Nightlife
Steve Cluck’s Purple Pop Party
You know what Steve Cluck is all about – his “Don’t Hate the 918” and “I (Heart) Tulsa” t-shirts deliver a powerful dose of optimism to Tulsans taking advantage of everything the city can offer. Now you can add the nightlife impresario’s Purple Pop Party to your social calendar and live up the first Friday of every month at Enso Bar/Lounge, 230 E. First St., where purple reigns supreme. Singer Prince’s film Purple Rain is the night’s theme, and guests can wear their favorite purple outfits, gorge on purple cupcakes and dance to music inspired by the Purple One. “I used to have a party at my house called the Purple Party,” Cluck says. But now at Enso, the affair is free and open to anyone over 21. www.ensobar.com
Steve Cluck’s Purple Pop Party
A Female Pioneer
Long before Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin represented the state in U.S. Congress, another woman left her own indelible mark on the state and the nation: Oklahoma’s first female member of Congress, Alice Mary Robertson.
Robertson, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1921 to 1923, was only the second female in American history to be elected to Congress, yet this was only one of Robertson’s myriad accomplishments.
A champion of Native American rights and education, Robertson was also the first female to work in the Indian Office in Washington, D.C., during the 1870s; the first woman to serve as supervisor for Creek Schools in Indian Territory, shortly before Oklahoma achieved statehood; and the first female postmaster to preside over a first-class post office.
She was responsible for the chartering of the University of Tulsa, the establishment of a V.A. medical center in Muskogee and the improvement of infrastructure throughout Oklahoma. Even after her death in 1931, she continued to be a pioneer: due to her services during the Spanish-American War, she was buried as a veteran of the conflict.
“Robertson never allowed expectations of her gender to stand in the way of her aspirations, accomplishing a great deal even by our modern standard,” says Deah Caldwell, author of “Antisuffragist. Antifeminist! Pro-women? The Anomalous Alice Mary Robertson.”
And yet, while Robertson led the way for so many women in the state and across the nation, she was harried by accusations of anti-feminism throughout her congressional career.
“Local politicians usually attached women’s suffrage to measures they needed to get passed,” notes Caldwell. “Most women during this period lacked a higher education, causing highly educated women like Robertson to vote against suffrage so others would not cast an uneducated vote.
“Looking at Robertson’s lifestyle and accomplishments before her congressional run in 1920, she fulfilled many of the characteristics of a New Woman, an image attached to many of the self-proclaimed feminists,” Caldwell continues. “Robertson, however, lived it.”
First Ladies
Sooner Brewers
In 2010, Eric Marshall’s company witnessed 45 percent growth over the previous year despite a struggling economy.
In 2011, in the face of an economy that only wild-eyed optimists and politicians see as improving more than marginally, that percentage growth is expected to be even higher.
Marshall isn’t in the hedge fund business or in some industry that benefits from foreclosures or government spending. Instead, Marshall is the president and brewmaster at Tulsa-based Marshall Brewing Company, manufacturers of popular lines of hand-crafted, full-strength beers.
“Business has been going very well,” Marshall says. “We’re selling more than we can make. We’re expanding our seasonal beers. We’ve only been distributing in Oklahoma, but we are now looking at selling in other states as well.”
After having initially only sold its beer in keg form, Marshall Brewing began producing 12-ounce bottles for sale in liquor stores a little more than a year ago. The company recently nearly doubled the size of its plant.
“In 2010, we did just under 1,700 (31-gallon) barrels,” Marshall says. “We’re set to make 2,500 to 3,000 barrels this year.”
Marshall isn’t the only Oklahoma brewery to make big strides in a short period of time.
JD Merryweather, co-founder and director of sales and marketing for COOP Ale Works in Oklahoma City, says that the sensibilities born of the recession might actually be part of the impetus for the growth of local breweries.
“You’re seeing a lot of interest in hand-made stuff here in Oklahoma City,” Merryweather says. “People are getting away from industrial made things. There are coffee shops roasting and grinding their beans and little bakeries. Those kinds of things are booming.”
Merryweather says that COOP, has doubled production since launching two years ago and is continuing to experience growth statewide.
As is the case with Marshall, COOP has also added a product line by entering the canned beer market in late 2010. Although its products are still primarily sold on draft, they are also available in liquor stores.
Merryweather says it was pure observation that was the catalyst to launch COOP.
“We saw a vacancy in the market,” he says. “No one was really embracing the Oklahoma City market. I know Marshall’s felt the same way about Tulsa.”
