When RestoreOKC leaders arrived at Harvard University in mid-July for the Success Planning Community of Practice, they joined educators, researchers and practitioners from across the country—all exploring the same question: How can communities better support children and families? The initiative, led by the Institute for Success Planning at the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s EdRedesign […]
Julie Porter Scott
Posted inFood & Drink
Breakfast, Levitated
Norman has no shortage of breakfast spots. Some are storied and deserving of their mantle. Some are cheesy; some are straight-up dives. They all have their place. But Levity Breakfast House feels just right for this town at this moment. Housed inside a lovingly reimagined 105-year-old bungalow just north of downtown, Levity is a little […]
Posted inNews
Tomorrow’s Keepers
When a series of investigative reports exposed horrific conditions facing children in Oklahoma’s state system during the 1980s, the outrage sparked more than headlines—it created a movement. Four decades later, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) remains one of the few organizations devoted exclusively to advancing policies that improve the lives of children across […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Celestial Spirits
Since opening in 2012, Vast has managed to keep up with lofty expectations, refusing to rest on ceremony as the restaurant at the top of the city. Located on the 49th floor of Devon Tower, it could easily have become a tourist trap, attracting customers for the view and the 726.2 feet that separate the […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Perfect Escape
You know when you pick up a copy of Southern Living or Food & Wine and see an article about a charming restaurant with a lovely exterior anchored by a picture-perfect patio? You know, the kind where a heavy door opens to reveal a warm welcome, large leather booths, and the bar of your dreams, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Roll Model
Chefs Richard Ly and Chris McKenna began speaking openly about their concept new concept, Kaizume, about a year ago, and it’s been much anticipated since. Ly, originally from Dallas, was part of the opening teams for concepts like Edmond’s Cafe Icon Sushi & Grill and Hal Smith’s Jimmy B’s Culinary + Krafted before opening his […]
Posted inFood & Drink
SpringBoard Effect
Some people dream about opening a restaurant. Robert and Lori Black have built a unique place for themselves by helping would-be business owners answer one question: Will it actually work? While customers may be familiar with the couple’s successful cadre of Edmond businesses, they may not realize that one power couple is behind Evoke, Twisted […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Beyond the Festival
For many Oklahomans, deadCenter arrives once a year. It shows up in June with red carpets, packed theaters, celebrity sightings and a flood of independent films that briefly transform downtown Oklahoma City into a gathering place for filmmakers and cinephiles. But for Amy Janes, deadCenter Film’s newly appointed executive director, one of the organization’s biggest […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Big Energy
At Edmond Fine Arts, small works have a big payoff. On May 7, the organization’s annual 5×5 Show & Sale returns with its familiar promise: hundreds of original works, each measuring just five inches square, each priced at $55 — and together they add up to something big. What began as a fundraiser has evolved […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Right On Cue
There have been a few moments recently when this city has seemed to step fully into itself. Moments when years of incremental growth, quiet investment, and stubborn belief suddenly present as something undeniable. The NBA Championship parade springs immediately to mind, but so do other snippets: memories of Memorial Marathon mornings, the opening of Okana […]