Connect Savannah | June 22, 2022

CONNECT SAVANNAH

connectsavannah.com JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

12 TEDxSAVANNAH RETURNS AFTER THREE YEARS WITH A NEW THEME AND MORE IDEAS

BETH LOGAN: WORTH THE DRIVE TO RICHMOND HILL “THROUGH THE EYES OF ERIC HARTLEY”

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STAY COOL AT THE

POOL

UPSCALE HOTEL POOL DAY PASSES + A GUIDE TO LOCAL PUBLIC POOLS

The Bank That That SERVICE Built® The Bank SERVICE Built® Member FDIC. © 2021 United Community Bank Community | ucbi.comBank | ucbi.com Member FDIC. © 2021 United

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

Absolutly Truly Frth of July Celebrate the fourth VIP style at topdeck, with LIve music, FOOD and fireworks. visit our facebook page for ticket info or find us on eventbrite

Advanced purchased tickets automatically entered to win absolut and truly summer gear!

thursdays & Sunday

Live MUSIC | 6-9 pm Drink specials

125 West River Street On top of the cotton sail hotel DAILY 11AM TO 11 PM*

www.topdeckbar.com *CLOSING HOURS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

FREE JEPSON CENTER & TELFAIR ACADEMY ADMISSION FOR LOCALS* SAT & SUN THROUGH 8.28! *Includes residents of Chatham, Bryan, Effingham, Liberty, Beaufort, & Jasper Counties

VISIT TELFAIR.ORG

Lizabeth Rossof (American, b. 1973); 5 XI’AN AMERICAN WARRIORS, 2019; nylon fabric, electric fans.

Sharon Engelstein (Canadian, b. 1965); Seeker, 2012; nylon fabric, electric fan. BLOW UP: Inflatable

Contemporary Art was organized by Bedford Gallery at the Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA

GET INSPIRED! 13 SPEAKERS PLUS LIVE COMEDY, POETRY & MORE

11th Anniversary

Savannah

Friday, June 24, 2022

Theme: Standard Deviation

YAMACRAW CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts 649 W. Jones Street

TICKETS ON SALE at TEDxSavannah.com

LIMITED AVAILABILITY

SELLING FAST!

JUNE/

22-28

WEEK CONNECT SAVANNAH

AT A GLANCE

WEDNESDAY 6/22 THE 70’S SHOW LIVE ON STAGE

Singers, dancers and live band perform a 2-hour show including all the diverse musical styles and pop culture icons of this outrageous decade. It’s fun for all ages.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 8pm THE SAVANNAH THEATRE at 222 Bull St., Downtown 912 233-7764 / savannahtheatre.com

WEDNESDAY BLUES SERIES

Plant Riverside District will host a new Wednesday Blues Series at the Pavilion Stage along the Savannah River, featuring free performances by top regional blues artists. Willie Jackson and the Tybee Blues Band will be the featured artist for the month of June, offering soulful blues by seven-time Indie Music Channel Award winner Willie Jackson on June 8, 15, 22 and 29.

DATE: Every Wednesday - June 8, June 15, June 22 & June 29 6-9 p.m. District Live at Plant Riverside District - Pavilion Stage 400 W. River Street plantriverside.com

TRIVIA NIGHT WITH JESS SHAW

To have your event considered for inclusion, please send an email to happenings@connectsavannah.com.

Include the event name, date, time, location with address, cost, website address for additional information, and a contact number. The submission deadline is 5PM each Friday before the following Wednesday’s edition.

new on the rocks, as a smoked drink, or perhaps with natural shrubs and fresh pressed juices in one of their craft cocktails.

5500 Abercorn St. Suite #36

THURSDAY 6/23

BINGO! AT ELKS LODGE

Join Elks Lodge for Bingo on Thursdays from 7:30-9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 7-9 p.m.

Enjoy great family fun, good food at the snack bar and many chances to win cash. Elks Lodge, 183 Wilshire Blvd.

FREE YOGA ON THE BEACH AT THE THE DECK Enjoy free yoga on the Tybee sponsored by The Deck Beach Bar & Kitchen. Bring a large beach towel, your mat or a tapestry, a hat and sunglasses, water and a friend.

9-10 a.m. The Deck Beachbar and Kitchen, 404 Butler Ave.

FRIDAY 6/24

BLUEGRASS BY THE PINT WITH SWAMPTOOTH Join Service Brewing for Bluegrass by the Pint every Friday featuring live bluegrass from local favorites, Swamptooth.6 p.m. Service Brewing Co., 574 Indian St. servicebrewing.com

SATURDAY 6/25

WHISKEY WEDNESDAYS

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

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Forsyth Park.

Drayton St. & East Park Ave.

FIRE & WINE

Enjoy half off bottles of wine and fire pits in the courtyard.

Purchase one of our s’mores kits (marshmallows incl.)

6-9 p.m. Foxy Loxy Cafe, 1919 Bull St.

FORSYTH FARMERS MARKET

SAT/

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ISLANDS FARMERS MARKET

Weekly farmers market on Talahi Island highlighting local growers and makers, healthy foods and a positive environment. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

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

SUNDAY 6/26

BEATS, BREWS + BEERMOSAS

Catch those Sunday Vibes every week at Service Brewing with beats, brews and beermosas featuring sets from local DJs, delicious food trucks and 16 beers on tap. 12:30-5:30 p.m. Service Brewing Company, 574 Indian St. servicebrewing. com

STONEWALL BLOCK PARTY @BULL ST. E.31ST | E.32ND

Join First City Pride Ctr. as they rock the block celebrating their five-year anniversary and commemorating Stonewall with musical entertainment, advocacy & community organizations, free HIV testing, lip-sync drag contests, interactive games, food trucks and drinks. 3 - 10PM

BINGO! AT ELKS LODGE

Join Elks Lodge for Bingo on Thursdays from 7:30-9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 7-9 p.m.

Enjoy great family fun, good food at the snack bar and many chances to win cash. Elks Lodge, 183 Wilshire Blvd.

SUNSET PARTY SUNDAY Wrap up the weekend with a Sunday Funday Sunset Party on the roof. Local DJ Doc Ock on the 1s and 2s, an amazing view, Long Drink and Herradura specials, and $3 Rosé all day. 6 - 9 p.m. Top Deck, 125 W. River Street

MONDAY 6/27

MIDTOWN MONDAYS

Savannah’s largest industry night at Oak 36 Bar + Kitchen.

Enjoy Pubstar Karaoke hosted

by Shane along with DJ B-RAD playing today’s hits inbetween singers. Enjoy $4-$5 drink specials all night along with a late night menu and craft cocktail bar. The fun starts at 10pm every Monday! 5500 Abercorn St. Ste. 36

TUESDAY 6/28

STAFFORD’S TUESDAY COMEDY OPEN MIC

The ghost of Savannah’s legendary open mic returns.

Head out to the sequel to the open mic Hannibal Buress called “whack” and “please put that phone down”. All experience levels welcome!

Come out and give us your best 5 minutes, or just come and laugh at us, we like it. 8:30-11:45

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

Jess Shaw and Kevin Ryan will guide participants through an evening of trivia and self discovery at Service Brewing.

Test your trivia knowledge while also competing in interactive challenge rounds to gain extra points. The first place team receives a $100 cash prize. 6:30 p.m. Service Brewing Co., 574 Indian St.. servicebrewing.com.

Discounted regional and international whiskey and bourbon selections every Wednesday at Oak 36 Bar + Kitchen. Come try something

HIGHLIGHTED PICKS FROM HOSTESS CITY HAPPENINGS THIS WEEK

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ADMINISTRATIVE ERICA BASKIN PUBLISHER erica@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4378 WENDY WICKHAM BUSINESS MANAGER wendy@connectsavannah.com (912) 721-4373

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OUR VALUES

Connect Savannah is a weekly arts, entertainment and news magazine, focused on Savannah and the Coastal Empire life and experience.

We strive to feature stories that impact our community and the people who live here— to educate, entertain, inform and foster conversation.

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

We want to be your comprehensive source for what happens in our community and beyond.

We are here to serve you.

Find us on the following social media platforms or reach out to us at news@connectsavannah.com or 912-721-4378.

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@ConnectSavannah

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DISTRIBUTION WAYNE FRANKLIN DISTRIBUTION MANAGER (912) 721-4376

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ON THE COVER It’s hot out. Cool down at all the local pools and splash pads. We have all the info you need on public pools and swimming lessons, as well as how to get a day pass for local hotel pools.

© 2022, Savannah Media, LLC. 611 East Bay Street Savannah, Georgia 31401 Phone: (912) 231-0250 | Fax: (912) 238-2041

Pet Friendly, Outdoor Deck with ample Covered seating & views of Chimney Creek!

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40 Estill Hammock Rd., Tybee Island, GA, 31328

INTRODUCTIONS:

MEET GRACE FULP AN OFFICE WITH A VIEW

By Marley Gibson Features Writer

A native and lifelong resident of Savannah, Grace Fulp is one of the many dockhands at the Freedom Boat Club, and you can always find her smiling out from mirrored sunglasses as she hustles to help members get their boat reservations set.

“I’ve been here at Freedom for six years,” Fulp said, beaming. “I spend most of my days here working long hours, but I wouldn’t give it up for the world.”

A graduate of Savannah Arts Academy, Fulp focused

the-water training for our members. We make sure our members are ready to go when we send them out on the water.”

However, it’s more than just a job to Grace. As you watch her maneuver boats with the aplomb of a feather alighting on the ground, you can see her dedication to what she does. What she enjoys doing. She’s the master at it, in fact.

“Some people call me the master. I don’t want to boast,” she said with a laugh.

“I can tell the members love me. I love them and love helping them out. I love that my co-workers are a little family here.” She said she gets excited every time she checks her work schedule. “I love getting to work with new people who then become like family.”

Fulp is one of the veterans of the dock bunch.

“I started at 16 and now I’m 21! I’m deemed the ‘mom’ around here because a lot of my co-workers are high schoolers and they seem to look up to me as a big sister or a mom figure.”

When she’s not busy jockeying around center consoles, she enjoys taking advantage of her beautiful city.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

Her job is customer service, but she’s not stuck behind a desk.

She operates heavy equipment; however, it also floats. And the view? Well, hanging out at the new Savannah Boathouse on the Bull River every day is something Grace Fulp loves to do.

her days then on playing the flute.

Now, in addition to her job at Freedom, she is a student at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

“I’m continuing my expression and art in a different sense. I’m majoring in furniture design and minoring in interior design.”

She said working with the many different boats available through Freedom, she notices designs and mechanics of things and she hopes to one day be able to design furniture herself.

“I would love to work remotely for a large furniture company one day. I’ve done a lot of research and one of my favorite companies is CB2. I’d love to work on a boat designing furniture.”

