Connect Savannah, December 23, 2020

DEC 23-29, 2020 NEWS, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM

Holy Scene Renovation begins at Savannah’s historic Cathedral Basilica ALSO INSIDE:

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CELEBRATIONS SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC

2021 CONCERTS

CHRISTMAS

CONFECTIONS

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

JON OSSOFF

DAVID PERDUE

RAPHAEL WARNOCK

Abortion on Demand

NO

YES

2

Trump Impeachment

NO

3

Sanctuary Cities

NO

Trump Tax Cuts

YES

Amy Coney Barrett for US Supreme Court

YES

6

Withdraw from Iran Nuclear Deal

YES

7

Defund Planned Parenthood

YES

4

$2,000 Child Tax Credit

YES

(DEMOCRAT)

YES YES YES NO NO NO NO NO

GEORGIA

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5

1

U.S. SENATE

(REPUBLICAN) 8

9

NO 11

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

1. Electjon.com/policy. 2. twitter.com/ossoff Feb 5, 2020. 3. facebook.com/jonossoff Town Hall Video Timestamp 41:06 May 30, 2020. 4. twitter.com/ossoff Sep 20, 2019. 5. atlantamagazine.com Oct 23, 2020. 6. jewishinsider. com/ Oct 6, 2019. 7. ajc.com May 19, 2017. 8. perdue.senate.gov Press Release Jan 19, 2018. 9. H Res 755 Roll Vote Number 33, Vote Number 34 Feb 5, 2020. 10. perdue.senate.gov Press Release May 16, 2017. 11. HR 1 Vote Number 323 Dec 20, 2017. 12. senate.gov vote# 224 Oct 25, 2020. 13. perdue.senate.gov Press Release Aug 6, 2018. 14. perdue.senate.gov Press Release Aug 3, 2015.

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U.S. SENATE

(DEMOCRAT)

NO NO

YES NO

Border Wall

YES

Trump Tax Cuts

YES

Trump Impeachment

NO

$2,000 Child Tax Credit

YES

Defund Planned Parenthood

YES

Obamacare

NO

Amy Coney Barrett for US Supreme Court

YES

2

2

3

4

(REPUBLICAN)

NO

3

NO RESPONSE

KELLY LOEFFLER

Abortion on Demand

1

NO RESPONSE

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GEORGIA

5

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FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.MVP.SOS.GA.GOV PAID FOR BY SAVANNAH AREA REPUBLICAN WOMEN’S CLUB

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1.ajc.com (5-20-20). 2. FFC Candidate Survey. 3.ocgnews.com (7-21-17). 4. warnockforgeorgia.com/issues/ reproductive-rights. 5. warnockforgeorgia.com/issues/healthcare. 6. onlineathens.com (9-28-20). 7. kellyforsenate.com/issues. 8. twitter.com @kloeffler (6-30-20). 9. senate.gov (H.Res.755 Vote#33,34 2-5-20).

10.twitter.com @kloeffler (8-27-20). 11. loeffler.senate.gov (10-15-20). 12. senate.gov vote# 224 (10-25-20)

VOTE JANUARY 5 OR BY MAIL OR IN-PERSON EARLY VOTING

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WEDNESDAY 12.23

THURSDAY 12.24 2020 Christmas Eve Lunch and Dinner Cruise

Experience Christmas Eve festivities out on the waters of the Savannah River with Savannah Riverboat Cruises. Indulge in delicious buffet-style holiday fare and dance along to in-house entertainment featuring holiday tunes. After lunch, guests can join the captain on the top deck for a chance to take panoramic riverfront photos while listening to tales and facts about historic Savannah. Lunch Cruise: Boarding begins at noon, departure at 1 p.m. and returning at 2:30 p.m. Dinner Cruise: Boarding at 4 p.m., departure at 5 p.m., and returning at 7 p.m.

Departing from Rousakis Plaza, River St. savannahriverboat.com/seasonal-cruises/

2020 Hilton Head Jingle Jingle 5k Run

The 29th annual Hilton Head Jingle Jingle 5k Run will continue its yearly tradition by holding this Christmastime athletic occasion with a socially distanced twist, as the race will be limited to 250 runners with a time trial start between 8 and 8:30 a.m.

Runners will take off in three-minute intervals to limit the clustering of people along the route. Registration deadline is Dec. 23, and participants are encouraged to wear clothes that showcase their holiday spirit.

Check the Bear Foot Sports website for more details.

Crossings Park, 6 Haig Point Ct. bearfootsports.com

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Twinkle Bark Stroll Holiday Lights

Kwanzaa – A Celebration of Family and Community with Master Storyteller Lillian Grant-Baptiste

Join local storyteller Lillian Grant-Baptiste as she illustrates the origin, true meaning, and historical significance of Kwanzaa in a spirited celebration hosted by Savannah’s Beach Institute and presented virtually via Zoom and Facebook Live.

Grant-Baptiste will dig deep into the ideals that define this African American holiday, and explain the Nguzo Saba (The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa) and how each principle helps to build strong bonds throughout the community. The presentation will wrap up with a step-by-step overview about how to properly set a Kwanzaa table, followed by a Gullah folktale that demonstrates the spirit of Kwanzaa.

7-8 p.m. beachinstitute.org/event

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WED., 12.23

There’s nothing more magical than adopting a pet, and what better way to do so than partaking in a night of Christmas fun at Coastal Pet Rescue’s Twinkle Bark Stroll encore event. For a minimum $5 donation per person, guests can meet adoptable pets, walk through an outdoor wonderland of lit up trees and decorations, sip hot chocolate, and roast marshmallows.

4-8 p.m. coastalpetrescue.org/events ‘A Christmas Tradition’

Enjoy onstage holiday glitz and glitter amid a two-hour Christmas Eve performance featuring holiday favorites, a little comedy, and Santa and his dancing reindeer. This will be the show’s last performance of the season. Check the Historic Savannah Theatre website for showtimes and ticket info.

The Historic Savannah Theatre, 222 Bull St. savannahtheatre.com

FRIDAY 12.25 Savannah Ballet Theatre’s ‘The Nutcracker’ Broadcast on WSAV

The Savannah Ballet Theatre announces an exciting new twist for this year’s traditional performance of “The Nutcracker”.

Due to the pandemic, this annual event has been transformed into an on-air broadcast in partnership with local NBC affiliate WSAV-TV. The station will broadcast a 90-minute performance of ‘The Nutcracker’ twice on Christmas Day from 5.30 a.m.-7 a.m., and again from 5 p.m.6.30 p.m. The performance will also be available for streaming on the WSAV and Savannah Ballet Theatre websites as well as via their social media channels. savannahballettheatre.org

SATURDAY 12.26 Beer + Yoga

Join yogi Karrie Comeau (and Service Brewing brew cats) for a 60-minute vinyasa yoga class in the Service Brewing production facility. The $15 class includes a 60-minute yoga session and a pint of

beer. Bring your mats and feel free to arrive as early as 11 a.m. Class starts promptly at 11:30 a.m.

Last Saturday of every month, 11:30 a.m.

Service Brewing Company, 574 Indian Street. servicebrewing.com

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.

912-484-0279. forsythfarmersmarket.com

Front Porch Improv: Fun House

Join Front Porch Improv for a night of spontaneity and laughs with their comedic-improvisation show “Fun House” at Front Porch Improv Theatre. Performers will ask the audience for inspiration on various comedic topics and then act them out onstage.

8 p.m.

Front Porch Improv, 210 W. Victory Drive. frontporchimprov.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

Wonder Woman at Jesup Drive-In

The latest installment of the DC Comics cinematic canon, Wonder Woman 1984, hits theaters on Christmas after being

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delayed several months since its original opening date due to the pandemic.

