The city of Corpus Christi has two city-owned golf courses.  Because of budget cuts and losses of over $1.8 million in the last ten years, the city council had been considering allowing private companies to take over and run the golf courses.  Unfortunately, Corpus Christi has had several privately owned golf courses go out of business.  It is a real shame to see the formerly beautiful courses turn brown and die.  One of these courses is in a really nice subdivision in town and the formerly coveted golf course homes now have lost much of their appeal.  With the great weather we have most of the year here in Corpus Christi and the number of folks looking to get into shape, I hope these and the other courses can make a grand comeback. Let's hope we can all get into the swing.   02/19/2011

Friday February 18 - Sunday February 20, 2011 Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds The Peddler Show offers shoppers a one-of-a-kind shopping experience that can't be duplicated. Whether your style is trendy or traditional, classic or contemporary, you're sure to find that perfect gift at The Peddler Show! Whether you're looking for personalized designs, creative gifts or unique jewelry, the Peddler Show has it all! It’s the perfect street of shops-customized just for you! Don't miss the shopping experience designed to be as individual and unique as you are!     Admission : $5 Adults $3 Seniors 65+ Children Under 12 FREE One Admission Good ALL WEEKEND! Click here for a discount coupon. Buy one adult admission and get another for free. Hours :Friday 3pm-8pm Saturday 9am-6pm Sunday 11a... 02/18/2011

The Coastal Bend Blood Center is literally the lifeblood that our hospitals cannot do without providing whole blood for hospitals within a 10-county area and serving over 1/2 a million Coastal Bend residents. Self-contained bloodmobiles make donating blood convenient for donors and account for approximately 85% of the Blood Center’s total annual draw. Bloodmobiles operate seven days a week in order to ensure that hospital and patient needs are met. So, whether you find one of their blood drives on their website's calendar or stop by their facility, give the gift of life when you get the chance. http://www.coastalbendbloodcenter.org 02/15/2011

The Del Mar College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is the premiere service provider to small businesses in the Coastal Bend Region working with hundreds of entrepreneurs every year. Through various outreach efforts, the SBDC is continuously developing and refining consulting resources and training workshops to meet the needs of the ever changing local small business community. If you are a start-up or an existing business, you have the opportunity to expand your knowledge through free one-on-one consulting with your own business counselor. Our consultants can help you write a business plan, create sales projections, understand financial statements, or even develop new marketing strategies. The SBDC offers over 80 seminars per year at the center and also has numerous online tra... 02/15/2011

Thank you, Mark Scott (San Jacinto Title in Corpus Christi), for this video link. Take a minute to watch the Regional Economic Development Corporation's (EDC) new video.  It is a great way to share with you what a wonderful city Corpus Christi is.   Check it out at:  http://www.ccredc.com/videos/EDC2010%20web.mov  Do note that it is a big file, but most definitely worth the effort.  The EDC encourages everyone to use it where possible.  02/14/2011

A family looking for great entertainment and education value in Corpus Christi needs to look no further than purchasing a family membership for 2011 with the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History and making that purchase in February. Why February? Well, when someone gets a membership in February, they also receive a free pass in February to the Botanical Gardens and the Asian Cultures Museum and Educational Center. Folks buying their membership in February also receive 50% off admission to the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington Museum for the month of February as well. The value in February alone is phenomenal! Bringing a family to the museum twice pays for itself. I brought my kids to the museum for summer activities 2-3 times a week during the summer, and had my member... 02/10/2011

Multiple local shops and boutiques are coming together for a 2-day fashion sale event where shoppers can find clothing, accessories, gifts, and home items up to 75% off what they would normally pay in-store. Free valet parking is available, and wine tasting on Friday from 3pm to 7pm is sponsored by Martin Ulisse. Participating stores include Auvil's Sweet Nothings, Baby & Belly + Hopscotch, Coastal Closet, Cathy's Boutique and Gifts, Follow Your Heart Boutique, and more. The event will be held this Friday, February 11th from 11am - 7pm, and Saturday, February 12th from 10am to 4pm, at 622 Power St. at Tancahua (The Entertainment District across from Concrete Street Amphitheater.) There is a $3 donation cover at the door which benefits Women's Shelter of South Texas. Important note: cash... 02/10/2011

