CC Magazine January 2012 by Publication Printer

CC MAGAZINE

January 2012

OCCUPY CC WHATS NEXT? THE YEAR OF SWAG

20 QUESTIONS WITH JACK SWAGGER

I Will Choose

FREE Will

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CC MAGAZINE

JEFF CRAFT Publisher

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Advertising Director/ Co-publisher ADS@CCMAGONLINE.COM

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Samantha Koepp, Susan Giesing, Daniel Lucio, Georgia Grifﬁn, Ronnie Narmour

PHOTOGRAPHY Lenz Photos Courtesy of Tony Martinez & thecrushgirls.com. Miles Merwin, Jan Rankin, Dale Rankin, Ronnie Narmour, Georgia Grifﬁn, Max Strycharske

CONTACT CC @ 361.949.7700 361.443.2137 505 S Water St Suite 545 Corpus Christi, Tx 78401

ADVERTISING 361.949.7700

From the Publisher... I think as a city we should make a resolution for 2012: Let’s listen to each other! Politics is like sports with consequences, we root for our team, and overlook its shortcomings while magnifying the faults of the opposing team. I have never met any serious person who is anti-business, but that’s a term that’s often thrown around at people like the Occupy Corpus Christi group. On the other side, nobody who lives here wants our town to be a polluted wasteland, but industry does create pollution as well as jobs. We have to balance what’s good for the economy right now against our future. How much pollution per job should we accept? Where the line is drawn is a question that should be up for rigourous debate, but if one person draws the line a little different from someone else, that doesn’t make him a communist or an earthmurdering fascist. This month we invited Daniel Lucio to give us an insider’s view of Occupy Corpus Christi. Its been several months since the Occupy Wall Street movement began, and the idea of an American Spring is still inspiring people to take to the streets around the country. There has been a lot of negative press about the Occupy Corpus Christi group, I even heard someone break out the C-word (I mean communist, not the other C-word, stop being so filthy!) so I invited Daniel to tell us what its really like. There are problems here in Corpus Christi that we need to take a serious look at, and if the people pointing it out are standing on the street with signs, that should be an indication that the problems are serious enough for us to do something about it, not just call them names and ignore it. We’ve got real problems to solve, and cranking the rhetoric up to 11 isn’t going to help. We live in a beautiful place and should protect it, but lets start by getting all the trash up off the ground. Does seagrass need protecting? Maybe, but so do fishermen, so lets discuss our future, be passionate about what we believe, and leave the name-calling in the schoolyard. So welcome to 2012! We may have only 12 short months until the end of the world, predicted for December 22nd by a civilization that came to an end hundreds of years ago. Maybe they weren’t so good at predictions? If you’re old enough to remember 2012, a space sequel, you’ll understand why I’m disappointed that I don’t have a job on a spaceship, but I do have a computer that talks to me and sometimes acts insane. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) all that computing power is confined to a telephone, I wonder if Siri ever wishes she was on a spaceship?

Corpus Christi’s Entertainment News Source www.facebook.com/crushgirls

Jeff Craft

www.twitter.com/thecrushgirls © Copyright 2011 all rights reserved. CC Publishing, LLC reserves the right to edit, rewrite & refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions, or consequence arising from it. CC magazine shall be held harmless indemniﬁed against any third party claims. CC Publishing, LLC accepts no claims made by agents, contributors or photographers. Opinions expressed by contributing writers or columnists are not necessarily those of CC Publishing, LLC or its afﬁliates. Advertisers appearing in CC magazine present only the viewpoint of the advertisers. CC magazine is printed in the USA. We assume no responsibility for advertising claims made in this publication. All correspondence to this publication becomes the property of CC magazine. Publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without express permission of the publisher and author(s).

The Canvas Having been a banquet waitress and a restaurateur in Illinois, Becky Smith shifted gears and started earning her living from art and art related work full time when she moved to Corpus Christi 30 years ago.

2012 Year of Swag Three days before Christmas and the â&#x20AC;&#x153;AllAmerican Americanâ&#x20AC;? Jack Swagger is driving through a Five Guys for the ultimate American meal; a burger and fries. We talk over the phone about losses, personal vendettas, alliances, fans and keeping it fresh Swagger style.

06 Healthy Living 10

Inside the Center

11 Art Scene 14 STARS Events Page 15 Live Music tonight 18 Dining Guide 21 Night Life & Club guide 21 Personal Services guide 23 The Lenz

Occupy CC

They come from all walks of life: single parents, college students, professionals, business owners, unemployed, under employed, retired, homeless, servicemen and women, veterans, Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, Independents. They are the occupiers, citizens fed up with the state of our nation and the political rhetoric of the day. What began as a call for reform on Wall Street has grown into our own version of the Arab Spring and spread to hundreds of cities across the United States, including here in Corpus Christi.

Healthy Living By Susan Giesing Well, January is here, and it’s time to buckle down, watch what I eat, exercise and in general… GET HEALTHY. As I start to mourn the loss of my calorie and cholesterol laden tortilla chips, I started to think about metabolism. Working out is a great way to boost your metabolism, but in addition to working out regularly, I was curious as to which foods might help jump start my metabolism. I’m not one for believing all the ads on TV about various cocktails of pills that are going to speed your metabolism; they generally charge a lot and don’t really work. Or I should say.. they don’t work on me. I’ve tried several, and in general spent a lot of money for no result. So I decided to see if there were foods that naturally would speed the metabolism. Some of these were no brainers, but a couple surprised me: 1. Water – Yes, I said water! Researchers in Germany found that water increased metabolism by 30% and it’s a great natural appetite suppressant. 2. Green Tea – Green tea extracts boost metabolism and may also aid in weight-loss. 3. Grapefruit – Try eating ½ grapefruit with each meal, you’ll find that it’s packed in vitamin C, which will reduce insulin levels, promotes weight loss and boosts metabolism. Just make sure to check with your doctor before mixing grapefruits will prescriptions to avoid any adverse reactions. 4. Lean Turkey – Turkey is great for speeding up the metabolism. 5. Hot Peppers – This is my favorite metabolism booster. The Capsaicin in the hot peppers stimulates your body to release more stress hormones which in turn, speeds up your metabolism. Now…. If I can just eat the peppers without putting them on top of my tortilla chips! Some of the things on this list surprised me, some not, but served as a good reminder to me.

