Oklahoma Magazine October 2025

Medicine’s Next Big StepsHead-to-toe health improvements

Sanctuaries of Style Blending function & fashion in kitchens & baths Seasonal Soirées Made Simple Holiday party planning starts now

The Coronation of Kristin Chenoweth

The Okie icon dons another crown in The Queen of Versailles

24 Medicine’s Next Big Steps

Oklahoma’s skilled physicians are pioneering ways to keep us healthier for longer. We talk with specialists across the state — covering everything from brain health and vision to digestion, joint care and heart health.

30 The Coronation of Kristin Chenoweth

The Oklahoma legend’s reign continues as she dons another crown in a brand new Broadway role.

34 Sanctuaries of Style

Behind closed doors, Oklahoma’s talented designers are redefining the heart of the home with kitchens and bathrooms that marry function with fashion.

46 Seasonal Soirées Made Simple Pulling off the perfect holiday gathering doesn’t happen overnight — or alone. Our guide walks you through every step to ensure your celebration truly sparkles.

Starting Off After years of negotiations, the OKC Thunder will remain instate until at least 2058. One major factor in that decision was the brandnew arena downtown, set to break ground next year.

La Paz thrills with stunning views of the Andes, plus exotic cuisine.

inside OKC’s First Americans Museum pays tribute to Oklahoma’s varied Indigenous tribes.

Letter from the Editor

You know her, you love her, you’ve probably cried watching her perform “For Good” from Wicked. She’s an Oklahoma icon donning a new crown very soon. Yes, yes, enough suspense – it’s Kristin Chenoweth! We chat with the triple threat about her new show on the Great White Way, The Queen of Versailles, as well as her Broadway Bootcamp in Broken Arrow and her delightful cameo in a certain wildly popular 2024 film (page 30).

A sharp left turn takes us to the annual medical spotlight (page 24). Some of Oklahoma’s top physicians discuss head-to-toe health, ranging from brain plasticity to heart health and robotic joint replacement surgery.

If, instead, you’d like to take a tour of some of the state’s most gorgeous homes, venture to our Kitchens and Baths feature – Sanctuaries of Style (page 34). We shine a well-deserved spotlight on Oklahoma-based designers and their projects, as well as give you a glimpse into new national trends in kitchens and baths.

You may think October is too early to start planning your holiday soirées ... but the experts disagree. Head to page 46 to get tips from the pros about executing the perfect holiday event.

This month, we also dive into the recently approved OKC Thunder stadium, breaking ground early next year (page 6), as well as the origins of October’s spooky holiday (page 14) and how nonprofit organizations are helping rural schools – and their students and teachers – succeed (page 10).

Happy fall, y’all.

Mary Willa Allen Managing Editor

If you want to see more stunning kitchen and bathroom images, head to okmag.com.

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The State

ALL THINGS OKLAHOMA

A underous Future

After years of negotiations, the OKC Thunder will remain in-state until at least 2058. One major factor in that decision? A brand new, state-of-the-art arena in downtown OKC, starting construction in early 2026.

Development of the highly anticipated $1 billion arena in downtown Oklahoma City is well underway. Marking a major step in the project, Mayor David Holt unveiled preliminary design renderings of the arena in July.

Featuring a 360-degree glass curtain and optimized seating, the new arena has been fundamental to securing the under as Oklahoma City’s NBA team for the next 25 years. To ful ll its part of the historic deal with the all-star sports team, the City must nish constructing the arena by the summer of 2028.

The Arena’s Necessity

e under, formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics, relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. First opened in 2002, the

Paycom Center has served as the home court for the team ever since.

However, the design of the Paycom Center has been less than ideal for basketball fans. e center was built for hockey sporting events, and it remains the NBA’s smallest arena by square footage. When the under’s arena use agreement for the Paycom expired in 2022, city o cials grew concerned.

Holt described retaining the NBA team as one of the most important challenges of his tenure.

“Without a new arena, we wouldn’t be the long-term home of any major league professional sports team, and without that foundation as a big-league city, we would have a very di erent and diminished canvas upon which to paint,” he said in his State of the City Address last year.

Gaining Public Approval & Funding

e people of Oklahoma City seemed to agree with Holt. In 2023, voters approved a one-cent sales tax that would nance the arena with an overwhelming 71% majority.

“Clearly, it shows support for our basketball team,” says David Todd, who

serves as project manager for the area and for the MAPS program. MAPS – the visionary series of municipal capital improvement initiatives in Oklahoma City – are all funded via temporary, one-cent sales taxes that are voted on by OKC residents. “I hope it also represents the trust that people have in the City to execute on the project properly.”

e sales tax will go into e ect in 2028 and last for a 72-month period. It will yield $900 million in funding overall.

e under ownership group has agreed to provide another $50 million for the arena. And in addition to the sales tax, the city has reallocated $78 million of MAPS 4 funding that was originally earmarked for renovations to the Pay-

com Center.

With its $1 billion+ price tag, the arena is one of Oklahoma City’s most expensive developments to date.

“ is is our city’s fourth downtown arena, but it is our rst true NBA arena, designed for basketball. It will be a much better experience for fans. It is also the rst time we, as a city, have embarked upon a sports venue project with a

budget be tting a big-league city,” Holt remarked in his most recent State of the City Address in July.

Finalizing the Design & Construction

In October 2024, the city council selected MANICA as the leading design rm and TVS as the architect of record for the project. Based in Kansas City, MANICA has extensive experience designing sports and entertainment arenas, including the Chase Center in San Francisco and the Toyota Center in Houston.

“ ey were one of the architect rms that bid on the project that did not come with preconceived notions,” says Dan Mahoney, vice president of broadcasting and communications at the under. “ ey came to see what the team wanted, what the city wanted and what the community wanted.”

e preliminary design for the arena is 750,000 square feet — a 30% increase from the Paycom Center’s square foot-

age. It features widened concourses, a surplus of restaurants and bars, a under Alley, and as promised, improved seating.

“ e fan experience is really what we’re all interested in, and the under certainly is interested in it, too,” says Todd. “We want to try and get the people closer to the action.”

is March, the city council approved hiring Flintco and Mortensen for the construction of the arena, which will be located on the site of the former Myriad Convention Center currently undergoing demolition. Construction is expected to kick o the rst quarter of 2026.

Expected Economic Impact

In June, after 2 years of negotiations, the under and the City entered into a 25-year agreement that will ensure the sports team remains in Oklahoma City through 2058. e 115-page lease includes some of the strongest penalties for early departure in the history of the NBA.

e economic implications of this deal are signi cant. In a study commissioned by OKC VeloCity – the Greater OKC Chamber of Commerce's newsletter –the new arena will generate an estimated $590 million in annual revenue. It will also create upwards of 10,000 jobs during the construction phase, and it will create another 2,500 facility and hospitality jobs when opened.

Until then, the city has its work cut out.

“We always look forward to the ribbon-cutting ceremony,” says Todd. “Knowing that we’re instrumental in providing the facility and watching people enjoy it, is always very rewarding.”

FAITH HARL

Oklahoma’s Offline Appeal

In a world saturated by digital shopping and home deliveries, Oklahoma’s entertainment districts and locally owned brick and mortars foster in-person connections.

When Onikah AsamoaCaesar

added wine to the menu of her bookstore and coffee shop in July, it wasn’t just for fun. It was a strategic move to encourage even more folks — beyond readers and coffee drinkers — to gather at Fulton Street Books & Coffee in downtown Tulsa.

“It’s really about connection,” AsamoaCaesar says. “I think everyone really wants to connect with other people and be somewhere where they feel safe, they feel seen and where they’re reflected in the space that they’re in. That’s what we try to offer at Fulton Street.”

But in a world of convenience provided by online shopping, brick and mortar businesses around the state have been tasked with the challenge of getting customers through their doors while also reaching them through digital platforms.

One way Asamoa-Caesar is doing that is partnering with online bookstores — like bookshop.org and libro.fm — which support local shops by sharing a percentage of the customer’s purchase.

“As a bookstore, one of the biggest competitors is Amazon when it comes to people getting their book shipped,” she says. “We’re able to offer just about any book anyone could want online shipped within three days directly to their home. Having that allows us just to reach customers that aren’t going to come downtown Tulsa and aren’t going to come into the store, but still want a book and want to support indie bookstores.”

Social media engagement is how Asamoa-Caesar drives both in person and online traffic, with a targeted presence on Instagram.

“We try to find ways to engage with our followers and I think we have about 16,000 now,” she says. “We post about books and we post about events. It’s a

good way for us to just get the word out when new things are happening, like our wine launch.”

Main Street districts — concentrated areas of local business and commerce, often in historic areas of town — are dedicated to understanding the challenges and innovations faced by local shop owners as they compete with e-commerce.

The Paseo Arts District, located in Oklahoma City, is home to more than 20 art galleries, as well as restaurants, boutiques and entertainment venues. Executive director Amanda Bleakley says that supporting local artists is at the heart of her work.

“We support a community that is art-centric,” she says. “We are a retail space, but we’re also providing artists with training and development to better manage their own careers or show their work in other galleries. We write grants, have an incubator space that is open to the public and we also put on events that bring people to the area.”

The Paseo Arts District hosts a ‘First Friday’ Gallery Walk every first Friday of the month, rain or shine, from 6-9 p.m.

Broken Arrow’s Rose District — 10 square blocks of charming shops and restaurants accented by hundreds of colorful and fragrant rose bushes — is helping its merchants survive and thrive in the digital age through targeted social media messages that bring shoppers to an area that is an exciting and convenient outing.

“Each of our businesses is unique in their digital strategies,” says Brent Brassfield, the district’s business retention and development coordinator. “I think the ones who are most successful really define who their audience is and market to them on a regular basis. But it’s not just on the merchants — Rose District is also constantly promoting events and, for example, that we recently added 115 parking spaces because parking can be an issue that keeps people from coming to a downtown area. We want it to be easy, but you have to get the word out so they will come.”

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Learning Against the Odds

Passionate organizations are tackling rural educational challenges statewide.

Oklahoma has long faced challenges in education.

But in July, WalletHub released its 2025 study, States with the Best and Worst School Systems. Using information from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Department of Education, ACT scores and other components, the study ranked Oklahoma at 50th out of 51st (with Washington D.C. included) in quality of public schools, ahead of only New Mexico. For many, the numbers place rural schools in the crosshairs.

Robert Trammell, executive director of the Organization of Rural Oklahoma Schools, says rural education has to overcome large barriers including class sizes, the diversity of equipment and access of multi-level disciplines.

Erika Wright, founder of the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition (ORSC), agrees, and mentions that rural teachers and staff are “the only consistent source of services for kids,” with rural educators doing more with less, often stretching across multiple roles and responsibilities. “In more remote areas, recruiting and retraining teachers is a major hurdle.”

Plus, rural districts have difficulty passing bonds to upgrade facilities and

broadband, and “the ongoing teacher shortage, particularly in critical areas like special education, math, science and arts,” poses another problem, Wright adds. Add onto that the uncertainty of federal dollars and the confusion at the state level, and rural schools are fighting tough odds.

But Brandon Dutcher, senior vice president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, says that, “some rural districts spend extraordinary amounts. The Billings school district, for example, spends $25,211 per student. Per-student spending is $21,569 in Nashoba, $25,583 in Dover, $31,020 in Taloga, and $23,734 in Frontier. And yet the taxpayers’ return on investment in many districts continues to disappoint. That tells us the problem runs deeper than dollars.”

Despite complicated and deep-seeded issues, many passionate folks are working to help fill the gaps – and need your help in doing so.

“Donate to classroom or teachers’ wish lists or foundation projects,” says Wright, adding that attending school board meetings, rallying faith communities to adopt a school or provide support, and advocating for affordable housing, broadband and childcare in your area will help.

“Show up at the polls and support

your board and administration ideals,” adds Trammell.

Dutcher agrees that teachers and administrators need support from outside sources.

“Parents and citizens must step up to the plate: volunteer in classrooms, tutor a struggling reader, or run for school board,” he says.

A silver lining? Many efforts are well underway in helping Oklahoma schools thrive.

“Led by local patrons, local public school foundations have done a good job at creating sustainable endowment funds to provide classroom grants, professional development opportunities and student scholarships,” says Wright. “Direct partnerships with tribal nations are also providing additional resources.”

She continues: “In Watonga, collaboration between schools and tribal offices from the Cheyenne and Arapaho nations has cut absenteeism. The federal Community Eligibility Provision program enables schools to offer breakfast and lunch at no charge. In Oklahoma, approximately 256 districts now participate, providing free meals to around 277,458 students, or about 40% of all public school students in the state.”

Spotting the Flock

Oklahoma offers rich bird-watching opportunities, with local Audubon societies guiding enthusiasts in spotting (and listening for) the state’s feathered friends.

Apair of binoculars and a guide to the most common birds of Oklahoma

might be handy resources for ardent bird watchers in Oklahoma, but Neil Garrison of Oklahoma City has another tool: his ears.

Garrison, retired after a 30-year career as the naturalist at Oklahoma City’s Martin Park Nature Center, says he most enjoys identifying birds by their sounds. At Martin Park, he oversaw the 140-acre nature center’s guided hikes, educational programs and interactive learning center, and still conducts a monthly walking tour of its wooded trails.

“It is very difficult to actually watch birds,” Garrison explains. “They’re small and energetic; they hide out in bushes and trees. What I emphasize is birding by ear. You can identify them by the sound. They can’t hide their voices.”

Garrison is one of a number of birding enthusiasts around Oklahoma who enjoy spotting and identifying the many hundreds of bird species that can be spotted throughout the year, depending on seasonal migration. He says popular spots around Oklahoma City for birding are lakes Overholser and Hefner, and Edmond’s J.L. Mitch Park and E.C. Hafer Park.

Audubon Society chapters are active in several parts of Oklahoma, includ-

ing Tulsa, Grove (Grand Lake o’ The Cherokees) and Oklahoma City.

Another proponent of listening (as well as watching) for birds is Kimberly Chaps, president of Grand Lake’s reorganized Audubon Society, which she says regularly attracts 20 to 40 people to monthly meetings in Grove.

Her advice to new birdwatchers is to get a pair of good binoculars and an Oklahoma bird guide, then download an app to a smart phone that can identify a particular bird by its song.

“You can put your phone down in your yard and the app will identify the bird,” she says. “As it’s hearing it, it’s recording.”

Mary Jackson, president of the Tulsa Audubon Society, says Tulsa’s Oxley Nature Center is a popular spot for seeing a wide variety of birds, including scissortail flycatchers, northern flickers, painted buntings, chickadees, painted wrens, eastern bluebirds, Carolina wrens, barn owls and bald eagles – “just all sorts of species of birds,” she says.

Another good birding spot near Tulsa is Woodland Park in Broken Arrow, where the local Audubon Society meets.

Jackson says that not only does she enjoy birding in the Tulsa area, she’s made numerous trips to other parts of Oklahoma, where she encounters different species. She notes that bird populations across the U.S. have declined over the past 50 years, due to habitat loss, collisions with windows and predation by cats. To protect the bird population, she urges people to cultivate native plants in their yards, limit pesticide usage and keep their feline friends indoors. She also advises that people use less outdoor lighting during peak migration periods.

Chaps, meanwhile, says one of the most popular birds that comes to the

Grand Lake area during its migration is the majestic white American pelican, which she says arrives “by the thousands.” In fact, the town dedicates an entire weekend to the arrival of the large birds each fall.

The 42nd annual Grove Pelican Festival is set for Oct. 2-5 in Grove’s Wolf Creek Park. Chaps says assisting with the festival is one of the Audubon Society’s primary activities.

Grand Lake, Oklahoma City and Tulsa Audubon Society members participate in the National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas bird count, which seeks to count the bird populations throughout the Americas annually. According to its website, the Oklahoma City Audubon Society’s Christmas bird count yielded 109 species in the OKC metro area alone.

