Payday Lenders

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inside COVER P.4 When household budgets fall short,

many Oklahomans turn to high-interest, nontraditional loans to cover expenses, but more consumers and legislators are speaking out about predatory lending practices that can assess up to 391 percent annual percentage rates. By Laura Eastes Illustration by Jim Massara

NEWS NEWS

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NEWS

391 percent loans

In Oklahoma, where one in eight adults turns to payday loans, are alternative financial services the best deal for Oklahomans? By Laura Eastes

Tina Pollard hears all sorts of stories of desperate moments that led Oklahomans to alternative financial services, a broad term that includes payday loans, “signature” loans, pawnshops, auto title loans and rent-to-own products. Marketed as being helpful for financial emergencies, the quick cash granted to credit- and cash-strapped borrowers too often leaves Oklahomans with ruined credit, unmanageable debt and internal anguish over what all began with a car accident, illness or another unexpected expense. While the loans start small with payment due over twomonth or two-week periods, the high interest rates and heavy fees make repaying extremely difficult. For some, it is nearly impossible. “I’ve seen everyone from directors to housekeepers that are deeply in debt with these lenders,” Pollard told Oklahoma Gazette from inside Shawnee’s Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Center, where financial programs and counseling services are offered to Citizen Potawatomi Nation members and employees. It’s fairly common knowledge that payday loans are expensive and dangerous. In Oklahoma, where a payday lender can charge $15 for every $100 borrowed on a two-week $300 loan, the annual percentage rate is 391 percent. Payday lenders require either a post-dated check or banking information to enter into a loan agreement. At storefront lenders where small signature loans are

peddled to people in need of fast cash or looking to build credit, a $200 loan can come with interest and fees in the range of $150. Unlike payday lenders, supervised lenders do not require a post-dated check or banking information, just proof of a source of income. In the Oklahoma City metro area, the state’s Department of Consumer Credit currently licenses 185 supervised lenders and 48 payday loan shops, which outnumber the metro’s Sonic Drive-In restaurants and Braum’s Ice Cream Shop and Burger Restaurants combined. Payday lenders and supervised lenders have garnered the nation’s attention thanks to the likes of entertainers Sarah Silverman and John Oliver as well as the federal Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB). Earlier this month, the agency issued the first federal rule on payday lending, which seeks to prevent loans from being issued unless borrowers have the ability to repay. The rule is slated to go into effect in 2019; however, U.S. Congressional leaders could roll it back. Until now, payday lending has been monitored and regulated by states, with some states outlawing payday lending altogether. The issues surrounding payday and signature loans are hotly discussed in Oklahoma, where payday lenders serve As a state representative, Mickey Dollens has proposed tightening legislation on the payday loan industry to

about one in every eight adults – the nation’s highest usage rate, according to the Pew Charitable Trust, an independent organization that analyzes data and determines trends in lending. Further, the payday loan industry collected more than $52 million in fees and interest from Oklahoma borrowers in 2014, according to the Center for Responsible Lending. Locally, a coalition of faith and nonprofit leaders have raised opposition to what they view as predatory lending hurting vulnerable Oklahomans. In recent years, a majority of Oklahoma lawmakers have supported legislative efforts to grow the industry with new loan products, which they say will increase options for Oklahomans with poor credit ratings.

Help or hinder?

For those not living close to the edge, or living paycheck-to-paycheck like an estimated 76 percent of Americans, it’s hard to understand why a person would borrow a relatively small amount of

Quick Loans, Signature Loans and Atlas Loans operate along NW 23rd Street near Broadway Exchange. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

money at such a high-interest rate. For that reason, Rev. Tim Luschen of northwest Oklahoma City’s St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church often asks people to imagine needing a couple hundred dollars to cover a financial emergency. With no savings, no credit cards and no family or friends to help, where does one turn? “Some people think, ‘I will go get a payday loan. It’s money and it’s available. I will pay it off in two weeks when my situation changes,’” said Luschen, who is a leader in Voices Organized in Civic Engagement (VOICE), a coalition of congregations and nonprofits in the Oklahoma City metro advocating for t ig hter lend i ng reg u lat ion s. “Unfortunately, for many people who are in a payday-to-payday situation, their situation doesn’t change in two weeks. Their funds are tight and they can’t pay the loan back.” At the state Capitol, where Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, proposed legislation to cap the interest rates on payday loans, he hears that same scenario from the industry’s leaders and its supporters, but with a different ending. “They make the argument that it helps people — giving people money when they need it most,” Dollens said. “In reality, they are taking advantage of people’s financial situation.” The industry insists its services are intended only for short-term emergency use. For example, Advance America, one of the leading payday loan lenders in the nation with 14 metro locations, touts its loans as “money solutions to keep you on track.” Supervised lenders, who offer “signature” loans, market their product as not only bridging financial gaps but also putting “extra cash”

eliminate debt traps. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

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NEWS continued from page 4

B&R Finance is one of the metro’s 185 supervised

cov e r

lenders. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

in hands for holiday shopping. Signature loans, which also are referred to as B-loans, trap borrowers into repeat borrowing and keep them in debt for longer than the advertisement first suggests, explained Pollard. “You can have as many of these as you want,” Pollard explained. “They don’t have to prove that you can afford these loans. They are made just because you asked. They are signature loans. If you sign your name, you can have a loan.”

State law

Almost a half-century ago, in 1969, Oklahoma lawmakers enacted the state’s Uniform Consumer Credit Code, which outlined regulations for providing credit to consumers. The code gave rise to supervised lenders, who are licensed by the state and permitted to make loans following a fee schedule set by the state. Lenders charge a monthly account handling fee for each loan, which is paid in installments over 60 days. State law does not limit the number of loans a lender can enter into with a borrower. Of the metro’s current licensed supervised lenders, a majority received their licenses after 2008, which coincides with the lending industry’s national growth during the financial crisis of 2008. The “great recession” resulted in a large number of Americans being shut off from traditional forms of borrowing and credit became harder to obtain. Of the metro’s 185 licensed su-

pervised lenders, out-of-state companies operate 83. Payday loans, where lenders dole out small cash loans secured by personal checks with the lender agreeing not to deposit until the loan is due, typically after a two-week period, debuted following legislation legalizing the loan product on Sept. 1, 2003. State law allows payday lenders, officially known as deferred deposit lenders, to lend no more than two loans of $500 to a borrower at a time. All lenders report those loans to a state database. When a borrower seeks its fifth consecutive payday loan, a lender must wait 48 hours before lending to the borrower. Of the 48 payday loan businesses op-

erating in the Oklahoma City metro, 33 received their license in 2003, according to the department’s records. Out-ofstate owners control all but one payday loan business.

Solutions

“It’s so important to help people get back on their feet, but not at the expense of taking advantage of someone’s financial status,” said Dollens, who was drawn to the issue after hearing his constituents experiences with the industry. In his district, which includes ZIP codes 73109 and 73119, there are 22 signature lenders and one payday lender in operation — far more than any other district in the metro. This past session, as state lawmakers’

debated adding another loan product, Dollens proposed capping interest rates on payday loans. The legislation never earned a committee meeting, but Dollens is not discouraged. He plans to continue to push legislation for regulating the industry in hopes to eliminate the scenarios where people fall into the debt trap. “Regulating the payday industry isn’t the end-all,” he said. “It’s not the solution. The solution is helping people become financially stable, financially literate and preventing people from these desperate situations in the first place.” Like Dollens, VOICE leaders also agree a key aspect to the state’s lending issues are the conditions that lead people to seek the small and expensive loans. “People are struggling financially,” Luschen said. “We’ve seen that the state has cut its budget on social support, meaning that people, especially the most vulnerable, are really under pressure.” New regulations would help, but Pollard argues that lack of financial education plays a large role in borrowers turning to alternative financial services. She incorporates education into counseling sessions by revisiting her clients’ initial loan agreement, reading the fine print and going fee by fee to illustrate how a couple hundred-dollar loan ballooned into unmanageable debt. “The first step is to open their eyes,” Pollard said. “Once I open their eyes, they get angry.”

Predatory loan sharks or crucial fix in a pinch?

What could happen when an Oklahoman in a financial pinch turns to a payday lender for quick cash?

1. The tire blows Sally is down on her luck. When driving home from work, a tire blows out. Because Sally’s vehicle is her only reliable method of transportation for traveling to from her job, she can’t wait until her next paycheck to buy a tire. With no extra funds in her bank account, Sally decides to visit a payday lender.

Text: Laura Eastes / Illustrations: Jim Massara

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2. The loan A payday lender offers Sally a two-week $300 loan, with fees of $45, which equates to an annualized percentage rate of 391 percent. Sally writes a postdated check to the lender, takes her cash and heads to a nearby tire store.

3. The check bounces About two weeks later, Sally receives her paycheck and makes payments on rent, utilities, car insurance and student loans. With about $100 in her checking account, Sally asks friends and relatives for financial help. With her bank account below $345, Sally knows the check will bounce and her bank will charge an overdraft fee of $30.

4. A second loan It’s another two weeks before Sally gets a paycheck. Unsure what to do and in a panic, Sally visits another payday lender to borrow cash to pay off her first loan. Like before, Sally exchanges a postdated check of $345 for $300 in cash. Sally pays off her first loan while wondering if she will have enough money in her account when her second payday lender attempts to cash her check.

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NEWS

Honest study

State leaders see low education assessment scores as a starting point for the state to close achievement gap. By Laura Eastes

One of the many takeaways from Shannon Ashong’s 10 years as a classroom teacher was her students always wanted to please her. No matter the classroom assignment, Ashong’s students rose to her level of expectations. Her encouragement left students feeling capable and ready to tackle the next assignment, even when it was more challenging than the last. The 2016-17 school year marked a big change for Oklahoma school districts as they ushered in new state-mandated curriculum under the new Oklahoma Academic Standards, which were embedded with the same benchmarks for success required on the ACT and SAT college entrance exams and the benchmarks of the National Assessment for Educational Progress for elementary and middle schools students. In the spring, students were tested through newly developed exams aligned with those standards. This past summer, Ashong, who serves as the elementary math curriculum coordinator for Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS), joined one of the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s 18 standards-setting committees to review student tests. With fellow educators and experts hired by the state, Ashong went through the test question-by-question, reviewing the state’s curriculum and discussing what the state’s students could have learned and what they should have retained. Perhaps just as important, the educators asked what teachers should have expected their students to learn. The end result was implementation of a more rigorous academic assessment of student performance. Student scores now reflect a more realistic scoring based on national proficiency standards, which old standards failed to do. “Yes, [students] can do this, but we need to set our bar higher,” Ashong said. “We 8

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can push our students and expect them to do more. If we want them to be college- and career-ready, teachers have to stop giving excuses and encourage them to do better.”

“Total reset”

Last week, the Oklahoma State Department of Education released initial student proficiency rates on last spring’s state testing. As the department predicted, the results were grim. For example, fewer than 31 percent of third-graders scored at proficient levels in English and language arts and 27.17 percent were proficient in math. At the eighth-grade level, fewer than 23 percent of students were proficient in math and 34.53 percent in English and language arts. At the 10th grade level, fewer than 17 percent were proficient in math and 25.96 percent in English and language arts. The results should jolt parents and communities, but the results should be reviewed with the proper context, said Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister. “As school districts begin to study their scores, every stakeholder must understand that our new assessment system is not only a total reset but a testament to the commitment and hard work of our teachers,” Hofmeister said. “From the development of stronger academic standards to the setting of challenging, nationally aligned scores, the entire process has been driven by educators who understand the importance of providing an opportunity to all children.” The Oklahoma Academic Standards and its assessments were created to improve instruction and student learning to help students become college- and career-ready. In the past, Oklahoma’s test score system for proficiency was lower than the National Assessment for

Karen’s Flea Market Last week, the Oklahoma Department of Education released student proficiency rates on last spring’s state testing. | Photo Gazette/file

Educational Progress Standards, a nationally recognized organization that assesses student knowledge in various subject areas. In 2015, just over 40 percent of college freshmen who graduated from Oklahoma’s public high schools enrolled in a remedial college classes, according to Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. “We are asking our students and our schools to focus on learning for the long run, acquiring a foundation that they can build, sustain and persist into the next step of learning,” Hofmeister told reporters on Oct. 10, a day before statewide results of the Oklahoma School Testing Program for grade levels and subjects were released. Individual school district data was not made available, as districts began to receive initial data late last week. Districts are expected to share individual student performance to parents in mid-November. Since the state switched to new assessments, first-year results can’t be used to compare achievement to that of previous years, said Jeanene Barnett, the state’s deputy superintendent of assessment and accountability. “This year is a total reset,” said Barnett, a former superintendent of Bristow Public Schools. “The end goal is for students to become great thinkers, problem solvers and innovators.”

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We are asking our students and our schools to focus on learning for the long run, acquiring a foundation that they can build, sustain and persist into the next step of learning. Joy Hofmeister

Hofmeister said the new assessments help schools identify achievement gaps earlier in students’ academic careers, thus providing remedial opportunities to help students close such gaps. Over time, Hofmeister believes the scores will rise and students will graduate better prepared for the changing workforce and demands of college. At Oklahoma City schools, Ashong believes that as teachers become more familiar with the new standards and increase the complexity of what is required of students, they will begin to see student success and rising test scores. “I have seen areas where our teachers can grow,” Ashong said, suggesting that teachers work to create engaging lessons for students. “If provided with the resources and more modeling, they are capable [of teaching the standards].”

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NEWS

Celebrating progress

speaker at next month’s Sally’s List luncheon. | Photo U.S. Congress/provided

An Oklahoma organization recruiting, training and helping elect progressive women welcomes former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer to its annual luncheon. By Laura Eastes

Research supports that elected women — regardless of party affiliation — make the most effective lawmakers, from their abilities to reach across party lines and form coalitions to successfully ushering bills through the legislative process. In 2010, when Sara Jane Rose founded Sally’s List as a nonprofit organization dedicated to recruiting, training and helping elect progressive women to public office, she cited such research and studies to not only build credibility in states in which males dominated the state legislature but also raise initial capital. Seven years later, the organization, named for the late attorney and women’s rights advocate Sally Rae Merckle Mock, is seen as the establishment when it comes to preparing women to effectively campaign and earn favor from voters. Sally’s List candidates now serve in the Oklahoma House and Senate, Norman City Council and Tulsa School Board. Further, a third of the female legislators in the Oklahoma Legislature are Sally’s List candidates, including Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa; Rep. Carol Bush, R-Tulsa; Sen. Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City; Rep. Claudia Griffith, D-Norman; Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City; and Rep. Emily Virgin, D-Norman. “I barely say ‘studies show’ anymore,” said Rose, the founder and interim executive director, in an Oklahoma Gazette interview. “Now, I say, ‘Look what we’ve done, and we will do more.’” While the organization’s leaders and past candidates celebrate their momen-

a

tous progress, their own experiences campaigning and entering public office shine a light on a major problem for women in Oklahoma politics. Despite making some gains over the past few decades, women are still significantly under-represented in state government. Only 14 percent of state legislators are female, and Oklahoma has elected only three women to the U.S. House of Representatives. On the front lines of the battle to increase women’s representation in government, Sally’s List leaders say the work is far from over. Next month, the organization welcomes former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, a 33-year career progressive serving California on Capitol Hill, to its annual luncheon. Boxer, like so many Sally’s List candidates, first campaigned when voters didn’t see women in public office.

I barely say ‘studies show’ anymore. Now, I say, ‘Look what we’ve done, and we will do more.’ Sara Jane Rose

Sally’s List luncheon

“We now have 20 women in the [U.S.] Senate,” Boxer told a Fresno, California, luncheon crowd in 2016, her final year in office, according to KFSN-TV. “Yeah, that’s great. When I started, there were two.”

A stockbroker and newspaper journalist by trade, Boxer was defeated in her first race for public office, to serve as a Marin County supervisor in 1972. She later won that seat in a 1976 election and served the county until 1982, when she ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, representing a portion of northern California. “She was one of so few women on the hill,” Rose said. “I think her beginning [in public office] is what our women are experiencing now. When she came into the U.S. House in 1983, the male presence had to be overwhelming. Here, we have 13.9 percent female representation at the state Legislature.” Boxer, who went on to become one of California’s two U.S. Senators before retiring in 2016, is best known for leading a group of congresswomen in supporting University of Oklahoma law professor Anita Hill, who had accused U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. During her time in both the House and Senate, Boxer focused on issues that ranged from the environment and roads to AIDS and abortion rights.

