The Grand 1894 Opera House has announced its next seaon, and it looks like it will be “Grand”.

The highlights, in my opinion, will be:

Smokey Robinson

 Cirque Shanghai-Bai Xi

Camelot

Rita Rudner

Jerry Jeff Walker

Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone

The Oak Ridge Boys

Porgy and Bess

Hairspray

Asleep at the Wheel

Tommy Tune

Click here for more details.

In doing some reading, I came across a reference to Pandora Radio.  Being kinda curious, I did the Google thing and discovered this remarkable website, www.pandora.com.

I followed the instructions and registered on the site.

I was then able to select an artist or a song and the website would then play for me song selections of a similar style either to the artist or the song.  If you give them Frank Sinatra, not only will you get Sinatra, but you probably will also get Nat King Cole.

I was able to save these “stations” and can listen to them on my computer at will.

I am using the free version which exposes me to advertising, but I don’t sit and look at the computer anyway when the music is playing.

This has got to be one of the all time coolest websites.  Try it!

And no, they are not paying me for this plug.

Clean Galveston will present the 16th Annual Back Garden Tour on Saturday, June 6 from 10 am until 5 pm and Sunday, June 7, from noon until 5 pm.

This tour is always a treat if you are a fan of beautiful gardens as these lay in the back yards of Galveston homes that you most likely would not see otherwise.  This year, gardens at the following addresses will be featured:

2909 Dominque

2867 Dominique

4721 Sherman

4328 Avenue O

4115 Avenue O (This is the Ball High School atrium)

3202 Avenue P 1/2

2005 Avenue N 1/2 (This is the San Jacinto Community Garden)

1922 Avenue N

1814 Avenue K

1728 Avenue M

Advance tickets of $7 can be purchased at the following places:

Nonus, 2411B The Strand

Galveston Wreath and Flower Co., 1515 19th Street

Speedy’s Printing, 715 24th Street

The Original Barking Frog, 701 14th Street

Tom Thumb’s Nursery, 2014 45th Street

Tickets can be purchased at each house on tour for $10 on the days of the tour.

See the Galveston County Daily News article here.

Galveston real estate - 6116 Avenue Q 1/2 - Duplex opportunity ready for your touch.

The front unit is gutted and ready to be put back.

The back unit has two floors, and the second story is intact with beautiful hardwood floors, a spacious bathroom and three bedrooms. The back unit has a nice open plan downstairs and includes space for a half bath.

The extra large two car garage also has a storage room. Electricity separately metered. Large backyard. Conveniently located near shopping, schools, Moody Gardens, and Schlitterbahn. Being sold “as is”.

The listing information is attached.  Please feel free to call us if you have any questions about this premier opportunity.

Galveston real estate - By The Sea Condo No. 1103 - Great Gulf View at a Great Value!!

This 11^th floor two bedroom, two bathroom condo at Galveston’s By the Sea provides a million dollar view for only $175,000.

You see the Gulf when you first enter the condo, and the Gulf can be seen from all rooms but one.

The second bedroom is separated from the spacious living/dining area by a sliding wall which, when open, enhances the view and, when closed, provides privacy for the bedroom.

The By the Sea lobby, community room, and coffee room have just been remodeled.  There is also a pool and tennis court, and By the Sea is located near Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn, and a movie theater, and it is just a ten minute drive to the Strand and Historic Downtown Galveston.

The listing information is attached.  Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about this premier condo.

Galveston real estate - Palisade Palms BC1706 - The view is fantastic from this 17^th Floor Beach Club unit at Palisade Palms.  Imagine the beautiful sunrises you will see from this vantage point.

Luxury surrounds you at Palisade Palms, from the grand entry into the large marble foyer with waterfall and sweeping staircase to the spacious condominium with its very large terrace overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.

This approximately 1,687 square foot condo has an open floor plan so that the large kitchen, dining area, and especially the spacious living room have Gulf views.  Both bedrooms have Gulf views as well plus their own bathrooms.  The master bathroom has twin sinks plus both a shower and a tub.  There is a study area that could double as sleeping quarters, and there is also a third bathroom.

Entertaining family and friends will be a delight either inside or outside on the room-sized covered Gulf view terrace that always seems to have a really wonderful breeze.

Besides the fantastic Gulf view, the amenities of Palisade Palms include direct beach access, gorgeous pool, library, party room, large fitness center, and tennis courts.

This condominium can easily be either a permanent home or weekend getaway for the client who wants a luxury beach lifestyle.

The listing information is attached.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this premier condominium.