Exercising for Healthy Living Metabolism boosting exercise.. in my mind any exercise would boost metabolism, however according to most fitness gurus, strength training will really keep your metabolism moving after resistance training. If you are interested in doing some resistance training at home, try this one: Bridge Flye This metabolism boosting exercise targets your chest, core, triceps, shoulders and hamstrings. Fitness magazine advises you to lie on your back with knees bent and feet hip-width apart. Extend your arms straight to the ceiling above your shoulders, while holding an 8- to 12-lb. dumbbell in each hand. Have your palms facing in. Rise up to a bridge pose by pushing your feet into the floor and lifting your hips and lower back up. Lower your arms by bending your elbows until your upper arm and elbow reaches the floor in a T-shape and press back up for one repetition. Do a total of eight to 12 repetitions.

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OCCUPY CORPUS CHRISTI By Daniel Lucio

It’s a chilly Sunday night in Corpus Christi and a mixed bag of citizenry is slowly filing into the living room of a tiny two story house at 413 Waco Street. Across the street you can see shadows in the window of the county jail, inmates lining up for an evening check or something. It’s a stark reminder to the people attending tonight’s meeting of the problems we face as a nation. Indeed, to some, the people at this meeting are criminals already and belong across the street. But these people are here for a purpose greater than themselves, they are here for the General Assembly meeting for Occupy Corpus Christi and tonight there is much to discuss.

Some very inaccurate reporting by local news outlets would downplay the size of the occupation and also wrongfully link the local movement to a nationwide socialist organization. Possibly because of this local “Red Scare,” local union officials backed out of supporting Occupy Corpus Christi for fear of being perceived as socially progressive, despite the widespread support and endorsement by unions all around the state. For those who remember where these unions stood on the proposed corporate-backed pet-coke burning facility, Las Brisas, this came as no surprise. Some unions in our area are less concerned about worker rights and more concerned about securing contracts. So Occupy had a hiccup and some new strategies would have to worked out tonight.

The meeting began with a call for topics to be placed on the agenda and an explanation of procedures that would ensure everyone had an equal voice at the table. The group chose a neutral facilitator to help stay on the agenda and discussion quickly ensued. The focus for tonight: what to do about the actual occupation? For those in the know, it’s a common scene played out in many cities where a hard occupation is complicated by lack of resources. The question, in essence, is should the group continue trying to occupy for the sake of challenging the concept of public space and free speech, despite the fact that it is draining resources without a clear path to victory in sight? The answer for tonight: No, we would have to employ other tactics to draw people into the struggle and away from the comfort of their armchairs and sofas.

The occupation of Corpus Christi kicked off on October 15th. Corpus Christi Police had undergone a riot exercise earlier in the week in preparation of what was to come. But when only about 150 people showed up to peacefully demonstrate outside of City Hall it became clear that Occupy Christi would be something different than the occupations we were finally seeing on the nightly news. To the disappointment of some, this was not a thousand people flooding Zuccotti Park or shutting down the port of Los Angeles. But 150 people is a decent sized crowd and enough to get coverage by the local media outlets. Unfortunately for the occupiers, having so few media outlets meant that a few people controlled the fate of how this story would reach the masses of our “tiny fishing village.”

It’s a difficult proposition for a community where the poverty and problems are well hidden and easily ignored. But make no mistake; this community has HUGE problems. For example, Corpus Christi suffers from high asthma and birth defect rates related to industrial pollution, but at city hall, responsibility becomes defused and any movement toward change quickly becomes a stagnant status quo. 08

Y S TI

Corruption, or at best, the appearance of corruption, is an issue in our local government. A city council member with a personal stake in the outcome of a vote is rarely told by the legal department to recuse him or herself. So to sum it up, there is a need for a fundamental change in Corpus Christi. There is a need for a change in the conversation from “does a problem exist?” to “how can we fix these problems, now?” There is a need to Occupy Corpus Christi. The meeting ends with a good amount of positivity and everyone recounting why it is that they chose to come tonight. Everyone leaves on the same page, in order to move things forward we need to get to the root of the problems in the community. An occupation of city hall may not be the best tactic, but perhaps some creative movement building in 2012 will get this community back on track toward progress. The next event is planned for January 20th, coinciding with a national call to action by Move to Amend, a community concerned with the growing influence of corporations over elections. Until then, Occupy Corpus Christi becomes occupy Facebook, Twitter and email. For more information about the occupation on Facebook or at OccupyCorpusChristi.org

Daniel R. Lucio is a community organizer and incoming chair of the Progressive Populist Caucus of the Coastal Bend. He has served as facilitator for the General Assembly of Occupy Corpus Christi but does not represent the Occupy movement in an official capacity. 09

enter

Three Rings of Fun for Everyone!

