- Sadie Robertson returns for BreakawayBreakaway welcomed speaker Sadie Robertson Huff at Reed Arena on Tuesday, Sept. 26, with a crowd of about 7,000, according to an email from Breakaway strategic partnerships lead Kirsten Chubb. Last year, roughly 8,300 people flocked to Kyle Field to hear Huff speak, the largest crowd since 2016. To accommodate the crowd this year, the Breakaway team opened up the entire Reed Arena with a circular stage, a change from normal Tuesday nights that typically only opened four sections. Huff is best known for her appearance on Duck Dynasty as the daughter of Willie Robertson and granddaughter of Phil Robertson. Years after the show's premiere, Sadie has grown her social media presence as a Christian leader, written several books and hosts her own podcast, “WOAH, That’s Good.” Crowds of people arrived at Reed Arena early Tuesday evening, so they could get front-row seats to hear Robertson speak. Freshmen Emily Kain and Eliza Rozacky said they arrived at the parking lot almost two hours before the doors opened. They said they both grew up watching Sadie on Duck Dynasty. “It feels like I grew up with her, and she faced the trials of life, so I know that I can too,” Rozacky said. “She’s just such a wonderful example of leadership.” Three students from the University of Texas, Cora Moore, Sheridan Smith and Emmaline Black, said they drove from Austin after their classes to hear Robertson speak. “She’s somebody we’ve all grown up with and looked up to in a lot of ways,” Moore said. “This was an opportunity to see [her] for free.” Accounting junior James Klein, a member of Breakaway’s staff, said it was difficult keeping the secret to himself that Huff was speaking. “It was hard to keep it from people the first few days, [but] they found out because so many people connect and love [Huff],” Klein said. Breakaway is a bible study that meets every Tuesday at 9 p.m. at Reed Arena to help any college student take their first or next step with Jesus, according to its Instagram. “This isn’t just about the numbers or the crowd, but Sadie is a voice that can lead a lot of people to Jesus tonight,” Breakaway strategic partnerships lead Kirsten Chubb said. Huff spoke to the crowd for 45 minutes, telling the story of how people can know who they are once they know what God says about them. This was a message she was resharing after the first time she spoke it at the Passion Conference in 2022, a nationwide Christian conference held for adults. She said that although she had prepared a different message, she felt called to share this specific message. Following former Breakaway executive director Timothy Ateek’s departure in 2022, Brian McCormack stepped up to take the position in February. “There’s a very peculiar trust God has put in [Huff], a very peculiar power to gather people from this generation,” McCormack said. “Things were so beautiful last year at Kyle Field that when those relationships allowed her to come back, we wanted to do anything to make that happen.”
- Ring Day in Aggie ParkThe first known Aggie Ring etched itself into history in 1889, making the symbolic gold one of Texas A&M’s oldest traditions. In the last two decades, one of A&M’s oldest traditions has commemorated the achievement with one of its newest traditions: Ring Day. For the first time ever, The Association of Former Students will host Ring Day over two days in September at the Clayton J. Williams Alumni Center. This upcoming weekend, nearly 5,000 Aggies will receive their ring at various A&M campuses, including Galveston, McAllen and Fort Worth. Approximately 4,300 Aggies will receive their ring at A&M’s main campus between 1-5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28 and between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29. Vice president of The Association of Former Students and A&M former student, Class of 1990, Scot Walker said the number of ring orders necessitated a two-day event. “This is the first September Ring Day that [will last] for two days,” Walker said. “It’s technically a day and a half. September is the second biggest ring day of the year. April is the biggest ring day. We’ve been doing two days of Ring Day in April since 2015.” This year’s Ring Day also marks one year of celebrating the special occasion alongside Aggie Park. Walker said there will be numerous festivities to enjoy throughout the park like last year. “We’ll have the Ring Day marketplace out in Aggie Park,” Walker said. “Kendra Scott will be there. We will have Texas Aggie artist Benjamin Knox, Class of 1990, and other vendors to make it more of a festival atmosphere [and] give people the opportunity to buy some refreshments and souvenirs related to the day. We have an official Ring Day t-shirt. It’s also very safety-oriented. We put a lot of effort into making sure that everybody’s Ring Day is going to have a happy ending.” Biology senior Monse Westrup grew up in Monterrey, Mexico and became the first person in her family to attend a university in the U.S. Westrup said her grandfather, a former veterinarian, spoke highly of A&M her whole life, influencing her to complete her education in College Station. Everything that has led up to this moment makes it all mean more, she said. “No one ever says it’s just a ring,” Westrup said. “It 100% is so much more than that. It’s a reflection of all my achievements and my college journey, whether that be both academics and personal development. I am the first in my family to attend a university in the U.S. Getting to college alone was a big accomplishment. Now, completing 90 hours while working two jobs and being highly involved in school is insane to me. It’s going to be a very sentimental day, for sure. Being an immigrant … paying my own rent, groceries and using my tax return to pay for my Aggie Ring is a very sentimental thing to me because I knew I wanted it that bad.” Westrup said she looks forward to sharing her Aggie Ring story one day. “I’m so excited to tell my own Aggie Ring story,” Westrup said. “You always hear former students tell stories about how it got them a job or how they were in a country all the way across the other side of the world and they found an Aggie and clicked with the fact that they love A&M. I’m really excited to be able to do that. If someone ever asks me, ‘Has anything cool ever happened with your Aggie Ring?’ I want to be able to tell this cool story that seems so impossible.” Westrup said two close friends and three family members will join her when she picks up her ring. Throughout Ring Day’s history, ring recipients have brought anywhere from six to 20 guests to commemorate the proud achievement, Walker said. There is no written rule about celebrating in the Alumni Center and for recipients to keep their family’s comfort in mind. The forecast is in the mid-90s both days, and every guest will have to walk at least a half-mile before entering the building. “One of the things we want to reinforce with everyone is that there is no script for how Ring Day and ring delivery go once you receive the ring,” Walker said. “[Once] you get inside the building, we’re going to check your ID, your receipt and hand you [your] box. You don’t have to do anything right here in the building. You can take that box, slip it in your pocket or your purse, go home, bring all your friends and family there and have your own private ceremony there.” A&M has one of the largest student bodies, and the university still fulfills the greatest proportion of ring orders compared to any other school in the nation, Walker said. “Roughly 94% of undergraduates who qualify to earn their Aggie Ring order one,” Walker said. “That is exponentially higher than any other university in the country. The ring itself and Ring Day both have become part of the milestones of an Aggies’ time at [A&M].” Other universities are adopting the trend of hosting their own university ring day. Institutions such as Stephen F. Austin and the University of Texas are imitating what A&M did first. Although other universities look to live up to what A&M started, these ring days do not compare to the scope and tradition of A&M, Walker said. “Unless you went to a military academy, A&M pretty much invented the concept of a ring day,” Walker said. “Ours is certainly the largest. Nobody anywhere in this country has as large of an Aggie Ring program or Aggie Ring Day as Texas A&M does. That’s in large part because of the uncommon loyalty of Texas Aggies and the burning desire to earn that Aggie Ring.” The Association has more information for ring recipients about what to know, what to bring and what to do when they arrive at the Alumni Center on its website.
- Off the hook: Good Fly hosts fishing event for first responders, communityGood Fly and the Aggieland Fly Fishing club are hoping to reel in a crowd for their second annual Fly Fishing Round-Up on Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Millican Reserve. Good Fly was founded with the purpose of using fly fishing as a way to renew the mind and refresh the spirit of first responders and victims of tragedy. The art of fly casting has long been known to reduce stress and anxiety, as the rhythmic and meditative-like cadence of the casting stroke is naturally therapeutic, according to the Good Fly website. The Fly Fishing Round-Up is Good Fly’s way of showing just how great the benefits of fly fishing can be, Good Fly employee and landscape architecture senior Mara Johnston said. “Good Fly is a non-profit for first responders,” Johnston said. “It’s for anyone who has had a career, especially in community service, where they have suffered some sort of mental setback, struggle or are a survivor of something. It can even be abuse survivors. So this program is just introducing them to fly fishing and how it can be beneficial for the mind and body.” With a vast amount of public lakes in the Brazos Valley, fly fishing is a surefire way to get outside and enjoy the outdoors, Johnston said. “Being out in nature is proven to have lasting effects on your physical and mental health,” Johnston said. “Any time you get out in nature for even a small amount of time, it gets your mind off of what your major stress is. It helps reduce the stress in your body which helps your muscles relax, which can help relieve chronic pain. This is a huge benefit of fly fishing.” You don’t have to be a master angler or first responder to enjoy the Fly Fishing Round-Up. This family-friendly event is an all-day affair that offers fun for all ages, Good Fly Co-Founder Allen King said. “This is our second annual event,” King said. “There’s going to be live music, food trucks, a fishing tournament, kids activities, bounce houses, face paint, presentations all day long and demonstrations. There are a lot of fun activities for littles and a lot of learning opportunities all day.” The Aggieland Fly Fishers club partnered with Good Fly to plan and coordinate this year's festival. Most of the club members with Aggieland Fly Fishers have gone through the Good Fly training program, according to Johnston, but the club is open to all. The Fly Fishing Round-Up even has opportunities for experienced anglers like Aggieland Fly Fishers club president Hurshel Sullivan to learn new skills, Sullivan said. “I’ve enjoyed learning all of the new techniques that are used in casting and how they relate to finishing,” Sullivan said. “Once you learn those techniques, fishing is even more fun. Fly fishing makes you move your body in a way that relaxes it. I don’t even know how to describe it. It just feels good to throw the line.” Sullivan said he will be testing for his Certified Casting Instructor, or CCI, status in March of 2024 but will be taking his pre-test at the Fly Fishing Round-up. “I’m working towards my CCI with Fly Fishing International,” Sullivan said. “I’m looking forward to taking my pre-test during the time at the festival and I’m also looking forward to just enjoying all of the fun festival activities, the food, the casting instruction and listening to the live music.” For more information about the festival or Good Fly, visit its website.
