Category: Across the Causeway

By Forest Riggs

On May 23, 2019, Galveston Island lost one of its most beloved citizens and a tremendous supporter of the island’s LGBTQ community. After a lengthy illness, Jerry Ann Eubank left her earthly life to begin a new journey.

Over the years Jerry and her loving husband Mike, working together as a team, impacted the lives of everyone they encountered. Known for their generosity and the constant outpouring of love and assistance, the Eubank name became rather iconic on the Island. Everyone knew and loved “Mike and Jerry.† When Jerry died it was a huge loss for the tight community and, not to sound trite, but it is fair to say her passing left a huge hole.

Missing their Island friend and staunch LGBTQ supporter, residents discussed and debated the best way to honor Jerry Eubank. As she and Mike had been so involved in community activities, organizations, and volunteering for various causes, ideas ranged from a memorial tree in a park, a plaque in a prominent place, or possibly a scholarship. As a master gardener, for years Jerry was instrumental in organizing and supporting the annual Backyard Garden Tour, as well as other tours and island activities. Selecting the appropriate way to honor and remember the female part of the dynamic Eubank team needed to be something that embodied all that was Jerry.

Enter Texas United Charities. Started in Houston several years ago, the 501(c)3 organization was born out of a spirit of love, compassion, and giving. TUC, as it is known, wanted to develop a charity that would assist members of the LGBTQ community and do so in a fun and exciting way. Simply put, TUC wanted to put fun into FUNdraising, and they have succeeded!

In 2018, a Galveston branch of TUC was launched. With guidance and assistance from its parent group in Houston, GTUC took root on the Island. It did not take long for the fledgling Galveston group to catch on fire and quickly blossom into a dynamic organization with roots deep in the LGBTQ community of Galveston. As GTUC President Shelia Morton said: “We raise money and we do things for our community that others won’t or can’t do.†

The idea of helping others within any LGBTQ community is no novel thing. LGBTQ folks have been taking care of their own for many years. GTUC vice president Tim Dudley is quick to point out, “This is a great organization and really does a lot of good. We work hard to raise money and make it fun along the way.â€

GTUC holds several fundraisers throughout the year; the events usually include entertainment, food, silent auctions, and raffles. Money is raised and it is amazing to witness the giving spirit of the community.

Jerry Eubank Angel Fund

After some meetings and talks with Mike, GTUC decided to honor the memory and legacy of Jerry by establishing the Jerry Eubank Angel Fund. Launched shortly after Jerry’s death, organizers got busy planning and coordinating the fund. Word quickly spread and the island community was totally on board and ready to support the effort.

Jim Greaser, manager of the popular 23rd Street Station Piano Bar and new director of membership to GTUC said of Jerry: “Oh, my gosh. She was such a loving person and a giver. Always ready to help when and where she could. Together Mike and Jerry enhanced our LGBTQ community.â€

After losing his wife of fifty-three years, Mike Eubank is still hard at it supporting the community and doing his part to honor the memory of his beloved wife. Over the years the Eubanks bought and restored many historic properties on the island’s East End. Their skills and knowledge of restoration, real estate, codes, and general knowledge landed the coupled with the moniker of being a “go-to†source on the island. Whenever someone needed a recommendation for work to be done, where to get what, it was always met with “go ask Mike and Jerry Eubank!â€

Now without his partner Jerry, Mike remains a “go-to†for the community. Working every day at the new Jim Nonus venture, The Antique Pavilion on 23rd Street, Mike remains busy and ever-present in the community. Owner Jim Nonus said: “Mike is fantastic. He is great in the store and helping customers, and he knows his stuff.â€

Know his stuff, he does. Over 53 years of their marriage, Mike and Jerry collected bought and sold all sorts of things from antique furniture, collectible pottery, and stained glass to Coca-Cola memorabilia and pocketknives. (Jerry was a master stained glass artist and over the years restored many windows for churches, civic buildings, and private homes.)

Together, Mike and Jerry raised two wonderful sons and were very active and involved parents from scouting to FFA and 4H. The Eubank team made a great life for the boys and their friends. 

Also, avid “cruisers†Mike and Jerry completed over 80 cruises and made long-lasting friends on the various cruise lines and ports of call they frequented.

On Saturday, February 8, GTUC did it again. A fundraiser held at 23rd St. Station Piano Bar, brought out the community and friends of Mike and Jerry. There was a silent auction with some fabulous items on which to bid, steaming pots of gumbo, cakes, cookies, and all sorts of food.

Jerry loved music and sang in choirs for many years. She and Mike were regulars at various clubs around the island, always giving support to musicians and entertainers. With 23rd St. becoming a very popular piano bar, Mike and Jerry enjoyed the music and the fun…and the wine! Popular pianist LU/X really impressed Jerry and she dearly loved his beautiful playing. The Eubanks would come every night that LU/X performed and always Jerry would tell him, “You are fabulous!â€

Island entertainer John Schmidt (AKA Paige Turner) is another performer that Jerry adored. “When I first started doing shows and entertaining, it was Jerry who told me to sing the songs people wanted to hear and not get so worried about what to sing. Just do it!â€

The GTUC fundraiser raised over $6000.

Jerry believed there were angels that often helped people in need. A strong, spiritual woman, Jerry felt it was a person’s duty to help when and where they could, no matter who.

The Jerry Eubank Angel Fund honors Jerry’s memory and a strong desire to help others. The fund has already assisted with rents, medicines, utility bills, burials, and other needs of Galveston’s large LGBTQ Community. Thank you, Mike Eubank, for sharing Jerry with the community. And thank you, Jerry Eubank, for being you. Your legacy gives us all something to aspire to and offers hope and love for everyone.

A resident of Galveston where he can be found wasting bait and searching for the meaning of life, Forest Riggs recently completed a collection of short stories about his beloved island and is working on a novel.

By Forest Riggs

It is finally here — the time of the year when everyone goes crazy, especially on Galveston Island! After another year of planning, legal battles, and tremendous creative efforts, Mardi Gras 2020 is here. Coming early this year, the blue, green, and gold event begins on the same day as another “biggie†in the realm of holidays and celebrations: St. Valentine’s Day.