Viewers can watch this action-packed superhero flick at home on HBO Max, in theaters, or take the drive down to the Jesup Drive-In and watch the film from within the comfort of their own car. The Jesup Drive-In’s first showing of Wonder Woman 1984 will be on December 26 at 7:30 p.m. Check the Jesup Drive-In website for information about additional show times.

3686 Savannah Hwy., Jesup 912-427-7254. jesupmovies.com

SUNDAY 12.27 Mindful Flow New Yoga

All-levels flow yoga overlooking the Savannah River. This 60-minute class is designed to renew the senses, reset your mind, and help (re)build a more supple body. Expect a fluid sequence built around mobility-based movements to cultivate strength & flexibility. Class is held on the Riverwalk in Montgomery Park.

9-10 a.m.

Plant Riverside District, 500 W. River St. $15 912-777-5615. newyoganow.com

MONDAY 12.28 Tybee Island Farmers Market

Weekly market featuring a variety of produce, baked goods, honey, eggs, BBQ, sauces and dressings, popsicles, dog treats and natural body products. Artisans are also featured each week. Visit their website for more info.

4 p.m.

30 Meddin Drive, 30 Meddin Drive. tybeeislandfarmersmarket.com

TUESDAY 12.29 Savannah Christmas Market Plant Riverside District

The Savannah Christmas Market Plant Riverside District promises a sparkling variety of holiday traditions from European and the American South in the city’s newly opened popular entertainment district November 27 through January 3, 2021. Enjoy a wide range of holiday-themed events, live performances and family-friendly activities. All events are free and open to the public.

Nov. 27-Jan. 3, noon-11 p.m.

Plant Riverside District, 500 W. River St. Free and open to the public. savannahchristmasmarket.com

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

WEEK AT A

TO HAVE AN EVENT LISTED IN WEEK AT A GLANCE EMAIL WAG@CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM. INCLUDE DATES, TIME, LOCATIONS WITH ADDRESSES, COST AND A CONTACT NUMBER. DEADLINE FOR INCLUSION IS 5PM FRIDAY, TO APPEAR IN NEXT WEDNESDAY’S EDITION.

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NEWS BRIEFS

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A professional journalist’s role is to impartially report the news based on verifiable facts so readers can, based on their own knowledge and experience, determine the truth behind varied issues and developments. This is often an ongoing pursuit as journalists work to uncover stories and follow those

stories wherever they lead, regardless of preconceived ideas.

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

EDITORIAL

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Nick Robertson, Editor-in-Chief nick@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4360 Taylor Clayton, News Editor taylor@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4356 Brandy Simpkins, Staff Writer brandy@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4358 EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Chris Griffin, Brittany Herren, Lindy Moody, Bunny Ware, Lauren Wolverton, Nicole Youngblut ON THE COVER: An angel amid the model of Biblical scenes at Savannah’s Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. Photo by Adriana Iris Boatwright

DESIGN & PRODUCTION Brandon Blatcher, Art Director artdirector@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4379 DISTRIBUTION Wayne Franklin, Distribution Manager (912) 721-4376 CLASSIFIEDS Call (912) 231-0250

Over 23,500 Chatham ballots cast in first week of early voting during early-voting operations for ChaA TOTAL of 23,521 ballots were cast by tham’s Nov. 3 general election.

Chatham County residents by the end of Meanwhile, by Dec. 21 the Chatham the first week of early voting in Georgia’s County Registrars nationally promioffice had sent out nent Jan. 5, 2021 40,532 absentee balU.S. Senate runoff lots for the Jan. 5 races, Chatham U.S. Senate runoff, Board of Registrars with 7,375 of them Director Sabrina returned by Dec. German said on 18, according to Monday, Dec. 21.

German.

Voters started There are ten visiting Chatham absentee-ballot dropCounty’s five earlybox locations around voting locations Chatham County, when they first where filled-out opened on Dec. 14, mail-in votes can be and by Dec. 19, a dropped off up until total of 16,146 bal7 p.m. on Jan. 5. On lots were cast at Dec. 16, the newest these polling sites, drop-box location German said. Lines was established at of voters stretched around the Board Savannah’s Pennof Registrars office sylvania Avenue polling location durResource Center at Chatham County residents line up for early ing the first days 425 Pennsylvania voting at the Board of Registrars office on of early voting, but Avenue. by the afternoon of Dec. 15. PHOTO BY TAYLOR CLAYTON Early voting will Dec. 17, there was no continue across wait to vote at the Savannah Civic Center Chatham County through Dec. 31, which polling site. is also the last day to request an absentee German said that the number of workers ballot; visit voter.chathamcountyga.gov for and COVID-19 precautions in place at each more details. early-voting site were “about the same” as − Taylor Clayton

Savannah municipal leaders call for federal LGBTQ+ protections SAVANNAH MAYOR Van Johnson and Alderman Kurtis Purtee joined over 140 municipal leaders from across the U.S. in signing a letter calling on Congress to enact federal LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination protections.

According to a copy of the letter submitted on Dec. 15 and available at freedomforallamericans.org, 29 states – including Georgia − currently lack legislation protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in public life. Municipal leaders from the 29 states signed the letter addressed to all members of Congress.

“It’s time for Congress to fulfill its responsibility and pass a federal law making clear that no one should face discrimination because of who they are, who they love or what zip code they call home,” the letter states.

While 11 cities in Georgia have passed laws providing LGBTQ+ protections within their individual communities, this leaves most of the Peach State without ordinances prohibiting LGBTQ+ discrimination in housing, employment, and public spaces, according to a written statement issued by Purtee.

“As an elected official, it’s my obligation to ensure all people are treated equally under the law,” said Purtee, the first openly gay member of Savannah’s City Council.

“Despite passing the strongest possible laws in our own communities, we cannot protect our constituents when they cross city limits.”

Savannah’s City Council unanimously passed a municipal LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination ordinance in August.

– Nick Robertson

NEWS BRIEFS

Savannah healthcare workers receive COVID-19 vaccine CHATHAM COUNTY healthcare workers were among the first Americans to receive coronavirus vaccinations on Dec. 15, almost immediately after the first shipment of Pfizer’s lifesaving shots arrived in Savannah.

Since then, St. Joseph’s/ Candler provided COVID-19 vaccinations to over 1,000 people by Monday, Dec. 21, including workers at the healthcare provider’s Pooler Campus and Bluffton Campus, as well as Savannah Fire employees, according An employee of St. Joseph’s/Candler receives the COVID-19 to a St. Joseph’s/Candler vaccine. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. JOSEPH’S/CANDLER spokesperson.

Healthcare professionals from the ChaSome of the first healthcare workers to tham County Health Department, Memo- receive vaccine doses expressed relief. rial Health, and St. Joseph’s/Candler “I am absolutely excited because it’s the were among the first Georgia residents light at the end of the tunnel for us,” said to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the Terria Manning with the COVID Unit at Health Department office on Savannah’s St. Joseph’s.

Eisenhower Drive during a Dec. 15 press While lauding the vaccine’s arrival, conference.

Kemp cautioned the public to continue Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and practicing COVID-19 safety precautions to Department of Public Health Commiskeep the virus at bay for the vast majority sioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey attended the of the public that will not be immunized press conference to praise the speed of until well into 2021. the vaccine’s production. Kemp said the “We need everyone to hunker down and vaccine will first go to vulnerable nursing- continue to follow the four things we’ve home residents and healthcare workers. asked to limit the spread: wear your mask, “The work done by the Trump adminwash your hands, continue to socially disistration, in Operation Warp Speed, to tance when you can, and continue to follow manufacture and deliver these vaccines the guidance of public-health officials,” has been nothing short of a miracle,” Kemp Kemp said. said. − Brandy Simpkins

ON VIEW NOW! FOR MUSEUM HOURS, VISIT TELFAIR.ORG

A PROPOSAL to raise the annual compensation for each Chatham County Commission member by $5,000 was struck down during the board’s Dec. 18 meeting, after Chairman Al Scott said that the pay raise could not be implemented because it was put forward too late for consideration.

