Connect Savannah April 7, 2021

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IT’S YOUR ARENA!

SAVANNAH ARENA TO BRING BIG EVENTS TO HOSTESS CITY

APRIL 7 - APRIL 13, 2021

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Georgia Locations: 5 E. Perry Street, Savannah, GA 31401 2 Skidaway Village Walk, Ste A, Savannah,GA 31411

South Carolina Locations: 701 Bay Street, Beaufort, SC 29902 2 Harbor Drive, Harbor Island, SC 29920

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AT A GLANCE

Wednesday 4. 7 Drunk Spelling Bee

Join El-Rocko Lounge on Wednesdays for a drunken scholastic event- Drunk Spelling Bee. Enter by purchasing three drinks at ElRocko between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

10 p.m.-1 a.m.

El-Rocko Lounge 117 Whitaker St.

How to Write a Business Plan

Join Savannah Entrepreneur Center online online for a lunch and learn covering the necessary steps to write an effective business plan for use in the development, growth and financing of your business.

Registration is required.

12-1 p.m.

Online only savannahga.zoom.us

Kumusha Wine Event

The Kessler Collection’s Baobab Lounge will host its first Kumusha wine tasting event, featuring four Baobab Loungeexclusives. The event will feature sampling of African cuisine, special bottle offerings and a showcase of art and jewelry directly from the continent, which will be available for purchase at a discounted rate for event guests.

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Baobab Lounge Plant Riverside District.

Thursday 4. 8 Bingo! at Elks Lodge

Join Elks Lodge for Bingo on Thursdays and Sundays. Enjoy great family fun, good food at the snack bar and many chances to win cash.

7:30-9:30 p.m.

Elks Lodge 183 Wilshire Blvd.

Salsa Thursdays at Mint to Be Mojitos

APR/

APR/

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HIGHLIGHTED PICKS FROM HOSTESS CITY HAPPENINGS THIS WEEK TO HAVE YOUR EVENT CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN WEEK AT A GLANCE, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO WAG@CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM. INCLUDE THE EVENT NAME, DATE, TIME, LOCATION WITH ADDRESS, COST, WEBSITE ADDRESS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AND A CONTACT NUMBER. THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS 5PM EACH FRIDAY BEFORE THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY’S EDITION.

Join Salsa Savannah on Thursdays at a night with the Stars. Head out Mint to Be Mojitos for free beginner to watch your local professionals dance lessons. Enjoy Salsa, bachata show off their dancing skills all while music, and dancing. supporting children in Chatham 7:30-10:30 p.m.

County.

Mint to Be Mojito’s 7 p.m.

12 W State Street.

Victory North, 2603 Whitaker St. $25-125

Southbound Beer Dinner at the Hyatt

Join Southbound Brewery at the Hyatt Regency Savannah for a fourcourse beer dinner. Enjoy dinner paired with Southbound brews and some great live music.

6-8 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Savannah 2 W. Bay St. brownpapertickets.com/ event/5088339

Virtual Lecture: Lift Every Voice: The NAACP and the Making of the Civil Rights Movement

Telfair Museums presents a virtual lecture by Patricia Sullivan on her book, “Lift Every Voice: The NAACP and the Making of the Civil Rights Movement.” The series is part of the museum’s multiyear Legacy of Slavery in Savannah initiative, which also will include a symposium in late 2021, exhibitions of contemporary works by black artists, community partnerships, and a related publication from the University of Georgia Press. Books are available for checkout from Live Oak Public Libraries, liveoakpl.org, and for purchase through The Book Lady Bookstore, 6 E. Liberty St. 6 p.m.

Free and open to the public telfair.org/los

Friday 4.9 Dancing With Savannah Stars Join Savannah Chatham CASA for

Live Pro Wrestling

Coastal Empire Wrestling presents: Rumble For The Rescue. Head out to Southbound Brewing for the first ever women’s match benefitting One Love Rescue. Enjoy Mac Attack food truck on site and more.

Register on Eventbrite.

7-10 p.m.

Southbound Brewing Company 107 East Lathrop Ave. $15

Saturday 4.10 Archery at Skidaway Island State Park

Learn the basics of archery and test your skills at Skidaway Island’s archery range. This program will cover basic safety and technique.

Equipment will be provided.

Participants must be at least 10 years old. Advance registration required as space will be limited to 4 participants, and social distancing will be required.

10 a.m.

Skidaway Island State Park, 52 Diamond Cswy. $10 admission, $5 parking.

(912)598-2300

Big Bon Bodega Turns Two

Head out to Big Bon Bodega to celebrate their 2nd Birthday Party.

Throughout the day enjoy fun, prizes, and food.

7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Big Bon Bodega, 2011 Bull St.

Fair Housing Parking Lot

Palooza

In recognition of Fair Housing Month, the Human Services Department has scheduled a series of outdoor activities and workshops via zoom for the month to educate the public about fair housing rights under federal law and provide them resources to assist with their housing quality of life.

9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Pennsylvania Avenue Resources Center 425 Pennsylvania Ave. savannahga.gov/2496/ Fair-Housing

Forsyth Farmers Market

Local and regional produce, honey, meat, dairy, pasta, baked goods and other delights. Rain or shine.

9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Forsyth Park, Drayton St. & East Park Ave. Free to attend. Items for sale. forsythfarmersmarket.com

Islands Farmers Market

Weekly farmers market on Talahi Island highlighting local growers and makers, healthy foods and a positive environment.

9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Islands Farmers’ Market 401 Quarterman Dr. facebook.com/ islandsfarmersmarket

Spring Draft Kickball Party

Spring has ushered in another season of Draft Kickball and Savannah Adults Recreation Club hosts their draft party at Stafford’s Public House. This week’s league has officially SOLD OUT, but everyone is welcome to attend the Draft Kickball party. Enjoy free beer and activities as the female captains draft their teammates.

7:45 p.m.

Stafford’s Public House

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

WEEK CONNECT SAVANNAH

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CONNECT SAVANNAH NEWS | ARTS | ENTERTAINMENT

611 East Bay Street Savannah, Georgia 31401 Phone: (912) 231-0250 | Fax: (912) 238-2041

ADVERTISING

ERICA BASKIN PUBLISHER erica@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4378

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

HUNTER McCUMBER SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR hmccumber@morrisnews.com (912) 231-0250

EDITORIAL NOELLE WIEHE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF noelle@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4356 BRANDY SIMPKINS COMMUNITY/EVENTS JOURNALIST brandy@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4358

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Brittany Herren, Claire McMillan, Lindy Moody, Bunny Ware, Clara Fort, Frank Ricci, Jessica Farthing, Lauren Wolver-

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

ton, Nicole Youngblut

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We appreciate and encourage readers to share news tips with us, and to share any criticism and questions.

We are your comprehensive source for the arts, entertainment, music, and community events. We are here to serve you.

We are blessed to be part of the greatest country in the world and the freedom it bestows on its citizens and its press.

Find us on these platforms or reach out to our newsroom at news@connectsavannah.com or 912-721-4378.

ADMINISTRATIVE

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

BUCKY BRYANT STRATEGIC MARKETING CONSULTANT bucky@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4381 LAUREN WOLVERTON STRATEGIC MARKETING CONSULTANT lauren@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4380 LOGAN HINTON STRATEGIC MARKETING CONSULTANT logan@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4354 MANDY YOUNCE REGIONAL DIGITAL SALES DIRECTOR mandy@connectsavannah.com (912) 503-0874

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DON’T MISS NASHVILLE’S DAVIS WARD

EXHIBITION EXPLORES GORE FROM CIVIL WAR

24

connectsavannah.com

IT’S YOUR ARENA!

SAVANNAH ARENA TO BRING BIG EVENTS TO HOSTESS CITY

APRIL 7 - APRIL 13, 2021

CONNECT SAVANNAH IS PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY

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(CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE)

Sunday 4.11

© 2021, Savannah Media, LLC.

Connect Savannah at its core is focused on arts and entertainment and the happenings in our community. We are also a news organization with professional journalists who write about community news and the about the people who live here.

Connect Savannah is dedicated to keeping readers informed and aware of all that goes on in the community.

The presentation of both news and opinion is designed to educate, entertain, inform and foster conversation.

AT A GLANCE

306 W. Upper Factor’s Walk.

SAVANNAH’S PULSE

OUR VALUES

WEEK

SAVANNAH SAVANNAH 27 Bull Street | 912-234-6565 27 Bull Street | 912-234-6565 8201 White Bluff RoadBluff | 912-232-5884 8201 White Road | 912-232-5884 2225 East 2225 Victory Drive | 912-303-9667 East Victory Drive | 912-303-9667

Bingo! at Elks Lodge

Join Elks Lodge for Bingo on Thursdays and Sundays. Enjoy great family fun, good food at the snack bar and many chances to win cash.

7:30-9:30 p.m.

Elks Lodge 183 Wilshire Blvd.

House Party 6

Head out out the Wormhole for Party 6! Enjoy a comedy show at 8:00 p.m., and music show at 10:00 p.m. Register on eventbrite.com for tickets.

8 p.m.-12:30 a.m.

The Wormhole, 2307 Bull St. $4.99- $8.99

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society PWAP

Sign up for a special Painting With a Purpose event at Painting with a Twist in Savannah, GA, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Must be 18+ and the studio

is BYOB. 5-7 p.m.

Painting with a Twist, 513 E. Oglethorpe Ave.

Monday 4.12 2021 JIT “FORE Vision” Charity Golf Tournament Mark your calendar for the 2021 JIT “FORE Vision” Charity Golf Tournament sponsored by JIT Warehousing & Logistics benefiting the Savannah Center for Blind and Low Vision.

12-5 p.m.

The Landings Club on Skidaway Island, 1 Cottonwood Drive. $150-600

Tuesday 4.13 Toddler Tuesday at Oatland Island Wildlife Center

Explore the wonders of nature with all kind of wild fun for your wee ones. This week’s theme is “Pig Party!” Pre-registration required.

