Culture Clash Magazine _ Boozy Island

a venue for Galveston’s free thinkers

BOOZY ISLAND

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER:

"It's 5 o'clock somewhere!" "Let's tap a keg." "Let the good times roll!" "Crack a cold one!" "It's island time." All phrases you may hear on any given day on the island. We love to have fun, and with that comes libation. Our ancestors started a tradition of good times and revelry here long before you or I arrived, and some say it is our right of passage to continue the party.

Our Boozy Island issue pays homage to the sweet buzz this island provides and the people serving up your fun. We lay out the dos and don'ts every bar patron should live by and look deeper into the $71.2 million in Galveston's annual drink sales. The Culture Clash team dives into what going out meant through the generations and examines the differences in our drinking habits. Most importantly, we celebrate Brad Stringer for his tireless efforts to elevate our drinking experience and spotlight Galveston's go-to drink orders.

Raise a glass to this beautiful culture of booze. Toast to good times and bright tomorrows. Most importantly, tip your bartender and take care of your friends. Never drink and drive, and stop spitting on the barroom floor (Kate).

We encourage you to get out and enjoy life, taste the vine, but don't go crazy.

- Janese Maricelli

Write us an email or shoot us a comment any time online: CultureClashGalveston.com CultureClashGalveston@gmail.com

ON THE COVER: This issue’s cover, photographed by Juan Lazo of Aveo Creative, is more than a portrait. Through his immersive lens, Lazo captures Brad Stringer (the force behind DTO, Earline's Downtown Dive, and Pineapple Parlor) and his creations. The image bends space and draws the viewer inward. To learn more about Juan and his work, scan the QR code:

*This magazine is NOT printed on recycled paper or with soy-based inks YET! But we are working on it. Help us get there, advertise or sponsor us! E-mail for more details CultureClashGalveston@gmail.com.

JanMar Agency Sara Beshai Monica Fuentes CONTRIBUTING

Jessica Safavimehr

CONTRIBUTORS

Dana Aguilar • Michael Burnett

Kelly Beesley Chapman • Chip Coy

Sasha Francis • Monica Fuentes

Mary Gilcrease • Cyndi Hood

Kasi Huffman • Pam Maine Johnson

Jacqueline Kimble

Debby Richey Larsen • Mar Le

Dan Marks • Emma Mericle

Troy Rodriguez • Krista Ruiz

Sage Scott • Brad Stringer Selah Tacconi

Be a Better Human

On an island where cocktails are practically part of the culture, a good night out starts with what’s in your glass. It's also about protecting your friends, tipping, and knowing when it’s time to call a rideshare. On Galveston Island, the best drinking culture is one built on community and care. KEEP IT SOCIAL. KEEP IT CLASSY. CULTURE CLASH TOP TIPS Your bartender is your friend. Tip well! Galveston is walkable, don't chance it. Keep your hands to yourself and tell your buddy to do the same. 1 2 3

BAR ETIQUETTE 101

Article By Sage Scott

The school year has given over to summer bar season, a different beast for bartenders on the island who’ve seen the pour behavior that comes with an influx of millions of tourists, regular Galveston rowdiness, and weather that demands a frozen margarita or two.

They offered some basic etiquette tips: Know what you want to drink before you step up to order on a busy Friday, be patient, and tip your bartender.

For three years, Courtney Rohrbach has worked at Brewchachos, a popular spot on the downtown bar route on the weekends and an island favorite for cooling afternoon beers, trivia, and bingo throughout the week.

“The Strand is crazy,” she said. “You never really know how things are going to go.”

She said she sees a customer take it too far, probably once a month, with an unusual frequency on full moons.

Her advice? Skip that third Rumple Minze shot, and when moonshine spills from the sky into glasses, stay away from the werewolves of Galveston.

Things can get especially spirited on holiday weekends, biker rally, and Mardi Gras, when a man was pushed through the front window of Yaga’s, Brylie Dartez recalled.

She works at Yaga’s and the bar next door, Tsunami’s, which is usually dominated by college students. With so many customers new to the bar scene, she’s got a few pieces of advice for them:

On a weekend night, it’s going to be busy, and bumping shoulders is going to happen. Remain calm.

Your shoulder will remain intact, and a fight for your own honor just kills the vibe.

