405 Magazine Feb 16

DESIGNING THE PERFECT VALENTINE’S DATE pg 34

Destinations TOP SPRING BREAK

And travel tips to get you there

Kyle Reid finds harmony building cigar-box guitars Breathing new life into old neighborhoods Whether it’s brunch or brew, Oak & Ore has your seat at the table

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in this issue

february 2016

Features

28

SPRING BREAK 101 It’s almost time for the family to take a week off, and while spring break is a fairly small window of time, it’s a huge opportunity to make some indelible memories and have an enormous blast … if you do it right. These pointers are a great start to planning.

34

FAIRYTALE OF OKC For a date that’s a dream come true, think beyond flowers and chocolates to something more personalized and thoughtful: our Valentine’s Day fashion spread follows an actual couple through downtown Oklahoma City during their special evening of joyous romance – and exceptional style.

2

405 magazine • february 2016

in this issue

february 2016

Departments

and Heather Paul have turned the former headquarters of the Good Egg Group into a fantastically fitting home.

In the 405

13 Musician Kyle Reid taps into a venerable blues tradition by hand-crafting his own cigar-box guitars; Lissa Blaschke sits down to talk about plans for the future of the deadCENTER Film Festival; a wry checklist for determining your status as a potential Valentine; jewelry that’s as radiantly beautiful as a fresh array of flowers.

Dining

65 David Henry, local chef and alumnus of the Coach House apprenticeship program, marks the season by offering expert tips for crafting delectable chocolate truffles.

Travel

76 A trip to the tourist haven of Las Vegas demonstrates that venturing beyond the crowded glitz of the Strip reveals plenty of additional pleasures to explore.

24 Territory Ahead M.J. Alexander recounts the winding roads of life that brought Roy Rogers and Dale Evans together, and the daughter who inspired their anthem “Happy Trails.”

Events

79 A collection of

54 Culture Gentrification doesn’t have to be a dirty word.

Housing values are on the rise in these OKC districts, but residents and nonprofits are working to maintain their diverse, inclusive neighborhood vibe.

66

Home

59 A touch of effort and organization pays beautiful dividends in creating a decorative table setting for romantic dinners; pro restaurateurs Keith

ON THE COVER 4

More Tantalizing Tastes

With its top-notch equipment and carefully curated rotating selection, Oak and Ore’s status as a purveyor of craft beers remains impeccable. But thanks to an ongoing expansion of the menu – including savory entrees like this honey mole chicken breast with black bean salad and avocado crema – dining at the Plaza District hot spot is becoming even more enticing.

works from fatherand-son photographers Bank and John Langmore leads the new exhibitions at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum; Cimarron Opera gives its Norman audience an intimate treat with a deathfilled farce.

In Every Issue 8 From the Editor 10 Web Sights 70 Food and Drink 80 On Film 82 Speaker Box 84 On the Radar 88 Backstory

A blissfully balmy Hawaiian beach could be the perfect destination for a memorable spring break getaway. Photo by Carli Wentworth

405 magazine • february 2016

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It’s a Red Tie treasure hunt!

405 Magazine is giving away two tickets ($700 value) to the

24th annual Red Tie Night March 5, 2016 6 p.m. silent auction & cocktails 8 p.m. dinner 9 p.m. live auction and dancing at 10 p.m.

Here’s how to win: Hidden somewhere in this issue is this ribbon

FEBRUARY 2016

Publisher Elizabeth Meares elizabeth.meares@405magazine.com Editor-in-Chief Heidi Rambo Centrella heidi.centrella@405magazine.com EDITORI A L Managing Editor Steve Gill steve.gill@405magazine.com Style Editor Sara Gae Waters saragae.waters@405magazine.com Fashion Editor Jennifer Salyer jennifer.salyer@405magazine.com Contributing Writers M.J. Alexander, Bobby Anderson, Phil Bacharach, Mark Beutler, Jerry Church, Christine Eddington, Ben Felder, Lauren Hammack, Jill Hardy, Greg Horton, Elaine Warner

Follow us on Twitter: @405Mag On Monday, February 15, watch for our “Red Tie Giveaway Time” tweet.* Be the first to reply with the correct location, and you’ll be going to the ball!

The annual Red Tie Night fundraiser benefits the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund. For more information, visit okaidscarefund.com. *Posting the answer before our starting announcement won’t make you the winner, but it probably will help someone else to be.

Keep your find under wraps until you see the official tweet.

Good luck!

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405 magazine • february 2016

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Find the ribbon. (This one doesn’t count.)

VOLUME 2 • NUMBER 2

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405 Magazine Volume 2, Number 2, February 2016. 405 Magazine is published monthly by Open Sky Media, Inc. at 729 W. Sheridan, Suite 101, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, 405.842.2266. © Copyright 2016 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. Basic annual subscription rate is $14.95. U.S. single-copy price is $4.95.

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FROM THE EDITOR

Finding Celebrations in the Cycle

T

The end-of-year holiday season is, let’s face it, a stressful time. Many of us finally began to feel the release from those busy weeks, grateful we survived the self- and society-induced demands. We rallied to ring in the new year, then relished the opportunity for some much-needed time to reboot. And then, there it is. V Day. The pressure is on. There are cards and treats to buy for the kids’ fellow classmates and teachers, often at the last minute. And then there’s the anxiety-ridden search for the just-right gift for that special someone who’s eagerly awaiting his or her surprise.

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

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405 magazine • february 2016

PHOTO BY SIMON HURST

What to do?

Unless this is a day you gleefully refer to as Singles Awareness Day, or SAD, we’ve got a few ideas.

From a fairytale date filled with fashion (page 34) to finding out where you may fit on the Love-oMeter (page 20) and how to up your game, these reads just might lend a few ideas.

And just when you think you’ve got it all figured out and finally can take your planning hat off, you realize: Only another month or so until spring break.

Planning hat back on.

Numerous options abound – from hitting the slopes and enjoying more wintry weather to logging some quality beach time by escaping to an island – for families of all sizes with varying budgets (page 28). And if December’s revels put a bit of a dent in said budget, there are a variety of closer-to-home staycations that are both educational and fun for all.

The thing about holidays is that they keep coming around whether we’re quite ready for them or not – and they can either be sources of stress or causes for genuine celebration, depending on our mindsets. I might never be the world’s greatest fan of Valentine’s Day (Halloween is more my jam), but it is sincerely nice to get or give a cheerful card. And wherever the family winds up for spring break, odds are good you can make some memories to treasure out of the experience.

We’re only ever going to get one February 2016 – so let’s enjoy it!

FEB 6 I 8PM

Symphonie Fantastique!

ROBERT MOODY, GUEST CONDUCTOR

Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique

CIVIC CENTER MUSIC HALL

UPCOMING!

FEBRUARY 19-20 I 8PM JAMES BOND: THE SPY WHO LOVED ME Featuring Sheena Easton and Doug Coulter Conducted by David Andrews Rogers

www.okcphilharmonic.org

Web Sights What’s online at 405magazine.com

Digital Discourse

BLOG!

There’s more to 405 Magazine than you’ll find on the printed page; fresh online content is ready to explore at our new blog, OKCentric.

Visit 405magazine.com/OKCentric for behindthe-scenes info and commentary on our print edition plus original content you won’t see on paper. Check it out, and be sure to give us some e-feedback.

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While you’re visiting the website, take a look through the On the Scene section to see whether our photographers found you at any recent local events – you’ll find images there from the Allied Arts Holiday Party, Glitter Ball, OMRF’s holiday party and the Fields and Futures Bowtie Ball, among others. And sign up for our free Snapshot! mailings at 405magazine.com/newsletters so you don’t miss a fete.

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405 magazine • february 2016

We’re counting down to revealing the Best of the City in our April issue, but you could still weigh in on who and what those winners should be, and also secure some excellence for yourself. Online voting is open through Feb. 5, and five readers will win a prize for participating: gift certificates from Café 501, Kd’s Southern Cuisine, Tommy’s Italian American Grill, Rococo and Diamonds Direct are up for grabs. Go vote at 405magazine.com/vote2016, and good luck!

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405

in the

From Smoke to Sound

PHOTO BY CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER

These days, when Kyle Reid makes music, he really makes music – instrument and all. The solo strummer and frontman for the Low Swinging Chariots has long been enamored of a more throwback swing-style sound, and now he’s taking inspiration from centuries of tradition to fashion his own cigar-box guitars. While they may not have the polished look and tone of a Gibson or Rickenbacker, these handmade instruments’ distinctively DIY results add an extra dimension to Reid’s signature sound.

february 2016 • 405 magazine

13

in the 405

CREATIVES

Old School Jam

L

Lightnin’ Hopkins, the great American blues guitarist and songwriter, once described how he acquired his first guitar. “I got me a guitar of my own when I got to be 8 years old,” Hopkins says. “I got me a cigar box, and I cut me a hole in the middle of it. I take a little piece of plank. Nailed that to the cigar box. Got me some screen wire.”

The audio recording is still available today, and in it, Hopkins gives the most basic of methods for constructing a cigar-box guitar. Whereas many origin stories are simple – birth, parentage, location – the history of objects created by the poor because of their poverty is more difficult to trace. Cigar-box guitars were instruments of necessity for budding musicians too poor to buy a “real” guitar, but who first made one, and where and when, are all questions lost to history.

Hopkins was not alone in growing up with a cigar-box guitar. It would be difficult to find an early to mid-20th century blues musician who did not at least play one. Muddy Waters and B.B. King both grew up playing them. Some music historians believe early blues and jazz were both shaped by the variety of unusual sounds that a musician can create with

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405 magazine • february 2016

a makeshift guitar and slide.

Kyle Reid, the frontman and founder of Kyle Reid and the Low Swinging Chariots, became a fan of swing while pursuing his degree in physics at the University of Oklahoma. That a young man would suddenly find himself enamored of a style of music that was developed a half century before his birth helps explain why Reid was also captivated by cigar-box guitars.

“I saw liner notes from a Tom Waits album – I don’t remember which anymore – and the notes mentioned a cigar-box guitar,” Reid says. “It sounded great, and I thought, ‘I can do that.’”

The discovery of the Waits notes corresponded with a time post-graduation when Reid wanted to begin building things again. He had been an avid builder prior to college, and his parents still had a garage full of tools. By combining the itch to build with his newfound fixation with the guitars, Reid was able to satisfy both areas of interest.

“I decided on a 3-string guitar because I liked the idea of being forced to be creative,” Reid says. “With only three strings and no frets, there are very few accompanying notes, so the chords have to be more simple.”

PHOTOS BY CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER

Kyle Reid explains the creative process, inspiration behind his cigar-box guitars

“TRIUMPHANT” —JOANNA BROOKS, AUTHOR OF THE BOOK OF MORMON GIRL

“COMPASSIONATE, COMPELLING, AND PROFOUND” —CLAIRE BIDWELL SMITH, AUTHOR OF THE RULES OF INHERITANCE

“A PORTRAIT OF REAL COURAGE”

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—APRIL CHRISTOFFERSON, AUTHOR OF TRAPPED

THE RIVETING, TRUE STORY OF ONE GIRL’S COMING-OF-AGE IN A POLYGAMIST FAMILY “HARD TO PUT DOWN AND HARD TO FORGET” —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

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405 magazine • february 2016

The instrument relies on a slide – Lightnin’ Hopkins used the neck of a soda bottle – and music historians believe it was the origin of the modern slide guitar.

Without frets, the slide controls transitions between notes. As for the construction, Reid said materials do not make a great deal of difference.

“They’re basically junk, hodgepodges,” he says. “That’s where they started; musicians would construct a guitar out of whatever was available.” Indeed, watching Jack White knock together a primitive version from a heap of scraps was a highlight of the guitar-driven film It Might Get Loud.

Reid uses sturdy cigar boxes.

He said he keeps going back to Arturo Fuente and Don Tomás.

The former is made from a wood laminate, so it is even sturdier than the heavy cardboard typically used to construct cigar boxes.

Oddly enough, there is almost no discernible difference between the sound generated with wood laminate or cardboard as the resonator.

For the neck, Reid uses 1-foot-by-2-inch poplar. Why? “It’s what was available,” he says.

Again, it’s a hodgepodge, and the piezo pickup, which allows the user to plug the instrument into an amp, helps add volume but not clarity, so the material simply doesn’t matter.

Reid’s new EP “Don’t be Afraid” features four instrumental originals performed on his cigar-box guitar. The EP is available for sale on his website, kylereidmusic.com, and for streaming on Spotify.

The 3-string is Reid’s preference, but he will make them according to customer preference, too. Ordering is very straightforward on the Kyle Reid Music website, and he has sold dozens of them to people around the state – but not to his singer-songwriter or musician friends.

“I kind of prefer that,” Reid says. “It means they have to invite me to play with them if they want the cigar-box guitar sound.” - GREG HORTON

CALL US!!!

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CONVERSATION

Taking the Spotlight New director making sure deadCENTER alive and well The deadCENTER Film Festival turns 16 this June. And like any proud parent, Artistic Director Lance McDaniel is turning over the keys, anxious to see what’s down the road.

“After five years of explosive growth, we need an executive director to secure our long-term

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405 magazine • february 2016

financial stability and further develop our relationship with the statewide business community,” McDaniel says.

Lissa Blaschke is that person.

The Casady School and University of Oklahoma alum was hired in early September – not to replace McDaniel, but free him

to grow the festival artistically.

Making sure it grows financially is now Blaschke’s job.

Having served as director of development for the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Foundation, she knows the landscape. Most recently, she was the director of development

for the Albuquerque Community Foundation, St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, Escuela del Sol Montessori and the Harwood Art Center.

In its 15th iteration this past June, the festival showcased approximately 100 comedies, dramas, documentaries and short films. Those brought more than 30,000 attendees to downtown Oklahoma City and rang up more than $2 million in economic impact.

In 2014, McDaniel and Kim Haywood, deadCENTER’s director of programming and education, wrapped up a barnstorming tour of the state. Visiting 30 high schools from August through October, the pair helped promote filmmaking to students and helped towns and organizations move toward developing their own events.

In short, deadCENTER is now year-round.

Now, it’s Blaschke’s turn to not only follow up, but strengthen and create new ties in the fundraising and development world to highlight that.

So how does it feel to be the lady who replaces Lance McDaniel? “I think it’s interesting because I don’t feel like I’m following in his footsteps,” says Blaschke. “He has a totally different set of skills than I have. He was excited for me to come on. He gets to focus on what he loves to do and what he does best. I’m just there to help.

“I don’t think I would have taken the job if Lance was leaving.”

The festival has exploded with growth the last few years without a dedicated development role. What

PHOTO BY TRACE THOMAS

in the 405

does that say to you? “I think it says a lot. I’m really surprised they’ve done as well as they have with only the few staff they have.

I came in and found people loved deadCENTER. They have a lot of volunteers and it shows the tremendous growth, and a lot of financial support from the community.”

How do you measure success in your first year?

“A successful year to me would be getting the word out that we are a year-round organization. We’re not just a festival. I would like to get more national sponsorship or donors granting to us and granting to our education and our institution.

“People go to a lot of the same people for financial support. I think I learned (in Albuquerque) there are people everywhere.

Someone may give you $10 or

$10,000 or $10 million – you need to value them all.

“I think there are a lot of people out there that aren’t really into film, and they want to support things that are great for the city.”

