H O L I DAY
O KC ’ S B E ST
GIFT
WHISKEY
GUIDE
L I ST S
BESTNew
R E S T A U R A N T S
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Lunaria Collection
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VO LUME 12 ISSUE 11
F E AT U R E S
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45
Best New Restaurants
Holiday Gift Guide
As the metro’s culinary landscape grows, local chefs are
There’s no time like the present—ha!—to start checking names
finding fresh ways, from familiar to daring, to dazzle patrons’
off your shopping list, and these local stores and retailers offer
palates. Make sure to sample these newest treasures.
plenty of possibilities to make gift-giving a festive delight.
Volume 12 / Number 11, November 2026, 405 Magazine (ISSN 2578-2990, periodicals 21350) is published monthly, 12 times a year, by Hilltop Media Group, 4801 Gaillardia Pkwy, Ste. 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73142. Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 405 Magazine, P.O. Box 3065, Williamsport, PA 17701.
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D E PA R T M E N T S
VOLUME 1 2 I SSU E 1 1
Dining 58 GOOD TASTE Slow down and savor at Mezzo 60 THE DRINK Toast these top whiskey lists
Culture 66 ARTS Supporting veterans through creativity
Trending 16
PERSON OF INTEREST Practical guidance for actors
18
STYLE Seize the moment for monochrome
20 SOCIAL HOUR People and events in the 405 22 HEALTH Early warning helps fight cancer
Home 26 DESIGN A naturally gorgeous home design
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68 IN CONVO WITH The joy of artist Natalie Biggs 70
LOOKING BACK Cain’s Ballroom’s musical legacy
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FROM THE EDITOR
72
ONLINE
ON THE COVER
Tuscan-inspired hole in the wall La Buca is one of OKC’s Best New Restaurants. Photo by Jared Kinley
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N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • VO LU M E 1 2 • I S S U E 1 1
PUBLISHER
Kendall Morgan Hammack
PRESIDENT
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jordan Regas
julie.partin@405magazine.com
Jared Kinley Kimberly D. Martin Rachel Maucieri Charlie Neuenschwander Jacob Snavely Shevaun Williams
ART DIRECTOR
CONTRIBUTORS
P R O D U C T I O N M A N AG E R & A C C O U N T S R E C E I VA B L E
kendall.morgan@405magazine.com EDITOR IN CHIEF
Julie Partin
Jarred Schuetze jarred@405magazine.com D I G I TA L D I R E C T O R
Alexa Rodriguez
jordan@hilltopmediagroup.com VICE PRESIDENT
Kaley Regas
kaley@hilltopmediagroup.com
Lavinia Creswa Kristen Grace Bennett Hill Matt Kirouac Linda Miller
Emily Thomas
production@405magazine.com accounting@405magazine.com
alexa.rodriguez@405magazine.com D I G I TA L M E D I A C O O R D I N AT O R
Maggie Knooihuizen
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Alexis LaMons
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405 Magazine Volume 12, Number 11, November 2026. 405 Magazine is published monthly by Hilltop Media Group at 4801 Gaillardia Pkwy, Ste. 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73142. 405.806.0672. ©Copyright 2026 Hilltop Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of 405 Magazine content, in whole or part by any means, without the express written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited. 405 Magazine is not responsible for the care of and/or return of unsolicited materials. 405 Magazine reserves the right to refuse advertising deemed detrimental to the community’s best interest or in questionable taste. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of ownership or management. Basic annual subscription rate is $14.95. U.S. singlecopy price is $4.95. Back issues are $9.50 each
Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation, PS Form 3526-R. 1. Publication Title: 405 Magazine. 2. Publication Number: 021-350. 3. Filing Date: October 1, 2026. 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly. 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: Twelve (12). 6. Annual Subscription Price: $19.95. 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: 4801 Gaillardia Pkwy., Ste. 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73142. Contact Person: Greg Wolfe; Telephone: (203-451-6026. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 4801 Gaillardia Pkwy., Ste. 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73142. 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor and Managing Editor: Kendall Morgan Hammack, Publisher, 4801 Gaillardia Pkwy., Ste. 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73142; Julie Partin, Editor, 4801 Gaillardia Pkwy., Ste. 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73142. 10. Owner: 405 Holdings Sub LLC, 4801 Gaillardia Pkwy., Ste. 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73142. 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. 12. (Does not apply.) 13. Publication Title: 405 Magazine. 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data: October 2026. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: Average Number of Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months; Number of Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date: A. Total Number of Copies: Average: 17,538; Actual: 17,194 B. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution: 1: Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: Average: 9,315; Actual 9,044. 2. In-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: Average: 0; Actual: 0. 3. Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside USPS: Average: 47; Actual: 39. 4. Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS: Average: 0; Actual: 0. C. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: Average: 9,362; Actual: 9,083. D. Nonrequested Distribution: 1. Outside County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541: Average: 6,361; Actual: 6,420. 2. In-County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541: Average: 0; Actual: 0. 3. Nonrequested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail: Average: 0; Actual: 0. 4) Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: Average: 1,728; Actual: 1,620. E. Total Non-requested Distribution: Average: 8,088; Actual: 8,040. F. Total Distribution: Average: 17,451; Actual: 17,123. G. Copies not Distributed: Average: 87; Actual: 71. H. Total: Average: 17,538; Actual: 17,123. I. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: Average: 53.7%; Actual: 53.0%. 16. Electronic Copy Circulation: 0; Actual: 0 17. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requester Publication is required and will be printed in the November 2026 issue of this publication. 18. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager or Owner Kendall Morgan Hammack, Publisher. Date: October 1, 2026.
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F R O M
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Savor the Possibilities Wow. Did we have an incredible food year in OKC or what?! When senior writer Matt Kiroauc gave me his list of restaurants he planned to cover in Best New Restaurants, my first reaction was, “Did all of these seriously open within the last year?” Our food scene was already enviable—and somehow it keeps getting better. For me, the best part about dining isn’t the flavors or the full belly afterward. It’s the conversation and laughs had at the table; joining people in experiencing the finer things in life together. Over the course of this year, some of my favorite memories have happened in the metro’s restaurants. Among those featured in this year’s compendium of outstanding new options are several that transport you around the globe. We welcomed authentic French, Caribbean, Korean, Mexican, Japanese and a host of Italian cuisines to town. I’ve been fortunate enough to dine at most of the places on the list, and just a few of my favorite dishes include a piccola caldera, octopus coconut ceviche, spicy rigatoni, sashimi platter and tableside tiramisu. Photographers Jared Kinley and Rachel Maucieri captured the yummy dishes so beautifully. Fair warning: Don’t read this feature hungry or it will absolutely make your mouth water (pg. 30)! We are so excited for you to check out our local Holiday Gift Guide full of incredible items perfect for your friends and family (pg. 45). Also in this issue, we are thrilled to introduce you to a local actor and teacher currently gracing the big screen nationwide (pg. 14) and an artist telling stories through vintage photographs and textiles (pg. 68). We are also charmed by a home design section inspired by the calm and lovely tones of nature (pg. 26). I hope this November is a lovely one. This Thanksgiving, as always, we are again thankful for you, our faithful readers!
Julie Partin EDITOR IN CHIEF
BEHIND THE SCENES
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1225 Blue Wister Cv, Edmond, OK Offered at $1,175,000
5 Bed | 5.5 Bath | 4,334 Sq Ft
Offering privacy, luxury, and designer-curated finishes, this custom estate sits on an oversized corner lot backing to a scenic greenbelt. The gourmet kitchen features custom cabinetry, marble countertops, a 6-burner Viking range, walk-in pantry, and expansive island opening to the great room with stone fireplace and custom built-ins. Formal dining and a sophisticated study with leather ceiling details, exposed beams, and stone fireplace add elegance. The main-level primary suite offers patio access and a spainspired bath with granite vanities, a tumbled marble dual-head shower, a whirlpool tub, and marble flooring. An additional suite with a private patio, ideal for guests, completes the first floor. The upstairs includes versatile secondary bedrooms, each with private en-suite bathrooms, plus a game room. Outdoor living shines with covered porches, flagstone patios, a private courtyard, refreshed landscaping, and gated motor court.
