

Shades of dismay
Shades of dismay OKC United, our (sort of) new USL team, unveiled the name and colors in July, and while those colors were chosen for their resonance with the Oklahoma sky and weather, thus pink, blue and white, predictably, the self-described alpha male community was not pleased. While the gender reveal jokes are admittedly funny,…
Relationships First
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…
Candidates Talk Tax Policy
With the August primary runoffs on the horizon, one high-priority issue for Oklahoma voters is tax relief. Here is a summary of the plans leading Republican candidates for governor have, if they win. Both Gentner Drummond and Mike Mazzei say they want to lower taxes. The pair support eliminating state income taxes in phases and…
“It’s Defunding Schools”
Oklahoma voters will decide Aug. 25 whether to allow the state to opt out of paying for one of its longest-running economic development programs — and school leaders in some of the state’s fastest-growing local economies say the change could end up reducing funding for schools statewide. State Question 844 would amend the Oklahoma Constitution…
Mazzei Math
My first real encounter with Mike Mazzei was when a friend sent me a white paper he had authored in late 2022 about economic incentives being offered in the Filmed in Oklahoma Rebate Program and how they ultimately benefited the Oklahoma economy. It was flawed and misleading, claiming the state’s $30 million annual rebate to…
The Dogs of Summer
Along with burgers, homemade ice cream and watermelon, hot dogs are emblematic of summer cookouts. Misunderstandings about the beloved wieners continue, including disparaging remarks from previous generations about the body parts for sourcing, but the truth is most hot dogs and sausage dogs in restaurants are sourced from premium cuts. While they may not be…
Built for Conversation
Every new cocktail lounge promises handcrafted drinks, elevated food and an exceptional atmosphere. Alchemy Cocktail Lounge in downtown Edmond delivers all three. But after sitting down with owners Mical George and Liz Warren inside the restored Weathers Appliance building at Main and Broadway, it became clear that cocktails aren’t really what they’re selling: They’re selling…
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…
Screen Time with Laron
Tonight is date night. Wine and warm bread occupy the dinner table. Good vibes flow freely, but come to a screeching halt as a sinking revelation sets in: It is your turn to pick the evening’s entertainment. As the appetizers arrive, your indecision grabs hold of you. The clock is ticking, the dessert menu is…
Ledger Art’s Living Legacy
A gem in the heart of the booming Horizons District, Exhibit C Gallery is serving up museum-quality exhibitions and a fresh rotation of contemporary First Americans artwork in a spacious, well-lit gallery space situated between the OKANA Resort and the First Americans Museum. Operated by the Chickasaw Nation, having outgrown its former location in Bricktown,…
SHINE on Oklahoma Music
The first country artist to ever have two albums to go platinum on the same day was Oklahoma City’s own Bryan White. After graduating from Putnam City West, White was signed to Asylum Records in 1994 at age 20, charting the first two of ultimately 21 songs he would place on the Billboard Country charts.…
OG Picks – August
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2026 Thunder Offseason: The Tough Choices Begin
MVP-level player? Check. Good defense? Check. Strong offense? Check. This is a complete team that can contend at the highest level, including for a championship. But coming off a Western Conference Finals loss to the Spurs and facing a rising payroll, 2026 is the first offseason of tough choices for this iteration of the Thunder.…
Horoscopes – August
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