CULTURE CLASH Galveston - July/Aug 2023

CULTURE CLASH

a venue for Galveston’s free thinkers

Gambling

LETTER FROM PUBLISHER:

Texas has always been known for its bold and adventurous spirit, and when it comes to gambling, we like to take risks too! Clint Eastwood and John Wayne taught us that Texas is synonymous with bad-ass cowboys who take chances and never ask for permission. To be a Texan you gotta be a bit of an outlaw. So it only makes sense that we Texans like to push the boundaries of the law, and for a while now, that means maybe we are a gambling state and maybe we aren’t....

While the city and the state’s history with gambling has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride, the tides are changing, and we are seemingly closer than ever to “officially” legalized gambling in the Lone Star State. The question now is what will that look like for Galveston and our residents.

Our contributors have brought us insights and perspectives on where Galveston came from and where it is going in relation to gambling. We encourage you all to think long and hard about how you want your island to look.

But most of all we hope you read, enjoy, share and vote.

Janese Maricelli Publisher

ON THE COVER: “Balinese Tribute” You can’t talk about Galveston and gambling without mentioning the Balinese Room. Although she has since fallen into the Gulf of Mexico, the Balinese Room was once Galveston’s shining beacon to the glory of gambling and nightlife. We honor this historic landmark with the glitz and gold she deserves.

In the words of Lee Beard Frank, Joe Hill, and Billy Gibbons; “It didn’t take too much money. Man, but it sure was nice. You could dance all night if you felt all right, drinking whiskey and throwing dice. It was hard to leave. And everybody knows, it was down at the Balinese.”

PUBLISHER

Janese Maricelli-Thomasson

LAYOUT & DESIGN

JanMar Agency

Corinne Tamayo

EDITOR

Lauren Miller • Leslie Whaylen

INTERN

Dalton Prescott

CONTRIBUTORS

Juan Gonzalez

Harris “Shrub” Kempner

Dan Marks • Evan Rodriguez

Elizabeth Schneider • Amanda Wolfe

Chris Young

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Proudly serving Galveston County!

What Condition My Condition Was In

BY DAN MARKS

SAN FRANCISCO IS A COUPLE DAYS

IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR. Honolulu, two days ahead. I’m rolling across the Pacific Ocean with over 16,000 tons of food, lumber, pvc pipe, baby diapers, and fertilizer. Another 24,000 tons of ship, fuel, water, and smelly sailors. The North Star is over my right shoulder playing hide and seek behind the clouds and rain squalls.

I’m working for a company that’s been serving Hawaii for over 100 years. I accepted a permanent job, not always that common in the deep sea shipping sector of the maritime business. I’ve even bought stock in the company and its former parent, an Hawaiian real estate outfit. Why? You could say, to ante up for an unknown future.

As we cross Galveston’s latitude, a line from Homer comes to mind. “The Bear never bathes.” What does that Celestial comment mean? Well, all the stars in Heaven revolve around Polaris, like a great divine clock. Ursa Major (the Great Bear, or the Big Dipper to you land lubbers) dances around Ursa Minor (the constellation that includes the North Star). At latitudes north of my present position, roughly the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, it is said that the Bear never bathes. That is because, no matter what time it is, the Constellation never dips into the sea below the horizon. Read the Iliad and the Odyssey, you luddite!

Years ago there was a bar in lower Manhattan called the North Star. It was an old dive amid the stalls of

fish mongers still populating the neighborhood. It had a brass rail for your feet and another to rest your arms. Steam was piped through it to take off the chill of the cool mornings when the fish came in. That’s right, Nancy, we drank in the mornings. 0900 is late in the day for that profession, not an hour of casual rising.

Around the corner was Carmine’s. This Italian restaurant opened in time for early lunch and had the best French onion soup the world had ever known. Cooked and served in a crock bowl, full of white onions and homemade croutons, and topped with a solid layer of browned Parmesan. I weep that this dish will never be served again in my lifetime.

The olfactory memories of that place raise whiffs of Candy’s and DiBella’s, Galveston’s nearest equivalent and both also long defunct. Candy’s was run by the wife of a Merchant Mariner to keep her out of trouble during his long hitches. (Candy did the work, but her husband pushed it through. Right, Doctor Gibson?) DiBella’s sits idle and for sale just blocks from my house, a constant reminder of what Galveston will become.

Should we mourn? Of course not!

Life is change. And while I may begrudge the lack of atmosphere and consistency in more contemporary establishments, I can also accept that some of the newer places are fighting hard. Not just for my palate, but also for that little piece of my heart that is nostalgia.

Photos courtesy of Unsplash.

It is a gamble for them. It’s a gamble for any new business probing our market. It’s a gamble for the long time island companies in our ever-changing economic environment. How many have miraculously survived Ike and Harvey, COVID, and the roller coaster that is contractor hustles, AirBnB, and our idiotic street construction schedules?

How many disastrously misjudge our weird BOI tastes and trends. The Mosquito Café, quirky and hip, used to be Streeter’s Saloon, a biker bar that was still open at 4:00 am when every place downtown had already kicked me out and closed their doors around 2 or 3 am. Olympia Grill worked on the Seawall but failed downtown. HEB abandoned us around the time of Ike. (Kiss my ass, HEB!) Hooters on Seawall and Joe’s Crab Shack downtown were taken out by divine intervention.

