Booking it to Moore
So the 175 residents of Buckner Westminster Place in Longview, Texas, did something about it. On July 1, two administrators from the facility donated nearly 2,000 books and $800 to help restore the two schools. “The [retirees] were very interested to do something,” said Wes Wells, director of Buckner Westminster Place, who personally delivered the…
Blood Runs Cold
In this Swedish take on the all-American slasher film, Winona (newcomer Hanna Oldenburg) seeks refuge from stress at a vacation home, only to find more of it. Part of that is because she runs into her ex-boyfriend, Rick (Patrick Saxe, also making a feature debut), amid all the wintry conditions, but most of it is…
It’s another summer TV-on-DVD roundup!
Above Suspicion: Set 2 Based on the fourth novel in Lynda La Plante’s series, the penultimate story arc in this terrific UK series follows Detective Inspector Anna Travis (Kelly Reilly, aka Mrs. Watson of the Sherlock Holmes franchise) as she investigates the fatal shooting of a former police officer. However, because she’s working with a…
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 number…
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 number…
Birthday bash
Red, White & Boom!8:30 p.m. WednesdayOklahoma State Fair Park Entertainment Plaza3001 General Pershing Blvd.okcphilharmonic.org842-5387free<span style=" Arial” ,”sans-serif””=””> Led by conductor Joel Levine, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic will perform eight American anthems to honor Oklahoma’s heroes with special guest and Broadway veteran Kristy Cates. The concert concludes with a fireworks show. Visitors are encouraged to bring…
A giant step toward equality
The excitement of that day culminated in an incredible celebration of justice at the Cimarron Alliance Equality Center. Nearly 500 people gathered to laugh, cry, hug one another and lift up the day as a defining moment in American history. The ruling of the court, we all realized, moved the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender…
Playing politics with prison
And now, only weeks after session adjourned, the governor has forced out our director, Justin Jones, who served the state and the DOC for 36 years. The reason: He resisted efforts to privatize the state’s prison system. Private prison corporations have deep pockets, and the governor and Republican leadership are only so willing to take…
’Merica the beautiful
Credit: Brad Gregg According to data collected from Foursquare, our love affair with explosives — namely fireworks — as well as our outstanding park and parade attendance on the Fourth of July makes Oklahoma City the second most patriotic city in the nation, just behind Knoxville, Tenn. The list was compiled based on spikes…
Hurting morale
Credit: Brad Gregg The reason, you ask? (Play along here.) Inhofe was one of the “Gang of 17” senators who voted against a bill by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to remove sexual assault cases from the military chain of command. As a Tulsa World blog recently noted, the advocacy organization is targeting federal lawmakers who…
’Crack down
Credit: Brad Gregg But leave it to the Oklahoma Academy of Ophthalmology to put a stop to all our fun. Since July is Fireworks Eye Safety Awareness Month (did you get our card?), the OAO would like to remind us that — get this — fireworks are dangerous. Who knew? Well, probably all the kids…
Ban on the run?
Supporters of same-sex marriage rallied at the Cimarron Alliance the day of the Supreme Court announcement. Hours after the high court announced it had struck down DOMA and rejected California’s Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage, Gov. Mary Fallin issued a public statement reconfirming her opposition to “expanding the definition of marriage.” By contrast, state…
Lettuce dine
Able Blakley, Jamie Conway, Lindsey Riddle BY: Shannon Cornman In the heart of cattle country, the quest to have an entire meal sans meat can seem a little daunting Some restaurants only offer basic salads to accommodate vegetarians, and nobody wants to pay for an entire meal and only get a bowl of iceberg lettuce…
Say it ain’t so, Joe
Credit: Brad Gregg In a June 20 Time story about veterans and public service, Klein mused while mentioning cleanup after the Moore tornado that it’s “funny how you don’t see organized groups of secular humanists giving out hot meals,” insinuating that only the religious kind organize to help out their fellow man. But you faithful…
Beverly fills
Chicken in the Rough BY: Mark Hancock When I moved back to Oklahoma City after a decade-long absence, I was bummed to see that Beverly’s Pancake House, across from Penn Square Mall, was gone. I felt a longing in my heart that only the words of ’80s hair-metal band Cinderella could describe accurately: “You don’t…
Sunday fun day
The most burning question that visitors to the Plaza District had before April was, “What about brunch?” according to Cayla Lewis, district communications coordinator. After a meeting of the district’s organizers and stakeholders, an answer emerged: Plaza Sunday. Launched in the spring, the event takes place the first Sunday of each month to give families…
Juggin’ out
The Great American Jug Band Photo: John Thomas For calling itself The Great American Jug Band, the Norman-grown group is conspicuously light on the jug part. “We own a jug,” front man Will Gardner said. “We just don’t have anyone to blow into it.” But really, the jug always was meant to be more than…
‘Ring’ of ire
Occasionally, Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park gives the Bard some time off and stages work of other playwrights, ranging from classical to more modern plays. The results can be mixed, but it gives the company a chance to stretch artistically, and is a nice break for the rest of us. Thus, OSP presents Ring Round…
PR BS