Janet Rose Redfin Premier Agent (405) 761-6444 janet.rose@redfin.com License #176700 405MAGAZINE.COM
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TRENDING PERSON OF INTEREST 16
STYLE 18
SOCIAL HOUR 20
H E A LT H 2 2
Shooters Shoot
C H A R L I E N E U N S C H WA N D E R
Actor Kylr Coffman is helping other Oklahomans reach for the stars P. 16
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T R E N D I N G
A One-Stop Actors’ Shop Kylr Coffman helps Oklahoma dreamers launch themselves to success BY K R I S T E N G R AC E P H OTO S BY C H A R L I E N E U E N S C H WA N D E R
K
ylr Coffman grew up in Oklahoma City, skateboarding and playing punk music, and he swears that if someone had told his high school self that he would one day move to Hollywood to pursue acting, he would have thought that was the corniest thing he could imagine. He also credits his high school drama teacher, Emily Farnam, for saving his life. “Every other teacher sent me out to the hall for being disruptive. But not her,” he said. “I was usually treated like a problem child and I felt like one. But Ms. Farnam gave me responsibility. My first job was to open and close the curtains for the play. For the first time, I had a purpose. I also saw that it took a community to make a performance work. I didn’t want to leave it behind.” Coffman is one of the leads in the upcoming movie Nimrods. The story kicks off with teenage bandmates receiving what they believe is a 16
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life‑changing call inviting their band, the Analog Dogs, to open for Green Day at a New Year’s Eve concert in L.A. It’s actually an elaborate prank, but this false hope propels the band into a chaotic cross‑country road trip. The lead singer of Green Day (Billie Joe Armstrong) has a mother from Oklahoma, and 27 of the 35 production days were shot here in the Sooner State. The crew and the background actors are all from Oklahoma, too. Coffman said, “It’s so special to get to share this film with my home state. “There is a scene at the end of the movie where my character is playing live on stage with Green Day. It was such a surreal experience, because there were other people in the movie like Jenna Fischer, Fred Armisen and Bobby Lee. It was such an honor.” Coffman described moving out to Los Angeles after college, where he experienced all the ups
and downs of an aspiring actor. “I was poor, I was homeless. When my mom got cancer, which is what brought me back to Oklahoma, I started auditioning via self-tape.” His mom is doing well now, but he found a lot to keep him in the Sooner State. “Back home, actors kept asking me questions about how to find agents and how to audition. That allowed me to start thinking about others and give energy to them instead of only myself.” Coffman started an acting studio in Oklahoma City to give back to his community. “It’s so important to let others know what is possible,” he said. “Oklahoma Film Actors Studio started in my living room in the Plaza District, and now we have a studio space. I think of it as a vending machine or a one-stop shop for actors. We have classes, self-audition tapes and headshots. Opportunities to meet with managers and agents. We even have dialect coaches.
P E R S O N
O F
I N T E R E S T
“We have an amazing film industry getting started in Oklahoma, and I know so many actors that need assistance. When I needed headshots and an audition tape, I didn’t know where to go. Our community deserves these resources,” he continued. “Just last week, OFA had an actor sign with a major agent in L.A. It’s so good to know that you don’t have to move to L.A. when you are getting started. You can chase your dreams from Oklahoma now that you have these tools that are professional-caliber. We have actors who are getting booked on local movies and projects.” The process builds on itself; Coffman said, “I thought I would come back to Oklahoma for a month, help my mom. But there have been so many incredible actors and opportunities. I just kept staying and finding new ways to support them.” Visit ofastudios.com for more.
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S T Y L E
A Moment for Monochrome
1.
De-stressing seasonal fashions
2.
BY B E N N E T T H I L L
Something about November makes it feel like the month we’ve been bracing for all year. It’s football season, the holidays are inching closer and closer, and schools are having programs and parties seemingly every week. Not to mention, it seems like you’re always supposed to have a baked good ready for those dearest to you to indulge in. It’s a joyous time of year, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a LOT. It can be easy to lose yourself in the chaos of your agenda, but don’t lose the one thing that makes this all even more special: yourself. One way to do this is in a monochrome moment. It looks put together and stylish, and can take the stress of pairing pieces together out of your routine. Pair together those warm, fall tones with rich velvets and suede to really lean into the season. Decided you’re not cooking this year? Great. No one will think twice about a gorgeous platter stacked with local goodies, especially when the presenter is in a great outfit. While the season can be stressful, feeling confident and looking good doesn’t have to be.
3.
4.
1. Montego Emerald Jade Beaded Necklace: Mode 2. Molly Bracken, Cotton Poplin Checked Blouse: Refinery 3. Frame, Le Slice Slim Palazzo Jean: Edit & Co. 4. Remi/Reid, Fallon Mini Faux Suede Bag: Cayman’s 5. MacKenzie Childs, Ginger Check Ceramic Football Platter: Occasions 6. Cecelia New York, Heidi Flat: Betsy King Shoes
5.
6.
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FROM THE AUSTRALIAN DESERT ESERT Visit the exhibition at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art October 16, 2026–March 14, 2027 FRED JONES JR.
MUSEUM OF ART
The UNIVERSITY of OKLAHOMA
fjjma.ou.edu | @fjjma |
Exhibition organized by the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia in partnership with Papunya Tula Artists. The local presentation is made possible in part by the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s Museum Association and generous donors to the museum’s endowment. MICK NAMARARI TJAPALTJARRI, Mitukatjirri (Detail), 1971–72, Synthetic polymer paint on composition board, 25 1⁄4 × 18 1⁄4 in. (64 × 46 cm) Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia. Gift of John W. Kluge, 1997, 1991.0021.021.
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Join Automobile Alley for the annual holiday open house featuring shopping and festivities, pop-up programing, photos with Santa, and glowing light displays.
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T R E N D I N G
S O C I A L
H O U R
OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY'S
Oklahoma Contemporary hosted Luxe Affair: Psychedelic Elegance! It was an evening filled with immersive art, music, dancing, cocktails, food, and fashion displays from designers Korey J. Éakers, Sydnie Banks, Stella Thomas Designs, TWINHAUS and William & Lauren. Honorary chairs included Annie Bohanon and Charles Oppenheim and co-chairs were Lauren and Rich Johnson.
J U S T I N N E W TO N AT T H E B O OT H A N D M A D I R A E J O N E S P H OTO G R A P H Y
LU X E A F FA I R : P SYC H E D E L I C E L E GA N C E
OKLAHOMA CITY COMETS'
CHAMPIONSHIP WIN
P H OTO S P R O V I D E D
The Oklahoma City Comets claimed the 2026 Pacific Coast League Championship with a 5-2 win in a decisive Game 3 against the Las Vegas Aviators at Las Vegas Ballpark. The championship is Oklahoma City’s sixth Triple-A title and second in four years after winning the title in 2023. This is Oklahoma City’s second championship during the Bricktown era.
