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Our Latest Cover Feature: Diverse City

Amarillo is more diverse than most locals realize, and that diversity is making the city stronger. With our September/October cover feature, we explore exactly what that looks like. We visit with local refugee families. We hear from college administrators. We dig into the demographics. We consider the expansion of remote work and LGBTQ acceptance.

“It strengthens any town to become more diverse. Any time you see growth in areas of culture, ethnicity and race, that’s a good thing,” Angela Allen told us from WT’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. “Your city’s growing towards the future.”

We learned so much in researching and publishing this feature. We hope you’ll read it at brickandelm.com or pick up a copy on newsstands around the city.

Local Focus

Monkeypox: Amarillo’s Public Health department announced the first probable monkeypox case in the city. Director Casie Stoughton told Newschannel 10 “the public is not at risk with the case. An estimated 1,700 cases have been confirmed in Texas.

Road Construction: Texas Governor Greg Abbott last week announced that the Amarillo area will receive $1.4 billion for a 10-year transportation plan. Projects impacted by this plan include Loop 335, widening of I-27, and safety improvements on Farm-to-Market Road 2590 toward US. 60 in Canyon.

RIP Quill Smith: The three-legged porcupine who arrived at the Amarillo Zoo earlier this year died last month due to complications from a medical procedure. After a potentially fatal injury, Quill Smith had been rehabilitated by the Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and, upon taking up residence at the zoo, had become a favorite for visitors.

Chip Chandler’s “Can’t Miss”

Amarillo Sod Poodles: The Soddies face the Arkansas Travelers in their last homestand of the regular season. (Tuesday through Sunday; Hodgetown, 715 S. Buchanan St.; ticket prices vary; 806-803-9547)

Discover for a Dollar: Check out the latest exhibitions at the Don Harrington Discovery Center on Friday, then enjoy the great outdoors at Wildcat Bluff Nature Center on Saturday. (5:30 p.m Friday and sun-up to sun-down Saturday; admission $1; 806-355-9547 or 806-352-6007)

Friends of Fogelberg XII: The semiannual fundraiser for prostate cancer returns with a “Dan & Diggin’ the ’60s” theme in the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. (7:30 p.m. Friday; 500 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $21; 806-378-3096)

Sublime with Rome: The revived ’90s alt-rock band rolls into the city for a show at Starlight Ranch Event Center. (8 p.m. Friday; 1415 Sunrise Drive; tickets $40 to $100; 806-556-4456)

Mike & The Moonpies: The traditionalist Texas country band returns to Amarillo for a honky-tonkin’ good time with Ryan Culwell at Golden Light Cantina. (10 p.m. Friday; 2908 SW Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237)

Breakfast with the Butterflies: Enjoy an early morning meal and release some live butterflies in this outdoor event at Amarillo Botanical Gardens. (9 and 10 a.m. Saturday; 1400 Streit Drive; admission $8 for members, $10 nonmembers; 806-352-6513)

Park Central Chili Cook-Off and Car Show: Enjoy hot rods and hot food at this fundraiser for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. (1 to 3 p.m. Saturday; 400 SW 14th Ave.; free; 806-337-5700)

State of the City Festival: The City of Amarillo hosts this party featuring live music, food trucks, activity booths and free family-friendly activities in Sam Houston Park. (5 to 10 p.m. Saturday; free; Line Avenue and Western Street; 806-378-3036)

Mariposa After Dark: Mariposa Eco Village continues its Second Saturday series of entertainment with this party featuring DJs, dancing, vendors, food trucks, an art show and more. (7 p.m. Saturday; 9101 Mariposa Drive; admission $10 each or $40 per carload; 806-673-9152)

Streaming/In Theaters:

“Medieval”: Ben Foster stars as a legendary warrior in this brutal action flick. Also opening: horror film “Barbarian.” (Opens Thursday; Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive; Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square; and Regal UA Amarillo Star 14, 8275 W. Amarillo Blvd.)

“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”: Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the time a worm crawled into Chekov’s ear and permanently scarred me. (7 p.m. Thursday; Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Regal UA Amarillo Star 14, 8275 W. Amarillo Blvd.)

That’s not all. For a list of more entertainment options this week in and around Amarillo, read Chip’s full list on our website.

Eye on Amarillo

At its season opener, WTAMU officially renamed its football stadium the Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium after a $5 million gift from the Bain and Schaeffer families. The Buffs won the game against No. 17 Western Colorado University. WT posted a series of photos from the game and tailgating activities on Instagram.

Ray Bain attended WT. In 1985, he became president of First State Bank of Dimmitt. In 1987, he joined with Stanley Schaeffer and a small group of investors to purchase the Dimmitt bank, which in 1994 became known as First United Bank and has since expanded to 17 locations across 13 West Texas cities. Bain passed away in 2013 and Schaeffer serves as the bank’s director emeritus.

“Finish” featuring Karah Gilbert

We love the “Finish” section that concludes every issue of Brick & Elm. We use it to introduce our readers to members of our community. Our September/October issue closes with thoughts from Karah Gilbert, an athletic advisor at Amarillo College and the founder of Solidarity Isn’t Silent. Read Karah’s answers to our prompts at brickandelm.com.

Past “Finish” guests:
Lisa Hoff Davis
Karen Welch
Han Owens
Denise Blanchard
Vic Ragha
Adam Cummings
Shawn Roof
David Lovejoy