What do you really like about the work deadCENTER does? “I like that they get out to so many kids that otherwise wouldn’t have that. They travel all over the state. It’s not necessarily about making films but [that] they’re teaching kids how to tell stories. Filmmaking is doing that in film, whereas other people may do it in storytelling or writing. It’s great because they are giving kids something they can actually take and use. They don’t need a lot of equipment and money to get on their iPhone and make a film and tell a story.”

- BOBBY ANDERSON

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CREDITS WHERE THEY’RE DUE When the 2016 deadCENTER Film Festival hits downtown OKC this summer (June 8-12), you’ll hear more buzz for the films themselves and their directors and actors than for the locals who helped bring them all together – but an undertaking this huge, especially with deadCENTER’s focus continuing to expand beyond this signature event, requires a number of dedicated contributors.

That means special kudos are due the nonprofit’s executive board, which includes Art Cotton, John Kennedy, Carol Johnson, Ashley Byrnes – and the 2016 chair, Julie Hall. She’s already worked with previous chair Cotton to restructure the organization and bump its full-time staff to four, and led the search that resulted in Blaschke’s hire.

“Julie has proven to be a tremendous asset for deadCENTER,” Blaschke said in December. “We’re extremely excited about the future of the independent film arts in Oklahoma with her continued support in this new role.”

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

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february 2016 • 405 magazine

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in the 405

LAUGH LINES

Put Your Love to the Test

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405 magazine • february 2016

HOLIDAY PLANNING

For the past month, you’ve been planning an entire day of special surprises for your beloved 10 points You successfully secured reservations (for TWO) at your lover’s favorite restaurant 5 points You realized it was Valentine’s Day at any point on February 14 1 point You realized it was Valentine’s Day on your way out of the office and you stole a rose from a co-worker’s bouquet deduct 20 points

WORDS OF LOVE

You made your Valentine’s Day card by hand and included heartwarming mementoes and soul-stirring words of devotion 10 points

Day, so she (or he) could enjoy them all week 10 points

JEWELRY

Jewelry is a waste of money, you say 0 points (there’s still time to book a moving van, though)

You bought jewelry and a bottle of clear fingernail polish deduct 10 points The jewelry you bought came in a gift-wrapped box 1 point The jewelry store where you bought jewelry has on-site security or someone who has to buzz you in at the door 15 points

ASSORTED GIFT OFFERINGS

Your Valentine’s Day card was storebought, but still a winner 3 points

Stuffed animal of any kind deduct 10 points (save it for the State Fair,

Your Valentine’s Day card was store-bought, and delivered unsigned 0.5 points

Live animal (puppy, kitten, something normal) deduct 20 points

Is a Valentine’s Day card really proof of my love, you ask? 0 points

Dead animal (think: less big game, more leopard print pumps) 10 points

Your Valentine’s Day card was storebought, and your secretary signed it on your behalf deduct 25 points

ADD ‘EM UP, LOVERS!

FLOWERS

Flowers are a waste of money, you say 0 points (and a heavy sigh) You bought flowers wherever you bought gasoline or picked up your last prescription deduct 5 points You bought flowers from a windowless van in a grocery store parking lot deduct 1 point (deduct 15 points if the van had dents that were made from the inside)

You had flowers delivered to your lover’s office days before Valentine’s

Romeo)

50-55 points: Casanova (a distinction that comes with access to my ring and shoe sizes)

36-50 points: Hot Tamale!

25-35 points: Hubba, Hubba, what a lubba!

15-34 points: Luuuuuukewarm (heat things up with a Hot Tamale)

1-14 points: Lovelorn (fortunately, you’ve caught it in time)

0 or fewer points: Cold Fish (it’s likely we’ve dated at some point, so just swim along, now) - LH

ILLUSTRATION BY ERIC SCHOCK

It’s precisely at this time of year that having a reliable gauge, such as the Love-O-Meter machine, comes in super handy for predicting the direction Valentine’s Day may go.

In my own Valentine’s annals, I needn’t scroll further back than a few years to recall a rather unfortunate (and a wee bit clumsy) dinner that required a “table for three.” However nontraditional – that approach did mark one of the most memorable Valentine’s dinners I’ve ever had – it proved to be a remarkably reliable predictor of a cold meal with no dessert.

I used to be much more sure-footed around this particular holiday. Recent disappointments, however, have made me a little twitchy, so I surveyed several co-workers about Valentine’s Day. I thought it would be good to recalibrate any unrealistic expectations of the holiday so many of us love to hate (table for two, perhaps?) and sharpen my knack for quickly separating the Casanovas from the Cold Fish.

At the mere mention of Valentine’s Day, every colleague’s face pruned up faster than a gas station cellophane rose. An instant solidarity took over the group, who collectively spat and professed their intense disdain for what they perceive to be a “manufactured” holiday.

Psshhaaa, I said. Sure, every year can’t be a diamond (or, wait … can it?), but overall, as holidays go, this one is pretty simple. It was obvious that my co-workers had invested a fortune in waxy chocolates and teddy bears with hearts that read, “I love you beary much.” I refuse to throw out the entire holiday because of their miserable experiences with whatever may have taken that kind of bait.

In no time, the office conversation grew surly and sarcastic – much like a table for three – and spiraled into a shouting match about everything that’s wrong with American holidays, societal assumptions about the roles of men and women, the ridiculous cost of good pharmaceuticals and the best products for taking care of a recurring, burning rash.

Without even realizing it, the surveyed lovesick in the office had devised a ranking system of predictive Valentine’s success (or failure) with a few fundamental yardsticks. Take the test and add up your score to find out whether your Valentine’s name rhymes with Nyetflix. - LAUREN HAMMACK

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february 2016 • 405 magazine

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in the 405

TRENDS

From Huntington Fine Jewelers, OKC: Gabriel open bangle diamond bracelet in 14k yellow gold, Honey gold pendant with chocolate and vanilla diamonds, Gabriel yellow gold ear climber earrings with strands of diamonds, Gladiator weave ring in honey gold with chocolate and vanilla diamonds, by Le Vian

From Naifeh Fine Jewelry, OKC: The Peacock Queen of Hearts Pendant with pave diamonds, “Poison Ball” pendant containing a bezel set rose-cut diamond and pave diamonds plus a secret compartment, ring featuring cabochon-cut pink tourmaline, four faceted pink tourmalines and bead-set diamonds, by Arman Sarkisyan

Jewelry and flowers are a one-two punch when it comes to romance.

Against the dazzling hues of roses, ranunculus and dahlias, these bejeweled pieces are showcased as art, but they are definitely the wearable kind. You’ll breathe some new beauty into your romance this month if you can give – or receive – something as special as these. - SARA GAE WATERS From BC Clark Jewelers, OKC: Pave-diamond starburst pendant, double leaf diamond bangle, flower wrap-around ring, all in white gold, by Penny Preville

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PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

Beauty in Bloom

THE NEED

IS GREAT.

SO IS OUR CAPACITY

FOR KINDNESS

2016

VOTE NOW! WIN A PRIZE!

YOUR GIFT SAYS IT ALL. It says you stand behind lives in crisis across Central Oklahoma. Behind all 61 United Way partner agencies and behind our drive to mobilize kindness, one gift at a time. At StandUnitedOKC.com

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Votes will be held in confidence. See 405magazine.com/vote2016 for complete rules and eligibility.

VOTING CLOSES FEBRUARY 5 february 2016 • 405 magazine

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territory ahead

Bring the Sunny Weather The Oklahoma roots of “Happy Trails”

T

BY M.J. ALEXANDER

The spark for the song flared not from a plains campfire or a dusty cattle drive, but from the pen of a thrice-divorced singer at home with her newborn daughter at 6423 Ivarene Avenue, where the road curves to meet the top of Vine Street in the Hollywood Hills.

The singer was born in Texas as Frances Octavia Smith on Halloween of 1912. She eloped at 15, gave birth to a son at 16 and was divorced at 17. She held day jobs in offices and sang at night when she could, supporting her son as a single mom.

Hundreds of singing gigs, two more weddings and two divorces later, she found herself on New Year’s Eve 1947 marrying her fourth husband. It was during an Oklahoma sleet storm on the Flying L Ranch in the foothills of the Arbuckle Mountains in front of an open fireplace banked with mistletoe.

Her groom, born 36 years earlier in Cincinnati as Leonard Franklin Slye, was the only son in a family of four children. He quit high school after his sophomore year to work beside his father in a shoe factory. He would soon move west and try his hand at singing, using the name Dick Weston before discarding it for another.

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It seemed as if the fates were conspiring against the wedding. The snow and sleet were so heavy that the Rev. Bill Alexander arrived two hours late, finally making his way to the door on horseback. As the ceremony was to begin, the groom and best man had to head back to an upstairs bedroom to extinguish a fire that had started in a trashcan and had spread to the curtains. The minister, wearing the black cutaway coat and cowboy boots of a pioneer parson, read the vows and declared their partnership official.

And so began the 51-year marriage of Western movie stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.

The couple’s reign as “King of the Cowboys” and “Queen of the West” was immortalized in songs, television broadcasts and 28 movies, marked by bedazzled Western wear, tuneful harmonies and upbeat, color-saturated endings.

But their sunny dispositions belied lives that had seen hard times.

Roy brought three children from his 10year marriage to his second wife, a fan named Arline Wilkins who introduced herself (after his divorce from his first wife) by appearing at a radio station with her mother and a lemon pie after she heard Roy say he was homesick for his mother’s cooking. After adopting one girl with Roy and giving birth to another, Arline died of an embolism in November 1946, six days after delivering Roy Rogers Jr. In the months to come, the inconsolable widower continued to tour and reconnected with his former co-star and friend, Dale Evans.

With her Oklahoma wedding, Dale became stepmother to three. Two years into their marriage, she unexpectedly became pregnant and, on August 26, 1950, gave birth to their only child together: Robin Elizabeth.

Within a few days of her birth, doctors realized something was amiss. Robin was diagnosed with a serious heart defect and

HOW ROY ROGERS GOT HIS NAME While visiting in a hat store in Glendale, California, in October 1937, Len Slye overheard that Republic Pictures – home studio of movie idol Gene Autry, who was threatening not to show up for his next film – were looking for another singing cowboy. He reported the next day with his guitar, but could not get an appointment. He ended up sneaking in when the extras returned from lunch and was recognized by a producer who knew his group, The Sons of the Pioneers.

Slye was granted an audition and won the job, signing a seven-year contract with the studio. Although his singing impressed, his name did not. The Republic publicity team came up with the name Rogers in tribute to Will Rogers, who had died two years earlier, and added Roy from le roi, French for “the king.”

When Autry – who grew up in Oklahoma west of Tishomingo and, the story goes, was discovered when Will Rogers himself filed his syndicated column from the telegraph office in Chelsea where the teenaged Autry worked – did not report on time for the start of filming of the 1938 movie Under Western Stars, Len Slye stepped into his first of nearly 100 leading roles as Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys.

Down syndrome. Some advised the couple to keep her circumstances quiet and admit her into an institution.

The parents refused.

In the days after Robin’s birth, during a three-hour stretch one afternoon, Dale wrote the couple’s new theme song: Happy trails to you, until we meet again.

Happy trails to you, keep smilin’ until then.

Who cares about the clouds when we’re together?

Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.

Happy trails to you, ‘til we meet again.

Some trails are happy ones, Others are blue.

It’s the way you ride the trail that counts, Here’s a happy one for you.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.

Happy trails to you, keep smilin’ until then.

Who cares about the clouds when we’re together?

Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.

Happy trails to you, ‘til we meet again.

Roy began performing the song during his radio broadcast, and they closed each episode of their television show with the song from 1951-57. It is listed among the Top 25 Western Songs in history by the Western Writers of America, just above “Rawhide” and “The Yellow Rose of Texas.”

Robin was cared for at home until her death from complications from mumps. She was buried on what would have been her second birthday. Her life inspired her mother to write the book Angel Unaware: A Touching Story of Love and Loss, told from Robin’s point of view. The title was inspired by advice from the Book of Hebrews’ Chapter 13, Verse 2: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

The book, like their trademark song, embraced the idea that cowboys had to ride on no matter the weather, even – or maybe especially – if the trails weren’t easy riding.

Angel Unaware was the first bestseller about living with and loving a child with Down syndrome. The book has sold more than a million copies over the past 60 years, and helped change public perception and ease the stigma associated with disabilities.

In 1953, the newly formed nonprofit Oklahoma County Council for Mentally Retarded Children – which focuses on vocational training and employment for the disabled – named itself the Dale Rogers Training Institute in her honor. Dale and Roy visited in 1976, when they were in Oklahoma City for their induction into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

Today, the center is the state’s largest community vocational training employment center for those with disabilities. Its OKC headquarters is home to Robin’s Corner Museum and the Roy & Dale Rogers Memorabilia Collection, including mementos from the life of Robin Elizabeth Rogers donated by the family: Robin’s original birth certificate, layette blanket and toy piano.

Among the images on display: posters from the movie filmed on the Flying L Ranch, a Happy Trails lunchbox and Robin’s silver baby cup, engraved with her initials. A plaque dedicated at the center’s golden anniversary in 2003 reads “In grateful memory of Roy and Dale Evans Rogers and their daughter Robin for providing a foundation of love and hope for people with disabilities.”

Nearby is a portrait of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans on their Oklahoma wedding day, beginning their journey together in front of the mistletoe-bedecked fireplace near the Washita River.

DEAREST DEBBIE, SALUTE TO SANDY In the wake of Robin’s death, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans continued to visit hospitals and orphanages while on tour.

They adopted three more children, and fostered another: Harry John David Hardy Rogers (a.k.a.

Sandy), a malnourished 6-year-old from Kentucky; Mary Little Doe Rogers, of Choctaw heritage, from Hope Cottage in Dallas; Debbie Lee Rogers, a 4-year-old South Korean girl whose father was a Puerto Rican GI; and Marion Fleming Swift, who had lived in a Scottish orphanage for nine years.

Their trail held more tragedy for their blended family of nine children. Twelve-year-old Debbie died in a bus crash during a 1964 mission trip to Mexico. The next year, Sandy choked to death at the age of 19 while serving in West Germany with the U.S. Army.

Dale wrote books about the loss of both – Dearest Debbie and Salute to Sandy – and, as with Angel Unaware and the other 25 books she authored, donated royalties to charity.

february 2016 • 405 magazine

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Spring Break

BY CHRISTINE EDDINGTON

101

PHOTO BY ELAINETHEWISE

A Guide for Planners and Procrastinators

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Travel trends come and go, but according to Dave Blew with Oklahoma City’s Bayless Travel, spring break choices for Oklahomans are pretty consistent. “The top four destinations are Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Disney World.”

Spring break planning, however, is all over the map.

Blew says, on the one hand, “People will start calling in April for spring break the next year … and then we get the latecomers who call in January for March travel.”

If you fall into the former category, tear out these pages for future fun fodder. If you fall into the latter category, tear out these pages for future fun fodder and don’t dillydally next time. Or use some of our last-minute travel advice and become your family’s spring break superhero.

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Family Fun in Foreign Lands

Lezel Cunningham Safi is a busy mom, future law student, yogi and expert spring break planner. She’s got three active kids – two boys and a girl – and an equally high-energy husband, Richard, who’s a dentist with a busy practice as well as an Iron Man triathlete. Suffice it to say that logistics and Lezel Safi go together like peas and carrots. This year, she’s taking her brood to the United Kingdom – an ambitious trip for sure, but Safi knows how to do her homework, making for smooth travel experiences.

For the past three years, the Safi Tribe, as she affectionately calls them, has embarked on a spring break trip that’s part relaxation, part education and lots of fun.

