by Justin Baker
Most vacate the so-called station during winter break.
Locals and left behind students enjoy this respite period of minimally trafficked city streets and eateries no longer (over)crowded. And since students tend to define the lineup of shows and occupy the space filling these avenues of interest, bars slow to the miserly pace of a good ol’ train stopping. In downtown Bryan, several venues took the initiative to change, to better accommodate the needs of their customers, which includes students.
The formerly MSC housed Forsyth Gallery is now located at 110 N. Main St. as a part of downtown Bryan. Currently on display is The American West: Then and Now, a collection of paintings featuring Frederic Remington, Charles Russell, and Joseph Sharp, and the contemporary photography of Scott Edwards. A fantastic display of our culture, history, country; get to it!
Name change: The Village Café is now simply The Village. Currently on display at The Village is a collection of art from artists previously featured at The Village. Thursdays beginning at 8pm are singer/songwriter nights with Chris and Brandon. Saturdays in the afternoon look for live folk Americana music, 11am-2pm, and for Salsa music/dancing from 11pm-2am.
Downtown Uncorked, which opened at the very end of October, has added more wines and activities to the menu. Everything from Pinotage, Carmènere, and Sauternes, to Cabernet Sauvignon (yes, Caymus too), Merlot, and Chardonnay. For you ladies out there, every Wednesday, deemed “Women Gone Wine,” features free massages from 6pm-9pm and 20% off the menu all day (4pm-10pm).
Revolution Café and Bar is the only bar downtown open Monday night from 8pm-2am, so definitely the place to be Mondays. Monday night is also industry night and they offer $1 off all drinks.
First Friday—a downtown Bryan collaboration of businesses, art, and music on the first Friday of every month—is February 5 and Art Step is going on downtown Bryan, which means even more music, art, and activities, more details on what is going on and where, later this month.
The Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History has partnered with the George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Institute for Fundamental Physics and Astronomy and the Texas A&M College of Science to present deep space photography captured from some fantastic earth and space telescopes. From Earth to the Universe is on display through January 30.
The Theatre Company is holding auditions for its upcoming My Fair Lady show January 24-25 at 7pm. For more information visit www.theatrecompany.com.
Now for College Station…
The Texas Gallery on Dartmouth at the Arts Council of Brazos Valley has James’ Mangum’s sculptures and paintings on display through Jan 30th. His ensemble, deemed Miracles, is religious and often crafted out of recycled, beat up materials.
The Culture of Wine is on display at the George Bush Library. For those of you who have been on a winery tour before, you will find this exhibit far more encompassing and enriching. Either way, this is a great look at wine from all stages, and a bit of the role America has had in the history of wine and winemaking.
Something that you’ve noticed around town that’s artsy, cultural, or interesting? Let me know: maroon.culture@gmail.com