conference Center 2833 Conference Drive, Edmond, OK Located at the Hilton Garden Inn Northwest Corner of Interstate 35 and Covell Road

B4e0s5t

BY SHANNON

Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

PHOTOS

Date: Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018

RS’ EDITOICE CHO

Westbrook makes the dazzling look reliably familiar. As we went to press, he was passing Wilt Chamberlain for 2nd most triple doubles in a season with 32 (his previous season high was 18), and was still on pace to be the only player in the history of the league besides the great Oscar Robertson to average at least 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists per game over an entire season. OKC Thunder fans already knew that Westbrook is among the best current players in the NBA, but after this offseason’s unexpected roster upheaval, even more responsibility fell on his shoulders … and he has responded by demonstrating that he’s one of the game’s all-time greats.

42

BAR BAND

READERS’ CHOICE

ELECTED OFFICIAL

MAYOR MICK CORNETT

ANNIE OAKLEY theannieoakley.com LOCAL ACTOR

DAVID PAYNE News9 NEWS ANCHOR

ABIGAIL OGLE KOCO 5

ARTIST

INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST (ANY MEDIUM)

MIKE WIMMER mikewimmer.com

SCOTT HINES KFOR-TV

FILMMAKER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

INFANT CRISIS SERVICES 4224 N Lincoln, OKC 405.528.3663 infantcrisis.org HUMANITARIAN

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ANDREA DILLINGHAM andreadillinghamphotography.com AUTHOR/WRITER

LOU BERNEY louberney.com BLOGGER

SPORTS JOURNALIST

BERRY TRAMEL The Oklahoman RADIO PERSONALITY

JOEY AND HEATHER 98.9 KISS FM AMBASSADOR WHO MAKES YOU PROUD TO BE AN OKLAHOMAN

KYLE DILLINGHAM kyle-web.com

RUSSELL WESTBROOK OKC Thunder

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AARON WILDER facebook.com/aaronwildr

TOM MCDANIEL American Fidelity Foundation

KYLE DILLINGHAM kyle-web.com

405 MAGAZINE APRIL 2017

APRIL 2017 405 MAGAZINE

Choosing Champions 033-048-405Magazine-April-2017.indd 42

METEOROLOGIST

SUSAN RILEY Lyric Theatre and Pollard Theatre

3/15/17 3:11 PM

033-048-405Magazine-April-2017.indd 43

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There are many, many things to enjoy and praise about life in central Oklahoma, from delicious dining to talented artists to topnotch shopping. But as the metro grows, the question remains: What do you think is simply the best? Online voting is open now for our Best of the 405 2018 feature (coming in April), and by participating, you’re helping to make certain the greats get their due recognition, and also setting yourself up for a chance to win sweet giveaways. Visit 405magazine.com/awards/ to vote, and let us – and everyone – know what you love.

Winter Weather Whistle-Wetters January tends to be a chilly season, and while there’s emphatically nothing wrong with a vodka tonic or bourbon on the rocks, if you’re going to be venturing outdoors at cocktail o’clock, why not reward yourself with something more creative? Greg Horton talked to half a dozen of the best bartenders in the metro and rounded up some of their suggestions for winter beverages. We even got the recipes, in case you don’t want to leave the house – but you won’t find them in the pages of this issue. Track down this online-exclusive collection at 405magazine.com/January-2018/ winter-cocktails/.

A News Beginning

6900 N. MAY | OKLAHOMA CITY | 405.418.4496 2012 N.W. 178TH ST. | EDMOND | 405.696.5985 911 N BROADWAY AVE | OKLAHOMA CITY | 405.604.3614 FOURSTARFITNESSOKC.COM

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405 MAGAZINE JANUARY 2018

2018 is looking like another big year for the 405 in terms of growth (hello, streetcar?), so we’re looking forward to seeing what develops, and to sharing news of it with you via 405 Now. That’s the section atop our homepage at 405magazine.com that updates multiple times each week to share content you won’t find in our printed pages. To help start the year up to date, go see what’s happening.

We’ve recently expanded our classrooms.

(But don’t worry – we’ve kept our class sizes small.)

A global education shouldn’t be confined to the four walls of a traditional classroom.

That’s why Heritage Hall has introduced HH Explore, a unique immersion program for our students in grades 7 through 12, designed to introduce new disciplines, broaden perspectives and unlock new discoveries. From oceanography and marine biology on Catalina Island, to the Northern Lights in Iceland, to astronomy and geology at our state parks, our classrooms have never offered more.

TO LEARN • TO LEAD • TO SERVE

NOW ACCEPTING ENROLLMENT APPLICATIONS FOR 2018-19 (PS THROUGH GRADE 12)

GROUP TESTING FOR 2018-19 ADMISSION (GRADES 5-12):

FEBRUARY 24, 2018

REGISTER ONLINE OR CALL (405) 749-3002.

1800 NW 122nd St. • Oklahoma City, OK 73120 • heritagehall.com

Em p owering Trailblazing Women Financing for the next big idea

OKLAHOMA CITY

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405 MAGAZINE JANUARY 2018

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405

in the

The Pod Squad

PHOTO BY CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER

Longtime friends Angela Spindle and Corey Ayers both work at the Oklahoma History Center, and both love a good story, so the development of a program that allows them to share tales from the Sooner State’s past and present shouldn’t be a surprise. There are, however, surprises in plenty – from special guests to misadventures in milking – awaiting listeners of “A Very OK Podcast.”

JANUARY 2018 405 MAGAZINE

15

in the 405 CREATIVES

What’s Good About Very OK A local podcast’s take on state stories about four days to raise the funds they needed for their new podcast. The duo, both of whom work for the Oklahoma History Center, decided to launch a new show to talk about the state’s unique and colorful history. But with the state’s ongoing budget issues, they knew funding must come from private sources.

“We raised all the money ourselves,” Ayers says.

“We bounced around the idea for the podcast for a few months, then launched a fundraising campaign to raise money to turn the back half of my office into a little studio. We were planning on a 30-day fundraising goal, but it took only four days to raise the $1,600 we needed.”

So far, “A Very OK Podcast” has been a tremendous success.

“We have been doing this for several months now,” he says. “Our first podcast was last summer back on August 16, and it’s been a pretty overwhelmingly positive response. Many more people have been listening than we initially anticipated … which is both great and terrifying all at the same time.”

The topics they cover are as diverse as the state itself, ranging from the Land Run of 1889 and the Red River Bridge War to where to find the best chicken fried steak.

Working at the Oklahoma History Center is a natural fit for “Our topics are really anything that has to do with Oklahoma both Ayers and Spindle. They are native Oklahomans, and have history and culture,” Ayers explains. “We start off with brainbeen there about 10 years each. storming sessions at first. We have a long-running list of topics “We have been really good work friends for a long time,” Ayers we think we know, but then realize are much more fascinating says, “so it has been great to finally work with each other on a than we thought.” In what sounds like a pretty good tagline, he project. We both have eclectic tastes in music, and as a result of describes their approach as “quirky and offbeat that, we have reached out to a guy who does ways to talk about topics that your Oklahoma an all-Okie vinyl show, so something may be history/football coach may not have made very “I think that Oklahoma in the works there. Angela also likes to make interesting back in high school.” of my weekly Dungeons and Dragons history doesn’t have to fun The show usually runs about half an hour, game. Basically, the podcast is a lot of fun, and be boring.” maybe longer, depending on the topic.“It really I think that comes through to our listeners.”

COR E Y AY ER S depends on the topic and whether we think we The show continues picking up steam, with can tackle it ourselves, or if it’s better to get an more listeners every week and followings on expert to weigh in,” Ayers says. “We like to build Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. the idea, and have a guest on history or that topic flesh it out. Like “I think that Oklahoma history doesn’t have to be boring,” he when we did the chicken fried steak episode, we had Chef Russ says. “It’s a pretty fascinating story, all in all. And we have some Johnson from Ludivine cook up our research. And for the show great episodes coming up with special guest stars, and Angela we did on The Outsiders, we had a member of the hip-hop group and Corey milking a cow. So subscribe now!”

House of Pain come in and chat. Yeah, we know it sounds strange, Listen to “A Very OK Podcast” online at okhistory.org/about/ but just listen to the episode – we promise it makes sense.” podcasts. - MARK BEUTLER

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405 MAGAZINE JANUARY 2018

PHOTO BY CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER

I T TOOK COR E Y Ayers and Angela Spindle only

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in the 405 FAVORITE THINGS

Jolette white wood lantern, $330 “The detail of the wood on this unique fixture makes it the perfect home addition.”

Wagon wheel coffee table, $975 “I just love the distressed look of this piece, and the way that it instantly changes the feel of any living room.”

Greenery arrangement, $55 “I love using Botanica floral stems because I do not have a ‘green thumb,’ but love the look of flowers in my house to make it feel more inviting.”

Interior Inspirations

Ben Nockels

Reclaimed Warehouse plays to its strengths

Choose Joy sign, $65 “These black-and-white signs are such a great statement piece, and will be the focal point in any room.”

Julie mixing bowl, $63 “The size of this bowl makes it convenient for any of my baking needs – and the cute saying on it makes it fun to use.”

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405 MAGAZINE JANUARY 2018

Cage end table, $439 “This table is one that I use a lot when staging houses; it is a great size and is so functional with its three shelves.”

Kona brown leather pillow, $75 “It is a neutral must-have of mine that will help complete any style.”

Capela club chair, $1,209 “The rich and luxurious color of this champagne chair, along with the tufted style, makes this the best seat in the house.”

PHOTOS BY DON RISI

Square dough bowl, $60 “These dough bowls have a vintage feel while incorporating warmth to any tabletop. The variety of colors, shapes and sizes they come in make them so versatile, and most importantly, functional.”

BU IL DI NG SOM ET HI NG that will last and also be meaningful – those are just a couple of the priorities that lie behind the lovely store that is Reclaimed Warehouse. Owner Tabitha Clark radiates a genuine care and concern about all aspects of her business, and with what she calls a “desire to inspire others and create beautiful spaces in their own homes,” it is evident that there is more to this place than beautiful furniture and accessories for the home.

Clark and her husband own R&R Homes, as well, so this domestic focus is in her wheelhouse. Having helped clients create their dream homes, she now dives into helping customers make their interiors as dreamy as possible. Affordable and unique, everything in the store from top to bottom is gorgeous. Clark calls Reclaimed Warehouse’s style “rustic glamor,” but also feels there is much more to it than that. “The store tends to feel very transitional, with a mixture of design styles,” she says. “We aren’t afraid to break some rules when it comes to design elements, and we encourage clients to figure out what they love and why – regardless of what current trends dictate.”

The store is found at 3004 S. Sunnylane Road in Moore, and that’s no accident – Clark has called the city home for 15 years now. “Family is very important to my husband and me, and my husband’s family has deep generational roots in Moore. The many times this town has pulled together through crisis has made us family. There is real meaning behind the city’s motto of ‘Moore Strong.’ I love being part of a community that is full of people who are just here to help and love one another.” That sense of comfort from community is definitely felt once you enter into Reclaimed Warehouse, and helps make it well worth taking some time to explore. - SAR A GAE WATERS

a k a r e n b l a c k c o m p a n y. c o m

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Oklahoma City

in the 405 TRENDS

Kelsi Dagger Colby black boot, $275 from Betsy King

Thigh-high camel suede fitted boots, $49.99 from The Black Scintilla

Tatyana tan over-the-knee boot, $47 from Mode

Kacey black over-the-knee boot, $82 from Mode

Get Your Boots On! Knee-high highlights

Kelsi Dagger Logan chestnut over-the-knee boot, $200 from Betsy King

Thigh-high black suede fitted boots, $49.99 from The Black Scintilla

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405 MAGAZINE JANUARY 2018

Marc Fisher Adora black over-the-knee boot, $230 from Betsy King

Betsy King a Shoe Boutique, 3001 Paseo, OKC; The Black Scintilla, 1112 N Walker, OKC; Mode, 1227 N Walker, OKC

PHOTOS BY SCOTTY O’DANIEL

W I N T ER’S HER E , and as the saying goes, it’s “time to suit up and show up!” Keeping those toes warm is important, but I can’t stress enough how much better it is to move on up from there with a nice tall boot. A black or brown pair is definitely essential to your wardrobe, and this year a nice over-the-knee, or at least close to it, would be a keeper. You can’t go wrong with either a high heel or a flat, but having both isn’t such a bad idea, either! Variations in the two colors abound, but here are just a few to inspire you to find one that suits you perfectly. - SAR A GAE WATERS

BE ACTIVE, BE INVOLVED, BELONG We can’t think of a better place to bring our family. - NASSIL What starts here changes our community, and it starts with you. As our community continues to grow, so do the challenges we face. We need your help to meet these needs. Your gift will help make our community stronger for all.

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in the 405 OKLAHOMYTHS

Bombs Away on Boise City

Blowing up WWII-era inaccuracies

THE CLAIM: “Bombs fell on Boise City in the middle of a July night in 1943, making it the only American city to be bombed during World War II.” THE SOURCE: Tulsa World, Feb. 17, 2007 FACT CHECK: False THE TRUTH: The first American city to be bombed during World War II was, of course, Honolulu, in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. But that was merely the beginning.

FRIENDLY FIRE Boise City in the Oklahoma panhandle was indeed bombed the night of July 5, 1943, during an off-course training run of a B-17 “Flying Fortress” out of Dalhart Army Air Field, 50 miles due south.

Six 100-pound dummy bombs landed around the illuminated Cimarron County Courthouse square, which resembled the target range. The wayward bombs left behind 4-foot-deep craters, but no injuries.

Other scenarios similar to Boise City’s unintended bombardment include the erroneous dropping of five dummy bombs on the town of Dickens, Nebraska, in December 1942 or 1943 (a wartime news blackout and fuzzy memories have obscured the exact date), and Tarnov, Nebraska, on Aug. 16, 1943. No injuries were reported in either incident.

The deadliest mainland attack by U.S.-launched bombs occurred Aug. 11, 1944, near Defuniak Springs, Florida. A malfunctioning bomb-drop door during a training run rained 20-pound fragmentation bombs on a farm, killing brothers Alfred and James Cosson and two of James’ children: 13-year-old Winnie and 12-year-old James Jr. Five other family members were seriously injured. The house no longer stands, and the place where it stood has been declared a Florida Heritage Site.

JAPANESE BOMBINGS OF THE MAINLAND FEB. 23, 1942: The first Japanese attack on the continental United States occurred at Ellwood City, north of Santa Barbara, California. A submarine fired more than a dozen shells at oil-storage tanks and a gasoline refinery, causing about $500 in damage. It then evaded three aircraft and two destroyers to escape back into the sea, sparking widespread panic of an invasion on the West Coast.

JUNE 21, 1942: The only World War II attack on a mainland military site occurred in Oregon, when a Japanese submarine surfaced near Fort Stevens and fired 17 shells from its 140-millimeter deck gun. A nearby baseball field was damaged in the attack.

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SEPT. 9 AND 29, 1942: The Lookout Air Raids marked the only time during World War II that bombs were dropped by an enemy aircraft on the U.S. mainland.

Three months after the shelling of Fort Stevens, the same submarine returned to the Oregon coast and launched a floatplane, which dropped two 170-pound thermite bombs near Brookings.

The plane dropped another two bombs later in the month. No injuries were reported.

Twenty years later, the floatplane pilot, Nobuo Fujita, returned to Brookings as an honored guest. There, he apologized for his actions and presented the community with his family’s 400-year-old samurai sword.

NOV. 4, 1944-AUG. 8, 1945: The most ambitious Japanese bombing raid on the U.S. mainland was the “Fu-Go” campaign, launched in the war’s final year. An estimated 9,000 unmanned high-altitude hydrogen balloons, each carrying nearly 50 pounds of incendiaries and anti-personnel bombs, were released into the jet stream from Japan; at least 342 successfully reached the United States.

Only one claimed American lives. On May 5, 1945, near Klamath Falls, Oregon, a pregnant Elsie Mitchell, age 26, and five children on a Sunday school picnic discovered a balloon lodged in a tree, and tried to pull it down for a closer look. All six were killed instantly.

A bronze plaque marks the spot as the “only place on the American continent where death resulted from enemy action during WWII.” - M.J. ALEX ANDER Editor’s note: Oklahoma is rich with history, lore and fun facts, but some of them aren’t quite factual. In this series, M.J. Alexander hunts for the accuracy – or lack thereof – behind some of our state’s stories.

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JANUARY 2018 405 MAGAZINE

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in the 405 LAUGH LINES

The Invisible Birthmark Surviving shopping as a target for sales pressure son’s “The Far Side” involves two bucks, standing upright. As one of the bucks looks at the target the other has on his chest, he observes, “Bummer of a birthmark, Hal.” Although I’ve never seen it, I know from experience that I, too, have a target, and it’s been my birthmark for as long as I can remember. Like the ill-fated, limping gazelle on the savanna, I can be spotted miles away on my slow-moving approach toward any retailer. I barely escaped the holiday season, the one time of year when my odds of getting lost inside the herd could work to my advantage.

I’ve never stood a chance against a retailer with a sample of a food snack, a skincare item or the demonstration of a product I don’t need – I’m a moth to the proverbial retail flame. And nowhere does that flame burn brighter and hotter than at a mall kiosk, the epicenter of retail’s worst predators. Exhaustingly aggressive, the kiosk barker warrants a flashing sign overhead to warn the unsuspecting passerby, “Do NOT make eye contact!

Do NOT make eye contact!”

Let me be your flashing kiosk sign, fellow gazelles: NO eye contact! Keep running! This is Rule No. 1 in your line of defense.

If it’s too late and you’ve made eye contact (or if, like me, you have the telltale birthmark) your next hour (and quite possibly, your emergency savings) will undoubtedly be hijacked by a salesperson who seems unusually concerned about the condition of your skin.

Rule No. 2: For the love of all things holy, do NOT accept a product sample for any kind of lotion, potion or gel.

Kiosk barker: “What are you currently using for your skincare, darling?”

Unsuspecting prey (accepting packet): “Who? Me? Uh, I, uh … ” KB: “Because you really have beautiful skin for someone your age. I’d just hate for you to throw it all away before it’s too late.”

UP (confused): “Too late for what?”

Prey has now violated Rule No. 3: Do NOT engage!

KB: “You have one minute? Just one minute, dahlink. Come here. I will show you how to firm up that area you’re having trouble with around your eyes. It will just take one moment – step over here and watch this.”

UP (looks at watch): “Uh, hey, that’s OK, really. I was on my way to pick up a gift. I should go.”

KB (feigning insult): “You don’t have one minute to take

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care of yourself? This is your problem, dahlink: You’re too busy taking care of everyone else – give me just one minute. Do it for YOU, dahlink.”

Barker leads Prey to the shadowy perimeter of the kiosk, where Prey pauses to reflect: I have been too busy taking care of everyone else!

Rule No. 4: Yeah, we’ve all been too busy. Just RUN, gazelle! RUN! Barker tells Prey to extend her arm, and applies a silky potion of unknown contents onto her trembling hoof.

KB: “Do you feel that velvety texture? This is what your skin deserves. I have many clients who pay $400 for this tube. Today, I feel so generous. I am practically giving it away and I don’t care! Today (whispers), I sell it to you for only $299 – if you don’t tell my supervisor.”

UP: “Wow – that’s a great discount – you said two-ninety-nine, right? Uh, where is the decimal?”

Rule No. 5: Forget about decimals! GET OUT! KB (amused): “Ohhhhhh! You’re so funny! No wonder you have so many laugh lines on your face! You make other people to laugh, too! What is it you’re doing for a living?”

UP: “Um, marketing?”

Rule No. 6: No names! No details! Foam at the mouth if you must – just get out!

KB: “Oh, well, there you have it. Marketing is very stressful. No wonder you have such deep lines … you will love this. And you just need a small, small amount every night, dahlink.”

UP: “That’s nice. Gosh, look at the time! I really have to go.”

KB (angrily): “So just like that – you’re going to waste all my time after I took you in and consulted you about how to fix your face?”

Prey makes a hasty, unapologetic bolt for the other end of the mall, where a waiting kiosk barker recognizes her birthmark and offers her a product sample. She accepts. - LAUREN HAMMACK

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in the 405 ON THE SCENE

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Patrons of the St. Anthony Foundation celebrate Winter’s Eve, a spectacular gala to help raise funds for expanding the hospital’s Frank C. Love Cancer Institute.

1. Dr. Charles and Robin Gill, Dana and Dr. Jeffrey Hirsch 2. Connie and Chris Burnett, Erin, Denise and Jim Brinkworth 3. Carol and Scott Corman 4. Lisa Duncan, Richard Ellwanger 5. Bill and Sheila Heim

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PHOTOS BY TERRELL FRY

Saints Ball 2017

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Beaux Arts Ball 2017 1. Craig Abbott, Claire Abbott, Bill Cameron, Claire Cameron, David Griffin, Grace Griffin 2. Gregg Eichner, Dylan Dobson, Grace Griffin, David Griffin 3. King G. Rainey and Queen Casey Williams Jr. 4. Mims and Tiffany Talton, Christie Hargrove, Sam Cunningham 5. Ann Joullian, Edward Joullian lV

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To see more On the Scene photos, visit 405magazine.com/On-The-Scene/ To have them sent directly to your inbox, subscribe to our free weekly Snapshot! newsletter.

PHOTOS BY FRAN KOZAKOWSKI

An elegant, venerable OKC tradition continues at the 72nd Beaux Arts Ball, as 25 debutantes are formally introduced into society in a gala benefiting the OKC Museum of Art.

RANDY COLEMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

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JANUARY 2018 405 MAGAZINE

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in the 405 WEDDINGS

Your New Favorite Band

Wedding ring trends in the metro

W EDDI NG R I NGS have come a long way from the days when a simple band of yellow gold was the done thing – for both the bride and groom. For many couples, it was a brief thought amid the hectic and busy organization of a wedding – in the days before wedding planners – so keeping it simple was generally the preferable option.

