Galveston Monthly - Exploring Your Island Paradise

This Month

Best Meals Under $15

Holidays often come with high costs, from gift-giving to preparing elaborate meals that stretch our budgets. If you're looking for affordable dining options after the holiday season, Galveston Monthly Magazine has you covered. Finding a reasonably priced lunch or happy hour meal in Galveston is easier than it seems if you know where to look. Many local restaurants offer great-value dishes with hearty - and often shareable - portions.

1705 Ball St.

When most architecture enthusiasts hear the term “Victorian,” they picture the elaborate, ornate mansions built by wealthy owners - homes adorned with gingerbread trim, asymmetrical rooflines, bay windows, and towers that radiate opulence. But the Victorian era (1837-1901) also produced a more accessible and distinctly American style known as Folk Victorian.

Mardi Gras Flavors

Mardi Gras in Galveston is more than parades, beads, and music - it’s a full-blown feast. As krewes kick off their celebrations this month and the island prepares for February’s peak festivities, food naturally takes the spotlight. From classic Cajun comfort dishes to inventive coastal twists, Mardi Gras flavors have a way of gathering people together in kitchens, ballrooms, and backyard parties across the island.

A Look Back: The Original Galveston Pleasure Pier

Placeholder image Long before today’s modern amusement rides lit up the Gulf, Galveston’s original Pleasure Pier stood as one of the island’s most ambitious entertainment landmarks. When the pier was first constructed in the early 1940s, it wasn’t an amusement attraction at all.

Built by the U.S. government during World War II, it served strictly as a recreational facility for military service members stationed in or passing through Galveston. In those early years, the structure included only a convention hall, an amphitheater, fishing access, and a handful of basic entertainment facilities - simple gathering spaces meant to offer relaxation and a break from wartime duties.
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The Art of Spectacle

Everyday life on Galveston Island has always left room for spectacle - and Megan Maberry has built a career in that space. As the artist and founder of Hurricane Headdress, Maberry creates bold, wearable art: crowns crafted from feathers, florals, jewels, and one-of-a-kind handmade objects. Each piece is designed to turn heads and spark conversation.

Journey of Lost Lego

Why is it that some beachcombers seem to stumble upon sand dollars with ease, while others search for years without spotting a single one? The answer lies in more than just luck. To improve your odds, it helps to understand what sand dollars are, where they tend to hide, and when conditions are just right for discovery.

Spring Ready Garden

January mornings on Galveston Island invite a slower pace - a quiet walk through the garden, coffee warming your hands, cool air brushing your face, and soft winter light revealing details you’d overlook any other time of year. This is when the garden speaks most clearly.

From boutique bubbles to handcrafted cookies, Galveston’s business scene starts 2026 with energy and charm

As the new year begins in Galveston, it brings fresh businesses, expanded favorites, and a renewed sense of momentum in the downtown district. With Galveston schools closed for an extended holiday break until mid January - three, possibly four weeks depending on the completion of the new Ball High School - more people will be out strolling, sipping, dining, and shopping throughout our vibrant business community.

The Admiralty has expanded into a second space featuring apparel and accessories for hunting and fishing, two longtime coastal pastimes. A new, one-of-a-kind venue is set to welcome guests into a space that feels like a celebration - boutique charm blended with lounge-style flair in vivid pinks.

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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.