Island Guide May 2015 edition

Top Ten Patios in Galveston: A Beautiful Time of the Year

2015 Historic Home Tour: Diverse Architecture is Highlighted

Matt Mejia Music:Where Modern Meets Musical

The 2015 Beach Revue: Vintage Fashion And Fun Return

May 1, 2015 • Issue 5, Volume 4

Serving food, beer, wine and full liquor barTake out available ∙ Dog Friendly Patio

Live Music Every Friday & Saturday

Home of the Water Wall

2110 Strand St., Downtown Galveston

(409) 497-4972Open Daily 11:00am-1:00am

Food served till 1:30am

In Galveston

"stuttgarden.onthestrand"

Band & DJ ScheduleMay 1 - Live Music by Smith and Turner 7-11 pmMay 2 - Fruhlingsfest (Little Oktoberfest) all day

Live Music by That Captain 7 -11 pmMay 3 - Fruhlingsfest (Little Oktoberfest) all day

Live Music by Jeremy Kilgore noon-3 pmMay 8 – DJ Big Worm 7-11 pm

May 9 - Live Music by Salty Dogs 7-11 pmMay 10 - Live Music by Jeremy Kilgore noon-3 pm

- Live Music by David Joel 3-6 pm May 15 - Live Music by Noise Poets 7-11 pmMay 16 - Live Music by Naked Truth 7-11 pm

May 17 - Live Music by Jeremy Kilgore noon-3 pmMay 22 - Live Music by Andy and the Dreamcicles 7-11 pm

May 23 - Live Music by Cosmic Serenity 7-11 pmMay 24 - Live Music by Jeremy Kilgore noon-3 pm

May 29 - Live Music by Noise Poets 7-11 pmMay 30 - Live Music by Soul Shine 7 -11 pm

May 31 - Live Music by Jeremy Kilgore noon-3 pm

2 The Island Guide Magazine GalvestonIslandGuide.com (409)256-5166

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Just past Jimmy’s Fishing Pier on Seawall

409-740-6878Hours: Open Daily 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Weather PermittingSunday - Thursday 10am-10pm, Friday & Saturday 10am-11pm

The Island Guide Magazine GalvestonIslandGuide.com (409)256-5166 3

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May 1, 2015 • Issue 5, Volume 4

Contents5-7 Dining » “The Top Ten Patios in Galveston: It’s A Beautiful Time of

the Year for Outdoor Fun” by Kimber Fountain » The Kitchen Chick Presents: Mother’s Day, Cinco De

Mayo and ‘More Cheese Please’ Classes this Month » Food From the Bar: Galveston County Food Bank

Raises the Bar and Welcomes Participation » Yaga’s Wild Game and BBQ Cook-off: Downtown

Galveston Gets Yummy May 8th-9th

8-11 Music » “Matt Mejia: Where Modern Meets Musical”

by Kimber Fountain » The Grand 1894 Opera House: A Jam Packed Summer » The Music Guide for Live Music Across the Island

12-14 The Island Guide Fun Maps15 Books » “Spring Has Sprung: A Great Time For

Patio Reading” by Gini Rainey » Galveston Bookshop Book Signings » Book Signings for “Angel Talk” by Cathy Catching

16-20 Things to Do » “2015 Galveston Historic Home Tour: The Island’s

Diverse Architecture is Highlighted” by Gini Rainey » Corvette World’s “1st Annual Corvettes Cruisin’

Galveston:”A Fun Time ‘Vette Style » Galveston Ballet presents “Cinderella:”

A Grand Experience for All Ages » Vintage Fashion And Fun Return To Galveston Island:

The 2015 Beach Revue Weekend is Here » Island Boating Boasts New Centerpiece: Sea Scout

Base Galveston and the Community Sailing Center » Texas Crab Festival: Gulf Coast Music, Art and Crabs » “Spongebob Subpants:” An Adventure At Moody Gardens

Lets Guests Choose Their Own Submarine Adventure » Galveston Reads: “Freeman,” by Pulitzer Winning

Columnist Leonard Pitts

21-22 The Fine Arts » “Catherine Stroud: Beauty and the Brush”

by Kimber Fountain » Galveston’s Galleries present Unique Exhibits this Month

23 Uniquely Galveston » “Ronald McDonald House of Galveston: The House

That Love Built, Celebrating 26 Years This Month” by Kimber Fountain

The Island Guide welcomes your opinions, comments and inquiries.

Please contact us at:

PO Box 130133Tyler, Texas 75713-0133

(409)256-5166GalvestonIslandGuide.com

[email protected]

How to be a Part of “Island Guide”“The Island Guide” is published once a month on the first

Friday of the month. Deadlines for editorial and advertise-ments is the 20th of each month.

We are distributed at over 400 locations on Galveston Island and the West End.

We will list at no charge most events open to the public. All necessary infor-mation should be e-mailed and include the date, time, ticket cost, description of event, phone number for the public, website address, and photos - the more the bet-ter. “The Island Guide” will make every effort to include as much as possible. Please include who we should con-tact if we have questions.

Send to [email protected]“The Island Guide” Fun Maps are published in every issue.

Businesses are added on a space available basis and are not guaranteed placement.

StaffPublisher Sales ManagerTena Jerger Louie Jerger

Copy EditorsGini Rainey, Susan Morris

Editorial Terry Card, Dustin Chase, Kimber Fountain, Rob Lucey, Gini Rainey

PhotographyChrista Schreckengost

DistributionTerry Card, Kimber Fountain, Louie Jerger, Alex Smith

© 2015 Island Guide Magazine

DEaDlInES:Island Guide is published the first Friday of every month.

Deadline for submission of advertising is the 20th of every month.

Hours: 11-5 Thurs - Tues, 12-4 Sun, Closed Wed408 23rd St., Galveston, 409.795.8628

Facebook: vintage

restaurant family underwent a major outdoor overhaul which magi-cally transformed cement floors, wooden picnic tables, and aged umbrellas into a modern oasis, complete with textured tile, trendy dining tables, and chic lounge furniture. Not to mention they dish up the same out-standing qual-ity that Gaido’s is known for, albeit with a more relaxed atmosphere and lower price point than the original. Guests can lounge on a sofa and sip one of their many draft beers or sig-nature cocktails, or enjoy tableside service with a view of the Gulf. Nick’s features an expansive variety of appetizers, fried seafood, huge burgers, and seafood specialties such as Tequila Lime Tilapia, Mango Mahi-Mahi, and Texas Redfish Ponchartrain.

3828 Seawall Blvd., www.nicksgalveston.com, (409)762-9625Open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-10:30pm

Jimmy’s on the Pier Full Service, Partially Covered, Outdoor Bar, Gulf View

Nestled snugly atop the Galveston Fishing Pier, Jimmy’s advan-tageous location makes it the only restaurant in Galveston that is directly poised over the water. With some seating out on their front deck, and the rest under the covered but open patio, the panoramic view is easily one of the best that the Island has to offer. Open for both lunch and dinner with full, tableside service, a relaxed and easy-going Island vibe surrounds diners as they enjoy appetizers like Gulf Coast Crab Dip and Crispy Calamari, soups, salads, sandwiches, and signature entrees such as Roasted Pork Belly and Grilled Shrimp with cheesy, southern-style grits. Jimmy’s is also known for their huge, half-pound burgers expertly combined with creative toppings and ingre-dients. Try the Jalapeno Ranch Chorizo Cheeseburger, or the Turkey Avocado Swiss Burger, or go for the gusto with the GFP Burger com-plete with two patties, three types of cheese, and all the fixings.

9001 Seawall Blvd., www.galvestonfishingpier.com, (409)974-4726Open Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Sunday 8am-11pm

Sunflower Bakery & Cafe Full Service, Covered

Representing outdoor dining in the East End Historic District is the wildly popu-lar Sunflower Bak-ery & Cafe, opened in 1999 by Harry and Lisa Blair. Originally only a bakery, the pair opened up a separate cafe years later, and then in 2006 com-bined the two into their current loca-tion, complete with a gorgeous open-air patio. Covered, but surrounded only by a short iron fence, Sun-flower’s patio is truly a breath of fresh air, and it provides a quaint and novel way to enjoy this charming area of town, along with any of their delicious homemade cuisine and baked goods. With a stupendous signature Tomato Basil Soup, Southern favorites like Chicken Fried Steak, fresh salads and sandwiches, this hometown eatery is sure to please an array of tastes and preferences.

512 14th Street, www.thesunflowerbakeryandcafe.com, (409)763-5500

Open Monday-Thursday 7am-5pm, Friday 7am-8pm, Saturday 8am-8pm, Sunday 8am-3pm

The M & M Restaurant and Bar Full Service, Upscale Casual

Considered by many to be one of the ultimate Island dining des-tinations, M & M has been serving Galveston for nearly two decades, although it was only a brief five years ago when current owners Bill Ansel and Jim Grant raised the bar on themselves and brought in Chef Freddy Oramous. He is responsible for creative cuisine like Avocado Pancakes topped with sauteed crabmeat, Jack Daniels glazed Pork Chops, and Tampico Chicken, a blackened chicken breast smothered with pepper jack cheese, homemade pico de gallo, and avocado. Situ-ated on the edge of downtown on a quiet corner, M & M’s full-service operation includes a small and intimate patio, flanked by a privacy fence and adorned with an array of lush greenery. Al fresco diners can enjoy any and all of the lunch and dinner menu items amid a sophisti-cated and peaceful atmosphere.

2401 Church Street, www.mmgalveston.com, (409)766-7170Open Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday 11am-10pm,

Saturday 4-11pm, Sunday 11am-3pm for Brunch, and 5-9pmRiondo’s RistoranteFull Service, Umbrellas

Bringing a little bit of the big city to the Island, Riondo’s sidewalk patio will immediately seem familiar to anyone who has ever walked along the streets of New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles in the summertime, with large sprawling umbrellas and beauti-ful seating situated right in the thick of things. A venture led by Island resident Don McClaugh-erty and one of Galveston’s favorite chefs, Rico Caminos, Riondo’s Ristorante filled a much-needed niche in Strand dining when it opened last year, and they execute a flawless coupling of authentic, home-spun Italian fare with impecca-ble service that extends to their outdoor area. Diners can enjoy homemade pasta, sensational seafood, and traditional Italian delica-cies against the backdrop of the beautiful, historic 1895 Hutchings and Sealy Building while reveling in the delightful hum of shoppers and sightseers on the Strand.

2328 Strand Street, www.riondos.com, (409)621-9595 Open Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-10pmNick’s Kitchen & Beach Bar Full Service, Covered, Gulf View

Just a few years ago, this member of the world-renown Gaido’s

The Top Ten Patios in Galveston:It’s a Beautiful Time of the Year for Outdoor Fun By Kimber Fountain, Photos by Christa Schreckengost

Here on the Texas coast, there are only two windows of opportunity to enjoy outdoor dining, both of which hover precariously between the chill of winter winds and ninety percent humidity.

Since we are currently in one of those windows, here is your Island Guide to the Top Ten Patios in Galveston to help you make the most of your al fresco dining expe-rience. Selections were made based on food quality, sce-nic views, comfort, location, and overall ambiance.

Which one will you try first? Smooth Tony’s Counter Service, Live Music, Covered

Known affectionately as The Backyard, the patio behind Smooth Tony’s restaurant is a stunning, paradisical wonderland, inspired equally by owner Tony Gonzales’ love for both the Island and New Orleans. In the evenings, the beer and wine flow uninhibited from the outdoor bar, while music from the best in local entertainment wafts amid the private and intimate space, through the colorful, tropical foliage, and around artifacts gleaned from the his-toric French Quarter. Inside, the kitchen serves up end-less combinations of hot and cold sandwiches, salads, and sides. Delicious (and nearly famous) Fish Tacos, mas-sive burgers, Fish and Chips, and Pulled Pork Sandwiches are only a few of their fresh, homemade delights. Originally opened in 1997 as a sandwich and smoothie shop, Smooth Tony’s has been, for quite some time now, one of the most popular and favored establishments among local residents for relaxing lunches, casual dinners, and live entertainment.

415 9th Street, www.smoothtonys.com, (409)765-5200Open Monday-Wednesday 10:30am-2:30pm, Thursday-Friday

10:30am-9pm, Closed Saturday & SundayStuttgarden Tavern on the Strand Full Service, Live Music, Late-Night Dining

Galveston’s only true beer garden, Stuttgarden on the Strand has proven to be a massive hit with locals and visitors alike in its brief, not yet one-year, history. With an unwavering dedication to craftsmanship, both in the beer they serve and in the European style fare they offer, their expansive outdoor seating area makes the best use of this beautiful space since it was home to its original concept, The Waterwall restaurant, in the 1980s. Tucked in between historic buildings of the Strand, yet set back from the street’s hustle and bustle, large trees rise up between the tables, and diners and drinkers are transported to a world of their own that can be anything they want it to be: a serene spot for a quick and deli-cious meal or a night of outlandish fun.

2110 Strand Street, www.stuttgardentavern.com, (409)497-4972Open Daily 11am-2am


Food

Your Comfort Food Heaven2219 Postoffice, Downtown (409) 539-5618

Open Tuesday-Thursday 11a-3p & 5:30-?Friday 11a-3p, 5:30-9p, Saturday 9a-9p, Sunday 9a-3p

Marvelous MacaroniScrumptious SaladsSeafood & More!


www.thekitchenchick.com www.facebook.com/kitchenchick

located 3 Blocks off the Strand! Open 11AM-6PM Wednesday–MONdaY

528 23rd Street 409-497-2999 Kuhn Rikon * Nordicware * Swiss Diamond * Kyocera * Shun * Le Creuset * Wilton Armetale * Lodge

213 23rd Street - Downtown Galveston(409)762-0144

Stop by and have a game on us!

Check our website for upcoming events and tournaments - www.boardgameisland.com

Join us for a Board Meeting of a Lunchtime! Espresso bar and full menu!

Open 11am-10pm Sun-Thursand 11am-Midnight Fri & Sat

Games Make Great Gifts!Swing By and Check out our Huge Selection of Games For Sale

The Kitchen Chick Presents:Mother’s Day, Cinco De Mayo and ‘More Cheese Please’ Classes this Month

Coming up this month are a lot of exciting new series of cooking classes.• Saturday, May 2nd (2pm) - “Mother’s Day ‘Queen for a Day’ Brunch” -

Can we all agree that food is love? Show your mom you appreciate her by preparing an over-the-top brunch smorgasbord. Chef Najet will teach you how to make decadent raspberry and white Chocolate waffles with whipped almond butter, savory seared asparagus and smoked salmon puffs, flaky buttermilk maple bacon scones, sweet and crunchy pink lady pecan granola, creamy chevre and herbed eggs in a delicate phyllo basket and a cranberry lime prosecco slush. Mom will really feel like a queen after tasting this delicious feast! Tickets are $60/person.

• Friday, May 8th (6:30pm) - “Cinco De Mayo Grain & Dairy Free Fiesta” - Hola! Chef Bailey isn’t done celebrating Cinco De Mayo. Join her for a ‘grain and dairy free’ fiesta. You will learn how to make sweet potato nachos (sans cheese), rich and creamy guacamole and shrimp tacos topped with tropical mango pico. She will also teach you how to whip up a batch of Paleo Diet friendly margaritas. Tickets are $50/person.

• Wednesday, May 13th (6:30pm) - “More Cheese Pleez” - Oh, cheese lovers, your day has arrived! Chef Mary Bass is getting super cheesy with this menu. She will teach you how to make a homemade becha-mel base for the most decadent mac and cheese your fork will ever meet. She will then show you how to turn it into an over-the-top mac and cheese grilled cheese sandwich. You will also learn cheese board basics – from selection of cheeses, how to slice and serve and all kinds of delicious ways to accessorize the board with savory charcuterie and sweet jams. You will also learn how to make a sinful beer and cheese soup. Finally, for dessert we will make a bright key lime cupcake with creamy mascarpone frost-ing. So. Much. Cheese! Tickets are $60/person.

Please call (409)497-2999 to reserve your spot. Reservations are made on a first come, first serve basis and class sizes are kept small to ensure you get to interact with the instructor. Also, please note that web-site comments will not count as reservations - you must call to reserve your spot.

The Kitchen Chick is located at 528 23rd St., downtown Galveston, (409)497-2999, www.thekitch-enchick.com. Payment is due at the time of reservation. You must RSVP in advance to attend these classes.

Murdoch’s Beverage Only, Counter Service, Gulf View

Although it is not an eatery, Murdoch’s easily makes the list as the quintessential Island outdoor hang-out that it is. One of the oldest businesses in Galveston, Murdoch’s opened in 1911 and has seen a century’s worth of storms and destruction. Although their previous building was all but oblit-erated by Hurricane Ike in 2008, they recovered yet again and rebuilt the souvenir shop to include a spa-cious, covered, open-air patio with an unadul-terated view of the Gulf waters. Lined with big, white lounge and rocking chairs, Murdoch’s provides the perfect spot to rest from wandering their infi-nite array of trinkets and shells, or a place to grab a refreshing adult beverage and do some people watching. Or just sit back, relax, and be soothed by the swirling, salty, sea breezes.

2215 Seawall Blvd., (409)762-7478Open Sunday-Thursday 9:30am-7pm,

Friday and Saturday 9:30am-9pmZack’s Mac Shack Food & Beverage, Full Service, Covered

No Galveston restaurant collection would be complete without an appearance from Postof-fice Street, and Zack’s Mac Shack dazzles with its insanely creative concept and just-out-of-sight patio, which together provides the perfect excuse to venture out and discover this lesser-known part of downtown. Surrounded by art galleries and quaint boutiques, Zack’s fits right in with their own mas-terpieces, each of which comes on a canvas of mac-aroni noodles. They have Lobster Mac tossed with a creamy alfredo sauce, topped with parmesan, and

served with garlic bread; Spicy Thai Mac made with a spicy pineapple sauce; and El Gaucho with sirloin beef strips and a chimichurri sauce. If you are feel-ing creative, Create Your Own and choose whatever sauces and ingredients you like. A menu with tradi-tional breakfast offerings is served on Saturdays and Sundays, and their Lunch and Dinner menus also include several appetizers, salads, and soups.

2219 Postoffice St., www.zacksmacshack.com, (409)539-5618

Open Tuesday-Thursday 11am-3pm and 5:30-8pm, Friday 11am-9pm, Saturday

9am-9pm, Sunday 9am-3pmThe West End Restaurant & Sand Bar Full Service, Covered, Waterfront

Off the beaten path and on the West End, this multi-purpose facility, located on the bay-side of the Island in the Sea Isle subdivision, has a marina, bait camp, general store, and upscale restaurant, as well as the come-as-you-are, neighborhood Sand Bar situated entirely outside. The casual outdoor kitchen grills up tasty burgers and sandwiches, and the bartenders sling out custom cock-tails from their full bar. Surrounded by the serene stillness of the West End and the peaceful waters of the bay, the Sand Bar often shakes things up with live music during the warmer months. The laid back, easy-going atmo-sphere of the Sand Bar may be a bit out of the way, but it is definitely worth the trip.

