Galveston Monthly - Exploring Your Island Paradise

This Month

A House of Stories

Through the years since it was built, the attractive Queen Anne house at 2327 Avenue M provided a home to several owners and numerous boarders, including three individuals who made headlines for very different reasons. The home was built in 1894 on one and a half lots by the Hickenlooper family, on a site in close proximity to the brick warehouse of the immense Texas Cotton Press, where the majority of the stylish Silk Stocking District now exists.

Madame Samaroff

A look at the lovely home on the corner of Avenue M and Twenty-fourth Street would not give most passersby a hint that one of the greatest American female pianists once called it home, but it’s true. Lucy Mary Olga Agnes Hickenlooper (1880-1948) was born in San Antonio on August 8, 1880 to Jane Lucy Loening (1860-1946) and Carlos Hickenlooper (1854-1936), who was an army clerk at Fort Sam Houston.

What's New in Galveston

Galveston has a bustling shopping district, and GM has added a new column to keep its readers up to date on what’s new and cool in G-town. Whether you are looking for a sassy boutique or a bite to eat, be sure to check What’s New before planning your day downtown.

Remembering Mardi Gras Arches

The whole idea for the Mardi Gras arches came about by accident. In the mid 1980s, fifth-generation Galvestonian Dancie Perugini Ware was working on a book about the island’s architecture when she came across a photograph that showed four colorful festival arches built on the Island for a special event in 1881.

Mighty Muscadine Grape

Thought by some people to be a great Texas secret, the Muscadine grape has burst onto the marketplace and into home gardens in recent years. Thanks to effective and positive experimentation and breeding, the Muscadine grape has improved tremendously in size and taste with features that rival top quality table grapes.

Making of a Muffuletta

What is Italian in origin, piled high with meats and cheeses, and round all over? If you guessed the muffuletta (pronounced muh-fuh-leh-tuh) sandwich, you win a gold star. There may be differences in spelling and in the stories surrounding its arrival on Galveston Island, but what isn’t debatable are its contents and origin.

Love Libations - Share some Wine with Your Valentine

Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love that is observed throughout much of the world. Believed to be named for a saint who was imprisoned for performing forbidden marriages for Roman soldiers in the 3rd century AD, the day has grown from a pagan ritual into what is now a very commercialized affair. Along with gifts of cards, flowers, and chocolates, it is also a day on which one is encouraged to wine and dine a loved one.

The Bryan Museum Celebrates The Exuberant History of Mardi Gras in New Exhibit

The Bryan Museum is proud to present their newest exhibit “Mardi Gras: Party by Design,“ on view from February 10 through March 26, 2023.

With the third largest Mardi Gras celebration in the country, Galveston has a rich history of tradition. The Bryan Museum is pleased to showcase their 3rd annual Mardi Gras exhibition focusing on the people who conceive and create these extravagant looks.

Galveston Mardi Gras began in 1867, and by 1871 there were citywide celebrations, parades, lavish parties, costumes and an annual theme. The Island celebrations have been halted over the last 156 years for various reasons including the Great Storm of 1900, World War II, and most recently the Covid-19 pandemic.

Island born businessman and philanthropist George P. Mitchell helped Mardi Gras regain traction as a citywide event in the mid-1980s. Except for its 2021 cancellation, the celebrations have been going strong for over 35 years.

The items on display include costumes and sketches from the 1930s-1950s on loan from The Rosenberg Library and The Galveston County Museum.

Mardi Gras revival items from the 1980s include the 20’ x 40’ mural by artist William “Billy” Quinn created for the ‘Carnival Di Venizia’ theme in 1988, and a costume worn by a member of the Quaker City String Band - a group of musicians known as the Philadelphia Mummers who marched in the parades up until a couple of years ago. Recent designs are by notable Galveston costumer Danny Lee Morgan and seamstress extraordinaire Jo Daily who has been making Treasure Ball trains for over 40 years. This exhibit would be incomplete without a nod towards local talented individuals who create celebratory items for themselves, family and friends. Such items include the amazing posters, umbrellas and costumes. The Bryan Museum is located at 1315 21st Street. The museum is open Wednesday thru Sunday from 10am-5pm. For more details call 409.632.7685 or visit www.thebryanmuseum.org.

Turn Up the Romance This Month with Help From Moxie's Lifestyle

Love is in the air on the island this month and there is no better place to shop for your Valentine than Moxie’s Lifestyle. Galveston’s only lingerie boutique, Moxie’s carries a wide range of lingerie, intimate wellness accessories, athletic wear and sleepwear.

With an extended size range from small to 3X and reasonable prices, they are sure to have something for everyone. Lingerie pieces start at just $12.

Moxie’s Lifestyle aims to remove the stigma of shopping for intimate wellness and they are committed to providing an environment that allows their customers to feel comfortable, confident, and sexy.

If you are unsure of your size, Moxie’s sales associates are trained to measure you. They also have extensive knowledge around intimate wellness.

With new product arriving all month long, be sure to join Moxie’s Lifestyle on February 9 for a Valentine’s Day sip and shop from 5 to 8pm. There will be drinks, snacks, door prizes, special discounts and more. Be sure to mention Galveston Monthly at checkout all month long to receive 15% off full price merchandise.

Follow Moxie’s Lifestyle on Facebook and Instagram and shop online at www.moxieslifestyle.com.

Citrus Tree Companion Plants

Under planting, or companion planting, is a form of enhancing the condition of the existing trees or plants in your garden. Using this form of gardening will attract pollinators, deter common pests, and supply nutrients as well as improve productivity of fruiting trees like citrus.

112th Mardi Gras! Galveston

If you’re looking for a unique Mardi Gras experience in 2023, hit the beach and the historic downtown of Galveston Island. The 112th Mardi Gras celebration this year is February 10-21. Mardi Gras! Galveston, the third largest Mardi Gras celebration in the United States, is expected to draw ...

Arts & Culture

Beaches aren't all Galveston has to offer. Local theater productions, contemporary art exhibits and other family events that always inspires.