Family-owned Cajun Corner presents diners with three convenient locations in OKC. Cajun delicacies, as well as out-of-the-box fusion dishes, pepper this dynamic menu.
Keep it classic with po boys, blackened fish, fried oysters, gizzards and gumbo. There are plenty of seafood baskets as well, ranging from shrimp to oysters to crawfish.
Fusion dishes surprise and delight, with options including Cajun fettuccine Alfredo, loaded crawfish fries, the Crabby Patty burger, the surf and turf, and the rib eye Philly cheesesteak. Sides include dirty rice, Cajun coleslaw, okra and popcorn shrimp. Top off your meal with a drink from the full bar or a dessert like bread pudding or beignets. Three locations in the OKC metro; cajuncornerokc.com; photo courtesy Cajun Corner
Intense, clean-cut and with movie-star charisma, Trevor Tack laughs hard and works harder. He grew up in Chickasha, the child of supportive, hard-working parents (a lawyer from Michigan, a schoolteacher from Chickasha) who had little time for gourmet food. He had more than a passing acquaintance with Hamburger Helper.
It’s a wonder he became a chef at all – but, after arriving at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater with no strong career inclinations, the chef life slowly drew him in. He was thrilled by the magic of it; he liked the honesty of it. If you cook a bad dish, there’s no fooling people, but you get to start fresh the next day. He changed his major from business to hospitality.
His first job was at the Chalkboard in Tulsa. He worked for chef Paul Caplinger, and he still admires the man. He learned a lot about food there, but the most important thing Caplinger taught him wasn’t about cuisine at all.
“He taught me you didn’t have to lead by using fear,” Tack explains. “Back then, it was the usual tactic. The chef would deliberately make people afraid of him. Paul taught me that when you work for someone who truly cares about you, you do your best to succeed.”
That lesson remained at the forefront of Tack’s mind throughout his career. And what a varied, exciting career it’s been. He has either worked at, designed, opened, or led almost every fine dining restaurant you can think of in the area. Chalkboard, SoChey, Dalesandro’s, Stonehorse, Main Street Tavern, Bodean (“I had fun there,” he says), R Bar (“My weekly Sunday brunch was a party that revolved around food, not mimosas,” he says), Bull in the Alley, Fassler Hall, Dilly Diner (“My toughest opening ever; we opened in the middle of the Tulsa Tough bike marathon and were packed from seven in the morning till midnight,” he says), executive chef for McNellie’s Group and Watershed Hospitality Group, and the Hemingway. Now, just when Tack thought he’d finally take a short break, he’s found a home at Lowood.
“Noah Bush [owner of Lowood] told me they needed a chef and asked me to step in for a few weeks,” he says. “I came, and I fell in love with the place.”
Get Tack talking about the dishes he’s planning for Lowood and you’ll feel his contagious enthusiasm.
“We’ll hard-char broccolini, serve it with a sauce inspired by Andalucian ajoblanco soup. What you’ll taste? Freshness, char, surprise, creaminess, satisfaction,” he says. “That’s what I want the whole menu to feel like. I like surprises, I like to under-promise and over-deliver – like my Chilean sea bass in consomme. It comes to the table, it looks quite ordinary. But what you taste is anything but. It’s rich, light, satisfying, bright, acidic, with a fatty note, too.”
On my first visit to Lowood after Tack joined the team, I sat at the counter overlooking the cooking area, and the first thing I noticed was the laughter. Tack runs a happy kitchen – a place where the chefs can enjoy themselves as they are turning out works of art.
“Oh, I love that!” Tack says when I share the thought with him. “We enjoy each other’s company, and our food is born from pride and a desire to do it right. I want my kitchen staff to grow. I like to mentor, and I like to learn from them. It’s a hard, hard job we do, working all day with sharp objects and fire. I love the people who work in kitchens; they are my people.”
The radish and butter starter includes cultured butter, radish, herbs and maldon salt; photo courtesy Lowood Featured photo: Trevor Tack has made a name for himself in Tulsa, working at some of the most popular restaurants in town. He now helms downtown’s Lowood; photo by Stephanie Phillips
Stephen Reshetar has been cooking for as long as he can remember. His parents discovered him one day trying to make an omelet … he was five. He honed his knife skills at age ten, learning to dice vegetables by watching Yan Can Cook. He always planned to go to cooking school, but a restaurant job opened just after he graduated high school and he took it, working his way up to sous-chef. He learned as he worked.
“I have shelves and shelves of cookbooks,” he says.
His parents, Bible ministers, moved a lot, from Philadelphia to Colorado and back to Pennsylvania, where he became sous-chef. Finally, they landed in Clovis, New Mexico. There, he scraped together enough money to open Clovis’ only high-end Italian restaurant. He visited a friend in Tulsa, loved the town, and when Clint McKinney offered him the job of running his new restaurant, Reshetar took it.
McKinney has been in the business for decades. He owned a restaurant in Independence, Kansas, worked for big restaurant supply companies, then moved to Tulsa and bought Toast, the breakfast restaurant in Broken Arrow. He moved it to sleek new digs in a bright, glass-walled apartment building on Main Street and decided a dinner restaurant with delicious food, elegant plating and moderate prices was just what Broken Arrow needed. It was.
Diners come back again and again for the tender, glistening beef short rib, the pork chop prepared Saltimbocca style with prosciutto and fresh sage leaves, and of course, the hearty pasta dishes that Reshetar cooks.
“It’s the first restaurant I’ve wanted to put my name on,” says McKinney. It’s certainly worthy.
305 N. Main St., Broken Arrow; mckinneysmoderndining.com
Leadership at Ti Amo has one goal: to deliver an exceptional dining experience to all who enter its doors. You’ll enjoy delicious food, of course, but also top-notch service and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Originally founded in west Berlin, the restaurant made the move to Tulsa in 1988 and has been an Oklahoma mainstay ever since.
Traditional Italian fare is the star of the menu – with classics like tortellini, eggplant Parmesan, lasagna, linguine, fettuccine and Cajun pasta. But don’t forget to start with the popular bruschetta, crab cakes, calamari, artichoke dip or even Italian nachos.
“From the land” offerings are mouthwatering – beef filets, bone-in ribeye, short ribs, bone-in pork chops and piccata di pollo are stand-outs.
Or, venture to the “from the sea” portion – with options like grilled salmon, red snapper or flounder. Make sure to wash it all down with velvet cheesecake, tiramisu or crème brûlée cheesecake. There’s also a full bar and ample wine offerings.
Ti Amo’s dual locations are popular for birthday parties and rehearsal dinners, and the restaurant also offers catering. Make sure to swing by on Thursdays for live music on the patio.
6024 S. Sheridan Rd. A.; 219 S. Cheyenne Ave., Tulsa; tiamotulsa.com
Natural Bridge Caverns, San Antonio, Texas. Photo courtesy Travel Texas
Arkansas
Big Al is not just any old fish – he’s one of 66 tagged fish released May 2 into Lakes Hamilton and Catherine near Hot Springs. And if you catch him by 5 p.m. July 31, you will be $20,000 richer. Not a bad return on the investment of an Arkansas fishing license.
“It’s really fun for us, just waiting for the fish phone to ring,” says Bill Solleder, director of marketing for Visit Hot Springs.
All the fish in the Hot Springs Fishing Challenge are worth something to the people who reel them in and call the phone number on the tag. Twenty are worth $500, 40 carry a prize of $1,000 and four are worth $5,000. The runner-up to Big Al is a $10,000 fish.
Anthony Chapel, Hot Springs, Arkansas. Photo courtesy Tourism Arkansas
The contenders include largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish. Visit Hot Springs is mum about the genetics of Big Al, but clues are released during the contest season. The top dog can be illusive.
“So far, 2017 is the only year Big Al was caught,” says Solleder.
Hot Springs National Park is the city’s star attraction. Visitors can bathe in the thermal water, “and fill up your jug with the best water in the world,” Solleder says.
The national park and its nine historic bathhouses “stand as icons for healing and tributes to the American Spa of the 20th century,” according to the National Park Service. “The ancient thermal springs, mountain views, incredible geology, forested hikes and abundant creeks make Hot Springs National Park a unique and beautiful destination.”
The Fordyce, the largest on Bathhouse Row, serves as a visitor
center for the national park. The Hot Springs Mountain Tower’s indoor and outdoor observation decks offer 360-degree views of the national park and the city of Hot Springs.