- ESSENCE: A lesson in leaps of faithFollowing one’s passion isn’t a linear pursuit and not a journey for the faint-hearted. It demands time, deliberation and an immunity to uncertainty. People often concede without trying because uncertainty is daunting, but that deprives the world of a plethora of innovation. It took a moment of trust for Trey Stephens, Class of 2008, to transition into being a full-time professional artist while raising four daughters. Despite his passion for art, Stephens said he failed art class in high school. “I’ve always loved art, but I finally found my footing in it after I was diagnosed with cancer in 2008,” Stephens said. “The treatment ended up meaning a lot of sleepless nights. In those moments of quiet, I had the time and the desire to make a lot of commissioned artworks.” After years of making commissions, Stephens said he stumbled into the Aggie art world last year after creating a humorous piece titled “Outside the Commissioner's Office” portraying A&M’s football coach, Jimbo Fisher, and Alabama’s football coach, Nick Saban, being sent to the SEC Commissioner’s office after a public feud. “I believe that humor in art can create a natural platform for great conversations,” Stephens said. “I modeled this painting after Norman Rockwell’s masterpiece called ‘Outside the Principal’s Office.’ Originally, I had created that piece to make my friends laugh, but the viral press coverage the painting got made me realize that I could start timing my art pieces better to gain traction in the community.” Stephens worked a full time job for 15 years after getting his degree in agricultural leadership and development from A&M. Three months ago, he said he decided it was time for him to make the shift into being a professional artist. “For the longest time, I lacked the boldness, but knowing that I could rely on the Aggie Network to support my art career gave me the nudge I needed to start making art for a living,” Stephens said. “About three months ago, I decided to take a leap of faith when I handed in my [resignation] to my former employer. At the time, only my wife and my boss knew about this news. Within the hour, I got a call from the Texas Aggie Association commissioning an Aggie Park painting. At that moment, I felt like I had been rewarded for my boldness.” Stephens sold over 400 prints of the painting in the last few months, he said. Stephens said his daily work now consists of five hours of painting with administrative tasks interspersed. He said he transformed the guest bedroom of his home into a personal art studio with several paintings adorning every wall and a large painting easel commanding the attention of any spectator, for example. “Making art everyday is exhilarating,” Stephens said. “However, when art is the way you make a living, you have to be deliberate and disciplined in your work. What new artists need to realize is that to be a professional artist, you have to first be willing to become an entrepreneur. Sure, I am the artist, but I’m also the marketing team, the administrative team and the printing team all rolled into one.” Stephens said he loves the flexibility of working for himself. Working out of his home studio grants him more time to participate in more Aggie events and to nurture the artistic side of his daughters. “I think my earliest influences in art came from my mother and grandma,” Stephens said. “They were artistic in their own right with a knack for crafts. They had an innovative mindset and I was able to absorb some of it. Now, I hope I am able to pass it onto my daughters which will allow them to see the world around them with a creative eye.” Coming from different parts of Texas, Stephens and his wife are both first-generation Aggies. Stephens said he chose to build a life in College Station because it instantly felt like home. Stephens is currently working on creating Christmas cards for the Jingle Bell Market which promotes local businesses and charities providing a festive shopping experience in the Bryan-College Station area. He said he wants to continue making art that cultivates good humor, invigorates the Aggie spirit and allows him to serve the local community. “I would simply advise new artists to be bold,” Stephens said. “I would also ask them to focus on the relationships around them because they really matter. Finally, connect yourself with the Aggie Network and allow it to take care of you. But remember that you are [the] Aggie Network, so always find ways to pay that kindness forward.”
- Galveston … it calls meWhen the ocean called, ocean engineering freshman Jack Meyer answered at Texas A&M’s Galveston campus. Inspired by an affinity for numbers and challenges, Meyer decided to join his community For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, or FIRST, robotics team, where he later learned about, applied for and received the Dematic FIRST scholarship. Meyer said the experience inspired him to make a career out of his passions. “I always knew that whatever I do career wise, it has to involve the ocean to some avail … I also love math and taking challenges, combine that with the ocean and you have a degree in ocean engineering,” Meyers said. Meyer said he was drawn to A&M in particular because it offers one of the top ocean engineering programs in the nation, so he was willing to make the move from Arkansas. Another point was that A&M is compatible with the scholarship he received from Dematic FIRST which went toward his textbooks and materials, Meyer said. “Ultimately, College Station and Galveston both offered the same degree, but what it came down to was all the facilities and simulators being down here near the water, so to me it just made sense,” Meyer said. “I think also just being able to look outside the window, see the water and being reminded of why I’m here.” Big questions and sustainable answers have stood at the forefront of Meyer’s mind since he first decided to apply for the Dematic FIRST scholarship, Meyer said. “Through the application process you were kinda forced to think about the real-world application of why you want to pursue what you are studying … kinda seeing what degrees will allow you to build up certain skill-sets and develop long-term thinking of how you can apply these skills to improve the current situation,” Meyer said. Meyer said there are so many unknowns when it comes to the ocean, and he’s zoned in to coming up with new ideas on how we get there. “One of my research projects was looking at why such a large portion of our life is sustained by the ocean, but there has been such little exploration of it,” Meyer said. “I’d like to work on improving the ability of submersibles to better access the ocean because it’s kinda hard to take care of things or to even care about something you don’t really know about or have access to.” Meyer’s aspirations to create and develop solutions align with what Dematic aims to accomplish through its scholarship program. Corporate and Community Affairs Lead at Dematic FIRST, Roy Neill describes Dematic as a 200-plus year organization that has one of the largest integrated solutions providers for warehouses and distribution centers with well-known customer bases, such as Amazon and Kroger. “Dematic has a robust community outreach program … we have had a relationship with FIRST robotics since about 2018,” Neill said. “FIRST robotics is a global organization that has different programs for all ages, from little kids and their Lego programs all the way to high school and collegiate, and that helps incubate and nurture those young engineer minds in a team environment.” Dematic received impressive applications from students across the country, including Meyer, and has continued to grow its funds since the program started, Neill said. “This is our third year doing the Dematic FIRST Scholarship program, so we have developed a scholarship pool of money set aside,” Neill said. “This year, we awarded 12 scholarships for $20,000. It’s so hard to decide, but we are really excited to award those 12 students who are pursuing STEM related careers and to advance their educational opportunities.” The scholarship is tailored toward those who have participated in a FIRST robotics team, Neill said. “We hope this scholarship really helps students continue their education journey and help burden the costs associated with college,” Neill said. “We just hope it lifts a burden a little bit and shows them support while also giving them something for their portfolio.”