Scott said that by Georgia law, a payraise proposal could not be passed by the outgoing board for the incoming County Commission members because there were not enough meetings remaining this year to arrange a vote on the matter.

“We’ve been advised by counsel that we could not take further action on this and be in compliance with the law, because it

requires three readings,” Scott said. “With that said I’m not going to have any further discussions on it unless somebody wishes to make any comments on it.”

The item was then removed from the agenda without further discussion.

Commissioner Pat Farrell had suggested the pay raise as a last-minute addition to the agenda during the board’s Dec. 4 meeting. The current annual salary for district-representative commissioners is $27,328.79, while the Commission Chair receives $64,427.61.

The new County Commission members are set to take office on Jan. 4, 2021. − Taylor Clayton

investment provided by:

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

County Commission pay-raise proposal nixed by technicality

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STONELORDS

NEWS POLITICS

NYC/SAV Hip-hop artist Common at the Garden City rally on Dec. 19. PHOTO BY TAYLOR CLAYTON

Common supports Ossoff and Warnock at Garden City senate-campaign rally

Drive-up event draws a few hundred Democratic supporters for Jan. 5, 2021 runoff races

BY TAYLOR CLAYTON

taylor@connectsavannah.com

Happy Holidays from StoneLords

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

Contemporary concept shop, art gallery and design studio featuring local and international designers and artists.

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Located in the Downtown Design District 415 Whitaker Street 11AM - 5:00PM Tuesday-Saturday By appointment only on Sunday & Monday

W W W.S T ONE L OR D S .C OM

GEORGIA DEMOCRATS Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock added some glory to a Garden City rally on Saturday featuring a live performance by acclaimed hip-hop artist Common.

Warnock was campaigning in and around his native city of Savannah for the second Saturday in a row on Dec. 19, this time joined by Ossoff and Common during a Garden City stop on his “It’s Time To Vote” bus tour. Ossoff and Warnock are vying to unseat Georgia’s Republican U.S. Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the Peach State’s nationally prominent Jan. 5, 2021 senate-runoff races, which will determine the balance of power in Washington, D.C. for the next two years.

“I’m so grateful to be back in my hometown of Savannah, Georgia, and I’ve decided to bring our brother Common with us,” Warnock said to the Saturday gathering of a few hundred people, many parked in their cars for the drive-up rally held with COVID-19 precautions. “I’m so glad he’s here and Jon is here, we wanted to take it up another level. You know, I put on for my city.”

Warnock went on to say that he would

not forget about Savannah-area residents if elected.

“There’s no place like home,” Warnock said. “Savannah, Georgia, it’s been 150 years since we had a United States senator from Savannah. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s about time. When I get to the United States Senate, I will have Savannah on my mind.”

During his speech, Ossoff asserted that Perdue and Loeffler were more interested in their own personal enrichment than helping struggling Georgia residents.

“We are running against the Bonnie and Clyde of corruption in politics. Savannah, how did we wind up with David and Kelly?” Ossoff said. “Two United States senators more concerned with lining their own pockets in office than protecting the health and the financial well-being of we the people who pay their salary.”

Common performed some of his hit singles, including “The People”, “The Light”, and the Oscar-winning “Glory” featured in the 2014 film Selma. Prior to each song, he spoke about the relevance each one had to Georgia’s senate-runoff election.

“This glory is for those that came before us,” Common said. “Who strategized, who walked across bridges, who fed the children, who were hosed down, some were killed, dogs were sicced on them.

They sacrificed their lives for us.”

NEWS COMMUNITY

Savannah to honor Kwanzaa with pandemic-safe events Local leaders launch city’s first-ever Kwanzaa Krawl to boost Black-owned businesses

SALE SAVE 5% ON EVERYTHING IN THE STORE! SALE ENDS DECEMBER 25th 5% discount can not be combined with any other offer.

Twelve Oaks Shopping Center 5500 Abercorn St. | 912.335.1879

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

particularly boys and men, I thought it would be fitting to highlight our culture on a broader stage, to remind our young men

BY BRANDY SIMPKINS and women of how valuable they are, evoke brandy@connectsavannah.com love, and help them to understand the responsibility they have to our ancestors THE PANDEMIC MAY detract from this who fought for so many of the freedoms holiday season, but the spirit of Kwanzaa they enjoy today.” prevails as Savannah leaders find ways for Gibson-Carter has teamed up with locals to honor the seven-day celebration.

Savannah State University Professor Kwanzaa is an African American and Jamal Touré and master storyteller Lillian pan-African holiday that is celebrated Grant-Baptiste to launch the city’s firstannually during Dec. 26-Jan. 1. In the ever Kwanzaa Krawl. words of Kwanzaa’s founder, Dr. Maulana The goal of the Kwanzaa Krawl is to Karenga, “Each year Kwanzaa provides us increase economic activity for Blackwith a special and unique time to see and owned restaurants, showcase artists, and celebrate ourselves as African people in support local nonprofit organizations. beautiful, uplifting, and liberating ways.”

Participants can support the restaurants To observe Kwanzaa this year, Savanby dining there, and can bid on displayed nah leaders are organizing events that give works by local artists. the community options to These events will feature celebrate from the comfort demonstrations of Kwanof their own homes or in zaa’s seven principles, the socially distanced settings Nguzo Saba. Families celon each night of Kwanzaa. ebrate Kwanzaa by lightLisa Jackson, the educaing a candle each day for tion coordinator for the seven days to honor seven Savannah African Arts principles: Ujoma (unity), Museum, has organized Kujichagulia (self-determivarious virtual workshops nation), Ujima (collective demonstrating the creation work and responsibility), of African art. The series Ujamaa (cooperative ecoculminates with the Kwannomics), Nia (purpose), zaa Assemblage workshop.

Kuumba (creativity), and “An assemblage is a great Imani (faith). way to share your story with A Kwanzaa assemblage with “It’s about us coming family, friends, and commu- symbolic imagery. PHOTO together in unity, cooperanity during Kwanzaa. It can COURTESY OF THE SAVANNAH tive economics, collective be given as a gift, displayed AFRICAN ARTS MUSEUM work, and responsibility − a on a table, framed, or hung divine purpose with our as a Kwanzaa decoration that you may faith being etched into all stones of selfchoose to add elements to each year,” said determination,” said Touré.

Jackson.

During Kwanzaa Krawl events, a limited All of the workshops will be available number of participants will be allowed throughout the Kwanzaa holiday on into the restaurants to abide by social disthe African Arts Museum website; visit tancing and other COVID-19 precautions, savannahafricanartmuseum.org//2020so reservations are recommended. workshops/12-1 to learn more.

Savannah’s Kwanzaa Krawl celebrations Kwanzaa is also significant in that it was will be happening at the following local founded in response to violence against, restaurants between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.: as well as within, the African American Odyssey 2.0 (65 W. Fairmont Ave.), Dec. 26; community, according to Savannah 520 Tavern (8820 Abercorn St.), Dec. 27; Alderwoman Kesha Gibson-Carter.