A group of local volunteers partnered with Mardel Christian Bookstore in Corpus Christi to launch a "Rekindling the Romance" rose giveaway. These volunteers will hand out roses to married and engaged couples who enter the store between 3pm and 7pm on Saturday, February 12, the Saturday before Valentine's Day.The roses will come with no strings attached, but will also come with a notecard where people can write a special note to their spouses and also enter in a drawing for a free registration to the upcoming Weekend to Remember Marriage Getaway coming to Corpus Christi March 18-20. The free registration grand prize will also include a one-night stay at the Omni Bayfront Hotel. The purpose is to encourage folks to take a moment to invest in their marriages and remember that it's not abou... 02/09/2011

Sure glad to see the temperatures back to normal in Corpus Christi.  We normally average the 50's or 60's through winter, but the temperature the past week has sent us in a tailspin.  In addition to losing several fish from my ponds, many of our plants did not make it through the freeze. I am hoping that the palms on Ocean Drive that were killed in the freeze of 1984 made it through the freeze.  We lost many of them that year and it took the sparkle out of the sparkling city by the sea.  Now we can only wait and see what is going to green back up.  Don't know how the folks in the North can stand a whole winter of this kind of weather. Stay safe and warm. 02/06/2011

Not complaining about our cold patch of weather here in Corpus Christi with all the horrible weather in the North, but felt bad this morning when I found several dead fish in my ponds.  One was in my back pond... a sixteen inch pleco.  I have had this fish for over ten years and even with some heaters in the pond, he could just not take the extended cold water.  His companion is not doing well either, keeping my fingers crossed.  I lost several small pleco in my front pond, but since I had only had then a couple of years, their demise did not affect me like the fish in the back pond.  I also read in the newspaper that there is probably going to be a large fish kill from the cold water recently.  Always hate to hear that since it can hurt the fishing in the summer.  Let's raise our glass... 02/05/2011

I saw a great sight the other day.  The official start of our recycling effort here in Corpus Christi, Texas.  It has been some time since the city aggressively urged the citizens of Corpus Christi to recycle.  Now our trash pickup has been decreased from twice weekly to once weekly.  The recycling will be picked up every other week.  Our trash and recycling cans are now the same size, so this will force those who do not recycle to begin or take their own trash to the dump. 02/05/2011

The USS Lexington is a decommissioned aircraft carrier dating back to World War II, nicknamed the Blue Ghost by the Japanese, that now serves as a living piece of history in Corpus Christi Bay (off North Beach). Bring the whole family for a completely interactive experience The new Virtual Battle Stations are a truly interactive experience that will thrust you into the chaos and grit that was WWII. The flight simulator launches you into real combat, the Mega Theater turns your seat into a cockpit and the control room. Your family can walk the flight deck, take charge of the bridge, and view sickbay and the galley below. Around every corner and down every tunnel, an adventure unfolds. The sights and sounds are so real and so intense you become part of the story the moment you climb aboar... 02/04/2011

Corpus Christi Weather It's finally our turn...cold Corpus Christi weather, at least cold for us here in Corpus Christi, Texas.  We normally enjoy a mild winter with temperatures averaging 48 to 75 degrees.  I often comment to those shoveling snow in the North that I'm glad to live in South Texas with our mild winters.  Now, here we are with the possibility of snow in February for only the fourth time is the last 50 years.  The previous times were 1958, 1960, and 1978 although we did have four inches of snow on Christmas Eve six years ago. We are expecting about an inch of snow or sleet Thursday and Friday.  That's big news for us here.  Most of the Corpus Christi residents don't know how to drive on ice and snow.  Mark me among their number.  The cold Corpus Christi weather started yes... 02/02/2011

