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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.
 

Ladies and gentlemen.  Step right up!  Get your original, official IBC pendants here!

 

After numerous requests and inquiries from Islanders all over, we here at IBC are so excited to begin carrying the often imitated but never duplicated official, original, custom IBC pendants!

 

All of us here at Islander By Choice are so excited to announce this new product through our partnership with local jeweler and custom pendant crafter, John Ford Jewelers, the Gulf Coast's Premiere Custom Jeweler!

 

Pictured: yellow gold, but comes in white gold & silver too! 

 

About the Original IBC Pendant

These pendants are cast in the original molds made and owned by a now defunct Island jeweler who started around 1900.  When the jeweler closed its doors, John Ford purchased the original IBC molds.

 

Today, John Ford Jewelers takes great pride in continuing this Galveston tradition.  Each of these pendants is made by hand.  They come in two different sizes, medium and large, and are available in yellow gold, white gold, and silver.

 

How do you get one?

It's as easy as purchasing an IBC t-shirt. Click here to purchase yours today!  Your order will be shipped directly to you!

 

Visit our Merchandise section for all IBC stuff! 

 

Check out John Ford Jewelers: the Gulf Coast's Premiere Custom Jeweler

John Ford Jewelers

2114 61st Street

Galveston Island

409-740-1463

www.johnfordjewelers.com/

 

 

  

Hey IBCers, check out the volunteer opportunity below.  Gtown's own Family Service Center's Community Support Services program is seeking volunteers to help some of our fellow locals, older adults who are moving into new housing.  This effort is being spearheaded by fellow IBC and friend, Holly McManus.

 

What: Adopt a Resident

Volunteers are needed for the second round of moves Mid-March (see details below) to help older adults and persons with disabilities living at the Galveston Housing Authority's Holland House Apartments move to freshly renovated units at Gulf Breeze. GHA is working with Family Service Center's Community Support Services program to bring together small groups of volunteers to "adopt" a resident for the move or to assist with the move in some other manner. Holly is seeking help from individuals and organizations who may be able to assist.  Can't help?  Please pass along the word to those who may be able to help.

 

Why are they Moving?

Holly says, "This move is necessary so that GHA can make much needed renovations to Holland House. GHA is doing all that it can to make this move easier for residents by providing packing materials, movers and transportation on moving day. Many of those relocating from Holland House are individuals with physical limitations, and while some residents have family and friends to assist them, many do not. Volunteers are needed, however, to help those residents without family or friends nearby with packing and getting settled into their new apartments. Moving, for anyone, is physically and emotionally challenging and stressful - there is SO much involved in the process!!! The stress involved in moving is even more so as we age, or have limited physical abilities."

 

When? And What Can We Do?

The actual moves from Holland House to Gulf Breeze will occur over the course of two weeks in March, with several residents relocating on each of the scheduled move days.

 

The second round of moves will begin on Monday, March 14^th - several residents will be moved each day through Friday, March 18^th.  ( The first moves happened March 3^rd March 4^th).  Thus far 25 residents moving the week of March 14^th have requested volunteer assistance with packing for the move and unpacking once in their new apartments. The number of volunteers needed to assist residents will vary depending upon the individual's abilities, available supports and amount of belongings. 

 

Small groups of volunteers will be needed:

·        March 7^th-13^th to help residents pack for the moves occurring the following week, and

·        March 14^th-18^th (and possibly into the weekend) to help residents with remaining packing needs as well as getting settled into their new homes.

 

If you or your friends, organization, civic, church or other group would like to help residents of Holland House please contact Holly McManus, LCSW at hmcmanus@fscgal.org or (409) 392-6078 regarding which days, how much time and/or in what capacity you would like to offer assistance. (examples: packing, un-packing, coordinating volunteer groups).

 

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!
 

Selflessness.  It's a pretty amazing trait (although maybe not a "real" word if you ask Webster, so for the wordsmiths out there I'll go with altruism) and when you catch a glimpse of it, there's no denying how powerful it can be.  Every day many people do selfless things - a few that have been done by folks that we know personally have included donating a kidney, building a house for a family in need or speaking out for a child who needs a voice when their own would not be heard.

And some people get to do altruistic things every day - take our friend Mrs. M, for example (I wonder if she'd be too bashful for me to name her here, so I'll err on the side of caution for a change and go with Mrs. M).  She works with the Family Service Center of Galveston and, since becoming an IBC over 2 years ago has been able to perform many selfless acts - by nature of her career choice and obvious natural instinct.  The world of social services seems to me like a real toughie.  Having been on the receiving end of a very bad social service provider once, I know I couldn't handle it.  I imagine it is a career path that is often frustrating, many times heartbreaking, and probably not terribly lucrative...