This year, Friday, February 14 will not only serve as the day to shoot or dodge Cupid’s arrows, but also the day to break out the beads, King Cakes, and other festive activities that come with the celebration of Mardi Gras on the Island.

St. Valentine’s Day! So, what is the big deal? It is a really big deal if you are in love with someone or maybe even have a crush on another person. Aside from all the commercialization which now comes with every holiday, Valentine’s Day is a big money-maker, especially for those that sell cards, candy, and flowers. Just about everyone loves to receive a card or some gift that reflects a feeling of love and desire. Victor Hugo said, “Life’s greatest happiness is to be convinced we are loved.†This is true. Everyone wants to be loved and feel they are important to someone.

For me, Valentine’s Day is sort of a “have and have not†day; it is pretty great is you have someone special and pretty rotten if you are alone and even worse if you want someone but they do not want you in return. Robert Frost wisely put it, “Love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.†Indeed it is.

Even if single, the day can be a great time to express warm feelings for a family member, friend or even a co-worker. Love does not have to be romantic or mushy. In the end, it is a fun day to let folks know you care and are happy they are in your life.

“Valentine’s Day is a day of love which honestly, love should be given, fulfilled and shown every day not just one time out of a year. Love is the key essence to life; it touches the heart and embraces the mind.†—Telisa McCaughlin

Since the first day of Mardi Gras falls on St. Valentine’s Day this year, why not make it a very special event? Kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Get your sweetie something nice — a card, some candy, flowers, or all of it. Why not? It is a day to express yourself.

The great thing is that this year, you can cap Valentine’s Day evening by participating in some “opening night†Mardi Gras activities. There are always a few parades, balls and festive parties that kick off the first night of the two weeks ahead.

Mardi Gras 2020

After much fuss and even a court battle, for now, things will stay the same. The parades will travel the same routes, venues will remain in previous locations, and there will still be closed streets and a charge to enter certain areas. Nothing has changed other than some Galvestonians, a handful of merchants, a judge, and some lawyers have had their day in court…well, almost.  The judge dismissed the suit being brought by a downtown business owner and merchant, mainly against the business and merchant that appears to profit most by promoting certain downtown Mardi Gras (and other) events that require closing public streets and charging admission fees to access certain areas within. The case and dismissal are being appealed and time marches on. If you ask me (and rarely does anyone), the ones that mainly benefit are the lawyers!

Don’t let the legal crap dampen your 2020 Mardi Gras fun. The parades, of which there are many, remain free and fun. The routes are always lined with bead-snatching party-goers that turn out no matter the weather or court battle. The clubs in Galveston, are busting at the seams with craziness, and parties abound on every block. The parades, times and events are too numerous to list, however, Galveston.Com provides a really good itemized event list, as well as the official City of Galveston website, complete with parade times and routes. If you are lucky enough to be invited or pay to attend a private ball, party, or ride on afloat, it is well worth it!

Most locals say they really prefer the second weekend of Mardi Gras. The popular Krewe of Momus night parade is on Saturday, February 25 and is always a huge party for everyone. By this time in the two weeks, everyone has partied, caught beads, danced, and visited port-a-potties until they are blue in the face.

The wildest parade of all, however, is the Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) parade on February 28. This is the culmination of all the parades, parties, and festivities. Traditionally it is the night to “get it all out†before Ash Wednesday and Lent on February 29.

For those that believe and participate, Lent is the beginning of a 40-day period leading to Easter Sunday. During Lent, the worn-out partiers are encouraged to turn from sin, examine their lives, and prepare for Easter. Rather spiritual or not, it provides a great opportunity for some self-examination and maybe even fix some karma! During Lent, participants are encouraged to give-up things in which they indulge or that stand in the way of their spiritual path. There are comments on giving-up sweets, alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, certain foods, or other items that, at times, can dominate a person. In truth, though not easier, it is better to give up actions and ideals that are not healthy, such as lies, gossip, anger, bigotry, and so forth. These are the “bad candies†that prevent us from becoming the true persons we need to be.

Regardless of what you give up this year, go out and have a great and safe time. There are worse things than getting hit by Cupid’s arrow or falling in love. Grab some beads when they fly by, drink up, and party. Then on Wednesday, bid it all farewell for Lent! Good luck!

A resident of Galveston where he can be found wasting bait and searching for the meaning of life, Forest Riggs recently completed a collection of short stories about his beloved island and is working on a novel.

By Forest Riggs

Recently a friend in North Carolina wrote and asked, “So what’s going on in Galveston this time of year?†My hasty response was short and sweet: “Nothing!â€

All kidding aside, mid-to-late January is a really slow time on the Island. The holidays have passed and late January finds the community pretty quiet in the days that lead up to St. Valentine’s Day and the onset of Mardi Gras 2020! Those are two big reasons to celebrate but sadly, they’re not until mid-February. Checking all the calendars and sites that post Island happenings, there really is not much that registers on the LGBTQ radar. I suppose we could call this period the “Winter Doldrums.â€

In truth, quiet and boring may not be such a bad thing. After all, January is a month in which to regroup and ready oneself for the new year and, of course, hit a few January White sales. As the shopping possibilities for fine linens are very limited in Galvetraz, that option does not play out so well; Walmart can only sell so many towels and sheets. 

As the Island transitions from the winter holidays and decorations come down, the stores begin to fill with red and white everything for St. Valentine’s Day and parking lot tents spring up at florists and Kroger on the Seawall. The one thing that does signify something big is coming is the several aisles of Mardi Gras “stuff†that takes over the Galveston Walmart. Every year it seems the amount of purple, gold and green kitsch grows larger and more creative. As you might expect there is everything imaginable on shelves. About the only thing I have not seen are glow-in-the-dark, Mardi Gras colored cock rings; given the entrepreneurial types on the island, we may eventually see some glowing crotches in the three bars that are most frequented by the Galveston LGBTQ crowd.

