Category: historic savannah

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What It Do, Nephew? Savannah News

Savannah River Street

This blog is a local food and culture blog.  Though I may report some news, it is not nearly as good as Orange Street News.  I read about the local blog and newspaper run by nine-year-old Hilde Kate Lysiak yesterday, and she has inspired me to step up my blogging.

Anyway here’s a quick round-up of local Savannah news.

There’s a new restaurant in Starland.  The Vault opened a week ago to an enthusiastic and hungry audience. Bill Dawers went and he wrote his first impression.

PJ’s Thai on Abercorn has closed.  I was looking at the sign when a man who’s working there told me that a new pizza place will open in the same corner spot.  I hope it is not a chain restaurant.

Is the number 14 CAT bus ever going to go down Broughton Street again?  Also, why would anyone park illegally in front of the bus for noontime mass at St. John The Baptist cathedral.  This past Monday, a bus was pretty much stuck because of cars parked on Abercorn in front of the church. I had to get out and walk.

I overheard some business people (they were wearing ties) walking along River Street and someone said “35 to 40 on Broughton St” was talking about square rent prices for retail.  If that’s the case, that would explain the recent openings of Tommy Bahamas, Club Monaco and Michael Kors.

BTW,  I am an aunt again. I have a beautiful nephew that was born last week.  He’s a happy spring baby.

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Service Brewing: Local Beer Serves Savannah And Vets

Service Brewing

Service Brewing

I am picky about beer.  When I was younger I used to drink Stella Artois, Blue Moon and maybe a Pilsner Urqell but now I drink mostly craft beer and I prefer IPAs.  Craft beers tend to excel with IPAs in my opinion. IPAs are hoppier than other beer, and I like the taste. What is craft beer?  According to the CraftBeer.com, craft beer is small, independent and traditional.

The first time I went to a microbrewery was in Cincinnati.  Back in the 1990’s I would hang out at this place called Barrelhouse Brewery which was a brewery and brewpub. It was the first place where I learned how beer is made since they regularly gave brewery tours. Years later, I toured Brooklyn Brewery which is now one of the biggest craft brewers in the United States.

My third brewery tour was just a few weeks ago at Service Brewing which is craft brewery located here in Savannah. Service Brewing was founded by veteran Kevin Ryan in 2014.

“Our mission first and foremost is to make great craft beer, but we also want to give back to charities that support service”.

Not only does Service have an IPA, they brew a double IPA called Battlewagon.  Know the difference between a Pale Ale, an IPA and double (Imperial) IPA.

On Friday, I got a chance to meet the staff and take a group photo of the team.  They had raised money for a nonprofit that is focused on suicide prevention for soldiers. Service Brewing serves the community of Savannah, soldiers and veterans by its mission to serve others and to support others who serve. The beer is good, too.

 

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historic savannah

Four Of My Friends Came To Savannah

Friends in Savannah

A few weeks ago, I got a text from my friend David.  He and Cat plus Mark and Wendy were coming to visit me for New Year’s.  Yay!  I looked for a place for them to stay but AirBnB options were scarce.  VRBO had more options, but most were out at Tybee Island. They ended staying at a hotel in the Southside area of Savannah, and taking Uber to get them to and fro downtown.  I am telling you this so you have an idea of lodging options.  By the way, Mashable just announced that Savannah is one of the places people should visit in 2016.

On the first night of the visit,  Mark, Wendy and I stopped by Green Truck Pub for a beer. The smell of the burgers was so distracting that we drank quickly and then walked over to The Florence where we had a reservation for dinner.  Luckily David and Cat were already there.  Also, Hugh Acheson was there. Hugh is the owner of The Florence, noted cookbook author and judge on Top Chef.

Hugh Acheson The Florence

We got a photo with Hugh.  Gina, our wonderful server, took the photo. By the way, The Florence makes a red velvet cake with actual beets which Wendy make try to incorporate in her own red velvet cake recipe.  Her frosting includes mascarpone and it is delicious.

Red Velvet Cake At The Florence

Photo by David Kaplan

 

Thursday,  we walked around Broughton Street and River Streets.  We stopped by Kobo Gallery, Ancient Olive and later we had cocktails and oysters at The Grey.