Fulp appreciates the opportunities she’s getting at SCAD, as well as throughout her hometown.

“I love hands-on,” she said. “We have a great wood shot and metal shop at SCAD with excellent safety training.

Literally, if you can dream it, you can make it.”

Fulp feels as strongly about the close-knit boating community locally. “We [Freedom] offer the fun of having a boat without having to maintain it, gas it, store it… basically, all the things you don’t want to do. It’s really good for a lot of people who maybe haven’t boated before because of how much we train our members.”

She stressed, “We do in-class training, as well as on-

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MEET GRACE FULP (CONTINUED)

“I love the Foxy Loxy. It’s in the heart of some of the SCAD buildings and you can find a lot of your friends. The new Plant Riverside is super new and is really fun. It’s great to see the tourists out so much. And, now that I’m legal, I’m starting to get into the bar scene.”

Fulp also enjoys other aspects of Savannah’s outdoor life.

“The best way to spend a day is bike riding. I like to ride on Wilmington Island or the back roads on Tybee. There’s so much to look at and take in, especially the beautiful houses.”

She highly recommends a visit to Forsyth Park.

“There’s so much to do whether it’s just to hang out, take it in, or have a picnic with friends and stuff,” she said.

“When I think of Savannah, though, I think about walking downtown and doing a ghost tour,” Fulp noted. “I’ve done a couple of them and they’re super fun.”

As for Tybee Island, Fulp takes in the beach on weekdays when it’s not as crowded.

“The beach scene is always fun, plus any time you can get out on a boat on the water, well, that’s just wonderful.”

According to Fulp, “boating is the best part of Savannah. This community is so wonderful, caring, and welcoming. I hope Savannah gets all of the love and success it deserves this summer.”

Sounds like Grace is exactly where she needs to be.

In The Boardroom - Reed Dulany III

THANK YOU for

We cordially invite you to join us for an “In the Boardroom” session with our speaker Reed Dulany III, chairman and CEO of Dulany Industries, Inc. Brought to you by the Southeast Georgia Leadership Forum, “In the Boardroom” provides an exclusive opportunity to engage in dialogue with leaders of regional organizations. During this lunch-and-learn session, you will receive candid insight from a local leader about the steps they took to achieve success. “In the Boardroom” gives participants an opportunity to hear from leaders who are doing great work. It also gives speakers the opportunity to share and give back to those who are trying to level up both personally and professionally.

Savannah

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

“In the Boardroom” facilitates the exchange of ideas by gathering local leaders together. We as humans learn primarily through stories and shared experiences. Both of these elements are highlighted in these sessions.

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This is an intimate setting, capped at 50 attendees.

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NEW CLUB:

Chess for Vets makes its opening move ALEXANDER’S BISTRO 1201 Bull Street

Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Sunday Brunch

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Kiettisak Bennett figures out his next move. Photo by Alex Arango

By Alex Arango

alex@connectsavannah.com

Phillip Williams plays Mike Ball in a game of chess at Chess for Vets. Photo by Alex Arango

anyone who just wants to come out and play.

“I want to support veterans with PTSD. That interaction with them, not only helps to keep their mind off of what they went through, but maybe a relationship or two is developed and they feel like they have somebody to talk to if they feel like they’re going off the edge.”

This sentiment is shared by Bennett who encourages anyone to come out to Post 135 on Wednesdays, especially

veterans struggling with PTSD.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

Phillip Williams is the founder of Chess for Vets, a chess club that meets every Wednesday at the American Legion Post 135 on 1108 Bull St from 5 - 7 p.m. The club is free and open to anyone who wants to play on a Wednesday evening.

Originally from Kentucky, Williams spent 13 years in the U.S. Army as a combat tanker. In 1986 he arrived in Savannah out of active duty and began serving in the National Guard as a draftsman, until being promoted to a construction inspector.

He started the club after playing chess with his friend Kiettisak “Fan” Bennett, who served as a drill sergeant in the Army.

Both men are members of the American Legion and are a part of The Society of 40 Men and 8 Horses, commonly known as “The Forty and Eight.”

The society is a non-profit organization and honor society for American Veterans that was founded in 1923 after World War I. It supports several charitable causes, including child welfare and providing scholarships for nurses.

It was through joining The Forty and Eight that Bennett and Williams met.

Being a realtor, Williams was assisting Bennett in selling his home in March. At the time Bennett was suffering with PTSD. “He [Bennett] knew me, so I helped him sell his house, and he had gone through

a rough patch in his life,” explained Williams.

Soldiers that Bennett had been in charge of were killed in Afghanistan.

While in the process of helping Bennett sell his house, Williams began playing chess with him. Something that helped Bennett work through a difficult time.

“We started playing chess while I was selling his house, and then one day he texted me saying these games really helped get his mind off of things,” said Williams.

Not long after, Williams realized that if playing chess could help Bennett, it could help other Veterans struggling with PTSD. “With chess you can plan and you can strategize everything with that board. At the same time, you can concentrate more on what you are doing in that moment,” explained Bennet.

According to Bennett playing chess provides a way for him to feel grounded, and allows him to live in the present.

After pitching the idea to The American Legion at Post 135, Williams was able to secure a place and time for the club.

“I had a venue and a willingness so I decided to go for it, and see if I could do something good,” said Williams.

The club has only been around for a month, but has already begun to attract players who are veterans and nonveterans.

Although the club’s goal is to help veterans with PTSD, it is also open to

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STAY COOL AT THE

POOL

BEAT THE HEAT: Spend the Day Poolside at a Luxury Hotel This Summer with a Day Pass

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

Locals and tourists alike know that Savannah summers can be pretty hot.

By Chantel Britton Ninety-degree chantel@connectsavannah.com days are common, with heat indexes reaching into the hundreds on particularly sweltering days. To cool off, many people seek the relief of a nice pool on a sunny summer day.

There are several public pools around town. But if you’re looking for a little luxury to accompany your pool day, you can find it at one of Savannah’s many upscale hotels. There’s just one issue. Most local hotel pools are only open to hotel guests. But fortunately, there are two top hotels offering pool access to the public, namely The Alida and Thompson Savannah. If you want to beat the heat in style, consider purchasing a day pass for pool access at one of these luxury hotels.

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POOLSIDE AT THE ALIDA

THE ALIDA Enjoy a summer daycation poolside at the Alida.

Located at 412 Williamson St., The Alida is a boutique hotel with a beautiful oasis featuring a heated wading pool, slatted wood cabanas and open fire pits.

The pool is open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

You can get a pool day pass for just $19 during the weekdays for both adults and children. Infants swim free. On weekends, the price for a day pass increases to $40.

The Day Pass includes pool access of course, along with fitness center access, fire pits and complimentary wifi, so you can be the envy of all your friends and followers on social media.

Monday through Thursday, you can enjoy food and beverages from The Alida’s Rhett restaurant and Lost Square Rooftop Bar. And on Friday through Sunday, you can take advantage of the

poolside food and drink service from The Alida’s Pool Bar. If you’ve got a group of up to four people, you should consider purchasing a cabana. Starting at $99 on weekdays, the cabana package includes all of the amenities associated with the day pass, but you’ll also be able to enjoy a private shaded cabana with premium sofa seating. You’ll also get complimentary bottled water.

You can enhance your cabana experience with an add-on package. For just $25 to $30, you can get your choice of a crudite platter, hummus and pita chips, tortilla chips and dips, or a fresh fruit platter.

The cabana price increases to $300 - $350 on the weekends.

The Alida is offering a special Sunday Swim series this summer where guests can enjoy live entertainment from DJ Fancy Parker from 2 to 5 p.m.

There will be inventive cocktails, slushies and bites available at the pool bar.

The Sunday Swim is open to adults ages 21 and up only. The Sunday Swim day pass is just $20 while cabana rentals are $280. To reserve your Alida day pass or cabana, visit resortpass.com and search for the Alida Hotel.

DIVE IN! ENJOY A SUMMER SWIM AT A CITY OF SAVANNAH POOL

The City of Savannah offers several great pools for locals to take advantage of this summer. Here is a table featuring all the local pools, their locations, and hours of operation so you can plan your next pool day.

THOMPSON SAVANNAH

CITY OF SAVANNAH POOLS OFFER EXTENDED HOURS ON SUNDAYS Now through the end of summer, the City of Savannah’s Recreation and Leisure Services is offering expanded pool hours to include Sundays. Sunday swim times are available from 1:30 to 6 p.m. at these locations: June 19 Daffin and Brock Pools June 26 Shuman and Tompkins Pools July 3

Haven and WW Law pools

July 10 Daffin and Brock Pools July 17 Shuman and Tompkins Pools July 24 Haven and WW Law pools Aug. 7 Daffin and Brock Pools Additionally, there are adult-only swim options available for residents 21 and older every Monday and Wednesday at Shuman Pool from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. and every Friday at Daffin Pool from 8 a.m. to noon.

SPRAY PADS Spray pads are available at two locations in Savannah now through Sept. 2. The Forsyth Park spray pad is open Monday — Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the Hull Park spray pad is open Monday — Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SWIM LESSONS The City of Savannah is also offering swim lessons this summer for those ages 3 and up. Trained instructors will work with students in a group setting to evaluate and improve essential swimming skills.

The cost is $25 per lesson. For more information on City of Savannah pools, lessons and more, visit savannahga.gov/aquatics.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

THOMPSON SAVANNAH Thompson Savannah is a fairly new luxury hotel overlooking the east end of the Savannah River at 201 Port St. Boasting modern design and premium amenities, Thompson Savannah is also offering pool day passes, making it the perfect locale for a relaxing summer daycation. The pool is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and it’s only open to those who are 21 and up.

Monday through Thursday, the day pass is $25 dollars. It increases to $50 Friday through Sunday. The day pass includes access to the outdoor heated pool and the fitness center. There are poolside lounge chairs available for you to soak up the sun in.

You’ll also get towel service and complimentary wifi.

Friday through Sunday, you can enjoy poolside drink service from the pool bar. And additional food and beverages are available throughout the week from Bar Julian, Fleeting Restaurant, and the lobby bar. There is street parking available but garage parking is available for a fee.

Thompson Savannah offers two cabana rental options for up to four guests. The daybed cabana starts at $160 on weekdays and includes a shaded cabana with a ceiling fan and premium comfort lounge chair seating. It also comes with complimentary water.

The regular cabana packages start at $180 on weekdays. It includes all the amenities of the day pass along with a private shaded cabana with premium sofa seating and bottled water.

Friday through Sunday, cabana prices increase to $210 for the daybed cabanas and $230 for the regular cabanas. On Saturdays and Sundays, both cabana packages come with a dedicated server to attend to you from 12 to 6 p.m. To book your pool day at Thompson Savannah, visit resortpass.com and search for Thompson Savannah.

