405 Magazine

11/15/2024

FRIDAY FEATURE:
✨ 2024’s BEST NEW RESTAURANTS ✨

The Chalkboard Kitchen + Bar 🍽️
1200 N. Walker Ave., OKC

For further proof that Midtown was the dominant dining neighborhood of 2024, pay a visit to the strikingly remodeled restaurant space on the ground floor of the Ambassador Hotel. Where once stood Café Cuvée, diners will now find The Chalkboard Kitchen + Bar, a new take on a Tulsa classic. Whereas the original outpost has been open since 1976, the OKC iteration feels decidedly fresh, and impressively original. Here, in a gorgeous dining room enrobed in royal blue, chef Gayland Toriello nods to the past, while using the “chalkboard” moniker as a blank canvas for creativity. It means beef Wellington bites with creamy peppercorn sauce, making a play for the most creative bar snack in the city. It means pan-seared scallops, perched alongside polenta cake and buttery bearnaise. It means Moroccan-spiced pork tenderloin, enriched with roasted fingerlings and date sauce. In a timeworn space, with timeworn roots, The Chalkboard feels like an instant classic.

The Goose Deli 🥖
1210 N. Hudson Avenue, OKC

Sandwiches and cocktails may not seem the most obvious combo, but at Midtown newcomer The Goose, they flock together in perfect harmony. An almost audaciously original concept, in the space once home to Elk Valley Brewing Co., the deli-meets-bar defies hipster tropes by both talking the talk and walking the walk. Here, the dishes and drinks are equally legit and refreshingly novel. Including a pitch-perfect muffaletta that would be right at home in the French Quarter, a meatball sub slathered in red pepper marinara, and an instant contender for the best corned beef in town. Not to be outshone, the bar offers a bevy of cocktails on tap, including the mezcal- and Aperol-based Talk To Me, and a riff on a Tequila Sunrise, comprising blanco tequila, creme de cassis, lime juice, and club soda.

📚 Read more here: https://www.405magazine.com/2024-best-new-restaurants-in-okc/

Written by: Matt Kiroauc
Photos by: Ligia Masterson (The Goose Deli)

11/14/2024

🀄️ Madam Mahjong 🀄️

OK Let’s Mahjong founder Sydney Rainey on her lessons and love of the game

One round of Mahjong, and Sydney Rainey was hooked. The strategy, luck, social interactions—Rainey wanted more. So she began teaching the game to everyone she knew, and soon discovered a knack for introducing others to the game. Six months later, a business was born.

Since February 2023, Rainey has been leading lessons through OK Let’s Mahjong. To keep up with demand, she’s added 10 instructors—mostly located in Oklahoma City, but also in Tulsa, Amarillo, Fort Worth and New York City. OK Let’s Mahjong is an ambassador for The Mahjong Line, so her team brings the most colorful and artistic tiles to the Mahjong table as well. We recently met with Rainey to discuss her young company and passion for the game.

Read more here: https://www.405magazine.com/in-convo-with-ok-lets-mahjong-founder-sydney-rainey/

Written by: Evie Holzer
Photos By: Charlie Neuenschwander
Products By: The Mahjong Line

11/12/2024

🍾 Pop the Cork on Cava 🍾
A scintillating, sparkling Spanish wine

Wine bars have been popping off in OKC lately, from the esoteric stylings of The Study to recent additions like Tiny Bubbles and Backyard Vineyards. The expanding landscape is great news for oenophiles, providing fresh fodder for wine-lovers looking to branch out beyond the basics. Case in point: Cava has entered the chat. A Spanish sparkling wine, it’s commanding an increased presence on wine lists alongside more familiar staples like Champagne and Prosecco, offering a fresh alternative for connoisseurs and curious imbibers alike.

“For me Spanish wines just exceed expectations,” raved Dave Osborn, co-owner of Symmetry restaurant and its newly opened sister spot, Two Doors Down Wine + Bistro. “In Spain, there are so many little wineries, and there are a lot of them, so they don’t gauge you. Cava is one of those wines where it’s just kind of exceptional, and it’s really fun to drink.”

Read more! ➡️ https://www.405magazine.com/sparkling-spanish-wine-in-okc/

By: Matt Kirouac
Photo by: Rachel Maucieri

11/11/2024

✨ Meet HER 2024 Rising Star: Srijita Ghosh ✨

Be authentic. Be bold. Don’t be afraid to take up space. These are Srijita Ghosh’s go-to statements when counseling entrepreneurs through her role as an i2E, Inc. venture advisor.

