June 2020

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Dr. Smith is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and The American Board of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism.

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Summer Hiking Guide

Where to go in the great outdoors

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A Virtual Film Festival deadCenter goes online for its 20th year

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Class of 2020

A philosophical look at the graduation that wasn’t

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101 Welcome family and friends with wildflowers

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AT HOME WITH Thinking about wellness with Chelsey Ann of Salt & Water

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OKC attorney uses found-object collections to wage a minimalist rebellion

IN THE 405

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FA SHION This season’s handbags, from tiny satchels to oversized totes

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PER SON OF IN TER EST Kale Dumas builds future concert setlist with new EP

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WH AT’S ONLINE Best posts from around the 405

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ARTS & CULTUR E Tiffany Webb savors the smell of success with new home fragrances

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GIVING BACK Attorney Don Nicholson speaks for those who have no voice

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DINING 48

GOOD TA STE Dining in a new normal

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THE DISH Summer is the perfect time for Mexican paletas

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THE DR INK A fresh look at the summer’s best white wines

O N T H E C OV E R A hiker enjoys the view from the summit of Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge near Lawton. Photo by Matt Payne

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LOOKING BACK Oklahoma City Field cements OKC’s place in the history of the petroleum industry

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Let There Be Light

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Y G R A N D M O T H E R WA S A V I T A L , creative, free-spirited woman. Many summers in the late 1960s were spent with her and my grandfather at their place in Evergreen, Colorado. During those years, the world was a scary place for an 8-year-old.

The Vietnam War was on the news every night, Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King were assassinated within a couple of months of each other and despite 1967’s “Summer of Love,” anger was bringing the country to a breaking point.

One summer, while sitting on a deck that overlooked the town and its large lake, I confided in my grandmother that I had been fearful, often at night when the lights would go out. I would see imaginary monsters in the dark and hear strange sounds.

“Come with me,” she said, gesturing to the upstairs part of the house.

As we rounded the top of the staircase, we found ourselves peering down a long, dark hallway.

“What do you see?” she asked.

“Nothing,” I replied.

Then she flipped on the light.

“What do you see now?” she asked.

“Everything,” I said.

She looked at me and smiled, then turned the light off and on again.

“Remember this,” she said sternly. “Light will always overpower darkness.”

That phrase came back to me recently when I saw the power of light over darkness in action. I was walking my dog in the neighborhood when I saw a gathering of women in the street. As I passed by my friend Jane’s house, several other neighbors were sitting in lawn chairs in her driveway.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

Jane approached me with a doleful look on her face. One of our neighbors had died, probably from COVID-19, she said. He was a middle-aged man — late 40s — who had been overcoming the effects of a stroke for the last three years. The family couldn’t have a funeral, so women from their church had come to sing to his wife and other family members.

They stood in the street, 6 feet apart, setting a cadence by snapping their fingers. They sang sweet spirituals and hymns, harmonizing while their voices rose and blanketed our little neighborhood with a loving embrace. My departed neighbor’s widow sat in a chair on the sidewalk, tearful and joyful at the same time. Leaning on Jane’s mailbox, I listened and my spirit soared.

These times are not so unlike the late 1960s. Turbulent, even threatening. We hear that nothing will be the same – and yet, no one really knows what the future looks like.

It’s as if we are staring down that long, dark hall in my grandmother’s house.

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How do we flip on the light switch? In times that are dark, or even gray, I remember the words of Gandalf, the wise wizard from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.

“It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love,” he said.

In this issue of 405 Magazine, we’re sharing our own bit of sunshine on all the good things the 405 has to offer. Elaine Warner’s feature on hiking trips highlights stunning treks within driving distance that will fill you with a sense of awe. George Lang talks with the organizers of the deadCenter Film Festival that is scheduled to go online this month. Principals Lance McDaniel and Alyx Picard Davis talk about how they used our new socialdistancing reality to introduce trailblazing innovations that will be meaningful for the film industry as a whole. How will dining out look during the next several months? Greg Horton looks at the strategies restaurateurs are using to serve their customers and keep their doors open.

To our 405 readers, be well and be strong. And don’t forget to shine your light on others.

Melissa Mercer Howell EDITOR IN CHIEF

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In the 405

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Person of Interest

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What’s Online

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Arts & Culture

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Giving Back

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On the Nose Couple’s expertise and flexibility proves

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FA S H I O N Rebecca Minkoff Emma

It’s in the Bag

mini convertible backpack

FROM TINY SATCHELS TO OVERSIZED TOTES, THIS SEASON’S HANDBAGS OFFER SURPRISING SHAPES AND SIZES

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from Cayman’s and red oversized stripe tote with scuba-like textile, and expandable sides from Eden.

BY LINDA MILLER | PHOTO S BY SHE VAUN W ILLI A MS

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F E V ER T H ER E’S A T I M E TO R E ACH for a fun handbag, it’s now.

Forget those basic, nondescript and boring purses. Choose something unexpected, a bag that’ll make you smile every time you pick it up.

Luckily, plenty of summer styles add punch with interesting prints and textures, colorful accents and fanciful shapes.

Sizes stretch from itsy-bitsy (yes, micro keeps hanging around) to extra-large. Let your needs or mood guide you.

Teeny satchels, single-hand wristlets and flat envelope bags may not be a daily go-to for some of us, but they are so cute and tempting, especially for a party or date night.

Totes and hobos, on the other hand, tend to be oversized, perfect for every day with some larger-

Sondra Roberts floral raffia clutch with bamboo closure and cork clutch with laser-cut leopard pattern from Betsy King A Shoe Boutique. Hot pink cut-out, vegan clutch with crossbody chain from HABITAT.

than-life shapes that could do double duty as a beach bag. Maybe even an overnight bag. Only slightly kidding.

While a crossbody continues to be a favorite, the sling silhouette offers a fresh take on the look. It allows for hands-free movement and can be worn across the body or on the shoulder. Bucket, basket and woven bags in rattan or straw are timeless and sophisticated yet playful. If of-the-moment styles are more appealing, get your hands on a croissant or baguette shape. It’s unknown whether carrying one makes you hungry all the time.

And let’s not forget about the details, those little things that make a handbag more interesting. Along with some surprising shapes and sizes, expect to see metal chain, acrylic and rattan handles, drawstring closures, big buckles, check and floral patterns, texture and bursts of color, especially red, orange and green.

PH O T O G R A PH Y: Shevaun Williams M O D E L , H A I R A N D M A K E U P: Paige Williams WA R D RO B E: Cayman’s

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Multi-color python print baguette style with flat closure and chain strap; multi-color laced style bag with round rattan handle; and color-block white and tangerine bag with acrylic chain shoulder strap. All three are vegan from Eden.

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Flying Now KALE DUMAS BUILDS FUTURE CONCERT SETLIST WITH NEW EP I THOUGHT YOU HATED PARTIES

Dumas began writing songs when he was 12.

He was turned on to folk artists and singersongwriters around that time by his father, who played him a variety of artists ranging from Ed Sheeran to veteran Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot.

But Dumas succeeds, in part, because of his agility in traversing various styles. I Thought You Hated Parties contains five wall-to-wall bangers, particularly the dance floor-filling title song and standout track “Blacked Out,” both of which find the singer’s mid-range voice decorated with au courant beats and atmosphere.

BY G EORG E L A NG

Dumas succeeds, in part, because of his agility in traversing various styles.

Singer-songwriter Kale Dumas uses time alone to stoke his creativity. Photo provided

L

I K E E V ERYON E E L SE I N April 2020, singer-songwriter Kale Dumas was locked inside. Not able to play his music live or report to work at The Jones Assembly, Dumas struggled with what so many artistic people faced during that time: how to tap back into creativity when separated from the outside world.

“At first, it stunk,” Dumas says during a phone interview. “It was terrible, and creative people are really emotional, too.”

The shutdown of the March 11 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Utah Jazz game was bad by itself, but the situation got worse. Dumas, 22, who recently

released the bracingly fresh, R&B-influenced EP I Thought You Hated Parties, was scheduled to play Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion festival in Spicewood, Texas, on March 19 alongside performers including Kris Kristofferson, Parquet Courts, Angel Olsen and Lucinda Williams.

The missed opportunity to reach new audiences stung, but it also had a domino effect: Money he would have earned at the festival would have gone toward recording.

But after a few weeks of feeling distant from his creative skills, Dumas regained his footing.

“It was like a light switch flipped,” he says.

“I’ve been writing a lot of songs.”

Even with this recent foray into mainstream pop styles, Dumas keeps a foot in direct, guitardriven ballads like “You’re Flying Now” and “DNA,” which he debuted in April through The Jones Assembly’s website.

Dumas’ best-laid plans for building a strong concert set and polishing his performances did not pan out for the spring, but when he is able and audiences are back in force, he hopes to build up a concert schedule apart from playing in restaurants and bars. He wants to be center stage as soon as possible, but in the meantime, he is learning as much about the music business as he can.

“I knew Scott Marsh when he was at The Criterion, and when he moved to The Jones, I drove up there and said, ‘Hey, Scott, can I work shows for free?’ Scott’s become a good mentor to me and I’ve tried to learn a lot, because he’s done a lot.”

Since he started writing songs again in early April, the new music has come fast and furiously.

He plans to spend the balance of 2020 releasing a slew of new singles — his goal is to put out at least one new song every month.

“I’m just going to keep putting new music out there, try some new things and see what works,” he says.

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W H AT ’ S

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Social Love

Andrew takes some of the best drone shots in the 405. His Instagram feed is full of angles of the city you have never seen before! Follow his colorful feed at @andrew_g_image

H AV E A G R E AT PHOTO TO SHARE? Tag #Your405 on your photo for a chance to be featured in one of our issues!

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Head to 405magazine.com/ newsletters to receive the Shop Local in your inbox today!

Collection of Jordan D. Schnitzer.

From Warhol to Koons: Masterworks from the Collection of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation

© Estate of Roy Lichtenstein

Organized by the Taubman Museum of Art

Support for the exhibition and related

Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923–1997).

educational and outreach programs has

Sweet Dreams, Baby!, 1965, published

been made possible by a grant from the

1966, from 11 Pop Artists. Screenprint.

Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation.

37 7/8 x 27 5/8 in. (96.2 x 70.2 cm).

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Britten & Bailey’s is a Bethany-based candle and home fragrance business.

A Nose for Success TIFFANY WEBB’S KNACK FOR HIGH-END FRAGRANCES LEADS TO BOOMING BUSINESS

BY LINDA MILLER

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IFFA N Y W EBB IS SER IOUS about candles. A nd fragrances.

She was the candle buyer for Hobby Lobby stores for almost eight years, and because of her foresight and keen decisions, that department’s sales grew by about 90 percent.

Other large companies pursued her. She had other ideas.

Rather than move and uproot her family, she and her husband Heath decided to sell everything they own and start a business: Britten & Bailey’s candles and home fragrances based in Bethany.

“We sold our house and moved into an apartment with two kids and launched the brand in October of 2018,” she said.

She created seven fragrances available in small tins with a plan to offer subscriptions, and the

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company does do that, but almost immediately she was approached by local boutiques for wholesale orders.

Her decision? “Well, let’s do it. I can learn to do wholesale, I used to be a buyer.”

Two months later she started wholesaling and sold out in one week. “I knew we were onto something.”

This spring, Neiman Marcus became interested. Webb had sent an email to a buyer suggesting the brand and quality would be a good fit for the stores. She was told not to expect to hear back for a month or so. Only a few hours had passed when she received a response and a request for samples. Webb is excited about the possibility.