“For Christmas, instead of just giving the kids a lot of junk they don’t need, we put two or three smaller gifts under the tree and then we give them a trip for spring break. We give them ornaments that are clues about where we will be going, and guidebooks about the location, which is a fun way to get them excited.”

Year one was Paris, last year was Hawaii, and 2016 will see Safi carting her tribe from London to Edinburgh, to the Cotswolds and back. “Wherever we go, we try to include educational activities. When we went to France, I arranged a private tour

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of the D-Day beaches and historical sites in Normandy, and we spent a full day exploring the Louvre.”

Her family veers away from the touristy and toward the “real life” of a place. “Ask around before you go someplace. Ask friends who’ve been where you’re going.

Another family we know suggested the tour company we used when we were in France, and it was perfect. I also ask concierges

and use Google to find new restaurants or things to do.”

She keeps lists in her phone for the different cities she’s planning to visit, and when she knows the family will be using public transportation, she buys passes in advance and has them in-hand when they step off the plane, thus eliminating that jet-lagged, luggage-dragging, stressful interaction with the ticket machine.

Lezel Safi’s Tips for Semi-Sane Travel with Children Try to stay in lodgings with a washer and dryer. This means packing less and not arriving home and having to immediately scale Dirty Laundry Mountain. “And when you can, opt for adjoining rooms. In Europe those are much less common, so we look for hotels with ‘family suites.’ There are five of us, and the kids are too young to have their own rooms, so we’re often in pretty close quarters, but togetherness is part of our vacations,” says Safi.

For air travel, pack a backpack for each child. Inside it place his or her iPad, books, a journal, healthy snacks, a sweater or scarf, a Ziploc baggie with daily medications such as Flonase or Claritin and maybe a fun surprise, like their favorite candy.

PHOTOS: LONDON BY SIMON HURST; DISNEY CRUISE BY MATT STROSHANE; SKIING COURTESY LEZEL SAFI

Pack a large Ziploc with medicines you think you might need: Benadryl, Tylenol, antacid, Band-Aids, Neosporin and sunscreen. “I also travel with at least one round of amoxicillin and one Z-Pac, especially on overseas trips.”

Mix up daily activities so that some are low-key and child-friendly, and some require indoor voices and sitting still. “We may spend a day in a museum, but then pick up McDonald’s and have a picnic on the floor of our hotel room for dinner. Or we might play in a park in the afternoon and then go for a fancier, sit-down dinner.”

Stock your room or suite. Local grocery stores in new places are fun and a good way to see a snippet of people’s dayto-day lives. “We pick up yogurt, fruit, cheese and crackers and snacks and a couple of bottles of wine. We aren’t big eaters in the mornings and this saves us the hassle of going out, and helps our budget.”

Use online activity resources before you travel. “There are great websites for our national parks and even for other countries that have kids’ activity sheets that you can download and print to take with you. They’re fun and they really add to their experiences.”

Say

“Hakuna Matata” … in 2017

Once 2016 is in the bag, the savvy early bird will be well served to follow Blew’s advice and get crackin’. “We recommend booking sooner rather than later. There isn’t an exact recommended time frame,” says Jennifer Haile Tinn, manager of marketing and sales strategy at Disney Cruise Line.

For many families, the trip most likely to blow the kids’ minds is a Disney Cruise. The company has four ships in its stable, which can accommodate between 2,700 and 4,000 Mouseketeers per ship and offer plenty of fun, adventure, sunshine and, ahem, babysitting for all.

“Whether you’re 9 or 92, there really is something for everyone aboard a Disney cruise. Kids unleash their imaginations in the youth clubs, adults relax at the spa and indulge at our upscale, adults-only restaurants and families come together for shared experiences like only Disney can provide,” Tinn says.

This just in: Select Disney cruises will feature a special addition beginning in 2017: Star Wars Day. The company calls it “Force-Filled Fun for Everyone,” which means exclusive, at-sea screenings of all of the Star Wars movies, meet and greet events with characters (no, moms, not young Harrison Ford, Disney can’t time travel yet), themed activities for the kiddos and even special menu offerings.

february 2016 • 405 magazine

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Savvy Travel

S taycation

Close to Home

Jenifer Reynolds knows a thing or two about Oklahoma destinations.

She’s been the host of the popular television show “Discover Oklahoma” for 14 years, and, over the course of her tenure, she’s crisscrossed our state’s 77 counties multiple times. When asked about spring break, Oklahoma style, you can see the database start to percolate. She takes the question seriously.

“Oklahoma in the spring can be unpredictable in terms of weather,” Reynolds says. True. “So I think for spring break I’d stick to going south rather than north, with an exception if you’re going someplace west and want something to stop and do on the way.”

Her favorite stay-and-play springtime spot combines hiking, history, bison and burgers, not necessarily in that order. “If I just wanted to get out of town and make an overnight trip, I’d go to Lawton. I’d start at the Ft. Sill National Landmark and Museum. It’s wonderful; so full of history. Geronimo is buried there, and staff will escort you to see his grave, as well as other Native American tribal leaders.

People still leave trinkets there for him. Mementos, photos, and I’ve even seen packs of cigarettes.”

She also recommends the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and Visitors Center. “It’s lovely, really beautifully done, and it gives you a much better appreciation for the refuge and what you’ll see as you drive through, and the meaning of it all.”

For lunch, or dinner for that matter, Meers Store and Restaurant is the go-to.

That’s just a given. Steaks, barbeque, house-baked bread, scratch-made ice cream and desserts plus large, colorfully named burgers: The Cowboy (mustard, dill pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, purple onions and American cheese because they’re American burgers, so sayeth the website) or The Sissy (mayo instead), and ketchup burger eaters are relegated to the damned Yankee Burger.

Reynolds suggests a hike on one of the well-marked trails on Mt. Scott. “The Elk Mountain Trail will give you a good workout and a great view. Well worth it!” She offers a great tip: Plan your hike toward the end of the day and catch a beautiful Oklahoma sunset from atop the mountain. Well-fed, exhausted and ready for bed?

“I love Quartz Mountain Lodge. It’s beautiful, friendly and economical,” she says.

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“We stress flexibility. If you are planning on a Wednesday through Sunday, be flexible. Be open to going Tuesday through Saturday or Thursday through Monday and you could be able to save a lot of money.”

Word to the wise: “A lot of the resorts in Mexico will not take anyone under 18 for the spring break period, which could rule this out as far as family travel.”

Great family destinations are Hawaii, Florida and other domestic U.S. locations.

A cruise is also a wonderful option for families because all meals, accommodations and entertainment are already paid for, and most cruise lines have awesome kids’ programs onboard. “Our family has done five family cruises and had a blast.

The kids were so preoccupied with their kids’ programs that we only saw them at dinner, and they loved it.”

Always take out travel insurance.

Insurance is usually at a minimal price and gives you the peace of mind that if something should happen you can get your money back. There are different rules and circumstances, but this is usually the case.

“I always let my neighbors know I will be gone, and it doesn’t hurt to call your police department and let them know the same thing. Stop your papers and mail and leave lights on when gone.”

PHOTOS: QUARTZ MOUNTAIN BY SHAUNA STRUBY, OKLAHOMA TOURISM; WICHITA MOUNTAINS BY LISHA NEWMAN, OKLAHOMA TOURISM; RED RIVER SKIING BY NICK CHURCH, BEACH BY SHANNON CORNMAN

LOW W-BY-B THE BLO AVE BLEW FROM D

Hey, Teacher, Leave Those Kids Alone

Sure, parents and students need a little R&R in the spring,

Slopes Hit the

Pack up the car, hop on I-40 West in the morning, and before nightfall you’ll be in the mountains, ready to ski in any number of excellent spots in New Mexico (think Taos or Red River) and Colorado (think Crested Butte or Durango).

On your way, if you’re going through the Panhandle, Reynolds loves Black Mesa and the “country stay” options at local ranches owned by the Apple and Roberts families.

“After a stay at the Apple Ranch, the Black Mesa B&B or the Hitching Post, you’ll leave feeling like you’ve got family in Black Mesa.” This region of our state is also a rock hound’s paradise, with ancient petroglyphs and sites where dinosaur bones have been found, including the huge specimen on display at Norman’s Sam Noble Museum.

Skiing in New Mexico is a generations-old tradition for many Oklahoma families, and one town that offers lots of fun for a great price is Red River. “Red River has an interesting story,” says Red River Tourism Director Megan Gallagher. “The ski mountain actually opened the day before Pearl Harbor was bombed, and it closed back down a few days later. It finally reopened about a decade later, in December of 1959.”

With 38 hotels and plenty of Airbnb options, Gallagher assures us that you have not waited too long for a spring break ski trip, and one that works for the whole family. “Red River is known for its ski school. Our instructors are wonderful, and several of them have been teaching here for 20 or 30 years.”

Another plus is the lift ticket price. “Our lift tickets are $68 a day, and if you use a site like liftopia.com, you can get them for even less, more like $60. And our mountain is small enough that it’s easy to keep track of your friends. Our visitors tell us it just feels like home here.”

but so do their teachers. Probably more so. Day in and day out with the little darlings can take its toll, as can living on the average teacher’s salary. Choices along Cancun’s hotel zone range from the extravagant to the think-twice; we evaluated them and narrowed the choices down to those that do not allow children, and are beautiful and moderately priced, with our teacher friends in mind.

The Hyatt Zilara is a great mid-range option with upscale style, beautifully appointed and located on the Caribbean Sea. The beach is bright white, the water is impossibly blue, the food is great and the service is as warm as the beautiful sunshine.

Fine dining options, including restaurants featuring tapas and sushi, make the hardest part of the day deciding when and where to eat. Fortunately, you won’t make a bad choice. Again, we did the heavy lifting for you and sampled them all.

You don’t have to move a muscle to enjoy a cocktail on the beach or in the infinity pool, but if for some crazy reason you want to move a muscle or two, the gym is state of the art, and there are a variety of fitness classes offered each day, along with bike rides and beach walks.

Wherever you wind up, have a ball and make some memories – there’s plenty of enjoyment to be had out there before you have to get back to the daily grind.

february 2016 • 405 magazine

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Fairytale of OKC A dream date in downtown

BY JENNIFER SALYER PHOTOS BY SIMON HURST The couple arrives at The Caliber. Kris is wearing a CORSO denim tweed jacket; Jessi is wearing a mink fur from Koslow’s and hat from Stella Thomas Designs. Bodyguard Evan Dowers is wearing a suit by Hans Herman Tailors.

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Typically, a gentleman might send flowers, make reservations and pick her up at 8 p.m. Or maybe, in an attempt to be creative, he’ll purchase plane tickets for an extended weekend. While potentially delightful, that’s rather unoriginal and effort-free in terms of thoughtful planning.

This Oklahoma City couple, who actually is a couple and not merely playing the made-for-print role, helped us put a more personal take on how to spend an enchanted Valentine’s Day. Instead of dining out, Kris Murray hires chef Andon Whitehorn to create a culinary delight for Jessi Chapman in the comforts of a downtown venue he rents for the evening.

And since pictures are worth a thousand words, the story goes a little like this …

Kris has a drink while getting ready; he’s wearing a suit and bow tie from Hans Herman Tailors.

february 2016 • 405 magazine

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Jessi touches up her makeup; her black custom dress is by Stella Thomas Designs.

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405 magazine • february 2016

An intimate dinner for two is served; Jessi is wearing a Stella Thomas Designs black custom dress and Kris’ white shirt is from Ty Hirtzel.

february 2016 • 405 magazine

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This gorgeous Swarovski crystal pendant on a delicate chain is from BC Clark Jewelers.

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405 magazine • february 2016

The sun sets on a thoroughly enchanting evening. Jessi’s dress and fox collar are by CORSO and her horn bracelet is by Stella Thomas Designs; Kris is wearing a custom suit from Hans Herman Tailors and scarf by Ermenegildo Zegna.

Special thanks: Makeup

by Sami Daraby with Spring Creek Salon and Spa; Hair by Carl Wayne with 822 Broadway Salon; Styling by Frank Christon; Models Jessi Chapman and Kris Murray with Brink Modeling Agency; Meal prepared by chef Andon Whitehorn; Location provided by The Caliber; Mercedes-Benz AMG SL65 courtesy Mercedes-Benz of Oklahoma City

february 2016 • 405 magazine

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405 magazine • february 2016

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february 2016 • 405 magazine

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405 magazine • february 2016

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Reignite the Devotion with the two stone Twogether ring that will remind her that she is your only love and best friend.

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Reignite the Fire with this smoldering pendant from the Tacori City Lights Collection. The necklace showcases a hard-carved design ignited by a glowing red stone. $880

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Reignite the Romance when she opens her little green box to find these Rhythm of Love earrings that shimmer with every heartbeat. $599

Reignite the Passion with this drop dead gorgeous number from the Tacori City Lights Collection with an interlocking silver design to give her a new obsession. $1,020

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405 magazine • february 2016

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february 2016 • 405 magazine

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Give your valentine the beautiful book Dance Me to the End of Love and tickets to see the special exhibition Matisse in His Time this summer at OKCMOA. Books available at the Museum Store, tickets available at okcmoa.com.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art

SHOPPING NEWS OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART

Apothecary Guild porcelain and metallic diffusers smell as fabulous as they look – a perfect gift she’s sure to love.

Red Chateau

Feb 1-14 Special Valentine’s Day gift packs will be available at the Museum Store. Gift packs include Lula’s Sea Salt Caramels, Lovepop Popup Valentine’s Day Card and an Artisan Glass Kiss.

Feb 7 Quilts and Color from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston closes Feb 7th. Don’t miss your last chance to see this spectacular exhibition and purchase Quilts and Color merchandise from the Museum Store.

HOWELL GALLERY

Feb 6-13 Art for Your Sweetheart give your sweetheart the gift of art this Valentine’s Day and receive a $100 gift certificate to The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro with your purchase of $500 or more.

Create the earring of your dreams with hoops, charms and the new frames by Jude Frances. All pieces sold separately and starting at just $590.

Naifeh Fine Jewelry

Feb 6 11am-2pm: Coffee & Cookies with Joy Richardson - enjoy coffee and cookies as the Gallery showcases new work by Oklahoma City artist Joy Richardson. february 2016 • 405 magazine

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february 2016 • 405 magazine

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ENROLLING NOW Christ the King Catholic School is a Christ-centered environment for children in Pre-K through 8th Grade. We offer a low student/teacher ratio, weekly Mass and service opportunities, as well as state-of-theart computer and science labs. Enrolling Now, please call for a personal tour. We want you to be part of our thriving community!

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YOUR HEART IS THE KEY TO YOUR HEALTH An Echocardiogram is a diagnostic ultrasound test using Doppler technology to evaluate heart structure and function.

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RURAL LOCATIONS: Woodward | Chickasha | Weatherford | Pauls Valley

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culture

BLURRED LINES

Urban Core Values Raising property values without flipping character away

BY BEN FELDER PHOTOS BY JAMES PRATT

J

Jessica Thompson is reminded of the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus when reflecting on the transformation taking place across many urban Oklahoma City neighborhoods, including her own in Classen Ten Penn.

“People say he just came in and said ‘I discovered America,’” says Thompson, who is a Realtor for Loxwood Realty. “You kind of see some of this neighborhood [redevelopment] as a modern-day Christopher Columbus. It’s easy for people to come into a neighborhood and try to improve it without any knowledge of what already exists and thinking they discovered it.”