Murdoch’s, Yaga’s, and the Spot took hard hits but came back stronger than ever. Waterman’s and Stingaree’s, both beyond the reach of the Seawall, are still with us. Star Drug had to burn twice but rose from the ashes. Which, unfortunately, is more than I can say for the Phoenix Bakery. Ironic, huh?

But we’ve heard the rumble that is the steamroller of the Golden Nugget. We’ve seen the calendar so filled with events that even Cedar Lawn cannot totally control their aversion to short term rentals. We’ve watched failures and successes from a distance. Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Kinder, Alabama-Coushatta, Shreveport, Lake Charles, and the myriad others.

A couple poker houses have come to town, and are still here! Gambling, on other accounts, has been given more of a nod than before. And there is the foreshadowing that was the iconic picture of Abbott and Fertitta jacking their jaws at a basketball game.

Photos courtesy of Unsplash.

Is it all bad? Of course not. It is just different. Look back at my article about gambling in CC’s 4th issue. The change is coming. The nature of our businesses will change. Real estate, parking, hotels, restaurants, neighborhoods and schools. They will all move to accommodate whatever comes down the road. Been to Kemah lately? “Time and tide wait for no man.”

If you didn’t noticed how the cruise ships and festivals have changed the Strand and Postoffice and 23rd and 61st and Seawall; didn’t notice California land speculators legal attempt to overturn Texas Public Beach laws; didn’t notice the growth gearing up for gambling and the new commerce of the Ike Dike and the general trend toward resort living on a scale much larger than before: Well, you’d better just check Facebook and go back to bed.

The Great Bear keeps dancing. Wait for your alarm to go off, look in the mirror, and know that you are part of the machine that is ever moving with no concern for direction. The sun is coming up here in the middle of the Pacific. The Divine Clock keeps on turning. Tick tock, mother fucker!

THE PRISON HUSTLE

BY JUAN GONZALES

THE DAY ROOM ERUPTS IN SHOUTS OF JOY AND FRUSTRATED CURSING AS THE SCORE CHANGES

UNEXPECTEDLY ON THE TV SCREEN. Fans of the winning team jeer and laugh at fans of the losing team and boasts and predictions are made on the next game’s outcome. Those predictions are quickly converted into wagers. It is a scene played out in living rooms, garages, and bars across the world. It is no different here in prison.

Each dorm in TDCJ has a day room area with 2 TVs. By policy, one is considered a sports TV and must be on a game or ESPN all day, every day. The other TV is called the movie TV and is on regular programming channels. There are inmates here who spend most their time sitting or standing in front of the sports TV. Most do it for fun, but some do it for profit.

My buddy, who we will call “Chops,” is one of those men. When he is at work, he is either watching that TV or listening to sports in his cell on his radio modified to pick up TV station audio. Chops runs a pick’em ticket betting hustle. To my knowledge, it is the biggest and most popular on this unit of 3,000+ men. His reputation for honesty and fairness has been gained by his many years in the “game” and there is a constant stream of money passing through his hands. He spends, at the very least, 3 to 4 hours a day making tickets by hand on notebook paper, distributing and collecting those tickets, getting scores on all the games involved, and counting the money going in and out as well as his percentage

of profit. The “money” here consists of commissary food of varying prices which changes every two weeks. One dollar may be in the form of 3 soups, 7 mint sticks, a sardine pack, a pack of flour tortillas, or any combination of other things which may also require change to be figured out.

Gambling here is popular year-round and wagers are placed on every type of game, but NFL reigns supreme and is the most anticipated and busiest, followed by NBA, then MLB.

There are various forms of gambling such as side betting, squares on boards, and fantasy teams, but the most popular and profitable is the pick’em ticket, which is Chops’ chosen hustle. A pick’em ticket is a list of games with point spreads provided by Las Vegas sports books. You pick any combination of teams that you believe will win against the point spread. The more picks you win on a ticket with no losses or ties, the higher the odds, and so the greater the payout. For example, a $1 bet on a 3-pick ticket will pay out $5 if all 3 win. A 4-pick ticket will pay out $10, and so on. Each dollar risked doubles the odds and, therefore, the payout. The odds of winning make it a very profitable business for the house, even though it is not unheard of to get hit for several hundred dollars in one day. The odds of that are low, but it is a gamble.

People here gamble for much the same reason as people on the outside do, and then some. For some in here, it is a form of escape. Having your mind on something outside these bars makes the time pass with just a little more ease. Having a stake in the outcome of a game makes it more exciting and fun as you watch. Most days here are filled with mind-numbing repetition, each day like the one before, and good days are rare. People try to spice their lives up by doing something different; be it working out, taking what little classes are available, doing drugs, or gambling.

While it can be an addiction; it mostly brings joy to those involved. There are stories of people losing all to a big game gone bad, but it’s rare. My buddy Chops’ hustle is relatively low-risk and he seems to be at peace with all and is always happy and good natured. He provides clear and fair oversight to something that brings many here joy, especially since there is usually so little to look forward to here. The outside world needs a few Chops of their own and gambling would be a much safer and legal activity. With care, there is less harm.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.

Galveston’s Gambling Glory

BY CHRIS YOUNG

FROM JEAN LAFITTE’S PIRATE COLONY TO THE BALINESE ROOM AND NOW THE CRUISE TERMINALS, GALVESTON IS NO STRANGER TO GAMBLING. And much like a gambler, the city has gone through hot streaks as well as long periods of losing.

