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A Resurgence Of Style

By
Tamara Logsdon Hawkinson
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As with all design trends, there is an ebb and flow of popularity, and after decades of decline, wallpaper is back in style. But if you immediately visualize the ubiquitous floral or fruit themes of the past, then you are in for a surprise. Today’s wallpaper is more than just a printed surface.

“With the embellishments and special features of current wallpapers, I often use them more as bold pieces of art rather than as a background,” says Chris Murphy, owner of Christopher Murphy Design.

Adorned with glass beads, embroidery, Swarovski crystals, metal filigree and hammered metal discs for textural effects, the term “wallpaper” hardly seems sufficient. In addition, gold, silver and bronze leaf, mother-of-pearl and exotic wood veneers adhered to paper backing create stunning wall treatments.

“I’ve always liked to use wallpaper,” says Tulsa designer Charles Faudree, who has noticed a recent trend toward softer colors. He hopes the current popularity is here to stay since Faudree is collaborating with manufacturers Vervain and Stroheim to produce a line of wall covering that coordinates with his current Vervain fabric line, which will be available in August.

The popularity of natural fibers has revived the use of grasscloth but with a 21st century twist, blending strands of metallic threads woven into the pattern. With a nod to eco-friendly themes, hemp, jute, bamboo and even cork are laminated atop various colored or metallic paper backings, providing a depth and sparkle not typically associated with a natural fiber product. Silk, felt, linen, suede and woven leather wallpapers simulate the luxurious subtlety of an upholstered wall. And the high gloss of lacquered wall coverings provides instant sophistication to the discerning eye.

Other styles trending for 2012 include using non-traditional colors in classic designs, retro or Mid-century Modern designs with updated motifs printed on Mylar grounds and popular patterns from the past that feature timeworn imperfections giving the design an antiqued feel. Even flocked wallpapers have made a stunning return.

Today’s wall covering options have also benefitted from current technology. From computer-generated kaleidoscope designs to stylized photographs, any type of image can be produced into affordable murals that can be custom sized for a specific wall.

Top-of-the-line wall treatments can be pricey. Swarovski Elements wallpaper collection of bedazzled silk, velvet flocking and sparkling crystals run up to $800 per roll. Other specialty papers are available from under $50 to more than $200 per yard.

“Powder rooms and ceilings are perfect for creating a strong impact without requiring a large quantity of expensive material,” says Murphy.

However, if your goal is to create a more whimsical, inexpensive and less permanent focal point, wall decals are available for under $100. These peel-and-stick graphics are perfect options for dorm rooms, apartments and children’s areas.

With the extensive choice of wall coverings available, walls are not just for painting anymore.

The Peacemaker

By
Brian Patrick
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Given its recent history, it’s easy to question how any sane person could want to jump head-first into the madcap world of Tulsa city government. But that is exactly what Tulsa City Manager Jim Twombly has done. And he couldn’t be happier to do it.

Since accepting the post in April 2011, Twombly has sought to be a unifying and calming force in a challenging political environment.

“I think a city manager’s role is to try to work with staff, citizens and elected officials to come to an understanding of how a city should go,” he says.

Before becoming Tulsa’s city manager, the St. Louis native cut his teeth down the Turner Turnpike in Oklahoma City’s city manager’s office, serving as an assistant to the city manager for five of his 12 years working for the city. Twombly says his experience in Oklahoma City provided him with a firm foundation from which to jump comfortably and effectively into his Tulsa position and cites former Oklahoma City City Manager Don Bown as his motivation for becoming a city manager himself.

Twombly’s passion for city government and civic service has even become something of a family industry. His son Chris recently accepted a position with the City of Austin.

Despite his enjoyment of his time in Oklahoma City and the wealth of knowledge he acquired there, Twombly eventually came to understand that being buried on the office’s depth chart stood between him and achieving his goal.

“I realized that I would have to go somewhere else if I wanted to be a city manager,” he says. “A number of people from that office went on to be city managers.”

“We’re shaping the future of the whole northeast Oklahoma region,”

Twombly’s position as Tulsa’s city manager represents something of a departure for a city government structure that has come to be defined by a strong, CEO-style mayor.

“I’m really in a hybrid position, you might say,” Twombly says, and adds that the introduction of a city manager into a mayor-led structure offers the opportunity to streamline and bring a higher degree of efficiency to the city’s operations. “I think (Tulsa) Mayor (Dewey) Bartlett recognized the need for a more unified organization and management” by fusing the traditionally divergent governing apparatuses.