What’s next

Following the 2016 election, women across the United States began pursuing paths toward running for public office. Like other organizations, Sally’s List received contacts from a record number

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of women seeking assistance. For the 2018 election, the organization’s feature candidates include four candidates seeking House seats, two running for Senate, one vying for Oklahoma County Commissioner and another challenging U.S. Rep. Steve Russell for a congressional seat. “These are strong women, but more than anything, passionate about serving,” Rose said. “The passion is what helps them run a campaign.” Women candidates typically have a more difficult path to elected office than their male counterparts, which is why Sally’s List works one-on-one with its feature candidates. Training includes various aspect of campaigning, like interacting with constituents, discussing current issues and fundraising, said Alyssa Fisher, programs manager. “With Oklahoma’s voter turnout so low, every touch these candidates have with constituents is another opportunity to earn the vote,” Fisher said. “So many people are tired of the way things are, and they are ready to see some change.” Women seeking to run for office in 2020 and 2022 in both rural and urban races have already reached out to Sally’s List. “It is a movement that will continue,” Rose said. “I see no reason we wouldn’t see an increase in the number of women who want to run. We are nothing if not persistent.”

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letters

NEWS Oklahoma Gazette provides an open forum for the discussion of all points of view in its Letters to the Editor section. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Letters can be mailed, faxed, emailed to editor@okgazette.com or sent online at okgazette.com. Include a city of residence and contact number for verification.

Shifting balance

It is becoming clear that there is something big happening in Oklahoma. Progressives have now replaced three conservative politicians forced to resign for ethical and criminal charges against them. There is a surge of support for the return to normalcy in this post-Trump world order. Oklahomans seem bored with the tired, divisive policies of the right. I have dedicated my professional life to organizing Oklahomans to fight back against these political attacks, most recently attacks on our access to health care as an organizer for Planned Parenthood Great Plains. PPGP health centers are essential to the fabric of Oklahoma. They provide life-saving, stigma-free, and affordable health care to all regardless of immigration status,

race, gender identity and sexual orientation. I know firsthand that this is not a resource we can afford to lose. When Republican leaders in Congress tried to block women from going to Planned Parenthood this year, we fought back and won. I joined the hordes of pink-clad supporters taking their Planned Parenthood stories to the streets across America. Together, we made more than 250,000 phone calls to members of

Congress, organized more than 2,400 events, and delivered more than 1 million petitions to members of Congress in opposition to “defunding” Planned Parenthood. And together we stopped “defunding” and Trumpcare. I learned that my community and I have the power to make change. When grassroots efforts lead, when the people lead, we win. But our work isn’t over yet. [In September], Planned Parenthood Great Plains [hosted] more than 300

activists from 10 states in OKC for a high-intensity training that [equipped] them with mobilization tactics to take back to their communities. PP’s grassroots boot camp for volunteers [was] an exciting moment for organizers like me. Hundreds of us, staff and volunteers, [came] together in Oklahoma City to harness our energy for the many fights we know still lie ahead. When it’s all said and done, Planned Parenthood will have mobilized more than 1,000 volunteer activists nationwide to deploy 600 campaign action teams in communities across the country. This pink army will be on the frontlines of protecting access to safe and legal abortion, ensuring health care access for all, and fighting racist and extreme immigration policies. One door at a time, one health center at a time, and one election at a time Planned Parenthood and its millions of supporters will be there. No matter what. Aaron Wilder Oklahoma City

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chicken

friedNEWS

Bat, man

It turns out some of the zoo’s most dangerous animals aren’t always found in a cage or behind glass. City health officials are concerned some recent visitors to the Oklahoma City Zoological Park and Botanical Garden might have come into contact with a rabid bat discovered earlier this month on the ground between the Great EscApe habitat and Big Rivers Cafe, according to a report by KFOR. The bat in question was not part of the zoo’s animal collection. Silly rabid, the zoo is for kids! Now, hypothetically speaking, if one were a wild, rabies-carrying flittermouse in need of help, where else would one have to go but the zoo? Unfortunately, the health care system in this country is not yet to a point where an honest-to-goodness night mammal can just simply check itself into a veterinary clinic (Sen. James Lankford, please consider this when crafting the next Republican health care bill). Only a few zoo visitors are believed to have encountered the bat, which was discovered around 1:45 p.m. on a Sunday. Anyone who thinks they might have actually touched the animal should get checked out by a doctor, but health officials told KFOR that one does not contract the often fatal disease simply by being in the vicinity of the carrier. Usually rabies is transmitted to humans from animals through a bite. Maybe this is exactly what the zoo has been missing — close brushes with real danger. Here is an idea: Put those alligators on a leash tied around a lamppost near the walking path. People love the adrenaline rush of facing possible death while knowing their own safety is firmly within their control — in this case, as long as they stay out of the ’gators leashed radius. And anyone dumb enough to get too close, well, they’re batty.

Bad sports

It’s no secret that sports rivalries make up a significant portion of all rivalries and have been known to get a bit out of hand — almost everyone has heard of rival teams meeting in a secret location to let off some steam and beat each other senseless before game night (because that’s going to help everyone), and we can’t forget the popular TV trope of stealing a rival team’s adorable livestock mascot. While the stakes are high for college and professional teams, one would think a bunch of preteens would get a break and just try to have fun. Well, that’s what we all get for thinking. Ponca City Public Schools and Enid Public Schools were recently in the news for an unsportsmanlike incident that occurred after a seventh or eighth grade football game. OKCFox.com reported that visiting Ponca City players found a small noose in the visitors’ locker room in D. Bruce Selby Stadium in Enid on Sept. 26. This wasn’t just an old-fashioned noose made out of rope. No, sir. Kids these days use their technology wisely. It was an electrical cord or USB cable formed into a 2-inch slipknot found hanging in the locker room showers over a metal chair — because that’s the best place for tiny killing devices made from electrical equipment. Sept. 27, Superintendent Dr. Darrell

Floyd of Enid Public Schools and Superintendent Shelley Arrott of Ponca City Schools issued a joint statement about the incident, OKCFox.com reported. “Neither school district condones this behavior, which is insensitive and unacceptable,” the statement read. “The person responsible, when found, will be held accountable for his or her actions. Additionally, we will continue to educate our students about tolerance and respect for others, in all situations.” We here at CFN agree that it’s never too early to teach youngsters about respect and integrity, even when faceto-face with a rival, because it’s apparently never too early for some burgeoning brain trusts to learn about the impact of strategically placed nooses on developing psyches.

Vote early, vote expensively

Nearly a year ago, WalletHub ranked states to determine the most politically engaged state and the least politically engaged state. Voter turnout in the Sooner State landed Oklahoma dead last in the nation. That’s right; call Oklahoma the least politically engaged state in the nation. With that said, there is probably a high number of Okies unaware that eight state legislators have resigned since Dec. 31, 2016. Further, that means

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special elections for the people —registered voters — to elect new lawmakers. According to NewsOK, voters have visited the polling booths for half of the seats, including Tulsa’s House District 75 and Senate District 44, which encompasses south Oklahoma City and Moore. You might recall former Rep. Dan Kirby, R-Tulsa, resigned after accusations of sexual harassment by a female legislative assistant and former Sen. Ralph Shortey, R-Oklahoma City, resigned immediately after being charged with engaging in child prostitution. In Norman’s House District 46, former Rep. Scott Martin resigned to take the Norman Chamber of Commerce job. Come Nov. 14, polling locations will be open for voters to determine the next elected officials in Broken Arrow’s House District 76, Tulsa’s Senate District 37 and south Oklahoma City’s Senate District 45, which includes portions of Mustang and Yukon. Senate District 45 constituents might recollect that their former Republican Sen. Kyle Loveless resigned after a criminal investigation over allegedly embezzling campaign funds

became public. No malfeasance scandals led to the resignations of former Sen. Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa, or Rep. David Brumbaugh, R-Broken Arrow, who died while in office. Newborn resigned for a new job at a credit union. In February, election officials in far northwest Oklahoma will prepare for an election to fill the Senate District 27 seat, which was vacated after former Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward, was charged with sexual battery after allegations he made advances on an Uber driver in Oklahoma City. While you can never truly pinpoint what voter turnout will be in special elections, you can ballpark the cost taxpayers endure for filling these empty seats. The Oklahoma State Election Board estimates these eight special elections to cost $194,000 to $250,000, a spokesman for the election board told NewsOK. Yowzers! A quarter of a million dollars of taxpayer money spent on filling seats vacated largely by scandals and resignations due to full-time job offers. What a tough pill for Oklahoma voters and those who don’t vote to swallow — ­ or it would be, if those voters weren’t so disengaged.

Marble headed

Oklahoma law requires state construction projects to use materials manufactured in the state, but only if the local bid is less costly than outside options. One small town mayor is upset with the state’s decision to use Chinese marble to refurbish the Oklahoma Capitol. Chances are, you haven’t been to the small, but aptly named eastern Oklahoma municipality of Marble City, near the Arkansas border. The town of 263 people is located in Sequoyah County and is close to Oklahoma’s only marble outcrop, according to the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Marble City Mayor Tamara Hibbard expressed concern about the state’s choice of a Chinese vendor to install 25,000 square feet of marble in a $3.5 million project. Hibbard told The Oklahoman that the marble from her town is helping put local residents to work, but Chicken-Fried News has to wonder how they’re getting prices. A bid from Polycor, a manufacturing company that uses marble from a Marble City quarry, came in $2 million dollars over the allotted budget, according to The Oklahoman. The Chinese bid not only came in $10,000 under budget, but also out-

performed the Oklahoma marble in density, strength and water absorption. How can it cost so much less to ship marble, which last time we checked is pretty heavy, all the way from China than from Sequoyah County? Let’s go on over to the Wikipedia page for Marble City to look for clues … We wish we were making this up, but there is an uncited note at the bottom of the page that says “The small community is known for a corrupt town government and a police department that will ticket anyone speeding at 26 mph in a 25 mph zone. If you are coming down the big hill, watch your speed!” Hmm ... maybe that’s where the extra marble bid money was supposed to go.

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | o c to b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 7

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EAT & DRINK tic breakfast burritos and tacos. The new restaurant is open until 8 p.m. Caballero said breakfast accounts for nearly half of his sales on the weekends. During the week, a cavalcade of construction workers, painters and nearby oil companies order breakfast for plenty of energy during the workday.

Menu expansion

The new location is a small shack located next to a Phillips 66 gas station, but don’t let the outside fool you. The interior of the restaurant is warm, inviting and cozy. There are nine total tables in the dining room and an additional five on the outdoor patio.

It’s Mexican with a Guatemalan twist. It’s not 100 percent one way or the other; it’s a mix of both.

f e at u r e

Eddie Caballero

Landmark tacos

From food truck to restaurant, Little Knight’s serves tacos and burritos with a kiss of Guatemala. By Jacob Threadgill

Like its namesake, Little Knight’s food truck has nobly supplied tacos, burritos and quesadillas in Edmond through rain and shine at the corner of Waterloo Road and Broadway Avenue for about four years. In July, Little Knight’s opened a brickand-mortar location at 2917 E. Waterloo Road, which resulted in expanded hours and menu. Diners can munch on street tacos served with a Guatemalan twist. Mario and Rita Caballero moved to Oklahoma 14 years ago from Guatemala, where they ran a successful restaurant. Playing off of their surname, which means “knight” in Spanish, the Caballeros opened the food truck because they didn’t see another truck serving hungry denizens in north Oklahoma County.

Landmark truck

The truck earned rabid and loyal fans. Little Knight’s sports a nearly spotless record from online reviewers. Out of 140 reviews on Facebook, Yelp and Google, only four have been less than the maximum five stars. “A lot of people say the truck is a land-

Little Kight’s street tacos are available with chicken, steak, chorizo, al pastor and shredded beef. | Photo Jacob Threadgill

mark for the community around here,” said Eddie Caballero, Mario and Rita’s son, who runs the new Little Knight’s location. “We’re always out there and it’s easy access.” Little Knight’s specializes in street tacos where the onus is on the meat filling, grilled onions, cilantro and special red sauce. If you’re looking for lettuce, cheese and sour cream on your taco, order the supreme version. “It’s Mexican with a Guatemalan twist,” said Caballero. “It’s not 100 percent one way or the other; it’s a mix of both.” The Caballeros’ Guatemalan influence can be seen in the Little Knight’s breakfast platter, which features two scrambled eggs, longoniza (Guatemalan sausage), refried beans, plantains, queso fresco and a choice of flour or corn tortillas. The food truck started by catering to breakfast and lunch crowd, closing at 3 p.m., and making it one of the few places in the Oklahoma City area to get authen-

Mario Caballero spent three months renovating the building on his own, hanging new sheetrock and painting the walls for an “old world” style. Moving into a new location also meant more space for the kitchen. The addition of a deep fryer meant fresh tortilla chips. Caballero said it’s not uncommon during football season to get take out calls for five orders of chips, queso and salsa. They also added fried flautas and taquitos. Little Knight’s offers a pair of new “specials,” but in reality, they’re available every day — fresh tamales and a drunken burrito, which is smothered in a cheese sauce. Tamales are such a labor-intensive dish that many restaurants only offer them on certain days of the week or during the holiday season, but Little Knight’s serves them every day. They make them by hand every other day and hope the demand doesn’t outstrip the supply. “I don’t eat the tamales here because I know how much work they take,”

Caballero said. “For me to go into the back and eat one, it just won’t do it.” Tamales are served in chicken and pork varieties, and topped with a smoky tomato-based sauce. Little Knight’s lets its entrée sauces do the talking. They offer salsa for chips, but don’t expect a pico de gallo in a side cup. The restaurant wants to add heat if you ask for additional sauce. A green jalapeño sauce is spicy but pales in comparison to the tiny container of orange habanero accompanying a platter. “I tell people, ‘Be careful,’ but they don’t listen, and I can see them sweating,” Caballero said of the habanero sauce. A taco platter of three tacos (choices of chicken, steak, al pastor, chorizo and shredded beef) is complemented with fresh refried beans and rice prepared with chicken stock, tomato and corn, grilled onions and radishes.

Community involved

The Caballeros believe in word-of-mouth as the best advertising, which places an onus on the quality of the product. “We gained a lot of customers because our food is fresh,” Caballero said. “My dad believes in the quality of the meat. We are buying the best quality of meat we can get … We opened this place because we were getting more demand and bigger quantities.” The community of Little Knight’s fans was put on full display April 2016 when the Little Knight’s truck was stolen during the middle of the night. After social media push offering a reward for the truck, the story was picked up by local television news. After the report aired, the truck was discovered in Tecumseh after a resident recognized its distinct yellow paint. It was a returned after two days with minor damage and inventory gone. “After that, we had people coming from different places who had never tried our food. It actually turned into free advertising,” Caballero said.

The new Little Knight’s location is at 2917 E. Waterloo Road in Edmond. | Photo Jacob Threadgill

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EAT & DRINK

The Spirit Shop

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve shied away from ordering curries in search of another dish with more nutrition. Many other Thai restaurants offer only a few slices of onion and maybe enough bell pepper to count on one hand. The juxtaposition of the coconut milk’s creamy sweetness and the complex balance of heat and savory coming from your curry paste du jour makes it one of my favorite dishes, if only the average one had more vegetables. That certainly isn’t the problem at Bistro 38.

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Re-imagined favorites

Re-imagined Thai

Bistro 38 revamps traditional recipes with added nutrition and flair. By Jacob Threadgill

Volcano tofu | Photo Jacob Threadgill

Bistro 38 Green Thai Cuisine 2903 NW 36th St., Suite 107 | 405-948-2788

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What needs work: Smaller portions of rice. Tip: Order the noodles spicier than entrees.

Do you ever sit down at a Thai restaurant and wonder if the amount of rice supplied to complement a curry or saucy entrée won’t be enough? Is that just me? Drivers of electric cars sometimes suffer from “range anxiety” because they worry that the car’s charge won’t get them to their destination. I’ve got a case of “rice anxiety” from the moment I step foot into a restaurant. For pretty much any situation in life, I’ve memorized a joke by the late comedian Mitch Hedberg that can be applicable. As I approached the entrance to Bistro 38 Thai Green Cuisine, 2903 NW 36th St., Suite 107, the Hedberg joke “Rice is great if you’re really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something” popped into my head. I quickly discovered that mantra would come in handy when my entrée arrived inside the small, but welcoming restaurant.

to the average Thai dish with extra vegetables. For example, did you know that a single red bell pepper has nearly three times as much vitamin C than an orange? In each category of entrée: stirfries, curries, fried rice and noodle dishes, Pakin has added a vegetablestocked version of a Thai dish. There is the spicy green fried rice that adds red bell peppers and green beans to the dish that is normally just onions and carrots. The jungle curry adds snow peas, green beans, broccoli, mushrooms and red and green bell peppers to a base of red curry paste. Pakin said some customers trade out yellow or green curry in its place, depending on taste.