Britten & Bailey’s products are distinctive in

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many ways. First, they’re named with numbers.

Webb started with fragrances No. 1 through No. 7 and a few months ago launched No. 8 through No. 12. Along with the small candle tins, the company has two-wick jar candles, natural lotions, linen/room sprays and diffusers.

The idea to use numbers as names came from her Hobby Lobby experience. She knew people couldn’t always remember the names of the candles they love. Most can recall a number.

“It’s been really fun to see life experience translate into a new brand,” Webb said.

Premium fragrance notes also help set her candles apart from others. Some lower-end fragrances have been known to trigger headaches for those with sensitivities.

“Fragrance is the heart and soul of the candle,” she said. “I have high standards.”

That’s also why she uses coconut wax instead of the more typical soy and paraffin blend or palm and paraffin. Coconut wax is sustainable and not as many additives are needed. It burns clean, is natural and fragrances work well with it.

“I’ve been able to make decisions for my brand that are best for the customer,” Webb said.

Heath and Tiffany Webb and their children Linken and Kennedy.

Fragrance is the heart and soul of the candle. I have high standards.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

No. 8 with bergamot, violet and sandalwood.

And customers are responding. All her fragrances sell well, and she loves each one she offers. The goal always was to introduce people to new fragrances and blends at an affordable price. No. 3, for instance, is peony, magnolia and plum. No. 9 is sea salt air, lavender and sandalwood. Prices range from $15 to $30.

Diving into fragrances and developing them into her line is what she says drives her. “No one is looking at fragrance the way I do.”

While diffusers, other flameless options and room sprays are popular, Webb said she thinks there’s renewed interest in candles, especially more natural varieties. “I think people missed the ambiance of a burning candle.”

A candle scent can conjure up memories. “One lady picked up fragrance No. 6 and she almost started to cry. She said it smelled like her grandmother. It’s a memory trigger. I love that about fragrance,” she said.

Numbers 1 through 7 tend to be more herbaceous.

Eight and 9 lean more toward masculine, while green citruses envelop 10 and 11. No. 12 was created with the Webbs in mind. Tobacco, vanilla and clove. Very spicy, sexy and masculine. “It makes me think of a leather study. Very warm,” she said.

Next up is a solid cologne using the brand’s fragrances. She wants to make sure the fragrance plays well with the formula and that the quality they want is there.

Husband Heath, the business arm of the company, has a put in a request, too. He would like a shave bar in the No. 12 fragrance. And maybe a shave foam and a natural deodorant.

The brand’s lineup has 41 products. Forty have scents and No. 0 is an odor eliminator that works on mold, pet smells and urine.

Britten & Bailey’s, named after two Beagles the couple got when first married, is now available in more than a dozen stores across Oklahoma, as well as locations in Louisiana, Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, Missouri and Indiana.

The subscription service planned from the beginning is popular, too. Customers have two options — one candle for $12.99 or two for $22.99 a month. Webb randomly chooses the fragrances so customers can experience the entire line. If someone wants the same candle each month or requests a specific scent, no problem.

“Subscription was the plan,” she said, and it’s working great. “But you’ve got to roll with the punches when you’re opening a business. You’ve got to listen to your customers and follow their lead.”

She did that by jumping early into the wholesale end of the business and then again by adjusting her subscription plan.

“That’s why we did the one candle a month … that suggestion came from a customer.”

For more information, visit brittenandbaileys.com 405MAGAZINE.COM

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Speaking for Minors DON NICHOLSON’S LEGACY AT OKLAHOMA LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN

BY GEORGE L ANG | PHOTO BY JORDAN MOBLEY

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N 19 9 7, D O N N I C H O L S O N A N D Kent Meyers were on a lunch break while touring the Oklahoma County Juvenile Justice Center and the Pauline Mayer Shelter.

As the tour organizers passed out box lunches at a facility where police interviewed children who were sexually abused by a parent, the two attorneys discussed how they could make a difference in those children’s lives.

“We saw a number of things on that bus trip that caused us to have concern about children that were being mistreated, that didn’t have good families,” says Nicholson, 85. “Kent and I were shocked to find out how many children there were in Oklahoma County that were abused or neglected, only a fraction of which were being taken care of by the Department of Human Services. Kent said, ‘We can do what we always do. We can represent these children.’”

At an age when most professionals start thinking of ways to trade their workload for time on the golf course, Nicholson and Meyers started Oklahoma Lawyers for Children (OLFC), a nonprofit organization providing legal support for the more than 5,000 children making their way through a labyrinthine and overburdened system. Some are placed in the care of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services because parents were unable to properly provide for them, or they were abused, or committed crimes. Nicholson said the causes often start with parents abdicating responsibility.

“There are a lot of families where the father runs off and leaves the mother right after the children are born, or even before,” he says. “Then the mother’s got to raise them, and that ends up with the mother having a couple or three jobs and not having enough time to take care of the children. And around the time of adolescence, they get in trouble and wind up in DHS custody.”

Those children would often receive legal representation from the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office, but the attorney-tochild ratio was staggering, Nicholson said. To meet their need, Nicholson began recruiting volunteers from within the legal community to offset that ratio and provide expert legal representation for the county’s indigent minors.

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Don Nicholson, founder of Oklahoma Lawyers for Children, reflects on what the organization has accomplished over the last 20 years.

Years after its founding, Nicholson said he is proud of the organization’s track record and its ability to make a difference in the lives of children and adults with whom OLFC has gone to court.

Chalking up victories is never easy under such circumstances. In child custody cases in which a minor is removed from a home, attorneys with Oklahoma Lawyers for Children are providing the parents with a list of requirements that must be met to regain custody. In the event that the children are permanently removed, then the attorney must then work to find worthy parents for the children.

“Once in a while, you find really great parents, and that’s when you hit the home run,” he says. “That doesn’t happen all that often, but it does happen.”

Now under the leadership of chief executive officer and president Tsinena Thompson, Oklahoma Lawyers for Children includes more than 400 lawyers and 200 non-lawyer volunteers

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in its roster. Nicholson said he is proud of the organization’s track record and its ability to make a difference in the lives of children and adults with whom OLFC has gone to court.

“Kent and I both believe this was the most satisfying thing we could have found to do,” he says.

After more than two decades working on behalf of children in need, Nicholson often runs into his former clients years after their cases.

“Sometimes they’ll come back to you and thank you for what you did,” he says. “Then sometimes eight or 10 years will pass and all of a sudden you’ll bump into them in one way or another and they’ll be thankful.”

For more information, visit olfc.org.

PHOTO BY MATT PAYNE

WHERE TO GO IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

BY E L AINE WA RNER 405MAGAZINE.COM

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WI C H I TA WONDERL A ND

@LEAHH_WILLIAMS (INSTAGRAM)

WI C H I TA N AT I O N A L WIL D L IF E R E F U G E

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i

T

he Wichita National Wildlife Refuge is a true Oklahoma treasure, featuring spectacular scenery, interesting animals and room to ramble. With 15 miles of designated trails and wilderness areas for more intrepid and experienced hikers, the area accommodates all levels.

One of the most popular destinations is Elk Mountain. Jack and Carolyn Warner of Edmond and their three sons have trekked the Elk Mountain trail several times over the years.

“The views are incredible,” Carolyn Warner says.

“The boulders on the top are the size of cars. It’s where the world stands still. Even when there are other people at the top, everyone is quiet.”

Her best advice is to wear good hiking shoes, and most importantly, go before you go. There’s a port-a-potty at the trailhead, but that’s it. Rated moderate, this trail is not for everyone. Cell service is not reliable here, so be sure you download a map beforehand.

The Charon’s Garden Trail does not go to the Elk Mountain summit, but passes Post Oak Falls, Boulder Rooms and Valley of Boulders. There are some low spots on the trail and water crossings, so proper footwear is important here, too.

Dr. Mike McShan of Oklahoma City is a frequent hiker, often exploring off marked trails. If you plan on doing this sort of hiking, he recommends a Garmin Inreach Explorer Plus. This device, though expensive, should keep you safe. It features two-way satellite communication, and has maps, tracking, texting, an SOS signal and more.

As for me, I stick to the baby trails. The Quanah Parker EE Trail is perfect – a nice stroll around the lake on a paved, accessible path. I’ll leave the mountain trail to the elk.

SUMMER HIKING GUIDE

VISIT F WS.GOV/ REFUGE / WICHITA _ MOUNTAINS

WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM By the late 1800s, the American bison was almost extinct on the plains. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt designated this area, originally a federal forest reserve, the Wichita National Forest and Game Preserve. That same year, the New York Zoological Park offered 15 American bison as a foundation herd for the reserve. In 1907, six bison bulls and nine cows traveled by train, then wagon, to the refuge. No bison had grazed there for several decades.

Today the herd is maintained at between 550 and 650 animals. Since 1907, more than 10,000 animals have been sold or donated to keep the herd at an ecologically healthy size.

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HO ODO OS & HAUNTIN G S alo Duro Canyon, about 25 miles south of Amarillo, is the nation’s second largest canyon at approximately 120 miles long and 600 to 800 feet deep – the Grand Canyon of Texas.

The canyon had long been a refuge for Native Americans. In 1874, the U.S. attacked their winter camps, burning their dwellings and supplies and capturing 1,400 horses, of which the majority was later destroyed. Deprived of food, horses and other resources, the surviving Indians walked many miles back to reservations in Oklahoma. Cattlemen took over the territory, with approximately 100,000 cattle roaming the canyon floor.

Today, Palo Duro Canyon State Park consists of more than 118,000 acres of the canyon in two counties, and 25-plus miles of trails offer a variety of challenges, changes of scenery and haunting history.

The most popular trail in the park is Lighthouse Trail (5.75 miles round trip), leading to the park’s most recognizable image, a 310-foot formation that has been designated a National Natural Landmark. The trail is rated moderate and can get crowded – horses are also permitted on the trail.

Former University of Oklahoma President Dick Van Horn and his wife, Dr. Betty Pfefferbaum, have hiked this trail on a number of occasions.

“This is the nicest trail with the most interesting features,” he says. “The trail takes you behind forms you can see from the road.”

This is Texas, and summers can get really hot.

Van Horn suggests summer hikers start early in the morning. This time of year, the shorter, easier Sunflower Trail offers a shadier option. There’s also a half-mile Nature Trail best for families with small children.

VISIT PA LODUROCANYON.COM

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TOP: @WANDEROUSSHEPHERDS (INSTAGRAM); BOTTOM: OPEN SKIES PHOTOGRAPHY

P

PA L O D U R O C A NYO N

REMMUS GNIKIH EDIUG ROUGHING IT ROYALLY

RIGHT: JIM LIVINGSTON ART

Options for accommodations include four cabins in the state park or motels in the nearby cities of Canyon (15 minutes away) or Amarillo (25 minutes away) – or you can perch on the rim of the canyon and enjoy the luxury cabins at Doves Rest Resort.

The 12 Doves Rest cabins feature full kitchens, hot tubs and patios with grills, plus lots more. They sleep two to seven guests. Enjoy the magnificent landscape and an unbelievable night sky. Visit dovesrestcabins.com for more information.

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R O B B E R S C AV E

LEFT: LORI DUCKWORTH, OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM; TOP RIGHT: MEGAN ROSSMAN, OKLAHOMA TOURISM & RECREATION DEPARTMENT; BOTTOM: LORI DUCKWORTH, OTRD

O U T L AW E S C A PA D E S

obbers Cave is great for a weekend getaway. With a nice state lodge and six hiking trails, it offers variety in Oklahoma’s Sans Bois Mountains. The most popular trail is the one to Robbers Cave. Three-quarters-of-a-mile long, it is described as moderate to steep grade – i.e., not for small children.

