CC Magazine November 2011

CC MAGAZINE

November 2011

MR. SMARTY PANTS WHO’S THE NEXT MAYOR OF CORPUS CHRISTI?

GAMBLING IN THE COASTAL BEND WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

TOM WAITS BAD AS ME REVIEW BY RONNIE NARMOUR

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CC MAGAZINE

JEFF CRAFT Publisher

JCRAFT@CCMAGONLINE.COM

DALE RANKIN

Editor in Chief / Co-publisher EDITOR@CCMAGONLINE.COM

JAN PARK-RANKIN

Advertising Director/ Co-publisher ADS@CCMAGONLINE.COM

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Samantha Koepp, Dale Rankin, Georgia Griffin, Ronnie Narmour, Aletha Eyerman-Craft

PHOTOGRAPHY Miles Merwin, Jan Rankin, Dale Rankin, Ronnie Narmour, Georgia Griffin

From the editor...

I decided to take a run from the Red Tide last week and took a driving tour through the Heart of Texas. The itinerary included Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Houston will be next. The thing that most jumps out when you drive the interior spine of our state is summed up in a word – growth.

Our state is under construction because it seems more and more Americans want to become Texas-Americans. Downtown Dallas is getting taller and wider by the month. From Deep Elm on one side to the West End on the other Downtown Dallas is getting, well, Bigger Than Dallas. Fort Worth is also growing but of the major Texas cities has done the best job so far of maintaining its unique Fort Worthness, especially on its South side. It is a modern city but very livable.

Austin is Austin. The vibe that runs from Oltorf up Congress to the base of the Capitol is of a vibrant but livable space with all the amenities of a metropolis with a real Texas flair. It’s a good model for how a modern downtown can drive forward without cluttering up the atheistics.

Just down I-35, San Antonio’s downtown has had a facelift in the past decade that has transformed it from a Big Town to a City without giving up its past.

The quaint King William District just off downtown has turned into an arts and entertainment corridor that rivals any in Texas. Unfortunately for us it was done largely due to the re-location there of the headquarters of two businesses – Whataburger and H.E.B - who pulled up stakes and left town with the type of jobs that we desperately need to keep our college graduates close to home. The companies have become the cornerstones of a neighborhood that might have been our Heritage Park.

The development in Texas is driven by the addition of 5 million new citizens who have swelled the state’s population since 2000. Houston alone gained more than a million people in the last census and the area between west Austin and East San Antonio another million-plus. All told nearly 3 million new residents moved to within a four-hour drive of our city and they are finding their way south to extend our tourist season past the tradition summer months into the shoulder seasons of spring and fall.

But I noticed as I drove back into the north side of Corpus Christi that our city so far is bereft of the same boom in construction we are seeing across the state. When the state grew by 14 percent in the 2000 census we grew by four percent – just one point above natural growth. Then in the 2010 census when the cities just north of us grew by just under 3 million people we grew by about 50,000. That’s not to say growth for growth’s sake is always a good thing. But the choices that urbanization brings are not to be dismissed and the urban lifestyle with its vibrancy forms a critical mass that attracts the people and experiences that make for great cities. A wider variety of choices makes for a richer living experience.

We’re starting to see some progress but if there is one lesson that the current growth around the state teaches it is that while city governments have a role in regulating and directing growth it is private enterprise and investment that drives real progress and private investment tends to flow to cities that help corporations attract top talent. Just ask Austin.

In talking to those who live in the cities to our north it is an unavoidable reality that we are perceived as insular, slow to adapt to new ideas, and unfortunately perceived rightly or wrongly as being stuck in an old paradigm that has yet to adapt to the Age of Information and the new economy that it drives; even anti-growth.

In the next few issues we will try to explore what is working in other cities and how those ideas can apply to the Coastal Bend.

The decade that began in 2010 has the possibility to be the decade of our breakout. There are some benefits to lagging a bit behind the pack. We now have several different models for progress that have worked around our state to pick from. We can see what has worked elsewhere and what has not.

If the 2000s were the time to Keep Austin Weird, maybe the teens are the decade to Get Corpus Moving.

Dale Rankin

© 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).

kin

12 The Canvas Mary Beach is a petite lady with amazing energy. Reviewing Mary’s book of her artwork you get a sense of her free-flowing brush and knife work, perfectly suited to her colorful subject matter. “This is something we just started building, a book of my artwork. These pictures are not all that great; they’re right off of our printer. You can’t really see [the details in] these pictures; this is just to give people an idea, when I’m going out to different places… we’re just getting started on the book.”

16

Bad As Me

At 61, Tom Waits is truly a marvel of American artistry. He’s the junkyard dog who never quite made it into mainstream but managed to put out 23 recordings since 1973 and cement his status as the King of Melancholy. Once again Waits succeeds in turning a bad attitude into an art form.

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16

07 Ask Mr. Smarty-Pants 10

Inside the Center

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

CORPUS CHRISTI

08

T E X A S

Casino Gambling in Corpus Christi What are the prospects of the Coastal Bend getting casino gambling in the near future? The odds are better than what you might think. The state legislature in its last session considered seventeen different gaming plans, and State Representative Todd Hunter has made several trips to Las Vegas to meet with decision makers in the large casinos who have expressed interest in expanding in the Coastal Bend if gaming is legalized in Texas. As chair of the House Calendars Committee, Hunter is in a good position to make sure his district is included in any move to allow casinos to be built in the state.

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Ask Mr. Smarty Pants He Knows Everything There Is To Know About Corpus Christi

mrsmartypants@ccmagonline.com

Dear Mr. Smarty Pants, I am a longtime resident of the area and I have a question that only Mr. Smarty Pants can answer? Who will be the next Mayor of Corpus Christi? Is Joe Gazin running?

