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 sport: No. 6 TEXAS TECH vs No. 8 KANSAS

It’s happening. Ten years from the last time ESPN had to come to Lubbock. College Gameday has RETURNED. Ten years ago it was the football match up between Texas Tech and Texas. Now it is the basketball match up between Texas Tech and Kansas. Two titans of the Big 12 this season, getting primed to duke it out for at least a share of the Big 12 title. Kansas has held the reigns of the Big 12 conference for the past thirteen years, but Texas Tech is the only team (realistically) at this point that can challenge to completely dethrone the Jayhawks from their ivory nest. The College Gameday event will be held inside the United Supermarkets Arena and doors are opening at 8:30. Students have already begun camping out nearby in preparation for one of the biggest basketball games to hit Lubbock in a good while. Tomorrow afternoon at 3:15pm catch your Texas Tech Red Raiders try and sweep the Jayhawks inside the USA or on ESPN. At this point if you don’t have tickets, I wouldn’t suggest trying to buy any... the lowest price as of now is $110 for an upper deck seat.

A little art: Sammy Miller & The Congregation

This isn’t your dad’s jazz. Or maybe it is. Sammy Miller & The Congregation promise a feel-good party jazz that they feel is reminiscent of the ‘20s and 30’s. So imagine the new rendition of the Great Gatsby with Leonardo DiCaprio: light, subtle undertones of drug abuse and other psychological problems, jazz. Renown in certain spheres, the SF Weekly quoted Sammy Miller & The Congregation as “brassy, stomp your feet and dance music, and it’s got the raw, uplifting vibe of a New Orleans street parade.” So without explanation if you’re into jazz at it’s best form then you should check this event out. It is TONIGHT from 7pm-9pm at the Allen Theater and it’s $18 at the door.

A little bit of food: Hub City Wings

Where else would it be? With a game against the Jayhawks this weekend it only makes sense to load up on some of Lubbock’s finest wings. My recommendation is Hub City Wings off of 34th street. Fresh, crispy, and well-seasoned, these wings can go toe-to-toe with any of the chain wing places and probably win. Much like the Texas Tech basketball team, people overlook Hub City Wings because it’s not well known it’s new and people are always afraid of what’s new. Yet just like the Texas Tech basketball team this place continually impresses it’s customers. Pop by for lunch before the game and support our Red Raiders through symbolically eating our opponent’s mascot! .... because sportsmanship.