Howdy! Welcome to Aggieland! “There’s a Spirit can ne’er be told…” Opened in 1876 as the first public institution of higher education in Texas, Texas A&M is now one of the top research universities in the nation. There are countless ways to explore the university's rich traditions and culture, whether it's watching the 12th Man in action at Kyle Field on game day, taking a stroll down Military Walk, or attending a Midnight Yell Practice. Experience Aggieland! For more information on Aggie Traditions visit: http://aggietraditions.tamu.edu/ Texas A&M Traditions, Landmarks and On-­‐campus Attractions Texas A&M Traditions Bonfire Memorial Location: TAMU Campus, Polo Fields The Bonfire Memorial celebrates the tradition and history of Texas A&M, and is dedicated to the 12 Aggies who lost their lives in the tragic collapse of the 1999 Bonfire. The campus bonfire tradition originally started in 1909 as a symbol to every Aggie's "burning desire" to beat the University of Texas in football. Visit the bonfire memorial on your own or to book a tour contact memorialtours@msc.tamu.edu. The Century Tree Location: TAMU Campus, Academic Building The Century Tree, located in the heart of campus near the Academic Building, holds a special place in the heart of many Aggies. Well over 100 years old, the tree was one of the first trees planted on Texas A&M's campus. The tree has been the site of numerous marriage proposals, weddings and tourist snapshots because of its immense size and its unique drooping branches, many of which rest on the ground. Tradition says that if a couple walks together under the branches of the Century Tree, they will eventually marry. If the proposal takes place under the Century Tree, the marriage is supposed to last forever, but be warned, walking under it alone will leave you forever single. Visit the century tree outside the Academic Building. Corps of Cadets Location: TAMU Campus, Corps Arches & Corps of Cadets Center When Texas A&M was established in 1876, its students were all members of the Corps of Cadets. The men and women of the Corps form the largest uniformed student body in the U.S. and commissions more officers into the military than any institution, outside of the national service academies. Symbolizing the spirit of the 12th Man, the Corps Arches serve as the entry point to the Corps of Cadets Quadrangle or "quad." The quad is the home of the Corps with residence halls housing every cadet and Duncan Dining Hall feeding the Corps. Visit the Corps Arches or the Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center. Aggie Ring Location: TAMU Campus, Association of Former Students Alumni Center One of the greatest moments in the life of any Aggie is the day they receive their Aggie Ring — the distinctive ring serves as the symbolic link to the Aggie network of former students. The Aggie Ring is a unique representation of achievement by an Aggie. Aggies take pride in earning their little piece of gold from the greatest University in the world. Visit the 12-­‐foot high bronze replica of the Aggie Ring outside the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. Aggie Sports & Midnight Yell Location: TAMU Campus, Kyle Field and Sports Museum Midnight Yell was officially started in 1931. Today, it is held at midnight, the night before a home football game in Kyle Field. The yell leaders lead the crowd in old army yells, the singing of the fight song, and tell fables of how the Aggies are going to beat the ever livin' hell out of our opponent. Lastly, the lights go out, and Aggies kiss their dates. If they don't have a date, all they have to do is hold up a lighter. As the story goes, the flames make it easier for two dateless people to find each other, and maybe they won't be dateless anymore! Visit Kyle Field or the Texas A&M Sports Museum (located in the Zone at Kyle Field). 1 To see even more traditions and historical landmarks on the Texas A&M campus try the Self-­‐
Guided Walking Tour: http://campustours.tamu.edu/downloads/walkingTour.pdf Additional On-­‐Campus Attractions George Bush Library 1000 George Bush Drive East T: 979-­‐691-­‐4000 The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum at Texas A&M University is dedicated to preserving and making available the records and artifacts of George H.W. Bush, 41st President of the United States. We promote civic literacy and increased historical understanding of our national experience, and foster a community of public service and volunteerism. http://bush41.org/ Cushing Memorial Library & Archives Evans Library T: 979-­‐845-­‐1951 These collections comprise over 22,000 linear feet of manuscript and archival material, approximately 200,000 printed volumes, over 250,000 photographs, hundreds of original works of art ranging from oil paintings to pastels to sculpture, and many individual artifacts. The collections include a wide range of works on paper, film, tape, CD, and other media and cover topics such as military history, science fiction, western Americana, Hispanic studies, and