10 & 11 a.m.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Did you know? unique essence; it also profiles the city’s business and its residents. Each week, we publish what makes our community great. As Savannah’s only news, arts, and entertainment weekly Connect Savannah recently started mailmagazine, we strive to provide you with the ing copies to every home at The Landings – all quality, accurate and informative stories that 4,600 of them! It’s our way of introducing the separate us from other communities. Our highexciting new format and content of Connect est priority is to produce a top-notch publicaSavannah’s premier news, arts and entertain- tion, focusing on people and events that affect ment publication. We want to make it easy Savannah and Chatham County. We are excited for everyone to read Connect! We’ve added that our readers love the new attention-grabnew locations all over town – especially out bing design and will soon have a new website. in the fast-growing Westside and Pooler locaI’m also excited to announce, we are also going tions. You can also find our weekly magazine to expand our digital platform. Our intent is to throughout Savannah, The Historic District, fully explore the limits of digital coverage, benRiver Street, Richmond Hills, The Islands, efiting both readers and advertisers.

Garden City and Georgetown. Pick up a copy in Please feel free to contact me at erica@conshopping venues, eateries, the Savannah Hilton nectsavannah.com to discuss any questions or Head International Airport, physicians and concern. I want to personally thank you for supreal estate offices near you. To stay connected, porting us and continuing to support us. follow up on Facebook and Instagram.

Find a list of all of our locations online at Cheers! connectsavannah.com.

Connect Savannah captures Savannah’s ERICA BASKIN, PUBLISHER

BY ERICA BASKIN Publisher

NEWS

COMMUNITY

SINCE 2001 – BREWING COFFEE & COMMUNITY

Winemaker behind Kumusha Wines to lead wine tasting event

BY JESSICA FARTHING

THE SENTIENT BEAN

Award-Winning Organic Vegetarian Food + Fair-Trade Coffees & Teas

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Looking for a safer meeting space?

We are offering our dining room in the evenings for limited capacity, community building events.

Email details to sentientbooking@gmail.com for consideration.

ORDER ONLINE! SENTIENTBEAN.COM

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

GROWING UP IN Zimbabwe, Tinashe Nyamudoka started his career in the hospitality industry as a waiter, working into a position wine steward. He began to attract notice in the wine industry, receiving the Reaching for the Young Stars Best Wine Steward Award in 2013 and working to become head sommelier.

After working in some of Africa’s most acclaimed restaurants, he took his skills as a master blender and created his own brand, Kumusha Wines.

Today, Savannah’s Baobab Lounge at the Plant Riverside District is hosting a wine tasting event for Nyamudoka’s brand. The event will have special bottle offerings and showcases of art and jewelry direct from the continent and pair the wines with samplings of African cuisine. The Laiken Love Jazz Trio will be performing live for the The Baobab Lounge will host a wine tasting event for Tinashe Nyamudoka’s brand of wine, Kumuguests entertainment. sha Wines. PHOTO COURTESY OF BAOBAB LOUNGE Connect took a minute for a Q & A with Nyamudoka to discuss his career and African upbringing?

CS: Can you describe Kumusha wine: Tinashe: I grew up visiting my grandWines? What can people expect from Connect Savannah: Do you rememfather in the rural areas and remember your brand? ber the first wine that inspired your picking wild fruits such as TN: To taste Kumucareer as a sommelier? What motiapples, sour plums, smelly sha wine is to taste a WHEN: vated you to pursue a career as a somberry, marula, water berries. sense of deep rootedWednesday, melier, wine judge and the owner of a I also remember the smell of ness. My personal taste April 7, 2021 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. wine brand? summer rains. is clear and firm but WHERE: Tinashe Nyamudoka: Rudera Robusto CS: More attention is only to lead the drinker Baobab Lounge Chenin Blanc 2006 is the very first wine I being brought to diversity to an infinite openPlant Riverside District - Power Plant Building thought was really delicious. in the wine industry. I see ended interpretation.

400 W. River Street I was inspired by the sommeliers I was that you’ve joined forums CS: What can the Savannah, Georgia working under at the time. Wine judging on rethinking wine lists people attending the TICKETS: Tickets are available at $50 per came about when I was looking for other to reflect this need. What event at Plant Riverperson and can be purchased opportunities to broaden my expertise. I’ve do you want to see in the side expect from you online at plantriverside.com or inalways had an entrepreneurial spirit and industry for people of and your wine brand? person at Plant Riverside District. birthed the idea when I went to wine busicolor?

TN: I have visited ness school.

TN: Definitely more repfamily-owned wine CS: What are some of the highlights resentation along the whole wine value farms in South Africa, France and Gerof your professional life in wine? chain starting from production, distribumany. Their common rootedness in their TN: Winning the inaugural Best Wine tion, retail, hospitality, marketing and wine family terroir reminds me that I have no Steward award at Distel Inter hotel chalwriting. ancestral claim to a terroir of any kind lenge 2013. The Eat Out Guide 2016 Best CS: What is your favorite food pairand that I am, to some extent, rootless and Wine Service award was another career ing with one of Kumusha’s wines? stateless. But in their wines, I receive the highlight.

TN: I enjoy Kumusha Chenin Blanc with same sensations that I get whenever I visit CS: Through Kumusha Wines, you’ve an African traditional meal, like pap with my ancestral home in rural Zimbabwe, expressed a desire to introduce people road runner chicken stew - the birds roam- where my 91 year-old grandfather still to the flavors of your home. What are ing the homestead - and wilted black jack lives. I want the attendees to feel the same some of the notes that reflect your leaves. when they enjoy my wines.

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NEWS

COMMUNITY

PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL MARINELLA CASTING IN SAVANNAH

Local extras needed for movie casting

BY NICOLE YOUNGBLUT

(912) 459-0065

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

10086 Ford Avenue Richmond Hill

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Bill Marienella Casting is searching for men to act as extras immediately starting next week as soon as April 5 and 6 to film in Statesboro. A 1950s Korean War-era film called “Devotion” is looking to fill extra roles as pirates, sailors and marines.

Filming will take place on the deck of the ship, with people scrambling to planes and working on aircrafts.

The casting company is searching for men of all ethnicities, ages ranging from 18-40, with a slender build and are cleanly shaven. The garments are actual antique costumes from the 50s, which make them size-specific to their era.

“The waist back in the 40s [and 50s] was actually at the belly button,” Casting Director Bill Marienlla said. “It’s not like the traditional waist is today. That’s something that people need to keep in mind for period shows. And that’s what both these shows are.”

Extras selected for “Devotion” would be paid $154 for a 12-hour working day on set. Covid tests are required and paid for by the production company. Due to strict safety protocols, it is encouraged that you arrive at your Covid test by yourself.

Marinella has worked casting on many people from all over the U.S. on major feature films such as Wonder Woman 1984, House of Cards, Ride Along 2, Ballers and The Librarian. And currently casting for Devotion, along with many other films around Southeast Georgia.

“It’s a great way for artists to see something fun that not a lot of people get to do that don’t live in LA or NY,” Marienella said.

After casting for “Devotion” ends, another big production film casting local men, women and possibly children begins. Fittings and cover testing to start mid-April with shooting to start the first week of May, ending in mid-May. Filming will consist of several overnights in a row, and split-shift, afternoon to night time, and work past midnight for a rate of $200 a for 12-hour working day.

“The biggest thing to be an extra is to have a flexible schedule,” Marienella said.

“You get to see what happens just to make a 3-second shot, how much work goes into that 3-second shot or that 1 minute of dialog,” Marienella explained.

“Those types of things, you’ll learn as a background performer what it is and what is going on. I always thought that was kind of interesting when I first started in this business.”

There are several other projects in the works popping up in Savannah in the next couple of months.

“Now, all of a sudden Savannah, and the surrounding areas are a hot spot,” Marienella said. “You’ve got the ocean close enough to do your beach scenes, and you’ve got the small-town feel. And you’ve got enough towns that are quaint to look 1940s and then you’ve got towns that look like their the 1980s and towns that are modern. You’ve got a variety of counties and cities that filmmakers will flock to because of the way the lay of the land is, so to speak.”

Visit the Facebook page: facebook.com/ BMCsavannah. To apply: kaast.app/ bmc/2021-devotion-sailors-open-call.

Must be in the KAAST Database to submit: eepurl.com/gqHsSj

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Monday, Mar. 29

S.C. GWYNNE Pulitzer Prize finalist & New York Times Bestselling Author

7:00 PM

COMING IN APRIL: Jack Carr, The Devil’s Handbook

For details on registering and purchasing books, go to: www.savannahbookfestival.org PRESENTING SPONSOR

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

SBF Booksellers:

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NEWS

COMMUNITY

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SEA STATIC PHOTOGRAPHY

PET ADOPTION ROUNDUP

dogs. Organizers will be onsite answering questions about adopting a bully breed.

Renegade Paws Rescue and organizers will make sure a foster dog is there for you to walk.

PUPPY PILATES SATURDAY, APRIL 10

PUPS AT PEREGRIN SUNDAY, APRIL 11

Renegade Paws Rescue will host a Pilates class at The Hipster Hound, 1 Diamond Causeway, Suite 13, on April 10.

Attendees will not only get fit for a good cause, but will also get to enjoy plenty of puppy kisses from adoptable dogs on site.

Puppy Pilates is $20 per person, and space is limited. Head over to renegadepawsrescue.org to sign up.

Coastal Pet Rescue will haves loads of adoptable pups on the roof at Peregrin, 256 E Perry St., from noon to 4 p.m. on April 11 and 25. Oliver Bentley will also be on-site offering premium dog treats to guests’ furry friends.

All month long, Peregrin will be donating $1 to Coastal Pet Rescue for every cocktail purchased. Cheers.

BY LAUREN WOLVERTON PACK WALK SATURDAY, APRIL 10

lauren@connectsavannah.com

PAWS TO PAVEMENT WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7

Coastal Pet Rescue has teamed up with Fleet Feet and the Savannah Kennel Club for a night of pups, socialization and exercise. The walking event begins at 6:30 p.m. at Fleet Feet,

3405 Waters Ave. Coastal Pet Rescue and other local rescues will have adoptable dogs for attendees to walk and fall in love with. Walkers are encouraged to bring their own dogs to join the fun, too. Organizers will be able to answer questions about adopting, fostering and volunteering.