In the 19th century, Galveston served as a popular hideout for pirates, including the infamous Jean Lafitte and his pirate gang. The beautiful east end that we know and love today was once a den of thieves and rapscallions. These notorious outlaws brought with them more than just their plundered treasures; they also introduced various forms of gambling to the island. “As far as gambling, drinking and prostitution goes, that has been here since the very beginning attached to the pirate colony.” says Jami Durham, Property Research and Cultural History Historian with the Galveston Historical Foundation. The waterfront taverns and saloons became hotspots for card games, dice, and other games of chance, providing locals and seafarers alike with entertainment and excitement. Although the pirates were chased out, sailors and gambling were here to stay along the shores of Galveston. This is an often-romanticized part of the history of Texas, but by many accounts it did embody all the characteristics of a bustling port town; that includes all the vices that sailors often sought out after a long voyage. Saloons and brothels were prominent features along the waterfront and most, if not all, featured some form of gambling.

As Galveston grew into a bustling city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, so did its gambling scene. Saloons and gambling halls dotted the streets, catering to both locals and tourists. Luxurious venues featuring opulent interiors appeared on the island, offering patrons roulette wheels, poker tables, and slot machines. Some of the more notable establishments included the Turf Club on Market, the Hollywood Supper Club, and the infamous Balinese Room.

The 1920s and ‘30s marked a significant period of development in Galveston’s gambling industry. Organized crime figures, such as

Dutch Voight and Ollie Quinn established a strong presence in the city, operating numerous casinos, bookmaking operations, and speakeasies. Galveston became a hub for illegal gambling, drawing high-profile gamblers and celebrities from around the country. The lavish casinos offered high-stakes poker games, roulette, craps, and more. Despite prohibition laws and occasional police raids, the casinos maintained a tight grip on their operations, ultimately helping Galveston flourish as a popular gambling destination. “It wasn’t just about gambling. It was total entertainment. You could sit in an air-conditioned building, eat fine foods, drink fine wines, great liquors and be entertained by nationally renowned entertainers” says Durham. Galveston was the crown jewel of the Gulf coast and one of the most popular destinations in the United States. The biggest celebrities of the time were known to frequent these opulent clubs. The roaring twenties were good to Galveston’s casinos.

Galveston’s gambling dominance began to decline in the 1950s with increased law enforcement crackdowns and the legalization of gambling in neighboring states. Many casinos were forced to shut down; some faded away quietly and others, like the legendary Balinese Room, went out in exciting raids. With the increased pressure from law enforcement, the gambling empire gradually crumbled and almost disappeared completely. However, Galveston’s gambling story was not yet over; it was about to take on a new evolution.

In the 1990s, a new chapter unfolded with the advent of cruise ship gambling. Galveston, with its strategic location and proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, became an ideal embarkation point for cruise ships offering onboard casinos. Carnival Cruise Line was the first to offer such voyages, bringing back the excitement of gambling to Galveston’s shores. Small casino boats also still operate, albeit to a lesser degree, offering short six-hour voyages from the yacht basin out to international waters and back again. If the thrill of gambling is what you seek, both options are fairly safe and reputable in comparison to the alternative.

Among some of the grimy gas stations and corner store bodegas that dot the island you will find what appear to be slot machines. While gambling in Texas is illegal, you can play games for prizes if no cash is exchanged. Instead, these businesses offer store credit (or so they say). The store credit maxes out at a certain amount and the machines are often marketed as “games of skill.” There are many on the island who believe several of these convenience stores are operating as casinos hiding in plain sight. In speaking with several employees of these establishments, one gets the sense they do not like people asking questions about the legality of their slot machines. In fact, one individual spoke to me on the condition of anonymity and warned me I should be careful where I go asking questions. What other types of gambling could exist in the seedy backrooms of businesses and warehouses across the island? Without a doubt, there are still private poker games on the island you can get access to if you know the right people. However, there is nothing that compares to the size and scale of that bygone era.

In the late 80s and early 90s there were groups pushing to legalize gambling in Texas. Galveston was frequently at the center of the conversation due to the history of gambling on the island as well as the steady flow of tourists. Those in favor often cited casinos would create thousands of jobs. Those against showed concerns that casinos might bring crime and corruption and their construction could mean tearing down some of the historical buildings that are so beloved. But for every dollar Texas spends to legalize gambling, neighboring states that allow gambling would likely spend five dollars to prevent it. It looks as though Galveston will never be the high roller it once was, but who knows? Our luck may yet change.

THANK YOU TO THE GALVESTON HISTORICAL FOUNDATION AND THE ROSENBERG

LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS ARCHIVES FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE.

Graphic courtesy of Vecteezy.

HOLD EM LIKE THEY DO IN TEXAS

BY AMANDA WOLFE

BY AMANDA WOLFE

HOLD EM LIKE THEY DO IN TEXAS

FEW ISSUES IN TEXAS

HAVE BEEN MORE HOTLY DEBATED, AND AT GREAT LENGTH, THAN LEGALIZED GAMBLING. With the Galveston/Houston area situated so close to Louisiana — which, along with Nevada, is one of only two states to offer legalized casino gambling statewide — the topic hits quite literally close to home.

