As I mentioned in a prior post, there’s a growing comedy scene here in Savannah. Thanks to one of the comedians Hannah Grace, there’s now a handy guide for where to see stand-up comedy and/or where to do stand-up comedy. I plan to be at Chuck’s next Tuesday, since a comedy show is a great place to be on Election Night.
It’s nearly November and holiday events are happening.
November 1: Gingerbread Demo with Chef Jean Vendeville at the Westin Savannah Harbor 6-8PM
November 1: Art photography lecture at the Jepson. Join Erin Dunn, Assistant Curator at Telfair Museums, for a lecture on Watershed.
November 5: 4PM Memorial Service for Lady Chablis. This event was delayed a month due to the Hurricane.
November 5-6: Rock n Roll Marathon/5K/1Mile Note: Many streets is historic Savannah will be closed.
This is the last week that you can early vote here in Savannah. This week you can vote at the Civic Center.
From now until the end of the year, there will be lots of events to attend in Savannah.
Here’s a sample of what going on this week.
Also check out the Savannah Film Fest this week and the Trustees Garden Pop-up
Hurricane Matthew stormed through Savannah on October 7th. I didn’t evacuate. I didn’t lose power. I was here in the house alone and I got scared. My next door neighbors keep me calm and well-fed. We even had a little dance party the night before the hurricane where we danced to Sylvester and Miami Sound Machine. Anyway, I am blessed to have good people around. Starlandia Creative Supply opened up last Sunday and set up a makeshift charging station with free coffee and wifi. I hung out there talking to fellow Savannahnians who “hunkered down” for the hurricane. By the way, if you do a shot every time the local new anchors say “hunker down” then you will be drunk.
Urban Poppy, the wedding boutique and gift store in my neighborhood, also had a charging station and free wifi. I had never been inside the store, and it’s lovely. It’s a great local place for gifts. Their generosity was appreciated by me. I didn’t get internet until last Friday.
The cleanup has already started around Savannah as people clearing tree limbs off the streets and sidewalks. There are historic trees down. There is lost of tourist business, paychecks, and income. Savannah is a small city with a big heart. I hope everyone will come together to rebuild and renew.
The theme for 2016 Savannah Picnic in The Park was “Under the Stars and Stripes”, and attendees wore their patriotic best. The Savannah Philharmonic played classical music selections including John Phillip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” and “The William Tell Overture”.
Once the sun went down the weather was perfect. My friends Brian and Jeannine set up a carnival for their tent and set up games for kids to play. The games were a duck pond, a ring toss and a ping pong throw. For winning the games, the kids got tickets. Then they could redeem the tickets for prizes. I was a carnie for the evening, and the kids had a blast! I actually heard a kid say that they had never had a box of Cracker Jacks which was one of the prizes. Wow!
Picnic in the Park is a great local event. However, since people bring food and drink for their family and friends, there’s no public food options for tourists or people who just happen to wonder by Forsyth Park. It would have been great if a couple food truck vendors were around. Maybe next year.
The comedy scene is growing in Savannah. In addition to open mic comedy shows, there are also monthly improv shows and improv classes.
Here’s a list of upcoming comedy shows
Tuesdays: Chucks on River Street
Wednesdays: Totally Awesome Bar on Whitaker Street
September 29: Open mic comedy at Sentient Bean
September 30: Open Mic comedy at Foxy Loxy Cafe
October 2: Sorry, Not Sorry, a long form improv comedy show at Sulfur Studios.
On November 4th, there will be a comedy competition at Club One. The first prize is $1000. I plan to enter. Wish me luck!
Fall is almost here, and the season of the Savannah Art Walk kicked off on Saturday. I have enjoyed the monthly art walk and I think it is one of Savannah’s best free art events. However, this season they changed a few things that I think may be detrimental to discovering local art in Savannah.
First, let me start by listing the four main things that have changed.
Second, I will go over what I like this season. Changing the time to 2PM is a great idea. I think it gives both locals and tourists to do something in the afternoon after brunch and before dinner. It facilitates walking around and hanging out in historic Savannah for hours. The earlier start doesn’t disrupt evening plans as the event ends around 6PM if you don’t stay for the raffle and closing reception.
The terrace pool at the Andaz Hotel is lovely and you can dip your toes in the pool when it is warm, and sit around the fire when the weather gets cool.
Third, the changing of the venue from the Bohemian to the River Street Inn would not be a big deal if the area didn’t feel as cramped. This can be remedied easily by actually removing some of the tables and chairs. The Spider Tea cocktail sponsored by El-Rocko Lounge may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoyed it.
Lastly, the most significant change is moving away from free drawing to essentially a $20 raffle. To enter the raffle at the end of the art walk, you must purchase something at one of the venues that it at least $20. If the goal is to get more people to spend money at the various venues on the art walk route, then maybe this will work. However, I personally like to talk to many artists and look at their work. Going to at least ten places to get your map signed made the art walk a game. The gamification of the art walk was a major appeal. People actually enjoy getting their maps initialed by artist, gallery owner or store employee. There are fifteen venues on the map that you can try to visit in three hours. It is very much like how people love to play Pokémon GO. Now, the incentive is gone to go to as many places as possible. It also makes it less likely that people will go farther away from the City Market and Broughton Street area. Roots Up Gallery located on Liberty Street is a great folk art gallery is one that shouldn’t be missed.
I will continue to attend Savannah Art Walk, because I like talking to artists and seeing their work. I just hope that the organizers make sure that the changes are aligned with the goals of the artists which is to get more people to see their art, and for people to have more fun.
It has been a hot summer. I am ready for the fall weather, but in Savannah, I will settle for 80-degree weather. There are cool things happening here in Savannah in September and October.
Sept 3: The Savannah Craft Beer Fest
Sept 12: Edna Lewis dinner featuring some of the best chefs in the South. The dinner will be at The Grey.
Sept 13 – Sept 18: Tibetan Monks are returning to the Jepson Center
Sept 20: Crash Comedy at Sentient Bean. I will be performing!
October 2: Picnic in the Park at Forsyth Park. This year’s theme is “Under The Stars and Stripes”. 4PM. FREE
October 13-15: GeekEnd, a tech and entrepreneur festival. I went last year and it was great.
October 29: FoodDay at Daffin Park. I volunteer at Food Day last year.
I moved to Savannah in June of last year. About six weeks after moving here, I decided to start a blog about Savannah and Gnatty Savannah was born. I am happy to celebrate one whole year of blogging about Savannah. It’s been a blast! Savannah is one of the most photogenic cities in the country. Savannah is the opposite of a concrete jungle. There is Spanish moss, live oak trees, palmetto trees and crepe myrtle everywhere.
There is art, music, culture here. There is Uber and cold brewed coffee. There are direct flights to JFK from Jet Blue.
If you can stand the heat, stay away from Savannah in the summer. It’s hot! However, here are some shopping recommendations for you if you are downtown.
On Broughton Street, there have been some great additions retail-wise.
MAC opened a store a couple weeks ago. I have already tried on several lipsticks.
Spartina 449 -Southern preppy accessories
Kendra Scott – Jewelry
Blue Mercury– Make-up and skincare
I also recommend shopping at Savannah faves Paris Market and Civvies.
Anyway, I enjoy living here. It’s not perfect but it is my home for now. Here’s to another year in Savannah!
I was at a party last weekend and I suggested ideas for doughnut flavors. I would love to develop a recipe for a sweet tea and lemonade doughnut. More than that I wish someone would make some and offer me one. By the way, National Ice Tea Day is June 10th.