Cover Story
Black state
Before statehood, Oklahoma was seen nationally as a promised land for black people. Edward McCabe, who founded the town of Langston and its university, hoped to make Oklahoma an all-black state, and though that never came to be, it drew many black people to migrate here in pursuit of freedom. Because of that, more all-black…
Policy party
This year’s Fat Tuesday is going to be a little different, with a free patient drive and celebration scheduled outside the Capitol. Former state Sen. Connie Johnson, D-Oklahoma City, is spearheading the event, which will also continue through the week and is operating under the #OMG2020 hashtag. Johnson represented District 48 from 2005 to 2014…
Absolute monarchy
Queen Caution’s Pisces Bash 8 p.m. Feb. 28 View 919 N. Virginia Ave. $10 | 18+ The first half of Queen Caution’s name comes from her mother. “When I was younger, I had a lot of self-esteem issues because I went to a dominantly white school, and I’m black and white,” Caution said. “So it…
Motorcycle diaries
The first time he saw a motorcycle, Tommy Bolton knew what he wanted to be when he grew up. “When I was about 6 years old, I started seeing them going up and down the street, and it was like, ‘This is what I want to do,’” Bolton said. “By the time I moved to…
Soul provider
The soul at the heart of Oklasoul Cafe doesn’t mean soul food. It’s the passion its owner puts into creativity for its ever-changing menu. After seven years in the Navy working as a welder and doing metal fabrication, Zarious Hughes was looking for direction. A Chicago native, Hughes met his wife Raysheeda while stationed in…
Rats revisited
Dweezil Zappa: Hot Rats Live + Other Hot Stuff 1969 8 p.m. Feb. 28 Tower Theatre 425 NW 23rd St. towertheatreokc.com 405-708-6937 Free It would be hard to prove, but Dweezil Zappa said there’s a “distinct possibility” he first heard Hot Rats in utero. But the liner notes of his father Frank Zappa’s album —…
Chicken-Fried News: The Gambler
On the third of February In his State of the State speech Our business-savvy governor Made a request quite inspired Let’s get money from state reserves To fund public education Instead of from casinos To prove their compacts expired He said, “One percent of the common education funding came from the state’s exclusivity fees on…
BBQ showcase
George’s Happy Hog Bar-B-Q 712 Culbertson Drive 405-525-8111 Cornish Smokehouse 801 SW 119th St. cornishsmokehouse.com 405-703-1300 What works: Sides at George’s live up to superlative menu descriptions, and jerk sauce at Cornish Smokehouse has heat that grows. What needs work: The spicy barbecue sauce at George’s is too acidic while the menu at Cornish can…
OKG Lifestyle: Cheyenne Riggs
OKG Picks EAT Breakfast Tacos at Taqueria Los Comales WATCH Tuca & Bertie LISTEN Criminal podcast READ Trust Exercise by Susan Choi LOVE Margaret Atwood’s Twitter account EXPERIENCE Listening to Shane Smith & the Saints’ song “Oklahoma City” while driving at night Cheyenne Riggs’ Picks EAT Izabal Breakfast at Cafe Kacao Latin Cuisine WATCH Barry (HBO) LISTEN Consolers of…
Gazedibles: Chili celebration
Sunday is National Chili Day. In celebration, these seven restaurants range from traditional offerings to nontraditional like vegetarian and verde. By Jacob Threadgill with provided and Gazette / file photos Ron’s Hamburgers and Chili 4723 N. May Ave. ronsburgersandchili.com | 405-943-7667 The chili that launched a franchise from Tulsa that has expanded to 18 locations…
Chicken-Fried News: Not OK, boomer
Black students, faculty and staff at University of Oklahoma matter. We’re appalled they can’t get through one single semester without a racist incident, but here we are again. Of course it has to be during Black History Month that an overly sensitive, out-of-touch white OU professor compares the phrase “OK, boomer” to using the N-word,…
Survivors’ guilt
The Library Friday-March 14 Carpenter Square Theatre 800 W. Main St. carpentersquare.com 405-232-6500 $5-$25 The Library opens with a 16-year-old high school student being rolled into an emergency room. “Riddled with fragments,” says the nurse. “Multiples shotgun blasts to chest and abdomen,” the surgeon replies. The play, which runs Friday-March 14 at Carpenter Square Theatre,…
Daiquiri Vibes
A strong bond between longtime friends brings a jubilant taste of the South with colorful wine-based daiquiris to Oklahoma at Good Times & Great Vibes. Opening in January 2019, Good Times & Great Vibes, 232 S. Air Depot Blvd., Suite D, in Midwest City is the vision of friends LaBrika Chaffer and Ryan Rutledge. The…
Flower Review: Jungle Cake
Strain name: Jungle Cake Grown by: No Time Acquired from: The High Road Date acquired: Feb. 10 THC/CBD percentages: 24.6 percent/.08 percent (per F.A.S.T. Laboratories) Physical traits: mid-tone green with few stigmas and frosted throughout with trichomes Bouquet: sweet and slightly gassy Review: No Time was another one of those growers that recently landed…
Night of movement
A Night with Ralph Ellison 6-9 p.m. Feb. 29 Oklahoma Historical Society 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive ralphellisonfoundation.org $85-$10,000 Michael Owens created Ralph Ellison Foundation in 2014 after finding out there was no organization dedicated to Oklahoma Native Ellison’s legacy. Now, the foundation is preparing for its seventh annual gala celebration and fundraiser. A Night with…
Tangled web
The petition drive for State Question 807 remains in limbo while the Oklahoma secretary of state has given the go-ahead for the gathering of signatures for State Question 808, but the author of that measure is both the challenger of SQ807 and also remains jailed in Tulsa County. Paul Tay is the central figure in…
