March 2009 Archives

It seems like everyday we see old (and new) businesses opening back up and I get sense of relief, not because its my favorite place or even that I shop there, it's because that's the way it 'should' be.  When favorite places do open up or get back to normal business, it makes it even that much sweeter.  Well I had an almost unfair double dose of sweetness last week.

Murphy's Irish pub (22nd St between Mechanic & Strand) opened up over a month ago.  I should know because my wife, myself, Will, and Zack were waiting by the front door when they unlocked the place.  It was great!  We drank and played cards and dominos, after the juke box was installed (a subpar one by the way) we listened to some favorite tunes. 

Well to those of you who know our group of "Foam" regulars, I don't need to tell you that there are two very important pieces to the experience at said bar that, until this week, have been missing.

The foosball table was installed on Wednesday at about 5:00 pm.  Because of a prior commitment (a poker game), I didn't get to grip the handles until about 10 that night.  But boy was it worth the wait.  I have not been witness to a machine that is its superior.

The pizza at Foam (Murphy's), especially the white pizza, is by far the best pizza on the island. I would put it up against any that i've ever had and i'm sure it would win.  If you've never had it, I implore you to try it.  After officially opening their kitchen on Friday night, we went in to enjoy that wonderful taste yet again on Saturday night.

So, now that my stomping ground is all but complete (the downstairs still isn't open but all the fun happens upstairs anyway!), maybe you can let me know what you're looking forward to coming back.  Whether its Ice Cream at LaKings, Chess @ Saengerfest Park, or maybe something few people know about.  Let us in on the good stuff.

 

After a long week of struggles and gloomy days, wouldn't it be nice to cut loose and "go Postal"?  Whoa.  Whoa.  Whoa.  Before you get your guns, listen to me.  For one to "go Postal," is to visit one of Galveston's finest downtown destinations.  Postoffice Street.  Tomorrow, Saturday the 28th, Postoffice Street will host a bevy of entertainment.

Cruz Cortez Clothiers (located at 23rd and Postoffice) is the organizer of the all day event, but they are not alone.  Many other Postoffice venues will participate.  The events begin at noon and will last all day into the evening, culminating with a street dance at 23rd and Postoffice where the PeeWee Bowen Band will play live music.

Some of the other participating businesses will open their doors providing free treats.  Mod Coffee & Teahouse will serve free coffee from noon until 2 p.m., and Galveston's own radio station KGBC 1540 AM will broadcast live from Mod as well.  The new Gumbo Bar (2105 Postoffice, formerly Oysters) will be giving away free samples in anticipation of their opening.  In addition, The Brownstones along with the 2208 Postoffice Urban Lofts will hold Champagne open houses.

So.  C'mon IBC's.  It's time to support local.  And "go Postal".

Ahh the joys of flip-flops.  The political side - not the footwear.  And I'm being sarcastic. 
Folks, bear with us as I know constant schedule changes can be tough to take, but when your group only meets for 140 days out of every year (fact check here, please Mrs. Mondo!) days can really get shifted around fast.

So, the deal here is that, according to Representative Craig Eiland (whoohoo!), HB6 (remember that's the one that's good for G-town) was supposed to be debated on the House floor Monday afternoon, hence the need to pack the house with Galvestonians...  However, that seems to have changed and now may actually take place on Tuesday.  As Kelley puts it, the legislative schedule is in a constant state of flux (no, Will, not as in the flux capacitor).

Please stay tuned and bear with Rep. Eiland - we'll post what we find asap!

 

Yesterday afternoon marked the first time I've stepped bare foot on sand since well before the Hurricane. With Spring Break making it's official arrival on the island, we've all been fortunate to take advantage of this great weather, time with friends and for me at least, time on the beach.

When I came back from the evacuation, the appearance of the Seawall was a hard sight. So many buildings and landmarks went from being in the "now" to being "then". As I stood on the beach looking down the coast line for the Balinese Room,  I realized I'll one day tell kids and friends about how "I remember when..." We all will now.