Photo courtesy Hyatt

Visit savannahga.gov or scan the code to find a list of all the pools and locations

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L-R: Gullah Geechee Master Storyteller, Patt Gunn gives a Ted Talk, and Jalin Alexander Graham performs the violin at TEDxSavannah 2019. Photo provided by TEDxSavannah

By Alex Arango

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

alex@connectsavannah.com

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It has been nearly three years since the last TEDxSavannah event took place in the Hostess City.

Due to COVID-19, the event was shuttered in 2020 and 2021.

TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Development started as a four-day conference in California in 1984. Over the course of TED’s thirty years speakers such as Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson and more have given talks to curious audiences internationally.

The non-profit hosts two annual conferences where some of the world’s leading thinkers and doers speak for 18 minutes or less. Several of these talks are accessible for free at TED.com.

TEDx events are local, self-organized events that have grown out of the TED Talk phenomenon, following its devotion to ideas worth spreading. TEDxSavannah is one such offshoot of the TED Talk format.

Fast forward to 2022, TEDxSavannah is back and devoted to sharing local ideas and forging meaningful connections with the community.

The 11th annual event will be on Friday, June 24 at the Yamacraw Performing Arts Center.

The Emcee for this year’s TEDxSavannah is Cecilia Arango, a local actress, singer and marketing professional for Thomas & Hutton. Arango has performed with the Bay Street Theater, The Collective Face Theater Ensemble and Savannah Repertory Theater.

With 13 diverse and talented speakers discussing a range of topics, organizers say the event aims to give individuals and organizations in Savannah a platform to meet, share ideas and collaborate.

In addition to the speakers, the event will also include live poetry by Deep center Youth Artists and family-friendly comedy segments by Odd Lot Improv.

The full list of speakers and ticket pricing can be

TEDxSAVANNAH RETURNS AFTER THREE YEARS WITH A NEW THEME AND MORE IDEAS

found at tedxsavannah.com.

Clinton Edminster and Dr. Jessica McBride are both members of Inspire Savannah, the board responsible for promoting and organizing the local TEDx event. The two have also given talks at past events and served as volunteers.

Edminster, the owner of Starlandia and a board member for TEDxSavannah expressed his excitement for this year’s event, and the role it plays in highlighting individuals in the community.

For Edminster, TEDx allows for members of the community the opportunity to cut through the noise and listen to someone discuss things they are passionate about.

“Events like TEDx that spotlight and highlight individuals in our community, are some of the coolest events that happen in the year. There’s not a lot of opportunities where we as a community, with the capital WE, get to hear about something that a person is really passionate about,” said Edminster. “I just think there’s something really magical to that, and almost sacred about making sure this is something this community continues to do, continues to support and continues to attend.”

The theme for this year is “Standard Deviation,” and according to organizers TEDx themes strike a balance between being clear, yet broad enough for a variety of interpretations from speakers.

This year’s theme continues that trend, by allowing speakers to offer their own unique perspective to their TED Talk.

“There’s just so many ways you can think about it —coming up with a theme that can be interpreted in so many different ways, but then still be easily understandable and appealing.” Explained McBride. “Of course, you can’t have it not reflect your own experience or your own life. So that’s what it’s about ‘What is standard?’

‘How do you deviate from it?’ ‘Do you?’ ‘Should you?’”

Part of what makes TEDxSavannah such a special event is that it provides for conversations and the active

exchange of ideas.

To facilitate this major component of the event, there are lengthy breaks in between sessions where audience members can talk amongst themselves and engage with speakers.

For more information visit tedxsavannah.com

The TEDxSavannah theme for 2022

is Standard Deviation tedxsavannah.com

Friday, June 24 at the Yamacraw Center for the Performing Arts at Garrison School

Schedule for TEDxSavannah 8:30 am Doors Open/Check-In 8:30 – 9:15 am Coffee and Networking 9:30 am - 12:30pm Morning Sessions 12:30 - 2:00 pm Box Lunch (provided) 2 - 5 pm Afternoon Sessions

TEDxSavannah 2022 speakers BERTICE BERRY, PH.D. – Sociologist and Author

Originally from Wilmington, Delaware, Bertice Berry, Ph.D. graduated magna cum laude from Jacksonville University and earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from Kent State University at the age of 26. The former host and co-executive producer of her own nationally syndicated talk show, “The Bertice Berry Show,” she has also been featured on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and “20/20.” Bertice is a best-selling author, with books including I’m On My Way, But Your Foot Is On My Head; Sckraight From the Ghetto; You Might Be Ghetto If; Redemption Song; The Haunting of Hip Hop; Jim & Louella’s Homemade Heart-fix Remedy; When Love Calls, You Better Answer; The Ties That Bind and A Year to Wellness and Other Weight Loss Secrets

MARK BOWEN – Programs Director, Forsyth Farmers’ Market

Mark Bowen was born and raised in Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. His career has primarily focused on community organizing and education in food and social justice. He has worked in these areas throughout the mid-Atlantic and South for over 20 years. He is a licensed social worker taking a career shift towards mental health with aspirations to intersect mental health with social justice and horticultural therapy. He is interested in nature and leftist politics, as well as playing, experimenting, and exploring humanity and the world that surrounds us.

Jay Brandes, Ph.D. – Professor, University of Georgia Department of Marine Sciences and Skidaway Institute of Oceanography

Jay Brandes, Ph.D., is a Marine Science professor at the University of Georgia, who works at the UGA – Skidaway Institute of Oceanography in Savannah. A marine and freshwater chemist, he specializes in the study of the chemistry of the oceans and conducts research on carbon and nutrient cycling in estuaries and coastal oceans and evaluates the composition of particles and microplastic pollutants. He holds a Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Washington and enjoys working on new techniques that encourage innovative solutions to environmental challenges.

MAXINE BRYANT, PH.D. – Director of the Center for Africana Studies and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center, Georgia Southern University

Isai Castrejon is originally from Mexico and moved to Savannah to continue his work on educating the next generation as part of Junior Achievement, a nonprofit organization that educated young people to own their future economic success through integrated learning models focused on career readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. In his role as the director of the JA Discovery Center Experience, he oversees a facility that offers 15,000 middle school students in Coastal Georgia the opportunity to experience their futures via JA Finance Park and JA BizTown. He holds a degree in economics from Georgia Institute of Technology and plans to continue his work to prepare today’s youth for tomorrow’s economy.

MARY DILLARD – Disability Advocate

Mary Dillard is a Savannah native who was born with Cerebral Palsy. She recently graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in technical writing.

Currently, Mary is serving with the Americorps VISTA program, focusing on marketing and communications at Wesley Community Centers of Savannah. She is passionate about finding new ways to tell worthwhile stories and hopes to use her skill set to advocate for individuals with disabilities.

KYRIN DUNSTON, M.D. – Board Certified OBGYN, Anti-Aging and Functional Medicine Physician

Kyrin Dunston, M.D., is a Fellow of Anti-Aging, Metabolic and Functional Medicine who lost 100 pounds and healed herself of multiple unresolved health issues. A board certified OB-GYN, she turned to functional medicine — a practice that raises the standard of care and promotes vitality — to reclaim her health and that of her patients.

Today, she hosts The Hormone Prescription podcast, provides coaching for women seeking a superior level of health nationwide at the Midlife Metabolism Institute LLC, and serves as the owner and medical director of The Hormone Club PC, an all-inclusive telemedicine solution helping women obtain state-of-the-art hormone testing and natural treatments.

CHRIS HANKS – Fire Captain, Savannah Fire Department

Chris Hanks became a junior firefighter in 2001, following the death of his mother. By the time he graduated high school, he had learned basic EMT skills, and the following year, he was the youngest National Registered Paramedic in the state of Georgia. With a bachelor’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management from American Military University, he teaches new EMTs the techniques they can use to better serve their community.

As a Fire Captain/Paramedic, he serves as the shift health and safety officer, ensuring that members of the fire department are safe during incidents. He also helps residents after fires and is the EMS coordinator, responsible for overseeing and assisting with critical calls within the city of Savannah.

Wanda Lloyd, Journalist and Author

Wanda Lloyd is author of Coming Full Circle: From Jim Crow to Journalism, a self-reflective exploration of the author’s childhood in the Deep South to daring to become a daily newspaper editor. She is also co-editor of Meeting at the Table: African American Women Write on Race, Culture and Community and writes a twicemonthly column for the Savannah Morning News. She

retired as the executive editor of the Montgomery (AL) Advertiser and subsequently worked as the chair and associate professor for the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications at Savannah State University.

Wanda was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Hall of Fame in 2019 and is the co-host of the 2 Old Chicks podcast.

Mickie McNamara – Author and Former Civil Servant

Mickie McNamara was born to Guyanese immigrants in Brooklyn, New York and studied Italian, classical art history, and collage in Rome, Italy. She interned at the United Nations World Food Programme before beginning her decade-long career in finance, culminating as an Assistant Vice President at Deutsche Bank in New York. She served as a Civil Servant for U.S. Army Africa in Vicenza, Italy before moving to Savannah. She has an M.A. in Government and Politics from St. John’s University, Rome Campus, and a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University in Philadelphia. She is currently working on her forthcoming memoir.

Alex Muir – Advocacy Coordinator and Lobbyist, One Hundred Miles

Alex Muir is the former Advocacy Coordinator for One Hundred Miles (OHM), a regional nonprofit that advocates for conservation policies to protect our coast and the communities that call it home. While at One Hundred Miles, Alex organized coastal residents to advocate for responsible local land use and zoning decisions. She also lobbied at the Georgia General Assembly on issues including flood resilience funding, oyster mariculture, and protection for Georgia Heritage Preserves. Alex has a master’s degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University. Since the pandemic, she started law school at Georgia State University College to further her impact in the conservation policy arena.

Wyatt Powers – Student and Road Scholar

Wyatt Powers is an 18-year-old student who has never attended a K-12 school. Traveling with his family in an RV for the last 12 years, he has visited 44 of the United States as well as five countries in North and South America. In the book, RV Travel on a Budget: A Mother and Son’s Guide to Roadschooling the USA, he chronicles his journey and shares the valuable lessons he learned about life, leadership, and community while on the road.

A talented public speaker, he has finished first in eight public speaking competitions. He is currently attending college and is studying Computer Science with a specialization in Cyber Security.

VIRA SALZBURN – Program Director, Safety and Resilience Programs

Vira Salzburn is a Ukrainian-American who moved to the United States at the age of 18 with $300 in her pocket. Passionate about helping those in need, she is a Mindful Self-Compassion Trained Teacher and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Master Trainer. She currently serves as the program director for community-based Safety and Resilience programs managed by the Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council. She is a Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness and Yoga Instructor, and she is currently studying human behavior at Harvard University. Vira has presented at numerous state and regional conferences about the importance of addressing the problem of suicide and building resiliency in communities.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

Maxine Bryant, Ph.D., serves as the director of both the Center for Africana Studies and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center at Georgia Southern University.

