Those who toil in the gilded Art Deco high-rise palaces of downtown Tulsa have it all except for one thing: sushi. And now, with the opening of the first sushi place in the Deco District, they have even that.
Hidden in an otherwise undistinguished block, in a space with lofty ceilings and stark yet casual red and white decor, The Sushi Place gives downtown sushi-lovers a reason to rejoice. For the traditionalist, there are eight varieties of nigiri, carefully arranged plates of sashimi, and even cone-shaped temaki, all made with the freshest fish available.
American favorites such as California Rolls and Caterpillar Rolls are also offered. These are fine choices and come beautifully presented on a white porcelain platter. But most noteworthy are the two chefs’ own inventions. They mix such unlikely ingredients as shrimp tempura, cream cheese, baked smoked salmon and spicy mayo. Brash, brazen and exuberant, with names like Naughty Roll and 918 Crunch Roll, these flamboyant creations are worthy of a neighborhood that once was Oil Capital of the World.
A Guatemalan take on home-cooked dishes makes Café Kacao a unique jewel in the crown of Oklahoma City’s dining scene. Serving breakfast all day, Café Kacao also offers a variety of lunch entrees, sandwiches and salads. For those unfamiliar with the tastes of Guatemala, try the carne guisada, a Guatemalan-style beef stew, which is served with Russian salad – a potato salad with peas, carrots and celery, a traditional side dish in Guatemala – and rice of the day. Familiar fare, such as enchiladas, receive a Guatemalan spin, served on a fried corn tortilla with beef picadillo, beet and cabbage vinaigrette, finished with red salsa, hard-boiled egg, sliced onions and dry cheese. Café Kacao has developed a devoted following for its breakfast dishes. Try the divorciado eggs topped with green and red salsa and served with refried black beans, fried plantains and tortilla chips; spicy tecpan, which is scrambled eggs with chorizo, jalapenos and onions served with refried black beans and house potatoes; and mosh, a traditional Guatemalan oatmeal that is slow-cooked with whole, condensed and evaporated milk and accompanied with bananas, strawberries and toast. 3325 N. Classen Blvd., Oklahoma City. www.cafekacao.com
Arriving on a Friday evening permits the time to check into your accommodations and acquaint yourself with whichever village or hamlet you’re staying in. Enjoy a stroll through East Hampton or Southampton and consider dinner featuring local flavors at Nick & Toni’s (www.nickndtonis.com) in East Hampton or the beautiful Savanna’s Restaurant (www.savannassouthampton.com) in Southampton. A gelato or coffee and dessert at the Southampton location of Sant Ambroeus (www.santambroeus.com) definitely brings home the feeling of summer.
Settle into your choice of beach Saturday morning and take advantage of local farmers’ markets en route. Grab a spectacular lunch at Citta Nuova (www.cittanuova.com), Sant Ambroeus or enjoy a picnic. In the afternoon, you will want to see the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum (www.sagharborwhalingmuseum.org) to really explore local history and view works by Fairfield Porter and William Merritt Chase at the Parrish Art Museum (www.parrishart.org). Enjoy dinner at the new Southampton Social Club (www.southamptonsocialclub.com), or Sag Harbor hotspot Tutto Il Giorno (co-owned by Donna Karan’s daughter, for guaranteed star power) or Plaza Café (www.plazacafe.us). Follow the crowds to popular nightlife or check in at Red Bar Brasserie (www.redbarbrasserie.com) for dinner and popular nocturnal socializing. Sunday at the beach is a Hamptons tradition, but as an option consider arranging for a full- or half-day sail tour at the Hamptons Marine and Charter in East Hampton or, for the more adventurous, try your own hand at sailing with a rental from Sag Harbor Sailing (www.sailsagharbor.com). Alternately explore what’s beneath the surf at Atlantis Marine World Aquarium (www.atlantismarineworld.com). Enjoy a farewell meal before departure at East Hampton’s terrific Fresno (www.fresnorestaurant.com) or any new favorite restaurant.
Stay In Style
Most regular visitors to the Hamptons are well-healed individuals with second homes in the area or those who reserve rental homes well in advance of the busy season. However, there are accommodations in the area for travelers, particularly guest houses and B&Bs.