Lots of press releases cross our desk. Recently, these titles least screamed, “Stop the presses!” —“Millennial Research Corporation Begins Shipping Generator Systems” —“AARON CARTER CONTIN- UES TO BRING THE “PARTY” WHILE ON TOUR” —“Supermarket Superstar, With Host Stacy Keibler, To Debut July 22 on Lifetime” —“Patriotic & Pretty Independence Day Nail Design Tips from Nail…
One at a time
Pete White Credit: Mark Hancock Council members were scheduled this week to decide whether to accept a subcommittee’s recommendation to begin negotiations with one potential wellness center operating partner instead of two, as city staff had originally suggested. In a 4-3 vote, the health and wellness subcommittee opted June 26 to recommend negotiations with the…
Party time
The thing about planning a party is that “relaxing” is probably the last word one would use to describe it. The actual planning period can be a fast-paced process, and it’s hard to fully prepare — especially if it’s your first event. But what if you could find a way to enjoy and remain stress-free…
Good Morning Grizzly — The Dirty EP
The band’s influences range from baroque post-rock, à la Explosions in the Sky, to more alternative metal sounds like A Perfect Circle or Chevelle, even approaching emo/screamo territory when guitarist/vocalist Tyler Slemp unleashes his fervent howl. For some — particularly those offended by Muse-meets-Dashboard-style inflection — Slemp’s voice might be a deal-breaker. Thankfully, he proves…
OKG7 lovers of local
The Red Cup3122 N. Classen Blvd.redcupokc.com525-3430 This earthy, hippie dive frequently features chef specials. Red Cup’s apricot squares will change your life. Every Thursday, enjoy a completely vegan three- to four-course dinner. The Earth Cafe & Deli746 Asp, Norman573-5933 From garlic naan and palak paneer to black bean burgers on German rye bread with a…
‘Vital’ signs
Eleven years in, and few alternative bands can claim the sort of consistent success and stability that Anberlin has. With six successful studio albums and tours with 30 Seconds to Mars and Taking Back Sunday under its belt, the group has enjoyed a smooth ride. “A lot of bands can’t keep together a year, let…
Looking for love in OkC
Credit: Brad Gregg According to a study by finance blog Money Under 30, Oklahoma City is one of the 10 best places in the world (OK, America) for all you young, poor, hopeless romantic types. Their reasoning? Well, our economy seems to be doing pretty well, with a low cost of living at that. Oh,…
Rock the Brick
Ali Harter Photo: Mark Hancock Friday nights this summer, the streets of Bricktown are louder — but in a good way, as the outdoor summer concert series known as Lower Bricktown Live returns to rock the public and, hopefully, drive more commerce to the area. That’s been the plan since the series’ inception in 2010.…
Getting testy
Sen. David Holt Credit: Mark Hancock Signed by Gov. Mary Fallin in May 2012, the new law makes anyone caught with drugs in his or her system ineligible for payments from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program for six to 12 months. It also expanded a statefunded drug screening process. From November 2012…
Plane gain
credit: Jamey Jacob To label them as merely weather drones is almost insulting. “The term ‘drone’ has specific connotations,” said Jamey Jacob, professor at OSU’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. “There is a lot of potential for developing unmanned aircraft that could have positive effects on a lot of industries.” Still, in the wake…
Lost, then Founders
The chef closed Divine Swine — a celebrated culinary endeavor in Nichols Hills that centered around bacon — and headed out for the bright lights of reality television. He moved to Seattle to be a contestant on the 10th season of Bravo’s popular Top Chef. Afterward, the Del City native went to Dallas to work…
Can you hear me now?
Lopez, director of the Norman-based company, said that his love of TV helped inspire the idea for Audivero. “I’m very much a TV-oriented person,” Lopez said. “I thought it would be cool if there was some kind of app that allowed you to stream TV to your phone.” The app lets users hear what they…
Enter the Dragon: 40th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition
With this, director Robert Clouse made what is easily Bruce Lee’s finest film (and then proceeded to follow it up with a never-ending string of schlock). While Lee is technically one point of a heroic triangle — with A Nightmare on Elm Street’s John Saxon and blaxploitation icon Jim Kelly being the others — let’s…
Sugar Free satellite
Singer-keyboardist Chris “Boom!” Wiser and drummer Rob “Dr. Rock” Martin will perform tunes from the duo’s three full-length releases: Dos Ninos, Funky Fresh and Sugar Free and last summer’s All on a Sunday Afternoon. “During our East Coast tour back in late April/early May of this year, we stopped by the SiriusXM Kids Place Live…
The Call
Halle Berry (Cloud Atlas) leads the show as Jordan Turner, a veteran 911 operator in Los Angeles. (If anything, she should dial 911 for help with her distracting hairdo.) In the prologue, she’s giving questionable advice to a girl who calls about a prowler, resulting in the teen’s death. Six months later, Jordan is still…
Crimewave
When I ran across Crimewave at the Buttons video store at N.W. 63rd and May Avenue in 1988, I had never heard of it. However, I rented it as soon as I spotted that it was co-written by Joel and Ethan Coen; at the time, they had just made this little comedy I absolutely adored,…
Smith Westerns — Soft Will
Traditionally, bands aren’t really supposed to hit rock ’n’ roll puberty until they approach their 30s. And you’re definitely not supposed to sound as primed and polished as Smith Westerns do on Soft Will — their third studio album — when you’re barely into your 20s. Admittedly, the act’s youth and the notion of trad-rock…
