Good morning, Stillwater! I’m back this week after a bit of breather. I went on a family vacation to Branson, MO for the first time and we made a thing out of it. It was wonderful to spend time with family and a solid reminder of what matters most.

Stillwater Lokal Life isn’t going away, but I am shifting it to a slower, more seasonal rhythm so it’s something I can keep doing happily, because I love y’all!

That means you might not hear from me every week, but when you do, I’ll do my best to keep it thoughtful, curated, and worth your time.

There’s so much going on this next week or so of summer. I hope you get some solid leisure — you know, the stuff we do all the hard work for!

In today’s edition:

• At least three block parties 🎉

• Dancing Turtles, Lions and Eagles

• How to tell garden friends vs foes 🐞

Lots of good stuff here so let’s get to it!

– Nate Cheever

Happy birthday to Jillianne Tebow and belated birthday to Katie Boeckman 🎂

A message from Unitarian Universalist Church of Stillwater

Looking for a deal and a good cause?

The Blessings and Bargains Rummage Sale is back at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Stillwater (320 S. Stallard St.), and it’s packed with all the fun stuff you didn’t know you needed.

They’ll have small furniture, tools, housewares, books, toys, plants, baked goods, and more. Come find some treasure and hangout with the community. It’s coming up a few weekends away:

🛍️ Friday, August 8 from 4 – 8 PM
🛍️ Saturday, August 9 from 8 AM – 3 PM

Also, there’s a curated Art Auction Saturday at 1 PM and they’re looking for local artists to submit original work!

Want to donate art or get more details? Reach out to the church here.

WHAT’S UP IN STILLWATER

Watercolor Presentation the Stillwater Art Guild 🧑🏻‍🎨

This Tuesday, July 22nd, the Stillwater Art Guild will host guest artist Caryl Morgan for a demonstration and talk about watercolors. You don’t need to be good (or bad) at painting or a guild member to attend, interest is all that’s needed.

Light refreshments will be there so hop in your van and Gogh check it out! 🚐

🖌️ Tuesday July 22nd at 6:30 PM | Stillwater Community Center, rm 121 | Free!

Dancing Turtle Opens Block 34 🐢

This is really something to get excited about! It’s the third year of Stillwater’s Dancing Turtle art festival and last year, if you didn’t get a chance to go, was a lot of fun. I wrote two pieces on it last year to give you an idea, you can read them here and here. But this year is unprecedented because it’s taking place at our brand new Block 34!

What can you expect this time? 👀

Lion dancing, dancing eagles, kid zone activity tents, Blacksmiths, a bike decorating parade, antique vehicles, classic cinema, a dance concert, a singer songwriter living room (with air conditioning!), loads of live music, art displays, food trucks, vendors, the Block 34 dedication on Saturday night at 7 PM, an inter-faith music brunch on Sunday morning…alas, more than I can put here. I hope this whets your appetite though!

The Dancing Turtle will run July 25-27 at the Stillwater Community Center and Block 34. Here’s their website for more info. I hope to see you there!

Stolen Art and the Fight to Return It Home 🎨

Have you ever wondered what happens when priceless art gets stolen? Dr. Zachary Qualls will present on the mysterious world of art theft and the detective work it takes to get masterpieces back where they belong, whether from individual heists or war. You’ll learn about the processes of restitution and repatriation that reunite pieces with their rightful owners.

📅 Thursday, July 17 | 6-7 PM
📍 OSU Museum of Art, 720 S. Husband St.
🔗 Register and learn more | Attendance is Free!

Btw, if you like old movies like me, there are some great ones about art theft:

• How to Steal a Million (1966) with Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole, lighthearted/fun

• The Train (1964) with Burt Lancaster and Paul Scofield, more serious/WWII historical

Krazy Daze is back 🤪 🛍️

In case you didn’t notice, Krazy Daze is back again. It involves Krazy deals offered by participating stores all across the community, from downtown to the Lakepointe shopping center and all over, but I love the vibe of the downtown scene best.