by Samantha Koepp

Make your new year’s resolution for more family fun starting with the Shrine Circus this month, January 20-22 at American Bank Center Arena! If you are part of a family with many siblings, it’s probably difﬁcult to plan a family outing that all will enjoy. Trying to force everyone together usually results in more trouble than it’s worth. What you need is something that offers a variety of entertainment in one place that the entire family will enjoy; the Shrine Circus is the perfect event for all ages! Either from your own childhood memories or

those you hear from others, you may associate the Shrine Circus with clowns riding around in toy cars. America’s original 3-ring circus has changed since its early days and today features some of the most skilled performers from around the world. With elephants, tigers, lions, acrobats, aerialists, motorcycles, a human cannonball, clowns and synchronized performers- there’s enough excitement for the entire family! One of the best experiences of the Shrine Circus is the opportunity to be up close to majestic animals that would probably run you down in the wild. Elephants are a staple of the circus world and they take the spotlight with the largest performing elephant in the world as their leader, Mighty Bo, who can perform more than 60 tricks! Renowned

Polish trainer Bruno Blaszak showcases the talents of his tigers and lions that leap and rollover so gracefully that you’ll forget they’re from the jungle! There are also many skilled human performers that take the circus rings. European acrobatic duo, The Marinofs, ﬂy through the air amazing the crowd without a net below. At times they are hanging only by their feet or toes- a sight not to be missed! Also in the air, aerialists perform spiraling acrobatic spectacles with balance and precision. Skillful rope work, elaborate dancing and synchronized routines, is delivered by the International Georgettes. The motorcycle madness will keep you on the edge of your seats with their gravity defying stunts. You’ll never think of a cannonball the same after you see the human cannonball soaring through the air! And of course it wouldn’t be a true circus without the antics of rambunctious clowns! In addition to all of the excitement during the show, one hour prior to showtime all ticketholders are invited to a pre-party in the circus rings for a chance to meet the clowns and performers! For the kids or the kids at heart, you can purchase tickets to ride an elephant or a pony, get your face painted, take a photo with one of the clowns or performers and jump around in a bounce house. There really is something for everyone at the Shrine Circus. Get the family together for a day of excitement and start 2012 with an experience like no other! Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 361-881-8499. American Bank Center is Corpus Christi’s premier event center providing unprecedented guest experiences. For more information, visit us online at www. americanbankcenter.com.

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INSIDE THE

Art Scene

A Few Items Of Note For December

Art Center of Corpus Christi 100 Shoreline Blvd Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Tel: 361.884.6406 Fax: 361.884.8836 ArtCenterCC.org Hours:10a – 4p Everyday except Monday Monday CLOSED Admission is always FREE Encaustic Works by Michelle Belto Nationally acclaimed encaustic artist Michelle Belto, from San Antonio, uses hand-made paper and molten beeswax to create contemporary paintings so rich in texture and luminosity that is hard to describe. Michelle will also lead a workshop in January on how to use wax and resin to create glowing textural paintings.

Art Museum of South Texas 1902 N. Shoreline Blvd Corpus Christi, TX 78401 Tel: 361.825.3500 Fax: 361.825.3520 STIA.org Hours: Tues - Sat 10a to 5p Sundays 1p to 5p Closed Mondays & Holidays Admission: Adults $6 Seniors (60 and older) $4 Active Military $4 Students (12+) $2 Free: - All members - Children under age 12

K Space Contemporary 415 D Starr Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 361.887.6834 KSpaceContemporary.org Hours:Wed-Sat 11a – 5p Free Admission

First Friday ArtWalk January 6th 2012, 5:30-9 pm (ArtWalk) Saturday12 to 4pm, and Sunday 2 to 6 pm Main Gallery Constructed Realities: Sculptural Works Joshua Goode &Lesli Robertson These two artists from Dallas, using construction materials in their work, will be giving gallery talks at 10am on Saturday January 7th at 10 am

Treehouse Art Collective LLC 309 North Water Street, Suite D Corpus Christi, TX 78401 361.882.4822 TreehouseArtCC.com Hours: Tue-Sat 11a– 8p Sunday Noon to 6p Free Admission

State of the Arts: CCISD Middle &High School Art It’s hard to believe that many of these students are taking art for the ﬁrst time. Each student’s personal expression is valid and in order to have their opinions considered they must be considerate of others’ points of view. Art is a powerful teacher.

Rockport Center for the Arts 902 Navigation Circle Rockport, Texas 78382 Tel: 361.729.5519 Fax: 361.729.3551 RockportArtCenter.com Hours: Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10a –4p Sundays, 1p – 4p Closed Mondays Always Free Admission Currents & Miniatures On display through January 28th All Member Artists:The annual all-member exhibition highlights our family of artists and provides a chance to stand out as a Merit Artist the following year. An invited juror will chose ﬁve Merit Artists, and a sixth is selected by popular vote. Work on display through January 28th, 2012. Currents Juror: Tracy Saucier, Director,Beeville Art Museum.

- Texas A&M University-CC students Art of the Dive: Portraits of the Deep January 20th through March 11th, 2012 The exhibition features 62 paintings, sculptures and photographs by marine painters and sculptors who portray underwater life forms and habitat. “Fan Dancer” ©Ronnie Willford, 2011 Free Day at the Art Museum January 5th, 2012, from 10am - 5pm Family Day January 29th, 2012, from 1pm - 3pm Check the museum’s website event calendar for Moms& Tots and other events throughout the month.

Festival of the Arts The Merriman-Bobys House 1521 North Chaparral Street Corpus Christi, Texas 78401 CCFestivalArts.org By Appointment Only Always Free Admission

TreehouseArtCC.com

*Something NEW!* Festival Of The Arts welcomes you to their new permanent home! Open House Party on First Friday, December 2nd, 6p to 9p

Art Star & Hot Spot These galleries are dark for the month.