John Paul Jones Island Well, Mr. Jones that’s a hypothetical question and while Mr. Smarty Pants knows all when it comes to the current state of affairs his crystal ball when it comes to politics in particular is a bit hazy.

Especially when it comes to city politics where anyone with a car that can get them to the County Courthouse to file can run for office and have a chance to win.

We are entering a new era of Corpus Christi politics in our next election cycle when the city elections will be included on the November ballots when every four years we alternately elect our governor and our president. In the past less than 25,000 voters turned up for those votes which have been held in the spring but in the last several gubernatorial elections about 60,000 voters showed up and in the Presidential races just over 100,000. That means from now on the future of our city will be decided by people who didn’t care enough to show up and vote in city races in Nelda Martinez the past. So it’s anybody’s guess how those previous non-voters who voted with their feet will cast their ballots but we can say for certain they will make up the majority of voters from now on. Be careful what you ask for.

Mr. Smarty Pants is all in favor of dumbing down everything from cell phones to post hole diggers but he’s not sure that dumbing down the electoral process is such a great idea. We’ll see how that comes out.

What we can say for sure is that no one is running for the Mayor’s seat to make money. The job takes a lot of time and pays only $9,000 per year.

Anyone in it for the money would do better to get a job roofing houses or as a deck hand in Port A. The job does get you a seat at a lot of Rubber Chicken Dinners and blisters from cutting a lot of ribbons and calls in the middle of the night because a little old lady’s cat is up a tree. It also requires some acting chops to allow her/him to sit there with a straight face while the Kook of the

Week exhorts the Mayor and City Council to put an end to the coverup of the faked Moon landing or to take an up or down vote on whether the world is really flat, “Have you ever been to West Texas!? Huh? Well go to West Texas and look around and then tell me the world ain’t flat. I tell you whut.”

But to answer your question about who will be the next Mayor we can say who it will not be and as of this writing who the choices will be: Unless something changes it will not be Joe Adame as he has said he will not run again even though he still has four years left before terming out. In watching the City Council meeting online – Mr. Smarty pants can’t sit still for four hours while a suit from the Finance Department drones through the joys of bond financing and his pleas for free beer at Council meetings have so far fallen on deaf ears – Mr. Smarty pants would have to say that judging by Mayor Adame’s body language he would rather be simultaneously getting a root canal and getting his hand cooked in a toaster than sitting in those meetings. He’s guessing the Mayor has a calendar on his refrigerator door marking off the weeks until he can spend his Tuesdays somewhere besides City Hall.

So who wants to take his place?

While the filing season hasn’t arrived yet two contenders have tentatively thrown their hats in the ring: Current District 4 Council Member Chris Adler and At-Large Council Member Nelda Martinez have indicated they will file and run. Whether At-Large Council Member Mark Scott and/or District 5 Council Member Larry Elizondo might join the hunt is unknown. There will likely be some other contenders from the Wingnut Party who will come out of the weeds and pay the filing fee to join in the debates as window dressing Chris Adler and eventually get the votes of their immediate families and a few people who accidently checked the wrong box on the ballot.

One thing we can take heart in is that in recent history arguably our best Mayors have been women. Mr. Smarty pants will just drop that big matzah ball and move on without comment.

As for Mr. Gazin running; Mr. Smarty Pants hasn’t seen his paycheck but he’s pretty sure there are more than four zeros behind the “9” on it. And the great thing about television is that when you’re on television you can’t hear the kooks screaming at you from the audience. So don’t look for Mr. Gazin’s name to be on the ballot next November.

So that’s about all Mr. Smarty Pants can say for certain right now Mr. Jones and he hopes that answers your question. We’ll see you in the funny papers.

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CORPUS CHRISTI T E X A S W H AT A R E THE ODDS OF CASINOS COMING TO THE C O A S TA L B E N D ?

08

Two Billion Reasons Why It Could Happen

By Dale Rankin To get an idea of the scope of the issue you have to go about a quarter mile out of Texas. Just north of the Red River from Gainesville you can’t miss the WinStar Casino. It’s the third largest land-based casino in the United States and it is fueled by nothing but pure Texas money and lots of it. Lots of it. Two billion with a B of it every year leaves Texas and stays in the gaming halls of Oklahoma and Louisiana. Texas money flying north out of the Metroplex and points south in amounts that now have its owners buying up hotels and horse and dog tracks in North Texas.

The Houston area is a major supplier of gamblers to casinos along the TexasLouisiana border and gamblers from the Metroplex are among the largest number of those in New Orleans casinos.

So what are the prospects of Texas – and the Coastal Bend in particular – getting casino gambling in the near future? The odds are better than what you might think. The state legislature in its last session considered seventeen different gaming plans from placing casinos only at existing dog and horse tracks all the way to a free for all plan that could have allowed as many as thirty casinos around the state. None made it to a floor vote but lawmakers indicated they want to place a constitutional amendment before voters in November, 2013. Exactly what the language in that amendment might say is still up in the air but the wheels are in motion.

State Representative Todd Hunter, (R – Dist. 32) with his staff has made several trips to Las Vegas to meet with decision makers in the large casinos who have expressed interest in expanding in the Coastal Bend if gaming is legalized in Texas. As chair of the House Calendars Committee, Hunter is in a good position to make sure his district is included in any move to allow casinos to be built in the state.

“I will not let a gaming bill go out to a floor vote unless it includes Nueces County,” Hunter said recently. “I want the people in my district to have the chance to go to the polls and speak for themselves on casino gaming.”