- Struck by the moonThe most common thing a camper trailer is used for is typically, well, camping, but a College Station native has reinvented it. Sugary treats and espresso drinks are sold out of a white camper with a pink ceiling — not something you see every day. After realizing her natural gift of baking, Rebeca Cruz opened Moonstruck Pastry & Coffee Co. in April of 2021. Now, regulars and new customers alike can find her set up at the Saturday morning Farmers’ Market in Downtown Bryan, The Local at Lakewalk on Tuesdays and a few First Fridays if the weather is good, Cruz said. “I never really liked College Station growing up,” Cruz said. “I just feel like I never had my place to fit in, and that completely changed when I found the market. I found my people, and I found people who wanted to support businesses like mine [and] wanted to build meaningful relationships.” Cruz said she began baking as a young girl but decided to study telecommunication at Texas A&M. After a few semesters, she said she realized starting a business was something she wanted to pursue full-time. Now, customers go to the Farmers’ Market early before she sells out of her croissants, cakes and croquembouche, a french pastry she is well-known for, she said. “It’s a little difficult because you can burn yourself pretty easily,” Cruz said. “I think I’ve made, at this point, thousands of croquembouche. It just comes pretty naturally to me. Practice helps a lot.” After hearing high praise from her older sister, industrial and systems engineering senior Emaly Vrooman said she decided to check out Moonstruck at The Local. She fell in love after her first visit, she said. “I would say honestly I love her croissants, whether she does the regular croissants or the chocolate filled ones or the raspberry ones,” Vrooman said. “They’re literally so good. I studied abroad in France, and her croissants rival the ones I had in France.” There is no permanent location for Moonstruck. Rather, Cruz said she travels around town in her camper trailer she found on craigslist and fixed up. In addition to selling pastries out of the camper, Cruz has a full espresso bar inside and makes specialty drinks like the Silver Moon, an iced coffee with cold foam. She gets her beans from Polite Coffee Roasters, a local coffee shop in Bryan. “I love [Polite],” Cruz said. “They have the best coffee in town. They also got their start at the farmers market, which is also why I love them.” Other than a barista that helps out on coffee orders, Cruz said everything at Moonstruck is run by only her. Getting business insurance, a trade name and everything up to code was a bit stressful, Cruz said, but she joked that all you have to do is Google it. “I honestly just figured it out on my own,” Cruz said. “It was actually really fun getting to be creative and getting to make my own website, getting to curate my Instagram or going to the market and doing my whole set up.” For a more personalized experience, Moonstruck also caters for weddings, birthdays, graduations and ring days. “My family loves her cakes,” Vrooman said. “Any time we have a special event like a graduation or a birthday, we order her custom-made cakes for our big celebrations because we are all such huge fans.” While deciding on a name for the business, Cruz kept her own family in mind. The name ‘moonstruck’ caught her eye when reading a book and reminded her of her mom, she said. Ever since she was little, her mother has been her biggest supporter, according to Moonstruck’s website. “My mom’s last name is Luna, which means moon in Spanish, so I kind of wanted the name to be family-related,” Cruz said. Cruz currently bakes out of her home kitchen. If Moonstruck is selling at the Saturday Farmers’ Market, she said prep will begin on Thursday and she will bake all day Friday. For more space, Cruz is leasing a building near Downtown Bryan and is working on converting it into a commercial kitchen and cafe space, she said. “With the space I’m leasing, one of the goals is to do maybe monthly cake decorating classes,” Cruz said. “We just come together as a group, have a good time and then you can take your cake home when you’re done.” When she’s not icing cakes or decorating cookies, Cruz said one of her other hobbies is pottery. She started molding mugs around the same time she opened Moonstruck. “I just started making mugs and putting ‘Moonstruck’ on them, and I never actually thought people would want to buy them, but they did,” Cruz said. “I don’t sell them all the time, but every now and then, I’ll post them for sale on Instagram.” Cruz spent this summer living above Musette, a restaurant in Kennebunkport, Maine owned by a chef she used to work for, she said. The bread they use is gluten-free, which Cruz said she will begin incorporating into her own business. “For my friends with gluten and dairy intolerances, she’s even catering to that audience,” Vroom said. “She made this business by herself, from the ground up. I love supporting small businesses, but her specifically. It’s actually so good, I really look forward to eating her little treats. It’s one of the best parts of my week when I get to see her.”
- Thousands celebrate Mexican Independence Day in Downtown BryanCommunity members celebrated Mexican culture and independence from Spain over the weekend in Downtown Bryan. On Sept. 17, the day after Mexico declared independence from Spain over 200 years ago, the Fiestas Patrias Mexicanas of Bryan-College Station welcomed thousands to celebrate with a festival and parade. Founded in the 1990s, the non-profit organization celebrates the beauty of Mexican culture and promotes education through scholarships. Event Organizer and Administrator Alma Villareal said the organization has grown immensely since its inception over 30 years ago and spends a year planning the event. “The whole focus of the event is to instill the Hispanic culture and raise funds for scholarships for teachers and students pursuing higher education,” Villarreal said. “It’s a year-round planning process because we do fundraising, planning and logistics with the city. We partner with the downtown area and do different things at different times. For example, we received our permit back in May. There are a lot of different, little things we do in order to make the event possible.” The annual event kicked off at noon with a parade down William J. Bryan Parkway. The scholarship winners, dubbed parade King and Queen, followed leading men and women in Mexican traditional wear riding horseback and holding Mexican flags in hand. Marching behind, the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band played the Aggie War Hymn. Reveille X trailed behind the cadets in a black, windows-down jeep. The band has served as an integral part of the parade for a decade now, Villarreal said. “For 10 years, the band has been a part of the event,” Villarreal said. “They’re always really excited to be a part of the event. Everyone in the community loves it. Some people don’t have the opportunity to go to an Aggie game or see the band perform. This is always a big treat for attendees.” In addition to A&M, other schools from the Brazos Valley had the opportunity to be a part of the parade. Local elementary, intermediate and high schools rode on floats decorated with papel picado and Viva Mexico! banners. The parade also featured performances from ballet folklorico performers and the group Danza Azteca de San Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, which performed one of the oldest, traditional dances native to Mexico. Following the parade, guests visited various food vendors at the annual festival and enjoyed elote, birria tacos and aguas frescas while listening to live music. Other vendors sold homemade zapatos, caps and other goods. For the first time ever, the organization also hosted a car show, Villareal said. “The participation was amazing … the whole area around the main band stage was full of cool cars for people to look at,” Villareal said. The festivities, new and old, paired with cooler weather made for a packed event from noon to 9 p.m. with people from all over Texas and across the border, Villareal said. “People came by early and then stayed the whole time,” Villareal said. “We’ve seen people come for the parade and then go home to relax for a while before coming back in the evening, which was not the case this year. We didn’t also just have Hispanics. Other races also came and enjoyed the food, music and festivities. We had people come from Austin, Houston and San Antonio. Two people also came from Mexico and led El Grito [de Independencia].” Villareal expressed gratitude to the sponsors who helped make the event possible and said she is looking forward to next year’s event.
- Freudian Slip: improvisational comedy and performing without a scriptImprov comedy is a special challenge, combining the most stressful aspects of public speaking and performance art. Freudian Slip is Texas A&M’s on-campus improvisational comedy troupe, and its members are the type that delight in the unique challenges of the form. Forty prospective applicants showed up to the audition process, according to Mary Katheryn Nobles, a business administration freshman and probationary member. For each round, the applicants played a series of improv games designed to test their abilities until only ten probationary members, or “probs”, were left. “I had the mindset that even if I didn’t make the team I would still have fun because I got to play improv games,” Nobles said. “So I think overall the audition process was nerve-wracking, but probably one of the most fun things I’ve done since being at A&M.” The audition process is just the beginning, however. Once an applicant becomes a probationary member, they need to make it through their first semester on the team before becoming a permanent member. This includes going to tri-weekly practices where they take part in various improv games. These practices are essential for how the group builds its skills and develops its sense of humor, nursing junior and member Elizabeth O’Rear said. “[A]ll of our comedy is because we’re around each other so much,” O’Rear said, “And we’re all good friends, [so] we all just kinda do whatever to make each other laugh, and then … we hope the audience laughs.” However, improv games are just that — games — and the members have a lot of fun playing them, Nobles said. There’s a significant amount of variety, and they can range from more structured games like Dating Game or ImproVision, or they can be looser, like the long-form performances beloved by computer engineering senior Ben Dunning and junior William May, both permanent members. “It’s the highest form, it’s what we’re trained for,” the two said in unison. The games that require audience participation can be tense for audience members and performers alike, Dunning said, but the performers go out of their way to try and make the participant feel comfortable. “We try to help them out as much as we can by not making it scary,” O’Rear said. “And [not] putting them on the spot as much as we can, like supporting them to make them comfortable on stage, ‘cause they’re already going out of their way to volunteer for something before we even explain what they’re supposed to be doing.” In improv comedy, there’s always a little bit of fear, the troupe’s director Luci Melcher said. This is true especially in the minutes leading up to a performance. Each member has their own way of dealing with pre-show jitters, like Aiden Kalainoff, an environmental studies junior and another permanent member. “I go into a corner and I will sing the entirety of ‘Super Bass’ by Nicki Minaj,” Kalainoff said, “The entire thing, every single time, I sit in the chair that’s right next to the desk and I go ‘This one’s for the boys—’ but I whisper it under my breath and it’s a little ritual.” Whenever they start thinking too hard about what to say, it becomes difficult to say anything at all, Melcher said. Another element of pressure is when a joke falls flat, but telecommunication media studies junior Stephen Ashburn doesn’t let it get him down. “I always go ‘These guys don’t understand,’” Ashburn said. At the same time, you can’t stop in the middle of the scene when a joke does work. “It’s just like, I dunno, once you hear [laughter] you’re like ‘Okay, this is what I’m gonna do,’” Ashburn said. Dunning had a similar view. “When you’re getting laughs in a scene, that’s your guiding principle of like, ‘Okay, they’re liking this, let’s turn down that alley that we’re at right now,’” Dunning said. What’s essential to the success of Freudian Slip is the understanding that everyone in the troupe has everyone else’s back, O’Rear said. Having people to share the experience with, both in the stoney silence and the applause, makes it easier to go onstage and put on a show. “It’s something that we can do as a family,” Kalainoff said. “[W]e’re getting ‘embarrassed’ but we’re doing it as a family, so it’s cool.” Freudian Slip can be seen performing next at 7:00 PM October 6th at the Rudder Forum. Tickets are seven dollars, and can be bought online or at the box office.
