April 2021

THE ART ISSUE

YOUR TEAM OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS Optimal Health Partner, Noel R. Williams, M.D. Gynecologist Optimal Health Associates continues to expand patient care as all of us recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 we focused on diagnosing and treating COVID-19 patients while still bringing innovative new approaches to patients’ medical conditions. Now, we are continuing to set the standard for evaluating and solving menopausal events, sexual issues in both women and men, all while providing this care individually and with empathy. We continuously focus on bringing evidence-based groundbreaking treatments first to our community. This includes stem cell derivative therapies, new avenues for non-surgical treatments of erectile dysfunction, and novel diagnostic medical interventions to prevent heart attack, stroke, and other vascular disease events. We look forward to partnering with our patients to provide the best of all possible care.

- Noel

405.715.4496 OptimalHealthAssociates.com N O R T H O KC L O C AT I O N Broadway Ext Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73114

Cassie Smith, MD

Benjamin J. Barenberg, MD

Endocrinologist

Urogynecologist

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F E AT U R E S

VO LU M E S E V E N I S S U E F O U R

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State of the Arts

Good Food, Good Mood

Profile in Perseverance

A look at four artists who are

Take a culinary journey through

The founder of Oklahoma’s top bank,

making an impact in the 405.

Louisiana’s Cajun country.

according to Forbes, has spent a lifetime helping to build a state he loves.

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D E PA R T M E N T S

VO LU M E S E V E N I S S U E F O U R

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In the 405 14 WHAT’S ONLINE A look at social media in the 405.

16 TRENDING From jackets to shoes, fashion is doing a double take on denim.

18 SOCIAL HOUR People and events in the 405.

20 PERSON OF INTEREST Norman veterinarian helps shelter pets and inmates learn to trust again.

22 FASHION Spring’s trends offer a joyful transition from winter with help from dancers with Oklahoma City Ballet.

Dining 64 GOOD TASTE 405’s best kid-friendly dining options.

66 ON THE TABLE Japanese whisky sees jump in popularity.

68 LOCAL FLAVOR Listing of OKC’s best restaurants.

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Out & About 74 ARTS & CULTURE Edmond artist provides rare glimpse into ranch life through PBS series.

76 ONE MORE THING Oklahoma Humanities Council celebrates 50 years.

78 LOOKING BACK 80 LAST LAUGH

O N T H E C OV E R Artist Ebony Iman Dallas’s “Perfect Imperfections” is mixed media: acrylic, gold leafing and Kenyan beads. The piece is now privately owned.

Join us for a trunk show all day Thursday, April 29th, 2021.

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OWNER | PUBLISHER

Jordan Regas jordan.regas@405magazine.com V I C E P R E S I D E N T

Kaley Regas kaley@hilltopmediagroup.com E D I T O R I N C H I E F

Melissa Mercer Howell melissa.mercerhowell@405magazine.com ART DIRECTOR

Christopher Lee christopher.lee@405magazine.com MANAGING EDITOR

Brandon King brandon.king@405magazine.com PRODUCTION MANAGER

Emiley Sexton emiley.sexton@405magazine.com STYLE EDITOR

Sara Gae Waters saragae.waters@405magazine.com T R AV E L E D I TO R

Matt Payne matt.payne@405magazine.com SENIOR WRITER

Greg Horton greg.horton@405magazine.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Christine Eddington, Evie Klopp Holzer, George Lang, Linda Miller, Lauren Roth CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lexi Hoebing, Fran Kozakowski, Rachel Maucieri, Charlie Neuenschwander, Steve Sisney, Rachel Waters, Shevaun Williams

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405 Magazine Volume 7, Number 4, April 2021. 405 Magazine is published monthly by Hilltop Media Group at 1613 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK 73103, 405.842.2266. ©Copyright 2021 Hilltop Media Group. All rights reserved.

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FROM THE EDITOR

Force for Improvement orking as a journalist for 30 years and writing about people from all walks of life gives one insight into what lies beneath the façade we present to society. There are techniques writers develop to see the real person – the good, the bad; the ambitions, the weaknesses – and usually there is some small piece of the past that each person carries with himself or herself that is defining.

I first met Gene Rainbolt several years ago while working for The Oklahoman. He had come into the office for a short video interview. His matter-of-fact demeanor was a little intimidating at first, but I sensed there was quite a bit of humor under all of that. I cracked a few jokes to see how he would react. He offered a polite smile and returned to the business at hand.

This was a tough customer – all business, and highly adept at not giving a journalist any more than he wanted to give.

We completed our interview, but I was still curious to know what motivated the man who founded BancFirst and helped it grow into what, in 2020, Forbes magazine would call “one of the world’s best banks.”

Our next encounter was in 2018. Still working for The Oklahoman, I had decided to write a profile on several community leaders including Rainbolt, who had, over the decades, distinguished himself through his philanthropy as well as his business acumen. He agreed to an interview, and photographer Bryan Terry and I braved a blustery November day to walk a block or so from our office to the BancFirst building downtown.

I had a number of questions lined up, but it was clear Rainbolt wanted to talk about something else – the elements of generational poverty and how to address them – and we launched into a 45-minute conversation on his observations. Building a society free of the poverty he had seen during the Great Depression and later in his work with the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program was his defining motivator.

“I could own a very expensive art collection. But I’d much rather see some child have a future life and their children and grandchildren, than pass on an art collection. It gives me the relevance that I need to feel,” he said in the 2018 interview. “I constantly look for activities that give me a feeling of value; of relevance,” he said. “I can now focus on the things that concern me – education for poor children, health care,

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foster care, incarceration – those social issues in which Oklahoma ranks so poorly.”

In this issue of 405 Magazine, George Lang explores the extraordinary life of H.E. “Gene” Rainbolt and his impact on Oklahoma. It’s a worthwhile read.

Greg Horton also takes a look at Oklahoma City’s art scene and its dynamic diversity, as we profile four remarkable artists who are making a colorful impact.

To all in the 405, enjoy the warmer weather and 2021’s blossoming shades of spring.

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In the 405 Sunbody hat from Tener’s; Frame denim shirt, Farm dress and Ferragamo scarf worn as a tie, all from Balliets; and Rag and Bone boots from rosegold. Dancer/ model: Kara Troester

SHEVAUN WILLIAMS

Put a Spring in Your Step Enjoy a mood-changing wardrobe lift, bursting with color and fresh design. Page 22

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W H AT ’ S

BEST SHOT

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A R E YO U F O L L OW I N G us on Instagram? We post daily content from the magazine, as well as news and events happening in the 405. You can also tag us in your Best Shots of the 405 by using hashtag #your405

405 Magazine has an e-newsletter, the 405 Now, designed to keep you in the loop and give you a weekly rundown of our best stories from the week.

Subscribe at 405magazine.com/newsletters

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IN THE 405

T R E N D I N G

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Pure Jean-ius!

Bringing denim back

BY EMILE Y SE X TON

J O G G E R S , K N I T PA N T S and anything else soft reigned supreme in 2020 due to the work-from-home habits we formed last year, but denim is making its way back to the forefront. The iconic “Canadian Tuxedo” – denim jacket paired with denim jeans – crashed onto the pop culture scene in 2001 when Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake appeared in denim-on-denim ensembles at the American Music Awards. Two decades later, we’re doing a double take on double denim, and it’s cooler than ever.

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1. Rag & Bone denim jogger, Cayman’s Clothiers 2. Agolde shorts, Cayman’s Clothiers 3. Veronica Beard Camilla quilted jacket, Gretta Sloane 4. Assouline Bosphorus, Cayman’s Clothiers 5. Frame Gillian top, Balliets 6. Seychelles ankle strap flat, Betsy King Shoes 7. Assouline Zanzibar, Cayman’s Clothiers 16

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Balliets, 6443 Avondale, OKC, balliets.com Betsy King Shoes, 3001 Paseo, OKC, betsykingshoes.com Cayman’s Clothiers, 2001 W Main, Norman, shop-caymans.com Gretta Sloane, 6476 Avondale, OKC, grettasloane.com

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IN THE 405

S O C I A L

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Oklahoma Senior Follies Members of the Oklahoma Senior Follies met recently to plan for its upcoming show May 22 and 23 at the University of Central Oklahoma.

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FRAN KOZAKOWSKI

1. Johnna Kirschner, Bruce Scambler, Kitti Asberry 2. Linda Wright, Bill Lance 3. Mary Pointer, Leona Mitchell 4. Tom Nix, Vicki Gourley 5. Dot Liles, Bob Davis, Linda Slane 6. Ester Nix, Dewayne Couts, Danny Nix 7. Jackie Short, Terry Runnels

Dr. Wood

PROMOTION

McBride Orthopedic Hospital 9600 Broadway Extension, OKC mcboh.com 405.230.9270

Dr. C. David Wood is the latest orthopedic surgeon to join McBride Orthopedic Hospital, a nationally recognized leader in orthopedic and sports medicine headquartered in Oklahoma City. Wood specializes in surgical and non-surgical foot and ankle treatment, utilizing nearly four decades of experience.

Before joining McBride, Wood practiced orthopedic surgery in Illinois, where he lived with his wife and two sons for 20 years.

His interest in medicine stems from his grandfather’s battle with colon cancer while Wood was a student at the University of Oklahoma.

“Watching him almost die at that time of colon cancer, ultimately survive, and go through everything he went through really was my inspiration,” he says. “Fortunately, I had the grades for it – and I’m a guy who doesn’t like to disappoint himself by not reaching goals.”

Carbondale on the complete opposite end of the state. We were in a community of about 25,000 people, so it was smalltown living with a great orthopedic group.”

Wood and his wife started a family, but when their two boys were faced with a choice on where to attend college, it sparked a relocation effort back to Oklahoma.

“I promise I did not coerce them to choose OU,” he laughs. “I gave them every option; well, every option except Texas. They both wanted to come to Oklahoma, not just because it was a good distance from Mom and Dad, but it was a large school, not too far from the rest of the family.”

Wood moved back to Edmond with his wife in 2017, later joining McBride on Feb. 1, 2021.

After graduating from the OU College of Medicine in 1997, he received training through an internship and residency in St. Louis. Multiple factors went into his decision on where to practice, though one triumphed over all: a girl, Wood said.

“It’s similar, but on steroids in regard to my practice in Illinois.

Throughout my career, I’ve moved from a general orthopedic surgeon doing just about everything to now, joining McBride, where I can specialize in just foot and ankle in a group comprised of multiple orthopedic specialists.”

“I met my wife in St. Louis during training and she’s an Illinois girl. She has a large family up there and it was great,” he says. “Everybody assumes we were in Chicago – because apparently that’s the only city in Illinois – but we were in

He adds, “I’m back and so proud of Edmond. It was a little town with two stop lights when I first moved there many years ago. I’ve always been a true Oklahoman; I was just out of state for a little bit.”

IN THE 405

P E R S O N

O F

I N T E R E S T

Dr. John Otto with Chip.

Path to Heeling With Dr. John Otto’s leadership, the Friends for Folks dog training program reorients “lost” people and pups

BY E VIE KLOPP HOLZER P H O T O B Y C H A R L I E N E U E N S C H WA N D E R

eterinarian John Otto did not want to go to prison. In 1996, he was too busy – starting a family, establishing his veterinary practice and volunteering at the Norman Animal Shelter – and had no desire to get involved in Friends for Folks, a dog training program held inside

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the correctional facility in Lexington, Oklahoma.

“My dad worked in law enforcement,” Otto says. “I was pretty prejudiced in my upbringing: There’s nothing good in prison.”

However, the program’s director, Dr. Grant Turnwald, was a friend and mentor. His invitations to join were incessant. Finally, after much contemplation and prayer, Otto agreed to only one visit.

“I remember walking through the prison and seeing darkness everywhere,” Otto says. “Then you go through these doors into the compound

where this dog program is, and it was like walking from night into day. The change was so profound. The inmates were laughing. The dogs were barking. They were playing frisbee. When I saw the inmates’ eyes – and the animals’ eyes – how happy and joyful (they were), it was almost a magical effect. I would never have thought something of such greatness, such purity, would exist in a place that’s so dark.”