Read more of her story:

https://www.405magazine.com/her-2024-rising-star-srijita-ghosh/

Photographer: Shevaun Williams ()
Writers: Evie Klopp Holzer () & Julie Partin ()
Gowns/Stylist: Bella Rose (), Petra Simpson
Hair and Makeup: Marlo Haus’s (), Bekah (.goremakeup) & Haleigh ()
Accessories: BC Clark () & Feed Me Gems ()

11/11/2024

🪞The Fitzgerald Family’s Nichols Hills Home Renovation🪞

Family collections and connections make this Nichols Hills home renovation personal.

The antique wooden table in Blake and Merrick Fitzgerald’s dining room isn’t just beautiful; it’s meaningful. Once belonging to Merrick Fitzgerald’s great-grandmother and previously located in her grandmother’s home, the table has been the centerpiece of gatherings for generations.

“We’ve been around that table for a lot of important things,” Fitzgerald said. “I grew up with all of my holiday meals—everything—at this table.”

One memory stands out: A dinner hosted by her grandmother just after the Fitzgeralds were married in an intimate family service at Christ the King. With such significance, the table was at the forefront of design decisions when the Fitzgeralds recently remodeled the room and updated their 1940s Nichols Hills home.

Written by: Evie Klopp Holzer
Photos by: Brandon Smith

📚 Read more here: https://www.405magazine.com/fitzgerald-home/

11/10/2024

✨ Meet HER 2024 Humanitarian: Marnie Taylor✨,
President and CEO of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits

Taylor has guided the Center’s growth and success: When she first came to the organization nearly 20 years ago, it had 25 members. Today, that number is nearly 1,000. Her work with nonprofits has provided her a path to healing. It turns out her pinnacle job is also deeply personal, both a calling and a necessity.

Read more of her story: https://www.405magazine.com/her-2024-humanitarian-marnie-taylor/

Honoree: Marnie Taylor ()
Photographer: Shevaun Williams ()
Writers: Evie Klopp Holzer () & Julie Partin ()
Gowns/Stylist: Bella Rose (), Petra Simpson
Hair and Makeup: Marlo Haus’s (), Bekah (.goremakeup) & Haleigh ()
Accessories: BC Clark () & Feed Me Gems ()

11/08/2024

FRIDAY FEATURE: 🌟 2024'S BEST NEW RESTAURANTS 🌟

Perle Mesta 🍽️
1 Park Ave., OKC

Easily the biggest, splashiest and most anticipated opening of the year belongs to Perle Mesta, a restaurant that began with an announcement during a celebration for chef Andrew Black’s 2023 victory at the James Beard Awards — when he became the first chef in Oklahoma to ever take home an award from the “Oscars of Food.” Naturally, anticipation ran high for Black’s follow-up, an exploration of what he calls “possibility cuisine,” in the very location where he first came to OKC in 2007. The decadent restaurant, in the historic Skirvin Hotel and named for Perle Skirvin Mesta herself, achieved the difficult task of living up to herculean heights, especially in the wake of Black’s coronation on a national stage. But the chef has proven yet again that he’s a creative force on par with the finest in the nation. The menu, in a marble-clad dining room ensconced in murals and chandeliers, exhibits stunning originality on dishes as beautiful as they are savory.

Tiny Bubbles 🥂
12100 N. May Ave., OKC

What began as an eye-catching, cork-popping farmers’ market vendor during the height of the pandemic, when folks yearned for the kind of fun that Champagne can lend, has evolved into one of the most distinctive and transportive bars to emerge this year. Tiny Bubbles, a nod to the toe-tapping Don Ho ditty, got a little bigger this year, when husband-wife duo Jeremiah and Brandi Esterline introduced their Tiny Bubbles Wine Bar in The Shoppes at Northpark. Their version for the space was to create a neighborhood bar that was at once comfortable and familiar, as well as chic and singular. The space has the breezy look and feel of a Mediterranean nook, with soft hues of sea-blue and white juxtaposed by vibrant spritzes; on-tap Prosecco and esoteric orange wines; and bubbly from France, Italy, New Mexico and beyond. The food, too, raises the bar on bar food.

Written by: Matt Kirouac
Photo by: Shea Alan (Perle Mesta)

Read more here: https://www.405magazine.com/2024-best-new-restaurants-in-okc/

11/07/2024

✨Meet Mary Nhin HER 2024 Catalyst! ✨

Ninja Life Hacks fans refer to Mary Nhin as the “Ninja Lady,” but the author says she aligns more with another secret weapon: grit.

