Recently in Bathing Beauties Contest Category

I hope everyone is planning on attending (if not participating in!) the upcoming annual 4th of July Parade and Celebration on Monday, July 4th!

The parade will start at 10am at the Galveston Railroad Museum (check 'em out - they're open 7 days a week now!) and will end at the same place with FREE hot dogs and lemonade - plus an awards ceremony for the parade entries! 

IBC will be there again with the Bathing Beauties of the Galveston Island Beach Revue and we invite you to come catch some beads, eat some dogs and celebrate the birthday of our country.

 

 

Left: 2009 parading Bathing Beauties (pictured: Cindy Buckley, David McGivern, Dana Blue, Secelia Garrett, Carly Oquendo, Chandler Rainey, Klayre Lewis, Katrina Leonard, and Melozi Scott) Right: 2010 parading Bathing Beauties (pictured: Catherine Stroud, Scott Moga, Alicia Cahill, Alice Berry as "Miss Formica Dinette", Michael Morris, Peggy Davenport, Claire Leger, Dana Blue, Natalie Hardin)

And a gigantic thanks to our armed forces - past, present and future for serving to protect this place for all of us.

Well, it's official.  This year's Beach Revue was another success.  I can't say enough about the Friday night Bands & Bombshells music groups who performed (The Brandon McDermott Band and The John Evans Band), the folks who dressed up and attended the downtown event, and our glorious contestants in Saturday's Bathing Beauties Contest.  Whoo-whee.  The ladies really got down to business this year.  And when I say business, I mean they brought IT.  The outfits and accessories this year blew us (and the judges) away.  And our winners really proved what this event is all about, borrowing a recipe from the Island's past and adding that extra something that pushes it over the top.

Winners are:  Crowd Favorite - Traci Lynn Cowart; 2nd Runner-up - Alice Berry; 1st Runner-up - Annette Green; and Winner - Alana Anderson.

We at Islander By Choice hope that many of you attended and enjoyed the events as much as we did, and we hope that you will continue to help make the Beach Revue a great Galveston Island event.

And finally, here's a great-big THANK YOU to all of our sponsors and individuals who assisted in making this year's Beach Revue happen.  THANK YOU!

Here's to next year...

 

That's right boys and girls.  Unless the rapture gets us this weekend, the 2011 Galveston Island Beach Revue is upon us.  Fasten your seatbelts.

In case you need to get familiar with all that the Beach Revue entails, click here.

And in case you need some helpful hints and tips for the weekend, click here.

Otherwise, it's time to get all vintage-like and kick-off the summer season on Galveston Island.

See you there...

 

So the first day of the 2011 Galveston Island Beach Revue is one week away!  With this being our 3^rd year putting on the Revue and resurrecting the historic Bathing Beauties Contest, I thought we could share some tips as well as give you more info on what's going down. 

 

So here goes.  And remember admission is free to all Beach Revue events!

 

Friday Night, May 20: Bands & Bombshells

7pm to 10:30pm in Downtown Galveston

 

1.  Go Vintage & Get Pinned Up.  - We're excited to announce that we've got a Pin Up photographer coming out to Bands & Bombshells.  So get your vintage on and come ready to get some Pin Up shots taken of you with or without a vintage Cadillac as a backdrop!  For more information on the photographer, Alyssa Holub and Mileslove Studios Eye Candy, click here!

 

2.  Meet Us Downtown - We officially kick off your Galveston summer at 7pm which means parking is free downtown.  (Of course parking is still at a premium - we are on an Island).  Don't wanna drive?  Walk, bike, line up a cab, etc!

 

3.  We're Outside - Yup we'll meet you outside at Saengerfest Park.  And don't let the fencing fool you - it is free to get in. 

 

4.  Bring Some Dough -That fencing I just mentioned is due to the cash bar!  So bring your cash for beverages!  Also, we'll have a merchandise booth set up to purchase your Pin Up shots and Beach Revue souvenirs.  Hungry?  Visit any of our downtown eateries to fill your belly including Bands and Bombshells' sponsor, Yaga's Cafe

 

5.  Bring the Kids - Kids are welcome - we got music and room to roam!  So bring 'em out for music and dancing for an evening under the stars in Downtown Galveston.

 

Saturday Mid-Morning, May 21: Salute to the Bathing Beauties

11am to 1:30pm Hotel Galvez Lawn

 

1.  Parking is Primo - So get thee to the Seawall early.  Now you've gotten primo parking for both the lawn party and the main event!

 

2.  Again We're Outside - So bring your hats and sunblock people.  Drinks and food will be provided until the Hotel Galvez runs out.

 

3.  Games & Jams - Aside from hanging on the lawn with some Bathing Beauties, enjoy some live music and games out on the new Centennial Green.

 

4.  Salute the Queen - And don't miss the Bathing Beauties as they salute the historic Hotel Galvez in celebration of her 100^th year as the Queen of the Gulf!

 

5.  Definitely Bring the Kiddos - The Hotel Galvez is putting on quite a spread including games, refreshments and music.  Perfect mix of things to do while overlooking the Gulf.

 

Saturday Afternoon, May 21:  Bathing Beauties Contest

2pm to 4pm Beachfront, Hotel Galvez

 

1.  Baby it's Hot Outside -Since Beach Revue is the official kick-off to your Galveston summer, we're all about enjoying Island life outside.  This event is on the actual beach.  So come prepared to be standing in the sun and sand which means at least slather on the ol' sunblock and don a hat.  And outfit your kids and dogs accordingly (don't forget a water bowl along with a leash for the pooch).

2.  Refreshments   Just in case you forget your own, we'll have water, some sodas, and sunblock for sale at the Souvenir booth. 