21706 Burnet Dr., www.westendmarina.com, (409)497-4152

Open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-12am

Food From the Bar:Galveston County Food Bank Raises the Bar

The Food and Fund Drive Challenge takes place May 4th-29th. The ‘Food From The Bar’ campaign is a month-long, competitive food and fun-draising drive intended to inspire a healthy competition between the legal industry and help raise critical support for the Galveston County Food Bank.

‘Food From The Bar’ calls upon supporters to not just get involved, but to work to inspire their friends and family to get involved as well. The campaign is based off a point system. For every dollar a firm donates, you will receive ten points. For every person that comes in to volunteer their time on your behalf, you will receive five points. Lastly, for every one pound of food col-lected, you will get one point. In order to really raise the “bar,” we will create new incentives each week to keep the competitive spirit up.

The Galveston County Food Bank appreciates the commitment of the legal industry as they get ready to help fight hunger throughout our commu-nity in this 2nd annual event.

For more information on how you can participate and support your favorite legal entity or firm, please contact (409)945-4232 or [email protected].

Yaga’s Wild Game and BBQ Cook-off:Downtown Galveston Gets Yummy May 8th-9th

Begun in 1996, the Wild Game and BBQ Cook-Off benefiting the Yaga’s Children’s Fund is a two-day, family oriented event featuring teams compet-ing in various categories, a huge children’s area, live Texas music, great Texas food and much more. This year, the festival will be held Friday-Saturday, May 8th-9th at Pier 21 and Harborside Drive in downtown Galveston.

Tickets are free to attend the festival. You can purchase food from the tents and sample every-thing that you want. Events include:Friday, May 8thVegas Stars Band Kick-Off Party

This is free to the public and will be held begin-ning at 7pm. There will definitely be some good times for all as the 2015 festival kicks off with a roar. Come dance and be a part of this annual event.Saturday, May 9thRun Wild 5K

Come join the fun and Run WILD with the Yaga’s Children’s Fund Inc. along the Galveston Sea-wall. This family-friendly walk/run is a noncom-petitive event for ‘wild things’ of all ages before they head down to Pier 21 for some delicious wild game and free-flowing beverages. Your entry fee includes t-shirt, souvenir event koozie and cup, and a din-ner ticket for the 19th Annual World Wild Game and BBQ Cook-off. Not only is this a great deal, but by participating you will help support the moral, psychological, intellectual, vocational and physical development of Galveston County’s Children.

The 6th Annual Yaga’s Children’s Fund Run Wild 5K begins with check-in at Beerfoot Brew-ery located at 2816 Ave R 1/2 at 7am. The run will start at 8am from 29th and Seawall, heading west to 49th and Seawall, turn around, and end back at 29th and Seawall. You are welcome to run, walk, stroll, or roll as this is a non-competitive, non-timed event meant to bring people in our commu-nity together.The Rockin’ Kids Area

The Kid’s Area is open on Saturday, 12 noon-5pm and includes moonwalks, arts and crafts, face painting, Pets on Wheels, DJ 4-Real, and a petting zoo, all free of charge.

Silent AuctionThe Silent Auction Area will be open on Friday,

May 8th 7-11pm, and Saturday, May 9th 10am-5pm, with pickup on Saturday from 5:30-6:30pm.

Proceeds benefit the Yaga’s Children’s Fund.Music Line-Up

There will live music all day for the festival on Saturday. Scheduled are:

11:30am-2pm - School of Rock2:30-4pm - Campfire Soul4:30-6pm - Jackson Avenue6:30-8pm - Kevin Anthony and G-Town9-10:30pm - Kevin Anthony and G-Town

The FoodEvery year this event features some of the best

chefs around. You can either come out and taste the goodness or form a team and participate. Lots of food will be available for sale to the public.

Teams are encouraged to enter and participate in this great and fun cause. To register, go to www.ycfund.org. Different sized tents are available as well as several cooking categories, including beef bris-ket, fajitas, pork ribs, seafood, wild game (manda-tory), Chef’s Choice and chicken.

There will be a Cook’s Meeting, Sunday, May 3rd at 1pm at Beerfoot Beach Bar, 28th and Seawall Blvd. (behind Float Patio Bar) for those wishing to participate. Rules are on the website. Awards Pre-sentation will be held Saturday 8-9pm.Benefiting the Yaga’s Children’s Fund

The cook-off began in 1997 with the inten-tion of creating a family oriented, 2-day event in the downtown district with Yaga’s Café as its primary sponsor. The event grew each year, and in 2002, 23 teams participated with an attendance of over 3,000 people across three city blocks. The recep-tion of the public and the Strand area merchants was tremendous. Throughout the 18 years of the event, and now entering its 19th year, the Yaga’s Children’s Fund has raised an excess of $1,000,000 for Galveston County children’s charities such as Gulf Coast Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Family Ser-vice Center, Advocacy Center for Children, and The Ronald McDonald House of Galveston, just to name a few, and is now the premier Spring event in downtown Galveston.

The fund holds high standards for itself. Throughout its history, for every dollar in spon-sorships the fund receives, it has paid to charity $1.20. Also, the fund continues to hold its expense ratio below 1% which allows for an 89% payout to charity.

Sunday Brunch 11am - 4pmCall us to book your next event in one of our

private meeting rooms.

Oyster Tuesdays!

$21.95 5pm-9pm

Prime Rib Thursdays

$19.95

Come Experience the Pelican Club!Setting a New American Table

Open to the Public - Reservations OnlyHours of Operation: 5:00pm-9:00pm

Wednesday through SaturdayBar Menu available

Happy Hour 4:00pm-5:00pm Wednesday-SaturdayLocated at 3819 Ave T, Galveston, (409)761-5503


3rd

Saturday, July 18th

Free AdmissionFree Kids Area

LIVE MUSIC ALL DAY

Break out your Old Smokey’s and new recipes for some practice! This year is going to prove who

really is the best!

The Cook-off will be held in front of

815 21st, Galveston10am - 10pm

NOw ACCEpTING COOKS!Anyone and everyone can be a part -

call (409) 765-5778 or visit www.facebook.com/albatross.galveston

for details!

Matt Mejia:Where Modern Meets MusicalBy Kimber Fountain

When one considers the evolution of the human species, what probably comes to mind for most people is the adaptation of our physical bodies. We are bigger, stronger and live longer than ever before, and we have yet to figure out why exactly we still have tail bones and wisdom teeth. By no means is this where the triumphant progression of people over the sands of time ends, and it is fascinat-ing to fully realize through the lens of our everyday lives that everything, from fashion to cars to the way we live, has changed and continues to do so. But all of those changes can be most pointedly examined when we embrace the one thing that has both fueled this evolution and been drastically affected by it: the change in our perspective. Two hundred years ago the sound of a car driving by your house would have been a shocking anomaly, but today the sound of traffic is so normal, it could even be considered natural.

When we superimpose the idea of this shifting perspective onto music, of course at first it is obvi-ous. There is a reason we have “Oldies” radio sta-tions and deem anything that is instrumental “Clas-sical.” Music is the artform that can most easily be pigeonholed into an identity that stems solely from the generation in which it was born, and with the rise of electronic beats and auto-tune, modern music is often cynically classified as soulless and artless. One local singer/songwriter, however, has found that sweet spot, the place where electronics and artistry meet at last.

Matt Mejia entered the music scene 15 years ago with an invitation from his brother to sing for a band he had joined. It was a heavy metal band, and executing that vocal style is quite simply one of the most difficult to master. “It taught me disci-pline and precision,” Matt remembers, but within that genre he also felt himself “very limited and very restrained.” So he took his acquired skills and went “from that to wanting to do all things,” he says.

He found an outlet for expanding his musical interests with the founding of “Come See My Dead Person” (CSMDP), a band that originated in Galves-ton and soon became a local favorite. With CSMDP, he journeyed through the realms of composition and dynamics. “We had a set amount of songs, and we played for four years,” and although that may seem to some as a recipe for stagnation, Matt instead used it as a catalyst for growth and expansion. “I just continued to ask myself, ‘What can I do with these?’” he says, “and so I expanded on them and found the ability to express even more within the confines of those songs.”

This experimental expansion was further pro-pelled by his love for Blues and R&B music, whose technical and compositional elements he used to embellish his own work. “In those genres, you have to leave space and create tension,” Matt explains, “You have to do [musically] what has to be done to get your message across.” And that message is one that inspires Matt as deeply as his music.

“Everyone knows the flavor of sadness,” he muses. “It is the job of musicians to uplift - to get lower than them and then bring them back up.” Matt continues, “All proper arts have to have empa-thy, that is what makes it real. There is a camaraderie in it, it is like saying, ‘I have felt this way so it’s okay for them to feel that way, too.’”

Currently Matt is immersed in several different projects and performances, including acoustic sets as well as shows with a three-piece Blues/R&B Band that includes bassist Ray Herod and drummer Justin Brouliard. He is also recording a studio album to be released sometime late this summer with the help of Glenn Chambers at The Tape Shed and local Pro-ducer and Promoter Jeb Adame. Matt is playing all of the instruments for the album except drums, and is enjoying having “absolute control over how I want it to sound.” He adds, “I have played acoustic for so long, but in a studio setting you can express more.”

It is his collaboration with local rapper Flynn Donovan, however, that has catapulted his sound into a modern commentary on the shifting perspec-tive of the human mind. In Matt’s first attempt at electronic music, he has paired with Donovan in a project called “The Babe,” a surprisingly seamless combination of Matt’s soulful, ethereal voice and Fly-nn’s insanely intricate output of synthesized music

and articulate flow. “He completely changed my approach to music, and he gave me the confidence to go to Austin and record my album.”

Live performances of “The Babe” exude a baf-fling and almost other-worldly sound, with a seemingly contradictory combination of intoxicat-ing Blues-style melancholy brandished with simu-lated electronic beats and punctuated by Donovan’s articulate flow. The result is a fusion of the synthetic with the organic, undulating rhythms of technol-ogy coupled with that bittersweet yearning that only a human being can attain. “It is an expression of what humans are now,” says Matt Mejia. “We are all organic beings, but we are inundated with technol-ogy.” He continues, “because of where our brains are, these sounds are natural to us now, just as natu-ral as birds and the sound of a car driving by...”

Matt can be reached for booking inquiries at [email protected]. Find videos of him and “The Babe” on YouTube, and look for him this summer across local venues as he promotes the release of his new album.

Free Music Continues Downtown Galveston

Music enthusiasts looking for a great live music scene will enjoy Music Nite on The Strand.

A dance floor and limited seating are provided so crowds can dance to the beat and rest between songs. Bands perform at Saengerfest Park, 2302 Strand, downtown, 6-9pm.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own seat-ing. Music Nite takes place the second Saturday of each month through October.

This year’s Music Nite schedule includes:• May 9th: Gary-Michael Dahl (R&B, Jazz)• May 23rd: dem w/ Robert Kuhn (Roots)• June 13th: The Last Dragons (80’s Radio Classics)• July 11th: Mike Stinson (Country)• August 8th: Cassette Tape (Reggae)• September 12th: The Fab 5 (Beatles Tribute Band)• October 10th: The Journey Agents (Funk)• October 31st: HYPERSOUL (Classic Rock)

Music Nite is sponsored by Mitchell Historic Properties and the Galveston Park Board of Trust-ees. For more information on Music Nite on The Strand and weekly event updates, please visit www.facebook.com/saengerfestpark.

History on Tap with Drew Kennedy:Pairing History With Breweries & Distilleries

Start the Memorial Day weekend this year on the right note with acclaimed singer-songwriter Drew Kennedy at Galveston Historical Foundation’s “History on Tap” concert, Friday, May 22nd. The event, which opens its gates at 6pm, will be held at Harris Garden, located on the corner of 23rd and Broadway next to the 1859 Ashton Villa.

“I’ve always been a student of history. From my formative years growing up in Gettysburg, Pennsyl-vania, to my collegiate major, to my writing endeav-ors now (which almost always find their inspiration from either the very recent – or occasionally very distant – past),” says Drew Kennedy. “The study and preservation of our history has always been one of my greatest passions. I’ve also noticed that I feel a sort of personal connection to Galveston. The archi-tecture on the island holds a great deal in common to the architecture of Philadelphia, where most of my family calls home, and to my untrained eye I can see how some of these styles probably migrated from an eastern port city to a growing gulf coast port city in the 19th century.”

Admission is free with RSVP. For more info call (409)765-7834 or galvestonhistory.com.


(409) 765-5778815 21ST GALVESTON, TX, 77550WWW.ALBATROSSGALVESTON.COM

MAY LINE UP:DRINK SPECIALS - BANDS PLAY 3-6PM

May 3rd - Skip DevlinMay 10th - Live Music

May 17th - Salty Dog BandMay 24th - Smith & TurnerMay 31st - Roger Tienman

Music

The Red Cat Jazz Festival:Jazz Greats To Perform May 7th-10th

Jazz greats, including Mindi Abair, Kirk Whalum and Rick Brun, Norman Brown, Peter White, Dean James, Jazz in Pink, Hiroshima, Theresa Grayson, and Ronnie Laws, will be jamming May 7th-10th at the Red Cat Jazz Fes-tival, held at Moody Gardens. In addition to world class jazz, the event includes parties, a Celebrity Golf Tournament and a Women’s Empowerment Conference.Thursday, May 7th

Four days of non stop jazz featuring international jazz artists and a variety of area entertainers will kick-off in the lobby of Moody Gar-dens Hotel with a “Meet and Greet Happy Hour” with the musicians, 4-7pm. Guests will get a preview of the big weekend while enjoying the first wave of live jazz.Friday, May 8th

Golfers at the “2015 Red Cat Celebrity Golf Tournament” held at Moody Gardens Golf Course, beginning 9am, will have the opportu-nity to tee off with NBA legend Moses Malone, Duke University Golf Champion Ricky Winslow, musician Mike Phillips and other well-known personalities. There are still a few spots open. For registration and information call (832)884-6716.

The “VIP All White Poolside Party” will be held starting at 7pm, and will feature live entertainment under the stars at Moody Gardens Hotel. Guests will meet local and national jazz artists who will be per-forming over the weekend. Limited number of tickets are available online at www.redcatjazzfest.com. The “All White After Party” will fol-low where attendees can dance the night away to live entertainment by SVK Band and music of the singing DJ, Dana Jackson of Magic 102. Doors open at 10pm. Ticket required.Saturday, May 9th

This Festival is made for Jazz lovers! Come enjoy two days of con-stant concerts in the beautiful Moody Gardens. For the festival, a “Day Pass with Lawn Seating” is available to enjoy the fun for $40. There is also a “Day Pass with Reserved Seating” available for $65-$125. A “2 Day Festival Pass” is available for $70.

Also, “Red Cat for Pink” will presents the “Women’s Empower-ment Conference” starting at 7:30am in the Moody Gardens Hotel. Hosted by Jan Pink, President of Wealthy Omnipotent Women, the conference is designed to empower, inspire and motivate. Everyone is welcome to attend plus hear some great jazz afterwards. Guest speak-ers include Victoria Lowe, author, “10 Spiritual Principles of Success-ful Women;” Dr. Jennie Bennet, founder, Reconstruction of a Survivor; Yolanda of 4ever Fit; and special guest Gina M. Spagnola, President, Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce. Breakfast will be pro-vided. The Women’s Empowerment Conference benefits Reconstruc-tion of a Survivor, a non profit organization supporting education and funding for breast cancer. Tickets are available online.

A highlight of the weekend is the “Students of the Sound Jazz Scholarship Seminar” starting at 10am. The seminar, hosted by jazz musicians, is for young musicians from local universities that have a passion for jazz. Student scholarships will be awarded at the event.Sunday, May 10th

Starting at 10am, the “Breakfast with the Legends of Jazz” will honor festival headliners Ronnie Laws and Tex Allen, who will share their love for jazz through their personal stories, and speak on the evolution of jazz as an art form. The Red Cat Jazz Legend Award will be presented at this event.

The Red Cat Jazz Festival features world class entertainment and events for the entire family. Tickets may be purchased for individual events, by the package, and at the gate. Advance tickets are encour-aged. Parking is free. Valet parking is available at the hotel entrance. Food and beverages are available for purchase at the event. No coolers or pets allowed.

For detailed information and to purchase tickets go online to www.redcatjazzfest.com or call (713)226-7870. Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa, Golf Course and Convention Center is located at 7 Hope Blvd., Galveston.

We’re Gearing Up for Summer at The Grand

The Grand 1894 Opera House, located at 2020 Postoffice St., downtown Galveston, is one of the few remaining theatres of its era in Texas and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. As fur-ther recognition of its importance, the citizens of Texas and the 73rd Texas Legislature proclaimed The Grand “The Official Opera House of Texas” in 1993. Host to a wide variety of excellent entertainment, The Grand has a little bit of something for everyone.

Performances this month at The Grand include:Chris BottiSunday, May 3rd, 4pm

This Grammy Award-winning trumpeter has become the larg-est-selling American jazz instru-mental artist. He’s had four No. 1 jazz albums since the release of his 2004 CD, “When I Fall in Love,” and has sold more than three mil-lion albums worldwide. Don’t miss Chris’ memorable performance of jazz classics and music from the American Songbook. “With his romantic bent and beautifully honed technique, this chart-topping trumpeter never has a problem wooing audiences with a classic pop melody,” stated “The Washington Post.” Tickets start at $22.Lily TomlinSaturday, May 9th, 8pm

From sassy telephone operator Ernestine to devilish six year old Edith Ann, Lily Tomlin’s characters have kept scores of audiences hold-ing their sides with unbridled laugh-ter. A comedic star of stage and both the television and theatrical screen, Lily Tomlin has garnered not only an Academy Award® nomination, but received Emmy, Tony® and Grammy awards. Come prepared for an eve-ning of giggles with this “Laugh-In” favorite! “And that’s the truth!”

This is near sell out, very few tickets remain.Wally Jones and Casa Manana Theatre presents “Rapunzel! A Very Hairy Fairy Tale” Friday, May 22nd, 10am

Let your hair down in this charming new musical by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman (“How I Became A Pirate”). The evil enchantress Lady Za Za has banished Princess Rapunzel to the deep, dark, dank, dismal, dreary forest in an effort to rule the kingdom her-self. It is up to handsome Sir Roderick and his hairdressing side-kick Edgar to restore the kingdom as they also search for true love and a perfect head of hair. Will they find everything they are looking for in Princess Rapunzel? With a dragon who’s lost his poof, a neurotic gypsy woman and a magical cast of characters, this hilarious twist on the classic fairy tale will delight princes and princesses of all ages. Suitable for Pre-Kindergarten – 4th grade.An Evening with Travis TrittSunday, June 14th, 7pm

One of the most successful and acclaimed musical creators of his era, Travis Tritt incorporates lifelong influences of honky-tonk, Southern Rock, blues and gospel into his country sound. “I feel so humbled and blessed to be where I am right now,” says Travis. “My voice has never been stronger. I’m constantly playing and working to become a better gui-tar player, banjo player, vocalist, and songwriter.” During his career, Tritt has amassed more than $25 million in career album sales, two Grammys, three CMA Awards and a devoted fan base that fills venues coast-to-coast.