Thompson’s critique of Columbus “discovering” a land that was already inhabited relates to today’s process of gentrification, which, like Columbus, is a concept that is celebrated or rebuked, depending on who you talk to.

Like nearly every major city in America, Oklahoma City experienced a mid-century exodus of affluent families from the urban core to outer suburbs, leaving lower-income and mostly minority residents behind.

However, the injection of new investment in downtown and urban

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communities over the last decade has seen the return of more affluent residents, bringing with them higher housing prices and rents.

“Gentrification looks different in different cities,” says Shannon Entz, a senior planner with the city who works in the Classen Ten Penn community. “It’s happening in Oklahoma City, but maybe not at the same degree as places like Austin or Seattle.”

The public policy magazine Governing attempted one of the most in-depth looks at gentrification in America recently when it analyzed data in the nation’s 50 largest cities. The report named Portland, Washington, D.C., Minneapolis and Seattle as the top gentrifying cities. Oklahoma City landed in the middle of the list behind cities such as Nashville and Omaha, but ahead of cities such as Indianapolis and Milwaukee.

“Gentrification particularly accelerated in recent years as growing numbers of Americans opted to pursue urban lifestyles,” wrote Mike Maciag for Governing.

Last purchased for $32,000 fewer than than two years ago, a four-bedroom craftsman home in Classen Ten Penn at the corner of

North Ellison and 11th Street is now listed at $245,000. It’s a higher-than-average asking price in this central Oklahoma City neighborhood, but it’s hardly the only home in the area fetching a quarter million dollars.

The Classen Ten Penn neighborhood, located south of the popular Plaza District, is still mostly made up of moderately priced homes that show their century-old age. But on nearly every block in this up-and-coming neighborhood there seem to be high-priced homes attracting an affluent owner in what was once strictly a low-income community.

Public records compiled by the real estate search engine Trulia show that in Classen Ten Penn the average for-sale price topped $100,000 in 2010 and is now close to breaking the $200,000 mark.

“Housing prices have gone up tremendously,” says Thompson, who began selling real estate in the neighborhood three years ago. “I’d say they’ve doubled in [my] time here.”

Aspects of gentrification have hit Classen Ten Penn, but rather than becoming a neighborhood-wide phenomenon, it appears to be occurring on a block-by-block, or even house-byhouse basis.

“I do see property values increasing,” says Cayla Lewis, a Classen Ten Penn resident and member of its Neighborhood Association. “But this remains a diverse neighborhood and we kind of want it to stay that way. We aren’t trying to be a suburb here.”

A family making the census-reported city average of $45,000 a year can still find a sub-$100,000 house in Classen Ten Penn, but might find themselves priced out of nearby areas such as Mesta Park and Heritage Hills. Home values in those neighborhoods now average $350,000 – almost triple

the average from a decade ago, according to Trulia.

By comparing income levels, housing prices and educational achievement between census data from 2000 and 2010, Governing’s research determined that nine specific tracts in Oklahoma City had gentrified during that time period. Three of those tracts were located north of 23rd Street in the neighborhoods of Jefferson Park, Central Park and the Paseo Arts District, where home values increased by as much as 77 percent.

The rise in those home values comes at a time when the 23rd Street business corridor has exploded with growth as trendy restaurants and boutiques have made homes and apartments within walking distance more desirable.

“There is such a huge movement back to the urban area right now, and we are seeing prices go through the roof,” says Neila Crank-Clements, executive director of Positively Paseo, a nonprofit that revitalizes homes in urban OKC. “Our [organization] continues to focus on affordable housing so people of limited incomes can enjoy those amenities that are growing in the area.”

Some of the homes revitalized by Positively Paseo are sold below market value, offering lower-income families the chance to remain in urban neighborhoods like the Paseo Arts District and Classen Ten Penn.

“Diversity in anything is important in order to keep the momentum going,” Crank-Clements says. “And that includes neighborhoods. I think the best neighborhoods are those that are diverse.”

New skyscrapers full of high-paying jobs are attracting more affluent residents to the urban core, but there is also a growth of service-related jobs and other employment sectors

Both homeowners and investors are refurbishing older homes in the Classen Ten Penn neighborhood (top). A little streetside branding helps reinforce the concept of belonging to a neighborhood (bottom). Constance Matheny sits on the front porch of her OKC home, built by the Positively Paseo organization (opposite page).

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that are crucial to city life, but may not offer the salary needed to buy a $250,000 home.

“When you think about all the people who live in a city, you have to think about people like education professionals who have lower salaries,” Crank-Clements says. “I think it’s important for them to live in these neighborhoods. There are also lots of pastors and retired people living on a pension.

These types of [residents] kind of add to the diversity of neighborhoods, but it might be hard for them to find something that is affordable.”

Keeping homes affordable helps keep families – pets and all – adding to the residential mix (left).

Walkability to nearby amenities like the creatively thriving Paseo Arts District’s galleries is a boon to property values (below).

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For Entz, whose planning department is working in three specific Oklahoma City neighborhoods, there is a difference between gentrification and general improvements that make a neighborhood safer and more attractive to all citizens.

“All three neighborhoods [we work in] through the Strategic Neighborhoods Initiative were really starting out with no investment,” Entz says. “But now we are seeing fewer boarded-up homes, more owner occupants and more stable renters.

“We are working to empower residents to contact the city and help improve their neighborhood.

That includes those who already live in the neighborhood.”

Entz said her department also tries to pay attention to predatory actions by landlords who might be trying to make a quick buck. Thompson said she sees that side of development as a Realtor when attempts are made to purchase large amounts

of property to be flipped for the highest bidder.

“Whenever people are wanting to move into an area, there are some people who want to take advantage of that,” Thompson says.

However, Oklahoma City has some advantages when it comes to avoiding the wave of gentrification seen in other cities.

There remains a large housing stock in the urban core, and while salaries and costs of living have grown in recent years, they haven’t reached levels seen in places such as Austin and Seattle.

“In Seattle, any housing or community with any type of water view is going to fetch a lot,” Entz says. “Obviously, we don’t have that issue here. We are more like Austin, but even they have a university right in the heart of the city, and that has an impact.

“We have our own unique situation, and that means gentrification might not be the same here as it is in other cities.”

Parents in the Classen Ten Penn neighborhood walk their children home from Eugene Field Elementary School (top). Resident Valerie Wiegman in front of her home with Positively Paseo’s Nelia Crank-Clements (above).

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Having more friendships.

Independent Living · Cottages & Apartments Assisted Living · Memory Care TOUCHMARK AT COFFEE CREEK Full-service Retirement Community 2801 Shortgrass Road • Edmond, OK 73003 405-562-9155 • TouchmarkEdmond.com/info 1512194 © Touchmark, LLC, all rights reserved

home A Table to Love Valentine’s Day

CARLI WENTWORTH

is approaching, but dinners for two shouldn’t just be reserved for Feb 14. So let’s skip the uninspired red roses and heart-shaped box of candy.

A softer, more varied color palette, heartshaped, chocolate-dipped cookies, a small gift wrapped in brown paper and bearing the last line of Beethoven’s famous poem “Ever Ours” … it all combines for a table setting to love. - SARA GAE WATERS

Linen napkin ($10.99) by Now Designs and Lastra dinner plate ($40) by Vietri from Plenty, OKC; small Poppy bowl ($38) by Vietri, 5-piece pewter Sofia flatware place setting ($280), footed bowl ($165) and crystal Rocks glass with a pewter base ($70) by Match from Cayman’s, Norman

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home

HABITAT

Barstools that easily could pass for Mid-Century vintage, but actually are standouts from West Elm, occupy one side of a massive, marble-topped island. Across the way, the kitchen has a range with some serious chops: a 60” commercial, FiveStar beauty. Cheery blue and white ginger jars and other Japanese vases add pops of clean color to the otherwise gray space.

At Home With the Pauls A beautifully feathered nest for a couple of good eggs

BY CHRISTINE EDDINGTON PHOTOS BY DAVID COBB

M

Maybe you’ve never met Heather and Keith Paul, but, if you live in the 405, odds are good they’ve fed you, and probably more than once. The Pauls are the creators and keepers of a menagerie of unique restaurants around these parts: The Drake, Cheever’s, three Tucker’s Onion Burgers locations, Kitchen 324, Republic Gastropub, Iron Star BBQ and Red Prime Steakhouse are all a part of their enterprise, Good Egg Dining Group. And they’re not finished yet. There’s a Mexican restaurant percolating in the old Swanson Tires building in downtown Oklahoma City and a second incarnation of Republic Gastropub in Edmond’s Chisholm Creek. And after that? The duo is mulling over the possibility of an upscale sandwichery. Maybe a breakfast joint.

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(from top) Throughout the home, Heather and Keith have mixed finds from Etsy, Cherish and eBay with treasures from favorite local purveyors including Urbane, Sara Kate Studios and 30A Home. The triptych above the spectacular, hand-painted, 19th century chinoiserie buffet is an eBay score. Beautiful potted orchids add drama, while a collection of glass eggs is a nod to the couple’s Good Egg Dining Group.

Dreams do come true! This is the room that Heather and Keith spend most of their time in. “We almost never have to turn the lights on in here,” says Heather. And, more importantly for Keith, his long-held dream of owning a sectional has become a reality. Like the rest of the home, the feeling throughout this space is modern but comfortable and welcoming.

Privacy fencing surrounds a beautiful outdoor living space, perfect for entertaining or relaxing with a book.

The Pauls are recovering workaholics, who are rediscovering the art of relaxation. “Keith is better at decompressing than I am,” Heather says. He is an avid long-distance runner and golfer, while Heather prefers yoga and reading. The couple’s love of mixing textures against a neutral background is evidenced by this space’s sophisticated blend of rattan furnishings with nap-worthy canvas cushions, surrounding a long, low table topped with a cozy throw, potted succulent and quirky objets d’art.

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home

HABITAT

(above) A massive table sourced from Restoration Hardware loses its anonymity and gains some groovy style with the addition of wooly, comfy sheepskins to its chairs. The brilliant neons on the wall are an installation the couple commissioned from Los Angeles-based artist Katherine Anne Good. Although the room isn’t huge, it gains infinite space and lots of light with a cleverly placed mirrored wall at the end of the table.

(left) A beautiful assemblage of the Pauls’ eclectic and vast art collection fills the home’s extra-wide hallway. Pristine shades of gray and dark, polished floors add an orderly foil to the cacophony of color and shape adorning the walls.

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Here in the master bedroom we see elements borrowed from other rooms in the home, the repetition of which lends a sophisticated visual cohesion to the entire space. Club chairs from the living room are invited in, one in its original size and one that has been reimagined slightly as a settee. Window treatments mirror those in the master bath, and the burnished dark floor is topped with a traditional wool rug.

The pair met when both were salespeople for Ben E. Keith food services in OKC about 20 years ago. Keith had recently moved to town from Ft. Worth, and Heather was from Oklahoma City but had attended college overseas. Love came quickly to the Pauls. “We were very competitive with each other,” Heather says.

They married in 1997, and as they talk about their lives, each often corrects the other about dates and years. It’s clear that once the Pauls found one another, months, years and decades all began to happily (and busily) blur together.

They share their unique downtown Oklahoma City home – fittingly a former flavorings and extract factory – with two gigantic dogs, English Mastiffs Tucker and Molly. The house had served as the Good Egg Dining Group’s corporate headquarters for about five years. The couple owns a second lot on the west side of the home, which they had originally bought with the idea of building a new home next to their headquarters.

Twice they had designs drawn up but just couldn’t quite find a plan that had the “old bones” they’d loved in the historic homes they’d lived in previously. Then the staff outgrew this space, and the former Tull’s Overhead Door building at NW 24th and Walker Avenue, which was the former Kerr’s Department Store, became available. Good Egg HQ moved to that location, and after nine months of construction overseen in part by the unofficial third egg in their design and renovation omelet, Heather’s mother Tanya Turner, they happily moved in.

Cool hues soothe in the Pauls’ master bath. His and hers pedestal sinks flank a swoon-worthy claw-footed tub. Formal window treatments and a chandelier manage to impart both elegance and whimsy.

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Fu A nd nn Soo ra ual ne Th isi M r Th e ng u D rde eatr in r M e’ ne y s r a st nd ery Sh ow A musical, murderously funny fundraising dinner and show for adults only benefiting the programs and productions of The Sooner Theatre of Norman, Inc.

Whether you enjoy a good space saga every now and then, or if you go all-in, put on a full costume and act it out in your own backyard—you won’t want to miss this view of adult geeks in their natural habitat—The Convention! [Spoiler Alert: someone ends up dead; you get dinner AND a chance to solve the crime!] When different fan universes collide, the result can only be seen to be believed. Set to the music of some of the greatest costumed rockers of the late 20th Century, you’ll never again be able to say you haven’t seen anything quite like this!

February 11, 12 & 13

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Why wait another day to look and feel your best?

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OPENING RECEPTION: 6-10 PM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2016 CLOSING RECEPTION: 6-10 PM FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016 122 E. MAIN | NORMAN 11AM-4PM | TUES-SAT 405.360.1162 NORMANARTS.ORG

dining Savor the Possibilities

PHOTO BY CARLI WENTWORTH

Oak and Ore, the Plaza District’s paradise for beer lovers – “beervana,” you might call it – just marked its first anniversary about a month ago, and is finding more and more success to celebrate as time goes by and its restaurant operation evolves.

For example, you can visit to start rather than end a day thanks to the recent introduction of Sunday brunches, which feature sugary items like a fried pie filled with Bananas Foster or savory tastes such as this bowl of rich, creamy, slightly sweet grits topped with a cluster of spicy Cajun shrimp.

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dining

LOCAL FLAVOR

A Firm Food Foundation Oak and Ore builds on success to pair great food with beer perfection

BY STEVE GILL PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

It’s immediately clear that Oak and Ore is a good name for this Plaza District hangout – it’s a space filled with wood, and metal and brick that feels solid throughout. You won’t find much in the way of frills or ornamentation in the décor, but the space is filled with craftsmanship; it’s just, as the logo promises, in the beer and fare.

What began as a fairly one-dimensional menu has blossomed under chef Eric Adams. Its focus has deepened from simply sandwiches (albeit excellent ones)

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to farther-reaching and more imaginative appetizers, salads and entrees.

sauce with a bite of black pepper and an underlying sweetness. It comes on a spicy bed of black beans, onions and peppers, with a vibrant dollop of avocado cream.

And the adoption of a more ambitious menu doesn’t mean Oak and Ore has parted company with what it was originally: The brisket French dip sandwich remains wholly fantastic. A toasted baguette filled with tender brisket, melted Swiss and caramelized onions, it gets a nice extra bite from its horseradish spread … and its steamy, fragrant au jus makes a delicious ward against winter’s chill.