more. http://cushing.library.tamu.edu/ Forsyth and J. Wayne Stark Galleries 1120 Memorial Student Center T: 979-­‐845-­‐6081 The Forsyth Galleries collect, exhibit, interpret and preserve 19th and 20th century decorative arts and American paintings. By providing creative educational and enrichment opportunities to the campus and diverse audiences, the Forsyth advances the mission of Texas A&M University. The permanent collection of the J. Wayne Stark Galleries focuses on American paintings, prints, drawings and photographs of the 19th and 20th centuries. Some artists represented include Julian Onderdonk, H.O. "Cowboy" Kelly, and Dorothy Hood. http://uart.tamu.edu/ For additional traditions, landmarks, and on-­‐campus attractions visit: http://visit.tamu.edu/attractions/index.html 2 Other Local Area Attractions Hullabaloo Diner 15045 F.M. 2154 Rd College Station, TX 77845 T: 979-­‐690-­‐3002 (Proximity from Campus: 7.5 Miles) Hullabaloo Diner is one of the few registered, authentic diners in the state of Texas. Hullabaloo Diner is nationally recognized by the Food Network's popular series Diners Drive-­‐Ins & Dives. The Dixie Chicken 307 University Drive (Northgate District) College Station, TX 77840 T: 979-­‐846-­‐2322 (Proximity from Campus: 0.9 miles) Thirsty beer drinkers regularly flock to the Chicken to play bones, shoot pool, listen to their favorite Texas music, and be with good friends, and of course to drink ice-­‐cold beer! Chicken food is also second to none! A trip to College Station would not be complete without a beer and burger or game of 42 (dominos) at the legendary Dixie Chicken! http://www.dixiechicken.com/ Sweet Eugene’s House of Java 1702 George Bush Dr E College Station, TX 77840 T: (979) 696-­‐5282 (Proximity from Campus: 1.8 Miles) Sweet Eugene’s is College Station’s first coffeehouse. Visit this eclectic coffeehouse and bakery and enjoy free Wi-­‐Fi. Treat yourself to a delicious coffee or specialty drink while enjoying a pastry, donut, savory crepe, or panini sandwich! http://sweeteugenes.net/ The Benjamin Knox Art Gallery & Wine Depot 405 University Drive East College Station, TX 77840 T: 979-­‐696-­‐5669 (Proximity from Campus: 0.4 Miles) The surprisingly large gallery facility is the National Art Gallery Headquarters of Benjamin Knox, American Artist and Texas Aggie Class of ’90. The glassed in porch of the Depot and spacious adjoining decks with exterior seating houses the Wine Depot Bar. The wine menu boasts over 100 different types of wines and beer. http://www.benjaminknox.com/ Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History 3232 Briarcrest Drive Bryan, TX 77802 T: 979-­‐776-­‐2195 (Proximity from Campus: 5 Miles) The focus of the museum is science and natural and cultural history. Galleries include: fossil exhibits, sculptures, antique farming and survey equipment, a discovery room with more than fifteen varieties of live animals, dozens of taxidermy mounts, educational resources and several rotating exhibits. http://brazosvalleymuseum.org/ Downtown Uncorked Wine Bar 206 West 26th Street Bryan, TX 77803 3 979-­‐823-­‐4837 (Proximity from Campus: 4 Miles) Downtown Uncorked Wine Bar has beautiful wooden floors and tall ceilings that give the bar a classic early 20th century feel. The mixture of antique and modern furniture, fixtures, and art give it an artsy and hip, if somewhat eclectic ambience. The selection of wine and beer is both abundant and unique. Come in and listen to some live music while enjoying a great glass of wine, and don’t forget to try some great food selections, like the triple chocolate truffle cheese cake! Historic Downtown Bryan 216 West 26th Street Bryan, TX 77803 (Proximity from Campus: 5 Miles) Downtown Bryan is the intersection of local art and life. Home to numerous restaurants, boutiques, concert and event venues, and art galleries, Downtown Bryan is the perfect place to spend a night out, a weekend away, or even settle down. http://downtownbryan.com/ Lake Bryan & Lakeside Icehouse Restaurant 8200 Sandy Point Rd Bryan, TX 77807 T: 979-­‐361-­‐0861 (Proximity from Campus: 10 Miles) The Icehouse is the Brazos Valley's premier destination for delicious food, beautiful scenery, ice cold beer, and great live music right on the lake! In addition to the bar and grill, the Lake Bryan Park offers a 1,000 acre recreational lake, mountain bike trails, tent and RV camping. http://www.lakebryan.com/ Messina Hof Winery & Resort 4545 Old Reliance Rd Bryan, TX 77808 T: 979-­‐778-­‐9463 (Proximity from Campus: 8.5 Miles) Messina Hof is a family owned business based on the three cornerstones of family, tradition, and, romance; and is dedicated to produce a gold medal winning wine in every varietal and to maximize opportunities developed from the wines in a tourism destination focused on the best in hospitality, food, and customer service. http://www.messinahof.com/ New Republic Brewing 11405 N Dowling Rd College Station, TX 77845 T: 713-­‐849-­‐4667 (Proximity from Campus: 3 Miles) Aggieland’s oldest microbrewery! Want