405 Magazine November 2015

A soul-soothing Tenkiller retreat

, The Drake s flavor voyage

20+ reasons we love Norman

New life for old materials

Dialing In We have your number, and it,s more than just an area code.

SLICE is now 405 Magazine!

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in this issue

november 2015

Features

56

BUILDING FROM MEMORIES

Something that’s been used isn’t necessarily used up, especially if it makes its way into the right hands. These local artisans are breathing new life into old materials to make repurposed splendor.

62

THE SOUL TRIBE

Blue Doors at Tenkiller is a beautiful resort, and a prime spot to get away from it all – and for participants in the restorative You.Are.Venus retreat, its nature-loving energy enhances the sincere, celebratory search for self-empowerment.

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405 magazine • november 2015

in this issue

november 2015

Departments

Dining

84 Seafood stunner

In the 405

The Drake brings an ocean of flavors to OKC, so set sail right away and sample its delicious bounty; culinary expert Kurt Fleischfresser updates a tradition-bound meal by reinventing the standard Thanksgiving feast; Vito’s owner Cathy Cummings dishes up shrimp spedini; the O Bar’s tasty little cocktail called the Bijou.

18 The mainstream influence of indie DJ Ferris O’Brien; Oklahoma trainer Patrick Beall prepares to brave the wild in the Iditarod sled dog race; area chess students make big moves on the national stage; our selections of stuff we absolutely love about Norman; fabulous fashions in attentiongetting eyewear; Sara Kate Little shares some of her favorite things; Oklahoma’s modern-day blue laws leave one writer humorously, well, blue.

Travel

96 If you’re in search of paradise on Earth, a trip to sunny Healdsburg in the heart of California wine country might be just the ticket.

38 Creatives Musician Graham Colton and his mother Cindy continue their family legacy of leadership by preparing to co-chair the annual AIDS care fundraiser Red Tie Night.

Events

100 Discover art in

40 Territory Ahead We welcome readers to 405 Magazine with M.J. Alexander’s exploration of the origins of the area code and its wide-ranging visual iterations past and present.

Home

72 After an impressively complete renovation, life is returning to the venerable Marion Hotel; have a seat and peruse a selection of stylishly comfortable couches.

ON THE COVER 4

16

Twin Engines of Creativity

Among the many things award-winning architect Rand Elliott and Kirkpatrick Foundation chairman Chris Keesee have in common are their vested interest in the nonprofit Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, and a vision for its soonto-be new home. Breathtaking facility Folding Light will represent a new and brighter day for the organization, and for local art aficionados.

The Underground; OKC prepares to welcome musical legend Stevie Wonder; big-screen hits and overlooked cinematic gems that should find their way to your home theater; Edmond’s Armstrong Auditorium tunes up for a month of outstanding music; Oklahoma’s highest honor awaits for a selection of the state’s true greats.

In Every Issue

8 From the Editor 10 Web Sights 36 On the Scene 88 Food + Drink 106 On the Radar 112 Backstory

An antique phone with an area code that’s never been more vibrant than it is today. Photo by M.J. Alexander

405 magazine • november 2015

Retirement Investment Advisors design portfolios for a lifetime.

Wherever you are on the

NOVEMBER 2015

Publisher Elizabeth Meares elizabeth.meares@405magazine.com Editor-in-Chief Heidi Rambo Centrella heidi.centrella@405magazine.com EDITORI A L Associate Editor Steve Gill steve.gill@405magazine.com

retirement path, talking with an experienced, professional financial

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

advisor is a step in the right direction.

Retirement Investment Advisors act as a fiduciary – required by law to put your best interests above all else. Adhering to the highest standards

For your complimentary copy of the informative booklet “The Retirement Path,” call your nearest Retirement Investment Advisors office or visit TheRetirementPath.Com.

of their profession, these CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™ design portfolios balanced to invest for retirement while providing asset protection with less volatility. The retirement path can be a long journey. Fortunately, the first step is easy. Simply call Retirement Investment Advisors or visit them online at TheRetirementPath.com.

Watch for Retirement Investment Advisors in current issues of Bloomberg Businessweek, Fortune, and Money magazines.

Fashion Editor Jennifer Salyer jennifer.salyer@405magazine.com Contributing Writers M.J. Alexander, Bobby Anderson, Phil Bacharach, Mark Beutler, Kelley Chambers, Jerry Church, Mike Coppock, Christine Eddington, Lauren Hammack, Jill Hardy, Greg Horton, Elaine Warner A RT Art Director Scotty O’Daniel scotty.odaniel@405magazine.com Graphic Designer Brian O’Daniel brian.odaniel@405magazine.com Design & Production Coordinator Tiffany McKnight tiffany.mcknight@405magazine.com Contributing Photographers M.J. Alexander, Justin Avera, Shannon Cornman, Terrell Fry, Simon Hurst, Quit Nguyen, Carli Wentworth A DV ERTISING Business Development Manager Heidi Turner heidi.turner@405magazine.com

Oklahoma City 3001 United Founders Blvd., Suite A 405.942.1234

Edmond 2952 Via Esperanza 405.246.0404

TheRetirementPath.com

Executive Director of Advertising Cynthia Whitaker-hill cynthia.whitakerhill@405magazine.com Account Executives Jamie Hamilton jamie.hamilton@405magazine.com Debbi Knoll debbi.knoll@405magazine.com Account Manager Ronnie Morey ronnie.morey@405magazine.com A DMINISTR ATION Distribution Raymond Brewer Website and social media 405magazine.com

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405 magazine • november 2015

VOLUME 1 • NUMBER 1

REA DER SERV ICES 405 Magazine 729 W. Sheridan, Suite 101 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 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. Include your full name, address and daytime phone number and email to editor@405magazine. com. Letters sent to 405 Magazine become the magazine’s property, and it owns all rights to their use. 405 Magazine reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity.

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405 Magazine Volume 1, Number 1, November 2015. 405 Magazine is published monthly

by Open Sky Media, Inc. at 729 W. Sheridan, Suite 101, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, 405.842.2266. © Copyright 2015 Open Sky Media, 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. 405 Magazine reserves the right to refuse advertising deemed detrimental to the community’s best interest or in questionable taste.

Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of ownership or management.

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 405 Magazine, P.O. Box 16765, North Hollywood, CA 91615-6765.

FROM THE EDITOR

Living in the 405 (and Loving It!)

I

HEIDI RAMBO CENTRELLA Editor-in-Chief heidi.centrella@405magazine.com

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405 magazine • november 2015

SIMON HURST

If the month of November had an overarching theme, it would be “gratitude” – the waning of the year and presence of Thanksgiving tends to get people taking stock of their lives and reflecting on the positive elements therein. And while it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, there’s plenty happening in central Oklahoma that should prompt a few feelings of gratefulness. We certainly think so, even if our focus has been not on turkey and dressing, but rather on serving up the visual feast you’re investigating now.

This is the issue we’ve been working toward and patiently waiting to share with you. Well, semi-patiently.

Slice had a great five-year ride, but as Oklahoma City, Edmond, Norman and our community as a whole all continue to grow, we’re excited about going full steam ahead with the launch of 405 Magazine this month.

As you peruse the pages of this issue, you’ll see familiar sections enhanced with new elements. Why? Because you told us you wanted it, and we delivered.

While we’re still a city and lifestyle magazine, we plan on growing and evolving – you’ll find profiles on creative people around the city, explorations of potentially overlooked aspects of the community, film and music musts … and more of just about everything. Yes, we’ve got food covered, too.

A sampling of our new offerings includes a look at Chef Kurt Fleischfresser’s recommendations for an updated Thanksgiving feast (page 86) and a showcase of the Marion Hotel’s inspirational revival (page 72) – as well as the start of a new series from author/photographer MJ Alexander (page 40), with an initial installment that delves into the state’s telephonic past to discover just how the “405” designation came to be. And that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Thanks to a dedicated team filled with creative talent, this new and improved magazine will continue to provide what you, our loyal readers, want. And you know what we want? Your feedback! So please keep the letters and emails coming in; we read each and every one of them.

With all that said, I encourage you to sit back, relax, read on and feel inspired. We’re thankful for the opportunity to share highlights of this outstanding community with you.

Welcome to 405 Magazine.

D O W N T O W N

O K L A H O M A

1 4 5 W E S T S H E R I D A N AV E .

|

C I T Y

405.208.8800

w w w. m a ho g a n y pr i m e s t e a k ho u se . c o m

Web Sights

Happening this month on 405magazine.com

Karam “Walking through the Soul” Michele Mikesell “Misfits”

2810 North Walker Oklahoma City, OK 73103 Phone: 405.528.6336 www.jrbartgallery.com

A Whole Lotta Norman Love THE SIGNATURE FRAGRANCE FOR THE SEASON

HEARTH!

Granted, a few of our staffers are Sooner born and Sooner bred, but several others are non-aligned, and even the most ardent OSU supporters would have to admit (albeit grudgingly) that there are a great many things worth appreciating in Norman. Overall, we’re big fans of the metro’s southern bastion – in fact, a little thought revealed so many possibilities that our proverbial cup runneth over the allotted space in this issue. So after you read “20+ Things We Love About Norman” (page 27), visit our website at 405magazine.com to find an even lengthier list of highlights to see, taste, attend, visit and be captivated by. Whether or not you’re prone to yelling “Boomer!” in crowded spaces.

Hungry for More

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405 magazine • november 2015

It’s always a good thing when you can end the week on a high note, right? That’s why we’re bringing back one of our most popular and delectable giveaways this month: presenting the Fall Friday $50.

We’ll be giving away a $50 gift card to an outstanding local restaurant – Rococo, Papa Dio’s and Park House – on each of the first three Fridays in November. (Hopefully you’ll have plenty of turkey left over on the 28th.)

To enter, keep an eye on our e-newsletters – you can sign up for free at 405magazine.com/newsletters. We’ll draw a winner at random each Friday at 1 p.m. Good luck, and bon appetit!

FALL FRIDAY

$50

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405 magazine • november 2015

There’s something special about the look of fashion designed by Rene Ruiz. The Cuban-born couturier strikes a balance between old-world craftsmanship and modern glamour for the international social set, bringing a breath of Miami style to classically elegant garments. And this month, Nichols Hills Plaza boutique R Meyers is bringing that style to you.

THE RENE RUIZ COLLECTION Thursday-Saturday, November 5-7 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

A go-to designer for celebrities and socialites, Ruiz’s eye for high-quality fabrics (some of which he creates himself) and personalized attention to the creation and tailoring of each garment have created an international following for his luxurious, original and sophisticated designs. This R MEYERS 6471 Avondale Drive, Nichols Hills is an excellent opportunity to experience his style, and 405.842.1478, rmeyersokc.com enhance your own.

Holiday Calendar of Events

Tuesday, November 24 • 5-8pm

Saturday, December 5 • 9-11am

Holiday Kick-Off Party

Breakfast with Santa

In the grassy area north of Whole Foods • Join the local Marines to collect NEW toy donations for Toys for Tots

At Whole Foods Café • FREE pancakes for the kids!

Sunday, December 13 • 1-2:30pm Sensitive Santa

• LIVE holiday music • Food trucks and hot cocoa • Kids activities include letters to Santa and cookie decorating • Santa & Mrs. Claus appearance • Holiday open house activities at various shops in Nichols Hills Plaza and Classen Curve

Uptown Kids • This is a special time to visit Santa, which is reserved just for children with Autism

Win fabulous prizes from your favorite retailers by liking and sharing our

12 Days of Christmas!

Starting December 1, prizes will be given away daily with a grand prize including ALL 12 Days prizes. Check us out on social media!

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Avondale Drive Nichols Hills, OK 73116 nicholshillsplaza.com |

405

in the

ity mun d Com edicate d e s i at th ter Cen ears with s y t r r e A e d aft rary n lin s, an fectly i mpo n e t gate o i n t Co p er ajor hibi a y he m x t T i m e a l e. rt at aci aho n on ty to ted ive a ting a f Okl a t a h a c n t v o o u et ys no ea ati e, l e wa of b aniz e and in rge of g g spac – is sor m or e r in v t org l i v n u rary n i z s c e o z e s y e h a e p r r m t r t d p m h g s c a ti on te ra pro enri it ar te is ng Con e fo , it’s ing i xhib n the si nds plac ffer h e u t o n l i o l e i r o o t m w irg are – so that urrently e Fa ans new KC, c Stat sion. Pl g O e n r i n is th ctu ow om e stru its m downt at s n er i h o t t a t n y wa -con it a sig r ping ship conside izon. or e; h m e o c er th v o just

tion a r i p s n I for s d un o r G

november 2015 • 405 magazine

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in the 405

PLACES

Folding Light Oklahoma Contemporary looks to an impending dawn

A

At first glance, a piece of artwork along N Broadway in downtown OKC looks oddly misplaced, with a vacant field as a backdrop. But it’s no accident: “Terra,” an immense knotted rope sculpture by artist Orly Genger, whispers that bigger things are to come.

Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center plans to construct a 50,000-square-foot building on the site that will itself be a work of art, as well as a crown jewel that will bookend the north entrance into downtown.

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DESIGNED TO DAZZLE In June, renderings were unveiled of Oklahoma Contemporary’s soon-to-be-new home, designed by 2015 International Architecture Award winner Rand Elliott of Elliott + Associates Architects.

Elliott was a natural fit based on his unique architectural designs and relationship with the organization – he and its co-founder, Christian Keesee, have worked for 25 years to enrich the arts in Oklahoma. Elliott took his love of the organization, and with Keesee’s

blessing, set to work to create a new home that itself would celebrate the arts, Oklahoma and its people.

“As an architect, the more you know about a client the better,” Elliott says. “We know each other, we like each other and we have a common vision.”

The result is a stunning metal and glass structure dubbed Folding Light.

“In many ways, while you hope to have a building that is aesthetically appealing, it also has to be functional,” Keesee says. “Rand worked very hard with the educators, administration and board of Oklahoma Contemporary to make certain that all of the practical needs will be met, but also to provide for a new, dynamic, attractive building that will not only function as an art center, but as a new cultural destination. I think our city will be very proud of our new building.”

The Oklahoma Contemporary structure will have a facade composed of folded metal sheets designed to play with the light in a way few buildings can achieve. Renderings show how the facility’s appearance will change with the light and weather. It is designed to reflect its home state both inside and out.

“It needed to be a mirror of our community,” Elliott says. “The light in Oklahoma is particularly important, and ‘Folding Light’ is a response to the skin of the building.”

THE PERFECT PLACE Just as the design is important, so is the placement of the building. The location on Broadway was selected because it’s the entrance to downtown for

PHOTOS BY SIMON HURST, IMAGES COURTESY OF ELLIOTT + ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS

(left) Orly Genger’s immense creative undertaking, “Terra,” (above) Rand Elliott, award-winning architect of Oklahoma Contemporary’s new home

Renderings of the Folding Light facility showcase its planned versatility as a space to display art, hold creative classes and host performances.

many coming from the north. It needed to be the kind of structure that would not be mistaken for an office building, but rather something that would draw people to the site to see what was going on.

“Visitors to arts and cultural organizations have come to expect a great visitor experience when viewing art, attending a Philharmonic concert or bringing their family to take part in new art experiences,” Keesee says. “That experience has been a part of our planning since day one. Our new building will be visually striking, but also very practical and easy to use for the 75,000 visitors we plan to see in our first year of business at 11th and Broadway.”

EXPANDED CAPACITY Oklahoma Contemporary is not a museum in the sense that it doesn’t purchase or collect art. Instead, it functions as a way to educate visitors, highlight local artists and tie those artists and the community into the global arts scene.

The center, currently housed at the Oklahoma State Fair Park, offers enriching art classes in a variety of disciplines.

Elliott said one main advantage of the new building will be enhanced control over temperature and humidity, enabling curators to preserve and protect art, and giving the site the ability to host national touring exhibitions that might otherwise never be seen in the state.

In addition to hosting famous exhibitions, Executive Director Donna Rinehart-Keever said the new facility would allow the organization to offer additional programming and educational opportunities in an expanded space, and to be a resource for the community.

“We expect more than 20,000 youth and adult students to take advantage of a much-expanded visual arts curriculum, with such classes as animation, filmmaking, 3-D printing and design, metalwork and jewelry-making,” she says. “We’ll have space

to deepen our thriving ceramics, sculpture, fiber and 2-D arts programs. We’ll also develop a larger performance art curriculum, with expanded programs in dance and new classes in drama and public speaking. The dance studio and theater, as well as other areas throughout the building, will be available for private events.”

IN THE MEANTIME With renderings drawn and plans still being tweaked, Oklahoma Contemporary is working to slowly introduce itself to downtown at the new site.

In addition to the “Terra” sculpture, The Showroom at Oklahoma Contemporary, made from four shipping containers, opened on the site in March.

Elliott said it is gratifying to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel for a project 25 years in the works.

“This is our opportunity to make something happen,” he says. - KELLEY CHAMBERS

DOWN TO BUSINESS The new arts campus project, while well on its way to meeting its fundraising goal, still has a ways to go. As of press time, just over half of the $26 million price tag has been raised, but Oklahoma Contemporary Executive Director Donna Rinehart-Keever said a capital campaign committee is in place, and they will break ground when 80 percent of the fundraising goal has been achieved. november 2015 • 405 magazine

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in the 405

CONVERSATION

Ferris O’Brien

Spy Guy Talking about OKC’s champion of the radio waves

F

For many people, music is a coping mechanism, or at least a way of integrating our experiences with our emotions. For nearly three decades, Ferris O’Brien has been helping Oklahomans do exactly that, as well as shaping the musical tastes of thousands of people around the state.

“My first experience with Ferris was the same as a lot of people,” says Jonathan Fowler, Fowler Auto VP and community arts advocate. “I listened to him on radio in the ’90s. I had started a new school in Oklahoma City and was living in Norman. It wasn’t smooth at first, but eventually got better. Ferris was a big part of that transition for me.”

O’Brien, a Houston native, came to Oklahoma to attend OU, but his first radio job was at KDGE (The Edge) in Dallas. For anyone who loved alternative music – especially punk, post-punk and grunge – The Edge was the brass ring that eluded the Oklahoma City market. It was the music that was exploding all over the U.S., but not in Oklahoma.

“I learned everything I think I know at The Edge,” O’Brien says.

“Everything The Spy is – format, additions, rotations – all came from Edge procedures.”

The Spy (KSPI) falls off the tongues of under 40s – and some under 50s – with a sincere affection, as if they are speaking of a good friend. For

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people like Fowler, The Spy was that friend who helped with life’s transitions and disappointments, as well as provided the musical backdrop to good times and milestones. The friendly voice behind it, and the guru who chose the music, was Ferris O’Brien.

Ryan LaCroix, who hosts the Oklahoma Rock Show on KSPI, met Ferris in 2009, but he had been listening to the voice for many years. “I listened to 93.7 KSPI when I was in high school in Yukon. You could only pick up the signal after the sun went down, but I vividly remember writing down bits of lyrics in my car to find out what song that was I just heard.”

Consolidation of media following the Telecommunications Act of 1996 made it difficult for independent or alternative bands to gain airtime.

Around the country, DJs such as O’Brien – shaped in the heyday of ’70s FM radio – continued to fight for independent music. In fact, O’Brien is widely known for championing bands long before they made it big.

“The Spy undoubtedly has the largest collections of songs from The Flaming Lips in the world,” LaCroix says. “Hits, deep album cuts, b-sides, remixes, live versions. It’s incredible. Before All-American Rejects broke big in Stillwater, they used to send him their demo tapes and unreleased material.”

Stillwater was the locus of O’Brien’s kingdom through the ’90s. After 95X in Oklahoma City switched formats (away from alternative to adult easy listening), he accepted an offer to remake Stillwater’s KSPI here. In an incredibly unusual move, he was given creative control.

That transition would lead to The Spy, although the result was not as long-lived as it should have been. O’Brien spent nearly five years retooling KSPI, but in the end, industry consultants recommended a format change – to Britney Spears and other teen-pop icons.

He would spend the next several years playing specialty shows on radio around central Oklahoma, and in 2009, he purchased 105.3 FM.

PHOTO BY QUIT NGUYEN

Ferris O’Brien

To do so, he had to enter into agreements with Citadel Communications, one of the largest media companies in the world. When the relationship crumbled, Citadel attempted to keep all the branding materials associated with The Spy. O’Brien said one of his proudest accomplishments is besting Citadel and retaining The Spy brand.

From August 2009 through most of 2010, he focused on developing programs, retooling the station, and solidifying The Spy brand. At the same time, O’Brien’s influence continued to shape the music scene in central Oklahoma, both in choices of programming and in helping artists and promoters get non-mainstream music into venues around the state.

Kerry Myers promotes independent artists around the state, and in some cases, even after they relocate. She counts O’Brien as one of her principal mentors. “Ferris has always offered support and guidance to me and my endeavors,” she says. “He’s a true mentor to me and others around the state.”

Singer-songwriter and Elms vocalist/ guitarist Chelsea Cope moved to Oklahoma City seven years ago. She is a creative, smart songwriter with an indie rock sound that departs from the mainstream in the best ways possible. In terms of her career since coming to Oklahoma City, Cope gives O’Brien a good deal of credit for providing a showcase for her talent.

“Coming from a state that lacks in the arts compared to other larger cities, he has really broadened the way people think about music,” Cope says. “It’s not just Garth Brooks and Carrie Underwood.”

The final major shift came in late 2010 when O’Brien looked at the station’s ratings.

“We figured out that nine of 10 listeners accessed The Spy by means other than radio,” he says. “We decided to try the format online. In December 2010, we went exclusively online.”

Taking an audience – at that time – of nearly 20,000 listeners to an online platform would be a risk for traditional radio, but O’Brien had carved out a non-traditional brand, so the listeners followed. The format worked through all of 2011, and then KOSU called and asked him to bring The Spy back on a part-time basis.

O’Brien agreed, and so you can catch those specialty programs on 91.7 FM again from 7 p.m. - 5 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and during morning and evening slots on Sunday – in addition to the virtual airwaves.

“This would never have worked in Dallas,” O’Brien says. “It’s this city, the people – everyone got behind it.” - GREG HORTON

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ST ES NO SO NC CE TE O.ROGR G STE PEHPEHN NNCCAAN ERRCCEENN TR E .R The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo

november 2015 • 405 magazine

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SPORTING LIFE

The Big Chill Oklahoma’s first Iditarod competitor prepares for 1,049-mile trek

E

Edmond native and recent University of Oklahoma graduate Patrick Beall had his first brush with death last winter working as a dog handler at the Dallas Seavy kennel in Willow, Alaska, while preparing for the world-famous Iditarod Race.

“It was minus 20 degrees,” Beall recalls, “and a buddy and I were out training the dogs when we came across a 30-yard-wide open stretch across a creek. At first I got my feet wet up to my ankles, and then my whole body fell into the water. I was completely soaked.”

Beall was 25 miles from the nearest shelter, a distance he had to walk. By the time the trek back to warmth was over, he had two frostbitten toes. “We had to take a small blow torch to my boots to get them off,” says Beall, now laughing at the close call.

Beall is the first Oklahoma resident to ever enter the Iditarod, held every March. He is one of more than 65 participants so far set to undertake the trek this coming year.

Proclaimed “The Last Great Race on Earth,” the Iditarod Race covers 1,049 miles through a silent and cold wilderness comprising remote Native villages, stark spruce forests, blizzards, whiteout conditions and wind chill factors touching minus 100 degrees. Endurance is key, as the course usually takes experienced mushers anywhere from eight to 11 days to run.

The 26-year-old Beall began an unusual journey to the Iditarod lineup right after graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies in 2011.

He started by setting up field camps for a South American scientific team that was in Oklahoma to study the scissortail flycatcher, and then went on to be a logger in Maine for the winter. The next summer he found

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405 magazine • november 2015

himself on a barge in the middle of the MissisEdmond’s Patrick Beall giving a lift sippi River traveling from Memphis to Minnesota to a member of his for a nonprofit, Living Lands and Waters, whose dog-sledding team mission is cleaning up America’s river system.