BUILDING CRAFTIER FLAVORS The variety is notable right off the bat. Appetizer options range from a soft pretzel to house-made hummus to the artisanal cheese board – you know, creamy Grand Cru, gouda, figs, like you do. Give serious consideration, though, to the salty, crispy, deep-fried chicken cradled in two flaky buttermilk biscuits and slathered with honey and butter. And if that sounds like it might not be a completely health-conscious option (whaaaat?), you can get some HOORAY, BEER Oak and Ore’s centerpiece nutritional karma back by turning to the kale is the array of 36 taps, providing a constant and bacon salad, which is large enough to rotation of prime options for beer lovers. encourage sharing and performs the minor Owner Micah Andrews personally oversees wonder of wiping out the bitterness of its the operation, researching new leafy green vegetable via a tasty labels while keeping local options in orange vinaigrette. the mix - he knows most of the state Our group was especially OAK & ORE brewers personally so enjoys the impressed by the honey mole 1732 NW 16th St, OKC chance to show off their wares. chicken, a flattened breast lac405.606.2030 oakandore.com “It’s kind of like a calculus problem quered in a dark and flavor-rich

Flavors abound throughout Oak and Ore’s expanded menu, and the broad beer selection is as optimally served as ever.

to order the beer and manage the inventory,” he says. “You have to balance the menu so it’s not all IPAs.” The rotating variety means there’s always something waiting to be sampled, but also cuts down on the possibility of making concrete recommendations. I could name names, rhapsodize about Rogues and Iron Monks and Evil Twins, but rather than setting your heart on specifics that might not be in attendance, just know that variety abounds: Pilsners that disappear off the palate in a whiff of grapefruit, stouts of milk and chocolate and coffee, aged reds and sunny saisons and complex new creations … trust me, there’s plenty to explore and enjoy at all times. The bartenders are quite thoroughly ready to talk flavors and make recommendations, and even pour a small sample or two for taste-testing purposes, like a Baskin-Robbins with beer. (Just don’t attempt to fill up on freebies.)

What truly sets Andrews’ operation apart is the care taken to make each pour impeccably perfect, using a special adjustable tap system that presents each individual beer at its prime temperature. “The closest place to [OKC] that serves beer like we do is in Houston,” he explains. “There are probably not more than 15 places in the country that have this system.

“Everything in our system is stainless steel. I don’t let anyone touch my lines; nobody else touches my faucets. We hand-wash all our glasses, use specific glassware with stems to keep you from heating it with your hands, and the shape of the glass directs the aroma to the nose,” Andrews chuckles. “It’s definitely a challenge, but I love doing it.” It shows, and the results are real. “People say, ‘This beer tastes so much better than the same one I had somewhere else.’”

We’re ready to become regulars – if I see you there, you can raise a glass with me to toast a restaurant coming into its own.

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dining

CHEF’S TABLE

Sweetness is Served Chocolate? Please, and thank you, Chef David Henry

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CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER TRUFFLES 1 cup of cocoa powder in bowl. Set aside.

8 ounces of bittersweet chocolate. Henry recommends not going too dark, but it’s a matter of taste and tolerance for sweetness, as the majority of the truffle’s sugar will come from the chocolate. Also, milk chocolate will not set properly. ½ cup heavy cream 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp peanut butter

Put the dark chocolate in a small mixing bowl.

Heat the cream, butter and peanut butter to a boil in a saucepan. Pour the mixture over the dark chocolate and mix with a spatula to a smooth, even consistency.

Refrigerate until firm. After the mixture sets up, use spoon or small scoop to form balls, and shape with hands.

Roll the balls in the cocoa powder to achieve a fine dusting.

Makes 15-20 truffles. Once the cocoa powder is applied, do not refrigerate, as the cocoa powder will absorb moisture from the refrigerator. GH

PHOTOS BY SHANNON CORNMAN

When the renovations at The Coach House are complete, David Henry will take over as executive chef of the as-yetunnamed concept. Similar to many chefs in Oklahoma City, Henry is a graduate of Kurt Fleischfresser’s apprenticeship program, but he began his culinary training with Alain Buthion at La Baguette in 2001, where he worked as a line cook. It was during that period he first encountered chocolate used for a purpose other than dessert or a sweet snack.

“Alain used it in Beef Bourgogne,” Henry says. “A tablespoon or two of bittersweet chocolate really cuts the acidity from the wine, and it rounds out the flavors. I still use it in my own recipe.”

Definitions are hard to nail down when it comes to chocolate – “white chocolate is not chocolate” is an exception – but bittersweet chocolate, also known as baking chocolate, tends to be between 70 and 99 percent cocoa. For savory cooking, the higher the better.

Henry recommends cocoa powder in several instances, including a delicious crust for steak.

“I mix coffee beans and cocoa powder in a standard coffee grinder and pulse the mixture until it’s pretty coarse,” he says. “Once it’s at the right consistency, I rub it into the beef until the coffee and cocoa adhere to the meat.”

On the sweeter side of the spectrum, Henry offers this recipe for a very simple chocolate-peanut butter truffle. The name comes from the finished product’s visual similarity to those buried fungi that used to be hunted by pigs. - GREG HORTON

D O W N T O W N : 1 4 5 W. S H E R I D A N AV E . | 4 0 5 . 2 0 8 . 8 8 0 0 M E M O R I A L : 3 2 4 1 W. M E M O R I A L R D . | 4 0 5 . 7 4 8 . 5 9 5 9

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

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 CAFÉ 501 Rustic stone oven pizzas, fresh salads and specialty sandwiches on house-made artisan breads. Add welcoming atmosphere and enjoy. 501 S Boulevard, Edmond, 359.1501; 5825 NW Grand, OKC, 844.1501 $$ COOLGREENS This healthconscious establishment has a menu, but customization is encouraged; every available component in their salads, wraps and even the frozen yogurt is naturally delicious. 3 metro locations, coolgreens.com $$ DEEP FORK GRILL Crisply elegant atmosphere complements the menu of superb seafood (wood-grilled cedar plank salmon is a house specialty), steaks and accoutrements. 5418 N Western, OKC, 848.7678 $$ FLINT Approachably casual style, plus the kitchen’s impeccably serious attention to detail in the outstanding contemporary cuisine, winningly combined in the Colcord Hotel. 15 N Robinson, OKC, 601.4300 $$ GUYUTES The vibe is definitely and deliberately mellow in this Uptown 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 $ HEFNER GRILL 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 $$ INTERURBAN Great food (and prices) in casual comfort – while there are plenty of options for the health-conscious on the menu, visitors really should try the chicken-fried steak and anything with honey-pepper bacon. 4 metro locations, interurban.us $$

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K AISER’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 $ KITCHEN NO. 324 A seasonally inspired café and craft bakery serving spectacular rustic American cuisine.

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

324 N Robinson, OKC, 763.5911 $ MEATBALL 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 $$ PACK ARD’S NEW AMERICAN KITCHEN They’re not kidding about the “new” – the entire lunch and dinner menus are filled with innovative tastes for a distinctive dining experience. 201 NW 10th, OKC, 605.3771 $$ PARK 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 $$ PICASSO CAFÉ Their neighbors in the Paseo are painters, potters and sculptors, so it’s apt that creativity abounds in these zippy sandwiches, salads, pizza and surprises, including plentiful selections for vegetarians. 3009 Paseo, OKC, 602.2002 $ POPS There may not be room in Nichols Hills Plaza for a duplicate of the giant bottle-shaped sculpture found at the Arcadia location, but the incredible profusion of soda varieties will still dazzle visitors – and the sandwiches, salads, burgers and diner fare are certainly worth careful, repeated examination. 6447 Avondale, OKC, 928.7677 $ THE R&J LOUNGE AND SUPPER CLUB A sentimental dining experience with vintage recipes and atmosphere. Seating is limited but the patio is a year-round treat, and the drinks menu is a thing of beauty. 320 NW 10th, OKC, 602.5066 $$ REDROCK CANYON GRILL Rotisserie chicken, enchiladas, pork chops and steak by the lake in a casual, energetic, hacienda-style atmosphere of stone walls and mahogany beams around

an open kitchen. 9221 E Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 749.1995 $$ SATURN GRILL A star of the lunchtime stage in Nichols Hills Plaza, its rotation of daily specials and tasty twists on pizza, sandwiches and salads keep it crowded on weekdays. Calling ahead is recommended. 6432 Avondale, OKC, 843.7114 $ SCR ATCH Isn’t that the best place for food to come from? Top-of -the-line ingredients are combined into entrees and sides that are carefully concocted in-house, as are the bevy of wondrous craft cocktails. 132 W Main, Norman, 801.2900 $$ SYRUP The most important meal of the day is also the most enticing at this unique breakfast boutique serving a heaping helping of signature dishes (the crunchy French toast is something special) and Stumptown coffee. 123 E Main, Norman, 701.1143 $ VAST 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 $$$ VICEROY GRILLE Opulent décor, comfortable environs and some outstanding cuisine make a strong recommendation for the Ambassador Hotel’s in-house restaurant; don’t overlook the brunch options. 1200 N Walker Ave, OKC, 600.6200 $$ WAFFLE CHAMPION A food truck that expanded into a brick-andmortar location in Midtown, its gourmet flavor combinations use waffles as the foundation for sweet and savory sandwich treats. 1212 N Walker, OKC, 525.9235 $ WHISKEY CAKE High-quality locally sourced ingredients, prepared using slow cooking techniques that’s a prime recipe for outstanding dining.

Enjoy – and don’t forget the namesake dessert. 1845 NW Expressway, OKC, 582.2253 $$

Asian CHAE Found near OCU, this pancultural treat puts a delectable influence on embracing traditional Korean cuisine and showcasing its versatility by blending its ingredients with dishes from around the world. Grab your chopsticks and enjoy.

1933 NW 23rd, OKC, 600.9040 $$ DOT WO GARDEN 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 $$ GUERNSEY PARK A hidden treasure on an Uptown back street, reflecting traditional Asian flavors expertly fused with a hint of French influence. Try the chicken lollipops and curry salmon. 2418 N Guernsey, OKC, 605.5272 $$ O ASIAN FUSION Sublime quality in a wide span of culinary influences – freshly rolled sushi to fiery curry – in cool, vibrant digs. Call ahead for dinner, because it becomes a packed house in a hurry. 105 SE 12th, Norman, 701.8899 $$ SAII With a dark, rich ambiance that elevates it over its surroundings, the captivating Saii serves expertly done Japanese, Thai and Chinese fare plus an extensive and adventurous sushi menu.

6900 N May, OKC, 702.7244 $$

Bakery 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 $ L A BAGUETTE Comfort and exquisite baking make a tres chic destination for brunch and beyond. They supply pastries throughout the metro, but the source is especially delicious. 1130 Rambling Oaks, Norman, 329.1101; 2100 W Main, Norman, 329.5822 $ PIE JUNKIE A Plaza District haven for serious pie aficionados. Call ahead to order a whole pie or quiche or walk in and choose from what’s on hand; either way the flavors are incredible, and you may never find a better Key lime. 1711 NW 16th, OKC, 605.8767 $ SAR A SAR A CUPCAKES The ambiance and milk bar make great additions to the variety of specialty cupcakes - selections range from traditional chocolate to blueberry honey and even bacon, egg and cheese. 7 NW 9th, OKC, 600.9494 $

Bar & Pub Food 51ST STREET SPEAKEASY 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 $

REPUBLIC GASTROPUB 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 $$

BLU FINE WINE & FOOD Just south of Main Street, this sleek bar stands out due to quick, courteous service and a menu with gourmet range from mojitos to barbeque chicken pizza to fresh hummus. 201 S Crawford, Norman, 360.4258 $$

SIDECAR 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 $$

OAK & ORE A Plaza District port of call built with repurposed rustic materials, it offers more than a handful of creative sandwiches and varied entrees, as well as a tantalizing selection of lovingly chosen craft beers. 1732 NW 16th, OKC $

VZD’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

O’CONNELL’S IRISH PUB & GRILLE Beloved by students, alumni and townies alike, it’s served up killer burgers, beer and festive atmosphere since 1968. A St. Patrick’s Day must. 769 Asp, Norman, 217.8454 $

EARL’S RIB PAL 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 $

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 $$

IRON STAR URBAN BARBEQUE 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 $$

LEO’S BAR-B-Q Dense, rich flavor and tender texture, delivered in genuine unpolished style for commendable value – no wonder its ribs and brisket are favorites among Oklahoma connoisseurs.

3631 N Kelley, OKC 424.5367 $

Burgers & Sandwiches COW CA LF-H AY This tempting burger spot offers ample flavor combinations, and the delicious neverfrozen 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 sports-bar 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 $ IRM 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 GRILL & 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 $ T HE M U L 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 $ N IC’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 BU RGER 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 ON ION BU RGER S 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 $

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.

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.

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THE BARREL 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 $

702.8444

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

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r e h t e Tog b etter

Coffeehouse & Tea Room ALL ABOUT CHA 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 $ CL ARITY COFFEE The vibe is crisp, clean and cool while still remaining welcoming and comfortable – including seating for sipping or getting some work done – and the brewers have their beverages down to a science. As the sign says, “Drink the Coffee.” 431 W Main, OKC $ COFFEE SLINGERS Rocking a brisk, urban vibe on Automobile Alley, it has become a gathering place for genuine java enthusiasts, especially during its periodic educational sampling seminars.

1015 N Broadway, OKC, 606.2763 $

Spend Day

Valentine's

With Us This Year!

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

Sweets for Your Sweetie

ELEMENTAL COFFEE Seriously spectacular coffee roasted in-house - the passionate staff is always eager to share knowledge about the process augmented with locally sourced salads, breakfast options and other treats. 815 N Hudson, OKC, 633.1703 $ RED CUP Comfortably ramshackle surroundings encourage curling up for conversation over great coffee, baked treats, vegetarian-friendly breakfast and lunch specials and live music. It’s highly recommended. 3122 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 525.3430 $ T, AN URBAN TEAHOUSE Proving that an establishment’s focus can be at once narrow and broad, these retreats offer over 100 varieties and expert counsel to explore a world of possibiliteas. 511 NW 23rd St, OKC, 7518 N May, OKC, 418.4333 $

Continental BL ACKBIRD A Campus Corner gastropub pairing succulently creative dishes like pot roast nachos with a broad beer, wine and whiskey list. There’s little on the menu that won’t tempt palates. 575 S University, Norman, 928.5555 $$ CHEEVER’S Southwestern-influenced recipes (the chicken-fried steak is a house specialty) and love of seafood drive the contemporary comfort food in one of the city’s finest dining destinations. 2409 N Hudson, OKC, 525.7007 $$

Make your dinner reservations now!

7408 N May Ave • Oklahoma City • 405-840-3047 labaguettebistro.com

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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 $$$ LOTTIN VILLES Rotisserie chicken and wood-grilled salmon are the featured players among a host of Southwesterninfluenced entrees, salads and panini; the Sunday brunch is sincerely pretty epic.

