The Lubbock Weekender: Track meets, Richter and burgers

Between a bustling music scene, robust options for food or drink, and an ever-changing landscape of collegiate athletics: Lubbock is anything but boring. Join me here every Friday in our new series, The Lubbock Weekender, for a quick look at what’s going on around the Hub City.

A little bit of sport: Texas Tech Open

Texas Tech Athletics

Running is one of my least favorite things to do, but it’s something that this University is good at. Texas Tech track & field is hosting its fifth meet of the season, properly named the Texas Tech Open, at the Sports Performance Center starting today. Tech will bring in a total of 21 teams for the two-day meet ( and then utterly destroy them). Fans can purchase tickets to Friday and Saturday’s meet both online here and at the Sports Performance Center ticket window. Tickets will be $5 for children (2-17) and $8 for adults. More info about the meet here.

A little bit of art: The Life and Art of Gerhard Richter and Anselm Kiefer

via LHUCA website

German visual artist Gerhard Richter and painter/sculptor Anselm Kiefer will be on full display this Saturday from 11:30-1. Richter’s paintings (as far as it has been described to me) range from pure abstraction to photorealism, with his work often considered controversial due to his nontraditional methods. If there’s something we can all get behind it’s somebody breaking the rules. You go, Richter. His counterpart, Kiefer, creates massive paintings and sculptures that incorporate materials ranging from broken glass, straw, and other items one may find in the back alley behind the piano bar. Both artists have made it big in the art world and hold some prime real estate in the majority of contemporary museums worldwide. So now Lubbock will be considered worldwide! That’s pretty neat. Per the humdrum of artistic rhetoric I present to you a description of Saturday’s events per the LHUCA page:

“Saturday Lectures at LHUCA is an informal conversation over the life and work of contemporary artists. It’s a stress-free opportunity to examine the art and ideas that underlie much of the modern art world. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions and join the conversation.”

Don’t be a stiff, go stand in front of some art for a little bit and get cultured. Or just say you’re cultured and leave early - that’s usually what I do. More info here.

A little bit of food: Bonus Burger

Aren’t you tired of restaurants that show you a picture of what your burger is going to look like, and then it comes out looking like it’s weird step-cousin that’s been locked up in a hallway closet half of its life? Also since when did we decide that human beings can’t read for themselves and showing them pictures of their food was more beneficial to the greater literacy of this country? Enter Bonus Burger: a beauty on 50th street. This is one of the lesser known burger joints in Lubbock because it doesn’t rely on advertising or flashy colors to draw its customers in. Much to the chagrin of any marketing employee in the world, Bonus Burger has defied current business models and STILL outlasted a wild number of restaurants we see fizzle out after a few months.

Yelp

Good heavens look at that menu. Simple. Red, white and blue lettering that says “I know you can read, and I know you came here because you want something to eat.” No reccomendations, no specials, it’s just the same s#%t they’ve been serving since pappy pulled us from the depression. You’re a grown-up, you can make decisions for yourselves.

If that wasn’t local enough for you they also don’t accept imaginary cash and certainly no out of town checks - “you aren’t a yankee are you?” So do yourself a favor and stop by an ATM on the way to Bonus Burger and try to tell me it’s not one of the best burger joints you never knew existed. To top it off (literally) you can add how ever may patties of that sweet Longhorn mascot that you want. I usually have three, because I’m an American and it’s none of your business how I treat my heart. Guess I know where I’m going to lunch now.