Someone with the nonprofit suggested Beall should go to Alaska, and come the winter of 2012, he did. He went north of the Arctic Circle in the dead of winter to work as an outdoor guide for a lodge in the village of Bettles. A 9-year-old girl had to show him how to hitch his first dog team. But while there, he became friends with Dallas Seavy, who had just won the Iditarod Race that year.

“We ended up hanging out together at campfires, talking, getting to know each other,” says Beall.

That encounter did not place him directly on the path to race in the Iditarod. Instead, going to Bend, Oregon, to be a ski bum did.

Needing money, he got a job with trainer Jerry Scdoirs giving sled dog rides to tourists. Scdoirs’ daughter, Rachael, participated in four Iditarod races and is the only legally blind person to have competed in the event.

“They talked about nothing else except about the Iditarod,” says Beall. “I learned to run dogs, but after hearing about the Iditarod over and over again, I didn’t want to be a guide. I wanted to race.”

He called Dallas Seavy and secured a job at his Alaska kennel as a dog handler, in hopes that he would be able to eventually run a Seavy team in the Iditarod. He then gravitated toward Dallas’ father Mitch’s kennel – he also has won the Iditarod – in hopes of securing a team.

To qualify for the Iditarod, Beall had to race dog teams for a total of 750 miles in smaller competitive races held in Alaska.

“I had to only drop one dog from my team due to an injury, which is doing pretty good,” Beall says.

His mother has made arrangements to be in Nome, Alaska, for his crossing of the finish line.

“It will probably take me 11 days,” Beall speculates. “I think I should place somewhere in the high 30s.”

Under conditions like those he will face, finishing will be a victory in itself. Challenge accepted. - MIKE COPPOCK

PHOTO COURTESY OF DALLAS SEAVY

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EDUCATION

Checkmates

Local elementary schools playing national-caliber chess

T

Tension filled the air at the Nashville convention center as three days of competition wound to a close. Thousands of students from across the country had battled through seven games in the U.S. Chess Federation’s 2015 National Elementary K-6 Championship, and three of the schools represented were from the OKC metro: Cleveland Elementary, Ida Freeman Elementary School and Wilson Arts Integration Elementary School. As the last matches ended and the final scores were tabulated, all three Oklahoma schools finished in the top 10 in various categories. In fact, it was Cleveland’s first team appearance at nationals, and they placed fourth. The Oklahoma impact on the national stage is one indicator of a burgeoning trend: youth chess is thriving with teams both long established

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and new, at schools large and small, and for students from various economic backgrounds.

COACHING CH A MPIONS A successful team requires skilled, dedicated coaches, parental involvement and a strong support system for training and tournaments, as well as kids who will dedicate the necessary time to learn a game that can become a lifetime passion.

David Nichols, who teaches at Ida Freeman and serves as chess organizer, has been a patriarch of youth chess in central Oklahoma.

He started the program there 18 years ago, and has fostered and mentored a generation of players.

“I enjoy watching students gain confidence as they improve at chess,” he says. “Our ultimate goal is not to create great chess players, but to create great people.”

405 magazine • november 2015

Nichols also has tournament player Judson Temple as his cocoach. Temple works on strategy with the advanced players to ready them for competition.

Matthew Miller teaches at Roosevelt Middle School, where he is working to start a chess program, but became the coach at Cleveland three years ago because his two sons attended school there. The school had a chess club, but Miller’s expertise has helped it develop into a team whose players can compete on the local, state and national stage.

“I tried to take it to the next level by getting kids involved in state and national competitions,” he says. “Kids at Cleveland think of chess as a sport now, and the chess team is a source of pride for the school.”

This year, Miller had to step back from coaching at Cleveland,

With the school year in full swing, chess students around the metro area already are competing in tournaments, and planning for more. Teams from Cleveland, Ida Freeman and Wilson are gearing up for nationals next May. Getting there takes dedication, preparation and funds; the challenge in the coming months will be raising money to get students to Nashville, a trip all three schools said would average $1,000 per student.

In addition to tournaments and planning for nationals, Rutledge is working to grow and expand her programs.

“The plan is to keep growing until there’s not a kid in central Oklahoma who doesn’t have access to resources for learning chess,” she says.

In the schools, Miller said chess offers so many benefits, and is so easy to get started playing that he hopes to see chess programs expand.

“I would like to get chess introduced as part of the curriculum in OKC Public Schools – especially in our high poverty, inner-city schools,” he says.

“Schools in New York and Florida have done this with great success.

I would like to see every kid at least exposed to chess. All you need is a cheap vinyl board, some plastic pieces and your imagination to provide kids with a lifelong basis for self-reflection.” - KC

PHOTOS BY SHANNON CORNMAN

Making the Next Move

but the team is in good hands with Steve Reid, who also teaches and coaches chess at ASTEC Charter School.

Wilson’s Wise Wolves Chess is led by Joe Veal, a decorated chess champion (he is ranked in the 93rd percentile in the country and among the top 18 players in Oklahoma) who hadn’t considered teaching until sponsor Rebecca Rutledge approached

Noah Reid, 6th grader at Classen School of Advanced Studies and 10th place finisher in the K-6 national championships

of the Youth Chess League of Central Oklahoma, became an active participant in state tournaments and even holds her own camps and tournaments for youth from various schools and backgrounds. She also has reaped the benefits of watching her son, Max, excel as a player, especially when he took home an individual trophy in Nashville.

She now is working with – REBECCA RUTLEDGE the Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department to begin him. After starting to coach programs to teach chess to those children at Wilson in 2014, he has who might not otherwise ever found the experience both fun experience the game. and rewarding.

“We teach kids chess because He says, “I love it when someit enriches their lives,” she says. body, young or old, has a big smile “With Youth Chess OK, we’re on their face after one of their looking for the kids whose lives victories using one of my ideas.” could use the most enriching.

We’re establishing chess proYOUTH CHESS FOR A LL grams for kids in Title I elemenRutledge has a genuine dedicatary schools and afterschool tion to the sport that goes beyond programs that serve underprivithe Wise Wolves: she founded leged kids.” - KELLEY CHAMBERS and serves as executive director

“We’re establishing chess programs for kids in Title I elementary schools and afterschool programs that serve underprivileged kids.”

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in the 405

ON THE SCENE

3

1 4

The Big Taste of Norman Guests share in a fervor for philanthropy at Embassy Suites Norman at “Game Day,” the flavorful 2015 fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma.

1. Angie Wright, Lisa Buckner, Carly Hill, Jantzen Jolly 2. Clayton Ramick, Sharla Owens, Rachel Hernandez 3. Mike and Tory Laughlin (and Sooner) 4. Samantha Sims, Elizabeth Lanoue, Rachel Sims, Tyler Thompson 5. Thomas and Beth Lott, Chris and Von Allen

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2

3

OCCC Crescendo

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Organizers at OCCC build interest in supporting the annual Arts Festival Oklahoma through this cheery banquet and gathering.

1. Marc Brockhaus, Amber Brockhaus 2. Marny Dunlap, Lealon Taylor, LeAnn Harmon 3. Marc Smith, Ryan Canady, Lisa Pitsiri 4. Mark, Tonya and Andrew Man 5. Lisa and Chris Lawson, Ann Lacy, Mary Pointer 5

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405 magazine • november 2015

BIG TASTE, CRESCENDO, OVAC AND WINE AND ROTARY PHOTOS BY JUSTIN AVERA; WINE WOMEN AND SHOES COURTESY CANDOR

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1

2

Wine, Women and Shoes

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A combination of pleasures makes for a delightful evening at the OKC Golf & Country Club, and a potent vehicle for Impact Oklahoma to aid the community.

2 3

4

1. Lauren Ottaway, Lindsey Ridgway, Jennifer Bowman 2. Jim Galambos, Jeff Rowley, Ron Davis, Matt Brown 3. Justen Chilcoat, Becky Knox, Jeff Rowley, Dana Collie 4. Ann Cameron, Carrie Palmer, Kelley McGuire, Malena Lott

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1

OVAC’s 12 x 12 Guests discover a huge outpouring of creativity in the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition’s collection of small-scale works – plus food, drink, a live aerial performance and a mighty great party.

2

4

Days of Wine and Rotary Members and guests of the Bricktown Rotary philanthropic organization gather at the historic Harn Homestead to raise funds, as well as a toast to the coming year.

4 3

1. George and Sarah Mason 2. Jonathan Lans, JP Morrison Lans 3. Sue Hale, Yvonne Kauger 4. Lauren Weathersby, Pamela Hays, Stephanie Ruggle, Megan Campbell

1. Randy Cassimus, Diana Hampton, Bill Anderson 2. Rachel and Andrew Bruce, Sherry and David Stopka 3. Nico Brawdy, Candice Spradling 4. Erin Tank, Brandi Weaver

november 2015 • 405 magazine

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DESTINATION

20

reasons we love

Norman

Oh Norman, can we count the ways we love thee? Actually, we can. From staples such as The Mont and The University of Oklahoma to newcomers like Das Boot Camp and Hurts, we came up with the top 23 reasons why Norman is the real capital of Oklahoma. Warning: if you eat, drink or watch Oklahoma football … this list may be too much awesomeness for you.

By Bobby Anderson

2 OU’s Exceptional Success Predating statehood by 17 years with its founding in 1890, The University of Oklahoma now welcomes more than 30,000 students every fall. Easily Norman’s largest employer, the university is the center around which the city revolves. The school is ranked first in enrollment of national merit scholars … and then there’s the matter of the football team’s seven national championships (only three schools have more).

PHOTOS: BARRY SWITZER COURTESY OU MEDIA RELATIONS

3 The Mont

1

Barry Switzer

Three National Championships and a Super Bowl ring later, Barry Switzer is still one of the nicest, most approachable human beings on the planet. He’ll do anything for a good cause, and with the opportunity to live anywhere on the planet, he still chose a house on campus. He’s the King and loves Norman almost as much as we love him.

Since 1976, many a sorority sister (and frat brother, and student, and townie) has enjoyed a Sooner Swirl on The Mont’s famous patio. What they may not know is that the location dates back to the 1920s, when it was a Mexican restaurant known as The Monterrey. Locals referred to it simply as The Mont. Fun fact: The Mont was the first business in Norman to have air conditioning. These days, the mister on the patio is all you need to enjoy some pulled pork nachos or queso.

4 Mums in the Fall The University of Oklahoma’s Chrysanthemum Gardens in full bloom are a photographer’s dream. Typically, more than 15,000 mums and 5,000 small Joseph’s Coat plants dress up the South Oval during any homecoming week. Take mom and enjoy the beauty that is OU’s campus.

november 2015 • 405 magazine

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DESTINATION

musical performers for 32 years now. The three-day event brings crowds in excess of 50,000 to Brookhaven Village and Andrews Park; grab a lawn chair and join the throng.

5 O’Connell’s It’s home to burgers and beer every day, but St. Patrick’s Day at O’Connell’s is a Norman tradition with owner Jeff Stewart kicking off the day at 7 a.m., serving the state’s biggest green-eggsand-ham breakfast along with non-stop green beer. Many come before work just to get their souvenir glass stein and T-shirt.

6 Medieval Fair

For 39 years, The Medieval Fair has been bringing lords, ladies and serfs to Norman in April.

It’s corsets, chain mail and turkey legs during the state’s largest weekend event – drawing 300,000 annually.

7 Jazz in June The Norman Arts and Humanities Council has helped Jazz in June become a summer staple in Norman, drawing top-tier

8 Legends Lobby / Heisman Park Shrines to all that is Sooner Football – from Mex the Dog to Bob Stoops and everything in between, the Legends Lobby is three stories of memorabilia, each a piece of OU football history. And across the street in Heisman Park, Oklahoma’s five Heisman Trophy winners – Billy Vessels, Billy Sims, Steve Owens, Jason White and Sam Bradford – are immortalized in life-size bronze statues as they are in the hearts of Sooner fans everywhere. Take an afternoon and explore; it’s worth it.

9 National Weather Center The headquarters of the National Weather Service is actually somewhere in Maryland, but residents claim Norman as the epicenter of national forecasting by proximity to epic weather alone. After years on OU’s North Base, university President David Boren brought the NWC to the campus proper in a state-of-the-art facility. Even Gary England has signed on as the school’s meteorologist-in-residence, further strengthening Norman’s claim to national weather dominance.

10 Lake Thunderbird State Park OK, maybe it’s been called “Lake Dirty Bird” and it changes colors a couple of times a year when the red clay bottom turns over, but it’s close, it’s big enough and it’s ours. Fishing, swimming, skiing and wakeboarding – you can do it all at Lake Thunderbird. Go ahead and drag your boat along the interstate three hours each way to Tenkiller or Texoma if you want, but we’d rather spend that time on the water.

12 Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Ever since Oscar B. Jacobson – the director of the OU School of Art in the 1920s – began collecting art for the university, the museum has been growing. Named in honor of an OU senior who died in a plane crash, its immense collection now includes works by Degas, Monet and Van Gogh, and American and Native American artists are also prominently displayed – all free for visitors to see, thanks to an annual $60,000 gift from the OU Athletics Department.

11 Sooner Theatre Built in 1929 in the Spanish Gothic style by architect Harold Gimeno (an OU architecture professor), this Main Street structure has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. Longtime Norman residents still remember going to movies at the Sooner Theatre, which helped usher in the era of “talking pictures.” Today, it plays host to various performing arts, including live theater, concerts and dance.

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13 Hollywood Corners When this 1920s gas station along rural N Porter recently closed, most figured it was the end of an era. Rumored to be actor James Garner’s first job, Hollywood Corners wasn’t shuttered for long.

Toby Keith – who literally lives just down the street – is not only reopening the station, but also

Classic 50’s Drive-In

Not even Sonic moving in next door could take down the Lindsey Street icon operated by father-son duo Juel and Tim Sweatte. For nearly 60 years, Classics has served Pickle-Os, Cajun fries, burgers and potato boats. Happy Hour (twice daily) at Classics means fresh fruit slushes, Eskimo Frosties and Sprittles (Sprite plus Skittles). This Norman fixture has also donated more than $500,000 to local causes.

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405 magazine • november 2015

PHOTOS: O’CONNELL’S BY CARLI WENTWORTH, MEDIEVAL FAIR COURTESY MEDIEVAL FAIR, CLASSIC 50’S, HOLLYWOOD CORNERS AND DAS BOOT CAMP BY QUIT NGUYEN, SOONER THEATRE BY SIMON HURST, FJJMA COURTESY FRED JONES JR. MUSEUM OF ART, NORMAN MUSIC FESTIVAL COURTESY NORMAN MUSIC FESTIVAL

in the 405

bringing in Norman’s beloved Midway Grocery & Market to run the deli this fall. You’ve got to try Bill’s butcher-style chili.

15 Victoria’s Pasta Shop There’s a newer location on OKC’s southside, but for Normanites, the original Victoria’s on White will always be the best. The open-kitchen operation is a simple one that focuses not on fanciness but quality, stick-to-your-ribs pasta and plenty of it. Try the Best of Victoria’s with primavera, linguini or the rotating daily pesto.

Or spring for the shrimp lasagna roll. Don’t forget the cheese bread and alfredo sauce.

16 Pizza Shuttle There’s no dine-in option and a 95-percent chance your delivery driver is either A) in college, B) has a tattoo or piercing, or C) all of the above, but these places have served among the best, inexpensive pizza in Norman for the past 25 years. Three locations (make sure you know which you’re calling) serve up pizzas, subs and even wings. Try the turkey, bacon and Swiss sub and ask for the oil. We know a few people who survived college on Pizza Shuttle alone.

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Norman Music Festival

Since 2008, NMF has grown from a one- to three-day event featuring several different music genres, all free to the public. Imagine more than 300 performers from some of the best Indie bands in the nation, and the Norman Music Festival is what you get. toric Campus Corner, The Deli is Norman’s only seven-day-a-week live music venue, and smoking is allowed. Catch a show by the Tequila Songbirds or Mike Hosty.

for this endeavor for seemingly forever with those dinosaur cups … and boy, was it worth it. Natural and cultural history dating back 4 billion years is featured in engaging detail in this mammoth (pun intended), award-winning museum.

23 The Chocolate Festival

19 Hurts

17 Das Boot Camp Thank you, Moore, for the German delicacy that is Das Boot Camp. The owners of Moore’s Royal Bavaria got so tired of people asking for a restaurant in Norman that they put a spinoff smack in the middle of downtown. German specialties made from scratch, incredibly good handmade beers and everything on the menu is under $10. Das is good.

Norman’s Hurts location is barely 2 years old, but it has collectively blown our donut minds. Campus quickly welcomed this 24/7 donut phenomenon that features creations you never even thought possible, such as Oreo Cheesecake, bacon donuts – even donut milkshakes. Plus it’s a stone’s throw from Victoria’s if you haven’t gotten your carb fill just yet.

21 The Diner This ’50s-style diner has twice been featured on the Food Network. Seating is first come, first served, and a line snakes out along E Main each Saturday and Sunday morning waiting for one of the prized 50 seats. Get a kitchen sink omelette or tamale breakfast. Amspacher family, our cardiologist would like a word, but we can’t quit you.

20 Sam Noble Museum of Natural History

22 The Deli

Normanites will remember how Classic 50’s helped raise funds

It’s called Norman’s only five-star dive for a reason. Located on his-

The Firehouse Art Center holds its annual fundraiser and membership drive only once each year, and it’s coated in chocolate.

The festival has been ranked third among food festivals in the U.S. by Food Network and featured in both Southern Living and Bon Appetit. One ticket unleashes you on samples of the best chocolate creations Norman restaurants can offer.

But this isn’t all – there’s still quite a bit extra about Norman that makes us love it even more. Check it out online at 405magazine.com.

november 2015 • 405 magazine

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in the 405

TRENDS

Through the Looking Glass

(Above) Oliver Peoples from TSO Optical, (top to bottom) Anne et Valentine from TSO Optical, Prada from OKC Vision Source, Traction from Physician’s Optical, l.a. Eyeworks from TSO Optical, Sama from Physician’s Optical, Nike from OKC Vision Source, Feb 31 from Physician’s Optical

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405 magazine • november 2015

PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

It’s a good time to think about Russell Westbrook, and not merely because of his playmaking skills for the Thunder – as a style icon, he’s become a force in eyewear. Thanks in part to his influence and others like him, glasses are highly in fashion and there are thousands of styles from which to choose.

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FAVORITE THINGS

Pieces with Personality

The Travel Almanac, $18 “One of my favorite publications that is focused on traveling – not just the traditional notion of physical travel, but the ways in which movement and location permeate all aspects of contemporary life.”

Tilly and Tinka Pouches, $35$45 “Handmade right here in Oklahoma City by Louise Dean, these pouches are perfect for just about anything. A perfect little gift with a tassel? Yes, please!”

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405 magazine • november 2015

Different things appeal to different people for a variety of reasons, but when something truly stands out, it’s worth sharing. This is a forum for vendors, retailers and boutique owners around the 405 to showcase elements of their inventory they really like and why – think of it as accounting for taste.

This month, Sara Kate Little, owner of the eclectic treasure trove for home decor Sara Kate Studios in Automobile Alley, shares some of her favorite things. - SARA GAE WATERS

Pursuits of Happiness Ring Dish, $30 “This photographer who hails from Oregon needed an outlet and turned to ceramics. Her pieces have beautiful imperfections and movement. I love that you can tell they were made by hand with care.”

Eliza Gran Pom-Pom Basket, $87 “Handmade in Venice Beach, California, these baskets have developed a bit of a cult following, and it’s not hard to see why. They are perfect for all sorts of oddsand-ends and are more stylish than your regular sisal basket.”

Marvis Toothpaste, $10.50 “I have been using this toothpaste for years because it is the perfect mint flavor and it just looks so good sitting by the sink.”

Malin + Goetz Otto Candle, Votive $16, Candle $52 “My favorite candle for the past few years. Top notes of grapefruit and cardamom, a heart of rose and geranium and a base of oakmoss and vetiver create a complex fragrance that is both beautiful and modern.”

PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

in the 405

SKS + Louise Dean “Lora” and “Josephine” Pillows, $120 “Bonding over a mutual love of textiles, vintage touches and color, Louise Dean and I dreamed up this collaboration. The brushstrokes and imperfections are evident in every part of the fabric, which creates a unique and personal touch.”

Vintage Ethnic Rugs, $400-$3,600 “I have an absolute weakness for vintage hand-woven rugs – these babies have been scoured for all over the globe and have the best character and coloring.”

Turkish Towels, $25 “My go-to gift, these organic cotton Turkish towels are hard-working and a lovely addition to any space.”

Note To Self Striped Shirt Print, $20 “My talented and stylish friend Sarah Tolzmann does creative direction for Ralph Lauren by day, and freelance graphic design by night. She sketched up some lovely little prints for the shop that are all of my favorite things. A perfect little modern print to hang on the wall next to that flea market painting.”

ABOUT SARA KATE

Travel plays a large role in inspiring the Sara Kate Studios collection: “We love the unusual and the storied,” says Little, “pieces that harken back to another time, items that say, ‘I’ve had a little adventure.’” That spirit has been part of the OKC native’s life for years – a love for antiques began back in high school, and in college she left one of her business courses (mid-lecture, mind you) and then went to Italy. She remembers, “I was inspired by the contrast to our American idea of disposability, and fell in love with a dealer at the local flea market who referred to pieces as ‘heirlooms from a stranger.’ It made me want to create an outlet for myself in Oklahoma City that focused on the one-of-a-kind and unusual with an emphasis on antiques and handcrafted wares.” She’s done just that. - SGW

november 2015 • 405 magazine

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in the 405

LAUGH LINES

If Days Were Colors, Sunday Would Still Be Blue

I

If it’s Sunday, you can find me at SuperTarget. It’s not that it’s the first place I’d go to have a religious experience - most of the time, I just mix it up with the other faithful to round up weekly provisions. I just read that one of Target’s Chicago-area locations applied for a “consumption on premises” liquor license so customers could roam the aisles with their wine glass in hand.

Be still, my heart.

If there’s anything I’d love more than ambling about the aisles of Target during my weekly pilgrimage, it would be ambling with a glass of wine!

Archer Farms Cuvée – why not?

Sure, my bullseye-topped bill would quadruple under the strain of (slightly) more impaired judgment about the absolute necessity of my purchases. Yes, as part of my ongoing commitment to enjoying responsibly, I’d need an Über to get me and my groceries home. Maybe I wouldn’t have a legitimate need for the yoga tote, the tent or the bicycle lock, but odds are I wouldn’t care.

When I think about Chicagoans swilling their wine and their >3.2 beer without a care in the world as they slump over their swerving red carts on a Sunday, it only adds to the

34

clear-eyed angst brought on by yet another reminder that we’re staring down the barrel of 2016, yet we’re still held hostage by circa-1890 blue laws that prohibit free trade (and free wine samples) on Sunday. Did we lose a bet in 1939 or something?

The first time I ever heard of a “blue law” was when I was a kid. The verbal laundry list a woman gave me of what was then or had been previously restricted on Sundays was so absurd, I was convinced she was senile, lonely and lost inside her head, which must have been as overstocked as the TG&Y where we’d met. Confusing and bizarre as I found the concept, though, there was one particular detail, the “don’t do anything on a Sunday that looks like work,” on which I became a convert right on the spot, and I’ve faithfully stuck to it.

Monday through Saturday, I might never give into to my vices. But when Sunday rolls around – forgive me, Father – I’m filled with an irreverent desire to buy a car, eat a Chick-fil-A sandwich on the way to the bank where I’ll work out the financing, and then drive my new car to Hobby Lobby on my way to the liquor store (or grocery store,

405 magazine • november 2015

dare I dream) to buy a bottle of (refrigerated) champagne to celebrate the day’s purchases.

