< PreviousLong before the masked balls, parades, balcony parties and the bead-tossing, islanders get into a Mardi Gras state of mind. A lot of locals string bright lights — green, gold and purple, of course — on their porches or trees. And they hang out festive decorations, adding to an excitement and anticipation not unlike the Christmas season.For locals and more and more Houstonians, there’s no need to cross the state line into Louisi-ana for Mardi Gras celebrations. Galveston’s Mardi Gras has grown exponentially since 1985, when island-born oilman, developer and preservationist George Mitchell res-urrected the city’s festivities. Recent Mardi Gras celebrations have at-tracted an estimated 250,000 people a year to the seaport city.For some, all the planning and preparation is a year-round affair, as we learn in reporter Erin Heffer-nan’s article on the key krewes that help make all the revelry happen. You have to admire the dedication of people who throw parties to get ready for their parties, as Heffernan reports.In this issue, everyone got into the Mardi Gras spirit, including actress Liana Liberato, who donned a beau-tiful ballgown for a photo shoot and interview at the island’s historic Trube Castle. Liberato, a rising star in Hollywood, has worked with such celebrities as Clive Owens and Ni-cole Kidman, to name a few. Despite the critical acclaim her work has garnered and her promising future, Liberato is down to earth and has never forgotten her hometown of Galveston, where she got her acting start.We’ll have these stories and much more.Happy Mardi Gras!LAURA ELDERCoast Monthly EditorA MARDi GRAs stAtE of MinDFrom the EditorspEciAL thAnksSeveral key people deserve special thanks for helping this issue’s cover shoot come together.• First, thanks to kelly hayley, of kemah trading co., for allowing the Coast Monthly crew into the beauti-ful trube castle, 1627 Sealy St. on the island.John clement trube and his wife, Veronica Durst trube, commis-sioned Trube Castle in 1890. Architect Alfred Muller designed what is one of the most photographed historic buildings in Texas, and a symbol of Galveston’s affluence and energy in that era. The 7,000-square-foot, 21-room man-sion replicated castles from John Clem-ent Trube’s memories as a boy in Kiel, Denmark. It was completed in a little more than three months by contractor J.W. pope, at the cost of $9,700. Today, the property is available for weddings and other events. Visit www.trubecastlegalveston.com for more information.• We also thank hailey kleiderer, of Dancie perugini Ware public Relations, for so much help on this is-sue, including securing the perfect gown for the cover photograph. shelby schulz, daughter of islanders stephen and Gretchen schulz, graciously loaned the gown to Coast Monthly. Shelby Schulz was Queen of the Knights of Momus in 2012. The gown was designed by Miwa sakashita.A native of Japan, Sakashita has op-erated her Galleria-area studio, Miwa fashions, for more than 20 years. One of her latest projects was design-ing 21 coronation evening gowns for the duchesses of the Knights of Momus. Sakashita also is a popular designer for Galveston and Houston trendset-ters, specializing in wedding gowns, ballgowns and casual attire.10 coAstMonthLY.coM / FEBRUARY 2015FeedbackWe asked on Facebook: What at your house is a dead giveaway you live on the coast? A personal fishing log with 37 years of technique, secret spots and dumb luck.– Michael Alan BashamThe nine pairs of flip-flops by my front door.– Andrea BoltFresh blue crab in the fridge for barbecuing tomorrow morning.– Sarah PenrodKayaks, paddleboards, life jackets for dogs.– Tyler Morrison Kayak and boogie boards in the yard; mosquito repellent and sun-block; flip-flops and silly hats every-where you look; seashells in every coin dish and mermaids all over the kitchen. And then there’s the sand.– Rosalind RichardLittle boats piled where a car should be parked and surfboards mounted on the living room wall.