2nd Annual J/Fest Southwest Slated Oct. 29-30

By gulfscapes calendar | Published: 19 Mar ’11

Lakewood Yacht Club (LYC) Race Committee Chairman Dwight Bengtson has announced that the club will be hosting its 2nd Annual J/Fest Southwest Regatta on Sat., Oct. 29 and Sun., Oct. 30. Open to the public, races will be held on Galveston Bay. The City of Seabrook is the Platinum Level Sponsor.

Last year was the inaugural run of a J/Fest Regatta in Texas although such regattas have been held for over 25 years in Annapolis, San Diego, San Francisco, New Orleans and Seattle. “This will be another great opportunity for Lakewood to promote and support a national caliber event,” remarked Bengtson.

The focus of this J/Fest Southwest Regatta is to provide a venue that is all inclusive to J/Boat owners, their family, and friends. While the racers are on the water, their spouses, children, family and friends can enjoy a myriad of activities and tourist attractions in the Bay Area Houston arena. Goodie bags for skippers will contain coupons for family fun. “Since Seabrook is the title sponsor for our regatta, we hope that visiting racers will book accommodations at our fine Seabrook motels,” added Rear Commodore Carl Drechsel who was instrumental last year in acquiring regatta support from the city’s hotel/motel tax marketing fund. J/Fest Southwest is inviting J/boat owners from all over the nation to bring their J/Boats to Seabrook and to participate in fall/winter sailing at J/Fest Southwest and other local regattas.

One design fleets slated for the J/Fest Southwest Regatta include J/22, J/24, J/80, J/105 and the J/109. It will be a circuit stop for the J/24’s and the J/80’s. All J/Boats are welcome to race in the PHRF classes and in the J/Cruise class. Any J/Boat is eligible to participate and the regatta organizers intend to offer several exciting formats for the non One Design racers.

The pre-regatta Skippers’ Meeting will be held in the ballroom of LYC on the evening of Fri., Oct. 28, 6:30 pm for check-in, meeting, and refreshments. A pool party and dinner are planned after the races on Saturday. The Awards Ceremony will take place on Sun., Oct. 30, after the races.

At least 70 boats from all over the country are expected to participate in the J/Fest Southwest Regatta. J/Boats Southwest’s Scott Spurlin and wife Terry of Austin, TX have been instrumental in spreading the word about the event. It is a collaborative effort between J/Boats Southwest and Lakewood Yacht Club, located on Clear Lake in Seabrook, TX.

Posted in 2011, October, Sailing, Texas | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Galveston’s 37th Annual Dickens on The Strand Victorian Holiday Festival Set for This Weekend, Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5

By gulfscapes calendar | Published: 3 Dec ’10

Festival to Unveil Wide Array of New Events Including Alternative Victorian “Steampunk” Bazaar, Circus, Street Ball

Galveston ’s Dickens on The Strand, an annual holiday street festival filled with costumes, music, food and wares based on 19th-century Victorian London, is set for this weekend, Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5 in Galveston’s restored historic downtown. Festival organizers anticipate the favorable weather forecast and the unveiling of many new events will bring pre-Ike sized crowds back to the 37-year-old street festival.

The Dickens festival is always held the first weekend in December in a 10-square-block area of Galveston ’s historic downtown. Festival gates are open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Guests who wear Victorian costumes receive half-price admission at the gate. Tickets to the festival and all related special events are available online at www.galvestonhistory.org. Festival Tickets are also available at all area Kroger food stores.

Headlining the lineup of new festival events is Airship Isabella, an alternative Victorian “Steampunk” group of performers who will host an edgy bazaar, circus and street ball. Besides the Steampunk performances, other new festival offerings include Albert’s Whimsical Whisker Revue—a facial hair contest with the following categories: Rip Van Winkle (best full beard), Most Impressive Picadilly Weepers (sideburns), Finest Gatter Soaker (moustache), Noblest Toff (best groomed), and Hairiest Maiden in the Land (ladies). The facial hair contest will be judged by members of the Austin Facial Hair Club www.austinfacialhairclub.com and will be held Saturday afternoon directly following the traditional costume contests.

Her Majesty’s Royal Romp, A Race Fit for a Queen—is a new event inspired by an old Monty Python video (see original at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktYMkxD0Fzc). In the Galveston version, contestants dressed as Queen Victoria will race down Mechanic Street through an obstacle course.

Dodger’s Artful Lane is a new section of the festival where art students create a chalk London on Galveston ’s streets. Oliver’s Alley is a new children’s area that will feature Victorian games; a monster mural and Scrooge’s Scavenger Hunt.

Christmas at The Oaks, Saturday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. will highlight the new Menard Hall and the expansion and improvement of the grounds and facilities adjacent to the historic Menard House. This event, at $15 per person, features an open house with Christmas quilts courtesy of the Island Quilters Guild adorning the candlelit historic house. There will also be continuous entertainment and light refreshments at the new Menard Hall.

Besides all the new offerings, many of the festival’s old favorite features are being revamped. Dinner with Dickens will be held at Ashton Villa, the oldest mansion on Broadway, with the entire main floor open during the event. During dessert, Lucinda Dickens Hawksley will speak about the impact of “A Christmas Carol” on holiday celebrations across the world since its publication. Festival goers may also meet Hawksley at the Dickens Country Breakfast scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday mornings at Garten Verein.

