Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
SPECIAL EDITION: Community
VINYL IS
FOREVER Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi alum gains business momentum plus More Corpus Christi businesses and recommendations around the city
2 Table of Contents
STI
STUDENT PUBLICATION OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITYCORPUS CHRISTI
ISLAND WAVES | ISLANDWAVESNEWS.COM IslandWavesNews.com
11.30.2017
Island Waves Local Guide Spotlighting Corpus Christi area businesses and events
| VOLUME 26 ISSUE 20 | 08.27.15
Editor-in-Chief JONATHAN FORNEY Web GERI LEMMONS, editor
Copy Editor ILLI-ANNA MARTINEZ
Reporters CATHARINA GARRETT MICHAEL BRODE AMBER CASTILLO SAMUEL TRUJILLO BREE ORTEGA
Local Events on Page 3
Area Wedding Planner on Page 4
Venue for Local Artists on Page 5
Revitalizing Vinyl on Pages 6 & 7
Finding Loving Homes on Page 8
Caffeine Fix on Page 9
Layout ISABELLA MOON, layout assistant
Advertising ALYSSIA CRAWFORD, assistant QUYNHCHI QUACH, assistant
Graduate Assistant TAIWO AGBAJE, advertising manager
Faculty Adviser WENDY MOORE
ABOUT ISLAND WAVES Island Waves is a studentproduced publication at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The newspaper is printed weekly, except during summer sessions. THIS EDITION: Was a collaboration between several digital journalism classes, including feature writing, editing & layout and news publication. The stories, photos, and layout were done by students in the classes and Island Waves staff.
COVER PHOTO by Zach Aldridge
Local Guide 3
11.30.2017
5 events that support Corpus Christi businesses A La Mano
Patrons can enjoy live music while they choose from one of the many food vendors lined across the downtown streets.
Last Friday of every month 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Every third Friday in Nov. and Dec.
Art Walk
Artists, Musicians, Food Vendors and more offer their many talents and services around the Corpus Christi Bayfront.
First Friday of every month 5p.m. - 9p.m.
Farmer’s Market
Buy quality, locally-grown produce and be entertained by local musicians and performance artists at the Art Center.
Every Wednesday 5p.m. - 8p.m.
Art Bazaar
Unique artists and musicians are featured at Lotus Dreams Tea House where patrons can relax, eat, and drink.
Second Friday of every month 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Geeks Who Drink
Trivia nights held at the Executive Surf Club where players can come with a team or be recruited into one.
Every Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Local picks for fun year-round BREE ORTEGA Staff Writer
In Corpus Christi, there are many fun things to do that are welcoming to the community and Islanders. There are parks, tasty food, beaches and sites that people who are new to Corpus can enjoy. Downtown by the Bayfront, Cole Park is home to a playground and skatepark for kids to enjoy. People are also able to walk their dogs because of the wide sidewalk. The seawall stretches far enough for Islanders to walk along the Bay. By Watergardens Park, visitors may be able to take in the view of the aforementioned gardens, Harbor Bridge and also visit the Art Musem of South Texas. Heritage Park is the site for the most historic homes that act as monuments to the city’s past. For Islanders with an appetite, Urban Bricks is a wonderful pizza place for a quick bite. Hester’s Cafe serves café style food, coffee, and also, a bakery. For seafood lovers, Scuttlebutt’s offers a variety of options from sushi to oysters, that can leave visitors feeling full. Lastly, when guests arrive at Hamlin Fountain and Gifts they will experience a 60’s vibe while eating homemade American food and delicious desserts. On a hot day, Islanders can enjoy a beach day at the beaches around Corpus Christi. Padre Ball Park, White Cap Beach, Mustang Island, JP Luby, Packery Channel and Malaquite Beach are all the beaches around Corpus. In the summer, Schlitterbahn Water park and Resort is complete for entertainment. The resort includes a golf club, full service restaurant and resort lodging. The Selena Memoria: Mirador La Flor was dedicated to Selena Quintanilla and her family. Her statue is located downtown on Ocean Drive where tourists and visitors can take pictures and enjoy the statue. Get Air is a fun place where Islanders can jump around on and indoor trampoline park. There are many activities in the trampoline park for those looking to have trampoline fun, including: dodgeball, a foam pit, kiddie court, slam ball and the ninja course. There’s also even activities that fit special needs. When looking for fun things to do in Corpus, I hope that you take these beaches, restaurants, sites and parks in consideration. For more information on fun things to do, visit www.visitcorpuschristix.org.