Million Dollar QuartetFriday, June 19th (8pm) and Saturday, June 20th (3pm and 8pm)

This electrifying Tony Award-winning Broadway musical is the true story of the famed recording session that brought together rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. The hit score includes legend-ary hits such as “Fever,” “That’s All Right,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Walk the Line,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “Hound Dog.” Put on your “Blue Suede Shoes” and get ready to party!

This is expected to sell out quickly! Tickets start at $22.The Hot SardinesSunday, July 5th, 3pm

Take a blustery brass lineup, layer it over a rhythm section led by a stride-piano virtuoso in the Fats Waller vein, and tie the whole thing together with a ‘one-of-the-boys’ frontwoman with a voice from another era, and you will get The Hot Sardines. Oh, and don’t forget about their legendary tap dancer! The Sardine sound fuses musical influences from New York, Paris, and New Orleans that were nurtured from the Prohibition era through the Great Depression, WWII and beyond, with a mission to transform songs from another era into pop music for this century.

SinbadSaturday, July 11th, 8pm

Stand-up comedian, movie, and TV star Sinbad brings his “tickle your funny bone” talent back to The Grand for an encore performance. Claim-ing he doesn’t know any jokes, Sin-bad is ranked by Comedy Central as one of the top 100 stand-up come-dians of all time; and his comedy is profound without being profane. He

has built a loyal following by finding laughter in the trials and tribula-tions of everyday life and attributes his knowledge of comedy to what he learned from playing basketball. As a one-time standout athlete for the University of Denver, Sinbad believes “the competitive aspect of sports teaches you to never give up.” His appearance at The Grand promises to be another “hit ‘em in the face” performance.

Tickets start at $30.An Evening with Patti LaBelleSunday, August 2nd, 7pm

“Beautiful,” simply does not describe the incomparable force known to the world as Patti LaBelle. As time continues to evolve, the soul-ful songbird’s name has become syn-onymous with grace, style, elegance and class. Belting out classic rhythm and blues renditions, pop standards and spiritual sonnets have cre-ated the unique platform of versatility that Ms. Patti is known and revered for. Her energy keeps her fire burning and fuels a passion to try something new...for instance, her recent participation in Dancing with the Stars. A Classic!


To feature your band, e-mail us a request, video links and more info to:

[email protected]


2120 Postoffice Street | (208)602-3286Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 12-9, Friday and Saturday 12-10, Sunday 12-9

2120 Postoffice Street | (208)602-3286Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 12-9, Friday and Saturday 12-10, Sunday 12-9

Ice Cream Nachos! Need we say more?

Music GuideFriday, May 1st2- Steppin Saloon – DJ, 9-1The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11B. Jigger’s – The Line Up, 9-1Club 21 – DJ, 9-1Crow’s Southwest Cantina – Live Music, 9-1Float – Zach Tate Band, 8-12Hotel Galvez – Reg & Cary, 5-10Jimmy’s On The Pier - Djidala Djembe Drum

Circle, 10-1Longboards – Alter Ego, 6-9Nick’s Pool Bar – Soulshine, 7-10On The Bayou – Live Music, 8-12Pleasure Pier – Play Boyz, 6-10The Poop Deck – Satisfied Drive, 8-12Riondo’s – Joyce Fields, 6-9Shearn’s Lounge – Steve Newsom, 7-11Stuttgarden – Smith & Turner, 7-11Tremont House– Trio Du Jour, 6-10West End Restaurant – Karaoke, 7-11Yaga’s – Clayton Gardner, 10-1Saturday, May 2nd2- Steppin Saloon – DJ, 9-1 The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11B. Jiggers – Live Music, 9-1Club 21 – DJ, 9-1Crow’s Southwest Cantina – The Relics, 9-1Float – That Captain!, 9-1Hotel Galvez – Reg & Cary, 5-10Longboards – Djembabe, 9-1Moody Gardens – Kevin Anthony & G-Town, 7Nick’s Pool Bar – Fred Rusk, 7-10On The Bayou – Live Music, 9-1Pleasure Pier – Curtis Poullard & the Creole

Zydeco, 6-10Shearn’s Lounge – Steve Newsom, 7-11Stuttgarden Tavern – That Captain, 7-11Tremont House– Trio Du Jour, 6-10West End Restaurant – Dahl Thompson, 1-5

Larry Emerson, 7-11Woody’s – The Captain Legendary Band, 3-7Yaga’s – Snafu, 10-1Sunday, May 3rdAlbatross – Skip Devlin, 3-6B Jiggers – Karaoke, 8-12Crow’s Southwest Cantina – Open Mic, 12-4Galveston Farmers Market, Roger Tienken, 8amThe Grand – Chris Botti, 4pmHotel Galvez – Joyce Fields 11-2pmKRave Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Nonno Tony’s – Danny Kristensen, 4-7Pleasure Pier – Djembabe, 1-4, Southern Drawl

Band, 6-10Rosie’s – Tom Katz, 4-8Splash Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Stuttgarden Tavern – Jeremy Kilgore, 12-3pmWoody’s – Bexar Creek Boys, 3-7Monday, May 4thB Jiggers – Video DJ, 8-12The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11Crow’s Southwest Cantina – Karaoke, 8-12Galveston Brewery – Monday Night Guys, 5-8Splash Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Tuesday, May 5thThe Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11B. Jiggers – Karaoke, 8-12Crow’s Southwest Cantina - Troubadours Open

Jam, 8-12Hotel Galvez – Bryan Guevin, 6-9On The Bayou – Open Mic, 9-1Splash Bar – DJ Mellemel Frausto, 9-1Wednesday, May 6th2- Steppin Saloon – Country Karaoke, 8-12B. Jiggers – Video DJ, 8-12The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 6-9Crow’s Southwest Cantina - Open Mic Acoustic,

8-12Hotel Galvez – Joe Sewell, 6-10KRave Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Nonno Tony’s – Mickey Hobbs, 5-8Old Quarter – Open Mic, 9-1On The Bayou – Soulfiya, 8-12Splash Bar – DJ Alex, 9-1Thursday, May 7th2- Steppin Saloon – Country DJ, 8-12The Bar – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11Beerfoot – The Steppas, 6-9

B. Jigger’s – The Line Up, 9-1Crow`s Southwest Cantina – Open Mic Jam, 9-1Hotel Galvez – Joe Sewell, 6-10KRave Bar – Karaoke, 9-1On The Bayou – Karaoke, 8-12Friday, May 8thThe Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11B. Jigger’s – Live Music, 9-1Club 21 – A Sure Thing, 8-12Crow’s Southwest Cantina – Live Music, 5-9Elk’s Lodge – Wes Hardin & The Country

Outlaws, 7-10Float – Soulfiya, 8-12Hotel Galvez – Reg & Cary, 5-10Jimmy’s On The Pier - Djidala Djembe Drum

Circle, 10-1Nick’s Pool Bar – Soulshine, 7-10Old Quarter – The Curse & The Cure, 9-1On The Bayou – Salty Dogs, 8-12Pleasure Pier – Velvet Punch, 6-10The Poop Deck – Zak Perry, 9-1Red Cat Jazz Fest., Moody Gardens – Tom

Browne, The C.I.T.Y., 6pmRiondo’s – Joyce Fields, 6-9Shearn’s Lounge – Steve Newsom, 7-11Stuttgarden – DJ Big Worm, 7-11Texas Crab Fest., Crystal Beach – Kaylee Rutland,

Wayne Toups, 4-12Tremont House– Trio Du Jour, 6-10Tortuga – Karaoke, 4-8West End Restaurant – Karaoke, 7-11Yaga’s – Dovetail, 10-1Yaga’s Wild Game Cookoff – The Vegas Stars,

7-11Saturday, May 9th2- Steppin Saloon – Live Music, 9-1The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11B. Jiggers – Live Music, 9-1Club 21 – DJ, 9-1Galveston Brewery – Kevin Anthony Band, 7-10Hotel Galvez – Reg & Cary, 5-10Longboards – The Hudu Kingz, 6-10Nick’s Pool Bar – Coastal Fury, 7-10Old Quarter – Zak Perry, 9-1Poop Deck – Nite Wave, 9-1Red Cat Jazz Fest., Moody Gardens – BWB, Peter

White, Tizer, Mike Phillips, 11amRiondo’s – Tommy Lewis, 6-9Rum Shack – Level One Band, 9-1Saengerfest Park – Gary Michael Dahl, 6-9Shearn’s Lounge – Steve Newsom, 7-11Stuttgarden – Salty Dogs, 7-11Texas Crab Fest., Crystal Beach – Three Way

Switch, Drugstore Gypsies, The Line Up, Tribute to George Strait, Chee Weez, 11am

Tremont House– Trio Du Jour, 6-10West End Restaurant – Larry Emerson, 7-11Woody’s – Opie Hendrix & The Texas Tallboys,

3-7Yaga’s – Live Music, 10-1Yaga’s Wild Game Cook Off – School Of Rock,

Campfire Soul, Jackson Avenue, Kevin Anthony & G-Town, starting 11am

Sunday, May 10th2- Steppin Saloon – Tejano DJ, 8-12Albatross – Live Music, 3-6B Jiggers – Karaoke, 8-12Galveston Farmers Market, Mystery Loves

Company, 8amHotel Galvez – Joyce Fields 11-2pmKRave Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Nonno Tony’s – Danny Kristensen, 4-8Red Cat Jazz Fest., Moody Gardens – Mindi

Abair, Ronnie Laws, Hiroshima, Dean James, Jazz In Pink, starting at 11am

Rosie’s – Tom Katz, 4-8Splash Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Stuttgarden – Jeremy Kilgore, 12-3pm, David

Joel, 3-6Texas Crab Fest., Crystal Beach – House Of

Disciples Band, Leti El Conjunto, Jerry Diaz & Hanna’s Reef, starting at 11am

Woody’s – Salty Dog Band, 3-7Monday, May 11th2- Steppin Saloon – Country Karaoke, 8-12B Jiggers – Video DJ, 8-12The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11Crow’s Southwest Cantina – Karaoke, 8-12 Galveston Brewery – Monday Night Guys, 5-8

Splash Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Tuesday, May 12thThe Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11B. Jiggers – Karaoke, 8-12Crow’s Southwest Cantina - Troubadours Open

Jam, 8-12Galveston Brewery – Robert Kuhn, 4-7Hotel Galvez – Bryan Guevin, 6-9On The Bayou – Open Mic, 9-1Splash Bar – DJ Mellemel Frausto, 9-1Wednesday, May 13th2- Steppin Saloon – Country Karaoke, 8-12B. Jiggers – Video DJ, 8-12The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 6-9Crow’s Southwest Cantina - Open Mic Acoustic,

8-12Hotel Galvez – Joe Sewell, 6-10KRave Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Nonno Tony’s – Mickey Hobbs, 5-8On The Bayou – Soulfiya, 9-1Splash Bar – DJ Alex, 9-1Thursday, May 14th2- Steppin Saloon – Country DJ, 8-12B Jigger’s – The Line Up, 9-1Crow`s Southwest Cantina – Open Mic Jam, 9-1Hotel Galvez – Joe Sewell, 6-10KRave Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Old Quarter – Open Mic, 9-1On The Bayou – Karaoke, 8-12Friday, May 15th2- Steppin Saloon – Live Music, 9-1The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11B. Jiggers –The Line Up, 9-1Club 21 – A Sure Thing, 9-1Crow’s – Matt Begley & Bitter Whiskey, 9-1Float – Soulfiya, 8-12Galveston Beach Revue – John Evans Band, 6-10Hotel Galvez – Reg & Cary, 5-10Jimmy’s On The Pier - Djidala Djembe Drum

Circle, 10-1Pleasure Pier – No Strings Attached, 6-10The Poop Deck – Zak Perry, 9-1Riondo’s – Joyce Fields, 6-9Rum Shack – The Hudu Kingz, 9-1Shearn’s Lounge – Steve Newsom, 7-11Stuttgarden – Noise Poets, 7-11Tortuga - Karaoke, 4-8Tremont House– Trio Du Jour, 6-10West End Restaurant – Karaoke, 7-11Yaga’s – Ocean Roots, 10-1Saturday, May 16th2- Steppin Saloon – Live Music, 9-1The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 6-9B. Jiggers – Mambo Jazz Kings, 9-1Club 21 – A Sure Thing, 9-1Crow’s – Matt Begley & Bitter Whiskey, 9-1Float – That Captain, 9-1Galveston Beach Revue – Live Music, 12pmHotel Galvez – Reg & Cary, 5-10Longboards – Thermal Fusion, 7-11Nick’s Pool Bar – Fred Rusk Band, 7-10Pleasure Pier – Radio Frequency, 6-10Rum Shack – Alter Ego, 9-1Shearn’s Lounge – Steve Newsom, 7-11Stuttgarden – Nake Truth, 7-11Tremont House– Trio Du Jour, 6-10West End Restaurant – Zach Tate, 7-11Woody’s – Will Owen Gage, 3-7Yaga’s – MC G, 10-1Sunday, May 17th2- Steppin Saloon – Tejano DJ, 8-12Albatross – Salty Dog Band, 3-6B. Jigger’s – Karaoke, 8-12Crow’s Southwest Cantina – Open Mic, 7-11Galveston Farmers Market - Kevin Anthony, 8amHotel Galvez – Joyce Fields, 11-2pmKRave Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Pleasure Pier – Sundance Head, 1-5Rosie’s – Tom Katz, 4-8Splash Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Stuttgarden – Jeremy Kilgore, 12-3pmWoody’s – Justin Fulcher & The Burdens, 3-7Monday, May 18thB. Jiggers – Video DJ, 8-12The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino,Crow’s Southwest Cantina – Karaoke, 8-12Galveston Brewery – Monday Night Guys, 5-8Splash Bar – Karaoke, 9-1

Tuesday, May 19thCrow’s Southwest Cantina – Country Karaoke,

8-12B Jiggers – Karaoke, 8-12Hotel Galvez – Bryan Guevin, 6-9On The Bayou – Open Mic, 9-1Splash Bar – DJ Mellemel Frausto, 9-1Wednesday, May 20th2- Steppin Saloon – Country Karaoke, 8-12The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11Crow’s Southwest Cantina - Open Mic Acoustic,

8-12Hotel Galvez – Joe Sewell, 6-10KRave Bar – Karaoke, 9-1On The Bayou – Soulfiya, 9-1Splash Bar – DJ Alex, 9-1Thursday, May 21st2- Steppin Saloon – Country DJ, 8-12B Jigger’s – The Line Up, 9-1Crow`s Southwest Cantina – Open Mic Jam, 9-1Hotel Galvez – Joe Sewell, 6-10KRave Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Old Quarter – Open Mic, 9-1On The Bayou – Karaoke, 8-12Friday, May 22nd2- Steppin Saloon – Live Music, 9-1Ashton Villa – Drew Kennedy, 6-10The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11B. Jiggers –Live Music, 9-1Club 21 – The Line Up, 9-1Crow’s – Live Music, 9-1Float – Ocean Roots, 10-2Hotel Galvez – Reg & Cary, 5-10Jimmy’s On The Pier - Djidala Djembe Drum

Circle, 10-1Longboards – Thermal Fusion, 7-11Nick’s Pool Bar – Salty Dog, 7-10Old Quarter – Leslie Krafka, 9-1Pleasure Pier – A Sure Thing, 6-10Riondo’s – Joyce Fields, 6-9Shearn’s Lounge – Steve Newsom, 7-11Stuttgarden – Andy & The Dreamcicles, 7-11Tortuga - Karaoke, 4-8Tremont House– Trio Du Jour, 6-10West End Restaurant – Anthony & Mike DJ

Congo, 7-11Yaga’s – Snafu, 10-1Saturday, May 23rd2- Steppin Saloon – Live Music, 9-1The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 6-9B. Jiggers – The Fuse, 9-1Club 21 – DJ, 9-1Crow’s – Live Music, 9-1Float – DJ Nonstopp, 9-1Texas Frog Festival, Crystal Beach – Stoney

LaRue, Cory Morrow, Jason Cassidy, Scooter Brown Band, Bri Bagwell, Josh Ward, Rick Trevino, Jody Booth, Jamie Talbert & The Band of Demons, and Katie Whitney and the Draw, starting at 10am

Galveston Brewery – Kevin Anthony, 7-10Hotel Galvez – Reg & Cary, 5-10Nick’s Pool Bar – Andy & The Dreamsicles, 7-10Old Quarter – Shake Russell, 9-1Pleasure Pier – Louis Adams Band, 6-10Poop Deck – Nite Wave, 9-1Saengerfest Park – Dem, 6-9Shearn’s Lounge – Steve Newsom, 7-11Stuttgarden – Cosmic Serenity, 7-11Tremont House – Trio Du Jour, 6-10West End Restaurant – Larry Emerson, 7-11Woody’s – The Drugstore Gypsies, 6-10Yaga’s – The Line Up, 10-1Sunday, May 24th2- Steppin Saloon – Tejano DJ, 8-12Albatross – Smith & Turner, 3-6B. Jigger’s – Karaoke, 8-12Crow’s Southwest Cantina – Hamilton Loomis, 9Texas Frog Festival, Crystal Beach – Whiskey

Myers, Bag of Donuts, Zane Williams, Fred Andrews and Honeybrowne, Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin Cajuns, Midnight River Choir, Markus Fox, Pete Scobell Band, Pat Ryan and Posse, 10am

Galveston Farmers Market, Robert Kuhn, 8amHotel Galvez – Joyce Fields, 11-2pmKRave Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Pleasure Pier – Cerebelus, 1-5Rosie’s – Tom Katz, 4-8

Rum Shack – Level One Band, 9-1Splash Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Stuttgarden – Jeremy Kilgore, 12-3pmWest End Restaurant – Larry Emerson, 7-11Woody’s – Matt Begley & Bitter Whiskey, 3-7Yaga’s – The Line Up, 10-1Monday, May 25thB. Jiggers – Video DJ, 8-12The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino,Crow’s Southwest Cantina – Karaoke, 8-12Galveston Brewery – Monday Night Guys, 5-8Pleasure Pier – Louis Adams Band, 12-4Splash Bar – Karaoke, 9-1 Tuesday, May 26thCrow’s Southwest Cantina – Country Karaoke,

8-12B Jiggers – Karaoke, 8-12Hotel Galvez – Bryan Guevin, 6-9On The Bayou – Open Mic, 9-1Splash Bar – DJ Mellemel Frausto, 9-1Wednesday, May 27th2- Steppin Saloon – Country Karaoke, 8-12The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11Crow’s Southwest Cantina - Open Mic Acoustic,