As I sat down for my meal, one dish called to me while scanning the menu because it was something I had never seen before: volcano tofu ($10.95). Fried tofu is toped with a special four-flavor Thai chili sauce, red bell pepper, yellow onion and sweet Thai basil leaves.

It’s hard to find a sauce that will go well with tofu and make it tasty. I get a lot of compliments on the volcano tofu and it’s one of our most popular dishes. Tom Pakin Pakin said the sauce is a traditional topping for fish, but it wasn’t a topseller on the menu. He began to look for a new vehicle for the chili sauce that exudes spicy, salty, sweet and sour. “It’s hard to find a sauce that will go well with tofu and make it tasty,” Pakin said. “I get a lot of compliments on the volcano tofu, and it’s one of our most popular dishes.” When the entrée arrived with chunks of crispy fried tofu topped with a healthy

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O c to b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 7 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Owner Tom Pakin opened the original Bistro 38 in Edmond before selling the restaurant and opening in Oklahoma City off N. May Avenue in 2013. The ethos behind Bistro 38 that makes it different from other Thai restaurants in the OKC area lies in the “green” part of the restaurant’s name. Pakin’s aim is to add more nutrition

Bistro 38 Thai Green Cuisine | Photo Jacob Threadgill

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Green pad thai | Photo Jacob Threadgill

portion of the four-flavor sauce and lots of red bell pepper, I knew immediately that I would need more rice to soak up all of the deliciousness. Bistro 38 offers its dishes on a fourpoint level of heat. I ordered both the volcano tofu and the green pad thai ($9.95, additional $1 for chicken) at a three on the four-point scale. I found that to be the right amount of heat for the tofu. It lingered on the tongue but didn’t spread around my mouth or make my eyes water and didn’t overpower the other three flavors of the sauce. The harmony of sweet, spicy, salty and sour dance on the tongue like a Sergei Prokofiev ballet — each takes their turn to solo. The licorice essence from the Thai basil adds a nice complement to the dish. I also ordered the green pad thai at a level three on the four-point heat scale and found it to not be as spicy as the volcano tofu. Perhaps it’s because some of the heat soaked into the rice noodles, but I found the dish to be slightly sweet with hints of umami provided by fish sauce. Bistro 38’s green pad thai added snow peas, carrots, baby corn and broccoli to a dish that is usually just bean sprouts, onions and a few carrots for garnish at other restaurants. The service was attentive and quick. The alert waitress was ready to refill my iced tea the moment I became too low in my battle with the heat from the volcano tofu. Bistro 38 earns points for adding extra vegetables to many Thai dishes that are often devoid of extra nutrition. The menu is streamlined, focusing on dishes they do well and dotted with new variations on the traditional, like the volcano tofu or the King Pad Thai, which adds Japanese influence with the introduction of tempura-fried shrimp. There is no space-filler on Bistro 38’s menu; each dish aims to fill you up and provide some extra vitamins to your diet.

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | O c to b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 7

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2717 W Reno Ave, OKC | 405.435.0061 Hours: Tues-Sat 10a-6p Sun 12p-5p

EAT & DRINK

529 Buchanan Ave. Campus Corner Norman

WINGS, BAR, LIVE MUSIC Stag Lounge is located at 228 NE Second St. in

f e at u r e

the Deep Deuce district. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

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The former WSKY Lounge rebrands as Stag Lounge and brings cigars back to Deep Deuce. By Jacob Threadgill

A little over a year since Deep Deuce’s WSKY Lounge eliminated smoking, much to the chagrin of Oklahoma City area cigar aficionados, cigars returned at the beginning of September when the high-end bar rebranded as Stag Lounge. A month since re-opening at its 228 NE Second St. location, Stag Lounge is seeing the benefits of bringing cigars back, which was a staple before the April 2016 overhaul. “The cigars have been a smash,” said Alton Wright, executive chef and general manager for Stag Lounge and Slaughter’s Hall. “We’ve noticed sales going up and a lot of people, about half, are either bringing their own or buy a cigar.” As part of the revamp from WSKY to Stag Lounge, ownership installed five air purifiers to combat the onslaught of cigar smoke and added to an already impressive collection of whiskey.

One-of-a-kind whiskey

Stag Lounge is the only bar in the world to have a flight of Glenmorangie Pride (1974, 1978 and 1981), thanks to coowner Dwayne Poor, who Wright said is one of the top whiskey collectors in the world. A bottle of 1974 Glenmorangie Pride sells for over $7,000 at online retailer Master of Malt. A tasting costs considerably less at Stag Lounge, which has over 300 selections of whiskey on premises. Guests can bring their own cigars or choose from 20-30 cigars in the walk-in humidor. They range in price from a $9 Acid Blondie to a $34 Padron 1926 No. 9 Natural. Whiskey and cigars represent Stag Lounge’s foundation, but the revamp also included its shareable small plates. The black and blue bruschetta tops marinated steak with gorgonzola

crumbles, spiraled beets and blackberry port reduction. A trio of sliders (Reuben, chicken cordon bleu and pork belly B.L.T.) is joined on the menu by tuna tostadas, which tops fried wontons with sliced ahi tuna, Asian-style slaw and spicy peanut sauce. “We wanted the concept of shareable plates,” Wright said. “We want to be an upscale whiskey bar with nice food to accompany it. The crab artichoke dip and tostadas have been very popular. Everyone can help himself or herself to plate. It’s like a heavier amuse bouche.”

More than whiskey

Stag Lounge serves more alcohol than just whiskey, but it is the focus. Bar manager David Hodges said new seasonal drink menus will be finalized next week. It will include five classic whiskey cocktails, five versions of an Old Fashioned and five seasonal cocktails that will change quarterly. The commitment to whiskey comes as it is increasing in popularity in the country. Domestic whiskey sales overtook vodka in 2014 and have continued to increase its market share, according to Quartz. Hodges said Stag Lounge harkens back to a time when America dominated the cocktail industry. “Before Prohibition, America was the height of the cocktail world,” Hodges said. “American bartenders were being sent overseas to run bars. They disappeared or went underground during Prohibition. In 2010, it started coming back to craft cocktails. Distillers have been designing better quality spirits to keep up with the demand for these quality experiences.” Visit stagokc.com.

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19

g a z e di b l e s

eat & DRINK

(More than) afternoon tea

If coffee makes the world go round, then tea is right there greasing the wheel. If you’re looking for a caffeine pick-me-up but don’t want your eyes to vibrate, check out the variety of teas available in the Oklahoma City metro area. From mint- and fruit-flavored to dessertlike, there are many options. By Jacob Threadgill | Photos by Garett Fisbeck and file

Argana Cafe

Cafe De Taipei

Sometimes when ordering tea, the customer has to decide if they want sweet or unsweet. At Argana, the house Moroccan hot tea is flavored with mint and honey for a refreshing swig that leaves a tingle on your tongue. The tea complements a menu that features many slow-simmered meats cooked in a tagine, a cone-shaped clay pot that returns moisture to the dish for optimum succulence.

This late-night Edmond eatery offers plentiful selection of sushi to fulfill your dinner and late-night cravings. Open 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. on Sunday, complement a samurai roll (crab salad, avocado and cucumber sushi topped with baked spicy scallops) with a refreshing boba tea, available in black and jasmine green tea.

2908 NW 23rd St. arganacafe.net | 405-652-1234

603 S. Broadway, Edmond 405-216-9968

Cafe Oasis

1135 NW 25th Street cafeoasisoklahomacity.com 405-528-5700

This restaurant is aptly named, because for those of us who are tea connoisseurs in a desert of coffee drinkers, Cafe Oasis is just that: an oasis. Located on the second floor next to Super Cao Nguyen, the cafe is home to perhaps the city’s largest selection of teas, available in both green, black, served with milk and with delightful chewy tapioca balls.

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O C to b e r 1 8 , 2 0 1 7 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

Fung’s Kitchen

3231 N. Classen Blvd. fungskitchenoklahoma.com 405-524-4133

If you’re bored or perhaps exasperated at the mutant dishes being concocted on brunch menus across OKC, Fung’s Kitchen offers something different on the weekends as its dim sum menu expands. Choose between a variety of steamed buns and dumplings from the passing cart, and pair it with a hot Chinese tea, traditional iced tea or creamy Thai tea.

Leaf + Bean

Thai House

Urban Teahouse

Locally owned Woodshed Tea Co. supplies the fresh, loose-leaf tea that is the basis for Leaf + Bean’s flavored tea at its two locations. Go to the Deep Deuce location where natural light and a peach blossom iced tea make for the perfect location to pontificate. If you’re in a hurry, swing by the N. May Avenue location for your tea fix in a jiffy.

Thai House brews Thai tea to perfection. Strong black tea is brewed with star anise, crushed tamarind and cardamom and mixed with either sweetened condensed milk or whole milk for a memorable treat. The tea pairs well with an order of pad thai or with multiple trips to the buffet.

The packages of boxed tea we buy at the store are filled with all sorts of impurities that dilute the flavor of the tea. At Urban Teahouse, owner Kristy Jennings is the patron saint of preaching the benefits of properly brewed loose-leaf tea. You can choose from a bevy of flavors in a variety of tea categories. There are unusual flavors like spicy chocolate truffle for standard black tea, and more exotic varieties of tea like oolong, rooibos and matcha.

321 N. Oklahoma Ave., Suite 107 leafandbean.com

500 NW 23rd St. thaihouseokc.com | 405-524-0503

519 NW 23rd St., Suite 107 urban-teahouse.com | 405-606-7005

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Art

ARTS & CULTURE

Men of Bronze

Buffy the Vampire Slayer serves as inspiration for the latest mixed-media art show from James Nghiem and Mike Allen. By Jacob Threadgill

The Bronze is the meeting place for high school characters on the popular television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which was based on a comic book and continues to gain new fans on streaming services a decade and a half after its final episode aired. For local comedian, musician and teacher James Nghiem, the Bronze signified a place where all of his interests converged. “I was always into stuff like monsters, vampires, comic books and punk music,” Nghiem said. “If you watch a lot of the Netflix Marvel superhero shows, Buffy did all of that before we thought it was feasible from a special effects standpoint.” Nghiem will pay homage to Buffy through his latest mixed media art show, A Night at the Bronze: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Art Show, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at 51st Street Speakeasy, 1114 NW 51st Street.

Mixed-media duo

It’s the latest pop culture-based show that Nghiem has organized over the last two years with artist Mike Allen. The duo previously collaborated on shows honoring everything from the video game Street Fighter to movie directors Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino, artist Banksy and most recently, a mash-up of Kanye West and the video game Metal Gear Solid. “We wanted to do a Halloween show that wasn’t just monsters or anything that was ‘normal Halloween,’ and I think Buffy was perfect for that,” Nghiem said. On the show, which was stylized under the watch of showrunner Joss Whedon (Avengers, Firef ly, next month’s Justice League), the Bronze was a setting for both musical acts and hijinks involving supernatural beings. Just as the Bronze was home to a variety of exploits, the Speakeasy will transform to host music from three bands, LCG and the X, Shut Up Matt Jewett and St. Basic, stand-up comedy, an art gallery, a Tarot card reader, a magician and even a Rocky Horror-esque sing-along, which Nghiem said was inspired by Buffy’s famous musical episode. “I want every show to have a festival atmosphere,” Nghiem said, noting that the show will fill both floors at the Speakeasy, which will serve special drinks and food for the event. “There is a segment of people A Night at the Bronze features art inspired by the popular 1990s-2000s series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. | Photo Provided

who fly into Oklahoma City, they go to the hotel by the airport, watch some cowboys at the rodeo and think, ‘That’s Oklahoma.’ We’ve got way cooler shit than that.” Nghiem was inspired to start the mixed-media shows after moving to Los Angeles for a brief stint, where he attended an art show centered on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. When he returned to Oklahoma City, he was inspired to do something similar but wanted it to include music, art and comedy. Allen joined Nghiem in helping him organize and curate submissions of artwork not long after Nghiem put together H.O.R.S.E., an art show dedicated to basketball. The two became friends, and the concepts began flowing. This is the first show in which Allen wasn’t quite as familiar on a subject as Nghiem. Allen is watching Buffy for the first time in preparation for the show and adapted the comic style for the use of a poster.

Buffy aesthetic

“The first season of the show is very campy, little more cheese than the rest of the show, but it’s very ’90s. What I remember of the ’90s, X-Men and a lot of comics took off at that time. I thought it would be a good aesthetic,” Allen said. Admission to the show is free, but a $3 suggested donation will be split among the bands. All art sold at the show will include a $10 commission that will be donated to Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. Each of Nghiem and Allen’s shows has featured about 30 pieces of art and has included about seven regular artists and submissions from the community. “Experienced artists get a chance to challenge themselves by incorporating a genre, and inexperienced artists get a chance to participate in some-

thing that’s not as high-brow and intimidating as a traditional art gallery,” Allen said. The Bronze show takes place a week before the Wizard World Comic Con, which features four actors from Buffy the Vampire Slayer: James Marsters (Spike), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase) and Emma Caulfield (Anya). A Wizard World representative will be on hand at the Buffy show, where attendees will have a chance to win Wizard World VIP passes. After two years of hosting and planning shows every three months, Nghiem said it’s getting difficult to manage between life and professional responsibilities, but he’s encouraged that a few other groups around the city started following the mixed media model. He said that he has met with multiple groups to provide pointers in organizing shows, including people behind a Tim Burton-themed show at the Speakeasy Oct. 28. “There are 1.3 million people in the OKC metro area. If you

Buffy the Vampire Slayer art by Mike Allen. | Photo provided

throw a dart at a wall of interests, you’d hit something that would have an audience,” Nghiem said. “We haven’t struck out yet.” Each show has averaged at least 800 attendees, and Nghiem said the bands that play shows usually see a bump in listenership, and that artists sell pieces of work. He said that even those unfamiliar with the source material still have a fun time people-watching and getting introduced to new faces. “I want these shows to get so big that is spreads through the ‘Barmuda Triangle’ and over [across the street] to the HiLo and Drunken Fry. I just hope Braum’s doesn’t tear it down,” Nghiem said.

A Night at the Bronze: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Art Show 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 51st Street Speakeasy | 1114 NW 51 Street $3 suggested donation

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ARTS & CULTURE

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In September, artist Eric Tippeconnic began work on a new mural at Bricktown’s Exhibit C art gallery. Tippeconnic will return to the state in November to complete his work. | Photo Koch Communications / provided

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Vivid history

A California-based Comanche artist combats cultural misconceptions with a new Bricktown mural. By Ben Luschen

It might not look like much now, but when California-based artist Eric Tippeconnic returns to the state to complete his mural on Sheridan Avenue in Bricktown, he will transform what is currently just a red patch of paint into another piece of the increasingly vibrant Oklahoma City artscape. Tippeconnic — a Comanche artist and history professor at California State University, Fullerton — is in the process of painting a 17-foot-tall, 10-foot-wide mural on the east wall of Exhibit C art gallery, 1 E. Sheridan Ave. Painting began in September, when the artist cleaned and primed the wall and laid down an initial coat of paint. Tippeconnic will return the second weekend in November to complete his work. The mural is titled “Ready for Battle” and will depict horse-riding Comanche warriors wearing modern-day business suits. The artist said he hopes the project further illustrates how Native Americans are not still the stereotypical figures of the past that many people nationally understand them to be. “I wanted to paint some pieces that are celebrating the fact that we are still here,” Tippeconnic said. “We’re alive and we’re thriving. We’re struggling in many cases, but we’re thriving as well and we’re not living in teepees anymore. We’re living in the modern world and we’re doctors and lawyers and, in my case, professors.” Tippeconnic might be from California, but he is no stranger to the Sooner State. His father is originally from Oklahoma, and he has many siblings, cousins and other relatives who

still live here. Tippeconnic’s art can also be seen in the 16th Street Plaza District gallery Kasum Contemporary Fine Art, 1706 NW 16th St. He was selected by Exhibit C to complete the mural after responding to the gallery’s open call to Native artists. This is not the first mural project with which Exhibit C has associated itself. In May 2016, a team of Native artists including Rhiana Deck, J. Nicole Hatfield, Steven Grounds and Chad Nish Earles completed two murals in the E. Sheridan Avenue underpass near Chesapeake Energy Arena and N. E.K. Gaylord Boulevard, just feet from Tippeconnic’s new piece. The artist’s mural is reflective of the style seen in much of his other work. His themes primarily revolve around depicting traditional scenes in very modern ways. “Colors and movement, for me, are the metaphor for living, breathing cultures,” he said. Tippeconnic said his message is not that the Native people are evolving away from their traditions. They are changing with the times, just as everyone does. They are not stagnant. “We’re adapting as people, as we always have, to the world that we live in,” he said.

