Savannah Mourns

It is with an extremely heavy heart that I write about the untimely passing of Scott Waldrup, who I met the first time I dined at the Grey Restaurant in Savannah, Georgia. From the minute he acknowledged me, I knew this guy was somebody special. He had a one-of-a-kind smile that showed his eternally positive attitude but also let you know that he would happily do something devilish at any moment.

Leaving work on the 4th of July he stumbled onto the scene of a car of gang members who were fleeing the police after a shooting spree. Pushing others out of safety, Scott was hit and killed. Completely senseless. Hailed as a hero, it would be a gross understatement to say that one of Savannah's favorites will be missed.

Click for Savannah online article about Scott's heroism.



On one trip to Savannah, Scott and I met for brunch at the Collins Quarter. He knew everybody; unfortunately, his favorite Barista was not there that day, as he normally created a penis design in Scott's beverage. Only for Scott. You just had to smile.



It was fantastic getting to know him and hearing his story, his travels, about his partner Tart, and experiencing his personality. While still young, he seemed wise beyond his years...yet still so able to be a Peter Pan and have his share of mischevous fun.



He was wearing his partner's jacket; of course, I had to manipulate Tart's name for him.



On my next visit to Savannah, I traveled there with my friends Shawn & Grant. Scott rolled out the red carpet and was a host supreme for the entire visit, meeting us at Mrs. Wilkes for lunch shortly after we stepped off the plane.



As with anyone who met Scott, Shawn & Grant immediately became fast friends with this magical man.



I cherish this shot with Scott, as he was passing the plates of food around the table.



Later in the day it was drinks at Public Kitchen and Bar.



More cocktails and stops at multiple establishments throughout Savannah ended up with this shot taken in front of Mercer House, where most of the action in the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" took place. It was a fun night, capped off with my first round of bed spins in years.



Here is how most people knew Scott; tending over his kingdom at The Grey Restaurant. He never met a stranger.



Another favorite shot, as we posed with a self-timer on the steps of a Savannah home.



On our last night in Savannah, of course we stopped by the Grey to see Scott. So many people did that. He had the kind of personality that made you want to be around him. All the time.





The next morning before we headed to Charleston, Scott and his partner Tart met us for brunch. The memory of that morning brings great happiness and sadness, as it was the last time I got to see his smiling face in person.



The shorts show Scott's love for his country; he was patriotic til the end.





I ask for everyone's thoughts and prayers to be with Scott's family and especially his surviving partner, Tart. Loss is terrible; unexpected loss is unfathomable, especially for such a senseless reason.





I hope that the city of Savannah can band together and do something about the rampant crime that has been increasing over the years. When the cost is one like Scott, action must be taken. And let's do it out of a place of love for Scott, not a place of hate for the perpetrators.

RIP dear man; you were a blessing to so many.

More of my photos that show the beauty of Savannah on my main website.

Eating My Way Through Savannah

Whenever I travel, finding good eats is always top of the list. This is why Savannah is one of my favorite cities to visit. Let's dig right into my most recent visit there when I ate my way through the city. It can be a curse to like both salty and sweet; my waistline will attest to that. The Florence is on Victory Drive just on the border of the historic district. I've tried it twice and had decent meals, but this is not a place that I put on my "must" list whenever I venture into town. Still, we had a great time (it's all about the company you keep!) and enjoyed our beverages and food. Especially the beverages. Another Pimm's Cup, please!



Leopold's Ice Cream is not only on my "must" list, but it's a an every day occurrence. I just cannot get enough of their ice cream. Somebody start an intervention.



Grant and I had to explain to 20-something Shawn what a phone booth was.



When your trainer eats ice cream, you take photos. They come in handy later.



The Gryphon Tea Room is on my once every 3 or 5 years or so list. It's more about experiencing the historic interior than anything else.



Full of rich details, it still has many traces of its former glory as a pharmacy.



The face Grant is making is not because of the food; it's because we were seated near the bathroom. Yes, we got a discount on our bill.



The Grey never disappoints.



Although it is probably the most hip and trendy place in town, the food is not pretentious. Just creative and tasty. I want more of these red pea pancakes.





My mouth is watering. I can't wait to go back.



We were all happy campers that night. Love this place.



What? Ice cream at Leopold's after having dessert at The Grey? Who cares...you only live once. I wanted my Tutti Frutti ice cream, and I'm sure all the walking I did made everything kosher.



Dinner at The Pink House is also part of my ritual.