8-12Hotel Galvez – Joe Sewell, 6-10KRave Bar – Karaoke, 9-1On The Bayou – Soulfiya, 9-1Splash Bar – DJ Alex, 9-1Thursday, May 28th2- Steppin Saloon – Country DJ, 8-12B Jigger’s – The Line Up, 9-1Crow`s Southwest Cantina – Open Mic Jam, 9-1Hotel Galvez – Joe Sewell, 6-10KRave Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Old Quarter – Open Mic, 9-1Friday, May 29thThe Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 7-11B. Jiggers –Live Music, 9-1Club 21 – DJ, 9-1Crow’s – Live Music, 9-1Hotel Galvez – Reg & Cary, 5-10Jimmy’s On The Pier - Djidala Djembe Drum

Circle, 10-1Old Quarter – Matt Harlan & Grant Peeples, 9-1Nick’s Pool Bar – Jedi, 7-10Riondo’s – Joyce Fields, 6-9Rum Shack – Snafu, 9-1Shearn’s Lounge – Steve Newsom, 7-11Stuttgarden – Noise Poets, 7-11Tortuga - Karaoke, 4-8Tremont House– Trio Du Jour, 6-10West End Restaurant – Karaoke, 7-11Yaga’s – In Da Skies, 10-1Saturday, May 30th2- Steppin Saloon – Live Music, 9-1The Bar at the San Luis – Angelo Tolentino, 6-9B. Jiggers – 11th Hour, 9-1Club 21 – The Goods, 9-1Crow’s – Live Music, 9-1Float – The Tino Trevino Band, 9-1Hotel Galvez – Reg & Cary, 5-10Nick’s Pool Bar – Fred Rusk Band, 7-10Old Quarter – Lisa Morales, 9-1On The Bayou – Marty Monte Band, 7-10Pleasure Pier – Adrian Circle, 6-10Poop Deck – Nite Wave, 9-1Rum Shack – A Sure Thing, 8-12Shearn’s Lounge – Steve Newsom, 7-11Stuttgarden – Soulshine, 7-11Tremont House– Trio Du Jour, 6-10West End Restaurant – Larry Emerson, 7-11Woody’s – Pardo & Reed, 6-10Yaga’s – Live Music, 10-1Sunday, May 31st2- Steppin Saloon – Tejano DJ, 8-12Albatross – Roger Tienken, 3-6B. Jigger’s – Karaoke, 8-12Crow’s Southwest Cantina – Open Mic, 7-11Galveston Farmers Market, Pete Sullivan &

Johnny Galindo Jazz Duo, 8amHotel Galvez – Joyce Fields, 11-2pmKRave Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Rosie’s – Tom Katz, 4-8Rum Shack – Smith & Turner, 3-7Splash Bar – Karaoke, 9-1Stuttgarden – Jeremy Kilgore, 12-3pmWoody’s – The New Offenders, 6-10


2525 Jones Dr. In Front of Schli�erbahn409-741-8300 / 409-770-0300

Sunday - Thursday: 7:30am to 9pmFriday & Saturday: 7:30am to 10 pm

DELIVERY available to Galveston andJamaica Beach Residents and Businesses!

Legendary BurgersFresh Salads

Authentic GyrosGourmet Sandwiches

Hand-Dipped Ice Cream Shakes & Malts

Kids Eat FREE Friday Night(one free child per 1 paid adult purchase 4 to close)

Breakfast Bu�et Every Day7:30 to 10:30

Signature Fried Cat�shFried Shrimp

Chicken Fried SteakNathan’s

Famous HotdogsChildren’s Menu

See our Menu at www.thejungle.co(yes, it’s .co)

Loved by Yelp Readers!Recommended by Trip Advisor

Voted Galveston’s #1 American Food Restaurant

located at 202 20th st. on the corner of strand st. and 20th

daily happy hour & drink specialssports bar - football and cold beer!

409.443.5533

http://m.galveston.com




[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER2328 BROADWAY (BEHIND ASHTON VILLA)




See the new mobile websitehttp://m.galveston.com


409.797.5144



409.797.5144



409.797.5144



409.797.5144

Managed by Prestige Management ServicesMarketed by Prestige Properties Sales & Rentals, Galveston Island, Texas

(409)740-31117000 Seawall Blvd., Galveston

www.thedawnbeachcondos.com


East Beach

Beachtown Community

Broadway

Hwy.

168

Ferr

y Ro

ad

14th

19th

21th

21th

23rd

33rd

29th

Ave O

Ave P - Bernardo De Galvez Ave.

Ave S

Church

Strand

25th

61st 53

rd

39th

37th

Univ

ersi

ty

81st

Hope

Roa

d

Sydn

or

Term

inal

Bay

Shor

e Dr

.

57th

69th

Stewart Road

Airport Rd.

Dominique

Heards Lane

79th

81st

7 M

ile R

d

StewartRoad

N 1/2

Sydnor Bayou

LakeMadeline

SweetwaterLake

CampecheLake

ScholesInternational

Airport

OffattsBayou

3005

Intracoastal Canal

61st Fishing Pier

Harborside

99th

Moody GardensGolf Course

Cloud

Kempner Park

To The West End & Surfside Beach

Stewart Road

Stew

art

Road

DowntownGalveston(see map on back)

Seawall Blvd.

4 miles past Jamaica BeachStewart Beach Park

61st

Specs LiquorRandall’s

Krogers

Ferry Landing

Crockett Park

Calvary Cemetery Galveston College

Benno’s On the Beach

Saints Constantine& Helen

Orthodox Church

Mario’s SeawallItalian Restaurant

© Island Guide Magazine 2015

I-45 toHouston

Gaido’s

Galveston IslandVisitors Center at Ashton Villa

The PelicanClub

advertise here for $50 a month*

Send us a note at [email protected] call (409)256-5166 and mention “Map ad Special.”

GalvestonIslandGuide.com(12 month contract, paid monthly)

Store - 409-497-4148Restaurant - 409-497-4152Bait Shop - 409-632-0338

Marine Fuel • General Store • Bait & TackleOfficial CCA Weigh Station Free Boat Ramp

Boat Storage Over the Water

FridaysApril 3 - Zac Tate, live in The Sandbar

April 10, 17, 24 - Karaoke with Larry Emerson SATURDAYS

April 4 - Jerry Diaz Band, live in The SandbarApril 11 - Larry Emerson, live in The Sandbar

April 18 - Zac Tate, live in The SandbarApril 25 - Live Music in The Sandbar

Sea Isle Subdivision - 4 miles west of Jamaica Beach

MU

ISC

Managed by Prestige Management ServicesMarketed by Prestige Properties Sales & Rentals, Galveston Island, Texas

(409)740-31117000 Seawall Blvd., Galveston

www.thedawnbeachcondos.com

East Beach

Beachtown Community

Broadway

Hwy.

168

Ferr

y Ro

ad

14th

19th

21th

21th

23rd

33rd

29th

Ave O

Ave P - Bernardo De Galvez Ave.

Ave S

Church

Strand

25th

61st 53

rd

39th

37th

Univ

ersi

ty

81st

Hope

Roa

d

Sydn

or

Term

inal

Bay

Shor

e Dr

.

57th

69th

Stewart Road

Airport Rd.

Dominique

Heards Lane

79th

81st

7 M

ile R

d

StewartRoad

N 1/2

Sydnor Bayou

LakeMadeline

SweetwaterLake

CampecheLake

ScholesInternational

Airport

OffattsBayou

3005

Intracoastal Canal

61st Fishing Pier

Harborside

99th

Moody GardensGolf Course

Cloud

Kempner Park

To The West End & Surfside Beach

Stewart Road

Stew

art

Road

DowntownGalveston(see map on back)

Seawall Blvd.

4 miles past Jamaica BeachStewart Beach Park

61st

Specs LiquorRandall’s

Krogers

Ferry Landing

Crockett Park

Calvary Cemetery Galveston College

Benno’s On the Beach

Saints Constantine& Helen

Orthodox Church

Mario’s SeawallItalian Restaurant


I-45 toHouston

Gaido’s


The PelicanClub


Hom

e of

the

$ 699

per

lb.

Supe

r Col

ossa

l Shr

impVoted Galveston’s Best Mexican Food & Margarita 2012

Mexican Food 2013 By Galveston Daily News

Extended Summer Hours:

Mon-Thur 11am-9:30pm

Friday 11am-10:30pm

Saturday 8am-10:30pm

Sunday 8am-9:30pm

Come check out our

New Margaritas

Breakfast served

Saturday & Sunday

8-11am

Private Parking Lot

Dine In | To Go | Catering | Private Parties1401 Market St. @ the corner of Market St. and 14th

Phone: (409)762-6001Walking distance from the Strand

Open Sunday-Thursday 12-9Friday & Saturday 12-10

409.744.4237

6026 Seawall @ 61st St.2026 Lockheed Rd, Galveston

Open Daily

Strand St.

23rd

19th

PostOffice St.

Winnie

Ball

Church St.

Galveston RailroadMuseum

SaengerfestPark


24th

22nd

20th

Mechanic St.

“TheStrand”

“TheStrand”

Jack’sPub

GalvestonCruiseTerminals

The Strand &Downtown Area

GALVESTONPOST OFFICE

GALVESTONCITY HALL

I-45 toHoustonHarborside Dr.

EastBeachBroadway

Historic Arts and Entertainment District

Historic Arts and Entertainment District

InternationalFine ArtGallery

“Harborside”“Harborside”

Tall Ship Elissa Texas Seaport Museum

Harbor ToursPier 21 TheatreJet Boat Tours

21st

Patrick’sSports Bar2 Steppin’

Saloon

Market St.

Salvage Warehouse

CatzJewelry

25th



A Ship Watcher’s Paradise

SHIPS, DINING, INN, THEATER, ADVENTURESA full cargo of fun and entertainment for one and all.

21st and Harborside DrivePier 21 is part of Mitchell Properties

Visit www.mitchellhistoricproperties.com for more information.

Family owned and operated for over 20 years and

serving authentic homemade Mexican food, this best kept Island secret is a

favorite with the locals.Serving up one of the best Mexican breakfasts on the Island

and offering everything from burritos to migas, chorizo or if you prefer traditional eggs, bacon and potatoes there is something for everyone.

Lunch include enchiladas, combination plates, fajitas, tacos and steaks.

Open Monday-Saturday 6am-2pm413 24th St., Galveston - (409)763-9289

Celebrating everyday life and special events using old fashioned baking methods to provide outstanding

cupcakes for your family, friends and colleagues.

409-762-11112108 Church St. #101B, Galveston, TX 77550

“TheCupcakeCowgirlsGalveston”

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There’s a new cupcake in town!

Spring Has Sprung:a Great Time For Patio Reading By Gini Rainey

“Maude” By Donna Foley Mabry

Here’s another book that was hard for me to put down. Recommended to me by my cousin, “Maude” is a finely woven collection of the life stories told to Mabry by her grandmother. Begin-ning in 1906 and covering a time span of over 57 years, the book not only tells the story of Nola Maude Clayborn Con-nor Foley, but also that of a country that was changing and surviving industri-alization, women’s rights, world wars, depressions, and Viet Nam.

“Maude” has been enjoying a healthy run on the Wall Street Journal’s Best Sellers list for over 16 weeks (at publication) and it’s no surprise why. This detailed account is about an incredibly resilient woman whose life was marred by one after another tragedy over her lifetime. Maude was an amazingly strong, self-less woman for whom happiness was a fleeting, rare part of her life.

Not filled with syrupy remembrances of her grandmother, Mabry shares the good, bad and the ugly of a life full of sacrifices, hardships and pain. From the death of her parents at the age of eleven to the birthing bed to the loss of all but one of her children, the pain that Maude experienced would have been more than enough to harden the hearts of most people, but she survived and rose to the top over and over again.

“Maude” was absolutely absorbing and is the powerful story of a strong woman’s life - of her joys and her great sorrows. The historical influences on her life story are hugely significant and help to create a virtual time line that gives the reader significant historical mile mark-ers throughout the book for reference as to the time and place of each event in Maude’s life.

Although Mabry has a popular series of historical romances, I’m more than glad that she strayed from fiction to take the stories that her grandmother shared with her and gather them into a chronicle of a woman whose life was an endurance test of hardship after hardship, and yet still had a faith that carried her through each event. Because Mabry was a part of the story, she was able to personalize and retell it in a way that will allow the reader to experience her grandmother’s emo-tions in a very real way.

Bottom line - this is a beautifully written book about an extraordi-nary woman and how she conquered a life of hardship and adversity.Rating: 5 of 5Copyright 2014 – CreateSpace Independent Publishing “The Instant When Everything’s Perfect” By Jessica Barksdale Inclan

Jessica Barksdale Inclan is the author of twelve traditionally pub-lished novels as well many short stories, poems, and ebooks, and with this book, she defies tradition by giving us a book that could easily fall into more than one genré.

What does one call a book like this? Is it a contemporary romance? It’s a story of love, to be sure, but doesn’t follow the rules of the romance genré. Is it women’s fiction? Perhaps, yet there’s plenty of

meat here for men to enjoy as well, if they care to take a look at it. Is it literature? Probably not. The language isn’t quite rich enough, the themes are too transparent.

All I know is that it’s a pretty good book and in the end, isn’t that what really matters? With its deceptively simple story that keeps you thinking about it and its characters well after you’ve finished read-ing it, Inclan’s tale of a failing marriage, the tragedy of cancer, and a new love is one that’s been told before, but what makes this book so intriguing was Inclan’s ability to create full-bodied, flawed, vibrant, human characters that made this book worth reading, even though there were parts way too predictable or too easy.

If you’ve ever battled cancer, or been there for someone who has, you will find that the emotions Inclan’s characters display are spot on. The emotional roller coaster ride that they go through will make you feel you are right there with them, holding their hands through it all. If you’ve not had that experience, this book will help you to real-ize that no matter how perfect other people’s lives may look, you just never know what is happening behind the closed doors of their lives.

There are moments in life that seem flawless, and then there are those that, well, really aren’t. Taken for what they are or aren’t, with Inclan’s profound perspective of the reality of life, you will be able to see these moments through the eyes of her characters and realize that life is a gift to be cherished and honored.Rating: 4 of 5Copyright 2011 – Amazon Digital Services, Inc.“Hidden – A CSI Reilly Steel Thriller” By Casey Hill

Please forgive me, but I have become hooked on this series of books! I figure, if I’m reading and reviewing three books a month for you, my dear readers, I should be able to read what intrigues me part of the time.

That being said, if you haven’t picked up one of the Reilly Steel books yet, might I suggest you do? Oh, and be sure to start with the first one. I was afraid that Casey Hill (which just happens to be the pseudonym of husband and wife writing team, Kevin and Melissa Hill, who live in Dublin, Ireland) might fall into the trap of writing books by a standard formula after having read the first two in their series. These centered on serial killers with penchants for glomming on to literary influences and committing their crimes in weird and bizarre ways that relate to the literature. I was pleasantly surprised that the third in the series broke away from that tendency.

Beginning with the death of a young girl on an isolated Irish coun-try road that seems at first to be a simple hit and run, Reilly Steele’s amazing sixth sense tells her there is more to this incident than a straightforward murder. With her team of forensic experts gleaning evidence from the scene, and the mysterious angel wings tattoo on the girl’s back, the pieces should have begun to fall together. But, noth-ing is as simple as it appears when Team Hill begins to weave a tale of intrigue. With her forensic team and the two detectives from the first two books, Reilly begins to connect the dots between this accident and the cold cases of several missing children from the area.

Although this mystery doesn’t draw from the usual literary sources, it does explore the Irish myth of Tir na nÓg - a story of a sanctuary from the world, a place where music and beauty were celebrated and happiness last forever.

The crimes of the villain in this book will leave you with a very unsettled feeling of whether he is guilty or not. The grayness of what he does could open up a whole new avenue of discussion on what acts of some perpetrators are truly worthy of prosecution.

In true Casey Hill fashion, this is a very engaging, page turning book that will have you guessing right up to the very end.

Oh, and Hill gives a bit of a teaser as to the rekindling of the romantic interest between Reilly and investigator Chris Delaney – which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Just so you know, until I catch up to where they are, I’m going to

keep reading their books.Rating: 5 of 5Copyright 2013 – Simon & Schuster

EventsSaturday, May 23rd, 2-4pm“Ledbetter Street” by Susan P. Baker

Galveston Bookshop will host a book signing for BOI and former local judge Susan P. Baker with her new novel, “Ledbetter Street.” The novel takes place in Galveston, in and around a fictional downtown street, based loosely on the Postoffice St. area of the Historic Strand district. Marion Reid, who runs a pre-owned clothing boutique on Ledbetter, is in a struggle to regain custody of the autistic child she gave up for adoption many years before. As her son turns 40, his guardian can no longer serve, and Marion has the rare chance to have him placed with her where he belongs. The story follows Marion and her close circle of friends, the residents and quirky characters of Led-better Street. Susan P. Baker is the author of five novels, including “Death of a Prince,” and two nonfiction books, including “Murdered Judges.” She served as a district court judge in Galveston, from 1991 to the end of 2002.Saturday, May 30th, 3-5pm “Galveston’s Tree Carvings” by Joseph R. Pellerin(Arcadia Publishing, Images of Modern America Series, 2015)

Galveston Bookshop will host a book signing for Joseph R. Pel-lerin and his new book on the tree carvings that sprang up all over the island after Hurricane Ike. The storm surge of 2008’s hurricane left thousands of mature island trees poisoned by salt water. “Galves-ton’s Tree Carvings” tells the story of how many of the stumps were preserved and sculpted into art pieces as a kind of homage to the stately glory of the magnificent specimens that were lost. The book is full of color photographs of the sculptures and historical details of the properties on which they stand. Born in Galveston to 2nd generation BOI parents, Joseph R. Pellerin teaches history at San Jacinto College and operates the local sightseeing company, Historic Galveston Tours.

Galveston Bookshop is located at 317 23rd St., downtown Galveston, (409)750-8200, galvestonbookshop.com.Book Signings for “Angel Talk” by Cathy Catching2014, Balboa Press (a division of Hay House), Bloomington, IN• Saturday, May 30th from 6-9pm (during ArtWalk) at The

Emporium at Eibands, 2201 Postoffice St., downtown Galveston, (409)750-9536

•Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in May from 12 noon-5pm at Catz Jewelry, 2029 Strand #4 (entrance on 21st St. between Strand and Mechanic St.), downtown Galveston, (409)740-1565

“Angel Talk” is a fascinating true story about one woman’s aston-ishing interactions with heavenly beings and her extraordinary recov-ery from an incurable and debilitating disorder. In addition to her own miracle, the author also shares how several other family mem-bers have been divinely touched and experienced their own mysteri-ous healings. Learn how the author, in her personal quest for healing, awakened her sixth sense and discovered that she could actually hear her angels talking to her.

“Angel Talk” can be purchased at Catz Jewelry, 2029 Strand, or online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Balboa Press.

Cathy Catching also does angel readings and teaches others how angelic communication can provide emotional, physical and spiritual healing.

