Oklahoma Gazette, Celebrating 60 years of the Festival of the Arts

Wait: Who’s Paying for the New Arena?

By Brad Lund

Last October, Oklahoma City voters overwhelmingly passed all 11 propositions tied to a $2.7 billion bond election––the largest in state history. The 2025 general obligation bond was designed to address growing infrastructure needs, maintain past investments, and enhance residents’ quality of life.

Among the 547 itemized bond projects is $25 million for the buildout of a new front office for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, adjacent to the new downtown arena being constructed on the site of the former Myriad. The Thunder has requested a minimum of 50,000 square feet to house its business operations.

The Thunder’s financial reliance on the city is not new. In December 2023, 71 percent of voters approved construction of a new downtown arena for a minimum of $900 million by extending an existing one-cent sales tax for six years. The state-of-the-art venue is being built with $850 million in taxpayer funding plus a $50 million contribution from the Thunder––a fraction of the percentage invested by team owners in recent NBA arena projects.

The voter approval drew praise from big-league sports owners and

criticism from opponents of public funding for privately owned professional sports teams. Recent NBA arena projects illustrate a wide range of funding structures, from fully private models to heavily subsidized public-private partnerships. The median public share for NBA arenas built in the 2020s is roughly 40 percent.

“The $50 million contribution by Thunder owners is absolutely laughable. It’s embarrassing,” said J.C. Bradbury, an economist at Kennesaw State University.

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt

championed support for the new arena and acknowledged the city did not hold leverage in negotiations. He publicly expressed concern that Oklahoma City could lose the team without a new facility.

“Cities like ours never have leverage in these situations,” he told Front Office Sports. “We in Oklahoma City haven’t had the team long enough to forget what it was like before we had the team.”

Forbes currently values the Thunder at $4.35 billion, a 1,143 percent increase over two decades. According to Forbes, the team’s net operating income for the 2024-25 championship season was estimated at $114 million, following $74 million during the 2023-24 campaign. The franchise appears to be

on solid financial footing.

Let’s bring the conversation back to the proposed office space: At $25 million for 50,000 square feet, the project equates to roughly $500 per square foot. For comparison, the 50story Devon Tower, completed in 2012, cost $750 million and spans 1.8 million square feet – approximately $416 per square foot. The average price per square foot for homes sold in Nichols Hills over the past year is about $362.

“All we do is win in OKC.” Mayor Holt said following the passage of the general obligation bond. It appears in this instance the Thunder ownership won, while OKC taxpayers did not.

Gentner Done

By William Andrew

Few figures in modern Oklahoma politics have followed a path quite like Gentner Drummond. A rancher, attorney, fighter pilot in the Iraq War, and successful businessman, Drummond had built a reputation for independence that defines his tenure as attorney general of Oklahoma and his campaign for governor in 2026.

While the republican primary field is crowded with establishment figures and experienced politicians, Drummond has positioned himself as something different: a conservative willing to challenge powerful interests –– even within his own party –– when he believes Oklahoma law or constitutional principles are at stake.

Drummond’s story begins with an extraordinary decision. At just age 14 he legally emancipated himself from his family, but not because of some sort of rift or conflict. Rather, the move gave him legal authority to manage his own affairs, to include purchasing and operating a ranch.

In a state where ranching carries deep symbolic weight, the story resonates and paints a visual of someone shaped early by responsibility and hard work versus comfort and wealth. This independence carried into his education and career, attending Oklahoma State University and Georgetown University Law School. Along the way, he became a decorated Air Force pilot, serving in Iraq. By age 30, Gentner Drummond had lived a fairly full life.

Drummond went on to build a successful law practice, while maintaining his family ranching operation and becoming involved in banking.

True to form, the rise to the Oklahoma attorney general’s office did not come easily. In 2018, Drummond ran in the republican primary for Attorney General, but fell short. He spent the next four years building relationships, refining his message and preparing for another run for AG.

In 2022, he ran again and won. From the start of his tenure, Drummond signaled his office would operate independently, even if it meant clashing with fellow republicans.

Drummond’s reign as attorney general has been marked by confrontations with Governor Kevin Stitt, former State Superintendent Ryan Walters, and a high profile victory in the United States Supreme

Court against a powerful lobby and legal team for St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Charter School, which sought to be the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school, right here in Oklahoma City.

With Kevin Stitt leaving office due to term limitations, the road to succeed him seems almost a certainty to lead through the republican primary. Drummond entered the race with important advantages: Statewide name recognition, a strong political network, and a reputation for independence that appeals to many republican voters.

“My observation is people are hungry for somebody that’s unafraid to make decisions and be a leader,” said Drummond, in an interview with The Gazette. “I am that person.”

But, what would those decisions be? If Drummond succeeds in taking the governor’s race, he will face the many obstacles, such as education, economics, and healthcare, that concern modern Oklahomans.

“I’ve come to conclude that we need to think generationally,” said Drummond, regarding his economic aspirations. “What I’d like to see is a focus on the two-year-old, pro-

viding quality daycare and daycare subsidies, so that the child can be intellectually fed and ready to learn when they hit grade school.” Drummond believes that the key to Oklahoma’s economic success is supporting the schooling of its future workforce and providing increased opportunities in career and technical education, a belief informed by listening to the concerns of business leaders during his time in the state capitol.

There are four promises central to his campaign: education, mental health, healthcare, and workforce development. “Along with that, it’s partnership with the tribes because that’s where we solve those other four. Those are the five issues that I want you to hold me accountable for before you vote for me in the next election.”

Drummond’s proven independence and steadfast commitment to the betterment of Oklahoma make him a promising candidate for igniting substantial change across the state.

His most prominent rival is likely former Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall from Atoka. McCall has been in the game for a while, serving as speaker for eight years, but Oklahoma struggled under his watch, dropping to dead last in education and near last in healthcare. His personal background leaves something to be desired, as his only work experience outside of politics

has been working as a Vice President of his Dad’s bank. While he frequently shows up on social media feeds on a tractor or shooting guns, people know his private jet lifestyle is more reflective of his upbringing.

Son of former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating, Chip Keating entered the race somewhat later than others, positioning himself as a political outsider that has never served in public office. Citing himself as a successful businessman, Keating’s best known role was as a Vice President of American Energy Partners and working for former Chesapeake Energy Founder Aubrey McClendon, where his dad served on the board of directors. Keating’s connection to the political establishment is very clear, but it’s hard to position oneself as a political outsider when you grew up in the governor’s mansion.

Mike Mazzei seems to have the longest shot, but the former state senator might be able to sneak into the number two slot in a runoff election, particularly if McCall and Keating get too polarized on defeating each other. Mazzei can be described as a policy wonk with longstanding ties to Stitt, but appears challenged to build momentum in spite of committing millions of personal funds to his campaign.

The true wild card is not any of these candidates, but rather in whether President Donald Trump tries to play kingmaker during the race. But, for now, appointing former Senator Markwayne Mullin as head of the Department of Homeland Security may have been enough to upset the Oklahoma political bingo card.

One thing is certain, whether Drummond or someone else wins the republican primary, they will face Cynthia Munson as the democratic candidate in November. Munson was viewed as the DNC sacrificial lamb early on, but she has worked a spirited effort and has her sights set on making the general election go the full distance. In some respects, Oklahoma politics might be more interesting with a democrat in the governor’s mansion, but the political demographics of our state make Munson an underdog in every respect.

Nevertheless, Gentner Drummond is clearly not afraid of a fight. Yet, building coalitions also requires compromise and sometimes restraint, both skills that will be tested if he reaches Oklahoma’s highest office.

“If Oklahoma wants to scrape itself off of the bottom of the state pile, it’s going to have to take a leader who is willing to be informed, invest the time, and take the risk to do big things with Oklahomans,” Drummond said.

Harrah’s to Open in Chandler

Caesar’s Entertainment and Iowa Tribe will open the first Harrah’s in Oklahoma on April 9.

By Greg Horton

The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma is partnering with Caesar’s Entertainment to open the new Harrah’s Oklahoma Casino in Chandler, the first property in Oklahoma managed by Harrah’s. The projected open date is April 9, and the currently existing Ioway Casino closed in March to make way for the new operation.

Jake Keyes, Chairman of the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma and owner of Skydance Brewing Company, said the new facility is a substantial upgrade over the previous and differently named Ioway Casino. “I think the name is just a variation based on how some previous generations pronounced the name,” he said. “Our legal name is The Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma.”

Keyes said the project has been in the works since 2017, under the leadership of the previous chairman. “The tribe purchased land and put it into a trust while we explored the possibilities, including visiting other Native casinos around the country,” he said. “During that long process, our leadership enjoyed working with Harrah’s, so this emerged from that process.’

Joe Scibetta is senior vice president and GM of Harrah’s Oklahoma, and he said Caesar’s Entertainment has been working with tribes around the country for more than 30 years, including

properties in Southern California (30 years) and Phoenix, Arizona (35 years).

“The Caesar’s Entertainment and Harrah’s brands are built around fun, energy, gambling, and entertainment,” Scibetta said. “We’re excited to offer this experience in Chandler. We are aware there aren’t a ton of other options in the area, and we’re hoping our casino and restaurants can offer great options for locals and customers who make the drive.”

The new casino will have 12 table games and 1,000 slot machines as well as a high-limit gaming area, along with two restaurants: Dash Cafe will be a casual, quick service concept serving burgers, flatbread pizzas, and wings; Arrow & Ember

will be an upscale casual contemporary American restaurant. Dash Cafe is already in 54 properties around the country. The gaming floor will also feature a full-service sports bar with 12 televisions and a nice selection of local, national, and imported beer brands.

The population of Chandler is just under 3,000 at the last census, so Scibetta is correct that there are very limited options in the city itself. The casino is located outside Chandler proper, but the new facility is expected to create 325 new jobs for the area. When the adjacent Harrah’s branded hotel opens next year, an additional 150 new positions will be available. Keyes said the size of the hotel is still under discussion, but right now they are expecting approximately 135 rooms.

Scibetta said they have already hired more than 250 employees, and the focus has been on the immediate vicinity: Chandler, Stroud, Wellston, and Harrah. “We’re really focusing on those four towns,” he said. “We’ve held job fairs here and in

Edmond, but we’re really seeing interest from the smaller towns in the area.”

The range of jobs is standard for casinos: housekeeping, facilities maintenance, dealers, cooks, servers, bartenders and management. Scibetta said the pay scale is comparable to other casinos in the state, and likely above pay for similar jobs in the area. “We’ve been aggressive with some of our key roles, like cooks ($15/hr), servers and bartenders ($18.75/hr) and table game supervisors ($29.75/hr). Employees are all full-time and receive full benefits. We also have a tuition reimbursement program that caps out at $2,500 per year with no restriction on curriculum or program, so they can do community college, trade and tech, or law school. The program does not have to be related to hospitality at all.”

Soft opens and previews will begin at the end of March, and hiring is still ongoing.

Make Way for the Continental Coliseum

Last week, the city grabbed a shovel and said, “let’s get loud”. In other words, ground is officially broken on the $900 million Continental Coliseum, future home of the Oklahoma City Thunder — who are sitting atop the NBA as the regular season winds down (even surviving a recent winning streak snap by Boston.) The new arena, set for 2028, promises bigger crowds and even louder nights. And, hopefully sturdy rafters for many future championship banners.

Takin’ It to The Peake

Commercial real estate group Robinson Park develops former Chesapeake Energy campus into a luxury office complex.

By Brian Hearn

Who knows better than Oklahoma? Energy companies boom and bust, merge and acquire, downsize and relocate. How many times have said companies decamped to the “Energy Capital of the World,” Houston, alone? Screwston is more like it. Such is survival on the Southern Plains oil patch.

Anticipating this shifting landscape, the innovative development team at Robinson Park, led by CEO Mark Beffort, set their sights on what Beffort called “the best piece of real estate in Oklahoma.”