By way of a free trade disclaimer, businesses that prefer not to open on Sundays aren’t the issue. Just ponder this for a minute. Americans can send a fiery space shuttle screaming into outer space to do cool stuff in the ether for 11 or 12 days and, to everyone’s amazement, its crew can navigate the shuttle back, pierce the atmosphere for re-entry and land the dang thing safely at a predetermined location. But back on Earth, some businesses that do want to open on Sundays or sell products in legitimate retail outlets are prohibited by archaic laws that have really outstayed their welcome at the free trade party.

I usually don’t dabble in politics (you’re welcome), but I

did take interest in some recent alcohol reform proposals contained in Senate Bill 383. Maybe one day in our lifetime, we’ll be able (or ABLE) to buy a cold adult beverage (stronger than 3.2) from a grocery store and we won’t have to suffer through the confused reaction out-of-staters always have: “OK, what now? You can’t buy wine at the grocery store?

Any grocery store? Not even SuperTarget? Whyyyyyy noooooot?”

Whatever the reasons Sundays are still blue – the history, the politics, the religion, the prevailing culture of another time, the lost bet – could not hold up in an argument in favor of some pretty basic freedoms that, on any day of the week, sound a lot like cars driving off a dealer’s lot and the gentle clinking of wine glasses on the domestics aisle of SuperTarget. - LAUREN HAMMACK

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november 2015 • 405 magazine

35

BY THE WAY

AROUND TOWN BUCK LE UP THOSE K IDS … OR ELSE Earlier this year, HB 1847 was signed into law, requiring children in Oklahoma to remain in a forward-facing car seat until the age of 2, or until they meet the maximum height or weight for a front-facing seat. The bill also stipulates that children under 4 must be in a car seat (either rear- or forward-facing), and children younger than 8 who are under 4 feet 9 inches tall must ride in a full car seat or booster seat. A $50 fine will be levied against violators, but first-time offenders will have that fine suspended and only be charged court costs if they can prove that they’ve installed a child safety seat. So heads up; the law is effective as of Nov. 1. Oh, and no texting while driving.

ICE, ICE, BA BY Winter holidays just aren’t winter holidays without ice skating. Take a break from shopping, caroling and light-viewing to lace up some skates at any of the outdoor rinks found throughout the metro area.

Downtown’s Devon Ice Rink is open seven days a week (call 405.708.6499 for rates and hours), and Norman’s Holiday Ice Rink at Andrews Park (normanicerink. com) has a calendar full of days that offer special rates for couples, families and even patrons wearing ugly Christmas sweaters. If you’re in the Edmond area, there’s always the outdoor facility at Mitch Park (405.274.1638), the metro area’s largest ice skating rink, which also offers free adjacent parking, safety helmets, Wi-Fi and indoor restrooms.

A NEW V ERSE FROM A FA MIL I A R VOICE While Rudolfo Anaya’s first book of poetry – Poems from the Rio Grande, published by University of Oklahoma Press – might initially surprise fans of his fiction, wading into the book’s contents will reveal a familiar echo of the poetic language found in his prose. Often credited as a founding father of the Chicano movement of the 1970s, Anaya’s voice as a New Mexican has inspired a generation of Hispanic readers and encouraged cultural pride and enthusiasm about its literary expression, but his passion and artistic touch give him an appeal that transcends ethnic boundaries.

A must-have for Anaya devotees, and a fantastic introduction for those unfamiliar with his work.

EXCELLENCE AND QUALITY WITH A PERSONAL APPROACH The Doctors and Staff at the Cardiovascular Health Clinic are excited to announce our new location; a more relaxing venue conveniently located with easy access. A full spectrum of cardiac and vascular diagnostic and imaging tests are available in this setting, allowing for a complete evaluation for heart and blood vessel health concerns.

DWAYNE A. SCHMIDT, M.D. | JIM G. MELTON, D.O. 3200 Quail Springs Parkway, Suite 200 | Oklahoma City, OK 73134 RURAL LOCATIONS: Woodward | Chickasha | Weatherford | Pauls Valley

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405.701.9880 | info@cvhealthclinic.com

PHOTOS: ICE SKATING AND TREE LIGHTING COURTESY DOWNTOWN OKC INC.

in the 405

GET ON YOUR M A R K THIS TH A NKSGI V ING If you find yourself with free time on Thanksgiving morning, you can work up an appetite at one of the 5ks being held on that day in Oklahoma City, Edmond and Norman. Norman’s annual Turkey Day 5k (turkeyday5krun.com) steps off at Norman High School; the Turkey Trot in Edmond (405.590.8665) starts in front of the Downtown Edmond Community Center and is pet and stroller friendly; and the Oklahoma City Turkey Tracks (okcturkeytracks.com) begins and ends on the west side of the OKC National Memorial (north of Fifth Street and Harvey downtown). Each also has an associated one-mile fun run, as well.

Shake a tail feather.

ILLUMINATE BL ACK FR IDAY Close out the craziest shopping day of the year with a celebration of the season in Bricktown as the mayor lights OKC’s Christmas tree on Mickey Mantle, across from the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. This year’s Bricktown Tree Lighting Festival will start at dusk Nov. 27, and includes free photos with Santa, food, face painting and music.

GET YOUR L IST R E A DY, A ND CHECK IT T W ICE Happy pre-holidays! This year’s Mistletoe Market at Cox Convention Center gives visitors entry to a three-day shopping festival that showcases clothing, children’s items, jewelry, gourmet foods and more. At the special Sip, Shop and Mingle Party from 6-10 p.m. Nov. 11, guests can preview wares from the 100-plus vendors chosen to supply this year’s market. Doors will open an hour early for VIP ticket holders (visit jloc.org to check availability). And even if you can’t make the preview, Mistletoe Market general admission will be Nov. 12-14. Funds raised at the event benefit the Junior League of Oklahoma City, so shop early and often.

Cultivating Individuality Casady educators know each student as an individual and can therefore focus on each student’s unique strengths, encourage academic growth, and guide each student to pursue his or her passions.

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creatives

Red Tie Reinvigoration Leadership runs in the Cooper-Colton family

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trying to raise funds or Barbara’s grace in planning and organizing, but I can promise we’ll put every ounce of our hearts into carrying on the torch.”

Colton’s mother agrees, and is proud of the work her parents and the volunteers have done bringing attention to HIV/AIDS. “With the help of funds raised each year, it has enabled education to be a top priority in bringing awareness to the understanding of those living with HIV/AIDS,” Cooper-Colton says.

“Also, with the medical progress made over the years, the disease isn’t the epidemic it was 24 years ago. Every dollar raised at the event stays in Oklahoma. I think this has made a vast difference in the attitude people have today compared to previous years.”

Indeed, HIV/AIDS was still a taboo subject when the Coopers formed the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund and the subsequent crimson-cravat-themed fundraiser – but over the decades since, it has grown to be the social event of the year, raising millions of dollars for funding, research and education.

“My mother, Barbara, is very excited and proud we are co-hosting,” Cooper-Colton

405 magazine • november 2015

Graham Colton and Cindy Cooper-Colton

“We’ll put every ounce of our hearts into carrying on the torch.” – GRAHAM COLTON added. “It is extremely important to Graham and me that we continue the success my parents started in the fight against HIV/ AIDS. No doubt, my father made a huge impact in the success of [the event]. The greatest way to honor my dad is to continue supporting Red Tie Night. This will be a fabulous evening that brings together a group of people who have giving hearts and want to make a difference in the lives of those affected by this disease.”

The event will be held March 5 at OKC’s Cox Convention

Center, and is organized entirely by a small group of dedicated volunteers.

“We are excited about the new energy we can create in and around the event,” Colton continues. “That means new auction items, improving our social media and online messaging and of course, making sure we deliver hundreds of new guests.

“What an honor it is to co-chair this incredible event with my wonderful mother. It’s a new day for Red Tie Night, for our family and for this incredible cause.” - MARK BEUTLER

PHOTO BY QUIT NGUYEN

I

It’s been quite a journey for Oklahoma City-based singer/ songwriter Graham Colton.

At age 34, the Heritage Hall graduate has released more than a dozen albums and EPs, dated American Idol Kelly Clarkson and performed with stars including Counting Crows, John Mellencamp and Maroon 5.

This fall, Colton turned his attention a little closer to home, to serve as co-chair of a reinvigorated Red Tie Night with his mother, Cindy Cooper-Colton.

It was Colton’s grandparents, the late Jackie Cooper and his wife Barbara, who started Red Tie Night with a small group of volunteers back in 1991.

Following Cooper’s death in February, Colton and his mother knew they needed to step forward and continue the legacy their family started all those years ago.

“This is everything to me,” Colton says, “honoring not only my late grandfather, but my grandmother Barbara and their vision. My mom and I have literally had a front-row seat and a ‘behind-the-scenes’ view of Red Tie Night for as long as I can remember. I can’t guarantee we’ll have Jack’s talent on the phone

“Where we love is home. Home that the feet may leave, but not our hearts.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

®

NICHOLS HILLS PLAZA | 63RD & N. WESTERN | 405.842.1478 RMEYERSOKC.COM |

430 W. Wilshire Blvd. | Oklahoma City | 405.840.4231 | dhbyfaye.com

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territory ahead

The Birth of the

By M.J. Alexander 40

405 magazine • november 2015

The first sound to be transmitted over long-distance wires in what is now Oklahoma may have come in 1880, four years after the invention of the telephone, when the regimental band at the frontier military post at Fort Reno broadcast its music 70 miles via telegraph wires to amazed soldiers at Fort Sill.

E

ncouraged by the event’s success, officers at Fort Reno strung a dedicated telephone line across the Canadian River to the Darlington Indian Agency in 1884.

The first commercial telephone line in Indian Territory debuted two years later, when E.D. Hicks ran a wire from Tahlequah in the Cherokee Nation to Muskogee in the Creek Nation, by way of Fort Gibson.

In a test run, Cherokee elder George “Soggy” Sanders and a friend named Smith “held an animated conversation in the native tongue.” Sanders laughed and approved of the device, noting with pleasure, “It talks in Cherokee.”

Oklahoma City received its first telephone in 1893. Tulsa’s first telephone system debuted in 1899, linking 80 subscribers.

By statehood in 1907, Oklahoma boasted 68,125 telephones linked through 715 in-state networks bound by more than 100,000 miles of wire. That same year, the Pioneer Telephone and Telegraph Company, part of the national Bell system, constructed the seven-story Pioneer Building on the 400 block of Broadway in downtown Oklahoma City.

As the number of residents and number of telephones increased, telephone numbers grew longer, and switchboards relied less on operators and more on automation. The prairie poetry of early Oklahoma City telephone exchanges – Sunset and Skyline, Shadyside and Swift – was phased out in favor of seven-digit numbers.

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territory ahead

To handle the boom in business, Southwestern Bell built the 16-story Telephone Building at 405 Broadway, next to the Pioneer Building. As technology advanced, the Art Deco palace to modern communication had antennas installed atop its roof in the 1950s and microwave relay equipment in the 1960s, elevating the building into Oklahoma City’s link on AT&T’s coast-tocoast information superhighway.

The hundreds of workers stationed inside the Telephone Building referred to it affectionately by its street address: “the 405.”

Whether by serendipity or design, the Bell engineers who created the North American Numbering Plan in 1947 selected the street address of their Oklahoma City headquarters as the area code to serve the entire state.

And the 405 was born.

Within six years, the state was assigned its second area code: 918 for Tulsa and eastern Oklahoma. On Nov. 1, 1997, the 580 area code was introduced, stretching from the arid western Panhandle ranches of Cimarron County to the southeastern bayous of Beavers Bend and Broken Bow. In 2011, the 918 was augmented by a fourth number: 539.

Remaining in the center was the state’s original area code. As borders were redrawn to include less land and more people, the 405 became shorthand for the landlocked heart of Oklahoma.

The prefix now links more than 1 million people living in 18 counties in the dead center of the state, from Stillwater to Guthrie to Edmond to Oklahoma City to

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Moore to Norman to Pauls Valley, from Anadarko to El Reno to Mustang to Yukon to Shawnee to Seminole.

In the state’s second century, 405 has evolved to become a collective identity for the core of Oklahoma.

Not too many years ago, Kevin Durant’s tweeting upon his returns to Oklahoma City with a joyous “Back in the 405!” would unleash Twitter storms from fans asking what, exactly, that meant. Now they know.

The 405 is fused into the names of new-wave undertakings such as personal trainers, a microbrewery, graphics studios and tattoo parlors, and of old-school businesses ranging from locksmiths to pest control.

It has become a badge of pride for expatriate Oklahomans, a prefix shared by urban hipsters and remote farmers, creationists and astronauts, Cowboys fans and Sooner Nation.

It is common ground in a fragmented world, an alchemy of authenticity and brevity imbued with a sense of place, a meme emblazoned on fridge magnets, graffitied walls, T-shirts, mouse pads and bumper stickers.

Welcome to the 405.

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PREMIER CARD 2015 PARTICIPATING MERCHANTS Friday, October 30 - Sunday, November 8, 2015 The Premier Card Formula is Simple! Here’s how it works: The Card Buyer

purchases a Premier Card for $50. Premier Card participants offer a generous 20% discount to cardholders for the 10-day period, Friday, October 30 - Sunday, November 8, 2015. (Some exclusions apply.)

Proceeds from card sales benefit Payne Education Center.

Premier Cards can be purchased at merchants listed with the apple ( ) icon in this ad. For more information, contact Payne Education Center at (405) 755-4205.

Bethany Cedarburg Square Mariposa Design & Accessories, Inc. Edmond, 33rd & Boulevard TSO Optical Courtyard Antique Market Kern’s Antiques & Interior Design Edmond, Downtown Silver Leaf Gems Sterling’s Home Décor & Gifts Fashion Boutique McCall’s

French Quarter Antiques

OKC, Casady Square Sweets and Spurs The Green Attic No Regrets Red Chateau Oklahoma Quiltworks Naifeh Fine Jewelry On Pointe Dancewear Essentials Urban Row

OKC, Downtown Eden Salon & Spa Teena Hicks Company B.C. Clark Jewelers Nancy Farha’s 200 Park for Her Pinkitzel Cupcakes & Candy Painted Door Gift Boutique

Edmond, Spring Creek Village Pinkitzel Cupcakes & Candy Norman, Brockhaus Plaza In Your Dreams Mel’s Kloset Norman, Carriage Plaza Cayman’s Kern’s Antiques & Interior Design Occasions…Fine Stationery, Gifts and Gourmet Norman, Downtown Mister Robert Fine Furniture & Design

Norman, Sooner Mall Sun & Ski Sports OKC, 50 Penn Place Route 66 OKC, Automobile Alley URBANE HOME & LIFESTYLE Bow & Arrow Boutique OKC, Britton Road Pirate’s Alley Picture Frames

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OKC, Penn Square Mall B.C. Clark Jewelers L’Occitane en Provence Pottery Barn Williams-Sonoma OKC, Quail Springs K & N Interior Consignment Lush Fashion Lounge Starr Home Nothing Bundt Cakes MetroShoe Warehouse Fabrics Unlimited

OKC, Midtown Dry/Shop Blow-Dry Bar & Boutique

OKC, Nichols Hills Plaza CK & Co. S.J. Haggard & Co. Fine Men’s Clothing Luxe Objects The Consortium Bebe’s Always Greener Lush Blow-Dry Bar Spencer Stone Co.

405 magazine • november 2015

OKC, Wilshire Village The MakeUp Bar KSDesign Suzanne’s Linen Closet learning tree gil’s clothing and denim bar the lingerie store The Wood Garden

OKC, Northwest Lynda’s Birkenstock Swiss Cleaners (5 locations) Eden Salon & Spa

By Invitation Only

Hidden Dragon Yoga Studio Midtown Optical TRADE Men’s Wares The Black Scintilla Chirps & Cheers

OKC, Wilshire Boulevard Wilshire Garden Market Mitchener-Farrand Fine Jewelry

OKC, North Penn Plaza Koslow’s Furs Avondale Galleries, Inc. Dick Story Optical

OKC, May & Grand Shoppes Blue 7 Olive & Co. Paper ‘N More

42nd Street Candy Co. Mockingbird Manor Antiques & More Eden Salon & Spa The Lobby Café & Bar Sushi Neko Musahi’s Japanese Steakhouse The Tasting Room Will Rogers Theatre Events & Catering

OKC, North May Avenue Classic Silks J. J. Kelly Bridal Sun & Ski Sports

OKC, Classen Curve Kendra Scott Design The Impeccable Pig Red Coyote Running & Fitness Steven Giles Black Optical blo.

Carwin’s Shave Shop Winter House Interiors Balliets On A Whim Liberte’ BD Home Uptown Kids

Edmond, Spring Creek Plaza New Balance Edmond

Norman, Metro MetroShoe Warehouse

R Meyers Gretta Sloane The Curtain Exchange of OKC The Coach House

OKC, Broadway Extension Trochta’s Flowers

Edmond, Kickingbird Square It’s a Party!

Kickingbird Flowers & Gifts Allton’s Clothiers for Men Best of Books Hip & Swanky Kickingbird Flowers & Gifts Edmond, Metro Cindy Ritchie Photography Swiss Cleaners Lavender Antiques Options 2 Design

Our Mission: Payne Education Center trains teachers to prevent reading difficulties in children, and to remediate dyslexia, while serving as a resource and referral center.

OKC, Shoppes at Northpark S.J. Haggard & Co. B.C. Clark Jewelers Norwalk Furniture & Design Silks, Etc. Nancy’s at Northpark KEEDO Kids Clothes Room 22 Geno’s Furs Kokopelli Mystique Fragrances The Lime Leopard OKC, Uptown Shopping Pirate’s Alley Picture Frames OKC, Western Avenue Sabrina’s Backroom The Howell Gallery Soup Soup Culinary Kitchen Gordon Stuart The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro Big Sky Bread Company Kamber’s on N. Western Designer Rugs Nichols Hills Pack ‘n Ship Cameo Salon and Spa

www.payneeducationcenter.org 10404 Vineyard Boulevard, Suite A Oklahoma City, OK 73120 Office: 405.755.4205 Fax: 405.755.4281

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Shop N O R M AN

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TRENDSETTER

ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE THINGS In One Great Store!

Raw agate and stone necklace, BB Lila, $46

“I love us.” - #enoughsaid Magnet set, by Petal Lane, $23

These candles really up the flame game with metallicdipped edges, Paddywax, $20

A printed silk Tolani dress, $74

The perfect hostess gift for Thanksgiving and holiday parties, this tea towel from Twisted Wares is only $12

323 Boyd St. Norman, shopantiquegarden.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Lifetime of lights.

Beautiful fruits and botanicals preserved in unscented paraffin oil provide a warm glow year round. Many designs…

Made in Arkansas.

In Your Dreams...

2109 W. MAIN ST. | NORMAN, OKLAHOMA 405.329.3390 | MON-SAT: 10AM TO 6PM WWW.INYOURDREAMSOK.COM |

PERSONALIZED, PATIENT-CENTERED DENTISTRY COSMETIC DENTISTRY | CROWNS | BRIDGES | WHITE FILLINGS | ROOT CANALS EXTRACTIONS | TREATMENTS FOR JOINT PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH TEETH CLENCHING/GRINDING

1020 24TH AVE. N.W., SUITE 101 | NORMAN | 405.447.5577 | GEOFFPOTTSDDS.COM

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TRENDSETTER

ATTENTION-GRABBING GIFTS A World of Possibilities … and Beyond

These earrings are inspired by a quatrefoil mount, the original of which likely was made in a Byzantine jewelry studio in the second half of the fifth century. The star-oval cabochon garnet in its center is flanked by pieces of red glass. These $27.50 earrings are offered in conjunction with Immortales: The Hall of Emperors of the Capitoline Museums, Rome, on display through Dec. 6, 2015!

Annual Holiday Grab Bag Sale November 18 & 19 during museum hours

Muse, the museum store at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, offers award-winning MOVA ® globes which silently rotate in ambient light with no plugs or batteries.

Available in our solar system’s planets and moons, these globes convey a magical experience never before imagined in a décor piece. Packaged with an acrylic base, 4.5 in. globes are $155; 6 in. globes are $285. Offered in conjunction with Galileo’s World: An Artful Observation of the Cosmos, open Jan. 21-April 3, 2016!

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THE MUSEUM STORE inside the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art The University of Oklahoma 555 Elm Ave., Norman, OK 73019-3003 ou.edu/fjjma

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Spinelli

Kilcollin

Live Well • Dress Well • Shop Well

2001 W. Main • Carriage Plaza • Norman 405.360.3969 • www.caymanscollection.com

Save the date! Annual Sale Nov.18 –19, 2015 Save 15–40 percent off your entire purchase!

Just in time for the holidays, the fifth annual Holiday Grab Bag Sale returns to Muse, the museum store! Customers will receive a paper bag at the door containing a discount of 15 to 40 percent to be applied to their entire purchase.

Come browse our large selection of artistic, educational, and quirky gifts!

Muse, The Museum Store inside the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art The University of Oklahoma

555 Elm Ave., Norman, OK 73019–3003 ou.edu/fjjma

For questions and accommodations on the basis of disability, please call (405) 325-4938.

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TRENDSETTER Blues and Hues Handpainted Porcelain: (l to r) Blue and White Fish Vase/Planter, Blue and White Round Chain Vase/ Planter, Blue and White Large Jar with Bronze Lid, Blue and White Small Jar with Bronze Lid, Blue and White Round Fish Design Decorative Bowl/Large Planter

GIFT GIVING MADE SIMPLE

Blue and White Moderne 4”X6” Bone Mosaic Photo Frames: Assorted 4 Patterns, Bone/Resin/ Sheesham Wood

Beauty throughout the home Silver Antler Tray-Set of 2 trays, Includes 2 sizes (food safe)- Aluminum Paul Robert Chair

Make sure to shop Theo's for your holiday decorating or gift giving this season.

HOME FURNISHINGS • ANTIQUES • ACCESSORIES • GIFTS Main Store 3720 W. Robinson • Norman | Warehouse 3550 Bart Conner Dr. • Norman theosmarketplace.com • 405.364.0728 •

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

open through 11.30.15 AT

AREZZO IN NORMAN FEATURING SARA LOVARI, ENRIQUE MOYA GONZALEZ & MASSIMILIANO LUCHETTI

closing reception: 6-10 P.M. Friday November 13 OPEN DAILY 11 A.M. - 4 P.M. TUES-SAT

HOME FURNISHINGS • ANTIQUES • ACCESSORIES • GIFTS MAIN STORE 3720 W. ROBINSON • NORMAN WAREHOUSE 3550 BART CONNER DR. • NORMAN THEOSMARKETPLACE.COM • 405.364.0728 •

122 E. MAIN ST. | NORMAN, OK WITH CORAZON WATKINS IN THE LIBRARY GALLERY MORE INFORMATION AT NORMANARTS.ORG SUPPORT FROM:

See the world.

Visit an Oklahoma Museum.

Oklahoma offers more than 500 museums and cultural attractions across all 77 counties of our great state.

A journey around the world is only a short trip to your local Oklahoma museum.

www.okmuseums.org EDUCATE• INFORM• ENTERTAIN•

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TRENDSETTER

This Christmas, give your family something to hold on to ... memories together at HeyDay! HeyDay is THE place for family fun for all ages in the OKC metro area. Let us help your family create new memories this year!

We know how to party! Birthday packages are available or customize one for your specific needs. Our one-of-a-kind bubble wall creates a unique atmosphere for kids to celebrate, eat and hang out!

HeyDay offers all ages miniature golf, bowling, laser tag, laser maze, arcade and ropes course! Celebrate YOUR family with us! Gift certificates are available.

Oklahoma’s #1 Fun Destination; great food, great fun, great times!

HeyDay Entertainment – where adults go to have fun!

We have a large menu to offer you or your family! Enjoy food items from Boomerang burger, Double Dave’s Pizza or our over 21 lounge upstairs.

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3201 Market Pl, Norman, heydayfun.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

TRENDSETTER

WORLDS COLLIDE

Italy comes to Oklahoma with Cultural Connections: Arezzo In Norman, a new program from Norman Arts Council that brings international artists from Norman’s sister cities to town and sends Oklahoma artists across the globe.