Also in Hot Springs is Garvan Woodland Gardens, a giant botanical garden that features a four-story treehouse and a glass chapel.
Another top Arkansas attraction is the Cosmic Cavern near Eureka Springs. The walking tour lasts about an hour and features two bottomless cave lakes and the Silent Splendor section, where many of the formations are transparent.
Garvan Gardens, Hot Springs, Arkansas. Photo courtesy Tourism Arkansas
Colorado
Red Rock Canyons, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Widely regarded as Colorado’s most celebrated piece of architecture, the amphitheatre at Red Rocks State Park is an acoustically perfect venue for acts ranging from the Colorado Symphony to Sting to the world’s greatest opera singers.
At 6,450 feet above sea level, the park is where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains and where visitors can see plants, birds and other animals of both regions.
This summer’s musical line-up includes Duran Duran, the Avett Brothers, Tori Amos and My Morning Jacket.
A visit to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park starts with a gondola ride to the top of Iron Mountain. The western-themed mountaintop park offers Colorado’s first alpine coaster, along with a cliffhanger roller coaster, the Soaring Eagle Zip Ride and the Glenwood Canyon Flyer.
Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Photos courtesy Matt Inden/Miles and Colorado Tourism
The Trail Ridge Road soars to an elevation of 12,183 feet and is one of the best ways to see the Continental Divide as it cuts through Colorado. The two-hour drive passes through Rocky Mountain National Park between the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve offers the tallest dunes in North America and is an international dark sky park. Activities include sand sledding, beach play, forest hiking and free ranger programs.
Cold winters, mine closures and economic troubles led to the abandonment of mountain towns across the state, and visitors can now explore such ghost towns as Alta, Animas Forks and Antero Junction.
Missouri
It was such a simple idea in the beginning – why not create a pleasant atmosphere for people waiting to tour Marvel Cave? Well, one thing led to another, and some 70 years later, Silver Dollar City is a 100-acre park with music and venues, more than 40 rides and attractions, 18 restaurants, 60 shops and 100 resident craftsmen. The 1880s-themed attraction near Branson is recognized internationally for its theme, presentation and operations, and much of the credit goes to the Ozark landscape and culture.
The Cathedral Basilica, St. Louis, Missouri. Photo courtesy Cathedral Basilica
The mountain scenery is to die for, and those skillet dinners are legendary, but “what really sets us apart are our demonstrating craftsmen,” according to the theme park’s website. “The effortless skill that these artisans display is breathtaking.”
As visitors watch, skilled workers create candy, lye soap, candles, handblown and cut glass, mouthwatering cinnamon rolls and decorative objects fashioned from clay, leather, wood and metal.
On the other side of the state, Forest Park is where another modest idea grew legs. Originally conceived to celebrate the centennial of the Louisiana Purchase, the movement grew into the 1904 World’s Fair, “when the world came to St. Louis.”
The property became a city park again after the iconic fair closed and is home to the city’s zoo, art museum, history museum, science center, boathouse, skating rink, tennis center, golf courses – the list goes on and on.
Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis, Missouri. Photo courtesy Missouri Division of Tourism
A few decades later, architect Eero Saarinen’s design of a 630-foot stainless steel arch would further secure the city’s claim as the “Gateway to the West.”
Gateway Arch National Park, on the banks of the Mississippi River, encompasses a westward expansion museum and the Old Courthouse, currently closed for renovations, where nationally important civil rights cases were heard.
More than 100,000 people gathered in 1926 for the consecration of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, a labor of love that would not be fully completed until 1988. Tours are available of the basilica, a synthesis of Byzantine and Romanesque design that is known for its stained glass windows, high altar and ornamental mosaics.
Texas
Natural and man-made attractions lure visitors from one end to the other of the giant state of Texas.
Landlocked Oklahomans often make the drive to South Padre Island, a tropical oasis that offers 34 miles of white sand and clear emerald water, with such highlights as snorkeling, deep sea fishing and sunset dinner cruises.
Nature tourism includes dolphin and eco tours, nature trails, birding and an alligator sanctuary. Indoor offerings include dining, dancing, shopping and relaxing in spas and yoga studios. Art galleries, museums and the Port Isabel Lighthouse add to the culture of the island paradise.