This Oklahoma City-based commercial real estate veteran knows what he’s talking about. The superb location at the corner of N.W. 63rd and North Western Avenue, is newly rebranded as The Peake. Once called Chesapeake Energy campus and more recently owned by Expand Energy, the project marks an exciting new chapter of occupancy along the shady boughs of Deep Fork Creek. The Peake is equally poised to link its village of tenants to the bustling neighborhood hotspots of Classen Curve, The Triangle, and Nichols Hills Plaza.

It took every bit of 2025 to close the complex deal.When it went through last New Year’s Eve, Robinson Park added the 14-building campus to their already impressive portfolio, which includes much of OKC’s central business district and several hotel properties. Throughout the transaction period, Beffort’s team dialed in on their vision for the unique character of the campus.

They recognized that the 18th century Georgian Revival brick architecture was a defining asset to

the campus feel. It provides welldesigned consistency for tenants, but can still be built out for office flexibility needs. The campus is highly walkable with interesting green spaces and soothing water features. Other standout features, like the athletic track and field, are calling out for event activation. And, they have the best-looking parking structures your car may ever roll into.

The Peake is already operating in two of the buildings. The incredible fitness center in Building 18 comes complete with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, massive sunlit yoga or kick boxing studios, two full basketball courts, rock climbing wall, swimming pool, saunas, and the works. Building 12, located creekside, is also available to tenants as the Community and Events Center with a beautiful auditorium, restaurant, and conference meeting capacities.

As they add to current tenants like Service Oklahoma, they have formed a property association for stakeholders in The Peake who can take full advantage of these amenities.

What’s the plan for the rest of the buildings? In Q1 of this year, Beffort’s team has fielded numerous commercial inquiries. Seven buildings are in active discussion to be sold to local companies looking to upgrade to this architecturally iconic address. The five remaining buildings will be owned by Robinson Park and their investors. They want to “let the dust settle” from their imminent transactions until they open up leasing, but they anticipate being able to sell it out.

Residential possibilities on the

property aren’t in the cards right now, with some retail possibly coming later. “We believe we’ll have the campus fully repositioned by 2027,” Beffort said.

The Peake branding, of course, is a thoughtful nod to the founders of Chesapeake Energy. Beffort spoke about how important it was to honor the history and vision of the original Chesapeake campus once led by Aubrey McClendon and Tom Ward. “Not only does The Peake brand point to our aspirational goals to strive higher, to enhance value, it takes a piece of the past forward in the brand,” explained Beffort.

The Peake team thought a lot about the surrounding neighborhood.

Especially the thriving retail corridor of Classen Curve and the nearby shopping cart bonanza in Nichols Hills Plaza. Just across Western Ave., is the Triangle district, anchored by the Ellison Hotel, with Equity Bank, Flower Child, and

Flips at each corner. As of February 2026, new neighbors have moved in on the eastern side of The Peake, with Expand Energy, MidFirst Bank and Diamond Back Energy anchoring adjacent properties. With shopping and dining already plentiful, The Peake envisions itself as a key corporate hub in the village, one that is increasingly interconnected through complementary services and community amenities that make people want to stay, work, and play.

In a time when OKC’s traffic infrastructure feels strained, the concept of village life where one can create a quality of life on a small footprint, out of the car, sounds appealing, doesn’t it? If anything shifted post pandemic in corporate culture, perhaps it is more compassion for a life/work balance. The Peake is a site that offers such an alluring possibility.

Can

Mullin Fix the DHS Clog?

This March, we had the [choose: delight, horror, other third emotion] of seeing one of our own Oklahomans populate national headlines. Markwayne Mullin –– of Mullin Plumbing fame –– has ascended the ranks to become head of the Department of Homeland Security. The former senator was appointed by Trump to replace the disgraced Kristi Noem as leader of a department steeped in financial and social controversy. DHS mess or a clogged toilet, which do you prefer?

Midtown’s Spring Cleaning

Midtown’s glow-up rolls on as part of Classen steps aside for The Eddie, a fresh mixed-use development bringing apartments, shops, and a pedestrian-friendly plaza to Oklahoma City. Sure, drivers will detour for now, but the payoff is a more walkable, lively district built for lingering, not just passing through. City leaders are betting on patios over pavement—and soon enough, this stretch will trade traffic noise for clinking glasses and neighborhood buzz.

NON-PROFIT FOCUS

Rooted in Environmental Stewardship

OKC Beautiful continues its mission to teach, facilitate, and encourage environmental stewardship among Oklahomans. Their Earth Day celebration, Earth Fest, will happen on April 18 from 10am to 3pm in Scissortail Park.

By Phoebe Grandi

As it starts to get warmer (and then cooler and then warmer again), you may have started to notice the green leaves creeping back onto once barren branches in parks, medians, and neighborhoods across Oklahoma City. Maybe the calls of cardinals and robins have started waking you up in the morning. Or, maybe you’ve heard increased buzzing around the city’s pollinator gardens, telling you that spring is, in fact, here to stay.

April is one of the busiest months for Oklahoma City Beautiful. The local nonprofit facilitating environmental stewardship and advocacy amongst Oklahomans sees increased volunteering and engagement throughout the month. They match this heightened interest with increased programming and, of course, their iconic late-April celebration, Earth Fest.

This spring, though, has been especially busy. In January, the group moved their headquarters from Classen Boulevard to a bigger, more permanent spot in Metro Park. “We had outgrown the office space that we had been leasing for several decades,” said Executive Director Natalie Evans, discussing the growth of the organization. “We needed more space to store vehicles, trees, equipment and tools.”

But, the move offers more than just increased storage space. “We

are in the process of developing this two-acre site,” explained Evans. “We are working on raising the funding to purchase the land right now so that we can start doing some more things to become a little bit more self-sufficient in our programming.”

The larger spot will allow OKC Beautiful to teach classes, grow plants and saplings for distribution, maintain pollinator gardens, and engage the community onsite.

“We’re calling it the Community Roots Center,” said Evans, excitedly.

“We really want this to be a community space that’s used for education and expanding our mission.”

At over 60 years old, OKC Beautiful was established in 1962 as the Mayor’s Beautification Council. The council’s inception reflected a broader, national movement towards improving environmental quality of life for urban Americans. In 1971, OKC Beautiful became its own nonprofit organization.

As the American environmental movement evolved, so did OKC Beautiful. With the Clean Air Act of 1970, the organization led local initiatives to discourage burning trash. When recycling entered the popular lexicon, OKC Beautiful facilitated paper recycling throughout the city.

As the millennium approached, their programming began to grow in both ideology and reach. “The

early 1990s was really when our youth education started to evolve,” explained Evans. “We recognized that, yes, we can go and pick up litter, but if we aren’t preventing it in the first place, it’s just an endless battle.” Since then, education has become a cornerstone of OKC Beautiful’s mission and day-to-day operations.

1992 saw the creation of the Mother Earth Program, which engages OKC students with a play and lessons on how to care for the Earth with habits like picking up litter, recycling, and conserving water. More recent years have seen the development of OKC Harvest, a program that provides regular hands-on learning and gardening experience to students at Wilson, Mark Twain, and Esperanza elementary schools.

Education has since expanded to include the broader community.

“With the launch of our Grow OKC classes and our sustainability social hour, we’ve really looked at lifelong learning for community members,” said Evans. “One of our core values is empowerment; it’s a huge focus in our work.”

With each year, the organization continues to evolve alongside the environmental needs and interests of the OKC community, while still maintaining focus on its mission of environmental education and empowerment.

So, what does that programming look like today? “We operate about a dozen programs that fit within two broad buckets: environmental education, both in schools for youth and for the general community, and built environment, so planting trees, picking up trash, and establishing pollinator gardens,” explained Evans.

The programming spans wide, reflecting how broad, creative, and multi-faceted environmental stewardship can be. A prime example is the breadth of their classes: from raising chickens in your backyard, maintaining electric vehicles, foraging, using natural dyes, and mending clothes to the more traditional gardening, composting, and tree care classes.

And, these classes are popular. In 2025, OKC Beautiful saw over 5,000 participants in various education initiatives.

More broadly, the organization typically engages over 6,000 volunteers and reaches more than 20,000 youth and community members per year. “There’s so many unifying things in our work,” said Evans, discussing the engagement they see from the metro area. “I think, ultimately, everyone loves trees. No one likes litter. Some people might like trees because of heat mitigation and creation of habitat, and other people

love trees for beautification and economic development.”

And, with Earth Day on the horizon, OKC Beautiful’s next two months are packed. “Spring is our biggest time of year for volunteer stewardship,” said Evans. “We have a lot of people doing LitterBlitz events –– our litter abatement program across the community. Our Adopt-A-Spot groups are doing a lot of spring planting and sprucing up parks and public spaces in the spirit of spring cleaning and Earth Day.”

But, the largest event is the nonprofit’s Earth Fest, happening on April 18 in Scissortail Park. The free, family-friendly festival will feature a vendor market, a mending station, a bike repair station, a thriving kids area, and live musicians. And, of course, a handful of classes throughout the day about different environmental topics.

Originally started as a cleanup in Scissortail Park, the event quickly expanded to include educational opportunities, tabling from other local environmental organizations, and overall celebration of our planet. Now celebrating its fourth birthday, Earth Fest has become a ripe illustration of OKC Beautiful’s commitment to community engagement through education and empowerment.

Want to get involved with OKC Beautiful beyond April? From tree planting to community cleanups, the nonprofit provides plenty of volunteer opportunities throughout the year. And, true to their emphasis on education, volunteer opportunities are intended to feel accessible. “We never want people to feel intimidated if they’ve never planted a tree or never worked in a garden before,” explained Evans. “We always instill education and training opportunities in our volunteer projects.”

Perhaps dirt is not your “thing.” Well, OKC Beautiful provides notdirectly-tree-related volunteer options as well. “We have lots of volunteer opportunities for committee roles or helping tabling at events,” said Evans. “Whatever talents or skills people have, we can always find a way to leverage those in our work, too.”

But, as always, sometimes the most helpful actions are the simplest. With building the Community Roots Center alongside their myriad of other projects, donations go a long way with OKC Beautiful. “A lot of people think that we’re directly funded by the city of Oklahoma City for programming, and in reality, our funding comes primarily from grants and individual donations,” said Evans. “We really need community support to make our mission possible.”

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Going Meatless EAT & DRINK

By Hope Whitmire

Whether you follow a fully plant-based diet or simply take part in the occasional Meatless Monday, Oklahoma City offers more veggie dining options than you might expect. Even lifelong meat eaters can find vegetarian dishes that rival their traditional counterparts. With Earth Day around the corner, it is the perfect time to consider adding an Earth-conscious meal to your routine.

The BeetBox 7101 Northwest Expy beetboxokc.com

The BeetBox began as a passion project from two young college entrepreneurs who set out to break the stigma of blandness that surrounds plant-based products. What started as a food truck quickly gained a loyal following and grew into a brick-andmortar restaurant that opened in 2024. Their standout meatless chicken sandwiches are carefully crafted to rival any fast-food classic.

Flower Child 1144 NW 63rd St, Ste 1003 iamaflowerchild.com

Nutritious, fresh dishes are being served in the Classen Curve at Flower Child. The refreshing atmosphere is filled with a helpful staff ready to curate an entrée to fit any patron’s dietary needs. This establishment offers options both with and without meat, but maintains priority towards organic ingredients, proving healthy does not have to mean flavorless.

Holey Rollers

407 NW 30th Street holeyrollersdonuts.com

This coffee shop can cure a sweet tooth craving in an instant. On the border of the Paseo District and located inside of 30th Street Market, you can find a delicious assortment of handcrafted and uniquely flavored vegan donuts. With flavors cycling seasonally, there is always something to look forward to. If you are more of a savory food fan, select their vegan kolaches and breakfast sandwiches to satisfy and fuel your morning.

Picasso Cafe

3009 Paseo Dr picassosonpaseo.com

After an evening of gallery-hopping, satisfy your appetite at this Paseo District gem. Picasso Cafe offers a dedicated vegetarian and vegan menu, making it easy for mixed groups of meat-eaters and plant-based diners to enjoy a meal together without compromise. The diverse selection of veggieforward dishes ranges from classic sliders to tikka masala and pad thai.

