< PreviousFrom the EditorIt all began with a tweet. The April issue, featuring some of the area’s most eligible bachelors, had just arrived and reader Michelle Craig immediately raised the possibility of a Bachelorette Issue via Twitter. We thought, why not? The Bachelor Issue was a success and demonstrated just how many good men were living on the upper Texas Coast. We wanted to do the same for women.We received more than 50 nominations. Narrowing them down wasn’t easy. We liked them all. After much debate and discussion, we chose 13 women. On the day of the photo shoot, one dropped out, leaving us with 12. By then, it was too late to add another. We had the privilege of meeting each of our bachelorettes at Haak Vineyards & Winery in Santa Fe for the photo shoot. We couldn’t have asked for a nicer group. Each woman graciously offered moral support to others. When it was over, many had become friends. It takes courage to put yourself out there for thousands of people to see. We admire each and every one of these women. A bonus for us was the woman who launched it all — Michelle Craig — is one of our bachelorettes. Read more about her on Page 30. A lot of readers already want to know how to meet the bachelorettes. Learn how to get in touch with them on Page 14. And we plan to soon formally introduce our bachelors and bachelorettes together at an event. Please check in at coastmonthly.com, Facebook and Twitter for details.In the meantime, enjoy this issue, which also includes delicious pie recipes, an ode to pumpkins and much more.LAURA ELDERCoast Monthly EditorA few good womenSPECIAL THANKSCoast Monthly would like to extend sincere gratitude to Haak Vineyards & Winery in Santa Fe. The vineyards and winery were a beautiful backdrop to our bachelorette photo shoot. Haak Vineyards, 6310 Ave. T, is the first winery and only commercial vineyard in Galveston County and offers premium, award-winning wines, daily tours and tastings along with a gift shop. Almost all the women did their own hair and makeup. But we’d like to thank Rebecca Rivera, of Total Technique Salon, 3226 13th Ave. in Texas City, for helping everyone’s locks stay lovely. We also thank Desa Polivka, a Mary Kay independent sales director, for touching up makeup when needed. Call 409-682-1113 or visit www.marykay.com/desa to reach Polivka. Last but not least, we’d like to thank Shaylee Rivera for assisting photographer Stuart Villanueva with lighting.10 COASTMONTHLY.COM / NOVEMBER 2015(409) 763-0555www.fullenjewelry.com2215 Postoffice, GalvestonFullenFullenFullenFullenFullenJewelryJewelryJewelryJewelryJewelryThe Original Galveston Story Bead CollectionThe perfect gift for all who love Galveston, be they Born on the Island or Islanders by Choice. There’s the BOI bead and the IBC bead. And the popular Galveston Island Beach Bead contains actual sand from local shores. They’re compatible with major bead collections.CstrctIcContuction, Inc.Custom Beach HomesNew Construction • Remodeling Decks & Patios • Siding & WindowsBackyard ProjectsJohn Weldon (409) 737-2731 jweldon3@sbcglobal.net“Customize Your Home” CONSISTENTLY RANKED AMONG THE TOP TWO PRODUCERS ON GALVESTON ISLAND FOR DOLLAR VOLUME & NUMBER OF CLOSED TRANSACTIONS• Honored 5 times by the Houston Business Journal for Closed Transactions• Honored by H Texas Magazine• Honored by Heritage Texas Properties as 2013 & 2014 Top Producer• Nationally recognized as Real Trends 2014 Top 250 Real Estate Professional for Closed TransactionsSUE JOHNSON, brokerSUE JOHNSON | Broker Associate | 409.682.9050 | sue@heritagetexas.com | heritagetexas.comwww.suejohnsongalveston.com®409.682.9050PIRATES BEACH WEST4202 RUM BAY | $1,500,000PIRATES BEACH4106 FIDDLER CRAB | $474,900SEA ISLE22209 MATAGORDA | $299,000SEA ISLE4210 LIBERTY | $279,000ISLA DEL SOL4217 ISLA DEL SOL | $315,000JAMAICA BEACH 16610 JAMAICA BEACH RD. | $319,900PIRATES BEACH 13822 PIRATES BEACH BLVD. | $339,900NOTTINGHAM CAMPSITE4009 11-MILE RD. | $559,000PIRATES BEACH 4011 WARCHEST | $449,000INDIAN BEACH18710 W. DE VACA | $699,000PIRATES BEACH4115 PELICAN | $489,000PIRATES BEACH 4210 CAMPECHE | $569,000INDIAN BEACH 18318 E DE VACA | $649,000PIRATES BEACH 4102 MAISON ROUGE | $649,000PIRATES BEACH 4022 MUTINY CT | $649,900BEACHSIDE VILLAGE11610 BEACHSIDE | $1,095,000ShorelinesWe asked on Facebook: What about the Texas Coast makes you thankful?It’s not New York.