Bonnie...I was there for that wedding too. Not an invited guest..ha ha, but neither was John Berendt who was standing near us on Whittaker St as we watched the drama unfold in the park. I asked him if this might be the theme for his next book. :) The set-up for the wedding was almost unbelievable, wasn't it? It took weeks for them to do (that was part of my running route and it was closed off after a certain point). Some people have musicians play in their ceremony--they had the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, and that was just the beginning.

Re Elizabeths...there weren't any murders there while we lived there (we moved here 7 years ago and lived there 4), so I'm wondering if this is something recent? There was a shooting in their parking lot while we lived there--a guest was shot in the stomach, but he didn't die (small comfort). After that episode they put security in the parking lot. We normally parked on the street and were vigilant. It's an institution there, as Commanders Palace is to New Orleans...unfortunately both restaurants in less than stellar settings, but both have survived despite because they are excellent. The building is a beautiful old mansion (where they also live) and the herbs used in the food preparation are growing as part of the landscaping all around their home/restaurant. Cool place.

I agree too, you have to see River St., but some never get much beyond it and that is not where you get to experience the beauty of the city. The buildings, although many house tacky tourist shops now, are genuine and historic--old cotton warehouses etc. I think it's best to walk the other side of the street, riverside rather than shop-side and cross over if you see something of interest. It's less crowded and the buildings are pretty, but you can't see much of them walking the sidewalk alongside them. I think because I lived right there and had seen it, it was an area that I then avoided. Our roof top patio overlooked it, and although it was fun to watch from a distance, that was usually about as close as I went! I did like the Greek restaurant next to the back of the hotel there..Olympic House or something, and when the Summer Olympics (yachting events) came to town, they tried to make them change the name of the restaurant...a name they'd had for years!

OK...more stuff...you MUST go to E. Shavers bookstore in Madison Square just behind the Hilton, northeast corner of Harris and Bull. It's a neat bookstore...the lower level of their house so small little rooms filled with the most interesting books, including of course, plenty on Savannah. That is also the place for all the latest in gossip...browse near the cash register and you'll hear it all. E Shaver is a big player in downtown politics and maintaining integrity of the historic district. She was instrumental in getting the big tour buses out of the historic district...very positive, but was at times considered a bit "too too". She hadn't changed an iota last time we were there, same black hair severely pulled back into a bun. Her DH looks like Colonel Sanders...always in a coat and tie. Anway...if there's any good dirt to be had in town, that's the place to pick it up. We looked at the townhouse to the right of E Shavers when we first moved there and thought we would be buying. It looks old, but was a teardown and rebuild (by E Shaver's husband) so you had the benefit of appearing old, but all the new plumbing and wiring and materials. It was a mere $300,000+ then...another real estate deal passed up! :(

There is an antique store at the southwest corner of Monterey Square...in an old house that sides on Bull St and Gordon. You usually have to ring to get in and he's very loosey goosey with his hours, but it's worth a look because a lot of the shop IS his house. Forgotten the name of the shop now...his name...Alex something-or-other..Raskin maybe. The other good antique shops are tucked inconspicuously in various squares and some large but (then) so-so ones on Broughton St.

How many days do you have?? :D After you've done this, you'll have to do Charleston, only two hours further up the road, then come back and tell us which you like better.

Scarlett, that's an excellent suggestion to get a room with a view! We always like sitting outside on Factor's Walk and watching the big freighters go by. I've always wanted to go on a freighter cruise and since the dear husband laughs at the very suggestion, watching them trawl by in Savannah is about as close as I'll get. It really is something to see.

The more I think about it, the more I think the Olympic Committee <i>was</i> successful in making them change their name--they were/are pretty powerful and we were such a small town and in such awe of what was happening. They painted over the c in Olympic and made it an a, Olympia Cafe. Not that that's important, lol, just a bit of local trivia.

We've been to Savannah on our own, but the last time I was there with 200 eighth graders! We did have a great time, but one place that stood out was the First African Baptist Church. There is a woman there who will do a tour, and she is incredibly passionate about the church and very interesting. I wish I had more detail for you, such as her name, but I wasn't involved in the planning. Have a great time!!