Join us for Art, Music & MORE!! 11

Featured Artist: Diane Weiner Well known for her polymer clay jewelry, Diane’s wall pieces are very interesting handmade paper collages with paint, objects and more. Opening Reception First Friday, January 6th, 6p to 9p

The

Canvas

Exposing Local Artists…

By Georgia Griffin

Becky Smith “I’m from Illinois. I lived in Peoria, and in Chicago, a little bit. Peoria’s actually a very pretty city. When I moved away, you know, I wanted out of there, ‘cause I was young… but when I go back I look around and say ‘Wow. This is pretty.’ Here we were supposed to seed the countryside, you know that was Lady Bird’s idea. Here it fried, for one thing, but there, it’s all floral. It’s all very pretty. Peoria’s in a valley, so it’s green, it’s got little hills and the river.”

thing about dolls. I’m kinda getting known for it, it’s kinda scary. Look at (William) Wilhemi[of Wilhelmi-Holland Gallery on South Chaparral] he’s got his little monsters. That was my favorite thing that he did. When he got into the boot thing I thought, “Nice, but I miss those little monsters.”Wilhelmi has his archives and they have the monsters and everything. I’ll take you sometime. Ben Holland also knows me – he sent me an invitation to a show a while ago – when I went he said, ‘Hey, there’s Becky!’I thought it was so sweet of him.”

Having been a banquet waitress and a restauranteur in Illinois, Becky Smith shifted gears and started earning her living from art and art related work full time when she moved to Corpus Christi 30 years ago. “I do faux painting and paper, like right now I’m hanging murals over at McDonald’s. Today we hung like 12 panels. When I hang murals, that’s not my own work, but the faux painting is and I have one coming up in January.”

Looking at a piece Becky’s currently working on we compared notes on some of the challenges of assemblage work. “This isn’t quite finished, the leg fell off, I can’t find paste that wants to hold metal to wood. I’ve got all these elements that I need to work with, I had put it all together then I came in the next morning and it was all laying apart with the leg off. I used Liquid Nails, that’s what fell off, so then I went back to the 6000. I think it’s gonna hold.”

Her home is a work of art unto itself. I haven’t seen the like since the apartment of our brilliant neighbor, the late Stella Waitzkin, back in NYC. Becky has a studio supply room crammed so full of delights that it makes me drool. Eventually these items find their way into her artwork, but the room is so full, she mostly creates her works in the kitchen.Though she has recently been doing works on canvas, the majority of her work isassemblage. Consisting of a quirky cluster of dolls, toys, household +/or other childhood items, they’re pulled together with some unique twist conveying an underlying idea or message.

Becky’s a marvel at toying with different materials and taking an unexpected turn. Encaustic is a wax medium generally used on canvas. But in Becky’s hands… “I had some encaustic (pieces) but I sent them off to one of my sons – because they were so light. I took some Styrofoam I got from one of the construction workers, and it’s a block, so it’s solid. I smashed it up and it looked heavy; well it looked heavy after it got painted. I spray-painted it black and then I worked on it with encaustic. I put encaustic on in three or four colors, and

The foundation for Becky’s interest in art comes from… “My mother and my grandmother, but mostly my grandmother, because she had the time. She always did art in the house and took the time to show me how.And then when I was in school I just always had to do it.” Like many other successful artists, including yours truly, Becky has no real secondary education in art. “I would take a class once in a while, like I took a Del Mar class for pottery, but I didn’t really like it, because all day long I’m filthy, and I gotta work in the clay and I’ll stay that way, so I’ll be like that for 12 hours and get up and do it again. I had an “A” when I quit, it wasn’t like I wasn’t doing it… but I think I more wanted to make little monsters or something, and we were doing the wheel. I don’t know… (she laughs) It didn’t seem like I was going to get any better, either. So that was my only little higher education I guess, was a class like that.”

Monsters? “Well, I think it’s dolls.

I have a 12

I made three of them. I’d go to hand it to someone they’d go ‘wow, I thought it was heavy’… so I sent ‘em to my son that’s in Washington because they’re light weight. The whole box is heavier than the Styrofoam encaustic pieces. We’ll see if he likes it. One of my friends said, ‘Well, what does someone want to do with those?’ I said, ‘It’s art!’” There are a lot of challenges when you choose to make a career in art: finding your voice, experimenting with media are the fun parts, creating and exploring; then there are finding and approaching the right galleries and other venues, gaining an audience, making a name. Even after 30 years, Becky deals with the same hurdles facing other less established artists. “I had some of my lamps in Austin, but the place closed down because of back taxes. It was a co-op but they were trying to make the artists pay the taxes on it, but we couldn’t do that. I’ve shown those around here too, like at K Space (where we met) and Flour Bluff – but they’re selling jewelry and when people go in to buy jewelry, they’re not looking to spend $250 on a lamp. They might buy a piece of jewelry for that, but they’re not there to spend it on the art.” “People say this (house) is a shop. I had a couple people come in, they were buying things, but I don’t like it. They would offer you less, for one thing. People expect you to give them things. Then there was somebody representing a store, and they wanted to show people’s art, they had no idea how to handle art. They had them all piled on top of each other in their car. I found out it was over by K Space, and when I went by they had it just on the ground. I hadn’t given her one, but I wanted to say, ‘Geez, you don’t do that!’ There’s no respect.” Becky started out her local art experience at the Art Center, and still belongs. “You’re into the whole thing for selling, actually. If it’s not written up and no one even knows it’s down there it’s not good. At the Art Center it’s all open and people come through. I like showing there.” I don’t know all the artists around… I just stated going down to K Space a few years ago… I know a few, like Wilhelmi and Helen Williams, but no, I don’t know a lot of the artists around town.A lot of people here do seascapes and things like that. I’d like to be able to do it, but thenput my own little twist on it. What I think I need to learn, well a lot of things, but I’d like to learn to bring in light.” That’s a little amusing, because it’s true; Becky’s work is a bit dark. It’s dark with a humor, though, with a lilt to it. As human creatures, we go there sometimes, it’s the nature of things, but in Becky’s work you can usually find a smile and a way out of the darkness. We talked about some of the challenges showing artwork around town. “I hear the art scene is improving, I hear it is, but then when I actually go there... Well, when I went to K Space on that First Fridayin September (“Shockingly Spectacular Super September Salon and Art Sale”) I was surprised how many people were there (750!). A lot of them are coming for the drinks and the food, and the bus ride, but at least they are exposed. A lot of galleries around town, they didn’t make it.” 13