BUT... But - I'll bet, based on the few we know in addition to Mrs. M that work for FSC,  I'll bet it is also often full of hope, on occasion emotionally rewarding beyond any financial bonus and certainly it is something that requires a constant mentality of selflessness that I have no doubt makes a difference in so many people's lives but that they, the Mrs. M's of the world, might never physically get to see.

Recently, Mrs. M completed something she had been working on for a while.  It's a small, folded pamphlet that basically has information.  Phone numbers. Hotlines.  Important messages.  It is a "Community Assistance Information" guide that she has compiled that will help countless people get in touch with the help they need.

Galveston police officers will be able to bring these pamphlets with them to calls that they might otherwise feel helpless responding to - those where there is a child who is hungry or a spouse that has been abused and might be too terrified to even communicate with.  

It will be available at the Island's community centers and clinics.  

And, I'd like to make it available here so that if there's someone you know who you suspect might need help, maybe it wouldn't be so hard to just click on it, print it off and hand it over...
resources.pdf
 
(I'm afraid my scanner only accomodates an 8 1/2 x 11 paper, not am 8 1/2x15 sheet, so its a bit truncated... You just can't stop technology.... Unless you're me.)
 

FYI folks - just in case you haven't received a forwarded email or seen the updates on Facebook from the CVB or other locals, the report on Good Morning America regarding oil on Texas beaches was totally wrong!

Let's be clear: Galveston Island is unaffected as is the rest of the Texas coast. 
We'd really like to keep it that way.  And I'm requesting no more bad juju like this. 

State officials have corrected the statement.  Check out the Associated Press article for more information: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100607/ap_on_re_us/us_gulf_oil_spill_texas

Keep our fellow Gulf Coast neighbors in your hearts and minds.

 

Hurricane Season is here and I think we all know the importance of being informed and prepared.

One of the ways to be sure you know a "storm's a- brewin" and we may need to evacuate (aside from the fact that it'll be blaringly obvious due to the INSTANT. INSANE. MEDIA. FRENZY. that will swarm the Island and will manage to find the single-worst looking palm tree, stand beneath it among a pile of fallen fronds, and make that very spot reporting headquarters so all of our family and friends watching the news from far away will surely tune in to be reassured that this little sandbar that we're all "so crazy" to live on (crazy like a fox, eh?!) is sure to be wiped off the map in a matter of days...) is to sign up for the City's Emergency Notification Program. 

The Emergency Notification Program is basically a (free to us) tool that allows the City to send out a mass voice mail and/or text message to our land line phone, cell phone and/or emails.  What might they call/text/email us about?  The City lists a number of situations including "unexpected road or street closures, the need to evacuate buildings or neighborhoods due to situations like hurricanes, severe weather, abnormally high tides, and water service suspensions."

Note: residents and businesses with listed phone numbers have already been included in this system, but if you're unsure or if you'd like to register a few other contacts, go online today and get started - it takes less than 2 minutes complete online!  (If you'd like to discontinue your use you can do that online too - check out the "opt out" link here...)
 

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

With green energy and sustainable living all the rage, sometimes it's hard to imagine how these trends apply here in Galveston where an estimated two-thirds of the Island's buildings are historic.  But living "green," conserving energy, and having a healthy and historic home is totally possible.  In fact historic homes have many sustainable features already built into their design! 

To illustrate that energy efficient and healthy historic homes are possible and affordable, the Galveston Historical Foundation embarked on its Green Revival project in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the 1772 Foundation.  Back in February, GHF moved a small Ike-damaged cottage across town to its new home at 3101 Avenue Q.  This project is transforming an Ike-damaged 19th-century cottage into a public show house that conforms to the highest national standards of the "green" building movement.  Specifically, this project will "demonstrate how the energy efficient properties inherent in historic design and original fabric can work in tandem with sensitively planned modern systems to conserve resources as well as heritage."

As an owner of an Island home built circa 1870 (that the Mr. and I are still working on), we've tried to be diligent in our renovation to maintain the historic integrity of our cottage but also figure out ways to maximize our energy efficiency.  For example, we knew that removing our original 140 year old windows would severely damage our home's aesthetic and was far too costly.  After some research and visiting GHF's Preservation Resources Center, we found out that various affordable options are available.

While specifics may differ for each building, we had issues with heat gain and air infiltration.  Options to combat these problems include exterior or interior shutters and transparent films (not tinted) that line the glass panes to reduce heat gain and block up to 90% of infrared heat.  Did you know that compared to the performance of brand new energy efficient windows on the market today, historic windows with basic weather stripping and treated with a heat gain film can match the efficiency of a new window and preserve the look and the integrity of your historic home?  And of course the best piece of news - this is much cheaper than new windows!