Regardless of where you hang out or party, the Island is gearing up for Mardi Gras 2020. There is some serious litigation taking place right now that will determine how and where the actual celebrations and parades will take place. Some downtown merchants have for a long time complained about the rowdy crowds, lack of shoppers, closing public streets, and charging people to enter the official Mardi Gras area. Challengers say it is illegal to block public streets and charge an entry fee. Others say it is too loud, too messy and uncontrolled. I would imagine when you get right down to it, it is more about who is making the money vs. who is not. Mardi Gras will go on, just as it has; floats will pass, beads will fly, there will be lines for porta-potties, music will play, and beer will flow. We’re just not exactly sure where at this point.

I think I would tell my North Carolinian friend that although things are a little quiet, there is still a lot of things to do on the Island. Galveston still offers some mighty fine restaurants, museums, galleries, the beach, great neighborhoods to explore (on foot, car, or bicycle), the 1894 Grand Opera House is starting its 125th season with some outstanding presentations.

For those that enjoy fishing, January is a great time to still net a few flounder and catch your limit in bull reds (redfish). Our Houston friends love to come to the Island during January as it is not as crowded, lines are not long, and traffic is pretty calm — unless you are on the Harborside Race Track!

This is always a fun time of the year to watch as the insides of the bars, whether gay, straight or stray, transform into Mardi Gras Madness. Robert Mainer and Robert’s Lafitte still “win the prize†for the most decorated watering hole. The staff there goes all out and the festive environment and fabulous drag shows make for some real Island fun, thanks, Jada and girls.

Todd Slaughter is still offering a fun and fabulous place to hang out, catch some top-notch performances and parades. Rumors Beach Bar on the Seawall still packs ’em in at night and especially on the weekend. Todd and his capable staff make sure the drinks are flowing, the music is playing, and patrons are enjoying their visit. The shows are absolutely amazing. Dessie Love Blake puts together the best of the best and with all her connections, brings some great talent to the rock!

Over at 23rd Street Station Piano Bar, Todd and Tommy have done an excellent job of providing locals and visitors with some spectacular talent. The piano thing has grown and keeps the bar-hopping at all hours. Over the past year, manager Jim Greaser along with Todd and Tommy have secured some great, fun talent to keep the vibe going. A piano bar is always a risk, but a quick look around and you will plenty gay, straight, curious, and fun-seeking folks enjoying the successful club.

So, is January “dead†or just resting? Having lived here many years I can honestly say that the Island, no matter what month, is still worth a visit and fun place to ensure a good time. Come on down and check out the clubs, the locals, and the friendly attitude that permeates the LGBTQ community. A resident of Galveston where he can be found wasting bait and searching for the meaning of life, Forest Riggs recently completed a collection of short stories about his beloved island and is working on a novel.

By Forest Riggs

Finally, the New Year has arrived. With Thanksgiving and Christmas well behind us, New Year’s Eve came along and gave cause for great celebration. Millions gathered and watched the ball drop in one fashion or another and millions awoke to great hangovers on the 2nd of January. The good thing is that 2019 is in the books, behind us and gone. What a year it was.

Always one to dabble in the mystical realm of things, I decided to check out the number 2020, with numerology, and see what sort of year can be expected or predicted by the numerical combination of 2s and 0s.

Once the great oracle was consulted, it was determined that 2020 might not be such a bad year after all! Everyone would agree that after the past year 2019, anything would be an improvement.

Of course, 2020 will be an election year and that in its self could create stress and turmoil. Also, there will be the 2020 U.S. Census, which has already stirred a few pots, mostly on the political scene. Sadly, the political scene seems to dominate everything these days and most fear it will only get worse in 2020 as America moves toward the ousting or re-electing of an unpopular president.

Fear not! The number of gods has spoken and 2020 does not look so bad. In a nutshell, 2020 at the onset looks pretty sensible and promising. Most years do, but as the months pass, negativity piles up and ruins everything.

What do the numbers 2-0-2-0 tell us about the coming New Year? In numerology, the trick is to add all the numbers and get down to a single digit, which then can be “interpreted†or “read†for the year. The year 2020 thus becomes a universal year (whatever that means) of 4.  2+0+2+0=4.

So what, you might wonder, is involved in a 4 year? In numerology, the number 4, as in a year, represents order, responsibility, stability, family, home, manifestation, conservation, and peace. With number 4 also comes physical reality and practical solutions. 4 is the number of work and getting things done! All of this certainly sounds good, but how will it play out? All of these components are positive when it comes to our lives but since politics is the bad boy on most folk’s minds this year, perhaps it will turn out “OK†or a least a bit better than in the past. As a country, we could certainly use some order, respectability, stability, conservation, and peace. If 2020 does bring these things, it should make for a wonderful New Year.

Further digging into the “divinatory arts†reveals that the year 2020 (4) symbolizes faith and trust in relationships. You can have the most amazing kind of love in the world. However, if you don’t trust or remain faithful to your partner in 2020, it is all for naught! So there you have it, the numbers don’t lie. If you have someone, be true and faithful. And if you are single, find someone! (Much easier said than done.)

I would be remiss if I did not point out that all of these things are great, and each is attainable and available on a personal level, as well as in the context of a New Year. Every individual is in charge of his or her destiny and should make an appropriate choice the lean toward a positive life. (I know, this reads like LIFE 101). I guess what the numbers are saying for 2020 is to try and do better, live better, and be better. The right choices will impact your life in ways that ensure 2020 to be a wonderful New Year. We all hear the old adage that “happiness lies within†and perhaps that will be the lesson of 2020. In order to find the predicted peace and stability, one must look within first, and then look out and about. Remember, happiness spreads like ripples in a pool when a tiny pebble has been tossed in, slowly spreading outward and reaching far.

With all the trees, lights, and tinsel down, New Year’s Eve toasts over, bellies full of cabbage and black-eyed peas, it’s time to ease into a beautiful New Year. Think of it as a new, blank canvass and you get to paint it!

I wish for all to make great choices and paint a beautiful canvass that will be the year 2020. Enjoy the New Year and enjoy each other. Remember this “4†year is about family, home, and peace. Make it happen!