If a gaming amendment finds its way to the 2013 ballot it most likely will be an enabling approach, which if passed would allow each of the 254 counties

in Texas to have the local option of allowing gaming in their county within the general boundaries contained in the amendment. Those boundaries could be along the lines of limiting gaming only to slot machines in existing racetracks, or as broad as allowing up to three casinos in each county at locations to be decided on by voters.

The three most commonly suggested locations in Nueces County have been the existing dog track, an undefined downtown location, and on Padre Island.

Several casino operators from Las Vegas have already visited in the area in recent months with their interest centered on the strip of land west of Highway 361 between Padre Island and Port Aransas. Some have expressed interest in land on the bay side of the highway and another on the land around Newport Dunes golf course. Their preference has been to locate on the Padre end of the Island so that customers would have easy access across the JFK Causeway.

One potential obstacle to large scale development on North Padre is water.

But a planned water line adjacent to the existing 24-inch line which currently provides water to both North Padre and Port Aransas would alleviate that problem.

Port Aransas officials say privately while they are not interested in having casinos within their city limits, however, they see their role as providing hotels and other amenities for casino customers.

So look for hearings on a potential gaming bill in the next year and a likely vote in late 2013. However, keep in mind that there have been previous unsuccessful county option gaming bills that have been given the thumbs down by voters.

The anti-gaming coalition has been an unholy alliance of those against gaming on moral grounds fueled by dollars from casinos in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Las Vegas where casino owners are intent on keeping the Texas gaming dollars leaving the state and not returning.

But armed with statistics which show that if gaming had been legal during the last legislative session the state budget would have an additional $2 billion in revenue, building casinos in Texas may be an idea whose time has come.

INSIDE THE

by Samantha Koepp

enter

Relive Beatlemania This Month At Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles

No other band seems to be as ingrained in pop culture as the Beatles. The four man band evolved into a force that has influenced the music industry worldwide for the past 48 years. Although it is literally impossible to see the Beatles live in concert now, on November 20th Corpus Christi gets a chance to experience the next best thing; RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles at the American Bank Center Selena Auditorium.

Whether you were swept by BeatleMania or simply enjoy their music, RAIN is a show that will make you feel like you are traveling back in time with the Beatles. RAIN not only looks like the Beatles but they have artfully mastered performing their songs exactly as the Beatles, down to each note for all of the 200 plus songs. The entire show is performed live by the band on stage; even songs that the Beatles recorded and never performed live. Their sound mirrors that of the Beatles so point on that they were hired

by Dick Clark to record music for a movie about the Beatles.

The band did not originate with the intentions to be a Beatles tribute band, especially at the level they have reached. But when the band

began performing in the 1970s in California, there was a huge demand for live Beatles music; the Beatles last concert tour was in 1966. They were one of the first tribute bands and throughout the years have changed their personas on stage to be that of the Beatles. RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles is not simply a concert by a cover band; it is an experience like no other that allows the audience to watch the life of the Beatles evolve right in front of them; imagine attending every Beatles tour in one show.

By purchasing tickets to RAIN you will also be supporting the Corpus Christi Education Foundation. A portion of the proceeds from this show will be donated to the Education Foundation to provide grants to teachers and schools, dual credit scholarships and college scholarships to students within the Corpus Christi Independent School District.

So get ready to “Twist and Shout” because this is a show that no Beatles fan should miss!

Tickets are available at the American Bank Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.Ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Additional fees may apply. Visit AmericanBankCenter.com for more info.

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TH E

Art Scene

A Few Items Of Note For November K Space Contemporary 415 D Starr Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401 361.887.6834 KSpaceContemporary.org Hours: Wed-Sat 11a – 5p Free Admission Main Gallery: Third Coast National 5th Annual Exhibition Works continue on display through November 18th, 2011 Art Star Gift Shop & Gallery: Kristi Beach Hot Spot: David Fuentes Heads up for Holiday Shoppers!! December 2nd through 4th Friday 5:30-9 pm (ArtWalk), Saturday12 to 4pm, Sunday 2 to 6 pm K Space Studio Artists & Guests, 4th Annual Ornament Sale Artful, original ornaments by local artists 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 POP! Goes The Gala Thursday, November 10th, 2011, 6p to 9:30p 2011 Annual Fundraiser for the Art Center of Corpus Christi. Watch Mayor Joe Adame, City Council Representative Chris Adler, TAMUCC President Flavius Killwbrew, City Council Representative at Large Mark Scott, Principal Galen Hoffstadt, and CCISD Superintendent Scott Elliff as they create 70’s themed paintings – LIVE! Enjoy food from the finest caterers in town, disco dance under the stars and pick some winners in the silent auction, including our famous 8x10’s!

General admission tickets start at $100/per person, and include all access to the evening’s festivities. Various

levels of sponsorship are available and include reserved tables, recognition in the program, and signage at the event. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available to the public and can be purchased online at www.artcentercc.org or you can buy tickets at the Art Center of Corpus Christi.

8th Annual South Texas Photography Contest Sponsored by 1st Community Bank Reception and Award Ceremony, Friday, November 4th, 2011, 5:30p to 7p Works on display through November 26th A broad selection of classes, workshops and events are scheduled monthly at the Art Center – visit the website for further information, or call to request a copy of the schedule of classes!

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 Featured Artists: Lisa Olsen (acrylic painter) & Harry Angel (abstract Mesquite wood artist) Opening Reception First Friday, November 4th Works on display through November 30th Featured Artist: Jerry Bass (multimedia abstract painter) Opening Reception First Friday, December 2nd Works on display through December 30th South Texas Institute for the Arts 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 - Texas A&M University-CC students The Art of Caring: A Look at Life Through Photography Photographic exhibit comprised of 7 themes in caring: Children and Family, Love, Wellness, Caregiving and Healing, Aging, Disaster, and Remembering. On display through December 31st, 2011.

