March 2024 Issue

PAT I O

S E N SAT I O N A L

DINING

SPRING

ROUNDUP

DESIGN

Take Your Landscaping to the Next Level

and the art of the flower

Credits, left to right: Georgia O'Keeffe, Calla Lily (Lily - Yellow No. 2), 1927, oil on canvas, 20 x 9 in., Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Westheimer Family Collection, 2005.056, © Georgia O'Keeffe Museum / Artist Rights Society (ARS), New York, photo © Oklahoma City Museum of Art; Georgia O'Keeffe, White Bird of Paradise, 1939. Oil on canvas, 19 x 16 inches. Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Gift of Jean Holmes McDonald. © Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. [2009.2.1] Photo: Tim Nighswander/IMAGING4ART; Georgia O'Keeffe, The Black Iris, 1926. Oil on canvas, 9 x 7 inches.

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Gift of The Burnett Foundation. © Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. [2007.1.19] Photo: Tim Nighswander/IMAGING4ART; and Georgia O'Keeffe, Calla Lily for Alfred, 1927. Oil on canvas board, 12 x 6 inches. Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene V. Thaw. © Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. [1997.1.1] Photo: Tim Nighswander/IMAGING4ART.

Five local chefs. Two challenges.

One place to try all the recipes.

Chef Jonathon Stranger accepted the challenge and created a quick and cheesy Cacio é Pepe.

Check out all the Dinner Spinner videos at naturalgascooking.com

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VOLU ME TEN ISSUE T HRE E

DEE NASH

F E AT U R ES

35

Good to Grow

Take your green thumb to the next level this spring with our gardening and landscaping tips.

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MARCH 2024

4 2 0 0 W M E M O R I A L R OA D, S U I T E 1 0 1 , O K L A H O M A C I T Y

P H YS I C I A N S - O P T I C A L .C O M

4 0 5 -74 9 - 4 2 8 5

D E PA R T M E N T S

VOLU ME TEN I S S U E T HRE E

Trending

Culture

14

STYLE Tropical fashion perfect for spring

58 ARTS A Bricktown spot to savor standup comedy performances

16

SOCIAL HOUR People and events in the 405

18

60 IN CONVO WITH Custom upholstery from Emily Madden with Thready or Not

PERSON OF INTEREST Salvador Ontiveros takes the helm of the Latino Community Development Agency

62 LOOKING BACK An Oklahoma town with a poisonous past and ghostly present

20 HEALTH March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and there is local help for this painful problem

Home

Dining

24 MOODBOARD Vintage treasures find new shine amid fresh, modern concepts

48 GOOD TASTE Edmondʼs new Italian restaurant presents homemade pasta and soulful soups

26 GATHERINGS Dress up your next tablescape with blooms and butterflies

52

28 DESIGN Local real estate brokerage owner shows off her personal home

54 THE DRINK OKCʼs prettiest bar hiding in plain sight

64 ONE MORE THING In praise of Stillwaterʼs 13-year-old “Tetris” prodigy

THE DISH The best al fresco experiences in town this season

10

FROM THE EDITOR

ON THE COVER Blooming blue hydrangeas.

Photo by Joyce Vincent.

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MARCH 2024

Nichols Hills Plaza & Sun Valley Resort NaifehFineJewelry.com

M ARCH 2024

VOLUME 10 • NUMBER 3

PUBLISHER

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS

Kendall Morgan Hammack

Meagan Matthews

DEVELOPMENT

kaley@hilltopmediagroup.com

Lillie-Beth Sanger Brinkman, Lavinia Creswa, Jake Durham, Kristen Grace, Bennett Hill, Evie Klopp Holzer, Matt Kirouac, Linda Miller

EDITOR IN CHIEF

CONTRIBUTING

Julie Partin

PHOTOGRAPHERS

kendall.morgan@405magazine.com VICE PRESIDENT

Kaley Regas

julie.partin@405magazine.com ART DIRECTOR

Cadence Ramos cadence.ramos@405magazine.com

Kimberly Martin, KTM Interior Photography, Rachel Maucieri, Charlie Neuenschwander, Sarah Strunk

meagan@hilltopmediagroup.com

Drew Smith drew.smith@405magazine.com

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ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

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HOME SECTION EDITOR

Evie Klopp Holzer

MANAGING EDITOR

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MARCH 2024

405 Magazine Volume 10, Number 3, March 2024. 405 Magazine is published monthly

by Hilltop Media Group at 1216 N Blackwelder Ave., Suite 13, Oklahoma City, OK 73106, 405.842.2266. ©Copyright 2024 Hilltop Media Group. 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. Basic annual subscription rate is $14.95. U.S. single-copy price is $4.95. Back issues are $9.50 each

F R O M

T H E

ED I TO R

Bloom Where You Are Planted GA R DE N I NG IS ON E OF T HOSE HOBBI ES T H AT SN E A KS up on you.

I did not discover my green thumb, or give a second thought to landscaping, until my 30s. When you’re renting or in a starter home, you don’t tend to picture your yard in a few years or decades. After we moved into what could be a forever situation, all of that changed.

I started visualizing our yard and the horizon from my back patio and thinking of the possibilities of what could be.

“Next spring, wouldn’t it be lovely to have blooming magnolias?”

“Five years from now how great would it be to have birds singing from a river birch?”

“Twenty years from now I believe my possible grandchildren would enjoy the shade of a sturdy elm.”

Due to my affi nity for future planning, evergreens and perennials are my specialty. In the three years since moving into our current house, I have planted four holly shrubs, three magnolias, a river birch, an elm, a Cleveland flowering pear, a crape myrtle, a redbud (that did not make it), countless flowers and plants including elephant ears that are now about six feet wide and the crown jewel of our garden—my grandmother’s 5-year-old hot pink peony (several of these pictured). The secret to a flourishing floral ecosystem is in the research. Finding out what environment the plant will thrive in and sowing it correctly allows nature to do most of the work. I find deep symbolism and satisfaction in watching a specimen bloom where it is planted.

In our cover feature this month, Home Editor Evie Klopp Holzer interviews two local landscaping and gardening experts. Their tips and experience will help local homeowners create a flourishing horticulture oasis on their own property (pg. 35). For further spring design ideas, check out our seasonal Home section full of colors and nature inspiration (pg. 23).

Also in this issue, we cover the new authentic Italian joint now open in Edmond where my family (and many others) now dine weekly (pg. 48) and recommend several al fresco patios that perfectly complement lovely weather (pg. 52).

Additionally, we introduce you to the new MVP of Latino development (pg.

18), a talented upholstery artist (pg. 0) and the teenage video game prodigy who just made international headlines after beating a long-thought-unbeatable classic game (pg. 4).

MY BLOOMS

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MARCH 2024

Lastly, I want to keep our readers in the loop on a few very exciting happenings. I am thrilled to present our new Managing Editor, Kaylin Hill.

She comes to us with a very impressive resume and passion for the city, and we are delighted to have her.

And speaking of new growth — I am thrilled to be welcoming a baby boy into our family right around the time you are reading this issue! We cannot wait to meet this little miracle and show him all the beauty that life has to offer. I will be on maternity leave from March through the end of May. But have no fear, the feature stories for all three issues are planned and fleshed out, and they are going to be glorious! While I am away, Kaylin and our Hilltop Media Group company owner, Kaley Regas, will be generously stepping in to keep things running smoothly.

I hope this issue finds you, as I am, anticipating spring!

Julie Partin EDITOR IN CHIEF

Looking to reach the right audience for your business?

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Here is what Debra Davis, Media Director at Traction Marketing, had to say about why they continue to work with 405:

I think 405 helps connect readers with the brands BC Clark sells…

David Yurman saw a boost in sales, and we had two David Yurman insertions in Q4 in 405 Magazine.”

Contact kendall.morgan@405magazine.com to learn more!