– Russ MullinsHouse on 20-foot pilings. An out-door tiki bar. A canal with bay access in the backyard. A boat in a sling under the deck. Fishing poles every-where. And, about 50 beach towels.– Erin TobermanThe kayak/bicycle/grill/fishing rods/cast net/pool noodle/ tangle on the back patio.– Cathy Townley-McGaugheySeagulls eating bread in my backyard.– Billy Buinski Photo by JENNIFER REyNoLDSViews of West Bay and Gulf of Mex-ico from north and south sides of the house; cattle and horses in pastures surrounding us; views of Galveston bridge/Causeway; mosquito spray, surf boards, fishing poles, year round flip-flops, 14-foot pilings and sunscreen.– Eliza Thomas QuigleyFishing poles, shell collection, sundresses and bathing suits.– Debbie GarzaLong-leaf pine houses.– Neil WilsonOyster shell driveway.– Steven LongThe generator in the upstairs closet. – Ted HanleyOleanders in the yard.– Jill Nagel KaaleSandy floors from sandy dogs and sandy feet.– Trelle Vernon-Cole DandridgeHearing the Gulf waves from my back yard and enjoying a great sea breeze.– Kristen CarlsonSand … in the carpet, on the tile floor, under the furniture, everywhere.– Ron Wooten A boat sitting out back.– Kathy MattesonSnark (sailboat) under the house next to the foot-washing stand for all the sand.– Stephen F. DuncanRusting metal fixtures.– Curtiss BrownNext month: What are the best boat names you’ve ever heard? Send your comments to editor@coastmonthly.com or tell us on Facebook.12 CoAStMoNthLy.CoM / FEBRUARY 2015King Gambrinus Lights Up the Night! TheKreweofGambrinusisRoaringBacktothe20’sandthrowingits26th“KingGambrinusLightsUptheNight”streetpartyandparadeonFebruary07,2015!TheKreweproudlyannouncesthatFoxNews’RubenDominguezwillbetheirHonoraryGrandMarshallleadingtheparadebeginningat6:00p.m.downSeawallBlvdfrom57thStreetto25thStreet,thenontotheStrandEntertainmentDistrict.Rubenhasspentthebeerpartofthelastdecadereporngonpopculture,music,entertainmentandespeciallywhat’shappeninginHouston.AspartoftheFox26morningshowhisassignmentshaverangedfrominterviewingAmericanIdoljudgeslikeJenniferLopezandMariahCareyinLosAngelestochangwithKevinBacononthesetofthehitFoxshow“TheFollowing”inNewYork.Butit’sthedaytodaystoriesthatfocusonthepeopleandplacesthatmaketheHoustonareasuchauniqueplacethatreallygethimexcitedabouthisjob.Rubenkeepsupwithtrendingstoriesandsharinghisexperiencesonsocialmedia.RubeninvitesYOUtocomeoutandbeapartofthisuniqueandfunGalvestonMardiGrasexperience!For more information visit www.kreweofgambrinus.org February 7th, 2015 6:00 p.m. GrandMarshallRubenDominguez,FoxNewsKREWE UA primer on key groups that keep Mardi Gras rollingThe crowd clamors for beads as a colorful float passes by during the 2014 Krewe of Gambrinus “Lights up the Night Parade” on Seawall Boulevard in Galveston. Each major krewe hosts a parade during Mardi Gras with elaborate floats and custom-made beads.Photo by KEVIN M. CoXFeaturesStory by Erin HeffernanThe krewes of Galveston have been masters of the island’s Mardi Gras festivities from the very beginning. The pre-Lenten celebration be-came a major event in Galveston in 1871 when the original krewes, “The Knights of Momus” and “The Knights of Myth,” first paraded aboard horse-drawn wagons festooned in extrava-gant costumes. The term “krewe” originated not long before those Galvestonians began their first festive roll through island streets. The Mistick Krewe of Comus of New Orleans is widely credited with originating the mock-antiquated spelling of “crew” to refer to a group that organizes Mardi Gras parades and other festivities.Galveston Mardi Gras celebrations died out during World War II, but the event and the tradition of krewes were resurrected in 1985 by island-born oilman, developer and preserva-tionist George Mitchell. Mardi Gras Galveston now brings more than 250,000 people to the island each year and is known as the third-largest Mardi Gras celebra-tion in the nation, according