KITTEN SHOWER AT POUNCE THURSDAY, APRIL 8

The Humane Society for Greater Savannah will host a “kitten shower” at Pounce Cat Café, 404 W. Broughton St., from 6 to 8 p.m. Attendees will meet adoptable cats and kittens, and refreshments will be served.

Donations for the kitties are encouraged. Immediate needs are heating pads, miracle nipples, kitten formula and wet kitten food. If you have to rain check the “kitten shower,” donations can be dropped off at HSGS between 1 and 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

ADOPT-A-BULL SATURDAY, APRIL 10

HSGS will team up with Three Points Food Court for an adoption event raising awareness for bully breeds. The event is set for April 10 from noon to 3 p.m. at Three Points, 409 Orchard St. There will be live music, food trucks and plenty of adoptable

Renegade Paws Rescue will host Pack Walk on April 10, 16 and 21 at Skidaway Island State Park at 5:30 p.m. A whole pack of dogs, some who have forever homes and some who are still looking to get adopted, will walk a two-mile trail together.

All dog-friendly and vaccinated pups are welcome. If you don’t have a dog, contact

SATURDAY, APRIL 17

Adoptable dogs will be living it up at Moon River Brewing Co., 21 W Bay St., thanks to HSGS. From noon to 4 p.m. on April 17, there will be pups, drink specials, local vendors, raffle drawings and more at the brewery.

A portion of Moon River sales will be donated back to HSGS. Stay tuned on social media for local vendor announcements.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

As the weather gets warmer, it’s natural to crave a fresh start.

Why not give that to someone who needs it the most? If you’re in the market for a new pet, consider adoption from a local animal rescue or foster service.

Check out this list of upcoming adoption events to make sure finding your fur-ever friend is simple and tons of fun.

SPRING BARK AT MOON RIVER BREWING CO.

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FOOD & DRINK

EPICURIPEIDA

THE ORIGINS OF ORIGIN COFFEE BAR

BY LINDY MOODY

Matt and Elise Higgins share their story of uprooting their lives to return to their dream of living in Savannah. PHOTOS COURTESY OF ORIGIN COFFEE BAR

‘DREAMS’ CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

IT IS SO OFTEN SAID that food connects all of us. Whether it a shared meal, a shared recipe, or sharing culture through food, people have connected on emotional levels over meals for millennia. It could fairly be said that coffee also links the human race. Most everyone and every culture enjoys some form of coffee whether in the USA or across the other parts of the world.

Our culture here in Savannah is coupled with cups of bitter notes of a coffee in our hands daily. Whether nursing your head from a night out too late, on your way to work in one of our many bustling industries, or cramming for finals in one of our handful of universities, a fresh cup o’ joe goes perfectly with pretty much every lifestyle that can be found in our city.

Now, Savannah has the perfect place to tickle the fancy of all the aforementioned patrons—Origin Coffee Bar. Matt and Elise Higgins met while attending the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Expectedly, their degrees carried them to another state for jobs in the art world. Matt spent years as a graphic designer, and Elise was a marketing director. When the pandemic hit, the couple recognized the world’s complications as an opportunity to change their lives for the better.

Elise shared the story, “We got to the point where we were like, ‘Is this what we want to do forever? This pandemic is going to last a month, maybe we can reinvent ourselves. We have some time.’ We said, ‘Where we would want to be if we can be anywhere?’” Their answer was Savannah.

For the dynamic couple, the dream was simple: first they dropped their long-term careers, and then they packed their bags.

Matt and Elise drove down south to move

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COMMUNITY ‘DREAMS’ CONT.. FROM PAGE 11

SOUNDGARDEN EVENTS

FRI., APR. 9

NIGHTRAIN

THE GUNS N ROSES EXPERIENCE

SAT., APR. 10

DINE IN

Mon-Wed 11-4 Thur-Sat 11-8 Sun 11-4

TAKEOUT & CURBSIDE:

Everyday 11-8

912.354.8745

5320 Water's Ave.

barnesrestaurant.com

FRI., APR.16

Savannah’s Oldest

URBAN FARM & PET

FRI., APR.16

SUPPLY STORE

Specializing in

ORGANICS

- WE CARRY -

ALL TYPES OF FEED & SEED CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

HAY•FENCING•TRAPS•PEST CONTROL

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MATCHBOX 2.0 & HOOTIE TRIBUTE T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E ON E V E N T B R I T E

3016 E. VICTORY DR. 912.352.2933 COACHS.NET DOWNLOAD OUR APP!

POTTERY & STATUARY•ANIMAL BEDDING PROPANE REFILL & EXCHANGE•LAWN & GARDEN • SEASONAL VEGETABLE PLANTS

PET SUPPLIES•FARM SUPPLIES & MORE Located downtown at

307 Carolan St 912.233.9862 Just west of Bay St. Viaduct

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1938

to their ideal town so they could start their is created with lavender, rose and fresh ideal business. The beginnings of Origin Cof- espresso. It is a delicately flavored drink with fee Bar were quaint, actually starting with a a huge punch of caffeine. mobile coffee cart. The Higgins have brilliant When it comes to the Espresso Tonic, business minds, and the idea was to start Matt said, “I had had one prior in my life. It small by bringing coffee where it was needed was a hibiscus tonic and it revolutionized and expand as demand grew. my thought about what coffee was. When we The duo literally planted a swanky started developing the menu, I was like, ‘We espresso machine on top of a small movable need to have espresso tonic on the menu.’” bar - Phyllis as she was named - installed a For those who have never tasted an register, and began serving hand-poured cof- espresso tonic, it is likely they do not underfee at Savannah weddings and events. stand how the pairing works so well. TypiAfter serving an event at The Clyde Venue, cally, two wrongs do not make a right, which the owner approached Matt and Elise to offer means combining two bitter drinks does not them the bar. make something palatable. But, somehow, “Within two weeks we turned it around by combining two typically bold liquids, the and got a coffee shop up and going,” Elise resulting fusion is balanced. The bitter notes said. “It has been a very, very fast progresof the espresso play off of the biter notes of sion, but I feel like the tonic, and they act everything fell into together to compliplace in all the right ment each other. Oriways. We are super gin takes their version happy to be here.” over the edge by using Perc is the go-to passion fruit tonic. coffee for Origin CofThe small hint of fee Bar. sweetness further balAccording to Elise, ances the bitter notes “We obviously knew of the concoction.

Perc because we went I am told the DalgOrigin Coffee Bar at The Clyde Venue is located to college here, and ona will soon be added at 223 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Savannah. we loved their coffee back to the menu. It is PHOTO COURTESY OF ORIGIN COFFEE BAR forever. It is really highly demanded and convenient to have a roaster in town instead for good reason. The unique creation is truly of searching elsewhere because you can an Origin original. At the base of the handorder and pickup coffee in the same day.” crafted drink sits iced milk, and to finish the To create Origin’s base coffee and espresso drink Origin’s barista hand spoons a whipped menu, the couple and their team spent hours coffee over the top. If you are searching for taste testing espresso. The result is a wellthe perfect coffee to drink in the hot months balanced and thoughtful coffee and espresso of summer, the Dalgona is it. menu that takes the ideal Perc bean and The most recent menu addition, and so makes it into its ideal drink. far my favorite, is Origin’s XL Latte half galThe menu doesn’t end at the classics. lon jug that you take home. We all enjoy our At Origin, new specialty or seasonal recimorning coffee, but sometimes it tastes that pes typically arrive on a whim or via group much better to have it made for you — espeeffort. For example, a barista at Origin cially by the professionals. Each jug is made ordered a bit too many bottles of orange flafresh with the consumer’s choice of add-ins: voring. The result was one of Origin’s most milk, almond milk, or oat milk, as well as your photogenic and most popular drinks — the flavoring of choice.

Cold Brew Creamsicle, just one of the drinks For the Higgins, the dream continues. Curfeatured on the recently debuted spring rently, it is one cup at a time. But, much like menu. The Cold Brew Creamsicle is a super the past, if the right opportunity comes along, smooth and slow-brewed cold coffee infused Savannah may see a second and new location with orange, then topped with a fluffy layer for Origin Coffee Bar. of creamsicle double cream. The other heavy hitters are the Matcha Latte, Bouquet Latte Origin Coffee Bar at The Clyde Venue is and Passionfruit Espresso Tonic. located at 223 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., The Bouquet Latte is simply what Matt Savannah. Visit their site orgincoffee.bar for drinks every morning. It seemed natural online orders and more details about their to add it to the menu at Origin. The Latte unique concoctions.

NEWS

COMMUNITY

Carri Stoltz, preident. left, Marilyn Sztuk, vice president, Margy Hatch and Kerry Ufford co-chairs of the Great Golf Drop.

PHOTO COURTESY OF OHCF

A FUNDRAISER THAT’S ON PAR

The One Hundred Children’s Foundation hosts the Great Golf Ball Drop

Faylon Newsome enjoys a Comfort Pillow from The OHCF. PHOTO COURTESY OF OHCF

BY CLAIRE MCMILLAN

through financial support of child-focused outreach programs in the Coastal Empire of Georgia and South Carolina.

“We knew we couldn’t plan for a big black-tie indoor gala like we’ve done in the past,so we came up with the idea of having a golf ball drop and raffle,” said Carri Stoltz, president of OHCF. Located in the same spot as the recent Korn Ferry tournament, the outdoor picnic dinner will be held under individual tents spread out over the driving range with tables seating four to10 people.

The golf balls, each marked with a number corresponding

to the purchaser, will be dropped out of a large bucket truck and onto the course.

Tickets for the dinner are already sold out but golf balls can still be purchased and you do not have to be present to win. First place will receive $2,500 and second and third place will receive $1,500 and $500, respectively.

Mayor Van Johnson will be in attendance to officiate the event and determine the winners.