There’s a steep bit at the beginning of the trail, but steps cut into the rocks make it manageable. The cave itself is a bit anticlimactic; it’s basically a hollowed-out area under a big, overhanging slab of rock.

The view from the top of the trail is, however, spectacular.

From Lookout Point, a wide vista opens up of the valley and pine-covered mountains. On the way down is a natural stone corral where horses could have been secreted. The cliff sides of the corral provide a popular rappelling site.

The longest trail is the 3.3 Mountain Trail, which runs along Lake Carlton. There is a definite increase in elevation as the trail tops some bluffs, and there are some really rocky spots on the trail, but the bluff-top views are worth the effort.

R

V I S I T T R A V E L O K . C O M / S T A T E - P A R K S / 6 415

BAD HOMBRES IN THE BACKWOODS Before statehood, eastern Oklahoma was a get-out-of-jail-free zone for felons escaping the law by hightailing it into Indian Territory.

The Younger Brothers, the James boys and Belle Starr had hideouts in these hills. Tales of the outlaws who used Robbers Cave are probably as much fiction as fact – however, the location is close to both the old Texas Road and the California Road, and its secluded nature made it a logical roost for robbers and ruffians.

SUMMER HIKING GUIDE

Jesse and Frank James

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virtually

BY GEO R G E L A N G

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deadCenter

FOR ITS 20TH YEAR, DEADCENTER GOES ENTIRELY ONLINE TO SERVE FILM LOVERS IN A TIME OF COVID-19 405MAGAZINE.COM

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ver the course of its two-decade history, the deadCenter Film Festival has repeatedly made use of such cutting-edge technology as virtual reality to explore the vast possibilities for filmmaking in the 21st century. But few would have predicted that, for its 20th anniversary, deadCenter would exist in an entirely virtual state.

Due to COVID-19 and the social distancing required to “flatten the curve” on the virus’ spread, deadCenter has expanded the number of days for the festival while moving it entirely into the streaming realm. The festival will be held June 11-21 through streaming portals at deadcenterfilm.org. Individual films can be streamed for $10, while festival passes that cover all films, panel discussions and classes cost $100 and donor-level passes begin at $2,500.

The same technology that has made it possible for many people to work at home, stay informed, be entertained and keep in touch with the world outside their homes will also make it possible for deadCenter to continue in a time of caution.

Lance McDaniel – who served as executive director of deadCenter for the past decade, and who will step down at the end of this year’s event, to be succeeded by festival director and director of operations Alyx Picard Davis – said the move to digital for 2020 has created a few layers of silver linings.

“We are so excited to proceed with our 20th annual film festival and celebrate these awesome filmmakers and films,” McDaniel says. “Moving the festival online will allow our passholders and 34

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sponsors to watch more movies and uniquely interact with a wider range of celebrities and industry leaders than ever before.”

Technology has been a driving force for the festival during McDaniel’s decade with deadCenter, and it is a reason for the ascendance of Picard Davis to the top spot in the festival’s hierarchy, McDaniel said.

“We hired her in 2012 to help digitize and take all our systems online, because we were getting DVDs and passing them around in a bag at a coffee shop,” he says,

405MAGAZINE.COM

referring to the way critics’ screeners used to make it into journalists’ hands in the weeks prior to each festival. “Since she’s been here, we went from handing out DVDs to everything being online, so she helped with that transition.”

Before the spread of coronavirus created a scramble for digital efficacy for most music, art and film festivals, deadCenter was already halfway there in terms of technological advancement.

McDaniel said the work of consulting technologist Stephen Tyler of Tower Theatre in building

deadCenter’s tech profile was instrumental in getting the festival to this level.

“Stephen is a big part of that,” McDaniel says. “Every time he and Alex and I are meeting, it’s like, ‘What are we doing with virtual reality, what are we doing with augmented reality?’”

For this online-only iteration of the festival, Tyler’s efforts include experimentation with VR “theaters” and digital environments to surround digital screenings of films such as the time travel thriller Shifter by Oklahoma filmmaker

Visitors to the festival use virtual reality headsets to experience films in a new way.

strike the set

PHOTOS COURTESY DEADCENTER FILM FESTIVAL

Lance McDaniel’s plans after his final day at deadCenter

Jacob Leighton Burns. In the runup to the festival, Tyler explored the use of Oculus Quest programs like Bigscreen, which allows users to “attend” a film in a simulated theater environment with other users in the seats around them.

Such innovations could make the difference for many festivals facing the same issue, and deadCenter’s leadership by example will likely be studied by other event organizers. There was much to lose if deadCenter simply did not happen in 2020; the previous year, the festival attracted 35,000 attendees and produced a $5.5 million economic impact for Oklahoma City.

Picard Davis, who serves as vice president of the Film Festival Alliance, an international organization of festivals, consulted heavily with other executive directors on how to move the festival forward during a period of uncertainty. The organization’s success in implementing technology as both a creative and presentational tool made all the difference, she said.

“We all wanted something to be able to come back to after this all blows over,” Picard Davis says. “I do think deadCenter is fortunate to be positioned in such a way that we’ve already been working with these things, and now we will be applying it even more creatively and out of the box.”

Laying the groundwork for innovative presentation could ultimately result in more attention for this year’s 20 feature-length and 120 short films. While deadCenter accepts films submitted from around the world (including Hong Kong director Jane Chow’s Pineapple and the Japanese narrative feature

Lance McDaniel

Alyx Picard Davis

Woman of the Photographs from director Takeshi Kushida), one of its main missions is to provide a forum for Oklahoma filmmakers.

Oklahoma films premiering at this year’s deadCenter include Eddie, Christopher Hunt and David Tester’s documentary on the life and career of legendary Oklahoma State University basketball coach Eddie Sutton, Shifter, Sterlin Harjo’s Love and Fury and Ryan Scott’s Robot Riot.

While all involved hope to bring deadCenter Film Festival back to a physical environment in 2021, the necessity of moving the festival

As he wraps up his 10th and final year as executive director of deadCenter Film Festival, Lance McDaniel is excited about its future under new director Alyx Picard Davis.

“When I took deadCenter over in 2010, I did it because it was the coolest thing I’d ever been to,” McDaniel says. “I went because I had never been to any event that I thought was as exciting, anything that felt as good as a filmmaker. So, because I came into deadCenter already thinking it was the best organization on Earth – 10 years in, it is not hard or scary for me at all that someone else is leading it into the next decade.”

Picard Davis said she is honored to be stepping into McDaniel’s position, and that his leadership was an inspiration from the moment she joined the festival in 2012.

“I’ve had 24/7 access to him for seven years now, and it’s been a privilege,” she says. “He’s an incredible mentor and just one of the most beloved people in Oklahoma City.”

Before he led deadCenter, McDaniel was an internet consultant and worked on films like Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby and Michael Winterbottom’s The Killer Inside Me, building his skills so that he could not only direct his own movies, but understand the processes of filmmaking inside and out.

With that technical knowledge, directing experience (Light in the Darkroom, Crazy Enough) and empathy for the process, McDaniel contributed to a 350 percent rise in attendance for the downtown Oklahoma City festival, and 250 percent rise in sponsorships, since becoming executive director in August 2010.

To initiate that level of growth, McDaniel began to develop new programming for deadCenter, including a statewide education program that brought filmmaking instruction and virtual reality into schools throughout Oklahoma, including comparatively isolated communities like Guymon and Alva. By taking the tech to these towns, McDaniel said, the organization is spurring the next generation of creative artists.

“So when I go into Alva High School and all 30 students are watching a one-minute VR film by Ryan Bellgardt of Boiling Point Media, that has proven to be awesome,” McDaniel says.

“For the most part, it is the first time these kids are seeing any of it, and they cannot believe a woman from Edmond High School who works at Boiling Point designed those dinosaurs.”

After his final day at deadCenter on June 21, McDaniel will likely continue his love affair with both technology and film.

Given his experiences with expanding deadCenter programming, he said his future will likely be in tech development, but he does not plan to move to Silicon Valley.

“Part of me wants to go do a deep dive into a tech company and do film on the side,” McDaniel says. “So that’s where my heart is right now, and my goal is to stay here. I have so many friends from college who want me to go to Amazon and all that, but I’m just planning to get a really cool job here and stay.”

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Alyx Picard Davis with festival patrons.

Moving the festival online will allow our passholders and sponsors to watch more movies and uniquely interact with a wider range of celebrities and industry leaders than ever before.

An outdoor screening during the deadCenter Film Festival.

online for 2020 comes at the right time technologically. If the COVID-19 outbreak happened 20 years ago at the beginning of deadCenter’s history, the technology of the time would not be able to handle the demands of an online film festival.

As she prepares for the next phase in deadCenter’s development, Picard Davis said it is difficult to prognosticate on what the future might hold from a technological standpoint. Considering how smartphones and social media have changed communication in the two decades since deadCenter was founded, virtually anything can happen over the next 20 years.

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“We don’t know what kind of technology will be developed,” Picard Davis says. “There are film festivals now that are completely online, and I think it’s possible to reach people online and those who can attend locally.

“We’ve been growing in name and attendees outside of Oklahoma for many, many years, and Lance has been a huge driver of that,” she adds.

“But we’ve always had a community focus; we are a film festival for downtown Oklahoma City, and the community has supported that for 20 years. It’s kind of Oklahoma City’s summer camp. So how do we

continue to support independent film and keep that community feel, that placeholder on the calendar that people rally around and gather together for a weekend, all talking about the same thing and doing the same thing?

“Nothing will ever replace the experience of sitting in a theater with a group of people and watching a film – there’s nothing like it, no matter how many films we stream into our homes. We throw awesome parties and have really great panels. That will always be a part of what we do; the way we do it might change.”

PHOTOS COURTESY DEADCENTER FILM FESTIVAL

– L A N C E M C DA N I E L

GIVE DAD THE GIFT OF GROOMING Nichols Hills Plaza 6411 Avondale Dr, Nichols Hills 405.607.1197

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Tell Us About Your 405 Everyday Hero During these trying times, our neighbors in the metro area are

NOMINATION PERIOD: June 1 - June 15

still performing kind and selfless acts to heal our community

Nominate an Everyday Hero in your life by uploading a

and unite us together. It might be the healthcare worker putting

photo and telling us in the caption why they deserve to

their life on the line or a volunteer raising support for those in

be recognized.

need. It could be someone helping pick up groceries for their elderly neighbor. These are our 405 Everyday Heroes!

VOTING PERIOD: June 16 - June 30 Each month, with the help of our readers, 405 Magazine will

Vote on whom you think is the most heroic for the month

honor a new hero both online and in print.

of May. You may vote one time during this period.

N O M I N AT E Y O U R E V E R Y D AY H E R O T O D AY AT 4 0 5 M A G A Z I N E . C O M

SPECIAL PROMOTION

T O P AT T O R N E Y S 2 0 2 0 Your Guide to Local Attorneys and Practices W H E N Y O U N E E D A N AT T O R N E Y, Y O U WA N T S O M E O N E W I T H a strong reputation and a proven track record. The annual Top Attorneys list provides the names of the 405 area’s attorneys recommended by their colleagues. DataJoe Research conducted an extensive peer-review survey asking established local attorneys to name top practitioners in their particular fields. The 2020 list contains over 250 top attorneys listed alphabetically and sectioned by specialty area.