The gold band is still popular, and has been the wedding ring of choice for more than 300 years … but as with most traditions, it has evolved over time. Brides now have many options, with fewer preconceptions in either style or metal.

According to Tim Lewis, co-owner of Lewis Jewelers in Moore, brides are seeking a more eclectic look when choosing a band, and the stackable ring is seeing increased demand. Brides have a choice of design and colors, and can augment the adornment or even swap out elements to tie in with a special outfit.

The stackable ring has been around for many years, but it seems style icon Audrey Hepburn set the trend in 1954 when first husband Mel Ferrer presented her with two wedding bands – one rose gold and one white gold – to complement the diamond eternity ring he had given her when he proposed.

When it comes to the metal of choice, Lewis said white gold is still the most popular choice, with rose gold accounting for only 5 to 10 percent of their sales. “Each metal goes through a 25-year (popularity) cycle,” he explains. “We’re currently 15-18 years into the white gold cycle, which followed the yellow gold trend.”

Mitchell Clark, executive vice president of BC Clark, said that white gold is in higher demand at their stores, but yellow gold and rose gold are also making a comeback.

“Traditional rings are always going to be a big part of the wedding ring scene; right now it’s white gold and platinum that are the most popular within the traditional rings,” he adds. “However, stackable wedding rings are in high demand, with more brides going for bands rather than the traditional engagement ring to tie in with the look.”

Naifeh Fine Jewelry owner and designer Valerie Naifeh also has seen a revival in yellow gold and rose gold bands, and said it’s more to do with brides wanting a more distinctive style; opting for wedding bands that can stand their own ground and don’t just serve to complement the engagement ring.

“With more women traveling, they often want to leave their valuable diamond engagement ring somewhere safe at home, and so need their wedding band to look good on its own,” she says. “More brides are going for a simple, traditional engagement ring and then choosing a more distinctive wedding band.”

Nelson Lopez, general manager at Diamonds Direct in OKC, said designs in stackable rings were evolving rapidly, with some of the recent styles including different shaped stones, such as the marquise, as well as wedding rings with a seamless line of diamonds so no metal can be seen – creating a band with more sparkle.

Of the recent influx of choice, Lopez adds, “What certain manufacturers have done is bring designer rings into the mainstream market.” No longer are these distinctive wedding band styles available solely to the rich and famous, but to all brides – and that’s welcome news for all those getting ready to tie the knot in style. - LOUISE SCRIVENS

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For men, wearing a wedding ring is a relatively new concept, especially considering that the history of women’s wedding bands can be traced back to ancient Egypt, when they were made with braided reeds and hemp. Men didn’t start wearing wedding bands until the 1940s, when World War II soldiers wanted to remember the loved ones they had left behind. Since then, men have requested all manner of different ring materials as a symbol of their union, from tungsten carbide to rubber … and even tattoos.

Mitchell Clark of BC Clark says “thankfully” he hasn’t seen much of an impact of the wedding ring tattoo trend in the metro.

“For men, we are seeing a rise in demand for bands made of different materials that offer a more masculine appearance. Metals such as tungsten carbide, stainless steel and titanium are becoming more in demand,” he adds.

Clark advised to avoid titanium; although it is durable, the metal is harder to cut in an emergency.

Men traditionally have worn plain metal bands, since the majority worked with their hands – but as this has changed over time, engravings can be made on the metal without the fear of getting dirt trapped.

Calyn Jump, sales manager at Naifeh Fine Jewelry, said some of the most interesting design requests they had received were fingerprint rings, when a cast was made of the groom’s print in wax and then incorporated into the design.

“We still get a lot of requests for traditional rings, as many men see them as something they can pass down as a family heirloom,” Jump adds.

Today, requests for rings with interesting inlays of wood grain or carbon are also on the rise, showing a demand for more individual wedding bands for men.

More grooms also are opting for rings made of something other than precious metals. Some of the latest trends for men include titanium, cobalt and even black rings, which Tim Lewis, from Lewis Jewelers, believes will be a “short-lived trend.”

PHOTOS COURTESY DIAMONDS DIRECT, NAIFEH FINE JEWELRY AND LEWIS JEWELERS

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JANUARY 2018 405 MAGAZINE

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territory ahead

Oklahoma’s Drive-By Dinosaurs A roll call of roadside reptiles

BY M.J. ALEX ANDER

No signs mark the spot. There is no interpretative center, no historical marker, no souvenir kiosk. The bleached bone stands, as tall as a man, on a cement pedestal overlooking the curve of Highway 325 east of Kenton, not far from the shadow of Black Mesa.

The minimalist masterpiece marks the quarry where the state’s first big dinosaur discovery was unearthed in 1931, when the blade of a Cimarron County road grader uncovered a massive rib bone. It was one of a series of discoveries of remains from five distinct dinosaur species, and included the recovery of an intact femur of an apatosaurus. Weight: 425 pounds. Length: 5 feet, 11 3/4 inches. Diameter: 24 inches at one end and 21 inches around the other.

A nine-year Works Progress Administration dig, led by J. Willis Stovall of The University of Oklahoma and halted by World War II, removed 18 tons of bones and fossils to the archives in Norman, 375 miles to the southeast. The best are now featured in the Sam Noble Museum’s Hall of Ancient Life.

Back beneath the skies of Cimarron County, the true-to-size cement cast of the femur drawn from the pit is mounted on its end, standing in wordless salute on the north side of the highway. The original has been replaced over the years, worn down by the elements, vandals and its sporadic use as target practice. It is the state’s oldest monument to its prehistoric past.

A tour of western Oklahoma reveals other roadside salutes to dinosaurs, with inspiration ranging from civic pride to salesmanship to philosophical beliefs to “just because.”

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1) CIMMY OF BOISE CITY The prize find from the dig near Kenton was the giant femur and fossilized bones that formed an apatosaurus skeleton that was 80 percent complete.

Norma Gene Young (1925-2010), longtime publisher of The Boise City News, was determined to memorialize the creature that once surrounded those bones. She donated proceeds from self-published books on local history to commission a $20,000 life-sized creation from Texas-based sculptor Joe Barrington.

The 9-ton iron landmark – 65 feet long and 35 feet high – looms over Highway 3 on the north side of the rambling museum, its long tail and neck designed to sway in the face of strong winds.

It has come to be known by the name coined by a Boise City grade-school student: Cimmy, the Cimarronasaurus.

2) STEGOLEX OF WOODWARD The statue of a child riding a stegosaurus installed at the corner of 11th and Oklahoma, in front of the Woodward Christian Academy, was inspired not by local fossils, but by a carving in the Ta Prohm Temple in Cambodia, an ambiguous artwork that creationists cite as evidence that people and dinosaurs co-existed.

The signs mounted outside the gate surrounding the sculpture explain its story: Evolution is a fairy tale for Adults A Dinosaur like this roamed the Earth 5,000 years ago About 6,000 Years Ago God Created the Earth, You, and Oil & Natural Gas Commissioned by Randall Gabrel, the Academy’s headmaster, the work was created by Joe Taylor, director and curator of the Texas-based Mt. Blanco Fossil Museum, who bills himself as a “creationist paleontologist/paleoartist.”

Stegolex was built of lacquer-coated foam, which was then painted and sealed. The work was dedicated Oct. 29, 2012, as part of the Woodward Christian Academy’s grand opening, which also featured guest speaker Ken Ham, president of the Creation Museum of Kentucky.

Gabrel also owns B and G Productions, an oil and gas company founded by his father, longtime college football coach Pug Gabrel. He believes in a literal translation of the Bible, which he promotes by featuring a rider on the back of the dinosaur.

“It’s just a kid – not Jesus as a child or anything,” he says.

“I doubt that people actually rode dinosaurs. It’s just a kid to

show they both were alive at the same time. I think humans saw living dinosaurs.”

How do creationist views reconcile with being an oil and gas man?

“I think that oil is – some oil is – made of dinosaur bones, like they say,” says Gabrel. “But there is just too much of it. I believe oil was put there by God when he created the world, for our use.”

Regardless of its historical accuracy, Stegolex is likely the most famous of Oklahoma’s outdoor dinosaur tributes, with recent mentions in national and international media coverage of Oklahoma, in stories ranging from climate-change skeptics to roadside wonders.

3) THE BIG GREEN DINOSAUR OF GAGE Originally more of a hunter-green shade, the turquoise Big Green Dinosaur was created out of tire rims by folk artist Jim Powers. The Gage native returned home after a military career and ended up purchasing a salvage yard, which inspired his creative side. Several of his pieces were purchased for exhibition by Ripley’s Believe It or Not, which dubbed him the “Junkyard Picasso.” Although he died in 2006, his Big Green Dinosaur continues to hold court at the intersection of Highways 15 and 46 in his hometown.

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4) DINO OF PERRY The state’s oldest gas station in continuous service is the Kemnitz station on the courthouse square in Perry, dating to 1937. Originally affiliated with Mid-Continent Petroleum and Apco, the family-owned station now carries Sinclair Oil, and was presented with a new station dinosaur in 2016 as part of Sinclair’s centennial celebration.

Sinclair Oil’s ad team hatched the idea for a dinosaur-themed campaign to promote a line of oils and lubricants refined from deposits of Pennsylvania crude, touted as 270 million years old.

Of the dozen different dinosaurs used in advertising, the fan favorite was the apatosaurus. The company trademarked the familiar long-necked dinosaur in 1932, and gave it the name Dino.

5) I-35 DINOSAUR OF OKLAHOMA CITY The life-sized brachiosaurus, billed as 65 feet long and 33 feet tall, made headlines when it was put on display outside the new location of Statuary World in 1996. Designer Clay Seibold worked with Agustin Olivares, Victor Trejo and Cirilo Ramirez to shape rebar to form a skeleton, covered it with used chicken wire, three layers of fiberglass and resin and paint to seal the skin. “He’s gonna really be a showpiece,” Seibold told a reporter from The Oklahoman the month before the dinosaur was installed. Twenty-two years later, the creation continues to tower over the playground sets and yard ornament displays overlooking southbound I-35.

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6) THE DINOSAUR ROADSIDE RANCH OF RUSH SPRINGS The Chickasaw Country Travel Guide touts The Dinosaur Roadside Ranch, located off Highway 81 in a farmer’s field five miles north of downtown Rush Springs, as a key attraction. Although visitors are not allowed within the fence, the work “is accessible daily to all bypassers for roadside viewing.” The collection’s masterpiece: a horse trailer transformed into a dinosaur, which had once enjoyed a career as a parade float, featuring moving parts.

7) THE BOOKWORM DINOSAUR OF OKLAHOMA CITY The feel of the Great Plains – images of wheat fields and windmills, Route 77 signs, architectural elements evoking oil derricks – is integrated into the design of Oklahoma City’s first new public library in 30 years. The Patience S. Latting Northwest Library opened on May 22, 2012, featuring outdoor artwork including a 7-foot saurophaganax, created by California-based artist Solomon Bassoff. The steel armature, covered with sculpted cement, portrays a dinosaur in red Converse and yellow polka-dot socks, juggling a tumbling stack of natural history books, his glass eyes trained on the traffic on NW 122nd Street. The library notes the artwork is “intended to encourage library use, to touch hearts and inspire minds of library guests for generations to come.”

The 173 physicians in the Oklahoma city area, as chosen by their peers, excerpted from the Best Doctors in AmericaÂŽ 2017-2018 database

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How the Best Doctors are Selected FOU N DED I N 1989 by Harvard Medical School physicians, Best Doctors is a global benefits provider and medical information services company that connects individuals facing difficult medical treatment decisions with the best doctors, selected by impartial peer review in over 450 subspecialties of medicine, to review their diagnosis and treatment plans. Best Doctors seamlessly integrates its services with employers’ other health-related benefits to serve more than 40 million members in every major region of the world.

More than a traditional second opinion, Best Doctors delivers a comprehensive evaluation of a patient’s medical condition – providing value to both patients and treating physicians. By utilizing Best Doctors, members have access to the brightest minds in medicine to ensure the right diagnosis and treatment plan.

Best Doctors’ team of researchers conducts a biennial poll using the methodology that mimics the informal peer-to-peer process doctors themselves use to identify the right specialists for their patients. Using a polling method and proprietary balloting software, they gather the insight and experience of tens of thousands of leading specialists all over the country, while confirming their credentials and specific areas of expertise.

The result is the Best Doctors in America® List, which includes the nation’s most respected specialists and outstanding primary care physicians in the nation. These are the doctors that other doctors recognize as the best in their fields. They cannot pay a fee and are not paid to be listed and cannot nominate or vote for themselves. It is a list which is truly unbiased and respected by the medical profession and patients alike as the source of top quality medical information.

Best Doctors’ innovative services include access to an unrivaled database of physicians who have been selected as the best in their field by other leading physicians, analytics and technology. With every service offered, the goal remains the same: to help people in need get the right diagnosis and treatment, significantly improving health outcomes while reducing costs.

Gallup® has audited and certified Best Doctors, Inc.’s database of physicians, and its companion The Best Doctors in America® List, as using the highest industry standards survey methodology and processes.

These lists are excerpted from The Best Doctors in America® 2017-2018 database, which includes close to 40,000 U.S. doctors in more than 40 medical specialties and 450 subspecialties.

The Best Doctors in America® database is compiled and maintained by Best Doctors, Inc. For more information, visit www.bestdoctors.com or contact Best Doctors by telephone at 800675-1199 or by e-mail at research@bestdoctors.com. Please note that lists of doctors are not available on the Best Doctors Web site.

Best Doctors, Inc., has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list, but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person or other party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Copyright 2017, Best Doctors, Inc. Used under license, all rights reserved. This list, or any parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without written permission from Best Doctors, Inc. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without the permission of Best Doctors, Inc. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.

Best Doctors, Inc. is the only authorized source of the official Best Doctors in America® plaque and other recognition items. Best Doctors does not authorize, contract with or license any organization to sell recognition items for Best Doctors, Inc. Please contact Best Doctors at plaques@bestdoctors.com with any questions. For more information or to order visit usplaques. bestdoctors.com call 617-963-1167.

BEST DOCTORS, THE BEST DOCTORS IN AMERICA, and the Star-in-Cross Logo are trademarks of Best Doctors, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries, and are used under license.

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CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Karen J. Beckman University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Cardiovascular Institute OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 2E 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-7001 Harold M. Burkhart The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center The Children’s Heart Center Clinic OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 2F 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-5789 Sunny Sen Po University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Cardiovascular Institute OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 2E 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-7001 Dwight W. Reynolds University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Cardiovascular Institute OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 2E 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-7001

CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE

Matthew J. Britt INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center Pulmonary Specialists 3300 NW Expy Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-753-6200 Christopher Lentz INTEGRIS Paul Silverstein Burn Center 3300 NW Expy Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-949-3345

DERMATOLOGY

David K. Duncan 2413 Palmer Cir Norman, OK 73069 405-321-3868 Michael D. John Edmond Dermatology Clinic 620 W 15th St Edmond, OK 73013 405-359-0551 Thomas Stasko OU Physicians Dermatology 619 NE 13th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-6110 James B. Stewart, Jr. 3705 W Memorial Rd, Ste 101 Oklahoma City, OK 73134 405-751-0020 Thomas D. Urice 2413 Palmer Cir Norman, OK 73069 405-321-5322

FAMILY MEDICINE

James R. Barrett University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Family Medicine Center 900 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4311 Ryan M. Biggers OU Physicians Mid-Del Family Medicine 1212 S Douglas Blvd Midwest City, OK 73130 405-736-6811 James Lee Brand University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Family Medicine Center 900 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4311 Brian Coleman University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Family Medicine Center 900 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4311 Jeffrey B. Cruzan INTEGRIS Family Care Memorial West 5915 W Memorial Rd, Ste 300 Oklahoma City, OK 73142 405-773-6415 Robert Dimski 9070 Harmony Dr, Ste B Midwest City, OK 73130 405-455-3636 Cheyn D. Onarecker St. Anthony Family Medicine Center 608 NW 9th St, Ste 1100 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 405-231-3000 Tomas P. Owens, Jr. Great Plains Family Medicine Center 3500 NW 56th St, Ste 100 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-951-2855 Kalyanakrishna Ramakrishnan University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Family Medicine Center 900 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4311 A. Vail Stephens Long Term Care Specialists 4334 NW Expy, Ste 175 Oklahoma City, OK 73116 405-557-1200 Peter A. Winn University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Family Medicine Center 900 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4311

John Zubialde University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Family Medicine Center 900 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4311

FAMILY MEDICINE/ HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE MEDICINE Robert C. Salinas University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Family Medicine Center 900 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4311

GASTROENTEROLOGY

Sanjay Sikka Mercy Clinic Interventional Gastroenterology Mercy Tower, Ste 310 4200 W Memorial Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-749-7014 William M. Tierney University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Section of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 4E 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-3445 Joe C. Zuerker Mercy Clinic Gastroenterology 4205 McAuley Blvd, Ste 375 Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-749-4247

GERIATRIC MEDICINE

Robin K. Gonzalez St. Anthony Physicians North 6201 N Santa Fe Ave, Ste 2010 Oklahoma City, OK 73118 405-272-5555 Robert C. Salinas University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Family Medicine Center 900 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4311 Bryan Struck OU Physicians Senior Health Center O’Donoghue Research Bldg, Ste 150 1122 NE 13th St Oklahoma City, OK 73117 405-271-3050 Peter A. Winn University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Family Medicine Center 900 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4311

PHOTO BY CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER

DR. HAROLD BURKHART Just a few years ago, a child in Oklahoma who needed heart surgery would have had to leave the state for treatment. Dr. Harold Burkhart saw an opportunity to change that.

“I realized that we could make a difference for kids in Oklahoma right here at The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center,” he says. “So we put together a cardiac surgical program for children, a state-of-theart facility and a great staff that’s passionate about cardiac care in kids. Today, we perform more than 450 cardiothoracic surgeries a year, we have the only dedicated pediatric cardiovascular ICU in the state and we treat children from all across Oklahoma.”

Burkhart also gives credit to the Children’s Heart Center’s team, which collaborates on the care and treatment of every patient for the best possible outcome, while keeping their families in the loop every step of the way. And while it can make for busy days, Burkhart still takes pride in seeing his vision come to fruition.

“The most gratifying thing to me is that we can now take care of all the kids in Oklahoma, right here in Oklahoma City,” he says. “There’s no reason for them to have to go anywhere else.”

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S. A. Dean Drooby 5728 NW 132nd St Oklahoma City, OK 73142 405-603-7610 Earl Sanders Elliott INTEGRIS Family Care Central Bldg C, Ste 500 3400 NW Expy Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-945-4805

ALLIANCEHEALTH DEACONESS Recognized for its excellence in cancer care, cardiac care and rehabilitation, this 291-bed facility operates 21 clinics across the Oklahoma City area. The hospital, which had a mission to help unwed mothers when it opened in 1900 as Deaconess Hospital, was renamed in 2015 after joining nine other Community Health Systems-affiliated facilities statewide to form AllianceHealth Oklahoma, one of the state’s largest health care systems. Prior to this, it was the only independent hospital in the metro until 2005.

