Galveston and our seaweed   This time of year, we usually have seaweed that washes ashore and accumulates on the beaches. The visitors don't like it too much, but on the most populated beaches, the bulldozers try to push it back some so everyone avoids having to step over it. Here on the island, we locals know how important the seaweed is. It's a natural process that helps the formation of dunes and also feeds animals.    I visited Pirates Beach today and took a few photos. I wanted to show the seaweed and how it also looks "inside" a dune...I figured that would help people understand. We love our seaweed here in Galveston. We also love how nature takes care of rebuilding dunes and keeping our beaches progressing everyday towards its natural ecological state.   Another note...a lot of s... 06/21/2010

Galveston Sand Castle Competetion Today!   Our East Beach in Galveston is filled with an estimated 20,000 visitors for the annual American Institute of Architects sand castle competition!       [ The Houston Chapter of the AIA sponsors this annual contest. This year 65 teams have their shovels set on winning the prestigious "Golden Bucket" award. Firms begin months in advance generating ideas, developing designs, and assigning duties. On the day of the event, the teams stretch along the beach meticulously sculpting their sand piles and working non-stop for five hours.   The judging of the sandcastles is rated on originality of concept, artistic execution of the concept, technical difficulty, carving technique, and utilization of the site. In addition to the Golden Bucket,” awards are gi... 06/05/2010

OKTAVIA CARSTARPHEN 1939-2010 Oktavia Carstarphen had been a criminal defense attorney in Galveston for years, after serving her apprenticeship. She was one of those attorneys who felt it her duty to represent little people -- the people who, whether or not they were guilty, she felt could easily not get a fair trial if they weren't well represented.  She knew what it was like to be incarcerated, and she knew that sometimes poor legal representation was the cause of a guilty verdict. Before she came to America from Germany, as a teenager she was held as a political prisioner, serving many months in solitary confinement. And although she never seemed to be able to rid herself of her thick German accent, she was a very effective criminal defense attorney. For many months Oktavia fought h... 06/02/2010

Busy Memorial Day weekend in Galveston, Texas!   This long weekend has proven to be wonderfully busy in Galveston!  Our beaches, restaurants, businesses and streets are overflowing with tourists and we love every minute of it. As one of the "locals", I'm also experienced in taking the back streets to get across town, venturing out for errands only when you know everyone will be either sleeping, dining out or maybe just waking up...lol. We "locals" may complain a little about traffic, but I think most all of us really enjoy seeing the fun and smiles on faces of families and people having fun. I say it more and more, but I don't think I've seen it this busy on the island in a very long time. If I had to make an estimate, I think our population would have to triple over this weekend. Our b... 05/31/2010

Enjoy this fabulous 1893 Victorian home with four bedrooms and three full baths,and a huge master suite for private comfort. This home has been updated with a new roof,complete new wiring,new gas lines,new two zone central air and heat,and a new saltwater pool. The price of the house includes the majority of the furniture,"Antiques",and furnishings. We are six blocks from the beach. All you need is your swimsuit and a toothbrush! Additional info about the property including homeowner contacts could be found here: http://www.fizber.com/texas-buy-single-family-home-16779768.html     05/30/2010

The history of the reclamation and restoration of Galveston Island's Grand 1894 Opera House is a true star in the hat of historic preservation. Under the leadership of executive director Maureen Patton, this fine Galveston architectural bookmark has been hosting great national and international talent for over thirty years. Of course the miracle is that funds have been raised every year to supplement ticket sales so that the Grand has managed to stay in the black. One of the great events of each year is called GRAND GATHERINGS: A SERIES OF CULINARY EVENTS.  This year they begin Saturday, June 5th, when Houston TV weatherman, Frank Billingsly and Kevin Gillard join Stephen and Patricia Rennick of the famous Mosquito Cafe to host an evening for thirty guests. If you're on the Island or pl... 05/19/2010