Moody Gardens on Galveston Island has an educational and conservation mission, but kids find it just plain fun. There’s a rainforest pyramid, a paddlewheel boat, a ropes course and zip line and Palm Beach, Galveston’s only white-sand beach.
You won’t find any run-of-the-mill sea creatures at the Dallas World Aquarium, where species sport such monikers as starki damselfish, magnificent foxface, leafy seadragon and Napoleon wrasse.
The aquarium’s Cloud Forest Trek, which opened in 2020, sports a giant LED screen that extends the exhibit to the clouds of Colombian rainforests and animals indigenous to South America.
If it’s wilderness you crave, check out Guadalupe Mountains National Park, with more than 80 miles of hiking trails ranging from easy nature walks to all-day hikes into the high country forest. McKittrick Canyon is the heart of the park and the launching point for trails leading to dramatic landscapes. The west side of the mountains offers remote hiking and access to the Salt Basin Sand Dunes.
San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio, Texas. Photo courtesy Travel Texas
Just steps from the Alamo is San Antonio’s River Walk, or Paseo del Rio, famous for guided barge tours of a 15-mile urban waterway with riverside shopping and dining.
Nearby is the wonder-filled Natural Bridge Caverns, where a ropes course and zip rails offer treetop views of the Texas Hill Country. Twisted Trails Tykes is a ropes course for the 4-feet-tall and under set. Gem and fossil mining, a ranch roundup maze, shopping and dining and Bracken Bat Flights and of course a discovery tour of the caverns round out the package.
Nebraska
Walk on the bottom of the ocean and come nose-to-nose with sea turtles as sharks circle above you. Discover polar regions, temperate oceans, coral reefs and the Amazon. That’s the promise made by Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium about the adventure that awaits at the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium, the largest aquarium to be found in a zoo.
The zoo is all about context and interpretation.
The Desert Dome, a geodesic dome that’s become an Omaha landmark, is the world’s largest indoor desert. There you will find plant and animal life from Africa’s Namib Desert, the Red Center of Australia and America’s Sonoran Desert. Wallabies, meerkats and a cape cobra are among the animals living there. Visitors continue on through a butterfly and insect pavilion, African grasslands, a Birds in Flight program, children’s adventure trails and a wildlife safari park.
Suzanna and Walter Scott Aquarium, Omaha, Nebraska. Photos courtesy Nebraska Tourism
To cool off during your summer travels, man-made options across Nebraska include the Island Oasis Water Park in Grand Island, Fun Plex in Omaha and Aquacourt in Hastings.
The Dismal River beckons the paddling crowd. Described as a “short, wild river” in the Sandhill Region of the state, it features natural springs that bubble up through the sand and is best suited for intermediate to advanced kayakers and canoers.
“Magical Mystery Tour” is the 2023 theme at the Sunken Gardens in Lincoln. This year’s designs will reflect the artwork on album covers from the Beatles era. Admission is free, and visitors can enjoy a healing garden, perennial and annual flower gardens, water features and art installations.
Western Nebraska’s Scotts Bluff area is also known as Landmark Country. The Chimney Rock National Historic Site marks the most-noted landmark on the Oregon Trail. The Horse Creek Treaty Marker describes the 1851 gathering of 10 tribes of Plains Indians, numbering about 10,000, to negotiate a treaty that would soon be broken by the U.S. government.
A paleontological adventure awaits at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, an important source for 19.2-million-year-old Miocene epoch mammal fossils. The monument also features the Cook Collection of American Indian Artifacts.
Other Getaways
Chicago, IL: One of the largest cities in the U.S., Chicago beckons for great eats, art, outdoor activities and music. Highlights include the Art Institute of Chicago, the Navy Pier, Millennium Park (home of the famed metal Bean) and Wrigley Field.
Lincoln, NE: Nebraska’s capital city offers unique stops including the International Quilt Museum, the Museum of American Speed and the Pioneers Park Nature Center. Plenty of breweries plus the Memorial Stadium also draw visitors.
Santa Fe, NM: Nestled in the Sangre de Cristo foothills, Santa Fe presents a slower pace and art offerings galore. Stroll through Santa Fe Plaza, visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, or enjoy Meow Wolf – an immersive art exhibition you won’t soon forget.