The first glimpse was enlightening, and the more Otto learned about Friends for Folks, the more enthralled he became.

“You take these broken animals, often abused, and you pair them with an inmate who has a very similar background,” he says. “The inmates get to pour their emotions into these animals that give them unconditional love. That opens them up to learn; they drop their walls, their inhibitions and their protections. Self-confidence improves for both the inmate and the animal, and they get better with time.”

On the ride home from Lexington, Turnwald announced he was taking a new job at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia. Friends for Folks needed new leadership, and he pegged Otto for the role. After careful consideration and more prayer, Otto said yes. He remains executive director today, 25 years after that first fateful visit.

“From my perspective, I don’t know how I could not be involved in such a special thing,” Otto says.

“These inmates and dogs together create something so wonderful, and then that gift goes on to help others.”

The well-trained canines are also placed in homes of veterans, widows, autistic children and the elderly – people in need of companionship.

In addition to speaking engagements, Otto shares Friends for Folks’ stories through books and films. Otto collaborated on the documentary The Dogs of Lexington, which was nominated for an Emmy in 2014. The film’s success increased fundraising and allowed the program to expand to Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in 2015.

“The animal benefits, the offender benefits, and society benefits. I don’t know of any other program that is such a positive win-win-win situation,” he says.

Otto’s life was transformed after seeing Friends for Folks firsthand. Now, much like Turnwald did with him, he is constantly reaching out to pull others in. Turns out, there is good inside prison walls.

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IN THE 405

Get on Up Embracing a season of mood-lifting fashion

BY LINDA MILLER P H O T O S B Y S H E VA U N W I L L I A M S & A S S O C I AT E S

Editor’s Note: Models for this story are dancers with the Oklahoma City Ballet providing color and movement to our spring fashion trends. pring is considered the season of new beginnings. So, with that in mind, let’s say hello to clothes that move, that speak to the soul, that elicit joy and hope and make us feel like dancing.

This season’s fashion offerings are on point, with colors and styles that are energetic and fun to mix and match. Bubblegum pink, magenta, juicy orange, fiery red, sunshine yellow, all shades of green, lavender and a variety of blues stand out. Neutrals, pastels and powdery hues pack a punch, too.

Unexpected color combinations, such as yellow with rust or moss with girly pink, are different and appealing. Or, opt for monochromatic dressing, a modern, sophisticated look straight from the runway and one that was on view during the Presidential inauguration. Consider a monochrome pantsuit in lilac, cerulean or any favorite color.

Feel-good prints, and there are plenty, seem to harken to a brighter, fun future. Who can be in a sour

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mood when wearing bold rainbow stripes, vintage prints or a mini dress in psychedelic swirls?

If a mini is too short, slip into a flowy maxi or a knit dress that stretches to the calf or ankle. The column style is updated with a side slit or two, making it easy to wear without showing too much leg.

Speaking of legs, they aren’t the only body parts on view this spring and summer. Open backs and side cut-outs have found a flattering place on curve-hugging dresses and skin-tight tops. While not a look for everyone, another skin-showing trend is a bralette, crop top or bra top slipped under a jacket or worn alone with a skirt or pants.

Roomy, wide-leg trousers are a standout this spring. They’re a stylish alternative to those oh-so-comfy sweats and leggings, and they offer plenty of movement. Dressed up versions in soft fabrics, such as silk or crepe, are plentiful, as are more casual styles in denim and twill.

Pair with a fitted blouse or top, and definitely consider that matching jacket. >> Continued on page 26

Earrings from Thrown by Covet House; sheer overlay yellow dress and Rag and Bone boots, both from rosegold. Dancer/model: Alexandra Schooling

FA S H I O N

Orange fringe earrings from Thrown by Covet House; Farm floral top with blouson sleeves and Farm print skirt, both from Balliets; and Seychelles clogs from Betsy King Shoes. Dancer/ model: Mickayla Carr

Mr. Boho sunglasses from rosegold; Samuel Sohn by Steven Giles seersucker jacket, white gauze shirt by Hiroshi Kato and Hartford cargo shorts, all from Steven Giles. Dancer/ model: Micah Bullard

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IN THE 405

Headband and star pins from Thrown by Covet House; Mykita glasses from TSO Optical; Ted Baker camisole and Gold Hawk shirt, both from rosegold; mini bag by Christian Louboutin from Balliets; Dear John jeans from Tener’s; and Kelsi Dagger clogs from Betsy King Shoes.

Dancer/model: Mickayla Carr

Eyelet dress with tie neck collar by Oklahoma City designer Crystal Emerson, Pearl Designs. Dancer/model: Alexandra Schooling

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FA S H I O N

Otto hat and Pistola romper from Cayman’s; Valentino belt worn as necklace, vintage Louis Vuitton necklace, Big Buddah bracelets and Revivify denim jacket, all from Balliets; and Kat Maconie sneakers from Betsy King Shoes.

Dancer/model: Kara Troester

405MAGAZINE.COM

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IN THE 405

Continued from page 22

Though formal occasions have been limited the past year, here’s hoping the days of evening wear return soon – because these clothes are too good to skip. Look for extravagant dresses with full skirts, tons of tulle, statement sleeves, ruff les and f lounces.

Some of those details also show up on everyday fashion.

Other trends this season include eyelets, sheer fabrics, oversize buttondown shirts, bold and delicate florals, beachy vibes, puff sleeves and strong shoulders. Even t-shirts get the padded shoulder treatment. Expect to see plenty of net, patchwork, feathers, crisp white, fringe, tie dye and pops of neon, too.

Sometimes accessories are the first looks embraced in a new season. It’s not a big stretch to reach for a handbag in a new shape or color, or a pair of statement earrings. Start the search now for belts, pearls, chunky metal jewelry, shoulder-grazing earrings, necklaces that hang to the waist, bucket hats, print head wraps and oversize totes and duffel bags in glorious color.

Footwear takes a big step this spring with platforms, wedges, mules, clogs, oxfords and a variety of sneakers to please everyone. Details include color blocking, chain link embellishments and straps that wrap around the foot, the ankle and sometimes the leg. There’ll be no escaping the sexy, go-with-everything thong sandals with kitten heels. And fans of flip-flops will be happy to see them return to glory, often embellished with crystals or oozing with cushy padding.

More than anything, spring fashion is a reminder that clothing can be the ultimate mood-lifter.

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Paolo Albizzati scarf, Frank & Eileen shirt, Simonnot Goddard belt and Steven Giles label pants, all from Steven Giles.

Dancer/model: Micah Bullard

FA S H I O N

Edna Designs bead necklace and Ariat shoes, both from Tener’s; DRA LA gauze plaid blouse and wide-leg pants by People Tree, both from rosegold; Lizzie Fortunato green suede belt from Balliets. Dancer/model: Mickayla Carr

Photographer: Shevaun Williams Hair and makeup: Ashley Pike, Ashley Tolman Hair and Makeup Stylist: Samia Moses Creative Models: Oklahoma City Ballet dancers Mickayla Carr, Micah Bullard, Alexandra Schooling and Kara Troester Special thanks: Oklahoma City Ballet

Balliets, 6443 Avondale, OKC, balliets.com Betsy King Shoes, 3001 Paseo, OKC, betsykingshoes.com Cayman’s Clothiers, 2001 W Main, Norman, shop-caymans.com rosegold, 6423 Avondale, OKC, shoprosegold.com Steven Giles, 5850 N Classen, OKC, stevengilescothing.com Tener’s, 4320 W Reno, OKC, tenersboots.com Thrown by Covet House, 7601 N May, OKC, mythrown.com TSO Optical, 3840 S Boulevard, Edmond, tsooptical.com 405MAGAZINE.COM

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S TAT OF TH AR T S COLORFUL CREATIVITY BEYOND THE PANDEMIC

BY GREG HORTON

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APRIL 2021

E HE S

THER E WILL COME A POINT at which we no longer have to talk about an industry or community in terms of the effects of COVID. However, we are not there yet, so this is not that article.

When Krystle Kaye, executive director of the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, answered a question about the state of arts in Oklahoma, she began with COVID’s impact.

“It’s a simple answer,” Kaye says.

“Artists continue to struggle with the impact of the pandemic, including opportunities to show and sell their work [being] cut and canceled. We’re starting to see some openings, but we’re not back to pre-COVID numbers; not even close.”

Kaye also said OVAC has not had to cut back on support of artists thanks to the generosity of groups like the Arts Council and Mid-America Arts Alliance, and funding from PPP. “We’ve been able to continue all planned programming, and we’re planning on doing the same in 2021,” she says.

COVID aside, the visual arts in Oklahoma seem stronger than ever. Galleries survived 2020 without going out of business, art walks have fired back up, Kaye reported that her organization and partners were able to award 80 $1,000 grants, murals continue to sprout up around the metro, Heather Lunsford has the Hulsey Gallery at Oklahoma City University as busy as it’s ever been, Laura Warriner at Artspace at Untitled has scheduled the Steamroller Print Festival for Apr. 25 and the artists we talked to about the state of the arts never really mentioned COVID. The four artists below aren’t meant to be representative of all artists in Oklahoma. That’s an impossible task.

They do, however, represent four very different styles, and because we’re fascinated with the use of color in and through a pandemic, they were also chosen for the ways they use the palettes seen commonly in their work.

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Ebony Iman Dallas

American Dream, acrylic and Somali textiles on birch

Ebony Iman Dallas had one shot to ask the great Harry Belafonte a question when he made a rare public appearance, this one at the University of Oklahoma, where Dallas, an OKC-based visual artist, was teaching at the time.

“I asked him for advice for artists who are choosing between painting pretty pictures for walls that sell really well and politically charged work that’s important to them and more meaningful,” she said. “He answered: ‘Art without substance is not art.’”

The brief interaction confirmed her direction as an artist: to create beautiful, expressive juxtapositions of hope and struggle, using bold colors, textures and vibrant media like gold foil to communicate the realities of Black existence in the U.S. The loss of her father, Said Osman, before she was born – he died under mysterious circumstances – set her on a path to understand what had happened to him and to explore portrayals of Blackness in popular culture.

“I use (gold foil) halos to exalt a person,” she says. “I used gold paint for a long time, but gold leaf is more vibrant. I use it to highlight the innocence of people who often are not portrayed in media as innocents, nor seen as capable of innocence.”

Dallas’s use of color is nearly always symbolic. She’s not shooting for photorealism, so skin tone is less important than what the color she chooses conveys. “I use fiery colors – yellow to red – to convey the spirit of a person. Their skin tone doesn’t matter as much for me.”

The bright, bold colors are also meant to convey a sense of hope. “I want to inspire hope in people,” Dallas says. “The subject matter can be serious, but the tone can still be uplifting, hopeful.”

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Loud Whispers from Greenwood, acrylic

Past, Present & Future, acrylic, mixed media on canvas

I USE FIERY COLORS – YELLOW TO RED – TO CONVEY THE SPIRIT OF A PERSON. THEIR SKIN TO N E D O E S N ’ T M AT T E R A S MUCH FOR ME.

Kernel of Eternity triptych piece, acrylic, golf leafing

EBONY IMAN DALLAS: LEXI HOEBING, PAINTINGS: PROVIDED

Part of Dallas’s work for the Greenwood Art Project

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Joojoo, acrylic on canvas

Sinking, acrylic on canvas

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open your heart, oil on canvas

Forever Red, oil on canvas

I’VE TRAINED MY EYES TO LOOK

Giti, oil on canvas

FOR THE COOL OR COLD COLORS, AND I STRIVE FOR THE BALANCE BETWEEN COOL AND WARM AND

BEHNAZ SOHRABIAN: LEXI HOEBING, PAINTINGS: PROVIDED

THEN BUILD THE COMPOSITION.