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TOP AT T O R N E Y S 2020 Summary. To create the list, the magazine contracted DataJoe Research to facilitate an online peer-voting process and Internet research process. DataJoe Research is a software and research company specializing in data collection and verification, and conducts various nominations across the United States on behalf of publishers. To create the list, DataJoe Research facilitated an online peer-voting process. DataJoe checked and confirmed that each published winner had, at time of review, a current, active license status with the appropriate state regulatory board. If we were not able to find evidence of a lawyer’s current, active registration with the state regulatory board, that lawyer was excluded from the list.

In addition, we checked available public sources to identify lawyers disciplined for an infraction by the state regulatory board. These entities were excluded from the list. Finally, DataJoe presented the tallied result to the magazine for its final review and adjustments.

Final note. We recognize that there are many good lawyers who are not shown in this representative list. This is only a sampling of the huge array of talented professionals within the region. Inclusion in the list is based on the opinions of responding lawyers in the region. We take time and energy to ensure fair voting, although we understand that the results of this survey nomination and Internet research campaign are not an objective metric. We certainly do not discount the fact that many, many good and effective lawyers may not appear on the list.

Disclaimers. DataJoe uses best practices and exercises great care in assembling content for this list. DataJoe does not warrant that the data contained within the list are complete or accurate. DataJoe does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All rights reserved. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without written permission from DataJoe. Questions? For research/methodology questions, contact the research team at surveys@datajoe.com.

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ADOPTION LAW Denielle Williams Chaney

Chaney Law Firm PLLC 405-595-1751

Jack H. Petty

Clifford Hudson

Joshua J. Conaway

Thomas G. Wolfe

Cynda C. Ottaway

Dan Couch

CONSTRUCTION

Crowe & Dunlevy 405-239-6684 Crowe & Dunlevy 405-235-7736

The Bethany Law Center, LLP. 405-787-6911

Wyatt Worden

Meredith A. Tipton

AVIATION

Blaney, Tweedy, Tipton & Hiersche PLLC 405-235-8445

ANTITRUST LAW Andrew M. Coats Crowe & Dunlevy 405-235-7755

Bryan N. B. King Fellers Snider 405-232-0621

D. Kent Meyers Crowe & Dunlevy 405-235-7729

Mary H. Tolbert Crowe & Dunlevy 405-239-6672

Jennifer Yowell Adoption Attorney Jennifer Yowell 405-615-5150

APPELLATE LAW Adam R. Banner

The Law Offices of Adam R. Banner, P.C. 405-778-4800

Virginia Henson

PHM Law Group, P.C. 405-329-3307

Barry K. Roberts

Ball Morse Lowe, PLLC 405-701-6809

Melanie Wilson Rughani Crowe & Dunlevy 405-235-7714

Melisa L. Van Meter

Van Meter Law Office, P.C. 405-310-0452

Jay P. Walters

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

ARBITRATION & MEDIATION Steven L. Barghols Hampton Barghols Pierce, PLLC 405-702-4347

Stephen S. Boaz

Boaz & Associates, P.C. 405-946-3232

William D. Greenwood

Greenwood Mediation 405-642-0181

Dan Holeman

Holeman Mediation 918-585-2225

Joseph H. Paulk Dispute Resolution Consultants 918-382-0300

ATTORNEYS FOR NON PROFITS William Andrew Edmondson

Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Inc. 405-843-9909

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Worden Law Firm 405-360-8036

Will E. van Egmond Crowe & Dunlevy 405-239-5415

BANKING & FINANCIAL Joel W. Harmon Crowe & Dunlevy 405-239-6637

J. Mark Lovelace Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

Donald A. Pape

Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

Lynn A. Pringle Pringle & Pringle 405-848-4810

Richard P. Propester Crowe & Dunlevy 405-235-7784

William H. Whitehill, Jr. Fellers Snider 405-232-0621

BANKRUPTCY / WORKOUT Warren Alarkon

Debt Solutions Law Center 405-702-7795

Elaine M. Dowling Dowling Law Office 405-842-8005

William H. Hoch Crowe & Dunlevy 405-239-6692

Craig M. Regens

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

BUSINESS LAW Gene Bertman Talley, Turner & Bertman P.C. 405-467-2858

James K. Larimore

Calvert Law Firm 405-848-5000

The Law Offices of Daniel G. Couch 405-602-8839

Susan Carns Curtiss Carns Curtiss Law, PLLC 405-525-0338

Melanie Dittrich DeWitt Paroulo Meek, PLLC 405-705-3600

George M. Emerson Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Inc. 405-843-9909

Robert Don Gifford Gifford Law, PLLC 405-810-5406

Paul Kolker

Roberson, Kolker, Cooper & Goeres, P.C. 405-606-3333

Patrick Lane

Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

Armand Paliotta

Hartzog Conger Cason 405-235-7000

John H. Sparks

Odom & Sparks PLLC 405-701-1863

CIVIL LAW LITIGATION John E. Barbush

John E. Barbush, P.C 405-212-4011

David Bruner

Whiting & Bruner PLLC 405-525-6671

Crowe & Dunlevy 405-239-6623

Robert L. Magrini

The Law Office of Dakota Low 405-601-8899

Robert A. Nance Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Inc. 405-843-9909

Thomas Paruolo DeWitt Paruolo Meek, PLLC 405-705-3600

Jacob Rowe

Fulmer Sill Law 405-510-0077

Andrea Rust

Fulmer Sill Law 405-510-0077

CIVIL LAW TRANSACTIONAL Charles C. Callaway, Jr. Fellers Snider 405-232-0621

Randall K. Calvert Calvert Law Firm 405-848-5000

A. Michelle Campney Monica J. Hoenshell

Hall Estill 405-553-2313

William A. Johnson Hartzog Conger Cason 405-235-7000

David Morse

Ball Morse Lowe, PLLC 405-701-6802

Chad C. Taylor

Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Inc. 405-843-9909

Bayat Law Firm 405-413-2100

Corey T. Brennan

Law Firm of Oklahoma 405-608-4990

John W. Coyle, III

Worden Law Firm 405-360-8036 Coyle Law Firm 405-232-1988

Bryan E. Stanton

Jaqui Ford Law 405-604-3200

Pierce Couch Hendrickson Baysinger & Green, L.L.P. 405-235-1611

Evan G. E. Vincent Crowe & Dunlevy 405-239-6696

Fellers Snider 405-232-0621

Minal Gahlot

Rawls Gahlot, PLLC 405-912-3225

Kari Hoffhines

Crowe & Dunlevy 405-235-7709

M. Kathi Rawls

Rawls Gahlot, PLLC 405-912-3225

Travis Charles Smith TCS Law Firm 405-701-6016

James Vogt

Reynolds, Ridings, Vogt & McCart, PLLC 405-232-8131

CORPORATE COUNSEL Jami J. Fenner

Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. 405-745-8537

Blaine Nice

Fellers Snider 405-232-0621

Roger A. Stong Crowe & Dunlevy 405-239-6614

James R. Webb

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

Daniel V. Carsey

Eric Bayat

Pierce Couch Hendrickson Baysinger & Green, L.L.P. 405-235-1611

CORPORATE FINANCE MERGERS / ACQUISITIONS

Spencer Fane LLP 405-844-9900

Oklahoma City University School of Law 405-208-6400

Joseph E. Stall

John M. Thompson

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Darlene Carbitcher

Chesapeake Energy Corporation 405-935-8878

Crowe & Dunlevy 405-235-7774

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Hayes, Magrini, & Gatewood 405-235-9922

Ryan J. Duffy

Calvert Law Firm 405-848-5000

Robert O. O’Bannon

Michael S. Laird

Dakota C. Low

Jordan LePage

Ball Morse Lowe, PLLC 405-701-6803

Hayes, Magrini, & Gatewood 405-235-9922

CONSUMER DEBT

Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

E. Parker Lowe

Evan B. Gatewood

Ball Morse Lowe, PLLC 405-701-6977

Durbin, Larimore & Bialick, PC 405-235-9584

Ball Morse Lowe, PLLC 405-701-6988

Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

John Edwards

Hartzog Conger Cason 405-235-7000

James W. Larimore Crowe & Dunlevy 405-239-6643

C. Ray Lees

Porter Hedges LLP 405-232-3001

Brett P. Merritt McAfee & Taft 405-552-2384

Joshua D. Smith McAfee & Taft 405-552-2301

Jacquelyn L. Ford Miguel Garcia

Miguel Garcia, PLLC 405-850-5878

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Chavers & Guhl LLP 405-609-2929

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Evan King Law Firm PLLC 405-655-8529

Nik Lee

Talley, Turner & Bertman P.C. 405-467-2858

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Peter L. Scimeca Fellers Snider 405-232-0621

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Talley, Turner & Bertman P.C. 405-467-2858

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The Urbanic Law Firm, PLLC 405-633-3420

Michael Whiting

Whiting & Bruner PLLC 405-525-6671

Gary W. Wood

Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Inc. 405-843-9909

Andrea Worden Worden Law Firm 405-360-8036

EDUCATION Woodrow K. Glass Ward & Glass, L.L.P. 405-253-4031

Laura L. Holmes

The Center for Education Law Inc. 405-528-2800

ELDER LAW Stephanie M. Alleman

Donna J. Jackson & Associates, PLLC 405-767-0333

Donna J. Jackson Donna J. Jackson & Associates, PLLC 405-767-0333

Sara Murphy Bondurant

Graft & Walraven 405-253-6444

Lam Q. Nguyen Graft & Walraven 405-253-6444

Anita F. Sanders

Anita F. Sanders Attorney at Law 405-232-2525

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Solid Serenity Legal Solutions 405-548-5763

EMINENT DOMAIN Kraettli Q. Epperson Mee Mee Hoge & Epperson, PLLP 405-848-9100

Kevin D. Gordon Crowe & Dunlevy 405-239-6619

Adam C. Hall

Crowe & Dunlevy 405-239-6690

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McAfee & Taft 405-552-2269

ENERGY OIL & GAS Matthew J. Allen

Conner & Winters, LLP 405-272-5712

Zachary T. Ball

Ball Morse Lowe, PLLC 405-701-6801

Mark D. Christiansen Edinger Leonard & Blakley, PLLC 405-796-8680

Timothy C. Dowd

Arthur F. Hoge, III

Giovanni I. Perry

GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE

Frank L. Polk

Mee Mee Hoge & Epperson, PLLP 405-848-9100

Matthew Frisby Gary J. James & Associates 405-521-9900

Travis Jett

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

Robert G. McCampbell

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

Elizabeth Scott Crowe & Dunlevy 405-234-3248

Michael C. Turpen Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Inc. 405-843-9909

HEALTH CARE LAW Elizabeth L. Dalton McAfee & Taft 405-552-2217

Janet S. Dumont Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Inc. 405-843-9909