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TRENDING S T Y L E 14

SOCIAL HOUR 1 6

PERSON OF INTEREST 1 8

HEALTH 2 0

Beacon of Hope

CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER

Salvador Ontiveros' journey as the new leader of the Latino Community Development Agency. p. 18

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S T Y L E

T R E N D I N G

1

2

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Tropical Thinking Sailing into spring vibes

BY B E N N E T T H I L L

A H IG H LY A N T IC I PAT E D M O N T H , M A RC H A L L BU T stops the clock for a joyous occasion: Spring Break! The time of year we look forward to escaping a seemingly eternal winter to be greeted with the sun and sand, when the world (and wardrobes) seem to be set ablaze in vibrant blues and pinks, along with playful prints that paint dream destinations.

Whether on a staycation or en route to a destination, a good pair of sneakers always travels well, and so should you.

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MARCH 2024

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T R E N D I N G

South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet

Elaine Lyons, President South OKC Chamber; Jeremy Sparks

Tonya Mann, Epic Charter Schools; Volunteer of the Year, Marla Robinson, Grit Resources; Lealon Taylor, Epic Charter Schools

P H O T O S BY A H H S H O O T.CO M

The South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Banquet, presented by AT&T, at the First Americans Museum. The event served as the installation for the Chamber’s 2024 board of directors.

Outstanding individuals in the community were also honored for their work in 2023.

Cathy Buchanan; Citizen of the Year, Steve Buchanan, Buchanan Realty Group; Glenda Montiel, COX Business

Elizabeth Odom's husband, Paul Odom III; Ronnie Freeman's son, Austin Freeman and wife, Karrie L. Freeman; Judge Twyla Gray's daughter, Sarah Teague

Ambassador of the Year, Stephen Zaborowski, ArchWell Health; and Terrell Fry, Oasis Technologies

Brandi Mertens, Incoming Chair; Native Oklahoman, Blake Shelton; Jeremy Sparks, Elaine Lyons, President

GlitterBall Chalet

Mel Drake, Krystal Yoseph, Tiarra Harper

P H O T O S BY DENNIS SPIELMAN & P R OV I D E D

The annual GlitterBall party was held at The Jones Assembly and featured a winter formal with live music, drinks, hors d'oeuvres, dancing and cinematic surprises.

Proceeds benefited deadCENTER’s educational programming and yearround community screenings.

Melissa Scaramucci, Rachael Gruntmeir, Abby Clark, Cacky Poarch

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MARCH 2024

S O C I A L

Erik Salazar, Phi Nguyen, Ashley Weems, Christopher Lloyd

Kelly Blundell, John Kennedy, Michelle Tibbs

H O U R

Daniela Nusbaum, Hendrikus Kwan, Caroline Kwan , Shiny Mathew, Matt Samuel

Lauran Spencer, Bethany Scott, Sterling Springer, Meredith Scott-Kaliki, Ashley Forrest

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T R E N D I N G

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MARCH 2024

P E R S O N

O F

I N T E R E S T

Expanding Connections Salvador Ontiveros takes the helm of the Latino Community Development Agency

BY K R I S T E N G R A C E | P H O T O BY C H A R L I E N E U E N S C H WA N D E R

ON T H IS F RO S T Y W I N T E R A F T E R NO ON, T H E L AT I NO Community Development Agency is filled with signs of joyful life: preschoolers dancing through the lobby holding hands and the smells of cooking.

Oregano, garlic and chilies waft deliciously through the air.

The LCDA, an award-winning service organization founded in Oklahoma City in 1991, welcomed a passionate and capable new president and CEO on Aug. 1, 2023. Salvador Ontiveros took over the role from Dr. Raul Font.

Six months in, he is enthusiastic about this new role. “I go home at night not feeling like I worked 12 hours; I go home at night thinking about all the people that this place served. It’s not always appropriate to brag in our culture, but I think it’s time to start sharing what we are doing.”

Before accepting this position, Ontiveros brought a wealth of experience from his 14 years of work in multiple fields. He has held various positions in sales, finance, human resources and banking. “I was trying to learn everything. But what I have always wanted to do,” he emphasized, “was work in non-profit.”

He came to the LCDA from his work at Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center as it was beginning a fundraising campaign to construct a new building at 11th and Broadway. “I was in charge of finance, accounting, IT and human resources. The campaign raised 30 million dollars and we started construction on the new building. We went from 13 employees to close to 100 employees. We tripled our budget, we created a 20-million-dollar, state-of-the-art facility. I’m very proud of the work we did there, and very grateful for the opportunity.”

When he received a phone call about running the LCDA, he said that he was humbled and even shocked. The organization that taught him to serve the community wanted him to come back. Recalling the influence that the organization had on him as a young person, he said, “Growing up, I would come to the LCDA and participate in the programs. This place was a beacon of hope, and it allowed me to find support when I really needed it.

I volunteered here often and I fell in love with nonprofit organizations and serving my community. I also met my wife here at LCDA. This place has always held a special place in my heart.”

As a high school senior, the LCDA introduced Ontiveros to a college recruiter from OCU, where he won a full-ride scholarship, The Clara Luper Scholarship. He recalled, “That was huge for me. My parents wanted to help but they weren’t fluent in the language. I found my mentors here.”

When Ontiveros talked about future plans for the organization, he explained, “Our goal at the moment is trying to expand services. We are getting ready to start Lunch & Learns for the community and the corporate community so they can come learn more about the LCDA. We are going to start recruiting Luncheon members for an annual fundraiser, inviting leaders of the community to come in and help plan the future.”

“I go home at night not feeling like I worked 12 hours; I go home at night thinking about all the people that this place served.

It's not always appropriate to brag in our culture, but I think it's time to start sharing what we are doing.”

Although Ontiveros said he can’t talk about all the plans for the future publicly yet, he shared that he is tirelessly looking for ways to collaborate with other organizations and any place there is opportunity to grow the LCDA and its reach. “There is an abundance of opportunity out there. We are creating many different partnerships, and I am so grateful.”

Ontiveros learned recently at the State of the City event that 58% of the students in Oklahoma City schools are Latino. “Our community is growing — and that is a lot of future taxpayers and voters. That is so much potential. I want to promote and elevate all the ways to help them that we can.”

We look forward to the leadership of Ontiveros at LCDA and to the pride and benefits the organization brings to the OKC Latino community, and to all of Oklahoma City.

405MAGAZINE.COM

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H E A LT H

T R E N D I N G

Endometriosis Awareness A painful potential problem during menstruation

BY L AV I N I A C R E S WA

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MARCH 2024

“The most important thing is to be specific.

Explain you are there to talk about pelvic pain, and have examples of what it feels like, such as sharp or stabbing.

Keeping a diary of symptoms is a great way to provide information to help with treatment.”

Jessica Putman, MD, is a fellowship trained Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon, specializing in the treatment of endometriosis. Putman described a normal period as “lasting 3-7 days with a moderate flow, which is going through one pad or tampon about every four hours.” Regarding pain, she said, “It is normal to have some cramping a couple days before the start of your period and in the first few days, but it should be manageable with over-the-counter pain medication. A period should not interrupt normal daily activities, such as going to school or work, playing sports or participating in hobbies.”

With endometriosis, the duration and intensity of pain will exceed what is considered “normal.”

For parents who may notice these symptoms in their kids, Putman encouraged them to start by having a conversation with their pediatrician, but a referral to a gynecologist may be necessary.

“The most important thing is to be specific.

Explain you are there to talk about pelvic pain,

and have examples of what it feels like, such as sharp or stabbing. Keeping a diary of symptoms is a great way to provide information to help with treatment,” Putman said.

While endometriosis can only be diagnosed through surgery, treatment may include hormonal therapy, physical therapy or surgical intervention. Putman also encouraged being an advocate for yourself. “If a doctor is telling you the pain is normal or the treatment is pregnancy, find another doctor. Getting a second or third opinion is necessary if you don’t feel as if you are being heard.”

For more information on endometriosis, visit endometriosis.org

OKC meteorologist Emily Sutton has been vocal about her journey with endometriosis, which played a role in her fertility. She had this to say about her own experience: “Endometriosis is an invisible disease which is painful and frustrating. I learned that you have to educate yourself and advocate for yourself. Some of the best information I found was from sources like podcasts, Facebook groups and other women in the Endo Warrior community. Find a doctor who listens to you, and believes you.”