Marshall and COOP have another thing in common, a recurring theme in the stories of local breweries: The companies were began not by veteran brewers, but by small businessmen with passion.
“My dad did a little bit of home brewing, which got me interested,” Marshall says. “Then I studied in Germany my junior year of college and it really caught on. I knew this was for me. When I moved back to Tulsa, my dad had built a home pub. That’s where the sickness started…the hobby got out of hand.”
Marshall would go on to study brewing in Germany and briefly work for Victory Brewing in Pennsylvania before returning home to launch his business. Today its draft products are available from more than 300 tap handles statewide.
Merryweather says his only experience in the beverage industry was working in a restaurant, where wine was more his specialty.
“I got into craft beer in the 1990s,” he says.
Tim Schoelen, president and managing partner of Mustang Brewing Company is also a legacy member of the state brewing community.
“I actually worked in health care, but my dad was a home brewer – it seemed like fun,” Schoelen says.
He was also inspired by his love of Choc Beer, the nearly century-old granddaddy of Oklahoma brews. But it was his appreciation of the contemporary business structure of Samuel Adams that prompted the company’s particular approach. Unlike other brewers in the state, Mustang’s beers are created in other states and then shipped for distribution in Oklahoma and Kansas.
Its model has worked for Mustang.
“We projected selling 7,500 case equivalents last year and we ended up selling 12,000,” Schoelen says. “In September 2009 we sold 281 cases; in September 2010, we sold 2,081 cases. We also won two silver medals at the World Beer Championships.”
Despite different business models, all state brewers operate under very old and sometimes arcane laws governing the sale of beer that, among other things, don’t permit full-strength beer to be sold in grocery or convenience stores.
Today’s brewers are leery to complain about the state’s regulations, citing a lengthy history of less-than-congenial relations with the state. But few seem to feel as if regulation is prohibitive of doing business at their particular level, either.
Marshall says that he was fully aware of Oklahoma’s laws and regulations when the company was launched.
“Every state has its own regulations.” Marshall says. “People can say what they want, but we’ve made it work. If you can say you’re business has grown 40 to 45 percent, I’d say you’re doing well.”
The environment remains open for further expansion.
“The thing is, there is plenty of room for more,” Merryweather says. “There’s not a lot of competition.”
The Blue Rose Buzzes Again
Cruise down that dark and deserted stretch of Riverside just north of the bridge and there, way out over the water, you’ll see lights shining where no light could possibly be. Turn in, park the car, and there are cars and crowds and music – this place has got a groove. Big, shiny windows and blond oak wood – it looks like a cross between a ski chalet and a fishing shack. A party palace.
Tom Dittus is a happy man. Three nights after opening, not an empty seat in the house, and there he is, greeting old friends, running the tap behind the bar, bopping through the crowds and all the while smiling, an irrepressible sign of happiness he can’t control.
It’s been a long time coming. Dittus learned the trade back in the ‘70s, working at Eskimo Joe’s in Stillwater. Then he opened what he calls a “little rhythm and blues joint” in Brookside. You could walk along Peoria even on the grayest, gloomiest day, and without fail there’d be a huge, noisy drinking crowd swarming on a homey wood deck built out toward 34th Street. Bikers and businessmen, chicks and suits, one big happy bunch: Blue Rose Cafe.
The new Blue Rose is more than twice as large, and that’s not counting the big wooden deck over the river. A hundred people could crowd on out there, and come summer they surely will. Inside, it’s sleek, airy, almost industrial, with blond wood and floor to ceiling windows, redeemed from blandness by quirky touches where you’d least expect it. 1920s style ceiling lamps. Beams of tawny wood crossing pipes of black metal. A ghostly white mannequin at a window. An eerie, painted Medusa gliding on an ultramarine sea. Bauhaus meets roadhouse.
Go for a drink or two. You’ll have a fine time. But don’t forget the food. Lots of choices: blackened chicken with onion rings, chicken-fried chicken, a bowl of creamy gravy, fried okra. Sandwiches, salmon fillet, or a big sirloin steak. Best of all (or so it will definitely seem after a night of drinking) is an open-faced burger drenched with chili and all swimming in a lake of gooey cheese, bright and sunny as an egg yolk. This food satisfies primal cravings.
To experience Blue Rose at its finest, go on weekends. There’ll be a band playing. Dittus knows his music, and his choice of bands follows the current restaurant mantra: Go organic, go local. From time to time Oklahoma’s fertile soil spawns a new kind of music: homegrown, original. It happened in the ‘60s with the Tulsa Sound and again in the ‘90s with Red Dirt Music. That’s the kind of bands you’ll find at Blue Rose. Red Dirt Rangers, perhaps, or Mary Cogan. A few days before Mary played, Dittus sent her a note: “Mary tell your peeps to get there early. It’s been kookoo crazy!” Yes it has. And that’s how it should be. 1924 Riverside Dr., Tulsa. 918.582.4600. www.bluerosecafetulsa.com
Fresh Music
Lucinda Williams, Blessed – Lucinda Williams is an acquired taste, but to those with the taste, she’s a goddess. Her voice and musicality are aptly described by the title of her 1998 breakthrough album Car Tires on a Gravel Road; not pretty, but beautiful. She’s also responsible for some of the most gut-wrenching love/loss songs recorded, which left fans to wonder what a new album might sound like now that Williams herself is happily married. Blessed answers that question with songs addressing familiar themes, but also delves into the broader range of human experience. March 1.
R.E.M., Collapse Into Now – It’s hard to believe the seminal alternative rock band has been around for 30 years. It’s even more noteworthy that they’ve managed to stay relevant and continually evolve with the times and changing tastes while maintaining their identity. The band’s 15th studio release carries on with a collection of tender ballads, mid-tempo songs and rocking crowd pleasers. Patti Smith, Eddie Vedder and Peaches are among the collaborators on the album. March 8.
Britney Spears, Femme Fatale – Love her or not, there’s no denying the pop star’s power and remarkable ability to come out on top. She’s done it again with an edgy, urban dance album that may not push any boundaries, but is far from recycled. Ke$ha and will.i.am collaborated with Spears on the album. March 29.
Snoop Dogg, Doggumentary – In true Dogg style, the veteran rapper, producer, actor and ubiquitous collaborator has kept fans guessing about his 11th album – he’s changed the title twice and fueled speculation about collaborations and duets. The result reunites Dogg and rapper/producer Swizz Beatz for an album that ranges from old school to new, gangsta to R&B to hip hop. Kanye West, Gorillaz and R. Kelly join in the party. March 29
Breaking Free
Some artists have their niches nailed down from the get-go. Then there are others – no less confident in their styles – that are hard-wired to unintentionally defy the constraints of any one niche’s boundaries.
Adventurous, eclectic and soulful, Tulsa’s Tina Rose is indeed one of those singer/songwriters who refuses to be married to a genre, with a sound that has been described as concise yet indefinable without being disorganized or scattered.
From rock and soul to hip-hop, electronica and beyond, she doesn’t shy away from anything, and trying to select one word to sum up her style just wouldn’t be accurate.
“How would I define my sound? That’s a question often asked, seldom straight forwardly answered,” she says.
“That’s the first thing people ask when they talk to me and find out I’m recording an album. ‘What kind of music do you do?’ And it’s like ‘Um…’ because it really varies from one song to the next. And that’s how I like it.”
Currently recording her first official compilation album at the legendary studio her father, Leon Russell, brought to life – The Church, in Tulsa – Rose is working with Grammy-award winning producer and composer Alex Chiger, who has worked with artists such as Usher and Kelly Clarkson.
After meeting with other producers throughout her years on the Oklahoma music scene, she says that Chiger is the perfect fit for helping fully capture her sound and realize her vision.
“I think it’s our personalities and ability to communicate with one another, even though we have very different styles. He can really interpret what I’m trying to do,” she explains.
“That was one of the problems I’ve had working with other people. They were so quick to want to put my music into one box and keep it there. Everyone wanted to stick me into one kind of genre, but I need the freedom to go lots of different directions.”
The energy coming from her collaboration with Chiger is already creating a lot of buzz and excitement, with famed Michael Jackson sound engineer Bruce Swedien and Philly’s DJ Jazzy Jeff already showing interest in contributing to the album.
Anticipated to be released later this year, Rose’s collection of unique and original songs will undoubtedly show listeners just what can happen when an artist is allowed to follow her creative muse wherever the wind might carry her.
Laid-back, Luxurious Los Cabos
Between two saints lies a place that is known as a paradise for sport fishing and a haven for celebrities looking for a good time in the sun. San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas are bookends to a popular vacation spot called Los Cabos, or literally, the Capes, on the tip of the Baja California Peninsula.
Both cities and the hotels and resorts on the 18-mile stretch between, can be easily accessed via the Transpeninsular Highway, called the Corridor.
More than 280,000 visitors annually come to Los Cabos to either golf among amazing rock formations, snorkel, surf and fish for marlin, wahoo and other game fish. Taking a whale-watching tour is also a top tourist activity.