Twombly says the civic awareness and activism of Tulsa’s citizens has been something of a surprise, mentioning citizen reaction to recent issues concerning the city’s trash collection service as an example. “I have never had the level of citizen concern that we have had here.”

It is that civic activism and effectively working with it that Twombly counts among the basic elements of his position, and he sees the combined forces of city government and citizen activism having an influence that reaches far beyond Tulsa’s city limits.

“We’re shaping the future of the whole northeast Oklahoma region,” he says.

In shaping that future, Twombly believes that maintaining open communication and a constant pursuit of consensus throughout all aspects of city government promises to lead the city and region in a positive direction.

Making The Menu

By
Sarah Szabo
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One of the main appeals of fast food chains stems from uniformity and the confidence that comes from knowing that regardless of whether you’re in Spokane, Tallahassee or cruising anywhere in between, there will almost always be a restaurant around with a menu you’re familiar with.

But where do those menus come from? Who concocts those recipes and ships them out to stores across the country to follow to the letter and make these all-American meals?

“Most of the ideas for our new food items come from our employees and customers,” says Chuck Barton, director of sales for QuikTrip, discussing the process by which his company develops new sandwiches and snacks for its stores. He says that there is an extensive research and development process in place to gather ideas; ideas which are then graded by an R&D team whose task it is to decide if proposed recipes could be practically, easily done.??

“We have a corporate chef as well as four category managers that manage the process,” Barton says. “And each one specializes in one area – pastries and baked goods, fresh sandwiches, desserts, specialty drinks. But if you count our customers and employees, we have millions of people working on new products.”?

The process is similar at more conventional fast-food chains such as Sonic, which also employs a product innovation team of four members to create and commercialize new recipes, often with the assistance of major partners such as Coca-Cola and Kraft.

Both companies test out their newest products at locations nearest to their corporate centers, where they can keep a closer eye on trends and emergent success – or failure.

Following the initial, small-scale tests, products may be sent back to the culinary team at Sonic for further tweaking, whether that be in how the ingredients are balanced, how the item is cooked, etc.

“We also reach out to our fan club, Sonic Cruisers,” says Matt Schein, senior director of brand marketing at Sonic. “(They) try free Sonic food, give us their opinion and get paid for it, too. It’s a sweet deal for them.

“If a product passes all of these filters and generates sales, then we roll it out across the nation to our 3,600 drive-ins,” says Schein. “The whole process from beginning to end can take anywhere from six months to more than a year.”

For the most part, the process is trial, error, and feedback, where only the most successful recipes get to stick around.

Triple-threat Thorpe

By
Megan Morgan
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Listed seventh on ESPN’s greatest athletes of the 20th century, it could be argued that Oklahoman Jim Thorpe warranted even higher positioning. How many other athletes on the list won Olympic gold medals in track and field and excelled in professional football and baseball? President Eisenhower called him “supremely endowed,” and the King of Sweden even told Thorpe that he was the greatest athlete in the world.

Born in 1888 in Prague, Okla., Thorpe’s athletic career began in college when legend recounts that he beat his school’s high-jump record on his first attempt. Thorpe later led his college football team to a national championship, playing four different positions on the team.

In the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Thorpe won gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. As a Sac and Fox Indian, this was done at a time when not all American Indians were yet granted U.S. citizenship.

In 1913 it was discovered that Thorpe had played semi-professional baseball in 1909 and 1910. Olympic rules state that all competitors must be amateurs. His medals were stripped by the International Olympic Commission, but controversy surrounded the entire affair.

Jim Thorpe Museum Director Justin Lenhart says that Thorpe’s coach Glenn “Pop” Warner and Amateur Athletic Union President James Sullivan pled ignorance when Thorpe’s professional baseball career was questioned, even though they were aware of the situation.

“He set records that stood for decades, and played a key role in the creation of professional football as we know it today.”

“Had they admitted to knowing Jim played professionally, they would have lost their jobs,” Lenhart says. “Both Warner and Sullivan walked away from the scandal, while Thorpe lost everything he’d won.”

It wasn’t until 1983 that Thorpe’s Olympic medals were restored to his family. A group led by Thorpe biographer Robert Wheeler and his wife Florence Ridlon contacted U.S. Olympic Committee President William Simon for help, Lenhart says.

“The 1912 Swedish (Olympic) rules stated that challenges or objections could be made within 30 days of an event. Because Jim lost his medals months after the events he was never afforded an appeal,” Lenhart says.

