Good morning, El Paso. Did you know El Paso is home to the largest urban park in the United States—Franklin Mountains State Park. Covering over 24,000 acres, it sits entirely within the city limits.

In today’s Border City Buzz:

• Giraffe Gender Reveal

• Senior Games Are Back

• The Lunch Box Hits A Milestone

Let’s get to it.

Around Town

Famous Actor Spotted In El Paso 🎥

Shia LaBeouf was spotted strolling through San Jacinto Plaza in Downtown El Paso, and naturally, the internet is buzzing. Is he here for a new film? A personal project? Or just enjoying some local tacos?

No one knows for sure, but the sighting has fans speculating. Whatever brings him to El Paso, it’s got locals talking—and keeping an eye out for more celeb sightings.

Giraffe Gender Reveal 🦒

The El Paso Zoo’s newest giraffe is officially a boy! The zoo hosted a gender reveal for its six-foot-tall newborn, marking the second baby giraffe born there.

Fans eagerly awaited the big news, which was shared on social media. Now, the little guy is ready to steal more hearts!

Downtown Deck Plaza Has Major Setback 🚫

El Paso’s Downtown Deck Plaza project just hit a major roadblock after missing out on a $10 million federal grant. Now, City Manager Dionne Mack has 60 days to explore other funding sources for the $207 million project, which would cover I-10 from Santa Fe to Kansas Street.

While supporters, including Mayor Renard Johnson, see it as a game-changing investment, others, like City Representative Chris Canales, don’t want local taxpayers footing the bill.

The city is now looking at federal, state, and private funding to keep the project alive. Whether it moves forward depends on what Mack finds in the next two months.

Things To Do

El Paso Senior Games Return 🏅

The El Paso Senior Games are back for 2025, ready to bring fun, fitness, and friendly competition to the 50+ crowd!

Celebrating 42 years, these games encourage active living with events like basketball, tennis, disc golf, chess, and even billiards. The action kicks off with the official Opening Ceremonies on Saturday, February 15, at Sylvia A. Carreon Community Center at 9 a.m.

Participants can compete solo or in teams, proving that age is just a number when it comes to staying active. Sign up in person at local senior centers or online here to join in the fun!

Free Microchips & Pet Resources! 🐶

El Paso Animal Services is hosting a series of free pet resource events throughout February, offering microchipping, adoptions, and low-cost vaccines at various locations across the city.

Each event has a limited number of free microchips available, so pet owners are encouraged to arrive early. Stop by, get your pet taken care of, and maybe even meet your next best friend! Here are the dates, times, and locations for these services:

• February 6, 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. – Polly Harris Senior Center – 50 microchips, adoptions, low-cost vaccines

• February 8, 2:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. – Gringo Theory – 50 microchips, low-cost vaccines

• February 15, 8:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. – Chuck Heinrich Park – 50 microchips, adoptions, low-cost vaccines

• February 20, 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. – Sam’s Club (9498 Gateway Blvd N) – 50 microchips, free dog adoptions

• February 22, 11:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. – My Furry Valentine (5001 Fred Wilson) – 100 microchips, low-cost vaccines & more

• February 28, 10:00 A.M. – 2:30 P.M. – Pet’s Barn (1900 Lee Trevino) – 50 microchips & adoptions

UTEP Career Fair: Jobs Await! 👩‍🏭

Looking for a job or internship? UTEP’s spring career fair is the place to be! With nearly 100 employers across industries like engineering, healthcare, and education, this is your chance to make connections.

Bring your résumé, dress sharp, and get ready to impress. Her are the details if you’re interested.

Date: Thursday, February 6 (9:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.) & Friday, February 7 (9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.)
Location: Tomas Rivera Conference Center, Room 308, Union East, UTEP Campus
More Info: Learn more and see the full list of employers here

Local Business

Congrats To Turning 40! 🎂

The Lunch Box, a beloved El Paso staple, just hit a major milestone—40 years of serving up delicious, affordable meals! To honor this achievement, the El Paso City Council officially declared February 3, 2025, as "The Lunch Box Day."

Founded by the Rios Family in 1985, this local gem has been dishing out hearty comfort food for decades, winning over generations of hungry customers.

If you haven’t stopped by yet, now’s the perfect time. Swing by one of their two locations at 667 N. Carolina or 3623 Buckner and enjoy some hometown flavor. Open daily from 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Weather

Thursday

⬆️ 78 ⬇️ 46 | ☀️ | 0% chance of rain

Friday

⬆️ 80 ⬇️ 45 | ☀️ | 0% chance of rain

Saturday

⬆️ 81 ⬇️ 48 | ☀️ | 0% chance of rain

Live Music & Entertainment

Thursday 2/6

• Latin Nights – Four80's Sports Bar and Grill – 8:00 P.M. - 11:00 P.M.

Friday 2/7

• The Rebellion – Four80's Sports Bar and Grill – 8:00 P.M. - 12:00 A.M.

• Down by Fore – Brick & Tap – 8:00 P.M. - 12:00 A.M.

• Open Mic Comedy Night – Cinco Bar & Patio – Sign-ups at 8:30 P.M., Show at 9:00 P.M.

• Aftermath – Cactus Owl – 9:00 P.M.

• Open Mic Night – Margin Notes Bookbar – 7:30 P.M.

• Fastback 6T7 – Kings X Bar – 9:00 P.M.

• Summer Rose – Two Five Dive Bar – 9:00 P.M. - 1:00 A.M.

• Locomotion Style Band with Jordan Taylor – La Wheela Bicycle Place – 7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.

• Maria José – El Paso County Coliseum – 8:00 P.M. (tickets)

• Joshua Lucero – 1922 Bar – 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.

• Jordan Taylor – 1922 Bar – 10:30 P.M. - 12:30 A.M.

• Caleb Wilbourn – Iron Gnome – 7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.

Thank YOU!

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