The Loaded Bowl 1211 SW 2nd St theloadedbowlokc.com

Originating as Oklahoma’s first vegan food truck, Loaded Bowl is one of the most beloved staples of OKC’s vegan scene. The restaurant has perfected its hearty comfort feeling using solely plant-based ingredients. Their recipes are not for only those with the acquired taste; they can be enjoyed by patrons of any diet craving flavor and satisfaction.

The Red Cup

3122 N Classen Blvd theredcupokc.com

This 1995 veggie favorite is the perfect morning hangout to jumpstart the day. They serve up meatless reimaginings of breakfast and lunch meals to students studying or old friends venting over a latte. There is a distinct comfort emanating from the consistent faces behind the counter, retro furnishings, and overflowing decor made by adoring patrons. The Red Cup is a neighborhood essential with loyal regulars packed into the homey cafe.

Betty’s

3604 North May Ave bettystogo.com

Betty’s is an all plant-based, hearty soul food spot serving comforting to-go dishes that feel like grandma’s cooking. Southern favorites do not miss a beat thanks to flavorful vegan twists, with standout options like their “Katfish Platter,” “Soul Platter,” and “Mac + Cheeze.” The iconic dishes, each made with love, are sure to satisfy any craving.

EAT & DRINK

A Tuscan Hideaway

the Paseo Arts District.

By Julie Porter Scott

Alongside its eclectic lineup of galleries, shops, cafés, and neighborhood bars, Oklahoma City’s Paseo Arts District is now home to an Italian restaurant. The newcomer, La Buca, aims to bring the flavors and spirit of Tuscany to one of the city’s most walkable and creative corridors.

The small space, formerly home to Scratch Kitchen and Cocktails, has been beautifully reimagined with rich wallpapers, luxe drapery, a dozen bespoke chandeliers, and intimate candlelit tables.

At La Buca, you don’t want to sit with your back to the door, but only because you don’t want to miss a moment of the peoplewatching, cocktail shaking, and tableside tiramisu-making. It feels scene-y in the best possible way — a scene you’re just enjoying being a small part of. Longtime OKC people will remember what it felt like to be at Flip’s on a Thursday night in the 90s: a little bit of vamping, a little bit of peacocking, a too-loud laugh that is somehow endearing, just an absolute vibe. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just book a table at La Buca on a weekend night.

The name itself hints at the concept. In Italian, buca can loosely evoke the idea of a cozy, tucked-away nook. It’s a fitting description for a restaurant meant to feel like a well-kept neighborhood secret. And, it totally works. It feels like a place you just stumbled into, like an invite-only supper club that you finagled an invite to because you’re just mysteriously interesting enough, you sly fox.

La Buca draws inspiration from the intimate kitchens and tucked-away trattorias of Florence. The concept leans into the idea of a hidden neighborhood restaurant. Think dim lighting, candlelit tables, and a menu focused on classic Italian technique and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant is the latest project from owner-operator Milan

Karadzovski, who has assembled a culinary team that blends familiar local talent with a focused Tuscan approach. Chef Rachel Suitt will lead the kitchen alongside Karadzovski, while veteran OKC chef Ryan Murphy is stepping into a new role as general manager.

Together, the trio has designed a menu that leans heavily on handmade pastas and rustic Italian cooking traditions. Standouts include dishes like Manicotti Brasato and pinwheel Lasagna Florentine, along with richer center-of-plate options such as espresso-rubbed Bistecca alla Fiorentina.

If that sounds hearty, it’s by design. Tuscan cooking has always favored bold, comforting flavors and an emphasis on simple ingredients handled with care. In Florence and throughout the region, the food is often deeply rooted in rural traditions: slow braises, fresh pasta, herby sauces, and the kind of meals meant to stretch over a long evening.

La Buca’s menu reflects that spirit. Alongside the pasta program, guests will find burrata with sun-dried tomato pesto, crispy porchetta finished with rosemary and lemon zest, and a house burger made with a Barolo

reduction.

The bar program is firmly Italian as well. The wine list is built entirely from Italian producers, and the cocktail menu features classic martinis and lighter spritz-style drinks, including a lavender spritz designed to echo the floral aromatics of aperitivo culture.

La Buca is not positioning itself as a laced-up, traditional finedining restaurant. Instead, the concept is structured around multiple dining modes that shift throughout the day. Lunch and dinner are the backbone of daily service, while weekends have a late-night component with a slightly different energy. On Friday and Saturday nights, the restaurant will transition into a DJ-driven lounge atmosphere after 11 p.m., offering a smaller menu of late-night bites alongside cocktails and music.

Across Oklahoma City, diners have shown an increasing appetite for restaurants that emphasize atmosphere as much as food. In recent years, moody interiors, thoughtful lighting, and smaller dining rooms have become defining elements of the city’s evolving restaurant scene. Cavernous, barn-sized dining rooms with their devastating acoustics, too-bright Edison-style lights, and industrial metal chairs have given way to better lighting and softer textures. And, the over-40 crowd says, amen.

La Buca appears ready to lean into that aesthetic and that demographic. The space is intimate and candlelit, designed

to create a warm, slightly mysterious environment where conversations linger and dinners stretch into late evenings. If the concept lands as intended, it could become a natural stop along the Paseo’s evening circuit. A gallery opening might begin with a glass of wine and burrata at La Buca. A postopening late dinner slides effortlessly into cocktails once the DJ set begins. And for neighborhood residents, the restaurant could easily become the kind of place where dinner morphs into an impromptu night out.

For Karadzovski and team, the goal seems less about reinvention and more about capturing a feeling. Tuscan cuisine, after all, is not especially flashy. It rarely depends on elaborate presentations or technical theatrics. Its appeal lies in the opposite: depth of flavor, straightforward technique, and dishes meant to be shared over a bottle of wine.

As I wandered back home after a recent visit, full of Tuscan deliciousness and good juju, I was able to finally articulate why I liked it so much. Starting around 2005, we began to have a lot more really good food in OKC, but the restaurants often didn’t feel especially welcoming or fun. The digs were often an afterthought. Then came the Instagram era, where emphasis was put on the look — the grammability, if you will — often at the expense of the actual experience and, worst of all, the food.

Somehow, the pandemic ended that era, culling the restaurant equivalent of duck lips before they became too terribly invasive. Since 2021, our scene has healed itself; we are now rich with spots that serve up equal parts thoughtful, delicious fare while also considering every single element, from lighting and seating to noise level, music, service, and general approachability.

The Tuscan nook embodies that most elusive, yet intrinsically Oklahoman, sensibility: warmth.

La Buca feels like a graduation where all the things come together. My Italian is rusty, but I think they would say, tutto torna: it all adds up.

Elevated Plates with a View

Cloud Puncher’s bold new menu makes it the place to be at OAK.

By James Biscone

If you haven’t been to Cloud Puncher yet, it’s time. If you have, it’s time to go back.

Perched atop the Lively Hotel, the rooftop bar and lounge looks out over Heartwood Park and the surrounding OAK development, offering a perspective of the city that feels both relaxed and slightly removed from the activity below. It’s the kind of place where guests arrive for a drink and the sunset, only to realize an hour later they’ve settled in for the evening.

Now there’s another reason to stay longer.

Cloud Puncher recently introduced a refreshed menu built around bold flavors, inventive small plates, and elevated comfort classics. The new offerings lean heavily into shareable dishes — plates designed for the middle of the table that turn dinner into a small tasting experience.

General Manager Matt Cowden oversees the operation alongside Kitchen Manager Richard Persky and Food & Beverage Manager Tracy Loyd. Together, the team has created a menu that feels approachable while still bringing enough creativity to keep guests coming back.

The atmosphere itself plays a big role in the experience. During the day, Cloud Puncher feels relaxed and airy, an easy place to enjoy the view over OAK’s Heartwood Park. By evening, the rooftop becomes more energetic as groups gather for drinks and conversation. It’s lively without feeling crowded and polished without feeling formal.

Both indoor and outdoor seating makes the space especially inviting during Oklahoma’s spring and summer months. Guests can settle into the interior lounge or step outside onto the open patio, where the breeze creates the perfect backdrop for a relaxing evening. But right now, the focus is on the food.

Among the shareable standouts are the chipotle lime deviled eggs, which bring a playful twist to the classic appetizer. The eggs arrive delicately piped with a creamy filling brightened by lime and layered with smoky chipotle heat, topped with Tajín-dusted chicharrónes that add a bright citrus kick and a satisfying

crunch.

The smoked salmon dip is equally memorable. Smooth and savory, the dip carries the gentle smokiness of the salmon balanced with fresh herbs. Served with crisp accompaniments for dipping, it’s the kind of plate that quietly disappears as the table keeps reaching back for another bite.

Another standout from the shareables section is the bourbon butter spiced chicken wings. Tossed in a rich, spicy brown butter sauce, the wings arrive glossy and aromatic, with just enough heat to keep things interesting while the bourbon undertones add warmth and complexity.

For something more substantial, Cloud Puncher’s sandwich lineup delivers reimagined takes on familiar favorites.

The prosciutto and fig panini is wonderful. Served on rustic sourdough bread, the sandwich layers fresh mozzarella, sweet fig jam, delicate slices of prosciutto, and peppery arugula. Pressed until warm and crisp, it strikes a perfect balance between savory and sweet.

The buttermilk fried chicken sandwich leans more indulgent. The chicken arrives golden and crisp, glazed with a hot honey sauce that brings a gentle sweetness followed by a slowbuilding heat. It’s messy in the best way and exactly the kind of sandwich that feels right at home on a rooftop patio.

For guests looking for a full entrée, Cloud Puncher offers a range of heartier dishes including gnocchi alla vodka, pork tenderloin medallions, ancho honey-glazed salmon, and southwest chicken.

The steak frites deserve special mention. A bistro-cut steak arrives prepared with a tasty mushroom glaze and perfectly paired with a generous side of Parmesan-dusted frites. The dish is straightforward and satisfying. The classic combination that never goes out of style.

Lighter fare is also available, including Caesar and harvest salads alongside seasonal soups.

And then there’s dessert, the unexpected, but undeniable, star of the show.

The bourbon tres leches is

exceptional. A sponge cake soaked in bourbon-infused milk arrives layered with vanilla cream, finished with caramel sauce and fresh strawberries. The bourbon adds a subtle warmth that deepens the sweetness without overwhelming the dessert. It’s the kind of dish that makes a table pause after the first bite. In fact, it rivals any tres leches you’ll find not just in Oklahoma City, but perhaps anywhere in the state.

Of course, no rooftop experience would be complete

without the bar. Cloud Puncher continues to offer a rotating selection of specialty cocktails alongside a full range of spirits, wine, and beer — perfect companions for the menu’s shareable plates. Cloud Puncher already had one advantage: the view. Now, with a strong new menu and a lively rooftop atmosphere to match, Cloud Puncher is quickly becoming one of the most enjoyable places in the city to gather above it all.

EAT & DRINK

Synco in Sync

How years of quiet consistency carried one Oklahoma chef to the center of the city’s biggest stage.

By Julie Porter Scott

Meghan Synco goes hard in the paint.

The Oklahoma native is the first woman to take the helm of Loud City Hospitality, the food service brand at Paycom Center. Her story is the perfect expression of one of my most closely held beliefs: when you’re a talented, hardworking professional with a heart for service, you’re unstoppable.

To hear her tell it, this is all just the result of keeping her head down and doing the work, though she’s careful to point out mentors and opportunities along the way. Unlike many chefs who chase culinary careers across major food cities, her path stayed close to home. Raised in Mustang, she received her associate degree in culinary arts at OSU Institute of Technology at Okmulgee before earning a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration and management from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

Her early jobs looked like the ladder many hospitality workers know well: “I did the Oklahoma staples,” she said with a laugh. “Sonic, Buffalo Wild Wings, Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. You work your way up.”

Those years built a foundation that later allowed her to oversee multiple kitchens across Oklahoma City restaurant groups, including more than a dozen concepts during her time with Hal Smith Restaurant Group. That scale prepared her for something even bigger.