Sara Lovari’s creations marry nostalgic sensibilities with golden-era romance in grand, beautiful sculptural pieces taking the form of full-scale dresses handmade from craft paper and textural canvas pieces.

Enrique Moya Gonzalez engages in all aspects of creativity, shifting from high concept performance pieces to laborious and provoking installations that work equally in speaking to your head and heart.

The exhibition runs at MAINSITE Contemporary Art through Monday, November 30.

The gallery is open Tuesday Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Massimiliano Luchetti creates striking abstract works with rich colors and deep texture that become all the more enveloping through their sheer scale, some pieces reaching upward of seven feet tall.

122 East Main Street, Norman 405.360.1162, normanarts.org

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(clockwise from top left) A vintage typewriter reposes at Urban Farmhouse Designs. The knobs are mismatched and the paint discolored, but this metal cabinet created by Matt Parsons is a beauty nonetheless.

Even a battered old gas can may be reworked into a light fixture. An antique door knocker now proudly roosts on Parsons’ front door.

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BUILDING FROM MEMORIES

I

It takes a special talent to see a century-old farmhouse and imagine breathing new life into it. Peering through the dusty glass panes and picturing a pioneer or Depression-era family having supper, or maybe a passel

Local crafters find new ways to repurpose treasures from the past

By Mark Beutler Photography by Shannon Cornman

of barefoot kids running through the house on Christmas morning.

Rather than tearing it down, a knack is required to think about new ways of bringing the house into a new century, where a new family can make new memories.

Matt Parsons did just that with an old farmhouse on the plains of central Oklahoma.

“I was in my early 20s and didn’t know anything about construction,” Parsons says. “I was remodeling a house for me and my wife, but that was the most construction I had ever done. Some friends of ours had just bought this land with an

old farmhouse that was built sometime around the Land Run. It had a zero dollar value, but I thought I could save it. Looking back, I don’t know what made me think that.”

Parsons’ gut instinct was right. He took the tumbled-down structure – that had no plumbing, and no electricity – and got busy. The result was nothing short of amazing.

“I really was proud of the work I did on that house,” Parsons says. “It might have been easier to tear it down and start over, but there’s a history inside those walls. The family still lives in that house today. That is when

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I first started thinking about how I could repurpose something old and make it new again.”

Today, repurposing is big business. It’s beyond going green and helping save the planet’s natural resources; it is also a way to have something unique, oneof-a-kind, with a bit of history.

“I can look at something and say, ‘This is old, it needs help.’ Then I help make it better and give it a new life by respecting it for what it is.”

An old street light (left), saved and turned into a lamp, at Antique Avenue on Western. Matt Parsons sits among some of his repurposed solid wood, copper and galvanized steel furniture.

– MATT PARSONS

“Usually I hear about things by word of mouth,” Parsons says.

“Not long ago, I heard about this old barn that was being demolished in rural Pennsylvania, so I knew I had to go check it out.”

What he found was a treasure trove of materials. The barn was full of hand-hewn rustic oak

58

beams that were headed for the nearest dumpsite.

“It was amazing to look at those massive beams and see where the ax chiseled into the wood,” he says. “Someone actually spent time chiseling these beams by hand, and to just throw them away would be such

405 magazine • november 2015

a waste. So I cut them, added legs and turned it into a bench, giving it a new purpose.”

That bench, along with many of Parsons’ other hand-crafted and repurposed items, is for sale at Antique Avenue, the mall on Western Avenue in OKC he co-owns with his dad, Randy. Parsons said he

bought the antique shop quite by accident, much like he has done everything else in his career.

“My wife had a booth here,” he says, “and when the previous owners said they were thinking about selling, I called my dad and said, ‘Hey, you want to buy an antique shop with me?’”

and asked him to build homes in a Payne County subdivision.

“The first few houses I built ranged from 1,500 to 4,500 square feet,” Parsons says. “That led to my next project, which was a multi-million-dollar home. So my business just kind of took off from there.”

Attention to detail and his inventive use of re-claimed items set Parsons apart from other homebuilders. Whether it’s door pulls crafted from hand-forged iron, glass knobs found in an old desk or a tree trunk he sawed down outside his shop that now serves as a one-of-a-kind stool, there seems to be no limit to Parsons’ creativity.

“I really don’t have a vision until I see the material,” he says.

“Everywhere I go, I am always looking for things that can be reused. Then whatever comes to mind, I keep it simple.”

One basic rule Parsons always follows, however, is to respect the material he’s working with – whether it’s building a house or a piece of furniture.

“I can look at something and say, ‘This is old, it needs help,’” he says. “Then I help make it better and give it a new life by respecting it for what it is.”

J

A TEAM OF ARTISANS

Vintage wood from old barn doors, given new purpose as the main entrance to Urban Farmhouse Designs

And his dad said yes. The elder Parsons left his home in Van Buren, Arkansas, and headed to Oklahoma City, where he and Matt alternate their schedules running the store.

“I am not content to do just one thing,” Parsons says. “I can’t just do construction, nor can I just build furniture. So sitting in this antique shop every day is

not for me. It’s all of these things together that makes me tick.”

Parsons has a quick wit, a wide grin and a genuinely likeable personality. The passion he has for his work is evident as he rushes from one piece of furniture to the next, proudly pointing out its interesting characteristics.

“This cabinet was once a bookshelf in an old house that

was being torn down,” he says. “It was built-in next to the fireplace, so I put a back on it and a top – and now it’s a beautiful piece of furniture we saved from the scrap heap.”

An innovative homebuilder, Parsons is just as proud of his accomplishments in that arena. After remodeling the old farmhouse, a local businessman saw his work

ason and Cherami Thomas started their company in their garage a couple of years ago, building tables and selling them on Craigslist.

Within a year, they had moved into a warehouse, and just six months ago started building showrooms for their products.

The result is one of Oklahoma City’s up-and-coming new stores: Urban Farmhouse Designs, on Western Avenue just south of Film Row.

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“It’s really cool to know your custom table has a history, it is made in the USA and repurposed to bring it to its most refined, and we think, best-looking state.” - CHERAMI THOMAS Quite simply, they rescue vintage wood and other artifacts and give them a new life as one-of-a-kind cabinetry, home furnishings and accents.

“We had an opportunity to purchase piles of reclaimed wood and had intended on selling it in the raw,” Cherami Thomas says.

“That is how we initially started in this business. Then Jason came to me and said, with his construction background and my design background, why don’t we build a farm table?

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“I said, ‘OK, but how? We have no tools.’ So we found a guy that helped us make the cuts and put our table design together. Jason then put it up on cinder blocks in the garage while I hand-painted the base.”

From there, they were off and running. Their inspiration comes from everywhere – traveling, magazines, hotels and old barns.

“I’m obsessed with old barns,” Thomas says with a laugh. “I want to build a barn from the ground up, but make it

405 magazine • november 2015

Urban Farmhouse Designs owners Cherami and Jason Thomas (top) amid several examples of their unique wares. (above) Items at Urban Farmhouse can be decorative, functional or both, but all have a rich history.

look like an Architectural Digest barn inside.”

In the past couple of years, the Thomases have gone from a garage-based business to a full-fledged design store, complete with a team of artisans.

Together, as their website states, they “build objects of beauty and function for discerning homeowners, business owners who want to create exceptional spaces

for their customers, as well as high-end furniture retailers.”

Thomas says they are constantly on the lookout for materials – retired boxcars, vintage flour mills and old Chicago warehouses. There’s really no limit to where they will go if they think they can salvage a piece of history.

“Our tables have traveled all over the United States two or

broaden our presence nationally and people from New York to L.A. are sitting there scratching their heads trying to make sense of Oklahoma urban swag and why everyone in their city wants it,” she says with a laugh. “In that moment, we can all say, ‘We did this in Oklahoma.’”

Creative repurposed lighting helps illuminate the Urban Farmhouse showroom.

three times,” she says. “It’s really cool to know your custom table has a history, it is made in the USA and repurposed to bring it to its most refined, and we think, best-looking state.”

Their designs run the gamut from rustic urban to Country French, and their pieces proudly wear the signs of time and use, including knots, dents and nail holes – all reminders of the wood’s rich history, Thomas said.

“We hand-make all our pieces and not only can we say they are made in America, we can say all the products we build with are made in America, as well,” she explains. “We price our furniture at fair market value and want to sell to the masses, not just highend clients. We feel everyone should be able to take home a piece of American heritage.

“We love to talk with and get to know our customers and their families. Jason and I work in the warehouse and personally meet a majority of our customers daily.

We help create custom works of art for generations to come.”

Customers routinely bring pictures in of pieces they want built. And if it’s within their realm of production, the Thomases will build it. They also have access to a large metal shop nearby where they custom-build barn door hardware, metal bases and other items.

Part of what gives Urban Farmhouse Designs its charm is the Thomases’ motto: “Reclaimed Furniture made by Reclaimed People.” They said after the real estate bust in 2009, they were forced to start their lives over, and therefore believe in giving others a second chance, as well.

“We had to start over ourselves, so we hire many people that others would normally turn away,” Thomas says. “We are open about our lives to our customers. Inevitably our customers will ask, “How in the world did you all come up with this? It’s amazing!’

“Our stock answer is, ‘we failed, and this is our comeback story,’” she says. “At that point, our customers will always smile and realize they are part of something bigger. We now have thousands of people in our cheering section, and they all seem to appreciate the second time they walk in our warehouse and we know them by name.”

Thomas said they are proud not only of their work, but the fact they are lessening the environmental impact traditional forest harvesting has on the planet.

They are equally proud to be located in the heart of Oklahoma.

“Our customer base is driven

by Oklahomans, and we are Oklahomans,” Thomas says. “I think it will be funny when we

BRINGING IT BACK TO LIFE

T

here’s no sleeping in on weekends for Bruce Hall. For the past 20 years, he has been making the rounds of Saturday morning flea markets, garage sales and auctions, looking for ways to re-purpose things others may have discarded.

It’s not junk, mind you.

Rather, it’s artifacts that Hall can put his own unique stamp on and bring back to life.

“I look at a piece of furniture to see if it has good bones,” Hall says. “First, I look to see if it is sturdy. Then I look at the type of design work; if it is unique or something you don’t see every day, that is what catches my attention.”

Inside the Northwest Oklahoma City home he shares with Mike Stuart, his partner of 20 years, it’s a patchwork of styles – a mixture of Ralph Lauren chic and rugged masculinity.

“I’ve been told that I have a good eye to pick out the unusual,” Hall says. “I look for not only furniture pieces, but metal pieces, concrete statuary, things like that. One of the most unique things I’ve found was a piece of furniture that was nothing but drawers. That was fun. I also love to find older, weathered pieces.

Overlooking our pool out back

we have a six-foot statue of David, which was really a great find.”

And Stuart agrees about Hall’s vision for finding such items.

“In our kitchen, we have an A-frame stand that was hand-built as a storage unit in someone’s garage,” he says, “probably for storing containers of nails and nuts and bolts. Bruce bought it at an estate sale and re-purposed it first as a magazine rack in his study. Now it sits in our kitchen, full of old antique rolling pins.”

Hall has a workshop near his home where he spends much of his free time. Once a month, he participates in Buchanan’s Antique and Flea Market at the State Fairgrounds, and he also has a booth at Vintage Grace Antique Mall on May Avenue.

When it comes to his artistic vision, Hall says he tries to keep it simple.

“I picture the piece of furniture painted, distressed or possibly just cleaned up,” he says.

“I think where this piece could be used or what purpose it would serve. Furniture with drawers or shelves will always sell. We all have stuff that needs to be organized.”

Through the week, Hall works as a safety coordinator for Oklahoma City’s Lopez Foods.

But evenings and weekends are his time to hone his craft.

“Working with antiques and finding ways to re-purpose something is basically another job altogether,” Hall says. “It takes time not only to look for it, but to find it and then restore it.

“I have always enjoyed the hunt of finding something unique,” he says. “I love the idea of repurposing an item. We live in a disposable society now, and repurposing is another type of recycling, which is always a good thing.”

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Soul The

Tribe

A retreat at Blue Doors at Tenkiller provides much more than simply getting away for the weekend

By Christine Eddington

Photography by Shannon Cornman

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If the spiritual, artsy city of Santa Fe and the bucolic, rolling hills of Middleburg, Virginia, hooked up and had a love child, there’s no doubt it would look a lot like Blue Doors at Tenkiller. About 10 miles north of Gore, an unassuming sign that reads, appropriately, “Blue Doors” greets visitors.

I

n the 1950s, it was called the Shangri La, and was a very modern motor court-style motel, the perfect place to park your Bel Air for the night as you got your kicks on Route 66.

Six decades later, the 20-acre site has been thoroughly reimagined and is once again beautiful and welcoming. It’s one of those places that just feels good, in a soul-satisfying, restorative way. Think of it as a sophisticated sleep-away camp for grownups. With Lake Tenkiller and the Illinois River nearby, fly-fishing, kayaking, hiking and golf are each just minutes away from the resort.

In late summer, hummingbird and butterfly gardens vibrate with fluttering wings. Heirloom flowers bloom, and wood-andtwig arches sport vines laden with compact green gourds. The centerpiece of the residential part of the grounds is a spacious, shade-dappled courtyard that serves as the living room, dining room and main gathering place for guests, dogs and Sister the

chicken. Two stacked stone fire pits and two beautifully appointed outdoor kitchens flank the courtyard on either end. Surrounding this are a dozen little cabins, arranged in a half-circle, just as cute as can be.

This magical place was the site of the You.Are.Venus. August retreat, the first of its kind, but thankfully not the last. You.Are. Venus. 2 is on the books for April 8-10, 2016. Details and registration are available online at youarevenus.com. The brainchild of Britt Johnson and Bethany Frazier, You.Are.Venus. the retreat began in 2014 as a website, designed to be a place for the two women and their community of friends to write and share inspirational quotes and travel stories.

Their backstory reads like a contemporary fairy tale. The two met six years ago while drudging away waiting tables at Buffalo Wild Wings. Not a place synonymous with deep thinking or spirituality, but amid slinging saucy wings, scrubbing tables and serving beer, they forged a bond of friendship, and began to

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imagine their futures as spiritual entrepreneurs. Frazier was a student at Oklahoma Christian University, and Johnson was attending OSU-OKC. The pair quickly became best friends, and like many longtime friends, they tend to finish each other’s sentences and speak to each other in quick glances and verbal shorthand. They are confident, earnestly talking about ancient wisdoms while assiduously adorned with stick-on metallic tattoos and wearing flowing maxi-dresses that could easily read as costume-like or contrived but somehow don’t. There’s not a drop of irony between them.

“Everything we do is about co-creation, and trying to find out who we are at the core, before all of the conditioning. It’s all about self-love and finding our power as women,” says Johnson. “We are rising, as women, from the depths of where we’ve been pushed to. It’s not feminism, it’s humanism.”

Although the willowy Johnson speaks forcefully, her diction is relaxed, and her edicts roll languidly into the air. Frazier is a bit more polished and reserved, with a serious yet lively manner. She has a quiet intensity, and a gracious spirit. They balance one another. Where one is impulsive, the other is measured and thoughtful. Where one hesitates, the other leaps boldly, led by intuition.

“We realized pretty quickly that the website was changing and becoming more than just a hub for inspiration,” Frazier says. It took on a life of its own and all but demanded to be brought from the virtual plane to the actual world, and the sooner the better.

Text messages buzzed, fingers flew on keyboards, a curriculum began to take shape and the energy began to flow. Frazier now lives in Richmond, Virginia, and the two took to Skype and Pinterest to bring their vision for You.Are.Venus. to life. They started small, and planned a one-day event in Oklahoma City in February. That first foray didn’t

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(above) Britt Johnson come together and had to be cancelled. fires up the outdoor “It just wasn’t the right time,” oven to cook handJohnson says. tossed vegan pizzas for Their second attempt was bigger and lunch. (facing page) KelseyHoops performs bolder: a three-day retreat at an idyllic, a gratified fire dance away-from-it-all location. Johnson first during the Full Moon in discovered Blue Doors when her family Pisces at the You.Are. found a lake property nearby, and she Venus retreat. was instantly drawn to the place and its proprietors, whom she calls her second parents. This one worked beautifully and sowed in them the seeds for what has become their life’s work.

“This is it,” says Johnson. “This is what we want to do with our lives.”

Indeed, talks are underway to produce You.Are.Venus retreats in Virginia, California and New Mexico.

The weekend arrived, and a rare August cool spell had blanketed Oklahoma. The retreat sold out. Guests began to arrive and were welcomed with white pillar candles adorned with little kraft-paper tags bearing the guest’s name and cabin number and sticks of Nag Champa incense poked into the top of each candle.

Guests drifted to their assigned cabins, where they found gift bags containing fragrant goat milk soaps, tiny vials of essential-oil sleep elixir and delicate bracelets created from small flower charms strung on waxed thread. Instructors received similar bracelets, but their charms were tiny bees, because they were going to pollinate their visiting flower-guests with knowledge.

A couple of activities each day were scheduled for the entire group: the cacao ceremony, a full-moon ceremony, a fire-dancing performance and group meals. Beyond that, customization based on personal inter-

“Everything we do is about co-creation, and trying to find out who we are at the core, before all of the conditioning.” – BRITT JOHNSON november 2015 • 405 magazine

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ests was encouraged. Among the optional offerings were wildcrafting, yoga, Reiki, astrology, plant whispering, spiritual readings, grounding exercises, a drum circle, sacred sexuality, essential oil blending, ceramics and visioning. Plenty of time was left for each guest to unwind and relax between activities.

The women who came for the weekend were there for reasons ranging from just needing to get away from it all to mending a broken heart to trying to remain strong while struggling with temporary homelessness. There were two cancer survivors, a couple of journalists, a chef, a stay-at-home mom and two retired women. They ranged in age from early 20s to middle 70s.

Johnson and Frazier opened the retreat by gathering the women in a circle around one of the fire pits. A large shell filled with smoldering sage was passed around, and participants were encouraged to fan it onto themselves to cleanse their energy. Many did so with gusto, looking as though they took smoke baths every day. Others were smoke bathing for the first time, and fanned tentatively, possibly even a little suspiciously. Next, after a few announcements and the introduction of the instructors, each woman was asked to speak her intention for the weekend, to tell the others what she hoped to gain: self-acceptance, confidence, a healed heart, a quiet weekend.

If all of this sounds a little hippie-dippy, that’s because it sure was.

And it was sweet and human and vulnerable and fortifying, all in the best possible ways. Souls were nourished and fortified and bonds were cemented. Women were allowed to just be, and the energy was one of acceptance, warmth, kindness, gratitude and fun.

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BUILDING BLUE DOORS The first thing Jane

Whether relaxing in a hammock situated beside the cabins, creating personal works of art with clay or just being present with nature, Blue Doors offers an escape from the daily grind.

Honiker, the patchouli-scented owner and visionary behind Blue Doors, had to say as she swept into the room and smiled her beguiling smile was that she’s pretty sure people must have thought she was out of her mind when she bought what is now Blue Doors in 2010.

By all accounts, the place was in serious decline. It had a series of owners over the years, had lost some of its buildings to a highway relocation and was slowly decomposing, a decrepit gem hidden in plain sight. Well hidden. But through its shabby veil it spoke to her. She and husband Pat had spent decades at Lake Tenkiller, hauling their brood of children to their lakeside compound for idyllic summers spent swimming and enjoying a simpler routine closer to nature. Driving back to Oklahoma City one day, taking a slightly different route than usual, she found her future, half-heartedly waving its for-sale sign at passersby.

“We like to say we got it for a song, and the song never ended,” Honiker says with a laugh. She clearly and dearly loves the place. Although she’s always been interested in organic living and conservation, with the property came a renewed mission for her: “For me, the mission is bees, butterflies and heirloom seeds.”

She hopes the methods used and philosophies followed at Blue Doors will rub off on its guests, who will carry her mission into their own lives – and slowly but surely, the planet and its people will benefit.

A large dreamcatcher, Blue Doors took a solid three years to recreated by Laura Bowen, store. The moment it was hers, Honiker dove welcomes guests to the full-throttle into her project, despite the fact common area. that she hadn’t been working for a few years due in part to a serious health issue. The place seems to have healed her. “It’s been a crazy ride. Powerful and amazing. I have been led to this place, I often feel like I am holding a space for people to connect.

“We knew we would style it like a motor court, and we knew it would be stucco. We were inspired by Madrid, New Mexico, which we had just visited,” she says. The finished product is a work of art. It looks almost thrown together, but closer inspection reveals careful planning and a painterly approach to composition. It is a 20-acre canvas, a study in beauty.

She lived on-site in a trailer during the restoration, doing much of the demolition and rebuilding herself, with the help of Pat and their right-hand man Facundo Ramirez, who can be seen around the property hauling wood, building furniture or doing whatever else needs to be done. They call themselves the three amigos.

The first step was to gut the place. “We stripped everything and started loving the land again,” Honiker explains. Anything she thought might be refurbished and used was saved, everything else went on a pyre, and whoosh, the past was incinerated. And her convictions about her mission grew stronger. “I had always tried to do what I could, but being out in nature made me want to try more. I’ve always felt the need to be in nature.”

Honiker and her small team began refurbishing the rooms, one by one. Equal attention was paid to sustainability, quality of workmanship and charm. True to its name, every door at Blue Doors in blue. “When I

was in New Mexico, a friend said it meant welcome.”

There is Wi-Fi throughout the grounds, but there are no televisions or phones in the rooms. Books are abundant, though, and one might find the Harry Potter series on a shelf next to the Bible and a selection by conservative pundit Bill O’Reilly – something for everyone. Low-flow commodes and showerheads and tankless water heaters add to its Earth-friendly vibe. Art on the walls may start on a canvas, and extend onto the wall surrounding it.

There is a teepee behind the guest accommodations, which is used for meditation, Reiki, massage or yoga. Even the gravel paths are

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You.Are.Confused?

Here’s a glossary of terms Reiki is a healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient’s body and restore physical and emotional well-being.

Wildcrafting is the practice of harvesting plants from their natural, or “wild” habitat, for food or medicinal purposes. It applies to uncultivated plants wherever they may be found, and is not necessarily limited to wilderness areas. Ethical considerations are often involved, such as protecting endangered species.

Plant Whispering is the intentional practice of engaging the consciousness of the vegetative world and “seeing” the patterns of nature, with the aim of establishing a heart connection with any plant. Floras are a source of information for medicine, sustenance, art and inspiration.

Ashtanga Yoga is a style of yoga codified and popularized

by K. Pattabhi Jois during the 20th century, and often is promoted as a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga.

Open the Door

Rates, a listing of events and activities, a photo gallery and more information are available at bluedoorsattenkiller.com, or give Jane a call at 918.489.2174.

Drum Circle/Drumming releases negative feelings, blockages and emotional trauma.

Through the energy flow of drumming, participants attune their bodies with their surroundings and into their core beings.

Manifesting is a divine capacity to manifest and attract all that the subject needs and desires. Knowing that our thoughts create our reality, it begins with the following thought: “I have a divine ability to manifest and attract what I need or desire.”

Grounding/Earthing involves coupling your body to the Earth’s surface energy by walking, sitting or sleeping outside in direct contact with the Earth, or using a device that creates the same response while indoors.

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(above) Britt Johnson beautiful; some are a fine gray gravel, with Sister the chickothers are yellow-orange, still others are en, Jane Honiker and beige. Flowerbeds are stacked stones. A her 93-year-old mother Zen garden is provided for grounding and June, (right) a teepee nestled in the woods meditation. Roofs are corrugated metal is used for meditation, and little art installations punctuate the Reiki, massage therapy grounds. A 10-tent campsite has recently and yoga. been completed and has its own laundry/ shower building.

An extensive vegetable garden yields produce for meals and for the infamous Blue Doors pizza nights. A chicken coop houses Sister and her ilk and there is a large, tranquil pond behind the campsites.

