note to self

scenes from the weekend

Though I'm about to move away from Savannah in a month, I had a lot of fun hosting Alex in town. It gave me a much-needed chance to rediscover and revisit old favorites. If you ever have a chance to visit, I hope you take it. There's a lot of fun to be had here... ;)

graduation day

Talk about an insane day. I think I've achieved the full spectrum of graduation experience: from my high school's quiet outdoor ceremony in white dresses with my class of 72 girls, to my college's boiling outdoor ceremony with 500 students (still smaller than some high schools!) And finally: SCAD with 1,700 fellow graduates (undergrads and graduate students in 50+ amazing degree fields.) I have never seen so many people, and as usual: SCAD knows how to put on an event. Congratulations everyone! I'm ready to get back to real world work now...

P.S. Find me on Instagram (@notetosarah) to see more!

a local's guide to visiting Savannah - Trip 3

Well, for the third and final guide, you get little ole me. I'm going at this with a wide-angle lens to try to cover the bases, so bear with me...

TRIP 3:

1. To go big but still feel homey, I recommend Marshall House, which is right smack in the middle of downtown on Broughton Street. This 68-room inn was built in 1851 as Savannah’s first true hotel, but was soon seized by troops for use as a hospital during the Civil War. So, look out for ghosts! It has the beautiful old-fashioned architecture, and end-to-end porches (with rocking chairs!) But it’s also surrounded by great shops, fun bars (see #7), and is just a 5-minute walk to the Savannah River. (Look, even Jamie stays there.)

2. For breakfast, I love the greasy spoon spot Clary’s Café, which was made legendary in “The Movie” (as we call it.) French toast, eggs Benedict, you really can’t go wrong. Tip: I do recommend eating outside if you can (save yourself the “Eau de Deep-Fryer” smell that can linger on your clothes all day.)

3. For a mid-morning activity, I simply recommend putting on some comfortable, flat shoes and taking a long walk. For the love of God, do not pay to get on a trolley, a horse-drawn carriage or a Segway. Just walk. Savannah has 21 extant squares, each with its own unique story and ambiance, perfect for sitting and people watching, or reading along in a guidebook. My personal favorite is Chippewa (not because Forrest Gump was filmed there) because it has wonderful, curved stone benches that are cool and welcoming on a hot spring day. Not to mention: it’s surrounded by coffee shops that serve up a delicious sip or two to go.

4. For lunch, you cannot miss Papillote on Broughton Street. The Crab and Mango Tartine is quite literally one of my favorite meals… Ever. They have stunningly beautiful and equally tasty food, plenty of sparkling soda imports and authentic French macaroons for dessert to boot. A tad pricey for a café, but I promise you will not be sorry.

5. Savannah is full of museums, and if you are a history nerd like me, you won’t be disappointed. The Telfair is a great way to dip your toes in the local art scene. Its three-way ticket can get you into the modern Jepson, the original Telfair Museum, and historic Owens-Thomas House. If you feel like heading out for a drive, Fort Pulaski is a fun visit, as is Wormsloe Plantation and Bonaventure Cemetery.

If museums aren’t your thing, there’s plenty of good shopping in town. As my fellow tour guides have said before me, Paris Market is a must-see. Other personal favorites include One Fish Two Fish and ShopSCAD, but you can’t go wrong by popping in the boutiques and antique shops as you go. (Here’s a great guide.)

6. Dinner! How to choose? I'm going with my gut on this one. If you want an authentic "eerie" Savannah dining experience, you cannot do better than The Olde Pink House. The food is great, the cocktails are even better, and the whole place has been around since 1771. Bam!

7. I'm not much for bar-hopping myself, but I will recommend a cocktail or two at the more adult spots like Circa 1875, Rocks on the River, or Avia. You also can't beat a quick late-night cone at Leopold's ice cream. (The line is always long but it moves fast.) End the night with some people watching and chatting with friends outside. That's the life for me...

An Honest Assessment: Paula Deen's restaurant is not worth it. Mrs. Wilke's definitely is. Ghost tours are - in fact - fun. The horses pulling the tour carriages are depressing and sad, and their treatment should probably be illegal. Please say no. Extra Tips: Wear flat shoes all day every day. Carry bug spray, always. Don't ever touch the Spanish moss. Remember that real people live in the houses you are taking pictures of. Be mindful of their right to privacy. This is a real city, so stay safe and watch out for speedy commuters (including me - ha!) when using crosswalks. Take a cocktail to go, just because you can. ;)

 Enjoy! 

(photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

a local's guide to visiting Savannah - Trip 2

I'm so glad my fab illustrator friend (and fellow Union College and SCAD grad alumn) Lis Sartori (Twitter) could offer up her insider tips for this "Local's Guide to Visiting Savannah" series. Without further ado, I present...

TRIP 2: LIS

1. Rest your head at the posh Mansion on Forsyth Park. It's a local favorite because of the wonderful spa (if you know a local, go with them - we get a discount!) The interiors are just gorgeous, and you can't beat the location: right on Savannah's "central park," Forsyth!