When the executive chef role overseeing food operations at the Thunder’s Paycom Center opened, the timing felt almost cosmic. “A lot of the stars had to align,” she said.

One of the rungs on her career ladder was with Whiskey Cake, where she worked with Chef Kenneth Hardiman, who became a mentor to Synco. He would go on to work for the Milwaukee Bucks, where

he took over the executive chef role. Now in a leadership position with Levy Restaurants, the national hospitality company specializing in sports and entertainment venues which oversees Loud City Hospitality, he encouraged her to apply.

She started the role on January 26, stepping into a position responsible for coordinating food operations across roughly a dozen kitchens inside the arena.

Running food service for an

NBA arena requires more than culinary skill. On game nights, thousands of guests move through the building in waves, expecting everything from quick snacks to premium dining experiences. “You have to take an arena this big in chunks,” she explained. “Excellent executive sous chefs, wonderful supervisors, clear communication, that’s how you make it work.”

Preparation begins days in advance. Teams coordinate menus and prep lists, build inventory and production schedules, and stay one step ahead of the next game or event. For Synco, the most important work happens off the line. “I’m really focusing on team building,” she said. “Getting people to buy

into the way we manage, which, for me, is mentorship and positivity.”

That leadership philosophy reflects a broader shift happening across the culinary world. For decades, professional kitchens were defined by harsh hierarchies and explosive tempers. Today, many chefs — especially women rising through leadership roles — are trying to reshape that culture. “We don’t have to yell. We don’t have to throw pans,” she said. “You can push for excellence without pushing people past their limits.”

Synco fits perfectly into the roster of a corporate team known for its sterling reputation, culture of inclusivity, and deep commitment to community. It’s not that the Thunder organization puts its culture above even its status as the reigning National Champions. Rather, it reflects the belief that these wins roll in because of the strength and depth of the culture.

Despite her grueling schedule, she finds time to champion the next generation of local hospitality pros. She mentors students in Edmond Santa Fe High School’s restaurant management program, whose team recently won the statewide ProStart comp-etition and will soon head to Baltimore to compete in the national invitational. “It’s about building the future of hospitality,” she said. Playing the long game, building a deep bench — it’s a page out of the Presti playbook.

Looking back, she says the career path makes more sense in hindsight than it did while she was living it. “When you’re in it, you don’t realize it’s happening,” she said. “You’re just showing up, doing the work, taking care of your people. Sometimes you move up, sometimes you move sideways, and you often wonder if you’re making the right move.”

Eventually, after years of stacking wins, she now leads one of the largest hospitality operations in Oklahoma City, fueling thousands of fans as they cheer on the Thunder for yet another win. She’ll turn 40 later this year, and still has many years to make an impact. “Our boys are always talking about how they’ve got that dog in them, and I feel that too.”

Investing in People

By Greg Horton

When news broke in January that Chris and LaVeryl Lower sold The Metro Wine Bar & Bistro, concerns were raised over what would happen to the Nichols Hills-adjacent restaurant that has been a local icon for nearly 40 years. They were immediately alleviated, though, when word went around that the buyers were Phil and Cathy Busey, long-time supporters and investors, as well as entrepreneurs with deep roots in Oklahoma City.

Their first decision after assuming controlling interest in the popular, wine-centric bistro was to invite Chef Kurt Fleischfresser to come aboard and help with the transition. “We love Kurt,” Phil Busey said. “He was at The Metro in the beginning, and he’s the best choice to help make this new team super successful.”

That new team includes Chef Sara Howard, who will be the chef de cuisine to Fleischfresser’s consulting executive chef role. Fleischfresser said the team’s focus is on building for the next generation.

“We’ll take it back to the beginning in some ways — keeping a toe in France, for example — and we want to be sensitive, but we know you have to change things and update things to be ready for a next generation,” Fleischfresser said. “We’re looking at being a combination of comfort and cutting edge. We’ve added some work stations, we’ll run some specials, and we’re developing shareable appetizers right now. A year from now the change will look dramatic, but it’s a slow process to get there, not a rush to change.”

The Buseys had increased their stake in The Metro to 34 percent prior to the sale, partly by purchasing the late Aubrey McClendon’s shares. They also have smaller shares in other locally owned restaurants around the city.

“We like to invest in people more than institutions,” Phil Busey said.

The Buseys are both native Oklahomans; he is from OKC, and she is from Tulsa. They met at Oklahoma City University, where Phil was studying law and Cathy music. She was a private music tutor and church organist at

Church of the Servant and Southwest Christian Church. She also worked in banking,like her father, after graduation. Phil Busey was raised by his uncle, who worked at OCU in maintenance, which is how Phil ended up attending there. He also played collegiate baseball while at OCU.

“I was holding up a wall at a Lambda Chi party — I was an Alpha Phi — when we met,” she said. “We both worked during college.Phil had a good job in aircraft insurance, and that’s how we were first able to start eating at nicer restaurants around the city.”

Phil would eventually work for the now infamous Penn Square Bank, a job he started at 30. While he had nothing to do with the circumstances that led to the collapse, he learned lessons that would help him and Cathy when they decided to start the company for which they are now known, Delaware Resource Group. That company came about as a result of a relationship with Boeing that began in 2001, and was solidified as a possibility when a Boeing project manager called Phil in

September 2002 to confirm a large contract on the AWACS fleet. DRG grew to 1,400 employees in more than 20 countries by the time Phil and Cathy sold controlling interest to their sons.

The Buseys raised three children, the two sons now operate DRG (their parents are still on the board) and their daughter is the president of

Cardinal Point, a woman-owned subsidiary of DRG.

“We started DRG with the idea of ‘profit with a purpose,’” Phil said. “Investing in people is part of that, but we also invest in organizations. Cathy founded Oklahoma City’s El Sistema orchestra and the Busey Chair of Music at OCU.”

In 2013, the family weathered a health crisis that helped define their legacy and their way forward. It was the day of the F5 tornado that devastated Moore. Phil was having substantial leg pain, but the hospitals were all on code black, so getting help was difficult. The pain eventually led to paralysis, and the family had to rally around him for the next two years.

“I was diagnosed with Coricobasal Syndrome,” he said. “Cathy took care of my day-to-day for two years, and the boys ran the company,” he said. “It was our daughter Emily who came to see me and said the line that helped me see my way forward, though. She said, ‘Don’t let this define you; define yourself through it.’”

As for The Metro, the Buseys intend to bring the same ethos they’ve applied in their own business, their charitable endeavors, and in their children’s lives. “People are our most important resource,” Phil said. “We take care of them, offering benefits, care, affirmation, empowerment, and appreciation. When you do that, they take care of you too.”

ARTS & CULTURE

Rite of Spring

The Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts, which kicks off on April 23, turns 60.

By Brian Hearn

The year was 1967. Something was in the air. And, it wasn’t just pollen.

In Oklahoma City, it was a confident moment of civic improvement in which an intrepid band of arts leaders led by the mighty Marion DeVore arrived at the time-tested idea: “Let’s put on show!” In a remarkable three weeks, the nascent Arts Council of Oklahoma City, with seed funding from the Symphony and Art Center, marshaled their art, food, and entertainment resources into the City’s first community celebration of the arts.

Now appropriately located in OKC’s Bicentennial Park, between City Hall and its sister arts organizations at the Civic Center, with the Museum of Art next door, this celebration of the visual, performing and culinary arts comes back to blossom annually.

Sixty years and counting, the Festival of the Arts is the Arts Council’s signature fundraising event that helps support arts programming year-round. Heck, as of a couple years ago Festival of the Arts ranked in the Top 25 Fine Arts Festivals in the country out of more than 1,000. We’re lucky.

By all appearances it is mature, healthy, and growing in the wind. Not only have local creatives and audiences flocked to the event year after year, undaunted by the unpredictable April weather, but the participating artists from around the U.S. continue to give the event high marks for being both well run and attended. The event attracts 525,000 visitors who spend $1.8 million on art.

With thousands of applications and

a final lineup of 144 visual artists, these hard-working professionals apply and undergo an intense jury process. Artists attend from 30 different U.S. states. Fifty to sixty artists tend to return year after year. More than half of the exhibiting artists are showing for the first time in Oklahoma City. Almost the same number are Oklahomans. So, there is plenty of fresh talent and art work to discover.

One of the strengths of fine art festivals “in the street” is that it levels the playing field between jewelers, woodworkers, fiber artists, and more traditional makers in painting, sculpture or photography. There are many masterful artists working in unusual media or materials like Wyoming’s Chad Aldridge. His exquisite cutlery, blade to handle, is perfect if you’re into slicing carrots with functional fine art.

For parents out there, it’s worth mentioning the dozens of kid-friendly artists exhibiting this year, which is ideal for introducing fine art to the screen-addled youngsters. They can have an enriching time visiting booths and interacting with artists while picking out — curating we call it — something amazing for their living space. I daresay some of my first meaningful art experiences and purchases were at this very festival. Thanks, Mom and Dad – shout out to Greg Burns!

If you or a family member are inspired to make some art, there are no shortage of experiential opportunities to create or collect. Get your hands dirty at the Pottery Place, pick up a brush at

the Paint Mural Project, or create a collaborative structure that evolves over the weekend in the Children’s Art Field.

Creators Collective, a new initiative from 2025, returns to the festival with cool local makers. Turn off your AI chatbot and go peruse the marvels of locally handcrafted body & skin care products, delicious local honey, flowers, plants, and home goods. Support your local entrepreneurs who are making our city a tastier, better smelling place.

Performing artists will be lighting up the Main Stage and City Stage with singing, dancing, theater, magic and hopefully top-notch jazz hands. You can find a nice spectrum of musical genres over four full days of hourly performances on both stages including R&B, funk, country, pop, blues, bluegrass, indie folk, several decades of rock acts, and some DJ sets.

Where else can you witness the range of dance companies in this city? We’re talking clogging, tapping, stomping, hip hop, folkloric, and classical forms. Don’t forget the Art Moves area which has a more intimate feel suitable for poetry, art demos, face painting, magicians and jazz artists.

Culinary Arts are always well represented at this festival and seem to get better every year. International Food Row features nearly two dozen food booths catering to practically any taste: fat, salt, sweet, sour, spicy. Check ‘em all off. Sure, you’re going to want Indian taco, funnel cake, or Strawberry Newport, but consider branching out with a spicy tamale, dumpling, or a shrimp boat in a pineapple bowl. African cuisine was hot last year, taking home two of the Festival of the Art Food Awards. Who will stand out this year? Only tasting will tell. The hardest part is finding a free table.

Out of many worthy participants, here are a few names to check out, organized by medium, that caught my eye:

Painting/Water Media :

Jonah Ballard, Phoenix, AZ

Piper Bridwell, Edmond, OK

Eric Gonzalez, Tulsa, OK

Laurie Huff, Rockwall, TX

Jason Wilson, McAlester, OK

Jewelry:

Carol Bryan, Ft. Worth, TX

Carlos Iglesias & Sergio Bello, Miami, FL

Adam Tessier, Carbondale, CO

Toni Tischer, Salida, CO

Molly Strader, Frisco, TX

Meghan Riley, Brooklyn, NY

Paper/Drawing/Prints:

Keith Buswell, Lincoln, NE

Jen Foster, Lawrence, KS

Douglas Fulks, Lees Summit, MO

Robin Whalan, Houston, TX Nha Vuu, Fort Collins, CO

Photography:

Timm Chapman, Phoenix, AZ

Michael Chen, NY

John Kennington, Tulsa, OK

Sondra Wampler, Santa Fe, NM

Kristin Schillaci, Santa Fe, NM

Fiber:

Megan DeSmidt, Woodland Park, CO

Veronique Loggins, Blue River, OR

Ceramics:

Jeff Duerksen, OKC Zi Li, Stillwater, OK

Amy Sanders de Melo, Tulsa, OK

Kyle Osvog, Jackson, GA

Glass:

Sharon Fujimoto, Amherst Junction, WI

Robin Kittleson, Geneva, IL

Jackson Ocheltree, Tucson, AZ

Woodworking:

Harrell Anne Adams, KS

Anna Bailey & Nathanael Bailey, Duluth, MN

Caleb Calloway & Sean Gomez, OKC

Robert Wing, Santa Fe, NM

Gregg Standridge, Norman, OK

Emerging Artists:

Elizabeth Czaplinski, Norman, OK

Cherri Ledbetter, OKC

The 60th Festival of the Arts kicks off with the Angels & Friends Celebration on Wednesday, April 22, from 4-8pm at Bicentennial Park. The Festival is open Thursday 11am9pm ; Friday through Saturday 11am-10pm; Sunday 10am-7pm.

