Connect Savannah I Best of Savannah

Indoor dining with 3 full-service bars

Ample outdoor covered & heated dining for you and your pets year ‘round

Located on Tybee Island, only 15 minutes from historic downtown Savannah

Open 7 Days A Week Year Round

Sunday – Thursday: NOON till 8 PM

Publisher’s Note

ADMINISTRATIVE

RUFUS FRIDAY PUBLISHER rufusfriday@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4380

ERICA BASKIN DIRECTOR OF EVENTS AND COMMUNITY ericabaskin@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4378

WENDY WICKHAM BUSINESS MANAGER wendy@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4373

CONTENT

ERICA LANG EDITOR elang@connectsavannah.com (912) 428-7648

TRAVIS JAUDON REPORTER travisjaudon@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4358

MCKENNAH SINK MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER (912) 721-4354

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Chantel Britton, Jesse Blanco, Beth Logan, Heidi Fedak, Frank Ricci, Nathan Dominitz

ADVERTISING

INFORMATION: (912) 721-4378 sales@connectsavannah.com

LOGAN HINTON SALES MANAGER logan@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4369

BUCKY BRYANT

STRATEGIC MARKETING CONSULTANT bucky@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4381

VICTORIA BUNSTINE STRATEGIC MARKETING CONSULTANT victoriabunstine@connectsavannah.com

DISTRIBUTION

WAYNE FRANKLIN

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER (912) 721-4376

RUFUS FRIDAY PUBLISHER

rufusfriday@connectsavannah.com

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN SAVANNAH!

Welcome to the highly anticipated “2024 Best of Savannah” issue. As the publisher of this esteemed publication, it brings me great pleasure to present to you a comprehensive guide to the finest establishments and experiences that our beloved city has to offer based on the voters that voted on the best known and the hidden gems and longstanding favorites that define the essence of Savannah.

With their enthusiastic engagement and participation, they played a pivotal role in determining the winners across various categories, from dining and entertainment to shopping and beyond.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of the deserving winners who have earned their place in this prestigious lineup. Your commitment to delivering exceptional quality and unparalleled service has not gone unnoticed, and you stand as shining beacons of excellence within our community.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to the talented and hardworking staff Erica Baskin, Wendy Wickham, Erica Lang, Travis Jaudon, McKennah Sink, Logan Hinton, Bucky Bryant, Victoria Bunstine, Wayne Franklin who made this issue possible. From our dedicated sales team, writers and editors to our meticulous designers and distribution and production team, each member has contributed their unique skills and dedication to bringing this publication to life. Your passion for storytelling and commitment to accuracy have elevated the “2024 Best of Savannah” issue to new heights, and I am immensely proud of the collaborative effort that has gone into its creation.

Also, a sincere thanks and appreciation to Charles H. Morris and the team at Kehoe Iron Works at Trustees’ Garden for hosting the awards party again on Thursday, May 16, 2024. If you have not done so, please get your tickets at events.connectsavannah.com

As I have said before, as we celebrate the remarkable achievements of our city’s finest establishments, let us also reflect on the vibrant tapestry of culture, creativity, and hospitality that makes Savannah truly special.

May this issue serve as a guide for residents and visitors alike to explore and experience the ‘BEST’ that our city has to offer, and may it inspire a continued pursuit of excellence in all endeavors.

Thank you to our readers for your continued support.

It is our privilege to share the stories of Savannah’s brightest stars, and we look forward to continuing this journey of discovery together.

Sincerely,

VOTED BEST of Savannah A UTO REPAIR

Vehicles are a crucial part of our lives, and when they break down, it can be a major inconvenience. Auto Intensive Care is dedicated to providing our customers with the best possible service to get their vehicles back on the road as quickly as possible. Our trusted auto mechanics have spent years mastering how to repair vehicles of all makes and models. We run a full-service auto repair shop that handles everything from annual inspections and tune-ups to fullscale renovations and upgrades. Your happiness is our top priority, and we will always strive to deliver the best service with a smile. Our goal is to make sure you fully understand all your options so that you can make the best choice for your car and budget.

Auto Intensive Care has the most professional and experienced service advisors in Savannah. Your car is a major investment and it deserves the highest quality care.

Reliable Auto Repairs

We offer various auto repair services to keep your vehicle running, so you can avoid the difficult and expensive cost of fixing a major issue. Services include engine repairs and replacements, brake repairs and replacements, electrical diagnostics, belt and hose replacement, suspension and steering, exhaust services and more.

Preventative Maintenance Whenever You Need It

A large part of good car ownership is taking proactive steps to keep your vehicle running well. Regular car maintenance keeps every element of your car in peak condition, from its engine oil to its tire treads. We perform tune-ups whenever you need them and personalize every customer’s care to suit their needs. We make safety our top priority, then look into optimizations that will keep your car running like the day you bought it (and maybe even better). We suggest getting preventative maintenance at least once a year.

Loaner Cars

At Auto Intensive Care, we understand that unexpected vehicle repairs can disrupt your daily routine. That’s why we offer convenient loaner car services to ensure that you can stay on the move while your vehicle is being serviced by our expert technicians.

IT’S WHAT WE DO, WE’LL MAKE YOUR CAR FEEL BRAND NEW

Contact us today to schedule your next service appointment!

Our Service advisors Brandi, Kim and Tim will take great care of you.

ON THE COVER

Connect Savannah’s “Best of” winners, Sean Freeman, voted “Best Local Chef”, Jadyn Singleton voted, “Best Local Athelte”, Someari Benson-Jaja voted, “Best Photographer”, Cody Shelley and her dog Dave from Renegade Paws Rescue voted, “Best Non-profit” and “Animal Rescue Organization”. Each celebrate having made the list of Savannah’s favorite people, businesses and organizations at The Lost Square voted, “Best Rooftop Bar”. The cover photo and feature photo stories are all photographed by the talented Love, Anneliese Photography.

PHOTO BY: LOVE, ANNELIESE PHOTOGRAPHY

OF SAVANNAH

It’s offical, Savannah! Drumroll please...we are proud to present the 2024 Best of Savannah Issue! You spoke, and we listened. The record numbers of your votes have crowned the champions of our beloved city in every category imaginable.

Think you know the best local book or band? Think again. We have it all including , the city’s hidden gems, down to the best axe throwing and best window displays. Yes, you heard that right. We’ve got everything covered!

Grab a seat, relax, and sip on some sweet tea, or maybe something a bit stronger ( to-go options available, of course.) Browse through the pages of this year’s Best of Savannah winners to discover new local businesses, people, and places you may not have known about. But wait there’s more! The excitement doesn’t end there. Its time to party! Mark your calendars for May 16, for the annual Best of Savannah Party. Get ready to celebrate the winners in the historic Kehoe Iron Works.

Tickets are available now, so scan the code and secure your spot at the party of the year.

SAVANNAH, IT IS NOW TIME TO PARTY!

THURS. MAY 16

ARTS & CITY LIFE

BEST ALL-AROUND SAVANNAH RESIDENT

Caleb Harkleroad

Originally from Savannah, Caleb Harkleroad is proud to continue the Harkleroad Diamonds & Fine Jewelry family business and celebrate his Irish heritage in the town he loves best.

BEST ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATION

Renegade Paws Rescue

Rebels for the Paws. Renegade Paws Rescue is a volunteer-based rescue dedicated to saving lives and providing the highest level of care to unwanted, abused, or injured dogs in the Savannah, GA and Coastal Empire region.

BEST ARCHITECTURE FIRM

Rose

Architects PC

From large scale developments to single multi-use lots, Rose Architects can help shepherd the project from the earliest stages of site selection to the final built product.

BEST ART GALLERY

Gallery 209

The gallery is located in a historic warehouse featuring fine art, jewelry, pottery & other locally crafted items.

BEST EVENT

Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Today, approximately 280 units –bands, families, societies, soldiers, public servants and commercial floats – wind through the streets of Historic Downtown Savannah every March 17th, making our St. Patrick’s Day Parade one of the

largest and most recognized in the world!

BEST FIREFIGHTER

Tyler Barrett

Tyler Barrett has been with the Savannah Fire Department for seven years and holds multiple technical rescuer certifications. In 2023, she was honored as firefighter of the year during the Savannah Fire Department Best of the Best Awards.

BEST INDIE FILM VENUE

Lucas Theatre

A revived 1920s theater that hosts national and local stage productions, musical acts and film screenings.

BEST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

Emory

Randolph

A Georgia POST certified police officer, public Information specialist, and animal advocate.

BEST LEGAL FIRM

The Manely Firm, P.C.

Includes multiple offices located in Atlanta, Cumming, Lawrenceville, Marietta and Savannah. The Firm has offered excellent family law representation for over 30 years.

BEST LOCAL ACTOR

Jordan Jones

A New York native, Jordan Jones grew up in the world of theater and today, enjoys working with the Savannah Repertory Theater. He played Richard Hannay in “The 39 Steps” at Savannah Rep and he played Fred Graham/ Petruchio in “Kiss Me Kate” at North Street Playhouse.

BEST LOCAL ACTRESS

Stacie Orrico

Stacie Joy Orrico is a singer and songwriter. After signing to ForeFront Records, Orrico recorded her first album, Genuine. Her second studio album, Stacie Orrico, released by ForeFront and Virgin, debuted at No. 59 on the Billboard 200.

BEST LOCAL ATTORNEY

David Purvis - The Manely Firm, P.C.

David Purvis advocates for families in Southeast Georgia including Chatham, Liberty, Bulloch, Effingham, and Bryan Counties. His compassion and extensive knowledge and experience in handling complex family law matters, domestically and internationally, make him an asset to the Coastal Empire’s legal community.

BEST LOCAL AUTHOR

Helen Bradley

Inspired by the resilience of thousands of crime victims and their families, Helen Bradley spearheaded the passage of a dozen pieces of legislation, including the Georgia Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights and a crime victims’ compensation program. She is best known for her book, “Breach of Trust.”

BEST LOCAL COMEDIAN/ COMEDY TEAM

Front Porch

Improv

Savannah’s Home for Comedy. A fast-paced, fantastic mix of improv, sketch, stand up, and storytelling comedy shows.

BEST LOCAL CRAFT VENDOR

Custom Tumblers

High quality, one of a kind, custom made tumblers.

BEST LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Shot By Somi Studios

A studio in Savannah that specializes in lifestyle and brand photography, portraits, events, products, food photography, weddings.

BEST LOCAL THEATER DIRECTOR

Karla Knudsen Director, editor, and performing artist.

BEST LOCAL THEATRE PRODUCTION

The 39 Steps

A 1915 spy adventure novel by the Scottish author John Buchan, first published by William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh.

BEST LOCAL VACATION RENTAL SERVICE

South Key Management

South Key provides premium vacation rentals in downtown Savannah, Georgia.

BEST MUSEUM American Prohibition Museum

Artifacts and displays about the ban on alcohol from 1920-33, plus a retro speakeasy serving drinks.

BEST NEW BUILDING

Second

Harvest of Coastal Georgia

Serving as the food safety net for tens of thousands of people who are at risk for hunger throughout Coastal Georgia.

BEST NEW LOCAL BOOK

Breach of Trust

Book by Helen Bradley. One

We’re honored to be voted the

for the second year in a row.

Thank you to our loyal customers! We value your trust and look forward to serving our community for many years to come.

woman’s fight to protect crime victims and expose corruption within the district attorney’s office leads her on a harrowing and lifechanging journey.

BEST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

Renegade Paws Rescue

Rebels for the Paws. Renegade Paws Rescue is a volunteer-based rescue dedicated to saving lives and providing the highest level of care to unwanted, abused, or injured dogs in the Savanna, Georgia and Coastal Empire region.

BEST PHILANTHROPIST

Marianne

GanemPoppell

Owner of Savannah Master Calendar and Simply Savannah Marketing, she is a 3rdgeneration Savannahain who loves the city and encourages others to succeed.

BEST PLACE OF WORSHIP

Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic cathedral and minor basilica near Lafayette Square at 222 East Harris Street.

BEST PLACE TO WORK

The Manely Firm, P.C.

Multiple offices located in Atlanta, Cumming, Lawrenceville, Marietta and Savannah. The Firm has offered excellent family law representation for over 30 years.

BEST PRINCIPAL / HEADMASTER

Kef Wilson

Savannah Country Day Headmaster.

BEST PUBLIC RELATIONS GROUP

Abshire Public Relations LLC

For over 20 years, Abshire Public Relations has been helping their clients tell their story. Headquartered in Savannah, they also have ties in Atlanta, Macon, and the South Carolina coastal region.

BEST PUBLIC SERVANT/ COMMUNITY LEADER

James Hall

Knowledgeable realtor, possessing a deep understanding of the local real estate market in Savannah, GA.

BEST SAVANNAHCHATHAM COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER

Roger Moss

A professional vocalist and thespian, Roger Moss co-founded the Savannah Children’s Choir. Moss was also instrumental in the

creation of Savannah Classical Academy, a public charter school which offers top-tier schooling for Chatham County Youth.

BEST TOUR COMPANY

Hearse Ghost Tours

A fun and entertaining tour, or, as Hearse Ghost Tours likes to call it, a viewing. They share stories about Savannah’s ghosts while also taking guests through the historic district in a REAL hearse.

BEST TOUR GUIDE

Robin Graves, hearse ghost tours

A Savannah tour guide, offering eerie and entertaining Hearse Ghost Tours.

BEST VISUAL ARTIST

Jim Cone

Jim Cone presents many of his creations in a visionary-cubist style that is imaginative and

impactful. His works include paperworks, paintings, mixed media assemblages, collages and sculptures.