She is also an assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology. With more than 30 years of experience helping prisoners successfully reintegrate into society, she is a much sought-after resource for community organizations, city government, family members of justice-impacted persons and justice-impacted persons themselves. She earned her Ph.D. in Human Services from Walden University and is committed to changing society through her podcast Criminalized by Color and her website, The Virtual Professor, both of which focus on the U.S. criminal justice system. Additionally, Maxine writes a monthly column for the Savannah Morning News. She uses this forum to teach readers about the Black culture in the Lowcountry.

ISAI CASTREJON – Director, Junior Achievement of Georgia

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COMMUNITY

JAUDON SPORTS: TRANSFERS JOHNSON & JOHNSON ARE LATEST EXAMPLES OF PREP STARS LEAVING SAVANNAH FOR NATIONAL PROGRAMS

BY TRAVIS JAUDON

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

Sports Columnist @JaudonSports

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Two of Savannah’s best high school athletes announced plans last week to transfer to out-of-state schools for the remainder of their prep careers.

These aren’t just your everyday players, and they weren’t your everyday transfer decision. Calvary Day football’s Donovan Johnson and Beach basketball’s Larry Johnson (no relation) each used their social media accounts to announce the news.

Moving from the Savannah schools to nationally known programs, DJ (IMG Academy, Florida) and LJ (Huntington Prep, West Virginia) each cited opportunity and exposure as primary reasons for moving on.

“Family and friends, they said ‘really, just do what’s best for you,’” said DJ of his pre-sophomore transfer in an interview with WSAV’s Andrew Goldstein (@ AndyGold24 on Twitter). “It is a great opportunity for me to show my talents and compete against the best of the best everyday in practice.”

DJ rushed for 1,330 yards and ten touchdowns as a freshman last season, helping to lead Calvary to the Final 4 of the GHSA Class A Private state playoffs. He was a MaxPreps High School Freshman All-American and has college scholarship offers from just about any major college football program you could think of.

SPORTS

Programs like Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Southern Cal, Oklahoma, Auburn, South Carolina and on and on and on …

In a phone call with Connect Savannah on June 18, LJ expressed similar reasons for his move to Huntington Prep, a storied high school program which annually has several games per season broadcasted on national television. He too led his team to the Final 4 of the state playoffs, as head coach Simon Heyward’s team made an improbable run to the semifinals as a four-seed in its own region.

“I felt like I needed to play against some better competition, and (Huntington Prep) does that with their national schedule,” said the 16-year-old rising junior with college scholarship offers already from Oregon, St. John’s, Akron and Detroit Mercy. “I’ve been in contact with the coach there since I was in eighth grade (at Isle of Hope School) and so it wasn’t a rushed decision for me. I spent two years at Beach and we went to the final four last year, so there really wasn’t anything left to prove for me there.”

It’s not a new development, nor is it the first instance of Savannah star athletes transferring. And they won’t be the last. That’s not to say it’s a problem … but it is a pattern.

“I wouldn’t have went anywhere else in Savannah (besides Beach) or anything like that,” LJ said. “It was just a great opportunity for me and it will help with my recruiting ranking, so that’s another thing too.”

Old-schoolers won’t ever agree, but I’ve thought (and written) a lot about the high school athlete transfer trend in this city and in this state, and the bottom line conclusion I’ve reached is this: Trying to regulate the why of a student-athlete transfer in order to allow, or not allow the transfer is a nextto-impossible task for a centric ruling body like the GHSA. Because of that, I think kids should be allowed to change schools if they and their family agree it’s what’s best.

Understanding is one thing, but that doesn’t make it any less jarring when news like Johnson & Johnson breaks. I cover high school sports in Savannah, so when the city loses stars like these, I’m selfishly bummed.

We witnessed them lead prominent programs to deep state playoff runs as freshmen and sophomores, so imagining them guiding teams as juniors and seniors was an exciting prospect.

Would winning a state championship provide any kind of incentive for staying at a city school as opposed to national-schedule schools like IMG and Huntington? Beach can win a state championship next season after all. So can Calvary. But there are no state championships for teams playing games all across the country.

The answer for LJ and many other premium high school athletes these days is no, not really.

“Winning a state championship would be cool and all, but for me, I wasn’t ever really thinking about winning a state championship when I was at Beach,” he said. “My plan is really what is best for me, so I wasn’t thinking about winning state. I want to make it to the NBA, so that’s what I’m about. I don’t want it to sound selfish, but that’s just the way that is.”

Liberty County Coach Kirk Warner. Photo by the Coastal Courier

SPORTS NOTES The Liberty County community lost a key figure last week with the passing of longtime football coach Kirk Warner. Warner, the former University of Georgia tight end, died in Florida on June 16 from a rare form of cancer called angiosarcoma. He is survived by wife Kimberly and sons, Kameron, Karrington and Kelzey.

As the head coach of the LCHS Panthers for 20 seasons, Warner led the program to a 106-103 overall record and back-to-back Elite 8 appearances in 2016 and 2017. His teams reached the state playoffs 11 times.

ESPN released its television ratings for the 2022 NBA Finals clinched last week by the Golden State Warriors who knocked off the Boston Celtics in six games.

Viewership was up 22-percent overall from last year’s series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns. The Game 6 finale averaged 14 million viewers and at peak viewership, 16.9 million people tuned in.

All six games of the series were the most-watched programs on television during the month of June. With an average of 12.4 million viewers, it was the most watched NBA Finals in three years.

Follow Travis Jaudon on Twitter/Instagram @ JaudonSports. Email him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.

Listen to him host Hot Grits Podcast, Savannah’s No. 1 sports podcast, with new episodes released each Tuesday.

FOOD & DRINK EAT IT & LIKE IT

PRESENTED WEEKLY BY SAVANNAH TECHNICAL COLLEGE

SUMMER FOODIE NOTES:

WHAT’S HOT?

Feed six for $150 order by: June 24 | pick up: June 30

THE SEAFOOD TOWER AT RHETT

EAT IT AND LIKE IT

By Jesse Blanco eatitandlikeit.com Running off at the keyboard while trying to keep cool by any means necessary.

Meanwhile, downtown on Wright Square, Wright Square Cafe has very quietly undergone a name change.

Wright Square Cafe had been light bites and desserts. It is now Wright Square Bistro with new owners and an eye on more traditional lunch and eventually dinner service. More on them soon. It’s a great story.

If you are road tripping to the ATL this Summer, I cannot recommend Live! at The Battery enough.

Located about 100 feet across the pavilion from Truist Field, Home of the Atlanta Braves, it is the biggest Sports Bar/Restaurant I have ever seen. Die hard Braves fans who regularly make the trek to Cobb County likely already know about it, but if you don’t, you should. It is simply spectacular and a lot fun For years I called it the best food event on Georgia’s coast, but now Whiskey Wine and Wildlife is moving South, to Vilano Beach just outside of St Augustine.

W3 as it has become known has sold out

Meal includes:

Cheerwine Pulled Pork, Dry Rubbed Spare Ribs, 3 Gourmet Sides, 2 BBQ Sauces, Potato Rolls & Dutch Oven Cherry Cobbler

SavannahTech.edu/BigPig An equal opportunity institution.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

Straight out of the ‘it always takes longer than you expect’ department...After a fire shut them down back in February, OAK 36, Midtown Savannah’s very popular eatery is hiring ahead of a return. They hope to be back by the end of the Summer.

Chef Darin’s Kitchen Table is aggressively rolling into Summer with a series of cooking classes to include Italian, Thai food and of course, Shrimp and Grits. Find more information now at chefdarin.com

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COCKTAIL OF THE WEEK STRAWBERRY MOON ENJOY AT: MOON RIVER BREWING CO. 21 W. Bay St.

MADE WITH:

Ghost Coast Burl Gin, Tres Agave Strawberry Mix, Honey, Grenadine

CHEF DARIN’S KITCHEN TABLE

practically every year it was held on Jekyll Island. It was incredibly popular.

It’s a shame Georgia is losing out on such a special event. Ultimately, Jekyll’s loss will be St Augustine’s gain.

Back here in Savannah Plant Riverside District will be hosting a monthly Gospel Brunch series at their District Live music venue. Their first was on Father’s Day. They’ll be once a month going forward.

Meanwhile, across River Street from PRD, Rhett (inside the Alida Hotel) has a new seafood-based menu that looks pretty good. I will be trying it in the next few days and will let you know what you can expect if you head down there.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

The vision for the expansion of Troupial, the Venezuelan street food cafe just off of Whitaker Street at 43rd now is finally

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approaching is final destination.

We are told they have now been approved for a liquor license. Which means morning mimosas or evening cocktails in the newly renovated space. They will now be open until 9pm and serving a full bar until 10pm: a great addition to that neighborhood. I suspect we will be seeing more.

Finally, we’ll end with some bubbles. Bar Bubbly-Savannah’s only sparkling wine spot continues its build out at 38 Whitaker Street. They are crawlllling to a finish line-which means opening day.

No one will dare offer an exact date for opening, but we have officially reached a ‘weeks’ not ‘months’ phase of this project. We’ll be toasting soon enough.

An ode to June’s recent supermoon, the Strawberry Moon doesn’t disappoint. Ghost Coast Distillery’s Burl Gin is the star of this summery cocktail, pairing perfectly with the sweet flavors of strawberry and honey.

The Strawberry Moon is a part of Moon River’s new full moon cocktail series. Check back at the brewery to see what the next full moon feature will be.

Also, Moon River has partnered with Absolut Vodka to introduce Pride Flights for the month of June. Cheers to Pride with vibrant, fruity shots featuring Absolut flavors like Vanillia, Apeach, Citron and more. Enjoy all five shots for just $15, or make one a full drink for $8.

FOOD TRUCK OF THE WEEK

ROYAL TASTY AVENUE

MIMOSAS AT TROUPIAL

A newcomer to Savannah’s food truck scene, Royal Tasty Avenue is a local food truck serving up Southern lunch favorites.

Their menu includes lunch classics like cheeseburgers, wings, pulled pork sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, fresh seafood and more.

They also boast their signature “Royal Fries,” which come with a variety of toppings like ranch, parmesan, and even seafood. They’ve also got peach cobbler and pecan pie, if you’re craving something sweet.

For a simple lunch, you can’t go wrong with the fish plate. It’s two golden-fried filets and served with a side of crispy fries. You’ll truly taste the “love in every bite”, which Is the Royal Tasty Avenue slogan.

Follow Royal Tasty Avenue on Facebook @ royaltastyavenue -Chantel Britton

PETS OF THE WEEK Each week, we will highlight pets available for adoption from local rescue organizations. In June, we are featuring Chatam County Animal Services.

