SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 ionOK.com OKC Mayor David Holt Tom McDaniel, MAPS 3 Advisory Board Chairman Scissortail Park Grand Opening Sept 27-29 Kyle Dillingham skates Express Employment into the Grand Ole Opry Professionals Survey Orr Family Farm Lost and found in Cogar, OK OKC Boathouse Oklahoma State Fair Regatta Festival Sept 12-22 Li festyle … Culture … Entertainment publisher : Don Swift assistant : Joni Yeager editor : Tim Farley editiorial assistant : Darian Woolbright videographer : Jeremy Gossett director of photography : Michael Downes web site developer : Patrick Moore with Set Sail Media web site developer : Nina Jones, Data Design Inc. illustration : Rosemary Burke graphic design : Wendy Mills Advertising Sales Don Swift Photographers Jeremy Gossett Hugh Scott, Jr. Tracy Reece Jerry Hymer Advertising Consultants Peter Preksto Contributors fashion : Linda Miller art : Joy Reed Belt people : Peggy Gandy social issues : Robbie Robertson community : Lauren Wright contributing writer : Sandi Davis contributing writer : Greg Horton contributing writer : M.A. Smith contributing writer : M. J. Van Deventer contributing writer : Julie York contributing writer : Dorian Quillen contributing writer : Kristen Marckmann MIDLAND SCOTTY McCREERY 1199 IIONON OOKLAHOMAKLAHOMA MMAGAG CCOLOOLLOOORR 88X10X10 5 BBLEEDLEED iinddndd 1 77/29/19/29//199 11:43 AM 12 Contents COVER STORY 12 Scissortail Park Grand Opening, Sept 27-29 by Tim Farley ART 63 Colors of Clay Show opens at National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum by M.J. Van Deventer 78 Traditional Cowboy Arts Exhibition & Sale by M.J. Van Deventer FASHION 32 26 Falling for Fashion: New looks for a new season by Linda Miller PEOPLE 30 Above and Beyond: Tribes’ investment in Oklahoma goes beyond casinos by Linda Miller 32 Kyle Dillingham: Oklahoma’s Musical Ambassador Gives Electrifying Grand Ole Opry Debut Performance 66 by Tamara Hermen 50 Kara Byrd: Bringing Durant’s Strategic Vision to Life by Garland McWatters 54 Colin Forsey rocks El Reno by Bill O’Brien 68 Hall of Fame Presenters 2019 88 Sister Cities International (SCI) appoints Mary Blankenship Pointer to the Board of Directors 8 ion Oklahoma SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 80 TRAVEL 26 Exploring the evolution of air and spaceflight by Linda Miller 80 Lost and Found in Cogar, Oklahoma by Jesse Edgar BUSINESS 66 Bedré Fine Chocolate’s new Dark Chocolate Premium Sauce can be used in cocktails, milkshakes and desserts. 26 42 74 Express Employment Professionals comparing white, blue and grey collar workers EVENTS, ENTERTAINMENT 18 It’s Oklahoma State Fair time! Fun and unique foods at the fair 42 Orr Family Farm festival brings unique experiences in 2019 by Kristen Marckmann 40 September in the Myriad Gardensl 58 15th annual Regatta Festival coming to OKC October 4-6 by Kristen Marckmann 70 Tulsa Greek Festival packed with food, cultural experiences and dancing by Kristen Marckmann 86 Indian Festival in Yukon shows off language and culture 54 by Bill O’Brien SPORTS 56 OKC Thunder 2019-2020 Schedule IN EVERY ISSUE 10 Publisher’s Note SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 ion Oklahoma 9 PUBLISHER’S NOTE Dear readers, I am very excited that our “First Class” team of professional editors, writers and other contributors to ion Oklahoma Online Magazine have committed their time and expertise toward making this digital online upscale publication a huge success. We are offering both online FREE digital issues that can be downloaded to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Also, printed editions are available as a print on demand service and mailed directly to your home or office from our hosting publishers website “Magcloud.” Today the State of Oklahoma has been experiencing a certain noticeable growth among young people under the age of 30. In 2019, the NextGen Under 30 Award Recognition Program is celebrating a record response in its ninth year. NextGen TALKS Oklahoma has been created in 2019 and our inaugural event is scheduled on October 4, 2019 at Oklahoma City Community College VPAC Auditorium. Please visit www.nextgentalksok.com for more details. There will be three New community leaders and 10 New and NEXTGEN community leaders sharing their stories at this live event. At ion Oklahoma Magazine we plan to publish many of the quality lifestyle stories from Oklahomans who are best representing the “Oklahoma Spirit.” We want to hear from you, our readers, and your stories, so please email oklahoma your ideas, thoughts and success stories. 