The Art of Work Self-selected works of art by full time Art Department Faculty from Texas A&M University on display through January 15th, 2012.

Free Day at the Art Museum November 3rd, 2011, from 10am - 5pm Brown Bag Lecture November 15th at Noon, in the Auditorium Free with Museum Admission – BYO lunch Archivist Jesenia Guerra from the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History will present a slide lecture “John Fred’k “Doc” McGregor: The Man Behind the Camera.”

Check the museum’s website event calendar for Moms& Tots and other events throughout the month.

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 5th Annual Rockport Film Festival November 3rd through 5th The Rockport Film Festival (RFF) celebrates the best of independent cinema on the Texas Coast. Showcasing shorts, features, documentaries, animations and student films, Rockport Film Festival is a welcoming three-day event that highlights talent from all over the world.

Red Carpet RFF Kick Off Party Thursday, November 3rd, 6p to 7:30p Beer, wine, tasty appetizers and a chance to win an iPad or a custom wood chaise by Ron Blue! Stay for the outdoor screening in the Sculpture Garden starting at 7:30p.

11

The

Canvas

Exposing Local Artists…

By Georgia Griffin

Mary Beach Mary Beach is a petite lady with amazing energy. To meet her, you’d never realize that she’s in physical pain – she should be using a cane but rarely does – Mary has the most upbeat enthusiastic disposition one could hope for.

Each month I write a profile of an artist and their work, but this one is a little bit more than that. Mary is really a community art resource.

Reviewing Mary’s book of her artwork you get a sense of her free-flowing brush and knife work, perfectly suited to her colorful subject matter. “This is something we just started building, a book of my artwork. These pictures are not all that great; they’re right off of our printer. You can’t really see [the details in] these pictures; this is just to give people an idea, when I’m going out to different places… we’re just getting started on the book.”

“We” includes Mary’s son, Jamé Rowles, who owns the Coastal Crush Beach Shop in the Gateway Shopping Center. Mary pays Jamé a commission on sales, for letting her keep a studio within the shop. She also teaches art classes there.

“I have all ages. Women, men, children, and I do a lot for free. Kids who want to sincerely learn how to paint, if their parents can’t afford the tuition, I do it for free. I supply the canvases (and paint). I try to get special deals; when Hobby Lobby and Michaels are having 50% off I’ll go in and buy a half a dozen canvases and paints and stuff.”

In a gesture that seems typical of her generosity of spirit, Mary includes the work of her students in our discussion, and will in fact be including one student’s work (Carole Jenness) with her own when showing at the Tango Tea Room this November.

“Let me show you Carole’s paintings. She’s a lady (about) my age and she’s been with me for two years now. When she first came to me, she couldn’t paint at all, and now she brought these in to me today that she’s worked on.

So I’d like to include Carole in the show as well.”

Mary shares her other students’ work with me also, which all show the progress that steady practice and material instruction can bring. “The ones along the top were done by a ten, now eleven year-old boy, whose parents can’t afford for him to take lessons, so I teach him for free.”

“These two were done by a fourteen year-old boy, that was his first one, and that’s a recent one. This one, this little guy didn’t think he could paint at all… it’s going to be a red snake wrapped around a plant, and it’s going to have a green eye. I’m very proud of him, because he really didn’t think he’d be able to do anything at all.”

“I have 5 students now that don’t pay, that just come in and take lessons…

I have 10 regular students that come in for [paid] lessons, not counting my kids. People wanting to take lessons can call the store or they can just come in. We meet once a week one-on-one. If someone’s here I have to wait on a customer of course, but usually that’s not a problem, because once I get them painting I can walk around and do whatever. They come in and we meet once a week. I’m pretty easy, if they can’t pay the whole $40, then I’ll let them pay $35 or something, just to get ‘em in here and get ‘em going.”

“I always am looking for people who want to donate canvas and paints, and they say, ‘well can’t I just give you money’ and I’m like ‘No, you can go to Hobby Lobby and buy some canvas or paints and bring them in.’ So that’s how I get some of the material I need. I’m not proud, I grovel, I beg… because it’s for the kids. I do it for them.”

“They’re also on our skateboard team. We have a t-shirt here Support the Flour Bluff Skate Park, and Jamé worked with the Lions Club for that.”

“I’ve been painting all my life. I got married to a marine. I had four children and I became a widow thanks to Viet Nam. I still had to work and go to college, and raise four children. I did it, and they all turned out ok, without a man in my life. I didn’t need anybody and didn’t remarry until my son was 16 almost 17, and I met a nice gentleman and we got married, and then I lost him in ’95, and I’ve been single ever since. Not interested anymore.”

12

“Also I encourage my students to join the Art Center. That’s a big plus. Go join the Art Center, so you can be in the shows. I take my students down to the shows at the center and let them look to see what other people are doing.

I’d like to setup a show at the Art Center for the students one day. This First Friday [ArtWalk] we’ll be at the Art Center. We were at the park, we’ve been at La Retama since they started doing it, and I just decided to move to the Art Center because we can go inside… and I can take all the students’ artwork I want, so I jumped at the opportunity. Anything to help out the Art Center, and I’m part of the Independents.”

It’s kind of amazing, with all the lessons that she gives, and all the energy she puts into her students, that Mary actually finds time to paint her own pieces. Yet, she does, and they are lovely colorful pieces that transport you to a peaceful place.

“I donate (work) quite a bit of my paintings. I just did the Coastal Bend AIDS Foundation. I just donated a big one to them, a great big one. I also do surfboards, skateboards, plow disks, I do almost anything anybody asks me to do. I can do it, and I have fun doing it.”