it straight from the source? Come by the taproom and we'll show you around over a couple pints. This is also the place where we beta test our new recipes; keep a sharp eye on the event calendar and you might be able to get a taste before we drink them all ourselves. Nearly every weekend we have live local music and a food truck. Well behaved children, pets, and significant others are always welcome. http://www.newrepublicbrewing.com/ Northgate Walking District 310 Church Ave College Station, TX 77840 (Proximity from Campus: 0.5 Miles) Northgate is known for its live music scene and eclectic mix of restaurants. Whether you want to dance the night away or try some great local cuisine, in Northgate there is something for everyone, come visit Northgate and experience College Station! 4 Attractions Outside Bryan/College Station Area Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail 211 Liberty St Montgomery, TX 77356 (Proximity from Campus: 49 Miles) Located between I-­‐45 and U.S. Highway 290, the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail offers visitors spectacular views and award-­‐
winning wines in Southeast Texas. Our SEVEN member wineries include, Bernhardt Winery, Plantersville, Texas,Cork This! Winery, Montgomery, Texas, Messina Hof Winery, Bryan, Texas, Peach Creek Vineyards , College Station, Texas, Pleasant Hill Winery, Brenham, Texas, Saddlehorn Winery, Burton, Texas and Windy Winery, Brenham, Texas. All of the member wineries are located in close proximity to the greater Houston area. Throughout the year, the member wineries on the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail each offer unique wine experiences including wine tastings, grape crushing and stomp, mystery dinners, music concerts, wine paired dinners, vineyard tours, a variety of wine-­‐related gifts and much, much more. In addition, the member wineries along the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail work together to produce FIVE very different, seasonal wine trail events each year. http://www.texasbluebonnetwinetrail.com/ Royalty Pecan Farms 10600 State Hwy 21 E Caldwell, TX 77863 T: 800-­‐694-­‐8362 (Proximity from Campus: 18 Miles) Royalty Pecan Farms® is a family owned and operated working pecan farm that also features a gift shop, event venue, and tourist attraction. We use sustainable farming practices to grow, nurture, and harvest quality pecans. Our gift shop is located on Texas Highway 21 between Bryan/College Station and Caldwell, one mile west of the Brazos River. Our public attractions include orchard tours and various free and ticketed events throughout the year, including dinners, concerts, artist demos, and more. Don’t miss our Annual Pecan Harvest Festival every November. Our gift shop sits on a bluff overlooking 500 acres of lush pecan trees, with a covered veranda and plenty of space for kids (and adults) to play. Bring friends and family for a day of shopping, sampling, wine tasting, and more! http://www.royaltypecans.com/ Washington-­‐On-­‐The Brazos: The Birthplace of Texas 23400 Park Road Washington, TX 77880 T: 936-­‐878-­‐2214 (Proximity from Campus: 30 Miles) The picturesque Washington-­‐on-­‐the-­‐Brazos State Historic Site is located on the Brazos River. The expansive park grounds along the Brazos River provide a beautiful setting for picnicking, sightseeing and bird-­‐watching. The Star of the Republic Museum, Independence Hall and Barrington Living History Farm, offer the visitor a unique insight into the lives and times of the men who fought and won Texas' independence from Mexico. Barrington Living History Farm was the home of Anson Jones, last president of the Republic of Texas. Handcrafted reproduction log buildings and cropland demonstrate the working of a Brazos Valley farm, circa 1850. Interpreters in period costume work the farm as it was done long ago. The Visitor Center Complex is a great place to meet staff and receive orientation to the park and our different sites. The Visitor Center houses interactive exhibits, park headquarters, and the Washington Emporium Gift Shop. http://www.birthplaceoftexas.com/ Antique Rose Emporium 10,000 HWY 50, Independence, TX 77833 T: 979-­‐836-­‐5548 (Proximity from Campus: 28 Miles) Visit a beautiful rose display garden and nursery. This eight-­‐acre retail garden features antique roses, native plants, perennials, herbs, wildflowers, and other unique and beautiful plants. The Antique Rose Emporium is a great place to visit and wander 5 about the gardens and buildings any time of the year. Walking around this beautiful outdoor paradise, you can only be in a great mood! https://www.antiqueroseemporium.com/ For more information and additional area attractions visit: http://www.visitaggieland.com/ Texas BBQ! Bubby’s BBQ Buffet Restaurant 506 Sulphur Springs Rd Bryan, TX 77801 Phone number (979) 779-­‐6417 Price Range $11 -­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 2 miles) C&J Barbeque 105 Southwest Pkwy College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 696-­‐7900 