BEST WALKING TOUR

Savannah True History Tours

These tours take guests for a stroll through historic Savannah. Guides will be a former National Park Service Park Ranger turned attorney. Savannah True History Tours believes everyone deserves access to Savannah’s history.

BEST WORSHIP LEADER

Charles O’Berry

As the Pastor of House of Freedom Worship Center, Charles O’Berry offers spiritual guidance and deeply values community well-being.

NON-PROFIT AND ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATION

RENEGADE PAWS RESCUE

Since Jennifer Taylor, a local, experienced animal rescuer, began Renegade Paws Rescue in 2019, it has been providing a critical need in the community, helping place animals into homes for fostering and adoption. The organization has already been named Best NonProfit and Best Animal Organization in separate years, but this year, the “Rebels for the Paws” have been awarded the double-billed honor.

“We are so thrilled and excited about these awards,” said Cody Shelley, proud foster parent, volunteer, and board member for the rescue group. “It shows we’re making a difference in the community for these animals.”

Renegade Paws Rescue is a 501 (c)(3) volunteerbased, foster-based rescue organization dedicated to providing the highest level of care for unwanted, abused, or injured dogs in Savannah and the surrounding Coastal Empire.

“We started as a very small grassroots group with only a handful of people,” Shelley said. “In 2019 to 2020, we had less than one hundred dogs in care. Today, we have over 350 foster families with 600 dogs.”

Backyard breeding, Shelley says, is one of the biggest challenges for rescuers. “[There is] a devastating overpopulation crisis when it comes to dogs and cats in the community. With what we see in the municipal shelter, from our program, and in our sister rescues across Savannah and the South, we can’t guess our way out of this. There are too many unattended litters happening, so we’re trying not only to find forever homes from those in the community, but we want to work with folks with whatever situation may fall into their life whether it’s an unexpected move, a rehousing, or not being able to care for the pet any longer.”

Renegade Paws offers many free services to pets in need. People can go to their shelter where there is a full-time veterinarian; however, the organization goes into neighborhoods free of charge to provide services for animals. “We’re focused on TNSR or trap, neuter, spay, release/return, and let these animals live in the community they’re used to being in,” Shelley said. “With cats, we work with our sister organization, Renegade

Claws, to keep cats in their communities, as well, after they are vaccinated. They’re not necessarily feral and are a part of the neighborhood. They deserve to go back to those people feeding and caring for them outside.”

Another program the non-profit features is supporting the larger animal community when it comes to those who may have to temporarily surrender their pet.

“People find themselves in many situations,” Shelley begins, “and oftentimes, their pets are caught up in those situations. For example, if someone has to go into a homeless shelter for a short time until they get on their feet, they have to be separated from their pet. We have a means in place to where they sign an agreement for us to foster their animal for a certain period. That way, the fear of losing their pet forever isn’t as dire.”

Shelley only needs to glance at the cover photo to share a favorite rescue tale. “We took in the dog of a woman who was sadly assaulted by her partner and even tried to set her dog on fire,” she says. “When the dog came into our care, he smelled like lighter fluid. We wanted to help out and do everything we could for the woman because she loved her pet so much. She was able to sign a temporary foster agreement and we would check in with her after thirty days. While the woman is now safe, she’s no longer local and was unable to take her pet with her.”

As apparent from the cover photo, Dave, the dog, was able to find a wonderful home… with none other than Cody Shelley.

Laughing, she says, “I foster about five dogs at a time, so it’s great now how Dave is an ambassador and foster dog for others. He gets to welcome other dogs when they come to the shelter. He’s so good at it because these animals all come in with different situations, traumas, fears, etc., and he shows them there’s hope because he’s a colleague and a success case. A true counselor puppy.”

Shelley says Renegade Paws Rescue is always looking for people who want to help out. “We have several ways for folks to support our efforts. We encourage everyone who can foster, please do so. But, we also have programs for those who want to help out in other ways. Particularly through volunteering or by working with our

Mental Paws program.”

Mental Paws is a two-week fostering program that allows dogs within the Renegade boarding system to have the opportunity to be in a home while awaiting adoption or fostering.

“People can apply for our Mental Paws program and then take a dog even for an afternoon to play in Forsyth or be out on a boat,” Shelley says. “Giving these dogs a chance to be in a home environment or social situation lets us know more about the animal, who would be a good home for it, and it also lets them experience new people and new things.”

Which reminds Shelley of Halo’s story.

“Halo was abandoned in a plastic airline crate, in an open field and she seemed to have cancer spots all over her. She was emaciated, had wounds, and her hip bones stuck out. The person who dropped her off was— thankfully—caught on camera and identified. I can’t say more because Bryan County law enforcement is involved.”

“Halo has the perfect name, though… belonging to an angel—and she was coming to us to have a peaceful, comfortable, and loving remainder of her time. She was in such bad shape that everyone, including the vet, considered her to be a hospice dog. We all wanted her to experience real love.”

“Halo had a strong will to live and was happy to be found and have food,” Shelley said of Halo’s recovery. “What

we thought was cancer were dirt clods stuck to her. She got fully healthy, moved to a foster to be with other dogs, and now, she’s gorgeous. She was in this year’s Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and she even got adopted by someone she met during the parade.”

“It was incredible to see,” Shelley says with excitement. “We were at this intersection of compassion and what’s humane, but we also wanted to give Halo enough room to show us what she wanted to do. Halo chose to live.”

As for these honors, Shelley says, “I am confident I speak for our 500-plus volunteers when I say this is a profound and meaningful validation and acknowledgment of the blood, sweat, and tears we all put in for the dogs of our community. We couldn’t be more tickled and honored to be included in this amazing honor.”

Dave and all his pals at Renegade Paws Rescue can be found at 2357 Ogeechee Road, at events throughout Savannah, and online on Facebook, Instagram, and their website where you can sign up to foster, adopt, volunteer, or donate.

www.renegadepawsrescue.org www.facebook.com/rprsavannah www.instagram.com/renegadepawsrescue

- By Marley Gibson

JIM CONE

In November of last year, I wrote a column entitled “Savannah’s Cubist: Jim Cone” after visiting the artist in his Talahi Island home based studio, and I am delighted that this generous, likable man has been selected as Connect Savannah’s Best Local Visual Artist.

Son of artist Peggy Cone - who showed her work for over thirty years in River Street’s Galley 209 - he tells me he has a very simplified vision of art, culled down to three basic notions: “One: You can create art to express whatever you can imagine…and your imagination is bigger than the universe. Two: You can create art out of anything…anything! Three: You can’t mess-up when you are creating art!”

He often recites these “three rules” when encouraging aspiring young artists who are grasping for ideas while staring at a blank canvas, “or wondering how they can incorporate some cool-looking found objects into their artwork, or when they have totally given up on an artwork because it’s not turning out the way that they wanted it to look. The future of art is always in the curious imaginations of young, budding artists. Support must be positive, and roadblocks must be minimal.”

Best known for his highly colorful, unique, Cubist style, Cone says his practice grew out of a passion for the intricate, measured drawings and geometry employed in his early career as a technical draftsman. Later, Cone learned about Picasso, Braque, and Cezanne, and how Cezanne simplified natural forms to their geometric foundation of cones, spheres, and cylinders.

Like the Cubists, he paints people, landscapes and objects as though seeing them from multiple angles at once. He likes to say, “Picasso kicked the door of Cubism open, and I walked through and went my own way.” He uses oils and acrylics, often applying them with a palette knife to get even more angles and textures, and he regularly incorporates collage elements such as crushed brick, pottery shards, or pieces of flattened metal he finds on streets and sidewalks. Many of his artworks are composed of scraps torn from the paper towels he uses to clean off his brushes. He saves the towels, tearing off pieces in shades of blue for the sky, or in shades of green for the marsh or foliage.

A prolific painter and a regular at Savannah Local Art Market (SLAM), he portrays vividly colored, cityscapesmany inspired by Savannah’s squares, fountains, bridge,

or iconic buildings; coastal landscapes (especially palm trees); music; bulls; owls; the female form; and portraits. Additionally, Cone makes sculptures and assemblages from found objects, driftwood, and even from the wooden factory scraps provided by his friend Howard Paul, president, and CEO of Benedetto Guitars. During my studio visit, I admired a Picasso-like bull he fashioned from this wood, the sculpture seemingly a natural progression and three-dimensional rendering of his Cubist paintings.

Often, pieces of found materials pulled from Savannah’s coastal marshlands form the basis for sculptures that can take years to evolve in his studio. Cone says, “Everything that I see is potential art. Although it would take me a dozen lifetimes to create my visions, I’m giving it all I’ve got; I am highly prolific, with my studio typically having ten to twelve artworks in the pipeline of production. Various subjects, styles, mediums, and materials may all be in play at the same time on different artworks while I form new ideas, make thumbnail sketches, or write a quick note corresponding to a certain piece.”

Cone retired from Georgia Power following treatment for a near-fatal tongue cancer. Today, with part of his jaw removed, his speech is muffled and hard to make out at times. A collaged piece called Humpty Dumpty, composed of broken eggshells to represent his cancer and physical brokenness, is now the cover art of a selfhelp manuscript he authored which deals with human brokenness in all its forms, whether through addiction, or through being financially, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually broken. Like Humpty and like Cone, the pieces can be successfully put back together again.

Check out Jim Cone’s multi-faceted work on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jim.cone.5477 and contact at jimcone100@gmail.com

- Beth Logan

by Roger Corman, screenplay by Charles Gri th

Originally produced by the WPA Theatre (Kyle Renick, producing director)

at

Orpheum Theatre, New York City by

WPA Theatre, David Ge en, Cameron Mackintosh, and the Shubert Organization Little Shop of Horrors

SAVA NNAH TOYOTA’S Supporting What Makes Us Better COMMUNITY

CONNECT

While we may be known in Savannah as a go-to Toyota dealership for sales and service, we recognize it’s all because of our community. To say, “thank you,” we strive to always be more than a dealership.

With our Community Connect program, we work with local groups and participate in local events all year long to support all those who make us better. We also partner with nationwide organizations for an even larger reach across Savannah.

Some of our recent events include: Savannah Center for the Blind and Low Vision –Car Donation, Military Appreciation Day, #TurnItPink, Free Fido Fest, Southside Grocery Giveaway, Food for Friends Initiative, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Operation 15 Youth Summer Camp & Our local schools

DINING

BEST ASIAN FOOD

E-TANG

Offering traditional Chinese cuisine that brings all the rich flavors and culture for a unique dine-in experience.

BEST BAGELS

Big Bon Bodega

Big Bon Bodega is a wood fired bagel shop, offering sandwiches and other baked goods for breakfast and lunch in Savannah, Georgia.

BEST BAKERY

Auspicious Baking

Company

Auspicious Baking Co. is a community supported baking company specializing in handcrafted breads and pastries.

BEST BBQ

Sandfly

Barbeque

Simple eatery doling out BBQ sandwiches, combination plates & smoked meats by the pound.

BEST BREAKFAST Quinn’s

Breakfast and Lunch

Casual option serving American grub including a breakfast buffet and burgers, plus a soup and salad bar.

BEST BRUNCH

The Ordinary Pub

A relaxed haunt serving choice bar food and weekend brunch in a comfy interior with exposed-brick walls. Located on Broughton St.

BEST BURGER

Green Truck Neighborhood Pub

A local pub well-regarded for its burgers and vegetarian options, with locally sourced food, drink & design.

BEST BURRITO

Java Burrito Company

Fresh, fast and made from scratch Mexican eatery and coffeehouse.

BEST CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT

Sweet Spice Restaurant

Jamaican and American comfort foods are served in colorful surroundings at this small, easygoing eatery.

BEST CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Boards by Tay - Taylor Kiley

Charcuterie cups, boxes, boards, and grazing tables

BEST COFFEEHOUSE

Gallery

Espresso

Bohemian cafe with coffee and light fare including salads and pastries in a relaxing space with mismatched sofas.

BEST CUBAN FOOD

Rancho

Alegre Cuban Restaurant

Cuban eatery and bar serving traditional plates and cocktails in a festive space with tile accents.

BEST CUPCAKES

Photo

Gigi’s Cupcakes

Gourmet cupcakes and custom cakes for weddings and special events.

BEST DELI Rocky’s NY

Deli & Italian

Catering

Serving breakfast and lunch, signature sandwiches, and salads. Offering pastrami and corned beef made in-house.

BEST DESSERTS

RESTAURANT

Lulu’s Chocolate Bar

Housemade sweets are matched with specialty cocktails at this atmospheric dessert restaurant/ bar.

BEST DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT Common Restaurant

Industrial-chic venue popular for its brunch, oyster bar, and cocktails, plus happy-hour specials.

BEST FINE DINING Fleeting

Inspired by local farmer’s markets, seasonal produce, and its proximity to the Savannah River, Fleeting’s ever-evolving menu celebrates the bountiful Georgia Coast and the rich history of Southern cuisine.

BEST FOOD TRUCK

The Naked Dog

Features the finest Vienna allbeef gourmet hot dogs nestled in fluffy warm steamed poppy seed buns, all topped off with fresh and surprisingly unique condiments that will make your mouth water for more!

BEST FRENCH

RESTAURANT

Circa 1875

Dual venue featuring a casual

pub and sit-down Parisian bistro in a vintage environment with a wine cellar.

BEST FRIED CHICKEN

Mrs. Wilkes

Dining Room

Family-owned since 1943, this busy Southern diner serves ample lunches to guests at communal tables.

BEST FRIES

Green Truck Neighborhood Pub

A local pub well-regarded for its burgers and vegetarian options, with locally sourced food, drink and design.