“I did this picture here for a show in France, for the disability movement over there. I took it over there and I put it on a frame, and when they unveiled it, they didn’t believe it. They said not even an American could rappel down a mountain in a wheelchair. So, I had to wire my friend in Colorado, and she sent me back a picture as proof… an ex-marine really did do that. His buddies helped him to the top of the mountain, and then he rappelled down the side of that mountain in a wheelchair.”

We looked at a somewhat dark painting by a woman in her 50s, who hadn’t painted in about 20 years – “she came in, and this was her first day. She’s very good, she’s excellent.”

“I’m lucky and blessed that all my students are talented.” Showing me an unfinished work with bloody handprints and the start of a hibiscus flower, “this young lady over here, she’s a young mother… she’s been using her artwork to release anger and frustration.” The growth and transition in this unfinished work are palpable, and I can’t wait to see it finished, as well as wondering what her next work will be like.

“Right now I’ve got two shows going on; one’s over in Port Aransas, and one is downtown in Corpus. It’s always oil. Most of these are already sold.

Most of these are brush or palette knife, sometimes multimedia. I’m gonna be pulling a lot of these in to the show at the Tango Tea Room.” I can hardly wait to see the show!

“I’m really proud of my students, I’m really proud of them. The kids that have been with me have no desire to leave. They enjoy their lessons. It’s not school. I don’t give grades. We have pizza once a week, and good times.

The kids can bring their own CDs and we’ll play whatever they want to listen to while they’re doing their lesson, because I want it to be fun for them.”

“I don’t teach you what to paint, I teach you how to paint whatever it is that you want to be able to express on canvas. I give ‘em the tools and once they’ve learned to use them, the imagination kicks in.”

“I try to get the students in down at the schools [for shows] like at the school library I’m working this year to have a show in there. I like it because it’s a long show, once they hang something up in there, it stays for a while, and it’s a good motivator for the students to see their work hanging up. Or places like Hooks, over on the island, it’s a dog friendly place, they have a big patio, but they have an indoor dining room too though, and that’s where we hang up artwork. She let’s me hang up whatever I want.”

“I’ll go out to these restaurants and I’ll have coffee and something to eat and check out their walls, and I can see what would work there, and usually if I tell them what I’m doing, they’re like ‘oh, when can you bring it in?’”

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Events Page RAIN

Pre-Thanksgiving Basketball Camp will be offered for boys and girls ages 8-18 on November 21–23,

A Tribute to the Beatles Sunday November 20th

The Nutcracker

Saturday November 26th & Sunday November 27th

2011 at the Corpus Christi Gym. Registration will held November 1–18 at City Hall. Click here for more details.

Island Dance Demo Tuesday, Nov. 29 – The University Department of Theatre and Dance at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will present the “Island Dance Demo” on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Join us for an evening of ballet, jazz, and modern dance, in addition to some special guest appearances.

Tickets are $3 and can be purchased in the PAC on Monday, Nov. 28, from noon to 2 p.m. or Tuesday, Nov. 29, from noon to 2 p.m. and from 6-7:30 p.m. For more information, call 361.825.5800, or go to http://cla.tamucc.edu/theatre/.

Wednesday, Nov. 16 – Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s annual Turkey Trot Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 5 p.m. starting at the Hammerhead parking lot located at the second entrance to the University next to the Hike and Bike Trail.

There will be a 3-mile run and 2-mile walk. The entry fee is one non-perishable food item.

Donations will benefit the Corpus Christi Food Bank. For more information, contact Kim Rottet at 361.825.2976; or email kim. rottet@tamucc.edu.

November 25 - December 21: Christmas Tree Forest Christmas trees decorated by children in the holiday symbols and cultures of 30 countries from around the world are on display. The Art Museum of South Texas, 1902 N. Shoreline Blvd. Phone: (361)825-3500 www.artmuseumofsouthtexas.org

Santa’s Ar November 17 |ri6-va9pl m

Join La Palmera as we welcome Santa at the Outdoor Main En trance near P.F. Chang’s - Live entertainment - Children’s activities - Story time with Ms. Cla the upper level near the us on Undersea Children’s Play Area - Take a photo with San ta in Center Court - Holiday Shopping specia ls mall-wide

Carolers Afloat/ Boat Lighting Parade Enjoy the evening while singing carols aboard vessels as they cruise the city harbor. Watch the beautifully decorated boats in the Boat Lighting Parade. Begins at dusk. Roberts Point Park Pavilion, 301 J.C. Barr Blvd.

Phone: (800)452-6278, www.portaransas.org December 3, 2011

December 2: Las Luces Del Mar Features Christmas lights, a main entertainment stage, a youth and local entertainment stage, street artists, musicians, entertainers, live nativity scene and vendors. An inter-faith blessing of the city will be performed by church leaders and spiritual leaders for the approaching holiday season and the new year. Corpus Christi Bayfront. www.laslucesdelmar.org

Aurora Arts Theater presents Nunsense FRIDAY, NOV 11-SUNDAY, DEC 18 www.auroraartstheatre.com 361.851.9700

Live Music Tonight

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

Wednesday, Nov. 2nd Lady Antebellum @ American Bank Center Adelitas Way & Art of Dying/ Emphatic/ New Medicine @ Brewster Street John Eric @ Pelicans Lounge Flatbroke @ Doctor Rockits Beer and Berto Show @ House of Rock Open Jam w/ Wolf Jaw @ Flats Lounge

Thursday, Nov. 3rd Bart Crow Band/ Kyle Bennett @ Brewster Street The Daylights/ Andy Davis & the Shakedown/ Andy Davis @ House of Rock John Cortez @ Doctor Rockits Free Beer @ Tarpon Ice House