Overall, now is a great time to take advantage of Galveston's gorgeous spring to tackle some of these projects on your home here on the Island.  Even better:  the Green Revival home will be open this month where you can find out even more ways to improve the health and efficiency of your historic home!

The project's unveiling will be at this year's GHF 36^th Annual Homes Tour held the first two weekends in May.  Once the renovation is complete, the house will be opened to the public again this summer for various educational opportunities.  For more information on GHF and the Green Revival Project, visit www.galvestonhistory.org.  For more information on Islander By Choice, visit www.ibcgalveston.com

 

 

There are a lot of things that we don't like to do and there are a lot of things that we don't like to do.  However, there are very few things that we don't like to do that we like to do.  Let me explain.

I am not a very great athlete.   It seems that I can either hold my own or flat out stink at various sports.  As a kid, I loved baseball and could field like a champ, however, I couldn't hit that stinking leather ball if my life depended on it.  so that was out.  I tried tennis and had the endurance to play 6 sets if i wanted to.  The problem was, I would lose 0-6 unless my opponent fell over dead.  I was that bad.  Then i tried swimming and i was really good at it.  I was fast and i could go all day.  The problem was, I hated it.  I loved competing.  I loved winning.  I just hated practicing every day.  In college, I boxed on the amateur level for a little while and was pretty good (but in that sport, you could fly a plane between the line between good and very good)  However, while training for boxing, i realized for the first time in my life that i was a very good runner.  I could dominate the casual runner on a 3 miles course.  Problem: I hate running.

When i saw that the Triathalon is coming back to Galveston (ironmanlonestar.com) this weekend, I started thinking about how dedicated these folks are to do all of the training and hard work.  What goes through these people's minds?  Why would they put themselves through all of this training for a t-shirt?  How hard do they have to work?  Well, some of these question were answered by my triathlete friend, (and by the way, triathlete winner!) Betty Massey.

Betty said that she started running when she was 48 and ran 11 marathons between 2000 and 2006.  After retiring from distance running, and being too competitive in nature to stop, she now does triathalon sprints.  Here you swim .5 mile, bike for 12 miles and run a 5K.  She trains for the triathalons by keeping in shape and then, 8 weeks in advance of the event, she does "two a days" combining two of the three sports training in one day. 

One thing I always wondered about was why a triathalon started with the swim.  I wouldn't want to get out of the water and jump right on a bike for the chaffing factor.  I have asked this question to a few people and the best answer i get is something about fatigue and drowning factor which i suppose offers some merit.

This weekend's Ironman Lonestar festivities will bring 6000 people from every state and around the world to the island.  So whether you're into sports or not, it should be a celebrated event in that it brings revenue and exposure to the island and island businesses.

So pretty much, from my competitive nature, this is the event for me.  All three things that i hate and am good at all wrapped up into one event that equals a 2 hour vomit fest.  I should start training for 2011 now!  BTW, if you are signed up for this tomorrow's sprint event, don't get your hopes up on being the first across the ribbon.

Betty Massey: "I intend to win!"
 

The Beach Revue is coming up quick and all of us at IBC are excited about this year's event!  We appreciate all the support and help we've gotten from sponsors and fellow community members - we truly couldn't put this event on without you.  (check them out at www.galvestonbeachrevue.com)

Of course what would the Bathing Beauties Contest be without a panel of distinguished judges?  We are so excited to announce our celebrity judges for this year's Bathing Beauties Contest!  Over the next couple of days, we'll announce one more of our celebrity judges.  

IBC recognizes the great importance of preserving and promoting this Island's history.  That's one of the reasons why we are proud to reserve a seat at the judge's table each year for the Galveston Historical Foundation's acting president.

David Bowers is the current GHF President (and, as such has a weekly column in the Galveston Daily News every Saturday), a member of the Galveston Rotary Club and a big brother in the Galveston Big Brother, Big Sister program.  Historic Preservation is a passion for David and he currently is President of the Galveston Historical Foundation.  David received the Distinguished Volunteer Service Award from GHF and has restored older homes and a corner store.  David has been an Islander By Choice since moving here in 1989!

Stay tuned for more judge announcements in the coming days!  To meet David Bowers, judges, and Bathing Beauties, join us at the Meet & Greet at the Historic Hotel Galvez & Spa on Friday, May 14 from 5pm to 7pm.  More information at www.galvestonbeachrevue.com