4 Business Owner
11.30.2017
Love on the beach
Story by Kristen Veit Photos by Vincent Verduzco
Brewer Baker creates one-of-a-kind weddings
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wedding day is supposed to be the happiest day in the lives of a bride and groom, some spend their whole lives dreaming up their fairy tale ceremony and reception. It’s up to wedding planners such as Brewer Baker to face the challenge of making that fantasy a reality. Baker is employed with Padre Ryan Photographic, the largest beach wedding company in Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend. Baker has spent most of her career planning various types of events, from headliner concerts to world-renowned sports events to a local fundraising gala. She has always felt planning weddings would be something extremely special. “To many people, a wedding is one of life’s ultimate events, maybe just second to the birth of a child,” Baker said. “With that, being a part of something so special warrants great responsibility, which I choose to accept and take on with great honor, and is what ultimately
drives me to work so hard, no matter how stressful it may be, and deliver the best possible experience I am able to.” Baker said a great deal of work goes into the process of creating the ultimate wedding from start to finish. She credits her attention to detail and unique personal taste when it comes to creating the successful building blocks for her clients’ ideal wedding days. “I first look to the client to get a feel for colors, style and what themes they like, then I like to give my personal, professional and creative spin on what I may suggest to customize their vision.” Baker said. Baker said the biggest killer for that wedding bliss is when unrealistically high expectations and the strive for perfection drives some brides-to-be to fall into the role of “bridezilla.” “It is important for wedding planners to understand that and believe that even if the client becomes the legendary bridezilla, they don’t mean to be difficult, instead, they are just experiencing heightened emotions and stress as a re-
sult of the importance and expectations they have built-up for this event in their lives,” Disc jockey Sam Parris said. Parris said Brewer is a valuable member of the team because of her talents and skill sets. “Her biggest strength is probably her skill with people, she’s very good at reading and feeling out conversations,” Parris said. “She also constantly displays a passion for the work that she does.” Baker says it is that passion that fuels her to continue to create weddings, even through the toughest of times and clients. “Passion is a requirement in this business,” Baker said. With 40 weddings under her belt and counting, Baker said there is never a dull moment and no matter how demanding the request, she is willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen. Baker said she is not Superwoman and can’t take all the credit for helping others reach their “Happily Ever After.” “It takes an army of people who work incredibly hard behind the ‘face’
or the wedding planner to pull it all off, and none of it could happen without a team,” Baker said. Baker said at the end of a long and exhausting Saturday night filled with back-to-back indoor and outdoor weddings that she finds the most pleasure in a job well done. “My favorite thing about being a wedding planner is the reward of seeing my clients’ vision become a reality on the day of the wedding, and the happiness and joy I am surrounded by,” Baker said. “Being able to create the setting for such an emotional and important day in people’s lives and watching the client and their family and friends enjoy it is indescribably rewarding ” For Brewer, the amount of pride and happiness that comes along with delivering an unforgettable wedding experience always outweighs any pressure and stress that may have accompanied it. In the end, the final successful event makes every moment is totally worth it. Brewer Baker is a reallife fairy tale maker.