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T R E N D I N G
H E A LT H
Catch Cancer Early Knowing the warning signs can strongly improve your chances BY L AV I N I A C R E S WA
T
he National Cancer Institute estimates that roughly 50% of invasive cancers are not diagnosed until stages 3 or 4, dramatically influencing the prognosis. November is dedicated to bringing awareness to three different cancers, all of which are usually diagnosed at later stages. Learning some of the early warning signs and risks associated with lung cancer, gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer could lead to an earlier diagnosis with an improved outcome. Dr. Jordan Morton, a medical oncologist and hematologist, said that the early warning signs of lung cancer include having “a persistent cough which lasts more than three to four weeks and that is out of the ordinary, coughing up blood, severe shortness of breath or unexplained weight loss.” As for ways to decrease your risk, her answer is: “Do not smoke, and quit smoking if you do currently smoke. There are lots of ways
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to try to quit including medicine that can reduce cravings and using a nicotine replacement. 1-800-QUIT-NOW is a great resource. Avoid secondhand smoke as well.” Morton also said to “try to avoid exposure to harmful chemicals or substances such as asbestos or radon. If your job requires exposure to these substances, use appropriate respiratory protection. Eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes.” For those that are considered high risk, she suggests regular screenings. “If you are 50 to 80 years old and have smoked for at least 20 years, a current smoker or have quit within the last 15 years, you should get a yearly low dose CT scan without contrast. This would be covered by insurance and can help detect early lung cancers that could be treated before they spread.” Morton noted the early signs of gastric cancer, or stomach cancer, include “persistent indigestion or heartburn that is out of the ordinary, upper abdominal pain, feeling full too
quickly, abnormal weight loss, black or tarry stools and unexplained iron deficiency.” While there is no routine screening for gastric cancer, ways to decrease the chances of developing it include not smoking as well as “limit heavily salted or preserved foods, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly. Learning your genetic risk is important, as there are some mutations associated with gastric cancer such as CDH1 mutation. Also, treat and eradicate an H pylori bacterial infection if present.” If pancreatic cancer is found early and has not yet spread, the prognosis jumps to a 44% survival rate. Morton said that early warning signs of pancreatic cancer may include “persistent abdominal pain or mid back pain, unexplained weight loss, new onset diabetes, jaundice (yellowing of eyes) and greasy or hardto-flush stools.” While there are no routine screenings, in addition to not smoking, other ways to decrease your chances of developing pancreatic cancer are to “limit alcohol, exercise regularly and eat a plant-forward diet. Know your genetic risk, as some mutations such as BRCA mutation can increase your risk.” Ask your doctor about genetic testing if you are at higher risk for any of these cancers.
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER Cancer does not discriminate by age. In August, 39-year-old Woodward native and UCO graduate Cody Cole passed away from cholangiocarcinoma, a bile duct cancer, leaving behind his wife and two young children. While these cancer diagnoses are rare for adults under 40, adults under 55 years of age make up 5-15% of cases. Dr. Morton encourages 405 readers to be proactive with their health: “Do not delay visiting with your primary care if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. They can start the initial workup and get you to a specialist if needed.”
Give back this year with a
Qualified Charitable Distribution As year-end approaches, consider a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA for your tax strategy. If you are age 70½ or older, a QCD may help reduce your taxable income while supporting a cause. For 35 years , our CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals have provided fiduciary guidance to families and can help you understand how a QCD may fit into your plan. Connect with our team to schedule your initial complimentary consultation today. TheRetirementPath.com/405Nov2026 405-504-0798
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LARGEST DESIGN STUDIO IN OKLAHOMA CITY
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N 13201 O V E M BN E RSANTA 2 0 2 6 FE AVE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73114
405.286.9105
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HOME DESIGN 26
One with Nature
JACOB SNAVELY
A Jones home designed with scenic views in mind P. 26
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H O M E
D E S I G N
By Woods and Water A lush landscape and Southern hospitality inspire this home’s inviting design BY E V I E K LO P P H O L Z E R
P H OTO S BY JAC O B S N AV E LY
IN THE DINING ROOM, A CUSTOM SUSAN HARTER HAND-PAINTED MURAL SETS THE TONE, WHILE CHARTREUSE VELVET CHAIRS AND VERDIGRIS LANTERNS BY COLEEN RIDER ADD COLOR.
B
eauty in nature can set the scene for beauty in design. Interior designer Sara Crooks remembers working on a special home in Jones where this was definitely the case. It was a new construction project, and the tree-laden lot sat beside a peaceful pond. The area’s woods and water were the stars, so Crooks—along with architect Brent Gibson and builder John Matteson—constucted a home to complement the landscape, rather than compete with it. “Brent did an amazing job figuring out how to situate the house in a way that embraced the view, and then John and his team executed really
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well in this very detailed house,” Crooks said. The homeowners have a Southern background, and Crooks’ designs include subtle Southern touches to accommodate their personalities and lifestyle preferences. “The homeowners are very warm, casual and gracious people, so we wanted the house to feel that way, with a little bit of a Southern spirit running through it,” she said. “Hospitality was kind of ingrained in the way they grew up, being from the South—that coupled with the fact that the house that they lived in prior to this house was always the place where everybody ended up. When they decided that it was time for them to
put down roots here and build, a big part of that was continuing to extend this hospitality.” The kitchen provides ample space to host and hang out, while a soapstone island and backsplash, unlacquered finishes and white oak show appreciation for nature. In addition, two primary porches, each with amazing views, are well appointed for year-round enjoyment. Crooks said she wanted to create a feeling for the client, rather than a particular look. So, she layered materials and colors that would feel most like home to them. “We pulled in colors that felt familiar, [inspired by] the water, the marsh grasses and
THE KITCHEN'S WHITE OAK AND SOAPSTONE CREATE A WARM, GROUNDED BACKDROP FOR EVERYDAY FAMILY LIFE.
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H O M E
THE EAST-FACING STUDY OFFERS DREAMY MORNING LIGHT AND COZY FIRESIDE NIGHTS—PLUS A HIDDEN BOOKCASE DOOR LEADING TO A SMALL PRIVATE OFFICE.
JUST OFF THE KITCHEN AND TV-FREE, THIS ROOM HAS A WINDOW SEAT OVERLOOKING THE WATER AND CHAIRS CLUSTERED AROUND A CENTER OTTOMAN TO ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION.
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D E S I G N
LEFT: A BAR IS TUCKED INTO A HALLWAY AND PERSONALIZED WITH THE FAMILY CREST BY THE HOMEOWNER'S COUSIN, ARTIST HAPPY MENOCAL.
BELOW: A TIMELESS POWDER BATH PAIRS SOANE WALLPAPER WITH A VINTAGE BAMBOO MIRROR. IN THIS TEEN BEDROOM, A DEEP WINDOW BED INVITES SLEEPOVERS, WHILE LAYERED PATTERNS AND REWORKED FURNISHINGS FROM THE FAMILY’S PREVIOUS HOME MAKE THE ROOM FEEL COLLECTED AND PERSONAL.
the softer blues and greens of the landscape there in South Carolina, and then we also wanted to mix in things that felt a little more fresh or unexpected,” said Crooks, adding that she layered in the homeowners’ antiques, procured from family and travels. Since the homeowners love to entertain (and do so often), Crooks also incorporated durable fabrics and finishes. She didn’t want any room to be “too precious” for regular, everyday use. The formal dining room feels extra inviting and approachable. Chartreuse chairs provide a “jolt of energy” as you walk in, said Crooks, while
verdigris finished sconces and a natural fiber rug provide interesting layers. The dining room doesn’t have the same views as seen on the back of the home, so a Susan Harter hand-painted mural wallpaper stands in for a forested scene. “It’s atmospheric; it’s a quiet backdrop, but it kind of supports everything else happening,” said Crooks. “It’s the kind of room—and this really encapsulates the whole project—where you can sit with paper plates and feel totally great about it, or you can set the table for a formal Thanksgiving dinner with the whole family.”
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2026
Best New Restaurants By: Matt Kirouac
A
Photos by: Jared Kinley & Rachel Maucieri
ll eyes are on Oklahoma City. I know I say it every
hearing rave reviews about OKC—from people who have
year around this time, but as someone who has
visited, and those who want to. Dusty stereotypes and
lived all over the country and travels multiple
preconceived notions are being replaced with respect,
times per month, there’s no place like OKC. That’s true
curiosity and awe. And our restaurant scene is a big
of so many aspects of my adopted hometown, from its
reason why. Each year, our restaurants and bars earn
booming arts scene and its impending colossal coliseum
coveted James Beard Award nominations, catapulting
to its characteristic neighborhoods, year-round events,
our chefs into the national spotlight, while new concepts
world-class hotels and metropolitan developments. And
continue to diversify the melting pot of cuisines and
the world is taking notice. Thanks to this year’s Route 66
dining styles. In the past year alone we’ve seen everything
centennial, bringing road-trippers from across the globe
from a Korean steakhouse and French bistro to wood-
to our fair city, visitors are getting a real taste of what
fired bagels, Caribbean cooking, oyster bars and Tuscan
OKC is about. Coupled with our NBA Championship team
pastas. When I travel, people tell me they’ve heard
and the 2028 Olympics, which OKC is co-hosting with
amazing things about OKC’s restaurant scene. Now that
Los Angeles, it’s hard not to take notice.
more eyes are on our city, people are seeing what we’ve
For me, that sentiment is more than just a headline. On my travels, from Alaska to Australia, I’m increasingly
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known all along. These are the best new restaurants of 2026.
