November 2010 Archives

I hope everyone is airing out his and her woolen capes, top hats and petticoats this week for Dickens on the Strand!! 

Dickens is Saturday and Sunday, but if you're looking for a little pre-weekend action, check out the Grand Opening celebration for Riptide Surf Bar this Friday, December 3rd from 7pm-12am.  They're located in one of the former Pink Dolphin locations, at 9th & Seawall and all are invited! 

The party also coincides with the 25th Anniversary of Strictly Hardcore Surf Specialties so there'll be a vintage t-shirt contest, surfboard and skateboard raffle (as the '09 Beach Revue contestants know, they shape a mean board at Surf Specs - check it out on display at IBC's storefront inside Nautical Antiques & Decor on 22nd & Mechanic next time you're in the area!) and live music!

Now we'll return you to your regularly scheduled program; please go below and vote on Willthing's facial hair.  That is all.

 

I dislike shaving.

Chalk it up to sensitive skin, general laziness or the fact that I've lost the ability to grow it on the top of the head, I've just never enjoyed it.

Thankfully, my procrastination is about to pay off and I need everyone's help to lock up a win for Islander By Choice.

On Saturday, December 4th at 4:30 p.m. I'll be entering Albert's Whimsical Whisker Revue at this year's Dickens on the Strand festival. For a brief overview on the contest, I lifted the following off of the Dickens web site:

"Celebrate whiskers of all styles as members of the Austin Facial Hair Club judge the best of the bearded and dandy! Categories include the Rip Van Winkle (full beard), Most Impressive Picadilly Weepers (sideburns), Finest Gatter Soaker (mustache), Noblest Toff (best groomed) and Hairiest Maiden in the Land (ladies). Winners will be featured in Saturday's Pickwick Lantern Parade. Interested contestants may register at the Costume & Whisker booth at 23rd and Strand the day of the contest."

To paraphrase all that, it's the BEST IDEA OF ALL TIME.

Now onto the important part, I need everyone's help on what style to go with here. Below are 3 examples of period appropriate mustaches. Leave your vote in the comments section and come view it for yourself Saturday at 4:30 as I debut the most voted style.

Mustache 1 Dr. Gerin's Faceshelf	Mustache 2 The Nietzsche	Mustache 3 The Ambrose Burnside

Yep.  It's true.

Time to be thankful for all the good things in life.

On behalf of Islander By Choice, enjoy your holiday weekend.  Happy Thanksgiving.  And be safe out there.

I am old.

I don't understand.

Are they stupid?

Am I STUPID?

These are among the thoughts that crossed my mind as i read the article that the link will take you to toward the bottom.  But first, a little background on what i thought video games are:

One of my favorite games growing up was Legend of Zelda.  For those of you who don't know, it was an adventure game where you collected money to buy better equipment so you could defeat (kill) a series of ever-increaslingly difficult to defeat monsters.   To collect money, you would kill some peon and supposedly raid his pockets or you would come across one of these fellows who, (and i'm still not sure about this) we are supposed to think are good hearted bad guys that are double crossing the evil empire:

So when i would hear some kid (or adult child) talking about world of warcraft or some such game, i thought i knew the gist of what was going on.  I had no idea:

Making a bundle of real money off of virtual property!

Possibly the only thing nuttier than someone who would buy a virtual asteroid for $635,000, is the sap who bought mining rights on said asteroid.  I mean mining rights aren't even fun in the real world.

I remember as a child thinking that people were dumb for "buying" a star from some sham of a company and received certificate and a plastic something or another.  But take solice oh gullible one.... when you "bought" that star, at least.......THAT DAMN STAR ACTUALLY EXISTS!!! 

Galveston's major thoroughfares are receiving facelifts.  Fresh-so-smooth-the-ride-is-almost-creamy-asphalt is being laid out on Broadway and Seawall.

And most of it happens while we enjoy our Island slumber.  It's actually kind of weird when you wake in the morning and hit the well traveled streets and notice a difference that transformed without you noticing.  Almost as if magical workers infiltrated the night and wah-lah, fresh asphalt.  Or maybe it was oompa-loompas.

I know I've been enjoying the new ride?  Have you?
 

So, as many of you my already know, I'm Knocked Up East of 61st no longer.  It's hard to believe that our little "Piglet" is already over 5 weeks old and hard to believe that I'm just now able to type out this entry!

I may be late, but Mondo and I are so excited to announce the arrival of our little Miss Georgia Brooks Scott into our family!  And for those who have followed this series, just an FYI - the name "Georgia" was not on our original name list.  It came up about 2 weeks before she was born and on her birthday, she looked like a Georgia and not like any of the other names we had chosen.  So, surprises all around on the name.
 
