Recently in Bathing Beauties Contest Category

Willthing (IBC graphic & web designer) has been hard at work getting the 2009 Beach Revue pictures up and the day is here!!!  Please check out the "merchandise" link at the top of this page and take a gander!

FYI, the black & white Beach Revue panoramic (about 33" long/wide - as panoramics go) is available for purchase at the IBC store inside the Nautical Antiques & Decor shop on 22nd and Mechanic Street in downtown historic Galveston (just in case you'd rather swing by than have it shipped).

Looking through these photos reminds me of how much fun we had being a part of this event.  Thanks again to all of our fabulous contestants - the outfits were great, the ladies and gents were even better, and the crowd was awesome.  Many thanks to all of our sponsors (check 'em out on the sponsor page at www.GalvestonBeachRevue.com) as we couldn't have done it without you! 

It is time to celebrate our independence from King George once again! 

This time we're going to have the 4th of July parade right here in Galveston though!  (You would be amazed at the lack of Galveston 4th parade pictures.  So all you shutterbugs now have a mission, show Canton, OH what we're made of.)

Islander by Choice (IBC) would like to invite everyone out to enjoy the parade this Saturday (YES IT'S ON A SATURDAY!!!) July 4th, at 10 am.  The parade will start at the Santa Fe Building (aka Shearn Moody Plaza) and will proceed south on 25th st. to Postoffice street.  It will follow Postoffice street east to 21st st.  After going north on 21st st. the celebration will turn west on Strand Ave. and finish where it started.

IBC is going to have a multiple car procession that has eyes on best in show.  We're going to have a lot of help from some guests but I'm not going to say who.  You will just have to come out and see us and all the other entrants Saturday morning.

I would also like to thank Galveston's 4th of July Committee and especially Kathy Modzelewski for their dedicated work putting this family friendly event on.

While out and about the town, be sure to pick up a copy of this month's issue of The Islander Magazine. It's easy to spot with it's gorgeous Beach Revue themed cover! Inside is the usual fare of great Island information as well as additional photos of the beach revue.

In other Beach Revue news, check out our store to pick up your very own official event t-shirt (specially priced as well). We'll also be uploading photo galleries of the event this week.

It has been an insane whirlwind since, well, I guess since IBC announced that we were resurrecting Galveston's legendary Bathing Beauties contest back months ago.  The last couple of days have been no different!

So, back to the rest of the Island now . . . 

We mentioned in an earlier post that we were invited to the Pachyderm Club to talk about IBC bringing back the Beach Revue.  The coolest part  - aside from meeting some really nice folks and the ginormous Bathing Beauties panoramic when you walk in - was getting to meet a couple of the Ball High School students & the teacher who created the Ike documentary. 

(Please.tell.me.you.know.exactly.what.I'm.talking.about).

Aside from getting all mush-faced watching the documentary preview again (I so cried watching it the first time), we at IBC were so honored to meet these guys.  They are incredible people, Islanders, and brilliant to boot!  Seriously, Ball HS gets no props! 

Aside from buying an ad in the movie premiere brochure, IBC decided to donate a portion of the Bathing Beauty proceeds to this endeavor.  You know why? 

Because this project rocks.  The students rock.  Mr. Weiss rocks.  Our Island rocks.  The message of the film is about hope - and that rocks.  They are trying to go to The Big Apple and get on some talk shows.  Oh, and they are submitting this puppy into a bunch of film festivals.  Sweet Action!!!  

And all of us here at IBC love our Island and support all people getting involved in our community - particularly young people. 

So, tomorrow, we hope to see all of you at the world premiere!

Tomorrow, Thursday May 21, 2009, Islander By Choice  - and probably as much of the Island that can fit in The Grand 1894 Opera House - will watch the world premiere of Ike: A Documentary The Story of a Torn City Rebuilt by Everyday Heroes!  BYOH (Bring Your Own Hanky).

In case you haven't been witness to their insane media coverage (hurrah!), the documentary was done by some of Gtown's own Ball High School students and their teacher, Robert Weiss!  For full bios on these phenomenally talented and incredible human beings - visit the website and read "Our Story."
 

"In a parade of beehive hair-dos, demure, frilly one-pieces and coquettishly-brandished parasols, and catcalls of "hubba-hubba" and "va-va-va-voom," the ghosts of Bettie Page and Galveston's glorious past were brought back to life Saturday. After a 77-year absence, the Galveston Bathing Beauty Contest, a.k.a. "the pageant of pulchritude," returned to the seaside. Yours truly bit the bullet and signed up to serve as a judge." - John Nova Lomax

Click here to read one of our celebrity judge's review of our Bathing Beauties contest!
 

"In pin curls, polka dots, leopard prints and knee socks, the bathing beauties of the 1920s resurfaced Saturday to parade their style and reinstate a long-ago beach tradition." - Galveston Daily News

Swing by the Galveston Daily News for their feature on this past weekends Bathing Beauties Contest!

View entire story online here.
 

This time tomorrow, IBCs will be down on the beach setting up for the 2009 Galveston Beach Revue!  I can't believe it's finally here!

Important FYI:  The weather on the Island is gonna be "top notch" (to quote WillThing at City Council yesterday)!  And remember, just because rain is forecasted for Houston does not mean we'll have rain here on the Island.  Usually, if we have any rain, it blows right in and right out!  So get your sunglasses, big floppy vintage hats, & sunblock ready to go!

Here's an update:  we are so excited to announce that the vintage category is now full!  We are, however, taking alternates just in case some of the lovely 2009 Bathing Beauties do not show.  (knock on wood that everyone will make it) 

We still have quite a few slots open in the contemporary/modern category, so give us a call or shoot us an email to enter.  To get details and to register, go to the event website and visit the Registration Tab.  We will be on the beach early tomorrow, so if you still want to register, give Adrienne a call at 409-770-7360 to register on Saturday. 

IBC's have spent this week getting last minute items taken care which included a marathon of shirt tagging.  We've also been out talking to media and the community - the Culpepper's are at Fox 26 news studios this morning and as I type are waiting to go live!  We stopped by City Council last night to invite the council and the entire Island out to the event.  We'd also like to thank Charles Killebrew for inviting us to talk about the Bathing Beauties Contest at the Pachyderm Club yesterday.

We'd also like to thank all of our sponsors, judges & emcees, media supporters, friends, and contestants for their support and excitement!  Without your support and encouragement, we couldn't have made it this far without you.  This has definitely been a labor of love for us here at IBC.

And last, but most certainly not least, I'd like to thank our official Event Coordinator, Adrienne!  Dude - you are a rock star and most definitely without you, we'd still be trying to get sponsors!  Thank you for taking the bull by the horns!  Much love to you our fellow IBC!

See all of you on the beach tomorrow!

2009 Galveston Beach Revue: Bathing Beauties Contest
Saturday, May 16
2p to 4pm
Seawall Blvd & 33rd Street on the sand

Official Event Afterparty & Auction
Float Pool & Patio Bar
2828 Seawall Blvd
Head on over after the Revue
IBCs & Bathing Beauties will arrive shortly thereafter
* Drink specials from 5pm to 7pm

p.s. Hope you'll stop by Mod Coffee & Teahouse today as they have re-opened!