Perhaps it's because I like to cook. Or maybe it's because I like to share a dish that our family and guests especially enjoy. Nevertheless, I've found that my clients seem to especially appreciate it when I make something just for them.  Here's one that is easy, you can't mess up, but still brings rave reviews.   Gâteau au Fromage Artillerie Club   The Artillery Club is the oldest men’s private club west of the Mississippi.  It was incorporated about two years prior to the Civil War for the purpose of protecting Galveston Island.   After 1865, the Artillery Club has been a social club.  Membership is limited to about two hundred.  In addition to presenting debutantes each year, the club has also held its own Mardi Gras celebration, including appointing a secret king and queen, each yea... 05/14/2010

Beginning June 18th, Moody Gardens in Galveston will be hosting "Bands on the Sands" Concert Series.  It will be an 8 week series every Friday night at the Palm beach area.  The admission will be $6 and the shows are 6pm to 10pm.  There will be a fireworks show included! For more information contact Moody Gardens. 05/09/2010

                                                                Galveston East End Victorian (not on tour) This will be the final weekend of the Galveston Historic Homes Tour.  We are in for beautiful weather, so take in a little history while enjoying the sun.  And while your there, grab lunch on the "Seawall", and walk around "The Strand" and have a nice dinner! You will notice a new element his year with a focus on "Historic green architecture." There will be 10 houses open to the public on the tour.  Each with a story to tell, withstanding harsh elements.  There is truly a variety of homes from Victorian, Greek Revival to Modern. Tour is from 10am until 6pm. For more information click here. 05/05/2010

REDUCED TO $308,000 Preface My formative years as a Realtor involved listing and selling Galveston historic homes and renovating a number of them myself.  In addition, I was one of the most active participants in the adaptive restoration of the iron front buildings on Strand and Mechanic streets. The real estate firm that I founded was called The Old House Company. And for many years, my wife and I lived in one of those homes that we had restored.  It was at 1320 Ball. And we restored and owned a building on the southeast corner of 24th and Strand which we named Peter Gengler Market, after a famous grocery store that once operated in the city. While we now live in Dallas and no longer own any real estate in Galveston, I continue to maintain an acute interest in the historical facet of t... 04/26/2010

The San Luis Pass re-opened after being completely submerged by Hurricane Ike Sept. 11, 2008.  There has being 18 months of major renovation and rebuilding with a new infrastructure and a brand new access bridge, campers are returning. While there are more improvements to be made for the playground, cabins, and permanent office to be completely restored.  Come and visit, fish, soak in the sun and have some fun! Click here for more information, or call 1-800-372-7578. 04/18/2010

April 24, 2010, Moody Gardens will be the event location for the Galveston Black Tie and Boots Gala.  It will be benefiting "The American Heart Association.  This years honoree will be State Representative Craig Eiland. Tickets are $200, tables are from $2500.  Dress is black tie and boots! We all know someone that has either had, has or suffered with heart problems, please show your support and come join in on the fun at Moody Gardens. For more information call Jeanette Webster at 713-610-5072 or visit www.heart.org 04/11/2010

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth  Stick with me for a minute.  This story is amusing and interesting.  It's about the Queen of England and the U.S. Postal Service. Just before the Bi-Centennial I begun buying and renovating 19th Century homes in Galveston.  My whole motivation was that it would supplement my small wage as a savings and loan vice president. Interestingly, very few investors throughout America were doing that back then, so I was judged the expert by news organizations looking for the story. Since I had spent years in radio and TV, and was a better than average public speaker, it was a piece of cake for broadcast journalist to pick me to interview.  Now mind you, I'm fully aware that it was primarily a lazy streak in their bones that caused them to pick me rather than someone ... 03/16/2010

If you know anything about Galveston's past, you surely know that it's always been the town's hobby to cover up one body of water while opening up another.  For an example, 25th Street used to be a canal.  For some reason it was filled in, then named Bath Street. Never mind the water was gone. And then there's what's known as English Bayou.  It's the big pond that's on the east side of 61st Street.  It's manmade.  The dirt and sand and stuff that were there were dug up and used to raise the area to its east.  From that came streets like Bayou Shore and Borden. My lifelong friend, Bob McCulley, passed away a few days ago by the hand of a very aggressive cancer.  Bob was a great storyteller.  This is one that he told me. <<==Jody and Bob McCulley Ellis Badgett was the father of the famous... 02/09/2010