The word “amateur” had also been deleted from the Olympic charter, paving the way for Thorpe’s restored medals. However, Lenhart says, the IOC has never listed Thorpe as champion in the official record books.
But even with the unfortunate controversy, Thorpe remains a true Oklahoma legacy.

“He set records that stood for decades, and played a key role in the creation of professional football as we know it today,” Lenhart says. “He was the first global superstar.”
 

Continuing Controversy

Perhaps it only makes sense that even though he died almost 60 years ago and despite the fact that the scandal over his medals was resolved posthumously, Jim Thorpe would remain a controversial figure to this day.

In recent years, conflict has developed between Thorpe relatives and revolving around Jim’s son Jack. Jack Thorpe wants his father’s remains relocated from Jim Thorpe, Penn., back to Oklahoma and he has cited Native American custom for his reasoning.

Jim Thorpe’s remains were transported from Oklahoma following a burial ceremony to the eponymous Pennsylvania town at the bequest of Thorpe’s widowed third wife. The towns of Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk changed their names to “Jim Thorpe” at the time because the athlete’s fame was so great there was belief that it would become a major tourist attraction.

Jack Thorpe has asserted that tradition dictates that his father be buried at the place of his birth. Other relatives disagree and point out that Thorpe’s current burial site has been sanctified in an Indian ceremony.

While the conflict has played out in public relations battles and the courts, it remains largely unsettled although no change if currently pending.

However the issue is resolved, Jim Thorpe’s legacy looms largest over his home state

Fresh Music – Feb. 2012

By
Staff
-

Dierks Bentley, Home – The first single from Bentley’s 2003 self-titled debut shot to the top of the country music chart and he’s been on a roll ever since. He’s netted 16 hit singles, including eight No. 1 hits, two platinum albums, numerous awards and nominations and a coveted induction into the Grand Ole Opry. Bentley shows no signs of slowing down with the release of his sixth studio album, which has already garnered the No. 1 single “Am I the Only One,” in advance of its release.

The Fray, Scars & Stories – This rock act formed in Denver got their shot at stardom with their 2005 debut How to Save a Life and the hit single of the same name. Their self-titled sophomore effort and the single “You Found Me,” brought continued commercial success, though critics were unimpressed. The Fray brought Springsteen and Pearl Jam producer Brendan O’Brien on board to help them create a harder edged sound for their upcoming third album.

Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Trinidadian-American hip hop artist sparked a bidding war among record labels gambling on her commercial appeal. She made good on that speculation with her 2010 debut Pink Friday, which charted at No. 1, a string of hit singles and collaborations. Minaj uses several alter egos in her performances, and one such persona, Roman Zolanski, will take center stage in her sophomore album.

The Cranberries, Roses – It took a re-release and heavy airplay of “Linger” and “Dreams” on MTV, but The Cranberries 1993 debut, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?, eventually shot to the top of the UK charts and earned the Irish group worldwide fame. Their second album, No Need To Argue, along with the single “Zombie” solidified their success, but subsequent albums brought mixed results and the group disbanded in 2003. They reunited in 2009 and eventually brought their original producer on board for their sixth studio album. The debut single, “Tomorrow,” sounds remarkably like that fresh young band from 1993.

Not Your Father’s Vodka

By
Michael W. Sasser
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If the modern mixologist is an artist, then his or her palette has expanded exponentially in recent years with the advent of dozens – scores, even – of vodkas with unusual and even sometimes bizarre flavors.

“It began a couple of years ago, and this past year has really picked up – it’s become the big thing,” says Ranch Acres Wine & Spirits manager Emily Stewart. Ranch Acres itself carries 15-20 flavors and Stewart says demand is so high that the store is having to find more shelf room to keep up with varieties.

While citrus and a handful of other flavored vodkas have been around for years, never before has there been such variety. Manufacturers across the spectrum are producing flavors such as cotton candy, birthday cake, marshmallow, caramel and even bacon. The tastes tend to derive from artificial flavorings, but that hasn’t deterred fans – and it doesn’t look to change anytime soon.

“I feel like it’s a new section and will remain so unless classic cocktails make a big comeback,” Stewart says. “There’s really been a cocktail revolution, and people are interested in making different and interesting cocktails at home. Everyone drinks vodka and people come up with the cleverest cocktails.”