“It’s not just a word to me; it’s basically my life,” Nhin said. “It’s what I’ve been through—like all of the failures and mistakes we’ve been through to get to where we are.”

Through her 300 Ninja Life Hacks books, 99 emotion-exploring characters and various classroom resources, Nhin hopes to give kids the skills to grow and strengthen their mental toughness.

READ FULL STORY: https://www.405magazine.com/her-2024-catalyst-mary-nhin/

Photographer: Shevaun Williams & Associates, Commercial Photography, Inc.
Writers: Evie Klopp Holzer () & Julie Partin
Gowns/Stylist: Bella Rose Bridal Edmond, Petra Simpson
Hair and Makeup: MarloHaus Makeup and Hair Artists of Oklahoma, Bekah (.goremakeup) & Haleigh ()
Accessories: BC Clark Jewelers & Feed Me Gems

11/06/2024

🖼️ 1515 Lincoln Gallery 🖼️

Just blocks south of the Oklahoma State Capitol sits one of the most diverse art galleries in OKC. 1515 Lincoln Gallery is housed in a historic home built in 1920, and will celebrate its second anniversary next month.

Founder and curator Susan McCalmont has a long history in the art world, and recognized that the northeast side of Oklahoma City was lacking not only an art gallery, but a place where people immerse themselves in beauty and culture. “My concept is to have a place that feels like home,” McCalmont said. “People walk into this space and feel comfortable. If someone has never visited a gallery before, they may feel intimidated. Here, I want them to feel like they can sit down and have a cup of coffee, listen to some music and enjoy beautiful art from around the world.”

Written by: Lavinia Creswa

Read more about 1515 Lincoln Gallery here! ➡️📚 https://www.405magazine.com/1515-lincoln-gallery-historic-art-gallery-in-okc/

11/04/2024

✨👜 A Most Fashionable Fête 👜✨

Serving looks for holiday gatherings!

There is much to be said about the walk from the front door to the kitchen on that last Thursday in November—lined with family members and chosen family. How lucky they are to be seated in the front row for this holiday fashion show! Florals need not bloom only in spring and summer (seen in this festive Rhode set), while flats can be fashionable and functional as you help yourself to seconds gracefully. If, like me, your contribution to a festive feast comes in a glass bottle, local artist Sydnie Banks designs pieces to carry all other essentials. And last but certainly not least, the bling: Pick jewels that are a feast for the eye, like this ring from Valerie Naifeh (another OKC designer) or these climb earrings from BC Clark. As you embark on this fall fashion show, prepare to take the crown as your family’s best-dressed. 👗

Written by: Bennett Hill

Read issue: https://www.405magazine.com/issues/405-magazine/november-2024/

10/30/2024

The November Issue is HERE!

✨Celebrations to Savor✨

I recently celebrated a birthday and had several lovely meals out with family and friends. As we were selecting the restaurants, we kept exclaiming what a vast and diverse number of incredible options there are in this town. A nice meal out with cherished company is another one of life’s great blessings.

When it comes to the culture of Oklahoma City, we love our arts, we love our sports, but most of all—we love our food. I have heard consistently for the last three years that people really enjoy our dining coverage, and it is many readers’ favorite section. That is why we take great care every year to bring you the anticipated list of Best New Restaurants. Our renowned food contributor, Matt Kirouac, brings you a mouth-watering compilation of the best new places to eat in the metro in 2024. As always, the restaurant industry is fluid, and filled with comings and goings (we already had to make a last-minute change or two), so don’t wait to try these wonderful establishments.

We shot our cover at one of the hottest new restaurants in the whole region: Chef Andrew Black’s Perle Mesta, located at the historic Skirvin Hilton Hotel. We had a long list of fancy dishes to photograph, but once we saw Shea Alan’s photo of the oven-roasted golden beet, burrata and grilled peach salad with a “Call Me Madam” cocktail on the side, we knew we had the perfect shot. It was one of the quickest cover shoots ever! Everything from fine dining to delis, bubbles and boards—this feature is sure to make you book some reservations!

Also in this issue, you will dance into the holiday season with fashion tips, our stunning Gift Guide and ways to give back locally through volunteering.

We also feature an elegant design spread and give you the lowdown on the centuries-old party game that has become an OKC phenomenon.

I hope this issue finds you merrily making Thanksgiving plans and prepping your taste buds for something wonderful!