The Mill House is an East Hampton B&B that earns routine praise for its quaint, picturesque setting, comfortable environs and excellent staff. A front porch overlooking the historic Old Hook windmill is just the start of a quintessential Hamptons experience. www.millhouseinn.com
The 1770 House Restaurant & Inn has welcomed guests to East Hampton for 235 years and today features six distinct guest rooms, a private carriage house and scenic grounds for a truly elegant, highly personalized environment. Acclaimed Chef Kevin Penner’s contemporary American cuisine is a handy asset, and with so few guests at any time, service is impeccable and warm. www.1770house.com
1708 House, an historic bed and breakfast centrally located in Southampton, has become renowned for its museum-like cellar dating back over 350 years, rooms representing several different centuries, private cottages and beautiful common rooms. The dining room featuring Limoges china and sterling silver and a brick patio are favorite gathering places for guests. www.1708house.com
At a Glance
“The Hamptons” generally refers to a number of villages and hamlets in the towns of Southampton and East Hampton on the far east end of Long Island and is collectively one of the historical summer colonies of the American Northeast.
Access: The Hamptons is easily accessible from New York City via a number of means, from driving oneself to private plane and even helicopter. The Hampton Jitney (www.hamptonjitney.com) is one low-priced bus option; the Hampton Luxury Liner (www.hamptonluxuryliner.com) a more plush one. The Long Island Rail Road (www.mta.info) adds its special summer service to the Hamptons in season.
Population: Varies dramatically depending on geographic parameters preferred and time of year. The region swells with seasonal residents and visitors in the warmer months.
Climate: An island environment, the Hamptons is more mild and damp during the summer months than is New York City. Fog is common in early mornings and overnight. Summer days can be hot with variable humidity. Nights are cooler than in tropical waterfront destinations.
Main Attractions: Cooper’s Beach in Southampton and Main Beach in East Hampton are two of the most celebrated in the country and are the centers of most activity during the summer. Galleries, fine dining and eclectic shopping abound. Other attractions include the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum, a respected summer film festival and chartered sailing.
Hot Picks
Sample: Nearby is Long Island Wine Country and the chance to sample scores of well regarded local wines, notably along the South Fork (Hamptons Wine Trail). www.liwines.com. See: Besides its early fall main event, the Hamptons International Film Festival offers various screenings in the summer for a shot of culture into a beach oriented vacation. http://hamptonsfilmfest.org Stage: The Guild Hall of East Hampton benefits from its proximity to NYC and attracts big-name performers in unusually personal “hometown” mode such as Jerry Seinfeld, Colin Quinn, Alec Baldwin and many others. www.guildhall.org
It’s the snack choice of summer, slowly melting away those memories of miserable heat and replacing them with cool comfort.
Ice cream in Oklahoma is a big business. Two of the state’s largest ice creameries – Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy Stores and Blue Bell Ice Cream – offer tours of their production facilities in Tuttle and Broken Arrow, respectively, by appointment only. Spectators get a chance to see how ice cream is made on a large scale. Braum’s churns out more than 120 flavors of ice cream and frozen yogurt, while Blue Bell is hard at work providing dozens of flavors – including perennial favorites Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Moo-llennium Crunch – for Oklahoma and surrounding states.
If visiting an ice cream factory isn’t in the cards for this summer, create a mini-factory at home by concocting homemade ice cream. Recipes are available all over the internet and in cookbooks that can be checked out from the local public library. Most recipes call for milk, sugar, cream, egg yolks and just a pinch of salt. Add your favorite flavoring, fruit or nuts, churn and enjoy.
Oklahoma’s arts groups, organizations and venues have the state covered and booked through the late spring.
American Theatre Company
ATC begins its 42nd season with The Full Monty, Oct. 21-29, in which a group of steel workers put on a ladies-only strip show. Men show their insecurities, and possibly more. Also: Fully Committed, Dec. 2-10; A Christmas Carol, Dec. 8-23; The Bomb-itty of Errors, March 2-10; Lombardi, May 11-19. www.americantheatrecompany.org
Armstrong Auditorium
In Edmond, theater, music and arts fans flock to Armstrong Auditorium for some of the finest acts anywhere, including The Gershwin Project, when award-winning star conductor/composer Marvin Hamlisch performs with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Sept. 8. Hamlisch has won every big award out there (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), which makes him tops in Armstrong’s new season. There’s more where that came from: Chanticleer, Oct. 25; Romeros Guitar Quartet, Nov. 3; Brian Stokes Mitchell, Nov. 10; soprano Dawn Upshaw, Jan. 19; cellist Lynn Harrell with the Miró String Quartet, Feb. 16; The Chieftains, Feb. 27; Moscow Festival Ballet performs Sleeping Beauty, Jan. 31; Tchaikovsky St. Petersburg State Orchestra, March 1; Doc Severinsen and His Big Band, March 8; StepCrew dance group, March 20; baritone Jubilant Sykes, March 27; Eugenia Zukerman, flute, and Yolanda Kondanassis, harp, April 15; Kuleshov-Mogilevsky Piano Duo, April 22; HWAC Choral Union playing Brahms’ Requiem and Handel’s Coronation Anthems, May 3. www.armstrongauditorium.org
Broadway in Bartlesville
The finest of Broadway shows return to the Bartlesville Community Center in the series, which this season features golden paths, love in paradise and a new musical just wrapping its Broadway run. In the Heights, the 2008 Tony Award-winning musical, shows a Manhattan community bracing for change with exciting music and dance numbers. The tour stops for one performance March 11. Also: The Wizard of Oz, Nov. 15; South Pacific, Jan. 17; Damn Yankees, March 27; Cirque: Pop Goes the Rock, April 20. www.bartlesvillecommunitycenter.com
Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center
What a beginning – Broken Arrow’s first show of the season comes straight from the halls of artistic excellence. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra featuring Wynton Marsalis, Sept. 29, not only highlights one of the most famous trumpeters in the world, but also builds the reputation of this new local arts center. Also: Cirque Mechanics: Boom Town, Oct. 27; Ernie Haas & Signature Sound, Dec. 17; Elvis Lives – The Ultimate Elvis Tribute, Jan. 31; Blast!, Feb. 26; In the Heights, March 10; In the Mood, April 2012. www.thepacba.com
Celebrity Attractions
Once again, Celebrity Attractions brings Broadway excellence to Oklahoma. We’re looking forward to a new musical adaptation, The Addams Family, based on the cult TV favorite, and the crowd-pleaser Jersey Boys, which tells the story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons. Look for shows at Tulsa’s Performing Arts Center and at the Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall. Tulsa: Memphis, Nov. 1-6; The Addams Family, Jan. 24-29; Stomp, March 6-11; Fiddler on the Roof, May 8-13; Jersey Boys, June 6-24. Oklahoma City: Memphis, Nov. 8-13; The Addams Family, Jan. 17-22; Mamma Mia!, Feb. 15-18; Stomp, March 13-18; Fiddler on the Roof, May 1-6. www.celebrityattractions.com
Chamber Music Tulsa
Bringing the best chamber music ensembles to town requires serious focus and a stellar reputation for excellence and appreciation. This season is no different as CMT welcomes the Imani Winds, considered North America’s leading wind quintet, to Tulsa Oct. 1-2. Also: Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, Nov. 5-6; Miró Quartet, Jan. 28-29; Trio Solisti – Feb. 18-19; American String Quartet, March 17-18; Aviv Quartet, April 14-15. www.chambermusictulsa.org
Choregus Productions
For an organization that has been around but for a few years, Choregus Productions remains as committed as ever to bringing performances of the highest caliber to Tulsa. South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Jan. 22, is booked to bring music tradition and spiritual alchemy to the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. A month later, look for The Original Tribute to the Blues Brothers, March 17, featuring original cast members from London’s West End run production bringing moments and songs from the classic comedy film. Also: Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Sept. 16-17; Time for Three, Nov. 5; Keigwin + Company, Nov. 18-19 (dance); Mark Morris Dance Group, Feb. 3-4; Batsheva Dance Company, March 15; Music of the Son: ETHEL with Robert Mirabal, April 28; Diavolo, May 19. www.choregus.org
Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
Norman’s been waiting since 2007, and the new Stuart Wing – future home to the Eugene B. Adkins Collection of fine art works – is almost ready for the public. The big celebration is set for Oct. 23 from noon-5 p.m. Also on that day, look for reinstallation of the Permanent Collection of Western and Native American art, the icons from the Permanent Collection and No Heaven Awaits Us: Contemporary Chinese Photography & Video.
Also:Rauschenberg: Prints from Universal Limited Arts Editions, 1962-2008, Sept. 24-Dec. 30; Highlights from the Permanent Collection of Photography, Part I, Jan. 27-April 29; A Century of Magic: The Animation of Walt Disney Studios, March 2-Sept. 16, 2012; Oklahoma Clay: Frankoma Pottery, April 20-Sept. 16, 2012; Nineteenth-Century French Master Drawings from the National Gallery of Art, May 13-Sept. 16, 2012. www.ou.edu/content/fjjma
Gilcrease Museum
What would Woody Guthrie have thought of the world today? We’ll never know, yet the simple, plain message he heralded in the 1940s reverberates in the time of overt political spin and rampant celebrity excess. This Land is Your Land: Woody Guthrie at 100, Feb. 5-June 3, coincides with a national salute to the "Dust Bowl Troubadour" beginning with the Grammy Awards in March.
Also: Continuation of To Capture the Sun: Gold of Ancient Panama, thru Jan. 15; America: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of the Nation, thru Jan. 2; Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon, June 24-Sept. 23. www.gilcrease.org
Heller Theatre
Henthorne Performing Arts Center continues to illuminate as the resident Heller Theatre begins work on a new season that includes the contemporary work it’s well known for doing plus challenging, transcendent works, such as Bertold Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle, Jan. 27-Feb. 4.
Also: Miss Witherspoon, Sept. 9-18; Becky’s New Car, Oct. 28-Nov. 6; Banished Children of Eve, May 11-20. www.hellertheatre.com
Living Arts of Tulsa
Watch for this glimpse into the future of art – Momentum: Art Doesn’t Stand Still features the work by Oklahoma artists 30 years and younger in film, performance and a variety of media. This Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition event opens in grand style Oct. 8 with a reception but stays open through Oct. 26.
Also:Cipher, Sept. 2-23; OK Electric Electronic Music Festival, Sept. 17; Indie Emporium, Sept. 30-Oct. 1; Brady Gallery Walk, Oct. 26; Altered Spaces, Nov. 1-5; The Four Elements, Dec. 2-22; Lucas Greco and Marty Coleman, Jan. 6-26; Hack Art Lab and Lindsey Allgood, Feb. 3-19; Erica Mott – Revised & Revisited (New Genre Festival), Feb. 24-25; Joe DalPra and Kate Rivers, April 6-26 (concurrent shows).
Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma
Musicals just keep coming at Oklahoma City’s Lyric Theatre. We’re especially keen on what the troupe does with A Chorus Line, Aug. 2-6, the tale of young dancers with big, bright Broadway dreams.
Also:Altar Boyz, Oct. 12-22; A Christmas Carol, Dec. 9-31; Xanadu, Jan. 25-Feb. 11; Spring Awakening, March 28-April 14; Bye Bye Birdie, June 26-30; Sweet Charity, July 10-14; Call Me Madam, July 24-28; Chita Rivera: My Broadway, Aug. 7-11, 2012. www.lyrictheatreokc.com
Mabee Center
The season is upon us, yes, even before Thanksgiving has been crossed off the calendar. Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker, Nov. 17, comes to the Mabee Center and brings plenty of acclaim with it, but audiences who love the traditional telling are sure to enjoy the lavish costumes, sets and dancing. www.mabeecenter.com
National Cowboy & Western Heritage
What do you get when you combine the opening weekend for the Cowboy Artists of America 46th Annual Exhibition and Sale (Oct. 14-Nov. 27), with the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association 13th Annual Exhibition (Oct. 14-Jan. 8)? You get Cowboy Crossings, Oct. 14-15, an uncompromising collection of fine Western art in one location.
Also:Ghost Ranch and the Faraway Nearby, Sept. 23-Jan. 8; Rodeo Historical Society Weekend, Sept. 23-24; Small Works, Great Wonders, Nov. 18. www.nationalcowboymuseum.org
Odeum Theatre Company
This original Tulsa theater group pushes to get contemporary and sometimes startling treasures to its audience. Last year, for instance, saw Tracy Letts’ Bug, Patrick Marber’s After Miss Julie and Neil LaBute’s Reasons to Be Pretty. In November, the gang gets cozy with It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, adapted to the stage by Joe Landry. Odeum will tour the show in Tulsa and through other parts of the state Nov. 18-Dec. 23. Also:She Stoops to Conquer, Spring 2012; Alice & Dorothy, Summer 2012. www.odeumtheatrecompany.com
Oklahoma City Ballet
The 40th anniversary season of Oklahoma City Ballet promises a series of holiday tradition, romantic comedy and enchantment, but the stand-out production is sure to be The Firebird, Feb. 11-12, set to Stravinsky’s powerful composition. The piece accompanies the world premiere of In Between Dreams.
Also:Coppelia, Oct. 22-23; The Nutcracker, Dec. 9-11, 16-18; The Wizard of Oz, April 20-22. www.okcballet.com
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Franco Mondini-Ruiz and his works have been called clever, nostalgic and exploratory of conceptions of art. Decide for yourself with the installation of more than 1,000 paintings of whimsical objects in Poodles and Pastries – and Other Important Matters, Sept. 8-Dec. 31.