Approaching by air across the Sea of Cortez, also called the Gulf of California – which separates the Baja from the rest of Mexico – the visitor first sees contrast: the craggy peaks of the Sierra de la Laguna form a backdrop for miles of golden beach, blue water and dramatic red rock formations; saguaro cactus, palms and cultivated gardens cover the pale gold desert landscape.
Just off the shore of Los Cabos, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez, you’ll see El Arco, a natural rock arch. California gray whales migrate past en route to the Sea of Cortez.
At night, take your pick between San Jose del Cabo, with its live bands and a December-March fiesta, or the pumping nightclubs of Cabo San Lucas, sometimes considered the naughtier of the two destinations. At both, evenings begin with happy hour and don’t end until early the next morning. Some spots in Cabo San Lucas are open until 5 a.m.
The days can be hot as well, with high temperatures averaging above 80 degrees for nine months of the year. But with only 10 inches of rain annually, the low humidity helps make the heat tolerable.
Stay In Style
If you think this vacationer’s paradise is exactly the kind of seaside Eden you’re looking for, here are a few hotels you might want to consider.
Las Ventanas Al Paraiso: This 71-suite, AAA-rated Five Diamond destination of elegant pampering boasts suites with private jacuzzis and adjacent professional-grade telescopes, perfect for whale watching during the day or studying the stars at night.
All suites include private terraces, marble showers and wood-burning adobe fireplaces; the smallest suites start at 960 square feet.
Special touch: Luxury reaches its zenith with the resort’s Sheet Menu. Guests can personally select the type of sheets on their bed, with options such as Italian linen or 100 percent silk.
The Westin Resort and Spa: Built by architect Javier Sordo Madeleno, the terra cotta colored resort’s design is based on the famed El Arco. The resort’s desert-colored buildings stand over seven sparkling blue pools, many of which border sandy beaches.
All 250 rooms and suites come with the Westin Heavenly Bed and Brazilian robes, and the fine touches extend into the bathroom with dual shower heads, marble floors and Egyptian cotton towels.
Special touch: Guests staying in Royal Beach Club rooms receive exclusive services, such as breakfast at sunrise and a selection of cocktails and appetizers every sunset.
Marquis Los Cabos: This seven-year-old addition to the peninsula offers more than 200 suites and 28 casitas that all have tantalizing ocean views, hydro massage tubs and complimentary breakfasts.
The casitas come with their own private pools, separate living rooms and private balconies or terraces.
This AAA-rated Four Diamond resort includes Canto del Mar, an intimate, 30-person-per-night, no-menu restaurant specializing in French cuisine.
Special touch: The Marquesa del Mar Presidential Suite includes its own 24/7 butler.
Los Cabos At A Glance
Los Cabos lies at the very tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula, 1,000 miles south of San Diego. It encompasses the cities of San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas and the area between the two.
Access: For a true adventure you could drive to Los Cabos via the Transpeninsular Highway (Highway 1), which runs south from Tijuana. However, most travelers will opt to fly into the modern San José del Cabo International Airport, which is easily accessible from most U.S. hubs.
Population: 204,000
Climate: Subtropical dessert. Average temperature is 78 degrees, though summer frequently brings daytime highs over 100 degrees.
Main attractions: Luxurious resorts, golf, sportfishing, whale watching, beaches, watersports, nightlife, fine dining.
Hot Picks
Eat: Hacienda Cocina y Cantina, Cabo San Lucas. Seafood and authentic Mexican dishes served on terrace or open air dining rooms with breathtaking views of Land’s End.
See: The Arch of Poseidon, a.k.a. El Arco. This rock formation is Los Cabos’ most famous landmark. It is accessible by boat from Medano Beach.
Play: Cabo Wabo Cantina, Cabo San Lucas. Sammy Hagar’s nightspot has become Cabo’s highest profile music club, featuring the hottest bands from around the world.
Travel Tip
Visit Los Cabos between December and February to take advantage of mild temperatures and prime gray whale and humpback whale watching opportunities.
Visit Online
http://visitloscabos.travel
A Natural Choice
Choosing natural stone is more cost effective than ever. The longevity and unique quality of stone give consumers that sense of authenticity they are looking for, as well as add value to their home.
“You cannot duplicate the beauty of natural stone. You can never really capture all the nuances of natural stone in everything from pattern to texture. It’s unique,” says Kevin Dunaway of Emser Tile and Natural Stone in Tulsa.