Behnaz Sohrabian Behnaz Sohrabian moved to Oklahoma from her native Tehran, Iran, in 2010. She became a citizen in 2017. With the exception of a degree in applied chemistry, she’s trained all her life since age 10 to be an artist. She is comfortable with abstracts, landscapes and still life, but she is best known for her portraits.

“In Iran there were subjects – like nudes – I could not paint,” Sohrabian says. “But when I moved here, my style and technique changed. I moved on from abstract to what I now call expressive realism.”

That style takes its form in Sohrabian’s portraits when she attempts to balance warm and cold colors. An art instructor told her when she was young that as she did more portraiture, she’d come to see cool colors on people’s faces, not just the warm tones associated with portraits. Her portraits are suffused with splashes, slashes and blocks of red, green, blue and yellow.

“I don’t have a preferred palette,” Sohrabian says. “I’ve trained my eyes to look for the cool or cold colors, and I strive for the balance between cool and warm, but often I randomly choose colors, apply them to the canvas, and then build the composition.”

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Bukowski Revisited, oil on canvas

BARBOZA WORKS ON A LARGE, COLORFUL SCALE. IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN O N E O F H I S M U R A L S Y E T, YOU WILL SOON ENOUGH,

Carlos Barboza’s family moved to El Reno from Costa Rica when he was 10 years old. He’s lived about two-thirds of his life in Oklahoma now, most of it in Yukon.

“The initial move was a crazy cultural shift,” Barboza says, “but Oklahoma has been home ever since, except for a short three- to four-year stint in California.”

Barboza works on a large, colorful scale. If you haven’t seen one of his murals yet, you will soon enough, because he’s busy.

“Being a professional artist wasn’t realistic for me two years ago,” he says.

“I’ve been at it all my life – my mom enrolled me in a cartooning class when I was 7 – but I wasn’t sure how I’d ever make a living at it.”

A friend called and asked him to paint a mural for the friend’s business.

People saw it, heard about him, sought out a muralist – lots of routes – and the phone kept ringing. “I just thought I’d try this 'til people stopped calling,” he says. “They’re still calling.”

Working with murals means he’s usually creating an ad or a public art piece, and the two are vastly different things. “For advertising, you want colors that pop, that draw the eye,” he explains. “For other subjects, like historical figures, you want more somber, serious, even reverent tones. For my own palette, I love purple and yellow because they can really capture that golden-hour magic.”

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Mural for Venn Pizza

CARLOS BARBOZA, CELEBRITY MURAL: LEXI HOEBING, PAINTING & OTHER MURALS: PROVIDED

Carlos Barboza

B E C AU S E H E ’ S BU S Y.

Mural for Stonecloud Brewing

Mural for Yukon Dentistry

Mural for Banner School

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OKConnected, part of the terrazzo expansion at Will Rogers World Airport

Think Small. Dream Big., acrylic on drywall

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Farris Feels, commission, acrylic on birch

Kicks!, commission, acrylic on birch

C O L O R S A R E L I K E N O T E S O N A G U I TA R ; THEY HAVE TO BE IN TUNE WITH ONE ANOTHER. YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU H E A R I T. A N D YO U D E F I N I T E LY K N O W

Matt Goad

I T W H E N YO U D O N ’ T.

MATT GOAD: LEXI HOEBING, PAINTINGS: PROVIDED

Foresight is 2020 in a Tandem Time Machine, commission, acrylic on panel

Matt Goad discovered Picasso, Stuart Davis and Roy Lichtenstein in his family’s World Book Encyclopedia. They were early inspirations for a kid who has always loved to draw, and he was fortunate to have a family who encouraged his love for art.

While he says he’s “still not sure (he’s) making a go” of being a professional artist, the local graphic designer scored a huge project in 2019 when he was selected to create the public art project for the Will Rogers World Airport Terminal Expansion Project.

His “geometric, hard edge, colorful, modern” style has worked well in his graphic design career, and it is obvious in the airport project, too. His style is familiar enough in central Oklahoma now that people often recognize his work before they see his name associated with it.

Goad works with big blocks of color, and while they might seem geometric, the shapes aren’t uniform, nor even identifiable as a standard artistic shape (e.g., cone, sphere, cube, pyramid). They do, however, have a sense of unity and coherence once in the composition.

“I’m guided by how colors work with one another,” he says.

“I try not to fall back on palettes I’ve done before, although I certainly have. Colors are like notes on a guitar; they have to be in tune with one another. You know it when you hear it. And you definitely know it when you don’t.”

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SACRED Ground

Common GROUND # 1 of 127 Things

to Do in

Oklahoma City – March 2021

A visit to the Memorial Museum is grounded in hope and healing. It’s where a community came together to lift each other up. And where we’re always Looking Back and Thinking Forward. Watch the story unfold through new exhibits, galleries, theaters, touchscreens and augmented reality ... and realize the lessons learned are as relevant today as ever.

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howellgallery.com | The Howell Gallery | 6432 N. Western Ave.

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APRIL 2021

SIDNEY PEARCE

TRAVEL EXCITES THE SENSES. Tiny bells tinkle on the eaves of a Thai temple; the vast panorama of the Grand Canyon thrills the eyes; a scent on the breeze signals the nearness of the seashore. But for me, few things leave an impression like the taste of a place. Southwest Louisiana is a food aficionado’s Fantasyland with its combination of cultures and resources.

A recent foray through the state offered a number of highlights – and an extra five pounds in one week.

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CR A Z Y A BOU T CRUS TACE A NS

Louisiana specialties often include Gulf shrimp, crawfish and crabs with presentations from humble to haute cuisine. If you don’t mind a bit of a mess, an old-fashioned crawfish boil is a palate pleaser. Basic ingredients are live crawfish, potatoes, onions and corn on the cob.

Cooking and eating are often done out-of-doors and served on tables covered with paper. Ingredients are sometimes simply spread out on the table – no platter involved – and everyone digs in. Check out the Seafood Palace and Steamboat Bill’s in Lake Charles.

For a more sophisticated treatment of the lowly mudbug, I found my idea of breakfast heaven at Lake Charles’s L’Auberge Casino Resort.

Here I had the most decadent breakfast of the trip: Cajun Benedict, a fried green tomato and sliced avocado stacked on a round of cornbread, topped with poached eggs and drowned in Cajun-seasoned Hollandaise sauce and crawfi sh tails, and garnished with slices of andouille sausage.

My favorite lunch was in Arnaudville at Little Big Cup, where the signature dish is a Cajun Kevin Po Boy, toasted French bread towers stuffed with Gulf shrimp, lump blue crab meat, crawfi sh tails and andouille in a mixed pepper, Parmesan, butter and cream reduction.

Are you starting to see where those pounds came from?

The most elegant dinner was an al fresco group feast at Houmas House, a stunning 19th-century plantation about 30 miles southeast of Baton Rouge. It was a special occasion – casual visitors won’t encounter the same seafood spread we enjoyed, but Houmas House restaurants provide ample opportunity to sample Louisiana seafood and other regional specialties. Plan to spend several hours exploring the main house and extensive gardens.

Yellowfin Vodka Distillery in Sulphur uses Louisiana cane sugar in its two estate products. The original version, Otoro, is complemented by Geaux Pokes (co-branded with McNeese State University), perfect for drier cocktails like dirty martinis and vodka sodas.

S W E E T, S W E E T S P I R I T

T O B OR NO T T O B

Much of Louisiana’s early economy was based on sugarcane. For a spirited taste of the local product, a stop at Louisiana Spirits Distillery in Lacassine is a must. Tours include not just the making of the product, but the history of the sugar industry in the state. The distillery’s Bayou Rum products are made with estate molasses from the oldest family-owned and -operated sugar mill in the United States – produced from locally grown Louisiana sugarcane. Sample the different flavors of Bayou Rum at the distillery tasting bar.

For a special treat, order a Loup Garou in the Embers Grill and Wine Bar at L’Auberge. Created by head bartender Kelly Bistok, it’s a cucumber basil daiquiri with edible glitter and Bayou Silver Rum.

For aficionados of alliteration, some Louisiana favorites fit to a B – boudin, beignets and bread pudding. Boudin, a sausage-like concoction, most commonly contains pork, liver, rice, onions, parsley and seasonings and is stuffed into casings. Its heritage reflects Cajun, German and Creole cuisines. Watch boudin being made and taste it at Insane Sausages in Vinton west of Lake Charles.

For a true artery-hardening twist, boudin is taken out of the casing, formed into balls, breaded and deep-fried. Boudin balls are served hot, either plain or sprinkled with powdered sugar and cane syrup.

Beignets, typically associated with French culture in New Orleans, can be found in many parts of the state. In Cajun country, the sweet treat

Bayou Rum is aged for three to four years in American white oak barrels previously used for bourbon.

LOUISANA Baton Rouge Arnaudville

Vinton

Yellowfin Vodka Distillery in Sulphur, Louisiana.

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Lake Charles

Lafayette

Houmas House

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Lacassine

Sulphur

sometimes is stuffed with boudin. Try both versions when you follow the Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail.

Lafayette, in the heart of Cajun Louisiana, is a food lover’s mecca. One of my favorite restaurants, perhaps as much for the art as the food, is the Blue Dog Café. Now run by his sons, the restaurant was founded by the late artist George Rodrigue, who incorporated Cajun folklore into his iconic Blue Dog paintings. The restaurant is liberally decorated with prints of his works. The menu includes lots of variations on Creole and Cajun favorites, with ingredients including shrimp, crawfish, crab and catfish. At this writing, the restaurant is closed, but fans hope for a reopening when the pandemic subsides. Look on its menu for all three of the Bs praised above.

A great way to get the flavor of Lafayette is to book an experience with Marie Ducote’s Cajun Food Tours. We hit five great spots (these can vary) and heard lots of information and history on the way. As soon as we stepped off the van, the aroma of smoking meats hit our noses. We felt like cartoon characters – nose forward, feet barely touching the ground, following a cloud of scent. This was family-owned Johnson’s Boucaniere.

In times past, it was a Cajun fall custom to gather together to slaughter a hog and process it – a boucherie. In the 1930s, the founder of Johnson’s was the first to buy boudin from local boucheries to sell to the public. Today they make their own sausage and boudin.

Going into the smoke house, we saw long loops of sausage undergoing a five- to seven-hour smoking, and trays of beautifully browned chickens. In the small restaurant we had our first food of the day – pulled pork stuffed grilled cheese sandwiches on buns, pressed, with sides of Johnson’s homemade barbecue sauce.

At subsequent stops we tried fried shrimp po’ boys, beignets stuffed with boudin, gumbo and bread pudding. All this before lunch.

We had the bread pudding at La Cuisine de Maman at Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park – a must-see for any visitor in the area. The bread pudding here was very traditional and basic: eggs, milk, butter and bread.

This treat is on nearly every dessert menu in south Louisiana, and ranges from plain to versions with raisins, nuts, and chocolate with toppings from whipped cream to whiskey sauce.

ABOVE: JACKIE SHECKLER FINCH, BELOW: PROVIDED

WASH IT DOW N W ITH …

ABOVE: Houmas House is the epitome of elegance during the era of Louisiana’s great sugar barons.

BELOW: An aerial view of Houmas House on the bank of the Mississippi River.

In addition to our visit to the two distilleries, we sampled craft beers at Bayou Teche Brewing in Arnaudville and Crying Eagle Brewing Company in Lake Charles, both of which offer unique beers labeled with distinctly quirky Louisiana twists.

For non-alcoholic sipping, we tried Lafayette-made Swamp Pop featuring Louisiana cane sugar with flavors like Filé Root Beer and Praline Cream Soda.

But the ultimate beverage – practically a drink and a meal – was the Bloody Maria at Lafayette’s Bread and Circus Provisions. Made with tequila rather than vodka, the drink was garnished with olives, lime, okra, a banana pepper and a chicken skin crackling.

That drink is the ultimate expression of Louisiana lagniappe – something extra. To take a culinary cruise through the state is to experience gustatory greatness … and to gain those extra pounds.