HENRY DOLIVE

The Barndo Boom

Barndominiums combine rural charm and modern design for an affordable yet luxurious living option.

Barndominiums — barndos for short — have emerged as a popular choice for home construction, particularly in rural and country settings, due to their unique combination of flexibility, cost-effectiveness and aesthetic appeal. These structures blend the rustic charm of a barn with the elegance of a modern home and offer several key advantages that set them apart from traditional homes.

One of the primary barndo attractions is their design flexibility.

“The exterior walls and the truss system will carry the load of the roof, allowing for zero need for load-bearing interior walls,” says Jake Warren, an estimator at Polar Bear Jack’s Home Services and Okie Barndominiums, both based in Broken Arrow.

This structural feature enables homeowners to craft creative and customized floor plans, including hidden rooms and pantries, without the constraints of traditional load-bearing walls. Warren notes that this flexibility is a significant draw for clients seeking to build their dream homes affordably, with turnkey barndominiums starting at $140 per square foot compared to $200 per square

foot for most traditional homes.

Cost savings are another critical factor driving the barndo popularity. Warren says his company’s hybrid barndominium model, which combines traditional home construction techniques with barndominium elements, reduces costs through in-house trade work and established vendor relationships.

“We have cost savings throughout the entire build process,” says Warren, though he acknowledges challenges such as the expense of utilities in rural areas, including wells, septic systems and propane tanks.

Energy efficiency is also a compelling advantage.

“Having the perfect combination of insulation, a load-calculated HVAC design and high-efficiency windows and doors can save a homeowner many future dollars,” says Warren. This efficiency, combined with the durability of steel structures, which resist pests, fire, mold and weather better than wood, makes barndos a low-maintenance option.

Ryan Martinez, president and CEO of the Oklahoma Home Builders Association, says that as we continue to see the increased cost of traditional homes “due to rising costs of raw materials, labor shortages and overregulation, many

Americans — and Oklahomans — will be more creative with the places in which they live.”

Zoning and financing are manageable aspects of barndominium construction. Warren notes that code requirements vary by location, but barndominiums can be financed and insured like any other home, with some insurance companies offering discounts due to the use of metal roofing.

However, Martinez warns that financing can be more tedious, with lenders potentially requiring larger down payments or higher interest rates due to the niche nature of these structures, which can impact resale value.

Current barndo market trends include a shift towards luxury designs and a response to the broader housing policy crisis. Warren mentions a $1 million, two-story barndominium project that exemplifies the growing demand for upscale versions, while Martinez observes that “as homes become less and less attainable for young people and the middle class, barndos, tiny homes and prefabs will continue to grow in popularity.”

This trend is particularly impacting rural development in Oklahoma, where land is being sought after for barndominium builds, reflecting a desire for the barn aesthetic with modern amenities. Barndominiums offer a compelling alternative to traditional homes, driven by their design flexibility, cost savings, energy efficiency and appeal to rural lifestyles. As the housing market evolves, these structures are likely to play an increasingly significant role in addressing affordability and creativity in home building.

TRACY LEGRAND

STEVEN R. SARKISIAN, JR., MD is the Founder and CEO of Oklahoma Eye Surgeons, PLLC and specializes in premium laser cataract surgery and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, or MIGS. Dr. Sarkisian is passionate about helping people get rid of their glasses by performing premium cataract surgery. He was the first surgeon in the state to perform the PanOptix trifocal lens, the iStent, iStent Inject, iStent Infinite, the XEN Gel Stent, and canaloplasty. He was the first in the USA to use the OMNI device and the first in the world to use the TRAB360 and VISCO 360 surgical systems, the predicate devices to the OMNI. He was also among the first in the world to perform the iDose sustained-release implant after FDA approval. In 2024, Dr. Sarkisian acquired the first Direct Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (DSLT) device in Oklahoma,one of the first in the country.

Dr. Sarkisian is the former director of the glaucoma fellowship, and former Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.

He obtained his undergraduate degree from Wheaton College, outside Chicago, IL, received a Certificate in Christian Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA, received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA and completed a residency in Ophthalmology at the State University of New York (SUNY Downstate) in Brooklyn, NY, followed by a fellowship in glaucoma surgery at UT Memphis.

Due to his involvement in the development of new glaucoma technology, he has been active in presenting and publishing his work both in America and internationally. He co-authored the book “Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, a Practical Guide”.

Dr. Sarkisian currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (JCRS), and on the Editorial Board of Glaucoma Today, Glaucoma Physician, and Ophthalmology Management. Dr. Sarkisian is listed in Woodward/White’s Best Doctors in America and Castle and Connolly Top Doctors.

He and his wife Anne have four children and reside in Edmond, Oklahoma.

e Heritage Behind the Haunt

We unmask the centuries-old traditions, superstitions and celebrations that shaped Halloween into the spooky spectacle it is today.

Halloween is a celebration of the spooky and scary, which is tting for a holiday whose origins are shrouded in mystery. e beginnings of Halloween are uncertain indeed, which can contribute to the fun around this trick-and-treat lled celebration.

e history of the holiday can be traced fairly con dently back through the eighth century, when Pope Gregory III moved the religious holiday All Saints Day from May to November. e reasons for this move are heavily debated, and we may never know Pope Gregory’s motives, but what we do know is that All Saints Day was also known as All Hallows Day, making Oct. 31 All Hallows Eve. Over time, this title was shortened to Halloween.

One possible reason for the calendar move was the earlier Celtic celebration of Samhain (pronounced: SAH-win), which meant the end of summer and was celebrated on Nov. 1. e Celts, an agrarian society, tied their calendar

closely to the changing of the seasons and the Earth’s rotation around the sun. Samhain marked the midpoint between the September equinox and the December solstice.

e beginnings of this celebration and its details are hazy. Still, Celtic society generally regarded Samhain as a time when the veil between the natural world and the spiritual world was thin. e lore was that this allowed for spiritual encounters of all kinds.

As the holiday moved forward in time, it was primarily celebrated in rural areas. By the beginning of the 20th century, however, the party had moved to cities as well and had taken on a darker, more destructive avor. Young people would roam, performing tricks unless molli ed by candy and treats. City dwellers began to formalize the celebrations in the '20s and '30s to reduce the level of mayhem. By the '50s, movies began depicting the holiday in a more light-hearted way, and schools started to get in on the fun.

So, while it's true that much of Halloween's history is a mystery, it wouldn't be as fun any other way.

BONNIE RUCKER

Halloween Rituals & Customs

Halloween has several longpracticed rituals and customs, but they have changed over time to what we know today.

Pumpkin carving: is fun tradition has deep roots, but pumpkins were not involved in the holiday initially. During Samhain, people would carve root vegetables such as turnips, radishes and sweet potatoes and add a candle. e idea of cutting a vegetable and putting a light inside represented life — and was considered benecial for the harvest.

Costumes: Donning costumes during Halloween also traces its origins to the celebration of Samhain, although motivations were di erent. People would use costumes to hide from spirits who were said to be out and about during this time of the year.

Trick or treating: e practice of going door to door to ask for candy has perhaps changed the most from its original incarnation. During Samhain, people would go about performing pranks because they could be blamed on spirits. Treats and snacks were then o ered to spirits in an attempt to curb these practices. Young people later capitalized on this custom to go door to door, threatening pranks unless treats were o ered. ankfully, in the modern era, the practice has shifted its focus from destructive tricks to cute children in costumes requesting candy from willing participants.

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Rewriting the Rhythm

The inaugural Pryor Creek Bluegrass and BBQ Festival is keeping things family friendly, free and filled to the brim with music legends and newcomers alike.

Acouple of months ago, I wrote in this space about the Bluegrass & Chili Festival, one of Oklahoma’s longestlived annual musical events. In that column, director Dell Davis explained how she’d had to move the festival from Pryor to Tahlequah for 2025 because of a date conflict with the Mayes County Fair.

Since its 1979 origin, the Bluegrass & Chili Festival has been staged in only five northeastern Oklahoma cities: Tulsa, Claremore, Wagoner, Pryor and, this year, Tahlequah. Pryor only had it for a single appearance, in 2024. That was enough, however, for local leaders and others to see what a free live-music presentation could do for their city.

“Last year, we got presented with the idea, we set it all up, and of course we were working with Dell, who is fabulous,”

says Zac Doyle, Pryor’s mayor. “We collaborated with our Main Street [Program], our Chamber [of Commerce], our Economic Development Agency and we went all in. We had about three months to put it together, we put it together, and it was a total success.

“We made sure our businesses downtown knew that this was for them, that they’d have some revenues, and at the end of the day every one of them had record sales. Every vendor that we had out here on the street said it was the best day they’d ever had. We had some of the artists, their agents, reach back to us and offer to help; they said from an artist’s perspective the venue in Pryor was topnotch.”

It brought out a top-notch crowd, too, with an estimated 10,000 showing up for the weekend festivities. So, when the Bluegrass & Chili Festival left for Tahlequah, the townspeople who’d

worked with Davis decided to begin their own annual bluegrass event. And so was born the Pryor Creek Bluegrass and BBQ Festival, set for Oct. 17 and 18 in downtown Pryor.

“You know,” Doyle says, “Pryor is notorious for its music festivals. We’ve got Rocklahoma and Born & Raised, and collectively, those two alone will bring about 100,000 people into our town. So now we’re rolling with the bluegrass, with the idea of the free family-friendly music and atmosphere. We’ve had nothing but tremendous support from sponsors and the community.”

In addition to switching the spotlighted food to barbecue – “Who doesn’t love barbecue in October?” asks Doyle rhetorically – this event also “broadens the ‘bluegrass’ definition a little bit.”

That’s according to Brett Bingham, who worked with the famed Oklahoma-based booking agent Ray Bingham to line up

the talent for the inaugural Pryor Creek Bluegrass and BBQ Festival.

“ ey [the organizers] reached out to Ray Bingham Productions, asking for help with the entertainment, and Ray and I have worked tirelessly to secure the best possible lineup for the festival,” says Brett Bingham, himself a veteran booking agent and manager, who’s also Ray’s nephew. (And, in the interest of full disclosure, I should say that Brett has written two books with me, TwentiethCentury Honky-Tonk, about the Cain’s Ballroom, and anks – anks A Lot, the as-told-to biography of country-music legend Billy Parker.)

“ e event last year was wildly successful in Pryor,” he adds, “and it was a total joint e ort.

We’re going to try to do something similar, but we’re going to stretch the boundaries a little bit. I don’t want to alienate people who are bluegrass fans.

ey’re going to see [bluegrass stars] like Ralph Stanley II, One-Eyed Jack and the Cox Family. We’ve got some strong bluegrass acts. We also have people like an up-and-comer from Ada, Emily Rhyne, who was a contestant on e Voice. She’s a little more country-leaning, but she’s somewhat traditional, too.”

“We’re not as stringent on the qualications for bluegrass,” notes Doyle. “I think we’re pretty exible on the de nition of what it is. e main thing is that we’re looking for something close to that genre that’s family-friendly and free.”

A six-person Pryor-based group called Lightly Salted is set to begin the Pryor Creek Bluegrass and Barbecue Festival at 5 p.m. Friday. e band members’ Facebook page calls them a “rock and soul cover band,” adding that the group plans to o er “familiar Americana tunes” at the Pryor Creek fest.

Also on the Friday bill are well-known bluegrass acts the Rick Faris Band and the Cox Family.

“ e Cox Family is a pretty renowned bluegrass band. Among many other things, they were involved in the [2000 lm] O Brother, Where Art ou? And Rick Faris was the 2022 International Bluegrass Music Association’s New Artist of the Year. He’s got [the Oklahoma-based mandolinist and guitarist] Henry Byron Burgess as part of his band.”

Saturday, the festival is set to kick o at noon with SpringStreet, touted on YouTube and elsewhere as “Oklahoma’s longest-running bluegrass band.” en, the aforementioned Emily Rhyne, followed by Chuck Mead and the Stalwarts. “ is is where we highlight a group

that isn’t necessarily bluegrass but, as Zac said, is family-friendly,” explains Bingham. “Chuck clearly isn’t bluegrass; he was with BR5-49, and he and his band will add a little hillbilly edge to the shenanigans.

“ en we’ll bring on One-Eyed Jack, which was [Guthrie-based ddle virtuoso] Byron Berline’s band. When Byron passed [in 2021], they continued on as One-Eyed Jack. ey’ve got the family’s blessing, and they have all of Byron’s arrangements. So in a sense, it’ll be a tribute to Byron. ey’re keeping his legacy alive. And, of course, Byron was such a big bluegrass name.”

e next act, Bingham notes, may not be as recognizable as some of the others. Listeners to SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel, however, will likely know Jim Lauderdale from e Buddy and Jim Show, which Lauderdale does with fellow performer and songwriter Buddy Miller. A longtime recording artist and producer as well as a songwriter, he wrote and produced, among many other discs, two with bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley. George Strait has recorded 14 of his compositions, and the likes of Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, the Chicks, and Elvis Costello have also cut his songs.

“He’s one of those artists whose music people have heard,” Bingham says, “whether they know it or not. He’ll have his whole band, the Game Changers, with him.”

e Pryor Creek Bluegrass and Barbecue Festival is scheduled to end with Ralph Stanley II, Stanley’s son, and his Clinch Mountain Boys, followed by the Malpass Brothers.

“We’ll be occasionally straying a little bit from the traditional during the day, but we come right back to it with Ralph Stanley II,” Bingham says. “And then, the Malpass Brothers are coming in all the way from North Carolina, where they’ll be playing a bluegrass festival two days before. ey toured with Merle Haggard in the later years of Merle’s life, they’ve got a show on RFD-TV, and they’re pretty traditional. ey wear suits and tell jokes and do harmonies in the style of the Louvin Brothers; they’re one of the most traditional roots acts out there.

“We’re kind of touching a lot of different bases,” he concludes. “We’ll see what works, and how it’s perceived. I’d love to see it turn into a little more of an Americana event, and spotlight some of those types of artists. So we’ll see what happens. I thought Zac said it well: keep it family-friendly, and free.”

JOHN WOOLEY

What terms should I know for 2025 ‘Open Enrollment’?

To ensure you’re maximizing your health insurance benefits, it’s important to understand the different terms and acronyms you are likely to encounter as you review your options. 1: Premiums. Most employer-based health insurance today requires that you pay a portion of the monthly premium for coverage. The payments you are required to make are generally deducted from each paycheck. 2. Deductible. The amount of money you have to pay in total (usually in a given year) before your health insurance assumes the remaining costs. 3. Out-ofpocket limit. A cap on the amount of money you must pay for health care services that are covered by your plan each year. 4. Copay (copayment). This is a fixed amount you pay each time you use a medical service. 5. HMOs and PPOs. These are two different forms of health insurance coverage. HMOs are health maintenance organizations, and PPOs are preferred provider organizations, which tend to have higher premiums. 6. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). This account allows you to set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualified medical expenses. 7. High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). HDHPs often are available for a lower monthly premium, but require that you carry a higher deductible. 8. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). This account lets you pay many out-of-pocket medical expenses with tax-free dollars.

David Karimian, CFP®, CRPC®, APMA® Prime Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial 2431 E 61st St, Suite 400, Tulsa, OK 74136 918.388.2009

David.x.Karimian@ampf.com www.primewealthmgmt.com

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Life & Style

A MAP TO LIVING WELL

Bolivia’s City in the Clouds

La Paz thrills with stunning views of the Andes, plus exotic cuisine and friendly folks.

Okay, let’s see. Bolivia is landlocked, there’s not a beach in sight, daytime highs rarely hit 70 and the city of La Paz really is in the clouds. It’s twice the elevation of Denver and hillier than San Francisco — so why would anybody want to go there?