BEST HOT DOG

The Naked Dog

Features the finest Vienna allbeef gourmet hot dogs nestled in fluffy warm steamed poppy seed buns, all topped off with fresh and surprisingly unique condiments that will make your mouth water for more!

BEST INDIAN FOOD

NaaN On

Broughton

Offering Indian cuisine that is packed with flavor and spices, making it ideal for any occasion. Their menu is representative of the diversity of cooking styles in India and includes tandoori cooked, grilled, and pan-fried dishes from North and South India.

BEST ITALIAN FOOD

FraLi Gourmet

A family-owned Italian eatery offering house-made pastas as well as pre-fix dinner menus.

BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Miyabi Kyoto Steak House

Sushi bar & hibachi grill with entertaining chefs in an openroofed Japanese-style dwelling.

BEST LATE NIGHT RESTAURANT

Over Yonder

A country-western bar located in the back of Moodright’s restaurant in midtown Savannah, Georgia with live music.

BEST LOCAL CHEF

Sean Freeman

Sean Freeman has worked in kitchens throughout the hostess city before joining The Ordinary Pub team in 2016, where he continues to focus his culinary talents as executive chef. Set to pay homage to his hometown in Savannah, Chef is dedicated to continuing to elevate low country inspired cuisine.

BEST LOCAL ICE CREAM

Leopold’s Ice Cream

Popular ice cream parlor with a marble soda fountain, regular and seasonal flavors, soup and sandwiches.

BEST MACARON

SHOP Grins and Giggles Cookie Co

Offering local, fresh, artisanal homemade desserts.

BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT

Olympia Cafe

Serving authentic Greek and Mediterranean dishes, local seafood, and express options in a relaxed atmosphere on the historic Savannah River.

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Agave Bar & Grill

Vibrantly colored outpost for a broad variety of Mexican staples along with beer and margaritas.

BEST MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD Shuk

Shuk is a Mediterranean

restaurant located in Savannah, GA’s Victorian District, offering fresh, interesting food, a full bar and espresso cafe.

BEST MIDTOWN RESTAURANT

Ardsley Station

Neighborhood eatery specializing in approachable Southern cuisine, wine, beer and craft cocktails.

BEST MIMOSA

Ardsley Station

Neighborhood eatery specializing in approachable Southern cuisine, wine, beer and craft cocktails.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

Desposito’s Seafood Restaurant

Southern-style seafood shack

offering boiled shrimp, steamed oysters and crab legs by the pound.

BEST OUTDOOR DINING

The Wyld

Waterside hangout for New American fare with a seafood focus, plus cocktails, bocce and a fire pit.

BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT

Common Restaurant

An industrial-chic venue popular for its brunch, oyster bar, and cocktails, plus happy-hour specials.

BEST

PIZZA

Vincenzo’s Pizzeria

Chill, locally-owned pizza joint offering build-your-own and specialty pies, plus pasta dishes and more.

The Ordinary Pub

Relaxed haunt serving choice bar food and weekend brunch in a comfy interior with exposed-brick walls.

BEST RESTAURANT SUPPLY COMPANY

Restaurant Equipment Co. of Savannah

Commercial kitchen expert serving restaurants, bars, hotels, clubs, schools, and the military community in Savannah Georgia.

BEST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT

17Hundred90 Inn & Restaurant

The 17Hundred90 Inn and Restaurant has been in service for decades, providing an experience and attention to detail without equal in a historic city which prides itself in showering visitors in the unhurried luxury and service of times gone by.

BEST SALAD

Roly Poly Sandwiches

Outpost of a counter-serve chain featuring a large selection of wraps, plus soups and salads.

BEST SANDWICH SHOP

The Black Rabbit

Simple setup featuring a sandwich shop and pub by day with specialty cocktails until late at night.

BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Desposito’s Seafood

Restaurant

Southern-style seafood shack offering boiled shrimp, steamed oysters & crab legs by the pound.

Sisters of the New South

A daily menu of homestyle Southern fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner, served in a laid-back environment.

BEST SOUTHERN FOOD RESTAURANT

Mrs. Wilkes

Dining Room

Family-owned since 1943, this busy Southern diner serves ample lunches to guests at communal tables.

BEST SOUTHSIDE RESTAURANT

Driftaway Cafe

Easygoing stop for seafood and steak, in a casual setting painted to pay homage to the Georgia coast.

BEST SPICE SHOP

The Salt Table

The Salt Table is a Savannah based brand of salts, seasoning blends, oils and vinegars, tea and other specialty foods.

7am-3pm

BEST STARLAND DISTRICT

RESTAURANT

Ardsley Station

Neighborhood eatery specializing in approachable Southern cuisine, wine, beer and craft cocktails.

BEST STEAKHOUSE

Belford’s

Savannah Seafood

& High-end steaks, seafood, pasta and cocktails turned out in an airy, turn-of-the-century brick locale.

BEST SUSHI RESTAURANT

The Vault

Kitchen & Market

A chic Asian fusion spot for creative bites & drinks in the historic Bank of America building.

BEST TACO

Bull Street

Taco

Laid-back taqueria for scratchmade Mexican eats, beer and spirits in a sunlit space with a patio.

BEST TAKEOUT RESTAURANT

Roly Poly Sandwiches

Outpost of a counter-serve chain featuring a large selection of wraps, plus soups and salads.

BEST TEA/ BOBA SHOP

Refresh Nutrition

Local and family-owned offering healthy shakes, energy teas, fruit smoothies, açaí bowls and protein coffees.

BEST THAI RESTAURANT

Chiriya’s Thai Cuisine

Award-winning Thai food with a distinct Hawaiian flair!

BEST VEGAN RESTAURANT

Kayak Kafé Broughton

Casual dining room with a global menu (from tacos to paninis) plus vegan, veggie and gluten-free items.

BEST VEGETARIAN

RESTAURANT

Kayak Kafé

Casual dining room with a global menu (from tacos to paninis) plus vegan, veggie and gluten-free items.

BEST VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

Flying Monk Noodle Bar

Pho and other Asian noodle dishes are offered at this narrow, cosmopolitan storefront eatery.

BEST WAIT STAFF

Common

Restaurant

An industrial-chic venue popular for its brunch, oyster bar, and cocktails, plus happy-hour specials.

BEST WINE SELECTION

Common

Restaurant

An industrial-chic venue popular for its brunch, oyster bar, and cocktails, plus happy-hour specials.

BEST WINGS

520 Wings

Locally owned, fast-food joint offering fried chicken and fish meals, plus burgers in a simple venue.

BEST LOCAL CHEF

SEAN FREEMAN

Despite what has been a meteoric rise in Savannah’s food scene over the last decade, Sean Freeman remains grounded by genuine humility.

After being told by his boss Michael Vaudrin that he had won Connect Savannah’s Best Local Chef title, Freeman’s celebration was understated.

“I had a couple extra shots of bourbon that night,” said The Ordinary Pub’s executive chef with his signature smile.

“I came into work, and Mike pulled me to the side and let me know that I had won,” Freeman shared. “I started gradually telling people, but it’s something that I really don’t talk about a lot.”

Spend just a few minutes with the Savannah native and you will plainly see that he is not a chef who cares one crumb about celebrity.

“Winning it is really cool, but the proof is in the pudding, putting in the work,” he said. “I just enjoy and engulf myself in the work.”

“I get blessed, and it happens.”

Now wearing the top toque, Freeman has been back at The Ordinary for a little over four months, returning to where he cooked on the line under mentor Justin ‘Grizz’ Grizzard starting in 2016, though their food friendship began even before that.

Back in 2012, Freeman’s first fine-dining post was working the cold side alongside Chef Grizz at Rocks on the River (The Bohemian Hotel) before the former headed out to Tybee.

“He went to North Beach (Bar and Grill) and called me out there, and I went out to North Beach, where I was for about two years,” Freeman recalled, “and then he called me once he took the job down here.”

The Savannah High grad stayed below Broughton Street, if you will, for five years during which time South Magazine took note of his talents in its October 2020 cover feature “Dope Black Chef.”

A year later, Freeman “took [his] talents on the road” and moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, “the home of Louisiana food,” cheffing at Scratch Farm Kitchen, but then several factors called him back home.

“All my family’s here, and I just really enjoy working for Mike and Brandi,” he said. “They’re really honest people, they’re straightforward, and that’s what I love about them.”

“I missed the people. I missed the Southern hospitality here,” he added about returning to his personal and professional roots. “Just Savannah and how eclectic it is.”

Away only two years, Freeman acknowledged how the Hostess City’s cuisine scene developed during his absence, saying, “Restaurants that have been around revamped their old menus and got with the times of what’s happening around them.”

“I feel like Common and The Pub were at the forefront,” he said proudly, the latter having opened in 2015.

“To be completely honest, it’s just something that I was gifted with,” Freeman said of his food flair, though still humble and easygoing as ever.”

“My grandmother and my godmother and a lot of the older folks in my family have always cooked, and I’ve always been right there next to them, watching them, seeing them mix up all the great stuff that they make,” he continued, noting the sweet cornbread at The Ordinary, his take on his godmother’s cakey recipe.

“It came with my blood. My family knows how to cook, and I just picked it up,” said Freeman. “I had two kids, and I had to learn how to cook for them.”

Thus began the familiar tale from dishwasher to fry cook to grill chef and up the professional kitchen ladder.

“Next thing I knew,” Freeman said, “I was working at The Bohemian in fine dining.”

In his stint at the boutique Savannah Riverfront hotel, he rose “through the ranks” to corporate trainer, “right under sous chef,” but chose to forego the culinary school route in order to stay in a kitchen full-time.

“I got all of my schooling working under really cool chefs,” said Freeman. “Seeing happy people enjoy the food was a rush for me.”

When he returned to Savannah almost a year ago now, Freeman came back to Michael and Brandi Vaudrin’s pair of Broughton Street restos and has served in a variety of roles since. This past June, he became executive chef at Common when Chef Grizz moved on while also holding “more like a development executive role for both of the restaurants.”

Before the end of 2023, Freeman moved back down the street and headed back downstairs, where he sees himself heading up operations “for the foreseeable

future” as the Vaudrins and their chefs work toward “running the restaurants in tandem,” per Freeman.

“There is some R&D going on right now,” Freeman said of The Ordinary’s menus, his eyes gleaming with what he has cooking (literally).

Recent additions have been the Gator Bangers & Mash, the Low Country Crab Cakes, and the Short Rib Hot Plate, which came down the street from Common.

Freeman just bought a sausage maker, so the bangers and mash starring component will soon be scratch-made, a “not super-gamey” blend of alligator and pork slathered in a Guinness gravy.

Creamed collards and topped by the whisky-glazed short rib served with red wine jam and that house-made cornbread, and the crab cake, seared with southern spices, comes with a roasted tomato gravy.

“I’m just trying to elevate our menu, trying to make us better, trying to win more for The Pub,” Freeman said determinedly of ‘what’s next’. “I want to try to get a Michelin Star. I want to push.”

“Mike and I talk about this all the time: being great is not a thing anymore,” he added. “That’s almost mediocrity. You got to be better than that.”

The heralded humble chef shared that his folks are “super-happy” with his winning the award.

“We’ll probably go out to dinner at some point,” he said.

Hopefully, some other truly talented chef in town will cook for him that night.

The Ordinary Pub (217 ½ West Broughton Street) is open Monday through Thursday (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.), Friday and Saturday (10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.), and Sunday (10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.).

- Neil Gabbey

HEALTHCARE

BEST ALLERGIST

Bruce D. Finkel MD

A distinguished allergistimmunologist, Dr. Finkel has been serving the Savannah community for nearly 30 years now.

BEST AUDIOLOGIST

Casey Allen

Dr. Allen has been working at Audiology and Hearing Aid Services, LLC (AHAS) since 2015. She is accredited with the Georgia State Board of Audiology and is a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA).

BEST CARDIOLOGIST

Daniel Cobb, MD

Dr. Cobb works as part of Cardiology Associates of Savannah, the longest-serving

cardiology practice in the city. He specializes in treating various heart conditions, including heart failure, coronary artery disease, and cardiomyopathy.

BEST CHIROPRACTOR

Philip A. Day

Dr. Day has been serving patients in the Savannah area since 1986. He is a past president of Georgia Chiropractic Association and was the Chiropractor of the Year in 2010. Find him at Day Chiropractic Savannah on Mall Boulevard.

BEST DENTAL

HYGIENIST

Larissa Fordham

A hygienist working at Howard Family Dental on Savannah’s southside, Fordham is the best of the best in her field for 2024!

BEST DENTIST

Andrew T. Cupp, DMD

“Dentistry is a job you can really sink your teeth into.” That’s the message from Cupp, the 2024 Best of Savannah dentist at Southern Dental Center on Eisenhower Dr. in Savannah.

BEST DERMATOLOGIST

Corinne Howington

Dr. Howington runs Low Country Dermatology and Aesthetics on Waters Avenue in Savannah. There, she provides services such as medical dermatology, InMode treatments, and various cosmetic services including as injectables, microneedling, facials, chemical peels, laser treatments, and skincare products from reputable brands.

BEST FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

Advanced Regenerative Therapy

The providers at Advanced Regenerative Therapy use a combination of evidence-based medicine, personal experience and basic science to help customers. The practice offers treatment plans as well as patient education.

BEST GASTROENTEROLOGIST

William L. Mansour

Dr. Mansour practices at Gastroenterology Consultants of Savannah. He specializes in treating various GI and liver disorders. Find the practice at 519 Stephenson Ave in Savnnah.

Photo

Hospice

Savannah, Inc.

The only hospice in the Coastal Empire to be accredited by the Joint Commission, Hospice Savannah, Inc. serves patients throughout Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Long and Liberty counties.