Scottsdale, AZ: The desert city of Scottsdale offers outdoor activities for the active tourist, like the Gateway Trailhead, Desert Botanical Garden and Pinnacle Peak Park. Cool off at the OdySea Aquarium or the Penske Racing Museum.
New Orleans, LA: The Big Easy is a perfect pit-stop for those looking to meld history with a bustling nightlife. Visit the French Quarter for great eats and live music, or venture to the National WWII Museum. Louis Armstrong Park and Jackson Square are other must-visit locations. ■
Oklahoma’s official state meal may be a nod to its homesteading past, but one local restaurant is bringing the flavors of the Sooner State into the 21st century, all while preserving its history. Scratch Kitchen + Cocktails Paseo and chef Zach Hutton, a James Beard Foundation Award Semi-Finalist, provide a modern twist on traditional Oklahoma flavors. From the mouthwatering smoked bison pastrami and short rib burger to the fry bread served with pimento cheese, every dish is designed with local ingredients in mind.
The restaurant’s summer menu offers a fresh take on dishes as diverse and captivating as the culture-rich area itself.
Hutton “grew up eating salted watermelon,” so his signature salted watermelon and tomato gazpacho with cold pressed ginger is floated with local herbs and flowers, acting as a nod to his childhood.
“Recently, chef Loretta [Barrett Oden] at [OKC’s] First Americans Museum said eating my gazpacho reminded her of her childhood, too,” he says.
Pimento cheese has become so popular at Scratch that it was recently added back to the menu and is served with the fry bread. The restaurant is also doing Indian tacos that “are a little classier than like at a state fair,” says Hutton. In-house ground short rib, black eyed peas, heirloom tomatoes, seasonal greens and Watonga cheese (a small-batch, artisanal cheese made in Oklahoma) are piled onto a house-made fry bread for a true taste of Oklahoma.
“Everything I do, I do it based off either something that is influenced directly from Oklahoma history or buying specifically,” says Hutton. He mentions that his team creates everything on the menu from scratch (see what they did there?), using locally sourced ingredients to show off the best Oklahoma has to offer. The sweet tea, house-brined fried chicken, chicken fried steak and buttermilk biscuits are glowing examples, featuring local, free-range chickens, freshly baked biscuits, and in-house butter and cream from Red Ridge Creamery in Lahoma.
“Every single component is within 80 miles of here [Oklahoma City],” he says.
One of the hallmarks of Scratch is its commitment to sourcing local ingredients.
For over two and a half years, the restaurant has “sourced 95% from local, small farms, and we know every farmer by name,” says Hutton, referencing No Name Ranch for its beef and Benjamin Lee Ranch for its bison.
“Chickens come from a gentleman named Mark Hamilton, and produce comes from a good dozen different places with five mushroom farms,” Hutton continues. “But the majority is Prairie Earth Gardens and J.B. Pratt with Wellness Connection.”
This summer, the Paseo Farmer’s Market returns, bringing al fresco dining to Scratch’s outdoor patio. Every other Wednesday, you can shop from local farms and vendors that Hutton uses, as well as Flora Bodega, which recently opened its storefront in the same district.
Whether for lunch, dinner or weekend brunch, Scratch Kitchen + Cocktails Paseo is the place to try authentic Oklahoma-inspired dishes and craft cocktails, all while supporting local farmers in the process. It’s easy to see why locals and visitors alike are making this their go-to spot for a taste of Oklahoma.
The thirteenth dean of Oklahoma City University’s School of Law, Jim Roth guides law students into successful futures. He is also a director at Phillips Murrah Law Firm and a lawyer with A New Energy, a consultancy specializing in energy policy and developments. Roth, the first openly LGBTQ+ person to hold a statewide elected office in the state, also served as Oklahoma County Commissioner and an Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner. We caught up with Roth and got his thoughts on …
… his many responsibilities.
I’ve always heard that if you want to get something done well, ask a busy person. I hope that is true in my case, as I am certainly busy, and I am grateful for it. My professional life is driven by passion, and so each day is giving 110% in as many directions as are needed in the moment. As Law Dean, every day is different, and by far the best part of the job is engaging with our law students in a great, encouraging, community vibe. As a director at Phillips Murrah law firm and a lawyer at A New Energy, I am better able to manage the day-to-day demands because of awesome colleagues, and we work ahead of deadlines. But when days demand it, I usually get up at 4 a.m. to try to get ahead.
