405 Magazine January 2019

DON’T STOP THE PRESSES: TRYING TIMES FOR THE OKLAHOMAN

MIND

OVER MATTER GROW YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IN 2019

GO OSO: TACO TIME IN THE PASEO OKLAHOMA’S GREAT SALT ENIGMA JOE DORMAN: HELPING OK’S KIDS

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in this issue

Features

28

MENTAL WELLNESS IN THE NEW YEAR

Fitness is a great resolution, but it shouldn’t be just about diet and exercise. Good mental health is a tremendous boost to quality of life, and the good news is that it is attainable. Here’s what to know to make a balanced, thriving mindset.

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UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

In a difficult era for the newspaper industry, GateHouse Media’s purchase of The Oklahoman could be the key to the paper’s future, but in the short term, coverages – and optimism – are shrinking.

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405 MAGAZINE JANUARY 2019

JANUARY 2019

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in this issue

JANUARY 2019

In the 405

13 The mystery of the Great Salt Plains; soaring style at Scissortail Marketplace; charcuterrific serving options; Joe Dorman’s work to aid Oklahoma’s kids; baby name pitfalls; an author’s imaginary scholarship

Sweetness and Smoke The primary draw at new Paseo hangout Oso is the menu packed with taco temptations – but the craft cocktail menu packs a lot of power, too. Take a deep breath before tackling the Smoking Mirror; the carefully singed tea leaves on top add aromatic depth to its passionfruit flavor.

Home

41 The Orndorffs’ fresh family hideaway; accessories to enhance celebrations all year long

Travel

47 American history in civil rights museums

Dining

51 Oso’s opening means taco time in the Paseo; a tempting tartiflette recipe from Russ Johnson; Café 501’s magic number; winter treats at Bar Arbolada

Events

63 OKC Broadway hosts an operatic Phantom; independent creativity from the OKC Philharmonic; the OKCMOA spotlights sculpture

In Every Issue

10 From the Publisher 12 Web Sights 56 Food and Drink 66 On Location 68 Speakerbox 70 On the Radar 72 Backstory

52

ON THE COVER Make 2019 a banner year for tending to your mental well-being. Illustration by Chad Crowe

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405 Magazine Volume 5, Number 1, January 2019. 405 Magazine is published monthly by 405 Magazine, Inc. at 1613 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK 73103, 405.842.2266. © Copyright 2019 405 Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of 405 Magazine content, in whole or part by any means, without the express written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

To Our Mental Health T HE N EW Y E A R brings with it a tendency to seek ways to im-

HEIDI R A MBO CEN TRELL A Publisher | Editor-in-Chief heidi.centrella@405magazine.com

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405 MAGAZINE JANUARY 2019

PHOTO BY SIMON HURST

prove ourselves. Often, our thoughts are of waistlines, laugh lines and hairlines, or other physical attributes we see in the mirror.

Maybe a gym membership is a way to get back on track, or perhaps a change in diet is in order. Cut out sugar, carbs and alcohol, they say. Calories in, calories out, they say. No pain, no gain, they say. Whichever means we choose, these are all potential personal paths to feeling better, or a start to feeling well.

Sometimes, though, it’s what lies beneath the surface that needs more attention. Experts often cite the importance of setting mental health straight in order to set physical health straight. Mental illness and disease comes in a variety of forms – from depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder to PTSD or bipolar disorder. If you don’t know someone who’s dealt with mental illness in one form or another, you will – or, given the lingering reluctance to discuss the subject, you already do; you simply don’t know it. The statistics of mental illness leading to addiction or suicide are staggering, and the rate is rising (see page 32).

“There is definitely a correlation between mental illness and substance abuse,” says Vicki Mayfield, licensed marital and family therapist. “Treatment for substance abuse always focuses on a dual diagnosis.

Underneath the substance abuse hides depression or anxiety or PTSD or other mental and emotional issues.

“Both the substance abuse and underlying mental illness must be treated for wellness to be a possibility.”

And experts tell us it is a very real possibility – but one that requires hard work and diligence.

We’re not necessarily born with coping skills; we learn how to deal with the raw realities we face each day. Sometimes we don’t even know we’re “coping” at all. In our feature on page 28, we take a look at the bigger picture of mental health and wellness in our state. And on page 34, we’ve got a round-up of easy-to-implement suggestions for alleviating mild stressors. These suggestions are in no way meant as a substitute for anything that might require immediate attention; they’re solely meant to lend ideas for anyone who might be looking to find a new way to cope with the day-to-day stressors that we all face.

Mental illness is a destructive disease, and no one is guaranteed to be immune, not even those with celebrity nor those who seemingly live “the perfect life” or “have it all.” Its victims are all the same: members of the human race trying to live one day at a time, together. Remember that others have their own struggles, and that hope and help are available from qualified experts.

I hope this new year brings each of you health, happiness and, most importantly, self-worth.

Peace,

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Web Sights What’s online at 405magazine.com

Spice World

When Thomas Jefferson agreed to the Louisiana Purchase, no one in the U.S. government was entirely certain what might be contained within their new land … but skeptics were agreed that the rumors of a giant mountain of salt in the space that would become Oklahoma were nonsense. M.J. Alexander took a mining trip through history to dig up the well-seasoned tale of this improbable landmark, and while there’s an appetizer on p. 14, the full story at 405magazine.com/ January-2019/OKs-Great-Salt-Mystery/ is well worth a closer look.

Chairs of the Boards

If you’re planning a party, or are in search of some savory temptations for your taste buds when it comes to a variety of exceptional snacks, feast your eyes on the charcuterie boards fully stocked by culinary specialists found on page 20. However, bear in mind, as well, that the trays pictured are a merely fraction of what’s available at local vendors; see additional serving options online at 405.magazine.com/January-2019/Charcuterie-Style.

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405 MAGAZINE JANUARY 2019

Former state Representative Joe Dorman no longer holds elective office, but that hasn’t stopped him from lending his efforts to making the state better – especially when it comes to the welfare of Oklahoma’s children. Our conversation with him on topics from the OICA to the national political outlook to the Warren Spahn Awards gets underway on page 22, or you can head online to 405magazine.com/January-2019/Joe-Dorman-and-OKs-Kids/ for the full transcript.

405

in the

PHOTO BY MJ ALEXANDER

Saline Serenity President Thomas Jefferson believed in it; his critics mocked it as an impossible fairy tale. But the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma does exist, and throughout the slow course of centuries, it continues to maintain its silent air of otherworldly mystery.

JANUARY 2019 405 MAGAZINE

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territory ahead

SILENCE ON THE PLAINS Thomas Jefferson’s mysterious salt mountain

BY M.J. ALEX ANDER

ONCE I T WA S A N A NCIE N T SE A . All that remains now is its

salt — a crunchy glaze on a treeless plain. More than 500 miles from the nearest ocean, the Great Salt Plains glistens to the horizon like a vast shoreline at perpetual low tide.

It’s not so much the open space that inspires awe. Here in western Oklahoma, there is plenty of that. It’s not even the lack of color; the eye quickly adjusts to the stark monochromatic panorama of whites and grays.

What makes the Great Salt Plains otherworldly is its quiet.

The f lats have few of the usual sounds of the prairie – there are no buzzing insects; no braying livestock; no creaking windmills or ka-chunk-ing pump jacks; no brush or trees or

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grass to be pushed and played by the wind. On this autumn morning, the only movement across the bleached moonscape is wave after wave of massive cloud shadows, racing silently across the f lats. In the hallucinatory stillness, it’s easy to imagine the mystique the place held in the imagination of the Western frontier.

Tumult came to this corner of the wilderness when, in 1803, the nearly new nation of the United States purchased the rights to French holdings on the North American continent.

President Thomas Jefferson was prepared to pay up to $10 million for ownership of the key port of New Orleans. When Napoleon Bonaparte – looking to raise money for future wars

and lighten his obligations on a distant continent – unexpectedly offered all of France’s claims to the entire Louisiana territory for an extra $5 million, Jefferson jumped at the opportunity. The Louisiana Purchase encompassed 530 million acres, from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River, and doubled the size of the young nation overnight.

But to its new owners, the interior of the North American continent was little-known and rarely explored. Tales were plentiful, and facts were few. There was talk of a massive desert, rumors of volcanoes, purported sightings of giant sloths, wild mastodons and mammoths, reports of a tribe of lost Welshmen wandering the wilderness.

Jefferson sent Congress a detailed portfolio of the Louisiana territory, an enthusiastic report featuring only reliable sources extolling the wonders of the new American lands.

Among the most memorable were salient saline details of the territory that would one day become Oklahoma: tales of a place where salt – a prized commodity available only by import or by the laborious boiling of brine – could be scooped up by the wagonload.

Nomadic tribes visited the treeless plain to gather the preservative, and to hunt the animals who came to enjoy the giant salt lick.

“One extraordinary fact, relative to salt, must not be omitted,” Jefferson’s report declared. “There exists, about one thousand miles up the Missouri, and not far from that river, a salt mountain. This JANUARY 2019 405 MAGAZINE

15

territory ahead mountain is said to be 180 miles long, and 45 in width, composed of solid rock salt, without any trees, or even shrubs upon it.”

A 180-mile long mountain of salt? The idea was just too ridiculous. William Coleman, a Boston-born Federalist lawyer and longtime friend of Alexander Hamilton, mocked Jefferson’s claim in New York’s Evening Post: “We think it would have been no more than fair in the traveler who informed Mr. Jefferson of this territory of solid salt, to have added that some leagues to the westward of it there was an immense lake of molasses, and that between this lake and the mountain of salt, there was an extensive vale of hasty pudding, stretching as far as the eye could reach, and kept in a state of comfortable eatability by the warmth of the sun’s rays, into which the natives, being all Patagonians, waded knee deep, whenever they were hungry, and helped themselves to salt with one hand to season their pudding and molasses with the other to give it a relish.”

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Entered into the Congressional Record of the U.S. House of Representative was the Boston Gazette’s response of Dec. 1, 1803, sarcastically referring to the new territory as “that enchanted country” and one-upping Jefferson’s salt mountain with the discovery of “an immense mountain of solid refined sugar, from which a sufficient quantity may be drawn to supply the whole world.”

Jefferson finished his second presidential term in 1809, still without proof of the much-maligned salt mountain. But news of the fabled treasure trove came two years later from gentleman explorer George Champlin Sibley. On May 11, 1811, he set out on a twomonth trek – accompanied by Osage guides and French interpreters – to find the fabled stores of salt.

What awaited them was not a mountain, but a vast plain white with salt as far as the eye could see. The Osage led Sibley to two major f lats: The Great Salt Plains south of present-day Cherokee, about 12 miles long and 6 miles wide, and the smaller Big Salt Plains, about 8 miles long and half a mile to a mile wide, west of Freedom.

Over the centuries, water had continued to seep up through layers of ancient salt left behind by prehistoric seas. Once at the surface, the briny water would evaporate under the prairie sun, leaving behind salt crystals.

The vast sheets of salt amazed Sibley, who described the prairie gleaming white “like a brilliant field of snow.” Viewing the deposits near modern-day Freedom, he waxed poetic about “beautiful transparent flakes … glittering like so many mirrors in the sun.”

Historian Thomas Isern credits Sibley as the first U.S. official to assess the plains not as a desert but as “a place of wonder and fascination,” and the first to convey a favorable image of present-day Oklahoma to the American public.

Others would follow, including Nathan Boone, the youngest son of Daniel. He led an exploratory contingent of troops out of Fort Gibson in the summer of 1843, and is said to have called the Great Salt Plains one of the seven wonders of the world.

Not suitable for farming, the area was set aside when the Cherokee Outlet was opened to homesteaders. In 1930, the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge was created. A dam and lake, completed on the eve of World War II, covered part of the area but left 11,000 acres of salt flats intact. And so they remain, nearly 80 years later.

Beyond the rusting, salt-corroded cables that line the sandy road across the flats are nesting terns and snowy plovers, quietly poking around for dinner.

Somewhere on the other side of the preserve is a state park with cabins, and a self-serve kayak rental booth.

There are marshlands and pathways and little wooden benches, a campground, a visitor’s center that is never open when you want it to be. But here, standing alone in the heart of a brilliant expanse of snowy white and unearthly stillness, the salt of the earth quietly and relentlessly seeps its way to the surface, adding a little spice to the Oklahoma plains.

JANUARY 2019 405 MAGAZINE

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in the 405 FAVORITE THINGS

Large table lamp in turquoise, $880 “Crafted in porcelain with a turquoise glazed wave pattern, this 36.75” tall table lamp has solid brass hardware and double switch pulls.”

Baroque-era carved cabinet, $9,500 “The baroque era, known as a highly ornate and often extravagant era of architecture, is reflected in the exquisite handcarved motif of this period piece.”

Kat Tabbytite and owner Kim Coughlin

Soaring Styles for the Home Exploring Scissortail Marketplace

Faceted bud vase and tea light holder, $175 “One of the best gift items you’ll find are our faceted bud vases. They double as a tea light holder and they sparkle beautifully when lit.”

Original angel oil painting by Alexa K., 13x15, $325 “This Romanian-born artist demonstrates outstanding versatility, and her angel series has become a fan favorite.”

French Kande necklaces, cross and labradorite, $365 and $290 “We love Kande’s jewelry! Every piece is crafted in her home town of Los Angeles.

Each piece displays a classic French medallion or symbol cast from her personal collection.”

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405 MAGAZINE JANUARY 2019

Marketplace wasn’t always called that – but then, its current location of 6528 N Classen was not its original home. Owner Kim Coughlin says, “Prior to this date, we had been in Canadian County. Since we had no official business name at that time, people referred to us as ‘The Warehouse’ or ‘Banner Road.’ When I moved, I wanted to give the business a proper name. I wanted it to reflect Oklahoma and give people an indication of its magnitude.” The greeting you receive when entering is always one of genuine welcome and true friendliness, whether it is Coughlin herself or store manager Kat Tabbytite. Moreover, the furniture is gorgeous, from new to antique, from near and far. Coughlin is a visionary, and it shows in the volume and quality of the merchandise. She says, “When I go on a buying trip, I am full steam ahead. I am always looking for something new and unique. I love all decorating styles, so that is why the shop is such a mix; a collection of antiques, new, architectural, modern, transitional and Mid-century.”

This is no small place, with 12,000 square feet that includes a large warehouse space and elegant showroom filled with gift items and small treasures, beautiful art and everything you could need to decorate your home. It’s definitely a place to see, to explore and to find everything you could possibly need for your home. - SAR A GAE WATERS

Antique French bleached buffet, $2,950 “Modernized by stripping the dark stain off and bleaching this lovely antique buffet cabinet, it is now a perfectly transitional statement.”

French Kande angel bracelet with slate beads, $270 “This new bracelet design has stolen our hearts. The beautiful angel medallion mixed with honed slate beads is just perfect.”

Black and white striped chair with gilt legs, $535 “The most darling addition to our offerings is this small accent chair, upholstered in striking black and white striped fabric.”

Acrylic magnet frames, $25-$115 “Our best-selling frame ever, these acrylic magnet frames go with any style of decor and make a perfect gift.”

Carved teak doors with surround, $10,900 “We are known for our immense selection of architectural doors, and this set is our grandest.

It stands 10 feet tall and has many layers of carved surround.”

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in the 405

En Croute fills this Scissortail Marketplace board with French Mimolette (aged 24 months), Pecorino Fiore Sardo, Oma, La Tur, Wabash Cannonball and Cana de Cabra cheeses; La Quercia Berkshire prosciutto and Molinari Finocchiona salame; Castelvetrano olives from Sicily, strawberries, blackberries, stone-ground mustard and house-made raspberry Fresno jam.

TRENDS

This board from Plenty Mercantile holds The Kitchen at Commonplace’s Bayley Hazen Blue cheese from Jasper Hill Farms, Brabander gouda, La Quercia speck, salame, honeycomb and housemade orange marmalade.

Pleased to Meat (and Cheese) You

The Pritchard’s Prosciutto di Parma paired with house-made fig caramel, pheasant pate with house-made candied pecans, spicy salame with whole grain mustard, Italian gorgonzola cheese with roasted walnuts, Ewephoria cheese from The Netherlands with house-made apple pie jam, plus arugula, house-made pickled okra and toasted crostini, on a board from Culinary Kitchen.

CH A RCU T ER IE BOA R DS are a culinary custom, as well as a pleasure, and local eateries couldn’t be happier about them. Chris Castro of The Kitchen at Commonplace says, “It’s a great way to invite people to come into our space and eat and drink at their leisure, as opposed to our usual dinner service.”

Shelby Sieg from The Pritchard agrees, “I love having it on the menu because I can change out the choices frequently and expose people to some incredible handcrafted items from around the world. I also really enjoy seeing people try the items with their accompaniment to see how the flavors change.”