Kool Vibes (4501 Montgomery St.), Dec. 28; “More than 50 years ago, Kwanzaa was 2 Chefs (2005/2007 Martin Luther King created in response to community riots in Blvd.), Dec. 29; Belford’s (315 W. St. Julian Los Angeles,” Gibson-Carter said. “In the St.), Dec. 30; Unforgettable Bakery and face of increased homicide in Savannah Café (238 Eisenhower Dr.), Dec. 31; and among our African American youth, Liquid Café (10201 Abercorn St.), Dec. 31.

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NEWS COMMUNITY

2020 Holiday Pack Walk lets local dogs strut their stuff Annual event by Renegade Paws Rescue highlights foster dogs with seasonal style

BY LAUREN WOLVERTON

lauren@connectsavannah.com

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

A CHILLY downtown Savannah evening was buzzing with holiday cheer and fourlegged friends sporting reindeer antlers, sparkling collars, and cozy seasonal sweaters for the city’s 2020 holiday-edition Pack Walk to highlight local foster dogs on Friday, Dec. 18.

Pack Walk was created by Renegade Paws Rescue founder Jen Taylor, and is intended to bring the community together and help socialize foster dogs. Current and former Renegade foster dogs, along with anyone who wants to participate, are welcome to join in on outdoor group dog walks held by the organization year round.

The holiday walk began at Forsyth Park’s fountain with boozy hot chocolate for adults and “puppuccinos” for their furry partners. A large group of mask- and ugly-sweater-wearing humans and dogs

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A foster pup shows off its holiday sweater.

then made their way up Bull Street to the city’s Christmas tree on Broughton Street.

Organizer Cody Shelley says Pack Walk is a relaxed event and a great way to build a dog’s social skills. She also says it’s not uncommon for attendees to fall in love during a Pack Walk.

“Many of the foster dogs that come are up for adoption,” Shelley said. “We have

Pack Walk participants hit Savannah’s streets in style. PHOTOS BY LAUREN WOLVERTON

meet-and-greets and adoptions at Pack Walk regularly.”

Participants don’t have to be dog owners to enjoy Pack Walk. In fact, they don’t even have to be from Savannah.

Chana Widawski was in town from New

York City on Dec. 18 to encourage Georgians to vote in the state’s Jan. 5 U.S. Senate runoff election, before learning about Friday’s Pack Walk. Renegade organizers brought Banjo, a former foster dog, for Widawski to walk for the evening.

Widawski says she organizes community events back home, so she was excited to join Pack Walk in Savannah.

“These are the types of events that are what the world needs,” Wisawski said.

“We need to come together and make connections and share experiences.”

Shelley was also thrilled to be downtown and enjoying the holiday spirit, something she says she’s been missing this year.

“This is a really beautiful, excellentintentioned way to get together and enjoy the holidays,” Shelley said.

Renegade Paws Rescue is always looking for new foster families. Organizers also encourage pet owners to reach out about spay and neutering information.

To learn more, foster a dog, or donate to Renegade Paws Rescue, visit renegadepawsrescue.org or call 912-570-5032.

The staff at Connect Savannah would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Holiday!

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Ossabaw Island to host ‘wild’ New Year’s Eve celebration

Social distancing won’t be a problem on uninhabited Chatham County isle

BY TAYLOR CLAYTON

taylor@connectsavanah.com

AFTER A tumultuous year beset by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, celebrating New Year’s Eve this holiday season may be a treacherous undertaking. Welcoming 2021 in an outdoor environment can make all the difference – so the Ossabaw Island Foundation has come up with a shindig where open-air social distancing definitely won’t be a problem.

During the organization’s “Wild Night on Ossabaw” celebration, participants will spend the night of New Year’s Eve out on Ossabaw Island, one of Chatham County’s largest uninhabited nature preserves. A world removed from Savannah’s downtown party scene, Ossabaw will welcome fresh-air fanatics to learn about the island’s conservation efforts, history, and natural habitat while staying at camp-like accommodations through the first morning of 2021.

The journey will begin on the afternoon of Dec. 31 at Delegal Marina on Skidaway Island, where a pontoon boat will transport guests from the mainland to drop them off at Ossabaw Island’s north end. There travelers can check into their quarters and either take part in an interpretive walking tour led by party host

and Ossabaw Island Executive Director Elizabeth DuBose, or explore the island on their own.

“Ossabaw is Georgia’s first heritage preserve, and that designation gives it the highest level of protection afforded by Georgia’s Heritage Preserve Act of 1975,” said DuBose. “It’s 26,000 acres − and it’s clearly undeveloped − and it was set aside for natural scientific research, cultural research, and educational purposes.”

These distinctions make the island a difficult place to visit, as there is no bridge connecting it to the mainland. DuBose and the Ossabaw Island Foundation feel that putting on events such as the “Wild Night on Ossabaw” and others, are a good way to educate people and bring awareness to the island while raising funds for conservation efforts.

“It’s really a taste of Ossabaw, hoping that they will want to come back,” said DuBose. “Whether it’s a photography workshop or maybe a turtle overnight stay − spend two nights on the island and learn about the nesting sea turtles − or indigo-dyeing workshop. It’s kind of like the introduction to Ossabaw, but staying overnight.”

After spending the last day of 2020 enjoying the soothing peace of nature, guests will savor a sundown farm-to-table dinner featuring varied Southern side

dishes, cake for dessert, s’mores by the campfire, and a high-spirited champagne toast to celebrate the New Year. Everything to be experienced on this excursion will have a nugget of history attached to it, even the food.

Back in 1924, Ossabaw Island was purchased by Dr. Henry Norton Torrey and Nell Ford Torrey, a couple who lived in Michigan and wanted a Georgia home for spending their winters. In 1978, their daughter Eleanor “Sandy” Torrey West led the family’s negotiations in selling the island to the state of Georgia for $8 million, half of its appraised value. After the sale, Sandy lived on her 23-acre estate on the island from 1987 until 2016, when she moved to Savannah, where she still lives at 108 years old.

“We’ll have traditional greens for money and black-eyed peas for good luck, and we also serve a mystery cake, which was the favorite dessert served by Sandy West’s mother,” said DuBose.

Due to the pandemic, “Wild Night on Ossabaw” accommodations are limited to ensure social distancing, but participants also have the option to bring tents and camp at a designated site.

Visit ossabawisland.org/visit/overnight-trips for more details on this event and future Ossabaw Island Foundation excursions.

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The undeveloped marshland of Ossabaw Island offers plenty of fresh air for New Year’s Eve excursioners. PHOTO BY JANN LANE

9

NEWS FEATURE

LEFT: Savannah’s landmark Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. ABOVE: A close-up of the Christmastime model featuring Biblical scenes. PHOTOS BY ADRIANA IRIS BOATWRIGHT

BY NICK ROBERTSON

nick@connectsavannah.com

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

Holy Scene

10

Chapel renovation project now underway at Savannah’s Cathedral Basilica Complete refurbishment of lower-level hall expected to cost $4.75 million

THE TOWERING spires and ornate interior of Savannah’s Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist make this an impressive neo-Gothic city landmark year-round, but every December the site is further embellished with Christmas decorations like poinsettias, wreaths, and a grand-scale miniature model of several Biblical scenes surrounding the birth of Christ.

This December, the Cathedral Basilica unveiled another embellishment effort that is set to continue until around next Christmastime – the complete refurbishment of a long-neglected lower-level chapel, transforming it from an austere multipurpose room into a graceful hall with vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows to host varied functions amid an ambience that complements the distinguished setting upstairs.

The new meeting space will be called Regina Coeli (Queen of Heaven) Hall, which is the title inscribed above the ground-level chapel’s decorative entrance on Harris Street. With the hall’s interior now demolished, the refurbishment is expected to last one year and cost approximately $4,750,000, according to Cathedral Basilica Rector Rev. J. Gerard Schreck.