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board reported $193 million in monthly revenue in January, a 4.8% increase from January 2022. Lake Charles (nicknamed “Louisiana’s Playground” for a reason) was the state leader, bringing in $76.4 million, much of that from Texans’ time-honored tradition of crossing the border to visit the city’s casinos and add tourism dollars to local businesses.

Why wouldn’t we want this potential revenue for ourselves, to help our state get by and take care of our own?

Scratch-offs have no trouble getting sold in Texas. Racetrack betting is illegal on paper here, but we have a renowned horse race track in Houston (sponsored by L’Auberge Casino in Lake Charles) where betting is both allowed and expected. Slot machines are nestled in privately owned establishments all over southeast Texas, and I was surprised to find in my research that they’re perfectly legal here.

Let’s consider online sports betting — a new Wild West gambling landscape and multi-billion-dollar global industry — in our state. As recently as March, a state representative proved how easy it is for Texans to place an illegal online sports bet by demonstrating it on his own phone. Unless we assume that every Texan follows the law to the letter, this is already happening here; the fact that it’s currently not legal is merely a formality.

(Editorial disclaimer: I personally enjoy participating in free fantasy football leagues each year, strictly for the fun and camaraderie because I love football. I’ve also joined in casual sports “gambling” at several office jobs, — namely, squares with a cash buy-in — a common tradition at workplaces across the country and probably less than legal in Texas.)

From a money standpoint, the good news for our current state budget is that, according to the Texas Comptroller’s Biennial Revenue Estimate in January 2023, Texas is expected to see an unprecedented 26.3% increase in revenue available for the 20242025 spending cycle.

The bad news, in the words of Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, is “we cannot reasonably expect a repeat. We are unlikely to have an opportunity like this again. This budgeting session is truly a once-in-a-lifetime session.” So, what will we do for our schools and infrastructure or (in the worst-case scenario) natural-disaster recovery if our state revenue drops during the next cycle even more significantly than it’s risen? Increase Texans’ already hefty property and sales tax burden?

Speaking

of increased funds, the Texas Lottery — itself a form of legalized gambling also reported record revenues last year. Nearly $2 billion of the organization’s $8.3 billion in lottery sales is earmarked for education and veterans. That may sound like a lot of cash, but according to the Texas Tribune, the base amount of state funding for Texas schools has not increased since 2019, remaining at slightly more than $6,100 per student even as supply costs rise. Imagine how much we could do for our troubled educational system with further investment.

Gambling is not without its cons, of course. How do you avoid encouraging addiction? Unfortunately, you can’t. This is the dark side of gambling; based on a 2% national average addiction rate among gamblers, the National Council on Problem Gambling estimates approximately 600,000 Texans could develop a dysfunctional gambling habit.

Unfortunately, legal substances — some of which, like alcohol, are even celebrated in our state — are statistically more problematic for Texas residents. More than 17% of Texans over 18 binge drink at least once a month. That means more than 5 million people here abuse alcohol and it causes an average 10,647 deaths per year in our state.

Adult use of tobacco, another legal substance, remains at a rate of 25% in Texas, according to the American Lung Association; that’s 7.5 million people. And the Texas Department of Health and Human Services estimates

that another 7.5 million Texans have been affected by an overdose of prescription opioid drugs, whether directly or indirectly. When you consider the statistics, 600,000 people potentially developing a gambling problem seems small compared to other addictions.

If the argument is strictly about loss of money, then we should all avoid investing in a highly volatile stock market too. $30 trillion in global losses over the past year is an awful lot to see swirling down the drain.

So, as with any addiction, the best answer is regulation of legal gambling, and behavioral therapy if/when it becomes a problem. Perhaps some of the extra funds would be well invested in addiction prevention and treatment initiatives.

Risk-taking has been woven into Texas’ DNA from the beginning. Since many Texans have shown they want the opportunity to gamble, why deny them that freedom? Let them try their luck here at home, and maybe do some good for our state’s future too.

TEXAS TEXAS

Graphics courtesy of Vecteezy.

AS SEEN IN THE DAILY NEWS AS SEEN IN THE DAILY NEWS

February 2023

Give Galveston the Vote

BY HARRIS “SHRUB” KEMPNER

THE DEVIL YOU SAY! First [Dolph] completely omits the fact that we resoundingly defeated casinos for Galveston in three separate straw polls in the 1980s, each time by about 60-40 in large turnouts. In that decade, we were much worse off economically than we are now. So, why did we citizens vote firmly against casinos on the island 60-40 each time? Let me count the ways.

1

In early February 2023

Texas Newspaper Hall of Famer and past Galveston Daily News publisher, Dolph Tillostson wrote in his editorial comment that if casinos come to Texas, “Galveston must be a part of that.”

Below is a rerun of President and Portfolio Manager at Kempner Capital Management, Inc., Mr. Harris “Shrub” Kempner’s thoughts on the matter.

For many, it was due to religious principles. It still is.

2

Many thought and still realize that Galveston’s tight geography means huge casino hotels will destroy present neighborhoods near the seawall. Atlantic City’s limited geography resembles Galveston’s. Please look at the destruction that happened there.

3

Some were concerned about corruption of the City officials by casino owners. See anywhere, but particularly Atlantic City.

Many noted that casino tourists would be coming mostly in multiple buses, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Do we want that? We sure didn’t then. Bus into casinos, stay in casinos, and leave town in bus fleets daily, fouling up our lives far more than we presently experience from tourist traffic.