Laying out a board can go from the simple to the elaborate, and neither disappoints. Crosby Dyke of En Croute says, “If you are using crackers – which, who doesn’t love a good cracker? We make our own house olive oil crackers – they are a great base to start building your board. We like to have at least one focal point in the board, depending upon how large it will be. A softer, younger cheese is great for the center to build around. Using your thinly sliced meats plus olives, fruits, nuts, herbs and jams will create a plentiful board.”

Above all else, taste is king, and these three locales not only wear the crown but give inspiration for your own efforts. But don’t forget a good board to serve your creation on. Presentation is a key part of the whole affair, and the three boards showcased here play their part well. - SAR A GAE WATERS Scissortail Marketplace, 6528 N Classen, OKC, scissortailmarketplace.com; Culinary Kitchen, 7222 N Western, OKC, culinarykitchen.com; Plenty Mercantile, 807 N Broadway, OKC, plentymercantile.com; En Croute, 6460 Avondale, OKC, encrouteokc.com; The Pritchard, 1749 NW 16th, OKC, pritchardokc.com; Kitchen at Commonplace, 1325 N Walker, OKC, commonplacebooksokc.com

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PHOTOS BY SCOTTY O’DANIEL

Charcuter-rific local options

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in the 405 CONVERSATION

and we work directly to assist foster families with OK Foster Wishes. We also help fulfill the wish lists in December for every child in foster care through OK Foster Wishes who is not taken by another organization or individual; OICA is responsible for fulfilling more than half of the 8,500 foster children’s wish lists submitted to DHS.”

Joe Dorman and Oklahoma’s Kids A Q&A about OICA and more

I T ’S BEE N A F EW years since Joe Dorman left the harsh spotlight of politics, but he hasn’t gone far. He spent more than a decade in the state Legislature, and ran for governor in 2014. Since then, he has dedicated much of his time to making sure Oklahoma’s children and families have what they need to survive, as well as thrive. We recently spoke with Dorman about his work, what he sees on the horizon for Oklahoma’s political landscape and – since he’s a Rush Springs native – watermelons. Some highlights are below; visit 405magazine.com/January-2019/Joe-Dorman-and-OKs-Kids/ for the full conversation.

Tell us about the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy – when was the organization founded, and why? “The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) is a statewide nonprofit that lives up to our mission statement: ‘Creating awareness, taking action and supporting policy to improve the health, safety and well-being of Oklahoma’s children.’ The organization was founded in 1983 … as a voice for children.”

Any plans to return to politics? “I don’t feel like I have ventured too far from politics in this new role.

I do not know if I will ever run for office again, but I am certain that as long as I am able to be an advocate with the lawmakers … in both chambers of the state Capitol, I will feel like I am making a difference for improving Oklahoma – maybe even more so than holding an elective office.”

Finally – you’re from Rush Springs. How were the watermelons last summer? “The watermelon crop was superb! You can take the boy out of Rush Springs, but not vice-versa: I was proud to serve as the chairman of the festival for several years. If you join Bricktown Rotary at the Warren Spahn Awards banquet on January 25 at the Skirvin, we can talk baseball, watermelons and what we need to do in Oklahoma to help our children.” - MARK BEUTLER

How does the work you do affect Oklahoma families? “The advocacy portion of our work seeks to positively impact public policy and lawmaking both in the Legislature and at the agency level. We are also a resource to lawmakers that can provide statistical data and research regarding child well-being.

“We also have a direct-service portion of our work. That includes programs such as OK Foster Wishes, which provides holiday gifts to thousands of foster children, and OK-LEAD, the leadership symposium we developed to help build self-worth and teach life skills to high school students.”

Talk a bit about fostering – what is OICA’s role? “Our organization is set up to help encourage improvement of the policies overseeing foster care,

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OICA’s 2017 Kid Governor Audrey Patton (back center) and the Kid Cabinet

JOE DORMAN BY CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER; KIDS COURTESY JOE DORMAN

Joe Dorman

On a personal note, what do you see on the political horizon for Oklahoma, and the United States?

“I am optimistic about the near future in Oklahoma.

I would not have run for office if I did not feel I could make a difference, and I have not let an election loss stop me. I believe there are many lawmakers, both state and federal, who truly care about improving the well-being of children, and I see it as my job – and that of OICA – to educate them and provide realistic solutions. There have been some great new laws passed at both the state and federal level that support the kids of our nation, and I am happy that we have been a part of some of those through our advocacy efforts.”

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in the 405 LAUGH LINES

Pick a Name, Any Name It’s not a crisis, it’s an identity opportunity T HE TOP (A M ER ICA N) baby names of 2019 are out. That means if you plan to attend a high school graduation in 2037, these are the names you’ll hear over and over and over.

And over. I don’t make the list, but I do judge it – and frankly, most parents need to go back to the drawing board.

The Social Security Administration tracks the top 100 baby names each year, keeping year-over-year stats, as an indicator of which popular names have staying power and which are shooting stars. Most of the names on the 2019 list are like those three or four songs that every radio station plays over and over and over. The rest of the names are more like weird experiments with too many vowels. (This is a tactical mistake, parents: your kid is going to want his or her name hand-tooled onto the back of a belt one day, and you’re going to pay by the letter. That belt for Everleigh is going to cost you $579 before tax.)

But what about the parents who want a less commonly used name for their child? The Internet is littered with baby name generators for parents who are too uncertain about their own ideas, or who can’t agree on a name, but who feel just fine about trusting their child’s lifelong identity to, say, babynamegenie.com.

If you think people come up with some stupid names for their kids, just watch the dumbassery that happens when you give a randomizing algorithm a spin! If it’s a girl, she might be Basha Mimosa or Swanhild Clemency. A boy might be Rhythm Tempo or Zero Pine. These names should come with a warning: Your child will hold a pillow over your face 15 years from now.

Even more fun than the baby name generators are “fake name generators” which spin up not only a new name for you, but an entirely new (fake) identity and persona.

Why would someone need a fake name, you ask? (You’re probably a guy, right?)

She doesn’t want you to know her real name.

She doesn’t want you to know her real address.

She doesn’t want you to know her.

I’m on my fifth identity of the day, thanks to the delightful fakenamegenerator.com. This morning, I was a 67-year-old retiree named Delores who’s bringing in a lovely monthly pension in L.A. But I was a smoker and an Aries – a combustible combination I knew I couldn’t sustain beyond the lunch hour.

For a hot minute this afternoon, I was a 25-year-old male who had a $2,200 charge on his VISA from the Ashley Madison online dating service. I quickly morphed into an 84-year-old Aquarius from Milwaukee named Sylvia. I looked lovely in my

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2019’S TOP BABY NAMES According to the SSA by way of mother.ly Girls Ensley Luna Adeline Oaklynn/Oaklyn/Oaklee Amora I’ve nev e heard th r, ever Aurora is n yet it’s ame, # 8?

Mila Yara Selene Everlee/Everleigh

Boys Bryson Greyson Lincoln Reign Kashton Caspian Gatlin Roman Easton Carson

Bottom line: if you’re a boy born in 2019, you’ll probably have an “n” on the end of your name. profile photo, but at 84, I don’t even know what a profile picture is. I’m still getting my mind around talkies.

I put Sylvia back on the market to become a Peugeot-driving, 27-year-old, bi-sexual, brunette Capricorn woman with a GED who is killing it as a software developer in New Mexico and pulling in $7,800/month. (Who needs college? I say.)

It’s now bedtime, and Mr. Roth has no idea that he’ll be slumbering next to a 43-year-old Sagittarius woman from Baltimore.

The good news: I lost 46 pounds with the click of a button! The bad news: I put on 16 years in half a second (just like in real life). The other bad news: According to my disease history, I’ll be bringing my restless leg syndrome to bed with me.

Mr. Roth has no idea how lucky he is, considering who I’ve been all day. If I hadn’t changed my identity five times, he might have had to contend with cigarettes in bed, crippling credit card debt, grandma in bed, or a pillow to the face courtesy of Miss Clemency (Swanhild to my friends). - LAUREN ROTH

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in the 405 OKLAHOMYTHS

A Scholarship That Wasn’t The Rhodes saga of John Joseph Mathews JOH N JOSEPH M AT HEWS was born in 1894

and died in 1979 in Pawhuska, capital of the Osage Nation. In between, he grew into an Oklahoman amalgam of Ernest Hemingway and Henry David Thoreau. His early years of adventure and international derring-do evolved into a more reflective style, birthed in the solitude of his stone cabin on the tall grass prairie, which became his Walden Pond. But before that, his education was a matter of some dispute.

THE CLAIM: John Joseph Mathews earned an undergraduate degree in geology from the University of Oklahoma and was offered – but declined – a Rhodes Scholarship.

SOURCE: Tulsa World, Feb. 11, 2015 FACT CHECK: False. He was an explorer, motorcyclist, World War I flight instructor, big-game hunter, Osage leader, newspaper correspondent, biographer, tribal historian and renowned novelist. What he wasn’t was a Rhodes Scholar.

The Rhodes Scholarship, the world’s first international study program, was established by Oxford University alumnus Cecil Rhodes’ estate upon his death in 1902. His hope: to encourage understanding and scholarship among outstanding young men from British colonies past and present, in the hope friendship across borders would “render war impossible.”

Published reports ranging from academic journals and literary anthologies to the Osage Nation newspaper declare Mathews was either a Rhodes Scholar or a winner who turned the scholarship down because – depending on who’s telling the story – he either deemed the award too restrictive, or opted to pay his own way and leave open a spot for a scholar of lesser financial means.

In Twenty Thousand Mornings: An Autobiography – published by University of Oklahoma Press in 2011, more than three decades after his death – Mathews notes he was intrigued by Oxford and was encouraged to apply for the Rhodes by early recipient Walter Stanley Campbell, a fellow World War I vet.

Campbell became an OU English professor who wrote of the Old West under the name of Stanley Vestal.

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Framed photographs of a young John Joseph Mathews line the fireplace mantel of the writer’s newly restored cabin, north of Pawhuska on the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve.

Mathews enthusiastically began completing the scholarship application before deciding his inconsistent grades might embarrass his sponsor Campbell. But the dream of attending Oxford burned bright. Mathews had an idea: Why not apply for admission, using Campbell as a reference, but then offer to pay his own way? The school agreed, approving him for entry in Fall 1920.

In 1972, Mathews acknowledged in an interview, cited by biographer Michael Snyder, that despite all evidence to the contrary, people continued to insist he had won the Rhodes Scholarship. “Finally I just stopped saying I wasn’t a Rhodes Scholar,” he said. “I just let it go. I didn’t correct.”

Between the publication of Mathews’ first and second books, another fated boy entered the world to claim the same hometown. Like Mathews, he was born in Pawhuska to a EuropeanAmerican mother and part-Osage father. His name: Carter Revard. He would become a poet and, like Mathews, go on to join Oklahoma’s pantheon of writers – but not before, in 1952, winning a Rhodes Scholarship. - MJ ALEX ANDER Editor’s note: Oklahoma is rich with history, lore and fun facts, but some of them aren’t quite factual. In this series, M.J. Alexander hunts for the accuracy – or lack thereof – behind some of our state’s stories.

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Mental Wellness in the New Year

BY CHRISTINE EDDINGTON ILLUSTR ATION BY CHAD CROWE

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IT’S JANUARY, which means that this is the time of year we talk and write and think (and obsess) about health, fitness and resolutions for a better, thinner, shinier you in this new year. On the other hand, odds are pretty good you already know what to do to lose weight and get fitter. What might not be as easy to figure out is how to feel happier and more mentally content in 2019, and how to help your family and friends develop good mental health hygiene habits that will help them for the rest of their lives.

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M Mental health challenges range from feeling low in the gloomy winter months (seasonal affective disorder) to struggling with addictions to harmful substances or behaviors; feeling untethered and shaken to the core after a loss – death, divorce or being fired; or experiencing a terrifying disease such as schizophrenia … and they affect more of us than we are often inclined to admit. Anxiety disorders alone affect some 42 million people in the United States, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

The trick with good mental health is, in many ways, the same as the trick with good physical health, when it comes to managing things like anxiety and mood: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and good habits are key. Focus on prevention, practice good mental health hygiene and see a doctor (or therapist) and take medication when you need to. In many cases, good mental health is a habit, which can be maintained and improved upon.

And when a person attempts the tried-and-true home remedies for a happy mental state and still can’t shake his or her depression, it’s time to call in the experts. Just as you know to call a plumber when your vinegar-baking soda elixir doesn’t

unclog the disposal, and just as you know to see your physician when your sinus infection won’t go away no matter how often you use your Neti pot, so should you know that when you are mired in an unhealthy place, you need to call for help. No ifs, ands or buts, and certainly no shame.

What is good mental health? A person who is mentally healthy is someone with a positive mindset, said David Swope, LPC. Swope’s career in counseling spans four decades. He oversees a department of 10, including counselors and interns, at Sunbeam Family Services – and if he were an item of clothing, he’d be a calming, cozy cardigan. This is a man who fills the room with kindness and acceptance without saying a word.

“Mentally healthy people are optimists,” he says. “They have a growth mindset, which means that when things come up, they experience a challenge, they enjoy the challenge and look forward to learning something new.”

By contrast, he said, people who are mentally unhealthy operate from a fixed mindset, meaning they believe that neither they, nor their world, can change. They are certain that they’re stuck right where they are, and there is nothing to be done about it but suffer along. “Each person has a set point for happiness, but that can change,” says Swope. Another key is to stay away from toxic people, and try to surround yourself with people who are optimistic.

When you’ve made a concerted effort to lift your mood and the steps you are taking aren’t working, take it up a notch and find professional help. “If depression or anxiety are left to continue over time, they will affect your health, your sleep, your work and your relationships,” Swope says. “Chronic depression means you are down more days than you’re not, and you can’t transcend it.”

ROCK OF (ALL) AGES

For 45 years, Red Rock Behavioral Health Services, headquartered at 4400 N Lincoln, has offered Oklahomans, of all ages and from every walk of life, a full slate of mental health services, all on an income-based sliding scale. “We are a system of community mental health centers in Oklahoma. We offer a full range of mental health services for adults and children, including residential treatment, crisis units for adults and for

“Mentally healthy people are optimists. They have a growth mindset, which means that when things come up, they experience a challenge, they enjoy the challenge and look forward to learning something new.”

- DAVID SWOPE, LPC

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“So many people are struggling with something we can’t see.

It is estimated that 8 percent of the total population suffers from PTSD, and 33 percent of those are not diagnosed yet.”

- WANA ELLISON, PSY.D., LPC, LADC

children, substance abuse programs and outpatient counseling services,” says Verna Foust, MS, LPC and chief executive officer.

Foust is a thoughtful woman, whose quiet optimism and genuine desire to help people radiate calmly from her as she speaks. She’s been in community mental health for 30 years, and has known since childhood that her path would be dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives and well-being.

“Nothing is untreatable,” she says. “Every condition may not go away, but we can help anyone. We don’t fix people; we help them become the best person they can be. We can establish what their normal is and help them reach it.”

She explains what mental illnesses might feel like, with the caveat that each person experiences things slightly differently.

“A person with bipolar disorder, in a manic state, will feel like they have way too much energy. They won’t be sleeping, they will be making poor decisions and will be very impulsive. A manic episode will last for an extended period of time.”

When a person experiences a psychotic break – which means losing touch with reality, and can include hallucinations, delusions or even tasting or smelling things that are not there – Foust says a likely overarching feeling will be fear. “It’s a scary thing. A psychotic break is scary when it happens, and then the person is often afraid that it will happen again. They may be afraid to tell anyone what has happened, for fear of what they think might happen if they do.”

WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER HERO

You can only do so much on your own. If you had a terrible cold that lasted for a month, you wouldn’t hesitate to call a doctor. What if you had a rash that wouldn’t clear up? Would you call someone then? It’s no accident that the word “malaise” (“mal” meaning “bad”) is used to describe physical and mental discomfort that is not easily identifiable. The fact of the matter is that your brain is an organ, just like your liver or your heart, so it can experience illness or disease, too.

Wana Ellison, Psy.D., LPC, LADC and chief operating officer of outpatient services for Red Rock Behavioral Health Services, is fascinated by the brain. “It’s the only organ we know so little about,” Ellison says. She encourages anyone who may be toying

with the idea of calling Red Rock or any mental health provider for help to do it sooner rather than later.

“So many people are struggling with something we can’t see.

It is estimated that 8 percent of the total population suffers from PTSD, and 33 percent of those are not diagnosed yet.

Some 7 percent suffer from substance abuse issues, 14-15 percent have, or have had, major depression, and as many as 4 percent have schizophrenia,” Ellison says.