Mary Holloway Richard

Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

Elias, Books, Brown, & Nelson, P.C. 405-232-3722

Karen S. Rieger

William J. Houser

Randall L. Sewell

Ball Morse Lowe, PLLC 405-701-6812

John M. Krattiger

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

Lewis T. LeNaire

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

Paul D. Trimble Spencer Fane LLP 405-753-5937

FAMILY LAW Glenn Brown

Ball Morse Lowe, PLLC 405-701-6994

Amber M. Godfrey Godfrey Law & Associates, PLLC 405-525-6671

Carly Haiduk

Cordell & Cordell PC 405-241-5679

Ashley D. Rahill

Rahill Law Firm, PLLC 405-286-9619

GENERAL PRACTICE Michael D. Denton, Jr. Denton Law Firm 405-376-2212

Ashley B. Forrester

Expunge Oklahoma PLLC

Shawn D. Fulkerson Fulkerson & Fulkerson, Law Firm 405-691-4949

T. David Hasbrook

Hasbrook & Hasbrook 405-451-4989

Crowe & Dunlevy 405-235-7788 Wiggins Sewell & Ogletree 405-232-1211

IMMIGRATION LAW Shea Bracken Maples, Nix & Diesselhorst 800-539-0652

Michael BrooksJimenez Michael BrooksJimenez, PC 405-272-9393

John R. Chubbuck McAfee & Taft 405-552-2335

Jacob D. Diesselhorst Maples, Nix & Diesselhorst 800-539-0652

Travis Dunn

Maples, Nix & Diesselhorst 800-539-0652

Amir Farzaneh

Farzaneh Law Firm, PC 405-528-2222

Marvin Laws

Marvin Laws, PC 405-381-9933

Mack K. Martin Martin Law Office 405-236-8888

Glendell D. Nix Maples, Nix & Diesselhorst 800-539-0652

Law Offices of Giovanni I. Perry, PLLC 405-601-2222 McAfee & Taft 405-552-2201

Rance G. Stein

Winningham, Stein & Basey 405-843-1037

T. Douglas Stump

Stump & Associates, P.C. 405-879-0800

Byrona J. Maule

Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

Paula M. Williams

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

LAND USE ENVIRONMENT Leo J. Portman

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

Jim A. Roth

INSURANCE

Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

Lance Leffel

Philip A. Schovanec

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

Steven S. Mansell

Mansell, Engel & Cole 405-212-5921

Robert N. Naifeh, Jr.

Derryberry & Naifeh, LLP 405-528-6569

Leasa M. Stewart

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

Rex Travis

Travis Law Office 844-424-4779

Ron Walker

Tomlinson McKinstry, P.C. 405-606-3350

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS Marc A. Brockhaus

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

Donald K. Shandy

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE PLAINTIFF Michael L. Brooks

The Brooks Law Firm, LLC 405-840-1066

Ben Butts

Butts & Marrs Lawyers 405-608-0098

Spencer Housley Housley Law Group 405-601-4017

Pete Marrs

Butts & Marrs Lawyers 405-608-0098

Brent L. Neighbors Neighbors Law Firm 405-928-0091

Crowe & Dunlevy 405-234-3205

OIL & GAS

Mary Ellen Ternes

Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

Earth & Water Law Group 202-280-6362

LEGACY

(>30 Years in Practice) Charles F. Alden, III Miller Dollarhide, P.C. 405-236-8541

Jack Dawson

Miller Dollarhide, P.C. 405-236-8541

Gerald E. Durbin, II

Elizabeth K. Brown Joshua C. Greenhaw Mee Mee Hoge & Epperson, PLLP 405-848-9100

Caron Loffland

Ball Morse Lowe, PLLC 405-701-6970

Michael R. Perri

Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

Durbin, Larimore & Bialick, PC 405-235-9584

Rob F. Robertson

Jimmy K. Goodman

Mark K. Stonecipher

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

Dunlap Codding 405-607-8610

Crowe & Dunlevy 405-235-7717

Fellers Snider 405-232-0621

Ross Chaffin

David Morse

L. Mark Walker

Tomlinson McKinstry, P.C. 405-606-3350

Ball Morse Lowe, PLLC 405-701-6802

Crowe & Dunlevy 405-235-7783

Kelly Kress

Clyde A. Muchmore

PERSONAL INJURY

Tomlinson McKinstry, P.C. 405-606-3350

Crowe & Dunlevy 405-235-7734

Martin G. Ozinga

Larry D. Ottaway

Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

David M. Sullivan Crowe & Dunlevy 405-234-3236

INTERNATIONAL LAW Bruce W. Day

Crowe & Dunlevy 405-235-7700

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT Ellen A. Adams

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

Victor F. Albert

Foliart, Huff, Ottaway & Bottom 405-232-4633

Anita F. Sanders

Anita F. Sanders Attorney at Law 405-232-2525

Terry W. Tippens Fellers Snider 405-232-0621

Michael C. Turpen

Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Inc. 405-843-9909

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE DEFENSE

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. 405-546-3774

Andrew T. Gin

Casey T. Delaney

Hayden R. King

Fellers Snider 405-232-0621

Sam R. Fulkerson

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. 405-546-3774

Paige Hoster Good McAfee & Taft 405-552-2340

Melvin C. Hall

Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Inc. 405-843-9909

Gary James

Gary J. James & Associates 405-521-9900

Wiggins Sewell & Ogletree 405-232-1211 Wiggins Sewell & Ogletree 405-232-1211

Neel K. Natarajan Walters Stanley & Natarajan, LLP 405-235-3800

G. Calvin Sharpe Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

R. Gene Stanley Walters Stanley & Natarajan, LLP 405-235-3800

Hilton Walters

Walters Stanley & Natarajan, LLP 405-235-3800

Eric J. Cavett Foshee & Yaffe 855-654-8667

Susan Carns Curtiss Carns Curtiss Law, PLLC 405-525-0337

D. Sharon Gentry

Larry D. Ottaway

Robert O. O’Bannon

Foliart, Huff, Ottaway & Bottom 405-232-4633

Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

Rachel Pappy

Robert Tomlinson

Tomlinson McKinstry, P.C. 405-606-3350

PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE - NON MEDICAL DEFENSE George S. Corbyn, Jr. Corbyn Law Firm, PLLC 405-239-7055

Ryan Dean

Polston Tax Resolution & Accounting 405-801-2146

Dawn M. Rahme

Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100

Travis W. Watkins Travis W. Watkins Tax Resolution & Accounting Firm 405-703-5689

TRAFFIC LAW

DeWitt Paroulo Meek, PLLC 405-705-3600

James F. Harvey, III Harvey & Associates 405-447-4934

David B. Donchin

James D. Harvey, Jr.

Durbin, Larimore & Bialick, PC 405-235-9584

Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Inc. 405-843-9909

Justin Meek

DeWitt Paroulo Meek, PLLC 405-705-3600

Jennifer N. Lamirand

Crowe & Dunlevy 405-234-3227

Amy J. Pierce

Hampton Barghols Pierce, PLLC 405-604-2611

Michael McBride McBride & McBride 405-232-2102

REAL ESTATE Jacquelyn L. Dill

TRIBAL LAW

Sally Garrison

Fellers Snider 405-232-0621

Sally A. Hasenfratz

OU College of Law 405-325-4699

Joe C. Lewallen, Jr.

Foshee & Yaffe 855-654-8667

Klint A. Cowan

Graft & Walraven 405-253-6444

The Mortgage Law Firm 619-465-8200 Phillips Murrah P.C. 405-235-4100 McAfee & Taft 405-552-2370

Steven C. Hager Tylor Huddleston

WILLS Emily S. Eleftherakis

Isai Molina

McAfee & Taft 405-552-2290

Emily S. Eleftherakis, PLLC 405-286-9619

RISING STARS

Dawn D. Hallman

(<5 Years in Practice) Stephanie M. Alleman

Hallman & Associates, P.C. 405-447-9455

Cody Jones

Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison & Lewis, Inc. 405-843-9909

Donna J. Jackson & Associates, PLLC 405-767-0333

McAlister, McAlister, Baker & Nicklas, PLLC 405-359-0701

Gerard M. D’Emilio

Sandra Magar

Chad W. P. Kelliher

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

Magar Law Firm 405-535-1994

Carly Haiduk

Terrell Monks

Fulmer Sill Law 405-510-0077

Austin S. Pieratt Pieratt Law PLLC 405-551-5109

Josh Turner

Talley, Turner & Bertman P.C. 405-467-2858

Joe E. White, Jr.

White & Weddle, P.C. 405-858-8899

PRODUCT LIABILITY Andrew M. Bowman Foliart, Huff, Ottaway & Bottom 405-232-4633

Jeffrey A. Curran

GableGotwals Counsel 405-235-5500

Derrick DeWitt

DeWitt Paroulo Meek, PLLC 405-705-3600

Oklahoma Estate Attorneys. PLLC 405-880-8960

Cordell & Cordell PC 405-241-5679

Hayden R. King Wiggins Sewell & Ogletree 405-232-1211

Jennifer L. Wright

Jordan LePage

WORKER’S COMPENSATION

Ball Morse Lowe, PLLC 405-701-6968

Ball Morse Lowe, PLLC 405-701-6988

Katie Magee

Don Bullard

Bullard & Associates, P.C. 405-604-5000

Matthew Edward Willoughby

H. Grady Parker, Jr.

Chubbuck Duncan & Robey, P.C. 405-236-8282

Looney, Nichols & Johnson, PLLC 405-235-7641

TAX LAW

Thomas Steece

William K. Elias

Oklahoma Legal Services PLLC 405-943-8300

Elias, Books, Brown, & Nelson, P.C. 405-232-3722

405MAGAZINE.COM

Joseph C. Biscone, II Johnson & Biscone, P.A. 405-232-6490

Talley, Turner & Bertman P.C. 405-467-2858

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

2020 TOP ATTORNEYS

Jacqui Ford ATTORNEY AT LAW

Jacqui Ford Law 1621 N Classen Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 405.604.3200 fordlawokc.com

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acqui Ford knows from personal experience the impact a good criminal defense attorney can have on a family. Growing up in southside OKC, her father was convicted of a felony, and the reverberations were profound on her family: financially, educationally, socially and personally.

At Jacqui Ford Law, you will be met by a team of people grounded in compassion, courage and

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integrity. “We care for each client in a holistic way,” says Ford, whose goal is that every person walks away from her services a better, healthier, happier version of themselves.

Those values are not especially common in the criminal justice system. “Many folks do not realize our system has this kind of power, to truly transform our community one person accused at a time.”

Beyond caring for her clients, Ford is committed to changing the conversation around jury service, and the flawed system we often fear. Juries bear a huge responsibility, often accompanied by stress, anxiety and aversion to deciding the futures of the accused. We come to the courthouse with presupposed ideas. Jacqui Ford Law strives to change those ideas. “I’m not saying that we should all love the accused and despise the system,” she says, “but we should not love the system and disregard the overwhelming impacts our system can inflict on individuals and their families.”

Ford graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2002. A full-time caregiver for her grandfather fighting terminal cancer, she chose to attend the University of Oklahoma College of Law to pursue her dreams of being in service to her community.

Ford decided then that she would be the lawyer she wished her parents had had, a lawyer who would have considered the long-term and generational impacts of giving up on a case. Ford had already begun her award-winning career as a lawyer when she joined the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office. In 2011, she was voted unanimously to receive the Clarence Darrow Award for excellence in trial advocacy. She took that momentum and decided to open her own firm, dedicated to practicing law the way she had dreamed: client-centered, team-oriented and focused on justice for every client.

As a champion of the underdog, Jacqui Ford believes, “The best people in the world can make terrible choices, and the worst of us are capable of making beautiful, life-affirming choices. Everyone is capable of terrible mistakes, and they deserve fair representation and someone who will advocate for them with the core convictions, experience and skill we bring to our clients.”

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

2020 TOP ATTORNEYS

Hilton “Red” Walters, Gene Stanley & Neel Natarajan ATTORNEYS AT LAW

W

alters, Stanley & Natarajan, LLP prize having the respect of their clients and all counsel the firm interacts with in their civil litigation practice. Specializing in medical malpractice defense, Walters, Stanley & Natarajan emphasize providing a thorough defense that focuses on the specifics of each case, including in-depth reviews of the complicated medical issues that are common to the practice.