801 Signal Ridge, Edmond, 341.2244 $$ LUDIVINE The menu adjusts constantly to reflect availability of elitequality, locally sourced ingredients - but every dish is the result of genuine culinary artistry. 805 N Hudson, OKC, 778.6800 $$$ THE MANTEL 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 $$$ THE MELTING POT Special occasion? Here’s where to make a meal into an event. Specializing in fourcourse fondue dinners, this Bricktown restaurant rewards a time investment with delectable memories. 4 E Sheridan, OKC, 235.1000 $$$ 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 $$ THE MUSEUM CAFÉ A setting as inspiring as the OKC Museum of Art warrants something special in cuisine: delicately light or delectably robust, its European-inspired menu delights for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. 415 Couch, OKC, 235.6262 $$ PARK AVENUE GRILL A oneof-a-kind dining experience inside the luxurious Skirvin Hilton, blending traditional steak and seafood with the high style of its 1930s setting. 1 Park, OKC, 702.8444 $$$ PASEO GRILL Quiet and intimate inside, cheerful and comfortable out on the patio, with an award-winning menu filled with distinctive flavors inspired by the cuisines of Europe in both areas – try the duck salad. 2909 Paseo, OKC, 601.1079 $$$ ROCOCO An “East Coast-style” restaurant with a diverse menu of international dishes, all set off by carefully selected wines to create the perfect dinner pairing. 12252 N May, OKC, 212.4577; 2824 N Penn, OKC, 528.2824 $$ SEVEN47 A Campus Corner hotspot boasting sleek, swank décor, an appealingly broad menu including a tantalizing brunch and a consistently celebratory vibe - in toto that makes this a winner. 747 Asp, Norman, 701.8622 $$ SIGNATURE GRILL Unassuming locale; magnificent culinary rewards. The expertly considered menu mixes French and Italian flavors to present a wide spectrum of amazing flavors in a few select dishes. 1317 E Danforth, Edmond, 330.4548 $$$ WEST 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 $$

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 $ L A BAGUETTE BISTRO Les Freres Buthion have deep roots in the city’s culinary landscape, and this flagship combines fine dining with a great bakery, deli and butcher on site. 7408 N May, OKC, 840.3047 $$

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 $ INGR ID’S Authentic German fare at its best, including outstanding Oklahoma-made 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 - TASTE 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 $$ MISAL OF INDIA A Norman institution for over 30 years, specializing in tandoori-cooked delicacies and boasting healthy, natural, delicious cuisine served amid splendid ambiance. 580 Ed Noble Pkwy, Norman, 579.5600 $$ 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 $$

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 $ 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 $$

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 $$

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 $$

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 $

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 $$

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

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,

LOOK UP MAKE YOUR EVENT REMARKABLE UPSTAIRS @ RED FOR MORE INFO, VISIT REDPRIMESTEAK.COM/showroom 504 N. Broadway | 405.232.2626 | REDPRIMESTEAK.COM

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NEW MENU New Favorites NEW FLAVORS

801 Signal Ridge Drive • Edmond, OK at the corner of 15th & Kelly

www.lottinvillesrestaurant.com | 405.341.2244

urban décor add savor to the flavor.

600-B NW 23rd St, OKC, 601.6161 $$

Mediterranean

PIZZERI A GUSTO Neapolitan-style pizza (which harnesses an extremely hot fire to quickly cook superfine flour crusts and quality ingredients) stars alongside Italy-inspired salads, pastas and appetizers. 2415 N Walker Ave, OKC, 437.4992 $$

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 $$

STELL A MODERN ITA LI 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 $$

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 $$

TOMM Y’S ITA LI A NA MERICA N GRILL 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 $$

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 $

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 $$

Mexican & Latin American

V ITO’S RISTOR A NTE 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 $$ THE WEDGE Wood-fired pies crafted from fresh ingredients (the possibilities range from pepperoni all the way to figs or truffle oil) and made-from-scratch sauces. 230 NE 1st, OKC, 270.0660; 4709 N Western, OKC, 602.3477 $$

Japanese // Sushi CA 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 $$ MUSA SHI’S Exquisitely flavorful Japanese cuisine prepared with genuine artistry, thanks to the skilled chefs executing culinary performance art at tableside hibachi grills. It’s a great spot for a special occasion. 4315 N Western, OKC, 602.5623 $$

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BIG TRUCK TACOS It’s nearly always standing-room-only at lunch, but don’t let that deter you; spend a few minutes in line and get an ample reward in the form of fast, fresh, imaginative taco creations. 530 NW 23rd, OKC, 525.8226 $ CAFÉ DO BR ASIL 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 $$ CAFÉ K ACAO 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 $ CULTIVAR A farm-to-fire Mexican kitchen that stresses sustainability, local sourcing and fresh, fast, flavorful food.

Gluten-free options, chef-crafted tacos, a substantial bar and plenty more are on the menu. 714 N Broadway, OKC $$ IGUANA MEXICAN GRILL Unique Mexican flavor in a fun atmosphere at reasonable prices - a treat from the house-made salsas to the handcrafted cocktails, and all the tastes between. 9 NW 9th, OKC, 606.7172 $$

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 $$

TAR AHUMAR 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 $$

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 $$

TED’S CAFÉ 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 $$

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 $$ 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 $$$ PE A RL’S CR A BTOW N A huge Bricktown warehouse where the Cajun Crab Boil is a favorite, guests are encouraged to “leave the silverware at home and dig in,” and taste is king. 303 E Sheridan, OKC, 232.7227 $$ PE A RL’S OYSTER BA R A perennial OKC favorite for its flavorful seafood and spicy Creole-inspired dishes: Shrimp Diablo, Tabasco-infused Caesar salads, Andouille omelets at Sunday brunch and more. 5641 N Classen, OKC, 848.8008 $$ THE SH ACK SE A FOOD & OYSTER BA R A massive selection of nicely spiced Cajun and Creole cooking, plus fried and grilled seafood, in an atmosphere that’s not shy about being as casual as it can be. 3 metro locations, theshackok.com $$

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

CATTLEMEN’S Almost as old as the state itself, this Oklahoma institution’s immense corn-fed steaks and matchless atmosphere are history served anew every day. 1309 S Agnew, OKC, 236.0416 $$ J. BRUNER’S AT THE H AUNTED HOUSE Renowned for its spooky past (its name is no accident), it’s a must for its steak, lobster and enduring charm. 7101 Miramar, OKC, 478.1417 $$$ JUNIOR’S The classic restaurant’s decor sets the perfect stage for hand-cut Angus steaks and lobster to fight for attention with knockout fried chicken.

2601 NW Expressway, OKC, 848.5597 $$$ M A HOGA N Y PRIME STEA KHOUSE The ambiance and service are sublime, but fine aged steak broiled to perfection is the star. 3241 W Memorial, OKC, 748.5959; 100 W Main, OKC, 208.8800 $$$ MEAT M A RKET REFECTORY The well-aged steaks are excellent, but they’re the tip of the ample menu’s iceberg: fresh seafood and Australian lamb chops command attention as well, and from Hatch green chili crab cakes to champagne sabayon, the carefully selected flavors pop and sparkle in this prime dining experience. 2920 NW 63rd, OKC, 608.8866 $$$ MICKEY M A NTLE’S This lushly atmospheric social spot in Bricktown serves powerhouse entrées and sides with a full complement of amenities destined to impress. 7 S Mickey Mantle, OKC, 272.0777 $$$ R A NCH STEA KHOUSE Effortless opulence, custom-aged hand-cut USDA Certified Prime tenderloins and ribeyes, served amid warm Southern hospitality.

3000 W Britton, OKC, 755.3501 $$$

A perfect 10.

RED PRIMESTEA 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 SAL A THAI Pineapple curry, basil squid, fried rice with crab, cinnamon beef ... the variety is exceptional, making this Midtown diner a popular midday option.

1614 NW 23rd, OKC, 528.8424 $

BOULEVA RD STEA KHOUSE 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 $$$

SWEET BASIL The enormous aquarium adds to the cozy ambiance; with its outstanding curries and specialty dishes, it makes a great venue for a dinner date. 211 W Main, Norman, 217.8424 $$

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 $$$

TANA THAI There’s a lot to like about the food in this little spot, from red snapper filet to pad thai. Pay special mind to the varied soups, and do not play chicken with the spice level. 10700 N May, OKC, 749.5590 $$

M-TH: 11A-10P / F-SA: 11A-11P / SU: 11A-9P 1101 N BROADWAY AVE, OKC / 405.212.3949 february 2016 • 405 magazine

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travel

STATESIDE

Viva Lesser-Known Vegas Stepping off the Strip to the more vintage side of a tourist haven

The Mob Museum chronicles more than a century of notorious criminals.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas – mostly your money. The Strip is all glitz and glamour, with great shows and great chefs … at top-dollar prices. So my husband and I decided we would do Las Vegas differently. We would eschew the new and embrace the old.

FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE From the city’s earliest days, Fremont Street has been the main drag of downtown Las Vegas. By the ’60s, the action had moved south with big, new casinos and hotels adding amenities such as floor shows with big names and endless buffets to the gambling enterprises. Downtown dwindled.

It’s back. It’s nothing like the neighborhood in south Las Vegas, but it’s got a lot to offer: neon, glitz and gambling, for sure, but now five blocks of Fremont are devoted to non-stop activity. A four-block-long canopy covers most of the area and serves as a screen for light and sound productions. With 12.5 million LEDs and a 550,000-watt sound system, there’s plenty of both.

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The Fremont Street Experience bustles, buzzes and glows with activity.

THE MOB MUSEUM BY JIM DECKER; FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE BY TOM DONOGHUE; NEON MUSEUM COURTESY THE NEON MUSEUM; CONTAINER PARK BY EMILY WILSON; QUADRUPLE BYPASS BURGER COURTESY THE HEART ATTACK GRILL

Zip-liners zoom overhead, while on the pedestrian mall, shoppers mingle with buskers and costumed entrepreneurs willing to pose for a price. Between the casinos are souvenir shops, tattoo parlors and Heart Attack Grill, “The World’s Unhealthiest Restaurant,” which says it “proudly serve(s) The World’s Highest Calorie Burger” – Guinness-certified at 9,982 calories. Live bands play music from two stages at night.

You can’t beat the people-watching or the price: free. If the State Fair married Bourbon Street, they’d have the Fremont Experience!

HISTORY WITH A HEADDRESS In the past, Las Vegas shows were rooted in the burlesque variety style of the ’20s and ’40s – noted for gorgeous showgirls and elaborate costumes – and filled long-gone venues such as The Dunes and The Silver Slipper. The sexual revolution and explicit TV shows and movies pretty much put an end to the art form’s popularity.

The tiny Burlesque Hall of Fame is currently tucked into two small rooms, but graphics, photos and a few artifacts give a good history of the era. The museum will eventually move into a much larger space in the Arts District, where much more of that glitz and elegance will be on display.

Another institution paying tribute to Old Las Vegas is the Neon Museum. Spread over two acres, its outdoor collection is the world’s largest.

Reinvention seems to be a way of life in Las Vegas, as casinos and hotels change hands, get demolished or are re-branded with regularity. This is where some of the most iconic signs have come to roost: the giant lamp from the original Aladdin, where Elvis and Priscilla were married, sits near a huge pirate skull that once graced Treasure Island. Tours are guided, and the knowledgeable docents will give you lots of history about Las Vegas and the neon itself.

For a more serious, yet fascinating, look at Las Vegas, visit the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement – popularly known as The Mob Museum. From the beginnings of La Cosa Nostra through mob influence in Las Vegas to contemporary crime, this museum’s multiple videos and hands-on opportunities take hours to see properly.

CONTAIN YOURSELF One of the coolest downtown areas is Container Park, a few blocks east of the Fremont Experience. Shops and eateries built out of shipping containers surround large playgrounds – including one area with an elaborate tree house. Outside the park is a giant metal praying mantis that periodically spews fire into the night sky. At night, except for family movie night, it’s adults only after 9 p.m.

We found a great little restaurant there: The Perch, whose Peña Berry Margarita is a neat combination of jalapeño heat contrasted with the icy alcohol and fruit mixture.

Sunset at the Neon Museum

Families exploring Container Park (below) The Heart Attack Grill’s Quadruple Bypass Burger

Actually, eating wasn’t big on our itinerary, but we did find a couple of treasures, particularly for breakfast and lunch. Breakfast in Du-Par’s Restaurant and Bakery in the Golden Gate Hotel – pancakes that have their own press agent – was great, and the freshly squeezed o.j. delicious. Eat (that’s the name) on Carson Street was another treat, featuring a killer aged-cheddar grilled cheese sammy on sourdough bread, served with kick-ass tomato soup with a little Parmesan on top.

HITCHED WITH KITSCH While many people do get married in Vegas, the weddings aren’t usually the traditional white-gown, six-bridesmaid affairs. Everyone here wants in on the act, though, and the Denny’s on Fremont is no exception. Yep, you can get married at Denny’s – complete with silk bouquet, boutonnière and wedding pictures made in their photo booth – all for $99. - ELAINE WARNER For more information: lasvegas.com Best bet: The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas 2016 by Bob Sehlinger – easier to use than the official website and more informative.

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HELP THE Y BUILD A BETTER US. YMCA OF GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY

The Y is a positive force in our community. Together, we take on the challenges that shape our city’s future. From tackling the achievement gap to teaching healthy habits for a lifetime or giving people the chance to strengthen our community through volunteering, everything the Y does is in service of building a better us.

Every day, our community faces new challenges that create a greater need for the work we do.

YMCA donors, volunteers, members, and partners like you make the difference.

Your gift can help our city and everyone in it shine.

Bella, Alex and Libby are sisters who participate in the Y’s YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT program.

GIVE TODAY at YMCAOKC.ORG/CAMPAIGN 78

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events Back in the Saddle

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum pays tribute to its namesake riders of the range and ranch in engrossing style this month: The Cowboy Rides Again is a traveling exhibition of photographs by famed father and son Bank and John Langmore depicting real cowboys at work – in many cases on the same ranches more than 40 years apart.

John, who carved out a career in law before his innate love of art turned him to the lens, considers himself fortunate to have the opportunity to return to some of Americas most unspoiled landscapes, and says, “As much as I want my work to be judged on its own merits, there is an undeniable element of tribute in it to my father and the other great cowboy photographers that precede me. I can only hope my work carries that rich legacy forward.”

Opening Feb 5, it’s one of a quartet of new exhibitions on display through May 8.

- STEVE GILL

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events

ON FILM

Four for February A searing tale of greed and despair heads the month’s home film releases Early in his career, filmmaker Ramin Bahrani found an influential champion in the person of Roger Ebert, so it is only fitting that Bahrani’s latest and best picture to date is dedicated to the late film critic. Ebert undoubtedly would have given an enthusiastic thumbs up to 99 Homes, an absorbing drama that comes to DVD and Blu-ray on Feb. 9.

Like The Big Short, another film released last year, 99 Homes plunders the 2008 financial crisis for its morality tale, but the similarities end

NEW RELEASES

there. Where The Big Short mined some laughs amidst the tragedy, 99 Homes is rougher around the edges – and just as brilliant.

At its center is a pair of stellar performances by Michael Shannon (The Night Before) and Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man). The former is typically menacing as Rick Carver, a hotshot real estate agent who profits from families losing their homes. Garfield is decidedly not in Spider-Man mode as Dennis Nash, a hard-working single dad living with his mom (Laura Dern) and young son (Noah Lomax). In a particularly gut-wrenching scene, Dennis and clan are unceremoniously evicted from their home. All appears lost until Dennis cuts a Faustian deal with Carver, the very man who saw to their eviction.

The movie eschews easy moralizing and instead zeroes in on its sharply drawn characters who are swallowed up by the shifting tectonics of economic collapse. The results are riveting. Bahrani’s direction is naturalistic, almost documentary-styled, but thoroughly infused with tension.

In micro-budget flicks like Chop Shop (2007) and Goodbye Solo (2008), Bahrani distinguished himself telling stories about people on the margins of society – immigrants, the homeless, street orphans.

99 Homes continues that tradition, albeit with stronger actors and the comparative luxury of a $5 million budget and month-long shooting schedule. Check it out. - PHIL BACHARACH

Other movies making their way to DVD and Blu-ray in February …

Steve Jobs (Feb. 16)

Don’t be fooled by a name. Steve Jobs is purportedly about the genius who co-founded Apple and changed how we do damn near everything, but the real personality on display is Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, TV’s “The West Wing”). The screenwriter who penned this loose adaptation of Walter Isaacson’s book crams the proceedings with such Sorkinisms as walk-and-talk conversations, motormouthed characters and toosnappy-for-its-own-good dialogue. The effect is occasionally pithy overload, but Sorkin knows his way around prickly masterminds, and he gets able help from star Michael Fassbender (X-Men: Days of Future Past) and Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle.