Three things: the food, the people and the magnificent Andes.

And because La Paz is not burdened by overtourism, you can experience the city of peace on your own terms, far from the madding crowd.

La Paz sits at 12,000 feet on a massive plateau in the Andes called the altiplano. Snow-capped peaks reaching 21,000 feet stand guard. Forty-five miles away, Lake Titicaca, the largest freshwater lake in South America, sports 41 islands. Many of them are populated, such as Isla del

Sol, home of stunning Inca ruins.

Early inhabitants of La Paz included the Tiwanaku, innovative irrigationists, and later the clever Incas, who gave us advances in metallurgy, road and bridge construction and a way to freeze-dry meat and potatoes using frigid nighttime mountain air.

In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors from Peru rode in and took over, which lasted until 1825 when Bolivia finally declared its independence. The Spanish influence in Bolivian culture remains strong but the continuing impact of the 36 recognized Indigenous groups is also inescapable.

Step aboard the world’s highest and longest urban cable car system, Mi Teleferico, to see it all: towering Andes highlighted by triple-peaked Illimani, the canyon below filled with the Choqueyapu River and the sprawling city of two million. Mi Teleferico is mass transit on a

grand scale — eleven lines carry 200,000 riders every day in and between La Paz and El Alto, a city of a million higher up the plateau. Most are commuters.

On the streets downtown, vendors sell legendary saltenas: crispy pastry shells filled with savory meats, potatoes and spices, much like an empanada. The silpancho sold by many restaurants is a generous beef or chicken cutlet on a bed of rice and topped with a fried egg. Be bold and order sopa de pirañas -— piranha soup — fresh caught in the Miranda and Paraguay rivers.

While downtown, stroll over to historic Plaza Murillo, a public square named after Pedro Domingo Murillo, a revered revolutionary hanged by conquistadors on that very spot in 1810. Now, the open square is filled with pigeons, busts and statues, surrounded by La Paz Cathedral, the National Congress and the Presidential Palace.

Witch doctors, called yatiri, sell items associated with the Aymaran culture at the Witches’ Market, near the city’s center. This is where you’ll find your herbs and folk remedies, as well as potions, talismans and dried frogs. Inexpensive handcrafts range from trendy jewelry to knitwear.

The Coca Museum is an easy walk from the Witches’ Market. It celebrates the storied past and current culture of the Andean coca plant and its nefarious derivative, cocaine.

For authentic Bolivian flavor, walk the narrow Calle Jaen, a delightful cobblestone street with its own kind of charm — colorful Colonial architecture, lively markets and notable museums await.

While you’re out and about, look for traditional Bolivian women called Cholitas dressed in billowing skirts, long braided hair and tiny bowler hats. Cho-

lita wrestling events on Sundays are very popular, more theater than combat.

For years, the only way to La Paz through the Andes from the Amazon rainforest was via the Yungas Road, aka “the Death Road.” The unpaved, narrow roadway (less than ten feet wide in places) is cut into the side of the canyon 2,000 feet above the valley. A new, safer road has been built but still, the 40-mile Death Road eerily attracts thousands annually, primarily thrill-seeking bicyclists.

Stay at the Stannum Boutique Hotel and Spa near Plaza Murillo. An art gallery is on site, the Bar Ignis is on the 12th floor, and spa services include happy feet reflexology.

CHUCK MAI

The Science Behind Cravings

From time to time, most of us impulsively reach for a salty bag of chips or sweet treat – but why?

Maybe it’s something salty, sweet or spicy, but there are times when we crave certain food flavors. Why? And why is it often an unhealthy choice? Lexi Wallace, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator with Saint Francis Health System in Tulsa, helps shed light on these common urges.

To begin, she explains why food cravings can occur when we’re not really hungry and why we often turn to foods high in sugar or fat.

“Such foods activate dopamine signaling in the brain’s reward system, including the nucleus accumbens, which drives motivation; the amygdala, which links foods with emotional memory; and the orbitofrontal cortex, which assigns reward value to foods and guides decision-making,” says Wallace. “From an evolutionary standpoint, this made a lot of sense for our ancestors, who had to hunt and gather their food. Today, although food is abundant, our brains still respond the same way to calorically dense foods.”

Wallace says once our brains associate pleasure with certain foods, repeated

exposure strengthens these reward pathways.

“Over time, environmental cues, such as seeing or smelling the food or even situations or places associated with the food, can trigger a craving response, sometimes more strongly than eating the food itself,” she says.

In addition, she says while it’s commonly believed that nutrient deficiencies can cause cravings, the evidence for this is mostly anecdotal.

“For example, during pregnancy, when nutrient needs are higher, many women experience intense cravings for one or more specific foods,” says Wallace. “So, one might reason that the food of interest is high in some nutrient(s) that may be otherwise lacking in the diet. However, if this were the case, then we would crave more nutrient-dense foods like broccoli or salmon instead of ice cream or chips! Instead, it is more likely that pregnancy cravings are driven by dramatic shifts in hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone.”

For many, deciding to diet or restrict foods causes them to suddenly crave those foods. In fact, Wallace says several studies show people report increased cravings while dieting or following a restrictive eating plan, especially in the

initial stages.

“On the other hand, some research suggests following a low-calorie diet for a longer period of time – 12 to 20 weeks – can actually reduce food cravings, likely by deconditioning the habit of responding to cravings,” she says, while adding the caveat that more research is needed to determine whether restrictive diets are sustainable and effective at reducing food cravings long-term.

“Finally, negative emotions can cause cravings for some people, partly due to increases in cortisol (the stress hormone) and partly as a conditioned response to these emotions,” says Wallace.

“When we eat ice cream because we feel sad, it activates the brain’s pleasure and reward centers, which is naturally more rewarding than feeling sad. So, the next time we feel sad, the brain remembers that ice cream makes us feel better – at least temporarily – which can trigger a craving.”

REBECCA FAST

Mindfully Responding to Cravings

• Eat regular meals with a balance of protein, carbs and fats. You’re more likely to experience cravings when you’re hungry, so stay nourished.

• Get curious. The next time you crave something outside of your regular mealtimes, ask yourself if you’re really hungry. If not driven by hunger, then ask yourself how you’re feeling or what you need.

• Shift how you think about food and cravings. Deeming a food as ‘bad’ or something you ‘shouldn’t’ have turns that food into a ‘forbidden fruit,’ making it even more desirable.

• Eat the food you’re craving! Indulging a food craving isn’t necessarily a problem unless it becomes habitual or excessive.

• If you still find yourself triggered by a particular craving, consider adding a small amount of that food to your lunch for at least a week or two and see if this helps quiet the craving.

Small Town, Big Story

Claremore — home of Oklahoma’s favorite son — offers community, history and Native roots.

Along the iconic Route 66 in northeastern Oklahoma, the city of Claremore offers visitors a unique blend of culture, history and small-town charm. With its rich Native American heritage, famous hometown heroes and lively festivals, Claremore is a timeless destination that welcomes you with open arms — and with stories to tell.

At the heart of Claremore’s identity is the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, a stunning tribute to Oklahoma’s favorite son. Rogers, a humorist, actor and social commentator, rose to fame in the early 20th century for his sharp wit and heartfelt observations of American life. The museum is the final resting place of Rogers and most of his family, and houses a vast collection of memorabilia, including original manuscripts, photographs and personal belongings.

“We live in a world right now where people like to divide us. Will [Rogers] was a connector, the perfect example of how one person can connect many. When we teach children, we explain that Will was a nice person who used

his kindness more than his God-given talents to rope and tell jokes,” says Bart Taylor, the museum’s creative curator and interpreter.

Visitors can watch vintage film clips, explore exhibits on his life and legacy, and participate in activities, such as “Overnight at the Museum” on Oct. 17, or the annual “Trick-or-Treat at the Museum” on Oct. 30.

On Oct. 25-26, Claremore pulses with energy as it hosts the Route 66 Pecan and Music Festival. This family-friendly event transforms the city’s downtown into a bustling hub of activity, with rows of artisan vendors, a car show and, of course, plenty of pecan-inspired treats. Festivalgoers can enjoy live music from regional acts throughout the day and into the evening. The event also includes a carnival, kids’ activities and a petting zoo, making it a perfect fall outing for visitors of all ages.

“It’s the kind of event you can bring the whole family to and nobody’s bored,” says Morgan Williams, manager of The Nut House, a platinum sponsor of the festival. “A festival this big doesn’t happen without neighbors volunteering their time, and local businesses stepping

up to help make it all possible. It’s a chance for smaller local vendors to show off what they offer, and for hometown bands to get heard.”

Claremore is also a gateway to Cherokee Nation history. Named after Osage Chief Clermont, the city lies within a region once home to Cherokee settlements following their forced relocation along the Trail of Tears. The Claremore Indian Hospital and nearby tribal landmarks continue to serve as reminders of this important legacy.

For those who enjoy outdoor adventures, Claremore Lake offers walking trails, fishing spots and picnic areas surrounded by the changing colors of autumn. The nearby Rogers State University campus brings a renewed sense of energy and public art to the cityscape, along with the RSU Nature Reserve, perfect for a quiet fall hike.

From the laughter echoing through the Will Rogers Memorial Museum to the festive sounds of October’s pecan-packed celebration, Claremore is a city that knows how to preserve its past while embracing the present. It’s more than a stop on historic Route 66 — it’s a story waiting to be experienced.

ROCCO GEPPI

The Great Autumnal Glow-Up

Fall foliage awaits at state parks and refuges around the state.

With the weather finally cool-

ing down, Oklahoma is one of the best places to be for fall hikes and stunning fall foliage views. If you’re looking for your next outing, these places are a great place to start.

Beavers Bend State Park

Located near Broken Bow, this park has some towering trees that will truly be a sight to behold when autumn hits. Hiking, biking, boating and fishing are all available, along with an 18-hole golf course to top off a weekend excursion. The Lookout Mountain Trail or the Skyline Trails are some of the best outings the park has to offer.

Talimena National Scenic Byway

Located in Talihina, this 54-mile route is known for its beautiful foliage sights. Combined with the hiking trails, this is one of the best spots for nature views in the entire state. There are twenty-two vista stops along the drive for you to take in the sights and some one-of-a-kind photos, as well as the Horse Thief Spring

Trail and the Ouachita Trail, which moves into Arkansas, too.

Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

Located near Cache, this refuge not only has stunning hiking trails, rocking climbing and fishing, but it also boasts some of the best wildlife viewing in the area. Over 60,000 acres house free range buffalo, cattle, prairie dogs, beavers, river otters, Rocky Mountain elk, deer and swaths of birds. Elk Mountain Trail and Charon’s Garden Trail are some of the top choices for your hiking journeys.

Robber’s Cave State Park

Located in Wilburton, this park is home to great trails as well as historical facts for those looking for a fun look into the past. Walk through the Mountain Trail or the Rough Canyon Trail and perhaps catch a glimpse at where former outlaws like Jesse James used to hide out before the law caught up to them.

Roman Nose State Park

Located in Watonga and named after a Cheyenne chief, this location has unique canyon views to take in during sunset hours. On top of fishing and golfing, there is the Mesa Loop Trail and the Lake Loop

trail to really round out your fall foliage views.

Heavener Runestone Park

Nestled in Heavener, this park is home to a unique history coupled with the annual Heavener Runestone Viking Festival. The main trail leads directly to the runestone, which was discovered by a Choctaw hunting party in the 1830s and you’ll get some great views from the Poteau Mountains.

Lake Murray State Park

Found in Ardmore, this is Oklahoma’s first and largest state park with 12,500 acres of land to explore. Along with a great mix of water views and forested areas, the park has ATV campgrounds for those wanting to get in some driving views, too. Buckhorn Trail and Anadarche Trail are also must-see walks.

Chickasaw National Recreation Area

Located in Sulphur, this spot has gorgeous waterfalls, lovely springs and a striking selection of foliage for all your photo opportunities. Don’t miss the Bromide Hill, Trail or the Veterans Lake Trail for even more beautiful sights.

DREW JOSEPH ALLEN

MEDICINE’S NEXT BIG STEPS

THE BRAIN

Alzheimer’s vs. Normal Aging

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, it’s estimated that more than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and as the U.S. population aged 65 and older continues to grow, so will the number of individuals affected by Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. It’s not surprising then that nearly 4 in 5 Americans would want to know if they had Alzheimer’s before symptoms occurred and/or before symptoms interfered with daily activities.

To help discern whether you or a loved one is experiencing signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia, the Alzheimer’s Association offers the following list of 10 early signs and symptoms.

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. While it’s typical to occasionally forget names and appointments, an early warning sign can be forgetting recently learned information, increasingly relying on memory aids, and/ or asking the same questions over and over.

Oklahoma’s skilled physicians are pioneering ways to keep us healthier for longer. We talk with specialists across the state — covering everything from brain health and vision to digestion, joint care, and heart health. Their research and insights reveal the latest advances in medicine, along with practical steps toward feeling just a little bit better every day.

By Rebecca Fast

2. Difficulty completing familiar tasks. Doing day-to-day activities becomes harder, such as organizing a grocery list or driving to a familiar location.

3. Confusion with time or place. Individuals may lose track of dates, seasons and/or the passage of time.

4. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. One may experience vision changes as well as problems with judging distance and/or determining colors or contrasts.

5. New problems with words – in speaking or writing. Following or joining a conversation may be difficult and/or one may struggle with vocabulary and naming familiar objects.

6. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. One may easily lose things or accuse others of stealing.

7. Poor judgment. One may start making poor decisions with finances or paying less attention to grooming habits.

8. Withdrawal from work or social activities. Due to the hardship in participating in daily activities, individuals may withdraw from hobbies and/or social events.

9. Changes in mood and personality, such as being unusually confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful and/or anxious.

10. Challenges in planning or solving problems. Keeping track of monthly bills or following familiar recipes becomes difficult and time-consuming.

Cognitive Fitness

The brain is a complex organ and possesses the remarkable trait of neuroplasticity — the ability to reorganize and rewire neural connections. With neuroplasticity, we’re able to continue to learn new things and embrace new challenges throughout our lives. To help keep your brain physically fit, consider the following tips.

• Challenge your brain. Remain a lifelong learner — try a new hobby, take an interesting class and engage in new experiences.

• Exercise regularly. Regular physical activity has been proven to help boost memory and thinking skills.

• Eat a healthy diet. A Mediterranean diet or other similar food plans have been associated with lowering the risk of cognitive decline.

• Get good quality sleep. Quality sleep helps both our mental and physical health, as well as supports positive cognitive performance.

• Maintain a healthy weight, blood pressure and manage and/or prevent diabetes. Doing what you can to avoid chronic illnesses and stay physically fit is beneficial to your brain’s overall health.

THE EYES

Glaucoma’s Threat

THE EARS

Preventing Hearing Loss

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the eye’s optic nerve and is most commonly caused by a buildup of extra fluid that increases the pressure inside the eye. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness for people over 60 years old — but with early treatment, reduced vision and/or blindness can be prevented.

Steven R. Sarkisian, Jr., M.D., an ophthalmologist and founder and CEO of Oklahoma Eye Surgeons in Oklahoma City, says Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) is a newer approach that helps lower eye pressure with far less disruption than traditional glaucoma surgeries.

“Because it uses very small incisions and delicate techniques, the risk of complications is lower, and the eye heals more naturally,” says Sarkisian. “MIGS can be done on its own or at the same time as cataract surgery, giving us flexibility to match our patients’ needs.”

He says one of the biggest advantages of MIGS is a shortened recovery time.

“Most patients have much less discomfort and get back to normal activities within days to a couple of weeks,” says Sarkisian. “This is much faster and easier than the longer recovery times often needed with older glaucoma surgeries.”

He shares that most patients are open to trying MIGS.

