From the author of the book comes a wonderful tour and a riveting journey through the forgotten parts of downtown Galveston that were once bustling with wild parties and generous offerings of hourly love.
Join renowned author and speaker Kimber Fountain as she brings to life the tales – both tragic and triumphant – of Galveston’s Red Light District: A History of The Line
Known today as a colorful resort destination featuring family-friendly entertainment and a thriving arts district, Galveston was once notorious for its flourishing vice economy of illegal liquor and gambling and an infamous red light district called simply, “The Line.”
This unassuming five blocks of Postoffice Street came to life every night and remained a stubborn mainstay of the island cityscape for nearly seventy years. In the late 1950s, the era was known as the “Free State of Galveston” finally came to an end, and today, almost all that remains of its history has been sensationalized and marginalized.
Galveston was more than just a city of “gangsters” and lewd women, and Kimber Fountain pursues the authentic, sequestered story of women who wanted to make their own rules and the city that wanted to let them.
Tours are every Wednesday-Saturday starting at 7pm. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased online at redlightdistricttoursofgalveston.com in advance or at the start of the tour (cash only).
Reservations are required for cash/onsite tickets, and both online ticket purchases and cash reservations must be made by 5pm the day of the tour.
The tour meets on the north steps of the old Galveston Post Office at 601 25th Street (corner of 25th and Church St.). Meet at the north steps located on Church Street side.
Tours begin promptly at 7pm. Please arrive at least 5-10 minutes early to ensure ample time to park and/or purchase onsite tickets. Due to mature content, this tour is strongly recommended for adults and older teens only. Tour content will not be censored for younger audiences, and teens and children must be accompanied by an adult.
For more info go to redlightdistricttoursofgalveston.com, email GalvestonRedLightTours@gmail.com, call or text (409)526-6883. Reservations required.
In honor of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride at the Galveston Railroad Museum, the hotel is creating a special “Polar Express” themed gingerbread house. You’ll have to see it to believe it. The gingerbread house is on public display in the lobby of the hotel. This display makes a perfect pre- or post-train ride stop for families.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2370808969639100/?event_time_id=2370808976305766
On view November 23rd- February 23rd at Galveston Arts Center will be “Amber Eagle: Nap Dreams.”
There will be an Opening Reception Saturday, November 30th, 6-9pm with an Artist Talk at 6:30pm.
Amber Eagle is an artist based in Houston, TX and San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. Eagle received an MFA from the California College of the Arts and a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. She was a Core Fellow with the Glassell School of Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and has been an artist in residence at The Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito, CA, The McColl Center, Charlotte, NC, The Portland College of Arts and Crafts in Oregon, and Lawndale Art Center, Houston. Eagle has spent extensive time in Mexico following an initial award from the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County to research fiestas and sugar sculpting traditions. Her work has been featured in exhibitions throughout North America and is included in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Five Points Museum of Contemporary Art, Victoria, as well as public art installations in Houston’s East End and Cherryhurst House, Houston. Eagle is an accomplished art car artist whose cars Our Lady of Transportation and Rosebud have received awards at the Houston Art Car Parade. For more info on the artist, go to ambereagle.studio. For more information on this exhibition, please visit galvestonartscenter.org/exhibitions/ambereagle.
Galveston Arts Center continues on exhibit “Undercover,” a solo exhibition by Venezuelan-born and Houston-based artist Gerardo Rosales. Rosales explores issues of class, race, gender, and immigration to expose social inequalities experienced by immigrants coming from Latin America to the United States. Rosales appropriates ornamental aspects of folk art and geometric abstraction, infiltrated with elements that evoke adversity faced by these individuals looking for a better life, only to find themselves facing similar conditions of social and economic exclusion. His paintings include rich colors and patterns that juxtapose the harshness of the wilderness of the tropics with domestic imagery. His works mix conflict with playfulness as a means to exaggerate reality with irony. The exhibition will be on view through January 5th, 2020.
Also on view through November 17th is Erin Curtis’ “Night and Day” in the main gallery on the first floor. Curtis’ exhibition includes recent large-scale paintings that are dense with color and pattern. Her layered, cut-canvas works contain disrupted surfaces and reflect an interest in geometric abstraction and its historical roots in weaving, architecture, nature, and ritual. The paintings in “Night and Day” are nearly overwhelmed by an unreadable chaos that is pulled back to the edge of order by familiar patterns and forms. The exhibition will be on view through November 17th. For more info go to erinelizabethcurtis.com.
These exhibitions are supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Texas Commission on the Arts.
The galleries are open to the public Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-5pm, and Sunday 12 noon-5pm. Admission is free at all times.
Held weekends 1-8pm, The “Fright Before Christmas” is a themed performance celebrating the season with a scary fun Holiday rendition of Haunted Mayfield Manor, located at 2313 Harborside Dr. in Downtown Galveston. Tickets are $10 and available at hauntedmayfieldmanor.com.
The Bishop’s Palace (a.k.a. Gresham House) is a contributing building in the East End District and a National Historic Landmark. Bishop’s Palace is recognized as one of America’s finest examples of Victorian exuberance and Gilded Age extravagance and is listed by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark. Bishop’s Palace is located at 1402 Broadway at Ave. J.
Available Daily (11am-5pm): Bishop’s Palace Audio Tours – Powered by Acoustiguide, this Audio Tour allows visitors to see historical images not seen by previous tours on a handheld high-resolution screen. Tickets are $6-$11.
December 14th (5pm, 6:30pm), December 15th (4pm), December 21st (5pm, 6:30pm), December 22nd (4pm): Christmas Tours of Bishop’s Palace – Step into the 1892 Bishop’s Palace for this special tour highlighting the National Historic Landmark’s holiday decorations! Featuring six Christmas trees, live greenery, Poinsettias and more, this tour will let you learn about the house and Victorian holiday traditions. Complimentary champagne will be served and photography is allowed. Tickets are $30. These tours sell out fast.
November 29th-December 25th: Miracle Pop-up Bar at DTO (DAQUIRI TIME OUT) – “Miracle” is a Christmas-themed pop-up bar that serves specialty holiday cocktails from locations around the world. With kitschy holiday décor and professionally developed cocktails, Miracle is sure to get even the grouchiest grinch in the holiday spirit. DTO is located at 2701 Market St. in Downtown Galveston.
The Polar Express™ Train Ride is a theatrical re-creation of the classic children’s story on board a real train. Set to the soundtrack of the motion picture, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away on the Polar Express for a magical one-hour trip to meet Santa.
Passengers are served hot chocolate and a treat by dancing chefs, enjoy a reading of the book by Chris Van Allsburg, and receive the first gift of Christmas (a silver sleigh bell) after Santa boards the train to greet families. Attendants lead passengers in caroling and fun holiday activities on the return trip to Galveston’s historic depot.
The Polar Express™ Train Ride in Galveston consists of six separate cars pulled by vintage locomotives from the Galveston Railroad Museum’s collection. On board, you will be seated in either Coach or First Class according to your ticket purchase. Every guest will experience the same excitement and wonder of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride.
November 15th-17th, 22nd-24th, 27th, & 29th-30th and & December 1st, 6th-8th, 13th-15th, 20th-22nd, 23rd, and 26th-29th.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday rides will be at 5pm, 6:45pm, and 8:30pm. Sunday matinee are 3:15pm Tickets prices are $27-$75. The Polar Express™ is almost completely sold out.
Tickets are available by calling (320)244-0213 or (409)765-5700 or at galvestonrrmuseum.org/polar-express.
November 24th-December 31st (6-10pm): Downtown Lasers & Lights – Galveston’s historic downtown district will host Downtown Lasers & Lights featuring new laser shows, a magical display of lights and other holiday-themed attractions in Saengerfest Park and beyond. Highlights at Saengerfest Park include a 30-feet-tall Christmas tree and a giant snow globe for visitors to enjoy on weekends. In addition, lights will be hung on The Strand from 20th to 25th streets as well as along 23rd and Postoffice Streets. The 36-block district will sparkle with lasers and lights while visitors enjoy boutique shopping, dining, antiques, art galleries and more. New this year, four-hour holiday laser shows synchronized to music will be projected on the American National Insurance Company Building on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through December 22nd. While in the area, visitors can tackle some of their holiday shopping at the district’s many gift shops, boutiques, art galleries, and antique shops set among beautiful Victorian architecture. This is free to attend.
The Polar Express™ Train Ride is a theatrical re-creation of the classic children’s story on board a real train. Set to the soundtrack of the motion picture, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away on the Polar Express for a magical one-hour trip to meet Santa.
Passengers are served hot chocolate and a treat by dancing chefs, enjoy a reading of the book by Chris Van Allsburg, and receive the first gift of Christmas (a silver sleigh bell) after Santa boards the train to greet families. Attendants lead passengers in caroling and fun holiday activities on the return trip to Galveston’s historic depot.
The Polar Express™ Train Ride in Galveston consists of six separate cars pulled by vintage locomotives from the Galveston Railroad Museum’s collection. On board, you will be seated in either Coach or First Class according to your ticket purchase. Every guest will experience the same excitement and wonder of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride.
November 15th-17th, 22nd-24th, 27th, & 29th-30th and & December 1st, 6th-8th, 13th-15th, 20th-22nd, 23rd, and 26th-29th.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday rides will be at 5pm, 6:45pm, and 8:30pm. Sunday matinee are 3:15pm Tickets prices are $27-$75. The Polar Express™ is almost completely sold out.
Tickets are available by calling (320)244-0213 or (409)765-5700 or at galvestonrrmuseum.org/polar-express.
In honor of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride at the Galveston Railroad Museum, the hotel is creating a special “Polar Express” themed gingerbread house. You’ll have to see it to believe it. The gingerbread house is on public display in the lobby of the hotel. This display makes a perfect pre- or post-train ride stop for families.
https://www.facebook.com/events/2370808969639100/?event_time_id=2370808976305766