THE POPE'S BLESSING (ESPRESSO MARTINI), PASTAS, AND DESSERT SAMPLER AT CARLETTI'S
Carletti’s 1226 NE 63rd Street Oklahoma City Like something out of an Italian fairy tale, Carletti’s might be a swanky new Italian restaurant, but its roots run deep. Describing the restaurant as a museum of Oklahoma history, coowner and historic preservationist Gina Foxhoven is the great granddaughter of Giovanni Carletti, who worked with Roberto Ravaioli in running C&R Grocery in Haileyville, Oklahoma. The two patriarchs were fast friends, and eventually family members, when Carletti’s daughter married Ravaioli’s son. Decades later, and that story of love, friendship and heritage is baked into every part of Carletti’s. The space originally stood as a speakeasy-style bar, The Kentucky Club, during Prohibition. Today, it’s a gorgeously designed historic property with a new iteration of The Kentucky Club in the rear lounge, featuring expansive skyline views from its hilly perch. The menu showcases “sacred family recipes,” like Nonna’s Lasagna and Ravaioli Bolognese, while the bar serves “Thoroughbred”-inspired cocktails like Wintergreen Juleps with mint syrup and powdered sugar. “I treat this as a museum, as much as a restaurant,” Foxhoven said, “where you can get lost in a little bit of storytelling along the way.”
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Best New Restaurants
Bar None
801 N. Hudson Avenue Oklahoma City The wine scene has been on the rise around here in recent years, culminating in one of the most exciting new bars from one of the most lauded restaurants. Bar None is located right next to its bigger sister, Nonesuch, carving out its own space with a minimalist lounge and a menu projected on the wall. Said menu rotates readily, highlighting esoteric glass pours, intricate cocktails and quirky bar bites (think phospiced pecans and egg salad sandwiches). What’s distinctive about Bar None is its dedicated focus on North American wine, and particularly those from unexpected regions beyond California, Oregon and Washington. On any given evening, you might find an Albariño from Colorado or a pour from Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe. Down the hall, guests can peruse the curated bottle room for more varietals rarely seen around these parts.
NORTH AMERICAN WINE, SANDWICHES, AND PHO-SPICED PECANS AT BAR NONE
Le Parisien 440 NW 11th Street Oklahoma City My new date night obsession, Le Parisien is the French bistro of my dreams. Flickering with candles and adorned with vintage French art, it’s at once cozy and impossibly chic, right down to the crispy frites, bubbling French onion soup and buttery bone marrow. It’s all thanks to the visionaries behind it: Alain Jeu and Dustin Lancaster. The longtime friends designed the space themselves, transforming it from Cafe Do Brasil into an authentic love letter to Parisian brasseries. “We are really happy with the way it turned out,” said Jeu, an ever-present sight greeting guests at the restaurant. “The chef, the look of the place, our staff is great. We’re really happy to be here.”
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FRENCH ONION SOUP AT LE PARISIEN
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LA BUCA IS A TUSCANINSPIRED GEM IN THE PASEO ARTS DISTRICT
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Best New Restaurants
Kaizume
La Buca 605 NW 28th Street Oklahoma City 2026 has been a big year for Italian restaurants, with each new entry defining its own niche. In the Paseo Arts District, one such niche is La Buca, an intimate, Tuscaninfluenced grotto from Italian native Milan Karadzovski. With a name that means “hole in the wall,” La Buca draws inspiration from tucked-away wine cellars in Florence and basement restaurants in New York City. Nostalgia is another key ingredient, from the rusticchic chairs to the menu of Tuscan lasagna, chicken Parmigiana and tableside tiramisu. Other dishes, meanwhile, hew closer to Tuscan traditions, like crispy porchetta with salmoriglio sauce and ribollita soup with Tuscan beans and smoked Italian sausage. Served in a space that feels swanky and spirited, where Karadzovski dabbles as DJ and couples share pasta on candlelit tables, La Buca is the “hole in the wall” we’ve been craving.
1501 NW 23rd Street Oklahoma City Richard Ly is fast becoming a frequent fixture on these endof-year lists. A few years ago, he dazzled diners—including me—at Awaji Izakaya. And this year, he strikes again, with a French-infused Japanese restaurant that plumbs new depths of sushi, seafood, noodles and steaks. The restaurant, in the former Syrup space on NW 23rd, is decked out like the hull of a ship, replete with wood paneling, maritime artwork and pinstriped tables that look like yacht attire. Whereas Awaji is a more traditional izakaya, traipsing through street food traditions in Tokyo, Kaizume charts a different course. “We created a menu that’s more like Japanese-French fusion,” said Ly, whose dishes run the gamut from creamy crab bisque to tuna tartare with yuzu ponzu and goat cheese. “We wanted it to be different. We wanted this to be more of a new test kitchen.” Yes, it has some of the freshest sushi in the city, but you’ll also find plenty of surprises along the way, like the Pear Pressure roll made with spicy tuna, pear, balsamic glaze and chive oil.
CHILEAN SEABASS WITH SHRIMP DUMPLINGS AT KAIZUME
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Best New Restaurants
Dougla Kitchen 100 NE 4th Street Oklahoma City
You know it’s been a banner year for OKC restaurants when some of the standout bites include cassava dumplings, smoked octopus ceviche and rum-glazed lamb skewers. A taste of the Caribbean in Deep Deuce, Dougla Kitchen represents the most personal project to date for OKC’s most acclaimed chef. Caribbean ingredients often pop up on menus at his other restaurants, but for Jamaican native Andrew Black, Dougla is the first time he’s opened a restaurant fully immersed in his heritage. The word “Dougla” is a Caribbean term that means mixed, which Black chose to honor his father’s Indo-Caribbean lineage, and his mother’s African history. Aptly, the menu fuses Caribbean cuisine with Indo flavors, from smoked octopus coconut ceviche to pimento- and tamarind-glazed goat ribs with Indian cucumber and mint chutney. Whatever you do, don’t miss the curried goat with plantain gnocchi, or the pitchperfect piña coladas, made with fresh juice from a sugarcane machine behind the bar.
Juliette Oyster Bar & Steakhouse 121 E. Main Street Norman Nowadays, fresh seafood is as commonplace in OKC as steak. And at one particular Norman newcomer, you can have the best of both. Juliette Oyster Bar & Steakhouse, from husband-wife team Theron and LeRhonda Jessop, is an upscale nautical addition to Norman’s historic Main Street. Outfitted with exposed brick, cozy booths and a lavish wooden bar, it’s got a menu to match the elegant motif, including some of the freshest oysters I’ve slurped in Oklahoma. Surf & turf is where Juliette really excels, seamlessly marrying seared scallops with woodgrilled filet, or a Wagyu strip steak with crab beurre blanc. Even the sides and salads are staggering, like fluffy potato croquettes with gochujang honey and remoulade and broccolini almondine flecked with sea salt.
CARIBBEAN-INSPIRED DISHES AT DOUGLA KITCHEN
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OYSTERS, SCALLOPS, FRIES, AND VEGETABLE DISHES AT JULIETTE OYSTER BAR & STEAKHOUSE
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BAGEL SANDWICH AT DUCKIE'S WOODFIRE. PROVIDED BY DUCKIE'S WOODFIRE, JOSH MASTERSON, STARVING ARTIST CO.