“The idea of lowering eye pressure with a safer, gentler surgery and potentially using fewer drops afterwards makes sense to people who are tired of daily medications or worried about vision loss,” says Sarkisian.

“When I talk to someone who is a candidate for MIGS, I explain that it’s a safe and effective option that can protect their vision while allowing for a faster recovery and less disruption to daily life. I also reassure them that if MIGS alone isn’t enough over time, we still have other options available. This flexibility helps patients feel confident knowing they’re not ‘using up’ their future choices by starting with MIGS.”

Whether it’s the roar from a music concert, sporting event or the mower while doing yard work, everyone is exposed to loud noises on occasion. And while most of us know that loud noise can be harmful to our ears, we may not always consider its long-term impact — known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

Jeremy Foon, M.D., an otolaryngologist with Eastern Oklahoma Ear, Nose & Throat, Inc. in Tulsa, says repeated loud noise exposure is a prevent-

able and irreversible cause of hearing loss.

“There are three parts to the ear — the outer ear (ear canal), the middle ear (space behind the ear drum) and the inner ear (the cochlea),” he says. “The cochlea is where sound is processed and sent as an electrical signal to the brain. Loud noise exposure causes damage to the inner structures of the cochlea.”

Foon says common risks for NIHL outside of a work environment include repeated noises, prolonged noises and short-term intermittent noises.

“Some of the most common causes for recreational loud noise exposure are loud music at concerts, listening to loud music in the car or with earbuds, shooting firearms, and the use of power tools,” says Foon. “Not using earbuds or earmuffs is a huge factor, especially in predictably loud situations like shooting firearms or operating a lawnmower.”

As essential tools to help prevent NIHL, Foon says earmuffs and properly fitted earbuds can be worn together for better protection. For intense intermittent noises (i.e. firearms), he always recommends wearing both.

“I want to stress that NIHL is preventable,” says Foon. “A good place to start is to turn down the volume a little on the TV or while listening to music. Once we get NIHL, it will never improve — so take every step you can to avoid this common issue. Otherwise, you risk needing hearing aids at a young age or developing deafness.”

THE HEART

Four Numbers that Affect the Heart

When it comes to heart health, several factors and relating numbers are essential to regularly check and monitor. From blood pressure and cholesterol to A1C levels and body mass index (BMI), cardiologist Sarah Anne Shaw-Dressler, D.O., with Saint Francis Health System in Tulsa, shares why these numbers are important.

“Regularly checking blood pressure, cholesterol, hemoglobin A1C, and BMI is essential for early identification and management of cardiovascular, metabolic and renal risk,” says ShawDressler. “The American Heart Association (AHA) and the Endocrine Society both emphasize that these measurements are foundational for screening metabolic risk factors, which are major contributors to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).”

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

While blood pressure tests measure the pressure against the artery walls as the heart pumps, cholesterol tests — also known as a lipid panel — measure the amount of cholesterol and fats in the blood.

“Elevated blood pressure and cholesterol are asymptomatic but strongly associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and other vascular complications,” says Shaw-Dressler. “The Endocrine Society recommends screening all adults aged 40–75 for these risk factors at least every three years and more frequently in those with established risk or prediabetes. The AHA recommends annual blood pressure and BMI assessment, with more frequent monitoring for those with risk factors or established disease.”

A1C Testing

She says a key marker for diagnosing and monitoring diabetes and prediabetes is a hemoglobin A1C test—a measurement of the amount of sugar in the blood. With regular assessments, individuals can seek early intervention and help prevent or delay the onset of diabetes.

“The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends at least annual A1C testing in those with prediabetes or diabetes,” she says.

BMI

Shaw-Dressler says that while imperfect, BMI is a practical measure for identifying if one’s overweight or obese, which are central drivers of metabolic and cardiovascular risk. Tracking BMI along with waist circumference helps identify potential risk factors and guide preventive strategies.

“In summary, regular monitoring of these parameters enables risk stratification, early diagnosis and targeted intervention — which are critical for reducing the burden of ASCVD, T2DM, and related complications, as recommended by the AHA, the Endocrine Society, and the ADA,” says Shaw-Dressler.

Younger People & Heart Attacks

As heart disease remains the leading cause of the death in the United States, there has been another alarming trend — more young people are experiencing heart attacks, or in medical terms, acute myocardial infarctions (AMI).

“Recent data demonstrate that both the incidence and the proportion of AMI occurring in adults under 55 years have increased or plateaued in the United States and other developed countries, with the most pronounced rise observed in young women,” says Shaw-Dressler. “This trend contrasts with the declining rates of AMI in older adults.”

Unfortunately, she says risk factors — such as smoking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and substance abuse — have increased among young adults with AMI.

“Notably, young patients often present with a distinct risk profile, including a higher prevalence of non-atherosclerotic etiologies (e.g., spontaneous coronary artery dissection, drug-induced vasospasm), and a greater impact of psychosocial and socioeconomic factors,” says Shaw-Dressler. “These differences are particularly relevant in young women, who have seen the largest relative increase in AMI incidence.”

In addition, she says symptoms in women can be atypical — including but not limited to chest pain, upper back pain, neck/jaw pain, epigastric pain, nausea/vomiting, shortness of breath and shortness of breath on exertion.

For individuals in this younger demographic, Shaw-Dressler emphasizes the need for aggressive risk factor modification and targeted prevention strategies.

“The literature highlights the importance of early identification and management of cardiovascular risk factors in this population to mitigate the rising burden of premature cardiovascular disease,” she says.

THE JOINTS

Robotic-Assisted Surgery

In the field of orthopedics, robotic-assisted surgery has greatly impacted procedures — offering greater accuracy, less complications and reduced recovery times.

Yogesh Mittal, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with The Orthopaedic Center in Tulsa, explains the many benefits of robotic technology involving knee and hip replacement surgery.

“Most people recover faster because there is less soft tissue damage and the implants are placed more accurately and better balanced than traditional surgeries,” he says.

Robotic technology provides a 3D virtual model of the patient’s joint for customized positioning of the implant and supports bone conservation by removing the minimal amount of bone needed. In addition, regarding hip replacement surgery, Mittal says robotics support a decreased risk of future dislocation and more accurate leg length recreation— which he says is the number one mistake involving non-robotic hip replacements.

Mittal notes that while most of the procedures are outpatient, he prefers to keep patients overnight, if they desire, for additional support during recovery.

patient outcomes,” he says. “In my opinion, we get so much information about the hip and knee before and during surgery, that it makes no sense to do the surgery without robotic technology.”

As well, Mittal touts the effectiveness and growth in regenerative medicine.

“Regenerative medicine has been an area of interest for years. Advances have brought forth opportunities to use micro-fat derived from adipose tissue, bone marrow derived from mesenchymal stem cells, exosomes which are micro-vesicles from ethically sourced placenta, and platelet rich plasma,” he shares.

“All of these modalities have their benefits and have been successful in treating varying ail-

“Typically, patients are in an older population, so I want to ensure they are able to walk well with therapy before discharged,” he says.

As technology continues to advance, Mittal says artificial intelligence (AI) will also play a role in increasing benefits.

“We will have an algorithm out soon that will automatically place the implants accurately,” he says. “We are collecting all the robotic data and using machine learning (ML) to advance the technology, and will be able to make the incisions needed in surgery autonomously — by the push of a button.”

Mittal, who has completed more robotic surgeries than anyone else globally, says the developing software and hardware—the robotic arm materials—continues to improve.

“We have only scratched the surface and technology is advancing and rapidly improving

ments including arthritis, bursitis and tendinitis in well-selected patients. This area of medicine will continue to advance over the course of the next few years.”

THE STOMACH

Digestion Red Flags

George Salem, M.D., is an inflammatory bowel disease gastroenterologist with OU Health in Edmond. He says while everyone experiences an occasional upset stomach or a short-lived digestive issue, there are certain symptoms you should never ignore.

“Especially if they persist beyond a week, recur frequently and/or are accompanied by other concerning signs — known as red flags,” says Salem.

These ‘red flag’ symptoms include:

› Persistent abdominal pain or cramping

› Unexplained weight loss

› Ongoing diarrhea or constipation

› Blood in the stool — including black, tarry stools

› Night-time symptoms such as waking up in the middle of the night because of abdominal pain or bowel movement

› Difficulty or pain with swallowing

› Persistent nausea and vomiting, or vomiting blood (which may resemble coffee grounds)

› Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and eyes

“When people think about digestive health, they often focus on the stomach or colon,” he says. “In reality, the gastrointestinal tract is an intricate, continuous system that starts at the mouth and ends at the rectum. It includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum and anus. Each part has a unique role — whether it’s breaking down food, absorbing nutrients or eliminating waste.”

Helpful Tips for a Healthy Digestive System

› Eat a balanced, fiber-rich diet with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.

› Stay hydrated — water is essential for smooth digestion.

› Limit ultra-processed and high-sugar foods that can disrupt gut balance.

› Add extra-virgin olive oil to your daily meals.

› Consider following a healthy diet regimen.

› Incorporate natural probiotic and prebiotic foods to your daily regimen, such as yogurt, kefir, bananas and certain vegetables to nurture healthy gut bacteria.

› Exercise regularly to keep the intestines moving.

› Manage stress, which can have a major impact on digestion.

› Avoid excessive alcohol and stop smoking.

› Keep up with recommended screenings.

“Colonoscopies save lives by detecting problems early,” says Salem. “Colonoscopies are safe and painless when performed by board-certified, fellowship-trained providers. [In addition], upper endoscopies in certain patient populations can prevent progression of certain pre-cancerous conditions of the esophagus and stomach.”

The Coronation of Kristin Chenoweth

The Oklahoma legend’s reign continues as she dons another crown in a brand new Broadway role. We sit down with Chenoweth to discuss The Queen of Versailles, her commitment to nurturing young talent via her Oklahoma-based Broadway Bootcamp and, of course, her wickedly delightful return to Oz.

By Kimberly Burk

Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth says Jackie Siegel, subject of the new Broadway musical The Queen of Versailles is “maybe the role I’ve been wait ing to play my whole life.”

“The character of Jackie is a complicated, wildly different and outrageous character,” she shares. “At the core of her, Jackie is someone who has the shared desires of building a bet ter life for herself and her family – and that’s very relatable.”

The show opens Nov. 9 at the St. James Theatre in New York. The score was written by Stephen Schwartz, known for hit musicals like Pippin, Godspell and, perhaps most notably, Wicked, in which Chenoweth originated the role of Glinda the Good.

The music in Versailles is especially suited to her voice, Chenoweth says, because long time collaborator Schwartz “wrote it for me.”

The new musical is based on a documenta ry by filmmaker Lauren Greenfield about Jack ie, who rose from a computer engineer to Mrs. Florida to a billionaire – along with her hus band David, the founder of Westgate Resorts,

who was known as “The Timeshare King.” David is played by F. Murray Abraham, the stage and film actor who first came to prominence for his Oscar-winning performance as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus

Jackie set out to build the largest private home in America — a $100 million house in Orlando inspired by the Palace of Versailles. But with the Great Recession of 2008 looming, Jackie and David’s dreams began to crumble, along with their lifestyle. The musical explores the true cost of fame, fortune and family.

“I think we can see ourselves in her,” says Chenoweth, who has won both Emmy and Tony Awards for her stage, film, television and voiceover roles.

“She’s someone that seems very easy to

Current page: In Chenoweth’s newest Broadway production, The Queen of

she portrays real-life billionaire Jackie Siegel, who set out to build the world’s largest private home in America (coming in around $100 million) right before the 2008 recession. All photos

judge, since she puts her life out there on social media and in reality television, but truly, who are we to say how we would behave with a million dollars or more? Who are we to say how we would deal with real loss in our life? Just because you have a ton of money doesn’t mean life is easy.”

Playing Jackie, she says, is challenging her in new and exciting ways.

“I’ve spent a lot of time playing really fun characters and I’ve had a lot of variation of characters –for example, Sally Born, a cartoon, Glinda from Oz, and Jackie; this is a real person with complicated feelings and actions. As an actor, you still want to be challenged, no matter how old you get. I knew this would be the more challenging role than any other offers I’ve had in a while. It’s a whole different ball game when the person you’re playing is still alive.”

Chenoweth says that as she came to know Jackie the person, “I did grow to love her.

She’d give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. She does a lot of very important charity work that is currently changing the world as we speak. I think we show a little bit of that in the show as well. But make no mistake, we show the good, the bad and the ugly in the show. We have to, because it’s authentic.”

Chenoweth believes that it’s her responsibility to “step into her shoes, find her energy and play that so I can be true to who she is at her core,” she says. “I’m also the type of performer and actress who’s going to make her my own. I’m never going to be a cookie cutter actor who fits into a lot of categories. I’m unique – and I’ve embraced the qualities that make me different.”

Fortunate to star alongside a number of leading men, Chenoweth says “Murray is no exception. He is a delight every day that I walk into the rehearsal studio; he takes care of me, and I can tell truly loves me. I love him too. I know he is making me better in the role because he is just so good. He’s not only someone I admire, but I am proud to call my friend.”

To say Chenoweth has an “accomplished” career on the stage, the screen and the page would be an understatement.

In 2015, Chenoweth received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, she received an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Pushing Daisies. In 1999, she won a Tony Award for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and she was nominated for her role in Wicked in 2004. She was also nominated for two Emmy Awards and a People’s Choice Award for her role on Glee

Her candid chronicle of her life so far, A Little Bit Wicked, debuted in 2009 on the New

York Times hardcover nonfiction bestseller list.

Chenoweth has performed to sold-out audiences across the world, including performances at Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall.

The Art of Elegance, her album of American songbook classics, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s jazz charts, and No. 1 on Amazon’s vocal pop chart. In 2018, she performed with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in their annual Christmas concert in Salt Lake City, which was later televised on PBS.

Notable television roles include appearances in The West Wing, Disney’s Descendants and The Muppets. In film, Chenoweth voiced the role of Gabi in the animated film Rio 2 and

With a master’s degree in operatic performance from Oklahoma City University, Chenoweth is a member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. She is wellknown for taking pride in her Oklahoma roots.

“For me, it was never a question whether I would support my home state or not,” she says. “The second I go back home to Oklahoma, I am reminded of my roots – and that makes me strong. I’ve always felt like if I forgot my roots, I would lose the compass of where home is. Now I realize, not everyone had a great upbringing like me, and some people want to forget where they came from. But for me personally, Oklahoma is who I am.”

She also hails from a state where voters are known to be influenced by their Christian beliefs and simultaneously, entertainers are expected to be vocal about their political ideologies.

“It’s funny, I grew up in a time where you could be politically whoever you were and separately be the artist that you want to be. It didn’t always have to go together,” Chenoweth says. “I long for those days – I long for the days where it doesn’t matter how I vote. I suppose in the world we live in today, you have to be black or white, there is no gray.”

But artists, Chenoweth says, “often live in the area of gray.”

Chenoweth’s charitable endeavors include a partnership with the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center Foundation. Ten years ago, she launched the Kristin Chenoweth Broadway Bootcamp, providing young Broadway hopefuls with the opportunity to take classes, perform and learn from mentors in the industry – including herself.

“We started KCBBC because there was nothing else like it in the state. I certainly didn’t have anything like that growing up,” Chenoweth says.

“I wanted to solidify what my legacy would be and change the lives of children and open up opportunities for kids who want to do what I do. We have a two-week intensive training program in the summer. I bring in wonderful faculty to teach. It’s important for my campers to learn from people who have actually done it on Broadway.”

Chenoweth says she is “seeing the fruits of my labor – meaning a lot of my campers are going on and making their own path in this industry and are becoming a big success. And that was the whole goal. I actually take mentoring very seriously.”

She had wonderful mentors in her younger days, Chenoweth says, “and I see how important they were in my journey. All I want to do is create a safe space for these kids to be able to create.”

