Galveston Monthly - Exploring Your Island Paradise

This Month

Galveston's Irrisistable Food Specials

With a banner bad year for business (hopefully) behind us, local restaurants are rolling out daily deals to entice customers back to their tables in 2025. Some specials run daily, some run weekly, and others are offered for the entire season. All of the restaurants offer guests full meals at a fixed price. Few expressions convey the heritage of American restaurants as does the “Blue Plate Special.” Diners and cafes across the nation offered them as early as the 1920s. These low-priced daily specials offered a main course with all the fixings and remained popular through the 1950s.

A Journey Through Time

The small, Greek Revival one-story home at 1207 Postoffice Street reflects an architectural fashion that was popular in the years leading up to, and several following, the Civil War in Galveston. Over 150 years old, the house features two side porches that were enclosed in later years and a sidelight and transom framed front doorway. Wide stairs lead up to the front porch trimmed with an ornate railing and supported by four substantial columns. As one of the oldest homes in the East End Historic District, it is fascinating to think about what residents have witnessed through the large, double-hung windows.

Local Fosters Urgently Needed

Every year, millions of animals across the United States find themselves in shelters, waiting for a chance to belong to a loving home. Despite this, many people still turn to backyard breeders or pet stores to find new furry family members. This unknowingly fuels unethical practices and overlooks the life-saving potential of adoption. For the Galveston Island Humane Society (GIHS), the mission to give these animals a second chance is more than a goal - it’s a calling. Nonprofits like GIHS are lifelines for animals in need, providing care and shelter locally for more than 2,000 pets annually.

Inside Favia's Boutique Label

Winemaker Andy Erickson has worked for many of Napa Valley’s most prestigious wineries and created Favia with his wife, renowned viticulturist Annie Favia. This rockstar couple of winemaking met in 1994. They have both earned enviable resumes - Erickson making wine for cult wineries like Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate and Favia working as a viticulturist for Napa icons like Cathy Corison. The two would dabble in small production during their early years together.

Winter Gardening

With its subtropical climate, Galveston offers gardeners a unique opportunity to enjoy vibrant winter blooms. Known for its mild winters, the island boasts plenty of sunny days and warm temperatures, often reaching 68 degrees in the heart of January. This Gulf Coast haven also experiences brief cold snaps, occasional frosts, and even rare snowfall, making the selection of cold-hardy plants essential for any successful winter garden.

Coastline As A Canvas

Delighting adults and children of all ages, creating sandscapes has been a staple beach activity since ancient times. Originating from civilizations that used sand as a material for ceremonial and tomb carvings, this ephemeral art form has evolved dramatically over the years. Artist Jolene Martin takes sandscaping to the pinnacle of excellence, using the coastline to create elaborate, yet temporary, masterpieces. Martin is an artist whose canvas is the...

Galveston Chamber of Commerce Celebrates 180 Years with Awards and Country Music Fest

Placeholder image Founded in 1845, the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce, a Five-Star Accredited Chamber, has been a cornerstone of the local business community for 180 years. From its early beginnings to its current role as a driving force for economic and community development, the Chamber continues to make history. The Chamber will honor its rich legacy by recognizing three founding member businesses at its annual meeting on Saturday, January 25, 2025, and celebrating exceptional individuals and organizations that have made a lasting impact on the Galveston community.

The event, held from 6pm to 10pm at the Galveston Island Convention Center, 5600 Seawall Blvd., will also feature the Second Annual Galveston Island Country Music Fest with performances by Texas rising stars, headliner Drake Milligan and Houston’s own The Powell Brothers.

Honoring Outstanding Contributions Galvestonian of the Year For decades, the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce has celebrated individuals who exemplify dedication, integrity, and service to the community. This year, the prestigious 2024 “Nonno” Tony Smecca Galvestonian of the Year Award will be presented to Steven Conner, a past Chamber Chairman and President & CEO of Regent Care Centers.

What’s New in Galveston

An upscale, pub-like sports bar opens new location on Seawall, a unique gallery featuring ‘eye art’ opens downtown, and a chic new boutique offering custom designs opens downtown in the 1895 Hutchings, Sealy & Company Building

Placeholder image Each month, Galveston Monthly compiles a list to keep its readers up to date on what’s new and cool on the island. What’s new in the neighborhood this month? A new Irish-pub-style restaurant with ties to Plano is opening a location on Seawall Blvd. A one-of-a-kind art gallery featuring museum-quality printouts and jewelry made from your personal, “eye-catching” photographs has opened downtown. And a unique boutique offering custom-designed clothing and accessories has opened in the 1895 Hutchings, Sealy & Company Building.

Whether you live here, or you plan to travel down the causeway for a visit, all three of these new businesses offer a unique experience for customers.

McNeal’s Tavern & Eatery
The owners of McNeal’s Tavern and Eatery, Tom McGill and Chris O’Neal, initially met in a bar over a meal and a beer. The food was good, the service was remarkable, and the conversation led to a partnership that sparked the opening of two restaurants, one in Plano, Texas, and their newest eatery on Galveston Island
Read More

Home & Garden
Enjoy inspirational interiors, decorating and gardens from those that help shape Galveston Island style.

Food & Drink

Where to find lunch, brunch, dinner covering casual to fine dining. These places are not afraid to try new things. Hope you're hungry.

Arts & Culture

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