Savanah Sojourn
 

Here's a brief run down on our Savannah sojourn last month. Always wanted to see this historic place and so we booked a week with a Road Scholar program. Our stay in the Hilton Savannah DeSoto Hotel. This is a city for wandering. Those familiar know about the 22 squares and live oaks with Spanish moss and historic mansions with wrought iron fences, etc. You'll find other Fodor reports about Savannah which I won't duplicate. We did read "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" before and during the trip. Locals may scoff at it a bit but they love the attention it brings the city. And I have in hand "Behind the Moss Curtain...and other great Savannah stories."

There are sightseeing trolleys and buggies and also a free Dot bus with certain stops. Also along the river front is a trolley. We didn't explore that area so much but it has some fun shops. What we mainly did was learn the history, visit some mansions in walking tours, explore some eating places, and hear some Johnny Mercer music (and I was forced on my feet to dance a little...don't sit in a front row). OK, here's a quiz: what is your favorite Johnny Mercer song? He is honored here as lyricist and performer. Wrote John Berendt, "Midnight is more than anything else a portrait of Savannah, and in a way the same can be said of Johnny Mercer's songs."

Just a little history...important name is Gen. James Oglethorpe, English visionary who laid out the city plan. Savannah was founded in 1733 as a buffer for the Colonies from Spanish Florida. The lovely squares were laid out by Oglethorpe himself and though some historic buildings were raised the squares survived modernization and certain mansions were preserved. Slavery was related to the increasingly important money maker...cotton. Savannah became a major port. When Gen. Sherman occupied the city he didn't burn it down but made it a Christmas present to President Lincoln.

Next installment: special dining and historic buildings and such. Another question: what is low country food and name one example?

Ozarksbill,

Looking forward to the next installment! I was glad I decided to visit Savannah last New Year's Eve, especially loving the squares, architecture and food. I'm gathering you liked Savannah?

As for the question, I'll play, so we'll see how ignorant I am. Low Country food (not looking anything up here so as to be an honest contestant) I believe is style of cooking from the coastal Deep South, from I would guess as far south as the Georgia Sea Islands and as far north as the vicinity of Charleston. So, cuisine from Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston would fall into this style, but Myrtle Beach and Jacksonville I'm guessing would be out of the Low Country cuisine zone? Brunswick Stew and boiled peanuts I associate with Low Country cooking.

Great report, Daniel

Any other guesses besides Daniel's? Low country food was pretty new to me living in Missouri and now Massachusetts...but you may know about such victuals as grits and gravy and collard greens. Come on, make your guess list. Then I'll tell you about our cooking school adventure. And family-style eating at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room with twenty dishes!!!

Hobotee, red rice, lima beans, breakfast shrimp, grits, collards, fried fish, okra soup, Hugenot torte, Beaufort stew.......

More about our Savannah sojourn...Looking down from the airplane window above I was struck by the miles and miles of sandbars and rivelets draining to the coast and piney woods. Finally Savannah airport appears below.

From Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" I learned that Savannah was where Capt. John Smith, murderous pirate, died of rum and left a map of treasure island. And that "Gone with the Wind" author Margaret Mitchell had a reference to Savannah as "that gently mannered city by the sea." And that this was the place for the first Sunday school (1736), first orphanage (1788), first golf course (1796), first hymnal used in the Church of England (1736) thanks to John Wesley's brief stay.

In our week's stay we toured a few of the several elegant mansions in the Historic District. We were taught and guided in walks by program director Savannah natives Paul Blatner and sister who have much knowledge, many stories. The Juliette Gordon Low house on Lafayette Square is the birthplace and home of this founder of the Girl Scouts. Impressive Greek revival house with white columns.

Another tour was of the Thomas Levy House which has been preserved by John and Virginia Duncan. The retired college professor and wife have accumulated lots of art in the house and also specialize in antique maps and books (office in back).