3.  For the Big & Lil' Kids - We're on the beach.  Again, can we emphasize anymore that this is a family friendly affair?  Aside from the beach though, we're hosting a Hula Hoop Contest at Intermission which is the time between the Modern and Vintage portions of the Contest.  Open to all ages!

4.  Surround Seating -You've got your choice in seating depending on what time you arrive for the main event.  It's first come, first serve, so you've got Seawall seating and beachside seats on 3 sides (one side is pretty much blocked by tents).  You can stand or bring a chair.  Chairs may also be available for rental that day on the beach.

5.  Honor Our Armed Forces - This year's Beach Revue falls on a very special day - Armed Forces Day - so don't be late or you'll miss the national anthem and perhaps an additional surprise.
 

So IBC's Galveston Island Beach Revue officially landed on the City of Galveston radar.  Check out the video and official proclamation below.  BLAMMO

View the proclamation here!

 

I'm sorry, that is simply not an excuse ladies and gentlemen! IBC wants YOU - all of you - yeah you too looking over the shoulder there - to enter the Galveston Island Beach Revue Bathing Beauties Contest!

There are so many ways to get a smashing outfit:

1.  The Internet.  You may have heard of it - invented by Al Gore, perfected by Chuck Norris, tainted by Snooki.  So go to Ebay, Etsy, and the entire list here that are for sale online: http://www.ibcgalveston.com/beachrevue/links.html

2.  Get out a rolling pin and the flour: we're making our own suits! (I'm obviously not a seamstress) Same link, see "patterns" http://www.ibcgalveston.com/beachrevue/links.html
(also, we met the folks over at Galveston Island Costumes yesterday who mentioned t
hat, if they have the right fabric on hand, can turn around a custom swimsuit in 2 weeks!)

3. Raid your grandma's closet.  Just check.  Please leave her arthritis shoes, though - she needs them!

4.  Go shopping!  Galveston has so many antique stores and many of them do occasionally get swimwear in, so go check it out!  Also, the Houston area (Montrose and the like) have some great vintage stores (Buffalo Exchange, Retropolis, Re-Play, etc) so just do a quick online search and get started!

5.  Borrow one!  Ask any former contestant and he or she will be able to share their stories of shopping, we can assure you!  PS.  IBC has a small cache of a few vintage suits that we are willing to loan out in moments of catastrophic-swimsuit-tailoring-disasters or just out of sheer desperation.  Don't forget - the judges are brand new each year, so just because a suit's been worn at the Revue in the past doesn't mean it doesn't have a chance to shine on you in the winners circle!

So get out there people - there are only 15 days left til the Revue!  Happy hunting!
 

Ahem.  Ever dreamed of being able to sit in the most advantageous spot to view the Bathing Beauties.  I'm not just talking about getting to the event early enough to grab a front-row-joe space.  I'm talking about being a JUDGE!  Yep.  This year IBC is giving one lucky fan of the event an opportunity to bask in all the glory that is involved with judging the 2011 Galveston Island Beach Revue Bathing Beauties Contest.

All you have to do is click here in order to fill out the application.

It's simple, really.  We just want to gather a few tidbits of information from you including what you love about Galveston Island and why you of all people would make the best judge.  And try to be unique and creative in your responses.  You have until May 12th to get your application submitted, and the winner will be announced on May 13th.  Of course, if you are applying you must be available to attend the Bathing Beauties Contest and be available starting at 1:30.

So come on Islanders, or non-Islanders.  Give it a shot and come mingle with our other fine judges, Joe Jaworski (Mayor of Galveston Island), Cheryl Vaiani (president of GHF), and Laura Elder (GCDN reporter).  Who knows?  You could be this year's difference maker.
 

As the Island begins to warm, the beach beckons.  And Islander By Choice is proud to announce the return of the pinnacle of beach season, this year's Galveston Island Beach Revue.

For its third year, the Beach Revue improves yet again.  Beginning Friday evening, May 20th @ Saengerfest Park (23rd & Strand), the Beach Revue migrates downtown where live music will entertain all.  Then, on Saturday, May 21st, the beach takes over as the historic Hotel Galvez & Spa will hold a shindig on its lawn prior to everyone's favorite main event, the Bathing Beauties Contest.  All event details, as well as your chance to register to compete in the main event, can be found at www.galvestonbeachrevue.com (The site is LIVE and updated).

Gather your suit (vintage or modern) and your friends and get registered.  And this year, IBC will be holding a contest to see which returning contestant from last year can sign up the most new contestants.  Whoever can gather the most new beauties willing to strut their stuff will win a prize.  Here's how it'll work:  for new-to-this-year contestants, in the "Please describe any unique facts or qualities about your swimwear" section, you will give the name of the previous year's contestant that got you to sign up.  This will work for both on-line and mail-in registrations.

So, check out the site and get registered.  And tell a friend.  And they'll tell two friends.  And they'll tell two friends...
 

We interrupt this seemingly un-updated blog to bring you these important messages:

1.  Islander By Choice has some great things in store for 2011, so stay tuned.

2.  And a very anticipated Beach Revue announcement is coming your way soon, very soon.

I hope all of your 2011's are treating you right.  And all those resolutions are still in full effect (yeah right).

We now return you to your regularly scheduled Friday morning...

 

 

Too early to be thinking about Christmas gifts? Probably...for me anyways. However, we do want to let you know that we now have in stock our official 2010 Galveston Island Beach Revue Panoramics!

You can get yours today online or we can even get one framed, matted and ready for hanging in your house if that's more your style.



If interested in the framed and matted prints, please contact us directly at orders@ibcgalveston.com or visit our store front at Nautical Antiques and Decor at 2202 Ship Mechanic Row on Galveston Island. Framed, matted and gorgeous!