“We need a place where people can gather, and we don’t really have a space,” Schreck said of the Catholic congregation’s reasoning behind launching the chapelrefurbishment project. “We really have no place for a reception or anything like that.”

The Regina Coeli Hall was last renovated in the late 1930s under the leadership of Monsignor T. James McNamara

to provide the parish with a place to hold meetings and bazaars, Schreck said. However, as the onset of World War II limited the congregation’s resources, the refurbishment efforts were kept modest with features like drop ceilings and plain walls.

“He wanted to convert the downstairs to a chapel, which he did, but the war intervened,” Schreck said of McNamara.

As a youth growing up in Savannah, Schreck recalls attending varied church functions in the unostentatious Regina Coeli Hall, which was often used for services during summer months to escape the heat that filled the Cathedral before air conditioning was installed. “Masses were held downstairs from just after Easter to October.”

A major restoration project was completed in November of 2000 to revive the main Cathedral interior, but the Regina Coeli Hall was left untouched by this effort, Schreck said. While the groundlevel chapel’s renovation had been under consideration for a long time now, the decision to move ahead was partly prompted by the decree of Pope Francis earlier this year bestowing the Minor Basilica title on Savannah’s Cathedral.

“It’s a place of historical importance, and it’s a place of pilgrimage for Catholics around the world,” Schreck said of the Cathedral Basilica, adding that before the pandemic struck, the Savannah landmark was welcoming up to 300,000 visitors annually, and is often used for weddings and other special occasions.

The refurbished Regina Coeli Hall will have capacity for 600 people, and be equipped with screens to livestream simulcasts of major Cathedral Basilica events to overflow crowds. Additionally, the hall will feature preparation space for weddings, a meeting room, a catering kitchen,

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

ABOVE: Rev. J. Gerard Schreck. PHOTO BY ADRIANA IRIS BOATWRIGHT

RIGHT AND TOP: Renovation-plan graphics.

COURTESY OF THE CATHEDRAL BASILICA

new restrooms, a vesting area for visiting priests, and an enhanced adoration chapel.

Additionally, the lower-level hall is accessible by the church elevator, and natural light will flow inside from the courtyard.

While the Cathedral Basilica does not need to launch a formal capital campaign to raise funds for the Regina Coeli Hall refurbishment, Schreck said that parishioners are being asked to donate whatever they can to the effort, and added that this project also presents a rare facility-naming opportunity for donors who are able to provide larger sums.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist dates back to the late 18th century,

when French Catholic émigrés settled in Savannah following the French Revolution and were granted use of a lot on Liberty Square in 1799 to build the congregation’s original frame church, according to the Cathedral Basilica’s historical accounts.

In 1873, construction began on the Cathedral Basilica’s current site, and was completed in 1896 – but only two years later the Cathedral caught fire, with only the outer walls and spires surviving.

Undaunted by this disaster, parish leadership announced a reconstruction effort while the embers were still smoldering, and the Cathedral seen today was completed in 1900.

With such historic travails in mind to provide long-term perspective, Schreck and other Cathedral Basilica leaders are looking forward to the resumption of large-scale gatherings after the pandemic subsides, when the nave can again hold 1,000 people and the Regina Coeli Hall can soon welcome more than half that number. For now, a maximum of 250 people are allowed inside at once, restricting this year’s Christmas Mass events.

“We’ve roped off every other pew to provide the distancing that we need,” Schreck said. “There is a maximum number of people that can attend the services.”

To accommodate as many parishioners

as possible, this year the Cathedral Basilica will hold an additional Christmas Mass on Dec. 24, according to Schreck. The Christmas Eve services will be held at 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 10 p.m., while Christmas Day Mass will be held at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. – and all of these services will be livestreamed as well.

“We livestream Mass each weekend,” Schreck said, adding that many parishioners have become quite comfortable with joining Cathedral Basilica services online throughout the pandemic. “People have rightly gotten used to being home.”

Nonetheless, Schreck believes that once COVID-19 is no longer a widespread threat and in-person services can resume, parishioners and visitors will gladly flock to the Cathedral Basilica’s awe-inspiring setting once again.

“What we realized is how important it is for people to be present,” Schreck said of gatherings within the Cathedral Basilica – and soon after the holy site is expected to again be filled to capacity, the extra space in the Regina Coeli Hall will welcome even more people within a setting that matches the grandeur of the upstairs sanctuary.

“This space needs to be a beautiful space,” Schreck said of the Regina Coeli Hall. “The upper church is magnificent, and it needs to be an appropriate complement to that.”

Visit savannahcathedral.org for more details on Savannah’s Cathedral Basilica and the Regina Coeli Hall restoration project.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

FEATURE

11

SPA BLEU

GIFT CARD Give the Gift of Relaxation this Holiday Season with a Spa Bleu Gift Card!

On Sale all month: Buy 3 get 10% Off. Buy 4 get 15% Off. Buy 5 get ONE FREE! Offer valid in store only.

Stop by or call to purchase.

TELFAIR MUSEUMS

BIRD GIRL REPLICA Telfair Museums is home to Sylvia Shaw Judson’s famous Savannah Bird Girl statue. Bird Girl has become a Savannah icon and makes a perfect gift for anyone!

Replicas available in several sizes (15-inch, 24-inch and 37-inch).

Spa Bleu 101 Bull Street (912) 236-1490

Telfair Museums 912.790.8800

spableu-sav.com

telfair.org/shop

SAVANNAH SQUARE BY SQUARE This handsome hard cover coffee table book is

A Carefully Curated Collection of Last-Minute, Clever and Unique Gift Ideas from Coastal Empire Shops and Businesses.

GHOST COAST DISTILLERY L O C A L LY M A D E S P I R I T S Get the bourbon lover on your list a bottle (or two) of Savannah’s first ever, award-winning Ghost Coast Master Straight Bourbon Whiskey, made right here in the Hostess City. Gift cards and specialty gift baskets are also available. And if bourbon isn’t your thing, there are over 21 different spirits to bring lots of holiday cheer(s)!

wonderful gift for anyone who loves Savannah and our historic squares. It features more than 300 full color photographs of each of Savannah’s beautiful, historic downtown squares. Author Michael Jordan, a noted local filmmaker and historian, reveals the fascinating history of each of the existing squares, as well as the two lost squares and Savannah’s “other squares”. Available from The Davenport House Museum and other local gift shops and bookstores.

Savannah Square by Square 912.236.8097

Ghost Coast Distillery 641 Indian Street (912) 298-0071

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LOCAL HOLIDAY GIF TS F R O M T H E S A LT TA B L E Countless gift options that say “Savannah” made by Georgia Grown food artisans.

Shop in our Savannah, Pooler and Jekyll Island shops Or, buy online and ship anywhere in the US. Purchases over $49 ship free. Many options come with Elves!

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MCDONOUGH’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE GIFT CARD Give the gift of pure Savannah this Christmas: a Gift Card to McDonough’s Restaurant and Lounge. We now offer delivery for food in the downtown area.

Stop by or call to purchase.

McDonough’s Restaurant and Lounge 21 East McDonough Street (912) 233-6136

mcdonoughslounge.com

We Wish You All a Very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year!

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

The ever-popular Sample Bar at the Byrd’s flagship store.

SAVANNAH’S CHARACTERISTIC CHRISTMAS CONFECTIONS

Savannah’s own Byrd’s cookies make easy stocking stuffers.

Three locally founded sweet shops offering limited-time-only holiday delights

BY NICK ROBERTSON

nick@connectsavannah.com

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

FOR ANYONE with a sweet tooth, the Christmas season really is the most wonderful time of the year, especially when considering the tempting array of confections that are only available for a few weeks around Yuletide, like candy canes, gingerbread men, and fruitcake (well, let’s forget about that last one).

