Cultures clash on Island this week

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND - Two polar opposite live performances are set to hit the Island on Thursday night.

"Nunsense 2: The Second Coming" plays at the South Padre Island Convention Centre at 7:30 p.m.

This family-friendly per-formance follows a group of nuns as they present a variety show. Nunsense encourages audience participation, engaging the crowd with bingo games and other wholesome stunts.

Then down the Island, the "crunk" rappers Ying Yang Twins are slated to spit verses at Louie's Backyard. The Atlanta duo will likely perform their latest single "Drop."

And it's not exactly family friendly.

"Black magic in here, so drank it up, and you gonna be just as drunk as us," the song says.

The contrasting acts represent a clash that only occurs on the Island every few years.

March typically draws hordes of college students on Spring Break from across the country. This year most Texas colleges celebrated Spring Break last week, but Island officials expect a healthy crowd to come from other parts of the country, as well as from area high schools, this week as well.

At the same time, hundreds of Mexican nationals will flock to the Island for family getaways.

Mexico celebrates Semana Santa, or Holy Week, starting today through Easter Sunday.

Many families from Monterrey choose South Padre Island as their holiday vacation destination, said Dan Quandt, the executive director of the South Padre Island Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

"The unique thing this year is we have both of them back to back," Quandt said. "Normally, Semana Santa falls in April and it's a big boost to our area."

This year, though, Easter falls early on March 23, meaning the Semana Santa families will share hotels and beaches with Spring Break revelers. And the business boom will hit all at once, as opposed to last longer and steady.

Quandt says the groups usually coexist. Many of the families rent or own condos and other property away from the hotels filled with Spring Break guests.

Still, the hotels and the restaurants must prepare for the shift of patrons.

Everett Caskey works as general manager of Bahia Mar Resort and Conference Center. His hotel sold out of rooms this week, split between Spring Break students and Semana Santa families.

"In the gift shop, now it's going to be more beach balls instead of beach beer bongs," Caskey said.

Cindy Steenbock has worked at Blackbeard's Restaurant on South Padre Island for 18 years.

A manager there, she said the restaurant's staff is bolstered this week to meet the demands of both the Spring Break and Semana Santa crowds.

"It makes it easier right now, because we're really busy," Steenbock said. "In April, though, it will probably be a lot slower."