to event organizers.The krewes are still at the heart of the 10-day festival, which this year is from Feb. 6 through Feb. 17, and lead the entertainment, social events and passion for frivolity that make Mardi Gras memorable. Each major krewe Photos by Jennifer reynoldsJohn Listowski, above, with the Knights of Momus, talks about the history of the Mardi Gras krewe and the floats the krewe has for its Grand Night Parade on the second Saturday of Mardi Gras in Galveston. (From top left) A large bust of George Mitchell, who revived Mardi Gras in Galveston in the 1980s, sits at the front of a float. A mythical character from Chinese folklore tops one of the floats. Old Mardi Gras beads hang from the musi-cian on the front of a Knights of Momus float.16 CoAstMonthly.CoM / FEBRUARY 2015SINCE 1976WE KNOW GALVESTON AND WE CALL IT HOME409.763.8030 • 800.765.0576thehousecompany.comSALES AND RENTALS4115 Silver Reef$1,195,000 Tanya Jones409-789-7222942 Driftwood$164,900Tom Schwenk713-857-2309Butterfl y CottageVacation RentalBillie Archuleta800-765-05763302 Broadway$323,900Sidney Tregre409-392-1013 5614 Avenue R$144,000Edie Harrington409-789-6742906 91st Street$339,000Casey Howell409-599-9461 WaterfrontwithDeep WaterAccess3202 Avenue N$165,000Edie Harrington409-789-6742NEW PRICE!1818 35th$325,000Tom Schwenk713-857-2309Southern KrauseVacation RentalBillie Archuleta800-765-05761621 68th$169,900Casey Howell409-599-9461 2124 Winnie$225,000Terrie Farmer409-771-205514 Cedar Lawn$485,000Edie Harrington409-789-6742Featureshosts a parade with elaborate floats and custom-made beads. And they throw parties to get ready for their parties. The groups can be at times glamorous and full of mock grandios-ity, but are always known for their love of a good time.Here are just a few of the major Mardi Gras krewes: The KnighTs of MoMusThe island’s only all-male krewe is also its oldest. Founded in 1871, the krewe was the first group re-formed when Mitchell revived Mardi Gras in 1985. With more than 600 members, Momus is known for crowning King Frivolous and a Queen each year, as well as forming a court of young wom-en duchesses at its annual Coronation Ball at The Grand 1894 Opera House. The Momus parade is traditionally the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. This year, the krewe is celebrating the theme “A Salute to Old Shanghai,” with floats constructed by New Or-leans craftspeople and decorated with pandas and Asian architecture. Joe Tramonte, a member of the Momus executive board, said krewes select their king to honor a member who has contributed significantly over the years. “Being King Frivolous was one of the most fun nights I can remember,” Tramonte said. “It’s good to be king.”MysTic Krewe of AquAriusThe island’s second oldest krewe, founded in 1985 with the rebirth of Mardi Gras, is known for beginnings and endings. This krewe traditionally throws the Saturday afternoon kick-off parade, the largest parade in the 10-day Mardi Gras season. Aquarius also sponsors the Fat Tuesday eve-ning parade through the historic Strand District in the island’s down-town. The parade gets support from other krewes and marching bands as revelers say goodbye to the festivi-ties. This year, the krewe will have the theme “Mystic Krewe of Aquarius Celebrates 30 Years — Let the Party Continue.” The group, like most major krewes, hosts parties and fundraisers for members year-round. Krewe of gAMbrinusGambrinus is known as “The Krewe of Brew.” Formed in 1989 by Larry Del Papa, of Del Papa Distributing Co., and sponsored by Budweiser, this krewe is named after the patron saint of brewing — Gambrinus. An enormous bust of King Gambrinus, the patron saint of brewing, adorns the front of a float.PhoTos by Jennifer reynoldsGeorge Black, with Krewe of Gambrinus, talks about the krewe’s history at its float den.Mardi Gras beads hang from a jester’s puppet on one of the Gambrinus floats.18 coAsTMonThly.coM / FEBRUARY 2015Next >