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PERSEVERANCE

Gene Rainbolt has taken lessons from a Depression-era childhood to help build his bank and his state. At 92, he's still not finished.

BY PHOTOS

BY

G EO RG E

CH A RL IE

L A N G

N EU E N SC H WA N DE R

AND PROGRESS 50

APRIL 2021

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A

few months after banker H.E. “Gene” Rainbolt was born in 1929, the stock market crashed. Several months later, dust storms enveloped much of his home state. Like so many Oklahomans growing up during the compounded disaster of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, Rainbolt’s worldview and his feelings about the state were shaped by those events.

“The fortunate thing about it is that I was born in Norman, which because of the university was the least affected by the Depression and the Dust Bowl,” Rainbolt says. “But all of my relatives were tenant farmers. And, you know, they had coal, oil for lights and wood for heating and well water that you drew in a bucket. It was a Third World way of life for all of Oklahoma outside the little cocoon in which I lived.”

Much as it influenced Rainbolt himself, that time of economic and environmental upheaval left a lasting mark on Oklahoma, both positively and negatively. Through his innovations in the banking industry with BancFirst, his philanthropy and his activism, Rainbolt is a witness to Oklahoma history, a major force in the state’s evolution and, on occasion, the dispenser of bitter pills. At 92, Rainbolt projects uncommon clarity when talking about Oklahoma’s future, because his recollection of its past is just as clear.

Even within the protective cocoon of a college town, Rainbolt was exposed to the privation experienced by so many Oklahomans. He remembers classmates in his grade school wearing clothes made from sackcloth and burlap, and seeing the so-called Hoovervilles spring up under the Norman water tower. At the time, more than a quarter of Oklahoma City and Tulsa residents were unemployed, and farm income in the rural areas plummeted 64 percent, catastrophic when 60 percent of people working in agriculture were tenant farmers or “sharecroppers” like Rainbolt’s extended family.

Rainbolt’s parents, Clarke and Bertie Rainbolt, were separated.

His mother raised Gene and his three siblings, while Clarke Rainbolt worked in the wholesale grocery business, delivering groceries around the state. One of the company’s clients was the Civilian Conservation Corps, which put young men ages 17 to 28 to work building bridges, roads and lakes like Lake Murray near Ardmore.

All the young men were in camps and they got $25 a month, which they sent home,” he says. “And they were just in, like, barracks. It was just a way of life that today’s young people could not imagine. By the time I was 6 years old – not an exaggeration – I knew that whatever my life was to be was up to me. And I was 52

APRIL 2021

doing something trying to create income. I was very, very young and I had jobs: grocery store, drugstore, a progressive set of jobs.”

Those experiences during his first decade of life powered him through the next 80 years. After earning his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Oklahoma, serving in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and marrying his elementary school classmate Jeannine Tuttle, Rainbolt served as a U.S. Army officer during the Korean War. During tours of duty in Korea and Japan, he saw people living in conditions similar to what he saw in Oklahoma in the 1930s – abject poverty brought on by war and its aftereffects.

After serving four years, Rainbolt returned to Norman and earned his master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, then returned to the Pacific Rim to work as a civilian military employee. He closed out the decade by taking a position as senior vice president of First State Bank in Noble at age 30.

At the time, banking in Oklahoma was done under a set of outdated and oppressive regulations. For example, a single corporation was only allowed to own one bank and a drive-thru. While Rainbolt eventually took control of First State Bank in 1962 and proceeded to acquire banks in Purcell and Shawnee, he was also lobbying to modernize the state’s banking laws. Laws passed in the 1980s eased ownership restrictions, paving the way for Rainbolt to form the state’s first multi-bank holding company, United Community Corporation, and eventually BancFirst in 1989.

But beyond his success in banking, Rainbolt never forgot what he saw in his childhood, and when Oklahoma entered a long-term recession in the 1980s and 1990s, Rainbolt was working to create more opportunities for Oklahomans. While he is no longer part of the day-to-day operations at BancFirst, he is just barely retired, spending his time promoting improved educational opportunities, criminal justice reform and medical research and cancer treatment through his steerage and advocacy for the Charles and Peggy Stephenson Oklahoma Cancer Center and Houston’s M.D. Anderson Foundation.

“Cancer research is a big thing to me, because, No. 1, smoking still impacts so many Oklahomans,” Rainbolt says. “Neither of us ever smoked, but my wife died of lung cancer. So I’ve been very involved in Stephenson Cancer Center, which is one of our real successes in Oklahoma. To become a national cancer institute in the period of time we did is absolutely incredible.”

Rainbolt himself has enjoyed remarkable health over the course of nine decades, but last year he was hospitalized with a virus that was just starting to take hold in the U.S. In the late winter of 2019-2020, Rainbolt was battling a severe case of bronchitis, a by-product of his lifelong battle with the red cedar pollen that makes spring in Oklahoma a hellscape for allergy sufferers. And that was bad enough for an active 91-year-old man to endure, or so Rainbolt thought.

But then in mid-March of 2020, Rainbolt’s oxygen levels bottomed out.

“I just could not breathe anymore,” Rainbolt says. “So I went to the emergency room and, lo and behold, I had COVID before people were aware of COVID, really.”

Rainbolt spent 23 days in SSM Health/St. Anthony Hospital, fighting for each breath. He received constant oxygen and experimental doses of Remdesivir, the same drug administered to former President Donald Trump during his October 2020 hospitalization at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Breathing specialists regularly checked on Rainbolt, encouraging him to breathe in through his nose, out through his mouth.

In the earliest days of coronavirus treatment in the United States, there were few protocols for containing the virus and safeguarding those who were infected. Rainbolt’s son, BancFirst Executive Chairman David Rainbolt, said

Gene Rainbolt in his Oklahoma City home.

THROUGH HIS INNOVATIONS IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY WITH BANCFIRST, HIS PHILANTHROPY AND HIS ACTIVISM, RAINBOLT IS A WITNESS TO OKLAHOMA HISTORY, A MAJOR FORCE IN THE STATE’S EVOLUTION AND, ON OCCASION, THE DISPENSER OF BITTER PILLS. he was able to come and go at will in the first days of his father’s hospitalization, but as medical authorities learned more about how the virus is transmitted, the hospital went into near-lockdown to keep patients and visitors safe.

“Had it not been for my cellphone to continue to be in touch with some part of the world, I don’t know how, psychologically, I would have survived,” Gene Rainbolt says.

Rainbolt later learned that he had likely caught COVID-19 from his friend Charlotte Lankard, a marriage and family therapist who learned later that she had the antibodies for the virus. But as his son said, the worst part of the ordeal came after his hospitalization.

“At 91, if you lie in a hospital bed for two weeks, three weeks, you completely atrophy,” David Rainbolt says. “I mean, can’t even get out of bed.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, sarcopenia is the loss of lean muscle tissue experienced when the elderly are hospitalized or bedrid-

den. More than 50 percent of those hospitalized after age 80 experience sarcopenia as a result of extended bed rest, resulting in the kind of catastrophic muscle loss that can only be rebuilt with extensive, long-term physical therapy.

For Rainbolt, this involved four to five therapy sessions per week.

“At first, we would work hard to walk across the living room,” he says. “And then, we walked across the room twice or three times over a period of weeks. And ultimately, when I gained some energy, my caretaker and I would walk a block and sit down, then walk another block and sit down and just incrementally add to it until we were without interruptions, walking two and a half miles a day, which I still do to regain both oxygen levels and energy. It was a month of recovery.

Everybody experiences the same thing that has severe COVID.” When Rainbolt contracted the virus, Oklahoma was experiencing about 25 new cases of coronavirus per day. At the time of his interview with 405, Oklahoma’s daily case count had ballooned to 6,487. While numbers in the state have since gone down, due in part to vaccine access and improved social distancing, Rainbolt is concerned with many Oklahomans’ reaction to mask requirements and vaccine distribution.

Rainbolt said the skyrocketing Oklahoma cases in early 2021 were partly the result of the state’s tradition of “rugged individualism,” a set of behaviors that, at best, results in pioneering work that makes lives better, or can get someone through a major economic downtown. On the downside, rugged individualism can result in obstinate ignorance, refusal to wear masks and flouting local social distancing rules.

In Rainbolt’s view, Oklahoma is up to its panhandle in rugged individualism. He said that if the state is going to improve its criminal justice system, its financial diversity and its overall health in the wake of significant challenges on all of those fronts, it needs to be far less rugged in its individualism, especially during global health crises.

“I think it’s revealed some of our weaknesses,” he says of the pandemic. “It’s been a devastating thing, and continues to be.

There’s going to be good change coming out of it, too, forcing change in the way we work, the way we educate. It has sped up, materially, the use of technology in both working and teaching.”

Now 92, Rainbolt is still working and, in his own way, teaching. Over his near-century of life in Oklahoma, he has worked to improve the state’s quality of life and witnessed its greatest struggles and successes. What he sees now in Oklahoma’s present and future is a kind of realignment of the state’s population. With more business development and rural residents seeking opportunities in Oklahoma’s urban centers, Rainbolt said the state could be on the verge of major change.

“The rural areas simply do not provide the opportunity to participate in the world of technological change,” Rainbolt says. “If you went to Siberia — and I’ve been to all these places — if you went to China, if you went to India or you went to Colorado, it’s the same phenomenon.

“And one of the things that’s happening now, as people move to the metropolitan areas, it will be interesting to see how redistricting can take place,” he says. “Because if the two metropolitan areas were to decide, ‘We’re going to exercise our influence,’ then the progress in Oklahoma would very quickly speed up.”

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All of our advisors are also CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals, which means they have attained additional and ongoing training in the areas of financial planning, taxes, insurance, estate planning and retirement plans. Also, as you move through different life changes, your financial needs change. Someone who has small children and may be planning for college has different needs than someone who is a few years from retirement. Advisors can help guide you through every life stage.

Hopper: Different people will experience different benefits from working with a financial advisor. Some individuals benefit from the accountability that comes with working with a professional. An experienced financial advisor can help you determine realistic goals, and ensure that you consistently revisit your progress toward those goals. Similarly, a good advisor can bring together all the different disciplines that impact your financial life— investments, taxes, insurance, estate planning, etc —and create a comprehensive plan that works in all those areas. One of the biggest advantages of working with an advisor is placing a buffer between yourself and your emotions. A good advisor helps to insulate you from decisions made because of greed or fear, and can foster logical, data-driven choices.

"It’s important to contact a financial advisor as soon as you start saving for retirement, just to make sure you’re on track to reach your retirement goals and correct any issues. Financial advisors are adept at helping to uncover any blind spots and offering solutions to get clients back on track." � B R E N DA BOL AN DE R

Cunningham: Imagine a 1,000-piece puzzle

presented to you in a box. All the pieces are there, but the box is blank cardboard with no picture to serve as a guide. Imagine how you feel as you try to assemble the puzzle without a concept of what the end result should be.

That puzzle represents your financial life. The pieces are there, but what does the complete picture look like? A financial advisor helps you put a picture on the box and works with you every step of the way to keep your picture in sharp focus and to arrange the puzzle pieces into an orderly result. We sort through the emotions and help you make good decisions.

When should someone consult a financial advisor?

Bolander: It’s important to contact a financial advisor as soon as you start saving for retirement, just to make sure you’re on track to

reach your retirement goals and correct any issues. Financial advisors are adept at helping to uncover any blind spots and offering solutions to get clients back on track. It’s also a great idea to contact an advisor within a few years of retirement, to prepare for your upcoming transition. The right advisor will help you consider your goals as they shift from education planning and company benefits to Social Security benefits, retirement and estate planning. We offer complimentary consultations for those beginning to plan, as well as a second look at an existing portfolio.