A resident of Galveston where he can be found wasting bait and searching for the meaning of life, Forest Riggs recently completed a collection of short stories about his beloved island and is working on a novel.

| So long, 2019 and welcome, 2020. “2020 has got to better than 2019â€

By Forest Riggs

Can you believe it? Seems like in the blink of an eye, 2019 raced by — and none too soon! Sometimes I think the time has “speeded up†and science just has not figured out exactly how to prove this. Maybe the entire universe is spinning faster and faster. The Doomsday clock ticks on and, for the past several years, the little black hand creeps closer to the end while folks in high and low places pontificate on the movement of said hand. 

I laughingly tell friends when I am pontificating, “The end has been awaited since man began the journey on Earth.†In the Judeo-Christian realm, “the end time is coming.†Folks have touted this thought for thousands of years and, still, it has not come. I have a theory on this and a darn good one, but that is for another time and place. Suffice that times marches on and, quite possibly, rather than marching, it has started running.

The phrase you hear most often from friends and colleagues is “2020 has got to better than 2019.†I find myself saying this each year as the New Year approaches; I guess in essence it means that every year sucks!

We simply move on to the next year, recalling all the crap we dealt with over the past 365 days and hope a better year lies ahead.

Looking back on 2019, I can honestly say it was a pretty rotten year. Aside from the atrocious politics that constantly overshadowed everything in 2019, Galveston’s tight gay community took some pretty hard hits when it came to losing friends and loved ones. No matter the situation, the losses hit hard and hearts remain broken. Resilient by nature, Galvestonians keep a stiff upper lip, facing the losses and finding great strength and comfort through the close bonds that exist on the Island.

Then there were storms and flooding. No hurricane, mind you, but the Island did get some high water, along with our friends across the causeway. Many businesses and homes on the Island sustained major water damage. All of this weather activity caused the home owner’s insurance, wind storm, and flood coverage to sail through the roof.

There was the horrible photo of Galveston police leading a detained black man through the streets of downtown, tethered by a rope and led by two officers on horseback — not a good moment for mankind and certainly not for Galveston. My phone did not stop, nor did the emails from friends around the world asking if this is the place “you love so much and brag about.†It is still that place, but has some growing to do!

With the continued growth of the cruise industry in Galveston, which is great from a financial standpoint, traffic and chaos grew on the dangerous racetrack known as Harbor Side Drive; it’s a nightmare when ships are coming and going. The need for sidewalks and walkover ramps is so great, especially since the powers-that-be just signed a multi-million dollar contract for a new cruise terminal, number three. This terminal will be on Harbor Side where currently fruit king Del Monte loads, stores, and transports their produce. I have gotten use to giant food trucks on the Harbor Side race track, but soon there will be more confused, lost, and crazed drivers aching to get on their ship and head to Paradise (or escape their Hell). With no sidewalks, it has become a Russian roulette of sorts for folks pulling and toting luggage. Beware and be cautious.

There was an awful lot of rotten stuff in 2019, some of which will undoubtedly spill over into 2020, but there was also some good stuff, too. The gay community was proud when the city allowed a rainbow to be painted at the crosswalks on 25th Street in front of City Hall. Mardi Gras was a huge success, although some infighting among the promoters, the city, and merchants happened and may well cause changes for the 2020 Mardi Gras. Dickens on the Strand was much fun; however, some complained that confining it to Strand Street made it more crowded and less open-feeling. Folks do like to stroll in their finest. See and be seen!

One of the best pieces of 2019 was all the blue water in the Gulf. The year had so many beautiful days with the clear, blue water lapping up to the Seawall. If fact, it was much much nice water that several major news programs around the country commented on it. The locals and visitors loved it.

Lastly, on the “good side,†many new friendships and relationships were born — some romantic and some just fun. Relationships, the good ones, are what make a community such as Galveston a fun place to live; there is support and caring like unseen in many gay communities. Now don’t get carried away, we still have our bitch fights and tête-à-têtes, but for the most part, when the piss and vinegar contests are over, folks shake hands and move forward.

Yes, 2020 will be better. We will make it better. Look for and dwell on the positive, remain focused, and love each other. After all, that little black hand could take a fast leap forward and then the curtain falls on us all. Sometimes as the sand in the hourglass is emptying, we need to just stop, take a deep breath, and flip the glass!

A resident of Galveston where he can be found wasting bait and searching for the meaning of life, Forest Riggs recently completed a collection of short stories about his beloved island and is working on a novel.

By Forest Riggs

I say, MYGA! Well, why not? It seems everybody is making something again and stamping it on baseball caps and T-shirts. Too bad the idea has to remind us of Lord Cheeto and his MAGA BS.

Moving on. With Thanksgiving behind us and perhaps carrying a few extra pounds, it is time for Jolly Ol’ St. Nick and Christmas. And just like the song says, folks are busy making the Yuletide gay.

Some songs tell us it is the “most wonderful time of the year†and others encourage us to “have a merry little Christmas.†There are so many songs that play during this season and each one opens a huge box of memories stored in our hearts and minds. Me, I like the incomparable Dinah Washington’s version of “Ol’ Santa†and maybe, if I want to get sentimental and sad (wine helps), I listen to Jim Reeves’ “An Old Christmas Cardâ€.

The LGBTQ community loves Christmas with all the decorating, cooking, gatherings, and fabulous Christmas drag shows. “Santa Baby†can be heard echoing from jukeboxes and drag stages around a gayly decorated Galvetraz. It truly is the most wonderful time of the queer year (or at least runner-up to Halloween).

With all the things happening in the world and in politics, it might be a little hard to “chill†and really enjoy Christmas and New Year’s. Over the years, I have learned it is good to take some time away — maybe a small road trip or a journey to a place where once great comfort and joy were found. I love to go to the country, especially with friends and enjoy a crackling fire, good conversation, and storytelling.

For those not into the whole Judeo-Christian thing, it can still be a special time to gather, celebrate, and make memories. If you are into baking, this holiday offers a great opportunity to make some special cookies and maybe throw a decorating party with friends.