BEST HOSPITAL

St. Joseph’s/ Candler Hospital

Highly regarded as the premier health provider in the region, St. Joseph’s/Candler combines highimpact technology, breakthrough clinical treatments and timehonored compassionate care to create “smart medicine” and an innovative approach to health and well-being.

BEST LOCAL PHARMACY

Lo Cost Pharmacy

They are not just a pharmacy; they’re a cornerstone of the Savannah community. For over 50 years, the locally owned and operated full-service pharmacy has been committed to ensuring the health and wellness of the Savannah community.

BEST MENTAL HEALTH AGENCY

Family First Therapy

Offers licensed Savannah counseling, marriage and family therapists. Family First Therapy is passionate about providing valuable and confidential counseling to their patients.

BEST NURSE

Richard A. Rabara, RN

Part of the Neuro step-down staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah, Rabara is the Best of Savannah Nurse for 2024!

BEST OB/GYN

Katherine Bebeau

Dr. Bebeau is an OB/GYN specialist in Savannah. She provides comprehensive care for women throughout their lives. Her fascination with science and her desire to make the world a better place led her to pursue a career in healthcare. Part of the St. Joseph’s/Candler network, Bebeau’s practice is on Reynolds Street in Savannah.

BEST OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Samantha Letson

An Occupational Therapist (OTR/L), Letson has dedicated more than 12 years of her life to the field of Pediatric Occupational Therapy. Her expertise lies in addressing various challenges related to occupational performance, including physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and sensory aspects.

BEST OPHTHALMOLOGIST

John M.

Devaro, MD

Dr. Devaro serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Mercer University School of Medicine in Savannah. He actively teaches and lectures to medical students and residents, and he directs the ophthalmology curriculum for the pediatric residency program at Memorial University Medical Center.

BEST OPTOMETRIST

Caroline Freeman

Dr. Freeman opened Savannah Family Eye Care in 2022. She has a passion for personalized eye care, and she especially enjoys working with children.

BEST ORAL

SURGEON Chatham Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Dr. Devaro serves as a Clinical

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Mercer University School of Medicine in Savannah. He actively teaches and lectures to medical students and residents, and he directs the ophthalmology curriculum for the pediatric residency program at Memorial University Medical Center.

BEST ORTHODONTIST/ PRACTICE

Innovative Orthodontics

At Innovative Orthodontics, they don’t just straighten teeth; they aim to be the best part of your day. Whether you’re a child, teen, or adult, their caring orthodontists ensure you receive top-notch treatment. Visit any one of their three Savannah locations.

BEST ORTHOPEDIST

Evan M. Siegall MD

A distinguished pediatric orthopedic specialist in Savannah, Dr. Siegall’s expertise

is in pediatric orthopedics, scoliosis, spinal conditions and sports medicine. Dr. Siegall is not only a skilled practitioner but also a published writer, as he regularly contributes content to Orthobullets.com.

BEST PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Dogwood Pediatric Dentistry of Savannah

Drs. Krista, Phillip, Morgan and Gordon are dedicated to you and your child. They are committed to ensuring each patient has a positive experience.

BEST PEDIATRICIAN

Benjamin D. Spitalnick, MD

For more than 20 years, Dr. Spitalnick has been Savannah’s dedicated pediatrician of choice. He is affiliated with several hospitals in the area, including

Memorial Health University Medical Center and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

BEST PHARMACIST

Laura Brodmann

Brodmann is a pharmacist with Quick Rx Drugs on Whitemarsh Island and has been since 2005. Her expertise and experience contribute to providing quick, reliable, and personable service to patients in the Savannah area.

BEST PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Nena Cross

Cross is who you see when you need to get back on your feet. The longtime physical therapist at Memorial Health in Savannah is the 2024 Best of Savannah winner.

BEST PHYSICAL THERAPIST CENTER

Southland Pediatric

Therapy

Their team of experienced speech, occupational, and physical therapists specializes in addressing a diverse range of challenges.

BEST PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN

Yulianty

Kusuma, MD

Dr. Kusuma has been a Savannah medical staple for Memorial Health and Candler Hospital over the years. Her patients appreciate her thoroughness, attentiveness and excellent clinical acumen. She provides outstanding care, while addressing the patient’s health concerns and ensuring follow-ups as they are needed.

BEST PSYCHIATRIST

Nicole Silvernail

Silvernail is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner working at LifeStance in Savannah. She specializes in several areas of mental health.

BEST PSYCHOLOGIST

Kelly Bell, LCSW

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Bell offers individual counseling services with a focus on enhancing communication, stress reduction, and coping strategies to improve the quality of life for every client. She provides a positive and specialized therapeutic environment, emphasizing unconditional positive regard for her clients.

BEST PSYCHOTHERAPIST

Carrington Woods

An associate marriage and family therapist with Family First Therapy, LLC in Savannah, Woods says her desire is simple with her clients. “I’ll work passionately with your strengths and values to find insight and help you achieve your therapy goals.”

BEST SENIOR LIVING Riverview Health and Rehabilitation Center

Located along the Herb Creek River in Savannah, Riverview Health and Rehabilitation Center first opened in 1961. Riverview offers seniors a variety of professional services with the privacy and dignity they expect and deserve.

BEST SLEEP SPECIALIST

Carlton Kemp, MD

Kemp is a board-certified expert in critical care medicine specializing in sleep disorders and pulmonary disease from Memorial Health in Savannah. He provides detailed lung and sleep care for patients seeking higher quality Zzzzz’s.

Sophia Vargas M.S. CF-SLP, Sonshine Therapy

Vargas is currently completing her Clinical Fellowship Year working towards earning her Certificate of Clinical Competence. She focuses on creating a motivating, clinically-skilled, and patientcentered environment to aid children in reaching their potential.

BEST URGENT CARE

ExperCARE

Urgent Care

ExperCARE is committed to providing access to top-quality, customer-focused health care that is convenient, consistent, and efficient.

BEST VETERINARIAN

Jeremy Faris, DVM

Clinic owner of Port City Animal Hospital, Faris has been practicing in the Savannah area since 2012. His favorite thing about his job is getting to help people make informed decisions for their pet’s health.

BEST VETERINARY CLINIC

Port City Animal Hospital

Certified professionals providing compassionate and innovative care for your best friend. Conveniently located to serve Savannah, Pooler, Port Wentworth, Bloomingdale and Effingham County, Port City Animal Hospital strives to be the area’s gold standard in veterinary care.

Georgia Eye Institute

For over two decades, Georgia Eye Institute has been helping set new standards in cataract surgery, lens implantation, advanced retinal care for diabetic eye disease, LASIK laser vision correction, glaucoma management, and more.

BEST WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTER

Mary Telfair Women’s Hospital

The Mary Telfair Women’s Hospital at Candler Hospital is home to many services including labor and delivery, surgical services, pediatric services and more.

LOCAL INFLUENCER AND NURSE

RICHARD AZUCENAS RABARA, BSN

Being the best is bittersweet for Richard Azucenas Rabara.

Honored as he is to snag top honors in the nursing and local influencer categories, Rabara wishes his parents were alive to see it.

“I said, ‘If I win, this would be an honor for my dad and mom, who recently passed away,’” Rabara said, wiping away tears. “I am just so grateful.”

Rabara’s mother died in August 2023 and his father in late 2010, but their influence remains strong. After all, much of what Rabara does is in service to them.

A nurse in the step-down neurology unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Rabara also pursued a cardiac specialty because of his father, who suffered a heart attack and stroke in the Philippines and then died of heat stroke shortly after his son arrived in the US in 2010.

“I could not save my father, so at least I could save other people’s lives,” Rabara said. “Since I moved from the Philippines all the way to the US, I always remind myself that the reason and the purpose why I’m doing it is for my dad. My mom also passed away recently, which helped me better understand that my purpose is to give back.”

And that he has done in spades.

He has sent three of his siblings to college; moved from Columbia, Mo., to Savannah to help his sister with a difficult pregnancy; and serves as a nursing preceptor for countless nursing students in Savannah and beyond.

He always dreamed of being a nurse. Becoming an influencer was a more organic effort. But Rabara has blended the two pursuits into one massive undertaking. He’s launched multiple social media accounts, from YouTube and Instagram to TikTok, but it’s his professional influence that he believes earned him the win.

“I think what set me apart for being the local influencer was cultivating nurses, because I’m also an educator and preceptor for Emory University students in Atlanta and new [registered nursing] students at Georgia Southern University,” Rabara said. “I have a lot of nursing students that are working now in different hospitals all over the US. I have become an influence to

them to be able to be that nurse, to have a real calling. It’s not just for the money. It’s not just for being famous or getting your RN degree. It’s more about living your purpose and being able to save lives.”

One life Rabara saved was his own. Growing up in the Philippines, he saw the life his parents lived: a father who only finished third grade and a mother who was an educator, both working “hard and smart” so Rabara could go to college. After earning his nursing degree from Our Lady of Fatima University in the Philippines, Rabara moved to San Jose, Calif., and then Los Angeles with his sister, passed the nursing boards and started working as a nurse. It was a dream come true.

After about four years, he left L.A, to pursue a different dream, a cardiology specialty in Columbia, Mo. Through it all, Rabara felt the calling of his family, both literally and figuratively. When his sister was struggling with a challenging pregnancy, Rabara moved to Savannah to be closer to her, clinching his role as a “great uncle” to two “miracle nieces.”

That’s the story his social accounts convey.

“With my social media, you will see the story of someone from a different country who doubts himself so much, but with perseverance, sacrifice and hard work will be able to do great things,” he said. “When I was younger, I wanted to be able to be that person or an uncle or a brother or a son who gives back. That is the reason it feels so grateful to be able to be recognized as the best nurse and best local influencer. I asked myself why me? But I know my mom and my dad would say, ‘Because you’re my son.’”

And so, so much more.

- Heidi Fedak

photo from Richard Azucenas Rabara

Riverview Health & Rehabilitation Center

provides compassionate health care and short-term rehabilitation services to support living the best quality of life. Riverview was designed with residents in mind, no matter their current functional limitations. We strive for a relaxed, positive experience for residents while they are here and elevate their con dence level when transitioning back home.

As the largest facility in Chatham County, our 190-bed facility provides 24-hour rehabilitation and skilled nursing care with quality health care services. Whether the need is for short-term skilled care, long-term care or intermediate care, we are dedicated to the comfort and well-being of each of our residents. Riverview o ers comprehensive services including physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy and more. At Riverview, we are loyal to serving our community, committed to delivering quality care to our residents and dedicated to the growth and well-being of our team members.

JORD A N RUSSELL, LNHA

HOME/LIFESTYLE SERVICES

BEST APARTMENT COMMUNITY

Olmsted Savannah

Olmsted Savannah is a sophisticated apartment community offering thoughtful floor plans including one and two-bedroom apartments, spacious studios and a variety of amenities.

BEST AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR

Auto Intensive Care

Auto Intensive Care is dedicated to providing customers with the best possible service to get their vehicles back on the road as quickly as possible.

BEST BANK

United Community

Known as The Bank That SERVICE Built®, United Community Bank is committed to improving the lives of residents in the communities they serve through the philosophy of delivering exceptional banking service.

BEST

CAR WASH

Northern

Lights Home & Auto Coatings

Whether you want to come into the shop, or have a convenient mobile detailing option come to you, Northern Lights understands how important it is for your ride to be looking its best.

BEST CARPET CLEANING SERVICE

Dust Busters Carpet

Cleaning

Whether you are a property manager needing routine services or a homeowner needing to remove an ugly stain, DustBusters has you covered!

BEST COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION

JE Dunn Construction

JE Dunn is one of the largest domestic general building contractors in the United States with a successful portfolio that spans across dozens of Industries.

BEST COMPUTER REPAIR

Computer Advantage

Computer Advantage was established by Ronald Blunden in February of 1991. Since then,

Computer Advantage has grown from one location to three, spanning two states.

BEST

CONVENIENCE

MARKET/GAS STATION Parker’s

Parker’s Gas Station is where locals and travelers gather for fuel and a quick bite, offering a range of snacks and refreshments. Its friendly service and convenient locations make it a go-to stop.

BEST

COUNTERTOPS

Granite Depot of Savannah

Discover the allure of granite countertops in Savannah. Transform your space with a premium selection and expert installation.

VyStar Credit Union

For more than 70 years, VyStar Credit Union has been dedicated to improving the financial lives of their members and supporting the communities they serve.

BEST DRY

CLEANER

Curry Dry Cleaners

Savannah’s preferred Dry Cleaners for 70 years!

BEST ELECTRICIAN

Rushing Electric Co. Inc.

Rushing Electric is your number one source for electrical contracting. They include performance guarantees into each of their contracts.

BEST FENCE COMPANY

JDH Decks and Fences, Inc.

JDH Decks and Fences is one of the oldest and most trusted fencing contractors in the Savannah, Georgia area.

BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR Vann Doubleday, Thrivent Financial

At Thrivent Financial, Doubleday helps clients navigate some of the most difficult and important financial decisions in life.

BEST FLOORING STORE Floor

Coverings International

Coastal Georgia

A retail chain offering hardwood and laminate flooring, as well as

stone, tiles and carpets.

BEST FRAME SHOP

Sandfly Custom Framing

Sandfly Custom Framing offers a variety of techniques and materials for picture, art, shadow box framing, and more!

BEST FUNERAL HOME

Adams Funeral Services, Inc.

Continues a long tradition of loving care and service to families in their time of need.

BEST FURNITURE STORE

Broad Street Interiors

Savannah’s newest coastal modern furniture and design studio. Decor for every space in (or outside) your home.