Another day walking to the Davenport House Museum we first had a first person talk from a "doctor" of the era explaining about the yellow fever epidemic of 1820. Much mystified he of course drained blood as a treatment. During our house tour another "physician" spoke of the epidemic. This house was the first one preserved by seven women who saw the value of historic houses. Some wanted to modernize and many older structures were torn down...no one had money to buy and renovate them. Then things were turned around.
Pictures: www.savannahtourofhomes.org/photography.htm
Also http://www.visit-historic-savannah.c...ric-homes.html

So began a battle to preserve Savannah's past. Also at the time some wanted to destroy the squares so you could have through traffic! Eventually the notion of saving the lovely squares won out. Mary Harty in "Midnight in the Garden" tells the author that the squares are the jewells of Savannah. "The thing I like best about the squares is that cars can't cut through the middle, they must go around them. So traffic is obliged to flow at a very leisurely pace." So we noticed in our walks as Bull Street goes from square to square. And what a setting for the houses such as oft passed red brick Mercer Williams House at Monterey Square. And also for the churches. We had a group picture taken at the elegant fountain at the large Forsyth Park not far from the Mercer Williams House.

To be continued: back to food and Johnny Mercer.

Loving your report. Hate to think we may have been at the same time last month and I missed the opportunity to meet you in person.

Looking forward to reading more...

I always associate food in Louisiana as "low country" more than anywhere else for some reason. Turtle soup, anything crawfish or any kind of "boil", red beans and rice. Even though many places have bread pudding, bananas foster, red velvet cake, pecan pie,and sweet potato pie- those to me are low country too.

I've had an unusual cream corn in LA a few times. Called maque chaeux(spelled something like that).

What I find fascinating is the sojourn of the Wesley's in this area. They were in Savannah, IIRC, and one of them, John, I think, preached at Christ Church Frederica on St Simons Island before leaving th Anglican communion. I used to teach at a Methodist College and found them still to be a strong influence.

Oh of course John Wesley a strong influence in Christendom, along with brother Charles, oft quoted in Methodist circles. From our teacher John Duncan I got the story that in his short Savannah stay John Wesley was a somewhat immature leader in the local Church of England congregation. But did inaugurate singing by the congregation, hence the hymns. He proposed to a younger woman but pleaded that he must bring it before the church, the being folks reluctant in their approval. So the young woman decided not to wait and married another and John left town.

His monument is in my most visited square - across from the Planters Inn and the Pink House
http://www.visit-historic-savannah.c...-monument.html

<I>Wesley got his start in Savannah as Oglethorpe's secretary, then as the rector of Christ Church. He and his brother were eventually sent back to England.

</I>I love attending services at Christ Church, especially during the holidays

http://www.christchurchsavannah.org/...rch/history-2/

<I>1733 - On February 12, the Colony of Georgia and Christ Church, a mission of the Church of England under the ecclesiastical authority of the Bishop of London, are founded.

1736 – The Rev. John Wesley becomes the minister. While here, he starts America’s first Sunday School and publishes the first English hymnal for use in America.

- See more at: http://www.christchurchsavannah.org/....mrjYMUjB.dpuf

Eating was one of our treats in visit to Savannah. Top of the list was Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room. This used to be a boarding house, is now a family-style Southern buffet. Our group gained entrance from the alley through the kitchen, avoiding the long line out front. Family style means you pass around the food in bowls and help yourself. I counted twenty such serving bowls...and here's my challenge: can you guess what was served? (Answers later)
www.mrswilkes.com

Another real treat was spending a morning with chef Darin Sehnert in his 700 Drayton Cooking School (in 700 Drayton Restaurant once an old hotel). So we spent the morning preparing our lunch with his instructions. (No, we did not go to Paula Dean's Cooking School...that's for tourists). Another guessing game: what six food entrees do you suppose we cooked up? Chef Darin really put us through the paces in preparations. Want to sign up for a class? www.700kitchen.com (recommended by Tripadvisor)

Other eateries: chicken florentine and herb roasted potatoes, pecan pie at DeSoto Hilton dining room.

Good pizza at Mellow Mushroom.

Trio plate-chicken salad, tomato, cheese, fruit dessert for lunch at The Gryphon. This tea room on Madison Square was once an apothecary and a library.

Lunch at Panera.

Club sandwich, potato salad, bread pudding at 17Hundred90 Restaurant.

Vics on the River with herb crusted salmon, bean medley, rice, salad, peach cheesecake www.vicsontheriver.com

Hamburgers at Six Pence Pub.

River House Seafood Restaurant with fried shrimp and french fries, key lime pie. Also wonderful praline candy at River Street Sweets.

And here's a recipe from River House for Chatham artillery punch: 1 1/2 gal. catawba wine, 1/2 gal. rum, 1 quart gin, 1 quart brandy, 1/2 pint Benedictine, 2 quarts Maraschino cherries, 1 1/2 quarts rye whiskey, 1 1/2 gal. strong tea,
2 1/2 lb brown sugar, 1 1/2 qrt orange juice, 1 1/2 lemon juice. Mix 36-48 hr. before serving...add one case of champagne when ready to serve.