Also:Faded Elegance: Photographs of Havana by Michael Eastman, Sept. 8-Dec. 31; Dale Chihuly: The Collection, reopens January 2012; Princely Treasures: European Masterpieces, 1600-1800, Feb. 16-May 13; Reflections: Glass in Contemporary Culture, June 14-Sept. 9, 2012. www.okcmoa.com
Oklahoma City Philharmonic
Once again, the OKC Phil has outdone itself with a schedule of splendor booked through Spring 2012. Be sure to watch the classics series’ big Season Finale, May 19, with Jean-Yves Thibaudet, considered one of the world’s best pianists and a special Nov. 3 concert when rock musician Ben Folds joins the Phil for a sophisticated jam session.
Classics: Grand Opening Night, Sept. 24, featuring Grammy Award-winning violinist James Ehnes; The Heart of Romanticism, Oct. 15, with pianist Jon Kimura Parker; Mahler 4 & Mozart, Nov. 19, featuring soprano Sari Gruber and pianist Shai Wosner; Commoners and Kings, Jan. 7, with pianist Louis Lortie; Great Moments in Opera, Feb. 4, with fearless soprano Sarah Coburn; Musical Surprises, March 3, with violinist Rachel Barton Pine; Sumptuous Strings, March 31, with violinist David Kim and cellist Carter Brey.
Pops:Mysterioso, Oct. 28-29, featuring illusions of David and Dania, Les Arnold and Dazzle and Joseph Gabriel set to electrifying music; The Christmas Show, Dec. 1-3, with Broadway’s Judy McLane; ABBA – the Concert, Jan. 27-28, with tribute band Waterloo; Cupid’s Wingman, Feb. 24-25, with Tony DeSare (Our Sinatra); Pink Martini, March 23-24, with Thomas Lauderdale and his orchestra; Wicked Divas, April 27-28, with concert hall showstoppers Julia Murney and Stephanie J. Block. www.okcphilharmonic.org
Oklahoma City Theatre Co.
The OKC group knows how to give its audience variety – a drama of the break-up of the nuclear family (Buried Child) is rarely followed by a light-hearted holiday comedy affirming it (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever). The Native American Play Festival, however, becomes an automatic stand-out for launching new works by rarely heard voices. Watch for it June 1-10 when Diane Glancy’s Salvage anchors the 2012 event.
Also: Quilters, Sept. 16-Oct. 2; Buried Child, Oct. 21-Nov. 6; The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Dec. 2-18; Same Time, Next Year, Feb. 3-19; Gypsy, March 8-25; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, April 13-29. www.okctheatrecompany.org
Philbrook Museum of Art
The exhibit Rauschenberg at Gemini concludes Sept. 11, but Philbrook has more to offer in the months ahead, including a look at Southwest life and art. Black on Black & White: The Southwest of Laura Gilpin and Maria Martinez, Feb. 5-April 15, will exhibit Gilpin’s introspective photography along with Martinez’ signature Pueblo ceramic works.
Also:War and Rumors of War: Combat and Commemoration in Native Art, through Oct. 9; Magnificent Vision: Two Centuries of European Masterworks from the Speed Art Museum, Oct. 9-Jan. 8; About Face: Crafting the Modern Portrait, Oct. 16-Jan. 1; The Sinuous Line: Jacques Callot and the Rebirth of Printmaking in Early-Modern France, Jan. 8-April 8; Seeking the Sacred: Religious Ritual in Native American Art, April 1-June 3; This Great Land: Contemporary America on Paper, April 15-July 8. www.philbrook.org
Playhouse Tulsa
The company just won top honors from TATE (Tulsa Awards for Theatre Excellence) for a stellar Macbeth last season. The new season, to us, looks like a stand out, as well: The Origins Project, Oct. 4-9; The Storm Repertory: William and Judith and The Tempest, Feb. 10-19; Urinetown, April 17-22; The Unmentionables, May 6-13. www.playhousetheatretulsa.com
Price Tower Arts Center
Swedish-American architect and designer Greta Magnusson Grossman set up shop during the Golden Age of Hollywood to design for Greta Garbo, Joan Fontaine and other celebrities. When she arrived, she said she would need a “car and some shorts” to fit in. The late designer’s concept of American living is the title of an upcoming exhibit at Bartlesville’s Price Tower Arts Center. Greta Magnusson Grossman: A Car and Some Shorts runs Jan. 20-May 6. Also: look for From Process to Print: Graphic Works by Romare Bearden, May 18-Sept. 2, 2012, which looks at the prolific artist’s work in a variety of media. www.pricetower.org
Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art
The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art continues its exhibit Building the Land: Jewish National Fund Zionist Posters, through Sept. 24, but wait until you see what follows: Andy Warhol: Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century, Oct. 23-Dec. 19, brings depictions of Jewish icons Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, Golda Meir, the Marx Brothers and others by the Pop Art idol. Marc Chagall: Drawings for the Bible, Oct. 23-January, examines the Russian-born expressionist artists’ ethereal touch. Also: Out of a Dark Cabinet: Rarely Viewed Treasures from the Permanent Collection, Feb. 15-Sept. 25; Annual Purim Mask Competition, Spring 2012. www.jewishmuseum.net
Signature Symphony
Prominent musicians join the symphony in a season giving patrons the Manhattan Transfer on Jan. 21 plus a dinner and concert event, Titanic: The 100th Anniversary. First experience sumptuous dining (April 13) and hear a musical salute to the people aboard on April 14.
