TASTE OF OKC FOR NWC
A benefit for Northwest Classen High School is scheduled from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The event, put on by the Friends of Northwest Classen High School Foundation, will be held at River Oaks Golf Club, 10909 Clubhouse Road in Edmond.

The event features music, an auction and food from several metro restaurants. Among the eateries in the event are Bravo! Cucina Italiana, Cafe do Brasil, Cuppies & Joe, Flip’s Wine Bar & Trattoria, Interurban, Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse, Mimi’s Cafe, Nunu’s Mediterranean Cafe & Market, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Platt Culinary Institute, River Oaks Golf Club, Sauced on Paseo and The Whole Enchilada Cafe.

A golf tournament will follow the next day. The Friends foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, has given more than $275,000 in grants for equipment, supplies and resources to teachers and students at NWC. It also has a capital campaign with intentions to turn the auditorium into a state-of-the-art facility with seating capacity for more than 1,400.

Tickets to the benefit start at $50. For more details, visit northwestclassen.org.

ART CRAWL AROUND EDMOND
Up north in the close-knit community of Edmond, the Downtown Edmond Business Association will usher in autumn with the Fall Art Crawl. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and will include local artists, good food and free wagon rides. Plans also include street musicians.

“We are excited that perhaps Big Truck Taco will be with us again,” said Leah Kessler, promotions manager for the association. Stephanie Carel of Silver Leaf Gems is the director for Art Crawl.

Note that Edmond streets will not be closed. For more information, call 285-9700.

TASTE OF NORTHWEST
The Northwest Chamber is presenting the annual Taste of Northwest Auction & Food Fest from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 N.E. 52nd.

The benefit will be the chamber’s largest fundraiser of the year and proceeds from the event provide scholarships for students, leadership programs for local businesses and more. The event will feature the sounds of The Mystery Dates, a pop-party group that Modern Bride Magazine voted as one of the top 100 bands in the country.

Restaurants and caterers participating this year include:

Coolgreens, Mama Roja, Deep Fork Grill, Gigi’s Cupcakes, Interurban, Swadley’s BBQ, Louie’s, Jason’s Deli, Whataburger, Running Wild Catering, Charleston’s, Hooters, Boom-a-rang Diner, Legend at Council Road, Rib Crib, Saturn Grill, The Catering Connection, Casa Perico, Jersey Mike’s and Hefner Grill.

For more details on tickets and table purchases, call 789-1256 or visit nwokc.com. General admission tickets are $40 each or $50 at the door.

CHOW CHAT

Bill Wilson is the co-owner, with his son, Billy, of Opus Prime Steakhouse, 800 W. Memorial Road, with its lighted, temperature-controlled wine wall towering above its classic bar.

What makes you a good friend: “I am very loyal.”

Background: “I spent more than 30 years in the U.S. Army, then opened Nikz at the Top, which closed in 2007. With the very same team, we opened Opus a year later.”

Favorite indulgence? “Being on the water.”

A famous person you look kinda like: “I wish I looked like Elvis Presley.”

Food you would never eat:

“Korean kimchee (traditional fermented vegetables). I went to Korea in the Army. They fed us kimchee, and it was awful.”

Fix me a: “Crown Black and Sprite.” Best feature: “I am a good judge of character.”

It’s a fact that: “Every Christmas Day, my son, Billy, and I share a really nice bottle of the First Growth of Bordeaux (Premier Cru Supérieur).”

Talents: “I play guitar and play golf, but I am careful about calling them talents.”

Quick cooking tip: “Don’t press on the steak!” What is your personal motto? “I really have long relationships with my employees. Three have been with me for more than 16 years, and seven or eight of them for over five years.”

In your Opus wine cellar: “I’ve got 10,000 bottles of wine and 900 different labels.”

Funny happening: “In Nikz, we once had a huge group of dance club members that came up to dance and never bought one drink. They only asked for water.” —Carol Smaglinski

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