Scruggs has been on the river in every season and at every height of water, from raging torrents to slow and low through the Ozark mountains. “I always tell people they are missing out not floating in fall and winter,” Scruggs said. “Those bluffs, they get 20- to 25-foot icicles hanging off of them after […]
Heide Brandes
Posted inArts & Culture
A wild ride
Pantheon, son of Helios, grabbed the reins of the Greek god’s sun-chariot to speed across the sky, but when he lost control, the flames scorched the land, creating the arid desert. Half a world away, sons and daughters are still going on joyrides through another Sahara, this time without world-destroying results. Located in Waynoka, Little […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Drink thyme
She squeezed the syrup into a tumbler of ice, mixed in a fresh dash of mandarin vodka and a generous pour of something citrus, and the cilantro cocktail was born. A clear, fresh drink made grass-green by the bits of floating herbs, it tasted just like summer. To Khalilian, the cilantro makes the drink. But […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Limitless movement
For many, the passion to learn dance comes from seeing dance. When ballet dancers float upon their toes as their arms sway through the air, their fluidity can seem magical. But the children, teens and adults at City Arts Center’s Movement Without Limitations ballet classes have never really seen dancing at all. Many have seen […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Dragon riders
In protest to the Chu Dynasty, Chinese poet and scholar Qu Yuan threw himself into the Mi Lo River. But so beloved was he by the local population, fishermen piled into boats and rowed furiously in tandem to try to save him. They did not succeed, but the sport of dragon boating was born. Centuries […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Hard-core hydration
When it’s hot, the body sweats more to help cool itself, and depending on the temperature and humidity, sometimes it’s hard to tell how much you are perspiring. Relying on thirst alone isn’t enough, said David Roush, COO of Next Level Nutrition in Oklahoma City. To keep muscles healthy, what you drink before, during and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Dig this
Scattered around Oklahoma and Arkansas, gems await digging up by ambitious hands. From diamonds to garnets to quartz crystals, public mines and digs can offer not only an afternoon of fun, but a potential to uncover a small fortune. And it’s not diamond dust we’re talking about. A visitor to Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Make it rain
With native grasses and trees, homeowners aren’t just landscaping their yards — they’re cleaning the stormwater that flows into the water system. That runoff is caused when rain and melted snow flow over land or paved surfaces and do not percolate into the ground. “It’s a concern to us because that runoff goes into Lake […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Eco booze
As “going green” becomes more and more popular in America, organic tequila, wine, vodkas and other drinks are finding a fan base with Oklahomans looking for a more planet-friendly martini. “Right now, sales of organic spirits are so-so, but people do buy it if they know about it,” said Kyle Lange, manager at Byron’s Liquor […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Green beer
JD Merryweather, partner and director of sales and marketing, said the founding members of the local brewery were already firm believers in sustainability. The trick was making a brew that not only tasted good, but also could lessen the impact on the environment. “We practice sustainability,” he said. “We live it and discuss ways we […]