4

HARRIS “SHRUB” KEMPNER

5

Many objected, because we realize that casinos would not help local business, despite their glitter. On the contrary, casinos provide everything they can to keep people inside as long as possible during their visits. This tends to exclude shopping outside for anything.

6

Many people perceive maybe the present employment source would be driven out by casino intrusion into the community. Bad money chasing out good.

7

Many think, because we know from research that no matter how few are specified in the first bills, the history around the country is that many more casinos will follow in a few years. We don’t believe “just one!” “Nose under the tent” is the real concept.

8

And, of course, many in the 1980s voted against casinos due to a combination of the above arguments.

So, many of us then and many now believe casinos would be terrible for Galveston. The main thing now is to have a choice at all. That’s what the City and others are calling for as a part of any casino permission bill passed by the legislature. Most proposed bills just impose it on a locale whether they want it or not. Give us a choice at least to dispute Dolph’s formula by our votes.

Without discussion, the House State Affairs Committee approved legislation Monday April 3, 2023, that would let voters decide whether to legalize casinos and online sports betting in Texas. The legislation still has a long way to go. The expansion of gambling would require changes to the Texas Constitution — requiring two-thirds majorities in both chambers. That seems increasingly unlikely, however, as the Senate has signaled little appetite for the bills. If approved by voters, House Bill 2843 would permit casino gambling in Texas, and House Bill 1942 would legalize online sports betting, such as on cellphones. The casino bill would additionally allow sports wagering.

Coolture

“UNTITLED”

BY ROBERT RAMOS

ACRYLIC ON CANVAS.

“MY ART IS A REFLECTION OF MY JOURNEY THROUGH MENTAL ILLNESS. EACH PIECE TELLS A STORY ABOUT MY LIFE. IT IS MY GOAL TO USE MY ART AS A PLATFORM TO BRING A GREATER AWARENESS TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.”

Jameson and PBR The Usual Pair of Handcuffs A Book

Review

IF YOU, OR ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS, HAS EVER BEEN CAUGHT PANTS DOWN PISSING ON A COP CAR, OR TRYING TO MELT AS MUCH ICE AS POSSIBLE IN A MEN’S ROOM TROUGH, YOU MIGHT HAVE A KINDRED SPIRIT IN ROBERT DEAN AND HIS BOOK OF ESSAYS, EXISTENTIAL THIRST TRAP. The lowbrow potty shenanigans at the outset might dupe you into thinking that Dean’s musings and meditations are primarily Horatian, set in dive bars and filthy bathrooms. More often than not though, Dean is pointing out his own flaws rather than society’s.

The collection overall is unironically blue-collar Americana in that Carl Sandburg and Studs Terkel vein. Dean is from the south side of Chicago by way of New Orleans. Firmly planted in the elder end of the millennial generation Dean has straddled two worlds: the analog and the digital, playing in the streets and being dominated by social media, the real world and the simulacra we now swim in, homophobia and inclusivity. This is reflected in his 28 essays as only someone who has actually lived through these past four decades can capture. At his most cutting, you’ll find yourself in vulnerable pockets of his psyche as he interprets his hardedged vantage through a Jameson fever dream or a lucidly hazy morning at the keyboard.

“On days when the world gets heavy and a long, hot shower can’t shake the demons away, there’s always the fantasy of giving it up and bum-rushing the void. That might be nicerealizing you weren’t that good, nothing you said was that special, and you are mediocre despite your best efforts. What do you do when you finally accept things like this? Keep pounding, I guess.” he writes in “Plan B”, an affirming inspirational love letter to himself, as he explores this idea of a professional backup plan most have been told to retain in case plan alpha falls by the wayside. Not to spoil the piece, let’s just say Dean is philosophically and intrinsically opposed to such notions. While this frightens him to no end, he is resolute in his chosen path as a writer.

BY EVAN RODRIGUEZ

At his most seemingly earnest Dean still retains a sense of humor. In “Little Bastard” he writes an apology letter to a potentially gay “Kid” he and his friends used to torment in his neighborhood. After a fairly woke reflection regretting the homophobic epithets hurled and the physical harm threatened, Dean writes in the postscript of the essay that he tracked the “Kid” down and he had zero memory of him and his friends’ assaults. “Since the publication, the power of the Internet led me to this guy. I apologized. He didn’t remember me,” he writes.

Photo courtesy of Author.

Existential Thirst Trap by

Robert Dean

Now Available on Amazon

Existential Thirst Trap is peppered with the hard-earned humor of not taking yourself too seriously, that only someone who has been told “no” half of their professional lives can pen sincerely.

There are prevalent recurring themes in Dean’s collection: music of all kinds, loss, writing, Jameson, anxiety, depression, the void, and perseverance. He has clearly spent more than a few moments in selfexploration and on his station in life, which allows him to articulate a certain feeling he has with these 26 letters. We live in a confessional and hyper-conscious time and this is essentially Dean’s memoir in three acts: Free State, Rotten Heart, and Good Men and Gators. The work is emo, and as Dean reminds us often, he is a naturally “sad” person, but Existential Thirst Trap is engagingly casual. In some instances I might tire of this atmosphere; instead, the reading experience is like meeting a stranger at a bar and ending up drunk hugging, exchanging contact info as the lights come up.