Price Range $11 -­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 1 mile) Fargo’s Pit BBQ* 720 N Texas Ave Bryan, TX 77803 Phone number (979) 778-­‐3662 Price Range under $10 (Proximity from Campus: 5 miles) *Featured in Texas Monthly! http://www.texasmonthly.com/lists/fargos-­‐pit-­‐bbq J. Cody’s Steak and Barbeque 3610 S College Ave Bryan, TX 77801 Phone number (979) 846-­‐2639 Price Range $11 -­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 1.4 miles) Mickey’s Sliders 700 University Dr. E College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 846-­‐4488 Price Range under $10 (Proximity from Campus: 0.9 miles) Rudy’s County Store and Bar-­‐B-­‐Q 504 Harvey Rd College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 696-­‐7383 Price Range under $10 (Proximity from Campus: 2.1 miles) Martin’s Place 3403 S College Ave Bryan, TX 77801 Phone number (979) 822-­‐2031 Price Range under $10 (Proximity from Campus: 2.0 miles) Texas Roadhouse 1601 University Drive E College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 268-­‐0558 Price Range $11 -­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 2.0 miles) 6 Recommended Area Restaurants Restaurants –Italian Luigi’s Patio Ristorante 3975 SH-­‐6 S College Station, TX 77845 Phone number (979) 314-­‐4126 Price Range $11 -­‐ $30 Live Music (Proximity from Campus: 5.0 miles) Johnny Carino’s 620 Harvey Rd College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 764-­‐7374 Price Range $11 -­‐ $30 Gluten-­‐Free Menu Available (Proximity from Campus: 1.9 miles) Olive Garden Italian Restaurant 510 Earl Rudder Fwy S College Station, TX 77845 Phone number (979) 846-­‐4637 Price Range $11 -­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 3.8 miles) Restaurants –Mexican Abuelo’s 840 University Drive College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 260-­‐3400 Price Range $11-­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 1.1 miles) Chimy’s Cerveceria 203 University Dr. (Northgate District) College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 703-­‐6106 Price Range under $10 (Proximity from Campus: 0.9 miles) Chuy’s 1512 Harvey Road College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 329-­‐6022 Price Range under $11 -­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 3 miles) Fuego Tortilla Grill 108 Poplar St College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 703-­‐1804 Price Range under $10 (Proximity from Campus: 0.7 miles) Torchy’s Taco 1037 Texas Ave South College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 329-­‐6900 Price Range under $10 (Proximity from Campus: 0.7 miles) Restaurants –Asian Atami Steak & Sushi 800 University Dr. E College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979)268-­‐8883 (Proximity from Campus: 1.1 miles) Genghis Grill 700 University Dr. E College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 822-­‐3663 Price Range $11-­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 0.9 miles) VY’s Kitchen 102 Live Oak St College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 485-­‐9817 Price Range under $10 (Proximity from Campus: 0.3 miles) Restaurants –American Blackwater Draw Brewing Co. 303 Boyett St (Northgate District) College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 703-­‐6170 Price Range $11-­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 0.7 miles) 7 Blue Baker 201 Dominik Drive College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 696-­‐5055 Price Range under $10 (Proximity from Campus: 1.7 miles) BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse 1520 Harvey Rd College Station, TX 77598 Phone number (979) 696-­‐5700 Price Range under $11 -­‐$30 (Proximity from Campus: 3.1 miles) Cheddar’s Casual Cafe 1701 University Dr. E College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 260-­‐1701 Price Range $11-­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 2.8 miles) The Corner Bar & Rooftop Grill 401 University Dr. (Northgate District) College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 268-­‐1406 Price Range under $10 (Proximity from Campus: .8 miles) Fish Daddy’s Grill House 1611 University Dr. E College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 260-­‐1611 Price Range $11-­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 2.4 miles) Grub Burger Bar 980 University Dr. E College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 268-­‐1041 Price Range $11-­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 1.3 miles) Panera Bread 1407 University Dr. E College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 268-­‐1013 Price Range $11-­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 2.1 miles) Red Lobster 1200 University Dr. E College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 260-­‐3709 Price Range $11-­‐ $30 (Proximity from Campus: 1.9 miles) 8 Veritas Wine & Bistro 830 Unviersity Dr. E College Station, TX 77840 Phone number (979) 268-­‐3251 Price Range $25 -­‐ $50 (Proximity from Campus: 1.1 miles)