A loyal group of Blue Doors regulars calls themselves the Wolf Pack, and several weekends per season they caravan out to this wonderful place and help Honiker with big projects in exchange for a couple days’ lodging. She loves her Wolves and welcomes more. Together they have moved earth to fortify the pond’s retaining wall, cleared brush and helped establish and tend to the two hives that now house swarms of honeybees that were gifted to Honiker.

Perhaps the sweetest ambassador for Blue Doors, Honiker’s 93-year-old mother June, can often be found holding court on the property. She sings its praises and loves to chat up the guests. One of her favorite words is “powerful,” and that she is. She also harbors a definite fondness for Ramirez, waving to him with a girlish smile as he zips past on his tractor. “Janie is just wonderful,” she says of Honiker, beaming with motherly pride and genuine affection. “There’s some-

thing so special about her. I love my sons, but there’s just something special about a daughter.”

June is a blue-eyed charmer and spends her summers at Blue Doors with her fat, Dachshund mix Ellie. She doesn’t walk as easily as she used to, so the pair is generally parked in a cushioned chair in the courtyard, where June takes in the bustle of activity around her and fills her pockets with interesting rocks. On a recent visit, she pulled out a few that had caught her eye that day. “Can you see the shape in this one?” she asked, eyes twinkling. “Look closely, it’s got a dog’s head on it.” And it did.

This is a place two-and-a-half hours from Oklahoma City and a million miles from anyplace you’ve ever been. Add it to your list.

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VISIT OUR SHOWROOM: 100 N. CLASSEN, OKC

405.272.0821

www.youngbrosinc.com MARBLE • GRANITE • TILE EST 1969

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home

A New Lease on Life Built as a hotel more than

a century ago and recently reopened as apartments, the Marion’s architectural style is known as “Classical Revival,” which also happens to be an apt descriptor in discussing this particular landmark’s rejuvenation. After a careful renovation that saw nearly everything but the exterior façade stripped out and replaced, this venerable dowager of the Midtown OKC area is teeming with vitality once more.

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HABITAT

A Story Restored Life returns to the century-old Marion Hotel

BY GREG HORTON PHOTOS BY SIMON HURST

A

As twilight fell on Christmas Eve 1962, Malcolm Haney pulled up to the front of the Hotel Marion to drop off his grandmother, the longtime proprietress of the hotel. The family had just finished their annual celebration, which they called “our family Christmas tree.”

“I noticed that Grandma Bessie had put red light bulbs in the two stoop lights on either side of the front door,” Malcolm Haney says. “I asked her why she did it.”

“I just think it looks Christmas-y,” Bessie Haney said.

Malcolm Haney laughs now as he tells the story, still funny after more than 50 years. “She’d never heard of a red-light district,” Haney says. Bess Haney’s grandson now lives in Kansas City, but like many of the Haney family, he grew up in Oklahoma City and spent many days and nights at the Hotel Marion, as it was known for most of its history. Since its refurbishment, the Marion Hotel seems to be the preferred designation.

Bessie Haney leased the Marion in 1946, and she was the proprietress – never the owner – for more than 30 years until her retirement in the late 1970s. Her husband died in 1954, and Bessie never remarried, nor did she ever hire someone to manage the Marion; it was her home and her job. After Haney retired, the hotel survived until 1985 – by then one of a few cheap, dilapidated hotels along NW 10th Street.

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Built in 1904, the structure is the oldest commercial building in Oklahoma, and one of the few surviving from pre-statehood. The Marion opened as an apartment house, then was converted to a hotel in 1907.

Pictures of the hotel over the next 40 years show a remarkably consistent image: the hotel’s beautiful Classical Revival shell, including the lovely red brick and white-painted clapboard around the fire escape. For several decades, a sign was posted on the corner of NW 10th and Broadway, right next to a fire hydrant, announcing the Marion’s presence. The lot just east of the hotel was full of Buicks a good part of the time, as the neighbor to the north was and is the Buick Building.

The Hotel Marion in its

The task of being original heyday (left); hotel proprietress The historic hotel, requires mettle, hard (previous page) now a work and diplomacy. beautiful set of apartments, is filled with light Mickey Clagg, who and life once more. owns the newly renovated site along with Chris Fleming, said of Bess Haney, “People referred to her as having an iron fist in a velvet glove.” Malcolm Haney described her as “the sweetest, dearest, gentlest lady, but tough in business.”

“She kept an eye on guests,” Fleming says. “There was no philandering in her hotel. If you were single and had a guest of the opposite sex in your room, you kept the door open.”

For most of the early and middle 20th century, hotels of all kinds were a mixture of rooms for day rental and long-term apartments. Bess Haney oversaw 32 rooms and three basement apartments. She kept a room around the corner from the reception desk to be closer to the entrance.

“There was no food service in the hotel, in most hotels, back then,” Fleming says. “You had to leave the hotel to get food.”

Rooms typically consisted of a bed, a chest of drawers, a nightstand or side table and eventually, a phone. Haney worked the switchboard herself until 10 or 11 p.m. nightly. The only television was in the lobby, which doubled as a day room of sorts. Each floor shared two bathrooms at the end of the hall.

One of the Marion’s architectural quirks was the fire escape.

Fleming said the original fire escape – the metal portion of which now hangs suspended between the Buick Building and the parking garage to its west – was a spiral structure that went from the third floor into the basement. Guests would then have to walk up to the ground floor to escape.

“Not the best arrangement if the fire originated in the basement,” Fleming says.

Clagg said the idea to hang the fire escape as public art came about when they were moving it during renovation. “We brought a crane in to move it, and Chris saw it suspended above NW 10th and snapped a photo. It looked like a strand of DNA. The group talked about it, and we decided to make it work.”

HISTORIC HOTEL MARION PHOTO COURTESY OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

home

(above and below) This sleek, well-lit and tastefully decorated space is home to an urban professional; the foyer’s mosaic tile floor (right) is one of the building’s sole remaining original components.

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home

HABITAT

The Marion’s original fire escape now hangs suspended between the Buick Building and the parking garage to its west, serving as public art to captivate passing viewers.

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As the colorful kids’ stuff indicates, families with youngsters are also calling the Marion home again. Bess Haney would be delighted.

The renovation involved nearly the complete interior. Fleming said the interior staircase is about 70 percent original, and the mosaic tile floor in the foyer is original. Other than that and the brick façade, the Marion is completely renovated.

Lingo Construction and architect David Kraszewski did the work, and Fleming said there were many days that one of the team just stopped by to make sure the walls were still standing.

“We had to take the roof completely off,” he says, “and most people don’t realize how much structural integrity the roof offers. The whole time we had it off, one of us stopped by to make sure the structure hadn’t fallen down.”

Restoring the Marion but keeping the façade was one of the goals of the team, and the newly renovated facility is once again the beautiful structure it was designed to be. The hotel was one of the anchors for Automobile Alley, so it is fitting that some of the new tenants work on Broadway, just a few steps from the front stoop.

The building is full again, including families with small children. Grandma Bessie’s family is thrilled with the new iteration of their childhood home.

Malcolm said Clagg and Fleming gave the family a tour of the facility before they leased apartments.

“We were ecstatic,” he says. “We were afraid that nothing would ever be done with it. It had important memories for us. One of the last groups that Bessie served were soldiers headed for Vietnam. The recruiting station was in the Buick Building in those days, and Bessie took care of those boys before they went to war.”

Buildings are always more than bricks and mortar when a family’s story is tied to the history of that place. Now that the apartments are leased, a new generation of families will make stories in the Marion, too.

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home

DECOR

Robin’s-egg blue velvet settee from The Wood Garden, OKC

Oatmeal camelback sofa by Henredon from Mister Robert Fine Furniture

Gray cloud Ryan love seat with nickel nailhead trim by Moss Studios from Cayman’s, Norman

Indigo bullet-pattern couch by Engender from Interior Gilt, OKC

Leather sofa with upholstered legs

by Verellen from 30A Home, OKC Tufted leather settee by Henredon from Mister Robert Fine Furniture, Norman

It’s hard to think of one activity most people will agree brings them instant comfort, but how about curling up on the couch with a book or the remote and settling in for a little rest? While for most this doesn’t happen every day, that may make it all the more desirable. Not only is a couch an important part of a house’s furniture repertoire, the right one can be a centerpiece to anchor a room and lend inspiration on what to add around it. So if yours happens to need an upgrade, or you’re just ready to change the look of a room, take a look at these. - SARA GAE WATERS

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Banquette with midcentury-inspired legs by Verellen from 30A Home

PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

Couches to Curl Up On

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dining Friendly Waters for Taste Exploration Gastronomes and gourmets could suggest culinary specialties for the Oklahoma City area for quite some time without naming oysters as a possibility. But in 2015, “local” isn’t quite what it used to be – advances in transportation and instantaneous communication have broadened the horizons of available cuisine, opening the door to some extremely palatable options. We may not have a coastline to call our own here in Oklahoma, but the prospects for diners who love seafood have become better than ever before with the addition of The Drake to OKC’s fleet of restaurants.

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LOCAL FLAVOR

Waves of Flavor

The Good Egg Group finds new flagship in seafood haven The Drake

A showcase of delicious possibilities: (clockwise from top left) Lona Faye’s Four “H” Club, black mac, perfectly grilled scallops, lemon cloud pie and delicately flavored hiramasa.

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Oklahoma City is about a thousand miles from the Atlantic Ocean, give or take. Between here and the Pacific lie more than 1,100 miles, and it’s 450 to the Gulf. That landlocked status means the opening of a new seafood restaurant here is more of an occasion than it might be in Maine or Florida or San Francisco. On the other hand, the advent of a restaurant like The Drake would be cause for celebration anywhere – the newest venture from A Good Egg Dining Group is a must-voyage.

The full name of the restaurant (by the way, it’s named for Sir Francis, not the luxury hotel) is “The Drake Seafood • Oysterette,” which should give diners a pretty clear indication about its focus – while you could make a full meal here out of solely land-based tastes, it represents an outstanding opportunity to go exploring for unusual-to-OKC flavors from the ocean.

But don’t dive into the sea of possibilities right away; first you really need to try the appetizer called Lona Faye’s Four “H” Club. I was in 4H as a high-schooler, but I would definitely have enjoyed it more if, rather than “head, hands, heart, health,” the name had referred to this platter of hush puppies, ham, honey butter and hot sauce. Whatever proportions you combine them in, the flavors overlap extremely well, and there’s something decadent, as well as delicious, about smearing butter onto a thin slice of ham wrapped around a crisp, hot, crunchy ball of fried tastiness.

Now, let’s talk seafood. Even if you’re a neophyte (cough), it’s worth investigating the oysters; not only are the options plentiful, the presentation is impeccable via an ice-filled tray and side flourishes including freshly grated horseradish, grilled lemon and a choice of accompanying sauces (we preferred the bright citrus flavor of the yuzu-jalapeno mignonette to the more astringent punch of the rosé, but your mileage may vary). And as for the main dishes, well, there was lively debate over which came out the best among the lusciously rich lobster roll – it comes with drawn butter, but you’ll never need it, though the drizzle of tarragon mayo is appreciated – the seared hiramasa filet that was exquisitely cooked and served in a pool of mildly tangy orange sauce, or the grilled scallops. I felt that the presence of the crumbles of crispy chorizo on the latter pushed them over the top, but our party never did reach consensus, so I can only encourage you to experiment.

THE DRAKE 519 NW 23rd, Suite 111, OKC 405.605.3399, thedrakeokc.com

As the anchor of The Rise, The Drake is further energizing the development of Uptown. Inside, Good Egg Executive Chef Chris McCabe (left) and Drake Chef de Cuisine Chad Willis plate dishes such as this exquisite lobster roll.

Meals are best taken in groups anyway, the better to allow for sharing among multiple dishes and to take advantage of the Drake’s family-style presentation. That means dishes come to the table as they’re ready rather than all at once, which doesn’t shake out to more than a couple of minutes difference, but more importantly, sides are served in multi-person platters. So pick something everyone can get behind, such as the popcorn grits or black mac – it’s tinted with squid ink for visual interest, but it’s delicious in its own right and sneakily spicy with a slow-building, lingering heat.

Dessert is something of a thorny issue: the menu is packed so full of tempting things to

try that diners are likely to be equally sated once the entrée plates are cleared. But if you can manage to preserve a bit of room, you’ll be richly rewarded in the form of a sweet treat like the Drake Creamsicle – a glass of cookie crumble, orange sherbet, vanilla ice cream and tangy orange curd swirled together – or the heavenly zest-beflecked lemon cloud pie with its crust of Biscoff cookies.

In sum, The Drake is a delight. Even taking into account the high expectations metro diners should have considering the success of the other Good Egg restaurants, this newest venture clears the bar with style. More than merely the novel catch of the day, it’s an eminently worthy addition to the metro’s dining scene.

QUICK TIPS Advance to the rear. The Drake directly abuts the ceaseless bustle of NW 23rd, so bear in mind there’s a good-sized parking lot to the north of The Rise, as well as streetside slots along Walker.

Trust the experts. Seafood is a broad category, and as Oklahomans, we might not have an encyclopedic knowledge of the differing flavor profiles among Malpeque, Wellfleet and Kunamoto oysters. But don’t worry – the waiters know their stuff, and can walk you through whatever questions you might have after perusing the menu. Just say the word.

BY STEVE GILL PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

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CHEF’S TABLE

MAKING THE MEAL MAGIC How to Update Your Feast

“Cheffy” Bird Rather than shove the

whole gigantic bird in the oven to cook for most of a day, Fleischfresser makes a recommendation that is so obvious you can find representative examples (turkey drumsticks) at the State Fair, but it seems most of us never think to do it.

“I like to cook the turkey broken down with different techniques,” he says. “The combination I like the best is cooking the legs and the drummies cut and braised like the veal classic Osso Buco.”

LEGS AND DRUMMIES

Cut off the base of the joints, plus the part you would normally hold, then sear remaining pieces Sauté onions, celery and carrots in the same pan in which the pieces are seared Deglaze with red wine, adding a little tomato puree and rosemary Add the legs and drummies back in, then cook at low temp for an hour to an hour and a half until fork-tender THIGHS

Bone thighs and pound out to a uniform cooking surface size Rub with garlic, parsley and olive oil Skewer and season Grill until cooked just through

BREASTS

Sear in heavy sauté pan until brown Place pan into oven with breasts skin side down to finish cooking Place cooked breasts on cooling rack and let rest before slicing

Sides “I love sweet potatoes, but don’t care for preparations that call for adding more sweetness,” he says, infuriating marshmallow lovers everywhere.

T

A culinary conversation with Kurt Fleischfresser Tradition, in the best sense, is flexible, an ongoing conversation between interested parties about what is best for everyone involved. Using that as a working definition, it is time for a conversation about Thanksgiving dinner. Nostalgia does not equal deliciousness. Ever try canned tamales since you became an adult? Or Big League Chew? We asked local culinary expert Chef Kurt Fleischfresser to cook turkey and sides as if he were filling his own family table, and what we got was a non-traditional take on a very traditional meal, which is to say, a conversation that promises to make Thanksgiving dinner the best ever.

“At our house, we have two options: traditional or ‘cheffy,’” Fleischfresser says.

“Some people only want the same food they have had on Thanksgiving their whole life. For me, it is nostalgic but not the tastiest.” - GREG HORTON

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Cut potatoes in half, end to end Season with salt, pepper and paprika Sandwich thinly sliced yellow onions between two halves Reassemble potatoes and wrap with a couple slices of bacon Wrap with aluminum foil Bake at 350 degrees until a skewer will go through them

CRANBERRY DISH

Prepare according to package directions, but substitute red wine for water (this is true in life, as well) Add a finely diced jalapeño and zest of one orange Fleischfresser also uses Swiss chard instead of spinach.

“It’s very easy and quick to cook,” he says. “It’s much like spinach, but much lower in oxalic acid (the stuff that makes your teeth feel fuzzy or chalky).”

Chef recommends adding roasted garlic, smoked paprika, rosemary, thyme, sage and citrus zest to your holiday cooking repertoire.

Drink For the wine, go with Lambrusco. The Italian sparkler ranges from very dry to sweet, and pairs well with turkey. Look for Cleto Chiarli or Donelli. - GH

PHOTOS BY SHANNON CORNMAN

Thanksgiving Reimagined

“GIRL SCOUT” SWEET POTATOES (NO COOKIES INVOLVED)

SHOW THEM YOU’VE GOT

GREAT TASTE

W W W . E H S R G . C O M

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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 A NCHOR DOW N 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 $ C A FÉ 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 $$ COOLGR EENS This healthconscious establishment has a menu, but customization is encouraged; every available component in their salads, wraps and even the frozen yogurt is naturally delicious. 3 metro locations, coolgreens.com $$ CL A SSEN GR IL L Don’t be thrown by the seen-better-days exterior; the food inside is deftly done diner deliciousness, especially the breakfast options (hint: eggs benedict). 5124 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 842.0428 $ DEEP FOR K GR IL L Crisply elegant atmosphere complements the menu of superb seafood (woodgrilled cedar plank salmon is a house specialty), steaks and accoutrements.

5418 N Western, OKC, 848.7678 $$ THE DINER The classics never go out of style – try this small vintage spot for masterful preparation of breakfast and lunch fare. Seating is limited, so expect lengthy weekend lines. 213 E Main, Norman, 329.6642 $ FL IN T Approachably casual style, plus the kitchen’s impeccably serious attention to detail in the outstanding contemporary cuisine, winningly combined in the Colcord Hotel. 15 N Robinson, OKC, 601.4300 $$ GU Y UTES The vibe is definitely and deliberately mellow in this Uptown

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watering hole; the diverse and musically named collection of pizzas and wraps and such have a ton of flavor to offer, adding more temptation to the loaded drinks menu and incredible patio. 730 NW 23rd, OKC, 702.6960 $ HEF NER GR IL L Upscale fare of hand-cut 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 $$ IN TERUR BA N Great food (and prices) in casual comfort – while there are plenty of options for the healthconscious on the menu, visitors really should try the chicken-fried steak and anything with honey-pepper bacon. 4 metro locations, interurban.us $$ K A ISER’S DINER A venerable Midtown location is back in business, offering juicy burgers, sandwiches, tempting entrees and a vintage sodafountain experience. The handmade shakes are a summertime must. 1039 N Walker Ave, OKC, 232.7632 $ K ITCHEN 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 $ L EGEND’S A Lindsey Street landmark for over 40 years, this casually upscale restaurant still serves exceptional seafood, steaks and more amid welcoming surroundings. 1313 W Lindsey, Norman, 329.8888 $$ ME ATBA L L HOUSE Round, robustly flavored and right up your preferred taste alley given the menu’s customizability, the focus in this Campus Corner restaurant is right where the name says, but the variety in ingredients, sauces and presentation in salads/sandwiches/pizza/pasta gives a surprising breadth of satisfying dining options. 333 W Boyd, Norman, 701.3800 $$ PACK A R D’S NE W A MER IC A N K ITCHEN 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 $$ PA R K HOUSE The view of the Myriad Gardens adds extra savor to a carefully curated menu of contemporary American tastes.

Rotisserie chicken is a specialty, and don’t overlook brunch. 125 Ron Norick Blvd, OKC, 445.7080 $$

405 magazine • november 2015

PIC A SSO C A FÉ 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 $ POPS There may not be room in Nichols Hills Plaza for a duplicate of the giant bottle-shaped sculpture found at the Arcadia location, but the incredible profusion of soda varieties will still dazzle visitors – and the sandwiches, salads, burgers and diner fare are certainly worth careful, repeated examination. 6447 Avondale, OKC, 928.7677 $ PROV ISION K ITCHEN The concept sounds deliciously promising: fresh and local meals for the taking.

This Nichols Hills Plaza locale offers chef-prepared portion-controlled meals and salads in a seasonally rotating menu of organic and locally sourced ingredients; perfect for taking a healthy lunch or dinner to go. 6443 N Western, OKC, 843.2310 $ THE R&J LOUNGE A ND 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 $$ R EDROCK C A N YON GR IL L Rotisserie chicken, enchiladas, pork chops and steak by the lake in a casual, energetic, hacienda-style atmosphere of stone walls and mahogany beams around an open kitchen. 9221 E Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 749.1995 $$ SAT UR N GR IL L 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 $ SCR ATCH 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 $$ SY RUP 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, 701.1143 $ VA ST Keeping your attention on the

steaks, seafood and other temptaitons 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 $$$ V ICEROY GR IL L E Opulent décor, comfortable environs and some outstanding cuisine make a strong recommendation for the Ambassador Hotel’s in-house restaurant; don’t overlook the brunch options. 1200 N Walker Ave, OKC, 600.6200 $$ WA FFL E CH A MPION A food truck that expanded into a brickand-mortar location in Midtown, its gourmet flavor combinations use waffles as the foundation for sweet and savory sandwich treats. 1212 N Walker, OKC, 525.9235 $ W HISK E Y C A K E 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 DOT WO GA R DEN With an elegantly appointed location, Dot Wo continues its crowd-pleasing legacy of over two decades by pairing sumptuous classics of Chinese cuisine with fiery, fresh sushi. 6161 N May, OKC, 608.2388 $$ GR A ND HOUSE The takes on Asian classics are quite delectable, and this venerable Chinese restaurant goes the extra mile to provide enjoyable ambiance alongside its excellent cuisine.

2701 N Classen, OKC, 524.7333 $$ GUER NSE Y PA R K A hidden treasure on an Uptown back street, reflecting traditional Asian flavors expertly fused with a hint of French influence. Try the chicken lollipops and curry salmon. 2418 N Guernsey, OKC, 605.5272 $$ O A SI A N F USION 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 $$ SA II With a dark, rich ambiance that elevates it over its surroundings, the captivating Saii serves expertly done Japanese, Thai and Chinese fare plus an extensive and adventurous sushi menu. 6900 N May, OKC, 702.7244 $$

REFINED DINING INTRODUCING PAR K AVE N U E G R I LL’ S SOUTHERN TABLE MENU Park Avenue Grill’s new Southern Table menu concept was created to evoke the food memories of generations past. A simpler time when folks came together to cook, converse, and consume.

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Our farm-to-fork fare is handcrafted from local, organic sources and is equally satiating, whether enjoyed with a night on the town or over a quick business lunch.

702.8444

PA R K AV E G R I L L . C O M

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Bakery

lovingly chosen craft beers. 1732 NW 16th, OKC $

CUPPIES & JOE The name is only part of the story: the Uptown nook also holds cupcakes and coffee and pie and live music and a cozy, trendy vibe and more. Park around back and take a peek. 727 NW 23rd, OKC, 528.2122 $

O’CONNEL L’S IR ISH PUB & GR IL L E 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 $

HURTS DON U T CO. Ignore your childhood hesitations: you do want a Hurts Donut. The 24-hour Campus Corner locale pumps out sweet and savory baked treats, including quite a few interesting innovations. 746 Asp Ave, Norman $ L A BAGUET TE 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 JUNK IE 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 $ SA R A SA R A CUPC A K ES 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 51ST STR EET SPE A K E A SY A converted house with a perennially packed porch and patio, the joint jumps with energy and the spirits and beers flow with joyous abandon. 1114 NW 51st, OKC, 463.0470 $

Family Feast Visitors to Vito’s Ristorante (once they find it tucked into a little shopping center along N May) know that whatever they order will probably be delicious, but even among the menu’s assortment of riches it’s hard to pass up owner/chef Cathy Cummings’ Shrimp Spedini ($26.89). Its shrimp are coated in Cathy's Italian-seasoned bread crumbs and grilled, then laid atop sacchettini pasta tossed in a savory red pepper cream sauce. The house focaccia bread is made fresh every day and served with extra virgin olive oil and fresh garlic.

Vito’s is named for Cathy’s uncle and founded on her delectable culinary heritage that stretches back over generations. Everybody who walks in is considered practically a relative, which is fortunate; because when family recipes are this good, it’s practically a public service to share them with as many people as possible.

