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LIFESTYLE LETTER

Happy February!

February 2023 PUBLISHER

Jimmy Darden | jimmy.darden@citylifestyle.com 405.541.5650 MANAGING EDITOR

Can you believe it's February already? How are you coming along with your New Year's Resolutions? If they fell by the wayside, it's not too late to get started; check out Peter Levinson's article in this issue on how to get back on track. Our cover this month features Oklahoma City Ballet principal dancer Autumn Klein, who shares in an accompanying article that she loves getting the chance to share her experiences with other dancers in the company. "Ballet is a very old art form, and we are all part of the tapestry of it. It’s so satisfying to me to help the next generation of dancers be able to go further and take ballet to the next level!” she says. Look on page 26 to learn more about this extraordinary young woman. Typically, February in Oklahoma is kind of miserable, weather-wise, so many of us are looking for indoor entertainment. May I suggest a visit to Exhibit C Gallery to see the ongoing exhibit, Visual Narratives: First American Photography? Each of the five featured artists brings a different perspective to their artistry with varying backgrounds and First American influences. It's worth the short drive downtown. I think you'll enjoy this issue, so kick off your shoes, find your favorite cozy spot, and take a little time to learn about some of the people and places that make OKC a special place in which to live and work. I'd love to receive your feedback and thoughts for future stories, so please, send them my way, or feel free to post on our Facebook page. Hope everyone's New Year is off to a good start! Here's hoping Punxsutawney Phil the Ground Hog doesn't see his shadow and spring arrives early. And best wishes to all of you on Valentine's Day.

Jerri Culpepper | jerri.culpepper@citylifestyle.com ADMINISTR ATIVE ASSISTANT

Lindsey Nantze | lindsey.nantze@citylifestyle.com CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S

Brooke Barnett, William Blake, Gregory Brown, Andrew Griffin, Lacey Lett CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

Jana Carson, Ana Covey, Andrew Griffin

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

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Proverbs 3:5-6 OKC City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the OKC area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in OKC City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the

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F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 3

inside the issue The Love Local Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

14 Taking It to the Villages — and the Streets

Lifestyle Letter

Business Monthly

Giving Back

Artist’s Palette

Home Update

Inspired By

Local Limelight

Events

Realty Report

Expert Help

Faith-based Nonprofit Takes on Difficult, Sometimes Dangerous Assignments

18 Visual Narratives: First American Photography

Artists Capture Moments in Time That Also Tells an Entire Story

26 For the Love of Dance Autumn Klein Follows Her Dream

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Jana Carson Oklahoma CIty Ballet principal dancer Autumn Klein. Read about her journey so far and how she’s enjoying sharing her knowedge with other ballet artists in the company in our Local Limelight column, page 26.

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business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

OKC Investor, Chickasaw Nation Join in Hotel Purchase Ortus Hotel Investments, LLC, of Oklahoma City and Sovereign Properties Holdco, LLC, a business entity of the Chickasaw Nation, in conjunction with Paul Self, lead investor of the Colcord Hotel, and other local investors have purchased the historic, 225-room Skirvin Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. Ortus will serve as general partner and has secured financing for a portion of the purchase price and $15 million makeover/renovation. The hotel will remain open and operational.

Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine Dedication Set

Braum's An Affair of the Heart

Mark your calendar for the dedication of the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City on Feb. 17. The shrine will be the final resting place of Blessed Stanley and will also feature a museum and pilgrim center on the campus. The dedication Mass will be open to the public, but seating will be limited. There will be outdoor room as well, weather permitting; event will be live-streamed on the archdiocesan Facebook and YouTube page. Learn more: RotherShrine.org/dedication.

Oklahoma's largest and longest running arts, crafts and boutiques show returns Feb. 10-12 to the OKC Fairgrounds. Shop hundreds of vendors selling one-of-a-kind handmade and unique items, including clothing, jewelry, arts, crafts, gourmet foods, home goods and so much more. Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

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ARTICLE BY ANDREW GRIFFIN

NBI President and trauma therapist Dr. Lori Basey shares a message from the Bible with a village filled with polio victims in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Taking It to the Villages —and the Streets FAITH-BASED NONPROFIT TAKES ON DIFFICULT, SOMETIMES DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENTS

G IV IN G BAC K | L IFE + CULTURE

With so much war and crime and darkness filling our world, it’s encouraging to know that there are people in the world who are willing to leave the comfort and safety of their homes to reach out a helping hand to those in dire need. One such example is Lori Basey, co-founder and president of No Boundaries InternationalOklahoma City. I spoke with Lori to learn more about the organization one day outside the organization’s spacious offices on Britton Road in the revitalized

Dr. Basey, with OKC-based Komeo International Ministries partners Jerome and Shanna Crawford, take part in a live TV interview about their activities in Sierra

Britton District, where she and other volunteers were painting the exterior. “We started in 2006. I’m an occupational therapist and my specialty is complex trauma,” she began. “So, years ago, my husband and I and our friends would travel around helping people … in war-torn or disaster-related areas. It was out of that that we decided we just needed to do more.” [Editor’s Note: Lori’s credentials are impressive. Since 1991, Lori, who also holds a doctorate of ministry, has specialized in acute psychiatric care, including trauma-informed therapeutic intervention following the Oklahoma City Murrah Federal Building bombing as well as the 9/11 disaster in NYC and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.] The “that” referred to is the couple’s first visit to Sierra Leone in West Africa in 2005, where they witnessed some of the worst atrocities imaginable, from mass murder to children forced to become soldiers.

Lori came back to the States with a case of malaria, which led to a stay in Mercy’s ICU—and a determination to “do more.” Lori joined up with Sandy Orchard, a nurse and current secretary of NBI-OKC, to establish the organization with the goal of mobilizing medically trained volunteers to help address needs as they found them. “We started in 2006 here in Oklahoma City as a notfor-profit,” Lori recalled. “For the first five years we would go out to earthquakes, war and terrorism areas ... that kind of stuff.” Acknowledging the inherent danger of this work, Lori says: “But that’s the best place to be. That’s where people need help the most.” In 2011, the faith-based organization began addressing issues closer to home, as well as overseas, including human trafficking, homelessness, addiction and mental illness. Lori said during one period, she and other NBI-OKC sat in an area of Oklahoma City known as a “human CONTINUED > FEBR UARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / O KC

trafficking track,” where they “saw things we couldn’t unsee.” “So, we thought, ‘it’s game on.’” Thanks to students at Deer Creek High School who raised $80,000 for the nonprofit, NBI-OKC was able to purchase a food truck, which allows them to provide food where their clients here live—on the streets. Lori spends much of her time training others through “brain boot camps” and other sessions on trauma and the psychology of trauma so that they, in turn, can help others. “Everywhere we go, we train others to go out,” she said. For instance, in Sierra Leone—where the nonprofit was gearing up to go at the time of this interview—”the needs are astronomical,” Lori said. “There’s been a 10-year war and a humanitarian crisis and so I’ll do a lot of ‘brain boot camps’ and lots of training about trauma and psychology of trauma and teach them how to heal and then go out and help others.” NBI-OKC is spread across the metro, with the food truck and administrative offices located at 49 E. 15th in Edmond and the outreach office in a converted firehouse on the southside at 3416 S. Robinson. The third location, at 907 W. Britton Road (nicknamed “Base 907”), is situated in the revitalized area of Britton and is where much of the training takes place. To date, hundreds of individuals (inside and outside NBI-OKC) have been trained in the “Restoration” program developed by Lori. On the nonprofit’s website, this trauma-informed program is described as addressing “the heartlevel hurts and trauma encountered in life utilizing biblical principles and neuroscience made easy.” Training is offered through one-on-one or group sessions as well as through a free e-course. “I think anxiety is rampant. Depression is rampant. A lot of people are really struggling,” Lori said. “People are more desperate than we’ve ever seen before. They need hygiene, they need food and, ultimately, they need connection and a relationship.”

TOP: Dr. Lori Basey and the NBI team and partner ministry Komeo International Ministries, evangelizing in a polio camp in Sierra Leone BOTTOM: Back home in OKC, volunteers paint the exterior of “Base 907.” (Photo by Andrew Griffin)

G IV IN G BAC K | L IFE + CULTURE

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Kelly Langley, "Monument Valley Night"

ARTICLE BY LACEY LETT

Lester Harragarra (Otoe-Missouria) is one of five featured artists in Exhibit C Gallery's Visual Narratives: First American Photography exhibit. Photography Ana Covey of Blue83 Photography & Design