With more than 500 health care professionals, the hospital has a private room birth center and neonatal intensive care unit, and also is known for its roboticassisted surgery, which aims to make operations safer with faster recovery times for patients. 5501 N Portland, OKC

GERIATRIC MEDICINE/ HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE MEDICINE

Saleem Qureshi Oklahoma City VA Health Care System Department of Geriatric Medicine 921 NE 13th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 705-456-1000 Bryan Struck OU Physicians Senior Health Center O’Donoghue Research Bldg, Ste 150 1122 NE 13th St Oklahoma City, OK 73117 405-271-3050

HAND SURGERY

Thomas C. Howard III McBride Orthopedic Hospital Clinic 1110 N Lee Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73103 405-230-9270

INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Michael Stuart Bronze University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Section of Infectious Diseases OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 4E 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-3445 Douglas A. Drevets University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Infectious Diseases Institute Presbyterian Professional Bldg, Ste 430 711 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-6434 John Rudman Harkess Mercy Clinic Infectious Disease, Bldg D 13313 N Meridian Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-529-5759

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James Leroy Kirk, Jr. St. Anthony Hospital Division of Infectious Disease 1000 N Lee Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73102 405-272-7000 Linda Joy Salinas University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Infectious Diseases Institute Presbyterian Professional Bldg, Ste 430 711 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-6434 Michelle R. Salvaggio University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Infectious Diseases Institute Presbyterian Professional Bldg, Ste 430 711 Stanton L. Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-6434 Leonard N. Slater Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, Section of Infectious Diseases 921 NE 13th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-456-2511

INTERNAL MEDICINE

Dustan P. Buckley Mercy Clinic Primary Care 9100 N May Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-840-4456 Thomas C. Coniglione Oklahoma Sports Science & Orthopedics 9800 Broadway Ext, Ste 201 Oklahoma City, OK 73114 405-419-5440 Susan M. Dimick Central Oklahoma Early Detection Center 1227 E 9th St Edmond, OK 73034 405-475-0100

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Erin Kathleen Glasgow INTEGRIS Family Care Central Bldg C, Ste 500 3400 NW Expy Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-945-4433 David J. Karasek II St. Anthony Hospital Department of Internal Medicine 1000 N Lee Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73102 405-272-6053 Brian P. Levy 124 N Bryant Ave, Ste C4 Edmond, OK 73034 405-330-7606 Kersey Winfree Saints Medical Group Metro 100 W Main St, Ste 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 405-815-5060

MEDICAL GENETICS

Klaas Wierenga The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Section of Pediatric Genetics OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 5D 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4211

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY

Michael Bowen St. Anthony HematologyOncology Physicians 1011 N Dewey Ave, Ste 100 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 405-228-7100 Philip C. Comp University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center Blood and Bone Marrow Cancers Clinic 800 NE 10th St, Ste 2500 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-8299 Brian Vincent Geister INTEGRIS Cancer Institute of Oklahoma 5911 W Memorial Rd, Ste 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73142 405-552-0490 Khader K. Hussein INTEGRIS Southwest Medical Center Division of Hematology and Oncology 4301 S Western Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73109 405-552-0490

Johnny R. McMinn, Jr. INTEGRIS Cancer Institute of Oklahoma 5911 W Memorial Rd, Ste 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73142 405-552-0490 Craig Lee Reitz Mercy Clinic Oncology and Hematology 4401 W McAuley, Ste 2700 Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-751-4343 George B. Selby University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center Blood and Bone Marrow Cancers Clinic 800 NE 10th St, Ste 2500 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-8299

NEPHROLOGY

Aly Mohamed Elsebai Aly Oklahoma Nephrology 3366 NW Expy, Ste 730 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-951-4944 Satish Kumar University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Section of Nephrology OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 4E 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-8478 Laura Ann Isaacs Rankin Kidney Specialists of Central Oklahoma Bldg D, Ste 550 3366 NW Expy Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-942-5442 Chris M. Sholer 4334 NW Expy, Ste 106 Oklahoma City, OK 73116 405-842-8298

David Lee Gordon University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Neurology Clinic OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 5B 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-3635

OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY

Joshua Kershen 4221 S Western Ave, Ste 5000 Oklahoma City, OK 73109 405-644-5160

LaTasha B. Craig OU Physicians Reproductive Medicine 840 Research Pkwy, Ste 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1616

Jeanne Ann F. King University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Neurology Clinic OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 5B 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-3635 Germaine L. Odenheimer Oklahoma City VA Medical Center Neuroscience Clinic 921 NE 13th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-456-3365 Calin Prodan University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Neurology Clinic OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 5B 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-3635 Peggy J. Wisdom University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Neurology Clinic OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 5B 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-3635

Susan L. Chambers Oklahoma City Gynecology and Obstetrics 11200 N Portland Ave, 2nd Fl Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-936-1000

Rodney K. Edwards The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Prenatal Diagnostic Center The Children’s Atrium, Ste 1A 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-5400 Karl R. Hansen OU Physicians Reproductive Medicine 840 Research Pkwy, Ste 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1616 Robert S. Mannel University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center Gynecologic Cancers Clinic 800 NE 10th St, Ste 2100 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-8707 Lydia D. Nightingale Variety Care 4023 NW 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73107 405-632-6688

NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY

Michael E. Sughrue University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center 800 NE 10th St, Ste 4500 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1632

NEUROLOGY

Brent A. Beson 4221 S Western Ave, Ste 5000 Oklahoma City, OK 73109 405-644-5160 James R. Couch, Jr. Oklahoma City VA Medical Center Neuroscience Clinic 921 NE 13th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-456-3365

PROCURE PROTON THERAPY CENTER The center opened in July 2009 as the sixth proton therapy center in the United States, and today is one of 24 centers nationwide. Personnel at the Memorial Road-based site strive to improve the lives of patients with cancer by increasing access to proton therapy, an advanced form of radiation. Proton therapy more accurately targets the cancerous tissues to spare healthy tissue, which lessens the risk of secondary tumors or damage to other organs after treatment.

Proton therapy not only effectively targets a tumor, but also can be used in combination with chemotherapy, as a follow-up treatment to surgery or in combination with standard X-ray radiation treatment.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 18,710 cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Oklahoma in 2017. ProCure strives to provide excellent patient care to those Oklahomans facing cancer, through advancing proton therapy innovation and improvements in technology. 5901 W Memorial, OKC

PHOTO BY SHANNON CORNMAN

DR. HESTER sees patients at the Dean McGee Eye Institute’s (DMEI’s) Northwest Oklahoma City Clinic, one of DMEI’s busiest clinics with more than 1,000 patient visits each month.

Building long-term relationships with patients is an important part of eye care. Dr. Hester has many patients to whom he has provided eye care for more than 20 years. He prides himself on being accessible to patients and developing relationships with their other medical providers to address related conditions.

Dr. Hester’s special interests are cataract surgery and lens implant surgery, including use of advanced technology intraocular lenses with an emphasis on multifocal presbyopia correcting lenses and astigmatism correcting lenses. He has experience performing cataract surgery on patients with prior retinal RALPH B. HESTER III, MD and glaucoma surgeries, or after reComprehensive Eye Specialist fractive surgeries such as RK, PRK, or Clinical Associate Professor LASIK. He also has experience with femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. Hester performs a large number of cataract surgeries, both downtown at the McGee Eye Surgery Center (MESC) and at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center. Dr. Hester received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma and completed his residency training at the Dean McGee Eye Institute, University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. He is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma and enjoys training ophthalmology residents in the art of cataract surgery.

DR. JACKSON is a 15-year veteran with the Dean McGee Eye Institute (DMEI) and is an expert in LASIK surgery, cataract surgery to correct vision and reduce the need for glasses, and post-LASIK cataract surgery. He is a team ophthalmologist to the OKC Thunder and is the cataract and refractive surgeon of choice for prominent business leaders, major university football players and coaches, NFL quarterbacks, and NBA players.

Dr. Jackson lectures nationally and internationally and is the author of numerous book chapters and scientific publications. As a Clinical Associate Professor and Medical Director of DMEI’s Stephenson Laser Center, he teaches residents and fellows and contributes to clinical trials advancing the field of ophthalmology.

Dr. Jackson received his medical DAVID W. JACKSON, MD degree from the University of New Comprehensive Eye Specialist Clinical Associate Professor Mexico. He received his ophthalmology training at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where he was voted chief resident by faculty and peers. At Baylor, he went on to complete a fellowship in cornea, refractive and anterior segment surgery.

Dr. Jackson’s wife, Traci, is a first grade teacher and early childhood development educator at John W. Rex Charter School. They have three sons. He would enjoy the opportunity to care for you and your family.

DR. PATEL joined the Dean McGee Eye Institute in 2004 as a neuro-ophthalmologist with special interest in optic nerve and pupillary disorders.

Dr. Patel is also the Medical Director of DMEI, the Neuro-Ophthalmology Fellowship Director and Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Oklahoma.

Neuro-ophthalmologists deal with problems involving the neurologic aspects of eye disease. This includes optic nerve diseases, abnormal eye movements and double vision, stroke, visual field loss, pupillary disorders, brain tumors, and unexplained loss of vision. Neuro-ophthalmologists work closely with neurosurgeons and neurologists.

Dr. Patel is involved in patient care, medical education, and clinical investigation. A native of Canada, Dr. Patel completed his residency at the UniANIL D. PATEL, MD FACS versity of Saskatchewan followed by Neuro-Ophthalmology Eye Specialist a neuro-ophthalmology fellowship at Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology the University of Iowa. He practiced in Canada for several years, ultimately as Department Chairman at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Patel is board certified in the USA and Canada. He has received awards for teaching and medical scholarship and has authored numerous publications. In addition to membership in several state and national medical organizations, he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Dr. Patel is listed in the Best Doctors in America since 2007, and Castle Connolly Top Doctors.

Dr. Patel’s wife, Sonal, is a pharmacist and they have two teenage children, Kunal and Kyra.

DR. SHAH’s expertise includes managing patients with macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment and other complex issues of the retina. Dr. Shah manages a high volume efficient clinic schedule seeing patients at DMEI’s Oklahoma Health Center and Lawton locations. Dr. Shah has a special interest in treating complex surgical retinal pathology.

Dr. Shah is considered one of the world’s experts in using technology in eye care. He moderates and lectures at courses regarding technology at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Shah is the co-developer of Eye Handbook, the most popular mobile application in eye care. He is editor for the Retina Section for Eye Wiki and has been honored with the Senior AchieveVINAY A. SHAH, MD ment Award and the Secretariat Vitreoretinal Specialist Award by the American Academy Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology for his services.

Dr. Shah has authored over 70 peer reviewed research publications and book chapters. Dr. Shah is an investigator for clinical trial studies with Harold Hamm Diabetes Center and Harvard University; an oncology clinical trial with Stephenson Cancer Center; and various other studies related to diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. Dr. Shah is actively involved in ophthalmology resident and fellowship education.

DMEI.ORG

DR. SIATKOWSKI sees children at the Eye Clinic at OU Children’s Hospital, while also seeing both adult and pediatric patients at the Dean McGee Eye Institute (DMEI). His primary clinical interests include strabismus, abnormal eye movements, eye muscle surgery, retinopathy of prematurity, and neurologic diseases of the visual system.

Dr. Siatkowski currently serves as Vice President of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus and is President-Elect of the Program Directors’ Council for the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology. He is a former Director of the American Board of Ophthalmology, past President of the Christian Ophthalmology Society, and past Vice-Chair of the Residency Review Committee for Ophthalmology.

Dr. Siatkowski has received six different teaching awards throughout his career and has given dozens of invited R. MICHAEL SIATKOWSKI, MD lectures on five different continents.

Pediatric and Neuro-Ophthalmology David W. Parke II, MD Endowed Professor He has published over 100 peer-reDavid Ross Boyd Professor viewed articles and has received Vice-Chair for Academic Affairs grant support from the National Eye Institute for 21 of the last 23 years. Dr. Siatkowski is a recipient of a Presidential Professorship and is the first ophthalmologist to be named a David Ross Boyd Professor from the University of Oklahoma.

He also received the Senior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Siatkowski is a father of three and married to Dr. Rhea Siatkowski, a Cornea and External Disease Specialist also in practice at Dean McGee Eye Institute.

STEVEN R. SARKISIAN, JR., MD Glaucoma and Cataract Surgeon Clinical Professor Glaucoma Fellowship Director

DR. SIATKOWSKI is a cornea, external disease, uveitis, cataract, conjunctival, and anterior segment ocular surgeon. After completing her medical degree at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University in New York, she completed her residency and her cornea and external diseases fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami.

Dr. Siatkowski manages an extremely busy clinic and surgery schedule to help restore vision to her patients. Dr. Siatkowski’s interests are dry eye, severe ocular surface disease, auto immune disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, keratoprosthesis, chemical injury and ocular oncology, corneal transplant, and Fuchs dystrophy.

For Dr. Siatkowski, restoring vision is what it is all about. The combination of basic and clinical research at the Institute gives her RHEA L. SIATKOWSKI, MD the very latest tools to combat corCornea and External Disease Specialist Clinical Associate Professor neal diseases. Her access to such ground-breaking technology and procedures, and her experience, has helped Dr. Siatkowski make the Cornea/ External Disease program at the Dean McGee Eye Institute one of the top-tier programs in the nation.

Dr. Siatkowski is a mom to three active teenagers and married to Dr. R. Michael Siatkowski, a Pediatric and Neuro-Ophthalmologist also in practice at the Dean McGee Eye Institute.

DR. SARKISIAN is the director of the glaucoma fellowship at the Dean McGee Eye Institute and serves as a clinical professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Sarkisian received his undergraduate degree from Wheaton College in Illinois and did graduate work at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Remaining in Philadelphia, he received his MD degree from Jefferson Medical College. Dr. Sarkisian completed an ophthalmology residency at the State University of New York Health Science Center (SUNY Downstate) in Brooklyn, New York, and did a fellowship in glaucoma at the Hamilton Eye Institute at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. He remained on faculty at UT until being recruited to come to DMEI. Dr. Sarkisian has a special interest in minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) both with and without cataract surgery and he was the first surgeon in Oklahoma, and the second in the United States, to perform the CyPass glaucoma implant since its FDA approval. He was also the first in the state to perform surgery with the iStent, the first MIGS device to receive FDA approval in 2012. Dr. Sarkisian was also the first surgeon in Oklahoma to perform the XEN Gel Implant, which became FDA approved in early 2017.

Dr. Sarkisian recently published a book about MIGS entitled, “Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, A Practical Guide.” Dr. Sarkisian speaks both nationally and internationally about MIGS and has done several mission trips performing and teaching MIGS overseas.

Of note, he not only treats glaucoma but also has a strong interest in premium cataract surgery and loves to help his patients take advantage of the best opportunities to get rid of their glasses. Dr. Sarkisian implants both the Symfony lens and the Crystalens and an array of other multifocal lenses as well as lenses to correct astigmatism.

Dr. Sarkisian has an active interest in surgical innovation for the treatment of glaucoma with involvement in numerous clinical trials. He is a Principal Investigator (PI) in the iStent Supra trial, a multicenter, prospective clinical trial investigating this new supraciliary stent for the treatment of mild to moderate glaucoma. He is also a PI in the iStent Inject Trial, another large FDA pivotal trial investigating the next generation trabecular microbypass stent. He was a PI for the Compass trial, the FDA trial that lead to the FDA approval of the CyPass. He is also a PI in the Glaukos iDose trial, the FDA trial investigating a new sustained release medication implant that, if successful, will potentially replace the use of eye drops for this class of IOP lowering drug.

Finally, Dr. Sarkisian is on the editorial board of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive surgery, Glaucoma Today, and Glaucoma Physician and is listed in Best Doctors in America, and Castle Connolly Top Doctors.

Dr. Sarkisian and his wife Anne have four children and reside in Edmond, Oklahoma.

DMEI.ORG

As an ophthalmologist specializing in the treatment of glaucoma, Dr. Mahmoud Khaimi says his primary goal is to simply preserve vision. To that end, Khaimi pioneered a procedure called AB Interno Canaloplasty (ABiC) using the iTrack™ Catheter, which not only helps preserve the vision of glaucoma patients, but also improves their quality of life.

The minimally invasive procedure, which Khaimi likens to ocular angioplasty, simply clears and cleans the eye’s drainage system to help relieve the pressure caused by glaucoma, which causes blindness by damaging the optic nerve. There are no stitches or side effects, and it can be easily combined with cataract removal surgery.

And, while the development of ABiC has generated worldwide recognition for Khaimi and the Dean. A. McGee Eye Institute, his greatest satisfaction is still the end result of his work.

“I’ve been fortunate to be at the forefront of an incredible breakthrough that has crossed all economic stratospheres and is something everyone can benefit from,” he says. “But for me, the greatest reward is that I can now tell glaucoma patients, ‘There is definite hope for the preservation of your vision.’”

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PHOTO BY SHANNON CORNMAN

DR. MAHMOUD KHAIMI

Oklahomans Caring for Oklahomans

Congratulations to the 28 physicians from The Children’s Hospital – including those pictured above – named to the 2017 Best Doctors in America List. We’re proud to count them among the more than 320 pediatric doctors and advanced practice providers at Oklahoma’s most comprehensive pediatric hospital.

Together, we provide the highest level of care in the state – just for kids.

An OU Medicine Hospital | oumedicine.com/childrens

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Eli N. Reshef INTEGRIS Bennett Fertility Institute ObGyn Specialists Bldg B, Ste 210 3433 NW 56th St Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-945-4701 Michael R. Seikel INTEGRIS Bennett Fertility Institute ObGyn Specialists Bldg B, Ste 210 3433 NW 56th St Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-945-4701 K. Anthony Shanbour 5720 W Memorial Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73142 405-470-2207 John Stanley Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City Perinatal Center of Oklahoma 4140 W Memorial Rd, Ste 321 Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-748-4726 Gary F. Strebel 4200 W Memorial Rd, Ste 201 Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-749-4200 Joan L. Walker University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center Gynecologic Cancers Clinic 800 NE 10th St, Ste 2100 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-8707

Robert A. Wild University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 3C 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-5239

OPHTHALMOLOGY

Charles P. Bogie III 5622 N Portland Ave, Ste 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-528-8193 Cynthia A. Bradford Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of General Ophthalmology and Cataract Surgery 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1090 Reagan H. Bradford, Jr. Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of Retina and Vitreous 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1092 Adam G. de la Garza Oculoplastic Surgeons of Oklahoma 16315 N May Ave Edmond, OK 73013 405-521-0041 Bradley K. Farris Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of NeuroOphthalmology 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1091

Stephen R. Fransen Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of Retina and Vitreous 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1092

Anil D. Patel Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of NeuroOphthalmology 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1091

Layne E. Goetzinger Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of General Ophthalmology and Cataract Surgery 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1090

Steven R. Sarkisian, Jr. Dean McGee Eye Institute Glaucoma Service 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1093

Darin Haivala Retinal Associates Of Oklahoma 12318 Saint Andrews Dr Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-752-0717 Ralph B. Hester III Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of Comprehensive Ophthalmology and Cataract Surgery 3500 NW 56th St, Ste 101 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-271-9500 David W. Jackson Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of General Ophthalmology and Cataract Surgery 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1090 Mahmoud A. Khaimi Dean McGee Eye Institute Glaucoma Service 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1093 Ronald M. Kingsley Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of Retina and Vitreous 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1092 Robert E. Leonard II Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of Retina and Vitreous 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1092

STEPHENSON CANCER CENTER Leading the way in cancer research and treatment, the Stephenson Cancer Center ensures Oklahomans can stay in their home state to receive the expert care they need.

Plans to open an academic cancer center in the state were drawn up in 2001, and after more than $90 million from tobacco taxes was set aside, along with a historic $12 million from philanthropists Peggy and Charles Stephenson, the dream was realized when the Stephenson Cancer Center opened its doors in 2011.

It’s the state’s only comprehensive cancer center, and the single largest public-private biomedical initiative in Oklahoma history. It also ranks in the top two cancer centers in the nation for patients participating in National Cancer Institute-sponsored treatment trials.

Offering each patient a unique treatment plan and support team to help along the way, center researchers are conducting more than 165 research projects to ensure Oklahomans get the very latest in research-driven cancer care. 800 NE 10th, OKC

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Annie Moreau Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1096 Rebecca K. Morgan Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of Low Vision Rehabilitation 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1793 Sumit K. Nanda Oklahoma Retinal Consultants Bldg D, Ste 750 3366 NW Expy Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-948-2020

Vinay A. Shah Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of Retina and Vitreous 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1092 Raymond Michael Siatkowski Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1094 Rhea L. Siatkowski Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of Cornea and External Diseases 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1095 Scott C. Sigler Eye Associates 2020 E 15th St, Ste B Edmond, OK 73013 405-348-9993 Gregory L. Skuta Dean McGee Eye Institute Glaucoma Service 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1093 Thomas C. Wolf 3431 South Blvd St, Ste 105 Edmond, OK 73013 405-562-2036

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

Thomas C. Howard III McBride Orthopedic Hospital Clinic 1110 N Lee Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73103 405-230-9270 James Calvin Johnson Oklahoma Sports Science & Orthopedics 9800 Broadway Ext, Ste 203 Oklahoma City, OK 73114 405-419-5412 Donald Wray McGinnis McBride Orthopedic Hospital Clinic 1110 N Lee Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73103 405-230-9270 Brock Schnebel McBride Orthopedic Hospital Clinic 1110 N Lee Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73103 405-230-9270

David Carlton Teague University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 1C 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-2663 John F. Tompkins II Oklahoma City VA Medical Center Department of Orthopedic Surgery 921 NE 13th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-456-3379

OTOLARYNGOLOGY

Keith F. Clark Oklahoma City Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic Saints Medical Plaza 535 NW 9th St, Ste 300 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 405-272-6027 Greg A. Krempl University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center Head and Neck Cancers Clinic 800 NE 10th St, Ste 4100 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-7559 Michael McGee Otologic Medical Clinic Hough Ear Institute 3400 NW 56th St Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-946-5563 Jesus Edilberto Medina University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center Head and Neck Cancers Clinic 800 NE 10th St, Ste 4100 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-7559 Ivan Wayne W Facial Aesthetics 13904 Quail Brook Dr Oklahoma City, OK 73134 405-748-5950

PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY

Edward D. Overholt The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center The Children’s Heart Center Clinic OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 2F 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-5530 Kent E. Ward The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center The Children’s Heart Center Clinic OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 2F 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-5530

PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE

Morris R. Gessouroun The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Section of Critical Care Medicine 1200 Everett Dr Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-5211

PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS

Laura McGuinn OU Physicians Child Study Center 1100 NE 13th St Oklahoma City, OK 73117 405-271-5700 Mark Lee Wolraich OU Physicians Child Study Center 1100 NE 13th St Oklahoma City, OK 73117 405-271-5700

PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY

Piers R. Blackett The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Children’s Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinic OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 4D 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-3303

Martha M. Tarpay Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Research Center Mercy Tower, Ste 206 4200 W Memorial Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-752-0393

Steven D. Chernausek The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Children’s Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinic OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 4D 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-3303

PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIOLOGY

PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY

J. Michael Vollers University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Department of Anesthesiology 920 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Ste 1140 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4351

John E. Grunow The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Gastroenterology Clinic OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 9E 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-6549

PHOTO BY SHANNON CORNMAN

DR. DONALD MCGINNIS As an orthopedic surgeon at McBride Orthopedic Hospital, as well as the team physician for the University of Oklahoma football and women’s basketball teams, the United States Snowboarding team and the Kingfisher High School football team, Dr. Donald McGinnis stays very active. And whether he’s on the sideline or in the operating room, McGinnis says his ultimate goal is to help his patients stay active, too.

“I chose to specialize in orthopedic surgery because it’s more of a hands-on field, and I do both surgery and clinical work,” he says. “During football season, it’s not unusual for me to see someone in my living room on Sunday, as well.”

With patients ranging from high school sophomores to septuagenarians, McGinnis says cutting-edge surgical techniques have reduced recovery times and increased success rates for just about everyone.

“It’s amazing to see how arthroscopic surgery on the knee and shoulder has progressed and improved,” he says. “But in the end, I want to make sure my patients are well cared for, and I want to help them get back to their normal level of activity.”

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As a radiation oncologist for Mercy in Oklahoma City, Dr. Astrid Morrison is trained to precisely target cancerous tumors in her patients. And while her goal is to shrink or destroy those tumors, Morrison appreciates the bigger picture, too.