Katie Graham

Katie Graham is an Oklahoma City-based fiber artist. Last year, she won the Emerging Artist Award at the Festival of the Arts. Her organization, The Artist Closet, redistributes free art supplies throughout the communinity.

By Phoebe Grandi

How would you describe your art?

I’m a fiber artist, and I would say my style is considered contemporary. I would also say it’s very inspired by nature, the cosmos, and healing — very deeply rooted in healing work.

What draws you to fiber arts?

I’ve done a lot of different mediums, but fiber art is the one that keeps me engaged the most. I feel like I’m constantly learning with it.

I didn’t start doing fiber art until I was an adult. My sister had brought home some embroidery stuff because she wanted to embroider a hat. I said “That looks fun. Let me try that.” I ended up making a patch, and I remember thinking it was so awful. But, I liked it because I was not good at it right away. I feel like there were a lot of art mediums that I just got right away, but embroidery and learning how to sew was something that I wasn’t good at. That’s why I was like, “I need to learn how to do this.”

It also connects me to a lot of the women in my family who are fiber artists, and it feels like they’re working alongside me. My aunt used to be a quilter. She never did it for money, but she loved entering her work into shows. She boasted about her first place ribbons. She was very proud of her work, and knew that she was good. It was nice to watch her in her element.

What inspires the images in your work?

I’m very guided by storytelling. I took a folklore class in college, and it resparked my love of telling stories. Every piece I’ve made since I started doing fiber art is rooted in telling a story of some kind, and usually it’s also rooted in my healing.

Could you walk me through one of your pieces?

[I have this collection] called “The Story of Night and Day.” I feel like it’s all I can talk about because I love those pieces. This one is really rooted in healing and overcoming hyper independence, so it’s a very serious piece for me.

I also make more lighthearted stuff that’s fun and silly, which is also healing in a different way. I like both sides of my work, but they definitely explore different things.

You made a story book, correct?

Yes, with that series “The Story of Night and Day.” It’s a 10 piece series, and I turned it into a picture book. It’s my first written work. I’m very proud of it and very attached to it. It focuses on the character Night, and her journey is my journey. It focuses on her journey and overcoming hyper independence, learning how to accept help, and learning how to let trust and love back in. And, when she does that, she meets Day. He’s just happy to help, and she just doesn’t understand why. And they end up taking care of a garden together and fall in love in the process.

What was it like to marry this verbal storytelling with your fiber arts storytelling?

It was really cool. I used to tell stories all the time when I was a little kid, and it was really great to get back to that. When I first made the series, it was just going to be one piece, and that piece is called “The Story of Night and Day.” It is 26 by 30 inches, which is the largest piece I had ever done at that time. It’s a portrait of me and my partner, and when I looked at the colored sketch I was just like, “Who are these people? How did they meet? What led them to one another?” That’s what made me want to create the other pieces in the story. I thought that would be enough, but then I wanted to write more about the feelings that they’re experiencing during this series. So, it just kept growing.

What is it like being a full-time artist?

Especially as a full time fiber artist, you just have to always be open to learning and understanding that you don’t know everything. Because every time I think I got it all together, something happens: I have to rebuild, remake, or reshape it in some way. Also, knowing it’s gonna take dedication and consistency, you have to devote yourself to it.

Was the decision to become a fulltime artist hard?

It was a hard decision, but it was also really easy. I remember I was working non-stop and didn’t know what I was working towards, but I knew that the only consistency was that I enjoyed making. I didn’t really know what would do well and what wouldn’t, so I

started following joy and that ended up working out. It worked out so well that eventually I was making the same amount of money doing art as I did at my retail job, and I thought, “I’d rather work for myself.” Did I have to take on a bunch of roles once I did that? Yes, I’m the manager and I’m the bookkeeper. And, it’s going to be like that for a little while. I think that is what keeps people from pursuing art full-time, because you do have to take on a lot of roles and you have to learn a lot of new things, but anybody’s capable of it, I really believe that. You just have to at least try. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. But if it does, it’s a really fun job

Last year at the Festival of the Arts, you won the Emerging Artist Award. What was that like?

I definitely cried for a good 20 minutes, and then I had to get myself together because the festival was going on. I dedicated a whole year of my life to the pieces in that show, and my partner was very supportive of me during that time. So, it just really felt like all of that work and time I put in really paid off. It still feels very surreal, but it reassured my choice to be a full time artist. Because it is a full choice. You have to be like, “Am I ready to do this?” It affirmed that that was the right decision for me, and things just started falling in place after that. That series was the first of my pieces to go viral on social media. It helped grow my following, and it’s given me consistency every month now since I started posting regularly. It’s also helped me to continue putting myself out there, and it’s working really well. I think that was the biggest thing I took away from doing that event. I have to remember that I put myself out there one time, and it ended up really good.

Recently, you’ve been working on The Artist Closet, could you tell me about that?

Yes, it is my passion project. I’ve been working on it since 2022, the same year that I started working on my art full time. I used to do the art walk down in Norman every month, on the second Friday, and I debuted The Artist Closet there. I found a little rickety pop-up shelf I could take with me and I just filled it with my own art supplies to start. It’s slowly grown over the last four years. Now we have a permanent space inside of Mycelium Gallery. We’re up to 10 shelves, like full size book shelves, which is crazy.

We are going to do a fundraising event in July. I haven’t made the call for it yet, but we’re going to do an art show where I invite local artists to make things using materials in The Artist Closet. It’s going to help us get our nonprofit status, so four years in the making.

What’s your favorite Oklahoma City art museum/place to see art?

Definitely Mycelium Gallery. I love working with them. It’s a space where, as an artist, I feel very cherished, like they really want me to create. That’s their whole thing, they just want everybody to create.

Also, art markets. I would say that I visit more art markets than I do actual museums. I’m sorry to the museums [laughing]. I meet some of the most interesting people at those markets. And it’s like, “Where have you been my whole life? You’ve just been making stuff in your house, and this is the first time you’re showing it? It is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen!”

ARTS & CULTURE

Where Creativity Blossoms

“Art in Bloom” returns to OKCMOA on April 10, providing a weekend of fine art and floral arrangements.

By Hope Whitmire

Each April, flowers sprout throughout the galleries of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. During the anticipated weekend of “Art in Bloom,” selected florists are tasked with creating arrangements inspired by works in the museum’s different collections. Paintings and sculptures become starting points for floral pieces that get integrated into galleries for many Oklahomans’ favorite spring occassion.

For Kris Balaban, owner of A Date With Iris, the event has become a yearly creative feat. Her shop has participated since the event began in 2019, when only a handful of florists were involved.

Balaban said the appeal of the yearly event is its challenge. “Being as creative as possible within a set margin is part of the fun,” said Balaban.

Each florist is paired with a work of art or gallery space and asked to interpret it using flowers. It has varied from year to year whether florists can choose a piece or are assigned to one, as the process is always evolving. Balaban has interpreted a variety of works from Georgia O’Keefe to Colleen Browning to Karen LaMonte.

Participants must submit sketches weeks before the event, but the final arrangement often changes depending on what flowers are

available. Being able to adapt and problem-solve has become a crucial skill with many florists working on their design until the very last minute.

“You might have a great idea and then go to the market and the flowers just aren’t there,” Balaban said. “Flowers are perishable. Sometimes you have to switch things up.”

The flowers’ evolution throughout the weekend becomes a spectacle in itself. Running from April 10-12, arrangements appear fresh when the exhibition opens Friday and gradually change over time. Balaban said she tries to account for that transformation, considering how to use gravity and structure so the pieces wilt gracefully by the time Sunday comes around.

This year, Balaban was assigned a piece in the gallery featuring work by glass artist Dale Chihuly. The installation’s bold colors and swirling forms offer both inspiration and difficulty.

While A Date With Iris has been part of “Art in Bloom” since its inception, some participating florists are newer to the spring installation. Last year marked Dahlia Floral Design’s introduction to the exhibition after being invited by the museum to participate. This year, the team signed up as soon as

they heard florists were being recruited again. Based in Ada, the shop offers a smaller-town perspective in an event centered in Oklahoma City.

For shop owner Jenny O’Grady, the draw to “Art in Bloom” is the opportunity to push creative boundaries.

“‘Art in Bloom’ is such a cool

event, and it was a chance to be creative with flowers in a way that I’d never done before,” she said. “It was a good challenge.” The exhibit also offers an opportunity for recognition, “We live in a small town outside of OKC, but we do great work,” she said. “It’s a good way to get our name out there and be noticed,” said O’Grady.

The event has grown into one of the museum’s most popular annual programs. To locals the event has become almost synonymous with springtime,eagerly awaiting the full sensory experience of traveling through galleries that emit floral scents.

In addition to the gallery installations, the museum hosts gatherings, specialized tours, and workshops throughout the weekend. One of the most anticipated is Bubbles & Blooms, a floral cocktail party held on the museum’s roof terrace. The sold-out event includes flower-themed cocktails, light bites, live entertainment, and access to the “Art in Bloom” galleries.

As the event grows, Balaban continues to enjoy the same creative challenge that drew her to the exhibition years ago, while newer participants like Dahlia Floral Design continue to bring fresh perspectives to the museum’s blooming galleries.

In The Great Quiet

Tulsa author Laura Vogt turns family history and frontier myth into a sweeping debut novel.

By Julie Porter Scott

It’s Oklahoma, 1893. The starting gun for the land run isn’t a gun at all, it’s a cannon, firing at high noon to begin the race. Horses lunge forward and wagons rattle across open prairie as thousands of hopeful settlers surge into territory newly opened for homesteading.

Laura Vogt’s debut novel “In the Great Quiet” begins at that thunderous moment. Among the riders is the story’s protagonist Minnie Hoopes, a fiercely independent young woman determined to claim land — and a life — on the plains.

Vogt’s novel explores solitude, survival, and the uneasy search for belonging in a landscape that promises freedom, but at a high price. The book blends archival research and imaginative reconstruction to create a vivid portrait of a woman carving out a life in the unsettled territory of northern Oklahoma.

Fans of Kristin Hannah’s “The Four Winds,” Charles Frazier’s “Cold Mountain,” and “The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon will delight in this engaging story. It will especially appeal to Oklahomans who will recognize ancestors, locations, and local lore, as the seed for the story comes from Vogt’s own ancestry.

Minnie Hoopes is loosely based on Vogt’s great-great-grandmother. While the novel is rooted in her life and story, Vogt approached the project less as a biography and more as a launching point for historical fiction.

“My grandmother’s grandmother was Minnie,” Vogt said. “My grandmother is still alive — she’s ninety-three — so I was able to talk with her about the stories she remembered.”

Vogt constructed Minnie’s character by drawing on the broader experiences of women homesteaders at the time. “There are so many interviews and diaries from women in that era,” said Vogt. “I read those and pieced together more of a collective voice of what women were like at the time.”

The result is a character who feels both singular and representative: one woman, standing in for many, who crossed the prairie hoping to build a life from the land.

Although the novel unfolds on a grand historical stage, its creation was far more modest. Vogt wrote “In the Great Quiet” over the course of roughly six years. Much of the

drafting happened during the pandemic while she was homeschooling her daughters and caring for a newborn son. “I call it, ‘writing in the margins of life,’” she said. “I would just fit it in where I could, early mornings or a few minutes here and there.”