A RT IST ’S PA LE T T E | ARTS + CULTURE

Visual Narratives: First American Photography A R T I S T S C A P T U R E M O M E N T S I N T I M E T H AT A L S O T E L L S A N E N T I R E S T O R Y

To capture the night skies with elaborate detail takes patience as well as talent, but Chickasaw artist Jim Trosper doesn’t mind. In fact, he thrives on getting the perfect shot, no matter how long he’s outside in the elements. “I shoot pictures of stars, and that process entails a long exposure technique. I do about 30-second-long exposures to get the stars to come through and then play with light in the foreground to liven up the scene in front,” Jim explains. He then enlarges the photo and prints them on aluminum metal to make it feel as if the viewer was there when the photograph was taken. The Chickasaw photographer’s works, along with that of four others, come to life in the exhibit Visual Narratives: First American Photography, on display now at Exhibit C Gallery in downtown Oklahoma City. The current exhibition also features artists Philip Busey Jr. (Cherokee), Peggy Fontenot (Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia), Lester Harragarra (Otoe-Missouria) and Kelly Langley (Chickasaw). “It’s often been said that the camera doesn’t lie, and this exhibit certainly offers a powerful glimpse into each subject, whether it’s a rural landscape, tribal ceremony or a breathtaking destination,” said Paige Shepherd, director of tourism for the Chickasaw Nation. “These artists have done a remarkable job at capturing moments in time that also tell an entire story.”

Each artist brings a different perspective to their artistry with varying backgrounds and First American influences. For instance, Philip Busey first picked up a camera in 2002 during an internship, which led to becoming a professional photographer for a daily newspaper as well as in the Southwestern Oklahoma State University public relations office. “Keeping with my photojournalist beliefs, I make little to no alterations. On occasion, I will make shadow or saturation adjustments; otherwise, the images are unaltered,” Philip states on his website. In this exhibit, he focuses on family artifacts, including Caddo regalia taken up-close to bring out details from these vintage pieces. Peggy Fontenot creates photography that creates awareness of social issues and injustices. “It can cause us to look at things in an emotional way, a clinical way, scientifically, or in a way that might provoke change,” Peggy says. Based in Los Angeles, Peggy first showcased her work in 1983. Her works are created on film and processed in her wet darkroom using a split-filter technique. Peggy’s photography, as well as beadwork and silver work, have garnered numerous awards around the country, including at the International Photography Awards, Southwestern Association for Indian Arts and Annual Black & White Spider Awards.

CONTINUED >

FEBR UARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / O KC

Jim Trosper, "To the Edge"

Lester Harragarra fell in love with photography on his 8th birthday when he received his first camera. Almost six decades later, he is an award-winning professional photographer and the official photographer of the Black Leggings Warrior Society. Lester utilizes vibrant colors to showcase First American cultural gatherings and traditions in his large-scale photographs. One of his pieces in the art exhibit, titled “Sanctified by Sacrifice,” beautifully captures a memorial of a family of First American veterans. “It’s [the display in the photography] our family friends that honored their grandfather, father and their son,” Lester said, recalling a discussion he had with his mother while he was still young about the negative treatment given veterans, especially during the Vietnam War. “My mother is 93. She remembers a time when America wasn’t as patriotic,” he says. “I wanted to illustrate that we have always honored our veterans for hundreds of years. That’s just how American Indians have always been.”

A RT IST ’S PA LE T T E | ARTS + CULTURE

Kelly Langley, Ph.D., is a retired educator and member of the Chickasaw Nation. She has won several awards for her photography, including the top prize at the Artesian Arts Festival in 2022. “Those of us who grew up on the Great Plains learned at a young age to keep our eye on the sky and our feet on the ground,” Kelly says. “We know the serenity that photographs come with seeing for miles in every direction, the marvel of how the sunset can set the sky on fire, the fascination of an afternoon thunderstorm, and the inherent grace in acts of goodwill. These are the simple themes that drive my landscape.” Kelly has transitioned from film to digital photography, drawing on minimal techniques for processing her photo art. She currently resides in southeastern Oklahoma and continues to showcase her works in museums, galleries and juried art competitions across the southwest. “We are fortunate to have so many talented First American artists to display in the gallery,” Paige said. “Each piece invokes an emotion that is felt throughout the gallery space—all while providing a perspective from their own cultural lens.” Visual Narratives: First American Photography runs through the end of February. A closing reception will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 1 E. Sheridan Ave., at Exhibit C Gallery. For more information on the gallery and art exhibits, visit ExhibitCGallery.com.