“The best part of radiation oncology is that so many cancer patients can benefit from this treatment modality,” she says. “Each day I feel like I’ve contributed to someone’s life, and it reaches beyond the patient to their family, as well.”

Offering the most advanced technology for the treatment of almost every form of cancer, Morrison says Mercy’s Radiation Oncology team in the Coletta Building is making significant differences in the lives of patients. Designed with the needs of the patient in mind, she believes the collaborative nature and supportive spirit of the entire care team plays a huge role in the healing process.

“Every day I go to work, I have a positive experience because our Mercy team provides exceptionally unique care to each patient in a beautiful environment,” Morrison says. “It makes me proud this is where I work.”

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PHOTO BY SHANNON CORNMAN

DR. ASTRID MORRISON

Marilyn I. Steele The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Gastroenterology Clinic OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 9E 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-6549

PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGYONCOLOGY

Rene Y. McNall-Knapp The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Jimmy Everest Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Children OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 10A 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4412 William H. Meyer The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Jimmy Everest Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Children OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 10A 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4412

PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE Thomas L. Kuhls Norman Pediatric Associates 808 Wall St Norman, OK 73069 405-321-5114

Robert C. Welliver The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Section of Pediatric Infectious Diseases OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 12301 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-5703

PEDIATRIC MEDICAL GENETICS

Klaas Wierenga The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Section of Pediatric Genetics OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 5D 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4211

PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY

Timothy B. Mapstone University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Department of Neurosurgery The Harold Hamm Oklahoma Diabetes Center, Ste 4000 1000 N Lincoln Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4912

PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY

James M. Richard Children’s Eye Care 11013 Hefner Pointe Dr Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-751-2020 Mark H. Scott Children’s Eye Care 11013 Hefner Pointe Dr Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-751-2020 Raymond Michael Siatkowski Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1094 Tammy L. Yanovitch Dean McGee Eye Institute Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology 608 Stanton L Young Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-1094

PEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

Joseph P. Davey The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center, Section of Orthopaedic Surgery OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 3A 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-2669 William R. Puffinbarger The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Section of Orthopaedic Surgery OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 3A 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-2669 J. Andy Sullivan The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Section of Orthopaedic Surgery OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 3A 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-2669

PEDIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGY

G. Paul Digoy Pediatric ENT of Oklahoma 10914 Hefner Pointe Dr, Ste 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-608-8833

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/ ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT MEDICINE

Amy Middleman The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center, Section of Adolescent Medicine OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 5F 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-6208

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/ NEONATAL-PERINATAL MEDICINE Kimberly Ernst The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Section of Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine North Pavilion, 7th Fl 1200 Everett Dr Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-5215 Krishnamurthy C. Sekar The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Section of Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine North Pavilion, 7th Fl 1200 Everett Dr Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-5215 Anne G. Wlodaver The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Section of Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine North Pavilion, 7th Fl 1200 Everett Dr Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-5215

PEDIATRIC SURGERY

Robert Warren Letton, Jr. The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center General and Plastic Surgery Clinic OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 2E 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4357 Philip Cameron Mantor The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center General and Plastic Surgery Clinic OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 2E 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4357

PEDIATRIC UROLOGY

Dominic Frimberger The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Urology Clinic OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 7D 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-3800

PEDIATRICS/GENERAL Charles Anthony Leveridge Northwest Pediatrics of Oklahoma City 4140 W Memorial Rd, Ste 413 Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-755-2230 Richard E. Stanford Bldg C, Ste 812 3400 NW Expy Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-945-4795

Jill Stewart Warren The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center Sooner Pediatrics OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 6A 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-6827

PLASTIC SURGERY

Robert Alan Hein 14024 Quail Point Dr Oklahoma City, OK 73134 405-286-4333 Ivan Wayne W Facial Aesthetics 13904 Quail Brook Dr Oklahoma City, OK 73134 405-748-5950

PULMONARY MEDICINE

Matthew J. Britt INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center Pulmonary Specialists 3300 NW Expy Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-753-6200 Kellie Jones University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Cardiovascular Institute OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 2E 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-7001 Jonathan R. L. Schwartz Oklahoma Pulmonary Physicians 4200 S Douglas Ave, Ste 313 Oklahoma City, OK 73109 405-636-1111

RADIATION ONCOLOGY

Carl R. Bogardus, Jr. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center Radiation Therapy Center 800 NE 10th St, Ste L100 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-5641

RHEUMATOLOGY

Beverly Jean Talbert University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center Breast Cancers Clinic 800 NE 10th St, Ste 2300 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-7226

Ira N. Targoff University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Section of Rheumatology OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 4E 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-3445

SURGICAL ONCOLOGY

Eliza Chakravarty Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program 825 NE 13th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-7805

SLEEP MEDICINE

Jonathan R. L. Schwartz Oklahoma Pulmonary Physicians 4200 S Douglas Ave, Ste 313 Oklahoma City, OK 73109 405-636-1111

SURGERY

Alan B. Hollingsworth Mercy Breast Center 4401 W McAuley Blvd, Ste 1100 Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-936-5455 Russell G. Postier University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians General Surgery Clinic OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 4G 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-7867

William Chesnut Dooley University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center OU Physicians General Surgery Clinic OU Physicians Bldg, Ste 4G 825 NE 10th St Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-7867

Alan B. Hollingsworth Mercy Breast Center 4401 W McAuley Blvd, Ste 1100 Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-936-5455

THORACIC SURGERY

Harold M. Burkhart The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center The Children’s Heart Center Clinic OU Children’s Physicians Bldg, Ste 2F 1200 Children’s Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-5789

UROLOGY

Michael S. Cookson University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center Prostate and Urologic Oncology Clinic 800 NE 10th St, Ste 4300 Oklahoma City, OK 73104 405-271-4088

Astrid Elizabeth Morrison Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City Mercy Radiation Oncology 4401 W McAuley Blvd, Ste 1500 Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-752-3381

RADIOLOGY

Stephen Paul Lee Radiology Associates 3330 NW 56th St, Ste 206 Oklahoma City, OK 73112 405-945-4232 Timothy L. Tytle Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City Radiology Consultants 4300 W Memorial Rd Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405-936-5440

THE HAROLD HAMM DIABETES CENTER In 2006, to address the looming diabetes health crisis in Oklahoma, an act of the state Legislature established a comprehensive diabetes center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Native American tribes in Oklahoma joined the state and university in making significant financial commitments to establish the center. This leadership and tenacity spurred many private donors to join the cause, most notably Harold Hamm, who provided the lead naming gift for the center in 2008.

Today, Harold Hamm Diabetes Center serves as a statewide focal point for addressing the many challenges diabetes presents. The center has more than 125 members, comprising researchers, clinicians and myriad other health care professionals in the field of diabetes.

They represent institutions across the state, including all three OU campuses, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation and Oklahoma State Department of Health. 1000 N Lincoln, Suite 1200, OKC

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Oklahomans Caring for Oklahomans

Congratulations to the 94 OU Medicine physicians – including those pictured above – named to the 2017 Best Doctors in America List. We’re proud to count them among Oklahoma’s largest physicians group, a team of more than 1,000 doctors and advanced practice providers who care for, help and heal Oklahomans at every stage of life.

A Better State of Health

OU Medical Center | OU Physicians | The Children’s Hospital | OU Health Sciences Center | oumedicine.com

PERIODONTAL IMPLANT CENTER COMPREHENSIVE PERIODONTAL TREATMENT DENTAL IMPLANT SURGERY SOFT TISSUE GRAFTING ESTHETIC GINGIVAL SURGERY

DR. BLAIRE A. BOWERS

DR. LAUREN BOWERS KLAUS

OKLAHOMA CITY 8203 S. Walker | 405-636-1411 EDMOND 609 S. Kelly, Suite A-1 | 405-509-8932 SHAWNEE 1414 N. Kennedy | 405-214-0404

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DR. JACOB D. HAGER

Saving Oklahomans One Scan At A Time Dr. Stanley Dombek, Jr., M.D., F.A.C.S. is a native Oklahoman who has dedicated his life to helping those in need through his medical service and genuine compassion. Currently, he resides as the Medical Director for Advanced Body Scan.

Dr. Dombek graduated from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 1967 with his Medical Degree and completed a rotating internship and his general surgery at St. Anthony Hospital.

Following St. Anthony Hospital, Dr. Dombek served in the United States Air Force as a major of surgery at Columbus Air Force Base from ‘72-’74.

Upon completion, Dr. Dombek found his passion in treating the top causes of death: cardiovascular, thoracic, lung, and vascular diseases. He spent the next several decades performing surgery on patients who had experienced the traumatic effects of these diseases.

After years of performing surgery post a heart attack or stroke, he joined the Advanced Body Scan team, as the medical director, in hopes of preventing these deadly diseases before they affect people’s lives.

Advanced Body Scan offers preventive screening for heart disease and cancer by utilizing state-of-the-art CT technology to detect abnormalities in the body. By providing affordable heart, lung, and body scans, Advanced Body Scan, along with Dr. Dombek, has helped to save countless lives through early detection.

Dr. Dombek is a major advocate for the benefits of preventive screening and makes himself available to answer any questions or concerns patients may have. Dr. Dombek can typically be found in a consultation with patients as he walks them through the next steps and helps find the right doctor to treat their disease if needed.

Dr. Dombek, medical director of Advanced Body Scan, received the Governor’s commendation for 50 years of service to the medical community

Dr. Dombek is a vital asset to Advanced Body Scan and we hope to save many more lives in the future with his help.

Call to schedule your $199 Heart & Lung Scan with Dr. Dombek today!

(405) 242-1400 3209 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73112

AdvancedBodyScan.com

DISSECTING THE DIET

DILEMMA Help yourself to a feast of knowledge

BY CHRISTINE EDDINGTON

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“IN AMERICA, WE ARE ALMOST

ADDICTED

TO FOOD. CELEBRATE WITH FOOD. WE MOURN

WE

WITH FOOD.” - VICKI MAYFIELD

Hey there, January. Every other person is officially on a diet, or eating “clean,” and if history is any sort of indicator, wagons will be fallen off in about six weeks.

Diets will go off the rails, and the more extreme the diet, the more likely it is to fall apart. Losing weight, though, is actually a pretty simple proposition.

Leah Hoffman holds a Ph.D. in nutrition, and teaches at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. One course she teaches is adult weight management, and part of what she does each and every day is explain and demystify the science of weight loss and how to achieve it.

But before we lose the blub, it’s worth it to take a look at why we’re blubbery in the first place. And the fact is, like it or not, we are. America is the most obese country in the world. More than 109 million Americans are obese, according to a 2017 report.

The words overweight and obese are loosely defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health, according to the World Health Organization. For adults, that means if your Body Mass Index, or BMI, is greater than or equal to 25, that’s overweight. If your BMI is greater than or equal to 30, that’s obese. That means a person who is 5’7” is overweight at 160 pounds and obese at 190.

Vicki Mayfield, a registered nurse and licensed marriage and family therapist in Oklahoma City who does a lot of work with people struggling with obesity and body image, said that part of the problem is our country’s unhealthy relationship with food. “In America, we are almost addicted to food.

We celebrate with food. We mourn with food. Food is in our break rooms. When we’re bored, we eat. Our portion sizes are out of control, and restaurants JANUARY 2018 405 MAGAZINE

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“FAD DIETS ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO THINK OF FOODS AS

EITHER GOOD OR BAD. THERE

IS NO FOOD THAT CANNOT FIT INTO A HEALTHY DIET, BUT IN

MODERATION.” - LEAH HOFFMAN

make matters worse by serving huge plates of food, which distorts our ideas of what a portion looks like,” Mayfield says.

“We eat without thinking or tasting. We eat quickly, and we don’t enjoy it. We self-soothe with food. The fat in potato chips seems soothing to us, almost like a medication. When we’re sad, one brownie may lead to a whole tray. The energy of addiction kicks in, and we don’t stop until the substance is gone. Then we feel ashamed, and we soothe ourselves again,” she says.

Hoffman agrees. “We override our hunger and satiety signals because of the abundance of food. We place a lot of cultural importance on getting a good deal, so we feel like we win with a super-size meal.

Americans have a terrible relationship with food.

We are suspicious of it, and we believe that the worst thing possible is to be overweight. We don’t enjoy food the way we should.”

Losing weight is no great mystery. It’s actually quite simple in principle, yet we complicate the heck out of it through our emotionally charged relationship with food. And the diet and food industries don’t help matters, both women agreed.

“Less quantity and more quality is the simple way to say it,” Hoffman says. “Fad diets encourage people to think of foods as either good or bad. There is no

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Leah Hoffman

food that cannot fit into a healthy diet, but in moderation. My favorite way to lose weight is to reduce the calories coming in.”

The fact is, she said, to lose weight, most people have to control their diets in some way. Fad diets do that, but by too much. “Start by seeing how much you are eating now by using a calorie counting app, like MyFitnessPal. Eat about 2,100 calories a day for a few weeks, and then knock off 500,” Hoffman suggests. “Most people don’t do very well in the long term with really restrictive, grapefruit-and-bacontype diets.”

“I try to get people to go to Overeaters Anonymous or Weight Watchers,” Mayfield says. “Many people need more than just the information. They need support, a team.” She also encourages her patients to add movement into the picture. “I use the word movement, instead of exercise. Movement does not mean running shoes or sweating it out at the gym.

I shifted away from the word exercise because I’d say it, and then have to peel people off of the walls a

“A CRAVING

WILL PASS,

WHETHER YOU SATISFY IT OR NOT.” - VICKI MAYFIELD

CRASH DIETING 101

PHOTOS: LEAH HOFFMAN AND VICKI MAYFIELD BY SHANNON CORNMAN, STARVATION STUDY COURTESY MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Minnesota Starvation Study During World War II, conscientious objectors were given the option of becoming research test subjects instead of combat. Let that digest for a moment. Ansel Keys headed up a study, which has inadvertently given us much of the data about calorie restriction, weight loss and health that we still use today. Keys is a bit of a research hero of Hoffman’s, but she is as amazed as any of us that the studies ever happened in the first place.

The Minnesota Starvation Study was designed to learn how quickly people who had been badly malnourished could be brought back to a healthy weight and nutrient levels. A group of men went through a malnourishment simulation and repair, and their body weight was reduced by 25 percent.

None of the men was heavy to begin with, although the heaviest man in the study hailed from Enid.

They were fed 1,570 calories a day for six months during the “semi-starvation” portion of the study, and their diet was restricted to foods similar to what victims of concentration camps or prisoners of war might be fed: cabbage, potatoes, not much else. After that, they ate between 2,000 and 3,200 calories per day for three months in the ‘restricted rehabilitation’ phase, and then it was eight weeks of unlimited calories. They also had to perform work, and walk 22 miles a week. Before the study started, the men were happy. As it went along, though, they began to fight with one another, hoard and hide cooking magazines, shirk their work and sleep poorly.

The men’s metabolic rates dropped, their heart rates dropped and when they dropped low enough long enough, they lost cardiac muscle.

Their metabolic rates took more than 15 years to recover, even though the duration of the semi-starvation part of the study was only six months long. This is why people who yo-yo diet are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

Vicki Mayfield

little. Movement can just be getting up and walking around the office.”

Exercise (or movement, if you just freaked out) is a double whammy of goodness. If a person overeats out of sadness, movement will help because it’s a scientifically proven treatment for depression. “Physicians will prescribe movement for people,” Mayfield says. Another pearl of wisdom from Mayfield? “A craving will pass, whether you satisfy it or not.”

Hoffman recommends two steps to anyone who’s looking to lose weight: “First, start counting calories.

Then, add two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of vegetables to your diet each day. If you can do both of those, then start working on other things, like adding fitness.” Most people will hit a weightloss plateau, but Hoffman says not to worry, just keep on keeping on and it will eventually crack. The plateau is all mental – you just have to wait it out.

Weight Watchers is also Hoffman-approved, because it’s calorie counting in disguise, she said.

She agreed with Mayfield that group support can be crucial to weight loss success. “Rarely do we gain weight just because of food. We overeat because we are bored, or emotional. The root cause of why we overeat can be as important as what we are eating,” she says.

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Erin Merryweather

THE WHOLE 30

A First-Person Account Erin Merryweather is many things: a jewelry maker, an art gallery manager and a single mother. One thing she is not: a cook. So when she embarked on the Whole 30 challenge a year ago, she hit a double learning curve.

“I’ve done it one time. It’s really hard. You have to go all in, and really want to do it,” Merryweather says.

She decided to give it a go because she wasn’t eating healthy, and she’d slipped into eating like her son, meaning junk food, PB&Js, cheese pizza. “I wasn’t running. I’d slipped out of my good habits and needed to transition my mind back to being healthy.”

Merryweather took on Whole 30 under the guidance of Stacey Patton, health coach, Piloxing instructor and owner of Wandering Heart, a life coaching company.

“I didn’t know anything about Whole 30, but I knew it was healthy. To do it, I had to cook, and I do not cook.

But I did it. I ate a LOT of fish. Coolgreens, where we had our initial meeting, did a Whole 30-compliant menu, which was great,” she says. Merryweather learned a lot about nutrition, and still uses coconut butter and reads food labels, two positive takeaways from her experience.

“After the first week, I had more energy and would wake up naturally in the morning. I had less puffiness.

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I felt like I’d lost a lot more weight, but I only lost four pounds.” For her, though, the meal planning was tough, and the unyielding restrictions left her feeling isolated. “I couldn’t go to my favorite coffee shop,” she says.

A disliker of leftovers, Merryweather found the salad-in-a-jar recipes many use while on the plan off-putting. “I ended up eating the same things over and over. Baked fish with cauliflower rice or sautéed vegetables, boiled eggs three times a week, lots of okra and asparagus,” she remembers.

“The process felt abnormal. I think that’s why people don’t finish these diets. You aren’t allowed to recreate foods you love using Whole 30 ingredients.

It also really changes your social life. There were times when I said, ‘Screw it, I’m making a banana pancake,’ or I would sneak taro chips, which technically met the guidelines.”

Would she do it again? After talking through its merits and sharing that it inspired her to meditate, taught her that she can, in fact, cook and helped her learn how to work through food cravings, she looks into the distance for a couple of beats and says, “No.”

DIETS DU JOUR

“FAD DIETS LIKE

THE KETOGENIC DIET

LOSE FOCUS ON HOW TO ACTUALLY EAT HEALTHY.”

We’re not sure how it happens, but diets seem to come in waves. All of a sudden, everyone is Paleo, or confusing you by posting so many pictures of sweet potatoes. Here is a handful of current diet fads, what they claim and what they entail.

The idea here is that by eating certain foods, one can force the body into ketosis, which is a natural process that occurs in people when food intake is low, to help them survive. When a person is overloaded with fats and removes carbohydrates, he or she will begin to burn ketones as the primary source of energy. Ketones are made when the liver breaks down fats. This triggers weight loss, and is thought to benefit people who suffer from diabetes. The downside is that it can be hard to sustain and can cause bad breath, lightheadedness, confusion, fever, chills and a fast heartbeat.

THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET

This is Hoffman’s favorite diet. It’s a healthy eating style, using typical foods and Mediterraneanstyle food preparations. Foods eaten are mainly plant-based, whole grains, legumes and nuts. Less salt is used, and herbs and spices add flavor to foods. Fish and poultry are eaten at least twice a week; red meat just a few times a month. Healthy olive oil replaces butter, and red wine is drunk in moderation. Exercise is encouraged.

PALEOLITHIC DIET

The Paleolithic or Paleo Diet can be summed up as eating like a cave dweller. If a cave person couldn’t have hunted or gathered it, you won’t find it on this diet. What Paleo Diet fans do eat: meats, fish, nuts, leafy greens, seeds and nuts and local or regional vegetables. What they don’t: pasta, cereal, candy and dairy. The focus is less on calorie counting and more on eating the right foods.

THE SOUTH BEACH DIET

No bad carbs for you! The South Beach Diet was cooked up by a cardiologist in 2003, and is philosophically similar to the super-healthy Mediterranean Diet, because it encourages its followers to eat a balanced diet of healthy fats, good (read: complex) carbohydrates, lots of fiber and nutrients. It’s meant to be a sustainable lifestyle change, not a short-term diet.

WHOLE 30

This is a 30-day elimination diet. Its premise is that common foods may well be making you tired, achy, fat and inflamed, and may also be causing skin issues, digestive woes and chronic pain, as well as screwing with your blood sugar and causing cravings. So for 30 days, you strip them right out of your diet. No sugar, maple syrup, honey or sweetener. No legumes. No grains. No dairy. No alcohol. No baked goods (or even pancakes) made out of approved foods. The goal is health; you don’t weigh yourself until it’s been 30 days, and weight loss may or may not be a side benefit.

OPRAH’S LIQUID DIET

MAY CAUSE WEIGHT LOSS, BUT PEOPLE

- VICKI MAYFIELD

One root cause could be nostalgia. “Fast food holds allure for many reasons. Its branding is nostalgic.

Fast food ads are designed to trigger hunger, and the foods available are incredibly palatable,” Hoffman says. The McDonald’s gateway meal, designed to train children to love eating fast food, is called the Happy Meal, for crying out loud. Corporate scientists and food engineers spend years perfecting such minutiae as the most satisfying amount of jaw pressure required to crunch a potato chip.

Mayfield and Hoffman encourage people to learn what works for them. Diet books can be helpful for people who just want to be told what to eat and when.

For others, categorizing a food as off-limits makes them think of nothing but that food and how much they want it. Both women also agree that highly restrictive fad diets are at best not sustainable, and at worst harmful to your health. “Fad diets like Oprah’s liquid diet may cause weight loss, but people lose focus on how to actually eat healthy,” Mayfield says.

What’s the takeaway? To safely lose weight and keep it off, you must burn more calories than you take in, that’s it, that’s all. Ideally, that happens gradually, and for overall health benefits, exercise is a part of the picture, as are lots of fruits and vegetables. Sometimes the truth is unsexy.