In hindsight, she believes the timing influenced the emotional tone of the novel, especially those early days of the pandemic when isolation was a part of life. “The specific emotions I was dealing with at that time folded into the book,” Vogt said. “If I had written it during a different period of my life, it would have been a different book.”

At its heart, “In the Great Quiet” is a meditation on solitude. Minnie chooses isolation deliberately, staking a claim far from neighboring homesteaders and finding comfort in the vastness of the prairie. But solitude also exposes her to danger and forces difficult alliances, including an unlikely partnership with an outlaw named Stot.

For Vogt, the tension between independence and connection was central to the story from the beginning. “I knew before I started writing that I wanted to grapple with ideas of isolation versus community,” she said.

As a new mother at the time, those questions were already on her mind. “I was thinking a lot about how important community is,” she said. “But also about the pull of solitude.” That push and pull becomes one of the novel’s central themes, as Minnie’s determination to live alone collides with the reality that survival often requires trust in others.

Part of the appeal of the book is Vogt’s richly descriptive language. The intense colors of Oklahoma’s clay, its wild grasses, turbulent seasons, and vast skies. The powerful imagery is splashed throughout the book, almost replacing dialogue during Minne’s most isolated moments.

Vogt says the attention to landscape came from simply paying closer attention to her surroundings. “I really enjoy being outside,” she said. “When I would take walks with my children, I’d watch the seasons and notice what was blooming or what colors were changing.” Those observations filtered naturally into the writing. “I think I just enjoyed

writing a story that’s close to home,” she said.

Although the novel unfolds in a place defined by migration and displacement, its emotional core revolves around the idea of home.

“What does it mean to find a place of your own? That’s a question that fascinates me,” said Vogt. For her, home is not only a physical location but a deeper sense of belonging. “I think everyone has a longing for home,” she said. “Not necessarily a piece of land, but a community—a place where you feel rooted.”

“In the Great Quiet” is Vogt’s first published novel, though not the first she has written. Another manuscript came earlier but never found an agent. Now, with her debut entering the world, she is already at work on future projects. But, she is in no rush. “This book took six years,” she said. “I’d rather take the time than put something out that I’m not proud of.”

For now, Vogt is enjoying connecting with readers and the literary community across Oklahoma. Much like the pioneers who once crossed the prairie, it seems Vogt’s literary journey is just beginning.

To learn more about the author and her book, visit https://www. lauravogt.com/

To meet the author and hear more about her book, find one of these upcoming Oklahoma City events.

April 2, 2026, 6:30 pm

Full Circle Books

OKC Launch Party, in conversation with Meaghan Hunt

May 16, 2026, 3:00 pm

Bethany Library

Book discussion and signing

ARTS & CULTURE

Illuminating Oklahoma City

“Anthony McCall: Solid Light,” which opened on March 13, invites the metro area to become immersed in a one-of-akind exhibition.

By Hope Whitmire

Anthony McCall is a master in his craft, blurring the lines between cinema, sculpture and drawing. At Oklahoma Contemporary, that creativity takes physical form in “Solid Light,” an exhibit that allows visitors to not just observe but interact with his work.

After your eyes have adjusted, step into McCall’s other worldly creation.

Museum-goers are first engulfed in the dim gallery presenting “Landscape for Fire” (1972), an early performance film documenting McCall lighting small fires at dusk in a precise geometrical grid. On a Wednesday afternoon, a steady audience filtered through, some pausing on benches as the 1972 film flickered. The short film runs for seven minutes and is accompanied simply by the sound of wind and the striking of flames.

The main room is again filled with darkness, but this time illuminated by projected beams of light, navigating to screens and mirrors. The space was filled with sporadically placed groups, each fully immersed by a projector. Everyone from young children to elderly couples were entranced when playing with the light and shadows, as if their participation were just as crucial to the piece as the equipment was. A light mist surrounded the white streams adding another interactive dimension to the experience. Attendees are no longer just spectators, they become the art themselves.

“It’s truly an immersive experience,” said Trent Riley, executive director of Oklahoma Contemporary.

“You’re not only asked to become a part of the work, but to step within it.”

The first work McCall created in the series, “Line Describing a Cone” (1973), plays a foundational role in that experience. Originally shown in

smoke-filled New York venues, the projection relied on particles in the air to reveal its form. When McCall revisited the work decades later, he was able to recreate that mystifying atmosphere with now accessible machines, allowing the piece to evolve alongside new technology.

Now nearing 80, he is experiencing a renewed period of recognition, one made possible by technology catching up to his

futuristic concepts.

“I think his resurgence is such a beautiful part of the story, but above all, it’s time that caught up with him and allowed his creativity to really flourish in a way that very few creatives ever had the opportunity to experience over the span of their lives.” Riley said.

Born in postwar London in 1946, McCall began as an avant-garde filmmaker before relocating to New York in the early 1970s. It was there, Riley said, that a simple moment of sunlight filtering through a window into a dusty room sparked the idea that would define his work. The resulting pieces shifted attention away from the screen and toward the projector itself, turning light into a sculptural, time-based drawing.

Bringing “Solid Light” to Oklahoma City required that same alignment of vision and capability. The exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Tate Modern, where the show was previously exhibited. This is the first time McCall’s work has been shown in both Oklahoma and the larger Midwest region. According to Riley, partnerships like this are part of a broader effort to bring internationally recognized work to Oklahoma.

“Our belief here at Oklahoma Contemporary is that everyone deserves to have access to these worldclass art experiences that you find at our capitals around the world, such as London, Tokyo, Berlin, Paris.”

“One of the best gifts we can provide our community is access to those sorts of exhibitions,” continued Riley, “doing so not only in their backyard, but for no cost.”

Oklahoma Contemporary’s architecture was another aspect that allowed this exhibit to thrive. Unlike many traditional museums, their galleries have up-to-date and flexible HVAC systems that can handle the haze necessary for McCall’s work without compromising the space or needing additional accommodations.

“It was really the dynamic nature of the design that lent itself to making this a partnership worthwhile for Tate because typically they’re traveling exhibitions to large coastal centers when they come to the United States.” said Riley

The unique exhibit draws a wide range of visitors, including families, couples, and children, each engaging with the work in different ways. Riley said that range of interaction is part of what makes the exhibition distinct.

“Children will run right into the work,” he said. “Adults tend to hesitate at first. But once they step in, it changes how they connect with it.”

As visitors move through the space, the light shifts with them. Bodies interrupt and reshape it, and the installation becomes dependent on presence and movement. In a setting where distance is usually expected, “Solid Light” invites interaction.

CALENDAR

FESTIVALS/EVENTS

PUTT-PUTT! on The Plaza Apr 10 6-10pm Plaza District plazadistrict.org

2nd Friday Night Market @ The Dock April 10 - 6-8pm Sailor & The Dock sailorandthedock.com

Norman Medieval Fair April 10-12 - Reaves Park medievalfair.org

Midtown Walkabout April 11, 11am-5pm Midtown District Downtown OKC downtownokc.com

Night Market April 17, 5:30-10pm Scissortail Park scissortailpark.org

Festival of the Arts April 23-27 - Bicentennial Park Arts Council of OKC acokc.org

Norman Musical Festival April 23 - 25, Downtown Norman normanmusicfestival.com

Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon: A Run the Remember April 24-26 okcmarathon.com

Wanderlust Pop Up Shop

April 26 Wheeler Ferris Wheel wheelerdistrict.com

COMEDY

Randy Feltface & Brodi Snook

April 4 - 7pm Bricktown Comedy Club bricktowncomedy.com

Saturday Night Magic Comedy Show with Jonathan Meyer April 4 - 7pm Jonathan’s Magic Theater www.eventbrite.com

Todd Barry April 7 - 7pm Bricktown Comedy Club bricktowncomedy.com

Cameron Buchholtz

April 7 - 7pm Bricktown Comedy Club bricktowncomedy.com

Geoffrey Asmus

April 9-10 -7pm Bricktown Comedy Club bricktowncomedy.com

Put A Cork In It Comedy: Jamie Campbell

April 10 - 7pm Put a Cork in It www.eventbrite.com

Cristina Mariani

April 11 - 7pm Bricktown Comedy Club bricktowncomedy.com

Bo Johnson Live

April 15 - 7pm Bricktown Comedy Club bricktowncomedy.com

Patrick Walburton

April 16-18, Bricktown Comedy Club bricktowncomedy.com

The Relatable Tour (Matinee)

April 18 - 2:m Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com

Trey Kennedy April 18 - 6pm Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com

Cameron Buchholt

April 19 - 6pm Bricktown Comedy Club bricktowncomedy.com

Maria Bamford April 23 - 7pm Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com

Grace OMalley April 24 - 7pm Bricktown Comedy Club bricktowncomedy.com

Ralph Barbosa April 26 7:00pm The Criterion criterionokc.com

FILM

OETA’s Back in Time: “Geronimo” premiere and panel discussion April 9 - 1pm Oklahoma History Center okhistory.org

Colors of Time April 9 - 7pm OKC Museum of Art okcmoa.com

Exhibition on Screen: Turner & Constable April 10 - 5:30pm OKC Museum of Art okcmoa.com

Lumière, Le Cinéma! - Free Admission

April 16 - 7pm OKC Museum of Art okcmoa.com

Miroirs No. 3

April 17 - 5:30pm OKC Museum of Art okcmoa.com

Queen Kelly - Saturday Classics April 18 - 2:00pm OKC Museum of Art okcmoa.com

Wide Open Experimental Film Festival

April 24 - 6pm OKC Museum of Art wideopeneff.com

VISUAL ARTS

The Cowboy: An Immersive Journey

National Cowboy Museum THROUGH MAY 30 nationalcowboymuseum.org

Anthony McCall: Solid Light Oklahoma Contemporary THROUGH JULY 27, 2026 okcontemp.org

Body of Art - Curated by George Oswalt April 2-May 30 1515 Lincoln Gallery 1515lg.com

Paseo First Friday Gallery Walk April 3 - 6pm Paseo Arts District thepaseo.org

Ink and Drink | Artful Wearables

April 4 - 9am Artspace At Untitled 1ne3.org

Jason Courting, Todd E. Clark and Cara Rich Art Show April 9, 6pm DNA galleries dnagalleries.com

Art in Bloom 2026 April 10-12 OKC Museum of Art okcmoa.com

2nd Friday Norman Art Walk April 10 - 6pm Norman Arts Council normanarts.org

Spotlight: Fun with Flowers April 11 - 1pm Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art ou.edu

Jerry’s Artarama Art Walk April 18 - 10am Edmond, OK edmondart.org

Studio Saturday at Just Off Western Studios April 18 - 11am Just Off Western Studios nancyjunkin.com

Public Reception: Studio Art Capstone April 30 - 5pm Melton Gallery calendar.uco.edu

PERFORMING ARTS

HELL’S KITCHEN

April 7-12, Civic Center Music Hall okcbroadway.com

Violet Sharp April 10 - 8pm Carpenter Square Theatre carpentersquare.com

EVERY CASTLE, RANKED OKC Rep Theater April 10-19 Oklahoma Contemporary okcrep.org

URINETOWN The Musical

April 17-19 - 7pm Little Theatre, Civic Center Music Hall okcciviccenter.com

OKC Phil presents Disney in Concert: Once Upon a Time April 17 & 18 - 7:30pm Civic Center Music Hall okcphil.org

SPORTS

April OKC Thunder Home Games Paycom Center

April 2 vs. Phoenix Suns, 7:30pm April 5 vs. Utah Jazz April 12 vs. Phoenix Suns, 7:30pm nba.com/thunder

OKC Comets home games

Chickasaw Field at Bricktown

April 7-12, vs. Round Rock Express April 21-26, vs. Tacoma Rainiers milb.com/oklahoma-city

Oklahoma Sooners Women’s Softball, Love’s Field

April 2-4 – vs Kentucky

April 17-19 – vs Arkansas April 21-26 – vs Georgia soonersports.com

AWARDS & FUNDRAISERS

Western Heritage Awards

April 10-11 - National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum nationalcowboymuseum.org