Even more people are trying to deal with unresolved trauma.

“People think they don’t need help, or they are afraid to ask for help, because although things are much better, mental health issues have not been normalized as much as they should be,” Ellison says.

“In Oklahoma, there are approximately 900,000 people in need of mental health services, and about a third of them get it,” Foust says.

For Foust, recognizing the strength it takes to come forward and ask for help is crucial. “Whether you call, or walk in the front door, I know it takes such courage, but it’s worth it,” she says. “Others who have truly struggled have come to us for help and have left truly feeling that there is hope. Just give it a try. People have ‘what-ifs,’ but the what-ifs are destructive. Try anyway, despite the what-ifs.”

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT?

D’Anna Hope, LPC, has been a practicing counselor for about 15 years. Her career began with a stint teaching elementary school; from there she earned a master’s degree in guidance and worked as a middle school counselor. These days, she works with families and children.

“Depression and anxiety in children can sometimes be environmentally based,” Hope says. “Things like screen time, playing violent video games and what we see on the news – all of the mass shootings, many of which happen in schools – can really contribute. Think about it: We had tornado drills, but our kids have intruder drills. Our kids are growing up with that as normal, and it’s a tremendous source of anxiety.”

As parents, our job is to help our kids learn how to navigate life. Hope said there are some time-tested ways you can

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provide guidance and structure, and teach kids what healthy mental health habits look like. “Routine and structure are key. Have a consistent bed time, a consistent homework time.

I work with families who are sometimes really resistant to creating a routine, and they tell me that winging it is just how they roll. But the truth is that kids like to know what to expect,” Hope says.

Don’t over-schedule your kids, but do make sure your kids get outside and exercise. “An 8-year-old does not have the bandwidth to go to school, plus have three different activities going on. Choose one activity at a time for elementary and middle school age kids. A team sport is a great idea. You can still do more than one activity or sport per year, just play them by season. As they get older, maybe add one more.”

Limit screen time. This includes every screen: computer, TV, phone, iPad and games. “You have to start this early and stick with it,” Hope says. “During the teen years, it’s easy to slip on screen time when a child is keeping up with schoolwork and his or her other responsibilities.” That’s a problem later on, though, because when kids leave for college or are living on their own, they are often unable to regulate how much time they spend playing video games or on social media.

“Video games are addictive,” Hope says. “I see it in my own son. On cold weekends, when he plays them more, it’s really hard to get him to taper off. He changes when he plays more.

You’ve got to limit it no matter how old they are. Your house, your rules.”

Talk openly when there is a tragedy. Hope suggests that when a mass shooting happens, you should ask your kids open-ended questions. “Ask if they talked about the shooting at school, or if they had a drill. Ask if they feel scared, and ask how you can help them. Sometimes, talking through your child’s school’s safety protocols can really help your child feel safer.” Do not say that something like this will never happen at their school, because – unfortunately – you do not know that.

SUICIDE ON THE RISE

In 2016, Oklahoma ranked 8th in the nation in number of deaths by suicide, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Oklahoma Watch reported that in the first week of 2017, 14 Oklahomans died by suicide. The Oklahoma

youth suicide rate increased 41 percent since 2006, compared to a 33-percent increase in the youth suicide rate nationally for the same time period, according to data from the Oklahoma Violent Death Reporting System and the Oklahoma Youth Risk Behavior Survey, released in October 2017.

“Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people in Oklahoma, behind unintentional injury,” says Amy Shipman, LPC and director of counseling at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. “Suicide most often occurs between the ages of 15 and 35. Males tend to ‘complete’ their suicides at a higher rate, and females tend to make more attempts. That is often due to the means; males tend to use more lethal means than females. For each completion, there are as many as 200 attempts. People who die by suicide are getting younger each year – Oklahoma now tracks death by suicide beginning at age 10.”

Shipman’s department is responsible for short-term mental health services and support to Oklahoma’s Catholic parishes and schools. “We are the first to respond when there is a tragedy, like a self-inflicted death of a student, teacher, staff or parish member.” In the period 2011-2012, Shipman and her staff found themselves trying to cope with five youth suicides in six months. Those deaths prompted Shipman’s department to develop and offer a curriculum of free community mental health classes on subjects ranging from mental health first aid to suicide prevention.

“Suicide contagion is real,” she says. “There are signs that some people will give you when they are ideating about suicide.

They may not be able to directly say ‘I am thinking about killing myself,’ but they might say something like, ‘Pretty soon you won’t have to worry about me.’” Another tip-off could be that they are giving away prized possessions, or quitting activities that are meaningful to them without replacing them with something new.

“If you suspect someone may be planning to self-harm, it’s important to ask about it very directly,” Shipman says. “Ask ‘Are you planning to kill yourself?’” Further, Shipman said, ask whether the person has decided the means, and whether they have begun to actively plan. This will help you determine whether you need to act immediately, i.e., calling 911.

Death by suicide is almost never a person’s first option, according to survivors, Shipman said. “Usually they will try many things to end their emotional pain. People don’t usually take

“An 8-year-old does not have the bandwidth to go to school, plus have three different activities going on. Choose one activity at a time for elementary and middle school age kids.”

- D’ANNA HOPE, LPC

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“We all have a running mental dialogue with ourselves, planning what to do next, making mental lists and keeping tabs on what we are doing. It’s important to stop and say to yourself ‘How am I feeling today?’ and then ‘What do I need to do to take care of myself?’ and to give yourself permission to do something to care for yourself. It might feel funny at first, but self-care is important.

- AMY SHIPMAN, LPC

IMPORTANT RESOURCES

their own lives because of one thing; it tends to be a multitude of smaller things that build over time.”

If you suspect that someone is planning to attempt suicide, call someone. Do something. Don’t be afraid to reach out. If you’re wrong, you might feel a little silly, but if you’re right and do nothing, it could cost someone his or her life.

If you feel like you’re in over your head, one of the most crucial pieces of advice you could get is this: You don’t have to try to go it alone. There are experts, and they can help. Reaching out to one of these agencies could be the first step toward a better future.

CHECK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF

Red Rock Behavioral Health Services Multiple locations throughout the state.

Call 405.424.7711 or 855.999.8055 for access to treatment at any Red Rock location.

Sunbeam Family Services 1100 NW 14th, OKC 405.528.7721 Catholic Charities OKC 1232 N Classen, OKC 405.523.3000 or 800.375.8514 National Suicide Prevention Hotline 800.273.8255 Heartline Call 2-1-1 or text your ZIP code to 898-211

Shipman said the ability to check in with oneself is one of the most important skills we can foster. “We all have a running mental dialogue with ourselves, planning what to do next, making mental lists and keeping tabs on what we are doing. It’s important to stop and say to yourself ‘How am I feeling today?’ and then ‘What do I need to do to take care of myself?’ and to give yourself permission to do something to care for yourself.

It might feel funny at first, but self-care is important. It doesn’t mean taking a spa day. It can be something small; just 15 or 20 minutes spent taking a walk, listening to music or taking a bath can help you fill your tank.”

Different people recharge in different ways. “If you’re more of an introvert, maybe being still and reading is a good way to recharge. If you are an extrovert, you might recharge by being around people. Just be proactive with your own well-being,” Shipman says.

Can’t think of anything you like to do? That’s not uncommon.

Shipman asks people what they liked to do when they were children. “What was something you liked to do when you were 10 years old? Or 15 or 20? It’s not that you would necessarily do those things again, but it’s a way to get the ball rolling and get you thinking about things you enjoy,” she says.

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Mental Health 101: Your Daily Regimen Matters

BY CHRISTINE EDDINGTON ILLUSTR ATIONS BY CHAD CROWE

HAPPINESS IS VERY MUCH A PRACTICE. There is a myth that some people are naturally happy and others naturally not – but while it’s true that each person has a set point for happiness and satisfaction, it’s not set in stone.

All of the mental health professionals who spoke with us agree that there are little things a person can make a part of their daily routine to optimize their mental health.

EXERCISE. “Sometimes you can’t think yourself better,” Swope says. “Sometimes you have to do yourself better.” As little as 10 minutes of exercise, such as a walk, can be a soothing and uplifting action you can take almost anywhere.

HELP OTHERS. Donate a coat, volunteer or make cookies for your neighbors. Invite someone who is having trouble to meet for coffee.

“People who help other people are happier because brain chemicals, such as oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine, are released when you do. A Harvard study also found that people who help people are something like 10 times more focused at work, and receive 40 percent more promotions,” says Swope. It’s win-win.

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SLEEP. You will feel better if you have a regular bedtime and if you wake up at the same time each day. “Sleep is the most underrated tool for a healthy outlook,” says Shipman. “People need a routine. Our old rhythm was to wake up when the sun rose and go to bed when it set. Now, with artificial light and screens that we never have to turn off, our sleep schedules are more important than ever.” Shipman said that you can’t really catch up on sleep, so it’s better to treat each day as its own unit and sleep properly.

GET HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT. The bulk of Shipman’s clients are dealing with manageable life stressors. Things feel hard or out of control for all of us at one time or another. Getting help, and developing the tools to manage smaller stressors, will also help you manage the larger ones. Working through smaller challenges is good practice, and getting some professional help only makes sense.

DO THINGS YOU LIKE EVERY DAY. “Don’t underestimate the benefit of a cup of tea, nurturing a pet or reading the paper,” Swope says. These things seem small, but that’s the point. A variety of small, enjoyable experiences can make life much sweeter, and more comfortable.

CONNECT WITH PEOPLE, IRL. This means different things to different people. Maybe it means taking a lap around the office in the morning and just saying hello. Maybe it means chatting with strangers while standing in line, or joining a book club, or calling your sister. If you would like to connect more, but it hasn’t been your strong suit, realize that it’s a habit to develop like anything else. What may feel stiff at first will come easily later.

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culture

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AR M. CL

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REINE

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C ho m led t hom a ay. ss Ok la d w i nd o s r a c h a sa le d ff 00 t he ffs on o ws st a 300,0 e y n ch i ng la t e m or e d. Th ne w a e o n ensive n e o p li v n c x e de r ised he d e a f t er s p , r 5 ly u 6 l s t a u ve atic of abo u ld ha s y s t em le sho , as it s r a The sa e ent y i n rec p a p er

p atc h . us Dis b m on e lu ’s Co n be d is h at c a to Ohio w ght th d h u n it o o ave b t , sec i sm w s h yea r e m ’t g i 5 t r n 4 p its la wou ld r e at o her. A e s g li w e , b t v a ’t u a rna lidn im p er way “We h s a jou ou s e d on und plant , inter a H ti n h e li o t o n s a o m p G ps If Ho rd. s e s: d e rinting he r e . a n, Ho Ha r va e pres ys Jim rmer p t veter f r om Stop th homan’s fo se,” sa n i A e h B de r s c m a M e n la e k f ra a na g an r The O nd a n m m a o r i h e r p la u a a nt . Ok is so ne w s p w ho w House r om M le e f t p a e o e G e r p r o eg d by de a l f i sm d ser ve g is a big ey’re h t t eclinin “ This n .” w ith d onfide l uture c f a e . s e d b it ly t , to e in cien shou ld he said believ re effi nges, te mo a s s a nd a e h r c c e na c p e w u o s ill b th ro ca n y ere w group y have a e h mpa n m But th t o e e c Hous s t he ecaus e a b t , , a s e e G y u u , sa ven reven sp e ct s op s on t he r e a ny re an,” H ma ke m “ o o h “In m t la s e Ok ation e to Th d op e r id lifelin ple a n o e , he s a p nt, s in e sa le h t t .” conte u p invest r s abo licy o b a ck u ie o r o p r g l o e ia cu r v ditor loca l w t at e e i ng t o ndure t. ot dic n R e a ct ld a nd e e me n u g d o a e w e n c e a lm ou s l s uc GateH to loca er w i l e p ap hat up h t t ed g d n e i . i s cu s s leav says er m i n a nd d y,” he d r e de t y it e a a n s e s w u n u d e W “ , ev om m en c Br o a olitics e t he c ha s be old its ative p e c om oman d s er v le. It s c v h n b r n a la a lued a e a t k s v r e i n su The O s c on oa r d m a rk b it n le l f a e i r o g h o ia o t n r lt i W m e e su dito rint ffices a ke it as a r offs th h its e d its p a nd o ge to m yea rs e. Lay ed w it ou r c e oa g pla nt r t e s a o t r g f r n g u n e i a o ig ba g g a v t s , i de s rin wn s co bout w ho d eds g a nd sion p s ne w ow nto ions a t ho s e hundr editin E x t en d on it q ue s t pa ce d y y e e s b p d r o d n d o c e e e t e t ep dm r en t ua d its k. Th a nd d c au s e pa ny, rld a n l pu n c sh r i n he sa le t i n, a l ng t o lsa Wo sm t i s i u f u c u i T o n t A i e y t p n i da at it s ke c on to th enter a lf wh er a g e s a nd ou s e c at cov s old t ha n h a c t ion h e y s t l r s i GateH e le y m r g s mo z nolo r d fa sta ff i ffs. s c hut vo k e d l t e ch G aylo ne w s of layo dig ita l ip A n le pr o n t he l a i e e s r h h o s P f w i e a ire dverha n B ut t h wa s b C it y t g up a bi l l ion n a i o t m d a o a e r la h in b eg a n o C olo i n Ok s a nd pa ny man t dolla r ia com er s , g d p klaho n e a i O s p m i s e t Th i ng ne w tion. t g row da ily wn 1. fa s t e s n 140 circu la s to to a e e i n 201 h h t t m , o e e ts, c ou s m or , t e me n GateH er at e s prices at e s t a ow op r n t-rate o , u p a c r ic . t o r s a c t e s y fi t r m o A f lof p ap e s e pr spite o uy i ng nc r e a i n d b i e o f t r d o e s n a nse ns w ation o g ex p e reput of una s o on t pa r i n s f ull i w ith a d n n a it’s too a m y s o a b s y h t jo y la n g i it k C er t a cuttin f The O ho m a e u nc t u re o in Ok la i ng t h y ly n r The f u a e eption c d a nd m n p er le. Un , o a s s m n e io m h ft o q ue s t is a co p a ct o em s t ation t he i m use se reput o ’s H e e k now t s ou . Ga GateH d y i ng ever. about s, how rs a re t e n p e a p m ew s vest s t h at n p a p er ood i n vera l y’re g e e s h t f o k e thin a n , on ne of lahom now o s i The Ok , 8 1 0 2 t in b ou g h

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culture

BLURRED LINES

utting c p e e just k anger in a y e h t f The d eed i . hat is c t c w n u e t t s o n t n ’ o , –c ed ca n “They aders want is not cover e t RV E R what r ntr y is wha OB SE A M HO ou OK L A free c vered.”

THE F O co HER BL IS being N, PU I LT O

of eba lls t he e y g n ocia l i s r r u line o s c a pt n i o t , s u t o ck a g e r pr i n lly ab het he he r p a is rea t w s e i , g h n o t t t atio put “ W ha a nies inform TO N comp ers of HAMIL ia m ld d u o e efore, s a n h t.