Stoltz, who has spent her entire career working with young children and volunteering in hospitals, said every penny raised through the event will go towards the foundation’s grant fund which will

start accepting applications around May or June.

The foundation will evaluate grant proposals from other nonprofits in the area and determine which ones meet their mission and goals. Previous OHCF grant winners have included the Ronald McDonald House, Wesley Community Centers of Savannah, St. Joseph’s/Candler Foundation, Camp New Hope, Cure Childhood Cancer and more.

When selecting the grant recipients, OHCF tries to look for unique and creative projects.

“We have really tried to be fairly broad and reach a lot of different organizations,”

Stoltz said. “Ronald Mcdonald House this past year wanted an interactive touch table that families can come and play with when their kids are undergoing cancer treatments. There’s not a whole lot they can go out and do especially during this pandemic, so it’s a learning environment they can interact with.”

The One Hundred Children’s Foundation Great Golf Ball Drop will take place at 6p.m. on April 26 at the Deer Creek Golf Course in the Landings, 25 Deer Creek Drive, Savannah. Golf balls will be dropped at 7p.m. Golf balls can be purchased for $100.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

HUNDREDS OF numbered golf balls will be covering the driving range of the Deer Creek course in the Landings on April 26 for The One Hundred Children’s Foundation’s Great Golf Ball Drop fundraiser. The OHCF will host an elegant picnic dinner under tents on the driving range, followed by a golf ball drop.

Golf balls can be purchased for $100 and prizes will be awarded to the three golf balls that land closest to the hole.

The OHCF is finding creative ways amid the pandemic to continue to meet its mission of promoting the health, education and wellbeing of children

13

NEWS

COMMUNITY

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROYAL RESTROOMS

ROYAL RESTROOMS LUXURY SINK TRAILER helps cut the Spread of COVID-19

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

BY CLARA FORT

14

HAVE YOU EVER thought about using a luxury portable restroom with a 40-inch flat screen TV and automatic sinks, soap dispensers, and propane power water heater? Well, if you have, Royal Restrooms has your back with their many different luxury portable restrooms.

Royal Restrooms was founded in 2004 by David Sauers, and has expanded to 47 offices and 16 different cities in the U.S. and Canada. Royal Restrooms is fully equipped to have your bathroom experience be one you don’t forget.

You may be thinking, what

makes Royal Restrooms different from porta potty?

“Well, you’re not going to have a problem sitting down on my toilet,” Sauers said. “Royal Restrooms provides a bathroom for the 21st century.”

They are Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved; with being the nation’s leading provider for their highquality luxury portable restrooms which has helped them stop the spread of COVID-19 in the Savannah-Metro area.

During the pandemic, they have set up outside of COVID19 testing sites, hospitals, and emergency response with their portable restrooms and Sink

Trailer. Inside these trailers they have signs to remind guests to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds.

In the midst of the pandemic, Sauers and his team were ready to come up with new ideas for Royal Restrooms to be safe, but still luxurious. In the new creations came the motion hand washing station called the Sink Trailer. The sink trailers come with a custom-painted steel frame with locking diamond plate utility doors which house the water heater and pressure pump.

The trailers are built onto a commercial grade trailer chassis for easy towing to your next

event. Inside the sink trailer are eight touchless sinks, paper towels and soap dispensers. In addition, the trailer features televisions that advertise the client’s brand or special occasion for the guest inside the restroom, telling the guest “Thank you for being there.”

“Every event is different and kind of caters to the individual needs, and people should expect the service,” Sauers said.

He explained that with Royal Restrooms, you’ll be treated like royalty. Clients will be guided with their special occasion in mind, by making their experience personal but effective.

They have many different portable restrooms to choose from to make your guests’ personal needs fit your special occasion from small to large events like weddings, festivals and corporate events.

With his clients in mind, Sauers said, “we are trying to make our trailers where each individual has their own room from the outside.”

They are always looking to grow their business, not for themselves, but for the safety and comfort of their customers.

Royal Restrooms believes in the community and thinks about

their safety more than ever before.

Royal Restrooms’ core value is to bring customers great service and make them feel comfortable even in the midst of pandemic.

He said that when you call to book them you will speak to Kim McCarty and she will make you feel like you are talking to a friend and it will turn into a relationship.

Sauers and his team understand that most people are ready to come out to gather outside this summer and believe Royal Restrooms is a great way to do so while staying within the CDC guidelines.

This summer you can find them at weddings, sporting events, or maybe your local COVID-19 testing site to bring peace of mind to your special occasion, your clients, guests or employees.

“Royal Restrooms plans to make these available at fairs, sporting events, golf tournaments, food truck events, camping sites and disaster relief operations as the world starts to open up and people start back attending events,” Sauers said.

For information on this royal luxurious experience with Royal Restrooms, visit royalrestrooms.com or contact them at 912-234-6800.

S A V A N N A H , I T ’ S Y O U R A R E N A !

N E W 9 , 5 0 0 - S E A T A R E N A T O B R I N G H I G H - C A L I B E R E N T E R T A I N E R S T O C I T Y

A rendering of the new Oak View Group-Savannah Arena shows details of the structure to be built in the Canal District. IMAGES COURTESY OF OAK VIEW GROUP

BY NOELLE WIEHE noelle@connectsavannah.com

‘ARENA’ CONTINUES ON PAGE 16

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

BUSINESSES IN SAVANNAH often aim to cater to tourists, but Monty Jones, operations manager for the Oak View Group, made a point to say, “We want Savannah to know this is their arena.”

The Savannah Arena will be the perfect stopover spot for big names in entertainment, hosting concerts, comedy shows, family shows, sporting events and more, Jones said.

“This is biggest investment as a whole for the City of Savannah,” Jones said. “We want to make a grand juncture for that, make it as just as big as what Savannahians put into this.”

The arena is set to open for Savannah’s entertainment purposes in the first part of 2022, Jones said, and it will be fully enclosed within the next month.

The Savannah Arena will have a lot of premium spaces – about 17 suites, 700 club seats and loge boxes in the upper level. The arena will feature numerous grand opening events: first country concert, first pop concert, first R&B concert, the list goes on and on.

“You’re going to get your pop, you’re going to get your hip-hop R&B, you’re going to get your country, you’re going to get your rock, your comedy – you’re going to get some of everything within the first of couple months,” Jones said “That’s the plan, to get a taste of everything.”

The yet-to-be-named hockey team will be begin playing in the fall of 2022, Jones said.

They will play approximately 40 games throughout their season, adding to the total 50 sporting events to be held in the arena and more than 150 projected annual events.

The new arena will sit less than one mile from the Savannah Civic Center. The site presents the opportunity to redevelop the Canal District to the west of W. Boundary St., creating a vibrant new center of activity in Savannah’s core, according to the City.

“The canal district is something that they’re trying to build up and having a big anchor like this down there will certainly help build that area up,” said Chip Wade, marketing director of Koger Center for the Arts in Columbia, South Carolina, who worked for the Carolina Colosseum – the old arena at the University of South Carolina.

As Savannah is a destination for more than approximately 14.5 million annual visitors, the city is going to love to have more people come in just for the new and exciting

15

IMAGES COURTESY OF THE OAK VIEW GROUP

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

‘ARENA’ CONT.. FROM PAGE 15

16

things Savannah is going to do, as well, Jones said.

The design assistance contract was awarded to Oak View Group Facilities and Live Nation for the new arena in spring of 2019.

The Oak View Group has several world-class arenas around the world, including the Moody Center in Austin, Texas; the soon-to-be Coachella Valley Arena in Southern California; and the Santa Giulia Area in Milan, Italy where the 2026 Winter Olympics will take place.

As part of the agreement, Oak View Group Facilities and Live Nation provided pre-opening consulting on both design and development of the new arena. The two companies work closely with the city and the construction team on providing recommendations on the impact of architectural design and the selection and procurement of furniture,

fixtures and equipment.

“Live Nation is the biggest concert promoter in the world, so the fact that they’re tied into that will be good for Savannah because that means they can get some really good quality traveling tours,” Wade said.

The awarding also included a future lease for the new arena where OVG Facilities and Live Nation could provide management and operations.

“We’re fortunate that they will be guiding us through the pre-opening and design phases of our new arena in Savannah,” said Rob Hernandez, City Manager, City of Savannah. “With an experienced team, extensive resources, contacts and knowledge of our industry Oak View Group Facilities and Live Nation will provide tremendous insight to our team which ultimately will bring great pride to our region.”

The two anchor tenants of the arena will be music and sports, according to

FEATURE

IMAGES COURTESY OF THE OAK VIEW GROUP

is, I feel like this arena is being designed and built to accommodate the people of Savannah. “I see that as a good thing because there are a lot of people in Savannah that want to go to concerts without having to drive to Florida or Charleston or wherever. I feel like this will definitely help add to the nightlife and the entertainment options for locals as well as bringing people in from out of town.”

“I’m really excited about getting this open and just seeing the excitement from the local people of what this is and what this will truly mean,” Jones said. “The biggest joy for us, like for me is when you get to a show and you just look out over and you just see everybody just having a great time. That’s always been a huge plus for me is seeing people have a good time at a show. There’s some happiness brought to someone. That’s a huge joy that I get when I see the smiles on their faces and people just having a good time.”

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

Jones, but additionally, the terraces will be an optimal spot for company parties.

“What we’re looking to do with this arena is provide a new way to do business here in Savannah,” Jones said, noting he’s experienced some frustration handling business on the golf course. “You know they say everybody says business is done on the golf course. We want them to be able to say ‘My business is done at the Savannah arena.’”

Wade said the arena really will be an economic boost to the community, not only through the tourism it will bring in, but the business locals will feed into it, too.

“A lot of people when they think of Savannah, they think of a place that you travel for vacation or as a destination city, but there are a lot of people that live in Savannah and in the outside areas,” Wade said. “So, I feel like while you may have people that come there for concerts, from as far away as Columbia. The truth

17

Unique Home Market Requires

Expert Realtor Advice

“

Faced with the tightest housing market in two decades, both buyers and sellers may be struggling to cope with record-low housing inventory and frequent bidding wars.