ADOBE STOCK: ALENA

MO S T WOM E N AGR E E T H AT PE R Iods are the worst. Cramps, mood swings and the inconvenience of dealing with menstruation are pretty thoroughly annoying. Some women only catch a break with the use of hormonal birth control or pregnancy, until menopause.

However, for roughly 10% of menstruating individuals, a painful disease called endometriosis (endo for short) can make periods, and sometimes life, unbearable. According to the World Health Organization, endo affects about 190 million females in their reproductive years across the globe. In the United States, that means more than 1 in 10 women are diagnosed with endo, myself included.

Endometriosis is when tissue, similar to the lining of the uterus, grows elsewhere. It acts like the tissue we shed during periods, thickening and breaking down, then bleeding with each menstrual cycle. But when it grows where it doesn’t belong, it is unable to leave the body.

This will cause thick bands of fibrous tissue called adhesions to form, and eventually may even cause the pelvic organs to stick together.

The primary side effect of endometriosis is pelvic pain, which is usually much worse during menstruation, but may occur any time. Other symptoms include pain with sex, pain with bowel and bladder function, bloating, constipation or diarrhea and even infertility. Heavy bleeding both during and between periods is also noted as a common side effect.

It is estimated that most women receive an endometriosis diagnosis six to seven years following the start of symptoms, after seeing as many as four doctors. Knowing the difference between what is normal and what may be cause for concern is important, especially if parents begin noticing that their daughters may be experiencing symptoms of endo.

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405.403.2115 veteranbuiltdesignsllc.com Oklahoma City, OK 73170 @veteranbuiltdesigns

Daniel and Janessa Melott, owners of Veteran Built Designs, LLC, pride themselves on heading a team of professionals that offer custom builds that meet every individual client’s unique needs.

Their team works diligently before they break ground, to make sure the design is perfect for the clients. After perfecting the client’s custom design the team hits the ground running and builds using top quality materials in an extremely efficient way.

They use quality materials, tools and highly trained professionals to ensure the job is done right the first time. This is all done to stay in alignment with their motto-custom hardscapes at neighbor prices.

Veteran Built Designs is focused on enhancing outdoor living spaces, including post frame buildings, pergolas, pavilions, firepits, fireplaces and more. Daniel retired from the Air Force after serving 22 years and started his company in 2018.

“Whether it be a brand new build or updating an existing build, I enjoy each step of the process,” he said. “I have built simple designs to unique designs with customers. My feeling is I want the homeowners to be happy and be able to enjoy their outdoor space.”

He advises clients who are considering hiring a builder to find a company that can manage all aspects of the project, are licensed and insured and provide quality work.

“Communication should always be clear with the company to have a successful project,” he said. “It’s also important to look for local, small businesses in OKC.”

HOME MOODBOARD 24

GATHERINGS 2 6

DESIGN 2 8

Making it Personal

KTM INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHY

Thoughtful custom designs make this Oakdale family home a perfect fit p. 28

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H O M E

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MARCH 2024

M O O D B O A R D

A CURATION OF IMPORTED EUROPEAN MID CENTURY MODERN, ANTIQUES AND HOME DECOR

Discovering Life Anew A garden of budding designs and curated finds

BY E V I E K LO P P H O L Z E R P H O T O BY S A R A H S T R U N K S T Y L E D BY M O D E R N W H I M S Y I N T E R I O R S

S PR I N G I S W H E N A L L T H AT WA S dormant starts to sprout, when leafy branches and glorious blooms reveal new life. Modern Whimsy Interiors’ founder Kellie Clements draws parallels to design, when vintage treasures fi nd new shine amid fresh, modern concepts. This juxtaposition between old and new is a signature of Modern Whimsy designs, also reflected in this mood board.

Antique keys hint at a secret garden of roses, birds and bugs. The smooth Chelsea Nicole Creations pottery and Livden Luna tile (appropriately, in the color “ivy”) contrasts textures with a Flor carpet square in magenta. Reeded wood, raw edges and simple threads remind us of nature’s contributions. Milton and King Plumeria wallpaper plants a modern floral in a garden of pinks, greens, grays and geometric shapes. Peepers glasses and garden shears await seasonal tasks. In design and springtime alike, there is much to be unearthed, rediscovered and admired anew.

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H O M E

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G AT H E R I N G S

Hearts Fluttering Spring florals and butterflies make this setting extra irresistible

BY E V I E K LO P P H O L Z E R P H O T O S BY S A R A H S T R U N K S T Y L E D BY M O D E R N W H I M S Y I N T E R I O R S

DR ESS U P YOU R N E X T SPR I NG F L I NG W I T H BL O OMS A N D butterflies. On this tabletop, we sourced our setting from Culinary Kitchen and Home. Then, the Modern Whimsy Interiors team arranged vases, flowers and other details for a flourishing, nature-inspired tablescape.

Plates by Christian Lacroix Vista Alegre make our hearts flutter. Pairing the collection’s Butterfly Parade pattern with the black-and-white-striped Sol Y Sombra pattern creates a design that’s equally fanciful and edgy. The Annie Selke Reef Fuschia placemat layers beautifully.

Another Christian Lacroix pattern — Caribe — is showcased among Pehr Designs napkins, which may be found at Culinary Kitchen in a variety of colors and patterns, as well as the butterfly acrylic stir sticks.

The lucite napkin rings and blue glassware reminds us of cool spring rains — and since we all know “April showers bring May flowers,” overflowing vases are strategically placed throughout. Pastel pink tulips and chamomile daisies pop playfully against lush and plentiful ferns. When it comes to flower-filled vessels on a spring table, you can’t have too many.

When bulbs burst forth and the butterflies appear, you know spring is here.

This setting celebrates the best of the season; just add food, good friends and conversation.

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The Toppins family brought the outside in with a fireplace surrounded in cast stone, the same material surrounding their front door.

Designed to Delight Personal inspiration and expert details make the Toppins home pure perfection

BY L I L L I E- B E T H S A N G E R B R I N K M A N P H O T O S BY K T M I N T E R I O R P H O T O G R A P H Y

SPACIOUS A N D BE AU T I F U L V I EWS , family mementos and fun accents like a secondstory slide that adults and children alike enjoy sliding down all the way to the basement make Lauren and Matt Toppins’ home the perfect place for both entertaining and making family memories.

The home in Oklahoma City’s Shadow Ridge neighborhood is a modern-but-classic home with a Spanish vibe; filled with natural light and materials and gathering places indoors and out. Counting bedrooms in the pool house, the property has six bedrooms altogether.

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“I just love that they’re personal and not afraid of it,” said designer Micah Abbananto, whose design firm is Micah & Co. “Family is very important to them. So they celebrated that and I think that’s great.”

Living room shelves are filled with photos of the Toppins family, which includes four daughters: Dylan, 14; Walker, 10; Macguire, 7; and Claire, who died as an infant in 2019 shortly after being born with the chromosomal disorder trisomy 18.

A colorful painting created in honor of Claire’s memory by Shawnee artist LeAnne Henry Wright hangs near two of the girls’ rooms.

For the home, the Toppins worked extensively on design with Abbananto, who worked with the builder MassaRossa Luxury Homes and collaborators to pull the house together. Abbananto helped them find ways to repeat the arched design element of the front entrance in accents throughout the home, bring in natural materials

“It's been a perfect home for us. We truly love the Oakdale area, but we enjoyed the building process as well. ...

We're excited.

This is our forever home.”

D E S I G N

FROM LEFT, CLOCKWISE:

Cherished family photos add a personal touch to the the living room shelves.

The kitchen flows into the dining room and living room, making it an accommodating gathering space.

Arches were incorporated throughout the home, including over the kitchen window, which frames backyard views.

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H O M E

FROM TOP, CLOCKWISE:

Brent Gibson and MassaRossa collaborated to design and build the Toppins family modern-yet-classic home.

When Lauren Toppins couldn’t find a wallpaper she liked, she enlisted Tulsa artist Casey Reed to paint bright pinks, golds and purples directly on the walls.