Dartez has had customers flirt with her in attempts to get free drinks, which won’t work, she said. It’s nice to talk to customers, but only for good conversation and catching up with regulars, she said.

One customer even made some advances toward her, she said. But mostly, the intoxi-cidents she sees are between customers.

If you get handsy or are creeping, you’re out, she said.

These bartenders, often the first responders to drunken scenes, all said they want people to tell them if someone’s making them uncomfortable.

“We’re a family here, and we don’t put up with bull****,” Market Station bartender Ana Silvas said.

She was one of many island bartenders who’ve had to get someone thrown out for making someone uncomfortable or starting a fight.

“ ”

On a weekend night, it’s going to be busy, and bumping shoulders is going to happen. Remain calm. Your shoulder will remain intact, and a fight for your own honor just kills the vibe. — YAGA’S BARTENDER, BRYLIE DARTEZ

You need thick skin for the job, she said, recounting a recent event wherein a lady threw a punch at her while in line for hot dogs outside the bar.

A few blocks away, under the quiet red light of Jack’s Pub, patrons Brenna Knott and Dan Jupiter found a haven free from downtown rowdiness.

They said they don’t go out often, but when they do, they opt for the dive bars frequented by locals and regulars who appreciate a calmer atmosphere enlivened by the scattered conversations and the occasional game of pool.

If you want to drink but want to avoid the drama, the dive bars across Galveston are where you want to be.

No matter which bar you choose, don’t reach behind the counter to grab your drink, don’t touch the garnishes sitting out, and don’t run your fingers through the straws like you probably just did to your hair.

Another bar rule that may seem obvious but that someone learned just last week: Don’t throw drinks at your bartender, MarMo Café & Lounge bartender Katie Sakaluk said.

She’d been drenched with the sticky sweetness of a daiquiri and finished the tail end of her shift before showering it off. She could go without that happening again, she said.

Although they’ve handled some violent, rude scenes, these bartenders all said they’re eager to help anyone who needs protection or help getting a safe ride home.

Be kind and talk with your bartender if they have a minute; it can’t hurt the service or your reputation, which you can be careful not to muddy by following their advice.

It’s a small island, and bartenders talk. So just get your hotdog, drink your drink, and say what’s up to the people who keep us safe — and maybe a little sloshed.

Voices of the Island

There’s a unique rhythm to island life where frozen drinks double as hydration and nobody questions a midday cocktail. Galveston simply plays by its own rules. Locals and visitors alike eventually learn to embrace the island's carefree approach to celebration.

ISLAND TIME IS AIRPORT RULES WITH BETTER WEATHER

Article By Jessica Safavimehr

On the island, vacation mode is a permanent setting. We’ve all heard the term “island time,” where cocktails feel socially acceptable at almost any hour, and drinking culture operates on its own strange little clock.

There’s something psychological that happens the second you cross the causeway. Maybe it’s the salt air, or the humidity dissolving your sense of responsibility. Maybe it’s because half the people around you are already holding a drink before noon. Before moving to the island, I was a habitual visitor. I saw a group of ladies enjoying Murdoch’s porch with margaritas in hand before 10 AM, and I immediately sank into vacation mode. Whatever it is, the island has a way of making normal rules feel optional.

Galveston operates almost entirely on what can only be described as airport rules. You know the feeling. The complete suspension of normal adult behavior the second you step into a terminal, and suddenly a margarita at 8 a.m. seems not only acceptable but necessary. On the island, that energy exists 24/7. Tuesday afternoon beers become part of the scenery. Frozen daiquiris count as hydration. Happy hour stretches for approximately six hours. Nobody asks questions.

And unlike other cities where drinking every day might raise eyebrows, on the island, it’s just part of life. Vacation and alcohol are deeply connected here. Tourists arrive ready to celebrate absolutely anything. A beach day. A birthday. A breakup. A random three-day weekend. Meanwhile, locals exist in this strange overlap between reality and vacation goggles. Service industry workers getting drinks after late shifts. Business meetings in the afternoon over cocktails. Dive bars filled with fishermen, artists, tourists, bartenders, and people who swore they were only stopping in for one drink three hours ago.