We're all amateur historians of some form of the Island. I'm constantly amazed at how much the rest of the IBC group knows about this town and it's history. We all have varying relics of the past in books, photos, postcards, etc. It's the history of the town that so many of us so dearly hold on to, and I know we all enjoy being a part of the new history being made.

It's with that history in mind that a few months ago we decided it was time to bring something back from the Island's past and it's with GREAT excitement by all of us that we officially announce the return of the Galveston Island Beach Revue.

Dubbed the "Pageant of Pulchritude" by C.E. Barfield, the Galveston beauty contest began in the summer of 1920 and from then on 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 are said to have been the beginning of what we know today as the Miss America Contest.

On Saturday, May 16th at 2 pm we'll be on the beach, in front of the Seawall enjoying the summer with friends just like they did some 65+ years before. There are multiple categories (registrations are open for those ready to enter!) and complete details can be found at galvestonbeachrevue.com.

We'd love for you to be there with us and enjoy being a part of bringing back a fun, family friendly Galveston Island tradition. Adding to the list of things we can all enjoy telling friends in years to come. "I remember when that started again..."
 

With today being the 6 month anniversary of Ike, all of us Islanders have been a bit reflective.  All you have to do is check out an Islander's Facebook page or read today's guest column by Norman Pappous in today's GDN to see the reflection and insight into how far we have come.

 

For me, I am still as extremely proud of our Island and our community as I was in November.  And, I am especially proud because while we've had a lot of support, we haven't garnered quite the support and headlines as other major catastrophes.  Katrina comes to mind.  Generally, I'm ok with that because I'm realistic.  I know we don't have the social cache that the Big Easy has; perhaps someday we will recapture that torch from our heyday pre 1900.

 

But the National Trust for Historic Preservation has sent me over the edge.  I've come to expect that the national media outlets will constantly refer to New Orleans - even the somewhat recent phenomena of referencing New Orleans as the equivalent of the "Gulf Coast."  But the National Trust?!  Dudes - you're breakin' my heart! 

 

Just take a stroll on their website.  Sure they mention "New Orleans and the Gulf Coast," but take a look at their links, and you'll find sparse discussion or links to Gtown and a whisper about Mississippi!  What gives?

 

I'm fired up!  I can work to forgive national media outlets, I've let it go about Houston media since they've rediscovered us (one important exclusion is the Houston Press and John Nova Lomax who should be given a key to the City of Galveston for his passionate, in-depth, and smart stories on our beautiful Island).  But, I expect more from the National Trust - they are positioned to be one of our most powerful and passionate partners in advocating for our rebirth post-Ike.  But instead we get nary a link and old photos from 6 months ago!

 

So, I posted a comment to their Facebook page.  Feel free to express yourself if you feel the need.  Now where is the IBC Calm Down Cow?  I need to calm down. . .

 

 

Photo courtesy of Neil "Fuzzy Lens" Golemo.

At 1:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 13th, a group of people were dancing with wild abandon to Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" in a small circle next to the jukebox in the back of O'Mally's Stage Door Pub. Turns were taken by all showcasing a variety of dance moves, signature steps and Presley appropriate gyrations.

The majority of these people dancing were UTMB medical students. Future doctors, psychologists, pediatricians and so on and so forth. Dancing. At 1:45 a.m. On a school night.

For those not keeping score, last night was the St. Vincent's Clinic Benefit Show at the Grand 1894 Opera House. For 3 hours various students of UTMB sang, danced, cross dressed (you should have seen those guys dance though), humored and entertained a packed house. They, quite simply, couldn't have done a better job.

In my brief few years of being an islander, I've been fortunate to develop friendships with some of these medical students. They are creative, funny, compassionate and quirky. Come next Thursday a lot of these friends will find out where they leave to do their residency, marking an end to this chapter of their lives in Galveston and starting a new one on their road to giving me free medical advice and hopefully fun vacation destinations to visit them.