Events Page Shrine Circus January 20-22 2012 Beach Parking Permits The new year means its time to get a new parking sticker. Any local with a 2011 sticker will be ignored by all the cool kids after January 20th! They are on sale now at area retailers. Do your part and help maintain our beaches!

Seventh Annual Fairy Tale Ball Saturday, January 28, 2012, 07:00pm - 11:59pm @ Solomon P. Ortiz Center Wish Upon a Star at Fairy Tale Ball 2012 Honoring past presidents of the Junior League of Corpus Christi. Each ticket includes valet parking, heavy appetizers, entertainment by The Sophisticates, drop box, bid board & silent auction, and lots of fun add-ons at the event. For $100 it’s definitely the BEST fundraiser ticket in town. Contact Betsy Herring or Helen Tarrance, for more information at Fairytaleball@jlcc.org

America’s original 3-ring circus has changed since its early days and today features some of the most skilled performers from around the world. With elephants, tigers, lions, acrobats, aerialists, motorcycles, a human cannonball, clowns and synchronized performers- there’s enough excitement for the entire family!

Art of Work Through Sunday, Jan 15, 2012 – Faculty members in the Department of Art at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will display their recent works during “The Art of Work” exhibition on view through Sunday, Jan 15, 2012, at the Art Museum of South Texas. Participating artists include Jack Gron, Greg Reuter; Barbra Riley; Louis Katz; Joe Peña; Ryan O’Malley; and Amanda Garcia. The Art Museum of South Texas, 1902 N. Shoreline Blvd., is affiliated with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. For more information, call 361.825.3504

Saturday January 7th

The Annual Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival

celebrates the meaning of Christmas in music, drama and dance.

Christmas spills over into the cool, quiet days of early January when First Christian Church, 3401 Santa Fe, stages its gift of pageantry to the communities of South Texas. Doors open an hour before the 5:00 and the 7:00 p.m. performances on Saturday and Sunday at First Christian Church, 3401 Santa Fe. While admission is free, donations of non-perishable foodstuffs are accepted on behalf of the “Good King Wenceslas” fund. The goods are donated to the Food Bank.

Every Saturday 10:00am - 02:00pm

Friday, Jan 6 Through Sunday, Feb 19 Little Shop of Horrors auroraartsthea

tre.com By Howard As hman. Seymour Krel bourn is a poor young m an working at a run-down ﬂower shop on skid row when he encounters a miracle. He discovers an alien plant after a total eclipse of the sun. Af ter bringing the pl ant to the stor e, he gains fame, fo rtune, and lo ve. The only defect is that the plant feeds on human bloo d. Seymour an d the plant make a deal that if th e plant continues to bring Seymou r positive attention, he will in turn co ntinue to feed the pl ant human bo dies.

TIDE TURNERS January 3 | 10am - Noon: I am OHMazing Dive in and join our FREE Tide Turners Kids Club designated for kids ages ﬁve and under!

Join us for our monthly Tide Turners events on the ﬁrst Tuesday of every month at the Undersea Children’s Play Area. We’ll have yoga for youth, arts and crafts, cookie decorating with Great American Cookies and more. lapalmera.com

Art Center of Corpus Christi Family Art Time Bring the family, walk the bay front, and visit your local Art Center to participate in “Family Art Time.” This free, ongoing series of art activities geared towards families is graciously sponsored by the Coastal Bend Community Foundation, as part of their 30th Anniversary Celebration. artcentercc.org

Treasure Hunt! Corpus Christi Museum of Science & History Every Saturday 1:30pm - 02:15pm Winners will be awarded ribbons and all other participants will be recognized.. For more information about the day’s theme, please visit the Musuem’s website. www.ccmuseum. com or Phone (361) 826-4667 Free for Members, non members free with paid admission

The Co Compi

Live Music Tonight

Sponsored by

The Coastal Bend's Most Complete Live Music Calendar Compiled by Ronnie Narmour

Sunday, Jan. 1st

Wednesday. Jan. 11th

Tumble Dry Low @ Bernie’s Beach House

Open Jam w/ Wolf Jaw @ Flats Lounge PA Rockers @ Bernie’s Beach House Songwriters Contest/ Flatbroke @ House of Rock Medicare Band @ Moby Dick’s

Monday, Jan. 2nd Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Dr. Rockits Acoustic Music w/ Art Barrera @ House of Rock

Tuesday, Jan. 3rd Antone & Atomic Blues Band @ Dr. Rockits Open Mic w/ Rev. Matt Martinez Scarecrow People @ Executive Surf Club Clarissa Serna @ Revolution Bar & Grill

Wednesday. Jan. 4th Open Jam w/ Wolf Jaw @ Flats Lounge PA Rockers @ Bernie’s Beach House Medicare Band @ Moby Dick’s Beer & Berto Show @ House of Rock

