In The News

Although America's Gulf Coast doesn't have any major gay beach resorts, the Texas barrier island of Galveston has steadily become a popular destination with GLBT travelers.

Movers and shakers: The Galveston Chamber of Commerce plans a March move to the first floor of the 1873 Washington Building, 2228 Mechanic St., in the island’s downtown. Mitchell Historic Properties owns the building, formerly occupied by New York Dress Outlet, which did not return after Hurricane Ike struck in 2008. Along with housing staff, the 4,000-square-foot space also will serve as a visitor center and offer a conference room for meetings and small business seminars.

George Mitchell, an iconic Houston real estate developer and oil and gas industry innovator, was named on Foreign Policy magazine’s list of the top 100 global thinkers.

The city council will convene a workshop meeting Monday on charter amendments that could include discussions about the sale of 16 acres of Port of Galveston property on piers 19-22. But no one invited port officials, who said they didn’t know about the meeting until contacted Thursday by The Daily News.

No doubt about it; this island has its mojo back. The Strand's shops, ravaged three years ago by Hurricane Ike, are now filled with holiday shoppers, and after a record summer for tourism, Galveston anticipates a busy spring break featuring new attractions and restaurants that capitalize on history, nature and, of course, the treasures of the Gulf of Mexico.

I'm in the back of a Town Car enjoying a complimentary lift from the Tremont House to a lunch date on the seawall when the driver, a young townie, tells me that he and his high school buds used to call Galveston "Galvatraz." The image of an island prison isn't particularly kind to the historic Gulf Coast city. But my driver was quick to say it was meant in local jest. After all, he has chosen to stay and work on the island where his parents and grandparents still live.

The City of Galveston kicked off the holiday season Friday with its annual Tree Lighting Celebration at Hotel Galvez. The event featured the lighting of a 35-foot Chrismas tree, visits with Santa and performances by local groups.

After Thanksgiving, when thousands of people were lining up at area big box stores for flat-screen TVs and Disney dolls during the traditional launch of the Christmas shopping season, James Fulbright was readying his island surf shop for what he and other small-business owners hope will be their version of Black Friday.

If billionaire developer George Mitchell succeeds in buying piers 19-22 from the city, his island company will invest $25 million in improvements to the tourist area, including building as many as 80 condominium units, expanding the Harbor House hotel at Pier 21 and adding a boardwalk and more than 50 boat slips.

Billionaire developer George Mitchell is seeking a charter amendment allowing his island company to buy publicly owned Port of Galveston property at piers 19-22, a move that would require voter approval.