6 TAMU-CC ALUM
11.30.2017
TAMU-CC ALUM 7
11.30.2017
OLD sound, NEW breed
Story by Kaci Alvarez Photos by Zach Aldridge
Hybrid Records owner makes a business out of vintage memories
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arlos Cooper’s journey began with a love for music and authenticity. In an age of online streaming, he surrounded himself with vinyl. With underground music lightly filling the over-head speakers, a recent college graduate dressed in ripped jeans and a flannel top kindly greets his customers. In 2015 Cooper opened Hybrid Records, a minimalistic, one room store, filled to the brim with physical media in Corpus Christi. The simplistic, “not trying too hard” look does wonders, while music lovers filled the store, absentmindedly flipping through the selection of several genres. Growing up in the Coastal Bend,
where physical media is scarce, inspired him to dream. A dream that dates back generations, to his grandfather, who had a record store of his own. It was what ignited the push he needed to open his own. However, Cooper strives to do more. He wants his store to be a cultural gathering. A place for people to hang out, get to know one another and listen to good music. “I think that we’ve done a pretty decent job with that,” Cooper said. “We’ve done things like events that has kind of made it more than just a retail establishment. There are plenty of people who just come and hang out now, so that’s pretty cool.”
Not only does Cooper want Hybrid Records to be a safe haven from the world of digital-everything, but he hopes the Corpus Christi community will embrace the culture of buying music, seeing himself as an activist for physical media. “Everyone thought physical media was going away, but it came back,” Cooper said. With vinyl’s returning popularity, record stores are popping up throughout the United States. Each one hoping to share the beauty of physically holding the music, just as Cooper does. Regular customer of Hybrid Records and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Interim Chair for the
Department of Communication and Media, Dr. David Gurney believes Cooper has the drive and passion to make the store a huge success. Gurney continues to see Cooper as the work-driven student in his New Media and Communications class years before, but now sees an entrepreneur, who is successfully making his dreams become a reality. “It does not hurt that vinyl has been experiencing a rebirth in popularity over the past few years,” Gurney said. Gurney shares a love for popular music and vinyl, increasing the chemistry between the duo. The physicality of vinyl offers a certain degree of nostalgia. Taking the lis-
We’ve done things like events that has made it more than just a retail establishment. There are plenty of people who just come and hang out now.” tener back to a time where technology was the center of everything. A time where people couldn’t skip to the song that was stuck in their head. A time where playing outside gave people more joy than binge watching Netflix in their bed. Cooper and Gurney hope more people within the community turn to vinyl, whether it’s millennials without the direct link of nostalgia or those
who want to drive down memory lane. “Hybrid [Records] is a welcoming space that would be able to make that patron feel at home,” Gurney said. Working eight hours a day, Monday through Saturday doesn’t stop Cooper from his ongoing journey he set out to do two years ago. As for now, he will continue to open the eyes of those curious enough to step foot into the small shop, one record at a time.
Location 4233 S Alameda Street Corpus Christi, Texas 78412 Monday - Friday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
The 4-1-1 Hybrid Records offers apparel, accessories and records on vinyl and CD. Prices range from $7 - $100, depending on the rarity.
8 Local Non-Profit
11.30.2017
Rescue a friend
Story by Alexa Schaefer & Vincent Verduzco Photos by Carlos Hinojosa
Peewee’s mission: to find homes for all animals
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ar too many people discount the thought of adoption when searching for a new pet. Due to that, millions of dogs, cats and other animals are euthanized each year. The number of animals killed can be reduced dramatically if more people adopt, spay and neuter. We simply have to work together to not let down those animals who are counting on us. Peewee’s Pet Adoption World and Sanctuary is brave enough to take such action. “[Nueces County] is the second worst county for animal neglect in the United States,” said Ernie Cochran, treasurer of Peewee’s board of directors. “There was only one no-kill animal shelter, so I started another one.” Cochran said the purpose of Peewee’s Pet Adoption World and Sanctuary is to operate a non-profit, no-kill shelter and
adoption center for indigent animals, for charitable purposes. Through Peewee’s Cochran rescues, rehabilitates and cares for lost and abandoned animals, and also reunites lost animals with their owners. According to Peewee’s website, peeweespets.com, this shelter helps find loving and caring new homes for all animals who are and are not suitable for adoption. Their mission is to promote the humane and proper treatment of all animals and to operate a low-cost spay and neuter clinic to help reduce the number of strays throughout the community. Peewee’s Pet Adoption World and Sanctuary located in Corpus Christi, Texas was established in 1995 by Ernie Cochran. Since then, the shelter has found homes for more than 300 animals, including dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, pigs, goats, rabbits and other barn animals. In June 2006, Peewee’s opened the first part of their new facility with the help of the community donations. Their new fa-