For more info go to www.cathycatching.com or www.facebook.com/ccatching.


Books


Things To Do ownership of the property until 1977.c. 1914 Raoul Dreyfus Tenant House - 3406 Avenue P

French immigrant Raoul Dreyfus built this Craftsman bungalow in 1914 to use as investment property for his firm, Dreyfus & Arnold Real Estate. Featuring “every modern convenience, handsome electri-cal fixtures and built in bookcases,” the company leased the house for $35 a month. Thomas Henry Nolan was the first owner to occupy the house. Born in Galveston in 1883, Nolan purchased the property in 1945 and lived there until his death in 1976.Restoration in Progress - 2123 Avenue K, built 1887

In 1887, John Burnett, president of the Gulf City Street Rail-way & Real Estate Company built four identical two-story houses south of Broadway, in the working class San Jacinto neighborhood. Galveston Historical Foundation purchased one of the two remaining houses in October 2014. Divided into four apartments by a previous owner, GHF is currently rehabilitating the structure as a single-family dwelling.

Homes on Tour EventsAll events include a complimentary 2015 Homes Tour Ticket

unless otherwise noted. Seats are limited at all special events.May 2nd – Cedar Lawn Preview

Enjoy three of Cedar Lawn’s finest at this special Homes Tour Happy Hour. Guests will be able to tour each home as well as enjoy selected wine and cheese pairings at each stop. Tickets are $50.May 8th – History on Tap Dinner at the 1856/1889 John H. and Minnie Knox Hutchings House

Experience outdoor dining under the gazebo of the Homes Tour cover house! Featuring a special tour of the property and a custom created dinner menu, guests will get a first-hand look at this sprawl-ing estate and Romanesque Revival inspired villa. Tickets are $150.May 9th – Stephen Fox Private Tour and Lecture at University of Texas Medical Branch’s “Old Red”

The history of UTMB’s famous Old Red, designed by Nicholas Clayton, comes alive with this special tour and talk. Led by noted architectural historian Stephen Fox, enjoy an exclusive tour of the building and a brief lecture. Tickets are $25 per person.May 10th – Homes Tour Happy Hour at the 1839 Samuel May Williams House

One of Galveston’s earliest homes is also the site of one of Homes Tour’s newest events! Enjoy self-guided tours of this rarely opened house. The spacious grounds will also host light appetizers and bev-erages to attendees. Tickets are $25 per person.May 10th – Mother’s Day Jazz Brunch at the 1880 Garten Verein

We celebrate mom with this updated Mother’s Day tradition. Enjoy a specially crafted brunch, door prizes, corsages and a few sur-prises in the beautiful 1880 Garten Verein. Live entertainment will be on hand courtesy of Houston’s “Jazz Forever” trio. Tickets are $50.

additional attractions & DiscountsSpecially priced, $15 tickets are available for members of Galves-

ton Historical Foundation. For more information, members can visit any of our retail locations or call (409)765-3405.

During the four days of the Homes Tour, all ticket holders (mem-bers and non-members) will be entitled to a $5 admission to the Bishop’s Palace, Historic Harbor Tour and Dolphin Watch aboard Seagull II and ELISSA at the Texas Seaport Museum.

For more information on Galveston Historical Foundation’s 41st Annual Galveston Homes Tour please call (409)765-3404 or visit www.galvestonhistory.org.

The Island’s Diverse architecture is HighlightedBy Gini Rainey

For the first two weekends each May, Galveston Historical Foun-dation opens the doors to Galveston’s architectural history through public tours of privately owned homes. The 41st annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour will be held May 2nd, 3rd, 9th and 10th, 2015.

Tickets are $20 for non-members before May 2nd and $25 after and are available at www.galvestonhistory.org, The Shop at The Pal-ace (1402 Broadway), Eighteen Seventy One (2217 Strand St.), and Architectural Salvage Warehouse (2228 Broadway).

“The annual GHF Historic Homes Tour is our way of welcoming guests into our historic homes and exchanging the stories of our past. Each year we feature houses that reflect our diverse architectural heri-tage but also relate the interesting stories of who lived here and made Galveston home,” says Dwayne Jones, Galveston Historical Founda-tion’s Executive Director. “The homes tour is a vital part of our com-munity and brings visitors from around the country who love our architecture.”

new in 2015For an event 41 years old, the annual tradition continues to rein-

vent itself with specially crafted events and features.With nine homes and great special events, it’s easy to find yourself

with more to do than you have time for. This year’s Early Bird ticket could be just what you need to make the most of your Homes Tour experience. These tickets, which come with a full tour ticket and are limited to 100 per day, are $50 each and allow you access to three tour homes from 8-10am. Get a head start on your Homes Tour trek!

Ready to wind down after a long day? Enjoy the more relax-ing settings of our Homes Tour Happy Hours each Saturday. Featur-ing the beautiful Cedar Lawn development on May 2nd and historic Samuel May Williams home on May 9th, enjoy light appetizers and beverages in these relaxed settings. Tickets are $50 for the first week-end and $30 for the second and spaces are limited.

Returning EventsHistory on Tap and The Mother’s Day Brunch

These yearly events have quickly become an annual “must have” for Homes Tour guests. For those looking for fine dining options, the History on Tap dinners give guests the opportunity to enjoy specially created meals in two tour homes starting with the 1909 Fordtran-Viotto House on Friday, May 1st and the 1856/1889 John H. and Min-nie Knox Hutching Home, the 2015 cover home, on Friday, May 9th.

Finally, the 1880 Garten Verein will host a special Mother’s Day brunch complete with corsages, live jazz trio and brunch on Sunday, May 10th. Seats are limited to all special events and advance registra-tion is required.

2015 Homes on Tourc. 1856/1889 John H. and Minnie Knox Hutchings House - 2816 Avenue O

In 1856, Texas merchant and planter, Robert Mills, built a brick two-story residence with double galleries for his niece Minnie Knox and her new husband John Henry Hutchings. After a hurricane dam-aged the house in 1885, John Hutchings hired Nicholas J. Clayton to remodel the mansion and construct a matching carriage house, resulting in a Romanesque Revival inspired villa.

c. 1874 Thomas Cordray Tenant House - 607 11th

Early Galves-ton pioneer and carpenter Thomas J. Cordray pur-chased two lots on the southwest corner of Church St. and 11th Street in 1856. Soon after, he built his own home on the corner, fronting Church Street, and in 1874, he built a two-story townhouse with Greek Revival elements behind the family’s residence to use as rental property. The property was later purchased by Thomas W. Dealey, sec-retary and treasurer of the Belo Company, publishers of the Galveston Daily News.c. 1875 George and Elizabeth Fox House - 1514 Mechanic

Native Galvestonian and master baker George Fox built this two-story townhouse for his family sometime between 1873 and 1875. George and his brother, Christopher, were proprietors of Fox’s Steam Bakery, established by their father in 1837. A successful merchant by the turn of the century, Fox relocated his family a few blocks south, to Ball Street, where he built a new house in 1903. After his death in 1914, his family continued to maintain ownership of the Mechanic Street townhouse until 1948.c. 1887 August Naschke Tenant Cottage - 1423 Church Street

German immigrant August Naschke, a boot and shoemaker, built this 1 ½ story Victorian cottage in 1887 to use as rental property. Later owned by his son, Paul Naschke, a prominent Galveston photogra-pher, the Naschke family utilized the cottage as a tenant house for 34 years. Roland Anderson, a Swedish sea captain who immigrated to Galveston in 1891, purchased the property in 1921. The Anderson family occupied the cottage for more than 50 years.c. 1899 Samuel J. and Odile Williams House - 1507 24th Street

In 1899, retail merchant, Sam Williams, built a one-story house for his new wife, Odile. During the first phase of the grade-raising fol-lowing the 1900 storm (1904-1910), the house was lifted and ground floor enclosed, resulting in a two-story home. After purchasing the property in 2006, the current owners reversed unsympathetic altera-tions that had obscured historic features of the house. In 2011, GHF recognized the rehabilitation of the property with a Sally Wallace Pres-ervation Award.c. 1909 Fordtran-Viotto House-3412 Ave. O

Built in 1909, Eugene Fordtran Jr., and his German immigrant wife, Agness Elizabeth, lived in this two-story Queen Anne house until 1914. Employed as an inspector for the Texas Cotton Seed Crushers Association, Fordtran was the grandson of Charles Fordtran, an early German settler that arrived in Texas in 1831. Thomas Viotto, owner of Viotto Brothers Produce, purchased the house in 1922. He and his heirs would occupy the property for the next 82 years.c. 1910 Spain-McKenzie House-1422 25th

In 1910, Russian immigrant and real estate developer Max “Mike” Spain built this transitional Victorian house with Classical Revival ele-ments for investment property. Ten years later Spain sold the house to steamship agent Kenneth McKenzie and his wife, who emigrated from Scotland to Galveston in 1886. The McKenzie family would maintain

Corvette World’s “1st annual Corvettes Cruisin’ Galveston:”a Fun Time ‘Vette Style

Mix all of the History of Galveston with 1000 beautiful Corvettes and their proud owners for an entire week-end and what do we have? You have the makings for one heck of a “Corvette Block Party!” Thousands of Corvettes are headed down I-45 to beautiful Galveston Island to host a wonderful festival - fun for owners and admirers alike!

This weekend will also be a huge fundraiser with all of the proceeds, after expenses, being donated directly to the affiliated clubs charities.

This fun weekend will include:Friday, May 29thOwners Registration Meet and Greet, Moody Gardens Hotel, 4-9pm

This will be the time where all people will go to Moody Gardens Hotel to the Ballroom to pick up credentials for the

Saturday show, pre-ordered T-shirts and wristbands for the Saturday night “Island Casual Awards Gala.” At the meet and greet there will be a DJ for entertainment, light hors d’oeuvres and cash bars. You can attend this by purchasing a ticket at www.corvettescruisingalveston.com.Saturday, May 30thAn Incredible Corvette Show in The Downtown Strand District, 9am-4pm

Come down to the Historical Galves-ton Strand Area where a 10-block area will host this incredible festival. The photo ops will be breathtaking as 1000’s of ‘vettes host this extravagant car show. There will be three DJ’s positioned in dif-ferent areas for entertainment as well as many vendors, food and more.

Also, during the show “The First Annual Strand Poker Run” will take place. Each business on the Strand will have cards available for people with show tick-ets. For every $20 spent in a store, res-taurant or bar on the Strand, that person will receive one poker card. At the “Island Casual Awards Gala” Saturday night, the winning hand will win $500 cash and the worst hand will receive $250.

Judging for over 70 prizes and awards will take place at 3pm.

The “Corvettes Cruisin’ Galveston, Island Casual Awards Gala” at The Galveston Island Convention Center, 7-12 midnight

Arrive in style then walk the red car-pet! This will be a great photo op as we will have the entry to this event set up complete with Red Carpet and the Event Logo back drop. The Gala event will be tons of fun, complete with heavy hors d’oeuvres, cash bars, live entertainment, dancing, and more.

There will be a 50/50 drawing (tick-ets will be on sale starting the day of the show), raffles, a silent auction, and door prizes. Sunday, May 31st

“The “Corvettes Cruisin’ Galveston, Seawall/Blue Water Highway Run” will start at Cherry Hill, Galveston’s East End, 9am-12 noon

The last day of the event will be a massive 80 mile round trip cruise along the Texas coastline from Galveston to the sleepy beach town of Surfside Beach.

To participate, the registration fee is $35/per car and be done at corvettescruis-ingalveston.com.

It is free to see the car show and attend the festival downtown on the Strand.

Galveston Ballet will Present “Cinderella:” a Grand Experience Saturday, May 23rd

Bring the family to this wonder-ful fairy tale ballet. Galveston Ballet’s majestic “Cinderella” ballet tells the story of a gentle “little cinder girl” who is forced to be a servant to her cruel step-mother and stepsisters. She is rescued by her Fairy Godmother, who sends her to the royal ball in a pumpkin that has been magically transformed into a coach. At the ball she meets the tall and handsome prince, who falls in love with her. Before the stroke of midnight, Cinderella flees the ball, leaving a tiny glass slip-per behind. Using the tiny shoe as his guide, the prince searches his kingdom for the beautiful stranger who fits the glass slipper.

The Galveston Ballet is honored to present this wonderful production that is perfect for all ages starting at 7pm. Tickets are $12 for adults and $9 for students.

Galveston Ballet is the official dance company of Galveston and a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our current programs include Classical Ballet Training, Grand 1894 Opera House Performances, Fine Arts Community Education, and Ballet Scholarships. Since 1986 Galveston Ballet has offered instruction in classi-cal ballet. Producing both mixed repertory ballet performances and full classical story ballets at the Grand 1894 Opera House, Galveston Ballet dancers also vol-unteer and perform at various other community events.

For more information on class schedules, performances or tickets, visit www.galvestonballet.org.


1708 Tremont (23rd) 409.939.1317www.vintagegalveston.com

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Vintage Fashion and Fun Return To Galveston Island:The 2015 Beach Revue Weekend Expands

Vintage fun meets the historic backdrop of Galveston’s Seawall Boulevard for the 7th annual Galveston Island Beach Revue, May 15th-16th. Pre-sented by Hotel Galvez & Spa® and held at Beach Central, 2102 Seawall, this year’s revue expands on its programming with a new dance contest and classic car and vintage trailer show, in addition to a full weekend of family friendly activities, headlined by the Bathing Beauties contest.

Admission is free both days of the festival and complete information is available online at www.galvestonbeachrevue.com.

“For two days in May, we can all take part in a celebration of Galveston’s original Golden Age,” states Will Wright, co-owner of Islander By Choice, LLC. “Held near its original location next to the Hotel Galvez, this year’s Beach Revue offers plenty of vintage and family-friendly fun in the sun.”

Continuing a partnership started in 2012, Islander By Choice, LLC has selected Galveston’s Family Service Center as their charitable partner. Their counseling and educational programs serve residents of all ages and incomes and offer a sliding fee scale to make services available and accessible to all persons.

new In 2015Friday, May 15th - Kickoff Party and Bands and Bombshells Concert

With music by rockabilly favorites The John Evans Band, you can take to the dance floor under the Seawall stars for your chance to win top honors. Held from 6-10pm, come out and enjoy live music, craft beers from Southern Star Brewing Company and a special introduction of the 2015 Bathing Beauty contestants.

Be sure to dust off those dance shoes and get your best moves worked out for the new “Dancing with the Schwenk” dance contest held during that evening.

Love the lindy? Take charge of the charleston? Rock the rockabilly dance? Only the best of the best gets to take home the coveted awards in this year’s “Dancing with the Schwenk” contest. Held during the Bands and Bombshells concert, expert judges will be looking for your best moves during a special three-song set.

There’s no fee to enter, and if you don’t know the moves (or just want a refresher) dance coaches will be on hand early in the evening for some free dance lessons on the new Beach Revue dance floor.

Family fun for all!Saturday, May 16th - The Tom Schwenk, Realtor Hot Rod + Classic Car and Vintage Trailer Show

Hot rods, rat rods, vintage trailers and more are lining up to take part in the Beach Revue’s new-est addition. “The Tom Schwenk, Realtor Hot Rod + Classic Car and Vintage Trailer Show” will make its debut from 12 noon-4pm. Registration is $15 if submitted by May 8th or $20 after, and the first 50 registrants will receive a limited edition Galveston Island Beach Revue dash plaque. Registrations are limited to cars from 1969 or older.

Awards will be given in a variety of classes, including: Best in Show (top 3), Best Paint, Far-thest Distance Traveled, Best Club Participation, Tom’s Choice Award, Best Interior and Best Vintage Trailer. Viewing of the cars and trailers is free to the public.

Returning Classic EventsThis year’s event once again features a fantastic

selection of vintage vendors, food and live music. Be sure to make plans to take part in these special events:Saturday, May 16thFamily Service Center’s “Retro-Active” Games, 12:30pm

Looking for activities for your children? Fam-ily Service Center will be on site during the Beach Revue, hosting a variety of family friendly games and programming beginning at 12:30pm. Fami-lies will have a chance to walk around with their kids, learn about services to keep their kids safe, busy, and happy all summer long, and then sit back and relax for the main show – the Bathing Beau-ties contest!

Southern Star Brewing Company Beer Tastings, 1-3pm

Classic fun deserves a classic ale, and Houston’s Southern Star Brewing Com-pany returns for a series of special beer tastings to be held on Saturday, 1-3pm. Conducted by represen-tatives of Southern Star Brewing Company, enjoy tastings of some of their popular beers, including Bombshell Blonde.

Admission is $10 and tickets are available in advance online or day of at the merchandise booth.Charcoal Championship Cookoff, 1pm

Calling all Charcoal Grillmasters! Last year’s favorite “Charcoal Championship” cook-off returns. Limited to the first 20 registered teams, cooks are challenged to cook whatever they think will get the judges’ attention, as long as it’s cooked over a char-coal fire.

Registrations are available for $50 per team and available online.

The culinary fun doesn’t stop with the cook teams, as 100 people will have the opportunity to taste the entries for themselves with a specially pur-chased wristband. Available online, or at the mer-chandise booth the day of the event, the $10 wrist-band will allow individuals to eat and vote for their favorite dish.Bathing Beauties Contest, 5pm

Always the crowd favorite, the weekend’s main event is the Bathing Beauties Contest. Retro swim-wear is chic and vintage is king as 40 contestants from across the country catwalk across Galves-ton’s historic Seawall, modeling vintage and vintage inspired swimwear and accessories that echo the “good ole days” of Galveston’s summertime history.

Cheer on your favorite as this year’s contestants vie for cash prizes and top honors.Tickets and More Info

Admission is free to all events except where noted. The Galveston Island Beach Revue is held at Beach Central, 2102 Seawall Blvd., next door to Hotel Galvez on the Seawall. Come down and spend a weekend next to the historic Seawall Boulevard.

Pop-up tents are not allowed nor are pets, out-side beverages or coolers, but blankets and chairs are encouraged.

Tickets, commemorative posters, t-shirts and more are available at www.galvestonbeachrevue.com.About The Galveston Island Beach Revue

Dubbed the “Pageant of Pulchritude” by C.E. Barfield, Galveston’s Bathing Beauties Contest began in the summer of 1920 and marked the kick-off for tourist season each year. By 1928, the event, which had morphed into the “bathing girl revue,” had become so popular, the Island’s population was said to have tripled during the event weekend.

These Island pageants were the beginning of what we know today as the Miss Universe Pageant. The famed Galveston Bathing Beauties pageants ended in 1932 due in part to the Great Depres-sion and were resurrected in 2009 by Islander By Choice, LLC.