… his passion for clean energy.
Throughout my life, I have always marveled at nature and the incredible gifts of this earth. As a kid, that meant immersing myself in the natural wonders. As an adult, I caught the professional bug for clean energy from my time serving as an Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner (OCC). That powerful agency touches the lives of every citizen through its rates and regulations of utilities, oil and gas regulation, transportation, telecommunication and so many other industries. Our state has immense energy blessings, both below and above the ground, and we need it all. But it is my hope and prayer that we move quickly towards cleaner options to lower costs, improve public health and safeguard God’s green Earth. That’s the winning trifecta to me.
… how he stays energetic.
Coffee and the idea that I will sleep in the afterlife.
… his proudest moments.
Probably my public service and the two elections as an Oklahoma County Commissioner, first elected in Oklahoma County in 2002. At the time, no one had been elected openly gay or lesbian, so with the help of a ton of friends, my family and supporters, we made history and began a chance to serve our fellow citizens. It’s been a high honor. I genuinely believe I have a heart for service, which is why it has also been so rewarding to work for the OCU law students these past five years as their Law Dean. They give me hope for the future.
… his involvement with LGBTQ+ equality efforts.
I guess I was called to action because Oklahoma politics were so anti-gay in the 1990s, a time when I had moved here in my twenties. Since then, I have found it necessary to stand up for equality,for my family and the broader minority community, sometimes directly and most other times indirectly by just trying to be a good and involved citizen. My direct involvements have included: co-founding of the Cimarron Alliance Group, Oklahoma’s first LGBT political action committee, in 1995; a member of the national Human Rights Campaign’s major donor program; a board member of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund’s Victory Institute in Washington, D.C.; a supporter across the decades of Freedom Oklahoma and Oklahomans for Equality; past co-chair of the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund’s Red Tie Night; and other occasions to support allied community groups the Jewish Federation for Greater Oklahoma City and Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice. It takes all of us to protect all of us.
… where you’ll find him in his spare time.
One word: Outside. I love the outdoors. In fact, my mom claims that was the first word I ever uttered. And I’ve been all about it ever since.
… his hope for the future.
I guess I would just simply share that it is my hope for our Oklahoma, a great state I chose to call home, that for us to be better, to improve the human condition of so many Oklahoma neighbors with so many real challenges, that I wish we could all chose more kindness, mutual respect and more understanding for each other. That’s my hope.
… his recent appointment as Grand Marshall of the OKC Pride Festival.
It’s surreal for sure, because there are many, many more deserving people who have overcome tougher circumstances in life. But I am grateful for the chance to join in community to celebrate how far LGBTQ+ Oklahomans have come, how far we must go, how hard we must still fight to live and thrive in Oklahoma.
The halfway mark of the year is (somehow) already here, and June has more films than ever for you to enjoy. It has a larger number of sequels and franchises than I’d like to see (surprise, surprise), but the polish and hype of those movies cannot be understated.
For your animation hit, make sure to check out Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The sequel to the hugely profitable and well received Into the Spider-Verse, this story finds Miles Morales/Spider-Man (Shameik Moore) being recruited by his love interest Gwen Stacy/Spider-Woman (Hailee Steinfield) to help save every universe of Spider-People. Other cast members include Jake Johnson, Issa Rae and Oscar Isaac, among many others. Although the film features no actual voice actors, it does look to be a stellar follow-up with beautiful animation and a fun hook of different art styles based on different universes. It hits theaters on June 2.
If you’re looking for more superheroes, don’t miss The Flash. Starring Ezra Miller as The Flash, the film takes the titular character – who appears in several other DC Universe related stories – and has him travel back in time to prevent his mother from dying. This, inadvertently, creates a universe where no metahumans (humans with superpowers) exist. Ben Affleck reprises his role as Batman, and Michael Keaton also shows up as an alternate universe Batman, donning the cape and cowl again for the first time since 1992’s Batman Returns. The DC extended universe is completely up in the air, so the meaningfulness of this film is debatable … but the spectacle will likely be dazzling when it releases on June 16.
