Back to Savannah, Pt. 5

Breakfast at the Hamilton-Turner Inn on this fine morning was an Eggs Benedict, which I ordered without the egg. Sorry…it's just one of my idiosyncrasies. I can't stand eggs. After feasting on that, naturally I went in search of my next meal: brunch at 700 Drayton with some friends.



The food is good here, the service so-so, but I definitely love the way they have rehabbed this former funeral home.



Located inside the Mansion on Forsyth Hotel, this restaurant was somewhat empty the day we ate here.





A few shots of the Mansion on Forsyth at night when it looks even more magical:







Nearby is the old Candler Hospital, which was recently rehabbed and repurposed as the Savannah Law School:



It doesn't seem as creepy as it once was when it sat vacant for years.



During that time, its main use was as a stop on the plethora of Ghost Tours that have permeated Savannah.



Before dinner (yes, another meal), I decided to take advantage of the amazing claw foot tub in my room at the Hamilton-Turner Inn.



I was unable to try The Florence on my last trip to town, but this time I made sure that I did.



Not located within walking distance to the Historic District, it's a bit of a trek.



This Italian Restaurant seems to be a fairly lively and hip hangout.





The food was good, but I can't say that I was bowled over by it either.



I would probably give it another try, but for now, it lays in the "meh" category for me.



Another restaurant that is a bit further down on Victory Drive was much more successful in capturing my heart. It's not fancy (and sure could use a bit of a restoration) but it's full of history that envelopes you as soon as you walk in. Unfortunately, I had left my camera behind on this jaunt with friends, so these cellphone shots will have to suffice.



Johnny Harris is a local haunt that has been around Savannah since 1924. The place was jam packed when we were there for lunch.



The pulled pork sandwich made a mess of my hands but it was oh so worth it.



Sadly enough, this local landmark is in serious danger of the bulldozer as the owners of the lot are interested in building. You can help by signing this petition: change.org/p/robert-mccorkle-save-the-johnny-harris-building

More Savannah photos at my main website.

Rock 'n Savannah, Pt. 4

Broughton Street in Savannah, Georgia, was once a vibrant center of retail, restaurants, and hotes. Thankfully, the same can be said today. Even though some of the players have changed, the storefronts and feel of a thriving community have survived.



Levy Jewelers is on the corner of Bull & Broughton, having just moved from its previous location of 75 years, Drayton & Broughton.



The flags were out over Broughton in honor of Veterans Day.



This little gem of a coffee house, The Coffee Fox, apparently has an interesting history.



Old and new, living together; I love the idea of repurposing an old building rather than simply tearing it down..



A shot of the interior of The Coffee Fox:



The Marshall House on Broughton has the distinction of being the oldest hotel in Savannah, having been built in 1851. It also boasts a pretty darn good location, too.



My favorite area of Broughton Street is the one that has Leopold's Ice Cream Parlour and SCAD's Trustees Theater (formerly the Weis Theater which opened back in 1946):



Back to home base after walking around town and taking some photos, it was time for a few drinks at the Mansion on Forsyth's Bar, located above the 700 Drayton Restaurant.



The bar matched the rest of the hotel; a somewhat modern look with a few vintage upscale yet kitschy touches.



How about this colorful chandelier?



I especially liked these two paintings; not sure who the artist is.



They seem like something from the WPA era...mixed in with a psychedelic trip for good measure.



After drinks, it was time for the after-race celebratory dinner, meaning we had to hightale it up to Reynolds Square, where a statue of John Wesley (credited as the founder of the Methodist movement) resides.



and the Lucas Theatre. Unfortunately, we would be leaving just before Jim Brickman was to perform there.



The final destination was The Olde Pink House, seen in this aerial shot:



This restaurant is a must-dine for me every time I visit Savannah.



The warm interior...



The Colonial decor...



and the Fried Pork Chop.



It's no wonder I found myself running 8 miles only 2 days after the race.

See more Daveland Savannah photos on my Savannah web pages.

Rock 'n Savannah, Pt. 1

After our family moved out east to Philly, a wave of nostalgia would overwhelm me every time we flew back to San Diego. Seeing the red tiled roofs overhead was a signal that I was home again. Now that I live out on the west coast again, I would have to say that my annual trips to Savannah have taken over in the department of nostalgia. I guess it's true what they say about the grass being greener. Regardless of trite sayings, Savannah is a beautiful yet quirky little gem of the South, kept fresh by the College of Art & Design, which brings an element of youthful culture to the city. I decided to do the Savannah Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon again this year; any excuse to travel to Savannah is a good one as far as I'm concerned.

I took the red eye out, arriving the morning before the race. I was actually able to sleep on the plane, so I felt pretty rested by the time we landed. The city was preparing for the race, as huge artistic guitars began to dot the historic downtown area. The first thing on the agenda was to get to the hotel to drop off the bags and freshen up a bit. Typically I stay at the Hamilton-Turner Inn, but this time, decided to spend the first few nights at The Mansion on Forsyth Park since the finish line for the race was a mere block away.



The cab driver had a difficult time getting to the hotel due to roadblocks that were put out to help facilitate the setup of the race. He got out of the car, moved one out of the way, and then went postal on the race employee who told him he couldn't do that. It was decided at that point that this was not the cab driver we'd use on the way back to the airport!



The hotel was built in 2005, adding on to an existing brick mansion from 1888, thus the name. Here is a tower that remains from the original structure:



The property is well maintained with a huge collection of modern art from hotel owner Richard Kessler.



We were told that none of the art was for sale, but that if you asked, Kessler would give you a price.

Huh?

This was one of the pieces I really loved, by artist Vasily Shulzhenko.



The rest of the art was a little funky for my taste.



A large copper wall hanging at the entrance with the hotel's emblem helped remind guests where they were staying:



The inside lobby was like an overdone Roman palace. I wouldn't say it was my taste, but you could definitely tell that some money had been dropped on designing it. More statuary...



luxuriously rich materials used for the registration desk:



lots of crystal and sparkles along with fresh flowers to help tone things down a bit...just a bit.



There was even a painting by the artist Arvid that depicted my very favorite winemaker, Silver Oak.



A pool outside the lobby was actually more of a place to stand around with a cocktail in your hand. I made an attempt to do some laps in it, but it was just too damn small for that. I would call this a poser pool.



The marble and flowers in the elevator seemed vaguely reminiscent of a mortuary.



The room was beautiful; large and well appointed, with a great view of the poser pool. The bed was VERY comfortable, too.



With the advent of mobile devices and laptops, do people actually use desks anymore? Inquiring minds want to know.



The tub came in handy after the race:



One thing I can definitely say about this hotel; the staff was VERY well trained and genuinely friendly. Every single person we dealt with was a pleasure. Huge kudos to Kessler on that one.

Once we were settled in, it was off to The Expo at the Convention Center. The line wasn't too bad for the ferry to cross the river:



A panorama shot across the river to the Convention Center:



Before we knew it, we were there, picking up our racing materials:



More to come...

See more Daveland Mansion on Forsyth Park in Savannah photos on my Mansion web page.