Checkered porcelain tile in black and white showcase the arched doorway in the front of the Toppins family home.

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405.242.2227 @artisantilestudio 300 W Wilshire Blvd.

OKC, OK 73116

D E S I G N

H O M E

Arched mirrors and an iron bow window accent the primary bathroom, with custom maple cabinets and a porcelain tile floor for a marble-inspired look.

and lighting and tie the project together. Other collaborators included architect Brent Gibson Design; stager and stylist Amanda Layton with The Staged Life; and pool house architect Ford Duncan of Bradford Concepts.

Lauren and Matt met overseas years ago: They were both students at the University of Oklahoma College of Law at the same time, but didn’t know each other until they met while studying at Oxford University in England as part of law school. They kept English gardens and European style in mind when they designed their home, pool, pool house and backyard.

Today, Lauren Toppins owns and operates Cherrywood, the real estate brokerage firm she founded, and her husband Matt Toppins works at Chesapeake Energy. They bought the lot in Oakdale 10 years before they built the house during the pandemic.

The personal accents they love include a painting by local artist Promise Edmonds of Pearl, their Frenchie bulldog, hanging in their pool house; a hand-painted upstairs bathroom with colorful splashes created by their college friend Casey Reed, arched doorways and windows throughout that echo their front entrance — and, of course, the slide. Their daughters and friends and adult friends all enjoy zipping down the slide, jumping into the pool from an accent wall or lounging on the patios or gathering spaces outdoors.

“It’s been a perfect home for us,” Lauren Toppins said. “We truly love the Oakdale area, but we enjoyed the building process as well. …

We’re excited. This is our forever home.”

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Local resources lay the groundwork for flourishing landscape designs

BY EVIE KLOPP HOLZER

HOW DOES A HOMEOWNER LAND THE MOST LUSCIOUS LANDSCAPING?

How does one create a cohesive scene of trees, shrubs and flowers that not only adds curb appeal, but also thrives throughout the years? In Oklahoma — with its clay soils and everchanging temperatures — it can be a challenge for sure. To grow our own understanding, we consulted a few local landscape and garden enthusiasts: Landscape architect Connie Scothorn and garden designer Linda Vater both live for the outdoors. We’ve captured their insights in the pages that follow.

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Ask the Expert: A Q&A With Landscape Architect Connie Scothorn LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT CONNIE SCOTHORN is the founder of CLS and Associates and co-author of Oklahoma Native Plants: A Guide to Designing Landscapes to Attract Birds and Butterflies. Several factors must be carefully considered when planning and developing outdoor spaces. Scothorn walks us through a few aspects of her work in landscape design in this Q&A.

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WHAT IS IT LIKE TO DESIGN LANDSCAPES LOCALLY, CONSIDERING OKLAHOMA’S CLIMATE? It’s the only state that I’ve ever practiced, so

I don’t know what it would be like to plant a tree and it grows straight. Most people don’t realize that all of our trees grow leaning from the wind. … It truly is more difficult to plant here than it is anywhere else in the country. We don’t just have heat. We have heat, then we have cold. Then we have drought, and then we have ice storms.

DO THE SOILS HERE ALSO POSE A CHALLENGE? In parts of Oklahoma City, the soils are

great. Other places are sand, and other places are clay. … The best thing you can do if you have clay is to plant a cover crop, something like clover, and the plants will improve the soil for you. The plants will grow down, break up the soil and then add nitrogen and green manure to the soil.

WHAT TOPICS DO YOU DISCUSS WITH A NEW RESIDENTIAL CLIENT? The first thing is:

What’s their vision? What are they trying to say with their landscape? How long have they lived there? That’s an important question; if it’s a new house or they’re doing something new, like adding a pool, that means that they’ve got an incentive to make some big changes … Certainly we get a lot of input from the house. And then: Are they interested in native landscapes? [With native plants] it’s so much easier, instead of fighting Mother Nature and planting plants that really would rather be in another part of the country or in other parts of the world.

DESCRIBE A “MODERN” LANDSCAPE TO MATCH A MODERN HOME. The modern design

style is bold. It generally calls attention to itself because of its boldness, and it doesn’t necessarily include a lot of different types of plants. Frequently, it will involve massing of the same plant. But, it will be simpler. It’ll be clean.

WHY IS THAT? Well, you know, it’s like, “Where am I living? What do I want to do?” And, “Oh my god, look at that tree across the street. I have to have one.” You know, those kinds of things. I probably notice trees more than the average person. For years, my favorite tree was River Birch, but River Birch doesn’t handle the ice storms we’re having. So, it’s been knocked off the list.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE A MORE “TRADITIONAL” LANDSCAPE DESIGN? It certainly

would be the opposite of modern. You would have a bigger variety of plants with different textures and colors and sizes.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON FORMAL, SYMMETRICAL LANDSCAPE DESIGNS? For-

mal is much more difficult to do in Oklahoma because, you know, that big tree that you planted on one side of the house could get hit by an ice storm. …It’s not hard to do it when the landscape is young, but as the landscape ages, and you have maybe a 40-foot tree on one side of the house, you can’t just go out and buy a new 40-foot tree to reinforce that formal landscape.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE TREE? Shumard Oak is just fantastic. It’s a great tree. Bald Cypress is probably one of my favorite trees, because it has especially great fall colors. Those are probably my two favorites, but, you know, my favorite tree changes about every five years.

SINCE YOU WROTE A BOOK ON IT, HOW DO YOU ATTRACT POLLINATORS TO YOUR PROPERTY? If you want to do it right, you should

have a variety of plants. If you just planted butterfly milkweed, and it blooms in the spring, that’s great — but you need something for the bees in particular all through the year. So you need something in the fall, you need something in the early spring and you need something in the summertime.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT? My favorite part of

the job is when I first see the site, when I first see the new client, because that’s when I’m the most creative. … It’s like a new puzzle. When it all fits together as a plan, it is just really gratifying.

YOU MENTIONED LIFESTYLE. HOW DOES THAT STEER DESIGN? If it’s a family with kids,

they may want a pool. They may want to have playgrounds. They may want to have a bigger area than a single person or retired couple. Everyone has different needs, so you’ve got to start with that and what they want.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

WHAT DOES THE HOUSE PROVIDE?

The client bought the house or built the house, so it already reflects what their design style is somewhat.

If it’s a really formal or really modern home, you want to emphasize that and complement the design style of the house. … You want to look at views from inside the house so that you’re not just looking at the streets; you want to look at something really pretty from inside the house too. All of these things work together, as far as how the landscape works with the house.

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Planting Ideas: Tips and Top Picks From Garden Designer Linda Vater AN AVID GARDENER, LINDA VATER shares ideas and adventures from her “Garden Inspired Life” through her blog, newsletter, YouTube videos, Instagram posts, television show appearances and more. The self-taught garden designer will be a featured guest at the OKC Home and Outdoor Living Show, held March 22-24 at State Fair Park.

Vater’s English-style garden in Mesta Park, fashioned to match her English-styled home, is her playground where she tends to a wide variety of trees, shrubs and flowers.

“The style of your home dictates the style and the design of your garden, so the garden should be a seamless extension of the personality and the architecture of your home,” said Vater, adding that a homeowner should also consider the yard’s shade line and the desired shape, leaf type, scale and color of the plants.

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Combining different sizes, colors and textures can make a landscape more interesting. Vater recommends mixing evergreen and deciduous selections “so that your garden doesn’t look completely bare in the winter, when all of those deciduous trees and shrubs lose their leaves.”

Once you define your ideal planting parameters, Vater says you can easily find options online, using Google or ChatGPT to procure a long list of ideas suitable for local conditions. Armed with your research and list, you can then go to a local nursery where staff can walk you through more options and offer additional advice. Seeing what’s in stock can also guide selections.