The popular Victorian Bed Race, introduced at last year’s Dickens festival, will be held again this year. Voted best new event in its budget category in the International Festivals and Event Association competition in September, the bed race features teams of contestants wearing Victorian sleeping attire pushing Victorian-dressed beds on wheels down Galveston ’s Mechanic Street as onlookers cheer. Interested in forming a team? Go to www.galvestonhistory.org/Dickens_Victorian_Bed_Races.asp

Other festival highlights include parades, non-stop entertainment on five stages, strolling carolers and roving musicians, bagpipers, jugglers and a host of other entertainers plus a snow yard for children. Costumed vendors will peddle their wares from street stalls and rolling carts laden with holiday food and drink, Victorian-inspired crafts, clothing, jewelry, holiday decorations and gift items.

For a full list of festival highlights, go to www.galvestonhistory.org/Dickens_Festival_Highlights.asp

For a full list of separately ticketed special events, go to www.galvestonhistory.org/Dickens_Special_Events.asp

For more information about the Steampunk movement, go to www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1945343,00.html

For more information about the Dickens headline Steampunk performers Airship Isabella, go to www.airshipisabellaproductions.com/

Advance tickets are $9 for adults and $4 for children 7 to 12. They are available online and must be purchased on or before Dec. 3 for advance discount. Tickets at the gate are $12 for adults and $6 for children 7-12. Children 6 and under enter free.

Go to www.galvestonhistory.org for full ticket information or to sign up online to volunteer at the festival. For groups of 20 or more, please call 409-765-3409.

Posted in 2010, Christmas, December, Galveston, Historic, Holiday, Texas, Year | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Lone Star Legend Jerry Jeff Walker continues the tradition and kicks off the New Year at Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House

By gulfscapes calendar | Published: 3 Dec ’10

Lone Star Legend Jerry Jeff Walker continues the tradition and kicks off the New Year at Galveston’s Grand 1894 Opera House. Walker returns for a night of heart-tugging ballads, toe-tapping melodies, and plenty of down-home fun on Saturday, January 1st at 8pm. Get your New Year off to a great start with such favorites as “L.A. Freeway,” “Mr. Bojangles,” and “Sangria Wine.”

Born in New York, Walker’s career began in the early ‘60s as he “gypsied” around from Key West to New Orleans, and finally settled in Texas. His first self-titled album for MCA Records in 1972 marked a watershed in his career. In Austin, Walker found the creative community that let him mix folk, rock, country, and “anything else that caught his ear.” By the time he went to the tiny Texas Hill Country town of Lukenbach in 1973 to record “Viva Terlingua,” Jerry Jeff Walker’s iconic status was firmly established. Walker has played for several presidents. His band of musicians, known as the Lost Gonzo Band and the Gonzo Compadres, have been indispensable parts of this endless caravan. Yet even with all that, Walker still sees the world through troubadour’s eyes. His songs are the way he makes the world make sense.

Come to The Grand and hear for yourself his “uniquely empathic music” as Jerry Jeff Walker “remains one of America’s musical landmarks.” This year’s show is “all Jerry Jeff… all evening long!”

Ticket prices range from $30.00-$50.00. Call for pricing on Box Seats. Special discounts for group and senior tickets may be available. For information about this and other performances scheduled, contact The Grand’s box office at 409.765.1894, 800.821.1894, or visit The Grand’s website at www.thegrand.com. The theatre is located at 2020 Postoffice Street, in historic downtown Galveston. The Grand 1894 Opera House is recognized as “The Official Opera House of the State of Texas.” All major credit cards accepted.

Posted in 2010, 2011, Country, December, Galveston, January, Music, Texas | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The 2nd Annual Yaga’s Chili Quest and Beer Fest Jan 15, 2011

By gulfscapes calendar | Published: 3 Dec ’10

Mike Dean, president of Yaga’s Entertainment, Inc, a Galveston based events company, will crown the Galveston Island chili champion for 2011. Dean in making the announcement stated, “the 2010 Chili Quest and Beer Fest drew in 3,000 visitors to downtown Galveston, we anticipate the 2011 event to be much larger with the addition of a beer tasting and new vendors.”

Dean continued that in addition to awarding the best chili, an “exotic chili” division champion will be awarded. Exotic chili includes any meat as well as any variety of beans and vegetables. Other activities on Saturday, January 15th include a 5K Run/Walk, a jalapeno-eating contest, and margarita-making contest.

This year a grand beer tasting will be one of the main events at the festival. Visitors to will be able to purchase a souvenir-tasting cup with a punch card to taste gourmet beers from all over the country. Visitors are also provided the chance to discover many local and visiting vendors that will be showcasing a wide array of products.

A 2-person team Washer Tournament will also be held with a double elimination format on Saturday afternoon. Dean encouraged all Gulf Coast washer teams to enter to be named as the Galveston Island Washer Champions for 2011.

The 2011 Yaga’s Chili Quest and Beer Fest will mark the return of the Strand Merchant Walk-about. Chili lovers will be able to pick up a walk-about card at the information booth and escape the chilly weather while visiting various merchants. Have each merchant stamp your card and be entered into a drawing to win hundreds of dollars in gift certificates.

The festival will conclude with an awards ceremony for the top chili teams in each category and the Strand merchant walk-about drawing. We hope visitors from all over Texas will join us in celebrating Galveston Island and good hearty chili!

For information and registration please visit www.yagaschiliquest.com

Posted in Chili, Food, Galveston, January, Texas | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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