Park Harvey Sushi & Sports Lounge
this sports-centric bar-slash-sushi restaurant located in Oklahoma City’s bustling business district. Rolls are served at a lightning-fast pace during the lunch rush, and often accompanying a beer or glass of wine in the evening. The odd combination of sushi and sports may raise some eyebrows, but then again, why not combine the two for those Oklahomans who love catching a game on the big-screen while dining on sophisticated cuisine? Sample the sushi bar’s signature roll, or try a traditional California roll or, for a sporty twist, the Durantula, named after our most loved Thunder player. 200 N. Park Harvey, Oklahoma City. 405.600.7575
A Home Transformed
When this Tulsa couple decided it was time to upgrade from their 25-year-old house, they began their quest for a new home. But it didn’t take long for them to realize they didn’t want to leave their long-time Braeswood neighborhood near Southern Hills.
“We built this house in 1987 and have developed many good friendships here,” they both agreed.
So they contacted interior designer Doug Campbell, owner of Campbell Design Associates, for his expertise in creating a new environment within the existing home.
“We basically gutted the house and started over,” explains Campbell. The homeowners had an estate sale and sold everything from the plantation shutters to almost every piece of furniture, then moved out of the house for 10 months during the extensive renovation.
Virtually everything was replaced, from electrical outlets to plumbing fixtures and including every door and trim molding, custom designed by Campbell. Brandon Jackson, owner of Jackson Construction Group, worked closely with Campbell and the homeowners to meticulously oversee every detail during the project.
Since they are now empty nesters, the couple didn’t require four bedrooms, so one of the bedrooms was demolished and the space utilized to expand the master bathroom to include a large new closet for him, plus a spacious walk-in shower.
In the kitchen, soffits were removed and new ceiling-height, white oak cabinetry by Jay Rambo Company was installed, creating a larger sense of space. Countertops are black granite, and the backsplash is brushed aluminum. Eliminating the pass-through to the living room provides room for a wine and serving bar near the dining room.
Carpet was replaced throughout the house with 18-by-18-inch crosscut limestone tile accented by custom area rugs. In the living room, the lush area rug was created from deep charcoal and natural New Zealand wool. Nearby, the original brick fireplace and wood mantel is now clad with a stunning rusted steel finish 24-by-48-inch Spanish Corten tile, installed horizontally.
A few furniture pieces were inherited, although the finishes were updated. However, most of the furnishings were custom designed by Campbell and fabricated in Oklahoma. “One of the great things we appreciate about Doug was his ability to design fixtures and furnishings that work with the scale of our house,” explains the couple. A luxurious Turkish fabric wraps the comfortable custom living room sofa.
“Before the renovation, we rarely used the living room,” says one homeowner. One of their goals, in addition to creating a “good, clean living space” was to utilize all the square footage. The old den was transformed into a second home office, and the living room is now a favorite place to relax, read and watch television.
Light fixtures are low voltage with a scoop lens, perfectly accenting the dramatic artwork from Aberson Exhibits. Creative director Kim Fonder also assisted in providing other art throughout the home. In the dining room, Campbell modified wall-hung ceramic sculptures by Brandon Reese, associate professor of Ceramics/3D Design at Oklahoma State University, so they are attached to a pair of inherited lighted pedestals, refinished with a charcoal lacquer. “Now the light glazes over the face of the sculptures,” says Campbell.
A rich red Thai silk adorns the custom dining chairs surrounding the uniquely patterned wood grain white oak dining table, also custom designed by Campbell. It was a group effort to find the perfect lighting fixture, finally discovered from German designer Ingo Maurer, providing an “exploding airiness” from the vaulted ceiling complete with the architectural light pattern featured on the table.
The homeowners have been back in their renovated home for several months and are ecstatic with the results. “We plan to be here another 25 years,” one exclaims.
Chita Rivera: My Broadway
Few theater artists can make claims to legendary status. Chita Rivera is one of them. Beginning as a dance student in her hometown of Washington, D.C., Rivera quickly made her way to New York City’s School of American Ballet and then on to Broadway when she was cast for a 1952 production of Call Me Madam. Rivera’s breakthrough came when she was cast as Anita in the original West Side Story. With a career that spans Guys and Dolls and Can-Can, to Chicago (the original Velma Kelly), Kiss of the Spider Woman and Nine the Musical, Rivera has won two Tony Awards and great acclaim. Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life from 2005 was a revue of her musical dance career. With Chita Rivera: My Broadway, the star sings songs that have highlighted her bright career. Join her and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma in a presentation at the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall, Aug. 7-11. www.lyrictheatreokc.com
Lyle Lovett at Brady Theater
“Quirky” is a word that pops up in descriptions of Lyle Lovett’s music. Neither entirely country, rock nor folk, Lovett, nonetheless, incorporates touches of all these musical genres and more into his albums. His newest album, Release Me, is more of what Lovett does best – unique storytelling, songwriting and singing with other great musicians. No longer best known in the mainstream for his 1993 whirlwind marriage to then-starlet Julia Roberts, Lovett continues to make music his own way and pick up fans taken with his gentleman cowboy manners, unorthodox style and smooth vocals. The stage favorite returns to Tulsa with his Large Band to play the Brady Theatre August 29. He charmed the crowd at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center in 2010 with whimsy, story songs and humor. We’re pretty sure there’s more from where that came. www.bradytheater.com
Wearable Art
The t-shirt, which traces its lowly roots to the 19th century, has come a long way from being simply acknowledged as an undergarment. Soldiers returning from World War II could often be seen sporting the casual tee with their uniform trousers in public; today, t-shirts are a staple in nearly any wardrobe and are used as a means of expression to convey everything from political affiliation to one’s favorite sports team.