BEST HEALTH FOOD STORE

Brighter Day Natural Foods

Located in historic downtown Savannah, Brighter Day Natural Foods Market is an independently owned natural foods market offering a wide selection of organic goods, fresh produce, natural foods, vitamins and supplements.

BEST HEATING & AIR SERVICE

Bolton Air

Bolton Air is a leader in commercial heating and air conditioning installation, maintenance, and repair in Savannah, Georgia and the surrounding areas.

BEST HOME COMMUNITY

Isle of Hope

The Isle of Hope Historic District is a unique coastal-riverside community developed over the course of 100 years beginning in the early nineteenth century.

BEST FLOORING COMPANY

BEST HOME SECURITY COMPANY

Overall Vision, LLC

Overall Vision is a Veteran owned Authorized ADT Dealer in the US providing residential and commercial services.

BEST

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER

Speros

Speros is the premier business technology services provider in Savannah, GA. Whether you need a new phone system, IT services, surveillance cameras, audiovisual setup, or web design, they can help.

BEST JUNK REMOVAL SERVICE

Wingman

Junk Removal

Wingman Junk Removal is Savannah’s local veteran owned and operated full service junk removal company offering

excellent customer service.

BEST LANDSCAPING COMPANY

Barrett Landscaping

Innovation, creativity and superior service in landscape management - these are the trademarks of Barrett Landscaping.

BEST LAWN & GARDEN STORE

Herb Creek

Landscape Supply

Herb Creek Landscape Supply found its roots during 2004, when Corbin and Ami Zipperer realized that there was an opportunity to provide the Sandfly community with a better source of materials for its landscaping needs.

BEST

LIGHTING STORE

Broad Street Interiors

Savannah’s newest coastal modern furniture and design studio. Decor for every space in (or outside) your home.

BEST LOCAL GROCERY STORE

Davis Produce

Davis Produce in Savannah has been a staple in the community for fresh, local fruits, vegetables and more!

BEST LOCAL HOME REMODELERS

Coastal

Contracting LLC.

Coastal Contracting provides home improvement, remodeling, maintenance, and repair services.

BEST LOCAL HOMEBUILDER

TDC Custom Homes

TDC Custom Homes is a premier home builder in the Savannah/

Richmond Hill, GA and Bluffton, SC area.

BEST LOCAL INSURANCE AGENT

Steven TempletonMorris & Templeton

Since 1981, they have offered clients personal and business insurance. Templeton gives experienced, knowledgeable guidance to families and businesses seeking new or updated insurance services.

BEST LOCAL INTERIOR DESIGNER/ DESIGN FIRM

KC DESIGNS

Passionate about helping their clients achieve the best designed space for their home and budget. KC Designs believes a well designed space has an amazing impact on your well being.

ATLANTA COLUMBUS CUMMING LAWRENCEVILLE MARIETTA SAVANNAH

BEST LOCAL MOVING COMPANY

Mover Dan Savannah

Whether you are needing to move into your new home or needing a hand getting a heavy piece from point A to point B, Mover Dan has you covered!

BEST MAID SERVICE

VAST Cleaning Solutions

VAST Cleaning Solutions helps clients create a healthier, happier environment to live and work in.

BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY

The Denise Lott Lending Team - Summit Funding, Inc.

Summit Funding, Inc. is not just a mortgage company, they are a group of individuals with a mission to be their best.

BEST PAINTING COMPANY

Artisan Painting Inc

Artisan Painting doesn’t just paint walls, they transform them into works of art that reflect your style and personality.

BEST

PEST

CONTROL Bee Green Pest Solutions

No one wants to wait to get rid of annoying pests in their home, so choose the team that can kick them out fast!

BEST

PET DAYCARE

Club Fido & Friends

Club Fido’s kennel-free club concept provides the highest levels of fun, safety, and services to their guests, and peace of mind for their parents.

BEST PET GROOMING SHOP

The Savannah Groom Room

Where your pets get the individual attention they deserve! The Savannah Groom Room offers professional grooming by appointment.

BEST

PET SUPPLY

STORE Woof Gang Bakery

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming is the leader in professional pet grooming, and the leading specialty retailer of pet food and supplies in the country.

BEST PLACE FOR TIRES

Discount Tire

Shop new tires and wheels at the best prices with great customer service.

BEST PLACE TO BUY A NEW CAR

Savannah Toyota

Savannah Toyota is a top-rated neighborhood Toyota dealer located in the heart of Savannah, GA.

BEST PLACE TO BUY A USED CAR

CarMax

A car shopping experience with no haggling or pressure, carrying a large selection of used cars, trucks, and SUVs.

BEST PLUMBER

Henry Plumbing

A fourth generation plumbing company, offering plumbing on commercial and residential areas.

Pride Pools, Spas & Leisure

Products

A family owned and operated swimming pool contractor, offering personalized service.

BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY

Chelsea Phillips Group - Six Bricks Realty

Six Bricks Realty offers a different kind of real estate brokerage–one that is client-focused and team member-driven.

BEST REALTOR

Chelsea

Phillips

Phillips’ energy, excitement, and focus on customer service has created a loyal client base that has kept her Savannah’s Best Real

Estate Agent for over 12 years!

BEST RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Collaborative Property Management

Whether you are a property owner/investor looking for someone to care for your asset and manage your property or moving to the area and looking for a property to rent [lease], we are here to guide and assist you through the process.

BEST ROOFING COMPANY

Mike Kenny Roofing

Mike Kenny Roofing offers residential and commercial roofing, roof maintenance, gutter service, and specializes in roof leak repairs and roof replacement.

Professional Roofing Solutions

Professional Roofing Solutions is a family-owned and operated business with over 35 years of experience in the roofing industry. Their roofing specialists are certified to attend to any siding, gutter, or roofing repair you need.

BEST SELF STORAGE Life StorageSavannah

Life Storage offers secure and convenient facilities including digital surveillance and password protected gates.

Wrecker Services

Gordon’s Wrecker Service is a family owned and operated business since 1967 offering 24 hour towing services.

KIDS

BEST AMUSEMENT CENTER

Fun Zone

Family destination and party venue with mini-golf, go-karts, arcade games and a toddler playground.

BEST BABYSITTING/NANNY SERVICE

The Coastal Nanny Agency

A complete household service and staffing agency offering child care, pet care, and home care services.

BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY ENTERTAINER

Hopping with Harkleroad

Event and party entertainment, inflatable bounce houses, combo jumpers and more.

BEST CHILDREN’S CLOTHING STORE

High cotton kids

Savannah’s only family consignment store specializing in gently used boutique items.

BEST DAY CARE

Ready Set

Grow Early Learning Academy

Providing a safe, nurturing and impactful learning experience.

BEST FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

Photography

Everyone deserves photographs which capture the moments.

BEST FAMILY RESTAURANT

Roly Poly Sandwiches

Chain featuring a large selection of wraps, soups and salads!

BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY MUSEUM

Savannah Children’s Museum

Offers outdoor activities such as arts and crafts, story time and water play offered for children of all ages.

BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL

St. Andrew’s School

Independent college preparatory school dedicated to personalized student development.

BEST PUBLIC SCHOOL Savannah Classical Academy

Tuition-free, public charter school serving Chatham County residents.

BEST TOY STORE

Magical World of Toys

Promoting play by providing wide selections of toys that stimulate imaginations and sponsor learning.

BEST TUTORING COMPANY

Ready Set

Grow Early Learning Academy

Providing a safe, nurturing and impactful learning experience.

ATLANTA COLUMBUS CUMMING

LAWRENCEVILLE

MARIETTA SAVANNAH

MEDIA

BEST LOCAL FACEBOOK PAGE

A Stone Cold

Look Salon

Professional board-certified natural hair stylist, that specializes in natural hair care.

BEST LOCAL INFLUENCER

Richard A. Rabara

@richard_azucenasrabara is the first person to win BOTH best influencer and nurse. He is an advocate for equality and would like to thank his supporters and family.

BEST LOCAL INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT

@adayinthe-

lifeofkorri

Follow her daily adventures around Savannah, GA and other

places! Korri talks about history, sights, sounds, and everything in between!

BEST LOCAL NEWS BROADCAST

WJCL

WJCL gives you online, anytime access to the biggest Georgia news and Lowcountry weather of the day.

BEST LOCAL PODCAST Nothin’ Finer

Podcast

A couple of Georgia fans, providing a look at the college sports landscape through Red and Black tinted lenses. The discuss on the field X’s and O’s, off the field drama, tailgating, drinking, gambling, college towns and more.

BEST LOCAL RADIO STATION

Q105.3

Savannah’s ONLY locally owned radio station! Q105.3 - Quality Rock Savannah The “Q”!

BEST LOCAL TIKTOK

@adayinthelifeofkorri

Follow her daily adventures around Savannah, GA and other places! Korri talks about history, sights, sounds, and everything in between!

BEST LOCAL TV COMMERCIAL

64 Insurance Group of Savannah is an independent insurance agency specializing in the Medicare market.

BEST LOCAL TV METEOROLOGIST

Jeremy Nelson WJCL

Jeremy Nelson is the Chief Meteorologist for the StormTracker 22 Weather Team. Nelson has over two decades of experience forecasting and covering severe weather.

BEST LOCAL TV NEWS ANCHOR

Riley Miller

WJCL

Riley Miller joined the WJCL news team in February 2018. Riley began as a reporter there, then transitioned to the role of morning anchor for First News.

Preston Harvey WJCL

Preston Harvey joined WJCL in May 2022 as the Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter from Jacksonville, where he was a producer. Harvey was born in Toronto to Jamaican parents and moved to Florida where he grew up in Palm Coast.

BEST LOCAL TV STATION

WJCL

WJCL gives you online, anytime access to the biggest Georgia news and Lowcountry weather of the day.

BEST LOCAL TWITTER ACCOUNT

@adayinthe-

lifeofkorri

Follow her daily adventures around Savannah, GA and other places! Korri talks about history,

sights, sounds, and everything in between!

BEST

LOCAL WEBSITE

Mike Hostilo Law Firm

The Mike Hostilo Law Firm is your ally in personal injury, auto, motorcycle, and truck accident cases in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina.

BEST RADIO PERSONALITY

Larry DaneKellogg

Listen to what is new in Jazz with Larry Dane Kellogg! Thursdays from 2pm to 5pm ET - 107.5 FM in Savannah and globally at wruu.org

BEST LOCAL ACTOR

JORDAN J. JONES

Considering Jordan J. Jones grew up in the world of theater, his journey to securing the title Best Local Actor has been one in the making.

“My interest in theater came along because of my mom,” said the New York native. “She ran a children’s theater as I was growing up. Surprisingly, there wasn’t a whole lot of theater in central New York. It’s four hours to New York City, and there is theater opportunity, but not a ton, especially for youth,” said Jones.

His mom, Jackie Osteerman, created a youth theater company, Hartford Players Youth Theater, to help fill the void and create opportunities for youth in their area who were interested in theater. It was there he developed a love for performing, especially musicals.

“I just grew up in her company. We would do musicals every summer, cabarets in the spring and winter. That’s how I developed a lot of my friends. Because she (his mom) was an actress and still is, and my stepfather was a musician, I just grew up in the art,” said Jones.

Though Jones enjoyed music and theater, it was not something he took very seriously at first.

“I wasn’t taking it very seriously. There was a turning point around high school, where I feel I had a period of time where I felt a little aimless. I feel like I wasn’t making the best decisions or hanging out with the best influences,” said Jones.

It was during this time he decided to do summer shows with his mom and his take on the craft started to transform.

“I felt the sense of community again. I finally felt this very communal feeling with theater. I felt invested in it and involved in it and not just floating on the outside of it. I felt like I was in it for deeper reasons,” said Jones.

Jones is now making impactful bonds with likeminded people, some of whom became meaningful friends.

He earned his BFA in Acting from the University of Connecticut. In college he did mostly plays, and prioritized learning how to “act” over song and dance.

“When it came time to study it in school, I didn’t really have that classic parental block. They just assumed I was going to go for the arts. I just never considered doing

anything else,” said Jones.

Post graduating he trained in Shakespeare at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA. Jones moved to Savannah in 2014 and later found himself overseas in Beijing, China where he ultimately taught drama for several years.

After time spent traveling, he landed back on a stage in 2018.

“I saw an audition for a show at Savannah Repertory Theater, and it was a new theater. I thought it was interesting because they were associated with Actors’ Equity. One of my biggest gripes post-college was that I didn’t have my equity card. But to get an equity show, you need to be an equity actor,” said Jones.

Founded in 2016, Savannah Repertory Theatre has become part of the cultural fabric of Savannah as the city’s flagship regional theater.

Savannah Rep is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization operating under an agreement with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

“It’s local theater, and this is the one I can get involved with–at least spurred me on to want to get involved with it. I didn’t get in that show, but I did get in a show not long after the musical “Little Women,” which was in 2018, and that started my relationship with that theater,” said Jones.

Jones played Richard Hannay in “The 39 Steps” at Savannah Rep and he played Fred Graham/ Petruchio in “Kiss Me Kate” at North Street Playhouse. Jordan has a deep love for classic rock, coffee, reading, travel, and his three dogs: Ellie, Summer, and Alfred. He hopes to continue traveling and move to Japan one day.

- Kareem Weaver

photo from Jordan J. Jones

MUSIC

BEST ALL-AROUND MUSICIAN

Cole Goodwin

Cole Goodwin, a self-taught musician from Pooler, Georgia, has captivated audiences across festivals and venues in Georgia and Nashville, TN, showcasing his talent.

BEST BLUES BAND

Ben Keiser Band

Whether he’s strumming chords or crafting solos, Ben Keiser’s passion for live music shines through, creating unforgettable moments in every performance.

