I recently read an article (or maybe just the title? I definitely read the title of the article…) about learning to love where you live. For many of us transplants, Bryan/College Station is quite a change of pace from our former countries, states, and universities – it’s fairly rural, and I’ve heard many students say that they prefer to drive to Austin or Houston for their fun. Here’s the thing: Grad school isn’t short. We’ve committed to spending the next two to five years in this community, so I humbly urge you to get involved and truly create a home for yourself. If you’re willing to do a little digging, you’ll find that BCS offers a plethora of activities and sights for its residents. My husband and I have both dedicated our summer to learning and loving BCS, and I sincerely hope you do the same!

In that spirit, I plan to make this series a regular feature on the OGAPS blog – events happening around the community. I will be targeting free or nearly free events (hellooo, grad school stipends) in Bryan-College Station, but if there’s anything specific you’d like to see in the future (date night ideas, camping spots, watering holes, etc.), please email me at brittany {DOT} Segundo {AT} tamu.edu.

This week:

Monday, June 19

• Urban Interface Wildlife at Larry J. Ringer Public Library, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
  Free
  For ages 18 and up, the educational and conservation-based organization, The Urban Interface, will “explore the qualities of raptors from head to tail. [The] ambassador hawk, falcon, and owl will help us compare different raptors while we discuss their habits and importance to the Brazos Valley.”
  Send me a picture of you with a raptor if you’d like to be featured on next week’s blog!

Wednesday, June 21

• Farmers Market at Lake Walk at Lake Walk Town Center, 4:00 – 7:00 pm
  Free-ish (Market items available for purchase). As a heads-up, this farmer’s market is pretty small and won’t take you too long to walk around, but this week they’ll be featuring live music by Morgan Ashley.
  
  Last time I went, I won a free stay at the Stella Hotel and bought some solid Apricot Habanero jam that has really turned my yogurt game around (#edgy). They gave the first 200 guests passes to stay for a free night at the Stella Hotel, and last week the first 200 guests got free hotel season pool passes. I don’t know if they’ll be doing anything of that sort this week, but I’ll try to tweet about it if I see anything.

Thursday, June 22

• First 3oz of Frozen Yogurt Free! for Customer Appreciation Day at Spoons Yogurt (943 William D. Fitch Pkwy), 12:00 – 10:00 pm
  Free-ish
   
• Summer Sunset Series - Steady Legend at Palace Theater in Downtown Bryan, 8:00 – 10:00 pm Free
  Steady Legend states that while they began “primarily as a ska and reggae band” they have transitioned to “a soul, funk and rock outfit”.
  Listen here:
  Say Hey by Steady Legend

Friday, June 23

• Movies in the Park: "Jumanji" at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater, 7:30 – 11:00 pm
  Free Word to the wise, the inflatable screen is a little bit smaller than you might think, so get there early enough to grab a front-row seat! Jumanji is a must-see funny and action-packed classic.
• Summer Nights Concert Series: The Derailers at Lake Walk Town Center, 8:00 – 9:30 pm
  Free According to the band’s website, they are Americana/country/rock and have been featured on The Grand Ole Opry, A Prairie Home Companion, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and the US President’s Inaugural Ball.
  Listen here:
  Bar Exam by The Derailers
• Uncle Kracker with special guests The Docs: Live at the Lakeside Icehouse, 8:00 – 11:00 pm Tickets: $15 – 25 with processing fees around $2 – 2.50
  Did anyone else not know that Uncle Kracker is now a country singer? I know Uncle Kracker of Follow Me fame, but, if you go, let me know how country UK sounds!

Saturday, June 24

• Juneteenth Heritage Celebration at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
  Free-ish (As an FYI, the program is free, but the food is available for purchase.)
  Come celebrate the 152-year anniversary to the end of slavery in Texas!
  From Insite: “This new program for Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park will include artifact exhibits, art displays, prominent guest speakers such as historians, former athletes and genealogists, living history buffalo soldiers and cowboys, church choir performances, food, and more.”
• Fantastic Beasts at Larry J. Ringer Library, 1:00 – 4:00 pm Free
  Per the library’s website: “Watch the recent PG-13 movie based on the book by J.K. Rowling and discuss the book and movie. Free snacks and crafts.”
• Starlight Music Series: Cory Morrow at Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater, 7:00 – 11:00 pm
  Free
  Pack a cooler and a blanket and enjoy the last concert of the 2017 Starlight Music Series.
  Listen here:
  35 Runs Both Ways by Cameran Nelson (If you get impatient with long intros like I do, skip to 1:50)
  Texas Time Travelin by Cory Morrow

Sunday, June 25

• Cult Classic Film Series: Monty Python & the Holy Grail at Grand Stafford Theater, 2:00 – 5:00 pm
  Tickets: $7 with a $1 processing fee
   
• Roller Derby Mashup Bout! Carnivores vs. Vegetarians at The Foxhole VFW (Bryan), 5:00 – 8:30 pm Tickets: $5 with a $1.17 processing fee or $10 at the door
  Doors open at 5:00, whistle blows at 6:00.

Upcoming & Ongoing:

• The Dixie Swim Club (directed by Micaela Eagle) at StageCenter Community Theatre, June 8 – 24
  Tickets: $10 - $15 (varies with show time) with a $1.50 processing fee From the facebook page description: “Five Southern women, whose friendships began many years ago on their college swim team, set aside a long weekend every August to recharge those relationships. Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage on North Carolina's Outer Banks to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other's lives.
   
  ​As their lives unfold and the years pass, these women increasingly rely on one another, through advice and raucous repartee, to get through the challenges (men, sex, marriage, parenting, divorce, aging) that life flings at them. THE DIXIE SWIM CLUB is the story of these five unforgettable women—a hilarious and touching comedy about friendships that last forever.”
• Cheers to Craft Beer in Historic Downtown Bryan, TX, July 22 Tickets: $30, includes “a keepsake tasting glass, a koozie, a map of all of the participating merchants in Downtown Bryan, and the opportunity to taste different beers at participating Downtown merchants!”
  Purchase advance cash tickets for $25 at participating locations.

Am I missing anything? Leave a comment to let us know what else is going on in and around Bryan/College Station. Please send me your pictures from these events (brittany {DOT} Segundo {AT} tamu.edu) if you’d like to be featured on next week’s post!

Brittany Segundo  | Industrial and Systems Engineering
 
Brittany Segundo is a PhD student in the department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and president-elect of the INFORMS student chapter.