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THE BA R R EL The menu is wellstocked with intriguing and delicious twists on pub cuisine like shepherd’s pie and shrimp and chips, but the equally ample bar makes it a great spot to relax over drinks as well. 4308 N Western, OKC, 525.6682 $ BLU F INE W INE & 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 MON T 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 $ OA K & OR E 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

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 $$ R EPUBL IC GA STROPUB Part beer bar and part upscale eatery, this noisy, amply attended Classen Curve locale pairs a vast selection of quality brews with tasty menu items, including a great burger selection. 5830 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 286.4577 $$ SA IN TS An inviting Irish bar in the Plaza District where whiskey and beer offerings pair nicely with classics like shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash or fish and chips. 1715 NW 16th, OKC, 602.6308 $$ SIDEC A R The fully stocked “barley and wine bar” (including wine on tap and plentiful spirits) keeps Automobile Alley patrons fueled, with a few delicious tidbits to boot. 1100 N Broadway, OKC $$ V ZD’S A revamped menu yields a new dining experience in a classic locale on Western – soups, sandwiches and salads can be found in plenty, plus a few special touches and gourmet twists as well. 4200 N Western Ave., OKC, 524.4203 $

Barbeque E A R L’S R IB PA L ACE 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 STA R UR BA N BA R BEQUE Named for notorious outlaw Belle Starr, 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 $$ L EO’S BA R-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 $

Burgers & Sandwiches COW C A L F-H AY This tempting burger spot offers ample flavor combinations, and the delicious never-

SHANNON CORNMAN

GOOD TASTE

frozen patties are mmmmmassive.

Don’t forget the onion rings. 3409 Wynn, Edmond, 509.2333; 212 N Harvey, OKC, 601.6180 $ THE GA R AGE BURGERS & BEER It can get noisy in the sportsbar atmosphere, but even so your focus will likely be on savoring the many tempting flavor possibilities of huge, juicy burgers and fries. 5 metro locations, eatatthegarage.com $ HIL L BIL LY’S Don’t let the unassuming name throw you; there’s mighty appealing flavor in their tasty land-based or seafood sandwiches, and the licit thrill of moonshine cocktails is a bonus. Kicking back on the shady patio is a genuine pleasure. 1 NW 9th, OKC, 702.9805 $ IR M A’S BURGER SH ACK Handcut fries, hand-breaded onion rings and simply great burgers, especially withNo Name Ranch patties - lean and flavorful thanks to a local breed of cattle. 1035 NW 63rd, OKC, 840.4762; 1120 Classen Dr, OKC, 235.4762 $ LOUIE’S GR IL L & BA R Casually cool and come-as-you-are, these popular bar-type hangouts excel at inexpensive burgers, sandwiches and pizzas - and there’s probably one right nearby. 12 metro locations, louiesgrillandbar.com $ THE MUL E Solid beer and beverage selection plus a delectable array of gourmet grilled cheeses and melts (ingredients range from fontina to figs) fill the menu at this relaxation destination in the Plaza District. 1630 N Blackwelder, OKC, 601.1400 $ NIC’S GR IL L 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 JOIN T Good news: these burgers’ exquisite flavors - including such showcase ingredients as peanut butter or a coffee crust - come as sliders too, the better to sample more kinds. 5 metro locations, sandbburgers.com $ T UCK ER’S ONION BURGERS With one burger, one side dish (fries) and one salad, the menu is easy to remember - and the execution makes the meal unforgettable. Add a shake and enjoy. 3 metro locations, tuckersonionburgers.com $

C A F É E VOK E Outstanding coffee drinks and other beverages from one of the area’s great caterers; if patrons wish to stick around to sample soup, sandwiches, snacks or sweets, so much the better for their palates. 103 S Broadway, Edmond, 285.1522 $ COF F EE SL INGERS 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 $ EL EMEN TA L 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 $ R ED 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, A N UR BA N TE A HOUSE 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 possibili-teas. 511 NW 23rd St, OKC, 7518 N May, OKC, 418.4333 $

Continental BIN 73 Think of it as a wine bar but don’t overlook the tasting menu - diners can fill up on filet mignon or simply top the evening off with tapas while enjoying the full gamut of libations and chic ambiance. 7312 N Western, OKC, 843.0073 $$ BL ACK BIR D 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 $$

East Coast Style Fresh Seafood, Killer Pasta & So Much More.

CHEE V ER’S Southwesterninfluenced 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 $$

Coffeehouse & Tea Room

THE COACH HOUSE Definitively among the metro’s most refined, elegant, upscale dining experiences, the rotating menu’s specialties are prepared with classical perfection.

Dress up and prepare to be dazzled.

6437 Avondale, OKC, 842.1000 $$$

A L L A BOU T CH A Universal standards and unusual concoctions (the sweet potato latte is a wonder) in a cheerful atmosphere; the food options are worth investigating as well. 3272 S Broadway, Edmond, 340.9959; 7300 N Western, OKC, 840.7725 $

LOT TIN V IL L ES Rotisserie chicken and wood-grilled salmon are the featured players among a host of Southwestern-influenced entrees, salads and panini; the Sunday brunch is sincerely pretty epic. 801 Signal Ridge, Edmond, 341.2244 $$

2824 N. Penn Ave • 12252 N. May Avenue • Rococo-Restaurant.com

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LUDI V INE 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 $$$ THE M A N TEL Marvelous steaks, seafood and other specialties combine with a refined atmosphere and outstanding service to set the stage for a truly memorable meal, especially if you have a date to impress. 201 E Sheridan, OKC, 236.8040 $$$

In addition to giving the drink its namesake color and an intriguing1/3 Gin ly complex flavor, the Chartreuse 1/3 Chartreuse adds an impressive power boost: 1/3 Dolan’s Sweet Vermouth it’s packed with herbs and 110 A dash of orange bitters proof. French monks invented this liqueur a couple of hundred years ago and have kept the recipe a secret. It’s one of those concoctions that gets a lot of PR mileage out of playing up its closely guarded mystery; supposedly only two living souls know the exact mixture and proportions of the 100-plus ingredients. Whatever’s in it, it enlivens a cocktail nicely; ask O Bar’s bartender Mike Rahill to make you a Bijou, and savor it yourself.

THE BIJOU

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French BONJOUR Make your morning tres bien with marvelously executed breakfast and lunch classics in this petite café - biscuits and gravy to salmon linguine, the menu isn’t vast but the execution is sublime. 3705 W Memorial, OKC, 286.9172 $

THE METRO A perennial favorite that feels comfortably upscale without exerting pressure to impress on its clientele, the far-reaching menu covers culinary high points from vichyssoise to crème brulée. 6418 N Western, OKC, 840.9463 $$

L A BAGUET TE 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 $$

THE MUSEUM C A FÉ 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 $$

What’s in a name? The Bijou is an apt appellation for this classy little cocktail found at O Bar, the sleek rooftop lounge on the 7th floor of Midtown’s Ambassador Hotel.

W EST The staff is speedy, the décor sleek and modern, and the entrées - like bucatini with meatballs or roasted salmon and ratatouille - are wide-ranging but elegantly simple. 6714 N Western, OKC, 607.4072; 1 Mickey Mantle, OKC $$

THE MELTING POT Special occasion? Here’s where to make a meal into an event. Specializing in four-course fondue dinners, this Bricktown restaurant rewards a time investment with delectable memories.

4 E Sheridan, OKC, 235.1000 $$$

MICH A EL’S GR IL L 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 $$$

A Splash of Elegance

a wide spectrum of amazing flavors in a few select dishes. 1317 E Danforth, Edmond, 330.4548 $$$

PA R K AV EN UE GR IL L A one-ofa-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 $$$ PA SEO GR IL L Quiet and intimate inside, cheerful and comfortable out on the patio, with an award-winning menu filled with distinctive flavors inspired by the cuisines of Europe in both areas – try the duck salad. 2909 Paseo, OKC, 601.1079 $$$ 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 $$ SE V EN47 A Campus Corner hotspot boasting sleek, swank décor, an appealingly broad menu including a tantalizing brunch and a consistently celebratory vibe - in toto that makes this a winner. 747 Asp, Norman, 701.8622 $$ SIGNAT UR E GR IL L Unassuming locale; magnificent culinary rewards.

The expertly considered menu mixes French and Italian flavors to present

German DA S BOOT C A MP 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 $ FA SSL ER H A L L Bringing festive German flavor to Midtown via housemade 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 remembering the bakery counter. 3701 N Youngs, OKC, 946.8444; 6501 N May, OKC $$ ROYA L BAVA R I A Superb takes on traditional dishes like Weinerschnitzel, Jagerbraten and sausages, plus fantastisch house-brewed beers. The time spent is a worthy investment in this family-style dining hall. 3401 S Sooner, Moore, 799.7666 $$$

Indian GOPUR A M - TA STE OF INDI A A full-service restaurant whose richly appointed interior and attentive staff accord patrons the feel of fine dining, even during the inexpensive and plentifully stocked lunch buffet. 4559 NW 23rd, OKC, 948.7373 $$ MISA L OF INDI A A Norman institution for over 30 years, specializing in tandoori-cooked delicacies and boasting healthy, natural, delicious cuisine served amid splendid ambiance. 580 Ed Noble Pkwy, Norman, 579.5600 $$

SHANNON CORNMAN

AT THE BAR

TA J 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 BEL L INI’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 $$ BEN V EN U TI’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; don’t overlook Sunday brunch.

105 W Main, Norman, 310.5271 $$ C A FFE PR A NZO The atmosphere raises first-time diners’ hopes; the execution exceeds them. Classic dishes, as well as less ubiquitous options that should be better known, are elevated to greatness. 9622 N May, OKC, 755.3577 $$ EMPIR E SL ICE 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 $ GA BR IEL L A’S A fresh chapter in the Giacomo family’s delectable legacy of success in Krebs, McAlester and South Padre; one bite of the chicken piccata or homemade Italian sausage should win diners’ hearts with ease. 1226 NE 63rd, OKC, 478.4955 $$ HIDE AWAY PIZZ A If you’ve been serving a devoted following for over half a century, you’re doing something right. In this case, that’s incredible pizza in jovial surroundings - a true Oklahoma success story. 7 metro locations, hideawaypizza.com $$ HUMBL E PIE PIZZER I A 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 $ JOE Y’S A creative pizzeria on OKC’s Film Row, Joey’s serves first-rate appetizers and salads along with its mouth-watering pies. Try to budget room for both, but remember to come back for a sandwich or pasta. 700 W Sheridan, OKC, 525.8503 $$ K N UCK’S W HEEL HOUSE 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 $$ OTHEL LO’S Garlic bread and warm mussels to tiramisu and coffee – all you could want in a romantic Italian café. The Norman location regularly hosts live music, too. 434 Buchanan, Norman, 701.4900; 1 S Broadway, Edmond, 330.9045 $$ PEPPERONI GR IL L Pizza, salads, seafood and plenty of pasta-powered classics and innovations fill both locations of this local favorite; even the bread is a pleasure. 1901 NW Expwy, OKC, 848.4660; 1000 W Covell, Edmond, 285.5454 $$ PIZZ A 23 The tempting selection of specialty pies on especially buttery, flaky 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 flavor.

600-B NW 23rd St, OKC, 601.6161 $$ PIZZER I A GUSTO Neapolitanstyle pizza (which harnesses an extremely hot fire to quickly cook superfine flour crusts and quality ingredients) stars alongside Italyinspired salads, pastas and appetizers.

2415 N Walker Ave, OKC, 437.4992 $$ STEL L A MODER N ITA L I A N CUISINE A luscious spate of legitimately Italian tastes for a casual lunch, or romantic dinner, amid stylish scenery. The weekend brunch offerings are especially superb. 1201 N Walker, OKC, 235.2200 $$ TOMM Y’S ITA L I A NA MER IC A N GR IL L An old favorite returns to the metro to provide fresh, plentiful doses of primo pasta and pizzas, always served with plenty of ambiance. 5516 W Memorial, OKC, 470.5577 $$ UPPER CRUST A chic, contemporary pizzeria and wine bar specializing in wood-fired, thin-crust New York-style pies complemented by a full menu and wine list. 5860 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 842.7743; 1205 NW 178th, Edmond, 285.8887 $$ V ICTOR I A’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 St, OKC, 759.3580 $ V ITO’S R ISTOR A N TE 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 $$ 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

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sauces. 230 NE 1st, OKC, 270.0660; 4709 N Western, OKC, 602.3477 $$

Japanese & Sushi C A FÉ 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 $$ MUSA SHI’S Exquisitely flavorful Japanese cuisine prepared with genuine artistry, thanks to the skilled chefs executing culinary performance art at tableside hibachi grills. It’s a great spot for a special occasion. 4315 N Western, OKC, 602.5623 $$ SUSHI NEKO An established OKC favorite combining style (sleek, brisk, classy) with substance (in the form of an especially wide-ranging and creative sushi menu). 4318 N Western, OKC, 528.8862 $$ TOK YO It’s neither huge nor lavishly appointed, and the menu focuses on tradition rather than creativity; but it’s palpably fresh and routinely cited as among the metro’s best sushi. 7516 N Western, OKC, 848.6733 $$

Mediterranean H A IGET’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 Rd, Edmond, 509.6441 $$ MEDITER R A NE A N IMPORTS & DEL I The menu is stocked with authentic, quick and savory options from Greek salad to eye-watering cabbage rolls, and there’s even a minigrocery 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 $$

GREAT NEW LUNCH MENU SPECIALS STARTING AT $8

LIVE MUSIC MONDAYS 6-9PM

BRUNCH

SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10:30-3PM

HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY 3-7PM

5516 W. MEMORIAL RD.

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405.470.5577

ZOR BA’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 $$

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 $ C A FÉ DO BR A SIL 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, inimitable treat. 440 NW 11th, OKC, 525.9779 $$ C A FÉ K AC AO 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 $ CHILTEPES Chuchitos to atol de elote, this Plaza District ristorante serves as a guided tour to the wondrous flavors of Guatemala, and its patio is perfectly situated to enjoy warm-weather sunsets. 1800 NW 16th, OKC, 601.0384 $$ IGUA NA ME X IC A N GR IL L Unique Mexican flavor in a fun atmosphere at reasonable prices - a treat from the house-made salsas to the handcrafted cocktails, and all the tastes between. 9 NW 9th, OKC, 606.7172 $$ M A M A ROJA ME X IC A N K ITCHEN A festive atmosphere on the scenic shores of Lake Hefner sets off a menu loaded with handrolled tamales, vendor-style tacos and signature dishes . 9219 E Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 302.6262 $$ TA R A HUM A R A’S Beloved by locals (there’s usually a line but it moves quickly), this airy ristorante serves huge, tasty Tex-Mex classics plus less ubiquitous fare like carnitas de puerco and mole poblano. 702 N Porter, Norman, 360.8070 $$ TED’S C A FÉ ESCONDIDO The universal standard of OKC Tex-Mex comparisons - fast, fresh and amply portioned, it’s often very crowded and always supremely delicious. 4 metro locations, tedscafe.com $$ Y UC ATA N TACO STA ND 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 $ Z A R ATE’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 DR A K E The Good Egg Group’s flagship and a standard-bearer for

diners who crave excellent seafood, it supplies a passel of chef’s creations featuring the sea’s finest, plus an oyster bar and righteous cocktails. 519 NW 23rd, OKC, 605.3399 $$ JA ZMO’Z BOUR BON STR EET C A F É Its upscale yet casual environment boasting Cajun- and Creole-inspired fare provides a nice backdrop for a a meal alongside the canal and a night out in Bricktown. 100 E California, OKC, 232.6666 $$ L A ND & SE A Chef Sean Cummings harnesses the delicious possibilities of multiple biomes in this savory concept.

Look closely; it’s pretty small, but the sea bass will make you a convert. 7523 N May Ave, OKC, 755.2622 $$$ PE A R L’S CR A BTOW N A huge Bricktown warehouse where the Cajun Crab Boil is a favorite, guests are encouraged to “leave the silverware at home and dig in,” and taste is king. 303 E Sheridan, OKC, 232.7227 $$ PE A R L’S OYSTER BA R A perennial OKC favorite for its flavorful seafood and spicy Creole-inspired dishes: Shrimp Diablo, Tabascoinfused Caesar salads, Andouille omelets at Sunday brunch and more.

5641 N Classen, OKC, 848.8008 $$ THE SH ACK SE A FOOD & OYSTER BA R A massive selection of nicely spiced Cajun and Creole cooking, plus fried and grilled seafood, in an atmosphere that’s not shy about being as casual as it can be. 3 metro locations, theshackok.com $$

Soul Food 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 $$ JA X SOUL K ITCHEN The team behind Blackbird and Blu dishes up big ol’ helpings of jambalaya, pork ribs, fried catfish and many more deep South classics for OU-adjacent crowds.

575 S University, Norman, 801.2828 $ K D’S Sleek ambiance, down-home inspiration, pork chops, stuffed catfish, shrimp and grits and more of Kevin Durant’s favorite foods, presented with skill and vim – and a dose of star power. 224 Johnny Bench Dr, OKC, 701.3535 $$

Steakhouse BOUL E VA R D STE A K HOUSE 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 $$$ BROA DWAY 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 $$$

SHOP. SAVOR. $AVE!

C AT TL EMEN’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 $$ J. BRUNER’S AT THE H AUN TED HOUSE Renowned for its spooky past (its name is no accident), it’s a must for its steak, lobster and enduring charm. 7101 Miramar, OKC, 478.1417 $$$ JUNIOR’S The classic restaurant’s decor sets the perfect stage for handcut Angus steaks and lobster to fight for attention with knockout fried chicken. 2601 NW Expressway, OKC, 848.5597 $$$ M A HOGA N Y PR IME STE A K HOUSE 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 $$$ MICK E Y M A N TL E’S This lushly atmospheric social spot in Bricktown serves powerhouse entrées and sides with a full complement of amenities destined to impress. 7 S Mickey Mantle, OKC, 272.0777 $$$

Sun-Fri 1-5:00pm

2-FOR-1 PASTA *

Good thru December

6305 Waterford Blvd, #100 • Oklahoma City • 405-848-1065 • bellinisokc.com

OPUS PR IME STE A K HOUSE 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 $$$ R A NCH STE A K HOUSE Effortless opulence, custom-aged hand-cut USDA Certified Prime tenderloins and ribeyes, served amid warm Southern hospitality.

3000 W Britton, OKC, 755.3501 $$$ R ED PR IMESTE A K Visionary design and atmosphere house superpremium steaks, vibrant, imaginative flavors and amenities to make some of the state’s best dining. 504 N Broadway, OKC, 232.2626 $$$

Thai SA L A TH A I 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 $ SW EET BA SIL 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 $$ TA NA TH A I 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 $$

Steaks Lobster Prime Rib Onion Rings

7101 Miramar Blvd Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Reservations Recommended 405.478.1417 www.jbruners.com

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travel and vanilla. The local butternut squash and crème fraiche balance the acidity in the wine.”

A Japanese eggplant and olive salad drizzled with Hojicha-infused (that’s a variety of green tea), 25-year-old balsamic was paired with a 2009 Cabernet Franc with subtle black cherry and herb flavors. And so it went through the second courses, the cheese course and the dessert, a bittersweet chocolate disc with chocolate-covered hazelnuts on dried Montmorency cherries served with a 2009 Petit Verdot. I went away awed and impressed, realizing there was a lot more to appreciating wine than I had ever imagined.

January in the vineyards

Paradise Enough In the verdant wine country of Healdsburg, California

A

A jug of wine and a loaf of bread may have been plenty for Persian author Omar Khay yam as accompaniment to poetry and good company, but that verse from the Rubaiyat was written more than 900 years ago – today’s travelers expect more. The good news is that they’ll find much more, as I did, in the verdant valley town of Healdsburg, California.

A JUG OF WINE Just a little way up the 101 from Santa Rosa and situated at the meeting of three major wine regions (the Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley), Healdsburg gives its guests easy access to more than 250 wineries. Oeno-

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philes speak of the terroir of wine – the combination of soil, climate and human influence – and Sonoma County, home to Healdsburg, is known for its diversity of soil with 118 different classes of loam identified. Needless to say, tasters must be choosers because trying all the available wines would be a life’s work.

Lambert Bridge Winery, a small, family-owned operation, is known for its Bordeaux-style reds. In addition to the traditional tastings, Lambert Bridge organizes regular food and wine pairings with noted local chef Bruce Reizenman.

For one whose knowledge was previously limited to “red with steak, white with fish,” the

405 magazine • november 2015

collaboration between Reizenman and winemaker Jennifer Higgins was like a Go Fish enthusiast watching master-level Bridge. The flavor profile of a wine is changed when combined with food.

This was my first experience with combinations that truly enhanced both elements.

We began with a butternut squash soup finished with crème fraiche and Tuscan olive oil paired with a 2011 Sonoma County Chardonnay. Bruce explained, “This wine has pear, apple and citrus notes with a bit of butter

baked treats, breakfast and lunch, Costeaux French Bakery is a must-stop. In business since 1923, Costeaux has been named the National Retail Bakery of the Year by Modern Baking magazine.

Breakfast is served all day with sandwiches, salads, soups and charcuterie added for lunch. Just be sure to save room for dessert.

As you might expect, Healdsburg has a healthy helping of fine restaurants dedicated to locally sourced, sustainable cuisine. Chef Louis Maldonado at Spoonbar treated our group to a tasting menu that included a variety of

PHOTOS THIS PAGE: JANUARY IN THE VINEYARDS BY ELAINE WARNER; GRAPE COVERED HILLSIDES BY BARBARA BOURNE

A LOAF OF BREAD For bread,

PHOTOS THIS PAGE: CAMELLIA INN COURTESY CAMELLIA INN; COSTEAUX FRENCH BAKERY COURTESY HEALDSBURG CVB; SPOONBAR BY BOURNE PHOTOGRAPHY

Pedestrians in Healdsburg can visit the charming Camellia Inn, have an al fresco breakfast at Costeaux French Bakery and enjoy a toast at Spoonbar.

vegetables – kale, broccolini, sunchokes, tomatillo, seaweed and the elusive, fractal-looking romanesco. We sampled Kanpachi sashimi, big fin squid and shellfish porridge made with local rye, sea urchin and miso. Not a chicken-fried steak in sight. But, for the less adventuresome, entrees included roasted chicken roulade and ocean trout cooked on a plank.

Chef Maldonado’s innovative – and tasty – dishes earned him a top four finish on season 11 of Top Chef.

Since I visited chef/owner Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen, the then-executive chef, Dustin Valette, has left – opening his own restaurant, Valette.

Current executive chef Andrew Wilson has worked in some of the nation’s top restaurants and is bringing his own flair to Dry Creek Kitchen.

For something different, try Mateo’s Cocina Latina. The base cuisine comes from chef Mateo Granados’ native Yucatan combined with French techniques – but you’ll find touches of other cultures, too. There in early spring, we tried his seasonal Margarita made with #2 Reposado tequila, blood orange, bergamot, lime juice, agave nectar and pomegranate pearls – a beautiful and refreshing cocktail. I loved the olive oil guacamole served in a crispy corn tortilla cone and topped with a pomegranate seed.

DIYers will enjoy a class or culinary tour with Relish Culinary Adventures. My group participated in a session with mushroom expert Elissa Rubin-Mahon, who identified a number of different mushrooms, demonstrated proper cleaning then assigned us stations to prepare some of the tasty fungi.

Best part: we ate our homework.

The most unusual dish – dessert – consisted of candy cap mushrooms and dried cherry bread pudding with maple whipped cream. It was delicious … who would have thought?

BED, BREAKFAST AND MORE The Haydon Street Inn, a century-old Victorian with a

wrap-around porch, was my home away from home. Massive camellia bushes graced the front yard, and bright yellow fruits on the lemon tree added sunny color to the landscaping. My residence, the Rose Room, had its own fireplace, a chaise longue, Jacuzzi and rainfall shower.