The firm also focuses on servicing clients to reduce the stress medical malpractice claims can cause on the healthcare provider. “Sometimes it is a client’s first time to be involved in a malpractice case. We strive to defend them in a way that they can trust us to take care of their interests without added stress,” says partner Gene Stanley. “These can be troubling times. We do not ever want a case to get in the way of their job, which is helping and taking care of patients.”

Life experience that reaches beyond the boundaries of the legal profession is also a strength the partners believe serves them daily in their practice.

“We have a diverse background that has allowed

Medical Defense Law

us to work with different people and understand different circumstances,” says partner Hilton “Red” Walters, who in earlier years worked as a United States Park Ranger and a Federal Aviation Administration investigator.

Most of all, said partner Neel Natarajan, everyone associated with the firm – associates and support staff included – understands the nature of these cases can exact a toll on all involved.

“Our mission is to balance the human part of this,” Natarajan says. “We put a premium on civility and thoughtfulness in how we approach both sides of the equation.”

For more information on Walters, Stanley & Natarajan, LLP, visit medicaldefense.law

1017 NW 6th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73106 405.235.3800 medicaldefense.law

EDUCATION Hilton “Red” Walters: J.D., Oklahoma City University, 1987 Gene Stanley: J.D., University of Oklahoma, 2005 Neel Natarajan: J.D., University of Oklahoma, 2007

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2020 TOP ATTORNEYS

Susan Carns Curtiss

Carns Curtiss Law, PLLC

ATTORNEY AT LAW

L

ike most “Army brats,” Susan Carns Curtiss grew up in several different places, and learned early the value of flexibility, adaptive thinking and clear communication. “The military also taught me that true leadership comes through service, not chest thumping,” she says.

As a result, Carns Curtiss offers a very client-focused set of skills in her law practice. After graduating law school at Oklahoma City University, she worked as a trial attorney for a national insurance company.

Her record of wins left her employers liking her, but she was troubled.

“I questioned whether or not it was really a fair fight,” Carns Curtiss says. “I decided to take the skills I’d learned on the defense side and help people who had legitimate claims, who had truly been injured.”

A highly-skilled litigation counsel is critical for success in a jury trial, and while Carns Curtiss’ record

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clearly indicates she is very skilled in a courtroom, she also has vast experience in non-litigation solutions to successful claims. “Communicating to a client all the details, letting them know exactly what’s going on and the path we will be taking to get a full and fair verdict, or non-litigation resolution, gets me excited,” she says.

In addition to her law practice, Carns Curtiss is the founder and CEO of Girl Attorney, LLC, a networking and education company that serves over 26,000 female attorneys across the U.S. While her practice handles various types of personal injury, her education and experience qualify her best for roadway-related claims: vehicle to pedestrian or vehicle to vehicle injuries. “I got into law because I wanted to level the playing field for people,” she says.

“Through my work as a personal injury lawyer, I consider it a privilege to work for my clients to give them a fair opportunity for a just resolution.”

24 NE 53rd St, Oklahoma City, OK 405.525.0337 carnscurtiss.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

2020 TOP ATTORNEYS

Left to right: Gene Bertman, Josh Turner, Katie Magee, Sam Talley, Jillian Ramick, and Nik Lee

Talley, Turner & Bertman Law ATTORNEYS AT LAW

T

TB Law proudly serves Norman and the larger Oklahoma City metro area, but has a statewide practice. Founded in 2014 by partners Sam Talley, Josh Turner and Gene Bertman, the firm’s outstanding client-focused and service-based approach is based in its history and legacy from Richard B. Talley, and has generated multiple awards from the public.

“We have awards that are voted on by other attorneys, too,” Talley says, “but we’re proud of the awards we win that are from votes of the public; that’s what matters most to us, and it demonstrates we’ve built a reputation as the best to our clients.”

TTB Law is a multi-specialty litigation firm with about half its practice focused on civil litigation. Gene Bertman leads complex civil litigation, and Josh Turner leads personal injury cases. Both attorneys are award winners and nominees.

Talley, Turner & Bertman Law

For criminal defense, Talley said the firm is known as “the one you call when you have a big case” – but they don’t shy away from smaller ones, because they aren’t less important to the client. Nik Lee, of counsel attorney for criminal defense, is the textbook definition of a zealous advocate.

Family law is their other area of expertise, and word of mouth of the firm’s performance has created a thriving practice. “Our reputation for family law is excellent,” Talley says. “We’re committed to creating the cutting-edge family law practice.”

Katie Magee brings a “brilliant legal mind and ability to converse about the most complex and most humble aspects of the law,” per Talley. In the area of family law, Talley called Jillian Ramick a critical part of the team, and one of the best young family law attorneys in the metro. “We fully expect to see her on the ‘best’ lists next year.”

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219 E Main St, Norman, OK 405.467.2858 ttb-law.com

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CL ASSEN CURVE LOC ATION: 5860 N. CL ASSEN CURVE | EDMOND LOC ATION: 1205 NW 178TH S T | WWW.OKCBES TPIZZA .COM LIKE US ON

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| JUNE 2020 405MAGAZINE.COM 46 CHA 2020 405 Magazine Ad.indd 1

1/8/20 9:00 AM

Dining

Good Taste

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The Dish

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The Drink 51

A New Way of Dining Restaurateurs are seeking — and finding — new

BAR ARBOLADA

strategies in a world of social distancing. Page 48

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T A S T E

Dining In a New Normal COVID-19’S CULINARY TAKEAWAYS

BY G REG HOR T ON

A

S R E STAU R A N TS A N D BA R S continue to assess the impact of COVID-19 on their business models, many proprietors realized that the lessons learned during the shutdown in March and April provide valuable insight into their model in the “new normal.”

For Riley Marshall, the owner of Bar Arbolada, the answer began with a burger.

“Right after the shutdown order, we had an all-staff meeting, and the main thing we discussed was how to throw everything we had at this to survive,” Marshall says. “We talked about expanding the menu, offering all kinds of food – so many ideas, but then we slept on it and realized there were better options.”

Those options included selling their justifiably famous burger all day on Saturdays. The burger’s status as a local legend began with the late-night bar crowd, as it was only served Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to close … and even then, not every Saturday night. Regulars scoured social media every Saturday for any indication that the Palomatown – a combo of burger, fries and a Paloma for $10 – was happening that night. The “smash” burger is the style Marshall, a Duncan native, grew up with, and it’s one familiar to many Oklahomans: smashed patty, crispy along the edges, mustard, ketchup, finely diced pickles and onions. It’s what McDonald’s burgers should taste like, and maybe did 50 years ago.

“We decided to serve it on Saturdays, and then we created the ‘wine shop,’ and the bartenders added the boxtails,” Marshall says. The boxtails are actual boxes, packed with all the ingredients necessary (except booze) for Bar Arbolada’s popular cocktails.

That sort of customer-focused thinking has always been a part of the hospitality industry, but it was in more demand during the shutdown, and many restaurateurs believe it will be necessary moving forward.

“We’ve always been kind of, ‘This is who we are, so like us or not’ about our concepts,” says Rachel Cope, founder of 84 Hospitality. “We’re whiskey-only at Burger Punk, dinner-only at Gun and, famously, no takeout at Goro. We’ve had to rethink all of those strategies.”

Cope and James Beard-nominated chef Jeff Chanchaleune changed their processes at both Goro and Gun, allowing takeout at Goro for the first time in the restaurant’s existence, and making take-and48

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The dining room at Bar Arb olada.

reheat Gun meals available at Paseo’s Little Market – also owned by 84 Hospitality. The company also consolidated operations in one location for mashed-up concepts: Goro and Gun out of Goro, and Burger Punk and Revolucion out of Revolucion. Customers could order from either and pick up at one location.

Jamie and Jordan Winteroth used the same strategy with Aurora and Social, their Plaza District and NW 23rd concepts.

Aurora’s popular brunch was made available in a brunch box that guests could pick up at Social. “We know this is changing the way people dine,” Jamie Winteroth says, but “we have new ways to present our food, which provides new opportunities to reach people who maybe wouldn’t come into Social or Aurora.”

One of those new strategies was to work with local Homeland stores to get pre-packaged, take-and-reheat meals into locations around the metro. “We loved that Homeland let us keep 100

BAR ARBOLADA

Bar Arbolada’s locally famous burgers on the patio.

percent of the revenue, and we know that would likely change in the future, but we would like to keep something like that going,” he says.

Bruce Rinehart, owner of two Rococo concepts, also used the Homeland program to get more food out. “Based on our catering background, it was a great fit for us,” Rinehart says. “We think we dialed in quality, freshness and appearance of our packaged foods, and that’s important when you can’t be there to see the food in expo.”

Rinehart also discussed being out front, talking to people and getting the word out. “We’ll be evaluating our business models for a while, but the one thing that really stood out during the shutdown was the necessity of being more connected to our guests, to the public overall.”

Stay for lunch or dinner & shop at the market

7408 N May Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73116 labaguettebistro.com | 405.840.3047 405MAGAZINE.COM

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D I N I N G

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D I S H

A colorful and delicious assortment of paletas from La Super Michoacána.

Fresco y Frío FRUITY, FROZEN SUMMERTIME TREATS

BY G REG HOR T ON | PHOTO BY R ACHEL M AUCIER I

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H A T PA L E T A S – D E L I C I O U S , fresh-fruit popsicles – emerged as a product synonymous with the Mexican state of Michoacán is no surprise given that the region just west of Mexico City grows sugar cane, mangoes, strawberries, peaches and avocadoes in abundance.

If, like most Americans, you grew up eating the artificial colors and flavors that constitute domestic popsicles, paletas are going to transport you to a different, fresher, more flavorful place … a place that will then be hard to leave for the sad region of frozen sugar water.

Paletas are a staple in nearly every town and city of Mexico, and they are common in immigrant communities outside the country. The Michoacána brand is the most common, but it’s an association with a place rather than a specific company, so much of the packaging and many of the stores bear the name.

La Super Michoacána is a paleteria in La 29, the district that runs along SW 29th from May to Shields, where many of OKC’s most authentic Mexican and Latin American food is found. The Escobar family opened La Super Michoacána in early 2019, and like most paleterias, it features paletas, aguas frescas, ice cream and salty snacks such as Takis nachos.

Jaki Escobar helps run the business with her parents Jose and Claudia.

“My mother grew up in shops like this in Mexico, and my grandmother had a store in Oklahoma City that I grew up in, so it’s a family business,” Jaki Escobar says.

Escobar said the paletas are made fresh in large batches, and their volume of customers means they are making new ones every day. The flavors range from traditional favorites like mango and pineapple to more whimsical styles like bubble gum, but whatever the taste, fresh ingredients are key.

“Growing up in Southern California, the carts with paletas were kind of like suburban ice cream trucks for us,” says Chris Castro, a partner in the Market at Commonplace whose parents emigrated from Mexico to California. “My mom made them, too, because our family loves watermelon.

It starts to degrade almost immediately, so day two, we cut them up and they went into paletas or aguas frescas.”

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The ingredients are very simple: fresh fruit, sugar, water and lime juice. The fresher the fruit, the more intense the flavor, and mixing and matching is always recommended. La Super Michoacána makes one with avocado; it’s mildly sweet and surprisingly refreshing.