Ar c on ever b r s t he o do t ays. “M t e s n d a e i ia nc h h s d t ,” f me influe edia lt c o n media h t he or e m y pes o i d Ho t it v m t w a n g t a D e n er v id yor i na n omp umi of diff i n pr o edia c y d om it y M a e c on s r le r C M e o a . v a r y l l le l it m i o st ica un r s a“P e op Ok la h rs a re c om m s a crit l. conve an s p ap e n play e nt i a rs in a unit y w s a e e s m k m ’t e n a o n m lahom r d h o o m c la an pape o. I d sionThe Ok i g t r ou r r n Ok c a u o e e .” s f o t d d r y b a n o d a atio a Cit of th 5 yea er s a n “ The m t i m i sm ntrol de s t i n la hom p on 2 u s e op a nt co he O k u ng u v o t m m on h r w H f o e t e s o c s .” o t b ie y a a n n G aO he m a lit i ng s. “I’m n sa id n lahom hout t itself. nd q u he say r ve” i news Hopso si z e a it y w it The Ok p a p er e c e f e g h o a h t a t tion,” r e n t he c u f e m n o o i f h a g o s s d d i a e h l d l t s l a b m iv i g a to i cut e a he sw r en n , pu wa s b wa nt er exe t he s t l ayo f f b e en “ m i lt o d m e d a r r n a o o a H h f t d , r d m e ng w a le ap e t rea m a rk A r nol printi S ue H out ho , t he p g wh a tr y yea rs troyed ie d a b n, sa id cuttin n s r r e io na l u r p o t d o e o F io a c e t v w ly k a er, inno just rly n a f ree ecent n y a r n e e i io e h t . n y, r t h c e t e a f ag ed i de d nolog om e d a ng produ c ove r s uc c e t inclu e t e ch ered.” er b e c . “ The ’t g a v s p n a o y a a Th c a nd a r p c . s e g r n he put lism b ei n d t he sitio edito “ They ntent,” ou r n a helpe e s c om h at i s ompo o J c n e w c f e h e t o c s – g S o s a t e . a n t g n ,h al p -the olle red, pla n er s w a homan e h i nd t, dig it lord C t cove e Okla g y, onten e Gay er i n b t i s no c Th h d a t f d a h f o e o le w z hnolo r . i is edito dig it to tec . , de a n a p er s e t g s y p s e n s iv le i t l it lo z wa s w d s u e t g e st a exec in n inclu Ed K b ei n schu d web r s ju n y e n e t t A g a o li . m n n a e n r a u tq ctio t ch re is eclin he a nd fo i n t ha produ r e c en ut the mic d n ly r om t at OU irony ges, b t h at o of the e c o no a p er f n ’s ly p d h e m le c n e r m l Hotel s u e a r h a li r t fi h a Th y i ng d mo o a ng e s ys. “I s e en m u journ ts of c a h a b s o c s lo r u e ly e ip B r io h sh , on ea he e,” t he s er ay not d lord ow ner “ Ther et for t o g et eg a n t prov id m a rk tee la n t he y m n he b ck a g e cle to n a e s a h e t s g u p s i Th u u l b a . m l b o a i s f he to ng an n st g, t h ne e d , have t o S pr i a s pa r t dy i n uestio a p er s olora d e hun ylords . The q a r e no C a s m G n r r e w o ne w s p p f : of th o t t a t s e p n o s e e c m r w o . n h of it e ne ma n le. O i r cu r lai n h is et rid believ m or a the hu g i n t he he O k r t e e o r f ly t b o o e s t t n m ck en so ple r it.” ts ig cutba of the presid olog y, b e c om s s fa c pay fo id off, t e ch n e v ice u s i ne o w ill b la n iv h i t e . n u w s e w c e t Th e e e g gn ve b a b ou ch a n a s , ex ho h a no t h i n , sa id Thom en of ip a re reds w iation r h d M a rk c s ld o r i s e h s A ow n en c P ress ays be g roup ho m a n a nd ve a lw a io h t a – c ia ifi l l me d divers er s – a p a p s New olog y. t e ch n

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HAM

’s h o ma n e Okla h T e r o hs , not ign tr engt should rated s t ent s n Critics o m vernm rs usly de e of go g a r s t hou e e previo v n s its fi y its co p ll a h ia e r c g e e e sp vera risis. P sive co es of c s e x te n it uilding and tim B e r l e a Feder e ek s w h w a r d r un d e r n u a s staff d P. M w e e r r, n lf A e t h ono of the hich th highes ’s , for w g m s in li b a ark b om d journ g to M a merite ccordin a lahom – k Kelley e O l iz entra zer Pr C t f li in o u w P y the in not iversit f a c to r ut t , Un tion sor. A s H a neb e f o retalia r s, was lism p e a v n e r li u e jo tt b ics. a neb u g polit ning, H ht-win ig r ’s d ylor for Ga y g ot a BUT T E N id the A a H s k ) r a m M sr o o d to sit e ne w r st ha h fi t , y n e i w ne r s d. Th y (15 ne w o worke a le da e s r h a t n e o y m f ro er y leav fired for ev tation o wa s s e 37 r e s en e e wh of tho ce pay s p n o h a t oor. r a d s e r r s ev pute ut the e ra h t o m u o e n c r d i week’s e r 0-m t he i nd w offs a n gh a 2 c he c k em s a re lay it o u t l t ra u t h r ou u ld f n to us p er s o sible b ei n g prev io he i r p of pos t t r u d e s o e t before n r c b he sp e estio tion a ey g a t a t , t he or e q u eputa h r t m s e e ing. Th a v iv t ble , lea eg a s s uc h ava ila r c he s i me s n S c e ne aper,” ne s e a p s om e t li cuts n ’s o w o e g e s a h ou ea rs t at e N y S nd w it u n e GateH o a d f g Th be ily led “ e t r en s, ea s homan e labe es. Th la c s k n n ch a s e O e O . p g e s k in y, Th cut ex nswer , sh r i n count rs, to y t ha n a p a p er ever y r e a de n n g r a ph i a d o t y n e li a a g d o de ea s, t r op o c r d e a n ever y ip m a y z a r s e d on me s a list s deliv journ – ba se it beco r s ip e ting it a h w s e d r f e s, to e a de ntinu a nd r bt r a c t ha s co rs, a rea s , or s u n p u io t s p ap e s d f ne w . o e circu la . It a d r e n u r t t he y t io u t t he f u tic, bu he f ut opu la s t n i p i n d m i e i g n t s a op t. I eve overa onten n beli t to be ew s c er s – c a milto “I wa n d less n .

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MIN E EX A ESVILL WS BA R T L O U N T Y N E C N E A IT Y E R B NAL OR ARDM UNT Y JOUR DAILY O C ARE DEL AW UN S RD E V G RO L R ECO URNA RD AL T H E J O E W S - R ECO C APIT IN RNALU MIAM O J US K A AR PAWH WS-ST EE N E N W A SH spaper

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TESMA N-STA A IC May R AME AUSTIN exa s T , in t Au s TAIN CHIEF EBLO U P E TH ra d o , Colo Pueblo

N

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Central Oklahoma’s premier home and design resource.

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home Retriever at Rest

PHOTO BY DON RISI

The Orndorff home is filled with animals – paterfamilias Koby is a dedicated big-game hunter – which means Labrador retriever Filson, or “Fil,” as his family calls him, has a lot to watch over while he’s being vigilant. Fortunately, the family home is filled with cozy comforts for canine and human alike.

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home HABITAT

THE ORNDORFF AESTHETIC

The Orndorff home is a casually sophisticated blend of color, style and texture, perfect for a young family. In the living room, brilliant green velvet Chesterfield love seats, a pair of cushy walnut leather club chairs and a flock of pillows in traditional and tribal-inspired fabrics coexist happily atop a traditional Persian rug.

A fresh family hideaway

BY CHRISTINE EDDINGTON PHOTOS BY DON RISI

I T ’S T HE ST U F F dreams are made of. Two young people meet in high school (in Norman), but sparks don’t f ly. That is, until they meet again, this time as upperclassmen in college. She studied advertising; he was a political science major. That fateful re-meeting was both the continuation, and a new beginning, of the story. The two soon married. So goes the saga of Taylor and Koby Orndorff, whose lives have rolled merrily along as husband and wife.

They bought a beautiful little Nichols Hills starter home on Marlboro Lane, which was the perfect cozy size for a pair of lovebirds. The couple decorated that home themselves, in a quaint, casual first-home style, which means almost (but not quite) grown up in motif. It was comfortable and pretty, and suited them just fine.

Then the birds and the bees did what birds and bees do, and the next thing they knew, there were two babies in the baby carriage. “We needed a

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A tribal-patterned rug adds a zing of color in the dining room. The walls here are adorned with photos taken by Taylor, whose eye is excellent. Two directors’ chairs, covered in hides from Koby’s trophies, contribute casual interest, while wide, wingback chairs upholstered in linen add elegance.

Natural textures and rich tones combine for an atmosphere of ease.

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home HABITAT

Linen bedding and warm neutrals make the master bedroom feel like a luxe hideaway. The room’s eclectic mix of wood, leather, metal and fabrics is given structure with its formal, symmetrical arrangement.

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In the study, the rich wood flooring and floor-to-ceiling paneling were added in a renovation project. An oversized divan in deep green leather is the perfect spot for a nap or an afternoon spent with a great book … presuming you don’t get distracted by the trophies that Koby, a hunter since high school, proudly displays on the walls and floor.

bigger house,’’ Taylor says. “When we moved, onto Marlboro, it was just the two of us. And we didn’t have nearly as much taxidermy at that point.” Koby, a big-game hunter, travels the world and has brought home trophies of every description: a zebra, deer large and small, bears, cats and more, which are now ensconced in the couple’s new home.

Taylor and Koby, along with sons Knox (2) and Nash (6 months), needed new digs and they needed them badly. “Our new house has much more room,” she says. “We’ve got more than double the space, which we love.” Another selling point: their Marlboro home had been built in 1958; the new one was constructed in 2009, meaning it only needed a dash and a dollop of updating.

But it was still a complicated undertaking. Creating a space that was at once cohesive, beautiful and family-friendly while still elegant was no small feat. Fortunately, Taylor knew exactly who to call. “I knew pretty quickly that I couldn’t do it by myself,” she says. She’d become friendly with Cody Thomson, of Thomson+Thomson Interior Design, in a fitness class the two frequented, and the minute the ink dried on the contract, the creative work began.

“We did the whole first f loor,” Orndorff says. The home’s style is a little bit Hollywood Hills, with some tribal inf luences, a nod to Koby’s trips to Africa. The couple had honeymooned in Montana, and Orndorff had also wanted to imbue the space with a cozy, lodge-y vibe. It’s where happily ever after is still happening.

Leather, wood and textiles are carefully combined in each room of the Orndorffs’ home. The team at Thomson+Thomson achieved excellent balance: vibrant color, comfort and high style.

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home DÉCOR

From Culinary Kitchen: Champagne flutes, $16; Cotton napkins, set of 4, $100; Brass napkin rings, set of 4, $90; White and silver bowls, $17.50; Glitter tea spoons, $7 and $9; Butter knives, $30

From Scissortail Marketplace: Tall ribbed decanter, $150; Lux Fragrances heirloom pumpkin candle, $25; Marble tray, $72; Cocktail shaker, $45; Pyrite sun tray, $295

Cheers to the New Year The party’s not over ebrating to a halt? Certainly not. There is always a reason to break out the bubbly, or the faux bubbly, or any drink of your choice, to celebrate … well, just about anything. Whether it’s a toast to the end of a great day or a “here’s to that day being in the books,” any of these additions to the bar cart or table will make your occasion an excellent – as well as tastefully enticing – affair. - SAR A GAE WATERS

Culinary Kitchen, 7222 N Western, OKC, culinarykitchen.com; Scissortail Marketplace, 6528 N Classen, OKC, scissortailmarketplace.com

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PHOTO BY SCOTTY O’DANIEL

SO N EW Y E A R’S E V E has come and gone. But is that a reason to bring the cel-

travel American Stories

PHOTO BY ALAN KARCHMER

With more than 36,000 artifacts detailing the lives and accomplishments of African Americans, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., is a fascinating destination, and a crucial landmark in a journey to learn more about America’s civil rights movement.

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travel STATESIDE

The Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated is now part of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.

SITES FOR CIVIL RIGHTS A travelogue to prepare for Black History Month

BY ELAINE WARNER

Saint Augustine said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” Travel means many things to many people: fun, food, adventure … but also education.

In honor of next month – designated Black History Month – we offer some sites that offer education, encourage understanding and examine our own American history.

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The Hall of Courage in the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site simulates the walk made by young black students through crowds of antiintegration protesters.

BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, TOPEKA, KANSAS Equal education was an early target in the battle for civil rights. While the 1948 Sipuel v. Oklahoma Board of Regents was significant in the area of higher education, Brown v. Board affected a much larger population.

The lawsuit brought before the U.S. Supreme Court was a combination of complaints from a number of states. For convenience, it was titled with the name of one plaintiff, Oliver L.

COLLECTION OF THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE, ANONYMOUS GIFT; COLLECTION OF THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE, GIFT OF ABIODUN AND LAST POETS MEMORABILIA

Brown, whose daughter Linda was denied enrollment in any of Topeka’s all-white schools.

One of four area black schools, Monroe Elementary actually was a fine facility with good teachers and resources. But in presenting the case against the “separate but equal” standard, evidence was presented showing the harmful psychological and sociological effects of segregation. In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that separate was inherently unequal.

Monroe School is now a National Historic Site with an extensive museum within the building. Exhibits explore the obstacles to education faced by black students from the early 1900s to 1954. One space is a former kindergarten classroom restored to its 1950 appearance; another area features the events following the decision. In the Hall of Courage, crowds of shouting protestors – on film – line either side of a narrow walkway. Visitors to the museum walk this gauntlet, which replicates the steps of young black people who were on the forefront of school integration.

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS School integration was not without resistance.

Little Rock schools planned A display case in Little Rock Central High School honors the first nine black gradual integration of their students to attend the school in 1957. facilities, beginning in the fall of 1957. Nine black students agreed to enroll. After Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus called out the National Guard to prevent the students from entering the school, President Eisenhower sent the U.S. Army to escort the children in. They walked silently through a crowd of sign-carrying protestors who screamed and spat at them.

Today, Central High School – still an active school – is part of the National Historic Site. The accompanying Visitor Center with exhibits is open during operating hours. Reservations for guided tours, including the high school, must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance, but much earlier is advised. On the tour, visitors will see a display case in the lobby that’s filled with pictures and memorabilia of the first black students to attempt to integrate the school – the Little Rock Nine.

NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

High-tech displays allow visitors to the National Civil Rights Museum to access information about events in their states.

The assassination of Martin Luther King in April 1968 made headlines across the nation. This advocate of non-violence was violently silenced. But the movement of which he was a major leader would not be stopped.

FOR MORE STORIES

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., includes exhibits on civil rights in the extensive collection. I haven’t been yet, but I plan to – this institution should be on everyone’s “must see” list.

I’ve spent considerable time in the South in the past year, and found interesting bits of history in surprising places. The International Museum of Muslim Cultures in Jackson, Mississippi, has exhibits on West Africa – among them, the story of Prince Ibrahim Abd ar-Rahman, who was sold to slave traders and brought to Mississippi, where he remained a slave for 40 years. Also in Jackson is Tougaloo College, a historically black liberal arts school whose students were active in the civil rights movement.

A number of them were arrested for staging a read-in in the whites-only public library.

Visit the Historic First African Baptist Church in Dublin, Georgia, where a 15-year-old Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his first public speech, entitled “The Negro and the Constitution,” in an oratorical contest. Across the street from the church is Martin Luther King Jr. Monument Park, with colorful murals and a copy of young King’s speech.

Here in Oklahoma, an exhibit on civil rights and the black community can be found in the Oklahoma History Center. Other important black history sites include Tulsa’s Greenwood area, site of the 1921 massacre, as well as Honey Springs Battlefield near Checotah, where the Civil War skirmish included the First Kansas Colored Volunteers, the first AfricanAmerican regiment in the Union Army. For more suggestions, visit travelok.com and search for “Long Road to Liberty.”

A quote used by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. says “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Greater knowledge encourages positive change. Celebrate the month and the progress toward full equality by visiting these sites. And leave with renewed hope and determination to continue on the path of “liberty and justice for all.”

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travel

ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON CATHOLIC SCHOOL 925 S. BLVD, Edmond 405.348.5364 StElizabethEdmond.org

STATESIDE

OPEN H

OUSE J a n ua ry 2 Come 7, 2019 and from 1-3 Go pm .

Spiritually and Academically Preparing Students for Lives of Holiness and Service.

Schedule a visit to our school by calling 405-348-5364 To learn more, visit our Prospective Families page at stelizabethedmond.org

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH 900 S. Boulevard, Edmond stjohn-catholic.org | 405-340-0691

We need your help!

Animal Rescue Friends of Nichols Hills helps pets impounded in Nichols Hills find their owners or a new home.

Your support will help ARF continue its work in saving strays.

Donations may be mailed to

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MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, ATLANTA, GEORGIA This site has many facets: a Visitor Center with films and exhibits; King’s birthplace; Ebenezer Baptist Church Heritage Both Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Sanctuary where King, Scott King are buried in this tomb on the grounds of the Martin Luther King Jr. his father, his maternal Center in Atlanta. grandfather and his brother all served as pastors; an 1894 fire station that was the first racially integrated firehouse in Atlanta; and the tombs of Dr. and Mrs. King.

For a personal experience, book a tour with civilrightstour.com of Atlanta. Owner Tom Houck worked closely with the King family for a number of years, so not only do you see significant sights, you’ll get first-hand stories from one who knew King well.

MISSISSIPPI CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM, JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

COME SEE US AT PETSMART ON SUNDAYS

Call 843.3038

The National Civil Rights Museum encompasses the museum building, the Lorraine Motel where King was killed and the building that had sheltered his assassin.

Artifacts, oral histories, films and graphic displays trace the struggle for equality – from the importation of the first slaves in America in 1619 through King’s last hours, and the continuation of the endeavor for equality internationally.

Touch screens allow guests to access information about events in their states, too; Oklahoma’s own Clara Luper gets a great graphic about her efforts in the OKC sit-ins.