Another tip Vater offers is to look at what is being planted in public parks and medians. These areas are usually overflowing with hearty, proven plants — and great ideas.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

SOME OF VATER’S FAVORITE PICKS FOR PLANTING: • Yaupon Holly, which performs well in extreme temperatures • Better Boxwood, a new blight- and disease-resistant boxwood category • The Southern Living Plant Collection, a great resource for sourcing specifically for our region • Juniper, Mugo Pine and Wax Myrtle, which are all excellent candidates for full sun • Viburnum, which provides a similar look to Hydrangea, is disease resistant and acclimates well to Oklahoma soils • Spirea, which offers a different foliage color • Nandina, a soft foliage that pairs well with evergreen • Plum Yew and Soft Caress Mahonia, good for shady areas • Hydrangea Paniculata, which is drought-tolerant and blooms on new wood • Drift or Heirloom Garden Roses, or other rose varieties not prone to rose rosette • Butterfly Bush, a great choice to attract pollinators that comes in many vibrant colors • Encore Azalea, which blooms in both the spring and fall and tends to be hearty • Desert Willow, Chinese Pistache, Chaste Tree, Cedar Elm, Nuttall Oak, Eastern Redbud, all great tree options • Blanket Flower, Black-Eyed Susan, Sedum, Yarrow, Cone Flower, all great perennials that do well in heat

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Attorney Profiles JUNE 2024 Position yourself or your practice as a thought leader and expert in your field!

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The following is a collection of professional profiles featuring some of the top-selling OKC metro real estate agents and teams sharing their stories and successes.

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Top Real Estate Producers 2024

Chris George and Justin Brannon

The Chris George Homes Team Chris George Homes with Chinowth and Cohen The Chris George Homes team has a combined 30 years of experience in selling historic homes, luxury properties, acreages, investment opportunities and new construction. The team provides the knowledge, experience, connections and professionalism to meet all of your real estate needs. In 2023 the team sold over $23 million with 55 homes sold.

Chris George has more than 20 years of experience selling Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills, and Edmond real estate with a speciality in the Historic, Downtown and Urban Core areas of Oklahoma City. As a resident of Oklahoma City and Edmond for over 40 years, Chris understands the market, neighborhoods, schools and local economy. He has been in the top one percent of his brokerage for the last 16 years.

Alongside Chris George, Realtor Justin Brannon also serves clients in the Oklahoma City area. Justin is an Oklahoma City native who has more than 10 years of experience in real estate, including a background in commercial retail investment sales, marketing and graphic design. Justin also serves as chairman for the Oklahoma City Downtown Design Review Committee.

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The Chris George Homes team prides itself on being a full service real estate team, often utilizing their in-house home staging designer, professional photographer and videographer, social media marketer, graphic designer and administrative assistant. Collectively, these experts have developed a proven home marketing plan with video marketing, social media networking and a strong online presence.

“As we’ve witnessed over the past 18 months, the real estate industry is constantly changing and adapting to economic trends,” George said. “It is always best to work with an expert Realtor in your local market to help you navigate all your real estate needs — from accurately identifying home values and evaluating pre-listing checklists to contract negotiations and successfully getting clients to the closing table.”

THE FACE OF RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE CHRIS GEORGE HOMES CHURCHILL BROWN-CHINOWTH AND COHEN 405.627.0801 | CHRIS@CHRISGEORGEHOMES.COM CHRISGEORGEHOMES.COM | FB + IG: @CHRISGEORGEHOMES

Top Real Estate Producers 2024

Kara Bowes Kbb Real Estate Whether you’re searching for a historic home in the Miller neighborhood, a home that sits on a beautiful acreage in Harrah, a commercial lease for a small or large business or a house on the golf course in Gaillardia – Kara Bowes’ team at KBB Real Estate are experts in their field and are here to help.

With a combined track record spanning over 40 years, Bowes and her team pride themselves on their ability to pivot in accordance with what their clients are seeking in a home or investment property and will get the deal done.

“Larger firms might discourage ‘over-helping’ or loaning someone your truck to help them move, but at KBB Real Estate, we approach each transaction with the same mindset that we are here to serve our clients from beginning to end and will help in all areas of the process,” Bowes said. “That is what sets us apart from others in the industry. We are a full-service brokerage covering the entire state of Oklahoma and operate as such,

but we also like to help our clients outside of just the standard transaction processes when need be.”

Bowes’ love for Oklahoma shines through in her episodes of the Emmy-nominated show “American Dream TV,” where she highlights different real estate and lifestyles throughout Oklahoma.

Bowes chooses to keep her team small, which she believes makes for better in-house communication and a stronger bond with clients.

“We love people at my brokerage,” she said. ”We like the new, excited first-time homebuyers, but we also provide reassurance and tools to help those who might have suffered a loss or a life changing event that requires a move or transition.”

If you’re looking for a transparent, efficient experience in buying or selling, KBB Real Estate is the team to call.

405.361.4079 714 S DEWEY AVE, OKC, OK 73109 KBBREALESTATE.COM 405MAGAZINE.COM

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Top Real Estate Producers 2024

David Dobson RE/MAX First

Realtor David Dobson knows the real estate industry is competitive, and there’s an intense demand to perform.

That’s why he’s built his business on three pillars - education, expertise and experience.

“Each of these pillars continues to allow me to transform and reimagine the future of real estate as well as to reinvent strategies when necessary,” he said. “My love for real estate has gifted me the ability to celebrate with each business partner during the real estate process.”

Dobson has learned that in order to lead in the industry, a Realtor must be open to change and have humility.

“This industry is built on knowledge, growth and the changing marketplace,” he said. “Ensure that you’re surrounding yourself with people who help you learn by challenging you rather than flattering you.”

He was fortunate to learn and be challenged by his father as a mentor in the real estate business. His curiosity started him in the business, and his passion continues to guide him.

“My goal wasn’t to have figured out everything right at the beginning, but to build knowledge,” he said. “These factors helped me drive my enthusiasm and confidence.”

His advice for clients is to engage with a Realtor who is educated and fully understands the marketplace. Be aware of what you can control and what you can’t. Finally, a solutions mindset is the best approach to any challenge in real estate.

“I have learned that If I step away for a moment and breathe, I find that the solution always presents itself,” Dobson said. “It may not always be the obvious 44

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solution or the easiest. But, every problem has a solution.”

Above all, Dobson believes his faith in his community will never fail him.

“Oklahomans are the absolute best people on earth,” he said.

RE/MAX FIRST 405.924.4663 1000 W. WILSHIRE #428 OKC, OK 73116 DAVIDCOLEDOBSON.COM

Top Real Estate Producers 2024

James & Leslie Hugo Keller Williams Central OK James and Leslie Hugo have over 10 years of real estate experience and truly view helping people buy and sell homes as their ministry. Buying a home or selling your home brings up a lot of emotions, and they love helping people walk through that process. With each home and client there are individual needs, and they love to meet those needs. A home is very personal and the Hugo’s treat it as such. They love working with all types of clients. From clients buying their first home to clients selling a luxury property — they have experience with it all. James and Leslie work very well together. James is extremely relational and works with clients on the front end getting their home ready to sell or showing homes to clients wanting to buy. Leslie is very detail-oriented and focuses on the paperwork and making sure all timelines are met. They’re both involved throughout the whole process but know their strengths and stick to their lanes. The Hugo’s pride themselves on being experts in the Edmond and Oklahoma City metro area. James was born and raised in Edmond. Leslie grew up in small town Oklahoma and has called Edmond home for the last 18 years. Both James and Leslie graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma.

They are passionate about Edmond and Oklahoma City and love helping people call it home.

405.919.0688 | 405.202.9555 KELLER WILLIAMS CENTRAL OKLAHOMA JAMESHUGO@KW.COM | LESLIEHUGO@KW.COM 405MAGAZINE.COM

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Let us introduce you to the metro's most relevant, trend-setting industry experts and affluent homeowners.

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Expanded HOME Section MARCH • JUNE • SEPT • DEC

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DINING GOOD TASTE 48

THE DISH 52

THE DRINK 54

Authentic Italian

RACHEL MAUCIERI

Vignola’s Kitchen in Edmond has serious culinary cred and scratch-made pasta. p. 48

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G O O D

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A Passion for Pasta

TA S T E

Spaghetti and meatballs

Vignola’s delectable Italian legacy

BY M AT T K I R O U A C P H O T O BY R A C H E L M A U C I E R I

T H E BEST K I N D OF I TA LI A N restaurant is one that feels at once old and new — simultaneously seasoned, yet fresh. The Oklahoma City metro has its fair share of institutions that fit the bill, but few nail that balancing act quite like Vignola’s Italian Kitchen, a recent Edmond addition with serious culinary cred.