Time is short here in Galveston for those leaving and I've seen them begin to get a little whimsical on the days they have left here. More trips to Star Drug store are in order. Sonny's is open, we have to play shuffleboard there soon. The weather is turning nice, better take a weekend walk around town and see what's happening out there. Hell, Kristy even got herself a facebook account just to stay in touch more effectively.

The Galveston Spirit gets talked about a lot and without getting too sappy on the subject, I can't see that spirit being what it is without these UTMB students. They embrace the island, contribute to it's diversity and advocate for it's rebuilding. More selfishly, I can't imagine what my life and the lives of my non-UTMB cohorts on the island would be like without these great people. I know I'm not alone in that sentiment.

Last night marked a first for myself and I have these great friends to thank. I got the opportunity to play guitar with 14 of my favorite future medical professionals at the Grand 1894 Opera House. I can now say I've shared a stage with Lyle Lovett, Asleep at the Wheel and Robert Earl Keen.

I just can't say it was on the same night.

What I do get to say is more important though. I get to say that I shared the stage with my friends John Ray, Kaddilac Katie Kucera, Neisha, Kristy, KatieMac, Noelle, Joe, Kevin, Clark, Chris & Angela (no relation but what a last name) Wright, Travis, Alyssa and Margaret. I got to sit on the stage of the official opera house of Texas and play music with friends.

For those that came out to support, by all accounts it was a smashing success. For those that I heckled into coming out to watch Galveston's own "Don't Quit Your Day Job" band. Thank you. For those that didn't know I played a guitar, I'm glad you couldn't hear me. I'd hate to have proved you all right.

UPDATE: Check out IBC photog Adrienne Culpepper's photos from front row of the evenings festivities here.
 

So I've waited a while to post the good - no fanfreakintastic - news about the Landmark Commission granting us permission to elevate our house.  Maybe it was my paranoia that it was too good to be true and they'd suddenly decide to rescind their vote and they'd be calling any day to say "just kidding - no RAISE for you!"... 

Maybe it was my fear of hard-core preservationists who might suggest that we're butchering our beautiful (and let me be clear here that when I say "beautiful" I am picturing the ol' gal in her glory around 1876 - NOT pre-Ike, because, let's be honest we had a ways to go in the cosmetics department!) house.

Or maybe it was the knowledge that, with the permission to elevate would come the jaw-dropping bill for undertaking the project. 

All that aside, we are completely thrilled and so excited for the next steps.  We certainly have the Commission to thank (and major props to Torgerson for his spectacular skills with AutoCad - see pic below of before and after) and can't wait to get this house up, up, and away - away from future floodwaters, away from the cold ground that keeps the place a "refreshing" 22 degrees in the winter, and away from the absolute cesspool that is the foot and a-half crawl space into which everything that is nasty in the world is kept.  And is also perhaps the new and forever home of Will's Cadillac keys...  A moment of silence for the keys please...

Goodbye disgusting, impossible-to-maneuver crawlspace.  You are a black hole for Popeye's errant tennis balls, a veritable timeline of the history of beer in empty cans, and holder of a treasure trove of other garbage items we're destined to find when we can get on under there and explore you a bit more...

Okay, so we've been given an update in the G-town trip to the Capitol plan...  UTMB students are still encouraged to head west on the 17th, which is the day before we and the rest of humanity were supposed to go on the 18th.  BUT, our 18th visit has been postponed as Craig Eiland recommends that G-town represent when the recovery bill ("HB6") is actually on the floor "in the chamber" as they say... 

So, stay tuned - we'll post more info as it comes in!

 

 

Check it out - the University of Texas System Board of Regents announced today that they've agreed to restore John Sealy and the trauma center* (hello Bike Rally, Mardi Gras, and all those offshore workers!!!) to the Island!!!

This is fantastic news for the faculty, students, staff (so many of whom were far too casually let go) of UTMB and residents and visitors of Galveston. 

Check out Laura Elder's full story here at the Galveston Daily News...

*we still don't know at which level the trauma center will be restored, but it's a start...

 

Well folks, here it is - our chance to share in some good old fashioned politicin'!