cility is in the same location as the previous one, just in a different location on the property. With continued donations and support, Peewee’s will continue to build in order to ensure the best possible experience for all its animals. Peewee’s helps animals no one else will, whether they are adoptable or not. Peewee’s does not discriminate due to age or health conditions of the animal. “When we get an animal, it can stay at the shelter forever if it never gets adopted,” Cochran said. Peewee’s relies only on donations for its operation. Their website also indicates that their biggest contributor, HEB Food Stores, donates all of the dog and cat food, plus a healthy supply of kitty litter. Peewee’s does not get any government, city or federal funding. With 96 cents out of every dollar going directly to the care of animals, it is no wonder that Peewee’s has garnered many
supporters over the years. Susan Thiem, an advocate and longtime donor of Peewee’s has been tracking the progression of the pet sanctuary since its birth. Thiem admires Cochran for her drive and ability when it comes to the care of these animals. Although unable to volunteer herself, Thiem has both adopted from Peewee’s and helps advocate for its cause. “We do not have very many volunteers,” Cochran said. “We are the poor animal shelter. We don’t have any fancy buildings or $22 million in the bank like other fortunate shelters.” Peewee’s has been fortunate enough to have a great team of volunteers, however for a shelter its size, they can always use more help. Volunteers have the ability to rehabilitate malnourished animals first-hand and bring them back to full health. Feeding, providing medicine and cleaning the facilities are additional ways volunteers can help out. “There are so many different levels of involvement with non-profit organizations.” Thiem said. “There is a niche for almost everyone. There are always opportunities for everyone when volunteering.” Cochran said that prospective families are thoroughly screened by going through an application process to adopt a pet. “The adoption fee is $100 for a dog and $40 for a cat,” Cochran said. “Fees include sterilization and vaccinations.” Peewee’s also accepts donations to help in caring for the animals. “The money helps us spay and neuter more animals which will decrease the population and help us educate the public,” Cochrane said. “It would be nice if the pubic could be more aware and go to City Hall to try and change some of these laws. That’s what the public can do.” Cochran said the most rewarding part of working at this shelter is saving the animal’s lives, and the most challenging part is the law and their regulations. Peewee’s Pet Adoption World and Sanctuary has hundreds of dogs and cats available for adoption to good, loving homes. To adopt from Peewee’s, just head to their Sanctuary at 1307 Saratoga Blvd. anytime from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also visit them at their LuvA-Pet Adoption Center located inside PetsMart or at Petco every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Local Business 5
11.30.2017
Creating Culture
Story by Kelly Davis Photos by Carlos Hinojosa
Art Center provides space for aspiring local artists
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n downtown Corpus Christi, organizations line the bayfront ranging from museums, to concert venues and a playhouse. The Art Center of Corpus Christi specializes in displaying local art and sits on Shoreline Boulevard, just off of the bayfront. Sierra Shamblin, exhibit coordinator and creative manager of the Art Center, said her job is to support local artists by helping get their work displayed in the Art Center and to help them run their businesses so they can make money with their crafts. “Our mission is to support local artists, so while you have the museum that supports the actual artwork and preserves that, we preserve the local artist,” Shamblin said. Shamblin said a place like the Art Center is crucial for local artists similar to how a sports stadium is crucial for a sports team. “I feel like it’s really important that we provide artists with a space for them to play and to experiment
and that sort of thing,” she said, “because a lot of times, the arts get looked over and we want to remind people that it is important and this is something that means a lot to our community as well as our nation.” Shamblin said the Art Center is not particular about artists’ mediums when it comes to displaying their art in the gallery. “Weird mediums are always neat,” Shamblin said. “We have an airbrush artist who does these huge canvases that are all airbrush. As long as the artist is experimenting, I’m usually happy.” Sherri Chapman, a regular volunteer at the Art Center for the past 19 years, said it is important to promote local artists as it creates a sense of pride in the community. Another way to promote this pride is through the sale of local art through the Art Center. “People come in they see it, they buy it and they hang it in their homes,” Chapman said. Chapman said the of art makes some money for artists and motivates them to keep going. At the same
time, the new owner of the art now has a piece of local culture to hang in their home. Chapman said the Art Center also provides art classes to the public, and sign up can be found on the organizations website. Chapman said the classes range from watercolor to ceramics to photography, and the classes are both for beginners and for those who are a bit more experienced. Chapman said the classes are either offered in single sessions or in long multiple session classes that can span across several weeks. “I knew nothing about art when I came to the Art Center in 1996,” Chapman said. “I had only dabbled in watercolor, and then I took classes at the Art Center and you learn so much when you go to one of those classes. I’ve really improved a lot.” Chapman said the Art Center also provides a service called Family Art Time that is free every Saturday and Wednesday and geared toward families with younger children. In this class, art instructors teach parents and children to make arts and crafts together.