Lester Harragarra, "Sanctified By Sacrifice" Philip Busey, "Caddo Regalia #1"

“These artists have done a remarkable job at capturing moments in time that also tell an entire story.” — Paige Shepherd, director of tourism for the Chickasaw Nation

FEBR UARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / O KC

SHOW YOUR HOME LOVE NOW

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TATYANA DAWSON

ARTICLE BY WILLIAM BLAKE

COMPANY OFFERS NEW PREVENTIVE METHOD TO PREVENT NEED FOR PIERCING

H OM E U P DAT E | HOM E SE RVI CE S

Like many homeowners in Oklahoma, we know that you either have a foundation problem, or eventually WILL have a foundation problem. That’s because the soils in our state are mostly made of a silty clayey mix that expands and contracts while the seasons change, and Mother Nature runs her course. This means that when we experience the extreme heat of summer, the soils will shrink; it’s the opposite in the wet seasons, when the soil expands and softens when wetted. This recipe of expansion and contraction leaves our homes on unpredictable to unstable soils that may leave cracks in your sheetrock, sticking doors and leaving unsightly stairstep cracks on the outside brick of your home. For decades it has been common to pier your home using engineered steel piering systems as a reactive measure. With newer technology, the team at Vesta Foundation Solutions has been preventing the problems from even occurring

using a state-of-the-art method that treats the soil first, not the failure. It’s a revolutionary technique called deep soil stabilization. You see, the soils under a home are unpredictable because of the shrink/swell properties. Deep soil stabilization is a method in which the soils are injected with a structural polymer that prevents it from moving during even the most extreme weather conditions. This way, you can rest easy knowing your home will never need piering systems in the future. The system has been used for decades by the Department of Transportation to solidify roadways on unstable soil. It has been tested by engineers nationwide as a suitable means to prevent movement out of fill soils in numerous applications. The installation is quite simple. Every 3-5 feet around the perimeter of your home, a specially designed metal tubing is driven deep into the soil. These are placed at various depths, ranging from 7’ to 3’ deep. Then a structural polymer called POLY400 is injected into the soil, allowing it to soak into the surrounding clay. This is done at a high pressure and heated to help prevent it from solidifying too quickly. The injection is like a foam that will expand into the soil and then solidify it after it cures. The product will remain a liquid for the first 20-25 seconds and then strengthens the surrounding soil around the injection point. Once the injection is complete, the metal tubing is cut off underneath the grade and hidden from sight. After 20 minutes, the soil is then cured and free from the expansive/ contractive qualities experienced before. In fact, it becomes as hard as concrete!

The home is then strategically benchmarked for ongoing monitoring. No electric or WIFI monitoring system or monthly charges needed. This allows our teams to work around existing bushes, shrubs and patios without the need to remove any obstacles. Most installations take place in one day and can be installed year-round. One of the best features is that the product is 90% inert recycled materials that do not affect the soil or home in any environmental way. With this technique of deep soil stabilization, our customers now have the peace of mind of knowing their biggest investment is protected from ever moving and will not have to venture through the expense of piering. It is very affordable, and in larger systems, financing is available To learn more, visit VestaFoundationSolutions. com or call 405.213.0492. We would love to help you understand more about this great service that is helping so many homeowners across the Sooner State. William Blake is owner of Vesta Foundation Solutions, 3709 NW 3rd St., Oklahoma City, OK 73107. The company also offers crawl space repair, basement waterproofing and concrete services.

FEBR UARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / O KC

Resolution Update

Questions to Ask Yourself While There’s Still Time to Get Back on Track ARTICLE BY PETER LEVINSON

February is a unique month. Its day’s number is 28; unless it’s a leap year, February boasts a 29th day. February is a month of love, with Valentine’s day falling on the 14th. The month serves as a hump day of sorts as a turning point in winter, depending on our excellent friend Punxsutawney Phil the Ground Hog. Whether Phil sees his shadow or not, we know spring is not far off. Where we start January with a resolution to be a better self in the coming year, February, with its shortened days, flies by. Before we know it, March is almost upon us. And that January resolution, that goal to be a better self, to be better with our finances or investing, to spend more time doing that one thing you resolved to do, has almost been forgotten. March is the second busiest gym month of the year. Because of the warmer weather, the better beach body resolution made in January is remembered.