It's not often our weather forecaster shows a map of Corpus Christi covered in blue (snow) for his 3-day forecast, but he did it last night. I was amazed. My wife is setting out the hot chocolate for Wednesday night, and I may even get to use the fireplace in our home this week. Yes, we have fireplaces in our homes in Corpus Christi, but it serves mostly for decorative and taxation purposes (a fireplace adds value therefore homes with a fireplace get taxed more than comparable homes without one.) I know that folks in other parts of the U.S. are cursing their snow shovels right now. I hear your pain. We usually have folks fishing on Christmas day wearing shorts, or playing golf. If it makes you feel better, I firmly belief that we should adopt the mosquito as the city's bird. Those thing... 02/01/2011

We are expecting some cold weather to come our way this week by Wednesday morning, and our weather forecasters are calling it an "arctic blast". It's not often that we see predicted lows below freezing, but it happens once in a while. Believe it or not we even receive snow on occassion, about once every 30 years. (See attached photo from 2004.) Time for me to dust off the parka from my days in Germany. I hope I can still fit into it, I weighed about 40 lbs less back then. 01/31/2011

All Saints Bingo in Corpus Christi, TX. Make sure you celebrate Valentine's Day, Monday, February 14th,with your sweetheart at All Saints Bingo where the ladies will have a chance to win some awesome jewelry at the 7 pm session along with the opportunity to win big bucks throughout the evening. All Saints Bingo is open seven days a week and offers two $750 games at both the 7 & 9 pm sessions on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays!  The Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 7 pm sessions have three early birds, a $750 game, and a $500 game All Saints Bingo has separate smoking and non-smoking rooms.  Celebrate your birthday with at All Saints Bingo.  They have an exclusive computer pack for their players on their special day for only 1¢ and a free piece of cake from the snack bar.   Join ... 01/30/2011

Corpus Christi Ballet will present the most beloved of all the classical ballets, "Sleeping Beauty", the famous fairy tale ballet of the sleeping princess who was cursed by an evil fairy and doomed to sleep for 100 years. The sets create an atmosphere of fairy tale magic that brings the audience into a mystical world where spells are cast and fairy tale characters dance to Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music. The performance will be held April 9 & 10, 2011 in the American Bank Center Selena Auditorium of Downtown Corpus Christi. For more information, call the Ballet Office at 361-882-4588, or order your tickets through Ticketmaster. The American Bank Center Selena Auditorium is an integral part of the American Bank Center complex of meeting and entertainment venues and was originally built in... 01/30/2011

When 1 out of 4 women are victims of domestic violence, this issue is too close to home for us to ignore. I am always a proponent and believer that a home is more than just 4 walls and a roof, and my participation in the real estate business is so much more than selling a home and collecting a commission. Readers of this blog post (who reside in Texas) have an opportunity to let the Texas Legislature know that maintaining funding for family violence services should be a priority. http://www.tcfv.org/policy/purple-postcard/ Take a moment to click on the link above and fill out a Purple Postcard. The Texas Council on Family Violence will present your Purple Postcard and thousands of others to Texas Lawmakers as they convene in the 82nd Legislature on the importance of continuing the servi... 01/27/2011

Corpus Christi recently received a $6.6 million federal grant for college preparation magnet curriculum in its schools. This grant will allow for new programs that are currently not taught in any of the CCISD schools. Courses in film, architecture, multimedia design (graphic design, video games, computer programming, etc.) and environmental advocacy are among the programs being offered as part of new magnet programs at Wynn Seale Academy of Fine Arts (middle school) and Miller High School next year. The offerings include the possibility of students earning college credit as soon as sixth grade, and provides a continuum of education for students currently attending Chula Vista Academy of Fine Arts (elementary school), which emphasizes performing arts and creativity. Students from Chula V... 01/27/2011

Now, members of the Corpus Christi Association of Realtors (that includes me) can access MORE Listing and Property Information through the MLS Data Co-op. The core benefit of the Data Co-op is that it allows Realtors to access listing information in other markets. This is a great value-add when assisting a client in a relocation to another city providing a little more reassurance and knowledge to a client before making that leap of faith into the hands of another Realtor in a strange city. The Data Co-op is also an excellent way to expose our listings to other REALTORS across the county, greatly improving referral business across state lines. That greatly improves the exposure for our clients in getting their homes sold, too! This is a REALTOR-to-REALTOR solution, so agents will have ac... 01/26/2011