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health LIFESTYLE

Flex Your Diet, Fix Your Health SOM E E X T R E M ELY frustrating words came from the doctor’s mouth: “You’re going to have to do something about the high blood pressure. It’s not something you can ignore.” Those words usually lead to a couple realizations, two of which may, depending on your lifestyle, sound fairly awful: major changes in diet and actual physical movement beyond reaching for a remote or clicking a mouse. As to the latter, there are more options than any person can count, plus an army of devices, trainers and even clothing lines to facilitate change. The food, though …

The Mayo Clinic recommends the DASH diet for high blood pressure, and reading through it can be a bit depressing, especially if – like many Oklahomans – you love red meat. No, it doesn’t say meat has to go, but it does advise limiting your diet to six ounces per day. Six ounces is one small hamburger patty. Per day. Into the foreseeable future.

The second restriction was nearly as bad: reduce sodium intake, by a lot. Checking food labels for sodium was not a common practice for me, but doing so led to one inescapable conclusion: no more cold cuts. Also, most processed foods, including canned foods, are out.

The third restriction: reduce alcohol consumption. That’s not happening.

Taking the advice seriously, though, does require a reformation in eating habits, and the best, most flavorful way to go seemed to be “flexitarian.” Most people are not going to go full vegetarian, and even fewer are going full vegan, but it is possible to incorporate more non-animal-based products into a healthy diet that is also satisfying and delicious.

One local expert on this – although she might eschew the honorific – is Elena Farrar, who’s a partner in Elemental Coffee. The Midtown destination is beloved by vegetarians and vegans, but also serves meat, cheese and other products horrifying to vegans. Farrar is not herself a vegan, but she’s closer to it than omnivorousness. In other words, she has a healthy balance of the right kinds of food in her life, and she allows herself some indulgences.

“It’s good to eliminate meat slowly,” she says, on being asked about moving toward a flexitarian diet. “Throw in substitutes like quinoa. It’s high in protein and has great flavor, and like tofu, it picks up the flavors around it.”

Here’s the truth: Most meat substitutes are not as good as meat. That’s basically always going to be the case – with some rare exceptions mentioned later – but certain meat substitutes do work well as part of more complex dishes. Farrar uses Gimme Lean breakfast sausage in Elemental’s grab-andgo breakfast wraps. While its flavor is inferior to pork sausage if eaten as a patty, when it’s combined with eggs, hot sauce, and potatoes, it tastes just enough like sausage to make it a solid substitute.

One of the trouble areas in switching remains the tendency for vegan or vegetarian (especially vegan) cooks to try to replicate favorite dishes of meat eaters. Mostly, it does not work … but it is worth noting that Henry Boudreaux at Aurora, Patrick Clark at Red Cup and Farrar are some of the best in town at tricking your taste buds.

“Trying to replicate dishes leads to less healthy vegetarian or vegan dishes much of the time,” Farrar says. “Vegan cheese is made with nuts, so it’s high in fat.”

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That’s especially true for cashews, which are even higher in the bad fats than usual for nuts. (If you want to split hairs, cashews are technically seeds.)

Instead of trying to recreate a hamburger – veggie burgers are never as good, emphasis on never (Note: Greg Horton’s editor vehemently disagrees) – Farrar recommends building dishes around vegetables. One of her favorite options is to roast a variety of root vegetables and toss them with quinoa or faro. Salted lightly, the dish isn’t trying to pass for meat, but it’s satisfying and loaded with protein.

Without salt, though, seasoning becomes an issue. Farrar said she uses some; she just doesn’t over-salt. She also knows her way around a spice rack, as does Able Blakely, the owner of Savory Spice.

“I tell people that if you’re trying to reduce salt, you can’t eat anything that comes from a box or bag,” Blakely says. “We have at least 50 different seasoning packets that are saltfree, that will help you amp up flavor without adding sodium.”

Farrar recommended Whole Foods and Natural Grocers if you like to cook at home.

ILLUSTRATION BY STEVE HILL

Local options for trimming meat and sodium

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health LIFESTYLE

“I tell people that if you’re trying to reduce salt, you can’t eat anything that comes from a box or bag.”

A BL E BL A K ELY

Many of us don’t have time, though, and eating out can be problematic because many restaurants don’t intentionally do flexitarian well. However, converting to this diet is not as difficult as it seems, and that’s largely because the vegetarian and vegan communities have had a definite impact on Oklahoma City’s culinary culture; a few places do flexitarian very well: Saturn Grill Especially the vegan meatballs, but plenty of vegetarian options, too. 6432 Avondale, OKC The Metro Excellent vegetarian options.

6418 N Western, OKC Elemental Coffee More choices than anywhere else. 815 N Hudson, OKC The Red Cup All vegan, and Chef Clark is one of the best in the state with plant-based cooking. 3122 N Classen, OKC Packard’s New American Kitchen The veggie plate is popular, but the lentil curry is one of the best things in Oklahoma City. 201 NW 10th, OKC Chae Too many options to list, and all are delicious. 1933 NW 23rd, OKC Picasso Café A favorite for years in the metro, and the vegan pho will make a believer of you.

3009 Paseo, OKC Holey Rollers You need dessert, and vegan donuts will also make a believer of you. 3010 Paseo, OKC Health Nut Café The Health Nut wrap is vegetarian, and it’s delicious. They have many options beyond that, as well. 333 NW 5th, OKC - GREG HORTON

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home

PHOTO BY DON RISI

Where the Heart Is This table in the Rutledge home was a collaborative design project between their dear friend and neighbor, architect Brian Fitzsimmons, and local sculptor Joe Slack. It had been part of an exhibit at the Untitled Gallery. “It was love at first sight, but the table was really, really expensive and it never crossed my mind that we could own it one day. But when we finally sold our old home, that table was the first thing we bought,� Beth says.

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home HABITAT

THE RUTLEDGES’ URBAN LAIR

The Rutledge home is filled with light and art. The floors have been beautifully restored, and there are some 50 windows throughout, each fitted with a marble windowsill, a luxurious and beautiful custom touch.

A SoSA love story

BY CHRISTINE EDDINGTON PHOTOS BY DON RISI

T HE OR IGI N STORY of Beth and Art Rutledge would make a fantastic novel,

or even an exciting and brilliantly romantic, us-against-the-world, love-conquers-all type of rock ’n’ roll video. The couple met as teenagers in Austin, Texas. Beth was the adventurous private-school girl and Art was the handsome, public-school bad boy who’d stolen a hundred hearts, and showed no signs of slowing down.

“My BFF went to the same school as Art, and one day she and I were looking through her yearbook. I kept going back to a picture of Art. I felt drawn to it. I asked my friend who he was,” Beth Rutledge says. “She said, ‘Oh, God, he’s a bad boy, but the ladies love him,’ and she essentially warned me away. But another friend introduced us and we were inseparable after that.”

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This little sitting area is tucked into a sunny corner on the first floor. It’s a coveted spot for reading, napping and daydreaming. The clean, simple lines of the leather sectional and red acrylic table marry harmoniously with the home’s old bones.

Beth’s family soon moved away, but she moved in with Art’s family. One day, as the couple was talking about their future, evaluating whether Art should join the military to help fund college, he turned and said to her, “We better get married.” And then, and this is the unabashedly romantic part, they decided to do it right then – and in those days in Texas, a couple could walk right in to the justice of the peace and be married.

So marry they did. The bride wore blue jeans and black Doc Martens, and the groom was similarly attired. Beth got a case of the giggles during the ceremony and was rewarded with a stern admonishment and quick lecture on the seriousness and sanctity of marriage. “And that was the start of our wild ride,” she says, laughing at the memory. “But it dawned on us that the next thing we had to do was tell Art’s parents.”

This year, Beth and Art Rutledge will celebrate their 25th anniversary, with their beautiful daughters Milan, 19; Alejandra, 13; and Lola, 4. They’ve made a home in Oklahoma City’s SoSA (South of St. Anthony) neighborhood, although the pair took up residence long before it was trendy or sought-after. They also own a business in Midtown – VICE Spirits, Wine & Beer, which is run by Art – and Beth has opened her own boutique communications company after a long career in marketing, having worked for one of the most prestigious law firms in the city for many years.

She now enjoys a bustling business, with a much more flexible schedule, allowing her to tend to her brood of young ladies and to develop her passion for vegan cooking. Her Instagram handle, @naughtyvegan, is filled with beautiful raw and vegan food and menu plans, and has the feel of a burgeoning lifestyle brand; perhaps she’s the next Pioneer Woman or Thug Kitchen creator.

Artist Rick Bewley built this beautiful mahogany staircase as a gift for his brother Phil, who along with his wife Lisa owned the Urban Lair prior to the Rutledge family. It is a lovely, sculptural centerpiece for the home.

Here is where the magic happens: the Naughty Vegan’s workshop and studio, AKA the kitchen.

Dry roasted tofu and cauliflower tacos, handcrafted veggie burgers, spiralized vegetable ‘pastas’ and lots of colorful salads make their debuts right here, before being happily devoured by whomever happens to be nearby, which may include Rutledge children, neighbors and friends.

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home HABITAT

Lola, the littlest Rutledge, enjoys a rare treat: free rein over the television while lounging on her parents’ bed in the sweeping upstairs master suite.

It’s also enabled Beth to step in and help run the family business during Art’s recent illness. He was diagnosed with colon cancer last summer, but the (very) good news is that it was caught early enough to be mitigated with surgery. “Thankfully, he is now cancer-free,” she says.

Beth and Art were one of the first families bold enough to move into the SoSA neighborhood, and their home itself is a big reason for that. It was originally a four-plex, built in the 1920s, and had been purchased

by Phil and Lisa Bewley, who were renovating it to create their dream home. “Halfway through the renovation, Phil was diagnosed with a brain tumor, so they hurried to finish the project so he would be able to live here before he passed away,” Rutledge says.

Nowadays, the urban lair, as she calls it, is filled with love and thoughts of a healthy future. Rutledge and her family have always felt the presence of the Bewleys, and their love for one another, throughout the home … but most specifically at a certain spot on the stairs. “I have always felt a responsibility to be worthy of this home. I told Tracey Bewley about the spot on the stairs, and she told me that her husband Rick built that staircase himself, out of mahogany, as a gift for his brother. I can feel the love there. This home was their love story, and now it’s ours.”

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The master bath is minimal without being cold, and is well appointed with a spa shower and large soaking tub with a fantastic view.

One of the most sentimental pieces in the house is this skateboard, commissioned by Beth as a 24th anniversary gift to Art. It’s a recreation of a photo taken of the couple on Little Corn Island in Nicaragua, their favorite place. Each of the large stars in the sky represents one of their children, and there are 24 smaller stars, one for each year of their marriage.

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These works of art aren’t just for the middle of the room anymore – you may find one over a sink or in a corner nook, or anywhere you want some stylish illumination. A well-placed hanging light can bring so much charm to a living space. The choices are literally endless in number and endlessly beautiful. Here are just a few that deserved to be highlighted. - SAR A GAE WATERS

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travel

INTERNATIONAL

Tranquility in the Tropics Life by the sea in Panama’s San Blas Islands T HE ISL A N D OF U KU PSE N I, or Playon Chico in Spanish, is one of more than 400 that make up the beautiful San Blas Islands off the northern coast of Panama’s Guna Yala territory, in the Caribbean Sea. It is a tiny and tightly occupied indigenous community of 3,000 Guna (or Kuna) Yala, one of seven indigenous groups across Panama.

I found the indigenous-owned and -operated Yandup Island Lodge through a company called Greenspot Travel, which puts together trips across Central America, and prides itself on providing guests with culturally immersive experiences to accompany moving adventures in nature. Yandup itself is a modest but beautiful eco-lodge that occupies its own small island, a 10-minute boat ride from Ukupseni, and features 10 over-the-water bungalows, its own beach and daily excursions to the surrounding mangroves and deserted tropical islands. There, guests can snorkel spectacular reefs, eat lobster plucked fresh from the water and relax while gazing out into the uninterrupted sea.

With no cell service, no Wi-Fi and endless beauty, it is an ideal place to disconnect from life and reconnect with your spirit – but no experience can compare to an afternoon visiting and learning about the native Guna Yala and experiencing their way of life. The Guna are believed to be the second shortest group of people in the world; they have the largest per capita number of albinos in the community and were the first autonomous indigenous territory in Panama. If you’re into color, the women’s traditional dress is nothing shy of kaleidoscopic. - MAT T PAYNE

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(from top) Morning adventure in the San Blas; Tri-colored heron looking for breakfast

(clockwise from left) The Guna didn’t traditionally keep birthdays, so this elder Guna’s age is unknown; A Guna man prepares fresh-caught lobster; Colorful Guna girl; The island of Ukupseni

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travel

INTERNATIONAL

Sunrise at an over-the-water bungalow at Yandup

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(clockwise from top) A Guna boy fishing in a traditional canoe called a Cayuco; One of more than 400 islands that make up the San Blas; The Guna women make their fabrics; Morning conch calls visitors to adventure

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travel STATESIDE

BEAUTY IN FLIGHT

At sunrise, cranes leave the Platte River to scavenge for food in nearby fields.

I T WA S COL D. Not just chilly, really cold. It also was dark. I

stayed close to the front of the line so I could see the small red light our leader carried, fearing a face-plant caused by a misstep.

I was miserable … but it was worth it, because I was about to see one of the world’s great sights: the migration of sandhill cranes.

According to ethologist Jane Goodall, who comes to Nebraska for it nearly every spring, this is one of the world’s top 10 animal migrations. Our group spotted thousands of cranes – but Dame Jane had already migrated.

The spring migration is the most impressive time to see the cranes. They winter in northern Mexico, New Mexico and Texas and spend summers in Canada, Alaska, even Siberia.

Their path is the Central Flyway, and while they may be spotted in western Oklahoma and Kansas, their favorite rest stop is an approximately 70-mile stretch of the Platte River, with the area between Grand Island and Kearney being the most populated.

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Groups of cranes begin arriving in the area as early as late February, and continue congregating through March. By April, they start to disperse. The birds will spend about three weeks in the area, scavenging nearby cornfields for waste corn and supplementing their diets with snails and small invertebrates in the wet meadows – they will gain 10 to 20 percent of their body weight to prepare them for the rest of their journey and nesting.

At the peak of migration, there may be as many as 400,000 birds along the river.

Sandhill cranes are attractive birds with mottled gray feathers and a distinctive red patch from the tops of their heads to their black bills. They stand 3 to 4 feet tall with 6-foot wingspans.

Their call is a rattle-like trill – which can be heard more than two miles away.

Driving through the countryside, we often spotted small flocks in fields, but the most impressive times to see them are

SUNRISE COURTESY VISIT GRAND ISLAND

Witnessing Nebraska’s crane migration

early morning when they leave the river, or around sunset when they come back to roost.

PLATTE RIVER SANDBARS COURTESY ROWE SANCTUARY; PRAIRIE CHICKEN COURTESY CALAMUS OUTFITTERS, DAVID R. NELSON

GRAND ISLAND: THE CRANE TRUST The Crane Trust is one of the two best places to observe the cranes on the river. We were there early – group tours to the viewing blinds leave the Crane Trust Nature Center before dawn. We left our cars at the road and walked silently to the blind by the river.

Sandbars in the Platte In the gray pre-dawn, we could barely River keep cranes safe distinguish the birds – but we could hear from predators. them. As it got lighter, the mounds in the water became masses of birds. The noise increased as they began to wake for the day. As the sun came up, a few early birds left.

A bald eagle flew in and perched on a stump in the river. Birds nearby took to the air, resettling farther away. Eventually, small groups began leaving for the fields, followed by larger groups filling the air with their unique calls and the flapping of wings.

Cold was forgotten. Words shouldn’t fail a writer, but I have no language to describe the magnificence of the experience. You truly had to be there.

The Crane Trust offers a variety of opportunities to enjoy the cranes and other aspects of this protected area. The Nature and Visitor Center is free to the public throughout the year and features miles of hiking trails and a viewing tower, as well as a herd of genetically pure bison. The Crane Trust also offers all-inclusive retreats, photography workshops and excursion events that include on-site accommodations and meals.

For super-serious photographers, the Crane Trust has several rustic overnight shelters – bring your own bag and everything else. Each will accommodate two people, but they’d better be pretty close friends. For complete information: cranetrust.org.

KEARNEY: AUDUBON’S ROWE SANCTUARY Rowe Sanctuary near Kearney is the other premier spot for crane viewing. Our viewing here was prefaced by an introductory movie and chat, then we were divided into groups to walk a quarter or half-mile to the blinds – and by the way, the blinds both here and at Crane Trust are unheated, so layering clothing is essential.

Of my four viewing experiences – morning and evening at both locations – I think evening was my favorite time. The sky was clear at first, but as the dark haze on the horizon that looked like advancing clouds got bigger, it was obvious that these were groups of cranes coming in for the night.

It was amazing to watch the big birds landing. They were packed so closely together it seemed impossible to find space, but the cranes had it figured out. Masses of them have, after all, been coming to this spot for thousands of years.

Having the visit you want requires planning ahead. Not only should you contact Rowe to make a reservation, you need to reserve your accommodations well in advance. There are several good motels in Kearney; Grand Island, a larger town, has more options. Like the Crane Trust, Rowe also has overnight photographer’s blinds. For more information: rowesanctuary.org.

A RARE BIRD INDEED While you’re in the vicinity, take advantage of the opportunity to watch the mating behavior of the greater prairie chicken as they gather to compete for the attention of the females.

They might look like mottled brown chickens, but the males have additional attractions that become apparent during the breeding season. A male may turn rapidly in a circle, stomp his feet like a toddler’s tantrum, inflate bright orange air sacs and emit a two-tone call. In addition, long feathers on the sides of his head – which usually lie flat – will stand straight up, and his stubby tail feathers will follow suit. Often, two males will display and then run at each other, leaping into the air as they get close.

Part of the display is to establish dominance, the other part to attract the females. As our group watched from a blind, five or six males were showing off. A couple of hens wandered past and into the tall grass. They didn’t seem impressed, but we were.

For information about viewing, check calamusoutfitters.com or prairiechickendancetours.com.

I had been invited several times to see the cranes – and I didn’t go. I hate being cold, and the whole thing sounded uncomfortable. All I can say now is that I would go again in a minute. The chance to see these amazing sights outweighs any discomfort or inconvenience. - ELAINE WARNER

Displaying breeding behavior, the male prairie chicken inflates colorful sacs and emits sounds referred to as ‘booming.’

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dining Tall Order

PHOTO BY SCOTTY O’DANIEL

When Lindsay Ocker and Michel Buthion teamed up to open a saloon and chop house in OKC’s Stockyards City, their aspirations were high – and with dishes such as this imposing tower of pork belly and the ambience of an immense, fully equipped bar, McClintock is succeeding at elevating dining in the classic district.

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dining

LOCAL FLAVOR

WESTERN REFRESHMENT McClintock boosts Stockyard City

BY STEVE GILL PHOTOS BY SCOT T Y O’DANIEL

IF YOU ’ V E BEE N through OKC’s Stockyards City recently, you may not have noticed

the new McClintock Saloon and Chop House. It’s hardly visible from Agnew, one of the main thoroughfares, and doesn’t have a large frontage on Exchange. But if the outside didn’t catch your eye, inside is another story.

The first impression is wood, and space, and lots of both. As they take a few steps inside (no swinging batwing doors, alas) and their eyes adjust to the atmosphere, visitors are perfectly positioned to receive the full impact of McClintock’s centerpiece and star attraction: the gleaming, polished bar that goes on, and on, and on along the western wall. More than 50 feet of polished oak, its visual presence is remarkable – I love Ingres, and there’s a large-scale variation of his masterpiece “La Grande Odalisque” over the center of the bar, and on my first visit it took me a minute to even notice the painting, because the overall scale and individual details of the bar are so engrossing. Intricately carved cherubs, elephants, swans and goblins pop up here and there, drawing the eye back and forth while posing beneath the names of old firearm manufacturers inlaid in paler wood. The overall effect is so impressive that afterward, when your gaze turns to the dining area’s numerous ornate, three-foot-across chandeliers, you’re likely to find yourself thinking, “Eh, that’s pretty big. I guess.”

Establishing an old-fashioned saloon in this venerable section of OKC has been a longtime dream of co-owners Lindsay Ocker, who previously operated McClintock Boots in this space, and restaurateur Michel Buthion, who’s so enamored of the idea that he might ask you to call him Mitch. They’ve clearly taken great pains to create a beautiful space, and one glance at the bar’s menu demonstrates that its appeal isn’t just visual. The spirits list is as vast as the bar is long, and heavy on the cowboy-friendly element – the American Whiskies cover three pages, spanning from good (Knob Creek) to very good (Blanton’s) to several labels I’ve never heard of (Angel’s Envy? That sounds amazing; sign me up).

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For something that combines savor with a bit of spectacle, I recommend the Coffin Nail, a concoction of bourbon, turbinado sugar and bitters that’s eventually topped with an orange twist and Luxardo cherry – but first, before it’s even poured, the pre-chilled rocks glass is pumped full of cherrywood smoke, so that the mist infuses the beverage with a lingering extra dimension of scent and flavor.

Speaking of flavor, I wish the dining area weren’t so completely separated from the bar given how much I enjoy the latter’s atmosphere, but the menu offers up a good selection of treats of its own.