Friday, Nov. 4th

Friday, Nov. 11th Hilda Lamas Band @ The Sea Wall Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Lounge Brujeria/ Pinhead/ Sangre/ Pinata Protest/ Watership Down @ House of Rock Time Pilots @ Executive Surf Club The Groove @ Doctor Rockits C-Roots @ Coffee Waves Port A Stuart Burns @ C-Bar Café Ruben Limas @ Blackbeard’s Colin Roche @ Doc’s Seafood The Pictures @ Brewster Street

The Strolling Scones @ The Sea Wall Gulf Wars 4 @ House of Rock Bushbullit/ Time Pilots/ Lyrical Bynge/ Another Level @ Executive Surf Club Soul Track Mind @ Doctor Rockits Spark in the Dark @ C-Bar Café Stuart Burns @ Coffee Waves Port A Fred Jarmon @ Blackbeard’s Colin Roche @ Doc’s Seafood CC Symphony Orchestra @ Performing Arts Center (TAMUCC) Sing-Along Piano Bar @ Brewster Street

Acoustic Night @ House of Rock Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Doctor Rockits

Saturday, Nov. 5th

Tuesday, Nov. 15th

EMT @ The Sea Wall Susan Gibson w/ Walt Wilkins @ Third Coast Theater Passafire/ Tin Can Phone/ Flatbroke/ Bad Chords @ House of Rock Aaron Watson/ J.R. Castillo @ Brewster Street Another Level @ Doctor Rockits C- Roots @ Coffee Waves Port A Trysum @ Executive Surf Club David Martinez @ C Bar Café Fred Jarmon @ Blackbeard’s Too Colin Roche @ Doc’s Seafood

Open Mic w/ Rev. Matt Martinez @ House of Rock Antone & Atomic Blues Band @ Doctor Rockits Clarissa Serna @ Revolution Bar and Grill

Mike Guerra & Chopper @ The Sea Wall Open Electric Jam w/ Rockin’ Ricke Burnett @ Tarpon Ice House HOBO @ Doctor Rockits

Monday, Nov. 7th Acoustic Night @ House of Rock Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Doctor Rockits

Tuesday, Nov. 8th Open Mic w/ Rev. Matt Martinez @ House of Rock Antone & Atomic Blues Band @ Doctor Rockits Clarissa Serna @ Revolution Bar and Grill

Wednesday, Nov. 9th Five Finger Death Punch/ All That Remains/ Hatebreed/ Rev Theory @ Concrete Street Buffalo Soldiers @ Doctor Rockits Ruben Limas @ Blackbeard’s Open Jam w/ Wolf Jaw @ Flats Lounge

Thursday, Nov. 10th Hearless Bastards/ Saints of Valory @ House of Rock Whiskey Myers @ Brewster Street The Will Callers @ Executive Surf Club John Cortez @ Doctor Rockits

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Carol Elliott (6-8) @ Tarpon Ice House Walt Wilkins & the Mistiqueros @ Tarpon Ice House Hilda Lamas Band @ The Sea Wall Beau Walker @ Executive Surf Club Andrew Jr. Boy Jones @ Doctor Rockits Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Lounge Artwalk w/ The Bar Nutz @ House of Rock Gary Moeller @ Coffee Waves Port A C-Roots @ C Bar Café Ruben Limas @ Blackbeard’s Colin Roche @ Doc’s Seafood Spazmatics @ Brewster Street

Sunday, Nov. 6th

Live Music Tonight

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Sunday, Nov. 13th Deborah Scott @ The Sea Wall

Monday, Nov. 14th

Wednesday, Nov. 16th Flatbroke @ House of Rock Johnny Love & Dankadelics @ Doctor Rockits Ruben Limas @ Blackbeard’s Open Jam w/ Wolf Jaw @ Flats Lounge

Thursday, Nov. 17th Free Beer @ Tarpon Ice House Clay Wilson @ Executive Surf Club Turnpike Troubadours/ Rodney Parker/ 50 Peso Reward/ Brian Keane @ Brewster Street John Cortez @ Doctor Rockits

Friday, Nov. 18th Hilda Lamas Band @ The Sea Wall Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Lounge The Groove @ Executive Surf Club Darkest Records/ Shy One/ Smokehouse Junkies/ ABK @ House of Rock Chris Watson @ Doctor Rockits David Brown @ Coffee Waves Port A Gary Moeller @ C-Bar Café Independent Music Fest @ Theo’s Billiards Ruben Limas @ Blackbeard’s Colin Roche @ Doc’s Seafood Another Level @ Brewster Street

Saturday, Nov. 19th Profile Variety Band @ The Sea Wall Black Veil Brides/ Vallejo/ The 71’s/ Hudson Moore @ House of Rock Bus Stop Stallions @ Executive Surf Club Duke E. Brown @ Doctor Rockits David Martinez @ Coffee Waves Port A Get Off the Lawn @ C-Bar Café Independent Music Fest @ Theo’s Billiards

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Fred Jarmon @ Blackbeard’s Too Colin Roche @ Doc’s Seafood CC Live: The Water Cooler @ Performing Arts Center (TAMUCC) Metal Shop @ Brewster Street

Sunday, Nov. 20th Mike Guerra & Chopper @ The Sea Wall Green Mountain Grass/ Bluegrass Outfit @ Doctor Rockits

Monday, Nov. 21st Acoustic Night @ House of Rock Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Doctor Rockits

Tuesday, Nov. 22nd Open Mic w/ Rev. Matt Martinez @ House of Rock Antone & Atomic Blues Band @ Doctor Rockits Clarissa Serna @ Revolution Bar and Grill

of Rock Scarecrow People @ Executive Surf Club Little Brian Terry & Zydeco Travelers @ Doctor Rockits Ray T & the City Crew @ Flats Lounge Spark in the Dark @ Coffee Waves Port A Stuart Burns @ C-Bar Café Colin Roche @ Doc’s Seafood Five Card Draw @ Brewster Street