Sincerely,
Julie Partin

Photo by: Shea Alan

Read issue: https://www.405magazine.com/issues/405-magazine/november-2024/

10/29/2024

Meet Dr. Jamie Polk, HER 2024 Community Visionary! 🤩

“I Think I Can Help” are among the most powerful words in the English language, and Dr. Jamie Polk embodies these words in both thought and action. As the Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent she has taken one of the state’s largest public school districts to new heights.

Read more of her story: https://www.405magazine.com/her-2024-community-visionary-dr-jamie-polk/

Photographer: Shevaun Williams & Associates, Commercial Photography, Inc.
Writers: Evie Klopp Holzer () & Julie Partin
Gowns/Stylist: Bella Rose Bridal Edmond, Petra Simpson
Hair and Makeup: MarloHaus Makeup and Hair Artists of Oklahoma, Bekah (.goremakeup) & Haleigh ()
Accessories: BC Clark Jewelers & Feed Me Gems

10/28/2024

🍓 French Finesse 🍮

In the social media era, when phones eat first, a refined French pastry is more akin to a delicate work of art than a mere dessert. And by that metric, L’Arc Patisserie is more than a bakery; it’s a gallery of edible elegance. Found in a nondescript storefront at 9309 N. Penn Ave. in Casady Square—follow the aroma of French butter and cocoa wafting through the door—chef Isabella Li’s boutique is difficult to view as anything other than art. In this case, though, it’s art that begs to be devoured.

Written by:
Photo by:

https://www.405magazine.com/larc-patisserie-okc/

10/24/2024

Celebrate the joy of the season at Real Deals - Edmond, OK annual Christmas Open House, where wonder and magic fill the air! Join us this Thursday to Saturday and discover our exquisite Holiday Collections, carefully curated to bring you happiness and inspiration. Let us help you make your home a beacon of warmth and cheer this holiday season!

𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬: Thursday -Friday 10-6 & Saturday 9-4

10/18/2024

Meet Ally Glavas, HER 2024 Industry Leader! 💼✨

As President of Candor, one of OKC’s top marketing and PR agencies, Ally is shaping the future of business while staying true to her roots. From building powerful national connections to mentoring the next generation of women leaders, her passion for community and empowerment runs deep. 🌟👏

Read more of Ally's story at the link! ➡️
https://www.405magazine.com/her-2024-industry-leader-ally-glavas/

Publication: 405 Magazine ()
Photographer: Shevaun Williams & Associates, Commercial Photography, Inc.
Writers: Evie Klopp Holzer & Julie Partin
Gowns/Stylist: Bella Rose Bridal Edmond, Petra Simpson
Hair and Makeup: MarloHaus Makeup and Hair Artists of Oklahoma, B.Gore Makeup & Haleigh Harwell
Accessories: BC Clark Jewelers & Feed Me Gems

10/17/2024

Save Energy, Stay Cozy with Bumble Bee Blinds of Norman

Discover how these window treatments keep your home warm this fall.

Schedule your free consultation at the link to learn more!
https://www.bumblebeeblinds.com/norman-ok/

10/16/2024

Meet Martha Coates Donahoo, the creative force behind OKC's Hag and Company 🧵👗

From corsets to bloomers, her one-of-a-kind sustainable garments created with vintage textiles are inspired by working-class fashion of the past, all made with a magical touch. ✨

Read more at the link ➡️
https://www.405magazine.com/in-convo-with-hag-and-companys-martha-coates-donahoo/

Article by: Lavinia Creswa
Photos by: Charlie Neuenschwander Photography, LLC

Martha Coates Donahoo shares more about her business, Hag and Company, where she creates magnificent hand-crafted throwbacks.

10/09/2024

Introducing Kaitlyn Kulesus, our HER 2024 Medical Hero! 💉🌟

As an anesthesiologist and assistant professor at OU Health, Kaitlyn is not only advancing medical practices but also building a stronger, more sustainable community.

From reducing hospital carbon emissions to mentoring the next generation of doctors, her passion for medicine is making a lasting impact. 🙌❤️

Read more of Kaitlyn's story at the link below!
https://www.405magazine.com/her-2024-medical-hero-kaitlyn-kulesus/

Publication: 405 Magazine
Photographer: Shevaun Williams & Associates, Commercial Photography, Inc.
Writers: Evie Klopp Holzer & Julie Partin
Gowns/Stylist: Bella Rose Bridal Edmond, Petra Simpson
Hair and Makeup: MarloHaus Makeup and Hair Artists of Oklahoma, Bekah (B.Gore Makeup) & Haleigh ()
Accessories: BC Clark Jewelers & Feed Me Gems