Nabati Vegan Kitchen

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January 26, 2024

Healthy food is all the rage at Nabati – but the twist is that it’s craveable and delicious, too!

Nabati’s succinct and enticing menu begins with ample pizza offerings. Along with the ‘make-your-own’ option, try classics like the buffalo chicken, Mediterranean, supreme or veggie. Gluten free crusts are available, as well as sauce bases like marinara, barbecue, buffalo and olive oil.

Sandwiches, salads and wraps are another draw. Try the shawarma wrap, chicken sandwich, falafel pita or Beyond burger. Or venture to the healthy side with chicken, Greek or tabbouleh salads.

If you’re extra hungry, the platters are the way to go. Goodies include the Sampler, with hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, grape leaves, tabbouleh and pita – or the Mjedera platter, with seasoned rice, lentil beans, fried onions and salata.

Sugar Llamas

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Staff

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January 26, 2024

With multiple locations in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Kansas, Sugar Llamas can surely satisfy your sweet tooth.

Most begin their journey with mini donuts, which come in flavors including Plain Jane, cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar and cocoa powdered sugar. Drizzles to choose from are vast, ranging from cotton candy to caramel, Nutella and strawberry.

If you’re hungrier, the regular size donuts are sure to impress. Flavors include Bam Berry – with blueberry and lemon – as well as the Total Turtle with chocolate and caramel, and the Chocolate Chip Pancake with powdered sugar, maple syrup and chocolate chips.

For frozen deliciousness, try a scoop of ice cream or an affogato, as well as iced and hot coffees.

Overly sugared? A jalapeno or cheese sausage roll should help.

The Arts Rise from Hibernation

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Staff

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January 26, 2024

The Tulsa Performing Arts Center is full to the brim with performances this month. First, visit for Fantastique on Feb. 3. The show, created by Tulsa Symphony, includes a solo by concert master Rossitza Goza. Stick around for Tulsa Ballet’s Strictly Gershwin, Feb. 8-11. For more dance, try Ailey II on Feb. 13; the group is “universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding and emerging choreographers,” according to tpac.com. Chamber Music Tulsa hosts the Danish Spring Quartet on Feb. 18, and Celebrity Attractions rounds out the month with two musicals: Mean Girls (Feb. 24-25) and My Fair Lady (Feb. 27-March 3).

In Oklahoma City, the Civic Center is a hub of entertainment. Visit Feb. 3 for OKC Phil’s Brahms Classics concert, with Alexander Mickelthwate conducting and Benjamin Schmid on violin. OKC Ballet returns Feb. 9-11 with Giselle, a dramatic ballet that tells the story of a young peasant girl with a passion for dance. OKC Phil comes back around for a second show, Bravo Broadway! from Feb. 16-17. And you won’t want to miss one of the world’s favorite musicals, Wicked, courtesy OKC Broadway, from Feb. 21-March 10.

Edmond’s Armstrong Auditorium welcomes the Italian Saxophone Quartet on Feb. 7, as well as the Sofia Philharmonic of Bulgaria on Feb. 27. Finally, visit Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma for Small on Feb. 15-25. The show follows horse jockey Robert Mantano, who shares his autobiographical ride through childhood into a tumultuous career.

Across the state, a few performance highlights include Mean Girls, Feb. 1 at the Bartlesville Community Center; the Pauls Valley Opry, Feb. 3 at the Pauls Valley Junior High School Auditorium; An Evening with Kristin Chenoweth, Feb. 14, and the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Feb. 25, both at Stillwater’s McKnight Center for the Performing Arts.

Basketball, Bulls and Brawls

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Staff

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January 26, 2024

Escape the dreary February cold with a variety of sporting events around the state.

In Tulsa, the Oilers hockey team plays at home, the BOK Center, throughout the month; Feb. 2-4, 14-16, and 23-25. Stick around the BOK for the Dynamite/Rampage event, presented by AEW. Both live professional wrestling shows, Dynamite and Rampage will be making their Tulsa debuts that evening. If you’re on the hunt for more combat events, visit River Spirit Casino Resort for XFN on Feb. 23. The show features a night of knockouts with pros in mixed martial arts and kickboxing. The University of Tulsa basketball teams also play at the Reynolds Center this month; Feb. 7, 11, 17 and 24 for men, and Feb. 4, 14, 21 and 25 for women.

No sporting round-up would be complete with the OKC Thunder; home games at the Paycom Center run Feb. 2, 4, 11, 22, 23 and 27. You can also enjoy University of Oklahoma basketball at the Lloyd Noble Center. Women play Feb. 7, 14, 24 and 28; men play Feb. 6, 10 and 17. Don’t miss the Prairie Classic Quarter Horse Show, Feb. 7-11 at the OKC Fairgrounds.

Head to Stillwater’s Gallagher-Iba Area for Oklahoma State University basketball games. Women play Feb. 3, 17, 21 and 27; men play Feb. 3, 17, 24 and 28. And for a touch of adrenaline, don’t miss the historic rodeo event Bullnazna, Feb. 9-10 at Lazy E Arena in Guthrie.

A Feisty February

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Staff

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January 26, 2024

Mix-Tape Tunnel of Love by Justice Smithers

No matter your interests, Oklahoma has a community event for you to enjoy.

In Tulsa, venture to Expo Square for the following activities: The Tulsa Boat, Sport and Travel Show, through Feb. 4; the 60th Annual Darryl Starbird Rod and Custom Car Show: The Next Generation, Feb. 16-18; and the Vintage Tulsa Show, also Feb. 16-18. Other gatherings to try include the First Friday Art Crawl, downtown on Feb. 2, and the Second Saturday Architecture Tour, Feb. 10, starting at 100 E. Second St.

OKC has a mixed bag of goodies in February. First up is the Sedgwick Street Rodders Winter Swap Meet, running Feb. 2-3 at the OKC Fairgrounds. If you can beat the chill, visit the Norman Mardi Gras Parade on Feb. 10 all across downtown, complete with floats, beads and a festive atmosphere. For couples or besties, the Mix-Tape V-Day Bash is Feb. 10 at Factory Obscura; there, you can enjoy live bands and browse love-themed gifts, art and flowers. For some high-octane fun, visit the Paycom Center Feb. 17-18 for Monster Jam.

Around the state, a couple of highlights include Yukon’s Chocolate Festival, Feb. 3 at Dale Robertson Center, and the SWOSU Jazz Festival, Feb. 15-16 at Weatherford’s Southwest Oklahoma State University.

A Surprisingly Packed Month

By

Drew Joseph Allen

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January 26, 2024

1704307345_lisa_f_microsite_5 — Lisa Frankenstein; photo courtesy Focus Features

February arrives with more solid choices than I expected, so settle in as we go through ‘em.

First up is Argylle. A spy action slash comedy directed by Matthew Vaughn (the Kingsman franchise), the film tells the story of Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard – Jurassic World), an introverted yet popular spy novelist. She is drawn into the espionage world when her book plots start to reflect and even predict real-world events. With an ensemble cast including Henry Cavill (The Witcher), Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) and Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), the story looks like a fun ride filled with giant set pieces, flashy explosions, chase scenes and fights galore. It releases Feb. 2.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly experience, check out Orion and the Dark. Based on the book of the same name, the story follows Orion, an elementary school kid with an incredibly long list of fears. During the night, the embodiment of Dark appears to Orin and proposes to take him around and show him that darkness is nothing to fear. Written by Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and starring Jacob Tremblay (Room), Paul Walter Hauser (I, Tonya) and Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man), the familiar animation style is an easy win for family viewing, with a relatable story and nuanced characters. It releases to Netflix on Feb. 2.