State of the Island – Real Estate Sales on Galveston Island, Near Texas It’s a new year and I dare say most everyone is glad to see 2009 end. There is new hope and heightened expectations for better days in 2010. And I must say, it feels good already! The phone is ringing more, there are more appointments on the calendar, more pendings on the board, and it feels good! So I decided to do a little market research using our local MLS to try and figure out where we are. Galveston Island was hit by a hurricane in September of 2008 so I had to do my research ‘around’ that event. I wanted to see how much we have recovered from the first half of 2009 to the last half of 2009 and to see how that recovery compared to the state of the market just before the hurricane. I chose the east end of the i... 01/23/2010

The Game of Life:  Beginner's Handbook.  It's a pocket size book that's about forty pages long, and it was written by my friend of more than half-century, Jerry L. Vaughn, Sr. <<<====JERRY L. VAUGHN, SR. In the Preface, Jerry makes a profound petition: "It is my fondest desire that this book will become required reading and discussion for all high school and college students. "As a book focused upon relationships, particularly those relationships that have been so divisive in the world of education, the roles and ethical relationships, described should qualify this as a primer for any student or person.  Yes, anyone with a basic interest in how "things work"...in a non-judgmental and ethical way...will be enriched by what they read." When Jerry was younger, he worked as a lifeguard in t... 01/23/2010

With our newest agent, Debora Aguirre, Ryson Real Estate is now into Galveston apartment locating. Debora has many years of experence to back up her great knowlege of Galveston apartment complexes! Soon, with updates to our website you will be able to browse all of the galveston apartments and enjoy write ups, pictures, and virtual tours. Please feel free to visit our site on Galveston apartment rentals as it continues to grow! 01/19/2010

Cynthia Mitchell passed away just after Christmas at her home at The Woodlands.  She was 87 and had suffered from the ravages of Alzheimer's disease for about ten years. Her funeral was held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Galveston, the church she and her family had attended fifty years earlier when they lived on the Island.  Her ten children were there to celebrate her life as was her husband, George Mitchell, 90.  And the church was packed with friends.  Another lifelong friend, Trish Clason, sent me one of the printed programs and told me about the service. The program shows that five people, four of them family members, eulogized her.  And I know they did a great job, doing their best to remind all present of how remarkable Mrs. Mitchell was. But the one who captured and told it all... 01/14/2010

There are a number of my high school friends who live in Dallas.  Two of them, Martin Bowers and Erben Schuldt, join me for lunch from time to time to talk about what it was like to grow up in Galveston, and to discuss our Ball High School friends. Martin and his brother, Ralph, were excellent students.  Martin is a mechanical engineer with an MBA.  Ralph is a civil engineer who had an appointment to one of the military academies, but washed out when his entrance medical found he had an astigmatism. Martin and Ralph's daddy. A.A. Bowers, was a general contractor in Galveston.  I had a nice home that I had bought from an estate for a rent house.  The neighborhood was so good that I asked Mr. Bowers if he'd add a garage apartment on top of the garage. Ralph drew an exceptional set of plan... 12/30/2009

CHRISTIE "THE BEACHCOMBER" MITCHELL Ducky Wucky Was Santa to Crazy Frank, Pee Wee, Dirty Gertie and the Rest By Bill Cherry The Beachcomber told me this story.  It happened one Christmas Eve about 10 years after the war. There was a fellow from a good Catholic family who had two talents.  One was shoplifting and the other was picking pockets.  The downtown merchants referred to him as Gonif, a Yiddish word that means "thief."  The night people called him as Ducky Wucky.  Now I can't exactly lay my hands on one distinguishing feature that made him resemble a duck, but there was no doubt.  The guy looked like a duck. A lot of people made their living off the streets back then.  People like dirty little unshaven Pee Wee, who sold yesterday's newspapers, and Crazy Frank, who made-believe h... 12/05/2009