Driven by low interest rates, buyers have consumed most of the available houses on the market, which is half the size of the prior year. This has pushed median home prices up 14 percent year over year according to Realtor.com. While supply is expected to increase this year as the vaccine rollout eases seller concerns, demand is also expected to escalate as millennials enter their prime homebuying years.

So, if you are looking to buy or sell, what strategies should you employ to get the best price on a home?

I always recommend hiring a Realtor, but in these extraordinary times, it is even more important to enlist the help of an experienced agent who can guide you through the unique challenges of the current market. Applying a strategy appropriate to your particular situation can make all the difference.

First, sellers must choose one of multiple approaches on how to price their home. Depending on your situation, you may want to use the market-based price approach of comparable home sales to justify your listing price. This is usually the quickest strategy, but it may not reflect the true price if your home has unique attributes that would make it stand out in the market. It also may not be the best technique in an appreciating market.

Other sellers may choose the less is more strategy. You may want to list your home for less than its actual value to attract bids in the hope of starting a bidding war. This tactic could drive up the sale price, but it could also backfire, and your home could sell for less than it is worth.

Will Thurman Managing Broker/Owner

www.baystreetrealtygroup.com info@baystreetrealtygroup.com

Finally, you may choose to list your home at the highest possible price that you think you could get in the current market. With inventory at record lows, buyers may be willing to pay the price to get into the market. However, if your house sits on the market too long, you may be forced to drop the price.

All three of these strategies apply to the current market depending on the scenario. You may have the time to wait for the best offer. You may have already placed an offer on a new home and be eager to sell quickly. A knowledgeable Realtor can advise you on which approach makes sense in your situation.

In addition to advising you on a pricing strategy, an experienced Realtor should counsel you on what to do once the bids start rolling in. Because time on market is about a week less than it was at this time last year, your Realtor should familiarize you with a sample sales contract. This way when actual offers come in you will already understand the various terms and can concentrate on the difference between each bid.

You may be tempted to take the first or highest offer so a wise Realtor will send you a read-only copy of the contract so you can weigh the pros and cons of each offer before signing. Sometimes a lower offer may be better because that buyer is prequalified. A professional Realtor can help you discern which offer actually benefits you most.

On the buyers’ side of the equation, seeking the advice of a knowledgeable Realtor is more important than ever.

In a seller’s market, inventory is low, competition is tough and bidding wars are common. You need to be prepared. In this environment, you should sign a brokerage agreement with your Realtor to allow him or her to give you personal advice and not just guidance.

An experienced Realtor will advise you to prioritize your wish list and stick to it. It can be disheartening to put in multiple offers and lose several bidding wars. Do not be tempted to throw your money at the next available house. You do not want to suffer from buyer’s remorse six months down the line. Your Realtor can encourage you to keep your priorities straight and recommend homes that fit your needs.

To compete in this tough market, you may want to put in your best offer first. This may be higher than the listed price. You should also obtain preapproval letters. These may be required in some instances and may give you an advantage in others. To help your offer stand out from the crowd you may want to offer option money. This is a non-refundable deposit that tells the seller you are serious about your offer because the seller will get to keep the money if you back out of the deal. You also may want to include an escalation clause in your contract so your Realtor can quickly respond in a bidding war up to an agreed upon fixed amount.

A buyer’s agent should also consider a seller’s non-monetary incentives. Your Realtor can consult with the seller’s agent to find out what is most important to the seller. The seller may be crunched for time because of a new job or an offer on another house. The seller may need to close on the house before being able to make an offer on his or her next home. In this case, if you do not need to move in right away, you could offer the seller a temporary occupancy agreement to allow the seller to stay in the house for 60 days after closing. This kind of flexibility could bump your offer to the top. Or, the seller may be emotionally driven. Increasingly, buyers are writing letters or sending video messages to sellers expressing why they love the property and what they plan to do with it. Knowing that a young married couple plans to start a family in the home that gave birth to their own could influence a seller to choose one offer over another.

Buying or selling a home in this tough market can be difficult, but an experienced Realtor can help you overcome these challenges to get the best price for your home.

Call us today for an E xtraordinary real estate experience!

Georgia Locations: 5 E Perry Street, Savannah, GA 31401 | 912.233.6000 2 Skidaway Village Walk, Suite A, Savannah, GA 31411 | 912.355.4171 ©2020 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity.

MUSIC

FEATURE

Ward Davis talks country, metal, dogma and the long road to artistic freedom PHOTO COURTESY OF WARD DAVIS

BY FRANK RICCI

really great producer Jim “Moose” Brown. One of the best piano players in the world, he’s in Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet band, Grammy-winning songwriter, Grammy-nominated producer. He can hear things that I can’t even think to hear.

When I went in to cut “Black Cats and Crowes,” it wasn’t going to be anything like it is. It was going to be me and a piano, maybe a B3 organ, that was it. But Moose heard more, and it turned out totally different than what I imagined and totally better. I’m really lucky to have that guy.

CS: Tell me about the online shows in what you called the former mancave, and the Hawaiian-shirt performances.

WD: Those things actually, at the time, saved [me]. When the pandemic hit we didn’t have anywhere to play. Just being honest, I was looking at filing bankruptcy.

I’m in the t-shirt business, basically. We have to go play shows and sell t-shirts and all of that dried up overnight. I straight up panicked.

I was scared. But, I have a great management company; they … promoted those online shows and made sure it all went off without a hitch. They set me up so I wouldn’t lose everything I have.

CS: Have you played Savannah before?

WD: I know I played there a couple of times with Cody in a theater, I can’t remember the name.

CS: Trustees Theater?

WD: That sounds right. Man, I don’t know, I got the memory of a cat. I don’t know if you know about us outlaw country singers, but we drink and smoke a lot. Our shortterm memory is hell.

CS: Regarding lyrics, a lot of your stories are autobiographical, but all of them can’t be.

How do you make sure you’re giving an authentic voice to stories that aren’t your own?

WD: As a general rule, I like to say that the two most important things to me when writing is perspective and empathy. It’s very difficult to put yourself in

someone else’s shoes because you don’t know. The songs I have written that are not about me, there’s been something very close to me where lines cross. “I don’t know how that feels, but I know how this feels, and it sounds to me that it’s like how this feels.”

The song “The Sounds of Chains,” my buddy Greg Jones and I wrote after watching a documentary on the Oklahoma City bombing and Timothy McVeigh. He was a veteran and if you listen to interviews, he wasn’t a stupid man. Incredibly misguided, but he wasn’t a fool. What struck me about it was he was so dug into his conviction that he was doing the right thing. He thought he was justified. Completely 100% zero remorse or regret.

CS: Fully dogmatic.

WD: Yes, he felt he had done no wrong so after we watched it, I said I want to write a song about a guy like that. Somebody who thinks he’s going to glory after doing something so awful. While we didn’t write a song about this crazy militant whatever blowing up and killing a bunch of families, we wrote a song about a guy that had the same wheels turning in his head. He killed his wife and her boyfriend, but he didn’t feel bad about it because they were bad people. So, we wrote that song and I don’t know anybody like that, or I hope I don’t, but after watching that documentary and listening, you see how the same kind of guy can do the same kind of thing for a different reason with the same emotional justification.

I try to pick up on things like that when I’m writing. I’d way rather write about things I’ve experienced because it’s easier, but people don’t always want to hear about me.

Given the success he’s found lately, many people do want to hear about Ward Davis and what he has to say. Join them at Victory North, April 10 at 7 p.m., and become one yourself.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

THE CLICHÉ about a specific genre of country music songs being exclusively sad stories of down-and-out regular folks struggling with love, truck, dog and gun troubles is not entirely without merit. The reality, of course, is more complex and fans with a sense of humor can laugh that off knowing the upper echelon of country singer-songwriters capture blue-collar tales with all the grit and detail of well-established storytellers like Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Cash. Ward Davis is one of those artists. He lived the rollercoaster ride of the Nashville machine for 15 years before striking out on his own, and boy, does he have stories to tell. His most recent album “Black Cats and Crows” displays a maturity and confidence honed over years of brief highs and longer lows.

Connect Savannah: So, you’re doing well in Arkansas and you head out to Nashville. What were your expectations?

Ward Davis: Honestly, I thought I’d be there two weeks, somebody would discover me and I was going to be famous in a year. I was slightly out of touch with how reality works. I grew up in Monticello, Arkansas, a tiny, tiny … well, not that tiny, but not big enough to know anything about the real world. I moved there expecting

things to be pretty quick. Then, I started meeting people and I realized it wasn’t going to happen overnight.

CS: What was the first thing to happen that made you believe you were on to something?

WD: I think anyone who has lived in Nashville for any amount of time will tell you they tried to move home, but something — especially in my case — something always happens … nothing really big, but something always happened that kept me there. The first thing that happened for me of any consequence is Sammy Kershaw recorded a song I’d written in 2002. That kept me around for a while and everything moves slow.

Then, I started playing keyboards for a buddy of mine, Ray Scott. He was on Warner Bros. and I got to tour the country with him.

After a few years I recommitted myself to my own craft and my own artistry and started writing songs. I’d get songs cut here and there by different people, but no big hit, no real showing.

CS: Some bigger stars did record your songs.

WD: Yeah, when Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard recorded one of my songs, that was my cue. I was never going to get a better cut than that, and it was a sign that the guys that like your music aren’t the guys they are playing on the radio.

So, I took that as a sign and cut

my little “15 Years in a 10-Year Town” record and got a booking agent and started grinding. I hit the road and played anywhere they would hire me. I’d sit in the corner of a sports bar for $200 a thousand miles from home just to have a gig.

Slowly but surely, I started meeting people and realized there was another world of country artists out there that weren’t doing it the traditional way, they weren’t going to Nashville, they weren’t getting a record deal, getting a production deal, getting a publishing deal.

CS: But, they were the ones playing the more traditional country music that you like.