ARF c/o Town Hall 6407 Avondale Drive Nichols Hills, OK 73116

As one of the nation’s newest civil rights museums, this institution in Jackson takes advantage of all the latest technology. Eight galleries surround a central area for contemplation. Visitors often take a break from information overload by resting in this rotunda, where a spectacular The future meets the past light sculpture hangs from the ceiling. at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.

Titled “This Little Light of Mine,” the piece reacts with changes in intensity and color based on movement within the space. Songs of the civil rights movement provide the soundtrack.

Exhibits tell the unvarnished stories of the battle for equality.

Ugliness is reported with honesty, from the treatment of returning veterans and inferior education to the nearly 600 lynchings in the state and the murder of Emmett Till. Also highlighted are heroes, both black and white, of the movement. The creation of such an outstanding museum is to the state’s credit – perhaps a mea culpa – and should not be missed.

dining Ursa Major

PHOTO BY SCOTTY O’DANIEL

The Paseo Arts District’s dining scene is getting a big boost from its new addition, and Oso is rewarding visitors’ interest with hefty portions (these nachos, which can play host to the protein of your choice, are enormous) and ample helpings of flavor. Look for the large blue bear, especially if you’re working with a big appetite.

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LOCAL FLAVOR

LOADED FOR BEAR Oso adds taco temptations to the Paseo

BY STEVE GILL PHOTOS BY SCOT T Y O’DANIEL

A L IGH T, CHEER F U L color scheme, ample sunshine streaming through windows on three sides, decorative touches of wicker and copper and vintage-looking tile … Oso is a new addition to the historic Paseo Arts District, but its comfortable Southwestern vibe already feels perfectly at home.

The cozy taqueria-and-then-some from Humankind Hospitality has seating available around three sides of the blond bar, or at the scattering of tables facing Dewey – but as the seasons change and the sun rescues us from the depth of winter, one of Oso’s primary draws will be the 10 tables on the shaded patio to the restaurant’s south. On the other hand, that patio’s overhead heaters may be sufficient to keep it as an option even in these chillier times. Frankly, it would be worth braving a far less comfortable environment in order to get yourself outside some of the tastiness whipped up by chefs Ryan Parrott and Chris McKenna.

I can save you a bit of time in perusing the menu if it’s your first visit: You’ll definitely want both the street corn (shaved off the cob and swirled in a mild chipotle cream) and tater tots (topped

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(clockwise from left) Oso’s decorative touches start from the ground up; Street corn and tater tots with avocado crema are both must-try sides; Ahi tuna tostadas pack a tasty crunch.

with cheese, bacon, avocado sauce and a runny egg) for the table to accompany the complimentary duros, which are a type of crispy pasta that reminded us in taste and texture of pork rinds. The ahi tuna tostadas are also tempting, although more difficult to share with multiple people. squirts of their house quartet of sauces.

Plus, loath as I am to steer you away from The brisket is outstanding, and might be the taco menu, the Left Coast Burrito’s even better if you leave the fried pickle out mix of grilled shrimp, shaved steak and to eat as a side bite – it’s fine, but the beef tater tots is pretty thoroughly sublime. is so savory and tender it’s worth appreciSpeaking of the tacos, consider the ating a mouthful with fewer taste distracconcept as less a specific dish and more an tions. And while it’s tempting artistic medium, able to wrap a to stay quiet about this in vast array of possibilities inside hopes of saving as much of it as a sturdy corn tortilla that you OSO possible for myself, I strongly, can barely fold closed around 603 NW 28th, OKC emphatically, unhesitatingly the hefty fillings: fried fish, pork 405.309.8226 recommend the chorizo. carnitas, grilled chicken and osopaseo.com

(clockwise from bottom left) The chorizo taco is sensationally flavorful; a sauce sampler of varied heat levels; Fried fish? Tender brisket?

Why not both?; Natural goodness fills the vegan enchiladas; The Montezuma’s pineapple power; passionfruit puree flavors the Smoking Mirror; Never pass up a chance for good churros.

There’s even plenty of good news for vegetarians in the form of vegan enchiladas, or tacos featuring marinated cauliflower, mushrooms, sweet potatoes and even nopales (cactus), which is a comparatively rare option around these parts.

No judgment if you fill yourself to absolute capacity with the main menu’s offerings – but if you can pace yourself, the perfectly done churros sparkling with cinnamon sugar are an excellent way to top off your feast. They’re even accompanied by a cup of soft-serve ice cream, with extra-long spoons to make sharing a little easier.

I should also mention that craft cocktails are a big point of emphasis for Oso, and the effort put into concocting some killer beverages is paying off in a big way for customers. If you want something flashy, there’s a certain swagger inherent

in sipping the tequila-and-rum Montezuma from a hollowed-out pineapple, or the coconut containing the Vallarta Colada’s delectable mixture of mezcal, tequila and honey. However, my personal frontrunner is the Smoking Mirror; its passionfruit puree gives it sweetness without being overpowering, and the smoked tea leaves on top add complexity to its aroma. (Plus, opportunities to impress your drinking companions with your knowledge of Aztec mythology aren’t particularly plentiful, so this is a good way to name-drop Tezcatlipoca in conversation organically).

So, do go to Oso – I know that this time of year can carry with it a fairly strong urge to hibernate, but the sooner you round up a couple of friends and go bear hunting in the Paseo, the happier your taco-loving palate will be.

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CHEF’S TABLE

Bistro State of Mind Russ Johnson’s French-flavored influences RUS S JOH NSON IS rather busy these days. He’s chef-partner at Ludivine and owner of

R&J Lounge and Supper Club, and he’s working on a third concept that will open in the current Ludivine space next year. Ludivine is moving to the R&J building – build-out is underway – where it will occupy the north side of the facility. As such, he seldom has time these days for his hobbies, including a treasured collection of classic cars and motorcycles.

A native of Oklahoma City, Johnson went to Westminster and Bishop McGuinness before completing a degree in restaurant and resort management at Colorado State University.

“I did some time in a couple hotels in Denver and Aspen, but I really loved the year and a half I spent at this small French bistro in Denver,” Johnson says. “It became a model for much of what I’ve done since.”

The bistro was a classic French chalkboard restaurant with 26 seats and a rotating menu. The owner, who had recently arrived from France, simply replicated what he was used to. As Johnson recalls, this was before most people were even thinking about rotating menus and farm-to-table concepts. He might have stayed in Colorado longer, but his growing sense that he was ready to do his own thing, and the news from home that

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his mother’s breast cancer had returned, brought him back to Oklahoma.

Both his parents were excellent in the kitchen, but Johnson remembers his mother – she passed away in 2011 – as a baker more than a cook. On the other hand, her love for “’50s comfort food” helped give shape to R&J. His father, a doctor, loved to grill, especially healthy food, so Johnson got the best of both culinary traditions as a kid.

“I always liked being in the kitchen,” he says. “My mom saved Polaroids of food I cooked in like first grade, and she remembered me as a toddler climbing on the counter to get at the spice rack. I definitely remember watching cooking shows when I was in middle school, and then developing knife skills so I could experiment with cooking.”

Johnson’s relationship with Jonathon Stranger via the old Table One private chef service led to the opening of Ludivine in 2010. Since then, Johnson has established himself as one of our city’s best chefs and restaurateurs, because he’s both a talented chef and a cerebral restaurant professional.

For his recipe, Johnson chose to share a tartiflette – a French potato-and-cheese casserole that is a savory pleasure on cold winter nights. - GREG HORTON

PHOTOS BY SHANNON CORNMAN

For Chef Johnson’s tartiflette recipe, go to 405magazine.com/Eat-Drink

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2920 NW 63, OKC | 405.608.8866 unionwoodfiredgrill.com JANUARY 2019 405 MAGAZINE

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food drink Symbols

$ most entrees under $10 $$ most entrees $10 to $25 $$$ most entrees over $25 outdoor dining reservations accepted valet parking new or updated entry

American AURORA Its warmly comfortable atmosphere makes a perfect backdrop for a quick cup of Hoboken coffee or hearty breakfast or lunch assembled from superb ingredients – just be certain not to miss the beautiful secluded backyard area. 1704 NW 16th, OKC, 609.8854 $

tasting menu drawing on flavors from around the world – unpredictable, but always outstanding. 102 NE 4th, OKC, 455.6274 $$$

HATCH They call it “early mood food,” and if you find yourself in the mood for a sumptuous made-from-scratch breakfast (or lunch), it should be right up your Automobile Alley. 1101 N Broadway, OKC, 232.3949 $$ HUNNY BUNNY Bringing the allure of fresh, hot breakfast treats to Uptown 23rd, this purveyor of made-fromscratch biscuit sandwiches located in the Tower Theatre is a must for comfort food lovers. 429 NW 23rd, OKC $ THE HUTCH ON AVONDALE The all-time classic Coach House receives an update with a more modern menu sprinkled with experimental twists, and a full suite of tempting cocktails, wines and spirits. 6437 Avondale, OKC, 842.1000 $$

BLOCK 23 The Sheraton’s house restaurant has received an extensive makeover into a more casual, contemporary, convenient spot for breakfast, lunch or drinks and snacks on the patio. 1 N Broadway, OKC, 235.2780 $$

THE JONES ASSEMBLY It’s noteworthy as a spectacular concert venue, but don’t overlook the kitchen’s output the rest of the time. The bar (try a Frosé) and main menu (try everything) are sufficient to make memories even on non-special occasions. 901 W Sheridan, OKC, 212.2378 $$

BUTTERMILK Get a fresh, hot start to the day at the Paseo’s brick-andmortar version of a beloved OKC food truck, specializing in a wide range of deliciousness served between biscuits.

605 NW 28th, OKC, 605.6660 $

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

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

324 N Robinson, OKC, 763.5911 $

CAFÉ 501 Rustic stone oven pizzas, fresh salads and specialty sandwiches on house-made artisan breads. Add welcoming atmosphere and enjoy. 501 S Boulevard, Edmond, 359.1501; 5825 NW Grand, OKC, 844.1501 $$

KITCHEN AT COMMONPLACE Few bookstores offer more than coffee and pastries, but then Commonplace Books isn’t exactly ordinary. This full restaurant is a small but savory treat.

1325 N Walker, OKC, 534.4540 $$

THE DRUM ROOM March your own drumsticks in for a heap of crispy, juicy fried chicken (among the city’s best) starring alongside fried okra, waffles and a fully loaded bar. 4300 N Western, OKC, 604.0990 $$

MARY EDDY’S Inside the inviting environs of Film Row anchor 21c Museum Hotel, this showplace of a restaurant turns out a seasonally driven menu of expertly tuned flavors and dishes meant to be shared. 900 W Main, OKC, 982.6900 $$

EDDIE’S BAR & GRILL This stylish spot not far from UCO is equally ideal for a casual drink, appetizers while watching the game or a dinner date.

And bear in mind that the wings are outstanding. 930 E 2, Edmond, 285.7725 $$ FLINT Approachably casual style, plus the kitchen’s impeccably serious attention to detail in the outstanding contemporary cuisine, winningly combined in the Colcord Hotel. 15 N Robinson, OKC, 601.4300 $$ GREY SWEATER Chef Andrew Black offers guests an imaginative culinary journey via a three-tiered

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NASHBIRD Make tracks to this 9th Street spot serving Nashville-style “Hot Dang!” chicken, with whatever spice level you like. Speedy service, whiskey cocktails and beer and a spectacular patio add extra savor. 1 NW 9th, OKC, 388.0033 $ NED’S STARLITE LOUNGE A successful family catering business grew into a lavishly retro-decorated restaurant and bar dishing up delectable burgers, chicken-fried steaks and more.

7301 N May, OKC, 242.6100 $$ NEIGHBORHOOD JAM Serving tasty takes on classic American

dishes and more specialized options such as pineapple bourbon pancakes, this breakfast-centric spot aims to become a community favorite through outstanding execution. 15124 Lleytons Court, Edmond, 242.4161; 102 W Main, Norman, 310.2127 $

NIC’S PLACE Already justly renowned for his skill at the grill, burger master Justin Nicholas offers breakfast, dinner, drinks and late night treats served in outstanding style at this Midtown diner and lounge. 1116 N Robinson, OKC, 601.

9234 $$ PACKARD’S NEW AMERICAN KITCHEN They’re not kidding about the “new” – the entire lunch and dinner menus are filled with innovative tastes for a distinctive dining experience. 201 NW 10th, OKC, 605.3771 $$ PICASSO CAFÉ Their neighbors in the Paseo are painters, potters and sculptors, so it’s apt that creativity abounds in these zippy sandwiches, salads, pizza and surprises, including plentiful selections for vegetarians.

3009 Paseo, OKC, 602.2002 $ THE R&J LOUNGE AND SUPPER CLUB A sentimental dining

experience with vintage recipes and atmosphere. Seating is limited but the patio is a year-round treat, and the drinks menu is a thing of beauty.

320 NW 10th, OKC, 602.5066 $$ THE PRESS Built in a former printing facility and garage, this concept from The Mule’s team adds Oklahomainspired comfort food to the Plaza District – the chicken-fried steak comes recommended. 1610 N Gatewood, OKC, 982.1010 $$ REDROCK CANYON GRILL Rotisserie chicken, enchiladas, pork chops and steak by the lake in a casual, energetic, hacienda-style atmosphere of stone walls and mahogany beams around an open kitchen. 9221 E Lake Hefner Pkwy, OKC, 749.1995; 1820 Legacy Park, Norman, 701.5501 $$ SATURN GRILL A star of the lunchtime stage in Nichols Hills Plaza, its rotation of daily specials and tasty twists on pizza, sandwiches and salads keep it crowded on weekdays. Calling ahead is recommended. 6432 Avondale, OKC, 843.7114 $ SCOTTIE’S DELI Soups, salads and especially sandwiches, all made from scratch and featuring meats that are cured, smoked and cooked in-house.

Start with the pastrami and get ready to fall in love. 427 NW 23rd, OKC, 698.3696 $ SCRATCH Isn’t that the best place for food to come from? Top-of -the-line ingredients are combined into entrees and sides that are carefully concocted

in-house, as are the bevy of wondrous craft cocktails. 132 W Main, Norman, 801.2900; 607 NW 28th, OKC $$ SEVEN47 A Campus Corner hotspot boasting sleek, swank décor, an appealingly broad menu including a tantalizing brunch and a consistently celebratory vibe - in toto that makes this a winner. 747 Asp, Norman, 701.8622 $$ SUNNYSIDE DINER A new day dawns for breakfast and lunch on the west side of downtown as a former service station becomes a no-pretense, made-from-scratch diner. Order up! 3 locations, eatatsunnyside.com $ SYRUP The most important meal of the day is also the most enticing at this unique breakfast boutique serving a heaping helping of signature dishes (the crunchy French toast is something special) and Stumptown coffee. 123 E Main, Norman; 1501 NW 23rd, OKC, 701.1143 $ UNION WOOD FIRED GRILL Ribeyes to cedar plank sea bass to vermicelli bowls, chef Jonas Favela brings disparate influences together for a more perfect whole in this casual, but memorable, dining environment. 2920 NW 63rd, OKC, 608.8866 $$ VAST Keeping your attention on the steaks, seafood and other temptations might be difficult; the view from atop the Devon Tower is truly unparalleled in Oklahoma, making this a fantastic date spot. 280 W Sheridan, 49th floor, OKC, 702.7262 $$$ WHISKEY CAKE High-quality locally sourced ingredients, prepared using slow cooking techniques that’s a prime recipe for outstanding dining. Enjoy – and don’t forget the namesake dessert. 1845 NW Expressway, OKC, 582.2253 $$

Asian CAFÉ ICON Tempting sushi, Japanese specialties and delicious spectacles like steak cooked at the table on a sizzling stone fill the menu to bursting with visually splendid and palate-pleasing treats. 311 S Blackwelder, Edmond, 340.8956 $$ CHICK N BEER Wings and brews are food for the soul; these freshly fried beauties are done Korean-style, and with serious flavor. Grab some kimchi fries and a local beer and enjoy. 715 NW 23rd, OKC, 604.6995 $ CHIGAMA Think of it as Asian-slashMexican; influences of both cuisines are in ready supply in this from-scratch kitchen featuring creative tacos, rice bowls and other wide-ranging treats.

3000 W Memorial, OKC, 513.5999 $

EL TORO CHINO Big, bold flavors from disparate cuisines are blended in this self-described “Latin + Asian Kitchen” - creating results that are as excitingly distinctive as they are delicious. 2801 NW 36th, Norman, 708.9472 $$ GOGI GO Fast-casual Korean barbecue comes to Midtown thanks to chef Kevin Lee’s dream of making the traditional cuisine approachable for OKC diners. Pick your protein, grab it as it comes off the grill and get ready to come back again and again. 1325 N Walker, OKC, 778.8524 $ GORO An “izakaya” is a Japanese pub; visitors to the Plaza District will quickly come to associate the term with expertly crafted deliciousness thanks to this cheerful spot for ramen, yakitori, bar snacks and more. 1634 Blackwelder, OKC, 606.2539 $ KWAN’S KITCHEN Cantonese classics and French-Chinese cuisine in truly sumptuous surroundings? The roomy, regal Kwan’s has you covered.