The beauty of Galveston's drinking culture is that it’s not pretentious. Nobody cares if you’re ordering topshelf bourbon or a neon-blue frozen concoction out of a plastic cup with an umbrella. The island doesn’t really discriminate when it comes to drinks. Fancy cocktail lounges coexist next to bars where the floors permanently smell like beer and seawater. You can start the night with a classy espresso martini and somehow end it in a dive bar watching a guy with no shoes play a drum solo to an AC/DC song. Yes, I witnessed this firsthand. No, I will not mention the bar or the guy; you’ll have to find that out on your own.

And honestly, part of the appeal is how communal it feels. Drinking on the island is social. It’s storytelling. It’s overhearing strangers become best friends outside a bar at midnight. It’s bartenders who remember your order. It’s entire friend groups operating on the same blurry understanding that nobody’s checking the clock tonight.

Because island time isn’t really about time at all. It’s about permission. Permission to slow down. To stay out longer. To order another round. To laugh too loudly. To forget what day it is for a little while. On the island, the party doesn’t always feel like an event. Sometimes it just feels like daily life.

DRINK

RESPONSIBLY

KNOW YOUR LIMITS. NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE.

While drinking culture is deeply tied to island life and tourism, it’s important to recognize when alcohol use becomes harmful.

If you or someone you know may be struggling with alcohol dependency, Galveston County offers resources to help you.

HELP IS HERE

KNOW WHO TO CALL

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - 33RD STREET GROUP

1823 33rd St | (409) 497-6652

Services Offered • Open Recovery Meetings

• In-Person Discussion Groups • Recovery Resources For Alcoholism

GTX DETOX

525 Rosenberg St | (409) 295-8288

Services Offered • Addiction Treatment Center Matching Services • Luxury Recovery Program Referrals • Personalized Treatment Placement

• Coastal Recovery Center Connections

GULF COAST CENTER - SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES

4700 Broadway #103 | (409) 944-4365

Services Offered • Residential and Outpatient Treatment Programs • Specialized Female Substance Use • Co-Occurring Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorder Treatment

THE OSAR

4700 Broadway #103 | (409) 944-4365

Services Offered • No-Cost Substance Use

Screenings • Care Level Assessments • Mental Health Evaluations • Residential/Outpatient Treatment Referrals • Supportive Outpatient Services • Peer Recovery Coaching

If a friend seems unsafe during a night out: step in, caLL a rideshare, or CHECK IN - IT makes a difference. Looking out for each other is part of island culture, too.

Join the Culture Clash Crew to keep Galveston’s stories in print, support local artists, and get exclusive perks:

•Behind-the-scenes content

•Early access to our island’s stories

•Member-only merch and more

Scan the QR code to join today. Culture doesn’t survive on its own — people keep it alive.

BEHIND A STAGGERING

IN ANNUAL DRINK SALES LIES A COMPLEX ECOSYSTEM: AN ENGINE THAT EMPLOYS ONE IN THREE LOCALS, A LEGENDARY HISTORY SHAPED BY ORGANIZED CRIME, AND THE SOBERING PUBLIC-SAFETY BATTLES THAT KEEP THE ISLAND TETHERED TO REALITY. DWI ARRESTS IN UNDER A YEAR DRINKING BY THE NUMBERS

THE LOST ART OF

OF

At the ripe old age of 25 (almost 26), I’ve somehow transformed into the friend who would rather stay home than spend all night out on the town. These days, I jokingly refer to myself as a grandma, but the truth is, I’ve already had my fair share of nightlife.

My peak party era was just a few summers ago. I was working at a restaurant famous for its pepper logo, surrounded by a crowd that knew how to have a good time. It seemed like every shift ended the same way: heading to someone’s house, meeting up at a bar, or finding another excuse to keep the night going. Looking back, I was living quite the double life during my younger days. By day, I was a straight-A student and led organizations. By night, I was out with friends, stretching curfews and collecting stories.

One memory still makes me laugh. After staying out until nearly 3 a.m., far beyond my curfew, I got a text from my mom that read, “I don’t care if you’re with the f*cking Pope, you better get home right now.” At that moment, I knew my party days might be numbered.

These days, as a woman working in healthcare, my ideal evening looks much different. I enjoy a glass of red wine, a great dinner, and maybe a stop at a bar for one fun cocktail and a little dancing. Nothing beats getting home at a reasonable hour! My perfect night now in my Galveston home, includes skincare, cozy pajamas, white noise humming in the background, and being tucked into bed by midnight or at least close to it. While I still love having fun and rarely regret a night out, I’ve discovered that staying in with a glass of wine is often the celebration I enjoy most.