OKC Ballet Ball: A Star-Crossed

Masquerade April 11 - 6:30pm OKC Convention Center okcballet.org

MUSIC

Straight Tequila Night

April 4 - 7pm Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com

Johnny Mullenax April 4 - 8pm Beer City Music Hall beercitymusichall.com

Brothers-in-law Featuring Gregg Standridge & Mike Stewart April 4 - 8pm The Blue Door bluedoorokc.com

Keathley & Lily Seabird April 9 - 8pm Resonant Head resonanthead.com

Hosty

April 9 - 8pm Bin 73 bin73.com

Cheyanne Marie

April 10 - 7pm Angry Scotsman Brewing angryscotbrew.com

Brandon Lake - King of Hearts Tour

April 10 - 7pm Paycom Center paycomcenter.com

Velvet Daydream

April 10 - 8pm 51st st. Speakeasy 51stspeakeasy.com

The Happy Fits April 11 - 6pm Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com

Oklahoma Opry

April 11 - 7pm ACM @ UCO okopry.org

Oklahoma Space Program

April 11 - 7pm The Blue Door bluedoorokc.com

Celtic Jam

April 12 - 2pm Full Circle Bookstore fullcirclebooks.com

Good Story Tour

April 12 - 7pm Resonant Head resonanthead.com

Hold My Own & Snuffed on sight & Bayway NJ

April 12 - 7pm OKC Farmers Market bandsintown.com

The Brook and The Bluff

April 14 - 6:30pm The Jones Assembly thejonesassembly.com

Temptress

April 16 - 7pm 89th Street Collective 89thstreetokc.com

Adam Aguilar

April 17, 7pm The Blue Note okcbluenote.com

Wayne Hancock

April 17 - 8pm Beer City Music Hall beercitymusichall.com

My So Called Band

April 17 - 8pm Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com

Texas Hippie Coalition

April 18 - 5:30pm Diamond Ballroom diamondballroom.com

Matt Blagg hosting Oklahoma Opry

April 18 -7pm Centennial Rodeo Opry okopry.org

PhaseOne

April 18 - 8pm Beer City Music Hall beercitymusichall.com

Brian Gerald Bulger

April 18 - 8pm The Blue Door bluedoorokc.com

DOUBLECAMP

April 19 - 7pm Resonant Head resonanthead.com

Dethklok & Amon Amarth: The Amonklok Conquest

April 20 -7pm The Criterion criterionokc.com

Jay Electronica

April 20 -7pm Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com

UCO Jazz Combos

April 20 - 7pm University of Central Oklahoma calendar.uco.edu

Disembodied Tyrant

April 21 - 6pm Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com

Hot Flash Heat Wave

April 21 - 8pm Resonant Head resonanthead.com

The Black Dahlia Murder

April 21 - 8pm Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com

Max McNown

April 22 - 7pm The Jones Assembly thejonesassembly.com

Travis Bolt

April 22 - 8pm Beer City Music Hall beercitymusichall.com

Amy Speace

April 23 -8pm The Blue Door bluedoorokc.com

Black Pistol Fire - Flagrant Act of Bliss

April 23 - 8pm Beer City Music Hall beercitymusichall.com

LOCKED SHUT

April 24 - 6:m OKC Farmers Market bandsintown.com

Matt Cox

April 24 - 7pm Angry Scotsman Brewing angryscotbrew.com

Hotel California - The Original Eagles Tribute

April 24 - 7:30pm OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center Theater oklahoma-city-theater.com

DISCO, ALWAYS: A HARRY STYLES DANCE NIGHT

April 24 - 8pm Resonant Head resonanthead.com

Souled Out

April 24 - 8pm University of Central Ok calendar.uco.edu

Linda Gail Lewis April 25, 7pm Blue Note okcbluenote.com

Silversun Pickups: Tenterhooks Tour

April 26 - 6:30pm Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com

Electronic Orchestra April 26 - 7pm The Criterion criterionokc.com

Evening Elephants April 26 - 7pm Norman Music Festival normanmusicfestival.com

Don Felder

April 26 - 8pm Riverwind Casino riverwind.com

Bilmuri: Kinda Hard Tour April 28 - 7pm The Criterion criterionokc.com

RITT MOMNEY April 28 - 8pm Resonant Head resonanthead.com

Snail Mail April 28 - 8pm Tower Theatre towertheatreokc.com

Sevendust April 29 - 6pm Diamond Ballroom diamondballroom.com

Blackberry Smoke April 30 7pm The Jones Assembly thejonesassembly.com

Gillian Welch April 30 - 7:30pm Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center bandsintown.com

Mike Viola April 30 8pm The Blue Door bluedoorokc.com

Jigitz April 30 8pm Beer City Music Hall beercitymusichall.com

The Heartstrings & Jesse Alan Horn April 30 8pm Beam Live beamlive.club

Bringing Appalachia to OKC

North Carolina alternative country-rock band Wednesday performed at Beer City Music Hall on March 21.

By Phoebe Grandi

As the crowd thickened, workers at Beer City Music Hall set up handfuls of dolls around the stage: a Raggedy Ann and a jack-in-thebox positioned under an intentionally crooked lampshade; Sally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” perched against a speaker. A white guitar with buttons glued all over it sat near the middle of the stage, while ornate gold frames hung on the stage’s sides.

Dutifully watching over the scene was a large image of the distressed (or maybe intensely amused) purple creature with bangs and a red polka-dotted bow that is featured on Wednesday’s newest album, “Bleeds.”

Gouge Away, a Florida hardcore punk band, had just left the stage. Their opening act established them as mature musicians and performers, with lead singer Chistina Michelle’s artful screaming raising the energy of the Saturday night crowd. While Gouge Away’s discography strays from my usual sonic rotation, it was impossible to not feed off of the band’s evident enjoyment of playing with each other.

In the interim between sets, more mid-twenties and early thirty-yearolds filtered into the sold-out venue. A sea of camo hats stiffened as friend groups attempted to maintain the territory they fought for. As per the usual pre-concert shuffle, the lights started to dim, the band walked onstage, and the crowd buzzed with excitement.

Without a word, Wednesday launched into the first song on their sixth album, “Bleeds.” The band began with a steady beat and the restrained hums of guitars before diving into the heavier, more confident instrumental of “Reality TV Argument Bleeds.”

“Pickin’ the ticks off of you,” sang Karly Hartzman, as the guitarists briefly melted back into the restrained playing.

Hartzman writes all of the songs for the North Carolina alt-countryrock band. Her lyrics, unique in their ability to capture the strange and often beautiful emotions found in life’s mundane and slightly grotesque moments, have separated Wednesday from most of their rock and country counterparts.

After a cacophony of sound and a three song tour of three albums, Hartzman addressed the crowd for the first time. “I don’t know why it took us so long to come here,” she said, calmly. “Thank you for coming out, even though we’ve forsaken you.”

Throughout the show, the band maintained a cool yet genuine demeanor. Spyder Pugh — the guitarist replacing recent indie-rock sensation MJ Lenderman on the band’s tours — wore what looked like gas station sunglasses for the entire set, adding to the strange yet oddly comforting props populating the stage.

For Wednesday, finding comfort in the strange is often the point.

“We’re playing a song we haven’t played on this tour yet,” Hartzman said to the crowd. “It’s based on some feelings that I’ve been getting in the short time I’ve been in OKC.”

“That’s a compliment,” Harztman continued. “[The song] evokes the same feeling as my hometown. We are one in the same.” Opened by a slow, hypnotic intro marked by bandmember Xandy Chalmis’s lap steel guitar, “Burned Down Dairy Queen” is from Wednesday’s third

album “Twin Plagues.”

While I’m not exactly sure what to take away from an allegedly complimentary song whose final line is “I never know exactly what to think of my life,” I do know that it is high praise if Hartzman likens our city to her home of Greensboro, NC.

Wednesday, which was formed in Asheville, NC, keeps the Southern state very close to its heart. Hartzman’s lyrics are rife with Appalachian, Southern, and hometown references. Often drawing upon the memories of her and her friends, she uses these references to offer an unflinching look into the absurd yet somewhat universal themes of growing up.

“Phish Pepsi,” a country song (according to Hartzman) that she sang alongside Christina Michelle, has the ever memorable line of “We watched a Phish concert and Human Centipede / Two things I now wish I had never seen.” “Chosen to Deserve” — one of the most popular songs off of their third album “Rat Saw God,” which sparked the band’s more mainstream success — combines an up-beat country melody with descriptions of middle schoolers attempting to recreationally use Benadryl.

Now, written out and described in brief fragments, these lyrics likely sound more unflinching than beautiful. While I stand by the belief that Hartzman’s lyrical skill is unparalleled, I know that her impressive

sincerity to the band’s songs (that, unfortunately, my typing lacks). She’s able to shift from country crooning to literal screaming and not forgo any vocal mastery. Her vocal range was expectantly impressive at this particular concert, especially demonstrated in the band’s rock-heavy cover of “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles)” by Gary Stewart. Yet, halfway through the concert, Hartzman paused and said, “I’ll be honest, we’re having a bit of a goofy set because we’re nervous. If you’re not in the pit, can you do a little dance? [She waved her arms in an exemplary motion] It’ll help us loosen up.”

While her tone was both calm and diplomatic, she was right, the audience was, for the most part, not dancing. For a set list composed of rock to make you bob and country to make you sway, the audience’s lack of motion was perplexing.

After the call-out, the younger patrons at the front began moshing to the more hardcore song “Bath County.”

Even the stiff crowd in the back softened a little when the opening chords to the most popular song off of “Bleeds” began. “Elderberry Wine,” another country song, describes how love can turn sour, calling upon the Appalachian delicacy of pickled “pink boiled eggs” that float when they turn rotten. And, of course, the endearing yet ominous line of “Your eyes are the green of tornado skies.”

The latter half of the show relied heavily on the band’s newest album, with their more upbeat (in tempo, not meaning) songs like “Townies” and “Bitter Everyday,” paving the way for the concert’s hardcore ending.

adds a

Hartzman announced early on that there would be no encore to the concert: “The last songs make my voice inoperable.” Both songs, “Bull Believer” from “Rat Saw God” and “Wasp” from “Bleeds,” require Hartzman to scream, at length, into the microphone. During these songs, the mosh pit returned to the front of the crowd, with one person experimenting with a quick stint in crowdsurfing.

The audience buzzed with energy as they left Beer City Music Hall. One person turned to his friend and said, “Dude, that slide guitar was awesome.” And, even though I’m pretty sure it was actually a lap steel guitar, that is perhaps the best review of Wednesday’s Oklahoma City concert I can offer you.

The Country Star From Oklahoma City

SHINE on Oklahoma Music highlights Bryan White.

By Brian Maughan

The first country artist to have two albums to go platinum on the same day was Oklahoma City’s own Bryan White.

In 1994, after graduating from Putnam City West High School, White was signed to Asylum Records at age 20.

While he charted six number one hits as a solo artist, his charttopping duet with Shaina Twain is perhaps his most famous song. Recorded in 1998, “From This Moment On” has played at as many weddings as it has country dance halls.

White still remembers exactly how the partnership with Twain unfolded, starting with a call that jolted him awake. “I was asleep on the tour bus in Chicago. It was the era before cell phones,” White said. “We had this analog phone on our bus that we only used for emergencies. We got a call on it. My tour manager came and woke me up and said, ‘You need to get up.’ ‘I said, ‘What for?’ He said, ‘Just get up, you need to get up... Mutt Lange and Shania Twain are on the phone.’ I was clearing my throat and trying to wrap my mind around why I was talking to Shania Twain and Mutt Lange at 9 o’clock in the morning. For me, back then, 9 o’clock in the morning was ungodly early!”

Twain said she chose White because he was her favorite male country singer. Their song became not only a big US market hit, but also scoring high on charts throughout the world. Their video would consistently be played on CMT due to popular demand.

In addition to selling more than five million albums worldwide, White has won a Grammy, CMA, and an ACM award. In 2015, he received a major career resurgence with “God Gave Me You,” a song originally recorded in 1999 that began topping charts in the Philippines.