John Harasty and Keren Colsten have owned the inn since 2006. John, formerly the executive chef at Churchill Downs in Louisville, turns out a creative three-course breakfast every morning. Among the treats I enjoyed were homemade mango scones, bourbon-fried apples topped with deep-fried tortilla chips tossed in cinnamon sugar, brown berry waffles topped with

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kk

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kitchens spaces kitchens• •baths baths• •living living spaces

Healdsburg’s historic Haydon Street Inn

"Great Design has now met Form and Function."

wild berries and homemade apple sausage.

Add to that orange juice squeezed from fruit picked right before breakfast. What a way to start a day.

Fortunately for my figure, we did a lot of walking. One morning we enjoyed a historic Healdsburg walking tour through beautiful old neighborhoods, but overall my favorite walk was in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. Coastal redwoods are the tallest living things on earth. The Parson Jones tree in this park is 310 feet tall – taller than a football field is long. In the Burbank Circle, a natural clearing, benches allow guests to lie back for a great view of these giants towering overhead.

Shop at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Unique gifts for every occasion

store.nationalcowboymuseum.org 1700 NE 63rd St., OKC, OK 73111 (405) 478-2250, ext. 228

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A circle of coastal redwoods surrounding a natural clearing in the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve

And then there’s shopping. The stores around the plaza in Healdsburg offer something for everyone: clothing boutiques are joined by Plaza Gourmet, where you can buy onion goggles, a garlic zoom chopper or a chef’s toque. Two independent bookstores, Levin & Co. and Copperfield Books, have lots of local lore plus best-sellers. The cards at Mr. Moon’s (which also carries gifts, jewelry, soaps and more) will keep you laughing. Add a couple of wineries and art galleries and you could spend a couple of days just window-shopping.

In short, Healdsburg is perfect for a weekend getaway. But honestly, you’d be cheating yourself if that were all you experienced. It’s definitely worth a longer stay.

PHOTOS THIS PAGE: HAYDON STREET INN COURTESY HAYDON STREET INN; REDWOODS BY ELAINE WARNER

The Museum Store

events “Animals in Suits in the Street,” by Sam Washburn

The Art Beneath Your Feet

You move through and around it practically every day, but how often do you devote any focus to really seeing the city – its multifarious nooks and inhabitants and half-hidden details? Looking around at the urban environment that surrounds us can be surprisingly rewarding, especially if one of the directions you look is down: special exhibition The Secret Life of the City is on display in The Underground’s Invited Artists Gallery through Feb. 12.

Curator Romy Owens explains that the inspiration was urban life’s unseen layers. Each of the eight selected participants took a swing at visually interpreting the concept of a city’s “secret life,” with results ranging from an astrological reading of OKC based on its “birthday” to a colorful compendium of some of our street art culture.

The contributors include Kathleen Shannon, Erin DeMoss, Dylan Bradway, Stephanie Shilling, Kris Kanaly, Jason Pawley, Paul Mays and Sam Washburn. “Working with these eight artists on this exhibition has been a great joy, and I am thrilled with each of them for giving viewers these radically different experiences with art and secrets,” Owens says. Have fun seeing what you can find.

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events

PRIME PICKS

Mike Larsen, “The Panther”

Little Big Show Nov. 13, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Art doesn’t require a huge canvas to make a sizable impression on aesthetes – and although the individual pieces displayed in the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s annual Small Works, Great Wonders Winter Art Sale are deliberately diminutive, the allure of the event is anything but, especially for those visitors in search of a new piece for themselves or an unmistakably thoughtful gift. The comparatively meager price tags make this a prime opportunity to start or further enhance a collection as well, so look closely: Western art bargains await.

Funny Guy (clockwise from top) Heather Maloney, Annie Oakley, Peter Bradley Adams, MilkDrive

Cold Front Nov. 1-22, Santa Fe Depot With the temperature dropping outside, ’tis the season to be cozy.

So settle in with The Depot for a month of cool music that will prompt warm appreciation: no fewer than four spectacular musical acts are visiting between now and Thanksgiving in the Winter Wind and Whistle Stop series, leaving lovers of acoustic bliss with a stock of extra gratitude. Enjoy indie-folk soul from sister act Annie Oakley Nov. 1, a progressive blend of bluegrass and jazz courtesy MilkDrive Nov. 8, classically trained chanteuse/songwriter Heather Maloney Nov. 10, and emotionally resonant guitar-slinger/ singer Peter Bradley Adams Nov. 22.

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Nov. 19-22, OKC Civic Center You probably already know Robert Picardo as a star of screens large (The Howling, Wagons East) and small (“China Beach,” “Star Trek: Voyager”). Now the thespian is coming to OKC to take the CityRep stage’s spotlight.

Picardo stars as Pseudolus in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” attempting to ride a tide of mistaken identities, disguises, phantom diseases, misplaced mare’s sweat (don’t ask) and mass confusion in order to win his freedom, get most characters to live happily ever after … and most importantly, entertain the audience. That last one’s a sure thing.

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ANTERBURY

It’s more than a concert. It’s an experience.

Immerse yourself in one of the holiday season’s most-anticipated traditions: Canterbury’s annual Christmas concert.

Canterbury Christmas Sunday, December 6, 7 PM Civic Center Music Hall

It’s a joyous experience of holiday singing at its finest to share with friends and family! The familiar carols, hymns and standards are likely to awaken happy memories in most listeners, so it’s no surprise the traditional Canterbury sing-along that accompanies the performance is such a hit year after year.

The concert will be followed with a Holiday Reception in the Civic Center lobby as a special thank-you to the public for the continued support of Canterbury performances.

Don’t forget to have your picture made with Santa and Mrs. Claus by the atrium tree!

Special Guest, Kyle Dillingham

World-renowned fiddle sensation and Oklahoma’s Musical Ambassador, Kyle Dillingham, has performed his magic in over 30 countries, electrifying and energizing audiences around the world. The Oklahoma native picked up the violin when he was nine, and eight years later, he gave two featured performances with Roy Clark at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. He later toured with western-swing legend, Hank Thompson.

He has been a featured performer for the King of Malaysia, the Princess of Thailand, Singapore’s National Day Celebration, and has been televised throughout all of China. A frequent visitor to Washington D.C., he has performed for the Japanese, Thai, Romanian, and Saudi Arabian Ambassadors, to name a few. He also regularly travels and performs as part of local Heartland Acoustic band Horseshoe Road.

As the University of Central Oklahoma’s Ambassador-in-Residence, Kyle uses his “musical diplomacy” to help develop and strengthen new overseas relationships for the university.

CONCERT SPONSORS Hobby Lobby • Bank of Oklahoma • St. Anthony • Hall Estill • Williams For individual or season tickets, call 232.SING or visit canterburyokc.com.

events

SPEAKERBOX

BACK CATALOG

Getting All the Led Out

A Night of Wonder and Songs in the Key of Life OKC welcomes a worldwide music legend With NBA basketball season tipping off, big concerts at the Chesapeake Energy Arena will be difficult to schedule for the next few months. But this month, music fans in the 405 are in for a rare treat as Stevie Wonder brings his acclaimed “Songs in the Key of Life Tour” to town Nov. 3.

Wonder, 65, has been traveling the country for the past year with the tour, which shares its name with his 1976 album. The tour has been so popular that, after a summer hiatus, it was extended through the fall. Oklahoma City is one of 20 cities that are fortunate to host the show.

“Songs in the Key of Life” was an epic 21-song, double LP and one EP set when originally released in September 1976. At the time, Wonder was coming off three consecutive Top Five albums and was still ascending to his artistic apex. After negotiating one of the largest recording contracts, he spent a year writing and conceiving the suite of songs, which were based on his life and universal perspective. “Isn’t She Lovely” was written about his infant daughter, while “Sir Duke” was about the musicians that inspired him.

With full artistic and creative control, something which eluded his peer Marvin Gaye, Wonder was able to use his power as an artist and bankable star to spend considerable time in the studio fleshing out his masterpiece. In the 1970s, it was unusual for artists to spend two years recording an album. “Songs in the Key of Life” went on to sell more than 10 million copies (certified Diamond by the RIAA) and is lauded as a magnum opus and one of the best American pop records of all time.

It would be easy for a cynic to dismiss the tour as a nostalgic money grab, given that Wonder hasn’t released any new music since 2005. But if one believes that music is timeless, the themes and messages of “Village Ghetto Land” and “Black Man” are as relevant today as they were 39 years ago.

The show promises to be a spectacle, as Wonder will be joined by a 21-piece band and a 10-member string ensemble. Concerts thus far reveal that Wonder is warm, talkative and apt to improvise. He’s shown this charm and spontaneity before. While performing Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” at the latter’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony earlier this year, Wonder realizes that he’s in the wrong key mid-way through the somber song, and asks for a do-over.

He apologizes to the crowd and explains that he was not “looking” at the music.

Tickets to his OKC performance are available at the Chesapeake Energy Arena box office, by phone at 800.745.3000 and online at ticketmaster.com. - JERRY CHURCH

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EVEN AFTER WORKING in a record store for seven years, I never personally owned a single Led Zeppelin album. It’s not that I didn’t like the band, I just felt that listening to FM radio was enough for my fill.

The past year has given me the opportunity to finally process the band’s recorded output, when guitarist Jimmy Page remastered, reengineered and rereleased the band’s catalog. This was made even more convenient since the group’s entire discography (not counting live recordings, the box set or “Coda”) consists of only eight albums.

Page did it right, releasing the catalog in chronological order every few months, starting with “Led Zeppelin (I)” in June 2014. Each release also included a companion disc or what Page calls “a portal in time” featuring demos, rough mixes or backing tracks. The greatness from the band’s first record through “Physical Graffiti” was a joy of rediscovery.

Late this summer, “Presence,” “In Through the Out Door” and “Coda” wrapped up the series. “Presence,” originally released in 1976, is a damn weird record. Eschewing traditional song structures, the songs are incredibly long and reliant on riffs and alternate tunings. “In Through the Out Door,” the band’s last record, released in 1979, seems rushed and unfinished, although it features Robert Plant’s exquisitely sung “All My Love.” The CD reissue of “Coda” is actually a delightful treat, compiling three discs of long-lost bootlegged material.

If you’re a completist like I am, I highly recommend that you buy the entire Zeppelin catalog and listen to each record as if they were brand new. And play these on a stereo system, in order, through real speakers, not ear buds. - JC

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events

ON FILM

Sweet Emotions

Pixar’s latest hit heads November’s home movie slate If you don’t have small children and are one of those people who can’t go to an animated, kid-friendly movie without feeling a bit conspicuous and creepy, then take note: Inside Out comes to DVD Nov. 3. It marks a triumphant return to form for Pixar, the animation powerhouse that has given moviegoers no shortage of classics (the Toy

NEW RELEASES

Story trilogy, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo), but that has stumbled in recent years with a few cash-grabs.

Inside Out concerns the interior life of Riley, an 11-year-old girl whose family has uprooted her from Minnesota to San Francisco.

As the girl navigates a difficult adjustment, she must contend with a mind of anthropomorphized emotions, led by a relentlessly perky Joy (voiced by Amy Poehler), who compete for control of her feelings.

Against a backdrop of Pixar’s customarily superb animation, co-directors Pete Docter (Up, Monsters Inc.) and Ronaldo del Carmen serve up psychology-steeped jokes and surrealistic flourishes. Among the most memorable are a dream-manufacturing movie studio and Riley’s long-dormant imaginary friend.

But Inside Out is most adventurous when it comes to its central message. By exploring the well-meaning struggle between Joy and her melancholy pal Sadness (Phyllis Smith) over Riley’s memories, the filmmakers dare to suggest – and in a children’s picture, no less – that sadness is a vital part of who we are. When you consider that most kid-friendly flicks reserve their complexity for marketing tie-ins, Inside Out seems like nothing short of a revelation. And with the holiday season fast approaching, my proverbial hat is off to any movie that recognizes not all family experiences are painless. - PHIL BACHARACH

Here are more films you might have missed but can now catch via DVD, Blu-ray or streaming Watts delivered a breakthrough performance as a wannabe actress who becomes entangled with a beautiful amnesiac. More a fever dream than a conventional narrative – Lynch wouldn’t have it any other way – Mulholland Dr. remains an inscrutable, if irresistible, mystery.

JURASSIC WORLD

OK, chances are you saw this rampaging-dinosaur flick at the multiplex along with the rest of the civilized planet – it did haul in more than $1.5 billion worldwide – but if you missed it, now’s the time. No one can accuse Jurassic World of being overly brainy, but accept it for the schlocky late-night monster-chiller it is at heart, and your discerning taste will be none the wiser.

KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK

One doesn’t need to be a Nirvana fan to appreciate this searing documentary of the onetime grunge front man, but it helps. Although it was a self-inflicted shotgun blast in 1994 that killed Cobain, the despondent son of a single mom had been in a suicidal spiral long before then. Montage of Heck is a smart, disarmingly intimate portrait of self-loathing genius.

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ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL

An indie lover’s dream, pitch-perfect for those who look back on Juno or Garden State as the golden age of cinema. The belle of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and not without reason, the coming-of-age tale is punctuated by fine performances (especially Thomas Mann in the “me” role), while director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon sprinkles in everything from stop-motion animation to Wes Andersonian moments of quirk and whimsy.

MULLHOLLAND DR.

David Lynch’s 2001 warped take on Hollywood ambition, jealousy and lust is arguably his greatest work, which alone makes the Criterion release a must-have for movie geeks. Naomi

405 magazine • november 2015

SPY

Melissa McCarthy proves she has the comic chops to carry an entire movie, and does so without the filmmakers resorting to a single fat joke. Spy is not simply a star vehicle. Writer-director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) deftly parodies the male-centric spy thriller and gives ample room to a terrific ensemble cast including Rose Byrne, Miranda Hart and a particularly memorable Jason Statham.

TOMORROWLAND

I might be one of only a handful of critics not disappointed by this throw-

back to the optimistic futurism of Walt Disney. Brad Bird, whose directorial credits run from Pixar’s The Incredibles to Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, offers a spunky alternative to the dystopian fantasia of modern-day filmdom, and even if not always successful, George Clooney and Britt Robertson make a charming pair of tech-savvy heroes.

THE WOLFPACK

Documentarian Crystal Moselle takes a straightforward approach to her subjects, who grew up in a tiny NYC apartment and were forbidden from venturing into the outside world by a pathologically protective father. The six brothers found a collective escape in DVDs that they would transcribe word-for-word and reenact in painstaking detail. Documentary makers rarely come across a story this bizarre and compelling. - PB

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november 2015 • 405 magazine

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on the radar

WANT TO SEE MORE? Visit our online calendar at 405magazine.com

Dance

Science Museum OK 2100 NE 52nd St, OKC, 778.7619, infantcrisis.org

W EST SIDE STORY IN JA ZZ A ND DA NCE Nov 13 The vibrant, passionate musical retold without words, thanks to a collaboration between the UCO Jazz Bands and Kaleidoscope Dancers. UCO Mitchell Hall Theater 100 N University, Edmond, 974.3375, uco.edu/ cfad/broadway

CHEMISTRY DAY Nov 6 Scientists of all ages are invited to join in on experiments and competitions while embracing the joys and possibilities of molecular interaction. Science Museum OK 2100 NE 52nd St, OKC, 602.3760, sciencemuseumok.org

GR E AT RUSSI A N N U TCR ACK ER Nov 19 One performance only: the mighty, marvelous Moscow Ballet presents its resident interpretation of the magical toy’s tale, showing audiences how it’s done on the east side of the Urals.

Hudiburg Chevrolet Center 6000 Trosper Ave, Midwest City, 297.2264, okcciviccenter.com

BA RON VAUGHN Nov 7 OKC Comedy welcomes the TV and film actor and - more to the point - extremely entertaining stand-up comic. ACM @ UCO Performance Lab 329 E Sheridan Ave, OKC, 974.4700, acm-uco.com

Events

EDMOND’S GOT TA LENT Nov 7 The sentiment is laudable, but is it true? And who has the most? Citizens of all ages flaunt their skills for audience enjoyment. UCO Mitchell Hall Theater 100 N University Dr, Edmond, 340.4481, edmondfinearts.com

OU DAY OF THE DE A D FESTI VA L Nov 1 Carnival rides, food trucks, dancers, live performances by El Dasa and La Profecia del Norte and plenty of cultural celebration - all for free.

Lloyd Noble Center 2900 S Jenkins Ave, Norman, facebook.com/ uoklahoma

R ED FE ATHER GA L A Nov 7 A capital campaign fundraiser for the Oklahoma Indian Clinic, this gala evening provides dinner, entertainment in the form of Native dancers and live music for guests to do some dancing of their own. Cox Center 1 Myriad Gardens, OKC, 948.4900, okcic.com

ONCE U PON A DR E A M Nov 5 The auction-enhanced evening raises funds for the OU School of Dance’s scholarships and touring programs.

OKC Golf & Country Club 7000 NW Grand Blvd, OKC, 325.4051, ou.edu/finearts

L E W IS BL ACK Nov 8 Wouldn’t you know it? As modern life continued in its permutations, Black amassed a whole new set of things to be furiously outraged about. You’re invited to The Rant Is Due Part Deux. Hudiburg Chevrolet Center 6000 Trosper Ave, Midwest City, 297.2264, okcciviccenter.com

R ED E A RTH BUFFA LO BA SH Nov 5 The “Wild West Showdown” promises a rip-snorting evening of prizes and raffles, food and drink and dancing to the sonic zing of the Lightning Creek Band., Will Rogers Theater 4322 N Western Ave, OKC, 427.5228, redearth.org 1ST FR IDAY GA L L ERY WA L K Nov 6 The historic arts district’s name means “stroll,” which happens to be the preferred form of locomotion while taking in its wonders during a monthly display of arts and culture. Paseo Arts District 3022 Paseo St, OKC, 525.2688, thepaseo.com BINGO FOR BA BIES Nov 6 Infant Crisis Services has your number (hopefully) at this convivial event benefiting area babies in need.

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WA L L OF FA ME AWA R DS Nov 10 Inductees will join the rolls of OKC Public Schools’ most venerated alumni and community leaders at this laudatory dinner. Skirvin Hilton 1 Park Ave, OKC, 879.2007, okckids.com PA SEO A RTS AWA R DS Nov 11 The historic arts district honors the best of its best in this annual fete and dinner. Skirvin Hilton 1 Park Ave, OKC, 525.2688, thepaseo.com MISTLETOE M A RK ET Nov 11-14 A one-stop holiday shopping extravaganza thrown by the Junior League of Oklahoma City, giving guests a fully stocked pre-winter wonderland to explore. Cox Center 1 Myriad Gardens, OKC, 843.5668, jloc.org

405 magazine • november 2015

V INO FOR V ISION Nov 12 An international tasting extravaganza, boasting savory hors d’oeuvres as well as a spectacular selection of top-shelf wines, a silent auction and dancing - all to assist the vision screenings of Prevent Blindness Oklahoma.

Gaillardia Country Club 5300 Gaillardia Blvd, OKC, 848.7123, preventblindnessok.org W IN E T HROUGH T IME Nov 12 Toast Edmond’s history and development with some finely aged grapes at this convivial gathering for dinner and drinks.

Edmond Historical Society 431 S Boulevard St, Edmond, 340.0078, edmondhistory.org 2ND FR IDAY CIRCUIT OF A RT Nov 13 A monthly communitywide celebration of creativity, focused on historic Downtown Norman.

Norman Arts Council 122 E Main St, Norman, 360.1162, normanarts.org L I V E ON THE PL A Z A Nov 13 Vendors, artists, residents and passerby unite for a monthly fiesta. OKC Plaza District 1618 N Gatewood Ave, OKC, 367.9403, plazadistrict.org SA IN TS BA L L Nov 13 A wholly marvelous soiree to support St. Anthony Hospital’s lifesaving medical programs and patient care … dress to impress. Embassy Suites Downtown 741 N Phillips Ave, OKC, 272.7070, givetosaints.com R ED DOT Nov 14 A fast-paced sale of donated art with a few treats thrown in for onlookers, organized by and supporting the Individual Artists of Oklahoma. IAO Gallery 706 W Sheridan Ave, OKC, 232.6060, individualartists.org TA STE OF W ESTER N Nov 17 The world of exceptional taste found along Western Avenue gets even closer together in this sampling event and wine tasting that’s a true treat for the taste buds. Will Rogers Theater 4322 N Western Ave, OKC, 412.5990, visitwesternavenue.com V ISIONS Nov 17 The Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits’ annual award for leadership recognizes five local individuals who shepherd community improvement. OKC Golf & Country Club 7000 NW Grand Blvd, OKC, 463.6886, oklahomacenterfornonprofits.org

AUTO A LLEY SHOP HOP Nov 19 Discounts, giveaways, special mini-events and have-to-be-there fun fill this monthly mercantile excursion.

Automobile Alley 1015 N Broadway Ave, OKC, 235.3500, automobilealley.org OK L A HOM A H A LL OF FA ME INDUCTION Nov 19 The state’s highest honor will be conferred on eight outstanding Sooners at this banquet.

Renaissance Tulsa 6808 S 107th E Ave, Tulsa, 523.3203, oklahomahof.com TOW N H A LL: T Y LER COHEN WOOD Nov 19 The virtual world is not without its pitfalls; Department of Defense expert Wood discusses protecting privacy and personal data in “Staying Safe in an Online World.” St. Luke’s UMC 222 NW 15th St, OKC, 826.9689, townhall.publishpath.com A SSISTA NCE LE AGUE GA L A Nov 20 Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, this is a perfect occasion to celebrate the possibilities in community philanthropy with the Assistance League of Norman. Embassy Suites Norman 2501 Conference Dr, Norman, 321.9400, assistanceleaguenorman.org PREMIERE ON FILM ROW Nov 20 The downtown OKC street festival is family-friendly, pet-welcoming, free to wander through and filled with treats for the ears and taste buds. Film Row 706 W Sheridan Ave, OKC, 232.6060 CHINA CIRCUS Nov 21 Breathtaking feats of acrobatic skill from a well-traveled and often-awarded troupe of incredible physical artists.

Hudiburg Chevrolet Center 6000 Trosper Ave, Midwest City, 297.2264, okcciviccenter.com CIRQUE DRE A MS HOLIDA ZE Nov 24 This “family holiday spectacular” brought to OKC by Celebrity Attractions combines the colors and characters of the Christmas season with a stockingful of Cirque du Soleil showmanship. Music, stunts, charm … magic. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 800.869.1451, celebrityattractions.com HOLIDAY RI V ER PA R A DE Nov 27 Lighted boats illuminate the river to ring in the season with a free visual spectacle for the whole family.

Boathouse District 725 S Lincoln Blvd, OKC, 231.0912, okcparade.com DOW N TOW N IN DECEMBER Nov 27-Feb 1 A polar panoply of

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SPOTLIGHT

The Music Makers Armstrong season gets into gear

When Shane Granger, marketing director for Edmond’s Armstrong Auditorium, spoke of “great performances from our diverse season lineup” and said, “From local Oklahoma talent to Grammy Award-winners and even some returning favorites, the … series is sure to bring in audiences with a variety of musical and performance passions,” he was referring to the venue’s complete season, which began late in October and runs through April. But the good news for local music lovers is that there’s no need to wait; Granger could practically have been talking about the pair of concerts on tap for this month.

NOV. 5 – MARK JENKINS, “MY FAVORITE JAZZ”

holiday joys, from snow tubing to skating to shopping, fills the city center with yuletide glee. Downtown OKC 301 W Reno Ave, OKC, 235.3500, downtownindecember.com DELU X E W IN TER M A R K ET Nov 28-29 The variety is immense and the rewards for exploration are massive, especially if you’re searching for unique and delightful holiday gifts.