... additional thoughts: if you'll be there only 1-2 days, residents would advise you bypass the touristy regions along the river (instead look down from your room), unless you wish to join the tourists, in which case, flat soles to deal with the cobble stones ... and instead head a few blocks down Bay and step down to Congress Street. Great for a Saturday afternoon stroll, some time in their galleries and a nice, relaxed lunch featuring a glass of merlot, and just a sense of relaxed, satisfying ambience.

Now, if Lady Chablis is or isn't in town, hit her club (near Congress naturally) for a truly amazing show, but dress glamarously, the competition is rather awesome, lol, and fun, for the more liberated. And afterward, downstairs they host a great place to demonstrate those dance moves you've been dying to show off!! Don't be surpirsed if you end up doing a slow hustle with someone in briefs and combat boots. It's the Savannah way, and will add some pizzazz to that posting upon your return.

In any event, do have a ball!

Scarlett, you will love the Hyatt! The location is stellar and I've walked all over Savannah from there.

Even though it's touristy, I agree with going to see Lady Chablis at either Club One or Club Zero. I can never remember the name but it is only 5 or 6 blocks to the hotel.

I've taken both my husband and my gay boyfriend there and my husband enjoyed it and my gay boyfriend thought Lady Chablis was trashy. Jealous maybe?

Another fun thing that sticks out in my mind was the time we did the Haunted Pub Tour at night. Really neat old bars.

OK, lists are piling up, you all are SO GREAT!
Thank you, bonnie, mclaurie,Byrd,TopMan,anne,Cassandra,1scs1,GoTravel , ((L))
Chatham Artillery Punch, sounds good..
The Yankee is rolling his eyes every time I tell him about sightseeing at a Cemetary..sigh..sometimes Yankees just don't get it LOL
Bernies sounds good..
OO, you should work for the Savannah Visitors Assoc..you are GOOD~
dln, thank you too!
I will try to see every single square, it sounds so wonderfully genteel :) all those squares and the water and lovely homes.

Thank you Blacktie, for the phone numbers with the recommendations!
I am not sure if we will get to see Lady Chablis but I will do my best to do something worthy of a travel report~

My daughter tells me that this will just make me want to go to Charleston~

OliveOyl, I think you are probably right........ maybe it was two SHOOTINGS, not two murders. (Scary as h***, either way.) And it would have been while you were there, not recently. I think what happened was that there had been a shooting IN THEIR PARKING LOT a couple of weeks before we got there, then a couple of days before we arrived, there was a shooting in a yard RIGHT NEXT to their parking lot. Anyway, it all added up to a very unsavory area to park in/leave from in the dark. We talked to local people in the shops who said, while the restaurant was outstanding, the area was BAD, and they wouldn't go there after dark. I'm sure it must have vastly improved, safety-wise, by now or else you'd hear about it. But at that time, it was dicey......... I'll try it next time we go....

Yes, we always walk on the street right beside the water, my DH takes pictures of the Westin lights on the water, etc. You know, there's just nothing about Savannah that I don't like, is the thing!:-)

Now, Scarlett, DO GO to The Lady &amp; Sons....... it rocks!!! I've stood right beside Paula at the buffet, and her sons, if they're there, are dolls! Have a blast!

LOL, cigale, Scarlett does Savannah should be the title of the Trip Report :D


I called the hotel, there is an additional charge to have a river view room, since it is over $400, I will be content to walk over to the view.

Thanks to all above posters - read every word since son will be student at SCAD starting in September - maybe I will have something to add to Savannah inquiries after a few trips.

How many nights Scarlett? There are a few room types--one looks toward Bay Street, one looks toward the river and the other looks into the atrium with no exterior windows other than sliders onto a small balcony overlooking the atrium. I'd try to avoid those.

If you won't be in your room much, Bay St view (actually, all you see are the tops of the big oak trees) is OK, though being able to see the river while you are in the room would be wonderful. The river traffic is something to behold--ocean going ships steaming past, so tall their bridges passed our windows on the top floor.

I just looked at their website and gosh those rates are high for this time of year. I wonder if something is going on? Perhaps, because you said that other places were booked.