In fact, I would say its highest points are where it departs from the norm. That’s not to impugn the classics – they do quality steaks, including a spectacularly indulgent meal or a casual belt of whismassive tomahawk prime, as well as key, McClintock makes an interesting, quite a good burger if you’re in the mood. atmospheric destination. You just might However, the thick, succulent Berkshire become a regular … pardner. pork chop slathered in cinnamon apple To address the prize bull – it’s a more chutney is a thing of beauty; the chickthematically appropriate metaphorical en-fried quail pair perfectly with their animal than an elephant – in the room: accompanying mashed potatoes and Yes, McClintock is just a moment’s house-made bacon gravy; and the tender, mosey down the block from venerable juicy frog legs lacquered in mango-habasteakhouse Cattlemen’s. And they do nero sauce may well have been the best share certain similarities, but with its thing we had all night. emphasis on the bar and more varied Add in weekend brunch, as well as upscale dining, this saloon lunch and dinner, plus perimanages to produce a odic sets of live music from MCCLINTOCK different vibe. Contrary the stage by the front door, SALOON & to the old western trope, and the prospect of venturing CHOP HOUSE there might just be room through on a trip to Stock2227 Exchange, OKC enough in this town for the yard City becomes yet more 405.232.0151 both of them. enticing. For a lengthy and mcclintocksaloon.com JANUARY 2018 405 MAGAZINE

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dining

CHEF’S TABLE

Joseph Royer’s simple, soulful cuisine

V ISI TOR S TO Saturn Grill in Nichols Hills – and you should

be one – understand the appeal of the fast-casual concept: simple, flavorful food made fresh from scratch every day. That philosophy was formed into owner/chef Joseph Royer from a very young age.

“Basic comfort foods tend to be a vein that runs through all of my cooking to this day,” Royer says. “That’s what we ate growing up: lots of home-cooked, scratch food.”

Royer is an Oklahoma City native, and the two culinary streams that shaped him were his mother’s preference for Southern cooking

HOW IT’S DONE

Roasted Chicken Sausage with Potatoes and Apples 1 lb large link chicken sausage (4-5 links) Mild pork sausage can be substituted FIRST GROUP 1 lb Yukon Gold potatoes, quartered 2 apples, cored and cut into eighths (wedges) 1 medium-sized yellow onion, peeled and cut into eighths 2 cups celery, sliced in one-inch pieces (set aside celery leaves) 2 cups tri-colored carrots, peeled and cut in

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- GREG HORTON

one-inch pieces 6 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced 1/8-inch thick 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper 1 tbsp kosher salt

Pour the Second Group over the top.

Cover with foil, and place in a pre-heated oven at 375 degrees for 1.5 hours.

SECOND GROUP 1 qt chicken stock 1/4 cup EVOO 1/2 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped Reserved celery leaves roughly chopped

In broad-bottomed bowls, place one sausage link in the center, equally divide the remaining ingredients and add to bowls.

Place the chicken sausage in the bottom of a large, deep casserole dish.

Sprinkle with chopped parsley and celery leaves.

Combine and evenly distribute the First Group of ingredients over the top.

Serve with hot, crusty artisan bread, such as ciabatta.

Remove from oven.

PHOTOS BY SHANNON CORNMAN

Basically Excellent

and his father’s Louisiana French influence. Those really are two disparate types of comfort food, but they are bound together by the hearty, rustic styles that generate filling, flavorful dishes. The blending of styles was always presented as two great choices, not a matter of which is better.

When he realized he wanted to be a chef, he took a job with Alain Buthion at La Baguette Bistro. From there, he went to The Coach House to complete his formal training in Chef Kurt Fleischfresser’s apprenticeship program. Today he’s also executive chef at The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro.

Royer also knew he wanted to start his own concept, so while working in kitchens around Oklahoma City, he wrote business plans – seven, to be exact – and during that process, he refined the idea that led to Saturn Grill.

“I narrowed down different aspects of the restaurant business that are important but often don’t come into play when cooking or being creative,” he explains. “I needed to take off my chef hat and think about it strictly as a business.”

That process led him to decide on fast casual, which, while swift and efficient, is not exactly what comes to mind when you think of “executive chef.” Still, the model proved solid, and the food is “chef-driven,” because Royer oversees the menu. Find another sandwich shop that has vegan meatball with conchiglie on the menu or absolutely stellar falafel. Saturn Grill is unique because Royer brings his chef’s sense to the menu, but he refuses to be bound by traditional ideas of what goes together on a menu, just like his house growing up.

For his recipe, Royer chose a seasonal dish – he always cooks seasonally – that he describes as “simple and soulful.”

“I honestly don’t think anyone will have any trouble with it,” he says. “It’s a great example of how easy it can be to make great comfort food.”

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL Served Nightly 5-6:30 pm Choice of 12 oz KC Sirloin or Jumbo Fried Shrimp Served with all of Jamil’s Famous Appetizers and Baked Potato, Tabouli, Hummus, Rose’s Cabbage Rolls, Smoked Bologna $

25.95

LUNCH SERVED

M-F: 11am-2pm Sandwiches Burgers Cabbage Rolls Steaks

Holiday Catering and Banquet Rooms Available!

Family Owned and Operated Since 1964

4910 North Lincoln | 405.525.8352 One Mile North of the Capital @ 49th Street

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food drink Symbols

$ most entrees under $10 $$ most entrees $10 to $25 $$$ most entrees over $25 outdoor dining reservations accepted valet parking new or updated entry

American ANCHOR DOWN Sip a beer or specialty cocktail and munch on a selection of gourmet corndogs in this fresh Deep Deuce concept housed within repurposed shipping containers. 30 NE 2nd, OKC, 605.8070 $ AURORA Its warmly comfortable atmosphere makes a perfect backdrop for a quick cup of Hoboken coffee or hearty breakfast or lunch assembled from superb ingredients – just be certain not to miss the beautiful secluded backyard area. 1704 NW 16th, OKC, 609.8854 $

an update with a more modern menu sprinkled with experimental twists, and a full suite of tempting cocktails, wines and spirits. 6437 Avondale, OKC, 842.1000 $$

HEFNER GRILL Upscale fare of handcut steaks and seafood plus a tempting brunch to boot, enhanced by a live piano and a spectacular view overlooking scenic Lake Hefner. 9201 Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 748.6113 $$ HOUSE 333 Meatballs are only the beginning at this Campus Corner hangout; a broad menu of everything from wings to lasagna to vegetarian options sets off the ample bar very nicely indeed. 333 W Boyd, Norman, 701.3800 $$ THE JONES ASSEMBLY It’s noteworthy as a spectacular concert venue, but don’t overlook the kitchen’s output the rest of the time. The bar (try a Frosé) and main menu (try everything) are sufficient to make memories even on non-special occasions. 901 W Sheridan, OKC, 212.2378 $$ KITCHEN NO. 324 A seasonally inspired café and craft bakery serving spectacular rustic American cuisine.

Open for lunch and dinner, and a thorough treat for breakfast or brunch.

324 N Robinson, OKC, 763.5911 $

BACON Sometimes the name says it all.

Noted OKC chef Sean Cummings fills a menu – from soup and salads through sandwiches, entrees and desserts – with tempting taste combinations that feature one of America’s favorite theme ingredients. 7523 N May, OKC, 848.4868 $$

MARY EDDY’S Inside the inviting environs of Film Row anchor 21c Museum Hotel, this showplace of a restaurant turns out a seasonally driven menu of expertly tuned flavors and dishes meant to be shared. 900 W Main, OKC, 982.6900 $$

CAFÉ 501 Rustic stone oven pizzas, fresh salads and specialty sandwiches on house-made artisan breads. Add welcoming atmosphere and enjoy. 501 S Boulevard, Edmond, 359.1501; 5825 NW Grand, OKC, 844.1501 $$

NASHBIRD Make tracks to this 9th Street spot serving Nashville-style “Hot Dang!” chicken, with whatever spice level you like. Speedy service, whiskey cocktails and beer and a spectacular patio add extra savor. 1 NW 9th, OKC, 388.0033 $

EDDIE’S BAR & GRILL This stylish spot not far from UCO is equally ideal for a casual drink, appetizers while watching the game or a dinner date.

And bear in mind that the wings are outstanding. 930 E 2, Edmond, 285.7725 $$ FLINT Approachably casual style, plus the kitchen’s impeccably serious attention to detail in the outstanding contemporary cuisine, winningly combined in the Colcord Hotel. 15 N Robinson, OKC, 601.4300 $$ HATCH They call it “early mood food,” and if you find yourself in the mood for a sumptuous made-from-scratch breakfast (or lunch), it should be right up your Automobile Alley. 1101 N Broadway, OKC, 232.3949 $$ THE HUTCH ON AVONDALE The all-time classic Coach House receives

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NEIGHBORHOOD JAM Serving tasty takes on classic American dishes and more specialized options such as pineapple bourbon pancakes, this breakfast-centric spot aims to become a community favorite through outstanding execution. 15124 Lleytons Court, Edmond, 242.4161 $ NIC’S PLACE Already justly renowned for his skill at the grill, burger master Justin Nicholas offers breakfast, dinner, drinks and late night treats served in outstanding style at this Midtown diner and lounge. 1116 N Robinson, OKC, 601.

9234 $$ PACKARD’S NEW AMERICAN KITCHEN They’re not kidding about the “new” – the entire lunch and dinner menus are filled with innovative tastes for a distinctive dining experience. 201 NW 10th, OKC, 605.3771 $$

PICASSO CAFÉ Their neighbors in the Paseo are painters, potters and sculptors, so it’s apt that creativity abounds in these zippy sandwiches, salads, pizza and surprises, including plentiful selections for vegetarians.

3009 Paseo, OKC, 602.2002 $

THE R&J LOUNGE AND SUPPER CLUB A sentimental dining

experience with vintage recipes and atmosphere. Seating is limited but the patio is a year-round treat, and the drinks menu is a thing of beauty. 320 NW 10th, OKC, 602.5066 $$ THE PRESS Built in a former printing facility and garage, this concept from The Mule’s team adds Oklahomainspired comfort food to the Plaza District – the chicken-fried steak comes recommended. 1610 N Gatewood, OKC, 982.1010 $$ REDROCK CANYON GRILL Rotisserie chicken, enchiladas, pork chops and steak by the lake in a casual, energetic, hacienda-style atmosphere of stone walls and mahogany beams around an open kitchen. 9221 E Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 749.1995; 1820 Legacy Park, Norman, 701.5501 $$ SATURN GRILL A star of the lunchtime stage in Nichols Hills Plaza, its rotation of daily specials and tasty twists on pizza, sandwiches and salads keep it crowded on weekdays. Calling ahead is recommended. 6432 Avondale, OKC, 843.7114 $ SCOTTIE’S DELI Soups, salads and especially sandwiches, all made from scratch and featuring meats that are cured, smoked and cooked in-house.

Start with the pastrami and get ready to fall in love. 427 NW 23rd, OKC, 698.3696 $ SCRATCH Isn’t that the best place for food to come from? Top-of -the-line ingredients are combined into entrees and sides that are carefully concocted in-house, as are the bevy of wondrous craft cocktails. 132 W Main, Norman, 801.2900 $$ SUNNYSIDE DINER A new day dawns for breakfast and lunch on the west side of downtown as a former service station becomes a no-pretense, made-fromscratch diner. Order up! 916 NW 6th, OKC, 778.8861 $ SYRUP The most important meal of the day is also the most enticing at this unique breakfast boutique serving a heaping helping of signature dishes (the crunchy French toast is something special) and Stumptown coffee. 123 E Main, Norman; 1501 NW 23rd, OKC, 701.1143 $ VAST Keeping your attention on the steaks, seafood and other temptations

might be difficult; the view from atop the Devon Tower is truly unparalleled in Oklahoma, making this a fantastic date spot. 280 W Sheridan, 49th floor, OKC, 702.7262 $$$

VICEROY GRILLE Opulent décor, comfortable environs and some outstanding cuisine make a strong recommendation for the Ambassador Hotel’s in-house restaurant; don’t overlook the brunch options. 1200 N Walker Ave, OKC, 600.6200 $$ WHISKEY CAKE High-quality locally sourced ingredients, prepared using slow cooking techniques that’s a prime recipe for outstanding dining. Enjoy – and don’t forget the namesake dessert.

1845 NW Expressway, OKC, 582.2253 $$

Asian CHAE This pan-cultural treat puts a delectable influence on embracing traditional Korean cuisine and showcasing its versatility by blending its ingredients with dishes from around the world. Grab your chopsticks and enjoy.

1933 NW 23rd, OKC, 600.9040 $$ CHICK N BEER Wings and brews are food for the soul; these freshly fried beauties are done Korean-style, and with serious flavor. Grab some kimchi fries and a local beer and enjoy. 715 NW 23rd, OKC, 604.6995 $ EL TORO CHINO Big, bold flavors from disparate cuisines are blended in this self-described “Latin + Asian Kitchen” - creating results that are as excitingly distinctive as they are delicious. 2801 NW 36th, Norman, 708.9472 $$ GUERNSEY PARK A hidden treasure on an Uptown back street, reflecting traditional Asian flavors expertly fused with a hint of French influence. Try the chicken lollipops and curry salmon. 2418 N Guernsey, OKC, 605.5272 $$ O ASIAN FUSION Sublime quality in a wide span of culinary influences – freshly rolled sushi to fiery curry – in cool, vibrant digs. Call ahead for dinner, because it becomes a packed house in a hurry. 105 SE 12th, Norman, 701.8899 $$ SAII With a dark, rich ambiance that elevates it over its surroundings, the captivating Saii serves expertly done Japanese, Thai and Chinese fare plus an extensive and adventurous sushi menu.

6900 N May, OKC, 702.7244 $$ TSUBAKI SZECHUAN Bold flavors are a hallmark of Szechuan cuisine, so tell your taste buds to buckle up; spice is always present but never overpowering in this mouthwatering collection of staples and authentically

executed dishes. 1117 NW 25th, OKC, 609.6606 $$

Bakery BELLE KITCHEN Doughnuts, macarons, pastries and ice cream created from scratch, in small batches – making treats like these with care and passion makes a difference that’s easy, and a pleasure, to taste. 7509 N May, OKC, 430.5484; 30 NE 2nd, OKC, 541.5858 $ CUPPIES & JOE The name is only part of the story: the Uptown nook holds cupcakes and coffee as well as pie, live music, a cozy, trendy vibe and more.

Park around back and take a peek. 727 NW 23rd, OKC, 528.2122 $ ESCA VITAE Food for Life, the name promises, and visitors may well find themselves feeling revitalized after sampling this European bakery and café’s espresso drinks, selection of deli sandwiches and vast selection of tempting breads and baked goods. 1114 N Classen Drive, OKC, 601.0402 $ LA BAGUETTE Comfort and exquisite baking make a tres chic destination for brunch and beyond. They supply pastries throughout the metro, but the source is especially delicious. 1130 Rambling Oaks, Norman, 329.1101; 2100 W Main, Norman, 329.5822 $

PIE JUNKIE A Plaza District haven for serious pie aficionados. Call ahead to order a whole pie or quiche or walk in and choose from what’s on hand; either way the flavors are incredible, and you may never find a better Key lime. 1711 NW 16th, OKC, 605.8767 $ SARA SARA CUPCAKES The ambiance and milk bar make great additions to the variety of specialty cupcakes - selections range from traditional chocolate to blueberry honey and even bacon, egg and cheese. 7 NW 9th, OKC, 600.9494 $

Bar & Pub Food THE BARREL The menu is wellstocked with intriguing and delicious twists on pub cuisine, but the equally ample bar makes it a great spot to relax over drinks as well. 4308 N Western, OKC, 525.6682 $ BLU FINE WINE & FOOD Just south of Main Street, this sleek bar stands out due to quick, courteous service and a menu with gourmet range from mojitos to barbeque chicken pizza to fresh hummus. 201 S Crawford, Norman, 360.4258 $$ THE MANHATTAN A stylish neighborhood bar in the heart of downtown, its cocktail menu is packed with variations on its namesake classic,

and don’t overlook the selections of sandwiches, salads and tasty treats from chef Bruce Rinehart. 210 Park Suite 150, OKC, 605.5300 $ THE MONT While the food should tempt palates inclined toward a Southwestern zing, it’s beverages like the beloved Sooner Swirl and the primo patio (with misters) for which this landmark is justly renowned. 1300 Classen Blvd, Norman, 329.3330 $ OAK & ORE A Plaza District port of call built with repurposed rustic materials, it offers more than a handful of creative sandwiches that practically require a knife and fork, as well as a tantalizing selection of lovingly chosen craft beers.

1732 NW 16th, OKC, 606.2030 $ O’CONNELL’S IRISH PUB & GRILLE Beloved by students, alumni and townies alike, it’s served up killer burgers, beer and festive atmosphere since 1968. A St. Patrick’s Day must. 769 Asp, Norman, 217.8454 $ PUB W Multiple sections provide a choice of atmosphere, but the menu filled with choice beer and “new classic” fare from barbeque wings to pork chops is a constant pleasure. 3720 W Robinson, Norman, 701.5844; 3121 W Memorial, OKC, 608.2200 $$ REPUBLIC GASTROPUB Part beer bar and part upscale eatery, this noisy, amply

attended locale pairs a vast selection of quality brews with tasty menu items, including a great burger selection. 5830 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 286.4577; 13230 Pawnee, OKC, 907.5900 $$

Barbeque EARL’S RIB PALACE A popular choice among locals in a genre that’s hardly lacking in options, the local chain pounds out hit ribs and turkey as well as a top-tier burger. 6 metro locations, earlsribpalace.com $ IRON STAR URBAN BARBEQUE Iron Star specializes in “a unique and tasty spin on comfort food.” While its entrees are excellent, the sides here are equal players as well. 3700 N Shartel, OKC, 524.5925 $$ LEO’S BAR-B-Q Dense, rich flavor and tender texture, delivered in genuine unpolished style for commendable value – no wonder its ribs and brisket are favorites among Oklahoma connoisseurs. 3631 N Kelley, OKC 424.5367 $ SWADLEY’S Expertly prepared meats – the sausage is especially succulent – form the backbone of this Oklahoma chain’s crowd-pleasing menu. And if there’s a special occasion approaching, they’re also award-winning caterers. 5 metro locations, swadleys.com $$

Half-P rice Happy Hour FOR DAVE’S DEEP DISH PIZZA Wednesdays from 4-7

COME FOR BRUNCH

Sat 11-3, Sunday 10-3 Specials on Mimosa and Bloody Mary drinks

4308 N Western Avenue • 405.525.6682 • barrelokc.com JANUARY 2018 405 MAGAZINE

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TEXLAHOMA BBQ Family owned and fabulously flavorful, its meats (especially the beef ribs) are eye-rolling good. Don’t forget the espresso barbeque sauce! 121 E Waterloo, Edmond, 513.7631 $$

Burgers & Sandwiches COW CALF-HAY This tempting burger spot offers ample flavor combinations, and the delicious never-frozen patties are mmmmmassive. Don’t forget the onion rings. 3409 Wynn, Edmond, 509.2333; 212 N Harvey, OKC, 601.6180 $ THE FIXX Massive, monstrous burgers and hot dogs, put together with thought and care. Don’t forget to get a shake or something from the full bar. 644 W Edmond, Edmond, 285.2311 $ THE GARAGE BURGERS & BEER It can get noisy in the sports-bar atmosphere, but even so your focus will likely be on savoring the many tempting flavor possibilities of huge, juicy burgers and fries. 8 metro locations, eatatthegarage. com $

Savor Country Republic does burgers and beyond TH E WOR LD’S S MALLEST country is Vatican City, not the

restaurant at 5830 N Classen, which means Republic Gastropub is not really a sovereign nation. Of course, that also means you don’t need a passport to sample its native cuisine.

An OKC local asked about Republic would probably mention the extensive beer menu or the burgers – they’re noted for both, and justly so – but if you find yourself in the mood for something a bit more varied, don’t dismiss this spot out of hand. Casting an experimental eye over the menu reveals quite a few adventurous possibilities.

Case in point: the roasted chicken with peas, asparagus and prosciutto in a light cream sauce. It replaced a previous preparation that was a more traditional half chicken, but wasn’t nearly as artfully prepared and required more work from the diner; this delicious reimagining is more akin to a boneless breast.

Also far from traditional is the grilled shrimp salad; you might have heard those words before, but you’re probably not imagining a combination that includes charred Brussels sprouts, spaghetti squash, a dab of Gouda, a subtle horseradish vinaigrette and even crisply fried salami slices.

Republic’s sleek, bustling vibe can get a trifle noisy, but it’s great for group celebrations, especially if those include an event on one of the two-dozen-plus screens of various sizes. (cough, cough Thunder games). Round up some friends and declare yourself a citizen, whatever you’re in the mood to try. - STEVE GILL

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IRMA’S BURGER SHACK Hand-cut fries, hand-breaded onion rings and simply great burgers, especially with No Name Ranch patties - lean and flavorful thanks to a local breed of cattle. 1035 NW 63rd, OKC, 840.4762; 1120 Classen Drive, OKC, 235.4762 $ KAISER’S GRATEFUL BEAN Located in the heart of Midtown, OKC’s authentic ice cream parlor and soda fountain (it’s on the National Register of Historic Places) serves up shakes, malts, egg creams and homemade ice cream, plus burgers and meals for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike. 1039 N Walker, OKC, 236.3503 $ THE MULE Solid beer and beverage selection plus a delectable array of gourmet grilled cheeses and melts fill the menu at this relaxation destination in the Plaza District. 1630 N Blackwelder, OKC, 601.1400 $ NIC’S GRILL It’s small, it’s crowded … and it’s incredible. It’s only open for lunch and the lines are often long, but the colossal burgers are easily among the metro’s best. Don’t forget some money, since it’s cash-only. 1202 N Penn, OKC, 524.0999 $ S&B’S BURGER JOINT Good news: these burgers’ exquisite flavors - including such ingredients as peanut butter or a coffee crust - come as sliders too, all the better to sample more kinds. 5 metro locations, sandbburgers.com $ TUCKER’S ONION BURGERS With one burger, one side (fries) and one salad, the menu is easy to remember - and the execution makes the meal unforgettable.