I know other Savannah restaurants have been recommended.

OK, ready to pass the victuals? I spoke about family style eating at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room during our Savannah visit, truly a highlight for me. Had a big appetite that day.
And I did count some twenty bowls passed around the table.

Here is what I recount: fried chicken, pulled pork, sausage, collard greens, squash cassarole, butter beans, green beans, black eyed peas, creamed cabbage, white rice, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, gravy, cucumbers, beans and ham, okra salad, dressing, fried okra, creamed corn, candied yams, beets, rutabaga, plus corn bread and also banana pudding. Whoops, I just counted 22 instead of 20 plus the bread and pudding!

Seems like a good time to make my list after Thanksgiving.

More later.

Have loved reading your trip report ozarksbill! We lived in Savannah for 4 years and you absolutely hit the nail on the head when you wrote of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, "Locals may scoff at it a bit but they love the attention it brings the city." Exactly!

We lived there when the book came out and became a raging success. It was a fun era. During that period, the Savannah Hospitality Association, which my husband was head of "the year of The Book", awarded John Berendt the award for the "Person Who Had Done The Most to Further Savannah", and he most certainly had. Tourism, which had been flowing along at a stately pace, suddenly surged, and continued to surge through that then Forrest Gump.

We need to make a trip back. I'm delight to read that some of our favorites are still in operation...Mrs. Wilkes, Riverhouse Seafood, Vic's, but I wonder, is Elizabeth's on 37th St, the creme de la creme of our era, gone?

The amount of food served at Mrs. Wilkes is almost obscene. We left there totally stuffed and there was still so much food left on the table!
Vic's was one of our favorite places. So nice to sit by the window and look out over the river while eating their yummy food.

What a wonderful report! Thank you.

Here's a new take (maybe not really new) about the famous "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." "I don't get it really. Maybe I'm all alone in this world but I don't understand what all the Midnight fuss is about," says Murray Silver in his book "Behind the Moss Curtain and Other Great Savannah Stories." He never heard about drag queens and voodoo priestesses when growing up in Savannah. And the story about Jim and Danny was considered a nasty story about pathetic people.

"It doesn't help matters when Mayor Adams bellies his way into a public ceremony in Forsyth Park and makes loud proclamations about what splendid things John Berendt has done for our city." Just a lousy murder mystery he calls it. Actually no mystery, just a best forgotten incident.

Well! Admittedly I did think the voodoo stuff was silly.

I agree about the voodoo…poetic license. And Lady Chablis probably wasn't doing her thing while he was growing up, (unless he's <i>very</i> young), but she's real, and can be fairly outrageous. He sounds a bit prejudiced perhaps? At least against heavy people if he used the term "bellies" in regard to Floyd Adams. I haven't read Moss Curtain. Perhaps I should, then form my own opinion, but he and I are off to a bad start! :)

I'll keep reading this Moss Curtain book to see if anything else worth mentioning. Yep, I did think his criticism a bit too much. So Lady Chablis is indeed fact not fiction?

Our expert guide/teacher Paul Blatner accepts the Midnight book with a chuckle for what it is...semi-fictionalized account of real life that has benefited Savannah (my interpretation). A native of the city Paul has two masters degrees, one in American Studies and one in museum studies (Smithsonian program GW) and is co-founder of Savannah History Museum. Besides his wit he was so knowledgeable with many stories. So what we got was more of a mobile mini-course than tourist visit.

To be continued...cooking school, Johnny Mercer, etc.

Hi starrs, annetti and all...thanks. I'm doing a kind of meandering travel report here instead of a day by day one.
Had never been to Savannah previously and now have a fondness for its "specialness." Now I'll say just a brief word on a few unique historical events and aftermath.

It seems General James Ogelthorpe arrived 1733 with a plan already in mind for Savannah. So the town was laid out in a ward system. Each had a name with public squares (now 22 of them) spaced throughout the town. Four sites called trust lots were reserved for important buildings. The streets are a grid of straight streets and gardens of five acres set aside for each lot holder for raising food.

Actually it seems the public squares were designed for camp sites with shade for the military. Soldiers were thus stationed to keep the Spanish from advancing north. Ogelthorpe returned several times. Originally slavery was prohibited as was indentured servitude in his plans but then in 1750 many prohibitions were repealed with limited slavery and a change to a plantation economy.