Unique perspective

Tippeconnic’s father is a full-blooded Native American with Comanche and Cherokee heritage. His mother, however, is from Copenhagen, Denmark. Though he grew up in California, Tippeconnic alternated summers

between visiting his dad’s side of the family in Oklahoma and his mother’s family in the Danish capital. “I got to see three different worlds,” he said. “I got to see Europe, I got to see mainstream America and I got to see reservation and Indian America. Three very different worlds.” The unique upbringing gave him a deeper perspective on Native and American cultures than most others. It is a perspective that still shows up in his art today, which is always culturally relevant. This is Tippeconnic’s first mural in Oklahoma. He might not be a resident of the state, but the artist feels a deep connection with the place, one that far predates this commission. “It’s what I do consider home,” he said. “Even though it’s not where I lay my head most nights, it’s what I consider home. So this is all the more special to me because of that.”

Cultural statement

In addition to his work on the Exhibit C mural and as a college professor in California, Tippeconnic is represented by galleries in Texas, Arizona and California and spends a lot of his personal time traveling between them. It seems like a lot to balance, but Tippeconnic said it is a lifestyle with which he is comfortable. “I don’t watch TV,” he said. “I have four kids, and basically my life is my kids, my art and my teaching.” Tippeconnic said the opportunity to leave a long-lasting impression on the city’s art culture and thought is not lost on him. He said cultures around the world have long put the messages that were appropriate to them at the time up on their walls as art. Oklahoma City is no different. “I’m so honored,” he said. “I still have to pinch myself to realize that it’s real and to have this piece up for at least 10 years is so important. I’m a historian, and one of the things I know society marks their living spaces with — we call it a culturescape.” Tippeconnic said he hopes people come out to see him work when he returns to finish the mural in November. He also said the people of OKC should be proud of the mural culture that is sprouting in the city. “All you have to do is stand there in Bricktown where the [Exhibit C] mural is going up, take a couple of steps to the left and see them everywhere,” he said. “They’re beautiful.” Keep updated on the mural’s progress at facebook.com/exhibitcgallery.

Co m e dy

Landing laughs

The annual Funniest Person in Oklahoma City competition will soon crown a new winner. By Ben Luschen

Despite likely protests from “pull my finger” uncles across the metro area, a true “funniest person in Oklahoma City” will be crowned this weekend. Eight local comics will deliver their best 10-minute stand-up sets for the title in the championship round of OKC Comedy’s third annual Funniest Person in Oklahoma City competition. The fun begins 8 p.m. Saturday at ACM@UCO Performance Lab, 329 E. Sheridan Ave., and the public is invited to attend. Admission is $15-$18. This year’s final includes comedians Anthony Cavazos, James Nghiem, Mack O. Henson, Steven Patchin, Alex Sanchez, Amanda Stonebarger, Lenny Vanhorn and Jeramy Westbrook. Nghiem and Henson were also finalists in last year’s competition. OKC Comedy, the city’s most prominent comedy booking and production company, launched its funniest person competition series in 2015. Co-founder BradChad Porter said any comedy market that wants to be taken seriously on a national level should have its own annual championship event. “Every large market has a ‘funniest person,’” Porter said. “There’s a ‘funniest person’ in Austin. We thought it would be fun to see if local comics were interested in it.” There were already a few other competitive comedy events in the metro area before OKC Comedy began its funniest person series. Longtime Norman comedy hub Othello’s Italian Restaurant, 434 Buchanan Ave., annually crowns its own stand-up champ. OKC’s Loony Bin, 8503 N. Rockwell Ave., awards a city title, though Porter said its event is not always held each year.

The process

In the preliminary rounds, comics are given five minutes to perform. The best 16 scores are advanced to the semifinal round, with two additional invites going to the comics who brought the most fans and supporters to their preliminary set. Comics are given seven minutes in the semifinals with the top eight scores advancing to the final round. OKC Comedy’s founders Porter, Spencer Hicks and Cameron Buchholtz are among the city’s most prominent performers, but all three exclude themselves from competition. Last year’s winner was Zach Smith, a local comedy scene veteran who Porter said has been doing standup for around eight years. The event’s first year produced a surprise winner in CJ Lance, who at the time had only been practicing stand-up for a few years. Porter said in the past it has been interesting to see how judges react to comics when they’re removed from the context of the city’s larger scene. “The comics are getting the opinion of an outside voice,” he said. “It’s a voice that hasn’t seen their act or seen their act compared to anyone else’s act.” Porter said while the nature of comedy makes comics somewhat competitive, they are not competitive to the point of not being friendly. Through the competition’s semifinal stage, many eliminated comedians showed up to support their friends and out of general curiosity. “That doesn’t happen a ton,” Porter said. “In the scene in general, you don’t see a lot of comics showing up for a showcase that they’re not on unless they just happen to be free. It doesn’t happen in large numbers.” Porter said since the inaugural year,

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The finalists for this year’s Funniest Person in Oklahoma City competition include top from left Alex Sanchez, Mack O. Henson, James Nghiem and Amanda Stonebarger and bottom from left Lenny Vanhorn, Jeramy Westbrook, Steven Patchin and Anthony Cavazos. | Photos provided

said. “That’s not always the same from year to year.” Visit okccomedy.com or facebook. com/okccomedy.

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he has noticed an exponential quality increase in the competition’s semifinal stage — particularly the two-night qualifying round earlier this month. “Those were two really great comedy shows,” he said. “Take the contest out of it, those were really, really good comedy shows. I would pay to see those shows.” Ideally, OKC Comedy would like the Funniest Person in OKC title to become a comic’s stepladder to getting booked for other opportunities around the country. Porter said what the competition has shown is that the local comedy scene doesn’t have any concrete tiers of talent. People get funnier and become less funny. “Funniest” is a title that must be both earned and maintained. “It’s not always a static thing,” he

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Fun & Frights

Halloween events & activities for little ones. This section continues in the Oct. 25 Book your ad space today! Call 405.528.6000 or email specialsections@okgazette.com.

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Halloween Candy Buy Back November 1st • 9am-7pm Help us support our troops by bringing your unopened Halloween candy to our office. We will, in turn, ship it to our troops in care packages with the help of Operation Gratitude and Blue Star Mothers. Children who attend the event will receive $1 per pound of candy (up to 10), a free toothbrush, and coupons to local eateries.

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ARTS & CULTURE

Scaly scares

Guests will spot plenty of interesting specimens at OKC Zoo’s Creatures and Cocktails event. By Ben Luschen

While the actual animals will be kept in cages and behind glass, expect to see plenty of wild costumed creeps and critters at this year’s Creatures and Cocktails event. It might be at the Oklahoma City Zoological Park and Botanical Garden, but no one under 21 is allowed at this Halloween party. Creatures and Cocktails is returning for its second annual event 7-10 p.m. Friday at the zoo, 2101 NE 50th St. Party attendees can enjoy drinks, food, games, a wine pull, a costume contest and tunes from a guest DJ. OKC Zoo marketing and special events manager Brianne Hinojosa said the event is for anyone looking for a festive, costumed time out this Halloween season. “It seems to go toward that millennial-type crowd,” she said, “but it’s really for anyone that’s 21 or older and wants to celebrate Halloween.” Tickets for the event are $45 and include two drink tickets and food. Additional drink tickets are $5 per

drink or $3 per beer. Among the guest’s drink offerings will be its special “voodoo punch,” a spooky misting drink that includes citrus vodka, grenadine, ginger ale, lemon-lime Kool-Aid, rum, Sprite and dry ice. Designated driver tickets are available for $15. The first 500 tickets purchased include a free event shirt printed by Oklahoma Shirt Company. Net proceeds will go toward OKC Zoo’s conservation efforts. There is no need to pay for admission to the zoo outside of the party ticket, as the zoo will otherwise be closed for business. The party will take place near the Herpetarium (reptile house) on the west side of the zoo. For the night, the Herpetarium will transform into a haunted house-like environment sure to keep guests on their toes. While the snakes and reptiles normally found in the enclosure would be enough to frighten some on their own, guests can rest easy knowing all

the animals remain behind glass. “We want to scare people, but not that bad,” Hinojosa said. Creatures and Cocktails’ primary draw is its costume contest, which includes individual, pair and group costume categories. Those hoping to compete must register in advance — $5 per individual, $10 per pair and $20 per group. Winners from each category will receive a $50 zoo gift card as a prize (one for the individual, two for the pair and up to six for the group). A grand prize winner will be chosen from the top pick in each category for a two-night getaway package at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas. When Creatures and Cocktails launched last year, it immediately proved itself to be a popular draw, bringing in more than 200 guests looking to cut loose for Halloween.

In addition to food, drink and games, Creatures and Cocktails guests can also enjoy music provided by a DJ. | Photo Oklahoma City Zoological Park and Botanical Garden / provided

The city is full of Halloween themed events, but many of them have a youth or teen slant to them. Hinojosa said Creatures and Cocktails is an attempt to fill the void for an older but hip crowd. “There’s really not an all-adult Halloween-type event in the city,” she said, “so that’s really what we’re trying to do.” Visit zoofriends.org to register.

Creatures and Cocktails 7-10 p.m. Friday Oklahoma City Zoological Park and Botanical Garden | 2101 NE 50th St. zoofriends.org | 405-425-0618 $15-$45

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Pop con

Wizard World Comic Con brings celebrities, cosplayers and pop culture to Oklahoma City. By Ian Jayne

Being a fan of a TV show, a movie or a comic book might seem like a largely solo pursuit, but given the right context, it can be the foundation for shared enthusiasm and community. One such place is Wizard World Comic Con (WWCC), which comes to Oklahoma City Oct. 27-29 at Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens. WWCC, a multi-city tour, first came to Tulsa in 2014 and returned for the next two years before moving to Oklahoma City. “It’s our inaugural show in Oklahoma City,” said Jerry Milani, public relations manager for Wizard World. “We hope that fans who loved it in Tulsa will follow us down the highway and come out for this, as well.” Part of the event’s appeal is its broad scope. WWCC offers a wide variety of celebrity photo opportunities, vendor Wizard World Comic Con features vendors, panels with celebrity guests, a costume contest and children’s activities. | Photo Jeff Milo / provided

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Wizard World Comic Con will feature ample opportunities to cosplay as favorite pop culture characters. | Photo Sidney Vinson Photography / provided

booths and children’s activities such as face-painting and a kids’ costume contest. Celebrity guests at the event include Kate Beckinsale, Val Kilmer, Jewel Staite (Firefly), and several cast members from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, including Charisma Carpenter, Nicholas Brendon, James Marters and Emma Caulfield. Photo and autograph opportunities are available for purchase. WWCC will feature 50-60 hours of panel programming with celebrities and on topics such as the entertainment industry or learning to draw. The event also includes a show stage with musicians, dancers and magicians, Milani said. Some of the major fan communities frequently in attendance at WWCC are the Ghostbusters, Star Trek and Star Wars fandoms, but Milani said that fans of all different genres attend. “We want Wizard World Comic Con

to be a celebration for fans of everything pop culture,” Milani said. “That can mean whatever they like in pop culture.” Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet writers and illustrators for shows such as American Gods, Ren & Stimpy and El Diablo. In addition, local comic book artist Brian Winkeler will be debuting three new titles: D.I.S.C.O.U.N.T. Force, Agent G and Decembo, The Powerful. Winkeler said the inspiration for D.I.S.C.O.U.N.T. Force came from a creative shopping excursion. “I teamed up with local illustrator Sam Washburn and local designer Clint Walkingstick to do a 16-page comic starring shitty action figures we bought at Dollar Tree,” Winkeler told Oklahoma Gazette. “We’ll be selling the book as well as packages that include the book, an action figure and fun swag like stickers and pins.” When not meeting the people in and behind their favorite shows and movies, WWCC attendees can always dress like them, as the event is known for its culture of cosplaying. Many cosplayers choose to make their own costumes — sometimes multiple outfits over the weekend. “You never know, when the show starts, what people are going to dress up as,” Milani said. On Saturday night, Milani said, fans become the stars. WWCC will host a costume contest where attendees can show off their creativity and even win prizes. Cosplayer Brit Bliss and creator and publisher Victor Dandridge will judge the competition. “You see the pride people take in working for weeks and weeks on a costume,” Milani said. “We’re pretty psyched also that it’s leading right into Halloween. People are going to be in the spirit already.” Milani said attendees will be able to purchase figurines, unique items and show specials from WWCC’s various exhibitors. “Every different vendor, you’re going to find different things, and I think that’s part of the fun,” Milani said. “It’s that whole immersion of everything in the pop culture world, and a big part of it is what people can find.” Vendor booths at WWCC include Doo Dilly Designs, Gem City Books, Case Crusaders, Dolls Gone Wrong & The Wicked Lady, J & R Fan Art and the Harry Potter-themed Gillygoods Emporium. From meeting actors and illustrators to mingling with other cosplayers, WWCC creates a culture of community between fans who might suddenly find themselves surrounded by people with the same set of interests. “Fans of anything… they’re all welcome to express that at Wizard World, and there’s going to be lots of other people doing the same thing, which is I think the greatest part of it,” Milani said.

Wizard World Comic Con 4-9 p.m. Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 29 Cox Convention Center | 1 Myriad Gardens wizardworld.com $39.95-$79.95

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Co m m u n i t y

AT THE ELMS

Wise move

High school student Advait Patel is the first International Master chess player from Oklahoma. By Jeremy Martin

Advait Patel, the first Oklahoman to achieve the rank of international master from the World Chess Federation, has long since forgotten one of the formative experiences of his life. “I don’t remember my first game, but I’m pretty sure I lost,” Patel said. “I remember my first tournament game, not my first, like, casual game. I guess I wasn’t as into it back then.” He was 7 years old when he first learned to play chess on a trip to India. His grandfather taught him the game to keep him occupied when it was too hot to go outside. For Patel, now a 15-year-old junior at Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, that was half a lifetime ago. Now that Patel, who won the annual Oklahoma Open State Championship for the fourth year in a row in June, is on track to become a grandmaster, other people remember and track his tournament games for him. A quick Internet search of Patel’s name brings up several sites chronicling not only his wins, losses and draws in high-stakes matches, but in some cases every move in algebraic notation. At least one site allows users to play against a computer-controlled opponent said to simulate Patel’s playing style. To prepare for high-stakes tournament games, Patel studies profiles of his opponents, looking for trends and potential weaknesses. Paying close attention to past games is now “almost a necessity.” “The smallest advantage is usually decisive at my level,” he said. “The margin of error is so small. … It’s pretty difficult to play at an international level.” Competition is fierce, but players are typically friendly or at least courteous, unless they know each other well enough to kid around. “Usually between friends we trash talk and stuff,” Patel said. “There’s kind

Advait Patel, the highest-ranked chess player in Oklahoma, is a 15-year-old high school student from Midwest City. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

of teasing and stuff, but it wasn’t any serious stuff. For most players, it’s pretty formal. No one will talk before the game, and then after the game, people will be nice to each other. They’re not going to, obviously, diss anyone.” Patel also studies his own past games in search of ways to improve himself. “No one plays a perfect game,” he said. “There’s obviously mistakes in every game. You can always look at those and try to avoid them later, and that’s what I try to do with my games.”

The smallest advantage is usually decisive at my level. The margin for error is so small ... It’s pretty difficult to play at an international level. Advait Patel Though he studies his opponents and himself, Patel said he does not spend too much time poring over classic chess matches, preferring to focus on the matches ahead of him. “My knowledge of the history of chess is actually not that great,” he said. “I’m more of a player than a historian.” To reach the grandmaster rank, an international master must achieve three “norms,” a designation of high-level play in an official tournament. Patel has already achieved one grandmaster norm and is the first chess player in Oklahoma

to do so. He must also achieve a World Chess Federation rating of 2500. His current rank of 2448 makes him the highest rated player in the state. He has also set a record by winning the state championship four consecutive times. At this point in his chess career, Patel has to go out of state to advance any further toward becoming a grandmaster. “Compared to other states, Oklahoma is not very competitive for chess,” he said. “The people here are really nice, and they’re setting the stage for a lot of initiative for chess, but some other states will have, like, five, 10 grandmasters in the state. Here, where I’m the highestrated player, it’s kind of hard to find competition without traveling really far, to Dallas or St. Louis.” To help cover the cost of traveling to tournaments, Patel’s parents hold fundraisers at Fusion Kitchen, the restaurant they own in Midwest City. While improving his chess game and his world ranking is Patel’s primary focus now, he said he originally began playing competitively just for fun. “I didn’t have a serious attitude toward chess until after I started realizing, ‘OK, maybe I could be pretty good,’” Patel said. “But before that I was just, you know, whatever, ‘We’ll play a tournament and see what happens. Why not?’” In the first tournament he entered in his former home of Parkersburg, West Virginia, Patel said he lost all his games, but playing David Saville, a chess teacher who saw potential in him, changed Patel’s attitude toward the game. “I got crushed in the game we played,” Patel said, “but eventually, I started getting the hang of it. Two years later, I started beating him in practice games, and I think that same year, I managed to beat him in the tournament game.” Patel moved to Oklahoma in 2014 and won his first state championship at the age of 11. He credits Saville’s mentorship for his continued passion for chess and for putting him on the road to becoming a grandmaster. “I think I would have played like a couple of school tournaments here and there,” Patel said, “but if he didn’t teach me, I don’t think I ever would have gotten this far.” Now, Patel’s every move forward has to be much more calculated than when he was playing for fun. “Chess is way more defined than poker, because there’s more luck that goes into poker,” he said. “So if I want to try something crazy, more often, I’ll just get punished for it.” But the need for serious deliberation is one of Patel’s favorite aspects of chess. “I’m responsible for my decisions,” he said, “and I don’t have to rely on anybody else.”

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ARTS & CULTURE

Cut and paste

Manscape & Massage Clinic takes grooming below the neckline. By Jeremy Martin

If you’re unclear on the meaning of “manscaping,” a fairly recent addition to the lexicon, the Oxford English Dictionary offers an example sentence. “Say what you will about manscaping,” reads the OED, “the woolly mammoth died out for a reason.” Eric Grunewald, chief of operations for Manscape & Massage Clinic, which opened in Oklahoma City’s Automobile Alley on Oct. 2, offered a more straightforward explanation. “The definition is the art of removal of hair from a man’s body,” said Grunewald. Manscape & Massage, 714 N. Broadway Ave., offers shaves, haircuts, body waxing and sugaring — hair removal using a paste made from water, lemon and sugar. The clinic also offers massages, facials, manicures and pedicures. “We decided that we wanted it to be a

more comprehensive location for a man, because as a male, we were noticing that it would almost take all day to groom yourself,” Grunewald said. “You would spend all day driving. There wasn’t really a onestop shop where a man could walk in and get groomed from head to toe.” While other local businesses might offer similar combined services, Grunewald said they are primarily designed for female sensibilities. “We tried to create an atmosphere that was the opposite of a traditional cosmetology center,” he said. Clients at Manscape, for example, get their pedicures while sitting on a leather sofa in front of a TV set. Locally sourced coffee, wine and liquor are available and local art is on display. Manscape cosmetologists utilize an inhouse line of cosmetic products made from a combination of vegan oils including sunflower, olive, saffron and coconut. Eric and husband Ben Grunewald, who serves as Manscape’s chief executive officer, got the idea for the business from their own personal lives. “The inspiration was we’re a same-sex biracial couple, and we noticed that one of the benefits of being a same-sex couple is that you can literally share everything,” Eric Grunewald said. “But we noticed that our cosmetics we were always having to buy double of, and then we also noticed that the textures of our beards and the

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Nick Norris, Joel Robinson, Ben Grunewald and Eric Grunewald staff Manscape & Massage Clinic. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

textures of our hair were different on both of us, and so that led us to do some research on what products work the best on all different varieties of strands of hair.” The Grunewalds, both licensed massage therapists, then spent two years developing the cosmetic products, which are scented with “masculine fragrances” such as leather, aloe and clover, and tobacco and bourbon. Eric Grunewald also stressed that Manscape’s services, which are offered by appointment only, and environment are inclusive to all types of masculinity. In fact, the business’ appeal seems to extend

beyond its original target market. “What we’re finding out is that we created a men’s environment and women are beating down the doors,” Grunewald said. “Women are buying most of our products, they’re using our services and they want their man to get groomed there.” The unexpected clients are a pleasant surprise for the Grunewalds. “We will accept everyone and anyone,” he said. “We want all people to feel welcome.”

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ARTS & CULTURE

Health & Beauty

Look & feel great this holiday season A special advertising section dedicated to businesses that help us feel & look our best.

Publishing November 1 & 8 | Deadline October 25

H ealth

Book your ad space today! Call 405.528.6000 or email specialsections@okgazette.com

SUNDAY, OCT. 29TH 1-5PM

SOUTH OKC S. Robinson & Wiley Post Park OPENSTREETSOKC.COM 32

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Smiles for miles

With its MobileSmiles program, Oklahoma Dental Foundation takes free dental care to the roads — and all across the state. By Ian Jayne

Some might dread a trip to the dentist, but for many, it’s the complete opposite. For Oklahomans in areas without easy access to dental care, going to the dentist might not even be a possibility. Thanks to MobileSmiles Oklahoma, residents all across the state can have access to free dental care. A coordinated effort through the Oklahoma Dental Foundation (ODF) and Delta Dental of Oklahoma Oral Health Foundation, MobileSmiles began in 2005 when some Oklahoma dentists learned about a used fifth-wheel RV that had been outfitted with dental equipment. They also found a similarly converted Winnebago, and the idea was born. In 2006, MobileSmiles became the first program of its kind in Oklahoma. Its services are always free and primarily include extractions and fillings and restorative work when possible. “The ability to do something that requires a lot of follow-up is very challenging,” said John Wilguess, ODF executive director. “We try to make sure that when we see patients in the communities that we go to, we take care of the most immediate and urgent needs those patients have.” MobileSmiles also works with local “site partners” such as other nonprofits, churches and schools to coordinate and schedule appointments in advance. Site partners help defray the costs of running a mobile dental office — about $3,000 a day — through a donation of $1,000 per day, Wilguess said. SoonerCare and other private donors. MobileSmiles treats around 2,4002,600 Oklahomans each year. In 2016, the program provided medical care totaling over $630,000 in value over the course of 216 days in the field. “We really get to the places where there’s just no other option for folks,” Wilguess said.

The MobileSmiles program offers dental care for underserved populations in Oklahoma. | Photo MobileSmiles / provided

Dental Education

MobileSmiles also strives to incorporate dental education — in more ways than one. Initially, the program utilized volunteer dentists, but in 2014 they decided to partner with the University of Oklahoma’s College of Dentistry. “The dental students are required to take a two-week externship away from the college, and so we will have two dental students onboard our mobile units for two weeks at a time,” Wilguess said. Wilguess said a dearth of SoonerCare providers in some areas of the state could mean that those who are technically covered might not have practical access to dental care. MobileSmiles also provides toothbrush kits for children, and its dental providers discuss the importance of brushing. “There’s all these populations of people who live in pain or infection and don’t have to, because dental care can be made available to them,” Wilguess said. “It’s just a matter of changing the culture in Oklahoma to understand that dental care really is of vital health care importance.” ODF also hosts the annual Oklahoma Mission of Mercy, a two-day event that provides free dental treatment, often helping around 2,000 people. The next Oklahoma Mission of Mercy will be held Feb. 2-3, 2018 in Durant. “We are able to go provide those services and try to educate people as we go along,” Wilguess said. Visit mobilesmilesok.com.

H ealth

Good chi

Transcend Wellness builds positive energy with its reiki treatments. By Jeremy Martin

When she first heard about reiki, a method of alternative healing through energy-field manipulation, Megan FifeBoswell was less than impressed. “I was probably a little bit skeptical, you know?” Fife-Boswell said. “It’s kind of like a little like ‘woozy Susie,’ whatever, you know, energy or spirit and all this stuff.” Now the co-owner of Norman’s Transcend Wellness, a recently opened “alternative and holistic health” service center specializing in reiki, Fife-Boswell has since changed her mind. “In my experience of having it done on me and seeing other people’s enlightenment moments in the journeys they’re on, I’ve discovered that, the phrase I like to use is that ‘Everything is spiritual,’” she said. “We’re not talking about anything different; we’re just talking about tapping into yourself and the energy that you have on the inside of you that, for some reason, you’ve been blocking or you’ve been holding back. And I think what we’re finding, or what I’m finding anyway, going from a skeptic to where I am today, is my skepticism was what was holding me back. That was my block.” One of the transformative personal experiences Fife-Boswell witnessed was that of her wife, Ashton Boswell, who began seeking holistic healing methods for her abdominal pains when conventional medicine offered no answers. “I exhausted all my Western medicine options,” Ashton Boswell said, “and so I started looking at alternative things that I would never have tried before like acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, energy work…. I started first having energy sessions done on myself and then once I saw improvement and things started helping that nothing else had helped thus far, I was like ‘Oh, there’s

something here.’ So after that, I actually had to learn it.” Certified as a reiki practitioner in 2015 after traveling to Asheville, North Carolina, to study the hands-on healing method, Boswell received her master certification in January, enabling her to teach reiki classes of her own. “I had the idea that I wanted to be able to give back to people and help them the way reiki helped me,” Ashton Boswell said, “and there wasn’t a whole lot like that here in Oklahoma just because we are behind the times a little bit.”

Rocks on

Fife-Boswell, who also works as a real estate agent, said the scarcity of alternative healing services in the Norman area inspired them to open Transcend Wellness. “We knew that reiki is something that isn’t offered in Oklahoma as much as other parts of the country and world,” she said, “but Eastern medicine is only going to continue to gain traction as other people keep hitting roadblocks and brick walls with Western medicine.” A typical reiki session lasts one hour, but 90- and 120-minute sessions also available. Boswell said new clients can also expect an element of “life-coaching” as she determines the best approach to their specific situations. “Say it’s your first session,” Ashton Boswell said. “We would sit down for like 15, 20 minutes before your session and have a consultation, basically just to see where you’re at energetically, to see what’s been going on with you, what you’ve been doing, what we really need to focus on during the reiki session.” Clients remain fully clothed during the session, which Boswell compared

to acupuncture therapy, with a few notable differences. “Reiki is similar, but instead of needles, we use our hands. Instead of meridians, we’re putting them on your chakras to get the same life force energy to flow through you to be able to heal. People that aren’t sick can have it too, for well-being and balance of mind, body and spirit. People come in all the time just to ground and balance themselves.” For an extra charge, Ashton Boswell will incorporate elements of aromatherapy or crystal therapy into the reiki session. Transcend Wellness also sells healing crystals and sage bundles for smudging, the ritualistic burning of herbs. She said the long-term objective for the business is to branch out into several different types of holistic healing. “The goal is to have a center in Norman that offers multiple alternative therapies all under one roof,” Ashton Boswell said. “An acupuncturist, a nutritionist, massage therapist, an herbologist. Float tanks, salt rooms, a dietician.” Transcend Wellness currently refers clients to other practitioners for these services. The website, where clients can schedule session appointments cautions: “Reiki is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease and is not a substitute for medical care. Please

Reiki incorporates the placement of stones to achieve an effect similar to acupuncture. | Photo Transcend Wellness / provided

consult an appropriate health care practitioner about any medical concerns that you have.” Fife-Boswell said the health service center is also beginning to build a sense of community among its clients, dubbed the Good Vibe Tribe. “I think our mission at Transcend is really to hold a space for people,” she said. “When people start to experience that peace of mind and heart and body and start owning themselves again, they’re really excited to know that there’s other people like them who aren’t OK with just the grind of daily life but really want to tap into a deeper meaning outside of maybe church or religion or something like that. So we’ve also really begun to create kind of a small community of people male and female, young and old who really like to interact with one another.”

HALLOWEEN ISSUE Take it from the experts, this issue will have you saying “BOO-ya!” From the scariest adult haunts to the best kiddie corn mazes, Gazette’s Halloween Issue highlights all OKC has to offer leading up to All Hallows’ Eve.

PUBLISHING OCTOBER 25, 2017 AD DEADLINE OCTOBER 18, 2017 CALL OR EMAIL TO RESERVE AD SPACE OR FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

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ARTS & CULTURE H ealth

Cool down

Many OKC residents are turning to cryotheraphy for some ice-cold relief. By Lea Terry

Subfreezing temperatures might not sound soothing, but for cryotherapy enthusiasts, they’re the ideal solution to post-workout discomfort and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. While the technology is relatively new to Oklahoma, one local facility is having so much success it recently opened a second location just months after opening its first. “It’s really big on the East and West coasts, and it’s really big in Europe,” said Jonathan Jordan, owner of OK Cryo. “This is a technology that’s been around since the late 1970s, and it’s been gaining popularity, but it’s just getting to the United States.” Cryotherapy is essentially a variation on the standard ice pack used to treat everything from injuries to post-workout soreness. OK Cryo opened its first location in September 2016 in The Weight Room at The Lighthouse, 3333 W. Hefner Road. For its second location, it decided to stick with the gym atmosphere, since the service is becoming so popular with athletes and workout enthusiasts. Its facility at Red Rock Fitness, 2137 NW 138th St., opened in February. OK Cryo partnered with Revitalize, which provides intravenous (IV) infusion of multivitamins, antioxidants and supplements to treat multiple conditions, including hangovers, post-workout discomfort and dehydration.

Diverse services

The partnership came about after Jordan learned of Revitalize’s services and met up with Revitalize owner Joshua Gore, a medical doctor, to discuss joining forces. “We were looking to build a health and wellness atmosphere, so I think our businesses go hand-in-hand,” Gore said.

The use of cold temperatures to treat various ailments has been standard practice for several years, ranging from using liquid nitrogen to freeze off lesions to applying an ice pack to an injured ankle. The benefits of this localized cryotherapy are often immediate and obvious, but now whole-body cryotherapy has gained popularity as a method of alleviating the pain and soreness associated with exercise and with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. At OK Cryo, clients spend between one and three minutes in the cryotherapy chamber, which is cooled to as low as -200 degrees Fahrenheit, and the client’s skin temperature is lowered by 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Do your research; come by and ask questions. Jonathan Jordan Jordan said the majority of OK Cryo’s clients are between 18 and 45, though the service can benefit people well into their 70s. The company has several clients in their 50s and beyond who use cryotherapy to ease their rheumatoid arthritis. It also caters to fitness enthusiasts including weightlifters and people who practice CrossFit. At Revitalize, Gore said the bulk of the company’s clientele is between 18 and 50 and includes many young professionals in addition to a few NBA players treated for dehydration. “They range anywhere from people who have had one too many the night before to people who come in for multi-

for

vitamin infusions because flu season has been really rough this year,” Gore said. Revitalize also offers Botox and dermal fillers such as JuvéDerm. Gore runs the business along with wife Sara Gore, a nurse practitioner trained in dermatology, and he noted that his staff is comprised of paramedics and nurse practitioners in case any prospective clients have a “needle allergy.”

Cutting edge

There were only a handful of cryotherapy and IV infusion centers in Oklahoma when both businesses started. While many people were aware of both services in general, they didn’t always know much about them or that they were available in Oklahoma. Jordan and Gore are working on spreading the word about the benefits of these services and on educating the public on what sets their companies apart from others in Oklahoma. OK Cryo was the first in the state to use the Impact Cryotherapy machine, a newer and more advanced model, while Revitalize will make house calls, including to hotel rooms and other public places. Gore also stressed that Revitalize aims to enhance their clients’ overall health. “Being located in a gym and working with athletes, we’re not just the proverbial hangover service; we look to really promote overall well-being,” Gore said.

Free t! Even

The cryotherapy chamber at OK Cryo can be cooled to as low as -200 degrees Fahrenheit. | Photo OK Cryo / provided

Revitalize offers several customized packages, including one specifically for migraines. Its original hangover relief package costs $100 and includes IV fluids along with medications for nausea and headache. Other hangover relief packages include The Works for $150 and The Executive for $180. The company also offers several packages designed specifically for training and overall health, including a wellness package that includes IV fluids and high-dose Vitamin C and one with a fat buster and energy booster. At OK Cryo, clients can purchase individual sessions or packages. An individual session costs $45, while a package of three sessions costs $120 and a package of five costs $150. A first-time session costs $25. Discounts are available for group sessions and for training performance sessions for sports teams. For anyone unsure if cryotherapy or IV infusions are right for them or safe for them to use, Jordan suggests they do their due diligence before making a decision. “Do your research; come by and ask questions,” Jordan said. “There’s never a dumb question when it comes to your health and well-being.” Visit okcryo.com or revitalize405. com.

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Tuesday, Oct. 24 | 4p-7p | 15 E. California | (405) 235-3533 photobooth | costumes | CANDY | pumpkin painting | FREE

TH & F 10:30-5PM • SAt 10:30-4PM 1900 Linwood • OKC • 405.232.0759

CALENDAR Enjoy a Prohibition-era barrelhouse featuring live blues music, a mingling area with food, bar and dance lessons, an exclusive speakeasy featuring live jazz music and an open bar and more, 7-10 p.m. Oct. 20. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, okhistory.org/gala. FRI

are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

BOOKS Oklahoma’s Most Notorious Cases Vol. 2, join author Kent Frates during a signing of his stories about outlaws, murderers and the law enforcement professionals who hunted them down stretching across the state from Seminole County to the small town of Geronimo to Oklahoma City and Tulsa, 6 p.m. Oct. 18. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. WED

FILM Johnny Guitar, (USA, 1954, Nicholas Ray) after helping a wounded gang member, a strong-willed female saloon owner is wrongly suspected of murder and bank robbery by a lynch mob, 1 p.m. Oct. 18. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum. org. WED Clash of the Titans Film Screening and Lecture, a special event with guests Vanessa Harryhausen, daughter of the stop-motion animation legend and Connor Heaney, collections manager for The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation for a first-of-its-kind lecture and Q&A session, 6 p.m. Oct. 20. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. FRI Eraserhead, (USA, 1977, David Lynch) Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child, 8 p.m. Oct. 20. 21c Museum Hotel, 900 W. Main St., 405-982-6900, 21cmuseumhotels. com. FRI Sergeant Rutledge, (USA, 1960, John Ford) respected black cavalry Sergeant Brax Rutledge stands court-martial for raping and killing a white woman and murdering her father, his superior officer, 1 p.m. Oct. 25. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. WED

HAPPENINGS Pumpkinville, celebrate the fall season with a children’s garden and marvel at its transformation into a festive fall wonderland featuring 2,000 pumpkins, a hay bale maze and more, through Oct. 22. Myriad Botanical Gardens, Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. WED-SUN Haunt the River, enjoy the decorated boat, haunted tunes, light snacks and cash bar during a unique Halloween activity only for adults only, through Oct. 26. Oklahoma River Cruises, 1503 Exchange Drive, 405-702-7755, okrivercruises.com. Terror on 10th Street Haunted House, face your fears in an actual house of horrors where you will find a new nightmare around every corner. Take a guided tour of the home and learn the ghostly history behind the house of horrors, through Oct. 31. 10th Street Haunted House, 2005 NW 10th St., 405-2321816, facebook.com/terroron10thstreet. OKC Town Hall Lecture Series, featuring speakers on topics of enhancing health and wellness, U.S. foreign

Whodunit Monster Mash Mystery Enjoy delicious Tex-Mex while Whodunit Dinner Theater flips their wigs with scary murder mystery madness. 6:15-9 p.m. Friday at Ted’s Café Escondido, 6900 N. May Ave., Fritz Freakinstine, Harry the Werewolf, Skip Scoop and Inkblot, Freakinstine’s faithful assistant, announce a special discovery. Seats are limited. Tickets are $24-$48 and include dinner and the show. Visit whodunit.net or call 405420-3222. FRIDAY Photo Whodunit Dinner Theater / provided

policy, national defense, enlightening students and teachers, an insight into Muslim founding principles and geopolitical strategies. Join Ambassador John R. Bolton this week, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 19. St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 222 NW 15th St., 405-232-1371, okctownhall.com. THU Historic Preservation Review Committee meeting, the HPRC hears presentations on NRHP nominations from SHPO staff and consultants; receives comments from owners of properties proposed for nomination; listens to public comments and concerns; and formulates recommendations, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org/historycenter. THU Kiln to Table, a focus on functional ceramics including bowls, mugs, vessels, casseroles and other items by Buck Dollarhide, Daniel Harris and others 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 19-21. CMG Art Gallery, 1104 NW 30th St., 405-256-3465, cmgartgallery.com. THU-SAT Mix on Main, stroll down Main Street for a family-friendly festival offering something for everyone. Kids of all ages will enjoy outdoor fun with great music, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, glow golf, henna tattoos and more, Oct. 20. Downtown Norman, 122 E. Main St., Norman, 405-637-6225, downtownnorman.com. FRI Teddy Roosevelt Re-enactor Performance, experience the 26th president through the love of nature throughout his entire life. As president, Roosevelt used his authority to establish 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, 4 national game preserves, 5 national parks and 18 national monuments, 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 20. Will Rogers Park, 3400 N. Portland Ave., 405-946-2739, okc.gov/ parks. FRI A Night in the Life: The Roaring Twenties, join Oklahoma Historical Society for an immersive evening in the roaring 1920s for a special fundraiser.

Silver Soiree: Speakeasy, step into the sparkling, swinging world of a 1920s speakeasy, where flappers dance the night away while sipping scandalous cocktails smuggled in by rum runners and bootleggers. Dress in your finest glad rags and enjoy live swing music and theatrical performances while partaking of sumptuous hors d’oeuvres and complimentary libations, 7-11 p.m. Oct. 20. The Railhouse, 102 W. Eufaula St., Norman, 405-3254938, fjjma.ou.edu . FRI Downtown Edmond Historic Tours, learn about the structures and residents throughout downtown on this exciting and educational walking tour, Oct. 21. Downtown Edmond, 28 E. Main St., Edmond, 405359-4483, downtownedmondok.com. SAT National Weather Festival, featuring hourly weather balloon launches with local TV meteorologists, children’s activities, emergency response vehicle and equipment displays, weather-themed superheroes The Weather Friends and other weather-related information and products, Oct. 21. National Weather Center, 120 David L. Boren Blvd., Norman, 405-325-3095, ou. edu. SAT Barktoberfest, dress your pet up in their favorite costume and enter them in a contest, adopt your new furry family member, grab a snack at one of the food trucks, shop for all of your pet needs at various vendors and more, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 21. FNB Community Bank, 2911 S. Air Depot Blvd., Midwest City, 405-732-4571, fnbmwc.com. SAT

Beginning Winemaking Demo, participate in a demonstration placing a basic 6 gallon wine ingredient kit together while learning from professionals, 2 p.m. Oct. 21. The Brew Shop, 2916 N. Penn Ave., 405-528-5193, thebrewshopokc.com. SAT Oklahoma Wine Walk & Brew Fest, enjoy a showcasing of Oklahoma wineries, breweries, craft beer tastings and merchants in the shopping district of Brookhaven. Choose from a selection of food trucks while listening to live entertainment and local shopping, 2-7 p.m. Oct. 21. Brookhaven Village, 3700 W. Robinson Ave., Norman, 405-232-6552, oklahomawinewalk.com. SAT Dinner Party, executive chef from Scratch Kitchen & Cocktails Jacque Methvin creates various menu items; lemon orzo soup, whole roasted chicken with root vegetables and more, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23. The International Pantry, 1618 W. Lindsey St., Norman, 405-360-0765, intlpantry.com. MON Autumn Entertaining, join Josh Valentine Executive chef at Carlton Landing, for a twist on traditional autumn meals featuring menu items sweet potato gnocchi gratin, braised short ribs with grit cakes, holiday pastry parcels and more 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24. The International Pantry, 1618 W. Lindsey St., Norman, 405-360-0765, intlpantry.com. TUE

Fall Wanderlust Pop-Up Shops, featuring over 85 local shops and vendors, food trucks, lawn games, a pumpkin patch and more joined by The Big Friendly Beer Bus, El Potosino on Wheels, Rolling Cafe and many others, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 21. Wheeler District Ferris Wheel, 1701 S. Western Ave., 405-655-8455, wheelerdistrict.com. SAT OECU Norman’s Fall Festival, enjoy food, games, candy, contests, prizes and so much more during this family-friendly festival, 5-7 p.m. Oct. 21. OECU Norman, 1251 Alameda St., Norman, 405-722-2234, oecu.com. SAT Pumpkinville Halloween Party: Garden Monster Bash, the monsters at this Halloween party are definitely more friendly than frightening. Join for ghoulish garden games, eerie entertainment and devilishly good treats. There are prizes for those who wear their creepy, crawly and cute costumes, 6-8 p.m. Oct. 21. Myriad Botanical Gardens, Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, myriadgardens.com. SAT Fall Bulb Workshop and Sale, the Oklahoma Gardeners Association presents a free workshop with keynote speaker Schroeder Wilson while planning your gorgeous spring garden display, 9:30 a.m.-noon Oct. 21. Will Rogers Garden Center, 3400 NW 36th St., 405-943-0827, okc.gov/recreation. SAT Pooch Parade, wind down the fall season with spooky music, OKC Disc Dogs performance, booths, puppicinos donated by Starbucks and our parade of pooches. Special guest judges present prizes to the best and most creatively dressed pooches, 2-3 p.m. Oct. 22. Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-4457080, myriadgardens.com. SUN The Turkish Immigrant Experience in Germany, join Dr. John Hitz for a look into the complex relationship between these two great countries, touching upon cultural crossover, statesmanship, immigration and labor, Oct. 25. Max Chambers Library, UCO Campus, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, 405-974-2000, uco.edu. WED

FOOD Taste of Western, eat, sip and shimmy all in the name of beautification for Western Avenue during the 15th year of culinary exploration. Enjoy cuisine from beloved restaurants and beverages from wine and beer vendors, 6-9 p.m. Oct. 19. Will Rogers Theater, 4322 N. Western Ave., 405-437-6566, tasteofwestern.com. THU Carne Diem 2017, raise funds for United Way while eating your favorite fall-time food during VI Marketing and Branding’s 15th Annual Chili Cook Off. Choose from over sixty styles of chili, live music, a pepper-eating contest and more, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Oct. 20. VI Marketing and Branding, 125 Park Ave., 405-525-0055, vimarketingandbranding.com. FRI

An Affair of the Heart The annual shopping event is back with bountiful arts, crafts and collectibles. Shop your heart out at State Fair Park, 3001 General Pershing Blvd., Friday-Sunday and find home decor, accessories and much more. Admission is $8 and can be reused throughout the weekend. For online tickets and information, visit anaffairoftheheart.com. FRIDAY-Sunday Photo An Affair of the Heart/provided

An Evening With Tyson Meade: A Dinner Show, enjoy an unforgettable night of the solo musical stylings of Tyson Meade and a dinner included with the purchase of your ticket consisting of a house salad with oregano vinaigrette paired with a winter squash risotto and chicken, 7-11:30 p.m. Oct. 20. VZD’s Restaurant & Bar, 4200 N. Western Ave., 405602-3006, vzds.com. FRI

Creatures and Cocktails, celebrate with Ghouls and Goblins for a frighteningly fun Halloween Party including food, games, a costume contest, live music and tours of our haunted Herpetarium, 7-10 p.m. Oct. 20. Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Place, 405425-0618, zoofriends.org. FRI

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

Midtown Walkabout Experience Midtown on foot while enjoying all that the district’s merchants have to offer. 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Midtown Walkabout features artists and performers, live music, fall-themed activities, face painting, discounts, giveaways and an MVP photo booth providing printed photos for #MidtownWalkabout hashtag users. Visit downtownokc.com. SATURDAY Photo Downtown OKC / provided

YOUTH Chester’s 2017 Pumpkin Patch, between hayrides, a petting zoo, giant slides, a three-acre maze and more, you are sure to make many memories at the farm this fall and head home with a free pumpkin from the patch, through Oct. 26. Chester’s Party Barn and Farm, 5201 Cimarron Road NW., Piedmont, 405-373-1595, chesterspartybarn.com. Fall Break Camps, enjoy youth fall camp activities in Hip Hop Hooray!, Street Rhythm and Dance and Graffiti Animation with instructors teaching dance, fashion and art based on ‘80s hip-hop and the current exhibition Not For Sale: Graffiti Culture in Oklahoma, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. through Oct. 20. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-951-0000, okcontemporary.org. Turn the Town Upside Down, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and Oklahoma Children’s Theatre welcome all their friends from fantasy land to the transformed Prosperity Junction Western town. Begin Halloween with fantasy and imaginative, kid-friendly activities, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 21. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org. SAT

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CALENDAR Elizabeth Brown: Synthesis (Re)Action, sculptor and mixed media artist known for her abstract depiction of biological forms, rich in surface and color with a focus in organic sculpture, using synthetic materials that reference natural shapes and surfaces remaining elusive in their definition, through October 26th. Melton Gallery, 100 N. University Drive, Edmond, 405974-2000, uco.edu.

North Pointe Fall Festival, enjoy activities for the children, professional face painting, a balloon artist, large inflatables, an outdoor movie, fun games, cotton candy, pop corn, snow cones, lots of candy and more, 6-8 p.m. Oct. 25. North Pointe Baptist Church, 5300 NW 220th St., Edmond, 405-3489935, northpointe.tv. WED Teacher Appreciation Month, to celebrate teacher appreciation month, all pre-K through 12th grade educators and their families visit the museum for free, through Oct. 31. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405325-4712, samnoblemuseum.ou.edu.

Fluvial Terra and Book Arts, featuring paper and installation work by Megan Singelton that was inspired by her travel west from Missouri to Oklahoma and Kelly Campbell Berry, who resurrects beauty in salvaged books, through Oct. 28. [Artspace] at Untitled, 1 NE Third St., 405-815-6665, artspaceatuntitled.org.

PERFORMING ARTS

Fresh Start: Work by Artists Experiencing Homelessness, an exhibit of work by those participating in Fresh stART, a program of the Homeless Alliance and City Care designed to provide people experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma City with a supportive environment for creating art. The program provides a potential source of income, manages emotional issues, develops skills and more, through October 29. The Paseo Plunge, 3010 Paseo, 405-315-6224, paseoplunge.com.

Suite Surrender, two of Hollywood’s biggest divas have descended upon the luxurious Palm Beach Royale Hotel in 1942 for their wartime performance. One tiny problem arises: the two, who have a legendary feud going, are assigned to the same suite, through Oct. 22. Jewel Box Theatre, 3700 N. Walker Ave., 405-521-1786, jewelboxtheatre.org.

George Oswalt, Elizabeth Hahn and G.L. August Loessberg Three longtime friends and respected artists exhibit their works together for the first time at JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave. View modern realist George Oswalt, figurative painter Elizabeth Hahn and abstract photographer G.L. August Loessberg through Nov. 1. Admission is free. Visit jrbartgallery.com. Wednesday-WEdnesday, ongoing Image JRB Art at the Elms/Provided

listings

continued from page 35 Fall Y’all - Paint a Pumpkin Day, enjoy free family fun including crafts and story time, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 21. Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Gaylord-Pickens Museum, 1400 Classen Drive, 405-235-4458, oklahomahof.com. SAT Fall Festivities Fireworks, after the farm closes, stick around for a beautiful fireworks show during the cool fall nights. Every show is different for a perfect ending to a fun-filled day with your family, Oct. 21-27. Orr Family Farm, 14400 S. Western Ave., 405-799-3276, orrfamilyfarm.com.