WD: Exactly. One of the first people I met when I started touring was Cody Jinks. I ended up on a show with him in Texas and listened to a bit of his music. We became fast friends and started writing together, started hanging out together, started touring together. Since then it’s been up and up and up, slowly, but it’s a lot faster than it was in Nashville.

CS: Speaking of Cody, before he started playing country, he fronted Dallas-Ft. Worth thrash metal band Unchecked Aggression.

WD: I grew up in a … well, my dad wasn’t militant, but there were some types of music we just didn’t listen to growing up and one of those was thrash metal.

CS: Thrash specifically?

WD: And hip hop and jazz, whatever. It’s been fun because Cody still writes and lyrically leans into that metal lyricism and I didn’t realize it. We would listen to one of his metal songs and he’d hit stop and tell me what the guy was singing. Man, thrash metal is just really beautiful poetry when you hear it.

CS: On “Black Cats and Crows” there are some fullband songs, some pianoforward songs, and some acoustic guitar songs. Is that pre-planned?

WD: Man, you don’t really know until you get there. I’ve got a

19

CONNECT SAVANNAH MUSIC

7-13

SOUNDBOARD

Apr/

WHO IS PLAYING WHERE THIS WEEK WEDNESDAY 4/ 7 LIVE MUSIC

Driftaway Cafe Chuck Courtenay, 6 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Ray Tomasino, 7 p.m.

The Wormhole Open Jam, 9 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

El-Rocko Lounge Trivia with Jules and Chris Grimmett, 9-11:30 p.m.

Service Brewing Company Trivia Night with Jess Shaw, 6:30 p.m.

KARAOKE

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

Wet Willie’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

COMEDY

Totally Awesome Bar Savannah Comedy Underground, 9 p.m.

THURSDAY 4/ 8 LIVE MUSIC

Cohen’s Retreat Munchies & Music, 5-9 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES Bar Food Trivia Night, 8 p.m.

McDonough’s Family Feud, 7 p.m.

SAT// SAT

KARAOKE

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Karaoke Night, 8 p.m.

The Wormhole Karaoke, 9 p.m.

COMEDY

Totally Awesome Bar Open Mic Comedy, 8:30 p.m.

DJ

Club 51 Degrees DJ B-Rad, 9 p.m.

Top Deck Sunset Deck Party, 6 p.m.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

FRIDAY 4/ 9

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LIVE MUSIC

Churchill’s Pub Ga Kyle, Anders Thomsen Trio, 6 & 9:30 p.m.

Coach’s Corner High Velocity, 7 p.m.

Congress Street Social Club Miss Paradise, 10 p.m.

Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant JodyJazz Trio, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

River House Andrew Gill, 6 p.m.

Service Brewing Company Bluegrass By The Pint with Swamptooth, 6 p.m.

The Shrimp Factory

Eric Clark, 6 p.m.

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m.

The Warehouse Joe Wilson, Hitmand Blues Band, 2 & 6 p.m.

Wild Wing Cafe Ford Natirboff, 7 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

PS Tavern Beer Pong Tournament, 10 p.m.

KARAOKE

Bay Street Blues Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Blueberry Hill Karaoke, 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Karaoke Night, 9 p.m.

Totally Awesome Bar Karaoke, 10 p.m.

DJ

Club 51 Degrees DJ Fer, DJ Emalo, DJ Lil G, DJ BRad, 9 p.m.

VICE Lounge + Mojito Bar DJ Primal, 9 p.m.

BAR & CLUB EVENTS Club One Drag Show, 10:30 p.m. &

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THE CADILLAC THREE @SADDLEBAGS SAVANNAH, 8 P.M. 12:30 a.m.

SATURDAY 4/10 LIVE MUSIC

Churchill’s Pub Joe Wilson, Savannah Road, 6 & 9:30 p.m.

Coach’s Corner Nightrain - The Guns N Roses Experience, 7 p.m.

Congress Street Social Club DJ Flip, 10 p.m.

Ghost Coast Distillery Ben Keiser, 4 p.m.

Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant JodyJazz Trio, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

River House Matt Eckstine, 6 p.m.

Saddle Bags Savannah The Cadillac Three at Saddlebags, 8 p.m.

The Shrimp Factory Jason Bible, 6 p.m.

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m.

The Wormhole Neighborhood Pub & Music Venue Square Pizza, Top Ramen, Pebble Jones, DJ Dank Caliendo (House Party 6), 10:30 p.m.

The Warehouse Rachel Shaner, Phantom Wingo, 2 & 6 p.m.

Wild Wing Cafe Corey Chambers, JD Music Group, 1 & 7 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

Blueberry Hill Pool Tournament, 2 p.m.

KARAOKE

Bar Food Karaoke Night, 10 p.m.

Bay Street Blues Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Totally Awesome Bar Karaoke, 10 p.m.

COMEDY

Club One Comedy Revue, second Saturday of every month, 8 p.m.

The Wormhole Neighborhood Pub & Music Venue HOUSE PARTY 6, 8 p.m.

BAR & CLUB EVENTS Club One Drag Show, 10:30 p.m. & 12:30 a.m.

SUNDAY 4/11 LIVE MUSIC

Churchill’s Pub Joe Wilson, 1 p.m.

Collins Quarter at Forsyth Ember City, 2 p.m.

Congress Street Social Club Voodoo Soup, 10 p.m.; Voodoo Soup, 10 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Roy Swindell, 7 p.m.

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m.

Tubby’s Tank House (Thunderbolt) Bucky & Barry, 1 p.m.

The Warehouse Austin Neal, 6:30 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

Moon River Brewing Co. Trivia, 6 p.m.

KARAOKE

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

MONDAY 4/12 LIVE MUSIC

Karaoke, 9 p.m.

BAR & CLUB EVENTS Fia Rua Irish Pub Family Movie Night, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY 4/13 LIVE MUSIC

Nickie’s 1971 Roy Swindell, 7 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

Basil’s Pizza and Deli Trivia, 7 p.m.

Fia Rua Irish Pub Trivia, 7 p.m.

McDonough’s Trivia Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Oak 36 Bar + Kitchen Trivia Tuesday, 9 p.m.

Savannah Taphouse Trivia, 7 p.m.

Starland Yard Trivia with Chris Grimmett, 6:30 p.m.

KARAOKE

Club One Super Gay Bingo, 5:30 p.m.

Blueberry Hill Karaoke, 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

Wet Willie’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

Wet Willie’s

Stafford’s Public House Stafford’s Tuesday Comedy Open Mic, 8:30-11:45 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Ray Tomasino, 7 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES KARAOKE

COMEDY

SOUNDBOARD IS A FREE SERVICE - TO BE INCLUDED, PLEASE SEND YOUR LIVE MUSIC INFORMATION WEEKLY TO SOUNDBOARD@CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM. DEADLINE IS NOON MONDAY, TO APPEAR IN WEDNESDAY’S EDITION. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT OR CUT LISTINGS DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS.

THE BAND PAGE

NIGHTRAIN @ COACH’S CORNER

Experience the ultimate Guns N’ Roses tribute show this Saturday at Coach’s Corner. Nighttrain is the closest thing to the real deal without the real price tag. For just $25, or $35 for VIP, you can get taken down to the paradise city with the group that has been taking the U.S. by storm. Be sure to get in line by at least 6:30 p.m. Tickets sell out fast.

SATURDAY, APRIL 10 | 7 PM

JAM NIGHT WITH ERIC CULBERSON @ MCDONOUGH’S

BEN KEISER @ GHOST COAST DISTILLERY

THE HITMAN BLUES BAND @ TWO CRACKED EGGS

Need mellowing out after a Saturday night in downtown Savannah? Head over to River Street’s Two Cracked Eggs and listen to the former Connect Savannah’s Best Local/Funk/R&B/Soul Group, Brett Barnard, aka, Hitman, and his band.

SUNDAY, APRIL 11 | 9 AM - 1 PM

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

A definite show not to miss is guitarist Ben Keiser. He combines fingerstyle, looping and jazz techniques to create a seamless set of high-energy, acoustic medleys and soundscapes. It’s just a bonus that he’ll be playing at Ghost Coast Distillery, SATURDAY, APRIL 10 | 4 PM

Touted as Savannah’s longest-running jam night since 1989, local favorite Eric Culberson hosts one of the coolest and unique live music experiences in the area every Tuesday at McDonough’s. You never know who will pop in to jam with the legendary blues guitarist and while the music is typically very bluesy, you’ll be surprised by what genre you may hear.

TUESDAY, APRIL 13 | 9 PM – 1 AM

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MUSIC

GET FUNKED UP!

PHOTO COURTESY OF FUNK YOU

Funk You Kicks Off 10-Year Anniversary Show in Savannah

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

BY BRITTANY HERREN

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THE ETHOS OF Funk You is simple: friends, fun and love. Through their decade-long career, the nine-piece funk and soul outfit from Augusta has developed a comradery that extends even to their national fanbase. Celebrating 10 years together, the group is bringing their characteristic brand of dynamic, syncopated rhythm to Savannah on April 16 at Victory North, doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

It’s the kickoff of a seven-show, southeastern tour that will take them to Ashville, North Carolina, on April 17, Gulf Shores, Alabama, on April

22, Atlanta on April 24, Charleston, South Carolina, on April 30, Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 7, and wrapping up with a show in Macon on May 8. Funk You will be playing new music and old favorites, including songs from “Funk You 10th Anniversary Edition,” a partially reimagined, newly remastered version of their 2011 debut album that drops on April 9.

In addition to celebrating their time together, the tour and remastered album pays homage to the group’s current lineup and the addition of their three-man horn section that has added a groovy, new mix of vigorous instrumentation. Fans can listen to two, newly released tracks: “Space

Monkey” and “Baby in a Bucket,” now anywhere music is streamed.

Funk You’s “Space Monkey” opens with the bombastic beats of drummer Will Clark. As William Foster slowly rises in on the keys, you are struck with a powerful “Hey!” from lead vocalist Gavin Hamilton. It’s the signal. The funk has risen and the rest of the dynamic, nine-man, groove machine—Evan Miller on Guitar, Palmer Owens on percussions, Mark “Earl” Dykes on bass and vocals, Gnarly G on saxophone, Josh Spilliards on trombone and sousaphone, and Geoff Wood on trumpet and guitar—take the listener on a funky trip, that as the song promises,

will “send you soaring through the stars.”