Fifi, Snoopy’s beloved French poodle, in The Peanuts Movie

When the first Wicked film adaptation was released in November 2024, fans were delighted to see cameo appearances by both Chenoweth and her co-star from the original Broadway cast, Idina Menzel. They appeared as Wiz-o-Mania Superstars during the “One Short Day” number.

“I heard from the producers and the director that they wanted Idina and I to do it,” Chenoweth says. “I was apprehensive at first – because I didn’t really view it as ‘my turn’ anymore. After some convincing, I came to understand that the audiences would appreciate it. It was nice to reunite with Idina.”

didn’t

More Oklahoma Ties

Alongside a leading lady with Oklahoma ties, many Oklahomans are operating behind the scenes as producers of The Queen of Versailles – most notably, Tanninger Entertainment. Founded by Jay Krottinger, Ryan Jude Tanner and Patricia Chernicky, Tanninger Entertainment is a Broadway production company with global box office sales of over $700 million.

Broadway and West End producing credits alongside The Queen of Versailles include The Outsiders, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, Come From Away, Oklahoma! and Waitress. In addition to producing, Tanninger Entertainment manages two global entertainment investment funds, with holdings in productions such as Hamilton, MJ, Evita, Beetlejuice and Much Ado About Nothing

SANCTUARIES ofSTYLE

Behind closed doors, Oklahoma’s talented designers are redefining the heart of the home with kitchens and bathrooms that marry function with fashion. These spaces shine with bespoke finishes, unique architectural details and indulgent touches that turn the everyday into the extraordinary.

By Gretchen Eichenberg

Sidebars by Mary Willa Allen

THE POWER OF TWO

A Bit on the Bold Side

A dramatic black and burl wood kitchen is a perfect fit for this classic home full of dramatic moldings and exquisite fixtures, wallpaper and furnishings — all designed by Melissa Fitzgerald, owner and lead

designer of Kitchen Society Design based in OKC.

“These added touches bring a fun, eclectic feel which is one of my favorite combinations,” Fitzgerald says. “Classic, elegant charm paired with statement pieces that are a bit on the bold side.”

Fitzgerald says her objective was to capture the classic elegance of the home while also making it feel like it belonged with all of the other furnishings in the house.

“I wanted the cabinets to feel like furniture pieces, and the finishes to be as stunning as the house,” she says.

She used a black, high-gloss finish for the perimeter cabinetry and a contrasting mappa burl wood on the island – “adding a reeded apron in black under the countertop in the sitting area to tie those two finishes together,” Fitzgerald says.

The countertops are Cristallo and Macaubus Fantasy quartzite. The appliances are Subzero-Wolf-Cove — and this kitchen took first place in SubzeroWolf’s global kitchen design contest.

The combination of beauty and functionality are what Fitzgerald says she values most in the design.

Chic, Light & Elevated

The objective of this light walnut and blue kitchen design was to make the space more functional with plenty of storage, without changing the footprint of the room in a traditional home with unique details.

“We wanted the room to feel lighter and bigger, too,” Fitzgerald says, “but also complement our clients eclectic, fun and elevated taste.”

She started with floor plan changes, moving the range and hood to the wall that is seen first from the front entryway to create a focal point. A stunning blue and brass La Cornue French range and a custom mixed metal stainless and brass hood compliments the house hardware.

“The subtle curve of the hood softens up the metal,” she says. “The Subzero refrigerator is hidden behind beautiful walnut panels with gorgeous brass hardware and looks like three separate doors but is actually a pantry cabinet and a 36-inch Subzero.”

Around the perimeter of the room is inhouse cabinetry in lightened walnut.

“It gives the space that classy and elevated feel,” Fitzgerald says, “and then a pop of blue and reeded texture on the island and in the adjacent laundry room add some fun.”

The stone on the perimeter is Taj Mahal quartzite, and the island is Ijen Blue honed quartzite.

“The mosaic tile behind the range ties all of these finishes together,” Fitzgerald says.

A COUNTRY FRENCH ESCAPE

Social Spaces

Known across the country as an expert in European residential design, Jack Arnold recently had the pleasure of designing a completely new kitchen for close friends who bought a country French style home.

“In my experience, both of designing and of just living in houses, everyone congregates in the kitchen,” Arnold says. “Whether it’s family or friends, they all migrate toward the kitchen, and I think it’s fun that they want to hang out there.”

For that reason, a large island played a big role in the design of this kitchen.

“I like that people can walk around it, talk around it and have conversations around it,” Arnold says. “It’s a place where maybe a guest can help the homeowner set up for a party or they might have a cocktail there. So, it’s all about what kinds of things can happen at the island and what features the client wants there.”

Arnold says even with all the modern options for appliances, he encourages clients to keep the island simple and make sure everything works together. In this home, he incorporated lots of custom cabinetry for

storage and a large sink for utility.

The countertops on the island, as well as the counters and backsplash on the cooking side, are crafted from an understated Taj Mahal quartz. A plaster vent hood is reminiscent of an old stone hearth — and iron light fixtures round out the feel of a European countryside farmhouse.

Since it was an older home, all the appliances were due for an upgrade as well. A separate refrigerator and freezer blend seamlessly with the cabinetry due to custom paneling Arnold matched to it. Refrigerator drawers, a steam oven and a wine cabinet are a few of the more fanciful additions to the completely revamped kitchen.

“Almost everything that you can think of, we included it,” he says.

A surprise element, hidden behind closed doors, is a pantry and a bar. That was constructed in a corner of the kitchen that was not getting much use.

“We brought in new cabinet work in the back of the space and put a little piece of Taj Mahal in the back and lit up the room,” Arnold says.

Arnold says his wife, Susan, also helped select stylish containers for food storage to help keep the pantry looking smart and well-organized.

STYLE & FUNCTIONALITY

Photos by Jessica Jackson, JJHomes Photography

A Kitchen Fit for Family

When Gant Hinkle, owner of True North Homes, set out to design a home for himself and his family of five, a contemporary space with both style and functionality was the goal. The large, open kitchen and spacious primary bathroom exemplify just that.

The Hinkles have three kids and lots of family and friends in town, so they wanted to build a kitchen that could accommodate large gatherings, replete with good food and fellowship.

“It’s really important to us to have enough space for everybody to sit comfortably,” Hinkle says. “And my wife does a lot of cooking, so she has two large galley sinks in the kitchen area, one on the island and one on the exterior wall.”

On the exterior wall is a three-foot galley sink with a six-by-sixfoot window overlooking the backyard. The 10-foot island with a quartz countertop is Inverness Stonestreet by Cambria.

“I like quartz just for durability,” Hinkle says. “And with Cambria, they’ve got really neat designs, so you get the high durability, plus you have really high end designs on the countertops.”

A large slab of the same quartz material was used on the vent hood, tying the look together. All the cabinets are custom built and stained white oak. The floors are engineered, sanded and finished white oak, as well.

“We basically do all engineered floors in our homes,” Hinkle says. “The engineering material allows you to have wider planks so you get a really nice look.”

Striking light fixtures above the island finish off the feel of the kitchen.

“I really wanted to have some cool, contemporary lights that I haven’t seen anywhere in Tulsa,” he says. “And I really carried that throughout the house. I wanted to make sure it was unique and it wasn’t something people were going to see every day.”

An Ultra Modern Primary Bath

Natural light is the showstopper in Hinkle’s primary bathroom. With a fifteen-by-sixfoot window over the double sinks, this space is light and bright, yet private due to a film cover that doesn’t allow visibility from the outside.

The custom hanging mirrors were built in Turkey.

“I had to customize exactly the length of the down rod and the mirror to make sure that they had enough clearance over the faucets on the vanities,” Hinkle said. “These countertops are also Cambria — Inverness Blakely.”

The bathroom features a large shower that has the look of stonework but is actually black wainscoting tile on the bottom half and fluted porcelain tile on the top — and an ultra modern black tub that Hinkle says is more of a showpiece than something that’s used often.

AN OPEN & AIRY TRANSFORMATION

A Stunning Metamorphosis

When you’ve been in the building business for 46 years, you sometimes get the opportunity to work with a client on more than one home. That’s the case with this kitchen, designed by Bill Powers of Powers Design and Build, where an open concept was on the short list.

“It’s a traditional home built in the 1990s and had a galley style kitchen,” Powers says. “The island is where the wall between the kitchen and the main living area used to be.”

The large 17-foot island is the centerpiece of the kitchen.

“It’s their table, their dining room, their breakfast room — all in that one spot,” he says. “It’s just two of them most of the time, but they have family and friends and they entertain a lot, so they use the island as seating for all occasions.”

The countertop on the island is crafted of Taj Mahal quartz.

“It’s light in color, has subtle veining and a nice light color palette, so it’s easy to deco-

rate around,” she says.

The veneer on the back of the island is a cast concrete stone that the homeowner actually applied himself, Powers adds. The island has lighting that runs along the length of the countertop and silhouettes the stone — and there’s also lighting in the toe kick of the island and on the cooktop side too.

“The vent hood is open and has a tile surround, which is a popular feature these days,” Powers says. “Instead of boxing the vent hood in, this is what I call a more relaxed fit. There’s still plenty of cabinet room.”

An arched entrance to the kitchen adds character and completes the open concept.

“That was previously just a cased opening from the hallway into the kitchen,” Powers says. “We enhanced that by making it larger for a more open feel in that regard. It really opened the house up,” Powers says. “When you take a wall out that size, it feels like you’ve added 300 square feet.”

DESIGN PERSPECTIVES

A Peek at Other Local Visionaries

There’s simply too much talent in Oklahoma to profile every designer for this feature – but we also offer sneak peeks into other projects from local visionaries. This photo-rich page highlights unique projects in Oklahoma, with truly stunning results.

DESIGN PERSPECTIVES

National Inspiration

National brands and designers set the bar for luxury, innovation and timeless design, inspiring ideas beyond state lines.

This butler’s pantry

California-based

Co. is used as a secondary kitchen for cooking, utilizing Subzero appliances, custom 6”

and Fineline Millwork.

The Lancanche Classique line of ranges offers understated beauty, and its hoods come in eight sizes to fit your range specifications.

by Rachel Collet

Photography

This project in Hermosa Beach was helmed by Summer Jensen of Hawk & Co. The kitchen, fitted with Thermador appliances, also has customized, unique design elements, including a custom 3-story chandelier and a corner-wrapping table designed to frame the travertine planter.

Miele MasterCool Refrigeration – launched on Oct. 1 – features a modern and harmonious design, with a complete interior redesign in stainless steel. The cooling line is also equipped with the new BrilliantLight Pro LED Lighting for a perfectly illuminated light-flooded interior cavity.

Photo courtesy Miele

Clockwise from upper left: More lightness, comfort and durability is the goal in Valcucine’s new line focused on sustainability. Valcucine’s doors are engineered to be extremely lightweight yet durable – the combination of an anodised aluminium structural frame and a thin yet resistant decorative panel that creates a door that balances clean aesthetics with strength and lightness.

Photo by Michele Salucci courtesy Valcucine

Gina Lauren Interiors – based in Irvine, Calif. – spearheaded this project dubbed ‘Manhattan Beach Coastal,’ which showcases streamlined design, unwavering commitment to excellence and meticulous attention to detail.

Photo courtesy Gina Lauren Interiors/WhiteGood

New from Gaggenau is the Expressive Series – the national brand’s first entirely new builtin series in nearly two decades. Described as “sculptural in form, precise in function, and intentional in every detail,” the Expressive Series is intended for a new era of elevated living.

Photo courtesy Gaggenau/ WhiteGood

From national brand Emser Tile, the Zambia line is a stunning series that brings exotic animal prints to life with gold glazing etched into tile through an additional firing process. The pattern shown in this bathroom is ‘Turtle.’

Photo courtesy Emser Tile/ WhiteGood

Seasonal Soirées Made Simple

Pulling off the perfect holiday gathering doesn’t happen overnight — or alone.

From setting the ideal date to choosing a theme, knowing when to DIY or when to call in the pros, our guide walks you through every step to ensure your celebration truly sparkles.

By Faith Harl

A Spotlight on the Pros

Based in Oklahoma City, Eventures is a full-service event planning and rental company founded by Mary Ellen Alexander in 1994. Passionate about serving others, Alexander’s first foray in event planning was in San Francisco. Later, she moved to Dallas, where she gained catering and hospitality experience working at the Marriott.

At the time, the event industry was still burgeoning, and Alexander saw it as an opportunity to strike out on her own.

“I decided that I was moving to Oklahoma because there wasn’t an event planning production company in the state, and I was going to make it happen,” she recalls.

Since opening Eventures, Alexander and her dedicated team of event professionals have built a reputation for creating luxurious celebrations and events. Eventures

produces all types of experiences — from nonprofit fundraisers to sporting events. The company also specializes in party rentals, offering custom-designed props and a wide selection of furniture, dance floors, linens and more.

A leap of faith also led Ashley Farthing-Porto to found Farthing Events, a full-service event design and production company, in 2011. Born and raised in Oklahoma, Porto got her start in event planning at the Tulsa Zoo.

“Establishing and cultivating relationships with our clients was really important to me,” she says about her experience there. “It really sparked a fire within me to want to work and serve people more.”

Over the years, Farthing Events has carved out a niche specializing in high-end weddings and social events. Now highly sought-after, Porto focuses on a handful of elevated experiences every year.

“Event planning is an outlet for me to design and be creative,” she shares. “But it also lends flexibility with how I get to spend my time as a mom, which is what is most important to me.”

DIY Meets Pro: Blending Professional and Homemade Touches

Stress during the holidays is nearly a universal experience. In fact, 84% of adults reported experiencing stress during the holiday season when surveyed by the American Psychological Association in 2024. Hiring a professional event planner to assist during the holidays — whether you’re arranging a casual gathering or planning a corporate event — can help take the pressure off hosting.

“When you’re planning any type of party or celebration, the goal is for it to be fun and enjoyable,” says Porto. “Enlisting a trusted professional is key. They’re going to take your input and your desires for the event and put together a plan based on their expertise.”

An event planner can also help you understand how to optimize your resources, especially when it comes to managing certain elements on your own. “We can offer the best insights when it comes to maximizing your budget depending on your event and specific needs,” adds Courtney McPhail, event planner and designer at Eventures.

In general, keep DIY projects simple –like putting together party favors or stamping and sending invitations.

If you are renting a private space, check with the venue to see what is included.

“We recommend that our clients maximize what the venues have to offer, whether it’s tables, chairs or complimentary linens,” suggests Hannah Tweed, also with Eventures.

Although family and friends may be willing to help with larger tasks, such as catering or photography, those items are best left to the professionals.

“Let your friends be your friends the day of the event and not fall into the role of business professionals,” advises Porto. “All the little touches we plan strategically as a team with our clients. That way they’re able to step in and feel involved if they want to be.”

Holiday Themes & Trends

A party theme can elevate your event and keep your guests entertained all night long. While classic Christmas and Thanksgiving décor never go out of style, niche and unconventional themes are especially popular right now.

“People are branching out from more traditional themes than they have in the past,” says Tweed. “We’ve also seen a big spike in themes that are references to movies, like the Polar Express, Elf or The Grinch.”

Putting a twist on the holiday tradition, Eventures designed a beach-themed Christmas party for one of its clients last year. The company imported real sand for decorating, constructed cabanas and dressed Santa in flip flops.

“Our clients bring us new themes and fun ideas every single year that we love bringing to life,” says McPhail.

Minimalistic, sleek décor for the holidays is trending, too.

“A lot of people are going for a more modern aesthetic, adding touches like garland and floral elements that are still representative of the holiday but can be done in a way that’s different and refreshing,” says Porto.

Sometimes the inspiration for a good theme can be more abstract.

“I love to encourage my clients to find inspiration from what makes them happy. It could be a throw that you love, or maybe it’s a vase… You don’t have to be super strategic and browse the pages of a design book to find elements that you like,” says Porto.