Thursday, Jan. 5th Bleu Edmondson @ Brewster Street Ice House Fallujah/ Aegaeon/ Fall @ House of Rock

Friday, Jan. 6th Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Lounge Spazmatics @ Brewster Street Ice House The Shakedown @ House of Rock

Saturday, Jan. 7th The Roast of Roman @ House of Rock 17th Annual Rockport Gospel Music Festival

Sunday, Jan. 8th Open Electric Jam w/ Rockin’ Ricke @ Tarpon Ice House Tumble Dry Low @ Bernie’s Beach House 17th Annual Rockport Gospel Music Festival

Monday, Jan. 9th Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Dr. Rockits Acoustic Monday w/ Benny Perez @ House of Rock

Tuesday, Jan. 10th Antone & Atomic Blues Band @ Dr. Rockit Open Mic w/ Rev. Matt Martinez @ House of Rock Scarecrow People @ Executive Surf Club Clarissa Serna @ Revolution Bar & Grill

Hours Sun, Tues-Thurs... 11:00AM till 10:00PM Closed MONDAY Fri-Sat 11:00AM-Midnight

Thursday, Jan. 12th Ballabajoomba Poetry Slam @ House of Rock

Live music Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Friday, Jan. 13th

Burgers, Seafood, Salads, Sandwiches

Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Lounge Venomous Maximus/ Bertha/ Switchblade Jesus @ House of Rock

520 S Shoreline Corpus Christi, TX 78401 361-726-3533

Saturday, Jan. 14th 2nd Saturday Sing-Along Piano Show @ Brewster Street Ice House Luke Nelson & Promise of the Real @ House of Rock

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Sunday, Jan. 15th Aaron Lewis @ Selena Auditorium Open Electric Jam w/ Rockin’ Ricke @ Tarpon Ice House Tumble Dry Low @ Bernie’s Beach House

Monday, Jan. 16th Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Dr. Rockits

Tuesday, Jan. 17th Antone & Atomic Blues Band @ Dr. Rockits Open Mic w/ Rev. Matt Martinez @ House of Rock Scarecrow People @ Executive Surf Club Clarissa Serna @ Revolution Bar & Grill

Wednesday, Jan. 18th Open Jam w/ Wolf Jaw @ Flats Lounge PA Rockers @ Bernie’s Beach House Led Zepplin 2 @ Brewster Street Ice House Beer & Berto Show @ House of Rock Medicare Band @ Moby Dick’s

Saturday, Jan. 21st

Friday, Jan. 27th

Metal Shop @ Brewster Street Ice House Keith Sykes @ 3rd Coast Theater

Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Lounge Paciﬁca Quartet/ Wann-dar Tan @ House of Rock

Sunday, Jan. 22nd Open Electric Jam w/ Rockin’ Ricke @ Tarpon Ice House Franken Bike #1 @ House of Rock Tumble Dry Low @ Bernie’s Beach House

Thursday, Jan. 19th Matt’s Local Showcase @ House of Rock

Friday, Jan. 20th Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Lounge Another Level @ Brewster Street Ice House Friends and Lovers Art Show @ House of Rock

Saturday, Jan. 28th Burlesque Show @ House of Rock The Other Side of Wonderland @ House of Rock

Monday, Jan. 23rd

Sunday, Jan. 29th

Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Dr. Rockits Acoustic Monday w/ Benny Perez @ House of Rock

Open Electric Jam w/ Rockin’ Ricke @ Tarpon Ice House Tumble Dry Low @ Bernie’s Beach House

Tuesday, Jan. 24th

Monday, Jan. 30th

Antone & Atomic Blues Band @ Dr. Rockits Open Mic w/ Rev. Matt Martinez @ House of Rock Scarecrow People @ Executive Surf Club Clarissa Serna @ Revolution Bar & Grill

Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Dr. Rockits Acoustic Night w/ Art Barrera @ House of Rock

Wednesday, Jan. 25th

Antone & Atomic Blues Band @ Dr. Rockits Open Mic w/ Rev. Matt Martinez @ House of Rock Scarecrow People @ Executive Surf Club Clarissa Serna @ Revolution Bar & Grill

Open Jam w/ Wolf Jaw @ Flats Lounge PA Rockers @ Bernie’s Beach House Beer & Berto Show @ House of Rock HOBO @ House of Rock Medicare Band @ Moby Dick’s

Tuesday, Jan. 31st

Thursday, Jan. 26th Roger Creager @ Brewster Street Ice House

If your venue or show isn’t listed, let us know! we’ll get your dates in the next issue. Roger Creager will be at Brewster Street Ice House Thursday, Jan. 26th

The Coastal Bend’s Most Complete Live Music Listings

Catch Switchblade Jesus Friday the 13th at House of Rock with Venomous Maximus and Bertha

2012: The Year of Swag

by Samantha Koepp

Three days before Christmas and the “All-American American” Jack Swagger is driving through a Five Guys for the ultimate American meal; a burger and fries. We talk over the phone about losses, personal vendettas, alliances, fans and keeping it fresh Swagger style.

through the same regimen and have similar goals. Vickie Guerrero is who the real alliance is with; Ziggler gets to reap the benefits of teaming with the Swagger. Q: Do you see continuing the team with Ziggler this year? A: Anything is possible. We don’t always agree but we are the best tag team in the WWE. When we look at each other in the ring we know what we are going to do, it’s very dangerous.

Q: What is Jack Swagger looking forward to in 2012? A: Well some could say 2011 was a disappointment- I had wins but lots of losses. I’ve been to the top and I am not going to be happy until I become the WWE Champion and even more than that the United States Champion. There’s lots of good stuff to expect this year that should be entertaining. This year will be the Year of Swag!