Saturday, Nov. 26th Hilda Lamas Band @ The Sea Wall Flashback @ Executive Surf Club Rotel & the Hot Tomatoes @ Brewster Street Stuart Burns @ Coffee Waves Port A Chad Martin @ C-Bar Café Fred Jarmon @ Blackbeard’s Too Colin Roche @ Doc’s Seafood

Sunday, Nov. 27th Bar Nutz @ Doctor Rockits

Wednesday, Nov. 23rd

Monday, Nov. 28th

Roger Creager/ Rankin Twins @ Brewster Street Sun Salutation @ Doctor Rockits Ruben Limas @ Blackbeard’s Open Jam w/ Wolf Jaw @ Flats Lounge

Acoustic Night @ House of Rock Open Jam w/ Antone Perez @ Doctor Rockits

Thursday, THANKSGIVING DAY Free Beer @ Tarpon Ice House John Cortez @ Doctor Rockits

Friday, Nov. 25th EMT @ The Sea Wall Larry Joe Taylor w/ Deyrl Dodd @ Third Coast Theater Jiffy CD Release/ Pinata Protest @ House

Tuesday, Nov. 29th Open Mic w/ Rev. Matt Martinez @ House of Rock Antone & Atomic Blues Band @ Doctor Rockits Clarissa Serna @ Revolution Bar and Grill

Wednesday, Nov. 30th HOBO @ House of Rock Bad Chords @ Doctor Rockits Open Jam w/ Wolf Jaw @ Flats Lounge

TOM WAITS

Review by Ronnie Narmour At 61, Tom Waits is truly a marvel of American artistry. He’s the junkyard dog who never quite made it into mainstream but managed to put out 23 recordings since 1973 and cement his status as the King of Melancholy. Once again Waits succeeds in turning a bad attitude into an art form. Sometimes pulling material from back alley characters and sometimes touching on his vulnerable feelings in tender love songs, Waits has recorded for four decades with a voice that washed of battery acid. His tales of drunks and sirens, killers and carnies, paint a picture of an Americanized Baudelaire growling and slashing his way through the chaos surrounding him. Always a man who navigates on his own terms, Wait’s has been aptly referred to as “part old weird America, part junk sculpture, part mad-scientist experiment, part cartoon, part hellfire sermon, part throw-down.” He’s somewhere between a Beat Generation poet, a Delta bluesman and a restless carnival barker. His music is primal and uncompromising, often cut with surreal late night imagery.

baby. Kitchen wants a pan. Ocean wants a sailor. Gun wants a hand. I’m going away. Turn my back on you.”

On, Pay Me Waits takes a close inspection of his life as an artist, “You know I gave it all to the stage. They pay me not to come. I won’t eat crow. I’ll stay away. All roads lead to the end of the world.” The musical blend of Waits’ piano, Augie Meyers’ accordion and David Hidalgo’s guitar create a beautiful new masterpiece. It’s absolutely magnificent.

Back In the Crowd is Waits’ song about breaking up. It’s a simple arrangement with Hidalgo’s Latin guitar accent. “If you don’t want my love, don’t make me stay. Put me back in the crowd.”

The title track, Bad As Me is a rickety wild sideshow rant (reminiscent of David Byrne’s Burning Down the House) about Waits’ “badness”. He concedes he knows his place where evil desire is his friend. His voice is scrappy and elastic…so is the music. “No good you say. Well that’s good enough for me.

You’re the same kind of bad as me.” The next song, Kiss Me, is a polar opposite torcher with only Waits on guitar and piano. He softly pleads for his woman “to kiss me like a stranger once again” and rekindle a love going stale.

In his latest recording , Bad As Me (Anti-Records, October 2011), Waits has released his first set of new songs since Real Gone in 2004. The 13 songs on this CD feature noteworthy sideman Keith Richards (Rolling Stones), David Hidalgo (Los Lobos), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Augie Meyers (Texas Tornadoes) and Charlie Musslewhite (blues harpist). All of the songs were

On Satisfied Waits confronts mortality with a jumping, 50’s rock and roll

written by Waits and his wife-- and partner in production-- Kathleen Brennan.

beat. He decides dying is the only thing that will ultimately satisfy him. “When I’m gone I will have satisfaction. Now Mr. Jagger and Mr. Richards, I will scratch where I’ve been itchin’. Take a left of the straight and narrow. Let the bullet go back in the barrel.” Last Leaf is a waltz which reveals Waits’ stubborn persistence when, “There’s nothing in this world that I ain’t seen. I’ve been here since Eisenhower and I’ve outlived even he. I’m the last leaf on the tree.”

I spoke by phone with Augie Meyers about his experience of recording with Tom Waits. “Tom is a brain and a half. He goes for a sound and he gets it.”

As a producer, Waits offers his sidemen suggestions: “I want you to play like you’re seven years old at a recital. I want you to play like your mom’s in the room. I want you to play like you’re miles from home and your legs are dangling from a boxcar. Play like your hair’s on fire. Play like you have no pants on.”

Hell Broke Luce is a graphically vivid and haunting account of a soldier’s craziness in war. It has a percussive marching rhythm, “I had a good home, but I left, left, left, right, left.” Waits’ voice bites and tears the senses where soldiers are fighting to live and fighting to kill. “Listen to the general every god damn word. How many ways can you polish a turd?” Here the body bags are full and they just want to go home, “I’m blind and I’m broke. What is next?” This song is an in your head waking nightmare of combat and the lunacy of war.