I NSP IR E D BY | L IFE + CULTURE

But let’s stop here and go back to February. If you are reading this during the month this magazine was published, then it’s February still. The month has yet to pass you by. You still have time to get back on track with your goals from last month. Where are you at with achieving your goals for the year? You’re in the second month of the year; how often have you checked in on your progress? Are you on track? What adjustments do you need to make to reach your year-end goals? What will you do this month to keep moving forward to achieve or maintain your New Year’s resolutions? The quality of your life depends on the quality of the questions you ask yourself. I have given you roughly five questions to get you started. It would help if you asked yourself some questions concerning your goals/resolutions. What question can you ask yourself that can make a difference in your life? For example, with Valentine’s Day coming up, what can you do to show your significant other how much you care about them? What deed or gift goes beyond a day that tells your significant other how deep your love is? Unfortunately, too many people ask themselves negative questions and give themselves negative answers. Such as, why am I not good enough? Why

didn’t this go right for me? Why am I never the one chosen? How come I didn’t get (blank)? Your quality of life is not only a result of the questions you ask but also how you answer the questions. If you are off on your health goals, ask yourself what you will do this month that will move you closer to reaching your goal. If you inadvertently self-talk yourself with a negative question, hit back with a positive answer such as, “Why am I never the one picked?” Then answer yourself with, “Because something better is waiting for me!” Quickly follow it up with, “Now, what will I do to be sure I am ready when I am picked?” Need help with some better questions? Email me at Peter@Levinsonteam. com. Here’s to you and a better year!

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For the Love of Dance Autumn Klein cannot remember a time before she loved to dance. Growing up in a family of scientists, she naturally gravitated toward the fine arts instead. She began taking ballet classes at age 2 in her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska, and excelled as a competitive dancer into her teenage years. Ballet wasn’t necessarily her favorite form of dance growing up, but it evolved into a deep-rooted passion that ultimately changed the course of her life. “I was a competitive jazz dancer until I was 16,” she recollects. “I graduated from

high school and realized that other forms of dance just wouldn’t give me the same options. I wanted to be able to tell lots of stories through dance. Ballet was how I could do that.” At age 16, Autumn moved to Texas to train at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy. She remembers the culture shock that she felt when she entered the academy, where she trained for more than 12 hours each day during the week. She spent three years in training, performing as a member of Houston Ballet II

AUTUMN KLEIN FOLLOWS HER DREAM

ARTICLE BY BROOKE BARNETT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANA CARSON

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | A RTS + CULTURE

and preparing to make the leap into the world of professional ballet dancing. “It was all a bit overwhelming,” she admits. “I went from a competitive dance environment, where everyone is excited and cheering, to a world that was more quiet and stoic. But I never would have become a professional dancer without my experience there. It changed my life.” From the Houston Ballet, Autumn began dancing full time at Texas Ballet Theater in Fort Worth. After a few seasons, her professional career took an unexpected turn. “My contract at Texas Ballet Theater wasn’t renewed unexpectedly,” she explains. “I was very surprised, but I honestly felt like I needed a break. It was in my head that only Texas Ballet Theater was important, and it hadn’t worked out like I thought it would. I needed to refocus.” She decided to stop dancing, and enrolled at Texas A&M University, where she double majored in biochemistry and genetics. With so many of her family members in science-based careers, Autumn found herself exploring a completely different world. “I enjoyed my studies, but I just didn’t love it in quite the same way as my peers. I just wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue in school and pursue a Ph.D.,” she says. “It was taking this break that gave me a chance to rest, reset and remember why I started dancing in the first place.” Autumn ended up moving to Oklahoma City in 2012, and she remembers the pivotal day that she saw a poster for Oklahoma City Ballet and realized how much she missed dancing. “I auditioned for Oklahoma City Ballet and ended up receiving a scholarship for their summer intensive. It felt a little bit like starting from scratch again,” she recollects. “But the summer intensive turned into an offer for an apprenticeship, and I’ve been there ever since.” Autumn served as an apprentice during Oklahoma City Ballet’s 2012-2013 season and became one of only two dancers hired into the company for the