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Black Mass (Feb. 16) Whether he’s a pirate or an emo kid with scissors for hands, Johnny Depp evidently loves a good costume. In Black Mass, he dons fake teeth and ghoulish makeup to portray real-life Boston mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger. It’s a ferocious, if overly broad, performance, but Depp is not ultimately what elevates Black Mass beyond by-the-numbers gangster flick. Joel Edgerton (The Great Gatsby) brings welcome levels of complexity to his role as a corrupt FBI agent torn between the bureau and childhood allegiance to Bulger.

The Graduate (Criterion, Feb. 23) In movie-geek parlance, getting the Criterion treatment means a classic has truly arrived.

The Criterion Collection is the gold standard for DVDs and Blu-rays, and so film aficionados everywhere can rejoice that one of the greatest pics of them all, The Graduate, is released this month with that C seal of approval. Dustin Hoffman became an overnight star playing Benjamin Braddock, the recent college grad who strikes up an affair with Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), the wife of his father’s business partner. From such fare came a seminal document of the 1960s and a generation of disaffected youth. There are many reasons to love The Graduate, from the brilliant performances to the lovely Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack, and the Criterion treatment is sure to celebrate them all. - PB

Save the Date

Party Join us in celebrating the OKC metro’s best • food • libations • merriment • fab door prizes

Tickets on sale @ 405magazine.com

Thursday, April 7 The Showroom at Red 504 N. Broadway, OKC

events

SPEAKERBOX

Adele, you had us at “Hello”

Ms. Ross returns to the 405 in Grand style She was the first and original diva. She put the capital “D” in Diva and wore the crown of royalty, long before Whitney and Mariah and Beyoncé came to be. She’s also known as the Queen of Motown and was dubbed the “Female Entertainer of the Century” by Billboard magazine in 1993. That would have been for the last century, by the by. Who am I talking about? Of course, it’s Ms. Ross, the Boss, Diana Ross! The pop and R&B legend is coming to the 405 on Feb. 20 at the Grand Casino Hotel and Resort in Shawnee.

As a member of the Supremes, Ross, along with Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson, came out of Detroit’s Brewster housing project to become the most popular female group of the 1960s. The Supremes had fantastic hits for Motown including “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love” and “Stop! In the Name of Love.” Feeling constrained by the girl group format, Ross left the trio in 1970 to start an enormously successful solo career.

Her solo hits coincided with a burgeoning acting career that began in 1971 with her portrayal of Lady Day, Billie Holiday, in Lady Sings the Blues. Ross was nominated for best actress for that film. Her second film, Mahogany, was another success, despite being panned by critics and plagued by chaos during production. During the 1970s and 1980s, Ross recorded 17 albums, many reaching gold and platinum status. Her solo apex was the Chic-produced self-titled album in 1980 that spawned the Top 10 hits “Upside Down” and “I’m Coming Out.” The latter became an early gay pride anthem, and cemented Ross’ status as a gay icon.

Ross’ reputation as a demanding, consummate headliner and jet-setting celebrity helped generate the paparazzi and tabloid scrutiny and frenzy that hounds female pop stars today. When she began dating KISS axe man Gene Simmons in the early 1980s, the costumed rocker had to call a special meeting to inform his band mates and manager of his soon-to-be public relationship with the Queen Diva. In C.K. Lendt’s amusing Kiss and Sell biography, Lendt details Simmons’ angst at unveiling his notorious romance.

“There’s something I want to tell you so that you’ll hear it from me first and not read it in the press,” Simmons deadpans. “I’m seeing Diana Ross.”

“A silent tremor caught everyone off balance,” writes Lendt, “then hysterical laughter swept through the room.” So consumed by Ross’ reputation, Simmons was actually afraid his relationship with her would damage his band’s credibility.

Over the last 10 years, Ross has toured extensively and recorded infrequently. Last year, she began a successful mini-residency at the Venetian in Las Vegas, following a similar Vegas model that worked for Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Shania Twain and even Def Leppard. Her current tour promises to be a spectacle with 50 years of hits; tickets for the 21-and-over Grand Casino show can be found at grandresortok.com. – JERRY CHURCH

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DIANA ROSS PHOTO BY CHRIS URSO

Supreme Love

Speaking of divas, it seems that the once-pejorative designation has morphed into a term that is now honorary and pays tribute to center-stage talent. While the pop charts have been largely dominated by solo female performers in the past few years, the star power of Adele cannot be ignored. Prior to last Thanksgiving, the English chanteuse released what was only her third album, “25.”

Within four days of release, “25” sold 2.5 million units worldwide. In just a week, Adele was almost singlehandedly responsible for galvanizing the music industry and compelling people to actually buy a compact disc again.

By the end of the first week, “25” had sold almost 4 million units.

Despite a five-year sabbatical since her last record, during which she experienced vocal problems and writer’s block and became a mother, Adele can justifiably be named the new Royal Queen Diva Mega-Star.

“Hello,” her first single from “25,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard singles chart and proved so iconic that it quickly became a meme and the hottest target for parody on the Internet. “Hello from the Dark Side,” sang Darth Vader. “Hella cravings for some fries,” screams another that focused on junk food obsession. “Hello” became the first single in digital music history to reach $1 million in sales in just one week.

When she announced her 2016 tour in December, which consists of 56 multi-night engagements at 23 arenas over six months across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the entire tour sold out within an hour. Adele literally broke the Internet in some cities. The closest she comes to the 405 will be Nov. 1-2 in Dallas – good luck finding tickets.

Hello, Adele. I know you called a thousand times. I hope that you are well. Welcome to superstardom. - JC

ARTS COUNCIL OKLAHOMA CITY

ART MOVES

FREE DAILY ARTS PROGRAMMING

WEEKDAYS AT LUNCH IN DOWNTOWN OKC LET’S GET SOCIAL: #ARTMOVESOKC ARTSCOUNCILOKC.COM

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on the radar

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

Dance

222 NW 15th, OKC, 826.9689, townhall. publishpath.com

SCHEHER A Z A DE Feb 26-28 A triple bill headlined by the visual spectacle, lush music and air of dangerous intrigue of the 1001 Arabian Nights, performed with aplomb by the OKC Ballet. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 848.8637, okcballet.com

HE A RT BA L L Feb 20 Dance the night away at a Sweetheart-studded event for the benefit of the lifesaving American Heart Association. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd, OKC, 948.2147, heart.org/ oklahomacity

Events

V ICTOR I A N TE A Feb 20 Decorously behaved ladies from kindergarten age through senior citizenship are invited to register for a genteel spot of tea, as well as a few words of history about the custom and its social import in history.

Downtown Edmond Community Center 28 E Main, Edmond, 340.0078, edmondhistory.org

CHOCOL ATE DEC A DENCE Feb 4 An annual event that’s a perennial sellout, the smooth soiree features jazz, wine, champagne, coffee and plenty of taste excursions in chocolatey bliss. Hudson Essex Lofts 825 N Broadway, OKC, 618.8820, downtownokc.com A N A FFA IR OF THE HE A RT Feb 5-7 Handicrafts, clothing, antiques, collectibles, gourmet food, colorful décor … whatever you’re looking for, even if the answer is “all,” it’s probably at this massive sale. State Fairgrounds 333 Gordon Cooper, OKC, 632.2652, aaoth.com

UPCOMING OKCMOA OMEL ET TE PA RT Y Mar 4 The Museum of Art’s annual fundraiser is always an epic (and epically tasty) party - get ready to revel in Eggs, Drinks and Rock ‘n’ Roll. Bricktown Events Center 429 E California, OKC, 278.8225, okcmoa.com

NOR M A N M A R DI GR A S PA R A DE Feb 6 Rain or shine, freezing or fine, the good times are set to roll down Main Street in this 22nd annual celebratory community mambo.

Downtown Norman Main & Peters, Norman, normanmardigrasparade.com

R ED TIE N IGHT Mar 5 The state’s largest single-evening fundraiser, and in its very uppermost echelon of elegance, this magnificent gala benefits the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund. Cox Center 1 Myriad Gardens, OKC, 348.6600, okaidscarefund.com

OPER ATION R EL IEF Feb 6 A Mardi Gras theme enlivens the Red Cross’ evening of food and fun titled “All Bets on Red,” whose proceeds help support disaster relief services. Grand Casino 777 Grand Casino, Shawnee, 228.9500, redcross.org/okc TA STE OF OK L A HOM A CIT Y Feb 6 More than a dozen heavy hitters from the local cuisine scene chip in to make this tasting event sing; it helps Big Brothers Big Sisters make a difference in young lives. Bricktown Events Center 429 E California, OKC, 943.8075, tasteokc.com SECOND SU NDAY POETRY Feb 14 Dr. Benjamin Myers, Oklahoma’s Poet Laureate, shares some of his words, thoughts and soul with Depot listeners.

Santa Fe Depot 200 S Jones, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.org J UL IET TE LOW L E A DER SHIP SOCIET Y LU NCHEON Feb 18 Named for the Girl Scouts’ founder, the 2016 event will honor OKC leader Lil Ross and feature speaker Patricia Sellers, assistant managing editor of Forbes Magazine. OKC Golf & Country Club 7000 NW Grand, OKC, 528.4475, gswestok.org TOW N H A L L: JOHN MIL L ER Feb 18 After a holiday hiatus, the Town Hall Lecture Series continues with counterintelligence expert Miller’s address “Terrorism and Our Continued Fight for Survival.” St. Luke’s UMC

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Film CL A SSICS SER IES Feb 2-23 Catch a masterpiece you missed the first time around or just want to re-experience on the big screen: Groundhog Day Feb 2, When Harry Met Sally Feb 9, The Princess Bride Feb 16 and Breakfast at Tiffany’s Feb 23.

Harkins Theatres 150 E Reno, OKC, 321.4747, harkinstheatres.com NOBL E THE ATER SHOWS Feb 4-28 The OKC Museum of Art screens overlooked treasures and unsung independent films for cineastes who want to step outside the multiplex - don’t miss this month’s Oscar warm-up. OKC Museum of Art 415 Couch, OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa.com

Galleries ONGOING BROW N & MCDA NEL: NE W WOR K S Through Feb 14 Kasum Contemporary Fine Art 1706 NW 16th, OKC, 604.6602, kasumcontemporary.com BR ENDA K INGERY Through Feb 29 Exhibit C OKC, 767.8900, chickasawcountry.com/exhibitc CON TEMPOR A RY CER A MIC E X HIBITIONS Feb 4-Mar 10 Drop by and pore over the imaginative works submitted by local artisans in the field of

cutting-edge ceramic constructs. UCO Melton Gallery 100 N University, Edmond, 974.3774, uco.edu/cfad

west. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org

FEBRUA RY AT THE ELMS Feb 5-Mar 3 The cozy gallery in the Paseo is home to intriguing art, inside and out.

This month, it displays striking new pieces

by Grace Grothaus alongside a group photography exhibition titled The Light Show. JRB Art at the Elms 2810 N Walker, OKC, 528.6336, jrbartgallery.com

E V ERY THING U NDER THE SU N Feb 25-Aug 12 Painting, sculpture, architecture and installation combine in this ambitious exhibition from returning OKC native Summer Wheat. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center 3000 General Pershing, OKC, 951.0000, oklahomacontemporary.org

WOMEN IN WA R ZONES Feb 5-27 The community art space in the Paseo welcomes Ebony Iman Dallas, who presents an exhibition examining female resiliency in the face of struggle - at home and abroad. The Project Box OKC, 609.3969, theprojectboxokc.com

Museums ONGOING QU ILTS A ND COLOR Through Feb 7 OKC Museum of Art OKC, 236.3100, okcmoa.com IMMORTA L ES Through Feb 14 Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma COL L ISION A ND CR E ATION Through Feb 21 Sam Noble Museum Norman, 325.4712, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu A N A RTF UL OBSERVATION OF THE COSMOS Through Apr 3, Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma NAVA JO W E AV INGS F ROM THE PA R R ISH COL L ECTION Through May 8 National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org GA L IL EO’S WOR L D Through Aug 31 Across the OU Campus Norman, 325.4142, galileo.ou.edu W IL L A R D STONE CEN TEN N I A L Feb 1-Apr 30 The tremendous oeuvre of an Oklahoma master artist, who specialized in carving native wood into flowing, stylized sculptures, is celebrated on the occasion of what would have been his centennial. Oklahoma Hall of Fame Museum OKC, 235.4458, oklahomahof.com THE COW BOY R ET UR NS Feb 5-May 8 Over 100 richly detailed black-and-white and color photographs fill this exhibition of selected works from the cameras of father-son artists Bank and John Langmore. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org R IDING THE W HIR LW IND Feb 5-May 8 An interactive exhibition studded with art and information about the varied ways extreme weather has shaped the history of the American

Music T UESDAY NOON CONCERTS Feb 2-23 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, Norman, 325.3272, ou.edu/fjjma M A R I ACHI LOS C A MPEROS Feb 4 This ensemble dedicated to spreading the love for Mexico’s musical traditions has a solid legacy of its own: they’ve been touring internationally for over 50 years. Armstrong Auditorium 14400 S Bryant, Edmond, 285.1010, armstrongauditorium.org ACM @ UCO SHOWS Feb 4-19 Find some seriously fine musical mastery via the downtown sounds of Yo La Tengo Feb 4, Martin Sexton Feb 10, and David J (of Bauhaus and Love & Rockets fame) Feb 19. ACM @ UCO Performance Lab 329 E Sheridan, OKC, 974.4700, acm-uco.com NOON T U NES Feb 4-25 Free lunchtime serenades to sonically spice up your Thursdays: Lisa and Laura Feb 4, Miss Brown to You Feb 11, the Cleveland Elementary Choir Feb 18 and Easy Street Feb 25. Downtown Library 300 Park, OKC, 231.8650, mls.lib.ok.us CHESA PE A K E A R ENA SHOWS Feb 5-25 Big, excellent venue; big, excellent sound - pack the ‘Peake for Jason Aldean Feb 5, TobyMac Feb 23, and Brantley Gilbert Feb 25. Chesapeake Arena 100 W Reno, OKC, 208.4800, chesapeakearena.com BLUE DOOR SHOWS Feb 5-27 Self-billed as “the best listening room in Oklahoma,” it certainly has some of the best music, including Hayes Carll Feb 5, Joe Melton Feb 6, Carrie Rodriguez Feb 13, Megan Jean and the KFB Feb 23, The Pines Feb 26, and Patrice Pike Feb 27 - check online for updates. The Blue Door 2805 N McKinley, OKC, 524.0738, bluedoorokc.com PHIL H A R MON IC: SY MPHONIE FA N TA STIQUE! Feb 6 Andrea Segar lends her exceptional violin prowess to the OKC Philharmonic’s rendition of the title classic, in addition to a bit of Mozart and a piece called “The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto.” OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 842.5387, okcphilharmonic.org

DI A MOND BA L L ROOM SHOWS Feb 6-13 Crank it up on the south side with a blast from Hinder Feb 6, Lamb of God Feb 9, the great Stoney LaRue Feb 12 and Bullet for My Valentine Feb 13.