The most moving and existential essay I found to be “Free State.” It also happens to be one of his most succinct. He begins, “I shared a bottle of cheap wine with a painter. I was down in my hideaway, Galveston Island. We sat in his studio garage swapping war stories, one glass at a time. He told me about pedaling a bike around paradise, making a living by splashing a rainbow of paint against the world.”

I must admit, I’m a sucker for most things Galveston. Dean definitely has taken the time to embrace the castaway island and just gets it on a primordial level. He explores an ineffable emotion in this vignette, cutting to a core I have yet to read from any other writer tackling the island. He channels the humble rough and tumble esoteric vibe Galveston exudes, a feeling that can only be invoked by the brackish waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the hurricanes she conjures.

“We took dark dives into the ether, knowing the folks around us were just pretending when they said the world wasn’t crumbling beneath their feet. It’s a free state. A free fall. The painter and I understood that was the reason the whiskey hit harder. The fear made our bottles seem a little less empty,” Dean writes.

Dean’s affinity for Galveston also figures in the essays “Some Disaster” and “Old Dudes”. Dean is attempting to make sense of the chaotic zen that is his chosen life as a working writer. His self-reflective loop can be seen as overused, but this is also part of the charm of his writing. Existential Thirst Trap gives many fucks, along with the undeniably brazen honesty of an acutely aware young man’s journal, distilled through the lens of an old soul who has seen many moons and closed many a bar. But maybe that is Dean’s meta joke after all: grinning at the world that is laughing with him in its cosmic indifference. He clinks glasses with you in a dimly lit hole in the wall as y’all attempt to parse out this human nature thing.

EVAN RODRIGUEZ is a freelance journalist living and working in Austin, Texas. He writes for the Austin Chronicle, and has written for Kirkus Reviews, Austin AmericanStatesman, and austin360.com. Rodriguez writes prose and non-fiction, he is currently piecing together his fourth novella, forthcoming from nowhere (yet).

Drod8981@gmail.com

Preserving Paradise: Galveston Park Board’s Environmental Initiatives

BY ELIZABETH SCHNEIDER

GALVESTON, OUR CHERISHED HOME, THRIVES ON A COMMUNITY BRIMMING WITH INDIVIDUALS DEEPLY VESTED IN THE HEALTH AND VITALITY OF OUR DELICATE BARRIER ISLAND ECOSYSTEM. That dedication and unwavering passion inspired solutions and a comprehensive approach to mitigate the pressing issue at hand.

LEAVE NO TRACE

Efforts to keep Galveston’s beaches clean have been ongoing for decades. The dedicated Coastal Zone Management crews work tirelessly, day in and day out, to ensure the pristine beauty of Galveston’s 32 miles of coastline, and they can’t do it alone! Advocacy and enforcement play a pivotal role in educating people about the consequences of leaving items behind.

While the Coastal Zone Management crews diligently remove trash and debris, there is a need for a collective understanding among beachgoers about

the impact of their actions. Leaving behind large items like tents, beach chairs, and umbrellas creates hazards for marine life and other beachgoers.

Staff and volunteers of the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research continuously encountered broken canopies, chairs, coolers, and more on their morning patrols for sea turtle nests. They discovered indications of turtles abandoning nesting sites and being startled by the debris and decided it was time to make a big change. Through collaboration with the Park Board and the City of Galveston, the “Leave No Trace” City Ordinance was enacted in 2019, making it illegal to leave items on the beaches overnight in Galveston.

Since then, the Park Board has been collecting items overnight during spring break and the summer season, with over 7,000 items collected that were left on the beach overnight. Every item collected is a win for the safety of our wildlife, environment, and beachgoers. We take great care to inform visitors of this ordinance and encourage all to leave only footprints.

BORROW BEACH TOYS

Coastal Zone Management crews often find an abundance of beach toys left behind on our shores. Despite the good intentions behind leaving these toys for others to use, they often ended up in the water, buried in sand, or scattered in the dunes. We sought a solution that would promote toy reuse while discouraging their abandonment in the sand.

In March of this year, we introduced two Beach Toy Borrow Boxes on the sand at Pocket Park 2 and the beachfront at 61st Street. These boxes serve as designated spots for beachgoers to borrow and return toys. Our Coastal Zone Management crews collect toys in good condition from the beachfront, bring them back to our facility for cleaning, and then deposit them into the boxes for any beachgoer to use.

We owe a special thanks to Donald (Donnie) Conley, a local resident and recent graduate of Ball High School. Donnie played a crucial role in designing, planning, and constructing the Beach Toy Borrow Boxes as part of his Eagle Scout Project. We are forever thankful for his time and effort. If you would like to recommend another location for a Beach Toy Borrow Box, or you would like to report on the condition of a box, visit the “Environmental” section of the Park Board website.

PICK UP TRASH IN STYLE

In 2004, the Nueces River Authority took the initiative to create the Up2U Litter Prevention Program, an impactful social marketing campaign focused on promoting personal responsibility in litter prevention. Since its launch, this campaign has achieved great success in the Coastal Bend region of the Texas Coast.

Inspired by a visit to Port Aransas, where we witnessed the effective use of blue boxes along the beachfront, we reached out to the Nueces River Authority and decided to bring the campaign to Galveston. Presently, we have a wooden box placed on the beach at 61st street, providing beachgoers with easy access to grab a distinctly yellow trash bag for their own waste as well as any trash they encounter during their day by the shore.