– Don WalkerHurricane season has been merciful.– Chris CrowderSunsets and shrimp.– Theresa BlackRed snapper and sand between my toes.– Saralyn RichardI cannot think of another location that Thanksgiving serves best. We live with thanks everyday for the beauty of the island, for the strength of the people to keep it that way, no matter what may try to change it ... and for the island family and atmosphere that we are blessed with daily. Happy Thanksgiving all.– Angela Crummett When the beaches are most beautiful in the fall, they are empty. They are ours.– Megan CarpenterThe views, the briny smell in the air; the ever-present, awe-inspiring ocean; but most of all, the people.– Susana FinkelA terrific tradition called the Turkey Bowl. Held each Thanksgiving Day at 10 a.m. in the park next to Rosenberg School called Adoue Park. (Galveston) Forty-plus local citizens, extended family, ages baby to senior citizens, gather to play flag football. It’s been my pleasure to attend for 10 years. Kathy Tiernan and Peaches Kempner were the organizers years and years ago and still are involved. – Joyce H. McLeanThe beauty of the water, the tall, graceful palm trees, the beautiful fragrant oleanders and other colorful island flowers. But most of all, the heart and resilience of the people.– Doreen HughesOur historical past, and the forever Gulf waters and beaches, which are the lures of us all.– Lee BranumGiving thanks to the preservation of the ar-chitecture and historic charm of the Coastal West from La Porte to Galveston, some of the most picturesque places in history.– Dyana BabikGreat friends, a world class place to live and an incredible view of the Gulf of Mexico.– Don CiaccioHere’s what people are saying about the October issue at coastmonthly.com.Photo by Jennifer ReynoldsSailor Ink: Nautical-themed tattoos as popular as ever on Texas CoastThat Navy gunner is a bona fide badass.Getting inked with sterile instruments held by a latex-gloved, licensed professional can be painful enough. But in the backroom of a Hong Kong slum in the mid-sixties? They just don’t make navy men like that anymore. Even at 71, dude looks like he could kick the ass off a flanked bull.– Stuart AdamsBuddy, B.B. and the blues: A daring shortcut home long ago shaped Dickinson musician’s lifeYou would be hard pressed to find a man of greater character or skills on the guitar. Over the past 10 years, I have come to call him family. Rock on for many more years brother.– Robert RedmondPhoto by Zach Tate12 COASTMONTHLY.COM / NOVEMBER 2015I-45I-451764Exit 132004NWSEWe Carry a Full line ofMillion DollarRustic$300with the purchaseof any Tempur-PedicIN STORE CREDIT10% OFFALL Poly FurnitureFREE AssemblyFREE Delivery*To Galveston County5301 Gulf Freeway, LaMarque • 409-986-7600(I45 South, Exit 13) www.RusticFurnitureLand.comHouston’s Largest Poly Furniture Dealer!SeveralColors to ChooseFrom!LifetimeGuaranteeNever to Fade!Houston’s Largest Poly Furniture Dealer!The women of Coast MonthlyWhat qualities make an eligible bach-elorette? Smart, strong, self-reliant, funny, kind and successful, for starters. In our book, those charac-teristics make a woman in general.With more than 50 nominations, Coast Monthly’s committee nar-rowed the list to 12. It wasn’t easy. We couldn’t choose them all, tempt-ing as it was. But it was easy to see the upper Texas Coast has no shortage of women with a lot to offer a spe-cial someone.In this first-ever Bachelorette Issue, you’ll find women of all different backgrounds and interests. Each bachelorette has her own distinct personality, apparent in the answers each gave to our questions. But the bachelorettes had some things in common, including a love for the coast, being adven-turous, gracious and all around good sports at the cover shoot.If you’d like to meet one of these women, email feedback@coastmonthly.com and provide your name and phone number. We’ll forward that on to the bachelorette who caught your eye.Without further ado, meet the women of Coast Monthly. — Laura ElderPhotos by Stuart Villanueva14 COASTMONTHLY.COM / NOVEMBER 2015621 23rd St. $325,000802 16th $749,0001818 35th $297,0004806 Woodrow $279,0002009 Avenue 0 $249,0006 Park Lane $379,0001515 21st St $495,0002319 Avenue M $575,0002220 Mechanic $595,0002426 Mechanic #2 $450,0002410 