And try the lunch menu’s array of $8 selections for a quick, savory bite. 3031 W Memorial, OKC, 607.8838 $$ MUSASHI’S Exquisitely flavorful Japanese cuisine prepared with genuine artistry, thanks to the skilled chefs executing culinary performance art at tableside hibachi grills. It’s a great spot for a special occasion. 4315 N Western, OKC, 602.5623 $$ NOODEE / OKIE POKIE Rice or salad or noodles, grilled meats or fresh seafood, topped and sauced with a rainbow of options – whatever you pick from this pair of concepts under one roof, the resulting bowl will be just what you want, and also delicious. 2411 N Guernsey, OKC, 605.5272 $$ O ASIAN FUSION Sublime quality in a wide span of culinary influences – freshly rolled sushi to fiery curry – in cool, vibrant digs. Call ahead for dinner, because it becomes a packed house in a hurry. 105 SE 12th, Norman, 701.8899 $$ SALA THAI Pineapple curry, basil squid, fried rice with crab, cinnamon beef ... the variety is exceptional, making this Midtown diner a popular midday option. 1614 NW 23rd, OKC, 528.8424 $ SAII With a dark, rich ambiance that elevates it over its surroundings, the captivating Saii serves expertly done Japanese, Thai and Chinese fare plus an extensive and adventurous sushi menu.

6900 N May, OKC, 702.7244 $$ SUSHI NEKO An established OKC favorite combining style with substance (in the form of an especially wideranging and creative sushi menu). 4318 N Western, OKC, 528.8862 $$ SWEET BASIL The enormous aquarium adds to the cozy ambiance; with its outstanding curries and specialty dishes, it makes a great venue for a dinner date. 211 W Main, Norman, 217.8424 $$ TANA THAI There’s a lot to like about the food in this little spot, from red

snapper filet to pad thai. Pay special mind to the varied soups, and do not play chicken with the spice level. 10700 N May, OKC, 749.5590 $$ TOKYO It’s neither huge nor lavishly appointed, and the menu focuses on tradition rather than creativity; but it’s palpably fresh and routinely cited as among the metro’s best sushi. 7516 N Western, OKC, 848.6733 $$ TSUBAKI SZECHUAN Bold flavors are a hallmark of Szechuan cuisine, so tell your taste buds to buckle up; spice is always present but never overpowering in this mouthwatering collection of staples and authentically executed dishes. 1117 NW 25th, OKC, 609.6606 $$ WAGYU BBQ Extremely high-quality meats, including the namesake topshelf beef, brought to you so you can cook them yourself on the grill set into the table. As a group experience, it’s a meal like no other in OKC. 3000 W Memorial, OKC, 285.9796 $$$ YOKOZUNA The noodles, entrees and snappy drinks menu beckon, but it’s the rolls that stand out in this heavyweight contender for local sushi supremacy – personally, we’re partial to the 405 Roll.

13230 Pawnee, OKC, 500.1020 $$ YUZO Variety is the word in this sushi tapas bar, boasting a tempting swirl of Colombian, Brazilian and Japanese culinary influences. 808 N Broadway, OKC, 702.9808 $$

Bakery BELLE KITCHEN Doughnuts, macarons, pastries and ice cream created from scratch, in small batches – making treats like these with care and passion makes a difference that’s easy, and a pleasure, to taste. 7509 N May, OKC, 430.5484; 30 NE 2nd, OKC, 541.5858 $ GANACHE They serve les sandwiches, but this patisserie is most enthusiastically celebrated for its mouthwatering croissants, macarons, tarts and other baked treats inspired by the owners’ studies in Europe. 13230 Pawnee, OKC, 267.912.5536 $ PIE JUNKIE A Plaza District haven for serious pie aficionados. Call ahead to order a whole pie or quiche or walk in and choose from what’s on hand; either way the flavors are incredible, and you may never find a better Key lime. 1711 NW 16th, OKC, 605.8767 $

Bar & Pub Food ANCHOR DOWN Sip a beer or specialty cocktail and munch on a selection of gourmet corndogs in this fresh Deep Deuce concept housed within repurposed shipping containers.

30 NE 2nd, OKC, 605.8070 $ BAR ARBOLADA OKC residents near Film Row have a neighborhood bar to call their own – but visitors from farther away also are welcome to sample the local beers, well-executed cocktails and seasonal menu of small plates. 637 W Main, OKC $$

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THE MANHATTAN A stylish neighborhood bar in the heart of downtown, its cocktail menu is packed with variations on its namesake classic, and don’t overlook the selections of sandwiches, salads and tasty treats from chef Bruce Rinehart. 210 Park Suite 150, OKC, 605.5300 $ MATTY MCMILLEN’S Specialty cocktails or straight whiskey, the beverage selection nicely sets off a classic menu in the Hal Smith Restaurant Group’s take on an Irish pub – try the weekend brunch buffet.

2201 NW 150th, Edmond, 607.8822 $$ THE MONT While the food should tempt palates inclined toward a Southwestern zing, it’s beverages like the beloved Sooner Swirl and the primo patio (with misters) for which this landmark is justly renowned. 1300 Classen Blvd, Norman, 329.3330 $

501 Flair

Cafe 501’s pan-seared salmon

Classen Curve’s magic number WITH TH E HO LI DAY S H OPPI NG season behind us, Classen Curve should be a trifle less crowded than it was last month … but even if you’re on a gift-giving hiatus, don’t overlook the presents for your palate served in its restaurants, especially Café 501, 5825 NW Grand.

If you’re looking to begin 2019 by selecting something on the lighter side, try a longtime favorite in the pan-seared salmon, served on a bed of garlic fried rice and topped with a pair of grilled shrimp (which, as garnishes go, is top-tier), all tied together with an excellent teriyaki glaze. There’s probably such a thing as too much of a good thing, but we scooped up every drop. And as befits the dish’s nutritionally conscious status, it even comes with a helping of kale.

On the other hand, if January’s chill is making you crave something hearty and hot, as well as delicious, the Short Rib Stroganoff is a stellar addition to their seasonal menu. Pappardelle pasta and fork-tender morsels of beef tied together with a savory mushroom cream sauce that’s made even richer by stirring in the dollop of sour cream on top – it’s a huge portion of steaming, stick-to-yourribs goodness. And as a bonus, you’ll probably have leftovers.

By the way, if you’re trying to abstain from sweets, a word of advice: Avert your eyes from the lighted display counter near the door. You will be tempted, and effectively. Presuming you’re not too invested in eschewing extra calories, Café 501’s dessert selection is worth perusing; the chocolate pecan pie and strawberry cake, especially, are great ways to wish your sweet tooth a happy new year. - STEVE GILL

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OAK & ORE A Plaza District port of call built with repurposed rustic materials, it offers more than a handful of creative sandwiches that practically require a knife and fork, as well as a tantalizing selection of lovingly chosen craft beers. 1732 NW 16th, OKC, 606.2030 $ O’CONNELL’S IRISH PUB & GRILLE Beloved by students, alumni and townies alike, it’s served up killer burgers, beer and festive atmosphere since 1968. A St. Patrick’s Day must.

769 Asp, Norman, 217.8454 $ PUB W Multiple sections provide a choice of atmosphere, but the menu filled with choice beer and “new classic” fare from barbeque wings to pork chops is a constant pleasure. 3720 W Robinson, Norman, 701.5844; 3121 W Memorial, OKC, 608.2200 $$

Barbeque THE BUTCHER BBQ STAND It’s open three days a week and is a good distance from the heart of the metro – but it doesn’t matter, because this is absolutely some of the best barbeque you’ll find anywhere. Go early and prepare to be dazzled. 3402 W Hwy 66, Wellston, 240.3437 $$ DECKLE SMOKEHOUSE BBQ Offering true Texas-style pit barbeque (nothing but oak for their smoke), its brisket, ribs and house-made German sausage are set off by imaginative sides.

324 W Edmond, Edmond, 657.2992 $ EARL’S RIB PALACE A popular choice among locals in a genre that’s hardly lacking in options, the local chain pounds out hit ribs and turkey as well as a top-tier burger. 6 metro locations, earlsribpalace.com $ IRON STAR URBAN BARBEQUE Iron Star specializes in “a unique and tasty spin on comfort food.” While its entrees are excellent, the sides here are equal players as well. 3700 N Shartel, OKC, 524.5925 $$ LEO’S BAR-B-Q Dense, rich flavor and tender texture, delivered in genuine unpolished style for commendable value – no wonder its ribs and brisket are favorites among Oklahoma connoisseurs.

3631 N Kelley, OKC 424.5367 $ MAPLES A one-time mobile operation that’s moved on up to star in the Plaza District, it’s home to serious Central Texas-style BBQ; try the moist brisket.

1800 NW 16th, OKC, 604.3344 $$ SWADLEY’S Expertly prepared meats – the honey-rubbed ribs are especially succulent – star at this Oklahoma family-owned favorite. And if a special occasion is approaching, they’re also award-winning caterers. 6 metro locations, swadleys.com $$ TEXLAHOMA BBQ Family owned and fabulously flavorful, its meats (especially the beef ribs) are eyerolling good. Don’t forget the espresso barbeque sauce! 121 E Waterloo, Edmond, 513.7631 $$

REPUBLIC GASTROPUB Part beer bar and part upscale eatery, this noisy, amply attended locale pairs a vast selection of quality brews with tasty menu items, including a great burger selection. 5830 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 286.4577; 13230 Pawnee, OKC, 907.5900 $$

Burgers & Sandwiches

SEAN CUMMINGS IRISH RESTAURANT The namesake chef brings the food, drinks, music and atmosphere of an Emerald Isle public house back to the metro – go raise a glass. 7628 N May, OKC $$

COW CALF-HAY This burger spot offers ample flavor combinations, and the delicious never-frozen patties are massive. Don’t forget the onion rings.

3409 Wynn, Edmond, 509.2333; 212 N Harvey, OKC, 601.6180 $

THE UNION A good sign for the future of the South of St. Anthony minidistrict, this neighborhood hangout spot has three bars and a surprisingly forward-thinking menu. 616 NW 5th, OKC, 6012857 $$

THE FIXX Massive, monstrous burgers and hot dogs, put together with thought and care. Don’t forget to get a shake or something from the full bar.

644 W Edmond, Edmond, 285.2311 $

THE WINSTON A menu packed with intriguing possibilities among “elevated pub food” balances out an impressive selection of beer, wine and whiskies.

Cheers. 106 W Main, Norman, 561.7616 $$

THE GARAGE BURGERS & BEER It can get noisy in the sports-bar atmosphere, but even so your focus will likely be on savoring the many tempting flavor possibilities of huge, juicy burgers and fries. 8 metro locations, eatatthegarage.com $

PHOTO BY SCOTTY O’DANIEL

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

NOW OPEN IN MIDWEST CITY! LIP SMACKERS Don’t sweat the surroundings; this gas station-adjacent grill dishes up big, beefy burgers in an unusually broad spectrum of deliciousness. 4200 N Penn, OKC, 604.9770 $ THE MULE Solid beer and beverage selection plus a delectable array of gourmet grilled cheeses and melts fill the menu at this relaxation destination in the Plaza District. 1630 N Blackwelder, OKC, 601.1400 $ NIC’S GRILL It’s small, it’s crowded … and it’s incredible. It’s only open for lunch and the lines are often long, but the colossal burgers are easily among the metro’s best. Don’t forget some money, since it’s cash-only. 1202 N Penn, OKC, 524.0999 $ S&B’S BURGER JOINT Good news: these burgers’ exquisite flavors including such ingredients as peanut butter or a coffee crust - come as sliders too, all the better to sample more kinds.

5 metro locations, sandbburgers.com $ TUCKER’S ONION BURGERS With one burger, one side (fries) and one salad, the menu is easy to remember - and the execution makes the meal unforgettable. Add a shake and enjoy. 4 metro locations, tuckersonionburgers. com $

Coffeehouse

Continental BISTRO 22 Restaurant: noticeably small. Flavors: big, bold and beautiful.

The Kickingbird Square concept is from star chef Clay Falkner, so the steaks, seafood and more are outstanding. 1417 E Danforth, Edmond, 562.4884 $$$ BLACKBIRD A Campus Corner gastropub pairing succulently creative dishes like pot roast nachos with a broad beer, wine and whiskey list.

There’s little on the menu that won’t tempt palates. 575 S University, Norman, 928.5555 $$ CHEEVER’S Southwestern-influenced recipes (the chicken-fried steak is a house specialty) and love of seafood drive the contemporary comfort food in one of the city’s finest dining destinations. 2409 N Hudson, OKC, 525.7007 $$ EN CROUTE A warmly welcoming, comfortable café in Nichols Plaza offers treats all day long, from fresh pastries to select spirits and beer, with special emphasis on artisanal cheese and charcuterie. 6460 Avondale, OKC, 607.6100 $ LUDIVINE The menu adjusts constantly to reflect availability of elitequality, locally sourced ingredients - but every dish is the result of genuine culinary artistry. 805 N Hudson, OKC, 778.6800 $$$

ALL ABOUT CHA Universal standards and unusual concoctions (the sweet potato latte is a wonder) in a cheerful atmosphere; the food options are worth investigating, as well. 5 metro locations, allaboutcha.net $

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

CLARITY COFFEE The vibe is crisp, clean and cool while remaining welcoming and comfortable – including seating for sipping or getting some work done – and the brewers have their beverages down to a science. As the sign says, “Drink the Coffee.” 431 W Main, OKC, 252.0155 $

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

COFFEE SLINGERS Rocking a brisk, urban vibe on Automobile Alley, it has become a gathering place for genuine java enthusiasts, especially during its periodic educational sampling seminars.

1015 N Broadway, OKC, 606.2763 $ CUPPIES & JOE The name is only part of the story: the Uptown nook holds cupcakes and coffee as well as pie, live music, a cozy, trendy vibe and more.

Park around back and take a peek. 727 NW 23rd, OKC, 528.2122 $ ELEMENTAL COFFEE Seriously spectacular coffee roasted in-house - the passionate staff is always eager to share knowledge about the process augmented with locally sourced salads, breakfast options and other treats. 815 N Hudson, OKC, 633.1703 $ RED CUP Comfortably ramshackle surroundings encourage curling up for conversation over great coffee, baked treats, vegetarian-friendly breakfast and lunch specials, and live music. It’s highly recommended. 3122 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 525.3430 $

FINE FOWL & FIXIN’S.

MICHAEL’S GRILL Thoroughly urbane dining in an intimate setting: the steaks, chops, seafood and pastas are all reliably excellent, and the Caesar salad prepared tableside is the stuff of legends. 2824 W Country Club, OKC, 810.9000 $$$

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THE MUSEUM CAFÉ A setting as inspiring as the OKC Museum of Art warrants something special in cuisine: delicately light or delectably robust, its European-inspired menu delights for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. 415 Couch, OKC, 235.6262 $$ PASEO GRILL Quiet and intimate inside, cheerful and comfortable out on the patio, with an award-winning menu filled with distinctive flavors inspired by the cuisines of Europe in both areas – try the duck salad. 2909 Paseo, OKC, 601.1079 $$$ THE PRITCHARD WINE BAR Tempted by tempranillo? Musing about muscat? This Plaza District stop is amply stocked with an extensive list of exceptional wines, and sampling the

V I S I T U S AT

10 0 NE 4th ST O klaho ma City

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AT THE BAR

ROCOCO An “East Coast-style” restaurant with a diverse menu of international dishes, all set off by carefully selected wines to create the perfect dinner pairing. 12252 N May, OKC, 212.4577; 2824 N Penn, OKC, 528.2824 $$ SIGNATURE GRILL Unassuming locale; magnificent culinary rewards.

The expertly considered menu mixes French and Italian flavors to present a wide spectrum of amazing flavors in a few select dishes. 1317 E Danforth, Edmond, 330.4548 $$$

French CAFÉ CUVEE Located in Midtown’s magnificent Ambassador Hotel, this paean to the flavors of la belle France is the result of a collaboration between star chefs and elite ingredients. 1200 N Walker, OKC, 898.8120 $$ LA BAGUETTE BISTRO Les Freres Buthion have deep roots in the city’s culinary landscape, and this flagship combines fine dining with a great bakery, deli and butcher on site. 7408 N May, OKC, 840.3047 $$

Bar Arbolada’s Hot Cachawty (left) and Short and Stout

A Cure for the Cold Winter beverages at Bar Arbolada I F IT TAK ES something special to get you out of the house on

these winter nights, Bar Arbolada at 637 W Main is still very much worth a trip. It’s a great space; even the angled front door is perfectly placed, because it gives entering customers the best possible first view of the high ceiling, zigzag tile and veined marble bar at once.