“Baby in a Bucket” gives a softer vibe with a resonant guitar riff that takes the listener on a soulful trance, just before the punctuation of horns and percussion that introduce Hamilton’s vocals. The re-recorded tracks are much more representative of the band’s musical growth over the years, in terms of numbers and capacity.

Ticket’s to the April 16 Victory North show are $20 and can be purchased on the band’s website at FunkYouMusic. com. Also, fans will be thrilled to learn that Funk You will be releasing a new album this fall.

TUESDAY:

OPEN MIC AND JAM SESSION HOSTED BY ERIC CULBERSON — 9PM

TRIVIA STARTS @ 7PM

Ardsley WEDNESDAY: S tat i o n

MIDWEEK BLUES

WITH ERIC CULBERSON — 9PM

HAPPY HOUR M-F 2PM-6PM KITCHEN OPEN LATE! HOURS AND LOCATION 21 E MCDONOUGH ST, SAVANNAH, GA 31401 M–SAT 10AM TO 3AM | SUN 10AM TO 2AM WWW.MCDONOUGHSLOUNGE.COM

SAV PHIL

PRESENTS

Beethoven Piano Trio & Tango Experience an exclusive taste of The Haunt!

Join us for an exciting night of community, fun, food and drink.

Featuring a 3-part appetizer and drink tasting, prepared live.

THURSDAY | APRIL 22, 2021 | 7-9 PM

April 16 7:30 pm $50

$55

Skidaway Island United Methodist Church Kristen Spiridon I Clarinet Sandra Nikolajevs I Bassoon Chee-Hang See I Piano

For tickets visit savannahphilharmonic.org MUSIC DIRECTOR SPONSOR Charles C. Taylor & Samir Nikocevic Charitable Foundation

PER/PERSON

SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC

For more information or purchase tickets, contact Erica Baskin at erica@connectsavannah.com or at 912.721.4378 or 912-231-0250

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

The chef will share his process and inspiration along the way, allowing guests to be immersed in the delicious The Haunt menu.

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CULTURE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MASSIE HERITAGE CENTER

‘Civil War Medicine in Savannah’

A visual engaging exhibit featuring Civil War Surgery and Phamacology now on display at the Heritage Classroom at the Massie Heritage Center

BY BRANDY SIMPKINS

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

brandy@connectsavannah.com

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MANY ARE THANKFUL for the often quick relief of modern day medicine, but most don’t take heed to its gruesome origins.

Currently on display at the Massie Heritage Center is a Civil War Medicine and Pharmaceutical exhibition that displays what it was like to receive medical treatment in the 18-19th centuries.

The exhibition, curated by Massie Heritage Center Curator and Director Steven Smith highlights when Massie was seized and converted into a Union Hospital in 1865.

“The historical background is that when Sherman arrived in Savannah in December, shortly after that in January of 1865, he seized Massie and turned it into a hospital,” Smith said. “He had over 60,000 troops with him, it was the coldest winter

in recorded history here in coastal Georgia. He needed some medical services and resources, so he seized Massie and several other buildings throughout the town.”

According to the curator, the exhibition features many important institutions, and is divided into categories including Civil War pharmaceuticals, Civil War surgery, and Savannah in the Civil War. Smith shared that back then, there was no anesthesia, but surgeons used plenty of stomach-turning tools to revive casualty soldiers.

“Just the appearance of these instruments is very frightening and goury in a way,” Steven said. “One instrument is the capital knife— a long very intimidating looking knife that was curved. They would amputate a leg with that— it was for large

VISUAL ARTS be used as a very informative exhibit.

In light of Hodges who always dressed up to give the medicine presentation, Smith decided that he will dress up as he leads the presentation as a union surgeon officer.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MASSIE HERITAGE CENTER

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

limbs— then they would have to saw through the bone,” Smith said.

Though many of the methods were gruesome, Smith implies there was a method to the madness.

“They didn’t know about germs in the 1860s, but by the 1880s germ theory was the norm. Once they started to figure out that germs are the root of all illness and sickness that’s when modern medicine really started to take off, and they started to treat people in a more sanctuary process,” Smith said. “It’s referred to as the ‘Age of Agony’ but it actually was the first step in the process of modern medicine, because they were still using the scientific process. It was a lot better than some of the more superstitious methods that were used in earlier times.”

Though medicinal practices have advanced, Smith says we’re not a far cry from the healing methods used in the 18-19th century.

“Take into consideration that they use the same instruments today, but you don’t know it because you’re well under with modern anaesthetic,” Smith said.

Smith recalled working in an 18th-century Colonial Fort historic site in Darrien, GA, saying he had a friend teach him how to educate on and present 18th-century medicine. Smith said when he began working for Massie and found out they were seized as a hospital, he could not wait to put a full medical exhibit on display about it.

“The only problem is, you can’t find these resources on aisle three at Target,” Steven chuckled.

“You’ve got to track them down, and it can take years and years and years to do that.”

Smith said of his friend, Scott Hodges, who often surfaced as General James Oglethorpe at the Georgia Day Parade, “he had terminal cancer so he wanted us to have his medical kit so we could carry on his legacy of that type of program and instruction.”

Smith said when Hodges passed, Massie received something that was invaluable to them that would

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CONNECT SAVANNAH

7-13

ART PATROL ‘Count Down’ by Rose Simpson

In Countdown, a major commission of new works by Rose B. Simpson, the artist surpasses the signature human scale typical of her figurative sculptures, bringing bodily forms to an unprecedented totemic stature. $10 general admission June 26. scadmoa.org/.

SCAD Museum of Art, 601 Turner Blvd.

‘Star Tap’ by Emily Furr

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

‘Star Tap’ by Emily Furr.

Furr paints celestial visions that place cool, hard-edged objects within weightless, star-filled voids. Furr’s artwork plays with a codex of motifs, exploring their potential formations through a process of repetition.

The artist’s serialized tropes take the shape of tongues laden with hallucinogenic sugar cubes, sloping conveyor belts adorned with astral points, rocket engines with acutely sharp, almost erotic edges, tubes, chains, and myriad metal hardware. $10 general admission May 9. scadmoa.org/.

SCAD Museum of Art, 601 Turner Blvd.

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Faces of 2020 by Elise Aleman

Elise Aleman’s Faces of 2020 is on display at Gallery Espresso through the end of March. galleryespresso.com/. The Gallery Espresso, 234 Bull Street.

Todd Schroeder: X Rated

Schroeder’s X paintings manifest his ongoing romance with paradox ‘X - Rated’ is on view from Feb. 12th to April 10th.

Free admission April 10. 912.438.4442. info@ laneycontemporary.com.

Laney Contemporary, 1810 Mills B. Lane Blvd.

Youthful Adventures: Growing Up in Photography Youthful Adventures: Growing Up in Photography seeks to celebrate and complicate views of childhood as a universal stage in life, but one that varies broadly in experience. This exhibition is grounded in photographs from the permanent collection of Telfair Museums and speaks to the growing collection.

April 18. telfair.org. telfair. org/jepson/. Jepson Center for the Arts, 207 West York St. ONGOING

American Gullah Collection The “American Gullah Collection” by Sonja Griffin Evans is a traveling exhibit that depicts the unsung pioneers of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor and of America. The story behind this culture’s creation is compelling. The Gullahs are descendants of West Africans who were forced to the colony through the trans-Atlantic slave trade. ongoing. regus.com. Regus, 100 Bull Street, Suite 200.

APR/

Caribbean, Latin American, and African Art from the 1980s and 1990s

Featuring some of the best known Haitian artists of the day, including Denis Smith, Fortuné Gérard, and Prospère PierreLouis. “Hoppin’” John Martin Taylor is offering part of his collection of folk art as he prepares to move overseas again. ongoing. PW Short, 414 Whitaker St.

Complex Uncertainties: Artists in Postwar America

Complex Uncertainties: Artists in Postwar America is an evolving exhibition grounded by works in Telfair’s modern and contemporary collection. This presentation brings forth undercurrents that permeate artmaking from the global eruption of World War II until today—events that challenge artists to explore unknowns, react to power, and construct narratives. ongoing. telfair.org/jepson/. Jepson Center for the Arts, 207 West York St. CLASSES ONGOING

Art Classes and Lessons

Drawing and painting classes and private lessons offered by artist Karen Bradley. Call or email for details. 912-5077138. kbillustration@mac. com.

RISING ALONG THE RIVER

Haitian artists makes a living selling paintings along River Street PHOTO BY BRANDY SIMPKINS

BY BRANDY SIMPKINS brandy@connectsavannah.com

LIKE MANY PASSERSBY, I found myself captivated by a painter on River Street.

Every day, Jean Claude Martin sets up shop along with many other businesses lining Savannah’s riverfront. As locals and visitors begin to stroll the cobblestoned streets during this warm season of the year, crowds surround him — some to marvel at his artwork, some to buy.

Martin uses vibrant colors, an island flair, and endless inspiration to paint lively people and places with no two paintings being identical, the artist said.

Martin said that he gets to River Street by 10 a.m. every morning, he leaves after 7 p.m., and when he gets home, he continues to work.

The painter said that on average, it may take him anywhere between three days to three weeks to complete a piece. On a weekly basis, he said that sometimes he sells three paintings and sometimes he sells nothing, but he still makes it to work everyday.

Martin is originally from Haiti, where his family currently resides. While in Haiti as a young boy, Martin spent time watching the elders as they farmed and harvested crops, carved sculptures, weaved baskets, butchered cattle, and painted pictures,

FOR MY CONGREGATION

I’m COVID vaccinated.