Creating an Event Checklist

Careful planning lays the groundwork for an unforgettable event. When working on a tight timeline, small details can be easy to overlook. Creating an event checklist can help you pace your efforts and ensure that all your bases are covered.

◊ Finalize the event date, guest list and budget.

◊ Book the caterer and venue.

8–10 Weeks Out

6-8 Weeks Out

◊ Hire a planner, if you’re using one. “Trust is one of the biggest things when you’re working with a professional,” Porto advises when choosing a planner. “If there isn’t trust on both ends, it’s going to make the process feel rigid.”

------------------------------------

◊ Choose a theme or aesthetic. “Sometimes I get clients that don’t have a vision for their event upfront, and that’s completely fine,” says Porto. “We can put together a full proposal of what the event might look like for them.”

◊ Book rentals, entertainment or a bartender.

◊ Send out save-the-dates or invitations. ------------------------------------

◊ Confirm menu and drink selections.

4 Weeks Out

◊ Arrange for decorations & party favors.

◊ Plan music, such as a playlist, DJ or band. ------------------------------------

◊ Confirm RSVPs with your guests.

◊ Communicate headcounts to vendors, if necessary.

◊ Do a final walkthrough of the venue.

1-2 Weeks Out

3 TheDaysDay of

◊ Tip: Consider including your vendors in the walkthrough, that way they are familiar with the venue and can problem solve potential issues in advance. ------------------------------------

◊ Decorate and set up furniture and tables, if you’re doing it yourself.

◊ Prepare any personal dishes.

◊ Do a final check-in with all vendors.

◊ Celebrate! “There’s nothing more exciting… than to be standing in the doorway and listening to the reactions of guests when they’re seen what we’ve accomplished. It’s the most rewarding experience,” says Alexander.

Picking the Right Date

The holidays are the busiest time of the year, so choosing a reasonable date for your event or party is a must. Not only will it influence attendance, but it also plays a role in the pricing of rentals and vendor costs.

Selecting a date earlier in the month of December may result in a higher turnout, as people tend to travel out of town the week of Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Vendors may also increase the pricing of their goods and services around this time.

Weekdays, particularly Thursdays and Fridays, are prime times for corporate events – whereas the weekends are usually best for gatherings with friends and family.

39 Tribes, One Table

39 Restaurant inside OKC’s First Americans Museum pays tribute to both chef Loretta Barrett Oden’s lifelong research on Native American cuisine, as well as Oklahoma’s 39 Indigenous tribes.

Many years ago in a wild hilly part of northwest California

near the banks of the Klamath River, two women watched as men of the Yurok people brought in a huge sturgeon. One woman, the older Yurok, laid out leaves as plates, spread roe from the sturgeon on them, and put them near a smoky fire. The other woman, who was also Native American but from Oklahoma’s Potawatomi people, tasted and was amazed.

“It was exquisite,” she recalls. “It could have been a thousand dollar dish in a New York restaurant," says the woman –Loretta Barrett Oden.

This was just one episode in Oden’s years-long (and, in fact, life-long)

journey to reclaim her native roots and discover the foodways of the tapestry of peoples who inhabited America in 1491, before Columbus. She traveled the country, living with the Tlingit in the Northwest, the Blackfeet on the Great Plains, the Pueblo people in the Southwest. She fished for salmon with the Tlingit and helped harvest crops in the Louisiana Bayou.

Her life sounds worthy of a documentary, and indeed it was – it aired on PBS: Seasoned with Spirit.

All that knowledge has now found another worthy home. There’s a glorious glassy gleaming building in Oklahoma City that houses the First Americans Museum. Its mission: to immerse the visitor in the American world before Columbus came or, in Oden’s words, “to further

heighten our awareness of who we are.”

Inside the museum, Oden’s restaurant, 39, honors the cuisine of these peoples. You can go to any town in the United States, Oden points out, and find pasta dishes from Italy, even Mongolian barbecue, but Native American restaurants are an exotic rarity, and if you find one, it probably specializes in fry bread.

39 does not serve fry bread. Oden limits the menu to ingredients found in America before the Europeans came. She’s not fanatic about this though.

“We don’t use a lot of dairy because we didn’t have cows back then,” she says, “but if I want whipped cream on a dessert, I’m going to have it.”

But the range of ingredients and cooking techniques she uses is incredibly vast. They are culled from years of

research, examining archaeology digs, talking with every elder she could find. The name 39 refers to the 39 tribes who currently reside in Oklahoma (most dumped there against their will by the U.S. government), but Oden pulls recipes from all over the Americas.

She serves ceviche because the Moche people of Peru invented it thousands of years ago, using passionfruit for acidity. There’s a scallop dish, because scallops are loved by

the peoples of the Pacific Northwest.

“I pair it with sea beans,” she says, “because I like to pair things that live together. My people were hunter-gatherers from the Great Lakes, so we have a lot of venison, wild rice, foraged plants like spruce and sumac.”

There’s even a hummus dish on the menu. Oden discovered the recipe while living with a Sonoran desert tribe in Arizona. Native cooking methods too were varied. Stews were made in clay pots. Rocks were heated, smeared with pumpkin oil or grease, used as griddles to cook steaks. Oden also uses European fine dining techniques in her recipes. Many chefs do this nowadays the better to showcase their ancestral cuisines. And in this Oden is aided by two immensely talented chefs, Ben Hutton and Ben Grossman. Is Oden open to learning from these young chefs?

“Absolutely!” she exclaims. “New techniques, fun innovative things, I’m always willing to learn. After all, cooking is the grand passion of my life. I love what I do.”

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

Tina’s

Nestled within the ever-evolving 17th and Boston area in Tulsa, Tina’s touts “cold drinks and warm friends.” Enter, and you’ll be met with a warm red glow and a bustling bar. No matter the cocktail you crave, the barkeeps at Tina’s have you covered.

Classics range from the Arnold Palmer to the Pimm’s Cup and Negroni. Step outside your comfort zone and try the Birthday Girl, with fruity spiced punch and ginger beer, or the L.I.Tina, a take on the classic Long Island Iced Tea with amaro, lemon and Dr. Pepper. Tina’s also offers plenty of beers, wines, bubbles and non-alcoholic options.

Perhaps the breakout star of Tina’s is, surprisingly, the smashburger. Order at the bar and await your delicious meal at the kitchen window in the back. The burger comes with American cheese, grilled onions, sauce and pickles, as well as some of the tastiest fries you’ll ever eat. Other food options include a chicken salad sandwich, pimento sandwich, potato chip tower, watermelon salad and Country Bird hand pie.

Visit Tuesday-Friday from 3-6 p.m. for happy hour, where a bevy of cocktail options are just $7 – or try the enticing “Girl Lunch” – a bottle of Pétillant Naturel sparkling wine and a basket of fries for $45.

Red Rooster

Locally sourced, welcoming, creative and delicious, Red Rooster has quickly become a diner favorite for OKC residents.

The restaurant’s dynamic menu begins with shareables including trout dip, scallion tacos and the charcuterie board. Lighter fare includes a Nicoise, Green Goddess and Cobb salad.

Mains run the gamut. Try the BMLT with tomatoes, greens, basil aioli and bacon, or the barbecue pulled pork sandwich with Carolina barbecue sauce, braised pork and pickled red onions. Other stand-outs include the ribeye, shrimp and grits, chicken pot pie and the Buddha Bowl – complete with quinoa, mushrooms, market veggies, apricots and tahini. End the evening with donut bread pudding or a s’mores brownie.

You can also catch Red Rooster at brunch time, with a full menu dedicated to early- and mid-day eats. Try a bevy of brunch cocktails, including the What’s Up Doc? with carrot, tumeric, ginger, vodka, lime and Aperol – then choose between classics like buttermilk pancakes, chicken waffles, a bevy of benedicts, pastrami hash or a biscuit and gravy bowl.

MARY WILLA ALLEN

Complex, Unforgettable Flavors

Fifame Oussa Alahassa helms Tulsa’s Afrikan Delights, which introduces diners to the traditional flavors of West African cuisine.

Fifame Oussa Alahassa, co-owner of Tulsa’s Afrikan Delights, grew up in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, a Vermont-shaped nation sandwiched between Ghana and Nigeria.

“In Benin,” she says, “women cook. I’d watch my mother cook all the time. I’d cry and beg her to let me help. I was eight. All the recipes of Afrikan Delights I got from her. And she got the recipes from her mother, who got them from her mother, who got them from her mother.”

At Afrikan Delights, everything you eat is authentic West African food.

Alahassa didn’t start out a chef. After high school in Cotonou, she moved to the United States to pursue higher education. She got a B.A. in health education from Southern Illinois University, then came to Oklahoma, where she got a M.A. in public health at OSU. Sometimes she’d cook for friends, who loved it.

After university, she says, “I worked, but I was not fulfilled. I decided to become a chef and share a piece of my culture.”

She did what every aspiring young chef should do – attended the launch program at Kitchen 66, a Tulsa-based entrepreneurial boot camp that teaches culinary hopefuls how to navigate the food business. After that, she and her husband bought a food truck. It was so successful that after only one year, she was given a permanent location inside Mother Road Market.

You can’t miss it. Her food stall is large and at maybe the best location in the market, right at a corner where two aisles converge and opposite the bar. It’s brightly painted with intricate red designs made to mimic Kente cloth. Her friends in Benin made the designs, then emailed them to her.

There are also big billboards with the huge menu, highlighting every area of

Beninois cuisine. And what is Benin food like?

“Well,” she says, “all our dishes have onion and tomato, even the rice. We use a lot of seasoning: ginger, garlic, white pepper, black pepper. We use a lot of herbs like parsley and bay leaf. We use a lot of greens, including spinach and collard greens.”

At Afrikan Delights, you’ll find a dessert a lot like a beignet, an okra soup a lot like gumbo, and a rice a lot like jambalaya. You may think it reminiscent of New Orleans, and this is not a coincidence. These American dishes were in large part brought from Africa by enslaved people. What you’re getting at Afrikan Delights is the original version.

Another thing that all Alahassa’s dishes have in common is this: they’re not easy to make. They take time. Take the Jollof rice, for example, the one that’s like jambalaya.

“We use jasmine rice, like they do in Ghana,” Alahassa says. “We make a tomato stew with onion, ginger, bell pepper, garlic, and of course lots of tomatoes. We add a bit of oil and then the rice, letting it cook at a low heat in a covered pot so the steam cooks the rice.”

For the peanut soup — which, by the way, is delicious — “we use peanut butter, tomato, a lot of onion, also garlic and ginger. It must simmer at least two hours on low heat.”

What do customers think of these dishes, so different from what they’re used to?

“They’re overwhelmed,” says Alahassa, “by all the good flavor. ‘What did you put in it?’ they ask. ‘What is all this flavor?'”

BRIAN SCHWARTZ

Where & When

GREAT THINGS TO DO IN OKLAHOMA

EVENTS LISTED ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CHECK INDIVIDUAL WEBSITES FOR UPDATES.

IN TULSA Performances

Brown Bag It: Kyle

Dillingham Oct. 1 Tulsa

PAC Violinist Kyle Dillingham has performed in over 40 countries, made history at the Grand Ole Opry and was twice selected as a Cultural Performer for Expo 2025 Osaka. See him at the Tulsa PAC during its weekly Brown Bag It series. tulsapac.com

Spotlight Chidlren's Theatre presents: Eerie

Academy Oct. 3-5, 10-12 Tulsa Spotlight Theater Eerie Academy is a play set in a school for the unusual, mysterious and ghoulish, where students learn "spooky studies." tulsaspotlighttheater.com

Tulsa Symphony presents: 20th Anniversary with Emanuel Ax Oct. 4 Tulsa

PAC The Tulsa Symphony Orchestra's 20th Anniversary Celebration will feature Emanuel Ax, a renowned pianist, as well as guest conductor Lina GonzálezGranados. tulsasymphony.org

Tulsa Spotlight Theater presents: The Drunkard and the Olio Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25 Tulsa Spotlight Theater It began on Nov. 14, 1953, and has never stopped! That's how The Drunkard became America's longestrunning play. More than 3,000 Tulsans have participated on or offstage. tulsaspotlighttheater.com

Celebrity Attractions

presents: The Outsiders Oct. 7-12 Tulsa PAC In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade and their Greaser family of “outsiders” battle with their affluent rivals, the Socs. This thrilling new Broadway musical navigates the complexities of selfdiscovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them. celebrityattractions.com

Tulsa Ballet presents: Peter and the Wolf Oct. 10-11 Studio

K The Boy Who Cried Wolf from the original tale is all grown up now and his grandson, Peter, is just as impulsive, curious and rebellious as he was when he was a wee lad. tulsaballet.org

Theatre North presents: Othello Oct. 18-19, 25-26 Tulsa PAC Othello is Shakespeare's timeless exploration of jealousy, manipulation, deception and race. The story follows Othello, a Black military general, as he is deceived by his ensign Iago into believing his

PERFORMANCE

Encore-Worthy October Nights

October feels like the Super Bowl of performing arts in Oklahoma – a packed month where stages across the state are alive with music, dance and drama.

CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS

At the Tulsa PAC, the spotlight is burning bright all month long. The Tulsa Symphony kicks off its 20th anniversary season in grand style on Oct. 4, welcoming world-renowned pianist Emanuel Ax and guest conductor Lina González-Granados. Just days later, a Tulsa story returns home in a big way: The Outsiders makes its touring debut in T-Town, running Oct. 7-12 courtesy of Celebrity Attractions. And for a touch of haunting beauty, Tulsa Ballet brings the ethereal Giselle to the stage Oct. 30-Nov. 2, just in time for Halloween. Additionally, don’t miss the Isidore String Quartet (Oct. 24-26) from Chamber Music Tulsa at both the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center and Tulsa PAC, or Tulsa Opera’s spinetingling Voices After Dark: Music in the Shadows running Oct. 25 at Laven Sowell Opera Center.

In OKC, the opera keeps on comin’ with Painted Sky’s Proving Up, Oct. 2-5 at the Civic Center Music Hall. The laughs at the Civic will be rolling in with The Book of Mormon courtesy OKC Broadway (Oct. 10-12) while OKC Ballet’s Dracula sinks its teeth into spooky season on Oct. 17-19. Homegrown talent is celebrated at the Civic with OKC Phil’s Oklahoma Stories: Celebrating Our Future on Oct. 25, followed by Canterbury Voices’ Dies Irae: Song of the Shadows on Oct. 30. Other goodies include Lyric Theatre’s The Rocky Horror Show, Oct. 2-Nov. 1 at Lyric at the Plaza, as well as The Queen’s Six sextet, performing at Edmond’s Armstrong Auditorium on Oct. 30.