Hopper: Any time you are about to make

a meaningful financial decision, such as purchasing a first home, preparing for retirement or selling a business, it’s a good idea to visit with an advisor. Even if you are not looking for ongoing investment management, many advisors can prepare a standalone financial plan to ensure that 405MAGAZINE.COM

57

P RO M OT I O N

ASK THE EXPERTS FINANCIAL ADVISOR

you are on the right track with your upcoming decision. There is also benefit to reaching out to a financial advisor when there is no apparent need and when your financial life appears to be fine. Just as a routine, preventative visit to your physician can uncover health problems before they become more serious, a conversation with a financial planner can help you uncover and address any potential financial problems.

Cunningham: Yesterday would have been better, but today will be

fine. In all seriousness, advisors rarely hear their clients say, ‘I wish I had put this off a little longer.’ The key is simply to get started.

What should someone consider when choosing the right financial advisor for their financial goals?

Bolander: The right advisor will be someone you trust. Clients often have decades-long relationships with their advisor, so it’s important to have confidence that your advisor will lead you through the ups and downs of the market and keep you focused on your goals. It’s also important to have an advisor who can help you plan

for the long term. You may be focused on your day-to-day finances, but the right advisor should be looking ahead many years so that your plan can weather the changes life throws at you.

Hopper: You should look for someone who acts as a fiduciary,

meaning that the advisor has a legal obligation to make recommendations that are only in your best interests. Although it might seem like all advisors should act in this capacity, many do not. Many investment professionals only have to make recommendations which are suitable, with no regard as to whether they are best for you and your unique situation. Some firms allow their advisors to serve as fiduciaries sometimes, but as commissioned salespeople at other times.

When that happens, it can be difficult to know whether the financial professional is truly making recommendations in your best interest, or whether they are simply trying to make a sale. To eliminate that risk, it is best to seek out someone who is always a fiduciary.

Cunningham: Choose a good communicator. Your financial planner

should speak so clearly that an 11-year-old child can understand your plan. Ask your advisor how they are compensated; your advisor should align their financial interests with yours.

Tailored for Your Future Our first priority is helping you take care of you and your family.

We listen. We understand your objectives. We know you can’t do it all at once, so we decide where to start, build a plan to work every financial muscle group along the way, and chart a path forward, all with the end goal in mind.

405.548.8888 | cunninghaminvestments.net 9016 N. Kelley Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73131 Securities and Advisory Services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC

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APRIL 2021

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Orthopedic and Specialty Network D. Neil Roberts, M.D. Greater OKC Gastroenterology Associates/ South OKC/Yukon 608 Liberty Lane • Edmond, OK 73034 405-341-8829

Robert F. Hines, M.D. Knee/Shoulder/Sports Medicine HPI Mediplex 9800 Broadway Ext, Ste 201 • OKC, OK 73114 405-348-6004

NEUORSURGERY SPINE Jeffrey P. Nees, M.D. Fountain Park Medical Plaza 3110 SW 89th St., Ste 200E • OKC, OK 73159 405-486-6720

Daron C. Hitt, M.D. Hand/Plastic Surgery Fountain Park Medical Plaza 3110 SW 89th St., Ste 200A • OKC, OK 73159 405-486-6800

ENDOCRINOLOGY Cassie Smith, M.D. HPI Mediplex 9800 Broadway Ext., Ste 200 • OKC, OK 73114 405-715-4496

ORTHOPEDICS Brett Braly, M.D. Orthopedic Spine HPI Mediplex 9800 Broadway Ext, Ste 203 • OKC, OK 73114 405-424-5415

C. Shane Hume, D.O. Orthopedic Spine OSSO Orthopedic & Spine Center 3115 SW 89th St. • OKC, OK 73159 405-427-3705

FAMILY MEDICINE Jenna Crowder, M.D. OSSO Edmond 1616 S. Kelly • Edmond, OK 73013 405-348--8838

Ashley C. Cogar, M.D. Orthopedic Hand HPI Mediplex 9800 Broadway Ext, Ste 201 • OKC, OK 73114 405-419-5665

GASTROENTEROLOGY Sam Hong, M.D. Fountain Park Medical Plaza/Edmond 3110 SW 89th Street, Suite 104 • OKC, OK 73159 405-341-8829

Jimmy H. Conway, M.D. Knee/Shoulder/Sports Medicine OSSO South 10001 S. Western • OKC, OK 73139 405-692-3749

CONCUSSION CARE Jason M. Leinen, M.D., ATC Family Medicine/Pain Management Fountain Park Medical Plaza 3110 SW 89th St., Ste 102C • OKC, OK 73159 405-703-3611 DERMATOLOGY Hillary S. Lawrence, M.D. OSSO Edmond 1616 S. Kelly • Edmond, OK 73013 405-285-8823

Steven D. Coupens, M.D. Knee/Shoulder/Ankle, Sports Medicine HPI Mediplex/South OKC 9800 Broadway Ext, Ste 201 • OKC, OK 73114 405-419-5511

Paul B. Jacob, D.O. Hip/Knee/Replacement HPI Mediplex 9800 Broadway Ext, Ste 201 • OKC, OK 73114 405-424-5426 J. Calvin Johnson, M.D. Knee/Shoulder/Sports Medicine OSSO Olie 6516 N. Olie Ave, Ste A • OKC, OK 73116 405-419-5412 M. Brandon Johnson, M.D. Hip Preservation/Knee/Sports Medicine HPI Mediplex 9800 Broadway Ext, Ste 201 • OKC, OK 73114 405-424-5417

405.427.6776 | ossonetwork.com

Paul Kammerlocher, M.D. Foot/Ankle OSSO Orthopedic & Spine Center 3115 SW 89th St. • OKC, OK 73159 405-486-6900

Barry L. Northcutt, M.D. Knee/Shoulder/Sports Medicine HPI Mediplex/Yukon 9800 Broadway Ext, Ste 201 • OKC, OK 73114 405-340-4744

Laura Luick, M.D. Foot/Ankle OSSO Orthopedic & Spine Center/HPI Mediplex 3115 SW 89th St. • OKC, OK 73159 405-486-6825

Sheri M. Smith, M.D. Foot/Ankle OSSO Orthopedic & Spine Center/HPI Mediplex 3115 SW 89th St. • OKC, OK 73159 405-419-5610

Jeffrey A. Moore, M.D. Orthopedic Spine OSSO Edmond/OKC/Norman 1616 S. Kelly • Edmond, OK 73013 405-486-6980

Robert S. Unsell, M.D. Hand/Wrist OSSO South 10001 S. Western, Ste 101 • OKC, OK 73139 405-692-3748

Mac Moore, M.D. Shoulder/Knee/Sports Medicine Oklahoma Shoulder & Knee Institute/ North OKC/Hinton 3130 SW 89th St., Ste 100 • OKC, OK 73159 405-692-3737

PAIN MANAGEMENT Doug Beacham, D.O. HPI Mediplex 9800 Broadway Ext, Ste 201 • OKC, OK 73114 405-424-5415

Gerardo Myrin, M.D. Knee/Shoulder/Replacement OSSO Orthopedic & Spine Center/Edmond/Norman 3115 SW 89th St. • OKC, OK 73159 405-486-6880 Ryan L. Nelson, D.O. Elbow/Knee/Shoulder/Wrist/Sports Medicine HPI Mediplex 9800 Broadway Ext, Ste 203 • OKC, OK 73114 405-330-8847

Heidi Rogers, M.D. Rheumatology Associates of Oklahoma/Edmond 6516 N. Olie, Ste G • OKC, OK 73116 405-608-8060 Amanda Titus, M.D. Rheumatology Associates of Oklahoma/Yukon 6516 N. Olie, Suite G • OKC, OK 73116 405-608-8060 WOMEN’S HEALTH Benjamin Barenberg, M.D. Urogynecology Optimal Health 9800 Broadway Ext, Ste 200 • OKC, OK 73114 405-715-4496 Noel R. Williams, M.D. Gynecology Optimal Health 9800 Broadway Ext, Ste 200 • OKC, OK 73114 405-715-4496

Darryl D. Robinson, M.D. Longevity Spine South 3110 SW 89th St., Ste 102 • OKC, OK 73159 405-703-4950 RHEUMATOLOGY Latisha Heinlen, M.D. Rheumatology Associates of Oklahoma/South OKC 6516 N. Olie, Ste G • OKC, OK 73116 405-608-8060

For More Primary and Family Care Options visit www.hpillc.org

Dining

The Art of Whisky

LEXI HOEBING

As bourbon prices soar and availability shrinks, whisky lovers can find extraordinary quality in Japanese whisky. Page 66

405MAGAZINE.COM

63

DINING

OKC spots where kids’ and parents’ enjoyment is on the menu

BY GREG HORTON

he restaurant – a loungey, booze-centric place with a moderately expensive menu – prepared for the worst.

A family with an infant and two toddlers came in and took “open seating” in the center of the lounge, a spot normally occupied by dating couples, happy hour pre-gamers and girls night groups. Servers and managers, bartenders and server assistants, all kept cutting glances toward the group, prepared for the impending explosion of chaos. One hour later, the family tabbed, tipped and left, with the children never making so much as an inappropriately loud squeak. They were either the luckiest parents alive, or the best.

“Every parent who takes their kid out to a restaurant deals with two fears: ‘My child is going to have a meltdown,’ or ‘My kid is not bothering me, but he

T

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may be a distraction to others,’” Jamie Winteroth says. Winteroth, along with her husband Jordan, owns Aurora and Social Deck and Dining. Both are industry veterans with decades of hospitality experience, and they are parents of a son.

“Moving from single status to married to parents, Jordan and I didn’t want to give up the things we loved about the local food scene,” Winteroth says. “I still want Mimosas at brunch. I still want a glass of wine with dinner. The difference now is that our choices are less food-related and more focused on local restaurants that have something for everyone.”

That “something for everyone” includes an environment where children are welcomed.

Kristi Miller Griffith is a wine and spirits representative, and like Winteroth, she has gone from single to married to parent while working in the industry. She and her husband Brian take their two daughters out to eat occasionally, and they too want to go on what Winteroth calls “family dates,” those eating excursions where everyone gets something they love.

“We’ve never taken the girls to a kid-centric restaurant,” Miller Griffith says. “I don’t think I’ve been in one since I was a kid myself. We don’t want to sacrifice food quality, and we want to support local, so that means the kid-centric places aren’t an option.”

The patio at Jones Assembly is spacious, covered during inclement weather, and boasts full service.

“The option” for them means a place with good food and commitment to conscientious sourcing of ingredients, and good local beers on tap are a must, as is a solid wine list. They represent a growing trend in families dining out: parents who want excellent local options where kids are welcome and adults can enjoy beer and wine, and food geared toward adult palates.

“Honestly, we tend toward places where we know other kids will be,” Miller Griffith says.

“That usually means we get a kid-friendly menu in terms of price and quality.”

Flexibility is an important component for restaurants, too. Miller Griffith mentioned The

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Full-Family Dining

G O O D

TA S T E

“The option” for them means a place with good food and commitment to conscientious sourcing of

CONTRACTOR • TILING SERVICES

Echo Tile and Stone

ingredients, and good local beers on tap are a must, as

405 MAGAZINE ARCHIVE

is a solid wine list.

Mule and The Press as two local favorites for their kitchens’ ability to adapt. “Our oldest is going through a no-meat phase, and most kids menus are burgers, hot dogs and chicken strips, with the occasional cheese pizza or mac ‘n’ cheese option. At The Press and The Mule, we can get her a grilled cheese or vegetables and they just say, ‘Of course,’ and then charge a reasonable price. That’s really important when kids are going through those food-based phases.”

Miller Griffith said the goal is to get her children to adapt to a place, rather than have the place adapt to children. “We want to teach our kids to be good diners, too. Obviously, it helps when the restaurant staff is good with children.” The family has the aforementioned Mule and Press in their rotation, but Scratch Norman, The Garage and Pizzeria Gusto are also favorites.

Pizzeria Gusto has two features critical for success as a kid-friendly (not kid-centric) restaurant: a spacious dining area that kids can navigate easily, and an excellent patio.

Many parents we talked to cited a patio as one of the most important features, even before COVID. “Outdoor space is more comfortable for the kids, and certainly for the parents’ ability to relax,” Winteroth says. “I’m pretty sure Aurora is popular with families because of our big ‘backyard.’ We get a ton of families who opt to sit out there, even in cold weather.