On New Year’s Day, we went back to The Grey for oysters, collard greens and hoppin john.

oyster at The Grey

 

After The Grey, we went to Service Brewing for their New Year’s Day event. Bunny Ware of the Savannah Morning News chatted with us. We also stopped into Coffee Fox and enjoyed kolaches.  By the way, get Lisa Fain’s cookbook, Homesick Texan,  to learn how to make kolaches.  Two of my friends did a mead tasting at Savannah Bee Company.

Later we went to 17hundred90 for dinner and a drink at famous dive bar Pinkie Masters. On Saturday afternoon, we went to Foxy Loxy, Gypsy World and had lunch at Starland Cafe.  It was great showing friends a bit of my Savannah.

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December Art Walk

art dolls at samantha claar gullah living

December Art Walk Savannah

This is the fourth month in a month in a row that I have attended the monthly art walk, and I always have a great time. I didn’t win anything at the raffle, but I enjoyed checking out work from local Savannah artists.

I missed the trolley but since it was a warm night, I walked to the art galleries in downtown Savannah. The galleries I attended are Tiffany Taylor, Kobo Gallery and Roots Up Gallery/Meryl Truett and Friends. At Roots Up, I met artists Lisa Ocampo and Kristie Duncan.

I also browsed the City Market Galleries which houses several artists. I stopped by Carrie Kellogg, SNichols Art, Stephen Kashun , Sue Gouse, Sabree’s Authentic Gullah Art and Samantha Claar’s Gullah Living.

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historic savannah savannah

Shopping on Whitaker

sorghum syrup

In historic Savannah, many people shop on Broughton which has several moderate and high-end chain stores and retail brands. However, Whitaker is where you find many locally-owned retail businesses. Last Thursday, there was a shopping night that featured many of the shops on Whitaker Street. It is called the downtown design district. Savannah’s Downtown Design District resides on Whitaker Street, between Charlton Lane and Gaston St.

These are the shops that I stopped by to have a snack and a glass of wine were the following:

Mamie Ruth– A place for fun and funky Bohemian fashion.

No. Four Eleven– Monogrammed luxuries, furniture, gifts & interior design

circa lighting savannah

Circa Lighting– Antique reproduction and vintage modern lights

One Fish Two Fish– Furniture & gifts from around the world, and upscale souvenirs.  Salacia Salts sell their products there.  I love their soap which has grits in it.  

Bottega Bellini– Savannah’s destination for everything Italian.  Kitchen, home and Italian accessories.

PW Short General Store– A lovely mix of kitchen and camping supplies.

Madame Chrysanthemum– A florist for when you want a special arrangement.

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food historic savannah

My First Savannah Visitor: RKB

Rachel and Nichelle

If you have known me for awhile, then you probably also know RKB (AKA Rachel Kramer Bussel). Rachel and I have been friends for over 11 years. We started a blog (Cupcakes Take The Cake) together. We hosted cupcake meetups. We went on a trip to Martha’s Vineyard.

I don’t believe in having only ONE best friend. Instead, I have a second family of people I am not related that I love. Rachel is part of that family.

Over a short three days, we hit some of my favorite haunts here in Savannah. We had tacos at Foxy Loxy, sliders at Sly’s Sliders, and sweets at Back In The Day Bakery. We also went to the Juliette Gordon Low House to learn about the founder of Girl Scouts and had dinner at The Grey.

Rachel and her Fans

I organized a reading for Rachel at Back In The Day Bakery.  Owner Cheryl Day was very generous in letting a small group of Rachel’s avid fans sit and listen to her read.  Three women drove up from Florida and one drove in from Brunswick, Georgia. We listened to erotica and ate tiny cupcakes.  It was a throwback to my live in New York.

P.S. If you want to get a copy and review the upcoming Best Women’s Erotica 2016 edited by Rachel, then sign up using the easy form.

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historic savannah

Savannah River View From Top Deck

Savannah River

I like living in cities with a river view. I have lived in Cincinnati, New York and now Savannah.  I went to Top Deck, a rooftop bar at the Cotton Sail Hotel.  There’s a great view of the Savannah River at Top Deck. I was there for a Yelp Elite event, and it was great meeting new people and getting recommendations of places to go in Savannah. 17hundred90 is now on my list.

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historic savannah

Forsyth Park Inn

Forsyth Park Inn
Forsyth Park Inn

The historic Forsyth Park Inn is right across the street from the Forsyth Park.