Getting away to some distant place, especially with a special friend, can be relaxing and rewarding, just taking some time to read a good book, contemplate the past year, and make plans for the new one. Being a firebug, I love to be near a cracking and popping fire, staring into the flames and do some deep thinking.

On a recent Thanksgiving trip, I stayed with a friend in a grand old plantation house. There was a fireplace in my bedroom and, with temps in the high 30s, it made for a somewhat romantic and excellent sleeping experience.

Though wood-burning fireplaces can be a lot of work (cleaning, chopping wood, etc.), they are a tremendous link to the past. There was a time when most homes were heated by fire and folks gathered around the hearth to enjoy the flames and warmth. It is pretty amazing to sit or sleep near a fire, feeling the heat on heavy eyelids and dozing to the flame patterns dancing on the ceiling and walls of the room. If you “bank†the fire correctly, with the right log, you will waken to embers that can quickly come alive with the addition of fresh wood.

Along the upper Texas Gulf Coast, there are no frozen ponds or streams on which to skate and sip hot chocolate, and certainly no one-horse sleigh rides, but there is still plenty to do and experience both inside and out of doors.

Galveston is alive this time of year, especially the Strand area with festive holiday decorations, carolers in Sangerfest Park and gayly decorated storefronts along the Strand, Market and Post Office Streets. Red bows hang from flickering gas lamps and lighted strings of garland and ornaments overhead and cross from one side of the street to the other. Strolling along the city sidewalks, one is reminded of another song and lyric: “In the air, there’s a feeling of Christmas.â€

Sometimes you don’t have to travel far to make your holiday gay. With so much going on around Galveston Island there are plenty of options to make the holidays great.

Around the gay community (yes, “gay†— not to offend anyone, but they just keep adding letters to the LGBTQ ABC’s. Henceforth, when describing the community, I will simply use the old word “gayâ€. After all, if it truly is a community, it includes all: gay, straight, lesbian, trans, bi- and every combination thereof), the clubs are beautifully decorated this time of year with lighted trees, ornaments, and tons of tinsel draped on everything.

Rumors Beach Bar is about as festive as one can get and 23rd Street Station Piano Bar is adorned with hanging balls (no pun intended), a gorgeous flocked Christmas tree and lots of festive lights.

Meanwhile, at Robert’s Lafitte, Christmas is in like Flynn with lights everywhere. Garlands and ornaments adorn every space. There is always something magical about Lafitte’s at Christmas time.

All the clubs are staffed with attractive elves just waiting to make your visit exceptional. Check ’em out.

Whether you’re sitting by a fire and reflecting, gathering with friends, reading a good book, or enjoying a Christmas tree lighting a darkened room, whatever you do this Christmas and New Year’s, make it special and full of love.

Lastly, if you are with me, remember to put another log on the fire. It’s gonna be a long night!

A resident of Galveston where he can be found wasting bait and searching for the meaning of life, Forest Riggs recently completed a collection of short stories about his beloved island and is working on a novel.

By Forest Riggs

Forget about all of Turkey Day’s rich foods and the celebratory drinks. From cornbread stuffing to pumpkin and sweet potato pie, slabs of pecan pie and loads of green bean casserole, with mashed potatoes, yeast rolls and globs of cranberry sauce, Thanksgiving has it all. Aside from being the “opening†of the holiday season, it provides a great opportunity to gather with friends, celebrates thankfulness and eats and eat and eat.

Galvestonians certainly enjoy their meals and celebrations as folks gather in private homes, open restaurants, and bars, and even beachside to enjoy the holiday. Though a few of the favorite nightspots choose to close for the day, the Island manages to offer some fun “hot spots†for evening adventures. It is a good thing that the feasting is on a Thursday and that Friday is generally a write-off as it takes a few days to recover from the celebration.

Speaking of celebrations and holiday festivities, the next biggest to Mardi Gras kicks off Friday, December 6 and continues through Sunday, December 8. For three days the 46th Annual Dickens on the Strand festival transforms the downtown Strand area into 19th century Victorian England. This wonderful Island event has become a holiday tradition for islanders and visitors from all over the world. Growing bigger and bigger each year, the three-day festival includes something for everyone. Put on by the Galveston Historical Foundation, the event has become a huge tourist draw and boom to the Island’s economy. Visitors come to enjoy the three days and many stays in hotels, rentals and a vast number of private homes that are offered. Island restaurants and clubs do a great business with all excitement and participation.

If you have never attended a Dickens festival, you might wonder, “Just what is it and what is all the fuss?†Simply put, it is a great time! A great time to forget your troubles, politics and other 21st century maladies and step back into jolly olde England! As Victorian costumes are encouraged (attendees in costume get into the festival for half price), the brick streets and gas-lamped sidewalks of the area are filled with folks in costumes of all sorts, shapes, and colors.

John Brick, former City Manager of Jamaica Beach, dresses each year as a Victorian police officer or “bobbyâ€, with whistle and nightstick, to stroll around the festival and have his picture taken with hundreds of visitors.

“I love it,†said Brick. “The dressing up and meeting all the people is the best part…seeing all the smiles.†(Note: The term “bobby†comes from Sir Robert Peel who created the London police force in 1829. Officers are sometimes referred to as “Peelers.â€) The Dickens, you say!

Inside the festival, visitors find six stages of live entertainment, colorful vendors, street urchins, and beggars (some groups complete with ol’ Fagin himself), choirs, carriages containing royalty, pirates, acrobats, oddballs, and curiosities. Each year, the steampunk crowd gets larger and larger. Just to walk among all the costumes and watch the interactions is in itself an amazing experience.

There is the food of every kind; however, no visit to the Dickens festival is complete without a Scotch Egg. These deep-fried delights are a huge hit every year and washing one down with a pint of ale makes it even better! There are wenches, barmaids, and even a “lady of the evening†or two strolling around. Just as in the days and nights of Victorian England, downtown Galveston, for three days, is full of noise, laughter, and fun — minus the coal soot.