Skipping ahead to the War of Independence it seems about one third of the population was Patriots, one third Tory and one third on the fence. The 2nd bloodiest battle was fought in Savannah with Patriots and French defeated. General Washington visited in 1791.

A most important invention by Eli Whitney 1793 in a nearby plantation: the cotton gin. This led to big cotton exports. Whitney also made money on liquor and guns. 1820 was a terrible year with a fire destroying about 50% of the town and also a yellow fever epidemic...thus population plummeted from 7,500 to 1,500! Later lumber became a big export along with cotton. Many of the mansions owned by the traders.

Then came the War between the States...the South opposing Lincoln with Georgia seceding Jan. 19, 1861. Seems 55% of the Federal budget came from four Southern states. General Sherman occupied Savannah and planned to destroy the city, but reconsidered due to its charm...and needing dry docks. Thus Savannah was a Christmas present with bales of cotton to President Lincoln.

Jumping ahead, Savannah slept for years...and then in the 1950s came destruction of the City Market and many mansions threatened to be torn down for new structures. That's when a group of women organized what became a preservation effort.
Today tourism is the largest industry and much is due to the charm of the city. Especially the Historic District with the squares and mansions. Estimated some 1,450 restored structures. "Second to the squares in importance I would say is the vegetation. Savannah's abundant plant life mutes the city's sounds and helps create the famous Savannah hush." (from article Traditional Home).

To be continued...

Haven't seen her/him, but I'm told Lady Chablis comes back to Savannah once a week to play the waterfront club where she/he got his/her start.

My embarrassment. The famous General's name is spelled Oglethorpe...not what I just posted. By the way, as part of our program we did have an interview with General Oglethorpe himself. He explained about the founding of Savannah. And he has all sorts of props such as swords, maps, chests, etc.
www.flickr.com/photos/bonton/2092072490/
http://www.connectsavannah.com/savan...nt?oid=2158900

Before continuing let me hasten to say...we did not spend much time along the river front nor ride the ferry nor explore much beyond the Historic District nor visit museums nor experience night life. But I will continue soon with a report on food and more impressions.

I was sorry that when I was in Savannah, I missed Lady Chablis performing at Club One by a few days.

http://clubone-online.com/

Yup. Lady Chablis is very real. She performs upstairs in Club One (or she did, don't know about now). It's across Bay St and back some from the River...heading toward City Market. Here's a picture of her. http://ww2.thesouthmag.com/media/sce...at-club-one-2/.

We did see her once, a going away gift when DH was being transferred. It was something you might do ...once..... ;). I hope she thanks John Berendt daily for her career!!

Most of the characters were real...Sweet Emma, Mandy, of course Danny and Jim, Jim Williams neighbor...forgot his name. Not sure about Driggers. Sonny Seiler, Williams attorney, played the judge in the movie. They really do own and raise the Uga's.

It's incredible how much of the historic district has been preserved now. It could so easily have gone the other way, prior to the preservation group being established to save the Davenport House, really the beginning of the re-birth.

Although there is a lot of history in the warehouses of the waterfront, the beauty of Savannah is back from the water, where you focused your visit. I've got to say too, in the 4 years we lived there, I never rode that paddle wheeler either. Good job! :)

Great trip report! I'll be there a few days before Christmas, and this makes me look forward toit even more!

I'm planning to visit in May so I'm reading your report eagerly.

Nightlife in Savannah? Sure enough...just browse for cafes, nightclubs, bars, etc. Friends enjoyed a musical review at the Savannah Theatre. We did relax with entertainment at Six Pence Club as well as Vics on the River. Lots more night life on the River. Check it out as a virtual tourist.
http://www.10best.com/destinations/g...nnah/nightlife

And Lady Chablis? The same as in Midnight? She surely has profited from that Midnight write up. www.theladychablis.com

But just strolling around the various squares in the evening was enough after a long day. There is magic in the cool of the evening. Yes, we saw where Forest Gump sat on a bench. (Not the real movie bench however).