Here in Savannah, these Santa-savored treats are even more unique when they’re crafted by local confectioners who add a dash of distinctive flair when whipping up every batch of their holiday-season offerings. The fact that these sugary delicacies can only be enjoyed for a short while every year makes them eagerly anticipated highlights of Savannah’s Christmas scene.

The following trio of Savannah-based 14 confectioneries were all founded locally

and quickly earned a place in the hearts of area residents and beyond, leading to the opening of new locations near and far. Get into the Christmas spirit by discovering their limited-time-only holiday treats that are sure to hit the spot as a tasteful gift or as a delightful self-indulgence.

Byrd’s Famous Cookies

River Street Sweets offers fudge in Christmassy flavors.

Founded nearly a century ago in a Savannah shanty near City Market, this iconic cookie company remains a mainstay for locally made crumbly treats. Benjamin Tillman “Pop” Byrd, Sr. was only 28 years old when he launched his namesake business in 1924, and he earned instant popularity with his Scotch Oatmeal cookies that are still a bestseller at the company’s contemporary City Market shop. Nowadays, Byrd’s provides a variety of holiday-season specialties that are appreciated by all ages, from colorfully frosted Christmas cookies to huge gingerbread men – and with a Some of the gift items available at River Street Sweets. PHOTOS BY NICK ROBERTSON

FEATURE

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

after they’re received. Downtown Savannah location: 42 Abercorn St.; visit marchedemacarons.com for more details.

wide variety of decorative tins that can be packed with whatever cookie varieties are most desired, this can be an easily customized gift item good for shipping almost anywhere. Check out Byrd’s cool cookie jars as well, ranging from their classic glass variety to a ceramic model shaped like a pickup truck bringing a Christmas tree home. Downtown Savannah locations: 213 W. Julian St. and 423 E. River St.; visit byrdcookiecompany.com for more details.

River Street Sweets

Marché de Macarons

To enjoy a holiday treat that is truly très magnifique, stop by one of the shops owned and operated by locals Laura Hale and Amy Shippy, Savannah’s most renowned macaron mavens. After first perfecting their delicate macaron recipes in their own kitchens, the ladies have created some 50 gluten-free flavors all made with light almond flour, and have also spread their sweet success from a downtown Savannah store to expand to a Southside bakery site as well as a Hilton Head Island location. At any of these literally delightful destinations, patrons will find a wide variety of the artfully made cake-like French cookies yearround, including blackberry lavender, coconut dark chocolate, and bourbon

Marché de Macarons offers varied holiday-season specialties. PHOTO BY NICK ROBERTSON

pecan. However, during December the confectionery offers distinctively Christmassy macaron variations like gingerbread, eggnog, and candy cane, the latter option comprised of soft white-chocolate ganache, peppermint ganache filling, and

a crunchy coating of crushed peppermint.

The establishment’s selection of charming and colorful gift boxes makes this an easy way to provide presents to friends and family that will almost certainly be deeply appreciated and devoured soon

For almost 50 years, this local institution owned by Savannah’s Strickland family has drawn countless customers to step inside from strolls along the historic riverfront to delight in pecan pralines, freshly made fudge, and caramel-covered apples all made on-site. Originally the Stricklands sold knickknacks and Christmas ornaments at their River Street shop, but after Tim Strickland (then aged 11) convinced his parents to start selling fudge in 1973, the business model became candy-centered soon afterwards. Not surprisingly, the shop is still filled with ornaments every Christmastime – along with varied treats proffered in myriad gift boxes and tins – while special seasonal sweets include blocks of fudge flavored with candy-cane pieces and the essence of eggnog. Even old Scrooge would feel his Yuletide spirit soar when seeing the bustling store festooned with firry boughs and red ribbons, and the confectionery’s holiday catalog enables anyone to ship enviable edible presents with ease. Downtown Savannah location: 13 E. River St.; visit riverstreetsweets.com for more details.

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

OYSTER BAR. ROOFTOP. TIKI BAR. EVENT SPACE.

15

MUSIC THE BAND PAGE

FESTIVUS FOR THE REST OF US FEATURING DAMON & THE SH*TKICKERS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS FROM THE QUARANTINE CONCERT SERIES @COACH’S CORNER

Presented by Quarantine Concerts, Festivus For the Rest of Us invites you to come “air your grievances” and partake in the Festivus spirit with live music from Damon & The Sh*tkickers, featuring special guests from the Quarantine Concert series and an all-you-can-eat oyster roast. Tickets for general admission are $10; while the all-you-can-eat oyster roast costs $35. Admission will be limited to allow for social distancing.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23 | 7:00 PM

ROGER MOSS & KIM STEINER @PLANT RIVERSIDE

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

Vocalists Roger Moss and Kim Steiner pair up for a special Christmas-night show for the festive crowd at Plant Riverside.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25 | 7:00 PM

16

WHISKEY & WINE @THE WAREHOUSE

Playing covers of songs made famous by diverse artists spanning Nancy Sinatra to Nirvana, Whiskey & Wine plays favorites from a deep selection of tunes. Check them out this weekend at The Warehouse.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26 | 8:00 PM

VOODOO SOUP @MANSION ON FORSYTH

Bassist Eric Moore and the other members of the local soul, funk and rock band Voodoo Soup are hands-down some of the most talented musicians in town. Here’s a chance to check out their concert amid the plush setting of Savannah’s Mansion on Forsyth Hotel.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26 | 8:00 PM

MUSIC FEATURE

MUSIC EVENT IN THE SOUND GARDEN WEDNESDAY, DEC. 23 QUARANTINE CONCERTS @ COACH’S CORNER

FESTIVUS FOR THE REST OF US

Perpetual Care

Those about to rock offer salute to Savannah veterans

Local bands soldier on for fifth-annual ‘Rockin’ for the Vets’ fundraising concert on January 30 “We hosted the event at The Rail Pub the last few years, but we decided to move it back to The Wormhole this year to get back

BY BRITTANY HERREN to its roots and provide an indoor venue in case of inclement weather,” Baker said.

Over the last four years, Baker and coMEMBERS OF THE U.S. military overorganizer Billie Null (a bartender at The come all kinds of challenges to carry out Wormhole) have raised more than $4,000 their missions – and during Savannah’s for the Tiny House Project operated by fifth-annual “Rockin’ for the Vets” concert, the Chatham County Homeless Authority, several local bands will follow the example providing its veteran residents with safe of American soldiers to hold a fundraising long-term shelter, resources, and services, event benefitting area veterans while striv- along with a supportive community. ing to stay safe amid the ongoing coronavi“We hope to be able to raise even more rus pandemic. after our event this year,” said Baker.

On Jan. 30, local acts Whaleboat, The project hits close to home for Baker Ember City, Perpetual Care, Salute Your and Null, who are both Army combat vetJorts, and others will perform live at The erans of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Wormhole for this annual charity concert “It just seems like a natural fit for us,” that will raise money for Savannah’s Tiny explained Baker. “People seem to enjoy a House Project for homeless veterans. Con- reason to support local music while also cert entry is free, but organizers are asking helping out the most vulnerable members for donations at the door of money or nonof our community.” perishable food items.

Speaking of vulnerable populations, According to Michael Baker, bartender COVID-19 remains at the forefront of at The Rail Pub and a founding organizer the organizers’ minds as they carefully of the concert, this year’s “Rockin’ for the move forward with planning this concert Vets” show will be something of a homewhile the pandemic continues through the coming as it will be held at its original holidays. location.

“COVID-19 is a big concern this year, so

we are asking people to continue to wear masks and respect social distancing if they are attending the event in-person,” Baker said.