- Get up and fosterVolunteers from a local rescue have joined together to raise awareness and provide care for stray animals. Zoi’s Animal Rescue hosts adoption events every Saturday and Sunday at both PetSmart locations in College Station from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The center focuses on fostering animals and getting pets adopted by community members. Zoi’s provides all pet care to fosters and has a variety of animals, but mainly deals with dogs. Founder and President Debbie Stellas started the rescue back in 2007 in Oklahoma. After witnessing cruelty towards stray animals, Stellas said she decided to make a change and started the organization. Since then, Zoi’s has helped hundreds of animals find their forever home. But her job is not finished yet — Stellas wants to continue growing the Texas branch. “In October of 2003, we rescued two pups,” Stellas said. “The female had a birth defect which made her front leg draw up. We named her Zoi, which in Greek means life. She has a strong, iron will and remarkable determination. We named our rescue group in honor of her.” The rescue's motto “Do what we can, when we can, the best we can,” encompasses the passion it has for the animals under its care. Zoi’s Animal Rescue is a foster-based local rescue organization that takes in a variety of domesticated animals in the Greater Bryan-College Station area, Stellas said. They have been working in the area for 10 years and need more volunteers and foster caregivers to maintain its overwhelming number of animals. Stellas’ love for animals has turned into her career. Zoi’s now takes dogs, cats and pigs. She and her team of five volunteers take care of several animals in their own homes alongside managing the rescue. “There were a lot of unwanted animals and no one was doing anything about it,” Stellas said. Vice President of Zoi’s Sandy Prochazka has been with the organization for six years. She handles all veterinary affairs, pays the bills and works with possible adoptees. She also fosters eight animals in her home while working at the center. Prochazka said her busy schedule is worth the trouble when she sees how happy her animals are. “I absolutely love it,” Prochazka said. “Getting to hold a little puppy and seeing her lay on my chest. All they want is to be hugged and pet and loved. When I get a snuggle from any of my animals, it brightens my whole life. I just feel so lucky.” Prochazka works closely with the adoption process. She said Zoi’s is looking for volunteers to come to PetSmart on the weekend and help set up, take down and walk the dogs. Volunteer and foster caregiver Claudia Price has worked at the rescue for over two years and has increased her involvement to meet the needs of the rescue. She is Zoi’s social media chair and deals with fundraising and marketing. Price said she has always had a passion for animals and wanted to make an impact on the community. “My husband was outside one day and this poor injured dog came up to him, so he called me,” Price said. “The dog was injured and maimed very badly and we knew we couldn’t afford to take him in, so I went online to look for help. And Zoi’s made a comment and asked me to foster, and they would provide the pet care. I have been with Zoi’s ever since.” The rescue helps animal control and aids local law enforcement. “We mostly help with strays,” Price said. “That’s not to say we won’t take in other types if there’s a need, but we focus on strays. Especially since we are in the Brazos Valley, it is a rural area that does not have animal control or access to shelters. We kind of provide that service by helping with the stray population. That’s really how [we] get our animals.” Zoi’s is looking for volunteers and fosters who can dedicate their time and effort to aid in their animal relief goals. They’re also asking for donations via email or Facebook to help with purchasing equipment and upkeep. The group currently has 27 adoptable dogs and is run completely by volunteers.
- When life gives you LemmonsFormer broadcaster Larry Lemmons has always been in tune with his sense of adventure, using it as a stepping stone for his media career. Now, he’s using his same attitude to leave a lasting impact on students. Currently a communication and journalism professor at Texas A&M, Lemmons offers a wealth of over 30 years of media and broadcast experience to the next generation of storytellers. Lemmons has worn many hats in media as a military disc jockey, documentary film producer, news producer, reporter and news anchor. Despite his decades of expertise, Lemmons said he never wanted to be complacent for a job. “You just stayed in one place; you could have been running things by now,” an old teacher angrily told Lemmons, recalling a moment he was confronted while attending a colleague’s retirement party. Lemmons said he disagreed, partially because it’s difficult to hold down a job in media, but also because a sedentary lifestyle never suited him. “I would rather be out exploring the world having new experiences,” Lemmons said. “That's the nature of the business … But in broadcast … you can spend literally 30 or 40 years in one position. But I then would have to ask, what kind of life is that? For me, that would be difficult.” The San Antonio native spent most of his formative years moving across the U.S. or living abroad due to his father’s service in the National Security Agency for the Air Force. Despite growing up attending 12 different schools, Lemmons said he had a great childhood and learned to overcome the social challenge of being constantly new. With every new place he lived or traveled to, Lemmons said he came to understand different cultures, and in turn, he gained the ability to speak to anyone. “That was difficult at first,” Lemmons said. “But as a journalist, what that has given me is a genuine desire to read the room as it were, wherever I'm at, figure out who's who and what's what and how to go about things.” As a young adult, Lemmons wanted to see the world like his dad, so he joined the Air Force pursuing broadcasting with his associate’s degree from Amarillo Junior College. “I did not want to be in the Air Force per se,” Lemmons said. “I wanted to do [broadcast] in the Air Force because I knew I’d travel and I would have fun.” Lemmons said he enjoyed pursuing broadcasting and meeting a wide variety of people, but he only served four years due to his dislike of its hierarchical structure. Returning to the classroom, Lemmons attended the University of Texas at Austin to pursue his bachelor’s in drama, but after graduating, he searched for a new adventure. Lemmons attempted to break into the theatre industry in England but to no avail. Instead, he lived abroad in Cirencester, Gloucestershire as a brewing trainee at a beer company for six years. Lemmons said he later returned to studying drama, earning his master’s degree at the University of Washington. Looking to overcome his postgraduate slump, he moved back to Amarillo to join family, taking a break from pursuing playwriting. There, he got another job in broadcast production and Lemmons kept moving. Years later, the classroom once again called to Lemmons, and he received his Ph.D. in media and communication in 2021. Even now with years of instructing experience, Lemmons said he incorporates his active style and easygoing personality into his teachings. “I tend to move around [classrooms] and try to make contact with people,” Lemmons said. “Getting to meet people and getting them to respond on an individual level is extremely important … That just makes people receptive.” Journalism professor Tom Burton has known Lemmons for almost a year and a half. Recalling when he met him, Burton said he was excited to have Lemmons in the department when he first joined as faculty. Burton said Lemmons’ striking, energetic personality comes through whenever he teaches. “Larry has a career as a broadcaster,” Burton said. “He’s used to communicating with people and projecting enthusiasm, engaging in stories and just engaging people. I think that’s critical if you’re going to be a good instructor. If you’re not enthusiastic about what you’re teaching, your students can’t be enthusiastic.” Burton said Lemmons’ addition to the department provides another aspect of media due to his extensive experience with news as an anchor and broadcaster. “He knows what a news story is, day to day,” Burton said. “He also knows the pressure of deadlines because broadcast has perhaps the most critical deadlines.” Communication professor Adam Bajan has known Lemmons since they both joined the department at similar times after obtaining their doctoral degrees. Like Burton, Bajan said he knows firsthand how energetic Lemmons is since their offices are located directly by each other. “It’s nice to have him next door,” Bajan said. “He brings an interesting perspective and some great energy to the department.” Bajan said professors like Lemmons will be in high demand as A&M’s Department of Communication and Journalism continues to grow. “Being in journalism was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Lemmons said.