DORA

LIVE OAK PUBLIC

LIBRARIES

AGE: 1 YEAR OLD WEIGHT: 30 LBS COLORS: BROWN AND BLACK BRINDLE WITH A LITTLE WHITE Dora is a small/medium-sized lady who has been at our Operation New Hope (ONH) facility for about 9 months, so she has learned some great manners! She’s not shy at all – she makes friends wherever she goes, dogs and people alike. She’s medium-energy so walks well on leash and likes going to new places and exploring. She has done well meeting other dogs in the past and she would LOVE to meet your fur baby and maybe have a new dog-sibling of her own. She’s just waiting for her Forever-Family to show up! Contact ONH staff at (912) 644-9430 to meet Dora.

NEWMAN

AGE: 3 YEARS OLD WEIGHT: 50 LBS COLORS: BEIGE WITH A LITTLE WHITE

Chatham County Animal Services (CCAS) is located at 7211 Sallie Mood Drive in Savannah, behind the Humane Society. We are open from 1 – 4:30 PM 6 days a week, closed on Wednesdays and major holidays.

CCAS serves as a safety net for the lost, abandoned, and abused animals in our community. We offer volunteer opportunities, dog and cat adoptions, enforce animal-related ordinances, and intake stray or surrendered animals. Visit animalservices.chathamcountyga.gov for more information.

Compiled by Jamie Burton

liveoakpl.org @liveoakpl

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

Newman is a laid-back shepherd mix who is super polite and loves playing with other dogs. He has sized enough that he could pull you along on leash, but he waits patiently to get leashed up and walks calmly. He’s a smart boy who would love to learn new things with you – he may even like to work on some puzzle toys or go on a sniffing scavenger hunt! He is a perfect gentleman out in the play yard and would probably love to have a dog-sibling to play with. This guy can’t wait to spend the summer at your backyard BBQs! Call 912-6526575 to set an appointment to meet Newman at our Adoption Center.

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CULTURE HAPPY HOUR MONDAY-FRIDAY 2PM-6PM

HALF PRICED APPS, $3 WELLS $4 GEORGIA & DOMESTIC DRAFTS $5 JAMESON & FIREBALL

MONDAY

SAY GAY! Celebrate Pride with powerful show at Bay St. Theatre

By Kareem McMichael

Arts & Entertainment Writer

POKER @7PM KARAOKE! @9PM

TUESDAY TRIVIA @7PM

@9PM OPEN JAM HOSTED BY

ERIC CULBERSON

WEDNESDAY

ERIC CULBERSON LIVE BLUES @9PM

June is National Pride Month, and the Bay Street Cabaret is making a statement in a huge way, presenting their new show “Say Gay! Telling Our Stories with Music from LGBTQIA+ Artists, Allies, and Icons.”

“Historically in years past all you have to do is read the comment section on anything that’s advertising our show or anything pride related this month to see that we are still very alienated, so we have to tell our stories,” said Travis Coles, General Manager at Club One and one of cast members in this show.

The show, featuring stories and songs that shine a light on issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community, will be performed on Friday, June 24 and Sunday 26, at Club One’s Bay Street Theatre. Tickets range from $20-$30 and a portion of the pro-

New Arrivals Daily!

KARAOKE THURSDAY-MONDAY @9PM CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

KITCHEN

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OPEN LATE

WE OPEN EARLIEST: DAILY AT 10AM! 21 E MCDONOUGH ST, SAVANNAH, GA 31401 M–SAT 10AM TO 3AM | SUN 10AM TO 2AM

WWW.MCDONOUGHSLOUNGE.COM

SEQUENTIAL ART

244 Bull Street | (912)-236-4053 Mon-Sat 10:30-5:30pm, Sun 12-4pm ShopRedClover.com

ceeds will benefit Savannah’s First City Pride Center.

“I am a huge supporter of the First City Pride Center. I think that Pride centers are fundamental and they are a huge part of the gay community,” said the show writer and director Rick Garman.

Garman was a big supporter of the Los Angeles LGBT Center while living there and when he moved to Savannah he got involved with the center here.

“They can and should be a gathering spot, a touchstone, a place where people can go when they’ve got issues, and a place where they can go to connect and define community and define their tribe and to come together,” said Graman.

‘Say Gay’ is an original script from Garman who is a GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media award winning writer. Different characters tell their genuinely personal journeys through monologues about coming out, marriage, aging, body shaming, bullying, violence, discrimination, “Don’t Say Gay” laws, challenges transgender face, gay conversion therapy, AIDS, loss, community and more.

“There’s a lot of my personal stories in this particular script, certainly I had my own issues and fear about coming out.

There was no context for my parents, a straight white couple living in Iowa.

I thought. they’re going to kill me, and I’m going to fall on my mother’s highly polished wood floors. We’re doing a piece about AIDS and growing up in the generation that I grew up in, this is very personal to me,” said Garman.

Garman recalled moving to Los Angeles when he was 18 in the 1980s, working in gay bars during the rise and height of the AIDS crisis that became an epidemic.

During rehearsals for this show Garman had to explain to some of the younger cast members the deep impact of AIDS in the LGBT community.

“I knew hundreds of people who died.

A dozen or so that I would call close friends, another couple of dozen that I would call friends. Then because I worked in the gay bars you would hear about some of the regulars who died. There were funerals every week. We’re going to include some statistics you’re going to see during the show about that because a lot of the younger generation don’t know anymore,” said Garman.

Though there are some heavy topics being tackled in this production, this show is still filled with humor and wit

as these characters speak and tell the stories that many LGBTQIA+ can relate to and pull inspiration from.

“Some of it’s education, some are statements, some of it is perhaps preaching a little bit, but I hope that we’re doing it in a very personal way. A way that people are going to connect to the stories that are connected with some really fantastic music to go with it,” said Garman.

Although not a traditional musical, each story feeds into live cabaret performances of music from LGBTQIA+ artists, allies, and icons with more than 20 songs.

Each song was strategically chosen to compliment the monologue being told and telling a different aspect of the community.

“I just think that it’s important that our progress wasn’t a one moment achievement. This is something that we have to constantly fight for. It’s important to continue to tell all of our stories across the community and I think we did that well in this show,” said Coles.

There will also be special choral and sing-along performances of “True Colors”

by Cyndi Lauper, “You Will Be Found” from Dear Evan Hansen, and “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge.

“We’re inspired by music and I started looking at sort of classic Pride anthems songs by, as it says in the subtitle, LGBTQIA, plus artists, allies and icons, the songs and the artists that are not only a part of our community, but have inspired our community in many ways,” said Garman.

The cast features many faces familiar to Savannah audiences including Travis Cheek, Travis Harold Coles, Hannah Dodson, Cami Nicole Hall, Justin P. Kent, Gwen Leahy, Taylor Mercier, Magnolia Minxxx, and Treyla Trash.

Garman took another approach with casting this show. Though he had in mind who he wanted to play what part, he put the script out to the cast and asked them to choose which role resonated with them the most.

“It was really interesting that the ones that spoke up for roles a lot of times were the ones that I had in mind for them,” said Garman.

Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend. The theater space is on the second floor and is only accessible by stairs; no elevator is available. Songs will be performed live to pre-recorded tracks. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit baystreetcabaret.com

CONNECT SAVANNAH

ART PATROL THE ART OF WILLIAM O. GOLDING: HARD KNOCKS, HARDSHIPS AND LOTS OF EXPERIENCE

Telfair Museums presents the first large museum survey of the work of William O. Golding (1874-1943), an African American seaman and artist who recorded a half-century of maritime experience in more than one hundred vibrant drawings. In the 1930s, Golding was a patient at the United States Marine Hospital in Savannah, where he represented his experiences in expressive pencil and crayon drawings which combine memory, imagination, and sailors’ lore. 72 works will be exhibited, including 23 drawings from Telfair Museums’ permanent collection, and others from the Morris Museum of Art, The Georgia Museum of Art, and private collections. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.. 912-790-8800. info@telfair.org. telfair.org/exhibitions/ golding/. telfair.org/jepson/. Jepson Center for the Arts, 207 West York St.

TRADING SPACES

February 1, 2022 - November 30, 2022 Kobo Gallery artists Morgan Adler, Suzanne Carmack, Antoine de Villiers, Joy Dunigan, Marta McWhorter, David Kaminsky and Daniel E. Smith rotate the gallery, prompting a host of new work arrivals and a fresh take on existing works.

2022 Trading Spaces Events are as follows: • June 1 - July 31, 2022 • August 1 - September 30, 2022 • October 1 - November 30, 2022

BLOW UP: INFLATABLE CONTEMPORARY ART

To submit an ART PATROL listing, please submit an event at connectsavannah.com

org/jepson/. Jepson Center for the Arts, 207 West York St.

KOBO 360°

December 1, 2022 - January 31, 2023 Kobo Gallery artists Morgan Adler, Suzanne Carmack, Antoine de Villiers, Joy Dunigan, Marta McWhorter, David Kaminsky and Daniel E. Smith rotate the gallery, prompting a host of new work arrivals and a fresh take on existing works.

GHOSTS

GHOSTS is a collection of paintings along with a video installation produced by artist, Meg Kettelkamp, and filmed and edited by Grace Harding.

Kettelkamp’s naturally dyed fabrics with plant material gathered around Savannah take on new forms and purposes in the film, continued by a new presentation in the gallery. Contemplating the complexities of the past and its effects on the present, she invites the viewer into a quiet reflection of both light and shadow, and seeing the familiar with childlike simplicity. All work at the exhibition will be for sale. 5-9 p.m.. megkettelkamp.com. The Nest Gallery, 601 E 33rd St.

THROUGH THE EYES OF ERIC HARTLEY, A PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION

The Arts on the Coast in partnership with Great Oaks Bank is proud to present ‘Through the Eyes of Eric Hartley, A Photographic Collection’, a black and white photography exhibition that features over 25 extraordinary images from Hartley’s personal collection. An opening reception will be held on Friday, June 3rd from 5-7 p.m. The full show dates at June 3-August 12, 2022.

Free 5-7 p.m.. 9123985776. artsonthecoastaoc@gmail.com. artsonthecoast. org/eric-hartley. Estes Gallery at Great Oaks Bank/Arts on the Coast, 42 Town Centre Drive.

CHUL-HYUN AHN: BEYOND

Telfair Museums’ 2022 PULSE Art + Technology Festival features a solo exhibition by Baltimore-based artist Chul-Hyun Ahn (Korean, b. 1971) whose light boxes made from LEDs, one-way mirrors, and sculptural materials create the suggestion of infinite space, whether the illusion of a railroad track curving into the darkness or geometric abstractions in vibrant color. 10 a.m.-5 p.m..

