What’s this about a children’s museum?
In response to a recent Oklahoma Gazette commentary by Tracey Zeeck (“OKC needs a children’s museum,” March 28), I have to remind Oklahoma City that we already have a children’s museum: Science Museum Oklahoma. To pretend OKC doesn’t have a children’s museum and then demand another one for the downtown area is ridiculous. Zeeck implies…
Ballpark naming a balk
Not the Newcastle Casino Lose Your Money Park, it turns out. That illadvised idea lasted less than 24 hours, but it still seems we are doomed to stick the “Chickasaw” label on the park, which has as much to do with baseball as if we’d named it for Snooki. From the moment the ballpark opened…
The Raid: Redemption
Opening Friday in area theaters, the film carries the barest of plots. For 10 years, a much-feared mobster in a 15th-floor compound has ruled over a decrepit apartment building housing not only his narcotic enterprise, but also the dregs of society. Finally, the local SWAT team has garnered the guts to take it down, one…
Crime time
The gun was on the couch, smoke still wafting from its muzzle. Stretched out on the marble floor: a poor sap, now just fodder for the city morgue. The woman stood beside him, her face as cold and impenetrable as a cheap waxwork. “It wasn’t me,” she purred. “I swear.” I lit a cigarette, took…
Grand Central Murder
She receives just such a threatening call from an ex (“Death and me are just around the corner,” he warns, “don’t keep us waiting”), so she locks herself in a private train car at Grand Central Station, saying, “He’ll never find me there.” Famous last words. And among the first uttered in Grand Central Murder,…
We Bought a Zoo
Based on a true story, the movie stars Matt Damon (Contagion) as Benjamin Mee, a widower of six months and father of two who, sick of pity, unreasonably quits his newspaper reporter job on the spur of the moment, only to more unreasonably purchase a home in the country with a built-in, rundown zoo —…
Spring into action
With a youthful cast under Michael Baron’s direction comes a highly satisfying Oklahoma premiere. In the much-lauded Spring Awakening, Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik have adapted Frank Wedekind’s 1891 German tragedy about teenage angst and sexual awakening into a musical. Employing contemporary slang and combining the 19th-century setting with a rock score, the show attempts…
Bite Size: April 11, 2012
To market! From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Customer Appreciation Day at the OSU-OKC farmers’ market kicks off extended shopping hours during spring and summer. While you’re there, stop by the spring plant sale in the campus greenhouse. The sale runs 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 19-20; and 8 a.m.-1 p.m.…
Shine on
Melanie Marnich’s docudrama These Shining Lives is meant to be taken both literally and figuratively: Women whose jobs literally cause their bodies to glow from radium poisoning provide shining examples of lives nonetheless well lived. Based on actual events and people, the play takes place between 1922 and 1938 in Chicago and Ottawa, Ill. Catherine…
Bully pulpit
Ty Field-Smalley On the morning of May 13, 2010, he and a friend were hanging out on gym bleachers before school when they were approached by a boy who’d been harassing Ty. A fight ensued. Eleven-year-old Ty went home, suspended. Later that morning, his parents said, the sixth-grader pointed a .22-caliber gun to his head…
Saucedfest scheduled
According to organizers, the opening two days are geared toward rock ’n’ roll, while the closing day presents a more relaxed, singer-songwriter vibe. Scheduled to appear in slots ranging from 45 minutes to an hour include: • Friday: The Sheiks, Porch Mice and Public House • Saturday: Rock Bottom, Michael Davis, Mont Lyons, Shelton Poole…
Rev up
One of good spirits and consciousness raising, Emma’s Revolution came to life in 2002, driven by the creative and romantic partnership of Pat Humphries and Sandy Opatow. It took eight years for the fire to spark, but when it did, Humphries was blown away. “I was really struck by the tremendous ease with which we…
Am I Blue?