We love Dust Bowl and Fassler, too – beer for the parents, and a huge outdoor space for our son to roam and play.”

Jones Assembly gets a lot of love for the same reason. Parents cited its expansive patio as a place where they can give their kids a little more freedom to be kids, and they get the benefit of cocktails, brunch, local beer and an environment that every age group seems to love.

As far as outdoor space goes, two of the city’s most kid-friendly are Bedlam Bar-B-Q and The Wedge on Western. Winteroth said the family often hits Bedlam for Friday family date night because of the huge outdoor

Full Kitchen & Bath Remodel space, live music, beer, wine and a solid children’s menu.

Cost came up more than any other factor, which makes sense. It’s simple math. All meals are times three or times four when you start adding kids, so the budget changes dramatically. Every parent who cited The Garage and Café 7 added that families are welcome, the food is good and the tab doesn’t destroy the food budget for the month. Both places are very intentional about beer and wine selection, as well.

Are there off-limits restaurants for children? Reflexively, we’d say yes, and parents have to decide the limits. As Winteroth puts it, “You know your kid. How mature is she?

Are they going to disturb a business lunch, a first date? Is the menu kid-friendly at all?

As restaurateurs, we know we can’t pick our demographic – we can build for one, but you ultimately can’t control who comes. At Social, we’re very kid-friendly during the day, but it switches to intimate dinners for couples at night. Knowing the restaurant matters.”

And when those moments of chaos do arrive, Winteroth suggested that compassion for the parents and tolerance for kids being kids goes a very long way.

405.905.5982 120 SW 11th St. Moore, OK 73160 Randy, Dalon and Elizabeth Valadez

Banana nut pancakes at Aurora are kid friendly and vegan.

COMING MAY 2021

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65

DINING

A Toast to Japanese Whisky Exploring the nuances of a subtler spirit

BY GREG HORTON PHOTO BY LE XI HOEBING

s the secondar y bourbon market continues to spiral upward out of control – increasing prices and declining availability of popular brands – consumers will continue to reach for other spirits in 2021, and many of them are jumping on a trend that really arrived in Oklahoma a few years ago: Japanese whisky. (Incidentally, the spelling rule is “whiskey” from nations with an “e” in the name, and no “e” for nations without.)

Two trends are converging to make 2021 the year Oklahomans en masse finally notice and fall in love with Japanese whisky: the aforementioned bourbon market and the sudden influx of outstanding, iconic Japanese brands. Their arrival in the metro is thanks largely to the work of Corey Bauer at Thirst Wine Merchants, Clayton Bahr at Artisan Fine Wine and Spirits and Scott Large at Provisions Fine Beverage Purveyors, all local distributors with a nose for boutique spirits from small producers of outstanding quality.

The year could not be any more important for the whisky, either, as Japan’s spirits business seems finally ready to define what is and isn’t “Japanese whisky.” As Corey Bauer pointed out, the definitions in Japan have always been more lax than in other nations, and not only because the industry is just over 100 years old there.

“We’ve had distilleries in this country for hundreds of years,” Bauer says. “But more

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Japanese whiskies on the barrel at George’s Liquor downtown.

importantly, Japanese culture is built on the idea of artisanship or craftsmanship. For them blending is the true art form.”

That meant that, in the past, the spirits industry in Japan – a relatively small nation – relied heavily on what’s known as “world whiskies” to blend into what’s been called Japanese whisky. In other words, the spirit didn’t have to be distilled in Japan to be Japanese.

“The Japanese really learned their craft from the Scottish whisky makers, so there has been a great deal of similarity, both because of the inspiration, and because a lot of the blended whiskies started in Scotland,” Bauer says.

Another tradition grew up alongside the blended, single-malt tradition, and it was one that has led to the current move to classify and define the category’s parameters. Rice has been a primary grain in the distillation process from the beginning, but it’s not typically used for whiskey in other countries.

Distilled rice spirits are actually named soju (Korea)

and shochu (Japan), but a little time in-barrel and some color allowed for the result to pass as whisky. In fact, many of the products are light, delicious and stunning.

For an American audience now more than ever beholden to increasing levels of alcohol by volume in bourbon and American whiskey, Japanese whisky distilled from rice can seem too tame, too thin, too pretty. It’s truly a different animal, and many consumers have never learned the knack of enjoying something for what it is, and not for what it’s not. Bauer points out another problem the category has had in the past.

“Japanese whisky didn’t necessarily show well in whiskey tastings,” he says. “You better put Japanese whisky at the front of the line, well before you get to barrel-proof bourbon, because once you taste the ABVs (alcohol by volume) in the 110-120 [range], you won’t taste the subtlety of Japanese whisky anymore.”

O N

T H E

TA B L E

Chichibu is one of Japan’s legendary whisky makers.

Large events, which are the norm for large-scale buying, rely on massive numbers of scannable barcodes in one room. Buyers come through and move from table to table or booth to booth, and if they go in the wrong order, a product can suffer badly from its place in that order – especially products that rely on subtlety.

For all these reasons, the industry seems ready to set standards for Japanese whisky. Moromi, a magazine focused on the Japanese beverage industry, reported that The Japanese Whisky Research Centre is leading the drive to classify the spirit, and The Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition is the vehicle. Because the event is prestigious in that nation, and because distilleries enter under certain categories, the defi nition of those categories likely sets the future of the industry. So far, they seem a little hostile to rice as a “cereal grain,” the grains allowed for the distilling of whisky.

But these industry-level decisions aren’t likely to affect the consumers on the ground for some time, and it’s possible to ignore what the industry is trying to do and just enjoy the booze. With that in mind, we have some suggestions for great places to start, both for rice whisky and the more traditional mash bills.

Mars Iwai Whisky. The closest thing to bourbon you’ll find in a Japanese whisky. The mash bill is that way on purpose, and it’s priced to be an excellent introduction.

Discover what makes

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Ohishi 0-year, Brandy cask. The mash is 100 percent malted rice, and the brandy cask adds weight and complexity.

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Kaiyo -year is a barley-based whisky aged in Mizunara on the ocean, so it’s not technically a Japanese whisky, but it’s definitely a favorite of Scotch drinkers.

Fitzgerald

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• trailhead located at Bayyari Pa rk

Akashi, White Label, from the White Oak Distillery. This one actually has a little peat in it if that’s your thing.

Matsui “Kurayoshi” is another of the Scotch-style offerings, this one with whiskies sourced from Scotland and Japan.

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DINING

L O C A L

F L AV O R

Dining Guide These listings are not related to advertising in 405 Magazine. If you find that a restaurant differs significantly from the information in its listing or your favorite restaurant is missing from the list, please let us know. Email info@405magazine.com

homa, making this a fantastic date spot. 280

BARBECUE

W Sheridan, 49th floor, OKC, 702.7262 $$$$

BURGERS & SANDWICHES

CLARK CREW BBQ The home of more

ASIAN

championships than we can list, Travis Clark’s

BURGER PUNK Rock music meets

barbecue is some of the best in the country,

loaded fries and creative burgers, but don’t

GORO RAMEN + IZAKAYA The new

featuring ribs, burnt ends, brisket, crazy good

forget the whiskey selection. The Clash is the

location in Paseo combines the best of Goro

beans, and a menu with something for every-

favorite – the Doritos don’t hurt – but it’s im-

$$ MOST ENTREES $10 TO $25

with the best of what used to be Gun Izkaya,

one. 3510 NW Expy, OKC 724.8888 $$

possible to choose wrong at this bar-centric

$$$ MOST ENTREES OVER $25

so you can get the ramen you love with the

DESIGNATION $ MOST ENTREES UNDER $10

burger joint just off the Paseo. 3012 N. Walker,

yakitori you crave in one place. 3000 Paseo,

IRON STAR URBAN BARBEQUE

OKC, 900.6615 $$

Iron Star specializes in “a unique and tasty

AMERICAN

OKC, 724.8017 $$

spin on comfort food.” While its entrees are

CAFE 7 Classic sandwiches plus seasonal

TANA THAI There’s plenty to like about

excellent, the sides are equal players too.

menus make this family friendly, affordable

BLACK WALNUT The broad-ranged,

the food in this little spot, from red snapper

3700 N Shartel, OKC, 524.5925 $$

sandwich shop and pastaria a smart choice. The

creative cuisine is hard to categorize, but Chef

filet to pad thai. Pay special attention to the

Andrew Black delivers seafood, chops, steaks,

varied soups, and do not play chicken with

SWADLEY’S WORLD FAMOUS

and healthy fare with equal attention to

the spice level. 10700 N May, OKC, 749.5590 $$

BAR-B-Q With multiple locations around

chicken salad is stellar, and so is their take on a Cuban. 14101 N. May, Ste. 117, OKC, 748.3354 $

the 405, this family-owned bbq joint creates

THE MULE Solid beer and beverage selec-

yes to the fish, and the cocktails are excellent

TOKYO It’s neither huge nor lavishly

consistently delicious barbecue: ribs, brisket,

tion plus a delectable array of gourmet grilled

as well. 100 NE 4th, OKC, 445-6273 $$$

appointed, and the menu focuses on tradition

sandwiches and sides, plus indulgent des-

cheeses and melts; this relaxation destination

rather than creativity; but it’s palpably fresh

serts. 8317 S. Western, OKC, 759.3500 $$

in the Plaza District stays popular. 1630 N

detail and beautiful presentation. Always say

THE HAMILTON Tucked into Northpark

and routinely cited as among the metro’s best

Mall, this Okie-centric supper club features

sushi. 7516 N Western, OKC, 848.6733 $$

upscale casual dining with regional favorites

Blackwelder, OKC, 601.1400 $

BREAKFAST & BRUNCH

COFFEEHOUSE & TEA ROOM

like bison tartare, quail, and steaks, as well as

SZECHUAN STORY One of our Best

an excellent wine list and creative cocktails.

New Restaurants 2020, features authentic

CAFÉ ANTIGUA Authentic Guatemalan

12232 N. May, OKC, 849.5115 $$$

Szechuan dishes and noodle house specialties

food in OKC, with traditional dishes like

CLARITY COFFEE The space is crisp,

with stellar, friendly service. 2800 N. Classen

motuleños, machaca, and refried black beans.

cool and comfortable – including seating for

Blvd., Ste. 108, OKC, 604.4880 $$

Full coffee service is available, and you’ll want

sipping or getting work done – and the brew-

extra green sauce. 1903 N. Classen Blvd., OKC,

ers have their beverages down to a science.

602.8984 $$

431 W Main, OKC, 252.0155 $

GANACHE PATISSERIE Yes, they’re

LOS COMALES This Stockyards taqueria

ELEMENTAL COFFEE Spectacular

also chocolatiers, but the pastries, baked

isn’t only a breakfast joint, but the breakfast

coffee roasted in-house, augmented with lo-

JIMMY B’S CULINARY + KRAFTED

treats, pies and cakes at Ganache are made

tacos ought to be far more popular than they

cally sourced salads, breakfast options and

New to Automobile Alley, this new Hal Smith

by a husband-wife chef team who understand

are. Big portions and explosive flavors make

other vegetarian and vegan friendly treats

Restaurant Group concept is distinctive,

food as art. As beautiful as they are delicious,

this place a favorite among taco-heads, and

and entrees. 815 N Hudson, OKC, 633.1703 $

featuring steak, sushi, Southern comforts

the food at this Chisholm Creek patisserie is

the pork verde is easily among the best in

like deviled eggs and chicken salad, an

one of OKC’s best indulgences. 13230 Pawnee

OKC. 1504 S. Agnew, OKC, 272.4739 $

outstanding whiskey selection, and some of

Dr., Ste. 114, OKC, 286.4068 $$

THE HUTCH ON AVONDALE Chef David Henry serves modern American cuisine with a creative twist. The bar offers a full

BAKERY

suite of tempting cocktails, wines and spirits.