I can show you on that website where we lived too. The very top left side of the hotel has 5 windows in a row, all brightly lit. That was our suite...and our roof top patio extends out from that, the roof of the floor below. That picture was one they did while we were still there so if you can blow it up, you'll see us happily playing at home, mixing a mean batch of margaritas perhaps! :)

The hotel got new owners around the first of the year or so. They plan a major renovation and I hope it's been done, although I doubt there has been time. Those are normally long protracted ordeals from planning to implementation.

Bonnie, I doubt it has improved too much--it had a long way to go, but it didn't stop us. Yup, dicey, but it was an isolated incident and people went day in day out without a problem--don't let it stop you on your next visit. It is a terrific restaurant.

Lady Chablis...lol...I have to agree with GoTravel's bf!! She's a something!! (Club One). It used to be separated...upstairs was mixed couples, downstairs was gay. Don't know if it still holds. Lady Chablis was only there about once a month. We were glad we saw the show, but once you've seen it...no need to do that again! :)

Sapphire Grill that Blacktie mentions, it was usstairs you wanted to reserve if possible, not down. We've made our plans too late so have never made it upstairs, but down was nice, if loud.

OO..we got a B&amp;B package, breakfast,valet parking,free phone calls and tax (12% included..we are going to be there tomorrow evening..so 2 nights..
I will now go look at the site and see where you lived :)
Thank you all~

Scarlett, you will love Savannah! We followed OliveOyls' recommendations and had a wonderful time. Our favourite house to tour was Owens-Thomas House . We loved it.
We ate dinner at the Pink House, Make sure you reserve well ahead of time.
Do the trolley tour first , to get a feel for the lay of the land. We also did a haunted ghost walk in the evening and really enjoyed it... well, we really enjoyed everything!
Hope you do too!!!

The Pink House.
Period.
It's my favorite restaurant in Savannah and one of my favorites ever. I've entertained there a lot (on expense accounts) and everyone has raved afterwards. The bisque is to die for. So are the crab cakes. Ditto the shrimp and grits. When I go on my own $$$ I've often just ordered several appetizers to share - all are fabulous. The entrees are all delicious, but save room for the praline basket thingamagig - even if you have to share!
The walking tour that meets in Monterey Square is fabulous (can't remember the name). The trolley and horse-cart tours are good...just like the sound of the clip-clop in Savannah and Charleston. The pralines on River Street are fabulous (although I've been disappointed in the River Street shops in recent years).
Enjoy Savannah...I'm jealous!

Scarlett, I can't wait to hear about your trip;
I've never been to Savannah but I did spend 2 days in Charleston; heavenly shopping, I'm trying to remember this lovely boutique on a street corner, also a fab shoe store. We ate at a Relais and Chateau hotel's restaurant, Peninsula Grill so maybe there is a R&amp;C hotel in Savannah, in which case their restaurant would be fantastic, so check it out....
I almost consider you an honorary montrealer now, Scarlett..., lol......

Scarlett, there is a nice terrace off one of the ballrooms that has a great view of the city and the river.

If you are facing the hotel and the river is behind the hotel, this terrace is on the right.

Also, there is some sort of terrace open to the public that is nice and large and has great views of the river than the Westin across the river.

Have tons of fun! I love Savannah and would love to live there!

You are ALL the BEST !!!

Thank you SO MUCH!

Mitch-I would be honored to be any kind of Montrealer :D

I will take photos and notes and tell you all about it next week. I will try to shop and eat everywhere, for the sake of you all..la, what I do for my friends~
TTFN ((F))

TTT for &quot;mcfarm&quot;

I visited Savannah &amp; Charleston in November of 2002 and fell in love with both cities. Am going back to visit in September. Only thing: am I the only one totally freaked out by the sheer number of cockroaches that run the streets of Savannah at night? My husband and I were on one og the &quot;Ghost Tours&quot; and the tour guide mentioned something about breeding season in November. Is it just a seasonal thing?

sharonmb, I saw the dead roaches or waterbugs along River St. I figured it was because of the water and garbage from all the restaurants.
But yes, it does freak one out :(