Oklahoma artists are ramping up the airy summer staple with designs that suggest, rather than scream, state pride. With designs that include the state shield, the state bird and homage to our state’s strong ties to American Indians, these shirts are visible at any concert, festival or even PTA meeting.
Dustin Oswald, an Oklahoma City-based artist and creator of the Bombs Away t-shirt line, says creating shirt designs inspires a sense of community.
“I feel like more a part of this state through my art work and designs,” he says of his two-color t-shirts with designs he describes as “maybe a little raw.” “A sense of community is what it’s all about.”
Valentin Esparza, designer of T~Town Teez, says that the rise of Okie-centric t-shirts couldn’t have come at a better time. “I think that people enjoy local designs because it helps establish a sense of identity and gives their home a fun, new spirit that’s been lacking for years.”
Pablo Picasso’s Woman in the Studio
Picasso is coming to Norman, rather, one of his more famous paintings will be on display at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art at the University of Oklahoma beginning Aug. 3. Woman in the Studio is one of several works completed under the same name in 1956 as the artist, well into his 70s at the time, continued to explore and push art into expressions recognized as pivotal to modern art. He painted a young Jacqueline Roque, who eventually became his second wife, with subdued, shadowy tones and a heavy black line deeply contrasting with brighter colors and softer lines found in the other works. This piece is on loan from the St. Louis Art Museum for about a year. During its stay at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, the painting will be displayed with several other Picasso pieces from the Norman museum’s permanent collection. www.ou.edu/fjjma
Simply Healthy
In our quest to eat healthier, we are constantly searching for recipes that are delicious and easy to prepare. Fish can be a welcomed change of pace. Even if you swear you don’t like fish, give salmon a try. Firm in texture, yet delicate and buttery in flavor, this delicious fish lends itself to a variety of cooking methods, including baking, broiling, grilling and pan-searing. Considered a super food because of its high content of omega-3 fatty acids, which help prevent heart disease, promote joint health and improve brain function, salmon is also high in protein and is a good source of calcium, iron and vitamins including A, B and D. Eating salmon at least twice a week has also been shown to lower cholesterol.
Pan-Seared Orange Glazed Salmon
Makes 4 servings
1/4 c. orange juice
1/2 c. reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp. minced ginger
1 tsp. minced garlic
2 tbsp. dark brown sugar
1/4 c. honey
2 tbsp. dry sherry
4-6 oz. center cut salmon fillets
1-2 tbsp. olive oil
Combine first seven ingredients in a heavy, zip top plastic bag. Add salmon, seal and allow to marinate in refrigerator for two hours. Remove salmon from marinade and pat dry. Heat a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add enough oil to just cover bottom of skillet. Sear fish, skin side up, for 3-5 minutes, until opaque halfway up fillet. Carefully turn salmon over and continue searing until fish is opaque throughout and flakes easily with a fork.
Powwow Fever
Summertime isn’t just for sun worshippers at the lake it’s dance time. Many American Indian groups, student organizations and tribes hold their signature events during key vacation months, drawing competitive dancers and arts/crafts vendors as well as crowds. The Kaw Nation Powwow runs Aug. 3-5 at Washunga Bay Powwow Grounds in Kaw City. During the same weekend, Concho Powwow Grounds hosts the Oklahoma Indian Nations Powwow, where you’ll also find a hand games tournament, a buffalo chili cook-off and more. The Intertribal Indian Club of Tulsa’s 35th annual Powwow of Champions will be Aug. 17-19 at the Mabee Center this year. The following weekend (Aug. 23-26), the 136th Annual Ponca Powwow gets underway at White Eagle near Ponca City. Also check out the Cherokee National Holiday, Aug. 31-Sept. 2, for activities that include a parade, car show and, yes, a powwow.
What We're Eating
Pad See Ew
Lemongrass Thai
Thai food is a favorite at Oklahoma Magazine. Complex flavor profiles and unexpected pairings delight decidedly North American palettes. And while the motto is often, “The More Adventurous, The Better,” it’s the staples of Thai food – think curries and noodle dishes – that give us pause and reason to thank those proprietors who make Thai dishes for the Okie masses. At Lemongrass Thai, there are many dishes worth trying; Chicken Satay, Tom Kha soup and a very traditional Pad Thai are all delicious in their own rites. But it’s a lesser-known cousin to the famous Pad Thai, the Pad See Ew, that gets our mouths watering. A blend of noodles, broccoli, mushrooms and egg in that sweet-yet-umami sauce, served with a choice of protein and heavily spiced with garlic, keeps us coming back for more. 253 S. Santa Fe, Edmond. www.lemongrassok.com
Ceviche
El Rio Verde
A mix of seafood, onion, pepper, vegetables and herbs tossed in a citrusy marinade and served cold, often with avocado and a frosty beer, ceviche is a summer staple in the steamy Oklahoma months. El Rio Verde, a small hole-in-the-wall eatery perhaps more widely known for its massive wet burritos, produces some of the best ceviche in Tulsa. Light and fresh, packed with shellfish and flaky whitefish, it’s the perfect summer fare. 38 N. Trenton, Tulsa. 918.592.2555