912-790-8800. telfair.org

THIS WEEK’S ART PATROL RECOMMENDATIONS

BY BETH LOGAN

Sulfur Studios at 2301 Bull Street hosts Tiara Unique Francois in their ON::View Residency this month. As part of her exploration of Black women and girls’ hair styles and hair tools, Francois, a painter born and raised in Dallas, TX, leads a free watercolor workshop this Saturday, June 25 at 2:00pm. Alternatively, community members can sit for a portrait on Sunday, June 26 between noon and 5:00pm.

Francois’ final project will be shown on Friday, July 1 as part of First Fridays in Starland. Find out more on Instagram @onviewresidency Talented photographer Jim Holmes shows his work in the gallery at Savannah’s Jewish Education Alliance, 5111 Abercorn Street, during July. A Savannah native, Holmes received his BFA in Photo Design from the University of Georgia Lamar Dodd School of Art. Join him at his opening reception on Sunday, July 3 from 2 to 6:00pm.

Plant Riverside’s Grand Bohemian Gallery at 400 W. River Street features paintings by Birmingham, Alabama artist John Lytle Wilson (above) during the month of July. His show “SPLASH!” depicts cartoon robots, monkeys and other creatures invading traditional landscape paintings. A wine reception to meet the artist will be held on Friday, July 1 from 5-7pm.

Finally, take a ferry across the river to check out the trunk show by Savannah jeweler Shelly Grissette in the main lobby of the Westin Harbor Resort, Savannah on Saturday, July 2 between 1 and 6pm.

Many pieces are made with sea glass and are very reasonably priced: www.for-moi.com

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

BLOW UP: Inflatable Contemporary Art explores the imaginative ways that artists use air as a tool for creating larger-thanlife sculptures. Featuring nine cutting-edge installation projects, this exhibition shakes up traditional associations of inflatables with balloons, beach toys, and blimps. As a group, these demonstrate the wealth of visual possibilities for inflatable art, from playfully familiar subjects to colorful abstractions and thought-provoking conceptual work.

The exhibition includes an international roster of artists and art collectives who are well known in contemporary art circles: Nicole Banowetz, Sharon Engelstein, FriendsWithYou, Joshua Harker, Susan Lee-Chun, Matt Ritchie, Lizabeth Rossof, Max Streicher, and Jen Stark. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.. 912-790-8800. info@telfair. org. telfair.org/exhibitions/blow-up/. telfair.

22-28

JUNE/

19

CULTURE

WORTH THE DRIVE:

“THROUGH THE EYES OF ERIC HARTLEY”

By Beth Logan

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

ART COLUMNIST

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We often think of galleries and museums as the only legitimate venues to display art, and consciously, or subconsciously, view places of business as inferior locations, and, by extension, consider the work they show as “less serious” and “less worthy.”

But as I hope I’ve shown during the time I’ve written for this publication, nothing could be further from the truth, and I, for one, am grateful for additional places to see and appreciate art.

This week, I’m highlighting an important show of black and white photography by Eric Hartley (1944-2020) hanging, in all places, in a bank in Richmond Hill.

Emily Doherty, Director of Marketing for Great Oaks Bank, explains, “When we were building our flagship bank in Richmond Hill, our CEO, Mike Odom, saw it as an opportunity to have a designated gallery space to feature local artwork. We have developed a relationship with Arts on the Coast to feature their members’ pieces on a rotating basis. We feel this gives our customers an elevated experience they wouldn’t normally expect at a bank.”

And, perhaps most importantly, “Being a community bank, it is essential that we are fully rooted in the communities we serve, and by supporting the local arts, amongst other community organizations, we are living our brand.”

Eric Hartley was a prolific American fine art photographer for over 30 years. Born in Washington D.C, Hartley began his lengthy career in financial planning and advising in Charlotte, NC, and retired in 2011 as First Vice President at Morgan Stanley in Savannah. He and his wife Deanna, along with their two daughters, moved to Richmond Hill in 1985.

Hartley’s passion for photography took him to many locations in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, but he was happiest on Georgia’s barrier islands such as Ossabaw, Blackbeard, Sapelo and Cumberland. He studied under world-renowned photographer John Sexton, famed Savannah photographer Jack Leigh, and SCAD photography legacy professors Craig Stevens and Tom Fischer.

Many of Hartley’s captivating black and white images expose the

THIS PAGE: Gwinnett House Dock, St. Catherines Island; Old Skiff in Foggy Marsh. OPPOSITE PAGE: Sapelo Lighthouse Steps; Big Live Oak, Ossabaw Island

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

southern landscape, from majestic live oaks, rainy swamps, and marbled dunes, to rivers, bridges, and shrimp boats.

Very instinctively, he used his camera and photographed the land around him. His deep commitment to the art of photography came from a struggle to see harmony and beauty in a disordered and sometimes harsh world. He had an endless fascination with the things man has left behind and his appreciation of the dignity that nature seemed to bestow upon these objects as they are reclaimed. A beautiful example of this is his simple, yet oddly poignant image of an Old Skiff in Foggy Marsh.

Hartley’s love for photography grew during his early years in college where his bathroom often served him well as a make-shift wet darkroom.

For many years he developed his own highly acclaimed black and white, traditional analog photography.

Reluctantly, Hartley joined the digital era mastering not only the camera and computer, but printing technology as well. With each photograph he strived for perfection, often meticulously reprinting images over and over again, until they were perfect. He obsessively matted and framed every image seen in this collection in order for them to reflect the feelings they evoked in him.

Great Oaks’ Emily Doherty shares Hartley’s love of the medium.

“I graduated from SCAD with a degree in Photography in 1999 - right as the development and explosion of digital photography was being conceived. My time at SCAD was spent in the darkroom processing black and white film and prints. In today’s digital world, it truly is a lost art.

Eric’s pieces take us back to that time, before anyone and everyone who owns a phone was a photographer. When it was an art to adjust lighting, contrast, and brightness - back when apertures and shutter speeds existed.”

She goes on, “Eric’s craft of black and white photography is amazing.

We are having a true takeover - in the past, we have featured pieces on The Estes Gallery wall, but with Eric’s pieces being so large, we are installing his work all over the first floor of the bank. This exhibit is in a medium dear to my heart - and the subject matter is relevant and striking to all.”

Doherty has worked closely on this exhibit with Arts on the Coast board member Joy Dunigan, herself an accomplished photographer who shows her work in Richmond Hill’s Photopoint Gallery and in Savannah’s Kobo Gallery.

Dunigan tells me, “I met with Eric’s wife Dee Hartley in September to talk about what photographs might be suitable for making a show.

She had all these incredible framed images, all of which she said were among his personal favorites. We went through all of them, considering each carefully. The resulting collection includes photographs of Ossabaw Island, St. Catherine’s, and Sapelo Island, but he and Dee also traveled across the country to locations like Maine, New York, Oregon, and Newfoundland.”

I ask Dunigan if she has a favorite piece, and she tells me that it’s The Gwinnett House Dock on St. Catherine’s.

“There are so many wonderful things happening in this photograph,” she says. “There is perfect alignment of the base of the top portion of the dock sign with the horizon line. Notice the dock’s placement is just the right amount off-center to center the viewer directly in front of one of the most fantastic views on the Georgia Coast – looking west from St. Catherines Island over Blackbeard Creek. This is very much a landscape photograph, but it’s also so wonderfully architectural and structured.”

Sadly, Hartley, a beloved and active community volunteer and member of the Arts on the Coast, died in 2020.

Dunigan concludes, “For those who did not know Eric, I think this show will give them the opportunity to learn more about him and be inspired by his work. For those who knew Eric well, this will be like getting to see and visit with an old friend again.”

The Arts on the Coast in partnership with Great Oaks Bank presents Through the Eyes of Eric Hartley, A Photographic Collection, a black and white photography exhibition featuring over 25 images from Hartley’s personal collection through August 12. The bank is open Monday through Friday, 9-5pm and is located at 42 Town Centre Drive in Richmond Hill. Find out more about Arts on the Coast, including information on “Freestyle,” their annual art exhibit opening June 23, at artsonthecoast.org

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BOOKS Savannah’s Independent Bookstore since 1975 offering a selection of fiction, nonfiction, regional, and children’s books

WHAT ARE WE READING? PRESENTED AND CURATED WEEKLY BY E. SHAVER, BOOKSELLER THE CONDUCTORS

BY NICOLE GLOVER

Hetty Rhodes and her husband, Benjy, were Conductors on the Underground Railroad, ferrying dozens of slaves to freedom with daring, cunning, and magic that draws its power from the constellations. With the war over, those skills find new purpose as they solve mysteries and murders that white authorities would otherwise ignore.

In the heart of Philadelphia’s Seventh Ward, everyone knows that when there’s a strange death or magical curses causing trouble, Hetty and Benjy are the only ones that can solve the case. But when an old friend is murdered, their investigation stirs up a wasp nest of intrigue, lies, and long-buried secrets- and a mystery unlike anything they handled before. With a clever, cold-blooded killer on the prowl testing their magic and placing their lives at risk, Hetty and Benjy will discover how little they really know about their neighbors . . . and themselves.

HOW TO STOP TIME

BY MATT HAIG

Tom Hazard has just moved back to London, his old home, to settle down and become a high school history teacher. And on his first day at school, he meets a captivating teacher who seems fascinated by him. But Tom has a dangerous secret. He may look like an ordinary 41-year-old, but he’s been alive for centuries. Tom has lived history--performing with Shakespeare, exploring the high seas with Captain Cook, and sharing cocktails with Fitzgerald. Now, he just wants an ordinary life.

Unfortunately the Albatross Society, the secretive group which protects people like Tom, has one rule: Never fall in love. As painful memories of his past and the erratic behavior of the Society’s watchful leader threaten to derail his new life and romance, the one thing he can’t have just happens to be the one thing that might save him. Tom will have to decide once and for all whether to remain stuck in the past, or finally begin living in the present.

THE RISE AND REIGN OF THE MAMMALS

BY STEVE BRUSATTE

In his acclaimed bestseller The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs—American paleontologist Steve Brusatte enchanted readers. Now, picking up the narrative in the ashes of the extinction event that doomed T-rex and its kind, Brusatte explores the remarkable story of the family of animals that inherited the Earth—mammals— and brilliantly reveals that their story is every bit as fascinating and complex as that of the dinosaurs.

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Behind the Desoto Historic Downtown Savannah 912.234.7257

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Beginning with the earliest days of our lineage some 325 million years ago, Brusatte charts how mammals survived the asteroid that claimed the dinosaurs and made the world their own, becoming the astonishingly diverse range of animals that dominate today’s Earth. Brusatte also brings alive the lost worlds mammals inhabited through time, from ice ages to volcanic catastrophes.

Entwined in this story is the detective work he and other scientists have done to piece together our understanding using fossil clues and cutting-edge technology.