PROVIDED BY DUCKIE'S WOODFIRE, SELENA ROMERO
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Best New Restaurants
Duckie’s Woodfire 310 N. Klein Avenue Oklahoma City If there’s one glaring void I’ve bemoaned about OKC’s food scene, it’s bagels. Yes, they exist here, and they can be quite good (shoutout to Old School Bagel Cafe). But our options pale in comparison to many other cities. This year, mercifully, a new contender stepped in to fill the void and schmear it with whitefish salad. Duckie’s Woodfire is a colorful allday cafe in the former FairWeather Friend brewery space, offering housemade bagels and bialies, smoked fish, schmears and an evening menu of wings, bagel sandwiches, bialy pizzas and house-brewed beer. Not only are the wood-fired bagels legit and delicious, but whimsical options include the Sunshine Stacker with sausage, roasted egg, graham cracker schmear and sharp cheddar on a plain bagel.
La Loba Cantina + Grill 23 W. 1st Street Edmond
Located in the Edmond Railyard, La Loba Cantina + Grill is the first full-service restaurant from Robert and Lori Black, who also own Cafe Evoke, Twisted Tree Baking Company and Bluebird Books. Bedecked with vibrant Mexican artwork and chile ristras, La Loba eschews Tex-Mex tropes for authentic, regional Mexican cooking, criss-crossing the country from the coast to the south for a menu more focused on vegetables and seafood. Describing their food as “casually awesome Mexican,” they’re offering the kind of dishes they love to eat, like empanada-style quesadillas with housemade masa; guacamole dotted with toasted pepitas and pomegranate seeds; and Oaxacan-style braised pork shoulder with mole negro, cilantro rice and fried plantains. What stemmed from a personal love for Mexican cuisine, and a diligence for authenticity, has blossomed into one of the truest—and most distinctive—Mexican restaurants the metro has seen in years.
REGIONAL MEXICAN DISHES AT LA LOBA CANTINA + GRILL
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Best New Restaurants
Mezzo Bakeshop 1100 N. Walker Avenue Oklahoma City
Yet another marquee moment in OKC’s Italian glow-up of late, Mezzo Bakeshop marked its hotly anticipated debut in Midtown toward the end of summer. The restaurant, located in the vaunted Brown’s Bakery space, hails from husband-wife owners Chad and Tori Arnold, who harkened to their cherished family vacations to Italy as they designed the concept. With a name that nods to the leisurely intermezzo—or in-between—moments they share in Italy, the lofty bakeshop serves a scratch-made menu of breads, pastries, breakfast and lunch, along with a top-shelf espresso program and a melange of spritzes and espresso martinis. The food, like the sandwiches served on housebaked schiacciata and pancakes enriched with housemade ricotta, serves to accentuate the atmosphere of the space, which is designed to transport guests to Italy. One of those “I can’t believe this is in OKC” spots, there’s something transfixing about the ambience that feels so sincerely European.
AVOCADO TOAST AND ESPRESSO MARTINI AT MEZZO BAKESHOP
MAHT 519 NW 23rd Street Oklahoma City At this point, it feels almost cliche to include a steakhouse on our Best New Restaurants list. After all, we’re certainly not lacking in filets and rib-eyes around here. And yet, just when we think we’ve exhausted every imaginable style of steakhouse, along comes one of our most acclaimed local chefs to utterly reinvent the wheel. Courtesy of chef Kevin Lee, MAHT is described— somewhat modestly—as a modern American steakhouse. But there’s more than meets (meats?) the eye here. Pulling from his own upbringing and the food he shared with his family, Lee infuses his menu with Korean inspiration, from kimchi béarnaise and crab and scallion pancakes to duck breast glazed with Bokbunja fruit wine. “We’re cooking food that people really crave, and they’re familiar with, but it’s different and unique,” Lee said. Add in the kimchikissed martinis and a moody dining room bedecked with gilded tigers, and you’ve got a steakhouse worth raving about.
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TOMAHAWK RIB-EYE, OYSTERS, AND
4 0 5 M A G A Z I N E . C O MRIGATONI AT41 MAHT
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ART NOUVEAU FROM THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART
October 31, 2026 - January 24, 2027
OKCMOA.COM/TRIUMPHOFNATURE The Triumph of Nature: Art Nouveau from the Chrysler Museum of Art is organized by the Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA and toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.
François-Raoul Larche, Table Lamp in the Form of Loïe Fuller, (detail) ca. 1900, Gilt bronze, 18 x 8 1/2 x 10 in., Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., Image courtesy of the Chrysler Museum of Art, Photograph by Edward Pollard, © François-Raoul Larche.
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P RROAMLO THI O O EN ALTHCARE PROFILES
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Luxe Dental OKC
Luxe Denta OKC
AT LUXE DENTAL OKC, YOU won’t find hurried appointments or impersonal care; instead, every patient is embraced as part of a close-knit family. Led by Dr. Golnaz Naghdi, a 2007 D.D.S. graduate from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, every visit is thoughtfully tailored to put you at ease, especially if anxiety has made past dental experiences daunting. Dr. Naghdi’s advanced training includes prestigious work at the Misch Implant Institute, and she continues to bring the latest technology, including 3D imaging and digital scanning, into the practice with one goal: to treat each patient personally, without the constraints of corporate influence. Her transition from her undergrad degree in Wood Industrial Engineering to dentistry speaks to her commitment to precision, compassion, and individualized care. At Luxe Dental OKC, patients of all ages find a full spectrum of services, from preventive cleanings and cosmetic treatments to implant-supported restorations and emergency care, all provided in a calm, modern and welcoming atmosphere. The practice warmly supports VA community members and offers professional courtesy to healthcare workers, underscoring a strong dedication to service. Above all, Luxe Dental OKC is built on trusted relationships that feel like family. It is a place where patients are part of something personal, modern, and caring. Each smile is unique, and care is always City, OK 73120 tailored to meet individual needs.
AT LUXE DENTAL won’t find hurried ap or impersonal care; in patient is embraced a close-knit family. Led b Naghdi, a 2007 D.D. from the University o College of Dentistry, e thoughtfully tailored to ease, especially if anxie past dental experiences Dr. Naghdi’s advanc includes prestigious w Misch Implant Inst she continues to brin technology, including and digital scanning practice with one goal: t patient personally, w constraints of corporat Her transition from he degree in Wood Engineering to denti to her commitment t compassion, and in care. At Luxe Dental OK of all ages find a fu of services, from cleanings and cosmetic to implant-supported and emergency care, a in a calm, modern and atmosphere. The prac supports VA communi and offers professional healthcare workers, un strong dedication to ser Above all, Luxe Den built on trusted relatio feel like family. It is a patients are part of personal, modern, and smile is unique, and ca tailored to meet individ
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LUXE DENTAL OKC
13509 N Meridian Ave STE 1, Oklahoma City, OK 73120 405.755.4099 | luxedentalokc.com
ORAL HEALTHCARE PROFILES
PROMOTION
Farrow Orthodontics FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, Dr. Melissa Farrow has helped children, teens and adults build healthier smiles with orthodontic care designed around their individual needs. At Farrow Orthodontics, treatment is about more than straight teeth. It is about listening, prioritizing patient comfort, and creating an experience where families feel welcome from the first visit. A board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Farrow offers Invisalign, Damon metal and ceramic braces and early treatment options for growing children. She continues to use growth appliances when appropriate to help guide development and potentially avoid more invasive treatment later. Invisalign Palatal Expanders also provide a modern alternative to traditional expanders for many younger patients. Dr. Farrow believes the best results come when patients understand their treatment and feel comfortable asking questions. With a longstanding team and generations of families who return and refer others, Farrow Orthodontics has built its reputation on trust, personal care, results and lasting relationships. FARROW ORTHODONTICS
1370 E. 15th St., Edmond 73013 405.341.2587 | farrowortho.com
Lewis Orthodontics
AT LEWIS ORTHODONTICS, creating a great smile is only part of the experience. Dr. Shannon Lewis has built a practice where patients feel truly valued, comfortable, known, and genuinely cared for from the moment they walk in. It is an environment where visits feel less clinical and more personal, something families quickly come to appreciate. A board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Lewis focuses on more than straightening teeth. Her work addresses growth, airway concerns, jaw alignment, and bite function, helping patients achieve results that support both health and confidence. She offers braces and clear aligners, combining proven techniques with modern digital technology, including in-house 3D printed aligners, to ensure precise and reliable care. Dr. Lewis believes that when patients enjoy the process, they are more engaged and more confident in their outcomes, leading to smiles that last a lifetime. This friendly atmosphere helps patients feel relaxed and eager to return. LEWIS ORTHODONTICS
2900 N Kelly Ave, Edmond, OK 73003 405.330.5095 | lewisbraces.com
MIDWEST OFFICE
8811 E. Reno Ave Midwest City, OK 73110 405MAGAZINE.COM
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Lana Richardson, DDS, MS Adam Richardson, DDS, MS 405.562.5700 www.aurorakids.dental 3008 W Hefner Rd OKC, OK 73120
Now Accepting New Patients
OKC’s warm, inclusive dental home for pediatric patients and patients with special health care needs
Dr. Martha Garzon THANK YOU FOR 23 PEDIATRIC YEARS OF DENTIST SMILES!