Newly opened at 23 W. 1st St. in the Edmond Railyard, which has experienced a fair amount of flux lately with several closings (and the opening of the new Remix Ramen), the homespun restaurant hails from husband-wife team Ashley and Giovanni Vignola, who moved to Oklahoma in 2020 after establishing an in-demand Italian catering outlet in the D.C. area. That company, which still operates in Maryland, paved the way for the pasta-centric fast-casual eatery in Edmond, and a homecoming for Ashley as a native Oklahoman.

The Edmond restaurant may be brand new, but its roots run deep. Before the Vignolas launched their catering company, they were honing family recipes and making everything from scratch, and in Giovanni’s case, attending culinary school in Florence. Learning from his Northern Italian grandfather and his Southern Italian mother, Giovanni became adept at scratch-made pasta, soulful soups and hearty sauces, using those skills to take over the family deli upon his return from Italy. When the pair met, they ran a market together and amassed a swift following. “In 2008, we started our catering business in Maryland,” Ashley explained. “We got a brick and mortar and started doing private catering from that kitchen.

People who had been going to Vignola for decades wanted another restaurant.” To meet demand, they turned an on-site storage space into a holein-the-wall restaurant with a curated menu.

Since they were considered a market, they were allowed to remain open during COVID, but the 48

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pandemic helped spur the couple to move to Ashley’s home state. “My dad is from here, and we’ve been visiting forever,” she said. “We intended to do something here, but didn’t know exactly what. We knew there was room for authentic Italian, so we thought we’d stick to this small hole-in-the-wall concept and see how it’s received.”

The result is a restaurant that feels at once casual and sincere — a career culmination and a love letter to homegrown passions. Vignola’s Italian Kitchen is a reflection of years of work, and generations of influence. And true to those influences, everything about the eatery is palpably homey and comforting, from the handmade pastas and bubbling marinara sauces to the wood-clad motif and its location inside the Edmond Railyard. “The Railyard feels very community-based,” Ashley said.

“In Italian culture, food is how you show your love, and connect with people. We wanted a community-based place where we could connect.”

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Arancini, house salad and Italian cold cut sub with genoa salame, mortadella, provolone, capicola ham, roasted sweet peppers and green vinaigrette

At Vignola’s, connection takes the form of verdant salads, golden-brown arancini and the best eggplant Parmesan in the metro. The sauces are almost entirely family recipes, and most pastas — including two kinds of pillowy gnocchi — are made in-house. Salads are bright and fresh, subs come both cold (e.g., Italian cold cut, pesto chicken) and hot (e.g., porchetta, meatball), and that exemplary eggplant Parm, a recipe from Giovanni’s mother, is a masterpiece of tender fried eggplant, basil-kissed marinara, molten mozzarella and parmigiana.

Although still new in Edmond, it’s the kind of Italian restaurant that feels familiar and seasoned. It’s these recipes and traditions, coupled with years of experience both overseas and across the country, that make Vignola’s Italian Kitchen an instant classic.

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D I N I N G

Time to Take It Outside Where to dine and drink al fresco in OKC

BY M AT T K I R O U A C

E V E N T HOUGH OK L A HOM A CI T Y ’S C OM PA R AT I V E LY mild winter climate means that many restaurant patios remain open yearround, spring is still the ultimate season of renewal — and of a renewed urge to dine and drink al fresco. Before summer settles in for an extended stay, this is prime time for patios across the metro, from sprawling staples and old favorites to underrated nooks and hidden gems. So grab your windbreaker (just in case) and hit up one of these great restaurants for an outdoor meal this season.

Toast & Coffee, 2416 N. Robinson Ave.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any cuter at Toast & Coffee, a sunny Uptown cafe with an on-the-nose menu of tasty toasts, you mosey to the back of the shop and discover an adorable back patio. A veritable hidden garden, the quiet alcove is an idyllic space in which to start your morning, hot coffee in tow. Sidle up to a picnic table and savor some toast, available in both sweet and savory iterations, like avocado smash, lox, cinnamon brûlée and the Frenchie (with sliced pears, fig jam, Brie, walnuts and arugula).

30th Street Market, 407 NW 30th St.

Since its inception in 2022, 30th Street Market has emerged as a quintessential community cornerstone. Truly an ultimate “something for everyone” destination, this Paseo-adjacent cafe is a daytime haunt stocked with everything from esoteric wines and artisanal sundries to smoothies, pastries and some of the best bread in town. Out front, the cafe’s vast patio echoes that “something for everyone” vibe, with its ample picnic tables, shaded seating and patio games. To really see 52

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it in action, stop by during First Fridays for Makers at the Market, an outdoor night market that’s grown substantially to include multiple vendors selling candles, vintage clothes, accessories and more.

The Red Cup, 3122 N. Classen Blvd.

An institution since 1995, there’s still no patio quite like that at The Red Cup. For starters, this is likely the only patio in the city with a resident rooster roving around — and occasionally crowing behind unsuspecting customers. It’s also outfitted with the zaniest decor, like a super-sized coffee cup art installation, and a mishmash of eclectic rooms. Outside, numerous patio spaces provide plenty of room — both shaded and otherwise — to enjoy an apple pie bar or a plate of vegetarian biscuits and gravy. Just don’t feed the rooster.

Bedlam Bar-B-Q, 610 NE 50th St.

Dining outside at Bedlam Bar-B-Q feels like dining al fresco in Texas Hill Country, where the smoky aroma of brisket permeates the rolling wooded landscape. Opened in 2003 on the northeast side, on a particularly bucolic patch of forested land, the multi-room restaurant has a preserved-in-time style reminiscent of a Western saloon, while the backyard gives way to abundant patio tables and a rustic fire pit where periodic live music takes place. And truly, there’s nothing better than a platter of sliced brisket or pulled pork under the open sky.

Burger Punk, burgerpunkokc.com

Now with two OKC locations, both Burger Punks boast cool patios on which to savor a burger topped with nacho Doritos. The first location, which opened in the Paseo in 2020 after originating as a funky food truck, sports an astroturf-lined patio and umbrella-shaded tables.

The second location followed suit with a similar aesthetic in the burgeoning Britton District. Which means more room in which to enjoy Thrash Nachos, Mosh Pit Fries and craft burgers heaped with everything from Velveeta to hoisin mayo.

T H E

D I S H

– The Official State Theatre of Oklahoma –

March 20 - April 7

June 25-30 El Coyote, 925 W. Britton Road

Just down the block on Britton, El Coyote features one of the most transportive patios in the city. True to its New Mexico inspirations, the cantina has a massive back patio that feels more like Santa Fe than OKC, complete with stone-lined terrace, turquoise doors, chile ristras, a kiva fireplace and lush trees casting shade over tables. Drink it all in over a bowl of green chile queso and a tajin-spiced margarita.

Powerhouse, 1228 SW 2nd St.

Another transportive destination, Powerhouse is an endearingly ramshackle bar in the Farmers Market District that, while mere minutes from downtown OKC, looks more like the west Texas desert.

Dark and cozy inside, the space is mostly outdoors, with a wraparound deck and a huge tree-lined back patio that includes kiva-style fireplaces and a view of the nearby piñata shop. Mostly a drinking destination for beer and bracing margs, the bar boasts a better-than-it-needs-tobe food menu with the likes of ham sliders, red chili and occasional enchiladas.

Bellini’s Ristorante & Grill, 6305 Waterford Blvd.

July 9-14

July 30 - Aug. 4

It’s happy hour with a side of swans at Bellini’s Ristorante & Grill, a cozy fi xture on the northwest side since 1990. You won’t find any bells or whistles here, just good old-fashioned Italian-American comfort food and affordable drinks, which dip as low as $2 per glass of Champagne during happy hour. It’s all best enjoyed on the quaint covered patio on the north side of the building, overlooking an idyllic pond with a fountain and resident waterfowl.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Flamingo TIKI, 605 NW 28th St.