STYLE WHAT ARE WE WEARING?

SUMMER OF VERSATILITY

By Lauren Wolverton

lauren@connectsavannah.com

Quality Eats + Drinks

LUNCH DINNER FULL BAR MON-SAT 11AM-1AM SUN 11:30AM-5 PM

C lassic Sandwiches on Locally Baked Bread FRESH HOUSE MADE

soup It’s important to build a versatile wardrobe for a few reasons. Number one: It’s practical. Whether you’re working on better budgeting, working with limited closet space, or working on living a more sustainable lifestyle, having a versatile closet can help.

Number two: It’s fun. Owning pieces that can be styled in multiple ways will get your creative juices flowing and ensure you never wear the same outfit twice.

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These two looks are the perfect image of versatility. This white, sleeveless button down can be styled with denim shorts and cowboy boots for the ultimate weekend look. Or, pair it with a nice pair of jeans or a colorful slack pant and flats for work. The denim shorts can be dressed up with a nicer blouse, or dressed down with a graphic T-shirt.

Don’t be scared to dress up your cowboy boots. Western-chic is trending right now, meaning cowboy boots always have the green light. Pair these gold boots with a mini dress for a casual summer wedding look, or rock them out on the town with your girlfriends.

White blouse, denim shorts, yellow blazer, yellow shorts, sunglasses, earrings, cowboy boots, white heels, sequin blouse available at Morgan Rae Boutique (301 B W. Broughton Street).

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

This bright yellow suit is surprisingly versatile, too. Wear it as a set layered over a pop of sparkle and white heels for work or for a fancy brunch date. For a casual daytime look, pair the yellow shorts with white sneakers and a T-shirt.

If you hit the town at night, layer the blazer over high-rise jeans and your favorite bralette with gold accessories.

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MUSIC & CLUBS

MUSIC EDUCATION

HAVING A SPECIAL EVENT? Reserve our Banquet Room!

Seats up to 80 people

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5320 Waters Ave.

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LOCAL LUTHIER AND SCAD GRADUATE IAN REDDICK’S ROCKIN’ PATENT

By Angie Miller

Music & Clubs Writer

Savannah’s Oldest

URBAN FARM & PET

SUPPLY STORE

Specializing in ORGANICS

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

ALL TYPES OF FEED & SEED

24

HAY • FENCING • TRAPS • PEST CONTROL • POTTERY & STATUARY • PROPANE REFILL & EXCHANGE • LAWN & GARDEN • SEASONAL VEGETABLE PLANTS • PET & FARM SUPPLIES • MORE! Located downtown at

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If a guitar player wants to change their tone, typically they’ll need to tote around several guitars to achieve the sound that they want. However, thanks to Industrial Design SCAD graduate and local luthier Ian Reddick, musicians no longer have that headache.

Debuting in 2021, Reddick’s Voyager modular guitar allows players to change their pickup setup in seconds, tool-free, without having to mute their amplifier. According to Reddick, who is a musician that has been working with wood for more than half of his life, he designed the guitar as a way to make life on the road easier for gigging musicians.

“I’ve been working in manufacturing facilities since I was 16 and before I came to SCAD, I actually apprenticed under some professional luthiers so I’ve been working with wood more than half of my life,” Reddick said. “I’m actually in a gigging band here myself and we play a lot of cover stuff so having that flexibility to where I can change the sound of my guitar between songs or even in the middle of my songs is a really powerful asset.”

Another powerful asset of Reddick’s Voyager model - tool-free swapping.

“It’s also designed to be entirely tool-free swapping,” Reddick added. “There are videos on my website that demonstrate how quickly it happens…it literally takes five seconds to swap pickups.”

Although Reddick’s modular guitar may be designed for gigging musicians, he says those aren’t the only people he had in mind.

“It’s a really great instrument not just for people who are gigging or studio musicians, but also for people who are doing the van life thing or for travel nurses,” he noted. “It’s really ideal for people who do not have access to large living spaces.”

For the past year, Reddick says he took the time to work on a second generation of the Voyager with the feedback that he re-

ceived, and his newest model is set to release on Wed., June 22.

“I’ve added in a couple new models with some new features and a couple of other little improvements here and there,” he explained. “It’s still fundamentally the same instrument, but I’ve just increased the number of options available and made this an even more polished looking instrument.”

The second generation Voyager model comes in several different finishes.

“I’ve split them into two models,” Reddick said. “The standard model has an ash body and a selection of colorful finishes. Right now I have a crimson red and a black finish that still shows off the wood grain of the material so it still gets to highlight the beauty of that natural material but gives a little bit more visual appeal. “The Voyager custom is basically what the original Voyager’s become…I’m still using those wood tones but I’m changing those options and how those bodies are assembled to create an even more bold visual statement that’s a little more in line with the current state of custom guitars and how those are put together.”

Reddick, who hand-makes all of his guitars, says that although he does have his set models, customizing them is also an option.

“I’m building these by hand so when somebody wants something special it’s not a super significant inconvenience to go and present something different that’s more in line with somebody’s personalized taste,” he said. “The way I have sort of this setup is still very flexible to where I can be implementing new changes or trying out new changes or things like that.”

What’s next for Reddick?

“I have all sorts of other ideas about different ways that this technology can be leveraged that I haven’t gotten to explore yet,” he said. “There is a lot of potential here that I’m just sort of scraping the surface now and I’m just really excited to be doing what I’m doing. My ultimate goal would be to have a few people working with me to help me build these guitars so I can build more and more!”

To learn more about the Voyager modular guitar or to stay up to date with Reddick, visit reddickguitars.com

THE STAGE PAGE

By Frank Ricci

DRAUCKER @ ELETRIC MOON

Start the weekend early with soulful, guitar-driven rock.

Led by the three Draucker siblings, their eponymous band continues to rock Savannah properly. A portion of drink sales benefit Treutlen House, a nonprofit in Rincon for troubled youth. Do the right thing and have too many.

THUR JUNE 23 | 7 PM

savannah’s newest home for local & regional

Live Music karaoke w/ dj carlito 6/22 9-1:00am

hip hop w/ cj the dj 6/23 dead man’s hand

MAHDIY DRUMMOND @ THE WORMHOLE

The New York-based comic is a busy man. He produces several shows in The City, including female comedy spotlight “B*tch Please” and “Comedy Catwalk.”

His own material mines the funny from the mundane, with jokes that hit about pressing social issues or drinking a glass of water.

SAT JUNE 25 | 8 PM

8 SECOND RIDE @ BARRELHOUSE SOUTH Five country boys from somewhere near Macon put a high energy spin on modern country and popular hits. If you’re not careful, they might even drop a three-part harmony on that ass. For hopeful groupies, don’t fret.

The name is a reference to rodeo thangs.

FRI JUNE 24 | 9 PM

draucker

6/25 8:00-11:00

127 w. congress st. eclipsesav.net

SONGS AND STORIES IN THE SQUARES @ DAVENPORT HOUSE MUSEUM

Savannah VOICE Festival and local nonprofit Historic Savannah Foundation host the second installment of the series.

Starting in Columbia Square, this free event combines 10-minute talks in four squares with SVF artists performing two songs in each that complement the themes. A very unique evening awaits.

FRI JUNE 24 | 5 PM

FRI JUNE 11TH

SAT SAT JUNE JULY 18TH 9TH SAT JUNE 12TH

SAT JUNE 25TH HEAD GAMES

SAT JULY 16TH

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CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

open noon until late everyday of the week

AN SAT EVENING JUNE 25TH WITH RANDALL SAT JUNE 11TH BRAMBLETT

FRI JUNE 17TH SAT. JULY 2ND

the woofs 6/25 3:00-6:00

jeremy riddle 6/27 7:00-10:00

FRI JUNE 4TH DONT MISS T HI S!

SAT JUNE 5TH

6/24 7:30 - 10:30

jd music group 6/26 8:00-11:00

SOUNDGARDEN EVENTS

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JUNE/

22-28

CONNECT SAVANNAH MUSIC

SOUNDBOARD WHO IS PLAYING WHERE THIS WEEK WEDNESDAY 6/22 LIVE MUSIC

Cohen’s Retreat Midtown Pickers, 6 p.m.

Driftaway Cafe Chuck Courtenay, 6 p.m.

McDonough’s Blues with Eric Culberson, 9 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Ray Tomasino, 7 p.m.

Plant Riverside District - Pavilion Stage Wednesday Blues Series feat. Willie Jackson and the Tybee Blues Band, 6-9 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

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

Moodright’s Duckpin Bowling League Night, 8 p.m.

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

The Wormhole Bingo, 10 p.m.

KARAOKE

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

Wet Willie’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

COMEDY

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

THURSDAY 6/23 LIVE MUSIC

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

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

District Live at Plant Riverside District Red Clay Strays, Live in Concert, 8-10 p.m.

Electric Moon Skytop Lounge and The Moon Deck, Plant Riverside District - Power Plant Building rooftop Moon Deck LIVE at Electric Moon featuring Draucker, 7-10 p.m.

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

McDonough’s Family Feud, 7 p.m.

The Wormhole Trivia, 10 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC

Nickie’s 1971 Ray Tomasino, 7 p.m.

The Wormhole Open Mic, 6 p.m.-2 a.m.

BAR & CLUB EVENTS

Service Brewing Company Service Brewing Run Club, 6:30 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

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

Moodright’s BINGO, 8 p.m.

Starland Yard Music Bingo, 7-9 p.m.

FRIDAY 6/24 LIVE MUSIC

Coffee Bluff Marina LAX, 6 p.m.

Davenport House ‘Songs and Stories in the Squares’ hosted by Savannah Voice Festival and Historic Savannah Foundation, 5-7 p.m.

Huc-A-Poo’s Soap Live! @ Huc-A-Poo’s, 10 p.m.1 a.m.

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

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

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m.

TRIVIA & GAMES

PS Tavern Beer Pong Tournament, 10 p.m.

KARAOKE

Bay Street Blues Karaoke Blueberry Hill Karaoke, 9 p.m.-3 a.m.

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Karaoke Night, 9 p.m.

The Hive Repertory Theatre LLC Adult Night Out - Karaoke!, 8 p.m.

Totally Awesome Bar Karaoke, 10 p.m.

DJ

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

BAR & CLUB EVENTS

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

Rock House Music & Dance, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY 6/25

COMEDY

Coffee Bluff Marina Gary Strickland, 6 p.m.

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

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m.

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

MONDAY 6/27

DJ

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

Top Deck Sunset Deck Party, 6 p.m.

KARAOKE

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

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

ENTER YOUR EVENT ONLINE AT CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM

LIVE MUSIC

TRIVIA & GAMES Blueberry Hill

KARAOKE

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

Wet Willie’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

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

TUESDAY 6/28 LIVE MUSIC

FRI/

24

McDonough’s Open Mic/Jam, 9 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Roy Swindell, 7 p.m.

SOAP LIVE! @HUC-A-POOS

A multi-genre band rocking and funking Savannah with dizzying sets of originals and covers, hypnotic musicianship, and mesmerizing vocals, Soap has been a staple on the local music scene for over a decade.

Guaranteed to make you shake your body and move your feet. If you’re feeling a little dirty, drop in Huc-A-Poo’s Friday for some brews and ... suds!

TRIVIA & GAMES

Bar Food Karaoke Night, 10 p.m.

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

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Rock House Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Totally Awesome Bar Karaoke, 10 p.m.

Ember City, 2 p.m.

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

Myrtle & Rose, Rooftop Garden Plant Riverside Live Jazz Sunday Brunch Featuring the Howard Paul Jazz Trio, 11 a.m.3 p.m.

Nickie’s 1971 Roy Swindell, 7 p.m.

Sting Ray’s Robert Willis, 6 p.m.

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

Front Porch Improv Adult Drop-in IMPROV Class, 10 a.m.

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

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

Over Yonder Honky Tonk Saturdays

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

McDonough’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

Pool Tournament, 2 p.m.

KARAOKE

COMEDY

BAR & CLUB EVENTS

SUNDAY 6/26 LIVE MUSIC

Collins Quarter at Forsyth

TRIVIA & GAMES

Basil’s Pizza and Deli Trivia, 7 p.m.

Fia Rua Irish Pub Trivia, 7 p.m.

McDonough’s Trivia Tuesday, 7 p.m.

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

Savannah Taphouse Trivia, 7 p.m.

Starland Yard Trivia with Chris Grimmett, 6:30 p.m.; Trivia Night With Chris Grimmett, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

KARAOKE

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

Club One Karaoke, 10 p.m.

Wet Willie’s Karaoke, 9 p.m.

COMEDY

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

KARAOKE

FIND MORE SOUNDBOARD EVENTS

SOUNDBOARD IS A FREE SERVICE - TO BE INCLUDED, PLEASE ENTER YOUR LIVE MUSIC INFORMATION WEEKLY ON CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM AND CHOOSE “SOUNDBOARD.”.

DEADLINE IS NOON MONDAY, TO APPEAR IN WEDNESDAY’S EDITION. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT OR CUT LISTINGS DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS.

THE BAND PAGE

By Frank Ricci

MARAUDA @ ELAN SAVANNAH

ELTON LIVE! @ COACH’S CORNER

MICHAEL CRUSE QUARTET @ GOOD TIMES JAZZ BAR

RED CLAY STRAYS @ DISTRICT LIVE

The 21-year old Australian dubstep prodigy had to rebrand from his original moniker Mastadon to avoid confusion with Georgia metallions Mastodon. The bass community breathed a sigh of relief when his sound didn’t change. It’s still high-energy and loud with neck-snapping tempo changes.

FRI JUN 24 | 10 PM

When Patterson Hood sang “strong like the people from south Alabama,” he might have meant these guys. Red Clay Strays do classic country, rockabilly and gospel-tinged soul with a rock and roll edge. On stage, they let it all hang out.

THUR JUNE 23 | 8 PM

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

The Lexington, Ky., trombonist blended personal lineage, innate talent, and studies at U. of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music to become a leader of the Atlanta jazz scene. He’s known for brilliant takes on Louis Armstrong, and his work has appeared in popular television shows and movies.

FRI JUNE 24 | 8 PM

If you grew up at the right time in a place where radios were legal, you know, love and can recite the words to no less than 15 Elton John songs. Maybe more. Sir Elton has sold over 300 million records, and the Elton Live! tribute show delivers a relentless onslaught of top 10 hits from one of the best catalogs in pop history.

SAT JUNE 25 | 7 PM

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JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

WEEKLY SUDOKU

©2022 Matt Jones

“Even Steven”--or is it Stephen?

by Matt Jones

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

SUDOKU SOLUTION

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FOR UP-TO-DATE NEWS AND CALENDAR LISTINGS, VISIT CONNECTSAVANNAH.COM

ACROSS 1. Swimmer’s stroke 6. Monastery superior 11. Las Vegas’s ___ Grand Hotel 14. Cabinetmaker’s machine 15. City served by Dallas/Fort Worth Airport 16. Dove sound 17. Book lover who focuses on insects?

19. ___ Talks 20. Music system 21. Time before someone becomes a best friend?

23. Twosome on “Everybody Loves Raymond” or “Friday Night Dinner” 24. Wanna-___ (pretenders) 26. Exceed 27. ‘98 and ‘99, but not ‘100 28. “Slumdog Millionaire” actor Patel 29. Last period of the Paleozoic Era 30. Venus’s sister 32. She, in Rome 33. The art of hand-drawing national outlines?

37. Sightseeing trip 38. “All in the Family” in-law Mike 39. Without slowing down or speeding up 42. Co. that makes ATMs and introduced LCDs 43. Palindromic plea at sea 46. Iran, long ago 47. ___ Khan 48. S’mores need,

traditionally 49. Reason your 1990s Hypercolor shirts might work later in the decade?

51. 1964 Hitchcock thriller 53. Brain activity meas.

54. Star player of an old flipphone game?

56. Issa of the upcoming “Vengeance” 57. “Slithy” creatures in “Jabberwocky” 58. “Hello” singer 59. ‘60s activist org.

60. ABBA member, e.g.

61. Portended

29. Summoning, as at an airport 30. Most confident 31. Paper that now owns Wordle, for short 33. “Saturday Night Live” alien 34. Scandalous acts 35. Lot to park and stay overnight, maybe 36. Service station offering 37. They may tap a percentage 40. Central positions 41. Webpage option under an invoice 43. Fell from grace 44. Maryland state bird 45. Appeared to be 47. Solicited 48. Brother of Michael and Sonny Corleone 50. Building projection 52. Melville mariner 55. Ending for Japan or Sudan

DOWN 1. Stylish 2. “Jurassic World: Dominion” classification 3. Site of the first modern Olympics 4. Rotor noises 5. Bury the ___ 6. “Bored” NFT character 7. Tells all 8. Grammy winner Erykah 9. Anxious CROSSWORD ANSWERS 10. Lethargic state 11. Graham of “The Hobbit” and “Preacher” 12. Handles gently, with “on” 13. Pfizer alternative 18. Pattinson of “The Batman” 22. Desktop not meant for the office 25. Terribly 28. Lion lair

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SAVANNAH HIGH CLASS OF 1962 REUNION BUNNY IN THE CITY

By Bunny Ware

Kenny Young, Billy Eyler, Marlene and Micheal Dobbs

Ten years ago I got a phone call from loquacious Kenny Young with an invite to attend the Savannah High School Class of 1962 reunion. Fast forward a decade and I am honored to be asked to join the attendees gathered again at Skidaway Island State Park on June 11.

Arriving just in time to get a group pic of the lively schoolmates and spouses, I look out over the crowd, and of course the first person I recognize is Kenny Young. The tall, former SHS quarterback is talking with reunion chair Harry Moore and “Mister Personality” Michael Dobbs.

A fan since day one of meeting Michael, the running joke when we see each other is my asking him, “Where is your wife?!” The former basketball star seems to draw attention to him wherever he goes.

Bill and Jo-Anne Smiley

Janice Levine, Carol Williams

Smiling when I see Michael’s petite wife Marlene in attendance, I follow Kenny over for an introduction to Mary Benniger Purcell. “Mary is getting ready for an eight-part series on [a streaming service]. It will be about her mother and Black Ankle Swamp,” shares Kenny.

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

Next up is the “BC Guy’’ Larry Thompson. The avid Georgia Bulldogs fan introduces me to his wife Suzanne who tells me, “I was a cheerleader at SHS, Larry played football for Benedictine and we met on a blind date for a birthday party. I didn’t like him when I met him but he grew on me.” 56 years later and it looks like true love!

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After posing the retired registered nurse with Larry and Chatham County Sheriff John Wilcher, we pass by a hush puppy frying station where four young pups, Davis Evans, Bryce LeCates, Spencer Grafton and Dean Tindol happily strike a pose.

Inside the Skidaway Island meeting hall, Magnus Monson recognizes Ricky Tindol for all his efforts in organizing the reunion while high school sweethearts Terry and Melinda Burnsed watch from the back of the room. Dating through college and married 56 years, the Burnseds are snuggled up together beside retired insurance man Billy Smiley and his wife Jo-Anne.

While everyone is lined up outside for the Lowcountry boil prepared by John Tanner, I chat with the retired engineer about his high school memories. “I remember pep rallies against Benedictine where a coffin was marched around the gym by football players.” Good grief this had to be once fierce rivalry!

Sad that David Sipple really doesn’t want a photo taken, I trot over to meet eighth

Jack Ward, Gloria Gillespie, Hubert C. Baker

Lu Hostetter, Harry Moore, Helen Marshall

Sheriff John Wilcher, Suzanne and Larry Thompson

Ricky Tindol, Magnus Monson

grade friends Janice Levine and Carol Williams. Part of the famous Williams Seafood family, Carol tells me “Back in ‘36 my grandfather was the Bull Bridge tender—he opened the bridge for boats. He and my grandmother lived on the bridge 24 hours a day so she would cook what he caught. This led to the beginning of Williams Seafood.”

Feeling sad the iconic Wilmington Island restaurant is long gone, I make a lap over to hug lovable Hubert C. Baker. The talented organist is the hardest working man in the funeral business, with 45 years at Baker McCullough Funeral Homes, and is one of Savannah’s favorite characters.

Next up, Steve Seymour stops by to give a recap of their high school football positions!

I’m not sure how Steve remembers that he and David Sipple were guards, Billy Mordecai was tight end, Julian Smiley was tackle, Billy Burkhalter and Spanky Dent were half backs, Kenny Young was quarterback and Michael Dobbs managed them. Lucky for me, Steve is jacked up over the possibility of taking a group shot of his former teammates and heads off to corral them together.

After a group pic of the jovial jocks, I head over to watch a memorial video of the 150 classmates that have passed. “We have 503 graduates, and being able to recognize the classmates we lost while reconnecting with our lifelong friends is why this reunion is so well attended,” shares Kenny.

Since 1982, the Savannah High School Class of ‘62 has met every five years to celebrate, exchange health updates, share photos and repeat exaggerated stories of the past. Being a part of their tradition is an honor and I know I better get an invite in 2027 from you Ken Young!

Davis Evans, Bryce LeCates, Spence Grafton, Dean Tindol

CONNECT SAVANNAH | JUNE 22 - 28, 2022

Micheal Dobbs, Kenny Young, Spanky Dent, Billy Smiley,Billy Mordecia, Billy Burkhalter, David Sipple, Steve Seymour

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