Georgia On My Mind

Come what May

What with the tornado warnings, cockroaches, intense pollen, and blistering heat, it's a wonder I'm as smitten with Savannah as I am.  But each day that passes I feel more and more at home in this southern city and grateful for the opportunity to reside here, no mater how long or short my time here may be.  In April I made the decision to defer enrollment at SCAD until fall.  Some issues with the graduate program have come to my attention that made me decide to take more time to evaluate if the graduate program at SCAD is the right program for me.  My time is now divided between two jobs, one at a museum shop and the other at a home decor shop.  Even though my official title at both shops is that of "sales associate" I like to think of myself as a "shopgirl" a la the title of Steve Martin's novella.  Next week I will be taking a blissful 5 days off from work to spend time with my Mom who is coming to Savannah for a visit.  Instead of going home for my Birthday (which is May 12th), my Mom decided she'll come see me instead.  I have each of the five days jam packed with plans.  Some of which include: cooking lessons at The Mansion on Forsyth Park cooking school, dinner at Elizabeth on 37th, seeing Guys and Dolls at the Lucas Theatre and much more.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

As I walk to work I pass this fountain which is now a kool aid shade of green in honor of St. Patrick's Day.  Since it is my first St. Patrick's Day in the city which claims to hold the second largest St. Patrick's Day parade, I suppose it's my duty as one of the Irish to participate in some way.  My options are get lost among the debauched tourists trying to out drink one another.  Or I could stay closer to home and put in an appearance at a party being thrown by my downstairs neighbor at the townhouse.  That's a tough one.

Homeward Bound

   

It's been almost two months now that I've been living in Savannah and I've already scheduled a trip back home to Washington. I leave tomorrow and will return in a week. I depart at the godforsaken hour of 6:15am (that's a 3:15am wake up call). But it's oh so worth it because I'm scheduled to arrive in Seattle before noon. Then it's off to Cafe Campagne for either Oeufs en meurette or Croque-savoyard, depending on my mood. I then have seven jam packed days before me of doing everything I've missed and seeing everyone I've missed in the 8 weeks I've been away. Is there really anything better than returning home?

Shop Girl

As of last week I was given the official title of "sales associate", although personally I prefer "shop girl".  After several weeks of dropping off resumes, I got called in for interviews at two museum gift shops (one of which was The Mercer Williams House).  I was offered both positions and selected the one that worked best with my class schedule.  Family and friends, I'm giving you fair warning that from now on, due to my hefty employee discount, you can expect all Birthday and other holiday gifts to have their origins in my little museum shop.

It's a small world after all - Part II

I was on Broughton St. Saturday shopping in The Paris Market & Brocante when I was approached by one of the salesgirls.  She said she remembered me from a shop she was employed at in Portland.  At first I wasn't sure if she had the right person.  But then the fog cleared and I remember that we had a discussion about my impending move to Savannah to attend graduate school at SCAD.  She mentioned that she had a friend who attended SCAD and that was pretty much the end of our conversation.  So it turns out that she too had applied an gotten accepted to SCAD but could not divulge that information at the time of our meeting because she had yet to share the news with her boss.  She said she wondered if she'd bump into me in Savannah, and indeed she did.  So here's a girl I met all the way on the West Coast in a city I was just visiting who I ran into all the way in Savannah.  Like I said it really is a small world after all.

Leaving on a jet plane

I've bought tickets to fly home the week of February 19th.  I'll be in Washington until   the 26th, spending most of my time out on the island.  But I will be making day trips to Seattle, Vancouver and of course Bellingham.  If you want to get together for a visit, get in touch.  I'll pencil you into my schedule between my haircut, doctor, oral surgeon and dentist appointments.  My week is sounding like a real drag.  But trust me, it wont be.