Scrolling back through the KUE61st entries, it's so hard to believe that she's already here and yet, as I sit here in my pajamas at 3:00pm because I haven't showered, slept much, or ate much that requires utensils, it is as though she's always been here.

While this is my last short and sweet post in this series, the Mondo's and Islander By Choice have one more announcement - just in time for the holiday season too!  Drum roll please . . .

After so many requests for BOI merchandise, we finally gave in to the masses.  We are so excited to unveil IBC's Born on the Island Creeper!

Not only do babies never have enough creepers (Georgia's record is 7 creepers/onesies in one day), but these make great gifts including a perfect stocking stuffer for the new favorite BOI in your life!  You can purchase the official IBC BOI Creeper at IBC's online store at www.ibcgalveston.com or at its exclusive Strand location at Gracie's at 2228 Strand (check them out on their Facebook page too)!

Now on to the adventure that is 2 IBC's rearing a BOI!
 

So I like to think that i know a good amount about Galveston history.  What I know most about in this genre is historic structures in the city.  One structure that I've always been curious about but knew little about is Stewart's Mansion.  It is at the west end of Stewart road (right before it turns south toward 3005).  Well I knew that it was originally a Sealy property and was later sold to Stewart (of Stewart Title fame), but little else.  I always wanted to visit the property, take pictures and give a synopsis of the place.  Well someone beat me to it and i'm not so small that i can't give credit where it is due.

http://www.gofishgalvez.com/2010/08/trespassers/

Look at the pictures of the pirates of which one is supposedly Jean Lafitte.  Ghost legend ( which of course, i believe EVERY word of ) says that the pirates move around at night and protect the place. 

Galveston Historical Foundation has had the property on its "properties at risk" list since 2004.  Next time you're on the west end, drive by and you'll agree that this mysterious place needs to be saved for many others to wonder about.

photo is courtesy of gofishgalvez.com

STARTING LOCATION FOR THE 2010 SANTA PUB CRAWL WILL BE MOLLY'S PUB AT 20TH AND POST OFFICE! SEE YOU ALL AT 7 PM IN YOUR HOLIDAY FINEST!

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Here comes Santa Claus...  Here comes Santa Claus...

 
Ho.  Ho.  Ho.  Santa Claus will be coming to town very soon.  And we all know the sleighing gift-slinger has his work cut out for him, so he enjoys an evening of downtown Galveston debauchery prior to his milk and cookies.  In order for Santa to maintain his incognito status while enjoying downtown Galveston, he employs Islander By Choice and our loyal list of good little boys and girls to dress up in our favorite Santa influenced apparel and join him in his merriment.

Join Islander By Choice Saturday, December 18 for the 2010 Santa Pub Crawl. We'll kick it off at 7 p.m. at a downtown Galveston pub with additional stops at regular intervals all evening.

To stay on Santa's good list this year, there are 3 rules:

1. Sign-up for this FREE event!  This year, IBC is keeping the start location under wraps until the event itself.  To find out where the Santas are meeting up, Friend Islander By Choice on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and/or sign-up for IBC's eBlasts (check out the right hand menu on our homepage to sign-up). STARTING LOCATION FOR THE 2010 SANTA PUB CRAWL WILL BE MOLLY'S PUB AT 20TH AND POST OFFICE! SEE YOU ALL AT 7 PM IN YOUR HOLIDAY FINEST!

2.  Come dressed as Santa. Hawaiian Santa, Sexy Santa, Traditional Santa...all Santa are welcomed but the more the merrier. 

3.  Come packing gifts!  Got some random things around the house you don't need anymore? Old magazine? VHS tapes perhaps? Borrowed screwdriver from your neighbor? Wrap it up and add it to the community gift bag. People expect Santa to come bearing gifts, who are we to disappoint?

Please feel free to invite friends and spread the word about this free event. Got questions? E-mail us and we'll get you lined out. And don't forget to sign-up to receive the start location and more details to come!
 

This is the eighth edition of IBC's monthly column for Galveston Monthly.  You can pick up a free Galveston Monthly at many local locations across the Island.

I love Fall in Galveston.

The weather finally begins cooling off and the festivals continue, bringing locals and visitors out of our climate-controlled caves to enjoy the fun.

By now, the artists from ARToberFEST, the Ziegenbock at Oktoberfest, and the baklava at Greek Fest have all come and gone and just last week we were trying to burn it all off at the D'Feet Breast Cancer Run out at Moody Gardens. 