Add a shake and enjoy. 4 metro locations, tuckersonionburgers.com $

potato latte is a wonder) in a cheerful atmosphere; the food options are worth investigating, as well. 5 metro locations, allaboutcha.net $ CLARITY COFFEE The vibe is crisp, clean and cool while remaining welcoming and comfortable – including seating for sipping or getting some work done – and the brewers have their beverages down to a science. As the sign says, “Drink the Coffee.” 431 W Main, OKC, 252.0155 $ COFFEE SLINGERS Rocking a brisk, urban vibe on Automobile Alley, it has become a gathering place for genuine java enthusiasts, especially during its periodic educational sampling seminars.

1015 N Broadway, OKC, 606.2763 $ ELEMENTAL COFFEE Seriously spectacular coffee roasted in-house - the passionate staff is always eager to share knowledge about the process augmented with locally sourced salads, breakfast options and other treats. 815 N Hudson, OKC, 633.1703 $ ELLIS ISLAND Their brews use Eote Coffee (thumbs up), but there’s much more in store in this clean, cozy hangout spot – local beers, a selection of wines, treats from La Baguette and Epic Pops and more are waiting to be enjoyed. 130 N Broadway, Edmond, 726.8831 $ RED CUP Comfortably ramshackle surroundings encourage curling up for conversation over great coffee, baked treats, vegetarian-friendly breakfast and lunch specials, and live music. It’s highly recommended. 3122 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 525.3430 $ T, AN URBAN TEAHOUSE Proving that an establishment’s focus can be at once narrow and broad, these retreats offer over 100 varieties and expert counsel to explore a world of possibiliteas. 519 NW 23rd, OKC $

Continental BLACKBIRD A Campus Corner gastropub pairing succulently creative dishes like pot roast nachos with a broad beer, wine and whiskey list. There’s little on the menu that won’t tempt palates. 575 S University, Norman, 928.5555 $$ CHEEVER’S Southwestern-influenced recipes (the chicken-fried steak is a house specialty) and love of seafood drive the contemporary comfort food in one of the city’s finest dining destinations. 2409 N Hudson, OKC, 525.7007 $$ EN CROUTE A warmly welcoming, comfortable café in Nichols Plaza offers treats all day long, from fresh pastries to select spirits and beer, with special emphasis on artisanal cheese and charcuterie. 6460 Avondale, OKC, 607.6100 $

Coffeehouse & Tea Room

LUDIVINE The menu adjusts constantly to reflect availability of elite-quality, locally sourced ingredients - but every dish is the result of genuine culinary artistry. 805 N Hudson, OKC, 778.6800 $$$

ALL ABOUT CHA Universal standards and unusual concoctions (the sweet

THE MANTEL Marvelous steaks, seafood and other specialties combine with

PHOTO BY SHANNON CORNMAN

GOOD TASTE

a refined atmosphere and outstanding service to set the stage for a truly memorable meal, especially if you have a date to impress. 201 E Sheridan, OKC, 236.8040 $$$ THE METRO A perennial favorite that feels comfortably upscale without exerting pressure to impress on its clientele, the farreaching menu covers culinary high points from vichyssoise to crème brulée. 6418 N Western, OKC, 840.9463 $$ MICHAEL’S GRILL Thoroughly urbane dining in an intimate setting: the steaks, chops, seafood and pastas are all reliably excellent, and the Caesar salad prepared tableside is the stuff of legends. 2824 W Country Club, OKC, 810.9000 $$$ THE MUSEUM CAFÉ A setting as inspiring as the OKC Museum of Art warrants something special in cuisine: delicately light or delectably robust, its European-inspired menu delights for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. 415 Couch, OKC, 235.6262 $$ PARK AVENUE GRILL A one-of-a-kind dining experience inside the luxurious Skirvin Hilton, blending traditional steak and seafood with the high style of its 1930s setting. 1 Park, OKC, 702.8444 $$$ PASEO GRILL Quiet and intimate inside, cheerful and comfortable out on the patio, with an award-winning menu filled with distinctive flavors inspired by the cuisines of Europe in both areas – try the duck salad. 2909 Paseo, OKC, 601.1079 $$$ THE PRITCHARD WINE BAR Tempted by tempranillo? Musing about muscat? This Plaza District stop is amply stocked with an extensive list of exceptional wines, and sampling the varied dishes is a pleasure in itself. 1749 NW 16th, OKC, 601.4067 $ ROCOCO An “East Coast-style” restaurant with a diverse menu of international dishes, all set off by carefully selected wines to create the perfect dinner pairing. 12252 N May, OKC, 212.4577; 2824 N Penn, OKC, 528.2824 $$ SEVEN47 A Campus Corner hotspot boasting sleek, swank décor, an appealingly broad menu including a tantalizing brunch and a consistently celebratory vibe - in toto that makes this a winner. 747 Asp, Norman, 701.8622 $$ SIGNATURE GRILL Unassuming locale; magnificent culinary rewards.

The expertly considered menu mixes French and Italian flavors to present a wide spectrum of amazing flavors in a few select dishes. 1317 E Danforth, Edmond, 330.4548 $$$ WEST Expert staff and stylish décor augment a menu filled with treats from beef pad thai to roasted airline chicken.

Don’t forget the zuccha chips! 6714 N Western, OKC, 607.4072 $$

French LA BAGUETTE BISTRO Les Freres Buthion have deep roots in the city’s culinary landscape, and this flagship combines fine dining with a great

bakery, deli and butcher on site. 7408 N May, OKC, 840.3047 $$ FAIT MAISON Foie gras to Brandy Alexander, this classical French restaurant delivers exceptional cuisine made with exacting care – the name translates to homemade – for exquisite, if pricy, event dining. 152 E 5th, Edmond, 509.2555 $$$

German DAS BOOT CAMP Longtime fixture for Deutsch festivities Royal Bavaria has brewed up a second round of exceptional cuisine and magnificent beer in a less expensive, faster-paced location in downtown Norman. 229 E Main, Norman, 701.3748 $ FASSLER HALL Bringing German flavor to Midtown via house-made sausages, warm soft pretzels with cheese sauce, duck fries and a heftig beer menu, plus a weekend brunch – what’s not to love? 421 NW 10th, OKC, 609.3300 $ INGRID’S Authentic German fare at its best, including outstanding Oklahomamade bratwurst. Join weekend regulars for breakfast, and remember the bakery counter. 3701 N Youngs, OKC, 946.8444; 6501 N May, OKC $$ ROYAL BAVARIA Superb takes on traditional dishes like Weinerschnitzel, Jagerbraten and sausages, plus fantastisch house-brewed beers. The time spent is a worthy investment in this family-style dining hall. 3401 S Sooner, Moore, 799.7666 $$$

Indian GOPURAM - TASTE OF INDIA A full-service restaurant whose richly appointed interior and attentive staff accord patrons the feel of fine dining, even during the plentifully stocked lunch buffet. 4559 NW 23rd, OKC, 948.7373 $$

JOIN ME AT TOMMY’S

Your neighborhood Italian bar & grill

MISAL OF INDIA A Norman institution for over 30 years, specializing in tandoori-cooked delicacies and boasting healthy, natural, delicious cuisine served amid splendid ambiance.

580 Ed Noble Pkwy, Norman, 579.5600 $$ TAJ A tremendous set of Indian staples and delicacies - the menu has sections for vegetarian, tandoori, South Indian and Indo-Chinese specialties - plus full lunch and dinner buffets. 1500 NW 23rd, OKC, 601.1888 $$

Italian & Pizza BELLINI’S Tasteful in décor and Italian offerings alike, this romantic nightspot quietly, confidently exudes elegance. It’s worth a visit even if only for a couple of the namesake beverages on the shady patio. 6305 Waterford, OKC, 848.1065 $$ BENVENUTI’S Subtly flavored minestrone to rich, hearty ragouts, the splendid menu keeps the booths full and diners planning return trips to this vintage building by the railroad tracks;

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK LUNCH | DINNER | BRUNCH | COCKTAILS | WINE | PATIO | PRIVATE PARTIES 5516 W. MEMORIAL RD. | 405.470.5577 | TOMMYSITALIANGRILL.COM JANUARY 2018 405 MAGAZINE

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don’t overlook Sunday brunch. 105 W Main, Norman, 310.5271 $$ EMPIRE SLICE HOUSE Reigning over the Plaza District in New York style (that means thin, flexible crust with a lot of surface area to cover in cheese and tasty toppings), it offers whole pizzas or slices, a full bar and a primo patio. 1734 NW 16th, OKC $ FLIP’S WINE BAR & TRATTORIA Managing to feel rustic despite its location in a busy corridor of OKC, this cozy Italian joint keeps extended hours, and tends to get busier and louder as the hour gets later. 5801 N Western, OKC, 843.1527 $$ THE HEAT There’s really no need to be humble about this true Chicago-style pizza, boasting perhaps the best crust known to man. It’s one of our favorites; choose your toppings and think deep thoughts. 1319 S Broadway, Edmond, 715.1818 $ HIDEAWAY PIZZA If you’ve been serving a devoted following for over half a century, you’re doing something right.

In this case, that’s incredible pizza in jovial surroundings. 8 metro locations, hideawaypizza.com $$

Feel the Heat A winter warmup at Urban Johnnie WITH TH E CAVE AT that Oklahoma’s weather is notoriously dif-

ficult to predict, and the awareness that it was still 70 degrees out in the beginning of December – if you’re planning to gamble on any particular month’s temperatures, you’d be savvy to put your chips on “frosty” in January. It’s OKC’s coldest month, with an average low hovering below freezing. Which means you might be in the market for a little nip of something to ward off the lingering chill outside.

With that in mind, this would be a good time for downtown visitors to duck into Urban Johnnie, at 121 NE 2nd in Deep Deuce, in the Level building across the street from Aloft. The pub is run by the crew behind Johnnie’s Charcoal Broiler, so they know their way around a hamburger, and the Steve McQueen’s bacon, bleu cheese and spiced honey won’t steer you wrong. But this particular grill is also a cool watering hole, with a nice selection of local and farflung beers and a few crafty cocktails.

One in particular feels seasonally appropriate thanks to its use of Fireball as fuel: The Not Your Momma’s Apple Juice packs a jolt of the cinnamon whiskey, as well as apple schnapps and apple juice (can’t fault them for truth in flavoring). It’s sweet but not overpoweringly syrupy, and genuinely does resemble a light apple cider on the palate. I also found the cinnamon sugar rim a welcome addition, but then I always did love Apple Jacks.

As someone who tends toward bourbon, I barely tasted any alcohol burn from the comparatively lower-proof ingredients, but I can vouch that this concoction will put a little heat in your cheeks.

In these long, cold nights, that’s certainly a plus. - STEVE GILL

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KNUCK’S WHEELHOUSE Homemade daily with sauces from scratch and local beer in the crust, it’s a tasty and varied stopover for Bricktown wanderers as well as a pizza-lover’s destination in its own right. 103 E California, OKC, 605.4422 $ MONI’S Handmade, New Jersey-style brick oven pizza and authentic pasta recipes from Southern Italy in a casual, comfy ambience (ideal for dates). 17200 N May, Edmond, 285.5991 $$ OTHELLO’S Garlic bread and warm mussels to tiramisu and coffee – all you could want in a romantic Italian café. ; 1 S Broadway, Edmond, 330.9045 $$ PIZZA 23 The tempting selection of specialty pies on especially buttery, f laky crusts is available for takeout, but dining in is recommended; the Uptown joint’s good beer selection and crisp, urban décor add savor to the f lavor. 600-B NW 23rd, OKC, 601.6161 $$ PIZZERIA GUSTO Neapolitan-style pizza (which harnesses an extremely hot fire to quickly cook superfine f lour crusts and quality ingredients) stars alongside Italy-inspired salads, pastas and appetizers. 2415 N Walker, OKC, 437.4992 $$ STELLA MODERN ITALIAN CUISINE A luscious spate of legitimately Italian tastes for a casual lunch, or romantic dinner, amid stylish scenery. The weekend brunch offerings are especially superb. 1201 N Walker, OKC, 235.2200 $$ SUSSY’S An OKC tradition continues, as this quick downtown eatery serves up recipes from one of the city’s first pizza providers more than half a century ago. Try a Fleetwood or one of the pasta or salad options and see why it succeeded in the first place. 200 S Oklahoma, OKC, 600.1195 $

TOMMY’S ITALIAN-AMERICAN GRILL Stylish and welcoming, this northside neighborhood Italian bar and grill offers up a full selection of beautifully done classic dishes, in addition to more imaginative creations, weekend brunch and some truly excellent brick oven pizza. 5516 W Memorial, OKC, 470.5577 $$ UPPER CRUST A chic, contemporary pizzeria and wine bar specializing in wood-fired, thin-crust New York-style pies complemented by a full menu and wine list. 5860 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 842.7743; 1205 NW 178th, Edmond, 285.8887 $$ VICTORIA’S A comfortable atmosphere, with local art on its walls and the art of pasta on its plates – the chicken lasagna and linguine with snow crab are especially excellent. 327 White, Norman, 329.0377; 3000 SW 104th, OKC, 759.3580 $ VITO’S RISTORANTE Homestyle Italian cuisine in an intimate setting where the staff and management treat customers like guests in their home.

It’s a small space, so calling ahead is recommended. 7521 N May, OKC, 848.4867 $$ VOLARE A flavor-filled variety of Neapolitan-style pizzas, produced with haste from a specially imported oven, fill this stylish Campus Corner space boasting a serious rooftop patio. 315 White, Norman, 310.3615 $$ THE WEDGE Wood-fired pies crafted from fresh ingredients (the possibilities range from pepperoni all the way to figs or truffle oil) and made-from-scratch sauces. 230 NE 1st, OKC, 270.0660; 4709 N Western, OKC, 602.3477 $$

Japanese // Sushi CAFÉ ICON Tempting sushi, Japanese specialties and delicious spectacles like steak cooked at the table on a sizzling stone fill the menu to bursting with visually splendid and palate-pleasing treats. 311 S Blackwelder, Edmond, 340.8956 $$ GORO An “izakaya” is a Japanese pub; visitors to the Plaza District will quickly come to associate the term with expertly crafted deliciousness thanks to this cheerful spot for ramen, yakitori, bar snacks and more. 1634 Blackwelder, OKC, 606.2539 $ MUSASHI’S Exquisitely f lavorful Japanese cuisine prepared with genuine artistry, thanks to the skilled chefs executing culinary performance art at tableside hibachi grills. It’s a great spot for a special occasion. 4315 N Western, OKC, 602.5623 $$ SUSHI NEKO An established OKC favorite combining style with substance (in the form of an especially wide-ranging and creative sushi menu). 4318 N Western, OKC, 528.8862 $$ TOKYO It’s neither huge nor lavishly appointed, and the menu focuses on tradition rather than creativity; but it’s palpably fresh and routinely cited as

PHOTO BY SHANNON CORNMAN

AT THE BAR

among the metro’s best sushi. 7516 N Western, OKC, 848.6733 $$

inimitable treat. 440 NW 11th, OKC, 525.9779 $$

YOKOZUNA The noodles, entrees and snappy drinks menu beckon, but it’s the rolls that stand out in this heavyweight contender for local sushi supremacy – personally, we’re partial to the 405 Roll. 13230 Pawnee, OKC, 500.1020 $$

CAFÉ KACAO A sunlit space filled with bright, vibrant flavors from the zesty traditions of Guatemala.

Lunch possibilities beckon, but it’s the breakfast specialties that truly dazzle.

3325 N Classen, OKC, 602.2883 $

YUZO Variety is the word in this sushi tapas bar, boasting a tempting swirl of Colombian, Brazilian and Japanese culinary inf luences. 808 N Broadway, OKC, 702.9808 $$

Mediterranean & African HAIGET’S Vegan-friendly – and friendly in general, due to the influence of the warm, patient namesake owner – this gem rewards the adventurous with Ethiopian and Kenyan specialties to explore and share. 308 W Edmond Road, Edmond, 509.6441 $$ MEDITERRANEAN IMPORTS & DELI The menu is stocked with authentic, quick and savory options from Greek salad to eye-watering cabbage rolls, and there’s even a mini-grocery stocked with select staples. 5620 N May, OKC, 810.9494 $ QUEEN OF SHEBA Practically the definitive example of a hidden treasure, the spicy, vegan-friendly menu of Ethiopian delights awaits the bold. Bring friends and be prepared to linger. 2308 N MacArthur, OKC, 606.8616 $$ ZORBA’S For well over 20 years, Zorba’s has satisfied appetites and pleased palates. Serving dishes from recipes passed down through generations, they proudly share flavors of Cyprus, Spain, Greece and Morocco. 6014 N May, OKC, 947.7788 $

Mexican & Latin American 1492 Authentic Mexican cuisine in an elegant atmosphere, combining its caliente flavors with fusion decor to make an ideal spot for a romantic evening ... including perhaps the world’s best mojitos. 1207 N Walker, OKC, 236.1492 $$ BARRIOS A serious collection of Latin-flavored deliciousness, including a brunch that’s maravilloso, in a cool Midtown space with a back patio that’s pure paradise. 1000 N Hudson, OKC, 702.6922 $ BIG TRUCK TACOS It’s nearly always standing-room-only at lunch, but don’t let that deter you; spend a few minutes in line and get an ample reward in the form of fast, fresh, imaginative taco creations. 530 NW 23rd, OKC, 525.8226 $ CAFÉ DO BRASIL It’s a long way from OKC to Rio, but the savory menu in this Midtown hot spot covers the distance in a mouthful. Even brunch is a spicy,

CULTIVAR A farm-to-fire Mexican kitchen that stresses sustainability, local sourcing and fresh, fast, flavorful food. Gluten-free options, chef-crafted tacos, a substantial bar and plenty more are on the menu. 714 N Broadway, OKC $$ HACIENDA TACOS Quality, of both ingredients and execution, and variety make this restaurant in the Shoppes at Northpark a pleasure to visit, and to explore the menu again and again.

12086 N May, OKC, 254.3140 $ IGUANA MEXICAN GRILL Unique Mexican flavor in a fun atmosphere at reasonable prices - a treat from the house-made salsas to the handcrafted cocktails, and all the tastes between. 9 NW 9th, OKC, 606.7172 $$ REVOLUCION You say you want a Revolucion? You easily might once you try this spicy taco-centric haven – start with the queso fundido and don’t stop until you reach the delectable arroz tres leche dessert. 916 NW 6th, OKC, 606.6184 $$ TARAHUMARA’S Beloved by locals (there’s usually a line but it moves quickly), this airy ristorante serves huge, tasty Tex-Mex classics plus less ubiquitous fare like carnitas de puerco and mole poblano. 702 N Porter, Norman, 360.8070 $$ YUCATAN TACO STAND A Bricktown haven for feisty Latin fusion cuisine such as paella and tamales wrapped in banana leaves plus signature nachos and combos … and a selection of over 75 top-shelf tequilas.

100 E California, OKC, 886.0413 $ ZARATE’S In addition to the familiar joys of enchiladas and the like, the chef’s Peruvian heritage shines in dishes featuring plantains, yuca and imported spices. Try something different; find something tasty. 706 S Broadway, Edmond, 330.6400 $$

Seafood THE DRAKE The Good Egg Group’s flagship and a standard-bearer for diners who crave excellent seafood, it serves chef’s creations featuring the sea’s finest, plus an oyster bar and tempting cocktails. 519 NW 23rd, OKC $$$ PEARL’S CRABTOWN A huge Bricktown warehouse where the Cajun Crab Boil is a favorite, guests are encouraged to “leave the silverware at home and dig in,” and taste is king. 303 E Sheridan, OKC, 232.7227 $$ PEARL’S OYSTER BAR A perennial OKC favorite for its flavorful seafood and spicy Creole-inspired dishes: Shrimp Diablo, Tabasco-infused Caesar

salads, Andouille omelets at Sunday brunch and more. 5641 N Classen, OKC, 848.8008 $$ TRAPPER’S FISHCAMP Zesty, widely varied flavor from the Pearl’s family of restaurants finds a comfortable home in a backwoods fishing lodge atmosphere. Don’t forget the bountifully stocked bar, either.

4300 W Reno, OKC, 943.9111 $$ THE SHACK SEAFOOD & OYSTER BAR A massive selection of nicely spiced Cajun and Creole cooking, plus fried and grilled seafood, in an atmosphere that’s not shy about being as casual as it can be. 3 metro locations, theshackok.com $$

Soul Food BRENT’S CAJUN Sit down to a massive platter of jambalaya, crawfish etoufee, Pasta Orleans or any of the well-seasoned temptations on the weekend brunch menu – and spice up your life. 3005 S Broadway, Edmond, 285.0911 $$ C’EST SI BON The name is accurate: it is impressively good for lovers of Cajun-style catfish and po-boys.

Crawfish etouffee, frogs’ legs, fried chicken and shrimp po-boys are among the highlights, but the award-winning catfish is a must-try. 101 N Douglas, Midwest City, 610.2555 $ THE DRUM ROOM March your own drumsticks in for a heap of crispy, juicy fried chicken (among the city’s best) starring alongside fried okra, waffles and a fully loaded bar. 4300 N Western, OKC, 604.0990 $$

Steakhouse BOULEVARD STEAKHOUSE Perfectly soigné ambiance down to the last detail and cuisine easily in the metro’s elite – a sumptuous, if pricy, masterpiece. 505 S Boulevard, Edmond, 715.2333 $$$ BROADWAY 10 Cruise into the Buick building in Automobile Alley to savor steak supremacy or seafood selections (even sushi) in a cozy enclave amid urban bustle. 1101 N Broadway, OKC, 212.3949 $$$ CATTLEMEN’S Almost as old as the state itself, this Oklahoma institution’s immense corn-fed steaks and matchless atmosphere are history served anew every day. 1309 S Agnew, OKC, 236.0416 $$ JAMIL’S STEAKHOUSE Saving room for your steak, lobster or prime rib is difficult when your gratis appetizers arrive in the form of a Lebanese bounty, but make the effort. Jamil’s has been feeding Oklahoma exceptionally well since 1964. 4910 N Lincoln, OKC, 525.8352 $$$ JUNIOR’S The classic restaurant’s decor sets the perfect stage for hand-cut Angus steaks and lobster to fight for attention with knockout fried chicken.