Pumpkin Patch, enjoy a day of trains, pumpkin picking, games, giveaways, crafts and activities for all ages, through Oct. 31. The Gate Church, 7700 N. Council Road, 405-728-7700, thegatechurch.tv. Fall Y’all - Super Hero Day and Statehood Day Celebration, enjoy free family fun including crafts and story time, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 19. Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Gaylord-Pickens Museum, 1400 Classen Drive, 405235-4458, oklahomahof.com. THU

Gallow Walkers, a paranormal folk opera of a twisted tale about a hangman/werewolf and a bordello singer/vampire. See the dark side of love: obsession, shame, lust, jealousy and wrath, 8 p.m. through Oct. 28. Oklahoma Shakespeare on Paseo, 2920 Paseo, michaeltoddmusic.com. Rock of Ages, a high-energy rock musical built around classic rock songs from the ‘80s. This worldwide hit musical takes you back to the times of big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos and sporting even bigger hair, through Oct. 29 Lyric Theatre, 1727 NW 16th St., 405-524-9312, lyrictheatreokc.com. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, join The Boom for an interactive sing-a-long version of your favorite Halloween themed performance, 8 p.m. through Oct. 31. The Boom, 2218 NW 39th St., 405-601-7200, theboomokc.com. Soul of the Underground, an evening of multimedia performances inspired by Not For Sale taking place in the galleries combining spoken-word poetry, hip-hop and dynamic movement to celebrate and give voice to the exhibition’s concerns with urban history, outsider culture and social consciousness, 6-9 p.m. Oct. 19. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-951-0000, okcontemporary.org. THU Santa Fe Desert Chorale: American Voices, enjoy a program of American works from throughout the span of history, featuring beloved folk songs from choral heritage and Reflections, a 2016 commission by Jake Runestad. The composition of the chorale is national in scope and the ensemble is recognized among the finest American chamber choirs, 7-9 p.m. Oct. 20. St. Paul’s Cathedral, 127 NW 7th St., 505-988-2282, desertchorale.org. FRI Swan Lake, set to the hauntingly beautiful Tchaikovsky score, experience the much-loved tale of Odette, a beautiful maiden who is transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer, and the prince who swears his enduring love for her, Oct. 20-22. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. FRI-SUN

Early Explorers Fall Break Science Camp: Bing, Bang, Boom!, welcoming back the Pre-K camp program in a big way with an orchestra of noise discovering what makes a sound, making music with water and which drum is the loudest, 9 a.m. Oct. 19-20. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. THU-FRI Explorers Fall Break Science Camp: To the Moon and Back!, kids in grades 1-3 will take a rock-it science adventure to outer space and back to Earth again. From comets and meteorites to stalactites and stalagmites, excavate all sorts of quarry queries. Conduct mineral tests, explore plate tectonics, create fossils and become experts at identifying rocks from Earth and space, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 19-20. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. THU-FRI Innovators Fall Break Science Camp: Chemistry and Crime - Forensics 101, kids in grades 4-6 will experience hands-on forensic science activities in this suspense-filled camp. Collect and analyze evidence, explore finger printing, plaster casting, decoding and more. Once the investigation is complete, campers present their findings to a jury and identify the criminal, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 19-20. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. THU - FRI SMO Storytime Science, children age 6 and under read a story and follow it up with a fun, scientific activity that is included with general admission, 10:30 a.m. Oct. 24. Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, 405-602-6664, sciencemuseumok.org. TUE Brick-Or-Treat, bring your children to Bricktown to trick-or-treat at participating businesses. Enjoy a pumpkin-painting station, free photos from the the SNL Booth, mascots from local teams and great costumes, 4-7 p.m. Oct. 24. Downtown OKC, 211 N. Robinson Ave., 405-235-3500, downtownokc. com. TUE

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Psycho The classic 1960 Alfred Hitchcock film comes to the big screen during Harkins Tuesday Night Classics 7 p.m. Tuesday at Harkins Theatres Bricktown 16, 150 E. Reno Ave. The film stars Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh and Vera Miles. Admission is $5. Visit harkinstheatres.com. TUESDAY Photo Paramount Pictures/provided

Light of Unity Festival, marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, featuring musical performances by a youth choir, a short film debut and refreshments, 3-5 p.m. Oct. 22. UCO Constitution Hall, 100 University Drive, Edmond, facebook.com/BahaiOklahoma200. SUN Kilgen Organ performance, after two years of repair and reconstruction by the American Organ Institute at the University of Oklahoma one of Oklahoma’s most interesting and complex musical instruments now has a home and can be seen in performance, 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 23. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-521-2491, okhistory.org/historycenter. MON

ACTIVE Light The Night Walk, benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in an event celebrating and commemorating lives touched by cancer. Participate in the fundraising event and enjoy food, entertainment, illuminated lanterns and goodies, 5:30-10 p.m. Oct. 20. OKC Devon Boathouse District, 725 S. Lincoln Blvd, 405-9438888, lightthenight.org/ok. FRI

Red Coyote Runtoberfest, a 5K course brought to you by Red Coyote, COOP Aleworks, Brooks Running and Fassler Hall. After the race enjoy a party with adult beverages, giveaways and music, 3-5 p.m. Oct. 22. Fassler Hall, 421 NW 10th St., 405-609-3300, fasslerhall.com. SUN

VISUAL ARTS

Photo Oklahoma Lawyers for Children/provided

This Space is for Messages: Opening Reception, artist Jack Chapman’s exhibition is a realization of the statements on absence, longing and adventure while looking through old post cards. Chapman delves into the feelings of separation and allows these sentiments a space for their messages, 6-9 p.m. Oct. 20. IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-232-6060, iaogallery.org. FRI

Noises Off, a manic menagerie as a cast of itinerant actors rehearses a flop called Nothing’s On. Enjoy the comedy about creating a comedy produced and starring students of the University Theatre and the Helmerich School of Drama at the University of Oklahoma, Oct. 20-29. Reynolds Performing Arts Center, 560 Parrington Oval, Norman, 405-3257370, ou.edu.

Hip Hop Dance Battle, a high-energy class infusing the latest styles of street dancing, breakdancing, popping and locking encouraging students to bring their own individual style and movements to conquer the floor during a dance battle, 12-4 p.m. Oct. 21. Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405-951-0000, okcontemporary.org. SAT

Venetian Ball Join Oklahoma Lawyers for Children at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel,1 Park Ave., to celebrate the group’s 20th Anniversary with a celebrity roast of OLFC’s co-founders. Enjoy a live auction, cocktails and dinner, dancing, casino games and more. Don’t forget to wear masquerade attire for this black tie-optional event. Roast and dinner tickets are $20 and up. Visit olfc. org/venetianball. SATURDAY

The Secret Paintings, a series of 26 large canvases recalling Renaissance and pre-Raphaelite masters in their ambitiousness, complexity and scale, view the works of California artist Michael Pearce, through Oct. 20. Nona Jean Hulsey Gallery, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., 405-208-5229, okcu.edu.

Bert Seabourn: Abstract Expressionist, view works of the painter of Native American subjects, figures, landscapes and other subjects. Working in acrylic, oil and watercolor, Seabourn uses a technique of dripping, smearing and splattering the paint, through Oct. 29. The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., Norman, 405-307-9320, pasnorman.org. Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School with Adele Wolf, whether you’re a professional artist, or occasional doodler there is a spot for you where life-drawing meets burlesque. Performing artists are the models providing a chance to sketch interesting characters in costume while enjoying cocktails in a laid back environment, 6-9 p.m. Oct. 22. The Boom, 2218 NW 39th St., 405-673-6162, adelewolf.com. SUN

OKC Girls Art School Black and White Party Grab your masks, tiaras and creative formal wear for a special event inspired by Truman Capote’s 1966 Black and White Ball 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday at DC on Film Row, 608 W. Sheridan Ave. Admission includes wine, beer, a midnight buffet, raffles, live music and live auctions to raise funds for the OKC Girls Art School. Tickets are $65-$75. Visit okcgirlsartschool.org. FRIDAY Photo OKC Girls Art School/Provided

Submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail them to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

For okg live music

see page 40

EVENT

MUSIC

High priests OKC rap collective Sativa Prophets soars on its debut group album Into the Clouds. By Ben Luschen

Though the group provides plenty of its own verbal acrobatics, to see the Sativa Prophets hip-hop collective perform live is more than watching a group of emcees speaking their best rhymes into a microphone. It is high-octane performance art. The three rappers fronting the Oklahoma City group — Mars Deli (Mauricio Delifanti), Huckwheat (Mike Huckeby) and Rod Malone — have no problem keeping crowds engaged. Their sets can quickly turn into a blur of shirtless flips, crowd surfing, wall climbing, mic cord swinging and wildly whipped hair. “You can ask any one of [the other Prophets] what my dreads taste like, and they’ll tell you,” Huckwheat said during the group’s recent interview with Oklahoma Gazette. Fans can expect a particularly electric performance Friday when Sativa Prophets perform at 51st Street Speakeasy, 1114 NW 51st St., for its Into the Clouds album release show. Garagerock quartet Zoot Suit, unique jazz and metal hybrid Local Man Ruins Everything and Norman experimental hip-hop outfit Flock of Pigs will also perform. With the onstage antics of the group’s three lyricists, it can be easy not to notice the group’s fourth member, producer and DJ Igloo Panda. The stoic foil to a hip-hop hype man, Panda says little but acts as the primary beat architect behind most projects of which the Prophets and its members are part. “I’m basically Oklahoma City’s most turned-down DJ,” he said. “Everyone can’t be crazy.” It might be Panda’s job to keep cool behind the decks, but it is the other three’s job to put on a full, entertaining show. They rarely disappoint. “You don’t leave our shows dry,” Deli said. “If you’re not sweating as much as I’m sweating, you’re not having fun — hands down, period.”

Working together

Sativa Prophets has been an established brand in the local hip-hop community for several years, and while they have released group compilation records, Into the Clouds is the unit’s debut album of all-original material. Each member already has one or more solo albums under their belt, though they frequently collaborate in the studio and perform each other’s songs onstage. An existing familiarity means Into the Clouds never feels like an unnatural patching together of pieces that don’t fit. On songs where all or multiple members perform, the emcees frequently switch off vocals in a way that harkens back to 1980s and ’90s hip-hop

groups like Beastie Boys and Onyx. Hip-hop groups and posse cuts still exist today, but modern technology and recording practices make it easier for emcees to write separate, full-length rap verses that are stitched together later in the studio. “I think a lot of people just don’t write together,” Malone said. “You’ll just get somebody who says, ‘Well, I got this verse already written,’ and then you write something to their part.” The back-and-forth banter found on Into the Clouds gives the album a more cohesive and organic feel. Despite apparent chemistry, there is actually a steep divide between the creative processes between members. Panda and Deli often work as a pair because they share a preference for recording their material in one or two takes, taking what happens naturally and moving on to something else. Huckwheat and Malone, on the other hand, tend to put a lot more time into every detail until they arrive at their desired sound. “If we want, we’ll go 32 takes,” Huckwheat said. Those differences never turn into too much of an obstacle when their styles come together for a song. Instead, the group’s variety of perspective propels it to new heights. Take Into the Clouds’ tenth track “No Limit,” a collaboration between Deli and Malone that features a grittier, trappier aesthetic than the latter usually appears.

You don’t leave our shows dry. If you’re not sweating as much as I’m sweating, you’re not having fun. Mars Deli “I was like, ‘Dude, this is not what I would normally do,’” Malone said. “But it inspired me in a way that I wouldn’t normally write. That’s why I like collaborating so much, especially with them. We just elevate each other.”

Impressive improvisation

The group’s live show is sometimes called one of the best in the city’s music scene, which gives many the impression that their performance routines are meticulously rehearsed. They’re not. No Prophets show is exactly the same, and nearly everything seen onstage comes naturally in the moment. Huckwheat said the potential they

Sativa Prophets celebrate the arrival of their first

could reach if they practiced regularly could be mind-blowing. “Could you even imagine?” he asked the rest of the Prophets. “I don’t think it would be as cool,” Malone answered. Part of the fun might be in each show’s spontaneity. The Prophets have a few premises they repeatedly revisit onstage. For example, in the middle of the show, they will all pretend to die slowly and lay still on the stage for several minutes before “resurrecting” themselves and jumping back up in exuberant life. During a show in Tulsa, the group looped a beat and asked people in the audience to come onstage and rap their own verse into the mic. After several excited fans gathered onstage, they were shocked to see the Prophets playing dead on the floor around them. “They were so confused,” Deli said. “They couldn’t have been more lost.” Like the group’s music, a natural synergy between members helps each performance appear highly orchestrated. Huckwheat said the chemistry carries over on a personal level as well. “We’re always in unison without ever having to say anything,” he said.

Planet rock

When Sativa Prophets performed with rock bands and acts from other genres in the past, Panda said he could sometimes see them mocking the group as its rappers took time to stretch before the show. “Then halfway through the set, you can tell they’re like, ‘Oh, these guys are dope,’” he said. The days of local bands looking down on the hip-hop collective are coming to an end, if they’re not already over. Aside from

proper album with an album release party at 51st Street Speakeasy. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

an album release show that features three unique rock bands, Sativa Prophets is also planning a future collaborative mixtape with local bands. So far, they’ve gathered interest from Horse Thief, Bowlsey, Rousey, Haniwa and more. “I think it’s cool that a lot of rock bands fuck with us,” Panda said, “because, to be honest, a lot of rock — or just musicians in general — don’t really fuck with hip-hop too much. It’s cool, because I feel like maybe we can kind of change their mind a little bit.” Each Prophet either knows how to play an instrument — be it drums or guitar — or comes from a musical background that was not just hip-hop. “We’re four different instruments in ourselves,” Huckwheat said. “Our body movements; the way that we’re using our voices; what Panda’s cutting; me and [Rod] headbanging faces off.” That understanding helps expand the group’s musicality. Whereas some acts in local hip-hop don’t look far beyond their respective scenes, Sativa Prophets sees music as music. “That’s the thing,” Malone said. “We’re not just rappers; we’re not just producers. We’re musicians.” Visit sativaprophets.com or facebook.com/sativaprophets.

Sativa Prophets

album release show 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday 51st Street Speakeasy | 1114 NW 51st St. facebook.com/sativaprophets | 405-463-0470 Free

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EVENT

MUSIC

Fri, Oct 20

Josh abboTT band w/ flaTland cavalry Wed, Oct 25

GoGol bordello w/ lucky chops Sat, Oct 28

The floozies w/ eprom, maddy o'neal Sun, Oct 29

The lacs w/ biG smo, savinG abel, demun Jones and shoTGun shane MOn, Oct 30

blues Traveler w/ los coloGnes Wed, nOv 01

Theory of a deadman w/ royal republic, ayron Jones tueS, nOv 07

bleachers w/ bishop briGGs thurS, nOv 09

whiTey morGan w/ ward davis Fri, nOv 17

randy roGers band w/ parker mccollum Fri, nOv 24

12Th annual lefTover Turkey w/ Jason boland & The sTraGGlers, cody canada & The deparTed Wed, nOv 29

The revivalisTs w/ souThern avenue Tulsa ok

423 norTh main sT

TickeTs & info cainsballroom.com 38

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Sonic intimacy

OKC’s Sex Snobs teamed with storied producer Steve Albini for its newest release Emotional Stuffing. By Ben Luschen

It took nearly two years for Sex Snobs to get its newest album Emotional Stuffing out to the masses. The Oklahoma City-based alternative rock band featuring vocalist and guitarist Alex Barnard, guitarist Daniel Weaver, bassist James Hammontree and drummer Billy Reid traveled to Chicago in February 2015 to record with legendary producer and recording engineer Steve Albini (known for his work on landmark works like Nirvana’s In Utero, Pixies’ Surfer Rosa, Superchunk’s No Pocky for Kitty, Cloud Nothings’ Attack on Memory and many more). Sex Snobs is set with a busy fall performance schedule. The band plays during the Empire Slice House Fourth Anniversary Party, a free all-day concert event set for Sunday at Tower Theatre, 425 NW 23rd St., featuring California indie rock band Wavves, German electronic music producer

Saint WKND and several other local acts. The band also embarks on a twoweek U.S. tour beginning Oct. 26. The actual recording process for Emotional Stuffing took just two days, but Hammontree and Barnard said in a recent Oklahoma Gazette interview that getting their analog-recorded album mastered and picked up by a label (the album was released July 26 on Kansas City’s High Dive Records) took much longer. Hammontree and Barnard elaborated to Gazette about working with Albini, the themes within Emotional Stuffing and Sex Snobs’ future plans. Oklahoma Gazette: On the new album Emotional Stuffing you worked with producer Steve Albini. How did you get to working with Steve and how was that experience? James Hammontree: We were looking at new places to record and were wanting to do something pretty hi-fi and as good as we could possibly get. I always knew smaller bands recorded with him, but it’s kind of hard to tell. Some big studio engineers will record smaller bands, but you never really know. I just sent him an email and he called me 45 minutes later. It was really weird. OKG: You always hear about how he works with some of the smaller bands, but you never know what’s going on behind the scenes.

Sex Snobs | Photo Trey Milward /provided

specs and knowledge and gear. Just on the drums alone he used 12 mics maybe. The whole entire drum setup is over $150,000. It was a lot of modern stuff, but also a lot of stuff from like Russia in the ’50s. He has a pretty odd mic setup when it comes to drums. It’s sort of what he’s known for. Just watching him work and how fast he would be at editing — it was pretty no frills. Just a lot of knowledge and nice equipment.

Alex Barnard: Yeah. He’s kind of like a mechanic or something, he gives you different rates. We got kind of a lower rate because it was slower and it was winter. He had a cancelation. Hammontree: Yeah, we drove up there [to Chicago] I think in February and [the weather] was pretty terrible. But he was a blast to work with. I think we did our whole session in two days — we really squeezed it tight. We could have done more, it could have been longer, but while he will record anyone, it is definitely expensive. We were eating rice and beans. It took us a little bit to recover from all of that. But at the same time, it was one of the first times recording an album that I felt totally comfortable with an engineer that I could completely trust. So it was easy and you were able to focus on what you were doing as opposed to worrying about how it will turn out, because you know it’s going to turn out good.