Back in the Paseo, a relative newcomer brought something decidedly new to the artsy district. When OKC welcomed its first dedicated tiki bar, Flamingo TIKI, it came with the most colorful patio in town —a tropical terrace with Barbie-pink umbrellas, palm-green pillows and plenty of delicious rum-soaked tipples to match.

Sept. 18 - Oct. 6 SUBSCRIBE TODAY TO OUR 2024 SEASON! LyricTheatreOKC.org • (405) 524-9312

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Rose Water cocktail with cranberry gin, spiced vodka, sparkling elderflower and Champagne

Stop and Sip the Roses Beverages in bloom at OKC’s Rose Room

BY M AT T K I R O U A C P H O T O BY R A C H E L M A U C I E R I

A S OK L A HOM A C I T Y ’ S HO SPI TA L ity scene continues to evolve and expand, bars are taking shape in unexpected places. From celestial speakeasies to distilleries in historic theaters, newer watering holes offer unassuming places in which to imbibe. Then there’s Rose Room, the prettiest bar hiding in plain sight on one of the city’s main thoroughfares.

The bar, housed at the base of the impossible-to-miss Classen Tower at 2200 N. Classen Blvd. in Uptown, is nestled in the back of Howard Brothers Florist, making it the only bar in town where you can pair rosé with a literal rose.

Formerly a City Bites space, Rose Room bloomed a few years ago without much fanfare — due partly to its arrival amid a lingering pandemic, partly to the fact that it’s hard to see through the flowers in the window.

It’s worth seeking out, though, because Rose Room has not only one of the most comprehensive drink lists in Oklahoma City, but the craft and quality to back it up as well. Toward the rear of the elongated space, past a miscellany of bouquets and floral housewares, the bar area beckons with a pillow-lined banquette, elegant artwork and velvet fixtures woven through drapes and chairs.

There’s a food menu that skews as comforting as the aesthetic (think crab rangoon dip, burgers and flatbreads), but this is — first and foremost — a place to imbibe. The exemplary wine list offers an assortment of affordable pours, flutes and bottles, with plenty of pink wine to match the decor. The cocktails are particularly impressive, with both classics and originals getting a fair shake on the menu. Doubling as a flower shop, it’s apt that many of the mixed drinks skew light, floral and effervescent, with lots of gin-, vodkaand Champagne-based options.

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If you’re looking for one signature sip, make it the Rose Water, which is essentially a sparkling Cosmopolitan with cranberry gin, spiced vodka, elderflower, Champagne and an edible flower petal floating on top. The Pornstar Martini is another entry that’s far more delicate than its name suggests, a passionfruit showcase with both passionfruit liqueur and puree, plus lime, vanilla and a twee sidecar of Champagne, which can be sipped on its own or added to the coupe for a little fizz. The list goes on, from minty-green Grasshoppers to Lavender Gin Sours as aromatic as any of the flowers up front.

No matter your drink of choice, it’s worth stopping to smell the rosés.

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Oral Healthcare Profiles M AY 2 0 2 4 Promote yourself or your practice in our May issue. This section is designed as a resource for readers to find quality dental care.

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Quirky & Bright Thready Or Knot’s Emily Madden’s custom upholstery. p. 60

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Laugh City Savor standup at Bricktown Comedy Club

BY L AV I N I A C R E S WA

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the comedy world, both weekly free shows have no such minimum. “We really like to support the local scene,” Norwest said. “Everyone who headlines on the weekend had to start somewhere and these shows are a way to help develop our local comedians.”

If you like to laugh, but have never been to a live comedy show, definitely head to Bricktown and give it a try. As Norwest said, “Seeing it in person is something special.”

For more information on Bricktown Comedy Club or to purchase tickets, visit bricktowncomedy.com

PHOTO PROVIDED

C OM E DY SPE C I A L S A R E A L L T H E R AGE R IGH T NOW. Most major comedians have at least one hour-long show streaming on a major platform that millions of viewers can enjoy from the comfort of their own couch. But many people have never actually been to a comedy club to watch the magic of standup live on stage.

Bricktown Comedy Club at 409 E. California Ave. is a newer member to the downtown scene in Oklahoma City, opening in December of 2019, just 10 short weeks before the COVID shutdown. Luckily, limited capacity shows and mask requirements were no match for the power of standup, and this intimate venue has continued to thrive over the last three years.

Adam Norwest, along with his family business team including his wife and parents, owns BARK Entertainment, which has comedy clubs in seven cities across the U.S. His wife previously lived in Oklahoma, so Bricktown was already on their radar when they were looking to expand.

“There are so many comedians who haven’t gotten to come to Oklahoma before because there wasn’t a venue for them. People are getting to see acts in person that they may have followed for five or 10 years, even 20 years, in an intimate venue, which is really cool,” Norwest said.

With the addition of a Bricktown Comedy Club in Tulsa last summer, more acts are able to play in Oklahoma, as two venues are more logistically rewarding than one when it comes to planning trips.

This month alone, headliners including former late-night host Craig Ferguson, as well as hosts of BET’s “Comic View” Bruce Bruce and Arnez J are just a few of the big names to take the stage at Bricktown Comedy Club.

With comedy shows almost every night of the week (except Mondays), odds are good for guests to find someone to tickle their funny bone.

Norwest reminds the audience that “not every show is for every person.

We encourage people to look up comedians on YouTube before buying tickets. Often, a lesser named comedian on a weekend is going to be one of the funniest shows you will ever see. The comics who don’t have a celebrity status to fall back on are some of the strongest standups out there.”

Seating in this 300-seat venue is first-come, first-serve for general admission, so show up early if you would like to sit closer to the stage. All performances have affordable ticket prices, but premium seating is available at a slightly higher price point to make sure you are near your favorite comic.

It’s not uncommon for the comedians to do a meet and greet after the show.

The club also offers a food and drink menu, and has a bar adjacent to the entrance perfect for a pre- or post-show cocktail.

A night out downtown in any major city can be pricy, and Oklahoma City is no exception. But most weeks, Bricktown Comedy Club offers two completely free comedy shows. New Talent Tuesday and Open Mic Wednesday are both opportunities for local talent to try out their new material.

While other nights require a two-item purchase per ticket, a standard in

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Join us on April 12 at 7pm!

Don’t miss this special evening at OKCMOA featuring floral-inspired cocktails, light bites, live entertainment, access to the galleries, and skyline views on our Roof Terrace.

Celebrate all night, then return April 13–14 for Art in Bloom — the Museum’s can’t-miss festival of flowers featuring locally designed and crafted floral sculpture interpretations of works from our permanent collection. Enjoy self-guided tours and workshops, and view exciting new works on display in the galleries and throughout the Museum.

Tickets for this exclusive 21+ event are available now — but they’ll go fast. Scan the QR code to buy yours today.

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Thready Or Knot owner Emily Madden

The Fabric of Memories The upholstery expertise behind Thready Or Knot

BY L AV I N I A C R E S WA | P H O T O S BY C H A R L I E N E U E N S C H WA N D E R

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A BE AU T I F U L PI ECE OF F U R N I T U R E C A N M A K E A RO OM shine. But over time, trends change, normal wear and tear becomes more obvious and it may be time for grandma’s rocking chair to have a new look.

This is where Emily Madden of Thready Or Knot steps in. We sat down with Madden to discuss the art of upholstery and the road she took to starting her successful business.

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Fabulous and sentimental fabrics drive Madden’s design

How did you end up doing upholstery?

Did you just jump right into starting a business?

After high school, I was accepted into a culinary school, but it didn’t feel like the right decision. I was working as a florist and trying to figure out what to do with my life. My friend told me that she was taking an upholstery class at the Canadian Valley Vo-Tech. I didn’t even know what upholstery was, but after she explained it to me and showed me some pictures, I decided to sign up.

No, I ended up taking the same course several times, working on a different project each class.

I would post pictures on Facebook and my mom’s friends would ask me to work on their furniture, so that’s how I acquired pieces each class. I worked on projects part time until 2017, when I went on a year-long humanitarian trip, traveling the world.