Cleaning under the influence

Last week I experienced my first Savannah "incident".  While taking out the garbage in the lane (they're called "lanes" not "alleys" here in Savannah), I noticed that someone had driven their car through the back fence of our courtyard.  I was curious as to what had transpired and jumped to the conclusion that it might have been the elderly owners of the townhouse I reside it.  The next day I received a call from my landlord and soon learned the story of the damaged fence.  It seems that the culprit was the owners son and daughter and laws housekeeper.  The son and daughter in law reside on what in Savannah is called the "parlor level" of the townhouse.  The housekeeper, apparently one of Savannah citizens who believe it's okay to drive while a bit tipsy, had stopped a wee bit late when pulling into the parking spot.  She then proceeded to enter the parlor level apartment, snatch the money left for her, then help herself to some champagne.  I asked my landlord if she did any cleaning.  And her response was "she didn't do a thing but drink their champagne and get into their bed".  She left before the couple returned home.  When confronted with the incident over the phone she of course denied everything.  My landlord decided to file a police report and now a warrant is out for her arrest.  And on top of all that we've had to have the locks changed on the front door.  Now something like this could have taken place in any city, but stories like this one are just made for Savannah.

Vinnie Van GoGo's

When you've moved across the country with but a slim amount of your belongings (i.e. no cooking implements) you are bound to turn to the restaurant delivery portion of your new cities phone book for occasional evening sustenance.  Call me shocked to learn there are less than a handful of places that deliver to the historic district.  Luckily, one of those places happens to be Vinnie Van GoGo's.  I dialed Vinnie's and placed an order for a pepperoni pizza.  After about an hour wait a Vinnie's delivery guy biked over in the pouring rain to delivering the town's "best pizza" and for no extra charge.  The pizza is superb, thin crust, delicious sauce, and most importantly, cheap.  Just remember cash is the only method of payment accepted.  Vinnie's garnered  a mention in an article for New York magazine: "Despite the rococo fame Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil brought to this southern gem, Savannah’s sexy side re­mains elusive to casual visitors.  Beneath those airs of antebellum gentility, the city is a kitschy party central, but where to find the fun?  Good-time junketeers who want a taste of both sides of the town’s split personality should check into the classy Gastonian hotel, and head imme­diately to Vinnie Van Go Go’s, the pizza joint-cum-social hub of the City Market district."  When moving to a new city it is imperative that you find a favorite pizza "joint" as soon as possible.  And I seem to have done just that.  In Berkeley, it was The Cheeseboard Pizza Collective.  At The Cheeseboard there is only one pizza to choose from and that is the pizza of the day.  Without fail, whatever the toppings was that day, that particular pizza was always the best I have ever had.  In Bellingham, it is most definitely La Fiamma Wood Fire Pizza.  The bottom may be a bit kissed by the flame but the toppings, my favorite being smoked salmon with roasted garlic, are superb. Future house guests be warned, a trip to Vinnie's will most certainly be taking place. 

West Elm + SCAD = more limited reproduction prints

West Elm's second installment of limited reproduction prints by "emerging artists from the Savannah College of Art and Design" is now available.  These newest prints coordinate with the first collection but also stand alone.  I'm thinking my new apartment could use a Magnolia blossom print.

99 rules for living in Savannah

"Astute transplants know, within 20 minutes of moving here, that Savannah has its own particular, peculiar code.  The problem is that, since the city's founding in 1773, the first unspoken rule in Savannah's Book of Unspoken Rules has been that you do not speak about our unspoken rules.  New arrivals are expected to figure out the do's and don'ts without any coaching.  And if they don't figure it out, they get frustrated and leave."  Luckily, via the 21st century's best friend - google, I stumbled upon this list after only a few weeks in Savannah.