“I chose the COVID-19 vaccine for my wife, my son, my family, friends and my church congregation. I know there’s a lot of history particularly in the African-American community, but what you have to do is measure the risk versus the reward. In talking with people who survived the coronavirus and said, ‘You don’t want it,’ and so the question for me was, do you want to risk taking the vaccine or do you want to risk getting COVID? For me, the choice was easy. I’d rather have the vaccine than COVID.” — The Rev. Dr. Jai S. Haithco, Sr., Senior Pastor at St. Philip AME Church

SPREAD THE FACTS NOT THE VIRUS

www.sjchs.org/vaccine

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

and he knew that he would soon have to find his own way to make a living for himself.

“In Haiti, it’s no joke, there’s nothing,” Martin said. “If you want to survive you have to come up with something on your own to get where you want to go.”

Martin said he began painting at age 11 and by age 16 he knew that it was his money-maker. The artists said that he has been painting for 27 years, and he has never worked for anyone but himself.

Seventeen years ago, Martin and a friend traveled from Haiti to come to Savannah and he has been selling paintings along River Street ever since. Though starting his new life in a new location was not easy, Martin was determined to make it work.

“Anywhere in the world, when you first get there, life is tough, but the only thing that you have to do is that you take it how it comes, tough or not,” Martin said. “That’s what I did when I got here. I knew it was going to be tough for me, but it’s okay. I’m an artist. I say I’m going to survive one way or another way.

It doesn’t matter how tough life is, I’m going to make it one day anyway. That was always in my mind.”

Martin shares that his priorities are his and his family’s stability.

“As long as I can pay my bills, I’ve got enough to survive, I’ve got enough to eat, and I can paint a picture and sell it to make money to send it to my family to survive in Haiti — that’s my goal,” Martin said. “That’s when I feel like I’ve made it.”

Though Martin is content providing for himself and his family, he shares that everyone has aspirations for a better life.

“No artist has one goal in his mind. You have to work to see where it takes you,” Martin said.

“That’s the way life is.”

27

JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

BY MATT JONES ©2021

“MISS STATEMENT” — DON’T WORRY, IT’S ALL HERE.

SAFELY DINE INSIDE, CURBSIDE OR TO-GO. WHICHEVER YOU CHOOSE, WE’RE HERE FOR YOU!

Lorem Ipsum Nerdy Burlesque & Drag Show!

Tickets available at: clubone-online.com/shop Check out our Patreon: @tiedandtasseled

SKIDAWAY • WATERS • ABERCORN • HWY. 80 • HWY. 21 • POOLER

Georgia Southern University invites applicants for the following vacancies on the Armstrong campus:

CONNECT SAVANNAH | APR 7 - 13, 2021

Veterans Project Coordinator - JOB ID 224865

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Director of Development - Development Executive Director - JOB ID 224902 Please visit the Georgia Southern University employment website and complete the application process at http://apptrkr.com/2187110 The application process must be completed by the deadline to be considered. Georgia is an open records state.

Individuals in need of reasonable accommodations under the ADA to participate in the search process should notify Human Resources: (912) 478-6947. Georgia Southern University is an EEO/AA/ADA/Veteran employer.

ACROSS 1 Dental degree 4 “Pygmalion” author’s initials 7 Big name in keyboards and motorcycles 13 Green Day, for one 14 Key on either side of the space bar 15 Lack of interest 16 Song activity #1 18 Senator Kyrsten 19 Linguistic suffix with “morph” or “phon” 20 Admit, as a guest 22 Director Grosbard with a palindromic name 23 Song activity #2 28 Filipino dish 29 Dock workers, at times 30 Actress Daly of “Judging Amy” 31 Capital in the Andes 34 Harry Potter sidekick 35 Song activity #3 38 ___ de los Muertos 41 Gently prods 42 Rough file 46 Integrated set that allows you to browse the Internet, e.g.

48 Seasonal gift giver 49 Song activity #4 53 Play a part 54 Knock it off 55 Aussie hopper 56 Difference in a close ballgame 59 Song-based trick wherein the things the singer’s “never gonna” do to you describe the

theme answers, in order 61 Extremely ___ (addicted to Twitter, say) 62 “Thrilla in Manila” result, for short 63 “Black Swan” actress Kunis 64 World leader whose name is repeated in Dead Kennedys’ “Holiday in Cambodia” 65 “___ alors!”

66 ‘60s activist gp.

DOWN 1 Serious-and-funny show 2 Had for supper 3 Landscaping purchase 4 ___ damn (cared) 5 “Expletive deleted” sound 6 Runway 7 “___ queen!”

8 Bee-fix?

9 The Red Devils of the Premier League, when abbreviated (the team uses this as their website) 10 Artist’s workshop 11 Author better known as Saki 12 “You’re the Worst” star Cash 13 Casey’s place, in a poem 17 ___ buco (veal dish) 21 2010 Eminem song featuring Lil Wayne 24 “___ to differ!”

25 Greek vowels 26 Indian restaurant basketful 27 Channel that airs frequent reruns of “Family Feud” 31 “Arrested Development” surname

32 Venerable London theater 33 Band booking 36 Poker dues 37 Abbr. on folk music lyrics 38 Broadband internet alternative 39 Unequivocal refusal 40 Very small power source 43 Mobile phone choice 44 Leisurely walks 45 ‘50s music scandal cause 47 Vacation while stationed in parks, perhaps 48 Canine : “doggo” :: serpentine : “___” 50 “The Neighbors” actress Jami 51 17-syllable verse 52 Neckwear worn by Fred on “Scooby-Doo” 56 Alley-___ (basketball maneuver) 57 Card game with four main colors 58 Badminton divider 60 Abbr. in a rental ad

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

tree-fifty tuesday tuesday Wine wednesday SIppin TEa Monday tree-fifty all all beer, beer, titos, titos, RBV, RBV, $3 Truly Tea $13 Buckets $3 Truly Tea $13 Buckets

jameson: jameson: $3.50 $3.50

thursdays & Sunday Live dj | 6-9 pm Drink specials Live dj | 6-9 pm Drink specials

Half off Bottles

125 West River Street On top of the cotton sail hotel 125 West RiverTHRU StreetTHURSDAY On top of the cotton SUNDAY 11AM TO 11sail PM*hotel SUNDAY THURSDAY11AM 11AMTO TO1AM* 11 PM* FRIDAYTHRU AND SATURDAY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 11AM TO 1AM*

www.topdeckbar.com www.topdeckbar.com

*CLOSING HOURS SUBJECT TO CHANGE *CLOSING HOURS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

PHOTOS FROM LOCAL EVENTS

Photos by Bunny Ware

View more photos online at connectsavannah.com/connected

Chris Sywassink of Ghost Coast Distillery, Tyler Kopkas of Ardsley Station and Charles Morris of Connect Savannah convene at the Taste of Ardsley Station event March 25 at the Trustees’ Garden Tasting Kitchen.

Sydney and Ben Lassen make an appearance at the Taste of Ardsley Station event put on March 25 by Connect Savannah.

TASTE OF ARDSLEY STATION EVENT BRINGS LOCALS TOGETHER TO DINE Members of the downtown Savannah community preview a new American bistro March 23 as Connect Savannah hosts its first-ever ‘Taste of’ event at the Trustees’ Garden Tasting Kitchen, featuring Ardsley Station. The restaurant’s co-owner, Tyler Kopkas, offered small bites to debut the new menu while cocktails were served by Ghost Coast Distillery and dessert was offered by Leopold’s Ice Cream.

Michael Edwards, Renee Miller and Lisa and Ed Alvarez enjoy fine dining while observing the process to prepare the dishes March 25 at the Taste of Ardsley Station.

Bonnie Shelton, Jon Cohen and Wendy Cohen enjoy cocktails and wine as they await to preview the food prepared by Ardsley Station, March 25, at Connect Savannah’s ‘Taste of’ event.

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Kara Tate and Jennifer Ozer await the chef’s pairings March 25 in the Trustees’ Garden Tasting Kitchen.

Emily and Jared Hall enjoy the atmosphere at the Taste of Ardsley Station event.

Amanda Schlender, Freddie Thomas, Jacqueline Mumford and Betty Frazier serve guests at the Taste of Ardsley Station March 25 at the Trustees’ Garden.

Photos by Bunny Ware

PHOTOS FROM LOCAL EVENTS View more photos online at connectsavannah.com/connected

Jacob Hagstrom, Gregory Stoner and David Hoffmaster greet veterans at the Hero Hut tent.

Anand Rao, Jim Vejar and Billy Folinosz reap the benefits of the Hero Hut at the championship.

VETERANS, FAMILIES HANG AT HERO HUT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP Military service members, veterans and their families hang out at the Hero Hut March 27 during the Club Car Championship at The Landings. The Hero Hut, a nonprofit working to provide resources to veterans as they transition back into civilian life, provided refreshments, food and other donated items to visitors at their tent.

Tyler, Isabel and Red Merritt enjoy the camaraderie March 27 at the Hero Hut.

Jacob Givens, Daniel Munoz, Bryce Kitchen, Matthew Blackburn and Adam Luhasiewicz watch the championship while indulging in the free refreshments at the Hero Hut.

Regina Wages and Rodney Rawls beat the heat March 27 at the Hero Hut set up on the 17th green during the Club Car Championship at The Landings.

O.C. Fowler cheers on the golfers from the Hero Hut at the Club Car Championship.

Rich Noel and Sheri Adams watch golfers compete from within the fences of the Hero Hut Tent March 27 at the Club Car Championship.

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When Elizabeth found out she was pregnant with twins she was ecstatic x2. But she was worried about the increased birth risks. She was referred to Dr. Carmela Pettigrew and the dedicated team at the Mary Telfair Women’s Hospital.

DELIVERING GOOD NEWS IN TWOS. Elizabeth Bremer - Savannah, GA

The OR team at the Telfair BirthPlace knew Elizabeth was high risk, so their attentive nature was comforting to Elizabeth during her delivery. “The staff at Mary Telfair Women’s Hospital at St. Joseph’s/Candler were very welcoming, professional and forthcoming, which I very much appreciated.

They kept me calm and relaxed when the twins came four weeks early!”

THAT’S WHY I CHOOSE ST. JOSEPH’S/CANDLER Carmela Pettigrew, M.D. - OB/GYN

SJCHS.ORG