“I’ve seen regulars come in every Wednesday and Saturday to have fun with their kids, and I’ve even seen some elementary school teachers come in to get ideas for craft projects that they can do in their classes,” Chapman said. Shamblin said while the main idea is so families can have fun together, Family Art Time can also be a time to get together with friends to make something creative and for free. Shamblin said it is important for local art to be displayed because it gives artists a feeling of how the art world works if they were thinking of making a career out of their talents. Shamblin said she assists local artists by helping them put together resumes, and teaching them to not undersell their own work when they are trying to make a profit. “Knowing that it is important that they have a resume, and that they need a website or a Facebook page and that sort of thing, that they can use those tools to make their business better just like you would with a marketing firm or a finance firm; it’s still a business,” Shamblin said.
11.30.2017
Making Java Waves
Business Owner 9 Story by KeAnna Whisenhunt Photos by Carlos Hinohosa
Islander professor sees opportunity to serve community, students
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pen seven days a week, the Coffee Waves on Alameda serves a widerange of artisan coffee beverages, teas, baked delicacies and gelato to students, coffee lovers and the Coastal Bend community. Douglas Johnson, a professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, opened the shop 11 years ago. Johnson said he had been wanting to open a coffee shop and saw the building on Alameda as a great venue. “We realized we have a definite need for people to have a place to study outside of a dorm. A place not necessarily on campus,” Johnson said. Johnson said Coffee Waves recently underwent renovations to offer a cozy yet productive atmosphere for students to study or hang out. With new bar tables, a study nook, leather couches and a spacious outdoor patio, there is plenty of room for networking, game nights, study groups and special events. “It’s a cozy and friendly environment which I like,” said nursing student Varsha Patel. “That’s why I come here and I like the coffee as well.” Patel, who frequents Coffee Waves, said the added lighting and new fur-
niture in the cove has warmed up the space and added more room for studying. “It’s a great environment overall,” Patel said. “It’s close to campus. They have really great coffee…I can’t just pick one, honestly. Everyone here is really friendly.” Johnson said being a barista requires more than technical skills. They need to have heart and a desire to form relationships with the customers. The menu offers a variety of hot, iced and blended ice beverages. From the macchiato, americano and café mocha to the iced latte, cold brew and pour-over, there is something on the menu for every caffeine enthusiast. Coffee Waves also offers a selection of non-caffeinated smoothies, teas and frappuccinos. “The cappuccino is my favorite beverage,” Patel said. “I always have to have a cappuccino or a caramel macchiato, either hot or iced.” Johnson said there is an art and a science to making the perfect latte. “If you get the nice rosette finish on top, that’s how you know the milk was steamed just right,” he said. In discussing beverages, Johnson said he favors a macchiato.