We were eating rice and beans. It took us a little bit to recover from all of that. James Hammontree OKG: In the recording process, was there anything he had you all doing that was revolutionary or different to you all? Barnard: We did live tracking, which we’re all used to and comfortable with. That wasn’t anything that different. But it was more about listening to what it was able to sound like in that high-end [studio]. Just his methods and stuff were more inspiring. We were just like, “Wow! We sound pretty good.” But as far as going about recording, it wasn’t anything too alien to us or anything. Hammontree: It was more just kind of his

OKG: In terms of lyrical themes on the new album, is there anything specifically that you all were going for? Barnard: Whenever we write lyrics or I write lyrics, I kind of have this rule that they can be personal, but not autobiographical. I don’t want it to sound like you’re hearing a story about a person. They need to be more universal in that way and more appealing. But I don’t know, I’m trying to think about where I was at when I wrote it. A lot of the stuff on that record had to do with sort of feeling alienated with very mundane, normal, dayto-day things — going to work or paying rent or whatever. But then, honestly, some of the songs on there were written like, “Holy shit, I need to get this done; I’m going to Chicago!” OKG: One good song on the album is “Black Friday,” which talks a lot about malls. Do you all have any mall memories or connections to the mall? Were you the types of kids who spent hours aimlessly wandering around? Barnard: I can’t speak on behalf of anyone else in the band, but as far as me and James are concerned, James, when he was a kid, grew up on the south side of Oklahoma City and then his parents moved to Edmond during the middle school-high school time of his life. I grew up in Norman and my parents moved me to Edmond in the same time. We got moved to suburbia and that’s where we met when we were teenagers. So yeah, lots of walking around the mall. OKG: Are there any other projects with this band or anything else you all are associated with that we should know about? Hammontree: Really, just this tour. I think it’s 17, 18 shows. That, the Wavves show and, whenever we get back, working on the next album. We’re trying to pitch that to labels. Maybe a West Coast tour in February. It depends on how much money we’ll have, how well this tour goes and how the recording comes along. A lot of it is just finding the next beneficial thing as far as who’s going to put the next album out. Going on tour is a nice way to pitch that to people. But, really, we’re focused on finishing the record.

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©2017 SFNTC (4)

Empire Slice House Fourth Anniversary Party 2 p.m.-11 p.m. Sunday Tower Theatre 425 NW 23rd St. towertheatreokc.com | 405-708-6937 Free

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9/28/17 1:54 PM

Racey PResents

M u r d e r o n th e da n c e f loo r #Killedit

Friday OctOber 27

8pM & 10pM $20

costume contest with prizes and after show dance party following 10pm show.

LIVE MUSIC These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

WEDNESDAY, 10.18 All Boy All Girl/Roussey/Haniwa, The Venue OKC. VARIOUS Hosty, Will Rogers Lobby Cafe & Bar. SINGER/

SONGWRITER

paraMount rooM

701 W. Sheridan ave OKlahOma city, OK 73102

Jon Cresswell, Anthem Brewing Company. POP Martha Stallings, The R&J Lounge and Supper Club. POP

r ac e da n c e .co m

Run The Jewels/Denzel Curry/Cuz Lightyear and more, Diamond Ballroom. HIP-HOP

The Beat Seekers/Pluto Rest In Peace/Ridiculas Trixx and more, The Paramount Theatre. ROCK Wolves In The Throne Room/Pillorian, 89th Street-OKC. ROCK Zusammenbruch/Sensitiv Southside Boy/ Samuel Regan and more, IAO Gallery. VARIOUS

The Ol’ Wheeler Tour Wheeler Walker Jr. and Tim Montana and the Shrednecks bring the ultra-redneck nasty for a night of dirty, renegade, uncensored honky-tonk 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Diamond Ballroom, 8001 S. Eastern Ave. Wheeler will play songs from his recent albums Redneck Shit and Ol’ Wheeler. Tickets are $17, attendees must be 16 or older. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Visit diamondballroom.net. THURSDAY Photo David McClister/provided

THURSDAY, 10.19

Plan B/Jory Boy, The Criterion. REGGAE

Barely Alive/Virtual Riot, ACM Performance Lab.

Rachel Lynch, Noir Bistro & Bar. FOLK

ELECTRONIC

DJ Jonny Tsunami, Kong’s Tavern. DJ Lil Uzi Vert, The Criterion. HIP-HOP

Marsha Ambrosius, Ice Event Center & Grill

SINGER/SONGWRITER

The Midnight Ghost Train/Fangorn Leghorn/ Turbo Wizard, 89th Street-OKC. ROCK Tim Montana, Diamond Ballroom. COUNTRY Wheeler Walker, Jr., Diamond Ballroom. COUNTRY

The Beach Boys, Riverwind Casino, Norman. ROCK

The Midnight Devils, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK When Particles Collide/Playa Lake, Anthem Brewing Company. INDIE

SUNDAY, 10.22 Beppe Gambetta, The Depot, Norman. ACOUSTIC Chris Knight, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Moses Nesh/Julia Lucille/The Lamps and more, Opolis, Norman. VARIOUS

FRIDAY, 10.20

Wavves/Saint WKND, Empire Slice House. INDIE

100 Bones, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK Amante, Jive Supper Club & Lounge. JAZZ

Yheti/DMVU, 89th Street-OKC. ELECTRONIC

Annie Oakley/Blake Burgess, Opolis, Norman.

Zeke/Antiseen/Against the Grain, The Blue Note. ROCK

Bad Monkey, Hollywood Corners Station, Norman. ROCK

MONDAY, 10.23

Brian Lynn Jones and the Misfit Cowboys, Remington Park. COUNTRY

ROCK

Casey & Minna, Full Circle Bookstore. FOLK

Sawyer Fredericks, Opolis, Norman. FOLK

Cody and Jess, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewery.

Surf Curse, 89th Street-OKC. INDIE

FOLK

ACOUSTIC

Gene Watson and Moe Bandy, Riverwind Casino, Norman. COUNTRY Kelley Hunt, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. BLUES Parker Twomey, Othello’s Italian Restaurant, Norman. INDIE Red City Radio/Trapqueen and more, The Blue Note. VARIOUS Sativa Profits, 51st Street Speakeasy. HIP-HOP Turnpike Troubadours/Jamie Lin Wilson, The Criterion. COUNTRY

Elecktra & The Annihilation Carousel, The Root.

TUESDAY, 10.24 Parasites, The Blue Note. PUNK Social Repose/Hotel Books/The Funeral Portrait, 89th Street-OKC. ROCK Wind Symphony, Westminster Presbyterian Church. CLASSICAL

WEDNESDAY,10.25 Dead Horses, Tower Theatre. FOLK Lee Rucker Duo, Will Rogers Lobby Cafe & Bar. ACOUSTIC

SATURDAY, 10.21 Costanzas/The Killings/WMD, The Blue Note. PUNK Howard Brady, Full Circle Bookstore. ROCK Jordan Law, Bricktown Brewery. ACOUSTIC Kevin and Dustin Welch/Michael Fracasso/John Fullbright, The Blue Door. SINGER/SONGWRITER Micah McCaslin Trio, Will Rogers Lobby Cafe & Bar. JAZZ Mimicking Birds/Foxburrows, 89th Street-OKC. ROCK

Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail to listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

Miss Brown To You, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. JAZZ

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go to okgazette.com for full listings!

free will astrology Homework: If one of your heroes said to you, “Tell me the most important things you know,” what would you say? FreeWillAstrology.com. ARIES (March 21-April 19)

“I am my own muse,” wrote painter Frida Kahlo. “I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to know better.” Would you consider trying out this perspective for a while, Aries? If so, you might generate a few ticklish surprises. You may be led into mysterious areas of your psyche that had previously been off-limits. You could discover secrets you’ve been hiding from yourself. So what would it mean to be your own muse? What exactly would you do? Here are some examples. Flirt with yourself in the mirror. Ask yourself impertinent, insouciant questions. Have imaginary conversations with the person you were three years ago and the person you’ll be in three years.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

“Happiness comes from getting what you want,” said poet Stephen Levine, whereas joy comes “from being who you really are.” According to my analysis, the coming weeks will bear a higher potential for joy than for happiness. I’m not saying you won’t get anything you want. But I do suspect that focusing on getting what you want might sap energy from the venture that’s more likely to thrive: an unprecedented awakening to the truth of who you really are.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

Sigmund Freud was a medical doctor who laid the groundwork for psychoanalysis. Throughout the twentieth century, his radical, often outrageous ideas were a major influence on Western culture. When Freud was 50, he discovered a brilliant psychiatrist who would become his prize pupil: Carl Jung. When the two men first met in Vienna in 1907, they conversed without a break for 13 consecutive hours. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you could experience a comparable immersion sometime soon: a captivating involvement with a new influence, a provocative exchange that enchants you, or a fascinating encounter that shifts your course.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

In the next twelve months, I hope to help you track down new pleasures and amusements that teach you more about what you want out of life. I will also be subtly reminding you that all the world’s a stage, and will advise you on how to raise your self-expression to Oscar-worthy levels. As for romance, here’s my prescription between now and October 2018: The more compassion you cultivate, the more personal love you will enjoy. If you lift your generosity to a higher octave, there’ll be another perk, too: You will be host to an enhanced flow of creative ideas.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

Are you interested in diving down to explore the mysterious and evocative depths? Would you be open to spending more time than usual cultivating peace and stillness in a sanctuary? Can you sense the rewards that will become available if you pay reverence to influences that nurture your wild soul? I hope you’ll be working on projects like these in the coming weeks, Leo. You’ll be in a phase when the single most important gift you can give yourself is to remember what you’re made of and how you got made.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Louisa May Alcott wrote a novel entitled A Long Fatal Love Chase, which was regarded as too racy to be published until a century after her death. “In the books I read, the sinners are more interesting than the saints,” says Alcott’s heroine, Rosamund, “and in real life people are dismally dull.” I boldly predict that in the coming months, Virgo, you won’t provide evidence to support Rosamund’s views. You’ll be even more interesting than you usually are, and will also gather more than your usual quota of joy and self-worth -- but without having to wake up even once with your clothes torn and your head lying in a gutter after a night of forlorn debauchery.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

A woman I know, Caeli La, was thinking about relocating from Denver to Brooklyn. She journeyed across country and visited a prime neighborhood in her potential new headquarters. Here’s what she reported on her Facebook page: “In the last three days, I’ve seen three different

men on separate occasions wearing sundresses. So this is definitely the right place for me.” What sort of signs and omens would tell you what you need to do to be in the right place at the right time, Libra? I urge you to be on the lookout for them in the coming weeks. Life will be conspiring to provide you with clues about where you can feel at peace, at home, and in the groove.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Simon & Garfunkel released their first album in October 1964. It received only a modest amount of airplay. The two musicians were so discouraged that they stopped working together. Then Bob Dylan’s producer Tom Wilson got permission to remix “The Sounds of Silence,” a song on the album. He added rock instruments and heavy echo to Simon & Garfunkel’s folk arrangement. When the tune was re-released in September 1965, it became a huge hit. I bring this to your attention, Scorpio, because I suspect you’re now at a point comparable to the time just before Tom Wilson discovered the potential of “The Sounds of Silence.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

“Consider how hard it is to change yourself,” wrote author Jacob M. Braude, “and you’ll understand what little chance you have in trying to change others.” Ninety-nine percent of the time, I’d advise you and everybody else to surrender to that counsel as if it were an absolute truth. But I think you Sagittarians will be the exception to the rule in the coming weeks. More than usual, you’ll have the power to change yourself. And if you succeed, your self-transformations will be likely to trigger interesting changes in people around you. Here’s another useful tip, also courtesy of Jacob M. Braude: “Behave like a duck. Keep calm and unruffled on the surface, but paddle like the devil underneath.”

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

In 1969, two earthlings walked on the moon for the first time. To ensure that astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed there and returned safely, about 400,000 people labored and cooperated for many years. I suspect that in the coming months, you may be drawn to a collaborative project that’s not as ambitious as

NASA’s, but nevertheless fueled by a grand plan and a big scope. And according to my astrological calculations, you will have even more ability than usual to be a driving force in such a project. Your power to inspire and organize group efforts will be at a peak.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

I predict your ambitions will burn more steadily in the coming months, and will produce more heat and light than ever before. You’ll have a clearer conception of exactly what it is you want to accomplish, as well as a growing certainty of the resources and help you’ll need to accomplish it. Hooray and hallelujah! But keep this in mind, Aquarius: As you acquire greater access to meaningful success -- not just the kind of success that merely impresses other people -- you’ll be required to take on more responsibility. Can you handle that? I think you can.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20)

What’s your top conspiracy theory? Does it revolve around the Illuminati, the occult group that is supposedly plotting to abolish all nations and create a world government? Or does it involve the stealthy invasion by extraterrestrials who are allegedly seizing mental control over human political leaders and influencing them to wage endless war and wreck the environment? Or is your pet conspiracy theory more personal? Maybe you secretly believe, for instance, that the difficult events you experienced in the past were so painful and debilitating that they will forever prevent you from fulfilling your fondest dream. Well, Pisces. I’m here to tell you that whatever conspiracy theory you most tightly embrace is ready to be disproven once and for all. Are you willing to be relieved of your delusions?

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes /daily text message horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.

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puzzles New York Times Magazine Crossword Puzzle Power Ballads

By Erik Agard and Alex Briñas | Edited by Will Shortz | 1015 Across 1 Agcy. for Kennedy and Reagan 4 Push 9 Positive quality 14 Provider of directions, for short 17 Penne ____ vodka 19 Around 20 Claw 22 “Intriguing!” 23 Aquaman’s favorite singer? 25 The Human Torch’s favorite band? 27 ____ Edberg, two-time U.S. Open tennis champion 28 With child, informally 30 Nicely muscled 31 Canine warning 32 Feminine-hygiene product 33 Seashore feature 34 Oriental, e.g. 35 The Hulk’s favorite band? 38 Does 110, say 40 Sculptor/collagist Jean 41 Staff 42 Number between cinque and sette 43 Mama ____ Elliot 44 Iceman’s favorite band? 48 Bermuda, e.g. 50 Sweetly sing 52 14-pound unit 54 Australian friend 55 The Flash’s favorite singer? 58 Adamant refusal 60 Animator’s frame 61 “Your” of yore 62 Bit of progress 64 “Seriously?” 66 Front of a vessel 68 Magneto’s favorite band? 70 Quaint agreement 71 Comment advising you to set your sights a little lower? 73 Low tie 74 Response to “You have something on your face,” maybe 75 List-ending abbr. 76 Gobbles (down) 78 Spider-Man’s favorite band? 83 Smell ____ (sense something fishy) 85 Like Hägar the Horrible 87 ____ Martin 88 “Enough already!” 89 Batman’s favorite rapper? 91 Revivalists, for short

93 Not only that but also 95 Singer Sumac 96 The Avalanche, on sports tickers 97 Make do with a lesser option 99 Thor’s favorite rapper? 101 Actress Thurman 102 32° Fahrenheit, in Celsius 103 Parisian street 104 ____ volente (God willing) 105 Old-fashioned provider of directions 107 Completely set 109 Sir and madam 112 Electro’s favorite singer? 114 What the musical artists in this puzzle would form if they all performed together? 116 Decompose 117 Let breathe, as stinky shoes 118 Tangent line? 119 Princess Fiona, after sunset 120 One begins, “Thou still unravish’d bride of quietness” 121 ____-turvy 122 Chocolate cup inventor H. B. ____ 123 Pained cry DOWN 1 Things the police may keep on suspects 2 Narrow cut 3 [legally covering our butts here] 4 Clickable item 5 Boom ____ 6 Remit in advance 7 Digital greeting 8 “Stay in your ____!” 9 Approximately 10 Untroubled 11 Divine bovine? 12 Timeline sections 13 Wee bit 14 Destined for greatness 15 Opening in cosmetology? 16 Molt 18 Woodard with four Emmys 21 Covalent bonds of a carbon atom, e.g. 24 Things sailors spin 26 Late afternoon hour 29 Some economic figs. 32 Tournament bridge players, typically

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* t s e B s ’ a Oklahom r is Hiring e p a p s w Ne lly tly and loca independen t es ar d rg n la le s ca e’ d at azette, the st hiring a digital media an s. Oklahoma G is , ve n ti u io ec at ex lic t b n u sp ing accou is rt owned new ve ad d an coordinator

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