White also found success writing songs for other top country artists, including Wynonna Judd, Diamond Rio, Sawyer Brown, Joe Diffie, and LeAnn Rimes. His song “Imagine That” became a Top 5 smash for Diamond Rio in 1997. This fall, White will celebrate his 26th wedding anniversary to actress Erika Page White. Erika is known for her roles on soap op -

eras like, “One Life to Live” and appeared with Bryan on “The Private Lives of Nashville Wives.”

They had two sons, Justin and Jackson. The younger son, Jackson, has recently been following in his father’s footsteps by releasing songs online. In 2024, he made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry performing with his dad. This year he appeared on American Idol with a Golden Ticket.

Although he was born in Lawton, White grew up in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City/County Historical Society is bestowing their prestigious Pathmaker Award to him this month. “This is in recognition of not only his amazing contributions to music, but also for having used his celebrity to help so many wonderful causes all over the United States,” said society board member Kala Beard.

White will be in attendance, along with his wife, to receive his award and the public will be able to visit with him following the ceremony.

Theluncheonbanquetceremony will be held Tuesday, April 14th at 11:30AM at the Champion Event Center 737 S Meridian Ave. Tickets can be purchased at www.okchistory.com

The entire interview of Bryan White can be seen on the SHINE on OklahomaMusicYouTubechannel.

Brian Maughan serves as Oklahoma County Commissioner, Dist 2 and does a series of interviews with Oklahoma music stars for the Oklahoma History Center called SHINE on Oklahoma Music.

Secondhand Smoke Doesn’t Stay Next Door

The smoke from one cigarette affects everyone in multiunit housing — especially kids. Exposure to secondhand smoke can lead to health issues, including:

• Asthma attacks & ear infections

• Absences from school & work

• Lung disease & multiple cancers

• Increased risk of addiction as adults

Learn more at

PUZZLES

MIRANDA KANY

57 5/8 or 2/14

59 One might be noble 60 ‘‘Foucault’s Pendulum’’ author 61 Drummer with the coffee table book ‘‘Another Day in the Life’’ 63 All-star pitcher Hershiser

65 Sch. whose team name is a poisonous nut

67 The Bard of ____

68 Thanksgiving is always on the fourth one in Nov.

69 Infamous warning for 126-Across … and for solvers, when filling in seven squares in this puzzle?

73 Creature to take a gander at on Haleakala?

74 Lacking adornment

75 Digressive remark 76 Tabby talk

79 ____ Lanka

80 ‘‘Daughter,’’ in Hebrew 82 Harvest 84 Hole on a belt

86 Ground, black, to taste

88 Chop, mince, grate, etc.

90 Holiday harmonies

93 Cute, woolly farm animals

96 Period of glaciation

98 Title role for both Patti LuPone and Madonna 100 Uncle Remus title 102 Tree from which turpentine may be derived

Hullabaloo

106 Word before stick or after Scotland

107 One cup, seasoned and lightly toasted until crispy 109 ‘‘The kissing disease’’ 110 Some savanna groups 111 ‘‘____ for Ricochet’’ (Sue Grafton mystery)

112 Got ready to drive?

Commoner 115 Human rights lawyer Clooney 117 Ones changing the narrative?

Chillaxing 122 Word on a protest sign 125 One, coddled or raw; add an extra for a richer flavor

126 This puzzle’s subject, in two very different ways

127 Samurai sword

128 Kind of overload

129 Stile coins that have gone out of style

130 Contemptuously laughed at Down

1 Provided assistance

2 Spelling ____

3 Spicy, say 4 ¾ teaspoon, Grey Poupon preferred

5 End-of-semester hurdle

6 Soupçon feature 7 ½ cup, slowly drizzled and whisked to form an emulsion

8 Area with pews

9 Certain silk spinner

10 Onetime org. for Jimmy Carter and J.F.K.

11 Bean counter’s book

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Leslie

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ACCOUNT

Rapscallion 15 Curmudgeon’s exclamation 16 ‘‘Sully’’ or ‘‘Spartacus’’ 17 Add value to

18 Rejuvenate digitally

20 The first one was sent in 1971

29 A calf born with two heads, some say

31 Satisfied sigh

32 ‘‘Haven’t a clue’’

34 Gift recipient

35 ‘‘____ luck!’’

36 Cups o’ joe

12 Its box is yellow and green, with many colors in between 13 ____ Empire

37 The ‘‘U’’ of UX 40 George Eliot masterpiece … or a punny hint to seven squares in this puzzle

43 Eye drop?

45 ‘‘What am I, chopped ____?’’

47 Swiatek who has won the U.S. Open, French Open and Wimbledon

49 Workers’ rights org.

52 Army Corps of Engineers

project

53 Pictures on a screen

54 Alternative to a cup

56 Scatters, as seeds

58 Start of a pirate-y pillaging song

59 Tour leader

61 Go halfsies, say

62 Flower with a cup-shaped bloom

64 Las Vegas football player

66 In stitches

67 2 tbsp., for a briny flavor

68 Baking meas.

70 Make a fast not last?

71 Conical dwelling

72 Mlle. in Madrid

78 One of a hundred for Pooh and friends

80 Part of a Santa Claus costume

81 Adjustable feature of an office chair, maybe

83 ‘‘Pharsalia’’ and the ‘‘Aeneid’’

85 Poseidon’s domain

87 Entreaty

89 ½ cup, freshly grated

91 1997 Jim Carrey comedy

92 Big step

94 Alternative to X

95 Kemo ____

97 Peanuts

99 Expensive Super Bowl features

100 One way to cross the Rubicon

101 Step down

103 Black out, in a way

105 ‘‘The Fountainhead’’ protagonist

107 Longtime Saints QB Drew

108 ‘‘Refreshing’’ web shortcut

113 Open before December 25?

114 Operate on with light

116 Olden honeyed drink

118 Expressions of appreciation, in texts

119 Tic-tac-toe win

121 ‘‘The ____ of Pooh’’

123 Slyly disparaging

124 Bit

Sarah

CONTRIBUTORS

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY: APRIL

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Now is an excellent time to decide your favorite color is amaranth (a vivid red-violet), or sinopia (earthy red-orange), or viridian (cool blue-green, darker than jade). You might also conclude that your favorite aroma is agarwood (deep, smoky, resin-soaked wood), or heliotrope (cherry-almond vanilla), or petrichor (wet soil after a rain). I’m trying to tell you, Aries, that you’re primed to deeply enhance your detailed delight in smells, colors, tastes, feelings, physical sensations, types of wind, tones of voice, qualities of light—and everything else. Indulge in sensory and sensual pleasures!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): My Taurus friend Elena keeps a “gratitude garden” in her backyard. When she feels grateful for a specific joy in her life, she writes it on biodegradable paper and buries it among her flowers, herbs, and vegetables. “I feed the earth with appreciation,” she says. “Returning the gift.” She feels this practice ensures that her garden and her life flourish. Her devoted attention to recognizing blessings attracts even more blessings. Her cultivated appreciation for beauty and abundance leads her to discover more beauty and abundance. Elena’s approach is pure Taurean genius. I invite you to create your own rituals for expressing your thankful love. Not just paying dutiful homage in your thoughts, but giving your appreciation weight, texture, and presence in the actual world.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Many of us periodically slip into the daydream that everything would finally feel right if only our lives were somehow different. If we’re single, maybe we imagine we ought to be partnered; if we’re partnered, we wish our beloved would change, or we secretly wonder about someone else entirely. That’s the snag. The blessing is this: In the days ahead, you’re likely to discover a surprising ease with your life exactly as it is, and feel a genuine, grounded peace. Congratulations in advance!

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A cautious voice in your head murmurs: “Proceed carefully. Don’t be overly impressed with your own beauty. Stick with dependable methods. Live up to expectations and avoid explorations into the unknown.” Your bold genius interrupts: “Tell that fussy, boring voice to shut up. The truth is that you have earned the right to be an inquisitive wanderer, an ingenious lover, a fanciful storyteller, and a laughing experimenter.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In medieval European gardens, there was a tradition of creating “pleasure labyrinths.” They were walking meditations that spiraled inward to a center, then back out again. There were no decisions and no wrong turns, just the relaxing, meditative journey itself. I think you need and deserve a metaphorical pleasure labyrinth right now, Leo. You’ve been treating every choice as a high-stakes dilemma and every path as potentially problematic. But what if the current phase isn’t about making the perfect decision? Maybe it’s about trusting that the path you’re on will take you where you need to go, even if it meanders. By cosmic decree, you are excused from second-guessing every turn.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your eye for imperfection is a gift until it becomes the lens through which you see everything. The critical faculty that drives you to refine and enhance may also shunt you into a dead end of neverbeing-good-enough, where impossible standards immobilize you. In the coming weeks, dear Virgo, I beg you to use your vaunted discernment primarily in the service of growth and pleasure rather than constraint. Be excited by buoyant analysis that empowers constructive change. Homework: For every flaw you identify, identify two things that are working well. You won’t ignore what needs attention, but instead will compensate for the excessive criticism that sometimes grips your inner critic.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You Libras shouldn’t expend excessive effort trying to force the external world to be more tranquil. That’s mostly a futile task that distracts from your more essential work. The secret to your happiness is to cultivate serenity within. How do you do that? One reliable way to shed tension is to continually place yourself in the presence of beauty. Nothing makes you relax better than being surrounded by elegance, grace, and loveliness. Now is a good time to recommit yourself to this key practice.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In computer science, there’s a concept called “graceful degradation.” When a system encounters an error, it doesn’t crash completely. It loses some functionality but keeps running with what remains. According to my reading of the astrological omens, Scorpio, you’d be wise to acknowledge a graceful degradation like that. Something isn’t working as you had hoped and planned. A relationship? Project? Adventure? In classic Scorpio fashion, you’re tempted to burn it all down. But I encourage you to practice graceful degradation instead. Keep what still works and release only what’s actually broken. Not everything has to be all-or-nothing. You can lose some functionality and still run. You can be partially out of whack and still be valuable. PS: The awkwardness is temporary.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): At your best and brightest, you are a hunter—though not the kind who stalks prey with weapons and trophies in mind. Your hunt is noble: the fervent pursuit of adventures that nourish your curiosity and the brave forays you make into unfamiliar territories where intriguing new truths shimmer. And now, as the world drifts deeper into chaos, you are called to respond with even more exploratory audacity. I invite you to further refine your hunter’s craft. Lift it up to an even higher, more luminous form of seeking.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn meditation teacher Wes Nisker guided his

students to relax the relentless mental static that muddled their awareness. But he also understood that excessive striving can sabotage the peace we’re seeking. I invoke his influence now to help you release some of the jittery goal-obsession you’ve been gripped by. Nisker and I offer you permission to temporarily suspend the potentially exhausting drive to constantly be better and more accomplished. Instead, just for now, simply be your authentic self. Loosen your high-strung grip on selfimprovement and allow yourself the radical luxury of purposelessness.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Here’s a danger you Aquarians are sometimes prey to: spending so much energy fixing the big picture that you neglect what’s up close and personal. You may get so involved in rearranging systems that immediate concerns get less than your best attention. I hope you won’t do that in the coming weeks. Your aptitude for overarching objectivity is a gift because it enables you to recognize patterns others can’t detect. But it may also divert you from the messy, intricate intimacy that gritty transformation requires. Your assignment: Eagerly attend to the details, which I bet will be more interesting than you imagine.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In horticulture, “hardening off” is the process of gradually exposing seedlings started indoors to outdoor conditions before transplanting them. Too much exposure too fast will shock them; no exposure at all will leave them unprepared. Let’s invoke this as a useful metaphor for you. I believe you are being hardened off, Pisces. Life is making small, increasing demands on your tender self. Though this may sometimes feel uncomfortable, I assure you that it’s preparation, not cruelty. You’re being readied for a shift from protected space to open ground. My advice is twofold: 1. Don’t retreat back into the ultra-safe greenhouse. 2. Don’t let yourself be thrown into full exposure all at once.

Price Foerster Vice President of Commercial Lending

Cole Schwab Vice President of Commercial Lending