< PreviousFrom the EditorSpecial thankSCoast Monthly would like to extend a special thanks to Sand ‘n Sea properties for the use of beach house La Vida Playa, 12622 W. Buena Vista in Spanish Grant on Galves-ton’s West End. A short walk from the beach, the house sleeps 12, boasts panoramic water views and offered a very comfortable place for our swimsuit models to change and relax between photo shoots. Visit www.sandnsea.com for information about lovely La Vida Playa and more.We’d also like to thank laura Goalen, of Glow Galveston, 505 23rd St. in the island’s downtown for providing an airbrush tan to models claudia cardenas, Michelly Villalpando and Julie leiendecker. Visit www.glowgalveston.com for information about Glow’s tanning services.And a shout out goes to Brett Morris and crew at Tantalize Tanning, 2218 61st St., Galveston, for providing an airbrush tan for cover model Brittany Hulsey. Visit www.tantalize-tanning.com for informa-tion about Tantalize Tanning’s services.As always, our beauty team was invaluable. We’re grate-ful to makeup artist Desa polivka, a May Kay indepen-dent sales director, who with the help of karolina kil-bergerova, provided makeup services to the women in the swimsuit photo shoot. Contact Polivka at 409-682-1113 or www.marykay.com/desa.Rebecca Rivera, of Total Technique Salon, 3226 13th Ave. N. in Texas City, created the perfect beach hairstyles for almost all the women in the shoot. To contact the salon, call 409-945-9542.We’d also like to thank Ohana Surf & Skate, Southern Spears Surf Shop and texas Surf co. on the island for providing swimsuits and some of the models. Read more about those shops and their swimsuits in this issue.My childhood memories are insepa-rable from the Gulf of Mexico. I spent many a summer day wade fishing with my father in Matagorda Bay. A visit to my grandmother’s house meant days on Corpus Christi beaches and nights happily nursing sunburns. But the memory that stands out most is of the day I wore my first bikini. It was red and it was pret-ty. And I wore it spending the day with family and friends on Galveston’s East Beach. There was something about that day, bobbing with the waves under a cerulean sky, that sealed my reverence for the Gulf of Mexico and Texas beaches. That memory surfaced during a photo shoot for this month’s issue. After days of rain and fog, the sky was a perfect blue. The water, dappled by sunlight, was a luminous green. It was clear that the models — all locals — genuinely loved the Gulf, the beach and their swimsuits, which were provided by local shops. The fun we had shines through on these pages in our annual Swimsuit Issue, which for the first time includes men. You’ll also find in this issue our newest feature, Counter Cul-ture, which takes us inside kitchens on the Upper Texas Coast. In that feature, you’ll read how Houston interior designer Den-nis McNabb carefully approached renovation of a kitchen in a historic island house. We have that feature and many more.Happy beach days.laURa elDeRCoast Monthly EditorBeacheS, BlUe SkieS & BikiniSDesa PolivkaRebecca Rivera styles Claudia Cardenas’ hair.10 cOaStMOnthlY.cOM / MAY 2015TEXAS PROPERTIES SUE JOHNSON, GRI409.682.9050 • sue@heritagetexas.com • SueJohnsonGalveston.comHonored 4 Times by theHouston Business JournalHonored by H Magazine2013 & 2014Heritage Texas PropertiesTop ProducerReal Trends 2014 Top 250 Real Estate Professional for Closed TransactionsCurrently ranked among the Top 3 Producers on Galveston Island for Dollar Volume & Number of Closed Transactions!NEW LISTING!ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900409.737.4000 | 13655 FM 3005, Suite B (Physical) | 4121 Pirates Beach (Mailing) | Galveston, Texas 77554 | heritagetexas.comISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900ISLA DELA SOL3916 BRIDGE HARBOR | $569,900Pirates Beach - $675,0004022 Mutiny CourtBeachside Village - $1,175,00011610 BeachsidePirates Beach - $299,00013921 Pirates Beach Blvd.Pirates Beach - $319,0004106 Pirates Alley CourtIsla del Sol - $569,0003916 Bridge Harbor DriveIndian Beach - $ 389,90018711 Shaman DriveIn Town - $429,0005901 Avenue TIsla del Sol - $335,0004217 Isla del Sol DriveGalveston Outlots - $210,0001823 27th StreetIsla Del Sol - $459,90022409 Bay VistaSea Isle - $210,00021600 Zachary DrivePirates Cove - $329,90013919 Grambo Blvd.Sea Isle - $314,90022012 San Luis PassNEW LISTING!4006 Bounty Ct. Pirates Beach - $349,900“I have LOTS of lots for sale in all price ranges & all subdivisions.”Pirates Cove - $579,00013819 Cutlass LaneSea Isle - $329,00022018 San Luis Pass RoadFeedbackWe asked on Facebook: What one thing do you have to have when you’re at the beach?A kite. They’re fun and also lets your friends know where you are on the beach.– Denny NorrisGrandchildren.– Phillip GerdingA gallon of fresh water to “shower” before getting back in the car!– Elise Ott WorthenTowels and umbrellas.– Earl Joseph StroopeFloaties.– John BertolinoA great book.– Julie Johnston RobinsonMy dog.– George LiberatoWatercolors.– Seamus KrahamBaby powder. Best thing to get the sand off the toes!– Jackie Hart NielsenMy quadcopter. It takes great pic-tures!– Chris John MalliosFriends, food, water and good music … the Gulf does the rest.– Darla Jordan GoolishianPhoto by KEVIN M. CoXFritos. – Kathy MattesonMy Mercedes Airstream, which has its own bathroom. – Susan Wilson Walker BensonCold beer and friends!– Cindy Fuller TakacsA bucket for shells.– Linda Wilson. An umbrella ... or some type of shade.– Charday VanOrstrandBeer in a Solo cup!– Boyd CarrSunshine and warm weather.– Edward Maceo PlittMustard, in case of jellyfish. – Marsha RoseMusic, jams, family.– Jay EstradaSolitude.– Michael Alan BashamShrimp po’boys from locally owned restaurant.– Cindi DailyMy wife, Holly.– Dan BravermanAfter hitting the beach my family goes to “The Spot” for great burgers and shrimp!– Sally Pouncy Poe12 CoAStMoNthLy.CoM / MAY 2015 6502 Stewart Rd. Galveston, Texas 77551 T: 409.744.7000 ChunkyFunkyMonkey.com Exceptional Window Fashions & Design Custom Shutters, Blinds, Draperies & Fine Flooring Quality Upholstery Exclusive Wallpaper & Fabrics Turn-Key Prices on Stanley Furniture Skilled Design Services Home Renovation & RemodelsHunter Douglas Priority Dealer Makeup by Desa Polivka, a Mary Kay independent sales director, 409-682-1113, www.marykay.com/desa. Hair by Rebecca RiveRa, of Total Technique Salon, 3226 13th Ave. N., Texas City, 409-945-9542.MODEL: Brittany HulseySWIMWEAR: Dream Girl Ban-deau top and Dream Girl Luxe Hipster bottom in vanilla, both by Rip Curl and available at Southern Spears Surf Shop and Texas Surf Co. MODEL: Travis DhonauSWIMWEAR: Mirage Jammer black board shorts by Rip Curl, available at Southern Spears Surf Shop and Texas Surf Co. MODEL: Michelly VillalpandoSWIMWEAR: Laguna Ban-deau top and Braided Hipster bottom in sea foam green, both by O’Neill and available at Ohana Surf & Skate.MODEL: Brandon SteinkuehlerSWIMWEAR: Mirage Aggrofloral yellow board shorts by Rip Curl, available at Southern Spears Surf Shop and Texas Surf Co. FeaturesStory by Laura Elder | Photos by Stuart VillanuevaFor locals, it’s not about a day at the beach. It’s about a life at the beach. People who spend their days surfing, swim-ming, paddle-boarding or just relaxing take their swim-wear seriously. They want function and fashion. So what’s trending this season? “There are a bunch of new swimsuit trends for girls in 2015, which is great because they cover a range of different body types, and girls will be able to find something that suits them,” said Damien McDonald, who, with his family, owns two Galveston Island shops — Southern Spears Surf Shop, 6026 Seawall Blvd. Prints, performance and ‘cheeky’ bottoms all the rage on island beachesMODEL: Claudia Cardenas. SWIMWEAR: Monter-rico Stripe Bandeau reversible top and basic bottom, both by Billabong and available at Ohana Surf & Skate. BOARD: Green/yellow 11-foot-6-inch Riviera paddle board available at Southern Spears Surf Shop.MODEL: Brittany Hulsey. SWIMWEAR: Sunset Surf Tri top and Sunset Surf Hipster bottoms in lime, both by Rip Curl and available at Southern Spears Surf Shop and Texas Surf Co. BOARD: McTavish Fireball long board available at Southern Spears Surf Shop.MODEL: Julie Leiendecker. SWIMWEAR: Spanish Garden Bandeau mesh top in black and Spanish Garden Hipster bottom, both by Rip Curl and avail-able at Southern Spears Surf Shop and Texas Surf Co. BOARD: Blue/red 10-foot-6-inch Riviera paddle board available at Southern Spears Surf Shop.16 COASTMONTHLY.COM / MAY 2015Luxury High-RiseIndependent Living Residencesand Texas Surf Co., 2425 Strand. “Mesh paneling and crop-tops are probably the biggest surprise for 2015. These new trends are really fashion forward, and the styles that are being released are extremely cute, comfortable and flattering for most body shapes.”At island surf shops, performance swimsuits are an important element, McDonald said. “These swimsuits are for women who enjoy being active at the beach or for women who need more sup-port than a traditional bikini top can provide,” McDonald said.As a continuance from last year, prints are trending well, he said.“We see a lot of tribal, floral and tie-dye prints, and even a combination of prints through reversible swimwear or mixing and matching,” McDonald said. “And of course, the simple, flat-tering one-piece is always in the mix of best sellers.”William Cram, who, with Mike Dean, owns Ohana Surf & Skate, 2814 Avenue R½, in Galveston, also is seeing a lot of mixing and match-ing by shoppers. And one trend that’s hard to ignore is the “cheeky bottom,” the name of which sort of speaks for itself. Not quite thongs, cheeky bath-ing suit bottoms give a bit of backside coverage, but not a lot. Meanwhile, men are showing just Brandon Steinkuehler is a junior at Texas A&M University at Galveston studying maritime administration. He enjoys working out, surfing and skim boarding. He one day would like to be a U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer and loves being by the water.Brandon18 CoaStMonthlY.CoM / MAY 2015a little more kneecap, gravitating to-ward shorter board shorts, Cram said. Also popular among male shoppers are the hybrid board shorts, Cram said. Hybrids have standard features such as beltloops, and front pock-ets, but usually in four-way stretch material that allows for quick-drying, sweat wicking and comfort. “You can jump in the water at the beach and then go out to dinner,” Cram said. CClaudia Cardenas was born and raised in Austin.“I absolutely love our Lone Star State,” she said. She and her boyfriend moved to Galveston two years ago so he could attend the University of Texas Medical Branch that fall. “We instantly fell in love with the unique and charming island,” she said. Recently engaged, she and her fiancee are planning their wedding on Galveston Island in December. MODEL: Julie LeiendeckerSWIMWEAR: Peach Freedom Bandeau bikini top and Free-dom Luxe Hipster bottoms, both by Rip Curl and available at island stores South-ern Spears Surf Shop and Texas Surf Co.ClaudiaJulieJulie leiendeCker lives in League City in the fall and Galveston in the summer and many other places in between.“I have always loved the ocean,” Leiendecker said. “I grew up surfing in Surfside and Galveston. When I was younger, I dabbled in modeling for surf companies.”In 2012, she started Walk on Water Yoga. She be-gan teaching Stand-Up Paddle yoga at the Galves-ton Paddleboard Center.“I wanted people to be aware that they can be at peace,” she said. She enjoys giving back to the community. COasTMOnTHlY.COM / MAY 2015 19Next >