Islander By Choice is owned by Adrienne and Michael Culpepper, Shannon Guillot-Wright and Will Wright. Visit www.ibcgalveston.com for more information.About Hotel Galvez & Spa®

Hotel Galvez & Spa®, A Wyndham Grand® Hotel and National Trust Historic Hotel of Amer-ica, is the only historic beachfront hotel on the Texas Gulf Coast. This 224-room, century-old hotel offers 13,000 square feet of meeting space, a 9,763-square-foot spa, fitness center, full-service restaurant, lobby bar, pool with a swim-up bar and Hall of History. The hotel is rated four diamonds by AAA and is owned by the Cynthia and George Mitchell family as part of Mitchell Historic Prop-erties. For reservations, call (800)WYNDHAM, or visit www.WyndhamHotelGalvez.com.

For more information on the Seventh Annual Galveston Island Beach Revue presented by Hotel Galvez & Spa®, please contact (409)770-7360 or visit www.galvestonbeachrevue.com.


Island Boating Boasts new CenterpieceBy Rob Lucey

“There are very few lifetime sports – golf, maybe tennis, and sailing,” asserts Captain Mike Janota, director of the Galveston Community Sail-ing Center. “This is a multi-generational sport. We have a family with a grandfather, father and infant son all on a boat.”

That vessel is one of dozens available for use at Sea Scout Base Galveston and the Community Sailing Center is just one of several major initia-tives operating out of the new multi-million dollar, 60,000-square-foot facility that has emerged upon the shores of Offatts Bayou at 7509 Broadway Blvd.

With its modern five-story metal facade, swooping awning over the driveway and prominent rainwater collection tanks, it has become an instant landmark for motorists. But the facility is also poised to become a new focal point for boating activity in Galveston and beyond.

While the sign on the building says Sea Scout Base Galveston, the Boy Scouts are just one of several patrons using the facility and the impressive fleet of ves-sels tied to the floating docks behind it. There are also high school sailing teams, an Adaptive Sailing Program for disabled veterans and other people with disabilities, US Sailing courses for the gen-eral public, team-building programs, and BaySmart – an education initiative teach-ing STEM (science, technol-ogy, engineering and math) skills through boat-based lessons. Plus, the facilities are available for hosting meet-ings and special events.

It all began in 2002 when the son of Charles and Rosemary Doolin joined a Sea Scout ship (the nau-tical equivalent of a Boy Scout troop) near their Dallas home. The Doolins soon became immersed in all things maritime, with Charles Doolin earning a U.S. Coast Guard master’s license. Capt. Doolin (heir to the founder of the Frito Company) began acquir-ing boats for use by the Sea Scouts, including an 82-foot former Coast Guard cutter, the Point Glass in Galveston.

The Doolins next pur-chased 10 acres of land on the Bayou where they could build a dock for the boats, and in 2010 the scout pro-gram launched with par-ticipants pitching tents and sleeping on cots in a house. “We had to take a boat across the bayou to pick up meals at Moody Gardens,” recalled Eric Steele, BSA Program Development and Properties Director. “We drove everyone to Galveston Yacht Basin for show-ers and took them to the Texas A&M Galveston campus for diving lessons in the pool.”

The Doolins’ vision for the site expanded over time, along with their boat collection. The result is a sustainably built, award-winning edifice (the Hous-ton Business Journal recognized the base with its 2015 Landmark Award and the building is up for LEED certification through the U.S. Green Build-ing Council). “Now we have everything right here,” Steele said.

‘Everything’ includes a resort style pool, numer-ous dorm-style rooms, plenty of showers, class-room areas, outdoor pavilion, amphitheater, palapa, beach volleyball court, green roof, restored wet-land areas, administrative offices, and a dining hall accommodating up to 260. There are even handi-cap accessible shuttles to pick up visitors at the air-port thanks to a grant from the Moody Foundation.

When scouts and other patrons are ready to take to the water, there are now plenty of options including fleets of Sonar 23s, 13-foot Flying

Juniors, Laser Picos, and a pair of 30-foot Pear-son Flyers for match racing. Also, on the docks are a Hunter Passage 42, a Swede 41, a Colgate 26, a Compac 21, a Freedom 40, and three schooners, including Tom Foolery, a classic 1880’s style vessel.

Beyond the sailing fleet, there are an assortment of kayaks for paddling excursions, a couple of rigid inflatable motor boats for instructors and race offi-cials to use as chase boats, and one massive 111-foot research vessel. The “BaySmart Express” is a former crew and supply vessel. After a recent refit, the $8 million boat now serves as a floating three-level classroom able to take students out on multi-day excursions into the Gulf.

The BaySmart initiative will include STEM to Stern field trips taking up to 84 elementary through high school students out on the ship for four-hour learning excursions. There is also a Nova pro-gram to encourage scouts to explore STEM-related careers and REACH, a US Sailing certified STEM

program.While the BaySmart pro-

grams are primarily aimed at regional students, the Sea Scout program has already lured participants from as far away as Alaska with more than 45 crews scheduled to participate in week-long camps this summer.

Capt. Janota’s Commu-nity Sailing program is also off to a strong start. Anybody, regardless of experience, can purchase individual or family memberships with discounts available for service hours, which might include clean-ing boats, keeping records at regattas, serving as a lifeguard at the pool, or building new floating docks.

Once members are certi-fied with classes and/or expe-rience, they can take boats out onto the bayou during the week, join in organized Wednesday night races, sail out onto the Bay on Satur-days, and enjoy trips on the schooners on Sundays. Mem-bers can also use facilities including the pool.

Non-members are also invited to participate in the races for a $50 fee.

Janota says the base is perfect for hosting major regional and national sail-ing events. “Our weather’s good to sail 12 months out of the year,” he said. “And the cool thing about our building is that it’s a one-stop shop. People can sleep here and eat here. We have activities for them to do during their down time. And we can pick them up at the airport in our bus.”

The base has already hosted several big events including the 2014 U.S. Dis-abled Sailing Championship the first month it opened. Joining in that race was a

crew of disabled veterans who had just finished a program at the center. “After that week, these guys were so good they were invited to compete in the national championship,” Janota said. “Some of these guys had two purple hearts. They didn’t win, but they did a heck of a job.”

During the adaptive sailing sessions, partici-pants are teamed up with students from the UTMB physical therapy program and learn how to sail using hoists to get on and off specially rigged boats. “We like to think it’s going to become the finest adaptive sailing program in the country,” Janota boasts.

He’s also looking forward to growing the high school and after school programs, although he isn’t aiming to train hard core racers. “I used to run a high intensity program, but what I discovered was you got an elite one percent who excel and the others drop out after a while,” he noted. “I looked at programs that were growing, and they offered what’s called adventure sailing. This is a different generation. I just want these kids messing around in boats. If they want to race fine. If they want to play in a boat or hang out at the pool, fine.” The pro-grams are all designed to give everyone, regardless of experience, a chance to get out on the water.

Texas Crab Festival:Gulf Coast Style, Music, art and Crabs May 8th-10th

The annual Texas Crab Festival returns for its 30th year to Crystal Beach featuring more Gulf Coast style, music, art and more crabs than you can shake a claw at! And this is one you do not want to miss. The Texas Crab Festival was named “One of

the Best Fes-tivals to Dive Into” by “USA Today.”

The Fes-tival will host a full week-end of family entertainment, featuring great music from a lineup of Gulf Coast favorites, carnival rides, crab races, and a crab arcade. Join in the fun

of the famous crab legs contest, take part in the 5K/1K Fun Run, or show off your talents in the two-step dance contest. Cheer on your favorites at the wiener dog races, or test your mettle in the washers tournament. You also won’t want to miss the arts and crafts area featuring locally-produced fine art, clothing, and crafts with a coastal twist.

And don’t forget the food. The Crab Fest will feature crab gumbo cook-off, plus numerous booths

featuring fresh locally-created seafood dishes, as well as traditional festival favorites.

Recently featured on both The Food Network and The Cooking Channel, the Texas Crab Festival is a fun, family-friendly event that should be your new kickoff to summer.

The music line up is:Friday, May 8th4:30-6pm Kaylee Rutland9-11:30pm Wayne ToupsSaturday, May 9th11am-12:45pm Three Way Switch6:15-8:30pm George and Friends 9-11pm Chee WeezSunday, May 10th11:30am-12:45pm House of Disciples Band1:30-3pm Leti Y El Conjunto4-6pm Jerry Diaz & Hanna’s Reef

Festival hours are Friday 12 noon-12 midnight; Saturday 10am-12 midnight; and Sunday 10am-6pm. Admission is $10 Friday and Saturday, and free on Sunday. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free both days when accompanied by an adult.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.texas-crabfestival.org or at the gate. Early-bird discounted tickets are available online prior to May 8th.

Proceeds from the Texas Crab Festival help support educational scholarships, job training pro-grams, and other charitable projects that benefit res-idents of the Bolivar Peninsula.

The festival is held at Gregory Park, 2292 State Hwy 87, Crystal Beach, (281)923-1440 or [email protected] or log on at www.texas-crabfestival.org.

“Spongebob Subpants” adventure at Moody Gardens lets Guests Choose Their Own Submarine adventure Beginning This Memorial Day

Moody Gardens guests can visit iconic destina-tions and meet their favorite underwater characters from Nickelodeon’s global phenomenon “Sponge-Bob SquarePants” when the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure debuts in the Discovery Pyramid this Memorial Day weekend.

The “SpongeBob SubPants Adventure” will take guests through all the stages of a submarine voyage, complete with live animals and their captain, Pat-rick Star, who takes them on a wild and silly deep-sea adventure where they help choose their path through the experience.

The doors open to a pier-themed pre-show area filled with hands-on activities and tanks full of remarkable sea life. Guests will be transported back in time through L’Oceanauts Submarine Explora-tions’ vintage “mission briefing” film that explores the beauty of coral reefs and highlights the different animals within the tanks surrounding them. The audience will encounter real sea stars, jellyfish, sea sponges and squids while also learning about the

importance of sea-life conservation.Once the briefing is completed, the doors will

open for guests to step aboard “Le Plunger” subma-rine and take their 3D glasses and their seat before departs from the dock for open water. The SUB then descends to a familiar underwater town as “Sponge-Bob SquarePants” and your tour guide, Patrick Star, appear through the front window of the SUB.

Guests will be part of the experience as they have improvised, real-time interaction with Patrick while he takes them to destinations of their choos-ing through Bikini Bottom. They can have their for-tune read by Patrick in Goo Lagoon, try the jellyfish dating call in Jellyfish Fields or learn a special dance from Sandy Cheeks. Guests will also try to stop Plankton from taking over the SUB in his evil plan to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula.

The nautical adventure comes to life as guests are able to smell the sunscreen, pop bubbles above their heads and hit around a beach ball when the 3D images on the screen transform from digital to real time through exciting 4D sensory elements and live narration. The “SpongeBob SubPants Adven-ture” is a non-stop whirlwind of surprises that is fun for the whole family only at Moody Gardens.

For more information, call (800)582-4673 or visit www.moodygardens.org.

Moody Gardens® is a public, non-profit, edu-cational destination utilizing nature in the advance-ment of rehabilitation, conservation, recreation, and research.

Every Sunday - Galveston’s Own Farmer’s Market brings locally grown produce, prepared foods, and edible farm products every Sunday morning, 9am-1pm. The market offers a huge variety and every Sunday, there is something new to choose from including, but certainly not limited to, tomatoes, kumquats, grapefruits, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, kale, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, carrots, fennel, chard, salad mixes, spicy greens, leeks, sweet potatoes, herbs, onions, sprouts, radishes, potatoes, and more. Also, Heart of Texas Olive Oil, Kenz Henz pastured eggs, Law Ranch Cattle Co., Proverbs Farm goat cheese, and Pure Beeing raw honey are offered. There is live music every Sunday plus hula hooping for the kids and lots of fun games. Galveston’s Own Farmer’s Market is located at 2508 Postoffice St., Galveston.Saturday, May 2nd - 34th Annual Satori BBQ & Silent Auction will be held 3-7pm at the historic Garten Verein and Kemper Park, 2704 Ave. O, Galveston. Tickets include a BBQ dinner with all the trimmings, beer and wine, dessert, entertain-ment by Ocean Roots, kids activities, admission to the silent auction and entry in a raffle drawing. For more info or tickets in advance call (409)763-7022 or go to www.SatoriSchool.net.Thursday, May 7th - SCI Café: “Pesticides & Impacts on Human Cognition” will be held starting at 5:30pm. UTMB’s Center in Environmental

Toxicology, the Institute for Translational Sciences and the Sealy Center for Environmental Health & Medicine invite you to participate in a conversation about Pesticides & Impacts on Human Cognition at Mod Coffeehouse in downtown Galveston, 2126 Postoffice St. This conversation features UTMB scientist: Fernanda Laezza, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Toxi-cology. SCI Café is a community dialogue about science, health and possibilities among community members, researchers and scientists. For more information contact (409)772-9110.Friday, May 15th - Bishop’s Palace Tour and Ring Jug Lecture - A piece from the collections of Galveston Historical Foundation will be on display during a special Bishop’s Palace tour. The piece, known as a Ring Jug, once belonged to the Gresham family, the original owners of the 1892 home. “Over the years, the ring jug inspired a lot of stories and misinformation about what it is and from where it came,” explains Renee Tallent, GHF Museums Collections Manager. “It’s been called many different names while on exhibit at Bishop’s Palace, but we’ll finally be setting the record straight about its history and where the Gresham’s might have acquired it.” Tour participants will be able to enjoy an up-close and personal look at the piece. Guests will also enjoy a 1-hour tour of the Palace, located at 1402 Broadway in Galveston. Tickets are $15. Tickets are available at galvestonhistory.org.

2015 Galveston Reads:“Freeman,” by Pulitzer Winning Columnist leonard Pitts

Galveston Reads, a volunteer driven “One City, One Book” organization, challenges the pub-lic to read, discuss, and participate in the programs planned for this year’s selection, “Freeman,” by Pulit-zer winning columnist Leonard Pitts.

“Freeman” begins in the chaotic time after the end of the United States Civil War and shows a new perspective on this important time in our nation’s history. The novel explores a time when black slaves were grappling with the promise and fear of their newly found status as free men and women.

Pitt’s novel begins a few months after President Lincoln has died from an assassin’s bul-let. Wheels are already set in motion by Sam Freeman, a Philadelphian who has taken to the road on a southerly course, vowing to return to the brutal Missis-sippi plantation that he escaped from 15 years

earlier. Though Sam and Tilda were never married since slaves were legally prevented from getting mar-ried, Sam is married to Tilda in his heart.

Sam Freeman is set on a collision course; his ulti-mate goal is to reunite with his wife Tilda, whom he left behind. Unfortunately, as Sam is heading south, Tilda is traveling west under armed guard, under-going brutal treatment at the hands of a man who refuses to see himself as anything other than “her master.” He has a scheme - to attempt to move what remains of his plantation stock to Arkansas, a terri-tory that exists in a legal gray area that might uphold his right to own slaves.

The third main character, Prudence, is a white woman who leaves her privileged life in Boston for Buford, Mississippi with the intent to start a school for the newly freed people, thereby honoring her abolitionist father’s dying wish.

All three characters face horrific challenges and each reaches their own shocking breaking point. All three characters are raised from despair by the power of love and purpose. “Freeman” is a beautiful story of redemption, compassion, and love.

Leonard Pitts has meticulously researched this era in American history and has crafted a gripping yet fascinating historical fiction novel full of tragedy and triumph. “Freeman” has been critically acclaimed around the world.

To promote the book, Galveston Reads will offer copies of the book free to the public. Stop by the library to claim a copy and please share your copy with other eager readers. If you would like multiple copies for your book group, please contact the refer-ences services department at (409)763-8854 ext. 115 for assistance. Supplies are limited.

Rosenberg Library also has “Freeman,” available in electronic format. Copies of the movie, “Slavery by Another Name,” are available for checkout from Rosenberg Library as well.

Now in its 12th year, the Galveston Reads series promotes community involvement in Galveston County with a wide range of events, activities and thoughtful discussions.

Please contact (409)763-8854 for more info.

Program Schedule:The following programs, all free and open to the

public, have been arranged to engage readers with the book:

Tuesday, May 5th, 7pmProfessor Panel at Galveston College, Siebel Center

Our popular Professors’ Panel will feature six area teachers: Dr. John Gorman, Mr. Michael Berb-erich, Dr. Dale Taylor, Dr. Carol Bunch-Davis, Dr. Jason Glenn, and Dr. Stephen Curley.

They will offer their insights on “Freeman.” This program provides a great overview and reading guide to the book.

Tuesday, May 12th, 7pmMovie Screening of “Slavery by Another Name” at Galveston College, Siebel Center

This documentary film, “Slavery by Another Name,” is based on the 2009 Pulitzer prize win-ning book of the same name by Douglas Blackmon. Blackmon’s research spanned eight decades, from

1865 to 1945, exploring the forces in the North and the South that enabled the forced labor of African Americans to persist even after Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation of Emancipation in 1863. The film includes archival photographs, dramatic reenact-ments, and interviews of leading scholars of this period.

Saturday, May 30th, 6-8pmOpening reception for Rosenberg Library Exhibit at Rosenberg Library, Harris Gallery (4th floor) for ArtWalk

“Voices from the Past” is a Rosenberg Library event celebrating the 150th anniversary of June-teenth. The exhibit will feature enlargements of approximately 40 historic photos from the library’s archival collection related to Galveston’s African American community. Included in the exhibit will be images of African American schools, churches, businesses, and community members.

As a special feature, visitors will be able to access audio and video clips from recorded inter-views using their cell phones. Viewers will be able to listen to the personal stories of local residents related to the images on display.

Thursday, June 4th, 7pmGalveston Heritage Chorale Performance at The Grand Opera House, 2020 Postoffice St., downtown Galveston

Galveston’s Heritage Chorale will perform spiri-tuals and other African-American traditional music. Featured soloists performing with the Chorale will be Jerryl Payne, Barbara J. Tucker, Jacqueline Chambers, Joan Hubert, Gary Navy, Aaron Patter-son, and Lawrence Thomas. This is an opportunity for the entire family to enjoy a unique professional musical experience.

Friday, June 12th, 2:30pmEnsemble Theatre’s “Br’er Rabbit” at Rosenberg Library, Wortham Auditorium

The Ensemble Theatre of Houston was founded in 1976 with a mission to preserve African Ameri-can artistic expression and to enlighten, entertain and enrich a diverse community. The troupe will perform “Br’er Rabbit” from the tales of Joel Chan-dler Harris’ Uncle Remus stories which were based in African oral folk tradition. There will be a talk-back with the actors following the performance.

This event is geared toward families and is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn more about African American history in a dynamic format.

Wednesday, June 17th, 7pmAuthor visit by Leonard Pitts at Galveston College, Siebel Center

Galveston Reads is deeply honored to announce that Leonard Pitts, Jr., the author of this year’s selected book, “Freeman,” will speak to our com-munity about his work.

Mr. Pitts is a columnist for the “Miami Her-ald” and won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2004, in addition to many other awards. Mr. Pitts has worked as a columnist, a college professor, a lecturer, and a radio producer but identifies himself most basically as “a writer.”

Join us for what promises to be an engaging and inspiring presentation.