As part of our pilot project, we have plans to install two additional wooden boxes, each containing free trash bags, at Stewart Beach Park on the East End and Access Point 29 on the West End. The response from the public has been incredibly supportive, with our Coastal Zone Management crews noticing a significantly cleaner environment around 61st street.

We invite you to actively participate in this campaign by utilizing our Up2U trash bags. If you happen to use one, we encourage you to capture a photo and share it on your preferred social media platform using the hashtag #Up2UGalveston.

BECOME AN AMBASSADOR OF THE BEACHES

Whether you’re an avid beachcomber or simply seeking a meaningful way to make a personal impact, the Galveston Beach Ambassador Program would love to have you. Introduced in the winter of 2022, this program was designed for individuals who are already passionate about cleaning the beaches or are eager to contribute to their preservation. As a Beach Ambassador, you’ll have access to all the necessary tools provided by the Park Board for effective beach cleaning.

If you share our commitment and wish to join us on this mission, we invite you to access the Galveston Beach Ambassador application. You’ll find it conveniently located on the Park Board website under the “Environmental” section.

Together, let’s make a significant impact on the cleanliness and wellbeing of our beloved Galveston beaches. Help us contribute to the preservation of these natural treasures for generations to come.

SAVE THE LOCALS SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Every Thursday in July | 6PM

Enjoy free family friendly music in the park. Brought to you by La Izquierda Surf and Music Fest Menard Park

2222 28th St.

LUCKY LOUNGE BACKYARD BASH

Every Sunday | 2PM-6PM

Join us on Sunday’s for a BackYard Bash, with live Music, games for everyone to enjoy. Drink specials and Tito’s food truck.

Lucky Lounge Bar

904 Ave M

REDNECK KARAOKE

Sat July 1 | 9PM

Kicking off 4th of July early with Saturday Karaoke. Hot Dogs, sides and drink specials. Wear your best Redneck attire for a costume contest with prizes.

Albatross Galveston

815 21st St.

23RD ST STATION TAYLOR LAURYN PIANO

LOUNGE

Sat July 1 | 7PM-11PM

Taylor is back to entertain you for the evening. Taylor’s voice, matched with her piano skills, is a true treat. Seats are limited.

Ages 21 & up.

23rd St. Station Piano Bar

1706 23rd St.

FOURTH OF JULY PARADE

Tue July 4 | 6PM-8PM

Galveston Island will celebrate its annual Independence Day with a parade featuring a procession of floats, decorated vehicles and performers.

Seawall 22nd to 45th St.

23RD ST STATION DR. B PIANO LOUNGE

Sat July 8 | 7 PM-11 PM

The Island favorite, Dr. B will sing your favorite songs all night long. Arrive early for the best seating.

Ages 21 & up.

23rd St Station Piano Bar

1706 23rd St.

LAFF TOWN’S FUNNIEST COMEDY CONTEST

Sun July 9 | 8 PM-11 PM

Laff Town’s Funniest Comedy Contest is back by popular demand!

23rd St Station Piano Bar

1706 23rd St.

ALBATROSS 10TH ANNUAL OLD SMOKEY

THROWDOWN

Sat July 15 | 10AM-6PM

The 10th Annual Albatross Old Smokey Throwdown returns Saturday July 15th at 21st and Ball Street.

Albatross Galveston | 815 21st St.

GALVESTON ARTS CENTER ARTWALK

Sat July 15 | 6PM-9PM

Galveston Arts Center has been the proud organizer of ArtWalk. It is a selfguided walking tour of galleries, artist studios, and exhibition spaces, both commercial and non-profit.

Galveston Arts Center

2127 Strand St.

GALVESTON ARTS CENTER

COMPUDOPT RETURNS! TINY TECHS

Tue Aug 1 |8:30AM-2:30PM

Compudopt provides technology access and education to underresourced youth and their communities.

Sign up by visiting galvestonartscenter.org/events/ Galveston Arts Center

2127 Strand St.

ON THE SIDEWALK: SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: BOO SCHAAF

Every Thursday in Aug |6-8:30 PM SideWalk Summer Concerts are held at Maceo Spice & Imports Maceo Spice will be open for your food & beverages. Great Food Great Music Great Friends! Maceo Spice & Import Company 2706 Market St.

FREE YOGA ON THE BEACH

Sat Aug 5 | 7AM

Start your Saturday morning off with some relaxation, meditation and YOGA for FREE!

Galveston County Community Coalition East Beach 14th St. & Seawall Blvd.

CARDBOARD CREATIONS CAMP

Aug 7-9 |9AM-3PM

Design teams will receive instruction in cardboard construction techniques and decoration options. Teams are then released to create building plans. Ages 7-10.

Sign up by visiting galvestoncm.org

Galveston Children’s Museum

2618 Broadway

36TH AIA SANDCASTLE COMPETITION

Sat Aug 12 | 10AM-6PM

The AIA Sandcastle Competition is a fundraising event for AIA Houston and ArCH Foundation as well as one of the top five revenue generating events for the City of Galveston.

East Beach

1923 Boddeker Rd.

MARMO MARKET

Sat Aug 26 | 6PM-9PM

“UNTITLED”

by Robert Ramos

Acrylic on Canvas

EXPRESSO MARTINI

Triple Sec Expresso Vodka, Irish Cream, Drizzled Chocolate, and Topped with Grated Chocolate.