- Brains and BrewsFrom Harry Potter to the Kardashian family, the Blackwater Draw Brewing Co. Trivia night will test even the most seasoned trivia buff’s knowledge. On Wednesday nights at 7 p.m., trivia players from across Bryan-College Station come to enjoy good music, great beer and even better trivia questions. With sister bar O’Bannon’s Taphouse trivia night also on Wednesdays and growing in popularity, Blackwater Draw started hosting its own — proving to be just as popular. Taproom Manager Javier Weingart watched the Wednesday night trivia grow since its start over a year ago. “It’s been extremely popular,” Weingart said. “Thursdays used to be our most popular nights, but now everybody comes on Wednesdays to do the trivia.” The four rounds of trivia questions last until around 9:30 p.m. with 10-minute breaks in between each round for players to refill their beer and refuel on food, Weingart said. “We give away prizes at the end,” Weingart said. “The winning team gets 12 free beer tokens. That way, they can redeem them anytime.” With the rise in trivia popularity, Blackwater Draw has acquired multiple Wednesday night regulars, including Amber Collier. “I love how comfortable it is for anybody,” Collier said. “Different ages come and you can participate in different things and just have a great time.” With growing crowd numbers, Blackwater Draw had to expand from its sister bar, O’Bannon’s. “There’s a few teams that always come out but then we always acquire new folks every week,” Weignart said. “It’s the same trivia as O’Bannon’s, just a different crowd. Here, [it] is more diverse. We get a lot of post-grads and adults from around the area. If you don’t want it to be as packed, if you need more space or if you want good food, this is the best option.” The first round of the night is advertised as the easiest, Weignart said. Players are given five to six questions and asked to name the person from a picture, recall their age or explain what they do. The second round is more serious with 12 questions about a remote place, a broad history question or naming a picture. The third round involves all things music. Five to six songs are played for the audience and players are asked to name the artist or recall lyrics from memory. The final round is categories with themes for the questions, which gives players a clue on how to answer, Weingart said. “It’s completely free for anybody to play,” Weignart said. “House rule is no more than seven people per team, but if you have more than seven that’s fine. We just subtract three points for each team over seven. Whenever we first got super popular, we had tables of 12 or 20 people. It makes it impossible for anyone to win, and we want everyone to have a chance and to have fun.” Blackwater Draw doesn't just offer trivia as its only source of entertainment for customers. On every first Friday of the month, there is live music outside along with food trucks, according to its Instagram. Its beer menu is also constantly expanding and changing. Returning regular Jamie Troester said she came to enjoy the brews and ended up getting hooked on trivia nights. “I love to win but I also love how laid back and chill the night is,” Troester said. “I love the open-air venue and everything they have on tap. My favorite right now is Bordertown.” Blackwater Draw offers a wide variety of different beers that even the most picky beer drinker can enjoy, Weingart said. “We have a coffee porter which used to be our most popular,” Weingart said. “We started making Hazy Lady a few years ago, and now that's the number one seller. Hazy Lady is a [New England style] hazy IPA which got really popular really quick in Brazos County.” Blackwater Draw offers something different for every type of beer drinker, including German Lagers, fruit beers, sours, Belgians and more. One, or sometimes even three new beers are featured on every first Friday of the month, as well as seasonal favorites like Octoberfest. Blackwater Draw is open Tuesday-Saturday at noon and Sundays at 1 p.m. with ranging hours for close. Head to the Blackwater Draw Brewing Co. website or find them on Instagram for more information.
- Walking out the Aggie wayTexas A&M dropped “Power” as its football walkout song following Kanye West’s controversial public behavior last fall. On Sept. 2, Texas A&M Athletics debuted its new walkout song at the 2023 season home opener against New Mexico. Questions surfaced online during the offseason as to what hype song would replace the university’s previous one. A&M Athletics searched no further than A&M former student, Class of 2020 and band member of pop duo, Surfaces, Colin Padalecki to produce the new “Aggie Intro.” History junior Jack Mull stood with his roommates, aerospace engineering junior John Hafele and economics junior Will Ward, on the second deck for the first game. There, the men and the rest of the 12th Man listened to the new walkout song for the first time. Hafele said the chant sounded reminiscent of A&M’s previous hype song. “The song reminded me a lot of ‘Power,’” Hafele said. “I think that’s kind of what [Padalecki] was going for. I mean, we all really liked ‘Power,’ and then things happened … I think he still wanted that same sort of feel and he nailed it on the head. When it played, I looked around and a lot of people were nodding their heads to it, going along with it. I consider that positive feedback.” In an interview with A&M Athletics, Padalecki said he believed A&M is the only university to use a song not found on the radio as its walkout song. Hafele said this makes the song stand out against other schools. “You see other schools that will do ‘Enter Sandman,’ ‘Thunderstruck’ or other familiar songs as their hype songs, but are other schools making their own hype songs?” Hafele said. “I don’t know of any. This is a first for everybody. We are the only [school] who can say we’ve done this and I think that’s pretty amazing.” Even if another school produced a hype song in-house, it doesn’t match the sheer magnitude of A&M, Ward said. “If another school does happen to have another song to the level that we do, we still have one of the largest student bodies,” Ward said. “We’re a nationally accredited university with over 70,000 students. We’re the No. 1 school in Texas and it feels that way. The song makes it feel like this is our year.” Mull said the song impressed him, giving credit to Padalecki’s well-timed beat drop. “The first half of the song sort of built up and hyped us up for the players to come out, and then to start the second half of the song, the beat dropped perfectly with the players running out of the tunnel,” Mull said. “It was really cool.” Ward said it’s understandable the university replaced the previous walkout song and that they made a smart decision to do so. “Power” missed out on one crucial component anyway, Hafele said. “Kanye isn’t an Aggie, so ‘Power’ didn’t add anything to us,” Hafele said. “It was just a song. Having this new ‘Aggie Intro’ adds to us and holds a little more meaning for A&M.”
- Calculated Culture Episode 6: In Texas, We Travel By HoursSpecial Sections editor Ruben Hernandez and Yearbook Editor Megan Williams, along with guest Sports Editor Hunter Mitchell, talk about the sparse clusters of cultures throughout Texas that seem to unify it as one grand cultural republic.
- Award winning pianists to perform at Rudder TheaterThe BCS Friends of Chamber Music will host two Van Cliburn piano competition winners at Rudder Theater on Sunday, Sept. 10 to start off this year’s concert season. Van Cliburn silver medalist Anna Geniushene and bronze medalist Dmytro Choni will be performing pieces by Yohan Strauss, Frederick Chopin and Pyotr Tchaikovsky, ending the performance with a piano duet from Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk. Friends of Chamber Music’s Artistic Director Elena Reece said she asked Choni and Geniushene to perform a duet to close out the concert and was thrilled when they agreed. “When I say that this is a unique feature of that particular concert, it is simply because these artists are solo pianists who … develop their own individual solo careers,” said Reece. “They very rarely, if ever at all, play together.” The pianists found one day in their schedule in which they could both perform together at Rudder Theater, starting the Friends of Chamber Music’s season earlier than they have ever started, Reece said. The pianists will be playing side by side on the same piano, said President of Friends of Chamber Music Andreas Kronenburg. “They don’t have a chance to practice very often together, so they’re doing us a big favor to play this together,” Kronenburg said. Kronenburg said he hopes students who have never been to a live classical concert will attend. “I think anybody, even if you’ve never listened to this kind of music before, you’ll just be amazed at the intensity, the different styles of play,” Kronenburg said. “They’re not just gonna be playing notes. They’re going to have expression, it’s just wonderful.” The piano performance will also be accompanied by a piece of art by local artist Dick Davison on the main stage in Rudder Theater. “We have a local artist who has provided a new painting,” Kronenburg said. “It’s a large one, it’s nine feet by nine feet, and it’s gonna be on stage with the pianists, so that as people listen, they can have the pleasure of seeing the art.” At every concert, Friends of Chamber Music holds pre-concert opening performances by local groups, typically with high school orchestras that have competed to open for the musicians. “We are inviting the A&M High School Consolidated Varsity Orchestra, and it will be a large group of kids, all string instruments,” Reece said. “The count right now is about 60 students and their orchestra director and they will be playing a short performance for the incoming audience.” The A&M High School consolidated orchestra and students from A&M’s School of Performance, Visualization and Fine Arts will be offered free tickets to the Sept. 10 performance. Friends of Chamber Music strives to “enhance the cultural life of the community” and bring culturally diverse music performed by world-class musicians to the Brazos Valley, according to their website. “I don’t want classical music to mean snob music to everybody,” Kronenburg said. “I would rather people go and listen to it and experience it for what it is and if it’s done well, it’s just fantastic music.” With different genres of music at each performance such as jazz, a cappella and classical, the Friends of Chamber Music showcases a diverse range of concerts, said Kronenburg. “I think what you’ll find is the amount of energy and the expression in the music of these world-class people is just more than you could imagine,” Kronenburg said. The Friends of Chamber Music’s concert series this year includes performances by Grammy award winning jazz musicians, a harpist and flutist, a quartet, a solar eclipse project with the Brazos Valley Astronomy Club and Grammy award winning a cappella singers. The Friends of Chamber Music’s series this year will consist of three free concerts and three concerts with student prices ranging from $5 to $10, said Kronenburg. “We want accessible, fine music, played by astounding world-class musicians,” Kronenburg said.