6437 Avondale, OKC, 842.1000 $$$

T, AN URBAN TEAHOUSE Proving an establishment’s focus can be at once

NEIGHBORHOOD JAM Serving tasty

narrow and broad, these retreats offer over

LA BAGUETTE Comfortable ambience

takes on classic American dishes and more

100 varieties and expert counsel to explore

and exquisite baking make a tres chic

specialized options, this breakfast-centric

a world of possibili-teas. 519 NW 23rd, OKC,

SCRATCH Isn’t that the best place for food

destination for brunch and beyond. 1130

spot aims to become a community favorite.

606.7005 $

to come from? Top-of-the-line ingredients are

Rambling Oaks, Norman, 329.1101; 2100 W

15124 Lleytons Court, Edmond, 242.4161 $

combined into carefully concocted entrees,

Main, Norman, 329.5822 $

the city’s best cocktails. 1225 N. Broadway Ave., OKC, 676.8250 $$$

CONTINENTAL SUNNYSIDE DINER Traditional

sides and wondrous craft cocktails. 132 W QUINCY BAKE SHOP Located inside

breakfast spot in multiple locations, serving

THE METRO A perennial favorite that

the Bradford House, Trisha O’Donoghue’s

excellent classic breakfasts, as well as spe-

feels comfortably upscale, the far-reaching

VAST Keeping your attention on the elegant

classic bakery features daily pastries, cookies,

cialty items like Eggs in Purgatory and verde

menu covers culinary high points from

cuisine might be difficult; the view from atop

specialty items, and buttery, flaky danishes.

tamales. 824 SW 89th, OKC, 703.0011 $

vichyssoise to crème brulée. 6418 N Western,

the Devon Tower is truly unparalleled in Okla-

1235 NW 38th, OKC, 302.8977 $

Main, Norman, 801.2900 $$

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APRIL 2021

OKC, 840.9463 $$$

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405.920.1788 | spmcmed.com 9 N. Bryant Avenue, Edmond, OK.

L O C A L

F L AV O R

still famous for their “mac and cheese.” The

FRENCH

menu runs the spectrum from healthy vegan to comfort food, and the bar serves excellent

FAIT MAISON Classic French cuisine and

cocktails, beer and wine. 1211 SW 2nd, OKC,

an excellent wine list in a beautiful setting

820-9599 $$

at this Edmond gem. Foie gras, frog legs,

SOUL FOOD/SOUTHERN

venison, and escargot – it’s the real thing. 152 E. 5th St. #3832, Edmond, 509.2555 $$$$

BRIELLE’S BISTRO Blueberry beignets are the LA BAGUETTE BISTRO Les Freres

draw, but Chef Dwayne Johnson’s gumbo,

Buthion has deep roots in the city’s culinary

etouffee, and catfish round out a Southern menu with Louisiana spice. 2113 S. Air Depot,

landscape. This flagship combines fine dining with a great bakery, deli and butcher on site.

7408 N May, OKC, 840.3047 $$$

Oklahoma City is home to dozens of ethnic and international cuisines, including Pakistani favorites at Sheesh Mahal.

MWC, 931-2147 $$ FLORENCE’S For more than 60 years,

GERMAN ROYAL BAVARIA Superb takes on

elegant, delicious dish, and the pepperoni

and dinner joint could help change that.

this eastside eatery has been serving

pizza and 100-layer lasagna are a must. 507

Chimichurri pork chops are the easy part of

crispy fried chicken, hearty meatloaf,

S Blvd, Edmond, 815.3463 $$$

the menu, but the bombastic flavors are in the

tangy greens, and all the country cooking

pastelitos (similar to empanadas) and pickled

associated with soul food. Don’t leave

veggies. 3001 N. May Ave., OKC, 673.7678 $$

without trying the pear pie. 1437 NE 23rd,

traditional dishes like Wienerschnitzel, Jagerbraten and sausages, plus fantastisc

STELLA A luscious spate of authentic Ital-

house-brewed beers. The time spent is a

ian tastes for a romantic dinner or night with

worthy investment. 3401 S Sooner, Moore,

friends, amid stylish scenery. The weekend

799.7666 $$$

brunch offerings are especially superb. 1201 N Walker, OKC, 235.2200 $$$

INDIAN

MEDITERRANEAN & AFRICAN

SHEESH MAHAL While billed as a com-

OKC, 427.3663 $$

PIZZA SOUTHWESTERN EMPIRE SLICE HOUSE This was the city’s first by-the-slice pizzeria, but you

CHEEVER’S Southwestern-influenced

can also get full pies, giant meatballs, fresh

recipes (the chicken-fried steak is a house

salads, and a great selection of cocktails and

specialty) and love of seafood drive the con-

bination of Pakistani and Indian cuisine, the

NUNU’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFÉ

local beer. The full menu is also available late

temporary comfort food in one of the city’s

menu will be familiar to fans of Indian food,

If there is another place in the metro to get

night inside or on the excellent patio. 1804

finest dining destinations. 2409 N Hudson,

with butter chicken, delicious curries, basmati

hashwa, we don’t know of it, and if you’ve

NW 16th, OKC, 557.1760 $

OKC, 525.7007 $$

rice, and fresh naan. You won’t find a buffet

never had it, go to Nunu’s immediately. The

in the building, but you get complimentary

popular Lebanese dish is the main draw, but

HIDEAWAY PIZZA If you’ve been serv-

HACIENDA TACOS Quality, of both

tea with every meal. 4621 N. May, OKC,

the traditional favorites—kabobs, tabouli and

ing a devoted following for over half a century,

ingredients and execution, and variety make

778.8469 $$

hummus—are also excellent. 6165 N. May,

you’re doing something right. In this case,

this restaurant in Northpark a pleasure to vis-

OKC, 751.7000 $$

that’s incredible pizza in jovial surroundings. 8

it, and to explore the menu again and again.

metro locations, hideawaypizza.com $$

12086 N May, OKC, 254.3140 $$

ITALIAN QUEEN OF SHEBA Practically the

STEAKHOUSE

GABRIELLA’S ITALIAN GRILL The

definitive example of a hidden treasure, the

PIZZERIA GUSTO Neapolitan-style

current “Best Italian” according to 405 read-

spicy, vegan-friendly menu of Ethiopian

pizza (which uses an extremely hot fire to

ers, Gabriella’s specializes in rustic Italian

delights awaits the bold. Bring friends and

quickly cook superfine flour crusts) stars

BOULEVARD STEAKHOUSE Perfectly

like pizza, hearty pasta sauces, and lasagne.

be prepared to linger. 2308 N MacArthur, OKC,

alongside Italy-inspired entrees, pastas and

soigné ambiance down to the last detail and

An eclectic wine list adds to the experience.

606.8616 $$

appetizers. 2415 N Walker, OKC, 437.4992 $$

cuisine easily in the metro’s elite – a sump-

1226 NE 23rd, OKC, 478.4955 $$

L ATIN AMERICAN

PLANT BASED AND VEGE TARIAN

tuous, if pricy, masterpiece. 505 S Boulevard, Edmond, 715.2333 $$$

PATRONO Not only is Chef Jonathan Krell’s food some of the best in OKC, the

EL FOGON DE EDGAR Colombian food

PLANT The Midtown restaurant features

CATTLEMEN’S Almost as old as the state

service at Patrono is professional, friendly

made from family recipes is the heart of this

beautiful, creative vegan cuisine – including

itself, this Oklahoma institution’s immense

and seamless. Krell is as adept at seafood

hidden gem. A bowl of aji verde accompanies

ice cream – for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

corn-fed steaks and matchless atmosphere

as pasta and chops, so it’s impossible to

every meal and should be ladled liberally

Food is fresh, smoothies are made without

are history served anew each day. 1309 S

go wrong with this stunning menu. 305 N

on nearly everything, including flank steak,

ice, and flavor is the focus. A small selection

Agnew, OKC, 236.0416 $$

Walker, OKC, 702.7660 $$$

morcilla, arroz con pollo and patacones. 7220

of beer and wine is also available. 1120 N.

S Western, OKC, 602.6497 $$

Walker, OKC, 225.1314 $$

Wingate have put together superb Italian

FONDA K-TRACHA Honduran cuisine

THE LOADED BOWL The food truck

fine aged steak broiled to perfection is the

dining in Edmond with this sleek, modern

isn’t as well known as other Central American

turned brick and mortar helped pioneer

star. 3241 W Memorial, OKC, 748.5959; 100 W

space. The agnolotti is house made for an

dishes in OKC, but this breakfast, lunch

vegan comfort food in the metro, and they’re

Main, OKC, 208.8800 $$$

SPARROW Chefs Jeff Holloway and Joel

MAHOGANY PRIME STEAKHOUSE The ambiance and service are sublime, yet

405MAGAZINE.COM

71

Out & About

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

RACHEL WATERS

Artist Steve Boaldin depicts ranch life in his PBS series, “Art of the Cowboy.” Page 74

405MAGAZINE.COM

73

OUT & ABOUT

The Paintbrush Cowboy Edmond artist provides authentic look at America’s cowboy community

BY BR ANDON KING P H O T O S B Y R A C H E L WAT E R S

teve Boaldin, 59, sits at the bar of his Edmond home to eat in the silence only an early dawn can provide, his mind elsewhere. He looks across the kitchen at a blank canvas inside a cluttered backroom lined with portraits of Western life. Though the canvas appears blank to others, to Boaldin, it’s inspiration yet unpainted.

Boaldin is a cowboy and western artist, painting photorealistic art of the lives of ranchers and cowboys. His art is featured on his PBS show, “Art of a Cowboy,” in which he travels across the country interviewing real ranchers and cowboys, gaining inspiration for paintings he presents on the show.

As a child in Elkhart, Kansas, helping with everything from tending to livestock to riding bulls and broncos on the family ranch, Boaldin’s interest in art was a natural hobby.

“I started drawing because I felt the need to draw everything I saw as a kid in grade school,” Boaldin says. “Really, it was all because of my grandmother. She realized I liked doing that, so she bought me my first paint set and some Walter Foster books when I was very young. She could see a desire and, hopefully, a gift.”

Boaldin admits that while he appreciated the paint set, he didn’t know how to use the tools inside. He drew primarily with pencil – a practice he still uses when preparing to paint a piece – until he was 18, when he was introduced to his future mentor.

“A few people from my hometown found this traveling art teacher named Dord Fitz that trav-

S

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ABOVE: Steve Boaldin stands in his art studio, known as “the cockpit.”

eled across the panhandle in Texas,” Boaldin says. George “Dord” Edward Fitz was a world-renowned artist, teacher and art gallery owner.

“When the people told him about me, he asked how old I was. He told them, ‘He’s not going to be serious about anything at that age.’”

Boaldin traveled to Amarillo, Texas, every Thursday for two years to learn how to paint under Fitz, then in his 70s. Fitz taught morning and evening classes, offering Boaldin the night

course for free, as well as dinner. Boaldin created three paintings under Fitz’s tutelage, one of which was sold to a buyer. To Boaldin, this was “inspiring; to see a check written for me by someone who felt it was worth investing in.”

Boaldin continued painting and settled into a routine with his new family at age 19, but life in Elkhart was proving difficult. Between not selling paintings for much profit and having work that didn’t pay enough, Boaldin made a decision.

RANCHER SNAPSHOT: PROVIDED

BELOW: A snapshot of a rancher roping cattle later is used as artistic inspiration for Boaldin.

A R T S

&

C U LT U R E

A detailed portrait of a modern rancher sits among bottles of used paint and painter’s tape.

From his personality to his engagement, I could tell he was going to be as great of a teacher as he is an artist.

He’s not just an artist or a cowboy and Western painter, he’s a storyteller.”

“I knew, if I was going to make it as an artist, I was going to have to get out of this small town,” he says. “Thankfully, my wife had the great idea to move to Oklahoma City and learn how to become a commercial artist through a one-year production art program at Platt College.”