CELE BRAT ING OUR 2 ANNI 4 YEAR VERS ARY
PEDIATRIC DENTIST CALL US TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT! CALL US TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT!
405-348-5757 405-913-6218 405-348-5757 marthagarzondmd.com
870 South Kelly Avenue marthagarzondmd.com Edmond,OK OK73003 73003 870 South Kelly Avenue | Edmond, 54
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The Table Everyone Will Talk About Custom holiday menus and full-service catering so you can enjoy the day, too. Scan to start planning.
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DINING G O O D TAS T E 5 8
THE DRINK 60
JARED KINLEY
A Pause to Savor
Midtown's Mezzo Bakeshop rewards a slower pace P. 58
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D I N I N G
A Mezzo Moment Linger awhile at a luscious bakery and bistro in Midtown BY M AT T K I R O UAC
T
he scent of warm bread and fresh croissants. The cheerful cacophony of clinking spritzes and espresso martinis. The salted butter, smoked porchetta and pistachio cream. At first glance, sip or bite, you might mistake this blissful respite for a European sojourn. But that’s the magic of Mezzo Bakeshop, a transportive homage to Italy located in the heart of Midtown OKC. Housed in the former space of the legendary Brown’s Bakery, Mezzo Bakeshop is a European-style cafe unlike anything else in town. We’re certainly not lacking in great Italian restaurants, but few conjure the atmospheric sensation of sitting down for an afternoon spritz in a space that looks like a sunny piazza. Combined with local art, indoor trees and a grab-and-go market stocked with tote bags, shirts and habit-forming granola, Mezzo brings the heart and soul of Italy home to OKC. “We brought this concept together because we were inspired by our travels to
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P H OTO S BY JA R E D K I N L E Y
Italy, and we wanted to bring one of our favorite places home,” explained Tori Arnold, who owns Mezzo Bakeshop—along with all the local Summer Moon Coffee shops—with her husband, Chad Arnold. “We love the pace of Italy. From our fast lifestyle here to there, it forces us to slow down. We love the slower lifestyle; having a cappuccino and croissant in the morning, and having an aperol spritz and walking around Rome.” Describing the inherent “heart and soul in every dish,” and the passion for food, Italian culture—she noted—is rooted in simplicity of quality ingredients, and a simpler way of living. “We feel like we can reset,” Arnold added of their trips to Italy. “The air feels clean, pure, sweet and simple.” The same can be said of Mezzo, where the ambience and the menu harken to leisurely afternoons and in-between moments— emphasizing simple ingredients, fresh bread and all the spritzes you can clink. The drink list,
Arnold said, is inspired by quality coffee and traditional lattes, cappuccinos and cortados, along with a smattering of colorful spritzes, palomas, French 75s and espresso martinis. Open for breakfast, lunch and unhurried intermezzos, the bakeshop boasts a dizzying array of house-baked pastries and breads, including toasty pine nut cookies, buttery Danishes and hand-piped croissants brimming with pistachio cream and frangipane. Fluffy ricotta pancakes come with salted caramel maple syrup; fried eggs arrive with meltingly tender prosciutto; and avocado toast—Arnold’s favorite—gets a bit of spice from Calabrian chile. Later, sandwiches are made with Tuscanstyle schiacciata bread, baked in-house and stacked with the likes of mortadella, pistachio cream and crushed pistachios (the All’inizio); roast beef with tomato, arugula and maitake cream (the Manzo); and house-smoked turkey with ‘nduja, Calabrian chile, provolone and
G O O D
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PANCAKES, ESPRESSO MARTINI, CROISSANT AND ESPRESSO AT MEZZO BAKESHOP
arugula (the Piccolo Calda). There are also salads, soups (“the zuppa Toscana is literally Italy in a cup,” she said) and items for kids, including the “best I’ve ever had” grilled cheese. It’s all courtesy of executive chef John Conway, who Arnold said has “done a fantastic job cultivating the flavors, textures and tastes from Italy and transporting them to Oklahoma City.” Along with branding and marketing expert Haylee Keenum and general manager Niall Ferguson (“he’s totally transported the warmth and coziness and hospitality that you get from Europe”), Arnold said this trio helped bring Mezzo to life, in a historic space ready for reinvention. “To be in this building is so iconic,” Arnold proclaimed of the Brown’s Bakery locale. “We wanted that European feel, with the shorter booths and open concept, but that warm and elegant feeling with comfy seating,” she said. “It’s a place to pause. We want people to come here and choose us to slow down life a little bit.”
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D I N I N G
T H E
D R I N K
Cheers to OKC’s Best Whiskey Lists Restaurants and bars where the pours are perfection BY M AT T K I R O UAC
P H OTO S BY R AC H E L M AU C I E R I
WHISKEY (AND WHISKEY ROOM) AT STOCK & BOND
D
ining on a Prime bone-in rib-eye, it feels right to be surrounded by a veritable gallery of whiskey bottles. At Stock & Bond, beef and bourbon go handin-hand, as showcased in The Whiskey Room, a private dining space where more than 500 bottles line the shelves, practically glowing in the warm light. Even the chandelier features whiskey bottle lightbulbs. As bar programs and drink lists continue to diversify in OKC, and as cooler temperatures pair perfectly with darker spirits, Stock & Bond stakes its claim as one of the best whiskey spots in the city. “It’s the main spirit identity of Stock & Bond,” said beverage director Zak Lindahl, whose collection of rare and small-batch varieties ranges from the esoteric to the iconic. “We don’t just carry things for the sake of having as many whiskies as possible,” he added; “we select things that fit into the kind of whiskeynerd wheelhouse, focusing on high-quality grains, sourcing and production.” A vast number of whiskeys and bourbons are available to sip neat or as part of a cocktail, like the Overdraft Manhattan with Bottled-inBond rye, the Bonded Cherry Cola with Old
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Forester 100-proof bourbon or The Old Bond with private label WhistlePig Bourbon, barrelaged maple syrup and black walnut bitters. The restaurant also launched an immersive new whiskey experience, “The Bonded Journey,” designed to delve deeper into the world of whiskey. The tasting experience features three Booker’s small-batch bourbons presented tableside in a hand-crafted wooden case. With the last pour, guests receive a combination card and head downstairs to The Vault, where they’ll unlock a vintage safety deposit box to find bread pudding with caramel sauce and salted caramel ice cream. By putting as much emphasis on whiskey as it does steak, Stock & Bond reigns as a mustsip destination for connoisseurs, but other restaurants and lounges are raising the bar with their own styles and traditions. Stag Lounge is a cozy, speakeasy-inspired cigar and whiskey bar in Deep Deuce, with an enormous selection of rare whiskeys, bourbons and Scotches, and cocktails that range from coveted classics to cigar-smoked Old Fashioneds.
Tucked away next to FRIDA Southwest, The Daley is a speakeasy-style whiskey library with a spirits list the size of a phone book. Look for hundreds of bourbons and rye whiskeys, along with Scotch, Irish whiskey, Japanese whisky, and even selections from India and Taiwan. Shimmering chandeliers, feathered furnishings and velvety couches lend a little luxury at Gatsby Bourbon Bar & Lounge. The Art Deco-style space touts an impressive whiskey selection, used for seasonal cocktails or neat pours. There’s something that just feels right about a stiff pour in a wood-paneled saloon in Stockyards City. At McClintock Saloon, imbibers can choose from hundreds of whiskeys, bourbons and Scotches, as well as cocktails like Manhattans, Sazeracs and Coffin Varnish, made with smoked Maker’s Mark. And if you’d like to sip Oklahoma-style whiskey, local distilleries like Woodworks Distilling Company and WanderFolk Spirits make their own versions, available on local menus, in liquor stores and on their own menus.