Classics: Tchaikovsky Piano Competition 2011 Winner concert, Oct. 1; Signature Symphony and Chorale, Nov. 5, performing new piece by University of Tulsa’s Joseph Rivers about figures from Oklahoma history; Tchaikovsky Gold Medal Cellist concert, Feb. 11, winner from the 2011 competition; violinist Bella Hristova, March 10; Gustav Holst’s The Planets, April 21.
Pops: Cirque de la Symphonie, Sept. 23-24; Donald & Barron Ryan, Oct. 14-15; Christmas with Sarah Coburn, Dec. 9-10; Signature Big Band, Feb. 24-25; Signature Symphony Reflections, March 16-17. www.signaturesymphony.org
Theatre Tulsa
Sure, Urinetown, Sept. 16-24, has been done before, but it’ll be interesting to see how the oldest community theater group west of the Mississippi River stages this irreverent comedy of the God-given right to use the loo – without paying a toll.
Also: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Oct. 28-Nov. 5; Waiting for Lefty, Jan. 13-21; Effects of Gamma Rays on the Man On the Moon Marigolds, March 9-17; Arsenic & Old Lace, May 11-19. www.theatretulsa.org
Tulsa Ballet
Whether its classic or modern, Tulsa Ballet is always contemporary in its approach to dance, meaning stories such as Romeo and Juliet are as timeless as ever in a world premiere event (Feb. 23-25) choreographed by Edwaard Liang.
Also: The Merry Widow, Sept. 23-25; Nine Sinatra Songs, Oct. 28-30; The Nutcracker, Dec. 10-23; A Ballets Russes Evening, March 30-April 1; Off the Floor: Creations in Studio K, April 27-May 6. www.tulsaballet.org
Tulsa Opera
It’s a theater show. It’s a music hall performance. With Tulsa Opera, you get both in addition to a wonderful time spent with other opera fans ready to shout, “bravo!” Oklahoma’s favorite soprano Sarah Coburn opens the season in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Oct. 8, 14, 16.
Also: The Oklahoma premiere of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, Feb. 25, March 2 and 4; Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, April 21, 27, 29. www.tulsaopera.com
Tulsa Oratorio Chorus
It’s "All About Bach" this season, well, almost as the TOC schedules programs heavy on Johann with a touch of other influential composers. Concert 1, Oct. 15, Trinity Episcopal Church; Concert 2, Pirates of the Caribbean performance, Nov. 12, with Tulsa Symphony Orchestra; Concert 3, Dec. 3, at Holy Family Cathedral; Concert 4, March 24, at Tulsa Performing Arts Center, part of TSO’s season; Concert 5, May 12 at Boston Avenue Methodist Church. www.toconline.org
Tulsa Performing Arts Center
As if there wasn’t enough happening at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center with resident arts groups, the PAC and the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust bring in an array of special guests to play T-Town. Steve Martin will be on stage Aug. 24, with his banjo, some awesome musicians and, we hope, a few punch lines. Steve Martin: An Evening of Bluegrass and Banjo kicks off the season. Also: Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, Sept. 30-Oct. 1; The Borrowers, Nov. 4-5; An Evening with Buddy Valastro: The Cake Boss, Nov. 8; Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood: Two Man Group, Nov. 19; Tinkle, Twonkle, March 23-24; Are You My Mother?, April 20-21; Zorro, April 27-28. www.tulsapac.com
Tulsa Symphony Orchestra
Most know the Tulsa Symphony has the classics covered, but look closer, and you’ll see much more.
Classics:Fate & Folklore, Sept. 10; Larger Than Life, Oct. 22, featuring Crescendo Award-winning violinist Siwoo Kim; Musical Migrations, Jan. 7; The American West, Feb. 4; The Universe in 90 Minutes, March 24, (Mahler’s Symphony No. 3); Musical Fireworks, May 5.
Rock ‘n’ Adventure Series: Beatles Tribute, Oct. 29, with the Classical Mystery Tour band at SpiritBank Event Center; Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl, Nov. 12, with the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus.
