Mad as a hatter AN INVITATION TO THE ABSURD OCTOBER 2026 $10.99 COASTMONTHLY.COM 645485005999 ISLAND ENCHANTMENTS CRYSTALS, HERBS AND THE UNEXPLAINED WITCHES IN STEP SWEEPING INTO THE SPOTLIGHT OCTOBER 2026 PLUS: GHOSTLY TUNES AND SPINE-TINGLING READS PAINTED FOR PROTECTION THE FOLKLORE HIDING OVERHEAD DRESSED FOR DRAMA THE ART OF TRANSFORMATIONSMarylouise Caravella, Owner/Broker 713-598-6719 Galveston is my Home. Galveston is my Business. Marylouise@CaravellaCoastal.com • www.CaravellaCoastal.com 13655 FM 3005 Suite B, Galveston, TX 77554 (Corner of 12 Mile Rd and FM 3005) 3913 11 Mile Road | Open Beach Views Steps from the beach | 3 BR | 2 BA | 1,460 SQ FT 2910 11 Mile Rd | Bayfront | Seabreeze Subdivision 4 BR | 4.5 BA | 3,144 SQ FT 14458 Spyglass Circle | Beach view | Pirates Beach West 3430 Treasure Circle | Canal Front | Bay View | Pirates Cove 5 BR | 5.2 BA | 3,715 SQ FT | GCC Membership 11614 Beachside | Steps To The Beach | Beachside Village 4 BR | 4.5 BA | 3,367 SQ FT | Elevator 26118 Bay Breeze Drive| Bay Front/Bay View | Pointe West 5 BR | 4+2 ½ BA | 3,176 SQ FT 1515 BAYOU SHORE | BAY FRONT | BAYOU SHORE DRIVE 4 BR | 4.5 BA | 2626 SQ FT Featured Listing COASTMONTHLY.COM | OCTOber 2026 3 1510 Marina Bay Dr., Bldg 124, Clear Lake Shores, Texas 77565 281.334.00064 COASTMONTHLY.COM | OCTOber 2026 OCTOber 2026 | VOLUMe 19 | ISSUe 10 4232 48 FEATURES 14 MAD AS A HATTER This Oct. 6, host a whimsical, nonsensical tea party 26 DRESSED TO THRILL Costume maker creates an island wardrobe wonderland 32 COSTUME CHANGE For one island stylist, every day in October is Halloween 54 GHOST WRITER Galveston haunts come alive in lyrics of a spooky new song 56 SPINE TINGLERS This season, curl up with true crime, thrillers and paranormal romance 72 HAUNTING HUE Why so many island porches have haint blue ceilings 38 CREATING CHARACTERS Island makeup and nail artist is in high demand for Halloween 42 MAGIC AND MOVEMENT Dancing witches cast a spell of fun wherever they go 48 ‘MAGICAL AND MYSTICAL’ esoteric and metaphysical shops flourish on the island“My exceptional Galveston team is marketing premier properties from the beaches to the bay — from historic treasures to high-rise condos!” NOTHING COMPARES to WHAT’S NEXT. BEACHTOWN | 2553 East Seaside Drive 4 BR | 3.5 BA | +/- 3,540 SF Last list price $2.3M PALM BEACH | 4210 Surf Drive 4 BR | 3 BA | +/- 2,498 SF Last list price $1+M co-listed with Kiki Wilson EVIA, The Preserve At Grand Beach, Laffite’s Cove Stellar new construction. Mesmerizing lake, golf course and West Bay vista sites. Gourmet island kitchens. Grand downstairs primary suites. Colossal screened porches. 1, 2 and 3 story plans. Priced from the $650’s Proudly marketing for over 15 years! SOLD 25919GLOSSYIBISWAY.COM SOLD POINTE WEST | 25919 Glossy Ibis Way Beachside haven (ca. 2022). Gulf and bay vistas. Stunning interior decor and finishes. Primary suite with sitting area. “Lighthouse” cupola and observation deck. Fabulous Beach Club amenities. 4 BR | 4.5 BA | +/- 2,691 SF | MLS 16601188 Offered at $1.1+M Co-listed with Jay Monroe GALVESTON BAY | 1505 Driftwood Lane Magnificent mid-century mod waterfront icon. Awe-inspiring bay vistas. Immense acre lot. Sparkling pool & spa. Exquisite original architectural finishes. Colossal chef’s island kitchen. Glorious primary suite. 3-4 BR | 4.5 BA | +/- 4,184 SF | MLS 70800596 Last list price $2,249,880 EAST END HISTORIC DISTRICT | 607 11th Street 3 BR | 3 BA | +/- 2,810 SF | MLS 44517721 Last list price $724,880 FRIENDSWOOD | 107 Sunset Drive 5 BR | 7 BA | +/- 9003 SF | MLS 3461560 Last list price $2.7+M co-listed with Patty Savage Contact me with all your Real Estate needs. Jim Rosenfeld BROKER ASSOCIATE MTSIR Circle of Excellence Award Winner MTSIR Hall of Fame Member Texas Monthly Magazine Five Star Realtor 2012-2026 Galveston Historic Home Tour Major Underwriter 2011-2023 Houstonia Magazine Best Of Houston Realtor 2016 Trulia and Zillow Five Star Rating 713.854.1303 Jim.Rosenfeld@sothebys.realty TIKI ISLAND | 242 Isles End Road 5 BR | 6.5 BA | +/- 3,242 SF | MLS 534976 Last list price $1.6+M co-listed with Kiki Wilson SOLD EVIA | 3 Mariner Pass 3 BR | 2 BA | +/- 1,680 SF | MLS 9941326 Last list price $624,880 SOLDSOLD SOLD NEW PRICESOLD6 COASTMONTHLY.COM | OCTOber 2026 88 ON THE COVER Rocio Prida portrays the Mad Hatter at the Grand Galvez in Galveston. Concept and styling by Mateo Sifuentes. Photo by Stuart Villanueva. Go behind the scenes of our madcap cover shoot on Page 18. DEPARTMENTS 52 TREASURE TROVE Ghost tour guide creates device to communicate with spirits 60 DOWN THE HATCH Pear, spiced apple and cinnamon add fall flavor to this Moscow Mule 62 DOWN HOME This caramel apple bread pudding is a surefire holiday hit 64 THE COASTAL