Craig Eiland, our state rep and a damn good asset for Galveston these past few months (and even before Ike) has called upon us to descend on the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 18 representing our Island and the Sullivan family has been working on orchestrating a "organized" trek westwardly.

At this time, there is not an official "bus" coordinated, but if anyone is interested in getting in a mass carpool of some kind, please email Kelly Sullivan at KSullivan@SullivanInterests.com.

More details to follow!

Did you catch that article on bringing gambling to the Island?  It's a good one.  It actually covers both sides of the issue.  It's informative.  It really makes you think.  It produces a quality outlook on what gambling could or couldn't do to our Island.  It is very well written.

It is, however.  Written by a non-Islander.  A non-local.  Not a BOI.  Or an IBC.  It almost angers me to say it.  It's written by a Houstonian!!

That's right.  Perhaps the best, most well thought piece written about gambling moving into our Island is written by an outsider.  This saddens me.  But at the same time, I'm glad it was written.  And I have extreme admiration that the author chose to include advocates for both sides of the controversy.  This is more than any other local periodical (I won't name names - *COUGH* GDN!!!) has chosen to do.

Now it's shameless plug time.  The article also includes mention of Islander By Choice along with a brief interview in order to get some of our thoughts and insight to the matter.  Again, major props to the author for seeking out young, middle-class Islanders who care about what's going on, what's changing, and what's important on Galveston Island.

So check out the article for yourselves.  See the link below.  And share with us and the group.  What are your thoughts?  How does it make you feel? 

http://www.houstonpress.com/2009-03-05/news/iis-casino-gambling-in-the-cards-for-galveston/
 

Thursday, March 12th, 7pm $5 advance, $7 @ door At the Grand 1894 Opera House 2020 Post Office St.

Buy tickets early at the Office of Student Life, 8am-5pm or contact Neisha D'Souza (409) 939-3777!

Click here for more information.

One of my secret passions (probably not so secret to Mondo and friends) is my passion for art.  I'm far from any kind of expert, I just grew up with a mom with an art degree who revisited water coloring infrequently but found art in everyday life and encouraged me and my bros to express ourselves through art.  All I wanted to be when I grew up was an artist - a painter to be specific.  Alas, I did not get that gene from the great family pool. 

So, I'm an admirer and a consumer instead.  And, dude, I'm a girl who likes what she likes.  Maybe some of the stuff nailed to my walls isn't noteworthy, but in the Mondo household, we buy what moves us.  As long as it keeps me interested in some way - even if it is disturbing - I'm on board.  'Cause I want stuff that not only moves me in some form or fashion but makes me think - challenges me as well as inspires me.  And, admittedly, a little irony goes a long way too.

So this is why I'm working on these local artist features.  I also really like the modern art scene here.  Sorry folks, I'm not too keen on coastal art (also not a secret to friends and family). Ok, if the artwork on display is like the paintings from a home on GHF's Homes Tour last summer - I'll buy!  (It rocked - oil paintings with goat heads on seagulls).

I want you guys to check out these artists.  Some of them have never publicly shown their art here on the Island.  Some have hung these personal passions intermittently on local gallery walls.  And others are new and/or opening or re-opening studio and gallery spaces.

Hey IBCers - give our local artists some support!  Come check them out and talk to them.  Guarantee it won't be a boring time, and I for one, love folks who have something interesting to contribute to the conversation.
 

Here's my interview with local artist Ann Wood from the other night.  In interest of full disclosure, Ann is one of my peeps.

What brought you to the Island?

I moved to Galveston almost two years ago.  We didn't move for any artsy fartsy reason - my husband got a job here and we always wanted to live in Galveston. So when my husband had a job opportunity at UTMB we jumped on it. So it's that stereotypical thing - go with your husband's job.  But, I should say, I got a job here on the same day - so it unfolded perfectly.

What do you love about the Island?

I just love the fact that we're close to the top notch art scene. We - Islanders - are laid back.  I love the Island attitude, the beach, the Strand - I like the historic nature, but that we're also so close to all the major cultural institutions in the area.  Oh. And I love IBC!