It runs this July 16th through the 20th. Oh, and if you buy something a during Krazy Daze, when they ask “Would you like a copy of your receipt?” Be sure you say yes and hang on to it! Visit Stillwater is hosting a promotion called Ring Registers, where for every purchase of $50 or more you can enter to win one of five $500 American Airlines gift cards. And if it happens during Krazy Daze you double your points ✌️.

Now some pop quiz time!

👉 Learn more how truly and wonderfully Krazy our Stillwater ancestors were here.

Mobile Market Block Party next week 🍓 🛝

Our Daily Bread is planning a Mobile Market Block Party on Wednesday, July 23rd, 4:30-6:30 PM at . They plan on having OSU insect adventure there for more fun kids crafts. They’ll have free produce, free hotdogs, and family fun!

Speaking of Our Daily Bread, they are hosting a Mobile Market Block Party at Strickland park on Wednesday, July 23 from 4:30 – 6:30 PM.

You can expect:
– Free produce 🥬
– Free hot dogs 🌭
– Free Kids’ crafts, lawn games, and a visit from OSU’s Insect Adventure

It’s super family-friendly and beats another night of asking what’s for dinner!

We’re gonna have a Street Party 🍙 🕺🏻

Ah, summer of 1975. Jaws was out chomping it up on the screens, bell bottoms and platform shoes were in style, and Lionel Richie’s All Night Long was only 8 years out from being released. But more important than all that (to us), it was when Stillwater’s most iconic establishment got established.

Eskimo Joe’s is celebrating their 50th anniversary all week long. And on Saturday night, July 19th, at 5 PM, they’re having an Street Party with food and drinks and featuring live music from Richmond Road, Smokin’ Oaks and others. But why not bust out the disco gear (sure it still fits!) and party all night long?!

👉 Check out Visit Stillwater’s guide for more details here.

Garden Friends or Foes? 🐛 

Speaking of Our Daily Bread, have you ever wondered: Is that fuzzy flying creature a friend or foe? If so, you should come to Our Daily Bread’s hands-on class to learn which insects are your garden's best friends and which ones to watch out for. It’s perfect timing as perhaps your summer gardens is hitting its peak!

📅 Thursday, July 24 | 3:30-4:30 PM
📍 Our Daily Bread Food & Resource Center
🔗 Register here or call 405-533-2555 ext. 107

LOCAL BUSINESS

🌡️ Cardinals Love Clothing Pantry Announces a Cool Down Station

Stephanie McMahon announced this week they’ve added on a cool down station and are offering free lunches to anyone in need. The pantry is open Monday through Thursday 11 AM - 5:30 PM and Friday 11 AM - 3 PM.

🍰 Stillwater Sweets Bakery re-opening!

Sarah Jones, owner of Stillwater Sweets Bakery has got something to celebrate. After being hit hard by the fires, she re-opened her storefront just in time for Krazy Daze and in time to celebrate their 2nd year anniversary. She’s offering FREE Birthday cake slices (while they last)!

🎣 Local Fishing Guide Alert
Mr. Donato Lomboy has started a business as a local fishing guide out at Lake Carl Blackwell. It’s called Hybrid Patrol Fishing Guide Service. He’ll provide the gear, bait, and even clean your fish, so you just show up and enjoy the day. He has only a few dates left this season! They are August 18, September 15, and September 29. Contact him at  (918) 509-0883.

LIVE LOCAL MUSIC

🎤 Stillwater local rock band Other Lives dropped a new single Show Us Some Love from their upcoming latest album “Volume V”. It’s right there in the title folks: show our hometown artists some love and enjoy their music: https://www.otherlives.com/about

🎤 Not this week, but in about two months, Hugh Jackman is coming to perform at the McKnight Center. Yep, that’s him! The Greatest Showman on Earth.
Season tickets go on sale on Monday, July 21st and single tickets to this event are available on Monday August 11th. Here’s to hoping he sings “Oklahoma!”

Let me know in the comments!

THANKS!

Thanks for reading the Stillwater Lokal Life today. And if you got something out of it, mention it to the person who cuts your hair.