The Bend Magazine

08/20/2025

The top 16 entries have been seeded and placed into a bracket, meaning Round 1 of The Battle for the Best BBQ: Smoked to Perfection is officially underway! 🏆

Here is the third set of match-ups in Round 1:
🍗 Mr.Gs BBQ & Catering vs. Julian's BBQ 🍗
🍗 Nueces Brewing and Barbecuing vs. Silverado Smokehouse 🍗

HOW TO VOTE:
Either head to our Stories to cast your vote or visit our website:
https://www.thebendmag.com/battle-for-the-best-bbq/
Every group will have a 24-hour voting period until the winner is crowned! Make sure to check back here tomorrow for the next group's match-ups. For more information on the competition, head to the website via the link above.

08/19/2025

The top 16 entries have been seeded and placed into a bracket, meaning Round 1 of The Battle for the Best BBQ: Smoked to Perfection is officially underway! 🏆

Here is the second set of match-ups in Round 1:
🍗 Howard's BBQ & Catering vs. Mike Cotten's BBQ 🍗
🍗 Stevie Lew's BBQ Kitchen vs. MacDaddy's Family Kitchen 🍗

HOW TO VOTE:
Either head to our Stories to cast your vote or visit our website:
https://www.thebendmag.com/battle-for-the-best-bbq/
Every group will have a 24-hour voting period until the winner is crowned! Make sure to check back here tomorrow for the next group's match-ups. For more information on the competition, head to the website via the link above.

08/19/2025

From volunteering at Driscoll Children’s Hospital to building homes for neighbors at Habitat for Humanity and eventually serving as the Assistant City Manager in Alice, Arlene Medrano has always put community first.

Today, she continues that legacy as the new Executive Director of Downtown Corpus Christi — leading with heart, service, and love for her city.

We sat down with Medrano to talk about how she’s approaching the role, what success looks like and more. Read the full conversation online now:
https://www.thebendmag.com/corpus-christi-downtown-management-district-arlene-medrano/

Conversation by Kylie Cooper
Photography by Shoocha Photography

08/18/2025

The top 16 entries have been seeded and placed into a bracket, meaning Round 1 of The Battle for the Best BBQ: Smoked to Perfection is officially underway! 🏆

Here are the initial match-ups:
🍗 Full Send Barbecue vs. Garrett's Barbecue 🍗
🍗 Hoegemeyer's BarBeQue Barn vs. DOPE BBQ by Viper Dave 🍗

HOW TO VOTE:
Either head to our Stories to cast your vote or visit our website:
https://www.thebendmag.com/battle-for-the-best-bbq/

Every group will have a 24-hour voting period until the winner is crowned! Make sure to check back here tomorrow for the next group's match-ups. For more information on the competition, head to the website via the link above.

08/16/2025

National Thrift Shop Day is August 17! Check out our local thrift & vintage store guide to aid your next hunt 🛍️

From wardrobe staples to home decor items, we've gathered a list of local thrift stores and vintage shops in Corpus Christi to help guide you on your next hunt.

08/15/2025

Are you looking for things to do in Corpus Christi this weekend? From the final walk across the original Harbor Bridge to International Thrift Day pop-up markets, there are so many ways to get out and about with the whole family!
https://www.thebendmag.com/things-to-do-in-corpus-christi-this-weekend/

08/14/2025

From its first notes in 1945 to the grand performances of today, the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra has filled our city with music, passion and community. This milestone 2025–2026 season is more than a celebration — it’s a golden encore, honoring the past while striking a bold chord for the future.

From superstar guest violinist Chee-Yun Kim to the all-American finale of “An American Celebration,” every performance tells the story of eight decades of artistry by the bay. Whether it’s your first symphony or your hundredth, you won’t want to miss this season’s standing ovation.

Read more about the landmark achievement and learn more about the upcoming season:

https://www.thebendmag.com/a-golden-celebration-80-years-of-the-corpus-christi-symphony-orchestra/

08/12/2025

Since opening in May, D**k and Drink has been serving up more than just pickleball. With indoor & outdoor courts, daily open play, live music, and pickleball-themed cocktails, it’s the ultimate hangout for all ages!

Read more about the sporty social spot from our August issue's "Be Well" section:
https://www.thebendmag.com/pickleball-gets-a-social-twist-at-dink-and-drink/

08/11/2025

🔥 The Battle for the Best BBQ is ON! 🔥

Who’s serving the juiciest brisket, the best fall-off-the-bone ribs, and those melt-in-your-mouth bites that haunt your cravings? We’re putting the Coastal Bend’s BBQ scene head-to-head in a 16-spot bracket showdown , and YOU get to decide the ultimate champion.

🍖 Nominate your favorite BBQ joing Aug. 11–13 using the form in our bio.
🏆 From August 18-22, the top picks will go round-for-round via our Instagram stories and on our website until one BBQ legend reigns supreme.

Nominate now:
https://www.thebendmag.com/battle-for-the-best-bbq/

Tag your go-to BBQ spot below ⬇️ and rally the fans — because the road to glory is paved with smoke, spice, and bragging rights.

08/08/2025

Baseball games, art workshops, an exotic reptile expo and more—here's what's on this weekend's agenda ⬇️

Baseball games, art workshops, an exotic reptile expo and more—here's what's on this weekend's agenda.

08/07/2025

The August heat can be challenging for Coastal Bend gardens, but certain plants, such as stevia, thrive. Fresh stevia, along with mint, are essential for summer iced tea, and delightful additions to cocktails enjoyed on the patio. Find tips and tricks for growing it locally from our August issue's gardening section ⬇️

How to have the sweetest plant in the garden.

08/06/2025

All aboard The Scarlet Lady Dolphin Adventures for the freshest flavors on the water, straight from Texas Clear Water Oyster Gardens, the Strieber family’s oyster farm in Aransas Bay. On this one-of-a-kind boat cruise, guests savor hand-harvested Texas oysters paired with Chris Hamilton Cellars Sauvignon Blanc and a sea breeze that feels like luxury itself.

Read more about the Sip & Shuck experience, the next cruise date and the mignonette combo guests can’t get enough of, online now. ⬇️

Written by Mandy Shelton
Photos by Jason Page - Freelance Photographer