This year, in light of the pandemic’s obvious challenges, they are also making accommodations for people to attend the concert virtually through Facebook Live (check the Connect Savannah Facebook page to learn how to watch).

“I am working on a way to accept donations if people want to contribute while watching remotely,” explained Baker.

Baker and Null are hoping the remote option helps expand the concert’s audience and spread awareness for the event’s beneficiaries, and they are also offering other ways to raise money at the concert, like raffles, silent auctions and more.

“I feel that we’re a better community if we actively participate in enriching the lives of the less fortunate, especially those who have gone through the traumas that our veterans have,” said Baker.

Savannah’s “Rockin’ for the Vets” concert is happening at The Wormhole (2307 Bull St., Savannah) from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Dec. 30; attendees must be aged 18 or older. Visit wormholebar.com for more details.

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

Ember City

17

MUSIC CLASSICAL

Savannah Philharmonic announces new concert lineup for first half of 2021

Unique series of live performances will be held with COVID-19 precautions

BY NICK ROBERTSON

nick@connectsavannah.com

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

THE SHOWS WILL go on with live inperson performances by the Savannah Philharmonic during the first few months of 2021, thanks to careful planning for COVID-19 precautions and the creative spirit of the Hostess City’s premier classical ensemble.

While several planned performances of the SavPhil 2020-2021 season had to be canceled because of the ongoing pandemic, the five concerts happening from January through June were all recently organized with coronavirus concerns in mind. SavPhil Executive Director Amy Williams worked with Music and Artistic Director Keitaro Harada to make this new show lineup appealing to music lovers of all tastes, while implementing COVID-19 safety measures like socially distanced seating and mandatory face-mask usage.

Williams said that the effort to carry on SavPhil performances while the pandemic persists was partly borne from a desire to give locals events to look forward to.

“We’re striving to have something for everyone in the community,” Williams said, adding that while the pandemic may begin subsiding in the upcoming months, it will still take some time before the local music scene returns to anything resembling normal. “How can we have that feeling of togetherness?”

The answer was to select performance sites that allow in-person gatherings by providing extra distance between performers and audience members alike, which entailed a whole new way of scouting venues, according to Williams.

“It has caused us to walk into a space and look at it differently,” Williams said, explaining that every element of a performance had to be reevaluated to conform to COVID-19 safety measures, from the entrance to the seating area to the exits.

The two locations chosen for SavPhil’s newly announced shows – downtown Savannah’s Trustees’ Garden complex and the Skidaway Island United Methodist Church − provide plenty of 18 space for socially distant seating for

reduced-capacity audiences, and the musicians will be tested for COVID-19 before every performance, according to Williams.

Pandemic logistics aside, the five SavPhil performances will also be noteworthy for their distinctly differing programs:

An Evening in Paris

Harpists Carolyn Munford and Vonda Darr team up to present French classics including Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” and Ravel’s “Introduction and Allegro”, along with inspired renditions of a sultry tango and rhumba. January 22, 7:30 p.m.; $50.

Skidaway Island United Methodist Church

For the Love of Strings

Maestro Harada will conduct this concert featuring popular serenades for strings by British composer Edward Elgar and Czech virtuoso Antonin Dvořák. The performance will also include George Walker’s “Lyric for Strings.” February 16, 7:30 p.m.; $50. Kehoe Iron Works at Trustees’ Garden

Rollercoaster of Rhythm

SavPhil Principal Percussionist Stephen Primatic will treat eardrums to an energetic performance of resounding rhythms, including hypnotic grooves played by a marimba quartet and a variety of percussive surprises. March 11, 7:30 p.m.; $50.

The Metal Building at Trustees’ Garden

Beethoven Piano Trio and Tango

Had Ludwig van Beethoven ever been offered the opportunity to visit Buenos Aires, perhaps he would’ve given a performance like this. Hear his B-flat Major Piano Trio along with tangos from Astor Piazzola’s Estaciones Porteñas. April 16, 7:30 p.m.; $50. Skidaway Island United

TOP: Harpist Carolyn Munford. ABOVE LEFT: SavPhil Music and Artistic Director Keitaro Harada. ABOVE: Strings alfresco. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC

Methodist Church

Phil the Garden

SavPhil welcomes all ages with an interactive open-air show held on a grassy lawn, where kids can make instruments and play along with the musicians while lounging

on picnic blankets. June 27, 6:30 p.m.; $10.

Morris Center at Trustees’ Garden Visit savannahphilharmonic.org for more details about these performances and the Savannah Philharmonic.

Soundboard MUSIC

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.

LIVE MUSIC

Coach’s Corner Festivus For The Rest of Us, 7-10 p.m., Voodoo Soup, 7 p.m.

Driftaway Cafe Chuck Courtenay, 6 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Ray Tomasino, 7 p.m.

Plant Riverside District Eric Britt, 7-9 p.m.

Starland Yard Ryan Tiato, 6-9 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 Daniel, 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 12.24 LIVE MUSIC

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

The Perch at Local 11 ten Anna Kellam, 5:30 p.m.

Plant Riverside District Holiday Brass Quartet, 6-8 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

McDonough’s Family Feud, 7 p.m.

KARAOKE

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Karaoke Night 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.

FRIDAY 12.25 LIVE MUSIC

Plant Riverside District Roger Moss & Kim Steiner, 7-10 p.m., Kenny Munshaw, 5-9 p.m.

Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant

JodyJazz Trio, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

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

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

PS Tavern Beer Pong Tournament, 10 p.m.

KARAOKE

Bay Street Blues Karaoke 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.

SATURDAY 12.26 LIVE MUSIC

Barrelhouse South Ben Kaiser, 9 p.m.

Churchill’s Pub Tommy Bahama, 6-9 p.m., Kyle Yardley, 10 p.m.-1 a.m.

Jazz’d Tapas Bar Hitman Blues Band featuring Larry Duff, 7:30 p.m.

Mansion on Forsyth Park Voodoo Soup, 8 p.m.

Plant Riverside District Kenny Munshaw, 1-4 p.m., Laiken Love & Fellowship of Love, 7-10 p.m.

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

River House Ricky Standard, 6-9 p.m.

The Shrimp Factory Erik Clark, 6-9 p.m.

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m.

The Warehouse Whiskey & Wine, 8 p.m.-midnight Wild Wing Cafe Jason Courtenay, 1-4 p.m., Bill Hodgson, 7-10 p.m.

KARAOKE

Bay Street Blues Karaoke Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Totally Awesome Bar Karaoke, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY 12.27 LIVE MUSIC

Collins Quarter at Forsyth Live Music, 3 p.m.

Week at a Glance

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

Nickie’s 1971 Roy Swindell, 7 p.m.

The Perch at Local 11 ten Susanna Kennedy, 5:30 p.m.

Plant Riverside District Kenny Munshaw, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Equinox Quartet, 1-4 p.m.

Starland Yard Voodoo Soup, 6-9 p.m.

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m.

Tubby’s Tank House (Thunderbolt) Bucky & Barry, 1-4 p.m.

Wild Wing Cafe Jason Lamson, 1-4 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 12.28 LIVE MUSIC

Nickie’s 1971 Ray Tomasino, 7 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

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

KARAOKE

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Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

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BAR & CLUB EVENTS

Fia Rua Irish Pub Family Movie Night, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY 12.29 LIVE MUSIC

Nickie’s 1971 Roy Swindell, 7 p.m.

Plant Riverside District Hunter Price, 7-9 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

Basil’s Pizza and Deli Trivia, 7 p.m.

Fia Rua Irish Pub Trivia, 7:30 p.m.

McDonough’s Trivia Tuesday, 7 p.m.

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

Savannah Taphouse Trivia, 7 p.m.