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COVER STORY Oklahoma City’s “Crown Jewel” Scissortail Park Grand Opening kicks off September 27-29 BY TIM FARLEY klahoma City’s Scissortail Park will become the “capstone” or the “crown jewel” of all Oklahoma City O MAPS 3 projects when it’s unveiled to the public. officials anticipate That’s the opinion of two community leaders – Mayor David Holt and a crowd close to MAPS 3 Advisory Board chairman Tom McDaniel. 15,000 people at “This will affect our community for the next 100 years,” said McDaniel, who has led the advisory board since its inception. “This is an opportunity the Scissortail Park that occurs in cities to have a central location for a park, across the street three-day opening from a major convention center and in the middle of downtown. It will be which begins an iconic 70-acre park.” Part of the excitement about Scissortail Park is that three sides to the September 27 attraction will be available for economic development including residential housing and commercial construction. 12 ion Oklahoma SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 Aerial view of Scissortail Park construction “I’m sure there will be mixed uses,” McDaniel said, “for area can be rented for parties and other events. A such things as restaurants, condominiums, apartments, a promenade, dog park, event pavilion, activity areas and an new hotel and other businesses. This park and what it will indoor-outdoor café are part of this grand project. bring to the area pushes Oklahoma City to a higher level. The café will be managed by The Social Order Dining Yes, we have the Myriad Gardens and it’s a wonderful Collective, which operates a number of successful attraction but this park is bigger and provides us with a restaurants in the area. The café is scheduled to open in new amenity we’ve never had.” the spring of 2020. Oklahoma City officials anticipate a crowd close to Holt, in his capacity as Oklahoma City’s mayor, said the 15,000 people at the Scissortail Park three-day opening park in general will be “world class.” which begins Sept. 27. Citizens will see the many features “It will be a very special place in our city as it joins of the 36-acre Upper Park, which include a stage and everyone from southeast Oklahoma City, southwest Great Lawn. The covered main stage overlooks a six-acre Oklahoma City, northeast and northwest Oklahoma City,” oval lawn with seating for more than 15,000 people. In he said. addition, residents will be have access to a playground Holt was quick to point out the grand opening will with a net lens, geometric dome climbers, children’s gar- celebrate only the first phase of the park. The second dens and a large fort with a tower and slides with plenty of phase, or the 34-acre Lower Park, will open at a later time. shade and public restrooms. The playground is next to That portion of the park will extend to the Oklahoma River. interactive fountains for children to enjoy on a hot day. “We’ve never had an urban park this size,” he said. Other park features on the 70 acres will include a “This will draw everyone together. It fills a need for us as a boathouse, which incorporates a concession stand, public great American city.” restrooms and a shaded patio. Guests can rent pedal Designed by one of the foremost landscape architecture boats, including one that’s ADA-accessible. This same planning firms in the world, Hargreaves Associates, the SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 ionOklahoma 13 Above, winding benches on the park patio. Ceiling of the stage, left, seen also in the background of the terrace. Below, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic will perform on the third day of the opening celebration. park is also a horticultural tapestry of native prairie grasses, lush flower gardens and tree-lined walkways. With all of the hype and promotion, citizens and city officials are excited. Putting their stamp on the grand opening will be the Kings of Leon. Kings of Leon is an American rock band that formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill with their cousin Matthew Followill. The band’s early music was a blend of Southern rock and blues influences, but it has gradually evolved throughout the years to include a variety of genres and a welcome everyone out to the Grand Opening celebration of more alternative, arena rock sound. Scissortail Park when the OKCPHIL will perform a family- To cap three days of celebration, OKCPHIL will perform a friendly night of wonderful music in the open air,” said variety of classic pieces for everyone to enjoy on the Love’s Susan Webb, director of marketing and public relations for Travel Stops Stage on Sunday, September 29 beginning at 7 OKCPHIL. “We have an exciting program planned with p.m. Many of the works to be performed during this free several favorites including Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the concert will be nature-themed including Lark Ascending by Common Man and Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain .