Community demands governor action over boy’s death
The teenager, born with Chromosome 9 Ring disease, was unable to care for himself and required help with tasks as easy as lifting a fork to his mouth. He died Jan. 4, 2013, at Children’s Hospital from pneumonia complications, according to the state medical examiner. But the youngster’s sister, Valerie Wood-Harber, contends he died from…
The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box
The Midas Box of the title is an ancient object that turns anything it houses into gold. Hidden for centuries, it can be found only via the one map in existence that reveals its location. Naturally, a very bad man named Otto Luger (Sam Neill, Jurassic Park) has found the map, so it’s only a…
Cat People
Director Paul Schrader (The Canyons) bravely forged a new path in updating the 1942 RKO classic — evident from frame one with a gorgeous prologue, unfolding slowly with a dreamlike quality. Purposely abstract and erotic, it’s the kind of sequence the legendary Val Lewton never would have considered four decades earlier, even if the squeaky-clean…
The Big Gundown
In fact, The Big Gundown has been floated in some circles as the genre’s best not coming from the genius of Sergio Leone, and Grindhouse Releasing’s superb, four-disc set is like a dare for you to argue otherwise. Clearly, as much love has gone into this package as it went into production of the movie…
August: Osage County
“Don’t get all Carson McCullers on us,” Julia Roberts’ character warns a relative, referring to the 20th-century author who specialized in stories of Southern tragicomedy. The film takes its own advice — its first and greatest misstep. With Tulsa-born Tracy Letts adapting his 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winning play for the screen, August: Osage County should wear…
Garden variety
The program started in 1978 at the Oklahoma County Extension office. Twenty-five years later, the purpose remains to disseminate horticultural information to the public. Now, even more folks can learn more about area trees, shrubs, irrigation, annuals and perennials thanks to expanded outreach. “We have several events scheduled throughout the year 2014 that will provide…
Getting high(er)
A 2 percent raise was approved for Couch and most other city workers during the Dec. 31 council meeting. All new salaries took effect Jan. 1. Couch, Municipal Counselor Ken Jordan and City Auditor Jim Williamson were considered for raises separate from other city employees because they are hired directly by the council. As the…
Her
To a degree, Jonze (Where the Wild Things Are) presents a vintage man vs. machine conflict, primarily in Theodore’s desire for connection, which is paired with and pitted against Samantha’s ability to emote and grow internally. What distinguishes their circumstance, however, is that it exists within the fragile confines of a relationship. Jonze illustrates this…
Scratch that
It is these chefs and aspiring restaurateurs that came up in many a successful chain, and it is in these concepts that most of them acquired the skills and ambition to open a place of their own. These young, eager, talented individuals have taken what they have learned and branched out with new flavors and…
The Tao of Conrad
<span style=" Arial” ,”sans-serif””=””> The concert will open with the “Rounds for String Orchestra” by American composer David Diamond, an optimistic piece that reflects the American spirit of the mid-century, followed by Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4, a sunny piece inspired by a trip to Italy that the German composer took in 1831. Tao also…
Happenings the week of Jan. 7, 2014
FOOD Hank Shaw Dinner, five course dinner highlighting recipes in his new book Duck, Duck Goose, 6-8 p.m., Jan. 8. Ludivine, 805 N. Hudson, 778-6800, ludivineokc.com. WED Brew Workshop, learn the importance using tools like scales and timers to produce the perfect cup of coffee, 6:30-8 p.m., Jan. 9. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno,…
Should a former sundown town apologize?
The Thirteenth Amendment made slavery illegal, and the Civil Rights Act ended legal segregation. But these laws did not come with acknowledgments that the country erred in allowing those practices and hurting its own people. The city of Edmond prohibited African-Americans by ordinance from the city limits for generations. Royce Adamson’s 1940 postcard for his…
Cheaters!
Ashley Madison, a dating site for people who want to have affairs — yes, it does exist — was interested in the cities most of its cheaters call home. According to The Huffington Post, we only lost to Washington, DC; Houston; Miami; Pittsburgh; and Los Angeles. And even though Santa has already delivered all your…
LIFE
An award-winning poet and professor at East Central University, Dr. Ken Hada, will present his works at the Performing Arts Studio’s Second Sunday Poetry Reading. The Ada-based Hada directs the annual Scissortail Creative Writing Festival, and his poems have been featured in numerous media outlets, including the poetry blog All Roads Will Lead You Home.…
The truth is … cold
Would-be robber Corneilyus Howeth felt the wrath of his victims when he unsuccessfully tried to rob them at an Oklahoma City hair salon, Head Honchos, on Christmas Eve and was left out in the cold … naked. Howeth got into the car of an unnamed woman waiting outside the salon and pulled a gun on…
Baby, it’s cold inside
On Dec. 9, News9 reported that the heating system at the jail is out of date and, therefore, unable to adequately heat the entire building. While parts of the building are kept warm, others stay a little on the chilly side. The sheriff’s department told News9 that hot air travels nine blocks from the east…
Another convention center?