Galveston had a busy Memorial Day weekend.  The Seawall was packed, the beaches were hopping, and there were a lot of folks at Moody Gardens and shopping on the Strand.

Very importantly, there were a lot of folks in town looking at Galveston real estate.

The Houston television stations covered the island this weekend interviewing visitors.  All of the visitors said that they were expecting to see a devastated city but were surprised how good everything looked, especially compared to what they thought they were going to see.

I have not spoken to anyone who did not have a good weekend business-wise.

Come on down and visit.

The Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF), although wounded by Hurricane Ike, continues its rebound and now brings to us something new, “Music Masterworks/Historic Sites”.

7:00 pm - Friday, May 22 - U. S. Custom House at 502 20th Street

Custom House: The Forgotten Gateway will commemorate Galveston’s history as a major entrance to America for immigrants. Composers who immigrated to America, Rachmaninov, Hindemith, and Weill, will be featured.

7:00 pm - Friday, May 29 - Garten Verien at 2704 Avenue O

Garten Verein: Legacy of Friendship - Galveston’s Garten Verien, an 1880 German dancing pavilion will be the site for “Hungarian Dances” by Brahms and Joachim, “Clarinet Trio” by Brahms, and “Till Eulenspiegel” by Strauss and Hasenhorl.

7:00 pm - Sunday, June 7 - St. Joseph’s Church at 2202 Avenue K

Heroic Gratitude - Beethoven’s hymn of thanksgiving, “Quartet no. 15, Opus 132″ will be featured.

In all cases, the music will be provided by the Restoration Chamber Music, a collaboration of musicians from the region.

Admission to each concert is $25.00 for the public but only $22.50 for GHF members. Reservations can be made by calling 409/765-7834 or emailing education@galvestonhistory.org.

A great example of affordable resort Galveston real estate is 4002 Jackson. This two year old home in quiet Sea Isle will be perfect for full-time living or part-time retreat as it has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and approximately 1240 square feet.

Going up the steps you will find an expansive covered deck which acts as an extra room. Look down Jackson toward the beach and you will get a peek at the Gulf.

Entering the home you will find yourself in a large open living/dining/kitchen space with a vaulted ceiling enhancing the feel of spaciousness. The kitchen has granite counter tops, an island, and stainless appliances.

Other features include ceiling fans, laminate flooring in the public areas, and the washer and dryer are conveniently located inside the home.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about this premier listing.

One of the finest pieces of Galveston real estate is 2958 Dominique. This lakefront villa has the best of everything from front to back and down to up.  The three-year old home has four bedrooms, three and one-half bathrooms, three car garage, and approximately 4,415 square feet, and all major rooms have a view of the lake.

As you enter through the alder wood front door into the grand entrance hall, you will encounter a 19^th century bronze and crystal chandelier as well as the circular staircase with custom Belgian rug leading to the second level.

As you head toward the living room you will pass the powder room with Toscano designed hand painted sink and commode and a crystal light fixture.

The approximately 27 foot living room has three sets of French doors leading to the downstairs covered veranda.  Paired with a spacious dining room, both rooms have easy access to the dream kitchen with Subzero refrigerator, Thermador stove with six burners and two ovens, Bosch dishwasher, granite counter tops, island, hardwood floors, and beautiful cabinetry.  The pantry has a lot of storage with shelving and cabinets galore.

Upstairs you will find a spacious master bedroom the same size as the living room below, and it also has three sets of French doors, but these lead to the covered upstairs veranda. The master bath features twin sinks, whirlpool tub, shower with overhead rain shower head and multiple wall jets, and his and her closets – her closet is outfitted with a drawer-filled island and built-in shoe shelves. There is an extra large cedar paneled closet that includes a gun safe.

Two of the remaining three bedrooms are currently used as large his and her studies, and one is downstairs and one is upstairs, but both have lake views.

Other features of this finely built home include an elevator, interior oak doors crafted in Pennsylvania and with English crafted bronze hardware, ceiling fans in every room and on the verandas, double crown molding, travertine floors in several rooms, and wood floors in others. You must not forget the Andersen windows, stereo system, plasma wall-mounted televisions, built-in telephone system interfaced with the front door intercom and camera, and an alarm system.

Now for the back yard.  The covered upstairs and downstairs verandas overlook the large pool, spa, lush landscaping, greenhouse with tool shed and dog washing counter, the entertainment pier, and, of course, the lake.  Added bonuses are a new bulkhead and the home’s location near Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn, and the popular Oppe Elementary School.

2958 Dominique is for the discriminating buyer.