Category: Texas

Community, South Texas Stories, Texas

Anime Fans flood first ever Star Con

David Phillips

Local artist group The Starving Artist Collective held Star Con, a one-day anime convention, at Portland Community Center on Sept. 5. The convention’s opening ceremonies began with a performance by the Corpus Christi Taiko Club. Throughout the convention, attendees could attend a Warhammer 40k speed-painting contest, a concert performance by Chrysalia, and a martial arts demonstration. While the convention hosts originally planned to have a One Piece TCG tournament, it was cancelled before the convention started. The convention concluded with a cosplay stage walk, first for kid cosplayers followed by adult cosplayers. Corry Berryhill won first place for the kid’s…

South Texas Stories, Texas

Corpus Christi local attends San Japan: South Texas’s largest anime + gaming convention.

Alondra Alonzo

On Labor Day weekend I got to see thousands of real-life anime, comic, and gaming characters being cosplayed, from down the streets to a packed convention arena for San Japan, South Texas’ largest anime and gaming convention. San Japan 17, held in downtown San Antonio at the Henry B. González Convention Center, had a final tally of 37,587 attendees for all three days. I attended with one of my closest friends, Jackie. We had previously attended Corpus Christi Comic Con 2026 together, and our mutual interests in anime and cosplay had us excited as we counted down the days to…

Community, Texas

Micro Mania takes flight

Tamara Martinez

Little people, big fights. For one night only, Eddie’s Tavern held one of the more memorable nights in Corpus Christi this summer.  The local sports bar was filled to maximum capacity for this 21 and older event where wrestling fans gathered in excitement for the tour of MicroMania Wrestling. Each wrestler had their own background story that contributed to the “Hero vs. Villain” perception. The crowd had their favorite wrestlers, and their not-so-favorites, but overall, the characters were so full of enthusiasm, they had a crowd of adults screaming at the top of their lungs.  A fan favorite moment was…

Community, South Texas Stories, Texas

Texas Rising leads park clean up

Layla Fonseca

A recent city park cleanup hosted by Texas Rising had attendees questioning what changes could improve the park’s infrastructure. Last April, the Del Mar and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi chapters of Texas Rising adopted Doddridge Park through the city’s Adopt a Park program. The park is located at the intersection of Doddridge Road and Ocean Drive and runs along the bay. The groups host monthly cleanups every second Thursday of the month. Multiple volunteers had to dodge large potholes, or park in neighborhood streets to reach the park. Texas Rising Advocacy Field Organizer Jazymene Evans said the park’s parking lot…

Community, Texas

Texas voters prepared for 2026 midterm elections

Arwen Scafidi

Texas voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3 for the 2026 midterm election, deciding races that range from the U.S. Senate and governor to congressional, legislative and local officers. The election comes after a busy primary season and changes to Texas’ congressional districts, meaning some voters may see different candidates and districts on their ballots than they have in previous elections. For voters planning to participate, the deadline to register is Monday, Oct. 5. Early voting begins Monday, Oct 19 and continues through Friday, Oct. 30. Applications to vote by mail must be received, not simply postmarked, by…

Campus, Community, Education, Texas

Gov. Abbott pushes for less tech in Texas classrooms

Victor Herrera

Gov. Greg Abbott visited Del Mar College Aug. 13, to support lessened screentime in K-12 education in Texas. Abbott was joined by state reps. Denise Villalobos and Todd Hunter, along with school administrators, superintendents and Del Mar College staff at the Lichtenstein Center for Early Learning on Heritage Campus. He unveiled the push to limit screentime in part of a broader plan to make Texas the nation’s top state in education for Pre-K-12. According to U.S. News and World Report, Texas is currently ranked 30th for best Pre-K-12 education. “My solution is to create a learning environment that prioritizes physical…

Community, Featured, Features, South Texas Stories, Texas

Beyond Sex : Coastal Bend Kink Weekend

Victor Herrera

A three-day convention held in Corpus Christi this summer sought to educate, entertain and create shared community around one central unifier: kink. The event, Coastal Bend Kink Weekend, took place August 14-16 as a safe space for like-minded individuals to engage with a variety of kinks, attend educational lectures, and see physical demonstrations on how to best practice a particular kink safely and consensually. The evening hours featured entertainment and the Play Space, a dungeon area where people could engage in their kinks openly, though with strict rules: no cell phones, no one under 21 years of age, and perhaps…

Community, South Texas Stories, Texas

Texas Democratic Convention: Bernie Sanders speaks on the importance of solidarity

Priscilla Barba

The three-day Texas Democratic Convention had appeared to be the largest Democratic party hosted in Corpus Christi, Texas. The weekend was finalized with a speech from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. Sanders has been the senior U.S. Senator from Vermont since 2006 and is the longest-serving independent member of Congress in U.S. history. Since his early career in the civil rights movement protesting segregated campus housing, Sanders has fought for the middle class and equality. Sanders’ speech covered topics surrounding wealth inequality, healthcare costs, housing affordability, and the urgency for political and voting participation. The Hilliard Center arena was filled with…

Community, Texas

Texas Democrats rally in Corpus Christi for three-day state convention

Victor Herrera

Thousands of delegates arrived in Corpus Christi Thursday, June 25 for the Texas Democratic Convention, giving a boost not only to the local economy but to the overall morale of the convention via concerts and shared values.  Many arrived from all over Texas to the Hilliard Center to find common ground with like-minded individuals who wish to turn the state blue.  Democratic candidates spoke with delegates, as they wish to represent their needs in the upcoming November elections. Events and activities included performances by mariachi bands and traditional Mexican folklorico dancers, along with a Donor Appreciation Reception at the Art Museum…

Community, Texas

Beads on the beach : Barefoot Mardi Gras parade draws big crowds

Danielle Dews

Crowds packed the roads, dressed head to toe in purple, gold, and green, as vibrant floats rolled across the sand on North Padre Island.  Music filled the air, the sun shining brightly overhead, and the atmosphere buzzed with energy and excitement.  At Barefoot Mardi Gras, the beach turns into a celebration parade that brings many to the island.  This year’s Barefoot Mardi Gras drew an estimated 15,000 spectators, ranging from local Corpus Christi residents to out-of-town visitors, according to event representative Stephanie Hesch. Former resident Abigayle Millette attended the event with her friends and family for her third year.  “It’s…