There are parades throughout the festival but a must-see is the night parade or Queen’s Parade. With a snow machine blowing white flakes over the parade route, viewers are transformed to another era and place; it is magical, to say the least. Locals dressed as Beefeaters escort Queen Victoria and thrill the crowds by posing for pictures before, during, and after the parades.

There are nine special events ranging from teas, full meals, readings, and handbell concerts to book signings with actual descendants of Charles Dickens that have come from England. The Dickens descendants are a huge hit and over the years have come to love and find a special place in their hearts for Galveston Island and its people. They come each year and share their beloved relative with visitors.

The Bishop’s Palace on Broadway is the site of several events. Tickets go fast and some events book early. For a complete listing of events and festival activities, check GalvestonHistory.org, as well as Galveston.com.

Regardless of what you are looking for, Dickens on the Strand has something for you, even it is just people watching or shopping for the perfect Christmas gift. Get all gussied-up and check it out!

There is no entry charge on Friday evening. Pre-festival tickets are $13 for adults and $7 for children (7–12). At the gate, tickets prices are $15 for adults and $9 for children. Visitors dressing in costume are admitted for half-price at the gate. There are also some special package deals with the 1894 Grand Opera House. A production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, is scheduled Friday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7, 3 p.m. A combination package offers $5 off the theater performance and a $10 entry ticket good for one day.

A resident of Galveston where he can be found wasting bait and searching for the meaning of life, Forest Riggs recently completed a collection of short stories about his beloved island and is working on a novel.

By Forest Riggs

My, how time flies! It seems like just yesterday that the Island was in the midst of an unending heat wave that kept all but the devoted sun-and-sand lovers inside. With the first weekend in November came the chill of a late fall, and sweaters, coats, and sweatshirts became the fashion. Heaters were glowing in the Victorians and cups of hot chocolate were being sipped around sweets-filled breakfast tables and cozy evening gatherings. Though given the Island’s climatic history, the cold weather does not last for too long but rather comes and goes until March or April, so Galveston folks must strike while the iron is hot, so to speak.

With the first weekend in November also comes the return of the bikers! Vroom, vroom!

When we were kids in rural East Texas and were being particularly “hard to handle,†my mother would shout at us, “If you don’t straighten up and act right, I’m gonna take you down to the highway by the mailbox and the Banditos will get you!†This, of course, was in the 1960s when the Banditos were a notorious gang of “bad dudes†on motorcycles terrorizing Texas. I honestly feel this is when my “Biker Fantasies†began.

The annual Lone Star Rally brings thousands of bikers from all across the United States and even Canada and Mexico. For four days the Island welcomes a Southern version of the notorious August bike rally that takes place in Sturgis, South Dakota. Like the Sturgis gathering, bikers come out in droves, riding the latest creations and unique chopped-up-and-down versions of every type and brand of motorcycle that is manufactured in the USA and abroad. Many are odd compilations and personally created bikes and trikes from garages and cycle builders all across the country. It is not uncommon to see a “farewell†ride for a long term and/or devoted biker, as he or she, in casket, it is pulled up the Strand or along the Seawall, in a beautifully trimmed “hearse trailer†behind and equally beautiful bike, usually driven by a close friend or partner.

The Rally brings with it all sorts of people from leather-clad bikers to barely clad, hot gals that perform the role of camp followers. A stroll among the motley crowd is sure to satisfy the appetites of all, from voyeurs to Bible thumpers, looking for lost souls to save.

Bikers are not bad characters. That is a complete misconception. These days they are doctors, lawyers, architects, and teachers. Of course, they are usually the ones with the “cleaner look†and wife or girlfriend wrapped behind them or following on her matching bike. Bikers spend more on their bikes and the upkeep that some folks spend on a house, and certainly more than your average luxury car. It is a beautiful sight to see them all lined in a row in front of a restaurant or along the Strand and neighboring streets.

When I owned and operated by Bed & Breakfast, The Island Jewel, some of my best guests were bikers! They are adept at taking care of and respecting other’s property. The biker lifestyle, of course, contains its share of hard-working guys and gals, mechanics, lone wolves, ne’er-do-wells, and a mix of rough-looking types — all making for a colorful tapestry.

For a gay man, it is paradise. If leather, tight T-shirts and bulging jeans are the desire, it is everywhere. Swarthy hot men, oozing testosterone with thick thighs and masculinity, are straddling “hogs†and squeezing their throttles to give the onlookers a thrill. Occasionally there is a side glance or quick eye-to-eye stare that reveals perhaps some interest in the “pinker†side of things. Don’t think the thrill is just for gay men; there are plenty of fine biker gals and “bitches†perched atop a leather seat with t*ts in the wind and ample rear-end on display for all. On a rare occasion, a T-shirt or two might be lifted to reveal a fine set of well-developed mammary glands! The entire four days is a true smorgasbord of flesh, muscle, leather, and fantasies. Every good gay man picks out “his guy†and watches from the sidelines as he rides by, revving his engine and staring back behind dark sunglasses.

Having attended at least 14 of these rallies and always making observations, I find it is very rare that you would see two men on a single bike. It’s just not done in the Biker World etiquette. Given accepted statistics, however, there are certainly gay bikers among the throng. Bi-sexuality, now very “popularâ€, might result in a shadowy tryst or two during the rally. The biker world is such a macho thing, it would be hard to be out and part of a group or gang (unless of course, it is a group or gang of gay bikers which, in the South, is very rare).

Once again, the lesbians have the gay men beat; they can ride double, with their legs and arms wrapped around the driver, breasts pressed firmly against their gal, and hair flying in the wind. They can even have lesbian biker groups and get no flak — everybody loves Dykes on Bikes. Don’t for a minute kid yourself: At the Rally, you can see tiny little gals and lipstick lesbians manhandling huge bikes. They know just what to do with things between their legs. Years ago, Lyda Ann Thomas, the beloved Mayor of Galveston and friend to all, would don white leather and high boots, and straddle her Harley to proudly welcome all visitors to Galveston’s Lone Star Rally. Lyda Ann on her bike would set the tone for the four-day rally.

Vendors come out like gnats. Everywhere you turn, there is a tent or trailer hawking everything from leather goods, pin-striping, wheels, parts, art, T-shirts, and fantasy garments to Swisher Sweet cigars, beer and food, bike sounds systems, and even condoms! No matter what your taste might be, there is a tent or booth for you, including lots of food items, drinks, and cold beer all along the bike-lined streets. Locals and guests turn out in throngs to watch the “parade†of bikes up and down through the Strand district and along the Seawall.

It is noisy and it is crazy, but it is fun. Some residents complain of the loud bikes and revving engines in otherwise quiet neighborhoods, especially at night. No matter what, it offers Galvetrazians another opportunity to show off and share their island with visitors that just might return sometime.

As for me, I like standing out by my mailbox on Church Street, wearing my best-torn slip with a Swisher Sweet dangling from my hungry lips, waiting for that wayward biker or swarthy, bandana-clad Bandito to come riding along.­

A resident of Galveston where he can be found wasting bait and searching for the meaning of life, Forest Riggs recently completed a collection of short stories about his beloved island and is working on a novel.

By Forest Riggs

Halloween, with all its witches and hollow-weenied goblins, came and went. The Island was full of party-going revelers, costume contests and ghost tours. It was not an uncommon site to see lantern-holding groups of folks gathered in cemeteries and in the dark alleys of downtown, all looking for some evidence of the “other side.†Halloween has become an $8 billion industry in the United States and, from the looks of things, the celebration will grow larger each year. The Galveston clubs were filled with all sorts of costumed partiers and those wishing to celebrate the holiday of all holidays in the LGBTQ community.

Now November arrives and is most welcomed. Though we don’t live in a four-seasoned climate, where fall and November are applauded and celebrated, upper Gulf Coast-ians do enjoy the occasional spurts of cooler temperatures and reasons to don a sweater or light jacket.  So far we have seen about four nonconsecutive days of fall. 

“Dull November brings the blast, then the leaves are whirling fast.†–Sara Coleridge

In some cases and places, that may be true. However, not so much for those of us living along the Gulf Coast. November is a rather lackluster month that sort of creeps up on the world. Named for its Latin origin, Novem, meaning nine, the original Roman calendar had only 10  months and November, of course, was the ninth. The early pagans referred to the month as the “Snow Moon†and many Native American tribes called November the “Moon of Falling Leaves.â€

We don’t get many showers of red and gold leaves like some places, but still a nice glass of wine with “Autumn Leaves†being sung by Edith Piaf can certainly take one to romantic and faraway places filled with romance and tender kisses by a crackling fire. Ah! To dream.

The month of November is filled with all sorts of designated days honoring this or that. In fact, most sources list 105 actual “special days†in the month. There is of course All Saints’ Day, Sadie Hawkins, Guy Fawkes, National Cook for Your Pets Day, and list goes on and on all the way up to the mother lode, Thanksgiving Day. November is also designated as National Care for Someone Month.

Then there are elections, sometimes national (the last one was Depression Day) and local. Leading to November elections are debates, mud-slinging commercials, and large amounts of collected monies being wasted on career politicians — but that is another column! Suffice to say that although November is a rather “dull†month, there are a lot of things going on.

On the Island, groups are readily preparing for Christmas and, of course, Mardi Gras. Krewes are fast at work designing and creating floats, planning balls and ordering beads. Fundraisers of all sorts are popping up all over Galvetraz. and special shows and performances are filling the calendars at Robert’s Lafitte, 23^rd Street Station Piano Bar, and Rumors Beach Bar. The coming Christmas drag shows are usually the best as a lot of old school music comes out and “Santa Baby†is performed in just about every way possible!

The biggest celebration in November is, of course, Thanksgiving or “Turkey Day†as it has been called. One of the greatest demonstrations of coming together (yes, even with Republicans), is the Thanksgiving pot-lucks and dinners that all the bars have. It is amazing to see all the dishes, made with love, that are piled onto portable tables and even pool tables with a temporary plywood top, that fill the clubs. LGBTQ people love to cook and they love to share their “vittles†with all.

Even if you have a full dinner at home with friends and family, a swirl through the food-filled clubs is always a treat. I mean, where else other than a gay bar can you find Shrimp Jell-O?

So we don’t get chilly evenings by a fire, autumn-painted leaves swirling on brisk breezes. and Jack Frost. But we do get a chance in November to celebrate many things.

Most importantly on the Island, we celebrate each other and community. United, we are strong! Whatever you do this November, do it well and with a spirit of love and thankfulness.

Happy November.

A resident of Galveston where he can be found wasting bait and searching for the meaning of life, Forest Riggs recently completed a collection of short stories about his beloved island and is working on a novel.

By Forest Riggs

Gosh, it is that time of year again, when most folks dust off old ghost stories and share new ones. Galveston, long known as a “Ghost Capital†in America, is chock-full of famous and infamous tales of lingering and lost spirits, ranging from Karankawa Indians, pirates, spurned lovers and down-right murderers to children and adults that perished in the 1900’s Great Storm. There are even eerie tales of animal ghosts and a pack of howling phantom hounds that guard one structure.

One does not have to look too hard to find a Galveston ghost or ghost story. Ask anyone who lives on the Island, especially in an older structure, and you can bet they will have some story to share.  Many are confident and long-time believers, sure of what they have seen or experienced. Those stories usually start with, “Well, I never was a believer until….† The ghosts of Galveston Island are alive and make their presence known and felt.

Haunted America Tours ranks Galveston as the second most haunted city in America after New Orleans, and USA Today ranks the haunted island at number three, after New Orleans and Baltimore. No matter where it ranks, Galvestonians are proud and honored to host the spirits, share the stories and broaden paranormal horizons.

It seems that many in the LGBTQ community live in old, Victorians or pre-1900 buildings now converted into lofts. These locals have had tons of spooky happenings and experiences. On many occasions, I have stood at parties or while imbibing at one of the many bars (one of which has its own ghost) and listened to the stories and shared my personal experiences from the three homes I have owned on the Island. It’s creepy and it’s kooky (do I hear finger snapping?) but it is fun. After all, it is Galveston!

