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Good morning, Galveston! In today’s edition: Best of the Island Awards winners, Winter Beach Blast, Reel Masterpiece workshop, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Island excellence takes center stage: Galveston.com announced the 2025 Best of the Island Awards winners, dubbed the Oscars of the Gulf Coast, after record community voting, celebrating local favorites across categories — see the complete winners list.
Trade tides through time: From 19th-century cotton to today’s cruise boom, the Port of Galveston marked its 2025 bicentennial with improved fortunes while reflecting on history and its role in the region’s economy — explore its past and present.
Father and son wartime tragedy: Historical reenactors recently gathered at Trinity Episcopal Cemetery to mark the 1863 Battle of Galveston, in its 32nd year, hosted by the Sons of Union Veterans with other groups participating — read the full story.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Island revelry is calling: The 115th Mardi Gras Galveston is coming up with double weekend festivities, from the Jolly Jester Jaunt 5k to headliner concerts, parades, and more. If you plan to join, tickets for Little Joe Y La Familia will be sold at the event. Get all the details.
Morning burrito fix: When your morning needs a hug in tortilla form, Bronco Burritos delivers with house-made tortillas, local chorizo, and a namesake burrito stuffed with eggs, potatoes, beans, bacon, and melty cheddar. Quick, hearty, very Galveston. Ideal before errands, beach time, or whatever the day tosses your way.
Science fix, island-style: Skip the doomscroll and let Moody Gardens pull you into hands-on science, an aquarium that quietly steals an afternoon, and rotating displays inside the Discovery Pyramid. Low-stress, high-curiosity time for kids and the kid-at-heart… all without leaving the island.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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🏖 Winter Beach Blast @ Galveston Island Convention Center at The San Luis Resort | Friday (1/9) – Winter Beach Blast is bringing palm-tree vibes to our frostbitten reality, with sun-soaked tunes, tiki drinks, and a sand-between-your-toes attitude. Wear your ugliest Hawaiian shirt over a sensible sweater, claim a seat by the space heater, and pretend the parking lot is Waikiki.
🔄 Turning Point @ 1877 On The Strand | Friday (1/9) at 9:00 PM – Turning Point is back at 1877 on the Strand, bringing grooves that remind you why you live here. Expect deep cuts, warmth, and friendly faces, plus a dance floor that heats up sensibly. Slide in for a proper pour, stay for the vibe.
🪴 New Year Fresh Start With Houseplants @ Cornelius Nursery | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – Kick off the year by trading resolutions for roots at a houseplant how-to, where you’ll learn what to buy, where to put it, and how not to kill it. Low drama, high chlorophyll, and the start of their monthly Garden Talks for the year.
🎨 Workshop: 3D Art @ Galveston Art League | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – Whether you can barely draw a stick figure or boss a palette knife, Diana Clark’s hands-on workshop gets you sculpting paint into textured, raised designs with live demos, guidance, and tips on composition and layering. Family-friendly for 8+, plus a breather, and $50 well spent.
🎬 Reel Masterpiece Workshop @ Clay Cup Studios | Saturday (1/10) at 4:00 PM – Whether you actually fish or just like telling fish stories, this hands-on workshop has guest rod-building expert Olen Smith guiding you through a legit custom build, start to finish in 3 to 4 hours. No glitter glue, no Pinterest. Real tackle, real bragging rights, Galveston-style.
🎻 Louis Michot @ Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe | Saturday (1/10) at 8:00 PM – Louis Michot, Grammy-winning fiddler of Lost Bayou Ramblers, brings Cajun fire, French swagger, and forward-thinking groove to The Old Quarter’s sacred listening room. Translation, bring your inside voice, savor a proper drink, and let the bow do the talking. Seat-dancing encouraged.
💍 Winter Bridal Show @ The Bryan Museum | Sunday (1/11) at 11:00 AM – Engagement season is back, so swing by The Bryan Museum’s Bridal Show for $10 admission that includes a cocktail and museum entry. Meet the wedding brain trust, and snoop the gardens, gazebo, conservatory, bridal suite, and groom’s lounge, free for Bryan Museum brides.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Galveston report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 73°F – Low: 65°F – Precip: 14%
Patchy fog before 8am. Mostly cloudy. High near 73, with temperatures falling to around 69 in the afternoon. South wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 73°F – Low: 54°F – Precip: 36%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. High near 73, with temperatures falling to around 69 in the afternoon. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Low around 54, with temperatures rising to around 58 overnight. West wind 10 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
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