Their cachaça chamomile toddy – the Hot Cachawty, it’s called – is completely perfect for raw weather and slightly sore throats. It’s built around barrel-aged Leblon cachaça, mixed with hot water, lemon and chamomile syrup for a fragrant, revivifying beverage that’s a pleasure to nurse.

Bartender Jazz Rodriguez Less restorative, but even more delicious, is the Short and Stout: Old Forester bourbon and Cynar balanced with black walnut bitters and honey, then topped with foam from shaken-up stout and finished with a flicker of orange zest. The citrus aroma and slight infusion of beer give it a rewarding depth and complexity. You’re going to want to taste it with every part of your mouth and linger over each sip.

Accompanied by a few snacks, such as the pot of spicy pimento cheese with a loaf of local sourdough, the Bar Arbolada bounty makes a welcome reason to come in from the cold. - STEVE GILL

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FAIT MAISON Foie gras to Brandy Alexander, this classical French restaurant delivers exceptional cuisine made with exacting care – the name translates to homemade – for exquisite, if pricy, event dining. 152 E 5th, Edmond, 509.2555 $$$

German DAS BOOT CAMP Longtime fixture for Deutsch festivities Royal Bavaria has brewed up a second round of exceptional cuisine and magnificent beer in a less expensive, faster-paced location in downtown Norman. 229 E Main, Norman, 701.3748 $ FASSLER HALL Bringing German flavor to Midtown via house-made sausages, warm soft pretzels with cheese sauce, duck fries and a heftig beer menu, plus a weekend brunch – what’s not to love? 421 NW 10th, OKC, 609.3300 $ ROYAL BAVARIA Superb takes on traditional dishes like Weinerschnitzel, Jagerbraten and sausages, plus fantastisch house-brewed beers. The time spent is a worthy investment in this family-style dining hall. 3401 S Sooner, Moore, 799.7666 $$$

Indian GOPURAM - TASTE OF INDIA A full-service restaurant whose richly appointed interior and attentive staff accord patrons the feel of fine dining, even during the plentifully stocked lunch buffet. 4559 NW 23rd, OKC, 948.7373 $$ MISAL OF INDIA A Norman institution for over 30 years, specializing in tandoori-cooked delicacies and boasting healthy,

natural, delicious cuisine served amid splendid ambiance. 580 Ed Noble Pkwy, Norman, 579.5600 $$ TAJ A tremendous set of Indian staples and delicacies - the menu has sections for vegetarian, tandoori, South Indian and Indo-Chinese specialties - plus full lunch and dinner buffets. 1500 NW 23rd, OKC, 601.1888 $$

Italian & Pizza BELLINI’S Tasteful in décor and Italian offerings alike, this romantic nightspot quietly, confidently exudes elegance. It’s worth a visit even if only for a couple of the namesake beverages on the shady patio. 6305 Waterford, OKC, 848.1065 $$ BENVENUTI’S Subtly flavored minestrone to rich, hearty ragouts, the splendid menu keeps the booths full and diners planning return trips to this vintage building by the railroad tracks; don’t overlook Sunday brunch. 105 W Main, Norman, 310.5271 $$ EMPIRE SLICE HOUSE Reigning over the Plaza District in New York style (that means thin, flexible crust with a lot of surface area to cover in cheese and tasty toppings), it offers whole pizzas or slices, a full bar and a primo patio. 1734 NW 16th, OKC $ FLIP’S WINE BAR & TRATTORIA Managing to feel rustic despite its location in a busy corridor of OKC, this cozy Italian joint keeps extended hours, and tends to get busier and louder as the hour gets later. 5801 N Western, OKC, 843.1527 $$ THE HEAT There’s really no need to be humble about this true Chicago-style pizza, boasting perhaps the best crust known to man. It’s one of our favorites; choose your toppings and think deep thoughts. 1319 S Broadway, Edmond, 715.1818 $ HIDEAWAY PIZZA If you’ve been serving a devoted following for over half a century, you’re doing something right.

In this case, that’s incredible pizza in jovial surroundings. 8 metro locations, hideawaypizza.com $$ MONI’S Handmade, New Jersey-style brick oven pizza and authentic pasta recipes from Southern Italy in a casual, comfy ambience (ideal for dates). 17200 N May, Edmond, 285.5991 $$ OSTERIA Casual, welcoming and unforgettable, thanks to a knockout menu of Italian inspiration and expert interpretations from star chefs Fabio Viviani and Jonathon Stranger. 6430 Avondale, OKC, 254.5058 $$$ OTHELLO’S Garlic bread and warm mussels to tiramisu and coffee – all you could want in a romantic Italian café.

1 S Broadway, Edmond, 330.9045; 434 Buchanan, Norman, 701.4900 $$ PATRONO The space is small and casually intimate – reservations are a good idea – and the flavors huge, carefully considered and thoroughly authentic. It’s Italian cuisine, elevated.

305 N Walker, OKC, 702.7660 $$

PHOTOS BY SCOTTY O’DANIEL

varied dishes is a pleasure in itself. 1749 NW 16th, OKC, 601.4067 $

PIZZA 23 The tempting selection of specialty pies on especially buttery, f laky crusts is available for takeout, but dining in is recommended; the Uptown joint’s good beer selection and crisp, urban décor add savor to the f lavor. 600-B NW 23rd, OKC, 601.6161 $$ PIZZERIA GUSTO Neapolitan-style pizza (which harnesses an extremely hot fire to quickly cook superfine f lour crusts and quality ingredients) stars alongside Italy-inspired salads, pastas and appetizers. 2415 N Walker, OKC, 437.4992 $$ STELLA MODERN ITALIAN CUISINE A luscious spate of legitimately Italian tastes for a casual lunch, or romantic dinner, amid stylish scenery. The weekend brunch offerings are especially superb. 1201 N Walker, OKC, 235.2200 $$ TOMMY’S ITALIAN-AMERICAN GRILL Stylish and welcoming, this northside neighborhood Italian bar and grill offers up a full selection of beautifully done classic dishes, in addition to more imaginative creations, weekend brunch and some truly excellent brick oven pizza. 5516 W Memorial, OKC, 470.5577 $$ UPPER CRUST A chic, contemporary pizzeria and wine bar specializing in wood-fired, thin-crust New York-style pies complemented by a full menu and wine list. 5860 N Classen Blvd, OKC, 842.7743; 1205 NW 178th, Edmond, 285.8887 $$ VICTORIA’S A comfortable atmosphere, with local art on its walls and the art of pasta on its plates – the chicken lasagna and linguine with snow crab are especially excellent. 327 White, Norman, 329.0377; 3000 SW 104th, OKC, 759.3580 $ VITO’S RISTORANTE Homestyle Italian cuisine in an intimate setting where the staff and management treat customers like guests in their home.

It’s a small space, so calling ahead is recommended. 7521 N May, OKC, 848.4867 $$ VOLARE A f lavor-filled variety of Neapolitan-style pizzas, produced with haste from a specially imported oven, fill this stylish Campus Corner space boasting a serious rooftop patio. 315 White, Norman, 310.3615 $$ THE WEDGE Wood-fired pies crafted from fresh ingredients (the possibilities range from pepperoni all the way to figs or truff le oil) and made-from-scratch sauces. 230 NE 1st, OKC, 270.0660; 4709 N Western, OKC, 602.3477 $$

Mediterranean & African HAIGET’S Vegan-friendly – and friendly in general, due to the influence of the warm, patient namesake owner – this gem rewards the adventurous with Ethiopian and Kenyan specialties to explore and share. 308 W Edmond Road, Edmond, 509.6441 $$

QUEEN OF SHEBA Practically the definitive example of a hidden treasure, the spicy, vegan-friendly menu of Ethiopian delights awaits the bold.

Bring friends and be prepared to linger.

2308 N MacArthur, OKC, 606.8616 $$ ZORBA’S For well over 20 years, Zorba’s has satisfied appetites and pleased palates. Serving dishes from recipes passed down through generations, they proudly share flavors of Cyprus, Spain, Greece and Morocco.

6014 N May, OKC, 947.7788 $

Mexican & Latin American 1492 Authentic Mexican cuisine in an elegant atmosphere, combining its caliente flavors with fusion decor to make an ideal spot for a romantic evening ... including perhaps the world’s best mojitos. 1207 N Walker, OKC, 236.1492 $$ BARRIOS A serious collection of Latin-flavored deliciousness, including a brunch that’s maravilloso, in a cool Midtown space with a back patio that’s pure paradise. 1000 N Hudson, OKC, 702.6922 $ BIG TRUCK TACOS It’s nearly always standing-room-only at lunch, but don’t let that deter you; spend a few minutes in line and get an ample reward in the form of fast, fresh, imaginative taco creations. 530 NW 23rd, OKC, 525.8226 $ CAFÉ ANTIGUA Visitors can enjoy lunch options from beef stew to a club sandwich, but once they sample the luscious variety of Guatemalan breakfast options – served anytime – they may be perfectly happy to never order anything else. 1903 N Classen, OKC, 602.8984 $ CAFÉ DO BRASIL It’s a long way from OKC to Rio, but the savory menu in this Midtown hot spot covers the distance in a mouthful. Even brunch is a spicy, inimitable treat. 440 NW 11th, OKC, 525.9779 $$

cocktails, and all the tastes between. 9 NW 9th, OKC, 606.7172 $$ OSO ON PASEO Make sure your appetite is loaded for bear when you visit this patio-centric spot in the Paseo Arts District – their mantra is Tacos & Cocktails, and they produce both with expertise and enthusiasm. 603 NW 28th, OKC, 309.8226 $ REVOLUCION You say you want a Revolucion? You easily might once you try this spicy taco-centric haven – start with the queso fundido and don’t stop until you reach the delectable arroz tres leche dessert. 916 NW 6th, OKC, 606.6184 $$ TARAHUMARA’S Beloved by locals (there’s usually a line but it moves quickly), this airy ristorante serves huge, tasty Tex-Mex classics plus less ubiquitous fare like carnitas de puerco and mole poblano. 702 N Porter, Norman, 360.8070 $$ ZARATE’S In addition to the familiar joys of enchiladas and the like, the chef’s Peruvian heritage shines in dishes featuring plantains, yuca and imported spices. Try something different; find something tasty. 706 S Broadway, Edmond, 330.6400 $$

Seafood BRENT’S CAJUN Sit down to a massive platter of jambalaya, crawfish etoufee, Pasta Orleans or any of the well-seasoned temptations on the weekend brunch menu – and spice up your life. 3005 S Broadway, Edmond, 285.0911 $$ C’EST SI BON Crawfish etouffee, frogs’ legs, fried chicken and shrimp po-boys are among the highlights, but the award-winning catfish is a must-try. 101 N Douglas, Midwest City, 610.2555 $ CRABTOWN A huge Bricktown warehouse where the Cajun Crab Boil is a favorite, guests are encouraged to “leave the silverware at home and dig in” and taste is king. 303 E Sheridan, OKC, 232.7227 $$

fishing lodge atmosphere. Don’t forget the bountifully stocked bar, either.

4300 W Reno, OKC, 943.9111 $$

Steakhouse BOULEVARD STEAKHOUSE Perfectly soigné ambiance down to the last detail and cuisine easily in the metro’s elite – a sumptuous, if pricy, masterpiece. 505 S Boulevard, Edmond, 715.2333 $$$ BROADWAY 10 Cruise into the Buick building in Automobile Alley to savor steak supremacy or seafood selections (even sushi) in a cozy enclave amid urban bustle. 1101 N Broadway, OKC, 212.3949 $$$ CATTLEMEN’S Almost as old as the state itself, this Oklahoma institution’s immense corn-fed steaks and matchless atmosphere are history served anew every day. 1309 S Agnew, OKC, 236.0416 $$ JAMIL’S STEAKHOUSE Saving room for your steak, lobster or prime rib is difficult when your gratis appetizers arrive in the form of a Lebanese bounty, but make the effort. Jamil’s has been feeding Oklahoma exceptionally well since 1964. 4910 N Lincoln, OKC, 525.8352 $$$ JUNIOR’S The classic restaurant’s decor sets the perfect stage for handcut Angus steaks and lobster to fight for attention with knockout fried chicken.

2601 NW Expressway, OKC, 848.5597 $$$ MAHOGANY PRIME STEAKHOUSE The ambiance and service are sublime, but fine aged steak broiled to perfection is the star. 3241 W Memorial, OKC, 748.5959; 100 W Main, OKC, 208.8800 $$$ MCCLINTOCK Where better to find a saloon than in Stockyards City?

There’s plenty of room at the massive, 50-foot oak bar, and plenty of cocktails and whiskies behind it, but the main draw may be the massive, excellent steaks and chops. 2227 Exchange, OKC, 232.0151 $$$

THE DRAKE The Good Egg Group’s flagship and a standard-bearer for diners who crave excellent seafood, it serves chef’s creations featuring the sea’s finest, plus an oyster bar and tempting cocktails. 519 NW 23rd, OKC $$$

MICKEY MANTLE’S This lushly atmospheric social spot in Bricktown serves powerhouse entrées and sides with a full complement of amenities destined to impress. 7 S Mickey Mantle, OKC, 272.0777 $$$

OFF THE HOOK It’s a choice destination for po’ boys, fried or grilled baskets and specialty items such as the smothered seafood fries. Go get hooked.

125 S Britton, OKC, 840.3474; 1920 S Meridian, OKC, 606.6040 $

OPUS PRIME STEAKHOUSE It aspires to the ultimate in upscale dining via hand-cut USDA Prime Black Angus steaks, a vast wine selection and intimate ambiance. 800 W Memorial, OKC, 607.6787 $$$

HACIENDA TACOS Quality, of both ingredients and execution, and variety make this restaurant in the Shoppes at Northpark a pleasure to visit, and to explore the menu again and again.

12086 N May, OKC, 254.3140 $

PEARL’S OYSTER BAR A perennial OKC favorite for its flavorful seafood and spicy Creole-inspired dishes: Shrimp Diablo, Tabasco-infused Caesar salads, Andouille omelets at Sunday brunch and more. 5641 N Classen, OKC, 848.8008 $$

RANCH STEAKHOUSE Customaged hand-cut USDA Certified Prime tenderloins and ribeyes, served amid warm Southern hospitality. 3000 W Britton, OKC, 755.3501 $$$

IGUANA MEXICAN GRILL Unique Mexican flavor in a fun atmosphere at reasonable prices - a treat from the house-made salsas to the handcrafted

TRAPPER’S FISHCAMP Zesty, widely varied flavor from the Pearl’s family of restaurants finds a comfortable home in a backwoods

CAFÉ KACAO A sunlit space filled with bright, vibrant flavors from the zesty traditions of Guatemala.

Lunch possibilities beckon, but it’s the breakfast specialties that truly dazzle.

3325 N Classen, OKC, 602.2883 $ CULTIVAR A farm-to-fire Mexican kitchen that stresses sustainability, local sourcing and fresh, fast, flavorful food. Gluten-free options, chef-crafted tacos, a substantial bar and plenty more are on the menu. 714 N Broadway, OKC $$

RED PRIMESTEAK Visionary design and atmosphere house super-premium steaks, vibrant, imaginative flavors and amenities to make some of the state’s best dining. 504 N Broadway, OKC, 232.2626 $$$

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events

Ghost Story

PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY

Wraith? Spectre? Some mysterious masked figure is haunting the Paris Opera House, and since OKC Broadway is bringing that cathedral to the arts to the Civic Center stage, audiences are in for a thrilling musical romance as the classic story unfolds.

The Phantom of the Opera is there ‌ January 9-20. (Dun dun dunnn!)

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events PRIME PICKS

Derek Diedricksen

Grow Your Own Way Jan. 18-20, State Fairgrounds We’re a few months away from spring, but that makes this the perfect time to plant the seed of an idea for the growing season ahead. To that end, the timing is perfect for the return of the OKC Home + Garden Show, which fills the fairgrounds with more than 450 exhibitors and experts in renovation, decor and landscaping: HGTV’s Diedricksen brothers, hosts from “America’s Test Kitchen,” local vendors and many more.

Brown, With Sugar Sweet dreams are made of this: the opportunity to choose delicious, sugary samples from nearly two dozen local vendors, each more chocolaty than the last. Norman PTA Council president Annette Price says the Norman Chocolate Festival “showcases some of the finest chocolate talent in the state, along with some incredible live music and activities for the entire family.” Plus, proceeds benefit public schools, so the calories are for a good cause.

