Rock 'n Savannah, Pt. 2

The Expo for the Savannah Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon was fantastic. Extremely well organized, it didn't take long to pick up the bib, t-shirt, swag bag, and have a picture taken to capture my "I haven't been to bed in 48 hours" look, courtesy of my red-eye flight.



I had never heard of Newton running shoes before, but it was difficult to miss their bright colors! One of the guys at the booth told us about them; they attempt to mimic running barefoot as closely as possible. From their website:

Forget shoes for a moment. Shoes were not around when we ran for the first time. When you were a kid running on the beach or out in the streets, you didn’t need an instruction manual or a wedge of technology under your heel to help you run better. You just started running. It was instinct. It was joy. Enter Newton Running.

Unlike the funky glove-looking shoes I had seen, these looked normal. I tried them on and did a few laps while receiving some great running tips from the Newton team. I have to say these are the best running shoes I have ever owned (and I've owned a few pairs in my time).



The other product I tried was PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter. It may sound goofy, and most likely I would have passed by this booth, but the dietician at work told me about this stuff and surprise surprise...it actually tasted good. Compared to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, you've got 190 vs. 45 calories (130 vs. 13 from fat), and 3 grams vs. 0 grams of saturated fat. I finally took the plunge and ordered two jars from when I got home. I could see this stuff being great in recipes, too. All you do is add water. Okay, enough of the product stuff.



Back outside again, I took some shots across the way to get a panoramic view of River Street. Be sure to click on this one; it's larger than normal so that you can see more detail.



After a short nap, it was time for an early dinner and carb-load at my favorite Italian restaurant in Savannah, Leoci's. The area it's in is not great, so my advice would be to get there quick and don't loiter outside for too long!



I started off with a delicious beet salad:



Dinner was tasty; for once I strayed from the gnocchi that I typically order here. The pasta, pancetta (fancy bacon!), and broccoli were delicious. They really hit the spot.



After that, it was a brisk walk (remember, no loitering!) back to the Mansion for some shut-eye before the big race.



As I rode the funeral-parlour-ish elevator up to the room, I was hoping that it wasn't an omen about how I would do in the race!



See more Daveland Savannah photos on my Savannah web pages.

Savannah: All That Glitters Isn't Fried

When thinking about The South, one often has visions of golden fried chicken...fluffy buttermilk biscuits...collard greens...oh my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Except for the collard greens. Just not my thing. Each time I have gone to Savannah, I save my big "splurge" meal for The Olde Pink House on Reynolds Square, which features the famous BLT Salad with Fried Green Tomatoes.



Even though there are many tasty dishes on the menu, I typically choose the delicious Fried Pork Chop, which practically melts in your mouth while it glides down to harden your arteries. This is why I ran five miles each morning of my trip. I skipped the greens and went for the mac & cheese and bacon buttermilk whipped potatoes as my sides.



There are plenty of restaurants in Savannah that cater to this type of Southern Fried Goodness, but there are also just as many that specialize in farm-to-table deliciousness. Leoci's serves authentic Italian cuisine with Savannah’s best local ingredients.



The tomato soup was a winner; so fresh you could almost taste the vines.



I've had the Bolognese Gnocchi in the past and had to repeat that delicious choice again.



Off Madison Square you'll find the SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) run Gryphon Tea Room located inside the 1926 Scottish Rite Building.



Much of the decor is restored from the pharmacy that was once at this location.



Beautiful stained glass.



Gorgeously ornate light fixtures.



This clock is a favorite detail of mine.



The watermelon feta salad was flavorful.



The Croque-Monsieur sandwich was tasty, but would have been better if it had been served hot instead of luke-warm; it was the only disappointment of my experience there. The staff, SCAD students, were very friendly and attentive. I especially enjoyed the very tart lemonade...just the way I like it.



One night, the rain was coming down in waves. Fortunately, one of my favorite hidden gems restaurants, The Firefly Cafe in Troup Square, was only a few blocks away from my hotel.



The interior is very stylish, tastefully decorated with local artwork, fresh flowers, and fun light fixtures.



Once more, I tried the tomato soup. Different from Leoci's, it was every bit as good.



The Rosemary Lemon Chicken was fab-tastic. Delicious crispy skin, perfectly seasoned.



I was going to venture elsewhere for dessert, but I found myself tempted by the Lemon Blueberry Custard concoction. Yum, yum...and yum.



Another new fave this trip was The Public, also located on Bull Street.



The sleek and minimal decor gives it a modern feel that isn't necessarily a good fit for Savannah, but I still (very much) enjoyed my meal.



For this photo of the bar, I cropped out the two "ladies" sitting at the end, loudly discussing female troubles while downing quite a few large glasses of wine.



The heirloom tomato salad was a good choice.



The delicious stuffed chicken breast guaranteed I would be back on my next visit.



Two nights, I ate my dessert at Leopold's Ice Cream Parlour.



Mary Leopold, one of the owners, was graciously serving water to hot patrons patiently waiting in a line that wrapped around the building. I finally got inside and was able to enjoy my three scoops of Tutti Frutti ice cream. No trip to Savannah is complete without it.



