By Forest Riggs February has quietly crept upon us this year and with it come two very special events: St. Valentine’s Day on February 14 and the beginning of Mardi Gras on the February 22.  Due to the changing dates for Mardi Gras each year, the much-loved event comes very early this time around, just

By Forest Riggs Great balls of fire! On a dismal Sunday evening at the Island’s 23rd Station Piano Bar, a young man sauntered up to the piano and stole the night. If the genes of P.T. Barnum and Jerry Lee Lewis had been used to clone a prodigy and that talented entertainer landed along the

By Forest Riggs Finally the holidays are over! The turkeys that were stuffed have been eaten, the beautiful packages that were meticulously wrapped have been shredded and opened, and the decorated trees, garlands and hanging balls have come down. The few days that follow Christmas and New Year’s Eve are a real “come down” after

By Forest Riggs What a year it has been. Thankfully, 2018 is coming to an end and a brand new, clean slate of a year awaits all! It seems 2018 was crammed full of events, both good and bad. Just about every  aspect of “being tested” came about, from politics and weather to employment and

By Forest Riggs In Galveston you’d have to be an ostrich with your head in the sand if you are not aware of the original Island Diva, Misty Valdez. Well known for her more than generous contributions to the LGBTQ community and her undying devotion to that community, the very name “Misty Valdez” is synonymous

By Forest Riggs Galveston is full of wonderful things to visit and experience, especially during the holidays. It seems there is always something going on and a huge chunk of it starts in the fall. For a destination known for its sunny beaches and nautical offerings, there is way more to the Island than sand,

By Forest Riggs Did you ever hear a Thanksgiving song? Didn’t think so. I often wonder why that is. Years ago, the Texas Troubadour, George Strait, included a song on his Christmas Strait to You album. The song was “It’s Christmas Time in Texas” and with Strait’s honky-tonk voice and good ol’ Texas Swing beat,

By Forest Riggs Finally, the weather gods have decided to bring a little cooler air and less humidity in which to swim. As summer has faded away and the season changes (hopefully), Galveston Island is ready for fall and all that comes with it. This column has often reported that fall is the beginning of

By Forest Riggs Boo! Finally, it is that time of year again. Halloween quickly approaches and Galveston Island turns black and orange. Like communities everywhere, the Galveston LGBTQ family loves Halloween and does not hold back when it comes to decorating, spooking, partying and donning fantastic costumes. The bars are gayly decorated (literally) with everything

By Forest Riggs Galvestonians love music, especially live music and even more when it comes from a piano! Chances are, if you have sat in the Tremont House sipping the famous chocolate martinis and listening to beautiful piano music, you were being entertained by islander musician and bundle of talent, Kirk Hale. Over the years,