You can find paleterias scattered throughout the city, including La Super Michoacána on SW 29th, Neveria La Azetca on S Western south of the Wheeler District, and El Mango Paleteria on NW 10th just east of May.

T H E

D R I N K

Summer whites are perfect for the bartop or the pool deck, and we rounded up some delicious choices.

LAGARIA PINOT GRIGIO One of the (often legitimate) knocks on Pinot Grigio is that it doesn’t taste like anything. Lagaria, like many Italian offerings of this style, is also lean and crisp, but it has beautiful fruit, too.

POET’S LEAP RIESLING Famous German winemaker meets Columbia Valley fruit – that’s the best way to describe this off-dry (not quite sweet) Riesling from Washington.

It’s a food wine, for sure.

MARTIN CODAX ALBARIÑO The varietal can be soapy when not done right, but this is a delicious, fruity, refreshing, affordable introduction to this popular Spanish grape.

LU I G I B A U D A N A D R A G O N This beautiful Italian field blend deserves its own story. One of the most distinctive wines available in the state, and we promise it’s like nothing you’ve ever tried.

LU B A N Z I C H E N I N B L A N C By some expert estimates, 20 percent of South Africa’s vines are Chenin Blanc. Unlike the French style, the South African tends toward riper, heavier versions, and the Lubanzi is a great entry point, with its citrus and herbal notes.

Exploring Summer Sips WHEN WHITE WINE IS THE RIGHT WINE

BY G REG HOR T ON

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H E WOR ST T I M E OF Y E A R FOR T H E red-only wine drinkers is summer, when a glass of Napa Cabernet seems to have the weight and viscosity of motor oil. Given the likelihood that many of us will be spending more time at home this summer, why not take the chance to experiment with different white wines and broaden your palate? We picked whites in several categories, including some popular go-to varietals, but added several you may never have tried to make this a summer of discovery. In most cases, the wines are under $20 a bottle and widely available.

The first three fall into the popular varietal category: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. After that, the list gets much more adventurous.

E R I C C H E VA L I E R C H A R D O N N AY French Chardonnay from the Loire Valley is not oaky and buttery; it’s lean, crisp and driven by orchardfruit flavors.

PRISMA SAUVIGNON BLANC This Chilean Sauvignon Blanc will be a pleasant surprise to people who think they don’t like the varietal.

Weightier than Marlborough or California, it’s still light, pleasant and approachable.

AZUL Y GARANZA VIURA The grape is a staple in Spain’s Rioja region, and this liter bottle is a steal. Expect a fruit-forward, light, dry white with tons of pear and citrus.

F O L K M A C H I N E D RY M U S C AT This is for anyone who likes dry, fruity and complex. It’s not sweet, but it is fun, and it’s summer in a bottle – suitable for food pairing or poolside crushing.

L E S R O C A I L L E S A P R E M O N T S AV O I E No list is complete without a wine that is 100 percent Jacquere. Yeah, we’d never heard of the varietal either before trying it, but it’s bone dry, clean, refreshing and intense, with good fruit and floral notes.

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MOORE & NORMAN

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More importantly, it’s about who knows you. 405 Magazine’s Faces of the 405 returns for 2020. This portrait-style advertorial opportunity will feature leaders from various industries showcasing their expertise in the community. Whether you are a pioneer of your field or on the brink of greatness, what is it you want to be known for?

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SERVING OKC FOR 29 YEARS.

Candles, gifts, home furnishings & accessories, custom drapery, bedding, upholstery, area rugs, fabric by the yard.

SHOWROOM HOURS Monday - Saturday 10-6, Sunday 11-4. Interior design by appointment STEVEN WINTERS, INTERIOR DESIGNER RID â&#x20AC;¢ LISA SMALLWOOD, INTERIOR DESIGNER

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Home

Entertaining 101

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At Home With 58

Partnership by Design This Edmond home impresses with color, modern farmhouse decor and custom woodwork. Page 60

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H O M E

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Single Stems SIMPLE FLORALS WELCOME NEW AND FAMILIAR FACES

BY SA R A G A E WAT ERS PHOTO BY R ACHEL M AUCIER I

B

Single stems with a variety of vases make a colorful and interesting table setting.

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ECAUSE OF TH E nature of deadlines and going to print, I am actually writing to you in April ... smack in the middle of the social distancing life we are all — mostly all — living. Entertaining on a large scale, or even medium scale, is all but nonexistent.

It has always been my feeling that setting a table, even if just for yourself, is a great way to show love and care.

Having a few flowers, a pressed napkin, maybe your best plates set on the table shows thoughtfulness and can bring much-needed calm. Where we will be in June is unknown. Either way, whether we are welcoming people back in our homes to gather around our tables, or looking across them at the same, lovely faces, here’s a simple idea to make it a little more special.

Everything is in bloom ... so single stems are an easy, accessible and creative way to make things bright and whimsical. I love picking wildflowers (even flowers that might be considered weeds) and putting them into a variety of vases. I find joy in snipping the leaf of a fern or cutting a prized peony or snapping off a geranium bloom and bringing it inside to enjoy. I’ve collected small vases and bottles over the years and a single stem is perfect for an unusual bottle or vase. The eclecticism of different sizes and shapes and even color add to the beauty. Cutting your flowers at various heights also is key.

During these times, whether it is the same ol’ same ol’ or slowly getting back to what we are used to, take time to make your table beautiful. And like your days, you can do this one bloom at a time.

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H O M E

AT

H O M E

W I T H

h Cly de, Chelse y Ann wit with he r who come s to work e ve ry day.

At Home with Chelsey Ann WELLNESS THOUGHTS FROM THE SALT & WATER OWNER

BY SA R A G A E WAT ERS | PHOTO S BY R ACHEL M AUCIER I

B

OR N A N D R A ISED I N OK L A HOM A City, the owner and visionary of Salt & Water beauty and wellness boutique – known professionally as Chelsey Ann – epitomizes calm, grace and light. Chelsey Ann has developed a successful business in the beauty and makeup artist space, and in 2018, she dove into the wellness arena and opened the first iteration of Salt & Water via a pop-up shop. The brick-and-mortar version opened in February 2019, and continues to be, even in this uncertain time, a place for seekers of balance to find the tools and encouragement they need. Chelsey Ann was the obvious choice to ask about taking care of ourselves, and in turn those around us, on both a macro and micro scale. Enjoy.

Briefly tell our readers how you came into working in the wellness space.

My journey into working in wellness is one of truly returning to myself. I was raised in a world salted with healing and health. After spending most of my adult career working in the beauty industry, I found myself being called closer to holistic living – having your outsides match your insides, if you will. Once I made the internal wellness shift after starting a family, taking the dive into beauty wellness seemed like the next step. Daunting, yet it opened the doors for me to bring what I have learned and gathered these last 10 years into a wellness shop.

What have you found inspiring about how, in general, this area of wellness has changed?

I’m so hopeful that caring for one’s self is not a trend. It is inspiring to see the young and wise turn boxes over – from 58

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food to skin products – and truly care what is going in and on their bodies. I see medical professionals teaming up with holistic teachers. That is wellness! When we all take care of and support each other and the work we are all doing, wholeness begins. Wellness is not just “granola”; it is full body, mind, spirit care. This is a place where we must make a shift in supporting one another, and this is where I see us going. It’s an energy outside of ourselves.

Where or from whom do you look for encouragement and expansion?

I am a gatherer. I love soaking in information, reading to understand and know you are not alone, listening for encouragement. Here’s the short list.

I listen to: “Goop” podcast “How I Built This” with Guy Raz “To Be Magnetic” by Lacy Phillips

I read a bit into poetry, memoir and research.

Most of my expansion comes from reading poetry. It seems to subtly lift my head and place it back in my heart.

Poetry I love: “Inward” by Yung Pueblo Selected poems by Jim Harrison Collected poems by Jack Gilbert “Upstream” by Mary Oliver

Chelsey Ann at her Salt & Light boutique.

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Have you seen more openness to taking care of ourselves during these past months of social distancing and isolation?

The beautiful thing about fear and grief is it brings to light very quickly our most vulnerable ideals. You stop the guilt and shame we have tied to caring for ourselves, and you just do it. You do it for your kids or your spouse, or partner, or sibling. You do it for yourself. The stillness of these days, the beauty of the isolation is that we all have a chance to decide what we want our days to hold. It gives us the opportunity without others’ needs to examine what I want my daily rituals to be. What does my body need? What does my mind need? What are practices I will put on priority when the doors of life reopen? What am I letting go of? I think there is an opportunity here and now to make shifts from living in mundane habits, to creating rituals and peace.

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A Perfect Collaboration

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Builder-designer synergy helps define this tailor-made modern farmhouse b y L I L L I E -B E T H

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p h o t o s b y D O N

B R I N K M A N

R I S I

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H R I S A N D K AT I E K R E G G E R ’ S

Edmond home showcases Chris Kregger’s talent as a home builder with Infinity Homes, and Katie Kregger’s love for color.

Chris Kregger and his family also own Kregger Floors and More in Edmond, which gave him insights into the home’s custom flooring and woodwork.

The Kreggers worked with designer J. Mark Taylor, of Traditions Fine Furniture and Design, on the right look for their home – a style the three alternately describe with words like “transitional,” “rustic contemporary” and “modern farmhouse” (on the outside). What that means to them is a design that is livable, comfortable, welcoming and timeless. The home also works well with their love for entertaining inside and out.

“It has a very vibrant central living core,” Taylor said, adding the children — ages 5, 9 and 62

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11 — have their own space but the entire home lets them all stay connected to each other.

Their 4,800-square-foot home in north Edmond sits on two acres and includes five bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, an office and a pool. It features a mix of natural materials like wood, bright colors and modern touches with materials such as acrylic and stainless steel. Part of the fun when it was finished included a “big reveal” at the end for the Kreggers — a weekend when Taylor put some of the final accessories in place while the family was on vacation.

To get started, Taylor and Chris Kregger met for breakfast weekly. Each Friday for four months, they brainstormed and sketched out f loor plans.

Taylor has worked for more than 30 years in the design business, and Kregger and Taylor have

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In the living room, right off the kitchen, a soapstone wall flanks the fireplace and a custom built-in wall holds a recessed television.

Overall, the home “was a perfect collaboration between designer, builder and client.” collaborated on other projects in the past. When their floorplan was in place and construction had started, Katie Kregger joined Taylor for weekly meetings about design and details.

Overall, the home “was a perfect collaboration between designer, builder and client,” Taylor said.

Katie Kregger agrees.

“The floor plan works well for us,” she said.

“We’re in a position now where we’re a little bit older, our kids are older. And we know how we live. We know how we entertain; we know how we host; we know how our traffic flows and things like that. … So, the floor plan of this house fits us really well, from a livable perspective.”

A butler’s pantry provides food and extra storage and can alleviate clutter from the kitchen when they’re entertaining. The oldest children have a piano room to practice in. The great room

combines with the kitchen, giving the family freedom to hang out together whether they’re in either space.

Chris Kregger added his own custom, personal touches with the woodwork throughout the home.

“What wanted to accomplish with the kitchen is just a user-friendly space,” Chris Kregger said, “that would be good for entertaining, easy to clean, but also easy to be a part of the everyday action in the living room.”

They are all happy with the way it turned out, especially with how easy it is to maintain and live in.

“It looks really pretty, but it has held up really well,” Katie Kregger said. “I mean, we live in this house and it’s not a museum. We’re not super clean. We’ve got three little kids. … But the house cleans up really nicely.”