My mouth is watering, anxiously anticipating my next visit.

See more Savannah, Georgia photos on my Lucas web pages.

Savannah Rock 'N Roll Excursion, Pt. 5

All good things must come to an end, and my most recent trip to Savannah is no exception. I was most looking forward to lunch at The Wilkes House. Only open for lunch on weekdays, you can almost be guaranteed at least an hour wait to dine here. They don't take reservations, but that still doesn't deter the herds of people that come here five days a week and form a line stretching down Jones Street.



If you are watching your waist line or attempting to avoid carbs, this is not the place for you. If you are craving comfort food and good old fashioned southern cooking just like grandma used to make, then get to Jones Street as close to 10:30 am as possible so that you can be one of the first guests when the doors open at 11am.

Your meal is served family-style, as if you were attending lunch with a group of friends after church on a Sunday afternoon. The large tables seat about 12, and there are at least twenty tasty items to eat. Just keep passing the dishes around the table so everyone can get some!



Here's a look at what I heaped onto my plate:



After you're done eating, take your dirty dishes back to the washroom before you go. Even President Obama performed this Mrs. Wilkes tradition! And don't even think about whipping out a fancy credit card to pay for your meal; CASH ONLY for this EXTREMELY reasonably priced $18 meal! Pretty much the only meal you will need for the day.

In an attempt to walk off my delicious lunch, I ventured over to the Telfair Art Museum in Telfair Square.



The statues of many famous classical artists grace the exterior of the building, such as Rembrandt & Michelangelo:





One of the wonderful exhibits that was currently on display was that of Preston Russell. He has painted life in the "low country," perfectly capturing both its people and its architecture.



I know I said that lunch at Mrs. Wilkes' could serve as your one meal for the day, but I was on vacation, and eating in Savannah is a rare once-a-year treat for me, so I was not going to let go of my dinner option. A repeat trip to Leoci's served as my final meal of this excursion, and it fit the bill perfectly. A comfortable booth by the window:



A delicious tomato soup starter:



and an out-of-this-world gnocchi for my entrée:



Kudos to Leoci's not only for its delicious food, but for its extremely friendly staff. Although Italian food is not what I normally associate with Savannah, Leoci's does provide a fun atmosphere in which to partake of a tasty meal.

And with that, it was time to catch a plane back to San Diego. I will spare you the details of my trip home. Remember when flying on a plane was a treat and you actually dressed up to do so? Now, it's a pain in the ass and seems to take twice as long, once you add in the additional time for security and the time necessary for botched plane connections.



Oh how I wish I was back in Savannah, starting my day in the dining room of the Hamilton-Turner Inn, eating my Georgia Peach French Toast! Thanks to one of the south's most hospitable cities for yet another memorable visit.

See more Savannah photos on my Savannah web pages.

Savannah Rock 'N Roll Excursion, Pt. 1

I definitely subscribe to the "kill two birds (or more) with one stone" figurative saying, and have enjoyed combining racing with travel. My most recent excursion was doing the Rock 'N' Roll Half Marathon (my first) while visiting one of my very favorite cities, Savannah, Georgia. There was something very comforting about flying over this wondrous historic city, knowing that I'd be enjoying its park-like city squares momentarily.

Whenever I go, I always stay at the Hamilton-Turner Inn, located in one of Savannah's most picturesque squares, Lafayette.



For you Faux-D© fans, here's a shot of The Hamilton-Turner Inn:



and a regular one for those of you who might suffer from motion sickness! Built in 1873, it is one of the most beautiful homes in the area. The couple who own it, Gay and Jim Dunlop, make guests feel as if they are family.



Each room is named after a famous Savannah-ian; this time, I stayed in the Isaiah Davenport room.



In 1956, threatened by the wrecking ball, Davenport's home was saved by a group of concerned citizens who were tired of the city's history being paved over by parking lots. It was this salvation that spearheaded the pride that resulted in Savannah's restoration as well.



Back to the Inn...here are a few photos of the Davenport Room:



The Dunlops did an amazing job of restoring the Hamilton-Turner, giving it every modern amenity without sacrificing the home's historic charm.



I loved the private entrance, which opened up onto the square.



After getting situated, I made my way to River Street, where a little tugboat transported the runners across the River to check-in for the race.





Set-up like a carnival, the expo was quite lively. I got my bib number and souvenir t-shirt and exited as quickly as possible. I wanted to explore Savannah with my new camera, since they had yet to meet each other!



Where better to try out my camera than St. John's Cathedral, also located on Lafayette Square.



More Faux-D©:



Although somewhat imposing on the outside, the Cathedral is very serene (yet ornate) on the inside.









Before I knew it, twas time for a little carb-loading as the next morning's race was quickly approaching. Thanks to the recommendation of my cab driver, I headed a few blocks down Abercorn Street and tried Leoci's Trattoria for the first time.



What a gem this place was! I'd never heard of it before, although it had been here for quite awhile.



A delicious beet salad:



and of course the required pasta for a little carb loading. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here, and felt 100% ready for a fantastic race the next day!



More to come tomorrow!

See more Savannah photos on my Savannah web pages.