Leadership Sqaure 211 N Robinson Ave, OKC, deluxeok.net UPCOMING Y WC A WOMEN W HO C A R E SH A R E Dec 2 Help the YWCA aid women and children in need by sharing an emotionally rewarding meal featuring a story from a survivor of domestic violence. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd St, OKC, 951.3333, ywcaokc.org SA M NOBL E HOL IDAY H A PPENING Dec 3 Santa shares the spotlight with saurians as the museum whips up family activities and treats to celebrate the holidays. Sam Noble Museum 2401 Chautauqua Ave, Norman, 325.4712, snomuh.ou.edu

Film CL A SSICS SER IES Nov 3-24 Catch a masterpiece you missed the first time around or just want to re-experience on the big screen: Three Amigos Nov 3, Fantasia Nov 10, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Nov 17 and Planes, Trains and Automobiles Nov 24.

Harkins Theatres 150 E Reno Ave, OKC, 321.4747, harkinstheatres.com

Jenkins is a sterling example of that “local talent” Granger mentioned – he’s not merely an Oklahoma-based musician, he’s a member of the Armstrong College faculty. He’s performed alongside such greats as Branford Marsalis and Brian Stokes Mitchell, and this show tours the artists who inspired his passion for the jazz form, including works by Duke Ellington, Clifford Brown, George Gershwin and local musicians, as well as a few new compositions of his own.

NOV. 19 – MOZART ORCHESTRA OF NEW YORK Legendary American conductor Gerard Schwarz stands at the helm of this touring 45-piece orchestra that boasts New York City’s finest musicians. He’s received multiple Grammy nominations and won two Emmys for his recordings, and founded and leads this ensemble in TAKE YOUR SEAT a wide-ranging repertoire including Beethoven, Prokofiev and StraTickets are on sale for individual performances, vinsky. But for this evening, it’s all as are ticket packages about Herr Wolfgang, as the Orfor the remainder of the chestra that bears his name pounds fully stocked season; visout Mozart’s last three (and perhaps it armstrongauditorium. best-loved) symphonies, finishing org or call 405.285.1010 for more information. up by bringing the house down with the masterful “Jupiter.” - STEVE GILL

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CIRCL E THE ATER SHOWS Nov 5-29 The OKC Museum of Art screens overlooked treasures and unsung independent films for cineastes who want to step outside the multiplex. OKC Museum of Art 415 Couch Dr, OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa.com

from Sara Scribner, Shane Scribner and Barry Snidow. JRB Art at the Elms 2810 N Walker Ave, OKC, 528.6336, jrbartgallery.com FINE A RTS INSTITUTE Nov 5-25 The FAI hosts a collection of works from world traveler and dazzlingly colorful painter Skip Hill.

Fine Arts Institute of Edmond 27 E Edwards St, Edmond, 340.4481, edmondfinearts.com POW ELL A ND K ISSINGER Nov 6-25 The arresting gallery in the Paseo Arts District prepares to dazzle visitors and passersby via distinctive acrylic paintings and mixed media works. In Your Eye Gallery 3005 Paseo St, OKC, 525.2161, inyoureyegallery.com ROM Y OW ENS Nov 6-28 The community art space for public exploration of art welcomes an engaging solo show from the local textile magician and tireless supporter of local creativity. The Project Box 3003 Paseo St, OKC, 609.3969, theprojectboxokc.com HOLIDAY GIFT GA LLERY Nov 13-Dec 24 There’s plenty to find for the creative aficionado in this immense collection of handmade crafts and artwork that’s passed the muster of the Firehouse committee. Firehouse Art Center 444 S Flood Ave, Norman, 329.4523, normanfirehouse.com HOLIDAY SM A LL WORKS Nov 21-Dec 24 The Plaza District gallery hosts a selection of diminutive pieces for gift-giving perfection; find the finest deals and steals of the season.

Kasum Contemporary Fine Art 1706 NW 16th St, OKC, 604.6602, kasumcontemporary.com

Museums

Galleries

ONGOING IMMORTA LES: THE H A LL OF EMPERORS Through Dec 6, Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma

ONGOING SATEL L ITE E X HIBIT Through Nov 15, Kasum Contemporary Fine Art 1706 NW 16th St, OKC, 604.6602, kasumcontemporary.com

SH A R ED SPACE Through Dec 18, Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center 3000 General Pershing Blvd, OKC, 951.0000, oklahomacontemporary.org

A MOEBA Through Nov 30, Paseo Art Space 3022 Paseo St, OKC, 525.2688, thepaseo.com

CEL EBR ATING EDMOND HISTORY Through Dec 19, Edmond Historical Society, Edmond, 340.0078, edmondhistory.org

CULT UR A L CONNECTIONS Through Nov 30, MAINSITE 122 E Main St, Norman, 360.1162, mainsiteart.com THE SECR ET L IFE OF THE CIT Y Through Feb 12, The Underground OKC, 235.3500, downtownokc.com NOV EMBER AT THE EL MS Nov 4-28 The cozy gallery in the Paseo is home to intriguing art, inside and out: this month it welcomes a varied collection of intriguing pieces

JA MES SUR LS Through Jan 3, Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art 555 Elm Ave, Nichols Hills, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma COW BOY CROSSINGS Through Jan 3, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd St, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org BERT SEA BOURN: A MERICA N EXPRESSIONIST Through Jan 9, Oklahoma Hall of Fame

Museum 1400 Classen Dr, OKC, 235.4458, oklahomahof.com ENTER THE M ATRIX: INDIGENOUS PRINTM A KERS Through Jan 17, Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma NAVA JO WEAV INGS FROM THE PA RRISH COLLECTION Through May 8, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org RED EA RTH M ASTER A RTIST SHOW Through Jun 30, Red Earth Museum 6 Santa Fe Plaza, OKC, 427.5228, redearth.org GA LILEO’S WORLD Through Aug 31, Across the OU Campus 401 W Brooks St, Norman, 325.4142, galileo.ou.edu QUILTS A ND COLOR Nov 7Feb 7 See a vibrant and innovative side of an American art form in these dozens of mult-hued cloth creations collected by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. OKC Museum of Art 415 Couch Dr, OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa.com SM A LL WORKS, GREAT WONDERS Nov 13 The works in this winter art show and sale are of comparatively meager size, making them easier to purchase and place while conveying immense beauty. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd St, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org

Music A NNIE OA KLEY Nov 1 When sisters Sophia and Grace Babb combine their musical prowess, the results are soaringly, soulfully moving - as listeners at their Whistle Stop concert will discover. Santa Fe Depot 2 S Mickey Mantle Dr, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.org SUTTON SERIES CONCERTS Nov 1-23 Join the OU School of Music for stellar performances: Stephen Beus Nov 1, Percussion Orchestra Nov 5, Accademia Filarmonica Nov 8, OU Symphony Orchestra Nov 9, OU Jazz Bands Nov 10, Flanagan & Avery Nov 20 and the OU Wind Symphony Nov 23. OU Catlett Music Center 500 W Boyd St, Norman, 325.2081, ou.edu/ finearts/music

TUESDAY NOON CONCERTS Nov 3-24 Spice up your lunch break with a free concert by OU School of Music students and faculty. Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art 555 Elm Ave, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma BLUE DOOR SHOWS Nov 3-29 Self-billed as “the best listening room in Oklahoma,” it certainly has some of the best music, including Gill Landry Nov 3, MilkDrive Nov 7, Kyle Reid and Daisy O’Connor Nov 12, Peter Case Nov 13, Terry Buffalo Ware Nov 15, K.C. Clifford Nov 27 and Nellie Clay Nov 29 - check online for updates. The Blue Door 2805 N McKinley Ave, OKC, 524.0738, bluedoorokc.com M A RK JENKINS Nov 5 The pianist and Armstrong College faculty member gathers a lineup of friends to roll out an evening of Gershwin, Ellington and more titled “My Favorite Jazz.” Armstrong Auditorium 14400 S Bryant Rd, Edmond, 285.1010, armstrongauditorium.org NOON TUNES Nov 5-19 Free lunchtime serenades to sonically spice up your Thursdays: Jill Justice Nov 5, the Hard Road Trio Nov 12 and David McClam and Carl Moore Nov 19.

Downtown Library 300 Park Ave, OKC, 231.8650, mls.lib.ok.us JA MES MCMURTRY Nov 6 He has something of his father’s gift for storytelling, only expressed through his own self-crafted, thoughtful music.

Sooner Theatre 101 E Main, Norman, 321.9600, soonertheatre.org

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TURTLE ISL A ND QUA RTET Nov 6 A Grammy-winning string quartet whose repertoire ranges from Brahms to Brubeck to Jimi Hendrix they’re pretty epic. OCU Kirkpatrick Center 2501 N Blackwelder Ave, OKC, 208.5227, okcu.edu/music DI A MOND BA LLROOM SHOWS Nov 6-22 Crank it up on the south side with Granger Smith Nov 6, Jackyl Nov 11, Young the Giant Nov 13 and John 5 & The Creatures Nov 22.

Diamond Ballroom 8001 S Eastern Ave, OKC, 866.977.6849, dcfconcerts.com GR A ND CASINO SHOWS Nov 7 It should sound great at the Grand, thanks to a rhythmically righteous appearance by R&B legends Salt N Pepa and special guests En Vogue.

Grand Casino 777 Grand Casino Blvd, Shawnee, 964.7777, grandresortok.com

OPOLIS SHOWS Nov 2-21 Metro, meet Opolis - you’ll make beautiful music together, including Skylar Spence Nov 2, Pure Bathing Culture Nov 8, That1Guy Nov 12, Talk Show Nov 20, Travis Linville Nov 21 and more - check online for updates. The Opolis 113 N Crawford Ave, Norman, opolis.org

W INTER W IND: MILKDRI V E Nov 8 “Austin’s Progressive Acoustic Quartet” - that should be music to the ears of fans with affection for tight harmonies in beautifully blended bluegrass and folk. Santa Fe Depot 2 S Mickey Mantle Dr, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.org

STEV IE WONDER Nov 3 One of the best-selling musical artists of all time brings his titanic Songs in the Key of Life tour to OKC. Chesapeake Arena 100 W Reno Ave, OKC, 800.745.3000, chesapeakearena.com

BR IGHTMUSIC: DVOR A K, SCHUM A NN & SCHOENF IEL D Nov 10 Piano, violin, viola and cello interweave in Brightmusic Chamber Ensemble’s year-end concert. St. Paul’s

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november 2015 • 405 magazine

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SPOTLIGHT

The Great Eight

Outstanding Oklahomans join the state’s Hall of Fame Success means different things to different people, but having your state’s highest honor conferred upon you is a pretty universal sign that whatever you do, you’re doing it well.

Eight outstanding Oklahomans have been selected for induction into the 88th class of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, a group representing the state’s very best that, as of this month, will include Thunder star Kevin Durant, Kevin Durant country music legend Jim Halsey, NCAA administrator Bill Hancock, renowned painter and sculptor Mike Larsen, attorney and Inasmuch Foundation chair William Ross, Victoria’s Secret CEO and noted philanthropist Sharen Jester Turney, University of Tulsa President Steadman Upham and vocational education pioneer Francis Tuttle (who will be inducted posthumously).

“Being inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame is Sharen Jester Turney the single highest honor an individual can receive from our state,” says Shannon L. Rich, president and CEO of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Gaylord-Pickens Museum.

A formal induction ceremony for the honorees will be held Nov. 19 at the Renaissance Hotel in Tulsa, but here in OKC you can celebrate by viewing their portraits as they’re added to the Gaylord-Pickens Museum at 1400 Classen Drive. In addition to the other 669 members of the Hall, their biographies, photos and interesting facts will be accessible through interactive exhibits.

The Oklahoma Hall of Fame was founded in 1927 with the purpose of “preserving Oklahoma’s unique history, inspiring pride in the state and honoring accomplished Oklahomans” – and whether the field is athletics, fine arts, education or the humanitarian impulse to improve lives through philanthropy, these individuals help boost the ranks of the best our state has to offer even higher. - STEVE GILL

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Cathedral 127 NW 7th, OKC, brightmusic.org OCU CONCERTS Nov 10-24 Music-lovers mingle with students for the award-winning program’s shows: an OKC Symphonic Band concert Nov 10, the OCU Jazz Ensemble Nov 23 and the Percussion Ensemble Nov 24. OCU Petree Hall 2501 N Blackwelder, OKC, 208.5701, okcu.edu/music L.A. GUITA R QUA RTET Nov 12 Their four simultaneous guitar performers don’t get in each other’s way, they collaborate, harmonize and enrich the soundscape of concert masterworks through their shared virtuosity. OCCC Theater 7777 S May Ave, OKC, 682.7576, occc.edu/cas POPS: THE MUSIC OF THE E AGL ES Nov 13-14 Glenn Frey and Don Henley won’t be present, but their music will in a sense - the OKC Philharmonic puts an orchestral spin on some of classic rock’s bestknown hits. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 842.5387, okcphilharmonic.org RI V ERW IND SHOWS Nov 13-27 Get set for a flood of country crooning as the casino hosts backto-back-to-back Friday shows: Don Williams Nov 13, the lovely LeAnn Rimes Nov 20 and Red Dirt rambler Stoney LaRue Nov 27. Riverwind Casino 1544 W Hwy 9, Norman, 322.6464, riverwind.com PATT Y GRIFFIN W/ DA RLINGSIDE Nov 14 There’s a good deal of folk DNA in Griffin’s music, but in her latest - Servent of Love - the meditations are steeeped in jazz as well. Sooner Theatre 101 E Main, Norman, 321.9600, soonertheatre.org A MERICA N STRING QUA RTET Nov 15 Chamber Music in Oklahoma welcomes the NYC-based international touring group for an evening of Bartok and Beethoven (two of their specialties) plus a piece commissioned expressly for them.

Christ the King Catholic Church 8005 Dorset Dr, OKC, cmok.org DI A NA K R A L L Nov 15 The award-laden jazz artist and her transcendent style bring great sound to the metro. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 297.2264, okcciviccenter.com FA R MER’S M A R K ET SHOWS Nov 15-27 Solid venue, lush crop of entertainment - November features Soulfly Nov 15, Keys N Krates Nov 18 and Z-Ro Nov 27. OKC Farmer’s Public Market 311 S Klein, OKC, 232.6506, okcfarmersmarket.com OK L A HOM A COMMUNIT Y ORCHESTR A Nov 17 A sizzling collection of American standards, featuring special guest and international fiddling star Byron Berline. OC Hardeman Auditorium 2501 E Memorial Rd, Edmond, 425.1990, okorchestra.org

MOZ A RT ORCHESTR A OF NEW YORK Nov 19 Conductor Gerard Schwarz leads the evening’s special guests in an expert rendition of Mozart’s final three symphonies.

Armstrong Auditorium 14400 S Bryant Rd, Edmond, 285.1010, armstrongauditorium.org NATH A NIEL R ATEL IFF & THE NIGHT SW E ATS Nov 20 Pensive lyrics and a ton of soulful mojo from a crowd-moving R&B combo.

ACM@UCO Performance Lab 329 E Sheridan Ave, OKC, 974.4700, acm-uco.com PHILH A RMONIC: PA R A DISE, SIZZLE A ND STORM Nov 21 The OKC Philharmonic's Classics Series rolls on as tremendously tuneful cellist Joshua Roman helps them tackle Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony and other delights. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 842.5387, okcphilharmonic.org W INTER W IND: PETER BR A DLEY A DA MS Nov 22 The cozy confines of the Depot is a great location to settle in and enjoy the timeless, evocative, emotionally powerful guitar-accompanied songcraft of this traveling man. Santa Fe Depot 200 S Jones Ave, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.org

Sports THUNDER BASKETBA LL Nov 1-27 Another push for the Finals is underway - Thunder up! OKC faces Denver Nov 1, Toronto Nov 4, Phoenix Nov 8, Philadelphia Nov 13, Boston Nov 15, New Orleans Nov 18, New York Nov 20, Dallas Nov 22, Brooklyn Nov 25 and Detroit Nov 27. Chesapeake Arena 100 W Reno Ave, OKC, 208.4800, nba. com/thunder OSU WOMEN'S BASKETBA LL Nov 1-30 A new season tips off for the Cowgirls as they host East Central Nov 1, Northeastern State Nov 8, Lamar Nov 13, Texas Southern Nov 17, SIU Nov 20, Oral Roberts Nov 27 and Washington State Nov 30. Gallagher-Iba Arena 1046 W Hall of Fame Ave, Stillwater, 877.255.4678, okstate.com OU WOMEN'S BA SK ETBA L L Nov 4-19 The Sooners' house should be packed as they square off against SW Oklahoma State Nov 4, Winthrop Nov 13, North Texas Nov 16 and BYU Nov 19. Lloyd Noble Center 2900 S Jenkins Ave, Norman, 325.2424, soonersports.com AQH A WORLD CH A MPIONSHIPS Nov 6-21 Pole bending, barrel racing, jumping, cutting, and all around-excellence … here's where the American Quarter Horse Association tests for the best.

State Fairgrounds 333 Gordon Cooper Blvd, OKC, aqha.com/worldshow OSU MEN'S BA SK ETBA LL Nov 6-27 A new season tips off for the Cowboys as they host East Central

Nov 6, UT Martin Nov 13, ArkansasPine Bluff Nov 16 and Long Beach State Nov 27. Gallagher-Iba Arena 1046 W Hall of Fame Ave, Stillwater, 877.255.4678, okstate.com

slice of Americana - and don't worry, they're professionals. They won't shoot their eyes out. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 800.869.1451, celebrityattractions.com

OU MEN'S BA SK ETBA LL Nov 6-29 The Sooners' house should be packed as they square off against Washburn Nov 6, Mid-America Christian Nov 12, McNeese State Nov 20, Incarnate Word Nov 24 and Wisconsin Nov 29. Lloyd Noble Center 2900 S Jenkins Ave, Norman, 325.2424, soonersports.com

CH A MBER WOR X Nov 4-6 An evening of scenes and selections from English and American operas, rendered powerfully by UCO students.

UCO Mitchell Hall Theater 100 N University, Edmond, 359.7989, uco. edu/cfad

OU FOOTBA LL Nov 7-21 It's football time in Oklahoma! The Sooners defend their home turf against Iowa State Nov 7 and TCU Nov 21. Owen Field 180 W Brooks St, Norman, 325.2424, soonersports.com OSU FOOTBA LL Nov 7-28 The Cowboys line up to hold their ground against TCU Nov 7, Baylor Nov 21 and Oklahoma Nov 28. Woooo, Bedlam! Boone Pickens Stadium 700 W Hall of Fame Ave, Stillwater, 877.255.4678, okstate.com OKC BLUE BA SK ETBA L L Nov 14-24 The Thunder's D-League affiliate brings its a-game to battle Austin Nov 14, Texas Nov 15 and Los Angeles Nov 24. Cox Center 1 Myriad Gardens, OKC, 208.4667, oklahomacity. dleague.nba.com

Theater ONGOING ECHOBOOM Through Nov 1 All of this has happened before … A theatrical investigation of terrorism and its unexpected tendrils, set after a school shooting and inspired by the Sophocles classic Antigone.

UCO Mitchell Hall Theater 100 N University, Edmond, 974.3375, uco. edu/cfad A RT OF MURDER Through Nov 7 Someone is about to become the subject of a “still life-less” in this comedy-mystery about a husbandwife pair of artists … but can you be certain who? Carpenter Square Theatre 800 W Main, OKC, 232.6500, carpentersquare.com SILENCE! THE MUSICA L Through Nov 7 The story of agent Clarice Starling’s battle of wits with Hannibal Lecter and race against time to stop Buffalo Bill - retold as a musical comedy. Should be a heck of a show.

OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 626.6605, okctheatrecompany.org THE ROCK Y HORROR SHOW Through Nov 7 Things are going to get delightfully, tunefully weird for clean-cut kids Brad and Janet as OU celebrates the season. OU Reynolds PAC 560 Parrington Oval, Norman, 325.4101, ou.edu/finearts/drama A CHRISTM A S STORY Nov 3-8 Celebrity Attractions rolls out a musical adaptation of the much-loved

W ELCOME TO NIGHT VA LE Nov 6 The popular podcast recounting the news from a fictional small town is coming to Rose State – take an oddly charming trip. Hudiburg Chevrolet Center 6000 Trosper Ave, Midwest City, 297.2264, okcciviccenter.com THE FOURPOSTER Nov 12-Dec 6 The Jewel Box calls it "a valentine to marriage" - trace the contours of a couple's life together as they wed, create and raise a family and live through ups and downs together. Jewel Box Theater 3700 N Walker Ave, OKC, 521.1786, jewelboxtheatre.org PETER PA N Nov 13-Dec 6 Sadly, the pixie dust remains confined to the Poteet stage, but this rollicking adventure of pirates, castaways and elongated childhoods is magical nonetheless. St. Luke's Poteet Theater 222 NW 15th St, OKC, 609.1023, poteettheatre.com

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A FUNN Y THING H A PPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM Nov 19-22 The setting is long, long ago in ancient Rome, but the comedy is timeless in this uproariously chaotic farce ladled out by CityRep. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker Ave, OKC, 848.3761, cityrep.com DON PA SQUA LE Nov 20-22 OCU's School of Opera and Music Theater revives Donizetti's comic opera in which a big jerk receives his just desserts. OCU Kirkpatrick Center 2501 N Blackwelder Ave, OKC, 208.5227, okcu.edu/music GREETINGS! Nov 27-Dec 19 The holidays can be a strain for the disparate members of temporarily reunited families, but the most unexpected little miracles make for incredible memories. Carpenter Square Theatre 800 W Main, OKC, 232.6500, carpentersquare.com A TERRITORI A L CHRISTM A S CA ROL Nov 27-Dec 30 An old miser's redemption takes place on the pre-statehood plains of Oklahoma in this Dickens retelling that's become a classic in its own right at the Pollard.

Pollard Theatre 120 W Harrison Ave, Guthrie, 282.2800, thepollard.org JUNIE B. IN JINGLE BELLS, BATM A N SMELLS Nov 30-Dec 18 A star of juvenile literature learns a seasonal lesson about kindness.

Oklahoma Children's Theatre 2501 N Blackwelder, OKC, 951.0011, oklahomachildrenstheatre.org

november 2015 • 405 magazine

111

backstory

Bringing It Back Downtown

E

BY MARK BEUTLER

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405 magazine • november 2015

A view of downtown in 1949; visible landmarks include the Petroleum Building, the Ramsey Tower and the First National Bank Building.

A streetcar pulling out of the central terminal – the shed is located roughly where Nebu is today. As of this writing, service is expected to begin for patrons of downtown’s new streetcar system in mid-2018.

PHOTOS COURTESY OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND THE CITY OF OKLAHOMA CITY

Evolving cities should be continually planning for the future, but also mindful of the past. Amid OKC’s current period of expansion, a little historical perspective reminds us of the ways downtown is coming full circle, and makes its growth even more impressive.

A half-century ago, Oklahomans of another era enjoyed a bustling downtown filled with swanky boutiques, upscale restaurants and even a trolley system.

Eventually, the lure of the suburbs proved too great and left the heart of the city a shadow of what it once had been. But city leaders came up with a plan – the “Pei Plan” to be specific, named for its designer, famed urban planner and architect I.M. Pei. That undertaking resulted in the chaotic “urban renewal” days of the 1960s and ‘70s. It began on a large scale in 1967, and even the most historically significant buildings were not safe from the wrecking ball.

The beautiful Criterion Theater came down, followed by the once-luxurious Biltmore Hotel, and other landmarks such as the John A. Brown department store. With the exception of those who worked there, downtown Oklahoma City was mostly deserted and desolate.

Fast-forward to the mid-1990s, when a transformation began with the implementation of the Metropolitan Area Projects, or MAPS. Growth, development and life returned to the city’s heart.

From Deep Deuce to Thunder Alley, Film Row to the riverside, there’s no doubt about it: downtown Oklahoma City is once again a happening place.

“We have an entire generation now who probably thinks there has always been a ballpark in Bricktown and water in the river,” Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett told 405 Magazine. “The vision of my predecessors and the will of Oklahoma City voters to envision and pass each of the MAPS programs set Oklahoma City on a course to its current renaissance. I believe we’re headed in the right direction and that the next decade is going to be as transformational as the last decade.”

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