Flavors of Europe Chamber Series:Germany, Nov. 18, at the German-American Society Building; Russia and More, Jan. 13, at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame; France, March 9, at Philbrook Museum. www.tulsasymphony.org
No one thinks of going outside in August in Oklahoma unless the lake, pool or boat are involved. But relief is in sight – college football is almost here. Fall, once again, promises the clash of helmets and crowd howls in school colors and revelry.
Oklahoma State University: v. Louisiana-LaFayette, Sept. 3; v. Arizona, Sept. 8; @ Tulsa, Sept. 17; @ Texas A&M, Sept. 24; v. Kansas, Oct. 8; @ Texas, Oct. 15; @ Missouri, Oct. 22; v. Baylor, Oct. 29; v. Kansas State, Nov. 5; @ Texas Tech, Nov 12; @ Iowa State, Nov. 18; vs. Oklahoma, Dec. 3.
University of Oklahoma: vs. Tulsa, Sept. 3; @ Florida State, Sept. 17; v. Missouri, Sept. 24; v. Ball State, Oct. 1; v. Texas, Oct. 8; @ Kansas, Oct. 15; v. Texas Tech, Oct. 22; @ Kansas State, Oct. 29; v. Texas A&M, Nov. 5; @ Baylor, Nov. 19; v. Iowa State, Nov. 26; @ Oklahoma State, Dec. 3.
University of Tulsa: @ Oklahoma, Sept. 3; @ Tulane, Sept. 10; v. Oklahoma State, Sept. 17; @ Boise State, Sept. 24; v. North Texas, Oct. 1; v. UAB, Oct. 15; @ Rice, Oct. 22; vs. SMU, Oct. 29; @ UCF, Nov. 3; v. Marshall, Nov. 12; @ UTEP, Nov. 19; v. Houston, Nov. 25.
He’s a wild and crazy guy on film and stage, but Steve Martin is taking his love for bluegrass music to seriously new heights. Anyone who watched A Capitol Fourth, the Independence Day celebration broadcast from Washington, D.C., on PBS last month, understands that Martin – best known for Saturday Night Live, outrageous comedy films (The Jerk), stand-up comedy in an assortment of wacky headgear – has long moved past stand-up days in a white suit. One thing he has held onto, however, is his banjo. His album, Rare Bird Alert, once again asserts Martin’s abiding interest in American bluegrass music. When he plays the Tulsa Performing Arts Center Aug. 24 with the Steep Canyon Rangers, the prolific actor, comic, author and Grammy Award-winning musician will be in fine form. Let’s hope that also includes a generous helping of laughs on the side. www.tulsapac.com
These days, everyone is keeping an eye on gold futures. It wasn’t any different more than 500 years ago when inhabitants of the Americas wanted to establish wealth and advertise it with the precious metal.
To Capture the Sun: Gold of Ancient Panama, currently on exhibit at Gilcrease Museum, tells a story of a long ago culture, economy and mindset through a collection of more than 250 gold objects.
The museum’s collection, from the Gran Coclé culture of Panama, includes effigy pendants, pectorals, cuffs, bands, ear rods as well as vessels and other ceramics. With this assembly of pieces, visitors can begin to understand how metallurgy affected life in the Western Hemisphere.
The symbolic significance of adornment pieces comes through in details revealing the rituals and belief systems of the people of Panama before the arrival of European ships and the obliteration that followed.
The exhibit contains pieces from 750-900 AD. Visitors will get a look at the methods – such as wax casting – used to create gold and copper alloys that became signature processes to the region and to a people who looked at the products of these works as more than just currency. In the shapes of birds, monkeys, seahorses and other organisms of the natural world, these pieces represented a way for the wearer to connect to the natural and cosmic force of the universe.
To Capture the Sun runs through Jan. 15. Gilcrease Museum is scheduled to display a number of other special exhibits through the end of the year, including its Collectors’ Reserve American Art Exhibit and Sale.
For more information about the Panamanian gold exhibit or other details of Gilcrease, go online at www.gilcrease.org.
With its dark red hues, intimate setting and unpretentious food and service, Rococo Restaurant and Fine Wine has carved a niche in the Shepherd Historic District as a neighborhood favorite.
Previously owned by a purported Italian gangster, the restaurant used to be Tony’s Italian Specialties, a well-known Oklahoma City landmark. As homage to Tony, Chef Bruce Rinehart re-invented the Italian restaurant into Rococo: East Coast fine dining with gangster flair.
After only three months of business, Rococo received much acclaim – with good reason. As a professional chef for more than 30 years, Rinehart has orchestrated 15 restaurant openings for two top-flight restaurant groups in Boston.