BEST BLUES GROUP/ ARTIST

Ben Keiser

Whether he’s strumming chords or crafting solos, Ben Keiser’s passion for live music shines through, creating unforgettable

moments in every performance.

BEST LOCAL ALBUM OF 2023

Yung Damon! - Vintage

Georgia artist Yung Damon! aka Da Lil Homie

BEST LOCAL AMERICANA/ FOLK/ROOTS BAND/ ARTIST

Little Gracie

Little Gracie is a local Savannah Georgia southern rock, blues, country band.

BEST LOCAL CLUB DJ

DJ Andy Rojas

His career as a DJ began while he was attending Georgia Southern. Since then, he has worked a wide variety of events including bars, clubs, weddings, school dances, private parties, and quinceañeras.

BEST LOCAL CONCERT

Cole Goodwin

Cole Goodwin, a self-taught musician from Pooler, Georgia, has captivated audiences across festivals and venues in Georgia and Nashville, TN, showcasing his talent.

BEST LOCAL COUNTRY BAND/ ARTIST

Cole Goodwin

Cole Goodwin, a self-taught musician from Pooler, Georgia, has captivated audiences across festivals and venues in Georgia and Nashville, TN, showcasing his talent.

BEST LOCAL ELECTRONIC/EDM ARTIST/ BAND Bero Bero

Retro, percussive synthpop.

BEST LOCAL FUNK/ R&B/ SOUL GROUP/ ARTIST

Greg G

DaDeadlycharm

Greg G DaDeadlycharm born in Savannah, GA is a singer/ songwriter with a blend of contemporary R&B vocals blended with hip hop flows. He debuted on the music scene in Savannah with his first single “I Got a Thing For Your” in 2003.

BEST LOCAL HIP-HOP/ RAP ARTIST

Yung Damon

Georgia artist Yung Damon! aka Da Lil Homie

BEST LOCAL JAZZ BAND/ ARTIST

Featuring Clay Johnson on vocals, the Equinox Orchestra performs all across the country for wedding, social and corporate events, and much more!

BEST LOCAL METAL BAND

The Maxines

Combining an inimitable sound with feminine rage, The Maxines write music that they describe as “grunge with a kiss of metal.”

BEST LOCAL PUNK BAND

The Maxines

Combining an inimitable sound with feminine rage, The Maxines write music that they describe as “grunge with a kiss of metal.”

BEST LOCAL ROCK BAND/ ARTIST

Outlaw Gypsy

A group of free-spirited musicians that love the live vibe, Outlaw Gypsy covers Led Zeppelin, Madonna and everything inbetween.

BEST LOCAL VOCALIST

Cole Goodwin

Cole Goodwin, a self-taught musician from Pooler, Georgia, has captivated audiences across festivals and venues in Georgia and Nashville, TN, showcasing his talent.

BEST SINGER/ SONG WRITER

Silas Johnson

Alternative rocker Silas Johnson is striving to bring back an older sound to the new generation, drawing inspiration from many artists before his time.

cheers to 25 years! cheers to 25 years!

happy hour daily from 4pm - 7pm! live music wednesday through saturday! 6pm - 9pm follow us on social media! @moonriverbrewing

NIGHTLIFE & DRINK

BEST ADULT ENTERTAINMENT

The Downtown Delilahs

Performance that takes a modern twist on the tantalizing nature of burlesque and the quirkiness of Vaudeville. The show includes dancing, strip tease, lip syncing, and comedic entertainment!

BEST AXE THROWING

Blade & Bull

The ultimate destination for an adrenaline-pumping axe throwing experience.Great for team building parties, birthday celebrations, date nights, and family-friendly competitions.

BEST BAR FOR LIVE MUSIC Barrelhouse

South

Hanging Edison bulbs set a cool vibe at Barrelhouse South with regular live music and many screens for sports.

BEST BARTENDER

Jessica Myers

Jessica Myers has been tending to The Ordinary Pub’s cocktail program since 2016. Her hand crafted and artfully curated drinks take center stage for any occasion.

BEST BLOODY MARY

The Ordinary Pub

A relaxed haunt serving choice bar food and weekend brunch in a comfy interior with exposedbrick walls.

BEST BRITISH PUB

Six Pence

A British-style ale house with

sidewalk seats delivering English-accented pub grub and a big beer list.

BEST BURLESQUE PERFORMER

Dulcy

Delicious

Always aiming to make their sets smart, a little funny and a lot sexy, performs to a wide range of genres, all influenced by her life, interests and cultural identity.

BEST CITY MARKET BAR

Pour Larry’s

Longtime (rumored to be haunted) hangout in a restored district for drinks, TV sports and live bands.

BEST COLLEGE BAR

Pour Larry’s

A relaxing and entertaining atmosphere to all wanting to sit back and have a cold beer.

BEST DANCE CLUB Barrelhouse

South

The hottest live music acts with regional and touring bands every Tuesday through Saturday night.

BEST DIVE BAR

Cheers To You

Offers good vibes, great drinks and cool people.

BEST DOWNTOWN BAR

Pour Larry’s

Longtime (rumored to be haunted) hangout in a restored district for drinks, TV sports and live bands.

BEST ESCAPE ROOM

The Escape Company

Unleash your inner detective in

Photo

uniquely designed escape rooms for all ages.

BEST HAPPY HOUR Common Restaurant

Industrial-chic venue popular for its brunch, oyster bar, and cocktails, plus happy-hour specials.

BEST HOTEL The Alida

An upscale hotel set along the Savannah River featuring sophisticated, airy rooms that are walking distance from Savannah’s historic district.

BEST HOTEL BAR

Bar Julian

Serving up panoramic views with a mediterranean menu featuring locally-inspired pizzas and handcrafted cocktails.

BEST IRISH PUB O’Connell’s

Irish Pub

Warm local pub hosting regular events and pouring a selection of Irish beers and spirits.

BEST KARAOKE Mcdonough’s Restaurant & Lounge

Enjoy food and drinks at the place that’s been voted “Best Karaoke in Savannah” for the past 15 years.

BEST LOCAL BEER ON-TAP SELECTION

Crystal Beer

Parlor

Cozy American bistro and bar with extensive food and beer menus in a century-old former grocery store.

BEST LOCAL BREWERY Service Brewing Co.

A veteran owned craft brewery in historic downtown Savannah offering a selection of year rounds, seasonals and small batch beers.

BEST LOCAL DRAG QUEEN

Jay Deveraux

Performer on Yes Queen! Pub Crawl and Dirty, Nasty, Drag Bingo!

BEST LOCAL WINE SHOP

Johnnie Ganem’s Wine & Package Shop

Traditional, family-run liquor store since 1942 with spirits and temperature-controlled wine storage.

BEST MARGARITA

Bull Street Taco

Laid-back taqueria for scratchmade Mexican eats, beer and spirits in a sunlit space with a patio.

BEST MARTINI Common Restaurant

Industrial-chic venue popular for its brunch, oyster bar, and cocktails, plus happy-hour specials.

BEST

NEW BAR

the Bar Bar on Wilmington

With incredible marsh views and stunning sunsets, the Bar Bar on Wilmington continues their tradition of delivering great service and delicious spirits in a fun and casual atmosphere.

BEST OUTDOOR BAR Starland Yard

Outdoor food court with a bar and a pizzeria, plus a changing selection of international food trucks.

BEST OVERALL BAR

Totally Awesome Bar

Playful pub with 80’s & 90’s decor, offering beer, cocktails and oldschool video games and pool

BEST LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

SHOT BY SOMI STUDIOS

Sometimes, the stories that define us take time to unfold.

Someari Benson-Jaja knows that all too well.

Benson-Jaja grew up with a camera in his hand, yet never thought he’d become a professional photographer.

Even with a nickname like Kodak. Even with his portfolio of family photos. Even with multiyear stints taking pictures, shooting videos and producing media shows while a student at then-Armstrong Atlantic State University (now Georgia Southern University).

Instead, Benson-Jaja, better known as Somi, majored in music education, became an elementary-school music teacher and kept photography as a hobby.

“I always had a camera in my hand and was always playing with a camera, but it was never with the intention of becoming a photographer,” Somi said.

All that changed at the urging of his former Armstrong classmates, who pushed Somi to make his childhood passion his adult profession.

“They would call and say, ‘Do you still have a camera, because I need some photos of this or that,’” Somi recounted. “So they were the ones that actually kind of pushed me into photography more than myself making a calculated movement into the area. Those people saw that talent in me before I saw it in myself.”

Now, everyone’s seeing it, including Somi. Not for the first time, he has been recognized for his artistic eye and the quality of the images he creates.

“Photography was my hobby then my side hustle,” he said. “And then it slowly became the main hustle.”

Today, Somi is the president and founder of Shot by Somi, which started life as a hashtag, blossomed into a brand and later became a business.

Ask Somi about his passion for pictures and he gets a far-away look. For him, photography makes the impermanent permanent, freezes not just the moment but the feelings that surrounded it. Eliminates barriers and builds bridges. Ultimately, a picture is never just a captured image. It’s so much more.

“I think sometimes images, without us knowing, strengthen us or strengthen our awareness in who we are and our self-worth,” he said. “You look back on

those pictures of when you were a child and with your family, and they remind you of nostalgic good times. Or you might look back on your senior yearbook and the pictures with your friends, and it reminds you of the experiences that got you to where you are, and they become an imprint. I think that’s one of the most amazing things about photography.”

Somi’s own childhood started in Kentucky, where he lived until the third grade when he moved to Savannah at the behest of his minister father. He was reluctant to move, he said, because he’d heard about the hurricanes that sometimes struck the coastal city. He wanted no part of that.

Now, he’s embraced Savannah and everything that comes with it. Working hard to give back to a community that has given him so much, Somi serves as the president of Buy Local Savannah and is on the board of the United Way of the Coastal Empire and the Emmaus House. After making the difficult decision to leave teaching, he knew he’d pursue a life of public service to balance his entrepreneurial interests.

From his studio off Chatham Parkway, Somi shoots a broad range of subjects from people to products. Ultimately, though, it’s people — and the happiness they hold — that he enjoys capturing the most.

“A lot of times when you’re taking portraits or shooting an event, people are happy and, for the most part, they’re smiling,” Somi said. “There’s something appealing about seeing adults smile. We don’t see adults smile all the time. I think that happiness that comes from being able to take people at their best moments and capture them to where they can hold onto this one image that lasts a lot longer than the time it was taken is one of the most appealing things about photography.”

- Heidi Fedak

BEST PERFORMANCE TROUPE

The Downtown Delilahs

Performance that takes a modern twist on the tantalizing nature of burlesque and the quirkiness of Vaudeville. The show includes dancing, strip tease, lip syncing, and comedic entertainment!

BEST PUB CRAWL

Spooky Steve

It’s not just a tour, it’s an experience. It’s all about having fun with tours that are informative, theatrical, historical, sometimes scary.

BEST RIVER STREET BAR

Rhett

Hip eatery fixing up brunch bites & classic Southern comfort food, plus coffee & creative cocktails.

BEST ROOFTOP BAR

The Lost Square

The Alida’s casual, yet refined rooftop bar on the city’s famed Riverfront offering inventive cocktails, small bites, and panoramic river views.

BEST SAVANNAH COCKTAIL

Bacon Old

Fashion -

Ordinary Pub

A bold cocktail with Bacon fat washed bourbon, demerara, bitters, and candied bacon.

BEST SCOTTISH PUB

Molly Mcquires

Fresh local fare, a relaxed atmosphere and a cedar gazebo for locals and visitors looking to ‘unwind on island time’.

BEST SOMMELIER

Chelsea Bassett

Wine Director at Common Restaurant that offers over 30 wines by the glass.

BEST SOUTHSIDE BAR

Tailgate Sports Bar & Grill

Sports-centric neighborhood hub with bar food and ample beer choices, plus pool, darts and theme nights.

BEST SPECIALS BEER SHOP

Two Tides Brewing Co.

A taproom specializing in sour, haze, and funk with crispi™ lagers and other classics on the menu.

BEST SPORTS BAR

Pour Larry’s Bar

Longtime hangout in a restored district for drinks, TV sports and live bands.

BEST STARLAND DISTRICT BAR

Lone Wolf Lounge

Neighborhood watering hole

serving the Starland and Thomas Square community.

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT

Service Brewing Co.

A veteran owned craft brewery in historic downtown Savannah offering a selection of year rounds, seasonals and small batch beers.

BEST UPSCALE BAR

Artillery

Sophisticated speakeasy in a restored armory with imaginative cocktails and an extensive bourbon list.

BEST WINE BAR

208 Wine Bar

A place for people who love good wine, to gather, and practice ‘Joie de Vivre’ - the Joy of Living.

RECREATION & BEAUTY

BEST BARBER

Chelsea Haggerty

Chelsea owns and operates

Death by Hair, an independent salon specializing in all varieties of men’s cuts, fashion colors, women’s hair (both short and long), and kids of all ages.

BEST BARBER SHOP

Savannah’s

Traditional

Barbershop

A traditional barbershop focused on keeping the trade alive by giving exceptional haircuts with a clean environment and great atmosphere.

BEST BARRE STUDIO

The Collective

Savannah

A yoga studio that offers a

variety of classes designed to push you to your edge while also allowing for all levels and inclusivity.

BEST COSMETIC SURGERY CENTER

Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery

A practice dedicated to providing facial plastic care for patients, with pleasant surroundings in a personalized environment and state-of-theart facility.

BEST CROSSFIT TRAINER

Aaron Hoffer

The former baseball star at Liberty County High School and Savannah State University, Hoffer is the Best of Savannah Crossfit Trainer for 2024. He is the co-owner of CrossFit Reborn, where he and staff

offer an unpretentious and results-oriented community environment that is invested in your personal goals and success.