Justin Furstenfeld is keenly aware that not all people are huge fans of his band, but he’s OK with that. “There’s a broad hatred for our band,” said the leader of Texas-born Blue October. “I think the reason people like us is because we aren’t singing about glamorous things … depression and things like that,…
Still urgent
Legendary rock group Foreigner has been chugging along for almost 40 years, fueled by a host of hit singles like “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Cold as Ice” and “Feels Like the First Time.” Despite spending the bulk of every year on the road, it’s still not getting old. “Every night is really…
Getting dirty
<span style=" “> Brad Gregg The Bedlam Mud Run, a nonprofit event established to raise awareness of childhood obesity, will take place for the first time this year. Hosted by Lemon Tree Nutrition Lounge and Helo Oklahoma, it steps off Saturday at Guthrie’s Lazy E Arena, with a one-mile course for kids and a 5K…
‘Cat’ lady
It’s not often that a cat writes a New York Times best-selling series, but for more than 20 years now, Sneaky Pie Brown has defied the odds, with the help of her human owner, Rita Mae Brown, of course. This month, the 20th anniversary book of Brown’s Mrs. Murphy mystery series, The Big Cat Nap,…
Bear necessities
One would be hard pressed to succinctly describe the Louisiana metal band I Wrestled a Bear Once. Its songs incorporate a pantry of sounds. Racing metal guitars pushed against adult-contemporary pop; New Wave ’80s synths punctuated with samples of the General Lee’s car horn. The alt-metal quintet formed in 2007 from the ashes of another…
That’s hard-core
In Oklahoma, artists aren’t always able to unleash their wild side, but Biting the Apple provides an annual exception. From Friday to Saturday at Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery, there’s no holding back. Doubling as a fundraiser, Biting the Apple is a juried art and performance exhibition where local creatives can express themselves through provocative…
Pachyderm party
Malee The Oklahoma City Zoo will host a birthday party Sunday for Malee, the first elephant ever born at the facility. Already a visitors’ favorite, the soon-to-be 1-year-old female plays a vital role in the zoo’s efforts to conserve critically endangered Asian elephants. Malee was born shortly after her mother, Asha, and aunt Chandra moved…
Springtime spooks
Halloween comes early at the first Guthrie Haunts Scaregrounds Scaretacular, offering a fright night of thrills — perfect for Friday the 13th. “I think the high level of realism and in-your-face terror will set us apart from the rest of our competitors,” said Gary Berger, one of four co-creators, and who has staged a successful…
Why so serious?
Think about it: Did Tonto ever smile? Throughout history, popular culture largely has painted the American Indian as humorless. Take the man who shed a single tear in 1971’s iconic “Keep America Beautiful” anti-litter campaign; the stoic, silent Will Sampson in the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; even the famous 1887 photograph of…
Give a hoot
There are those treks inspired by some greater power from the retail gods. They aren’t explainable, and they only happen when you least expect. Arguably most exciting and elusive are these rare occasions. Second, there are those trips when you need the perfect thing. It might be a top or a skirt or an accessory.…
Enjoy Mother Nature
That means it’s time to bust out your shades and head for the great outdoors to enjoy your dining. First, what are you hungry for? Decide, then take your pick from these patio or picnic possibilities. Shelby’s Fish Shack 1414 W. Britton 286-0811 Drive up to Shelby’s Fish Shack and enjoy delicious catfish, made with…
Unsinkable meal
Before the saga of Jack and Rose and James Cameron’s super-successful movie, there actually was an RMS Titanic. The passenger liner set sail from England on April 10, 1912, bound for the Americas. Spoiler alert: It didn’t make it. Aboard the ship’s more than 2,200 crew and passengers came a slew of famous stories: from…
Don’t be a weenie
Sweet, crispy Zeus, do I love a hot dog. Few meals hearken back to a simpler time than the hot dog. Biting into a frank is an instant portal to watching minor league baseball or running around the backyard. It’s summer, encased in a sausage, covered in ketchup and mustard. And while it’s not hard…
Bee local
However, we’re not talking about fish oil here. Who cares if it doesn’t cure allergies? It’s delicious. Much has been made of honey’s amazing curative powers, but once the hype and misinformation is filtered, what is left is a nutritious, all-natural source of sugar, amino acids and trace amounts of vitamins and minerals. In addition,…
‘Slap’ down
Well, all right, maybe it is every day, but this time it’s serious business, dammit! Apparently, the One-World-Islamic- Government-types have infiltrated the state Legislature, after it issued what Kern called a “slap in the face to voters who believe foreign law should have no bearing on legal decisions that impact Oklahomans in Oklahoma.” So what…
Righting wrongs
Tiffany Murphy OCU LAW Since its inception in August 2011, the Oklahoma City University School of Law Oklahoma Innocence Project, or OIP, has been working to overturn wrongful convictions in Oklahoma. “There are people who are completely, absolutely innocent of their charges who have been convicted and sentenced to prison for, often, very long periods…
Talking turkey
Brad Gregg Senate Bill 1420, which allows physically disabled individuals to use laser sights while hunting on private property, recently passed the House. Co-authored by Shortey and Rep. John Bennett, the measure passed the house on a 92-0 vote and heads to the Senate for final approval. “This bill was filed to address the needs…
Jobs, jobs, jobs
Brad Gregg Well get off the couch, buddy, because we all know that you’ve simply been enjoying those Maury reruns. (Not that we can blame you — what’s more entertaining than a woman terrified of cotton balls?) According to Gallup’s Job Creation Index, Oklahoma City has been ranked the nation’s top city for job creation.…
Takeover trouble
State fairgrounds Shannon Cornman The council on April 3 received the reports on the MAPS 3 fairgrounds improvements and senior wellness centers from Mike Mize of Architectural Design Group, the lead consultant on MAPS 3. Around $58.7 million in MAPS 3 money is set aside for fairgrounds improvements, such as parking and a new exposition…
Profiles in courage
Brad Gregg Candidates for office this week are filing with the state Election Board, meaning that a fair number of incumbents will know who their challengers are amid the legislative session. In previous years, candidate filing occurred in June. And how might this early jump on campaign season impact legislators still facing politically sticky votes…
Name of the game
Brad Gregg Pete Rose was banned from baseball for gambling on the game. Suffice it to say, the national pastime and gambling haven’t made for the most harmonious of bedfellows. So imagine our surprise when the Oklahoma City RedHawks announced on April 4 that its ballpark would bear the name of a casino. For an…
LETTERS
Oklahoma Gazette provides an open forum for the discussion of all points of view in its Letters to the Editor section. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Letters can be mailed, faxed, emailed to pbacharach@okgazette. com or sent online at okgazette.com, but include a city of residence and contact…
Saving college savings
Oklahoma families can deduct up to $20,000 each year for their contributions to the state’s college savings plan, and their investment can grow tax-free. This legislative session, an effort is under way to eliminate this tax deduction that is critical for many middle-income families. Long-term gains for our state and people should not be sacrificed…
LETTERS
Oklahoma Gazette provides an open forum for the discussion of all points of view in its Letters to the Editor section. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Letters can be mailed, faxed, emailed to pbacharach@okgazette. com or sent online at okgazette.com, but include a city of residence and contact…
LETTERS
Oklahoma Gazette provides an open forum for the discussion of all points of view in its Letters to the Editor section. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Letters can be mailed, faxed, emailed to pbacharach@okgazette. com or sent online at okgazette.com, but include a city of residence and contact…
The Killer Nun
After having a brain tumor removed, Sister Gertrude hasn’t been the same. She thinks she still has cancer and cries out for a shot filled with sweet, sweet morphine. The doctors at the psych ward where she works assure her that her thoughts are simply stress-induced and psychosomatic, but Gertrude’s much-younger roomie, Sister Mathieu (Paola…
Sleeping Beauty
Here, it’s Lucy (Emily Browning, Sucker Punch), a college student so strapped for cash that she holds four jobs: working at a café, doing Xerox duties in an office, participating in a medical study that requires a balloon and tube to be fed down her throat, and blowing guys at a bar. A fifth gig…
The Hidden Face
Drowning his sorrows in drink soon leads Adrián into the warm embrace of a button-cute waitress, Fabiana (Martina García), and they fall in love. All’s well again, but the police suspect something is up with Belen’s inexplicable vanishing act. Something is up in The Hidden Face, a thriller from Spain new to DVD on the…
The Cats / Hate for Hate
Proof is in two 1960s obscurities making their MOD DVD debut from Warner Archive, both from Italy: The Cats, which is not about cats, and Hate for Hate, which I did not. One of the most memorable lines in 1968’s The Cats — aka The Bastard — is delivered by Rita Hayworth, whose hot-mess-of-a-mother character…
Wills’ way
With the help of a $200,000 donation from the Grammy Foundation, the Oklahoma Historical Society is preserving an estimated 600 hours of Western swing that the famed musician recorded in the 1940s. The project evolved after the Wills family donated his entire archives to the OHS after being housed in Turkey, Texas, for more than…
Thou Shalt Not Kill … Except
Interest in Thou Shalt may be higher than ever — Raimi being an A-list director (the Spider-Man trilogy), Campbell on a popular cable series still going strong (Burn Notice) and Spiegel … well, he just did Hostel: Part III — so Synapse Films’ Blu-ray/DVD combo-pack release represents fine timing. But viewers’ expectations should be adjusted;…
Audit now, money later
The state museum is $80 million short of completion, and fundraisers have gathered about $40 million in pledges from the private sector and the city. Last week, the Oklahoma City Council approved a measure to send $9 million toward finishing the on-again, off-again facility, located near Martin Luther King Boulevard and Interstate 40. As part…
Take me out to Newcastle …
So imagine our surprise, then, that the Oklahoma City RedHawks ballpark is now named for a casino. For an undisclosed sum, the Chickasaw Nation purchased naming rights to the Bricktown ballpark, slapping on the name of Newcastle Field at Bricktown in honor of its gaming center in the rustic hamlet of Newcastle. An Oklahoma City ballpark…
Night Wolf / Hidden
Werewolves are hot right now, but you wouldn’t know it from Night Wolf, a howlingly average and predictable British entry that sadly marks the final film of Simon MacCorkindale, ’80s star of TV’s Manimal and the misbegotten Jaws 3-D. The plot plops a bunch of slackers in a dark and empty family farmhouse on the…
Eagleheart: Season One
For Chris Elliott fans, the Adult Swim series is worth rejoicing over. Unlike other shows of the late-night Cartoon Network showcase, this one enjoys well-crafted scripts filled with jokes that come from decades of edgy, experimental comedy experience, and not bong hits. Ostensibly a parody of Walker, Texas Ranger and perhaps a bit Justified, the…
The Killing: The Complete First Season
That’s the question posed by the first season of AMC’s The Killing, and also one famously answered — and then infamously not — by its finale (an extended cut of which is on the three-disc Blu-ray set) that incited the Internet equivalent of a riot. Whereas so many viewers were angry, I was elated: Seriously,…