Coolture: Arts + Music

Few people embody Galveston’s evolving cocktail culture quite like Brad Stringer, the creative force behind Daiquiri Time Out, Pineapple Parlor, and now, Earline's. Known for inventive cocktails, and drinks that feel as colorful as the island itself, Brad has helped redefine what going out in G-town can look like.

COOLTURE: BRAD

FEATURED ARTIST: BRAD STRINGER

If you trace Brad Stringer’s story back to the beginning, it starts behind the counter of his great-grandmother Earline’s liquor store. Long before craft cocktails became a calling card, Brad was absorbing the lessons of hospitality the old-fashioned way: one regular, and one story at a time.

He landed in Houston and worked his way into the city’s cocktail scene just as it was finding its stride. At Boheme, Brad discovered that cocktails could be more than drinks. They could be experiences, equal parts craftsmanship, creativity, and showmanship. That spark followed him to Johnny's Gold Brick, where he joined the opening team and helped shape the easygoing neighborhood vibe and inventive cocktail program that would earn the bar a devoted following and a place among Houston’s most celebrated watering holes.

But the Gulf Coast eventually called him south.

When Brad arrived in Galveston, the Island’s cocktail culture was largely frozen in a sugary time capsule. He set out to change that with the opening of Daiquiri Time Out, better known as DTO, bringing fresh ingredients, thoughtful technique, and serious cocktails to a town better known for frozen drinks and beach traffic. What started as a bold bet became a catalyst, helping usher in a new era of Island drinking culture.

Today, Brad presides over a small but distinctive bar empire, each venue reflecting a different chapter of his personality. Daiquiri Time Out serves as his cocktail laboratory, where classic techniques meet Gulf Coast swagger. Pineapple Parlor transports guests into a hidden world of tiki escapism, complete with tropical flavors and speakeasy intrigue. Earline's Downtown Dive, perhaps his most personal project, channels the spirit of a 1970s neighborhood dive bar while paying tribute to the woman who started it all. Equal parts nostalgia and reinvention, the bar honors Earline’s legacy while embracing the modern craft of hospitality. From Houston cocktail dens to Galveston hideaways, Brad Stringer has built a career on a simple idea: great bars are never just about the drinks, although well-crafted, beautiful drinks are amazing! They are about creating places where stories begin, friendships form, and everybody feels like a regular.

PEOPLE OF GALVESTON

Mar Le

Vida Agave

Avocado Margarita

Troy Rodriguez

Old Grand-Dad Bonded Old Fashioned

Chip Coy Daiquiri

Jacqueline Kimble Lavender Lemon Drop

Kelly Beesley Chapman

Old Fashioned or Gin Martini

Kasi Jones Huffman

The Pink Diamond "Beerita"

Pam Maine Johnson

Sangria Frozen Margarita

Cyndi hood

MarMo Lounge Old Fashioned

WE ASKED, “WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO DRINK ORDER?”

Mary Gilcrease

Lucky Lounge

Saturday Morning

Bloody Mary

Dana Aguilar Old Galveston Club

Salty Monkey or Dirty Caperberry Martini

Debby Richey Larsen

Guinness

Michael Burnett

Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey with Ginger Ale

Sasha Francis

Daiquiri Time Out

Bee’s Knees With the Honeycomb In It

JULY-AUGUST 2026 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

PULSE OLD SMOKEY THROWDOWN!

July 18 | 8 AM - 8 PM

Albatross 815 21st St

AMERICA'S 250TH: NIGHT AT THE NAVAL MUSEUM

Every Friday in July | 6 PM - 9 PM

Naval Museum

Bring your chairs or blankets and join us for a Friday night concert series celebrating 250 years of America's independence with live music, family activities, food trucks, local vendors, and evening tours of the historic vessels.

Admission: Ticket Prices Vary

LUCINE LOCALS ORIGINAL

Every Sunday

Hotel Lucine

Hotel Lucine has partnered with Galveston Music

Collective to present an all-original local music showcase celebrating the island's talented songwriters and performers. Featuring original songs, collaborative performances, and live painting experiences, this summer series highlights the creativity and talent that make Galveston's music scene unique. Join us this summer!