Diamond Ballroom 8001 S Eastern, OKC, 866.977.6849, dcfconcerts.com

to be big names in the music industry, but there’s no telling since they perform in full-body bandages. They are, however, extremely adept funksmiths who put on a monster of a live show. Diamond Ballroom 8001 S Eastern, OKC, 866.977.6849, dcfconcerts.com

OU MUSIC Feb 7-25 Join the OU School of Music for stellar performances: OU Symphony Orchestra Feb 7, Grossman, Martinic & Shames Feb 10, hornist Eldon Matlick Feb 15, Celtic Dance Feb 19, Men’s Glee Club Feb 21, the OU Wind Symphony Feb 21, and violinst Gregory Lee Feb 25.

OU Catlett Music Center 500 W Boyd, Norman, 325.2081, ou.edu/finearts/music

DISCOV ERY: CEL EBR ATE BL ACK HISTORY Feb 21 Designed especially for young listeners, the OKC Philharmonic’s series takes a spin through gospel, jazz, blues and rap to explore the African-American influence on popular music. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 842.5387, okcphilharmonic.org

OPOL IS SHOWS Feb 9-28 Metro, meet Opolis - you’ll make beautiful music together, including Saintseneca Feb 9 and Protomartyr Feb 28. Check online for updates. The Opolis 113 N Crawford, Norman, opolis.org

OK L A HOM A COMMU N IT Y ORCHESTR A Feb 21 The volunteer ensemble combines its talents with the Ambassadors Choir for a magnificent show under the baton of Dr. Sandra Thompson. OCCC Theater 7777 S May, OKC, 425.1990, okorchestra.org

METROPOL ITA N OPER A R ISING STA R S Feb 11 They may someday be mentioned in the same breath as Callas and Caruso and Pavarotti, and these outsanding young talents are already magnificent at performing some of opera’s greatest hits. OCCC Theater 7777 S May, OKC, 682.7576, occc.edu/cas R I V ERW IND SHOWS Feb 13-27 The Casino hosts a flood of music this month: R&B legends Boyz II Men Feb 13 (Happy Valentine’s!), Gary Allan Feb 26, and the Josh Abbott Band Feb 27.

Riverwind Casino 1544 W Hwy 9, Norman, 322.6464, riverwind.com BA ND OF ROYA L M A R INES A ND SCOTS GUA R DS Feb 14 Hail Britannia! Music from the royal castles of England, Scotland and Ireland stars in this knockout performance featuring highland dancing, formation marching and various pomp and pageantry. Armstrong Auditorium 14400 S Bryant, Edmond, 285.1010, armstrongauditorium.org W IN TER W IND: EL IZ A GIL K YSON Feb 14 The Depot’s seasonal series rolls on with a guest performance from an exceptionally talented (and Grammy-nominated) folk songwriter and singer. Santa Fe Depot 200 S Jones, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.org F IESTA ME X ICO-A MER IC A NA Feb 16 Special guests Los Lobos and Ballet Folklorico Mexicano help OCCC celebrate the vibrant culture of our southern neighbors. OCCC Theater 7777 S May, OKC, 682.7576, occc.edu/cas POPS: THE NA ME’S BOND. JA MES BOND. Feb 19-20 The iconic four-note sting is only the tip of the sonic iceberg; the music of the James Bond series is as integral to the films as anything from Q Branch. Let the OKC Philharmonic be your escorts to adventure. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 842.5387, okcphilharmonic.org DI A NA ROSS Feb 20 It should sound great at the Grand this month, thanks to a special performance by one of history’s supreme singers. Grand Casino 777 Grand Casino, Shawnee, 964.7263, grandresortok.com HER E COME THE MU MMIES Feb 20 Multiple members are rumored

NEW YEAR.

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QUAT UOR DA NEL Feb 21 Chamber Music in Oklahoma welcomes the Belgian quartet that’s celebrating its 25th year of performance in 2016 and a major set of players internationally; they’ll be performing Tchaikovsky, Weinberg and Shostakovich. Christ the King Catholic Church 8005 Dorset, Nichols Hills, cmok.org OKC S Y MPHON IC BA ND Feb 23 The volunteer concert ensemble, nearly 100 members strong, tunes up for a joint performance with the Oklahoma Youth Winds. OCCC Theater 7777 S May, OKC, okcband.org

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W IN TER W IND: WATER MELON SL IM Feb 28 Bill Homans has done a little bit of a lot of stuff along life’s road, but he might be best of all at hitting crowds with bursts of raw-sounding blues - slide guitar, howling harmonica and twanging voice combine for magic.

Santa Fe Depot 200 S Jones, Norman, 307.9320, pasnorman.org A N E V EN ING W ITH K EL L I O’H A R A Feb 29 The Broadway star and OCU alumna performs select favorites in this dinner event that will help bring theater to wider young audiences. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd, OKC, 208.7000, okcu.edu/meyers

Sports THU NDER BA SK ETBA L L Feb 1-27 Another push for the Finals is underway - Thunder up! OKC faces Washington Feb 1, Orlando Feb 3, New Orleans Feb 11, Indiana Feb 19, Cleveland Feb 21 and Golden State Feb 27.

Chesapeake Arena 100 W Reno, OKC, 208.4800, nba.com/thunder OU MEN’S BA SK ETBA L L Feb 2-24 The Sooners’ house should be packed as they square off against TCU Feb 2, Texas Feb 8, Kansas Feb 13 and Oklahoma State (Bedlam!) Feb 24. Lloyd Noble Center 2900 S Jenkins, Norman, 325.2424, soonersports.com OU WOMEN’S BA SK ETBA L L Feb 3-27 The Sooners’ house should be packed as they square off against Oklahoma State Feb 3, TCU Feb 6, Texas Feb 14, Baylor Feb 22 and Iowa State Feb 27. Lloyd Noble Center 2900 S Jenkins, Norman, 325.2424, soonersports.com

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H A R L EM GLOBETROT TER S Feb 6 The classics - whether the sound of “Sweet Georgia Brown” or the consistently eye-popping athletic theatrics from the Globetrotters’ roster - never stop being a joy to witness; bring the family and enjoy.

Chesapeake Arena 100 W Reno, OKC, 208.4800, nba.com/thunder

SPOTLIGHT

OSU MEN’S BA SK ETBA L L Feb 6-27 The season rolls on for the Cowboys as they host Iowa State Feb 6, Kansas State Feb 13, Texas Tech Feb 20 and West Virginia Feb 27. Gallagher-Iba Arena 1046 W Hall of Fame, Stillwater, 877.255.4678, okstate.com

A Hot Slice of Entertainment

Music and mayhem from Cimarron Opera The term “operatic” tends to connote something big, whether it’s the scope of a production or the melodramatic intensity of an actor’s emotion. But this season, Norman’s Cimarron Opera’s demonstrating that opera on a small scale can be big fun for audiences, and their next show succeeds by lampooning the larger-than-life emotions of its stereotypical characters. The Salon Series continues with “La Pizza con Funghi” Feb. 13 at the Santa Fe Depot.

The one-act show about passion, perfidiousness and poisoned pizza is a comedy, and in this case that means laughs throughout rather than a happy ending. Cimarron’s executive director Shari Ransley Jackson likens it to an operatic version of Noises Off, or an episode of “The Carol Burnett Show.” She explains, “It’s a spoof of opera itself with some pretty hilarious results, and at the end, nobody’s left alive. It’s a love square – not a triangle – gone wrong.”

Though filled with slapstick and mirth, the show also stars genuinely skilled singers, and admission includes wine, food and an immersive audience experience.

“We’re going to be serving pizza with mushrooms – what else?” laughs Jackson. “The setting is in a home, so we’ll make everybody feel like a part of the scene that’s going on. It’s a little like opera in the round.”

The only downside is that the Depot only holds about 60 people, so get tickets via cimarronopera.org tout suite. - STEVE GILL

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405 magazine • february 2016

OSU WOMEN’S BA SK ETBA L L Feb 7-29 The season rolls on for the Cowgirls as they host Texas Tech Feb 7, West Virginia Feb 13, Kansas Feb 24 and Kansas State Feb 29. Gallagher-Iba Arena 1046 W Hall of Fame, Stillwater, 877.255.4678, okstate.com R I V ERSPORT RU NDERGROU ND Feb 13 Baby, it’s cold outside - so this 5k takes participants beneath the streets via downtown’s tunnels. Cox Center 1 Myriad Gardens, OKC, 552.4040, boathousedistrict.org MONSTER JA M Feb 13-14 The tires are as tall as a person, the trucks weigh over 10,000 pounds and reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. A crunchy feast of automotive carnage awaits.

Chesapeake Arena 100 W Reno, OKC, 208.4800, nba.com/thunder

Theater ONGOING A S LONG A S W E BOTH SH A LL LI V E Through Feb 14 It’s not really a question of cold feet, more that comedic contrivances keep popping up between Addison and the altar. Now if only she can beat the rap on killing the wedding planner… Jewel Box Theater 3700 N Walker, OKC, 521.1786, jewelboxtheatre.org THE L ION K ING JR. Feb 3-7 Every year new kids take the stage to become young thespians; it’s the circle of theatre. The Studio of the Sooner Theatre presents a cast of grade-schoolers telling a musical tale of the savannah. Sooner Theatre 101 E Main, Norman, 321.9600, soonertheatre.org M A N N A ND W IF E Feb 3-21 A charming, funny world premiere musical about the need for romance and companionship … especially when you’re about to need a date to your ex-fiancee’s wedding. Lyric at the Plaza 1727 NW 16th, OKC, 524.9312, lyrictheatreokc.com THE GI V ER Feb 4-13 Oklahoma Children’s Theater and TheatreOCU adapt Lois Lowry’s award-winning young adult tale. Oklahoma Children’s Theatre 2501 N Blackwelder, OKC, 951.0011, oklahomachildrenstheatre.org GOD OF C A R NAGE Feb 5-27 A spat between children brings their parents together to discuss the situation maturely, but being adults doesn’t mean the end of immature behavior. Pollard Theatre 120 W Harrison, Guthrie, 282.2800, thepollard.org THE L A ST F I V E Y E A R S Feb 5-28 A time-jumbled tale of a rising author, an actress whose career has seen better days and the course of their relationship

as it waxes and, sadly, wanes. St. Luke’s Poteet Theatre 222 NW 15th, OKC, 609.1023, poteettheatre.com K INK Y BOOTS Feb 9-14 A Broadway smash takes the OKC stage as Celebrity Attractions shows off inspirational open-mindedness, songs by Cyndi Lauper and some extremely fancy footwear.

OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 800.869.1451, celebrityattractions.com THE ODYSSE Y Feb 11-14 Homer’s enduring epic comes to life (sorta; audiences will have to do a bit of imagining when it comes to Charybdis) through the efforts of UCO theater strudents. UCO Mitchell Hall Theater 100 N University, Edmond, 974.3375, uco.edu/cfad AV EN UE Q Feb 12-21 “Part flesh, part felt and packed with heart,” the multi-Tony-winner is populated by puppets but definitely for mature audiences. OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 848.3761, cityrep.com THE TROJA N WOMEN Feb 12-21 It’s not all sunshine and roses for the titular ladies, what with their city having just been sacked by Greeks (stupid horse), but OU’s drama students are set to give Euripedes’ play a dramatic whirl. OU Reynolds PAC 560 Parrington Oval, OKC, 325.4101, ou.edu/finearts GO, DOG, GO Feb 12-26 Red dogs, blue dogs, big and small - junior actors play them all. Oklahoma Children’s Theatre 2501 N Blackwelder, OKC, 951.0011, oklahomachildrenstheatre.org A MIDSU MMER N IGHT’S DR E A M Feb 12-27 Romance is in the air (along with mischief) as Reduxion takes on Shakespeare’s beloved comedy.

OKC Civic Center 201 N Walker, OKC, 297.2264, reduxiontheatre.com L A PIZZ A CON F U NGHI Feb 13 Cimarron Opera’s Salon Series continues with a show full of mushrooms, murder and mirth - as lighthearted as comic opera can be (body count aside).

Santa Fe Depot 200 S Jones, Norman, 364.8962, cimarronopera.org CA BA RET Feb 18-21 Wilkommen aus UCO’s musical of life on the balancing point between gleeful hedonism and encroaching fascism. UCO Jazz Lab 100 E 5th, Edmond, 359.7989, uco.edu/cfad T H E M AGIC F LU T E Feb 19-21 An unquestioned masterpiece - that’s what happens when Mozart writes it brought to the stage by the exceptional talents of OCU’s Opera and Music Theater students. OCU Kirkpatrick Auditorium 2501 N Blackwelder, OKC, 208.5227, okcu.edu/tickets COME BACK TO THE 5 A ND DIME, JIMM Y DE A N, JIMM Y DE A N Feb 19-28 Life moves in unexpected directions sometimes - a group of friends having a reunion in a small Texas town find their reminiscences rocked by a series of revelations. Stage Door Theater 601 Oak, Yukon, 265.1590, stagedooryukon.com 37 POSTC A R DS Feb 19-Mar 12 A warmly screwball family comedy posits that you can go home again, you just never know what’s waiting there. Carpenter Square Theatre 800 W Main, OKC, 232.6500, carpentersquare.com

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backstory

Edmond’s Up-and-Coming Downtown

D

Driving into Edmond today hardly resembles a trip to the sleepy little town that greeted visitors a half-century ago. What was then a community of momand-pop stores and long-time residents has been replaced by an influx of retail shopping centers and upscale housing developments.

Back in the day, shops like Browne’s Department Store, OTASCO and Shedrick Jewelry were staples in the downtown district. You could find G&W Foods, Kennemer’s Shoes and McCalls Store for Men, to name a few.

“Edmond overall is much different today,” says Randel Shadid, a 16-year veteran of the Edmond City Council who also spent four years as mayor. “The constants downtown are McCalls, Around the Corner Restaurant and the Edmond Sun. But I do miss the Green Hog,” he added with a laugh.

The Green Hog was a local watering hole on First Street, a block west of Broadway, and was

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405 magazine • february 2016

the epitome of the old-time beer joint. “The place was built of concrete blocks and had dirt floors,” Shadid remembers. “As a young lawyer and aspiring politician, I had to wear a disguise to partake of the libations. I couldn’t let anyone catch me there and know of my iniquities!”

Edmond’s first growth spurt happened around 1960 with the development of the city’s first big shopping center, Edmond Plaza. Located at the southeast corner of 15th and Broadway, “The Plaza,” as many old-timers still call it, sported a Humpty Dumpty supermarket, a C.R. Anthony’s and, at the time, one of the largest TG&Ys around.

It was 1973 when Shadid moved to Edmond, and he says the city was already gaining momentum. “By then the town had grown from 6,000 residents to 23,000. 1979 to 1995 were years of great growth, and many high-end development standards were implemented to maintain the aesthetic beauty of the city.

Growth the last 40 years has been fairly constant, even during recessions.”

Part of that increasing population is also due to the University of Central Oklahoma, which has more than 17,000 students, making it our state’s third-largest university. Founded on Dec 24, 1890, it’s also the oldest institution of higher learning in the state, pre-dating Oklahoma State University (1891) and the University of Oklahoma (1892).

A great quality of life, high marks for the public schools and low crime rate are all factors in Edmond’s continued growth, Shadid says. “We also have a vibrant public art program, a zest for economic development and, as our motto says, ‘Edmond is a Great Place to Grow.’ It is actually a great place to live and watch your children grow up. The future is bright for Edmond.”

Today, more than 87,000 people call Edmond home. In another 50 years … who knows?

PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA CHAMBERS LIBRARY, ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

BY MARK BEUTLER

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