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September 2026
Lucy's Inspired Creations
Bring your celebration to life! From stunning balloon arches and garlands to custom backdrops and creative balloon art. Every design is made to turn special moments into unforgettable memories!
Scan & Follow
Email for info: lucyinspiredcreation@gmail.com 02 Island Vibe // September 2026 // www.IslandVibeMagazine.com
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Lucy’s Inspired Creations Ad
Island Spotlight Back to Work Monday
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Hidden Gem Creative Minds Fast Signs Ad Did You Know? Koop's BBQ Ad
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www.IslandVibeMagazine.com // September 2026 // Island Vibe 03
S P O T L I G H T A woman making a difference For Jan Collier, Galveston is more than a place to work, it’s home, community, and a place worth investing in. With a career rooted in hospitality and a passion for serving others, Jan has become a respected leader and familiar face throughout the island.
Jan Collier 2026 Ann McLeod Moody Woman of the Year
Her work with the Vargas Postoffice Group, including Rudy & Paco’s and Vargas Cut & Catch, has kept her closely connected to Galveston’s thriving restaurant and tourism scene. But Jan’s dedication doesn’t stop at the dining table. She continues to give her time and leadership to organizations that help strengthen the island and its future. Jan serves as a Trustee of the Galveston Park Board and has been involved with the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce, Texas Restaurant Association, The Grand 1894 Opera House, and the Galveston Hotel Lodging Association. Through her years of service, Jan has helped champion Galveston’s hospitality industry, support local businesses, and create opportunities for the next generation. Her commitment to Galveston has earned her a welldeserved honor: the 2026 Ann McLeod Moody Woman of the Year Award, presented by the Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce. Island Vibe Magazine proudly celebrates Jan Collier, a woman whose heart for Galveston, leadership, and dedication continue to make a difference in the community she calls home.
04 Island Vibe // September 2026 // www.IslandVibeMagazine.com
Back to Work
Monday
Pellet Cooker
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www.IslandVibeMagazine.com // September 2026 // Island Vibe 05
Where Good Food Meets Island Vibes! Craving a taste of Galveston with a side of fun? Shark Shack Beach Bar & Grill is a go-to spot for seafood lovers, burger fans, and anyone looking to kick back and enjoy the island atmosphere. With a menu packed with coastal favorites, cold drinks, and plenty of personality, Shark Shack keeps things casual, flavorful, and fun. Whether you're stopping in after a day at the beach or exploring The Strand, pull up a chair, grab a bite, and let them serve you a little taste of that Galveston vibe! Located on 2402 Strand. Eat. Drink. Chill. Repeat.
06 Island Vibe // September 2026 // www.IslandVibeMagazine.com
BOOK YOUR NEXT EVENT WITH ME!
• Birthdays • Holidays • Special Occasions And More
f f i T y rds b
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Scan Here & Book Today
Hidden Gem From delicious homemade treats to beautifully crafted sweets, Monte Sisters Confections brings a little extra sweetness to Galveston. This local cake pop fridge is out, open and ready to serve everyone who comes by. It's the kind of small business that makes the island’s food scene so special, creative, personal, and made with love.
Visit www.facebook.com/MonteSistersConfections
39th & S 1/2 • montesistersconfections.com www.IslandVibeMagazine.com // September 2026 // Island Vibe 07
Remembering
Galveston’s
For many island kids who grew up in Galveston, the memory is as vivid as summer sun and salty air; climbing towering wooden castle structures, racing up rope ladders, sliding down slides, and laughing with friends under Texas skies. Locally known as “Castle Park,” this beloved play area stood near the baseball fields at Schreiber Park on the city’s West End. A place where imagination took flight just as much as the baseballs did. Castle Park wasn’t just swings and slides, it was a large castle‑themed playscape that felt like a miniature fortress built just for childhood fun. Built of wood and shaped with turrets and bridges, the structure evoked fantasy worlds where kids could pretend to be knights, dragons, adventurers, or explorers. It became one of Schreiber Park’s most distinctive features, tucked between the baseball diamonds and open green space where kids played after school and on weekend afternoons. For parents, it was a place to watch toddlers take their first real slide. For older kids, it was a place to gather, explore, and make memories that lasted well past adolescence. It was a community landmark in the truest sense. As sturdy and beloved as Castle Park was, time and safety standards eventually caught up with it. Wooden play structures
08 Island Vibe // September 2026 // www.IslandVibeMagazine.com
Castle Park
Beloved Playground by the Fields like that can age quickly: wood weakens, fasteners corrode, and the risk of splinters or more serious injuries increases. Galveston’s Parks and Recreation Department embarked on a renovation of Schreiber Park that prioritized new, safer, and more inclusive play equipment. By the mid‑2010s, the park underwent a major overhaul. Although the new equipment doesn’t look quite like the old wooden castle of childhood lore, it offers a safer, more engaging experience for today’s families. Even though the original Castle Park structure no longer stands, it remains a nostalgic touchstone for local residents. Talk to anyone who grew up in Galveston and played at Schreiber Park, and you’re likely to hear a fond recollection or two, a memory of conquering the highest tower, racing friends to the slide, or spending sun‑soaked afternoons climbing and laughing. Castle Park may be gone, but the spirit of free play and childhood adventure it inspired lives on in Galveston’s parks and the stories we share.
Posted on Galveston Buzz. Veronica Rose FB Credit.