If you need a horror comedy to cancel out all the Valentine’s Day propaganda, then Lisa Frankenstein is for you. Directed by Zelda Williams, daughter of Robin Williams, and written by Diablo Cody (Juno), the plot centers on Lisa Swallows, a misunderstood goth teen in 1989. She reanimates a somehow-still-handsome corpse from the Victorian era (Cole Sprouse, Riverdale) and the two begin a murderous journey filled with love, happiness … and violence. The trailer has some great looking shots and wonderful wardrobe along with what looks to be an unhinged and entertaining performance from Kathryn Newton (The Society) in the lead role. It hits theaters on Feb. 9.

For your comedy road trip film, look no further than Drive-Away Dolls. Starring Margaret Qualley (Maid) and Geraldine Viswanathan (Blockers), the film chronicles the lives of two best friends hitting the open road to Tallahassee, Fla., in search of a fresh start. Of course, they encounter inept criminals on the way and get tangled up in something else entirely. Directed by Ethan Coen (The Big Lebowski) in a solo effort, the film is co-written by his wife, Tricia Cooke. The cast rounds out with Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us) and Matt Damon, so hopefully Ethan can pull off the solo act when it comes out on Feb 23. (Also, a quick note to the Coen brothers: hurry up and get back to making movies as a pair, we need this.)

Lastly, for your TV fix, look into Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Based on the 2005 film of the same name, the show stars Donald Glover (Atlanta) and Maya Erskine (Man Seeking Woman) as John and Jane Smith – only this time they aren’t out to kill each other, but rather to work together under the guise of a newly married couple. The action and story look promising, so we’ll see if it can repeat the success of the original film when it releases on Feb. 2 to Prime Video.

Tony L. Corbell

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Staff

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January 26, 2024

Executive director of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, Tony Corbell spent the majority of his career in photography. His accomplishments in that industry are extensive; he’s photographed world leaders, astronauts, models, celebrities and musicians, as well as taught photography workshops and seminars, and published myriad photographic works.

A couple of years ago, Corbell got involved with the OMHOF and sat on its board of directors. Once the entity announced its search for a new executive director, Corbell was hooked.

We recently caught up with him and got his thoughts on …

… memories from his storied photography career.

I was a working commercial and editorial photographer for just about 43 years. There were books I’ve written, several great celebrity shoots, political events, even fashion catalogs. In fact, I’ve even photographed three of our U.S. presidents. But my biggest, most published, and best shoot ever was documenting the World Millennial Summit meeting at the United Nations in Sept. 2000. 187 world leaders from every member-nation were there in this historic group photograph including President Clinton, Putin from Russia, Tony Blair of the UK, Ehud Barak from Israel, Yasser Arafat [from Palestine] – everyone. It was pretty exciting to say the least, and I have a lot of great stories about that day.

… joining the OMHOF.

I got involved with the Hall of Fame and actually spent a year on the board of directors. Once they announced they were looking for a new director, I was about ready to retire my photographic career. I had been a drummer in several bands and had a lot of music around me most of my life. So, it seemed to be a perfect fit.

… the OMHOF and its offerings.

OMHOF has a great history, and the future is looking extremely bright. It is remarkable the number of incredible musicians, singers and songwriters who have come out of Oklahoma. It’s like a list of who’s who in all kinds of music and different genres. We have one or two induction ceremonies and concert shows each year, honoring those who have roots in Oklahoma. And this year, we will further honor our first inductee, Merle Haggard, with a statue being created in his likeness, to be unveiled at a ceremony in the fall which will coincide with a tribute concert. Merle recorded his Okie From Muskogee album right here at our Civic Center, and that is where this statue will reside.

… what he wants people to know about the OMHOF.

The Hall of Fame is a well-kept secret travel destination nestled away in the northeast part of the state. And while the public is just finding out about us, the music community across all genres seems to know full well the importance and the impact of what we are doing here – preserving this rich musical history. We have “live” music shows every Thursday night in our fabulous venue, we have a museum honoring those we have inducted, which can offer insights into inductees, their pasts and histories, as well as show off some of their memorabilia. We are also the home for Okie Country radio 101.7, which broadcasts live every morning from their studio inside our Hall of Fame.

… how music and photography have driven him.