- Musical stories of Downtown Bryan at Hullabaloo Music FestThe Downtown Bryan streets were filled with the pulsating sound of grungy guitar bass that reverberated through the Grand Stafford Theatre. The rustic wooden venue featured the hard rock band Hindsight under hazy, red smoke onstage. Rock and roll audiences trickled in, clamming close to one another and stirring in sync. The bar was littered with chilled Bud Lights and Michelob Ultras under cabana string lights. Rock and roll on a Sunday called for special drinks off Grand Stafford’s chalk menu, like ‘Breaking Down’ and ‘Damn Regret.’ Over the Labor Day weekend, the third annual Hullabaloo Music Fest returned with many musicians performing in several unique venues in Historic Downtown Bryan. Niche and indie musicians took the stage at venues like The 101, KinderHill Brew Lab, Grand Stafford Theatre and Stage 12 of the Grand Palace Theatre. Public service and administration graduate student Joshua Carley greeted festival guests adjacent to Grand Stafford Theatre. As a volunteer with Destination Bryan, Carley said the nonprofit organization’s “ask and you shall receive” mindset brought the Hullabaloo Music Fest to the stage. “Destination Bryan is a 501 nonprofit that gets its funding from the city, revenue and tourism taxes,” Carley said. “Essentially, they noticed a lot of demand and interest for local music performing in a music scene by many bands and people in the area.” As Hindsight rolled out of its performance, lively attendees trickled out of the venue, with Carley grinning nearby. “What’s so incredible about Bryan is that everyone has its own unique story that all these bands are so excited to share,” Carley said. “Being the first to welcome them and be the face of the people who get to see them the first time is just so exciting.” The electric excitement of the rhythms quickly extended across the street to Grand Palace Theatre around 8 p.m. The brick sidewalls of the outdoor venue held a different tune than that at the Stafford Theatre, as the rock band Bad 455’s played more grassroots bluesy tunes. Destination Bryan volunteer Christopher Nguyen stood in front of the spinach-green seats of Grand Palace’s stage. “There’s a wide variety of different bands playing,” Nguyen said. “Those venues have been going since one o’clock, and they go all the way until 11 o’clock midnight today.” Whether a large band or small-starting musician, Nguyen said the music festival is open to hearing various musical stories. “There have been a lot of local groups, some regional groups and your nationally known groups,” Nguyen said. “But a very important part of Destination Bryan is all about showcasing the local talent.” Right next to the Stafford Theatre, The Proudest Monkey diners tapped to the glam rock band LVVRs while munching on their truffle “Yuppy Fries” and specialty burgers. LVVR's aesthetic was reminiscent of a 'take a midnight train and go anywhere' spirit. The sold-out music festival began to show crowds flocking to venues as 10 p.m. rolled around. A line rolled down the street outside Stafford Theatre as the night’s headliner Red Suit Apparatus was set to take the stage, quickly reaching maximum capacity. In the ever-stretching line was human resources graduate student Lena Brown. When it comes to going out and experiencing stories, including the musical ones of the night, Brown said she urges students to come out and just go for it. “My motto is always to try to go to stuff for the experience; you never know what you’re gonna get out of it,” Brown said. “It might be good, it might be bad. But you and others have a story to tell at the end of the day, and we’re here for it.”
- ESSENCE: What we can’t talk aboutWriting, singing, painting and playing an instrument are all worthy artistic outlets. Each individual has to find out for themselves which artform helps them best express what they wish to narrate. Wouldn’t it be convenient if there was a perfect online quiz that pinpoints your artistic strengths? The ultimate metric of knowing you’re producing the right form of art is observing whether it helps you express ideas you can’t readily talk about and makes you lose track of time. We all have to try different avenues until it simply happens. Dana Dang, Class of 2023, began her foray into art with video editing for the Department of Anthropology at Texas A&M. This led to her teaching herself poetry and graphic design during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. “At the time I was making a lot of educational content, which pulled me further into exploring other forms of art,” Dang said. “I found poetry during COVID[-19] when I could only be online with my friends for a couple of hours and needed a way to express myself beyond just smiling at a screen.” Dang began reading poetry by chance. She stumbled on a copy of “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur, which had become a literary phenomenon for its raw poetry. Each short poem was matched by a simple monoline illustration — something Dang said was unlike anything she had ever read before. “I think Rupi’s poetry caught my attention because it talked about subjects that are bigger than you and [I],” Dang said. “It unpacked things we don’t casually mention to our acquaintances and colleagues. Poetry is unique because you get to read how people make connections in their lives and how they use words to incorporate these connections into their style.” Dang said poetry captivated her more than video editing, media creation and illustration. “A big part of getting into poetry is finding the right inspiration,” Dang said. “Poetry can be simple, deep or mysterious. Engaging with the right people, verbally or visually, can change your perspective.” Dang said her growing understanding of psychology through her undergraduate studies also played a role in making poetry blended with graphic design her preferred artistic outlet. “Psychology gave me the tools for understanding people and their behavior,” Dang said. “I think poetry and marketing, which is what I would like to do in my career, are great ways to apply that information productively.” In her poetry portfolio, Dang touches on relatable subjects like feminine beauty, growth from past relationships and fast friendships. Her writing puts large topics into perspective, and one of her personal favorites is “Feminine Beauty.” “I like to make statements in my work about the people and experiences that have shaped me,” Dang said. “In this poem, I tackle aging and the beauty of it. The world thinks that women look their best in their twenties and beauty declines from there. So we, as women, spend so much energy trying to look like we don’t age. Personally, I think it's really beautiful to wear your laugh lines and wrinkles as a testament of a fulfilling life.” “Feminine Beauty” is a relevant poem to read in an era when there is no shortage of embellished social media content out there. “This is why it sometimes sucks to work in the world of social media where you can change your body to look however you want and stop aging at 22,” Dang said. “What is funny about these posts is that they don’t only feel unfair to yourself, but also to the hundreds of women who will see it.” Dang has worked in the division of Marketing and Communication at Texas A&M for two years managing the highly followed A&M social media account that thousands of students and faculty members interact with everyday. “Working with social media has taught me a lot,” Dang said. “I’ve found a passion for strategic branding and marketing, which are interests that I will take into my career. I will be moving to New York to pursue a Masters of Professional Studies in Branding and Integrated Communications at The City College of New York.” Dang’s journey of finding her preferred artistic outlet didn’t just give her a new hobby, but also carved out a path for her career.
- Comic Con comes to College StationCelebrities, cosplayers and creators have set their sights on filling the Death Star-shaped hole in College Station’s heart. On Sept. 9 and 10, Con Live! will host its first-ever College Station Comic Con at the Brazos County Expo Complex. Comic book conventions, or comic cons, are organized gatherings for comics fans, creators and industry experts to meet and celebrate all things nerd culture. Con Live! organizes comic cons throughout Texas. Event coordinator Clayton Afinowicz said the idea to host a comic con in College Station came from the lack of available entertainment in the area. “We noticed that the Brazos Valley was a little underrepresented when it comes to nerd culture,” Afinowicz said. “Comic book stores and gaming stores, things of that nature are pretty few and far between when you look at what’s available in College Station. We thought this would be a good location where we could come and foster a place for people to enjoy all things that are nerdy.” Notable cosplayers, professional artists and voice actors from award-winning animated shows will make special appearances at the two-day event. There are a particular couple of names that stand out, Afinowicz said. “Personally, I’m most excited for Marty Grabstein, the voice of Courage the Cowardly the Dog from the title show,” Afinowicz said. “I’m really looking forward to him. Alex Cazares is also coming. She voice-acted in Cyberpunk Edge Runners, which won Crunchyroll’s 2023 Anime of the Year. Several other big names will be in attendance, and we are still announcing a few more notable guests that may come.” The event will also feature a cosplay contest. The contest judges will follow a criterion relative to design quality and skill level, Afinowicz said. “In most cases, judges are going to not only look for quality and craftsmanship, but they’ll also take into consideration how much time went into creating the piece, how everything works together and the overall showmanship of the cosplay,” Afinowicz said. “We really want participants to work the stage, show off their work and be proud of it. There are also different skill levels in the cosplay contests. Those who are brand new to cosplay can enter the novice class. We also have a master class for those who are more well-seasoned cosplayers. There is also a category for those who don’t want to enter the contest and want to show off their work.” In addition to the celebrity appearances and cosplay contests, the convention will also host multiple video game tournaments and over 100 vendors. Con Live! will provide controllers and everything needed for those who want to compete head-to-head in retro video games, including Super Mario Kart 64, Tekken 3 and Street Fighter. There is something for everyone to enjoy at Comic Con, Afinowicz said. “Comic Cons have evolved and become so much more than just comic book conventions,” Afiinowicz said. “We have things for people who are into comics, of course, but also anime, sci-fi, horror and fantasy, really anything in-between. It doesn’t matter your age or background. This is a place where we can all unite in fandom. Everyone is there for the same reason.” Tickets start at $20 for a one-day badge with a two-day badge only costing five dollars more. Children eight and under may enter for free with the purchase of a one-day badge, or more, and the accompaniment of a parent or guardian. Purchase of a VIP pass gives access to the event 30 minutes ahead of general admission, two complimentary GA passes for Sunday to bring family or friends and more special items. To purchase tickets, visit Con Live!’s website.
