Oklahoma City’s John A. Brown department store, renowned for its customer service and the benevolence of founder John A. “Bert” Brown, opened in 1915 under the name Rorabaugh-Brown Company. But its growth and popularity was offset by challenges –…
The original Classen Inn at 820 N Classen Blvd. opened in 1962. Whatever glory days it might have had are lost to history, as evidenced by the only web search result: news of a prostitution and drug sting in…
2020 is in the past. 2021 is here. No matter the current state of things, I think we can all agree that toasting to a new year is wholeheartedly needed. While you may be tempted to just pop…
For Sara Cowan, art and the creative process are about more than just creating something beautiful. While that is true of the result, her passion for creating art and helping others experience it makes the material all the more…
Willis Washington grew up in Oklahoma City’s North Highland neighborhood, just a short distance from a privately owned center called the Santa Fe Fitness & Racquet Club. Washington said he recalls the place, but never thought much about it…
Speaking of the Conklin Crescent fountain pen, Mark Twain said in an endorsement: “I prefer it because it is a profanity saver; it cannot roll off the desk.” The famously irascible Twain – who else could think of saving…
Thomas Upshaw’s job is to pair cocktails with the extraordinary food at Grey Sweater. For a bartender, this is either the greatest or scariest (or both) job ever. Chef Andrew Black’s tasting menu concept in Deep Deuce continues to…
Pete Holloway has been in the restaurant business for 44 years. In 2020, the original Cafe 501 in Edmond turned 25. The Classen Curve location turned 10. “I’ve been up for parole twice, and they said, ‘No,’” Holloway says with…
It’s January, a time to re-examine those promises we make every year to try to eat better. Rather than attempting to figure out what the newest “superfood” is – a marketing, not nutrition, term – we decided to ask…
While working on a master’s degree in 1974, Bob Blackburn made an minor, yet significant, decision to peruse the research collections at the Oklahoma Historical Society for an article he was writing. Blackburn, now the agency’s director, recalls…
It’s January. First of all, Happy New Year and, if I may say so, good riddance to 2020! We’ve been hunkered down for 10 months now, and although vaccines are being distributed and given, we’re still experiencing challenges brought…
So long, 2020. Let’s greet the new year with a fresh look. Heavy, dramatic makeup holds little appeal these days, and neither does a bare face. What’s enticing is a softer approach that focuses on dewy, luminous cheeks that…