Upon graduating in 1987, he took up illustrative work at places like the Edmond Sun newspaper, Village Cartoons and The Oklahoman, still selling Western art on the side. Within the first

six months of his overall 28-year tenure at The Oklahoman, he was hired into the editorial art department to produce graphic art and illustrations for the paper.

In 2016, The Oklahoman implemented rolling layoffs, catching Boaldin in its wake. It was a move that would put his artwork on a new and profitable course.

A month after being laid off, he held three gallery showings. The Edmond Dean Lively Gallery was one that chose to focus exclusively on Boaldin’s work. Among the visitors was an artist with a publicist, Saraa Kami, who visited with Boaldin’s wife one evening to set up a meeting.

“We met at Starbucks, not knowing what a publicist even did,” Boaldin laughs. “She asked me what I wanted to do. I told her that I want to travel to different ranches and get more material for my painting. She stopped and said, ‘My God, Steve, that’s a TV show.’”

By the end of that day, the show had a sponsor – a friend of Boaldin’s who agreed to fund the first episode. Five days later, Boaldin was facing

a camera crew filming in front of his childhood ranch, a span of days he refers to as “surreal in the best way.”

“My family were the only ones I could call on short notice and have them be my guinea pigs,” he says. “We went there, shot the show, made a two-minute trailer, and presented it to OETA. They loved it and wanted an episode by September – in two months.”

The show, “Art of a Cowboy,” shot 11 episodes in various places across the country, airing 10 episodes in 42 states with the Public Broadcasting System, as well as broadcasting through Create TV in all 50 states.

As Boaldin’s art spread across the national art circuit through his television show and regular gallery exhibitions, others began to take note.

Reian Williams, a traveling artist from Edmond and Edmond Fine Arts Institute educator, discovered Boaldin’s work in an Arizona gallery.

Williams called the executive director for the Edmond FAI, Shannon Price, and asked her to meet with him.

“From his personality to his engagement, I could tell he was going to be as great of a teacher as he is an artist,” Price says. “He’s not just an artist or a cowboy and Western painter, he’s a storyteller.”

Boaldin began offering recurring classes at the Institute, teaching all experience levels. “If you don’t think you can paint, visit Steve and he’ll show you how,” Price says.

This month, the “Art of a Cowboy” production team will begin shooting a full-length film at the family ranch in Elkhart, as well as at the Reed Ranch in Pawhuska. The work will be featured on a streaming service and will cover Boaldin’s art and influences.

“My mission in this is not only to show art, but to be educational and show the agricultural industry to the world,” Boaldin says. “We want to keep things so real. If you … show the real people in this industry, they’re not about anything fake.

They’re all about getting their story out there and showing what it takes to overcome the struggles and make ranching life work.”

To see more of Steve Boaldin’s work, visit artofacowboy.com 405MAGAZINE.COM

75

OUT & ABOUT

O N E

M O R E

T H I N G

The Oklahoma Humanities Council facilitates local and national conversations through its grants and programming.

The Oklahoma Humanities Council celebrates 50 years

BY BR ANDON KING

The 50-year mission of the Oklahoma Humanities Council has been to provide Oklahomans the opportunity to study and discuss specific local and national issues; from Oklahoma’s role in the civil rights movement to women’s roles in political history, discourse has been conducted in a forum free and open to people from all walks of life using state-specific programming.

Since its independent nonprofit founding in 1971, the Oklahoma Humanities Council has provided programs, grants and partnerships across the state through its affiliation with the National Endowment for the Humanities, reaching across all 77 counties.

“Oklahoma Humanities is two sides of a coin,” says executive director Caroline Lowery. “On one side, we provide funding for arts and culture programming through grants and redistributing federal funds we get from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The other side of that

T

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coin is initiating conversations that might need to happen, or telling stories that aren’t being told, that we’re able to fill a gap with our programming.”

These projects inspire others affiliated with cultural institutions to get involved, like Tracy Floreani, English professor at Oklahoma City University and director of the Center for Interpersonal Studies through Film and Literature.

Floreani, not an Oklahoma native, was impressed by the bond between the state’s citizens and its history.

“I was struck by how proud Oklahomans are of their history. The ways history is understood and explored and expressed are more complicated,” Floreani says. “Personally, I think we’re having some of those conversations now. I hope people understand how lucky they are to have such a vibrant state humanities organization.”

Funding, though crucial, is not the agency’s driving force; it’s the programming that makes the OHC part of a cultural engine, fueling creativity and education to a geographically and socially sprawling state.

Its in-house programs offer a variety of mediums. From print material such as its the Oklahoma Humanities magazine or its book club discussions to its Brainbox podcast – an audio series using the humanities to discuss issues and culture of American society – the OHC seeks to reach audiences of all ages and technological experience.

“With our programs, we tend to pick broad topics we’d like to discuss, such as ‘hope amid hardship’ or ‘home defined’…” Lowery says. “We also want to provide Oklahoma with opportunities to participate in those larger national

conversations, whether that means bringing in a speaker or holding some public event.”

Accessibility is imperative to the agency’s goal, hence its Museum on Main Street program – a partnership with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The program, also known as MoMS, is a traveling exhibition designed to bring part of the Smithsonian Institution specifically to rural communities. This year will feature “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” – an in-depth look inside small towns’ role in today’s culture, and what the future of America’s heartland will entail.

“When our council gets together to solve an issue, it’s such an incredible brain trust because they have the ability to speak to Oklahomans and their needs. Being as diverse and unique as we are, we have to expose each other to ourselves,” Lowery said. “We have to have these conversations that open our minds and make us stronger.”

Oklahoma stories are told in print and online as well as through traveling exhibition such as the Museum on Main Street.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

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77

LOOKING BACK

Swing Time Remembering dive bar supreme Pauline’s Bait and Tackle B Y K I M B E R LY B U R K

red Hill was such a fan of Pauline’s Bait and Tackle that in the late 1970s he wrote a song about the Lake Overholser bait shop and dive bar.

“It was a terrible song,” says Hill, a retired social worker who lives in Edmond. “I wasn’t a very good songwriter then. I think I’m much better now.”

But Pauline’s was the kind of place that inspired songwriting, good or bad.

“That type of atmosphere, that type of bar is history,” says Oklahoma City singer-songwriter Joe Baxter. “It doesn’t exist anymore.”

Baxter described the décor as “taxidermy hell, real creepy for some people. There were at least several hundred taxidermied animals and fi sh above the bar, in the rafters, above the stage. It was cobwebby and dusty. It was as authentic an old dive bar as any place I’ve ever been in.”

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Hill said he started spending Sunday afternoons at Pauline’s after moving to Yukon in 1975.

“Everybody in the world went out there,” he says.

“You would pull into the parking lot and there would be a cowboy with his horse tied to the tree.”

Dance music was courtesy of a three-piece band that specialized in Western swing, who Baxter says “played the same 30 songs, every Friday and Saturday night and every Sunday.”

Baxter said he patronized Pauline’s with his cousins who lived in Yukon and Okarche.

“One of the reasons my cousins liked to go was to hustle women,” he says. “If you could two-step, you were in like Flint. It was as busy a dance floor as I’ve ever been on. A lot of swing music was played there, a lot of Bob Wills and Sons of the Pioneers.”

Pauline Price was proprietor until she had a stroke in 1983, and then her daughter ran the place until the property was sold and the lease expired in 1984, according to articles written at the time in The Oklahoman. The building no longer stands.

J.M. Cook, writing for The Oklahoman in 1983, said Pauline had rules, which were posted on a faded sign: “No sitten on tables. No cans squeezed.

No hard liquor. No whistlen. No sitten on back of chairs. No bottles taken out.”

Hill said the rule forbidding the crushing of beer cans inspired his song. Upon request, he reached for a guitar and sang it over the telephone.

The tune has a bluesy vibe. “You don’t sit on the tables,” goes the chorus. “You don’t squeeze the beer cans. No hard liquor, and you don’t whistle at the band.”

Pauline enforced the rules, Hill said. “If there was anything going on that she didn’t want going on, she would come out with a fly swatter.”

Pauline’s was orderly enough that women didn’t mind going there, Baxter said.

“They had two or three ole boys in there that it was their job to keep the peace. It wasn’t really rough compared to some places. It wasn’t what we called a gun-and-knife club, but that doesn’t mean nobody was carrying a gun or a knife.”

On Sundays, people lined up for open mic.

Young women would sing Patsy Cline hits. One of the regulars was a fellow who yodeled. Baxter said he made it to the stage a few times and once brought the house down with “A Fool Such As I.” Hill, who performs these days at such places as Ellis Island Coffee and Wine Lounge in Edmond and the Chicken Shack in Luther, said Pauline’s helped him shed the stress of his workweek.

“It was a good relaxing time on a Sunday afternoon.”

P H O T O C O UR T E S Y O K L A H O M A HI S T O R Y C E N T E R A ND THE O KL AHO MAN

Pauline’s Bait and Tackle building prior to being razed in 1984.

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LAST LAUGH

Riddle Me This The joys of research B Y L A U R E N R O T H | I L L U S T R AT I O N B Y T H U M Y P H A N

arvard Business Review recently announced an exciting new pilot program that’s linked to the Harvard Business School’s Baker Library archives.

Using this service, you can submit a research question on any topic – and a team of research librarians will scour its vast database, delivering the answer you need within a few days. (Advantage: Google.)

Over the past week, I’ve been compiling a mental list of stump-the-chump “research” questions to submit to the librarians. Just as soon as I gain access to the “portal,” a screening device that was most likely put in place to ferret out the likes of me – a restless member of the curious public with no real research project underway, but with plenty of zeal for testing the limits of the researchers. Every question that’s ever been asked is probably archived at Harvard, right?

HBR didn’t expand upon the actual research process, which leaves me with visions of a dusty library basement, fi lled with row after row of Gateway 2000 computer monitors, Magic 8-Balls, a dart board and a team of “researchers” giving Google a workout via dial-up. It’s the only plausible explanation for a digitized database to require “a few days” to produce results.

I can almost intuit the most pressing questions, starting with the top three queries of our day, along with my oh-so-Harvard-esque answers:

H

Q: When will COVID- ever end?

A: The exact minute people stop sending their Covid droplets into the same air we breathe. Or, the exact minute you have a cute mask to coordinate with every outfit in your closet.

Q: Where’s that stimulus check?

A: It was mailed in November, so if the post office is operating as swiftly as it did with all those cards and packages you mailed weeks in advance of Christmas, you should see it by August.

Q: Is God rich?

A: Yes, thanks to Bitcoin.

Q: How can God be everywhere?

A: Zoom.

Q: What makes God mad?

A: Having to claw at a roll of tape for 10

A: See “Real ID” entry above. Ever prepped for a colonoscopy? Folded a fitted sheet? Assembled an IKEA closet system? Tried to go north on Pennsylvania at 5:30 p.m.?

Q: Is there a 0th circle of hell?

A: Yes, it’s commonly known as the 90-minute Zoom call, followed by a Zoom call.

minutes to get it started again.

Q: How does wine fit into the proverb, “Beer Q: Who is the Masked Singer?

A: It’s always the person you least expect.

Inevitably, weightier questions will focus on God, and the research librarians will have to dig a little deeper to answer these. Here are my answers.

Q: How old is God? A: Leahy old.

Q: Does God ever sleep?

A: Not while you’re driving.

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APRIL 2021

It may take specialty team of research librarians to unearth the answers to the universal, hard-hitting questions that have long plagued mankind:

Q: What happens after you die?

A: Eventually, someone will tap you on the shoulder to tell you that the DMV is now closed. You’ll have to get that Real ID in the afterlife.

Q: Is hell real?

before liquor, never sicker. Liquor before beer, all’s clear”?

A: Very nicely, in fact.

Q: Is information lost in a black hole?

A: Research (Google) suggests that information is “coded” on the surface of its event horizon before being emitted back as radiation, however, questions remain about whether this suggests that black holes destroy information – a violation of thermodynamics. But if you mean the black hole that is my purse, then, yes.

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