In Downtown Oklahoma City, Clarity Coffee makes people happy by making coffee the best way they can. Steve Willingham and Tyler Roberts talk about the story of Clarity Coffee, what guests can expect, and how they make the shop inviting to people.
You may have seen Steve Willingham in my Short Order Poems documentary and now here he is again talking about his coffee shop. I’m not actively working on a Coffee of Oklahoma City series. This video just came into development with other projects.
I hope you enjoy this video and check out Clarity Coffee for yourself. Their mocha is in my personal top five.
Chad Reynolds and Timothy Bradford started Short Order Poems to make poetry more accessible and appealing to the general public. My documentary explores how Short Order Poems got started, with the help of Brian Bergman and the H&8th Night Market, the history of writing poems for people, and their Make It Rain Poems project in connection with Downtown OKC. Riley Cole and Steve Willingham also share their perspectives on the Make It Rain Poems.
I have been following the work of Short Order Poems since the beginning, seeing them at H&8th, which I had regularly posted articles about on Uncovering Oklahoma when the event was active. There’s footage I shot of them at the August 2015 H&8th.
This was one of those documentaries that turned out bigger than planned. Originally, my interview with Chad and Timothy was going to be shorter with a focus on the Make It Rain Poems. This would’ve been a segment for my Inviting Art documentary. The interview itself went over 30 minutes, giving me a ton of material. I realized the story was big enough to warrant its own video.
The project grew more as I decided to include interviews with Brian, Riley, and Steve. Plus, my doing a solo documentary, it gave me a chance to talk about the Make It Rain Poems during the rainy season so more people can experience them instead of waiting for the release of Inviting Art. I do still plan to include the Make It Rain Poems in Inviting Art, which will include pieces of this and perhaps more.
If you loved this documentary, consider becoming a patron. Thank you for watching!
If you’re looking for an adventure featuring an activity you can’t do anywhere else in the state of Oklahoma, plan a road trip to the Great Salt Plains State Park where you can dig for selenite crystals.
Selenite crystal formations occur when the mineral gypsum mixes with the area’s moist, salt-saturated soils. An hourglass shape of sand, clay, and iron often develop inside the crystal. This is the only place in the world where selenite crystals with this unique hourglass shape can be found.
While digging for crystals in the southwest portion of the state park is the main attraction, it’s not the only one. There are many beautiful areas to visit and trails to traverse, including an auto tour route where you can view an abundance of wildlife.
Safety Precautions:
Once in the digging area, stay on the designated road. Shorebirds nest on the flats. Their nests are camouflaged to the soil so you may not see them. Additionally, the ground is much softer than expected off the road.
Due to the white salt surface, getting sunburned is easy. Sunglasses, sunscreen, and protective clothing are recommended. Due to the winds, it is best to bring sunscreen lotion and not spray. Drinking water is not available at the dig site so be sure to bring water and pack some snacks.
Be sure to thoroughly wash your car after leaving the flats as the salt can eat away at your paint.
Overall, the Great Salt Plains State Park is an adventure worth experiencing. My wife and I enjoy our time there and thought it was worth the drive.
Leading up to the Tenth Annual Norman Music Festival, this documentary special contains dozens of interviews with local business owners, musicians, and festival organizers. In this video, learn about the festival, advice for a great time, musician’s experiences, and why you should come!
Stay tuned as this documentary isn’t done! There will be a second part with interviews from bands at NMFX, what goes into planning the festival, and the future. I plan to release a complete version, which will more interviews and footage worked into part one.
I’m excited to announce that I’m one of the speakers for this year’s IgniteOKC! IgniteOKC is a community-driven networking event that connects people of diverse backgrounds and knowledge through a series of entertaining, rapid-fire presentations. The basic premise is presenters get 5 minutes and 20 slides that advance every 15 seconds. In my topic, Local Roadtripping 101, I will share my advice on planning, packing, and suggestions for road trips in Oklahoma.
I know one of the other speakers, Jeff Provine, as I’ve interviewed him for Uncovering Oklahoma. Jeff will be talking about Oklahoma City’s ghosts. Everyone else, I’m not familiar with, but I’m looking forward to meeting them. I am curious How Bach Can Change Your World One Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit at a Time.
The event will be May 25, 2017, at Lyric Theatre in the Plaza District. Before that, on Wednesday, May 3rd at 6:00 PM at The Offices of Dunlap Codding there will be a Meet and Greet event.