Shadid claims city and Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce officials were not honest with voters before the 2009 MAPS 3 election, particularly with the convention center project and a related convention center hotel. The convention center could cost taxpayers an estimated $250 million, but the hotel would not receive MAPS 3 funding. Voters approved…
OKG7 Tasty meals under $10
Jeff’s Country Cafe 3401 N. Classen Blvd. 524-2023 One of the best things about being an adult is eating whatever you want, whenever you want. Here is an old-school diner with old-school prices — and old-school, heart-clogging, hair-on-your-chest breakfast selections served all day. It’s impossible to beat the 10-oz. rib-eye steak with two eggs and…
Lone Survivor
Based on a 2007 memoir by former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, Lone Survivor details the ill-fated Operation Red Wings. In that 2005 mission, Luttrell and three of his fellow SEALs were dispatched to assassinate a Taliban leader, Ahmad Shah, near Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush Mountains. After getting close to their target, the team was ambushed by…
LETTERS
“I know that this will be deleted as soon as it is read, but, speaking as one of the millions ignored by overpriced insurance, I feel I must inform you that I now have insurance for the first time in over a decade. While it is true that the roll-out has been rocky, to say…
Faux-smoke free city
This isn’t her first time to ban a product on state property. Two years ago, Fallin signed a similar order that prohibits the use of real tobacco products. C’mon Mary, surely you have something better to do such as promoting economic development, showing support for the American Indian Cultural Center or helping write constitutionally sound…
LIFE
You may have noticed a recent influx of ducks and geese in American restaurants, but you don’t have to go to a fancy establishment to enjoy this uniquely flavorful cuisine. Award-winning chef and food writer David Shaw tells you everything there is to know about preparing waterfowl in his new book, Duck, Duck, Goose: Recipes…
Bridging the gap
He said to David Gregory on NBC’s Meet the Press, “I probably shouldn’t say this, but I seem to have gotten more — well at least as many, maybe more — communications from some of my Democrat friends. … And I’m a pretty partisan Republican.” Even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) set aside their…
Hot, stomping country footwear
Cleverly dubbed Miranda by Miranda Lambert, the boot-stompin’ country music star and Tishomingo resident’s footwear is available in select DSW stores and online at dsw.com, as well as select Shoe Dept. stores and shoedept.com. We’re looking at the shoes online right now, and let us tell you, these things are sass-y (So Miranda, right?). Apparently,…
NEWS OF THE WEIRD
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-outline-level:1″><span style=" Times New Roman”,”serif”;mso-fareast-Times New Roman”; mso-font-kerning:18.0pt;mso-fareast-language:ES-BO”> Unclear on the concept Police finally arrested William Footman, 55, in October as the person who somehow managed to swipe inside-front-door mats from at least 37 New York City banks between March and May 2013. No money was ever taken, and some banks were…
Song and dance
Chicago, winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, is an institution created by the who’s who of theater legends. Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse wrote its book, while the music was created by John Kander, the lyrics by Ebb and the choreography by Fosse. For its revival, the choreography was done by Ann…
Honeylark — Heavy
The Americana outfit, led by Natalie Moore Houck and Ryan Houck, captures that unique Oklahoma Red Dirt sound, but in this case, the red is ominously stained crimson and the dirt is ready to be thrown on top of a coffin. This is the soundtrack of Okie-noir pulps and backwoods eulogies, left-for-dead lovers and dying…
Elegant education
Photo: Shannon Cornman With the ultra-sophisticated District 21 restaurant, supported by nine state-of-the-art, on-site teaching kitchens, this school is on the sharpest edge of culinary arts in Oklahoma. Each teaching kitchen offers individual student workstations (about 16 students and one instructor per kitchen). This is sheer heaven for any culinary arts student. The teaching kitchens…
Got that swing
After making a name for himself in the Oklahoma music scene as a solo act, Kyle Reid returns to the stage with a toe-tappin’, finger-snappin’ brass band. They have crowned themselves the Low Swingin’ Chariots, and it has become a project that Reid can’t believe took him so long to get to. “I saw a…
Yes to de-stress
When she began the business in 2011, owner, creator and chief candle maker Hodgkinson set the warm wax into glass jars but has since moved to ceramics. “I wanted these to be more than just candles,” she said. “I wanted them to be art.” Art they are. Each is hand-poured into a ceramic jar that…
Dreaming big
Guitarist Tony Smith and drummer Justin Wilson — founding members of alt-rock outfit Sleeper Agent — found that they lacked a spark after a couple of lackluster gigs around their hometown of Bowling Green, Ky. But upon discovering dynamo frontwoman Alex Kandel at an open mic night singing Adele covers, Sleeper Agent soon became the…
Let’s talk turkey
Whatever the reason, some turkey burgers in OKC rival their bovine peers when it comes to flavor and variety. Aside from an occasional sub sandwich, many people associate the oversized feathered flapper with holidays. Let’s not do that right now. There are several OKC restaurants that serve turkey burgers. I found The Garage, with multiple…
Fowled up
Chickens are allowed in city limits on one-acre lots or larger, but supporters argued all residents should have the freedom to raise chickens that produce fresh eggs. However, the measure failed 7-2 with Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid and Ward 4 Councilman Pete White voting in favor of the proposal. The remaining six council members…
Straying from the norm
Photo: Doug Seymour Don’t bother asking The Stray Birds how they came up with their beautifully evocative name. Even they’ve forgotten by now. “We were trying to name the project and felt like we should be some kind of bird. Obviously, The Byrds is out,” said Oliver Craven, the band’s jack-of-alltrades. “We travel around a…
Special meeting set Wednesday
The meeting will be in the executive conference room on the third of City Hall, 200 N. Walker Ave. Ward 4 Councilman Pete White suggested the ward idea because of the large number of people each councilman represents. All eight councilmen have more than 70,000 residents in each ward. White believes that increasing the wards…
Another hotel and convention center?
Shadid claims city and Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce officials were not honest with voters before the 2009 MAPS 3 election, particularly with the convention center project and a related convention center hotel. The convention center could cost taxpayers an estimated $250 million, but the hotel would not receive MAPS 3 funding. Voters approved…