23RD STREET STATION

1706 23RD ST

CULTUE CLASH MOB BAR BASH

Fri Aug 11 | 8pm

Join the Cultrue Clash crew at Mob Bar for burlesque fun with friends! Free entry when you sign-up on our site.

CultrueClashGalveston.com

Free Admission with Sign Up

Mob Bar | 201 26th St

WANT

MarMo Market is a celebration of the handmade movement, striving to showcase high quality goods in an inclusive environment!

MarMo Plaza

2121 Market St.

Interview with a Mob Boss

BRIAN COHEN, SELF-PROCLAIMED MOB BOSS, IS THE PROPRIETOR OF GALVESTON’S MOB BAR, A THEMATIC VENUE PAYING HOMAGE TO THE GALVESTON OF THE PAST. OUR TEAM CAUGHT UP WITH BRIAN TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE BAR AND THE BOSS.

TELL US ABOUT MOB BAR? IS IT GALVESTON-SPECIFIC? WHAT MAKES MOB BAR UNIQUE?

Mob Bar is a 1920’s themed Speakeasy with Sinatra & Jazz Music, Burlesque Shows, Gangster movies playing, Criminal Lineups, Selfie Walls, and Prohibition Cocktails. Mob Bar was created in Downtown Los Angeles just 30 days prior to Covid shutting the world down in 2020. I stumbled upon this entertainment complex in Galveston and originally wanted to make it a country bar called Moonshine Cowgirls. Once I did my due diligence, I realized the strong Galveston mob history, and here we are two years later adding two more mob-themed bars inside the complex; Mob Beach and Godfather Hookah. There is a new Mob Bar in LA and more on the way Nationwide.

WHAT, IF ANY, TIES DO YOU HAVE TO THE MOB?

I am just a businessman. He said shifty-eyed.

HOW DID YOU BECOME A MOB BOSS AND WHAT ARE THE PERKS?

IF YOU ARE INTO GALVESTON’S RICH MAFIA HISTORY, SHROUDED IN SECRET GAMBLING CASINOS AND SEEDY ACTIVITY, YOU MIGHT JUST LOVE MOB BAR. GALVESTON’S NEWEST ANSWER TO NIGHT LIFE AND GOOD TIMES!

This ain’t the Royal Family. I outworked, outhustled, and destroyed any obstacle in my way to become the Mob Boss. You need to be fearless, strong, confident, intelligent, relentless, & sacrifice more than you can imagine to get what you want. The perks? The perks are worth the sacrifice. Fuhgeddaboudit!

WHAT CAN LOCALS EXPECT FOR BEING A PART OF “THE FAMILY”? DO YOU OFFER LOCAL INCENTIVES?

Our locals are amazing and certainly part of the family. Without them, we would be Sonny Corleone at the toll booth. We offer local discount drinks & always take care of our Galveston locals especially when they dress in 1920’s gear. Typically, we know our locals but if you are a first timer just show the Mobtender your local ID so we can get you a Complimentary Bloodbath shot & locals discount.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT GALVESTON’S LONG TIES TO THE MOB AND GAMBLING?

Being a New Yorker, I grew up around it. I never imagined such mob history on a small island in Texas. It’s American history and shaped a lot of what you see in Vegas today.

ANY ADVICE FOR THOSE WANTING TO JOIN UP, JUMP IN, OR SIGN ON AS AN UNDERBOSS?

Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut!

Culture Clash @ Mob Bar

CULTURE CLASH IS TEAMING UP WITH THE MOB BAR TO BRING YOU A ONE-OF-A-KIND CULTURE CLASH MOB BAR BASH.

Join us Friday, August 11th, 8PM-11PM for drinks, dancing, and dames. Admission to this event is 21+ and FREE for our Culture Clash crew. Scan the QR code below to reserve your spot!

The party starts with a sexy photoshoot with our 1954 classic convertible, Shirley Taken. Dress to impress and get your free photo with this vintage beauty. Availability is limited so get there early.

The night heats up at 9PM with Galveston’s premiere burlesque show and prohibition-style cocktails.

Scan the code to RSVP. Space is limited and available first come first serve.

people of GALVESTON

Problems with Louisiana: They’ve got gambling in Louisiana, but they are not going to bring gambling to Texas. It would mess with Louisiana. We put this to the state, and they always deny it.

By: Dalton Prescott

What is your opinion on gambling the state of Texas?

Neutral ground: I don’t personally gamble. It doesn’t really affect me if it is legal, so I wouldn’t have a problem with it being legalized. I wouldn’t be lucky enough to win so I wouldn’t risk the money or the time. I could be doing something productive. I could see people’s habits with it. If you win, you want more right?

John Williams BOI

Lyda Local Musician

Graphics courtesy of Vecteezy.

Reinvent the island: Gambling in the state of Texas needs to come back to reinvent the island. It has its perks but [Texans will] have to go through a lot of things to get it legalized.

May bring problems: I enjoy gambling but it might bring a criminal element to the area. So, like anything, it’s got it’s good points and bad points.

Good or bad: I know that a lot of people wish it would be here. It might bring some problems with it though. For the economy, it might be a postive thing!

Christina IBC of 13 years, from Switzerland

Chris BOI

JZ BOI