When November comes around, we're hearing the rumble of the Lone Star Rally and that means the Christmas bells at Dickens on the Strand are right around the corner. 

So many downtown businesses welcome the leather-clad throngs of visitors the motorcycle rally brings and offer special deals or points of interest to those visiting the Island and locals alike.

For bike rally shopping, hit Head To Footsies' (2211 Strand) specials on "Ed Hardy" shoes and boots. Come visit IBC headquarters inside Nautical Antiques (2202 Mechanic) to pick up the first long-sleeved IBC shirt - available exclusively in "biker black" and just in time for the weather change!  Peruse the Island's numerous art venues including the new Harley-inspired watercolor series down at Galveston Outfitters (2425 Strand). When you're hungry check out the Lunchbox Cafe (2029 Strand)for their famed vegetarian sandwich "The Swiss" that was actually born out of a request from a biker at the Cafe's first bike rally event!  

Galveston is also a great place for one of my favorite "I'm so bored" pastimes: people-watching - and the motorcycle rally is no exception!  Guests over at Grace Manor Bed & Breakfast (1702 Postoffice) that participate in the rally also enjoy taking it all in from the verandas above Postoffice Street. When the rest of us need a place to just. chill. out, visitors and Islanders alike should motor on over to MOD Coffeeshop (2126 Postoffice); close enough to the motorcycle action for those seeking a quick break, but far enough away that your Scrabble tiles won't rattle off the table.

November 27th brings another Artwalk to the downtown area. What a great time to get in some holiday gift shopping - and a swing or two of boxed wine!

Then the piece de resistance of the festival year, at least for me, is Dickens on the Strand.  The annual holiday street festival arrives December 4th (10 am-9 pm) and 5th (10 am-6 pm) and with it, the fashions (guests who dress Victorian receive 1/2 price admission at the gate!), music and food of 19th-century Victorian London.  

SPOILER ALERT: This year's Dickens promises to be even more fun with new events including:

Albert's Whimsical Whisker Revue, judged by members of the Austin Facial Hair Club.  The facial hair contest that's sure to put a smile on your face - if we could only see it!  Categories include "Rip Van Winkle" (modern-era translation: best full beard), "Most Impressive Piccadilly Weepers" (sideburns), "Finest Gatter Soaker" (moustache), "Noblest Toff" (best groomed) and my favorite but perhaps most disturbing, the "Hairiest Maiden in the Land" (needs no translation, but I might ask the participants for an explanation). Sorry, fellas - that last one's for the ladies only. 4:30pm Saturday.

Airship Isabella: the alternative Victorian Steampunk group of performers will host a street ball, circus and bazaar.  (For those readers not armed with an iphone to google the term, as far as I can tell, "Victorian Steampunk" is a genre of folks that take specific bits of the Victorian Age and mix it into modern life. I must admit I'm very curious to see them in action) Bazaar all day Sat & Sun, Circus 7:30 pm Saturday, Ball 9pm Saturday.

Her Majesty's Royal Romp. Contestants dressed as Queen Victoria. In a foot race. Down Mechanic Street. And there's an obstacle course. This I GOTTA SEE. 4 pm Sunday.

Oliver's Alley is a special area for the kiddos that will feature Victorian games, a scavenger hunt and a fun interactive mural. All day Saturday and Sunday.

The old favorites of Dickens will remain including the "Dinner with Dickens" at Ashton Villa, the Dickens Country Breakfasts at Garten Verein, strolling carolers, musicians, entertainers and the children's snow yard.  And to those of us that witnessed last year's smashing success in the Victorian Bed Races event, fear not - they'll be back again, wildly wheeling their hand-crafted mobile beds down Mechanic Street - all dressed in Victorian era sleepwear.  

All in all, there's a ton to do here in the Fall.  Mark your calendars, bring your friends and enjoy all Galveston has to offer.

To all the visitors, thanks for coming to our Island.  To all the locals: thanks for sharing it.

What do the likes of Archie, Batman, and the Galveston famous pirate Jean Lafitte have in common?

Comics.

Yep.  The pirate Jean Lafitte (an Islander By Choice in his own right) has his very own comic book chronicling his time spent on the Island and all the shenanigans that must have taken place between the swashbuckler and his pal Jim Bowie (that's right the knife-wielding knucklehead of Texas lore).  The series, entitled simply Galveston, is brought to you by BOOM! Studios, and it surely adds flavor to their extensive line of titles.  And just so you know, it doesn't claim to be historically based, so although the characters are based on the real counterparts, the stories are fictionalized.  The comic series debuted in 2008 and ran as a mini-series.

This Islander By Choice hasn't got his hands on copies yet but plans to do so soon.