KITCHEN This crab bisque puts a taste of autumn on the table 66 TASTE OF TEXAS enjoy the taste of tamales without all the hard work 68 GAME ON This dish is a perfect way to celebrate a successful hunting season 70 DESSERT ISLAND This recipe turns leftovers into a delicious treat 76 HOMEPORT Island couple make storied Mardi Gras House their own 84 GARDEN VARIETY Against the odds, olive trees thrive on upper Texas coast 52 88 HOOKED The cooler the water, the hotter the fishing 92 YOU WEAR IT WELL Dapper island businessman likes to make an entrance 94 PARTY PICS Find out who made the local party scene 96 SAVE THE DATE Area events to keep your calendar booked 106 SHUTTERBUGS readers share their coastal photos 76Guiding people home since 1906. Our team of realtors use their local expertise backed by a global network to help people buy, sell, and lease Galveston. 1709 AVENUE N 1/2 2BR | 1BA | 1,186 sq ft | $389,000 Robert Zahn | 409-939-9237 1223 AVENUE M 4BR | 2BA | 1,984 sq ft | $489,000 Suzanne McClere | 713-408-3051 1324 SEALY STREET 3-4BR | 3.5BA | 3,516 sq ft | $875 ,000 Robert Zahn | 409-939-9237 2127 BROADWAY STREET Multi-Family | 9,969 sq ft | $995,000 Brian Kuhn | 409-354-6456 3828 BERNARDO DE GALVEZ AVENUE 3BR | 2.5BA | 2,068 sq ft | $577,000 Robert Zahn | 409-939-9237 1219 SEALY STREET Brittany Lamb | 409-789-3816 215 POST OFFICE STREET #408 2BR | 1.5BA | 1,079 sq ft | $155,000 Brian Schwenk | 845-519-0118 18603 SHAMAN DRIVE 3BR | 2BA | 1,431 sq ft | $599,000 Brian Schwenk | 845-519-0118 919 LONG REACH DRIVE 3BR | 2.5BA | 3,238 sq ft | $950,000 Carole Bell | 979-201-7677 1401 E BEACH DRIVE #809 1BR | 1BA | 576 sq ft | $375,000 Mary Ellis | 409-939-8623 4307 AVENUE Q 1/2 2BR | 1BA | 976 sq ft | $249,000 Brian Schwenk | 845-519-0118 1401 E BEACH DRIVE #1108 1BR | 1BA | 576 sq ft | $387,900 Mary Ellis | 409-939-86238 COASTMONTHLY.COM | OCTOber 2026 In Independent Living you can be who you were meant to be.... It’s never too late to discover new hobbies, start an exercise program, and make new life-long friends. Choose The Meridian Independent Living and let us take care of the little things ~ so you can live big! Enjoy our fine dining, coffee bar, on-site library, fitness room and movie theater. Spend some quiet time in our chapel. Participate in scheduled activities. Take a walk on the beach. Your days can be filled with all of this and more! The Beach House Assisted Living & Memory Care gives the residents the support they need while they maintain their dignity and independence. On our Post-Acute Skilled Unit we provide Skilled Nursing and Therapy after a hospital stay where Medicare and Insurance will often cover your stay. We also offer Long-Term Care. At The Meridian, we are not just community... we are Family. Call us today or Book a Tour here! We can’t wait to meet you! www.meridiangalveston.com Call today 409.763.6437 2228 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston Island, TX 77550 The Meridian is a Senior Living Community © Copyright: Coast Monthly is published by The Daily News. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher. editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative. WEBSITE coastmonthly.com EDITOR Laura elder PUBLISHER Michelle robinson CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ DESIGN EDITOR Melissa rivera PHOTOGRAPHER Stuart Villanueva CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Capt. Nate Skinner rushton Skinner CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Shannon Caldwell barbara Canetti Corey Greineisen Phil Newton Laura Pennino Capt. Nate Skinner rushton Skinner REGIONAL CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER bob Howard ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Maureen beans Catherine boudoin Jana Knoell Tara Mize MAILING ADDRESS P.O. box 1838 Texas City, TX 77592 EDITORIAL 409.683.5248 ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 409.683.5202 STORY IDEAS editor@coastmonthly.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send letters to editor@coast monthly.com. be sure to include your full name, city, state and phone number. Coast Monthly reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. SUBSCRIPTIONS 409.683.5201BET JENNINGS 2022-2026 Real Trends Verified Top 1.5% Real Estate Professionals Nationwide 281.773.3477 | bjennings@greenwoodking.com Chase Jennings, Associate RSPS | chasejennings@greenwoodking.com 13415 Jibstay Court “Bet was outstanding throughout the sale of our home, treating it as her own and us like family. She guided us through preparing and showing the house, handled negotiations with integrity, and expertly managed a last-minute repair before closing, goes above and beyond the competition.” ~Scott and KatieNext >