It’s funny how music and photography have worked hand in hand in my life. I have taught lectures and workshops on professional photography throughout the world, and I always ask if there is anyone in the audience with a history in music. There are consistently a high percentage of hands that get raised. I know there is the artist connection. But it also has to do with performance, rates of change in contrasts, and tempos in each.

I have made several trips to Liverpool, England, to photograph the footsteps of the Beatles – and as a self-proclaimed super fan, it still amazes me how they shaped music and musicians, whether you enjoyed their music or not. It’s only fitting that I am now in this role where music plays such a big part of my day-to-day life. And while I am no longer shooting photography professionally every day, I’ll still be playing music every day, no matter what. … Usually pretty loud.

Mood-Boosting Foods

By

Debi Turley

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December 22, 2023

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just eat our way into great moods, all while remaining healthy? Well, recent research claims that goal is well within the realm of possibilities.

According to the Mayo Clinic, serotonin and dopamine play a major role in affecting our brain chemistry through the intake of certain foods. While it is no surprise to diet-conscious individuals that some meals make us feel more satisfied than others, the proof is now in: according to the National Institute of Health, approximately 90 to 95% of the receptors that respond to serotonin are located in the gut.

The Mayo Clinic recommends boosting moods by ensuring the following healthy foods are part of a daily diet:

• Low-fat dairy – Fat free or skim milk, cottage cheese, yogurt
• Whole-grain products – Oatmeal, brown rice, buckwheat
• Olive oil
• Fruits
• Lean meats – Skinless chicken breast, venison, salmon
• Fresh vegetables
• Legumes and nuts – Lentils, chickpeas, almonds and cashews
• Fish

If the food selection choices listed sound a lot like the popular Mediterranean diet, you are on the right track! Such foods contain a minimum of salt and sugar and provide optimal quantities of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, magnesium, iron, potassium, B vitamins and folate.

The American Heart Association explains on its website that despite the name, some “comfort” foods end up having the opposite effect on our brains. One reason for this unexpected outcome is that items high in saturated fats, sugar and refined flour activate inflammation in our bodies.

Additionally, many indulge in poor food choices when eating as a group, whether in a restaurant or at home. Food becomes part of a social and cultural experience, and its healthiness (or lack thereof) is less significant in our minds than the socializing aspect of the gathering.

For most people, eating is inherently connected with pleasure. But if one puts a little effort into menu planning, it’s not too difficult to find food items or entire meals that both satisfy cravings and help mental and physical health.

But where to start? One suggestion toward achieving this goal is to experiment with different styles of cooking and to use fresh foods rather than prepared goods. Ask relatives for recipes that have passed down through generations. Have childhood memories of certain dishes? A few minutes of searching online can bring to light instructions to make almost any meal.

No matter what’s driving the desire to change eating habits and improve mood, remember it will take time for your body to process the new routine and adjust accordingly. Start small by removing unhealthy items with little or no real health benefits, and gradually replace these items with foods rich in folate and fiber. Foods to minimize include those that are high in refined carbs – like white rice, pasta and pizza – as well as processed meats and items high in sugar. Do you reach for a can of soda several times a day? Replace it with water, coffee or tea.

Remember – an occasional treat won’t hurt, but reaching for healthier foods will encourage full mind-body wellness.

Scene

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Staff

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December 22, 2023

Erin Engelke, Brandi Bowers, Samantha Vu, Ashleigh Gibson; Project Woman Fashion Show, Calm Waters Center for Children and Families, OKC

Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award Gala

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Staff

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December 22, 2023

The Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award is given by the Tulsa Library Trust and Tulsa City-County Library. Its purpose is to give formal recognition to acclaimed authors who have written a distinguished body of work and made a major contribution to the field of literature and letters. Alongside the recognition, the honoree receives a $40,000 cash prize and an engraved crystal book.

The 2023 honoree was New York Times bestselling novelist Amor Towles. He is best known for his three critically acclaimed novels – Rules of Civility, A Gentleman in Moscow, and The Lincoln Highway. They have sold more than 6 million copies and have been translated into more than 30 languages.

Photos by Jessica Karin Trout