In fall 2003, he came to Oklahoma specifically with the intention of opening an East Coast-style restaurant.
Now in full swing, chef owned and operated Rococo has established itself in OKC in two locations with a menu featuring Italian, French and Asian influences. With more than 25 starters to choose from, Rinehart recommends the “cookies,” or savory, bite-sized appetizers: for instance, Nancy’s Cookies, smoked salmon rosettes with horseradish cream, diced red onion and capers.
Guests are reminded to pair cookies with wine from Rococo’s incredible selection.
“I’m really proud of our wine selection,” says Executive Chef Don Duncan.
"We do it one hundred percent, or we don’t do it all,”
“We use local purveyors to get the best wines. We listen to our guests and pick what they want.”
Keeping with their traditions, Rococo also serves pasta in house-made pomodoro, alfredo or olive oil sauces, with chicken, seafood and veggies.
But as Rinehart reminds guests, “We serve the freshest fish shipped from New England. We’re definitely more than just Italian.” The best-selling seafood dish is, without question, the crab cake.
“We try to be humble, but we have the best damn crab cake you’ll ever have,” Rinehart says with a smile. Accompanied by a subtle Thai red chili cream sauce, the jumbo lump crab cake is a must for any newcomer to Rococo.
Last but not least, the international chop house fare is the cream of the crop. You can choose the pan-roasted or grilled ribeye steak, the roast rack of Colorado lamb or pan-roasted stuffed pork chop among a host of others.
“Our menu just goes to show that we don’t cut corners here. We do it one hundred percent, or we don’t do it all,” Duncan says.
And on Sundays, Rococo serves up an incredible brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Rococo recently opened a second location, the aptly named Rococo Northpark, in Northpark Mall in Oklahoma City. 2824 N. Pennsylvania, Oklahoma City. www.rococo-restaurant.com
John Tyler Hammons captured headlines across the country in 2008 when he made the improbable leap from college dorm room to city hall. At the age of 19, the Muskogee teen became one of the youngest mayors in the country with a landslide victory in his hometown.
While Hammons may have initially wooed some voters with his unique personal story and beaming smile, he quickly proved he’s no fluke. “I thought we elected him as a novelty, but that whole idea went away the more I worked with him and got to know him,” Muskogee Councilmember Bob Coburn says.
“He’s good for Muskogee, and he’s done a great job for us.”
The young mayor got right to work with an ambitious first-term agenda that included efforts to improve public health and increase transparency in city government. Voters agreed with those moves and handed the mayor another big election night victory last year, as he defeated Coburn.
And things have only gotten better for Hammons in the second term. He has continued to grow as a leader in the community, while shifting his efforts towards growing the local economy and mulling his next move.
“I have not yet made up my mind if I’ll seek a third term,” Hammons says. “I do greatly enjoy this, but I’ll have to talk to my advisors.”
Hammons knew he had a lot to learn when he took office in May 2008 and quickly found a mentor in Vice-Mayor Robert Perkins Sr. The veteran councilmember, who coached Hammons’ father in pee wee football, was quick to lend a hand to the young mayor.
“I thought he was crazy at first, but ever since he said that I took more of an interest in politics.”
“He supported me, and I learned from his wisdom,” Hammons says. “He’s a great leader in our community, and I enjoyed getting to know him. And obviously with that 50-year difference in our ages, it was a unique opportunity for him to learn about my generation and for me to learn about his.”
Along with the ins and outs of city hall, Hammons learned the importance of time management and building alliances within the community. “Because I was new and fresh and really had no ties to previous administrations, business leaders and community leaders, I had to build those ties very quickly,” Hammons says.
Hammons says his interest in political office was sparked by an assistant principal at Muskogee High School who shared with him a news story about an 18-year-old that was elected in Michigan. The administrator then told Hammons that would be him one day.
“I thought he was crazy at first, but ever since he said that I took more of an interest in politics,” Hammons says.
Hammons believed a run for elected office was in his future, but that day came earlier than expected when incumbent mayor Wren Stratton announced she would not seek re-election in 2008.
“When I was at OU my freshman year I had other things on my mind,” Hammons said. “I was trying to find a major, trying to find new friends, girls obviously and then I saw this news headline and thought, maybe this was the time.”
Although his political future is uncertain, Hammons has drawn a clear path for his education. He plans to finish his undergraduate degree at OU-Tulsa and return to Norman to pursue a joint Master of Business Administration/Law degree. After law school, Hammons, who is a member of the Cherokee Nation, says he would like to return to eastern Oklahoma and work for the tribe.