On Bad As Me Waits starts out with the song Chicago, a frantic big city train ride filled with horns and high tension. He opens with his ongoing theme of running away when the chips are down, suggesting “maybe things will be better in Chicago” and “we won’t have to say goodbye if we all go.” He then goes into the apocalyptic beat of Raised Right Men, reminding us it takes a good woman’s love to save men from the pitfalls of themselves, “It takes a raised right man to keep a happy hen.” The eerie and unsyncopated, Talking at the Same Time, is Waits’ take on the economy. “We bailed out the millionaires.

They got the fruit. We got the rind.” In an uncharacteristic falsetto he warns, “Ain’t no one comin’ to pull you from the mud. You got to build your nest high enough to ride out the flood.”

Waits wraps it up with New Year’s Eve where being with your dysfunctional inner circle of friends and family is “like listening to two channels at the same time.” Perhaps auld acquaintances should be forgot “for the sake of auld lang syne.” It’s classic Waits.

Bad As Me is worth the wait. The collective piece is complicated and brilliant.

It’s not easy listening but it sticks to your ribs and stands up to any and all of his previous work. You may not hear any cuts on the radio or any local cover bands performing these songs, but take that as good a reason in itself to buy this record. Waits’ “don’t try this at home” attitude shines through and through. Though not for the timid, I recommend it highly.

On Get Lost Waits continues to flee the scene. He’s fed up and ready to grab up his woman and drive, “Time don’t mean nothin’, money means even less. I wanna go get lost.” This song has a fun danceable rockabilly backbeat and Keith Richard’s most excellent stink all over it. In the dreamy Face to the Highway, Waits skeptically contemplates the age old dilemma of meeting your responsibilities or bugging out and chooses the low road, “Cradle wants a 17

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Dining Guide LOS CABOS

Cafe & Cantina Authentic Mexican Cuisine 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

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

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Intracoastal Waterfront Dining Casual Full service restaurant and bar • • Amazing sunsets • Scenic view of boats, barges and wildlife • Live music every Friday & Saturday nights by local artists • Large “sea-level” patio for parties and events

361.949.6744 Open Daily 11AM

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

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

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COFFEE BAR 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!

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Dining Guide

Located right inside Isle Mail & More you will find the breakfast, lunch and coffee venue you’ve been looking for. Matilda Blue Cafe opens on 7 November and will be serving bagels, freshly made scones, made to order sandwiches and wraps with a variety of fillings to choose from, gorgeous soups of the day and of course some of the best brewed and gourmet coffees and teas. Stop in and do your postal shipping, stay a while with free WiFi and enjoy the atmosphere at Matilda Blue Cafe.

Offering Military Discounts and phone ahead order pick-up.

Open from 8am Mon-Fri Matilda Blue Cafe (Inside Isle Mail & More) 703-786-7255 14493 S.P.I.D, Ste A Corpus Christi TX 78418

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

Vernon’s Bar and Grill is a landmark breakfast and lunch destination downtown, and we even deliver! Daily lunch specials Monday - Friday will keep you coming back. Our breakfast tacos are FANTASTIC and you won’t order from anywhere else after you’ve tried them. Kitchen is open late night Thursday - Saturday. Great food, ice cold beer, and GREAT times!

1030 3rd Street, Corpus Christi TX 78404 Mon-Sat 7am to 2am, Sun 12pm-2am

361-882-0030

Snoopy’s and Scoopy’s 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

Tango Tea Room Yin Yang Fandango & Tango Tea Room 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 10-7 Monday through Thursday 10-9 Friday & Saturday 11-6 Sunday

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

One Bite Open 11 am - 2 am Kitchen Closes @ 1 am

2034 State Highway 361

Hooked

361 749- Taco (8226)

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!

Personal Services

Roni, Owner/Stylist

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.

15201 S.P.I.D Suite 110 On The Island Call for reservations 949-0794 theislandsedgehairsalon.com

Don’t Walk Around With Pain!

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Medical Massage

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The Isle Of Avalon Day Spa

We feature relaxing Swedish, Deep Tissue,Thai Massage, Lomi Lomi and Hot Stone massage in a soothing environment.

With more then 14 years of experience in the business, and multiple technique certifications. We’re sure to be your choice on the Island for massage therapy.

14254 SPID Ste 217 Corpus Christi, TX Susan Keeler LMT (361) 949-7900 isleofavalondayspa.com

Live Music

1030 3rd Street, Corpus Christi TX 78404 / Mon-Sat 7am to 2am Sun 12pm-2am / 361-882-0030

801 Tarpon, Port Aransas, TX 78373 Open 2pm to 2am Every Day! 361-749-1990

Night Life Night Life

Historic Vernon’s Bar is your home away from home. Come in for GREAT daily drink and lunch specials! We have live music every Wednesday night by local artists, games, and 15 BEERS ON TAP served ice cold so there’s something for everyone. Stop in for happy hour, or come watch the game or race. Always good people and great times!

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Beautify Corpus Christi Mulligans & Margaritas @ Padre Isles Country club

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It Takes Tea To Tango

Real, Satisfying food prepared just for you from fresh ingredients

Tango Tea Room 505 South Water Street 361-883-9123

Huge Vegetarian, Vegan & Gluten-Free Friendly Menu Fresh Non-veg stuff too.

Ice Cold Drinks Smoothies Flavored Teas Milkshakes And other cool treats

Halloween Dog Costume Contest @ The Back Porch

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51st Annual Texas Jazz Festival @ Heritage Park

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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.

PARADISE P LIMOUSINES Welcome to Luxury in Paradise!

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The only Limousine Service located on Padre Island Serving Corpus Christi, Padre Island, Port Aransas and Surrounding Areas

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 Retail’s products to continue to receive quality distribution services from Nueces Electric Cooperative.