No complaints from my travel companions on this one, either. It was a great southern meal.



And yes, I get the same thing every time. I don't care if that's boring; why should you? The Fried Pork Chop is just crazy good.



Grant was digging the basement tour, where the Pink House is supposedly haunted.



After dinner it was back to the Grey for a beverage and to visit Scotty, the best bartender/manager.



And then...yup, you guessed it. Leopold's.



Our last meal together in Savannah was at Huey's on the River for brunch. This one made my once every 100 years or so list.



Still hungry? There's more Savannah goodness at my main website.

Back to Savannah, Pt. 3

One of the things I was most excited about on my re-visit to Savannah was dining at The Grey. Located in a converted Greyhound Bus Station, this restaurant is by far Savannah's most hip and happening haunt. I was fortunate to be able to meet owner John Morisano and the Grey's talented Chef, Mashama Bailey, who were unwinding with dinner after a long day at the restaurant.



My dinner was out of this world. The chicken was so flavorful.



Yams that melted in my mouth.



Did somebody mention sweet potato pie? I am ready to return.



The interior is right up my alley, as the renovation/restoration was done lovingly with attention to every vintage detail.







One of the highlights of my experience at The Grey was meeting this Harry Met Sally-esque couple, who proclaimed that their first date was a disaster but had morphed into the perfect relationship of being besties. He was in Savannah for a few weeks; she was up for the weekend. Something told me that despite the story, he was holding out hope for more than just a bestie. I didn't run into them again, so I have no idea how the evening turned out; I only know that the room they shared at The Westin had just one King-sized bed.



You do the math.

More The Grey Restaurant in Savannah photos at my main website.

50 Plates of Grey

When I travel, I try to do a morning run to stay in shape AND to get a quick overview of the city I am staying in. And yes, I run with my camera. On my most recent trip to Savannah, I was shocked to see that the old boarded up Greyhound Station had been restored and repurposed as a restaurant titled The Grey.



The original terrazzo tile entrance remains, welcoming diners as they enter.



The vitrolite panels, a staple in many art deco buildings, looked brand-spanking new. I later found out that they were, as the originals had been stucco-ed over and ruined beyond repair.



I came back to try it that night, despite what the concierge at my inn had told me when I asked him what kind of food they served. "Probably burgers." I found out when I entered that this was definitely not a burger joint. What an idiot.



While I waited for my table, I had an El Diablo, a vintage cocktail expertly crafted by the bearded bartender. It was a great start to a fantastic experience.



The interior was just as amazing as the outside. While it was obvious that the place had been cleaned up and restored, there were still enough original gritty details to let you know you were in a historic structure.



The place was packed with diners who were obviously enjoying their food.



I started off with probably the best beet salad I have ever eaten. The beets were roasted to perfection and served with their greens and a buttermilk yogurt dressing. I normally take photos of what I eat, but this time, I didn't bother, as much of what I ate would not have translated into a pretty picture. My grilled hanger steak was served with a potato cake and a fenugreek aioli, and it pretty much melted in my mouth. I also ordered the whole fired (not fried) sweet potato; I ate the whole thing…skin and all.

Besides a complimentary appetizer, the owner also served up this deliciously retro frozen lemonade on a stick to cleanse my palette. Concocted by Chef Mashama Bailey, they are a throwback to the popsicles she once ate back in the 1980's at a neighbor's house.



Dessert was a tasty apple cobbler, accompanied by a cheese biscuit and vanilla ice cream from Leopold's, a local ice cream shop (more on them in a future post).



All of the signage was expertly crafted, creatively reminding guests of the structure's origins.





I am still salivating over the vintage tile.



And yes, I took my camera to the restrooms.



A pop of color, courtesy of this photo of a drag queen's gams:



Original floor tiles; be still my heart.



The capper to the whole experience was the fantabulous wait staff. Scott and Kate were the absolute best. Great conversation, thoughtful recommendations, and a huge dose of hip. Best of all, Scott serves a mean Skinny Bitch Tea! Not sure it helped much with the waistline, but it was worth a try!



I had the pleasure of talking to the owner, John Morisano, who gave me the back story on his restaurant. Typically focusing on tech and media startups, New Yorker Morisano fell in love with the dilapidated building when he first saw it back in 2012. Kudos to Morisano for what he has created. I ended up returning a second time, and plan on doing so again when I next visit my favorite southern city.

Get more shades of Grey at my main website.