Stillwater’s McKnight Center serves up three stellar nights: country powerhouse Ashley McBryde (Oct. 3), the world-class United States Marine Band (Oct. 19), and the elegant Seoul Chamber Orchestra (Oct. 29-30).

wife Desdemona has been unfaithful to him. tulsapac.com

Nickelodeon presents: Avatar the Last Airbender in Concert Oct. 21 Tulsa PAC Audiences will be immersed in a two-hour performance with a live orchestra that brings the show’s iconic musical score to life in perfect harmony paired with visual highlights and favorite moments from all three seasons of the series. tulsapac.com

Rhythm of the Arts presents: Sugar Skull! A Dia De Los Muertos Musical Adventure Oct. 21-22 Tulsa PAC Come and enjoy this touring bilingual/bicultural musical for young audiences and families that uses traditional regional music and dance from Mexico to tell the story of twelve-year-old Vita Flores. tulsapac.com

Chamber Music Tulsa presents: Isidore String Quartet Oct. 24-26 Dennis R. Neill Equality Center & Tulsa PAC The Isidore String Quartet is a New York City-based string quartet formed in 2019. They are known for their innovative approach to classical music, aiming to "revisit, rediscover and reinvigorate" the repertoire. chambermusictulsa.org

Tulsa Opera presents: Voices After Dark — Music From the Shadows Oct. 25 Laven Sowell Opera Center Step into a candlelit

world where voices rise from the flickering shadows and haunting melodies stir something deep inside your soul. tulsaopera.com

Mark Twain Tonight! Oct. 25 Tulsa PAC Emmy-Award winning Actor Richard Thomas brings to life “the nation’s one true comic genius” (The New York Times) in Mark Twain Tonight!, written and originally performed by Hal Holbrook. tulsapac.com

Tulsa Ballet presents: Giselle Oct. 30-Nov. 2 Tulsa PAC Giselle, with its ethereal atmosphere, dramatic pas de deux and mix of romanticism and supernatural elements have made it a beloved masterpiece that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. tulsaballet.org

Concerts

Ziggy Marley Oct. 2 River Spirit Casino Resort Ziggy Marley is a Jamaican singer, musician and philanthropist who will be visiting Tulsa on his latest tour. riverspirittulsa.com

Katt Williams Oct. 3 BOK Center Stand-up comedian, social activist and rapper Katt Williams visits Tulsa on his Heaven on Earth tour. bokcenter.com

Easton Corbin Oct. 3 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa Country music singer Easton Corbin visits the Hard Rock for one night only. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

Jonas Brothers Oct. 16 BOK

Center Some of the most wellknown names in pop music – the Jonas Brothers – come to Tulsa on their Greetings From Your Home Town tour. bokcenter.com

Travis Tritt Oct. 16 River Spirit Casino Resort Travis Tritt, beloved country singer, visits River Spirit. riverspirittulsa.com

Nate Bargatze Oct. 19 BOK Center A beloved name in comedy, Nate Bargatze comes to town. bokcenter.com

Paul McCartney Oct. 22 BOK

Center The iconic Paul McCartney brings his Got Back tour to the BOK Center. bokcenter.com

Peter Frampton Oct. 23 River Spirit Casino Resort Peter Frampton is an English-American Grammy-winning guitarist, singer and songwriter, visiting Tulsa at the River Spirit. riverspirittulsa.com

Mumford and Sons Oct. 25 BOK Center See the indie rock darlings with special guest, Sierra Ferrell. bokcenter.com

Tate McCrae Oct. 29 BOK

Center A rising star in pop music, Tate McCrae heads to town with Alessi Rose. bokcenter.com

Marcus King Band Oct. 30 Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

Tulsa The Marcus King Band is a southern rock/blues band from South Carolina. See them live in Tulsa. hardrockcasinotulsa.com

Art

Clayton Keyes: Subterfuge Oct. 3-Nov. 22 108

Contemporary 108 Contemporary is excited to showcase the work of ceramicist Clayton Keyes; the exhibition is a celebration of nature and the human form. 108contemporary.org

Val Esparza and Austin Gober Through Oct. 11 Living Arts See dynamic works from two talented artists this month at Living Arts. livingarts.org

Eduardo Sarabia: Ceiba Sagrada Through Dec. 28

Philbrook Los Angeles-born, Mexico-based Eduardo Sarabia has become one of the better-known artistic voices of his generation for using materials and imagery associated with street culture, craft and folk history to draw connections between his personal story and the narrative of Mexico. philbrook.org

Earth Embodied Through Dec. 28 Philbrook New acquisitions by artists including Starr Hardridge, Kay WalkingStick and Emmi Whitehorse join old favorites such as Alexandre Hogue’s Mother Earth Laid Bare (1936) and Felice Schiavoni’s Madonna and Child with the Young Saint John (1850) to explore the range of ways artists envision the concept of the earth embodied. philbrook.org

Temple Israel Songbook Illustrations Through Dec.

31 Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art Ready for a trip down memory lane? Revisit the charm of Sunday school at Temple Israel with these delightful, vibrant illustrations by Tulsa native Carmelita Avery. Created in 1945, these pieces capture the playful spirit of the era. jewishmuseumtulsa.org

Wall Flowers: Patrick Gordon Paintings Through Jan. 3 Philbrook Philbrook Museum of Art presents Patrick Gordon’s first museum retrospective, which features over fifty paintings that span a career of more than fifty years. philbrook.org

Slumgullion: The Venerate Outpost

Ongoing Philbrook Philbrook is proud to partner with award-winning artist Karl Unnasch to present Slumgullion, a full-scale log cabin built from the skeleton of a late1800s pioneer home. philbrook.org

Sports

U.S. National Arabian/HalfArabian Championship Oct. 16-25 Expo Square This nine-day show will feature nearly 1,800 Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. exposquare.com

Tulsa Oilers Hockey Oct. 24, 26, 28 BOK Center The Oilers take the ice this month. bokcenter.com

University of Tulsa Football Oct. 25 H.A. Chapman

Stadium TU plays at home once this month against Temple University. tulsahurricane.com

Color Breed Congress Oct. 31-Nov. 8 Expo Square Enjoy this equine showcase that highlights Appaloosa, Palomino, Buckskin and Pinto horses. exposquare.com

Simulcast Horse

Racing Through Nov. 1 Virtual horse races can be caught all fall. exposquare.com

Community

OK Roots Global Bash Oct.

2-4 Tulsa Arts District The OK Roots Global Bash is an exciting celebration of both global and local music. okrootsmusic.org

First Friday Art Crawl Oct. 3 Downtown On the first Friday of every month, guests will be able to see a new exhibit opening and enjoy live music, a cash bar and snacks. humanities.utulsa.edu

Tulsa Town Hall presents:

David Pogue Oct. 3 Tulsa

PAC David Pogue has been at the forefront of emerging tech trends for decades. With his column in Macworld in 1988, Pogue began a successful career making technology accessible to all. tulsatownhall.com

Tulsa State Fair Through Oct.

5 Expo Square The Tulsa State Fair is the city’s largest family event, providing educational experiences and entertainment during an 11-day span. tulslastatefair.com

Hallowmarine Oct.

17-31 Oklahoma Aquarium Dress up in your best Halloween costume for a chance to win prizes and interact with some of the ocean's most curious creatures. okaquarium.org

Tulsa Run Oct.

25 Downtown Athletes and health enthusiasts have been gathering in downtown Tulsa the last weekend in October since 1978. ttcu.com

Tulsa Foundation for Architecture Tours Oct. 25, 28 Downtown Tulsa Take a fun and educational walking tour through downtown Tulsa and other historical local sites during Saturday Architecture Tours, hosted by the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture. tulsaarchitecture.org

Autumn in the Botanic Garden Through Oct. 30 Tulsa Botanic Garden Explore Tulsa Botanic's hay maze and shop from the many varieties of pumpkins and gourds in the Pumpkin Patch. See the display of scarecrows created by students, artists, families, friends, businesses and organizations, too. tulsabotanic.org

A Journey Through Route 66 Through October Circle Cinema and theaters statewide See the heartfelt history of Route 66, from the building of the road to today's renaissance, featuring rare historical footage in this new film. circlecinema.org

Charitable Events

Go Red for Women

Lucheon Oct. 2 Arvest Convention Center Go Red for Women is dedicated to connecting women to motivate each other, educate each other, and inspire each other. Because ited, we have the power to build communities that foster better health. heart.org

Hospitality Under the Stars Oct. 2 DoubleTree by Hilton

Tulsa Join Hospitality House of Tulsa for a night of community, mission and celebration under the stars as it kicks off the 20th year serving families traveling in medical crises. hhtulsa.

org

Kalleidoscope Ball Oct. 4 Arvest

Convention Center Emergency Infant Services is a non-profit organization which assists more than 52,000 babies and children each year with basic needs items. Support the mission at this annual fundraiser. eiskball.org

Tulsa Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Dinner Oct.

6 Southern Hills Country Club Tulsa Hall of Fame members are visionaries who have spent much of their lives working to make Tulsa a better community for all. tulsahistory.org

Moonstruck Oct. 17 Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center Help celebrate Clarehouse and their work with offerings like an auction, raffle, dinner, games and dueling pianos. clarehouse.org

20th Anniversary Onstage Gala Dinner Oct. 18 Tulsa

PAC Experience an enchanting night of fine dining, honoring two decades of symphonic artistry at Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. tulsasymphony.org

IN OKC Performances

Painted Sky Opera presents:

Proving Up Oct. 2-5 Civic Center Music Hall Enjoy a chilling tale of the American prairie by two of opera’s most innovative creators. paintedskyopera.org

Lyric Theatre presents: The Rocky Horror Show Oct. 2-Nov.

1 Lyric at the Plaza Every three years, Lyric Theatre does “The Time Warp” again, staging the raunchy, hysterical and uproarious 1973 rock

musical to the delight of the show’s enthusiastic fans. lyrictheatreokc. com

Innovation Arts and Entertainment presents: Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban in Concert Oct. 3-4 Civic Center Music Hall For the first time ever, audiences can relive the magic of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban set to the music of a live symphony orchestra performing John Williams’ unforgettable score. okcciviccenter. com

OKC Broadway presents: Twilight in Concert Oct. 8 Civic Center Music Hall Experience the legendary romance saga with this epic film-to-concert event, featuring the original movie accompanied by a sensational live band on stage and an enchanting candlelit atmosphere. okcbroadway.com

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park presents: The Lion in Winter Oct. 9-19 Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park Sibling rivalry, adultery and dungeons – The Lion in Winter, by James Goldman, is a modern-day classic. okshakes. org

OKC Rep Theater presents: Life Sucks. Oct. 9-19 Te Ata Theatre Extended family, former lovers, lifelong friends and longtime enemies connect, collide and debate whether or not life really sucks in Aaron Posner’s hilarious update to the classic play Uncle Vanya okcrep.org

OKC Broadway presents: The Book of Mormon Oct. 10-12 Civic Center Music Hall The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Book Of Mormon comes to OKC. okcbroadway.com

OKC Ballet presents: Dracula Oct. 17-19 Civic Center Music Hall David Nixon's Dracula is

Game On

No matter the sport you prefer, Oklahoma’s got something for you.

In Tulsa, Expo Square welcomes two major equine events: the U.S. National Arabian/Half-Arabian Championship from Oct. 16-25 and the Color Breed Congress from Oct. 31-Nov. 8. The Tulsa Oilers hockey team takes to the BOK Center ice this month on Oct. 24, 26 and 28. And you won’t want to miss the University of Tulsa’s only home football game on Oct. 25 at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

an internationally renowned retelling of Bram Stoker's 1897 horror classic that has been performed around the world. Don't miss this breathtaking story of passion, seduction, transformation and sacrifice this Halloween. okcballet.org

OKC Philharmonic presents: Oklahoma Stories — Celebrating Our Future Oct. 25 Civic Center Music Hall Discover the next generation of talent! The OKC Philharmonic presents Oklahoma Stories with Yihan Zhang, Kiegan Ryan and the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra. okcphil.org

The Queen's Six Oct. 30 Armstrong Auditorium Based at Windsor Castle, members of The Queen’s Six make up part of the Lay Clerks of St. George’s Chapel, whose homes lie within the castle walls. armstrongauditorium.org

Canterbury Voices presents: Dies Irae — Songs of the Shadows Oct. 30 Civic Center Music Hall Get ready for a spinetingling night of music as Canterbury Voices conjures a Halloween Eve like no other! canterburyokc.com

Concerts

The Head and the Heart Oct. 4 The Criterion The Head and the Heart, popular indie rockers, visit OKC. criterionokc.com

Japanese Breakfast Oct. 8 The Criterion Japanese Breakfast is an American indie pop band from Philadelphia formed in 2013. See them live at the Criterion. criterionokc.com

Djo Oct. 12 The Criterion Actor turned musician Djo visits OKC with his previous band, Post Animal. criterionokc.com

Stevie Nicks Oct. 15 Paycom Center A titan of music visits Oklahoma City for one night only. paycomcenter.com

Zach Top Oct. 18 Paycom

Center Hailed as “the future of country music” by Billboard, Zach Top is in the midst of a breakout year. paycomcenter.com

Crowder and Passion

Music Oct. 26 Paycom

Center Crowder and Passion Music are bringing The Grace and Glory Tour to Oklahoma City. paycomcenter.com

Art

Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds: Honor Song Through Oct. 20 Oklahoma Contemporary Oklahoma Contemporary presents the first major retrospective of Oklahoma City-based artist Edgar Heap of Birds, who is known internationally for conceptual artwork that addresses Indigenous rights, sovereignty and relationships to place. oklahomacontemporary.org

ArtNow 2025: Materials and Boundaries Through Feb. 16 Oklahoma Contemporary Organized by guest curator Alexa Goetzinger and guest curatorial assistant Virginia Sitzes, Materials and Boundaries is the 2025 edition of the Oklahoma Contemporary ArtNow biennial exhibition, highlighting new and recent art from a selection of artists active in the state. oklahomacontemporary.org

Chihuly Then and Now: The Collection at Twenty Ongoing OKCMOA Redesigned in collaboration with Chihuly Studio, Chihuly Then and Now: The Collection at Twenty incorporates a unique design, featuring five decades of glass and painting and tells a comprehensive story of Chihuly’s groundbreaking career. okcmoa.com

Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds: Neufs for Oklahoma Autumn Ongoing Campbell Art Park/Oklahoma

Contemporary Oklahoma Contemporary is honored to present Neufs for Oklahoma Autumn, a basketball court installation commissioned as a public art iteration of the Neuf painting series by renowned artist Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds. oklahomacontemporary.org

Cynthia Daignault: Oklahoma Ongoing OKCMOA This exhibition features one painting, Oklahoma by Cynthia Daignault, as a tribute to the history of the Oklahoma City bombing from 1995. okcmoa.com

Sports

2025 Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show Oct. 4-11 OKC State Fair Park This prestigious event, a pinnacle of the Morgan horse world, showcases top Morgan horses from across the nation. gnwcmhs.com

Sunrise/Sunset Paddles in the Downtown Boathouse District Oct. 8, 11, 18, 22, 25 Riversport OKC Start or wrap up a day in Oklahoma City with a sunrise or sunset kayak excursion in the Boathouse District in

In OKC, you can also horse around at the 2025 Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show, running Oct. 4-11 at OKC State Fair Park. Other goodies include two OKC Thunder pre-season games at Paycom Center on Oct. 9 and 17, as well as sunrise and sunset paddles in the downtown Boathouse District Oct. 8, 11, 18, 22 and 25.

Around the state, try the Oktoberfest 5K on Oct. 4 at Fort Sill’s Patriot Club or the Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity, Oct. 17-25 at the Hardy Murphy Coliseum in Ardmore. And football enthusiasts should venture to the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman on Oct. 4 and 25 or Oklahoma State University’s Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater on Oct. 11 and 18 for more collegiate football thrills.

Where & When | Entertainment

Festival Oct. 3-5 Boathouse

District This four-day event offers plenty of fun for the whole family as you witness more than 1,000 rowers from across the country competing in masters, collegiate, juniors and corporate racing. riversportokc.org

Haunt the River Cruises Oct.