Not our maze but it was very similar! Photo Credit: Google
www.IslandVibeMagazine.com // September 2026 // Island Vibe 09
Creative Mind Galveston Youth Make Their Mark Through Downtown Mural A new piece of public art is giving Galveston’s youth more than a wall to paint, it’s giving them a platform to be heard. CTRL+CREATE is bringing young people together through a series of art and storytelling workshops that will culminate in a 15-by-30-foot mural in Downtown Galveston at Water Tree. Led by award-winning artist and muralist Ibraim Nascimento, the project blends creativity, culture, storytelling, mental health, and civic engagement. What makes the project especially meaningful is its youth-centered approach. Rather than simply creating a mural for young people, CTRL+CREATE is creating it with them. Through workshops and mentorship, participants have the opportunity to explore their stories, express themselves through art, and develop their voices as emerging community leaders. Mental health support is also woven throughout the project, with Dr. Robyn Douglas Ramirez helping ensure the workshops are trauma-informed, healing-centered, and youth-focused. Historical and activist context is being facilitated by Jonathan Warren, encouraging youth to explore civic engagement, resistance, storytelling, and the power of public art. Community members are also invited to become part of the mural’s story. During a community art activation, participants can fold origami boats and add an inspiring quote, memory, message, or word that reminds them of Galveston. A selection of these contributions will be incorporated into the final mural design. At its heart, CTRL+CREATE’s mission is about empowering BIPOC and marginalized youth to find, define, and raise their voices. This mural is another step toward creating spaces where the next generation can lead, create, heal, and shape the future of their community.
I f y o ur mu ral c ou ld t a lk, wh at wo uld it s a y? "I want to be seen like the plants on the ground, heard like the birds in the trees, and understood like poems that roll off people's tongues. I am more just a painting, I am a metaphor for people of the community that yearn to be heard and that is why I'm here." - Braelen Green -
"I want our mural to send a message of hope and encouragement across the community for the youth and I want it to reflect positive brown skin representation. Basically encouraging whoever sees it to do whatever it is that they set their mind to and to not give up on their dreams." - Samara Richardson -
12 Island Vibe // September 2026 // www.IslandVibeMagazine.com
www.IslandVibeMagazine.com // September 2026 // Island Vibe 13
MANNY'S MOBILE MECHANIC AND GARAGE
General Auto Repairs
• Diagnostics • Maintenance Services • Oil Changes, Starter or Battery Work • Service with clear explanations
Jon Hix
“I COME TO YOU” (409) 354-2470
(409)502-2474
6611 Stewart Rd unit 7, Galveston, TX
14 Island Island Vibe Vibe // // September November 2025 // 14 2026 // www.IslandVibeMagazine.com www.IslandVibeMagazine.com April 2026 // www.IslandVibeMagazine.com
Island Vibe Kids NO BULLY ZONE!
If you see something, say something. If you feel something, tell someone. If someone feels alone, be the friend who includes them. Speak Up
If someone is being bullied, tell a trusted adult. You don't have to handle it alone. Be an Upstander
Don't join in when someone is being picked on. Stand beside them, invite them to play, or say, “That's not cool.” Choose Kindness
A smile, a compliment, or including someone can turn their whole day around. Don't Fight Back
Walking away and getting help is a strong choice, not a weak one. Think Before You Post
Words online can hurt too. Don't share, like, or comment on mean posts. Celebrate Differences
Everyone has different looks, interests, talents, and personalities. That's what makes us awesome! www.IslandVibeMagazine.com // September 2026 // Island Vibe 15
September Events Pirate Festival Week
Monday - Sunday - September 14 - 20 Bringing history and high-seas fun together for an unforgettable, family-friendly experience! Enjoy live entertainment, pirate demonstrations, games, local vendors, treasure hunts, pirate expeditions, and much more. Visit galvestonpiratefest.com for the full schedule!
Sandcastle Festival
Saturday & Sunday - September 19 & 20 • East Beach 1923 Boddeker Get ready for a day of incredible sand sculptures, beachside fun, and plenty of island vibes! Check out the full festival schedule at visitgalveston.com and don’t miss the fun!
Island Wild Texas Shrimp Festival
Friday & Saturday - September 25 & 26 • Historic Strand District For two days get a taste of the Island with shrimp and gumbo cookoffs, music, a 5K fun run, and the Lil' Shrimp Parade. Don’t forget to stroll the Strand, discover local gems, and shop small while you soak up all the Shrimp Festival fun! 16 Island Vibe // September 2026 // www.IslandVibeMagazine.com
Historic Coca‑Cola Bottling Plant There was a Coca‑Cola bottling plant in Galveston that operated in the mid‑20th century, producing and distributing Coke products locally. That site (a former Coca‑Cola bottling facility) is still identifiable as a historic industrial building on Broadway Avenue that has appeared in property listings and archives as a former plant space. As of recent the building was damaged by a fire and eventually knocked down. In downtown Galveston, at the Star Drug Store (a historic building dating back to the late 1800s), there is one of the oldest porcelain neon Coca‑Cola signs in existence — a restored piece of vintage signage that’s an iconic part of the café’s historic facade.
www.IslandVibeMagazine.com // September 2026 // Island Vibe 17
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www.IslandVibeMagazine.com // September 2026 // Island Vibe 19
The best mouthwatering BBQ on the Island!
It will not disappoint.
From Pit to Plate, Taste the Great!