following season. Since that time, she has been promoted to the position of soloist and, most recently, to be one of only three principal dancers. “I am so proud to be the first person in Oklahoma City Ballet’s history that has started at the summer intensive and worked my way up to principal dancer,” she confides. “I love that I get to share my experiences with other dancers. Ballet is a very old art form, and we are all part of the tapestry of it. It’s so satisfying to me to help the next generation of dancers be able to go further and take ballet to the next level!” In addition to gracing the stage, Autumn uses ballet to express herself artistically. She creates “pointe paintings” by dipping her pointe shoes in paint and creating abstract art based on some of her favorite ballets. She has sold her original artwork across the country and internationally, and loves expressing her love for ballet through the process of creating her art. Currently in her 11th season with Oklahoma City Ballet, Autumn enjoys dancing in a city that she has fallen in love with over the last decade. “Oklahoma City has been such a wonderful surprise to me,” she adds. “I love how the people here continue to invest resources to make the city better each year. The support shown to Oklahoma City Ballet is amazing. I love being part of one of the best companies in the whole country.” Throughout her incredible career, Autumn’s deep love for dance has served as a driving force in her life, and she encourages others to use her story as inspiration. “If you really love what you are doing, just go for it! Even if you have setbacks, don’t give up,” she concludes. “Life is unpredictable, and sometimes you will be thrown for a loop. But you will find your place. I’m living proof of that!” You can see Autumn in Oklahoma City Ballet’s upcoming production of Cinderella at the Civic Center Music Hall from Feb. 10-12. Learn more about Autumn’s pointe paintings at AutumnSKlein.com, or follow her on Instagram/TikTok at @autumnsklein.

“If you really

love what you

are doing, just go for it! Even if you have setbacks, don’t give up.”

CONTINUED >

FEBR UARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / O KC

“I am so proud to be the first person in OKC Ballet’s history that has started at the summer intensive and worked my way up to principal dancer.”

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LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | A RTS + CULTURE

F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 3

events A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

F E BRUA RY 3 RD - 5T H

Pool & Spa Show

F E BRUA RY 9TH - 12TH

Cirque Du Soleil presents: Corteo

O K LAHOMA STATE FAIR PAR K, O KC During this Oklahoma City expo, meet vendors selling a variety of spa and pool options, as well as additional accessories. Whether in need of new filters, chemicals, bars or covers, collect all pool and spa must-haves at the Pool & Spa Show. OkcFairgrounds.com/Events

PAYCOM CEN TER, OKC Corteo,' which means "cortege" in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth. CirqueDuSoleil.com/Corteo

F E BRUA RY 10 T H - 1 2 T H

Braum's An Affair of the Heart

F E BRUA RY 10 T H - 1 2 T H

Oklahoma City Ballet presents: Cinderella

O K LAHOMA STATE FAIR PAR K, O KC Head to Oklahoma City's State Fair Park for a unique marketplace with booths occupying multiple buildings throughout the fairgrounds. Explore a vast array of arts, crafts, antiques, collectibles, furniture, decorative items, accessories, jewelry, clothing, gourmet foods and more. Aaoth.com/February

CIVIC CEN TER MUS IC HALL, O KC The Civic Center Music Hall will be transformed into a fairy tale land where dancers will tell the story of Cinderella with exquisite costumes and enchanting choreography. This colorful performance will delight the whole family with beautiful dancing to the sound of live music performed by the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. OkcBallet.org/Performance/Cinderella

F E B R UA RY 1 1 T H

Mix-Tape V-Day Bash

MIX-TAPE AT FACTORY OBS CUR A , O KC | 7 :30 P M Bands will perform live music on the Wonder stage while unique and love-themed gifts like handmade cards, felt flowers, art, local music and more will be available at the shop. During your visit, join in the themed scavenger hunt that will take guests on a journey through the Mix-Tape exhibit as they hunt for clues. FactoryObscura.com

F E BRUA RY 16T H - 2 8T H

EVE N TS

Lyric Theatre presents: Huckleberry Finn's Big River

LY R IC AT THE PLAZA, OKC Twain’s classic sweeps us down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim – an enslaved teen – escape to freedom. This tale of friendship against all odds is recreated for young audiences as two best friends demonstrate the power children have to change the world. Great fun for all ages, especially for families. LyricTheatreOkc.com/Shows/Big-River-The-Adventures-Of-Huckleberry-Finn