The most popular stone, according to Dunaway, is travertine, which comes in shades ranging from very light off-white to rich beige hues.
The distinctive veining creates an added design element that sets it apart but allows it to blend with nearly every décor. Treatments and sealants give the stone a varied look. This is most often used in higher traffic areas because of its durability.
Slate’s stain- and slip-resistant quality also make it a popular choice for high traffic areas in the home. It comes in a cool color palette and is offered in smooth and rough finishes. This stone is ideal for practically every space.
Nearly indestructible, granite is a staple on counters and backsplashes. Its resilience makes it a nice choice for flooring as well. Affordability and its stain resistant nature make granite a great investment for nearly any home.
Limestone is another widely used option. It’s best not to use in this high-traffic areas because it can get scuffed more easily than other stones. The range of pale earth tones gives the space a calming effect.
For a formal touch, there’s no better choice than marble. It comes in the widest array of colors, including white and gray, pink, green and brown hues.
Stone requires specific care and, at times, repair. Tom McCarver of Mill Creek Tile in Tulsa explains that there is no set pattern to figuring out repairs.
“No flooring material is necessarily more likely to break than another,” McCarver says of the fact that it’s not common to one stone or another.
Upkeep is part of adding natural stone to a home. At least once a year stone will need to be resealed. Discoloration is also something to be careful of, but can be avoided with proper treatment of the stone surface, says McCarver.
For consumers looking to add value to their home and build something that lasts, stone is a natural choice.
How Does Healthy Look On You?
The word “healthy” has many definitions, and there is more to it than just feeling good.
“I define healthy as a state of physical and mental well-being, with a healthy lifestyle,” says Dr. Lubna Wani, an internal medicine specialist with OU Physicians in Norman. “Good health means not having – or adequately controlling – risk factors such as obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes.”
“Healthy is a combination of mental and physical states associated with feeling good, and the ability to participate in activities,” adds Dr. Baptiste Shunatona of Omni Medical Group in Tulsa.
“Health varies with age and abilities.”
Weighty Numbers
We all know which numbers reveal the general state of our health – they’re the same numbers your doctor is concerned with during your annual physical, though there is variation due to factors such as age or genetics, healthy ranges are well-established.
An annual physical typically includes a check of your pulse. However, your resting heart rate (RHR) is an important indicator of how fit you are and can be checked at home. This measurement will tell you how hard your heart is working to pump blood through your body.
The best time to check your RHR is after a good night’s sleep, before you get out of bed. To get your resting heart rate, take your pulse for a full minute. It’s a good idea to do this on three different mornings to make sure you’re getting a representative number.
RHR rises with age and is lower in people who are physically fit. In generally healthy people, the heart beats 60 to 80 times per minute.
Body mass index, or BMI, is a more meaningful number than weight. It is the measure of your weight and body fat relative to your height, and the “normal” range is the same for everyone (see sidebar).
“The definition of obesity is a BMI of 30 or greater,” says Shunatona. “This dramatically increases your risk of numerous chronic conditions.”
“Daily caloric intakes of 1,800 to 2,000 (calories) for women and 2,200 to 2,400 (calories) for men are recommended for people with normal BMI,” adds Wani.
Blood Pressure And Cholesterol
According to Wani, a blood pressure of 120/70 is ideal, but there can be extenuating circumstances affecting acceptable levels.
“In some individuals, a higher number might be okay, for example, if the side effects of the treatment outweigh the benefits of lowering blood pressure,” adds Shunatona.
Defining a normal, healthy cholesterol level is more difficult.
“Healthy cholesterol numbers aren’t the same for everyone,” says Wani. “If you’re a healthy 30-year-old, an LDL (bad cholesterol) of less than 130 is good. If you have heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure, it needs to be less than 70. The higher your HDL (good cholesterol), the better chance you have of not developing heart disease.”
What is your BMI?
Healthy (and Scientific) Weight Loss
Bright Idea
This spring, it’s all about color. Bold color. Bright color. Lots of color.
Fashion runways last year predicted a spring full of bright tops, bottoms, dresses and even accessories. Some fashionistas, though, are a little wary of sinking a lot of money into a wardrobe full of bright green, yellow and orange, only to have it go out of style after a few months.
If the thought of pairing a yellow top with pink shorts and a green cardigan doesn’t really appeal to you, consider introducing bright colors into your wardrobe in more subtle ways. Embrace the bright trend by adding a vivid scarf to an otherwise neutral outfit; strap on a candy-colored watch for an extra pop of color. Small color additions can make a bold difference in bringing your wardrobe into spring.