1. Call it "The Book." You read it once. Years ago. Got it?

2. Parking Services is very, very efficient. Don't test them.

3. Refer to Georgetown as "North Jacksonville."

4. Adore The Landings for its tax base but resent the fact that it's
gated.

5. When asked about the estimated completion date of Truman Parkway,
just laugh.

6. Everyone female is Miss [TheirFirstName]. Even those who are
married.

7. Thank SCAD for restoring buildings downtown, but be upset that
they still own them.

8. Remember that Vinnie Van Go-Go's does not take checks or credit
cards.

9. On St. Patrick's Day, don't count on parking north of, say,
DeRenne Avenue.

10. Leave the Spanish moss alone.

11. Perpetuate the myth that Victory Drive has the longest line of
palm trees in the world.

12. If a tourist asks what that rank odor in the air is, say it's
the smell of money.

13. Yield when entering a square.

14. The Globe is the landmark that separates Downtown from
Southside.

15. No more than five cars can squeeze through a yellow light. Make
note of the new cameras.

16. Emphasize "East" or "West" when giving your address to a pizza
delivery place.

17. You may own one image of Mercer House, but you must hide it when
other locals visit.

18. Everyone knows everyone. Everyone knew everyone in John
Berendt's book.

19. Wear Savannah Sand Gnats clothing, but go to the games only to
see Running Toilet Person and for Thirsty Thursdays.

20. If you're a banker, go to the Downtown Athletic Club; if you're
a bodybuilder go to Howard's Gym; if you're a soccer mom, go to the
Islands Y.

21. See The Lady Chablis perform once. Once.

22. Always order sweet tea.

23. Dwell on how boring the drive is every time you have to travel I-
16 to Macon.

24. Someone might say: "Antique? This? Nah, we've just had it for
(insert an amazingly long time, plus history of the object). It's no
big deal."

25. Never call it "The Talmadge Bridge."

26. Politely peruse the menu at Johnny Harris but order the
barbecue.

27. Do not take cash downtown unless you are going to Vinnies (see
rule 8).

28. Bars serve green beer for St. Patrick's Day to conveniently weed
out the tourists from the locals.

29. Don't take Waters Avenue in a rainstorm. It is named that for a
reason.

30. Don't take Price thinking that its lights are better
synchronized than Whitaker's. They're not.

31. Eat breakfast at The Breakfast Club on Tybee and Sunday brunch
at 3*2*1 Cafe.

32. Be ready to answer the question "Paper or plastic?" at Publix.
Kroger assumes you want plastic.

33. Do not speed through Bluffton, S.C. Ever.

34. If asked to define "Abercorn," say it is an ancient Indian word
meaning "traffic light every 50 feet."

35. You're going to be asked eventually, so know that Forrest Gump's
bench was removed from Chippewa Square after filming was completed.

36. Be prepared for the fact that no one in this city thinks they're
too fat to wear Spandex.

37. Take a stand on issues, especially those you know nothing about.
Call Vox Populi with your opinions.

38. Move to the islands knowing that you will be miles away from the
closest movie theater. You don't want one out there anyway because
then you'd have to find something else to bitch about.

39. Dislike Charleston.

40. Denounce the wholesale destruction of the urban forest, but shop
at the shopping strips that go up anyway.

41. "Turn signal." Act like you've never heard the term.

42. Wish you lived at Isle of Hope.

43. Despite having access to a beach, a river AND a marsh, it's
still unfashionable to become too tan.

44. The correct reaction is to look shocked and say, "A racetrack,
you say? On Hutchinson Island?"

45. If you live southside, your out-of-town guests will want to
spend all of their time downtown; if you live downtown, your out-of-
town guests will want to spend all of their time at the malls. See
for yourself.

46. Be aware that there is an East Broad Street but no longer a West
Broad Street.

47. Keep a supply of Skin So Soft handy.

48. Thank goodness for SCAD abandoning its "Thank goodness for SCAD"
campaign.

49. Understand that the person in line in front of you at Wal-Mart
is going to need a price check.

50. The Falcons had a good year, therefore you are a lifelong
Falcons fan. If the Falcons have a bad season next year, you are a
lifelong Jaguars fan.

51. The rest of the world calls it "the Civil War"; you call it "The
War of Northern Aggression" or "The Recent Unpleasantness."

52. Azaleas and magnolias are everywhere.

53. Support local business: Buy a Gulfstream V.

54. Respect people such as W.W. Law, Otis Johnson, Diane Lesko and
Tom Kohler.

55. The St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee is trying to sign up more
entries that reflect the true meaning of the holiday. Therefore,
look for line-dancers, Klingons and the local Dalmatian owners'
association among the marchers.

56. Contrary to popular opinion, most Savannahians do not know how
to concoct a mint julep. Many do, however, make a mean martini. Opt
for the martini.

57. If there are two things, one is "the old" thing and the other
is "the new" thing. Even if the old thing is torn down, and has been
gone for decades, "the new" thing does not get rechristened. (Which
leads to confusion when there is a third thing later on, and "the
new" thing is now the old thing.)

58. Savannah audiences hate modern dance. Modern dance is anything
written since Tchaikovsky died.

59. Residents of Savannah are called "Savannahians." You find the
word odious.

60. It's not "Piggly Wiggly," it's "The Pig."

61. It's Elizabeth on 37th Street, not Elizabeth's on 37th Street.
When someone offers to take you out to dinner, go there.

62. It is civilized to serve cocktails before dinner.

63. Remember that East Liberty Street becomes Wheaton Street becomes
Skidaway Road.

64. You're not supposed to cut through Hunter Army Airfield or
Savannah State University. But so what?

65. You do not need to know for whom Sallie Mood Drive and J.O.
Bacon Highway are named. Oglethorpe Avenue is another matter.

66. Krispy Kreme on Skidaway Road is open 24 hours on weekends. Go
there a lot.

67. To hit I-95 north, take U.S. 17 to Hardeeville and get on the
interstate there.

68. Savannahians love their animals. You might have to navigate a
maze of labs and golden retrievers and cats to find a place to sit.

69. Firmly believe in ghosts and either live with one or more, or
know someone else who does.

70. Ladies: learn to navigate steep cobblestone streets in spiked
heels.

71. Do not expect to be seated quickly for lunch at Debi's or The
Lady & Sons.

72. If you go out on the weekends you must go to Savannah Smiles at
least once.

73. Unless you want to stand out, wear your wet bathing suit to
Fannie's Beachside.

74. Most movie stars who come to Savannah stay at the Kehoe House.
Do not go to the Thunderbird Inn hoping to catch a glimpse of Tom
Hanks or Demi Moore.

75. Tourists spend hundreds of millions of dollars in Savannah every
year. Treat them with impatience and disdain.

76. You may use the word "Yankee." It is not necessarily a
derogatory term down here. Neither is "good ole boy."

77. During St. Patricks Day celebrations everyone is Irish somewhere
in the family tree.

78. If you are here long enough, you will be involved in a fender-
bender, it will be their fault.

79. If you want to sing karaoke go to McDonough's, but if its the
weekend plan on being a spectator (unless you are chummy with the
DJ).

80. The umbrella of trees on Abercorn is useful in distracting
motorist from the upcoming speed trap.

81. If you were born in Savannah, say you're "from" here. If you
moved to Savannah, say you "live" here.

82. Do not say you moved to Savannah from Atlanta. Rather, say the
county you use to live in and give its approximate distance from
downtown Atlanta.

83. If you're picking up someone from the airport and they're flying
Delta, call to see if the flight is on time.

84. Go to the north beach, south beach or the Back River. Go to the
main beach only to walk on the pier or find a date.

85. Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low is buried in Laurel
Grove Cemetery. Take your mother there.

86. It takes three Savannahians to change a light bulb. One to
actually do it and two to talk about how much better the old one
was. This knowledge will get you through a lot of conversations
without argument.

87. If you are going to one of the malls, unless you are buying a
boat, go to the Oglethorpe Mall.

88. Eccentricity is not only a good thing, it's a desirable trait.

89. Look both ways on a one-way street.

90. Leaving The Penny Saver on your lawn will not stop the carrier
from throwing you another one next week.

91. You don't have to move your car for the street sweepers. Just
for the ticket truck that follows five minutes later.

92. Go to the Crystal Beer Parlor.

93. When asked if Lake Mayer has alligators, answer, "Of course.
That's why there are so many one-legged ducks."

94. Bored with your career? Get a real estate license. Everyone else
does.

95. The signs say, "Veterans Parkway." You say, "Southwest Bypass."

96. River House Seafood claims its pecan pies are "world famous."
Call someone you know in Laos and see if it's true.

97. Downtown parking meters are free on Saturday & Sunday.

98. Complain. About anything.

99. Call it "The Movie." You saw it once. It seemed to last years.
Got it?

[List snatched from the Savannah Morning News]