KARAOKE

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

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

Wet Willie’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Get the lowdown on all the great events occurring in this week and next In Print & Online.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

WEDNESDAY 12.23

19

CULTURE VISUAL ART

In the Waiting Room with Marcus Kenney Savannah-based artist talks of his recent drawings and curation project during the pandemic

BY NICOLE YOUNGBLUT

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

MARCUS KENNEY (M.F.A., Savannah College of Art and Design, 1999) is a multidisciplinary artist for the last 30 years, 25 of which he has spent living in Savannah.

During the early months of the pandemic, he spent quality time in the kitchen with his wife and kids, making meals and walking around the local grocery store wearing a beekeeper’s helmet as his face mask of choice.

Kenney recently spoke of transitioning to a new artist studio, his “poetic” neon sculptures, the curation of the EPOCH show currently on view at Jacksonville’s Florida Mining Gallery, and collections of works on paper called The Waiting Room.

“I titled this series The Waiting Room to illustrate this time in our culture and the emotions we are all enduring and the 20 feeling of patiently sitting in a waiting

Artworks from recent projects by Marcus Kenney. PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARCUS KENNEY

shrimp boat with the environmental organization One Hundred Miles, he brought back a 13-foot cypress log for his sculpture entitled National Park. room. Within the drawings, I am trying “I created a body of work that comto capture that anxiety-filled tension that bined and reflected on my Cajun culture of one has while waiting in a doctor’s office, Louisiana and my adult home of the Lowexpecting to be diagnosed with some country. Most of the sculptures are naudreadful problem and using that as a meta- tical-based and include cast nets, fishing phor for the way our entire country, or the nets, crab traps, and other items associated world for that matter, is experiencing the with fishing and the water,” Kenney said. “I COVID pandemic,” Kenney said. incorporated well-worn and time-ridden “I’m the type of artist that has my hands objects that spoke to me of my childhood and thoughts in multiple places at once. I on the bayou, and also of my life living on a create sculpture, photography, drawings, marsh island in Georgia.” and paintings. I’m sure if you ask ten Kenney’s latest project during the different people what type of work Marcus pandemic has been curating the show makes, you would likely get ten different EPOCH at Florida Mining Gallery. The responses. Some may recall neon, while exhibition features five Savannah-based others would say photography or collage. artists − Emily Earl, Sharon Norwood, The one thing that is consistent within my Cedric Smith, Todd Schroeder, and Betsy work is the narrative and the use of objects Cain − as well as nine other artists from in a poetic manner,” says Kenney. around the Southeast, including Dustin Kenney grew up around Louisiana boat Harewood, Coulter Fussell, Jason John, culture with his grandfather and uncle, Jeremiah Jossim, JJ Faircloth, Malc who were both commercial fishermen.

Jackson, Michi Meko, Russ Noto, and Boat culture, the Lowcountry, and Cajun Russell Maycumber. culture are reflected in his neon sculptural “I wanted to highlight other artists. I art that he created for the past four years. enjoyed putting the show together and the While touring the Georgia coastline on a act of installing the works,” Kenney said.

Schroeder recalls how he became involved in the EPOCH exhibit.

“Marcus approached me about the EPOCH show, knowing about my series of work on pages of The New York Times.

This had been a weekly practice for me − started sometime after the 2016 election − of blowing paint through a mouth atomizer onto chosen pages initially as a reactionary expression of protest,” Schroeder said.

Cain’s artworks exhibited in EPOCH have multiple connections to Savannah.

“I am deeply engaged with the color of indigo. Not only for its historical stain on Savannah as a plantation crop, but also its evocation of the deep night and deep sea,” says Cain.

“Betsy Cain’s work included in EPOCH are these beautiful indigo silhouettes of dripping paint. These two pieces spoke to truly encapsulate the way our daily lives during the pandemic began to feel painfully monotonous, and also that time itself began to dissolve us into one long limbo.

I keep referring to it as the ‘waiting room effect,’” Kenney said.

Visit marcuskenney.com to learn more about Kenney’s work, and view floridamininggallery. com for information about the EPOCH exhibit.

JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

BY MATT JONES ©2020

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ACROSS

1 “Breaking Bad” sidekick 6 Written test format 11 Some mainframe computers 15 Follow, as an impulse 16 Pleas 18 QUESTION, PART 1 20 Cry bitterly 21 Blows away 22 ___ St. Soul (U.K. R&B/ soul group) 23 Controversial ride-sharing app 25 Fall back, as a tide 26 ASPCA part 29 QUESTION, PART 2 34 “Forrest Gump” actor Gary 35 “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for ___” (1985 best-seller) 36 “Laugh-In” comedian Johnson 37 Like many indie films 38 “Buon giorno,” in Brisbane 39 Go over the limit 40 Green Day, e.g.

41 “Sorry if ___ you down” 42 NBA team formerly from Minneapolis 43 QUESTION, PART 3 46 Charlemagne’s realm, for short 47 Device program 48 Cranberry sources 49 Greek letter after zeta 50 “Battlefield Earth” author Hubbard

52 Director Van Sant 55 ANSWER TO THE QUESTION 61 Closest to the ground, stature-wise 62 Otherworldly 63 Mgr.’s helper 64 Creator of Yertle the Turtle 65 Laundry cycle

DOWN

1 Movie score with a famous two-note motif 2 Bounce back 3 Aimless attempt 4 Imbiber 5 Grind to a halt 6 Milne’s mopey donkey 7 Flaky precipitation 8 Comedians Gilliam and Goldsmith, for two 9 Rainbow shape 10 “While that might be true ...”

11 “___ be here soon” 12 Took the bait 13 “I really don’t care” 14 157.5 degrees from N 17 It’s a likely story 19 “You ___ one” 23 Sleep aid brand 24 Like a shopping mall on Black Friday, ordinarily 25 Online selling site 26 Wall, for one 27 Playful aquatic animals 28 Dated term for college students 29 Site for reflection?

30 Prompt 31 Corvair investigator Ralph 32 “They went ___-way” 33 Actress Lauren of 2020’s “The Wrong Missy” 34 Louis Armstrong’s nickname 38 Unidentifiable cafeteria food 39 Did some karaoke 41 Repercussions 42 “Ghost Town” actress Tea 44 Irritate 45 Fastening bars shaped like letters 49 Louisiana, to Louis 50 In ___ of (replacing) 51 Monica Geller’s brother 52 Jack-o’-lantern look 53 College team from Salt Lake City 54 “Auld Lang ___” 55 “Don’t text and drive” ad, for short 56 Acuity measures that don’t really matter 57 Questionable, in “Among Us,” slangily 58 Hustle, quaintly 59 High-jump hurdle 60 Peyton’s sibling

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

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21

COMMUNITY PHOTOS

PHOTOS BY BUNNY WARE

Peregrin’s Reindeer on the Rooftop party at the Perry Lane Hotel

R

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

eindeer Blitzen and Vixen took some time off sleigh duty to hang out “up on the rooftop” during an outdoor party at the Perry Lane Hotel’s Peregrin bar on Saturday, Dec. 19. Guests were treated to music by the Hilton Head bluegrass group Lowcountry Boil while enjoying a signature Bacardi rum punch made just for this festive occasion. See more photos at connectsavannah.com/connected.

22

COMMUNITY PHOTOS

PHOTOS BY BUNNY WARE

Step One Automotive Group feeds military first responders and veterans

H

osting a “grab and go” meal giveaway for the military community on Thursday, Dec. 17, Step One Automotive Group’s Chatham Parkway location welcomed local food-truck favorite Chazito’s. See more photos at connectsavannah.com/connected.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | DEC 23-29, 2020

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