As for you looking ahead to a visit, you may want to take a tour, such as oldsavannahtours.com or trolleytours.com.
And here's a possibility: Captain Mike's Dolphin Tours on Tybee Island. 800 242-0166

This is going beyond what we ourselves had time for. Also do consider the cemeteries guidebooks tell us. We walked through Colonial Park Cemetery several times.
www.savannah.gov/cityweb/cemeteriesweb.nsf


travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501915-savannah_vacation-i

Just finished "Behind the Moss Curtain" with lots about a 1945 gruesome murder and trial of a Jesse McKethan. This did not appeal to me but loved the story of Shoeless Joe Jackson with more on that later.

(to be continued)

"But just strolling around the various squares in the evening was enough after a long day. There is magic in the cool of the evening."

Two beautifully-written sentences and I felt entirely the same way.

Temp now 65 degrees in Savannah with high to be 74 today. Heck, that's what it was when we visited in October while here in New England and maybe where you are its snowy and cold.

Just a short note regarding something we noticed. Everywhere we saw young people who were students at Savannah College of Arts and Design. Also we would often pass by the Administration Center at 342 Bull St. and Anderson Hall on Anderson St.

So we have become aware that this college is an important factor in the city with various buildings and thousands of full time students. There are majors in arts and design and fashions and media and performance arts and more.

Just thought I'd mention.
www.scad.edu

Moon river and Winter Wonderland are my two fav Johnny Mercer songs. We always did Savannah for St Paddy's Day until a year ago when the city just got mean and greedy. I went to a baseball game this year and saw the Tigers and Nationals. Homewood Suites tried a fast one in charging me 400.00 a day for my room. I had the original booking reservation and that is what saved me except I had to fight all night on the phone and with them over it. they want three nigh minimum as it is and I had two rooms at 114.00 a night for each room. Events and hotels...They now have you buy an armband each day no matter if you are 60. Every year they change the rules.
I love Bonaventure cemetery.

The Lady Chablis performs once a month at Club One. The Book did so much more than just describe the events of one murder. It opened the curtain on the characters of Savannah. And SCAD has definitely transformed the historic district.

My first visit was as a Girl Scout and have been traveling there for business since the 80s. Years ago, the only real place for conferences and exhibits were at OO's former hotel/home. We were in that glassed in room on the river several times a year and the year the Book hit, the characters from the book were hired to make special appearances. Imagine the piano music as folks wandered the aisles in the exhibit hall. :-)

Then the Marriott was built and then the new convention center across the river. But back in the 80s, one stayed at the Hyatt or the Mulberry and MAYBE the President's Quarters - or one drove in from outside the historic district. Walking around the area, anywhere other than River Street and a few blocks of Bay Street? Not advised.

I really think the historic district was revitalized due to The Book. The old ladies saved the old buildings after Ellis Square became a parking garage. Paula Deen's popularity made the City Market area a destination. Mom (a fabulous southern cook) raved after visiting. It's been amazing to watch the transformation over the years, but the true transformation has been SCAD - not only the over 50 buildings they have renovated and are using as classrooms - but the students themselves, living and walking around in the HD. It's such a great place to be. Going back next week!

Interesting to read all your thoughts about the SCAD; I too felt there was a positive youthful energy walking around Savannah (to which SCAD students must contribute). Hope you have a great visit, Starrs!

Glad to read feedback. Some of you have visited and explored Savannah more than have we. We learned about the rescue of the Historic District launched by the concerned women. I must say I don't know of another city with more ambiance due to the squares with live oaks and moss.

Next up: covering the highlight in our visit, namely Darin Sehnert's cooking school. He lists these as typical low country foods:
GREENS whether collard, turnip, beet or mustard. Once among meager rations in slave quarters with meat such as pork bones added.
GRITS meaning coarsely ground meal from any grain. Hominy grits is from corn and is also an African dish. Best to stir grits into cold liquid and heat gently.
OKRA which is considered a soup ingredient, popular in Creole country.
PEANUTS coming from Portuguese in South America, grown in Carolina and becoming popular after Civil War.
WATERMELON is ancient in origin in Egypt, Africa, liked for sweet juicy flesh in hot summer.
YAMS which is not the orange casserole (that being sweet potatoes), coming over on slave ships.

A highlight of our Savannah sojourn was a morning in a cooking school preparing our lunch of black-eyed peas salad, cheddar & chive biscuits, shrimp in red eye gravy, rich & creamy grits, fried green tomatoes, pecan praline angel food cake. No we did not go to Paula Deans but to the 700 Kitchen Cooking School with chef Darin Sehnert. He was very exacting yet mixed in spoonfuls of humor.