3-31 1503 Exchange Ave. Put a watery spell on your Halloween festivities by taking a spooky Haunt the River excursion for an adults-only adventure on the waters of the Oklahoma River. embarkok.com

OK!toberfest Oct. 9-11 OKC State Fair Park Enjoy Germaninspired food, live music and traditional Oktoberfest games and contests. visitokc.com

Banjo Fest Oct. 9-11 American Banjo Museum Celebrate three days of traditional American music during Banjo Fest. americanbanjomuseum.com

2nd Friday Norman Art

Walk Oct. 10 Norman

Arts District The 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk, a monthly celebration of the arts in Norman, connects the downtown arts district with outlying galleries, performance halls and Campus Corner. 2ndfridaynorman.com

Second OHOF Saturdays Oct. 11 Oklahoma Hall of Fame Second Oklahoma Hall of Fame Saturdays invite families to learn about an Oklahoma Hall of Fame member with crafts and activities. oklahomahof.com

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks

Live: Glow-N-Fire Oct. 11-12 Hot Wheels Monster Trucks

Live: Glow-N-Fire brings fans’ favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks to life. paycomcenter.com

Indigenous Peoples' Day Oct. 13 First Americans Museum This event will celebrate the 39 tribal nations and Indigenous communities that make up Oklahoma. famok.org

COMMUNITY

OKC Modern Quilt Guild

Show Oct. 17-18 OKC State Fair Park OKC Modern Quilt Guild is a member guild of the national Modern Quilt Guild, sharing in the mission to support and encourage the growth and development of modern quilting through art, education and community. okcmqg.com

Red Earth Parade & FallFest

Powwow Oct. 18 Myriad Botanical Gardens Feel the heartbeat of downtown Oklahoma City as the pulse of the drums reverberates off the skyline, calling you to Red Earth FallFest. redearth.org

Fright Fest Through Nov. 1 Frontier City This Halloween season, visit Frontier City during Fright Fest, featuring thrilling rides and fun activities for the whole family on select weekends during spooky season. sixflags.com/ frontiercity

Charitable Events

Oklahoma Innocence Project: The Innocence Day Dinner Oct. 2 Will Rogers Event Center The Innocence Day Dinner is a celebration of the release of the wrongfully convicted and a call to action for community engagement featuring a special speaker, silent auction and stories of the exonerated. sage-counsel. com

Cleats for Kids 2025 Oct. 9 St. Lukes Methodist Church C4K has equipped over 290,000 Oklahoma kids with free sports shoes and equipment to help them get in the game. cleatsforkids.org

Hope's Harvest Oct. 15 3355

S. Purdue Hope’s Harvest is an annual fundraising luncheon that benefits the Regional Food Bank and its vision of an Oklahoma where no one goes hungry. regionalfoodbank.org

Oklahoma Primate

Sanctuary Gala Oct. 17 OK History Center The OPS Gala supports the lifelong care of rescued and retired primates. Enjoy an elegant evening with dinner, drinks, auctions and inspiring stories. okprimates.org

12th Annual Bingo for Babies Oct. 24 The Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club Get ready to boogie at the 12th annual Bingo for Babies, benefiting Infant Crisis Services. infantcrsis.org

THE STATE Peformances

Ashley McBryde Oct.

3 McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, Stillwater Ashley McBryde is known for her raw, honest country music and powerhouse vocals. mcknightcenter.org

Jeff Foxworthy Oct. 3 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Grant Lauded comedian Jeff Foxworthy comes to Oklahoma. choctawcasinos.com

Pollard Theatre presents: Evil Dead the Musical Oct. 3-25 Pollard Theatre, Guthrie This fan-favorite cult classic returns for its third spine-tingling season, blending horror, comedy and over-the-top musical mayhem. the pollard.org

United States Marine Band Oct. 19 McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, Stillwater The Marine Band is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization. mcknightcenter.org

Hocus Pocus Screening Oct. 22 McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, Stillwater This Halloween, round up the whole family and join the McKnight Center for a screening on the 1993 cult classic film, Hocus Pocus. This family friendly movie is fun for kids and adults alike. mcknightcenter.

Hometown Happenings

org Seoul Chamber Orchestra Oct. 29-30 McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, Stillwater Beloved conductor Jaap van Zweden returns to the McKnight Center, this time for two unique concerts with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. mcknightcenter.org

Concerts

Foreigner Oct. 3-4 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant A beacon of old-school rock greatness visits Durant. choctawcasinos.com

Keith Urban Oct. 10 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant A titan of country music takes the stage. choctawcasinos.com

Cage the Elephant Oct. 11 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant The indie rockers of Cage the Elephant visit Durant. choctawcasinos.com

Dwight Yoakam Oct. 17 Winstar World Casino and Resort, Thackerville Dwight Yoakam, country music legend, heads to Thackerville. winstar.com

Kygo with Victoria Nadine Oct. 18 Choctaw Casino and Resort, Durant See two music icons on one stage. choctawcasinos.com

Tim McGraw Oct. 18 Winstar World Casino and Resort, Thackervillee Fans of country music won't want to miss Tim McGraw in Thackerville. winstar. com

Sports

Oktoberfest 5K Oct. 4 Patriot Club, Fort Sill Participants can choose from a one-mile fun run/ walk to a 5K run or pack on the challenge with a 5k ruck. sill. armymwr.com

University of Oklahoma Football Oct. 4,

There are quite literally too many community events in Oklahoma to name ... so we’ll dole out some of the highlights!

In Tulsa, tech guru David Pogue visits the PAC on Oct. 3 courtesy Tulsa Town Hall. And don’t forget – you still have a few days to enjoy the Tulsa State Fair, running through Oct. 5 at Expo Square. At the aquarium, Hallowmarine runs Oct. 17-31, where visitors can dress up in their best Halloween costumes for a chance to win prizes while interacting with fascinating ocean creatures. Other goodies include the annual Tulsa Run, happening downtown on Oct. 25, as well as the tailend of Tulsa Botanic’s Autumn in the Garden, running until Oct. 30.

In OKC, the sky’s the limit when it comes to community events. Try the Banjo Festival at the American Banjo Museum from Oct. 9-11, or visit the Paycom Center for Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-N-Fire on Oct. 11-12. Head to the First Americans Museum to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Oct. 13, or venture over to Myriad Botanical Gardens on Oct. 18 for the Red Earth Parade & FallFest Powwow.

25 Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Football season continues in Norman. soonersports.com

Oklahoma State University Football Oct. 11, 18 Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater See the Cowboys play at home this month. okstate.com

Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity Oct. 17-25 Hardy Murphy Coliseum, Ardmore The Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity is a world-class horse show experience for participants and spectators alike. swrha.com

Community

Tallgrass Music Festival Oct. 2-4 2967 W 133rd St. N, Skiatook The annual Tallgrass Music Festival in Skiatook is a fun-filled family event that features top-notch bluegrass music. skiatooktallgrassfestival. com

Medicine Park Flute Festival and Art Walk Oct. 3-5 Town Center, Medicine Park Attend the Medicine Park Flute Festival & Art Walk to experience Native American flute music firsthand. medicinepark.com

OKM Music Oktoberfest Oct. 4 Downtown Bartlesville Enjoy live music from Mach Schnell Band, GAST Dancers, Grady Nichols and King Cabbage Brass Band. okmmusic.org

Idabel Fall Festival Oct. 4-5 Downtown Idabel Fall brings falling leaves, football and fabulous festivals to Idabel. travelok.com

Oklahoma's International Bluegrass Festival Oct. 9-11 Cottonwood Flats Recreation Area, Guthrie Join the residents of Guthrie for an annual, three-day festival featuring international and national bluegrass bands,

Around the state, gems include the OKM Music Oktoberfest, Oct. 4 in Downtown Bartlesville; the Idabel Fall Festival, Oct. 4-5 in downtown Idabel; Oklahoma’s International Bluegrass Festival, Oct. 9-11 at Guthrie’s Cottonwood Flats Recreation Area; and the Robbers Cave Fall Festival, Oct. 17-19 at Robberts Cave State Park in Wilburton.

children's activities and workshops. oibf.com

Red Brick Road Film Festival Oct. 9-12 Downtown Pauls Valley Get ready for lights, cameras and action in Pauls Valley during the Red Brick Road Film Festival. washitariverfilmsociety. org

Pecan Festival Oct. 10-11 Downtown Okmulgee Go nuts at the Pecan Festival in Okmulgee. okmulgeechamber.org

Owasso Harvest and Pet Festival Oct. 11 Redbud Festival Park Come have fun with familyfriendly activities including rides, inflatables, live music, a petting zoo and more. cityofowasso.com

Poteau BalloonFest Oct. 17-18 LeFlore County Fairgrounds The Poteau BalloonFest is an annual community celebration featuring hot air balloons, tethered balloon rides and glows, a mud pit race and more. poteauchamber.com

Robbers Cave Fall Festival Oct. 17-19 Robberts Cave State Park, Wilburton The annual Robbers Cave Fall Festival includes over 200 arts and craft vendors, delicious food and drinks, amusement rides and an entertainment stage. originalfallfestivalatrobberscave. com

Bartlesville Ghost Walk Oct. 22-23 Bartlesville Community Center Listen to the ghost stories of historic downtown buildings on the Bartlesville Ghost Walk. visitbartlesville.com

McAlester Oktoberfest Oct. 24-25 4500 W. 4500 US-270 Head to McAlester this October for a celebration of German heritage. mcalesteroktoberfest.com

Viking Festival Oct. 25-26 18365 Runestone Rd., Heavener This weekend event will feature viking-themed vendors, food trucks, crafts, contests andlive entertainment. heavenerrunestonepark.com

Route 66 Pecan & Music Festival Oct. 25-26 The Nut House, Claremore Step inside the Nut House for a variety of musical entertainment, fun games and more. rt66pecanfest.com

Stillwater Downtown Halloween Festival Oct. 28 Downtown The event will include trick-or-treating through the downtown merchants, free carnival games, local food trucks, bumper cars, inflatables and a costume parade. downtownstillwater.org

Red Autumn Art Festival Oct. 31-Nov. 1 200 N. Oak St., Sallisaw Shop local artists and vendors in downtown Sallisaw at the Red Autumn Art Festival. redautumn.art

Oklahoma Senior Games Through Nov. 22 Various locations Held in various locations throughout the state, this fun activity welcomes seniors 50+ to compete in various games including archery, badminton, basketball, bowling, cycling, tennis and other competitions. okseniorgames. com

October Reels: Thrills & Chills

Spooky season begins at the theater.

October is here!

Many movies! No time for intros!

For your sports biopic, don’t miss

The Smashing Machine. Starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as UFC fighter Mark Kerr, the movie looks to chronicle his turbulent life and career both in and out of the ring. Written and directed by Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems), the film has a frenetic feel and has Johnson showcasing his true acting chops for the first time in a while. It releases on Oct. 3.

If you want horror with a twist, check out Good Boy. After a family member dies, main character Todd relocates to an old farmhouse with his dog, Indy. The farmhouse is, of course, haunted, but only Indy can see the supernatural forces. The film is shot from the perspective of the dog as he tries to protect his human from evil. Filmed with a real dog and no CGI, the story has been praised for its innovation and the wonderful performance from Indy. At a taut 72 minutes, it looks to be a wonderful spooky time when it releases on Oct. 3. For a crime comedy, look no further than Roofman. Based on real life

spree-robber Jeffrey Manchester, the film follows his stint on the run where he hides out inside a Toys “R” Us store for an extended period of time, developing friendships and trying to stay off the radar of law enforcement. Starring Channing Tatum (21 Jump Street) as Manchester, the cast also includes Kirsten Dunst (SpiderMan), Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline), and Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones). It hits theaters on Oct. 10.

If you need a true sci-fi flick, Tron: Ares is for you. A stand alone sequel to Tron: Legacy from 2010, this story follows the program Ares, played by Jared Leto (Morpheus), who is sent to the real world on a dangerous mission. Greta Lee (Past Lives), Evan Peters (American Horror Story) and Gillian Anderson (The X Files) also star in what is sure to be a feast for the eyes. The soundtrack will be done by Nine Inch Nails, ensuring pumping tunes to go with all the spectacle when it releases on Oct. 10. For a biographical comedy, check out Blue Moon. Set in 1943, the story focuses on Lorenz Hart, former writing partner of Richard Rogers, and his struggles with alcoholism, depression and the opening of Rogers’ new musical, Oklahoma!

Starring Ethan Hawke as Hart, the cast is rounded out by Margaret Qualley (The Substance), Bobby Cannavale (The Watcher) and Andrew Scott (Fleabag). Directed by Richard Linklater, the film already has glowing praise for its compelling performances. It hits theaters on Oct. 17.

For anime enthusiasts, don’t miss Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Adapted from the manga of the same name, the film is a direct sequel to the first season of the anime adaptation released in 2022. Animation is once again handled by MAPPA, a powerhouse in the industry with several beautiful works under their belt, and this looks to be no different with some truly stunning fight choreography. If you aren’t caught up, season one is only twelve episodes and can be streamed on Hulu. It’s a wild ride and well worth your time if you can stomach some bloody violence. The movie releases on Oct. 29.

DREW JOSEPH ALLEN

Julie Watson

Chief clinical officer of INTEGRIS Health, Julie Watson, M.D., MPH, has a long tenure with the health system – previously serving as Chief Medical Officer at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center and as Vice President of Medical Affairs. A native Oklahoman, Watson received her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, after which she completed her pediatric residency at Rush University Medical Center and her neonatal-perinatal fellowship at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. She holds a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois – Chicago. We recently caught up with Watson and got her thoughts on ...

... what interested her most about neonatal-perinatal medicine and healthcare leadership. I grew up on a farm in Oklahoma, and even though no one in my family was a

doctor or in medicine, I remember being clear from a young age that I wanted to be a doctor. I saw how both of the family doctors in my hometown, Dr. Rice and Dr. Fox, used their skill and scientific knowledge to help others in very meaningful ways and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Growing up, you could find me in the church nursery and babysitting as often as I could, so pediatrics was always on the radar. I fell in love with neonatology on my first day in the NICU during my pediatric internship, though. Taking care of sick newborns and preterm infants became my passion, and I never looked back after that day.

I’ve sought out leadership roles throughout my educational and professional journey – from serving as the president of a volunteer fraternity at OU, serving as a trustee for Region IX of the American Medical Student Association in med school, to becoming the president of over 500 residents and fellows at Rush University Medical Center. After five years of focusing on my clinical career in neonatology when I returned to Oklahoma after fellowship, I caught the leadership bug again here at INTEGRIS Health. I served as the department chair for Pediatrics for five years before becoming the chief medical officer of INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center. The opportunity to combine my clinical expertise with leadership roles has been incredibly fulfilling and aligns to my passion — improving the conditions around me so that others fulfill their purpose and collectively improve the lives of our patients, colleagues and the community.

...a day in the life.

I start every morning with a tiered huddle that allows me to get the pulse of the entire organization by 9:15. After that,

it’s off to the races working on strategy and projects designed to help us deliver on our mission – partnering with people to live healthier lives.

I oversee the ‘Evidence-Based Clinical Excellence’ strategy and co-lead our ‘Partnerships for Healthy Communities’ strategy. I get to work with initiative owners who design innovative work to drive key outcome improvements. I also get to lead our teams that oversee safety, quality, infection prevention, experience, clinical programs, medical staff and APP governance, community health and partnerships and more. Suffice it to say, it is never a dull day, and it typically involves a lot of meetings.

... the best part of her day.

I feel so blessed to work with the teams around me. I don’t think you could find more dedicated, mission-driven people. The days that I get to round on our caregivers and clinicians bring me the most joy. That’s what I get up to do every day – remove obstacles and improve their conditions, so that they can take great care of our patients and each other. Seeing them in action is what keeps me going.

... advice for young physicians interested in clinical care and administrative leadership.

I have been blessed to do both. I spent a decade as a full-time neonatologist before shifting into part-time administrative work and then full-time administrative work during the pandemic. I loved the time I spent taking care of patients and their families one by one.

As my leadership roles and scope grew, I realized that I also loved solving big problems, creating teams and spaces that tackled systems needing improvement, that could lead to large-scale impact for the better. My advice is two-part: You absolutely can do both and we need physicians and APPs to do both! And you can start by raising your hand, sharing your ideas on how to make a process better, contributing your perspective to help solve a problem, volunteering for a committee or workgroup. You never know where it will lead you!

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