MENU SPOTLIGHT
Showcasing noteworthy signature dishes or seasonal menu items in our menu spotlight special section. 405MAGAZINE.COM
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The February issue of 405 Magazine will feature an exclusive advertising section celebrating the innovators and leaders driving Oklahoma City’s dynamic business growth.
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Hart Brown, Saxum
W H E N T H E S TA K E S A R E H I G H , C L A R I T Y B E C O M E S T H E A D VA N TAG E – H A R T B R O W N I S H E L P I N G L E A D E R S N AV I G AT E T R A N S F O R M AT I O N WITH PURPOSE, NOT NOISE.
Phase2
B U I L D I N G O K L A H O M A’ S D I G I T A L I N F R A S T R U C T U R E , O N E PA R T N E R S H I P AT A T I M E For nearly 30 years, Phase2 has been the technical force behind some of Oklahoma’s most critical systems. The company partners with state agencies, healthcare organizations, energy companies, and enterprises across the region to solve complex problems through strategy, engineering, design, and applied AI. Phase2 has built systems that serve millions of Oklahomans, from modernizing legacy infrastructure for public agencies to developing AI-powered platforms that transform how businesses operate. When organizations face their toughest technical challenges, they turn to Phase2 because the team has proven they can deliver enterprise-scale solutions with reliability clients don’t have to think twice about. As a 100% employee-owned company, each engineer, designer, project manager, and operational team member at Phase2 has real ownership in client success. This ownership 3324 NW 135th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73120
mindset translates into technical excellence and lasting partnerships that span years, not just projects. “Some of Oklahoma’s most important organizations trust us to solve their hardest problems,” said Heath Clinton, CEO of Phase2. “We’ve built that trust by showing up with cutting-edge expertise and genuine care for nearly three decades.” Based in Oklahoma City with a 100% onshore team and employees in 10+ states, Phase2 brings world-class engineering capabilities while remaining focused on relationships and true partnership. The company specializes in strategic consulting, software engineering, applied AI, UI/UX design, and more. From digital transformations to secure, mission-critical systems, Phase2 is committed to building technology that strengthens organizations and creates lasting impact across Oklahoma and beyond.
Phone: 405-698-3722
For Hart Brown, transformation has never been about chasing what is new. It has always been about helping leaders make decisions that hold up when conditions are uncertain, and the consequences are real. As President of AI and Transformation at Saxum, Brown works with executives who face those moments regularly, when technology is moving faster than policy, when public trust matters as much as performance and when the wrong call can echo far beyond the boardroom. Brown’s career has been shaped at the intersection of innovation and responsibility. From advising organizations on artificial intelligence strategies to contributing to conversations on emerging technology policy, his work reflects a consistent belief that progress matters only when it is paired with accountability. He is known not for selling tools or trends, but for helping leaders ask better questions about how change should be introduced, who it serves and what it reshapes in the process, fostering trust in his leadership. That philosophy is evident in Anticipate, a scenario-based planning and simulation platform Brown helped shape at Saxum. Rather than assuming the future will behave as expected, Anticipate gives leadership teams a way to work through multiple possibilities before urgency takes over, and helps to foster a sense of preparedness. By combining disciplined scenario planning with signal intelligence and machine learning, the platform enables leaders to test decisions, recognize early indicators of change and act
with intention rather than react under pressure, instilling confidence in their ability to navigate uncertainty. Much of his work today centers on guiding organizations that operate in high-scrutiny environments, from public institutions and nonprofits to private enterprises whose decisions affect communities and public confidence. Brown brings a work perspective shaped not only by technology but by service. His involvement with education systems, humanitarian organizations, and international development efforts has reinforced his view that leadership in innovation carries a broader obligation to people, not just performance metrics. At Saxum, Brown leads the firm’s AI and transformation practice, inspiring trust as he helps executive teams translate strategy into action, guiding them from uncertainty to clarity, from intention to momentum. Colleagues and clients see his steady, direct style as a source of confidence, especially when the stakes are high and the margin for error is thin. In a marketplace crowded with voices promising disruption, Hart Brown has built a reputation for something quieter and more enduring. He helps leaders navigate change with discipline rather than noise, foresight rather than urgency, and responsibility rather than hype. Through his work at Saxum, Brown continues to show that true innovation is not defined by how fast organizations move, but by how well they lead when it matters most.
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www.saxum.com
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F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N
about this issue and to discuss a comprehensive advertising plan that includes our other platforms, contact Kendall Morgan Hammack at kendall.morgan@405magazine.com 64
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Inspiration Central
CHARLIE NEUENSCHWANDER
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Giving Veterans a Creative SPARK! A multimedia outlet for expression and support
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ach year, America honors the men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces by celebrating Veteran’s Day. Parades, memorial events and even free meals at restaurants are all ways veterans are shown appreciation for their service. As for the other 364 days of the year, though, veterans are often overlooked in society. According to Oklahoma Watch, veterans die by suicide at nearly double the national average in Oklahoma. At SPARK! Creative Lab, honoring veterans and nurturing their artistic side is the primary focus. The organization’s mission statement reads, “We partner with Oklahoma veterans to strengthen connection, expand understanding and deepen community well-being through creative expression.” Founder and Creative Director Nicole Poole is the daughter of an Army vet, and noted that her father did not tend to talk about his time in the military. “He became an artist, and that’s how he expressed things he wasn’t able to say,” she said. Poole’s work with veterans began with an interview with Dr. Neil Chapman in 2022. 66
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Chapman is a Vietnam-era veteran who was stationed in Thailand, working as a Morse code interceptor. This role was commonly known as a “ditty bopper.” During their discussion, Poole posed the question: If there were one thing you could say in Morse code, what would it be? Chapman’s answer became the first installment of Ditty Bops: The Art of Listening, which tells his story. His words were transformed into Morse code and accompanied by music by composer and percussionist James Metcalfe. The performances included movement, film, a DJ performance, visual art and spoken word by both civilian and veteran artists. A documentary by filmmaker Zachary Burns followed the creation of this incredible performance, and premiered at deadCenter Film Festival last year. The Ditty Bops documentary is being released for the public to stream online this month. “It is an opportunity to see a bunch of artists from every background, discipline and style come together to wrap their arms around one person and try to do justice to his incredible life and story,” Poole said.
Since then, SPARK! has been hosting regular workshops for veterans called “Connecting the Dots,” which explore Morse code through rhythm, visual patterns and collaborative creative prompts. All veterans are encouraged to attend and are also welcome to bring their spouse or other support person. SPARK! recently received the Creative Forces Engagement Community Grant administered by the Mid-America Arts Alliance. This grant, as well as donations through fundraising, allows the workshops to remain entirely free for veterans to attend. “Veterans are the ones creating and designing and leading and facilitating these workshops,” Poole said. “I think veterans have been marginalized in the arts. People say to me, ‘Oh, you’re doing veterans’ work?’ For me, this is everybody’s work. This is American work. We are standing on the shoulders of people who have served. In my mind, those people need to have the microphone.” In January of 2027, SPARK! will host the next Ditty Bops at Oklahoma Contemporary. “It will be a concert evening of Oklahoma
PHOTOS PROVIDED
BY L AV I N I A C R E S WA
A R T S
S I G N U P AT 4 0 5 M A G A Z I N E . C O M / N E W S L E T T E R S SPARK! WORKSHOP AND DITTY BOPS PERFORMANCE PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZACHARY BURNS
veteran voices. We use the arts to amplify what they want to express in a creative way, through original music or choreography, short films, music videos or testimonials. The community of veterans from our workshops will lead this performance,” Poole explained. Poole encourages civilians who would like to get involved help fund a workshop. “We have more requests than we can accommodate at this time,” she said. “For veterans who want to be involved, just show up. There’s space for you.” For more information on SPARK! Creative Lab, visit sparklahoma.org.