Book DiscussionsIn addition to the programs detailed above,

Galveston Reads will sponsor a number of book dis-cussions that are open to the public. Stop by and join the conversation at any of these discussions:Wednesday, April 29th, 7pmTexas A&M University-Galveston, Building 3007, Room 103

Wednesday, May 6th, 10amRosenberg Library, McCullough Room (2nd floor)

Wednesday, May 13th, 7pmUnitarian Universalist Fellowship, 502 Church St.

Wednesday, June 3rd, 12pmRosenberg Library, McCullough Room (2nd floor)

Saturday, June 13th, 10amMoody Methodist Church, Robbie Farmer Library, 2803 53rd St.

Thanks to Kempner Fund, Friends of the Rosenberg Library, Juneteenth Committee and Rosenberg Library for their generous support.


Think this is awesome? You should see our website!

GalvestonIslandGuide.com


Cathy Catching Angel Intuitive & Author

of “Angel Talk”

Angel Readings held at Catz Jewelry on 21st St between

Strand & Mechanic

For an appointment, call 409/789-7881 or

e-mail [email protected]

www.cathycatching.com

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Cathy Catching Angel Intuitive & Author

of “Angel Talk”

Angel Readings held at Catz Jewelry on 21st St between

Strand & Mechanic

For an appointment, call 409/789-7881 or

e-mail [email protected]


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Angel Readings held at Catz Jewerly

on 21st St. bewtweenStrand & Mechanic

For an appointment, call 409/789-7881or e-mail [email protected]


Featured this MonthSaturdays, May 2nd & 9th, June 20th, July 18th, August 15th - Bishop’s Palace Basement to Attic Tour, held monthly at 11am-12:30pm, this exclu-sive Basement to Attic tour of the 1892 Bishop’s Palace offers you a rare look to areas of the home normally off limits. Tickets are $30 and available at www.galvestonhistory.org, (409)497-2746. Please check in at on the day of the event for admission at the Palace. Tour lasts up to 2 hours and participants must be able to negotiate stairs. Wear comfortable shoes and please arrive 15 minutes before tour time starts.Saturday, May 16th - Marine Biology Tour - The Marine Biology Tour provides participants with a hands-on opportunity to observe dolphins and other species in their natural habitat, trawl for and handle marine organisms, study plankton through microscopic lens, and explore Galveston Bay’s rich history. Led by marine biologist Dr. Sid Steffens, the tour lasts one and a half hours. Tickets are $15 for adults, youth are $13. RSVP required. This is a great way for adults and children alike to see Galveston Harbor up close aboard “Seagull II,” Texas Seaport Museum’s 50-foot twin-engine motor vessel. Tickets are available at www.galvestonhistory.org and at “Eighteen-Seventy-One,” 2217 Strand St., down-town Galveston, (409)497-2746.Galveston Booze Cruise - Do you want to safely bar hop across Galveston? Let Galveston Historic Tour be your designated driver. The cruise is every Friday and Saturday in May and includes local downtown and Seawall bars. The cost of the shuttle is $15 per person, and drinks are not included. The cruise is 6-11pm, and departs from and ends at Drunken Monkeyz at Strand and 20th Street. Tickets may be purchased there. Space is limited so grab your tickets early. For more info call (409)789-9911 or go to www.galvestonhistorictour.com.

DailyArtist Boat conducts daily tours of all different kinds, skill levels and ages. They offer a variety of kayaking adventures including East End Lagoon, Christmas Bay, Coastal Heritage Preserve (just $10 per person), Drum Bay, Quickstart Your Kayak, East End Sunset Lagoon, Galveston State Park Reserve Tour, Armand Bayou, and Deer Island. Visit www.artistboat.org to see details and pricing.Baywatch Dolphin Tours - Owned and operated by Galveston local Captain Michael Caldwell, Baywatch Dolphin Tours is a fun, friendly and informative romp through the waters of Galveston Harbor. The Dolphin Tour lasts just under an hour and the boat leaves every hour on the hour daily, from 10am to 5pm. Adults are $10, children are $5, infants and pets ride free. For more info, www.baywatchdolphintours.com, (832)859-4557.Bishop’s Palace offers tours daily. The Bishop’s Palace is one of the best known and most widely recognized historic attractions in the country. The building is owned by the Galveston-Houston Cath-olic Archdiocese, and is managed as a museum by Galveston Historical Foundation. Bishop’s Palace is located at 402 Broadway. Call (409)765-7834 or go online at www.galvestonhistory.org for tickets.Dolphin Watch Harbor Tours - Tours take place daily at 11:30am, 1pm, 2:30pm and 4pm. This is a great way to see Galveston Harbor up close aboard “Seagull II,” Texas Seaport Museum’s 50-foot twin-engine motor vessel. Tours depart from Harborside Dr. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students age 6-18, and free for children five

and under. Purchase tickets at the Texas Seaport Museum Gift Shop at Pier 22, next to Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant on Harborside Drive. Also, tickets are available at www.galvestonhistory.org and at “Eighteen-Seventy-One,” 2217 Strand St., downtown Galveston, (409)497-2746.Galveston Island State Park - The Galveston Island State Park is a great place for kayaking, birding and nature exploration, offering visitors access to the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Bay. Witness herons and pelicans flying overhead, travel back in time to when the Karankawas made Galveston Island their winter home and discover how restoration scientists have restored wetlands and fisheries. For more info go to www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/galveston-island.Galveston Party Boats - Galveston Party Boats is Galveston’s premier fishing-charter company that pioneered the use of the catamaran fishing vessel in Galveston waters. Aboard these vessels, sport fishermen will enjoy the use of the latest in tech-nology and equipment for securing some of the Gulf’s most prized catches. For more information, www.galvestonpartyboatsinc.com, (409)763-5423.Galveston Railroad Museum - Towering at the head of The Strand, the Galveston Railroad Museum boasts one of the largest restored railroad collections in the southwest, and one of the five largest in the country, with more than 20,000 railroad items, including more than 40 engines and cars. For more info call (409)765-5700 or go to www.galvestonrrmuseum.com.Ghost Tours of Galveston - Join a haunted ghost tour like no other. Galveston’s oldest and longest-running ghost tour is owned and operated by Dash Beardsley, the known authority on Galveston and its hauntings. Tours are conducted nightly at 7:30pm Monday-Saturday and at 6pm on Sundays by various guides. The “Original Ghost Tour on the Strand” will be led by Dash Beardsley himself on May 16th. This year-round walking tour takes guests through one of the busiest areas in Galveston - The Strand. You must book your tours online at www.ghosttoursofgalvestonisland.com.Galveston Tree Sculptures - Come aboard Galveston Island Tours’ electric shuttle bus and tour the Galveston Tree Sculptures, beautiful creations in the island’s historic East End that came from oak trees damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008. For tickets or more info go to galvestonislandtours.com or call (409)765-8687. You can also take a free, self-guided tour by downloading the online brochure.Historic Sightseeing Shuttle Tours - Join Galveston Island Tours as they guide you through all the gorgeous buildings, churches, and tree sculptures that the Island has to offer. These tours usually last a little over one hour. Tickets are available at www.galvestonmerchants.com and at the time of the tour. There is free parking at the Visitor’s Center in the back of Ashton Villa, 328 Broadway St., Galveston, (409)765-8687. Tickets are adults $15, students and seniors $12. Look on their website for times, they offer a huge variety.Moody Mansions - Restored to its turn of the century splendor, the 28,000 square-foot, four-story structure was completed in 1895. Today, guests can visit 20 rooms on a tour that depicts the home life of a powerful Texas family. The Moodys established one of the great American financial empires. Based on cotton, it grew to include banking, ranching, insurance, and hotels. W.L Moody, Jr. bought the home from the heirs of the

original owners soon after the great hurricane of 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Moody and their four children celebrated the first of more than eighty Christmas seasons in the house in December of that year. The house remained home for Moody family members until 1986. Today, its rooms are filled with the furnishings and personal effects of the family. Moody Mansion is open 11am-3pm daily and is located at 2618 Broadway, Galveston, (409)762-7668, www.moodymansion.org. Tour times are Monday-Friday 11am, 1pm and 3pm, Saturday and Sunday tours are on the hour. Tickets are $10 for adults, students are $5.Ocean Star Oil Rig Museum - The only facility of its kind in the world, the Ocean Star Oil Rig Museum is not only three stories of dynamic exhibits and information regarding the oil industry, it also serves as the training grounds for many people making their entrance into the world of offshore drilling. The Ocean Star is open daily, 10am-5pm, with the last ticket sold at 4pm. Self-guided tours can be accompanied by an optional audio narrative via portable listening device. Family Days take place the first Saturday of each month and are free to attend. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for students ages 6 to 18 and seniors 55 and over; free for children under 6. For more info, www.oceanstaroec.com, (409)766-7827.Pier 21 Theater presents “The Pirate Island of Jean Lafitte” - Pirate or patriot? Smuggler or busi-nessman? Merciless murderer and thief, or hero in time of war? These are the contradictions of the legendary Jean Lafitte. This shows daily every half hour, 11:30am-5:30pm, at the Pier 21 Theater, Harborside Dr. and 21st St. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for students, ages 6 to 18 and free for children under 6. Tickets are available at the gate.Tall Ship Elissa - The Elissa is the queen of the harbor, standing at 100 feet tall and 200 feet long. She is a three-masted, iron-hulled barque built in 1877, and is one of the oldest, functioning sailing vessels in the world. Bring your family to tour this giant, magnificent sailboat. Open daily. For more info, www.galvestonhistory.org, (409)763-1877.Texas Seaport Museum - This harborside museum tells the story of Galveston’s days as one of the busiest and most influential commercial ports of the 19th century, which was also the era when Galveston had surpassed Ellis Island in the number of immigrants coming to America through our Harbor. Special exhibits and educational programs are presented, both chronologically and categorically, and include the Galveston Immigra-tion Database which stores digital records of nearly 150,000 immigrants who arrived to the United States via Galveston. Texas Seaport Museum is open daily from 10am-5pm, (last ticket sold at 4:30pm). Tickets are free for children under 5, $8 for youth, and $10 for adults. The museum also sells a Seaport Package which includes entrance into the museum, onto the Elissa, and a seat on a Harbor Tour. The package is $20 for adults, $15 for youth and free for children under 5. For more info, www.galvestonhistory.org, (409)763-1877.Train Rides on The Harborside Express - The train boards every Saturday, every 15 to 20 minutes with the last ride boarding at 1:45pm at the Galveston Railroad Museum. Ticket cost is $4 and is in addition to museum admission. Galveston Railroad Museum is located at the top of The Strand district, 2602 Santa Fe Place, down-town Galveston, www.galvestonrrmuseum.com.“World War II Warbird Flight Experiences”

will take place every Saturday at Lone Star Flight Museum, 2002 Terminal Dr., 9am-5pm. The cost is $225 - $1,995 depending on the length of flight and these require a prior RSVP by calling (409)737-1304. For more info, www.lsfm.org.

Gulf Coast Volleyball association 2015 Season at Stewart Beach Begins

Come join in the fun at the Galveston Volleyball Association Saturday games. Anyone can participate and this is also fun to simply watch. You do not have to be a GCVA member to participate.

The Gulf Coast Volleyball Association is the largest outdoor volleyball association on the Gulf Coast, and has been rated the #1 outdoor volleyball organization by Outdoor Volleyball USA.

Divisions are Men’s 2’s Open, AA, A, BB; Wom-en’s 2’s AA, A; Junior 2’s 18<, 16< 14< 12<; Coed BB 2’s.

You can register at www.gcva.net but is not necessary; you can simply just show up and play. Everyone is welcome. Check-in at Stewart Beach no later than 8:30am. Tournaments begin exactly at 9am. Most participants get a free t-shirt while sup-plies last.

This year’s schedule is:May 9th Bring Your Mom to the Beach DayMay 16th Junior Beach OpenMay 23rd Memorial Madness TournamentJune 7th Spalding’s School’s out Beach PartyJune 13th Galveston Open TournamentJune 20th ESPN Radio SunFestJune 27th Red, White ‘n Volleyball

TournamentJuly 11th Summer Madness TournamentJuly 18th USAV Junior Beach Tour Texas

Grand Slam TournamentAugust 2nd Hot as Hell ClassicAugust 23rd Last Man StandingSeptember 6th Back to School BluesSeptember 27th GCVA Closing of the Beach

For more info, go to www.gcva.net.

Free Family Movies Downtown

Visitors and residents are invited to enjoy free movies throughout the historic downtown. Mov-ies begin just after dusk at Saengerfest Park, 2302 Strand, downtown. Moviegoers are encouraged to set up a blanket or chair for a free movie under the stars. Movie Nite takes place the first Saturday of each month through October.

Upcoming movies are:• May 2nd: “The Goonies” (1985) starring Sean

Astin and Corey Feldman• June 6th: “Jaws” (1975) starring Roy Scheider and

Robert Shaw• July 4th: “Elf” (2003) starring Will Ferrell and

Zoey Deschanel• August 1st: “The Outsiders” (1983) starring Tom

Cruise and Matt Dillon• September 5th: “Maleficent” (2014) starring Ange-

lina Jolie and Elle Fanning• October 3rd: “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s

Stone” (2001) starring Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson

Movie Nite is sponsored by Mitchell His-toric Properties and the Galveston Park Board of Trustees. For more info visit www.facebook.com/saengerfestpark.


The Arts

2413 Market, downtown Galveston832.689.4127

Unique Authentic Eclectic

Jazz Up Your Island Style!Market 25 ABC specializes in:

Antiques, Books, Collectibles, Fine Jewerly, Art, Vintage Toys, Depression Glass and Mid Century.

Books range from Texas, Historical, Art, and Coffee Table books on many subjects.

You can find fascinating and unusal treasures and gifts here.Include us on your shopping trip - we look forward to seeing you!

We have what you didn’t know you were looking for!

Open 6 days a week. 10am-6pm, closed Wednesday.www.market25abc.com 2413 Market St., downtown (formally Vic’s)

Catherine Stroud: Beauty and the BrushBy Kimber Fountain

Plato made the very wise realization that “Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.” Of course, on the surface this axiom is not one that is difficult to interpret, but further examination begs the ques-tion: Why do some people think that something or someone is beautiful when others do not? Sure, we all have different ideas of beauty, that is not a hard thing to reconcile. But why? That may be a chal-lenging pontification at first, because western civili-zation’s innate definition of beauty is based merely on physical aesthetics, the traits and appearances that are pleasing to the eye. Yet it stands to reason that our individual assessment of beauty originates much deeper than the interpretations of our physi-cal senses. Perhaps the missing piece to this puz-zle lies in the fact that we vastly underestimate the power and pull of emotional aesthetics, the feelings and intuitions that draw us to things that feel beau-tiful, even if they do not appear so.

The work of Catherine Stroud is undeniably beautiful, even mesmerizing at times. She produces the type of art that you could stare at for hours, but it is also undeniable that her forms and figures do not measure up to the conventional standards of beauty. There is no symmetry, no clean lines, and not an ounce of the formulaic and derivative (and Photoshopped) depictions that are so prevalent in modern media and advertising. Thus, the only con-clusion to be drawn is that it simply feels beautiful to behold it. Her whimsical shapes elicit an emo-tional clarity that is seemingly converse to their appearance, and this observation is the culmination of Catherine’s artistic journey.

“I embraced art at a very young age,” she says, and adds that her creativity was a childhood ref-uge from the proverbial torment of an older brother. Catherine would sneak away to a quiet room in the back of their house and immerse herself in her art, “and he couldn’t see me when I was back there, so he would forget about me and leave me alone,” she laughs.

She was born and raised in the Woodlands, and would go on to attend John Cooper School, which had a more substantial focus on the arts than most public programs. Her most defined memory of high school, however, is from a three week class that she took abroad at the Parsons School of Design in Paris when she was 15. “I had one instructor there, and she would give us an image and tell us to draw it in thirty seconds,” she says, and recollects that she was appalled at this suggestion. She says that she remembers thinking, “I can spend thirty seconds on the pupil of an eye! And I thought ‘Oh no! This woman is ruining me!’”

Upon returning stateside, Catherine took those techniques, referred to as Fast Contour Drawing, and “I put them in my pockets,” not consciously aware of when or how they would re-emerge. She would go on to graduate from Vanderbilt University with a minor in Studio Arts, and dabbled in other mediums and genres such as collages and Abstract Expressionism.

Despite the changes in her techniques she says “I have always loved focusing on the human form. I love the way a body can shift, I love its quirki-ness,” and as she continued to express herself she eventually realized the power of what that profes-sor in Paris had taught her years ago. “I learned to focus on the feel of something as opposed to just the replication of an image...and I wanted to incor-porate that looseness with the subject matter I love the most.”

The majority of Catherine’s studio output is paint on canvas, and what emerges are pieces with soft and subdued palettes that perfectly comple-ment her bold interpretations of still life and human form. In fact, despite an appearance that some may even call abstract, she delivers images that in no way feel random, but rather decisive, sure, and confident.

She also continues to add to her repertoire of techniques, and has recently begun producing digi-tal drawings on canvas. It begins with her iPad and an application called Procreate, and then she takes those pieces and has them transferred en masse to canvas. “It is a way of mass producing in order to make art cheaper,” Catherine affirms, noting that this process aids in making original art more acces-sible and easier to procure.

Her artistic endeavors are also expanding into other forms as she continues to reach for a “better

understanding of things to make art with.” She is dabbling in ceramics, making videos, creating folk art on slate shingles, and has even reached into music. In addition to performing vocally, Catherine is learning guitar, banjo, ukulele, drums, piano, pedal steel, slide, and the accordion. She also just completed a massive mural for Galveston Island Brewing.

Underneath all of this runs an undercurrent of a deep love and appreciation for the Island and its community, both constant sources of inspiration for her. “There is a city-wide interest here people recognize that art is important,” she muses. “There is an open community of all ages that either loves art or loves to participate in it...everyone I know is doing some sort of art.” As for the city itself she says, “I just enjoy looking at the city. You see an old house and feel the house’s spirit. My eyes love it,” she proclaims. This is an exceedingly appropriate sentiment for her to express, because that also just so happens to be the exact same thing you will say when you gaze upon her art.

Find the work of Catherine Stroud on display and for sale at PeckArts Gallery (2208 Postoffice St.), Oasis Juice Bar (409 25th St.), Galveston Island Brewing Company (8423 Stewart Rd.), and Olivine Boutique in Houston (2405 Rice Boulevard).

EventsAffaire d’Art Fine Art Gallery(2227 Postoffice St., downtown Galveston, (409)789-0079, www.affairedart.com)“3D and Mixed Media” featuring works by Stacy Gresell and Rachel Stokes with guest artist Matthew Menger will be on exhibit through May 15th. Also enjoy new pieces from many of our artists. “I love objects with multiple personalities- recognizable things that change when incorporated in a piece of artwork. I see that in my art- where antiques and recycled or found objects suggest one thing while the image may suggest another. I love how the layering of encaustic wax reflects the light differ-ently depending on your viewpoint- like water and glass do,” states Stacy Gresell.