Wes Anderson returns this month with Asteroid City. Set in 1955, the film concerns a stargazer convention in an American desert town. The trailer is exactly what you would expect from a coming-of-age story by Anderson, and the cast is crammed with his usual suspects: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton and literally twenty others of note. It has a limited release on June 16 before expanding on June 23.
For a sequel that is hopefully better than its last, take a look at Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Harrison Ford is back as our eponymous lead, this time with the backdrop of the Space Race of 1969. Nazis return as the primary villain, this time with the face of Mads Mikkelsen as the antagonist, along with Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena Shaw, Jones’ goddaughter. Directed by James Mangold (Logan), the film looks to end Indiana Jones’ legacy on a high note when it comes to theaters on June 30.
Lastly, I implore you to watch the five minute short HIDARI. A stop-motion samurai film, the short offers attention to detail, amazing fight choreography and excellent use of music – all coming together to form a perfect pitch for a feature length narrative. The short uses wooden puppets to tell a story inspired by the life of Jingoro Hidari, a renowned 17th century sculptor whose life is shrouded in mystery. It’s currently on YouTube.
America’s favorite pastime goes strong through the month. You can catch the Tulsa Drillers at home at the ONEOK Stadium June 6-11 and 20-25, and the OKC Dodgers at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark June 1-4, 13-18 and 20-25. Softball fanatics won’t want to miss the Women’s College World Series, taking place June 1-9 at OKC’s Hall of Fame Stadium. Also at ONEOK Field are Tulsa FC soccer matches on June 17 and 30.
Tulsa’s BOK Center offers plenty of action. Don’t miss the Tulsa Oilers indoor football league June 10-17, as well as the USA Gymnastics Championships June 20-24. You can also venture to Expo Square for the Pinto World Championship Show, June 12-24, and simulcast horse racing through November.
The OKC Fairgrounds are abuzz with sporting excitement. Events include the OQHA Redbud Spectacular Horse Show from June 1-11; the 2023 National Reining Horse Association Derby from June 14-25; and the National and Youth World Appaloosa Horse Show from June 28-July 5.
Visit the Boathouse District on June 24 for the Stars and Stripes Regatta to kick off Fourth of July festivities.
Around the state, travelers should head to the Route 66 Festival Triathlon from June 2-3 at Lake El Reno. Other events include the Durant Pro Rodeo from June 2-3 at 1901 S. Ninth Ave., and the NCAA Division II World Series through June 3 at Enid’s David Allen Memorial Ballpark.
In Tulsa, kick the month off with Ride to Remember Black Wall Street on June 3 at 400 N. Main St. During the event, you can hop on your bike and take a tour of one of Oklahoma’s most storied, historic areas. Other T-Town goodies include the Miss Oklahoma competition from June 7-10 at the River Spirit Casino Resort, as well as the Route 66 Road Fest from June 23-25 at Expo Square.
June also ushers in three of Tulsa’s most lauded community events: the cycling extravaganza of Saint Francis Tulsa Tough, running June 9-11 in downtown Tulsa and near Riverside Drive; the Tulsa Juneteenth Festival, running June 15-17 in the Greenwood Historical District; and the Tulsa Pride Festival, running June 23-25 at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center.
The community calendar is jam-packed in OKC as well. Firstly, don’t miss the annual Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival, coming to town on June 2-3 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. There, you can enjoy more than 1,000 American Indian artists and dancers from throughout the country. Also visit the deadCenter Film Festival, June 8-11, at various downtown locations for local, national and international cinema. Juneteenth on the East runs June 16-17 on N.E. 23rd St., with live music, interactive murals and dance performances. Other can’t-miss events include the OKC Pride Alliance Festival and Parade on June 23-25 at Scissortail Park; Father’s Day Fest at Scissortail Park on June 18; and LibertyFest from June 14-July 4 citywide in Edmond.
In Durant, the Magnolia Festival takes place June 1-3 at the Choctaw Event Center; the National Sand Ball Festival runs June 5-10 at Madill’s Town Square; the Chandler Ice Cream Festival comes to town on June 10 in Tilghman Park; and the Okie Noodling Tournament returns June 16-17 in Pauls Valley’s Wacker Park.