Strand $850,000214 25th $299,0002327 45th $189,5002402 Avenue L $475,0002710 Ave P 1/2 $125,0002202 43rd $199,000811 12 St $179,0002401 38th $265,000New Roof!2100 Post Office #10 $380,00016717 Captain Hook Drive $145,000Gulf View!Multi Unit3 HousesDowntown LivingVictoriansCommercialIsland LivingDecember11–13, 2015galvestonnaturetourism.org3 LotsSt Germain CondoThe Bachelorette IssueAge: 28Town: League CityOccupation: Teacher for Texas City Inde-pendent School District and cheer coach at the schoolMy ideal mate: Outgoing, assured of what they want in life; someone who has my back, is kind and loyal and definitely a Christian; someone who loves life, loves to travel and someone who won’t play games. Something you’re dying to try: Travel to exotic places.Top song on my playlist: “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten and “Cheerleader” by OMI.Super powers I wish I had: Mind reader. I’d like to know what everyone is thinking — especially men.Favorite thing about living on the Gulf Coast: The laid-back atmosphere, restaurants, the variety of things to do. From League City to Galveston, there is always something going on.What’s one of your hidden talents? Since I was a gymnast and cheerleader growing up, I can do tumbling and back flips. Biggest turnoff: Dishonesty, lack of ambi-tion, unfaithfulness, being noncommittal.Celebrity crush: J.J. Watt. He seems to be a genuine guy and I admire the charity work he does. He just recently said he was looking for a girlfriend, so J.J. Watt, I hope you read this.My proudest accomplishment: I recently bought my own home, plus I’m in graduate school right now with a 4.0 GPA.If you could wake up anywhere in the world, where would it be? Somewhere tropical, like Bora Bora, in one of those huts over the water.Amy TaberHair and makeup by Michelly Villalpando, of Tangles Salon in Texas City.16 COASTMONTHLY.COM / NOVEMBER 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 The Bachelorette IssueAge: 27Town: GalvestonOccupation: Marketing coordinatorMy ideal mate: Outgoing, outdoorsy, trustworthy and honest with a great sense of humor. Someone who can make me laugh and is always up for an adventure.Callie WalkerSomething you’re dying to try: Surf. I’ve lived on the island now for three years and have paddle-boarded and kayaked, but have still yet to go surfing.Top song on my playlist: “I’ve Got This Friend” by The Civil Wars. Super powers I wish had: The ability to freeze-frame time, so that I could get more done in the day.Favorite thing about living on the Gulf Coast: Taking my son to the beach; he’s about to turn 3 years old. Also, driving along the seawall on my way to work, so I get to see the Gulf every day.What’s one of your hidden talents? I’m a self-taught graphic designer. Biggest turnoff: Lack of communication, inconsistencies and smoking.Celebrity crush: Brandon Boyd, lead singer of Incubus. My proudest accomplishment: My son. He teaches me something new every day and continues to bring out the best in me. If you could wake up anywhere in the world, where would it be? Greece, so that I could swim in the clear blue water and photograph the beautiful islands.18 COASTMONTHLY.COM / NOVEMBER 2015Welcome Homemarthaturner.com | 281.333.3034Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc.GALVESTONIsland Passage | $340s3/2.5 - ±2,124 sflake vista | master down | media roomJim Rosenfeld | 713.854.1303CLEAR LAKEBack Bay Court | $560s4/2.5 - ±3,047updated 1-story waterfront home | poolCarole Haider | 281.615.6200GALVESTONIsland Passage | $340s3/2.5 - ±2,188 sfgolf course vista | epicurean kitchenJim Rosenfeld | 713.854.1303ALVINCounty Road 156 | $840s5-7/4.5 - ±3,590 sfequestrian ranch | ±5 acres | stable | poolDonna Bigby | 713.805.6633HITCHCOCKDelany Road | $490s4/6.5 - ±4,424 sfbeautiful property on ±7.2 acres | poolKim Watts | 281.923.8216GALVESTONIsland Passage | $340s3/2.5 - ±2,072 sfdivine finishes | rivals new constructionJim Rosenfeld | 713.854.1303GALVESTONPorch Street | $980s4-5/3.5 - ±3,942 sfgrand waterfront manor | luxurious masterJim Rosenfeld | 713.854.1303GALVESTONPalm Cove Court | $560s3-4/3.5 - ±3,669 sfsuperb chef’s kitchen | elevator | bay vistasJim Rosenfeld | 713.854.1303GALVESTONSchaper Drive | $90s±5,749 sf lot ideal waterfront site | stunning lake vistaJim Rosenfeld | 713.854.1303Next >