Happy Friday, Corpus Christi. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! In today’s edition: Thanksgiving shopping gets easier, small business saturday market, christmas origami class, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

City outlines drought safeguards: Corpus Christi Water held a session on the Evangeline Groundwater project, outlining up to 12 million gallons daily and addressing concerns about private wells, water quality, and aquifer impacts — see how concerns were addressed.

Thanksgiving shopping gets easier: Corpus Christi Southside drivers see relief as Huntwick Avenue has reopened after months of construction, on schedule with new concrete, sidewalk upgrades, ADA-compliant curb ramps, and drainage improvements — see what’s changed on Huntwick.

Iconic fitness brand returns: Corpus Christi will get a new Gold’s Gym at South Staples and Autotown by new owners. Construction starts in February, with a 20,000-square-foot renovation aiming for a June 2026 opening — see what’s planned.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Scams are rampant: Last week, my step-dad got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Annual plans are 55% off until Sunday — check it out here.

Highlights this week

• Bring a cutting, leave with more
• Enjoy tree lighting and illuminated boat parade
• Experience The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus live
• Catch the tree lighting and boat parade
• Sing lead with punk rock icons
• Need new windows? Check out RBA’s latest deals
• Pet parents: Don’t miss Chewy’s Black Friday sale

🫶 We got your back

Gulf export gateway update: Port of Corpus Christi moved 50.9 million tons in Q3 2025, down 4% year over year. Crude oil fell to 31.3 million tons, while LNG rose 9.2% to 4.5 million tons. The port also wrapped its Ship Channel Improvement Project in June, deepening and widening the waterway to boost efficiency going forward. See Q3 results and upgrades.

Coastal Bend holiday giving: Salvation Army Corpus Christi’s Angel Tree is underway and needs sponsors to buy $30 to $50 gifts for local kids, more than 1,000 this year. The program also includes teens with $50 gift cards. They’re still recruiting Red Kettle volunteers to help reach a $150,000 goal. Want in? Sponsor a tag or donate a toy. See how you can help.

Weekend crate-dive, solved: Whether your shelves need a refresh or you just crave that flipping wax dopamine, Hybrid Records keeps bins loaded with smart staff picks, unexpected vintage finds, and fresh indie releases. Beware the “just one more record” trap for casual browsers and deep diggers alike.

Health drinks that don’t taste like grass: With tasty tea and matcha blends for everything from recovery and radiant skin to energy without the crash, a metabolism boost, and immune support, everything in Pique’s lineup tastes as good as it makes you feel. They’re clean, there are no additives, and all new monthly subscriptions are 20% off for liferight now. Yup… literally forever (or until you cancel).

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🎨 Paint & Sip – Holiday Twinkle @ Painting with a Twist | Friday (11/28) at 3:30pm – Swap your email inbox for an easel and a glass of something tasty at this laid-back holiday paint session. Their artist will walk you through the whole thing step-by-step, so even “I-can-only-draw-stick-figures” folks go home with a twinkly masterpiece.

🎸 Trisum @ Brewster Street Icehouse – Southside | Friday (11/28) at 7:00pm – Nothing beats a free hometown show when you want live music without the cover-charge gamble. Trisum plugs in for a proper set, the kind you feel in your shoes and your shoulders. Grab a friend, skip the streaming, call it a night well spent.

This weekend

🛍️ Small Business Saturday Market @ She Shed | Saturday (11/29) at 11:00am – Whether you need a gift, a caffeine fix, or just a reason to wander The Village without doing chores, this market delivers. Live music, unique pop-ups, and food and coffee trucks, all in one festive stroll. Shop small, catch neighbors, feel smug.

🎅 Holly & Jolly Christmas Party @ Red Crow Antique Mall | Saturday (11/29) at 6:00pm – Antique Lane is going full tinsel with a Holly and Jolly bash, complete with storewide discounts, free wine, and bites. Every purchase earns a raffle ticket, because nothing says holiday spirit like winning a prize you did not know you needed. Stroll, sip, shop, repeat.

🏒 Corpus Christi IceRays vs New Mexico IceWolves @ Hilliard Center Arena | Saturday (11/29) at 7:05pm – Trade the coastal humidity for cold seats and louder neighbors as the IceRays scrap with the IceWolves. Kids 12 and under skate in free, tickets start at $10, and groups score deals if you call 361-814-7825. Local rivalry, rinkside therapy.

🍬 Holiday Market on Peppermint Lane @ BUS | Sunday (11/30) at 2:00pm – Downtown’s lit up like a postcard, and the BUS parking lot and terminal are turning into a holiday market with local vendors, music, hot cocoa, and cheer. Come shop small, sip warm drinks, and pretend the gifts are for others. Photo backdrops, Corpus vibes.

🎨 Paint & Sip – Things Are Stranger Here… @ Painting with a Twist | Sunday (11/30) at 3:30pm – Step into the Upside Down of creativity with a chill afternoon of “fun art, not fine art.” Your artist will walk you through the Stranger Things–inspired painting step-by-step, so even total newbies leave with a finished, dried masterpiece.

🎄 Christmas Origami Class @ Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures | Sunday (11/30) at 5:00pm – Trade the tangle of lights for a calm hour of Christmas origami. Learn to fold stars, trees, and other festive bits with step-by-step guidance, all materials included, and zero glitter. Ten bucks, beginner friendly, and you leave with decorations that won’t shed.

Next week

🎤 Singo #Bingo @ The Annex | Tuesday (12/2) at 6:00pm – If your brain is 60 percent song lyrics, cash in at music bingo downtown CC. They play a minute of each song, you mark your card, and the first to shout Singo pockets $100, then $200 in round two, plus bragging rights, prizes.

🎵 Open Mic Night @ House of Rock | Tuesday (12/2) at 6:30 pm – Grab a drink, grab the mic, and let it rip—Mattman’s hosting a no-cover night of music, comedy, and whatever else you’ve got up your sleeve. Sign-ups start at 6:30 pm, and all acts are fair game, from acoustic heartbreakers to rock belters, stand-up sets, or spoken word.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 11/28 Trisum @ Brewster Street Southside – 7 pm
• 11/29 8-Bit Serenade @ The Annex – 9 pm
• 12/2 Singo @ The Annex – 6 pm
• 12/2 Open Mic Night @ House of Rock – 6:30 pm
• 12/3 Recital Class @ Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi – 2 pm
• 12/3 Eyes Set to Kill: Broken Frames 15th Anniversary Tour @ House of Rock – 6 pm
• 12/4 D.R.I @ House of Rock – 7 pm
• 12/6 The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus @ House of Rock – 7 pm
• 12/7 Punk Rock Karaoke @ House of Rock – 7 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Corpus Christi edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Khelsey Huser (United Country RE-Bluntzer RE)

This 2-story canal-front home puts the ICW minutes away, pairing breezy lines with bright living that flows to a dining area. A chef-forward kitchen stars Thermador gas, stainless steel, pull-out drawers, and a walk-in pantry. The main-level suite adds spa vibes with an oversized shower, jetted tub, dual vanities, and deck access.

Triple decks bring the views, from a pergola lounge to a panoramic top perch. A loft, two bedrooms, and an HVAC-equipped flex room keep options open. Boat lift, kayak space, fish-cleaning station, night fishing light, hurricane-rated upstairs windows, and custom shutters seal the deal.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →