“THAT’S WHY I CHOOSE TO PRACTICE AT ST. JOSEPH’S/CANDLER.”
Dr. William Crosland, Interventional Cardiologist
KENNETH TURNER - SAVANNAH, GA
As an avid workout enthusiast and competitive bodybuilder, Kenneth was taken by surprise when he suddenly began feeling intensely ill. Luckily, he was just a short walk from the Candler Hospital Emergency Room – where he suffered a massive heart attack during his examination.
Literally bringing him back from death after 30 minutes of CPR, the Candler team put him on a ventilator and called Dr. William Crosland. Kenneth was transported to The Heart Hospital at St. Joseph’s Hospital, where Dr. Crosland inserted an Impella and followed it up with a coronary stent. After 30 days in a coma and 2 months in the hospital, Kenneth has made a full recovery. He’s back to working out and still in awe of the lifesaving care he received from Dr. Crosland and the entire St. Joseph’s/Candler team.
SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET
The iconic, family-owned Byrd Cookie Company celebrates 100 years.
Written by Keith Strigaro
Bluffton-based nonprofit BlacQuity aims to lift up the Lowcountry’s Black entrepreneurs with its community-wide Roots & Rivers Festival.
Written by Trelani Michelle
A couple writes a new chapter for a grande dame in Ardsley Park.
Written by Mary Fitzgerald
Photography by Jeremiah Hull/Attic Fire
Halloween knows no bounds — other than storage space — for these neighbors looking to scare and delight.
Written by Andrea Goto
Photography by Robin Elise Maaya
THE BEST OF SAVANNAH
The votes are in. Discover the people, places and plates that our readers find peachy keen.
Readers voted these doctors and medical professionals the best in the region.
Written by Zachary Hayes
Photography by Mike Schalk
THE COVER
From
Cameron Scott, Vanessa Tilly and Derek Simcik at Hotel Bardo. Read more about these Best of Savannah winners on page 132.
by Allison Revelle
Produced by Morrigan Maza, Good Culture Creative
Styling by Saks Fifth Avenue
COURTESY BYRD COOKIE COMPANY
left: Jess Berkin, Dhruv Khanna,
Photo
31 New in 912 36 September/October Calendar 40 Perspective Shift 43 Bring Your Own Boots
49 Room for All
54 Old Savannah: Byrd Cookie Company
58 Giving Back: BlacQuity
65 My Savannah: Richard C. Kessler
STYLE
70 Walk on the Wild Side
74 At Home: Fools Rush In
TASTE
99 The Bourbon Hunters
108 Global Goods Come Local
112 Creatures Welcome
115 Chef Q&A: Daniel Harthausen
FEATURE
120 Skeletons in the Closet
SPECIAL SECTIONS
132 Best of Savannah
225 Best of Savannah Doctors
SEEN
295 Savannah VOICE Festival
296 A Taste of African Heritage Cooking Class
300 Discover Black Savannah Tea Party/ AMBUCS Bowlapalooza
THE AFTERWORD
304 All I Do is Win, Win, Win
THERE’S A QUOTE attributed to Albert Einstein that goes, “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.”
In my decade of working in media, and especially in my years spent compiling our Best of Savannah issues, I’ve found this sentiment to ring true. It would be easy to assume that being an editor of a city magazine means I do, see and experience it all. And while I certainly try — often at the expense of my sleep, waistline and bank account — I also know it’s a futile task.
Rather, what’s more important than deeming myself an all-knowing expert is realizing the limitations of my own experiences. As my mother likes to say, “We all live in our reality.”
That’s why, for the past 23 years, Savannah magazine has called on our readers to cast their votes on what qualifies as the best. We’ve rounded up more than 500 honorees, from restaurants and bars to arts and culture to shopping to health and medical professionals. Plus: Keep an eye out for crown and star icons recognizing winners and runners-up , respectively, as they are highlighted throughout this whopping 304-page issue.
Once the votes were counted and the lists completed, I turned to more than a dozen contributing creators — including writers, photographers, videographers and stylists — to help document some of this year’s new and noteworthy honorees. Along the way, a common theme emerged: the importance of community, however that looks for you.
For many, community bonds are created around food and drink. Just ask the hospitality experts behind Hotel Bardo and its buzzy restaurant, Saint Bibiana , or the regulars who hang out at Das Box — just to name a few. For Chaz Ortiz, owner of Chazito’s Latin Cuisine , his food is a way to connect with his Puerto Rican upbringing, while for others, a visit to 520 Wings fills the soul as much as the stomach.
Beyond the list of winners, this issue further celebrates a range of exciting and inclusive spaces for all to express themselves — from line dancing on a Friday night (“Bring Your Own Boots,” page 43) to strolling with the Savannah Photo Club on a Sunday afternoon (“Perspective Shift,” page 40). Maybe Halloween is your thing (“Skeletons in the Closet,” page 120) or you consider yourself a bourbon picker (“The Bourbon Hunters,” page 99). Writer Feifei Sun encourages the art of discovery with a shopping trip to Abercorn Street’s international grocery store, Enson
Market (“Global Goods Come Local,” page 108). Meanwhile, new-ish additions to the city’s art scene, such as Cleo the Project Space, Montag Gallery and Gallery 2424, are making room for more artists (“Room for All,” page 49). And across the bridge in Bluffton, the South Carolinabased nonprofit BlacQuity is lifting up Black entrepreneurs in the Lowcountry with the return of its second annual Roots & Rivers Festival (“Building Bridges,” page 58).
After all, how we each define what qualifies as “the best” may be a little different — as contributing editor Andrea Goto reminds us in her always humorous and heartwarming column (“All I Do is Win, Win, Win,” page 304).
Most days, I’m focused more on my to-do list — striving to learn all those things I don’t know yet — than reflecting on what I’ve already accomplished. However, as you hold this weighty book in your hands, I would be remiss not to pause and acknowledge how far the Savannah magazine team has come to produce this issue — our largest ever. Looking ahead to 2025, Savannah magazine will mark 35 years — and we will keep striving to be better in our mission to interpret Savannah’s unique cultural identity with smart, layered and inclusive content.
Thank you for reading and for supporting local!
Colleen Ann McNally Editor
ESTABLISHED MAY 1, 1990
Savannah magazine’s mission is to celebrate the new and enduring voices of our city’s culture, commerce and creative community. Elegant and relevant. Authentic and fun. That’s your Savannah, and this is your magazine.
To subscribe and save 80% off the newsstand price, go to savannahmagazine.com or call 800.453.1049.
For address changes and other concerns, contact savannahmag @emailcustomerservice.com. Send pitches, ideas and feedback to colleen.mcnally@savannah magazine.com.
To advertise, download our media kit at savannahmagazine.com, email jane.townsend@savannah magazine.com or call 912.652.0294.
6602 Abercorn St., Suite 202 Savannah, Georgia 31405; savannahmagazine.com
CORRECTIONS
In “As Told on Skin,” in the July/August 2024 issue, Tania Sammons is the curator of the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum exhibit “Sea of Ink.” Stokes Holmes’ first tattoo was administered in a bathroom at a Savannah house party during her high school days.
Nicholas Hennig’s photo “Foggy Walking Tour” earned an honorable mention in the 2024 “So Savannah” Photo Contest.
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Audiology and Hearing Aid Services provides a full range of audiological services, including complete hearing evaluations, tinnitus evaluations, hearing aid consultations, hearing aid customization, aural rehabilitation, BAHA ttings and follow-up, the most up to date sophisticated hearing aid technology, and the latest advances in the hearing healthcare industry. Our team of Doctors of Audiology attend trainings around the world to provide the latest in hearing healthcare to better serve our patients.
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CONTRIBUTORS
Feifei Sun Writer
“Global Goods Come Local,” page 108
FEIFEI SUN is a writer and editor born in China and raised in the American South — Savannah, Georgia, to be exact. She previously worked as an editor at Vanity Fair and Time magazines, and her writing has also appeared in Dwell, Slate, Real Simple and more.
Trelani Michelle Writer
“Building Bridges,” page 58
TRELANI MICHELLE writes about culture, history and selfexpression. She authored “Krak Teet: A Catalog of Black Savannah’s
Biographies” and coauthored The New York Times bestseller “Gullah Geechee Homecooking.” Also an anthropologist, she interviews elders, artists and healers, and runs an oral history summer camp for middle schoolers. Learn more at trelanimichelle.com
Mike Schalk Photographer
“Bring Your Own Boots,” page 43
“The Bourbon Hunters,” page 99
“The Best of Savannah Doctors,” page 225
MIKE SCHALK, born and raised in Coral Springs, Florida, now calls Savannah home. This city is where he met his wife and cultivated his career. He loves it so.
Photography has been a part of his life since the early 2000s when he would borrow his mom’s camera to make skateboarding videos. Nearly two decades later, he has found his stride in the commercial and lifestyle space.
Morrigan Maza Creative Director/ Producer
“The Best of Savannah,” page 132
A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, MORRIGAN MAZA is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design and a former visual editor for Vanity Fair. In 2018, she returned to Savannah and in 2023, her passion for the local creative community inspired her to launch Good Culture Creative, a full-service boutique agency.
Robin Elise Maaya Photographer
“Skeletons in the Closet,” page 120
ROBIN ELISE MAAYA is
a versatile photographer whose goal for every session is to capture the authenticity of her subjects. Having had a camera in hand since the ripe age of 8, she has developed a keen eye for documenting the magic in the mundane through visual storytelling. She is available for booking in Savannah and worldwide.
Zachary Hayes Writer
“The Best of Savannah Doctors,” page 225
A recent graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, ZACHARY HAYES is a freelance writer and editor pursuing his master’s degree in science writing at Johns Hopkins University. Over the last year, he has worked as an editorial intern with Savannah magazine, created a podcast about the language of modern mental healthcare and received the SCAD Writing Department outstanding writing award.
Innovation in Practice
At The Center for Digestive & Liver Health, we believe in making healthcare truly convenient and effective for you. Innovation isn’t just a buzzword for us; it’s woven into everything we do. Your health, your convenience, your peace of mind. We’re here to transform healthcare into an experience that empowers you. Welcome to a new era in health and well-being.
Physicians pictured above, left to right: Mandy de Bruin, AGACNP-BC
Daniel K. Mullady, MD
Madeline R. Russell, MD
Sarah Zhong, PA-C
Mark R. Nyce, MD
Chelsea Hendrix, FNP-C
Steven L. Carpenter, MD, MACP Autumn Venturelli, PA-C Edward Rydzak, MD, AGAF Alex Holtzclaw, PA-C Mark E. Murphy, MD, FACP, AGAF Allison Long, FNP-C Charles W. Duckworth, MD • Samantha(Sam)Summerlin,PA-C
Ryan C. Wanamaker, MD • Kristen Bell, FNP-BC
George C. Aragon, MD
Jonathan Kandiah, MD • Elizabeth Buck, MSN, FNP-BC
Brent W. Acker, MD
Congratulations to Dr. Mark Murphy for being a Best of Savannah winner!
SAVANNAH JAZZ
PUBLISHER Anita Hagin
EDITORIAL & DESIGN
EDITOR Colleen Ann McNally
DIGITAL & DESIGN DIRECTOR Andrea Burg
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kelly Thompson
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Andrea Goto
CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Britt Scott
CONTRIBUTING GRAPHIC DESIGNER Melanie Schmermund
ADVERTISING
DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Jane Townsend
ADVERTISING MANAGER Jill Strauss
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER Lane Pelliccione
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Corinne Karmiel & Kasey Huggins
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Holly Todd
SEPTEMBER 18 - 22
EXECUTIVE
PRESIDENT Tina Battock
VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE & OPERATIONS Scott Ferguson
DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING & PRODUCTION Sherry Brown
ACCOUNTING MANAGER Veronica Brooks
CIRCULATION BUSINESS MANAGER Michelle Rowe
MORRIS COMMUNICATIONS
CHAIRMAN
William S. Morris III
CEO
Craig S. Mitchell
Suite 202, Savannah, Georgia 31405. Periodical postage paid at Savannah, Georgia, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Savannah magazine, P.O. Box 37131, Boone, IA 50037-2131
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“2024 ‘So Savannah’ Photo Contest” From dogs on the beach to tugboats in the harbor, these photographers captured quintessential Savannah. Turn to page 26 for our Readers’ Favorite Winner!
These stories from our July/August 2024 issue ranked among our readers’ favorites. Follow @savannahmagazine to stay connected.
“Living in Vacationland” Take a slow ride to explore the hidden gems and hot spots along U.S. Highway 80 from Thunderbolt to Tybee Island.
“The Whelan Way” Meet the three talented sisters who started the casually chic lifestyle company Beach House Studio, inspired by their family’s beloved retreat on Tybee Island.
FALL SOUTHERN ESTATES AND COLLECTIONS
AUCTIONS & APPRAISALS
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
October 23rd, 24th and 25th, 10-5 or by appointment
LIVE ONLINE AUCTION: October 10th-31st
View, Register and Bid at Everard.com CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION.
READERS’ FAVORITE
CONGRATULATIONS TO KATHRYN ANN WALLER , whose photo “Ogeechee” was voted our Readers’ Favorite in the 2024 “So Savannah” Photo Contest.
After the excitement of last year’s contest, Savannah magazine brought back the friendly competition for a second year, and more than 100 people shared hundreds of images. Then we asked you to vote for Readers’ Favorite, and more than 400 votes were cast between June 27 and Aug. 1.
Waller’s image also earned an Honorable Mention in the Professional Category. Winners are featured in our July/August 2024 issue and online. Visit savannahmagazine.com to see all the winners.
“Ogeechee” by Kathryn Ann Waller
Anthony Palliser, Fixin to Fish, Wilmington Island River, Oil on Canvas, $5,000-7,000
Anna Hunter, Macon St. East, Oil on Canvas, $1,000-1,500
Hattie Saussy, 216 East 53rd St., Savannah, Oil on Canvas, $2,000-3,000
New in 912
Photo by KELLI BOYD
In Thunderbolt, Emily McCarthy has opened the golden doors to her shiny new retail boutique and headquarters for her fashion and lifestyle brand (2237 E. Victory Drive). After relocating from her storefront on Abercorn Street to keep up with growing demand for her designs, the 14,000-square-foot building also includes The Joy Club, a wine bar and event space covered in cheetah print. Check the calendar for upcoming happenings, such as Mrs. Mahjong classes and pop-ups from brands like Bandette Bands, Harvest Jewels and Love, Ceil.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Service Brewing Co. is spreading its wings. The local favorite for craft beers recently debuted the Service Station inside the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (400 Airways Ave.). Located at Gate 11, travelers enjoy a taste of Savannah between flights with eight beers on tap, a selection of wines and signature cocktails created by acclaimed bartender Ashley Simeone. … Years and $5 million in the making, Wexford Irish Pub (27 Barnard St.) is now serving pints in City Market. Inspired by Savannah’s special connection to Ireland’s County Wexford, owners Jennifer Strickland, Tim Strickland and Chris Swanson created the three-story, 14,000-square-foot super-pub to be as authentic as possible, from the interior design to the history on the walls and from the live music to the perfect Guinness pour. … Get a head start on holiday shopping at Southern Crafted (114 Bull St.), a downtown shopping destination that focuses on Southern-made goods for the kitchen, entertaining and setting the table in style. Founded by husband-and-wife team Ashley and Deborah McCorkle, the store draws on Ashley’s expertise in marketing and furniture-making and Deborah’s
two decades in luxury retail. Stop in and stock up on heirloom-quality pieces from makers like Alexa Pulitzer, Bridgman Pottery, Smithey Ironware and more. … The smoking-hot pop-up and food truck Slow Fire BBQ is cooking up a permanent location (1902 Waters Ave.). Owned and operated by pitmaster Terren Williams, Slow Fire’s “traditional Texas style meets Lowcountry flair” boasts premium meats from local farmers, like Peculiar Pig Farm and Hester Farms, and has already earned a nod from Texas Monthly magazine — so you know it’s the real deal. Meanwhile, former Starland District staple Tricks BBQ has found a new home downtown (1902 W. Bay St.). Open Monday through Saturday at 11 a.m., get it before it’s gone. … Rhino Hospitality Group is growing again. Led by Ele Tran , the company acquired a three-story downtown building and announced plans to convert it into an 11-room inn and French-meets-Asian bistro called Sunday Sunday (116 Whitaker St.).
… ExperCARE is expanding its model, now offering preventative healthcare and functional medicine on-demand at the company’s Richmond Hill office (60 Exchange St., Suite B-7) to better serve patients and to expand access to
West Side Story
Eat, drink and shop at these new hot spots on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Chow down on Mexican flavors at Órale Tacos + Tequila (36 MLK Jr. Blvd.). This family-friendly restaurant offers familiar favorites, like queso dip, burritos, esquites and, of course, tacos and margaritas, plus special plates, like the yuca fries with truffle garlic cotija cheese, pork belly guacamole and an orange habanero cake for dessert.
Charleston, South Carolina’s Fairside Vintage (346 MLK Jr. Blvd.) has opened a Savannah outpost. Sustainably shop, sell or trade your own sought-after threads, like graphic T-shirts, hats and sports apparel, alongside fellow vintage fashion enthusiasts.
Check the calendar at The Y Bar (347 MLK Jr. Blvd.) for upcoming events, such as drag brunch and yoga classes, or host your own event in the space, available to rent for parties up to 150 people.
preventative care. With the addition of Keith M. Seibert, M.D., MBA, FAAP, as the company’s new director of pediatrics and preventive medicine, ExperCARE also plans to expand on-demand preventative care and functional medicine services at locations across Georgia in 2025.
The Service Station
Sept. 14, 2-8 pm
2-8
SEP
SEP. 2
Happy Labor Day! Take a load off and enjoy the last few weeks of summer.
SEP. 6-8
Make your way over to the Rowing & Sailing Center at Squire Community Park on Hilton Head Island for the sixth annual OluKai Lowcountry Boil Paddle Battle. The three-day event kicks off Friday with Pint Night at Outside Hilton Head and wraps up Sunday with a Pinckney Island National Wildlife Litter Sweep. All race proceeds benefit The Outside Foundation and its Kids in Kayaks scholarship fund.
SEP. 14
BlacQuity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Black
SEP. 19
Explore tattooing as a visual language and art form, and learn about Savannah’s history of maritime tattooing at “Sea of Ink: Savannah Maritime Tattoos,” the newest exhibition at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Opening night festivities include music, art, food, cocktails, a runway show — and temporary tattoos. Plus, meet the tattoo artists and collectors featured in the images of Savannah-based photographers Thomas Sanders and Mike Schalk. Doors open at 6 p.m.
entrepreneurs, presents the second annual Roots & Rivers Festival. This year’s Coastal Cowboy- and Cowgirl-themed event takes place from 2 to 8 p.m. at Oyster Factory Park in Bluffton and will include live music, line dancing, mechanical bull riding, artisanal vendors, craft beer, food trucks, a Kid Zone and VIP experiences. Flip to page 58 to learn more about BlacQuity.
SEP. 15-16
Enjoy a Vegas-style evening at The Club at Savannah Harbor during the annual Beer, Guys, Cigars, Golf & Casino. Guests of the twoday event, hosted by Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire , take part in an evening full of brews, cigars and casino games before teeing off at 10 a.m. Monday for the Ronald Open Golf Tournament.
SEP. 18-22
SEP.
21
The Friends of Oatland Island invite you to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the wildlife center with appetizers, libations, live music and a silent auction. This adultsonly fundraising event takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. and includes a bubbly toast.
SEP. 22
The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire presents its third annual Peace in the Park event at Daffin Park from 1 to 4 p.m. This free, family-friendly event
The Savannah Jazz Festival kicks off its 43rd year with Gino Castillo & The Cuban Cowboys. In addition to well-known artists such as Robert Lee Coleman and Bernie Williams, the weeklong festival also features jazz bands and ensembles from area high schools and universities. The event concludes with three free evenings full of jazz music in Forsyth Park and at District Live . Check out savannahjazz.org for the full schedule of events.
encourages community members to support peace, counter violence, become conflict-resilient and foster unity in Savannah.
SEP.
26
Join the Forsyth Farmers’ Market for a free Taste of African Heritage Cooking Class at the Pennsylvania Avenue Resource Center. This hands-on class is designed to celebrate the rich heritage and tradition of African cuisine, and promote healthconscious cooking. Engage in discussions about the cultural significance of the ingredients, learn culinary skills and techniques, and take time to eat, share and reflect. Advance registration is required. Email aja@ffmsav.org or call 912.509.0894 to save your spot.
SEP.
30
Kentucky band My Morning Jacket brings its rock/alt-country sounds to the Savannah Civic Center with special guest S.G. Goodman
OCT
OCT. 1–20
Head to the Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival for locally harvested seafood and Lowcountry cuisine as well as 20 days of events highlighting the area’s rich history and culture. The celebration concludes with a juried fine art show and street fest with live entertainment. Go to bluff tonartsandseafood festival.org for a full schedule of daily happenings.
OCT. 5
Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to Forsyth Park for an evening of live music from 4 to 9 p.m. with Phil the Park. This favorite annual event brings together the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra and
Chorus, special guest artists, local colleges, community partners, the 3rd Infantry Division Army Band and more to present a festive community celebration. Bring a picnic or enjoy fare from a variety of food trucks.
OCT. 11
SAFE Shelter’s second annual Twilight Ball promises an evening full of glamor, mystery and exhilaration at the Thompson Savannah. Dress to impress for this Casino Royale-themed fundraiser supporting SAFE Shelter’s mission of preventing domestic violence, protecting victims and promoting change in lives, families and our community.
OCT. 13
Operation Kid Forward (OKF) rolls out the red carpet at Savannah Station for the third annual Princess Ball, a magical evening designed to uplift and inspire nearly 100 elementary-school-aged girls.
OCT. 25-26
Calling all country music fans: Don’t miss the Great Ogeechee Music + Seafood Festival Presented by the Richmond Hill-Bryan County Chamber of Commerce, this year’s fest includes performances from Clint Black, Sara Evans and The Marshall Tucker Band — and, of course, plenty of fresh seafood.
OCT. 26–27
Join First City Pride Center for its 25th year honoring and supporting inclusivity at the Savannah Pride Festival . The weekend will feature more than 100 vendors, including food trucks, small businesses and nonprofits. This year’s theme is “Barbie,” so dress to impress and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community.
OCT.
26
Support the preservation of the buildings, places and stories that define Savannah
at the Historic Savannah Foundation’s Annual Gala. The event begins with a cocktail hour followed by a seated dinner prepared by Thrive Catering and dancing to live music by The Emerald Empire Band. The black-tie event is open to HSF members and their guests and supports the nonprofit organization’s preservation, education and advocacy programs.
OCT. 26
Stroll down iconic Bluff Drive along the Intracoastal Waterway beginning at 10 a.m., and enjoy over 125 of the best art and food vendors in the area at the free, familyfriendly Isle of Hope Art & Music Festival. Live music at the marina main stage and Paxton Park plays until 8 p.m.
OCT. 26–NOV. 2
The largest university-run film festival in the world, the Savannah College of Art and Design Savannah Film Festival welcomes more than 60,000 guests for eight days of film screenings, workshops and panels with acclaimed industry professionals and leading student filmmakers. Head to filmfest.scad.edu for a full schedule.
OCT. 31
Happy spooky Southern Halloween! Have fun and stay safe.
COURTESY
Savannah Pride Festival
Perspective SHIFT
Savannah Photo Club invites shutterbugs to get to know the city and each other
Written by ALLISON STICE
Photography by ZACH WALLER and MONTAVIOUS BROWN
IN SAVANNAH, a city famous for its picturesque landscapes, a group of photography enthusiasts is proving that a camera can be more than just a tool for capturing moments — it can also be a gateway to community. The Savannah Photo Club (@savannahphotoclub on Instagram), founded by Daniel White, Joshua Lindsey and Randall Lyvers, has become a focal point for both newcomers and longtime residents looking to explore the city, gain a fresh perspective on familiar surroundings or find their place in a new environment.
On the third Sunday of every month, the club hosts a walk that begins at rotating locations, such as Float Coffee in the Starland District, Origin Coffee Bar in west Savannah and PERC Coffee on the east side. At a recent gathering at Waters Café in Midtown, a crowd of more than 50 photographers wrapped around the brightly colored building — a burst of popularity from the club’s initial 10 or so participants when it began less than a year ago, Lyvers says, and proof that Savannah needed just this kind of group.
“Savannah is a very transient town, and a lot of people aren’t from here originally,” says Lyvers, who hails from Baltimore, Maryland, and is the general manager at PERC. “So it’s cool to have a place where people from a lot of different walks of life and places can come together and get to know each other.”
Zach Waller, who moved to Savannah without knowing anyone, arrived at a photo walk toting his Fujifilm X-T5 and began snapping portraits of fellow members. As a remote worker, Waller says the club has helped him make connections in a new city. He also appreciates how it welcomes all skill levels; Waller just began practicing his new hobby last October.
The diversity of gear on display at these meetups is a testament to the club’s inclusive spirit. From cutting-edge digital cameras to quirky options like the Lomography Colorsplash, which infuses pictures with vibrant hues for trippy effects, participants bring whatever tools they have to capture Savannah’s essence. Even smartphones are welcome. Clinton Edminster, owner of Waters Café and Starlandia Art Supply, joined in with a charmingly temperamental film camera that he estimates only works one-third of the time.
Lozzie Kennedy, a recent transplant from Chicago, says the monthly walks help solve a familiar quandary: how to make new friends as an adult. “When you’re not in school, where do you meet people who have similar interests?” she asks. “Here, everyone understands why we do strange things like get on the ground or climb a tree to get the perfect shot.”
After about an hour of sipping beverages and chatting, the Savannah Photo Club poses for a group photo (naturally) before setting off on foot. From there, some will branch off while others stick close by, turning the lens on each other. In addition to making connections with fellow photographers, the monthly walks provide a unique way to explore Savannah’s neighborhoods and interact with locals. Some members have challenged themselves to grow their skills by asking strangers for portraits, Lyvers says.
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect for Lyvers is witnessing the rekindling of passion among participants. “I love hearing someone who hasn’t picked up their camera in a long time say they were inspired to [do so] because of the club,” he shares. “Reigniting someone’s passion in the craft — that, to me, is the best thing.”
Bring Your Own Boots
Southern Stomps steps up to line-dancing trend at The Clyde Venue
Written by ALLISON STICE // Photography by MIKE SCHALK
WHEN SAVANNAH REALTOR Morgan Donaldson went line dancing with her sister on a whim three years ago, she never expected her new hobby to grow into TikTok fame, a close-knit community and a regular teaching gig.
As she started posting her moves, Donaldson caught the wave of line dancing’s resurgence thanks to social media, where influencers and fans alike share dance videos to songs ranging from Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ’Em” to Dasha’s “Austin.” With more than 36,000 followers, and videos climbing up to nearly 2 million views, Donaldson was soon fielding invitations to join fellow fans on the floor from Nashville, Tennessee, to Boston, Massachusetts.
These days, aspiring line dancers can find Donaldson every Friday night at The Clyde Venue, calling out the steps to choreography beneath the neon logo of Southern Stomps. The event, devised by The Clyde’s founder and general manager, Mallory Adams, to bring in crowds during the slow season, has become more popular than either woman could have imagined. Now more than a year old and with a year-round draw, Southern Stomps can bring in over 200 people eager to learn the latest viral steps.
“It was supposed to just be a summer thing, but the community that came really didn’t want it to be over,” Adams says. “We started with Morgan and her core group out on the dance floor, and now we watch the whole room moving left, right and clockwise together — it’s really cool.”
Adams says Southern Stomps is a hit because it’s a community activity that doesn’t have to involve drinking alcohol. If that comes as a surprise, just wait for the soundtrack: The trend’s recent comeback extends far beyond country to include pop, EDM and throwback jams.
“We do more hip hop and pop songs than country — it takes [line dancing] out of just one niche country music crowd and makes it go across the whole board,” Donaldson says. “We often laugh about how many line dances are set to Pitbull songs.”
Southern Stomps nights often have a theme, like Jersey Night, or are pegged to holidays, like St. Patrick’s Day or Independence Day, that gives participants the opportunity to dress up. The Clyde also partners with businesses like Truckin’ Happy Hat Co., which offers customizable trucker hats and boot branding.
Before each rodeo, Donaldson chooses the steps she will teach by searching social media or copperknob.com, which features the latest linedance choreography. She keeps most lessons at beginner or “improver” levels to make them more accessible. And she shares the stage with co-instructors, including Isabelle DeSimone, Rebecca Mayer, Jules Zamorski and Olivia Cantrell. Occasionally, social media connections drop in, like Mark Paulino of @thefinelinedance, who has taught The Savannah Bananas dance moves to “Rude Dude” and “Honky Tonky Way.”
For those whose line-dancing experiences are limited to the “Cha Cha Slide” at weddings or who haven’t practiced dancing in concert with others since “Macarena,” Donaldson says to come with an open mind. (When it comes to mastering moves, there’s always YouTube tutorials.) As for attire, most people sport jeans or denim cutoffs and cowboy boots, but sneakers are fine, too, as long as they have a slick bottom for sliding across The Clyde’s wide open space.
“Don’t worry about how you look on the dance floor,” Donaldson says. “It’s all about having fun. The more you come, the more dances you’ll learn, and the more comfortable you’ll be.”
“Don’t worry about how you look on the dance floor. It’s all about having fun. The more you come, the more dances you’ll learn, and the more comfortable you’ll be.”
— Morgan Donaldson, Southern Stomps line-dance instructor
Morgan Donaldson and Mallory Adams
Room for All
Three additions to Savannah’s art scene
Written by BRIENNE WALSH
JEANNETTE MCCUNE , the director of Cleo the Project Space, says that there’s no better place than Savannah to run an art gallery. “There’s just this lovely community where everyone is helping each other out,” she says. “If one gallery is thriving, all of the galleries are thriving.” This may very well explain the burgeoning contemporary art scene in a city better known for its historic sites than for its gallery scene. McCune notes that the directors of both Laney Contemporary and ARTS Southeast (formerly Sulfur Studios) have been nothing but encouraging of young gallerists, even if they are technically competitors. “There’s so much real Southern hospitality here,” McCune says. Here, we’ve rounded up the best new(ish) art galleries you should know now.
An exhibition featuring the work of Y. Malik Jalal will be on display at Cleo the Project Space in October.
CLEO THE PROJECT SPACE
When McCune opened Cleo in the fall of 2020, she did so with a for-profit gallery model. Artists got paid if they sold work during exhibitions. This past year, she transformed the space into a nonprofit, which means that it’s funded primarily by grants.
“We wanted to start showing work that wouldn’t be dictated by the art market,” she says. This includes an exciting program of sound pieces, installations, performances, sculptures, paintings and murals from an exciting roster of local, national and international artists. Artists who show at Cleo are paid for their labor, as well as any costs they may incur while making the work, including traveling to Savannah to install it.
In the fall, Cleo the Project Space will stage an exhibition of photographs about girlhood by Anna Ottum, a photographer who splits her time between Savannah and New York. Then, in October, Y. Malik Jalal, who was born in Savannah and received his Master of Fine Arts from Yale University this year, will curate a show of his own work alongside that of photographer Brandon English and Kare Williams, who received his Bachelor of Arts in painting from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). “The work we show is very challenging and experimental,” McCune says. “It’s on the cutting edge of the contemporary art scene.”
MONTAG GALLERY
The Jewish Educational Alliance (JEA) has featured art in the hallways of its flagship location at 5111 Abercorn St. since it opened in 1954. “Art enriches our experiences, stimulates learning and fosters community,” says Katie Griffith, the arts and ideas coordinator at the organization. “These same principles exist in the DNA of the JEA.”
This fall, the JEA will officially open its Montag Gallery, an exhibition space on the first floor devoted to fostering connection and creativity in Savannah through artwork.
In September, the gallery will showcase art made by local students that is inspired by iconic Jewish masters like Diane Arbus, Marc Chagall, Helen Frankenthaler, Alex Katz and Frank Stella. In October, it will exhibit photographs by local artist and SCAD professor Emma Hopson.
The gallery will operate on a unique model. Artists will be invited to showcase their work free of charge, with the stipulation that they donate an unsold piece from the exhibition to the JEA’s newly established permanent collection. “Anyone and everyone” are welcome to visit both the Montag Gallery and the collection, says Griffith. “The more the merrier.”
“A Rat Surrendered Here” by local artist and SCAD professor Emma Hopson
Anna Ottum’s photography collection, “Dress Rehearsal,” is on display at Cleo the Project through Sept. 28
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GALLERY 2424
When Erin Dunn, the curator of modern and contemporary art at Telfair Museums, bought a home on Drayton Street in the Starland District with her husband, Ben Walke, an engineer at Gulfstream, she was delighted to learn that the property came with a commercial space. In 2023, the couple opened Gallery 2424, named after the house number in their address, as an art gallery for the public. “We recognized there was a need for more exhibition spaces for artists in town,” she says.
The gallery operates on two models. The first is a curated exhibition space that features cutting edge, contemporary artwork such as the 40-foot handwoven site-specific installation made by SCAD fibers graduate Katie Glusica this past summer. The second is a rental gallery for local artists and SCAD students who need a professional space where they can show their work. “Our space itself is really unique,” says Dunn. “It has a very contemporary look.”
This fall, Gallery 2424 is collaborating with ARTS Southeast on a multi-location art exhibition curated by Will Penny, a multidisciplinary artist based in Savannah with a Master of Fine Arts from SCAD. Thus far, the gallery has only shown local artists, but Dunn is open to trying many things in the space, including events. “It’s our passion project,” she says.
“Erosion Patterns” by Jennifer E. Moss on view at Gallery 2424 in February 2024
“Delight: Enlivening Space and Surface with Color, Light and Movement” by Katie Hagen on view at Gallery 2424 in 2023
202 4 W I N NE
“We
“We
Truly
Truly
“We
- Mark N. Dye, DMD
Truly
- Mark N. Dye, DMD
- Mark N. Dye, DMD
OLD SAVANNAH
Still Soaring
The iconic, family-owned Byrd Cookie Company celebrates 100 years
Benjamin Tillman Byrd Jr., aka “Cookie”
Ruth and Benjamin Tillman “Pop” Byrd Sr.
Cookie’s daughter Kay and husband, Benny Curl
Kay and Benny’s daughter Stephanie Lindley and her son, Jamie
Written by KEITH STRIGARO Photography courtesy BYRD COOKIE COMPANY
FEW COMPANIES SURVIVE long enough to make it to 50 years, let alone 100. One Savannah-based business, however, has beaten the odds and is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year — and showing no signs of slowing down.
Now run by its fourth-generation family owner-operator, Stephanie Lindley, Byrd Cookie Company has grown from a regional cookie bakery to a national leader in the specialty food industry. Producing more than two billion cookies a year, the company owns and operates four bakeries across the U.S. and 26 retail shops throughout the Southeast, including seven in Savannah. They have also partnered with other elite brands such as Delta Air Lines, Bergdorf Goodman and L.L. Bean, and they are now the largest provider of baked goods to Disney World and Disneyland. Clearly, Byrd is on a mission to make the world a little sweeter, one cookie at a time.
The iconic company started from humble beginnings on Saint Julian Street in downtown Savannah’s City Market district. In 1924, Benjamin Tillman “Pop” Byrd Sr., Stephanie’s great-grandfather, began baking his famous Scotch oatmeal cookies. Pop learned the trade while working for another baker, but he eventually bought him out and started baking for himself. Pop packaged his cookies in large apothecary jars and sold them at “two for a penny,” delivering them to stores around town in his Model T Ford.
A page from the company’s catalog circa 1961
Demand for the cookies grew, and in 1929, he moved the bakery closer to his home on Norwood Avenue in Sandfly’s residential community. He converted a tin-sided barn into a larger bakery that he named “Byrd’s Famous Cookies.”
As for why he chose to bake Scotch oatmeal cookies, we’ll never know for sure. “The origins of that cookie are still a little bit of a mystery to us,” Stephanie says.
After World War II, Pop’s eldest child, Benjamin Tillman Byrd Jr., took over the company in 1949. Known as “Cookie,” he expanded the company’s product line to include the benne wafer. He also started packaging cookies in square metal tins so that they could be easily shipped. It was a game-changer for the company’s growth, expanding its reach from a 50-mile radius to all over the Eastern Seaboard.
And just as tourism in Savannah began to boom in the second half of the century, Cookie opened the Cookie Shanty, which became a popular destination for both locals and tourists. Gregarious by nature, he wanted a way to greet guests to the bakery and share his passion for baking and Southern history, so he opened a retail shop next to the bakery on Norwood Avenue. “He loved entertaining guests,” says Stephanie. “That was definitely his passion.”
In 1988, Cookie’s eldest daughter, Kay, and her husband, Benny Curl, took over the company and began expanding into the gift industry, making colorful tins that were more giftable. This was also the era when the company expanded its inventory, including the best-selling and award-winning Key Lime Cooler, and moved to its current location on Waters Avenue.
Kay and Benny’s middle child, Stephanie, grew up in the business and learned all the aspects of the bakery, but she never thought she would run it one day. “I always knew I wanted to be in business,” she says, “but taking over the bakery didn’t cross my mind until my dad suggested it.”
In 2011, Stephanie became the owner-operator and has focused on growing the company and making it stable to survive another hundred years. During her tenure as CEO so far, she has propelled the company by acquiring other beloved Southern brands, like Selma’s Cookies and Kermit’s Key Lime Shop, to expand Byrd’s offerings to include rice crispy treats, soft-batch cookies, brownies and key lime pies.
Byrd even has a fifth-generation leader lined up. Stephanie’s son, Jamie Lindley, 34, serves as the company’s vice president of operations and will take over the company when Stephanie is ready to step down. Jamie originally wanted to be a doctor like his father, Savannah neurosurgeon Jim Lindley, but in college he realized medicine wasn’t for him and instead joined the family cookie business 11 years ago. He takes great pride in his relationship with the company’s employees, “giving people an opportunity and seeing them grow,” he says.
It’s this feeling of family that permeates the entire company of 275 employees. “Without a doubt, it all goes back to family,” says Byrd’s president, Geoff Repella, who is unrelated to the Byrd family but has been with the company for 24 years. “It’s not only the Byrd biological family, it’s the family-oriented culture here. We bake with the freshest ingredients, but our secret is definitely
“Byrd Cookie Company is a Savannah tradition as much as pralines and Spanish moss.”
— Stephanie Lindley, CEO and fourth-generation owner, Byrd Cookie Company
our people. They love what they’re doing and are proud of what we’ve all accomplished.”
And in some ways, despite being a century old, Byrd is just getting started. Earlier this year, the brand opened its 25th retail location — and seventh in Savannah — at the high-profile corner of Broughton and Drayton streets. And Jamie recently welcomed his daughter, Ellie, introducing the sixth generation to carry the Byrd name into the next century. “I think the people who grow up and live in Savannah take as much pride in us as we do in the city we’ve been in for a hundred years,” Stephanie says. “Byrd Cookie Company is a Savannah tradition as much as pralines and Spanish moss.”
COURTESY
BYRD COOKIE COMPANY
“We’ve always had the skills, but when it comes to leveraging the playing field, we cannot do that on our own, because we didn’t shut ourselves out of access.”
—
Bridgette Frazier, Blu ton councilwoman and co-founder
of BlacQuity
The future site of Ma Daisy’s Porch, a gathering place dedicated to the celebration of Gullah culture and tradition
GIVING BACK
Building Bridges
Bluffton-based nonprofit BlacQuity aims to lift up the Lowcountry’s Black-owned businesses with educational programming and an annual community-wide Roots & Rivers Festival
Written by TRELANI MICHELLE
“WE’VE ALWAYS HAD THE SKILLS, but when it comes to leveraging the playing field, we cannot do that on our own, because we didn’t shut ourselves out of access.”
That’s what Bluffton, South Carolina, native and councilwoman Bridgette Frazier recalls telling serial entrepreneur Billy Watterson when he asked how he could help further her efforts. This discussion, along with many subsequent meetings, led Frazier and Watterson to co-found BlacQuity, a nonprofit based in Bluffton that is dedicated to elevating, empowering and promoting local Black-owned businesses.
INVESTING IN CHANGE
After the death of George Floyd Jr. in May 2020 and the nationwide outrage that followed, many people sought ways to support Black entrepreneurs but lacked a central resource. In response, the Bluffton MLK Observance Committee created a directory of Blackowned businesses.
As a committee member and a former Beaufort County English teacher who was elected to the Bluffton Town Council in 2020, Frazier organized pop-up markets for Black entrepreneurs. It was at one of these markets that she met Watterson, the founder of Watterson Brands, which also includes Red Fox Organics, Bespoke Adobe, Burnt Church Distillery, Old Route 69 Brewery, Side Hustle Beer Co. and The Bank, among others.
“What does the Black community need?” Watterson asked Frazier.
“We don’t have the capital, and a lot of businesses just don’t have the foundational principles,” she answered, citing a need for educational resources to teach critical business skills, like how to create a profit and loss (P&L) statement, becoming a vendor with the city and state, setting up a website, balancing books and becoming bonded and insured — just to name a few.
Frazier suggested creating a curriculum designed to teach entrepreneurs essential business skills, which has since become the foundation of BlacQuity’s core program, Black Equity University. With Watterson’s support, the resulting 12-week course, as described on their website, “equips entrepreneurs with essential business knowledge, skills, connections in the community and resources in order to run or launch a successful
business.” Black Equity University graduates include local Black entrepreneurs across various industries, such as food, retail, health and wellness, mobile detailing, dance, financial consulting, laundry, home health and photography.
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
In the fall of 2021, Gwen Chambers joined BlacQuity as its executive director. Hailing from North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Chambers leveraged her experience in sales, marketing and community engagement to elevate BlacQuity to new heights. She also draws inspiration from the late Ida Martin, who founded Bluffton Self Help in the late 1980s to assist working families and senior citizens in need.
Chambers, a former volunteer coordinator and community outreach manager for the nonprofit, describes Martin as a powerhouse in the community. “Everything from food to clothing to shelter and running water, if you needed it, she would get it for you.”
In 2011, Martin’s dedication was recognized with the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation’s second-highest civilian honor, awarded by President Barack Obama at the White House. Chambers acknowledges that while this was a significant achievement, more needed to be done. “We needed a way to empower and advance beyond just meeting basic needs,” she says. “When BlacQuity came along, I thought it was perfect. This is what is needed here.”
Bluffton was historically a predominantly Gullah city, largely as a result of General Sherman’s Special Field Order No. 15 in January 1865, which called for the redistribution of confiscated Southern land to freedmen in 40-acre plots. “Then, in the Jim Crow era, Bluffton had approximately 15 to 20 Black-owned businesses, including movie theaters, boarding houses and restaurants,” Frazier says. “Today, only two remain,” Chambers adds. BlacQuity works to ensure that number increases rather than declines, not just in Bluffton but across the Lowcountry.
A CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION
In 2023, BlacQuity introduced its inaugural Roots & Rivers Festival. The festival’s name signifies the deep cultural ties of people from the African diaspora. “The river has been a life source for many
Photo by MICHAEL HRIZUK
things. We are the roots. We’ve been at the core of every restaurant in this area,” Frazier says. “We’ve been the midwives to any and all families. We’ve been the fishermen in shucking houses. We are the teachers. And the health and sustainability of a community is how it waters and protects its roots.”
The second annual Roots & Rivers Festival will be held on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Oyster Factory Park in Bluffton. The event will feature food trucks, a live band, a beer garden and various vendors. This festival furthers BlacQuity’s mission by promoting the organization and demonstrating its commitment to its values. Each vendor participating in the festival is a graduate of Black Equity University. One of the organization’s goals is to create a self-sustaining system where, as Chambers describes it, “graduates come back as coaches and mentors, pouring back into up-and-coming cohorts.”
Looking ahead, Frazier and Watterson are collaborating on the creation of Ma Daisy’s Porch on May River Road, which will be a gathering place, including a bar, restaurant and bakery, that celebrates the region’s rich Gullah culture year-round.
BlacQuity is also planning a pitch night similar to the ABC television show “Shark Tank,” where participants can compete for funding, and a networking mixer designed to connect attendees with valuable local resources, such as the Department of Commerce, Minority-Owned Business Enterprise Certifications and apprenticeships.
Expanding this network will be key to how the nonprofit fully
realizes its long-term vision. “BlacQuity is continuing to evolve, and creating partnerships is the biggest thing for us. So we’re making connections now with the Beaufort Black Chamber, the Gullah Geechee Business Coalition, Black Charleston Professionals and more,” Frazier says. “We want this to grow beyond the Lowcountry, working with local governments and municipalities to create equity for more entrepreneurs to have the same type of economic footprint that others enjoy.”
Bridgette Frazier
2023 Rivers & Roots Festival
HONG TRAN, OWNER
Viet Huong Oriental Market
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MY SAVANNAH
RICHARD C. KESSLER
Chairman & CEO, The Kessler Enterprise
Thrill of the Hunt
From African safaris to the puppetry arts, the curious collector and visionary developer keeps searching for international treasures to share with his hometown
CONSIDERING ALL RICHARD C. KESSLER has accomplished in his 78 years, the real estate mogul and creative entrepreneur could retire proudly any day. Then again, resting on his laurels isn’t really his style.
The former chairman, president and CEO of Days Inn of America, Kessler launched his eponymous enterprise in 1984. Forty years later, his Midas touch can be seen across not just Savannah —including at his parkside residence at the Kessler-Armstrong Mansion or Plant Riverside District (PRD), his crowning achievement spanning four city blocks along the Savannah riverfront — but across the country, with The Kessler Collection luxury hotels, restaurants and art galleries dotting the map from Florida to Colorado.
Here, the host with the most shares a glimpse into his active schedule — and hints at his next passion project.
Written by COLLEEN ANN MCNALLY
Photography by MIKE SCHALK
Stone & Webster Chophouse
Early Riser
Kessler typically starts his day around 5:30 a.m. He goes downstairs to his gym to exercise before having a light breakfast. From there, he jumps into his to-do list, often beginning with phone calls and going through emails.
“I spend probably about one-third of my time on the phone during the day,” he says. He values keeping up communications with contacts around the globe, answering people’s questions and looking for opportunities for the future.
Then, he heads downtown to catch up with Simon Pettigrew, who stepped into the role of managing director at the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District after leadership roles with The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada, California’s La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. “He is doing a fabulous job, and I’m so proud of him,” Kessler says. “He is a wonderful man to work for, so if you’re looking for a job in hospitality, this is where you should come.”
The Piano Man
While many people know Plant Riverside District for the massive gemstones and a life-size, chrome-dipped dinosaur that soars above the JW Marriott hotel lobby, what is easier to miss are the many concert pianos spread across the property. Kessler, an avid player since the second grade, has several more at home, including a Bösendorfer and antique Steinways.
He credits a blue-haired lady named Ms. Finch for instilling his love of music that continues today. “She was from Savannah and would drive up to Rincon to the elementary school and teach us to dance and play piano,” he recalls. “If I would have really been good at piano, I would never have created hotels,” he says with a laugh. Instead, he prefers to share his passion for music with the public through District Live, a 440-capacity concert venue and recording studio at Plant Riverside District. This fall’s lineup includes performances by The Sensational Barnes Brothers and Town Mountain in collaboration with the Savannah Music Festival, plus shows from indie bands like Nicotine Dolls and Slaughter Beach, Dog.
Bellying up to the Bar
While all 14 dining options at Plant Riverside District have Kessler’s seal of approval, there is one that especially holds pride of place: the Baobab Lounge.
“The Baobab tree is the tree of life in Africa. That’s the huge tree that grow up to 6, 8 or 10 feet in diameter,” says Kessler, who enjoys going on safari when he is not hunting for art and antiques. “I’ve seen them, and they are magnificent trees that last hundreds and hundreds of years.”
Through his travels, he personally handpicked each piece in the lounge to create an immersive experience that celebrates African cultures, from the paintings and exotic taxidermy on the walls to the biltong and bobotie hand pies on the plates and the wines on the menu. There’s even the crocodile hanging belly up above the bar — a testament to Kessler’s sense of humor.
“It’s the one room I totally designed by myself. I told my designers, ‘Hands off. I want to design this one,’ because I knew
what I had in inventory that I could pull out to make it a very special place,” he says.
A Cut Above
Around 6 p.m., Kessler often likes to end his work day on a creative note with a visit to the office of Christian Sottile of Sottile & Sottile. “He is a genius architect and we’ve become best friends. We’ll sit and work on new projects we have underway, creating some new concepts — that’s fun,” he says, adding that on Fridays, the brainstorm sessions include red wine to celebrate the week.
For dinner, Kessler is partial to Stone & Webster Chophouse for its storied past as much as its modern fare. Named after the two men who designed the 1912 power plant where Plant Riverside District resides today, the chophouse’s design accentuates the rustic remnants of the original structure.
“When they designed that building, nobody in America knew what a power plant should look like, because power was new,” Kessler says. “Therefore, they designed this beautiful building that looks like a civic building — something monumental with big arched windows, things that were expensive to do even then, but it made a beautiful structure that now we are able to repurpose into a public use. You’re sitting in history.”
As for the food, he and his team constantly do taste testings to bring the best quality steaks and seafood to Savannah.
“We have a strong local following,” Kessler says. “It makes me happy to see people enjoying what we spent 10 years creating.”
To dine like the king himself, begin the meal with an order that is apropos for the grandeur of the setting. “The first thing you should do is order that seafood tower,” he says.
Kessler plays piano in the Atlantic Landing of the JW Marriott Plant Riverside District.
Baobab Lounge
The Hunt Continues
From big game to giant gemstones and wooden boats, it seems like Kessler collects a little of everything. And yet, there are still a few items on his wish list.
His latest acquisition? “I’ve always been flirting with the idea of buying a wooden boat,” he says. Every time he got close, however, he says he backed off because of the maintenance, time and resources needed to keep it up and running.
“Now that we have Plant Riverside District with a quarter mile of river frontage, and we have a staff of 800 people here, I said ‘It’s time now. Let’s try this.’”
He traveled to Clayton, New York, home of The Antique Boat Museum, Antique Boat Show and Auction. “I really got fired up and ended up buying not one but two.”
Now comprising the Kessler Charters fleet is Kessler I, a 28-foot Ditchburn custom built in 1924, and Decked Out, a 34-foot Clarion built in 2002.
“It’s like a piece of floating furniture, all mahogany,” Kessler says of his namesake vessel. Both boats are available to reserve for a cruise, helmed by captains from Outside Brands who are knowledgeable about local waters.
And while the native Savannahian is undeniably passionate about advancing the arts and culture of his hometown, Kessler also hopes the experiences at Plant Riverside District motivate his guests to travel further afield and start their own curious collections.
“Collecting is a way of learning,” Kessler says. “We enjoy the curation of it. Putting unusual things together that create impact and create beauty, that’s what we love to do.”
A recent trip to the Museu da Marioneta in Portugal sparked his latest curiosity: the possibility of creating a puppet museum in Savannah that educates and entertains adults and children alike.
“Keep watching the newspapers,” he adds with a grin. No, he’s definitely not retiring yet.
Walk on the Wild Side
Earthy tones, animal prints, feathers and leathers are all the rage this season
RUNNER-UP BEST NEW BUSINESS AND BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING: J. PARKER LADIES
Navy Hampton mini dress in vegan ostrich leather, Emily McCarthy
The Velenje bag by Sancia in pistachio, J. Parker Ladies
Little Fish BOATEAK earrings, The Fancy Pheasant
Charmed maxi dress, Red Clover Boutique
WINNER BEST VINTAGE FASHION: HOUSE OF STRUT ; WINNER BEST AFFORDABLE FASHION: RED CLOVER BOUTIQUE ; WINNER BEST CLOTHING
DESIGNER: EMILY MCCARTHY ; WINNER BEST MEN’S CLOTHING: J. PARKER LTD. ; WINNER BEST NEW BUSINESS: THE FANCY PHEASANT
Johnnie O. Belfry quilted puffer vest in Rosemary and Brackish Bow Tie, J. Parker LTD.
1990s Fendi tiger stripe canvas oyster shoulder bag, House of Strut
Brackish wide, gold cuff bracelet, J. Parker Ladies
Plaid blazer with fringe, Midge Clothing & Goods
Italian suede leather tote bag, Charleston Shoe Co.
Martin Dingman boots, J. Parker LTD.
Fools Rush In
A
couple writes a new chapter for a grande dame in Ardsley Park
Written by MARY FITZGERALD // Photography by JEREMIAH HULL/ATTIC FIRE
IF YOU BELIEVE IN FATE , you know you can’t fight it. When Jamie Durrence and Robby Perkins happened upon a listing for a stately brick Tudor in Ardsley Park, they were intrigued but guarded.
“It was more than we were looking to spend at the time,” says Perkins, “and we knew the house needed a lot of work.” But they just couldn’t shake the feeling that this could be the one. The longer the listing lingered on the market, the more they wanted it. Giving in to temptation, they finally called the agent to view the property in person.
“I remember almost turning around before we ever stepped foot inside,” says Perkins. Once inside, they were captivated by the home’s charm — it was as if the house had been waiting for them to usher it into its next chapter.
The residence, adjacent to Adam’s Park, has a long and storied history, and Durrence and Perkins have the documentation to prove it. “We have the original hand-drawn set of plans for the house, and we know it was designed and built for a Colonel F.W. Altstaetter in
“Jamie and I have preservation awards from the Historic Savannah Foundation for our work on the historic buildings that our restaurants occupy. It has always been a priority to respect the architectural details.”
— Robby Perkins, homeowner, designer and creative director of Daniel Reed Hospitality
Jamie Durrence and Robby Perkins
1922,” notes Perkins. Since then, the home has been occupied by several prominent Savannah families, including generations of the Sprague and Oxnard lines.
Although the house was well loved by its former owners over the past century, its age was starting to show, and it had fallen into a bit of disrepair. “The original slate roof had been let to fail, and water had taken its toll. It had been decades since the kitchen and baths had seen an update. It was a total overhaul — but, you know, fools rush in,” quips Perkins.
Managing a major restoration project is nothing new for Durrence and Perkins. The power couple (both Savannah College of Art and Design graduates) are the founders of Daniel Reed Hospitality and the masterminds behind such Savannah standouts as The Public Kitchen & Bar, Local 11ten, Soho South, Franklin’s and Artillery . Durrence is the managing partner and a seasoned restaurateur, and Perkins is the creative director responsible for concept design and development. “Jamie and I have preservation awards from the Historic Savannah Foundation for our work on the historic buildings that our restaurants occupy,” says Perkins. “It has always been a priority to respect the architectural details.”
In addition to their commercial projects, they have residential
experience, too. Each had owned and renovated homes before — a historic house on Park Avenue and a mid-century modern home in Windsor Forest — but this was to be their first shared home. “We were looking for a place to own together,” says Perkins. “A place that could accommodate family and friends and host large gatherings.”
Before making any major changes, the couple lived in the house for a while to become familiar with its assets and shortcomings. They found no need to add to the home’s spacious 5,160 square feet, but they did renovate and reconfigure some of the past remodels.
“We were looking for a place to own together. A place that could accommodate family and friends and host large gatherings.”
— Robby Perkins
Part of the home’s appeal had been the fact that the original architectural elements had largely been left intact, notably the well-preserved paneling in the living room, the archways in the main hall, the gorgeous solid oak tongue-and-groove floors throughout, and the three working fireplaces.
“Some of those details were in amazingly good, original condition,” Perkins says. “No one had ever dared to paint the original woodwork and paneling in the house. We tried very hard to respect the integrity and history of the house while bringing it up to speed with all the modern amenities and conveniences one would expect in a home today.”
The five bathrooms were modernized with new fixtures and marble mosaic tile, all in keeping with the character of
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the home. Being in the restaurant business, a kitchen redesign was a must for this couple. They removed a wall to open up the space and installed Old Mill Woodworks cabinetry, custom designed by Perkins.
Forsyth Metalworks constructed the impressive unlacquered brass range hood that shines between solid walnut cabinets on either side. Perkins specified large format slate tile in the kitchen and keeping rooms, and contemporary lighting from Visual Comfort & Co. “The kitchen was a very special project for me,” he says. “When it finally came time to tackle it, I knew exactly how I wanted it to function.”
“Each room in the house has its own feature or focal point,” states Perkins. The library is cozy with built-in bookshelves displaying the couple’s collection of leather-bound books. “During the winter months we love to make cocktails and cozy up in the library with the fireplace roaring.”
Perkins describes the living room’s paneled walls
as “remarkable” and shares that the original trim and millwork were ordered out of a catalog from a Chicago company. The custom fireplace surround features handsome stone detailing. A hand painted mural in the dining room was “done in place,” according to Perkins, and the room is accessorized with Perkin’s extensive silver collection. When not on display, the silver is used as serving pieces at parties. Another mural, painted by Perkins, has pride of place in one of the guest bedrooms. The smallest of the bedrooms is the only wallpapered room in the house and boasts a grisaille mural. The couple converted this space into their home office during the pandemic.
Off the primary bedroom, a welcoming sleeping porch was, and still is, a staple for surviving Savannah’s hot summers. Another porch situated off the living room gets high marks, too. “Many months of the year, the porch is the most used ‘room’ in the house,” says Perkins.
The furnishings throughout the house are an eclectic mix of old and new, curated and collected. “Our home is the product of inherited pieces of furniture, art collected over decades, things we feel we can’t get rid of — no matter how tattered they get — and the occasional new addition to the collection, usually snuck in when my husband isn’t home. I like juxtaposing contemporary and old things,” says Perkins. “To do it well, that’s taste!”
A cohesive color palette flows throughout the house, letting the architectural details, artwork and furnishings shine. “I have a list of ‘go-to’ colors that I use repeatedly,” says Perkins. “I am not afraid of color, but only where it’s successful.”
As beautiful as the interiors are, the grounds are equally grand. But when Durrence and Perkins arrived, they weren’t exactly spectacular. The property had been neglected for some time and had gone wild. To get a sense of what was there, they first had to remove almost all the plant material and vegetation. In doing so, they discovered a side gate that had been walled over, hidden behind overgrown azaleas and vines. It led directly to Adam’s Park, which was a welcome surprise.
Going into the project, Durrence and Perkins assumed this would be their forever home. “It wasn’t until just recently — and very unexpectedly — that we came across something that felt like the next chapter in our story,” says Perkins. Leaving the house will be bittersweet for the couple, but they do so with a sense of pride of accomplishment and great memories from nearly a decade spent in the home. The residence has been the backdrop for many milestones: “We hosted many wonderful holidays, events and fundraisers,” notes Perkins. “My sister got married here.”
Acknowledging that all good things must come to an end, he says, “We’ve always felt like we are just stewards of a very important home that has been part of many past owners’ stories.” Stay tuned for the sequel.
DETAILS
Homeowners: Jamie Durrence and Robby Perkins
Neighborhood: Ardsley Park
Year built: 1922
Year purchased: 2015
Interior design: Robby Perkins
Number of bedrooms: 5
Number of bathrooms: 5
Square footage: 5,160
Lighting: Visual Comfort & Co.
Cabinetry: Old Mill Woodworks
Range hood: Forsyth Metal Works
Countertops: Surface Setters
Faucets: Kingston Brass
Antiques: Peridot Antiques; Everard Auctions and Appraisals
Paint: Sherwin-Williams
Appliances: KitchenAid
TASTE
The Bourbon Hunters
As the multibillion-dollar industry surrounding the Southern spirit continues to boom, local aficionados share in their search for coveted bottles
Written by CAROLINE EUBANKS // Photography by MIKE SCHALK
Members of the Proof Club meet at Edgar’s Proof & Provisions
You don’t have to head to the Bluegrass state to find some of the best bourbon. Savannah is home to several gathering places for brown water lovers, whether you’re looking to try a new cocktail, mingle with fellow fans or pick up a rare bottle for your collection.
A selection of bottles from Habersham Beverage
BONDED BY BOURBON
In addition to the several online groups where bourbon fans swap recommendations and even bottles, there’s an in-person community that meets in the heart of historic Savannah. Edgar’s Proof & Provisions bar inside The DeSoto Savannah is home to the Proof Club, also known as “the bourbon club,” a group of around 80 (and counting) local bourbon aficionados that meet on the first Wednesday of every month.
The group’s name refers to the alcohol content of a spirit, including bourbon. By law, bourbon must be at least 80 proof (or 40% alcohol), but some sought-after bottles like George T Stagg, E.H. Taylor and Blanton’s may be as high as 130 proof.
However, a preference for heavy pours isn’t a requirement for joining the club. Lifelong bourbon drinkers and newcomers alike are welcome to just learn about the spirit, says Lauren Teague, The DeSoto Savannah’s director of food and beverage and executive chef.
“It’s always a mix of people,” Teague says of the club’s roster. “We have some younger, older men, women, all different professions. Some come all the time; some come every once in a while.”
During each monthly meeting, Edgar’s staff offers a welcome cocktail and light bites, then showcases three whiskeys, including rye and bourbon, telling the stories behind them as well as dissecting aspects like sight, color, smell and flavor. Sometimes, representatives for the distilleries drop by, and the group often gets to sample bottles that are hard to find or run upwards of $300 — a good deal considering the club’s annual dues are only $150 per person.
“[These whiskies] tell a story. Some of these have just phenomenal stories about how they were originated by someone’s grandfather or they were named after somebody,” says Teague. “A lot of these bottles are things that you will probably not purchase yourself.”
“[These whiskies] tell a story. Some of these have just phenomenal stories about how they were originated by someone’s grandfather or they were named after somebody. A lot of these bottles are things that you will probably not purchase yourself.”
Lauren Teague, executive chef and director of food and beverage at The DeSoto Savannah
The club provides an unparalleled education for those interested in bourbon but also forges friendships. Between meetings, members chat online and even have a bottle exchange to swap favorite finds. Member Kirstin Cook leads the Facebook group and has been a member for more than six years.
“I was pretty well-versed in bourbon and whiskey when I joined,” she says. Still, the club has allowed her to gain more knowledge and try some unicorns, such as Pappy Van Winkle — one of the industry’s biggest success stories with a cult-like following.
“I found out I’m not a fan, which is great because it’s so expensive and now I know I don’t need to bother,” Cook says. Instead, she’s found that she prefers bottles from brands like Penelope and Old Carter.
PICKY DRINKERS
Plenty of Savannah’s bars and restaurants offer robust bourbon selections, but perhaps none more than Husk, an offshoot of the restaurant founded by chef Sean Brock in Charleston, South Carolina, and now owned by The Neighborhood Dining Group. The Savannah iteration has been open since 2018, and from the beginning, has put an emphasis on Southern spirits. Throughout the past few years, the team at Husk has forged relationships with distillers to carry only the best bottles on the bar menu thanks to the restaurant’s reputation.
Kirstin Cook (center) with fellow members of The Proof Club
“Oftentimes there are certain bottles that are yearly or twice yearly releases, and when they’re gone, they’re gone.”
Kenny Lyons, vice president of operations for The Neighborhood Dining Group
“We’re kind of synonymous with having excellent bourbon and an excellent bourbon program, and it’s a focus for us,” says Kenny Lyons, vice president of operations for The Neighborhood Dining Group and an avid bourbon collector, with 30 “dusty,” or vintage, bottles at home. “We build our spirits program and cocktail program around whiskey, and we do a lot of training with our staff to make sure that they know how to speak to it.”
Patrons of Husk can enjoy an extensive menu of different types of whiskies from America and beyond, with one- to twoounce pours between $17 and $200 for a taste. At any given time, the selection may be up to 200 whiskies. In addition to many of the heavy hitters on the menu, including E.H. Taylor, Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare and Stitzel-Weller, Husk also specializes in single barrel selections, where distillers choose one barrel for its flavor profile to bottle and for rare pours.
“We’ve had probably roughly 20 different single barrels over the last 10 years. We typically get one or two a year, but we’ve got all of our current Willett single barrels on offer as well as our Bardstown single barrel, which I think is pretty special,” notes Lyons.
For the uninitiated, the bar staff at Husk are there, ready to make suggestions based on your preferences and palates. You never know what you’ll find, as the bottles are often limited.
“Oftentimes there are certain bottles that are yearly or twice yearly releases, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. And there’s also new products that could be a new up-and-coming producer that we will add and see how it goes and see how we sell it,” says Lyons.
BARRELING AHEAD
Husk’s arrival on Savannah’s restaurant scene in 2018 dovetails with global trends in consumer preferences, with bourbon rising in popularity since the turn of the century. According to the Kentucky Distillers Association, the state produced a record 2.7 million barrels of Bourbon in 2022, marking the fifth year in a row topping 2 million, and generated $9 billion for its economy.
Savvy liquor stores are leaning into their customer preferences. “Bourbon is the next Pokèmon for drinking age people,” says Vince Becker, a manager at Habersham Beverage Warehouse . In the past 10 years, he has seen more people chasing the “unobtainables,” or products that are distributed with limited allocations.
“The ones that people — or cherry pickers, as we refer to them — are really hunting for, we don’t even put them on the shelf,” he says. Rather, the uncommon goods are tucked away in the back and reserved for the store’s most loyal customers. “We try to take care of the folks who are our regulars that are buying our store picks and some of the less-chased-after stuff year-round … It’s a tough juggle, because you’re trying to help everyone out, but there is not enough to go around.”
For those who are new to the bourbon game, Becker recommends starting with Habersham Beverage’s barrel picks. These are unique variations of popular brands, like Old Forester, Rittenhouse Rye, Yellowstone and High West. Reps from the brand or its distributor bring in samples straight from rickhouses where barrels are aged, and the experts at Habersham Beverage handpick their favorites, which are bottled with a custom label. One of Becker’s personal favorites is their private selection of Maker’s Mark, which is named Savannah Praline because of its customized tasting notes.
“We’ve tasted and we put our name on, and that’s our pick,” Becker says. In today’s era of Instagram influencers, YouTube channels with thousands of subscribers and Facebook groups like The Proof Club, the right — or wrong — pick can go a long way in establishing a liquor’s store reputation among hunters.
“We are doing pretty good at it,” Becker says proudly. “We get some picks that come in and fly. Thirty or 40 bottles will be gone in three days.”
Enson Market brings hard-to-find Asian groceries and cult-favorite snacks to the heart of Midtown
Written by FEIFEI SUN // Photography by JASON B. JAMES
GLOBAL GOODS COME LOCAL
DURING THE LATE ‘90S IN SAVANNAH , the grocery store my family frequented most wasn’t a chain known for its subs or its 10 for $10 deals.
Once a week or so, we stopped into Chinatown Market, a nondescript brick building in an unusual part of town, as far as grocery stores go, on the corner of Price and Henry streets downtown. Inside, walking past the front room that housed familiar convenience store goods like barbecue potato chips and grape and orange sodas, we would head into a chilly back room that held the Napa cabbage, Chinese ginger, dried tofu and LaoGanMa chili crisp that were staples in our home — but not on the supermarket shelves.
That’s changed over the last couple decades, and a new market demonstrates how far we’ve come.
With the recent opening of Enson Market, housed in the former Lucky’s Market space on Abercorn Street, shopping for these previously hard-to-find Asian foods is easier than ever. Not to mention more fun: There are two rows of different flavors of Ramen alone at the warehouse-sized market, including cult favorites, like the perfectly spiced or congestionclearing (depending on your tolerance) shin, or the sweet and salty mi goreng.
Elsewhere, there’s a dizzying selection of fresh vegetables (gai lan, bitter melon); meats (silky chicken); frozen goods (dumplings, ice cream and buns); and packaged goods, from dried noodles and teas to rows of imported oils and sauce. Classics like oyster, soy and gochujang are on offer from multiple brands. And I’d be remiss to not mention the snacks in rainbow shades of packaging. My personal favorites from childhood include spicy dried squid, Haw Flakes, preserved plums and Yakult yogurt drinks with their iconic red foil cap.
Beyond the sheer volume and variety of goods, Enson Market brings something less tangible, but just as special: the serendipity of discovery
Beyond the sheer volume and variety of goods, Enson Market brings something less tangible, but just as special: the serendipity of discovery.
For someone born in China and raised in the American South, specialty Asian markets were havens for families like mine and adventurous home cooks, offering pantry staples found nowhere else, but often at the cost of variety. It was on trips to Atlanta — to Asian Square on Buford Highway, in particular, for my family — that I first wandered aisles of grass jelly drinks, decided from among a dozen kinds of dried seaweed and marveled at entire shelves of packet seasonings.
seaweed and marveled at entire shelves of packet seasonings.
Row after row, I discovered new delights while learning about nostalgic favorites for my parents, like shrimp crackers, red bean ice cream bars and youtiao, the crispy, fried sticks of dough we dipped in hot soybean drink.
A particular joy of travel is the pleasure of trying a new flavor that pleases and intrigues. Enson Market brings a version of this experience to the heart of Savannah. Its opening means locals won’t have to go out of town to get the specialty groceries they need — or discover something delightful they didn’t know they needed.
the specialty groceries they need — or discover something
Creatures Welcome
Water
Witch Tiki Bar brings Black Lagoon, the acclaimed Halloween pop-up cocktail bar, to Bull Street
Written by CAROLINE EUBANKS
WHILE CHRISTMAS-THEMED COCKTAIL POP-UPS are a dime a dozen in December, spooky season is finally getting the attention it deserves. From Sept. 30 to Nov. 2., Savannah’s Water Witch Tiki Bar will join leading cocktail bars across North America by temporarily transforming into “Black Lagoon,” an immersive, touring Halloween experience that has been named the Best Pop-Up Bar in 2022 by Canada’s 100 Best magazine.
Inspired by the classics’ movie creatures and all things supernatural, the Black Lagoon pop-up concept was founded by cocktail veterans Kelsey Ramage and Erin Hayes in Toronto in 2021 following a successful stint at a bar industry convention. Ramage is an award-winning bartender and consultant from Toronto, Canada, who was named the Spirited Awards Best International Bartender in 2020. Hayes hails from Chicago and served as head bartender at Three Dots and a Dash, the city’s own famed tiki phenomenon.
“We created Black Lagoon as not only a fun and unique way to celebrate Halloween, but also as a safe space for anyone who may feel like a misfit,” says Hayes. Ramage adds, “We strive for our guests to have fun, have a delicious drink and experience Halloween with
no judgment and not be afraid to channel your inner goth kid.”
When Water Witch owner and fellow tiki fanatic Brigitte Martin Harley heard about Black Lagoon from an industry colleague, she and her staff went all in on bringing the world-class experience to Savannah.
Expect macabre decor like life-sized coffins, moody lighting, skulls and skeletons, cobwebs and other eerie items. Of course, you’ll also find a menu of frightfully tasty drinks. Popular concoctions of past years include the “Book of Blood,” a mezcal spin on the Mai Tai with fresh beet juice for a bloody appearance, and the “Death Rattle,” a mix of brandy, amontillado sherry and fresh juices. There are also low-alcohol and spirit-free options. The pop-up even creates tiki-style glassware for its cocktails, which patrons can purchase as souvenirs.
“The cocktails are where we really get to have fun and bring Black Lagoon to life,” says Ramage. “Erin and I get to put our bar-focused brains together and really play with our love for the heebie-jeebies to come up with a curated menu of blood-curdling cocktails.”
For more information, visit blacklagoonpopup.com — if you dare.
CHEF Q&A
DANIEL HARTHAUSEN
Winner of HBO’s “The Big Brunch”
Culinary Wunderkind
Born in Korea and renowned in Richmond, Virginia, chef Daniel Harthausen brings his heritage, humor and ambitions to Late Air
Written by KIKI DY // Photography by JASON B. JAMES
DANIEL HARTHAUSEN has fit a lot into his 29 years. The self-taught Korean American chef (who recently learned he’s also one-third Japanese thanks to 23andMe) spent eight years in the Richmond, Virginia, bar and restaurant scene, where he started his muchlauded pop-up, Young Mother. Soon after, he charmed and cooked his way up to the rung of celebrity, winning Dan Levy’s HBO Max cooking competition, “The Big Brunch” in 2022.
A year after securing the funding needed to start his own restaurant, Harthausen decided he didn’t want to be tied to a brick-and-mortar just yet. He still had more to explore. So, he took to the open road, living in his van, popping into kitchens from Philadelphia to Maine, before his vagabond swan song: a brief stint as a West Virginia mountain man. Along the way, he met Colin Breland — who owns Late Air with his wife, Madeline Ott — at a natural wine fair. When Harthausen later saw their job post for a new chef, he came to Savannah on a lark but quickly realized the corner of Bull Street and Victory Drive is where he was meant to be.
(During off-hours, you can spot him at one of his favorite Savannah locales, like E-TANG or Rocky’s deli . If you’re lucky, you may even catch him singing a Creed or Billy Joel cover at McDonough’s.)
Here, the chef discusses his grandmother’s coastal kimchi recipe, what went down behind the scenes of his reality TV appearance and upcoming dumpling nights at Late Air.
Padrón Peppers
From Late Air head chef Daniel Harthausen YIELDS TWO SERVINGS
toum (recipe opposite page)
1/4 cup mojo de cilantro (recipe opposite page)
neutral oil, such as a canola/olive oil blend
12 padrón peppers (shishitos work as a substitute)
1/4 cup dry white wine, such as sauvignon blanc
1 cantabrian anchovy
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste pinch of urfa pepper (optional)
lemon zest
Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry vinegar
Warm a medium sauté pan over medium heat, then add enough oil to coat half of your pan.
Add a pinch of salt to the oil in the pan, then add the padrón peppers. Sear the peppers for about one minute on each side.
Push the peppers to the side to expose a portion of the pan, add the anchovy and break apart using the back of a spoon.
Add white wine and let reduce to about half of its volume.
Add the mojo de cilantro, butter and olive oil, and simmer for about 2 minutes.
Reduce the heat and add the lemon juice. Salt the sauce to taste, then toss the peppers in the sauce.
To plate: Add the toum to the bottom of a plate. Place peppers on top of the toum. Spoon sauce from the pan around the toum and on top of the peppers. Garnish with urfa, black pepper, finishing salt, PX sherry vinegar and lemon zest.
ON BEING SELF-TAUGHT
I never went to culinary school. I only had about three real cooking jobs for a combined total of two years, nothing resembling formal training. Being self-taught, many of my recipes and techniques come from memories of cooking with the women in my family. That inspired the name for Young Mother — my mom had me when she was 17. My other biggest influence was the last restaurant I worked at [Restaurant Addara in Richmond, Virginia]. It was a Spanish Basque restaurant and wine bar where I was actually in the front of the house. Watching the chef there and seeing what he put up and how he cooked made a huge impact on me.
ON HIS FAVORITE FAMILY RECIPE
My family’s kimchi recipe is fairly different. When you look at regions of Korea, there are so many different styles of kimchi. Our family’s is a Southern Coastal kind that incorporates raw shrimp and raw tuna. People usually use fish sauce, so ours essentially skips that part of the process by creating those flavors in the ferment. It adds another layer of complexity that I love. Unfortunately, I can’t serve that at Late Air because it’s not exactly foodsafe [commercially], but it’s something I’ve been eating my whole life and will hold on to.
ON THE “BURRITO” THAT WON OVER THE JUDGES
Halfway through the competition on “The Big Brunch,” we had this challenge to make a hangover brunch meal, and I made a burrito thing that ended up being what they liked the most. I called it the Oka-rrito because it was an okonomiyaki [a savory Japanese teppanyaki pancake dish]. I made the pancake, filled it with Korean barbecue, rolled it up and made it look like an okonomiyaki. They lost their minds over it and loved it. I was like, “This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever made.”
Toum
2 bulbs of garlic cloves, split in half with the germ removed 2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup ice water, divided
3 cups neutral oil
1 egg white
Add peeled garlic and salt to the food processor, and pulse until finely minced.
Add lemon juice and process until a smooth paste forms.
Add egg white to the paste.
Slowly add neutral oil in batches, alternating between oil, lemon and water while the food processor is on.
Salt to taste.
Mojo de Cilantro
5 cloves garlic
1 bunch cilantro
1/2 tablespoon whole cumin, toasted
1 cup olive oil
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 orange, juiced
Add garlic to the food processor until finely chopped. Add cilantro and cumin and process until cilantro is chopped.
Add oil, water, sherry vinegar and orange juice and pulse until combined. Salt to taste.
ON BRINGING KOREAN INFLUENCE TO LATE AIR
Korea is actually one of the biggest natural wine markets in the world. My theory is that they’re already accustomed to that type of palate because they use so much fermented food. So, we’re thinking about Late Air as a Korean wine bar. The idea is to exemplify the culture and flavors of Korea in this context. There are obviously some extremely niche Korean ingredients that I can’t get my hands on here quite yet, but I’ve been building relationships with vendors here and appreciate the amazing produce in Georgia. We’ll also launch a Wednesday Korean dumpling night because I love making dumplings. They’ll be simple, thin skinned and served with chili oil. When we’re out, we’re out.
HANCOCK DAY SCHOOL
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Skeletons
clo set in the
Halloween knows no bounds — other than storage space — for these Savannah families looking to scare and delight
Written
GOTO
by ANDREA
// Photography by ROBIN ELISE MAAYA
NOT EVERYTHING WAS better in the ’70s and ’80s — we had to get up to change the TV channel, and phones were tethered to walls — but Halloween most certainly was. Sugar-seeking costumed kids ran wild through the neighborhoods, filling their pillowcases with candy. Parents weren’t concerned about kidnappers, nor did they inspect our candy before consumption, and yet, most of us managed to survive.
Not all is lost, however, because in some select corners of Savannah, the spirit of Halloween past lives on like never before. It’s a labor of love for these festive families, requiring ingenuity, time, effort — and a whole lot of storage space.
THIS TOWN IS OUR TOWN
The Olde Towne neighborhood on Wilmington Island has built a legacy around Halloween, welcoming hordes of kids to their decorated doorsteps each year. And central to that celebration is what’s lovingly known as “The Hell House.”
“I’m a 1970s Halloween kid who grew up in California,” says Susan Mason, who, along with her husband, Don, are proprietors of The Hell House. “We went to a party in Olde Towne and they said Halloween here is like being in the 1970s. That’s when we realized we had to move here.”
The first five years, the Masons escorted their daughter, Sam, as she and her friends trick-or-treated in the neighborhood, but at 13, Sam outgrew going door-to-door and suggested they instead focus on going all out with decorating.
Most of the year, The Hell House sits unassuming on a circle of quaint houses with tidy yards. But come September, it begins to transform into a devil’s playground of sorts: skeletons hanging from trees and crawling out of the ground, an oversized throne and archway inlaid with skulls and corpses skewered on stakes. Then, on Halloween, the real magic happens when Don, dressed as Satan, eerily lights the yard, plugs in the hologram and industrial fog machines, and cranks the heavy metal music, indicating that The Hell House is officially open.
The Masons clearly aimed to entertain the teenagers and adults with their real-life zombies and gargoyles, a goat man on stilts and eardrum bursting music, but they say most of the little kids love it just as much. Many even pose for pictures with Satan on his throne.
“The kids from the neighborhood come by the whole month of October as I’m working on the house,” Don says. “I’ll let them sit on the throne and show them that it isn’t real.” He brings his Satan mask out for the kids to see and touch it. “Some kids even help build stuff,” he adds.
Don, a mechanical engineer at Gulfstream, makes nearly all of the props, while Susan sews the costumes and applies the makeup. “I really enjoy the people who come up and want to take pictures,” Don says. “But I also like the production part of it. It’s just a big party.”
The Mason family
The Kozlowski family
“I ask myself, ‘What would the Masons do?’ They’re my inspiration. They truly are.”
DEVILISH DESIGN INSPIRATION
But it’s not a competition. Don says he enjoys inspiring other neighbors to up their Halloween game.
“The Masons really inspired me,” says Ben Kozlowski, whose massive handmade props and creative storytelling quickly put his house on Halloween’s must-see map. “It’s such an important event for our neighborhood, and it’s kind of what we’re known for. Now we’re adding to the enthusiasm.”
When the Kozlowskis moved to Olde Towne in 2016, they were unprepared for just how big Halloween would be. Ben’s wife, Randi, recalls having to beg him to decorate that first year. “We started off with the tiniest wolfman stuffed with pine straw,” Ben says, laughing. “And we thought that was everything.”
The purchase of a 12-foot skeleton from Home Depot moved the needle. “I thought, ‘That guy’s coming home with me.’ It was the skeleton that kickstarted everything,” he says.
The imagination grew from there. “Now it’s something special,” Ben says. “And it has to be different every year.”
He builds around a theme. “I start planning in late July because I have to know what I’m getting myself into,” Ben says. He sketches out his design and begins building in August. Meanwhile, Randi says her role is to figure out the theme for the family and to give Ben a budget, which he always breaks.
This year, Ben’s working on a gigantic “pumpkin man” with smaller pumpkins and vines that run up the house and all the way to the street. He’ll start arranging the scene the first of September, though he knows it will be a work in progress. “He’ll put it up, and then he won’t like it, so he’ll move it around,” Randi says.
“I ask myself, ‘What would the Masons do?’” Ben says. “They’re my inspiration. They truly are.”
— BEN KOZLOWSKI
IF YOU BUILD IT…
For Savannah natives Jessica and Jimmy Coleman, Halloween has always been a big event, even before their two daughters were born. “In fact, one of our bridal showers was a Halloween theme because my sister-in-law knew how much I love it,” Jessica says. There was also a Halloween-themed baby shower when Jessica was pregnant with the couple’s first child.
“Halloween has kind of percolated throughout our lives,” Jessica says. So, when they bought a historic colonial home on Victory Drive, it seemed natural to go all out with the decorations even if they wouldn’t see the numbers Olde Towne does. “I said, ‘Let’s just do something really fun and awesome, and even if we don’t get trick-or-treaters, at least we’ll bring some enjoyment to people as they pass by,’” Jessica recalls.
Ben and Randi Kozlowski
Jessica employed the help of her sister-in-law, Caroline Coleman, who is also an event planner, to create an installation that not only catches the attention of passersby, but invites trickor-treaters on a Halloween hike of sorts through their spacious yard, which they transform with strobe lights, spider webs, fog, animatronics and dozens of skeletons into a winding wonderland of spooky scenes.
“It’s very intentional,” Jessica says of the design. “Caroline and I sit down and plan out what we think would look appropriate and how to balance it out.” She gives Jimmy some creative license when it comes to placing his beloved animatronics along the path, but Jessica says she sometimes has to rein him in.
“If my husband were given free range, it would just be a whole bunch of stuff,” she says. “That’s how we have a ridiculously huge inflatable cat that I’m desperately hoping will die.”
DECORATING’S DARKER SIDE
That “bunch of stuff,” or “yard vomit” as the Masons jokingly refer to it, is something all three families try to avoid. “I think it’s funny when you go by a house and see every kind of theme available,” says Susan. “You’ve got a dinosaur with a spider and a Mickey Mouse wearing a witch hat.”
They also feel the same about inflatables, though Jessica sheepishly admits to having “a good bit of them.” “It’s really because it’s the easiest way to cover a large amount of territory and can easily be packed up and stored,” she says. “But I don’t want just a yard full of inflatables.” And as for the 20-foot behemoth pumpkin on their roof? That just makes sense if you’re looking to catch someone’s attention.
As rewarding as decorating for Halloween can be, there are
some notable challenges. The time it takes to plan and execute is one thing, but there’s also the issue of storage. The Colemans are still trying to find a place for two 12-foot skeletons that are currently living in their backyard. “Some of our neighbors think it’s hilarious,” Jessica says.
The Kozlowskis admit to be bursting at the seams. “Shelves in the garage specifically made for this stuff are now overflowing,” says Ben. “I have no more room for another decoration, and I plan on adding at least two more this year.” To which Randi adds, “We don’t park in the garage.”
The Masons are meticulous about storage, neatly placing their props in what used to be Don’s woodshop and is now referred to as “The Hell Hole.”
And what goes up, must come down. It takes the Colemans up to two months to put it all away. “Usually by the end of Halloween, we’re just so exhausted from doing it all. And now that we have young kids, we’re going to take a week off before we even start to think about taking stuff down,” Jessica says.
At the Masons, everything comes down the day after Halloween and is put away by noon. This is where the Kozlowskis break their what-would-the-Masons-do mantra, taking the month of November to take down their decorations. “Every November, once I get it down, I think, ‘Man, I am never going to do that again. It’s so time consuming,’” says Ben. “And then I’ll get an ad sent from Home Depot …”
Perhaps the hardest part is living up to everyone’s expectations once the bar has been set. “I can’t let anybody down,” Ben says with only a hint of humor. “I need to continue to grow and get bigger.”
The Colemans stay inspired by the growing number of trick-ortreaters they get with each passing year. “Now we have families that come back year after year and take pictures,” Jessica says.
As for The Hell House’s 13 years and counting? Don says he’ll retire from Gulfstream next year, so it’ll probably be a few more years before he passes Satan’s staff along. And when he does, the Kozlowskis will be waiting.
After all, it’s not a competition.
ENMARKET CELEBRATES 60 YEARS
From Waters Avenue to enriching lives across three southeastern states.
Celebrating 60 years in business is a testament to the dedication and hard work of every employee who has worked at Enmarket over that span of time.”
– Matt Clements, president of Enmarket
WITH 133 LOCATIONS, Enmarket is a southeastern staple, and while folks can easily spot their red and green leafy logo, they might be less familiar with the convenience store’s legacy that started right here in Savannah 60 years ago.
The story began when Savannah native Raymond M. Demere returned home from serving in World War I and had the prudence to recognize that the growing popularity of automobiles provided a business opportunity in the form of petroleum products. In 1921, Demere launched American Oil Company, later renamed Colonial Oil Industries. Business boomed, and the company made another astute move by opening a retail outlet in the form of a service station, and the first Enmarket — originally named “Interstate Stations” — opened on Waters Avenue in 1964.
Demere kept the business in the family, which is now in its fourth generation, as well as in Savannah (Colonial’s corporate headquarters continue to operate on 21 acres along the Savannah River), but the business has always evolved with the times. In 1990, Interstate Stations was renamed Enmark, a nod to the concept that the stores were “Energy Markets” and rebranded again in 2015 to
Interstate Stations opened on Waters Avenue in 1964
The original site of American Oil Company, at the intersection of Drayton and Charlton streets
become the Enmarket of today, offering not only quality fuel for cars but also fresh food and healthy snacks to fuel folks on the go.
The Savannah-grown company whose mission is to “enrich life” has always given back to the communities it serves, focusing particularly on youth development and athletics, community health and the arts. It’s a business model that works — community support, quality service and ability to evolve — and it’s why the family-owned company has grown to become the 51st largest convenience retailer in the U.S.
But the story doesn’t end here because the legacy Demere built all those years ago continues to evolve.
“Celebrating 60 years in business is a testament to the dedication and hard work of every employee who has worked at Enmarket over that span of time,” says Matt Clements, president of Enmarket. “Over the decades, we’ve consistently provided our customers with quality and convenience. As we look to the future, I am excited about the continued investment and innovation that will carry the brand to new heights.”
Moving into the future, Enmarket is expanding its footprint by building new stores in vibrant communities around the Southeast and enhancing technologies to better serve customers. By embracing the latest technological advancements, Enmarket aims to provide an even more efficient, enjoyable and sustainable experience for all who shop with them.
As Enmarket celebrates 60 years in business, they credit the dedicated employees, both past and present, who have been the backbone of the business’s success. Their unwavering commitment, hard work and exceptional service has been instrumental in creating a welcoming environment for customers and building a legacy of excellence.
A future development – Pepper Hall in Bluffton, South Carolina
Enmarket, Thunderbolt, Georgia
Enmarkets offer quality fuel, fresh food and healthy snacks for folks on the go
Enmarket, Richmond Hill, Georgia
Vanessa Tilly
Susan Laney
Derek Simcik
Dhruv Khanna
Jess Berkin
CREAM OF THE CROP
The Best of Savannah winners were determined by reader votes alone. Only one ballot per person was accepted; duplicate ballots and those without a verifiable name and address were automatically disqualified. Savannah magazine does not control how individuals campaigned.
Photo by ALLISON REVELLE
Megan Miller
Manu Bansal
Famiglia First
Words by COLLEEN ANN MCNALLY
BEFORE THE FLAGSHIP HOTEL BARDO
opened its doors at 700 Drayton St. in early 2024, anyone following the hotel’s social media already knew it was sure to make a splash.
Savannahian Manu Bansal (pictured on previous page) recalls feeling “mind blown” when he first saw the renderings.
He is quick to admit he is biased, however, as Dhruv Khanna, the hotel’s general manager, and Pritpal Singh, partner and COO at the development firm, Left Lane, are some of Bansal’s closest friends.
“I was just thinking to myself, ‘They are building something very, very cool and this is something that Savannah was missing,’” Bansal says. “A full, resort-like space where you can spend your whole day at the restaurants, the pool, all the different experiences. I knew they were onto something, I just didn’t know how big the scope was until I finally saw it finished.”
His first look at the revamped, circa-1889 mansion on Forsyth Park came during the hotel’s opening party this past February. As a founding member of Club Bardo, the hotel’s private member club, Bansal was wowed by how the visions in those early renderings became reality before his eyes.
“Everyone is dressed impeccably for this party, right? Everyone is dressed to the nines, wearing their Prada, Gucci and Chanel and all their finest gear. I’m also wearing my nice shoes and clothes that I feel good in,” he says. “Then, I saw the pool for the first time. I immediately took my shoes off, and I went into the pool. ... I lost my shoes in the process, because I forgot where I took them off so I was just walking barefoot, half soaking from my knees down, just ridiculous, and I loved every part of it. That is my first Bardo memory.” A big splash, indeed.
In the months since, Bansal drops by the resort almost daily. He is partial to how the color green is used throughout the interiors — a nod to the city’s verdant parks and iconic tree
BEST NEW HOTEL
Hotel Bardo’s General Manager Dhruv Khanna and Left Lane’s Chief Brand Officer Jess Berkin
canopy just outside the doors. He also enjoys the second-story Club Bardo atmosphere, from its room dressed entirely in shades of pinks to the chic lamps that complete the ambience.
“I love looking at the design and the detail they went into for the smallest things. I see it all around the world when we travel and stay at some nice properties. It’s the same feeling,” says Bansal, who lived in India and New York before moving to Savannah in 2015 with his partner, the jeweler, designer and co-owner of 13 Secrets Jewelry Gallery , Chad Crawford . “I always would say to myself, ‘Why can’t Savannah have this?’ And Bardo made it happen to that level.”
And while Bansal may be biased, he is certainly not alone. In its first year, a bevy of luxury travel and design experts from Condé Nast Traveler, Elle, Forbes, Robb Report and Travel + Leisure — to name a few — have taken note of Bardo’s debut. Kelly Ripa even raved about her visit — and the pastries courtesy of the hotel’s head pastry chef, Kate Sigel — on live television.
Yet, whether Bansal is dropping by for his morning coffee, a quick bite at Bar Bibi or lingering late in the Green Room for
another espresso martini nightcap (with only one bean — if you know, you know), he says nothing tops the people he sees on the property. “Chad and I are very social. We love meeting new people, but we also love hanging out with our friends. Since we joined the club, it’s very casual and easy to see people in a fabulous setting without planning.”
Soon, Left Lane plans to expand the Bardo brand to more cities, and with it, that club spirit and playful sense of hospitality and modern luxury that keep regulars coming back.
“We saw the hotel evolve, and we felt like we were part of the process. Whenever we go there, it feels so familiar, like home,” Bansal says. “They genuinely worked hard to create something that people would love. They succeeded on all fronts, and now it’s our turn to return the favor to them … so they can be here for a long time.”
Left Lane’s Brand Director Vanessa Tilly
Hotel Bardo’s Director of Fitness and Activities Cameron Scott and Culinary Director Derek Simcik
Vacation Mode
Words by SOPHIE BROCHU
WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS of talking about hospitality in the restaurant industry, but if you were to ask me what constitutes great hospitality, I might start with the feeling I get around family. I would tell you about comfort and generosity. The way my late father-in-law would break out my favorite red wines from the “cellar” on our visits to north Georgia or the spread of New York-style bagels and lox at Aunt Audrey’s in Westchester, New York. Great hospitality gives people a sense of belonging, which is to say, it makes them feel at home away from home.
It’s relatively easy to accomplish this among close friends and family. It’s another thing to make strangers feel this way.
Meanwhile, Saint Bibiana, the marquee restaurant at Hotel Bardo, seeks to transport diners on a luxe European summer vacation with chosen family. It’s also how the hotel chose to kick off its Instagram presence back in the spring of 2023 — months ahead of its fall 2023 debut — with washed out shots of the Italian coastline. The series of boats, buoys and cliffs was a clever tactic to tease out a feeling of la dolce vita and create a sense of place, long before the doors were even open.
If a sense of place is ingrained in the idea of hospitality, the team behind Bibiana and Hotel Bardo wants you to know exactly where you are. Soft peach hues of the dining room (or rather a series of rooms), the dripping pink chandeliers and the plush sage upholstery of a rounded banquette set the tone. The way the sunlight spills onto the white marble tables through arched windows. Like their Instagram account, the design and aesthetic are carefully curated. It may not scream “home” per se, but it screams Saint Bibiana. It’s a restaurant with an identity and a sense of place, both of which are integral in creating a strong foundation for great hospitality.
According to legend, the patron Saint Bibiana was buried near her home on the Aventine Hill in fourth century Rome. The ground around her grave sprouted with healing herbs that were used to treat hangovers.
“Our design narrative, service delivery and menu work together to evoke a sentiment often found along the Mediterranean and
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Saint Bibiana
Adriatic coastlines, in treasured resorts where experiences are exceptional and effortless,” says managing partner Jon Kully. Anyone who has worked at any craft or art at length will tell you that it takes a lot of effort to be effortless.
In an era of unprecedented events and incessant doomscrolling, it’s no wonder we all have an appetite for escape. We want a story, an experience, a few hours where we can sit down at the table and be taken care of. And this is what Saint Bibiana does so well.
On our very first night out together since our 11-month-old daughter was born, Andrew and I had a chance to revel in the short-lived escape that is Saint Bibiana. The table was flooded with Lambrusco cocktails, raw oysters and mignonette, and grilled calamari in a guanciale-spiced tomato sauce that I’m still thinking about five weeks later. There were olive oil-washed martinis, bowls of pipe rigate verde and cavatelli sardi with spicy Sicilian ’nduja. There was Dover sole piccata topped with lemon and capers, and charred romanesco with crushed almond and chili flake. There was more, of course there was more, and then dessert — a grand finale of gelatos, sorbets and pastries.
Pay the price of overindulgence and perhaps Saint Bibiana will offer her healing powers as you head out into the swampy night, back to reality, work, doomscrolling, news, is the baby crying?, the things that need doing — that dinner, already so far away, like a dream or a distant memory that comes rapping at your brain.
After all, a great vacation can recharge us, and then, after being away for a bit, it feels nice to return home.
Born and raised in Savannah, Sophie Brochu is back in her hometown after 13 years in Chicago. She and her husband own Brochu’s Family Tradition , which was voted the 2023 Best New Restaurant by the readers of Savannah magazine. A musician, writer and philosophy major, Sophie wants to talk about local alligator sightings, the book you’re reading, and why sharing a meal with loved ones releases dopamine. Andrew and Sophie met working in a restaurant in Chicago.
Photography by ALLISON REVELLE
Produced by MORRIGAN MAZA, GOOD CULTURE CREATIVE
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Cavatelli Sardi; grilled Mediterranean branzino with oven-dried tomatoes and Sicilian anise butter; a non-alcoholic cocktail made from hibiscus, elderberry, quinine, rosehip and angelica root; pipe rigate verde; buffalo milk burrata; the Theodora (tequila, clarified passionfruit, saffron, verjus); Pork Rotolo
THESE ARE NOT YOUR PARENTS SENIOR PHOTOS and continued support, I love creating these memories for you! Thank you Savannah for your votes BUT THESE ARE...
Unexpected Joys
Words by CAROLINE HATCHETT
SITTING AT THE COUNTER OF STRANGE BIRD , sipping iced tea and dunking a birria burger into a cup of chile-laden consommé, I thought I had the restaurant figured out. Its menu — complete with fried chicken tacos, refried butter beans and churro crumble-topped banana pudding — clearly spoke some transcendent form of Southern-accented Spanglish.
But labels don’t stick too easily to Strange Bird, the retro diner owned by Brandon Carter of FARM Hospitality Group. It’s a deliciously restless restaurant that keeps inventing new reasons to return.
Strange Bird started as an airstream food truck in 2019 and marked Carter’s first foray into Savannah. The original idea, he says, was to preview his forthcoming fine-dining restaurant, Common Thread. Carter’s team smoked meats and gradually added burgers, chicken sandwiches, tacos and burritos to the menu. “The name Strange Bird gave us creative license to do whatever we felt like doing that day,” says Carter.
The mobile trailer was a lifeline for the group during the pandemic, and its success warranted a permanent home for Strange Bird inside the former chrome and green Streamliner Diner on the corner of Barnard and Henry streets. Now, on any given day of the week there, you’ll find city workers tucked into one of the few vinylupholstered booths, a suited lawyer with a briefcase at his feet and Tropicalia in hand, and twenty-somethings filming queso fundido as it lands on their table — topped with pico de gallo and chorizo, bubbling wildly on a sizzle platter.
by JASON B. JAMES Produced by MORRIGAN MAZA, GOOD CULTURE CREATIVE
Photography
Styling by Morgan Rae Boutique, winner Best Women’s Clothing.
At first glance, Strange Bird is all simple pleasures, marrying foods and flavors South Georgians understand, and sharing them at affordable prices in a nostalgic setting. But what makes Strange Bird great is that it taps into the wider ecosystem of the FARM group and the imaginations of its co-chefs de cuisine, Daniel Aranza and Felipe Vera.
Two whole pigs, for example, arrive at the group’s Bluffton commissary each week. The loins might go on the hearth at Common Thread, but the hams get processed into chorizo verde for Strange Bird tacos. One of Aranza and Vera’s summer specials, aka a “strange plate,” was a katsu sando meets torta with pork chop milanesa stacked onto milk bread with pickled jalapeños, guacamole, red onions and cotija cheese. The same peak season watermelon and cantaloupe that anchor salads at FARM get blended into Strange Bird’s refreshing agua frescas.
“Strange Bird is grounded in how we cook from scratch, source our ingredients, and all those fundamentals that are a common denominator throughout the group,” says Carter.
Chefs from Carter’s five restaurants also converge at Strange Bird for pop-ups. Diners can expect a reprise of an intra-group ramen collaboration, and Carter hinted at an omakase-themed menu for the fall. Aranza and Vera will also host Juan Stevenson, formerly of Late Air, for an Indonesian-through-the-lens-of-Strange-Bird dinner series. But whether it’s for a pop-up or their own menu, Strange Birds’ chefs are inspired by their own hunger. They cook what they want to eat, says Aranza. “That fuels our passion and makes us want to keep putting out great, delicious dishes.”
This past summer, and despite its popularity, Aranza and Vera overhauled Strange Bird’s menu, shelving some of their hit-making taco fillings to make way for fresh ideas. Korean-style bulgogi replaced barbacoa. The shrimp are now fried, and pibil-style pork got nixed for a mojo treatment. They also added chimichangas smothered in queso, plus one glaringly unlikely dish: Thai-inspired laab with crispy chicken or shrimp, scallion pancake, red onion, cabbage, soft herbs, jalapeño and peanuts.
“Everybody’s like, ‘Restaurants have to be focused,’” says Carter. “But why? Why do we have to cook just Mexican food or do barbecue? The three of us kind of all agree that if the food is delicious, and if we’re inspired by something, why wouldn’t we do it?”
Caroline Hatchett is a South Georgia-born food writer who lives in New York City. Her work appears in Garden & Gun, The Bitter Southerner, The Washington Post and Food & Wine.
Georgia shrimp Aquachile
Churro with Mexican mocha sauce and dulce de leche
EATS
Ardsley Station ardsleystation.com
Runner-up: OAK 36 Bar + Kitchen oakthirtysix.com
BAGEL
Big Bon Bodega bigbonfamily.com
Runner-up: The Midtown Deli & Bagel Shop facebook.com/ midtowndeliandbagelshop
CHAZ ORTIZ GREW UP surrounded by music, family and food. He recalls all the parties of his youth with the sound of something playing and the smell of something cooking — oftentimes a pig on a spit, which was common for his Puerto Rican upbringing. “I was always one of the ones helping and putting in my two cents and trying to make everything taste better,” he says. The urge followed him into adulthood and through a move to Savannah, and all of his family, friends and coworkers at backyard parties and reunions were excited whenever Ortiz headed into the kitchen.
As he settled into the Hostess City, however, he realized something was missing when he dined out. He couldn’t satisfy his craving for the Spanish food he found in other cities like Orlando, Tampa and Miami — so he decided to make it himself.
When Chazito’s Latin Cuisine was first conceived in 2012, Ortiz was serving just three items — empanadas, plantains and pinchos (a Puerto Rican kabob) — under a pop-up tent at local events. By 2015, his grandfather purchased an old Frito Lay’s truck, which they converted over the course of 6 months into the now-recognizable food truck. In 2016, a second truck was purchased, and the Pooler brick-and-mortar location opened to the public.
The road to success wasn’t always smooth, however. At first, Ortiz faced unexpected challenges, from diners with serious dietary restrictions to those who couldn’t pronounce the company’s name. Today, Chazito’s unique menu is the result of hard work and creativity all in the name of giving the community the Latin flavors they had been missing out on, and doing it in a way that felt familiar and could be enjoyed by all. Some of the most popular menu items, like the Boricua Burrito and the Ropa Vieja Tacos, were never items Ortiz intended to serve, but these fusions of classic and modern helped him share Puerto Rican dishes with Savannah in a way that didn’t feel intimidating.
And given he’s traveling down the road in a moving kitchen, things are bound to not always go as planned. “You have to learn to deal with so many variables,” he says. “These trucks are kitchens on wheels. You’re bumping down the road and the next thing you know, one of your fryers doesn’t work and you’ve got to decide to pan fry or grab a pot. Generators shut off and now you can’t use electrical appliances, and you have to use gas appliances.” Having the truck taught Ortiz a lot about persistence, creativity and the willingness to rethink the plan to make it work.
Chazito’s
Latin Cuisine
When Hurricane Matthew hit in 2016, food trucks were some of the only services able to operate. They could travel through the city serving hot meals to residents who hadn’t had power in days. Chazito’s was one of these trucks assisting the community — making sure everyone was fed, from the city’s stranded residents to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) first responders there to assist the city.
“Chazito’s signed a deal with FEMA that if anything happens here again, we will be there,” Ortiz says. In 2020, when concerns about COVID-19 began shutting down the city, Ortiz drove to residents unable to leave their houses for groceries or take-out.
Overall, Ortiz believes the good times have outweighed the bad. As a small business, he has been able to create meaningful
Photography by EASTWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY // Courtesy STARLAND YARD
BEST FOOD TRUCK
relationships with the people who come to enjoy his food. “I’ve had customers turn into friends. I’ve had couples meet each other at my food trucks and then years later, I’m catering their wedding, and then years later, they’re bringing their kids to eat my food,” he says with a laugh. “I’ve had people tell me I gave them a memory of their grandma’s food or childhood foods from Puerto Rico and Cuba. I’m able to bring them nostalgia and connect with them on so many different levels. That’s everything for me.”
A study abroad trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, changed Jordan Williamson’s life (not to be dramatic, but it’s true).
The experience led her to pursue graduate studies, learn Spanish and fall in love with Latin, Mexican and Hispanic culture. As an Atlanta-based social media marketer and content creator, Williamson shares stories of her travels online as “La Gringa Jo.”
Family visits to southeast Georgia frequently require a stop at Chazito’s Latin Cuisine.
NEW RESTAURANT (LESS THAN A YEAR OLD)
Saint Bibiana saint-bibiana.com
Runner-up: Strange Bird strangebirdsavannah.com
OUTDOOR DINING (NON-WATERFRONT)
The Collins Quarter thecollinsquarter.com
Runner-up: Starland Yard starlandyard.com
OYSTERS
Sorry Charlie’s Oyster Bar sorrycharlies.com
Runner-up: Brochu’s Family Tradition brochusfamilytradition.com
Anthony Debreceny, Southern Cross Hospitality @southerncrosshospitalitysav AND
Ele Tran, Rhino Hospitality Group rhinohospitalitygroup.com
Runner-up: Ansley Williams, Live Oak Restaurant Group liveoakrestaurants.com
SALAD
Kayak Kafé eatkayak.com
Runner-up: Starland Café thestarlandcafe.com
Starland Yard
Local Flavor
Words by MARTINA YVETTE
WHEN SAVANNAH NATIVE GARY GORDON graduated from North Carolina’s Shaw University in 2010, he returned home and found himself craving his favorite food from his college town.
“It felt like there was a void in Savannah when it came to traditional hot wings,” he recalls. “I jumped out on faith and started 520.”
Fourteen years later, 520 Wings has become a fixture on the corner of Victory Drive and Bull Street — a crossroads where the tony Ardsley Park neighborhood meets the hip Starland District.
Good wings know no bounds, it seems. To keep up with the growing popularity, Gordon has also expanded his brand with a food truck and a stall in Enmarket Arena. In 2019, he added 520 Tavern on Abercorn Street near Oglethorpe Mall, then closed it to make way for a new location of 520 Wings on a reinvigorated corridor of Waters Avenue near other burgeoning businesses like Waters Cafe, Goodfortune Market, The Stacks Bookstore and Cast & Grey Botanicals.
Open daily at 11 a.m. — and until 3 a.m. on weekends — 520 caters to anyone who has one goal in mind: to satisfy their own craving for wings, typically doused in a lemon pepper wet sauce. “It’s one of our signature, made-from-scratch dishes,” Gordon says.
As a 520 Wings connoisseur myself, I agree that the freshness of the wing flavorings and the temperature after preparation are definitely worth the wait — even if it’s on a bustling Friday afternoon. Pro tip: Opt for the garlic or crab fries on the side and, in lieu of ranch or blue cheese, try honey mustard for dipping the wings, or go for Gordon’s favorite, the Cajun ranch. (It’s worth the upcharge.) Last, but not least, if you’re going to have an authentic 520 experience, you can’t forget about their signature lemonades — the perfect accompaniment to a wing combo.
The real secret sauce for success is their local grassroots that separates them from chains, he says. “At 520, we put love into the product. I take pride in customer service and take pride in our product,” Gordon says. “I think they try to cut costs and dumb ingredients down, where we are kind of the opposite. We’re all about making a profit, but still like investing in our ingredients and not cutting corners. Trying to make sure all of our food comes out fresh plays a big role in being a fan favorite.”
To Gordon, the 520 experience starts before that first crispy bite. It begins with the smell when you walk through the doors, he says. There’s earthy, neo soul music playing, and work from local artists on the walls. Tattoo artist Coco created the mural at the Waters Avenue location. “That just all adds to the overall [experience],” Gordon says.
Not only does Gordon have a knack for flavor, but he also recognizes how his brand can help build community and give back. He often donates food through ongoing partnerships with The Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club and the Habersham YMCA. “Anytime we can help out, we like to,” Gordon says.
Runner-up: Rocky’s NY Deli & Italian Catering rockysofsavannah.com
SEAFOOD
Erica Davis Lowcountry ericadavislowcountry.com
520 Wings
Savannah native Martina Yvette is a youth advocate, and a food and culture freelance writer. Her work has appeared in the Savannah Morning News and Atlanta-Journal Constitution. In 2022, she was named the Best Local Instagram by Connect Savannah and she served as judge for the James Beard Foundation Awards. Keep up with her culinary adventures @a_dashofthat.
Produced by MORRIGAN MAZA, GOOD CULTURE CREATIVE
Runner-up: Tubby’s Tank House tubbysthunderbolt.com
SEAFOOD MARKET
Russo’s Seafood Market
Runner-up: Jackie’s Seafood Market
SHRIMP AND GRITS
Erica Davis Lowcountry ericadavislowcountry.com
Runner-up: Vic’s on the River vicsontheriver.com
SOUTHERN
Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room mrswilkes.com
Runner-up: Erica Davis Lowcountry ericadavislowcountry.com
SPECIALTY/GOURMET FOOD STORE
Provisions provisions-sav.com
Runner-up: Brighter Day Natural Foods Market brighterdayfoods.com
STEAK
Ruth’s Chris Steak House ruthschris.com/savannah
Runner-up: The Steakhouse on Whitemarsh thesteakhousewhitemarsh.com
SUSHI (TIE)
The Vault Kitchen & Market thevaultkitchen.com
Runner-up: Coco & Moss coconmoss.com
TACOS
Bull Street Taco bullstreettaco.com
Runner-up: Tequila’s Town Mexican Restaurant tequilastown.com
TAKEOUT
E-TANG etangfood.com
Runner-up: Erica Davis Lowcountry ericadavislowcountry.com
One of our residents’ favorite events is an outing to hear the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra. And as anyone who’s joined us will tell you, it’s a first-class trip all the way. We start with a delightful dinner here at The Marshes and then we transport you to and from the concert. We even purchase the tickets for you. Which means all you have to do is sit back, relax and savor the music with your closest friends. It’s an evening to remember.
To schedule a visit, go to marshesofskidaway.org or call 1.866.905.4446.
Jackie Davis, owner; Connie Ross, manager; and the amazing John Davis Florist team
MADE-INSAVANNAH PRODUCT Honey by Savannah Bee Co.
Photography by PETER COLIN MURRAY Styling by SARA SPICER
Produced by MORRIGAN MAZA, GOOD CULTURE CREATIVE
BAKERY
Baker’s Pride Bakery savannahbakery.com
Runner-up: Auspicious Baking Company auspiciousbakingco.com
CANDY SHOP
River Street Sweets riverstreetsweets.com
Runner-up:
Savannah’s Candy Kitchen savannahcandy.com
CHOCOLATE
River Street Sweets riverstreetsweets.com
Runner-up: Chocolat by Adam Turoni chocolatat.com
COFFEE ROASTER
Savannah Coffee Roasters savannahcoffee.com
Runner-up: PERC Coffee perccoffee.com
COFFEE SHOP
Foxy Loxy Cafe foxyloxycafe.com
Runner-up: Friendship Coffee Company friendshipcoffeeco.com
COOKIES
Two Smart Cookies twosmartcookies.com
Runner-up: Byrd Cookie Company byrdcookiecompany.com
Runner-up: The Savannah Tea Room savannahtearoom.com
THIS PAGE: D.H. Bathon pours a shot of Malört. OPPOSITE, FROM TOP: Fried rice; The Alpine Blast (Longleaf Distilling Co.
Evergreen Alpine liqueur and Mountain Dew
Baja Blast soda); Loaded waffle fries
Out of the Box
Words by DARRIEA CLARK
WHEN I’M IN THE MOOD to go dancing under a disco ball — which is at least once a week — there’s only one place that comes top of mind: Das Box.
Located at 1006 E. Broad St., four blocks from Forsyth Park, the bar-club-restaurant-pool hall only opened in October 2023, yet it’s quickly become a staple among locals and earned a following for its regular DJ lineup, to the tune of sought-after Savannah favorites like Basik Lee and Maggie Hayes, also known as Miss Paradise.
“Our tagline is ‘Contain yourself,’ but we want the opposite,” says the bar’s proprietor, D.H. Bathon. “We want you to be who you are inside Das Box. Das Box is what you make of it, and who is inside of it.”
The avant-garde name started as joke among Bathon’s friends, when he was a student in Athens, Georgia. “The place I used to live in college was a cinderblock cube. When it would rain, it would flood,” he recalls. During one of the house parties, someone nicknamed the place Das Box, a play off the 1981 thriller “Das Boot” about a German submarine. When Bathon dropped out of school and started working at bars and restaurants, the name stuck.
The Das Box ethos carries over to chef Nicholas Chambliss’ menu, inspired by flavors of Southeast Asian and Japanese street food, like bulgoli bowls, tuna crudo, fried rice, spring rolls and pork skewers, all prepared fresh in the kitchen. Personally, I recommend the chicken wings tossed in miso ginger and the glass noodle salad (made with sweet potato noodles, carrots, red peppers, edamame, cilantro, peanuts, and sweet and sour vinaigrette). And you can complete your meal with sake, Damso Soju (a neutral spirit distilled from rice), one of the house cocktails, or a pick from a wine list created with help from Late Air’s Colin Breland.
Why do I like Das Box? Because my friends like it. Seriously, every time I walk through the doors, I see a familiar face. Truly, what makes Das Box different from other Savannah nightlife establishments right now is the people who show up — and its ability to be flexible. The international beats during Miss Paradise’s Palm Wine dance parties, held on the first Saturday of every month and sponsored by Sunboy, bring so many people that Bathon has to borrow stanchions from Starland Yard to form a line. “We are at capacity for her events,” he says.
Photography by JASON B. JAMES // Produced by MORRIGAN MAZA, GOOD CULTURE CREATIVE
The Sunday Spotlight Series is another crowd-pleaser. “It’s this wonderful, relaxed, almost like an ‘MTV Unplugged’ set, but obviously we’re still amplified,” he says. Bathon credits the concept, which has gained sponsorship from Miller High Life, to former bartender Gabi Laygo. “We’ve had country acts, we’ve had soul acts, we’ve had funk. It’s something you can have dinner to, sit and enjoy for the evening.”
He brought on Steve Baumgardener, formerly known for Hip Hop Night at The Jinx, as his booking agent, and the calendar has filled up quickly with familiar names like Mandy & Andy, Suzanna Kennedy, Western Funeral, Lylie Mae and Jake Menendez. “If it fits our vibe of having folks come here to have a good time and feel
BEST OF SAVANNAH
good about themselves, then that works for us,” Bathon says, summing up their approach to programming.
And whether your bar tab is $400 or $40 at the end of the night, Bathon wants you to feel safe and comfortable being yourself. “Any kind of person can be who they are at Das Box,” Bathon says.
Darriea Clark is an Atlanta native who moved to the Hostess City to be closer to the coast. Inspired by the town’s beauty, she spends most of her free time working on creative pursuits. When she’s not writing about Savannah innovators, she’s journaling about romance and growing up, making zines, performing at open mics, going to the beach or singing karaoke.
BARTENDER
Taylor Jones, Stone & Webster Chophouse plantriverside.com/ venues/stonewebster-chophouse
Runner-up: Mikie Jacobs, Barrelhouse South, among other downtown bars @barrelhousesouth
Runner-up: Peregrin at Perry Lane Hotel peregrinsavannah.com
SIGNATURE COCKTAILS
Artillery artillerybar.com
Runner-up: Savoy Society savoysociety.com
SPORTS BAR
Coach’s Corner coachs.net
Runner-up: Savannah Taphouse savannahtaphouse.com
WINE BAR
Sobremesa sobremesasav.com
Runner-up: Late Air lateairwine.com
WINE LIST
Sobremesa sobremesasav.com
Runner-up: Late Air lateairwine.com
WINE SHOP
Savannah Wine Cellar savannahwinecellar.com
Runner-up: Provisions provisions-sav.com
RUNNER-UP BEST NEW BAR
The Hawthorn Minibar and Lounge
Immaculate Vibes
Words by JOSEPHINE JOHNSON
WITH ITS UNASSUMING EXTERIOR and darkened, shotgun-style interior, it would be easy to overlook The Hawthorn Minibar and Lounge on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. But look closer, and the establishment’s goldleaf-lettered logo — subtly conjuring late 19th-century vibes — hints at something more to come. Here, the integrity of the handmade is crafted one cocktail at a time in an intimate, upbeat and always welcoming atmosphere for knowing locals.
Bartender and program director Tyler Routley has been involved since before Hawthorn’s opening less than 10 months ago. From his station behind the bar, he points to panels of pre-Raphaelite stained glass from Germany, the bar top built from repurposed church pews from Athens and Charleston, and the Knights Templar uniform in a custom display case above the front door.
The Hawthorn may be small and low-lit, but it punches above its weight.
“Astute attention to detail without pretense,” says Routley. “The idea is to be small, never too big, just a place where you can turn up, see people you know, enjoy a drink and relax in good company. This is where people go to experience each other and talk about ideas.”
Photography by PETER COLIN MURRAY
Styling by SARA SPICER
Produced by MORRIGAN MAZA, GOOD CULTURE CREATIVE
Routley met the bar’s co-owners — brothers and business partners Alex and Jared Bender — while they were doing construction on the space. He dropped by one afternoon because he heard a bar would be opening there. The trio bonded over a shared vision of a neighborhood nexus reminiscent of small pubs found across Europe. By the meeting’s end, Routley was helping paint the bathroom.
In time, all three would become part owners working to make a place where connecting with people was valued above all. They agreed the bar would intentionally lack TV screens.
Routley, a respected mechanical engineer by trade, stepped away from a decade-long career to immerse himself in something that provided more human connection. He considers barkeeping a calling. Although vastly different, his job now is to interact with people in a way that is genuine and meaningful.
“We are building ourselves as the cornerstone of the community on the Westside so that every time someone comes in, they know somebody here,” says Routley.
Since the bar lacks kitchen space, they regularly serve pretzels from Savannah’s well-loved Auspicious Baking Co. They also partner with Bob’s Hotdogs, A Taco Affair and King Oliver’s for menu options during special events.
The bar menu emphasizes aged spirits, and the shelves are curated with sought-after bottles from both established and rising brands like Old Dominick, Compass Box and Shanky’s Whip, the latter of which is used in The Hawthorn’s take on the espresso martini. If a Miller High Life or Guinness is more your speed, they have that, too, as well as regional brews and a selection of wines from Europe and California.
“In the next year, we envision collaborating with even more local businesses and working with artists to establish events,” says Routley. Stop by on Tuesday for A Cocktail Takeover, when The Hawthorn partners with different spirits brands on rotating menus, or Thursday for trivia nights. “We are small with no intention of being big, and that’s what makes connecting with people here so enjoyable.”
Josephine Johnson is a freelance writer and traveling musician. She contributes regularly to Savannah Morning News and performs in a loop of resorts, wine bars, restaurants and vineyards from Savannah to North Georgia. Josephine has a master’s degree in English from Cal Poly Humboldt in Northern California.
BOOZE & BEER
Espresso martini made with Shanky’s Whip
Nosh on a pretzel from Auspicious Baking Co., runner-up for Best Bakery.
For voting us 7 years in a row best group to volunteer for
For voting us 7 years in a row best charity event/fundraiser
You don't want to miss Savannah's Best Charity Event
April 30 th & may 1 st 2025 kehoe iron works building at trustees' garden
Night’s Watch
Words by KIKI DY
THE REGULARS of Ellie’s Crow Bar Lounge know each other’s rhythms and routines. When I announce my plan to spend 10 hours at the Wilmington Island watering hole on assignment, Jamie Pleta (co-owner of Finches Sandwiches and Sundries ) tells me exactly how the night is going to go, with private investigator-level precision.
“If you’re there on a Thursday, Collin will be in to bartend at 5. The other bartender, Trace, usually stays until 6 — he just got a super cute puppy named PorkChop who I love,” she texts in our overzealous iMessage thread before pausing to ask: “Is it creepy that I know their schedules?”
Though Pleta was corresponding with me from a vacation in Mexico, she lamented that she would rather be at Crow Bar. “I haven’t been in five days, and I miss it.”
When I arrive at 4 p.m., Trace (government name Charles Edward Cunningham III) is behind the rather beautiful bar made from ship hatches. When I tell him I’m writing an article, his response is, “You know Wilmington Island has mob connections, right?” Then, Collin arrives right on cue.
Trace and the tipplers let me in on the rituals one must follow to join the aspirational ranks of a Crow Bar regular. Don’t order a double, they advise. Do order a jello shot. Get the $25 porterhouse with mushrooms and onions, onion rings on the side. Hot yaki wings at midnight.
When I ask what keeps people coming back, the answers are straightforward but convincing. “The greatest place on earth,” “best fried chicken ever” and other adoring refrains repeat on a loop.
Places like Ellie’s don’t just happen overnight. They must have the hard-won authenticity that only comes from decades
Ellie’s Crow Bar Lounge
of doing business and changing very little along the way. It’s a place where a regular who can point to a chair and say, “That’s where my grandpa used to sit.”
However, perhaps the biggest distinguisher between a true dive and a Disney-fied one is that any self-respecting dive would never self-identify as a dive. Crow Bar owner Ellie Coursey, 81, lends credence to that statement. “We are not a dive. We are a neighborhood bar with good prices and great drinks,” she tells me over a Tito’s and tonic.
Although the matriarch can’t remember if she and her husband, Grant, (the bar’s former namesake) opened in 1970 or 1971, she does remember that they named themselves after Old Crow bourbon, and that Grant believed in a stiff pour. What’s changed since 1970? “Nothing,” she says proudly.
That’s what makes Crow Bar singular. It’s rememberwhen personified — the great keeper of Wilmington Island memories and secrets covered in a neon-lit patina that can only be acquired by being the watering hole of choice for generations of passionate patrons. Or, as Ellie puts it, “This is a place where everyone feels comfortable. If you come into Crow Bar and don’t feel comfortable, there’s something wrong with you.”
Kiki Dy is a writer, tea drinker and yoga teacher who came to Savannah by serendipity. Her work appears in local and national outlets such as The Sunday Long Read, Eater, Healthline, Belt Magazine and Thrillist. She’s still recovering from the hangover she acquired while researching this article.
by PETER COLIN MURRAY // Styling by SARA SPICER Produced
by MORRIGAN MAZA, GOOD CULTURE CREATIVE
Photography
Keep your beverage cool with a can cooler from Satchel, runner-up for the best Made-in-Savannah product.
Miracle Maker
Words by BRIENNE WALSH
ANYONE WHO’S BEEN to Laney Contemporary can attest that it’s an oasis. Housed in the Lee J. Meyer building — a two-story brutalist gem that looks like a modernized Aztec temple on the west side of the city — the gallery is surrounded by a wooded glen that recalls the pastoral glamor of the Storm King Art Center in New York. On opening nights, gallery owner Susan Laney hires a food truck and makes sure that everyone, including kids, know that they are welcome to see the art, hang out in the bar room (which is mirrored from floor to ceiling) or just run around outside among the trees. “It makes me happy to know that people have a good experience here,” Laney says. “We really want to encourage people to come at any time.”
Laney originally founded the gallery in 2017 to spotlight local artists who aren’t necessarily known in the wider art world. It has since become a popular gathering place for the city’s creative
BEST ART GALLERY
class, which includes many working artists and writers, as well as professors and students at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Serving the artists on her roster — who include Katherine Sandoz, Betsy Cain, Marcus Kenny and Will Penny — as a collaborator and support system is at the forefront of Laney’s mission. “The artists we work with are what make the gallery,” she says. “You have to trust your artists and believe in them because some things they make just come up like miracles.”
Every exhibition brings a fresh set of ideas and challenges for Laney and her team. Whenever someone new walks in the door, especially if it’s their first time coming to an art gallery, Laney gets excited. “I want to create an accessible environment reflective of our creative and open Savannah community,” she says.
The coming year brings a fresh crop of exhibitions, including “Emotion,” a group exhibition featuring the work of seven
Laney Contemporary
Photo by JACOB EDENFIELD // Courtesy LANEY CONTEMPORARY
Artist Katherine Sandoz’s “Water Ways” exhibit
ART GALLERY
Laney Contemporary laneycontemporary.com
Runner-up: ARTS Southeast + Sulfur Studios artssoutheast.org
ARTIST
Bellamy Murphy bellamyart.com
Runner-up: Katie Napoli katienapoli.com
BAND/ MUSICIAN
Turtle Folk facebook.com/turtlefolk
Runner-up: The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra equinoxorchestra.com
CHARITY EVENT/ FUNDRAISER
Wine, Women & Shoes, Ronald McDonald House
Charities of the Coastal Empire rmhccoastalempire.org/ events/wine-women-shoes
Runner-up: Women Who Rule, The United Way of the Coastal Empire uwce.org/women-who-rule
COMPANY TO WORK FOR BankSouth banksouth.com
Runner-up: Southern Motors Group southern-motors.com
Runner-up: Bar Julian at Thompson Savannah barjulian.com
women artists curated by two other women — Jiha Moon, an artist represented by Laney, and Veronica Kessenich, the former executive director of Atlanta Contemporary. It will be on view through October. It also marks the first time Laney Contemporary will have a booth at UNTITLED Art Fair, a curated event that takes place during Art Basel Miami Beach in December. Laney also hopes to improve her online art resources so collectors around the world can access her inventory. Through all these efforts, Laney hopes that her artists become just as well known in New York, Los Angeles and Miami as they are in Savannah.
It’s really the local community that keeps Laney motivated, however. One of her favorite moments from the past summer involved hosting a group of high school art students participating in the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program, who came all the way from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. “We were their only stop!” Laney says with delight. “We had such a nice time.” The program could have chosen from myriad historic sites in Savannah; instead, like so many other people, they chose Laney Contemporary. An oasis.
Brienne Walsh is a New Yorker who moved to Savannah four years ago with her family — and never wants to move again. A writer, photographer and art critic who has contributed to The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Interview, Art in America and Real Simple, among many other publications, Brienne currently teaches a class on art criticism at Savannah College of Art and Design.
Artist Will Penny’s projection mapping at Laney Contemporary
Photo by WILL PENNY // Courtesy LANEY CONTEMPORARY
GOLF COURSE (PRIVATE)
The Savannah Golf Club thesavannahgolfclub.com
Runner-up: The Landings Golf & Athletic Club thelandings.com/ golf-and-athletic-club
GOLF COURSE (PUBLIC)
Bacon Park Golf course baconparkgolf.com
Runner-up: The Club at Savannah Harbor theclubatsavannah harbor.com
GROUP TO VOLUNTEER FOR
Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire rmhccoastalempire.org
Runner-up: America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia helpendhunger.org
GUYS’ NIGHT OUT
Electric Moon Skytop Lounge plantriverside.com/ venues/electricmoon-skytop-lounge
Runner-up: Starland Yard starlandyard.com
HISTORIC SITE/ ATTRACTION
Wormsloe State Historic Site gastateparks.org/ wormsloe
Runner-up: Fort Pulaski National Monument nps.gov/fopu/index.htm
INFLUENCER
Amber Capps @the_longweekender
Runner-up: Samantha Long Samantha in Savannah @samanthainsavannah
LIVE MUSIC
Victory North victorynorth concerts.com
Runner-up: District Live at Plant Riverside District plantriverside.com/ district-live
MUSEUM
Telfair Museums telfair.org
Runner-up: National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force mightyeighth.org
ARTS SOUTHEAST (formerly known as Sulfur Studios) is a stellar art gallery. It’s also a gathering place, a magazine publisher and a support system for artists not only in Savannah, but also throughout the South. “We really want to be a central hub for the arts community here,” says Jon Witzky, the program director of ARTS Southeast.
Located in a two-story brick building in the Starland District, ARTS Southeast was founded in 2014 by three local artists. A decade later, the organization continues to blossom until the leadership of Witzky and Emily Earl, one of the original founders who serves as executive director. Inside, the Ellis Gallery stages exhibitions by artists based in the Southeast every six weeks, and the
RUNNER-UP, BEST ART GALLERY
Southeast
space also includes a supporter gallery curated by gallery assistant and textile artist Samantha Mack; a store featuring goods made by local artists and writers; and 26 below-market rate studios, one of them dedicated to the ON::VIEW Artist Residency, a monthlong program that offers artists free housing and a space to work. In September, the residency will be held by Byrdie O’Connor, a Kansas-born and New York-based filmmaker and archivist whose work focused on women and queer stories, and in October, it will welcome William Franco and Miki Seifert, who hail from New Zealand and co-founded With Lime, an artist collective that creates performances, installations and projections that explore the interface between cultures and/or technology.
“The residency brings people from around the world to Savannah so that there can be a cultural exchange,” says Witzky. “It’s great for everybody.”
As if running two galleries, a shop and more than two dozen artists’ studios wasn’t enough, Witzky and Earl are both working artists and also produce Impact, a culture magazine whose upcoming issue, to be released in October, will feature an interview with Jeffrey Gibson, the artist who represented the United States at this year’s Venice Biennale. The organization also hosts First Friday every month — a rollicking, family friendly street fair that includes performances, live painting events, open studios and, if you’re lucky, a booth by a local fortune teller. It also curates the Drive Thru Art Box, a public art initiative in the parking lot of Green Truck Pub .
Earl and Witzky say they work so hard because they don’t feel like they have the luxury not to. When Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cut $30 million in funding for arts and cultural institutions in the state in June, they were motivated anew to fortify their mission. “Arts and culture are what make civilizations great,” says Witzky. “I just would not want to live in a place that does not care about art.”
Fortunately, ARTS Southeast just received a Georgia Council for the Arts Bridge Grant, which will allow them to sustain their programming in the upcoming year. This includes an exhibition opening in September that is curated by Will Penny, a multidisciplinary artist who explores technology, such as artificial intelligence, in his work. The exhibition will be a collaboration between ARTS Southeast and Gallery 2424, a new gallery located in Starland. There will also be magazine launches, artist talks, a collaboration with Thompson Savannah and artist happy hours at Colleagues & Lovers, a cocktail bar in Habersham Village.
“Savannah is really bubbling with this intense creative ener right now,” says Earl. “And you can feel it across the art scene and the music scene and the food scene.” In fueling the scene, Earl and Witzky are helping to make the Southeast — and specifically Savannah — one of the most artful places to be right now.
PHOTO BY SAMANTHA MACK ON::View Artist-in-Residence
Leslie Putnam
RUNNER-UP, BEST FINE JEWELRY
13 Secrets Jewelry Gallery
RUNNER-UP, BEST JEWELRY DESIGNER
13 Secrets Jewelry Gallery
rare Gems
SINCE 13 SECRETS’ first location opened on East Oglethorpe Avenue in 2016, the family-owned business has gained a loyal following — so much so that the company added a second location at Plant Riverside District in 2019 as well as in-house services, such as custom jewelry design and jewelry repair. Shoppers seek out 13 Secrets — and become return clients — not only for the unique gemstones and timepieces but also for the rare level of personalized attention and creativity from thirdgeneration jeweler and designer Chad Crawford and his team.
This fall, 13 Secrets is expanding again — with a 10,000-squarefoot storefront in the historic Metts-McNeill house overlooking Forsyth Park. With the same care and attention to detail that they bring to their diamonds, they are thoughtfully restoring the space to offer Savannahians and visitors alike a shopping experience that is as luxe as the wearable art they take home. — C.M.
Hot Mess
AS THE DESIGN MASTERMIND between the bohemian clothing brand Mamie Ruth and the curator behind the vintage shop East & Up , fashion entrepreneur Emily Bargeron is always creating.
This year, she celebrated a big milestone: 10 years of bringing her original threads to Bonnaroo, one of music’s biggest festivals held every summer in Manchester, Tennessee. She also launched Mess Hall Truck Shop, an interactive trucker hat-making experience with a brick-and-mortar location in City Market and a mobile cart that goes on the road. The concept has quickly become a TikTok sensation and a must-have Savannah souvenir, thanks to its colorful, custom-designed patches. Soon, the concept will debut its second location in Charleston, South Carolina, while her thousands of fans on social media follow along to see what she dreams up in her next decade. — C.M.
Photography by ETHAN SELLERS // Courtesy MESS HALL TRUCK SHOP
As a fourth-generation, locally owned family business, our team has been caring for the pets we love and their families for over 115 years, and our mission remains the same — to keep pets healthy, help them live longer and take care of their illness or injury when it occurs. From the time they are a puppy or kitten until those moments when we have to tell our best friend goodbye, we’re here for you at Case to ensure they are receiving the very best care available.
You’d be surprised how many veterinary hospitals in our area look the same as they always have, but have sold to corporate and are now corporately owned. Being locally and privately owned allows Case Veterinary Hospital to make decisions that are best for the well-being of our patients, clients and team members regardless of how it affects the bottom line. This really matters! When your family’s name is on the sign out front and generations of trust are at stake, doing what’s right for your patients, clients and team members is the only choice you want to make.
” ”
From left:
Dr. Tori Torres,
Dr. Amanda Coleman, Dr. Carla Case-McCorvey, Dr. Caroline Crider and Dr. Jeleah Rines
Look out for the ballot for next year’s Best of Savannah in March 2025.
Have an idea for a new category we should consider? We want to hear from you! Send your suggestions to editor@savannahmagazine.com.
Total Wellness at its Best
Allergist/Immunologist
Wasil Khan, M.D., Ph.D. (runner-up)
Cardiologist
Akinniran A. Abisogun, M.D., FACC, RPVI (winner)
Daniel Osimani, M.D., FACC (runner-up)
Critical Care Specialist/Intensivist
Nizar S. Eskandar, M.D., FACP, CMCM (winner)
Doctor of Internal Medicine
Misal Patel, M.D. (runner-up)
Family Medicine/General Practitioner
Christopher J. Oldfield, M.D. (winner)
Foot Specialist/Podiatrist
Craig K. Skalla, D.P.M. (winner)
General Surgeon
Jeffrey S. Mandel, M.D., FACS (winner)
Infectious Disease Specialist
Nenad Avramovski, M.D. (runner-up)
Nutritionist
Rebekah M. Laurance, R.D. (runner-up)
Nephrologist
Nizar S. Eskandar, M.D., FACP, CMCM (winner)
Nurse (NP)
Alana Jones, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, RN, RRT (winner)
Osteopathic Physician
Regina B. Dandy, D.O. (winner)
HOW THE LIST WORKS:
The Best of Savannah Doctors winners were determined by reader votes alone. Only one ballot per person was accepted; duplicate ballots and those without a verifiable name and address were automatically disqualified. Savannah magazine does not control how individuals campaigned.
2024 BEST DOCTORS of SAVANNAH
Between perfecting the latest technological advances and building compassionate lifelong bonds with their patients, these Best of Doctors winners are charting a new path toward a healthier future.
Written by ZACHARY HAYES // Photography by MIKE SCHALK at PLANT RIVERSIDE DISTRICT
Richard R. Schulze Jr., MD
Schulze Eye & Surgery Center
BEST OPHTHALMOLOGIST
In the time since Dr. Richard Schulze Jr. first began practicing ophthalmology, he has witnessed firsthand a technological revolution that has fundamentally redefined the field.
“We’ve gone from an analog to a digital world,” says Schulze. “My career started in the early ’90s, when the Internet wasn’t even a thing.” Now, he explains, technology has become a crucial component of nearly every step of treatment, from diagnosis to surgical prep — a leap in progress Schulze likens to a jump from the Wright brothers to the space shuttle in just a few years’ time.
Technological advancements impact every corner of the medical world, but where some fields are merely tweaked or optimized with the passage of time, ophthalmology has undergone a seismic shift, incorporating everything from advanced imaging techniques to artificial intelligence.
“When we evaluate patients for surgery, we measure their eyes in many different ways,” says Schulze. And we’re gathering so much data now that it’s pushing the boundaries of what anyone can reasonably do.”
Previously, the power and strength of a new artificial lens for cataract surgery would have been calculated using a number of different formulas, a time-tested yet imperfect method. Now, machine learning combined with ultraprecise data collection has refined the process to an exponential degree, resulting in improved patient outcomes across the board. But these advancements go beyond precision and refinement to also offer patients a clearer understanding of their own treatment.
“It used to be that I would examine patients under a microscope and say, ‘This is what’s going on with your eye,’” says Schulze. “And people may or may not understand what I’m telling them. Now, I look under the microscope and snap pictures or video. And it’s true, a picture is worth a thousand words. So it’s all part of patient education in getting people to understand their conditions, so that when they go to surgery, they’re no longer afraid.”
Photo by Jade McCully
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ALLERGIST/ IMMUNOLOGIST
Bruce D. Finkel, MD Coastal Allergy & Asthma coastalallergy.net
RUNNER-UP: Wasil Kahn, MD, PhD SouthCoast Health southcoasthealth.com
ANESTHESIOLOGIST
William M. Fuqua, MD
Anesthesia Associates of Savannah
RUNNER-UP:
Stephen L. Miller, MD, MBA
Anesthesia Consultants of Savannah
AUDIOLOGIST
Susan Timna, AuD, CCC-A Expert Hearing experthearingsavannah.com
Oliver C. Whipple, MD Memorial Health memorialhealthdoctors.com
RUNNER-UP: Robert J. Kelly, MD Memorial Health memorialhealthdoctors.com
CARDIOLOGIST
Akinniran A. Abisogun, MD, FACC, RPVI SouthCoast Health southcoasthealth.com
RUNNER-UP: Daniel Osimani, MD, FACC SouthCoast Health southcoasthealth.com
CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEON
Jeremy E. London, MD St. Joseph’s/Candler sjchs.org
RUNNER-UP: Chadwick W. Stouffer, MD Memorial Health memorialhealthdoctors.com
CHIROPRACTOR
Amy Thompson, DC
Thompson Chiropractic & Wellness Center dramythompson.com
RUNNER-UP: John Neal, DC Complete Chiropractic completechiropractics.com
CRITICAL CARE SPECIALIST/ INTENSIVIST
Nizar S. Eskandar, MD, FACP, CMCM SouthCoast Health southcoasthealth.com
RUNNER-UP (TIE): Ryan B. Moody, MD, FCCP Southeast Lung Associates selung.com AND Michael P. Perkins, MD Southeast Lung Associates selung.com
DERMATOLOGIST
Claudia N. Gaughf, MD Gaughf Dermatology gaughfdermatology.com
RUNNER-UP: Corinne M. Howington, MD Low Country Dermatology & Aesthetics lcderm.com
EAR, NOSE AND THROAT SPECIALIST
David S. Oliver, MD, FACS Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat coastal-ent.com
RUNNER-UP: Michael Zoller, MD, FACS ENT Associates of Savannah entsavannah.com
EMERGENCY MEDICAL DOCTOR
Robert A. Mazur, MD ExperCARE expercarehealth.com
RUNNER-UP: Sanjay Iyer, MD Memorial Health memorialhealth.com
ENDOCRINOLOGIST
Ismary O. De Castro, MD Savannah Endocrinology savannahendocrinology.com
RUNNER-UP: Abby T. Abisogun, MD, ECNU Shoreline Endocrinology drabbyendo.com
FAMILY MEDICINE/ GENERAL PRACTITIONER
Christopher J. Oldfield, MD SouthCoast Health southcoasthealth.com
RUNNER-UP: Yulianty D. Kusuma, MD, FACP Internal Medicine of Savannah internalmedicineofsavannah.com
FOOT SPECIALIST / PODIATRIST
Craig K. Skalla, DPM SouthCoast Health southcoasthealth.com
RUNNER-UP: David Valbuena, DPM Georgia Foot & Ankle; St. Joseph’s/Candler gafootandankle.com
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST
Keith Seibert, MD, MBA, FAAP ExperCARE expercarehealth.com
RUNNER-UP (TIE): Rebecca Hart, ANP-BC, IFMCP Faith, Hope & Wellness faithhopewellness.net AND John C. Hargrove, DC Holistic Health Center of Savannah hhcofsavannah.com
GASTROENTEROLOGIST
Mark E. Murphy, MD, FACP, AGAF The Center for Digestive & Liver Health savannahgi.com
RUNNER-UP: Branden S. Hunter, MD Gastroenterology Consultants of Savannah gastrosav.com
GENERAL SURGEON
Jeffrey S. Mandel, MD, FACS SouthCoast Health southcoasthealth.com
RUNNER-UP: T. Ellis “Chip” Barnes IV, MD Memorial Health memorialhealthdoctors.com
HAIR RESTORATION SURGEON/ SPECIALIST
Timothy J. Minton, MD Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery savannahfacialplastic surgery.com
RUNNER-UP: E. Ronald Finger, MD Finger & Associates Plastic Surgery Center fingerandassociates.com
2022 WINNER
OUR PROVIDERS
• William L. Mansour, M.D. • Branden S. Hunter, M.D. • Gregory D. Borak, M.D. • Travis F. Wiggins, M.D.
• Ansley S. Tharpe, M.D. • Isaac E. Perry, D.O. • Sara L. Barrett, PA-C • Kristen Rosales-Vasquez, PA-C
• Jordan T. Houston, PA-C • Mirada G. Christensen, PA-C • Samantha H. Hess, PA-C
Savannah Pain Management & Savannah Pain Center savannahpainmanagement.com
RUNNER-UP: Joseph C. Hegarty, MD Optim Pain Management optimhealthsystem.com
Akinniran A. Abisogun, MD, FACC, RPVI
SouthCoast Health
BEST CARDIOLOGIST
THROUGH HIS THOUGHTFUL words, his selfless actions and his indomitable spirit, it becomes clear that Dr. Akinniran Abisogun is quintessentially a people person. Yes, he specializes in high-risk cardiovascular procedures, bringing expert care to patients through technical mastery and a keen eye for detail, but what really gets him going in the mornings is that crucial sense of connection.
“I’m an emotional guy,” says Abisogun. “ I love people, and the reason I chose cardiology is that right now, I’m sitting in my office talking to a bunch of patients all day. I don’t only want to do procedures or read imaging. I need to have a role where I feel like I’m an important part of someone’s life, counseling them through that crisis to get to know them as best I can so I can really offer them the help they need.”
Over the last year, Abisogun has turned this perspective into an opportunity for expansion, helping to create the Mom’s Heart Matters program, now being piloted at his Hinesville office. Through this program, Abisogun and his team identify pregnant women with cardiac risk factors and monitor them throughout their pregnancy, significantly reducing negative outcomes during this critical period.
“It’s been a really remarkable sort of procedure,” says Abisogun. “It has reduced the rates of admission for congestive heart failure in patients after they deliver their babies, it’s reduced the issues with high blood pressure and it’s improved the outcomes of those expecting and new mothers during and after their pregnancies.”
While Abisogun’s work has provided countless patients with life-saving outcomes, he also stresses the key importance of balance when approaching a patient for potential treatment.
“Sometimes we need the highest risk and complexity procedure to open up an artery,” says Abisogun. “But the risk might be too great and the patient might not want to put up with that risk. Making sure you present both sides of that coin and realizing it’s OK sometimes to not do something, to just lend your ear or a shoulder to cry on, sometimes it’s more important to provide that support if that’s what the patient needs.
WELCOME TO THE TEAM:
DR. YASMIN SEAY, Behavioral Health Pediatrician DR.
Dr. Seay is a dedicated physician with a special interest in increasing access to child behavioral health services. Originally from Australia, she moved to the United States to pursue her undergraduate degree at The University of Texas at Austin. She then attended medical school at The University of Texas Medical Branch and completed her pediatric residency at the University of Alabama Birmingham. Additionally, she received specialized training in Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) through UAB’s Civitan-Sparks Clinic.
Dr. Seay is particularly passionate about treating children and young adults with a variety of conditions, including anxiety, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, behavioral problems, eating disorders (such as anorexia nervosa, atypical anorexia, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder), sleeping difficulties, nicotine/vaping addiction, and mood disorders. She works closely with families to optimize patients’ strengths and provides tools to address the challenges their child may face in both home and school environments.
Dr. Seay is practicing in Shrink Savannah’s new clinic in Pooler, GA specializing in behavioral health treatment for children and adolescents.
Timothy J. Minton, MD, FACS
Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery
BEST PLASTIC SURGEON — FACE AND NECK & BEST HAIR RESTORATION SURGEON/SPECIALIST
AFTER YEARS OF HARD WORK and growth at their practice on the campus of St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital, Dr. Timothy Minton and the staff at Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery have broken ground on their new home on Waters Avenue: a bespoke, state-of-the-art facility set to open by the end of this year that will provide patients with compassionate care and enhanced recovery.
“We’re super excited,” says Minton. “It’s going to be a much more concierge sort of experience for the patients. It’ll have our practice, plus the medical spa and a fully functioning ambulatory surgery center, so all of our surgeries will be done on site.”
Privacy and quality care are the lifeblood of the new facility, and few things illustrate this more than the facility’s rapid recovery center. In addition to their suite of pre-surgical nutrition and skincare, Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery is introducing a hyperbaric chamber that increases the amount of oxygen in healing tissues and red light therapies that help reduce swelling and inflammation.
“It’s all designed to really get patients back out into public faster,” says Minton. “And we have also set it up so that there’s a completely separate waiting room and entrance for our recovering patients, so there’s a lot of privacy.”
Whether he’s performing cosmetic procedures or helping patients experiencing a deformity caused by cancer,
“I have patients that say, ’My life is completely di erent now. I’m much more self-confident, I feel younger, I feel like I fit in.’ And I love that part of my job.”
— DR. TIMOTHY MINTON
Minton is driven by the drastic improvements in quality of life and self-confidence that he can provide through his practice.
“I love doing the surgery; it’s very rewarding and technical,” says Minton, though he adds that it’s equally as rewarding when he’s been with his patients throughout the ups and downs of healing, and seeing just how grateful and happy they are in the end.
“I have patients that say, ’My life is completely different now. I’m much more self-confident, I feel younger, I feel like I fit in,’” says Minton. “And I love that part of my job.”
Shoulder & Elbow
Hip & Knee
Foot & Ankle
TO OUR WINNERS
Cgrulis
WINNER
BOB PHILLIPS
GREG KOLOVICH, MD
HAND & WRIST WINNER
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WINNER
JUHA JAAKKOLA, MD
FOOT & ANKLE RUNNER - UP
OPTIM PT
OUTPATIENT THERAPY CLINIC WINNER
THOMAS NIEMEIER, MD
ORTHOPEDIC SPINE
RUNNER - UP
Jennifer Yannucci, MD
Low Country Cancer Care
BEST ONCOLOGIST
FOR DECADES, ONCOLOGISTS have fielded questions about their hunt for the Holy Grail: a cure for cancer. But while many patients have been eagerly watching for that headline, a deluge of new treatments and knowledge in recent years has led experts to no longer view the future of cancer treatment as the search for one blanket cure, but rather as highly personalized, targeted therapies. It’s a huge change in perspective.
“It’s crazy,” says Dr. Jennifer Yannucci. “Oncology is the fastestchanging field. There may be four or five new drugs approved every month for a certain kind of cancer.” Nearly every day brings a new development, she explains, as a steady stream of drug approvals for all manner of specific cancer types is constantly expanding their arsenal.
Part of the reason for these rapid changes has been the advent of molecular profiling, allowing doctors to perform a battery of tests on tumors that yields a highly personalized profile detailing their unique genetic makeup. From here, oncologists can focus on specific mutations that can be targeted with an array of specialized therapies. In the past, general chemotherapy reigned supreme as the go-to treatment of nearly all types of cancer, but this torrent of innovation and the focus on individually tailored treatments has created a new standard of care.
“Chemotherapy is essentially like a hammer,” says Yannucci. “It kills all rapidly dividing cells, and so it’s not specific. That’s why you get the side effects. If you have a targeted therapy, most of the time, the response rates are better, and they have less toxicity.”
Between the rise in immunotherapies and medications targeting specific mutations, oncologists like Yannucci have seen patients who would have previously been handed a difficult prognosis now living long, healthy lives in remission.
“It’s very gratifying,” says Yannucci. “We have patients with metastatic cancer, whether it’s breast or lung cancer, that are living so much longer because of all of these new advances. It’s come so far, and they’ve helped tremendously, both for patients and oncologists.”
JACK CONSIDINE, JR., MD
Pictured above left to right: Dr. Timothy Finnegan, Dr. Lauren Arthur, Dr. Jeffrey Mandel, Dr. Emma Walker, Dr. Andrew Shover
PHARMACY
Georgetown Drug Company georgetowndrug.com
RUNNER-UP: Village Walk Pharmacy villagewalkpharmacy.com
PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Bonnie Smith, PT, DPT St. Joseph’s/Candler sjchs.org
RUNNER-UP: Ernest R. Ledesma Jr., PT Ledesma Sports Medicine ledesmasportsmed.com
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
Darron Standiford, PA St. Joseph’s/Candler sjchs.org
RUNNER-UP: Elizabeth B. Brennan, PA-C Low Country Dermatology & Aesthetics lcderm.com
PSYCHIATRIST
Chad Brock, MD Shrink Savannah shrinksavannah.com
RUNNER-UP (TIE): Arnold F. Negrin, MD Arnold Negrin Psychiatry arnoldnegrin.com AND Paige Marnell, MD Shrink Savannah shrinksavannah.com
PSYCHOLOGIST/ PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Daniel S. Haddad, LCSW, LISW, MAC Savannah Therapy savannahtherapy.net
Ryan B. Moody, MD, FCCP Southeast Lung Associates selung.com
RUNNER-UP: Michael D. Mullins, MD, FCCP Southeast Lung Associates selung.com
RADIOLOGIST (TIE)
Jack Considine, MD
Coastal Imaging; GLOBIS: Global Imaging Solutions; The Center for Women’s Health coastalimaging.net; globalimagingsolutions.com; womenshealthpooler.com AND
Daniel O’Mara, MD
Savannah Chatham Imaging scirads.com
RUNNER-UP:
Robert “Hunter” Dunlap, MD
Savannah Chatham Imaging scirads.com
REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGIST
Patrick L. Blohm, MD
The Georgia Center for Reproductive Medicine gcrmsav.com
RHEUMATOLOGIST
Than Win, MD Wrightington Rheumatology wrheu.com
RUNNER-UP: Dean H. Stephens, MD Coastal Rheumatology Associates coastalrheumatology.com
RHINOLOGIST (NASAL AND SINUS)
David S. Oliver, MD, FACS Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat coastal-ent.com
RUNNER-UP: Christopher T. Melroy, MD, FARS Georgia Nasal & Sinus Institute sinusinstitute.com
SLEEP SPECIALIST
Carlton R. Kemp Jr., MD Memorial Health memorialhealthdoctors.com
RUNNER-UP: Victor W. Rosenfeld, MD Rosenfeld Neurology and Sleep rosenfeldneuro.com
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Karli Cannon, MS, CCC-SLP Savannah Speech & Hearing Center speechandhearingsav.org
RUNNER-UP: Ansley Sellers, CCC-SLP The Speech Clinic of the Coastal Empire thespeechclinic.org
THORACIC SURGEON
Marc Bailey, MD, FACS St. Joseph’s/Candler sjchs.org
RUNNER-UP: Jeremy E. London, MD St. Joseph’s/Candler sjchs.org
URGENT/IMMEDIATE-CARE MEDICAL CLINIC
ExperCARE Health expercarehealth.com
RUNNER-UP:
Urgent Care of Berwick, Midtown, Sandfly & Wilmington Island urgentcarefamily.com
UROLOGIST
Buffi G. Boyd, MD Urological Associates of Savannah urologysavannah.com
RUNNER-UP: David L. Cheng, MD Urological Associates of Savannah urologysavannah.com
VASCULAR SURGEON
J. Sheppard Mondy III, MD, RVT, RPVI, FACS Savannah Vascular Institute savannahvascular.com
RUNNER-UP: Justin B. Brown, MD Savannah Vascular Institute savannahvascular.com
WEIGHT-LOSS SPECIALIST
Steve E. Fabrizio, MD
Premier Medical Weight Loss & Wellness goodbodydoctor.com
RUNNER-UP: Oliver C. Whipple, MD Memorial Health memorialhealthdoctors.com
DENTISTRY AND ORAL HEALTH
COSMETIC DENTIST
Mark N. Dye, DMD
Mark N. Dye, DMD LLC thesavannahdentist.com
RUNNER-UP: Roy D. Maynard Jr., DDS
Georgetown Family Dental georgetownfamilydental.com
DENTAL HYGIENIST
Sojourner Mays, RDH Georgetown Family Dental georgetownfamilydental.com
In 1998, David H. Smith, MD, Richard J. Greco, MD, and William H. Dascombe, MD, opened The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery with a vision of delivering world-class cosmetic and reconstructive surgery to Savannah and the Lowcountry.
Trained at Duke University and the University of Pittsburgh, some of the top programs in the country, these three talented plastic surgeons have been able to treat patients requiring a range of procedures, from craniofacial surgery, hand surgery and microvascular reconstruction of head and neck tumors to lower-extremity reconstruction and all modalities of breast cancer reconstruction.
Dr. Greco helped develop the multispecialty Breast Cancer Center at Candler Hospital as well as helped Dr. Raymond Rudolph treat patients at Memorial Hospital. The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery was also honored to be the only private practice to participate in the Mastectomy Reconstruction Outcomes Consortium (MROC) study, a five-year, multicenter study to provide patients and physicians with up-to-date information about breast reconstruction operations after mastectomies. Also contributing to the research was the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and eight other universities.
Dr. Greco’s illustrious career has included serving as Vice President of Standards for the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Facilities, Vice President and Treasurer for the American Association of Plastic Surgery, Vice President and Treasurer for the Plastic Surgery Education Foundation and President of Royal and Ancient Society of American Plastic Surgeons. He’s an esteemed presenter in his field, giving up to 11 presentations at a single meeting on a broad range of topics in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.
The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery provides care for hand surgeries, routine and complex skin cancers, severe post-operative wounds, gynecologic reconstructions and massive weight-loss reconstruction. The practice’s specialties include natural facelift procedures, improving the appearance of aging eyes, all cosmetic surgeries of the breast, liposuction and body-contouring procedures.
The practice has eight offices and seven surgeons who service patients from Beaufort to Saint Simons Island, Savannah to Sylvania, and Dublin to Tifton and Valdosta. Patients have come from states as far as Hawaii as well as Japan, Germany and many other countries to have care here in Savannah.
FOR DR. JAMES WILSON JR., orthopedics is a surgical field unlike any other. The work itself is satisfying, yes, but what really sells it for him is being able to witness firsthand the dramatic differences he is able to make in his patients’ lives.
“I was drawn to orthopedics because I like musculoskeletal anatomy,” says Wilson. “But also, I like interacting with people and being able to help them become functional and active again. Being able to help people in my area, and then seeing them interact in the community and participate in all sorts of activities, that’s very enjoyable.”
to assuage those concerns, orthopedic surgeons have the power to transform patients’ darkest moments into times of hope and opportunity.
“Sometimes when you see people who have been traumatically hurt, and they’re not in a good place,” says Wilson. “[I] can come in as a caring person and have the privilege and the ability to help them. I think that’s one of the great aspects of being a physician.”
“So much of life is about doing and being physically active. And getting people to be able to function and to be able to participate in life’s endeavors without pain, that’s one of the most important privileges I have.”
— DR. JAMES WILSON JR.
According to Wilson, being a physician can open up doors to human interaction in a way that’s unlike nearly any other profession. Patients often come to their doctors in states of pain and fear, sometimes to a startling degree, and as practitioners who are uniquely suited
Whether he is performing complex reverse total shoulder replacements or helping patients create a comprehensive recovery plan, Wilson sees his work as fundamental to helping people get back to living healthier, more active lives.
“So much of life is about doing and being physically active,” says Wilson. “And getting people to be able to function and to be able to participate in life’s endeavors without pain, that’s one of the most important privileges I have.”
• Hospice
• Edel Caregiver Institute
• Steward Center for Palliative Care
• Full Circle Bereavement & Grief Support
• Hospice Savannah Foundation
Georgetown Drug Company
Neal Hollis, PharmD, RPh, Owner
BEST PHARMACY
HAVING GROWN UP in the small town of Blackshear, Georgia, Dr. Neal Hollis, pharmacist and owner of Georgetown Drug Company, came to appreciate the sense of community that comes with knowing and caring for your neighbors.
“We had two independent pharmacies in Blackshear when I was growing up,” Hollis recalls. “We knew both pharmacists really well, and we had great relationships with both of them. Just knowing the impact that they had on the community, that kind of sealed my fate of wanting to be in healthcare.”
A pharmacist is like a community friend, he explains, a readily available source of healthcare that anyone can access by walking into a pharmacy — no copay required. Strong community relationships like this are built on trust and compassion, especially when people are not feeling at the top of their game.
“People go to pharmacies for a few reasons,” says Hollis. “Most of the time, it’s because they’re sick or they have a chronic condition that they have to get medication for. So anytime they go to a pharmacy, they’re automatically uncomfortable because of those reasons. And so what we like to do is break that barrier down as soon as they walk in the door.”
For Georgetown Drug Company, this means learning every patient’s name, giving each patient the time and respect they deserve and even encouraging them to just
stop by for a chat sometime. This, Hollis explains, is where the magic of an independent pharmacy truly comes to light. “We have an older man that comes in whose wife passed away towards the end of last year,” says Hollis. “He comes in at least once a day just to have a conversation, just to have somebody to talk to you, and we look forward to it every day. It’s what makes us so different. That guy could walk anywhere with his dog, and no one would say a word to him. But just having that small little encounter with them could completely change your outlook.”
“We
knew both pharmacists really well, and we had great relationships with both of them. Just knowing the impact that they had on the community, that kind of sealed my fate of wanting to be in healthcare.”
— DR. NEAL HOLLIS
Louis Horn, IV, MD Jay Howington, MD James Lindley, Jr., MD
Kevin Ammar, MD Roy Baker, MD Matthew Helton, MD
Ryan Lingo, MD Davis Reames, IV, MD Daniel Suh, MD, PhD
Willard Thompson, Jr., MD Jeffrey Wessell, DO
Susan Timna, AuD, CCC-A Expert Hearing
WHEN DR. SUSAN TIMNA and Dr. Cori Palmer opened Expert Hearing in September 2023, they set out for the front lines, working hard to provide more personalized care for patients while also incorporating cutting-edge technology and knowledge stemming from the latest research about what is referred to as “brain hearing.” This concept, which focuses less on the ear and more on how our brains process sound, has unlocked a fundamentally different perspective for audiologists to approach our hearing problems.
“It’s not as new as you would think,” says Timna. “It’s just that it’s finally starting to be accepted. What the documentation now shows is that untreated hearing loss can cause cognitive decline or dementia three to four years earlier. So we decided that we wanted to be able to focus on that, because that’s the future.”
background noise or recognizing what a certain sound is. And when our brains are deprived of what Timna calls “quality sound,” all sorts of negative consequences — from increased isolation to a higher risk of falls — can significantly diminish a patient’s quality of life. To tackle this, Timna and Expert Hearing have developed a suite of advanced screening techniques to provide patients with far more precise solutions.
“It’s all evolving, and we are on the cutting edge of it. And I like being on the cutting edge.”
— DR. SUSAN TIMNA
“You remember those old hearing tests? Raise your hand when you hear the beat?” asks Timna. “It’s not like that anymore. It’s more comprehensive as far as how you hear speech and noise. Can you keep up with it? How do you process it? And that changes as you age, whether you have hearing loss or not. It really helps us identify what parts are causing the problem for that person and be able to guide them toward a better outcome.”
As Timna explains, in the past, the practice of improving hearing was centered around creating clearer, louder sound through the use of hearing devices. But now, researchers have come to understand the importance of the role our brains play in creating the sound we experience, such as separating key sounds from
After the success of their first year, Timna and Expert Hearing plan to open another location by the end of the year, with hopes of bringing their growing expertise to an even greater number of patients.
“It’s all evolving, and we are on the cutting edge of it,” says Timna. “And I like being on the cutting edge.”
At Schulze Eye & Surgery Center,
we are dedicated to excellence in surgical eye care. Combining leading-edge technology with personalized attention to our patients, we can open your eyes to a whole new world of decreased dependence on glasses or contacts. Whether your needs include traditional or refractive cataract surgery, custom LASIK or PRK, implantable contact lenses or corneal transplants, our on-site ambulatory surgery center allows for surgery in a specialized setting, affording greater efficiencies & lower costs to our patients. You can count on our skilled staff to give you personal attention before, during and after surgery to help you achieve your visual best. Call us today to schedule your appointment.
RUNNER-UP: Thomas E. Niemeier, MD Optim Orthopedics optimorthopedics.com
PLASTIC SURGEON BREAST AND BODY
Richard J. Greco, MD
The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery mycosmeticsurgeon.md
RUNNER-UP:
Carl B. Pearl, MD, FACS Chatham Plastic Surgery chathamplasticsurgery.com
FACE AND NECK
Timothy Minton, MD, FACS Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery savannahfacialplasticsurgery.com
RUNNER-UP:
Thomas W. Horn, MD The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery mycosmeticsurgeon.md
RECONSTRUCTIVE
Thomas W. Horn, MD The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery mycosmeticsurgeon.md
RUNNER-UP: Carl B. Pearl, MD, FACS Chatham Plastic Surgery chathamplasticsurgery.com
WOMEN’S HEALTH
GYNECOLOGIST
Andrew Tucker, MD
St. Joseph’s/Candler sjchs.org
RUNNER-UP: Sarah C. Jarrell, MD, FACOG Savannah ObGyn savannahobgyn.com
OBSTETRICIAN/ GYNECOLOGIST
Andrew Tucker, MD St. Joseph’s/Candler sjchs.org
RUNNER-UP: Sarah C. Jarrell, MD, FACOG Savannah ObGyn savannahobgyn.com
PERINATOLOGIST
Anthony B. Royek, MD Memorial Health memorialhealthdoctors.com
UROGYNECOLOGIST
Joseph T. Stubbs III, MD, FFPMRS, FACOG UROGYN Savannah urogynsavannah.com
RUNNER-UP: Barry Schlafstein, MD
St. Joseph’s/Candler sjchs.org
NURSING
CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETIST (CRNA)
James R. Glazier Jr., CRNA
The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery mycosmeticsurgeon.md
RUNNER-UP: Christina Mondy, CRNA Coastal Hypnos Anesthesia facebook.com/coastalhypnosanesthesia
FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER (FNP)
Brianna Sapp, FNP-C, CANS Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery savannahfacialplasticsurgery.com
RUNNER-UP: Madison R. Voss, FNP-C Urological Associates of Savannah urologysavannah.com
NURSE (RN)
Heather Mathis May, RN
The Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery mycosmeticsurgeon.md
RUNNER-UP: Richard A. Rabara, BSN, RN St. Joseph’s/Candler; sjchs.org
NURSE (LPN)
Yanti K. Wyant, LPN Internal Medicine of Savannah internalmedicineofsavannah.com
RUNNER-UP: Jason Cook, LPN
Savannah Facial Plastic Surgery savannahfacialplasticsurgery.com
From left: Hellen Carter, front desk; Samantha Soto, FNP-BC; Nikki Simmons-Cook, medical assistant; Yulianty Kusuma, MD, FACP; Sandra Brassard, RD, LD, CDCES, nutritionist; Angela E. Patenaude, office manager; and Yanti Wyant, LPN. Not pictured: Ji-Ae Yun, translator and front desk, and Danyelle Bligen, medical assistant and front desk
Management CareThat YouCan Trust
BEST PSYCHIATRIST
Chad Brock, MD
Shrink Savannah
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, psychiatry has been on the precipice of transformative change thanks to some exciting new revelations and treatments that have practitioners like Dr. Chad Brock fundamentally reconsidering how they approach mental healthcare.
“All the new medicines in the last 30 years, they all had some combination of serotonin, dopamine or norepinephrine,” says Brock. “But now, there are some things that are changing.”
These changes, Brock explains, have come in two major forms: a return to a more holistic, full-body approach to mental healthcare and a reappraisal of the value that psychedelic drugs can offer patients struggling with treatmentresistant illnesses. For example, clinical studies for treatments like Ketamineor MDMA-assisted psychotherapy have suggested their ground-breaking potential in treating depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with many patients seeing results that would normally take years with more traditional treatments in just a few sessions.
“The main thing is neuroplasticity,” says Brock. “The idea is the brain being able to rewire itself for a changing environment or changing conditions.”
psychedelic therapy can improve the plasticity of our brains, allowing patients to break out of those rigid patterns of thought in order to examine their life in a new light.
While many of these treatments are still awaiting approval from the Food and Drug Administration, psychiatrists are now closer than ever to introducing them to their arsenal, with MDMA-assisted therapies seeing a number of high-profile clinical trials over the last few years as it inches towards approval.
“Never in a million years would I have thought this is where psychiatry would go. But it’s so exciting to see people that had been hopeless cases regain function and get re-engaged in life.
That’s really all the reinforcement you need to stay up with these changing times.”
— DR. CHAD BROCK
Basically, our brains tend to become more rigidly structured as we get older or suffer from a mental disorder, making it difficult to change our thoughts and behaviors, but studies show
“We want to be poised to jump in that space as quickly as possible,” says Brock. “We’re really excited to have them as an option, but I also think you need a quarterback.” These are powerful drugs, he explains, and the importance of mental healthcare professionals in creating a safer, more focused experience for the patient cannot be overstated.
Shrink Savannah is already testing the waters with Ketamine-assisted therapy in their practice right now, but as they prepare for these exciting new treatments on the horizon, Brock has found these changes to be a thrilling, if unexpected, opportunity.
“Never in a million years would I have thought this is where psychiatry would go,” he says. “But it’s so exciting to see people that had been hopeless cases regain function and get re-engaged in life. That’s really all the reinforcement you need to stay up with these changing times.”
PROFESSIONAL DENTAL CARE
WE ARE ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS!
Yulianty D. Kusuma, MD, FACP
Internal Medicine of Savannah
BEST DOCTOR FOR INTERNAL MEDICINE & RUNNER UP, FAMILY MEDICINE/GENERAL PRACTITIONER
WITH NEARLY TWO decades of experience under her belt, Dr. Yulianty Kusuma has come to understand that when it comes to treating and diagnosing patients, thoughtful, personalized care makes all the difference.
“We don’t treat people like numbers,” says Kusuma. “A common practice is seeing probably 30 to 40 patients a day, but because we are smaller, we are more personal and can give the patient the time needed to discuss their issues instead of giving them five minutes and a prescription.”
This approach has provided Kusuma and Internal Medicine of Savannah with the opportunity to spot lifethreatening illnesses and chronic conditions that might have otherwise slipped through the cracks.
“One of the most rewarding things is if you can catch cancer as early as possible or help control some chronic problem that they’ve been having, and suddenly, you name it and you manage to control it with the patient,” says Kusuma. “When you find something that the patient didn’t even realize and it was in the early stages and you’ve helped them recover, you give her more years of life and the highest quality of life they can achieve.”
In Kusuma’s view, helping patients maintain that high quality of life is crucial, leading her to create a more comprehensive treatment plan that goes beyond your typical primary care experience. Recently, she has added an in-house nutritionist to the practice, helping her to create
"I can help you diagnose your symptoms right now, but I also want to be your best advocate that can prevent your disease from progressing or from developing into something more detrimental in the future.”
— DR. YULIANTY KUSUMA
thoughtful and effective diets and exercise routines that give patients a leg up on living a healthier life.
“Change is hard,” says Kusuma. “But if you don’t change your lifestyle, you are going to be dependent on medicine for the rest of your life. I’m trying to see if I can help patients to move toward making new, healthier habits. I can help you diagnose your symptoms right now, but I also want to be your best advocate that can prevent your disease from progressing or from developing into something more detrimental in the future.”
Dr.
CLAUDIA GAUGHF, MD
J. Sheppard Mondy III, MD, RVT, FACS
Savannah Vascular Institute
UNLIKE MANY SURGICAL SPECIALTIES, vascular surgeons often end up working with patients long after their initial diagnosis and treatment. These practitioners are specially trained to treat the wide range of issues that can impact the nearly 60,000 miles of blood vessels in our bodies, such as blood clots or atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries due to the collection of plaque. But vascular diseases often have high rates of recurrence and progression, meaning practitioners like Dr. J. Sheppard Mondy III have the opportunity to get to know their patients in a way that is unique in the surgical world.
“We essentially treat patients for the rest of their lives,” says Mondy. “Atherosclerosis is the primary disease we treat, and there’s really no treatment for that, so we help to manage the medical aspects of the disease, and we develop very deep relationships with the patients, which is the most rewarding thing for us.”
patients with more personalized options to treat their illnesses. But according to Mondy, what really makes the practice stand out is their melding of two specialties uniquely tailored toward treating vascular patients: vascular surgery and interventional radiology, a union of high-tech imaging with a range of minimally invasive procedures like stent placement or catheter insertions.
“Most vascular practices are surgical only. But the fact that we have interventional radiologists, we have both skill sets and both sets of eyes in the operating room together."
— DR. J. SHEPPARD MONDY III
As Savannah Vascular Institute celebrates their 30th anniversary this year, Mondy reflects on the multitude of newer, non-invasive procedures that have been developed during his time in the field that have been instrumental in providing
“Back when I was in training, the diagnostics were all done by interventional radiology, and then the vascular surgeon would do the open surgery to repair whatever the problem was,” says Mondy. “They’re so complimentary, and so combining the two specialties makes great sense. For the patients, it’s the best care model out there.” BEST VASCULAR SURGEON
“Most vascular practices are surgical only,” says Mondy. “But the fact that we have interventional radiologists, we have both skill sets and both sets of eyes in the operating room together.”
With the combined surgical prowess of the vascular surgeons and the imagery-guided procedures perfected by the interventional radiologists, patients at Savannah Vascular Institute have one of the most comprehensive treatment opportunities available to them in all of Georgia.
Neal Hollis, PharmD
Anthony B. Royek, MD
Memorial Health
BEST PERINATOLOGIST
THANKS TO MYRIAD advancements across the medical community, the opportunity for a safe pregnancy is now possible for more women than ever, leaving those in the field of perinatology — also known as maternal-fetal medicine — with quite the busy schedule.
“I have my phone on 24 hours a day,” says Dr. Anthony Royek. “You cannot dip your toe in the water and do this job successfully. But helping to guide families through this joyous but often very stressful time is really what it’s all about for me.”
As a perinatologist, Royek specializes in treating high-risk pregnancies, placing him in a unique position to work not only with the mother and her child, but also with practitioners from a variety of other medical fields that he often enlists to provide his patients with the specialized care they need.
“What people don’t realize is that my job requires collaboration with so many different specialties like neonatology, cardiology and anesthesiology,” says Royek. “I’m really like the quarterback. For example, if I have a patient who has a congenital heart abnormality, I have to make sure that she sees a cardiologist first and that we’re all on the same page in terms of delivery management. It’s very complex sometimes.”
“We take care of patients with medical disease and fetal conditions that no one else feels comfortable taking care of, and we turn no one away. We take care of everyone.”
— DR. ANTHONY ROYEK
Despite these hurdles, Royek takes great pride in his ability to treat patients that might otherwise feel like they have nowhere else to turn. Whether that means treating mothers with chronic conditions, organizing complicated treatment plans or delivering sextuplets, Royek and his team are always up to the challenge.
“We take care of patients with medical disease and fetal conditions that no one else feels comfortable taking care of, and we turn no one away,” says Royek.
We partner with families to provide unparalleled psychological testing and therapy, so that children and adolescents can boldly and skillfully build a life of meaning, intention, and competence.
What families are saying:
• “The most comprehensive testing as well as behavior/ psych therapy we’ve found! Amazing place!”
• Savannah Behavioral Pediatrics “has changed our family’s lives and added so much more peace and joy to our days together! We are so much better equipped to handle our children’s changing behaviors and finally found the tools we need to better enjoy each other!”
For
STANDING: Amanda Wadley, child and adolescent therapist; Heather Myers, family therapist
Dr. Kristen Hembree, pediatric psychologist and director of integrated care; Dr. Cecelia Ribuffo, pediatric psychologist; Dr. Kristi Hofstadter-Duke, director and pediatric psychologist; Dr. Cassidy Oliver, pediatric psychologist
DR. PICCIONE RECOGNIZED AS BEST ORAL SURGEON
“We
Take Pride in Offering Personalized, Compassionate Care”
DR. MICHAEL PICCIONE, DDS, of Richmond Hill Oral Surgery & Facial Aesthetics is a highly accomplished oral and maxillofacial and dental implant surgeon with more than 20 years of experience. A solo practitioner providing expert care to the communities he serves, Dr. Piccione operates three successful offices in Savannah, Richmond Hill and Jesup.
Not only is Dr. Piccione compassionate, but he also genuinely cares for every patient. His surgical expertise, particularly in dental implants, is top-notch, ensuring that every procedure is performed with the highest level of precision and care.
Richmond Hill Oral Surgery & Facial Aesthetics is truly a family affair, embodying the spirit of a mom-and-pop small business.
“We take pride in offering personalized, compassionate care to every patient,” says Dr. Piccione, who was recently voted Best Oral Surgeon in Savannah magazine’s annual Best of Doctor’s 2024 reader survey.
Whether someone is in need of oral surgery, dental implants or specialized treatment, Dr. Piccione’s expertise and dedication ensure that patients are in the best hands.
GIVING BACK
As an Army veteran and co-founder of Vets4Vets.org, a local nonprofit, Dr. Piccione is committed to providing free oral surgery extractions to financially disadvantaged veterans.
“It’s our way of giving back to those who have served our country,” says Dr. Piccione.
An avid astrophotographer, Dr. Piccione shares his life with his wife, Kristin, and their three children, two of whom attend Savannah Christian Preparatory School.
Friends and colleagues share that Dr. Piccione’s personal and professional life is a testament to his commitment to excellence and family values, which carries over to his team.
“Richmond Hill Oral Surgery & Facial Aesthetics believes in treating all patients like family. From initial consultations to postoperative care, we are committed to making your experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible,” says Dr. Piccione. “Discover the personalized care that only a small, family-run practice can offer.”
912.445.2903 | RICHMONDHILLORALSURGERY.NET
RICHMOND HILL ORAL SURGERY & FACIAL AESTHETICS
SAVANNAH: 343 COMMERICAL DRIVE
RICHMOND HILL: 111 MARKET ST. JESUP: 113 COLONIAL WAY
Photography by KATHERINE IVES PHOTOGRAPHY
Evan M. Siegall, MD
Chatham Orthopaedic Associates
BEST PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST
AS A SPECIALIST in pediatric orthopedics, Dr. Evan Siegall faces a number of challenges in his practice that are eminently unique in the broader field of orthopedics. According to him, many patients assume that children are basically just small adults, receptive to the same procedures that would benefit an adult patient, but this is simply not the case.
“They’re certainly very different,” says Siegall. “Their muscles, ligaments, bones, all of it is very different from a more mature patient. Also, their bones are still growing, so you have to worry about not interfering with that growth and how they’re going to change over time. They generally also heal a bit faster than adults though, so while it introduces some challenges, there are also some benefits.”
"The longer I’m here, I’m seeing patients now who I saw when they were kids and toddlers, and I get to see them grow and develop and feel like part of the family.”
— DR. EVAN M. SIEGALL
As important as this knowledge is to providing the right care for the right patients, the differences in treating younger and older orthopedic patients often goes beyond the physical. While education is crucial when approaching any patient with a surgical procedure, pediatric patients require an especially deft touch to help prepare them for what’s to come.
“There’s a lot of time spent counseling younger patients,” says Siegall. “Making sure they have the right expectations, making sure they’re not too anxious. And the better they understand it, the better they do. If they don’t know what to expect, it can be overwhelming for them during recovery, so it’s really an important part of their treatment.”
This kind of specialized counseling allows pediatric specialists like Siegall to form strong relationships with their patients and their families over the years, fostering an atmosphere of trust and compassion that can turn even the most stressful procedures into lifelong success stories.
“Taking care of kids is rewarding in and of itself,” says Siegall. “I see kids who have been hurt or are having some kind of problem and we can get it fixed and see them progress back into their activities. And the longer I’m here, I’m seeing patients now who I saw when they were kids and toddlers, and I get to see them grow and develop and feel like part of the family.”
A BIG thank you TO OUR PATIENTS WHO INSPIRE US EVERY DAY.
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VOTED BEST ONCOLOGIST
VOTED RUNNER UP BEST ONCOLOGIST
Jennifer Yannucci, MD
George Negrea, MD
Haven Caldwell, DO
Stephen Tiley, MD
Scott & Amy Pierce Owners, Coastal Care Partners
We are a team of pediatric therapists determined to provide your child with the care and nurturing they deserve to reach their full potential. With over 20 years of combined experience, our knowledgeable therapists have made and continue to make a difference in children and families’ lives by implementing quality therapy in a variety of areas through play!
Bethany Manning, M.S., CCC-SLP
Olivia Chester, OTD, OTR/L
Standing from Left- Bethany Spivey OT, Brielyn Smith SLP, Amy Daniel SLP, Ansley Sellers Owner/SLP, Larie Vaus OT, Monique Neal SLP, LeAnn Chavis Office Manager
Sitting from Left- Victoria Lewis Office Manager, Brittany Tyler SLP, Felicia Ashley SLP
NURSE (NP)
Alana Jones, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, RN, RRT SouthCoast Health southcoast.com
RUNNER-UP:
Brandy Aliotta, APRN, BC St. Joseph’s/Candler sjchs.org
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER
Heather Mell, NP-C
Shrink Savannah shrinksavannah.com
PEDIATRICS
PEDIATRICIAN
Ben Spitalnick, MD, MBA, FAAP Pediatric Associates of Savannah pedsav.com
RUNNER-UP: Dudley W. Stone, MD Coastal Pediatrics mycoastalpediatrics.com
PEDIATRIC DENTIST
Cara DeLeon, DDS
Pediatric Dentistry of Savannah pediatricdentistry ofsavannah.com
Allyson Nash Register, MS, CCC-SLP Wee Care Therapy Pediatrics weecarepediatrictherapy.com
2021 WINNER
Daniel S. Haddad LCSW, LISW, MAC
SEEN
VOICE Festival
AUG. 10
Savannah VOICE Festival singers were joined by a big band ensemble as they performed music from the World War II era at Asbury Memorial Church. A meet and greet reception with help from Greater Pooler Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Inc. followed the Season 12 concert sponsored by The Salt Table, Jean & John Fishburne, Don Kole and Ron Morris.
Photography by ALEXANDER NEWMANN
Savannah VOICE Festival
FORSYTH FARMERS’ MARKET
A Taste of African Heritage Cooking Class
JULY 25
The free cooking class is one of several offered by Forsyth Farmers’ Market through an ongoing partnership with Oldways, a food and nutrition nonprofit dedicated to improving public health. Held at the Pennsylvania Avenue Resource Center, attendees of the immersive, hands-on cooking class learned about the rich heritage of African cuisine and the cultural significance of the ingredients while creating health-conscious dishes deeply rooted in tradition.
Photography by ALEXANDER NEUMANN
FRIDAY • NOV 1, 2024SATURDAY • NOV 2, 2024SUNDAY • NOV 3, 2024
Tea Party
JUNE
23
It was an afternoon brimming with elegance at Ashford Tea Company. Guests indulged in fine teas, gourmet pastries and savory bites while listening to captivating stories of the cultural significance and history of tea drinking. A portion of the proceeds will benefit a Black nonprofit or community organization in Savannah. Discover Black Savannah is a nonprofit focused on promoting tourism among Savannah’s Black-owned businesses, African historical sites and cultural spaces.
Bowlapalooza
JULY 18
The Savannah AMBUCS held its 13th annual Bowlapalooza fundraising kickoff at Kehoe Iron Works at Trustees’ Garden. Guests enjoyed dinner and cocktails while bidding on silent and live auction items. The nonprofit service organization is dedicated to supporting mobility and independence in differently abled individuals.
DISCOVER BLACK SAVANNAH
Photography by ALEXANDER NEUMANN
SAVANNAH AMBUCS
Photography by ODDYSSEY WADE
ENMARKET
the AFTERWORD
All I Do is Win, Win, Win
Written by ANDREA GOTO
WINNING FEELS REALLY GOOD. Whether it was my first grade Halloween coloring contest, Homecoming Queen or the first place in the Savannah Mile race (ahem — in my age group), nothing gets the serotonin flowing quite like the feeling of being acknowledged and awarded for doing something better than anyone else … at that place and time.
Nowhere is this more apparent than during the Paris Olympics this past summer when we tuned in to see the fierce competitions just as much as the celebrations. The gold-winning athletes were deemed “the best in the world” — at least for that one, very special moment. For these athletes, the Olympics is the culmination of years of training, perseverance, grit, a little bit of luck and myriad other things, and at that moment of truth, judges, referees, seconds and millimeters determine winners and losers. And we care deeply about the winners, with a running tab of medals on the daily.
The Olympic coverage also familiarizes us with the stories of the comeback-kids, like U.S. gymnast Simone Biles, Jamaican sprinter “The Mommy Rocket” Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and every single Paralympic athlete who competes. They look for the “big setback moments,” like when Biles withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics or when her teammate Suni Lee developed a near career-ending kidney disease, and package them into a tidy inspirational story.
Without a doubt, these stories are dramatic, motivational and often downright unbelievable, but they also make it easy to overlook just how often every “best” athlete has been defeated. How many times they’ve lost. Failed. Given up.
I’m reminded of this when I tune into the television documentary series “Sprint” on Netflix. The series chronicles the journey of several track and field stars to the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. They’re athletes I’m accustomed to seeing winning on the world’s stage, but in their day-to-day training and competing, they lose over and over and over again. It seems that this “losing” — or maybe it’s “learning”? — is what motivates them to step up to the line again, to be bigger and louder and faster. They’re characters. Their bravado and belief in their ability is otherworldly, if not, at times, a little much. They are their own hype machine, decked out in luxe brands, heavy gold chains and a whole lotta swagger. And it seems to work for them.
So, what do I, a middle-aged mom, writer and professor in Savannah, Georgia, whose fame doesn’t extend far past my own
front door, take from all this?
A handful of things — the most painful is the realization that I’m never going to be an Olympic athlete. I don’t have bravado, but my experience has at least earned me some confidence. Competition of any kind motivates me, and as I get older and fewer formal competitions seem to present themselves, I’ve begun to create my own in my head. They aren’t necessarily about beating others (sure I can run further than my teenage daughter, but she has all the collagen, so who’s really winning?). Instead, I’ve had to learn to find the competitive spirit not in winning but in simply being better than I was before.
And even “better” is fairly relative. My race pace is slowing, but as others stop participating, I persist, which is at least something. I’ve learned to settle for age-group medals, for which I truly covet. My ability to teach, which should be enhanced rather than impaired by age, continues to grow when I’m willing to listen and learn from folks far younger than I. The more I know, the better I write. The more I see my daughter for who she is, the more she sees me.
In the spirit of the Olympics, the upcoming presidential election or even the Best of Savannah polls — winning is wonderful, but not winning provides us with the most insight, if we’re willing to look for it. We may not always be acknowledged as the best — even when we believe we might be — but we can always be more aware of our strengths and try to improve on our weaknesses. The world’s stage might not see us, but I believe that those closest to us always will.
For nearly 200 years as the state’s flagship medical school, the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University has delivered on its promise of innovative instruction, frontier-expanding discovery and compassionate care to improve health and wellness across Georgia and beyond.
