Happy Friday, Corpus Christi. In today’s edition: Hospital emergency room upgrades, enhanced neighborhood safety, Tina Turner musical, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Enhancing neighborhood safety: Corpus Christi police are expanding with two substations under construction and a third in design, a new training academy online, added staffing, and major FY 2025 equipment upgrades — get all the details.

Major boost for riders: Corpus Christi has secured a $46 million federal grant for a state-of-the-art CCRTA maintenance facility, prioritizing coastal resilience to speed repairs and protect equipment, with opening targeted within two years — get all the details.

Hospital upgrades boost access: Corpus Christi Medical Center has opened its expanded Bay Area ER, adding 13 treatment rooms, 29 total beds, and a larger waiting area. A neurointerventional lab introduces biplane imaging — read the full story.

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.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Student-led 10-minute plays at Wilson Theatre
• Kids write magical Santa letters
• Explore 30 literary Christmas trees for free
• Corpus Christi Ballet presents The Nutcracker
• Celebrate mariachi and folklórico traditions
• See why December’s the best time to try new hearing aids
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%

##

🫶 We got your back

Empowering healthier lives locally: The Coastal Bend Food Bank is reviving its free, ADA-recognized diabetes education program, with a new eight-week session starting in January 2026. Led by longtime diabetes RN Georgiana Bradshaw, the program covers prevention and management, and pairs with hands-on cooking and nutrition classes to make healthy eating doable, affordable, and even enjoyable. Read the full story.

Businesses remain accessible during work: Traffic at SPID and Everhart shifted this week as phase two of the water-line upgrade kicked off. No right from the SPID eastbound frontage to southbound Everhart and no left from the westbound frontage to southbound Everhart. Use Flynn Parkway or Embassy. Expect lane closures and delays through March 2026. See detours and timeline.

Low-key pint paradise: Whether you’re cruising solo or meeting the crew, Lazy Beach Brewing keeps the taproom playful, with weekly small-batch releases, easy sippers, and even house root beer. A breezy, come-as-you-are vibe makes “let’s grab one” sound like a plan you’ll keep.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy that targets regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify your identity and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 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

🎉 Christmas Party & Fundraiser @ Brewster Street Icehouse – The Island | Friday (12/5) at 6:30pm – Dust off your sweater and head to Brewster Street Icehouse on the Island for Surfrider’s Christmas bash and fundraiser. The Deadbeats will keep it lively while you mingle, support clean beaches, and feel smug about giving back between refills. Local, festive, mall Santas not invited.

🎶 Corpus Christi ISD 44th Annual Holiday Choir Concert @ Hilliard Center | Friday (12/5) at 7:00pm – Holiday spirit hits its 44th encore as CCISD’s choirs take over Hilliard Center, with special cameos from the district’s guitar program. Expect harmonies, hometown pride, and zero caroling at your doorstep. Consider it the classy way to kick off December, then grab cocoa.

This weekend

🏃 Rudolf Rumble 1K and 5K Fun Walk/Run @ Phil Danaher Stadium | Saturday (12/6) at 8:00am – Whether you jog, stroll, or just show up for the reindeer vibes, this festive 1K and 5K winds through Hazel Bazemore’s trails. Low stress, high cheer, and every step backs Rotary Club projects here and abroad. Lace up, donate calories, collect memories.

🛍️ Olph Academy Holiday Market @ Our Lady of Perpetual Help | Saturday (12/6) at 9:00am – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to skip the mall and shop from actual humans, this is it. OLPH Academy’s Holiday Market brings local makers, school spirit, and that cinnamon-something smell on December 6. Come browse, chat, and feel festive.

🎁 Christmas Market Day| Saturday (12/6) at 9:00am – ’Tis the season for shopping that does not involve mall parking math. Swing by this Christmas market to discover new products, small businesses, and gifts that feel personal. Buy for them, keep a little for you, sip something warm, call it community support.

🎬 The Art of Story Telling – A Beginner Animation Class with Aaron Romo @ Art Center of Corpus Christi | Sunday (12/7) at 11:00am – Got an 8 to 14-year-old who narrates their life like an anime? Park them at the Art Center for a beginner animation class with vet Aaron Romo, where storyboarding, comics, and cartoons get demystified. No drawing skills needed, all supplies provided, adult required.

✏️ Choose Your Character! A Beginner Drawing Class with Aaron Romo @ Art Center of Corpus Christi | Sunday (12/7) at 12:15pm – Think your stick figures are ready for a promotion? Learn character design and backgrounds with industry veteran Aaron Romo at the Art Center’s Bay View Gallery, no experience required, all supplies provided, and you’ll leave with original characters you actually want to show people.

🎅 ESD2 67th Annual Santa Parade @ Seashore Learning Center | Sunday (12/7) at 4:30pm – Rolling across the island, the 67th Santa Parade trades reindeer for a golf cart caravan with Santa and the Fire Department. Line the route, toss candy gently, and bring a toy for La Posada via Toys for Tots.

Next week

🌅 Sunrise Serenade – An Acrylic Painting class with April Ancira @ Art Center of Corpus Christi | Tuesday (12/9) at 1:00pm – Skip the alarm, paint the sunrise instead at the Art Center’s Bayview Gallery, all supplies included. April Ancira walks you through bold blends and soft horizons, relaxing but not paint-by-numbers. A little acrylic experience helps, curiosity, patience, and a steady-ish hand welcome.

🍪 Frost Cookies with Santa | South @ Frost Bank South Financial Center | Tuesday (12/9) at 5:00pm – Skip the mall chaos and let the kids make their Santa pitch at the South Financial Center, with cookies as legal tender. It is free, family friendly, and open to everyone, so bring the crew, snag a sugar fix, and call it holiday prep.

🎤 Tina – The Tina Turner Musical @ Selena Auditorium | Tuesday (12/9) at 7:30pm – Whether you wore out your cassette of Private Dancer or you just know Proud Mary from weddings, this musical belts Tina’s story with all the grit, glam, and goosebumps. Big vocals, bigger hair, and a reminder that comebacks, like good tequila, are timeless.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/5 Christmas Party & Fundraiser @ Brewster Street Island – 6:30 pm
• 12/6 Breakfast Bingo @ Chick-fil-A – 9 am
• 12/7 Punk Rock Karaoke @ House of Rock – 7 pm
• 12/10 Holiday Cheer Donation Dance @ Casa Ortiz – 7 pm
• 12/11 Jim Dugan @ Brewster Street Island – 7 pm
• 12/12 Trisum @ Brewster Street Island – 7 pm
• 12/12 The Axiom Quartet Christmas Special @ Rockport Conference Center – 7 pm
• 12/13 The Nutcracker @ Selena Auditorium – 7:30 pm
• 12/13 Bottomland @ Brewster Street Downtown – 9 pm
• 12/14 ¡Viva! La Música de Mariachi! Festival @ BUS – 3 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: Missy Flores (Keller Williams Coastal Bend)

This 3,600+ sq ft stunner in London ISD’s Nottingham Acres serves up 4 beds, 3.5 baths, a media room, private office, and two dining areas. A split-bedroom layout frames an oversized living room with fireplace, while the chef’s kitchen brings granite, custom cabinetry, and a gas cooktop. Oversized 3-car garage included.

Sitting on just under an acre, the backyard reads like a private resort, with a pool, hot tub, and a fully equipped outdoor kitchen. Evenings under the Texas sky set the vibe, equal parts play and laid-back luxury.

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