BEST DANCE FITNESS

INSTRUCTOR

Rafvette Vega Colon

Rafvette is a Zumba instructor at Crunch Fitness, teaching high energy, calorie blasting, total body dance based workouts designed to tone from head to toe.

BEST DANCE STUDIO

The Studio

Savannah

Offers professional and innovative, classical and versatile dance training with individual attention, intricate choreography and unique performance experiences.

BEST DAY SPA

Spa Bleu

Provides massages, facials, chemical peels, microneedling, body wraps, infrared saunas, waxing, and more in an inclusive and relaxed environment.

BEST ESTHETICIAN

Jordan Walker

Jordan Walker is a medical aesthetician who offers facials, chemical peels, microneedling, lash lifts and tints, dermaplaning, laser hair removal and more.

BEST FITNESS CLUB

Burn Boot

Camp

Features a constantly-changing mix of cardio, HIIT, and strength training so you never get the same workout twice.

Photo

The Club at Savannah Harbor

Playing 18 at “The Harbor” is a treat for any golfer. The resort course just across the bridge from downtown Savannah offers topclass facilities for golfers before and after rounds. During rounds, players contend with holes called “Big Duke” and “Alligator Alley” while being treated to breathtaking views from almost any spot on the course.

BEST

HAIR COLORIST

Chelsea Nasso

Chelsea Nasso is a hair stylist and owner of Mane Focus Hair Salon specializing in blonding, pixie cuts, tape in extensions, and fusion bonded extensions.

BEST HAIR SALON

Dolled Up - Caroline Crosby

Caroline Crosby specializes in event hair and makeup and owns Dolled Up–an award-winning hair, makeup, and lash studio.

BEST

HAIRSTYLIST

Chelsea Nasso

Chelsea Nasso is a hair stylist and owner of Mane Focus Hair Salon specializing in blonding, pixie cuts, tape in extensions, and fusion bonded extensions.

BEST INDOOR CYCLING INSTRUCTOR

Alexis Jacqmain

Alexis Jacqmain is an indoor cycling instructor at CYCLEBAR Savannah.

BEST LASH BAR

Yellow Lotus

Beauty Bar

Beauty professionals, providing quality customer service in order to uplift and bring confidence to clients by offering knowledge,

teaching them, and using skills to enhance and magnify the beauty that already exists within them.

BEST LOCAL ATHLETE

Jadyn Singleton

The Savannah Christian senior is a star on the track team as well as being a standout in competitive cheerleading. Singleton’s consistency and excellence in both arenas makes her a worthy choice for Savannah’s Best Local Athlete this year.

BEST LOCAL CLUB SPORTS TEAM

Savannah

Gaelic Athletic Association

The Savannah GAA is the area’s go-to club when it comes to blending sports competition and social camaraderie. For four years now, the GAA has welcomed members and the annual highlight is the GAA’s Hostess City Hooley each spring. Visit SavannahGAA.com for all the info you need to know!

BEST LOCAL COLLEGE SPORTS TEAM

Georgia

Southern University

Baseball

While changes in Statesboro have been frequent among Georgia Southern athletic teams of late, GS head baseball coach Rodney Hennon has been one of the lone mainstays through multiple administration shake-ups. With Hennon in the dugout, Georgia Southern baseball is always a good pick for Best Local College Sports Team.

BEST LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TEAM

Savannah Christian Raiders

The athletics program at Savannah Christian Preparatory School has a history of success

BEST LOCAL ATHLETE

JADYN SINGLETON

Jadyn Singleton can usually be seen running, jumping, or tumbling. Rarely is the Savannah Christian Prep star athlete sitting still. She’s a state champion long-jumper and a champion sprinter for the SCPS track and field team. The senior is also a standout in cheerleading, both on the sideline and in competitive cheer.

Singleton was named the 2023 Georgia Cheerleading Coaches Association (GCCA) Cheerleader of the Year for Classes 1A-4A. She guided her SCPS competitive cheerleading squad to a runner-up finish at the 2023 GHSA Class 3A State Championships.

Now, she has been named the 2024 Best Local Athlete.

Singleton sat down with Connect Savannah to talk about her achievements, including winning Best of Savannah.

“It means a lot to me. The athletes in Savannah are so good, and from all these different sports, all of them are just so good,” she said. “I’m excited to be the one people picked. It means a lot and I have a lot of people to thank for all of the success we’ve had (at SCPS).”

Singleton has come to know the feeling of success pretty well over the years. Besides being an honors student at SCPS, she has excelled in cheer and track. Which is her favorite? Good luck getting her to pick just one.

“I don’t know. I don’t have a favorite,” she said. “ I think it depends on the day. I definitely think the nerves are the same on game days. I do two different sports, and they are different but I really love them both. I do cheerleading, which involves all-star cheerleading, gameday cheerleading, competitions and sidelines (during football games). And then I also do track and field. I started, and my first (sport) was all-star cheerleading when I was six-years-old, so that’s my first love.”

She began competitive cheerleading with the Savannah Sharks organization and hasn’t stopped since.

“I’ve been there since I was six until now,” Singleton says. “So, obviously, that’s a long time. I’ve had the same coaches mostly since I started there too: Megan Yarbrough and Timothy Bryant. They’ve been

amazing role models in my life, not only teaching me cheerleading, but also life lessons that I will take with me as I go on into life. I can’t thank them enough really.”

As a junior in 2023, she won a Class 3A state title in the long jump with a leap of 18-6.5. In April, Singleton shined at the South Effingham Invitational with her SCPS track and field team. She took first place in the 100 meter dash (12.31 seconds) finishing atop 30 other runners. She also won first place in long jump (17-8.5) and second place in the triple jump (34-9.5).

People don’t need to be taught about the difficulties of track and field events. Those are more accepted, in some circles, than events in competitive cheerleading.

But Singleton says it’s much more than what the public usually thinks. Cheerleading is as difficult as any sport, she says.

“It’s crazy. People think cheerleading is just the actual sideline cheerleading for (football or basketball) games,” said Singleton. “But there’s so much more to it than that. Just the life lessons I’ve learned, and the friendships that are never going to go away. And the coaches, any of my coaches from Savannah Christian and Tim and Megan, I can see myself calling them in 20 years and we can pick right back up where we left off.”

Of course, Jadyn’s parents have played a big role in her success story, too. She doesn’t forget them when listing her influences.

“They are extremely supportive,” she says of her parents, Margie and Jason. “They support anything that I want to do and everything I want to do. They both work jobs, but they still go above and beyond to make sure that I have everything that I need. Between training, uniforms, getting there on time, just anything. I’m really grateful for my parents, and just the way that they’ve supported me and the way they will also push me.”

- Travis Jaudon

on the court, on the field, on the course, and in the gym. SCPS football made it to the GHSA 3A state title game last season, while the baseball team reached the 3A Final Four. The Raiders are the Best of Savannah this year!

BEST LOCAL SPORTS COACH

Maddie Fisher - Rise gymnastics

in Savannah at the Hostess City Hooley. In March, the GAA held its fourth successful Hooley with Gaelic athletic competitions from sunrise to sundown.

BEST MAKEUP ARTIST

Dolled Up - Caroline Crosby

Caroline Crosby specializes in event hair and makeup and owns

BEST MEDICAL SPA

Modern Muse

A medical spa offering permanent makeup, facials, skincare, body waxing, laser hair removal, hydrafacials, chemical peels, and more.

BEST

MICROBLADING

PMU by Peyton

Peyton Vaughn started PMU by Peton in 2016 and provides permanent makeup and other cosmetic procedures including nano-brows, microblading, microshading, eyeliner, lip blushing and more.

BEST NAIL SALON

eMarie -

Boutique Nail

A boutique nail salon in the Victorian District pampering guests with every visit.

BEST NAIL SALON Image is Everything

A full service nail bar offering nail care and spa pedicures in an upscale, relaxing environment.

BEST OUTDOOR FITNESS AREA Forsyth Park

A large city park that occupies 30 acres in the historic district of Savannah.

BEST PERSONAL TRAINER/ FITNESS INSTRUCTOR

Brenna Jensen Burn Boot camp

More than a Gym — Whether it’s nutrition, strength, mindset, or fat loss, they’ll help you crush your goals.

E f f i n ’ Y o g a E f f i n ’ Y o g a

best yoga studio best yoga studio

Effin’ Yoga aims to bring movement and wellness to people

Effin’ Yoga aims to bring movement and wellness to people that have maybe felt scared to try yoga for physical and even that have maybe felt scared to try yoga for physical and even spiritual reasons before, while challenging the seasoned spiritual reasons before, while challenging the seasoned athlete, too. We’ve been blessed to have created a team of athlete, too We’ve been blessed to have created a team of instructors that truly care about our students. We help them instructors that truly care about our students We help them feel connected to, and understand their bodies more with each feel connected to, and understand their bodies more with each class, and the studio space feels more like ‘home’, rather than class, and the studio space feels more like ‘home’, rather than an intimidating yoga studio. We feel that is why our students an intimidating yoga studio. We feel that is why our students love to come practice every day with us. love to come practice every day with us.

We are here as a landing place for everyone in our community-

We are here as a landing place for everyone in our community-teachers, mothers, Gulfstream employees, military and -teachers, mothers, Gulfstream employees, military and Veterans, caregivers, and so many more walks of life Our Veterans, caregivers, and so many more walks of life Our students range from 7 to 74, have injuries, impeccable health, students range from 7 to 74, have injuries, impeccable health, life altering diseases, and are cancer survivors. We’ve become a life altering diseases, and are cancer survivors We’ve become a place for new people in the growing area to meet locals, and place for new people in the growing area to meet locals, and find a common space. Yoga means ‘union’, and there is a place find a common space. Yoga means ‘union’, and there is a place for everyone on a mat in Effin’ Yoga. for everyone on a mat in Effin’ Yoga.

THANK YOU for voting us Savannah’s best!”

THANK YOU for voting us Savannah’s best!”

What yogis say What yogis say

“I love this studio. I have worked out in other studios in Savannah and this is by far the best. Mary and her team of teachers are all so wonderful. They all challenge you in different ways. It s not just a place to workout, it’s a community I enjoy coming back to every day I need my Effin’ Yoga!”

Mary Crouse | Owner

BEST PIERCING ARTIST

Ashton Thompson at Resurrection Ink

Ashton Thompson is an experienced piercer at Resurrection Ink, a tattoo and piercing studio in Savannah.

BEST PIERCING STUDIO

Resurrection Ink Tattoos and Body

Piercing

A tattoo and piercing studio accepting both walk-ins and appointments for those looking for metal or ink.

BEST PILATES STUDIO

The Collective

Savannah

A yoga studio that offers a variety of classes designed to push you to your edge while also allowing for all levels and inclusivity.

BEST RUNNING/ WALKING EVENT

Howe 2 Run

Every Wednesday night, Howe 2 Run hosts FREE run groups for the community starting at 6PM. Participants run on a paved, stroller friendly route for three to seven miles. Like their Facebook page for more information.

BEST SKINCARE PRODUCTS / TREATMENTS

Jordan Walker - Walker

Aesthetics

At Walker Aesthetics, Jordan Walker offers facials, chemical peels, microneedling, lash lifts and tints, dermaplaning, laser hair removal and more.

BEST TANNING SALON

LUX Tanning

A fully mobile spray tanning service catered to every client’s

unique skin type, tone, conditions, and color goals.

BEST TATTOO ARTIST

Lauren Damon

Owner of Riverside Tattoo Parlor and Nomad Society in Savannah’s Starland district.

BEST TATTOO SHOP

Rose Tattoo Club

A local tattoo shop featuring six artists, accepting walk-ins or appointments seven days a week.

BEST WAXING SALON

SugarBare

Sugaring and Wax Studio

A sugar waxing studio with two locations in the Savannah area focused on providing sugaring, facial, and body treatments with the highest level of customer satisfaction.

BEST WAXING TECHNICIAN/ SALON

Nadia Greer

- Sugar Pot Aesthetics

Waxing technician specializing in sugaring and educating clients on the benefits of sugaring.

BEST WEIGHT LOSS CENTER

Crossfit

Reborn

A fun place to train offering an unpretentious and resultsoriented community that’s invested in client goals and success.

BEST YOGA INSTRUCTOR

Emily Bowser

Emily Bowser teaches yoga at New Yoga Now and loves the practice today as much as she did when she first started years ago.

BEST YOGA STUDIO

Effin’ Yoga yoga studio offering hot yoga, fitness classes, YIN and more.

Piercing Studio

BEST

Best Piercing Artist, Ashton Thompson

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US SAVANNAH’S BEST DAY SPA 14 YEARS IN A ROW!

Thank you to the readers of Connect Savannah and the Community of the Lowcountry for voting us the Best Day Spa for the past 14 years! We are continually humbled and honored to receive this award and would like to congratulate all of the nominees in our category as well!

When Spa Bleu was born, our goal was to create a space that offered a unique experience in Savannah. Supporting local businesses, integrating ourselves in the community, featuring local artists on our walls, and utilizing responsible and thoughtful ingredients remain our ongoing pledges to Savannah. We have expanded to offer a wide range of cosmetic and medical-based spa services that cater to the individual needs of our clients. From massage therapy to laser hair removal, infrared saunas, and so much more, our offerings are seemingly endless. We are also blessed to have, what we believe to be, many of the most talented therapists in Savannah. They strive to provide the best service possible every day and allow us to foster a safe and mutually respectful work environment.