Q: You have quite a few signature moves, are you working on introducing anything new? A: I am always looking for new things. The WWE is a revolving door that is always expanding and you have to have an arsenal ready. As a wrestler you always have to be adapting- everyone’s styles are different. Stagger always has to stay fresh.

Q: With the recent losses, would you say you’ve been holding back to give fans something big for 2012?

Q: Do you go out in the cities you visit? Do you get recognized by people a lot?

A: I would not say I’ve been holding back. I’m still evolving as a wrestler, still getting better. I didn’t accomplish what I wanted to in 2011 and I’m a little pissed off. It’s like putting gas on a fire; it’s a scary thing. I’m a former world champion so I want to be back on top.

A: I get mobbed by the ladies all the time- looking’s for free but touching’s gonna cost you your ankles! I try to get out in the cities we visit; being from a small town in Oklahoma the WWE has given me the opportunity to experience different cultures. Fans are who we do this for and it’s great when fans get so excited over just an autograph.

Q: What do you think of Mark Henry flying off the handle recently?

Q: You became interested in wrestling at a very young age and you now have a newborn son. Are you going to try and get him into wrestling?

A: Well Mark’s an X factor being the world’s strongest man. He’s on an impressive title run with his hotstreak and revamping his image. He hit me on the back with a metal chair during the last Raw in order to make a statement to Big Show.

A: Yeah, wrestling is the greatest sport in the planet no matter what style you get into, it makes you better at everything you do. Whether in athletics or in the classroom, in all walks of life wrestling will make you successful.

Q: Did you take that personally? A: Yeah I took it personally. I will get an American flag chair and make my own statement but it’s all about timing. You don’t take down the king in front of no one, you take him down in front of his kingdom.

Q: What can your fans in Corpus Christi expect on January 9th? A: Last time we were in Corpus Christi, me and Rey Mysterio took a dip in the Gulf of Mexico and someone’s going to take a dip this time. Corpus Christi fans do a great job and we really try to give them extra. They really give us fuel to do everything even better. We are going to keep you on the edge of your seat!

Q: Your alliance with Ziggler, is it just business or more of a brotherhood? A: We are both former Division I athletes so we have a natural bond. We’ve been 16

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Dining Guide Tango Tea Room

LOS CABOS Cafe & Cantina Authentic Mexican Cuisine

Yin Yang Fandango & Tango Tea Room Los Cabos Cafe & Cantina in Flour Bluff serves authentic Mexican cuisine made from the freshest ingredients. We have an outdoor patio (smoking allowed) and a full bar.

Live entertainment Thursday through Sunday. 15% discount for seniors and military with proper ID. Kids Eat Free!

939-8300 Phone 939-8302 FAX 9601 S.P.I.D.

With 30+ years of German baking experience and tradition in Germany, owners Juergen & Brigitte Kazenmayer have brought the original tastes, aromas and joys of German breads, pastries, pies and cakes to Corpus Christi, Texas. Committed to maintaining the highest German standard, every product is handmade following age-old German traditions and recipes. There are no short-cuts at JB’s. Every product is made from scratch. We want you to experience the best of Germany in Texas 15137 S.P.I.D. On the Island 361-949-5474 Open Tues - Sat 7 am - 7 pm Sunday 8 am - 6 pm

The Tango Tea Room brings a taste of Austin to Downtown Corpus. Tango serves a variety of Mediterranean and world cuisine, including some of the best vegetarian and vegan fare you can ﬁnd in Corpus. We also specialize in vegan and gluten-free desserts, cupcakes and mufﬁns. Come on down and get your hippie on! 505 S. Water Street in downtown Corpus Christi. 361-883-9123 Tangofandango.com

Holiday Hours:

10-3 Monday through Thursday 10-9 Friday & Saturday 12-6 Sunday

S.P .I.D

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Voted Best Full Service Restaurant 2011 Taste of the Island

Intracoastal Waterfront Dining • NEW menu selections Lunch specials starting at $5.99 • Spectacular sunsets • Scenic view of boats, barges and wildlife • Live music Friday & Saturday nights by local artists • Large “sea-level” patio for parties and events

Located on Padre Island Under the JFK Bridge 13309 S. Padre Island Dr. www.docsseafoodandsteaks.com

361.949.6744 Open Daily 11AM

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Libations Amusements 18 holes of miniature golf Open 11 am - 2 am Kitchen Closes @ 1 am 2034 State Highway 361 361 749- Taco (8226)

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Dining Guide

Snoopy’s and Scoopy’s Live Music ● Art Shows

Coffee Waves Port A 1007 State Hwy 361 Port Aransas 361-749-0825 Open 6am-Midnight

Buy One Gelato Get One Free! Only in Port A

Snoopy’s Pier was literally a product of the Redfish Wars, a battle over commercial fishing rights in Texas. Ernie Buttler realized the Redfish Wars signaled the beginning of the end of the commercial fishing industry in Texas. So Ernie decided to give up trying to catch fish and shrimp and start cooking them instead. In August 1980 Ernie and his wife, Corliss, purchased a small bait stand and burger joint with a fishing pier on the Intracoastal Waterway. Over time, the place was transformed with a lot of hard work and patience into a family-friendly seafood restaurant. Special attention is given to providing local harvested quality seafood at affordable prices. Scoopy’s was opened by Ernie’s wife and features home made soups, salads and sandwiches using only Texas products. Scoopy’s is proud of their shrimp salad, known by locals as the best in town. They also have great house made desserts and ice cream by the scoop. 13313 S.P.I.D. · Corpus Christi (361) 949-8815 · snoopyspier.com

C Bar

C Bar offers organic gourmet coffees, artisan level espresso, fresh-baked pastries, assorted panini sandwiches, frozen fruit smoothies and gelato. In addition to CoffeeWaves’ popular menu, C Bar has a full premium bar featuring microbrewery beer, an extensive wine list and super premium liquor. Taking advantage of this unique combination, C Bar serves fresh fruit gelato daiquiris and piña coladas and coffee Bailey’s with gelato. C Bar’s signature drink? Martini Floats! 361-749-0704 165 Social Circle in Cinnamon Shore 5009 Hwy 361in Port Aransas

Town & Country Cafe has great breakfast and lunch specials every day, offering great food at a fair price. Town & Country Cafe is a great location for business meetings and client luncheons and there is no charge for the use of the meeting room.