“It’s a single beverage, but it’s called the macchiato experience,” Johnson said. “It has a shot of espresso, mineral water in the middle and a macchiato inside. The word macchiato is Italian for the word mark it’s a shot of espresso marked with latte art. A big volume of it is espresso.” Located on 5738 S Alameda St. in Corpus Christi, Coffee Waves is open every day from 7 a.m. to midnight.
For updates on events, limited edition beverages and discounts, follow Coffee Waves on Twitter and Facebook at @CoffeeWaves and facebook.com/ coffeewaves, respectively. They can also be found on Instagram at @coffeewavesalameda. More information on Coffee Waves locations and menu items can be found on their website: coffeewaves.com.
10 Local Business
11.30.2017
Dress for Less
Story by Anna Guettler Photos by Carlos Hinojosa
Clothing store finds its place among residents of Corpus Christi
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hreads is a local clothing resale shop that was opened in 2011 by Jennifer Reid and is currently located at 4646 Everhart in Corpus Christi. According to their website, Threads opened as the first resale shop in Corpus to buy, sell and trade clothing from the public. They select clothing pieces they find high quality that have been brought in and sell them. The clothing they accept changes by the season. “I think it benefits the area because it, uh, I think it just helps bring everyone together,” said Danielle Garcia, Threads employee. “I’ve known Threads since it was like a little baby and I’ve been working here for about a year and I’ve been able to see it grow and grow and everyone start to come here. I’ve seen more and more regulars more often and I just think that, I think that’s really cool how it’s like expanded over the years.” On the Threads website, there is a section for the current styles of clothing that they are purchasing. They take trendy fall-fashion items, as well as professional work-wear, pants, jeans, shoes, shorts, shirts, sweaters and boots. For more information on what they are currently looking for, click threadscorpuschristi.com/now-buying.html. Items are priced based on their resale value and past-experience with similar items at the store. Threads offers 35-40 percent of the selling price in cash or 45 percent in-store credit for the items they choose to resale. They accept items for resale during their normal business hours, but they stop accepting things 30 minutes before closing time. “It found its own niche here in Corpus, and it’s the only store in Corpus of its kind,” said Jordan Drake, Islander
student and Threads customer. “It’s different than commercial stores like in the mall. The pieces are more unique.” Threads is open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from noon6 p.m. on Sundays. Their phone number is 361-8-THREAD (361-884-7323), and they can be emailed at corpusthreads@ email.com. They are also present on social media. The link to their Facebook is http://facebook.com/corpusthreads, and they can be found on both Instagram and Snapchat with the username @ ccthreads. “The customers that come in here are really really nice and you get to—you figure out who’s the regulars and who’s not and a lot of the regulars are super, like awesome,” Garcia said For more information about Threads, head to their website: threadscorpuschristi.com.
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Corpus Christi Events 11
11.30.2017
Corpus Christi Yearly Events Buc Days Festival & Carnival
Buc Days take place May 4-14 and are located at the intersction of Park Ave and S. Shoreline. Mega passes are $55 for an everyday pass. Unlimited wristband is available for those who want to ride an unlimited number of rides at the 2017 Buc Days Carnival for just $20.00 per person per day
4th of July Big Bang Festival
This Independence Day celebration takes place starting June 30 and ends July 4. This year will be the 40th Anniversary of the festival and will include a Harbor Bridge light show that will be choreographed to patriotic tunes throught the celebration.
Texas Jazz Festival
This annual free event takes place October 2022 in Heritage Park. This is the perfect event for jazz lovers all around. During the festival food and drink tickets are available for $2 per ticket.
Dia De Los Muertos Street Festival
Fiesta De La Flor
Fiesta de la Flor is a 2-day that spans from April 13-14 that celebrates the life & legacy of Selena. This festival will be located at North Bayfront Park downtown.
This cultural diversity festival will take place on October 28 spanning ten blocks in downtown Corpus Christi on Starr, Peoples, Chaparral, Taylor and Mesquite St. Electra Art*Axis Tattoo and K Space Contemporary are in partnership with House of Rock to produce this one day event.
FREE DRINK at the UC Cove when you take the Dining survey!