As we grow each year, we have exciting new opportunities as a business. Partnering with Haven Salon of Savannah to bring Spa Bleu wellness services to Midtown is so exciting and we are grateful for their friendship and aligned vision of thoughtful and thorough service. Spa Bleu has also partnered with Bellwether House, Perry Lane Hotel, and Alida Hotel to offer their guests Massage and Facial services on property, enhancing their stays at these luxury properties. We are proud and thankful to be a part of each of these luxury brands.

As we strive to be the BEST we promise to do everything we can to earn that title every day. Our clients are the most special people you could ask for, always supporting and uplifting our endeavors. We are excited to be a part of Savannah’s wellness offerings and we ask that you help hold us accountable by offering us suggestions, feedback, and criticism. We promise to always be open to conversations on how to be better each and every year! Thank you again, Savannah for voting us Best Day Spa and we hope to see you at one of our locations soon!

SHOPPING

BEST ANTIQUE SHOP

Picker Joe’s

A sprawling warehouse with multiple antiques, art, midcentury and vintage furniture vendors, plus a house brand of coffee. Sift through architectural salvage, hardware, books, lighting, artwork, collectibles and more.

BEST ART / DIY / CRAFT STUDIO SPACE

Tipsy Hues

Paint & Sip

Social painting that lets guests enjoy vibin’ music, delicious drinks, step-by-step painting, and nothing but a good time.

BEST ART SUPPLY STORE

Starlandia

Art Supply

A smart and quirky art supply store featuring new and

reclaimed art supplies and creative materials.

BEST BALLOON STYLING

Peck’s Party Emporium

Port Wentworth’s party headquarters for celebrating birthdays, holidays, promotions, bachelorette parties and more. Custom balloons and decorations will get your party started!

BEST BICYCLE SHOP

Savannah On Wheels

A one-stop-bicycle-shop for service, sales, and accessories in Savannah offering bicycle rentals and bike tours, available daily.

BEST BOUTIQUE

Delaney Rose Boutique

Women’s clothing store offering inclusive sizing that features sizes XS-3XL both online and in-store.

BEST CBD STORE

Carolina

Hemp Company

An education-focused hemp general store offering a variety of products that are free from artificial colors, flavors & preservatives.

BEST CIGAR/ TOBACCO SHOP

Tobacco Hub

Savannah’s premier shop for Hookah, vape, CBD, kratom and cigars.

BEST COMIC BOOK STORE

Neighborhood Comics

A comic book specialty store offering new comic subscriptions, back issues, key books and comic-related toys and games.

BEST CONSIGNMENT STORE

High cotton kids

A women’s and children’s consignment boutique specializing in upscale boutique and name brand clothing, accessories, books, toys, baby equipment and more.

BEST GIFT STORE

Fancy Pheasant

A one-stop shopping experience

Photo

offering a variety of products including home decor, gourmet foods, body care, candles, local Savannah products, art and more.

BEST JEWELRY STORE

Harkleroad

Diamonds & Fine Jewelry

A family-owned and operated business providing a personalized shopping experience, exquisite jewelry and exceptional customer service with an extensive inventory of loose diamonds, engagement rings, wedding bands, and diamond jewelry.

BEST LIMO SERVICE

Above and

Beyond

Limousine Service Inc.

A limousine service specializing in small-group airport transportation needs, client pickups and drop-offs, shuttle services for large groups, and more.

BEST LINGERIE STORE

Kathi Rich Clothing

A high end clothing, accessory and jewelry store selling evening gowns, swim, sportswear, lingerie and everything in-between.

BEST LOCAL BATH PRODUCTS STORE Element Tree

Essentials

A native Western North Carolina company that specializes in the creation and production of unique skin care products that includes soaking salts, body oils, essential oils, and salves.

BEST LOCAL CLOTHING DESIGNER

Emily McCarthy

A premier lifestyle brand specializing in luxury women’s apparel inspired by coastal elegance and Southern charm for every occasion.

BEST LOCAL JEWELRY DESIGNER

Harkleroad Diamonds & Fine Jewelry

A family-owned and operated business providing a personalized shopping experience, exquisite jewelry and exceptional customer service with an extensive inventory of loose diamonds, engagement rings, wedding bands, and diamond jewelry.

BEST MARQUEE

Lucas Theatre For the Arts

A revived 1920s theater hosting national and local stage productions, musical acts and film screenings.

BEST MATCHMAKER

Savannah Psychics

A husband and wife psychic team offering tarot readings, palm readings and evidential mediumship.

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING STORE

J. Parker Ltd

An apparel and fashion company selling quality menswear.

BEST MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STORE

Portman’s Music

Superstore

A family owned musical instrument store offering a variety of instruments, pro audio, rentals, music lessons, and repair services.

BEST NEW STORE

Fancy Pheasant

A one-stop shopping experience offering a variety of products including home decor, gourmet foods, body care, candles, local Savannah products, art and more.

Johnnie-O | Peter Millar | Brax | Faherty | Filson | Martin Dingman Ralph Lauren | Barbour | Brackish | Samuelsohn | Jack Victor

BEST OUTDOOR

Rivers and Glen Trading

A clothing store that blends timeless style with quality goods specializing in classic outdoor attire and travel.

BEST PARTY / EVENT PLANNING BUSINESS

Bach Bash

Savannah

A full service bachelorette party planner offering itinerary planning, lodge decor, drink bars, bach bags and more.

BEST PAWN SHOP Welsh Pawn Shop

Locally owned and operated, a full service operation, quick cash loans trades, special orders, discounted prices, and repairs.

BEST PHOTO BOOTH/EVENT

PHOTOGRAPHER

Kayley Johansson

Portrait and wedding photographer offering fine art, couples, and families in Savannah and the Lowcountry area.

BEST PSYCHIC

Savannah

Psychics

A husband and wife psychic team offering tarot readings, palm readings and evidential mediumship.

BEST RECORD SHOP Bad

Obsession

Records, L.L.C.

A record store and art gallery selling a wide selection of vintage vinyl, cassette tapes, merch, coffee, art, and more.

Mike Hostilo Law Firm

F or 30 years, the Mike Hostilo Law Firm has been giving our clients the VIP experience, serving 30,000 families strong. With 8 offices and over $500,000,000 recovered, we're your go-to crew in the Southeast Wherever you are, whatever you need, we've got your back With you, for you

BEST SHOE STORE Howe 2

Run

A customer focused shoe store offering a free specialty fit

BEST SHOPPING CENTER

Twelve Oaks

A 105,791 square foot premier shopping center located on Abercorn Street with tenants including Publix, Xfinity, Coldstone Creamery, Starbucks, Bone Fish Grill and more.

BEST SPIRITUAL SUPPLY SHOP

Mystic

Apothecary

A one stop shop for everything spiritual in Savannah offering psychic readings, crystals, herbs, teas and more.

BEST STYLIST/ TAILOR Kieanie Lee

BEST THRIFT/ VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE

Glory Days Vintage

A vintage clothing shop located inside the backroom of The Copper Closet, offering a wide variety of vintage clothing.

BEST WINDOW DISPLAY

Fancy Pheasant

Offering a variety of products including home decor, gourmet foods, body care, candles, local Savannah products, art and more.

BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE

Delaney Rose

Boutique

Women’s clothing store offering inclusive sizing that features sizes XS-3XL both online and in-store.

LOCAL THRIFT/VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE

GLORY DAYS VINTAGE

After opening its doors just three years ago in a tiny space at the back of Mid March Clothing Co. on Broughton St., Glory Days Vintage has secured the title of Best Thrift/Vintage Clothing Store in Savannah. It’s a hard accolade to garner, as Savannah’s vintage market has grown considerably in recent years.

“I believe I have created a space where people feel comfortable in expressing themselves, trying on different things and being able to bring these things home and give them a new life,” said owner Ella Shipes. “I am incredibly thankful to win this. The vintage community in Savannah is constantly changing and growing and I am grateful to be a part of it.”

Shipes’ little shop of vintage treasures is more than just a business. It pays homage to not only her clear love for collecting, but to her mother Gloria who inspired the shops name.

“I grew up thrifting with her,” Shipes recalls. “She was crazy and so much fun. She’s who helped me develop my love for all things vintage. She passed away a few years ago so I named my business Glory Days after her.”

Very apropos for a business that is meant to elicit nostalgia and executes that moniker successfully and playfully. While it doesn’t take long to stroll through the tiny space, you can get lost for hours in the countless new pieces that Shipes pulls in to bring life to the store.

“I source primarily from estate sales and curate my collection based off of my personal style and what is currently trending,” explains Shipes. “My goal is to bring in quality pieces that can help someone figure out their style and experiment with a variety of different things to create something original but to also make it affordable.”

Something that sets Glory Days apart from some competitors is Shipes’ dedication to accessibility. She sources, cleans and mends everything herself, which for those who have only recently discovered a love for vintage, can make the shopping experience a lot less intimidating.

While Shipes’ store mingles together decades and styles, she has a particular soft-spot for the 80’s and 90’s.

“I love curating pieces with crazy patterns and colors that you just don’t see as much in current fashion and making it affordable,” said Shipes.

Vintage fashion, while has always been, for a lack of better words, fashionable, has really burst in popularity more recently as consumers, particularly young adults and teenagers, are looking for fast fashion alternatives to reduce their footprint on the Earth. Reducing and recycling are very “en vogue” and second-hand clothing provides a way to express yourself with one-of-a-kind pieces without having to contribute to textile waste or pay in the thousands for designer clothing of the same trend.

While Shipes is certainly riding the wave of her store’s win, she also has her eyes to the future. Right now, she reaches customers at her brick-and-mortar store and at vintage markets throughout Savannah, but later this year, she is excited to expand her treasures to an online platform.

It looks like nothing but glory days from here on out.

Glory Days Vintage is located at 3 E Broughton St. in downtown Savannah. Just walk into Mid March Clothing Co. and go past the fitting rooms to start your adventure.

- Brittany Herren

Photo from Glory Days Vintage

WEDDING

BEST BACHELOR/ BACHELORETTE PLANNING SERVICE

Planning Savy

A planning service specializing in bachelorette parties, bridal, baby showers and birthdays in the historic Savannah and Jacksonville area.

BEST BRIDAL SHOP

Ivory & Beau

A one-stop-shop offering a wide variety of wedding dresses, wedding planning services and floral designers.

BEST CATERING COMPANY

Savannah

Event Catering

A local catering company serving elegantly-presented classic cuisine including local, regional and ethnic foods with a distinct Savannah flair.

BEST EVENT PLANNER

Ivory & Beau

A one-stop-shop offering a wide variety of wedding dresses, wedding planning services and floral designers.

BEST FLORIST

Ivory & Beau

A one-stop-shop offering a wide variety of wedding dresses, wedding planning services and floral designers.

BEST WEDDING BAKERY

Grins and Giggles Cookie Co.

A custom bakery that specializes in treats and desserts for all occasions including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and so many more.

BEST WEDDING BAND

TG Live

Local band combining R&B, hip hop, funk, rock and soul to entertain audiences.

BEST WEDDING DJ

Gabriel

Bentley - “DJ

GQue”

A military veteran and open format DJ and event host whose passion is providing excitement to couples planning their wedding along with delivering energy to nightlife events.

BEST WEDDING HAIR STYLIST

Caroline Crosby

Specializes in event hair and makeup and owns Dolled Up–an award-winning hair, makeup, lash studio.

BEST WEDDING MAKEUP ARTIST

Caroline Crosby

Caroline Crosby specializes in special event hair and makeup and owns Dolled Up–an awardwinning hair, makeup, and lash studio. She has built a wedding hair and makeup team of licensed and insured cosmetologists and/ or estheticians.

BEST WEDDING

PHOTO BOOTH

Reflections

Mirror Photo Booth

Creates an exciting experience for all ages with premium mirror photo booth rentals available for weddings, corporate events, school parties, and other special occasions.

Photo

BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Bronston Photography

Tori Bronston established Bronston Photography in 2016 when she decided to leave her Fine Art teaching career to do what she has always been passionate about: photography and meeting new people.

BEST WEDDING VENUE

Red Gate

Farms Savannah’s wedding & event venue, family-owned for more than 80 years, Red Gate Farms invites guests to celebrate life’s most special moments in Savannah’s charming countryside.

That One Media Company

Dynamic and comprehensive creative agency committed to unlocking innovative and effective creative solutions that propel businesses towards growth and prosperity.

THE PLACE FOR UNFORGETTABLE EVENTS

& LASTING MEMORIES

Red Gate Farms has been a beloved part of Savannah for nearly a century since 1931. For generations, the family has poured their heart and soul into the property. Today, the fourth generation carries on the legacy of genuine southern hospitality by transforming Red Gate Farms into a captivating and esteemed venue for weddings, events, equestrian activities, and RV getaways. With sprawling grounds adorned with stunning oak trees, picturesque paddocks, and charming lakes, Red Gate Farms embodies the natural beauty of Savannah’s countryside. Its three exceptional venues - the Barn, the Grainery, and the Belle Tower - each offer a unique and enchanting space for your special occasions.

The Barn blends historic charm with modern conveniences, ensuring a one-of-a-kind setting filled with character. The Grainery boasts a breathtaking industrial chic design that is truly unparalleled in Savannah with its captivating views of the lake and the verdant fields surrounding it. And for those seeking an intimate gathering space, The Belle Tower offers a cozy southern-style home setting. No matter what type of event you’re planning - be it a corporate party, fundraising gala, holiday celebration, dream wedding, or anything in between - Red Gate Farms’ serene surroundings will transport you and your guests to a secluded oasis away from the city’s hustle and bustle. And while the location feels like a world apart, it is just 7 minutes away from Historic Downtown Savannah.

The Red Gate Farms’ family can’t wait to welcome you and help create unforgettable memories in this extraordinary venue.

Photo credit to DREAM WEAVER PHOTOS