4228 South Alameda Corpus Christi, TX 78412

(361) 992-0360 Locally Owned and Operated

Taste The Difference! The Gourmet Pizza Our famous Padre Pizza dough is handmade daily. Our sauces are created from the freshest tomatoes and seasoned with our own Chef’s blend of natural herbs and spices. Our lasagna made from scratch daily is the most tasty and delicious you will ever try, and our salad selections are prepared to order using the freshest produce available. 14993 SPID On the Island 949-0787

949-7737 � 15370 SPID- On the Island Located on Padre Island, Island Italian has been serving the community since 1987. A family friendly restaurant, Island Italian also serves beer and wine and is available for private parties of up to 53 people. Flat screen TV and DVD / VHS for meetings. Delivery on Padre Island after 5pm. Daily Lunch and Dinner Specials. Hours of Operation: Monday - Thursday 11am to 9:30pm Saturday 10am to 10pm Sunday 5pm to 9:30pm

Located at Ennis Joslin & Ocean Drive Featuring a buffet seven days a week, twice daily. Dine-in amenities include Big Screen TVs, Free WiFi, Daily Beer Specials, Texas A&M Sand Dollars accepted. Military Appreciation on Tuesdays. Visit pizzastate.com for daily specials and online coupons. College Student and Senior Discounts. 6133 S. Alameda, Corpus Christi Tx 78412 (361) 993-3283

d o o f a e S t a e r G and Burgers All you can eat shrimp Wednesdays are back! Thursdays Prime Rib with Twice Baked Potato

Libations Amusements 18 Holes of Miniature Golf

Open 11 am - 2 am Kitchen Closes @ 1 am

One Bite & You’re Hooked

2034 State Highway 361

361 749- Taco (8226)

801 Tarpon, Port Aransas, TX 78373 Open 2pm to 2am Every Day! 361-749-1990 NFL Sunday Ticket, Big 10 Network on 6 Big Screens Happy Hour Monday - Friday 3-7pm Live Music, Never a Cover Book your holiday party, birthday or special event now! In Ace Hardware Strip Center

Personal Services

15201 S.P.I.D Suite 110 On The Island Call for reservations 949-0794 theislandsedgehairsalon.com Roni, Owner/Stylist

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Our goal at The Island’s Edge Hair Salon is to educate our clients. The focus will be on enhancing, balancing & maintaining a realistic hair lifestyle. Owner / Stylist Roni has 19 years experience as a stylist in elite salons and earned 2nd place in a prestigious national color competition.

Live Music

1023 Hwy 361, Ste A pORT aRANSAS tx 361-749-joes

It’s not the oldest bar in Port Aransas but it IS the coldest. Always entertaining, The Flats is where the “locals” hang out. Pool, darts, juke box and live music on the weekends. It’s never too slow and it’s never too busy; get to know the bartenders by name, and you’ll never wait for a drink! Say hi to owners John and Lynda, and meet some new friends!

Night Life Night Life

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STARS VIP Dinner & Lady Antebellum Concert

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High Heels For Hope @ Mansion Royal

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Coastal Bend Fashion Showcase @ American Bank Center

Craft Training Center Coastal Bend Employers Need People Trained in the Following Trades IMMEDIATELY!

Welding Pipefitting Instrument Fitting Crane Operations Industrial Painting Scaffold Building Field Safety / Safety Tech The Craft Training Center of the Coastal Bend works with local employers to ensure they have the skilled workers they need. You can have a rewarding, high-paying career and be in high demand for years to come. Find out how Craft Training Center of the Coastal Bend can help you achieve your goals. Call today or visit www.ctccb.org

Craft Training Center of the Coastal Bend 7433 Leopard Street Corpus Christi, TX 78409 (361) 289-1636 Toll Free: (866) 237-5455

Welding Night Classes at Ingleside ISD beginning Spring 2011. Call CTC for details.

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Carpet Cleaning

Embroidery/Monograms

Available for any and all occasions

SisterChicks

Embroidery-Monograms

The best prices in the area for your Embroidery & Monogram needs No minimums !

Party Rentals to Port A and Corpus Leave the driving to us

Call SisterChicks @ 361-853-3240

King Service Cleaning Window Cleaning Service

(361) 949-1161 (361) 877-LIMO (5466) www.ccparadiselimos.com

Commercial, Residential & New Construction Clean-Up

15201 S. Padre Island Dr. Suite 250 Corpus Christi, TX 78418

Free Estimates 25 percent off for first time customers! We do windows... inside, outside, screens, sills, paint removal, and up to 4 stories' worth of work.

The Sewing Ladies & Clothing Resale 720 Dallas • Portland 361.643.5512

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855-NEC-RD4U | www.necretail.com NEC Retail is a division of Nueces Electric Cooperative. You do not have to buy NEC Retailâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s products to continue to receive quality distribution services from Nueces Electric Cooperative.