What We're Eating

By
Staff
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Bison Dog
Mutt’s Amazing Hot Dogs

When you think of a hot dog, do you picture a frankfurter shoved in a white-bread bun and slathered with mustard and relish? If so, you need to take a trip to Mutt’s Amazing Hot Dogs, where they’re taking hot dogs to the next level. Dogs made of rabbit sausage, chicken, kobe beef and even Spam grace the menu at this retro-inspired eatery. If you’re feeling exotic, try the Tatanka Dog at Mutt’s. A fat, juicy bison dog topped with green chile sauce, cilantro-lime aioli and goat cheese is every bit as flavorful and delicious as you would imagine. Be sure to add an order of Mutt’s amazing duck fat fries. 1400 NW 23rd St., Oklahoma City. www.mutts-hot-dogs.com

Lady Love
Sushi Neko

Sushi Neko has been at the forefront of the sushi revolution in Oklahoma, serving innovative rolls that have transformed diners from skeptics to enthusiasts. The sushi pioneer serves several roll options, from the traditional – unagi, sea urchin, even full sushi boats – to the original, like the delicate flavors of the Lady Love roll. A piece of salmon is rolled with lemon, masago (capelin roe) and green onion. Order with a bowl of Sushi Neko’s famous miso soup, and you have a delicious and satisfying meal. 4318 N. Western Ave., Oklahoma City. www.sushineko.com

Cinnamon Roll
Savoy Restaurant

There is something about that most basic of breakfast pastry, the cinnamon roll. One bite of a warm, gooey, fresh-from-the-oven roll and a bad day can be instantly transformed into the best ever. In Tulsa, there’s no other place to go for the best cinnamon roll ever than Savoy Restaurant. The warm, fluffy bread; cinnamon-sugar and sticky icing combine in some other-worldly way in the ovens at Savoy to create one of the most perfect creations ever, well, created. For those not within driving distance of Savoy, the restaurant sells a frozen version of their famous cinnamon rolls online. 6033 S. Sheridan Rd., Tulsa. www.savoyfoods.com

Woody at One Hundred

By
Staff
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It seems hard to believe that Woody Guthrie would have turned 100 years old this year. Born July 14, 1912, the Okemah native quickly moved into the national arena as a young man writing and singing songs that spoke to the common people struggling through the Great Depression of the 1930s. As the country trudges through another economic collapse, those songs and words still speak to us. It’s as if Guthrie has always been with us. He died in 1967. Gilcrease Museum honors our troubadour with Woody at One Hundred, an exhibition of artifacts from Guthrie’s life (including hand-written lyrics to “This Land is Your Land”), art created of the folk hero’s image and other objects testifying to his belief in social, political and spiritual justice. The event is curated by the Grammy Museum and Woody Guthrie Archives to coincide with a tribute scheduled for the Feb. 12 Grammy Awards broadcast on CBS. It also heralds the 2013 arrival of Guthrie’s archives, recently purchased by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, in a new facility in Tulsa. Woody at One Hundred goes on exhibit Feb. 5-April 29. www.gilcrease.org

OKC Thunder

By
Staff
-

The fan nightmare that was the NBA contract dispute is over, and professional basketball has been making up for lost time. It couldn’t be truer for our own Oklahoma City Thunder. With the season pushed back to a Dec. 25 opening due to negotiations between pro team owners and players, the Thunder stormed out against Orlando Magic with a 97-89 win. The streak kept going against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns until Jan. 2’s loss to the Mavericks followed by the Portland Trail Blazers. The Thunder team regained its footing on successive matches to deliver what Oklahoma and game watchers knew it could do. With the game schedule continuing into the end of April, there’s still a lot of terrain highs and, yes, possible lows the team can experience. Expectations are high for the relatively new team. If the early part of the season is any indication, the Thunder will get some serious backing from its most important supporters: Fans. www.naba.com/thunder
 

Johnny 5 Dance Party

By
Staff
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Not long ago, if it was Wednesday in Tulsa, it was dance party night in downtown with DJ Robbo and friends spinning the ‘80s back from oblivion. Mixtape Wednesdays made hump day even more attractive as a mid-week solution to workday burnout. Friends went to the Blank Slate, Exit 6C, the Eclipse and other locations past and present to find a beat to “get down to.” When Mixtape ended in November, followers were disappointed. Little did they know the dance event would resurrect once more as Johnny 5, a monthly dance party that surfaced last month on Friday the 13th at the Crystal Pistol, 417 N. Main St. Tulsa’s Robbo returned with Jeff Richardson and collection of music from the ‘80s and ‘90s along with idie, industrial and electropop sounds. Look for the rounds of insanity at Crystal Pistol on Feb. 3 and March 3. Keep in mind that you must be 21 and over to enter. Admission is free, so what are you waiting for? www.facebook.com/crystalpistolsaloon

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