FEBRUARY 2022 LABOR OF LOVE HUSBAND SURPRISES WIFE WITH HOME RENOVATION Winter retreats FROM BEACH HOUSES TO RESORTS, THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE BEYOND BAIT SECRETS TO A SUCCESSFUL FISHING TRIP FEBRUARY 2022 $7.99 COASTMONTHLY.COM 645485005999 HOME GROWN KITCHEN GARDENS PLANT ROOTS IN COMMUNITYKELLY KELLEY | BROKER ASSOCIATE | RE/MAX LEADING EDGE 20918 W Sunset Bay Dr | Sunset Cove 16610 Bayfront Dr |Jamaica Beach 20719 E Sunset Bay Dr | Sunset Cove 4122 Bluewing Teal Ct | Sunset Cove 3610 Port Trinidad | Bahia Azul 1419 Mechanic | East End Historical District 4102 Sand Hill Ct | Sunset Cove 281.794.9463 | KELLY@KELLYKELLEY.COM • KELLYKELLEY.COM/PROPERTY-SEARCH ASK ME ABOUT THE LOTS AT SWEETWATER COVE 3823 Curlew | Sunset Cove 4211 Sunbird | Sunset Cove COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2022 3 1510 Marina Bay Dr., Bldg 124, Clear Lake Shores, Texas 77565 281.334.00064 COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2022 FebruArY 2022 | VOLuMe 15 | ISSue 2 62 30 36 FEATURES 14 WINTER RETREATS From beach houses to full-fledged resorts, there’s something for everyone 26 ON THE SUNNY SIDE Mild winters and plenty to do make for year-round fun on the Texas coast 42 LABOR OF LOVE A husband spent months renovating an island home to surprise his wife 62 HOME GROWN Kitchen gardens plant community-based roots 30 RENAISSANCE MAN A versatile Clear Lake Shores artist turns his focus to giclée 36 ‘IT CHANGED HIS LIFE’ Island author turns father-in-law’s experience in China into real-life thriller 40 ‘WHY NOT DO SOMETHING NICE?’ Former island high school student fights bullying with kindness clubContact me with all your Real Estate needs. Jim Rosenfeld BROKER ASSOCIATE Circle of Excellence Award Winner Hall of Fame Member Texas Monthly Magazine Five Star Realtor 2012-2021 Trulia and Zillow Five Star Rating Certified SIRVA Relocation Specialist 713.854.1303 Jim.Rosenfeld@sir.com “My exceptional Galveston team is marketing premier properties from the beaches to the bay — from historic treasures to high-rise condos!” WE ARE YOUR REALTOR ® ! EVIA | 9 Porch Street 4 BR | 3.5 BA | +/- 3,942 SF Last list price $974,880 SPANISH GRANT | 12804 East Camino Famoso 5 BR | 3.5+ BA | +/- 2,872 SF Offered at $924,880 MLS 68011130 SOUTH SHORE | 18 South Shore Drive Incomparable waterfront villa. Breathtaking bay vistas. Glorious great room enhanced by cathedral ceiling. Stunning pro-grade kitchen. Impressive primary suite with private veranda. Elevator. 4 BR | 4.5 BA | +/- 5,437 SF Offered at $990,000 MLS 50302794 EVIA 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 $500’s Proudly marketing for over 15 years! SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD NEW PRICE DIAMOND BEACH | 10327 San Luis Pass Road, #711 4 BR | 3.5 BA | +/- 2,334 SF Last list price $924,880 SOLDNEW PRICENEW LISTING SOLD SOLD OFFATTS BAY | 6802 Driftwood Lane Unparalleled bayfront custom. Large deep water site accommodates yachts. Bay and pool vistas from verandas and walls of glass. Co-listed with Patti Garrison. 4-5 BR | 3.5+ BA | +/- 5,331 SF Offered at $2.1+M MLS 54582919 SOUTH SHORE | 22 South Shore Drive 3 BR | 2.5 BA | +/- 3,147 SF Offered at $790,000 MLS 94893976 EVIA | 8 Latitude Lane 3 BR | 2.5 BA | +/- 1,744 SF Offered at $509,880 MLS 80621228 EAST END HISTORIC DISTRICT | 1412 Market Street 4-5 BR | 2.5 BA | +/- 3,210 SF Last list price $724,8806 COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2022 56 ON THE COVER Galveston resident Kade Waalen relaxes by one of the fire pits at the San Luis Resort & Spa on Seawall Boulevard in Galveston. Photo by Stuart Villanueva DEPARTMENTS 50 HOMEPORT Couple transforms east end island tenement into a bright and airy home 56 GARDEN VARIETY Grow tomatoes like a pro with these expert tips 68 COUNTER CULTURE Islander makes favorite Iraqi dishes in Offatts bayou kitchen 72 TASTE OF TEXAS For cold, cozy nights, cowboy stew is a pleaser 74 GAME ON bock-style beer is the secret to golden-fried shrimp 76 THE GALLEY King cake is a beloved Mardi Gras tradition 78 DESSERT ISLAND Spice it up Valentine’s Day with this chocolate mousse 80 DOWN HOME Island pastry chef wows judges with Nutella-filled dessert 68 84 DOWN THE HATCH When winter-weary visitors flock to the Texas coast, locals head for the hills 88 HOOKED Many variables beyond bait play into a good fishing trip 96 PARTY PICS Find out who made the local party scene 108 SAVE THE DATE Area events to keep your calendar booked 114 SHUTTERBUGS readers share their coastal photos 808 COASTMONTHLY.COM | FebruArY 2022 Ask for Admissions © 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 & SOCIAL MEDIA coastmonthly.com EDITOR Laura elder PUBLISHER Leonard Woolsey CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ DESIGN EDITOR Melissa rivera PHOTOGRAPHERS Jennifer reynolds Stuart Villanueva CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Carla Peoples Joey Quiroga Capt. Nate Skinner CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alicia Cahill Shannon Caldwell barbara Canetti emma Collins Kathryn eastburn Christina Mattison ebert John Wayne Ferguson Sue Mayfield Geiger Chris Gray Mark G Hanna Keri Heath Phil Newton Capt. Nate Skinner Angela Wilson ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Maureen beans Catherine boudoin Jana Knoell Stephanie Mcbride John Nagy Kristi Neal Kristi Quigley Donna rhoades 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 409.683.5201 ONLINE EDITOR Kevin M. CoxAggies making strides on and o the water. Texas A&M University at Galveston’s University Studies degree with a concentration in Oceans & One Health gives students exible paths to apply their marine background and knowledge into the medical, dental or veterinary elds. Students can also double their career by pursuing a secondary education teaching certicate as they earn their degree. Just another way Aggies are making an impact. 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