The Magic Touch

Rob Lake

Jan. 12, Grand Casino

You can tell yourself Norman native Rob Lake doesn’t actually have magical powers, but that doesn’t make it any easier to explain how he accomplishes his grandscale feats of jaw-dropping legerdemain. He’s one of the world’s foremost working illusionists; you can bet he’ll conjure up a truly amazing showcase for this special event.

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Black or White Jan. 29, Armstrong Auditorium Armstrong has birds on the brain this month – extremely graceful ones, to be more specific. The masterful artists of the Russian National Ballet are making a return trip to Edmond this month, and bringing with them a signature take on the century-old classic of the form: handsome prince, villainous sorcerer and magical damsels both good and evil weave a spectacular spell in Swan Lake.

PHOTOS: ROB LAKE BY ED GREGORY; DEREK DIEDRICKSEN COURTESY DEREK DIEDRICKSEN; RUSSIAN BALLET COURTESY ARMSTRONG AUDITORIUM

Jan. 26, Norman North High School

EXHIBITION 11/16-01/18 EVENT 01/18 ArtNow’s party with a purpose sold out the past three years!

Don’t wait: Buy your tickets today at okcontemp.org.

Proceeds help keep Oklahoma Contemporary exhibitions free of charge, year-round. oklahomacontemporary.org | @okcontemporary | 3000 General Pershing Blvd. | Oklahoma City | 405 951 0000

events ON LOCATION

with Lance McDaniel

A True Virtual Reality Oklahoma film’s future frontier

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Riley Daniel and Ronnie Underwood, stars of Homecoming: Seduction – filmed for VR at Bradt’s Menagerie

by people working in Oklahoma City at Boiling Point Media.

Lead animator Stephanie Roach went to Edmond Memorial and studied at Oklahoma Christian University before landing a fulltime job doing CGI and 3D animation for feature films.

Boiling Point knew early on that the biggest hurdle to raising money and finding distributors for The Jurassic Games were the dinosaurs themselves. How could they convince foreign distributors that they could create dinosaurs that looked as good as Jurassic Park for a fraction of the cost?

The answer: a one-minute virtual reality experience set in Little Sahara. Roach animated a variety of dinosaurs to roam around and interact with the viewer, capped off by a ferocious T-Rex charging the viewer and leaning in for a big bite. The VR experience worked like magic; the movie was funded and offered distribution around the world.

Last summer, Boiling Point Media demonstrated their virtual reality piece at the deadCenter Film Festival, where their film won the Special Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature. The VR experience was such a hit, deadCenter asked to include it in their statewide education tour – 3,000 Oklahoma high school students put on virtual reality headsets and interacted with the Oklahoma-made dinosaurs in The Jurassic Games. They gained handson experience with new technology that will hopefully inspire them to stay in Oklahoma to pursue their dream job, no matter what it is. And the tour started at the Northwest Technology Center in Alva, just down the street from Bradt’s Menagerie.

ILLUSTRATION BY BRIAN O’DANIEL; PHOTO BY LANCE MCDANIEL

JA R ED A N D JODE BR A DT bought two dozen chickens in the fall of 2009 to pull their kids away from video games and teach them a little hands-on responsibility. Ten years on, Bradt’s Menagerie is a petting zoo, attracting thousands of visitors a year to meet and play with more than 100 different animals, from alpacas to peacocks to zebras, and explore a massive hay maze.

And the Bradts’ three sons still help run the place.

It was recently featured in a virtual reality showcase at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival, a curated exhibition of experimental dance, animation and abstract storytelling within a 360° immersive environment. Audience members came in to the theater 40 at a time, put on Samsung Gear Virtual Reality headsets and were transported to immersive locations around the world – including Bradt’s Menagerie in Alva, Oklahoma.

Virtual reality is the term used to describe a three-dimensional, computer-generated environment that can be interacted with or explored. Virtual reality films are made using cameras that record 360 degrees of the environment while the action is taking place. Virtual reality headsets then allow the viewer to stand where the VR 360 camera was placed, and explore everything around them from that perspective.

Virtual reality has been the next big thing in film and technology since before the turn of the last century. From The Lawnmower Man in 1992 to The Matrix in 1999 to Ready Player One last year, popular movies have capitalized on people’s fascination with the idea of intricately fabricated environments that are so immersive they feel completely real.

The first Oklahoma feature film to incorporate virtual reality was the 2018 action thriller The Jurassic Games, written and directed by Ryan Bellgardt and starring Ryan Merriman.

Centered on a game show in which death row convicts are forced to compete in a virtual reality game that pits them against dinosaurs and each other, The Jurassic Games was filmed entirely in Oklahoma – its epic battles took place in gorgeous locations from Little Sahara to Quartz Mountain. Perhaps most impressively, all of its realistic dinosaurs were animated

events SPEAKERBOX

The Sound of 2019 Musical guesses for a brand-new year

W HE N I USED to write for a weekly publication, the first column of a new year always includ-

ed my predictions on what could happen in the coming 12 months. While I never went back to check my winning percentage, it was always fun playing Nostradamus. Now that I write for a monthly, I’m continuing my attempt to see into the future; here are some thoughts on music trends to look out for in 2019. Have an amazing and healthy year, 405 readers. Enjoy the music!

Peter Murphy

40 YEARS OF ‘GOTH TALK’

ST R E A MI NG W IL L BE “SPOT ” ON Several months ago, a friend of mine received a compact disc as a gift – and couldn’t play it because she didn’t have a CD player. Streaming apps such as Apple Music, Sirius XM and Spotify have made new music and back catalogs instantly accessible, and advances in micro-speaker and headphone sound have cooled off audiophiles from complaining about noise compression. People are either becoming less material in their quests to “own” music, or they are just going with the convenience of instant music at their fingertips.

Streaming services are going to continue to grow in 2019, and their capacity will improve with technological advances and more music to choose from. Hip artists will see a continued growth in vinyl and quirky formats: the cassette and 45 (vinyl) singles. The CD remains popular in Europe, so it’s not dead yet. And if Adele releases new music in 2019, the compact disc will still be breathing. Barely.

R E SU RGE NCE OF POL I T ICA L ACT I V ISM Prior to 2016, most contemporary artists were more about their art than making waves. But the past year has seen artists being bolder in expressing their political and social opinions. Axl Rose and Tommy Lee started speaking openly about climate change, Willie Nelson endorsed Beto O’Rourke on his failed Texas Senate run, Eminem has been venomous on his views on the president, and artists such as Jason Isbell, Taylor Swift and Eric Church are also unflinchingly speaking out. I see this inclination growing in 2019.

COL L A BOR AT ION A N D OPPORT U N I T IE S Local artists will continue to grow their art. Thanks to streaming services, social media and the presence of smaller, pop-up venues, performers in the 405 will see their opportunities continue to grow in the coming year. I see more collaboration between performers, and a melding of genres – perhaps at a festival where a traditional blues musician performs with a hip-hop poet. The recent announcement that the Granada Theater in Texas acquired a minority stake in the Tower Theatre will affirm that the OKC metro is a growing musical force and is only getting stronger. - JERRY CHURCH

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One of the funniest bits on “Saturday Night Live” was “Goth Talk,” a fictional Tampa, Florida, public access show hosted by Chris Kattan’s “Azrael Abyss” (before he has to work the late shift at Cinnabon). The level of accuracy to the gimmick was completed by the inclusion of Bauhaus’ “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” as the introductory theme song.

Bauhaus was a legendary English post-punk band, formed by childhood friends Peter Murphy, Daniel Ash, Kevin Haskins and David J. Their 1980 debut “In the Flat Field” established the Goth genre and made Bauhaus the leading purveyors in this fun, growing music scene. But band infighting and a change in musical direction led to a breakup; Murphy went solo, and the rest of the band went on to form Love and Rockets.

Four decades after its formation, Murphy is celebrating the band and its music with the 40 Years of Bauhaus Ruby Celebration Featuring David J Tour.

Not only is this a semi-reunion, but the show will feature a performance of “In the Flat Field” in its entirety. In stark contrast to its past, this show will be a cheery celebration of the band’s immense contributions to music and pop culture.

Time to get those baggy black shirts and jackets out of the closet and get your Goth on; January 27 at Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd in OKC. Tickets can be purchased at ticketfly.com. - JC

PETER MURPHY PHOTO BY CIHAN UNALAN

Bauhaus’ Peter Murphy hits OKC

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events SPOTLIGHT

FreeSpirited Sound OKC Philharmonic’s salute to independence “I PAY NO AT T E N T ION whatever to

anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.”

As Mozart opines, there are times when anyone in a creative field should follow his or her muse, especially if it seems to be leading in an unusual direction. Free-thinking experimentation has yielded some wondrous musical results, as demonstrated by the pieces – including Mozart’s redoubtable “Jupiter” symphony – chosen to appear in the OKC Philharmonic’s next Classics concert. On Jan. 26, the Civic Center stage will be dedicated to “Independent Creativity.”

Music Director Alexander Mickelthwate is opting to accompany Herr Wolfgang’s Symphony No. 41 in C major with a program of American composers throughout our history, reflecting a common desire for freedom, exploration, discovery and independence in their works: Brian Eno’s

DANCE JAN 24-27 Young Choreographers’ Showcase Fresh creations from OU dance students star in this showcase where experimentation meets expertise and skill. OU Reynolds PAC, 560 Parrington, Norman, 325.4101, dance.ou.edu

EVENTS

“An Ending (Ascent)”; the brand-new Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, composed by Jennifer Higdon and featuring Norman native Yolanda Kondonassis as guest harpist; and the jazzy, romantic, infectious “Three Dance Episodes (from On the Town)” by the great Leonard Bernstein.

And speaking of creativity, Bernstein himself had some consolation for those

WANT TO SEE MORE? VISIT OUR ONLINE CALENDAR AT 405MAGAZINE.COM sale, all celebration of contemporary Oklahoma creativity. Come be dazzled.

Oklahoma Contemporary, 3000 General Pershing, OKC, 951.0000, oklahomacontemporary.org

state show their award-winning work in this Fine Arts Institute tradition.

Downtown Community Center, 28 E Main, Edmond, 340.4481, edmondfinearts.com

JAN 19 Ken Jeong He’s provided bursts of hilarity to The Hangover, “Community” and dozens more - and this standup set gives him the stage all to himself. Riverwind Casino, 1544 W Hwy 9, Norman, 322.6000, riverwind.com

MUSIC

JAN 11 Date With the Duke The NCWHM lauds John Wayne’s legacy and the frontier spirit at a buffet feast and screening of 1943’s In Old Oklahoma. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd, OKC, 478.2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org

JAN 25-27 Snowflake Gala Celebrate last year’s success and resolve to help the United Way make 2019 a better year for the community at this gala. OKC Golf & Country Club, 7000 NW Grand, OKC, 523.3502, unitedwayokc.org

JAN 18 ArtNow Gala Part delicious, cheerful cocktail party, part art

JAN 26-31 Youth Impressions School-aged artists from across the

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of us who are in the audience rather than starring on stage: “The gift of imagination is by no means an exclusive property of the artist; it is a gift we all share. To some degree or other, all of us are endowed with the powers of fantasy.”

If you’d like a dose of musical inspiration to start the year off right by listening to your own muse, tickets are still available at 842.5387 or okcphil.org. - STEVE GILL

JAN 15 Russian Romantics Powerhouse chamber music ensemble Brightmusic returns to share captivating compositions from Sergeis Taneyev and Rachmaninoff.

St. Paul’s Cathedral, 127 NW 7th, OKC, brightmusic.org JAN 19 Voctave UCO’s Broadway Tonight series is set to leave listeners spellbound by welcoming this impeccable a capella group.

UCO Mitchell Hall, 100 N University, Edmond, 974.3375, mitchellhalltheatre.com

JAN 26 Justin Timberlake His Man of the Woods tour brings one of pop music’s most illustrious titans to the heart of OKC - better act fast.

Chesapeake Arena, 100 W Reno, OKC, 602.8700, chesapeakearena.com

THEATER JAN 11-26 Dancing Lessons Learning a few steps leads to sharing in a human connection for the slightly off-kilter pairing in this warm-hearted Carpenter Square comedy. Carpenter Square Theatre, 800 W Main, OKC, 232.6500, carpentersquare.com JAN 25-27 Trouble in Tahiti “Happily ever after” is proving a bit hard to attain for a young suburban couple, as Painted Sky Opera presents Bernstein’s classic. OKC Civic Center, 201 N Walker, OKC, paintedskyopera.org

PHOTO COURTESY OKC PHILHARMONIC

ON THE RADAR

Yolanda Kondonassis

events SPOTLIGHT

(clockwise from above) Lisa Hoke, “Come on Down Oklahoma”; Anne Truitt, “The Sea, The Sea”; Henry Moore, “Divided Head”; David Smith, “Torso”

No Frames Required Sculptures star at OKCMOA

PHOTOS COURTESY OKCMOA

T HE OKC M USEU M of Art’s newest exhibition of creativity is concentrating on the presence

of the third dimension, and hoping thereby to give visitors’ conceptions of an art form a little extra depth. “Off the Wall” is an overview – a relief map, if you will – of evolutions taking place over the last 100 years of sculpture, featuring nearly two dozen examples from the museum’s collection.

“This exhibition brings together a diverse array of artistic practices and materials to showcase the many different approaches to sculpture over the last century,” says curator Roja Najafi, who calls it “a wonderful snapshot into the recent history of sculpture and the spatial quality of the visual arts.”

Some of the individual artists’ names may be familiar – Lisa Hoke, Alfonso Ossorio, Alexander Calder – but the exhibition’s primary impact is in seeing the practice and media change over time, from more traditional marble and bronze to incorporating paper, plastic or repurposed objects.

“Artists are still experimenting with and expanding the definition of sculpture,” says Bryon Chambers, manager of tours and adult learning. “One of the exciting aspects of this exhibition is that it showcases the change in the way artists approach sculpture – not just in the techniques they use, but also in the tools and materials. I hope visitors will leave with a different understanding of and appreciation for sculpture.”

Off the Wall is on display through May 12, which should allow plenty of time to walk around and take in all its angles. Visit okcmoa.com for more information. - STEVE GILL JANUARY 2019 405 MAGAZINE

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backstory

Cruisin’ the Decades

Growing up in mid-century Edmond W HE N BE V ER LY ROSE N H A M ER started her family, she was

looking for the picture-perfect town to raise her three sons. She had grown up in Edmond in the 1960s, then moved away. Coming home to a small-town atmosphere seemed like a natural choice.

“When I was young, I had gone to a county school that only went to the 8th grade,” Rosenhamer says, “so we could attend any high school in Oklahoma County. I chose Edmond because it was small. In those days, the whole town was small, around 11,000 population.”

But when she moved back in the 1980s, she soon found out that Edmond had grown significantly.

“When I first came to Edmond in the ’60s, there was one high school,” Rosenhamer remembers. “That’s where I graduated from, the original Edmond High School; there were 257 students in my class. When we returned in the 1980s, another high school had been built. My oldest son was in the first graduating class at Edmond North. Now we even have a third high school, so that small town I grew up in has really grown over the past few decades.”

Some of Edmond’s newer residents might not recognize that quaint city from years ago. Upscale eateries such as Royce Café are long gone, but Around the Corner restaurant is still a hub of downtown activity. While OTASCO and Browne’s Department Store faded into history, McCall’s remains.

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“Shopping in the ’60s was different,” Rosenhamer says.

“We had Anthony’s and the TG&Y Family Center at Edmond Plaza. It was located at 15th and Broadway, where Big Lots is now. It had a little bit of everything. As a matter of fact, I graduated with the granddaughter of the ‘G’ in TG&Y, Sheri Gosselin. And going to downtown Edmond was the best, because Van’s Bakery was there, and they actually baked bread on the premises. It smelled beyond words; simply fabulous.”

In terms of entertainment, Rosenhamer says, “‘Dragging Main’ was the thing to do in the ’60s. We would start at Bevo’s Restaurant, which is now Klemm’s German barbeque, and then drive all the way to where Randel Shadid’s office and art studio is now on the north end of Broadway. We turned around and repeated that several dozen times every weekend night. When we ran late on our curfew, we stopped at Bevo’s hamburger drive-thru and used the pay phone to tell our parents we were on our way home.”

The big movie theater in town was the Broncho, where Othello’s is now located, Rosenhamer said. And Edmond Hospital was situated above the theater on an upper floor.

“The Edmond of my youth was such a great little town,” Rosenhamer says. “I have so many fond memories of those times. Of course, Edmond is still great; we are just a little bigger now.”

PHOTOS COURTESY STEVE GIBSON/MCCALL’S

BY MARK BEUTLER

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