- First Friday set to highlight diverse voices, aspiring artistsAs Texas A&M students have arrived back on campus, businesses in Downtown Bryan have prepared for the influx of students and locals during the monthly First Friday event on Sept. 1. As the sun begins to set and streets are blocked off from traffic, Historic Downtown Bryan will light up from thrift-shop and restaurant windows, vintage cars and The Queen Theatre’s retro, neon-yellow marquee. First Friday has free attractions designed for all ages, from college students to families, and brings new shoppers who support the local businesses, according to the DestinationBryan.com. With live music on most corners, food trucks, farmers market vendors and nonprofit groups ready to talk about their organizations, organizers say there is always something for both newcomers to the area and First Friday regular attendees. Missy Barron, owner of The Frame Gallery, a custom art framing shop and First Friday’s birthplace, said the Gallery’s founder had a vision for using the event to empower young artists by displaying their work for the Bryan-College Station community to see and support. The gallery now showcases art by local high-school students, Barron said. “Those are turning out to be some of my favorite shows to do for the kids because their families come in, and it may be the first time they will have their artwork in a gallery,” Barron said. Jake Mitchell, owner of Rx Pizza, said First Fridays are key to the success of his business. “It’s a very busy day for us,” Mitchell said. “We know that we’re gonna have a wait at the door, sometimes way over an hour long.” While some shops profit from First Friday traffic, other businesses don’t get as much immediate financial return. “To be perfectly honest, I don’t make money,” Barron said. “Sometimes I’m negative after a First Friday because all of our artwork is on consignment and then that usually just covers my employees for the night. “It’s really just a night for artists to get attention, and we have so many people that come through and then return when they’re ready to get some art framed,” Barron said. September’s First Friday will include Fiestas Patrias celebrations featuring Latin dance groups, Mexican artisanry, traditional Mexican clothing and art from a variety of Hispanic voices in the BCS community, according to event organizers. “With Bryan being a majority-minority city, it’s great to see different cultural aspects that represent the community,” said Chris Ortegon, special event coordinator for Destination Bryan. Free event parking is available in the Roy Kelly parking garage from 4 p.m. to midnight, and free shuttle rides are now available for A&M students leaving from the Memorial Student Center on campus, Ortegon said. The shuttles run every 30 minutes and the last shuttle will leave Downtown for campus at 9:30 p.m. The shuttle schedule will be available on the A&M app, said Caden Jones, an intern for Destination Bryan. For a full list of live music, special business discounts offered during the night and other First Friday attractions, visit DestinationBryan.com.
- Criticism: Reneé Rapp’s “Snow Angel”Rating: 7/10 In a debut studio album that radiates both harsh heat and numbing cold, Reneé Rapp’s “Snow Angel” (2023) is yet another notch in the new singer’s growing, star-studded belt. “Snow Angel”, which was released on Friday, Aug. 18, is the first full-length studio album from Rapp, an actress, singer and up and coming songwriter who first made her claim to fame after landing the role of Regina George in the Broadway musical adaptation of Tina Fey’s “Mean Girls.” Continuing her work as the blunt and beautiful Leighton Murray in HBO Max’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls”, Rapp’s notability as an actress has grown steadily since the series’ release. However, knowledge of her vocal talents has remained relatively limited to fans who know her from the Broadway stage. “Snow Angel” however, takes Rapp’s musical theater fame and launches it into that of a full-on pop star. The album covers everything from the dull soreness of early 20s growing pains to the raw, heavy-chested ache of unbridled anxiety and does not hold back. Starting “Snow Angel” off strong with “Talk Too Much,” Rapp impressively turns a personal anecdote about a previous stress dream into a catchy, angst-filled pop masterpiece that captures the infuriating anxiety and overthinking that often accompanies a new relationship. Operating on levels of over-analyzation and self-deprecation that toe the line between pure comedy and painful relatability, “Talk Too Much” is easily one of the strongest tracks on the album, further substantiating why it was released as one of “Snow Angel”’s debut singles. Surpassing “Talk Too Much” ever so slightly is the album’s first single and titular track, “Snow Angel.” Showcasing Rapp’s phenomenal Broadway belt in a manner that can only be described as absolutely stunning, “Snow Angel” is the type of chilling ballad that will leave you staring out a car window contemplating every form of heartbreak you’ve ever endured. While the track can be interpreted as an expression of romance-related pain, its ultimate strength lies in its more subtle and atmospheric depiction of a cold, phantom hurt — the type that festers slowly, cruelly and without mercy. Taking after Taylor Swift’s pattern of devastating fifth track slots, “Snow Angel” is 3:36 of pure catharsis, with its only flaw being that it makes many of the other tracks pale in comparison. While not every track on “Snow Angel” illustrates the unwavering strength of “Talk Too Much” and “Snow Angel,” they do all showcase Rapp's bewitching vocals and potential as a prominent singer-songwriter. Between the haunting beauty of “I Hate Boston” and “Gemini Moon,” the sneering venom of “Poison Poison” and the playful synth-pop exasperation of “Pretty Girls,” “Snow Angel” is, both sonically and lyrically, well-rounded, further solidifying Rapp as a name that will continue to rise in the mainstream music scene.
- Built to Last: BUILD celebrates its 10th anniversary of building life-saving clinicsTen years ago, then-Deputy Corps Commander Bryson Sutterfield, Class of 2013, founded BUILD to create a collaborative project for generations of Texas A&M students after the university displaced Bonfire from campus following the 1999 Bonfire Collapse. Today, the organization has launched numerous campaigns to create and provide Texas A&M Medical Clinics, or TAMCs, in areas of need, including countries as far as Costa Rica, Haiti and Jordan. BUILD CEO and biomedical sciences and entomology senior Kate-Riley Rogers said BUILD has grown from its first project serving as a collaboration with Habitat for Humanity to planning, designing and constructing full-scale medical clinics. “In 2013, the deputy corps commander talked to a lot of university leaders throughout campus and talked about how since 1999, the 14 years since the Bonfire collapsed, A&M hasn’t had a unifying project,” Rogers said. “Together, they sent a proposal to the university to establish BUILD as a student organization that year. The first project was building a habitat house for someone in the Bryan-College Station area. We then later found a niche for medical clinics. We started with 500 volunteers for our first project campaign, and now we’re up to 1,600 volunteers with our most recent projects, the TAMCs.” BUILD has phased four main projects. The organization started with the Habitat for Humanity house in 2013. In 2014, BUILD launched 12 for 12, a campaign to dedicate 12 TAMCs in honor of the 12 fallen Aggies at Bonfire, completing all 12 TAMCs in 2016. Following 12 for 12, BUILD planned, designed and constructed five TAMCs to honor the number of Aggie veterans who played a crucial role in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. The process of planning BUILD’s construction cycle takes a lot of organization between team members, BUILD COO and public health senior Chase Parrish said. “We have a lot of leadership levels, designed to help lead our efforts and navigate volunteers,” Parrish said. “Whenever someone shows up to volunteer, we have student supervisors serve as the main point of contact with volunteers. We then have command team members who are more involved with planning the projects in-depth. Being a part of a command team gives you a chance to do construction and help organize this non-profit effort. Each team has a team lead who serves as the head of their department. The C-levels help make sure we are all working together. For 10 straight years, this organization has led great projects for the university.” BUILD’s current project campaign, the Fallen Aggie Hero Project, is to create 37 TAMCs in honor of the 37 Aggie veterans killed on or after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Since 2018, BUILD has completed and shipped 24 TAMCs to locations all over the world. BUILD Marketing Team Leader and civil engineering junior Lauryn Kastenschmidt said the organization’s drive to further its mission has compelled her to continue professionally developing within the organization. “I joined BUILD because I helped my dad build some shelves this summer … I came to A&M in full construction mode,” Kastenschmidt said. “When I saw this organization had a hammer as its logo, I immediately joined. I wasn’t even aware of the amazing things that BUILD had accomplished. Once I learned, I became determined to further our mission.” The organization has an annual gala to celebrate the generous donors who have contributed over the years. This year’s gala will be extra special in honor of its 10th anniversary, inviting the organization’s founders, past leaders and donors. BUILD CFO and civil engineering senior Albert Tran said he hopes BUILD will continue to expand its scope after he graduates. “I’d like for BUILD to get in touch more with different departments on campus,” Tran said. “This year, we are producing our first ever Texas A&M Veterinary Clinic or TVAC. This is a partnership with the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. It would be great to form more partnerships with the engineering school and construction science school.” Dr. Easterwood conducted a semester-long project, splitting her students into seven teams to design a veterinary service project concept from a 40-foot shipping container for South Texas Animal Rescue, or STAR, in Corpus Christi, Texas. The winning team’s mobile veterinary clinic concept will help BUILD plan and design a TVAC to provide accessible veterinary care to underserved communities and improve health outcomes for rescued animals. BUILD will open the site to volunteers for the fall 2023 construction phase on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Sep. 18 to Nov. 17. The BUILD site is located at 750 Agronomy Rd., near A&M’s General Services Complex. No construction experience is required to volunteer. Anyone may walk on as a volunteer as long as they are wearing a sleeved shirt, long pants and closed-toed shoes. BUILD asks that any student groups that would like to volunteer first book on their website.