Admission: Free

SHAKE, STIR & SIP MIXOLOGY CLASSES

July 11 & August 8

The San Luis Resort

Participants will learn to craft cocktails under the guidance of expert mixologists, discovering techniques and flavor combinations that bring seasonal spirits to life. The class also includes tastings of premium spirits paired with gourmet hors d’oeuvres.

Admission: Ticket Prices Vary

DIABOLIC LAUNCH PARTY

July 11 | 7 PM - 11 PM

Theo's, 2521 Market Street

Come to the official launch party of Diabolic! Kicking off the night with live music and a fashion show featuring fully redesigned pieces that were rescued from their end of life.

Admission: Free

Welcome to the 12th Annual Old Smokey Throwdown, where backyard legends and grill gladiators battle for Pitmaster Prestige in THREE mouthwatering categories: Chicken Wings, Hot Dogs *NEW*, and Bacon Open.

This is a FREE community event, so bring your friends, bring your appetite, and wander through the cook teams as they transform the entire block into a sizzling flavor festival packed with smoke, fire, and hometown bragging rights.

Spectators are welcome all day to soak up the smoke, music, and glorious chaos of competitive cooking!

Admission: $100 to Enter, Free to Eat

ARTWALK

July 11 & August 8 | 6 PM - 9 PM

Downtown Entertainment District

ArtWalk occurs monthly on the Second Saturday. In partnership with downtown galleries, artist studios, nonprofits, and local businesses, ArtWalk takes place inside existing art spaces, for free and open to everyone.

Admission: Free

PICKLEPALOOZA

July 18 | 2 PM - 8 PM

Galveston Island Brewing

Celebrating for the 3rd year, grab a pint of In a Pickle, sour pickle beer, and shop over 20+ pickled vendors at this family-friendly event. Don't miss the crowning of the Pickle Queen!

Admission: Free

ALLEYKATZ LIVE MUSIC

Every Weekend

The San Luis Resort

After 16 years of faith, food, and community, ShyKatZ broke ground on AlleyKatz at ShyKatZ, a new space for live music, family fun, and creating lasting memories. This exciting addition reflects the restaurant's continued commitment to bringing people together and serving the community that has supported it from the beginning.

Admission: Free

OKRA FEST

August 15 | 7 PM

Historic Galveston Water & Electric Light Community Center

Join Groundswell for a night of interstellar elegance, hyperlocal dining, for a cause: fueling the future of food access, education, and community health on Galveston Island. The 12th Annual OkraFest presents Garden Galactica—a cosmic celebration where out-of-this-world fun, stellar grub and campy cosmic fashion all inhabit the same orbit.

Admission: Ticket Available at okrafestgalveston.com

COOLTURE: PULSE CALENDAR

DRINK UP

THE DIRTY THIRD

.5 Oz Bourbon

1 Oz Blue Curacao

1.5 Oz Coconut rum

3 Oz Lemon-Lime soda

Lime Wedge

Umbrella

Add the bourbon, blue curacao, and coconut rum to a cocktail shaker with ice, then shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled glass and top with lemon-lime soda. Garnish with a lime wedge and an umbrella

THE CATRINA

1.5 Oz Tequila

0.5 Oz Simple Syrup

0.5 Oz Lemon Juice

.5 Oz Grenadine

3 Oz Sparkling Rosé

Lemon Twist

Add the tequila, simple syrup, grenadine, and lemon juice to a cocktail mixer with ice, then shake vigorously. Strain into a champagne flute. Top off with rosé. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Tourist-Ted

La Calavera

SpiritofSea Aggieland

Mertle

Toby AcademyOdyssey

A community art project that highlights the City of Galveston and the conservation efforts of Turtle Island Restoration Network to protect endangered sea turtles on the upper Texas coast.

Pointedexter

BRINGING TOGETHER ART, AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY.

TOR-tle

Rovin' Rotarian

Flora theQueenof Sea

Sunny

Scoop Lucky

SELF-GUIDED TOUR SELF-GUIDED TOUR

Scan the QR code to take tour

Coral

#TurtlesAboutTown | @tirn.gulf

LillyTiger

Shelly Sandersun

Waters

Sargasso Susan

JoyRide

Lady Gem’s Tea by the Sea

Timmy

theGuardianof Galaxy Ohana

TigerLilly

The Protector

Shellback

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