When I came back, I found out people had been waiting for me to return to work on their pieces — and that’s when I started working full time as Thready Or Knot.

What was that experience like?

For the class, you provide your own chair and fabric. I bought some tools because I had a gut feeling I would be doing this for a long time. I picked up my first piece off of Craigslist and my instructor told me that it may be difficult, but I loved the chair. I went home crying a few nights, thinking I had messed up, and I was afraid to cut the expensive fabric I had picked. The chair ended up turning out really well.

What is the process like to have a piece re-upholstered?

Clients contact me with pictures of the piece and we chat about measurements and how much fabric they should purchase. I like my clients to purchase the fabric themselves so they get exactly what they want. I will make suggestions and offer options to customize the piece to make it perfect for each client. I usually work with clients who know what they want and I try to bring that vision to life. After they buy their fabric, they go on my waiting list, which is about a four-month wait right now.

What is your favorite thing about this kind of work?

I like being a younger woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry. I’m really good at what I do and I like transforming pieces into works of art. I have so many people reach out to me wanting me to re-upholster furniture that has been passed down from generation to generation. People trust me with their family’s furniture and I’m restoring it so that it can be used for future generations.

When I take it apart, I can tell how many people have re-upholstered it in the past, and I’m honored to be a part of that history.

What else is on your horizon?

I’ve been using upholstery techniques to make fine art. Starting March 8, I have an art show at Equity Brewing Company in Norman and there will also be a Thready Or Knot beer collaboration on tap. Later this year I’ll have art up at Elemental Coffee, and will actually have a chair hanging from the ceiling.

For more information visit @ThreadyOrKnot on Instagram.

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Dozens of towering hills made of hazardous mine waste still surround the abandoned town of Picher.

Rusted and Gone Picher’s poisonous past and ghostly present W O R D S & P H O T O S BY L I N DA M I L L E R

P I C H E R I S O N E O F O K L A H O M A’ S best-known ghost towns. Once a thriving community in northeast Oklahoma, it’s now abandoned with crumbling and vacant buildings surrounded by towering hills of chat, a hazardous byproduct of lead and zinc mining.

It was mining that helped build this industrial boom town, and it was the result of that mining that destroyed it.

In late 1913, the area developed literally overnight after a homeowner discovered lead on his property. Named after the owner of the Picher Lead Co., the town was incorporated in 1918. Two years later, the population had grown to 9,726, and peaked at 14,252 in 1926 when mining was at its highest level, before dropping to 2,553 in 1960.

At its heyday, the town had more than 200 mills processing 10 million pounds of ore a day.

More than 14,000 men worked in the mines with another 1,500 in mining services businesses.

During World War I, zinc and lead were crucial for making bullets and building tanks and trucks; more than 50% of the metals coming from Picher Field.

Picher, part of the Tri-State Lead and Zinc District that included Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri, had the most productive mining field in the district, producing more than $20 billion in ore from 1917 to 1947, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Eventually the ore ran out, and the mines closed in 1967. But the town’s future was more dire than anyone knew. Contaminated water began to seep from the abandoned mines in 1973. Nearby Tar Creek started turning red. Few suspected those chat hills that had become a playground 62

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for residents could be deadly, even for those who just breathed in the toxic dust as the wind carried it through town.

When the mines closed, Picher was surrounded by approximately 30 massive hills of chat, mill sand and sludge equaling some 178 million tons.

A decade later, state tests revealed heavy metal contamination and in 1983, the Environmental Protection Agency declared Picher a part of its Tar Creek Superfund Site, a national priority list for the most toxic areas in the country.

The Oklahoman newspaper reported that those who worked in the Picher Field were more prone to liver failure, lung cancer and tuberculosis than the average person. Children in Picher seemed to get sick more often and students’ test results were far below others in the state.

The CDC says exposure to lead can cause damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems and hearing and speech problems. As health and safety concerns mounted, the federal government offered buyouts to residents and business owners, though many opted to stay.

On May 10, 2008, an EF-4 tornado tore through town, killing six and destroying more than 160 homes. It also wiped out any chance for Picher’s survival. Collapsing mine shafts and tunnels were a primary concern, so the EPA evacuated the town. More buyouts were offered. The town’s incorporated status was withdrawn on Sept. 1, 2009. Demolition of houses and buildings began a few months later.

Cleanup continues to slowly shrink the chat hills, though destruction is still evident. Crumbled piles of lumber hint at what was once a home

The Picher water tower stands out among the dilapidated and empty structures throughout town.

or business. Concrete steps lead to nowhere. Brick buildings are missing doors, windows and some walls. Overgrown weeds and grass have replaced gardens, lawns and people.

But the Picher water tower continues to stand tall and strong as if guarding the memory of what was — both the good and the bad.

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Block Party

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Tetris prodigy, 13-year-old Willis Gibson, is considered the first person to ever “beat” the game.

Oklahoma’s groundbreaking and gamebreaking ‘Tetris’ champion

I T WAS T H E V I BR A N T L A N DS C A PE of the 1980s, and the pursuit of beating video games was more than just a leisurely pastime — it was a captivating dream that fueled the imaginations of kids across the globe. As the arcade revolution took hold and home gaming systems became increasingly popular, children were enthralled by the mesmerizing worlds that unfolded on their TV screens.

The challenge of mastering these pixelated realms and emerging victorious was not merely a gaming conquest. It symbolized a quest for glory, a rite of passage, the embodiment of a generation’s collective aspiration. In an era defined by the introduction of iconic titles and the birth of gaming culture, the dream of beating video games was a shared adventure that left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of those who grew up amid the beeping sounds and flashing lights of arcade cabinets and home consoles.

That was then; this is now. In Stillwater, Oklahoma, 13-year-old Willis Gibson achieved what many thought impossible and made headlines on Dec. 21, 2023, when he became the first known person to beat the original Nintendo version of “Tetris,” freezing the game and earning the coveted score of “999999.”

Created by software engineer Alexey Pajitnov in 1984, “Tetris” has endured as one of the most celebrated video games internationally, featuring falling blocks that players must strategically arrange to form and clear complete lines.

The “Tetris” community had long believed that the game’s limit was Level 29, where the falling blocks reach such speed that it becomes seemingly impossible for a human to keep up. However, a new generation of players has emerged recently.

Gibson began playing at age 11 and quickly rose as a “Tetris” prodigy, winning several regional tournaments and earning $3,000 from competitions.

His exceptional skill and groundbreaking achievement of triggering the game to freeze when clearing a single row of blocks set Gibson apart. This uncharted territory opens new challenges for “Tetris” enthusiasts, prompting them to explore how far the game can be pushed beyond its expected limits.

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The significance of Gibson’s accomplishment goes beyond the gaming world. During a Zoom interview with NBC News, he was unexpectedly honored to meet Alexey Pajitnov and Henk Rogers, the company’s founder and chairman. The shy teenager, unable to contain his excitement, exclaimed, “This is so cool. I never thought I would be able to talk to you guys.”

Despite Pajitnov maintaining that the game is unbeatable and that Gibson merely crashed the program, the young “Tetris” prodigy remains beside himself with this crowning achievement. His dedication to the game is evident, and he attributed his success to the support of his late father, who had passed away the previous month.

Gibson, also known as Boy Wonder in the gaming community, is not resting on his laurels. With a third-place finish at the Classic Tetris World Championship and a world record for “Tetris” on Gameboy, he continues redefining what is achievable in the game.

For Gibson, the appeal of “Tetris” lies in its simplicity and difficulty. He employs a rolling technique for faster movements, showcasing a distinctive playing style, and engages in online matchups, livestreams and constant practice.

As “Tetris” celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, Gibson stands as a symbol of the game’s timeless appeal and the limitless possibilities it offers those who dare to push its boundaries. Whether he’s biking to school, enjoying the arcade or immersed in intense competitions, one thing is clear—he won’t stop playing “Tetris” anytime soon.

COURTESY OF JASON ELMQUIST/STILLWATER NEWS PRESS

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