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The master bathroom features a striking wall behind the freestanding soaking tub with a design to showcase Chris Kregger’s talents and work with Kregger’s Floors and More.

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HERITAGE HALL

PROUDLY SALU

CLASS OF

Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

CHARG PRID

F 2020

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CLASS OF 2020

UTES THE

CLASS

OF 2020 Parting Thoughts from Departing Seniors

BY MELISSA MERCER HOWELL

A

S HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS across the country come to terms with the loss of year-end rituals like going to prom and walking across the stage at graduation,

many here in Oklahoma City are keeping a good attitude. Some have reached deeply into their creative recesses to make gatherings happen from a distance. Others take a philosophical approach, appreciating the novelty of these times.

405 Magazine spoke with three local 2020 senior class presidents on their feelings about graduating this year – their year. Here’s what they said.

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C l a s s o f 2 02 0

Samuel Jun

Mary Kate Magness

CASADY SCHOOL

H ERITAG E HALL

Samuel Jun is an active senior at Casady School. He swims, and his musical talents extend to the guitar and voice, which are highlighted by his contributions to the school’s a cappella group, musical theater productions and rock band activities. This fall, he will attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, with a major in biology.

Mary Kate Magness is a dog lover and an avid soccer player in the Oklahoma City Energy FC’s Developmental Academy League. She is on student council, is president of the French Club and also is president of the school’s Adopt A Grandparent Club. And, yes, she does have an adopted grandparent named “Wanda.” For the last four years, Mary Kate has spent her summers volunteering at Mercy Hospital. She plans to attend the University of Oklahoma in the fall, majoring in philosophy with an eye toward pre-med, which she comes by honestly: Both of her parents are physicians.

STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT

What traditions and ceremonies will you be missing, and what will you miss most?

This year, events like the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) Arts Festival, athletic banquets … and several others have been either delayed, canceled or made virtual. One of the events I was the most disappointed to see canceled was the ISAS Arts Festival. It is an opportunity for art students from Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana and Kansas to gather and share their talents and hard work through music, painting, drama, sculpting and so many other mediums.

What are students doing in lieu of hanging out, or going to movies or restaurants?

Some students have taken their cars to empty parking lots to see each other face-to-face (but six feet apart) to enjoy some fun chats and conversations. I’ve personally been on Facetime with my friends quite a bit; we just share how we’re doing and talk about random things.

What would you like to say to the Casady class of 2020?

To Casady’s Class of 2020, I would like to say THANK YOU. I wouldn’t be able to say it enough in my lifetime. It breaks my heart that we won’t have the graduation we all envisioned; however, whatever happens, I know it’ll be the most special and unique graduation in Casady history.

That’s something to smile about! Also, I’d like to challenge everyone to try new things, continue improving and don’t be afraid to make someone’s day!

SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT

Who are you quarantined with?

My mom and my brother. My dad will be home in a month. He is currently deployed to Afghanistan.

Is there an upside to any of this? Has COVID-19 built a sense of camaraderie among the class of 2020?

There’s always a silver lining to it. We’ve all been able to spend a little more time with our families, and the class seems more engaged in the few events we will still hold. We have also donated $2,020 to the Food Bank to hopefully bring some relief during all of this.

What would you like to say to the Heritage Hall class of 2020?

In every class, there are a few students who truly excel in various activities. But in the Heritage Hall Class of 2020, every single person is exceptional at something. It is one of the hardest things to actually stand out in this class, and I’m sure most would probably agree. It has been assuredly frustrating at times, yet this standard is what makes me so eager to see what each of us does in the future.

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C l a s s o f 2 02 0 summer camps. He received the Presidential Service award for community service. Once graduating, Matt will attend the University of Oklahoma Honors Program with a major in architectural engineering.

What was your last day of school like and are there any opportunities you wish now that you would have had?

Our last day of school was really just like any other. Personally, I wish that I would have known it was the last day so I could have truly taken in everything that had happened throughout my time there. I guess I just wish I had a real chance to say goodbye to a normal school year.

What have you taken from this year and how will you remember 2020?

Matt Maloy

Because of this, I’d like to believe that we have all found ways to grow together from this experience. There is definitely going to be a special bond for the Class of 2020. But when I say that, I don’t mean just the Class of 2020 at Mount St. Mary’s or the Class of 2020 in Oklahoma City, but the Class of 2020 all over the state and the country. I believe this experience has forced families to come back together and value their time together, but it has also created a new family, full of people from all over.

SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT

What would you like to say to the Mount St. Mary class of 2020?

MOU NT ST. MARY CATHOLIC H IG H SCHOOL

To the Mount St. Mary Class of 2020, I’m sorry that this year was not what we expected. So many things that we had been looking forward to for so long have come and gone, but there are more memories to be made.

Our time together will always be cherished and remembered for years to come. Each and every one of you has made an impact in our class and holds a special place in our little family. You all matter and have a purpose, even when times get hard such as this one. Stay Strong Seniors.

Matt Maloy is drum major for the Mount St. Mary Marching Band and an officer for the National Honor Society. A musician, he plays in the school’s concert band, jazz band and orchestra, as well as the marching band. He also gives time and talent to the student council and drama department.

In addition to all that, Matt holds down a job and volunteers at different

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Celebrating the Class of 2020

2020

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

CLASS

of

Joshua Powell Davies DEER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL

Your 2020 Senior Year will definitely be one to remember, but what we will remember most from this year is the wonderful man you have become! We are so excited to see where life takes you. May you always approach life with curiosity, courage, and adventure, but may you always remember to be kind, compassionate, and humble.

Know that God is always with you and He will never leave your side.

We are so Proud of you, and will Love You Always!

“For this Child I have Prayed” 1 SAMUEL 1:27 PHOTOGRAPHER: ERIC LYONS

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L O O K I N G

d looking south from iel F ity C a om klah O e th of A view state Capitol building.

23rd Street, just we st of the istory Center.

Courte sy of the Oklahoma H

B A C K

Boom and Bonanza OKC’S WILD, EARLY OIL DAYS

BY MELISSA MERCER HOWELL

O

K L A H O M A C I T Y ’ S E A R LY YEARS WERE RIFE with national and international attention. First came the series of land runs beginning in 1889, followed by immense oil and gas production that conferred petroleum superstar status onto the young territory.

By the time Oklahoma reached statehood in 1907, it had become the largest oil producer in the nation, according to the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board.

Then, in 1928, Indian Territory Oil Illuminating Company and Foster Petroleum made a historic discovery with the Oklahoma City No. 1 oil and gas well south of the city limits. It revealed the vast reservoirs of oil and gas that lie beneath Oklahoma City, and would cement its culture and economy for the next century.

“Subsequent development drilling opened up numerous other reservoirs (in the Oklahoma City Field) including the Basal Oil Creek Sand and the prolific Simpson ‘Wilcox’ Sand. Initial flow rates in the ‘Wilcox Sand’ were nothing short of spectacular, often exceeding 20,000 barrels of oil per day and 20,000 MCFD (20 million cubic feet of natural gas per day),” according to the website Oklahoma Minerals.

But by 1930, a seemingly inevitable clash occurred between government authorities trying to set legal parameters and the oil companies that had been on a two-year drilling frenzy with very little regulation.

“Legal challenges and f lagrant law violations led to chaos. Gov. William H. Murray declared martial law for 24 hours around the wells

on May 5, 1932 (in support of the city council’s decision to limit drilling to one well per city block and restrict drilling activity to specifically designated sections of the city). This intervention was followed by another martial law action on June 6, 1932, followed by another of 10 days’ duration beginning on March 4, 1933,” wrote Bobby D. Weaver for the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Eventually, House Bill 481, imposing limitations on all oil produced in Oklahoma, passed on April 10, 1933.

Perhaps the Oklahoma City Field’s most legendary well was the Wild Mary Sudik. Unfamiliar with the immense gas pressure that emanated from the Wilcox sand formation, the exhausted crew of the Mary Sudik No. 1 improperly removed the pipe from the hole, and the well blew out March 26, 1930. Wild Mary spewed 20,000 barrels of oil and 200 million cubic feet of gas a day until it was capped on April 6, 1930. Oil coated most of Norman, 11 miles to the south, and drifted 11 miles north to Nicoma Park, when the wind shifted.

The Wild Mary Sudik became the stuff of Hollywood newsreels. NBC Radio rushed to cover efforts to control the blow-out. Within a week, the struggle to contain the Oklahoma City oilfield well made headlines worldwide, according to the American Oil and Gas Historical Society.

Source: Oklahoma History Center 405MAGAZINE.COM

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L A S T

L AU G H

Lucky for them, my kids are too old to be homeschooled, but during my self-isolation thinking time, I’ve devised a solid curriculum.

As a parent-turned-homeschooler, I would produce liberal arts majors exclusively: the people who write, sing, paint and perform a little interpretive dance to express their “feelings” about COVID-19.

A snapshot of my COVID University curriculum would look like this:

MASK SEWING 101 – This course would include sewing machine operation for the construction of cute face masks. As the course progressed, projects would become more complex to include the Advanced Cute Face Mask, which would fit around the back of the wearer’s head in a way that would pull the wrinkles right out of the forehead to compensate for COVIDinduced lapses in Botox accessibility.

ADVANCED PINTEREST WITH PR ACTICUM – This course would require preliminary, intensive Pinterest research of paint colors to fulfill the related practicum, Quarantine Room Painting.

ADVANCED ZOOMOLOGY – This required course explores the innumerable ways in which one might annoy co-Zoomers on a video conference call. Topics include: How to find the mute button; how to unmute yourself before you start your five-minute monologue; how to set the “enhance” feature to slightly blur your un-Botoxed face; how to look fully dressed.

COVID University AT-HOME LESSONS FOR CORONALIFE 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 M I C H A E L L E E

R

E W I N D TO A BLISSF U L T I M E NOT TOO LONG AGO … early 2020, back when the year was new and full of promise. “COVID-19” was nary a blip on our vocabulary radar.

In early 2020, I could count the number of Zoom calls for my entire career on one hand – a hand, by the way, with a lovely, professionally installed set of nails that I used 4,217 times a day to scratch my face whenever it itched. My only face mask was the kind you rinse off when it starts to crack.

Then, with the stealth of Jack Ruby, COVID-19 appeared from nowhere, turning parents into homeschoolers and every last one of us into unkempt hermits.

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BASIC ROOTS AND HIGHLIGHTS – because you can’t quarantine dark roots, this required course would introduce the essential skills necessary to hide and blend unsightly roots when your hair professional is inconveniently quarantined. This course would be a follow-up to The Psychological Assault of Your Natural Color and the prerequisite to next semester’s Fullscale Disasters: Color-Correcting Roots and Highlights.

ADVANCED ONLINE SHOPPING – This popular course, comprising 90 percent product research, 5 percent data entry, 3 percent transaction, and 2 percent cognitive dissonance, would require additional fees to cover the costs associated with the subject matter. Prerequisite to next semester’s Many Happy Returns course.

INTERNET APPRECIATION – a required survey of the myriad ways our lives are intertwined through the Internet, this course would examine the social behaviors of other cultures that don’t rely on the Internet like oxygen.

Author’s Note: I’d like to express my deepest appreciation for those of you, from the medical community to daily essential workers, who have risked your own safety to serve the rest of us. It would not be an overstatement to call you heroes and I thank you.

Keven Calonkey Carl Professional Member ASID NCIDQ Certified

E st. 1958 • 109 E ast M ain • norMan • 405.321.1818 • M istEr robErt.coM •