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FE BRUARY 2 0 2 3

realty report A sample of recently sold properties in OKC. N E I G H BO RH O O D

OR IGIN AL PRICE

SO L D P RIC E

%SO L D/ O RIG

DO M

B DRM S

B AT H S

Nichols Hills Add

$3,795,000

$3,450,000

91%

203

6.3

2400 Grand Blvd

$1,800,000

$2,075,000

115%

3.2

Nichols Hills Add

$1,799,000

$1,725,000

96%

103

4.2

Elmhurst Court

$1,599,000

$1,540,000

96%

376

3.1

Nichols Hills Add

$1,495,000

100%

4.1

The Territories

$1,350,000

$1,320,000

98%

Unpltd Pt Sec 18 14n 1w

$1,295,000

100%

4.1

Penshurst

$1,260,000

$1,200,000

95%

109

5.1

Quail Creek 10th

$1,250,000

$1,150,000

92%

4.1

Nichols Hills Wilshire

$1,190,000

100%

Sierra Station

$1,125,000

$1,025,000

91%

4.1

Mulholland

$1,099,910

$1,017,450

93%

171

5.1

Fairview Farm Sec II

$1,050,000

$1,025,000

98%

4.1

The Falls

$1,003,391

100%

4.1

Lincoln Township

$950,000

100%

4.1

Quo Vadis

$949,900

$929,000

98%

Nichols Hills Add

$899,900

$845,000

94%

Nichols Hills Add

$890,000

$865,000

97%

126

3.1

Rose Creek

$869,000

100%

Nichols Gate

$860,000

100%

676

3.1

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MARINATED WITH LOVE ARTICLE BY GREGORY BROWN

I love a good steak … one where you can tell that the chef has carefully selected just the right cut of meat, marinated it with the perfect seasonings, then lovingly grilled it to deliciousness! Being a dad is a lot like that; the marinade is what makes it worth it. Family traditions are the perfect marinade for relationships to flourish. Raising children can be challenging and even downright difficult. But raising them with unconditional love is always worth it! I am passionate about family traditions—old, passed down or new ones just started—I just love the emotions that result from carrying out family traditions. Being raised in a football family, sports have always been one of our biggest family traditions. Quality time spent with my boys almost always includes me watching them play, me coaching them play, us just playing a pickup game, or us going to watch one of our favorite teams. College football (we are partial to OSU Cowboys!), is one of our favorite traditions. We love going to Stillwater, seeing Bullet, eating EVERYTHING at the concession, singing the fight song, spotting Pistol Pete, and cheering on our Pokes! I remember growing up as a kid, every time we would drive up I-35 and cross into Payne County, my dad would start whimpering and moaning, and he would announce that we were in “pain” county! Now, every time I drive into Payne County, I do the exact same thing with a bit of nostalgia. That’s what traditions do; they remind us of a special memory while simultaneously creating a new one. Memories are the marinade of love. They wrap us up, saturate our every nook and cranny, and provide an unmistakable

zest for life. Remembering should be done with intention, especially when it comes to your most important relationships. Even memories of bad times are important, as they remind you of what you’ve been through and who helped you get through it. Besides football, insurance has been one of our family traditions. At one time or another, every adult person in my immediate family has owned or worked for an insurance agency. I guess that’s why I was drawn to it as a career choice. It’s just part of who I am. It’s not what I do, it’s WHY I do it. Protection, in life or insurance, is not just about escaping disaster, it’s about being ready for disaster. That preparedness was instilled in me through family traditions. I want to also instill in my boys the importance of being prepared. Hopefully, that includes teaching them about manners, Jesus, sports, insurance, integrity—in short, about all things important! There are so many teachable moments. That “marinade of love” is also about simply being present. That is probably one of the most important family traditions that has been passed down to me. No distractions! Keep eye contact and listen actively. These family traditions have helped me in my agency as well. Our agency motto is “Building relationships through trust and respect.” I think that’s why I am so passionate about insurance. I want to help you protect your family traditions. I believe that educating people about protection and coverage is a vital part of giving others peace of mind so they can worry about other things— like raising their kids or creating memories like attending football games, or even just being present around the dinner table. Speaking of dinner… I think it’s time to put some steaks on!

Gregory Brown Gregory Brown is a Farmers Insurance agent with offices located in Oklahoma City at 12304 N. May Ave. Visit BrownInsuranceOKC.com for more information.

EXP E RT H E LP | PR OFESS I ONAL S E RVI CE S

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