2601 NW Expressway, OKC, 848.5597 $$$

MAHOGANY PRIME STEAKHOUSE The ambiance and service are sublime, but fine aged steak broiled to perfection is the star. 3241 W Memorial, OKC, 748.5959; 100 W Main, OKC, 208.8800 $$$ MCCLINTOCK Where better to find a saloon than in Stockyards City? There’s plenty of room at the massive, 50-foot oak bar, and plenty of cocktails and whiskies behind it, but the main draw may be the massive, excellent steaks and chops. 2227 Exchange, OKC, 232.0151 $$$ MEAT MARKET REFECTORY The steaks are excellent, but they’re the tip of the ample menu’s iceberg: fresh seafood and Australian lamb chops command attention as well, and from Hatch green chili crab cakes to champagne sabayon, the carefully selected flavors pop and sparkle in this prime dining experience.

2920 NW 63rd, OKC, 608.8866 $$$ MICKEY MANTLE’S This lushly atmospheric social spot in Bricktown serves powerhouse entrées and sides with a full complement of amenities destined to impress. 7 S Mickey Mantle, OKC, 272.0777 $$$ OPUS PRIME STEAKHOUSE It aspires to the ultimate in upscale dining via hand-cut USDA Prime Black Angus steaks, a vast wine selection and intimate ambiance. 800 W Memorial, OKC, 607.6787 $$$ RANCH STEAKHOUSE Customaged hand-cut USDA Certified Prime tenderloins and ribeyes, served amid warm Southern hospitality. 3000 W Britton, OKC, 755.3501 $$$ RED PRIMESTEAK Visionary design and atmosphere house super-premium steaks, vibrant, imaginative flavors and amenities to make some of the state’s best dining. 504 N Broadway, OKC, 232.2626 $$$ TEXAS DE BRAZIL Inspired by Brazilian churrascarias, this festive establishment offers diners cuts from their choice of skewers laden with beef, pork, chicken and sausage, in addition to excellent sides and a massive salad bar.

1901 NW Expressway, OKC, 362.9200 $$$

Thai SALA THAI Pineapple curry, basil squid, fried rice with crab, cinnamon beef ... the variety is exceptional, making this Midtown diner a popular midday option. 1614 NW 23rd, OKC, 528.8424 $ SWEET BASIL The enormous aquarium adds to the cozy ambiance; with its outstanding curries and specialty dishes, it makes a great venue for a dinner date. 211 W Main, Norman, 217.8424 $$ TANA THAI There’s a lot to like about the food in this little spot, from red snapper filet to pad thai. Pay special mind to the varied soups, and do not play chicken with the spice level. 10700 N May, OKC, 749.5590 $$

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events Now See This

PHOTO COURTESY OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY

Ring in the new year with fresh creativity, and join Oklahoma Contemporary Art Center for an event focused on the new: ArtNow returns Jan. 19 to the gallery space at 3000 General Pershing. The fundraiser helps keep the center’s programming free and plentiful all year, and is a primo party, to boot. And since there’s no time like the present, the pieces made for this event by Oklahoma artists, including Dylan Cavin’s “Pilgrimage Void,” are already on display for a sneak preview. See page 94.

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B Is for Brilliant Jan. 16 and 29-30, Armstrong Auditorium You might say this month’s entertainment in Armstrong Auditorium’s performing arts series is brought to you by the letter B and the number 2 – it’s a pair of special events. Banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck and string quartet Brooklyn Rider visit Jan. 16 for “Night Flight Over Water,” and the mighty Moscow Festival Ballet returns for a duo of shows Jan. 29-30: the Best of Russian Ballet Gala and Best of Tchaikovsky (including an adaptation of the Bard’s “Romeo and Juliet”). Be there – both times.

Spring Is Coming Jan. 19-21, State Fairgrounds

Built to Inspire Jan. 30, UCO Mitchell Hall Theater

Announcing itself as “a distinct style of architecture in motion,” Diavolo Dance Theater specializes in performances incorporating large onstage structural elements that the dancers move on, around and through. The results, as will be displayed during their appearance in UCO’s Broadway Tonight series, are dynamic, distinctive and altogether mesmerizing. If the devil is in the details, dance that’s as impeccably intricate as this is truly Diavolical.

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Joshua Roman

Strings and Circuses Jan. 13 and 26-27, OKC Civic Center With two totally different performances on the calendar, the musicians of the OKC Philharmonic will need to exercise some flexibility this month … although not as much as one of their special guests. The traveling troupe Cirque Musica lends its acrobatic skills to an engrossing Pops performance called “Heroes and Villains” Jan. 2627. But first, star composer and cellist Joshua Roman lends his expertise to a Classics concert highlighted by Haydn and Sibelius on January 13.

PHOTOS: DIAVOLO BY THOMAS AMMERPOHL, JOSHUA ROMAN COURTESY OKC PHILHARMONIC

The turning of the seasons is a constant that provides some comfort to those weary of cold weather, but also should serve as a reminder that this would be a prime occasion to tend your mental garden so ideas can blossom along with nature. That’s why the OKC Home & Garden Show combines 500+ vendors and experts in landscaping, gardening, remodeling and home décor into this three-day event; in terms of DIY inspiration, it’s a growth industry.

events ON LOCATION

with Lance McDaniel

Familiar Prairie, New Film Frontiers Kim Voynar looks to the future of cinema

time, and partners with industry leaders such as Tom Furness, who is considered the grandfather of virtual reality. sual artist, immersive storyteller and award-winning filmmaker “I love experimenting and pioneering on the bleeding edge with an eye toward emerging technologies, and she’s helping to where music, film and art intersect with emerging tech,” Voynar bring them to Oklahoma. explains. “There is nothing more fun for me than collaborating An alumna of Bishop McGuinness High School, Voynar with smart, passionate, deeply creative humans.” graduated from UCO with a degree in education and a minor WonderTek Labs also creates films and content in the VR in journalism. After graduation, she worked in education and 360 space. Most recently, they were accepted into the Google technology for a few years before launching her writing career.

Jumpstart Initiative program, giving them use of Google’s new Voynar started out writing screenplays, but eventually Jump Odyssey rig to create Virtual Reality 360 films. turned to film criticism, becoming a respected, Rotten TomaIt was the exclusive Google Jump Start Protoes-approved film critic. She wrote in-depth gram that led Voynar back home to Oklahoma. film reviews and film criticism pieces for Last summer, Voynar collaborated on her first Cinematical, Movie City News, Indiewire “The Oklahoma film project in the state, creating a virtual and Variety. As her writing expanded, she community seems so reality piece for a short film trilogy being probecame a leading voice about feminist issues, SUPPORTIVE of the duced in Alva. She returned home to espouse access and diversity across pop culture, film great arts scene … It is the gospel of virtual reality 360; she departed and technology. enamored of the home she left behind.

Her reputation landed her on film festival truly INSPIRING .”

“Even though I grew up in Oklahoma, I had juries and panels across the country, including K I M VOY NA R never been to the northwest part of the state,” SXSW, Seattle, Sarasota, Louisiana, NAB and admits Voynar. “I was really impressed how AFI Dallas. She also became the on-air cosupportive the entire community was of the film crew and the host for “The Daily Buzz,” a public radio program and podcast virtual reality technology. Church ladies dropped off cookies; that broadcasts from the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW. children and adults of all ages signed up to work on the film Just when her career as a writer seemed perfectly on track, crew. Then back in Oklahoma City, I was blown away by all Voynar shifted gears, diving headfirst into film production. of the great local artists. The Oklahoma community seems so She wrote, directed and produced her first short film, Bunker, supportive of the great arts scene, and the artists that choose to helped Wizards of the Coast founder Peter Adkison build his stay and develop their craft here. It is truly inspiring.” film production company, and produced and co-directed feaVoynar already has plans to develop a diversity-focused youth ture-length documentary Girl Band about Nightrain, the world’s 360 filmmaking program in Seattle, Tapestry 360, funded in first all-black female punk rock band. part by an arts grant from 4Culture. But her positive experience These days, Kim Voynar is focused on the future. As CEO and working in Alva has convinced her to focus future initiatives on chief imaginator at WonderTek Labs in Seattle, Voynar produces the next generation of filmmakers working here at home. She’ll Virtual Reality 360 events for film, music and arts festivals. She be bringing the cutting edge to the middle of Oklahoma. consults with companies moving into VR technology for the first K I M VOY NA R loves living on the edge. She’s an experiential vi-

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GREAT MINDS DON’T ALWAYS THINK ALIKE

OP AND EAN HOUSE R T SH Thursd OW Februa ay, 6:30-8 r y 1 pm

Trinity provides a safe and nurturing educational experience for children with learning differences through programs designed to meet each students’ specific needs.

Multi-Sensory Instruction Small supportive classrooms Intervention Remediation

Instructional approaches designed to foster selfconfidence and social competence.

Trinity serves students with mild to moderate learning differences including: Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, ADHD, and Auditory Processing, among others.

321 NW 36th Street, OKC 405.525.5600 // TrinitySchoolOKC.org

FREE QUARTERLY DYSLEXIA SCREENINGS

Benefiting Historic Automobile Alley, join us for an evening of decadent chocolate, gourmet coffee, wine, champagne, live jazz and a valentine auction.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018 TIME: 6:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. HUDSON-ESSEX LOFT OFFICES 825 NORTH BROADWAY AVENUE AUTOMOBILE ALLEY DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ChocolateDecadenceOKC.com.

Must be 21+ to attend.

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events SPEAKERBOX

Fresh from the vaults

WILCO “A.M.” and “Being There”

Pitch-perfect throwback country from Margo Price I T RY TO BU Y local whenever I can, but when it comes to music, I admit that I still order stuff online. I usually buy new releases by just clicking on my screen, and when Friday comes around, it’s like a mystery box surprise. What’s in this package? A month ago, I found a long, flat, feather-weight box on my porch, and thought I had ordered a calendar or a poster. After I opened it, I realized that – though I’m still a compact disc guy – I had accidentally ordered the vinyl copy of Margo Price’s “All American Made.”

I stared at the LP and laughed to myself. Amazon had pre-selected vinyl as my favored format because that’s what Price’s fans prefer. Dubbed “vintage country” for her untainted country songs and voice, she makes the throw-back vinyl format actually make sense. It prompted me to go to the garage to find and install my turntable.

“All American Made” is Price’s second LP in as many years, during which time she has received critical accolades as “country’s next star” and made multiple year-end Top Ten lists.

The young country singer/songwriter from northern Illinois produces the kind of honky-tonk music that has its foundations in another time and place – if you walked into a record store in the early 1970s and picked out a Loretta Lynn or Dolly Parton record, you would find something similar to Price.

The 12 tracks on “All American Made” are mostly written by Price and her husband Jeremy Ivey. “Weakness” is straight out of a saloon’s jukebox, with punchy drums and slide guitar.

“Sometimes whiskey does me right, sometimes it does me in.” The title track is a tale of Trump’s America. Price dreams of riding a highway out to greater pastures. It is the record’s dark, humbling closer, and proof that she is a star.

Price’s “hard knocks” life aims to take a page from the Johnny Cash script of tough country livin,’ but a weekend in jail for a DUI years ago hardly makes her a sociopathic criminal. Myth-making aside, Price does deliver the bad-ass goods that vintage country strives for by singing in a pure, empathetic voice. This is country music that, if sung by anyone else, might broach the line of parody, but because it is so authentic, feels redemptive and genuine.

Price and her hard-touring band return to the 405 on Jan. 24 at the ACM@UCO Performance Lab, 329 E Sheridan in Bricktown. Visit box-officetickets.com for ticket information. - JERRY CHURCH

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SHELBY LYNNE AND ALLISON MOORER “Not Dark Yet” This odd record of cover songs has been a long time in the making. Lynne and Moorer are sisters who have had long, diverse careers in alternative country music and mainstream pop. Except for their oddly toxic interpretation of Nirvana’s “Lithium,” listening to them harmonize together is like drinking two fingers of Kentucky bourbon. It goes down smooth and then a slow burn.

MARGO PRICE PHOTO BY ANGELINA CASTILLO

The New Vintage

Margo Price

More than 20 years after their initial releases, Rhino should be praised for keeping costs manageable on these fan-friendly reissues. “A.M.,” which is mostly radio-friendly retro American rock in the vein of (the late great) Tom Petty, includes eight previously un-released tracks.

“Being There,” more focused on singer Jeff Tweedy’s punk rock background, is now a mind-blowing five-disc package including 15 un-released songs and two discs worth of live recordings.

ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON CATHOLIC SCHOOL 925 S. BLVD, Edmond 405.348.5364 StElizabethEdmond.org

s. le c ta s b o e th r e tt a No m Oklahoma ranks 4th . s d d o e th r e tt in the U.S. for a No m MEN KILLED WO

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ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH 900 S. Boulevard, Edmond stjohn-catholic.org | 405-340-0691

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events SPOTLIGHT

The deadCenter Film fundraiser on Jan. 26 will be loaded with glitter, fringe and spandex, as the event takes on a ’70s-style Glam Rock theme.

Glitter Ball started in 2014 to benefit the 16-year-old organization, and to celebrate the birthday of Norman filmmaker Melissa Scaramucci – who, along with producer Cacky Poarch, will be honored at this year’s Glitter Ball with deadCenter’s Festival Icon Award.

“No two people are more deserving of an award from deadCenter than Cacky Poarch and Melissa Scaramucci,” according to deadCenter Executive Director Lance McDaniel. “These two women took over a small local festival in its third year, and turned it into one of the most respected regional film festivals in the world.”

“Glitter Ball is the party of the season for downtown Oklahoma City,” says Douglas Gracie Branch, Chuck Thompson, Sorocco of Dunlap Codding on Film Row, Melissa Scaramucci and Douglas Elder at Glitter Ball 2017 the host venue and presenting sponsor.

“It is particularly rewarding to support deadCenter, an arts organization that does awesome work throughout the state.”

Event producer Kindt Steven Myers says a “massive, tented A glam rock winter wonderland for Glitter Ball structure” will be installed to transform the space into a “magic wintry spectacle” featuring live performances, dance floor, hors T HE E V E N T K NOW N as Glitter Ball already has seen aeriald’oeuvres and some signature surprises. ists suspended above igloos while surrounded by real snowfall More information and tickets can be found at deadcenterfilm.

– and organizers promise that this year, “absolutely nothing is org/glitterball. - LOUISE SCRIVENS beyond the imagination.”

ON THE RADAR DANCE JAN 25-28 Young Choreographers Showcase These are, by design, some fresh moves. Students in OU’s award-winning School of Dance craft the set pieces that fill this exhibition with a variety of dazzling styles.

OU Reynolds PAC, 560 Parrington, Norman, 325.4101, dance.ou.edu

EVENTS JAN 11 Night of Hygge In Denmark, they know how to make it through long, cold winters in style and comfort - the museum is helping to share and encourage the Danish concept of hygge through this cozy community event. OKC Museum of Art, 415 Couch, OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa.com JAN 24 Kaleidoscope of the West Don Reeves is stepping down from the museum’s McCasland Chair of

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WANT TO SEE MORE? VISIT OUR ONLINE CALENDAR AT 405MAGAZINE.COM Cowboy Culture after 38 years with the organization, but first he wants to share some thoughts on the ongoing legacy of the American West. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org JAN 26 Snowflake Gala Let it snow!

The United Way of Central Oklahoma celebrates the community generosity displayed during its 2017 fundraising campaign in this music-filled evening of feasting and cheer. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd, OKC, 236.8441, unitedwayokc.org

GALLERIES JAN 13-FEB 17 Strange Tide Sights seen and imagined inform the abstract, though bold, paintings and prints of Danny Joe Rose III in this exhibition, accompanied by BJ White’s transportation-themed “I-35

Toy Trucks.” Artspace at Untitled, 1 NE 3rd, OKC, 815.9995, 1ne3.org JAN 20-25 Youth Impressions Schoolchildren from across the state submit the finest examples of their art, and the cream of that crop is on display in this show judged by teacher and artist Narciso Arguelles.

Downtown Community Center, 28 E Main, Edmond, 340.4481, edmondfinearts.com

MUSIC JAN 6-27 Riverwind Shows Elvis impersonator Travis LeDoyt Jan 6, The Alan Parsons Project in a performance benefiting the Shine Foundation Jan 12 and even comedian Chris Tucker Jan 27 - it’s a great month at this venue.

Riverwind Casino, 1544 W Hwy 9, Norman, 322.6000, riverwind.com JAN 23 Brightmusic The event is called “String Theory,” but there’s no

need to brush up on your physics - it’s a concert for violin, viola, cello and clarinet featuring Mozart, Dvorak and more. St. Paul’s Cathedral, 127 E 7th, OKC, brightmusic.org

THEATER JAN 12-27 Ages of the Moon Two characters, one long conversation, plenty of reminiscence and arguing - after all, they have 50 years of not-always-sunny friendship to look back on in this resonant play by Sam Shepard. Carpenter Square Theatre, 800 W Main, OKC, 232.6500, carpentersquare.com JAN 26 Snow White Not one, not four - seven diminutive brothers prove crucial to the cause of righteousness in this fairytale adaptation with original music and lyrics, presented by students in Norman’s Cimarron Opera. St. Thomas More Parish, 100 Stinson, Norman, 364.8962, cimarronopera.org

PHOTO BY JUSTIN AVERA

Film Row Frolics

YARN with a Kiss a Sealed 109 east oklahoma, guthrie swakknit.com

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VOTING IS NOW OPEN Visit 405magazine.com/awards to cast your vote, and after you’ve voted, don’t forget to register to win one of 5 prizes, from jewelery to fine dining.

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We need

events SPOTLIGHT

ART CAN HEAL

When you give to Allied Arts, you’re giving to more than 40 local agencies that, together, reach about a million people each year. We help fund initiatives that use art to help people in need and strengthen Oklahoma communities.

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Douglas Shaw Elder, “Scape 86”

Exploring the New Expansion for OK Contemporary’s ArtNow showcase WOR K BY E M ERGI NG, established and internationally

renowned Oklahoma artists currently adorns Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center – ready for its signature ArtNow exhibition.

This year sees an expansion from the traditional 10-day affair to five weeks, wrapping up on Jan. 19 with an art sale and party that will bring together the town’s tastemakers and trendsetters for an evening of art, cocktails and entertainment.

Hand-cut paper sculptures exploring personal experiences

by New York-born Emily Chase and two-dimensional sculptures inciting the illusion of landscape by Firehouse Art Center director Douglas Shaw Elder are on display at the center’s sixth annual showcase, as is Iranian artist Behnaz Sohrabian’s award-winning “Smile.” Work by award-winning Cherokee potter Karin Walkingstick and Choctaw Nation member Jeremy Dylan Cavin, who has been displayed in New York and Washington D.C., also will go under the spotlight.

“The expanded ArtNow offers a unique opportunity to get people excited about Oklahoma art, and to get collectors excited about investing in Oklahoma art,” explains Curatorial and Exhibitions Director Jennifer Scanlan, who together with guest curator Alyson Atchison selected the 25 artists featured in ArtNow. A hands-on learning gallery and Tuesday Tours offer interesting insight into the varied works on show, from jewelry and sculpture to printmaking and painting. In addition, the gala party with a purpose on Jan. 19 will see local artists creating new works live.

Visit oklahomacontemporary.org for more information and to buy tickets. - LOUISE SCRIVENS

PHOTO COURTESY OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY

Amanda transports art from the Oklahoma City Museum of Art into local hospitals, behavioral centers and memory care centers, incorporating painting, sculpting and more into patient treatment plans to facilitate the healing process.

backstory

STOCKED WITH MEMORIES The days of Oklahoma’s all-purpose store A GE N ER AT ION of Oklahomans grew up shopping in stores

such as TG&Y and Anthony’s – Sooner State-based originals that were distinctive, convenient and successful. Another frequent stop that fit into that category was Oklahoma Tire and Supply Company, or as it was more commonly known, OTASCO. OTASCO was, in a sense, the Home Depot of its day. Although generally smaller and more compact, it had everything the discerning mid-century shopper might need. From the namesake tires and auto parts to appliances and even household items, the local OTASCO was a hub of activity.

For large appliances, the “Detroit Jewel” was the chosen all-in-one stove/oven combination for housewives of the day, and made preparing the evening meal a (comparative) breeze.

Teenagers often bought their first record players, the “Montclair” model, from OTASCO, while toddlers enjoyed being pulled in their very own Flying O red wagons.

“We went to the Moore location all the time,” says Oklahoma City resident Bruce Hall. “My dad loved it. They had large glass windows so you could look and see what was inside, and the store was always clean and orderly. I have such good

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memories of those days. I think my brother and I got our first bicycles there.”

The first OTASCO store was founded a century ago in 1918 by three Jewish Lithuanian immigrant brothers: Sam, Maurice and Herman Sanditen. They opened their first store in Okmulgee, and by the late 1960s, more than 400 OTASCO stores were scattered throughout 12 states.

Eventually, the brothers sold the chain to the McCrory Corporation – the same company that later owned TG&Y. In 1984, OTASCO employees bought 100 percent of the stock, creating what was then one of the largest employee-owned companies in the United States.

But retail trends already were changing with the times, and the company filed for bankruptcy in 1988.

“It was really kind of sad to see OTASCO go away,” Hall says.

“Large warehouse stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s are great, but nothing can compare to the memories of those days. I always liked going there with my dad. The merchandise was always put together well, and it was easy to find what you needed. We can’t go back, but it sure is fun to remember.”

PHOTO COURTESY OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

BY MARK BEUTLER

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