Author's Note: Since the time of writing this article, Dr. Neil Chapman has passed away from service-related Parkinson’s Disease. “Thank you, Neil, for your service, your art, your teaching and your friendship” Poole said. “For opening a door we will keep holding open for others.”
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Patterns of Joy Artist Natalie Biggs on what drives her creativity BY K R I S T E N G R AC E P H OTO S BY C H A R L I E N E U E N S C H WA N D E R
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rtist Natalie Biggs moved to Oklahoma when she was 13 years old. She attended Putnam City High School and UCO, where she discovered art as a hobby, then a calling. A former art teacher now working at Arthaus, she also displayed pieces at OVAC’s 12x12 event this October. She has collaborative art hanging at Round Midnight in Edmond, and you can find more of her work on Instagram @nataliekbiggs.art. Kristen Grace: Tell me about how you found art and about how art found you. Natalie Biggs: I really believe it’s because of the people in my life. My dad encouraged me to make art. He noticed when I was young that art lit a spark in me, and helped me focus. From there, I have always been making something with my hands. I took a humanities course in high school, and I had the most incredible teacher. In college, I was an elementary education major,
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but my roommate was a graphic design major, and I was so jealous of her art and all that she was learning—so of course I changed my major to art education. KG: I noticed the pattern work in your art. I just want to fall into these pieces. I’m curious about what it means to you. NB: This is a common thread for me: making marks which show a moment in time and noticing what makes me happy and what brings me peace. Over the past five years, the patterns and grids I have been creating have helped me bring consistency, order and control to my time. I have so many ideas in my mind but I need something with order. Lately, I have switched over to tiny florals. My art is an effort to make me happy, an exercise that allows me to see what brings me joy. Whatever scratches the itch of making my hands move.
KG: Tell me more about the floral paintings that you are creating. NB: I have been doing these very small floral paintings in the evenings for the last month as a release; it’s a reset for the next day. I’m drawing from the Impressionists. I’m taking inspiration from floral books I checked out from the library, and from my own imagination, colors that I’m into at the moment—just a Pandora’s box of ideas based on what I am feeling on that day. I think what’s brought me here today is prioritizing what I love so that I can share it with people. KG: I would love to hear about the pieces you create in collaboration with your friend Eric Lyons. NB: We met around 20 years ago and we’ve been professional colleagues and friends ever since. I’m really interested in showing time through mark-making, and he is interested in sourcing
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vintage photos and telling a new story through those photos, and so we collaborate using both our styles. We don’t technically work on the pieces at the [same] time—we tend to work a little bit and trade off. It takes a lot of trust, but I think our styles work so well together. KG: What are you dreaming about for the future? What’s next? NB: For the future, I’m looking into learning how to frame my art in fun ways. I’m also looking into decorative interior painting work, plaster work. Like Italian murals but a little more bespoke; think hand-painted, fun, funky patterns that bring life to a hallway or an entryway. I have a passion and love for interior design but the styling side of it.
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The Sounds of a Century Cain’s Ballroom has become a true Tulsa icon BY L I N DA M I L L E R
CAIN’S BALLROOM SIGN OUTSIDE THE TULSA MUSIC VENUE. PHOTO PROVIDED.
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ain’s Ballroom in Tulsa has welcomed countless performers over the past 90plus years, many who were well-known at the time and others who were just starting to sing or play their way to success. The now famous and nationally recognized music venue got its start as a personal garage for W. Tate Brady’s car collection. That was in 1924, but the Tulsa entrepreneur and politician soon changed his mind and turned the space into an elite night club called the Louvre. Its success was short-lived. The next revival came in 1930 when Madison W. “Daddy” Cain purchased the building, renamed it Cain’s Dance Academy and enticed visitors with dime-a-dance events and opportunities to learn to waltz and do the Charleston. Its popularity quickly spread outside of Tulsa as visitors came to dance on the much-heralded walnut floor that’s laid out in a square pattern and built to allow the wood to flex naturally. The floor had to be replaced once, but it was redone with the 70
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exact engineering to offer dancers the perfect bounce regulars had come to expect. Early on, one of the best things to happen to Cain’s was the arrival of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. They used the venue as their base from 1935 to 1942. Their sound was new, a mix of country with everything from jazz to hillbilly to big band swing and boogie. Cain’s became known as “The Home of Bob Wills.” It was where Wills and his Texas Playboys played and broadcast daily and nightly over KVOO, Tulsa’s powerful 50,000-watt radio station which could be heard across several states. But the 1960s brought changes to the once popular venue. Attendance dwindled; poor management and business decisions added to the struggles; Wills’ health suffered, limiting his appearances—but more importantly, people were tuning into rock and roll. Music-wise, Cain’s Ballroom was lost. In 1972, Marie Meyers bought the building and offered traditional dances. Her efforts were short-lived. Real hope came in 1976 when Cain’s was purchased and rescued by rock concert investor Larry Schaeffer. The iconic venue reopened the next year with blues and rock musician Elvin Bishop, and later the Sex Pistols with Sid Vicious, who punched a hole through the wall after a performance on Jan. 11, 1978. That piece of wall is framed and on display inside the offices. Cain’s has hosted Western performers as well as others who belted out swing, rock and punk. George Jones, Merle Haggard and Arlo Guthrie are just a few honored with red concrete stars embedded in the brick walkway outside the venue. Other performers who have made appearances throughout the decades include Van Halen, The Flaming Lips, Robert Plant, Alison Krauss, George Jones, Willie Nelson and Chris Stapleton. Bob Dylan, Leon Russell, Hank Williams, Ernest Tubb, Tennessee Ernie Ford, The Police, Pat Benatar and Smashing Pumpkins were among countless others. Cain’s history plays out inside with walls plastered with signs, show posters, photographs and signatures of musicians whose music filled the ballroom. The venue with standing room for 1,700 or 750 seated in rows is also known as the Carnegie Hall of Western Swing. Cain’s is now owned by Chad and Hunter Rodgers, sons of Jim and Alice Rodgers, who purchased it in 2002. Whether visitors come to dance or enjoy the music or just surround themselves with history, Cain’s continues to be one of the country’s most popular music venues. In 2020, the Los Angeles Times ranked Cain’s No. 4 on its list of Best Places for Live Music.
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OVERHEARD Buc-ee's to OKC? City leaders confirmed that they are in ‘very active’ talks with Buc-ee's to bring the first site to Oklahoma City near I-40 and Cimarron Rd.” - KOKH F OX 2 5 NEWS
I love my hometown! “SevenTime Olympic Medalist, Shannon Miller, joined other City officials to unveil new wayfinding signage at Shannon Miller Park and tour of the University of Central Oklahoma’s (UCO) U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site. This event marks Edmond’s continued commitment to Olympic excellence and hometown pride as the city prepares to welcome Olympic visitors for the 2028 Games.’” - SH ANNON MI L L ER
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The owner of Penn Square Mall is planning a significant renovation and plans to add a two-level Barnes & Noble and several new tenants. The mall has filed plans to upgrade its signage, main entryways, flooring, and refresh the entire interior. They will also improve the parking lots and add new landscaping.” - OKC TAL K
NOW IN ITS 16th MAGICAL YEAR!
BY CHARLES DICKENS · ADAPTATION BY MICHAEL BARON DIRECTED BY MICHAEL BARON & ASHLEY WELLS STARRING JONATHAN BECK REED AS EBENEZER SCROOGE
NOVEMBER 25th - DECEMBER 26th, 2026
LIVE, AT LYRIC’S PLAZA THEATRE!
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LYRIC IS BETTER, TOGETHER! Great Group Discounts for 8+ Call 405-524-9312 to book
PRESENTING LYRIC’S 2027 SEASON
DREAM OUT LOUD! 3-SHOW & 5-SHOW SEASON PACKAGES NOW ON SALE! THE PERFECT GIFT FOR ART LOVERS!
For more information, scan the QR code or visit LyricTheatreOKC.org/2027-Season
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