- Are you thready for this? Thrifted Threads grand openingThrifted Threads, a thrifting chain based in Houston, opened a new store on Aug. 26 in College Station with vintage resale clothing at affordable prices. Located on Texas Avenue at a revamped gas station, Thrifted Threads sits right across from the Texas A&M campus. Thrifted Threads was founded in 2017 by owner Laith Awad when he was just 17 years old. Awad used social media to grow his online store, which ships products globally. He opened the first brick-and-mortar Thrifted Threads in Houston in 2022 and said he wants to expand his business to college campuses. With free ice cream, free arcade games and rustic decor, Thrifted Threads offers a unique shopping experience. “We’re going to install some benches outside so when the weather gets better, kids can come out here, they can study, they do their thing, maybe grab some food from next door, come out here and eat it, hang out and shop and grab some free ice cream,”Awad said. “I think it’s definitely an experience we’re creating.” Awad said he hopes to give College Station residents and students an opportunity to find sustainably sourced and distinctive clothing at the “elevated thrift store.” “We’re in textile recycling facilities all over Texas that basically process and save about five million pounds a month out of the wastelands, so we’re directly helping impact the environment,” Awad said. Vintage products, which are often not biodegradable, are given a second life to minimize waste put in landfills, Awad said. Thrifted Threads sells products from the 1980s to the early 2000s and provides new inventory every day alongside a wide selection of brands such as Nike, Harley Davidson, Carhartt and Tommy Hilfiger. “I want to make sure that the stores are always filled — and that's definitely a challenge — but I definitely take it to the next level to make sure we’re sourcing all over Texas in different cities,” Awad said. Thrifted Threads has several employees working in Houston and College Station to source original, vintage and quality clothing, Awad said. “I hand-pick everything with my team,” Awad said. “I review it two to three times before it ever comes out, so I feel like everything in here will help people in College Station have better options, dress better and be able to express themselves more.” Customers are attracted to the individuality of the products as well as the aesthetic, Awad said. “You walk into the room with a vintage shirt, and you’re probably the only one in the room with that shirt,” Awad said. “And a lot of people nowadays, that’s what they care about. They want to be different.” Silas Austria, a frequent thrift store shopper, went to the Thrifted Threads grand opening with a group of friends who heard about the store’s debut on Instagram. “I’ve found a lot of good stuff [at thrift stores], so I’m interested to see how this one pans out,” Austria said. “I’m super excited to get some clothes.” Austria was surprised by the large turnout at the store opening, but had concerns that the crowds may mean marked-up prices because of limited inventory. Despite this, Austria acknowledged that thrift shopping can bring individuality to one’s wardrobe. “Thrift shopping to me — it’s cost-effective, it’s good for the environment and you can find some unique clothing, never seen before things, not everything that other people wear,” Austria said. Kinesiology senior Adalyn Cable and English and history senior Kacey Heitschmidt attended the Thrifted Threads grand opening together. “It’s like a fun hobby, you go with your friends, it’s like a social thing as well as actually helpful,” Heitschmidt said. “It’s shopping, but also affordable and fun.” Cable and Heitschmidt said they chose to go thrift shopping because of the affordable and fashionable clothes, but also for the distinctiveness of the products. “It’s not mass produced, I know obviously some of it was at some point, [but] I know I’m not buying things that everybody else is going to have necessarily,” Cable said. Thrifted Threads is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
- Go party, it's the Polite thing to doThe coffee shop at Kyle House politely invites you to start the weekend off with an evening of music, shopping and outdoor activities. Polite Coffee Roasters will host their first-ever Polite Party in Downtown Bryan on Friday, Sept. 1 from 5-9 p.m. The free evening takes place at Kyle House, Polite’s permanent location, and has something for all ages with live music, food trucks, local vendors and new fall cocktails. The concept of hosting a community event came to Steve Turner, co-owner and founder of Polite, two years ago. His initial desire to be friendly with local neighbors morphed into a bigger endeavor that connects regulars and friends with small businesses. “We always just dreamed of having a block party that got the neighborhood together,” Turner said. “We just wanted to have a place where we could all kind of benefit from each other.” With the night kicking off around dinner time, the food truck lineup has something to fulfill every craving. JLM’s Chicken & Waffle, JJ’s Snowcones and Moonstruck Pastry & Coffee Co. will be stationed outside throughout the night. Pair your meal alongside one of Polite’s new seasonal cocktails, which can be enjoyed for longer with the coffee shop’s new extended hours, Turner said. “Starting Sept. 1, [Polite is] going to be open until 7 [p.m.], and we’re going to serve a cocktail menu at all times,” Turner said. “We’ve got some of our spins on some drinks, like the Irish coffee. I won’t divulge all of them, but I’m really excited.” Jon Couch and the Cushions will be playing from 7-9 p.m., according to Polite’s Instagram. While listening to tunes from the band, visitors can get their face painted, compete in a coffee-sack race, jump in a bounce house, play yard or board games or practice disc golf putting, Turner said. “We’re trying to have a mix between stuff you can shop and activities,” Turner said. “We wanted something that you can’t get at your everyday store.” Local stores like Bygone Vintage, Offbeat, KLĒNR, Stone Co. Climbing and Armory Disc Golf will have items for sale, ranging from old-school clothing to trendy hats and more. Chris Thompson, Class of 2022, founded KLĒNR, a soap and sundries store focused on all-natural products, after his return from 10 years in the military, where he served as a Green Beret in the Army Special Forces. Turner, who is also a veteran, said their service to their country connected the two together. “The community in College Station, I would say as a whole, is overly supportive of veterans,” Thompson said. “A lot of the vendors that you’ll see at the Polite Party, like Stone Co. and, of course, people at Polite, just have been really supportive.” Polite’s close-knit community of baristas and regulars is a big part of why psychology senior Anna Buraczyk loves swinging by any chance she gets, she said. She orders oat milk cortado, which she said really allows for the taste of the coffee to shine through. “I have some really close friends that work at Polite and … lots of friends that love it,” Buraczyk said. “They immediately texted me when it was posted asking if I wanted to go with them. And I, of course, was like, ‘Okay, it’s on my calendar conveniently.’ I was like, ‘My evening is blocked off!’” With traffic and thousands of students, it’s easy to feel stuck in the Texas A&M bubble, Turner said. The moment you step into Downtown Bryan, he said it’s like you’re in a whole different city. “There’s just so many people that are coming back to the town or new to the town, whether you’re a first year student or you just went and had an internship over the summer,” Turner said. “We just kind of wanted to, you know, get back on the radar of people.” Polite Coffee Roasters is located on 800 S Bryan Ave. and is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting Sept. 1.
Load more...
Loading...