Many folks wonder why a little bar island in the Gulf of Mexico would be such an over-loaded spot when it comes to ghosts and roaming spirits hanging around. There are many theories and reasons behind the vast hauntings of Galveston.

Dash Beardsley, owner of Ghost Tours of Galveston (by the way, there are at least four ghost tours companies operating on the Island) states it best: “The Island has a short life of unfair death and misfortune.†Everyone is familiar with the huge amount of death and horror that befell the Island in the Great Storm of 1900. Depending on which account or tabulation, it has been estimated that 6,000 to 10,000 or more lives were lost in one single day — and that only accounts for human life. Then there are famous murders, gangsters, Civil War soldiers, fire deaths, hangings, pirates, suicides over broken engagements and unrequited loves, and so on and so forth. There are tons of reasons that make the Island a haven for ghosts.

Even when I was a small boy at the knee of my Aunt Louise that raised us, I would be mesmerized by her tales of the “haints†down on the Island. She had good reason to know of them — her own grandparents were bought and sold the Island during the slave trading days! I would listen to her tales and hope that someday I might experience a ghost. For me and many others, those days arrived and did so on the Island. Even early explorers and visitors felt the Island was haunted by spirits, some good and some not so good.

It seems that most people “that believe,†have their favorite story or location for ghost sightings and activity; some are very secret, personal and private, while others tell and re-tell stories of the more famous hauntings at the Hotel Galvez and Spa, Tremont House Hotel, Ashton Villa, Menard House, Victorian Inn, the old Customs House, the cemetery on Broadway, and a myriad others.

There is even a ghost that haunts the building that now houses Rumors Beach Bar on the Seawall; it was once a Kentucky Fried Chicken where a clerk killed during a robbery. Several employees and owners have, over years, talked of sightings and weird happening in the bar, usually after closing in the wee hours of the morning.

The Hotel Galvez and Spa, built in 1911 is well known for its haunted activity. The very painting of Bernardo de Galvez that hangs in the opulent hallway has always given folks an eerie feeling of being watched; some say the eyes have moved to follow them around the hall. Others claim to see shadows and images in photographs of the painting as well as other anomalies when trying to snap a picture. Then there is the room 505 story and sometimes 501 and the entire fifth floor. One tale recounts Audra, a young lady who stared out from the towers, looking for her seaman beau to come home, only to learn his ship had gone down. Some say she jumped, other says she hanged herself. Room 505 is considered a “special room†that usually comes with a ghost of a crying female who touches guests, rearranges bedding and furniture, and sometimes hums a sad tune.

Ashton Villa, built by James Moreau Brown, is home to a number of ghostly sightings and happenings. Brown’s daughter Bette, known as Miss Bette, is often seen standing at the second floor landing, wearing a long, turquoise dress. Music had been heard around the house as well as “touchings.†Even the piano striking a few notes by itself. (Miss Bette did not play the piano; however, her sister Tilly often entertained guests with her tunes.) The house was quiet for years, but custodians say the ghostly activities really accelerated after the 1975 renovation and restoration.

At the Victorian Inn, a favorite bed-and-breakfast on 17^th Street, guests in the 3^rd floor suite have heard humming as well as muffled conversations in the living room downstairs. Folks have felt someone touch them and even the strains of a man whistling.

Everyone loves the beautiful old Menard house, one of the oldest on the Island, but beware as many have seen the ghosts of the Menard children playing about the house and gardens. Then there is the female sobbing in despair, seen at the foot of the staircase. Some say this is the distraught daughter of Menard whose fiancée broke of their engagement. Brian Davis, former Galveston Historic Foundation employee, had an eerie experience in the house while preparing a guest room for a visiting speaker. While standing in the bedroom and knowing he was the only one in the house, he saw a man walk past the open door. Upon racing into the hall, he found it empty.

The Bishop’s Palace on Broadway, one of Galveston’s grandest homes of all, is supposed to be teaming with spirits that knock on walls, walk through walls, and even hum and play music. Visitors and staff often tell of a sighting or strange experience while in the magnificent structure. Mrs. Gresham has been seen in her “painting roomâ€, standing as though she were gazing out the rounded windows or painting. Some have reported hearing the Gresham children running and playing in the long hallways and on the stairs.

One of the oddest is the “Face of UTMB.†The story goes that a man owned property that is now UTMB. When approached by the Medical Center about purchasing his property for the ever-growing campus, he adamantly refused, stating he would never sell to the medical school and program. The story goes on to say that eventually his land went to UTMB but he cursed the structure built on his former property by causing his image to appear on the outer wall of the building. The image is indeed there. Over the years, the wall has painted and re-painted, yet the image continues to appear. Best seen from a boat in the harbor, it’s a giant portrait of a man who looks like Edgar Allan Poe.

Then there is the Maison Rouge, or Red House that was the home of infamous Pirate Jean Lafitte. Located on Harborside Drive, all that remains within the fenced location is the foundation and steps of a later structure, known as 12 Gables and built by Capt. Hendricks, after the original perished. Many claim the lot is guarded by a band of howling phantom hounds as well as several male and female spirits. Visitors that stop to read the historical maker, placed in mid-1960s, have often told of hearing noises, voices, men arguing and even gun shots, especially just after dark or early in the morning.

The list goes on and on, from the old Stewart Mansion to the Walmart on the Seawall, the former site of St. Mary’s Orphanage where many children and nuns, lashed together with bed sheets, perished in the 1900 storm.

These are just a few of the better known and more visited sites. However, as I stated, ask any resident about ghosts their experiences and you are sure to get an earful. Everyone loves their ghost and sharing the stories of their house and its strange and mysterious inhabitants.

Lastly, if you are real doubter, take your camera and go down the cemetery on Broadway, the eerie one, and after dark, snap a few pictures. Everyone I know who has taken photos in among the old stones and mausoleums has captured many orbs floating about.

Boo! And Happy Halloween.

A resident of Galveston where he can be found wasting bait and searching for the meaning of life, Forest Riggs recently completed a collection of short stories about his beloved island and is working on a novel.