2. Head East of town to the islands for breakfast at The Breakfast Club on Tybee Island. This diner style restaurant only serves breakfast from 7 am to 1 pm,  and I highly recommend sitting at the counter, as the staff are incredibly entertaining as they work. The food is delicious and filling, and it doesn’t hurt that the Breakfast Club was made famous for catering JKF Jr’s wedding.

3. If you are up for an adventure, stop at the Bull River Marina to rent a Boston Whaler. It is only $100 for two hours out on the open water. No previous experience driving a boat is needed, and it is an exhilarating and refreshing adventure, not to mention the best dolphin tour out there since the Bull River is a dolphin’s playground. 

4. When you're all boated out, head back to Savannah for a late lunch at the Green Truck Pub. Everything served is made from scratch (including their delicious ketchup), is organic, and locally grown. If you are looking for the freshest, most feel-good hamburger you’ll ever have, this is the place for you.

5. Time to walk off that burger! Savannah is crawling with great antique shops, my favorite of which is the Wright Square Antique Mall. Stop in to browse through the vintage dresses or to see what interesting treasure you might uncover (I have recently started collecting jadeite and get giddy every time I stumble upon a piece in this quirky shop).

6. When it comes to dinner, Alligator Soul is a consistent hit. It is on the pricier side, but well worth it. I recommend starting with fried green tomatoes and then asking for an entrée serving of their shrimp and grits appetizer for your main course, as it is by far the best shrimp and grits in town.

7. Savannah is the perfect place to bar hop, as everything is truly within walking distance in the Historic District. Rocks on the River at the Bohemian Hotel is a fabulous rooftop bar that has great views of the river and all of downtown. It’s a contemporary, chic place to grab a drink (or two or three) to start your night as you watch the sun go down. Then I recommend heading down Whitaker St. to Circa 1875, where the lighting is soft, and the vibe is sophisticated yet relaxed. And, if you’re willing to keep the party going, stop by the Social Club for a mixed bag of clientele, from SCAD students, to tourists, to young professionals. The vintage photo booth is a guaranteed to keep you entertained and send you home with some interesting souvenirs.

EXTRAS: SCAD has an undeniable presence in Savannah, and one of the most interesting shops in town is ShopSCAD. Everything in the store was created by a SCAD student, alumni, or faculty member. It is a treasure trove for one of kind pieces of art, clothing, jewelry, and gifts.

Stay tuned for the 3rd and final trip next week with yours truly. :)

(Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

a local's guide to visiting Savannah

Lately, I've recieved quite a few emails and tweets requesting tips about things to do in Savannah. Over cocktails last weekend, fellow SCAD grad student Kelsey and myself decided to help these readers out with our versions of an ideal visit...

TRIP 1: KELSEY

1. Savannah is famous for its historic buildings, and has an unnaturally high vacation rental to hotel ratio. If you do your research, you can find a beautiful and affordable vacation rental, like this one, that you'll be able to make your own during your stay.

2. Down on River Street, grab some beignets at the New Orlean's style cafe Huey's. While they're no Cafe du Monde, the side of caramel pecan sauce to drizzle on top puts them up there as one of my favorite breakfast treat.

3. After your sugar-induced food coma, it's best to keep a little active. Walk around on River Street and take a look at the enormous ships, and then head to Broughton Street where you can shop till you drop at Savannah boutiques. A favorite of mine is the Paris Market, a beautifully curated shop filled to the brim with everything French.

4. For lunch, my pick is most always The Olde Pink House. The BLT salad is a slice of heaven, and the peach glazed flounder is a house specialty and an absolute must. Please please share the pecan basket for dessert, handmade on premise, it combines praline with fresh vanilla ice cream, mango purée, chocolate ganache, and fresh berries. It's my favorite dessert. Ever. They have a special drink list, all of which are seriously tempting. My go to is the pink lady, a mix of raspberry vodka, and homemade lemonade, topped off with a few berries.

5. Here's where Savannah gets particularly fun, with it's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, you can head to Tybee Island in under 30 minutes. If you're feeling adventurous, rent a vespa at Motorini, and head out to the beach in style.

6. After you've had your share of sun, head to the relaxed yet elegant Tybee Social Club (menu) where you can snack or feast on tapas style tacos or margartias, although my favorite drink there is the scientist – a combination of citrus and rosemary flavors.

7. Scoot back to town, and get ready for a wild night out. Grab a drink to go at a dive bar like Pinky Masters, and walk around with your drink in hand. End your night singing karaoke at Hang Fire, and sip on a scorpion tea – I don't really want to know what goes in to this drink, but it's tasty and potent! If you're in for a more relaxed night out, Perch, the bar above Local is at the edge of Forsyth park, and boasts one of the best cocktail menus in town.

TIPS: I would suggest not to pack many heels for your trip to Savannah. With the brick roads and sandy terrain, you'll have a hard enough time wandering the streets in flats! Bring a large and light scarf around with you. While the weather is usually hot and humid outdoors, the air conditioning indoors is frigid. 

Stay tuned for Trip 2 NEXT WEEK with Lis Sartori!

(Photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)