Rachel Stokes, art-ist and positive thinker, became interested in glass as a young girl sitting in her father’s church bask-ing in the colored light of the stained glass. For years Rachel toyed with the idea of taking a stained glass class and finally did so in 2003. From there she began to work in mosaics and fused glass, often mix-ing the two and sometimes incorporating painting into

her mosaic artistry.Matthew

Menger is a con-temporary abstract artist specializing in mixed media on canvas. He finds inspiration from objects all around him in everyday life. Menger’s early interest in photog-raphy and cinema-

tography heavily influences his use of light, shadow and composition in his work. Cont. on p. 22

His tromp l’oeil techniques, and experiences as a decorative painter and scenic artist, serve as the foundation for his current works on canvas. In addi-tion to his signature use of metallic surfaces and rich earth tones, Menger’s paintings incorporate an aged patina, giving his paintings a richness and instant sense of “history.” His paintings have been seen on the sets of several television programs including the CBS hit series How I Met Your Mother, Bravo Net-work’s Top Chef, Lifetime’s Designing Spaces, and Entertainment Tonight, among others.ArtWalk ArtWalk will be held throughout town, ranging in time from 4-10pm. Mostly held in the heart of the downtown historic district and now other parts of the Island, ArtWalk is a free event that takes place in existing commercial galleries, non-profit art spaces, and what are called “other walls,” restaurants and retail stores. For a brochure listing all participants, stop by the Galveston Arts Center at 2501 Market St., or go online at www.galvestonartscenter.org. All events are free. Various artworks will be for sale. 2015 ArtWalk dates are May 30th, July 11th, August 22nd, October 10th and November 28th.

The Artists’ Studios & Gallery(1902 Ave. N, Galveston, (512)217-1994)This is the first month the gallery has participated in the recent ArtWalk and these pieces will continue on exhibit. What began as workspace for artists is now also a gallery for the resident artists’ work. Elizabeth George is working on a series of local landscapes, Martha Broday has new mermaid and coastal paintings, Najet Ayachi has several new watercolors on display, Michael Frommer has many large psychedelic paintings, and Aubrey Garcia is showcasing bird paintings, prints, and notecards.

DesignWorks(2119 Postoffice St., downtown Galveston, (409)766-7599)“The Photographer’s Eye,” a group show of photog-

raphy, continues through May 18th.

G. Lee Gallery(2214 Postoffice St., downtown Galveston, (409)370-7350, www.gleegallery.net)Ted Ellis’ “Our Journey” show continues thru May 22nd. The show pictorially documents

the African-American life history. Impressionistic and spiritual describes Mr. Ellis’ art. At work or play, with families or solitary chores, Ted Ellis’ art takes the viewer through the often poignant past of the African-American journey. Ellis’ work is a blend of impressionism, soul and folk stories to create lovely representational pieces. He has received numerous awards over the years for his art, including Black Heritage Artist of the Year, and has been featured in many national publications. Also available new work in oil by Galvestonian Bob Guicheret; pop art by Brendan Martinez; abstract by Bud Clayton; landscapes and mixed media by Michael Basham and resident artist George Douglas Lee.

Galveston Arts Center(2501 Market St., downtown Galveston, (409)763-2403, www.galvestonartscenter.org)Galveston Arts Center presents Lux Aeterna, a site

specific art installation by Adela Andea. Andea, a Romanian-born, Houston-based artist, explores the ambiguous area between reality and virtual reality with her surreal light installations and sculptures, which often seem organic and biomorphic despite the synthetic, manmade materials she constructs them from. Working with energy-efficient light sources, plastic elements, electrical components and re-purposed technology, Andea creates room-size installations that fill the exhibition space with vibrant color and ethereal light, and envelop the viewer in an unforgettable sensory experience. The show will remain through May 24th.

Galveston Art League(2117 Postoffice St., downtown Galveston, (409)621-1008, www.galvestonartleague.com)The Galveston Art League is holding its annual spring juried show through Sunday, May 24th. Unlike the Art League membership shows that are held nine times a year, the three annual juried shows are open to all local artists who wish to participate. Categories of art accepted into the show are works on canvas or panel, works on paper, photography, wall-hung mixed media such as collage or assemblage, and free standing three-dimensional works such as pottery, sculpture, or jewelry. Each artist may submit up to three works for the judging and those selected remain at the gallery for the entire exhibition period. All works have been created by the submitting artist within the last two years and have not previously been included in an Art League juried show. An opening reception and awards presentation will take place on Saturday, May 2nd, at 6pm. Judge for the spring show is Reginald C. Adams, owner of Public Art and Design, which develops and organizes community-based public art projects engaging youth, residents, and business leaders. He previ-ously served as president of the Museum of Cultural Arts in Houston.

Galveston Artist Residency(2521 Mechanic St., downtown Galveston, (409)974-4446, www.galvestonartistresidency.org)The Galveston Artist Residency’s spring show, “Plant People,” is a group exhibition to honor all things known, and unknown, observed, and only guessed at, about our plant comrades. This exhibition of works by People for Plants features works and plants by Natasha Bowdoin, Dean Daderko, Andrea Dezso, Tory Fair, Francesca Fuchs, Allison Hunter, Marie Leterme, Gabriel Martinez, Brian Porray, Diana Puntar, Adam Putnam, Lisa Sanditz, and Ann Wood. “We initially decided to do a show about plants at GAR because gardening and caring for our plants is such a big part of our daily activity here, and one of the most genuine ways that we connect with our community and other artists. People who are passionate about plants are our kind of people. As a basis for how we wanted to think about this show we looked at “The Secret Life of Plants” by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird. Written in the early 1970’s, this book is the seminal text on the “physical, emotional, and spiritual relations between plants and man.” Of course, many of the experi-ments written about in “The Secret Life of Plants” have since been debunked, or else held in high skepticism. However, the book still holds a sort of mystical power for those of us that believe that plant life is far more than just props in mankind’s drama. For our show at GAR, we’d like to honor these often overlooked qualities of plants -- their ability to communicate, emote, sense, think, and live in a way that is startlingly similar to our own existence.” Artists and collaborators were asked to contribute

a work that interacts, responds to, or in some way honors a plant of their choosing. The works are displayed alongside the plants that inspired them, creating an environment where plant and art can communicate and commune, as one and the same. “Plant People” will be on view through May 9th.

Heard Gallery(2217 Postoffice St., downtown Galveston, (903)357-9073, www.theheardgallery.com)Gallery owner and artist Ray Heard continues to add paintings to his new series “Emerald View,” a selection of works painted from images of views from the Emerald by the Sea condominiums located on the East End of the island. Let Ray know if you have a view that would make a nice painting as he is now taking requests for custom works. Also on display is “The Psycho Fish” series by John Skarda and wall wood carvings by Thomas Williams. While you browse the gallery check out the beveled mirrors and hundreds of frames to choose from in the custom frame department. You can also get an Italian marble coaster of your favorite island landmark.

Katrina Howarth Gallery(215 Tremont St., downtown Galveston, (713)550-6431, www.thehowarthgallery.com)There’s lots going on at Howarth Gallery! This lovely gallery is turning into even more, now featuring boutique items, prints, totes, t-shirts, designing silk scarves (from paintings) and Katrina’s new book, “Blue Figs with Tea” and her second book due out for the next artwalk, “Ivory Slippers & Vanilla Truffles.” Also Katrina’s is featuring a series of new portraits in oil and range from sizes 5x7, 6x6 and 8x10.

MiArt(1327 Market St., downtown Galveston, (409)692-7833)Visiting MiArt Gallery not only allows you to enjoy ‘happy art’ but you also get to take a peek at the architecture of a historic Victorian home. MiArt is situated in such a house, built in 1883, with lots of original details still in place. Gallery owner and artist Michèle Grindberg has on display her new oil paint-ings along with a select number of new whimsical clay pieces by artist MaryAnn Hasty. Also on display are handcrafted sterling-silver pieces by local jewelry artists and hand painted scarves by Amanda Jeffrey.

René Wiley Gallery(2128 Postoffice St., downtown Galveston, (409)750-9077, www.renewileyart.com)The current show features various new works featuring our island birds and local harbor scenes by local artists René Wiley, Rachel Wiley-Janota, and James Phillips. René Wiley has also recently captured the historic charm of our island’s houses, pathways, and churches from a bird’s eye view. René Wiley Gallery offers a wide variety of small, medium and large works for any budget, including original paintings, tree sculptures, textile mosaics, fine art prints, and wooden and glass bowls.

PeckArts(2208 Postoffice St., Galveston, (409)621-1500, PeckArts.com)This month PeckArts features the work of Mary Farragher. Mary is trained as a multi-disciplined artist but in the gallery’s May show she exhibits two dimensional mixed media works using acrylic, ink, graphite and watercolor. Mary refers to these works as “detailed abstractions,” the works are indicative of and inspired by topographical views, microbi-ology and the psychology of the human condition.

Upon closer look, viewers will appreciate the many hours that go into each piece and the incredible attention to detail that compliments a vibrant and complex color palette. Also exhibiting Catherine Stroud, Homer Allen, Gabriel Prusmack, Eva Currie, Annie Lockhart, Russell Mai, Robin Renee Hix, Anne Camp, and Jennifer Peck. Sculptors Ross de la Garza, Justin Howell, Joe Hobbs, Brent Freed and selected studio jewelry.

Third Coast Gallery(2413 Mechanic St., downtown Galveston, (409)974-4661, www.thirdcoastgalleries.com)Featured this month are paintings by Fran Ellisor, Greg Budwine and gallery owner Jack Morris. This is the first time works by Ellisor and Budwine have been exhibited in the gallery. Ellisor is a talented plein air oil painter and Budwine creates sharp focused acrylics. Morris will be exhibiting a selec-tion of his oil paintings including a number of his new smaller pieces. Also on view is the work of sculptor Laura Armstrong and the jewelry of Janalee Jassen.

Tremont Gallery and Pawsh Boutique(511 23rd St., downtown Galveston, (409)256-0762)A variety of unique, one-of-a-kind art is always on display in this eclectic gallery. This quaint gallery is a fun stop for all ages!

Tyler Studio (1201 Postoffice St., downtown Galveston, (409)7718371, www.tylerstudio.org)Robin Reeves and Patch Hatch are on exhibit through May 30th at this gallery.

Vacation on Canvas(2113 Postoffice St., downtown Galveston, (409)974-4066, vacationoncanvas.com)Stop by to see Robert’s newest collection of original paintings which will be on display for the entire month. Robert has masterfully captured our island environment in brilliant vivid colors and precise detail with all the relaxing comfort that has become his trademark. Along with his original paintings Robert offers reproductions of his artwork in canvas giclées, cards, paper prints and one of a kind ceramic tiles.

Water’s Edge Studio & Gallery(1302 21st St., (409)762-1925, www.galvestonwa-tersedge.com)Although the gallery will be open for regular hours, gallery owner and painter Gayle Reynolds is instead painting some of the water scenes that we see around Galveston Island for her next opening at the ArtWalk on May 30th. Until then, a wide selection of her works will be on display at the gallery. In the boat room, The West Bay Fishing Dory, being built by Rex Reynolds, is getting closer to being complete. Madeleine Baker has a group of new pieces of pottery- a black and white group of pieces. They are raku, naked raku, and obvara raku. Chase Jennings is exhibiting his primitive necklaces, each centered with an arrow-head, and features bison bone beads, turquoise, and animal teeth and claws. Two sculptors show their works at the Gallery. Jack Farrell welds rusty steel into sculptures which are usually figural. Pat Moberley Moore creates her sculptures in clay or wax and has them cast in bronze. Her pieces are figural also, but are of women and are romantic or mystical.


Welcome to SurfSide, texaS!Stahlman Park Reception & Conference Center

2211 Bluewater HighwayThis facility is ideal for events such as family reunions, wedding receptions, class reunions as well as company

meetings.

Boat RampSurfside has completed the joint project between the Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Village of Surfside, a Boat Ramp on Thunder Drive that leads directly

into the Freeport Channel. This Boat Ramp park has restrooms and fish cleaning stations and is the fastest boat

ramp access to the Gulf on the Texas Coast.

How to find us:Village of Surfside Beach

1304 Monument Drive - Surfside Beach, TX 77541 979-233-1531 - www.surfsidetx.org

Voted Best Gulf Coast Beach Town

by Readers of Gulfscapes Magazine


Ronald McDonald House of Galveston:The House That love Built, Celebrating 26 Years This MonthBy Kimber Fountain

The sheer size and scope of Galveston’s medical complex is unbe-lievably daunting. Not only is the Island home to one of the most cutting-edge research hospitals in the world, it often plays host to international patients who seek the treatment that only Galveston can offer. If the magnitude of UTMB and its affiliate campuses are enough to amaze those of us who see it every day, imagine the overwhelming feeling of it being entirely unfamiliar. Then amplify that by adding the worry and concern present when the patient is someone’s child, not to mention the sometimes impossible task of finding affordable shelter for an extended stay.

Easing difficulties such as these was the direct inspiration behind the first Ronald McDonald House, which opened in Philadelphia in 1974 through the patronage of Fred Hill, a professional football player with the Eagles. His daughter was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of five, and the trials associated with her care illuminated the need for places where families could be together during these difficult hospital stays, typically in facilities that were far away from their residences.

As the University of Texas Medical Branch continued to expand exponentially, both in size and in reach, that same need became glar-ingly apparent here in Galveston. The grass roots movement to open a Ronald McDonald House in Galveston was initially prompted by two local residents, B.J. Hearst and Suzanne Sullivan. “They both saw a real need at the hospital,” remembers Margie Chavarria, current Exec-utive Director of the House. “People would sleep in hallways, or in their cars at the Arlan’s parking lot, and then they would clean up as best they could in the public restrooms of the hospitals.” Both Hearst and Sullivan are still on the Board of Directors to this day, and in 1985 they were joined by the efforts of the Galveston County Junior League and embarked upon a journey that would prove to both assist families with patients and enrich the Galveston community as well.

Officially opened on May 5th of 1989, the raising of the House was an affair that galvanized people and businesses all over Galveston and the surrounding areas. Every new house is given seed money, but then is required to furnish the rest of their funds through fundraising and donations. Initial support for the Galveston House was provided by notable donors such as Celia Smith, UTMB, the Moody Founda-tion, and the Junior League. Support continues from both individual donors and corporate sponsors such as Southwest Airlines and Coca Cola, allowing the House to serve patients from UTMB, Shriner’s Hos-pital for Children, and The Transitional Learning Center.

Contrary to the inconvenient and uncomfortable shelter found in cars, or the solitary life in a hotel room, the Ronald McDonald House Galveston is so much more than merely a roof over a family’s head. Defined as, “The House that Love Built,” every inch of the Galveston facility hums with a love and tenderness brought about by not only the individual attention families receive from the staff, but also the hearts of all of the members of the community who make the House a possibility.

Acquiring a room is a simple process for the most part, although it is limited to the families of patients who are younger than 18 years old. The cost is only $10 per night, but Margie insists, “that is only if they can afford it. We never turn anyone away,” and they have even recently begun to accept Medicaid.

In total, the Galveston House grew to include twenty sleeping rooms after an expansion in 2008. Each room can sleep up to four people, and “Once people are checked in to their room, it is their room,” Margie explains. “We clean it when they leave but it is their space to enjoy and to take care of.” Each room is painted in a fun theme, such as Snow White, Birthday, Princess, or Tonka Trucks, and some rooms have been dedicated to former patients or donors. Addi-tional accommodations help to ease the daily duties of parents during their stay, including on-site laundry rooms, “Quiet Rooms,” and books lining shelves all over the House. Board members and staff who travel frequently collect travel-sized toiletries that are placed in each room.

The expansion also added much more community space to aid children in achieving the utmost level of normalcy possible. There is a schoolroom, a massive indoor playroom inspired by Galveston with a Victorian playhouse and a pirate ship, and the outdoor patio area is complete with picnic tables, a BBQ pit, and a basketball court. There is also a “Teen Room” for the older patients complete with pool table, foosball table, and a gaming console. “Before the expansion we asked the kids what they wanted, and they said a pool table,” Margie laughs, “so we got a pool table,” noting that every last thing in the House, from the furniture to the laundry detergent, has been donated by indi-viduals or businesses.

The Galveston House also boasts two dining rooms and a large kitchen with three stovetop ranges, four ovens, four microwaves, two dishwashers, two refrigerators, and a large pantry stocked full of food supplies. Oak Farms provides the House with fresh milk, chocolate milk, and orange juice, and Kroger donates eggs. Families are wel-come to prepare their own meals and to store their own food pur-chases either in the refrigerator where they are labeled, or in their own personal food locker in the pantry. However, one of the many ways that locals contribute to the House is by preparing nightly meals for all of the current residents.

For many children, their conditions require care throughout the duration of their young lives, and “they return again and again for dif-ferent surgeries and procedures,” says Margie, who has been with the House since its inception. “We watch them grow up,” she says, and you cannot help but feel the compassion, pride, and sometimes pain, as Margie points to rows upon rows of pictures hanging on the walls

of her office and the administrative area. She knows every single one of them, their names, their interests, their families; when they were here, how often they were here, and at times, when they passed away.

Besides a small staff, the House relies solely on volunteers to keep things at the House running smoothly, but everyone involved is truly involved. It is not uncommon to see board members talking with parents and asking them how their day was, or staff members entertain-ing children so that the parents can have a chance to clean their room or to pack their things, or corporate sponsors stopping by to say hello. For almost thirty years, the Ronald McDonald House of Galveston has uplifted families amid situations that are painful, full of sadness, and sometimes even tragic, while subsequently revealing the true and noble heart of our Galveston community. It is an embodiment of those somewhat indefinable qualities that make a Galveston resident an Islander: big hearts, deep pockets, and most importantly the will-ingness to give of themselves to encourage others and provide a more promising future for everyone.

If you would like to volunteer or donate to Ronald McDonald

House Galveston, please visit the house located at 301 14th Street, call (409)692-8770, or its web site www.rmhg.com. Current needs include Volunteers (only one three-hour shift per week), groups to cook meals for the families, food, clothing, and shoes.

Upcoming events and fundraisers for the RMHG include: VFW Motorcycle Rally (Vidor) on May 5th, Southwest Airlines Golf Tour-nament on May 6th, Piggy Perch (fishing outing for kids) on Octo-ber 17th, Mah Jongg Tournament on October 29th, Suds Run on November 14th, and Lights of Love on December 4th. Call for more information.

5222 Avenue O

10213 Stewart Rd 3721 Avenue N 1/2

5724 McCullough Ave3531 Cove Lane 1 Cedar Lawn

14418 Spyglass

3915 11 Mile Rd.

13439 Binnacle Way

Leading Edge

409-744-33003616 7 Mile RoadGalveston, Texas

Call for a Free Market Analysis of your Property: 409-744-3300

Documents

Island Guide May 2015 edition