Here are some links:
http://www.city-data.com/articles/Th...-Savannah.html

ww2.thesouthmag.com/dining/2010/a-top-chef-with-teaching-skills/

southsgreatest.com/2013/07/darin-sehnert/

www.chefdarin.com/about-2/chef-darin-sehnert/
www.chefdarin.com/recipes
www.chefdarin.com/cooking-classes
www.chefdarin.com/visit-savannah (has nice city video tour)

Don't know how many Savannah visitors consider a cooking school but it is an adventure and also intro into low country eating.

From the above menu at the Sehnert Cooking School it's not likely our household will see any repeats. But maybe this one for rich and creamy grits.
Yield 6-8 serving
3 cups chicken stock
3 cups milk
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups quick cooking or stone ground grits
4 tblsp butter
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1/4 cup heavy cream

Place chicken stock and milk in large saucepan. Season mixture with kosher salt and black pepper. Add grits to liquid and let sit for about 5 min. to begin hydration. Turn heat to moderately high and bring to summer. Once liquid simmers, reduce heat to very low and continue to cook, whisking occasionally for about 40-60 min. or until liquid is nicely absorbed. If too thick just always add more stock or milk. Stir in butter, Parmesan cheese, heavy cream Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve warm.

There are some famous people who've had a Savannah connection. Lyricist/singer Johnny Mercer of course, born and bured there. Flannery O'Connor's childhood home. First Republican party candidate John Fremont (Lincoln was the second).
Connie Haines, singer in Dorsey band. Charles Coburn, that actor with the monocle. Oh yes, Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court justice. Prize fighter Sugar Ray Robinson.

And Shoeless Joe Jackson. Not born in Savannah but later living in the city for twenty years. Moved his mother and sister there and ran a pool room and dry cleaners there. Described in "Behind the Moss Curtain" Jackson is described by author Sliver as "the only cracker in the barrel" of Connie Mack's 1909 Philadelphia Athletics, the other players being middle class Northeasterners. His background was the mill and cotton fields. As he starred with the Cleveland team he was a hitting rival to Ty Cobb. But as author Murray Silver goes on Shoeless played with the Chicago White Sox and was among those embroiled in the 1919 World Series scandal. Meanwhile he had his businesses in Savannah. Interesting story if you want to read it.

Item in Boston Globe 12/28 refers to various water projects getting attention and possible funding from Congress. Included is "deepening Georgia's rapidly growing Port of Savannah." Considered one of the nation's fasted growing ports.

Any report on Savannah must include Johnny Mercer. He was born in Savannah and is buried there. Son of a local banker who foreclosed in the Depression, he became rich and famous as lyricist and singer and vowed to pay back everyone who lost money with the bank's demise. And he did.

Part of our Road Scholar program was about Johnny Mercer including performances. Don't sit on the front row...I should have known. So I was the one pulled up by entertainer Kim Polote as brief dance partner. A native of Savannah she performed with Harry Connick Jr. and elsewhere.

I had forgotten there were so many Mercer songs, including many old time favorites (back to high school-college days in the '50s). Dream...that was our tune (my steady girlfriend). The list includes romance like That Old Black Music, Laura, The Days of Wine and Roses, I Remember You, and Moon River made popular by Andy Williams (ever been to Branson?)

Also fun songs: Accentuate the Positive, On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe, Strip Polka, Jeepers Creepers, Glow Worm, Goody Goody. But other wonderful tunes: Autumn Leaves, Satin Doll, Tangerine, Song of India, Blues in the Night, And the Angels Sing.

Probably most of you are too young to be familiar with these songs. I do remember hearing Johnny singing but he was mostly a lyricist combining with many different composers (Arlen, Kern, Carmichael, Mancini). And for a few he did both words and music.

Mercer did live by Black River when growing up. And it does take on a certain mirror-like reflection in the moonlight.
But of course it needed a new lyrical name: Moon River.

Wow, what a surprise...temps to dip to 27 degrees tonight. But will recover to 70 in a few days. Atlanta and other areas hard hit...so Boston weather isn't any worse.

Tragic fire in port of Savannah...5600 tons of rubber burning giving off a huge smoke. I am realizing this is a busy shipping port as well as historic site.

OzarksBill, you really should order this CD -
http://www.amazon.com/Come-Rain-Or-S...+or+come+shine

She was a wonderful singer and it's a wonderful album. All Johnny Mercer songs. It's my #1 favorite CD, especially for background music when guests are over.